Streams in the desert!!!

Good Morning, Church!

I am tired this morning. But God's words from Isaiah are a breath of fresh air- blowing wind into my sagging sails! I pray that you would be as encouraged as I have been this morning- and that we would all look forward and have hope!

Today's readings: 1 Timothy 2, Isaiah 34-35, Psalm 119:65-96

"Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear!'... For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water... They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." -Isaiah 35:3-4, 6-7, 10b

These verses particularly speak of the future glory of God's people... but I believe that God does take joy in reviving the weary, and refreshing the worn out today! One day all our sorrow and sighing will flee away- but today He will cause His dry and thirsty people to be refreshed. I can just feel the cool waters of His Spirit bubbling up in my dry soul as I read those verses! And I know that as I take time each day to spend in His presence, I will be renewed and then my heart's stream will overflow onto my children and my husband. And I will be a refreshment- out of the refreshment I have been given! It is a lovely principle... but just how do I find the time to be renewed by Him? Today- the boys are watching Sesame Street... I hate to use the television as a babysitter... but I also need to care for my own soul- so that I can be a blessing to them the rest of the day! If I can do it- so can you! If you are married, ask your spouse to help you guard your time with God! If you are single- take advantage of the freedom of your moments and just make the decision to put Him first! I am grateful that during my single years I dug deep wells in God's word, so that in these times of drought, I have a resevoir to draw from!

Take time today to spend with the Lord- ask Him to refresh and renew you. And just sit in His presence until you feel those springs of living water bubble up within you! Grab hold of His hand, and walk with Him today- and just feel the energy and power pouring through His hand into yours. I pray that you are encouraged by these thoughts... but today I think I'm writing just for me!

Waiting to be refreshed,
Kelly

Are you at ease?

Good Morning, Church!

I bring more warnings from the prophet Isaiah today. They are as relevant today, as they were centuries ago. And we would do well to heed them!

Today's readings: 1 Timothy 1, Isaiah 31-33, Psalm 119:33-64

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen for they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!" -Isaiah 31:1

"Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering will not come. Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you complacent ones..." -Isaiah 32:9-11

"You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful according to Your word. I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments." -Psalm 119:57-60

The words in Isaiah are a warning to us all- do not put your trust in earthly things, like power or people or money... they will always fail you when you need them most! But put your trust in the Lord who never fails! And also do- do not grow comfortable depending on your own strength- or or in the bounty the Lord has bestowed upon you. There will be a day when things don't pan out- there will be a day when everything that you lean on is stripped from you- and in that day what will you be left with? The Psalms give us the answer we can trust. Make the Lord your portion- lean on Him- trust Him to provide all you need. And don't get comfortable! Make haste and don't delay to sort out your priorities- don't delay to show love to the ones closest to you- make haste in sharing your faith with the world. We don't know how much time we have on this earth- we certainly shouldn't sit back and watch all our opportunities to declare the word of the Lord pass us by! So, today, look for opportunities to step outside your comfort zone- and then do it! Make haste and don't delay. And then rely on the Lord for the power and courage to do so!

Trusting Him,
Kelly

Do you truly worship at church?

Good Morning, Church!

We have a stirring challenge and sharp reminder this morning! God's rebuke of Jerusalem in Isaiah... God's people don't really change all that much from century to century!

Today's readings: 2 Thess 3, Isaiah 29-30, Psalm 119:1-32

"Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and the fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among these people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." -Isaiah 29:13-14 (New King James Version)

Another version says it this way:

The Master said:

"These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren't in it. Because they act like they're worshiping me but don't mean it, I'm going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears. The wise ones who had it all figured out will be exposed as fools. The smart people who thought they knew everything will turn out to know nothing." -Isaiah 29:13-14 (The Message)

How does your worship measure up? Do you just sing the songs without thinking about the words? Or are the words a true reflection of what is in your heart toward God? Do you just come to church to check it off your list of "things good people do"? Or do you come to church because you can't wait to be in the presence of God and His people?! My motives are not always pure when I come to church. And there is something to be said for spiritual disciplines, and coming to church when you don't "feel like it". But I would say that when you don't feel like coming to church it is probably a symptom of a larger spiritual problem that you and God need to diagnose and cure! Are you struggling with a relationship with someone at church? Talk to them and get it resolved. Do you dislike some aspect of the worship service? Allow God to work in your heart and help you to worship Him no matter what the style. Are you just too tired to get up for church? Then you may need to adjust your other weekly obligations. So if you don't feel like coming to church- ask God to help you figure out why- but come anyway! And while you are there ask God to meet you- to open your eyes to His worthiness- to humble you in His holy presence- and then pour forth your worship!

Thursday through Saturday should be spent getting excited for the Sabbath, and Sunday through Wednesday should be spent remembering how you were refreshed and blessed on the Sabbath. Our whole week ought to revolve around the Sabbath! So prepare your hearts- make your relationships right- get excited about worshiping God this week! Can't wait to see you on Sunday!

May we all echo the Psalmist when he says: "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!" -Psalm 119:10

Kelly

My prayer for you today

Good morning, Church!

It was a rough night last night with Seth- he just didn't want to sleep alone. So instead of a devotional thought- I will leave you with another Scripture prayer. This is my prayer for you today! Enjoy today's readings on your own:

2 Thessalonians 2, Isaiah 27-28, Psalm 118

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." -2 Thess. 2:16-17

Blessings from a tired mom,
Kelly

Stayed on Him

Good Morning, Church!

