What Occupies Your Mind the Most Becomes Your God

God's first commandment is to have no other gods before Him. (Exodus 20:3) When we take our minds off of God, to place them on other things, we are replacing the real God with sad imposters. Some people worship their bodies: all they think about is calories and workouts and abs. Some people worship their families: they become overly anxious about the family welfare. And of course, some worship money and possessions. They spend all of their energy on gaining wealth and shopping. But strangely enough even worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxiety can gain a life of its own. Fear can infest your mind.
You can break free of these false gods by bringing your attention back to God: to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Affirm your trust in Him and refresh yourself in His presence. Put your faith in the eternal. Remember Matthew 17:20, "...If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."
What goes on in your mind is invisible to others but plain to God. He searches your thoughts, hoping to find signs that you are putting your trust in Him. Don't worship at the altar of any other earth-bound god. Guard your thoughts ... stay close to your Creator.

God Made Us Free to Choose Him ... or Not

(Note: I have been sick with the flu for the past week. I'm thankful that I now feel well enough to get back to posting for my blog and the rest of my normal activities.)
Today, I'd like to talk about the wonderful freedom that God has given man. This is one of the ways in which we are created in God's image. At the very beginning of the Bible, God says in Genesis 1:26: "...Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
What an amazing privilege and an amazing responsibility. God gives us the ability to act in our world: to care for ourselves and every other living thing. He has given us free will. We can choose to love and follow Him or we can choose to set something or someone else up as our own god.
Choosing God is something that doesn't come naturally. Our natures, because of sin, is to be disobedient. We must learn to focus our minds on God: we must not let other lesser things captivate our attention. II Corinthians 10: 5 tells us, "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 
That is our goal every day: to bring our thoughts captive to Jesus. Whenever your mind wanders, capture those thoughts and bring them back to Christ's presence. You'll find that your anxious thoughts shrink and disappear. Your judgmental thoughts are revealed and brought back to God's unconditional love. Confused thoughts are untangled when you seek the simplicity of God's peace.
Isaiah 26:3 assures us, "The steadfast mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You."
Choose God's freedom by capturing your wayward thoughts and bringing them under the control of Christ's Spirit. The peace He'll give you is worth it.

Jesus' Light Shines Through Our Weakness

In the places we are weak, Jesus is strong. When we admit our weaknesses and turn them over to Him, He can use them to demonstrate His power ... to us and to others. II Corinthians 12:9 makes that plain: "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." It's not our power that overcomes our weaknesses but God's power.
We have nothing to be afraid of; nothing to be ashamed of; nothing to hide. God can turn our weaknesses into strengths.
We are but empty jars of clay. It is the master who can make use of us. II Corinthians 4:6-7 tells us: "For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." 
Think of a piece of cloth. Hold it up to the light. It is where the cloth is most worn and weak that the light shines through the brightest. In a like manner, God's light shines through our weak spots onto others. They can see God at work in our lives and are blessed by our worn spots.
God can use our quiet, humble spirit more than our prideful, boastful self.  I Peter points out: "but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." We are more valuable and more useful when we admit our faults and seek His power.
His spirit of power and His presence go with us through our day. Take heart from Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." 
Take a chance today. Instead of trying to cover up your weaknesses, expose them to the Light of God's love. Let Jesus' light shine through your weakness.

Jesus Will Catch You When You Fall

It's not a matter of 'if,' it's a matter of 'when.' We are all bound to fall someday. We have days when things just don't go as planned. We run into trouble and our sense of God's presence fails. Maybe the car won't start or a friend says something mean. Do we find ourselves cursing or retaliating? Maybe we hear of job cuts or we get a diagnosis of cancer. Do we panic or lose faith? Whatever our circumstances, when we just can't walk this tightrope life any longer and feel ourselves starting to fall, we can be certain that if we have put our trust in Jesus, He will always catch us before we hit rock bottom.
I love the promise of Deuteronomy 33:27: "The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; ... "
When our home is with the Lord, we can be assured that He holds us in His 'everlasting arms.' He's never going to fail us. Friends may abandon us; spouses may leave us; children may resent us; we may feel like a failure. But God will never forsake us. Our position with Him is secure.
Earlier in Deuteronomy (31:8), Moses assures the people of Israel, "The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail your or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Really, what in this life is there to fear? No matter what life brings, Jesus will give you the strength to get through it. Cast you fears on Him. Jesus will catch you when you fall.

