The Gift of Encouragement — Week of July 10, 2011

July 10, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

Endings come in different ways in our lives . Some conclusions are planned and, therefore, there is emotional preparation for them. Other endings are abrupt and as a result emotions are challenging. Changes expected or unexpected mean that life must be adjusted to anew. Often when conclusions are unwanted, it can be difficult to face adjustments. Jesus helps us.

Jesus knows our limitations. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, and what each person needs to carry on. While each of us requires something different from Jesus to carry on in life and face transitions, Jesus possesses everything necessary to meet these needs—whatever they are. Even one feeling very weak can simply call out “Jesus” and He will help. Jesus loves you more than anyone ever can and ever will. He wants to be with you in your hour of need and in your season of transition. Let Him be with you. Let Him walk with you. He has the strength and the compassion to see you through.

Lord Jesus, You promised to be with Your people no matter what life brings. You always keep Your promises. Help those who are particularly needful of Your strength to feel Your support and come to trust Your promises more deeply. In Thee, our Saviour, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement — Week of July 3, 2011

July 3, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

When fireworks light up the sky on a summer night, their glow is expansive against a black night sky. Were fireworks to meet the sky in daylight, the sparkle would be lost. The brilliance could not be seen. Often that is the way with the brilliance of Christ’s light; it often is best seen in dark times.

Seasons of grief, melancholy, loneliness, and emptiness, are times when the brilliance of Christ is more evident than in times when we do not think we need Him. We always need Jesus. But when our hearts sink due to life’s sorrows and challenges, it is Jesus who holds us up. It is Jesus who shines through our tears and beyond them. Jesus keeps hope alive, even when hope is not seen or felt. Jesus is the brilliance we need. Trusting His presence when we cannot see or feel it is faith. Trust that faith—today.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is for believers to go through dark seasons. These times seem pointless and endless. You know it hurts. But You, Jesus, are hope. You are the One to carry us through. Jesus, thank You for Your strength and Your promise to be with us always. Thank you for being our hope. Amen

Transitions – July 2011

July 1, 2011 in Transitions of the Month | Leave a comment

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

When a day is stretched out before you, brand new like an undisturbed canvas, God’s grace provides the opportunity for it to be filled somehow. The day may be used for worship and witness. Hours may be filled with work and enterprise. They may be used to engage in study and learning. Time may be spent on recreation and frolic. Somehow, the empty canvas will record life’s hours. However days are spent, personal choices dictate the results.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Surely, the Author and Finisher of our faith is at our side daily and through our nights of sleep to give of His presence and share in the daily choices and engagements of the day. He is the One who writes truth on our hearts and He is the One who guides us to the finishing line of life. If one believes in Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour, then one can be certain to be in that glad place of completion when days are no more.

If believers are mindful that Jesus is with us on our pilgrimage of faith, then we can be certain that even when life is bleak and days seems hollow, His very presence hallows time. Emotions do not dictate outcome, though it seems that way. Weary spirits are carried along by Jesus Christ. He is still the Author and Finisher of our faith when personal strength fails and sorrow overtakes. Nothing overtakes Jesus. He overcame everything at Calvary that would seek to overtake human continuance. He made a stand on the Cross that would withstand all the elements of emotional pain as well as Satan’s destructive tactics. Jesus did it. Not because of anything you or I do, can we forebear the sorrows of this life. Because of everything Jesus did—and does by His presence with us—sorrows are carried by Him, and His strength sees us through.

If you are suffering through a time of sorrow right now, let Jesus walk with you. Do not think you need to feel better or stronger in order to be ready for Jesus’ presence. When you are weak, His strength is most needed, and how He wants to avail it to you. If you know someone who suffers now and their pain is your pain, see the Jesus in you, dear reader, for compassion is from Christ. Whatever places you in a season of need for yourself or someone else, do not take one more step without knowing Jesus is there and He wants to walk with you through it.

Ask Him. Ask Jesus to be beside you. In a heartbeat, He is there. If you let Jesus accompany you through life’s present sorrows, this Author and Finisher of your faith will take the pains of your life and sculpt it into something worthy. It does not look like it now. Clay never looks like it could be beautified. Oh, but in the Hands of the Lord, clay gains integrity, value, and purpose. Let Jesus author your days and finish them well, as only Jesus can. He will refine sorrow and define you anew. Indeed there shall be joy and purpose ahead. He promised.

Lord Jesus, how assuring it is to know that whatever meets us in life, we do not meet it without you. You will walk with us through life’s sorrows. You will make meaning out of life’s sorrows. Redeemer that You are, You redeem everything in a believer’s life to make all experience a complete and sanctified life in You. Thank You, Jesus, for Your strengthening presence and Your loyal promises to which we hold. You are the Author and Finisher of our faith. You are why and how life has worth. You are life. Your are all, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement — Week of June 26, 2011

June 26, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

Remembering days gone by can be welcome or not welcome. Depending upon certain memories of people, places, and experiences, mental visits to times gone by are an emotional balm or an emotional challenge. God knows this. He knows all the thoughts and memories housed in your heart and in mine. He was with us when every memory was created. He will be with us when we opt to recall those memories—and resist them.