Repeat. Trust the Lord. He has brought this to the forefront again- so I will repeat His words. Trust Me.

Today's readings: 2 Thessalonians 1, Isaiah 25-26, Psalm 117

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength." -Isaiah 26:3-4

Like I was saying the other day, when we fix our eyes on the Lord, our troubles fade into the background. It is easy to have peace in uncertain times, because we can trust in our God. How do we "stay our minds" on Him?

There are breath prayers like the "Jesus Prayer" that I wrote about before ("Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner")- or some other breath prayer that is meaningful to you; you can create your own. Even just the quick prayer, "I trust You", can be prayed through out the day until it sinks into your soul and becomes your heartbeat. That is what breath prayers are meant to do.

Or you could memorize a passage of Scripture that illustrates God's trustworthiness- or highlights a favorite characteristic of God. When I was living in Uganda I memorized Psalm 73:23-26 because I didn't know if I was going to survive all the stresses in my life (living alone, in africa, my first year teaching, a challenging class...) "Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Another easy way to "stay our minds" on Him is to listen to worship music. It centers our minds on who He is- instead of filling our minds with TV images, or secular radio songs.

Whatever you do to "stay your mind" on Him, use it to call your soul home through out the day- and find your rest and your peace in Him.

Fixing my mind on Him,
Kelly

My Prayer for Seth

Happy Sabbath, Church!

Today is a day a celebration for me personally- we are having Seth baptized! So join us as we make a vow before the Lord to bring him up in the ways of the Lord and to surround him with a godly church family!

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 5, Isaiah 23-24, Psalm 116

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." -1 Thess. 5:23-24

"Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light, the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea." -Isaiah 24:15

"O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant, You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people..." -Psalm 116:16-18

I don't know if you are familiar with praying the Scripture- but as my thoughts revolve around Seth's baptism, I would like to share a practice that I use when praying for my children. I find it so beneficial to my own prayer life, to take verses from the Bible, and turn them into prayers for the people on my heart. Today, as I am praying for Seth (and also Caleb), these are the prayers of my heart:

"God of peace, one day sanctify Seth completely, that his whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. You who have called him are faithful- and I trust that You will do it."

"I pray that Seth will glorify You in the dawning light, and that Your name would be on his lips wherever he goes."

"O Lord, I pray that Seth would truly become one of your faithful servants, would You loose the bonds of the sin nature already present in his body- so that one day he will offer to Your the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and that he will call upon Your name day and night. I pray that as we make a vow today to bring him up in Your ways, he would accept Your salvation for himself at an early age. And we will praise You now and forever." Amen.

Take some time today and either use these verses for the people you pray for- or find some other verses to pray that are applicable to your situation. This is a rewarding practice, and I believe God answers when we hold Him to His Word.

Celebrating today,
Kelly

Do you Trust Him?

Good Morning, Church!

If you are anything like me, you sometimes have trouble trusting God. But there is a formula to help us learn to trust Him!

"You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us, He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great." -Psalm 115:11-13

If you will devote yourself to learning more about God, you will fall more in love with Him. As you fall more in love with Him, and who He is, you will be able to trust Him more. That is the "formula" for trusting God- it is simple to understand- but difficult to put into practice because it takes a lot of time. But it is the best time you will ever spend! He has proven Himself trustworthy over and over in Scripture and in our own lives- so study His track record. And focus on Him, instead of on your circumstances! Whatever you focus on grows larger in your mind's eye- so if you are dwelling on your situation, it will grow out of proportion and overwhelm you. If you are dwelling on God, and who He is and has been, He will grow larger and it will be easier to trust in Him and rest in your relationship with Him. The harder you fix your eyes on Him, the more He will overshadow your problems. He is big enough to handle your deepest sorrow, or your most dire need. He is strong enough to answer your strongest doubt, and carry you when you can't go any further. He is kind enough to see you through Jesus' righteousness, and patient enough to pick you up every time you stumble. He has resources enough to pay your every bill, and feed each hungry mouth at your table. He is trustworthy. Praise Him for that today! '

Holding Him to His promises,
Kelly

What will your harvest yield?

Good morning, Church!

I love autumn. The glorious colors... the delicious apples, and hot pumpkin spice lattes... the chill in the air... I love it all. Our passage in Isaiah talks about harvest time too- but it is a warning to us all today!

Today's readings: I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13, Isaiah 17-19, Psalm 114

"Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, therefore you will plant pleasant plants and set out foreign seedlings; in the day you will make your plant to grow, and in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; but the harvest will be a heap of ruins..." -Isaiah 17:10-11

I have uttered this warning several times already... but if you are anything like me, you've already forgotten Him again! It is so easy to forget God when life is going well. And I know there are specific areas in my life that I continually surrender to God and then I reclaim them and start being the boss of my own life again. The Israelites faced this challenge as well- and failed as much as I do! This passage talks about us doing all the work... planting, sowing, tending... and then when we gather in the harvest we are surprised when it is a heap of ruins! We can never do as good a job with our lives as God can!!! He has amazing plans for you, far beyond your imagination, and even far beyond your capabilities...because He wants you to depend on Him, and He wants you to give Him the credit and the glory for the wonderful things He has done through you.

So take some time to surrender again those things you've reclaimed...and ask God to be at work in and through you. Ask Him to empower you to do all the great things He has planned for you. And then lean on Him- let Him be strong where you are weak- and let Him be stronger even where you're strong! You will be amazed at what He can do! And when He steps in, and things start going well and the harvest is glorious- remember Him.... remember to praise Him and give Him all the credit! For He is worthy!

