Great News!

Great News!

The article in the local newspaper was short but heart warming. After attending a faith based program on building stronger family ties, a group of prison inmates were given a rare treat of an open visit with their families. Some hadn't seen their children in years. Instead of talking through a glass panel, they could touch and hold their loved ones. The tears flowed freely as families grew closer and wounds began to heal.

For most readers, it was just a story. But for these families, holding one another was a life-changing event-and for some, the process of forgiveness and reconciliation was begun.

God's forgiveness of our sin and offer of reconciliation, made possible through His Son, is more than a mere fact of the Christian faith. The article's news of reconciliation reminds us that Jesus's sacrifice is great news not just for the world, but for you and me.

In times when we're overwhelmed by guilt for something we've done, however, it's news we can cling to desperately. That's when the fact of God's unending mercy becomes personal news: because of Jesus's dying on our behalf, we can come to the Father washed clean, " whiter than snow" In such times, when we know we don't deserve His mercy, we can hold on to the only thing we can depend on: God's unfailing love and compassion.

Father, I'm sorry if I've taken Your mercy and love for granted. Thank You for this wonderful gift and privilege that I don't deserve yet You've promised unconditionally.

Forgiveness isn't just big news. It's wonderful, personal news!

The Spirit of Fika

The Spirit of Fika

The coffeehouse in the town near my house is named Fika. It's a Swedish word meaning to take a break with coffee and a pastry, always with family, co-workers, or friends. I'm not Swedish, yet the spirit of fika describes one thing I love most about Jesus-His practice of taking a break to eat and relax with others.

Scholars say Jesus's meals weren't random. Theologian Mark Glanville calls them " the delightful ' second course'" of Israel's feasts and celebrations in the Old Testament. At the table, Jesus lived what God had intended Israel to be: " a center of joy, celebration and justice for the whole world."

From the feeding of 5,000, to the Last Supper-even to the meal with two believers after His resurrection-the table ministry of Jesus invites us to stop our constant striving and abide in Him. Indeed, not until eating with Jesus did the two believers recognize Him as the risen Lord. " He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened" to the living Christ.

sitting with a friend recently at Fika, enjoying hot chocolate and rolls, we found ourselves also talking of Jesus. He is the Bread of Life. May we linger at His table and find more of Him.

Lord, thank You for making time and room for us to abide at Your tables.

Make time to eat the Bread of Life.

Quiet Awe

Quiet Awe

My life often feels frenzied and hectic. I hurry from one appointment to the next, returning phone calls and checking items off my seemingly infinite to do list. While on my way. Out of sheer exhaustion one Sunday, I collapsed into the hammock in our backyard. My phone was inside, as were my children and husband. At first I planned to sit for just a moment or two, but in the undistracted stillness, I began to notice things that invited me to linger longer. I could hear the creak of the hammock swinging gently, the buzz of a bee in the nearby lavender, and the flap of a bird's wings overhead. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the clouds moved on the wind.

I found myself moved to tears in response to all God had made. When I slowed long enough to take in the many wonderful things within my eyesight and earshot, I was stirred to worship in gratitude for God's creative power. The writer of Psalm 104 was equally humbled by the work of God's hands, noting " you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor."

In the midst of a harried life, a quiet moment can remind us of God's creative might! He surrounds us with evidence of His power and tenderness; He made both the high mountains and branches for birds. " In wisdom [He] made them all."

Lord, Your creation amazes me. You made all things through Your limitless power, inviting us to enjoy the beauty You've surrounded us with. Help me to notice Your works and worship You in quiet moments.

We are surrounded by God's creative power.

Living in God's Story

Living in God's Story

Ernest Hemingway was asked if he could write a compelling story in six words. His response: " For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn." Hemingway's story is powerful because it inspires us to fill in the details. Were the shoes simply not needed by a healthy child? Or was there a tragic loss-something requiring God's deep love and comfort?

The best stories pique our imagination, so it's no surprise that the greatest story ever told strokes the fires of our creativity. God's story has a central plot: He created all things; we ( the human race) fell into sin; Jesus came to Earth and died and rose again to save us from our sins; and we now await His return and the restoration of all things.

