While searching for a job, one of the areas I want to consider is benefits. I’ve lived without health insurance before and hope I never have to again. Scary! But this week, I considered another type of benefits, those described in Psalm 103.
He forgives all our sins. Sometimes I think we forget to thank God for sending Jesus. As we live from day to day as busy people, we tend to take our salvation for granted. Then one covetous thought or one gluttonous meal or one word of gossip reminds us we need to be forgiven again. We benefit greatly from God’s grace.
He heals our diseases. Certainly, I can testify to the healing of my son’s disease. Check out carnival4caleb.blogspot.com, and God has allowed me to be the recipient of several healings. Although we don’t always think about it, God is still the Healer even when we don’t see the healing in this lifetime or in the timing we pray for. He ultimately heals the diseases of our souls and then wipes out every disease in the hallways of heaven.
He redeems our lives from the pit. From the pit of hell, from the pit of destructive strongholds, from the pit of addictive behaviors, from the pit of discouragement, from the pit of all the craziness in our world, from all the pits we can fall into.
He crowns us with love and compassion. When I’m discouraged here at the house, I put on my tiara. It reminds me I am a princess, a daughter of the King, greatly valued and loved with all the compassion of the gentle Savior’s heart.
He satisfies our desires with good things. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and here I am – tapping out words for this blog. This morning, I wondered how we would buy groceries next week. I reached into the mailbox and pulled out a HyVee gift card from a friend. Last week, I needed copy paper. A friend’s husband used his coupon at Office Depot for a box of paper – for me – to satisfy that desire when he didn’t even know it was a need.
These are only some of the benefits we enjoy because we are God’s children – benefits that expand far beyond the puny benefits of a job.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Heavenly UPS
As God called me this morning to fast and pray for an upcoming interview, I opened my Bible to Psalm 57. Several verses there gave me hope and fodder for my prayers.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”
The job I need is not only one that utilizes my skills and experience, but especially – the one that fulfills God’s purpose for me. He has called me to be His servant, to glorify Him with my writing and to further His kingdom on this earth. But most job descriptions aren’t written in biblical language or with a Christian worldview. I must continue to seek God’s purpose and direction.
“He will send from heaven to save me…my God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Like a heavenly UPS, God continues to send me packages of love and faithfulness. Direction for how to pray, courage for interviews, financial assistance for those constant bills and peace to replace the fear. I depend on Him to meet every practical and emotional need, to keep me in faith and to surround me with his love.
That is the faithfulness of God – meeting every need, even the deepest ones we can barely discern and pouring out His grace each moment. I need His package today and depend on His ability to deliver.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”
The job I need is not only one that utilizes my skills and experience, but especially – the one that fulfills God’s purpose for me. He has called me to be His servant, to glorify Him with my writing and to further His kingdom on this earth. But most job descriptions aren’t written in biblical language or with a Christian worldview. I must continue to seek God’s purpose and direction.
“He will send from heaven to save me…my God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Like a heavenly UPS, God continues to send me packages of love and faithfulness. Direction for how to pray, courage for interviews, financial assistance for those constant bills and peace to replace the fear. I depend on Him to meet every practical and emotional need, to keep me in faith and to surround me with his love.
That is the faithfulness of God – meeting every need, even the deepest ones we can barely discern and pouring out His grace each moment. I need His package today and depend on His ability to deliver.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
My 2011 Verse
Every new year, I ask God to give me a Bible verse to focus on throughout the next 12 months. Many years, the verse has included something about growing in my faith or being strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, the verses include something about trusting in God, about not giving in to fear.
Usually, I start praying about the new verse at the end of the previous year and after several weeks, God points me toward His selected passage. But this year was different.
During the worship service at my church, the week before Christmas, I casually asked God, “Oh, yeah – it’s almost time for the new year’s verse. Please let me know, Lord, which verse to focus on in 2011.”
Immediately, the divine whisper settled in my soul, “Jeremiah 29:11.” I gasped with the intensity of the answer and the promise I knew lived in that passage. At home, I read the verse in every version I had and settled on the English Standard Version.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I like the idea of God planning my wholeness, as well as his promise for hope and a future. My verse for 2011 is a memo sent by my loving Father, to keep me in hope and remind me that his plans are always for the best. So I march into this new year, holding the hand of my Savior and believing that the things I have learned in 2010 will be a springboard for wholeness in 2011.
Usually, I start praying about the new verse at the end of the previous year and after several weeks, God points me toward His selected passage. But this year was different.
During the worship service at my church, the week before Christmas, I casually asked God, “Oh, yeah – it’s almost time for the new year’s verse. Please let me know, Lord, which verse to focus on in 2011.”
Immediately, the divine whisper settled in my soul, “Jeremiah 29:11.” I gasped with the intensity of the answer and the promise I knew lived in that passage. At home, I read the verse in every version I had and settled on the English Standard Version.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I like the idea of God planning my wholeness, as well as his promise for hope and a future. My verse for 2011 is a memo sent by my loving Father, to keep me in hope and remind me that his plans are always for the best. So I march into this new year, holding the hand of my Savior and believing that the things I have learned in 2010 will be a springboard for wholeness in 2011.
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