Since we moved close to a shopping area, I usually walk to buy groceries.  Often, in the mornings, there is homeless man sitting on the sidewalk near the store. He sits  hunched over, his hat covers most of his face.  He isn’t asking for money, he just sits there.  So I decide to smile and  greet him with a cheerful, “Good morning!” And he looks up and smiles back – is missing most of his teeth – and answers  “Good Morning!”

As you know, people generally just walk by a homeless person without looking at them – very few people look in their eyes.  Smiling and saying a few friendly words brings them encouragement. Helps them feel better.

One night during my quiet time with the Lord, I read  2 Corinthians 3: 18 “ But we Christians have no veils over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.  And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.”

Bill Bright, in his book, Promises, says, “You and I can be mirrors that reflect the glory of the Lord.  As the Spirit of the Lord works within us and we mature, we become more and more like Him”.

Max Lucado, writes, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.  He wants  you to be just like Jesus.”

Years ago, I learned about the power of the Holy Spirit in us as believers. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”  He actually changes our attitudes and actions. There are times when I don’t want to change my attitude, but the Holy Spirit reminds me that He even helps me “want to” change.

Marvin and I both have put this wonderful promise into practice and it has helped us have a great marriage.

He helps us to be nice to a grumpy clerk.  We can be calm when drivers are going to slow. We can be thankful when things are not going the way we expected.

So I encourage you to put into practice the wonderful promise in Philippians 2:13 – at home, with the family, at work –anytime of the day or night – god is always  listening.

Lord, thank you for changing us so we become more and more like Jesus.  Thank you for giving us everything we need to be mirrors that reflect Him.  Amen

By Katherine Kehler
used by permission

The post Just Like Jesus can be found at Thoughts about God.

The first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding—no small event.  For several days, there was gift-giving, speech making, food-eating, and wine-drinking.   Hospitality was a sacred duty  The absence of wine was a social embarrassment.  Mary asks her son to help, and he tells her that his “time has not yet come.” But he changed his plan to meet the needs of his friends.

This miracle tells us that what matters to you matters to God. You are his child.  So go ahead. Tell God what hurts.  He won’t turn you away or think it’s silly.  Hebrews 4:15-16 says,

“For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses…Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace.”

Does God care about the little things in our lives?  You better believe it.

By Max Lucado
used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

From: He Still Moves Stones

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Attributes of God

God is Thinking about You

Father God’s Intimate Love Letter to You

The post What Matters to You Matters to God can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Matthew 5:13 (MSG)

Can you face a situation that is out of your control without acting out of control? This is a tough question for many to answer. We are so prone to acting out when we are faced with difficult situations much less difficult people.

When we are faced with the choice of reacting or responding to the situation at hand, as a believer, we have a greater responsibility. We must remember that we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. Our job is to maintain the character of God. When we act out of control rather than responding in wisdom we give others the wrong perspective of what a Christian looks like. No, that does not mean we have to be perfect, but it does mean when we miss it, we should be quick to make amends and get it right.

Emotions are not bad but they must be managed properly. If your buttons are always being pushed then you have handed over your power to other people, it’s time to take your control back. We must actively set boundaries for ourselves to ensure that we are not taken advantage of but we must remember that it is not our place to retaliate or put people in their place. It is God’s job to help change people. It is our place to love and respect others while leading them to Christ. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:14 if at all possible, we should live at peace with all men. This can be a challenge because we are faced with so many different personalities. If we stay in tuned with God He can help teach us how to handle each one.

My challenge to you today is to practice allowing God to fight your battles. How do you put that in action you may ask? Walk away when you are in a situation that you feel you have to yell to get your point across. Take some deep breaths and pray before responding to that irate individual. The point here is to maintain your control.

Father, it is my prayer that You will infuse those that are struggling in this area with inner strength. Your Word declares that You are a perfect help in the time of trouble. May they find the grace needed to keep it together when they want to lash out or act unseemly. May they find the grace needed to maintain their peace in the midst of turmoil. Heal the root issues that keep bringing them back to this response. Open the eyes of their understanding today, In Jesus name Amen.

Thought: What are you afraid of? When did you begin reacting the way you do?
What happened to get you to this place? Take a moment and journal your answers to the questions above.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Learn more about how you can know Jesus in a personal way at:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

FURTHER READING

Respond or React

Change Me

When Panic Attacks

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The post It’s All about Control can be found at Thoughts about God.

