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

devotional

Reading Gail Pallota’s eye-opening novel about dealing with a chronic hard-to-diagnose disease, Barely Above Water, one sentence popped out at me. The alternative doctor told her part of the process of getting well was to bring her issues to lightletting in God’s healing touch.

Jesus said He is the LIGHT of the world. (John 8:12) How many dark crevices do each of us have we’d prefer He not shine into? Areas of hidden shame, character flaws, deep hurts we cling to out of habit, justification, denial, or fear of letting go.  I have a few, don’t you?

Let’s not work on that one now, Lord. Let’s work on an easier one. It would be too painful to tackle that right now. I really don’t want to go there.”

But without LIGHT, how can we pinpoint the areas in our lives that are stunting our growth, our witness, our potential to do His will?  Doctors use lasers to help eradicate diseased cells. Jesus’ Spirit uses His healing touch to cauterize the places we secretly bleed.

Like peeling off a Band-Aid, we need to expose the area to the light so it can fully heal.  That means others may notice the  process. That’s alright. They will see LIGHT at work. And isn’t that what is supposed to happen? Perhaps it will encourage them to expose some areas in their lives.

And remember, scar tissue is tougher. So let in God’s healing touch to that wound, whatever it may be.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional on patience

For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.” Galatians 5:5

She stood on her tip-toes, peering through the front window. Her mother asked her what she was doing. “Gran said she is sending me a present. I’m waiting for the delivery van to stop at our driveway.

But sometimes it takes a while to get here. Let’s find out when your package will arrive.”

The mom looked up the tracking online and told her young child what day it would arrive.
Even so, her daughter waited by the window. At lunch, the mom asked why her daughter didn’t go play with the dolls she got for Christmas or color in the coloring book she received on her birthday. A friend asked her over to play. She refused.

It may come early. I’ll stay here.”

If only discovering God’s movement in our lives was as easy as viewing a tracking schedule. If we knew our prayers would be answered at a certain time on a certain day, we wouldn’t need hope. But that is often not how it works, is it? We have to have faith in the promise that God has plans for us, that He loves us and wants the best for us. It is okay to wait with eagerness, as long as we don’t become discouraged if our prayers are not answered immediately or miss the other blessings He bestows in the meantime.

Dearest Lord, let us always place our hope in Your righteousness. Keep us from wishing so much for the things we want that we neglect the things You have given us. Let us always seek Your Spirit, and be thankful for the blessings You have already bestowed upon us. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional on being clear

Washed in the Blood of the Lamb, surrendering it all, dying to self. The phrases that mean so much to us often confuse the world. Nothing new. The disciples didn’t get it at first either.

Recall what happened at Pentecost? In the first chapter of Acts, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in a language people understood. They themselves began to understand what Jesus had told them when He walked on earth. Things became, as we say, crystal clear.

It is easy for us on this side of the resurrection to wonder why the ones who travelled with the Lord for three years were so dense when it came to His message. But at one time, most of us were as well. Even if we were raised in the faith, it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit touched us that we truly began to see; the window to our soul was wiped clear.

Remember this when you feel prompted to speak with non-believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words and to provide them with the spiritual ears to listen and understand. Perhaps what you are saying will become clearer. If not, smile and leave the rest to God.

Lord, send Your Spirit to interpret for us the faith, the way and the Truth that is so dear to our souls. We desire to spread the Good News to others. Guide our thoughts, actions and tongues so Your message becomes clear. Amen.

How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/biblestudies/spiritfilledlife.htm

By Julie Cosgrove

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

I have a few, don’t you? Those Christmas gifts in the back of the closet you will probably re-gift to someone else. They are either not your personal style, or you already have one, or you just think it is useless or ugly. However, someone thought enough of you to gift it. So the fact you didn’t actually pay for it shouldn’t bother you if you re-wrap it and give it away.

The gift of Jesus is like that, and better. He is meant to be re-gifted. We are supposed to give Him away, not hide Him. Someone at some time gave us the Light of Christ. We chose to take it and accept Him as our Savior. Now it is our turn to share that Good News. No, it is not a gift we bought. Christ did that with His own blood on the cross when He died for our sins. But that makes the gift even more precious, not less.

