I love roses. Any color, any size, any rose. From the time I see one budding to the unfolding of the petals that seem to be opening to praise God, I love them. There is one thing I don’t love about them, though; the thorns.

While reading my little devotional recently, I ran across a little story about a man named George Matheson. Like most of you, I don’t know him. I understand he was a blind preacher in Scotland. He was overheard one day telling God that he had thanked Him thousands of times for all the blessings and answered prayers and protection and all that God had done that made him happy – the things he considered ‘roses’ in his life, but at no time did he thank God for the thorns.

He said he was looking forward to a world where he would be compensated for the cross he bore here on earth, but he never thought of his cross as a present glory from God. He prayed for God to show him the glory of his cross and the value of his thorn. He prayed for God to show him how he climbed to God through the pathway of his pain and how his tears had made his rainbows.

There are many times I have asked God, “Why?” I thought I could never thank Him for the depression or the anxiety or my constant failures. I thought the low opinion I had for myself could never be used for good in God’s Kingdom. I thought I could bear it as He asked me to, but never be truly thankful.

God has miraculously brought me to the place where I can see that He is always faithful and has been my Guide each and every day of my life. He knows every detail about me and the path necessary for me – the path that has led me to know Him in a way I am thoroughly convinced I would never know Him as I do without the pain – without the thorns.

Today I can thank Him for all the pain I have endured, my learning disabilities, my past depression, my past agoraphobia, and even my present anxieties and shortcomings because they keep me connected to Him by reminding me each and every day that I need Him more than I need to take my next breath. How easily I forget sometimes when the thorn is not with me.

The truth is I wish it did not take things that are difficult or painful or sad to make me connect to Him, but He knows how we are as humans. I have others ask me, “Why?” as often as I asked. I do not peddle easy answers to difficult questions, but I always say, “Make your pain your pathway to God.” He will be our Everything in everything.

God leads us down every path of our lives and is with us always. His Name is Emmanuel.

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While talking to a friend one day about the abundance and faithfulness of God, she said, “Yeah, I prayed for a coat and received FIVE.” She did not pray for five, but God is good. I chuckled as I remembered once I prayed for shoes and then it seemed I had more than I could count. I shared my over abundance of shoes with others I knew did not have any. Yes, I think God is a God of abundant supply and we cannot out give God, so I give and God gives. “The Lord is our Shepherd, we will not lack.” Psalm 23.1

At church one day, the piano played a song I loved the first time I ever heard it – it is the hymn “He Giveth More Grace”

Romans 8.32 reminds us -“He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”

I have lived the Words  “… to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3.20-21.

My brother had nothing. He was released from prison with a felony record, no job, no money, ill health, and more. My pastor and I prayed. God opened up a flood gate and my brother received a check for over $60,000.00 with which he purchased his first and only brand new vehicle that he cherished and enjoyed for many years. He received a sizable monthly income that allowed him to have shelter, food, and doing all the things he loved to do while he lived out his last nine years here. God gave us superabundantly above all I ever asked or thought possible. Praise Him for everything.

From a personal perspective, I was not wise and did not have a retirement. Sometimes I was ashamed to ask God in the face of choices I had made. He is faithful and true to His Word. I am facing retirement soon and He has provided over $300,000.00 for me at this late time in life. I ask myself, “How much does one need?” I have always had my daily bread, but am grateful to the God Who can do anything and does everything.

The Word challenges us, “Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

God truly does give and give and give again. No fear of exhausting Him. All He wants in return is little old us.

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Sometimes I think I have more challenges than I can handle and I frequently wonder why difficult things happen. I do not think I am alone in wondering.

Everyone who knows me knows that CS Lewis is one of my favorite authors. I recently discovered a new blurb of his. I have never been in  country at war and this is from a collection of his letters to others about war time- TO BEDE GRIFFITHS: On fortitude and trust in God in the face of war; and on ecumenical differences dated 29 April 1938:

“I have been in considerable trouble over the present danger of war. Twice in one life—and then to find how little I have grown in fortitude despite my conversion. It has done me a lot of good by making me realise how much of my happiness secretly depended on the tacit assumption of at least tolerable conditions for the body: and I see more clearly, I think, the necessity (if one may so put it) which God is under of allowing us to be afflicted—so few of us will really rest all on Him if He leaves us any other support.”

What he writes rings true with me. I want to be comfortable and much of my happiness depends on it. To tell the truth, if I was not forced to depend on Him, I am not certain I would. Sad though, really. Why is this so?