Leaning on Him,
Kelly

Our HUGE God!

Good morning, Church!

We serve a great God! Let us worship Him together today!

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Isaiah 14-16, Psalm 113

"The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust; and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes- with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!" -Psalm 113:4-9

Wow- ponder that phrase for a moment- God "humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens". We haven't even seen the outermost edge of the universe... and yet He has to stoop to see that very edge! Let that reality soak in for a minute. And now consider the very mundane details of your life... He is interested in every one of them...how does that make you feel? The God who crafted our immense universe, and named every star... knows you intimately, and loves you passionately. Whoa.

Take some time to bask in that truth. And then pour out your heart to the Lord. That is worship.

In awe of Him,
Kelly

To the ends of the earth!

Good Morning, Church!

It is my prayer today that God's word would sound forth to every corner of the globe- and that you and I would be part of God's plan to get it there!

Today's readings: I Thessalonians 1, Isaiah 11-13, Psalm 112

"For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. You faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." -I Thess 1:8-9

"Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!" -Isaiah 12:4-6

"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness...He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor." -Psalm 112:4, 9

What an amazing testimony of the Thessalonian church- "the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you in every place..." Wow. Oh that someone could say that about us! Has the word of the Lord even sounded forth from us to Clayton?? Do people walking by our church recognize our faith out in the street- it says that their faith has "gone out" for their actions declare the faith they have! This is quite a challenge! We serve the living and true God; the transformation He has wrought in our lives and the grace He has extended to us should make us shout His praises from the rooftops and give all we can to the poor! We live in a dark time, where many do not believe in God- but unto the upright there arises light in the darkness- no place on earth is so dark that God's light cannot shine through His transformed ones!

Friends of ours, Billy and Joanna Coppedge, are serving God in Northern Uganda, and they represent these verses to me in very real and tangible ways! You can check out their blog for yourself www.coppedgeafrica.blogspot.com But what I am so blessed by is their fervent prayers, and the way they live sacrificially with the people of Uganda, in order that the word of God might change lives! They have seen great strides taken for the kingdom- that could only happen by prayer and faithful walking with the Lord! Their lives are truly declaring His word to the nations. And their ministry is even extending from Uganda into the Sudan- so your prayers are even more necessary!

But missionaries aren't the only ones who are called to declare His word to the world- every Christian is called to declare His word where they live- and their lives ought to speak the gospel far louder than their words! So as you spend time in prayer today, ask God to reveal those places in your life, those actions that may be hindering the gospel- and then ask Him to give you a renewed passion for His word and His kingdom! And also, please join me in praying for Billy and Jo and the work they are doing in East Africa!

To the ends of the earth,
Kelly

Heaven! All things Made New!

Good Morning, Church!

Today's reading in Revelation is one of hope! One day God will make all things new! Praise Him!

Today's readings: Revelation 21-22, Isaiah 9-10, Psalm 111

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new". -Revelation 21:2-5

What a glorious promise awaits us!!!!! There is so much packed into chapters 21-22... please read them today... I don't have time or space to touch on all the wonders in store for us in the life to come! But it will bless your heart to read over them and meditate on heaven! Life on earth is rough. People we love pass away. Friends disappoint us. We never have enough money. Our kids bicker and fight. We are lonely. But just wait! God has plans to satisfy us- and not only satisfy us, but reward us! And we will be in His presence at all times. And there will be no more tears or sadness or death! Hallelujah!

Take time today to ponder life in heaven. Daydream about your future in His glorious presence! And as you do so, take heart! Let your hope of heaven get you through today. Let the glories of that amazing place shed a little light on your path! And smile. Know that one day this all will pass and we will be in His sweet presence forever!

With hope,
Kelly

Taking Stock

Happy Monday, Church!

Today's verse is a bit of a challenge, but also very motivational! It helps us make good choices, even when no one is watching!

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books." -Revelation 20: 12

This verse also reminds me of another equally challenging verse: "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned." -Matthew 12:36-37

Wow. I could just let you ponder the gravity of those verses for a few minutes! It is noon, how many idle words have you already uttered today? And what have you done that may be noteworthy for God's books? Either good or bad? I can only imagine reading through those pages... remembering how I was feeling each time I neglected Him, or spoke a word in anger- but then also smiling as I recall moments of tenderness between Jesus and me, or fun days spent with my family...the day of judgement will arrive. How do you want to be remembered? What will you leave behind? You can choose today what you will read one day at the seat of judgement- all of those pages are made up of choices we make moment by moment. String them all together and you have a life. Will yours be well-lived? Will yours be one continuous song of worship?

Don't spend too much time feeling guilty or becoming overwhelmed with regret- this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! But if you do feel some pangs of regret- let those spur you on to make better choices today than you did yesterday! And be encouraged- we are all on this journey together- you are not alone!

Taking stock of my own life,
Kelly

Awed and Transformed by His Presence

Happy Sabbath, Church!

Today's readings: Revelation 19, Isaiah 5-6, Psalm 109:20-31

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim, each on had six wings, with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said, Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips..." -Isaiah 6:1-5

Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord- and was transported to His presence. And when He was in the presence of our holy God- he was very aware of his sin! Whenever we are face to face with God we become aware of our sinfulness- we cannot help but feel unworthy to approach His throne! His heart melted within him when he saw the glory of God! Do we ever tremble when we enter the Lord's presence at church, or in our private prayer time? We have received grace and been made worthy through Jesus Christ- but still the very presence of God ought to make us tremble- should overwhelm us and throw us to our knees in worship! Perhaps even more so because of the grace we have received!!

