thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Archives - Page 2 of 8

Published June 6, 2023

Piece versus Peace

I have heard serene and beautiful places described as a “little piece of heaven“. It may be a pristine beach with tumbling waves glistening in the moonlight. A vast mountain vista or a bubbling creek under the canopy of shade trees. But it is ONLY a piece.

It cannot replace the inner peace that comes from Heaven.

Why? Because where we live and move and have our being is time-bound. Our world is ever changing– minute to minute, second to second. Weather can affect that serenity. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and blizzards ravage the earth. Human progress can affect it as well. Bulldozers can topple mountains and oil tankers spill black gunk into the water, coating everything. And even if the serene views remain intact, our human emotions can discolor it. When we are angry or depressed we often block out birdsong and sunshine filtering through the leaves. No wonder cartoonists depict a dark cloud over the head of their characters. If there is one thing that is definitely not constant, it’s our mood.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

This peace that passes all understanding, as Paul describes it, is not affected by change. It is constant, eternal, and unmoving. It doesn’t come and go, or ebb and flow. It is there like a solid foundation that is unshakeable even in times of turmoil. You can cling to it and know it’s not going to crumble. This peace only comes from anchoring our hearts, minds and souls into the living waters of our faith in God. It transcends whatever is happening in our ever-changing world, because His peace is not of this world. It is Heaven-sent. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “...in me you can have peace.”

Two words that sound the same but are so different.

The first one, pIEce – where the IE stands for I Enjoy – is fleeting. It can be gone in a moment.

The other is pEAce – where the EA stands for Eternal Access. For the believer, it is always there, no matter what.

Which will you choose to bask in?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

Squeezing God In

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

Squeeze your day in around your time with God.

Today, we are busy people. Cell phones in our pockets or tucked inside our bags – they all make us feel as if we have to be available 24/7. Before, when the phone rang in the middle of the night, it was an emergency. Now, a ping can mean someone we know in Stockholm is responding to our text.

Global communication is a reality for many of us. That is good for spreading the Kingdom, for doing business, and keeping touch with family. But, it also can suck away our time like a giant vacuum. With the world constantly tapping on our shoulders, it is harder than ever to find time to respond to God’s holy taps.

Yet, our Lord wants to hang out with us so much; he hung on a cross so that could happen. He opened the lines of communication between the temporal world in which we live our lives and his eternal presence – 24/7. He is always waiting to talk with us and show us his love.

Many of us find it hard to squeeze quiet, devotional time with God into our day. But, when we begin to grasp the concept that God is there in each and every moment, we realize that it works better if we can squeeze our day into our time with God. After all, he never hangs up on his end.

Holy Lord, forgive us when we are scurrying through our day and do not include you in it. Help us to discover ways to be more aware of your presence, your love and your Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can never flee from your presence. Thank you for your Son’s death and resurrection that makes it possible for you to always be with us. Amen.

Be creative about how you squeeze God into your day. Talk with him as you wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or in that fast food line. Pray while you shower. Listen to his still small voice whispering throughout your day like a spiritual Bluetooth in your faith’s ear. How will he reveal his presence to you today?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

So Much More

“Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you! ”Jesus replied,“ Let us go somewhere else — to the nearby villages — so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:36-38

When Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, the word spread quickly. All evening and into the night people crammed the entryway with their sick relatives. Jesus healed many of them, but not all.

Then, Mark tells us Jesus went off by himself to pray in the wee hours before sunrise. Later that morning, when more people banged on the door and demanded Jesus’ healing, the disciples went looking for him. I think Jesus’ answer might have shocked them a bit.

God called his Son to give eternal life, yet the people could only see the need for healing the shell in which they lived there and then. They missed the point. They couldn’t see that Jesus came to offer them so much more. If he had returned to that town, he may have been mobbed by those still seeking healing. None of them realized the deeper healing he offered through his teaching and eventually through his sacrifice on the cross.

So, after praying about it, Jesus obeyed his Father and moved on…. The truth of the gospel is this: there is more to life than what we are facing, suffering or rejoicing in right now. Sure, we can pray for Jesus to heal us, relieve us, or help us through whatever we face today. However, Jesus calls us to experience something beyond our daily needs. If you feel overwhelmed in your life right now, pray about it. Refocus on the gospel and its message — Jesus came to give us so much more than what worries us at the moment.

