Category Archives: Knowing Him

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February 1, 2016

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Grace & Love, Knowing Him, Peace of God, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God, Worry

COMFORT ME

As a mother comforts her child, so I’ll comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem. [Isaiah 66:13 (MSG)]

9-26-15Family-WEBRecently, a new mother I know had to leave a restaurant in the middle of dinner. The sitter had called in desperation; nothing would stop the baby from crying and she was at wit’s end. I’ve had that happen both as a sitter and a mother. We’ve probably all had an occasion when there is a fussy baby and his mother isn’t near; it is not a good situation! The infant is passed around from person to person. The baby is sung to, bounced, rocked, jiggled, walked, patted, and even tickled; the binky is offered, diapers are changed, funny faces are made, and a bottle is tried. The adults try in myriad ways to comfort the crying baby but absolutely nothing works. In fact, the child usually gets more agitated the harder everyone works at calming him down. Then, miracle of miracles, his mother returns to the room. She reaches out her arms and cradles her child. Almost instantly, he quiets. These are arms he can trust; he knows he’s loved and that all of his needs will be met.

We are God’s children and, sometimes, we’re not much different from that crying infant. Something is wrong in our lives and nothing and no one can still our troubled hearts. Fortunately, God is like that mother; while other people, try as they may, can’t calm us or ease our fears, He can. When we let God’s arms surround us, He will bring us comfort. We just need to be still, feel His embrace, and accept His reassurance; we are safe and loved.

Thank you, Lord, for the life you gave us. Thank you for nurturing and sustaining us through the years. Thank you for the comfort you offer us, the caress of your arms as you hold us, the tenderness of your voice as you soothe our troubled souls, and your gentle touch as you dry our tears.

Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. [Psalm 119:76-77 (MSG)]

Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. [Isaiah 49:15 (MSG)]

Copyright © 2016 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.

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December 31, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count, Wisdom & Guidance

I AM WHAT?

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. [2 Timothy 1:1 (NLT)]

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. [Titus 1:1 (NLT)]

julia butterfly- NBG2122aweb“I am….” How would you finish that statement? I recently came across an Internet article by Mark Papadas in which he posits, “How a person finishes that statement defines who they are, their beliefs about themselves and the world, and the standards they live by.” While we commonly say that people will live up or down to our expectations, Papadas writes that, in reality, they will live up or down to their own expectations and adds that people rarely give conscious thought to what it is they expect from themselves.

The Apostle Paul certainly knew who he was and what he expected of himself. I wonder if the rest of us are that clear about our identity and purpose. Who am I? Am I a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, writer, volunteer, photographer, retiree, senior citizen, or friend? Yes to all but, while those words may describe me, none of them define me. We’re not our roles, resumes, paychecks, pasts or pedigrees and we mustn’t let those define us. We’re human beings and not human doings.

Who am I? I am a child a God and a follower of Christ. As such, I know He expects me to love Him completely and my neighbor as myself. As a child of God, what do I expect of myself? I should love God and man, repent and forgive, study God’s word and pray, be part of the church and spread the gospel, live an upright life and do God’s will. I want to be as much like Christ as humanly possible. Can I live up to my expectations? Probably not completely but, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I can sure try. Why? Because I am a child of God.

What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God. [Hans Urs von Balthasar]

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT)]

Copyright ©2015 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
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December 24, 2015

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Bible Stories, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Miracles

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

In the same country there were shepherds in the fields. They were watching their flocks of sheep at night. The angel of the Lord came to them. The shining-greatness of the Lord shone around them. They were very much afraid. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. See! I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people. Today, One Who saves from the punishment of sin has been born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. There will be something special for you to see. This is the way you will know Him. You will find the Baby with cloth around Him, lying in a place where cattle are fed.” At once many angels from heaven were seen, along with the angel, giving thanks to God. They were saying, “Greatness and honor to our God in the highest heaven and peace on earth among men who please Him.” [Luke 2:8-15 (NLT)]

shepherdEvery December, the Botanic Gardens sponsor “Night Lights in the Garden.” For two weeks, once the sun goes down, their landscape transforms into a Florida version of a winter wonderland. Thousands of twinkling lights adorn the trees, gardens, ponds and paths. Holiday music is performed, shimmering icicles hang from tree branches, palms are wrapped in colored lights, and glowing orbs light the lawns. New last year was a laser light show. As we stepped into a garden surrounded by trees, our breath was taken away when we saw shimmering light illuminating the trees all around us. Sparkling light in various configurations kept flashing across the trees; it was absolutely beautiful.

