"No aspect of the created order, nor any event or being within it, can end our enjoyment of the active love of God to us in Christ." Commentary on Romans 8:38, 39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height not depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39
I found about 15 pink balloons tied with red, white, and green ribbon in the trees across from my house. They had all popped and were hanging limply in the branches. I wondered if there would be a message on them and there was. I brought them home and tried to carefully pull the melded balloons apart so I could read all the writings. Only one clearly stuck out. I give it to you now.
"My fairytale prince and I are still doing amazing.
I love him so so so much! I am going to marry him.
I wish you could be there and be in the wedding.
We will dance for you!"
Whether these came from across town or across the United States, the message was meant for someone else. Someone no longer here. Someone dear to the writer. An event was about to happen of great importance to the sender of the balloons and a loved one would be missing. Was it a father? Was it a mother? Or a best friend who died too soon?
We do not know. But someone was missing. Someone was gone.
Our scripture in Romans reminds us once again that though we lose a loved one and can be separated by death from friends and family, we can never, never, never be separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This scripture also reminds me that what I worry about is not of greater importance than the sure and constant love that I have in Christ. I am never alone, never abandoned. This scripture reminds me that even my sin can not separate me from the love of God because I believe and accept that Christ paid for all of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's failings.
And this love has a greater ability to bring us peace and joy than any human love on earth! Let us thank Him right now for this inseparable love.
Deuteronomy 31:8 "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 79 - Women Helpers
"We can do without anything while we have God." Lilias Trotter 1853-1928 missionary to North Africa
"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." Luke 8:1-3 New International Version
"...and many others (women) who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples." Luke 8:3 The Message
The women. They were there.They loved Him, served Him, followed Him, gave of their provision.
Jesus could have lived everyday by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He could have pulled money from the Sea of Galilee out of the mouth of a fish whenever He wanted. But He did the ordinary thing of letting the women He saved cook for Him, go to market, bake the bread, use their own savings to provide for Him and His beloved disciples.
They stood ready to serve. They heard and believed the lessons taught on the mountainside and in the temple. They watched Jesus die and wept for their loss. "Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there." Mark 15:40,41
These women felt like Lilias Trotter who could serve on a dusty road, go without the finery, and be misunderstood by their society because after all: "We can do without anything while we have God."
I want to be like those women who gave up to go. Most important to them was to be close to Jesus. He had set them free. Their freedom led them to serve.
How beautiful of our LORD to include us in His world wide plans for ministry. And it may only be by fixing a meal. But that was important enough that it is included in the Bible. God's word deemed it inspired.
Thank You, Father, that You placed women in the scriptures to show us how we, too, may serve You. But also, it makes us feel so loved to see how You ordained works for us to do before the beginning of the world and included us as an important part of Your ministry. Help us to love You so much that we can say "I can do without anything because I have You. In Jesus name, Amen.
"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." Luke 8:1-3 New International Version
"...and many others (women) who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples." Luke 8:3 The Message
The women. They were there.They loved Him, served Him, followed Him, gave of their provision.
Jesus could have lived everyday by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He could have pulled money from the Sea of Galilee out of the mouth of a fish whenever He wanted. But He did the ordinary thing of letting the women He saved cook for Him, go to market, bake the bread, use their own savings to provide for Him and His beloved disciples.
They stood ready to serve. They heard and believed the lessons taught on the mountainside and in the temple. They watched Jesus die and wept for their loss. "Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there." Mark 15:40,41
These women felt like Lilias Trotter who could serve on a dusty road, go without the finery, and be misunderstood by their society because after all: "We can do without anything while we have God."
I want to be like those women who gave up to go. Most important to them was to be close to Jesus. He had set them free. Their freedom led them to serve.
How beautiful of our LORD to include us in His world wide plans for ministry. And it may only be by fixing a meal. But that was important enough that it is included in the Bible. God's word deemed it inspired.