Father God, help us to realize your great plan for all who call Jesus their Savior. Let us not be so concerned about the here and now that we miss your blessings and promises for the hereafter. Amen.

Seek to focus on your eternal destiny, thanking and praising God for all that you have received and will receive in Christ.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Not That Simple

“Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Proverbs 9:6

Living the Christian life isn’t an easy thing.

Has anyone ever told you being a Christian is easy? Did you laugh in response? If you have been a believer for more than fifteen minutes, you probably have realized it’s not.

Becoming a Christian seems simple enough — accept the fact that you cannot save yourself or ever earn your way into Heaven. Instead receive the free gift Christ already purchased for you. And yet, for many it becomes so very difficult because their pride, skepticism, or feelings of unworthiness snag them.

In a strange way, the world’s method is the simpler one. The world says you have to “make it on your own” with blood, sweat, and tears. “Every man for himself.” “The one with the most toys wins.” “Be all you can be.” “Just do it.” You know the slogans.

But Christ tells us to open our hands and hearts to receive that which his blood, sweat, and tears already provide. Be servants, not masters. Put others first. Die so you can live. In your weakness, there will be immeasurable strength.

And the world scratches its head and claims this is either too foolish or too hard.

Paul understood the dichotomy way back in the first century.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

How about you? Will you give up the simple ways to embrace the deeper, richer foolishness of God? You may find it is the wisest decision you ever made.

Dear Lord, you know how hard it is to swim upstream against the currents of culture. Help me to lean on your strength and not my own limited understanding. Teach me daily to embrace your wisdom and insight instead of the simple lies of the world. Amen.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the behaviors or habits in your life that are unwise. Ask him to help you understand his calling on your life and to walk in obedience, especially when you face temptation to turn away from him.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is another suggested prayer:

“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now and trust Him to do so.

Dangling Threads

You want to pull it, but you know you shouldn’t. That dangling thread on the seam of your clothes is bugging you. Does that describe your life?

I looked down and saw it. Arghh. Now would everyone see it? Would it snag on things through the day? A broken strand of thread dangled out of the seam. And I was running late.

Do I pull it? Is it worth the risk unravelling the whole hem?

Tape it? Most likely it wouldn’t hold very long.

Snip it? A temporary fix, but that wouldn’t solve the issue of the broken thread unravelling again. I knew the integrity of the stitch had been compromised. But it might give me time to deal with it later…when I get the chance.

Things in our lives can feel as if they are starting to unravel.

What we have carefully hemmed together is starting to tear.

What do we do about it?

Do we yank at the problem to get rid of it quickly and take the chance of it all falling apart? If we tug, it might reveal more and more that has become untied.

Do we tape it and hide the issue from others, hoping it will stay beneath the surface. Then go one about our business as if it is fixed?

Or do we snip at it each time it appears, never really investing the time to dealing with it properly?

Do we rush to discard that piece of clothing, put on something else, and toss it in the to-be-meded pile?

Or do we actually stop, take time to tie it, stitch it back, and secure it so it doesn’t happen anymore?

I once heard that a day knotted with prayer at both ends won’t unravel. Paul says it this way:

“The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.” 1 Colossians 1:5 (MSG)

When something snags in our lives, we need to deal with that dangling thread lest it unravel us.

Hope, bolstered by prayer, is the best way to re-anchor our faith. We need to allow our Lord to be the needle which can guide the wayward thread and knot it so it doesn’t affect the rest of the hem that is our life.

That may mean stopping what we are doing in order to handle it. It may involve a few pricks of our conscience as His needle deals with the transgression, anger or guilt. Perhaps it will cause us to halt in our tracks and not go further until we are sure it is dealt with properly.

But unless it is resolved correctly, that dangling thread tickling our conscience will bother us over and over until we are forced to deal with it. And by that time, the things hemming our lives might be starting to unravel enough that it shows.

