A sign upon my heart

28 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth ~Genesis 1:1 (NRSV)

I spent my growing up years in little country churches with my daddy as the preacher. The churches often were so small that to have special music my daddy had to pull from his family resources. A few times my sister and I were asked to sing. One song we had worked up was entitled, “He’s Still Working on Me”.

The first verse says, “There really ought to be, a sign upon my heart, don’t judge me yet there’s an unfinished part. But I’ll be perfect just according to His plan, fashioned by the Master’s loving hand.” Then the Chorus says, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and faithful He must be, ‘cause He’s still working on me.” The last verse says, “The mirrors of my heart, reflections that I see, make me wonder why He never gave up on me. But He loves me as I am and He helps me when I prayer. Remember He’s the potter I’m the clay.”

When I sang this song at eleven I didn’t have the life experiences behind me to appreciate the message of this song. Thirty years or so later of living, I am thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet. I am far from perfect but God loves me as I am. He loves me enough to patiently shape and mold me into what I ought to be. To think that the God who made the universe faithful works on me is more than I can fathom. All I can do is my part by continuing to be mold-able until He deems me finished.

Heavenly Father, may I always be open to your pushing and prodding me in the way I need to change and grow. I thank you for Your patience and love. Thank you for not giving up on me. Amen

More than I am

26 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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Send your light and truth—those will guide me!Let them bring me to your holy mountain,to your dwelling place. ~Psa 43:3 (CEB)

I cannot spell. In my early years I was told I “was lazy”; I might “have some dyslexia”; “artistic people are naturally not good spellers”; or that I probably “didn’t hear sounds correctly”. But the simple fact is probably somewhere along the way I didn’t learn the rules of spelling. If I had learned these rules it would have been easier to spell words even if I wasn’t born a natural speller.

Sometimes I treat the “rules” from the Bible in the same way. I am just too lazy; I feel that it will stifle my creative spirit; I am afraid it will cramp my life style; or maybe I won’t understand what has been written. These are lies that Satan feeds me. But what is the real truth? I know what happened when I didn’t take the time to learn the rules for spelling… and grammar. I became conditioned into thinking that I was not good at writing.

In my junior year of High School I had an English teacher who looked past my inabilities and saw my capabilities. She saw me as I was, a poor speller who did not grasp the rules of grammar, but she didn’t let me stay there. She pushed my creativity and helped me wrestle with how to line words up in a way that made more sense.

I think that we can get conditioned into believing that we are incapable of doing things right. We get trapped in Satan’s lies. Thank goodness God accepts us where we are in life but He doesn’t leave us there. He brings us up out of our misunderstandings and confusion, guiding our steps to walk in truth. His boundaries are meant to give us Life.

Lord, I want to truly live. Help me hide your truths in my heart so that I may feel the freedom and confidence of being a child of God. Help me step out of my conditioned self-concepts and learn to be more than I think I am. Amen.

In His shadow

24 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , ,

You are my secret hideout!

You protect me from trouble.

You surround me with songs of rescue!   

I will instruct you and teach you

about the direction you should go.

I’ll advise you and keep my eye on

~Psalm 32:7-8 (CEB)

 

I miss my shadow. When I step right he steps with me. When I step left he still follows. Sometimes I am unaware of his presence as he quietly watches what I do. Other times he is more in front of me tripping me up as I try to go about my day. He is always there. I was a shadow to my mother too. I knew it was time to give my mother some space when she started singing “Me and my shadow”. My shadow is a little more persistent and tends to cling more when I hint or outright ask for space. I have learned to breath through the claustrophobic moments because as he briefly told me “Bye mom, Love you,” when he dismissed me to run off and join his camp family for the week, I know these times are limited.

As I have hummed the tune to a song I only know four words to, I think about how we are supposed to be shadows too. God has asked me to be His hands and feet in the world. I often wonder how I am to know how to do that. But God sent Jesus into the world for me to shadow. Where He has stepped we are to follow. When He loves the unloved, I am to love. When He reaches out to the forgotten, I am to reach out. The things that make Him sad should make me sad too. The things that make Him mad should bring a righteous anger in me as well. Jesus is the example I am to shadow in this world. And when I feel lost, alone, afraid or upset, it is Jesus whom I should cling to as close as a shadow can be, never letting go.

