Dessert

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house,
and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
(Mark 1:35 NASB)

If reading the Bible is the nourishment we need to survive, then spending time in prayer is the dessert. It is such a special privilege and responsibility to set aside our daily chores and distractions to seek the Lord in solitude.

In my search for the perfect time and place to spend time with God, I found that what works best for me is early morning, when I am all alone at home and the distractions of the day have not come knocking yet. I don’t think that it really matters where or when, but I do need to be intentional. It is so easy to want to sleep 15 more minutes, easy to watch TV instead, easy to do the house chores that so urgently need to be done. It’s just too easy to allow the noise and business of life get in the way.

When I spend time in prayer with God, pouring my heart to Him and allowing Him to breathe life into my day, everything just seems to go better, smoother. Even when it doesn’t, my attitude is markedly more positive and I am better equipped to handle whatever comes my way.

Father, thank You because when I talk to You, You listen. Thank You because You care enough to be available to me whenever I seek You. Help me to always make time in prayer with You a priority in my life.

Nourishment

But He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”
(Matthew 4:4 NASB)

I start my days by 1) having breakfast, and 2) reading my Bible. This morning ritual is of most importance to me, and the day I miss it, I feel a certain ache all day long. I can’t claim to have scores of verses memorized, but, every time I find myself in a bind, some pertinent and seemingly forgotten Scripture comes to mind. You hear it said that as the body needs nourishment, so does the spirit and mind. You might believe it’s just a cliché, but when you live it, you see the truth behind it. I’ve seen that nothing else can fill and satisfy me as well.

So many times I’ve wanted God to speak to me, but I was very slow to realize that He has lovingly put His message in writing for my benefit. I really don’t have to wonder what He wants for me and of me, it’s all in His Word. When I prayerfully read and consider His message, it becomes crystal clear. And… when I’ve done my reading and praying and might not yet understand, I go on. I know that He will open my eyes and ears when He sees I’m ready for His message.

Lord, always give me a hunger for Your Word. Help me to open my heart, ears and eyes daily to the messages You have for me, both in the Bible and hidden throughout my day.

In the Dark

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
(Matthew 1:21)

How can it be – Jesus saves me from my sins!?

Though raised Catholic, I didn’t really know what it meant to be a Christian. Yes, I believed in God. Yes, I knew Jesus is His Son and that He died for my sins. Yes, I dutifully confessed my sins to a priest (sometimes). But knowledge does not equal salvation and confessions to a priest do not equal forgiveness.

It was a time in my life when I lived mostly for myself, not giving a second thought to my true convictions and beliefs. I honestly thought I was a good person and that’s what really mattered.  HA! I thought I lived in the light and suddenly found myself face to face with my true reality.

As often happens, a friend pointed my way to Jesus. The darkness of my world became evident in contract to the Light He offered me. Illuminated by this true Light, I saw myself for who I am: a sinful woman, unable to be good enough to secure my own salvation; unable to rid myself of the guilt which was a constant companion; unable to find peace in the turmoil we call life.

I was attracted to Jesus’ light, and since then have walked with Him, straying here and there, but by His constancy, His patience and love, never too far or for too long. He always calls me back and even in my rebellion I understand that without Him, I am nothing.

In Him, I have found salvation, love, hope, peace and forgiveness! My life looks so different under His Light!

Lord, thank you for Jesus. Jesus, thank you for your love, patience and persistence. Thank you for saving me from my sins.

What have you found in Jesus?

PS: Today I started a Bible reading plan called “Living Light in 25 Words.” (Check it out here.) Each day, for 31 days, I will be presented with one verse (approximately 25 words each) to concentrate and meditate on.

Starting at the End

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
(Revelation 22:20)

Today my journey through the Bible (using the Life Journal reading plan) came to an end. During approximately the last 14 months, I’ve read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. At the beginning it always seems like a daunting task, yet at its end the satisfaction and growth it brings is immense.

One of the things I enjoy about this plan is the journaling that goes along with the reading, using the S.O.A.P. method:

S = Scripture: Read the daily reading with an open mind and heart. Allow God to speak to you through His Word. As you meditate on God’s message, find a verse that particularly impressed you and write it down.
O = Observation: Consider what God is saying to you in this passage. Write the verse down and explain it in your own words.
A = Application: Identify how this message applies to your life now; whether it reveals a promise, a reprimand or correction, an encouragement. Write down how you will put this message into action today.
P = Prayer: You can pray for more insight and understanding; ask for a way to apply God’s Word to your daily life; give thanks for promises and encouragement; pour your heart to God and give him time to speak. And, write it down.

Studying the Bible in this way, helps me not only to read but to internalize and personalize its message. It slows me down to think and pray and find applications for what I learn.

