Honest Reflections

Five-minute read.

Were I to count them, They would outnumber the grains of sand—When I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:18

Grains of sand.

Continuing from yesterday’s devotion, we can’t count God’s thoughts about us. Like grains of sand, we can’t comprehend the vastness of them. Pick up a handful of sand and look at it. Try and count even a few grains of the finely ground powder and you will quickly realize how futile the task.

On vacation, I did sunset yoga on the beach. Starting fifteen minutes before the sun faded behind the horizon, the sky illuminated with vibrant pinks, the line of clouds bringing life to the remaining light rays. As I planted my hands in the sand, lifting my body into various poses, I could feel the shifting ground beneath me. Each move caused the sand to shape itself around my body. When we finished, I had grains of sand all over me, in my towel, stuck to my clothes, clinging to my skin and hair. No matter how much I brushed myself, I needed a shower to get all the grains off me.

We can’t escape God’s thoughts towards us. Nowhere on Earth hides us from Him nor takes His mind off us. Like grains of sand, we will find God’s thoughts towards us everywhere and anywhere. He knows the strands of hair on our heads and the DNA in our bodies. As our Creator, the Lord knows and loves every inch of us. Impossible to count, God’s thoughts towards you and me outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.

God loves you more than you can even think or imagine.

If we truly understood the Lord’s love for us, we would live life more freely. When struggles happen, we would face them with confidence, trusting the Lord’s plan (Jeremiah 29:11). We wouldn’t doubt God’s presence in our life (Deuteronomy 31:6). We would have faith that all things work to the good for those who believe and trust in the Lord (Romans 8:28). Constant prayer would mark our days because we know God bends down to listen (Psalm 116:2). Truth would set us free (John 8:31-32).

Unfortunately, the world tells a different story. Constant lies try to convince us God doesn’t exist, nor does He love us. Feelings of aloneness and isolation make God’s promises hard to believe. Doubt in the unseen Creator leaves us wondering who and what to believe. False teachers spin believable lies that can lead us down the wrong path. We have a choice to make.

“If Jesus claims to be God and the claim is valid, then He is God, and if He claims to be God and the claim is false, then He was a liar or a lunatic. Either His claim is true or false.
Therefore, either Jesus is God, or He was a liar or a lunatic.” C.S. Lewis [i]

True or false, you have a choice. Believe Jesus claims, or don’t. Lord, liar or lunatic, which one?

Application:

Lord, for me.

“Even if you didn’t believe in Jesus, following His teachings will make your life better,” I told Ron to make conversation on a long drive.

“Lord, liar or lunatic, He can’t just be a “good teacher,” my husband responded.

Ron helped me gain a new perspective on my relationship with Christ. Quoting C.S. Lewis, those three words define our decision about Jesus. We place Him as Lord over our lives, or He becomes a liar or lunatic. 

Historical records do show Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected. Over 500 witnesses saw the resurrected Christ. Faith in God sometimes defies logic, and we don’t always get the answers we seek. But Jesus as Lord leads to eternal bliss, peace on Earth, and an abundant life.

Lord, liar or lunatic, you choose.

Journaling Questions:

1. Write down ways you know God thinks about you.
2. What does choosing Jesus as Lord of your life do for you?
3. How can you put into action your faith today?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for doubting Your thoughts towards me. Strengthen my belief as I walk through my days. Illuminate my life with Your light as I daily choose You as Lord. With every breath I take, let me honor and serve You.  Step by step, let me fulfill my purpose and glorify You.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/lord-liar-or-lunatic/#:~:text=Lewis%20constructs%20the%20argument%20in,t%20sit%20easy%20with%20him.

Five-minute read.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:17

God’s thoughts.

Comprehending the Lord’s “thoughts” remains impossible for the human mind.  We can’t possibly begin to understand the magnificent and numerous mind of the Creator.  As created beings, we naturally desire to know God’s thoughts, but ultimately, we must accept we can’t.  Realizing God thinks about us gives us something to treasure.