Knowing what has come before and what lies ahead, how should we now live? If Jesus is restoring His entire creation from the clutches of evil, we must " put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." This includes turning from sin by God's power and choosing to love Him and others well.

The specific ways we fight with Jesus against evil will depend on what gifts we have and what needs we see. Let's use our imagination and look around us. Let's seek out the wounded and weeping, and extend God's justice, love, and comfort as He guides us.

Father, may Your kingdom come and may it come in me.

Live out your role in God's story as He leads you.

He Holds Our Hand

He Holds Our Hand

The little girl who navigated the stairway one Sunday at church was cute, spunky, and independent. One by one the child-who appeared to be not much older than two years-took the steps down to the lower level. Descending the stairs was her mission and she accomplished it. I smiled to myself as I pondered the darling independence of this courageous toddler. The child wasn't afraid because she knew her caring mother's watchful eye was always on her and her loving hand was extended to help her. This aptly pictures the Lord's readiness to help His children as they make their way through life with its varied uncertainties.

Today's Scripture includes two " hand" references. After cautioning His ancient people not to fear or be dismayed, the Lord told them, " I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Many anxious and fearful children have been steadied by the strength of a parent. Here God's power comes into view. In the second " hand" reference, once again it's the Lord who acted to secure the safety of His own. " For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand." While life situations and times have changed, the Lord hasn't. We need not despair because the Lord still assures us with the promise of His support and with the words we desperately need to hear: Do not fear."

Father, thank You for always watching over me.

With God's hand holding my hand, I am safe!

Living Sacrifice

Living Sacrifice

My great aunt had an exciting job in advertising and traveled between Chicago and New York City. But she chose to give up that career out of love for her parents. They lived in Minnesota and needed to be cared for. Both of her brothers had died young in tragic circumstances and she was her mom and dad's only remaining child. For her, serving her parents was an expression of her faith.

The apostle Paul's letter to the church at Rome urged Christian believers to be " a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." He hoped they would extend Christ's sacrificial love to each other. And he asked them not to think of themselves more highly than they should. When they fell into disagreements and division, he called them to lay down their pride, because " in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. He yearned that they would show each other sacrificial love.

Each day we have the opportunity to serve others. For instance, we might let someone go ahead of us in a line or we might, like my great aunt, care for someone who is ill. Or maybe we share from our experience as we give advice and direction. When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we honor God.

Lord Jesus Christ, You humbled Yourself and lay down Your life that I might live. May I never forget this most precious gift of grace and love.

When we serve others in His name, we please God.

Send it in a Letter

Send it in a Letter

Like most four-year-olds, Ruby loved to run, sing, dance, and play. But she started complaining about pain in her knees. Ruby's parents took her in for tests. The results were shocking-a diagnosis of cancer, stage 4 neuroblastoma. Ruby was in trouble. She was quickly admitted to the hospital.

Ruby's hospital stay lingered on, spilling over into the Christmas season, a hard time to be away from home. One of Ruby's nurses came up with the idea to place a mailbox outside her room so family could send letters full of prayers and encouragement to her. Then the plea went out on Facebook, and that's when the volume of mail coming in from friends and complete strangers surprised everyone, most of all Ruby. With each letter received ( more than 100,000 total), Ruby grew a little more encouraged, and she finally got to go home.

Paul's letter to the people at Colossae was exactly that-a letter. Words penned on a page that carried hopes for continued fruitfulness and knowledge and strength and endurance and patience. Can you imagine what a dose of good medicine such words were to the faithful at Colossae? Just knowing that someone was praying nonstop for them strengthened them to stay steady in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Our words of encouragement can dramatically help others in need.

How have others' words encouraged me? What opportunities do I have to give someone else the " letter" of encouragement they need?

God, bring someone to my mind that needs encouragement. Then help me act on Your prompting.

Shelve Them and Move On

Shelve Them and Move On

I'm reminded of some wise advice a radio broadcaster friend once gave me. Early on in his career, as my friend struggled to know how to deal with both criticism and praise, he felt that God was encouraging him to shelve both. What's the essence of what he took to heart? Learn what you can from both and humbly move on in God's grace and power.

