This Week's Lightbulb Moment

LAVISH

God's love is LAVISH.

My redemption through Christ's blood is LAVISH.

His forgiveness of my trespasses is LAVISH.

The riches of His grace is LAVISH.

Ephesians 1:7-8a  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us...

Loved
Accepted
Victorious
Innocent
Secure
Holy

My Prayer for You...February 23, 2014

My prayer for you and me this week...

Father, God, thank You for adopting me as Your child!  Thank You for desiring to adopt every child, regardless of age, color, nationality, religious history; Your grand design is to adopt everyone into Your family through the loving obedience of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - 
(Ephesians 1:4b-5)

Thank You for Your Holy Word which gives us hope as You tell us who we are through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and victory over death by His resurrection!

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons (and daughters), God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father".  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7)


Abba, Father, I love being Your daughter, robed in the righteousness of Jesus.  I love being Your daughter whom You see pure and holy, redeemed and whole through Your dear Son!  Thank You for adopting me into Your Kingdom family forever!  For Your glory and praise, Amen and Amen!!

If anyone reads this prayer desiring to be the daughter or son of God, know first of all you are wanted; you are accepted by God.  God bids you come into His family; He has predestined you to be His child by faith.  If God had not predestined you to be His child, you would not have the desire to be adopted.  

Simply call out, "Abba, Father, adopt me into Your family!  I believe Jesus is Your Son and that He took Your wrath in my place on the cross and died in my place.  But then You raised Him from death to life and Jesus is seated with You in Heaven, seated at Your Right Hand."  


Thank Abba for making you now a son or a daughter - a joint-heir with Christ in the Family of God!  And tell someone...tell me...I'd love to rejoice with you as your sister in Christ!  Welcome to the family ~ your forever family!  

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

"Everything is possible for one who believes."
Mark 9:23 (NIV)

Jesus said it...so I believe it.  Oh, I have my moments when I forget.  At times, I get so caught up in my circumstances I don't look beyond the current challenge to gaze into the eyes of my Savior.  But then, God sends a friend with a reminder; "Everything is POSSIBLE for one who believes."

As often as we are able, my husband and I find refreshment and restoration at the beach; my favorite place for a get away.  A few years ago, in a very difficult season of life, as I stood on the beach I asked the Lord for tangible evidence of His presence.  I asked, "God, if You are here with me, will You allow me to see the dolphins?"  Out of His great goodness, while I stood on the beach, I saw them - a group of dolphins gracefully arching up out of the water and then dipping under again.  I was overwhelmed by God's great love for me, and the assurance of His presence!  

I've asked for and I have seen dolphins every time I have been at the beach since that first time I made my request.  So, when my husband and I traveled recently to Arizona I wondered what the Lord would show me as a tender gift of His presence.  My dear friend, Ruth, sent me off with a blessing of experiencing God with dolphins and starfish in the desert.  I responded with my doubts regarding dolphins in the desert.  To which, my friend, full of faith, replied, "It won't surprise me if you see dolphins in the desert!" 

While in Arizona we saw many evidences of God, however, as we drove to the airport on our last morning, I looked into the sky and saw them in the clouds.  The goodness and lavish love of God to show me dolphins gracefully arching across the sky over the desert, just so that I would know for sure His presence is with me wherever I go!  

Thank You, Ruth, for reminding me...
"Everything is possible for one who believes."
Mark 9:23 (NIV)

My Prayer For You...February 16, 2014

My prayer for you and me this week...

Holy Spirit come to us, please.  Out of Your great compassion and love, no condemnation, remind us of the dead, dry place from which You rescued us, such that our hearts will be overwhelmed with gratitude, once again, for Your life-giving presence!

Out of thankful hearts, may we reach back to those wandering in the desert, take them by the hand and walk with them to meet You, Jesus!  For Your Glory, Lord God - Amen!!

But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:8)

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)  

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

You never know when or where someone will be drawn in...

 

On our recent trip to Arizona, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Cucina Rustica in Sedona.  As our waiter approached our table he immediately leaned toward me asking, "What's on your necklace?  It's drawing me in!"  

A little surprised, I gladly shared with him; my pendant reads "Expect Miracles", and the picture is a basket of bread and 2 fish.  Apparently the symbol of Jesus Christ's compassion towards thousands of hungry people was far from what our waiter expected.  He abruptly straightened and took a step back.  

 

He clearly knew the Biblical reference as he indicated Jesus probably wouldn't be performing any miracles at the restaurant that night, but the kitchen could probably come up with something for us to eat.  

Sedona, AZ is well known for the beautiful Red Rocks, which Randy and I celebrated as miraculously gorgeous creations of God.  However, many people see Sedona and the Red Rocks as a mystical place of magical powers through New Age worship of the created - specifically crystals and rock formations.  Spiritists and psychics selling crystals, readings and "healing" are to be found on just about every corner of Sedona.

Our hotel with a beautiful Red Rock view

No doubt our waiter expected me to be wearing a New Age crystal or magical medallion of some sort.  

I know, the Light and Truth of the Holy Spirit was drawing him in.  Perhaps, the Good Shepherd was calling him home to the truth he once knew...only God knows this man's heart.  Will he turn toward Jesus or will he continue to run?

The Bible is very clear about false gods!  God spoke these commandments to Moses, Exodus 20:3-4, "You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."   

Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Red Rocks
Sedona, AZ

Additionally, Deuteronomy 18:9-13, instructs us to stand firm against detestable practices.  "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD...You must be blameless before the LORD your God."

Our table closest on the left
Cucina Rustica

We listened as our waiter shared his story with the other diners seated all around us.  We could hear in his voice the deep longing for truth, direction and purpose.  We were saddened by the tales of his wanderings and hope for a better tomorrow if he "just works hard enough and catches a lucky break!"

This is the mission...
to know Christ and make Him known!
Uptown Sedona, AZ

Randy and I were determined to shower our waiter with kindness and blessings though he remained aloof.  Silently throughout our meal, I asked the Lord to unveil our new friend's eyes so he will recognize and surrender to the Only One Who is able to fulfill his every longing. We left him an excellent tip and on our receipt I wrote this..."I bless you, Lex, with receiving the exact miracle you need in your life right now!"

I see an amazing creation of God
topped with a cloud in the shape of an
angel blowing a trumpet!
What's your view?

We never really know when or where someone will be drawn in, and because our waiter was drawn in by the Light and Truth of Jesus, I'm expecting a miracle!  

Yes, Jesus, I expect to see that young man in heaven - a Kingdom citizen, a child of the One True God!  May we have eyes to see those around us who are being drawn in, engage, and pray, in Your Name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!! 

To You Lord, be all Honor and Glory, forever.  Amen!!