Tuesday, May 7th

“I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”  John 17:26

Dear Father, Your love for me is beyond all knowing and all expression and yet your Son wants me to know it better.He is the one who makes known your love for me.By his coming, his living and his dying you show me that there is nothing that you wouldn’t do for me.You deeply loved your own Son, yet you gave him up for me!Me!I can hardly believe it sometimes.That you would love me so deeply and cherish me so dearly and would give up your Son for me is hard to fathom.You loved your Son from all eternity.He was and is your dearest treasure.Fill me with a higher and fuller understanding of your love.More than that, let your love dwell in my heart and spill over into my life so that my whole life is moved by your love for me.Let your love dwell in me and move my whole life. Amen

Monday, May 6th

“The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)  Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’ “John 4:9-10

Dear Jesus, That woman threw poo at you and you stayed in the conversation and loved her through it all.  When you ignored the poo and reached out again boldly with your love and truth, I’m sure she could feel it.  But she held to her hard hearted guns for a few more moments.  Then you outlasted her and got behind the walls to rescue her lost soul.  Help me to ignore the poo that people throw at me in conversations and to stick to a loving course of communication so I can reach behind their walls to either save or encourage their hearts.  Help me to hang in there and not just walk away.  And maybe more importantly, keep me from throwing poo at others.  Instead, give me the courage to humbly accept their help even if it makes me feel a little uncomfortable.  Amen.

God constantly pursues our hearts with love and truth through people.  Give up the fight and embrace it. 

Sunday, May 5th

“Then the servant girl who was the doorkeep said to Peter, ‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’  ‘I am not,’ he said.” John 18:17

Dear Jesus, When the soldiers came up and declared that “Jesus” was the one whom they wanted, you stepped forward and said, “I am he.”   When a little servant girl, who was just a doorkeeper, asked if Peter knew who you were, without hesitation he said, “I am not.” O, Jesus I see myself in Peter.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in my fleeting thoughts, the wicked ones that come and then go, but I can’t stop them.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in my lingering thoughts; the ones that enter and then remain and I don’t even try to move on past them.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in all my sin.  But there you are stepping forward to take my place. Christ, you step in and take my place.  You take on my sin.  You suffer for me.  You die for me.  And I go free.  Thousand, thousand thanks to thee, dearest Lamb of Calvary.  Amen.

Saturday, May 4th

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.  Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.  The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”  Revelation 1:17-20

Dear Lord Jesus, If I were to see you in all of your glory I would fall down in fear just like John did.  You are the ultimate superhero, the God over all things, the One with whom we all have to reckon.  Thank you for placing your right hand on John and telling him not to be afraid.  It comforts me to know that you love your church.  And to know that you passed through death and are alive again gives me hope.  And to know you hold the keys to hell makes me feel safe.  And then to know you walk among the churches and live with the angels of those churches, that is; the pastors, helps me trust that you are guiding each congregation even when we struggle.  Jesus you are with us and we can struggle on as future conquerors no matter how small and insignificant we feel.  Today will be a good day because you are with me.  Help me to stop feeling so alone when I face any challenge by reminding me that you, the almighty, loving Savior God, are with me. 

God is with us, how can anything in our lives ultimately turn out badly. 

Friday, May 3rd

“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me.  And when I turned saw seven golden lamp stands and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.  And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.”  Revelation 1:12-15

John saw you in all of your glory standing among the lamp stands that represented your beloved churches at that time.  The way you revealed yourself was both a comfort and a confrontation.  It comforts me to know you are the almighty God filled with power and splendor.  That reminds me that you have all it takes to take care of your churches.  But it also confronts me that my church answer to you and not to the world we serve.  Only what you want matters and many times we have followed the whims of the world and our own desires.  I’m glad you are among us in your power.  Help us to live before you in godly reverence.  Lead us on your mission and not our own.  Make us into what you want us to be.

When we remember that Jesus lives among us it changes everything we think, say, and do. 

Thursday, May 2nd

“I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”  Revelation 1:9

Dear Jesus, Your apostle John is rather nonchalant in saying that he was on an island because of the word of God and having testified about you.  He also said he was our companion in the suffering of those in your kingdom and the patient endurance that are ours as Christians.  He speaks to us as one who was in the trenches with us who knew what it was like to suffer and to wonder how things would turn out.  I know that I have not suffered like John but in my troubles I see him as a forceful teacher reminding me that we are pilgrims here and that heaven is our home.  Thank you for making the writers of your book men who understood our travail and committed themselves to leading us through it.  Amen.

As pilgrims we can never plant our roots deep on earth.

Wednesday, May 1st

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:17-18

Dear Jesus, Give me this wisdom from above.  I cannot produce it on my own.  Make me peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Help me see the supreme value of unity and togetherness.  Produce this wisdom between others AND ME.  Make it fun and peaceful for us to live and work together.  I want to live in the peaceful fruit of righteousness and help others experience it too.  Amen. 

Godly wisdom always heals, always helps, and always unites. 