I’m sure the angels put on a better show that blessed night so long ago but, standing in the midst of such an amazing display, I got an idea of what the shepherds might have seen the night of Jesus’ birth. I could imagine hearing angels singing, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo!” in the midst of such radiance. I knew I was just viewing a combination of electricity and holographic laser light technology and what the shepherds saw and heard was of divine origin. Nevertheless, I was awe struck. I’ve seen cards, candy, wooden storks, enormous bows, and large signs used to publicize a baby’s arrival, but angels from on high in an exhibition of God’s splendor certainly wins the prize when it comes to impressive birth announcements!

Oddly, it wasn’t government leaders, priests or kings but lowly shepherds who were the first to get the announcement of our Savior’s birth. Shepherding wasn’t socially acceptable—the shepherds’ social status was similar to that of dung sweepers or tax collectors. Yet, God chose these lowly men, who couldn’t even serve as witnesses in a court of law, to witness the Messiah’s arrival. Perhaps it was because shepherds not only watched over the sheep but also had the task of separating the perfect firstborn lambs that would be used in temple sacrifices as atonement for people’s sins. How fitting that these shepherds should witness of the arrival of Jesus—the one who would become known not only as the good shepherd but also as the lamb of God. Perhaps they readily recognized the infant child both as one of their own who would faithfully watch over his flock and as the perfect one-time sacrifice that would atone for the sins of all time.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. [John 10:11 (NLV)]

The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him. He said, “See! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NLV)]

Copyright ©2015 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
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December 2, 2015

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God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You

ONLY ONE WAY

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” [John 14:6 (NLT)]

Santa Rose de Lima-Abiqui NMWhen my children were young, they sometimes balked at trying a new food that I’d prepared. After pointing out that, while I was short and could cook, I was not a short-order cook, I always offered them a simple choice: some or none. God gives us the same options regarding His son Jesus Christ: take him or leave him! Just as I didn’t offer my children a different entree, God doesn’t offer us any alternatives for salvation.

When Jesus said, “I am the way,” he was pretty clear on our lack of options. He didn’t say, “I am one of the ways.” He is the only way. He didn’t say there were several means to come to the Father; there was only one—and that was through Him. It’s not only an offer that can’t be modified, but it’s also an offer than no one else could ever make.

Moreover, there is nothing that we can substitute for belief. We can’t buy or bribe or our way into heaven. Being famous or even especially kind or generous won’t do it. Jesus is the way and he makes it abundantly clear that he is the one and only way. We must take His path and follow in His footsteps. He is the truth and the reality of God’s promises. He is the life and only with him will we have eternal life.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. [1 John 5:12 (NLT)]

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. [Ephesians 2:18 (NLT)]

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November 5, 2015

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God's Plan, God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Nature, Peace of God, Sharing Our Faith, Spiritual Gifts

WHY DO I DO IT?

Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? [Romans 10:13-14 (TLB)]

I’d been asked to answer why Jesus moved me to write a Christian daily devotional. There certainly are times I ask myself that same question. I wondered how to reply to that query as I walked the swamp/bird sanctuary this morning.

corkscrew swamp sanctuaryOriginally a city girl, I never would have expected spending at least one day a week on this boardwalk in the midst of water, ferns, cypress, herons, hawks, spiders and gators. A private person, I would never have expected to share my faith journey so publicly either. While contemplating why I do it, I started taking pictures of the swamp. I silently complained that, no matter how many shots I take, I’ve never managed to capture the beauty, mystery and sense of peace I find in this strange place. Neither words nor photos can capture why I love it so—and yet I continue to try. I will admit that I didn’t love it at first. We first visited out of curiosity but became intrigued enough to come again and again and learn more about it. Now, whenever we have visitors, the swamp is a “must do” activity. Being so familiar with it, we can show them where the deer might be found, the gator family lives, the scarlet hibiscus and blue flag iris hide, the baby owls roost, and the woodpeckers nest—all of which we missed on our earlier visits. We can explain how the strangler fig grows, about the cypress knees, which wading bird they’re seeing, and what the seemingly dead resurrection fern will look like after a rain—none of which we knew when we first visited. We didn’t love the swamp at first but, as we came to know it, we grew to love it and want to share that love with others.

