Month: January 2021

Today’s Scropture

Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Thoughts…

Do you know just how very special you are? No, seriously! Think about it for a moment. You, little old you, were handpicked by God to receive His blessings. You are chosen every single day to receive His grace. You are adopted!

To some being adopted may feel like you were not wanted somewhere else. Yes, that could be very true. However, think of just how special it is to be hand picked. You truly are a “Chosen One!” This world has discarded you, found you unworthy BUT…the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator of all things chose you!

If you have ever went to a shelter to pick out a new pet, you may understand this awesomeness. You see all those little sad faces peering out at you from behind those bars. Then you see “the one”. You know it almost instantly. You get him or her out of that cage and the tales start to move and the snuggles begin. Yep! You are taking that one home! You buy the bed, the collar, the toys and the food! You put on that name tag that says they belong to you! You bless that new family member for a life time. They were destined for death and now they are family.

That new family member is just like you! You were destined for death. God came along and paid your price. He bought you to save you. Not only that, He took you home and is lavishing you with all sorts of blessings. You are family. Now strut that collar with the brand new tag that says, “I belong to God!”

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for adopting me and making me part of your family! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Philippians 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Thoughts…

As I type this today, my arthritis is screaming at me, “GO BACK TO BED PLEASE!!” However, I refuse because I know the best thing for my body right now is to keep moving. Mornings are always difficult, but if I just get up and start my morning routine, i know eventually my body will start responding.

These verses today remind me, this is not all there is today. We belong to a much bigger plan and place. There are many things going on around us every single day that tug at us and make us want to go back to bed. We just want to give up! When those aches and pains of this world start wearing on us, we need to remember, better days are coming. Just keep moving.

I know it is hard sometimes. This world is filled with so much hatred, poverty, injustice, and well evil! It is so easy to get caught up in the depression, anger, and frustration that swirls everywhere you look. My advice, don’t take your eyes off the one who is ultimately in control. He is not dead. He doesn’t sleep. He knows what is going on and the choices PEOPLE are making. One day He will have enough and we will be brought to Him, whether in death or His return. One day we will leave this all behind.

As I get up this morning the news may be yelling, “GO back TO BED PLEASE!” But I know, if I just get up and keep moving, eventually I will be in Heaven with Jesus.

Prayer…

Lord, I thank you that ultimately you are in control. This is not all there is to life. One day, I will be brought to you in Heaven to live my perfect life forever! ~Amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

John 15:4-6
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Thoughts…

The phone is ringing, then I hear that familiar voice on the other line.
“Hi Honey!”
“Hi Dad! I need some help.”
Not sure how many times I have made that call. Flat tire, broken appliance, or advice, I pick up the phone and he is on the other line. Even now as a an adult with grown children of my own and grandchildren, I still make it from time to time. I am so blessed to still be able to call my Mom and Dad for help. They are both rocks in my life. God is waiting on the line for us to call also.

He is that strong vine with deep roots reaching out to you today. All you have to do is hang on Him. He is there to nourish you, refresh you, and give. you strength. When you reach out to Him you will grow strong. When the storms rage around you, you have someone holding on to you tight. You don’t have to go it alone. Grab on and don’t let go.

I know I won’t be able to call my parents forever. I know one day I will not hear that voice on the other line when I need help. I do know everything they have taught me will continue to help me in my life. I also know God will always be there on the line waiting for me to connect to Him. Waiting for me to grab back, so He can help me bear fruit!

How about you? Are you reaching out and hanging on today?

Prayer…

Lord thank you for always picking up the line when I need you. Than you for being my vine that keeps me stable. ~amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Thoughts…

You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies (v 20). I have seen so many interpretations of this verse. Most of the time it gets used to shame someone into submission.

“Don’t eat that, don’t you know your body is a temple.”
“You should exercise, don’t you know your body is a temple.”
“Don’t smoke! Don’t drink! Don’t do drugs! Don’t you know your body is a temple!”