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:10) assures us that He is the One who is defining our walk of faith. He is the One who is present throughout each creation of a memory, and is the One who can redeem it if need be. A good memory speaks for itself. A difficult memory requires the holiness of Jesus to make a memory refined by His grace. Only Jesus can do this. Only Jesus has the capacity of love to do this. Give Jesus your memories.

Lord, for those who call You Saviour and Lord, You grant the precious covering of Your Spirit that stores memories in accordance with Your value of us. Out of sheer love, You link yesterdays with today and tomorrow to make them spiritually profitable. Lord Jesus, You make all life worthwhile and promising, and for this praise and thanksgiving belong to You, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement — Week of June 19, 2011

June 19, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

When the prodigal son returned home, it was after a stint of wayward living, squandering resources, and living against the truths his father taught him. He expected to be relegated to clean the pig pen. Instead, his father noticed him from far off and ran to greet him. He was so thrilled that his son had come home. All was forgiven. A fine robe and ring were placed on him and the father called for a great banquet to be prepared in his honor. Quite a homecoming. Quite an acceptance, one this son knew he did not deserve.

God forgives that way. Fully. Intentionally. Lovingly. He forgives through His Son, Jesus Christ, the only One endowed with the holiness to forgive and cleanse sin—completely and forever. Whatever you are experiencing today that is painful due to sin, it is time for a trade. Trade your pain and shame for yesterday’s disappointments and give them to Jesus. In exchange, He will give to you a new heart and a new hope. That is what a loving Father does. This is what God wants to do for every one of his sons and daughters on earth.

Lord Jesus, You gave yourself fully on the cross so that Your shed blood would cover the sins of all persons for all time. Lord, we have no way of being covered by sin except for Your blood. Thank you, Jesus, for all you did at Calvary, and for all You continue to do by Your Spirit so persons will come to believe in You and receive Your gift of cleansing. Father God, thank You for making a way for all people to be accepted by You—no matter what. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement – Week of June 12, 2011

June 12, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

Did you ever want the opportunity to relive a moment? Specifically, a regrettable moment? Each of us can recall times in our lives when we said or did something we regret and as a result how a moment was recorded in our memory. That memory can haunt and rob peace, motivation, and joy. Thoughts of Jesus change that.

In order to know relief from regret, one must give that moment, that matter, over to the Lord Jesus. He wants to make it better. He wants to restore peace. This is done by a deliberate surrender of a matter, a memory. This can be difficult to do because holding on to regret can be its own form of comfort and punishment. Comfort because of connection to someone/something meaningful even if it produced a negative outcome; punishment because the guilt and shame associated with regret can seem deserving. Jesus Christ does not want you to live with guilt or shame. Not for one moment. At Calvary, Jesus took all that away from you and from me. Complete surrender to Jesus means that times of regret are in His hands—His nail-scarred hands. He will blanket you and your memory with peace if you give to Him the memory. This is what Calvary was for—your peace and your future.

Lord Jesus, You have the power to cloak memories with Thy grace so they do not overpower hearts and minds. Thank You, Lord, for taking what we give to you that we regret. Help us by Thy touch to relinquish memories into Thy loving care. In Thee, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement — Week of June 5, 2011

June 5, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

Goodbyes are to be expected in life. They will come. Sometimes they are planned. Other times they are not. When there is ample time for preparation, a goodbye may be emotional yet not overwhelming. When a goodbye is abrupt, it can be devastating. Life can seem hopeless.

Seem is the key word.

When one lets Jesus into a goodbye, hope has presence. Life may not feel as though hope still abides; only the power and presence of Jesus allows for continued hope. Do not wait for feelings to be in balance. Feelings ebb and flow like the tides when goodbyes come into our lives. Jesus overrides feelings so that the certainty of His presence is all that is required to keep taking steps of hope.

Lord Jesus, You are our very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46). Thank You, Lord, for being our hope when goodbyes come. Thank You for being our strength in our time of weakness. Oh, how we love You, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Transitions – June 2011

June 1, 2011 in Transitions of the Month | Leave a comment

GRIEF AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.   Ecclesiastes 3:4

If you have ever known a time in your life when marking a special occasion was especially difficult, then you are not alone. Meeting up with certain dates on the calendar can be particularly trying when they mean that the heart has to meet up with them. Grief is a primary reason for such difficult encounters with time, place, and season. Grief is a barometer that directs the heart.

Grief is a universal experience yet a most personal journey. Grief comes into our lives due to losses of loved ones due to deaths, expected or unexpected, divorce, fires, hurricanes, tornados, accidents, terrorism, and suicide. Loss comes because of empty nest, retirement, and relocation. Even the joy of marriage, a new job or a new home can prompt grief; sadness may come because even though there is a new excitement ahead, it means leaving certain people and places in order to begin something new.

When birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays, and graduations come about, they may be too difficult to face by participating in a gathering or even acknowledging it. The heart registers the acknowledgement. Depending upon when and what the event is, a heart will begin to steer as to how to meet that given date/occasion. Perhaps it is best to acknowledge it alone without others present or with a few close individuals who will be sensitive to your feelings. Maybe it is best not to give a date attention at all so that it can pass without too much emotional tension. There may come a time in the future when grief lessens and that day can be faced with greater strength.

Another way to address special occasions is to do something for someone anonymously. If a child or spouse has died, it may be helpful to contact a local church or charity to see if you can make a donation in memory of a loved one. If a soldier has died, you may contact the respective branch of the military to see if you can make a donation to a special fund in his or her memory. If doing something other than giving money is more meaningful to you, ask these same organizations if you can volunteer your time to help them. Ask them what their needs are and see if there is a need that corresponds to meeting the emotional need inside of you. The point is not so much what you do as it is doing something that makes you feel as though your act of giving of self makes a contribution to a broader cause and blesses the memory of your loved one. Take the time to consider how you can best meet those needs inside of yourself and the Lord will guide you as to where to offer your time, talent or treasure.

The heart directs us as to whether we move with caution or readiness in a given situation. Sometimes grief can be so raw that our hearts sound the alarm and we are not to move to invest ourselves at all for a time. The heart is our guide and it is a reservoir for our love, strength, and courage. Because grief depletes energy and momentum, there are times when it is valuable to sit and surrender to sadness in order to be filled again with hope. Giving what we do not have within ourselves is futile. Being kind to ourselves and mindful of a season of acute grief is an act that actually aids in replenishing energy and potential. Do not berate yourself for not being able to participate in certain days as you once did. Do not let others berate you either nor coax you into something for which your heart is not ready. Grief is personal. Listen to your heart.

No one—no one—knows you better than Jesus does. Trust the Lord to be with you and to direct your needs at this time. By the presence of the Holy Spirit, He will guide, help, and comfort you. Let Him. When you do, you will come to find that although life will not be as it was before, it will still have meaning and hope. Let Jesus carry you through times of goodbye. Let Jesus be your companion through all days, stages, and places in your life. Jesus understands the human challenges we face. He is the One who gave His life in the interest of traveling with us through them all.

Lord Jesus, You know those sad and unwanted places that hearts must navigate through when grief comes into our lives. You promised to be with us—no matter what. In matters that mark the calendar and mark our eyes with tears and longing, be our peace. Help us, Jesus, to settle ourselves in Your care and promises so that we can live with Your supernatural equilibrium. Your love knows no end. Throughout all the endings of our lives, Your love remains our steadiness and the reason for our every beginning. In Thee, Lord Christ, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement – Week of May 29, 2011

May 29, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

It has been said that suicide is a permanent answer to a temporary problem.  Anyone who has known the loss of someone due to suicidal death knows how arduous such grief is.  Moreover, anyone who has considered this “answer” to life’s challenges knows how hopeless life can sometimes seem.

Jesus changes that.  He brought hope into the world.  A speck of hope is all that is necessary for someone to continue to hold on to life—even with all of its woes and trials.  Jesus also comforts those who grieve the loss of a loved one and wonder how and where they will find strength to go on.  Jesus is the answer.  Suicide may have touched your life in one way or another.  Let Jesus touch you so that He can lead you in steps beyond what has been painful.  May He fill You with His love and His hope.

Lord Jesus, You know it is excruciating for those who survive the deaths of family and friends due to suicide.  Jesus, You are the answer to all the challenges we face in life.  Jesus, soften spirits and strengthen wills for those who suffer in grief.  Lord Jesus, be present to those who think they are without hope or purpose in life.  Everyone faces valley seasons.  May Your Spirit of Life keep people holding on to You and to Your promises.  In Thee, Lord Christ, Amen.

The Gift of Encouragement – Week of May 22, 2011

May 22, 2011 in Devotion of the Week | Leave a comment

Purpose.  Each one of us has purpose, in everything we do.  Purposes can be positive or negative, full of progress or destructive.  If life is lived in Christ, then the purpose in choices is to be conformed more into the image of the Saviour. 

Grief has purpose.  It is a means to conform.  Grief by its very nature forces one into a heightened emotional state.  That state of being sensitizes us to the pains of loss and suffering; suffering that does help us to better understand Jesus’ heart.  Because grief is a part of life, and all life in Christ has purpose, grief serves a purpose for you and for me.  Unwanted as a season grief is, given time, it has the potential to reveal a side of Jesus we have not known before, and concurrently produce in you and in me more of a likeness to Himself.

Lord Jesus, You know how deeply grief can hurt.  Thank You, Lord, for staying with us every moment of our sorrows.  Thank You, Jesus, for letting us see Your heart through our tears; tears You know so well.  In Thee, Amen.