October 15 - The beginning and the end

Who has performed and done it,
Calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am the first;
And with the last I am He.
Isaiah 41:4 (NKJV)

Thought for today: It is amazing to me that the one who is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, cares for me.  Since He who is the beginning and the end knows my beginning and my end, the span of my days, how could I possibly worry about where life will lead?  Isaiah 46:10 tells us that God knew the end from the beginning. He has ordained all things in your life.  Can you trust Him today and let Him lead you on an incredible journey fully relying upon Him for all that you ever need?

October 14 - Waiting

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV)

Thought for today: Do you feel today that you have no strength?  Perhaps you are dealing with some difficult circumstances in your life, perhaps you just are overextended and feel worn out.  Waiting seems to contradict my idea of fixing a lack of strength.  When I feel weak, I often try to gain strength back by just pushing on harder.  Yet, perhaps the secret is to slow down and wait on the Lord.  If we can look at things from His perspective, we will indeed soon see strength in our weakness.  This day, let's choose to wait in anticipation of all that God can do in the midst of the most disquieting circumstances. He cares so much for each one of us that He will indeed give us all the strength that we need each day.

August 18 - True Caring

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6,7

Thought for Today: We all want the Lord to care for us and to meet every need.  Yet, we so often don’t want to humble ourselves before Him, accepting His will for our lives, regardless of what that might mean.  Does care always mean that we get the answer that we want to our prayers?  I think not.  For example, if my child requests something that I know is not best for her, by denying her request do I show that I don’t care?  Hardly so.  In the same way, we must trust God and truly believe that His way is the best way, even when it may not be our way.

What burden are you unwilling to lay at His feet today?  Trust, let it go and obey. You will see that God will care for you in ways that you could never imagine.

Come, oh come, with thy broken heart,
Weary and worn with care;
Come and kneel at the open door,
Jesus is waiting there;
Waiting to heal thy wounded soul,
Waiting to give thee rest;
Why wilt thou walk where shadows fall?
Come to His loving breast!

Come, Oh Come, with thy Broken Heart (Fanny Crosby)

God our Rock and Strength

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

1 Samuel 2:2 (KJV)

Thought for Today: I live near the ocean.  So often, I hear stories of houses being swept out to sea in storms due to erosion of the sand that they are built on. I’ve driven through neighborhoods to view the devastation caused by the sea.  Sometimes, it is eerie to see a house still standing due to being anchored to the strong bedrock below the sand.  All the other houses are gone but one or two built to withstand the sea.

How true in our own lives.  We often build our lives on things that so quickly can be swept out from under us; our careers, houses, money, even our families. All are fleeting.  Yet, if we place our hope in the Lord, we have put our hope in something that will not be swept out from under us.  By anchoring our lives in His love and grace, we truly are eternally secure.

So, what do you choose today: a sandcastle or a fortress?  For surely, if you build your life upon the former, it will all fade away someday.  Plant your feet securely on the promises of God and His great salvation for you and me.  You will never be moved by the uprisings of this life.

Jesus, I fain would walk in Thee,
From nature’s every path retreat;
Thou art my Way, my Leader be,
And set upon the rock my feet.

Uphold me, Saviour, or I fall;
O reach me out Thy gracious hand!
Only on Thee for help I call;
Only by faith in Thee I stand.

Charles Wesley, 1742

August 14 - God came to Us!

Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Phil 2:6-8 (NIV)

Thought for Today: How so often we think that working harder will win us favor with God and then He will take care of all of our concerns. Realize today that you cannot work hard enough to ever merit the favor that God has bestowed upon us by choosing to know our human condition.  We could not go to Him so He came to us. Praise be to God!

Prayer: Father God, this day, may we realize the immensity of your great Love for us that sent your only Son to the cross to pay a debt that He did not earn.  May we marvel in such love and bask in the light of your presence each and every day.

Nor vex you souls with care, nor grieve
And labour longer thus,
As though your arm could ought achieve,
And bring him down to us.
He comes, He comes with ready will,
By pity moved alone,
To soothe our every grief and ill,
For all to Him are known.

(From Lyra Germanica)

August 13 - True Freedom

"I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Romans 7:21-25a (NKJV)

Thought for Today: We often find ourselves crucified between two crosses: one of guilt over what we have done, the other of regret over what we have not done.  The Apostle Paul writes in the passage above that he does the things that he does not want to do. How often, we think or do things that go against God’s word and His will for our lives.  We carry this guilt around for years, even though, if we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, all our sins, past, present and future are forgiven.  Paul goes on to write in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. “ 
So, if we walk with the Lord, we can trust that our sins are forgiven.

What burden of guilt are you carrying today?  Perhaps you have done some things that have not made you proud and, even after confessing them to the Lord, still feel guilty and condemned.  Know that He who rules the Earth in righteousness has broken the chains of sin once and for all.  Feel His forgiveness and be free.

God liveth ever!
Wherefore, Soul, despair thou never!
When sins and follies long forgot
Upon thy tortured conscience prey,
Oh come to God, and fear Him not,
His love shall sweep them all away;
Pains of hell at look of His,
Change to calm content and bliss.
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all forever reigns.

(From Lyra Germanica - translated German hymns by Catherine Winkworth)

August 12 - The Lord Reigns!

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice.
 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
 Fire goes before him
    and consumes his foes on every side.
 His lightning lights up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all peoples see his glory.

Psalm 97: 1-6

Thought for Today: It amazes me to think about God's glory and how our present worries just pale in comparison to who He is.  Oh, that we could trust in Him and cast all of our cares upon Him who is righteous, holy and just.  As you go through your day today, marvel at the glory of the Lord and cultivate an attitude of thankfulness towards Him who has been so merciful even though we don't deserve His favor.

God liveth ever!
Wherefore, Soul, despair thou never!
Our God is good, in every place
His love is known, His help is found,
His mighty arm, and tender grace
Bring good from ills that hem us round;
Easier than we think can He
Turn to joy our agony;
Soul, remember 'mid thy pains,
God o'er all for ever reigns.

(From Lyra Germanica - translated German hymns by Catherine Winkworth)