Tag: God

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Hagar: The God Who Sees

Day 4, Week 3, Beautifully Surrendered: A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Genesis 16 and 21:1-20 (SOAP – 16:13)
So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”  Genesis 16:13  NET
My Observation:
Who Was Hagar?
  • Hagar was the Egyptian slave girl to Sarah
  • She became the slave wife to Abraham because of Sarah’s impatience for the child God had promised them
  • As a result of Sarah’s impatience Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abraham’s son
  • Through her plight she came to see God as El Roi, the God who sees ‘me’.
What We must not miss

It’s easy to read Hagar’s story and get lost in our thoughts or conversations and judgements about Sarah and Abraham actions … how they didn’t trust God … how they acted on their own … how Abraham could have taken a slave wife, and why in the world Sarah would give him another woman (cultural acceptance or not) … how Sarah complained about Hagar … and eventually insisted that Hagar and the child be sent away … and the list goes on – BUT we must not miss how God used it all! He used it not only to fulfill His promise of a child to Abraham and Sarah – BUT God revealed Himself to Hagar as El Roi – He was no longer just the God of her masters but He was the “One”, whom she saw and the “One” who saw her”. On top of that, He not only rescued Hagar and her son but He promised to be with her son as he grew. What a comfort Hagar must have found in this promise in the midst of her aloneness and desperation.

How Then Should We Live?

Sarah and Abraham offer good lessons in “trusting God”, not going ahead of Him, not forsaking His ways for our desires, and not playing God (trying to do or make happen what He promised). BUT GOD, through Hagar, reveals to us the importance of listening for and to Him, of being attentive to what He says, taking comfort in His Words, and seeing Him for who He really is. We must learn to listen for Him and to know Him as the God who sees us. He should not be just another god, like the gods Hagar would have known as an Egyptian. No, He must become personal to us so that, like Hagar, we will be able to say: “You are the God who sees me,”; and if we are wise we will mark the times (places, incidents, and ways we have seen or heard Him) just as she did when she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”. These markers or remembrances will become our testimonies of faith. Their memories will strengthen us when life presses in and perhaps be an encouragement to others we know along the way.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:4
Your turn

What’s your take-away from Hagar’s story?

Prayer Response:

Blessed be Your Holy Name God! You are the God who sees me! You know my name! You hear me when I call. You see me when I’m hidden away or when I’m hurting or afraid. You hear me wherever I am! You are with me and You are always doing what you said You would do, and You are always working everything together fo the good of those who love You and are called according to your purpose. In this I trust and find my strength!

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Rachel: God Heard Her Cries

Day 3, Week 3 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:24 (SOAP – 30:22-24)
Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”  Genesis 30:22-24
MY OBSERVATIONS:

What a saga! One sister (Rachel) loved by Jacob and the other (Leah) given to him in marriage by trickery.

The BibleReference.com commentary explains that the phrase “God took note of Rachel …” means that He looked with favorable consideration on her but not before…

  • He looked with compassion on Leah who was unloved and enabled her to become pregnant (verse 31).
  • the birth of 9 more sons, some given to Leah while others were given to Leah’s and Rachel’s servant girls.

“THEN… ” This one little word in Scripture is so often followed by some great news or event that it always catches my attention … and in this case – as with the story of Hannah – what follows “then” resonates with my heart. Years have passed, Rachel – though settling for children through her servant girl – has waited miserably and now finds herself, finally, pregnant because God has looked on her with “favorable consideration”. You see, it wasn’t that God had truly forgotten or not seen Rachel in all of this time – but rather that God is strategic and purposeful in all He does. As we saw with Hannah, and as I learned in my own life – God is the one who enables or withholds children being born. This is paramount in the story of Rachel and Leah and Mary and Elizabeth and every other woman in the Bible. Until we understand the truth of it we will forever struggle when we cannot see God’s hand in our lives. Trusting His heart is the essence of walking by faith and not by sight.

After the Then

Rachel gave birth to a son and she named him Joseph, which was to say – “May the LORD give me yet another son.” A greedy statement? I don’t think so, but rather believe it was Rachel’s acknowledgement of what she knew was God’s doing and her genuine desire for God’s favor to continue.

How Then Do We Live

I think an important take-away from this passage is to REMEMBER.

