you've got a friend in me

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

- John 15:15

This should go without saying.

I am a friend of God!!

Song Reference!

Who am I

You are mindful of me

That You hear me

When I call

Is it true

You are thinking of me

How You love me

It's amazing

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

He calls me friend

God Almighty

Lord of glory

You have called me friend

I am a friend of Jesus!!

What is that? Another song reference? Bring it on!!

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

  All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

  O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

  Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

  Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

  Thou wilt find a solace there.

How can I ever feel alone, when I have friends like this in my corner? 

The joy in my heart, knowing that He loves me, is simply overwhelming.

I want to be your friend too, let me show you the way to my Father’s house, my friend!

Have a blessed day!

what can I do for you?

"What do you want me to do for you?" He asked.

- Mark 10:36

We have talked about this before too.

One of the best ways to show someone that you care is to pray for them.

We can do everything in our power to makes lives easier, but the bottom line is that prayer makes it all better.

I may not always be able to help you with food, finances, or advice, but prayer is unending.

How can I pray for you today?

don't lose heart

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I’m still sad over my friends leaving.

This is really hard on me!! 

OK, so I am not really wasting away, but I sure am renewed every day, especially last night when I was able to talk to them and see pictures.

This separation is truly temporary, God is taking care of us, even when we don’t physically see it.

I am good.

God is better.

Have a blessed day.

I’m done with worry

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

- 1 Peter 5: 6-7

Our pastor told us a while ago that if we were going to memorize one verse from the Bible it ought to be this one.

I like it.

I need to live it. > Boy do I need to live it! 

What could I possibly have that God can’t handle? 

What is there in the world of which God doesn’t have knowledge?

Nothing. Not. One. Tiny. Thing.

Song reference!

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

Maybe we should add in a verse about “I’m trading my worry, I’m trading my fear”.

So it is time for me to suck up my pride, fall on my knees and give it all to Him.

No one cares more than He does.

Have a blessed day.

broken hearted

It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other."

- Genesis 31:49

I am completely broken hearted. On Saturday, I watched part of my heart leave.

My very dear friends are returning to India for what we all hope is only a year.

But watching them go just breaks my heart. 

These are good people, Christ followers and strong in their faith. 

I know God is watching over them, and me. 

Jacob and his father in law also had to part ways, but they made a promise, a covenant to each other. 

To ensure that covenant was honored by both, they set up a pile of rocks, shared a meal and offered a sacrifice.

Obviously in this day and age, we will not offer a sacrifice, but we’ve shared several meals and I will say that I have faith that the Lord will watch over both of us, until the day when we can eat a meal together again.

Have a blessed day.   

Never forget

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

- Psalm 34:18

Memorial day is not just about picnics and a day at the lake.

It is a day to remember those who came before us, those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Have your cook outs and lemonade, but don’t forget to pray for our soldiers, past and present.

Have a blessed day.

never failing

For no word from God will ever fail.

- Luke 1:37

We have all been let down before, whether it is a friend that promises to come visit then doesn’t, or a manager promising a promotion that never happens, or even a promise from a child to never do something again.

People have a tendency to go back on their word.  

Do you know who has never gone back on His word?

That is right – God. 

If He says He is going to do something, He will do it.

You can trust in His word.

Have a blessed day.

you did what?

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

- James 5:16

Have you ever done something that was not really the right thing to do in that situation, and you felt real bad about it, then eventually your guilt ate at you so much that you admitted to someone what you had done? 

Hopefully, you confessed to the person that you wronged, and hopefully that person was loving and forgiving.

Hopefully, you felt a weight lifted when you confessed and that weight completely melted when you were forgiven.

It is not always easy to pray for others, and it is especially difficult to pray for someone that has wronged you.

I don’t like confessing my failures and sins, why would I expect anyone else to do it?

When we pray for each other, it lifts a weight from us, and as we continue to pray, we learn exactly how powerful prayer can be.

Won’t you pray with me?

Have a blessed day.  

imagine

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

- 1 Corinthians 13:12

I am not always happy when I look in the mirror, more often than not I do not like what I see.

Jesus knows and loves us, every single bit of us and He promised that someday we would see him face to face.

What will it be like, when we finally get to see him?

Song reference!

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine hey ya ah

It doesn’t matter what we see in the mirror, because Jesus sees our heart.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to meet my Savior face to face.

But until then, I will imagine.

Have a blessed day.

lean on me

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

- 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Everyone needs someone that can pick them up when they are down.

Song reference!

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load

If you just call me (call me)

One thing that I really love about my church is how we love and take care of each other.

Our congregation has gathered together to help other members move, clean, do yard work.

We are made to take care of each other, to always love each other.

