“‘One thing you lack,’ he [Jesus] said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”  Mark 10:21-22

This story used to confuse me. The young man had tried to follow the Ten Commandments. So why does Jesus discourage him by telling him he has to give away all he owned? Are we to do that as well?

I have heard a few stewardship sermons lean in that direction, but that doesn’t sit right with me. On the other hand, modern prosperity preaching that claims good Christians will receive riches galore as a reward doesn’t sound correct either.

Now, having lived life a lot more, I get it. Jesus knows where our priorities lie. Wealth meant the world to this young man. It was his status symbol and probably a source of pride since he’d achieved riches at such a young age. A biblical Bill Gates.

Jesus actually asked him to release his pride. The first commandment states that we should not put anything above God. So when the young man said, “All these I have kept since a boy” (Mark 10:20), Jesus knew the guy was mistaken. He had broken the very first one.

What if Jesus asked you to give up your prize possession, be it something material, another person, or perhaps an attribute? Remember everything belongs to God anyway. He has blessed you with all the things you cherish and the means to achieve them. It’s all in your attitude. The first step is to hand everything to him in faith and let him show you how to utilize or treat each one.

“Dear Lord, help me to place my priorities in your capable and loving hands. Everything belongs to you and I am just a steward of it. Help me to use what you give wisely and to the benefit of others before it becomes a source of pride for me. Amen.”

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about how the Father cares for the birds of the air, and how much more He will care for us.

I watched through the windows of a friend’s house as several sparrows fluttered back and forth from the ground to lawn furniture on her veranda. They were chirping loudly. Then I saw why. Her dogs were crouched down, watching them.

One little bird flew toward the whirring ceiling fan instead of joining the others in their frantic dance. I held my breath, knowing there was no time to bang on the window and divert the little thing from flying headlong into danger. I watched with my teeth tucked into my lower lip, and yeah, I said a prayer.

But the bird was savvy. It knew how to fly above the turbulence caused by the blades and land securely on top — safe from harm of the fan and from the dogs below. Then I noticed a small tangle of grass and twigs. It was building its nest there!  Smart  critter.

God’s lesson: In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about how the Father cares for the birds of the air, and how much more He will care for us.

We can fret on the ground about things that are beyond our control, hopping around like chirping sparrows. We can sense the danger and feel helpless to do anything about it. It can overwhelm us with worry so much that our judgment is clouded. We may even just freeze, close our eyes, and pray we’ll come out unscathed as our knees crumble and our teeth chatter.

Or we can soar above the turbulence in life and nest safely in our Father’s love. We can ask Him to give us the way to lift ourselves above it all as we follow His voice and trust that He will either lead us out of the peril or armor us with the smarts to get through it by His mercy.

In I Samuel 17, David slung a stone and whacked Goliath smack dab in the one place that would fell him. He used his expertise in scaring off wild animals from his flocks, a talent God had developed in him for such a time as this. Just as God taught that little bird to judge the wind currents so he then could navigate the whooshes of the ceiling fan.

God is preparing you and me for His purpose. He knows what is going to happen and has our best interests at heart. He will provide the equipment we need to face any challenge or show us a route to safety.

So, before you think your life is going to hit the fan, seek the Father to give you both the strength in your wings and the knowledge you need to lift you above it all. He is faithful to do so — if you look to Him and not your situation.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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“To you O Lord, I lift up my soul, in you I trust, O my God…Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love…according to your love remember me.”
Psalm 25:1,6-7

What a wonderful plea!  David knew God so well he could come before Him, trusting that God would keep His promise and provide mercy because He loved David so very much. Guess what? So can we.

The soul is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit when we commit our lives to Christ. David lifts his soul up to God, offering God his most inner thoughts, his hands and feet, and his devotion. Why? Because he entrusts himself to God. He knows that if he puts God in control, God will protect him, teach him and guide him. He says so later in the Psalm. “May integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in you” (25:21).

