2 John v.6 “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning – you must walk in it.”

Yesterday I did my fair share of walking.  The kids were in the greenbelt near our house and between my neighbor and me we took turns checking on them.  I am happy the kids have friends in the community to play with and yesterday everyone got along – not always the case.  This letter from John is written to a community of faith.  Short and concise, he writes to encourage them in their walk.  He reminds them and as we read it today, He reminds us to walk in the love of the Lord.  We can sit idly to worship and pray and quiet time with the Lord is essential but we also must go out and walk.  We cannot share the love of the Lord if we stay secluded.  We are encouraged to share His love with others.  John’s letter also calls us into community.  Our faith grows when we are in community with other disciples.  God uses my Christian friends to teach me and encourage me.  He uses them to keep my feet on the path and to hold me accountable to His ways.  Our community is also essential to our walk.  When you walk out of your house today, tuck these words into your pocket, purse or heart so they will stay with you and encourage you too.

Lord,

Thank you for your encouraging words.  Guide my steps as I walk out into community with others.  Keep my words and actions in check, shared only in truth and love.  Amen.

Ephesians 2:21 -22 “In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in who you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”

This morning I saw a block or brick in my mind and I asked the Lord what He was building.  This passage was his response.  I would include verses 19 and 20 and I would encourage you to look them up to add depth to this devotion for yourself.  God is building his holy temple.  Jesus is the cornerstone, the apostles and prophets laid the foundation and we are all a part of the temple building.  We are brick or mortar; we are clay to be molded into brick or whatever piece of His holy temple he designs us to be. The Lord joins us together building us into a holy structure with all other believers and he is building us individually to becoming a place where He can live.  I am humbled by His word this morning.  I read his word every day and I try to listen to his Spirit and like a simple minded soul I asked a simple minded question.  God in his infinite grace simply answered.  Let him tear down the rickety walls we have built up in our souls so that he can come in and build beautiful and sturdy walls.  We need to allow him to mold us into his holy dwelling place.

Lord,

Thank you for being with us wherever we are.  I offer myself to you knowing change and growth are on the way.  I want to be your dwelling place, help me grow and change as you mold me into the building you create.  Amen.

Psalm 115:18 “But we will bless the Lord from this time on and forevermore.  Praise the Lord!”

Life courses through our veins.  Life flows in the rivers and ponds.  Life bursts out in songs of birds.  All these things are blessings of the Lord.  He gave each of us life and created all life on this small planet.  He is the one true living God and because of him we have life.  When we live for him and praise him we are renewed, we are lifted up with his life giving energy.  When we turn to other gods like money or time, material possessions or human desires we turn away from life.  These gods are not living or life giving.  They draw us away from life causing us to lose focus on the world around us and focus only on us.  We begin to think that god is all that matters and it will bring us happiness and fulfillment.  It can be hard to step away from those gods but if we do, we begin to see how they really cause death.  Release your hold on whatever god is drawing you away from life and join hands with me as we walk back toward the life giving, one true God.  We will bless the Lord for he is steadfast in love and forgiveness.  We will praise his name for the life he creates in us.

Lord,

Thank you for the cleansing rain last night.  Thank you for washing away the dirt and deception in our souls.  Open our hands and help us release gods of deception and help us grasp on to your love and life.  We live because of you and so we praise you for life, we praise you forever.  Amen.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Sometimes I remember my dreams so vividly they seem real.  Last night I dreamt I was getting married.  Instead of preparing for the wedding, I was sitting with a friend watching a TV show.  Then at the last minute I was rushing around worrying about getting to the ceremony on time.  Even in my dream I knew it was more like a renewing of vows but still, apparently it didn’t hold the weight it needed to.  Where were my priorities?  There is a family I love dearly that has pulled away from the church.  They used to come when their kids were little but things changed and they left.  Since then they have stopped coming all together and now their kids are so involved in sports it is near impossible to come to a church service.  What is important to us?  Church is not the real issue here.  Service and dedication is the question.  Who do we serve or dedicate our time to?  As I look back at my days, do I see clear devotion or a mixed up version of sorts?  According to Jesus, I must choose.  I choose to serve the Lord.

Lord,

Forgive my inconsistency.  I lie to myself thinking I serve only you but you have shown me where I fall short.  Help me keep my focus and despite all the other “masters” calling me open my ears only to you.  I ask this in Jesus name.  Amen.

John 1:22  ”Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’”

John did not hesitate with his answer when they asked.  His answer was “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness...”  I thought about these questions for myself. There are many things I could say about myself; about who I am.  I am a mom and a wife.  I am a teacher and a musician.  I am a keeper of the home.  I am a child of God.  Actions speak louder than words though.  John’s actions were clear.  He was a preacher of the Word and the stories we have about him point us away from him and toward Jesus every time.  Do my actions match what I say about myself?  What are the reasons I do what I do?  Why do I teach and make music?  I enjoy most of what I do and am happy to claim those things as part of myself, but what is my true purpose?  I hope I do everything to honor the Lord and to serve His kingdom.  I want to glorify him in all I do and say.  The things I enjoy are gifts he has given me and so I strive to serve Him with those gifts.  Who are you?  What do you say about yourself?

Lord,

I know I am nothing without you.  All that I have and all that I am is because of you.  Thank you for the gifts of teaching and music, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to use those gifts to honor you.  As I go forth, help my actions and words leave no question as to who I say I am; I am yours.  Amen.

Proverbs 23:15-16 “My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.  My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

I had a nightmare.  My daughter was snatched from me in a parking garage and I didn’t even know where to begin looking for her.  The man seemed harmless...  After I shook the vision from my head I was able to look deeper for the meaning of such a horrible dream.  There are many things in this world that seem harmless and yet they easily draw us and our children away from the safety and love of the Lord.  If I am not diligent in my learning I may be dragged away from truth and if I do not teach my children in the way of the Lord, they may easily be pulled away from His love as well.  My children are my world and yet, they are not truly my children.  I have been given charge of these precious children but they belong to the Lord and it is my task to teach them about Him as much as I can.  As I prepare to begin school again I have renewed urgency to study with my daughter so we can both go forward trusting the Lord and growing in wisdom through his guidance.  My soul does rejoice when I hear her lips singing and speaking what is right.  God also rejoices when our lips speak what is right.

Lord,

Thank you for dispelling the fear that gripped me this morning.  Spirit, guide me as I strive to teach these precious children your wisdom.  Protect us all from evil; help us live in you and for you always.  Amen.

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

I bow before the Lord, kneeling and head down.  This is a small act of humility, only a glimpse of the humility my soul feels in the presence of the Almighty.  When I come to him in this manner, He does not leave me there.  It seems the moment I come in true humility, He is there.  He is standing right beside me; not up on a pedestal or on His throne.  His gentle touch lifts me from my knees to stand in his presence.  His healing love allows me to stand in confidence of his mercy.  As I lift my eyes I am almost blinded by the radiance of his glory and I feel its warmth seeping into my bones.  It is his glory, his love and his mercy that lifts me up.  I exalt the Lord; I praise and honor him.  The Lord exalts me; he raises me up.  In this exchange I am given new life, new energy and a renewed sense of purpose.  As I reluctantly leave this moment of my day, I know He has not left me or sent me out without Him.  His presence is still with me, glowing and warming my soul just as the sun begins to warm the world around me.

Lord,

I thank you for allowing, no, desiring us to come into your presence in humility.  Thank you for loving us beyond our wildest imagination and in our humble moments for lifting us up in grace.  I praise you this day.  I pray my words, actions and thoughts will honor you and glorify your kingdom.  Amen.