Category: Prayer Starters

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

His Reward

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study – Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w2d4

Scripture: Revelation 22:12-13

Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last , the beginning and the end!

True confessions … I am not one that has ever been comfortable with the topic of rewards in or for the Christian life, Don’t get me wrong, I know Jesus speaks of the rewards, and I do consider them an exciting part of what is to come, and let’s face it I would much rather be given His reward than the punishment unbelievers will face; however, I believe we must be careful to not focus on the reward and lose sight of the One who is bringing the reward with Him. Perhaps my aversion to the thought of earning rewards stems from my overly competitive personality. Board games, card games, sporting events, and nearly anything else that can be turned into a competition bring out the competitor in me … or at least it used to. At some point in the past several years (actually much further back than that), I realized just how obnoxious my overzealousness to win was – actually, I believe it was God who pointed it out to me, and He’s been working on me ever since. But, just in case you see me in overdrive in one of the aforementioned situations – please remember – God’s not finished with me yet. 😊💜

My point of sharing this less-than-flattering part of my testimony was simply meant to be a segue into the Love God Greatly devotion for today. However, when I read the Devo (after writing the segue), It let me know I’m not the only one who doesn’t like to talk about the idea of being rewarded for our good works/faithfulness. The devotion also helped me realize there might be more reason for my reluctance to dwell on the rewards to come. They suggest that because “we know we can never earn our salvation, a free gift from God, we tend to get nervous when the topic of rewards is brought up.” I don’t know that this truly applies to me as much as my competitive nature, but I do hope you’ll keep reading to see and be as encouraged as I was.

To be clear, our salvation is not a reward. It is a gift, not of works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:8-9). You can read more about this in The More We Know section below.

Focusing on my future with Jesus helps me endure today.

LGG Journal: Come, Lord Jesus, Come / p 84

INTO THE WORD

In some of our Christian circles, we don’t talk much about this idea of being rewarded for our good works. I think it makes us feel uncomfortable. Since we know we can never earn our salvation, a free gift from God, we tend to get nervous when the topic of rewards is brought up.

But in Revelation 22:12–13, Jesus specifically says that when He returns, He will repay us according to how we lived our lives. What a comfort this promise is for those who have suffered greatly for the name of Jesus. It is encouraging to remember that nothing done for God is ever forgotten or wasted. Jesus sees the sacrifices made. He sees the injustices inflicted on those who have taken a stand in His name. He knows the things that have been taken from His people, and He has not forgotten. Because Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, He has seen it all, beginning and end, and nothing has escaped His notice. He will reward us according to our work.

When Jesus first came to earth, He came as a baby. When Christ comes again, He will come back as the roaring lion, ready to bring judgment upon the earth.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank You for being holy and good. Thank You for seeing it all. You never miss an injustice or heartbreak. Thank You for never wasting any hurt that I go through. Thank you for always bringing good and purpose out of my pain. Even though I pray my primary motivation for obedience will be my love for You, I thank You for the promise of Your heavenly rewards. I look forward to the day when I can lay them all down at Your holy feet. May I do everything for Your glory. Until the glorious day when I see You face to face, I will continue to pray come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

The More We Know

Rewards for the faithful

The judgment seat of Christ does not determine our salvation; that matter was settled by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All our sins are forgiven, and there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24, emphasis added).

More on Rev 22:12

More on Rev 22:13

The Crown of Life

Second Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” This is often referred to as the “Bema seat,” and is not the same as the judgment given to those who reject Christ. Unbelievers will be judged at the great white throne and be sentenced to eternal suffering in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15).

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

He’s Coming Again!

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w2d3

Scripture: Revelation 3:10-11 (11)

 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. – Rev 3:10-11. NET

Despite the fact that I frequently share the devotions from the study journal, I will not always do so. However, I do believe they are most helpful in gaining further insight. I find this to be especially true in this particular study since some passages, like today’s, deal with eschatological events; I’ve mentioned before that while I have heard many messages preached about the end times and have read through the book of Revelation, I have never delved into a study of Revelation and/or the end times. So, as it arises in this study and others, I lean even more heavily on trusted resources, friends, and Pastors to help me understand what I’m reading in order that I might correctly explain the Word of God. 1

This one thing I do know and cling to daily – Jesus is coming again!

