Wordless Love

I don’t remember hearing my parents telling me, “I love you,” but I know they do.  They have shown their love in countless ways.  When I was growing up they worked hard to provide a comfortable home, food, and clothing.  They made sure my brothers didn’t pick on me, at least not too much.  Even today, they listen when I have something important to say.  They encourage me when I’m discouraged or when I start a new venture.  Their eyes shine with pride at my smallest accomplishments. Their actions have always left me feeling secure and loved.

I have never heard Jesus say to me, “I love you,” but I know he does.  He provides my every need.  He sometimes allows difficulties in my life, but never more than I can bear.  He listens to me and knows my heart, even when I seldom speak to Him.  He is the source of my abilities and is pleased when I work to develop them.  When I’m discouraged, he wraps loving arms around me, encouraging me with the same arms that stretched wide open on the cross. Because He became sin, I am adopted into his family and will live forever with him in heaven.  His actions leave me feeling secure and loved.

Through our own wordless love, others glimpse our loving savior.  When we understand another’s feelings, or listen to other’s problems, we show God’s love.  When we assist an elderly neighbor or babysit for a friend, we demonstrate his love.  When we accept others without judgment, they see God’s love.

God, your actions demonstrate how much you love us.  Humble us and show us how to also act in loving ways.

Worship in All Situations

“Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?”– Francis Chan

Now this quote really makes me think. What do you think about it?

Father, teach me humility. Teach me to obey and not “require” an explanation from you. For you are all-knowing. Teach me to trust you in all situations.

Lift Up Others

Lord, sometimes I take for granted all the hard work of others, especially those who affect me spiritually and show me how to grow. Please help me to acknowledge their hard work and their positive influence on me. I’m sure they could use the encouragement.

Gifts from God

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

I Corinthians 12:4-6

Father God, thank you for sharing your gifts with each one of us. Keep our attitudes toward our gifts pure, Lord. Let us not become proud because we perceive our gifts as better than others. By the same token, let us not feel small and insignificant because we perceive the gifts of others as more important than our own. Help us to remember that each gift is just that, a gift from our heavenly father who knows how to give good gifts. Lord, show us how to use those gifts for your glory.

A Woodland Sanctuary

As I walked the nature trails, I wandered off the beaten path.  Large toadstools nestled under a grove of blue spruce trees attracted my attention.

Pushing aside branches, I walked fifteen feet, entering a small clearing.  The ground, carpeted with years of accumulated needles, felt soft beneath my feet.  A chorus of crickets broke the silence.  In the distance a woodpecker drilled, searching for insects.  Inside my clearing, all was shadow, quiet and still; it became a sanctuary that soothed my soul. A smattering of bright red sumac leaves provided stained-glass windows.  I sat on the carpet of spruce needles, gazing at the beauty all around me, and I felt the presence of God.  Strains of “This Is Holy Ground” ran through my head. 

Looking through an opening between the horizontal branches, I observed the golden radiance of the late afternoon sun. Outside my sanctuary, the seed heads of the natural prairie grasses glowed transparently in the sun’s light, creating a stunning contrast to the shadowy grove.  I had to capture the breath-taking scene on film.  When I put the camera to my eye, I focused on the branches in the foreground.  They seemed large and dark, like horizontal prison bars, and the golden glow of the grasses in the background was barely noticeable. I refocused the camera. Then the tall, dried grass, shot through with light, became the focus of my picture; the branches in the foreground almost disappeared.

As I took my picture, I thought:  how often do I focus on the branches in front of me that impede my spiritual way, and thus fail to see God’s light just beyond?  How often do I become discouraged over minor problems instead of focusing my thoughts on the brilliance of God’s majesty or the comforting glow of his love? It’s all a matter of focus.

Remembering the lesson of the camera’s focus enables me to thank God in all situations and focus on His spiritual light shining beyond my earthly troubles.

Father let my eyes see beyond the earthly; let me steadfastly watch your spiritual light.  May I always focus on the wonders you have created, on the wonder of you.

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

Are You a Pharisee?

“A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself”.― A.W. Tozer

Makes you think, doesn’t it? Which are you?

Father, let me dispose of the ways of the pharisee and, instead, adopt the ways of Jesus. Like him, let me be filled with love and grace toward others.

Friday Prayer Challenge

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire.”

I Peter 1:3

Father, enable each one of us to utilize your divine power to fill our lives with godliness. Fill us to the brim with your nature so that others can see your majesty and your redeeming love.

Use the above verse to pray for others this week. We all need His power in our lives.