Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me...

Deep dark depression, excessive misery...

I remember those words from a skit on the Hee Haw television show. A rather funny segment where they sat on a porch and sang funny lines about the tragedies in their lives. There are a lot of people who live their lives this way. They talk about all the bad things that happen to them, worry excessively about the bad things that will happen tomorrow and the next day. And no matter what suggestions you give, they are shot down with reasons that won't work. How easy to get caught up in that negativity and become depressed yourself!

Last night I picked up a booklet I received from Guideposts. The title is "Expect a Miracle--Make a Miracle Happen". I realized how true this is. Miracles occur every day. They may not be as spectacular as the Red Sea parting, but they exist! We just have to open our eyes to see them.

God promises to provide all that we need if we have faith in Him. Having faith is the first step in aligning our lives for God's purpose. And having faith and believing in miracles will get us through those times when trouble visits our doorstep. God doesn't promise only good things will happen to us, but He does promise to be with us through it all. Having that promise is so uplifting and so healing.

When trouble visits your doorstep, what do you do? Moan and weep in despair? Or do you expect a miracle?

Expect a miracle--make a miracle happen. What a wonderful motto to live by.

Looking Up

I'm sitting in my office which is half-way below the ground level and looking upward. Outside my windows are a plethora of flowers, yellow and orange coneflowers, lavendar coneflowers, purple butterfly bush, brilliant pink knock-out roses, hostas... What a busy world my garden is! Honey bees and bumblebees flit from one coneflower to another. Back and forth they fly in a never-ending journey. Butterflies blow softly in the breeze as they flutter on the tips of the purple flowered bush of their namesake.

It's Sunday, yet they continue in their efforts. It makes me wonder if we haven't fashioned our lives too much after these industrious creatures. Sunday is meant to be a holy day, a day of rest, a day to honor our Lord, and embrace our family.

Do you honor the Lord's day or are you one of those busy bees?

Dressing to Please God

This morning as I dressed for church, I thought about how much trouble we put into our clothing, makeup, and hair to look pleasing to other people. Today, many people commented on my purple suit and how good I looked. At one time, I might have loved to hear such compliments, but they don't do anything to warm my heart these days. I've learned that God doesn't care what I'm wearing. He doesn't care if my face is void of makeup. He doesn't even care if I took time to style my hair. God sees me as I really am. He looks inside my heart and knows if I'm dressed to please Him.

I suppose I dress to please other people, to blend in, or perhaps to feel a part of the crowd. Too many times, we look at the outer appearance of our friends and acquaintances. We make judgements based on our first impressions.

Instead of looking at the tatoos, the piercings, and spiked hair, black nail polish and lips, we should look into a person's eyes. Only there will we see the reflection of what is inside. Is it a frightened soul, a timid soul crying out for acceptance? Is it someone who has been hurt and hides behind their exterior coverings? God knows. God sees. And God loves all His children. Thank God for that!

Blessed are the Merciful...

...For they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7, NIV)

So many times, it is easy for me to see both sides of a issue. And, when someone is accused, it is easy for me to say things like "innocent until proven guilty." This works as long as it doesn't directly affect my family or someone close to me.

How do we show mercy when we have been injured? It isn't easy. God knows. He sees. And if we realize our mistake in placing judgement and ask forgiveness, He shows us mercy.

Showing mercy to another person doesn't mean we absolve them from sin. It is not up to us to do that. It's God's job.

I don't like to hear others condemning another without really knowing a thing about the situation. The media abounds with stories where it is easy to be judgemental. String him up! They should put her behind bars for the rest of her life! What if the accused person would be someone we know or someone in our immediate family? Would we respond with such bitter judgement?

Daily I ask God to forgive me of my sins. He sees me when I don't show mercy to others. But, He forgives me when I ask. And, then I pray for those whom I have accused. If God can be mericiful to me, a sinner, then I must try to be merciful to others.

Healing the Spirit

So many times I've prayed for God to heal my loved ones from their physical afflictions. It hurts to see them struggle day after day.

I read an Upper Room devotion today and it really hit home. Perhaps I'm praying for the wrong thing. When God heals physical problems, we are always so thankful. Miracles occur every day. Prayers matter. But what about healing the spirit? Doesn't healing the spirit come first? I believe it does.

So today, I will change my focus to healing the spirits of my loved ones, so that physical healing may come after.

Lord, please bless the person reading this, and may their spirits be healed. Amen.