Dear Jesus, sometimes I am as unsure as a young child. I don’t always know what to do or where to go. Thank You for being in the world for me to shadow. Help me to remember to cling to You in all circumstances. Guide me as I try to be in this world doing what You have called me to do. Amen.

God’s generosity

21 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

The LORD is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;
he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
for the sake of his good name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
they protect me.
You set a table for me
right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
my cup is so full it spills over!
Yes, goodness and faithful love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the LORD ‘s house
as long as I live.

~Psalm 23 (CEB)

God of abundant generosity, You desire to fill my life with good gifts that bring me joy and strengthen this simple life of Your child. When I dwell in Your house, strengthened by Your love for me, I find I truly lack for nothing. May this table You set before me be one that I can invite others to join so that we may celebrate the rich unity in diversity that is a sure sign of Your Kingdom. All that I have and all that I am is from Your hand. Amen.

A quality of grace

20 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , ,

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ~Romans 3:20-24 (ESV)

Holiness is a gift of grace. Its quality cannot be imitated or faked. If I try to act them out people will sense my inauthenticity, for these gifts come from walking intimately with God.

How can I cultivate such qualities of grace in my life? It would be nice if there were detailed directions written in a book, or a course that I could take that would guarantee to make me a saint. But, of course, it is not that simple. It is not just a matter of reading the right book, or participating in the perfect Bible study, it is a matter of values, of commitment, and more than anything else, of love~ love for the God who created me and who has called to me to follow Him.

Thank You for the gift of grace, O Lord. Help me to walk intimately this day with You. May my commitments and values reflect Your love in my life. May I show my love for You in how I love others. Amen.

Who I am

19 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.~ Eph. 5:1-2 (ESV)

My identity as a beloved child of God embraces both who I am now and who I am becoming. I am infinitely loved by God who has blessed me with unique gifts. Through the gifts He has given me I am being renewed in His divine image that I am to bear back into the world. How I bear His message is unique to me.

My core identity, the one that exists despite the choices and mistakes that I have made in life, comes with particular gifts. Individual gifts and graces are an expression of God’s love to me and a confirmation of my belovedness. I am not like anyone else. I do not think, act or serve like anyone else. God’s love sets me wholly free to me myself and free to be for others the image of a loving God.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for walking hand in hand with me through life’s journey. Even when I detour from the path you would You would have me follow, I find You still with me. Thank You for Your whispers guiding me back. Help me to bear Your love to the world as my sacrifice of thanks. May my love for You grow ever stronger. Amen.

Whats in a name?

18 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ~1 John 3:2 (ESV)

What’s in a name? It is easy to see the names or labels we don’t like about ourselves. When I was ten and a teacher was waving my test paper and telling my mom that I was lazy for not spelling a word correctly that was at the top of the page, I interpreted the situation to mean that I was stupid. I didn’t “see” that the word was misspelled. The result of living with some things just not clicking has turned me into a very hard worker. That has at times come to benefit me. I have learned to work around the things that I cannot do. But the pain from moments like those can sometimes be a huge stumbling block when I find myself in new situations. It can cause stress when God calls me to go and do things out of my comfort zone and I worry about what all I won’t be able to “see”.

But then God reminds me that I am not seeing things correctly. That I need to see myself through His eyes. God does not see me as stupid. He sees that I am creative in my approach to problems. God does not see me as lazy. He understands when sometimes I don’t understand things. He is the One person who can see me so completely and still love me unconditionally. I am totally known by Him. God recognizes that I am not perfect. He loves me anyway. This total acceptance by Him leaves me in awe and wonder. How can someone see me as I am AND see me as all the possibilities I could be? I am not limited by what has come before me. I am not defined by what others say. I am a child of God. That is the name I claim today.

