Category Archives: Jesus

Created For More

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”Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.“ John 17:3 NIV

You and I were created for more. We know it. There is a longing within us all. We long for love, joy, and peace. We desire to be fulfilled in our lives.

Often this results in us chasing after things that really don’t fulfill. We chase money, things, beauty, health, earthly relationships, our selfish ways, etc… When our focus is fixed on these things, we will surely find ourselves empty.

Chasing them is similar to chasing the wind. Even when we may catch them for awhile we will find them to not fulfill the longing of our hearts.

That is because we were created by a Creator for relationship with Him. This relationship of knowing Him, God, is where true life is found.

A relationship of “knowing” requires connection to what we know. We cannot know someone unless we experience them. We must experience the sound of their voice, their touch, their closeness. If we are not experiencing this, we are not living a life of “knowing” them.

Our verse above is Jesus speaking about the life He offers to each of us. This life is not a temporary experience, but a relationship that goes on and on throughout eternity. It is a life of fulfillment that no other can bring. It is knowing God in intimate relationship.

As you read these words today, I would encourage you to ask: What is the longing I am experiencing inside? Are the thoughts I have about God, just that … thoughts? Do I have knowledge of Him like I have knowledge of a subject I studied in high school? Or do I KNOW Him? Do I have first hand experiences with Him? Do I have a relationship of sharing where He speaks to me and I speak to Him? He desires for us to know Him this way! It is what we were created for our purpose.

As I stated before, you and I were created for more. We were created to experience God’s eternal life knowing Him in an intimate relationship. Does this create a stirring within you longing for that more?

Give Me Only My Daily Bread – Reflections on Proverbs 30

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”Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.“ Proverbs 30:8 NIV

Agur was a wise teacher of long ago. He wrote the words above as a prayer. He knew of his own sinful nature and its propensity to believe lies and falsehoods. He knew his propensity to do life his way and not God’s. So Agur prayed. He prayed that he wouldn’t be so consumed with selfishly pursuing wealth so that he would forget God saying, “Who is the Lord?”. He also prayed that he wouldn’t lack so that he would feel compelled to selfishly steal and get things his own way. He simply wanted God to be his “daily bread,” His everything! He wanted God to be what satisfied him day in and day out.

There is much wisdom in that prayer. We can learn much from this prayer of Agur. We can come to God asking of Him to be our daily bread and the satisfier of our soul as well.

We are invited to experience God as our “daily bread.” We can “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8). We do this by a daily, moment by moment, intake of His Word! His Word is the Bread of Life.

We can know His Word as the Truth that will keep us far from lies. As we know the Word, we know God. Because He is His Word and His Word is God (John 1:1).

Agur was wise to pray his prayer and find delight in God’s provision of His daily bread, His Word. May we delight in His Word as well! God is the only One who will satisfy us!

Women on Wednesday’s Devotion: God’s Way of Love

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Latest devotion written for WOW ministry:

“I have stood face to face with the one, I did not think I could ever love. As I stood there before her, I was able to reach out and hug her with a true love that had no expectation of anything in return. I loved her willingly and selflessly, at no cost to her.”

For entire devotion click on the link below.

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6217185?e=36ae1400fb

Trapped — Reflections on Proverbs 29

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”An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.” Proverbs 29:6 ESV

EVIL- corruption of heart, or disposition to commit wickedness; malignity. (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“ Romans 3:23 NIV

Everyone has sinned. We’ve all went our own ways. We have all had evil in our hearts- corruption, or a disposition to commit wickedness… sin.

Sin is a trap. I have felt the weight of being trapped by my sin. In that sin I felt like there was no escape. BUT Jesus has offered to us the way to be freedom! The one He sets free is free indeed. His freedom is reason for great rejoicing.

This morning I was reflecting on what Jesus has set me free from, and the freedom that I now stand in! It brought rejoicing to my heart. Because I am free!

We are warned in Proverbs about running from evil and its snares. We are told to pursue righteous living. We must choose between the two. It is a stubborn, stiff necked heart, that pursues its selfish sinful ways. That person will suddenly be destroyed. (Verse 1) We do not have to experience the destruction and entrapment of sin. We can live free!

The only way to freedom and joy is to live a righteous life surrendered to Jesus.

My Life Reflects My Heart – Reflections on Proverbs 27

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”As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.“ Proverbs 27:19 NIV

What is inside of you is showing.

I used to think I could hide what was going on inside of me. The truth is what is inside of us, or in our heart, will eventually come out of us. It will come out in our actions. It will come out in what we say. It will come out in the way we present ourselves. The truth is we cannot hide what is inside of us. If our hearts are full of turmoil, anger, fear, anxiety, etc., we will display it.

However, God has offered us a new heart that is His. When we come to Him and ask Him for a new heart, He will give us that new heart, and He will remove the old heart from us. The closer we get to Him the more the old heart will be cut away. More and more we will reflect Him.

So once again, what is in our heart will show. If God is in our heart, His love, His goodness, His joy and peace will be reflected in our lives.

What’s inside of us is showing. What is your heart reflecting?

Polluted— Reflections on Proverbs 25

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We had an above ground pool when the kids were younger. I worked and worked at keeping that pool clean. The right balance of chemicals and diligent maintenance was required. The waters in my pool often looked less than desirable as I was trying to figure out that balance, murky waters, bugs not getting skimmed off, slime on the sides… It was a constant battle. Every once in awhile I would find the pool looking good until the kids got in and kicked up the dirt I didn’t get completely vacuumed off the bottom. Murky again… the battle went on.