By Julie Cosgrove
used by permission

Shining Faces

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.” Psalm 67:1

I remember one of my mother’s favorite sayings: “How I love to see your shining face.” When faces shine they are elated, full of joy, love and anticipation. “Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow” are the words in a familiar carol that describes children waiting for Christmas.

It is humbling and awesome at the same time to me that God wants to bless us and be gracious to us. But more than that, He wants to shine upon us. Why? So we can spread the light. When I have been in His presence, His light is reflected in me for others to see. The Old Testament talks of Moses’ face shining so brightly after he communed with God that he had to veil it.

Jesus said He is the Light of the World, the one thing that can dispel the shadows in our souls. We, too, are called to

“let our light so shine before mankind that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

When God’s light shines upon us, we are blessed double-fold. We receive the warmth of His loving presence and are also called to be His reflection to a dark, hurting world. Like the star over Bethlehem, we become a beacon for all seeking truth, love, and refuge. In anticipation, with our eyes all aglow, we point to our Savior.

Shine, Jesus shine. Amen.

How will you reflect the light of Christ this holiday season? Will other people bustling and shopping see Him reflected in your face?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Christmas Is For Children

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’” Luke 18:16-17

I know it’s not actually in the Bible, but I can picture the little drummer boy on the night Christ was born. There he was, peering around legs, sheep, and long robes. Maybe he heard the angels sing to the shepherds? Perhaps he was sleeping at the inn and awoke to the ruckus outside. Curious, he went to see what the fuss is all about. People were bringing gifts. Someone said this was the new king. The little drummer boy steps forward and offered his song, and the babe in the manger smiled at him. Barumpa, pum, pum.

Many people say Christmas is for children. We grown-ups are too harried, too conscious of the money, too cynical to get sucked into the whole thing. Christmas bonuses go to paying down bills, or buying gifts for the kids. It doesn’t matter. It’s all become too commercial anyway. Bah-humbug.

Yet Jesus invites us closer to the manger. “Don’t be anxious about material things,” He says. God loves and cares for us. Seek the kingdom first (Matthew 6:25-33). Draw near like a child with curiosity, openness, and faith. Embrace the season once again in its original joy.

Dearest Lord, invite us into your presence with the innocence of a child. Help us to adjust our faith-eyes to see you shining through the glitter and presents and parties. Then, in humility, let us bow down before your manager and once again declare you king over our lives. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by permission

Do I Have To?

“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:15

I didn’t want to forgive them. They’d emotionally abused me for a long time, and it felt like a bone bruise — deeply hurting and hard to heal. Like a dog, I licked that wound often over the years. It became a banner I could hang out when I wanted either sympathy or admiration for putting up with it for so many years. I mistakenly thought it made me a better Christian witness to acknowledge the pain I’d suffered, and still residually experienced.

But in reality, pride was at the heart of my resistance. If I forgave them, the hurt would dissolve. My banner would disintegrate at the foot of the cross and turn to dust. No more empathy from others.

When we harbor unforgiveness, we block the love and mercy the Father wants to give us. Our hardness of heart becomes a dam that withholds the flow of His life-giving Spirit. The verse above is not so much a tit for tat thing as it is a cause and effect. Until we go through the painstaking effort to forgive, that wound controls our thoughts, colors our view of the world, and dictates our reactions. God cannot make room in a heart so filled with concrete ugliness.

Once we practice forgiveness, we realize how wonderful it is that God forgives us. Jesus’ act of taking on our sins becomes even more vivid. It’s like wearing a pair of glasses for the first time — everything is clearer, brighter, and more vibrant. Smugness dissolves. Our hearts melt. God enters.

Dear Lord, help me to be quicker to forgive so that the hurt doesn’t build up and block your mercy in my life. Help me to realize we all need forgiveness. Release the shackles of pain from my reactions so I may see others as you do. Then we can both heal. Amen.

Ask God to open your heart to those you need to forgive and then help you go down that path.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

All That is Within Me?

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Psalm 103:1 (ESV)

Sure, I bless the Lord with my lips and, as much as I can, with my heart. But with all that is in me? Can I really bless Him when my lower back is kinked or my sinuses are blocked and filled with pain? Can I bless him for my middle-aged tummy bulge or those widening hips? What about my second chin that is beginning to appear, or my hair, which has a mind of its own and pays more attention to the humidity than to any futile attempts to style it?

