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Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Soooo . . . this is not the first time I have seen this verse this week. Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I know God is trying to tell me something when there is a repeat in my week or day. So, yes Lord, I am listening!

My first encounter with this verse was in Sunday School last Sunday. Our book on Ephesians we are working through has us pick a favorite passage from a section we read for that week. Yep, I picked this as my favorite verse. Huh? I opened my bible study this morning and there it was again. Well, then! Yes, Lord, I am listening!

My reason for picking it during Sunday School was I realized we could never really be kind and compassionate to someone if we haven’t forgiven them. Sure, I can be polite and respectful. I can even be nice to them. However, I cannot be the kind required for me to be truly compassionate. I have to forgive others in order to let go of the hate, anger, and condemnation I am trying to put on them. Just like God did for us through the cross.

If God did all of that for me, why do I think I have the right to not forgive others around me? What makes me so higher and mightier than God? Quick answer, NOTHING! I don’t have that right. Forgiving is letting go. It is freeing me from the anger and putting on the kindness and compassion God gave me.

Lord, I am listening. Forgiveness isn’t easy but it is freeing. You gave it freely to me and it is my job to pass it on. ~amen

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Romans 8:1-2
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Condemn (verb)

1. to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of
2. to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment:
3. to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.
4. to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring:
   (His acts condemn him.)
5. to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service:
   (Condemn an old building.)

One of the Devil’s biggest weapons in his bag of dirty tricks is condemnation. He just loves to pronounce us guilty and try to sentence us to punishments of all kinds. He will even judge or pronounce us to be unfit for use of service. But he LIES!!!!! Jesus died so no condemnation could be passed over us again. We are free from the law and sin of death.

I recently had a gentleman in my Sunday School class explain it in very simple terms. He said, “God has thrown my sins into the sea of forgetfulness and He is NOT giving out fishing licenses.” I thought this was PERFECT!

The next time Satan comes knocking at your door to remind you of your past. First, remind him of his future. Then simply tell him, “Go Fish! Oh, wait you can’t there is no fishing in the sea of forgetfulness!”

Lord, I am so thankful you are not handing out fishing licenses even to me! ~amen

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James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Political views are heated right now. OK, let’s get real. When are they not heating up? There is always something `going on to keep people fighting over who is right and who is wrong. Each side presents its side a little louder than its opponent. We are all left with anger and hurt.

I am not pretending we can come to an agreement on every controversy. Heck, I am not suggesting we will all come together on any of them. What I am hoping is we can all learn to express ourselves with peace in mind and not hate. It is perfectly OK to disagree and walk off still being friends. We can agree to disagree.

Social media can be the worst stage for a controversial discussion. In the past couple of days, I have had to walk away and just not read posts. I will also admit a few years ago, I unfriended some people and learned how to like enough nonpolitical posts that I don’t usually see them anymore.

Please understand I am in no way telling you to not stand for your beliefs. Nor am I telling you to keep quiet and never express your opinions. What I am telling you is to do your best to sow peace. It is the peacemaker who sows in peace that reaps a harvest of righteousness. We can all be ourselves when peace abounds.

Lord in a world of hate, help me surround myself with and spread your peace. ~amen

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Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

I had a hard time choosing between verses to write about today. Then I took a long look at Philippians 4:6-7 and Romans 8:26 and realized I couldn’t choose because they went together. Here is what Philippians 4:6-7 says. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Anxiety leaves me tongue-tied so then what do I do? I can’t pray and petition God with thanksgiving. I have no idea how to put words together to make my requests. So how will I ever find that peace of God which transcends all understanding to stop my anxiety? How can I expect Jesus to guard my heart and mind? That is where Romans 8:26 steps in to save the day.

You see Jesus did not leave us alone here on Earth. God sent the Holy Spirit. He knows exactly what we need even when we can’t voice it. When my anxiety runs high and I can’t find the words to even yell out for help, the Holy Spirit is right there to translate to God what I need. It is kind of like when you were a child and afraid and all you could get out was MOM or DAD! They came running. Yep, you just yell out GOD and the Holy Spirit will handle the rest. Then you can depend on the peace of God and he will guard your heart and your mind. So don’t be anxious, the Holy Spirit has your back!

Lord, there are so many days all I can get out is “HELP!” I am so thankful the Holy Spirit translates everything You need to know! ~amen

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Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” ~Shauna Niequist

This quote showed up yesterday on a digital calendar I use called Artful Agenda. This morning during a bible study from Max Lucado he used a verse, Romans 8:18, that matched up with it. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” Then I went to my verse of the day that I usually try to write on and yep, same theme! As a matter of fact, I am seeing a pattern. When I see a pattern, I know God is trying to get my attention. So, I am listening, Lord!

I have a prayer warrior at church, who I have the pleasure of driving to church on Sundays. Ms. Lucretia loves to talk about how good God is in her life. She always tells everyone that she doesn’t just take time to be thankful one day of the year. She is thankful every single day. Then she gets on the subject of the weather. Someone will complain about the snow or rain and her favorite answer is always, “Oh well, what ya gonna do about it!” I love her attitude. Now, don’t for one minute think this little lady doesn’t feel pain, heartache, have bad days. She does but she knows exactly where to turn. She knows where her joy, hope, patience, and faith come from. She is the first to say thank you for the celebration and the chance to grow. I want to grow, just like her because what ya gonna do about it?