The Lord who created the Earth, parted the seas, and pierced the darkness with His light thinks about you.  Not only does God think about you, but He has long before you entered the world.  How amazing that the all-knowing, all-powerful God thinks about each one of us constantly, adoring you with every thought He has about you.

No one has ever loved me like my husband does.  Sometimes, Ron overwhelms me with his affection.  I catch him looking at me with a dreamy smile on his face.

“What are you smiling at?” I ask.

“You, I just love you,” he’ll respond.

Ron surprises me at these times.  He finds whatever I’m doing endearing, which shows on his face.  While dating, Ron would tell me how much he thought about me.  “I knew the minute I met you, you were trouble,” he says about our first meeting.  When he came to pick me up for our first date, I will never forget Ron walking towards me, arms outstretched, a smile on his face, and affection in his eyes.  Allowing him to fold me into his arms began a healing journey as I learned how to accept and receive love.

As I began to understand love in a new way, my relationship with God deepened as I gained a different perspective on love.  Ron helped me understand unconditional love.  Raised in a loving family, I knew love.  Where family must love you, Ron chose to love me and continues to cherish me daily.

God chose to love us.  Each day, the Lord loves us more and more.  Nothing we do stops our Creator from loving us.  Spend time thinking about the person who loves you most on this earth.  Try to imagine how much more God loves you than them.  Ponder how much the Lord thinks about you.  Every second, minute, and hour, God’s thinking about you.  Not a moment goes by without the Lord having you on His mind.

David’s thinking about how much God thinks about him.  Knowing the Lord dotes on him makes the warrior feel precious.  Treasuring God’s thoughts towards him gives David value and affirms his purpose on Earth.  The grown shepherd boy knows that the Creator designed him for a purpose, thinks about him constantly, and loves him unconditionally.

Just like David, God created us for a purpose that only we can fulfill.  Basking in the Creator’s love will help us persevere in the storms, knowing God hasn’t forgotten us.  The Lord never stops thinking about you and me, in that we can trust.

Application:

On God’s mind.

I know how much I think about the people I love.  My family and friends constantly occupy my thoughts and prayers when facing hardships.  God thinks about me more than I ever think about someone else.  Trying to understand this faith fact overwhelms me.  I can’t imagine the Lord spending that much time thinking about me, yet He does. 

Feelings of unworthiness make me doubt.  But faith makes me believe.  If God’s always with me, He’s always thinking about me. Considering what we can’t see defines faith.  Trusting God constantly has me on His mind helps me find my value and discover my purpose.  And the Lord promises to do the same for you.

Journaling Questions:

1. What makes you believe God thinks about you?
2. How does it make you feel knowing God’s always thinking about you?
3. How does accepting God thinks about you give you value?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for not believing You think about us.  As we begin to process and accept that You always have us on Your mind, help us believe it in our core.  Let us find our value in You, our worthiness, and our purpose in You.  Guide and direct us on our journeys, help us discover our purpose, honoring You in all things.  IJNIP. Amen

Five-minute read.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; All the days ordained for me were written in your book. Before one of them came to be.

Psalm139:16

Ordained days.

My husband uses a countdown calendar every Christmas to mark the days until Christmas. A giant snowman with a twirling nose hangs in our kitchen. “Days ‘Til Christmas” sprawl across his black top hat, 24-1 border the snowman’s cheery face.

“Alexa, how many days ‘til Christmas?” Ron occasionally asks when he forgets to move the nose a notch. Something about the countdown adds excitement to the holiday as the days tick away. God’s book of life has each of our days numbered; long before Ron did his first Christmas countdown, the Lord knew when and how he would.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

I don’t understand God’s sovereignty, nor should I. How the Lord knows every intimate detail of my life, your life, and everyone else’s life baffles me. But I trust He does. And knowing my Creator knows how many days I will live on Earth brings comfort to me as I begin to understand the profound truth in this verse. Life and death remain in God’s control, and living out His purpose for my life remains mine. The Lord never fully intended for us to understand how the universe operates. He expects us to trust that He does.

Releasing the fear of death to the Lord allows me to live life fully. God already determined my days; I won’t die a day sooner or later than what the Lord ordained for me. Once I fulfill my life purpose, God will call me home to Him.  And so, I needn’t worry about dying, instead focusing my attention on living.

