Saturday, December 31, 2022

 

Strength and dignity
         are her clothing,
and she laughs
   at the time to come.

            Proverbs 31. 25

(When we know our strength
           is not our own
                     but His,
we rejoice in what
       is ahead of us,
       because we are ready.
Dignity is not how highly
            we think of ourselves
            and what we deserve,
but how we treat others
         with kindness and respect.
What are we wearing
          in the now and into the next?
What do we reach for?
What is in our wardrobe?
We can rejoice as we are getting older
           and closer to Him.
God does not just change our hearts.
     He changes what we wear.
We can approach the time to come
                  differently,
     not with despair and regrets,
but with joy and hilarity
   because we walk with the Almighty.
We are not alone.
We are Beloved.
As we get older,
    we come even more
    into the person
    God always intended us to be:
                         His.)

O LORD,
We don't know what is ahead,
      not just the future,
      but even today.
But You do.
You walk with us through it
           into Your glory.
Help us to be faithful to You
    in what is before us
                        even today,
even in the hard stuff,
even in what we do not understand,
even in what is beyond our abilities
             but fully in Your hands,
even for Your glory.

Friday, December 30, 2022

 

Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
His praise in the
           assembly of the godly.

                 Psalm 149. 1

(Because very profoundly,
   praising God changes us.
The very act of praise,
rejoicing, worshiping,
recognizing not just His hand
           but His Presence
alters radically our trajectory,
how we respond to God,
                 to others,
    and to circumstances.
Praise changes our course.
Sing a new song
   right in the midst
   of what is unfolding before us,
the words of "Trust Me in this,"
       yet another stanza.)

O LORD,
Please give to us
   Your words of strength
to sing over the situations
   You have appointed today.
Help us to hum a new tune
     even in the familiar.
Show us how to encourage others
    by sharing our stories
    and songs of Your faithfulness.
And through our singing something new
       and unexpected
      in unlikely places,
point others, O LORD,
            to Yourself.




Thursday, December 29, 2022

 

And on that day
there shall be inscribed
on the bells of the horses,
       "Holy to the LORD."
And the pots in the
house of the LORD
shall be as
       bowls before the altar.

               Zechariah 14. 20

(Whose name do we write
    at the top of our page?
Whose name at the
      start of this day?
Our own....or the LORD's?
Nothing is ordinary or common
   but all a means of
                 worshiping God.
All we do
            --and even use--
is sacred in His sight
        and for His glory.
May we inscribe on our days
     and deeds and words
     "Holy to the LORD."
How differently
             we would live,
nothing that God
    is not redeeming.
Present tense,
even that which we
       cannot yet see.)

O LORD,
We come into this sacred day
   with all of Your
   divine appointments and encounters
   already written on it.
Help us to recognize Your holiness
       in what You lay before us today.
Empower us to write
           "Holy to the LORD,"
over every action and word.
And to trust You through it.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

 

Great is our Lord,
and abundant in power;
His understanding
     is beyond measure.

               Psalm 147. 5

(Just because we don't
             understand something
does not mean God doesn't.
There are divine purposes
         and sacred designs
   far beyond what
            we can comprehend.
His love, grace and goodness
      is embedded in what
      we can only see on the surface.
"Trust Me in this.")

O LORD,
You are intimate and personal.
You know us.
You love us.
You call us by name.
We are precious in Your sight.
You surround us with Your love
     and shouts of deliverance.
You are great.
            And You are good.
Help us to trust You even more.
Even in this.


Tuesday, December 27, 2022

 

Ask rain from the LORD...

          Zechariah 10. 1

(What do we miss
in our relationship with the LORD
            and in our lives
because we do not
                  come before Him.
Not just, "I need this or that."
Not even, "I need You to help me."
        But, " I need You."
When we walk with the LORD,
He does not just strengthen us,
He does not just reveal
           something new,
but our walk with Him
   even changes what we ask.
The mark of the blessed
     is not rain when asked for it,
but those in whom it is seen
    whose help is the LORD,
    whose hope is the LORD,
    whose strength is not their own,
              nor on circumstances,
    but those who love Him
        and everyone around them.
Those who trust in God.)

O LORD,
No matter what the situation,
   may our trust in You
       be a visible reminder
    to us and to others
that You are God,
            and we are not.
Thank You that we can come before You,
       not just with our needs,
but we can walk with You
                  and know You more,
even through where we are today.
You watch over us.
You uphold us.
You forgive and set us free.
You redeem.
You give us strength
         when we run
    and even when we are weary.
You unfold the unexpected.

Monday, December 26, 2022

 

Every day
      I will bless You
and praise Your name
   forever and ever.

