Category: 30daysofpraise

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Behold the Creator

krisshetter

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20

The other day my dogs and I were out for our regular walk around the neighborhood.  We stopped to chase rabbits and sniff for lizards and coyotes at an open space.  I looked up to see a breathtaking sky—swirling clouds like brushstrokes in a divine painting.  Wistful, white horse tails, dramatic wings of angels, paint brush strokes made with flair by the artist.  My gaze drifted from section to section of this mural in the sky which seemed painted just for me in that moment.  I fantasied being able to go home and re-create such beauty with watercolors; wanting to capture this fleeting moment for all time.  

But alas, not only am I not on God’s level of Creator, I find myself still in the “stick figures only” stage.  As I pulled my gaze reluctantly away I was struck with the truth that others would see the same masterpiece and yet never see the Master.

No greater truth has been spoken than Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  A truth which was the subject of a number of conversations between my dad and I over the year we were together.  My dad, the atheist, could not give himself over to this truth.  I came at the subject from every angle the Spirit gave me.  But when it came to the “why” of it all he would only admit to “I don’t know.”  

It’s a strange and mysterious fact of the Bible that God chooses not to open the eyes of some.  From pharaohs to kings and pharisees to regular folks, people from all centuries have refused to see God’s most obvious handiwork.  The world itself.

You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.  Nehemiah 9:6

Unfortunately when we don’t have a God-centered worldview we so easily fall into a self-centered worldview.  Other’s lives are not as valuable (as seen with the abortion debate), other’s needs are not seen and met, and our own internal lives so often become meaningless.  The self-worldview is a constant search for something to make us happy and give us purpose.

When I volunteered for Billy Graham’s Search for Jesus ministry I frequently got the question, “What is my purpose?”  As a Christian the answer sounds so simple – to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind and soul.  The difficulty is putting it into practice.  But why should we do this?  Because God is our Creator.  He knitted us in our mother’s womb.  He knows every single hair on our head.  He knows the how, the why, the when, even when we don’t.

Friend, I encourage you today if you are feeling a bit disconnected from God to go and experience His first and most majestic revelation to us.  As some might say, “Go feel some grass.”  Take five minutes at least to sit and just see His creation and wonder at the mystery of it all.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  Colossians 1:16

Have you missed a 30 Days of Reverence post? Click here to read about God’s attentiveness and compassion.

Jesus walks with his arm around a weary man on a narrow cobblestone street.
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Father of Compassion

krisshetter

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’”  Zechariah 7:9

And when Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! Luke 19:41-42

When was the last time you saw your father, grandfather or maybe husband cry?  We women seem to cry all the time – tears of pain, sadness and joy.  We cry during commercials and over babies.  We weep when our friends or children are struggling.  We cry watching the sunset.  But men?  Sure there’s a few less “stalwart” men who cry but seeing the men in my family cry has been few and far between.

So now grasp the intensity of emotion when three times in the Gospels we read of Jesus weeping.  Over Lazarus’ death, in the Garden of Gethsemane while praying to His Father, and in the above verse in Luke 19.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem for what would be His final days He stood looking upon the home of His Father’s temple.  He wept knowing of the coming rejection.  But more so He wept for what that rejection meant for His people – separation from the Father and the peace that only He can give.

Throughout the stories of the Bible we see God’s compassion for not just His chosen people but the world at large.  The second half of His Law, given to Moses and the Israelites, is rife with lessons on compassion for others – a reflection of His for us.  The book of Proverbs constantly reminds us of our duties to our neighbors, friends and strangers.

“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”– Proverbs 14:21

God weeps over our greed, selfishness, lack of kindness, our propensity to argue and war with one another, and our inner turmoil.  His compassion for us draws Him near, seeking to give us His peace and love.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

His compassion towards us is what should compel us to show compassion to others.  He has forgiven us so much and desires for us so much, how could we not extend it to those likewise in need?

Friend, God grieves over our selfishness, conflict, and inner turmoil, yet His compassion draws Him near. He fills our lives with grace so that it overflows to others. When we recognize how richly we have been loved, we are compelled to share that love—living lives marked by compassion, generosity, and peace.

