Conduits of Grace

January 1

But seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us. Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious free life. Focusing on self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what He is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. (Romans 8:5–8, Message)

And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37, NIV). Jesus said, Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. (Matthew 22:37, Message)

Lord, I pray that the new year will bring excitement, adventure, growth…that at the end of the year, should You choose to give us breath that long…we will be wiser and totally surrendered, everywhere and always to You.

Personally, the last year has taught me some things. You, God, can be trusted…all the time. What You choose to do in my life and in the lives of my loved ones is totally Your decision. When I surrender to You, I give up my choice. I give it to You! your will be done! Heck, most of the time, I don’t even understand why I want what I do!

Along with wisdom, Lord, I ask for patience and supreme and unwavering trust. Give me eyes to see and a mind to understand that absolutely nothing takes place in my life, or in any surrendered life, without Your direction. Help me to stop fighting You, consciously and unconsciously, and help me let go, back off, and let God—let you—orchestrate and direct my life. Your will be done. Amen

Prayers for all of you, my friends, in the new year. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us! The thought that is foremost in my thinking this morning is, God doesn’t waste a surrendered life. I’m bouncing on tiptoes to see where we are going!

Love you, ladies!

January 2

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:2)

O God, You are my God. I shall seek You earnestly. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

I am the vine, you are the branches; she who abides in Me and I in her, she bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. (Matthew 6:33)

Why do we waste our lives pursuing our lesser loves?

What are my lesser loves that push God out of my thinking? Lesser loves are things that occupy my thoughts and motivate me to do one thing or another. Sometimes it’s public opinion, wanting others to think highly of me. Sometimes it’s greed. Sometimes it’s laziness, and sometimes it’s just plain selfishness! Wanting my way, my plans, my priorities, my ideas for my glory! All those lesser loves get in the way of our love and devotion for God.

My dear sisters, God is indeed pursuing us, drawing us to Himself, and stripping us of lesser loves that stand in the way of our intimate relationship with Him. We are a work in progress. Being molded by the hands of the Master Potter! But that being said, we have a choice to make. Will we let go of the things and lesser loves that are holding us back from desiring the One Thing that will truly fulfill us and challenge us and delight us? Or will we stubbornly hold on to our will? The choice is ours. And speaking from experience, it is a choice we make daily—hourly, in fact. When my mind is on my Lord, my heart’s desire is to hear the words, Well done, good and faithful servant. To finally see Him face-to-face, to understand all the times He has intervened in my life and drawn me to Himself. I know that when my life here is over, I will finally get it. I will no longer wonder if God is in the details and events of our lives, but I will know with a certainty that God is worthy of praise, worship, and adoration! That He is always present, active, and powerful in the lives of His children! We don’t have to run to lesser loves to be content. Our true contentment comes only from the One Who loves us with a love that our little minds cannot begin to comprehend! The One Who directs our steps, protects, and provides. The Lover of our souls! He alone is the one thing that matters!

Have a great day, friends! You are greatly and eternally loved by the Master of the universe! Everything else pales in comparison!

January 3

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

But His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

My times are in Your hands. (Psalm 31:15)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)

For you bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover her with favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:2–12)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

My dear friends, God’s favor does indeed rest upon us. How I wish that meant trouble-free lives and immediate answers. But we all know that it does not. Very often, we cannot begin to understand just what God is up to…and we begin to doubt that He is listening at all. But you can rest assured that the very God who hung the stars and created us for His purposes in this very time and in the very place has not forgotten you! The testing will not last forever, the trial will eventually pass, and mourning will subside; and then God will reveal His awesome, perfect plan and purpose. We, oftentimes, just have to hang on and trust that what He says is true. That He will indeed work all things out for good for those who love Him. That He will open doors and transform lives that without Him would remain hopeless. Sometimes, the prayer of our heart may simply be, Help me hang on to You. Help me trust You in this… Help me get through so that I can see Your goodness and faithfulness on the other side. I found comfort in Job’s words in our times of trial and pain: Though He slay me, yet, I will trust in Him.

God is proud of our efforts to remain faithful. He will answer in His timing, and He can be trusted. This I know.

