The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34:18)
When tragedy strikes and a loved one is lost, have you ever struggled for the words to offer a friend? The truth is there is no easy cure for a broken heart. There is no prescription you can take and often, the healing process takes a lot of time.
A broken heart needs a different kind of healing. Generous doses of compassion, comfort, encouragement, love, and listening will eventually restore the joy and hope to a hurting soul.
We must never forget that God is the master healer. As a loving friend, we can offer help, but none like the power our loving Father. When you are hurt and heartbroken, move closer to God than away from Him.
He is the greatest source of healing, peace, and joy; there is nothing this world as to offer that even comes close....
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Broken Wings
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts Him! (Psalm 34:8)
I am sure that I share the sentiments of many of my friends by stating, that it's great to see a new week begin! Last week was very difficult for many people that I love dearly. In offering comfort, I often found myself offering the same words of encouragement to different people, for different hardships.
Part of the reason God allows us to experience trials and sorrow in our lives is so that we may learn that He has the power to sustain us and provide for us all things that produce blessings and eternal benefits.
All of God's people will experience difficulties in their lives; Jesus assured us of it. It's often in the eye of the storm and in the midst of a crisis that God's love and peace are the most clearly manifested to all.
I am sure that I share the sentiments of many of my friends by stating, that it's great to see a new week begin! Last week was very difficult for many people that I love dearly. In offering comfort, I often found myself offering the same words of encouragement to different people, for different hardships.
Part of the reason God allows us to experience trials and sorrow in our lives is so that we may learn that He has the power to sustain us and provide for us all things that produce blessings and eternal benefits.
All of God's people will experience difficulties in their lives; Jesus assured us of it. It's often in the eye of the storm and in the midst of a crisis that God's love and peace are the most clearly manifested to all.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Wrong Way
But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" And God said, "I will be with you." (Exodus 3:11-12)
Despite some difficult obstacles I have faced in my lifetime, the words "I can't" are no longer in my vocabulary. I struggled with my weight for many years. I went off to college and partied like a rock star, ate like a pig and in sheer laziness, didn't exercise for about 6 years. By the time I miraculously graduated from Auburn University, I weighed 225 lbs. which is grossly obese for my tall 5'5" frame. After having a "spiritual awakening" and feeling downright miserable, I slowly but surely began to exercise again. It was difficult, painful, and embarrassing at first. I could barely walk up my driveway without being winded. As I progressed, and the weight began to fall off, I made a commitment that I was going to work out everyday if I felt good enough to get out of my bed. 11 years later, I now run 8-9 miles per day with a goal of running 3,000 miles in 2011. I am not writing this to brag or boast, but simply to encourage anyone who reads these daily devotions to believe that there is no limit to what you can do or accomplish knowing that God is with you.
Moses found himself doubting that he could accomplish what God had specifically asked him to do-free his people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt. God responded to his doubts and fears with a simple answer, "I will be with you."
What a relief knowing that God, the creator of all life, is with each of us, ALL the time. There is nothing that should ever cause us fear knowing that He will be with us always.... Praise His Holy name!
Despite some difficult obstacles I have faced in my lifetime, the words "I can't" are no longer in my vocabulary. I struggled with my weight for many years. I went off to college and partied like a rock star, ate like a pig and in sheer laziness, didn't exercise for about 6 years. By the time I miraculously graduated from Auburn University, I weighed 225 lbs. which is grossly obese for my tall 5'5" frame. After having a "spiritual awakening" and feeling downright miserable, I slowly but surely began to exercise again. It was difficult, painful, and embarrassing at first. I could barely walk up my driveway without being winded. As I progressed, and the weight began to fall off, I made a commitment that I was going to work out everyday if I felt good enough to get out of my bed. 11 years later, I now run 8-9 miles per day with a goal of running 3,000 miles in 2011. I am not writing this to brag or boast, but simply to encourage anyone who reads these daily devotions to believe that there is no limit to what you can do or accomplish knowing that God is with you.
Moses found himself doubting that he could accomplish what God had specifically asked him to do-free his people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt. God responded to his doubts and fears with a simple answer, "I will be with you."
What a relief knowing that God, the creator of all life, is with each of us, ALL the time. There is nothing that should ever cause us fear knowing that He will be with us always.... Praise His Holy name!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Lean on Me
The Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always. (Deuteronomy 6:24)
I had a very difficult conversation with a family member earlier this week in regards to trusting God and allowing him to take the lead. You see, God is not some magical genie that you call on only when you need something. I used the analogy of someone praying to be successful financially; if you pray that prayer, great, but it will never be answered if it is not in accordance to His will and if you are not willing to give your best effort. (Trust me, I know...)
The same principal holds true when we pray; you must also wait patiently to hear His often soft voice speaking into your life. Too many times, we grow impatient and make our prayer requests and follow our own selfish desires because we want instant action.
God made us, so He knows what's going on deep inside of us, including our drives, limitations, fears and weaknesses. His commandments are our blueprint to live the lives He desires for us to live. If you aren't willing to follow His commandments, who are are you following? You have to look at them as more than just a set of rules; they are His operating instructions that if followed, will open up the flood gate of blessings that He so desires to give us.