It is my prayer that as you enter the Lord's house today- that you are overwhelmed by His glory and His grace- and that you would be transformed by His presence.

Kelly

Inviting Him along!

Good morning, Church!

God longs to meet our needs and be with us on every step of our journeys!

Today's readings: Revelation 18, Isaiah 3-4, Psalm 109:1-19

"...then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain." -Isaiah 4:5-6

Now, this is a prophetic book, and Isaiah wasn't trying to be poetic. But I would like us to take a look today at that tabernacle he was referring to. A shade from heat, a place of refuge, and a shelter from storm and rain. Perhaps your life is going well today- and yet, there is still heat on your sun-shiny day. Perhaps you feel like you are under attack, and you need refuge. Or maybe you feel like you are in the midst of a dark gray storm, and you need shelter. Take some time today to tell God about your needs. Tell Him where you're at- and how you feel about it. Air all your grievances- or shower Him with thanks... whatever the case may be. But then thank Him for being who you need Him to be! Even on sunny days we need Him! Do we realize that? I certainly don't remember that all the time! He isn't just our safety net- He longs to be our Companion through everything, the highs and the lows. He wants to walk beside you, and dwell within you in every season of life and every emotion of the soul. So invite Him in today. Ask Him to join you on your journey- let Him accompany you on your errands, and cheer with you as your kids play soccer, bring Him along on your date nights and your work assignments- He wants to do life with you! So cultivate that friendship- and it will make your worship that much more intimate!

Walking with Him today,
Kelly

The In-Between Times

"I have learned to quit speeding through life, always trying to do too many things too quickly, without taking the time to enjoy each day's doings. I think I always thought of real living as being high. I don't mean on drugs- I mean real living was falling in love, or when I got my first job, or when I was able to help somebody, or watch my baby get born, or have a good morning of really good writing. In between the highs I was impatient- you know how it is- life seemed so Daily. Now I love the dailiness. I enjoy washing dishes. I enjoy cooking, I see my father's roses out the kitchen window, I like picking beans. I notice everything- birdsongs, the clouds, the sound of wind, the glory of sunshine after two weeks of rain. These things I took for granted before." -Olive Ann Burns (near the end of her life) as quoted in Mitten Strings for God, Katrina Kenison

Now that I am staying at home with my boys, life has slowed considerably- and I love it! Of course there are days when I am tired of the daily-ness- but overall it is delightful! I could spend hours getting lost in Seth's deep blue eyes. I could read story after story to Caleb. I could bake dozens of cookies. All of those things are such gifts to me! And just when I think life is about to get boring- Caleb discovers a new trick, or Seth catches on to something we've been trying to teach him for weeks, or a find a great new recipe to try! Yesterday was no exception!

Josh and I try to fit in a date each week- and both of our parents are amazing for keeping the boys, so that we can! Well, yesterday was date day. We had decided to get Coldstone (through October they are offering their menu items at 50% between 2pm-5pm!! We couldn't pass that up) , and then walk in the park. Well, as we were walking the asphalt trail, we noticed a freshly laid path into the woods we had never seen before. And we were off on an adventure! The leaves have begun to change, and the colors were brilliant. And we were sneaking off into the woods- we had no idea where the trail would take us! To our delight, we came out to a little dock, with a park bench overlooking a small lake. It was like this haven was created just for us! And so we spent some lovely minutes sitting quietly in each other's presence- soaking in the glories of autumn. And then we got curious and off down another path we went! This led to a small dam- and so we cautiously stepped through the shallow rushing waters to the other side! It was like a day out of my childhood when we would play behind our house! I haven't felt so alive- so myself- so not a mom- in a long time! It was delicious!

I am so grateful for an adventurous husband, who trudges through forests with me, and allows me to take a gazillion pictures. And I am grateful that we set aside time each week for adventures to happen- they don't always, some dates are better than others- but we are always together. And that makes our time so precious! What if we had been too busy for date night this week? What if we had been walking too quickly and missed that secret trail? We would have missed a grand adventure! And I am a firm believer that an adventure is just waiting to happen if you have eyes to see it and time to go after it! So keep your eyes peeled for an adventure- and for the beauty of a quiet moment. And cherish those in-between times.

Dutiful Roses

Good morning, Church!

Quite a challenge for us today! Get ready to take a good hard look at your heart, and your life.

Today's readings: Revelation 17, Isaiah 1-2, Psalm 108

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them." -Isaiah 1:11-14

Wow. God is angry! His people had strayed so far from Him that they were just going through the motions of worship, despite the fact that they were living in sin. The law demanded sacrifices, and holy days, and Sabbath- but the people were fulfilling those laws out of duty- checking them off their "to do" lists. When originally God had intended those acts to be done out of love and worship of a holy God. So His beloved people were entering His temple covered in sin, and then singing all the right songs, and doing all the required things. How despicable that was to our holy God!

But we are not too different! Obviously, we aren't worshiping golden idols, or giving ourselves to prostitution, we aren't murderers or thieves. And yet, we come in to church with bad attitudes, we withhold our tithes, we run in and run out just because we are "supposed to" do church, and we sing songs that we don't mean. Those things are just as despicable to our holy God. I once heard a story about a man who was told he had to give his wife roses every Friday- and he did it without fail. But when his wife asked him why he gave her roses every Friday, he told her it was because he had to- it was expected. But, my friends, dutiful roses are no gift. Roses out of obligation, instead of a heart of love and romance, are an insult to your beloved. And God deserves so much more.