            Psalm 145.2

(How can we bless God
and praise His name
                    today?
Not just when the skies are blue
           and the wind is favorable.
How radically that focus
would reorder our days,
our loves, our thoughts,
   actions, words
                 and attitudes,
seizing every opportunity
   and circumstance
               to praise Him
and bring the name of Jesus
          right here.)

O LORD,
We don't know what to do,
but our eyes are on You.
            (2 Chronicles 20.12)
Help us to walk with You
    in all that is before us today.
Order our day.
Guide our steps.
Direct our thoughts.
Confirm Your Word in us.
Align our hearts
                  with Yours.
Help us to see differently
     and respond differently
                 for Your glory.


Sunday, December 25, 2022

 

And the streets of the city
shall be full
of boys and girls
   playing in the streets.

            Zechariah 8. 5

(The way it should be.
It is a visible picture
of the way God intended
                 all along:
peace, joy,
    and steadfast love.
"Have no fear.
     I am with you."
We are seen.
We are heard.
We are so amazingly loved,
     that God sent His Son
     to show us.
Merry Christmas!)

O LORD,
We yearn for You.
Thank You for loving us
           so very much.
Help us to love You
       by loving others
and restore Your Kingdom
   in all the earth
in all that we do and say.
Thank You
      for sending Jesus.



Saturday, December 24, 2022

 

Teach me to do Your will,
     for You are my God.
Let Your good Spirit lead me
             on level ground.

             Psalm 143. 10

(Am I willing to listen to
            His voice
   and walk in His way,
              not mine?
Because He is our God,
    we walk differently.
        We bear the witness
        of a forgiven heart.
God does not promise easy,
   but He is with us,
               Immanuel,
even in this broken world,
even when there doesn't appear
        a trodden path.
God guides us through
    the rough, confusing difficult terrain
as if it was level ground,
    relying on His strength.
He walks with us there.
He brings us to Himself.)

O LORD,
We capture only glimpses
        of Your faithfulness
and someday
       the fullness of Your glory.
Teach us to listen, follow,
     and respond to You,
that we would
             not miss a thing.
We cling to the
    chronicle of Your faithfulness
and dwell not on the darkness,
   but walk toward Your light.
When our eyes are on You,
we walk differently
    because we see You,
    others,
    ourselves,
and our circumstances
                        differently.
And nothing can ever
       remain the same.

Friday, December 23, 2022

 

Not by might,
not by power,
but by My Spirit,
   says the LORD of hosts.
Who are you,
          O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel
  you shall become a plain.
And he shall bring forward
   the top stone amid shouts of
"Grace, grace to it!"

         Zechariah 4. 6-7

(And when we stand before
   an impossibly difficult
   situation or task,
we realize it is beyond us,
         but not for Him.
His strength and His might
     do not just bring us through,
     but bring us closer to Him.
God shouts His glory
          all over us.
What is at stake here are
      not our failures nor our achievement,
      but His grace.)

O LORD,
These are the moments of
      profound significance
when we realize
          our utter need for You.
We fear the mountain before us,
     the hard ascent,
     the slippery slopes,
     the how-am-I-going-to-face-this,
and You shout, "Grace, grace to it."
Even our ordinary
   is the place of Your supernatural.
Not our strength today, O LORD,
                        but Yours.
Align our hearts with Yours.
Help us to see this impossibility
               differently
     because we walk with You.





Thursday, December 22, 2022

 

Here is a call
       for the endurance and faith
       of the saints.

                    Revelation 13. 10

(Do we look at these impossible
      situations and relationships
               and difficulties
as a battle against us
or as a call for endurance and faith?
How we view it determines
         how we navigate it.
"We do not know what to do,
        but our eyes are on You."
                      2 Chronicles 20.12
This is not the end,
         nor will this last forever,
but only the most exciting part
   of the story in which God
   brings His glory
   and grants us His strength
                       to endure.
It is the pivotal point when we know
             we need Him
and decide to walk, run and
         trust Him in this.
This situation is not meant for defeat
    but to draw even closer to Him.)

O LORD,
Help us to see our situations
   with different eyes
                   and a new heart,
knowing Your Presence with us,
relying on Your strength
                  and not our own,
realizing we can trust You
         even in this.
You show us a different path
   that brings You honor
and spreads Your grace
         all over.
Help us to make this
       a loving conversation
   and not barrel into
     a needless confrontation.


Wednesday, December 21, 2022

 

...and the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she has a place
          prepared by God,
in which she is to be nourished
                for 1260 days.