The receiver may take the gift and toss it to the ground, or wait until you are gone to trash it. Or they may tuck it away and not think about it for a while. Perhaps in the quiet hours of the night they sit cross-legged on their bed and slowly undo the wrapping paper to reveal His presence. It is even possible they will rip it open right there in front of you and accept it whole-heartedly. But the results aren’t up to you. Your role is to re-gift Jesus to as many folks as He calls you to do so. He takes care of the rest.

Dearest Lord, we just celebrated that the Magi brought You gifts. Help us to be bold enough to re-gift You to others so they may share in the Joy of Your grace and Mercy. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:13

The young athlete tearfully approached the podium to receive the first place prize. Holding it aloft, he thanked his coach, his parents, and his grandmother for supporting him, pushing him to achieve, and being there when he stumbled. Then his voice cracked with emotion: “Most of all I thank my Lord for endowing me with this talent.

Many outstanding people will point to those who helped them achieve their goals. It speaks well of them. They are not puffed up with false pride.

I once heard that pride and sin both have “I” in the middle. It is so easy to take the credit for our accomplishments and not acknowledge those who have assisted and influenced us along the way.

As Christians, we should first and foremost give God credit where credit is due. If we truly believe God rules, then we should thank Him for equipping us to achieve what we are being applauded for doing. Otherwise, we may slip into willful sin.

The world wants us to take the credit. But what a testimony of faith if we tell them the Truth! When we acknowledge God’s part in our accomplishments, we don’t diminish our involvement with false humility. Instead, we give Him the glory by letting others know we were willing to put out the effort to become what He created us to be. And up in Heaven, our Father nods and smiles as He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

Dear Lord, help me to always fix my eyes on You as I accomplish goals by the talents You have bestowed upon me. Keep me from the temptation of willful pride and do not let my own sense of self-importance rule over my thoughts. It truly would be a great transgression if I did not give credit to You, where it is rightfully due. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotionalHave you ever been stopped – without warning? A door slams shut, a hand goes up, a tragedy halts your path.  Your breath disappears. Your heart races. You are dazed for a moment as your brain screams, “What just happened?”

I believe, because it has happened to me a few times, that God uses this dramatic interruption to jolt us.  Like being t-boned from the side in an accident, we are trapped, shaken and helpless. Our lower lip quivers and the tears begin to trickle as the built up pressure crashes through the dam of normalcy we’d built. Then, with all our strength drained, we wail in distress, “Why?”

Does God hear? Yes. Does He want us to dig our heads into His shoulder and cling to Him? Absolutely. But, do we?

Not always. Some folks turn to drugs, alcohol, food cravings, reckless adrenaline adventures or sex to try and adjust to what has happened without warning. Maybe you have tried one of these things first. Like digging a deeper hole, right? Eventually you shovel so far around you the ground lets loose and you slide into it. It’s called hitting the bottom. And you stop – because you have nowhere else to go.

Someone once said, when you hit rock bottom you discover Jesus is the rock.  I have learned not to go that far. As soon as I begin to slip I look up, find His nail-scarred hand and take the faith-chance to grab onto it. I stop and let Him “go“, knowing He will never let go of me.  Inevitably when I do hold on, helplessly dangling and dependent on His strength,, the purpose and lessons become a bit clearer.  He carries me through the emotions of bewilderment and hurt, and begins to pull back the darkness as my eyes readjust to the light.

And, having gone through the process, I learn to trust His way instead of trying mine. By the time the light turns green again, I am stronger, wiser and more gracious.

There are many things to be thankful for this year. My books are selling, getting great reviews, and I am excited about the next five contracted, which are in various stages along the path to publication. I am grateful when one of my devotionals or articles or blog posts touch a heart.  I am blessed to know so many wonderful folks who support me and love me.

But most of all, I am thankful for a God who cares enough to stand by as I trip and fall, but never moves out of hand-grabbing reach. I am thankful for the times when I have whopped into the stop sign and He has guided me into wisdom by redirecting my attention. And, I am thankful He cared enough to die in order to draw me into life.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:57

By Julie Cosgrove

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And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:9

Decades ago, Amy Grant recorded a song which talks about having her Father’s eyes. By it she meant seeing the world, and other people, as God sees them. The one phrase that is repeated over and over again in the creation story of Genesis is that God declared his creation as good.

