Trust in God's Unfailing Love

 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. 

            Yesterday we began looking at a few of the promises in God’s Word that so frequently bring me hope. Today I would like to share a few more of my favorite verses. I would encourage you to fill the toolbox of your mind with God’s precious promises. The more tools you have tucked away in your mind’s toolbox, the easier they will be to recall in times of need.

When I am feeling the aging effects of “accumulated birthdays”:

Isaiah 41:10  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 35:3-4, 5-6  Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come” … Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Psalm 73:26  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Job 19:25-27  I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Psalm 105:4  Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Isaiah 46:4  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Judges 6:14  The LORD turned to him [Gideon] and said, “Go in the strength you have…”

2 Corinthians 4:16  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

When my mind brings up the past and/or I am tempted to relive old mistakes:

Isaiah 43:18-19  Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Ecclesiastes 7:10  Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Isaiah 43:25  I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 44:21-22  I have made you, you are my servant; … I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Isaiah 1:18 …Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

During sleepless nights:

Psalm 4:8  In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Matthew 11:28  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Psalm 121:3-4  …he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he…will neither slumber nor sleep.

Remembering that my Heavenly Father is only a whispered prayer away:

Psalm 145:18  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Isaiah 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Isaiah 55:6  Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Proverbs 15:29  The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Revelation 5:8 …they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

Deuteronomy 31:6  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 4:29  But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Psalm 55:16-17 As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

Psalm 6:9  The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Lamentations 3:57  You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

When the thoughts in my head are rolling around like chaotic marbles:

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

            Yes, dear friends, I have similar concerns and daily challenges to face as do you. I get through each day because I trust God’s unfailing love and the precious promises he provides in his written Word.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you that you care. Thank you for your unfailing love.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional Trust in God’s Unfailing Love appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Strength Every Morning

 Isaiah 33:2  (NIV)  LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

            In an odd way, there is a glint of humor in my mind each time I hear someone expressing a thought that I must somehow be something special or that perhaps I have it easier than most because I am a devotional writer. No, actually, the truth is that my heart aches for lost loved ones just as much as your does. I worry about my boys just the way you worry about your children. My boys do not live nearby and I miss them just like you miss family living far away. There’s a gap in my heart left from those precious family and friends who are no longer living just like there’s a gap in your heart. I’m in my senior years (my Uncle refers to this as “the accumulation of birthdays”) which brings all the normal effects of the aging process to me just as it does to you. But my Heavenly Father is gracious. He gives me strength every morning to complete whatever tasks I need to complete. He saves me—literally, emotionally, and mentally—in times of distress and uncertainty. Every day I find comfort and solace in his Word.

            Today, I will share some of the verses that so frequently bring me hope. Tomorrow, I may share some more.

In times of anxiety:

Matthew 6:27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Philippians 4:6-7  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.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 68:19  Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Psalm 94:18-19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Praying for my boys’ daily concerns as they navigate life:

Proverbs 4:13-15  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

Proverbs 22:6  Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:1  A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

When I miss those precious loved ones who have died and I need comfort:

Psalm 116:15 (NLT) The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  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.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Jeremiah 31:13 I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

            You see, dear friends, I am just like you. I have similar concerns and daily challenges to face. And the only way I can navigate through each day is to trust in my Heavenly Father who gives me strength every morning.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you that you care. Thank you for your provision of daily strength.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Strength Every Morning appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

An Everlasting Kingdom

Daniel 7:13-14, 27  In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. … His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

            No, I’m not a biblical theologian, nor do I know deep meanings behind prophetic passages such as this account of Daniel’s dream during the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon (this was after the times of King Darius and King Cyrus). But here is what I do know. I serve a real and living God, the Creator of all things. He loves and cares for his faithful ones. He sacrificed the life of his one and only Son to redeem me from my sins. And one day, as this passage indicates, whether I am living or long gone, Christ will return to rule the earth made new and pure from all evil. From that moment on, I will forever and for all eternity remain in the loving presence of my Lord and Savior. This I believe. This is what keeps me functioning and moving forward on a daily basis. This is my source of hope.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Your soon coming Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all peoples will worship and obey you. You will remember your faithful ones and they will be with you for all eternity. In humility, I ask you to prepare my heart for that day. I ask you to prepare the heart of each one who reads this message. Forgive our failures. Thank you for the provision of strength and courage to continue on faithfully each day until you return. Thank you for the provision of Blessed Hope in Christ.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional An Everlasting Kingdom appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

The Lord Hears and Answers

 Psalm 34:4, 17-19 (NIV)  I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. … The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all…

            Sometimes we are overwhelmed with thoughts and concerns; sometimes not even about the things that are, but even worse about the things that could be. Our minds wander and suppose all the what ifs. This is a dangerous place for our minds to be. Yet there is hope, there is always hope! Our Heavenly Father is never more than a whispered prayer away, and he stands by ready to quiet our troubled mind. The God who can still the storm and calm the waves can certainly quiet your thoughts and bring you peace.

            Yes, there are many troubles and concerns and being a Christian doesn’t make you immune to life’s problems. But being a Christian offers a solution not found anywhere else. Belonging to Christ gives you strength in knowing you serve a Lord who hears your prayers and answers them in his timing and in the way he deems best.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            On days when we are feeling down, or days we just can’t seem to get our thoughts to settle down; we cry out to you for help. Calm our thoughts and troubled minds. Forgive us when we fail you. Bring peace in the midst of life’s storms.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional The Lord Hears and Answers appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Positive Attitudes

 Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

            Well now, this hits a little too close to home, as they say. We might do everything we are supposed to do—but with a bit of complaining and grumbling along the way. And what kind of witness does that leave behind? We live in a world full of crooked and perverse people who seem to be just waiting for Christians to “slip up” so that they can justify their criticism of Christians in general. That might seem like a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. Nevertheless it is true that our “actions speak louder than words” to quote another familiar saying. We may do the right thing, but if we do it grudgingly or with a complaining attitude, you can be sure the world will notice.

            Our challenge for this week is to keep a positive attitude. No matter what task is before us, let us do our work willingly and with a cheerful disposition. You can be sure that others will notice. You cannot control your circumstances, but you do have something to say about your attitude.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            It isn’t always easy to stay positive in today’s world, but with your help we can certainly improve. Help us to remember that how we respond is often noticed by those who seek ways to criticize you. Remind us that we are to reflect your love to those in need of a Savior, and maintaining a positive attitude is a very real part of reflecting your love.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Positive Attitudes appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

My Only Aim

 Acts 20:21, 24 (NIV)  “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. … However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Psalm 71:18 (NIV)  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Ezekiel 2:4-7 (NIV) (excerpts)  The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. … And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.  And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. … Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them…you must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen…

            Your job—my job—our job, is to be faithful in whatever the Lord asks us to do. That might include individual mentoring, participating in ministries of encouragement, teaching, speaking, writing, leading a small group, or just plain being kind to those who feel no one cares about them. Opportunities to speak the gospel message and share God’s love arrive in our lives on a daily basis. Our responsibility comes with faithfully responding to those opportunities. Whether they listen or fail to listen should never be our motivation for doing our best for our Heavenly Father. Our motivation comes in serving our Heavenly Father, loving him, and pleasing him in every task he sets before us. Our only aim should be to spread the Good News of the gospel message to a world in desperate need of a Savior. Even when [you are] old and gray, you still have work to do for God’s Kingdom. God has given each person gifts, talents, and abilities and the expectation is that you will use what he has given you to honor and glorify him. This may shock you or be a little unsettling, but there is no retirement age limit for sharing the gospel.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all  people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            As we accumulate birthdays and experience the various effects of the aging process, it is all too tempting to slip into a feeling of uselessness. Yet you, Lord, have promised to be with us, to strengthen us, and to guide us when we remain obedient to you. Forgive us when we fail to respond to the opportunities you send our way.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional My Only Aim appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

All People Everywhere

 Acts 17:29-31 (NIV)  “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

            Once again we see the Easter message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ proclaimed in this passage.  Jesus Christ will come again but this time it will not be in a sacrificial role for that has been completed. The next time Jesus Christ returns will be to judge the world according to its deeds. Those who belong to the household of faith will be gathered together for all eternity. Those who never accepted God’s plan of salvation through his only begotten Son, will accept the consequence of final destruction—the results of which will be irreversible. The date has been set but that appointed time is known only to God the Father. For this reason, all people everywhere are called to repent.