I ask myself this question daily. Is He my First Choice? What is the Bible filled with?  The answer is – God’s love for us, His faithfulness, His ability, His all knowing and all seeing, His care, His desire to answer prayer, His wanting us to see Him as He is and not as we are – broken, frail – and His true desire to have us trust Him with everything every moment.

Is 40.26 reminds me “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.” 

The God that named the stars and keeps them, keeps me and all that concerns me.

Romans 8.15 tells me “the Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” Abba is a very tender word that means ‘daddy.’

There isn’t enough paper to add how Jesus says He is my Shepherd, He is the Truth, the Way, the Light, the Bread, the Eternal One, the Living Water, the Resurrection, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Wonderful. He is Everything.

He has called me by my name and knows every detail about me and my life and what has hurt and what has made me happy and will make me happy. He reminds me “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…” Psalm 24.1. He owns all the animals in the forest and all the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50.10. And He tells us how He gives us great and precious promises to care for us and love us.

This means He owns all the jobs, all the money in the world, all the homes, all the physical things and spiritual things available to us. He gives us all things through Christ.

To tell the truth, what more could I ever want? Why would I go to any other source for anything when He never runs out of anything. He never runs out of patience with me and for that I am eternally grateful to Him. I want to make Him my First Choice in every situation.

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Elephants are one of my favorite animals. I think they are beautiful and amazing creatures. I understand ‘elephants never forget.’ Exactly what do they never forget? Apparently they never forget most things in their up-to 60 year lifespan. Their memory is their key to survival.

Elephants’ superb memories help them stay alive in ways that go beyond just recognizing threats. Females that come from desert climates can remember where reliable water can be found and are able to guide their herds to water over very long distances, and over the span of many years. This is a pretty clear indication that elephants have a great ability to remember details about their spatial environment for a very long time.

They also remember each other. I read a story recently of an elephant named Jenny that became very animated when a new elephant named Shirley arrived. After the caretakers  looked into the animals’ backgrounds, they discovered the two had performed with the same circus for only a few months—22 years earlier. Amazing.

Recently, I have been reminded of two incidents where family members have ‘remembered’ something I did or did not do many, many years ago. One was about my reasons for running away as a young girl and the other about when I was asked for help and did not. I have few regrets in life, however, being reminded of incidents I have no personal memory of makes me wonder what else others’ remember that I may have forgotten. I wondered how many times these memories came to my family members and how often they were saddened by them. I am saddened to know they held these memories in their hearts for so many years. For all I know, there may be more.

Sometimes I try to edit the things I find disappointing in life – apparently especially my disappointments to others. I choose to remember the good times and the good things I have experienced, but I know others may remember an event I have long forgotten, but wish I could have done differently or said I was sorry for.  I may have been a troubled younger person and made mistakes, but am hoping I am a better older person and making less mistakes.

The Bible tells me God remembers things. He remembers His covenant with His children, His promises to care for us, that we are weak, all the times we tried so hard, all the times we did do the right things, when prayers need answered, He remembers how He loves us, everything about us – even the number of hairs on our heads and what makes us happy and more.

God encourages us to remember things too – how He saved us each time we asked,  the miracles He did for us, His Word and promises, His sacrifice, His love, His commandments, the poor and others, our past and bondage, how hard families worked to make it and give us life, the ones who loved and cared for us and still do, and more.

God, however, does not remember everything. He never remembers our forgiven sin, our mistakes, our bad days, or when we were disappointing.  And for this I am grateful. I want to forget the wrongs done to me too and hope those that I have wronged can forgive me and remember the better things.

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I understand that is was President Harry Truman that signed a bill into law in 1952 making the National Day of Prayer for America an annual event on the first Thursday of May, encouraging millions across our nation to unite together to pray.

Today is that first Thursday. Now, I realize everyday should be a national day of prayer and a personal day of prayer, but being honest, I find everything in the world to deter me from praying.

I have work and more work, and cooking and caring for others in my life, cleaning the house, taking care of pets, taking the children to every activity they are involved in, even church activities, and television time and more. I am certain everyone can generate a list of all the great reasons why it is difficult to spend time in prayer. I was challenged by a fellow Christian to pray for just four minutes a day and have not been able to do that. Four minutes. Sad to admit my failure.

One of my friend’s favorite scripture is  1 John 5.14-15 that tells us. “and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” So, the big question is, ‘why don’t we ask?’