As a child of God, formed in His own likeness, do you view the world that way? It is hard when the evening news and social media bombards us with the evil happenings in our homeland and elsewhere in the world. Horrific mass shootings, sex slavery, religious persecution and the bombing of fellow humans fill our newspapers, magazines and Facebook newsfeeds.

Yet, Paul states in Romans that God can purpose good from evil. In the midst of tragedies, humans seem to suddenly be at their best. For the USA, 9/12 (the day after the World Trade Center and Pennsylvania field tragedies) will be depicted in history as one of its finest hours.

The same is true in the aftermath of any unfathomable event, from natural disasters to senseless human wrath. People, who rarely pray, get down on their knees. Charities spring forward, laden with donations. Neighbors, who barely nodded hello before, now embrace. The faithful find strength through prayer circles. Witnesses give accounts of miraculous signs and wonders amidst the devastation.

And, God looks on with joy as He views those He created as good in His image.

Heavenly Father, You created us as good. However, through sin, we have turned so much into evil. Help us to still seek the good, a sign You are near, and view the world through Your omnipotent, mercy-filled eyes. We pray this through Jesus, Your Son whose death makes that possible. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional

Don’t be anxious about your life, what you eat, or drink or wear.” Matthew 6:25

In the book of 1 Kings, God tells Elijah, his faithful prophet, that there will be a huge drought. Then He commands him to go live by a brook—not a deep river like the Jordan or a giant lake like Galilee, but a puny stream surely to dry up without rain. It was like saying, “I am going to bring about a great calamity and I want you to sit in the middle of it.”

Yet Elijah trusted and obeyed.

When I became a widow, I felt like I was stuck living by a drying-up brook. My husband had been the primary breadwinner and I was a self-employed freelance writer. In tough economic times, he left me with very little as far as a nest egg. Each month, as the house sat on the market, I watched the brook—my checking account—become drier and drier. But, I took  Matthew 6:25 to heart. “Don’t be anxious about your life, what you eat, or drink or wear.

God sent Elijah ravens to feed him bread every day until the rains came. He provided daily manna to the Hebrews in the wilderness. I can honestly say God has provided my daily bread since my husband left this earth in 2010. It would take a novel larger that Moby Dick to relay all the creative ways He’s sent another raven just when I needed it. At last, the soft rain is falling, my financial brook is rising, and my faith has never been so strong.

Dearest Lord, You are our provider. All comes from You and through You. Thank You for caring enough about me to give me my daily needs—and occasionally my wants, too. Most of all, thank You for Your Son who gave all for me. Amen.

Take Action:  Write down three to five things you “need” (not want) right now. Be bold enough to pray for God to meet your needs. Fold the paper and tape it to the back of the calendar page for December. At the end of this year, see how many needs God has provided, replaced with something better, or proven it was not what you needed after all.

By Julie Cosgrove

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Questioning Man

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The small child whined to her mother in the grocery store checkout line. She twisted back and forth, her head titled up to her meet her mother’s face. “But, Mommy. I neeeed that candy bar.

The mother’s lips curled into a smirk. “Do you really need it?

How often do we come to our Father in Heaven and plead for what we think we need, confusing it with a want? Just like that child, we plead for the “desires of our hearts.” After all, doesn’t it state in Psalms that is what God will do? (Psalm 37:4) Didn’t Jesus say he’d grant anything we asked for in His name? (John 14:13-14)

Ah, there is the catch—in His name. When the desires of our hearts match that of Jesus’ then we can ask in His name (like-minded with Him) and it will be granted. What did Jesus ask for? To do His Father’s will and be a witness of obedience to His disciples. Jesus asked for strength and endurance to complete the task God gave Him. And He wanted us, His followers, to be with Him in Heaven.

God will satisfy our needs just as He does the lilies of the field and the sparrows. It doesn’t necessarily mean He will wave a magic wand to end all of our problems, heal our loved one’s cancer, or find us that high-paying job so we can afford a boat, a new car or a dream vacation. If the desire of your heart is to do God’s will, you can rest assured God will supply everything you need to accomplish it. And what is God’s will for us? Paul spells it out in I Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We can rejoice no matter the circumstances when we are confident that God will satisfy our needs and has our best interests at heart, just like the mom in the grocery store. God wants the best for us, and often that means not giving us everything we want.

