May

29

Only One Thing is Needed

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Luke 10:41-42a

So many sermons have been written about Mary at the feet of Jesus while her sister Martha was busy making all the preparations. Most speak of the balance between service to God and time to be with Him, in prayer and the Word.

It is also about attitude. Martha was not getting anything done because her anxiety about all she had to do was zapping all her energy. She was in a huff.  I can relate to that,  can’t you? There are just not enough hours in the day. Pressures can build up and suddenly the tasks seem monstrous.

But that is the key. They just seem monstrous. Once we let our emotions take control, the negative thoughts take rein.  Jesus is saying, there is a better way – Him.

When we focus on Jesus and His Word, our whole attitude changes. He is the one thing that is needed in order for us to accomplish what needs to get done.  On the days I do not start out with prayer and reading the Bible, my day gets all lopsided. Few things go as planned and I get tripped up with stress and frustration. Then I ask, why in the world did I not sit at His feet first?

Dearest Lord, forgive me for not sandwiching every day with You- for not starting and ending my day in Your presence. You gave all so I could have access to you.  You are all I need.  When worries and stress begin to creep in, help me to take time out to sit at Your feet and receive Your peace. Only then, will my day go right. I pray this through Your mercy. Amen.

“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”  Psalm 116:7

May

28

Be An Innkeeper

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


“The next day he took out two silver coins and gave then to the innkeeper. ‘look after him’, he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for an extra expenses you may have.’ ” Luke 10:35
The story of the Good Samaritan is a familiar one. The man found another man mugged on the side of the road. He bound his wounds and took him to an inn. There he stayed with him until the man began healing and out of danger ( the first twenty-four hours being the most critical time). Then he gave the innkeeper instructions and left.

Looking at this passage, I think we are the innkeepers. Jesus saves people, binds their wounds and begins the healing process. But He leaves us to do the rest.  Healing takes time. Perhaps there is someone in your Church or at work  that is just a little different  and the easy target for ridicule. Perhaps you know someone who has lost a loved one in the past year or so who still faces the deafening silence of not hearing their voice everyday. Maybe a neighbor has lost their job or is recovering from some major illness.  Then there is the family whose father or mother is overseas defending our country and the teenage who has recently given their heart to Jesus but faces such strong temptations from peers.

All around us  are wounded people who are just beginning to heal. Jesus has paid the price, and until He returns, he has given us instructions to be His hands and feet.  It is us that He calls to care for those around us. Who will He call you to care for today?

Heavenly Lord, forgive me for not noticing more my neighbors around me who are hurting. You have bound their wounds and given us the charge to care for them until You return. Show me the person  I am to minister to today, be it a warm smile or a good deed or an encouraging word or a heartfelt prayer.  I know in my times of need You have sent others to me. Let me not be remiss and be open to do the same when You spur my heart to act. Through Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

May

28

The Fragrance of His Love

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” (Song of Solomon 2:1)

The Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valleys, named to remind us of the beauty and sweetness we find in His relationship with Jesus. The rose, fragrance sweeter than honey, chief of flowers. The lily, preferred by our Christ as clothing even above that of Solomon in all his glory.

Sharon is probably where the best roses grew and in most plenty; some have termed it the “rose of the field” depicting the gospel of salvation for all.  A common salvation, that whosoever will may come and gather the rose-buds of privileges, comforts, sweetness, fragrance, that grow in the covenant of grace.

He is not a show rose, not one to be locked up in a garden, but one in whom all may come and find comfort.

He is a lily for the whiteness, and a lily of the valleys for sweetness. For when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, His fragrance will linger and lead us to His protection, comfort and strength.

He is the lily of the valleys, or low places, in His humiliation and “crushing” experienced on the cross of Calvary.

As you walk through your valleys (notice the plural—we’re promised there will be more than one), take heed of His fragrance.  It will be there.

As you hit the low points in your life, remember that He is a rose that has been bruised and crushed and His fragrance is become sweeter and stronger. Look for Him there also.

In the darkest of days and the longest of nights, you will find Him with you there as well.

The fragrance of His love will lead you through and remind you that He is in your midst regardless where you are.

He loves you, He yearns for you, He’s bidding you to come into His chamber where He can lavish His love upon you . . . from now throughout eternity.

Dearest Lord, I am overwhelmed at the thought of your awesome love toward me.  I can almost hear You say, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song of Solomon 2:10).  Lord, I will follow you wherever You lead. I will respond to Your passion for me with an ever-growing passion for You! May my heart melt at Your call.  May my love for You draw me closer to You than ever before. Lord, I love you and I will stop and seek out Your sweet fragrance in the flourishing fields as well as in the dark valleys. And in whatever circumstance or situation I find myself, I will know beyond a shadow of doubt that You, my precious Lord, have not left me.  Rather, You are with me alway, even unto the end of the world (ref. Matthew 28:20). Amen!

“I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:5-6)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

May

27

My House or Yours

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


” I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.”  Psalm 101:3

This passage recalls to mind several adages from my youth. Charity begins at home. Cleanup your own backyard first. It is what you do and say behind closed doors that reveals your character.
All of these are true. What we practice away from the world defines how we will act and react in the world.  It is our responsibility to teach our children Our Lord’s Truths and His Word.  It is also our responsibility to be an example to them. If we do not read the Bible, pray and practice the fruits of the Spirit  in the privacy of our homes, how can we expect them to learn to live that way as well?  Telling them to do as you say and not as you do never works, does it?
Even after the kids are long gone are we not still responsible for acting the way we  should in our homes?. Of course. We should act as if Jesus was right there, because, guess what? He is. 24/7-365.  Unless we practice being Christ-like in the safety of our homes, even though no one else is around to observe, it will nor become an innate part of us, a deeply imbedded way of thinking and doing. How can Christ truly dwell in us if He does not dwell with us?
David in this Psalm knew this. Of course his house was much bigger- it was the whole of Israel.
Still, it is a great Psalm to take to heart and remind ourselves that being a Christian is an ongoing thing, not just the way we act in public. To be otherwise is two-faced and deceptive. And we cannot serve two Masters, can we? So ask yourself, who is Master in my house? