Monday, November 30, 2009

God is bigger than our problems

VERSE:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   -- Ephesians 3:20-21

THOUGHT:

What grand "Kingdom dreams" do you have for God's glory? What incredible ideas can you imagine requesting that God would bring to fruition? What are your expectations of heaven with God? Now that you have stretched mind, challenged your imagination, and loaded up your expectations, are you ready for some down to earth truth straight from the Marvel of heaven? God is able to do far more than any of that. His power is at work in us to do his glorious will and accomplish his eternal purposes. So let's not set our sights too low and expect too little. Live for his glory and expect to see it at work in your life.

PRAYER:

O LORD, God of heavens and earth, my Abba Father and loving Shepherd, please stir my thoughts by your Spirit to dream bigger dreams and have higher hopes than my earthbound and selfish brain can imagine. Give me a sense of wonder and expectation as I live for your glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

“Whatever you ask in prayer with faith, you will receive.” -  Matthew 21:22

If we want something to work for us the first and most essential step is to believe it will work. If we believe that establishing a connection with God through prayer can give us strength, guidance and vision, it surely will. As we put our trust in the power of God to show us a better way, we will surely find a better way to face the challenges that confront us. Connecting with the power of eternity that God gives us helps us profoundly to see answers we could never see on our own. Believing that God has only the best in mind for us will encourage and energize us beyond imagination. Putting our trust in a divine authority will enable us to discover renewed hope for each new day.

In confidence I reach out to you, Lord, to show me the direction you want me to go. I know you want only the best for my life. I look to you in faith today to help me understand what all that means for me. Amen.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

A Spirit of Joy

I believe having a spirit of joy is essential for every one of us, not just those walking through trials.   Our attitude about life affects every area of our lives and the people around us.   Having a joyful spirit can be infectious.   Remember the Lord told us to "Consider it pure joy, my dear brothers, for when you face trials of many kinds, for the testing of your faith, will develop perserverance."   James 1:2

Take a minute to ponder on this devotion.

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them ever sing for joy;" - Psalm 5:11a

Possessing a spirit of joy is essential on this journey with cancer. Joy is an amazing gift from God. Joy is a spirit of trust, confidence and calm that helps us transcend all the challenges we face. Joy grants us serenity in spite of the turmoil within and around us. Joy infuses us with a sense of well-being even as we face the most difficult problems. Joy is a refuge in times of trouble. Joy is a balm that soothes our souls no matter what threatens our lives. Joy enables us to rise above our physical circumstances to experience hope and peace. That is a gift in which we truly can rejoice.

O Lord, I need this joy in my life today. I cannot be knocked down and pushed around and survive without the refuge you give. I’m looking to you today to help me find your joy alive in everything I do. Amen.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Lord sustains me

I wish I could say I wrote this, but I didn't.   Even if you aren't dealing with cancer, I'm sure that you know someone who is.   Take a minute to read this devotion.  What a great reminder to every one of us!  Life is a precious gift!

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me." - Psalm 3:5

Each new day of life is a precious gift from God. Most of us know that in our minds. But we don’t always live and react like we do. Many cancer survivors reflect on the fragileness and uncertain pathways of life. They realize that each breath we take and each step we make are granted to us by a loving, caring creator, a creator who wants us to find goodness and joy in each of them. Never forget that God has given you a special and wondrous gift with this day. Always know that God is with you to sustain you and to share blessings with you in every moment you have on this earth.

When my eyes open each new morning, I am reminded that the day is a gracious gift from you. I pray to use this gift gratefully and joyfully for you, O God. Amen.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" - Ephesians 6:10

Some of our strength to fight evil comes from our experiences in the past, from the encouragement of others, and from our knowledge of the truth in the Scriptures. Ultimately, however, our strength comes from God's mighty power. Paul uses his letter to the Ephesians to remind Christians that this power is what raised Jesus from the dead (1:19-20). Through that power in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine (3:20-21). Most important of all, as we put on our spiritual armor and dedicate ourselves to spiritual discipline, God blesses us with his power and might. We can be strong in God's mighty power.

PRAYER:

O LORD God Almighty, my Abba Father and loving Shepherd, strengthen me with your might and grace so that I can withstand the attacks and temptations of the evil one. In Jesus' name I ask it.  Amen.

(Taken from http://www.heartlight.org/)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20


This has become one of my favorite verses as I've walked this journey. This is where I got the name of my blog.  We are all truly abundantly blessed.   As human beings, we truly cannot begin to envision how much God can do for us. We cannot begin to imagine how much God loves us. God’s power and love are so vast and infinite. Because of our own limited understandings we actually limit how God can act in our lives. To find healing and hope we need to be open to the unimaginable power of God to break into our lives and give us far more than we can comprehend. We limit the answers God gives by limiting what we think God can do. Don’t go to God in prayer with preconceived answers about how God should respond. But go to God with a spirit open to accepting God’s amazing power and limitless love. You will be in awe of what can happen.

I come to you with an open heart, O God, ready to receive all that you give to me. I know your help is far greater than anything I can perceive. Amen.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

We all have some problem or trial we are dealing with. The Lord told us we would have troubles in this life. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I began to see that even though I had this diagnosis, the Lord still LOVES me. HE didn't give me this disease, but He surely will see me through. And He promises that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I had to make a decision whether I would choose to trust Him with this or not. I decided that whatever He has in store for me has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. I also had (and still do) to choose to not become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to him for help. I realized through the love shown to us through others who came when they heard our news how much He truly loves me. I know I never fully understood that until all this happened. I can remember putting Chris Tomlin's song "How Can I Keep From Singing" on in the car while I was alone, tears running down my eyes, crying out to the Father as I felt His arms of love wrap around me. I felt abundantly blessed during that time and am still in awe at His goodness to me and my family through this journey. Take a minute to listen to "How Can I Keep From Singing?" by Chris Tomlin below.