Choosing to Wither or Grow

One last flower bud greets the cold, sunny, autumn day. It's brilliant, flaming red color contrasts with the other buds, which succumbed to the dryness and frost. Life and death, all on the same twig. One side looking forward, the other side looking into the past. One stepping into glory, the other withering away.

The plant reflects our attitude towards life. We can choose to bloom and produce beauty despite the difficult circumstances around us, or we can give into the elements that drain us of life. It all depends on which way we are facing. When we fix our eyes on the Jesus Christ, the Creator of Life, He causes us to flourish. When we fix our eyes on the world, we are influenced by what is happening around us.

May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below. 

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Yesterday, fresh, crisp, cool air rose above the morning dew. Clusters of songbirds resting in the colorful trees, joyfully graced the neighborhood with their music. Leaves sailed delightfully to the ground in their last dance of glory. All around, the earth was transitioning into a season of harvest, gathering and celebration of God's love.

The gorgeous colors of fall and the excitement of the birds led to a few questions. Has my harvest been fruitful? Am I gathering with others and celebrating God's love? Am I happy in my heart? Out of the overflow of my heart comes joy and enthusiasm, if it's in my heart. If joy is not there, then I need to ask for it. If excitement is barely visible, then I need to pray for more. If I smile only once in a while, then I need an increase in smiles. The Lord is eager to grant these requests. For when I ask Jesus Christ for more of Him, He pours out joy, peace, and an excitement for life, in abundance!

May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below. 

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Do You Need Peace?

In this busy, hectic world that we live in, peace is often hard to find. We have long "to-do" lists, places to go, people to contact, meetings to attend, bills to pay, family/friends to get together with, issues to deal with, and of course, ways to make a living. Yet peace is what our heart longs for. What we may not be aware of is peace is offered to us daily, hourly, and even minute by minute. Peace is something we can learn to bask in the midst of problems when chaos and turmoil surround us. How? By asking Jesus Christ to fill us with His peace that surpasses all understanding and teaching us His ways.

Learn more about the miracle of walking in peace and how to experience peace at the Healing for Today Conference on September 28 -30, at Faith Lutheran Church, Geneva, Illinois.  http://www.flcgeneva.net
 
May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below. 

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Healing Brokenness

Things break too easily in this world -- our feelings, health, finances, relationships, our spirit and more. It's part of living in this world. Fortunately, there is an expert in the area of health, wholeness, healing and restoration who can help us. Jesus Christ loves to heal, rebuild, repair and make whole again.
 
Learn more about healing and restoration at the Healing for Today Conference on September 28 -30, at Faith Lutheran Church, Geneva, Illinois.  http://www.flcgeneva.net
 
May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below. 

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Being Remembered Instead of Forgotten

It hurts when people reject us. It hurts even more when people tell us they wish we didn't exist. Our mind tends to replay the incident again and again. The wound in our heart festers and grows, causing more pain and more distress. But hurts can be healed. There is someone who is eager to take away our pain and make us whole again. He is Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, and He wants to save us from continuing grief. For we do not have to carry the pain of today into tomorrow. We can go to the great Healer, who sets people free.

If you want healing for your hurts and wounds, please come and learn more at the Healing Conference on September 28 -30, at Faith Lutheran Church, Geneva, Illinois. For more information go to http://www.flcgeneva.net
 
May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below.

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Finding Relief from Stress

Life becomes puzzling or overwhelming when the pieces don't fit together properly. Or when the demands of others become unreasonable. Or when we take on too much. Too often, we allow stress to rear its ugly head and overtake us before we realize what's happening. But it's never too late for peace to flow through our mind and bodies like a gentle stream flowing through a quiet meadow.

