A Song

This Week’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-16; Psalm 42; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 8-10:1-18

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”

(Psalm 42:8 NIV)

My hours are consumed these days in a life-lesson on sacrificial love. Like never before, I’m learning what it’s like to totally set my own needs aside and care for the needs of someone else. At times this is extremely difficult. There are nights when I’m up with my little baby for hours at a time, holding her, changing her, and rocking her back to sleep. In those moments, I would much rather be asleep in my own bed, but instead I’m wide awake, missing my warm sheets and soft pillow. During the day she’ll often call me away from a warm meal, or her needs will cause me to stay home, instead of doing something with friends. Her needs are immediate, she doesn’t yet understand how to wait. If she wants something, she cries distressingly until she gets it. She needs my love, and when she asks for it, I give it.

Because how much more has God loved me? How much has He given me? More then I can express or imagine. By day He helps me love this little one. He directs me in how to love her best. And by night His song is upon my heart, as I rock my sweet little girl back to sleep.

My Bandaged Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 147-150; 1 Corinthians 4-5

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

On my own I try to bandage things. I try to cover up the wounds. I hide what I’m feeling from those around me. I let hurts in my heart fester and become even worse. I stew, I fret, I withdraw from those around me. The tiny tears in my heart become larger as I try to deal with the pain on my own.

But my Jesus comes to me. He opens up his hands and waits patiently for me. For some reason I often close my eyes so that I cannot see his open hands. Perhaps I’m afraid to let go of the pain I hold on so readily to.

But still he waits until I come to a moment of brokenness. The band aides over my heart aren’t holding anymore. My death-like grip loosens, and I give over my hurting heart to him. I release my pent-up feelings, my anxiety, my brokenness, and finally give him the control he needs to fix it. I place the wounds and battle scars into his arms and the healing begins.

More often then naught the healing isn’t instant. Instead it takes a lifetime of giving my broken heart back to Him, over and over again. And boy have I done it! I’ve had so many instances when my heart has been broken in millions of pieces, and I’ve needed my Savior to put the pieces back together again.

Today I’m Thankful For…

Today’s Reading: Psalm 136, 146; 1 Corinthians 3

^“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1 NIV).

My mom reminded me the other day to enjoy each part of this motherhood experience. It’s so easy to look into the future and wish that it would hurry up and get here. I look ahead 1 ½ months to when my family will be visiting for Thanksgiving. I look ahead five months to when my little one can start eating solid food. I look ahead to when she can talk, when she can walk, and all of the fun adventures we’ll have over the years.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine to dream about the future. I think we all do it. But just the same, there’s something special about living in the here and now. There’s something special about searching for the ordinary blessings in each and every day. For our God is good, and He blesses us in so many ways. With the nights being so long and the adjustment to motherhood being so hard at times, my heart feels the urge to seek out those reasons to be thankful. It’s a topic you’ll see me come back to day after day. But I think it’s an important one. One we all could stand focusing on a little more. As you consider what ordinary things you’re thankful for, I’ll leave you with my list for today:

I’m thankful for a baby girl who sometimes wants nothing more then to be held by her momma.

I’m thankful for skinny vanilla lattes… in fact maybe I should go get one in the next little bit.

I’m thankful for Fall, even if it is a little different then the Fall I knew growing up. I love this time of year, when sweaters come out of storage and pumpkins and apples are ready for the picking.

I’m thankful for today in all of it’s ordinariness. (I made up a word there, but oh well).

Our God the Builder

Our God the Builder

Today’s Reading: Psalm 127-129; Acts 18

I’ve been staring at these verses for quite awhile. In fact, I actually read them two days ago, and I’ve been wondering what to write ever since. Nothing really has been coming to mind. Sometimes when I read scripture a verse leaps off the page and pricks my heart. The application to my life is instantly there. Other times I don’t really find anything that applies. This morning, I finally found an application. Here’s what I found:
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1 NIV).