                Revelation 12. 6

(The wilderness even in our lives
only appears
    as barren and bleak and scary,
but throughout Scripture,
the wilderness is a place God uses
     to bring us closer to Him
--a place not of abandonment
       but His Spirit there,
not a place of famine
   but of intense nourishment,
not a place of fear
                but of trusting Him.
God has prepared a place for us,
His Presence surrounding us.
"Do not fear.  I am with you.")

O LORD,
Help us to know that
just because we do not understand
   does not mean You are not in it.
And just because this is really hard
   does not mean You have not
                  appointed us here
to bear witness,
to bring the name of Jesus there,
to love You and those we find here,
to seek the welfare of this place,
to bring You glory and honor.


Tuesday, December 20, 2022

 

Be strong,
    all you people of the land,
                  declares the LORD.
Work,
    for I am with you,
           declares the LORD of hosts.
...My Spirit remains in your midst.
Fear not.
                           Haggai 2. 4-5

(This declaration, made thousands
             of years ago,
   remains true even today,
even in what is before us,
even in the seemingly impossible
            situation we are in.
May we not be distracted by fear
   or overwhelmed by the immensity
   of the task on our doorstep.
Worry just deflates our tires.
But God has strategically positioned
               each one of us
     in this place and time
                      for His glory
and to be a witness to others
   of the love and grace of God.
Be strong.
Work.
Fear not.
    That's what faithfulness does.
We are not alone.
God is not just here.
He is working through us
in ways we may never comprehend.)

O LORD,
Our work sometimes has
       no visible results.
                          Yet.
Help us to do the work
   and trust You with what
              You bring to it.
You never work
          in singular outcomes.
You do not just show up.
    You are already here with us.
Even in what
    only appears to us
              as bleak and barren,
   You transform the landscape
and plant a forest
            of fruit-bearing trees
that will far outlast our lifetimes.
Help us to work,
not fear,
and trust You as
    You bring your glory upon it,
no matter how that looks
                on the surface.
Help us to be Your witness
       even in this,
   in what we do,
   in how we do it,
   in Your name..


Monday, December 19, 2022

 

Fear not, O Zion,
let not your hands grow weak.
   The LORD your God
                   is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you by His love,
He will exult over you
                   with loud singing.

                 Zephaniah 3. 16-17

(Listen. What is that we hear?
God sings His love and grace
       and triumph over us.
God personally delights in you.
Exult means to openly rejoice
    and to be joyful to the extreme.
"I am with you."
"Trust Me in this."
No need to fear or worry.
Anxiety is just
      leaving God out of the equation.)

O LORD,
Thank You for loving us.
We need not just Your help.
         We need You.
Help us in our finite state
   to realize that Your fulfillment
                  and faithfulness
are not constrained by time,
nor circumstances,
nor by what we can see
                   this side of heaven.
You are in our midst.
Help us to not fear
           nor to grow weak,
but to know that
   You are working powerfully
   in us and through us.
Even in the now.
Even in this.


Sunday, December 18, 2022

 

How shall we sing the LORD's song
         in a foreign land?

                   Psalm 137. 4

(In strange and unexpected places
      and among unlikely people,
every which way we can,
    all the words and melodies,
    every language, every key,
to bring hope wherever we are
    and point others to the Almighty.
Singing is a form of worship
   and singing helps us to remember
                His faithfulness.
Our strength and joy are in the LORD.
What are we listening to?
What are we singing
          in what we say and do,
          even in our attitudes?)

O LORD,
Help us to sing in harmony with You,
        to sing a new song,
   and not bring discord to this place.
Fill us, dear God,
          with melodies of hope, joy,
          peace and love
that we may sing into the darkness
     and bring Your name
     to those who do not yet
                  know You.
May Your song that never ends
   be engraved on repeat
   in our hearts.

Saturday, December 17, 2022

 

...to Him who alone
      does great wonders,
for His steadfast love
               endures forever.

                Psalm 136. 4

(God's great wonders
        are not limited
        by what we see as spectacular.
His great wonders are
              woven seamlessly
not just in extraordinary occurrences,
but in what only appears as ordinary.
Wherever we are, we are surrounded
             by great wonders,
             sacred ground,
             divine appointments
             and opportunities to worship Him.
Do we pay attention to His Presence?
Will we recognize His great wonders today
             or just explain Him away?
Twenty-six times
            in twenty six verses of Psalm 136
            is repeated:
Give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
How differently would we live
    if we engraved this truth
                      into our day?)

O LORD,
You are good.
You are doing good,
      even in the hard stuff.
Help us to turn to You,
trust You,
and recognize
      not just Your fingerprints,
but You, O Almighty One,
                in our midst.