Thank You, Father, that You placed women in the scriptures to show us how we, too, may serve You. But also, it makes us feel so loved to see how You ordained works for us to do before the beginning of the world and included us as an important part of Your ministry. Help us to love You so much that we can say "I can do without anything because I have You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 78- Focus
"Never has it been so easy to live in half a dozen good harmless worlds at once ---art, music, social science, games, motoring, the following of some profession, and so on. And between them we run the risk of drifting about, the "good" hiding the "best" even more effectually than it could be hidden by downright frivolity with its smothered heart-ache at its own emptiness." Lilias Trotter - missionary to Muslims in North Africa 1853-1928
"...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Philippians 3:13
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "one thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38
I went to a one day art class. They were teaching us to work with pastels. We were all given the same photo to work on of a black cat, all hunched up and ready to jump. I thought, "This is impossible. I can't draw this. I can't even see the shoulder or the paw. It just looks like one big ball of black."
"Focus." the teacher said. "Look at the outline. See how big the head is in comparison to the rest of the body. Look how his shoulder rises up here. See the paw tucked under his body. This light area indicates an ear."
The more I gave my attention to the photo, the more it became clearer. An outline emerged. An eye popped out. "Oh now I see the ears!"
I focused, and what was going on around me faded into the background and all I could see was the cat.
Indeed this is what Jesus would have us do ...to figure out the one thing. This is what Paul spoke of and lived out. This is what Mary did in Luke 10 when Jesus pointed her out to Martha saying "...one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better..."
One definition of focus is the center of activity, attraction, or attention. This seems to be what we need to be doing with our lives...focusing on Christ, loving Christ, laying every other love for money, or popularity, or beauty, or family beneath the love of Christ. I am not saying we should not love our families, or enjoy the fruit of our labor, or exercise and dress in a pretty fashion. But these loves are always submitted to our great Savior. These other loves can not be the source of our joy. These other loves pale in significance to the beautiful, wondrous love of the LORD.
The more I focus on Christ, the more attractive He becomes, the more attention I give to Him, the more my activities line up with His will.
As Lilias Trotter said in the quote above, there are many good things I can do everyday that take me away from God's best. Let us be women who make decisions based on God. Choose what is better. Center your life on Christ. Pray that He becomes your greatest attraction. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
So look at your schedule. Have you prayed about it? Are there things you are doing that are keeping you from Jesus? Ask for His help to change. You know we might both find that the more we look to Jesus the less hectic our schedule.
"...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Philippians 3:13
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "one thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38
I went to a one day art class. They were teaching us to work with pastels. We were all given the same photo to work on of a black cat, all hunched up and ready to jump. I thought, "This is impossible. I can't draw this. I can't even see the shoulder or the paw. It just looks like one big ball of black."
"Focus." the teacher said. "Look at the outline. See how big the head is in comparison to the rest of the body. Look how his shoulder rises up here. See the paw tucked under his body. This light area indicates an ear."
The more I gave my attention to the photo, the more it became clearer. An outline emerged. An eye popped out. "Oh now I see the ears!"
I focused, and what was going on around me faded into the background and all I could see was the cat.
Indeed this is what Jesus would have us do ...to figure out the one thing. This is what Paul spoke of and lived out. This is what Mary did in Luke 10 when Jesus pointed her out to Martha saying "...one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better..."
One definition of focus is the center of activity, attraction, or attention. This seems to be what we need to be doing with our lives...focusing on Christ, loving Christ, laying every other love for money, or popularity, or beauty, or family beneath the love of Christ. I am not saying we should not love our families, or enjoy the fruit of our labor, or exercise and dress in a pretty fashion. But these loves are always submitted to our great Savior. These other loves can not be the source of our joy. These other loves pale in significance to the beautiful, wondrous love of the LORD.
The more I focus on Christ, the more attractive He becomes, the more attention I give to Him, the more my activities line up with His will.
As Lilias Trotter said in the quote above, there are many good things I can do everyday that take me away from God's best. Let us be women who make decisions based on God. Choose what is better. Center your life on Christ. Pray that He becomes your greatest attraction. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
So look at your schedule. Have you prayed about it? Are there things you are doing that are keeping you from Jesus? Ask for His help to change. You know we might both find that the more we look to Jesus the less hectic our schedule.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 77 - Failure
"Not even Samson's failures could prevent the accomplishment of God's great purposes."
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths ....Leslie Leyland Fields
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O LORD God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "let me die with the Philistines!"
And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Judges 16: 28-30
So Samson, a baby of promise to a barren couple, grows up to disappoint his parents and disobey his God. As I read Judges 14, 15, and 16 Samson reads like a failure. He breaks God's law by marrying a foreign woman, touching a dead carcass, committing adultery.
In the midst of his free-spirited rebellion against God, he was at the same time being used to bring havoc against the enemies of the Israelites. Our gracious God punished the wicked Philistines using the rebel Samson.
Samson's behavior did not go unpunished. The LORD departed from him. (Judges 16: 20) No longer the Spirit empowered strong guy. With his eyes put out, bound in bronze fetters, he was placed in prison as a blind grinder.
And yet, God's great purposes are still accomplished. Samson at the end of his life lifts his heart back up to God and God graciously answers his last prayer and gives him supernatural strength one more time. Ultimately God's perfect will is done for the Israelites and for the Philistines.
So today I was reading about the unselfish church of China, while feeling very selfish. I have work to do on my day off. Our fun day will be cut short because of it....and inwardly (alright, I whined out loud to my husband) I whined.
Here I am wanting to be like the Chinese Christians and when I have opportunity to love others better than myself I hesitate - I complain.
I love myself way better than I love others. And an even bigger failure is that I do not love God with all my heart. These are daily failures.
I take heart in the quote above. Nothing prevents the accomplishment of God's purposes, not even my sin.
And I take heart in God's daily dose of forgiveness. And I take heart in this: Mark 10:27 "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Thank God for having a plan for you that can use the good, bad, and ugly. Trust Him. It's going to be okay. Your failure is not final.
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths ....Leslie Leyland Fields
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O LORD God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "let me die with the Philistines!"
And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Judges 16: 28-30
So Samson, a baby of promise to a barren couple, grows up to disappoint his parents and disobey his God. As I read Judges 14, 15, and 16 Samson reads like a failure. He breaks God's law by marrying a foreign woman, touching a dead carcass, committing adultery.
In the midst of his free-spirited rebellion against God, he was at the same time being used to bring havoc against the enemies of the Israelites. Our gracious God punished the wicked Philistines using the rebel Samson.
Samson's behavior did not go unpunished. The LORD departed from him. (Judges 16: 20) No longer the Spirit empowered strong guy. With his eyes put out, bound in bronze fetters, he was placed in prison as a blind grinder.
And yet, God's great purposes are still accomplished. Samson at the end of his life lifts his heart back up to God and God graciously answers his last prayer and gives him supernatural strength one more time. Ultimately God's perfect will is done for the Israelites and for the Philistines.
So today I was reading about the unselfish church of China, while feeling very selfish. I have work to do on my day off. Our fun day will be cut short because of it....and inwardly (alright, I whined out loud to my husband) I whined.
Here I am wanting to be like the Chinese Christians and when I have opportunity to love others better than myself I hesitate - I complain.
I love myself way better than I love others. And an even bigger failure is that I do not love God with all my heart. These are daily failures.
I take heart in the quote above. Nothing prevents the accomplishment of God's purposes, not even my sin.
And I take heart in God's daily dose of forgiveness. And I take heart in this: Mark 10:27 "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Thank God for having a plan for you that can use the good, bad, and ugly. Trust Him. It's going to be okay. Your failure is not final.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 76 - Sovereignty
"...if there is a God in heaven, there is no such thing as mere coincidence, not even in the smallest affairs of life." Desiring God John Piper
Ecclesiastes 7:14 "In the day pf prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him."
Webster's dictionary defines sovereignty as supreme power - unlimited - absolute - autonomous - independent.
The Hebrew for sovereignty is Kol meaning: anyone, anything, anywhere, everyone, everything, everyway, everyman, whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, forever
1Chronicles 29:11-12 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."
The sovereignty of God is a sweet message to the parents, to the childless, to the young, to the old, to the poor, to the rich. It teaches us trust. He's here. He's in charge. He has a plan. It will come to pass inspite of me. I can not thwart His hand. He uses all things to ultimately glorify Him and for our good. Even my mistakes, even my children's mistakes, even others' mistakes. Because of His sovereignty we can get over it and move on. We can forgive. He forgives us. We can start fresh today. His mercies are new every morning. No failure is complete because Our God reigns..not me, not my tantruming 2 year old, not my stubborn teen, not our president, not Al Kaida.
Our God reigns. I can be content because He's in control and all that He does is good. Even the murdering chaos in the streets, even the threat of war, even the bully at school, does not take away from the sure word that Our God is in heaven and He does all that He pleases. The sovereignty of God teaches me that I don't have to fix everything...He does. That I don't have to have all the answers...He does. I don't have to figure out the future...He does.
"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16
When you have a great day, praise God He ordained it and gave it to you. When you have a horrible day, ask for His forgiveness and help and move on.. For this day He gave You also.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 "In the day pf prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him."
Webster's dictionary defines sovereignty as supreme power - unlimited - absolute - autonomous - independent.
The Hebrew for sovereignty is Kol meaning: anyone, anything, anywhere, everyone, everything, everyway, everyman, whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, forever
1Chronicles 29:11-12 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."
The sovereignty of God is a sweet message to the parents, to the childless, to the young, to the old, to the poor, to the rich. It teaches us trust. He's here. He's in charge. He has a plan. It will come to pass inspite of me. I can not thwart His hand. He uses all things to ultimately glorify Him and for our good. Even my mistakes, even my children's mistakes, even others' mistakes. Because of His sovereignty we can get over it and move on. We can forgive. He forgives us. We can start fresh today. His mercies are new every morning. No failure is complete because Our God reigns..not me, not my tantruming 2 year old, not my stubborn teen, not our president, not Al Kaida.
Our God reigns. I can be content because He's in control and all that He does is good. Even the murdering chaos in the streets, even the threat of war, even the bully at school, does not take away from the sure word that Our God is in heaven and He does all that He pleases. The sovereignty of God teaches me that I don't have to fix everything...He does. That I don't have to have all the answers...He does. I don't have to figure out the future...He does.
"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16
When you have a great day, praise God He ordained it and gave it to you. When you have a horrible day, ask for His forgiveness and help and move on.. For this day He gave You also.
Devotional Snapshot 75 - Blame
"If I feel bitterly towards those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they would condemn me much more, then I know nothing of Calvary love." Amy Carmichael...missionary to India
"If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love." Amy Carmichael
"Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also your own heart has known that even you have cursed others." Ecclesiastes 7: 21,22
My defenses went up when someone pointed out that I was not perfect! Yesterday I overlooked something I should have attended to, today I was micromanaging to the point that I hurt the feelings of another.
The blame depressed me and I inwardly was defending myself and feeling anger towards my accuser. But just a few days ago I was complimented and I basked in the warm feelings of being "good enough". I inwardly agreed that their good estimation of me was accurate, for I sometimes I have that good thought about myself when no one is looking. Its nice to know others see it, too.
The scripture says in Romans 12:3 "...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of your self with sober judgment..."
Don't take to heart everything people say. What good advice from the Lord! Neither praise nor blame should move me from my sober estimation of who I am before the living God. I am a horrible sinner who daily refuses to trust and follow my Savior. I deserve condemnation and if people knew me as God does they would rightfully have far more complaints than I ever get. If I feel bitter to those who even unjustly condemn me then as Amy says, "I know nothing of Calvary love."
And if I am elated by praise forgetting it is only God who enables me to do one right thing. And that left totally to myself I will always choose to be selfish then "I know nothing of Calvary love."
How do you do with praise or blame? Lets pray for each other today that none of it moves us except to love and serve our Savior more.
"If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love." Amy Carmichael
"Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also your own heart has known that even you have cursed others." Ecclesiastes 7: 21,22
My defenses went up when someone pointed out that I was not perfect! Yesterday I overlooked something I should have attended to, today I was micromanaging to the point that I hurt the feelings of another.
The blame depressed me and I inwardly was defending myself and feeling anger towards my accuser. But just a few days ago I was complimented and I basked in the warm feelings of being "good enough". I inwardly agreed that their good estimation of me was accurate, for I sometimes I have that good thought about myself when no one is looking. Its nice to know others see it, too.
The scripture says in Romans 12:3 "...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of your self with sober judgment..."
Don't take to heart everything people say. What good advice from the Lord! Neither praise nor blame should move me from my sober estimation of who I am before the living God. I am a horrible sinner who daily refuses to trust and follow my Savior. I deserve condemnation and if people knew me as God does they would rightfully have far more complaints than I ever get. If I feel bitter to those who even unjustly condemn me then as Amy says, "I know nothing of Calvary love."
And if I am elated by praise forgetting it is only God who enables me to do one right thing. And that left totally to myself I will always choose to be selfish then "I know nothing of Calvary love."
How do you do with praise or blame? Lets pray for each other today that none of it moves us except to love and serve our Savior more.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 74 - Bonkers
Mad hatter: "I'm frightened, Alice. I don't like it in here. It is terribly crowded. Have I gone mad?"
Alice: "I'm afraid so. You are entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."
From the movie: Alice in Wonderland
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46
And so, as Alice would say, I sometimes feel I've gone 'round the bend, I'm mad, bonkers, off my head. Isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus came for you and me even in our craziness? As the verse reminds us He came into the world as the Light.
When He enters in nothing stops Him from turning up the lamp of His righteousness and little by little dispelling the darkness of my soul. See what the verse says-- anyone believing in Jesus can not stay in darkness. Christ's life thrusts darkness out. Darkness can not stay where Jesus lives.
Lilias Trotter, missionary to Algerian Muslims from the 1880's till 1928, wrote of a little girl named, Melha. She came with her blind father to see Lilias's pictures of Jesus. One was of the Lord calling a little child to Him.
"Look at Jesus, Father!"
"I have no eyes, my daughter, I cannot see," was the answer.
Melha lifted her father's head and turned her eyes to Jesus and said: "O Jesus, Look at Father." Was that not a bit of heavenly wisdom?
I may be blind to Jesus, but He is not blind to me. I may feel feather-headed and scatter-brained, but Christ clears the cob-webs. I may be as mad and as worried as the Hatter, but Christ assures us that we belong to Him and are a peculiar and special people.
Thank you, Father, that You have promised that whoever believes in Jesus can not abide or stay in darkness. That once we belong to You, You keep us in Your sight and work Your life into ours.
I Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.;"
Do you feel a little bonkers today? Take heart! All the best people are!
Alice: "I'm afraid so. You are entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."
From the movie: Alice in Wonderland
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46
And so, as Alice would say, I sometimes feel I've gone 'round the bend, I'm mad, bonkers, off my head. Isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus came for you and me even in our craziness? As the verse reminds us He came into the world as the Light.
When He enters in nothing stops Him from turning up the lamp of His righteousness and little by little dispelling the darkness of my soul. See what the verse says-- anyone believing in Jesus can not stay in darkness. Christ's life thrusts darkness out. Darkness can not stay where Jesus lives.
Lilias Trotter, missionary to Algerian Muslims from the 1880's till 1928, wrote of a little girl named, Melha. She came with her blind father to see Lilias's pictures of Jesus. One was of the Lord calling a little child to Him.
"Look at Jesus, Father!"
"I have no eyes, my daughter, I cannot see," was the answer.
Melha lifted her father's head and turned her eyes to Jesus and said: "O Jesus, Look at Father." Was that not a bit of heavenly wisdom?
I may be blind to Jesus, but He is not blind to me. I may feel feather-headed and scatter-brained, but Christ clears the cob-webs. I may be as mad and as worried as the Hatter, but Christ assures us that we belong to Him and are a peculiar and special people.
Thank you, Father, that You have promised that whoever believes in Jesus can not abide or stay in darkness. That once we belong to You, You keep us in Your sight and work Your life into ours.
I Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.;"
Do you feel a little bonkers today? Take heart! All the best people are!
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