Achy Breaky Heart

 

"He heals the broken-hearted, and bandages their wounds" Psalm 147:3 

No I am not referring to the Billy Ray Cyrus hit from years ago but the human heart in an emotional sense. Your heart may be breaking right now. 

Your heart can break due to a hurtful relationship with a loved one or a misunderstanding. It can break because of feeling left out. It can break because of unnecessary disputes. 

It is necessary to not dwell on the heartbreak issue but to instead pray about it. Sounds so trite and simple but broken hearts often take time and work to mend. Remember Jesus’ experienced a broken heart from rejection he received from many. He knows your pain. Keep praying for the situation and get counseling if needed. Never forget God loves you. 

PRAYER: Lord bring comfort to those dealing with a broken heart. Emotions are fragile and help me Lord to pray and trust you for healing. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

What Do You Fear?

“Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3

Much talk is going on about rising gas prices, rising food prices,shortages, war, ISIS attacks due to unvetted refugees being giving free reign in our country but yet God does not want you to fear my child. 

Have you made time for him yet today? I don’t know what you deal with at home or with key people in your life but the important thing is God knows and He is with you. You may have unfathomable emotional pain or be dealing with something and afraid to seek help but don’t add the ‘cares of this world’ on top of it all. 

When times are uncertain look to God as your source. Don’t get distracted and push him out by scheduling everything else but a quiet time. The enemy would love for that to happen. Your strength comes from hearing and reading the word of God. Let Him into your heart today. 

PRAYER: My heart aches at times but I know the Lord is with me. Help those people who are wounded emotionally get peace that only God can give. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Jesus’ Birthdsys

 



Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?John 3:3-5(KJV) 

46 years ago today, 19 March,  I rededicated my life to Christ and became ‘born again’ or as I affectionately call it my Jesus’ birthday! 

Milestones such as that are important. There is your actual physical birthday and then the birthday you knowingly and willingly accepted Jesus into your heart to be Lord of your life. My younger sons’ spiritual birthday in 2000 is the same as his first born daughters physical birthday 17 years later in 2017! 

Have you had this experience of knowing exactly when Jesus made a difference in your life or when the ‘lights came on’ so to speak? A religious ceremony is not what I am referring to but a time where you can actually remember Jesus coming into your heart and making you different, a new person in Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart won’t you let Him on today? (See Revelation 3:20). 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for making yourself truly known to me. I pray for those I know who have not received Christ as savior to ask him into their hearts today. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Put Jealousy In Your Back Pocket

 

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Not sure if you ever have felt left out of anything but when you do a hint of jealousy may arise even though you don’t know ‘the whole story’. I am not sure where jealousy comes from but I do know it is freshly and carnal and not a fruit of the spirit. It can lead to broken relationships if not dealt with.

If you tend to lean towards having a jealous left out spirit then lean more into God. Ask him to take it away and help occupy your mind on another area instead of having self centered thoughts.

Maybe this trait hit you hard in Junior and senior high days but is still lingering. Satan knows your weak points and will keep poking at you to get you to cave. Trying to rejoice with those who rejoice(Romans 12:15) might help reduce the tendency to be jealous. Give it a try next time the jealousy monster tears it’s’ ugly head.

PRAYER: Father I thank you for the gift of friends. I thank you for what o have learned from fractured friendships along the way. I choose to not be resentful but instead to be prayerful as hard as it is because I want no part of a jealous spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What Or Who Do You Love?

"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. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Ephesians 1:22-23

Your job? Football? Tik Tok? Movies? Television? God is supposed to be at the top of your list of what you love. Do you love the Lord and desire to do things that bring you closer to Him?

Do you truly love the Lord with all your heart or are you just breathing air and waiting to die? You do what you love and you hang out and seek to please those you love. Does this describe your relationship with Jesus?

Perhaps it is time to take inventory of what truly ‘rings your chimes’ so to speak. Is there something in your life above God?

PRAYER: Father I know at times I seem to think I am just here to work, do hobbies, eat and make friends but you have a way bigger purpose for my life. Help me discover my purpose and use me for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Afraid?

 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Many times in the past I have written about not fixating on bad news and try to get away from constant news alerts which only cause stress and anxiety. Be thankful you are not in a war torn country and stay on your knees in prayer.

There is plenty to fear if you choose to allow it to disrupt your life. The fear is not one of fight or flight like a bear encounter in isolated woods like my husband and I faced in September 2018 in Homer, Alaska or is not the fear of dying in an airplane crash or being ejected from a roller coaster but fear of what is to come or what evil man can do to you.

You may say well I can’t help it that is my personality but in fact you can conquer fear. If you don’t it will soon defeat you. As a child of God you set an example for the rest of the world because you can have perfect peace. You have to do the ‘spiritual work’ to develop a peaceful mindset by memorizing scripture on peace. Make the rest of March your happy time!

PRAYER: Lord I come to you daily asking for strength to fight the enemy when he comes knocking at my door. I choose to seek peace and pursue it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

7 Missed Days

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

I tend to bounce around lots and not focus as good as I should and one area this is frustrating is following a daily quiet time plan. Recently I went to one plan and got the message I had missed seven days. Oh no what is wrong with me?

Perhaps you can identify with this in that there are so many good plans out there you either bounce around or just skip it entirely. Your enemy Satan loves to distract you and keep you from settling down and enjoying a quiet time with the Lord. 

Decide today what direction you need to go and don’t beat yourself up when you miss a day. Don’t just do this out of a legalistic habit but desire and hunger for it. God knows your heart and He loves a heart set apart for Him. 

PRAYER: Help me Lord each day as I start my quiet time to not let the ‘tyranny of the urgent’ disrupt me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.