Stumble

      One day this week, I walked across the room and stumbled.  Thankfully, I did not fall although I would have been embarrassed should anyone have seen my arms going every direction trying to reinstate  my balance.  Then, again yesterday, I barely missed a fall when I stumbled down some steps.  
    Considering it, I stumble everyday.  I mess up.  I sin.  Thankfully, God corrects my stumbling.  He continues to watch over me, forgives me, and directs me.  So, what should I do when I realize I have stumbled? 

S eek God
T urn to God
U tter a prayer
M ake amends
B less others
L eave it behind
E nter into praise

Easter and Miracles

Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus after His death on the cross.  Jesus came to die and then be raised again.  He came to take on the sins of the world and forgive our transpasses. God only asks that we believe in His Son to be saved. This great love is the greater miracle of all times.  Yet, there were many miracles in scripture leading up to the birth of Jesus and many miracles followed leading up the death on the cross.  Miracles are still happening today. Why?  Because God loves His people.

Miracles

 

God parted the Red Sea and the waves climbed higher,

Followed by a cloud in the day and, by night, a pillar of fire.

The moon was made to stop and the sun to stand still,

Giving Joshua light to win the fight with God’s powerful skill.

The shadow of the sun turned back ten steps.

This was no mishap.

The mouth of lions was shut;

Daniel lived with no wounds or cut.

Four men walked in the midst of fire;

To save the three, was God’s desire.

Jonah lived in the belly of a whale, 

Another miracle to tell. 

Miracles exist, always.

A child was raised;

There was a virgin birth

Upon the earth,

There was water turned to wine;

Yet, people disbelieve and whine.

Five thousand were fed 

With only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.

Jesus walked on the water, calmed the storm.

There exist miracles in every form.

Healing is taking place, 

Does not matter the race.

A Savior dying on a Cross

Come back to life, dissolving loss.

Miracles! 

Yes, miracles! But sinners cynical.

A miracle, forever lasting,

Within the casting-

The greatest love - forgiveness of sin

And grace through Him.

Miracles! God’s wonders;

Count them by the numbers.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson. 4/15/2022

 

“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.”  

Psalm 77:14 NIV 

 

 

 

Peter Prior to Easter

 Luke 22   

v.54 “…but Peter was following at a distance.”  Do we often follow Jesus from a distance without walking hand-in-hand.  From a distance, I could be caught entertaining strangers- gossip, deceit, fear.

 

v.55 “…Peter was sitting among them.”  (those responsible for Jesus’ arrest) Do we find ourselves sitting among those who do not love Jesus?  What do we do in such a situation?  Do we witness or deny?

 

v. 57 “but he denied it, saying, Woman, I do not know Him.”  Are we like Peter – too fearful to tell others that we know Jesus?

 

v.60 “Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.”  What does it take to wake us to our wrongs – to realize we have sinned?”

 

v. 62 “And he went out and wept bitterly.”  Sin does this to us. But it is not too late to turn around.  Jesus died on the cross with arms opened wide for the repentant heart. He offers forgiveness.

From a distance, I followed 

But I was dry and hollow.

From a distance, I clung to fear,

Unwilling to let Jesus near.

From a distance, I rebelled,

Fearful, my love for Jesus, to tell.

Being distant, I was resistant.

Passport

     Passports are needed to travel to foreign lands, but passports expire.  They have to be renewed and, often, it takes time to obtain those renewals.  They are also expensive. 

     When I think about traveling to Heaven, a foreign place for me, I am so thankful that my passport has not and will never expire.  Once I accepted Jesus as the Son of God, I obtained a permanent passport.  It never expires.  I am prepared and ready in the “blink of an eye” to travel to my forever, foreign land, a land where there will be no ills, no troubles, no sorrow; a land where I will find joy, love, peace and be in the midst of my Savior.   

     Do you have a permanent passport which never expires?  It is free.

 

Prayer Example

      I often share what someone else has written as a reminder for myself.  In the Morning and Evening devotional the author gives very good examples of a prayer life by showing how Jesus prayed just before His arrest.  It was:

Lonely- No one else was around-others slept 
Humble- He fell to His knees and even face forward
Filial- He prayed to the One, the Father, who was above and higher 
Perseverance- He prayed three times 
Resignation- Finally, "Not my will but Yours."

     When I consider the example of how Jesus prayed in His final days on earth, I am reminded how much He sacrificed for me.  In the flesh, He was lonely, burdened, and even fearful; yet, He was humble, determined, and willing to give His life for me, a sinner, unclean and unworthy.

Images

     In Philippians 4:6 we are told, "Be anxious for nothing," and 1 Peter 5:7 tell us, "Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you."

     Our weak, unfaithful flesh often keeps us from "letting go and letting God" take over to prevent much of our anxiety.  I was given a couple of visuals to use several years ago and found yet another one this morning.  Although most of my readers may already have these available visuals stored away for use when needed I am sharing again.  When anxiety starts to take over, not only pray but have faith: 

Imagine:  God's hands holding all your troubles, then walk away and leave them there.

Imagine: A box.  Fill the box with all your worries.  Lock the box and give God the key without attempting to take the key back.

Imagine:  God's shoulders standing taller and above your own shoulders.  Then visualize all your worries falling onto the taller shoulders taking all the weight that need not fall upon your own. 

Simple let the Lord take all your troubles away.  The only thing left is to praise God and rejoice with Him for bearing the load.

Psalm-Focus on God

     The book of Psalm helps me focus more on God than my problems.  I find when I thirst for Him, my heart is at peace-problems dissolve.  

     Psalms 63  gave me great comfort.  "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 "(vs 1).  "For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy." (vs7)