Near to the brokenhearted

Reading for today: Psalm 51

“God’s true nature is to love people who are troubled, have mercy on those who are brokenhearted, forgive those who have fallen, and refresh those who are exhausted” (Martin Luther).

 

I used to facilitate an outreach program aimed at caring for international mothers and their children. Amazing volunteers worked alongside me to care for the mental health, physical, and spiritual needs of these under-served women and children.

I’ll never forget, one of the women, Alice, articulated our mission in this way: These women don’t need to be told that they are sinners, these women need to be told that they are loved.

Alice said this because as Christians we have a tendency to go to the broken, the lost, the hurting, and the lonely of this world and hand them the law. We do it to ourselves as well.

But Christ’s mission was to go to those who already felt the pain and weight of the law and offer them His mercy, His love, His forgiveness, His hope, and His righteousness.

God does not despise the brokenhearted. In fact, He takes our brokenness and fills it completely with His grace and forgiveness. He upholds us with His Spirit. And He wraps us up in His arms, forever holding onto us with His love.

“None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22).

Dear God, Thank You for Your unbelievable love. Please forgive me for thinking that I need to be righteous in order for You to be a Savior. Deliver me from my loneliness, from my despair, from my broken heart, from my afflictions, and from my sins. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

Music is a powerful form of worship. Click on the following link to worship our Savior through the music of Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar.

Day 2 – Psalm 34

Day 3 – 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Day 4 – Luke 18:9-14

Day 5 – Philippians 4:4-7

 

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God’s Wedding Plans: Part 3 – The Plans

Reading for today: Revelation 19:6-9

“And I will betroth you to me forever…” ~ Hosea 2:19

I worked my college summers at a camp, spending evenings around the campfire, singing songs like Shout to the Lord, Shine Jesus Shine, Light the Fire, and Awesome God.

One of my favorites was Jesus, Lover of My Soul. It’s a beautiful song by Hillsong based on Psalm 40. It’s an easy song to learn, with repeating lyrics, so I brought it with me to Taiwan to teach my English Bible study students.

One of the pastors heard the song and asked me not to teach it to the students. He argued that calling Jesus a “lover” was racy and irreverent.

There is no doubt that the word “lover” has some baggage. But the Bible clearly depicts God as a relentless, pursuing lover. Excluding this kind of intimate, covenantal love, limits our understanding of the depth and multidimensionality of God’s love for us.

Through the 15 years of marriage to my lover, God has graciously taught me more about His unbelievable steadfast love and faithfulness. And I am still learning.

In love, God pursues us, He proposes to us an everlasting covenant, and He promises us the ultimate wedding feast to come.

On that great day, when we stand like a bride in front of the church, we will no longer rely on faith to carry us through to God’s kingdom. On that day, we will see, we will feel, and we will experience the full measure of God’s perfect love for us…forever.

Dear God, Give me the faith to believe your great love for me. Give me the strength to love You and others as You have first and always loved me. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Toby and I at our wedding feast (Aug 2002)

There is nothing like a good piece of wedding cake (or in my case, good wedding pie), shared at a happy, wedding feast.

God is preparing the ultimate wedding cake and feast for us. He promises that Jesus will one day come again to sweep His bride (the church) off her worn and weary feet and bring her to the greatest wedding feast ever.

Read through some of God’s wedding plans this week.

Day 2 – John 14:1-6

Day 3 – Hosea 2:16,18-20; Isaiah 25:6-9

Day 4 – Luke 14:15-24

Day 5 – Psalm 23

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God’s Wedding Plans: Part 2 – The Proposal

Reading for today: Ephesians 5:25-33

“…the Lord loves you…” ~ Deuteronomy 7:8

The night Toby asked me to marry him, I had no idea that he was about to propose. We went for a walk along the beaches of Kaohshiung, Taiwan. It could have been a romantic walk except that it was late at night and pitch dark.

As we walked down to the beach, a pack of wild dogs had congregated, making me increasingly nervous. On the other side of the beach, bang! Bang! Pow! A gang of drunken men were suddenly setting firecrackers off over the ocean.