How amazing to spend time thinking about God’s intimate knowledge of us. Living in a city, I see all kinds of people everywhere I look. The Lord created and knows everyone, loving them even if they don’t love Him back. Each story, God knows. Every hurt, every healing, every struggle, every triumph, nothing happens in life without the Creator knowing. 

Yes, God does know the bad days before they happen and does allow them to occur. The Lord never promised a life without pain, but He did promise never to leave us, no matter the circumstances. Drawing closer to the Great Comforter will help us persevere during the storms of life. God leads us through the trials of this life, guiding us on the journey until we move to our heavenly address.

“Someday, you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” Billy Graham[i]

The Lord knows your address on Earth and when it will change to a heavenly zipcode. We don’t control life and death; God does. But we do have a choice in how we live our lives now. Following Jesus will help us live an abundant life and keep us in our place. God runs the universe; we follow Him.

Application:

Limited days.

In this life, we have a limited number of days. When rushing to finish a project, I must remember that God will give me the time to do the things He wants me to do. In other words, the Lord has a purpose for my life. Only as I follow Jesus will I discover what He wants me to do. As I consistently take the next right step, God’s path for me unfolds. When I complete my final task on Earth, the Lord will call me home. Only God knows the date of my death. And He knew the day long before my conception. We don’t control life; the Creator does.

Releasing my fear of death and accepting God’s sovereignty allows me to live fully in the present moment. Whether a good day or a bad one, none last forever. And for each day I live, the Lord already had it planned long before my body formed in my mother’s womb.

Journaling Questions:

1. How does knowing God numbers your days affect you?
2. How does the fear of death interfere with living life to the fullest?
3. Why do you think God allows terrible days to happen?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for thinking I had control over life and death. Please strengthen my faith as I follow You day after day. Release me from my fears, and help me walk boldly into the future, knowing You already have my days planned. Keep me on track, nudging me back in line when I stray. Help me life live fully, one day at a time. IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/february-web-only/billy-graham-viral-quote-on-death-not-his-d-l-moody.html

Five-minute read.

My frame was not hidden from you. When I was made in the secret place, When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:15

Grand design.

Before conception, the Lord had a plan for each of us.  With each unfolding day, God’s grand design reveals more of His purpose.  What we choose to do with the life given to us by our Creator either blesses Him or doesn’t.

Visiting friends over Christmas, they bought a piece of land, planning to build their next home.  After their initial visit to an architect, the project became more real, particularly how much it would cost.  Discussing all the components that go into building a house requires many decisions: How immense?  Who do we get to make it?  What do we want the layout to look like?  What will function best for our needs?  They get to create and design their dream home one decision at a time.

Looking at a completed house, we never doubt someone created it.  Whether large or small, someone designed it, considering what kind of frame the abode will need, where to put the support beams to hold the structure together, what kind of building materials to use, etc.  Once someone drew up the home’s plans, a builder completed them, bringing to life what he saw on the paper.  We never doubt the creator behind the creation.

God designed our frames.

And He gave me a large one.  No one will ever describe me as petite.  The Lord knew I would become a base for cheerleading, the person at the bottom of the pyramid or stunt who holds up other squad members.  God knew that when He designed my frame, I would become an athlete, playing tennis and eventually coaching it.  God gave me a natural advantage in softball and tennis by making me left-handed.  My Creator knew what I would need while on this Earth and built it into my design.

Just as my friends know, they will need a certain number of bedrooms and bathrooms in their new home.  When the framers build the outline of the house, they do so with the result in mind.  And when the Lord knit us together in our mother’s wombs, He did the same for us.  Planned, designed, and desired, our Creator made us with love.

“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now, God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity[i]

We need our Architect to live life abundantly.  Apart from God, we cannot find true happiness and peace.  Finding joy in the Lord requires a union with Him.  Our fuel comes from God; He spurs us onward through His Spirit.  Guiding and directing us from within our hearts, the Lord made us to live in community with Him.

