Daily Dose 4-30-19

John 1:9-13 The true light that gives light to everyone 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 did receive 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.

It’s hard to truly fathom the sacrifice Jesus made for us. He watched and worked with God to create heaven and earth. He was completely pure, dwelling beside the Father. He was intimately communing with God. Was that why He was willing to come? In such an intimate relationship with God, could He see how the sins of the people He created and loved were breaking the heart of God? Was it at that point He said, “Let me fix it for You and them! Use me to bring them back to You!” Jesus was so concerned and grieved for the breaking heart of God, He was willing to be rejected, tortured, and ultimately separated from God Himself so that we could return to God. Are you willing to make sacrifices for the things that break the heart of God? We aren’t called to be crucified too often, yet we are called to step outside of our busyness and self-absorbed lives to minister to those God loves. We are called to let others know how to turn to Him. We are called to comfort the weary, feed the hungry and show compassion and mercy to the fallen. Does your heart break for the things that break the heart of God…or do you even notice?

God, Give me Your eyes to see what breaks Your heart. Give me the heart of Jesus to know how to respond. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 4-29-19

Psalm 100:1-5 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.

Some days you don’t feel like praise…Hurts and disappointments are commonplace in this life. However, when we feel our lowest and most vulnerable is when He is the closest. That should free us to praise. It doesn’t take much spiritual depth to praise Him in the good days. Our spiritual muscles are built and our faith is strengthened for endurance when we can praise him in the storms of life.

All-knowing, All-powerful God, Prick my heart to praise You when all I want to do is plead! Amen

Daily Dose 4-28-19

Proverbs 14:10 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

Life can feel lonely sometimes. No matter how close our relationships on earth may be, no human TRULY knows our hearts. God, the One who made you, Jesus, the One who died for you, and Holy Spirit, the One who inhabits your soul knows the real you. The good news is – no matter how much they know you – they still love you! People will disappoint, reject and ignore your needs at some point, but this Trinity of power stands firmly committed to You. Jesus patiently waits at the door of your heart…knocking and waiting. Open Your heart and let Him in…He knows what it looks like in there and would love to be a part of doing some spring cleaning!

Father, You know my heart – yet You still love me. Thank You seems woefully inadequate. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 4-27-19

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What was it like for the thief on the cross with Jesus to be greeted by Him in paradise? We can only imagine! A man that led such a harsh and unscrupulous life, turned his eternity upside down when he professed his belief in Jesus. What an example he left for us! No matter how our lives have been before, when we come to the cross, we are on the level ground of salvation. Take your broken and messed up life to Jesus – let Him cleanse you. Take your self-righteous heart that has “been good” and remember your sins put Jesus on the cross just like the sins of the thief. Praise Him for the salvation that can come to us all because of the sacrifice He made.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for looking beyond what I deserve and loving me enough to endure the cross. How can I ever thank You enough? I love You!

Daily Dose 4-26-19

Judges 6:39-40 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Gideon wanted no doubt that God was with Him before he attempted to overthrow the Midianites for Israel. He was not the obvious choice, the youngest and weakest of the youngest and weakest. However, that is sometimes the vessel God likes to use the most! Are you trying to make a decision to find God’s presence…keep moving forward! Gideon put out the fleece, but before that, he obeyed by destroying Baal’s altar and the asherah pole that ha built to worship idols. Are you trying to set out fleece without first being obedient in other areas God has commanded? Examine your heart and see what needs to be removed so God can have room to do His work in you and through you!

Father, There are things I still struggle with that You want changed. Give me the strength and courage to do what you’ve asked so I can be ready for your next step! I love you! Amen

Daily Dose 4-25-19

Psalm 94:18-19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” 
 your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

This scripture brings to mind a mountain climber scaling a great peak. One slip of the foot on a rock placed to bolster him to the next level could lead to a horrific fall or loss of progress. Sometimes in life we face mountain peaks. God doesn’t always take them from our path, because He wants us to see the view from the top. He does promise to be with us through the climb as our support, encouragement and protector. You may not feel like climbing the mountains in Your life, but know that He is never closer than when we feel He’s far away. He’s got your feet…now, climb!

Father, I look back on life and see a chain of mountain peaks You have helped me climb to victory. Keep those views from the top in my mind as I struggle on this climb. You give me strength and help me keep climbing. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 4-24-19

Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

The walk of a Christ follower is one who desires consistency, but will inevitably trip along the way. Some of those incidences will be slight, and others will leave us flat on our faces. Sin is sin whether it is categorized as a minor indiscretion or blatant rebellion. In either case and for those in between – Jesus went to the cross to make it possible for you to get back up and on His path again. This scripture of His words to Peter should give us great insight to the kind of Savior we have. The next time you trip in life, remember His words to Peter – He speaks them to you as well, “I have prayed for you.” That’s right, Jesus prays over you and cheers you on when you are walking tall, steadies you in your little slips, pulls you up the rough hills in life with His outstretched hand, and picks you up when you fall flat on your face! Remember, in this life it’s not a matter of if you will fall – it’s a matter of when. How you go down and get back up makes all the difference in your walk. Go down GRACEfully, rise triumphantly! Jesus will never waste a hurt or failure. Get back up to help others along the way!