My husband and I made a vow, way back when we were still dating, that God would always be at the center of our relationship. We truly believe that by keeping our focus on God, we will be drawn closer together as a couple. At times, this is easier said then done. It’s so easy to get our focus out of whack. We get busy, get preoccupied, and rely too much on our significant other for our happiness.
This last part is where I fail especially. I depend on my husband too much, and forget to depend on my God most of all. For, as much as my husband loves and protects me, he can never love me as much as my Savior. That is why my focus and dependence has to be on my God most of all. My husband will sadly fall short from time to time, my God never will.
By keeping our focus on God, we are allowing Him to build up our marriage, our family, our household. We’re allowing Him to ultimately be in control. This takes on a new meaning now that we have a small daughter. The responsibility of caring for her is daunting at times. We need our Savior to be in control like never before. We need His direction, guidance and wisdom to help us as we rear up this young soul. We need Him to build up our house, because it wouldn’t be pretty if we tried to do it on our own.

Who is building up your household?

The Tears of a Mother

Today's reading: Psalms 106, 111, 112; 1st Thessalonians 2

“Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20 NIV).

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man” (Psalm 112:4 NIV).

“His heart is secure, he will have no fear” (Psalm 112:8 NIV).

When my daughter was born eleven days ago, my husband and I suddenly entered a brand-new word called parenthood. In that moment we were given the responsibility to rear up a sweet little girl, so that she, too, would one day love and serve the Savior of the world. The responsibility is so immense and overwhelming. I’ve cried more tears since this little girl arrived then I’ve cried in years. Many of them were tears of desperation, of second-guessing, of being unsure if we’d made the right decisions already. Many of them were tears of feeling alone, of forgetting how great my God truly is.

In all of the chaos of bringing a new life into the world, I think my heart got a little misaligned. In feeling the great responsibility as caregiver to this little life, my eyes began to lose their focus. In focusing on my emotions, I forgot to trust in the one who gave life to us all.

For when we trust in Him we really have nothing to fear. He is in control of this crazy life we live. He sees the big picture even when we cannot.

And so, as I leave you today to run off and take care of my little girl, I pray for joy in each of our lives. I pray for peace. And I pray that whatever you and I may face today, we’ll face it without fear, because we know where our ultimate hope lies, not in this world, but in Christ Jesus.

Fall Is In The Air

Today’s Reading: Psalm 99-100, 102, 104-105; Acts 17:16-34; 1 Thessalonians 1

“How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (Psalm 104:24 NIV).

The weather has been so beautiful here lately. With the clear skies, bright sun and cool breezes, it feels as if Fall is close at hand. Last year I was a bit disappointed in Fall. This place where we now live is far different from where I grew up: the lack of maple trees, apple orchards, and cold Fall weather made for quite a different experience. I found myself extremely homesick—missing the season I was used too.
This year is a little different. While I miss that other Fall, I’m starting to see the beauty in the place I live now. It’s a different sort of beauty from what I grew up with, but it’s beautiful just the same. I’m learning that God’s hand on creation didn’t end with my parents’ backyard but stretches throughout the world. Fall has a different meaning wherever you go, but it shows up just the same. For some, Fall doesn’t mean a change in leaves, but simply a season of Back-to-School shopping and being Thankful. For others, the months of September, October and November aren’t Fall at all, but rather Spring.
I’m learning to be thankful for the moment I’m living in. I’m learning to look around me and be thankful for God’s creation, however different it may be. Although we don’t have very many trees that change color here, the grasses in the fields change into their own hues of browns and reds. The air still gets slightly cooler, and the people still get excited for Fall to arrive.
This land is special in it’s own right. And I’m learning to love it as such.

What do you love about the place you call home? What can you thank God for today?

A Prayer for My Child

Today’s Reading: Psalm 67, 71; Philippians 2

“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you” (Psalm 71:5-6 NIV).

This has been true for me, and I pray that it’s one day true for my little one as well. I grew up in a home where God was always glorified. It was an easy decision for my to put my trust in God at an early age, because the faith of my parents was so evident. They trusted the Lord day in and day out. Every time the church doors were open they were there, soaking up the word of God and fellowshipping with other believers. Their faith soon became my faith. I wanted what I saw in them for myself. And it has been my faith ever since. I’ve never turned back. My faith in God has only grown and become more personal over the years. I’ve only learned to depend on Him more with the passing of time.

I realize that I cannot force my child to become a Christian. The decision has to be his (or her’s) alone. Just the same, I pray that the love of God will be so evident in the lives of my husband and I, that our child can’t help but desire such a faith for himself. I pray that the way I live every moment of my life will reflect the unabashed love I have for my Savior.