Application:

Grand design.

God designed me for a purpose.  I must trust His design to discover the Lord’s will for my life.  My Creator gave me a sturdy body to work hard and serve others.  Taking care of the house God built for me honors and glorifies him.  Trusting the Architect means trusting that everything we need, He included in our blueprint.  Everyone serves a different purpose.  Some people live in tiny houses, others in large ones. God’s purpose for me differs from anyone else’s, and I shouldn’t try to fit into someone else’s plan.  At the same time, I should accept others as the Lord designed them, not comparing, just loving.

Before my conception, God designed my body, creating it for His purpose, to live out His will for my life.  Connected to my Maker, I can discover His plan for me, one day at a time.

Trust the Architect.

Journaling Questions:

1. What comes to mind when you think of God’s design for you?
2. How can you show God appreciation for giving you life?
3. What parts of God’s design don’t you understand?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for not appreciating Your work in my life.  Please give me the wisdom, discernment, and self-control necessary to make the best decisions for my body, honoring You with my efforts.  Help us live with You, following Your commands and fulfilling Your plans.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/106874-god-made-us-invented-us-as-a-man-invents-an

Five-minute read.

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14b

Wonderful works.

Looking back over life and remembering what God did helps you know His beautiful works. Often, during circumstances, we may not understand the Lord’s actions. But hindsight gives us a 20/20 vision, and we see our Savior’s hand at work.

In my twenties, when I recklessly overindulged in the partying lifestyle, God protected me from myself. During my thirties, as I wrestled with the consequences of my choices in the previous decade, my Healer led me on a path of restoration.

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,” Joel 2:25

One day, in my Bible reading, I came across this verse from Joel that instantly spoke to my heart, bringing it hope amid desolation. As the days progressed, I began to cling to God’s promise to the Israelites if they repented and turned back to Him.  Turning my heart back to my Savior, I repented my poor choices and the harm I did to myself. I began to pray, “God, protect me from myself,” as I sought His guidance. Years passed as my heart healed, and I became whole again, healthy, and ready to receive the Lord’s blessings.

And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’… so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:20-21, 24

When God led the Israelites across the Jordan River, he parted the waters for them to cross, then commanded Joshua to place 12 stones from the riverbed on the shore as a reminder of the Lord’s mighty work. We should do the same in our lives, noting when God did something for us, big or small, showing the wonderful works of our Lord.

Using my calendar, I set “markers” of the Lord’s work in my life. On Oct. 21, 2010, I met my husband on the tennis courts at Back Creek Park. On Sept. 26, 2011, we first kissed on the bench at Hilton Tennis Club. On Aug. 10, 2012, we became man and wife; on Jan. 31, 2013, we closed on our house and began creating our home. Each day has a place in my calendar, reminding me year after year of God’s mighty works. The Lord healed my heart, made me whole again, and redeemed the years the locusts stole. Setting reminders helps me say, without a doubt, God’s works are wonderful, and I know that full well.

David, the Psalmist, remembered the victories he experienced with the Lord. The shepherd boy defeated Goliath with a slingshot. Battle after battle, the warrior won because of God’s presence in his life. David conquered Jerusalem, defeated the Philistines so they never threatened the Israelites again, and became King of many small kingdoms bordering Israel. All with the help of the Lord. Undoubtedly, David knew the wonder of God’s works in his life. 

Don’t doubt God’s handiwork in your life; look back over the years and remind yourself of what the Lord did for you. Trust, He will do it again, in His way and time.

Application:

God does wonderful works.

The Lord never rests; always up to something. Reminding myself of God’s past works helps me trust His plan. While driving to Florida on vacation with our RV, a metal blade fell from a truck in front of us. Ron’s keen awareness allowed him to steer the big rig smoothly and slightly right, allowing the debris to miss me by inches. Whenever I think of that traumatic moment, I praise the Lord and thank Him for His protection. God reminded me in that moment of life’s fragility and sovereignty over it.

God’s always working.