I have a list for that too. Sometimes I doubt, sometimes I am lazy, sometimes I am apathetic, sometimes I think I can manage myself, sometimes I use my busy life as an excuse, and more.

The Word of God is clear that ‘the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’ James 5.16. I want to make my prayer count and avail much for the ones I see in need. The homeless I pass along the road, the one walking miles down roads that seem  to lead no where, the mother’s with their children in the grocery store, my family, the young men and women working each day to gain an education or work to make a better life for themselves,  family struggling with depression and drug and alcohol addiction, and everyone I meet.

I am always astounded when I read how Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Teach us to pray’ in Luke 11.1. Prayer is something that should come so naturally; something everyone knows how to do. We even see pictures of little children on their knees next to their beds, praying. I do not believe the disciples asked merely to learn how to ‘pray’ but to ‘pray the way He did!’ They saw the great works He did and how His life was committed to constant prayer. Amen to that.

Our world is in great need of prayer – from our leaders to our neighbors and families. God is still the answer and He still hears and answers prayers. I do not always pray for my leaders, but God’s word teaches us to. 1 Timothy 2.1-2 tells me – ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.’ 

Join with the nation today and pray.

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A little boy born with Down syndrome attended his third-grade Sunday School class faithfully each week. As you can expect, the other children did not readily accept the boy because he seemed different.

The Sunday after Easter, their teacher brought in small boxes–one for each child. The children were told to go outside, find some symbols of new life, and put them in their containers. So the children ran wildly throughout the property looking for something to fill their boxes.

Once they returned to the classroom, they began to share their discoveries with the class. One by one they opened their boxes to show flowers, butterflies, leaves, and more. Each time the class would “ooh” and “ahh.”

Then the child with Down syndrome opened his box to reveal nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid! It’s not fair! He didn’t do the assignment right!”

The little boy exclaimed, “I did so do it! It’s empty…because the tomb where Jesus laid was found empty!”

Jesus left the grave behind Him. What does that mean for us? If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our faith would be foolish and fake. But He did rise from death, confirming His life and message. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our hope of life eternal beyond the grave and for everything we need in Him each and every day. Because He is alive, we also live in eternity and here.

After Jesus rose, His promise in John 14.16 – ‘…and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever..’ was fulfilled.

Not only is the Spirit of God our Comforter, He is our Teacher to teach us everything and the One to bring all things to our remembrance – all things Jesus has to say to us. John 14.26.

Also, just like the first followers, we are blessed with power. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me … unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” Acts 1.8

And, just like the disciples we can be filled with His Spirit – “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room …  (the disciples) all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.” Acts 1.13-14 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2.1-4 

God’s triumph over death is our triumph and He planned for us to be given His Spirit to continue with His power and love to do the work He designed us to and be delivered as we need to be. Praise the Lord for His unspeakable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9.15

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Good Friday is here again. Seems like just yesterday, we had ashes placed on our foreheads for the start of the Lenten season. Now, we come to the time to continue to remember what our Savior did for us so many years ago and all this means today.

Tonight, many, many years ago, Jesus had supper with His followers. He told them what was going to happen, promised everything would be alright, and then He went to the Garden of Gethsemane with a few disciples.  “….And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22.44. How many nights I have agonized over my life situations or my loved ones? I always thought God did not understand the agony of the human condition, however, I was wrong, He is well acquainted with agony as well as sorrow and grief and sin even though He never sinned or deserved punishment.

Today I heard a story that asked, “What is the very strong emotion to a person who is very difficult and terrible to us or has done very wrong things?” Most answered ‘hate,’ and at first that is what I would think I would answer. But the truth is there is another answer. An answer that took time to sink in – it is Jesus’ answer. He answers, ‘Love.’ Love is His response to those who hate Him, those who praised Him just a week before and now want Him dead, those who falsely accused Him, those who spit on Him, those who dragged Him to be humiliated in front of kings and jeering crowds demanding He be killed even though He healed many among them and fed them and was kind to them and did no wrong. Jesus responds in love to the ones who shoved a crown made of painful thorns on His head and beat His back, stripped Him and mocked Him and those who put Him on a Cross and drove nails in His hands and feet . He answers to forgive them and continues going to the Cross where He suffers an unimaginable death to save us and love us.

For ‘no one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.’ John 15.13. And ‘…but God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Romans 5.8.

