Words from Timothy

 

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8

The Great Weaver

 

(Click on photo to view larger)

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art, originally shared in 2019.

Bearing Fruit

Our Wednesday morning Bible study is just completing the study, "No Other Gods: The Unrivaled Pursuit of Christ" by Kelly Minter. In the final session, she highlighted the fruit-bearing points above.

• It was God's intent that we bear fruit.
• Fruit bearing will always find a way in the soil of obedience.
• God's fruit can only be borne God's way.
• Fruit bearing is a process and processes take time.
• God's fruit in our lives does not depend on a past of perfect choices.
• Our fruitfulness is based on God's faithfulness. 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.  Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 1-5

Donna Gustafson (click on photo to view larger)

Hidden From Learned

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father for this is what you were pleased to do. Mathew 11:25-26

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:14,16

Sometimes the most educated, the oldest and the ones with the most money or power get things wrong. Jesus noticed this when he was on our world. Max Lucado, New York Times best-selling Christian author, said in his Matthew Life Lessons study book, “Since the time of Moses, Israel had been in possession of God’s law, including the Lord’s clear-cut commands and provisions for the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest and reflection. But over the centuries, the Jewish leaders had turned it all into a confusing and soul-destroying system. Then Jesus entered the scene and made a startling invitation.”

Today, there are learned, wise leaders and writers that cannot accept the simple invitation Jesus gives us to believe in him and God’s creation of the world. We have to accept Jesus as our Savior to understand the great gift God gave us when he gave his son because of His love for us.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, please open our eyes to see the great gift you have revealed to us in your scriptures. Help us to look at your world and believe you are the creator, and you sent your son to be our Saviour because you love us. Please forgive us when we listen to wisdom of the world that denies Jesus. Give us strength to spread your Word- as sheep among the wolves- to unbelievers. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Identities

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:9-13

As I was driving to work one day, I followed a vehicle with a personalized license plate reading “JENZ MOM.” Of course, little else in my life has given me more pleasure than to be known as “Gina’s mom,“ and “Matt’s mom,” and “Erin’s mom.”  But I began to think about my other identities: wife, daughter, sister, “in-law“…grandmother, aunt, cousin…friend, neighbor, colleague, citizen. 

As I pondered, I came to realize that my most important identity is that of Christian, a child of God. For ultimately, it is my understanding of God’s love and my relationship with Christ which form the thoughts, words, and actions that shape and define all my other relationships. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is an incomparable privilege to be a “Child of God.” We thank You for Your unfailing love and pray that we can be worthy members of Your family. Amen. 

Judith Keller, reprinted from March 2009

Exploration

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 

Too often we are burdened by external forces that keep our minds closed off. We blind ourselves from the present and we don’t recognize its simple magnificence. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be present in our world. We often live day by day but remind us to take time to experience the world you built for us. Challenge us to live through you and your good works. In your name we pray, Amen.

Charles Kendeigh

Reap What You Sow; Sow What You Reap

Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit. We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

The Eastridge Chancel Choir sang a beautiful piece a few weeks ago based on this passage. The text touched me deeply: “You will sow what you reap, reap what you sow. What you plant in the kingdom will surely grow. And what you grow with love will surely bloom and the fruit of the spirit will come back to you. Do not tire from doing good and never give up when your road gets rough. For one day soon a great reward you’ll see from the good you’ve done when the harvest comes. You will reap what you sow, sow what you reap will surely keep until the day you’ll hear the words, He’ll say, “well done, my child, well done. My child, come taste the joy of heaven’s reward!”

The Message bible tells it this way: “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the need of others-ignoring God!-harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So, let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”

It is easy to go through life without much intention. We might do things for others but only because it’s expected or what we “should” do. But is our heart in it? Is it done with conditions of what we might get out of it? Do we hope for some attention or accolades? Do we share our gifts freely or are we tired of give, give, giving without return? Are we willing to get involved and invested or stand on the sidelines, making excuses, and hoping someone else will do something? Or is it offered from a place of humbleness, joy, and love?

Merging the song and the Message passage together: what we grow IN LOVE in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in us, it will surely bloom and the fruit of the Spirit will come back to us. IN LOVE seems to be the ticket! Pray about “becoming love to the world”! Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”. Love is action. Love with intention. Do not tire from doing good. Our reward may not be of the earthly kind. What we plant IN LOVE, every chance we get, God will see to it the harvest will come and is used for good. Then, we will come to taste the joy of heaven’s reward!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we want to live with more intention and love. Help us to live from a place a of gratitude for all you are in our lives and respond with love. Encourage us when we tire of doing good. May you work through us as we plant IN LOVE. Amen

Diane Worrell Eaton

Psalm 98

 

 Sing to the Lord a new song,

    for he has done marvelous things;

his right hand and his holy arm

    have worked salvation for him.