Jesus is the Boss

We may think we are the boss. We may make our plans and schedule our time but at any moment our lives may veer off course. What we think will happen today might be completely wrong. Remember it is God who orchestrates the events in our lives. Things may go smoothly or your well-laid plans may be thwarted.
God is in control ... even when (or especially when) the unexpected happens.
Many Christians quote Jeremiah 29:11 as their favorite Bible verse, " 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.' " Few go on to read the next verse,
" 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.' "
We see the trees. He sees the forest. We may think He has sent us a calamity but he always has our best interests at heart. I especially like how The Message paraphrases Romans 8:28, "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." 
As long as our lives are lived as a love letter to God, He will make sure all that happens will be for our good. Not that we'll like everything He does. Sometimes discipline and hardship are good for us. Sometimes trouble and pain help develop character and perseverance in our lives. But often, He gives us something even better than we were expecting.
Isiah 55:9 and 11 tell us, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than you thoughts.  So My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
Jesus' job is to send the commands. He's the boss. We are the workers. Our job is to keep on trusting ... keep on loving ... Him.

Jesus Will Displace Worry with Peace

What is at the center of your life and who controls it? Do fear and worry fill that pond in the center? Do you try to handle everything all by yourself? It doesn't have to be that way. Jesus can replace the worry with Peace and He is much better at managing your life than you will ever be. Don't try to go it alone.
Seek God and you will find Him. He is asking you to search for Him. Psalm 27:8 tells us, "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.' "
Ask Jesus and His Spirit to live in you and just watch the changes. Doubt is turned into Faith; Fear is turned into Trust; Worry is replace by Peace; Emptiness is filled with Love. Jesus longs to be invited in ... but He won't force Himself on you. You must do the seeking ... you must do the asking ... you must knock. Just ask Him; you don't have to beg or bargain or plead. He's only a whisper away.
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all you heart." Jeremiah 29:13. It does mean opening your whole heart; it does take sincerity. The new life you receive will be beyond your wildest dreams. A life fully devoted to God is rich and rewarding: full of hope and purpose. Don't wander around in the darkness. Come to the Light that Jesus offers. I've yet to meet a follower of Christ who has ever regretted the decision to let The Spirit take control. Live radiantly ... don't let anything dampen your search for Jesus.

Rocky Path Ahead? Jesus Gives You Deer Feet.

Our journey through life is bound to hit some rough spots. No life is completely free of bumps along the road. We each face our own particular stumbling blocks and challenges.
But take heart: God doesn't want you to face that rocky road alone. Habakkuk 3:19 paints this encouraging picture: "The Lord is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet. And makes me walk on my high places." (If you're wondering what a 'hind' is, the word refers to a female red deer.)
While I'm not a Biblical scholar, I am curious why God chooses the image of  female deers' feet. Why not a Billy Goat or a strong buck? Maybe because a female's legs are more fragile ... they are slender and more easily broken. That is certainly how my legs feel when I walk through rough territory. Because I am weak, I have an even greater need for God's help. He is the strong one, not me.
When we keep our eyes lifted up, looking into the eyes of Jesus, the rocky path doesn't seem so treacherous or scary. And look where he's leading us. Not on the smooth valley floor but up into the mountains. Our 'high places' are where we meet the most rewards and joy. It is from the heights that we can appreciate where we've been and see what's ahead. There is something thrilling about reaching the summit. When Jesus makes the journey with us and stands beside us at the top, it is even more exciting.
Some of us are afraid of heights: both physically and spiritually. We prefer the safe and secure route. But with Jesus holding your hand, you don't have to be afraid. II Timothy 1:7 assures us, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." Don't cling to the tried and true. Have courage. Strike out for the high ground ... with Jesus at your side.
A note: there is a wonderful book by Hannah Hurnard, "Hinds Feet on High Places." This story about Much-Afraid, Sorrow and Suffering in their struggle to follow the Chief Shepherd to the High Place is a beautiful allegory about changing weaknesses into strength and fear into faith. I highly recommend it.

Why Worry about Stuff That Won't Happen?