January 4

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33–36, ESV)

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do? Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Always glory. Always praise. Yes. Yes. Yes. (Romans 11:33–36, MSG)

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat, it’s a wonder God didn’t lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives, and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on His own, with no help from us! Then He picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. (Ephesians 2:1–6, MSG)

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

My dear much-loved sisters, it is high time we take God out of this box we have placed Him in by our own design. This box that confines, limits, and expects little from Him. It is high time we blow that box apart, or rather stop confining, limiting, and underestimating God! Our Lord is limitless in knowledge, wisdom, and riches! Spiritual riches as well as material riches! He can heal, He can restore relationships and lives, He can frankly do absolutely anything He sees fit to do! We are the weak, timid, grave tending ones, cowering and crying, sniffling and whining, afraid and unsure. god is none of those things! He is never at a loss for what to do. He always completely understands any relationship or situation. He can supply ALL our needs through His glorious riches! Let’s stop believing for even a millisecond that God is not able, not available, or not interested! We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ! If God is for us—which He is—who or what can dare stand against Him and, in turn, us?

May we stop living small, frightened, timid lives and embrace this big, bold, beautiful, exciting, adventurous life that God is offering every one of us! Sisters, we serve a mighty god, let’s live like we believe it!

Have a wonderful week, dragon slayers! Get out there! Be bold, shine bright, trust mightily! Our great God is for us!

January 5

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

I will give thanks to You, lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 91:1)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16–17)

The lord is my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. (Psalm 28:7)

Where does gratitude rank on your priority list?

There are so many things to be thankful for, let me list but a few. Art—beauty, birds, books—because they grow your mind. Challenges—without them there’s no achievement. Change, because it causes growth. Clothes—enough said. Conversation, creativity, candy, dancing, daydreaming, doctors, dogs, education, electricity, expectation, experience, family, food, forgiveness, friends, games, gardens, gifts, health, help, humor, hobbies, home, honesty, hope, hugs, inspiration, kindness, laughter, life, love, marriage, memories, money, music, nature, oceans, opportunities, parents, perspective, possibilities, purpose, relationships, romance, science, sex, sharing, sleep, smiles, soap, stars, sunsets, technology, travel, veterans, vision, wisdom, work—and you!

I have to admit, I am slow to be grateful! Quick to approach the throne with a prayer request list, quick to call out for help, quick to get upset with God when I am frustrated, tired or weary—but not so quick with gratitude. My prayer over the last few years was for God to give me a grateful spirit. I am admittedly a work in progress. My dear sisters, we have indeed been blessed in so very many ways. I think that today’s reminder to give thanks with a grateful heart is a much-needed reminder. And with that thought in mind, I am going to challenge every one of you to grab a notebook, journal, or random piece of paper and start your own gratitude journal. Every single day, take a second and write down one thing (minimum) that you are thankful for. Then if you feel so inclined, share it with someone. Perhaps if we tune our thinking in to the mind-set of thankfulness, God will daily open our hearts and our minds to see His provision, protection, and proddings!

Today, this morning, this minute, I am thankful for sustaining faith, for spell-check, and for this group of women to share this journey with!

Have an eye-opening day…open to God’s gifts, generosity, and grace!

January 6

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him. (Isaiah 64:4)

Since before time began no one has ever imagined, no ear heard, no eye seen, a God like You Who works for those who wait for Him. (Isaiah 64:4, MSG)

For it is God Who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure. (Philippians 2:13, MSG)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Friends, God is intimately involved in the details of our lives. We cannot possibly see the end or the outcome of what He is doing. He is God, and He is working—purposefully, skillfully, and lovingly. And one day when we look back on our journey from heaven’s perspective, we will see His Hand in those inexplicable circumstances, and we will say with wonder and worship, You have done all things well!

Sisters, how today’s scriptures should encourage and delight us! How does it change or adjust your thinking to realize that everywhere and always, God is at work? In every situation and circumstance of our lives, God is at work! Now, stop for just a moment and think about this statement by John Piper, God is always doing a thousand different things that you [we] cannot see and do not know. God is god! He is capable to deliver us from any trial or circumstance. He is wise enough to see all the truth about any situation and He is loving enough to work all things out for good…for those who love Him.

