The Lord - all day long

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them His message. (John 20:18)

 

7:00am Thankful not only that I read God’s Word but that He caused a verse to catch my attention and He was there so I could pause to talk with Him about it

 

8:00am Thankful that God made me aware of a mistake in my knitting before I got too far along. He was there, knowing I wanted to pay attention to the pattern. Nothing seems to be too big nor too insignificant for Him.

 

9:00am Thankful for God’s leading my husband and I to take our daily walk earlier, before it got really hot outside. The beauty of His created world in our neighborhood, a chance to talk without distraction or interruption, His presence in the peace and calm and leisure that surrounded us.

 

10:00am Thankful His presence prompted me to recall upcoming birthdays and a desire to send out cards to let people know they are thought of and remembered fondly.

 

11:00am Time to just sit and enjoy an apple and watch a little mindless entertainment. His presence filling in so there is no room for dwelling on problems. Knowing it’s all in His hands anyway. Whether I worry or try to fix everything or just blissfully surrender it all to Him – it is wonderful to sit here and remember God is sovereign Lord over it all and take a real break from the demands we put on ourselves.

 

12:00 noon Thankful my “part-time work” requires me to research inspiring, encouraging word of God to be shared. Today, about God’s presence!

 

1:00pm Being uplifted myself as I type these God-sightings in my life, my day. How very comforting to have Him so near, so often

 

2:00pm And now a nap. Because a rest from thinking, doing, and feeling is good for the heart, mind and soul. And I know He watches over me

 

3:00pm Mail call brings a greeting card signed by a bunch of dear friends from miles away. What a blessing from God!

 

4:00pm Electronic device not cooperating. Grrr …but the Lord reminds me, right away, do not be anxious about anything! So instead of getting frustrated, I walk away. I can try it again later. I will not be anxious – especially since He just reminded me!

 

Well, you get the idea. God is profoundly present in everyday life, but you’ll but look.

In great and small things – how have you experienced the living, ever-present Lord this week? I’ll bet you can find Him!

 

Aaaugh! ... oh, whew!

If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5: 29-30)

 

Gouge your eye out! Cut your hand off! I can’t even imagine the kind of painful, bloody, and gore-ish mess of actually doing that. But God is telling us that is how much we should hate the sin in our lives, the sin we carry around in our bodies; accepting the sin as if it’s truly a part of our body. Take sin seriously! Gouge it out. Cut it off. Permanently remove it. Cast it far away. Lose the sinful part.

 

But alas. Even my very best “Love God and Neighbor” days, I am a sinner.

 

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24)

 

All these thoughts of pain, blood and gore take me to the foot of the cross. Our Savior’s crucifixion. Not a gouging out or cutting off His sin … but ours.

 

Who will rescue me?

 

You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins,  and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.  In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away. (Colossians 2:13-15)

 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus …

 

… whew …

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Physician

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, …  At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20)

 

 

My mom passed away several years ago. But many years before that, she was diagnosed with diabetes. The doctor told her she needed to lose 100 lbs.! She immediately changed her diet, cut out sugar, started walking … and she literally lost the 100 lbs. When asked how she did it, her response was, “I just told myself, ‘All that sugar is poison to my body. It will make me sick.’” That purpose and reasoning was implanted and she enjoyed success. Weight loss and controlled diabetes. Better health and strength. Able to enjoy daily life. She listened and obeyed the doctor’s instructions.

 

A season of change. A period of tough times. Determination. “I have to” spirit. I have to! Keeping the goal in mind. Working toward a greater good. Making the choice to immediately listen and obey. No looking back.

 

If mom had been wishy-washy, at her age who knows what devastating effects the diabetes could have had, but we can guess. What misery, what limitations. But despite the what-if challenges, she trusted the physician and gained … life.

 

You, too, have a “Physician” with orders and commands that lead to eternal life. Life that can be enjoyed this very day. Are you ready to turn yourself around and commit to listening and obedience – for a greater good, a greater life? (Like peace, joy and strength beyond human understanding despite circumstances)

 

Make a determined and immediate choice to “Follow Me.” And like mom, keep your eye on the reward.

 

 

Personal Morning Quiet Time

 

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. (Psalm 143:8)

 

Thank You for Your Word again this morning, dear Lord, and for establishing this morning time within me. Thank You for any thoughts or messages You send my way regarding all that You want me to know. Sometimes it is hard to get my head around the fact that I can have a relationship with You, great big God; hard to understand a relationship that is sensed but not in the regular, visual human way and yet I cannot deny Your existence. Somehow You are very real. Thank You, Jesus, for making this relationship possible. Thank You for washing my sins away and making me fit for heaven and eternal life with You. Thank You that eternal forever life with You includes today. You continue to sustain and provide in ways beyond my human asking – before I know what I need, You are there.

 

Forgive my selfishness, my self-centeredness – everything I do on my own without consulting You; for any attitude that does not worship and glorify You; that does not fear You. Forgive every niggling worry that keeps me from listening, obeying and trusting You; for every worldly concern that keeps me from loving You and neighbor as I ought. Forgive every sinful distraction that keeps me from living life the way You planned.

 

Keep working on me, keep transforming me, I pray.