I do it. You do it. We all do it. We fill our minds with worry over things that are not even likely to happen. As if we don't have enough to worry about already, we waste our time thinking about stuff that's unlikely to occur.
Yesterday we talked about dwelling on the past: holding onto grudges and resentment about unfair circumstances. Today, let's look at our habit of living in the future ... a future that may never materialize. 
We worry about work: what will we say if the boss asks us to defend a decision. We worry about relationships: what will happen if friend A learns what we told friend B about them. We worry about our health: what if that mole turns out to be skin cancer and that cough turns into pneumonia. We worry about finances: what if the check bounces or we don't save enough for retirement and we wind up homeless. We worry about our safety: what if that new neighbor turns out to be a serial killer. Small things. Big things. Serious things. Ridiculous things.
We rehearse dialogue in our heads: "Well if he says this, then I'll say that." We make up dramas and play all the parts in all the imagined outcomes. Does any of this sound familiar?
Let's look at what the Bible says we should be thinking about instead. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
If we spent our time thinking about these things, we wouldn't have time to spend worrying about things that haven't happened and most likely never will.
I'm really good at "worst case scenario" thinking. But so what if the bottom falls out or the proverbial s_ _t hits the proverbial fan? I can't change anything by worrying about it ahead of time.
In the verses just prior to telling us what to fill our minds with, Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:4-6.
The next time you catch yourself starting to worry about the unknown future, turn you mind toward Jesus. Start giving God thanks for the present moment. The past is over and done with ... we can't change the past. The future, for good or bad, hasn't gotten here yet ... we can't know the future. Live in the "now" ... with a prayer on your lips, thanksgiving in your heart, Jesus by your side and peace in your soul. It's the best way to live.

Holding a grudge? Forgive and Forget.

Did someone say something unkind? Did you suffer an injustice? Did a friend slight you or slam you? You're not alone. We all experience petty insults. There is a saying, "I can forgive, but I can't forget." But really, can you say you've forgiven someone when you still hold a grudge?
I believe Jesus calls us to both forgive and forget. How much time do we waste going over and over some unfair circumstance? How much 'soul-energy' do we use ruminating on an injustice? We need Jesus to take control of our minds and erase all trace of that sting.
Look at the life of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-40. If anyone ever had reason to complain about the unfairness of life, it was Joseph. Hated by his brothers, sold into slavery by them, wrongly accused of rape, imprisoned unjustly ... and just when he thinks there is hope of release, the cup-bearer whose dream Joseph interprets, forgets all about him. Joseph had every reason to be depressed and resentful. But what do we see? Joseph relies on God through it all. He forgets the circumstances of the past. He doesn't wallow in self-pity. Instead, he meet every day with a spirit of thankfulness and does his best to excel at every task he's given. He is a leader whenever he goes, no matter what the situation. And God rewards him.
Later, when he is the ruler, directly under Pharaoh in the government, he meets his brothers again. They've come to Egypt because there is a famine. They don't recognize their brother at first. Is Joseph resentful? Has he held a grudge against them all those years? Does he try to make them feel guilty? No. He greets them with tears and hugs. He's not only forgiven them, he has even elevated their evil against him in his mind. He tells them in Genesis 50:20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 'So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."
Can we follow Joseph's example. Can we let those insults and slights roll off our backs? Jesus will give us the ability to do so. Ephesians 4:31-32 says it all, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just a God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Let's learn to forgive AND forget.

Riding the Big Waves with Jesus

Does it sometimes seem that you will get caught in the undertow of a big wave? Do you feel like a tiny speck in a huge ocean of trouble? Do mammoth waves of doubt, financial ruin, broken relationships, poor health ... even waves of worry about the violence and turmoil in the world around you ... threaten to suck you under?
There is an answer: keep you eyes focused on Jesus and he will save you from the crashing surf. He will still the waters, just as He did for his disciples on Lake Galilee as told in Mark 4 37-41. Now, as then, Jesus speaks and the water becomes calm. Jesus says, "Be still," and the waves recede.
And again, in Matthew 14: 25-33, we have the story of Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus. Jesus invites Peter out onto the water where He is walking toward the boat. Verses 29 says, "And He said, 'Come!' And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus." What happens next? Peter takes his focus off Jesus and starts to worry about the wind and the waves. Verses 30-31 continue," ... he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' "
He asks you the same: why do you doubt? Jesus is the ruler of this world ... nothing is beyond his command. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, no wave is too big to handle. But even when you feel like you're beginning to sink, if you cry out to Jesus "Save me!" he's not going to let you drown.
Jesus doesn't promise smooth seas all the time. We all have troubles, we all have doubts. Yet, what a thrill, when you look to Jesus and you're able to ride those big waves. Instead of wiping out, you can know God's peace. Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

There's No Use Pretending with Jesus

We all try to make a good impression on the people we meet. We use clothes and scents and creams and make-up to look our best. We want the world to see the version of us that puts us in the best light. But sometimes we don't really feel as 'together' as we like to appear.
I Samuel 16:7 tells us, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature ... for God see not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  
When you're dealing with God, trying to put a good face on things is pointless. He sees you as you really are ... warts and all. He knows your deep dark secrets and your greatest fears. You may manage to fool all the people all the time ... but you don't fool God.
And you know the amazing part? The part that's really hard to understand? He loves you anyway. He knows the worst, yet still want to be your friend. What a relief to hear the astounding news of Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This is the essence of the gospel. This is the Good News. God didn't wait to send you a savior until you had your act together. He didn't wait until you could prove you were worth saving. God sent his son to die for you while you were still covered in the dirt of every lie you've told, every petty theft from your employer, every mean thing you've said about a friend, covered in the dirt of every sin ... big or small. He loves you that much. He takes your weaknesses and makes them into strengths. He reforms your faults so you can help others. He knows you better than you know yourself.
Yes, truly, there's no use pretending with Jesus. He wants you to be the person you were always meant to be.

Greet the Day with Joy and Jesus

The gift of a new day. Can anything be as normal and yet exciting. Do you face the new day with fear and trepidation? Are you worried about some unexpected crisis? When you meet with Jesus each morning, those fears can disappear and the trepidation can be replaced with expectation.
Don't you love Psalm 118:24? "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." View each day as an adventure. Expect God to give you a surprise. Instead of trying to program the day according to our will, let God shape the day according to His Will. You have received a precious, unrepeatable gift. Trust Jesus to be with you each moment. Lean on Him and thank Him for His presence in you life. Remember Lamentations 3:22-23:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”

New mercies every morning! Greet today with joy and Jesus!

Whatever Today Brings, Jesus is There With You

As your day begins, you have only a vague idea of what may happen. Yes you have plans and schedules and chores but you cannot be certain about how your day will turn out. Only God knows your future.
Although we don't know what will happen today, we do know that Jesus will be right beside us. He will help us with any difficulties and rejoice with us in our victories. Don't you love the promise of Romans 8:38-39? "For I am convinced that neither death, not life, no angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, no depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
You heard that right: nothing outside ourselves can separate us from God's love. But we can separate ourselves. We can choose to ignore or reject Jesus' love. That's why it is so important to spend a few minutes with him at the beginning of each day. We get back in touch with our master. We pray for ourselves and others. We praise and glorify His name. When we fail to spend quality time with Jesus, we will be unprepared for what the day brings.
I love how The Message paraphrases our scripture in Romans: "I'm absolutely convinced that nothing ... nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable ... absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
"Embraced by Jesus." That's what my heart desires. As long as I'm held close to my master's heart, anything and everything that happens to me or around me is not going to change the fact that I'm loved by God.
We don't need a map for the road ahead. We have the one who made the road, who made us, and who will never abandon us. What is there to fear? We know that Jesus is there with us.

Thank Jesus BEFORE You Have an Answer

Jesus loves to hear our prayers. He wants to know what's on our minds, what's troubling us, what we need. Jesus longs to answer our prayers.
Today the devotion from "Jesus Calling" makes the suggestion to thank God for the answer to our prayer even before we see it. Instead of constantly repeating our request ... and instead of focusing on what we want but don't have ... let's begin offering prayers of thanksgiving before God gives us an answer. Matthew 21:22 assures us, "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Having a thankful heart is the "believing" part. We are so certain that we will receive an answer from Jesus that we can thank Him ahead of time.
As I John 5:15 makes plain, "And we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him." We can thank Him because we already have what we asked for. We can acknowledge and be grateful that Jesus is setting events in motion that will bring about an answer to our prayer. We can be grateful that He is working behind the scenes to give us our heart's desire. Colossians 4:2 tells us, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." 
While we wait for God to act, we can start asking if we need to change our perspective, if we should take some action, if we can be more receptive, so that we will be ready to recognize God's answer when it comes.
The answer may not be what we first expected. God may say "Wait;" He may even say "No;" or He may do something totally amazing, beyond what we imagined. But we will see the answer more clearly and accept it more willingly, when we have already been thanking Him for answering our prayer.