I realize how easy it is for me to type that word trust and just how difficult it is for all of us to live in that deep and abiding trust. But, sisters, that is the work of our lives this side of eternity: learning to trust. Trusting Him daily, moment by moment, in the confusion, trials, frustrations, disappointments of life as well as in the times of laughter, joy, and celebration. Remembering that God is involved in both! God is for you, He is working behind the scenes in ways that we cannot fathom! He always knows what is best and will benefit His children, and He can be trusted! Friends, our God, our Father, the Lover of our souls does all things well! We can relax in His loving arms and trust that He knows what He is doing! May we embrace the day before us, always looking for God’s hand in the people and events happening around us, because He’s there! He is moving and working and arranging and orchestrating and creating, and He calls us as His daughters to join Him! Let’s not miss another moment by living in fear and distrust! we are loved, called, and claimed!

Have a great week! Hang on tight to the Hand holding yours…it’s gonna be good!

January 7

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19–21)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:4–5)

I can do all things through Him Who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Moodiness, complaining, ingratitude, toxic attitudes—all these things are destructive to living our best life.

Eternal Father, we admit to You now that we all have areas of our lives that are not glorifying to You. We put social media, TV, activities, and many, many other things before our time and devotion to You. We are so busy running, doing things for so many reasons without even pausing long enough to thank You, to examine our hearts, and to come to You for guidance. What fools we are!

How can we expect You to order our steps and make our paths straight if we don’t come to You with a sincere heart? If we don’t approach Your throne ready to listen, to respond to what you are telling us? As we begin this new year, embracing a time of new beginnings, may our sincere prayer be more of You, Lord Jesus, more of You and less of me!

We love You, we praise You, and we thank you for who You are, for what You have done, and for what You are going to do! We trust You with our lives, our schedules, and our hearts. Please, Father, as You have begun a good work in us, bring it to completion so that our lives may glorify You! Amen.

January 8

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The lord Himself goes before you and will be with you, He will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, ESV)

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, MSG)

Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

May the God Who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. (Romans 15:5)

In the movie Gladiator, Russell Crowe speaks the line, Brothers [sisters] what we do in life echoes in eternity! I love that line! It affirms my belief that our lives matter! How we treat others…matters! How we love ourselves…matters! The wake we leave behind when we leave a room or conversation…matters! When we build up and affirm other people, it matters! Now, I am not talking about empty flattery. But about speaking honest, true affirmation of another person’s worth or contribution.

When I remember the people that have encouraged me in my life, it makes me smile! I strive to be one of those people to bring comfort, encouragement, hope, and confidence through speaking honest words of affirmation.

We all know plenty of Debbie Downers. Heck, we’ve probably played that role from time to time. May we make it our aim and goal to fight the negativity around us; look for the positive, the good, and the beautiful; and encourage with sincere hearts and motives those God has placed in our paths. Because, my dear friends, people may not remember our names or our attire, but they will remember how we made them feel!

Have a great day, soul sisters!

January 9

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

For thus says the Lord God, Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11)

I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:16)

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. (John 4:23)

The word for follow me in scripture is usually translated as hunting, pursuing, even persecuting. So it could read, Surely His goodness and steadfast love will pursue me relentlessly all the days of my life.

God refuses to give up on us—ever—even when we turn our backs on Him, on His church, or on each other. God pursues us relentlessly, all the days of our lives! He pursues us to return us to Himself, to the comfort and protection of His love and provision.

Sisters, this God Whom we pursue…is relentlessly pursuing us! He has known us since our conception. He knows us completely and perfectly. He will not stop loving us and drawing us to Himself…ever! He is never far away or unaware. There is nowhere we can run or hide that God does not see us. There is nothing He cannot forgive. He is a God of restoration, healing, and peace! He is intimately involved in our lives…always! So, lean back in to His loving arms. They are never far from us!