Today’s Proverb has a verse that reminded me of that pool we had years ago.

”Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.“Proverbs 25:26 NIV

Our lives are meant to be lived in righteousness. God created us to be in His image, righteous and holy. When we live our lives set apart to Him, observing and obeying what He commands in His Word, our lives are beautiful! They are filled with joy, peace, and contentment.

BUT, when we “give way” to sin. Our lives become like a “muddied spring or a polluted well.” Or like my old above ground pool when the PH balance was off, the bottom wasn’t being vacuumed off, and the skimmer bucket wasn’t working…slimy, green, NASTY! Our lives are unable to be enjoyed.

The entire book of Proverbs has much to say about living a righteous life and warnings against unrighteousness. This is because it pollutes our hearts, and if left unattended to by prayer, time in the Word, and repentance from sin, our waters of our heart will be destroyed…NASTY too!

How we live out lives matters! Don’t let the wicked ways of the world pollute you!

Established – Reflections on Proverbs 24

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Nelson Family – Established January 2, 1993

Thirty one years ago Rich and I began. Through a formal ceremony and the exchanged of vows God ordained our home. We have worked to build a life together ever since.

Today’s Proverb once again speaks of wisdom:

”By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.“

Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

Wisdom is the knowledge of the fear of the Lord. It comes from us seeing God for who He is and having a reverence for His greatness. This gives us the desire to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It also gives us the desire to hate sin, not want anything to do with it.

Wisdom is what builds our house— our lives. Understanding, agreeing with, that wisdom establishes them.

Deep within us all we desire to see something firm and fixed within our lives. Something that will look forward to the future with hope that does not waver or be destroyed by life’s storms. Jesus is the wisdom from heaven. He is the firm foundation on which our lives are built and they will not be shaken no matter what storms may come. When we come into agreement with Him and understanding of His Lordship over our lives we are established. When we find Him, our Heavenly Wisdom, we can rest assured of this promise.

“…there is a future for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Verse 14)

How is your life established? Is it built on the Rock of Jesus or on the shifting sands of a life built on self? A life built on Jesus is the only one that will stand.

Zealous – Reflections on Proverbs 23

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”Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.“ Proverbs 23:17-18 AMPC

There is reward in obedience to God’s commands. The “thirty sayings of the wise” in Proverbs 22-24 list many of them. But the greatest reward is our hope and expectation, Jesus, will be realized. We will know Him! We will be connected to Him and not be cut off from Him.

There is nothing better than to know Jesus and to be connected to Him or in Him.

“Be zealous for the fear of the Lord,” (Proverbs 23: 17 NIV) or pursue passionately knowing God, loving God, and hating sin (i.e. wanting nothing to do with sin.)

The life of reward spoken about in the verses of Proverbs is the fruit of pursuing Wisdom. Jesus is the very Wisdom we pursue!

The Precious Word We Cannot Live Without— Reflections on Proverbs 22

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The book of Proverbs, is like a bag full of jewels of various shapes and sizes. Each one is different and could adorn different outfits and pieces of jewelry. Each verse in Proverbs holds much wisdom on a variety of topics that are needed in our lives. In fact, the whole Bible is like this. It truly is “the sayings of the wise.” We are encouraged to study it’s Words.

”Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.“ Proverbs 22:17-19 NIV

Studying God’s Word is essential to a victorious life as a Christian. We are to “Pay attention” to it, listen to it or “turn your ear,” and “apply your heart,” or set your mind, your will, and emotions on the Word of God. We are to “keep them in our heart and have them ready on our lips.” This enables us to trust God.

If you are living a life lacking peace, joy, love, contentment,etc… examine yourself. Are you daily taking God’s Word into your heart? God’s Word has answers for every situation we face. It is precious like the jewels I mentioned at first.

We have opportunity in our lives to mine out these precious jewels as we come to God with our Bibles open and our hearts inclined to hear. However, the precious jewels in the Word are so much more than that. God’s Word is life itself! You CANNOT make it on your own without the Word!

If you are just getting by day after day, look at your life. What is missing? Could it be the daily time in God’s Word? It is the Life of God in you.

What’s in Your Heart — Reflections on Proverbs 21

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”A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.“ Proverbs 21:2 NIV

What is in your heart? Your spiritual heart is the most important thing about you and me. It is very important for us to understand this. We are free to choose our ways. We often think our ways we choose are the best for us. Simply put we think we are right.

The problem is our desires often are self focused. This comes from a heart that is not entirely, totally and completely given up to God.

God weighs our heart. He examines it. If we ask Him to, He will reveal it to us. This is why David prayed:

”Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.“ Psalms 139:23-24 NIV

If we want to live the blessed life, the life that is happy in God, our hearts need to be cleansed of any offensive or wicked way it may have. Sin needs to be cut away from it!

”Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.“ Proverbs 21:21 NIV

Pursuing righteousness, purity of heart, by obedience to God and what He says in His Word is how we give our hearts to God. Pursuing love or denying all our selfish wants and desires to give ourselves to God in total obedience is how we “find life.”

The question becomes “What is in my heart? What does it desire and pursue more than anything?”

What God finds when He examines or “weighs” our hearts is very important. It is a matter of spiritual life or spiritual death.