  • Remember – even when it seems God is ignoring us – He isn’t. What He is doing is working all things together for the good of His children.
  • It’s also important to pray big, Remembering and believing that there’s nothing God cannot do, literally! With God ALL things are possible.
  • Remember, God’s timing and power are good and purposeful.
Prayer Response

Father, I have waited before for a child. I have, like Rachel. longed for my womb to be open, and felt ignored when You said – no, month after month and year after year. I praise You that I can look back now and know You weren’t ignoring me, You were waiting for the right time. THEN … You answered. May we never lose sight of Your Timing Father, whether it’s a child or a job, a marriage, or healing, whatever it is we are longing for – pleading for – Father, help us to trust Your heart even though we can’t see Your hand.

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Hannah: Asking for the Impossible

Day 1, Week 3 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 (SOAP – 1:27-28)
I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28 Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.   1 Samuel 1:27-28  NLT
My Observations:
Heart Resounding Similarities

Hannah’s story is near and dear to my heart, not just because of it’s beautiful example of prayer between a woman and her God but because I waited eight years for God to give me a child. In that eight years I experienced much of the heartache and distress that is described of Hannah. I battled bitterness of other’s pregnancies and anger with God for what He withheld. He won the battle though and in due time spoke words of encouragement and wisdom through my parents to not only trust in the Lord and His will and timing for my life but to learn to be content whether pregnant or not pregnant. The words were hurtful at first – I didn’t want to be content, I wanted to be pregnant. However, when I got home from that conversation those were the very words that drove me to my knees and moved me to “pour out my soul before the LORD” and cry out to Him from the depth of my pain and anguish. – Then the LORD called me to mind, and I became pregnant.

Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-16
  • The source of Hannah’s prayer was from her soul not strong drink
  • The heart of Hannah’s prayer was her pain and anguish – driven by her desire for a child
  • Lost in the strengths of her faith, unaware that she was observed, and certainly not drunk on wine – Hannah prayed

She prayed boldly and specifically

  1. Poured out her suffering to the LORD
  2. Keep me in mind”
  3. Don’t “neglect Your servant”
  4. “Give your servant a male child”

She made a vow

  • “Then I will declare Him to the LORD all the days of His life
  • “His hair will never be cut”

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her mind. Only her lips were moving; her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was a drunkard.

1 Samuel 1:13 NET
Prayer’s Effect

Don’t miss the effect Hannah’s prayer had on her. From being very distressed – talking to God and encouragement from Eli, the priest, she went away changed, not only inwardly but outwardly.

So the woman went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.

1 Samuel 1:18 NET
Then …

I love when the Bible says “Then …” because it always means God is about to reveal something. In this case it was all that transpired after Hannah’s prayer and conversation with Eli.

  1. They worshiped the LORD and returned home
  2. Elkanah was intimate with Hannah
  3. “The LORD called her to mind”
  4. Hannah became pregnant
  5. She gave birth to a son
  6. When he was weened she took him up to the LORD’S house
  7. She shared with Eli God’s answer, her praise, and the response of her vow

For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me the request that I asked of him. 28 So I also dedicate him to the Lord. For all the days of his life he is dedicated to the Lord.” Then [Samuel] bowed down there in worship to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 NET
Then …

Hannah’s prayers affected not only herself and her husband but don’t miss how even, at a very young age, they were already affecting Samuel – “THEN he,” [Samuel}, bowed down in worship to the LORD.” To see how her prayer affected many more through Samuel visit this link on the “Life of Samuel” from ‘GotQuestions.org’ – https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Samuel.html

How Then Do We Live?

If we learn anything from Hannah, let us learn that we can be real with God. She poured out her soul before Him, She didn’t try to hide her suffering, or deal with her pain and anguish on her own. She trusted God with her desire, not only in prayer but in life – giving back to God the very thing she asked for – that it [Samuel] might be used for His glory and not just her pleasure or fulfillment.

We can also learn to respond to God’s answers with praise – not kept to ourselves but revealed to others so that God’s goodness, His kindness, mercy, love, grace, power …. are displayed.

  • What’s your take away?
Prayer Response

Father, thank You for Hannah’s prayer and the way You have used it in my own life. Thank You for the glimpses of Your hand in the tapestry of Your people – woven together in Your Word for us to glean from. Help us to not become embittered with the disappointments or desires of our lives but to give them to You, boldly and specifically, from the heart and to trust You with the answers. And Father help us always to give You the praise and honor due Your name that others may hear and see and know of Your goodness to “keep us in mind” and the powerful and lasting effects of Your answers.

