You Need to Know the Best Promise Ever

In Matthew 28 we have a record of Jesus' promise that I believe is the best promise ever. A promise that makes it possible to say - it is well with my soul. #BibleStudy #Prayer #JesusPromise #CountingMyBlessings #BlessingBloggers #WWGGG

He is risen!

It’s a statement of faith we proclaim on Easter but can you imagine the difference it could make in our lives if it is the first things we declared every morning and our last thought every night.

You and I trust the Son of God, the Alpha and Omega . . . the One who was and is and is to come.

HE LIVES!

Matthew then ends his written record by jumping ahead 40 days to tell us Jesus’ last words of instruction and the best promise ever. Words that have changed the way His followers have lived from that day until the present and will continue to bless them until His glorious return.

Words that began with a proclamation…

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
Matthew 28:18

Continued with a disciple’s plan of action…

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
Matthew 28:19–20a

And ends with the best promise ever…

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.“
Matthew 28:20b

Jesus is the Ultimate Authority! He is fully God and fully man. He has and will always reign over everything.

He is God and God is love!

Because He loves us individually and personally, He wants us to tell everyone we meet about His love and His power to change lives.

“Go and make disciples. Baptize. Teach.”

Tell them the blessings of loving and trusting Him. Tell them the difference He has made in your life.

Tell them the best promise ever…

“I am with you always!”

A promise that gives…

freedom from fear.
help to carry every burden.
hard to understand peace.
armor and weapons to fight any battle.
a friend who always listens.
a counselor who gives direction and wisdom.
perfect love to heal any and every wound.

The best promise ever is the only one that promises to give us everything we need.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.
Luke 12:31

Seek the Truth and Know the Risen Christ and receive His promise!

A Prayer Thanking God for
the Best Promise Ever

Will you thank and praise God with me?

Lord Jesus, Your last words to Your followers were full of assurance, instruction, and encouragement. One more time You looked at them and proclaimed Your authority, told them Your plan for future followers, and promised them they would never be alone.

By Your grace, those words also apply to anyone from any generation who follows You in faith. I trust You and long to obey You. I praise You for who You are and give You full authority over my life. I ask You to give me the courage and strength I need to share the story You have given me and shine the light of Your love to wherever I am.

And I thank you, with all my heart, for the gift of Your Spirit who is always present in every moment and every circumstance. Thank you for showing me every day that in Your presence I have everything I need. Your promise to be with us always truly is the best promise ever. Amen.

On today’s note write…

I am with you always . . . is the best promise ever!

I pray the Lord blesses you today with the assurance and awareness of His unfailing presence and love!

God bless you! And don’t forget to read all of Matthew 28 – it will bless you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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Why “Wait Right Here” Is a Terrible Idea

8 / 7 / 158 / 14 / 15

How I learned an important lesson the day my three-year old said, "wait right here." What I learned and how you can apply it to your faith.

Years ago when our son was about three years old, I’d take him to the mall to burn off the fidgets on days he couldn’t run around outside. I remember one particular visit like it was yesterday…

We were enjoying our time together when he suddenly looked up at me and said, “Wait here Mommy, I’ll be right back.”

He took off—running across the mall-way; while I was left momentarily speechless.

Fortunately, I recovered quickly, shouted his name and ran after him.

I don’t remember what he wanted or where he was going. I just remember thinking how ridiculous it was that my three-year old thought he could manage the big mall-world full of strangers and unknowns all by himself.

I also remember being very thankful that at that point he was still unable to outrun me! (That probably changed a couple of weeks later.)

It’s a blessing to be able to look back with a smile.

[Tweet “I wonder how often the Lord sees the same foolishness in me.”]

Here I am in a big world away from my heavenly home. A place where it’s easy to get lost. One full of strangers and unseen dangers . . . but I can still look up at my Savior and say, “Wait right here, I’ll be right back.”

As I leave church on Sunday. As I leave the house. As I head off to work or go out with friends….

Anytime, I lose sight of His presence and decide I can “go it alone,” I am really saying, “Wait right here, I’ll be right back.”

Anytime, I decide I’d prefer to ignore His commands to love, forgive, or serve others; I’m saying, “Wait here, I’ll be back.”

I’ll be back when I’m ready.
I’ll be back when I need You.
I’ll be back when I’m frightened, hurting, or sick, etc.

There’s a little prodigal in me! Is there a little prodigal in you too?

The good news—God never leaves. We may run off for a time, but He is always faithful.

[Tweet “I used to believe if X, Y, or Z happened . . . like Humpty Dumpty I’d be forever broken.”]

How I learned an important lesson the day my three-year old said, "wait right here." What I learned and how you can apply it to your faith.

By God’s grace, I learned the truth. God is the Great Healer. Forever and always able to restore His broken children.