Coming again coming again
Maybe morning maybe noon
Maybe evening and maybe soon
Coming again coming again
Oh what a wonderful day it will be
Jesus is coming again

Jesus is Coming Again / John W. Peterson

INTO THE WORD from p 64 of the Come, Lord Jesus, Come / an LGG study

Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Revelation 3:11

These verses, originally written to the church in Philadelphia, can be considered controversial depending on your view of the end times. Some scholars have read these verses and believe they are a promise that the church, as a whole, will be spared from experiencing the tribulation in the end times (1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11). However, other scholars believe these verses apply to only the church in Philadelphia, regarding a specific hour of testing and persecution in their time and region.

Either way, we know Jesus is coming back. That is both a fact and a promise. So, whether God chooses to remove the church before His final testing, sometimes called the tribulation, like He did with Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, or He allows the church to go through the tribulation and protects her as He did with Israel in Egypt or with Daniel in Babylon, we know that God has made a provision for us. He has been providing the church with strength and courage in the midst of horrific persecution throughout the centuries and is doing so to this day.

Instead of allowing division to form around the interpretation of eschatological events, let’s remain united around the promise of Jesus’ return and our hope of eternity spent with Him.

PRAYER

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for the promise that You are always with us, to the end of the age. Help us not allow our hearts and minds to give in to fear, but give us supernatural courage to face the world without fear, knowing that You are fighting our battles. Help us remember our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are currently facing great difficulty for Your name. Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in our lives and the blessed hope we can carry in our hearts as we look to our future spent with You in heaven for eternity! Until that glorious day, we will continue to pray come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

The More You Know

Are you ready? If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are by the grace of God part of the family of God, and your eternity is secured forever in Heaven with God. However, if you have not believed, I plead with you to read Know These Truths and call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Goal of Peace

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w2d2

Scripture: John 14:15-31 / SOAP: 27-28

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. 1 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 2 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 3 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 4 31 but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.

Today’s devotional is borrowed and shared from the Love God Greatly Journal, p 64. I found it to be another wonderful reminder that we are meant to walk in peace and not despair. This peace isn’t one that we generate or gain from the world, it is a gift that comes only through and in Jesus Christ. It is available to all who believe in Him. In yesterday’s post, we looked at the difficulties and messes that challenge us in this world. Today, Jesus makes it clear that the world has no hope to offer us, for it is filled with lies, unfairness, and death. The good news and promise of hope is that He left His disciples/us with His peace. His is a peace that resides in us through the Holy Spirit. It is a peace that fills us with courage and overcomes the troubles that we face in this world. Jesus said that it was important for the disciples to know all of this because of what was about to happen, and the same is true for us as we watch the ‘ruler of this world’ stir up all kinds of evil around us. We need to remember that, the enemy has no power over those who belong to Christ, and – like Jesus – we need to press on in what God has called us to do – which is to live and love like Jesus so that the world may see and know God through us.

Once again, Jesus connects the ideas of love and obedience (John 14:15, 21). His submission to the will of God is evidence that His message is true (John 5:19).

Bibleref.com

INTO THE WORD is borrowed from the Come, Lord Jesus, Come journal / p64

Jesus’ peace is ours for the taking. He did not leave us to worry or fret over the decline we see happening in the world. That is not a burden we are meant to carry. Instead, Jesus has given us peace to carry us through our hard days and sleepless nights. Having Jesus’ peace does not mean we will not walk through hard times. It means we will not walk through them alone.

We can experience peace when it feels like our world is spiraling out of control because true peace is only found in Jesus, not in this world. The only long-term thing this world has to offer us is heartache and worry. Because we have peace that surpasses all understanding, we can confidently look forward to the days ahead, knowing Jesus is already there. We do not need to fear our present or future because we know Jesus is always with us.