When stress builds up in my life, I've found one place to go where I'm always welcomed, always accepted, and always listened to — a place where someone cares so much, he asks to carry my burdens for me. A place where I exchange the tension and anxiousness for peace. This place is in Jesus Christ who says, "Come to ME, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

Being relieved from stress brings healing, and the miracle that follows is freedom and peace of mind. I love the Stress Reliever and the joy that follows. I love seeing Jesus free others from stress, too. That's why I can hardly wait for the upcoming Healing Conference on September 28 -30. I want to see people healed. For more information go to http://www.flcgeneva.net
 
May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love bring a breakthrough in your life.

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Dance of the Leaves

Today, the air smells wonderfully clean. There's a feeling of freshness and delight in the atmosphere. The tops of the tallest trees ripple like the ocean waves in the early morning breeze, while the lower branches and smaller trees remain silent. The smaller trees listen to the rustling foliage. If they want to participate in today's dance of the leaves, they will need to reach higher.

Sometimes, we are like the smaller trees. We find ourselves missing out on the joy of dancing in the breeze. We walk around grumpy and sad, instead of happy and glad. We forget that the Holy Spirit eagerly waits to lift us higher, so we, too, can put on a thankful heart and be filled with the joy of Jesus Christ.

May the miracle of God's wonder-working power lift you higher as you hand your burdens to Jesus and fix your eyes on Him. If you found this post encouraging, please share it by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or other buttons below.

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The Song of Healing

The sound of ocean waves resonates outside my window. Loud, soft. Loud, soft. Yet I do not live near any body of water. The sound is produced by the wind blowing through the trees, rustling their leaves. How amazing that a bunch of leaves, which can never sing on their own, can imitate the song of the ocean when moved by the invisible wind. How relaxing is this song that soothes my soul and lifts my spirit when I take time to listen.

The same goes for us. On our own, we are limited in what we can produce. But when we gather with other followers of Jesus Christ and allow the wind of His Holy Spirit to move through us, wonderful sounds are released. Heavenly songs of beauty, health, wholeness and healing come forth. Our spirits are lifted, peace fills the air, and joy abounds.

That's why I love gathering with people who come together to listen for and sing the songs of Heaven. That's why I can hardly wait for the Healing Conference that will happen September 28 -30 at Faith Lutheran Church in Geneva, IL. (www.flcgeneva.net) I love to see the Hand of the Lord move through people that He gathers, and watch healing, joy and restoration come forth. 

May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing power bring a breakthrough for you where you need God's song of Heaven to fill your life.

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Thunder and Promises

Cannons of thunder rumbles in the distance. I look at the blackening sky. The day becomes as dark as night. A storm is coming and it's coming fast! Yet, I will NOT be afraid, for the Lord God is with me and He is greater than any storm. Scripture promises that God's mighty love encases me, that His protective Arms encompass me, and that He holds me close to His Heart as I trust in Him. Scripture also promises that Jesus Christ stations His angels around me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You are blowing away the darkness of the day and bringing forth your goodness. Thank you that as the clouds sail by at amazing speeds You usher in the much needed rain. Thank you for remembering our neediness and showering us with your refreshing water. Please quench our thirsty souls as You water the parched earth.

May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing power bring a breakthrough for you in the areas of fear, chaos and overwhelming busyness.

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Emerging Abundant Life

Beneath the chaos, confusion and lies, life is waiting patiently to arise. Darkness cannot keep it. Chains can't hold it down. Distance cannot prevent its passage, for God has called it to abound. Not in remote places, nor unreachable, rugged hills, not across the mighty waters, but in the hearts of those who sit still. For out of quietness and trust comes strength, and in repentance and rest comes salvation through Jesus Christ, the Giver of life in abundance.

May the wonder working miracles of God's power bring a breakthrough in your life.

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Canyon of Dreams

In the canyon of our dreams,
Nothing is the way it seems,
And worries turn into steep mountains,
Tall cliffs rise up too high,
And makes us wonder why,
We choose to rely on our wisdom.

We find ourselves in the pit,
Where in gloomy darkness we sit,
And wonder how long we will be there.
Then hope enters our thoughts,
About Christ, who saves the lost,
And His promise to come and rescue us.