– All To Your Glory

Me – from the inside-out

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The Bleeding Woman: Faith in Healing

Friday, Week 2 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:40-48; SOAP: Mark 5:34

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Mark 5:34 NLT
My Observations:

The verse we are focusing on today starts with, “He said to her …” but you have to read the passage to see the fuller picture of why He said it. Her face to face encounter with Jesus happened because “she heard about Jesus”. What she heard she must have believed because she acted on her faith and by Jesus’ own words – “her faith made her well”.

Don’t miss that her faith had a focus point. While I’m sure as I can be that she had not forgotten her disease and how sick she was – the picture painted with the words of Mark show us that her focus was on Jesus and His power to heal – “If only I touch His clothes, I will be healed”. Because of her internal FAITH she reached out and touched his clothes, perhaps just the hem of His garment, but this was enough to cause healing power to flow from Jesus to her. They both felt it and were brought face to face as Jesus looked for the one who had reached out to Him. Bowed before Him in fear and trembling she unfolds her story to Him and He pronounces her healed and sends her on in peace. Her life forever changed.

THE BIG PICTURE

There are certain people in my life that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt would do anything in the world to help me if I was stranded somewhere or had a need of any kind. However, despite the deepest trust I have in them, they will not help me if I don’t make the need known to them. This is why I believe it’s important to note that the woman in today’s story acted on her faith. She didn’t simply hear about Jesus and believe shut her eyes and wish He would heal her disease. She believed enough to press in close and reach out and touch His garment. She had internal faith that became an external action and it changed her life.

Internal faith is powerful and when it’s acted on it’s life changing – especially if the focus of the faith is Jesus!

Me-from the Inside-out 2022
How Then Should We Live?

Believe, live, and act like this woman. We should live by faith not by sight, making sure our focus is on Jesus, not the problem. Reach out to Jesus, press into Him, with fear and trembling bow before Him. Tell Him the whole story and wait for His response – it may be healing or provision, or perhaps it will be comfort or renewed strength. It may look like what we imagined or something a bit different than we hoped for but His answer will always be the best answer and the right answer. We must remember, as with this woman, it is our faith that moves the heart of Jesus. Paul said that God, through the power that is working in us, can do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine, and both Matthew and Mark wrote in their Gospels how all things are possible with God. Perhaps the first place we should start is by asking ourselves – do I believe these truths – So much so, that even touching the hem of His garment would make a difference?

20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think,

Ephesians 3:20
My Prayer Response:

Father, every day I pray – thanking You, petitioning You, crying out to You on behalf of others as well as myself. I confess it is easy to pray, because I love talking to/with You, but I am reminded by this passage that I sometimes pray absentmindedly. Or, I pray small prayers when You are a very big God. Help me to pray big prayers, to be alert when I pray, to pray with my focus, not on my need or problems, but on You, Your Son, and Your Spirit – through whom all blessings flow. Help me to not only live a life of faith but to pray in faith believing that You can do abundantly more than I ask or even imagine. In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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Ruth: Your God and My God

Thursday, Week 2 of Beautifully Surrender, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Ruth 1:1-18; SOAP: 1:16

 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

Ruth 1:1-18 NLT
My Observations:
But Ruth

There were cultural norms of the day that would have led Orpah and Ruth to stay with their mother-in-law, Naomi, even after their husbands had died and even though Naomi was leaving for her homeland. However, Naomi not only offered them an out, she encouraged them to return to their people and prayed that they would both be blessed with new husbands. While it took some convincing, Orpah finally conceded, kissed Naomi goodbye, and “returned to her people and her god”, BUT RUTH had made up her mind. She chose to devote herself not only to Naomi but to Naomi’s people and Naomi’s God.

If you read the rest of the story you will see that Ruth’s decision changed everything. You will see the fingerprints of God, a beautiful unfolding love story, a glimpse of things to come, and how Ruth became a part of God’s unfolding story.

How Then Should We LivE?

God has given us a clear-cut answer and demonstration of choosing His people and Him above comfort and familiarity. We should live as Ruth, who chose to go the way of Naomi and her God.

My Prayer Response:

Father, thank you for the example of Ruth who chose Your people and You rather than the familiar and comfortable. Help me to always choose You above anything and everyone – and may my example lead others to do the same. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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Rahab: Strong and Brave

Wednesday, Week 2 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2; James 2:14-26; SOAP: Hebrews 11:31

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:31 NLT
My Observation:

Like us, Rahab was saved by faith and escaped the destruction of the disobedient. Welcoming and hiding the spies, as we read in the Joshua account were demonstrations of her faith. Faith that she expressed in many ways but perhaps none more clearly than the acknowledgement of God being the “supreme God”, and of course the scarlet cord that she hung out her window in faith believing that she and her household would be spared.