Criticism and praise stir in us powerful emotions that, if left unchecked, can lead to either self-loathing or an overinflated ego. In Proverbs we read of the benefits of encouragement and wise counsel: " Good news gives health to the bones....Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding."

If we're on the receiving end of a rebuke, may we choose to be sharpened by it. Proverbs states, " Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise." And if we're blessed with words of praise, may we be refreshed and filled with gratitude. As we walk humbly with God, He can help us learn from both criticism and praise, shelve them, and then move on in Him.

Father God, thank You for the gift of praise and criticism. As I humbly surrender to You, may I grow and be sharpened by both.

Learn from praise and criticism, then shelve them and move on.

Praying and Growing

Praying and Growing

When my friend David's wife developed Alzheimer's disease, the changes it brought to his life made him bitter. He needed to retire early to care for her; and as the disease progressed, she required increasingly more care.

" I was so angry at God," he told me. " But the more I prayed about it, the more He showed me my heart and how I had been selfish for most of our marriage." Tears welled in his eyes as he confessed, " She's been sick ten years, but God has helped me see things differently. Now, everything I do out of love for her, I also do for Jesus. Caring for her has become the greatest privilege of my life."

Sometimes God answers our prayers not by giving us what we want but by challenging us to change. When the prophet Jonah was angry because God spared the wicked city of Nineveh from destruction, God caused a plant to shade him from the hot sun. Then He made it wither. When Jonah complained, God answered," Is it right for you to be angry about the plant"? Jonah, focused only on himself, insisted it was. But God challenged him to think about others and have compassion.

God sometimes uses our prayers in unexpected ways to help us learn and grow. It's a change we can welcome with open hearts because He wants to transform us with His love.

Lord Jesus, thank You for helping me grow when I pray. Help me to be sensitive to what you want for my life today.

God grows us as we spend time with Him.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Atmosphere of Encouragement

Atmosphere of Encouragement
     I'm encouraged every time I visit the fitness center near our house. In that busy place, I'm surrounded by others who are striving to improve their physical health and strength. Posted signs remind us not to judge each other, but words and actions that reveal support for others' conditioning efforts are always welcomed.
     What a great picture of how things should look in the spiritual realm life! Those of us who are striving to " get in shape" spiritually, to grow in our faith, can sometimes feel as if we don't belong because we're not as spiritually fit-as mature in our walk with Jesus-as someone else.
     Paul gave us this short, direct suggestion: " Encourage one another and build each other up." And to the believers in Rome he wrote: " Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Recognizing that our Father is so lovingly gracious with us, let's show God's grace to others with encouraging words and actions.
     As we " accept one another," let's entrust our spiritual growth to God-to the work of His Spirit. And while we daily seek to follow Hi, may we create an atmosphere of encouragement for our brothers and sisters i Jesus as they also seek to grow in their faith.
     Lord, help me today to encourage others along the way. Guide me to stay what will not discourage but will spur them toward a deeper walk with You in Your love.
     A word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up and pressing on.

Sinking into Grace

Sinking into Grace

Finally, on January 8, 1964, seventeen-year-old Randy Gardner did something he hadn't done for eleven days and twenty-five minutes: he nodded off to sleep. He wanted to beat the Guinness Book World Record for how long a human could stay awake. By drinking soft drinks and hitting the basketball court and bowling alley, Gardner rebuffed sleep for a week and a half. Before finally collapsing, his sense of taste, smell, and hearing went haywire. Decades later, Gardner suffered from severe bouts of insomnia. He set the record but also confirmed the obvious: sleep is essential.

Many of us struggle to get a decent night's rest. Unlike Gardner who deprived himself intentionally, we might suffer sleeplessness for a number of reasons-including a mountain of anxieties: the fear of all we need to accomplish, the dread of others' expectations, the distress of living at a frantic pace. Sometimes it's hard for us to turn off the fear and relax.

The psalmist tells us that " unless the Lord builds the house," we labor in vain. Our " toiling" and our relentless efforts are useless unless God provides what we need. Thankfully, God does provide what we need. He " grants sleep to those he loves." And God's love extends to all of us. He invites us to release our anxieties to Him and sink into His rest, into His grace.