That’s my prayer today, and I will be my prayer everyday as I raise this little child, and any future siblings that may follow. The verses above are so true for me, and I hope that, one-day, down the road, they will ring true for my child as well.

I don’t think there’s any better prayer than that.

Do you have anything specific you pray for your children, or the children of your friends and family? What could you pray over them today and everyday?

The Crafter of our Hearts

Today’s Reading: Psalm 33,43,66; Philippians 1

“The LORD looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from His dwelling place. He alone crafts their hearts; He considers all their works” (Psalm 33:13-15 HCSB).

Psalm 33 is such an amazing psalm. It speaks of Creator who is in control and is far above anything we can fathom. It speaks of a Creator that fashioned our very hearts, our innermost being. He determined our very existence, and knows every intricate part of us. Heart or leb in Hebrew means our inner man, mind, will, heart and understanding. These are the things that no human can touch. In fact, most humans probably don’t even get to see the real you and me, the real soul dwelling inside. But God does. He knows every part of us intricately. “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know [this] very well” (Psalm 139:13-14 HCSB).
He knowingly created every part of us, inside and out. He knows our very hearts. What a thought. It makes me feel so loved. While I may look in the mirror on some days and see a mess, my Lord sees a work of art. This is true for you as well.

What does God see when He looks in your heart?

A Tree that Bears Fruit

Today’s Reading: Psalm 1-2,10; Acts 16:22-40

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3 HCSB).

I thought of a few things as I was reading these verses above. First, we should be happy or blessed when we don’t go down sinful paths in this life. From experience I know that this isn’t always an easy thing to do. There were many times throughout elementary and high school that I was plenty lonely because I chose to not associate with certain things or people. I often felt like an oddball because I was so different. These verses remind me that being different is a good thing and something we should rejoice in.

Secondly, those who follow on God’s path find joy in studying God’s word day and night. While it’s true that I enjoy reading the Bible, I don’t always spend the amount of time I should soaking up His word. There are so many words of encouragement found within its covers. After reading this, I once again had a desire to memorize as much of it as possible so that it will be on my heart throughout each day.

Thirdly, we, as Christians, are compared to trees that bear their fruit in season. Our walk on this earth is a long one. Someday the days seem so dark and without end, but God is continually weeding, and nourishing the soil around our roots. He’s planting and cultivating and allowing the things that are good to grow into beautiful trees. He’s doing a good work in us that will one day produce fruit, if only we can on. Oh how I want the fruit of the Lord to be evident in my life!

What do you think the fruit on the tree means? What would the fruits of the Lord look like in your life?

A Lesson in Compassion

Today’s Reading: Jonah 1-4; Acts 15:1-21

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3: 10 NIV).

Jonah was angry. He couldn’t understand why God would have compassion on the Ninevites, a horribly evil people. I don’t really blame him. I don’t always understand God’s compassion either. Here’s some of Jonah’s dialogue with God:

“He prayed to the LORD, ‘O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’
But the LORD replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?’ (Jonah 4: 2-4 NIV).

Sometimes life is unfair. I’ll look at someone else and self-righteously declare that that person deserves to be punished. I’ll be driving down the road with someone tailgating me, and hope and pray that that person gets pulled over by the cops. It’s as if a part of me thinks that discipline is mine to determine, that I know best.
But 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us of an important truth: “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (NIV).

God looked at the repenting Ninevites. He saw a change of heart in them, and so, in His graciousness, He decided to save them.
Jonah didn’t understand why. With his own human eyes, he could only see everything the Ninevites had done wrong.
But God saw differently.

And although my self-righteous, condemning tendencies may come to the forefront from time to time, overall I’m thankful that God offers that same grace to each of us.

Because there’s certainly days that I don’t deserve to be a daughter of the Lord. There’s certainly days when I mess up royally, and need His forgiveness once again. There’s certainly days that I don’t look all that Christ-like to the world around me. But even on those days, God looks not at my outward appearance, but at my inner heart, which longs to serve Him with every ounce of my being.
He sees my longing to be better, my repentant spirit, and my love for Him above all else.
And He sends my faults as far away as the east is from the west:
“ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust”
(Psalm 103:11-14 NIV).

What area of your life do you need God’s compassion today?