            Somehow I think we have lost the sense of urgency that should grip us every time we hear the gospel. For those of us who have already made our choice to follow Christ, this sense of urgency should buckle our knees in prayer for those who have not.

Malachi 3:16-18 (NIV) …concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            We thank you for the gift of salvation through Christ. Yet our hearts ache for those who have not yet yielded to you. We know your coming is near. Renew the sense of urgency within us to pray for all people everywhere—beginning with those in our own families and circles of friends—to  come to repentance and accept the free gift of salvation you have provided.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional All People Everywhere appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

He Is Not Far

 Acts 17:26-28 (NIV)  “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ” 

            From Adam to earth’s population today—billions and billions of people have come and gone since the creation of mankind. Nations arise and nations fall. Through battles and wars, nations gain territories and nations lose territories. Our own nation, America, began as a group searching for land where they could worship the Lord their God in freedom. Tragically, it didn’t take long for seeking God, reaching out to God, and finding God to become less and less of a priority in our land. And yet here we are today—still seeking, still reaching, and thankfully still finding. For you see, God never went anywhere; he is still here, and he is not far from any of us.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for your presence. You have not abandoned your creation. We need only look to you for repentance and forgiveness. Thank you for your mercy.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional He Is Not Far appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Very Religious in Every Way

 Acts 17:22-25 (NIV)  Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

            Yesterday we acknowledged the need for our Savior especially among those family and friends who have not yet made their own decisions. We continue to lift those precious ones up to the Lord in prayer, that their hearts might be opened and responsive to his call.

            Today we skip over a few verses for a peak at what Paul has to say concerning a much larger population than households. We find Paul in Athens and his message is clear. (You’ve got a lot of churches, but they are not all worshiping the one true God.) I view the statement, “I see that in every way you are very religious,” as quite an indictment. Here was a city that had so many gods to worship that they even included a place for the possibility of any god not yet discovered.              

               What a mess! Yet the heart of the problem then was not any different than it is now—that man so often worships the things he makes—money, wealth, accumulation of goods, etc. Our pride, our devotion, our priority becomes centered on almost any diversion to worship of Almighty God who is not made, but who is the Maker of all things. When we place our all our time, energy, efforts, thoughts, and devotion on those things which are man-made, then we miss the point of worship. 

               We might even take this down to the level of all the churches themselves, not only the physical churches in our own cities, but the online ones as well. Do we place more emphasis on the order of service, the wow-factor of technology and big screens, routines and rituals, the production factor—all those man-made things that make sure our customers are sufficiently entertained enough to keep their memberships in place? How much of Sunday worship is truly devoted to Almighty God—the One who doesn’t need all that pomp and circumstance—the One who just needs a loyal and devoted people to love him in return for all he has done for us? Are we the ones who are trying to be very religious in every way? Have we forgotten how to simply open the doors and be a church? We must ask ourselves where our priorities stand.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the reminder in today’s text that you are the Creator of all that is. Forgive us when we become so earthly oriented that we forget who you are. We turn our hearts to you.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional Very Religious in Every Way appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

All the Others in the House

 Acts 16:29-31, 34 (NIV)  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” … The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”

            Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could not only be saved for ourselves, but also for others as well? Yet we know that each one must make the decision for himself/herself. This is God’s plan that each one should believe in him willingly and of their own heart. God does not desire a people of robotic devotion forced to choose him. He desires a willing people—a people who want to love and serve him—a people who want to choose him.

            This passage of scripture is often misused to suggest that somehow the jailer took care of the salvation of his whole household for them. Yet upon careful study, we find what the jailer did was bring Paul and Silas to his home, for the invitation had been issued by Paul and Silas themselves. The jailer not only believed in the Lord Jesus at that initial moment the message was proclaimed, but he brought the message home to his family. The passage tells how he was filled with joy, for now, not only had he come to believe in Jesus Christ, but now his whole household believed in God—willingly and of their own heart.

