February 16 - Trials

  

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.”

(James 1:2-3 NIV)

 

My heavenly Father is gentle and kind. He is perfect, pure love. He will not let me face today alone. He is with me through the struggles, the pain, the frustration. He will reveal Himself in fresh new ways today. He is the Giver and Developer of faith. He will lead me to exercise it. I only need to seek Him first. I hope you will, too! 

February 15 - Carpe Diem

 

“Be very careful, then, how you live –

not as unwise, but as wise.”

(Ephesians 5:15 NIV)

 

Seize the day! Life is short. Time marches on. This moment, now, is a gift from my heavenly Father. I dare not waste or trash it, but cherish it and enjoy it with Him. I do not know what lies ahead, but He does. I might not need more knowledge, but discernment to use what I have already been given. I will look into the face of Jesus today for the answers and solutions I need. I hope you will, too!

February 14 - Continuous Communion

“One of those days Jesus went out

to a mountainside to pray

and spent the night praying to God.”

(Luke 6:12 NIV)

 

I cannot imagine praying all night, as Jesus did. But I have had restless nights when I talked with Him. He knows what sleepless nights are. He has been where you and I are going today. I am so thankful Jesus has already cleared the way so the Holy Spirit can lead into and out of every situation and circumstance. I will follow Him in uninterrupted communion today. I hope you will, too!  

February 13 - My Lamp

 

“You are my lamp, O Lord;

the Lord turns my darkness into light.”

(2 Samuel 22:29 NIV)

 

As the sun peeks over the trees my Lord awakens my mind and heart to Him. He shines a light on my thoughts and leads me to sift them through His love. The Lamp of Truth dispels all darkness and points me in the right direction. What can I do today that will glorify Him except to welcome His light on my every step? I will follow His light today. I hope you will, too!

February 12 - Foolish Dreams

“As a dream comes when there are many cares,

so the speech of a fool when there are many words.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:3 NIV)

 

The wise words of Solomon remind me that dreams disturb sleep when I do not give all my cares to my heavenly Father at the end of the day. I wake in the middle of the night and try to solve jumbled problems. In my dreams I argue and discuss in vain with no one. I will give God all my thoughts, keep my mouth shut, and seek His solutions today. I hope you will, too! 

February 11 - Delight in Weakness

 

“That is why, for Christ’s sake,

I delight in weaknesses, in insults,

in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

(2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)

 

Again I complained to God about the problems swirling around my head. This was not working the way I thought it should and that was not falling properly into place. How can I delight in these weaknesses? How can I find joy in the frustrations? I will ask my Lord to take over control of these situations and my life. I hope you will, too! 

He Set Me Free

by Macy Johnson

“When Jesus saw her,

He called her forward and said to her,

’Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’”

(Luke 13:12 NIV)

 

Beverly played the introduction to a peppy hymn on the rickety spinet piano in the nursing home’s gathering hall. Kathleen picked up her tambourine and kept the beat. The group of sixteen singers in folding chairs looked up from their hymnals in delight. We would sing one of our favorite songs.