Fragrant Prayers

Today’s Reading: Psalm 139-141; John 17


“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2 NIV).

How often do I pray, really pray? Not often enough. Yes, I bless my food before I eat, and pray with my husband every night before we drift off to sleep. But I don’t often pray on my own. I have long wanted prayer to be such an integral part of my life that I pray without thinking. It is my desire to walk through my day and pray to God as I would talk to a person. This is what I’ve striven to do for years, but sometimes, even now, I get a little lax. I get caught up in the business. I focus on how I’m feeling today, what I do or don’t’ like, and how I don’t measure up in so many ways. I’m not sure I always truly believe that praying would make a difference, because I don’t always see the outcome. Yes, God always listens to me, but He doesn’t always respond with the answer or timing that I expect. His ways really aren’t my ways.
After reading the scriptures for today, I wondered what to write about. I skimmed back through the verses, and the verse on prayer really stuck out to me. Psalm 141:2 paints prayer as such a beautiful act of worship. David doesn’t show prayer as a time to get everything he “wants” or “needs,” but instead, as a form of worship that shows how amazing God is. He associates prayer with incense, fragrantly floating up toward the throne room of God.
I can almost see the Old Testament Israelite Temple now. The aroma of the incense must have been so powerful. It must have filled the entire temple with its rich odor. It must have invaded every fabric surface, including the priest’s robes. It must have been such a beautiful act of worship.
That is how I want my prayers to be, an act of worship to my God who is oh so holy and worthy.
And so I start again today, attempting to live a life filled with worship and prayer.



What about you? What do you find difficult about praying, if anything? What strikes you about the verse above?


Lord, may my prayers be like a fragrant offering to you, each and everyday. May they express my true heart and soul.

Our Redeemer

Today’s Reading: Psalm 101, 103, 108; John 15

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:1-4 NIV).

There are so many great verses to pull out of today’s reading. The image of God as our redeemer runs throughout scripture. Why? Because from the very beginning, God already had a plan to restore us to Him. He had a redeemer in mind. He knew that the only way to bridge the gap between Him and us was to send His one and only Son into the world. At that moment in time, Christ became our ultimate Redeemer.
Several years ago, I went through a time of depression. For whatever reason, Satan decided to attack me when I was at my happiest and most vulnerable. I was newly married with a beautiful future in front of me, so Satan decided to point out all of my weaknesses to me. I looked at my lack of job and at my appearance, and felt completely insecure and purposeless. After a lot of struggling, I started to find my footing once again. I came out of that dark time, but still greatly struggled with physical insecurities.
And then a friend pointed me to Psalm 103. She reminded me that God is ready and willing to take us out of the “pits” of our lives and heal us from whatever diseases that consume our bodies or our minds. He truly is our ready and waiting redeemer, if only we trust in Him.
What a wonderful reminder, and oh how hard I’ve clung to these verses ever since.

What pits do you find yourself in today? Do you need God to heal any diseases in your life, whether external or internal?

Lord, thank you for being my Redeemer each and every day. Please meet me where I am at this moment in time, and lead me to a better place.

The Meadows Sing

Today’s Reading: Psalm 61-62, Psalm 65; John 13:21-38

Isn’t Spring a wonderful time of year? My husband and I have been enjoying some wonderful walks outside as of late. I love this time of year, before the weather gets too hot and sticky. I love seeing the grass slowly turn from brown to green, and the little wildflowers peeping through the underbrush. Spring is beautiful; it’s such a great reminder of how God, our Creator, always provides for us. As Psalm 65 reminds us, it is God who brings water to the land. He is the one that allows the grain to grow, and provides pasture for the animals. He has given us the knowledge to grow and produce food, so that we will never grow hungry, even during the drier times. All of creation testifies to our amazing God. Psalm 65: 13 says that even the meadows and valleys “shout for joy and sing” to God their Creator. Have you ever heard a meadow sing? I have. For me, a meadow sings when I notice the beautiful colors bounding around inside of it. A meadow sings for joy when the grain rustles in the wind, or a bird gladly sings from deep within its brush. A meadow sings anytime it reminds me of its Creator.
Where, in nature, have you been reminded of God’s Creation? Find something that seems to be “singing” of God’s Wonder today.

Lord, thank you for each part of your creation. Please open my eyes anew to your works.