Knowing we can find peace in our lives despite our circumstances, we can choose today to have courage. Now is the time to embrace Jesus’ peace. Now is the time to exhibit courage, even when we feel afraid. It’s okay to feel scared even as you choose to be brave. Why do you think Joshua spoke so much about being courageous right before he conquered the promised land? He, too, had to muster up courage as he headed into a new land. But Joshua didn’t let his fear stop him. He went anyway knowing that God was with him. Jesus is with you too, and because of Him, you can experience true peace no matter what is going on in your life.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank You for the peace You have so generously given me. Please help me embrace Your peace and put it into action in my life. Help me be courageous in the tasks You have given me as I look forward to Your return. Until that day, come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

The More We Know

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

A Faith that Requires Courage

Posted on by

Based on the study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come – by Love God Greatly / w2d1/ Image by LGG

Scripture: John 14:1-4 (3)

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. 3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”

Observations and Reminders from the Journey

Jesus Himself was, at times, distressed. “intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed “(Jn 11:33 and 12:27)

The term dwelling place in verse two, which is often translated “mansions” carries with it the reassurance that in the family of God there is room for all who believe.1

Christian living, or living and loving like Jesus, is to be the outward expression of our faith. Make no mistake this godly faith requires both discipline and courage. We are not called to paint on a smile and live the pretense that our lives are all sunshine and roses and free of trouble(s). We are called, however, to not let the troubles of this world weigh us down or deter us from our faith and God’s calling on our life. Instead we are to give them to God (Phil 4:6-7) because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7); we are to trust that He is not only working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose but that He is also using the troubles as opportunities to enrich our faith, (Rom 8:28-29; James 1:1-2). We are to fix our eyes on Jesus and fight the good fight – in other words stay alert, don’t turn away or fall prey to the false teachings and tactics of the antichrists meant to slay our faith. It will be a battle at times but it is a fight that, as Paul pointed out to Timothy, leads to the eternal life to which we were called, (1 Tim 1:18). It is the hope of our faith.

Life is hard, obedience is hard – loving our enemy is hard, being kind, bridling the tongue, and not demanding our own way are all difficult challenges. Difficult times are upon us, outrageous and heinous sin is everywhere, false teachings, and ‘live as you please attitudes’ aren’t relegated to the world but are in the ‘church‘ as well – making it difficult to tell the saved from the unsaved. This is exactly what we heard/read from Luke, John, Peter, and Paul last week and again today from John. It is undoubtedly daunting and seeming hopeless which is why we must not lose. sight of the TRUTH. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith Who has given us reason to HOPE. Through Him we have seen that our God is faithful and present with us. He will strengthen us and help us and He will hold us up with His victorious right hand! His Word is forever a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path and It is an arsenal of truth and power enabling us to stand firm against all who would/will try to lead us astray.

Notes From the Journey
A Prayer for the Journey

Father, when our hearts are troubled or distressed help us to set our eyes on You and on Jesus, our Savior, so that we are brave and courageous. Help us not to shrink back under trials or to walk away from You when things are difficult or not going the way we hoped. Help us to know the Truths from Your Word so that we are not led away from You by false teaching or the world’s temptations. Thank You that Jesus is preparing a place for us there where You are, Thank you that He will – one day – come again and take us to be with Him. We have been taught that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one comes to You, except through Him. Thank You for the Hope that is ours because of Your grace and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus. Thank You that while the battles on this earth and the lies of the enemy will be many we can live courageously knowing the victory is ours through Christ! -Hallelujah and amen!

Reflection for the Journey

As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!” What or who have you place your faith in? If it isn’t Jesus, I would love to introduce you to HIm. Please take a minute to click on the link “Know These Truths.” If you have any questions please message me at mryelnb@aol.com – with the subject line ‘Know these truths.”

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Stay the Course

Posted on by

Based on the study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come – by Love God Greatly / w1d45/ Image by LGG

Scripture:1 John 2:18-19

Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.

1 John 2:18-19

borrowed and posted from the Journal, Come, Lord Jesus, Come (P50)


There are so many reasons why it is important to read God’s Word for yourself and not rely on only what others claim it says, even well-known or well-trusted preachers or teachers. God’s Word helps you get to know God better. It helps you know His heart, His forgiveness, and the lengths
to which He has gone to redeem you from your sin.