Dear God, thank You for making me a possibility. Thank You for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Walk with me this day and be the confidence I need to be Your hands and feet in this world. Turn my pain into sight. Fill the holes in my heart with Your love. Help me accept the things that You see as wonderful. Help me accept that I am uniquely Yours. Help me to hear when You say I am beautiful. Amen.

 

 

 

So that my joy is complete

16 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

 

 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent. This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son? ~1 John 5:1-6(CEB)

“How do I know that I love God?” “How does God want me to live?” “How do I know that I belong to God?” 1 John 5:1-6 tells me, everyone who believes that Jesus is Christ has been born from God. God wants me to love all His children. I show my love of others and of God by keeping God’s commandments.

This isn’t the only scripture speaking to me of God’s love and how I should remain in His love. John 15:9-12 says “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you.”

So I show my love of God by keeping His commandment (1John 5:2). What is His commandment? Love each other just as I have loved you (John 15:12). In verse 13 of John 15 Jesus tells His disciples “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.” How much did Jesus love me? Jesus died on the cross so that I might live. Wow, and I am to show that much love to others? How do I die to self so that others might know Jesus’ love? One thing is time I give up to serve others, to I help the hungry, to minister to the lost. When I put self on a shelf even for a little while, I find myself in Christ’s love as I become his hands and feet to those around me. Verse 11 of John 15 tells us that Jesus has told us these things so that our joy might be complete.

Heavenly Father, I want to find myself in Your love this day. Help me set my own wants and desires aside when someone’s need is great. Give me eyes that I may see these needs. Give me a heart to love others as You would have me love. Amen.

To live a life of love

14 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

For those who want to love life and see good days should keep their tongue from evil speaking and their lips from speaking lies. ~1 Peter 3:10

 

The words we speak can be a blessing or a curse. Once words are unleashed they can never be retrieved. We can ask for forgiveness for the words we have said but we can never take them back. How differently would we live our lives if we thought about this fact before we ever said a word? If I thought ahead how hurtful my words might be before I say them would I ever say them in the first place? Often I think I would not. What is said out of anger or carelessness many times brings regrets and deep sorrows.

I want to live a life of love. I want to see good days. If this means that I need to slow down my own reaction to situations before I respond, if it means that I need to not take offense so quickly then I want to work harder on my part of the picture. I want to take that deep breath before I let words fly. I want to think about the reason the other person may have acted or said what they said. I want to be a solution not an aggravation to the problem.

I can think of a relationship or two that I have lost because I did not slow down and think ahead. Misunderstandings can have disastrous results. Some bridges can never be mended. I don’t want to live a life full of regrets or long for relationships that could have been different. I want to live and love as Jesus would have me do.

Heavenly Father, help me to guard my words. May the words that I speak be carefully thought through. May I be known as a reflection of your love even in the things that I say this day. Amen.

Joy in the moment

13 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones ~Proverbs 17:22 (CEB)

Looking at the big picture can seem overwhelming sometimes. Too many times I forget to live in the moment. I see the bigger picture looming ahead of me and I don’t see my son’s little dances, don’t feel my daughter’s hugs or appreciate my husband sitting on the porch swing with me. I forget to smell the jasmine, to see my blooming flowers or my vegetable garden grow. I forget to laugh at my dog as she takes serious her task of chasing the rabbits. I forget to listen to the bird’s songs or listen as the wind rustles the leaves.

Seeing things piece by piece and searching for the joy in the moment helps to lighten my day. When I get to worrying about all the things that I have no power to fix at this moment, those things that are out of my control, I allow those things to steal the simple joys from my heart. Missing out on these simple things soon finds my spirit hurting.

God doesn’t want me to live with the weight of the world on my shoulders. He has put things in my path to help me enjoy life. He created flowers and bird songs for my enjoyment. He gave me my family for comfort and love. May I remember each day to appreciate all that he has blessed me with down to the simplest and smallest of details.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember to stop and smell the flowers, to hear the birds sing, to hug my family. May I not take any of these joys for granted. May they ever be fresh on my heart. Amen.

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