An Answered Prayer

Today’s Reading: Psalm 39-41; John 12:27-50

“Lord my God, You have done many things—Your wonderful works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You. If I were to report and speak of them, they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5 HCSB).

Last week I had a bit of a scare. I was concerned that something was wrong with this child I’ve been carrying inside of me for 23 weeks. I was close to tears as I talked to a nurse and my doula, and prayed to God for some sense of peace. And then I was given it. My little one began to kick inside of me. Until then I’d felt only one random kick, but on this day I felt kick after kick pelting my insides. It was as if God was reminding me how perfect his plan was for this little one. He seemed to be reminding me, once again, that He holds the keys to life and death, and has already numbered the days of this little baby’s life (Psalm 139:16). Today, as I continue to feel my little one grow inside of me, I can’t help but praise God for his “wonderful works and plans for us.” He truly does answer our prayers. What a marvelous thing that is!


Lord, thank you for answering my prayers, big and small, each and every day. Help me to be thankful for the things you’ve already accomplished, and to remain hopeful for the things that are yet to be.

Be Strong and Take Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 27-29; John 11:1-29

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

“The Lord is strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks for him in song (Psalm 28:7 NIV).

I’m sure I’ve written about this before, it’s a vice of mine. It seems like no matter how hard I try, I wake up the next morning and I’m worrying once again. Worrying is such an easy thing to do. There’s always something or someone that isn’t fully taken care of, and thus gets a full dose of worrying. I think a part of my worrying obsession comes from my desire to fix things. When I find something that I can’t immediately correct or manage, I worry about the outcome. These verses above remind me that God truly is the one in control. I’m not. All that He asks of me is that I “take heart” and trust in Him to provide. This often involved a lot of waiting, but that’s ok. I’m human, and I can’t see the outcome like He can. The only choice for me is how I live those intermediate times between when the worry first crops up and when it’s finally fulfilled. (Which could be a matter of hours, days, weeks or years). I can either dwell and stew in my worry and doubt, or I can wait on the Lord and rejoice in Him in song as I recall all the times He has already provided for me.
What about you? Do you have a tendency to worry? How do you overcome it?

Lord, thank you for taking my worries each and every day, and continuing to shower blessings of answered prayers upon my life.

My Desires

Today’s Reading: Psalm 20-22; John 10:1-21

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4)

Whenever I come across this verse, I wonder what the true desires of my heart really are. And I wonder if those desires align with God’s will for my life. Hopefully the true desires of my heart are to love and serve my Savior, to be a good wife, mother, and friend, and to live every day to it’s fullest. That’s what I hope for at least. But from time to time my heart needs a little uncluttering. At times my heart get’s focused on earthly things, money, possessions, recognition, instead of the things that truly matter. That’s when this verse above comes in so handy. For it reminds me to check my heart, and make sure that it aligns with what truly matters in this life.
What does your heart desire today?
Lord, please clean out any cobwebs that may be residing in my heart today, and focus my heart, mind and soul on what truly matters in this world. Please help my desires to align with your desires for my life.

Truth from the Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 15-16; John 9:1-23

There are so many verses I could focus on from today’s reading. And so, I’ll focus on the first words that stuck out to me. The Psalmist is asking who will dwell in heaven, and the answer is the person “who speaks the truth from his heart” (Psalm 15:2). After reading this, my mind went back to High School, to a night when I read these very words and wept because I knew how true they were. It was a night that I was in pain, because I didn’t want to speak to a friend, but I knew God was encouraging me to. For awhile I’d been ignoring the push of the Holy Spirit, pushing the thoughts of confrontation away, but on that night, I knew I had to listen to my Savior and speak some painful words in love.
What followed was a series of tough events. But through it all I was at peace. I knew that God was finally the center of my life, where He had always deserved to be. You see, sometimes in this world we put people before our Jesus. It happens subtly, without us realizing it. But when we do realize it, like I did that night, the Holy Spirit has more than likely encouraged us to act. It’s up to us to obey or disobey. It wasn’t an easy task to obey on that day. But it taught me a great lesson on conviction, and how to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
While I’d like for everyone in my life to always be happy and at peace, sometimes speaking the truth is the best possible thing to do.
Have you ever had to share a painful truth? Did you feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this matter? How did your friend react?

