We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 During the process of getting a church program going, we always experience frayed nerves, anxiety, and general confusion and stress in the process. We teach about God, and in kingdom terms it is successful. This speaks to me how God works in our lives. We are not perfect, and our lives are not perfect. Yet, God forgives

DON’T THINK OF PRAYER AS A CHORE. Instead, view it as communicating with the One you adore. Delight yourself in Me; this will draw you irresistibly into communication with Me. Remember all that I am to you, all I have done for you. I love you with perfect, everlasting Love, and I take great delight in you. Let My tenderness embrace you, convincing you that you are indeed My beloved. Rejoice in the One who will never let you go! Often the easiest way to start talking with Me i

Read Isaiah 61:10-11 Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 When I was 12 years old, all the girls in our grade were required to take a sewing class. We were assigned three items to make: an apron, a short blouse with no buttons, and a skirt with a simple closure. For each item, everyone followed the same pattern. As the school year ended, girls all over campus were wearing the blouses and skirt they had made, but the shared pattern was n

Read 2 Corinthians 9:8-15 [The Lord’s] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ~2 Peter 1:3~ As I dropped off my daughter at the nursery before Bible study, I chatted with an acquaintance about having to find childcare so I could attend the group’s upcoming special luncheon. The acquaintance replied that a friend of hers also needed childcare for a different event. I offered my pho

YOU CAN FIND JOY in the most unexpected places. However, this requires effort: searching for the good and refusing to let your natural responses blind you to what is there. I will help you respond in a super-natural way, giving you eyes that see beyond the obvious and discover treasure hidden in your troubles. Simply ask Me. Living joyously is a choice. Since you inhabit such a sinful, broken world, you must choose gladness many times daily. This is especially true during dif

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. ~Psalm 119:105~ As a child my mom had a collection of Bibles. When I was a teenager, I received a Bible of my own. Through the years of childhood, I tried to memorize the books of the Bible and some verses. Learned different stories and about Jesus. As an adult I am prayerfully studying it, letting God's word provide hope and encouragement to me. I have become more capable of withstanding temptation and false teaching

COME TO ME with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me. Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing. When anxiety attempts to wedge it’s way into your thoughts, remind

Read Mark 2:1-12 The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ~James 5:15~ I serve a small church in Estonia. One Sunday morning before the service began, the phone rang and a desperate mother said to me, “Our Son Romet has been diagnosed with an incurable disease. Doctors give us no hope, and he does not have much time left. We have heard that God can help in such situations.” “Yes,” I re

Read Luke 16:10-15 Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. ~Luke 16:10~ Both bread bakers, my husband and I may follow the same recipes, but we approach the task of baking differently. He’s meticulous, determining water temperature with a thermometer and measuring flour volume with a scale, while I am admittedly sloppy— gauging temperature with my hand and volume by my eye. His loaves

Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has poured into our hearts. ~Romans 5:3-5~ Through sufferings, we can learn to rely on God and to trust God's plans for us in a new way. We can shine God's light on other people, talking to them about the strength we find in Christ. No one wants to experience hardship, but we can trust God to be present with us always. Through hards

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS; pray continually. The way to rejoice at all times is to find moment-by-moment pleasure in your relationship with Me the Lover of your soul. This relationship is so full of comfort and encouragement that it’s possible to be joyful in hope even when you’re in the midst of adversity. Give thanks in all circumstances. There is immense power in prayer, “Thank you, Jesus.” These three words are appropriate for all times and in every situation because of My great s

COME TO ME, and I will ease, relieve, and refresh your soul. Approach Me confidently, dear one, knowing that I have perfect understanding of you and everything that concerns you. Tell Me your troubles candidly; let the Light of My Face shine on them and illuminate your thinking. Then rest with Me, slowly inhaling the beauty of My Presence. You can feel safe and secure in My everlasting arm’s. As you spend precious time with Me, let Me ease and relieve your soul. Your soul is

Read Ephesians 2:1-10 Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ~ Ephesians 2:4-5~ I work in an Alzheimer’s unit at an assisted-living facility. When I tell residents that it’s lunchtime, it’s not uncommon for them to tell me they have no money to pay for their meals. Sometimes even though they may be hungry, they won’t go to the table if they think that t

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 As a child we always could eat the dessert no matter how full we were. As adults sometimes we must pass up dessert because we fill up with other food. Isn't this what we do with our Lord at times? We read the news, do our jobs, take care of our families, and suddenly the day is over. We have not saved room for the most delicious part---time spent in quiet prayer or reading the Bible. Life is short, enjoy God first. God's swee

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strengthen; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary. ~Isaiah 40:31~ When we trust God, we can rise above our troubles and abide with God rather than allow our troubles to weigh us down and make us anxious and fearful. Rely on the Holy Spirit to carry you to God where you can experience God's protection, provision, and peace. With God's help we can rise above today's

Read Colossians 2:9-15 Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out. Acts 3:19 Offensive words---big, stark, and depressing---had been scrawled on the wall of the building. Someone came along with a can of paint and painted over the words. The result was a clean, attractive wall. I had inscribed across my life words, behaviors, and attitudes that were offensive to God. They often appeared in my mind, especially when I begin to seek God. How could God, who is rig

SEEK MY FACE, and you will find not only My presence but also My Peace. To receive My Peace, you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust. The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand. Ask My Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts, for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life in Peace. You can have as much as Me and My Presence as you want, through thousands of correct choices each day. The most p

Read Exodus 14:9-18 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. ~~~Exodus14:14~~~ One morning on vacation my daughter and I took a walk along the beach. We saw a small crab sidling quickly toward the water. But the tide was coming in, and for every inch the crap progressed, a wave would hit the shore, causing the crab to somersault further back along the sand. After each wave, the crab would right itself and resume its journey toward the water, undaunted. Soon, a

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Read Matthew 5;13-16 Let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father