Help me, Lord Jesus, to spread and lavish your love wherever my life path takes me.

The Christ-life in us, developed and set free, will go by its very nature reaching out and spending itself wherever there is want, in love and longing for the bare places and the far-off.  

~~Isabella Lilias Trotter  

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

By its very nature a river will flow from its source, at times meandering downstream, at other times running at full torrent. As it cuts through the centers of thriving cities or wends its way through desolate prairie, the river is ever drawn toward its ultimate destination—the ocean.

As Christ-followers, we are like the river. Finding our source in Jesus, we allow his love, comfort, peace, and joy to flow outward from us to others we meet on our life journey. Whether it is our neighbor across the street or a hungry child in a war-torn country across the globe, we are called to exemplify Christ by pouring our very selves into the lives of others. The Christ-life in us will cause us to reach out and seek those in need.

The love of Christ in us will spend itself until ultimately we reach our final destination with him.

Prayer for Meditation

Help me, Lord Jesus, to spread and lavish your love wherever my life path takes me.

Scripture for Meditation

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  Philippians 2:1-2

Music for Meditation

In Christ Alone

 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

God is more interested in developing our character than He is in manipulating our circumstances to make us happy.

~~Cynthia Heald

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

“Whatever makes you happy.” That’s the message that bombards us from the world. If we didn’t know any better, we’d think that being happy should be our goal and the basis of all our decision making.

God calls us to be different, however. Not that we can’t be happy—far from it. But happiness is not the ultimate goal for our lives. We always seek to follow God in and through our circumstances. We aren’t all consumed with happiness because we know there’s something greater, something deeper.

We can’t control our circumstances in order to assure happiness. And God won’t do it either. Bad things happen, and through those tough times God wants to develop our character.

Beloved, God loves you, and he has promised unspeakable joy if you follow him. And on the way, he is committed to developing your character—which has an eternal value beyond compare.

Prayer for Meditation

Father, help me to want you more than the happiness the world offers.

Scripture for Meditation

The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Psalm 19:8

Music for Meditation

In Christ Alone 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

Dreams don't come with expiration dates

There is nothing sadder than an unfulfilled life . . . Dreams don’t come with expiration dates.

~~Martha Bolton

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

Deep inside each of us God has placed desires. We have gifts, talents, dreams of what we want to do. Years pass. We continue to live our lives, but we keep looking for that fulfillment. At times, we find ourselves delayed or sidetracked by life’s unexpected circumstances.

Maybe you don’t feel like you’re living your dream—but you see, dreams don’t come with expiration dates. Taking a circuitous route to your dream doesn’t mean you won’t get there. Life’s unexpected circumstances come as no surprise to God. Instead, you may find that God is moving you toward a dream perfected for you—better than you have imagined. The life you live and the wisdom you gain will make your dream that much sweeter. Maybe that will prove to be the purpose of the delay all along.

Be patient. God is not finished with you—or your dreams—yet.

Prayer for Meditation

Help me to see the possibilities and opportunities you have for me, Lord.  

Scripture for Meditation – Joshua 14:6-13

A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about you me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God. So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’

Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”

So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.

Music for Meditation

In Christ Alone

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.

Your Best

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the Morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day.

Love bears all things. As Jesus faithfully bears your weaknesses, so faithfully bear his strength in helping others.

Believes all things. As Jesus believes your life is worth sacrificing his, so believe that proclaiming his good news of salvation is worth investing yours.

Hopes all things. As Jesus hopes that you will willingly reflect his image, so maintain the hope that anything that comes into your life works toward that end.

Endures all things. As Jesus endured the cross to provide you eternal life, so obediently endure this life in order to give him glory.

Just as Jesus has given you his best, so freely give him yours.  

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, I know your love never fails. Help me to give my best by bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things in your love. Amen

Scripture for Meditation

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:7

Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord’s act of faithful love. Psalm 107:43

Music for Meditation 

In Christ Alone

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.