While these things are good advice for your personal health, I am not sure shaming anyone by saying this has ever really helped. I know it never worked for me.

When I read these verses I see God reminding me to put my words to action. Having all the faith in the world will not do me any good to others around me. To show people God, I need to be His hands and feet. I bring honor to God when I am helping people, and loving people. I am letting my light shine before others, that they may see my good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Today, how can you use your body to honor God? Lookout for those little things you can do for someone. Be His hands and feet today. I promise you will feel so good AND improve your health!

Prayer…

Lord, send me someone I can be your hands and feet for today! ~Amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Thoughts…

According to my Archeological Bible, some ancient Greeks believed that desires corrupted lives. “They viewed passions as diseases of the mind. Living free of desire was considered the mark of wisdom and maturity.”

If you are not a Start Trek fan, I am sorry, but today’s verses remind me of two alien races quite opposite of each other. One of them is the Vulcans. They, much like the Greeks, believe in suppressing all emotions and run their lives based on logic only. The other race is the Romulans. They are complete and extreme opposites and run their entire lives based on emotions only and use no logic. I don’t believe either of them are ideal societies.

We are born with emotions and desires. We need them. Without emotions and desires we would be much like another character, Data who is an android that would give anything to feel love, laughter, and yes even sadness.

We can’t rid ourselves of all our feelings like the Vulcans. .We shouldn’t let our emotions and desires control our every move like the Romulans. So what is the solution you ask? We bring those desires under control. Make new our minds, by putting our new self created to be like God. The solution is not to reject our desires but to subject them to God..

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for my emotions and desires. Help me not to be ruled by them. ~Amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Colossians 3:1-2

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Thoughts…

When you think you have hit rock bottom, you can always look up!As a matter of fact, when you feel your self sliding or falling, look up. OK, let’s go one step farther, just look up!

Peter wanted to step out of the boat. He wanted to walk on the water, through the storm to reach Jesus. So, he stepped out. Storm raging all around and he was walking right through it. Then, he made that critical error we all know to well. He took his eyes off Jesus. One second, that is all it took and BAM! He saw that storm around him. He felt the waves hitting him. He heard the thunder and was blinded by the lightening. He began to sink!

Why is it everyone stops the story right there? They shake their heads and want to shame Peter. That is not the whole story. It didn’t end there. Peter, looked up! Peter knew exactly what he needed to do. He knew who he needed to call on when he started to sink. He called out to Jesus. Besides the fact, you didn’t see any of the other disciples stepping out of that boat did you????

Yes, Peter was human and he did what we all do from time to time. He got distracted by his problems instead of keeping his mind on Christ. It happens. God knows it happens. If He expected us to be perfect and always keeping our mind on the things above and not on earthly tings, do you think He would need to remind us?

Today, you may feel the tides rising and feel yourself falling. Look Up! Set your mind on above and you will walk on water!

Prayer…

Lord, i am so thankful, I can look up when I fall down! ~amen

Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

John 15:15-17

15 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. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Thoughts…

This is my command: Love each other (vrs 17). I told you yesterday, how my husband and I often say, “I love you. I just don’t like you right now.” That is perfectly OK. We are instructed to love each other. You don’t have to like someone or agree with them to love them.

This love Jesus is speaking of goes so much deeper than anything else. It is means be willing to offer them safety. Be willing to meet their basic needs. Be willing to pray for them

Here is what I mean. Think of someone you really don’t like. Come on, I know you have someone. If you saw their house on fire, would you call 911? If you found out they lost a loved one very near to them and saw them crying, would you offer them condolences? What if you knew they were in grave danger, would you try to stop them or maybe fight for them?

Let me give you one more example. My husband is a volunteer paramedic/fireman. Do you think he likes everyone he lays down his life for when he rushes into that burning building? He doesn’t even know most of them. However, would their race, sex, creed, or political views stop him. No! It takes love for human life to do his job.

