Author: Beth Morrison

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 45-48 GW; Revelation 16 GW

God created community.

When our Creator set the earth on its axis, He fully intended to fill the planet with people.  The kaleidoscope of humanity, a miracle to behold.  Different races, skin color, languages, cultures, all part of God’s original plan.  Everything done with intentionality.

Talking with a friend about her past, she wondered why God allowed her ex-husband to cheat on her.  Or why did God allow 911 to happen, killing thousands of people.  My response, God didn’t make those choices, the people involved decided to do those things.  God gave us free will, we have options, either follow Jesus or not.  When humans pick themselves over Jesus, their deeds reflect the decision.

“But my heart always ached for those who don’t know Jesus, their actions being a reflection of that,” Shelby Houston, speaking at her father’s funeral.

Choose the Creator.

Shelby Houston’s father, Richard, died in the line of duty while responding to a domestic abuse call. She is only 18 years old; Shelby’s heart aches for the killer because his actions indicate he didn’t know Jesus.  God intended to inhabit the earth with people, and His ultimate plan, for them to choose Him.  Love can’t exist without choice.

God loves everyone, Jesus’ actions on the cross demonstrate His affection for us.  But we must choose Him.  Love only works when given freely, no one can force someone to love them.  When I was in highschool with a crush on the star baseball player, I couldn’t force him to return my affections.  Life doesn’t work like that and neither does God.

Choosing Jesus means accepting the love God gives.  Realizing, God wants a relationship with you so badly; He created a way for eternal bonding.  But you have to make the decision; our Maker doesn’t force himself on anyone.  Appreciating the people who made a choice first helps you make the same decision.

Richard Houston chose Jesus first; as a result, his daughter did as well.  Appreciate the people in your life that guide you on the right paths.  God created us all in love.  His hope, you will choose Jesus.

Lord, thank You for those who’ve gone before us.  Forgive us for not choosing You always.  Help us today to follow You.  Give us strength and courage to face the day ahead, knowing You are in charge; Your plan, always the best one.  All glory belongs to You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who are you choosing today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 42-44 GW; Revelation 15 GW

God protects.

Doing the right thing always takes effort.  Overcoming hurt feelings to represent God well, never easy.  To love people, we must overlook their offenses.  Instead of assuming hurtful actions were intentional, think they weren’t.  Remember God loves them too, our calling, communicate God’s affection to them.  God never calls us to judge; He calls us to love.

Keeping in stride with Jesus, we must remind ourselves of His perspective.  Dying on the cross, the ultimate act of love.  Jesus died for you, me, and the person you’re mad at right now.  No exceptions of who we’re to love, everyone.  Doing the right thing, the best way to share God’s love.  

Start with prayer.

If you don’t know what the right thing to do is in life, start with prayer.  Believe as God’s purpose unfolds in your life, He will give you direction.  As you partner with God, coming under His protective wing, you will find the courage to take the next step.

Forgiving someone who hurt you takes courage.  Letting go of past offenses, praying for ones who’ve betrayed you, difficult.  But with God, all things are possible.  Allowing Jesus to guide and direct your steps will help you do the right thing.  If you falter, God will give you another chance.  

“You don’t have to hit a home run every time; you just have to get on base.” Rick Warren

When we take steps of faith, we must give ourselves grace.  Do the best you can, trusting God will do the rest.  We can get on base under our Maker’s protection, one hit at a time.  Eventually, becoming obedient to God becomes your only option, realizing, no other way works as well.  

God will hold your hand, helping you accomplish your mission.  Following Jesus, always the path to victory.  Live for the applause of one.  Nailed scarred hands give the best protection.

Lord, thank You for protecting us in our calling.  Forgive us for doubting Your divine intervention.  As we move through our day, help us remember our calling to love You and others.  Give us the strength to do the demanding things we all must do in life.  Shetler us in Your arms as we do our best to represent You well.  Guide and direct us, Lord, today and always.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What is God calling you to do?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Isaiah 39-41 GW; Revelation 14 GW

Belief gives rest.

One day, the Lord will call each of us home.  We’ll find rest from the work and toil of this world. Our efforts for God follow us into heaven.  When we reach the pearly gates, we’ll hear these words:

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:23 NIV)

Resting in peace means trusting God’s plan.  Even the days when nothing seems to change, the struggle continuing, our strength waning, we must have confidence in our heavenly Father.  During those moments when I doubt God, one thought keeps me going.  Becoming a better person because I follow Jesus is worth every bit of effort.  

Believing is a blessing.