  The Lord has made his salvation known

    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

  He has remembered his love

    and his faithfulness to Israel;

all the ends of the earth have seen

    the salvation of our God.

  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

    burst into jubilant song with music;

  make music to the Lord with the harp,

    with the harp and the sound of singing,

  with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—

    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

  Let the sea resound, and everything in it,

    the world, and all who live in it.

  Let the rivers clap their hands,

    let the mountains sing together for joy;

  let them sing before the Lord,

    for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

    and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98

A Prayer

Prayer by Sarah Are

I confess—

I am good at waiting.

I waited for someone else to be passionate before I made a change.

I waited for you to say, “I love you” before I was honest.

I waited for affirmation about my work before trying harder.

I waited for anyone else to take the lead instead of speaking up.

I waited for you to forget instead of saying sorry.

I wait for a compliment before I feel beautiful.

I wait for your call before calling back.

I wait for an opinion before stating my own.

I wait for a rainy day to slow down.

I wait for a sunny day to get outside.

I wait for Saturdays to call home.

I wait for free time to read my Bible.

And too often, I wait for Sunday to pray.

I have lived well, but I have also sat on my hands,

Turned my head, closed my eyes,

Lived in denial, pretended it would get better,

Believed in someone else’s call over my own,

And ignored the fact that these hands belong to God.

But these hands belong to God.

I guess what I’m trying to say is,

What if Mary waited nine months so that we wouldn’t have to?

And what if the disciples waited three days so that we wouldn’t have to?

There is love to sow,

Peace to reap,

Joy to feel,

And a promised day that I am longing for.

So if you want to join me,

I’ll be busy, unlearning years of sitting and waiting.


(reprinted with permission, What Can't Wait by A Sanctified Art.org, shared originally in 2019)

Words from Proverbs

 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

That Tree I Knew

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

“To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Recently our neighborhood lost a great tree. What I mean when I say “great”: old, tall, healthy, spectacular-looking. Since it was still healthy, I was saddened to hear that it was going to be cut down. The reasons behind it being cut down are not important here; but I do want to say that cutting down a healthy tree is different from cutting down an unhealthy tree.

The morning it was to be cut down, I was at home. The tree's owners advised us that there would be a crane and large trucks preventing us from using our driveways and the end of the street. I was interested in how they would cut down such a tall tree, but also just wanted to watch its end. I’ve noticed this tree for the nine years we have lived on this block and have always marveled at its beauty and uniqueness. Sometimes it was a quick glance before getting in my car and seeing the morning sun hit it in just the right way. Or maybe it was studying its beauty and waiting for the perfect photo opportunity. I KNEW this tree.

As I watched it come down, piece by piece (kind of like taking apart an artificial Christmas tree), I thought of all this tree had “seen”. It had been standing during the first World War (maybe), the second (certainly), surviving through our current age of technology. It had likely sheltered countless species of birds, as well as squirrels and raccoons.

While admiring the skill of the man who operated the chainsaw (not to mention the crane operator), I watched it come down faster than I had expected. Despite the difficulty of removing such a large tree, they were done by noon. It seemed wrong that something that had grown to this towering height over so many years came down in just a few hours. I thought of the approximately 100 years of growing from a tiny seed...it was sobering, sad. The loud, violent sound of the chainsaw seemed appropriate to what was happening. The smell of the ground stump still lingered over a week later, a clean pine scent I enjoyed, despite its reminder of what was no longer there.

The tree is/was a world unto itself, as many large trees are. I am not sure what sort of analogy I want to make, but what stands out to me has been the fact that all living things must die eventually. For humans that means eternal life. For this tree, I guess, it just means that its time on earth has come to an end. BUT: there are parts of this tree that will go on forever. We are all connected to the earth in one way or another as living beings. In Diana Butler Bass’s book, Grounded, she shares thoughts from Paul Tillich (a German-American Christian existentialist philosopher, religious socialist, and Lutheran Protestant theologian): “Human life may be finite, destined for dirt and death; but the ground and all that came from it and was connected to it was drenched with the divine, the source of infinite holiness.” She shares that Tillich didn’t mean that God was literally dirt, but that He is the “numinous presence at the center of all things”.

When things die, they return to the earth and atmosphere in different ways. In this case, "eternal" can mean different things.