Tuesday, April 30th

“No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.”  Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.  - John 13:8

Dear Jesus, I understand why Peter's objected to you washing his feet.  He adored you.  He wanted to honor you, serve you, and keep you on a pedestal.  I want to do that too.  But glued to my worship of you is also my addiction to myself.  It is an uninvited guest that always seems to tag along with my faith in you.  That’s why you came to wash us, to rescue us.   If we do not let you rescue us, we have no part with you. If we are thinking that our worship of you is more important than you, we have subtly and completely missed the point.  You are God who loves to save us.  We are sinners who must be saved.  So, wash away dear Jesus. Wash away my sins and all the sins of my family and friends.  Flood our lives and relationships with your cleansing grace and drive out the judgement and selfishness that so easily tears us apart.  AMEN

 It's all about Jesus and his cleansing grace.  If he doesn't wash us, we will live dirty selfish lives toward each other.

Monday, April 29th

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  - Romans 14:8

Dear Lord, being honest, I would have to admit that all day long I am tempted to measure my happiness by whether I am getting my way or not.  I unconsciously ask myself, "Did I get what I want or need?"  This verse is a game changer.  I belong to you.  I was made by you.  I was purchased back by you after I got lost. I belong to you.  Therefore, I am not master of my own fate or captain of my own ship.  Actually, this makes me feel safe and secure even if my life in this world is non-descript or even hard.  Knowing that I belong to you also binds me to a purpose higher than my own desires.  I live for you and I die for you.  Help me to live for you as for an audience of One.  Restore to me the happiness of a life well lived for the One who lived well for me.  AMEN

Most of our unhappiness is caused by our self-centeredness and self-pity, not by the people or circumstances around us.  That's good news because with God's help we can choose to be happy at any moment.

Sunday, April 28th

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” - Hebrews 11:8

Dear Jesus, You would not tell Abraham where he was going but you told him to leave his comfort zone and follow you. Not knowing what that meant for his family and him was exactly what you wanted.  You purposefully kept him in the dark.  For a long time, I have wondered why you do this to us. I think you don't tell us what is next in our lives so we will stay close to you with an open heart to who you are. You made us to live with you.  We tend to live by ourselves, especially when we think we know how things will go for us.  Even us Christians are often functional atheists.   You held Abraham close, as your friend, by keeping him in the dark. Hold me close to, dear Jesus.   I don't know what huge challenges and great opportunities wait for me. I can’t figure it out. But I can stay close to you. If you will stay close to me and fill me with the fruits of your Spirit, I will boldly step into an unknown tomorrow. I will go where you lead me. Take the wheel, Jesus.  Just don't ever kick me out of your car. AMEN

God keeps us from knowing what's next in order to keep us close to him now and in the 'what's next'! Having us close to him is why he made us in the first place.

Saturday, April 27th

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  - 1 Peter 1:3-5

Dear heavenly Father, by sending Jesus for me you have given me a living hope. He conquered death and gives me the grace and power to live forever after I die. Believing this gives me a sense of optimism even while I am a realist about my situation. My biggest goal is to live joyfully in faith while I love others in your name. Help me be honest with myself about whatever challenges and problems I face, but not depressed by them.  I do not have to resolve every problem or achieve every goal when you have promised I will leave them all behind anyway. Oh, Father, make me honest about my earthly life and hopeful in my eternal life at the same time. AMEN

Real faith honestly treats earthly matters with passing concern and heavenly matters with tenacious respect.  

Friday, April 26th

“ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others”.  Romans 12:4-5

Dear heavenly Father, You make a very bold statement that I belong to every other Christian and every other Christian belongs to me.  We own each other like family.  I confess that by nature I like to pick and choose who I want to consider as a brother or sister.  I know others can tell it, too.  I can tell when they are picking and choosing, also.  Lord, forgive us all for being choosy and not submitting to your truth that we are all brothers and sisters who must serve each other in every way. Help me to lead the way by "being there" for others.  When I reach my limit and cannot help another Christian that I know needs help, then raise up other Christians to reach out with unconditional love to help that brother or sister in need.  Oh, Lord, help us love each other the way you want us to. AMEN

In Christ there are no “black sheep.” All have been made white in the blood of the spotless Lamb who purchased them.

Thursday, April 25th

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”  - Philippians 3:7-8

Dear Jesus, I know the story of Paul's life and how you took away all of his earthly status and renewed him in the status of grace. He had been so proud of his own accomplishments and then suddenly they meant nothing to him anymore.  In the same way, I have already thrown away my childhood trophies, but I struggle to cling to what I consider adult accomplishments.  I try not to talk about them but I still caress them in my thoughts and measure my life by them when I daydream.  By your Holy Spirit, I am begging you to free me from the temptation to measure my life by anything other than your grace.  Help me to consider even those things I have accomplished as a Christian to be garbage compared to having your unmerited favor. That way, I will be immune to both diseases called success and failure. AMEN

When Christ fills the room in our hearts we forget who we were and relax in who we are in him. 