“God’s love calls me to be kind,
To love the lost, the hurt, the blind.
In His grace, I find my way,
A light that guides me every day.” Unknown Author

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Attentive Grace

krisshetter

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer – 1 Peter 3:12

So often we hear people talking about “finding God.”  Others say they are “seeking.”  But it’s not God who is lost, we are.  God is right where He always is – all around us and above us and below us.  In fact, to state it correctly, God is the one seeking.  He is the Shepherd gathering His sheep and attending to their needs.

God is not distant or unaware. He is attentive—fully aware of our needs and actively responding to them. Scripture reveals Him as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, not only our bodies but our hearts and spirits as well. 

He sees our need, forgiveness of sin, and He responds in kind, called to be renewed.  His attentiveness to all our needs came at Creation when He provided for Adam and Eve.  He gave us plants and animals to eat, air to breathe, water to drink.  He gave us relationships, clothing, avenues for joy and gaining knowledge.  

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, reminds us how attentive God truly is to our needs.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Matthew 6:26-30

And yet we forget this basic truth about God.  We come with our own plans thinking we are better at fixing our problems (or those of others) than anyone else.  Or worse, we think God has forgotten us and we sink into depression and despair.

When Moses and the Israelites were out of water, not once but twice, they rebelled thinking God didn’t know their needs or care about them.  At Marah Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. (Ex. 15:22-27)

Friend, I felt God’s holy attentiveness so often during difficult times caring for my father.  On one such occasion at 2:00am I was yet again cleaning the bathroom floor because his body was failing.  I remember thinking this was not a terrible chore.  It was a blessing God gifted me to help my dad.  The Holy Spirit was on His hands and knees with me, giving me the fortitude and wandering thoughts to distract me from the mess.

My BSGs always used to laugh at Bible study questions that asked, “What are you hiding from God?”  Because we knew the truth — God is attentive and sees everything.  

Friend, God does see everything—but not with condemnation. His eyes are attentive to our prayers, and His heart is moved by compassion.  We can be thankful that unlike the gods of the Canaanites, the Greeks, the Babylonians or even modern mystics, our God is not made of wood or stone or glass beads.  He is not cold and unable to hear us.  He is the living God.  He is the God who sent His Son to die for our sins.  He is the God who hears us and answers us.

Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Psalm 103:1-5

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30 Days of Reverence

krisshetter

I’m going to be completely honest.  For the last 6 months or so I’ve struggle with my faith.  I haven’t lost faith.  No, it’s more that I have struggled to feel my faith, to be emotionally involved in it.  Knowledge is gained each day with my studies.  I trust that God will provide.  And I have continued to pray throughout my days.  Only on rare occasions, which usually involve being outdoors, have I felt my faith.

I know I’m not the only one who has had periods like this.  Some say they aren’t hearing from God, or they can’t feel His love or His presence.  I have a friend who went through something similar for 10 years during a very difficult time in her life.

A week or so ago my husband and I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico.  There’s a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the center of town.  Upon entering we discovered they were celebrating 50 years of service by their priest, Jerome Joseph Martinez y Alire.  I was handed a small card with his photo featuring him at his ordination in 1976.  But what caught my attention was the prayer he allowed them to print on the card.  A prayer he prays every Sunday evening.

Dearest Lord,

I sometimes feel I’m only going through the motions of a relationship with you.  Intellectually I know you are with me always, but doing your work as a priest distracts me from falling more in love with you.

But I know you are infinitely patient with me.  Although at times I know you must feel sorrow at the times I neglect your many invitations to enter more deeply into your heart.

Help me then realize that you alone are Savior and that the work I do for you depends on its success upon your grace, not my efforts.  Teach me how to rest in your infinite tenderness for me.  Amen 

The truth is, God has never moved. He is always near. But prolonged grief, stress, and exhaustion can dull our awareness of His presence. After years marked by loss, caregiving, and constant pressure, I realized my soul had grown weary. My emotions had shut down, and my spirit needed rest and remembrance.

For most of 2025 I spent my time at my father’s doctor’s offices, infusion clinics, and rehabilitation centers.  I made endless phone calls handling both my mom’s death paperwork and then my dad’s medical appointments.  My visits to my grandchildren were few and far between.  And as my father declined, he came to live with us.  My trips outside the house became less frequent.  And the need to be his constant caretaker set my own life aside. 