In 1969, Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff recorded a song titled, ‘Many Rivers to Cross’. Jimmy Cliff mentioned that the song was birthed out of the frustration and helplessness he felt after moving from Jamaica to the UK. The feelings came about because unlike what he had expected, nothing significant seemed to be happening in his career at that time.

The lyrics go like this:

Many rivers to cross
But I can’t seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Are you feeling like that today? Surrounded by turbulent waters that you can’t seem to cross? It is a fact that many people are facing turbulent waters today, especially with the ripple effects of COVID-19. In the midst of such challenges, the Word of God gives us great hope and assurance.

Here is a thought from the Bible that encourage us to have hope when surrounded by turbulent waters.

Turbulent waters cannot drown us

In Isaiah 43:2, the Lord gives great assurance about His protection on His children as they face deep, turbulent waters. He says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2). What a great encouragement it is to know that He will not let us drown or be swept away when confronted by what the scripture calls ‘rivers of difficulty’ (Refer Isaiah 43:2 NLT).

Closing:

So friend if you are facing turbulent waters right now hold on to the promises of God and stand firm in your faith. As you do so, Jesus will speak to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”   Mark 4:39.

By Palitha Jayasooriya
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Struggles and Despair Stories and articles
• Going Deeper with God

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post Crossing Turbulent Waters can be found at Thoughts about God.

“And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” Jeremiah 45:5 (NKJV)

“Once you get into the real world, you’ll find it’s not as easy as that.”

“You’re in for a rude awakening when you get out of here and into real life.”

These are things we might say to students who’ve never experienced life outside of school. But the truth is, graduation doesn’t lead to real life because we find our  real life in Christ.

We become real, healed, full human beings when we connect with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Until then, we’re still sending postcards from a fantasy life. Our maturity in Jesus brings us closer and closer to real life, as established by God before he set the foundations of the world.

Thomas Merton, the prayer-centered monk, spoke in terms of life in the nasty-now-and-now being like an onion. God keeps peeling away the layers until the real you is revealed.

In a sense, God is explaining that when he says, “I will bring adversity on all flesh” (Jeremiah 45:5 NKJV). He uses adversity in your life to scrape away the layers that cover your real life.

God says when he brings great disaster upon you there will be no time to pack a bag filled with ego, self-centeredness, lust, or materialism. He’ll let you escape, but only with the Jesus-clothes on your back.

What you’re left with is your real life in Jesus (Colossians 3:4). A life that is filled with God’s purpose and a life in alignment with God’s heart and mind. In this real life, we enter into the abundance of life promised by Jesus (John 10:10).

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Christ, Our Life

Help for Hard Times

Joy in Hard Times

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The post God Peels Back the Layers until the Real You is Revealed can be found at Thoughts about God.

Do we know when we need to rest, or do we think we are super human and can go on and on forever? I tend to think we believe that with enough determination and caffeine we can go on forever. Are we thinking about what our body and soul truly needs when we are pushing ourselves beyond our limits?

What is on your plate right now? Maybe you have a full plate or far too much on your plate. Maybe you have some hard things on your plate right now and haven’t even considered taking care of yourself with some body and soul rest.

We might not want to admit it, even when caring people around us are suggesting it – we need rest.

If you are experiencing extreme weariness, frustration, and discouragement – the best remedy is to give all your cares to the Lord and rest in knowing He can carry it all. When you finally let go and stop wrestling, and instead rest, you will soon recognize that you are experiencing something new. In letting go and resting, you will find you are growing strong again.

Your strength is renewed when you let go and find God’s rest.

Can you begin to imagine the incredible source of strength that comes from our Almighty All-Powerful God? Now, imagine… He is offering it to you.

Yes, the ultimate mystery and blessing is that when you find God’s rest you will also find God’s strength.

Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Renew Our Strength

Strength Comes from God

Renewed

The post When You Need Body and Soul Rest can be found at Thoughts about God.

“And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death’” Mark 14:34

Jesus and His disciples went to a place called Gethsemane to pray. He was well aware of the rejection, torture, and crucifixion that awaited him. He became greatly distressed and troubled and said to His disciples, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.”

As I read that verse this week, I thought of some of the times when my soul was sorrowful to death. When our five-month-old grandson died, deep sounds of anguish came out of my mouth — from deep within my soul. Not only was I grieving the loss of our grandson, but also the tragic loss our daughter and son-in-law were experiencing.

On reflecting on this time and others, I remembered how I was comforted and strengthened through the reading of the Word and the empathy of many friends. And because Christ Himself had gone through much deeper agony, He now walked with me in my sorrow.

I wonder, are you going through a time of deep anguish right now? An unfaithful spouse? Divorce? A child or spouse or you, yourself, with terminal illness? Death of a loved one? Abuse? Financial impossibilities?

I encourage you to “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).

You probably won’t be freed from the pain and anguish immediately, but He will give you strength for the moment and the day, along with wisdom to know what your next steps should be.

He won’t forsake you.

Lord Jesus, it is so comforting to know that You have gone through anguish and sorrow. You know what we are going through. Thank You for being right there with us all the time, understanding, loving and comforting, strengthening, and giving us wisdom. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   Dealing with Inner Turmoil

•   Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Anguish of the Soul can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

On Easter morning, over 2000 years ago, Mary  Magdalene,  along with some other women, brought spices and perfume to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. But the tomb was empty– the body was gone.  They ran to tell the disciples, “They have taken away the Lord.”

After Peter and John had checked out the evidence and gone home again, Mary remained by the tomb, weeping.  When she heard a noise behind her, she turned and saw a man standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?” he asked.

Thinking he was the gardener she said,

“Tell me where you have laid him and I will get him.”

Why did Mary not recognize Jesus? I think it’s the same reason I often don’t recognize the living Christ in my life. Mary expected to find things as she had left them–a dead body wrapped in linen cloths lying in a tomb. Her expectancy was too small.

Aren’t we like that too? We come to Jesus in prayer but we really don’t expect to see any changes.

Not until Jesus called her name, did Mary realize that Christ was alive and standing right beside her.

“Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Mary hurried home to tell the disciples,

“I have seen the LORD!”

How her face must have glowed! She knew everything would be different from now on.

Like Mary, I want to shed my doubts and welcome the miracle of resurrection life. I want to live in expectancy: What new thing is the living Christ going to do in my life (my family) today?

by Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

•  The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection
•  Easter Articles

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post Christ is Risen Indeed can be found at Thoughts about God.

An Easter Prayer

Of all of God’s gifts
Easter shows us our fate
Forgiven we will rise
And pass through Heaven’s gate

This Easter remember
The sacrifice of a Son
And through His resurrection
Eternal life we have won

This Easter I pray
That the love of God
Is resurrected
Reborn, renewed
Inside your heart
God Bless You!

– Anonymous

FURTHER READING

•  The Power of Resurrection – by William S. Stoddard
•  Touched by the Risen Lord by Elfrieda Nikkel

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post An Easter Prayer can be found at Thoughts about God.

John didn’t know on that Friday what you and I now know. He didn’t know that Friday’s tragedy would be Sunday’s triumph. John would later confess that he “did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead. John 20:9

That’s why what he did on Saturday is so important.

We don’t know anything about this day; we have no passage to read, no knowledge to share. All we know is this: When  Sunday came, John was still present. When Mary Magdalene came looking for him, she found him.

Jesus was dead. The Master’s body was lifeless. John’s friend and future were buried. But John had not left. Why? Was he waiting for the resurrection? No. As far as he knew, the lips were forever silent and the hands forever still. He wasn’t expecting a Sunday surprise. Then why was he here?

You’d think he would have left. Who was to say that the men who crucified Christ wouldn’t come after him? The crowds were pleased with one crucifixion; the religious leaders might have called for more. Why didn’t John get out of town?

Perhaps the answer was pragmatic; perhaps he was taking care of Jesus’ mother. Or perhaps he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Could be he didn’t have any money or energy or direction – or all of the above.

Or maybe he lingered because he loved Jesus.

To others, Jesus was a miracle worker. To others, Jesus was a master teacher. To others, Jesus was the hope of Israel. But to John, he was all of these and more. To John, Jesus was a friend.

You don’t abandon a friend, not even when that friend is dead. John stayed close to Jesus.

He had a habit of doing this. He was close to Jesus in the upper room. He was close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion, and he was a quick walk from the tomb at the burial.

Did he understand Jesus? No.

Was he glad Jesus did what he did? No.

But did he leave Jesus? No.

What about you? When you’re in John’s position, what do you do? When it’s Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God’ – or do you linger near him?

John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle.

By Max Lucado
From: He Chose the Nails
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

photo credit: Christopher Brown. Creative Commons license.

FURTHER READING

• The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection
• Who’s Got the Body?   A short, documented examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.  By Rusty Wright
• Jesus has Forgiven you, but Have you forgiven Yourself ?

Easter Poems:

• When I say… “I am a Christian”
• The Light of the World

The post On Saturday can be found at Thoughts about God.