We see the error of our ways,
And repent of wasted days,
Of refusing to allow the Lord to help us.
We cry out from our heart,
And the journey home does start,
As Jesus lights the way through the darkness.

May the miracle of Christ's wonder-working power bring a breakthrough in your life.

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Feasting on Samaras

A chipmunk feasted on the abundance of maple seeds scattered across the patio. The small, furry animal stuffed its already bulging cheeks as it pulled a seed out of each samara, and then broke open the next one. When its cheeks could hold no more, the chipmunk scurried off to hide its treasure.

Only recently, did I discovered that the winged, seeded fruit of the maple is called a samara. It happened one day when I accidently dropped the dictionary and it opened to the page that showed a black and white illustration of samaras. How delightful it was to discover that the unique-looking maple seed had a special name.

We have a special names, too, because each one of us is special to God. And like the maple trees, we also have good seeds to scatter. And we can share our seeds with joy, playfulness and fascination, too, like the samaras with "wings" that merrily spin like helicopter blades, swirling round and round, until the seeds land safely on the ground.

May you dance with delight as you scatter the good seeds that the Lord Jesus Christ gives you to share with others.

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Budding Beauty

The image in this photograph may be hard to identify. It has some sharp points and some soft points and seems to be growing in some direction, but what is it? Would you be able to guess that it's a budding maple tree? The mature maple leaves look nothing like this.

The same goes for us. We are still growing spiritually and mentally as we seek to know Jesus Christ better. And what may seem hard to discern or understand now, will become clear and exciting as we allow God to grow us into the beautiful creation He calls us to be. So rejoice and be glad. The way we look today is not the end result. The Lord has confidence in Himself, that the good work He started in us He will bring to completion, as we trust in Him.

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Step Out of the Shadows

Sometimes what we reach for is just beyond our grasp. We may envision it but can't quite make it happen. Or we may see it but not know how to take hold of it. Or we stand in the shadows and watch, while others enjoy the brilliance of what should have been ours.

When discouragement weights heavy upon us, or success evades us, or disappointment leaves us in the dust, there is always someone who stands by our side. In our moments of doubt, anxiousness, or failure, Christ promises to never leave us. He invites us to step out of the shadows of despair and step into His light. He asks us to hand our burdens to Him and find rest in His Everlasting Arms. He encourages us to not look at what we lost, but to look at Him. And when we do, we find ourselves in a shelter of acceptance, where tenderness and grace abound. And in the light of His love, God strengthens and nourishes us. Jesus gives us hope. And when we are ready, He leads us onward.

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Path to Breakthrough

Sometimes life can be confusing. Roads, paths or ideas that we follow can come to a dead end, circle us back to where we started, or take us to a place where we are totally lost. Our efforts may lead us to nowhere or to too many places, where we become overwhelmed with too ideas or too many things to do. Chaos or stress sets in and we find ourselves weary and burdened.

But when we step back and yield to the Lord, we find His Loving Arms stretching out to us, welcoming us to come and rest in Christ, and be refreshed. And in those Everlasting Arms, Jesus begins to remove the confusion. He silences the storm and brings strength to our bodies. He quiets our thoughts and brings peace to our minds. And we begin to understand that its not what we do that makes a huge impact, but it's what He does when we yield to Him. He is able to straighten out our path. He is able to bring clarity to our minds. He is able to take the little that we have — our loaves and fishes — and multiply them to feed thousands, or strengthen the weary, or heal the sick. He is able to straighten out our path because He is the Path.

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Refracting Shadows

The shadows laying flat on the ground are barely noticeable to those who walk by. Only the people who look down at the pavement become aware of their existence. But as the shadows reach the white garage door, they change direction. They stand up and reflects the glory of things yet to come.

