Friday, January 25th

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Philippians 3:8-9

 “Dear Jesus, every day, just like everyone else, I ask myself how I am doing. I think about the things I have done and not done.  Sometimes I feel prideful that I am not a failure like others.  Sometimes I feel sad that I am not a success like others.  Either way, I don't really have peace about myself when I am thinking this way.  Then, I look at this verse and think about what you have done.  You have freed me from myself.  I do not need to be anything other than a believer in you and your gift of righteousness.  I am free from trying to succeed in order to feel good about myself.  Now, just help me to relax in your treasures and to honestly consider all of my personal accomplishments as "rubbish" compared to you. And help me live free of self-centeredness.  Help me to throw myself into serving others out of love and not duty or ambition.  I want to know the power of your love and righteousness guiding and strengthening my life. AMEN

"To live the Christian life is to live in and through Christ without thought of yourself."

Thursday, January 24th

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.”- Psalm 62:1

Dear Heavenly Father, I remember crossing a creek once and putting my foot on a large round stone, thinking it would hold me.  But it rolled out from under my foot and I plopped into the water. That's the way I feel each time I try to make people around me to become my strength.  Even if they hold me up or meet my needs for a time, sooner or later, they "roll" and I plop down in the "water". You really are the only rock for any of us.  We can rest secure in your love and in your truth.  Help me not to depend on others so much that I step on their hearts until they roll out from under me.  Help me to have proper balance, being interdependent on others but not totally dependent on them.  You are the only One on whom I can totally depend.  And in this way keep me from getting so disappointed and angry if others let me down.  I want to love them and help them even if they do not give me what I need.  I know I can only do this if my heart rests fully on you.  Lord, Jesus, you are my truest friend.  Become the rock for my soul depend upon. AMEN 

"A soul resting in God blesses enemies and friends alike."

Wednesday, January 23rd

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Dear heavenly Father, I get interested in pursuing many different things in life.  I want more knowledge, better health, more wisdom, better living circumstances, a better job, more attention from others, less clutter, more freedom, -- all of these things beckon me.  To focus on them threatens my happiness.  But it is love that you want me to pursue more than anything else.  You want me to love you and people with all my heart, soul, and mind.  While I know I will never be perfect at this love, I do want to make it my aim.  Because when I pursue loving you and others, that's when I feel my greatest worth, my most peaceful place and I experience joy that cannot be taken away by anyone.  Help me to keep this aim - to love you and people faithfully the way you have loved me in your Son.  Keep me from the viscous downward spiral of constantly thinking about how well I am loved or not loved by others and to persistently spiral up to loving people unconditionally. AMEN

"True value of a human being has little to do with his accomplishments and a lot to do with his maker's purpose."

Tuesday, January 22nd

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to bear fruit in my life whether I am in hard times or good.  I know that there is no way I can persistently bear fruit unless I remain close to you and your Word.  Otherwise, my problems overwhelm me and I become parched, dry and useless to everyone.  Fill my mind with your words and nourish my soul inside, so that, whenever I experience trouble it cannot drain all of my emotional and physical strength. I trust you because you are my God and Savior.  You have taught me to trust that you are always working good for me in everything.  Thank you for the challenges I face and for the Word of your Spirit that enables me to meet them with a cheerful heart. AMEN 

"Apart from Jesus you can do nothing." -  John 15:5

Tuesday, January 22nd

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8

 Dear Heavenly Father, I want to bear fruit in my life whether I am in hard times or good.  I know that there is no way I can persistently bear fruit unless I remain close to you and your Word.  Otherwise, my problems overwhelm me and I become parched, dry and useless to everyone.  Fill my mind with your words and nourish my soul inside, so that, whenever I experience trouble it cannot drain all of my emotional and physical strength. I trust you because you are my God and Savior.  You have taught me to trust that you are always working good for me in everything.  Thank you for the challenges I face and for the Word of your Spirit that enables me to meet them with a cheerful heart. AMEN

"Apart from Jesus you can do nothing."   John 15:5

Monday, January 21st

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. “ Acts 4:32-35

Dear Jesus we long to experience the kind of community that you created in that early church.  We want to share everything.  We want to be one heart and mind as we do life together.  We want to be close friends and have close friends.  Often our own crazy thinking gets in the way.  We do things that distance others without even realizing it.  Help us overcome our spiritually odd selfishness and to be simple hearted, generous and sharing with one another.  Give us the love you have that gives more freely than anyone else so that we learn to power of losing everything for others so that we might gain everything for all.  Today is our gift to you help us see how we can use it to make you smile!  AMEN

"Life is being spent without our approval.  Best to spend it investing in eternal life for all."

Sunday, January 20th

“But the fruit of the Spirit is...patience.” Galatians 5:22

Dear Jesus, patience is a virtue that does not come naturally.  Ever since I was baby I have wanted what I wanted right now!  I need your Holy Spirit and the insight he brings - that waiting on you to order my life is better than pushing everything and everyone to give me what I think I need right away.  Help me to be patient from deep down in my heart.  Help me to remember that the plans you worked out for people like Old Testament Joseph, David and Abraham were wonderful once they reached their completion.  I want to be patient and loving while I wait for your plan to unfold.  Give me that peace which makes me smile when frustrations come.

