Author: Shelly Thomas

John 1:41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

In the first chapter of John we learn about John the Baptist. He was the one sent to pave the way for Jesus, to prepare everyone for his coming. The Jewish leaders sent priests to John to ask who he was and what he was doing. He was a strange  man who didn’t fit in and was spreading some interesting news about the coming Messiah. The leaders were concerned because they were expecting a political leader as well as a spiritual leader in the Messiah and this man “paving the way” did not fit with their expectations. This was not the way the Messiah was supposed to save them! The beauty of Jesus coming to save the world was that he did not come for just one group of people. He came for ALL. Jesus did not start his ministry by meeting with the Jewish leaders and setting up a political agenda or meeting with those in high social standing. Instead, he was obedient to God and was baptized by John even though John was not worthy to “be his slave or untie the straps of his sandal”. They had been waiting for the Messiah and He was finally here. In John 1:41 Andrew couldn’t wait to tell his brother Simon that they found the Messiah.  Once they knew Him they started following him immediately. Can you imagine the excitement in his voice as he shared the good news with his brother? Everything was going to change for them and they were hopeful as they saw the prophecy being fulfilled.

There is a book we have read with our kids over the years and it is one of my absolute favorites! It is “The Jesus Storybook Bible” written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Illustrated by Jago.  It is simple to read and I often pick it up on my own before bed or when I just want something sweet and simple. From this book I learned that the whole Bible is the story of Jesus, the Messiah. The front cover says “Every story whispers his name”. Each chapter of the Bible points to God’s plan to save through Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, it is about Jesus. Without Him, we would not have our salvation and our relationship with God. In the book Jesus is referred to as the “rescuer” which is a perfect way to describe our Messiah.

Do you know your “rescuer” and are you eager to tell others that you found him like Andrew did in John 1:41? It is the best news we can give in a time of uncertainty and unrest. Jesus came as the Messiah for ALL!

Shelly

 

Today’s name of Jesus is “Magnificent“.

Isaiah 28:29 “All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.”

The word magnificent describes something that is extraordinarily beautiful, breathtaking, or awe inspiring.  A sunset, rolling hills, snow covered mountains, breeching whales, waterfalls, and vast oceans. The things that are larger than life and stop me in my tracks. Magnificent is the only way to describe such beauty.

Even more magnificent is the creator of all these things. He remains magnificent and unchanging in the midst of a pandemic and social unrest. He is the source of all that is good and perfect. James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Even though our circumstances seem to be changing daily, Jesus never changes. He remains steadfast in his plan to save us through his Son Jesus which is the most magnificent plan of all.

Today I take great comfort in the unchanging truth that Jesus is magnificent. His plan to guide and direct our paths is extraordinarily beautiful, breathtaking, and awe inspiring.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the reminder today of your magnificence in the midst of our current times. We trust that your plan is wonderful and your wisdom is magnificent. Reveal to us your wisdom as we move through today and tomorrow. Replace our fear with hope, knowing that you are fully aware of all that is happening and none of it surprises you. When we see the world around us in all of its beauty help us to remember the magnificent creator. We are in awe and wonder and who you are. Thank you for loving us enough to save us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

 

1 John 5:20 And we know that the son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. 

Jesus is eternal life.

The word “eternal” means, “lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning” (Google dictionary). When I try to sit with the word “eternal” or “forever” I get lost. I have a hard time thinking of life beyond this one or what eternity will feel like.  While I cannot fully comprehend this idea, I stand on the promise in John 3:16 that says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. I learned this verse in church choir and cannot say the verse without singing it out loud or in my head, depending on the company. Our physical bodies will die someday but our soul is meant to spend eternity with our creator.  We are recipients of eternal life with Jesus when we know him and accept him as savior. This is the good news! Currently this pandemic seems to be lasting for an eternity, but I know it is just a “blip” in God’s timeline. My eternal perspective has taken a hit over the last few months and this verse was a really good reminder for me. I have been consumed with work, kids, school, and all of us being home at the same time. One of the benefits of salvation through Christ is having a relationship with Him while we are here and into eternity. In the midst of trials and celebrations He is my constant and my happy ending. I am so thankful that I know this and can lean on it daily.