I’m not complaining.  In fact, the LORD’s presence and peace carried me through vast amounts of that time.  I saw Him at work in me and those around me.  

When my father died in September of 2025 I hit a wall.  I’ve read studies on the troubling effects of long-term elevated stress.  The results of which I believe hit me like a rock.

According to an article by Ann Pietrangelo in Healthline, chronically high cortisol and symptoms of chronic stress go hand in hand. These include:

  • Fatigue
  • Sleep issues
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
  • High blood pressure
  • Brain fog
  • Forgetfulness
  • Frequent headaches

Chronic stress has real consequences. I see these same effects in friends caring for aging parents and in others still recovering from recent years of upheaval.

But God.

Despite my (and maybe your) recent feeling of disconnectedness, God has given me so many past experiences where He and I were closely tethered.  I’ve drawn on those to remind me that He is a God who loves me.  A God who sees me.  A God who wants my burdens.  

About a month ago I embarked on a study of the book of Romans.  My plan was to do a series on it.  But at the halfway point I felt overwhelmed with the prospect and underwhelmed with desire.  It’s sitting, waiting for me to finish.  

Recently, I asked God to help me start a project, any project, that I could sink my teeth into.  He has nudged me through various podcasts, devotionals, and sermons.  

In difficult times, in times of loss, in times of detachment, in times of disappointment, we need most of all to remember.  To remember who God is and where we stand with Him.  To remember what has been done for us.  To remember the character and attributes of the God Most High.

In such times we are called to praise and worship.  So that’s what I’m going to do.  In the back of Jen Wilkins’ amazing Bible study on Revelation, you’ll find a long list of the attributes of God.  I’m taking that as my guide for 30 days.  

If you find yourself weary, disconnected, or longing to feel close to God again, I invite you to join me. Together, let us remember. Let us worship. Let us stand in reverent awe of the One who has never left us.

30 Days of Reverence begins April 1 with a twice a week blog post. I hope you’ll walk this journey with me.

30daysofpraise, Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, scripture, Uncategorized

30 Days of Reverence

krisshetter

I’m going to be completely honest.  For the last 6 months or so I’ve struggle with my faith.  I haven’t lost faith.  No, it’s more that I have struggled to feel my faith, to be emotionally involved in it.  Knowledge is gained each day with my studies.  I trust that God will provide.  And I have continued to pray throughout my days.  Only on rare occasions, which usually involve being outdoors, have I felt my faith.

I know I’m not the only one who has had periods like this.  Some say they aren’t hearing from God, or they can’t feel His love or His presence.  I have a friend who went through something similar for 10 years during a very difficult time in her life.

A week or so ago my husband and I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico.  There’s a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the center of town.  Upon entering we discovered they were celebrating 50 years of service by their priest, Jerome Joseph Martinez y Alire.  I was handed a small card with his photo featuring him at his ordination in 1976.  But what caught my attention was the prayer he allowed them to print on the card.  A prayer he prays every Sunday evening.

Dearest Lord,

I sometimes feel I’m only going through the motions of a relationship with you.  Intellectually I know you are with me always, but doing your work as a priest distracts me from falling more in love with you.

But I know you are infinitely patient with me.  Although at times I know you must feel sorrow at the times I neglect your many invitations to enter more deeply into your heart.

Help me then realize that you alone are Savior and that the work I do for you depends on its success upon your grace, not my efforts.  Teach me how to rest in your infinite tenderness for me.  Amen 

The truth is, God has never moved. He is always near. But prolonged grief, stress, and exhaustion can dull our awareness of His presence. After years marked by loss, caregiving, and constant pressure, I realized my soul had grown weary. My emotions had shut down, and my spirit needed rest and remembrance.

For most of 2025 I spent my time at my father’s doctor’s offices, infusion clinics, and rehabilitation centers.  I made endless phone calls handling both my mom’s death paperwork and then my dad’s medical appointments.  My visits to my grandchildren were few and far between.  And as my father declined, he came to live with us.  My trips outside the house became less frequent.  And the need to be his constant caretaker set my own life aside. 

