Failing Each Other
Father, You blessed with a such a wonderful day yesterday. Karen had a snow day and we had the whole day at home together. We worked on different projects (I was able to get so much done for worship Sunday!) but it was such a joy to have an unexpected day with each other. Thank You for all that You give me, each and every day!
1 Peter 4:19 (<<click here)
One of the hardest things to deal with in life is when people let us down. Failing each other, unfortunately, is too often the norm and not the exception. Sometimes it is deliberate but many times it is unintentional. The business of life can keep us from carrying out what we’ve said we would do.
It happens all the time at work. A manager says they’ll be right up to help with a situation and they never make it because they are pulled half a dozen different directions en route and complete forget about you. They fail us.
A father has every intention of getting to a child’s ballgame but he’s asked to do one more thing before leaving the office and one thing becomes two and two become four. Before he even realizes it, the game is missed and he has failed to fulfill his expectations.
Lord, it wouldn’t be hard to sit here a write all kinds of examples of our failings, way too frequently we let others down. We hurt each other. We forget. We ignore…
But You, Lord? We can “trust [our] lives” to You. You “created [us].” And, here is the part that caught my eye this morning, You “will never fail [us].” Talk about a foundational truth of Your relationship with us! Scripture is replete with Your promise to “never fail [us].” Here are some examples: Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10-13, Matthew 28:20, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 55:22, Micah 7:7. And those are just a few of them!
Lord, I can trust in You, even when others let me down. Even when those who truly love me, fail me – You never will! Thank You, Jesus!
Feb 10th, Fri, 6:21 am
Partners in Suffering
Father, thank You for getting me safely home last night. The snow is beautiful today but it sure requires a bit more caution when traveling through it. The beauty of Your creation never ceases to amaze me. That you for the wonderful gift!
1 Peter 4:12-19 (<<click here)
Lord, as I read this passage this morning, it speaks of partnering with You in Your suffering and how we should be glad for it in that it enables us to “have the wonderful joy of seeing [Your] glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
As I sit here thinking on suffering a persecution, I knew that I had read of this before and written on it as well. A year and a half ago I wrote of persecution in reference to Paul’s writings in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 and my thoughts haven’t changed. If anything, it is more appropriate today than ever. I feel compelled to share it once more
Lord, You certainly experienced persecution (even to the point of death). Paul did, as well as, the Jewish Christians and the Thessalonians. But me? Uh…no. I’m not putting a requisition in, by any means, but the term is thrown around a lot today. I realize that many of my brothers and sisters in the faith are laying their lives on the line and many may be ushered into Your presence even this day. (Lord, may Your strength and love fill believers in the Middle East and other areas of the world today.)
But persecution here? Uh…no. We may have had our toes stomped on but we have yet to be persecuted. Lord, I sincerely believe that if we did experience real persecution in our country that many would not have the stomach for it and would quickly desert the ranks.
I don’t know when it will happen or even if it will happen in my lifetime but persecution will come. And, Lord, if it does come while I still have breath, may I use every one of those breaths, to proclaim my faith in You. May I be filled with Your strength and love to the very last breath!
But, Jesus…as I sit here and ponder…I realize that regardless of persecution that I should be living that way now! I have no idea when my life here will be complete so I plead that You will give me the strength and love to live out my faith and to share that faith, each and every day! May I be true to You – Amen!
Feb 9th, Thurs, 8:36 am
Holding On
Father, this morning my thoughts are full of family and loved ones who are going through transitions with ailing and/or aging loved ones. Once strong and independent and full of life, they now must depend upon others for their well-being. Uncertainty, loneliness, pain, anxiety, fear, embarrassment are all too familiar terms. Tears may be shed, frustrations are high and patience may be thin on all fronts.
In so many ways our hands are tied we can’t just “fix” it. We must trod this pathway of life, Lord, but may we be encouraged knowing that we do not walk it alone. Many are blessed to have family and friends to help along the way. But most importantly is that You are with us regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
Lord, help us to not fall into the pit of despair. We may feel overwhelmed by it all crashing down up us but in these difficult times may we not turn from You but may we lean into You – holding on for dear life – for You are life. (John 14:6)
We may struggle…even to the point of death but help us cling to the truth. Lord, may we live in Your word as recorded by Paul in Romans 8:35-39.
35Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When all is said and done, we will be with You – not just for a while, but for eternity.
“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4
Amen and amen!
Feb 8th, Wed, 6:38 am
Beyond These Walls
O my goodness, Father, this is a morning of tangents! I close my eyes and my brain zings this way then that way. Help me to focus on what You have for me this day.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (<<click here)
Lord, all of us are gifted in some way or another. You made us and blessed us with a unique blend of abilities. Some we realize early on – others we may discover as we go along the course of our lives.
It is easy to let the application of this passage fall strictly into church oriented mentalities. Without a doubt we should use our God-given gifts and abilities in ministry but we obviously must realize that it goes way beyond the four walls of the church.
Lord, I guess my struggle mentally here is that all my life it seems the importance of discovering my “gifts” and applying them has all focused on how I would use them in the Church to build up the body of which You are the Head. Peter himself proclaims that we are to “use them well to serve one another.” But as I have matured (and it still feels like I have a long way to go) I realize that, yes, I must use what I have been given to lift up the church, but I must also use what I have been given to lift up all of humanity to You.
Peter emphasizes with great clarity that we are to share what we have as though You are working through us, using Your strength and energy to do so. In doing so we will discover then that “everything [we] do will bring glory to God through [You].”
It is narrow minded to think that I must use my gifts only with the confines of the church. I have a responsibility to touch the lives of everyone with whom I come in contact. I am a social being and I interact with many, many people every day. If I “have the gift of speaking” then I must “speak as though God himself is speaking through” me.
Lord, help me more and more to think outside the walls of the church. You expect me to use my talents to touch as many people as possible for Your glory. Amen – so be it
Feb 7th, Tues, 6:27 am
That’s All Folks!
Father, before this day gets too far along I truly want to place it into Your hands. I freely give it to You to use me as You want to accomplish Your will in the lives of those whom my life will touch. May my ears be attuned to Your voice and my I be quick to act, with no hesitation. All I have, all I am, is Yours.
1 Peter 4:7-9 (<<click here)
Lord, more and more there seems to be talk of Your “coming soon”. Many feel that your return is imminent. And with the arrival of that momentous occasion, life as we know it will come to an end and new beginnings will be upon us.
It is of utmost importance that we are ready when You call…but are we readying ourselves in the right ways? Some spend a great deal of time trying to figure out as many details of the whens, and the wheres, and the whos and the hows of Your return as they can. And to what end? For me, it is enough to know that You are coming.
Others look gleefully to the end. They are happy that they will see You and that they will get to be with You for all eternity. And shockingly enough, some of those are equally as gleeful that “sinners” will get what’s coming to them. Finally, they will be shown to be right and those who didn’t agree with them, oh baby, they are gonna burn. What?! That’s not how You think, Lord.
The Apostle John quoted you saying,
“For God did not send his Son [You] into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
And of course, what did You say right before this?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I want to be ready when You call, Lord, but may I be found doing my best to fulfill Your will this side of eternity. May I be “earnest and disciplined in [my] prayers” and “most important of all” may I “continue to show deep love for [others], for love covers a multitude of sins.”
Lord, Your command is that we not come home alone. Burden my heart to pray for and truly love others so they too can enjoy the great blessings of Your love.
Feb 6th, Mon, 6:15 am