There is a side of eternity that is difficult to talk about but is very apparent in the Bible. If you are not choosing Jesus then the alternative is an eternity without Him. John 3:16 indicates that those who believe will not perish, but what about those who do not believe or haven’t decided yet? We are the answer to this question.  How will they know unless we share our faith and salvation stories.

Matthew 28:19  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Shelly

 

Romans 3:23-26 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Today’s name of Jesus is Justifier.

What things in your life do you try justify? Things that came to mind right away were:

• How I spend my time
• Over eating
• Procrastinating
• Spending money
• Watching church from the couch (when not in quarantine!)

As sinful people we find the need to justify ourselves when our actions don’t match up with our beliefs. Ultimately I realize that my attempts to justify my actions are really a defense against my sin. I want to justify laying around on the couch all day, over eating, and buying things on Amazon that I don’t need! Justify means to show or prove to be right or reasonable, or to declare or make righteous in the sight of God (Google Dictionary). Unfortunately I don’t have the power to truly justify myself or my sin. The consequences of my actions and the guilt from poor choices linger. The choices I make on the daily are written all over my life. This is the painful part of being human. We all make mistakes and they can ruin us if left without resolve or justification. This is why Jesus came and died for you and me. It is only by the Blood of Jesus that we are made clean or justified before God. It is a gift that we cannot do on our own. We cannot earn it or buy it. We only have to accept it! This is not a license to continue sinning and then seek repentance over and over. It is an invitation  to have a relationship with the one who already took our sins upon himself on the cross. Jesus chose to be our justifier (Google Dictionary definition: a person who declares or makes righteous in the sight of God) when we are unable to justify ourselves. There is no sin that is truly washed away except by the Blood of the Lamb – Jesus. For those who don’t know Jesus and are hearing this for the first time it may seem  too easy. That’s the beauty…..it is that easy. We will never be without sin. But because of our justifier we have the opportunity to repent, be cleansed, and mature in our faith. Jesus doesn’t want us to continue to sin but rather grow in our relationship with Him to the point that we see our sin and start to make different choices based on His plan for our lives.

Thank you Jesus for being our Justifier!

Shelly

 

 

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

2 Samual 22:2-3 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.

Today we are focusing on Jesus being the “horn of our salvation”. It has taken me awhile to connect with the word “horn”. I kept going back to the day my son brought the baritone home for 5th grade band.  That is my 21st century exposure to the horn. I am far removed from the meaning as used in the Bible. The horn in the Bible is one of power and strength which is exactly what I want it to be when talking about my salvation. The above verses are essentially the same found in Psalms and in 2 Samuel. David wrote these words of praise and thanksgiving after he defeated Saul.

A horn is part of an animal that protects them from harm and fights for them. It is a part of their body that is eternal….it never dies. It remains strong and competent even after the body has been separated from it. Have you ever seen a video of rams fighting? It’s not for the faint of heart and they typically fight to the death or until one of them retreats. They don’t kick or punch, they just ram their mighty horns together to the death. The winner is the strongest and most powerful of the herd and is able to carry on their lineage. Humans used these horns as trumpets to “sound the alarm” or as vessels to fill with oil. They also used them to fashion weapons and to adorn the 4 corners of the altar in the Old Testament. They were symbols of strength and power that no human could fabricate. Again, this is what I want when I’m talking about my salvation…the strongest and most powerful, the winner.

Jesus is the “horn of my salvation” – He is the strongest and most powerful. He fought for me to the death. There is no greater sacrifice than this.

I have tried to practice daily words of affirmation in the past. I would stand in front of the mirror in the morning and tell myself all the good things about me to set the tone for the day. It never worked…….because I was always floundering and changing my mind and having to continually remind myself that I was good enough. I have redirected my affirmations to remind myself of who God is in my life and the power that he has to do mighty things through me. These verses are great examples of these affirmations.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer from all that I will face today. In you I will take refuge. You are my shield of protection and the mighty horn of my salvation. You are my stronghold – not the things of this world that seem to weigh me down. Thank you Father for these promises. Please bring these promises to my mind throughout the day when I feel overwhelmed or defeated. Thank you for saving me.