January 10

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who worry their prayers are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises pouring down its scorching heat the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the prosperous life, At the moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing. Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, God is trying to trip me up. God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one blame for the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby; sin! Sin grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer. So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. (James 1:6–16, MSG)

But as for me, I watch in hope for the lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

Now to him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21)

Sisters, what is it that you believe about prayer? Do you believe that God hears you? Do you trust that He acts and intervenes on your behalf and on the behalf of those you are praying for? Do you believe that God is still active and at work even when His timing is not our timing? What we believe about prayer is a reflection of what we believe about god!

God’s response to our prayers is not dependent on us…on how we pray, the words we use or the positions while doing so. The power comes from god! All-Wise, All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Understanding God!

In his book Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson writes, Crazy begets crazy. If we want to see God do crazy miracles, sometimes we need to pray crazy prayers. Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers!

My dear soul sisters, may we become women who pray bold prayers while dreaming big dreams! May our new normal be expecting God to show up when we pray! May we wait patiently while God responds and effects generations yet to come with the bold, believing prayers of His children! God’s got this! And God is in the details! always and everywhere! So keep at it! Prayer is powerful! And the god we pray to…powerful beyond our wildest imaginings!

Have a great week!

January 11

But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

He says; Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word. (Psalm 119:9)

Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, Who is unseen. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. (Psalm 62:1)

When we take time to pray to God and meditate on His word, do we expect to experience God? Do we step away from the busyness of our lives and enter in to a meaningful relationship with the Creator of the universe?

God knows us each intimately. He knows our intentions, our motivations, and our attitudes. He sees when we earnestly seek Him, and He hears us when we cry out to Him. I think the problem most of us have is that we don’t see or hear him! God is present and actively working in each one of our lives, but because we can’t see or hear Him, we doubt. Therein lies the whole issue of faith! Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Believing that the concerns we are bringing before God will be addressed by a loving and caring God. Resting assured that he is acting and intervening on our behalf even when we cannot see or hear what he is up to. The deep benefit that we receive when we spend time alone, intentionally, with God is the peace that comes as our faith in our Father grows. The patience that accompanies that peace is patience to wait for God’s timing and the assurance that God hears, acts, and understands. When I spend time in His presence, I am reminded that my plans are not always His, that my ways are often not the right way, that if I wait and trust God, all the parts and pieces of any concern will be molded and crafted in to a solution that brings glory to God.

There is no shortcut to spending time alone, intentionally, with God. No book, devotion, blog, or conversation can replace time spent alone…one on one with the Almighty Father. We may not feel like God is listening or speaking during our time with Him, but if we open our eyes and watch intently, God will speak. He will reveal Himself to us in a million different ways. Spending time with Him, frequently, purposefully, will open our spiritual eyes to see Him at work in our lives and in the lives around us! There have been moments in my life that have taken my breath away, when I have whispered through tears, That was you, God…that was You! Those moments are worth any inconvenience or schedule disruption. Spending time with Him allows our faith to grow and our trust to establish a firm foundation so that when trials come—as they surely will—we will be rooted in faith and trusting completely the Hand that is holding ours!

Have a great day! Love you, ladies!

January 12

The lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,. Consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

This was a tough read today for me. I can only imagine how a friend of mine felt. Memories of her husband’s diagnosis of ALS, and the pain and fear that followed, ran vividly through my mind! And the timing was interesting. I have been reading through an old journal that has my writing from the time in 2014 when our daughter really began to slide downhill. She had just returned home from four weeks in rehab. My heart is heavy as I read it, and the pain comes back to haunt me once again. Yet I am so surprised that even in the midst of confrontation, confusion, pain, and uncertainty, my words also reveal a confidence in the Lord, and a surrender of my will to His Will. Let me share:

Still lots of uncertainty here,…our grandchildren are with us,…our daughter is here often as well. I certainly don’t see much progress or promise with her…sleep, sleep,…sleep, and laziness. So disheartening,…I am at a loss on how to motivate her, she won’t help herself and is angry when confronted. My heart is heavy, I am weary of having to travel this same road over, and over,…and over again. Help us O Lord to stand firm, to not enable and to move forward with our lives,…fill us with joy, peace and laughter. I am on edge, frustrated, stumbling through my days. I surrender all of it to you Lord,…have your way with us, do what you will and restore us to a place of quiet trust and peace. (6/21/14)

So much pain, and it opens wounds, but I am dumbfounded that I still trusted God! I honestly don’t remember that part. Yet, I read the word trust over and over as I read through my journal entries. The trust during that time was sheer gift. Looking back at our friends diagnosis and daughter’s struggle, I am so very thankful that God held me, that He sustained my faith, that He put me back on my feet. My dear sisters, God is good, all the time… God is good!

