Seat of Mercy

| October 3, 2015

My child,

My Son did live life without sin, but that does not mean he does not understand how you feel. He was tempted in every way that you have or ever will be tempted.   My Son faced the worst of temptations and because he was divine, he had the power to commit the most heinous of sins. He endured each temptation to the fullest and did not give in. Beyond that, the whole of human sin was poured out upon him on the cross. My all knowing and perfect Son felt the entire weight of world’s depravity. He felt the ugliness of every sin, he knew how destructive it was and felt my hatred for sin all at the same time.

So when you sin, do not say that my Son does not understand nor comprehend what you are going through. No, he understands better than you ever could. And for this reason, he always stands in my presence pleading your case and asking for mercy. Mercy he knows you do not deserve, but mercy he so well understands that you need.

The Seat of Mercy, I AM

Verses for thought: Hebrews 4:15-16

Grace not Condemnation

| October 1, 2015

Dear Servant,

Do you recall the story of Joseph from the Old Testament? In a moving confession, Joseph forgives his brothers and tells them that although they meant to do evil against him, that I used their evil for good and saved Joseph and his whole family. After Joseph’s father passed, the brothers openly question if Joseph would seek his revenge against them. They share a suspicious plea from their father that Joseph should forgive them. Joseph, had already forgiven them and demonstrated his forgiveness in his care for them and their families. So why did the brothers have so much fear? Their own hearts condemned them. Joseph had not forgiven them, but they could not forgive themselves and allowed fear and remorse to drive their actions rather than grace and forgiveness.

My child, you allow your own heart to condemn you and you refuse to accept grace. You forgive others their sin, often with grace through the help of my spirit. Why will you not extend the same grace to yourself? Why do you allow your own heart to condemn you and continue to walk in fear and condemnation, instead of grace?

Grace, not Condemnation, I AM

Verses for thought: Genesis 50, Romans 8:1-4

Fretting about tomorrow

| September 29, 2015

My son,

Why are you fretting about tomorrow?  Have I ever failed to provide?  Have I ever failed to lead and deliver?  Yes, you have gotten out of my will.  In stubborn rebellion you marched off to solve your own problems your own way.  Was I not there?  Did I not discipline, draw you back to myself, restore you to service and bless you again?  Can you not see that even when you were “out of my will” you were never out of my hands, nor out of my thoughts.

Quit fretting about tomorrow, what will come, where you will live, what you will do.  Instead look to me.  Count the blessings you have today, remember that I love you and will care for you each and every day, no matter what that day may bring.

With you every day, I AM

Verses for thought: Matthew 6:25-34

Good from Evil

| September 27, 2015

Dear Servant,

You live in a sinful world. From the greatest king or president to the poorest beggar, all are sinful. I remind you of this to help you remember the nature of the world in which you live. That you are bombarded daily by sin and its effects should be no surprise to you. Bad things will happen, you will suffer, for your own sin and because of the sins of others. You cannot escape sin’s effects in this life.

Do remember, that I am sovereign over all. Even when bad things happen to you they are not out of my control. While you may bemoan what has come to you, remember that I can make all things work for good for those that love me and are called according to my purpose. Do not fret, do not despair! What has happened may be meant for evil, it may hurt and leave scars, but know that if you surrender it to me I will make good out of it.

God Almighty, I AM

Verses for thought: Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:19-21

Seek

| September 25, 2015

Dear Servant,

Do you remember the words written by my servant Jeremiah? “You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart”. You seem so fearful that you will miss the way. You seem so concerned that somehow you will take a wrong step, get off the path, and miss the way. While my son was right when he described the path to righteousness as narrow and it is true that relatively few find the path, Jeremiah understood how to find the path.

If you only look down and focus on your steps, you will trip and get off the path. When you keep your head up, focus on me and my love for you, you cannot miss the way! When you cultivate my attitude in your heart, you cannot miss the way! Why? Because I will not let you. Those who set their heart on finding me (not just the path to good living) I will honor with my blessings and protection. Though the way will be hazardous at times and you will face hardships, you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart.