What we are called to do may lay flat and hidden, like the shadows on the pavement that no one pays attention to. We may feel like our dreams are only shadows of things we cannot grasp, and that our talents are disregarded by others. But when we bring our hope and our calling into the light of Jesus Christ, He showers His grace upon us. He sets our dreams upright, so others can see them. He shows us that everything we do needs to rise up in the light of His love. God bends us toward success by reminding us that the good work He started in us, He will bring to completion as we trust, rejoice and yield to Him.

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The Duck and the Shadow

The shadow crept closer — growing bigger, deeper, longer and taller as the sun went down. Twisting its head backwards, the white duck stared at the frightening shadow that seemed to follow its every move. It did not want to be eaten for dinner, stuck in a cage, or have its feathers stuffed in a pillow.

When the duck saw how huge the shadow was, it jumped. The shadow loomed higher than the bird's head and wider than the its body, causing the duck to visualize a distorted image of itself. The bird inched away from the shadow until it's webbed foot touched some loose stones, near the edge of the cliff. The duck knew that if it moved any farther, it would plunge to certain death.

Out of great fear, the young bird called out to the Lord. Jesus Christ reminded the duck that shadows are not real — especially the shadows of our imagination. Gumming up courage, the bird ran past the shadow; it ran into the awaiting arms of Jesus Christ, who took away the fear.

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Are you looking for a great book to read during Lent, listen to a 2-minute reading from Awaken Me! 40 Day Challenge. Click here.

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From Dreams to Reality

The beauty of a butterfly is not in its strength, but in its gentle delicateness and vibrant colors. It catches our attention not with trumpet blasts or sudden thunder, but with quiet-like whispers. It doesn't move fast, like a speeding car, but travels further than most people vacation.

Normally we do not think of butterflies in winter, as they are not cold weather creatures. But it's in the winter moments where dreams, like butterflies, begins to alight, and the sweetness of God-given ideas stir our hearts to ascend to new levels of discovery.

Just as the butterfly needs to go through a time of transformation in its cocoon, we need to encase ourselves in the warmth and goodness of Christ's love. And when we do this, change happens. As we renew our minds to line up with God's Word, we discover that it's out of the passion of Jesus Christ's Heart and the fire of His love that our dreams rise up out of the dust and become reality.

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Are you looking for a great book to read during Lent, listen to a 2-minute reading from Awaken Me! 40 Day Challenge. Click here.

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Hidden Flowers

Somewhere beneath the surface of the gloomy winter, growth is taking place. Seeds of new ideas are beginning to take root. Rays of sunshine are seeping through the cracks, bringing light to the dark areas of our hearts. Faith is increasing. Hope is growing stronger. God is strengthening His people.

The Lord is calling us to rise up and step into the richness of His grace. That which is not yet seen will become visible. And the beauty that is hidden will spring forth. Resist looking at the gloominess around you. Grab hold of your faith in Jesus Christ and gaze into the brightness of His mighty love. For in the light of His love, all things are possible.

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If you haven't yet found an uplifting devotional book to read during Lent, check out Awaken Me! 40 Day Challenge. To see and hear a 2-minute reading from this book, click here.

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Glorious Sunrise

Brilliant shades of pink, violet and yellow appear on the winter horizon. As they increase in size and density, the leafless trees seem to perk up and watch. They stand tall and still, in an awesome silence, at the sky show unfolding before them. In the silhouette of dawn, the trees almost look like they have leaves.

I watch the fiery sky and take delight in its luminosity that invites my imagination to enter into a mystical, magical world of unknown possibilities. But as the sun rises higher, the colors fade and turn the heavens into pastel shades of gentle loveliness. Slowly, these muted colors disappear into a cloud covered sky. The outline of the bare trees becomes clearly visible, revealing gray bark and lifeless-looking branches.

Winter is still here. But for a few moments, I had a glimpse of the beauty of heaven and a renewal in the promises of Jesus Christ. For it is the Lord God, who paints a picture of glorious hope and radiant beauty for my life. It is HE who calls me to joyfully reflect the vibrant colors of His love and brilliance of His faithfulness, even in the winter moments of my life.

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