Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Luke 24: 25 (The Message)So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe …Lord I know you never leave us. You are with us every moment, every breath we take.I know.My mind accepts this.But I have a slow heart.  I have heard that one of the longest distances is between the brain and the heart. Though only 18 inches – faith takes a lifetime to travel and take root in our souls.Come walk with me on my journey to Emmaus, LordPry open my ears.  May Your words burn in my heart and set it aflame in faith.What can’t I simply believe?  Be my pacemaker, Lord, and set my heart to beat in rhythm with You.I do believe. Help my unbelief.   … [Read more...]

Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.   Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLTToo much activity gives you restless dreams.Lord I can’t sleep.  Or rather I go to sleep, then wake up.My mind races with items left undone.My heart echoes with voices that demand, “Do, do, do!”My nerves fidget and frazzle, taut between yesterday and tomorrow.I focus more on the night’s shadows than Your light’s guidance.Too much activity results in restless dreams.I fill my time with jagged emptiness instead of creating space for You.When I do pause and turn my heart to You,Once again You gently tell me to rest, rest in You.Your soothing whisper quiets the noise in my soulYour arms enfold me and I snuggle into peaceful slumber.Rest.PeaceQuietAnd at last sleep. … [Read more...]

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”  John 11: 17-27.“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is … [Read more...]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. Ephesians 1: 3-5 He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the worldLord I have read this verses before but never noticed this phrase before. It jumped off the pages of my Bible into my heart.I said it aloud as if I didn’t believe what I was reading:God, the Creator, the Almighty, the One and Only chose us – all of us -  "before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love." Wow! You have loved us before You created the world.You chose us to be your children at the very beginning.You knew us as you formed us and determined we would always be a part of your family, your plan, your love.Lord when I doubt … [Read more...]

“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” Song of Solomon 2:10-13Come with meLord, two doves have perched outside my office window this week. As I work I hear their rhythmic lullaby.Coo, coo, coo…I wonder what they are singing.  I imagine they are singing with You, Lord.  Are you inviting me to join in this praise chorus?   I hear You say softly, “Come with me.”I pause and as they coo, I silently pray with them, “Lord… Lord… Lord…”Ahhh, the winter has past…the season of spring has come…Your invitation in all of nature shouts to us still hibernating….“Arise!”“Come!!”“Come with me, my beautiful one.”Lord, Your love is my invitation.  I come. … [Read more...]

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Deuteronomy 4:9a Let them slip from your heart as long as you liveLord, you warn me to be careful.You say gently, don’t forgetDon’t let what I know to be true to slip away.I let my hands get so filled with others things I cannot cling to Your hands.I chose, yes it is my decision, to follow the shiny objects of the world instead of focusing only on You.Yet Lord you never leave me.You wait patiently, guarding me, watching me.You seek me where I stray and gently nudge me back into Your heartYou see me start to wander off Your chosen path for me and warn me –      Be careful        Don’t forget            Don’t let them slip from your heart.Lord Your love is the Velcro around my heart to help me cling to You.Lord You are the straight and narrow road and only You keep me from falling and losing my way.You catch me when I fall.Lord You … [Read more...]

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”  Matthew 17: 1-5 Listen to him!I wonder, Lord, how I would react if I were Peter, James or John that day, high on the mountain.Would I be like Peter – so self-centered, only thinking of myself? “It is good for us to be here.” I am not sure if I witnessed Your transfiguration and the miraculous appearance of Moses and Elijah, standing there talking with Jesus, if I could … [Read more...]