As I fearfully searched for Toby’s hand in the dark, I stumbled backward over him. He had gotten down on one knee and was holding a ring out to me. I was so surprised. But because it was dark, I couldn’t see the ring. I kept asking, “Is this real? Is this for real?”

“Yes!” he assured me, laughing. “This is for real!”

Like Toby’s proposal in the dark, God is proposing to us. He loves us. He relentlessly pursues us. And in the middle of our darkness, surrounded by uncertainty, He reaches out and offers to completely commit Himself to us forever… for real.

Dear God, I can’t believe that you want to commit to me. Thank you for reaching into my darkness with your amazing light. God, make me committed to you. Make me worthy of Your great love and give me the power to reach into the darkness of those around me. Amen.

God committed Himself to His people from the very beginning. Read through the passages below to learn more about His loving commitment to us. Note: Even though these passages are speaking to followers thousands of years ago, know that it applies to us today.

Day 2 – Deuteronomy 7:6-9

Day 3 – Jeremiah 29:11-14; 31:31-34

Day 4 – John 17:6-23

Day 5 – 1 Corinthians 13

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God’s Wedding Plans: Part 1 – The Pursuit

Reading for today: Jeremiah 31:3

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” ~ Jeremiah 31:3

When discussing the early stages of our relationship, my husband Toby likes to say that I pursued him. And he is probably right.

When we met, I was at a point in my life where I wasn’t sure if I would ever find that always-and-forever kind of love. Yet the moment I met Toby, I knew he was the one. Out of nowhere, I had an all-out sort of love for someone and I was not going to let him get away.

Early in my “pursuit” of Toby, I was worried that he didn’t feel as strongly about me as I did about him. I asked him the dangerous question, “Do you see our relationship going to the next level?” I remember being heartbroken when he responded that he just wanted to be friends. But I didn’t give up.

The Bible describes our relationship with God as a marriage – God is the bridegroom and we are the bride. As the bridegroom, God has an all-out sort of love for us. The Bible is the story of that love.

You see, God loves us with His entire being. He chose us before we even knew Him. He pursues us and is willing to chase after us, even though He knows that our love for Him is nothing in comparison. He is faithful, even when we are not. He is loyal, even when we break His heart. But the best news of all is that God is not willing to give up.

Dear God, Your love is incredible. I don’t deserve it. I make mistakes. I break your heart. But there You are mercifully saying, “I still love you.” Make me worthy of Your great love and give me the power to love others just like You have loved me. Amen.

This week read these passages on how God crazy loves you! Next week we’ll learn the extent of that love.

Day 2 – John 3:16-17

Day 3 – Isaiah 43:1-4

Day 4 – 1 John 4:7-12, 16

Day 5 – 1 Corinthians 13

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a heart after You: week 5 (final week)

Reading for today: Psalm 139

David was a man after God’s own heart. For the last few weeks, we have been looking at the stories of David to figure out what it means to have a heart after God.

It doesn’t mean that we are better than the average guy. It doesn’t mean that we have it all figured out. It doesn’t mean that we’ll always do the right thing. And if we screw up, it definitely doesn’t mean that we’ve lost our chance.

You see, having a heart after God’s own heart is simply seeking Him above all else. And when you seek God, He will be found and He will change your heart.

So that when you are facing giants, you hold onto Him. When you are in the middle of an I-don’t-know-what-to-do situation, you beg Him for guidance. When you are in the wrong, you listen to Him and you adjust back to His will. When you recognize His blessings, you dance for joy.

And if you break His heart by turning completely away from His will, His Spirit will allow your heart to break as well. He will humble you, and you will ask for forgiveness, which He will graciously give. And then you will understand what is at the heart of God – His mercy, His forgiveness, and His unbelievable love.

Dear God, Please give me a heart like yours. Teach me Your mercy, Your forgiveness and Your amazing love. Amen.

This week begins the season of Lent, what better way to learn of God’s heart than to study and meditate on the mercy, forgiveness, and love that God showed through His Son, Jesus.

This week, as we prepare, we will read through some of the Psalms of David.

Day 2 – Psalm 25:4-10

Day 3 – Psalm 37:3-6; 23-24

Day 4 – Psalm 86:1-12

Day 5 – Psalm 103:1-13

 

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You are known.