I had a very difficult conversation with a family member earlier this week in regards to trusting God and allowing him to take the lead. You see, God is not some magical genie that you call on only when you need something. I used the analogy of someone praying to be successful financially; if you pray that prayer, great, but it will never be answered if it is not in accordance to His will and if you are not willing to give your best effort. (Trust me, I know...)
The same principal holds true when we pray; you must also wait patiently to hear His often soft voice speaking into your life. Too many times, we grow impatient and make our prayer requests and follow our own selfish desires because we want instant action.
God made us, so He knows what's going on deep inside of us, including our drives, limitations, fears and weaknesses. His commandments are our blueprint to live the lives He desires for us to live. If you aren't willing to follow His commandments, who are are you following? You have to look at them as more than just a set of rules; they are His operating instructions that if followed, will open up the flood gate of blessings that He so desires to give us.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Lay Your Hands On Me
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. (Revelation 21:4)
It seems that recently the focus of most of my prayers are centered around healing. My good friends are mourning the loss of their long-time pet, my mother is in a fight for her life, a friend of a friend is a single mother battling cancer, and another friend is going through a difficult time in her relationship, just to name a few.
The good news is that Jesus has the ability and desire to heal each of us. It's when we go to Him in prayer that we truly express our faith and trust in Him. While He is a true miracle worker in every meaning of the word, He doesn't heal every single illness, grief, or hurt that we experience in our lives.
We know He is faithful as He heals us from our sinful nature each and every day. The best news is that His promises are real and one day we will all be fully healed and perfect with Him!
It seems that recently the focus of most of my prayers are centered around healing. My good friends are mourning the loss of their long-time pet, my mother is in a fight for her life, a friend of a friend is a single mother battling cancer, and another friend is going through a difficult time in her relationship, just to name a few.
The good news is that Jesus has the ability and desire to heal each of us. It's when we go to Him in prayer that we truly express our faith and trust in Him. While He is a true miracle worker in every meaning of the word, He doesn't heal every single illness, grief, or hurt that we experience in our lives.
We know He is faithful as He heals us from our sinful nature each and every day. The best news is that His promises are real and one day we will all be fully healed and perfect with Him!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Don't Look Back
"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." -Jesus (Luke 9:62)
We heard a great sermon this past Sunday at Cokesbury on being significant instead of just being successful. This really got me thinking about my life; what am I doing to be significant? Am I making a difference? I am sure that this comes with age and children, but I actually started thinking about this a while back. It was about the time that my family moved to Knoxville that I felt I was given a great opportunity to serve the Lord more passionately.
Jesus' words from Luke are 'hard-hitting." In the passage above, Jesus was describing to His disciples the cost of following Him. There are many reasons or excuses we can come up with when it comes to giving 100% of themselves for following Him. Some people have family ties, some hardships, and some just simply are afraid. It's when you come to the realization that it's all about Jesus that you begin to understand the true difference between success and significance.
Our days our numbered and while success is great; it is only temporary. If you really want to make a difference, fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to permeate every thought, attitude, and choice you make...then you will be significant!
We heard a great sermon this past Sunday at Cokesbury on being significant instead of just being successful. This really got me thinking about my life; what am I doing to be significant? Am I making a difference? I am sure that this comes with age and children, but I actually started thinking about this a while back. It was about the time that my family moved to Knoxville that I felt I was given a great opportunity to serve the Lord more passionately.
Jesus' words from Luke are 'hard-hitting." In the passage above, Jesus was describing to His disciples the cost of following Him. There are many reasons or excuses we can come up with when it comes to giving 100% of themselves for following Him. Some people have family ties, some hardships, and some just simply are afraid. It's when you come to the realization that it's all about Jesus that you begin to understand the true difference between success and significance.
Our days our numbered and while success is great; it is only temporary. If you really want to make a difference, fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to permeate every thought, attitude, and choice you make...then you will be significant!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Surrender
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. (James 4:6-7)
In the car the other day, Elliott was insistent that Spider-Man was "Pete" Parker and NOT Peter Parker, which of course is the same guy. You see, he had picked up on this by watching the cartoon, "The Spectacular Spider-Man." No matter how many times I tried to correct him, he answered with "no daddy, his name is Pete! Oh well, some battles are more important to win.
The same principle holds true in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. As long as drowning man thinks he can help himself, he becomes dangerous to anyone who attempts to rescue him. Until we surrender to God and give him full authority to reign supreme in our lives, we are not in any position to be helped either. We may not realize it, but when we aren't following his lead, we are listening to ourselves and being disobedient.
To truly follow God, we must make his will our own and it starts by surrendering our own will!
In the car the other day, Elliott was insistent that Spider-Man was "Pete" Parker and NOT Peter Parker, which of course is the same guy. You see, he had picked up on this by watching the cartoon, "The Spectacular Spider-Man." No matter how many times I tried to correct him, he answered with "no daddy, his name is Pete! Oh well, some battles are more important to win.
The same principle holds true in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. As long as drowning man thinks he can help himself, he becomes dangerous to anyone who attempts to rescue him. Until we surrender to God and give him full authority to reign supreme in our lives, we are not in any position to be helped either. We may not realize it, but when we aren't following his lead, we are listening to ourselves and being disobedient.
To truly follow God, we must make his will our own and it starts by surrendering our own will!
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