Journaling Questions:

1. What markers do you have in your life reminding you of God’s good works?
2. How can you set markers to remind you of God’s intervention?
3. List three things you want God to do for you.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for forgetting what you did for us in the past. Help us remember Your mighty works, building our faith. Give us confident hearts in Your wonderful works as we think of Your movement. Let us take bold steps of faith as Your plan unfolds in our lives, experiencing Your beautiful works to come. IJNIP. Amen

Five-minute read.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Psalm 139:14a

Fearfully and wonderfully made.

As believers, we live with a sense of purpose more than any other creature.  Knowing our Creator made us fearfully and wonderfully helps us live with a gracious purpose.  Placing faith in Christ gives an awareness of grace and allows us to respond with thanksgiving and joy. 

“Yare,” the original Hebrew word for fearfully, means “to revere.”[i]  “Pala,” wonderfully in Hebrew, means “marvelous, be amazing,”[ii]  Our Creator revered us, making us marvelous.  God doesn’t make junk; no matter what others have told you, don’t believe them.  People have said nasty things to me, told me my life had no value, and the air I breathe wasted on me.  In eighth grade, a boy told me I had a big nose.  We can’t base our value on what others say; they speak from imperfect places with wrong motives.  But the Lord doesn’t.  If our Maker made us fearfully and wonderfully marvelous beings with a grace-filled purpose, then we should believe those words.

“Love creates,” Ron often says.  When He thinks of God and His creation, my husband views it from the perspective of love.  The Lord made the world out of love; He created humans as an act of love.  To love, one must have a choice.  Forced affection doesn’t exist.  God’s gift of free will allows us to love or not.  Love requires action, and actions of love create.

Friends of ours bought a home in Florida, and she wanted custom wood trays to fit a couple of the windows.  Since I began doing woodwork, I offered my services and created them with love.  First, I chose the best wood in my little shop and sanded and painted it, careful to make no mistakes.  Once finished, I carefully applied the polyurethane topcoat, sanding them between each layer to acquire a smooth and durable finish.  Out of love, I created something for my friend, fearfully and wonderfully, to the best of my ability.

God chose each part of our being.  Like I chose the best wood for the tray, the Lord decided what works best for us.  Knowing our purpose, the Creator gave us the tools necessary to fulfill it.  Our life circumstances help hone our skills and guide us to fulfilling our mission, already equipped with everything we need. 

Helen Keller, born in 1880, lost her sight and hearing at 19 months of age.  Her parents sent her to Perkins Institute, where she learned to communicate with the outside world through the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan.  Helen spent her life helping others overcome overwhelming odds, like she did.  Co-founding the American Foundation for Overseas Blind to support WWI veterans and the ACLU, she worked tirelessly for others.

Love, the all-important doctrine, is not a vague, aimless emotion, but the desire for good united with wisdom and fulfilled in right action.” –Helen Keller.[iii]

God made Helen fearfully and wonderfully; she believed in her gracious purpose and lived it out.  Instead of questioning why the Lord made her as He did, Helen’s acceptance of her circumstances helped her overcome them, building her faith and becoming a beacon of hope for countless others.  Knit together in her mother’s womb, Helen trusted the Lord, believed His word, and lived out her purpose.

Like Helen, God made us for a purpose.  Fearfully and wonderfully, the Lord made each of us.  Believing the promises found in scripture will lead us to fulfill our mission, one only we can do.  Created out of love, we can share it with others, one act at a time.

Application:

Made well.

God created us perfectly for our mission on Earth.  When a chef prepares a meal, he chooses the freshest ingredients and combines them in the right amounts at the right temperature.  Creating a masterpiece takes intention but also knowledge of the result.  A cook knows he doesn’t want his food burnt but cooked precisely so that it satisfies the tongue.  And God knows, why He created us and what tools we will need to fulfill our purpose.  The Lord doesn’t miss anything, making us fearfully and wonderfully to love and serve Him.

God’s masterpieces.