Friday, December 16, 2022

 

Praise the LORD,
for the LORD is good.

               Psalm 135.3

(Good is not an adjective,
      describing the LORD.
Good is a noun,
      who God is.
              God is good.
Even in the hard stuff,
God works out of
                 His goodness,
     His character,
     not just His resources.
He brings healing
    to this broken world
and His redeeming
       to this present darkness.
We can trust Him
     that no matter what unfolds,
God is still in control
                and we are not.
He is working goodness
      all the way through it
in tremendous ways
            we cannot yet see.
God reminds us in scripture,
"Do not even think
      about doing this on your own.
                I am with you."
Praise does not give us
         a positive outlook
         or different perspective,
praising God releases in us
                 a new heart.)

O LORD,
Help us to live in the reality
     of who You are.
Help us to not just seek
        goodness around us,
                  but to see You.
Guide us through these hard places
       to a deeper intimacy with You.
May we know Your strength in this.
And praise You
                all the way through
       for Your glory.

Thursday, December 15, 2022

 

Come, bless the LORD,
all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night
     in the house of the LORD!

                    Psalm 134. 1

(Even when we find ourselves
   in the darkness of the third shift,
even in what appears
   as a forgotten outpost,
we can bless the LORD
                  in that place.
And sing out loud.
Because those who
     stand faithfully in the darkness
     get to witness the dawning
                 of the new day.
We have not been abandoned by Him.
We are not alone.
We are strengthened by
    the One who stands here with us
and by all the light we cannot yet see.
We can bless Him here, even here.
  undaunted by changing circumstances,
every shift as vital as the one before,
      faithful even in places
                      where we are unseen.
His glory dwells there.)

O LORD,
Help us to realize
   that You have strategically
                  placed us here.
Nothing is random in Your playbook.
This is why we serve and love You
                        even here,
    to bear witness to You,
    to bless Your holy name,
    and to serve You
            with all our hearts.
Faithfulness matters,
      more than we can know.
Because You redeem
   in the most unexpected ways
   and in the most unlikely places.
May You be blessed
            in all we do today,
   wherever we are.



Wednesday, December 14, 2022

 

And the people of Nineveh
              believed God.

              Jonah 3. 5

(The book of Jonah is
     not just about a man
                   and a whale,
but the deliverance of
     an unlikely people.
That is the real miracle
           in this story.
We can never know
    how God is using us
when we respond to Him
   and are faithful,
even in unexpected places.)

O LORD,
Make us aware of
    Your divine appointments
and responsive to
     Your sacred encounters,
even in this day ahead of us.
Fill us with Your love
  and pack our pockets with grace
that our hearts are aligned
                     with Yours.
Help us to love others
    right into Your arms.
May we seek the welfare
         of those around us.
And realize that is why
    You have placed us here.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

 

I will not enter my house
     or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
     or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling place for
             the Mighty One of Jacob.

                Psalm 132. 3-5

(Spending time with the LORD
    is not "just one more thing
        I don't have time for."
But time with Him orders my loves
    and reorders my urgencies.
We are too busy not to.
Even in what appears the same,
  we see the day differently
  because we walk with Him.
The adversary always shouts,
          "Doesn't matter.
           You don't have time for that."
But God whispers, "Come to Me.
              Walk with Me.
     It matters a lot.  Much more.
     Not just for today
                  but forever.
     Not just for you
            but for everyone around you.")

O LORD,
Make me mindful of those things
    that casually slip in
    and take Your rightful place.
Help me to not be distracted
   by what cries out Important!!!
                  but is not.
Reveal to us
   pockets of time each day
   to spend with You.
You go before us.
You walk with us.
You change our hearts.


Monday, December 12, 2022

 

I do not occupy myself
with things too great
and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed
    and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child
             with its mother,
like a weaned child
    is my soul within me.

               Psalm 131. 1-2

(What is right before me today?
God is with me, even in this.
      "Right here with you."
Worry is running ahead of God
   and being distracted by
   what is not in my control anyway,
                        but His.
Worry is leaving God Almighty
            out of the picture.)

O LORD,
Help me to walk with You
     through this,
 in what I know,
and what I cannot yet see.
May I rest in Your arms
   and let You not just comfort me,
but strengthen me
    for both the now and not yet.
You redeem.
No matter the circumstances,
    You do not abandon us,
but draw us closer to You.
Help me in all that I do see
      to be faithful to You
      in all things,
        both great and small.
And realize that
  faithfulness is never insignificant.


