He Sees

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
It doesn't say He hears my words and knows my thoughts; it says He sees them.

"You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord."
The omnipresent God sees everything.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good."

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
May God grant me a sense of His presence in the inner man. Then, I will fear the Lord and with the wisdom He gives me, my life can be a continual act of worship, a living sacrifice.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Making a List

An assignment for an autumn Sunday:
Make a list of all the circumstances from your past that brought (may still be bringing) you sorrow, disappointment, loss, anger, pain, confusion . . .
Make a list of all your current circumstances that are causing you sorrow, disappointment, loss, anger, pain, confusion . . .

Now, go to a quiet place and pray this prayer for each thing you listed: My loving Master and Sovereign Lord, thank you for all the circumstances you have brought or allowed into my life. All of them. I know that each one was necessary for me to become more like You. I know that each one was essential if I was going to be a channel of blessing to all those you are bringing into my life today--all those who need to be touched by your love through me. Thank you for loving me enough to mold me into your image--no matter the cost. It cannot compare to the price You paid to purchase Me.

My heart's desire is to be like You.

"It will be worth it all when we see Him."

Standing on the Promise

The verses I cling to during my most difficult struggles are Romans 8:35-39. It is the truth that brings peace to my struggles, stifles the fears in my heart and mind, lifts my sagging spirit and places my feet on the Rock.
There have never been any circumstances in my past that were, or are, capable of separating me from His eternal love.
There are no circumstances that have entered my life today that can separate me from His love.
There will be no circumstances in my future that can for a moment separate me from His love.
Death will not separate me from His love but take me into His arms. I will see His face!!
My careless sins--my thoughtless actions--from my heart of iniquity will not separate me from His love.
My deliberate acts of disobedience will not separate me from His love.
When others betray my love callously or malevolently--even those who have sworn in God's presence that they would not do so--I will not be separated from His loyal, faithful, comforting love. He cares for me. Always. From His heart of compassionate, tender-hearted empathy, He weeps with me.
No earthly power can separate me from His love.
If I ascend to the heavens, behold, His loving presence is there.
If I descend into the abyss of death, His loving right hand will hold me close. I cannot flee from His love--even if in my petty anger and self-pity I want to.
On my darkest days, darkness and light are alike to Him. His love makes the night as bright as day.
No supernatural power can separate me from His love. The mightiest angels cannot separate me from His love.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing--can ever, for the blink of an eye, separate me from the love of my Savior.
"Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art!"
"Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit's call, resting in my Savior as my all and all, standing on the promises of God."
Hurting tonight? Struggling with sorrow and disappointment? Worried about tomorrow's tears? Stand--rest and be still--trust in the promise of His inescapable love. And you will know--experientially--that He is God. Your God.

Distributors

We must remember that we do not "manufacture" the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Only He can do that. But He doesn't do it so that people can look at us and say, "Oh, how spiritual he or she is." No, He transforms us into His likeness that we might show--lavish on others--His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His self-control. The purpose of "fruit trees" is not to look pretty--it's to feed, enrich, and nourish others. And what happens to fruit that just hangs on the branch? Exactly. Be a "distributor" of the fruit--the life--of Christ that is in you. Contribute to the spiritual health of those God has put into your life for you to "feed." And how many days do they need to "taste and see that the Lord is good"?

A Prayer Request

Praying for a Christian friend going through difficult times? May I suggest a prayer request? Pray that the Savior will fill them with His joy. If joy can empower Nehemiah and his friends to rebuild the walls of the city of God in the face of the resistance and conniving of a hateful enemy. . . If joy can empower Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ to exclaim "I have learned to be content in all things." I can do anything through Christ who is my strength." "My God will supply all my needs according to His riches". . . If joy can empower our Savior to endure the cross, despise the shame, and finish the work God the Father sent Him to do . . . What could be more necessary and empowering in your friends life and struggles than the outpouring--"inpouring"--of God's joy into their life and circumstances?

"The joy of the Lord is our strength."

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

"Until now, you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full."

Reflections on Simple Things

 The Christianity that makes a difference majors in the smallest acts of love. Acts anyone could do, but few choose to do. Why is it that we always think it's the spectacular that gains God's approval? By doing so, we waste a multitude of opportunities to simply touch people's lives with the spectacular love of Christ.
 __________

Have a desire to make a powerful impact on the world for Christ? Close the closet door and become committed to intercessory prayer.
__________

Ever wonder whose life you can touch with a word of encouragement? Everyone you come into contact with tomorrow will cherish such a word. Yes, everyone.
__________

Don't just believe in the power of love. Be loving.

On Those Days . . .

On those days when I wake up in the morning exhausted in every way . . . On those days when the physical thorns that God has given to me because He knows the depth of my pride have frayed my soul and my pity-party is worthy of an Oscar nomination . . . On those days when my spirit groans at the thought of fulfilling my calling--my heaven-given vocation, even for one more day . . . On those days when my spirit is darker than the sunless morning that greets my awakening . . .On those days when I cry out in my rebellion that I want to live my life, my way . . . I find there is only one cure: to go and to do what He has ordained for me to do. Then, at the end of the day, I look back and my heart and soul and spirit are amazed. . . It was a good day. Despite my spiritual malaise and self-centered complaining, the God of the Universe, the God of patient love, has used me to do His will. The truth, once more, resounds in this old heart: His "strength is made perfect in weakness." "His grace is sufficient."

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean. O how marvelous! O how wonderful! And my song shall ever be.  O, how marvelous! Oh, how wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me."