Journaling Questions:

1. How has God made you fearfully and wonderfully?
2. How can you discover your gracious purpose?
3. What promises of God’s help you believe His word?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for not valuing ourselves as You do.  Please help us discover our gracious purpose, knowing You made us fearfully and wonderfully for it.  Let us fulfill our destiny as we place our faith in You, believing Your promises.  We give You the honor and glory for all we do.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&version=NIV&tab=interlinear

[ii] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&version=NIV&tab=interlinear

[iii] https://annawoofenden.com/2013/03/17/helen-keller-a-woman-of-faith-and-action/

Five-minute read.

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13

Knitted together.

In the 4-H club, they tried to teach me to knit. Meeting in the basement of Tidal Presbyterian church, the long-folding tables lined up in rows, I remember sitting at the end of one, fighting with my yarn. Using two long, skinny metal needles to combine yarn in magical patterns eluded me. However, using a simple hook did not, crocheting my preferred choice.

Working on a crochet pattern makes me appreciate each stitch. My current Starburst Granny Square Throw project requires constant color changes. Each flower has three different yarns, color varying with each row. The tub of yarn doesn’t look like much, but as I weave the threads together, it becomes a beautiful tapestry of color that warms the heart.

God knit us together in our mother’s womb. Every strand of DNA hand crafted and woven together by our Maker. Each detail planned for a purpose, creating individuals that form the Lord’s family. As every crochet pattern calls for specific stitches to create unique works of art, our Creator never uses the same two stitches. Like snowflakes, we each have a unique design.

Dorothy Casterline changed the world of communication for deaf people. Losing her hearing in the 7^th grade, she never knew why.[i]  But instead of questioning God’s design for her life, she accepted His sovereignty and found ways to help others. Working with other researchers, Casterline helped create the dictionary of American Sign Language, opening the doors of communication for the deaf community.

What if Dorothy had wallowed in pity when she lost her hearing, questioning God? When the Lord knit Casterline together, why did He include a disability? Without her Earthly struggle, Dorothy wouldn’t have gone on to help develop the dictionary. When our Creator designed the pattern for us, He did so with a goal in mind, one only we can achieve.

“I will never be petite,” I said to Ron. When the Lord knit me together in my mother’s room, He gave me wide hips, long legs, and broad shoulders. God also gave me a thick head of hair and pure green eyes, according to one optometrist. Why did the Lord design me this way? To serve my purpose. Each day, as I follow my Maker, He reveals more and more of His intentions for my life.

Thinking of the Lord knitting us together, I think of Him sitting on His throne, needles flashing in and out of the DNA strands, creating one masterpiece after another. God designs works of art, each valued and loved. Every stitch touched by the Creator, adored, and cherished, unconditionally loved. Unlike me, when I miss a stitch or miscount, God makes no mistakes. The Lord’s knitted works of art fill His kingdom with glory as they honor and serve Him.

Know how much the Lord loves you. He created you purposefully, knitting you together in Your mother’s womb. God calls you a masterpiece, fearfully and wonderfully made!

Application:

Knitted together.

God knows every molecule in our body. Like taking a fresh strand of yarn, He knits us together. When I’m crocheting, it reminds me of the intricacy of making anything. Each stitch must attach to another one, or it won’t work. Each piece takes thousands and thousands of stitches to create, the most satisfying one the last. Weaving in the ends of a finished work of art, flipping over the design, and seeing the final product brings joy to the heart just like we do the Lord when we leave the womb and begin life’s journey with Him.

God creates masterpieces.

Journaling Questions:

1. What do you think of when you imagine God knitting you together?
2. What part of your design baffles you?
3. How can you begin seeing yourself as a masterpiece?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your attention to detail in creating us. Help us understand the depths of Your love for us and your care in designing us. Give us divine insight into the effort You put into every one of us, knitting us together in our mother’s womb. Let us believe You created us as a unique masterpiece with unimaginable value. IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://wng.org/podcasts/stewards-of-gods-gifts-1703553045

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 7-9 GW; Revelation 5 GW; Psalms 150 GW

Disobedience tries patience.

Doing what you want instead of what God wants tries His patience. In the same way, if my husband tells me to tighten my financial belt, but instead, I go on a spending spree, I test his patience with me. Every one of us goes astray. We all think we know better than God at some point or another and know more than people.