When we look at our flaws, imperfections, and body aches, it is hard to be positive, isn’t it? Other people may see our good points, but we magnify those things we hate about ourselves: our too-straight or too-curly hair; our big or pointy or hooked noses; our short legs; or, our over-sized bottoms. Some of us despise the fact that we are scrawny and tall and can’t seem to gain weight. (By the way, I secretly envy you, if that is your difficulty.)

Then there is the inside stuff: Our anger; our pride, which rears up when confronted; our stubbornness; and, our bad habits. Do people judge us more harshly than we judge ourselves? Does the way we act affect our appearance, or vice versa? What does that say about us as disciples of Christ? Where is our attitude of gratitude?

When will we realize that we are wonderfully and fearfully made by our Creator who desires relationship with us so much He even went to the cross so He could be with us? God sees us not as we are, but through the eyes of a loving parent. He sees the potential of who we can be when we use all the talents He has given us and when we choose to follow His ways. As the children’s song says, we are precious in His sight—no matter our race, our body shape, or our background.

It is true that some of our flaws are the result of our own life-choices. Through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we can change how we react to stress and to life in general. We can start turning to God for comfort and satisfaction, rather than to food or other worldly pleasures. We can spend less time at computers or on the couch in front of a television screen and, instead, get out to enjoy the beauty of our world. At the same time, we can help others in need.

Let’s read what Psalm 103: 2-5 (ESV) goes on to say:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”

The key is in the second verse when we forget not all His benefits; that is the attitude-changer. Once we claim Jesus as Lord, we receive eternal life and will one day have spiritual bodies free of disease and all imperfections. Since we have confessed Christ as Lord, we also get the crown. He forgives us, loves us, and shows us mercy. We can be more-than-satisfied with what is good, both in our bodies and in our lives. We can also seek God’s help to begin to see ourselves as He see us.

PRAYER: Dear God, the next time we feel down on ourselves, help us to remember who we are to You. Heal our attitudes and our bodies. Give us Your strength so we can renew every aspect of ourselves: our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies. May we rejoice in what we have been given, rather than complaining, knowing that so many have so little. Most of all, may we bless You with all that is in us for redeeming us from death and granting us eternal life and the forgiveness we could never hope to earn. We ask these things in Your holy and mighty name, Lord Jesus, Amen

Questions: When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself for your faults or for your blessings? How do you believe the Lord sees you?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Judging Vs. Justice

“Do not judge and you will not be judged.” Luke 6:37

In today’s society of over-tolerance and lack of personal responsibility, this command of Jesus seems to fit right in. But does it allow us to be wrapped up in our own little world doing what we want because we are not to judge and others are not to judge us? Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Jesus did not say we should not speak out against hypocrisy. He did not say we should silently allow atrocities such as abortion, child abuse, elderly neglect and sex slavery to exist in our communities. He did not say we should ignore the fact that someone has lied or cheated or stolen, no matter their power or stature in society. Justice must reign. Civic laws must be obeyed.

So what did Jesus say? Jesus says judgment is final, unwavering. We are not called to do that. Only God can judge, but we can act as His servants to lead a person to ask for forgiveness so he or she may be justified through Christ. Sure there may be consequences for their actions, but no one is beyond redemption.

Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus commands us to: love our enemies (see them as fellow sinners in need of a Savior); turn the other cheek (do not let our emotions get in the way); pray for those who mistreat us (give them to God); and be merciful (see them through God’s eyes). That’s justice God’s way, not taking judgment into our own hands.

Heavenly Father, only You have the right to judge. Thank You for forgiving my sins through the power of the cross. Teach me to see others not as people who need judgment, but people who need Your justice in their lives. Show me how I can help in that process. Amen.

The next time you are quick to judge, stop and ask God to alter your attitude so you might be an instrument in bringing that person to true justice—through Jesus.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

False Security

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. ” John 10:9

I live in a gated community. In reality, it is little more than a false sense of security. I have lived here four years, and the code has never changed. Every pizza and package delivery knows it. The tenants who move in and out every six months to a year know it. But even if the manager was more diligent in changing the code, it wouldn’t really matter.