That’s when I selected Psalm 73:26 as my life verse:

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Look at verse 28 of the same chapter:

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

That’s where I want to be. Near my Father. Knowing He is watching and guiding, and telling everyone about the wonderful things He does.

[Tweet “I want to stay in His presence . . . trusting His love and knowing His will is best always.”]

i-heart-u Around the Blogosphere

The First Week in August 2015

i-heart-u-Beauty

My friend, Ceil Ryan, inspires her readers at
Surrounded by the Spirit
– Connecting the Everyday to the Divine.

I love that Ceil says on her About Me Page:
“No matter how different our individual lives are,
we still face the same issues, the same blocks and blessings.
After all, we are family! We have the same Father.”

Her post, Transformed Into a New Creation is about
a beautiful piece of art that lead to a beautiful analogy.

i-heart-u-free-inspiration

Christy Mobley writes Joying in the Journey
She invites readers to…
look forward, press on and seek God
in every bump and turn in the road.

Christy wrote the following on her About Page:
“For more than half my life I was plagued with anxiety
and bouts of panic attacks. A few years ago God
lead me down the road to freedom. He then gave me a
desire to share that road with other women.”

Her post, Who Am I Really? fits perfectly with our topic this week.
And just what I needed.

i-heart-u-Motivation

Linda Perkins is discoverer and motivator at
Spring Sight – Hope for those struggling to
find faith in the midst of pain.

She describes herself as:
“a self-proclaimed Starbucks coffee addict, shutter bug,
and (much to her husband’s chagrin) a lover of “selfies.”

Her post, Midlife: Crisis or Opportunity? will make
you want to celebrate every stage of your life journey.

i-heart-u-Top Pic

hero-kids

Top Pic from Compassion International Blog
Why Your Sponsored Child is a Hero
by Katie Unger.

Every child is the main character in their own hero story.
A really fabulous post!

[Tweet “It’s Time for Blessing Counters Link Party – Spread the Word! “]

[inlinkz_linkup id=552312 mode=1]

What Happened in Our Year of Intense Prayer

2 / 3 / 159 / 12 / 15

Life and death situations. One after another. Hard days. Long nights. Our year of intense prayer . . . the before, during, and after.

July 2006 – He was gone longer than usual.

30 minute power walks 5 times a week were normal. They had been for 26 years. But this time he came home out of breath. The exhaustion lasted and doctor visits began.

Weeks led to months. Exhaustion led to fluid retention, tests, and more tests. But no answers.

It took more eight months for a diagnosis and more than a year before doctors determined the only treatment that could save his life was surgery that could end it.

The Sunday before surgery our Senior Pastor invited laying on of hands as he prayed, “Father, spare his life.” We all prayed and prayed.

When they took Rev back to surgery I didn’t know if I would see him again this side of heaven.

December 2007 – Just three months later…

My mom fell down the stairs at a theater breaking her hip, wrist, and neck.

And we prayed and prayed.

February 2008 – Two months later…

[Tweet “Our friends started calling us a “high-maintenance prayer family.””]

After our grandson insisted on entering the world four months early and weighing only 1 lb. 9 oz. we found ourselves on our knees again.

And we prayed and prayed.

Fast forward 7 years to February 2015

Rev and I celebrated and praised God this weekend
for 2700 bonus days.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3

Mom went to her heavenly home in January 2008
and I still miss her every day.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God, and trust also in me.
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.
If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going
to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready,
I will come and get you,
so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1–3

Our miracle, Joshua, will be 7 years old this month.

And he’s doing great!

Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:4

These are our stories.

Stories lived in intense prayer. Crying out. Pleading. Surrendering.

They aren’t our only prayer stories. There are many others.

But these stand out.

Miracles. Joy and celebration.

Grief. Comfort and hope.

Life. Lived in prayer.

Like breathing.

“Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life.” ~Jonathan Edwards

Prayer is time in God’s presence.

“The goal of prayer is to live all of my life and speak all of my words in the joyful awareness of the presence of God.” ~John Ortberg

In conversation.

“Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.” ~Josh McDowell

In peace.

“Teach me to let go, dear God, and pray undisturbed until my heart is filled with inner peace and I learn to know your will.” ~Helen Steiner Rice

In faith.

“Praying in faith is not an inner conviction that God will act according to our desires if only we believe hard enough. It involves believing that God will always respond to our prayers in accord with His nature, His purposes, and His promises.” ~Alvin VanderGriend

In hope.

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

Depending on the version you read, the Bible uses some form of the word “pray” between 315 and 525 times. It seems spending time with people who approach Him in faith and hope through prayer is important to God.

May you and I be among those who approach Him in faith, with hope . . . in prayer.

“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart.” ~Martin Luther

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