In Sunday’s message, the pastor talked about how sheep stray. The simple animals wander away from the shepherd one nibble at a time. Our wooly friends eat one blade of grass at a time, then another, until eventually, they find themselves far from where they started. Humans do the same thing the sheep do. One decision at a time, we wander from the Shepherd.

For instance, sometimes, I don’t like the “nudges” I receive from the Holy Spirit. In one of my relationships, God asked me to pray for a specific person. However, I didn’t want to pray for the individual, so I didn’t. However, the prompting wouldn’t go away. I felt God impressing on my Spirit a simple message, “You want me to do all these things for you, but you won’t do the one thing I ask you to do.”  Self-awareness made me realize that I was testing God’s patience.

Stop testing God.

At some point, we must become self-aware and realize we’re the ones testing God. Our lack of obedience tests God’s patience. Like when a child disobeys our instructions, we do the same to God. As soon as I prayed for the person God placed on my heart, I felt God’s pleasure. Begrudgingly, I said their name to God and asked Him to bless their life. Coming into obedience to God means doing things we don’t want to do.

The good news, God forgives quickly, always offering a second chance. Don’t worry about what lies behind you. Instead, focus on what God has for you. Become self-aware of your disobedience. Stop testing God; start trusting Him instead.

Lord, thank You for Your patience. Forgive us for trying Your long-suffering time and time again. Help us become more self-aware today. Show us the areas where we are disobedient. Give us the faith we need to become obedient to You in all things.   Glory and honor are Yours always. IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What area of your life do you need to become more self-aware?

Five-minute read.

The night will shine like the day, For darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:12b

Bright night.

Writing the morning after Christmas, the sparkle of holiday lights illuminates the sky.  Blow-up Santas, Snowmen, and Reindeer adorn yards.  Nativity scenes of all sorts glow under spotlights.  Nighttime brings an expectant joy as houses come to life with bright bulbs and strobe lights set to joyful music.  And, of course, the most brilliant light of all comes from the lighted Christmas stars that signify the birth of Jesus.

The Light of the World entered it in a manger.  With no place to lay her head, Mary took refuge in a stable and gave birth to her baby boy.  The Star of Bethlehem shone brightly above the tiny family, leading the wise men to the Savior’s side, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

“The other — more astronomical — explanation is that there was a bright object in the sky — a conjunction between planets and stars. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth.”[i]

Space.com’s article, “What was the Star of Bethlehem,” scientifically explains the Christmas star.  Something happened the night Jesus entered the Earth, celestial light ushering in His birth.  Darkness becomes light when we place our faith in Jesus.

Accepting Christ into our lives and inviting Him to reside in our hearts means darkness becomes light.  Jesus’s eternal flame burns from within us and illuminates the darkness around us, sharing His light with others.

Scrolling Facebook, I saw the perfect meme to describe how God’s light works.  A multitude of people, all colorless, just an outline of their human form, stood together.  Then, one receives the light of Christ, and his form lights up.  Then, the meme shows him sharing his light with someone else, and they light up.  And the process continues until, eventually, the entire crowd receives God’s light, no longer colorless but shining brightly for all to see.

We think our acts of obedience to the Lord go unnoticed.  But God sees and knows everything, and He will multiply our efforts.  One spark lights an eternal flame that never ends.  When we share Christ’s light with others, we bring them out of the darkness and help them find the One who can transform their lives.

Light spreads quickly, traveling 186,000 miles per second.  With a circumference of 24,901 miles, light circles the world over seven times in one second.  One act of love shares Christ’s love with others and begins to illuminate the world in a split second.  We may think opening the door for a stranger, helping a friend through a difficult time, or sitting quietly with a sick family member goes unnoticed, but our light shines in their darkness and helps their flame grow and flicker.

God gives us light in the darkness. Christ illuminates our souls and shines through us to the world around us.  Darkness becomes light when we follow Jesus.  And as we do, His light spreads.  The more obedient we become, the faster Christ’s light spreads to the world around us, illuminating the darkness and bringing hope to the world.

Application:

Light of the world.