Rotating our life around God creates innumerable blessings.  Instead of ruling the world, we can let the Creator do it.  Accepting our lack of control helps us focus on what we can sway.  The only thing we can manage is how we respond in any given situation.  When someone screams at us, we don’t have to yell back.  Instead, we can respond in love, trying to resolve the problem instead of dominating it.

Christ’s peace happens when we become obedient to His commands; namely, loving God, loving others.  When we practice what Jesus teaches, we’ll discover unexplainable tranquility. Belief gives relief, taking the world’s weight off our shoulders, placing it on God, who can handle it. God never meant for us to save the world; that’s Jesus’ job.

Our job is simple, love God, love others.  When we partner with our Maker to care for the world, we’ll enjoy His peace.  Nothing can separate us from God’s love.   Rest in God’s peace by trusting His promises and obeying His commands.

Lord, thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding.  Forgive us for doubting You.  As we follow You today, spur us on as only You can.  Give us Your peace that surpasses all understanding.  Allow us to draw closer to You as we pursue You.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has your belief in God blessed you?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 36-38 GW; Revelation 13 GW

God delivers.

Amid war, the Assyrians demand Jerusalem surrender; God rescues his people once again.  As I read today’s verse, I thought of the countries within ourselves.  Those places where we’re rebelling against God, trying desperately to overcome on our power.  But we can only find victory with God on our side.

One of my “countries” I need God’s help destroying is nighttime eating.  For whatever reason, I graze throughout the night.  Half-awake, I raid the refrigerator for whatever contents appeal to me at the time. Realizing my nighttime visits aren’t helping me maintain a healthy weight, I started praying about attacking this country in my life.  God answered.

First, I felt prompted to develop accountability partners.  Texting two of my friends, I asked them to help me break this habit.  Realizing I need parameters in my life, I created a rule, no eating after dinner until the following day.  Fasting nighttime eating, praying every time I felt the urge to nibble brought God into the mix.  The first three days were the roughest; late-night texts to my friends got them praying for me.  But after a week, victory started to appear as the nighttime cravings began to lessen.

Reap the rewards.

Letting God help you destroy the hostile “countries” within you leads to heavenly rewards.  For me, my struggle with indigestion, much better.  No longer do I have to carry Tums everywhere I go.  My weight stopped increasing and began decreasing.  Sleeping through the night, a blessing from above.  But only with the Lord by my side could I find victory.

Enemy territory exists within us.  Areas of our life where we’re not obedient to God cause upheaval and distress.  Instead of finding God’s peace, we experience the consequences of our actions.  Thoughts and decisions we made without consulting God.  Only when we ask God to join us in the battle will we find His victory.

Take back land within you.  Allow God to come alongside you.  Let Him deliver you from your temptations.

Lord, thank You for walking beside us.  Forgive us for letting enemy territory exist in our lives.  Help us gain victory as we partner with You.  Deliver us from our temptations, strengthen us in the battle, make us whole once again.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What territory do you need God’s help to reclaim?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 32-35 GW; Revelation 12 GW

Energy renews.

Life’s circular experience renews as it goes.  Sleep allows our body to rest, recharging the senses to face another day.  When we find our refuge in God, no matter what storm rages around us, His peace will reign in us.  Hiding in God’s arms means trusting His promises.

God provides energy every morning for the day ahead.  Filling our lungs with oxygen, the gift of breath comes from our Creator.  As long as we’re breathing, God has a purpose for us.  Where God guides, He provides.  Whatever strength you need, God will give.  Become intentional about spending time with  God every morning, access His energy for you.  Renewal can’t come without connection.

Connect to the charger.

Every night when I go to bed, I plug my phone into charge.  While I rest, my external brain gets a break, and its battery becomes full.  If we think of God as the electrical outlet and ourselves as the phone, we need to plug into the source to receive the energy.  Each new day you have the opportunity to make a fresh connection with your Maker.

When I write in my prayer journal, I confess at least one sin from the previous day, sometimes more.  What happens when I cleanse my soul, God renews me with His grace.  Knowing God forgives me before I even write the words gives me the courage to repent.  Admitting you’ve done something wrong challenges anyone.  However, only through submission can we reconnect with God’s sovereignty. Plugging our hearts in for renewal comes with surrender.

Each morning, plug into God.  Tell Him your heart, good and bad.  Allow Him to renew your strength.

Lord, thank You for providing all we need.  Forgive us for not trusting Your promises more.  As we seek You today, let us find You.  Renew our energy, fill our hearts, help us find the joy that comes only through You.  In things, the glory is Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What do you need to surrender to God today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 29-31 GW; Revelation 11 GW

God revives our souls.