We are told to carry each other’s burdens and to be generous with each other, commit to each other.

I hope that if you are reading this, you know that I care, and if you need me, I will be here.

Have a blessed day.  

baby steps

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

- Luke 16:10

I know that some of today’s commentary won’t apply to everyone, because we were all raised in different generations, but just hang with me for a moment, I’ve got something to say!

One time when I was a pre-teen, I asked permission to walk to the little mom & pop store several blocks away. I was with a friend and we both had some allowance we wanted to blow on candy or something.  My mother would not let me go for whatever reason so I asked to go to my friend’s house.  Once there, we proceeded to ask her mother’s permission to go to the same store.  Her mother asked what my mother thought of our plan to which we promptly replied, “oh it’s ok, my mother lets me do it all the time!” She let us go and we skipped off happily thinking we had fooled our moms.

Well, call it a mother’s intuition or whatever you want, my mother called hers and discovered what we had done.  As were walking out of the store with our treasures, my very angry mother pulls up in her car, took my friend home and grounded me for like ever!

It took a long time before my mother would trust me again, and I really didn’t understand what the big deal was, but you see, I had broken her trust with a tiny little lie.

When we want a big promotion at work , we need to show that we deserve it by excelling at the small tasks.  You would not graduate from high school and immediately be hired as a CEO of a company, you have to work your way up there, proving that you are going to succeed.

It is very similar with God (after all, He is your Father!).

You have to be honest with God, don’t try and hide what you are doing or saying. 

Prove to God that you can be trusted with the small jobs and He will trust you with the bigger ones.

Start with your heart, be right with God and then you can move on to the bigger things He has planned for you.

Have a blessed day.

have mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

- Matthew 5:7

Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone who does not deserve it.   

Can you think of a time that you were shown mercy when you did not deserve it? 

How about that D that you got on a paper in high school, when you put little to no effort into it and really should have received a failing grade?

Or how about that time you were speeding and the officer let you off with a warning.

Can you think of a time that you were merciful toward someone else? 

Maybe you let a mom with a screaming child cut ahead of you in line at the grocery store, or maybe you gave something that you no longer needed to someone who desperately did.

I have found in my life that when I take care of others, God takes care of me.

Song reference!

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

If I am not being very Christ like, maybe I am grumbling about the timing or even kind of snarky about the task – these are times when I don’t deserve mercy.

But God still finds a way to give compassion right back to me.

Have a blessed day.

don't let the bullies win

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

- Genesis 50:20

If anyone in the history of the Bible was bullied, it was Joseph.

His brothers sold him into slavery, he was thrown into prison, he was worked in the house of his master, where he was falsely accused of misconduct and sent to prison.

I am not sure if anyone else could have survived that level of being bullied.

Fast forward many years, Joseph has found favor with Pharaoh and was put in a position of authority, when his brothers came to request food during a famine.

Joseph could have refused, recalling the way they treated him but he did not.

In the end, when the brothers ask why, he told them that God had other plans from theirs.

A lot of terrible things happen in this world.

But we can’t let the bullies win, we have to rally up and let God do what He intends for our lives.

It may be a long tough road filled with terror and evil, but remember that you are not alone – God is with you always.

Have a blessed day.

check!

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

- Isaiah 26:3

Do you make lists?

I sure do, I have a list for everything, a daily task list, a weekly to-do, a monthly “this has to get done” list.

I make grocery lists and packing lists, lists for parties and events.

One of my daily devotionals talked last week about lists . . . about how we make mental checklists (or physical ones) of the things that we need to do in order to gain control of our lives.

It mentions how if only we could check everything off our lists, we would be able to relax, but then, one more thing gets added.

It seems that the harder we work to get everything off our list, the more things get added and the more frustrated we become.

God tells us not to search for security in the world we live in.

Instead of a checklist, focus on Him, He will help you sort what is important and what is not.

Then, you can have peace.

Have a blessed day.  

decision making time

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

- Acts 2:42

I am blessed to belong to a wonderful church with great leadership and sermons that make sense.

This week’s sermon was focused on prayer and wow, not only did it hit home, but it was really something I needed to hear, so I am going to share some of the bullet points:

• Prayer is always priority # 1 – prayer should be the most frequent language we speak.
• Prayer works! – I personally have seen miracles brought about by people lifting a situation to God in prayer!
• Praying together changes things – back up to the previous bullet – when you pray the right prayers, God shows up in your lives!
• Don’t give up if you don’t get your answer right away. Too often we give up on prayer and move on a little too quick, we need to stick with it. What if the prayer you need to pray is not “give me money to get out of debt” but instead “make me a good steward of what You have given me”?
• Send for the Boss! (I like this one) when you have a tangled mess on your hands, don’t try to untangle it alone – get the Boss involved!
• Prayer is the most active form of faith that a Christ follower has. Give God your mess.
• Prayer is a weapon of war – when we pray things change, God shows up, He untangles the mess.  