Wednesday, April 24th

“I want to be found in Christ, 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 on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead”. - Philippians 3:9-11

Dear God, You sent your Son to give me what I needed in order to give back to you.  I could never be completely right in your eyes.  I know what you want.  I even nod in approval.  But still, I somehow choose to fall short and do my own will each day. Then you, like a mother giving her child the money he needs to buy her a present, give me Jesus to be the righteousness you desire. I believe this, and so I cannot leave your side. Help me to know what it means to live in your Son and to obediently participate in his sufferings.  My generation tells me to seek comfort and convenience but you tell me to seek love and sacrifice.  It scares me to think that you have called me to suffer, but I believe it is holy and right to selflessly serve.  Now, by your grace, help me experience the sacrificial Christian life with a spiritually mature heart. AMEN

Jesus came to save us, change us and then make us a replica of him for our generation.
 

Tuesday, April 23rd

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12-14

Dear Jesus,

I know that my life isn't quite over because I am still here.  I know that at the moment my body dies, my soul will be perfected.  Until I receive that gift, I have a purpose for my life; it's to live out faith and love in your name in an athletic way.  It’s to press on in ardent, concentrated love toward the day I experience your perfect love and power in heaven.  Every now and then, I am overcome by memories of past failures. They turn me inward and downward.  But in this passage, Paul tells me that even he willfully forgot what was behind, so he could live fully in the present.  Help me today to forget all of my sins and failures as well as every supposed accomplishment. These two impostures only distract me from today.  Instead, give me the singular purpose to live today the way you have called me to. Thanks for paving the way for me to do this with your pure grace.  

AMEN

God has promised to give us grace and forgiveness for the rest of our lives.  Let's promise him to run in that sphere with all the spiritual agility we can muster.

Monday, April 22nd

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. - Ephesians 3:17-18

Dear Jesus,

Today, I willingly lay aside all my requests that you fix this or that in my life or in the lives of those I love.  Instead, according to your word above, I ask with Paul, one thing: enlarge your love and power in my heart, so that I grasp more than ever before, how real and powerful that love is to make me secure, to give me peace and hope, to enable me to want to be there for other people, even those who irritate me, and to fill me to overflowing with love for everyone.  

AMEN

You don’t have what it takes to know the depth and breadth of God’s love.  This you must receive as a gift from Him who loves everyone incomprehensibly. 

Sunday, April 21st, Easter!

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

Dearest Lord Jesus, I ask you to cleanse my heart from all sinful desires and dwell there with your eternal peace. I rejoice to know that you have blotted out all my transgressions and reconciled to me with my Father in heaven, that I as his child may seek his face and know that he is full of tender mercies and boundless compassion. I praise you because of the hope that you have brought to my heart. I needn’t be afraid of death and dying because there is no condemnation for those who believe in the saving power of The Cross. To all who are sorrowing let this Easter Day bring the comfort of your promises and a new joy of expectancy as they look forward to the day when they shall be reunited with their loved ones in the eternal glory of heaven. Take full possession of my heart, remove all sin, scatter all doubts, drive away all worries. Let the Holy Spirit give me a love that will not die. Increase in me day after day the desire to follow you to wherever you shall lead me, until I stand before your throne to behold your glory as the risen Lord, and praise you with the saints and angels with an undying and perfect love. Hallelujah. Amen.

Saturday, April 20th

“Jesus returned to his disciples and found them sleeping and he said to Peter, "Could you not watch with me for one hour. Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." - Matthew 26:40-41

Dear Jesus, it was your greatest hour of need and your disciples did not understand how important it was for them to be awake for you and for themselves. I don't think I would have done any better that day because my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak also. Today, come and strengthen me with your word and your presence so that I watch, pray, and do not fall into any kind of temptation. Thank you for never falling into temptation. My peace is in your righteousness not mine.  Amen

 Jesus is always there for us even when we are not completely there for him.

Friday, April 19th, Good Friday

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? ... Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. “-Isaiah 53: 1, 4-6

 Dear Jesus, I love to meditate on your six hours on the cross for me. When I read these words from Isaiah that were written 600 years before you were born, I realize that, as the eternal God, your heart and soul has always been on the cross.  You are always there suffering, always risen, always sending the Holy Spirit, always loving me.  Thank you for taking away the thousand plus ways I have disappointed you.  Help me to let that same grace flow through me to those who have let me down.  I want to live in the shadow of the cross being forgiven and learning to forgive everyone.  AMEN

 Grace for me means grace through me.  Grace through me means grace from me to others.

Thursday, April 18th, Mauday Thursday

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” - Matthew 26:26-29

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

 Dear Jesus, you are love personified and on the night before you died, you gave us two commands (mandates) that are natural desires for anyone changed by your love. The first was that we would draw near to you often in the Lord's Supper for a hug from heaven from you as we take your very body and blood shed for us.  The second is that we love one another as you have loved us. Both mandates given on Maundy Thursday are a delight for my redeemed soul.  I love drawing near to you and I love forgiving and loving those around me, both friend and foe.  Please deepen my understanding of how the Lord's Supper and the command to love are foundations for my life.  Give me insight into how I can reflect what you are teaching me to others in a simple and powerful way too.  AMEN

 The Lord’s Supper is the closest we get to heaven before we pass from this life to the next.