Simple Thoughts

Who hasn’t had a bad day! A disappointing day. Things did not go as planned. A sharp word from a boss. Loss of a job prospect. Car, AC, refrigerator all goes kaput!

I have had several encounters with people who have shared with me how an encouraging word, wise counsel, a listening ear made all the difference with each conversation I had. Theses encounters, filled with encouragement, was exactly what they needed to hear at the precise time they needed to hear it. Encouragement goes a long way in spurring someone on towards a goal, to not give up hope, to know his/her hard work is valued and appreciated. When given the opportunity, be an encourager. You won’t regret it.

If you are in need of some encouragement today, here are some uplifting scriptures to read and meditate on:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.  And do everything with love.

Romans 15:5-6 “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.  Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sitting on the deck. Watching the birds skim the water. Listening to the waves crash. I look closer at the walkway, then the stairs. The sand is all around. I notice sand fully engulfing the lower stairs, filling the middle, while the upper stairs remain relatively untouched.

How are we living our lives for Jesus? Are we like the lower stairs: fully engulfed by His Word? Allowing His ways and His thoughts to become our own? Maybe we are more like the middle stairs. We know the Bible is God’s Word. We believe in Him but we are not yet fully committed. We are not quite ready to give it all up and allow Him into every area of our lives. The upper stairs? Well, you may say you believe in God yet there is no evidence.

As Christians, I imagine many of us find ourselves on the middle steps: Belief. Right living. Study. Pray. Yet, there are still areas of our lives that we are not trusting to God. I pray that we may all have the faith, the courage, the boldness to live on the bottom. Fully engulfed with God. Humbly serving. Much, much more of Christ in me and so much less of self and this world.

Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sister, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

It’s time. You’ve put it off long enough. Your schedule is open. Take the plunge!

Today is clean, organize, declutter the spare bedroom day. When your house is less than 1,000 sq ft, things can quickly stack, pile up, take over. Mercy Me is on, my mind is quietly talking to God as I take this “me” time, not only to accomplish a goal, but to commune with God.

Worship doesn’t have to be dressy, loud or even known. Sometimes, it is just enough to worship God alone. Offering up prayer, thanking Him for all He has done, ponder the future with Him, reciting favorite verses back to Him and maybe even a little dancing unto the Lord- especially when “Happy Dance” starts playing!

Psalm 150: 1-6

“Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
 Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!”

Do you have a favorite alone time space? When I was young, it was a beanbag chair in my room. I could escape the noise of a house of eight for a little while, enjoy the solitude and refresh.

This morning, it is at my desk. Reading my devotional study on the book of Jonah. Collecting my thoughts. Gazing out the window, reciting my favorite “good morning God” verse. I think everyone needs a quiet place, a reflection time. It is good to be alone with God. Unburdening your heart, remembering that He is faithful and true. Singing quiet hymns of praise.

Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Birds. Flying. Soaring. Seeking. Perching. As they take flight, they are changing their view. While on the ground, they see only the food they are seeking. Perched higher, they can survey a larger area. Water source. Food availability. Nesting sites.

What is your view today? Are you on the ground, seeing only what is right in front of you, surrounding you? When we feel we can’t escape, wherever we go, there it is. Take hold of the One who is able. God sees more than just your current situation. He is the beginning and the end. He is sovereign. Isaiah 44:6:“This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Lift up your burdens, your cares to God. He will answer you in His timing. Remain faithful, believing in His sovereignty over all. As you turn everything over to God, you are changing your vantage point. You are trusting in Him, believing His word.

Luke 18:27: “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

How big was the fish you caught? If you’ve been there, you know the fish gets bigger every time the story is told.

When we talk about our God, how big is He? When you have a godly encounter, a God wink, do you recognize and give thanks to God for these moments? No care or burden is too small or too big for our God.

God thoughts. Jesus’ miracles on earth. His love towards us. All too many, too much to be counted, measured, written. How big is our God!!

Psalm 40:5 “Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.”

John 20:30-31 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe  that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

In today’s culture, are older women looked upon with respect as a person who can share wisdom over life’s trials, to be a teacher, a confidant, a lover of God?

In the book of Ruth, we meet Naomi. She is a Jew from Bethlehem who left with her husband and children to move to Moab to flee the famine in Israel. Her sons grew and married Moabite women. Naomi welcomed them into her family, quietly sharing her faith with her pagan daughter-in-laws. As Naomi decides to move back to Israel after the death of her husband and sons, one daughter-in-law, Ruth, goes with her. By law, Ruth could go back to her parents’ house and re-marry. However, as Ruth tells Naomi, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

How did Ruth, a Moabite, pagan woman declare her allegiance, not only to Naomi, but to her God, the God of Israel, the great “I AM?” Ruth must have been watching and learning about this God from Naomi. When push came to shove, Ruth chose God over her family and the pagan gods of her youth. As the story continues, so does the teaching by Naomi to Ruth. Ruth grows in maturity, in her faith and God ultimately brings the kingly line of David to Jesus through Ruth.

So, the question to you today is: Who is your Naomi? Who has taken you in, encouraged you, has patiently been teaching you about God? About sin and your need of a Savior? About the unfailingly love of a Savior who knows your every need, your every desire? Treasure that woman. Pray for her. If you are like me, there are probably many women God has brought across your path since your first declared your faith in Jesus. Because of these women, you have grown and matured in the faith. If you are older, maybe it is time for you to be someone’s Naomi. Share your testimony with someone who is in need. Come along side someone who needs encouragement, who needs to know Jesus and have a saving relationship.

As women, let us hold fast to our faith, as a community of believers, as sisters in Christ, that we may encourage, help, teach, prepare the next generation to love and serve our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Keepsakes. Mementos. Cherished pieces. I have an outfit I have saved in my closet since August 1985. It was a gift from an older sister as I embarked on a career that has spanned 37 years. As this career comes to a close, I look at that outfit and remember an excited, nervous, energetic young teacher. I have grown over the years in knowledge and wisdom. I am not that same beginning teacher. I have aged and matured and am now a veteran.

As a Christian, as you reflect on your new life in Christ, are you still in the same place you were when you first gave your life to Christ? Or, have you grown and matured in your walk? Have you studied and learned more about Christ and your call to serve Him?

Let us pray that we continue to grow in love and knowledge, that we may mature as a Christian and walk in ways pleasing to Him.

2 Peter 1: 5-8: “Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Delight: deep pleasure in; joy

The child is such a delight. This cup of tea is delightful. What do you find delightful? Your job? A hobby? Travel? As I was reading Psalm 40, the word “delight” caused me to pause. To pray. To search my heart and ask myself, “Do I truly find delight in doing the will of God?”

As you go about your day, meditate on the word, “delight.” What brings you delight? As Christians, let us not lose our delight in doing the will of God.

A few sunrises have come and gone since last Sunday. You went to church with family and friends. You heard the Easter message. Does that pertain to me? Can I go back to living my life my way? What do I do with this Easter message of Jesus’ resurrection?

Do what the apostles did after Jesus’ resurrection. They followed Him. When He appeared to them, He continued to teach them. Start by reading the Bible. Begin with the gospel of John. Continue to go to church. Seek godly counsel. Ask questions. Pray. As you do, God will convict you, lead you. Listen to that still small voice and let your life be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:36-38: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”