Darkness becomes light when Jesus enters the world.  Everything matters to God.  When we obey the Lord, we share His light with the world.  Working in my shop at Christmas, I put everything on sale for 50% off.  A customer coming by stopped and loaded up.  “I’m so glad Christmas is almost over,” I said, referring to the amount of work that goes into running a shop.

“But you’re bringing joy to people, you really are.  Don’t forget that,” she responded.  Instantly, I felt encouraged and uplifted.  My prayers answered with her statement.  Wanting to bring joy to others and share Christ’s love, her words affirmed my actions.  And just like that, God’s light spread in the world.

Share the light.

Journaling Questions:

1. Who shared Christ’s light with you?
2. How can you share your light with others?
3. When did you last share your light, and how did it make you feel?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us Your light to illuminate the darkness.  Forgive us for hiding it.  Give us opportunities to share Christ with others and open our eyes and ears to the chances around us to bring His light to a dark world.  As we do our best to honor and obey You, bless our efforts.  Shine Your light brightly and eliminate the darkness.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html

Five-minute read.

Even the darkness will not be dark to you;

Psalm 139:12a

No darkness.

Living in the city, we never experience the darkness of a night in the country.  Streetlights pierce the blackness, illuminating the pavement.  When you view a metropolitan area from a distance, the glow of the lights creates a sphere around it. Viewing the Earth from the air shows pinpoints of light scattered around the surface.  Only in the country do I experience the beauty of the night sky unhindered by artificial light, dotted with stars made by the Lord.

Sitting on my back deck, I can’t see the stars as clearly as I can when I go home to Pennsylvania.  On cloudy nights, the darkness seems heavier, but even then, shafts of moonlight make their presence known.  To experience complete darkness, one must shut out the light somehow.  But in the natural creation of the Lord, His light always shines.

Understanding the concept of the Lord’s constant presence has its challenges.  Our thoughts and feelings can make us feel isolated and alone.  Suffering from depression, I’ve battled the lies of my mind and emotions.  Learning ways to capture my thoughts and process my feelings helps me win the fight.  Discovering, applying, and trusting God’s promises gives me ammunition when my mind starts going places that lead to despair.

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.”

 Genesis 1:14-15

Creation came with lights.  From the start, the Lord illuminated the darkness, giving us the sun and moon to rule our days and nights.  In the depths of death, surrounded by the walls of a coffin, He gave us Jesus, an eternal light to overcome the deepest darkness.  God never intended for us to walk in darkness, lighting our path long before we took our first breath.

“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

Genesis 1:2

Just like walking into a room and flipping on the light switch, the Lord turned on the lights first after creating the heavens and earth.  Life doesn’t exist in darkness.  God never intended for us to wallow in a formless void of blackness; he illuminated the world before He did anything else.

On your darkest days, God provides light to diminish them.  The Lord’s Spirit will never leave you.  Followers of Christ become God in the flesh, surrounding us during life’s bitter struggles and helping us to persevere through the storm.  When pain and darkness come upon us, God’s light shines, bringing hope and comfort to weary souls.

Application:

Lights on.

God turned the lights on first before He did anything else.  In His sovereignty, the Lord illuminated the dark spaces.  When life knocks me to the ground unexpectedly, God has already placed lights for me to follow.  On the day my nephew died, the Lord used Ron to hold me up.  When I lost my job, friends surrounded me, helping me move forward through the pain.  And when my thoughts take me on rabbit trails of despair, scripture from the Lord helps me derail the dark recesses of my mind.  Centering our mind on Christ flips the lights on in our life, guiding and directing us, never leaving us in darkness.

Flip the switch.

Journaling Questions:

1. What lights illuminate the dark areas of your life?
2. How does God provide light for you in your life?
3. What light shines brightest for you?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for illuminating the world first, bringing light into the darkness.  Forgive us for succumbing to darkness.  As we move through our days, help us follow Your light, knowing You will never leave us devoid.  Guide and direct so we can fulfill Your purpose for our lives.  Let our light shine brightly, illuminating the world and bringing it hope.  IJNIP. Amen