January 13

You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands. How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are! Praise the Lord, because He guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad and I feel completely secure, because You protect me from the power of death. I have served you faithfully, and You will not abandon me to the world of the dead. You will show me the path that leads to life; Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever. (Psalm 16:5–11)

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by human hands and He isn’t served by people as if He needed anything. He Himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. (Acts 17:24)

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in Me while I abide in her produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Almighty Father, today, we are reminded that you want to bring us to a point of total dependence on You, and You alone. So often in this life, we find ourselves broken, desperate, crying out to You for help! I remember the cry of my heart to You: Father, I can’t do this! Help me! Lord, in Your wisdom and in Your time, You did indeed deliver us through that storm, but we have not come through it unscathed. We are scarred. Scarred by the understanding that we are not in control. That we are not able to save ourselves from trial, that we are completely insufficient to handle what life throws at us. Praise You, Lord, that you are sufficient! That You are able to handle anything that comes our way! That when we are no longer able to stand by our own strength, Your righteous right hand holds us, cradles us, strengthens us, and once again nudges us forward. How I wish, Lord, that we didn’t have to be brought to our knees to remember who You are! Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, intercede for us… All the moments of our lives, remind us who we are… But more importantly, never let us forget who you are! Forgive our doubt, our worry, our ironclad determination to do things our way and let us willingly surrender our lives to You. you are the Potter, let us, as the clay, relax our grip and lean back in total dependence on You. Honestly, Father, I don’t know why it is so hard to let go. To stop worrying and to trust that You are in the details of our lives. But it is hard. Somewhere in these little minds, we still think that we know best, that if you would just do things our way, life would work out. I am guilty of this, Lord, and I confess it now to You. I am truly sorry for my arrogance, my insistence on my own way, and my lack of trust. Please forgive me; renew me and set me on the path You have prepared for me. We love You, Lord. We need You, and we surrender to You. In Jesus’s Holy name… Amen.

January 14

Sing to the lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. (1 Chronicles 16:23–25)

Sing for joy in the lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. (Psalm 33:1–3)

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. (Psalm 5:11)

Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, strike the timbrel, the sweet sounding lyre with the harp. (Psalm 81:1–2)

I will sing to the lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)

I will sing to the lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:6)

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God Who shows me lovingkindness. (Psalm 59:16–17)

I am thankful for the power of music in our lives. I believe that music has the ability to lighten a mood, lift depression, and encourage reverence. I personally love Christian music and listen to it daily. There are songs that seem to speak to me with just the words I am in need of hearing.

When my brother died last year, my niece’s husband called me and asked me to come right away. My brother was divorced; his wife had died a couple of years prior, and his two children, whom he had raised, were overwhelmed with planning a funeral. I left the day we found out and headed across the state to help them get things in order.

I spent the first night with my niece and her husband and then rented a hotel room nearby. As I was driving back and forth numerous times during the next five days, I kept hearing the same Christian song, saying that God was still God in the midst of the storm, with the words, My only hope is to trust You. It was called In the Eye of the Storm. I mentioned the song to my niece and nephew; they both listened to it and chose to play it at my brother’s funeral service. There was comfort in that song, and my niece told me weeks later that she still continued to listen to that song every day.

After our daughter’s funeral, I had a gentleman tell me that the songs that were played at the service had a great impact on him. It is interesting to me the influence music can and does have on lives.

