My User Manual & My Daily Medicine Dose

From TVs to cars, most everything we purchase these days come with user manuals. For most of us, we rarely read the user manual until something breaks down or isn’t working properly. But, then, we don’t even go to the manual first, we google our issue and find the answer there.

Today, I’m talking about my personal User Manual. It’s the Bible. It’s not just another book on the book shelf that we pick up once, read a little of it, and then be done. It’s not like other books we read and maybe read it a second time because it was such a good story. The Bible is our go-to book as a User Manual, as a daily source of inspiration that brings life to us. God’s Spirit inhabits God’s Word. He beckons us to sit in His presence and breathe in what we’re reading. If we would remember that everything in our lives hinges on God and His promises, then we can count on Him working in our lives. His purposes cannot be thwarted. Searching out His promises and setting our hearts on what He says to us, is truly how to "fix" what's wrong and make us right in every area of our lives.

Many people are in great fear about what tomorrow holds. The coronavirus, political voices, the negativity of the news, and all those fears that try to consume us every day. But I have a prescription for you that will cure you of all those ailments. I spoke to my women's group about the importance of taking this prescription daily in this illustration. I give it to you today from this medicine bottle. If I had the cure for stress and worry; for sadness, pain and guaranteed joy and peace and I kept it to myself, what kind of friend would I be? I do have the cure – and it’s found in the prescription of God’s Holy Word. It’s prescribed to "whoever" by Dr. Jesus. The supply is unlimited and the side effects are peace, joy, hope, love, patience, better health, abundant life and so much more.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've read a scripture and I found the answer to my problem or question. I have daily “epiphanies” – aha moments from reading and soaking in God’s Word. In Luke 24, we read about two disciples who were sad and confused after the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus was walking with them on the Road to Emmaus, but they didn’t recognize Him. They invited Him to come home with them and in Luke 24:30-31 we read that the disciples’ eyes were opened after Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them to eat.

Jesus is OUR Bread of Life, the Living Word, and we are nourished by Him when we open the Holy Scriptures to feed on his truth. Ultimately, it is Christ who feeds us with spiritual nourishment through His Word, but we must choose to come to the table. It is Jesus who feeds us through His living, powerful, and active Word of truth, but we must choose to open the Bible and search its riches, expecting to hear from Him.

On the evening of Resurrection Sunday, it was the Scriptures—being illuminated to the disciples—that burned in their hearts. That same power exists in God’s eternal Word. Does it burn within your heart today?

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:11 “Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

How About a Life Changing Walk With Jesus?

Life-Changing: Having an effect that is strong enough to change someone’s life; having a powerful effect; compelling, game changer, unconquerable

I’ve loved seeing the Easter photos of families enjoying their Easter celebrations – their new Easter clothes, dinners and egg hunts. It was hilarious watching my 16 and 17 year old grands hunting for eggs their Mama “rabbit” hid in their back yard. Mom has to strategically identify the colors of the eggs they can find, after all -- competition is ON! Blue & green were Payton’s to find and pink & yellow were Alexia’s. It worked perfectly for each to end up with the same number. LOL! That Easter fun is over, but the crux of the REAL matter of Easter celebrations is still burning in our hearts. We are still in awe of this incredible reason for our faith. Our Lord LIVES and is walking life with us daily!

Remember the two disciples who were returning home to Emmaus from Jerusalem after the crucifixion and the "supposed" resurrection of the Lord (Luke 24:13-35)? The women reported that angels at the empty tomb announced "He is alive." But they thought those women were delusional. The reports of the empty tomb confused them, but that Sunday afternoon, Jesus met up with them. He encouraged them and explained the message of the resurrection, and reminded them of His promises to them, but they didn't recognize Him until He went home with them and broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them. They had seen Jesus do this when he fed the five thousand and the four thousand and in the Upper Room. Their eyes opened and they recognized Him. Then He disappeared. It was then that they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32) Their hearts burned within them when He shared scriptures with them.

That is my prayer, too -- that my heart would burn within me at the reality of His unfailing Word and that I would be stirred by His presence in my life daily. Don't you love it when you've read or heard a scripture many times, but then all of a sudden you hear it again, but this time it's like a light comes on and you finally "get it" -- just like those disciples realized it was Jesus with them? This time, it's God's perfect timing for His Word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway." (Psalm 119:105)

Perhaps, if we continue in this magnificent truth of our Risen Lord on a daily basis, our hearts will continue to burn with faith, His love will flow from us to others who need an encounter with Him, and we just may be His hands extended to them. We are those disciples on the road to Emmaus, living our lives in the real world, walking along with Jesus who is always there with us on the road, whether we recognize Him or not. He listens to us, and understands us, because He became one of us. He gets us.

Are you confused, hurting, perplexed or need advice and wise counsel today? Maybe it's time to go for a life-changing "Walk with Jesus" today. I promise you – He’ll be walking with you! As a matter of fact, I’ll see you later – it’s time for my walk!

Hiding His Word in Our Hearts

Day 160 of Photo Inspirations -- Hiding His Word in Our Hearts
Memorization of scriptures has been pivotal in my having a joy-filled life, unwavering faith (most of the time), perseverance in tough times and learning to jump high hurdles (obstacles).  I sincerely believe that God's Word represents life and power, and is the greatest treasure we have in living an overcoming life.  

In Kids Church, we had "Sword" Drills -- that's when the leader would call out a book of the Bible, chapter and verse, and then we'd hustle to be the first one to find it in our Bible, stand up and read it.  That fun game taught us how to find scriptures, and it taught us the words of the scriptures.  Then we'd memorize scriptures during Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  I learned so many scriptures.  Why were my parents and teachers so convinced that we should commit ourselves to scripture memory?  Because they knew it was the greatest key to our future success.  Early on, those scriptures were simply "words", but facing responsibilities and the normal challenges of "living life", those "words" became more valuable than the greatest treasure I could ever have.

In Proverbs 7:2, we read "Guard My words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.”  One of the most powerful ways that we can transform our lives, resist temptation, make wise decisions, and counterattack the enemy when he comes knocking on our door with his dumb fear tactics -- is knowing God's Word. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”

The more we know what God says, the more we are going to know how God thinks, because the will of God is found in the Word of God. It strengthens us when we're weary.  It comforts us when we're sad.  It gives us hope during times of crisis. 

A couple of days ago, I was called back to the medical center for an ultrasound as they found abnormalities on a "routine" test they'd done a couple of days before. Before the test, during the test, and waiting for the results of the test, I recalled so many scriptures:  "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me."  "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." "Peace, be still."  "Peace be with you."  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD my God is with me, wherever I go,"  

By the way, the report came back -- "nothing to be concerned about". I praised and thanked God.  But what if the report had come back the other way?  Then I expect the same would hold true.  I would trust and believe and meditate on God's Word that would give me comfort, hope, healing, and strength.  I encourage you today to take this prescription:  "Read, meditate and memorize God's Word for it will be sweet music to your heart. light for your pathway, and healing to your soul in your best of times and in the lowest of times.