So, I am asking you today, are you willing to love others? Can you put aside your need to like, get along or agree with someone to love them? Before you answer remember, Jesus loves you!

Prayer…

Lord, I pray that I never let anything get in the way of loving others. Thank you for always loving me. ~amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Thoughts…

My husband and I have a phrase we use all the time when we get angry with each other, “I love you, but I don’t like you very much right now.” We love each very much, but it doesn’t mean we always agree. It doesn’t mean we always like the other person’s choices or actions. The important thing is we ALWAYS love each other.

God always loves you, even when He doesn’t like you right now too. That is the wonderful thing about grace. God love you right where you stand today. He may not like a choice you have made. He may not agree with decisions you are making. However, He always loves you. 

News Flash…no one, not even the “Super Christians” will always be perfect. We all make mistakes. If we didn’t, what would be the point of grace. Why would God have needed to send Jesus to die for us and our sins? For the person who thinks He is perfect or better than others, shame on you. You are mocking Christ’s death for us. For the one who thinks he needs to be perfect to enter God’s presence, shame on you because you are also mocking Jesus’s death. We need grace and we can’t earn it! We just have to accept it.

None of us ever deserves God’s love, anymore than I deserve my husbands. We are just blessed by grace that God loves us all the time, even when He doesn’t like us very much right now!

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for your grace. Thank you for loving me for who I am and where I stand. I don’t have to earn your love. ~amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

John 1:11-13

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Thoughts…

I grew up as an only biological child. I had a foster brother who was just as much a part of the family as me. My brother got married and had two girls. My sister-in-law and nieces were a part of our lives. My brother died and my sister-in-law remarried and had three more children. She was still my sister-in-law, now I had a brother-in-law and two more nieces and a nephew. At least that is how my family looks at it. We are all very close. There is more than enough love to go around!

I got married had three children. They got married which gave me in-laws and had children, giving me grandchildren. I also remarried. My husband had two children who got married and had children. These were also children, in-laws, and grandchildren to me. Again, there was enough love to go around!

Are you kind of following me here? We don’t have to be blood to be considered children or parents, or grandparents to someone. You just have to be loved. God loves us! We are His and He is ours. We were chosen to be His children. He picked us. He loved us so much and still does. No one can take that away from us.

I don’t care if you grew up in a “traditional” home or never met your biological parents. You have a father in heaven that would do anything to save you. As a matter of fact, He did. He sent His biological son to die so you could live. How is that for love?

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for my family and making us a part of yours. ~Amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Today’s Scripture…

Galatians 2:19-20

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Thoughts…

When I read these verses this morning, two things came to mind, “Not my problem!”, and “Talk to the hand, cause the ears ain’t listening.” The last one I would like to change to “cause the spirit ain’t listening.” These are two phrases you can shoot back at Satan any old time!

When we become Christians, we are no longer our old selves. We are new. We are filled with Christ. We give Him control of our lives. He gets to take on our mess, if you will. Think about it. If we have a need, where do we turn? If we are in trouble, where do we turn? If we are being tempted, where do we turn. Jesus said to cast all your cars on Him. ALL YOUR CARES! If that doesn’t sound like the perfect, “Not my problem!”, what does!

As for the “Talk to the Hand”, Satan no longer has a hold on you. He does not control your life, or the situations around you. What is going on may be bad, but your response is up to you. You can listen to Satan’s lies and crawl into your little shell of self pity. OR, you can look him straight in the face, throw up that hand and say, “Talk to the had, cause the spirit ain’t listening!” We don’t have to take it from him!

So, which do you choose today? Do you want to follow Jesus or Satan’s lead. I, for one, want to stand up and remind Satan, “Not my problem! Talk to the hand, cause the spirit ain’t listening!”

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for for intercepting Satan, so I can look at Him and say. “Not my problem! Talk to the hand!” ~amen

 Copyright © 2021 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved