HIS PERFECTLY DESIGNED WORK

 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a).

Do the work that you are given, my child, and leave the result of that work to me. The work that I have given you has been designed for you. When you carry it out faithfully and obediently, the result will be what I planned.

Always follow my guidance. Don't follow anyone else. Even those who are wise on earth are not wise in heaven. They do not know the work that I have designed for you. They have enough trouble sometimes understanding and following their own.

I know who you are, my child. I know you intimately....your heart, your character, your capability, your greatest potential. When I direct you to do something, it is done with full knowledge of just who you are. When you follow me and give me your best, the result is glorious and rewarding beyond anything you can imagine.

Go forward in faith and follow my path. Be strengthened by my power. Keep your eyes on me. I started this faith and this work in you. If you continually surrender your heart and will to me, I will perfect my work in you. I have called you, and I am faithful to complete my work through you. Faithfully allow it to be completed.

 

WORTH IT ALL

“The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Habakkuk 3:19).

If I climb a mountain and concentrate on the hardship of each step, I never see the beautiful reward waiting for me at the summit. That summit is my goal! I will not dwell on the little problems that come up each day. Each struggle is a lesson to carry me closer to my goal.

Each step up my mountain is a springboard toward the top, and I will not dwell on the pain of those steps. Keeping my eyes on the goal, I will move upward, and as I climb each step will become another solid foundation of growth. If I consider each step as a means to carry me to the promise at the peak, my climb will not bring despair, but great hope.

The promise at the summit is my greatest reward. One day I will reach that greatest height, and know that all the struggle has been worth the promise. I shall look down on my rocky path, and know that the effort that I gave to get to this goal, has been worth it all.

 

I AM THANKFUL

I am thankful for the moment you came into my life. Everything changed in that instant. I was no longer alone. I was no longer bound in the dregs of my past. In that instant... in that moment, I knew I was loved no matter what I had done or been. Your love has set me free to be me. You always see my potential and lift me above the circumstances that try to destroy me. You walk with me everyday, but more incredibly and wonderfully you live inside me. It is your heart that loves through me, and it is your forgiveness that flows. I have none of my own. You make all the difference. You make my life complete, and for that I cannot give you enough thanks.

Today I give you all the praise and thanks I can. You are my life, and my God. I love you, Jesus, for loving me beyond measure... beyond anything my limited mind can imagine. You just are, and in your constant promise, I am fulfilled.

LIVE HIS LOVE

"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

The world has heard about Jesus Christ, but what it needs is to know Him. We try to share His love, and are surprised when our words don't make a difference in lives of those who need Him. They are just words about Him. They are not His words living and active in our lives. They are not Him living through us.

The world needs to see Christ in my life. It doesn't need to hear about His power, but it needs to experience it through me. It doesn't need to hear about His peace, but it needs to see it alive in me. It needs to see a calm reassuring faith, no matter what the circumstances. It doesn't need to hear about His joy, but it needs to see His joy spring up from depths of faith in His faithfulness to me. It doesn't need to just hear of my love, but it needs to experience His love through me.

If I love Him and live Him, the world will see Him in me. They may accept or reject Him, but they will have experienced His love and witnessed His power. It is not my place to save. It is my place to live what He has done in my life. If I am His vessel, He does the work. All I have to do is allow Him to live completely through me.

Rejoice in the Rain

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus . Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you ” (Philippians 4:4-9). 

Do you realize that life is not about waiting for the storms of life to just be over? There will always be storms. Life is about learning to rejoice in the rain. It is about bringing the Lord a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) no matter what storm rages in your life. You can't wait the storms of life out. You must launch into the fury in faith, trusting the Lord to help you handle it with grace.

Jesus Christ is the very best truth for your life. His truth is not lessened by trials and suffering. If you practice what is right, continually dwell on what is good, and trust the Lord, you will discover God's promise of peace and joy in the midst of any trial.

Do you rejoice in His faithfulness or does worry anchor your mind in fear? If God is with you, why should you be afraid? This Scripture from Philippians imparts the truth that if He is with us we can have perfect peace of mind and heart.

“It is absolutely impossible to worry and live in peace at the same time,” Joyce Meyer writes. Anxiety and worry will destroy peace of heart and mind. God, however, assures those who have made Him Lord, that He is constantly with them as they face the raging storms of life. If we know Him, and serve Him, and live for Him, we have His constant care, and faithful promise to carry us through to the end, or either intervene when the way is too rough (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let's rejoice in Him always. Let's give Him our fears with thankfulness in our hearts that He will handle what we are unable to handle. Let's dwell on what is good and worthy and noble, and put these into practice in our lives. Our God of peace will be with us. All will be well.

www.lynnhamptonlacher.blogspot.com

Today I Touch

 

Today I almost touch your garment.

You are as close as my next breath.

I have seen your glory in the sanctuary,

I have known it in suffering and joy.

The pain brings the promise of release.

It is through pain that I discover

Your strength to stand strong.

But in this moment I need you now.

This pain has overwhelmed me.

I need to know with all my heart

That you are truly my healer.

So I reach up and grasp your hem,

And in that one act of faith,

Your life becomes my life,

Flowing, healing, redeeming,

Your glory is within me.

That which had promised death

Now promises life!

Today I touched the hem of your garment.

Matthew 9:19-21

(dedicated to a friend who reached up and touched the hem of His garment)

HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW

    The call came in the middle of last night. James Davis is in surgery right at this moment for new lungs. It has been a long road, and it still will be. For the last several weeks, Edgewood Church has been undergoing a renovation in the sanctuary. Many have sacrificed time, money, and love to see it completed for today’s worship service.

    And it will be worship!  Not only a new sanctuary, but the gift of new lungs for James!  God does make all things new in our lives. We may not always perceive how His hand does this, but it is His promise.  Sometimes the route to our promise is long and hard, but in the end the reward is very great.

    Whatever your struggle....whatever your question....whatever your promise.... HOLD FAST!  He who promises is faithful. We are new in Him because He has saved us from our own self-destruction. We are new because He has made us His own.

    Be renewed everyday with the touch of His Spirit!  Be renewed with His love.  If you are able, come worship with us at Edgewood today, and rejoice in the miracle of His presence.

Offer Help

Do you have a friend who is struggling with an addiction of some kind? Maybe you don’t believe you can help him experience freedom, but you can. You don’t have to be a spiritual giant.

Pray for him and with him. Intercession on behalf of this person not only gives you spiritual insight, but builds faith. Pray regarding what you share, and be sure it is confirmed by or does not violate Scripture.

Listen to him. Take time to understand what he is saying. Many times we don’t hear because we are planning what we are going to say next.

Do not judge. If someone confesses to you, do not criticize him. Realize that he reaches out to you because the Holy Spirit trusts you.

Keep his confession confidential. Whatever he reveals, don’t tell others. Treat his confidence as a sacred trust.

Encourage. Never forget to remind him that there is deliverance and healing in Christ.

Persevere. Don’t give up. Believe in him when he is at his lowest. Don’t allow him to isolate himself from other believers because of his addiction.

Share the Word. Assist him in Bible study, and help him discover God’s promises.

Be holy. Keep your own relationship with the Lord pure. If you are not open to the Lord’s correction, you cannot help him.

“Remember this,” James affirms. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). When you share the heart of Jesus, the Lord does the miraculous. Not only will the Lord save a person lost in sin from spiritual death, but Christ’s forgiveness for your own failures will take on an incredibly deeper meaning. Remember that the grace of Christ is more than sufficient to meet the challenge (II Corinthians 12:9).

MADE RICH TO GIVE

Even though I am not rich in what others might call rich, I am rich in Christ. I can't contain such rich fullness, it just overflows. It is a fullness of His Spirit that must be given away. He calls me to give all of myself away.... my heart, my thoughts, my possessions, my life....for His sake. He is the greatest giver, and He is my greatest example. He gave of His time, so I will give of mine. He gave up personal comfort, so I will give up mine. He gave all of Himself for me....His perfect life for my sinful one. He still gives all of Himself for my comfort, for my healing, for my understanding, for my sorrow, for my weakness, for my need. Because of what He has done for me, and His love that continues to abundantly flow, I also give. And in giving, I receive. I receive more joy and move peace and more love to give away. It is a never ending cycle of richness that only comes with complete surrender to the Savior who died for me. In Him is fullness of life.

”Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give unto your bosom” (Luke 6:38).

 

HERE IN THIS MOMENT

Here in this moment I am still.

Here in this moment all that has bombarded my mind is silenced.

Here in this moment there is only you.

Here in this moment my heart is at rest in your love.

Here in this moment the voices that have plagued my mind are silenced.

Here in this moment I find peace that passes my human understanding.

Here in this moment I discover your joy that is my strength.

Here in this moment my prayer takes flight straight to your heart.

If not for your moment of surrender, I wouldn't have this moment.

If not for your moment of sacrifice, I wouldn't have this moment.

Here in this moment I surrender all I perceive.

Here in this moment I sacrifice all that has held me.

Here in this moment I am loved as I long to love you.

Here in this moment I have you.

Here in this moment I have eternity.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).