            We cannot “be saved” for our dear loved ones and friends, but we can bring the message to them with love and with prayers. And we can ask our Heavenly Father to bring people into their path with the gospel message of Life in Christ. Whether “all the others in your house” live nearby or far away, distance is not a problem for our Heavenly Father. Our devotional theme today is one of hope and perseverance for those whom we love and who are part of our household circle yet for whatever reason are resisting belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Never lose hope and never give up praying for them.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) …he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the example of the jailer’s household—that there is yet hope for our dear loved ones and friends. May they see our lives as a living testament and example of the gospel message. We ask also that you bring other people into their pathways to share the good news of life in Christ. They are precious to us and we know they are precious to you as well. Open their hearts and minds so that they might willingly choose you.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

The devotional All the Others in the House appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

A Message Left by Grasshoppers

 Joel 1:2-4 (NIV) Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locust have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.

            According to usda.gov fact sheets, during the years 1957 and 1958, a prolonged outbreak of devastating grasshoppers totally demolished 3 million and 4.5 million acres of rangeland respectively along the western coastal states. Estimates of 100 insects per square yard were recorded. (That’s a lot of bugs!) Although the date for the Book of Joel is uncertain, most biblical scholars place it near the times of Hosea and Amos—thus placing Joel some nearly 2,800 years ago. The point being, we clearly understand from current world history the type of devastation to which Joel must have been referring. Total devastation of vegetation down to the bare ground.

            We know the theme of Joel is a call to repentance for judgement is near. Joel uses the devastating problem at hand as a visual parallel to the worldly corruption eating away at God’s people—a people who should have remained faithful. Joel sounds the call to wake up while there is still an opportunity to return to the LORD.

Joel 2:32 (NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…

            This verse should be familiar to you for Paul quotes it in his message to the Romans:

Romans 10:13 (NIV) …for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

            The Book of Romans can be dated roughly 700 years after Joel. And thus we come full circle to words tucked inside verse 3:

Joel 1:3 (NIV) Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.

            From Joel’s generation to Paul’s generation; from Paul’s generation to ours; from our generation to future generations; is the message any different? Perhaps the greatest question is this, What are we doing to ensure that future generations will know and understand the urgency of calling upon the name of the Lord for judgement is near?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            The day of judgement is fast approaching. Just as grasshoppers can strip the vegetation from land, so too we allow worldly values to strip away our resolve to follow you. Forgive our complacency. Renew the responsibility within us to teach future generations both by our words and by our examples. May we be found faithful.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

Find Us Faithful by Jon Mohr, 1987

We’re pilgrims on a journey of the narrow road, And those who’ve gone before us  line the way—Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run the race not only for the prize, But as those who’ve gone before us, let us leave to those behind us the heritage of faithfulness passed on thro’ godly lives.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone, and our children sift thru all we’ve left behind, May the clues that they discover, and the mem’ries they uncover, become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.

O may all who come behind us find us faithful; may the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey. O may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

The devotional A Message Left by Grasshoppers appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

One Day Closer

 Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

            Easter season is a time of rejoicing! It is a time for remembering new life in Christ. It is a time for rejoicing in the blessed hope of resurrection to come.

            And yet the reality of life is also recognizing the pain of death. Missing our dear friends and loved ones is often painful. Finding ways to navigate new routines without them, finding ways to fill the gaps in our aching heart—all of this is challenging to say the very least. And yet, we know that in time we will see them once again. Another devotional author whom I follow recently made the following statement: 

 

“But as much as it hurts, every day of missing your dearest on earth has a bright side to it, because even though it is one day further from the last time you saw your loved one, it is one day closer to the next time you will.”

            Joe Barnett, “In Grateful Remembrance”, Pathway Evangelism, April 2023

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            When we experience loss, our hearts ache and memories are sometimes painful. Yet you have given us the most precious promise of life now in Christ and the blessed hope of resurrection to come, and we are one day closer. Thank you.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional One Day Closer appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

            The post In Grateful Remembrance appeared first on Pathway Evangelism, Inc. by author Joe Barnett, Today’s Walk in the Word at Pathway Evangelism  enews@pathwayco.com