Reading and knowing God’s Word also protects you from being deceived by false teachers, preachers, and modern-day antichrists—anyone who is against the teachings of Jesus Christ. From the time Jesus left to the moment He returns, there will always be antichrists, those who are against Christ and everything He stands for. But in the last hour, the antichrist of all antichrists will appear on the world scene. Again, as we move closer and closer to these events, don’t get discouraged. But realize that even in this, God is in control. As that last hour approaches, don’t be surprised when friends you thought were Christians suddenly turn away from Christ and travel down another path.

I know the pain when a dear friend, someone you love and who you honestly thought was saved, ends up turning away and denying Christ. I’ve felt that heartbreak, shock, and betrayal. But when friends and family decide to turn away and choose another “enlightened path,” pray for them, but don’t let them discourage you. More and more people will turn away from Christ as His return gets closer and closer. Stay the course and remain faithful. Pray that your heart will remain tender
and not hardened as you persevere. Don’t give up hope, and continue to live for Christ as you eagerly await His arrival.

Dear Lord, create in me a hunger for Your Word. Help me know it so well that I can immediately detect false teaching. Lord, I pray for those who have been deceived and for their salvation. Help them to repent and turn back to You. Until then, come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Stand Firm

Posted on by

Based on the study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come – by Love God Greatly / w1d4 / Image by LGG

Scripture:2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (7-8)

Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. 5 Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. 6 And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. 7 For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. 9 The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. 11 Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. 12 And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

Call to Stand Firm

13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.

Words of Warning

Today’s journey takes us down a path that is filled with more concerning, yet somewhat captivating, details of the last days. Seriously, I love to study God’s Word but have never been one to really delve into the study of or information about the end times Yet today, for some reason, this passage that I have read/studied before really and truly captivated my attention. Like Peter, in our previous journey, Paul warns the Church of Thessalonica to be alert to false teaching, specifically that they may receive news, allegedly from him saying that the day of the Lord had already come. He encourages the believers to let no one deceive them in any way. Paul makes it clear that that day will not come until the rebellion1 happens and the man of lawlessness2 is revealed.

See what I mean? Intrigue, danger, a possible forgery, deception and more, set the back drop for this portion of our journey. If you haven’t read the passage yet you may want to pause here and take some time to read, or even reread, the whole account.3

Words of Instruction and Encouragement Bring Hope

Paul subtly reminds the people that this isn’t the first time they’ve heard about this, and if they will recall what they have been taught they will realize the disturbing warning Paul has just issued, also comes with encouragement and the ultimate hope of the power and victory of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will destroy and wipe out the lawless one by the very breath of His mouth and by His promised return from heaven to earth! (if you were sitting here with me you would have just heard me shout hallelujah!) Oh the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus – clearly it explains why we dare to cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival.

2 Thessalonians 2:8. NET
The More We Know

One of the other things that captivated my mind was the part the Holy Spirit plays in all of this, namely the power He has to keep sin from being full blown. So, when I saw that the LGG devotion for today revolved around this portion of the passage, I knew I had to share it with you.

The following was borrowed and shared from the LGG Journal for Come, Lord Jesus, Come / p46

I know it may not always feel like it, but God, through the power of the Holy Spirit and His church, is actively holding back evil in our day. Some days it may be hard to imagine our world getting any worse when we see the evil that already exists in it. But Satan is not free to do as he wills. God is still God, He is still in control, and He is actively working in ways we don’t even know about right now. Amazingly, God has chosen us, His imperfect church, and the work He is doing through us to be one of His most powerful weapons in pushing back the darkness in this world. We can all think of the many defects of the church, but we shouldn’t underestimate the healing impact the body of Christ has on the world today.


By His incredible grace, God is restraining much evil in this world. When God takes away His restraining power in the “Last Days,” evil will multiply in unimaginable ways. However, this increase of evil will be for only a short time.


These “Last Days” verses are not to scare you about the future. These are meant to help you understand the “whys” of the events that are allowed and, when these events start to take place, to help you understand that, in the end, good prevails. Jesus will triumph over the “lawless one,”
and His power will display His glory. Satan will never win. Do not lose heart when you see lawlessness increase and the present days getting darker and darker. A new day always emerges from the darkness of night.

