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Recently, I went through a time of being extremely low. Our church has been going through a transition. It had been a tough time. At every turn, there was more hard-to-deal- with news.

I felt as if our backs were figuratively against a wall. I came home from a prayer group and felt terribly down, more than I had felt in decades. Even after praying with my friends in that group, I couldn’t shake that low feeling.

I spent time in prayer. Then I texted two of my friends. One of them tested me a picture of the scripture, Isaiah 41:10.

fear not,…  ( Click for more )

Due to some concerns and anxieties that some of my friends and I have experienced, I found myself fretting over some issues I could not completely put out of my mind. I remembered this scripture and studied it again. Please bear with me as I explain what it means to me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves--when we look at our habits, our ways, and our activities, through God’s eyes and…  ( Click for more )

Due to some concerns and anxieties that some of my friends and I have experienced, I found myself fretting over some issues I could not completely put out of my mind. I remembered this scripture and studied it again. Please bear with me as I explain what it means to me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves--when we look at our habits, our ways, and our activities, through God’s eyes and…  ( Click for more )

Let me hear in the morning of your

steadfast love,

for in you, I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

David, the shepherd king, penned these words. He asks the Father to speak to him in the mornings. David desires to hear of God’s steadfast love. He tells God that he trusts Him.

David also asks for the Father’s guidance. Again, he speaks of his trusting God with his very being.

I have learned it is important to spend time in prayer and devotional/Bible reading when I am most alert.…  ( Click for more )

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

The Apostle Paul advises the Colossian believers to “put on” or wear as clothes qualities that model Jesus Christ.

COMPASSIONATE HEARTS- merciful attitudes

KINDNESS- going the second mile, gently responding to something done or said

HUMILITY- knowing who God is and who we are in…  ( Click for more )

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God.

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint

and to him who had no might he increases strength.

Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV)

Certain words and phrases in this passage stand out to me.

Everlasting- God does not go away. He truly lasts forever.

Creator of the ends of the earth-God made the entire earth and everything in it.

Not faint or grow weary - God possesses strength.…  ( Click for more )

Be still and know I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations.

I will be exalted in the earth!

The LORD of hosts is with us,

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV)

David tells us the words God has spoken to him. The LORD tells us to come into his presence and listen for what He must tell us. He then tells that God Almighty is with us and is our strength.

I enjoy the quietness of our house in the mornings. I can concentrate on God. I can reflect…  ( Click for more )

1 Samuel 1:9-17,18, 20

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Prayer of Petition

Hannah experienced depression. Her husband, Elkanah, had taken a second wife, Peninnah who had given him children. Hannah had not been as blessed.

Elkanah and his whole household made the trip to the Temple at Shiloh for the feast days. He would give portions of meat to Peninnah and to his sons and daughters. He gave a double portion to Hannah. Peninnah’s taunting and provoking caused Hannah great sadness to the point she…  ( Click for more )

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. John 14:21 (ESV)

The Apostle John gives us the basics to God’s love for us. He tells us that Jesus instructed whoever has and keeps my commandments does in fact love Him. Jesus also enlarges this thought to further say that those who love Him will be loved by our Father God.

Let’s see, if we love the Son, He will love us, and the Father will love us as well. As a result, Jesus will demonstrate…  ( Click for more )

Short Messages from God

Trust

Several of my blogging friends have written lately about the word that God has impressed upon them for the New Year. It has taken me a while to sort through my thoughts and search my heart to arrive at one special word for me for this year.

When I had what could have been a major problem several years ago, I kept hearing this word in my mind as I tried to work. I later ran across a scripture that told me to take heed and follow the advice of the wisest man on the earth. Here's what he said.

"TRUST…  ( Click for more )

His delight is not in the strength of a horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:10-11(ESV)

These words of the psalmist tell us that God does not rely on the things we might trust. He looks with favor upon those who respect Him and who truly believe in His undying love. As humans we see others placing their trust in things that will eventually wear out. The house my parents bought when I was a toddler has been torn down for several years. All but one…  ( Click for more )

Again, Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NRSV)

In our lives, due to our humanity, we, as well as others, have times of experiencing darkness. Uncertain times can bring times of fear. Financial difficulties, health crises, unemployment and marital problems all have caused people to begin to doubt themselves.