Father, thank you for another year of life and learning. I praise you for your kindness and patience in instructing me through your Word. The completion of this plan really doesn’t mark an end but a new beginning. Show me where to go from here and what lessons you have in store for me today. As today’s verse says, I know you are coming soon.  Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

PS: You can find answers to frequently asked questions about the Life Journal reading plan here and a link to BibleGateway.com Life Journal reading plan here. I follow the plan using the Bible app on my iPad and on the YouVersion website.

First Things First

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
– Revelation 5:13

Is there a better way to return to this blog than by praising my Lord and God Jesus Christ?!

It’s been more than 10 months since I last wrote here. Because I didn’t feel worthy, I stopped writing. Though I want to say much, it seemed that I couldn’t put my thoughts into writing. In the meantime, I developed another blog (Just My Echo). I praise God for they way it’s grown and my ability to find substance for it on an almost daily basis. Through it, I’ve shared my love for photography and even made some new friends along the way. In it, I see an indirectly answered prayer.

Though I thoroughly enjoy and will continue posting on Just My Echo, I want to share my love for my Savior, my gratitude to my God, my daily walk with Christ as I initially did when I created this blog. And so I humbly return and anxiously look forward to where this road will lead.

Thank You Father, for all your blessings, for Your patience, guidance and love. Help me to tell others of your many wonders and to share what I learn on this journey. Lord, I praise you with all my heart. (Psalm 9:1)

Glowing Within

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you… The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:15-17, 26 NIV)

It was hard for the fire to get going.  The logs were humid and did not want to catch on.  Then the fire caught, it spread, it soared.  The orange-red flames jumped and danced.  The logs glowed from within!  My mind marveled at the sight in front of my eyes – the once unremarkable logs, now radiated with light and beauty. My thoughts wandered to God… to His Holy Spirit.

All of us who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:38).  He is in us, to make us stronger, to guide and teach us – an ever-present and intimate God who wants to share in our every experience.  The problem is that, as with the humid logs, we resist embracing this Gift.  We ignore His prompting and guidance.  We stubbornly want to keep control of our lives and do things in our own strength – not realizing that by doing so, we limit our progress and diminish our victories.

The road to victory is one – obedience.  Only with the Holy Spirit’s guidance will we be able to follow it as we trudge through our days and face the many challenges we must go through.

Dear Father, consume me with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to relent my stubbornness, to obey Your commands and  to allow You to work in and through me.  Fill me with joy and peace as I trust in You, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).  Let Your love glow within me so that others might see Your beauty through an otherwise unremarkable me.  In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Secrets

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”  (Proverbs 11:13)

Someone said I was selfish and stupid.  Unfortunately, looking back at it, I have to agree.   I had made the biggest mistake of my life and I told the world!  I spent at least three years of my life telling others – those who cared and those who didn’t; those who personally knew me and those who I had just met.  I told them because honesty matters… because though I acted in secret, I didn’t want that secret to hold me back.  I found freedom in acknowledging my weakness, strength and confidence in sharing my inner most thoughts.

The problem with this is that I didn’t take into consideration anyone else.  Even though it was my secret, my mistake, others were involved.  I hurt many with my words and I also hurt myself.  Those words that I was so proud to proclaim backfired many times.  I made a mistake and thought that by being honest I could redeem myself.  But it doesn’t work that way.  The motive behind my honesty was all wrong.  I only cared about myself and making myself feel better.  It was not until I understood that I had to come clean with God – not only about the mistake, but about the misguided honesty I held onto as my savior, that I found peace and forgiveness.

God already knows our secrets and through Jesus He offers us His forgiveness and acceptance.  No matter how big or small our mistake, all we need to do is come to Him – our Savior and Redeemer.  As we honestly and humbly pour our heart out to Him, He will heal and restore us.

To my shame, I have to admit that I continue to make mistakes.  But now, instead of sharing my secrets with the world, I only share them with a very close few who hold me accountable and lift me with their prayers.  More importantly, I continually come to God in repentance and every time I am humbled by his grace and mercy.

Father, You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence (Psalm 90:8).  Search my heart and my motives.  Even when it seems that what I’m doing is right, help me to see things through Your eyes.  Thank you for opening my eyes to my sins, not only the obvious ones but the ones perpetrated behind a veil of righteousness.  Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Love v. Fear

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he rescues them. (Psalm 34:4-7 NLT)

I was a little girl, maybe in the third grade, when we started learning the times tables. I learned the two times table, the three times tables, the five and six.  I learned them all, quickly.  Well, not all.  The four times table wasn’t as easy for me.  After practicing for days with my mother, the day of the test finally came. I couldn’t remember the fours. When the teacher saw me crying, she called me to her side. In small words, between sobs, I explained that even though I had studied, I just couldn’t remember. “Please, please, don’t tell my mom,” I pleaded. “She’ll punish me.” The teacher told my mother of my fear anyway. My mother didn’t punish me. She just loved and helped me through my difficulties, not only learning the times tables, but throughout my life.