If we have confessed our wrongdoings and asked for forgiveness before we  retire each night, then each morning our souls start off as an empty glass. What will fill it? Will we let God’s loving mercy and grace overflow it or will we fill it with the things of this world? Will we pour in anger, mistrust, hurt? What if, like a thirsty child, we rose up on tiptoes and handed God our glass to fill throughout the day? He’d pour out the frustrations and pain and refill it with His love and peace. God never forgets us. We need to remember, like David, to lift our souls and trust in our Lord who loves us dearly. After all, didn’t He lift Himself up out onto the cross out of love for us?

Dearest Lord, I pray that I may surrender a little more each day to Your use, and trust more and more in Your mercy and love — that I can lift up my glass for You to fill with Your presence. And, I pray that I can lift myself up as well to You every morning: forgiven, cleansed, and ready to be used. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by permission

Do you know the goodness of God? Have you surrendered your will and soul to his life altering power? Today you can start that relationship and journey with HIm. It starts with a simple prayer that expresses to HIm that you believe that Jesus is who He said he is – the Son of God.

This is a sample prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

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“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36

Jesus the Compassionate Shepherd

Jesus the compassionate Shepherd sees us when we are overwhelmed, helpless, or unable to recover on our own. He does not abandon us in weakness. He comes near, lifts us up, and helps us stand again.

The speaker entered the room dressed as a sheep. After the laughter settled, she explained the relationship between a shepherd and his flock.

She described how sheep can sometimes fall and roll onto their backs. When this happens, they may be unable to right themselves. Unless the shepherd notices, lifts them, turns them over, and places them back on their feet, they can remain trapped and eventually die.

The image was humorous at first, but the lesson was serious.

Jesus the Compassionate Shepherd Sees Us

Perhaps you have seen commercials in which an elderly person presses an emergency call button and says, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” A calm and compassionate voice responds by assuring the person that help is on the way.

Because I live alone, I have sometimes feared falling and being unable to call anyone for help. The speaker’s message reminded me that God sees me even when no one else does.

He is always watching over me. His care is not limited to physical danger. He also sees when I fall emotionally, spiritually, or mentally.

Jesus the compassionate Shepherd notices every place where we feel frightened, discouraged, confused, burdened, or unable to move forward.

The Compassionate Shepherd Restores the Helpless

In Matthew 9, Jesus looked at the crowds and saw people who were harassed and helpless. They were like sheep without anyone to guide, protect, or care for them.

Jesus did not respond with frustration or disgust. He did not throw up his hands and walk away because they had wandered or fallen.

He had compassion on them.

Jesus wanted to lift them, turn them back toward God, and place them on steady ground. His compassion was not passive sympathy. It moved him to teach, heal, guide, protect, and ultimately give his life for them.

He continues to show that same compassion today.

Jesus Helps Us Get Back on Our Feet

There are moments when we cannot fix ourselves, no matter how hard we try. Like a fallen sheep, we may struggle repeatedly without finding the strength or direction to stand again.

We may fall through grief, fear, disappointment, sin, loneliness, illness, exhaustion, or circumstances beyond our control.

In those moments, we should not assume that we must recover entirely through our own strength.

We were created to depend on our Shepherd.

Call out to Jesus. Tell him honestly where you have fallen and where you feel helpless. Ask him to guide you toward the help, wisdom, support, or correction you need.

Jesus the compassionate Shepherd will not shame you for needing help. He will meet you with mercy. He may lift you immediately, restore you gradually, or carry you until you are strong enough to walk again.

Trusting Jesus the Compassionate Shepherd

Trusting Jesus does not mean we will never experience weakness or fear. It means we do not face those experiences alone.

Our Shepherd knows where we are, understands what we need, and remains close when we cannot see the way forward.

When you feel as though you have fallen and cannot get up, remember that you are not invisible. Jesus sees you, has compassion on you, and is able to restore you.

A Prayer to Jesus the Compassionate Shepherd

Lord, thank you for being my Shepherd and for having compassion on me. When I fall, help me remember that I do not have to struggle alone. Replace my fear with trust and remind me that you are always near. Lift me, guide me, and carry me until I am strong enough to stand again. Amen.