The same gate that lets a car in also lets a car out. In this warren of residencies, one usually only has to wait a few minutes before another car appears, wishing to exit. No code needed. Slip right on through as they drive out. To avoid lawsuits, I imagine, the gates open and close very slowly, and if they detect a car in the path, they will stop and reopen. This allows at least two or three cars to zip through at a time.

What we need is a guard 24/7 to monitor who passes in and out. But that would be too pricey.

Why am I telling you all this? We each put up barriers and boundaries to keep us safe in our personal space: Rules, internal alarms, habits. However, there is also a gate. A gate you assume will stay closed during the times you want to stay safe, but in reality, can allow lots of things to seep in. That whisper that tells you this one time will be okay. You won’t really be breaking the rules. You are being bold, adventurous, trying something new. That new idea which makes you think perhaps your boundaries have been too rigid and unfair. An interpretation of Scripture that opens your eyes to a more broad understanding, adding a new lane along the road to salvation.

Jesus told His first-century listeners that He was the gate for the sheep. The people who heard His words understood the analogy. Shepherds would lead their sheep from pastures into a communal enclosed area at night. This was in order to watch over them and protect them from predators and poachers. The shepherds then laid down in the gap and guarded the entrance. Nothing came in or out without their permission.

The Holy Spirit is our mind’s gate. The gate code is the Word of God. Whenever something rattles our thoughts, we should ask, does it jibe with what I know to be Truth? Even so, if we rely solely on our own understanding, it can be a false security. Many people use the gate code, and not always for good purposes.

We need the Gatekeeper, 24/7. Don’t worry, He already paid the price.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

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thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women

Burn Out Refill

Published June 5, 2022

Burn Out Refill

If you don’t want to risk burnout think about how you can be refilled

Do you ever feel nearly burned out? Can’t really hum This Little Light of Mine with fervor at that moment? Yeah, I know the feeling.

One of my duties at church is to make sure the candles on the altar are filled with liquid wax/oil so they do not burn out during the service. Because it is hard to determine the amount of influence the AC vents will have on the burn rate Sunday to Sunday, we always “top them off”… just in case.

Today, as I squirted the liquid inside the cylinders, God spoke to me. “You are running low, Julie. You need to be filled anew. Let Me refill you.”

And I have been. I admit it. My light isn’t shining as brightly as it should because I have been dimmed by physical pain and a questioning of whether or not I have a secure employment future in this new year. Being a missionary is tough, especially when the funds don’t roll in.

Yes, I know…God provides. But lately my trust has slowly burned down to below normal levels. And that is when the devil can slip into the dark corners of the mind and begin to whisper doubts.

Today, my task at church reminded me of the parable of the bridesmaids in Matthew 25. The ones who kept their lamps primed with oil were the wise ones. They were always ready for the bridegroom.

As Christians, we should strive to always have our lamps filled so we are ready to shine when God calls upon us to do so– and to ward off the darkness where doubt, envy, and pouting lurks. When we shine our light brightly, it not only helps another to see the path but us as well. God illuminates us both, as well as others off to the side whom we may not notice are watching and wondering.

We can be refilled with the Holy Spirit through prayer and by meditating on His Word. If we don’t do so regularly, our levels of faith will drop. We will shine brightly for a while, but slowly start to flicker and dim. And when the time comes for God to use us, we may not have enough in reserve.

So, if you don’t want to risk burnout think about how you can constantly be refilled…just in case. Then ask the Lord to help refill you so you are always ready to shine

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 18:28.

By Julie Cosgrove
|Used by Permission
From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

Peace Place

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to rest and rejuvenate

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the temple” Luke 21:37-38

I’d never noticed it before. Perhaps I am the only one. But in the Scripture passage above it states that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to rest and rejuvenate after each day of teaching to the crowds. It became His refuge

Now it makes sense that He would go there His last night on earth to pray and rededicate Himself for the torturous mission that lay ahead. It was the one place He’d often found peace. And that night, He needed it more than ever before.

