HONORED & LOVED

"Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4

Though written thousands of years ago to the people of Israel, I know that the eternal truths of these words ring just as true today to God's people as they did then. To read God's words telling me that I am precious, honored and loved is more than I can comprehend. I feel like I need to let these words soak into my heart. I am precious, honored and loved by GOD, my creator. I pray that my life would reflect the One who loves me.

Lord, as I shift my eyes and heart towards you and acknowledge your love and sacrifice, I am deeply humbled. I receive and embrace your love for me. Forgive me for always feeling that I'm not enough or less than what I should be. I pray that the TRUTH of who I am: precious, honored and loved, would become the heart and soul of my being. Thank you, Jesus, for the giving of your life for mine. I love you with all that is within me. Amen

AM I A REFUGE?

"Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land." Isaiah 32:2

The footnote in my Bible says, "The Lord's redeemed, as sources of protection and blessing, will reflect Him." What a powerful thought! I am to be a reflection of the Lord by being a shelter, refuge, stream and shade for others, just like He is for me! ME? Yes. Absolutely. It excites me to think that it is the Lord's desire to use me to touch people's lives the way he touches mine!

Lord, I always look to you as my refuge. I would LOVE to reflect you and be used by you to be a refuge to others and to lead them to the One who is MY refuge. May I always give YOU the glory. May every good thing I do be a reflection of who YOU are and of the beautiful faith that fills my life with peace. In Jesus' name, Amen

"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." James 2:18

PERSEVERANCE

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:4-5

When "life" gets hard, my first reaction is always the same: RUN! Relationships, jobs, goals and dreams that lose their excitement and fun factor are easily eliminated from my life when the newness wears off, but when the Lord has called me to stand firm, to fight through it, the rewards have been immeasurable. I love my husband, my sons, my friends and family. I love God. The richness and depth of each one of those relationships can probably be measured by a level of perseverance. I still struggle in knowing when to persevere and when to let go. I hope to always be lead by God's holy wisdom.

Dear Lord, I ask for your wisdom and strength so that I would always be able to persevere. I want to stand before you and say, "I am mature, complete, lacking in nothing." Forgive me for my weakness of heart. Help me to see beyond the moment so that I may live my life with the fullness that only comes through perseverance. Amen

THINK DIFFERENTLY

"The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 'Don't call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don't live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven's Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe.'" Isaiah 8:11-13

I've spent all afternoon thinking about this verse. I prayed and asked God to show me the areas that he wants me to "think differently." As I reread the verses, I think that the key to thinking differently than the rest of the world is in the following verse, "Make the Lord...holy in your life." It takes discipline for me to keep him in a holy, sacred place in my life. When HE IS THE CENTER of my life, I feel the balance, the peace and the strength that enables me to respond differently than I normally would. I take it to heart when any part of the Bible contain the words, "The Lord has given me a strong warning." I loved it when I continued to the New Testament reading for the day: Hebrews 8. I wanted to cheer when I read what God promises:

"I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people." Hebrews 8:10

To the Lord of Heaven's Armies, I acknowledge you as the Holiest part of my life. I ask that you would teach me to think, respond and live the way YOU want me to and not as the rest of the world does. In every part of my life, I ask for a readjusting of beliefs so that I would be aligned with what is holy and true. Help me to always take your warnings to heart. In Jesus' name, Amen

UNFAILING LOVE

"...You delight in showing unfailing love." Micah 7:18

God's love never ceases to amaze me. There is a generosity, availability and a transparency that always surprises me. Our all-powerful God delights in showing his love! He is never embarrassed that he wholeheartedly and passionately loves us, pursuing us, even to the point of death and humiliation. It is almost more than my mind and heart can grasp.

There is a quote on the website for Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, CA. It says, "To Love Jesus, To Love Like Jesus."

Jesus, I love you with all my heart. I am always looking for you and listening for you. I ask that you would increase my vision and hearing along with my capacity for loving others. It is easy to love you; I ask that you would teach me to love like you.
In your name, Amen.

THE ANCHOR FOR MY SOUL

"Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizekek." Hebrews 6:18--20

I LOVE these verses. When I finished reading them, I closed my Bible and held it to my heart. I could feel the words soaking into my spirit, reinforcing what I already know to be true: Jesus is my greatest hope, the ANCHOR FOR MY SOUL. I know he has lead me into God's innermost sanctuary, and in that place, I have felt the embrace of the ONE who loves me. During this past year, I deeply mourned the passing of my Dad. In the midst of my sorrow, I know that there were times I was carried into that inner sanctuary of God. I had no words. I had no prayers. I just knew that I was in the presence of Jesus. In the storms of life, I know what it feels like to be in the dark, thrashing to find a way out. I also know what it feels like to be anchored by a love that is immovable, immeasurable and everlasting.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." Psalm 73:25-26

"I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green, all your fruit comes from me." Hosea 14:8

"For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to EACH GENERATION." Psalm 100:5

"The children of your people will live in security. Their children's children will thrive in your presence." Psalm 102:28

On my birthday, one of my best friends asked me, "What do you want from God this year?" My first thought was: For God to bless my sons. My oldest son responded, "But what do you want for YOU?" As I've pondered and prayed, I changed the question to, "Lord, what do YOU want to give me this year?" He answered me today: "I want you to be free from what the world thinks of you so you can walk in the fullness of my love." My response was, "Yes! I would love that. Thank you, God!" Yet, inside, I could feel the murmuring of my heart: but what I REALLY would like is for you to bless my sons. When I opened up my Bible this morning to do my devotional reading, these verses pierced my heart. I knew without a doubt that along with the gifts he gives us, he also answers our deepest prayers, even when it's murmured.

Father God, I am so thankful for your Word, for your promises and blessings that pass from generation to generation. In a time of worldwide financial and governmental unrest, I trust that you will not only protect our children, but that you would richly bless them and strengthen them for the days ahead. I trust in you. Thank you. Thank you. You are an AMAZING GOD! I love you back. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12

Today is my 45th birthday. I always reflect on my life whenever this day comes around; a benchmark of where I've been, what I've accomplished and where my life-path is headed. When I truly invite the Lord to show me my heart, I find that it is with gentleness and clarity that he will show me the wonderful good as well as those "hard" places in my heart that need to be cleaned out.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your incredible love and mercy. Thank you for your kindness and desire for me to be free of any hardness of heart so that you may shower righteousness upon me. Forgive me for my cynical heart. Today, I choose to seek you and to plant seeds of righteousness. Please teach me, guide me, cleanse me and use me to touch others with your love. In your name I pray, Amen.