God, I'm so anxious. I churn inside. Would you help me trust You with my night, with my day, with my life?

Trusting God releases anxiety and carries us into rest.

Out Of Context

As I queued up to board my flight, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned and received a warm greeting. " Elisa! Do you remember me? It's Joan!" My mind flipped through various " Joans" I'd known, but I couldn't place her. Was she a previous neighbor? A past coworker? Oh dear...I didn't know.

Sensing my struggle, Joan responded, " Elisa, we knew each other in high school." A memory rose: Friday night football games, cheering from the stands. Once the context was clarified, I recognized Joan.

After Jesus's death, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning and found the stone rolled away and His body gone. She ran to get Peter and John, who returned with her to find the tomb empty. But Mary lingered outside in her grief. When Jesus appeared there, " she didn't realize that it was Jesus", thinking He was the gardener.

How could she have not recognized Jesus? Was His resurrected body so changed that it was difficult to recognize Him? Did her grief blind her to His identity? Or, perhaps, like me, was it because Jesus was " out of context," alive in the garden instead of dead in the tomb, that she didn't recognize Him?

How might we too miss Jesus when He comes into our days-during prayer or Bible reading, or by simply whispering in our hearts?

Dear God, give us eyes to see Jesus, however He comes-in a familiar context or surprising us in an unexpected one.

Expect Jesus in unexpected places.

The Battle

The Battle

As artillery fell around him with an earth-shaking whoomp, the young soldier prayed fervently, " Lord, if you get me through this, I'll go to that Bible school Mom wanted me to attend." God honored his focused prayer. My dad survived World War 2, went to Moody Bible Institute, and invested his life in ministry.

Another warrior endured a different crisis that drove him to God, but his problems arose when he avoided combat. As King David's troops fought the Ammonites, David was back at his palace casting more than just a glance at another man's wife. In Psalm 39, David chronicles the painful process of restoration from the terrible sin that resulted. " The turmoil within me grew worse, " he wrote. " The more I thought about it, the hotter I got."

David's broken spirit caused him to reflect: " Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." Amid his renewed focus, David didn't despair. He had nowhere else to turn. " But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you." David would survive this personal battle and go on to serve God.

What motivates our prayer life doesn't matter as much as the focus of our prayer. God is our source of hope. He wants us to share our heart with Him.

Father, our hope is in You. Forgive us for seeking answers apart from You. Draw us close to You today.

We are in the best place we can imagine when we go to God in prayer.

Seen by God

Seen by God

My first pair of eyeglasses opened my eyes to a bold world. I'm nearsighted, meaning objects close up are sharp and defined. Without my glasses, however, items across a room or in the distance are a blur. At age twelve, with my first pair of eyeglasses, I was socked to see clearer words on blackboards, tiny leaves on trees and, perhaps most important, big smiles on faces.

As friends smiled back when I greeted them, I learned that to be seen was as great a gift as the blessing of seeing.

The slave Hagar realized that as she fled from her mistress Sarai's unkindness. Hagar was a "nobody" in her culture, pregnant and alone, fleeing to a desert without help or hope. Seen by God, however, she was empowered, in return, to see Him. No longer a vague concept, God became real to her, so real that she gave God a name, El Roi, which means " You are the God who sees me." She said, " I have now seen the One who sees me."

Our seeing God sees each of us too. Feeling unseen, alone, or like a nobody? God sees you and your future. In return, may we see in Him our ever-present hope, encouragement, salvation, and joy-both for today and for our future. Praise Him today for this gift of amazing sight, to see the one true and Living God.

Lord, I'm just one person in a big world, but I thank You for looking from on high and seeing me-so that I may see You.

God knows my name and sees me.

Jeremiah 9:23-26

This is what the Lord says: " Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight," Declares the Lord. " These days are coming," declares the Lord, " when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh-Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the desert in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised in heart."

Giving Credit

Giving Credit

In the early 1960's, some unusual paintings featuring a person or animal with huge, sad eyes became popular. Some considered the work "kitschy"-or tacky-but others delighted in it. As the artist's husband began to promote his wife's creations, the couple grew quite prosperous. But the artist's signature Margaret Keane-didn't appear on her work. Instead, Margaret's husband presented his wife's work as his own. Margaret fearfully remained silent about the fraud for twenty years until the couple's marriage ended. It took a court room "paint-off" between them to prove the true artist's identity.