Do you have a place of peace?

Perhaps it is the park down the block, or an off the beaten path stretch of beach. Maybe it is closer to home such as a bench in your garden, a soaking tub filled with bubble bath (and if you have kids, a locked door!), or a cozy chair draped with a prayer shawl.

Wherever your peace place is, go there. Take a few deep breaths. God will meet you. Just as He met His Son on the night before the most important day of His ministry. We all need a break now and then.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

Slippery Slope

Have you ever had a spiritual high, only then to slide into the valley at lightning speed? You come home from a fabulous spirit-filled retreat and discover the water heater burst and flooded the house, or the entire family contracts the stomach virus, or you get an IRS audit notice in the mail. Why Lord? Couldn’t You have let me feel great for just a while longer?

Jesus understands. The same thing happened to Him:

^“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness...” (Mark 1:9-12)

At once…bam. Why?

Perhaps because our faith is forged in trials.

Perhaps so His human pride wouldn’t swell.

Perhaps because God knows we cannot exist on emotional highs.

If there were not valleys, would we appreciate the mountain tops? Jesus never told us becoming a believer meant an easy road where the potholes would vanish. Far from it.

What comforts me is the last part of Mark 1:13…

and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Emphasis mine).

What have I learned?

First, God prepared Jesus. He gave Him the spiritual high, the encouragement, and the faith to head into the wilderness, knowing it was coming. He gave Him His purpose- You are My Son, with you I am well pleased.

Second, God never left Him. He sent angels to minister to Him.

Because of His experience on earth as a human, Jesus understands the slippery slope off the mountain into the valley. He gets the fact that life is tough. He knows that evil can chip away our armor of faith.

But He is God, too. He knows when those “Oops” are going to come for us. He will prepare us for them, and guide us through them. Even in the wilderness, we can find His blessings.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

The Cost to be Merciful

It takes a Savior who sacrificed Himself for our transgressions to show us how to act.

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?” Micah 6:6

God demands a sacrifice in order to forgive us. It’s not because He is some power-hungry being that wants to see humans suffer — just the opposite. By sacrificing something, God’s people looked beyond their own selfishness and learned compassion. If they could give to God, perhaps they’d learn to give to each other as well.

But as the people turned from Him, God made it clear that sacrificing material things out of traditional duty was not His original intent. They weren’t supposed to sacrifice their crops and animals to gain a ‘get out of jail free card’ for living sinful lives. So, through the prophets God tried to make it clear that He didn’t want their things. He wanted their hearts softened so they could once again learn to think of Him and of others before themselves. Micah tells the people, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).

Sometimes donating money out of our paycheck is an easier sacrifice. We can throw money at the project and let someone else do it. But to give up our self-centered, pride-filled, and judgmental human nature to serve God and others is a sacrifice. It is a lifestyle do-over. It takes commitment. It also takes a merciful God who can forgive us when we stumble. It takes a Savior who sacrificed Himself for our transgressions to show us how to act.

Dearest Lord, by your example teach us to be more just to others, knowing they are loved by you and are of worth in Your eyes. Let us prayerfully humble ourselves so we can be more open to serve. Instill in us a sense of compassion and mercy so we can truly love our neighbors. Help us to truly sacrifice the world’s ways for yours. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by permission

Category: <span>thoughts by Julie Cosgrove</span>

It cannot replace the inner peace that comes from Heaven.

Further Reading

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Proverbs 9:6

Living the Christian life isn’t an easy thing.

Further Reading

Things in our lives can feel as if they are starting to unravel.

What do we do about it?

When something snags in our lives, we need to deal with that dangling thread lest it unravel us.

FURTHER READING

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.” Psalm 67:1

FURTHER READING

FURTHER READING

“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:15

Ask God to open your heart to those you need to forgive and then help you go down that path.

Further Reading

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Psalm 103:1 (ESV)

Further Reading

Further Reading

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. ” John 10:9

If you don’t want to risk burnout think about how you can be refilled

Further Reading

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to rest and rejuvenate

Further Reading

Further Reading

It takes a Savior who sacrificed Himself for our transgressions to show us how to act.

Further Reading