November 11,
2010
“…nor [let
us] complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the
destroyer.” ~1 Corinthians 10:10
Lord, Please
forgive me for my complaining attitude.
Please forgive me for always wanting more than I have. Help me to be satisfied with You alone, and
help me to focus on how I can give You to others. Open the doors for foster care or adoption if
that is in Your will for my life. If I
can show Your love to any little child, help me do that. Keep my mind on You, and not on me. Help me to allow You to truly be Lord of my
life. Amen.
November 24,
2010
“Whoever
receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” ~Matthew 18:5
“But Jesus
said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such
is the kingdom of heaven’.” ~Matthew
19:14
Dear Father,
I have gone
from being completely opposed to foster care and/or adoption to now desiring it
and dwelling on it. I fear it, but I
also fear the world for those children who don’t have loving homes, who don’t
know You. Every time I think of Your
love, I think of all those children who don’t have anyone to love them, to meet
their one most wanted desire, the one You created in them, the one they were
created for—to be loved. If it is Your
will, Lord, if it is what You desire for our family, allow us to love them, to
bring them to You. Give this same desire
to Dave, give a loving heart to Ruthie.
Your will be done, Father. May I
rest in the knowledge of Your perfection.
Amen.
December 10,
2010
“Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and
for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” ~Matthew 13:44
“For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~Matthew 6:21
“Now behold,
one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may
have eternal life?’ So He said to him,
‘Why do you call me good? No one is good
but One, that is, God. But if you want
to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ …The young man said to Him, ‘All
these things I have kept from my youth.
What do I still lack?’ Jesus said
to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he
went away sorrowful, for he had great possession.” ~Matthew 19:16-22
Father, You
are the only truly good thing, and all things come through You, by You and are
for You. Show me how to make You the
only thing in my life. Show me how to
make You my treasure. Burn away my
desires until all that is left is You. I
give up everything I want and give You everything I have. Show me what to do now. Be King of my life; make my heart Your
kingdom. Rule and reign and defeat anything
that is not of You. I believe You are
God, and I believe You are good. Help me
to be strong, defeat my tendency to fall back to my own desires. Empty me and fill me with You. Show me what I can do for You. Use me for Your glory. I give You my desire for more children—take
it from me. Free me to be whoever You
choose, to do whatever You choose. Light
my path; show me the way. Give me
clarity of purpose. Walk with me step by
step. Amen.
December 14,
2010
“Do not
forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly
entertained angels. Remember the
prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves
are in the body also.” ~Hebrews 13:2-3
“Let your
conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave
you nor forsake you’.” ~Hebrews 13: 5
“But do not
forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased.” ~Hebrews 13:16
“Now may the
God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete
in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
Lord, If it
be Your will for us to do foster care or adoption, work that out in our
lives. Conquer any obstacle, enable us
to share what You have so graciously given.
Work in our hearts to do Your will.
And in the meantime, may You be enough to fill our hearts and our
house. Let me not look to any other
thing but You. Amen.
December 21,
2010
“This sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ~John 11:4
Father,
Change my attitude that You may be glorified.
Change my focus that You may be revealed in me. Draw me near to You. Help me to follow You. Help me to hear Your voice alone and be deaf
to any other. Seal me into Your bosom
and may I never stray. Amen.
December 23,
2010
“If you
abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it
shall be done for you.” ~John 15:7
“…but I will
see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from
you. And in that day you will ask Me
nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My
name. Ask, and you will receive, that
your joy may be full.” ~John 16:22-24
Am I asking
amiss, Lord, for another child? Change my
desire, if that is so. Align my heart
with Yours that I might not ask what You do not will. Make my joy complete in You. Open my eyes every day to Your fullness, to
the joy that comes only from knowing You.
Amen.
December 31,
2010
Luke
19: the story of Zacchaeus
All
Zacchaeus wanted was to see Jesus, so he cleared away the physical obstacles to
make that happen. But Jesus had a
greater plan, a deeper desire. He saw in
Zacchaeus a willing heart, a desperate soul.
He sought out Zacchaeus; He saw him, loved him, accepted him,
acknowledged him and in response, Zacchaeus cleared away the obstacles from his
heart.
I have met
Jesus and welcomed His love, but have I truly allowed Him to change me? Have I truly let go of what I hold dearest?
In
Zacchaeus’ framework, the tree was the solution to seeing Jesus. But Jesus said, no, come out of the tree,
come out of your own way of doing things for I’m about to step into your life
and rock your world. I’m going to show
you a whole new way.
Come into my
heart, Lord, and help me let go. I know
I am holding on too tightly to my own dreams.
Help me to hold onto You alone. Amen.