I’m not complaining.  In fact, the LORD’s presence and peace carried me through vast amounts of that time.  I saw Him at work in me and those around me.  

When my father died in September of 2025 I hit a wall.  I’ve read studies on the troubling effects of long-term elevated stress.  The results of which I believe hit me like a rock.

According to an article by Ann Pietrangelo in Healthline, chronically high cortisol and symptoms of chronic stress go hand in hand. These include:

  • Fatigue
  • Sleep issues
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
  • High blood pressure
  • Brain fog
  • Forgetfulness
  • Frequent headaches

Chronic stress has real consequences. I see these same effects in friends caring for aging parents and in others still recovering from recent years of upheaval.

But God.

Despite my (and maybe your) recent feeling of disconnectedness, God has given me so many past experiences where He and I were closely tethered.  I’ve drawn on those to remind me that He is a God who loves me.  A God who sees me.  A God who wants my burdens.  

About a month ago I embarked on a study of the book of Romans.  My plan was to do a series on it.  But at the halfway point I felt overwhelmed with the prospect and underwhelmed with desire.  It’s sitting, waiting for me to finish.  

Recently, I asked God to help me start a project, any project, that I could sink my teeth into.  He has nudged me through various podcasts, devotionals, and sermons.  

In difficult times, in times of loss, in times of detachment, in times of disappointment, we need most of all to remember.  To remember who God is and where we stand with Him.  To remember what has been done for us.  To remember the character and attributes of the God Most High.

In such times we are called to praise and worship.  So that’s what I’m going to do.  In the back of Jen Wilkins’ amazing Bible study on Revelation, you’ll find a long list of the attributes of God.  I’m taking that as my guide for 30 days.  

If you find yourself weary, disconnected, or longing to feel close to God again, I invite you to join me. Together, let us remember. Let us worship. Let us stand in reverent awe of the One who has never left us.

30 Days of Reverence begins April 1 with a twice a week blog post. I hope you’ll walk this journey with me.

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High Fives

krisshetter

With one more day left in this year of 2025 I noticed this past post had a few looks today. I went back and read it myself. It made me realize that my only resolution for the coming year is to live a life where an unbeliever would have cause to ask me how or why…and my answer would be Jesus.

We should all live our lives as believers in every situation; sharing the Gospel to all we encounter. Let’s help bring a few more home this coming year.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6

The other night, just before we were about to go to bed, I looked over our Christmas shopping list to see who my husband still needed to check off. It caused me to ask him where a gift certificate was that had come in the mail the day before. It is an “old school” paper certificate for $100 to a local attraction. Thus began an all out search for this thin piece of paper.

At the same time, I know it sounds odd, I was also searching for a brand new bra that disappeared about a week ago. Since I don’t go around tossing my bra off outside my house I just knew it had to be inside somewhere! So, here we were at 9:00pm going through trash cans, drawers, paperwork, sheets, towels, etc searching for a piece of paper and a bra. 

At one point my husband was ready to give up. He was going to call the shop the next day and ask for a duplicate gift certificate. He told me to just buy a new bra. But I’m not a quitter so we kept searching. At last, I looked in one last place for the gift certificate — the office recycling bin. And there it was stuck to an empty Christmas card envelope! Moments later my husband was digging around in the clothes hamper and he pulled out my bra displaying it like the Lion King Mufasa holding up the baby lion Simba. How I didn’t see it the other 10 times I looked in there I have no idea.

As we fell into bed laughing about our search I said, “We are practically like a Bible story — you know, the ones about the lost coins and the lost sheep! We didn’t give up and we finally found our precious things.”

As so often happens when I’m in the midst of writing, my everyday experiences lead me to ponder on the glory of God. In this instance, how He also never gives up. He goes into our trash heap of sins and pulls us from the depths. He seeks us out under the dust and brushes us off. He cleans us up and makes us righteous before Him through our faith in Jesus.

"And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:9-10

Christ not only welcomes us home but He runs to meet us like the father to the prodigal son. Through His bountiful mercy (not dishing out the punishment we deserve) and grace (giving us the love and justification we don’t deserve) He celebrates our entrance to His Holy Kingdom. 