"To be truly patient in the face of life is a miracle worked by God."

Saturday, January 19th

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1

Dear heavenly Father, the family in which I grew up is unique.  We all have a similar look, a similar sound and the same general outlook on life that was imprinted on us by two active faithful parents.  We are similar to one other but different from so many others.  I find it is the same for me in your Christian family.  Your imprint on me has made me like my Christian friends but very different from this world.  I have peace, security and purpose because you have redeemed me and made me your child.  I don't have to fight for these.  They are already mine.  Thank you for adopting me.  Help me today to enjoy the sublime truth of knowing I am your child and heir.  Give me the outlook on everything that factors in your fatherly loving concern for me. Keep me positive and encouraging. AMEN 

"Being a child of God brings so much more security that resting on any of our own accomplishments."

Friday, January 18th

“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Bok of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now….So be very God.” Joshua 23:6-8, 11

Lord God, You make it clear that we, as human beings, are prone to wander and stray from you. Left to ourselves and inattentive to our walk with you, we will drift from the faith. It happens all too naturally. You made it clear when you spoke to the people in Moses’ departure. You make it clear in these closing words from Joshua. He carefully warns them and now me to be careful, to be attentive, and to stay vigilant so that I don’t wander from you. Lord God, keep me alert, watchful and full of prayer so that I don’t wander from you. Keep me faithful to you all the days of my life. Lord God, do whatever it takes to keep me as your child all the days of my life. And Lord, I ask you, do the same in the lives of my family. You also must care for them. When they are under my care I can be watchful and attentive to teach and instruct them, to train them in your ways. But when they are out of my care and even when they are in my care I must entrust them to your prayer. Lord, I fear for them because I know what I am like and I know what human beings are like, that we are prone to wander. Lord, teach me to watch and pray for them. Lord God, I entrust them to your care because you love them more than I possibly could and know what is better far more than I do. Lord, to you I entrust all those whom I love. Amen.

Thursday, January 17th

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.”’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.” Genesis 50:15-17

Joseph’s brothers had committed those sins many years earlier. And yet, they were still plagued by fear and guilt. It made them listen to their worries and fears more than to Joseph. How Joseph’s heart must have ached that his brothers thought things about him that weren’t true. It troubles me when I hear that people are thinking things about me that aren’t true. It seems so unfair to have to battle lies that they believe. Give me the patience and love you gave Joseph so I hang in there with them even though they cling to worthless ideas that affect our relationship. Also, come into my heart and mind and clean out the false ideas I believe about others and help me to only focus on the truth that I know and the grace that forgives and restores. Amen.

When the Holy Spirit enters your heart he makes you clean out the lies you have hoarded for years.

Wednesday, January 16th

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Lord God, I am beginning to see once again how hard it is for a person to stay faithful to you their whole life. I am beginning to see how difficult it is for faith to be passed on from one generation to the next. Lord God, help me, my family, my children, and my church daily make this commitment to you, to follow you and to serve you with all our might. Teach us to repent and to repent again on a daily basis. Keep on reminding us of all your goodness and then remind us again. Lord God, we will not stay faithful to you on our own. I beg you, finish the work that you began in me at my baptism and keep me, my family, my church, and all your people committed and faithful to you until the very end of their life’s journey. Then, dear Lord, bring us into our home in heaven. Amen.

Tuesday, January 15th

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah!’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. John 1:40-42

We don’t hear much about Andrew. He never preached a sermon like his brother Simon Peter on Pentecost. He never worked great miracles like Peter. He never wrote epistles as Peter did. But Andrew had the distinction of being the one who brought his brother to Jesus. Perhaps I can’t remember the “Andrew” who cared enough for my soul to tell me about Jesus. Was it Christian parents who brought me to the baptismal font? Was it a pastor or teacher who took the time to tell me about the Savior? Was it a spouse who loved me so much that s/he wanted me to know the One who loved me even more? The name of my Andrew doesn’t really matter all that much. What does matter is the question, To whom will I be an Andrew? It’s not hard to be an Andrew and tell someone about the Lamb who takes away sin. All I need to do is repeat Andrew’s words: “We have found the Messiah.” I don’t have to argue like some learned theologian. After all, the Bible is fact, and you don’t argue facts. You simply state them. I don’t need to convert someone to faith. All I need to do is point to that Lamb and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. But like Andrew, once the Lamb is in my heart, point I must and will!

Lord, help me be an Andrew; help me to tell all I can about the Lamb who takes away sin. Amen.

Monday, January 14th

"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." - 1 Peter 2:23

 Dear Jesus, the way that you conducted yourself during your intense suffering is incredible.  You trusted God under it all and that kept you from retaliating.  And sometimes when I get the least bit of negative tone from another person I shoot back the same to them.  Please help me trust the Father the way that you do.  Help me let go of the need to be respected, to be treated fairly, to always want others to be nice.  Help me to trust that the Father is working out good even in their mistakes that affect me and then to let go of all need to control their responses.  I want to reflect that love and trust that you used to save my soul.  Perhaps I will save theirs too by getting an audience for your word once they seem my unique reaction caused by you.  AMEN

 Living out the faith is impossible without the one in which we have faith.