Lord, please help me to be discerning as to when I should speak the truth in love, and when I should wait for your timing.

Replacing Anxiety with Praise

Today’s Reading: Psalm 9, Psalm 11; John 8:1-27

Today I am anxious, antsy, and watching the minutes tick by on the clock. Why? Because our 22 week ultrasound is this afternoon at two. Why am I so anxious? I really don’t know. All I know is my mind is fully of worries and fears. Wondering what will happen, what it will be like, if they’ll be able to tell us that everything is ok with our precious little one. Every abnormal story I’ve ever heard about is running through my brain. I have to constantly give my feelings back to the Lord. Because I’ll go crazy if I keep on worrying. It seems like this pregnancy has been a time in which God has had to ask me to give up my worry each and everyday. Sometimes only once, sometimes many times. As I write this, my mind wanders back to the beautiful words of Psalm 139. The very hands of God have formed my baby together. His or her “frame was not hidden from [God] when [he or she] was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. [God’s’ eyes saw [my baby’s] unformed substance, and in [His] book all of the days [of my baby’s life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:15-16 Amplified).
God has known every inch of my baby since the moment this little one was conceived. He already knows the number of days my child will live, whether few or many. When I start to worry about things like ultrasounds I have to remember that God knows so much more than I know. While an ultrasound tech and I may be taking our first look at this little one inside my womb, God has known all along what this child looks like. In fact, He can see every day of their life! While my husband and I don’t even know the color of our little one’s hair, or if he or she will take more after their father or me, God knows it all, big details and small.
So what, really, is there for me to be afraid of? Nothing. Because I’ve seen how God has provided for me already. He’s blessed my life, kept me safe, and been with me each step of the way. So there’s really nothing to worry about this afternoon. God has already seen the results. And He’ll be there, right along side me in that room. Just as He’s always been, just as He always will be.
And so, I shake off the worry that’s been following me around all morning, and instead focus on the beautiful creation of my baby, who was intricately and curiously wrought, just like you and me. Instead of worrying I will “praise you, O LORD, with all of my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 NIV).

Consider the Heavens

Today’s Reading: Psalms 7-8; John 7:28-53

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8: 3-4 NIV).

Have you ever been in the middle of a field at night, with the heavens stretched like a canvas above you? Living in a community, I often forget how amazing the stars are when you can actually view them away from the city lights. While sometimes I can see a few out my window when I’m driving at night, it’s nothing compared to the immense amount I find in the middle of nowhere on a clear night. The moon and stars are such a beautiful part of God’s creation. They attest to His very glory and honor. We serve such an amazing God, who is so much bigger than anything on this earth. I’m reminded of another Psalm that says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2 NIV). The heavens themselves are a daily testament to an infinitely wonderful and glorious God. Perhaps they serve as a reminder for us here on earth that God took great care with every intricate part of his creation, nothing happened by happenstance. Instead, every bit of His creation reveals His true power and glory. How amazing is that?
Maybe I’ll take some time to go look at some stars tonight.

What is your favorite part of God’s creation? What does it reveal to you?

Lord, thank you for the heavens, the stars, the flowers and grass, and for the intricate way that you created everything, even me.

My Ultimate Protector

Today’s Reading: Psalm 4-6; John 7:1-27

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV)

Have you ever been afraid of the night? I know that when night comes at my house I walk around locking doors and re-locking doors, making sure all is safe before I go up to bed. Even up in my bedroom I close the blinds tight so that no one can see in. Sometimes I even lock my bedroom door before I go to sleep. These things make me feel safe when my husband is away. When he’s home I’m more relaxed, because I know he’s there beside me, ready to protect me from the darkness outside. I trust my husband and feel safe in his care.
But the truth of the matter is that my husband is a human being that isn’t always around. Sometimes he’s out of the house at a Bible study or away on a business trip, and then I have the house, with all of its creaky nighttime noises to myself. It’s in those times that I’m reminded who my true protector is. While my husband may bring a feeling of protection to me here on this earth, my heavenly protector is greater still. God protects me from things both seen and unseen. He is the one who ultimately keeps me safe. As the verse above reminds us, He is the only one who truly protects us from things both in this earthly and in the spiritual realm as well.
And so I’m thankful. For while God is my ultimate protector both now and always.