Thought: Identify one area where you feel unable to move forward on your own. Bring it honestly to Jesus and ask your compassionate Shepherd to provide the help, direction, and strength you need.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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“I have become like broken pottery.” Psalm 31:12

The past fifteen months, a huge hammer has repeatedly smashed my world. I once carried my life in a beautiful bowl. A sudden job loss, poor health, and other issues have left what once felt solid in scattered, tiny shards. I didn’t know how to pick up the pieces.

Have you been there? Do I see you nodding?

Contemplating my situation, especially over the past year , I noticed a cross I have hanging next to my fireplace. I bought it years ago at a church festival…long before I turned my widowhood apartment into shades of turquoise. Most of its life it hung outside on a patio. But it matched my sofa now, so…

Who knew God would use it to show me He loves me?

It is a mosaic, made of three or four different china or pottery items that have been smashed into pieces. The artist gathered them together, placed them carefully in the cross mold, and then poured in the plaster of Paris to adhere them into a beautiful design.

What someone else might have swept up and dumped as useless trash, she saw as beauty. She could envision the end product. She arranged the pieces just so, and created something new, and stronger, and with new purpose.

I know I am not the first person to make this analogy. But it reminds me of what Jesus said to his disciples after everyone on the mount had been fed with the fish and loaves.

 “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted” (John 6:12).

With Christ as my mold, the pieces of my life have been transformed into something new. He knew they’d come together in a wonderful way.  But first, they had to be broken to be repurposed. His Spirit has plastered these experiences together and made me stronger than before.

Thank you, Lord that You see the potential in each experience and that You will use it to Your glory and my benefit. Nothing is wasted. As You gathered the pieces of what I once had and began to mold them into my future, I have drawn nearer to you, wrestled with my pride, and learned to lean on the generosity of others. Most of all, I know anew that You are always with me. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Photo Credit Kirsi L-M

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Is there a difference?

I think “being smart” often relies on our own cognitive abilities.

“He sure is smart.”

“That was a smart solution you came up with.”

“What a smart thing to do!”

We tap into our own knowledge, be it through reading, studying or experiences.

When we are being wise, we rely on someone or something other than our own storehouse of knowledge to inform us, knowing our own limitations. That takes humility but also discernment.

The Apostle James wrote: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17

The more we embrace the wonder of God, the more we realize how inadequate we are without His guidance in our lives. Smartness relies on what you already have stored in your brain. Wisdom constantly seeks to learn, embrace and use knowledge from an outside source. For the believer, that source is our Lord.

It is good to be smart, whether from the street or from books. But how much better to gain wisdom from the One who created the universe and expressed complete love on the cross!

Lord of all wisdom, increase our desire to know You, to emulate You and to turn to You when we just do not understand. 

Thought: What situation or problem today is beyond your ability to figure out? Bring it before God in prayer. Ask for His wisdom.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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It can happen in a matter of minutes. A beautiful sunshiny day can become overcast, gloomy, and dank. A wet fog rolls in and blankets everything. It clings to you as you strain to see beyond a few feet in front of you. You feel closed in, almost claustrophobic. Your hands are tempted to swoosh it away like you would debris when swimming in a river or lake. But it closes back in after a millisecond.

Life imitates nature, doesn’t it? I know there have been times my outlook was quite sunny. My world was just about perfect and I felt happy, accomplished, blessed. Then a situation or circumstance hit. Suddenly I felt as if I was encased in a fog. All sense of direction lost. I couldn’t see my way. My dreams and plans vanished in the thickness of the now.

Peter, John and James experienced this. I’d read the transfiguration story in the Gospels many, many times. But recently, Luke 9:34 leaped out at me. And God whispered a lesson to me. Because you see, I’ve been in a fog lately.

Jesus took these men up on the mountain to pray, as told in Luke 9:28-36. It must have been a gorgeous vista. Their Lord had gone up into the mountains to pray before, but always alone. Now He invited them. Not all of the twelve, just these three. Can you see their proud l struts, their smiles? What could be better?  Then they see Jesus’ countenance change into a dazzling white as the two most important, holy people in their tradition, Moses and Elijah, descended to be by his side. Wow. Talk about a Kodak moment! But they didn’t have that modern invention. No phones for selfies. So, Peter suggested they do what their patriarchs had done when encountering God breaking through to earth. Build an altar. Erect a tabernacle. Mark the moment.