He longs for you to come to church because you can't wait to sing His praises. He wants you to place your offering in the plate joyfully, as you return a portion of all He has given you. He delights when you sing the songs, and mean every word of them! He jumps for joy when you extend your hand to the poor, or wrap your arms around the hurting, or speak a word of hope to the lonely. You have great power to bring joy to the heart of the Father! What are you doing about it? Are you coming to church out of obligation? Are you going through the motions in your devotional life? Are you teaching Sunday School just because there is no one else to do it?

My challenge for us today, is to allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal our true motives. Ask Him to reveal places where you aren't giving 100%, or places that you are just paying your dues- instead of pouring out your worship. And as He opens your eyes to those areas, would you repent, and surrender them to Him. Ask Him to draw you closer to His heart- causing you to fall more deeply in love with Him. And then you won't be able to help yourself- worship will overflow!

Praying that our eyes would be opened,
Kelly

At your Wits' End... He is there!

Dear Church,

I am sorry that I failed to send out the devotion yesterday, with Debbie Gruber's funeral my time escaped me. But today's reading is a comfort for all who mourn or are struggling in some way today!

"Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" -Psalm 107:26-31

I'm sure there are those of us today who feel like they are at their wits' end! Those who have lost loved ones in the past know that you are never completely whole again... even when the sharp grief passes. But God does promise to bring them out of their distresses- He does bring us through to the other side of intense grief- in time. And if you are one who is grieving today- know that God is with you in this storm. And that as the days and weeks and months go by, He will guide you to a new place, where you can rest. As we walk with the Gruber family in this time of sorrow- continue to lift them up in prayer, and in tangible ways. And thank God for His goodness to us- He never stops being good, even in awful times.

But perhaps your life is going well- read on with me in verse 43: "Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." Ps 107:43 Observe these things- look at the circumstances around you- take it all in- and discover the pieces of lovingkindness all around you. And if you can't see any... perhaps you are the one God wants to use today to bring His lovingkindness to earth in a tangible way!

If your soul is melting because of trouble- take time today to bring all the broken pieces of your soul into the healing presence of Jesus. Sit there with Him and allow Him to touch those hurting places. And while it won't get better overnight- His presence will slowly transform your heart if you let Him. And all of us can spend some time today giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness.

Waiting out the storm,
Kelly

Jesus Himself intercedes!

Good Morning, Church!

Some days we are just so stuck in our own sin, or completely exhausted, we can't even pray... and on those days, we need an intercessor!

"Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, and the plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped, and that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore." -Psalm 106:29-31

Perhaps your life is going great! Praise Him. But also take time to think about some people who may need you to intercede on their behalf. You run into hurting people all the time. Just pause and lift them to the Father. Phinehas did that, and saved an entire group of people!! There is power when you stand in the gap on behalf of people who cannot pray for themselves! Think of those you know who don't know God. Pray that they would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Think of those who are struggling. Pray that God would meet them at the deepest point of their need. True prayer costs you something... time... emotional pain...Really put yourself in that person's shoes, and pour out your heart to the Lord. Carry their burden for them.

If you are at a point where you feel like you can't even pray- know that you are still loved. And just take time to sit silently in His presence and hold your heart there. And take courage- not only is the body of Christ, the church, praying for you- but the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself are also praying!

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." -Romans 8:26

"It is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." -Romans 8:34

Pleading your case to the Father,
Kelly

Praise Him in the storm

Good morning, Church!

Wilderness times are challenging- they are not only unpleasant and dark- they are also dangerous to our souls because we are easily tempted to find our own way to cope like the Israelites!

"So He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their enemies; there was not one of them left. Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul." -Psalm 106:9b-15

There are many types of "wilderness" that we encounter in the seasons of life: some may be single and longing to be married, some may be facing financial hardships, some may be mourning the loss of a loved one, some may be lonely or struggling with a secret sin, or simply just weary of the daily mundane... and there are ways to cope that God has ordained, and other ways that our sinful nature devises. And God longs for us to look to Him for the solutions to our daily struggles and our times of wilderness!

He has led us through the wilderness- He has redeemed us from awful situations- and yet we don't trust Him to carry us through other hard times. How often we forget Him- when He is really the only One who can do something about our circumstances! And we must be so careful to cling to Him, and not create our own "savior". Because God is a gentleman, if you beg long enough for an alternative, He may grant your request- but it won't be the solution you were really looking for. Our selfish solutions to the problems of life will never truly satisfy. They may get us through a day or two- but ultimately they will fail us- and we will be in a worse place than we were originally. God really does know best. We may not understand what He is doing, and the solution may hurt more than we think we can bear, but if we trust Him, the fire will refine and purify and fit us for service in His kingdom. God never wastes a hurt. If you are single and longing to be married, and just settle for marrying the first person who comes along- that may satisfy in the moment, but ultimately you'll be missing out on God's best for you. If you are facing financial hardships, and decide that you cannot tithe 10%- you may miss out on seeing God provide for your family in miraculous ways. You get the idea. Every circumstance of life has been allowed because God has a good plan for you- plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Trust that His heart toward you is good and loving. Even though it is not a pleasant thought: He cares more about the health of your soul, than the comfort of your life. He will never give you more than He will help you to bear. Trust that. Trust that He is walking with you through the fire- and that you will emerge on the other side more whole and more complete. Don't give up. Just keep walking one step at a time- and if you can't even take that next step, allow Him to carry you.