P R AY E R

Dear Lord, thank You for how You are restraining the evil in our world. Thank You for the reminder that the presence of the church in our world matters. Help us to be united around Your Word and empowered by Your love. Help us to be Your hands and feet to a hurting world. Protect us and our families during these days and help us to be bold and brave, always bringing You glory. Until that day, come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Off the Beaten Path

Posted on by
Today’s devotional is borrowed and shared from ourdailyverse.com

If I were to list my favorite ‘breath prayers,’ this verse would be among the top ten. I think I learned it because of my anxiety but it is a perfect mantra for busy days, difficult sittuations, weariness, and simply all of life in this world we live in. Try it with me … taking a slow deep breath in, whisper or think the words – “Be still and know,” then.- as you slowly exhale, think or whisper – “that I am God.”

Today’s ‘off the beaten path devotion is a beautiful explanation of this verse and why we should hide it in our heart – ready to quiet any troubling or unexpected situation that arises. Be sure and click on the pic below –

https://www.ourdailyverse.com/p/verse-day-psalm-4610-a84c

🙏 Verse of the Day: Psalm 46:10
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Off The Beaten Path –

Posted on by
Day 5 – Celebration of Life Prayer 2.0

I posted this little blog on my 57th birthday five years ago. It was actually a prayer and one of the first prayer posts I shared under the category of “God is Good.” I have updated it to reflect my most recent birthday and share it here with you as a segue to the guest post by Ann Voskamp.

Celebration of Life / an edited post of July 20, 2019

God, you are good! You have blessed me with 62 years of life🎉 This number represents more than years of life. For it is also a reminder that …

  • through FAITH in Jesus Christ, I have known you as my God for 56 years – and
  • 35 years ago, You brought me to a fuller understanding of Your marvelous grace, which profoundly and forever changed my life1 – and
  • Since then,  I have been GROWING in the knowledge of Your grace and of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ❤️ in the nurture and admonition of Your amazing, never-failing LOVE!

So, while I celebrate my birthday and am deeply grateful for another year of life – my greater celebration is in You!

  • I bow in worship and celebrate who You are and that You made Yourself known to me!
  • I bless and celebrate Your Name – Name above all Names –
  • I celebrate being adopted into Your family and known as a child of God!
  • I praise and celebrate You for all that You have done for me throughout these 62 years – You’ve protected, provided, and shown me Your kindness, love, and compassion. You’ve rescued me from pits of destruction and walked with me through countless valleys, and not once have You left me on my own —so I celebrate You and the day of my salvation 56 years ago!
  • again and again I praise and celebrate You for Your mercy and pursuit of this wayward lamb
  • and I celebrate the fuller understanding You have given me of Your life-changing grace and Your faithfulness to grow me up in the nurture and admonition of Your Love over the past 35 years!

When I was writing this post five years ago – a song from decades ago started playing in my mind – And will be my song of celebration every year of my life – not just for my celebration of years but even more for my celebration of life in Christ! 🎶

Listen to my birthday song. Then, I invite (and encourage)you to visit the link to Ann Voskamp’s blog. It is a wonderful musing of ideas and encouragement about God’s grace and the change that comes from knowing and embracing Him, the God who doesn’t change and can do the impossible.

Change is possible, when you embrace the God who doesn’t change and can do the impossible.

Ann VosKamp

The post is long but well worth the read – even if you read some today and some tomorrow …. How to Have a Better Second Half of Your Life

photo credits/Ann Voskamp

Clock - it's never too late
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Off the Beaten Path

Posted on by

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 42:1

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1. NLT

Some of you know I live in the country, far enough from the ‘city’ and just outside the village where I grew up. What you might not know, though, is that I love flowers, and I used to love growing them. I grew pansies and miniature carnations, along with lilies, roses, geraniums, and many others. However, my love of growing flowers diminished when I could no longer keep them alive, or – should I say “safe.’ You see, I am limited to the varieties I can plant now because the deer population has increased through the years, and they have taken over our yard – well, at least the flowers. So. while I love this verse, I also get tickled and a bit quizzical now, because from my vantage point, the deer do not pant for water nearly as much as they delight in the taste of my flowers.

I love the verse and the beautiful picture the Psalmist paints with his words. His soul’s desire for God is an awe-inspiring reflection of a deer panting for water. Oh, that I, no—that we might also thirst for God and for His Word in this way.