Practice Trusting Jesus in the Good Times

As we grow in our ability to lean on Jesus for all our needs, we find that when we've learned to trust him when things are going well, it will be easier to call on Him when we face a crisis. Jesus calls it 'laying up treasure.' Here's what He says in Matthew 6:20-21: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 
Some of us have discovered that putting money in a savings account is a "habit:" the more we get used to adding to our savings account on a regular basis, the easier it becomes. In much the same way, the more we make a habit of trusting Jesus, the easier it will be to go to him for help when we really need it.
It is also much like a friendship. We are more likely to go to a friend for help than a stranger. If we are not strengthening our friendship with Jesus when the sun is shining, then He will be more of a stranger than a friend when the dark clouds start building up. If we have treasure in heaven, we won't be bankrupt when disaster strikes.
Jesus never fails; He never turns us away. What a blessing to know that we can always count on God's help. Psalm 56:3-4 teaches us, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose work I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid ..."
Are you laying up treasures in heaven? Try trusting Jesus in the good times and just see how much easier it will be to trust Him in the bad times.

Jesus says, "Hold up a minute."

Are you someone who tends to rush ahead with your own plans instead of waiting to hear what God wants? Do you make decisions and then go back to get God's approval? Guess what ... we're all in the same boat.
I've made plenty of wrong turns; rushed into things before finding out what God's choice might be. Yet, praise Jesus, He has always found ways to clean up my messes. He is faithful even when I'm not. He doesn't abandon me, even though I run off in the wrong direction.
Are we willing to take the advice of Psalm 27:14? "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Jesus simply asks us to wait. Why do we find that so hard? We put ourselves into stressful situations when we fail to wait for God's timing. My prayer is to learn to wait patiently until I'm certain I've heard God's OK before making any more life-changing decisions. I know my life will be so much better when I know I'm within His will. Life will be more enjoyable when I make the journey with Christ at my side ... not behind me, trying to catch up. I only hope in the future I pay more attention when Jesus says, "Hey, hold up a minute."

Can Hope in Jesus Overcome Depression?

The 'Jesus Calling' devotional today claims: 'Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity.' Will the golden cord of hope bear the weight of your despair? Can hope in Jesus really overcome depression? I believe there is reason to think so. I can affirm from my own experience that hope brought me out of a troubled time in my life.
Nearly three years ago, right after I moved from Hawaii to San Diego, I experienced a 'dark night of the soul.' Near my birthday in March, I started feeling disconnected from the world around me. I had no friends in the area. I wasn't reading my Bible. I had stopped going to church. I lost my sense of purpose. My days were almost surreal. Other people seemed happy ... but why? Life seemed meaningless.
Thankfully this period of depression was short-lived. I connected with old friends. I began attending a good church again. I found new purpose and direction for my life. I started to hope that tomorrow would be better than today. Jesus led me out of that spiritual desert to a place of refreshing water and tender care.
Depression is often a soul-sickness. Despair may mean we've forgotten that Jesus offers all the help we need. Purposelessness can be the result of losing our connection to God.
If you struggle with depression, try looking outside of yourself ... to Jesus and to friends. Focus on others: find a way to serve someone else. Believe that Jesus is only a prayer away. Start reading the Psalms. Be encouraged by Romans 15:13, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
You can find a purpose for your life again if you trust God to supply it.You can overcome depression if you ask Jesus to give you hope.

All of Heaven and all of Earth Praise Him

Today's devotion talks about the joy in praising God. Adoration of God comes in many forms: a child's prayer, a song, a sermon, a bird's flight, the earth's delight in the creator. I'm reminded of Psalm 148, that great song of praise. Christ said if the people did not worship God, then the very stones would cry out.
I'd like to share a wonderful demonstration of the reality of Psalm 148. Louis Giglio puts together the sound of pulsing stars with the songs of whales in a beautiful chorus of praise. If you haven't seen this video before, I encourage you to view it now.

http://youtu.be/7zWKm-LZWm4

Even though God has all of heaven and all of earth to give him glory, he still seeks your praise and thanksgiving. We have an opportunity to join in with the rest of creation to give him praise. Fill those spare moments of your day with a word of thanks or an offering of praise.