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, nothing compares to fresh snow.  Silently falling from the sky, blanketing the earth, the beauty from frozen water crystals takes the breath away.  Now, living in the south, I rarely see snow.  But I remember the excitement I felt each year when the first snow fell.  A rejuvenation to my soul occurred, watching the world change right before my eyes.

Life constantly changes.  During the hot days of summer, when the heat drains all energy from us, fall seems impossible.  But then, a slight chill in the air indicates a change of season.  Before you know what’s happening, the holidays are upon us, bringing the trials and tribulations of a decadent holiday filled with an abundance of food, drink, and merriment.  Overspending, trying to find the perfect present, causes stress above and beyond the norm.  December 26th eventually comes, leaving us exhausted and tired once again.  Winter days seem endless, but once again, change occurs as the weather warms and the leaves bud.

Seasons define life.

During stressful periods, our strength wanes.  Trying to maintain a positive attitude becomes exhausting.  Finding joy in a world of sadness seems impossible.  But if we think of our current situation as a season, we have hope; better days are coming.  Without our dark days, we wouldn’t appreciate the light.

God gives us strength for whatever battles we face.  But He doesn’t empower us until we need it.  Seasons don’t change one day too soon.  God’s timing, always perfect, doesn’t match ours.  What we think we need versus reality often differs.  God increases our strength when it needs increasing, not a minute sooner.  Just as we can count on the seasons to change, we can rely on God to strengthen us when needed.

Whatever task you face today, God will give you the strength to accomplish it.  Hang tight with God.  Just as the seasons change in due time, God will strengthen you when you need it.

Lord, thank You for giving us what we need when we need it.  Forgive us for losing hope.  As we face the divine tasks in front of us today, supply us with all we need to accomplish it.  Increase our strength, invigorate our souls, help us face our giants well.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has God strengthened you at the right moment?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 25-28 GW; Revelation 10 GW

Perfect planning brings wondrous things.

God unfolds the things He planned long ago in our life.  Before our birth, our Creator knew our days.  “From womb to the tomb,” as Pastor Thomas says, our journey’s Travel Agent booked the trip well in advance.

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16 NIV)

Counting on God’s faithfulness means believing what He says.  God desired a relationship with you long before you were a twinkle in your mother’s eye.  Our heavenly Father designs each of us with purpose.  The temporary struggles we face in life help us fulfill our mission. God never leaves nor forsakes us.  

Not only does God plan the trip, but He also travels with us.  Not one day passes without God’s presence.

Trust the Travel Agent.

Life happens one moment at a time.  Instead of worrying about what “could happen” or what “did happen” focus on the present.  Today will never happen again.  Tomorrow’s worries aren’t the same, maybe better, maybe worse, only time will tell.  Now means present, in this moment, one that won’t come again.  Don’t miss now, trust God’s got tomorrow covered.  Enjoy today, not worrying about tomorrow.

When I worked for Nautica, we had a travel department.  If the airlines canceled my flight, or the hotel didn’t have my reservation, the company provided a hotline.  The 800 number connected me to a travel agent who would resolve the issue.  Therefore, I didn’t worry when traveling, I knew who to call if I experienced trouble.

Traveling through life, you will encounter trouble. Call God’s hotline for help; He’s got the answer for our problems.  God can interpret sighs of frustration; He speaks all prayer languages.  But if you don’t pick up the phone, He can’t help with the problem.  Whether silent or spoken, God hears our prayers.  Perfect faithfulness makes our Travel Agent the best.

Lord, thank You for planning our days long before we were born.  Forgive us for not acknowledging You more as we journey through life.  Let Your itinerary unfold in our lives as we seek You.  Help us believe in Your perfect faithfulness.  As we follow You, help us enjoy the journey.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 22-24 GW; Revelation 9 GW

Catastrophes happen.

Big or small, calamities are a part of life.  “Things happen in threes,” a phrase often said in my family.  Whether or not the inspiration for the adage comes from Revelation 9:12, I don’t know.  But I do know, once our Reticular Activating System (RAS) becomes aware of catastrophes, we notice them everywhere.

RAS activates the entire cerebral cortex with energy, waking it up, increasing its level of arousal and readiness for interpreting incoming information, and preparing the brain for appropriate action.

Ron and I bought a Subaru Outback in January.  A year ago, I never noticed Outbacks or Subarus because I didn’t own one.  Now I notice the station wagon’s everywhere.  Why?  Because purchasing the care activated my RAS, awakening my brain to the existence of Outbacks.  Once you become aware of something, you notice it more.

Therefore, when catastrophe strikes, your thoughts focus on the negative situation.  Becoming aware bad things happen causes you to notice more calamities.  But if we realize our thoughts are focusing on the negative, we can change them.

Capture your thoughts.

“You had a bad moment, don’t make it a bad day.” 

Years ago, while talking on the phone, I complained about something, I don’t even know what, to my friend.  Stuck in the calamity, Heather reminded me to capture my thoughts.  Yes, bad things happen, but so do good things.  Her words changed my life.  Now, when the internet stops working and frustration begins to build, instead of letting my thoughts turn negative, I remind myself, “It’s just a bad moment; it’s not a bad day.”

Catastrophes will happen in life.  From losing car keys to losing your job, no one escapes unfortunate moments in time.  But we must remember, moments pass.  Good things happen in threes as well; look for the positive instead of the negative.  

Capture your thoughts. Focus on the positive.  Let the negative go.

Lord, thank You for giving us brains.  Forgive us for letting our thoughts spiral out of control.  As we move through our day, help us quickly move through the difficult moments, experiencing them, then releasing them to You.  Help our minds focus on the blessings in our lives instead of the catastrophe.  All glory, Yours alone.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What is your RAS focused on today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 17-21 GW; Revelation 8 GW

Only God knows.

The “Left Behind” series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins is one of my all-time favorite book series.  Fictionalizing Revelation with relatable characters brought the book to life for me.  However, no one knows for sure what all the symbolism means in the prophetic book.  And when the angel opens the seventh seal, heaven becomes quiet.  Only God knows what the silence means.

What are the sounds of heaven? When I imagine heaven, I think of my loved ones who live in its zip code. My friends and relatives, healed from their earthly troubles, are whole, happy, vibrantly alive, enjoying their eternal life. Picture a family gathering in one of the Christmas Hallmark movies found in plenty this time of year. Glowing fireplace, crisp snow blanketing the cozy house, everyone laughing and talking, enjoying the moment. When I imagine the sounds of heaven, I envision a warm, family gathering.

Trust God in the silence.

What happens when Heaven goes silent, only God knows.  Trust Him.  Walking with Jesus means deciding to place your confidence in Him.  Think of people in your life you can count on in a pinch.  You rely on them because they live up to their word, doing what they commit to doing.  As humans, no one is perfect, faltering eventually.  But Jesus never falters; He always comes through for you, one way or another.

Often, people tell me God is silent in their lives. Because they don’t hear clear directions, they don’t know what to do. I believe God is always talking to us if we take the time to read His word. Not a morning goes by that I don’t feel God impress my Spirit when I read the Bible. Typically, I must repent something I’ve done from the day before and remember, nothing I do can make God stop loving me.

God gave us two things to do consistently: Love Him, love others. If you feel God is silent, it’s because He’s already told you what to do.

Lord, thank You for giving us clear direction in Your word.  Forgive us for not seeking You through scripture.  Help us make connecting with You through the Bible a regular part of our lives.  Help us trust You more as we seek You.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has reading God’s word impacted your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 14-16 GW; Revelation 7 GW; Psalms 23 GW

God provides needs, not wants.

“Though None Go With Me” by Jerry B. Jenkins impacted my life.  Elizabeth Grace Leroi devotes her life to Jesus at an early age.  Almost immediately, disaster strikes.  Over and over, she endures heartbreaking tribulations. Loss of her young love, death of her husband and Son, drug addict daughter, heartache described her life best.  Yet, each time, she trusted God amid her pain.  Elizabeth never got what she wanted, but she always had what she needed.  At the end of the fictional book, God’s grace and mercy throughout each tragedy become evident.  But only in hindsight can you see God’s workings.

Sometimes, God doesn’t seem to provide for our needs. However, the problem lies with our expectations of “needs.”  Just because I think I “need” something doesn’t mean I do.  The one who knows the difference best is our heavenly Father.  Divine vision gives God the best view.

Needs trump wants.

“What I like about camping, it makes me appreciate home.”  Ron said after a recent camping trip.  We love spending our weekends in nature, but they make us appreciate the creature comforts found at home.  Our bed seems softer, the shower hotter, and the house warmer.  Living without helps you understand what you have. 

Having a place to sleep, protected from the elements, is a gift from God.  You don’t need a mansion to find shelter from the storm.  We want the villa; we need the tent.

“Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  (Matthew 8:20 NASB)

And in case you forgot, Jesus didn’t live in a house.   Sandals were the only covering for our Saviour’s feet when He walked the earth.  God’s Son didn’t have a driver’s license.  Our definition of needs and God’s differ.

God provides your needs, not wants.

Lord, thank You for providing for our needs.  Forgive us for getting wants and needs confused.  Help us remember, Jesus didn’t cling to material things; He clung to You.  As we move through our day, let us hold tightly to You.  Give us what we need, not what we want.  Help us know the difference.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What want are you confusing for need?