Some of these issues can cause people to sink into depression. However, there are remedies to looking at things cheerily while others might have…  ( Click for more )

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 (ESV)

Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison because they had an evil spirit leave a young servant girl. Her master depended on the income she brought to his coffers.

Other prisoners may have been trying to sleep. Paul and Silas were in stocks and, still, they decided to pray and sing hymns to God. His word tells us the other prisoners listened to them.

As I read this passage recently, I wondered what I would do if I were in their place.…  ( Click for more )

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” Hannah was speaking in her heart” “I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11,13, 15 (ESV)

This is one of the passages included in my prayer folder for Lent 2018. As I read…  ( Click for more )

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3 (ESV)

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time of preparation to celebrate our LORD’s resurrection. During the 40 days of this season, we focus on our relationship with Jesus and how we can improve it. Basically,…  ( Click for more )

Have mercy on me, O God

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin!”

Psalm 51:1-2 (ESV)

David wrote the prophet after Nathan confronted David with his sin with Bathsheba. He broke at least three of God’s Commandments. Let’s look at this passage and try to understand it better.

Have mercy on me, O God,

David asks for God’s love, although he realizes he doesn’t deserve it. He asked for mercy.…  ( Click for more )

What would Jesus Do?

In 1896, Charles Monroe Sheldon, authored a book entitled, “In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do?” In his novel, Sheldon wrote of a church that had become ‘comfortable’ in their Christianity. The church had a visitor on a Sunday. The man was, by today’s terminology, homeless. The pastor was appalled by the was the congregants received him. The pastor mobilized his congregation and some of the townspeople to deal with the issues of their day as Jesus would.

The subtitle became a watchword for people in the 1990s. Everyone of…  ( Click for more )

You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And a second one is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39(ESV)

Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question with our focus verse. I wonder why the why the man posed the question. Was he seriously seeking an answer to something that bothered him? Did the group of Sadducees put that lawyer up to asking a question to trick or embarrass Jesus?

His answer may have surprised those in the crowd. The question,…  ( Click for more )

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3b (ESV)

Our Father God gives us three very important messages in these 16 words. Let’s explore what these messages mean.

The first thing He tells us is that He loves us. Do we realize what all that entails? God looks at us with eyes of love. No matter what we may have done, He always looks at us and sees us in the light of love. He may be disappointed by our behavior but He still loves us.

The second thing He communicates to us is that His love…  ( Click for more )

His delight is not in the strength of a horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:10-11(ESV)

These words of the psalmist tell us that God does not rely on the things we might trust. He looks with favor upon those who respect Him and who truly believe in His undying love. As humans we see others placing their trust in things that will eventually wear out. The house my parents bought when I was a toddler has been torn down for several years. All but…  ( Click for more )

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-13

Paul writes these words to Titus, whom Paul describes as my true child in a common faith.

Paul gives Titus and us a picture here of God’s working in our lives and the reason for each of those steps He takes on our behalf.

Through God’s…  ( Click for more )

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing, they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not

know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in you

Psalm 39:7 (ESV)

At first, David paints a dismal word picture. Then he speaks that he relies on God. Why does he say this? Earlier in the chapter he tells the Lord that he was silent but it was no use. (v.2)

At times believers have experiences when God has directed them to remain silent in light of surrounding circumstances that were not pleasing. When…  ( Click for more )

Anticipating Hope

Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that sufferings produce endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Paul gives the Roman Christians sage wisdom in this passage.

“we rejoice in our sufferings,”

Wait a minute! None of us like to rejoice when we are ill. I, personally, didn’t rejoice when I severely broke my ankle…  ( Click for more )

Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

Do we understand the significance of the angel’s message? This message refers to a prophecy of Isaiah some 4oo years earlier. God is with us!

Even today, we see evidence of God’s presence in our world.At the end of November 2017, I received a prayer request from a very dear friend. Her husband’s nephew had called and asked her to pray for his new-born granddaughter. The baby was born with…  ( Click for more )