There is a song by Casting Crowns that encourages us to praise Him even in the storms of life. I'll leave you with those lyrics.

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

He is near.

Happy Sabbath, Church!

It is such a comfort to know that when we are going through dark times, God continues to see us, love us, and provide for us!

Today's readings: Revelation 12, Esther 2, Psalm 105:26-45

"The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven, He opened the rock and water gushed out; it ran in dry places like a river. For He remembered His holy promise...He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness...Praise the Lord!" -Psalm 105:40-43

God doesn't promise that our lives will be easy. In fact, His own people lived in slavery, and then wandered in the wilderness for 40 years... dark times for God's people! But He never left them alone in the dark. He always guided them. Always provided for their needs. Period. He doesn't leave His children high and dry. He walks with us in the darkness. And eventually, the sun begins to shine again, and we feel joy creep into our souls. Wherever you are in the spectrum of life- sitting in deep darkness... or enjoying the light of true joy- know that God is with you. And if you are in a good place, extend your hand and your heart to those who are in need; comfort the broken-hearted. If you are in a dark place, know that you are not alone; and just receive the love God shows you through His people.

And each of us- no matter what our circumstances- can praise the Lord. For He is good. For He never leaves us. For He provides all we need.

Clinging to Him,
Kelly

His Glorious Return!

Today's readings: Revelation 11, Esther 1, Psalm 105:1-25

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth." -Revelation 11:15-18

There isn't much about Revelation that I claim to understand- but this thing is clear: Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead- and the saints will be rewarded when He returns! Hallelujah! Christ will return and He will reign in all His power and glory! What a day that will be! Since we do not know the day or the hour that He will return, we must live our lives in a constant state of readiness! What shame would be ours if He were to return while we were gossiping with a friend- or cheating on our taxes- or stealing a candy bar- or lazily watching TV while our house is in disarray, and our neighbors are dying without Him! I know there are hours of each day that I would ashamed of Christ to find me... and yet His presence is always near...so why do I continue in such behavior? Because I forget Him, because I reclaim those areas of my life that I once surrendered to Him, because I like to be in charge of my own life! Today- let us ready our hearts- completely surrender all we are to God- and wait with joyful anticipation for His glorious return! I cannot wait to see Him face to face!

Looking forward to His return,
Kelly

Prayers for the Gruber Family

I am sad to write today, that Amanda Gruber's mother passed away in her home yesterday. Please join me in lifting up her family in prayer. Amanda is a faithful member of our youth group; her mother had cancer. Even in these dark times, we can still praise the Lord- He doesn't change- and in fact He is the only One we can look to for strength and comfort!

Today's readings: Revelation 10, Nehemiah 13, Psalm 104:24-35

"These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in, You open Your hand, they are filled with good. You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works... I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to God while I have my being." -Psalm 104:27-31, 33

This passage describes how God takes care of all living things. And as sure as the animals can depend on Him for shelter, and food- even more so, we can depend on our Father in times of need. In this time of sorrow and loss, we wait for You, God, to give us comfort and hope in due season. As anyone who has lost a loved one knows- there are times of intense pain, and times of numbness- and it may take weeks and months and years to walk through the grieving process. Even through our tears we can sing praise to God, for His nearness to the broken-hearted, and for His blessing on those who mourn. As the Gruber family takes their hurts to Jesus- please continue to pray for God's comfort, and His guidance in this sad time. Thank you for joining me today as we lift them up.

With a heavy heart,
Kelly

Pictures of God

Good Morning, Church!

Today's readings: Revelation 9, Nehemiah 12, Psalm 104:1-23

"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain." -Psalm 104:1-2

The Bible is full of word pictures to help us understand qualities of God that are too great for our small minds to comprehend. And while they may help us understand who God is- they are also a great tool for us in worship. What does the image: "He covers Himself with light as with a garment" convey to you? Does it speak of His greatness, His immensity, His beauty, His glory to bright to behold....? Dwell on that image for awhile. What are some other images you like to ponder? God as Father? His word like honey on your lips? God as husband? Or your refuge and fortress in times of trouble? Those are all taken directly from scripture- but today I would like you to create your own word picture for an attribute or trait of God's that you love. Perhaps He has been refreshing you like a cool autumn breeze. Or His presence is comforting like a cup of hot tea. Think about your relationship with God, and everything you love about Him- and then praise Him with a word picture! Every time you get stressed or just simply wander away from Him today, call to mind that image, and allow it to draw you back into His presence. This is how we practice the presence of God in our day to day lives.

Praying that you would "see" Him in a new light today,
Kelly

Choosing to Praise Him

Today's readings: Revelation 8, Nehemiah 11, Psalm 103

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy...He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him... for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust... Bless the Lord, O my soul!" -Psalm 103:1-5, 8, 10, 11. 22b

There are days when I don't feel like worshiping God. Either I'm upset, or tired, or too busy- but I must follow the example of Psalm 103 and command my soul to bless the Lord even when I don't feel like it! This is a great list of God's benefits that you could read to yourself and praise God for when you don't feel like worshiping! Read it slowly to yourself. Connect those phrases to real examples from your own life. And praise the Lord! For what has He forgiven you? How has He healed you? From what pit has He redeemed you? How has He crowned you with love and mercy? How has He satisfied your needs? How has He renewed you lately? Praise Him for He has not punished you as you deserve!!!!! That could take awhile! He knows everything about you. He knows that you are weak. All He wants you to do is depend on Him and praise Him for sustaining you!