When my husband and I serve at the minimum-security prison, the music and worship there is powerful! Off-key, yes, but powerful nonetheless because it is heartfelt and honest. How I wish you all could experience that with us! Seeing these inmates lift their hands and their voices in song, grasping the depth of God’s lavish love and forgiveness, and feeling His presence! There is nothing like it!

Today, may you find the time to sing to our Lord and Savior. Reflect on His great and lavish love for you and fall back into the Arms that are holding you!

January 15

On the other hand I am filled with power—With the Spirit of the lord—and with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:8)

I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship. (Exodus 31:3)

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52)

But it is the spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. (Job 32:8)

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? (Psalm 139:7)

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding. The spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 139:7)

Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and Him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught. (1 John 2:27, MSG)

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us in God. (2 Corinthians 1:21–22)

Almighty God, we are all in need of a fresh anointing, a fresh revelation of Your Spirit within us. Fill us with the power, justice, and courage of Your Spirit moving and breathing within us! Help us not to grow stagnant or weary in our walk of faith, but instead, renew, empower, establish us and fill us with Your spirit of wisdom and understanding. Apart from You, we can do no good thing. We need You; we need a continual outpouring of Your Spirit in our lives to free us from fear, from weariness, from focus on self. Thank You for Your great love, for Your continued provision, for Your Word, and for the anointing of Your Spirit on every one of our lives! Today, open our eyes to see You at work in and around us! Open our hearts to those You place in our path and our minds to receive Your wisdom and counsel. We love You, Lord…we need You, and we thank You today with sincere hearts. Amen.

January 16

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. (Titus 3:14)

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget My words or swerve from the. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:5–7)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17)

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds. (Proverbs 27:23)

Planning ahead, preparing for what lies ahead, taking care of the immediate and constant needs of our families—all these things are responsibilities that we all have. But have you considered the lasting implications these mundane, day-to-day responsibilities have in eternity? When the time comes and God delivers us home, He will examine our lives, how we lived, and what we did with what we were given.

After our daughter Kristin died she appeared to her younger sister in a dream. The two had a wonderful conversation where they talked about heaven and if it were possible for Kris to come and visit her again.

In the dream Kris appeared healthy and happy and full of life. The next morning after awaking what stood out the most for our daughter was the memory of Kris’ insistence and the importance she placed on letting her know; that how we live our lives matters!

Our daughter called me the next morning to tell me about her dream. I asked her to write the details down and e-mail them to me so I could hang on to them. During the next couple of months, numerous times as I was reading various things, I read, How you live your life matters. Seeing the same statement over and over, for me, was affirmation that it was a point to consider and remember.

Sometimes we see our situation or circumstances as insignificant, our lives mundane and unimportant. God tells us otherwise. He reminds us to care for what is right in front of us, to grow in our faith and trust in Him, and to keep our eyes open for what He is up to. My dear sisters, we are a work in progress! What we are dealing with today will not be what we will be dealing with a month or two from now! Perhaps our lives will change significantly, perhaps they will stay doggedly the same. Whatever God decides to do with us and through us is a work that is in His Hands. Let us prepare our hearts and our minds. May we seek the wisdom of Scripture, the faith of Mary, and the trust of David. Father, my life and times are in Your Hands, do with me what will.

January 17

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves, do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. (1 Timothy 2:1)

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26–27)

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:26–27, MSG)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Today, let us enter into God’s presence, asking Him to help us meet the needs of those we encounter today. When the problems are too big or solutions not to be found, may we be reminded that nothing is too difficult for God. May we lift those we encounter up to our Lord in prayer. Asking Him to draw them to Himself as He draws us.

When I was younger, I was convinced that I could change my husband and raise my daughters pretty well on my own. I fixed, intervened, stood up for, disciplined, whined, cried, and cried and…cried. Turns out, even trying my hardest, I could not control or fix or change those I love the most! Sure, I would pray for them, for God to fix them in the way that I knew was best. My prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears (I wonder why?). It wasn’t until I came to a point where I could surrender them to God, to deal with as he saw fit, that I began to feel some peace. Looking back, I realize the more I prayed for Him to change them, the more He changed me!

My dear friends, God is god! He knows what he is doing, all the time! He never says, "Oops,