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Sunday, December 11, 2022

 

Out of the depths
    I cry to You, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice...
I wait for the LORD,
     my soul waits,
and in His Word I hope.

             Psalm 130. 1-2, 5

("Come to Me."
And in the coming,
we find that He is
        already with us,
   a strong hold upon us,
              even in this.
He has not promised easy
   in this broken
             and shattered world,
but "I am with you."
His Presence and strength
          guide us on our way.
"Walk with Me through this."
God pours over us His grace
       covers us with His peace,
and He redeems.)

O LORD,
Sometimes we are beyond words,
    tripped up by despair,
    and stumbling in the dark.
Help us to walk toward
                  Your light
and to take
      Your outstretched hand.
Help us to see in the dark
   and follow You
   into Your redeeming.
There is always Your redeeming,
   even in what we cannot see.
But we can trust You.


Saturday, December 10, 2022

 

Do you see a man who is
         hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool
         than for him.

                Proverbs 29. 20

(Just a little reminder in this
    season of joy and stress
that our words are non-returnable,
           not exchangeable,
               and final sale.
Even those that slip out,
         "I didn't mean to say that."
God calls us to be quick to listen,
      slow to speak,
      not just filling the air
            with empty words,
   but those that build up love.
Point and direct the conversation
                       to Him.
Sometimes speak.
Sometimes nothing at all.
Use your words.
     But always use them wisely
     and with unexpected grace
          which is such a rare treasure
          in our world.)

O LORD,
Let the words of my mouth
      bring You glory
   in unexpected places
   and among unlikely people.
Help me to not ignite turmoil
    but bring Your grace
    to this situation.
May even our conversations
            bring You glory.
May we love others
                into Your Kingdom
   even by how we respond.


Friday, December 9, 2022

 

I will restore to you
the years that the
  swarming locust has eaten.

                 Joel 2. 25

(God has not just brought us through,
    but has been with us
                        all along,
   and He is still with us now,
      past, present, and future tense.
No expiration date.
     No place beyond His grace.
Not just the promise that
God will redeem,
   but He is already redeeming,
even in ways we cannot yet see,
      even in this,
                  right where we are.
New saplings and a great forest
   emerge from
  the stumps of old growth trees.)

O LORD,
We so easily lose sight of
     our joys and Your wonders
and listen only to the sorrows,
             and not to You.
But we can stake our lives on You,
     send down roots
     and bear fruit
           even in this broken world.
And sing Your glory in this place.
May others see a light and a hope,
      something very different in us,
                      and let that be You.
We are not stuck.
We are coming through the hard places,
    bringing others with us,
and helping others with Your strength,
          right into Your Kingdom.


Thursday, December 8, 2022

 

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,  
    for it is time to seek the LORD,
that He may come
    and rain righteousness
                          upon you.

                   Hosea 10. 12

(Such timeless truth
     written and preserved
     in this ancient document
           of God's faithfulness.
What are we sowing?
Faithfulness always bears fruit
    in one dimension
                     or a thousand,
mostly in ways
          we will never fathom.
Are we seeking God in this
     situation, dilemma,
                or same old task today?
Nothing is mundane
      when we seek Him in it.
What is the uncultivated land
                    in our lives
     that we have ignored
                       or passed over,
the hard crusty unplowed ground
   that is incredibly sacred in His sight,
          just waiting to burst forth,
   right beneath our feet?)

O LORD,
Help us to see this day
    not as ordinary or stressful,
    but to seek You in it.
Guide our thoughts,
order our days,
align our hearts with Yours,
that You will transform
    the dry desert
    into what bears fruit.
Empower us with Your wisdom
       and vision
to see this day differently,
to come before You,
and to run like the wind
                      with You.
You bring Your fruit
    in unexpected places.


Wednesday, December 7, 2022

 

For I desire steadfast love
            and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God
      rather than burnt offerings.

                  Hosea 6. 6

(The most important thing to God
      is our relationship to Him.
He is not trying to "teach us" anything.
He wants to be with us.
He does not require success,
      nor perfect kids,
      nor our stuff,
but desires our hearts.
What is most significant to God
        in this situation
        or on this path?
To love Him in it,
         love others through it,
     and to know Him more.
Where is my heart in this?
    What am I sowing
       --harshness or grace?)

O LORD,
Our hearts are revealed
       in how we respond
    in all good endeavors,
    in unexpected difficulties,
    in the joys
             and on the rocky path.
We cannot carry this load
                       ourselves
    but we can direct it to You.
Reorder our loves.
Help us to point others to You
       by showing grace
       as You have shown grace
                       to us,
unexpected and undeserved.
Reveal Yourself to us
      in whatever we do today
and with whomever
          You appoint us
to love them
      with Your steadfast love.


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

 

...not as though I were writing you
       a new commandment,
but the one we have had
                      from the beginning--
that we love one another.

                  2 John 1. 5

(What is the will of God in this?
How do we approach
     this volatile situation,
     this impossible person,
     these hard circumstances
         beyond our understanding?
Love one another.
As simple as that,
    as sacrificing as that.
--our approach, our focus,
           our response,
by how we are known
    because of Who we know.
Bring the love of Jesus
                    to this.)

O LORD,
May Your love be evident
    in all that we are
    and all that we do.
Help us to love others
                  in real time
   because we love You.
Empower us
          to practice Your grace
   until Your heart becomes ours,
and that loving others
      is no longer a sacrifice
      but a joy.




Monday, December 5, 2022

 

And there
I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor
            a door of hope.

               Hosea 2. 15

(Achor means trouble.
We've all been in that deep valley
    at one time or another.
But we are not stuck there.
In the bleak wilderness,
in the barren place,
in the valley of trouble,
even there
   God provides in unlikely places
   and in unexpected ways.
His mercy prevails
            even in the hard stuff.
God is faithful and reveals Himself.
Don't miss Him.
It is not that He has not shown up.
        He is already here.
We are the ones late
               to recognize Him.)

O LORD,
You are our help.
Help us to seek You
     in this bleak place.
Have mercy on us.
And provide, O LORD,
              Your strength in this.
Help us to not just
     seek an exit,
nor just get through this,
but to know You more.
Help us to walk toward
    Your door of hope,
                    even in this.
You have positioned us here
   to bring Your name
   and Your glory
      in unexpected places.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

 

And those who are wise
shall shine like the brightness
        of the sky above,
and those who turn many
                to righteousness
   like the stars forever and ever.

                  Daniel 12. 3

(Not seeking the spotlight for oneself,
   but radiating His light
           and love and grace.
Seek His wisdom
    dig deep, uncover, search out.
Seek righteousness,
     not our way but His in this.
Seek the welfare of others
                   intentionally,
     because that is what love does.
Point others to God
         in all things,
     even in the ordinary,
     because that is how we learn
               how to respond in the crisis.
That is what to do
     with this difficult situation,
     this task before us today,
     this unexpected turn of events,
     this hard relationship,
     this impossible person.
Love them to Jesus.
Faithfulness to God
        always responds differently.)

O LORD,
Abide in us.
Help us to walk toward Your light,
      even in the dark places.
Let Your light shine from within us
     to point others to You.
We cannot change others,
   but we can change
              how we respond,
and how we can love others,
       even in this.
Shine through us this day,
    even in the ordinary,
    even in unlikely places,
    even when we are unaware.

Saturday, December 3, 2022

 

By this we know love,
that He laid down His life
                     for us,
and we ought to lay down
  our lives for the brothers.

                 1 John 3. 16

(By this we know
     how much we are loved.
  That is why Jesus came.
How do we lay down our lives
        for others today?
We are surrounded by
   opportunities to show grace.
Practicing in the little ways
   builds strength to love large.
What do we choose in this?
The closest parking place,
    the biggest piece of pie,
    the critical thought
          is where it starts.
Pay attention,
be aware of our surroundings,
and respond to God's nudges.
Let the love of Christ invade.)

O LORD,
May not a moment pass by
   that we are not aware
   of Your Presence
   and the opportunity
      to love others to You.
Help us to see Your way in this.
Grant us the wisdom,
           strength and courage
to seek the welfare
    of those around us.
May our lives reflect
        Your love.
Every action, word and attitude
    are never insignificant
   --the tangible and the intangible.
We cannot know
                 what sticks,
nor what draws someone to You.
                          

Friday, December 2, 2022

 

...for you are greatly loved.

                Daniel 9. 23

(All we need to know.
Not just a feeling or emotion
        that comes and goes,
but the reality
      that God loves us.
It is not that we grab hold
              of that truth,
but that truth has a
         strong hold on us.
And it changes how we see God,
other people,
ourselves,
and our circumstances.
Am I loved?  is the cry
            of every human heart
because God does.)

O LORD,
Thank You for loving us
        no matter what.
Help us to know Your love
        no matter what.
May we stake our lives
   on Your steadfast love
and trust You in it.
Because we can know we are loved,
     we can live differently.
     We can love You
        in all that we are and do.
Help us to go forth into this day
    knowing that we are greatly loved
                           by You.
   That is all we need to know,
     and that changes everything.
    

Thursday, December 1, 2022

 

In my distress I called
        to the LORD,
and He answered me.

               Psalm 120. 1

(God answers in
            unexpected ways.
    Look for Him.
    He reveals Himself,
       not just a solution,
       or exit door,
       or emergency helicopter.
He doesn't show up.
     He is already here.
This is the first verse
    of the ancient songs of ascent.
Pray to the LORD
                  over the distress.
Sing over the hard places.
Sing aloud with Him.
     Sing louder because
     He walks with us.
Do not be dismayed
           at the steepness.
God gives His impossible strength
       for the next little step,
              and then another.
Even in the scorched places,
    the narrow rocky path,
    in the drought,
    the fog,
    the cliffs on both sides,
God walks with us there.
       He has a strong hold on us.
His Presence changes
                everything.)

O LORD,
When our minds and thoughts
     race first thing to panic,
trigger our hearts
      to pray
      as our first response.
Remind us that
    we are not alone in this,
but that You walk with us
in the high scary places
    and in the dark miry bog.
You do not just
          bring us through.
You bring us to You.
Help us to approach this difficulty
      with a new heart
            and a strength that is not ours
      but Yours.
And sing out loud with You
   Your goodness
   even in what we
             cannot understand.


Wednesday, November 30, 2022

 

...but my heart stands in awe
                 of Your words.
I rejoice at Your Word
   like one who
   finds great spoil.

               Psalm 119. 161-162

(God unfolds His blessing,
     His strength, His wisdom,
              grace and love
       through His Word.
When we come before it,
     when we  dive into it
              with great awe,
we read it differently,
we ponder it,
we strive to let it sink in
     and seek to live it out.
Every time we open His Word,
God changes us
     --and everyone around us--
             through it.
These are not just printed out pages,
     but the very words of God.)

O LORD,
Draw us not just to reading Your Word,
   but draw us in
that we would know You more
     and the reality of Your Presence.
Change us through it.
Help us to realize Your treasure
    as Your Word plays out
    in whatever we face or do today.
Thank You for Your Word.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

 

When Daniel knew
    that the document had been signed,
he went to his house
where he had windows
     in his upper chamber
     open toward Jerusalem.
He got down on his knees
             three times a day
and prayed
and gave thanks before His God,
    as he had done previously.

              Daniel 6. 10

(The foundation was already laid.
This was not the first time
            Daniel trusted God for his life.
He lived in such a way
         that God was seen in all he did,
         in who he was,
         in how he prayed.
His first response
     was what he did every day.
"If we do not do the running
 on the ordinary days,
 we shall do nothing in the crisis."
            --Oswald Chambers)

O LORD,
May we seek You
  to pray and trust and worship
  on the most ordinary days.
That we may know fully
    Your Presence,
           even in the hard stuff.
You are near, O LORD.
You are our strength.
May Your Word
   engrave faithfulness in us.
May trusting You
            be our default.

Monday, November 28, 2022

 

I have heard of you
that the Spirit of the holy God
                 is in you,
and that light and understanding
   and excellent wisdom
                  are found in you.

                  Daniel 5. 14

(We all worship something.
If we do not worship God,
a lesser god will take
             His rightful place.
Whom or what we worship
    and honor and glorify
will be evident in
            our character,
how we respond,
what we pursue,
how we love others.
What do others see
         differently in us?
Do they sense the evidence
     of the Holy Spirit
      residing there?
That we are faithful to Him?)

O LORD,
We seek not Your blessing in this day,
     but that we would bless You.
Help us to love You with all our hearts
              and minds and strength.
Let that love be evident in
         how we respond to circumstances
         and how we love others around us.
In all that we do today,
      bring Your glory to it.
Please grant to us Your wisdom
                 and understanding
and Your light in situations
     we cannot carry on our own.


Sunday, November 27, 2022

 

For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement
        your faith with virtue,
and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self control,
and self control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with
                    brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.

                   2 Peter 1. 5-7

(Step by step,
layer by layer,
choice by choice,
    deepening our faith.
And realizing these
    are not just supplements
              or attachments,
but a pursuit that
   empowers us to grow in Him.
And it starts with today.
What choices am I making
            in this day
     to abide in Him?)

O LORD,
We praise You
    because You are with us.
We honor You
    because You are God.
May our lives
         and what we choose
    reflect Your glory.
Help us to grow in You.
Nudge us
    to make different choices
    to follow You fully.
Let our faithfulness to You
   be nurtured in layers
   and daily decisions.
Be thou our vision
            and our strength.
     


Saturday, November 26, 2022

 

Daniel answered the king and said,
"No wise men, enchanters,
     magicians, or astrologers
can show to the king the mystery
     that the kind has asked,
but there is a God in heaven
           who reveals mysteries...