My call and desire is to encourage, equip, and empower women with God’s Word and help them long for God. May no one and nothing but God be able to satisfy our thirst. May His ‘living water’ renew our love and strengthen our faith and keep us coming back for more. May we be attracted to His fragrance and beauty as the deer are drawn to my flowers.🌷🦋

The following post is borrowed and shared from the biblegateway.com site and is a beautiful and encouraging devotion written about today’s verse. Please don’t miss it –

Desiring God’s Presesnce / Biblegateway.com daily verse & Devo 7/24/24

The writer of Psalm 42 compares himself to a deer that is longing for water. The deer is weary and parched without it, and so all it wants is to find a stream to drink from.

In a similar way, the psalmist is weary and exhausted from life. He is under pressure and growing tired. And yet, his innermost desire is for God.

Just like the deer desires water, the psalmist’s soul desires the presence of God. He knows that the solution to his problems is not more accomplishments and praise—it’s spending time in the presence of God.

It’s not wrong to have desires and goals in life. But our foremost desire should be for God, because true satisfaction is only found in His presence.

All it takes is your desire and commitment to spend time with Him by reading His Word, talking to Him through prayer, or reflecting on His faithful character. As you draw close to Him, He is ready and willing to be close to you, and to restore your soul.

Spending time with God is a basic spiritual need of ours, but it is a powerful time that can change the course of our life and the center of who we are. Take time to be with Him now, but also come up with a plan that helps you continue to seek God every day.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Spirit

Off The Beaten Path

Posted on by
Speaking in Love Instead of Speaking Your Mind

This morning, long before I had spoken a word to anyone other than God, I was opening my devotion for the day. My morning devotions are not typically found in a book but in emails or texts from bloggers and speakers that I have found to be Scripturally sound. I love doing it this way since I also post a daily devotion, and I have found that it is good to glean from other trusted sources.

All of the devotions are beautiful reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness, but some – like today’s – are filled with words of correction and/or reminders of His expectations for His children -corrections and reminders that sometimes come with a bittersweet “ouch” as you realize that the topic is something you’ve struggled with (or perhaps still struggle with).

If you’ve never had trouble with your tongue before – such as speaking before thinking instead of thinking before you speak… or tearing down rather than building up… or speaking the truth but not in love… or words of gossip, anger, unkindness, slander, hate, lies or… the list goes on, but my point is – If your tongue has never been used in any of these ways – then this devotion may simply be sweet encouragement, rather than the bittersweet ‘ouch’ I experienced. However, since James has declared the tongue to be an untameable instrument1, I would venture to say that at least one of these examples strikes a chord in your heart – reminding you of a less-than-spectacular use of your tongue at some point in your life – either way – I encourage you to read on. The author’s words may sting at first, but they are truth-filled reminders of God’s faithfulness to not only teach us His ways but to faithfully remind us of His expectations for His children … expectations like using kind, gentle, and true words. Our words are supposed to encourage and build others up and not tear them down or hurt them. As the blog points out, they are to be spoken in love – which is why this particular devo brought a bittersweet ouch for me – as I have not always used my tongue in accordance with God’s expectations.

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

I hate to admit it, but I have struggled in the past with this untamable instrument. You see, my tongue has, at times, been quick to speak, and it has gone way off the grid of patience and self-control. So, despite the bittersweet ‘ouch’ of the author’s words, I find myself extremely thankful that this is the devotion God pointed me toward this morning. I am grateful for the loving reminder of His forgiveness and guidance and His patience to change me from the inside-out. I pray it will be a blessing of guidance and encouragement to you as well. 🦋

My prayer~ Father, the tongue is untameable - BUT You have given us Your Spirit who produces in us the fruit of the Spirit, including patience, kindness, gentleness, love, and self-control! So that we are without excuse to use our tongue for anything but good and encouraging. May Your love be evident in all we say and do. Let us not forget that our words have the power to hurt others or to point them to You. May we use our tongues to Your glory and honor - Amen!

–

Please don’t miss the following post, which is borrowed and shared from Encouragement for Today/A Proverbs31 Ministry blog received in my email 7/22/24 –

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/07/22/speaking-in-love-instead-of-speaking-your-mind