“As he [Peter] said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.” (Luke 9:34).  In rolled the blinding fog. Their view of the holiest thing they’d ever witnessed blocked off. The moment gone. Their breaths stolen.

But God didn’t leave them there. “A voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’” (vs.35). Focus not on yourselves, but on Jesus. Erase your self-oriented thoughts. Let Him lead you. This isn’t about Jesus acknowledging you, it’s about you acknowledging my Son.

The good news is that God doesn’t leave us either. Even if we can’t see Him though the circumstances that are clouding our faith, He can still break through to comfort us, correct us, and lovingly guide us back to what we need to be focusing upon–Him. Just as He did for me as I read this passage in Scripture.

Fogs don’t last forever. The sun will break through again. But in the meantime perhaps we are supposed to stop and no longer rely on our own abilities. Instead, let us listen for God’s directive voice. Then when the sun does break through and we can see again, like Peter James and John in verse 36, let us continue to focus on Jesus alone.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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“But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’ ‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.’” Jonah 4:9

Anger is a silent killer. Not only can it fester in our hearts and cause our blood pressure to rise — it also discolours how we see things. It tightens our jaws so we grind our teeth. It tenses our lower back muscles and disturbs our sleep. So why do we hang onto it so often?

Jonah was angry — at the people of Nineveh, at God, at everything. Even the withering of a plant that had shaded him from the sun. His disposition had soured his whole outlook on life, and God called him on it. Was it right for him to be angry?

Throughout Scripture, God is said to be compassionate and slow to anger. The two go hand in hand. When compassion flows in, anger is squeezed out. The focus shifts from our feelings to the other person’s. It is no longer about who hurt us or did us an injustice. Instead, God’s love encourages us to see the “why?” behind the act.

Yes, there is such a thing as righteous anger. The Bible states that God can become angry, but not swiftly. Feelings are not factored in. No jealousy, no revenge, no hurt. Instead, the anger spurs a call to action to right a wrong, to turn a negative into a positive.

Paul warned in Ephesians 4:26,

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”

Anger is not the sin. Letting it cloud our compassion for others can be.

Dear Lord, help me to release any feelings of anger in my heart. Do not let them shackle me and keep me from seeing others with compassion as you see them. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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“Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” Mark 2:3-4

The paralyzed man had four great friends who were willing to not only carry him but, with tenacity and great effort, make a way for him to meet Jesus. Did the paralyzed man ask them to do all of this? Mark doesn’t tell us. But the next verse says that when Jesus saw the faith of his friends, he told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven.

Wait. What? Jesus didn’t say, “Take up your mat and walk” first, which is what everyone probably expected, including the four friends. Jesus saw that something else needed to be healed first — the man’s soul. Then he healed his legs. Both acts astonished even the skeptics in the crowd. But only the latter miracle was visible.

What does this story tell us? Sometimes it takes more than one person to free someone from a life of darkness and sin. Our prayers carry people to the feet of Jesus. However, we must be willing to allow Jesus to heal in the way he deems best. That may mean taking care of something we haven’t detected in our friend or family member. Until it is removed, the person is unable to move on and accept Jesus as Savior. They are paralyzed.

Don’t ever give up on the people for whom you are praying. The Holy Spirit will help you find creative ways to bring them to Jesus. But then, you have to let the Savior do what he needs to do and trust his timing.

Lord, I often cannot see you moving in someone else’s life or see them moving towards a life with you. Keep my faith and trust strong, because you came to earth and died so that everyone might believe in you and thus be saved. Help me to see new ways to help that person see you face to face, and also to realize it is not my job alone, but may take several others, and you, Lord, acting as well. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The small child whined to her mother in the grocery store checkout line. She twisted back and forth, her head titled up to her meet her mother’s face. “But, Mommy. I neeeed that candy bar.”

The mother’s lips curled into a smirk. “Do you really need it?”