God’s reaction to my sin, disobedience, stubbornness, pride, lack of faith, disinterest, hate in my heart against others who wronged me, and more is not hatred and disgust with me, but mercy and love and forgiveness. I am thankful as I remember the Lamb of God Who came to live and die for me and the whole world. The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. John 1.29.

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Hosanna! A shout of praise or adoration; an acclamation. Praise is the offering of grateful respect or reverence rendered in words or song; as an act of worship. The crowd cried Hosanna in the streets on what we celebrate this Sunday as Palm Sunday. 

Most know the story of Jesus riding through the streets on a donkey being praised and adored; palm branches lining the streets.  Matthew 21.9 tells us ‘And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.’ In Luke 19.39-40, the story continues how the religious leaders tried to stop the praise – ^“some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ to which Jesus replied ‘I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'” Creation praises God every moment. So will I. 

The greatest adoration for our God is to praise Him. Praise flows from a grateful heart and demonstrates our love for God. In fact, praise is one of the greatest weapons against attacks of the enemy.  The gates of hell cannot resist against our worship and praise. The devil is no match for the praise we give to God. I have experienced relief from tormenting anxiety and depression if I just sing a song of praise to the God I love.

The account of Paul and Silas being imprisoned shows how mighty our praise to God is – “..but about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.” Acts 16.25-26. Our chains also come loose and we cannot be stopped in any way from healing, restoration, financial blessing, answered prayers, freedom from addictions, depression, and other tormenting things around us. Praise is powerful. 

Psalms mentions praising God at least 150 times and I find Psalm 150 tells us best –

It’s easy to forget. Sometimes it’s great to forget. Great to forget difficult moments in life, accidents that were devastating, job loss, hurtful words, times we thought we’d never make it through, and more. Sometimes we forget so we can remember only the good things in life.

On the other hand, memories are precious. It’s great to remember. Great to remember good friends, good times, achievements, fun parties, past vacations, and more. Many of us have pictures or mementos that remind us of special moments or special people in our lives.

It seems to me that God knows how easy it is to forget and tragically how easy it is to forget Him and how much He did for us so many years ago. In His Word, He reminds us to continually remember God. All the goodness in my life is from the Hand of the Father. I want to remember each day how He came into my life to give me His life and His truth, and His deliverance and love. I want to remember His care for me and what He did to care for me.

Luke 22.19-20 tells us – “Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and gave it to them saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. And in like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant [ratified] in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you.”

So, what did He do for us? Isaiah 53.4-10 tells us -“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of (all) people, to whom the stroke was due? And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When (God) make(s) His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

He gave His life to give me mine. Praise be to God. I pray to always be in remembrance of Him.

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I have read the entire Bible many times. It seems I miss a lot though. One day, while driving, I listened to a minister preaching about the Spirit of God. He mentioned a verse in Romans – 8.11 to be exact – that I have read many times. The verse states  “….and if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you….” Either another translation or the minister emphasized this verse to say ‘the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.’ The Words hit me like a ton of bricks. I never noticed these words this way the many times I read my Bible.

The same Spirit – the One that raised Jesus from the dead. God is constantly reminding me of the profound truth and meaning of this verse. I never seem to fully grasp it though. If the same Spirit lives in me, why do I live so below my own expectations? Why do I worry my prayers may not be answered or God may not come through for me? Why do I think my problems and struggles are too great for the Living God or go unnoticed by Him? Why do I think His love and mercy will end or His supply for my life will end? Why do I go defeated, anxious, and depressed at times?

This season of Jesus’ life and death reminds me constantly of the sacrifice my Savior endured so that the same Spirit that raised Him could live in me. The same Spirit that allowed Jesus to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the Word. The same Spirit that allows me to be loved by God, be forgiven every weakness and sin, be loved as the imperfect me as God loves Jesus, have everlasting life – here and after physical death, and allows me to pray for the ones I love.

It is the same Spirit that allowed Jesus to turn the water into wine, walk on water, and change His ordinary apostles into committed followers. It is the same Spirt that leads me into truth and truth that allows me to be set free. The same Spirit that is my Comforter, my Counselor, my Way Maker, my Deliverer, my Everything. The same Spirit that was sent from God to me, opened my blind eyes,  infills me with power for the tasks of today,  and blesses me with assurance of being a child of God. The same Spirit that knows my weaknesses and prays for and through me. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.

I pray for the deep and wonderful revelation of these Words to penetrate every fiber of every readers’ being this Lenten season and forever.

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