The man's deception was clearly wrong, but even as followers of Jesus, we may find it easy to take credit for talents we possess, leadership skills we display, or even for our kind deeds to others. But those qualities are possible only because of God's grace. In Jeremiah 9, we find prophet lamenting the lack of humility and the unrepentant hearts of the people. He wrote that the Lord says we shouldn't boast of our wisdom, our strength, or our riches, but only that we might understand and know that He is the Lord " who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."

Our hearts fill with gratitude as we realize the identity of the true Artist. " Every good and perfect gift is...from the Father." All of the credit, all of the praise belongs to the Giver of good gifts.

Dear Father, thank You for all the good gifts You so graciously give.

We were created to give God glory.

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to you Lord, " You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill my with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Love and Peace

Love and Peace

It always amazes me the way peace-powerful,unexplainable peace-can somehow fill our hearts even in our deepest grief. I experienced this most recently at my father's memorial service. As a long line of sympathetic acquaintances passed by offering their condolences, I was relieved to see a good high school friend. Without a word, he simply wrapped me in a long bear hug. is quiet understanding flooded me with the first feelings of peace within grief that difficult day, a powerful reminder that I wasn't as alone as I felt.

As David describes in Psalm 16, the kind of peace and joy God brings into our lives isn't caused by a choice to stoically stomp down the pain during hard times; its more like a gift we can't help but experience when we take refuge in our good God.

We could respond to the aching pain that death brings by distracting ourselves, perhaps thinking that turning to these other "gods" will keep the pain at bay. But sooner or later we'll find that efforts to avoid our pain only bring deeper pain.

Or we could turn to God, trusting that even when we don't understand, the life He's already given us-even in it's pain-is still beautiful and good. And we can surrender to His loving arms that tenderly carry us through our pain into a peace and joy that even death can never quench.

Father, thank You for the way Your tender touch embraces and holds us in our times of joy and pain. Help us to turn in trust to You for healing.

God's love carries and holds us through our pain into peace and joy.

Ephesians 2:6-10

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Good Works Prepared

Good Works Prepared
When a burly stranger approached my wife and me on a street abroad, we shrunk back in fear. Our holiday had been going badly; we had been yelled at, cheated, and extorted from several times. Were we going to be shaken down again? To our surprise, the man just wanted to show us where to get the best view of his city. Then he gave us a chocolate bar, smiled, and left. That little gesture made our day-and saved the whole trip. It made us grateful-both to the man and to God for cheering us up.
What had made the man reach out to two strangers? Had he gone around with a chocolate bar the entire day, looking to bless someone with it?
It's amazing how the smallest action can bring the biggest smile-possibly direct someone to God. The Bible stresses the importance of doing good works. If that sounds challenging, we have the assurance that God not only enables us to do these works, but has even "prepared [them] in advance for us to do."
Perhaps God has arranged for us to "bump into" someone who needs a word of encouragement today or has given us an opportunity to offer someone a helping hand. All we have to do is respond in obedience.
Who can you pray for or help today? Who might God be putting in your path?
Lord, I respond in obedience and share Your love with others as You have loved me.

Acts 9:1-22

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, " Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" " Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. " I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. " Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias!" " Yes, Lord, " he answered. The Lord told him, " Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." " Lord," Ananias answered, " I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, " Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. " I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, " Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, " Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on his name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

Love Changes Us

Love Changes Us

Before I met Jesus, I'd been wounded so deeply that I avoided close relationships in fear of being hurt more. My mom remained my closet friend, until I married Alan. Seven years later and on the verge of divorce, I toted our kindergartner, Xavier, into a church service. I sat near the exit door, afraid to trust but desperate for help.

Thankfully, believers reached out, prayed for our family, and taught me how to nurture a relationship with God through prayer and Bible reading. Over time, the love of Christ and His followers changed me.

Two years after that first church service, Alan, Xavier, and I asked to be baptized. Sometime later, during one of our weekly conversations, my mom said, " You're different. Tell me more about Jesus." A few months passed and she too accepted Christ as her Savior.