How often do we come to our Father in Heaven and plead for what we think we need, confusing it with a want? Just like that child, we plead for the “desires of our hearts.” After all, doesn’t it state in the Psalms that is what God will do? (Psalm 37:4) Didn’t Jesus say he’d grant anything we asked for in His name? (John 14:13-14)

Ah, there is the catch—in His name. When the desires of our hearts match that of Jesus’ then we can ask in His name (like-minded with Him) and it will be granted. What did Jesus ask for? To do His Father’s will and be a witness of obedience to His disciples. Jesus asked for strength and endurance to complete the task God gave Him. And He wanted us, His followers, to be with Him in Heaven.

God will satisfy our needs just as He does the lilies of the field and the sparrows. It doesn’t necessarily mean He will wave a magic wand to end all of our problems, heal our loved one’s cancer, or find us that high-paying job so we can afford a boat, a new car or a dream vacation. If the desire of your heart is to do God’s will, you can rest assured God will supply everything you need to accomplish it. And what is God’s will for us? Paul spells it out in I Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We can rejoice no matter the circumstances when we are confident that God will satisfy our needs and has our best interests at heart, just like the mom in the grocery store. God wants the best for us, and often that means not giving us everything we want.

Father God, help us discern what we need and what we want. Teach us above everything else, if we align our desires with Your will, then we can have confidence You will supply all we need. Steer us away from the wants that may harm us or turn us from You. Let Your Son Jesus be our example and Your Spirit be our guide. Amen.

Action Point: Make two columns and write your needs on one side and your wants on the other. Do all of your wants honor God? Do you Trust God to satisfy your needs?

By Julie Cosgrove
used by permission

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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

This is my verse. So many times in my life it has spoken to me.

There was a time I over-worried about my appearance and what others thought. I was so self-conscious I imagined the giggled whispers. I chose fashion over comfort in an effort to fit in. I’d stare into the mirror and be jealous that this style didn’t look as good on me as it did on so-and-so. I would peer into my closet claiming I had nothing to wear. “Or about your body, what you wear.”

Sometimes I have wondered how I would squelch the echo in my refrigerator when payday was ten days away. Other days, food occupied my every thought. I’ve tried every new fad or program in an effort to battle the bulges. Meal planning became a demigod. Guilt flavoured every chew. “Do not worry about what you will eat and drink.”

And of course, life can be filled with worry. Will my job last? Will my child return to the faith? Will my husband love me again? Will I ever find happiness? When will the chaos settle down?

Jesus has the answer. Himself. Once we begin to grasp the concept that He is in control (when we trust Him) then the worry sloughs off. Life becomes more than our doubts, more than our material possessions, and more than our desire to be accepted. Our perspective shifts. We take our focus off ourselves and put it on the One who knows, and loves, us. And that is more than enough.

Father, help me to see the bigger picture — the one of you holding it all together. You promise that there is nothing I can go through that you do not already know about and can give me the resources to handle. Dispel my worry and let me trust in you. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

 https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

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“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, and was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Read that verse again, and this time let it soak deeply into your soul. Doesn’t it bring you comfort?

Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. God is saying He is the beginning and the end—of your day, every day and also of your life. I have heard it said that we should sandwich our day in prayer. This means we invite Christ into our lives the moment our eyes pop awake, and then ask Him to bless and keep us as we close them. Another saying often depicted on plaques and in cross-stitch patterns states, “A life knotted in prayer at both ends won’t unravel.” Begin and end your day with God.

There are days I try to jump start on my own without inviting my Lord into them. There are nights I cast my worries upon my pillow instead of onto Him. But the days I start and end with acknowledging God in my life seem to go better. Not that bad things don’t happen on those days, but their impact on me is not as devastating. I find that once I invite my Lord into my day, I am more aware of Him being with me throughout it. He was there a heartbeat ago, He is here now, and He will be there a few breaths from now. Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end, and every time in between.

My Lord, spur in me the desire and discipline to make You my first and my last thought each day. I know when I let you into my life I become more aware of Your presence, Your love and Your guidance. Teach me to praise when I arise and thank You when I retire for the night. And in between, remind me I can rely on You to be there, always. Amen.

Thought: For the next week, consciously make an effort to pray as soon as you wake up and then again right before you go to sleep. See if your attitude becomes more joyful and positive

By Julie Cosgrove
used by permission

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