Think on the last time you lost something and finally found it. You may have performed a little, silly dance or shouted out in glee. Now imagine when you accepted Christ as your Savior how God must have danced in joy because He is a God of great celebration. While we can’t change someone’s mind about God, He can. He asks us to join with Him in the search effort. Imagine each time you share the message of your salvation with an unbeliever how God must be saying, “YES! LET’S DO THIS! Let’s bring another home!” 

Give all honor, praise, and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

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Day 30 In Christ Alone

krisshetter

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

Earlier this year I trained to be a discipleship coach for an online ministry.  Anyone who searches the internet using certain, key words may encounter the link which offers a free course called Knowing Jesus.  People from all over the world work through the free  course seeking to grow closer to God through the truth of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Bible.

I recently had a student who said Jesus was a very obedient servant of God.  While that is true, I told her that limited view of Jesus doesn’t ensure we understand the full holiness and deity of Christ.  I explained to her Jesus was fully man and fully God, a sometimes confusing concept.  I asked if that information was new to her, a self-professed, occasionally attending church Christian.  She replied,  “Yes.”  

That one word actually made me sad.  Sad over how the “church,” meaning we, the body of believers have sometimes failed to make clear the place that Jesus sits in heaven.  How we have failed to loudly celebrate that only Christ can be the one to cleanse us of our sins so we can, with His cloak of purity laden over our shoulders, come before the Father.  And the way churches, fellow believers allow our friends and neighbors to remain in the dark about the love the Trinity has shown all humanity  —  when God humbled Himself to walk among us and give us the message of eternal life.

You see, without seeing Jesus in His rightful Holy position we also can’t look to Him for all hope and strength and peace.  Because no average man can give us that.  No, it takes a King of Kings, a Lord of Lords, a solid cornerstone.  Christ alone.

Jesus, the man, was tender, strong, felt pain, and was ever obedient to His Father.  At the same time, Jesus, the Word in flesh, was sinless, wise, merciful, a healer, a life-giver, prescient, could calm storms, and fill nets and endless food baskets.  But most of all Jesus the Holy One was the required sacrifice for our forgiveness of sins.  

He gave His all for us  He suffered much for us.  He loved tremendously for us.

When this same student mentioned she’s too tired on Sundays to regularly attend church, I told her I too used to think church was just another thing on my to-do list.  But when I realized the amazing gift that He gave us in Christ I was compelled to worship Him in gratitude and submission.  Instead of obligation, church became a soul-filler.  When I lift my hands up to Him in love, He reaches back to me through the Holy Spirit and grabs hold of me.  I know that nothing else in this world can ever pluck me from His hands.  He will never let me go.  He brings us home in victory.

If you don’t have this relationship with Christ, call on Him today.  Give Him your all.  And the Lord of All will give all eternity to you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the past 30 days of Worship as much as I have!  If you missed any posts, I’ve compiled the entire series here.  Please share with your friends today to support this ministry and help be a light out into the darkness.

To listen to today’s song, click here: In Christ Alone

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Day 29 Good Day

krisshetter 
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:1-5
“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lordturn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

I’ve heard a famous Christian teacher tell audiences this profound truth: “It’s one thing to see a miserable sinner but a miserable Christian is a tragic thing.”  While we all, believers and non-believers, have heartbreaking or difficult events in our lives, we have to acknowledge that the majority of our lives run from fun and exciting to dull and average.  Yet throughout it all Jesus followers should emulate the apostle Paul and be always searching and living gratefully for God’s ever presence in our lives.

This truth really hit home for me when I read Corrie Ten Boom’s famous book, “The Hiding Place.”  Her sister Betsie could find joy in God’s provision even in the darkest moments of a Nazi concentration camp.  Corrie, more of a like-mind with me, would roll her eyes when her sister would make joyous declarations such as, “Give thanks in all circumstances.  It doesn’t say ‘in pleasant circumstances.’  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

As lights of the Lord reflecting out God’s love and goodness to the world, we need to be especially mindful of our outward attitude and appearance when events go awry in our lives.  Showing the world who we trust and who is working for our good. And when events turn to joy we need to give it all up to God in His bountiful mercy and glory.

