Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 31; Jeremiah 32; 1 John 4
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 John 4:16-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Observation:
Love is what binds us to God. The love we have for Him, the love He has for us, and the love we have for each other. True love overcomes fear- if we have love, if we have God, there is no need to fear anything. Jesus had real love- he didn’t like what a lot of people were doing, but He loved them enough to sit and talk with them, explain things to them, and die for them.
Application:
I think of all different kinds of love- the love I have for my family, for my friends, for things (and yes, don’t we say “I love my car” or “I love french fries” and such?) Much of that love is conditional. We love our friends until they say something nasty about us, or until they betray us, and then we hate them instead. We love our family, but as my cousin pointed out yesterday, there are some unlovable people in our family, too. And even french fries let me down! What we should have is true love for each other. The kind that doesn’t fear- or doesn’t care- if we are loved in return (because we are loved by God!) The kind of love that uplifts those around us. And this is hard, because I’ve been hurt many times by people I love, and there is a real tendency to not stick my heart out there again to get it crushed. But real love doesn’t fear. Real love just loves because it can’t do anything else.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to love others, and You, with a real love that isn’t scared. And help me include people who have hurt me and people I don’t like very much. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 18; Jeremiah 19; Jeremiah 20; Psalm 93; John 17
Scripture that spoke to me:
John 17:20-21
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Observation:
Jesus prayed for me- for anyone who believes in Him- that we would be one in Him. He prayed for us to know Him, to have unity with each other and come to know the love that God has for us all.
Application:
I don’t think we truly understand the love that God has for us. We try, but our minds just can’t go there. The love that we understand is often based on how someone treats us, whether we think they are worthy of our love, and whether they love us back. God’s love (agape, in Greek) is much stronger than that! It is a totally forgiving love- it sees past the flaws to the inner person. I once heard a minister at a wedding tell the bride and groom not to say “I love you in spite of your flaws” but rather “I love you because of your flaws- they make you who you are, and I love who you are.” That is what God says to us- He loves us, just the way we are.
Prayer:
Lord, I love You. Thank You for making me me, flaws and all. Let even the flaws in me work for Your kingdom and help others come to know You. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 16; Jeremiah 17; Psalm 96; John 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
Observation:
The things we like seem to change regularly. We have friends that come and go. We like a particular food, or a certain song, only to tire of it after a while. Our heart can’t be trusted to lead us in the right way to go. Our feelings are fickle.
Application:
This is what I told Chris when he got married- his marriage can’t be based on his feelings. Because there are days you feel good and days you don’t. You’ll have sad times; bad times, happy times, mad times… and your relationship can’t be based on your feelings. Likewise our relationship with God can’t be based on how we feel. It has to be much deeper than that. And that deep relationship requires love, trust, and forgiveness to overcome our deceitful heart.
Prayer:
Lord, let me love you always, no matter how I feel. Let our relationship be based on something much deeper than feelings. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Hosea 13; Hosea 14; Psalm 100; Psalm 101; Psalm 102; Hebrews 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 100:3
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.
Observation:
God is our Creator- He made us, one by one, in His image and for His glory. He cares about us, just as a shepherd cares for each one of his sheep.
Application:
Have you ever made anything? I like to craft. I have a special cross-stitch that I made for Savannah when she was 1- it hangs in the hallway. I have made a couple of quilts that I dare anyone to get dirty. You handle my scrapbook with care. I cherish the things I have made- I care for them and try to keep them from being destroyed. This verse caught my eye because I know how much I care for the things I have made- and I’m trying to see how much God cares about me because He made me. I don’t care for one of my quilts over the other- even though they are different. And I don’t like one of them less because I have more of them. I can only fathom how much more than that God cares for us.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for creating me and cherishing me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 1; Isaiah 2; Isaiah 3; Titus 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Titus 3: 3-5
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Observation:
Once, we lived with malice, envy and hatred- captivated with passions and pleasures, but then Jesus saved us.
Application:
What caught my eye was “Enslaved by passions and pleasures.” I’ve felt that- you want something or someone so much that it is like an addiction- and you do things that you know ae wrong just to try to have it. Jesus came to save us from that, too- sot that we yearn for Him, not something on the earth. But there is a definite pull in both directions- and often, the world seems to win.
