Blessings x 3!
Posted by Emily on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 2:25pm
“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.” – Jude 2 The above verse was brought to my attention by a Christian brother who always signs his e-mails with the reference. What a great idea to sign messages with Scripture! After looking it up, it has become one of my favorites. Today, my dear readers, I wish to pass it on as my prayer for you. MERCY: Mercy has often been defined as “God’s withholding of what we do deserve.” May the Lord wrap you in His compassion and mercifully soften the results of sin in your life. Please remember “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). PEACE: “Mercy is the act of God, peace is the resulting experience in the heart of man” (Vine’s Dictionary, pg. 404). Oh, how we treasure the peace that only the Lord can give! In a world full of chaos and confusion, in the midst of busy and demanding lives, and in the deep recesses of our hearts, we long for peace. Because of Christ, it is ours. May God fill you with His peace that “surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7). LOVE: God is love … He is entirely unselfish and always does what is best for us. That might seem hard to understand sometimes when we are going through a trial, but we must trust in Him wholeheartedly. May you be able to say with complete certainty “… we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love …” (1 John 4:16). Father of mercies* and Lord of peace, You are love. I worship You as such and pray for Your blessings of mercy, peace, and love in the lives of my friends. May Your Word revive and encourage them as they reflect on all we possess in Christ. In His precious name, Amen. 2 Corinthians 1:3 2 Thessalonians 3:16 1 John 4:16 God's Blessings*
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Waiting in Faith
Posted by Emily on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 2:03pm
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Ephesians 11:1 It seems like my husband and I have been in a long period of waiting on God. This past September, we put a house we had been renting to another family up for sale. But as you know, the real estate market has seen better days! So in addition, we also put the home in which we live up for sale. Even though we love it here and had plans to stay for a long time, we decided to totally place these homes in God’s hands and live in the one that didn’t sell first. Well, a little over five months later, neither home has sold. We haven’t even received an offer! As we continue trying to meet two monthly mortgages as well as other bills, stress has been at a new level. Even though I knew early in the process that the Lord will take care of us and everything will somehow work out, I have fallen into doubt at times. “What if?” questions have kept me awake and anxiety has been a frequent confession. Yet the Lord clearly and lovingly reminded me last week that He will supply all our needs. Through His Word, He spoke to me twice about that theme. He also gently rebuked me through His Word about my “little faith.” Another area of waiting I have experienced recently has to do with the marketing of my book. It has been challenging trying to get the word out on a shoestring budget! But the Lord has impressed upon me a desire to wait on Him for the funding of this ministry. Therefore, I had to turn down what appeared to be a fabulous opportunity with “World” magazine. But do you know what God has done?! Just this past Sunday, He opened the door to an incredible marketing opportunity through a dear friend! Once again, the Lord has confirmed that He has plans for the direction of this book and His plans are unquestionably the best! I’m just here for the ride! What about you, dear friend? Are you waiting on God for something in particular? Are you questioning where God is and whether or not He hears your pleas for help? Please let me assure you – He hears you and He will answer! We can wait in faith because “ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). If God was willing to send His beloved Son to the cross on our behalf, won’t He take care of our earthly needs? Our God never sleeps (Ps. 121:3) … our God cares for us (I Peter 5:7)… our Father knows what we need before we even ask (Matt. 6:8)… and our Father loves us (I John 4:16). Amen! “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 Waiting on God
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Fellowship with the Divine
Posted by Emily on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 3:37pm
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” – Psalm 62:8 Prayer is such an incredible privilege that has limitless blessings! In His great wisdom and love, God has designed it so we can communicate and fellowship with Him. May you be inspired by the following poem to pour out your heart to the One Who is always there … "FELLOWSHIP WITH THE DIVINE" Do you want to sense God’s presence, Feel the warmth of His embrace? Pray … Do you crave to know God’s nearness, Long for mercy and grace? Pray … Beloved brother and sister He’s provided us with a Way Come before His throne of grace Let’s bow our heads and pray. Through Christ the Son we’re confident Because of His blood we approach Led by the Holy Spirit Not afraid of reproach. Our Father, there is none like You Majestic, mighty yet tender Welcoming us, we enter To Your will surrendered. Listen! Do you hear His footsteps? God is wondrously drawing near! Faithful to keep His promise As we humbly draw near. Do you long for intimacy - Refreshment for your soul? Pray … Do you desire to see Him move - Make broken people whole? Pray … The Lord listens and the Lord loves Our Abba answers, Abba acts He delights to hear our prayers, Give what He knows we lack. God, how awesome to watch You work – Drawing, saving, sanctifying! What joy and peace in knowing You hear our hearts crying. For God’s glory alone, Emily Wickham 2/10/10 “Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” – Psalm 61:1-2 Prayer