Found by those that seek me, I AM

Verses for thought: Matthew 7:6-8, Jeremiah 29:12-14

Your Salvation

| September 23, 2015

Dear Servant,

You do not understand. Your salvation is complete in Christ. It is finished. Nothing can be added to it or taken away from it. My Son did his perfect work and there is nothing else left to do. You are saved from your sin and yourself.

It is precisely for this reason you can live in me. You can risk, you can follow, and you can put off the old man and his sinful ways because you are saved. Nothing you do can change that. I have adopted you as my child. With that in mind, you can reach for the stars and when you do fail, you can fall into my hands of grace.

Your Salvation, I AM

Verses for thought: John 10:27-29, Romans 8:3-5

River of Grace

| September 21, 2015

Dear Servant,

Do you see the river as it flows by? Can you guess how many cubic feet of water are flowing by per second? With a river so wide it is almost impossible to comprehend the volume and force of the river as it passes.

Though there is no earthly comparison, the flow of a river paints a reasonable picture of my grace. My grace is huge and flowing, overwhelming and powerful. It never stops, and ever flows over your life. It is so powerful, it will wash you away in a violent rush to the sea of heaven. Rest assured, that in this overwhelming flood, it is I that carry you.

River of Grace, I AM

Verses for thought: Romans 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 4:14-16

Hang Out

| September 19, 2015

Dear Servant,

I long to spend time with you, to reflect, hang out, and get to know each other better. Often, it seems you only come to me when you need something. The prayers are always, “Our Father, help my car to get fixed, provide for my needs, keep my children safe, answer this difficult predicament I am in….”

I love you and I always want to be the place you come to for help. I am your Father and I give you every good and perfect gift. Your pleas to me are pleasing to me. However, I want to be in relationship with you. I want to be the place you turn when nothing is wrong, the relationship you turn to when you have no needs.  Even when you have needs I want you come hang out with me first just out of desire to spend time with me.

Continue to bring you needs, but bring all of yourself when you come.

Waiting to hang out, I AM

Verses for thought: Luke 12:29-31, Matthew 6:5-8

Constantly Saving

| September 17, 2015

Dear Servant,

Of course I could! By the power of my spirit I could do a miracle in your life. I could overcome that sin that so easily trips you up. You could walk on and not even notice the temptation. If I did that, what would be different in your heart? Would you value my mercy and sacrifice more? Would you value our relationship more?

Salvation is a constant act. I constantly forgive and cleanse, overlooking your faults through the blood of my son. You constantly fail, find additional areas of hidden sin, confront old sins you thought you had overcome and continually struggle with a frail, sinful, human existence. You come to me and confess. You open your heart and share the sin and failings and beg for my mercy. I forgive, cleanse and restore and we have sweet fellowship. In this process many good things happen. You humble yourself and acknowledge that salvation is a work of my grace, not your obtaining perfection. You also grow to trust and love me, knowing that no sin will separate you from my love. In this daily battle you slowly, sometimes painfully, become more and more like my son.

Constantly saving you, I AM

Verses for thought: 2 Corinthians 2:9-11, James 5:16

Eternal Dwelling

| September 15, 2015

Dear Servant,

I know you are homeless. I know you have no piece of ground in your name, no deed or title to a house, no little cabin, no shed, not even a lean-to to call your own. I know this makes you feel rootless, adrift and uncared for. But I have only allowed this to happen to let you see a truth you would find no other way.

My Son when he walked on the earth was also homeless. Not simply because he lacked a place to lay his head, but because his home was heaven. He did not belong on the earth, though he gladly endured life there for your sake. His home was and is an eternal one with me. You get so fixated on the earth sometimes that you fail to grasp where your true home lays. Even if you had a hundred homes in your name, you cannot be truly at home there on the earth, because it is not your home. Do not fret, no matter where I give you to lay your head, your eternal home is here with me.

Your Eternal Dwelling, I AM