Prayer:
Jesus, I yearn for You. Help release me from my earthly addictions that separate me from you. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Colossians 3: 5-6, 12
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming… Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Observation:
Paul’s words are easy, but in practice they’re a seemingly insurmountable mountain. Turning away our own nature is, well, unnatural. But Jesus cane to show us that is can be done. He set an example for us to follow, even if we fall short.
Application:
I had a conversation with a friend today about giving everything to God and not taking it back. Why is our nature so hard to overcome? I want to do it all myself, on my own strength. I want to make the plans, set them in motion, and see them through. Oh, I say I trust God, but I want Him to do things my way! To do something that goes against my most innate desire, even if it is the right thing to do, is so very hard. But that is what sets us apart as Christians- we don’t live for this world. We understand that the things we gain in this life aren’t gained forever- it is what we store up in heaven that remains.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me get over myself sometimes. Help me get out of my own way and on to what You have planned. Amen
Scripture to read today:
Ecclesiastes 7; Ecclesiastes 8; Ecclesiastes 9; Ephesians 4
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ecclesiastes 7:8a
The end of a matter is better than its beginning…
Observation:
I think what Solomon is getting at here is that a job completed is better than a job not started yet. The goal reached is an achievement; not yet begun, it is only an idea.
Application:
I don’t know about this all the time. I have to view it from a task-oriented perspective. Tasks are good, and completed tasks are even better. But what about relationships? Ends are not usually better. Or jobs- we have a lot of jobs ending all around us right now, and that is not good. There’s a line from the Sandra Bullock movie Hope Floats, where she says something to the effect of “beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it is what’s in the middle that counts.” I think that quote is accurate in both cases. The middles are where the good stuff is.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to not be daunted by beginnings or afraid of endings, but to enjoy everything as it is happening- in the middle. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 28; Proverbs 29; Psalm 60; Romans 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Proverbs 29:9, 11
If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Observation:
Look at the action of fools- they rage and scoff, they vent their anger. Wise people control themselves and don’t let their emotions take over their judgment.Which is often hard to do. The ability to think and reason goes away if your emotions get too turbulent.
Application:
I think back to all the court action I had to bring on my ex (and still may, he is thousands of dollars behind on his child support) and it was like taking a fool to court! He leads with his emotions. I managed to stay cool (really, numb, but cool nonetheless!) It helped, because I was able to remember things on the spot that helped with my case. This is often hard to do though, in cases where you’re just confronting a friend or a co-worker. If I haven’t had time to reign in those emotions, I can’t think straight.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be wise, and be able to control myself in all situations. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; Romans 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 12:17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Observation:
God gets to take care of those who do wrong- not us. If we do wrong back to someone who has wronged us, then we’re wrong, too. And God will view us just as He does them. This says be kind to those who have wronged you- it will surprise them, humble them, confuse them, maybe even humiliate them some. That’s your revenge.
Application:
Boy, did I need this lesson today! The ex didn’t come to his own son’s graduation- and son is highly upset at him. But we’re learning that lashing out doesn’t help. It only makes us feel worse. Brandon did tell his father how upset he was, that he couldn’t find time to attend this major milestone in his son’s life, but stopped short at saying he’d never speak to him again. We’ve been trying to follow this verse…. but boy, it is HARD to do!
Prayer:
Lord, help us to be more loving and less angry and the people who have wronged us. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 13; Proverbs 14; Proverbs 15; Romans 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Observation:
If you keep your head and talk sensibly to someone who is ill at you, then you’re likely to be able to diffuse their anger. But, if you talk harshly back, they’re only going to get madder. There’s Rudyard Kipling poem that goes, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you… you’ll be a man, my son.”
Application:
This is so true. If there is one thing that I learned through the divorce process, it was to stay quiet when the ex got angry. Usually, he ended up looking like a fool and I’m just sitting here calmly watching. I got all I wanted and he didn’t, simply because I kept my cool. For me, that happens because I can think. If I “lose it” my brain stops working. Remaining calm, I can think of the right thing to say- or the right argument- and usually come out the winner.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to keep my head when all around me are losing their cool. Amen.