Father God, help us discern what we need and what we want. Teach us above everything else, if we align our desires with Your will, then we can have confidence You will supply all we need. Steer us away from the wants that may harm us or turn us from You. Let Your Son Jesus be our example and Your Spirit be our guide. Amen.

Action Point: Make two columns and write your needs on one side and your wants on the other. Do all of your wants honor God? Do you Trust God to satisfy your needs?

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional

I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, and was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Read that verse again, and this time let it soak deeply into your soul. Doesn’t it bring you comfort?

Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. God is saying He is the beginning and the end—of your day, every day and also of your life. I have heard it said that we should sandwich our day in prayer. This means we invite Christ into our lives the moment our eyes pop awake, and then ask Him to bless and keep us as we close them. Another saying often depicted on plaques and in cross-stitch patterns states, “A life knotted in prayer at both ends won’t unravel.” Begin and end your day with God.

There are days I try to jump start on my own without inviting my Lord into them. There are nights I cast my worries upon my pillow instead of onto Him. But the days I start and end with acknowledging God in my life seem to go better. Not that bad things don’t happen on those days, but their impact on me is not as devastating. I find that once I invite my Lord into my day, I am more aware of Him being with me throughout it. He was there a heartbeat ago, He is here now, and He will be there a few breaths from now. Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end, and every time in between.

My Lord, spur in me the desire and discipline to make You my first and my last thought each day. I know when I let you into my life I become more aware of Your presence, Your love and Your guidance. Teach me to praise when I arise and thank You when I retire for the night. And in between, remind me I can rely on You to be there, always. Amen.

Thought: For the next week, consciously make an effort to pray as soon as you wake up and then again right before you go to sleep. See if your attitude becomes more joyful and positive

By Julie Cosgrove

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In the 3rd chapter of Acts, it says that Peter and John were in Jerusalem and walked by a gate leading into the Temple, the gate called Beautiful. There sat a crippled beggar. They instantly healed him and brought him walking and dancing into the Temple. But did you know his soul was made whole as well? He had been touched by God’s love through the apostles’ hands.

The Hebrew worshipers were astonished because they had passed by this man day in and day out on the way to worship. Maybe some had contributed a small coin to his livelihood now and then when they had spare change. But, it never occurred to any of them to bring God’s healing love to the man. That would have taken more effort and faith.

As Christians, we are called to look around us and see who is hanging out just outside the gate called Beautiful—just outside our blessed lives—who may need God’s love, despite how “loveable” they may appear. It may be a street beggar, or the in-law that sets your teeth on edge. Perhaps it is that really negative person at work who gossips about everyone, or a stranger who slips in and sits on the back pew.

We have experienced His love, being healed in spirit, and maybe in body too; therefore, we are to bring others into His Temple of Mercy. It’s our calling to take them by the hand and help them enter through the gate called Beautiful (because we are all precious in His sight) into His loving presence where they can be made worthy by His sacrifice.

No matter how busy I am, Father, show me who to lead through the gate called Beautiful today: maybe with a smile to a harried grocery store clerk, or letting that person in ahead of me during rush hour traffic, or hugging a loved one even when I’ve had a rotten day. Teach me each day to pray, then obey, and not walk away. Amen.

This week, pray for God to show you who you should lead through the Beautiful Gate. Then obey, and don’t walk away.

By Julie Cosgrove

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devotional online freeOne of my favorite Christian singers is the troubadour Michael Card. One song in particular,Why?”, brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it. He sings that no one had to nail Jesus to the cross because His love would have held Him there. Wow!

Can you picture that? Each time we bow and confess before Him, we can see Him there, compelled by love, taking punishment on for us. Every time we think we are not good enough to spread the truth about Him, His love hangs there to strengthen and correct us. Those days when we doubt ourselves, His arms stay stretched on the wooden beams so He can draw us to Himself.

