Beyond Ourselves
Think Bigger
Some time ago, a person sent me a video titled, “How Big is the Milky Way?” Watching it prompted me to realize that I need to think bigger about God.
The word, “God,” first used in Genesis 1:1, is the Hebrew word ‘ĕlōhîm, a generic word for deity. It means “strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.” It is a plural noun but singular in meaning; consistent with the teaching of the Trinity throughout the Bible.
Isaiah 54:5 personalizes the God of Israel saying, “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.”
Yes, God is the God of Israel, but think bigger. God is the God of all the earth as John 3:16 affirms. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
We still need to think bigger. Jeremiah 31:35 helps us do that, writing, “Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name.”
Yes, the video, “How Big is the Milky Way?” prompted me to once again be amazed and worship the God of the universe and beyond. What prompts you to be amazed and worship Him?
Lord GOD, forgive us when we think too small of You and take You for granted. Open our eyes to Your grandeur and our hearts to worship You more reverently.
Today, in the Texas Hill Country, we will get to see God’s spectacular handiwork and glory on display as we observe a total solar eclipse. As you watch this rare event, I encourage you to reflect on the greatness of God. He is bigger than we can ever imagine!
Would you also please take a moment to share this post, below?
If You Want Glorious Look Here
Does life ever seem dull or your days dreary? If so, give yourself a vacation by setting your thoughts on the glorious splendor of the Lord. Psalm 145:5
“Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name,” 1 Chronicles 29:13.
“For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,…to rebel against His glorious presence,” Isaiah 3:8.
“…I shall glorify My glorious house,” Isaiah 60:7.
“Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, … ” Isaiah 63:12.
“Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation;” Isaiah 63:15.
“‘But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne,” Matthew 25:31.
“…His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him,” Luke 13:17.
“‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come,'” Acts 2:20.
“…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,” Colossians 1:11.
“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.” James 2:1.
Lord Jesus, You, Your name, presence, house, arm, throne, might, and coming Day are GLORIOUS. We rejoice and praise You.
Want to learn more about the glorious day of the Lord? Click HERE to watch a clip from Debbie’s teaching on Acts 2.
Dead…but God
Have you been with someone when they died?
I was with my mother, father, and mother-in-law when they went to be with Jesus.
Webster defines death as “the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by the permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity.”
That is what happened to Jesus as a result of the horrific scourging and crucifixion He suffered.
The Roman soldiers who oversaw His death were skilled in their profession. They pronounced Jesus dead. But, as we know and Romans 4:17 explains, God “GIVES LIFE to the DEAD and calls into being that which does not exist.”
What seemed final when Christ died on the cross was not final. God, who gives life to the dead, gave life to Jesus.
God has given life to our loved ones who have gone to Him.
God will give life to us after our body ceases to function.
How does it make you feel to know that God will give life to you after you die, just like He gave life to Jesus?
Heavenly Father who GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD, we praise and exalt Your name! Thank You for Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. Thank You for raising our loved ones to eternal life. Thank You for the resurrection life we will one day experience. We love and praise You!
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When You Can’t Catch Your Breath
Do you ever feel like you “can’t breathe” because you have so much weighing on you?
Or maybe you’re running so fast through each day you feel like you “can’t catch your breath.”
Have you ever felt you “had the breath knocked out of you” because of financial, physical, emotional, or relational blows.
What can we do if we experience any of the above?
We can turn to our Heavenly Father.
Isaiah 42:5-6 says, “Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it, I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.”
What comforting words. God gives us His breath and His spirit so we can walk through our day. He holds us by the hand and watches over us. He has appointed us as a light to the nations.
Our identity, comfort, and purpose are God-breathed.
In difficult days when you are trying to “catch your breath,” hold your Bible close to you. Breathe deeply of the Spirit.
LORD, thank You for GIVING BREATH and Your Spirit to me. Use me as a light to the nations.
Do you feel like you’ve had the breath knocked out of you due to life’s disappointments and unmet expectations? Get a copy of The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World to discover how to take charge of your thoughts and let God reignite your hopes and dreams.
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift?
Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows.
A gift tag with your name on it.
Someone holding a gift and offering, “Take it. I bought it for you.”
As difficult as it may be for us to understand, this is what God the Father and Christ offer us – the gift of salvation. It can only be received, not earned or bought.
Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Yes, in spite of our sin, the Lord offers us the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Did it cost Him? Yes. It cost our Heavenly Father His only begotten Son’s life. It cost Jesus pain, humiliation, suffering, and death.
When we open God’s gift of eternal life the first thing we see is forgiveness, which gives us such joy and freedom. Then we see the gift of His Holy Spirit and are overwhelmed.
Included in the gift of eternal life is heaven, eternity, glory, peace, joy, and so much more!
Each day we realize there’s more of God’s gift to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for being GIVING and for the incredible GIFT of eternal life. We love and praise You.
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Could You Use Some Gentleness to Pass to Others?
When you think of Jesus, do you think of Him as being gentle?
In Matthew 11:29, it’s one of the ways He describes Himself. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
What does Christ mean when He says He is gentle? The Greek word for gentle is defined as mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. I once heard it defined as “power under control.”
Although I don’t fully understand this great combination of attributes, I see them in my husband. Keith has great strength of character, yet he stoops down to pick a tiny flower amidst a field of grass in order to gently hand it to me on our walks.
Christ, while holding infinite power, has a gentle heart toward us.
Jesus tells us to walk closely with Him and learn from Him.
Who in your circle of friends or family needs to see Christ’s gentleness in you? To the degree we walk closely to Christ we’ll be able to walk in gentleness with others.
Lord Jesus, You are strong yet GENTLE. Help us walk by Your Spirit and show gentleness to others as You do with us.
God has so many wonderful attributes that we can praise Him for! The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great way to record your praises and prayers. Grab a copy HERE while it’s on sale!
Friends, If….
What makes a friend? How would you define “friend“?
Urban Dictionary defines “friend” as “someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest. A friend is loyal.”
Merriam-Webster defines “friend” as “one attached to another by affection or esteem.”
How did Jesus define “friend”?
We find the answer in John 15:14 when He said, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”
Jesus’ definition cuts through any pretense. It’s not what we say or sing. It’s what we do that demonstrates if we love, respect, and trust Jesus.
Has Jesus earned our love, trust, and respect? Most certainly.
Does Jesus deserve our love, trust, and respect? Without question.
If we are or are not Jesus’ friend is found out by our actions – whether we obey or disobey Him.
What better time than now for us to show Jesus how much we love Him by obeying Him?
Jesus Christ, wonderful Savior, and FRIEND, we pray to show You that we are Your friend by our obedience to You.
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Firstborn From the Dead
Some time ago I went to a funeral where we celebrated the life of a dear woman who went to be with the Lord. Why were we able to celebrate her life even though we were sad she was no longer with us? We could celebrate her life because we knew she was with Christ, who Colossians 1:18 describes as “the beginning, the Firstborn from the Dead.”
Firstborn from the Dead. How can Jesus be called that? Didn’t He resurrect people to life? Weren’t the graves opened and people rose when Jesus died on the cross and the veil in the temple was torn?
Yes, Jesus raised people from the dead and yes, the tombs were opened and people raised when He died. However, those who had been resurrected died again. Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead because He was the first to rise in a resurrection body, never to die again.
In Revelation 1:4-5, John also referred to Jesus as the firstborn of the dead. “Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
Later, in Revelation 1:12-20, John saw the resurrected Lord. He heard Jesus speak. As a result, John “fell at His feet like a dead man” so shocking it was to see Jesus in glory.
The Firstborn from the Dead is alive and well as you will be when you join Him in glory.
Lord Jesus, we praise You, the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD and thank You that we, too, will be alive forever.
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Hell on Earth
“Hell on earth” is a phrase people sometimes use to describe a horrible place or time they’re experiencing. No doubt the Jews felt that way in Nazi concentration camps. So can a spouse who is in an abusive marriage. Or an employee who has a relentless boss. Might a Christian feel that way when principalities of evil are rampant? Yes.
Ephesians 6:12 says Christians struggle against rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Too often, though, we may not recognize the forces at play in our lives. We go to church, read our Bible, and try to live a good Christian life. Then something horrible happens or perhaps is ongoing. All we see is what is visible to our eyes.
When the apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith, Jesus brought perspective and encouragement to him. Consider His words, “‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades,” Revelation 1:17-18.
What you are experiencing today may feel like hell on earth, but it is temporary. Jesus is the First and the Last. He has the keys of death and Hades and is locking Satan away. He has the last word. You will live eternally in glory with the LORD.
Lord Jesus, the FIRST AND THE LAST, You reign supreme and Your Word is the final word. Thank You for ending Satan’s reign on earth one day. Thank You for eternal, glorious life with You.
Would you like more grace and peace in your life? Peace with God? Peace with others? Watch Debbie’s teaching on 1 Peter 1 HERE or listen to it HERE.
Who Is the Father of Spirits?
Father of Spirits. Are you familiar with this title of God? We don’t often hear it. More often in prayer groups we hear praises of God as the Way, Truth, and Life; of Him being Sovereign and Healer.
However, in Hebrews 12:9, the author uses the designation Father of Spirits. “We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits and live?”
What is meant by Father of Spirits?
Although some commentators mention a possible reference to God’s creation of angels, far more agree it is a reference to God being the father – creator – of people’s souls. We find a similar reference in this regard in Numbers 16:22. “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” God of the spirits of all flesh is a reference to God’s creation of mankind.
There is a most important aspect to God being referred to as the Father of Spirits in Hebrews 12:9. The passage goes on to explain that as earthly fathers discipline their children, the Father of Spirits disciplines His children. Who are His children? Those who have been born again, (John 3:3) of the Holy Spirit; who are new creations. Galatians 6:15
The Father of Spirits gives us a new birth. He then assumes responsibility for disciplining us so we share in His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10) What a wonderful Father of Spirits we have!
FATHER OF SPIRITS, thank You for giving us a new birth with Your Spirit and disciplining us so we share Your holiness. We love You and pray we reflect well on You, our Father.
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