No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

Joshua 2:11

“I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

Joshua 2:21

Rahab’s position in life, as a prostitute, did not overshadow her faith or make her faith worthless. Regardless of who she was or what she had been, God honored and accepted her by her faith in Him, which is evident in the fact that her name is among those listed in the Scripture’s ‘Hall of Faith’ found in Hebrews 11.

In case you’re wondering how a prostitute ends up in the ‘Hall of Faith’ with Abraham and all the others, let’s take another look at the fuller picture of her faith from what we’ve read today.

  • She knew who the men were and whose they were when she welcomed them in.
  • She welcomed them in in spite of the fact that she spoke to them of how their hearts melted in fear of them.
  • She defied the local authority and risked their retaliation because she had heard and believed in their God – who He was and what He could do and had done.
  • She placed her faith, not in what she had seen nor her fear in what could happen to her — but in the GOD of these men.
  • She did so not only at her own risk but to her family’s
How Then Should We Live:
  • We are to walk/live by faith and not by sight or knowledge of what we’ve done or said or where we’ve been.
  • We should tell god’s stories — knowing they saved the life of Rahab and her family.
  • Go where God sends us, for others may be saved by our obedience and courage.
  • Fear God more than man.
My Prayer Response:

Father – prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, liars, thieves, and the ‘worst of the worst’ that we can imagine are all welcome at your table when, by faith, they believe in Your Son. Thank You for Your unconditional love through the blood and person of Jesus Christ – for by Him I am saved!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

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Elizabeth: Nothing is Impossible

Monday, Week 2 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study
Today’s Reading: Luke 1:5-25; 39-45; SOAP: Luke 1:45

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Luke 1:45

My Observations:
The Back Story

To truly appreciate and rightly observe this one verse I believe it is best to read the entire passage. When we do this we read how Zechariah and Elizabeth were without children at a very old age. They had prayed for a child but none had been born to them because, as the Scripture says: “Elizabeth was barren”. That is, until their prayer had been heard and she became pregnant in her old age. While Zechariah doubted the incredible announcement, Elizabeth immediately believed and praised God for what He had done.

Elizabeth Understood

Perhaps because Elizabeth had herself received and believed the announcement of her own miracle baby she understood all the more how special Mary’s situation was and just how difficult it would have been for her to believe.

How Then Should We Live?

We should live believing that absolutely “nothing is impossible with God”. When we hear or see Him in action we would be wise to believe and not doubt. We would be equally wise to follow Elizabeth’s example and encourage others when we see the Lord working in their lives or when we see them expressing their faith in God!

My Prayer Response:

Father, help me to keep my eyes open to the faith of others and to be a voice of encouragement to those whose faith is evident both in times of plenty and times when the promised, the desired, or the needed seems impossible. Help me to be quick not only to believe but to encourage others with the evident truth that NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU! In Jesus’ Name let me be an encourager. – AMEN!

My Worship Response:
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Jesus Looked After His Mother – Even From the Cross

Friday, Week 1 of Beautifully Surrendered, a Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: John 19:20-30 (SOAP 26-27)

26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” 27 He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:26-67 NET
My Observations:

In the Throes of Agonizing Death

How sweet is this scene’s depiction of the Savior’s intimate care for His mother even in the throes of a horrendous death. The beauty of the reality that His love for ‘all’ did not negate His love and care for her as an individual. Also, something that stood out to me this time was the trust He had and placed in this disciple and how well-placed it was.

From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:27
How Then Should We Live?

Let’s factor in what we know from this passage first. While God so loved the world and offered salvation to ‘whosoever” believes – what we see here is Christ loving not just a collective group of believers but we see Him tenderly revealing His very personal love for His mother. Jesus’ position as God the Son, did not interfere with His earthly position or emotions as Mary’s son – or for that matter our friend (John 15:14-15) or brother (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:29). Knowing these descriptions from Scripture coupled with how we see Him treat Mary – tells me, that because we belong to Jesus’ family, we can TRUST His love for us is equally personal and that He will treat us not just as another believer but as dearly beloved.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers

Romans 8:29 ESV

We also don’t want to miss the other factor, which is that He entrusted His mother, Mary, to one of His disciples. I’ve read and heard this passage many times, yet this time the words jumped off the page at me. I found myself immediately wondering if He sees me as a trustworthy disciple, one He can confidently trust to do His work in His absence. I believe Paul’s letter to Timothy, concerning the character of a person who serves Christ, explains how to be such a disciple and what this trusted disciple might be like when he made the following statement about an approved worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed. (I’ll tell you right now, I have a lot to work on and sure am glad He equipped us with His Spirit so that we have the hope of reaching this goal.)