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Loving Like Jesus
Posted by Emily on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 2:40pm
“And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.” – Matthew 4:24 Is it okay to brag about your spouse? Somehow it seems like it’s all right – especially at this Valentine’s time of the year. So here is what is on my heart … A couple of days ago I had the privilege of meeting my husband Mark’s new friend. This fiftyish year-old man has been a frequent customer at our store. He loves to make copies so he was often buying more ink for his printer. After a while, my husband offered to have him come in each Wednesday to do some light work sorting cartridges, etc. In exchange, Mark has agreed to give him some free ink periodically. So this man comes with great excitement every Wednesday morning and spends the day at our store. He and my husband also run errands together and at the end of the day, my husband takes him home to his mother. You see, this man is slightly challenged mentally. He is not able to take complete care of himself and is therefore still dependent on his elderly mother. So why does this touch my heart so much? If you could have seen the softness in Mark’s eyes as he looked at his friend, you would understand. It was clear that Mark is proud of his friend - his character and personality … who he is. The Christ-like compassion, tenderness, and love that Mark has for this man speaks volumes in a society that sees him as “less than”. Mark’s special way with disabled people is really a beautiful thing to witness … because it’s Christ in Mark that I see. When Jesus walked on this earth, He healed people who were afflicted with all sorts of ailments – mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. He looked at the crowds and had compassion on them (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, etc.). Jesus loved them. This was evidenced in His words and actions. What a Savior He is! How about me and you? Can others see Christ in us? Do they see His compassion, His tenderness, and His love in our eyes? Seeing this in my husband has inspired me anew to love others more fully, more freely, and more readily. Because that is what our Savior did long ago – and still does today – through us! “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” – I Corinthians 13:1-3 Everyday Christianity
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Orphans No More
Posted by Emily on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 5:54pm
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” – Galatians 4:6 When life comes at us and we feel overwhelmed, tired, or discouraged, isn’t it absolutely awesome that we can run into our heavenly Father’s arms and cry, “Abba! Father!”? Or when life is full and we are rejoicing in our blessings, isn’t it an added joy that we can look up at our Father and cry, “Abba! Father!”? As I think about the orphans in Haiti - who are suffering these days more than I can comprehend – I can’t help but think of all the spiritual orphans in the world. Where do they run in times of trauma? On the other hand, where do they turn to celebrate? I often think, what would I do without the Lord? In good times or bad, it would be unimaginable having to face everything in life without my heavenly Father. He is my source of strength, my hope, my life, etc. Yet countless people live everyday without knowing Him and being known by Him. What an unspeakable tragedy … especially when Christ’s work on the cross makes forgiveness of their sins and eternal life entirely available! But how will they know, unless we share the Good News? How will they understand that Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) if we don’t make it a priority to tell them? And how will they learn about God’s character if they don’t see His reflection in us? My friend, what is your relationship with God? Do you know without a doubt that you belong to your heavenly Father based on your belief in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ? I hope so. But if there is a gaping hole in your life and you realize you are a spiritual orphan, please know that there is hope! Jesus Christ can fill your emptiness! By trusting in Him as your Lord and Savior, you too can cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 10:9 tells us, “… if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved”. I pray you will believe in Christ today and experience the joy of belonging to our Father in heaven. Loving Father in heaven, please sustain and care for the Haitian orphans and all orphans throughout the world. Please show us how we can be Your hands and feet to those in need, and help us to obediently do so. Also, for those who are reading this devotional and realize they are a spiritual orphan, please use Your Holy Word to speak to their hearts. Draw them to You, Abba, through Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His Name, Amen. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” – 2 Peter 1:2 Salvation
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