Today, tell your soul to bless the Lord. And then do it! These verses are a great guide and won't leave you stranded for words, or topics of praise! In fact you may be surprised at how quickly time flies while you are praying and praising through these verses! Enjoy that sweet time with the Lord today!

Choosing to bless the Lord today,
Kelly

Worship in Heaven

Worship in heaven. Oh, I can't wait! But we must practice here on earth, if we are going to spend an eternity doing it in heaven!!!

Today's readings: Revelation 7, Nehemiah 9:38-10:39, Psalm 102

"After these things I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen" -Revelation 7:9-12

I can just imagine the beauty and diversity we will see in heaven. Sadly, the number of American Christians are declining, while the number of Christians in other parts of the world (Africa, and Asia) are increasing exponentially. So, it will be interesting to see if white americans are in the minority in heaven! Granted, we may not look the same in heaven as we do right now- who knows... but it does say in this passage that the great multitude was made up of nations, tribes, peoples and tongues... so there must be some way to distinguish. And it must be glorious! When I was in Africa one of my favorite things about the african church was their praying and worshiping! They would enter a time of prayer, and everyone would start praying aloud all at the same time. Talk about a symphony of prayer- all of these voices, sometimes different languages, all ascending to the Father! It was amazing! And their worship was so alive! They danced and sang and yelled- all in praise of our God!

If I could picture worship in heaven- I would imagine that it will move and swirl and dance around the air like a gentle breeze on an autumn day- with the sun glistening in the brightly colored leaves.... how do you imagine worship in heaven? How are you practicing for it now? Take some time to worship God. Put on a great worship CD- dance- journal- paint- write a poem- play with your kids- wash the dishes.... all of those things can be done out of worship. So let's get to it! He is worthy!!!

Praising Him today,
Kelly

Clinging to the Cross

Using the cross as a crutch... Josh preached about that yesterday- and it is a temptation we have struggled with even before there was the cross. I wrote the other day about the vicious cycle the Israelites got stuck in, and that I also find myself repeating all too often. It must be human nature- but it certainly makes walking faithfully with God difficult!

Today's readings: Revelation 6, Nehemiah 8:13-9:37, Psalm101

"But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments. They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them. You did not forsake them...You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years You sustained them...So they ate and were filled and grew fat, and delighted themselves in Your great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against You... Therefore You delivered them in to the hand of their enemies who oppressed them...and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; and according to Your abundant mercies, You gave them deliverers who saved them..." -Nehemiah 9:16-17, 19-21, 25-26, 27

This illustrates one instance of this vicious cycle, that I am sure you can relate to! But thankfully, God doesn't get tired of this stupid dance! We are bound in sin, He rescues us, we get proud and feel like we don't need Him, and then we find ourselves bound in sin again, and He rescues us... and so on and so forth. But I love what Josh said on Sunday- it doesn't have to be like this! We can be sanctified- we can allow the cross to touch every part of our lives and surrender everything to God- and then He gets control of our lives! He sets about purifying and refining us, He empowers us to live holy lives, and He begins to free us from that vicious cycle! Hallelujah!

I'd just like to repeat the key that Josh gave us yesterday, and the verses above indicate its truth. In that second sentence it said: they were not mindful of Your wonders. That is the key- stay mindful of God's wonders, stay mindful of the cross. He has saved you... why would you want to return to your stinking life of sin? He wants so much more for you! Choose a verse to memorize that will keep you mindful of the cross today. Write it down. Repeat it to yourself through out the day. Or if you don't think you can memorize a whole verse- maybe you can memorize the Jesus Prayer: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Pray that one sentence over and over- hundreds of times a day- allow it to sink into your subconscious- make it your mantra. And it will keep you returning to the cross for mercy every moment- which in reality, is how often we need it! Don't let pride keep you from coming to the cross minute by minute today!

Clinging to the cross today,
Kelly

Worthy is the Lamb!

This morning at Trinity Josh will be preaching about the cross- and I am so blessed to see that God lined up a great Scripture passage for us today!

Today's readings: Revelation 5, Nehemiah 7:4-8:12, Psalm 100

"The creatures and elders... sang a new song, saying,

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation...

Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands, saying with a loud voice:

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying,

Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever." -Revelation 5:9, 11-14

In the Old Testament, God's people had to make animal sacrifices for their sin- God's law demanded blood whenever His law was broken. And so, when Jesus came, He became that sacrifice for us- He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Hallelujah! He has died to make us right with God- He has made a way for our broken relationship to be restored! I am looking forward to Josh's message today about living a cross-centered life- how we worship God with all our lives out of gratitude for what He did on the cross!

I hope that communion takes on richer significance today as you dwell on the Lamb of God who is worthy of all honor and glory! Spend time focusing on the cross- on the agony Jesus experienced- FOR YOU. Let that color all of your actions this week!

because of the cross,
Kelly

Constant Worship

Good Morning, Church,

This will be a quick thought- we have a busy Saturday ahead of us! But please linger as long as you would like with these amazing verses!

Today's readings: Revelation 4, Nehemiah 5:1-7:3, Psalm 99

"The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!' Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.'" -Revelation 4:8-11

Now that is worship- if the creatures who are in God's presence constantly must fall down and worship Him- it would be easy to conclude that if we walked in His presence daily, we would be in a constant state of worship ourselves! So we must invite Him into our daily lives- and live our worship!

Praying that it is so today,
Kelly

No more lukewarm!!

These letters to the churches in Revelation are hardcore! Today's challenge is to the lukewarm church, and I must confess that it is all too easy to slip into that lukewarm category when I rush right by Him in my daily busy-ness!