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, ... “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Timothy 2:15-26
My Prayer Response

Father, oh the beauty of Your Son and the larger than life or anything we can understand GIFT He is. He who loved us all enough to GIVE His life for our sins, and be on earth suffering rather than in Heaven – He also showed us that His love is personal and now we live with this HOPE and JOY that He is looking out for us too, and that He will entrust others to us as He sees the need when He knows us to be faithful. Father, let me be found faithful and true – hands and feet and a light and voice for You. In Jesus’ Name and power.

My Worship Response

I recently used this one but it is the one that kept playing through my head as I wrote this devotional. https://youtu.be/r6U8O_WnPZY (this song does not belong to me but is by David Aslesen and found on the above Youtube link)

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The Widow of Nain: Jesus Cares for Women

Week 1, Day 4 of Beautifully Surrendered: A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Luke 7:11-17; SOAP verse 13

 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 

Luke 7:13 NLT
My Observations …
Setting the Scene

Jesus, His disciples, and a large crowd were entering the town of Nain when they encountered a funeral procession which included the corpse (a young man), the man’s mother, and a large crowd at the city gate.

He Saw Her

Despite the large crowd coming out of the gate and the large crowd with Jesus going in the gate Jesus, not only saw the woman, but He took notice of her. I believe there’s a difference – do you? I have realized that while I may see someone, even speak to them, at church or a store aisle or on the street – but if I’m too inward or “purpose” focused I may not be able to tell you what they were wearing or what their mood was. However, when I am purposefully attentive I don’t just see the person but I notice their demeanor and other pertinent things about them -and respond accordingly. I believe this is the example we see in Jesus concerning the Widow at Nain who had just lost her only son.

He Took Notice

Despite the things that were likely on His mind or the distraction of those He was traveling with, Jesus not only saw the mother, most likely walking near the bier that carried the corpse, but He took notice of her. The fact that He quickly assessed her situation is evident by the compassion He felt for her and even more evident by His outward expression of that compassion with what I imagine were the very tender words, “Don’t cry”.

The Rest of the Story

We could stop with those words but we would miss perhaps the best part. What happened next melts my heart and highlights the fact that He truly cared about the widow. Jesus saw her, took notice of her situation, had compassion for her, spoke words of compassion to her – and then He acted on her behalf. He reached out and touched the movable frame, or bier, used to carry the corpse and then told the young (dead) man to get up. (Stay with me – cause the best is yet to come.) The man sat up and began to speak and ….

Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Luke 7:15b

Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 

Luke 7:14-15 NET
How Then Do We Live?

We can rejoice and be confident that Jesus sees us – and confident that He won’t just see us and walk away. We can trust that He will react appropriately to our situation. We can expect and listen for Him to ‘speak’ to us and watch for Him to act on our behalf – because, as we “belong to Him”.

Keep in mind, our confidence in these truths matter because it will affect how we live and react in the world and how we represent Christ to the world.

My Response of Prayer:

Father – Thank You for these reminders and truths that are ours in Christ Jesus. Thank You Jesus for seeing us and caring for us and acting on our behalf – whether we are male or female, Jew or gentile … We belong to You and are safe in Your observant and loving care. Father help us live beautifully surrendered to You – to live and love like Jesus. To be attentive and compassionate toward others, not just inwardly compassionate but expressively – in Jesus’ name – Amen!

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Monday is the launch day of our new LGG Study – Beautifully Surrendered! I’ve done studies about women of the Bible before but I’m so excited to get a closer glimpse at how each one learned to walk by faith rather than by sight, even when they walked through pain or difficult situations that they didn’t understand. Join me on Monday morning and let’s learn from these women how to walk beautifully surrendered, while finding a greater purpose in the pain. (excerpts taken from the LGG Announcement – read the full announcement at https://lovegodgreatly.com/announcing-our-next-study-9/)

Let me know if you have questions – otherwise the first post – with everything you need – will be available first thing Monday morning for whenever you’re ready to get started.

I hope you’ll join us for the journey. There’s a comment bar available that I invite you to use for your thoughts on the day’s passage. You never know how your words may be an encouragement to others.

The study is also available on my Facebook Group Page – Journey Through the Word. The group is available at the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2825151424418487