Lord, I want to thank you for all the blessings you give me, even the opportunities to grow! ~amen

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Psalms 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

What is a horn of salvation? This is a question that many people have asked when reading through the bible. Some same it is making a comparison to horns on animals used to protect themselves and fight against enemies. Animal horns were also used to hold oil, a very important symbol in Jewish history. However, it is yet another reference that I always think of when I read this verse. It is when the animal horn is used as a shofar. This is usually made of a ram’s horn blown in like a bugle. They are still used in many religious ceremonies in Jewish synagogues like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Like the bugle, the shofar was used to advance in war. It was used in one of my favorite bible stories. Joshua and the Jews blew it to crush the walls of Jericho. This is my reference to ‘God is my horn of salvation.’ When life around me is closing in, I listen for God’s blow on the shofar to let me know the battle is on and He is coming to save me. I also picture it when I am putting up walls. I am blocking everything and everyone out. God blows the shofar to bust my walls down. To soften my heart once again and to bring me to my knees.

No matter how you look at the horn of salvation, we can agree on one thing. God is our protector. He will tear down walls to make ways for us even if we are the ones that build them!

I am so thankful that You God are the horn of my salvation. ~amen

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Ephesians 4:16
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Did you ever wonder what would happen if your foot got tired of being a foot and decided it wanted to become an ear? How about if your hands decided they wanted to be a nose.? I am pretty sure you would end up with one very interesting body. On rare occasions, there are medical reasons for one body part to become another. Also when we lose one of our senses the others do become stronger. However, things still don’t work the way they are supposed to and are not efficient at all.

The body of Christ is very similar. We are all gifted with talents to perform the jobs God has given us. Every job is very important to fill. With any missing piece or misplaced piece we just don’t work as efficiently together. I can tell you for certain, God did not ever want me leading song service. Make a joyful noise is taken to the extreme when that happens. As a matter of fact, my idea of leading song service involves Youtube . . . LOL! On the other hand, I know several people who would NEVER want to lead Sunday School. My mother is the best bookkeeper you will find (among other things she does at church.)

My point is simple. We should never be jealous of another person. Nor should we ever feel like what we are doing is unimportant or not as Important. I for one am glad I don’t have to walk on my ears!

God, I am so happy we each have our place and you have equipped us to do our jobs well. ~amen

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Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Growing up, my Pastor’s Wife use to quote today’s scripture all of the time. She would say, we do not give to get, but boy do we get when we give. She wasn’t talking about physical things. I mean God does often bless you with material things but she was talking about that wonderful feeling you get when you give from your heart. You give because you truly want to give and not because you should or have to do it. It’s that pass it on feeling.

Recently I had to make a phone call because I had paid a doctor’s bill and got sent another bill in the mail. It had been a frustrating day and now I had to talk to another person on the phone. When the representative picked up, you could tell, in her voice, she was not in a great mood. I put on my best honest smile and explained the situation. She looked up my account and sure enough, one computer had not talked to the other. Did I mention this happens EVERY TIME I see this doctor? She apologized, in a very exhausted voice and said hopefully it wouldn’t happen again. I told her if it gets fixed, I can’t talk to nice people like her. You could feel the smile on the other line. Her voice just perked right up and she said that was the nicest thing she had heard all day.

My frustration was lifted. My happiness was given in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. I spent the rest of the day with a
big smile on my face too!

Lord, thank You for giving me opportunities to pass on a smile and feel that wonderful feeling when I get it back! ~amen

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2 Kings 6:5-6
5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” 6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.

Imagine losing something very important and you are just overwhelmed. You know there is no way of getting back, at least no physical way. You are devastated. Then you look at your friend and tell him your problem. He asks where did you last see the item. You point to the middle of no return. He says, throw this stick out there and low and behold the object just appears. Now, you may think this is a cute story, but it can’t possibly happen now, right? This morning, I had something similar happen to me.

Our refrigerator, which we bought in January, is acting up. My husband went to look through the folder where we keep the receipts and protection plans and it wasn’t there. He tore apart the drawer and it was nowhere to be found. I spent the evening searching the Menards webpage to see what we could do. They said we could look up the info based on the credit card number we used. Well, that was a problem also because the card we use scrambles the numbers so no one can steal our number. This morning, I came home from my walk and went to my husband’s office. I said a quick prayer that the documents would appear. I opened the folder, searched last night, and there it was in plain sight. So, yes, God does still perform miracles and help those who need it. Even when it is looking for a scrap of paper.

Lord, thank you for finding the paperwork when we couldn’t. ~amen

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Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

“Li Jingzhi spent more than three decades searching for her son, Mao Yin, who was kidnapped in 1988 and sold. She had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again, but in May of 2020 she finally got the call she had been waiting for.” (BBC NEWS)

I have read several stories of children being kidnapped and then returned to their families several years later. None of them took as long as the story above. Many unfortunately have sad endings. However, all of them have one thing in common, the loved ones never stopped seeking their children.

Today’s verse is about a Father who never stops seeking His children. He even sent His one and only begotten Son to seek and save them. As a previously lost child, I am really excited that He kept looking for me. I know I would have never found Him. When I searched for that missing piece in my life I just ended up filling it will all the wrong things.

God will never stop seeking you or your loved ones. No matter how hard you or they try to hide, He knows where you are and He is seeking you. Just turn around and you will be found!

Lord, I was lost but now I am found because you never stopped seeking me. ~amen

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