As human beings we are promised eternal life with God when our earthly bodies perish.

Scripture tells us:

For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28-29

For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. John 17:2

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your promise of eternal Life with You. Help us to turn to you when we are grieving the loss of something that was once living, whether it is a part of nature or a beloved being with whom we have shared life. We know that all living things must die; we turn to you for understanding and comfort when these losses hurt us. Thank you for the connectedness of living things on this earth. Be with us on our journey. Amen.

Donna Gustafson (photos of the white pine referred to in this devotion is shown above. Click on photos to view larger.)

Words from Thessalonians

To this he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:14

Light Pierces Through

Read: John 1:1-14

When we talk about the creation story, we often refer to

Genesis. But the bible is full of creation stories, and the

opening of John’s gospel is one of them. Not to be confined to

literal interpretation, the poetry of John 1 tells us more about

the nature of God than about the contents of the cosmos.

Looking at this story of birth, what do we learn about God?

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and

the Word was God (John 1:1). God is living word, holy discourse.

God is known to us in logic, debate, truth, and story.

What came into being through the Word was life, and the life

was the light for all people (John 1:4). God is living flesh, divine

presence in human form, the embodiment of love for all

people. God joins us in every human experience.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t

extinguish the light (John 1:5). God is light that pierces through

the darkness. Nothing can stop it or dampen its might.

In this painting, I meditated on the persistence of light. Light

can travel endlessly through a vacuum; light waves won’t

diminish no matter how far they have to travel. Therefore,

starlight travels through space for billions of light years to

reach us on earth. Can you imagine that? Perhaps that’s God’s

nature and constant posture—endlessly traveling through

time and space just to reach us.

Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image below.

Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How

do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken

prayer to God.

(reprinted with permission, What Can't Wait by A Sanctified Art.org, from 2019)

 

Friendship

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. (Anais Nin)

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17  

One of the benefits of investing in long-term relationships is the ability to know someone more deeply and fully. Humans can complement one another in so many wonderful ways, and experiencing these interactions is also a gateway to experiencing more closeness with God. I love how the years of life I have been granted have blessed me with the crossed paths of so many different strangers who have become friends for eternity. It is a wonderful richness to treasure.

I began to realize as a young adult that the face of God was present in the faces of so many in my earthly community. The generous spirit shines very brightly when someone tries to reach into your life and share his or her strengths. It feels so good to have something to offer to someone else, too, and to have so many gifts to share. 

A young woman I know recently told me how she looks to me for guidance on how to face life. She said she had a difficult childhood but survived and thrived by choosing to discard bad influences and cling to the examples of those who inspired her. Every time she sees me she gives me a hug and thanks me for being there. She helps me to be my best self.

My decades-old friendships have given me the chance to have many sisters and brothers, and people who could be nieces and nephews - and in my heart, a lot of aunties and uncles. Families are wonderful, but families and friends can blend into a lovely mess. I am delighted to see the lines blur between blood relations and heart relations. 

Recently, I have had the gift of time with a friend I met in junior high. She was one of the people who eased me out of my academic rigor into a person who could relax and have fun with others, and she really pulled me out of a narrowness that was not healthy. She encouraged my spirit of adventure and helped me to relax in the face of stressful situations. She and I have had the chance to explore and laugh and talk about great ideas and just take time to look at the world at our feet. She has just come out of a challenging set of experiences, and for the time being I am able to give her a little of what she needs to remember about herself that restores her to living fully. We open a new gift every time we see one another. 

Prayer: Lord of all friendships and all colors of love, thank you for the people whose hands you have placed in ours, who are your hands in our lives.  Let us always treasure them as you treasure us, and to be your gentle hands reminding them of the power of love that is you. Amen

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2017)

Words from Ephesians

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1: 3-23

Unchained Thinking

Scripture reference: read 2 Timothy 2: 8-15

I came across this sermon illustration just recently from one of the online streaming sources like Homiletics Online or Sermon Suite. It is speaking of possibilities that seem beyond one’s immediate resources, such as the devastation that hit Florida with Hurricane Ian and what happened in Puerto Rico a few days before.  What are the options that get one beyond being “chained?”

Jimmy Buffett was born in Mississippi, but raised in Alabama. Living his youth along the coastal waterway permeated his very being. The sea and the shore gave him his identity and calling in life. He wanted to share a life lived in the salt air with everyone.Thus, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band became known for their laid-back tunes like “Margaritaville” & “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

 

After the gulf oil spill, Buffett understood the frustration and anger of the Gulf residents and business owners. He also realized their sense of helplessness and hopelessness as wave after wave brings more oil upon the white pristine sands of Alabama. Accepting that this would be the way of life for a time to come, Buffett asked himself, “Now, what you do with that is a big question.”

 

So, he decided that he and his band would perform a series of free concerts on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Buffett’s expectation was simple, “What I’m best at is two hours of escapism for people.” With a beach concert open to the public, for a short time anyway, he could create, in his own words, a “Mardi Gras mentality.”

 

For a brief moment, people could be free of their troubles and listen and refocus. They would have to go back to their lives, but now perhaps fortified with more determination. 

I believe Paul’s words to us are a similar encouragement when things seem hopeless. He tells us that “God’s word is not chained,” so it is possible for us to be unchained! When it comes to natural disasters that impact our neighbors down in Florida or in Puerto Rico, people have to recuperate and rebuild. That requires “unchained” thinking and action. It may mean foregoing the political boundaries that have sullied our relationships and perspectives. “Unchained” is the freedom to do what must be done. It can be as evident as how we witness as unchained neighbors working together in faith. Oh, I pray that we can be so unfettered in helping our neighbors rebuild and recover! 

Prayer: Lord God, let Your Word be an unfettered free message of hope. May it provide a new way of ministry and reliance upon You over anything that may divide us. Let us work as a united Body of Christ in faith and service to all in need, through Christ Who is Lord of all. Amen 

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling, Honorably Retired 

  

I Will Give Thanks to the Lord

 

 My shield is God Most High,

    who saves the upright in heart.

  I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;

    I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7: 10; 17

Psalm 100

 

   Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

      Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

  Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 

  Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100

Trees

Poem by Joyce Kilmer:

"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a Tree

A Tree that looks at God all day

and lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A Tree that in summer may wear a nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain,

who intimately lives with rain. 

Poems are made by fools like me, 

but only God can make a tree!"

Shared by Betty Filbrandt

Have Faith

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I wrote a devotion a few years ago about someone with whom I've had an estranged relationship. I've prayed for guidance, trying to be patient and trust God's timing. The more time that passed, the harder it became to wait. But still, I held tightly to the hope that He would heal our relationship soon. I did all I possibly could—which was text and e-mail—to stay in touch and let her know I still care. I've tried to be selfless, positive, loving and open-minded in my communications. I've apologized for what (I could only guess) I'd done, have invited her to get together to talk, offered to pay for counseling sessions together, sent her well-wishes on special occasions and much more. Sadly, she never responded. Complete silence. 

Then, the other day, I finally got an e-mail from her—but unfortunately, not the kind of e-mail I'd been hoping for. She had very hateful words for me, told me to leave her alone and that she would never forgive me. After all I'd invested in this relationship, hearing that was a dagger to my heart. I cried out to God, “WHY?!” It just didn't make sense to me. The hope that I'd been clinging to crumbled. Perhaps I just needed to accept the harsh reality that our relationship would never heal and move on. I asked God, “What now? Show me how to look at this with your eyes.”

First, God reminded me to not be blinded by her hateful words. They really hurt, but I know, deep down, this is not who she is. I recognize this as the Devil's work (see Ephesians 6:12). I began praying hard for her heart to be healed. And after grieving for a while, I heard God whispering to not give up hope. To the human eye, this situation does look quite hopeless, but He reminded me that, “with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). This reassures me, knowing that He's “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).  

I've now learned (the hard way), to not place hope in the picture-perfect healing that I envision. In fact, Romans 8:24 tells me, “Hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees?” The truth is, I don't know when or how God will bring healing. It may be a very long time, it may get messy and it may not make sense or be fair. But still, I must try to have faith—placing my hope in the confidence that, “He is working all things together for our good.” (Romans 8:28).  As I try to wait patiently for what I do not yet see, I know my loving and faithful God will be right by my side. I have a lot to say about the ways God has been supporting me, but that will have to wait for my next devotion.

Prayer: Ever Faithful God, forgive us for losing hope when life gets difficult.  Please strengthen our faith so that we can trust in your plan for healing...even when we don't understand it. And thank you for the comfort your peaceful presence brings. Amen.  

Sharon Irvin

Words from Chronicles

 

 “Praise be to you, Lord,

    the God of our father Israel,

    from everlasting to everlasting.

  Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power

    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;

    you are exalted as head over all.

  Wealth and honor come from you;

    you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

    to exalt and give strength to all.

  Now, our God, we give you thanks,

    and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29: 10-13