There is no prayer too big or too small for God.

What decision do you have to make in your life that prayer won’t help?

Have a blessed day.

P.S. if you are looking for a church home in the NWA area, I attend Rogers Christian Church at 2501 W Oak Street.  This week (May 19^th) we are having our annual Church on the Lawn and it will be amazing! One service at 11am.

watch your mouth!

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

- Matthew 15:18

People say a lot of things.

Sometimes they are said in a joking manner, sometimes they are said in anger.

Sometimes the words that are said are the best words you will hear all day (cue the music – Mercy Me “Best News Ever”) You can say something and think that you are kidding around, and other people may laugh, but realize that

your words have power to damage. 

We might laugh on the outside but we are crying on the inside.

The stuff that comes out of your mouth shows what is in your heart, make sure your heart is in the right place.

Have a blessed day.

making a difference

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

- Matthew 5:14

I have wax warmers in every room in my house.

I like the way they smell and I have to admit, I use them as night lights.

Even when the whole house is dark, I can find my way to the bathroom or to the kitchen because of these little lights.

Last week we had some pretty bad storms and my house lost power.

When I woke up it was pitch black in my house.

What a difference those little lights make!

The same holds true for us you know – the light of Jesus shines in a believer, shines so bright that others want to know what that is all about.

I want to be a light that makes a difference.

Have a blessed day!

a prayer for us

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

- John 17:20-23

Jesus was praying for all believers here.

All believers.

That is you, and me, and the person next to us.

That has to mean something right? 

Because really, He loved us enough to pray for us, He loved us enough to die for us.

We are enough.

Why are you waiting? 

Go love Him back!

Have a blessed day.

my declaration

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

- Psalm 19:1

The glory of God.

The work of His hands.

Did you know, that you, yes you, are works of His hands?

You are not alone – God made you and He loves you.

Song reference!

You are not alone, if you are lonely
When you feeling frail, you're not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need

And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

If your rich or poor, well it don't matter
Weak or strong, we know love is what we're after
We're all broken but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And he so loved the world he sent His Son to save us all

And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God

And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

Oh, yeah . . . we’ve got God on our side.

What more could we ask for?

Amen!

feeling judge-y?

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

- Matthew 7:1

I love spending time with God each morning, I learn so much!

I read two devotionals each morning, then I spend time in prayer.

Some days, those devotionals – well, they just hit pretty hard.

my women's devotional had this to say last week:

How do you feel when someone makes a judgement about you - fairly or unfairly?

Probably not good.  Maybe even angry.  Maybe you're even tempted to judge her right back.  Having an opinion is one thing, judging is another.  Jesus says not to judge.  You probably don’t have all the information.  You don't know the situation, motivation . . . actually, it's just not your place to judge.  It's your place to love.  after all that's what Jesus taught.  it's hard  to judge someone and love them at the same time.  if you do, Jesus says you will be judged yourself. . . by God.

prayer:

Dear Father I need to confess that judgement bursts out of my heart so quickly. i am critical of others and i am so certain i am right.  forgive me and clean my heart of its critical spirit.  Help me to remember that i don't know what mountains other people are facing and that i need to give them some room.

I am glad someone decided that we needed devotionals.

Have a blessed day.

don't let the unexpected throw you off course

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

- Psalm 112:7

Every day, someone gets bad news.

What may seem minor to you is major to someone else.

But when you trust in God, even the bad news isn’t as bad.

Before you trusted God, something bad could have made you feel like your world was crashing down, now that you trust God, the bad stuff is still bad, but you know that you are not alone.  

Don't let the unexpected throw you off course, respond calmly and confidently, God is with you.

Have a blessed day.

what are you hiding?

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

- John 3:20

Have you ever cheated on a diet?

Or had answers written on your hand for a test?

It doesn’t have to be something evil - if you do things that you hope no one finds out about you are trying to hide things from Jesus.

Lying, even lying by omission are still things that you are trying to hide.

What happens when you get caught?

You try to back pedal or justify what you have done.

Don’t be like that, confess your sin, ask God to cleanse your soul, your heart.

It is so much better in the light.

what are your plans?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

- Proverbs 19:21

I am a planner.

I have lists and schedules and I freak out a little ( a lot) when things don’t go according to my plan.

Hold on, stop a minute . . .

When we are planning, when our mind spins ten thousand miles a minute, we can’t hear Him.

Slow down, find out what God’s plans are.

I bet His plans are better anyway.

Have a blessed day.