Amen

 

How are you doing?
How are you REALLY doing?

My Dad had a good friend that used to greet him with both of the above questions. He was looking for the “sit down” answer. We use to joke that it was too intrusive but looking back it was actually an important question. Really, how are you doing? What’s your answer today? Is anyone asking? The past 3 weeks have been challenging. I have had a few sleepless nights and with that increased irritability and crabbiness. While being a devout introvert I see more than ever the benefits of going to work and  being part of a community outside of my home. At the same time, I have loved the extraordinary time with my kids. Watching movies that we never would have had time for, baking cookies, sitting together watching church from the couch, and seeing them take on school in a way they never planned.  It has been fun to connect as a family but I still find myself looking for reassurance or answers in the media. Not only is our health at stake, but our economy is suffering its own viral infection.  Even after a few weeks in quarantine I find myself in a state of limbo. Will things ever go back to normal? When and how?  Where is the reassurance?

Hebrews 1:1-3 “Long ago God spoke many times and in many was to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven.”

Today’s name of Jesus is “Heir of all Things”. Jesus is the son of God and God is the creator of all. As God’s son, Jesus is the heir to all that is God’s. When we put our trust in Jesus we become part of the family of God and our inheritance becomes eternal life. This is a gift from God that we certainly do not deserve but it is one thing that does not change and cannot be taken away. And while waiting for that eternal life with Him we have the joy of relationship with Him through Jesus. We have the gift of prayer and the Holy Spirit that intervenes on our behalf when we don’t have the words to express ourselves. None of these things change with social distancing or our current pandemic. If anything, it is growing our faith and revealing more about who He is and why we desperately need a savior.

While our table will be smaller than usual this Easter Sunday and loved ones are far away we are still celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It never changes! This is our good news in the midst of uncertainty and distancing. We do not have to be in a church pew wearing our Easter best to celebrate Jesus. He sees us just as we are at all times.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn it but to save it.”  

Psalm 16:5 “Lord you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.”

Happy Easter everyone!

 

 

Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”

There has been a word, other than COVID-19, that has been circulating in peoples vocabulary lately. The word is “unprecedented”. It means “Novel or unexampled” (Merriam Webster). Our current situation is quite “Novel and unexampled”. People in the medical field are doing all they can to research and develop treatments for COVID-19 in order to save thousands while our government orchestrates a “stay at home” protocol for all people to help “flatten the curve”.  All in an effort to weaken our current pandemic. We are in the midst of a pandemic (if you didn’t already know that). For the past month I have stepped out of social media and relied on trusted sources for all my information like the CDC. I am also an introvert and the thought of being at home all day, everyday, with permission was like a dream come true for me! But last night I realized that I have let this pandemic be a god (lower case g) in my life. I had dreams last night of graphs, statistics, new cases, and treatments and it was so overwhelming. I woke up in a panic and was convicted. I am guilty of giving our current situation all my time and energy and in turn it has gotten me! Please do not misunderstand me, it is important to be informed and know what is happening in the world. This “stay at home” protocol is important and will save lives, but I found myself missing God (capital G) in the midst of all of it.

Our current study of the names of Jesus is so timely! God is so good in giving us what we need when we need it most.  We need a cure for COVID-19 but more importantly, we need Jesus. He is God of gods and Lord of lords. He is mighty and awesome! With our current lockdown, I was able to read through Deuteronomy. The story of Moses leading the Israelites to the Promised land was “unprecedented”. There was no example for him to follow but he knew the leader was God and God knew him. Our times may have different circumstances but we have the option to let God lead us through this wilderness.  I look forward to spending more time with God in the days to come as I have abandoned him for an earthy pandemic. I move forward trusting that the God of gods and the Lord of lords has this in his mighty and awesome hands!

We are here to share the truth and the light of Jesus in an “unprecedented” time. He will give us strength and courage.

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In Him,

Shelly

 

 

 

Psalm 36:9 “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see it.”

Psalm 87:7 “As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you’.”