Sunday, January 13th

“Today you will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43

 Dear Jesus, on this Ash Wednesday I think of how frail and mortal I am.  I won't be here long.  And therefore, my body will not last.  But I relish the words you told the thief next to you as you were making all things new, "Today .. Paradise." You have rescued me and so my soul and body will squeeze through death unscathed.  I fear death at times, more than I want to admit.  But having your promise of life, gives me a light to hold onto.  As we enter Lent help me to be serious about life and faith and joyful about eternal life. And today help those who preach, to give their people your heart and soul as they speak the very words of God. AMEN

To live in Christ it to live beyond fate.

Saturday, January 12th

"Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure.  God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." - Hebrews 13:4

Dear Heavenly Father, you do not pull any punches when it comes to something so dear to your heart.  On this Valentine's Day, I join you and your love for marriage.  Please protect the hearts of everyone who is married.  Make them love each other with an undying humble acceptance.  Help them to listen with their hearts wide open, to forgive before their partner even realizes the wrong they have done, to find creative ways to show support and help.  Stamp out loneliness that creeps into a marriage and makes one feel cheated and ruined.  Be their strength, their light and the way out of their problems.  And for all those who are single, give them soul mates for friends who will fill their waking moments with heartfelt conversations which satisfies the deep longing we all have for relationships.  And thank you for promising to one day give us the prize, perfect relationships in heaven with all we know and so many more that we will meet. AMEN

Marriage is God's invention.  Let no one treat it lightly.

Friday, January 11th

"Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to someone else, for each one should carry his own load."  - Galatians 6:4

 Dear Jesus, your verse from Galatians is very insightful for me.  You have uniquely suited me to live my own life with you.  I know that no one can serve exactly like me nor can I serve like them.  Often I get distracted by what others are doing and want to compare myself to them to see how I am doing.  Help me just to test my own thoughts and motives by filtering them through your word.  Help me to love others but not compare myself to them.  I want to be happy and content with my own life of love without measuring it by other people's abilities or interests.  Also, thank you that you loved me before I showed any worthiness.  Your love for me gives me stability and peace.  AMEN

 We live for an audience of One.

Thursday, January 10th

Let us not grow weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

Dear Jesus, give me the faith and patience to wait for the proper time for you to produce a harvest from the good deeds you lead me to do.  I sometimes want immediate results and grow disappointed and impatient and even want to quit doing those things.  Help me to stop trying to be you, oh God.  You decide what results you are working in all that you lead us to do.  I just want to be your instrument.  You can be the author and finisher of what I do.  Give me the will to do good for everyone today and to throw results to the wind. AMEN

Give much thought to whom you might help.  Give little thought to how they respond.

Wednesday, January 8th

"If two lie down together they will keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?"- Ecclesiastes 4:11

Dear heavenly Father, today I thank you for all the friends you have put into my life who were there when I needed them, who confronted me honestly when I was acting out of my mind and apart from your truth and grace, who picked up the slack I had created, who loved me when I was unlovable, who trusted me with their secrets, who set aside their schedule to dry my tears or listen to a grief observed, who allowed long lunches, slow walks and quirks that I could not avoid.  Thank you for the friends who took time to call for no reason at all and who dared to share life with me of all people.  Help me to be that friend that you have given me so I make other's lives more pleasant, tolerable and wonderful.  Jesus, help me lay down my life for my friends like you! AMEN

In Friendship we multiply one another's joys and divide one another's sorrows.

Tuesday, January 8th

"There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:10

 Dear Jesus, you said this when you had to defend yourself against criticism for sitting with those who had spent a lifetime hurting and rejecting others.  Sometimes it seems to me to be such a huge waste of time to sit with people who have made such a huge mess out of their lives.  But you press me into it because you and all the angels of heaven are wanting those souls to turn back and be saved.  Help me to not keep thinking about how much they have offended me or others and to just focus on how badly you want them back in your fold.  I want to learn to rejoice over a sinner saved more than sulk over the damage they have done.  Help me Lord Jesus to deal with the Pharisee in my heart.  AMEN

To forgive is to free both me and the one who has hurt me.

Monday, January 7th

"Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:8

 Dear Jesus, though such a short passage, it speaks volumes in my heart.  Love never fails. I think of the people from whom I want to walk away and I ask, "Never?"  I think of the worst sinners who hurt so many people, and I ask, "Never?"  I think of the repeated sarcastic remarks and failures to come through in a pinch and I ask, "Never?"  Can we not just once give up loving those who declare that they despise our love?  But your love, even in justice, never fails.  I want that love that makes me pursue the lost, the mean, the twisted to give them one more opportunity to be restored.  Give me that love by your Holy Spirit.  Use the gospel story of your cross to melt my hard heart and teach me how to love even when I must confront or draw boundaries.  Free me from my fickle heart!  AMEN

"Of all the things love dares to do, this is the ultimate; though threatened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward.  Though mistreated and rejected, it refuses to give up."  - Stephen Kendrick