Reading for today: Psalm 139

I have moved enough times in my life to know that I don’t want to move anymore. While it is exciting to have lived in so many places, there is something unsettling about feeling unknown.

When I am feeling unknown by those around me, it is so important for me to be reminded, that not only does God love me, but that He knows me as well.

Psalm 139 is all about God knowing you. Knowing you completely. He knows everything about you. He knows the exact moment you woke up this morning. He knows the first, second, and third thoughts you had in the shower. He knows which socks you’ll choose and whether or not you’ve ironed that shirt. He knows exactly what you’ll say to your child or spouse or coworker, even before you utter it.

He knows how many chocolate chip cookies you’ll grab and how many steps you’ll walk. He knows the paths you’ll take, even when you are sure you’re headed down another one. He knows the habits you have, the habits you’ll break, and the habits you’ll form. He knows why you can’t kick that cold or why your left ankle creaks.

Before others knew you, he knew you. He knows your first day, your last day, and the weather forecast of every day in between. There is nothing he doesn’t know about you, because he lovingly and intricately wove you together.

Utterly exposed yet absolutely safe. That’s what it feels like to be known by God.

Dear God, Search me and know my heart, see if there is any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

Day 2 – John 10:11-15

Day 3 – Jeremiah 29:11-13

Day 4 – Jeremiah 1:5; I Corinthians 13:12; Isaiah 43:1

Day 5 – I Corinthians 8:3; Nahum 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:19

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You are loved

Reading for today: Luke 15:11-24

I used to work with internationals. One of the highlights of every week was our international women’s Bible study. One of my favorite things about the program was that my fellow volunteers and I were dedicated to making the women feel cared for and loved. I remember one of our volunteers, Alice, summing up our mission, saying, “They just need to hear that they are loved.”

This weekend, I had the opportunity to help lead a Christian retreat for 7^th and 8^th grade youth. As I was presenting the Bible study material, Alice’s voice kept ringing in my ear, “They just need to hear that they are loved.”

Sometimes God is presented in such a way as to make people feel that He is sitting up in heaven, waiting for us to do something wrong. And when we do, there is an assumption that God loves to wag His holy finger and shake His righteous head in disapproval.

That is simply not the case. God makes is very clear in His Word and through His Son how he feel about us. He absolutely loves us. He has always loved us. Everything He has done has been for us. As one of our youth put it this weekend, “God loves us and He is for us.”

Dear God, Thank you for your unbelievable love toward me. Help me to live each day remembering and sharing your great love. Amen.

As you go through your week, remember that you are loved. And remember that, those around you “just need to hear that they are loved.”

Day 2 – Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 145:8-9

Day 3 – Psalm 103:11; Romans 8:37-39

Day 4 – Ephesians 3:17-19; Hebrews 13:5

Day 5 – Romans 8:28; John 17:23-26; 1 John 4:7-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Priorities

Every once in awhile, it’s good to take a step back and remember your basic priorities as a Christian. I realize the word priorities sounds a bit like your last work evaluation. But in this scenario, I don’t want you to think about your job, I want you to think about your relationship with God and with others.

Reading for today: Colossians 1:9-14, 28-29

Your Christian priorities can basically be broken down into two major areas. The first is our priority towards God. The second is our priority towards others. According to Colossians, our priority towards God is to, first of all, know him and his forgiveness, then to walk in a manner worthy of the redemption he offers. All this we practice within an attitude of thanksgiving.

Our second priority is towards others. We make it our priority to teach others, pray for others, and to ask God for strength, endurance, and patience. All this we practice within an attitude of joy.

But there is also a third priority. And that is the priority that God has placed on himself towards us. None of the above mentioned “priorities” can occur without God’s promise to help. He has qualified us. He has delivered us. He has transferred us out of darkness and into the kingdom of light. And in verse 29, Paul says that as he struggles through his priorities, he does so with God’s “energy that powerfully works within” him.

When all three priorities are acting together, the Christian life wonderfully forms an avenue for the Trinity. Which looks like this: as we grow in our knowledge of God the Father, we accept the forgiveness of Jesus the Son who redeemed us. Then by his Holy Spirit, we are called back to God to be catalysts of change in the lives of those around us.