Today’s name of Jesus is “Fountain of life“. Merriam Webster defines Fountain as “the source from which something proceeds or is supplied”. In these verses we are reminded that God is the source from which our lives proceed and are supplied. He is the creator and the source of our lives. Can you relate? You know God is your “fountain” when the morning just doesn’t feel right until you have spent time with Him. Or whenever life gets confusing, you are on your knees asking for His direction. Or when someone asks for prayer, you stop everything and pray for them on the spot……with them present! Or you see God’s answer to the prayer that you have prayed for years and you fall to your knees with recognition that He is sovereign over all. These are clues that God is the “fountain of your life”.

Mike and I recently overheard a conversation and one of the comments really stuck in my craw. We were not trying to eavesdrop, they were talking really loud and we happen to be in the same room. This child of God said, “The Bible should be used for inspiration, not for information“. Let that soak a minute? How does that make you feel? Does it make you heart sink? Do you find yourself agreeing with him? Does life feel easier if we allow the Bible to be merely inspirational and not informational? There are a plethora of “fountains” or sources to choose from in this life – politics, money, fame, fortune, status, myself. But in the end, where does that leave us?

If I could go back, I would have hugged that man. I would have told him he was a child of God, a wonderful unique creation. I would have told him that The Bible is the inspired word of God and every word is true. That it provides the framework for a life lived in the scope of God’s beautiful plan for our lives. The beauty of the Bible is that it is both inspirational and informative. Its not always an easy path, but it is one that leads to eternal life. He is the “fountain of life“.

The world today feels tumultuous. So much confusion, arguing, and fear. This world is terminal.  Share your fountain with someone that needs a new source. An eternal source.

Shelly

Nehemiah 9:5 The  leaders of the Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani,, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah – called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting! Then they continued, “Praise his glorious name! It is far greater than we can think or say”.

Today’s name of Jesus is “Everlasting to Everlasting”. The word everlasting is defined as “lasting forever or a very long time”. There are a few things that seemed to take forever in the last few days for me. It took forever for Mike to get out of his hip replacement surgery (everything went very well by the way). Then it took forever to get discharged and get home. It took forever for my outdated PC to warm up and start working. It took forever for the traffic light to change so I could walk across the intersection in the rain. It took forever to get to work because of the traffic. It takes forever to get the test results from the doctor. It takes forever to…….You fill in the blank. I am obviously desensitized to the word forever. The reality is, we cannot begin to comprehend FOREVER, let alone everlasting to everlasting. “It is far greater than we can think or say”.

The word everlasting is a word that causes my mind to implode. I cannot fathom the idea of never ending.  Revelation 22:13 says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the last, the Beginning and the End”.   This name of Jesus is a reminder of how powerful our God is. We will not be able to truly fathom this concept this side of heaven. And this all powerful, everlasting God also cares about the details of your life. He cares about the frustrations of this world that cause us to stumble, like rainy days and waiting impatiently for things to start moving. He is in the waiting of all of those little moments.

“Stand up and praise the lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!”

Shelly

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Isaiah 40:28 “Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the Earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

Today’s name of Jesus is “Creator of all the Earth”.

This was great encouragement for me today! We are heading to Chicago on Friday for my husband to have a hip replacement. It’s hard to believe its finally here after months of pain and discomfort for him. We are SO ready to get this show on the road! Unfortunately one of our children was diagnosed with the flu today. Only one down so far but my mind jumps to 100 different scenarios all at varying degrees of probability. We have NO time for the flu! But do we ever have time for the negative things life has to bring? We can make all the plans we want and “God willing” they happen, but only God knows the twists and turns that will take us to our destination.  The above verse gave me peace as I remembered that I get to be in communication with the Creator of all the Earth. That means there is power in the one I pray to. He has seen ALL and created ALL. He knows more than I do.  Today I feel myself growing faint and weary with all of the what if’s but I’m taking them to God and asking Him to carry them because He will not grow faint or weary.

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint”.

I will wait on the Lord and be renewed each moment. This week I am praying for miraculous healing for my husbands hip and for the flu to go away! Whatever you are facing this week that was not expected remember that you have a direct line to the “Creator of all the Earth”. Lean that direction.

Shelly