MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO

Dear Friend:

My daughter wrote this recently for a talk she was giving to a group. I read it and asked myself questions. I will tell you those questions at the end of this devotion. For now just read the words God gave her.

In High School I was in a group of friends that I had been close to since the sixth grade but then something happened. I saw back stabbing, talking behind each others, text fighting  and someone always had a problem with someone else. One girl had health and family issues and she confided in me. It bothered some of the girls that they did not know what was going on and dropped her out of their lives. Is this true friendship? Jesus encompasses all the things that make the perfect friend-loyal, trustworthy, faithful, good listener, honest, supportive, caring and accepts me for who I am. 

Jesus was sent to earth by God so that we may get to know and experience a perfect friend. John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Jesus wants what’s best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jesus cares about us so much that he is constantly thinking, guiding us to what’s best.

Jesus has time for us! Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” You may say you will always be there for your friend, and you might do a pretty good job keeping that promise. But not the way Jesus does. Jesus is there 24/7 to listen to every problem you may have and he cares and is loyal.

Jesus loves us Romans 8:35-39 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death (as the scriptures say, “For you sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Even if we sin and mess up. Jesus is never mad, annoyed or upset with us-NEVER.

You’re going to have bad friendships in life. Some people will let you down or betray you. Whatever the case you have one perfect friend Jesus. Jesus #1 wants the best for you and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. #2 Jesus is with you 24/7 and is there for you in a way no human can be. #3 Jesus love you NO MATTER WHAT, ALWAYS, FOREVER.

Jesus is my friend, and He’s  your friend too, even if you may not realize it or understand, He’s waiting for you to accept that He’s there for you no matter what.

Questions:

Have I been trusting God first in my life to be my BFF?

Do you recognize all that Jesus encompasses as a friend?

Am I relying on others for the perfect friendship?

Am I good friend? (Jesus calls to be holy as he is holy.)
What percentage of time in a week do I spend with Jesus? 

There is merit in establishing how much time we spend with Jesus especially in  light of the old saying "Monkey See Monkey Do." 

PRAYER:  Father in heaven thank You for being my friend. Help me to remember that no matter what You care. Lead me to friendships that are good for me. By the power of the Holy Spirit help me to be a good friend to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I AM NEVER ALONE

“I’ve prayed for you since you were baby. You are the one who had asthma, right? I know things were difficult for you,” the nun softly said.

While celebrating my aunt’s 90^th birthday and her 60^th Jubilee in the religious life as a nun, one of her friends at the retirement center, who is a nun also, spoke to me.  Her words surprised me as I repeated them back, “I have been prayed for since a baby?”

As I walked away God showed me in a flash the answers to her prayers. I no longer suffer from asthma. I was introduced to Jesus at a very young age. I have had a hedge of protection around me, and that explained so much of my life.

As a child I had fears that came from my illness and from observing my parents dealing with their brokenness. They ended their marriage after twenty-seven years. From my mom’s deep issues with anxiety to my dad, who had so much anger, life was difficult. My mom did not want to live when the twenty-seven year marriage ended. I became anxious and angry about life. I was in need of my own inner healing.

The prayers of the nuns helped me to truly find the peace of Jesus. My aunt, now long gone, had given me a lifelong gift.

Some days do you catch yourself saying “I don’t have anyone to pray for me?” All prayers from scripture live on. They hold true for you and me today.  Peruse the beauty of the Word for the prayers of the faithful and realize those prayers live on in our lives.

Paul prayed, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9 NIV).

Jesus prayed, “…Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 NIV).

Jesus prayed for you and me. His prayers never die. They live on. We can count on that.

I know I am never alone. I have my God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the faithful.

We don’t have anyone? We can shut our mouths and unclog our minds from that lie!

PRAYER:  Father in heaven thank You for reminding me that I am never alone. Amen.

NESTLE VS. WRESTLE

Elijah said  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep."

When we fall into fear of the future. Loose thoughts come to mind. Awful death threats come out of our mouth. Negativity continues to ramble in our thoughts. We can't see freedom.
This is the wrestle.

Stop! Stop! Stop!
This is Nestle:
God: I love you with an everlasting love.
I got your back.
Remain with me and I will remain with you.
Climb up on His lap and wait and think of all that is going right!

The wrestle:
rambling, loose arguments going on in your head!

Do you want to wrestle?
Do you want to nestle?

Your choice!
 

THE BEST OF ME

Dear Friend:

I woke up feeling like I was in a fog. In reality my husband was away visiting a very sick family member. My daughter was home sick with mono. My other daughter just left for five days of camp. My other son called me from California, he can’t find work. I am going on a bike ride. I am going to meet some people at a bagel shop then I will feel better. The eight mile ride to the bagel shop had not lifted the fog.

One lady I had not seen in a while was there. I told her my husband is switching his job to this certain company. Her response “That company is horrible.” Well that responses prompted me to change the subject. I tried again. My daughter switched schools and is now going to a Christian college. Another lady over heard me and blurted out “My daughter did the same thing and she hated that Christian school.” Oh my this is not going well. No relief from the ride or these people.

I got back on my bike and I begin to laugh hysterically. What just happened?  I think I know what is best for me. I am in control. Did I greet God today? Did I ask Him to help direct my day? Of course my response was “No.” I am in the minority when it comes to the amount of people trying to have a close relationship with God. My understanding of God and the validation I need is limited. I ran the wrong way. I must stay faithful to the small things. I dragged out my phone and put on a podcast that was preaching on Faith and I heard these words:  No matter what! No Matter how! You will not be shaken!  Just those words put a fight back in me. I felt as if the fog lifted. I then greeted God asking for forgiveness saying “I am sorry I let my thoughts and emotions get the best of me. God I want you to get the best of me I don’t want my thoughts to get the best of me. Forgive me.” In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

If you are recovering from an illness and it seems so slow.

If you lost your job recently.

If you are trying to buy a new business.

If you are waiting to close a deal on a house.

If you are waiting to sell your house.

If you have a broken relationship.

If your child is being rebellious.

If you just got a bad diagnosis.

If your heart is not in the right place.

If you just had a miscarriage.

If you cannot have children.

If you just lost someone.

If someone close is dying.

If your dream has not come to fruition.

If you are waiting for a job promotion.

If you need a break from work and you can’t right now.

If your marriage is falling apart.

If you are single and want to be married.

If you cannot pay your bills.

If someone rejected you.

If someone is bullying you.

Be strong no matter what is going on in life. I know it is not easy to navigate. But I want to share that God is good and that he loves you. God will hold you. Hug you. Never let you go. I am reminded in my strength now that God is for me. He helped me to look at things differently.

Remember when the Shunammite woman met with Elisha and he prayed to God to give her a son. Later, the son got a headache and died. The woman would not accept this fate. She ran to Elisha for help. She did question Elisha saying “Why did you raise my hope of a son.” She was shattered. Yet Elisha confidently sent Gehazi to take his staff and put it on the boy to heal him. It did not work. The Shunammite woman insists Elisha must go to her son. With God’s help Elisha raised the boy from the dead. (2 Kings 4:8-36)

We never know what will happen. We do not have a crystal ball to the future. We have to rely on God for the future. For everything!

Run as quickly as the Shunammite woman did to Jesus! Ask Him where to go and how to get there.

We are living in a time where we need to cry out to God constantly. We need him to intervene in our situations. Throw off whatever is hindering you and do not delay in asking God to help you today.

Don’t let your thoughts get the best of you. Give your best to God.

Be Blessed and encouraged today!