Dear God, Please help us to get back to basics. Help us to love you and to love others. Amen.

Let’s orientate ourselves back to basic priorities for our Christian walk.

Day 2 – Luke 10:25-37

Day 3 – Mark 12:28-34; Deuteronomy 6:5

Day 4 – Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-21

Day 5 – Philippians 1:19-30

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The Power to Save: A six-week study on the powers of Jesus: Week 6

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” ~Luke 24:5-6

Resurrection Morning by James Martin

Reading for today: John 20:1-18, 30-31; 21:25

The power over disease, evil spirits, and nature. The power to forgive sins and the power over death. And then, on Easter, Jesus’ revealed his ultimate power and purpose – the power to save.

Easter Morning by He Qi

For all humanity, Easter morning was the dawning of a new existence. New life offered at the very moment that Jesus rose from the dead.

For all the power he had, Jesus chose to save us. To save us forever from the clutch of sin, to save us from the fear of death, and to save us from the overwhelming darkness that pulls us away from our Creator God. We are saved for eternity, by the power of Jesus.

But underneath all this power, there is yet a deeper power that courses through the veins of God himself. It is the power that drove, from the very beginning, his unwavering commitment to our salvation. It is the basis of God’s every action through the person of Jesus. This underlying power is love –God’s steadfast love for us.

It is God’s love that first created us. It is God’s love that set his plan of salvation in motion at the Garden of Eden when humanity first sinned against him. It is God’s love that heard humanity’s cry, “Lord save us!” It is God’s love that sent Jesus as Immanuel – God with us – to earth. It is God’s love that set Jesus’ face towards Jerusalem and the cross, as people shouted Hosanna – God save us. And it is God’s love that sacrificed his only Son, to be the answer to our cries.

In love, God sent Jesus, with all authority and power, in order to make a way for us to enter back into his perfect love. And God desires that you not only accept his love in faith, but also extend it outward to those who have not yet felt its warmth. For he who is mighty to save, has given his power to us. God’s loving promise to save is now upon us and we have the power to share his love with those around us.

I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is. ~ Ephesians 3:19 (CEV)

This week, spend some time basking in God’s love for you.

Day 2 – John 3:16-17; Ephesians 3:14-21

Day 3 – 1 John 4:7-12,16

Day 4 – 1 Corinthians 13

Day 5 – John 15:9-17

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The Power to Save: A six-week study on the powers of Jesus: Week 3

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.” ~Psalm 107:28-30

Reading for today: Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm by Laura James

Jesus Calms the Storm is one of the first accounts to describe Jesus’ power over nature. I love the trifold symmetry of this story. First, the story is framed by the great storm, followed by the great calm. Next, Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, but he also rebukes the disciples’ lack of faith. And what begins as the disciples’ fear of the elements, is finally replaced with their fear of the Lord. Meanwhile, unchanging Jesus runs centerline right through the story.

As we have discussed in weeks 1 and 2, Jesus has full power over disease and evil spirits. And while extremely popular with the crowds, attracting a huge following, he is still thought of as a miracle worker, not the Son of God. Not the Messiah. Not the Lord of all.

This split second miracle in a fisher’s boat, strikes a new kind of fear in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus power is unreal. He can no longer be safely kept under the category of miracle worker or healer. “Who is this,” they ask, “that nature obeys him?” His power is mind-blowing and therefore, potentially dangerous.

Yet as we have studied thus far, Jesus’ power, his unconceivable power, seems to be revealed in those don’t-you-care-that-we-are-perishing moments of our distress. Rest assure, that as we add more powers to Jesus’ resume, know that he absolutely cares for you. And as we continue to study Jesus’ specific powers, keep that very notion at the heart of it. You are loved. And there is no fear in love.

Dear Jesus, You have power over nature. Still the storms. Rebuke the wind and the sea. Deliver us and bring us safely home. Amen.

Further reading for this week:

Day 2 – Psalm 107:28-30

Day 3 – Matthew 21:18-22

Day 4 – Matthew 14:22-33

Day 5 – Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-12

 

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