Jesus transforms lives....lives like Saul's, one of the most feared persecutors of the church until his encounter with Christ. Others helped Saul learn more about Jesus. His drastic transformation added to the credibility of is Spirit-empowered teaching.

Our first personal encounter with Jesus may not be as dramatic as Saul's. Our life transformation may not be as quick or drastic. Still. as people notice how Christ's love is changing us over time, we'll have opportunities to tell others what He did for us.

A life changed by Christ's love is worth talking about.

All I Can See

All I Can See

Krista stood in the freezing cold on a winter day, looking at the beautiful snow-encased lighthouse along the lake. As she pulled out her phone to take pictures, her glasses fogged over. She couldn't see a thing so she decided to point her camera toward the lighthouse and snapped three pictures at different angles. Looking at them later, she realized the laughed as she said, " My focus was me, me, and me. All I saw was me." Krista's photos got me thinking of a similar mistake: We can become so self-focused we lose sight of the bigger picture of God's plan.

Jesus's cousin John clearly knew his focus wasn't himself. Right from the start he recognized that his position or calling was to point others to Jesus, the Son of God. " Look, the Lamb of God!" he said when he saw Jesus coming toward him and his followers. He continued, " The reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed." When John's disciples later reported that Jesus was gaining followers, John said, " You yourselves can testify that I said, ' I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.'...He must become greater; I must become less."

May the central focus of our lives be Jesus and loving Him with our whole heart.

How can I love Jesus best? Who might He want me to love?

Lord, I often get centered on myself and my needs and wants. Help me to look outside of myself to You.

Jeremiah 5:18-23

" Yes even in those days," declares the Lord. " I will not destroy you completely. And when the people ask, " Why has the Lord our God done all this to us? ' you will tell them, ' As you have forsaken me and served other gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own. " Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me? " declares the Lord. " Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and one away.

Ears were Made for Listening

Ears were Made for Listening

Actress Diane Kruger was offered a role that would make her a household name. But it required her to play a young wife and mother experiencing the loss of her husband and child, and she had never personally suffered loss to such degree. She didn't know if she could be believable. But she accepted, and in order to prepare, she began attending support meetings for people walking through the valley of extreme grief.

Initially she offered suggestions and thoughts when those in the group shared their stories. She, like most of us, wanted to be helpful. But gradually sh stopped talking, and simply started listening. It was only then she began truly learning to walk a mile in their shoes. And her realization came by using her ears.

Jeremiah's indictment against the people was that they refused to use their "ears" to hear the Lord's voice. The prophet did not mince words, calling them " foolish and senseless people." God is constantly at work in our lives communicating words of love, instruction, encouragement, and caution. The Father's desire is that you and I learn and mature, and we have each been given the tools, such as ears, to do so. The question then is, will we use them to hear the heart of our Father?

Father, I believe You are always speaking.Forgive my stubborn tendency to think I have all the answers. Open my ears that I may hear.

Our ears help us mature in our faith, if we'll listen.

1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen

Deeper Love

Deeper Love

When they first met, Edwin Stanton snubbed US president Abraham Lincoln personally and professionally But Lincoln appreciated Stanton's abilities and chose to forgive him, eventually appointing Stanton to a vital cabinet position during the Civil War. Stanton later grew to love Lincoln as a friend. It was Stanton who sat by Lincoln's bed throughout the night after the president was shot at Ford's Theater and whispered through tears on his passing, " Now he belongs to the ages."

Reconciliation is a beautiful thing. The apostle Peter pointed followers of Jesus there when he wrote, " Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." Peter's words cause me to wonder if he was thinking of his own denial of Jesus and the forgiveness Jesus offered him and us) through the cross.

The deep love Jesus demonstrated through His death on the cross frees us from the debt for our sins and opens the way for our reconciliation with God. His forgiveness empowers us to forgive others as we realize we can't forgive in our own strength and ask Him to help us. When we love others because our Savior loves them and forgive because He has forgiven us, God gives us strength to let go of the past and walk forward with Him into beautiful new places of grace.

The forgiveness of God is the test by which I myself am judged.