                  Daniel 2. 27-28

(Daniel does not draw
          attention to himself,
but points the entire kingdom
     to the reality of God Almighty.
But there is a God in heaven
   --on that reality,
     we can stake our lives.
Nothing random,
nothing without divine purpose,
trusting God
          and being faithful to Him,
even into
      what we cannot yet understand.)

O LORD,
We can live differently
    with hope and joy
          even in the hard stuff,
because You are God Almighty,
            and we are not.
Our prayers to You
for provision, protection, purpose
             and deliverance
are always in some way
     answered unexpectedly,
because there is a lot deeper
           in Your designs
      than we are aware of.
Help us to trust You
    and point others to You
in all that we are,
in all that You have given us
                 to do.

Friday, November 25, 2022

 

...always be prepared
to make a defense to anyone
            who asks you
for a reason
             for the hope
that is in you,
yet do it with gentleness
                  and respect.

            1 Peter 3. 15

(Always be ready,
stay watchful for that unexpected moment,
    to point others to the hope of Jesus.
People are watching us
   to know why we are different,
   why we respond differently,
   and to know after all,
              that God is real.
They don't want a prepared sermon
       or a memorized script.
They are homesick for God.
They want to know our story.)

O LORD,
Help us to know that there are
     no random circumstances,
     nor chance encounters,
but only divine appointments
    to be faithful before others
   and to bring the name of Jesus
               at a moment's notice.
Help us to be aware
               of sacred opportunities
    in unexpected places
    and among unlikely people
to love them into Your Kingdom.


Thursday, November 24, 2022

 

And on the banks,
on both sides of the river,
there will grow all kinds
           of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither,
nor their fruit fail,
but they will bear fresh fruit
              every month,
because the water for them
   flows from the sanctuary.
Their fruit will be for food,
   and their leaves for healing.

                  Ezekiel 47. 12

(What fruit are we bearing
                  with our lives?
What kind of fruit
     do others see
     and experience through us?
What we sow,
into what we send down our roots,
on what sustains us
    impacts not just our lives,
    but everyone around us
          for multiple generations.
The LORD provides.
The LORD sustains.
The LORD brings the growth.
What a beautiful visual
   of God's faithfulness.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

O LORD,
We seek to bring You glory,
wherever You have placed us,
that Your name may be known
and we can thrive,
         even in the drought.
Your faithfulness
    always unfolds fruitfulness.
You are here in this place,
     and we can trust You.
May we honor You this day
    in all that we do,
    in seeking the good of others,
    in bearing fruit
             even in impossible situations,
for Your Kingdom,
for Your glory,
in Your name.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

 

...and I shall walk
         in a wide place,
for I have sought
             Your precepts.

              Psalm 119. 45

(When we soak in God's Word,
not just reading a passage,
but bringing scripture with us
              into the day
     and into our ways,
God brings us to a new place.
God enlarges our space,
        our thoughts, our actions.
He guides us in unexpected ways.
He reveals passages
                 previously hidden.
He leads us through
   when there seems to be
   no possible way.
He gives us the grace
      to bring His name to it.
God rewires our minds
               and our hearts.
Have I considered
    seeking God about this
            and trusting Him with it?
Anxiety is trying to take control
     over what is rightly His.)

O LORD,
May Your Word sink deeply
      in our hearts and minds
and infect all we do today.
Help us to read Your Word first and pray
    as we head into
    what is before us today.
Enlarge our hearts
           to follow You.
Help us to find Your way in this
    that brings You glory
in the familiar and the unknown,
and point others to You.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

 

They shall enter My sanctuary,
and they shall approach My table,
to minister to Me,
and they shall keep My charge.

                 Ezekiel 45. 16

(Wherever we are,
    no matter where we are,
we are on holy ground,
   the place of God's own choosing
   to bring His name there.
We approach this situation,
     the known and the unknown,
     even the really difficult,
by approaching it differently
   as in ministering to the LORD.
How do I pray,
how do I see this --or them--
                   with a new heart,
how do I respond
          with unexpected grace?
 Because this is not a random encounter,
     but a divine appointment
     to minister to the LORD
        by ministering to others.)

O LORD,
Help us to see this day,
this place,
this point in time
        as Your sanctuary,
a place to worship You,
a place to bless You,
a place to bring Your love
     and grace
     and the name of Jesus there.
Reveal Yourself to us today
          as we dwell in You,
even in the most unlikely places
   and among unexpected people.
Astonish us by Your Presence
              with us all along.