Today's readings: Revelation 3, Nehemiah 4, Psalm 98

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door; I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." -Revelation 3:15-20

I get stuck in this cycle all the time- the same cycle the Israelites got stuck in during the Old Testament- Prosper- Forget God- Fail- Cry out to God- Prosper- Forget God- Fail- Cry out to God. It is this vicious cycle of my ignorant independence that gets me in trouble! When my life is going fine, I foolishly think that I can make it on my own without God's help. Then, of course, since I am ignoring Him my life falls apart. So I cry out to Him for help... but as soon as He fixes my problems, I forget Him again! All of that confession to say- I am utterly aware of how easy it is to become lukewarm! We forget that we are utterly dependent on God for life, and breath, health, and success... not to mention salvation! God hates it when we coast along without Him- it pains Him to watch us flail about in our own strength thinking we're doing okay, when He has glorious plans to use us in mighty ways! So He rebukes us. And it hurts. But listen to His invitation- He is standing at the door of your heart, waiting for you to slow down and sit with Him.

All He wants is to spend time with you- the God of the universe, the savior of your soul- wants to dine with you. Will you prepare the table of your heart, grab a cup of coffee (a pumpkin spice latte sounds even better!), light a candle and enjoy His presence. Set a date with Him- and keep it. This solitude will give Him the space He needs to do a work in your heart and transform your life! How could you pass that up? This is an invitation of a lifetime- and He extends it daily. You just rush by too quickly to take advantage of this wondrous offer. Even giving Him 15 minutes a day is a start- but in addition to that, get out your calendar, and set a date when you can give him 30 minutes (an hour would be even better) to just enjoy His presence, listen to His voice, talk with Him about the people you love. This love affair doesn't have to grow stagnant and lukewarm- you just have to give it some time and attention!

Praying that we would all invest the time it takes for our love to burn HOT,
Kelly

Getting passionate!

What a challenge the Lord has for us this morning- and a sweet invitation. I am challenged this morning- and I pray you will be too- let us examine our hearts and see where we are in our relationship with the Lord.

Today's readings: Revelation 2, Nehemiah 3, and Psalm 97

"I know of your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works..." -Revelation 2:2-5a

Wow. What a harsh word from the Lord. He basically told the church that they were doing all the right things- but their heart wasn't in it. They were just going through the motions. What a strong rebuke! But I hear that today, for myself, so let us take some time and see how we can remedy this situation! This letter in Revelation was written to the church in Ephesus- Paul also wrote a letter to the Ephesians- let's see what he had to say to them that may help us!

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...at one time you were without Christ...having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." -Ephesians 2:4-5, 12-13

One great help to renewing our first love is to remember what our lives were like before we met Him. Do you remember wallowing in your sin- feeling hopeless and alone- having no purpose, no greater cause than yourself?? What a tragic place to be- and He came to bring us close to Himself!

Remember your first human love? Young love... so all-consuming... nothing else matters... the world revolves around you and your love... time drags slowly when you are apart... when was the last time you felt that way about God??? Take some time today and remember where God has brought you. Praise Him that He has saved you, remember how lost you were. And then tell Him how much you have missed Him lately. Commit to Him whatever you are willing to stick to: perhaps you will carve out 10 minutes each day to sit in His presence, perhaps you will make it to church every week, perhaps you will start a journal and write in it every other day, whatever it is you will do to rekindle that love affair- and then ask Him to help you be faithful to your commitment!

Right now, just sit for 2 minutes and tell Him how much you love Him, everything you admire about Him, everything you are thankful for in your life. And then in the next 2 minutes allow Him to love you. Bask in His love, receive it. And then rise and walk side by side with Him today!

Praying that your love for Him would burn anew,
Kelly

Inhale.. exhale...

We are beginning two new books today- revelation, and nehemiah! Since we are still focusing on Jesus this week, our reading in revelation is going to be the center of our meditation today!

Today's readings: Revelation 1, Nehemiah 1-2, Psalm 96

"Grace to you and peace from...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever amen." -Revelation 1:5-6

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead..." -Revelation 1:17a

"Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth." -Psalm 96:8-9

Imagine being John, exiled to the island of Patmos, spending his quiet time with God when all of a sudden you hear the voice of God! He is face to face with Jesus! Wow! He has loved us and poured out His blood for us... made us righteous so that we may stand in God's presence... and He is standing there before you! What would you say- how would you feel- what would you do? John fell down in awe and worship.

It is my prayer that we would get so close to God ourselves, that our worship is just automatic response. Not robotic... but reflex... He appears and we don't think about what we should say, or what people would approve of- but we would just react to His presence among us whatever that looks like. I'm not suggesting that worship is always an emotional response- though I do tend to get emotional when I think about His blood that was poured out for me- our worship is also a choice we make in how we live our lives. Like in psalms- "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!" Living a holy life is an act of worship. Romans 12:1 NCV says it best: "So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to Him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to Him, this is your spiritual act of worship." Offer your life to God- all of your life to Him- because He is worthy. He is worthy.

Absorb that into your soul... He is worthy. He has loved you when you were unloveable- He cleansed you with His own blood when you were sitting in your filth- He has raised you up, even though you were unworthy. Give Him the glory due His name! Live today all for Him. Consider what He would want you to do, where He would want you to go, who He would want you to touch- and as you go about your day, inhale His love, and exhale your worship. That is what life should be all about.

Worshiping with you today,
Kelly