I first heard this song about having a good day when I was visiting and caring for my two-year old grandson.  My daughter had shared with me Owen’s Spotify playlist so we could listen to his pre-school songs in the car.  You know, fun stuff like “icky sticky bubble gum” and the “wheels on the bus” played on repeat.  When this bright and joyous song came on in the car he exclaimed, “Mommy’s song!”  We sang along with vigor.

I asked my daughter about it later that day.  She explained they play this song every morning on their way to work and daycare to set the tone for the day.  To remember that with God in our lives it can always be a good day.  Because while the Lord has blessed us with breath and we acknowledge that the creator of the universe knows our very name, we can have a great day in every single way.  

Friend, I once thought this view of life was blind to the realities of the world.  Until the scales were taken off my eyes and the truth was revealed.  Emmanuel, God with Us, shines His beautiful light on us in all circumstances.  So play it loud and sing it like ya mean it. Because today can and will be a good day.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Good Day 

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Day 28 Stand

krisshetter 
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.  John 15:20-21
Praise be to the Lord for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.  Psalm 31:21

One of my church pastors provided me with not only an “ah ha” moment a few weeks ago during his sermon on Philippians but also a “duh” revelation.  Here’s what he said,  “We have to remember the letters written by Paul to the churches were not written to individuals but to the church body as whole.”  As readers and students of scripture we can get caught up thinking a verse was speaking directly to me and my life.  

It’s an important change of perspective, especially these days when folks who call themselves Christians promote the idea that we don’t need to go to church.  Or we can just do church by watching it on TV.  Not only are we directed in scripture to be part of a body of believers we are also to actively participate in that community.

But why?  Let’s first look at what happened to those of us who lived in areas where our churches were shut down during COVID — some for two years.  People became disconnected, dispirited, lonely and worse.  Be completely honest, watching someone on TV preach the Word is not the same as being in the same room with other believers.  We get distracted, make a snack, check our phones, etc.  Instead of exiting the doors and talking with those who just listened to a powerful message.  Sharing our questions, our revelations, or how the message truly lifted us.

When we don’t have that community, we also don’t have the support to sustain us when trouble hits.  Standing in the face of trials even when it seems almost unbearable.  We don’t have the ability to look around at all the faces of those who know and love Jesus like we do.

God provides every opportunity to help us when darkness wants to have its hand on our lives.  When the world calls us crazy, we can stand firm and announce, “there’s quite a few of us crazies and we celebrate our God and Savior every week across the world!”  

Just like we can forget the epistles were written to bodies of people, we can also forget every word written to encourage and support them was done so because they were facing trials –greater than any westernized church today.  If they could stand while facing death for even meeting, for proclaiming that Jesus is King, then we can stand too.  Let’s do it in community, together.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Stand

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Day 27 Great Are You Lord

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“My soul glorifies the Lord  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. Luke 1:46-48
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me,your consolation brought me joy.  Psalm 94:18-19

In 2023, Psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Weber wrote an article for CNBC which revealed that, after 10 years of treating patients and being a patient herself, there are nine things humans universally desire in life:

  1. To be loved
  2. To be understood
  3. To have power
  4. To have and give attention
  5. To have freedom
  6. To create
  7. To belong
  8. To win
  9. To connect

Well, I have great news for Dr. Weber and all humanity.  Jesus will fulfill all these needs.  Our great Lord will love you through all eternity.  He knows every single thing about you – and experienced much of it Himself. Not only does He know you so well, He still loves you!

Through Jesus we have power to overcome our fears, anxieties, wrath from man, and more.  He removes the chains of sins and calls us sons and daughters of the God Most High.  

We become free to experience and create joy in our lives and in those around us.  This joy connects us to a community of believers who support you and walk beside side you times of trouble.

And best of all as heirs to the Kingdom we stand in victory.  Through His resurrection, Jesus has conquered death and sin.  He holds out His hand for you to join Him in this glorious triumph.  

He is the giver of all life, of breath, of light and hope.  He is the provider of everything for which you long.  Reach out to Him and pour out your praise Him today!

Click here to listen to today’s song: Great Are You Lord