John 15:13 states, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus’ demonstration of love goes far beyond that measuring stick. His love held Him on the cross until His last breath, when even His Father turned away as He took on our sins. He could have crawled down. He could have saved Himself from that excruciating death. Instead, in the ultimate act of love, He hung there and saved you and me instead.

Dearest Lord, how can we fathom the depth and breadth of Your love for us? Thanks You for choosing to hang on the cross for my sake. Teach me how to go deeper in my love for You and others in response. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove

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free online devotionalTo this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.John 3:27

A three year-old child grabbed the toy and screamed, “Mine!

Her Sunday school teacher gave her a stern look. “Sarah, did you bring that from home or does it belong to the church?” “It belongs here. But it’s still mine.” Tearfully, she pouted and turned away, the toy tight against her torso.

As I observed this scene, I asked myself if I slip into the same attitude when it comes to what God have given me. Whether it is a small denomination bill from my purse handed to the beggar on the street, or the check I place in the offering plate, the meal I share with friends from my cupboard, or my talent in writing or speaking…it has been gifted to me by my gracious Lord, the creator of all.

I may think I have “earned my pay,” but God gives me each sunrise-day to go to work and the physical and mental ability to do my job. He forgives my sins, having paid for them on the cross. He lovingly blesses me with more than I deserve. Am I willing to freely share my time and treasures, or do I cling to them and claim it is all mine?

Dearest Lord, may we always remember that all is Yours to give or take away. Thank You that You provide so much for us. Keep us from being greedy like a three year old clutching Your blessings to our chests and crying, “Mine.” Help us to peel our fingers away and offer it back to You to use to Your glory, be it our money, our time, or our talents. Amen.

Thought: Is there something you are clinging to, claiming it is rightfully yours? Will you give it to God and trust Him to tell you what to do with it?

By Julie Cosgrove

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feature flowerBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

I believe God reveals Himself in many ways-
through Scripture, the wisdom of a friend, a soul-stirring
hymn, an ant dragging ten times his weight,
a squirrel romping in the autumn mist, a parent in a
giggly embrace with their child, a sunset after a storm,
or in a whispered comfort as you cry into your pillow.
He promised if we seek, we will find.

God will make His presence known each and every day –
You just need to open your faith eyes.
That’s not always easy to do, especially  when the pressures of
this world have clouded over your view of life.  I get that.
I have been there—often.

Just try to focus on what He has blessed you with today,
not on what has gone wrong.
hen wait like a child with her nose pressed to the window—watching.
Be still and listen for Him moving in your day.
Hear His footsteps treading quietly on the path of  your life.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all the day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5

By Julie Cosgrove

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women

About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me…My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.” Acts 22:6-11

My mother had the obnoxious habit of bursting into my room, throwing back the curtains, and flicking on the light as she sang-sung, “Rise and shine.” As a sleep-deprived teenager who preferred cave-like darkness, I’d groan, shove the pillow over my face, and mumble, “Go away.” That blast of light hurt my eyes. I needed time to adjust.

In Acts, Saul was blinded by a bright light. It was the beginning of his conversion experience. However, I think for most people, who have been living in darkness for a while, the outcome is not as positive. Christians who are filled with the Light of Truth, may not realize that they come on too strong. Our darkness-dwelling friends scrunch their spiritual eyes and mumble “Go away.” However, if we expose them to the love and light of Christ a little at a time, it just might open their eyes to His mercy and grace.

We should keep this in mind when it comes to our non-Christian family and acquaintances. Our concern for their eternal destination may spur a misguided urgency which might cause them to shun the Light instead of drawing near. The best way to lead someone to Christ may not be to blast it in their eyes, but to let it glow from within us through our acts and words. Let the Lord determine the wattage needed to illuminate their path. He, more than we, know how much adjustment each would-be believer needs before they choose to come into His brilliant presence.

Precious Lord, You are the Light of the world, and have given us the humbled privilege to help light others’ path to You. Keep us mindful that each must journey at their own pace. May we allow You to shine through at the rate You know their faith-eyes can handle instead of blasting them with our fervency. Amen.

Thought: The next time you wish to witness to a non-believer, pray first for the Lord to guide the amount and intensity of His Light He desires you to shine forth.

By Julie Cosgrove

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women