The Bible commands us to “fear the Lord” (Psalm 33:8). It also tells us that “God is Love” (1 John 4:16, in part.) Fear and love are contradictory terms. How can we love a God we are commanded to fear? How can we fear a God who is love? Righteous fear of the Lord has nothing to do with being afraid of punishment for doing wrong or getting in trouble. It has everything to do with being afraid of offending or hurting someone we love and who loves us. Fear in this instance mans reverential awe, deep respect, admiration – not because God can punish us (He certainly can), but because He chooses not to do so. Instead, He sent His Son, who “was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds.” (Isaiah 53:5 NCV.)

Just as I feared disappointing my mother when I was a child, and still do, I fear disappointing my God even more. I know that there’s nothing I can do to deserve God’s great love, His forgiveness. But He is merciful and only asks that I look to Him for my salvation. He asks I keep my eyes focused on Him and He will guide my ways.

Great and awesome Lord, I fear You for who You are. I admire and respect You. Your strength covers my weakness and Your wisdom my ignorance. Your great sacrifice overwhelms me and humbles me. Thank You for Your love and kindness, for Your mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Salvation Story

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  (John 3:17)

After being married to my first husband for almost eight years, the things which should have mattered started losing their value for me (not that I would have admitted it at the time).  The “I” became more important than the “you” or “us.”  I became selfish and self-centered. My kids, husband and family took second stage.  Figuring that there had to be more to life, I ended breaking-up my marriage and family.  I was living a selfish life where my sin was rationalized and minimized.  Then one day, a dear friend invited me to her church, where a visiting pastor was teaching for a few weeks.  I started attending those chats and also started going with my kids to the church’s regular services.  I grew up Catholic and knew about Jesus.  Sadly, until then, I didn’t really know Him or have any type of relationship with Him.  During these visits, I started learning more about Jesus and His love for us.

But it really wasn’t until one Saturday, weeks later, when a different pastor was visiting, that it really hit me.  He went on to tell the story of the woman who was brought to Jesus, to be stoned because she was caught in the act of adultery.  Jesus asked that the person without sin throw the first stone.  Of course, no one could.  We are all sinners.  Then Jesus said to this woman: “Then neither do I condemn you…  Go now and leave your life of sin.”  (Read John 8:1-11 for the full story.)  The whole congregation faded and Jesus was speaking directly to me, telling me that I was forgiven.  He paid the price for my sins.  What I did with the rest of my life is what matters.  That day I accepted the gift that He had so often offered but which I never thought I deserved.  It was quite a moment.  I always “knew” that Jesus died for our sins, that he offers forgiveness and love.  But I finally understood that His great mercy and grace have nothing to do with me and everything to do with who He is and what He has done… and I realized that He did it for me. He died to save me!

It’s been a difficult walk, with ups and downs.  I haven’t been perfect, but now I have Jesus who teaches me and guides me.  Who picks me up when I fall. Who forgives me and saves me.  Who covers me with His mercy and grace.  Who tells me that I don’t need to be perfect, because He is.  But I do have to walk with Him, study His word, spend time in prayer. Day by day, little by little, I become more like Him.  I can’t believe that I once went through life without His guidance and support, without His love and friendship.

Thank You Jesus, for loving me so perfectly even though I am so imperfect.

So… what’s your story?

Humility or Pride?

It’s our choice – humility or pride? We know the right answer, don’t we? Humility is the better response. Always. Yes, yes… we know.  And yet…

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

What really happens when a situation arises that needs an immediate response – no time to think? Most often than not, we respond in pride. Our human nature takes over and we forget God’s command.

According to Dictionary.com, being humble means to be “modest; having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience; low in rank, importance, status, quality; lowly.”

Being humble doesn’t come easy to most, especially when painful acts or words have been thrown at us.  It’s not natural for us to put others first, to make ourselves, our feelings and our needs inferior or subservient to those who have hurt us.   We don’t want to seem weak to those who oppose us.  We want to be superior and win, to be in control, and instead end up making things a lot worse for others and specially for ourselves.  We cannot control another’s attitude, but with God’s help, we can control ours.

So, how do we do it?  We need to realize that being humble is a command from God.  When we obey, no matter how we feel about it, no matter how unjust the situation seems, God will see and reward us.  Obedience always brings reward – whether we can see it immediately or have to wait for the results.  When we are humble, God gives us grace (James 4:6).  He saves (Psalm 18:27), guides (25:9) and sustains (147:6) us.

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing…   turn from evil and do good… seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil…  Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”  (1 Peter 3:8-17, in part)

Lord, being humble doesn’t come easy to me and yet I know that when I humble myself you will sustain me, save me and show me grace.  I want You in the lead, and with your help, I want to put others before me.  Pride might bring temporary satisfaction, but in the end, will lead to more pain and hurt.  I want to be like You, dear Jesus, gentle and humble in heart, and in You find rest for my soul (Matthew 11:29).  Father, I do not make these requests of you because I am righteous, but because of your great mercy (Daniel 9:18b).  In Jesus name, amen.