So, what compels me to post a Christian devotion five times a week? Just as I want to share my love of the swamp with our guests, even though I’m neither botanist nor zoologist, God has somehow tasked me with the sharing of my love of Jesus with strangers, even though I’m neither theologian nor minister! He’s given me the desire to share my faith and my failings, the peace of God and the struggles of a follower, the comfort of His presence and the guidance of His word so that others can experience the peace, love and joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus and reading the Bible.

My words and photos can’t do justice to the swamp so, if you’re ever in Southwest Florida, be sure to spend some time at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. You’ve just got to experience it for yourself. The words of my devotions can’t do justice to God, either. My prayer is that people will find them interesting enough to encourage them to delve into God’s word for themselves and take their own journey of faith. You’ve got to experience God firsthand and, as we found with the swamp, once you know Him, you’ll love Him. Unlike our favorite swamp, however, there’s no admission fee.

A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy till it is doing something for Jesus Christ. [George Whitefield]

When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them! … [Peter and John replied] “We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we saw Jesus do and heard him say.” [Acts 4:13, 20 (TLB)]

For just preaching the Gospel isn’t any special credit to me—I couldn’t keep from preaching it if I wanted to. I would be utterly miserable. Woe unto me if I don’t. If I were volunteering my services of my own free will, then the Lord would give me a special reward; but that is not the situation, for God has picked me out and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. [1 Corinthians 9:16-17 (TLB)]  

swamp lily-great egret-blue flag iris

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October 14, 2015

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Faith & Hope, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

THE LIFE PRESERVER

And you must think constantly about these commandments I am giving you today. You must teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning. Tie them on your finger, wear them on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house! [Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (TLB)]

Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older, he will remain upon it. [Proverbs 22:6 (TLB)]

Kids don't float - FL3686WEBWhile walking on the beach last week, I saw a rack of life-vests. It was one of eleven such racks in our county’s free-of-charge loaner program: “Kid’s Don’t Float; Life Jackets Do!” Looking at those jackets made me think of a tragedy that occurred just a few days earlier on a beach in another county north of us, one that doesn’t have such a program. A nine-year old boy was playing in shallow water with his siblings when the wind gusted and what was described as a “freak” wave surged and knocked him over. The boy, who couldn’t swim, disappeared beneath the water and was swept away from shore. Nearly two days later his body was finally recovered.

Would a life vest program like our county’s have prevented this tragedy? Even if life jackets had been available, would he have worn one? We can only speculate as to whether knowing how to swim would have saved his life. The water was extremely choppy and even a strong swimmer would have had difficulty. Witnesses say the children were being properly supervised but that was not enough to protect this little boy. It was just a heart-breaking accident.

My sympathy and prayers go out to his family. Their tragedy, however, got me thinking about how easy it is for us all to think that children are safe or that we can protect them when really they’re not and we can’t. We lecture and supervise them and try to shield them from harm, poor choices, and the evil in our world but, short of keeping them in a bubble, it’s impossible. We have to let children make their way, not just at the beach, but in the treacherous waters they encounter every day in our troubled world. While we may not be able to prevent the rough seas, rip tides and undertows of life, we can do our best to equip youngsters to survive those hazards. Even more important than teaching them how to swim or insisting on a life vest, we must teach our children (and all the young people in our lives) God’s Word and raise them to know and love Jesus. We need to offer them more than a jacket made of nylon and foam to keep them from sinking under the schemes of the enemy. We need to show them how to use the best life preserver of all—the armor of God.

Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. … So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up. But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. [Ephesians 6:10-11,13-17 (TLB)]