Father, Thank You for sending Your son to provide a way for me to get up when I fall. Thank You for His support that brings balance to my unsteady gate in this life walk. Empower Your Spirit to keep me on path and close to my guiding Savior. Amen

Daily Dose 4-21-19

Joshua 23:9-11 “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

As Joshua neared the end of his life, he began to prepare the Israelites to continue without him. His farewell was a pep talk that reminded them of God’s fulfilled promises. It also held strong words of warning against rebellion and disobedience. This scripture at the end of his address boils down the key to their obedience – love. He knew that they – and we, generations later – act upon the conditions of the heart. Obedience that is based upon ritual or guilt never lasts. But, obedience based upon love for the LORD eases the burden and brings blessings. If you have an obedience problem, check your heart…it may be a love problem.

Faithful Father, I DO love You with all my heart, soul and mind. Yet, I still struggle in areas for complete obedience. Forgive me, and soften my heart to love You more. Amen

Daily Dose 4-20-19

Joshua 21:43-45 So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Are there promises you are believing God to fulfill? If you are struggling with the wait, do a heart check. God’s faithfulness is linked to our obedience. Sometimes, He is also waiting on the right timing for the promise to be fulfilled at a greater capacity than we imagined. As the children of Israel were making bricks in the hot sands of Egypt, they never imagined the beauty and rest that was waiting for them in the Promised Land. Unfortunately, because of their constant rebellion, that generation did not know the rest God promised. He was faithful. He did provide. But His promise was fulfilled in the next generation. Are You living in obedience, believing God? Be sure there’s not a bit more refining He needs to do to get you ready to receive!

Faithful Father, Show me what needs to change in my heart to make me ready to receive. Give me the strength and courage to make those changes. I love You!

Daily Dose 4-19-19

Luke 19:37-40 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

There is no doubt about it. The name of Jesus will be praised no matter what we do. This triumphal entry Jesus received as He entered Jerusalem for the last time before the crucifixion was bittersweet for our Savior. While He cherished the praise of the people He loved and the City His Father had chosen to bless, He knew there was about to be a dramatic change. In mere days, the sweet sounds of praise would be dulled by the roars of, “Crucify Him!” Our praise may not be drowned out by calling for His crucifixion however, it is silenced by the self-absorbed, busyness of our days. Do you get so involved in this life – even church work – that you forget to remember to spend some time in private praise? Keep the rocks silent today!

Sweet Jesus, You endured so much for me to have the privilege to come to the throne of God in complete confidence. Your sacrifice endures forever and covers me daily. How can I not cry out to You in praise and thanksgiving? You are my love. You are my breath. You are my life. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 4-18-19

Luke 19:5-7 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

Zacchaeus wanted a vantage point just to see Jesus. He never assumed he would be called out by Him, much less, asked to be his host. Zacchaeus was not a man walking the walk or talking the talk of Jesus’ teachings. He was a dishonest tax collector, considered then to be some of the greatest of sinners. But Jesus saw his potential. He saw a heart willing to climb heights just catch a glimpse of God’s glory. How are you putting yourself out there to see God’s glory? Are you investing in lives that may not look like they have much Kingdom potential but Jesus sees their hearts longing for Him? Look at little deeper into the lives that you – on the surface- assume they would never accept Jesus. Maybe they have climbed into your life to get a glimpse of God’s glory through you!

Father, I’ve often prayed to be the hands and feet of Jesus to serve for You. Please let me be His eyes as well and see potential among people instead of judgment. Help me know how You want me to approach them so they may catch a glimpse of Jesus and turn to His salvation. Amen

Daily Dose 4-17-19

Luke 18:6-8 (MSG) Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

It’s comforting that Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer. There are some who teach that repetitive requests before God are selfish. Granted, our prayer life should be filled with as much praise, confession and thanksgiving as requests. However, God loves to respond to His people. He enjoys using the faith of His children to reveal His glory. The last words of Jesus in this parable ask if will we be found faithful. Are we making requests that have Kingdom impact and do we REALLY have faith that God can do what we request? If you are weary praying the same prayer, switch it up. Instead of asking God, pray a prayer of advanced thanksgiving. Show God you believe He can and will do what you request. Visualize it happening and show God how you would glorify Him. Hold on in obedient faith and watch God work!

Father, Forgive me for giving up too soon. May I be found faithful and persistence in my requests and your ability to show up! I love you! Amen

Daily Dose 4-3-19

Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, 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.

God delights in using those who are not the obvious choice. It’s easier to see His glory through one who is not capable alone, but with God, makes all things possible. Before you utter the words, “But, I can’t,” think of the One living inside you and know, “HE can!”

Father, Let me see the tasks You set before me through Your eyes. May I always be quick to say yes knowing You can! Amen

Daily Dose 4-1-19

Luke 9:46-48 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

It’s reassuring to know those who walked in the flesh with Jesus everyday still didn’t get it. It makes it easier to understand our own shortcomings in our faith walk. If the apostles, in the presence of Jesus himself still had relationship issues and allowing pride to cause conflict, then it’s no wonder we are such a mess at times! The answer Jesus gave them then, is the same one He has for us today – serve one another. If you are in conflict with a brother or sister in Christ, serve them and serve others with them. Serving hearts heal a multitude of conflicts.

Father, Forgive me for allowing pride to come in the way of relationships. Help me to see where I can serve that will heal broken relationships. Open my eyes and open their hearts. Amen.