Jesus Gives More than We Can Imagine

"More than we can imagine!" What a promise Jesus gives us in Ephesians 3:20: "With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." Has this happened in your life? I know it has in mine. I never imagine I'd ever own my own home ... yet Jesus provided one. I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to go back to college ... yet Jesus gave it. So many times I've asked the Lord for one thing and He's answered with more than I knew I could ask for.
You'll notice in the scripture above, that the operative phrase is "With God's power working in us, ..." It is only when we surrender all to Jesus that we can expect the unexpected. When we try to fix things on our own, we may achieve what we set out to do. But when we turn to Jesus for help, we often get something beyond what we could do ourselves.
Seems like the more extreme the difficulty, the more we see God's power at work. Just listen to this great promise in Isaiah 40:31, "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Don't get tired or weary, just keep imagining the unimaginable.

Learning to trust Jesus through adversity

It's easy to say "I trust You, Jesus" when the sky is blue and everything is going as planned. But what happens when the clouds roll in and our perfect life begins to crack? It is when we face the tough days or go through times of despair, that we  know what trusting in Jesus really means. If we think we can handle everything ourselves, if forget Jesus, we either fall flat or become selfish and self-centered. If instead we rely on Jesus, we see how capable He is in standing by us and seeing us through the rough times. We can count on Him.
II Corinthians 4:7-9 gives us such hope: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Without the trials and temptations, we can't learn what it's like to live a life completely dependent on Him. Every failure is followed by growth: in faith, in spirit, in power, in love. We can live a victorious life. We can have more than we can even think or imagine. First, however, we must learn to trust Jesus through adversity.

"I Trust You, Jesus."

My selected devotional for 2014, "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young makes this suggestion today: learn a new habit, say "I trust You, Jesus," in response to whatever may happen in our lives. Sick or in poor health? "I trust You, Jesus." Broken relationships or strained friendships? "I trust You, Jesus." Loss of a job or financial difficulties? "I trust You, Jesus." Depressed or directionless? "I trust You, Jesus."
In every situation, the answer is always, "I trust You, Jesus." Just think of His power ... to heal, to calm, to bring joy and peace. Believe He is beside you, ready to help you in the trying events of life. Why do we fret? Why worry? What have we to fear? We have the master of the universe as our friend.
In Isaiah 30:11 we find comfort: "Like a shepherd He will tend the flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes." 
What more can we ask for? What joy to be held near His heart. We receive these blessings with gratitude ... and the fortitude to just keep repeating, "I trust You, Jesus."

Peace in Jesus

As the year begins it is easy to fall back into old patterns of worry and concern. Jesus calls us out of those patterns into the calm of his presence. Psalms 31: 20 assures us, "You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues." How wonderful to know that we can cast our cares on him and he will hide them "in the secret place of Your presence."
We let so many things rob us of our peace. It is unnecessary: causing us pain we don't need to bear. In John 16: 30, Jesus tells us, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world." Courage comes not from our own abilities to handle our problems but directly from the hand of God. Accept the peace that Jesus offers.

My friend Jesus

As we come into God's presence each day, we put aside our chores and daily cares to simply sit down with a friend. For most of my life I've addressed our Savior as "Lord" or "Christ." But this year I want to learn to call him my his name, "Jesus." We don't call our close friends by their last name or by their official title, such as Doctor or Esquire. When we speak to friends, we use first names. And above all else, that is what Jesus is to me: my BFF (and I do mean Forever.) He has asked me to be his friend. How can I ignore that invitation?
In today's devotion in "Jesus Calling," by Sarah Young, we are reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:39-42. Martha had an important guest in her home, her Lord and Savior, and so we can understand that she'd want to have everything perfect for him. But her sister Mary was content just to sit at the feet of her friend to hear what he had to say. Luke tells us that Mary chose what is better ... something that will not be taken away from her.
Household tasks can wait. Errands can be put on hold. Right now, we can choose the better part ... to sit with our friend and listen to what he has to tell us. What a privilege to have a conversation with our friend, Jesus, something that will never be taken away from us.

Aware of His Presence

A brand new year. A brand new devotional book, "Jesus Calling." A brand new journal. I love how God knows us so well. What a blessing to put the old behind us and reach out to a new beginning. Not only are His mercies new every morning, His presence is new and newly available each new year. We have a new opportunity to renew our minds (Rom. 12: 2): to start fresh, learning to be conscious of His care and devotion each moment of the day. In my quiet time this morning I was reminded of that lovely hymn, Moment by Moment:
"Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;
Moment by moment I've life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine."
That is my song and my prayer on this first day of 2014. His love never fails. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us "I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." What a wonderful promise for the new year: hope and a future. Begin each day in His presence and stay close to Him all day long. Happy New Year, friends.