Your Daily Crossroad

Hope in Grief

Posted on Aug 23, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: He will comfort you, Luke 24:31

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. (Luke 24:31)

When I was nineteen, one of my close friends was killed in a car accident. In the following weeks and months, I walked each day in a tunnel of grief. The pain of losing someone so young and wonderful clouded my vision, and at times I even felt unaware of what was going on around me. I felt so blinded by pain and grief that I simply could not see God.

In Luke 24, two disciples, confused and brokenhearted after Jesus’s death, didn’t realize they were walking with their resurrected Teacher Himself, even as He explained from Scripture why the promised Savior had to die and rise again. Only when He took bread and broke it was it revealed that this was Jesus (vv. 30–31). Although the followers of Jesus had faced death in all its horror when Jesus died, through His resurrection from the dead God showed them how to hope again.

Like those disciples, we might feel weighed down with confusion or grief. But we can find hope and comfort in the reality that Jesus is alive and at work in the world—and in us. Although we still face heartache and pain, we can welcome Christ to walk with us in our tunnel of grief. As the Light of the world (John 8:12), He can bring rays of hope to brighten our fog.

Lord God, thank You for being the light in the darkness. Bring hope when I’m sad and confused, and help me to see Your glory. Amen.

When I read this devotion I was reminded, though we grieve, we have hope in Jesus. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). I am so grateful that no matter what we face The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18). Nothing is ever too far out of the reach of God’s grasp so just remember whatever your facing today, grief, sadness, loneliness, He is able to comfort you and bring you through victoriously. Seek His face.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is 2 Corinthians 7:1

Aug '18

To Stay or To Go

Posted on Aug 22, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: John 17:15, My blessed assurance

Aug '18

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (John 17:15)

After reading the prayer of Jesus, I realize how far I am from understanding the truth of His message. Jesus prayed that we not be taken out of the world but that the Father would keep us from the evil one. There are times when some of us want to be taken out of this world as soon as possible just to be in heaven with Jesus. When you love someone, you want to be with them, and as Christians, our hearts yearn to be closer to Jesus. Other times, life here on earth is so hard and such a struggle that we want to be taken out just to get out of here. Admit it; we all have felt this way at times. But these feelings are no surprise to the Lord.

Jesus’ prayer to keep us in the world was truly based on love. He has provided everything we need for life and godliness, despite our circumstances. He has given us creation to see His handiwork and understand His unlimited abilities. He has given us His Word that sanctifies us and sets us apart for Him. And He has given us His own testimony as Jesus, Son of God, who walked on this earth and lived in this world. He prayed that the Father would not take us out of this world but to keep us from the evil one. Jesus prayed that we be made one with Him while remaining on earth. At times, it seems impossible to walk against the pattern of this world. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what we are going through. Our only hope is to depend on Him, which is exactly what He wants in the first place.

Where are you today? Do you secretly desire at times to be taken to heaven? Only you know the reasons why you feel this way but know today that Jesus has a plan for you being right here, right now. He loves you and has a plan for your life. Ask the Lord to give you strength in times of trouble, peace in times of struggle and hope when the world seems to be hopeless. Only in Jesus can we stay in this world and experience heaven on earth.

This blessed me so very much. I lost my precious grandma, Barbara, a couple hours ago and as I was sitting here, my heart was aching from the loss of a beautiful person who impacted my life in so many wonderful ways, I felt she still had a good fifteen, twenty years left in her but God was ready to take her home to be with Him and although I don’t understand “the why” I do understand one thing, He is my strength in times of trouble, He is my peace in times of struggle and He is my hope when things in life seem hopeless. No joy we’ve known, we know, or will know; will EVER come close to the JOY that is unspeakable that Our Lord has prepared for them that believe!!! It has been, will be, and IS our Blessed Hope in times of Sorrow!

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalms 91:2

Aug '18

The Power of Imitation

Posted on Aug 21, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: 1 Corinthians 4:16, imitation

Aug '18

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. (1 Corinthians 4:16)

We are masters at imitation. Whether we are copying someone else or they are copying us, we are continually being influenced and adapting our personality to the conformity of others. We may not realize that the things we do or wear or say are a result of imitating someone or something in our culture.

Paul understands these issues when he says to the Corinthians “imitate me.” They were living in the world and enjoying being of the world. Paul knew that they needed a living example to follow. He became their example, a real person from whom to watch and to learn. Paul also knew that their only hope was in Jesus. He was the One they must ultimately learn to imitate.

Second Corinthians 4:18 says that, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Our focus should only be on Jesus Christ our Savior. This world and all that is in it will someday be gone. Where will you be when this happens? Do you choose your friends wisely, those who set the example in Christ as Paul did? Or are you influenced more by the world’s temporary offerings, instead of Christ’s eternal promises? How accountable are you to set godly examples for those who are imitating you? Ask the Lord to help you become the role model and example that He wants you to be for others. His Holy Spirit will guide you in this role.

When I read this devotion it made me stop and reflect on the example I’m setting in my own life. I pray I show more patience, love, forgiveness and understanding. We must be aware of the enemies devices to sift us as wheat, we must be aware of the example our actions and our words are setting for those who are watching, you may be the only Bible that others read. Ask yourself, what are they reading? Time is short, Matthew 24:37-39 says, But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Let us not be as the fool, eating and drinking, giving no thought to the importance of ones salvation and eternity. I pray we all have a stronger desire to be His servant. We must live each and every day to obey his commandments. My prayer today is that many are encouraged to seek God and ask The Holy Spirit to guide you in becoming the role model and example that He wants you to be. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Hebrews 10:35

Aug '18

Our Father Helps Us

Posted on Aug 20, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: 1 Corinthians 2:3, He is greater

Aug '18

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3)

My children come to me the quickest and the loudest when they are weak, fearful or trembling. Someone knocked them down, something scared them or something just does not “seem fair.” As they bare their concerns and worries to my listening ear, they regain composure to walk right back into the same exact situation. Usually nothing has changed, neither the circumstances nor the playmates, but by expressing those concerns to me, they were changed.

We need to remember that God is our heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to come to Him and bare our souls. It is in those times of weakness, fear and trembling that we need to learn to talk to Him. We need His strength to get back out there again. I pray for this frequently. Why? Because, like Paul, I have found in my walk with Christ that, “when we are weak then He is strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). God’s strength is made perfect, or complete, in weakness. In times of helplessness and panic, I find hope and peace only when giving those burdens to Christ. And after sensing His strength and power flowing through that weakness, fear and trembling, I know without a doubt that the living God alone has heard my cry. The situation or circumstance may not change but I change and when I change, He gets the glory.

Today, give God whatever situation is making you feel weak, fearful and helpless. Ask Him to fill you with His power and wisdom. Ask Him to work a miracle and change the situation, or ask Him to just change you–which also would be a miracle. Record it and watch what God does.

Pray about it: Oh Lord, I pray that You may increase and I may decrease (John 3:30). I pray that your power may be perfected in my weakness, for I know that when I am weak, You are strong. I want to draw from Your strength today. Use me for Your glory.

This devotion reminded me of what was preached in church yesterday, I must decrease so He can increase in my life. I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. God is wanting us to reach hearts and lives for His glory but we must first decrease. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). He is greater than I.

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalms 16:8

Crossroad Fellowship

Your Daily Crossroad

Hope in Grief

To Stay or To Go

The Power of Imitation

Our Father Helps Us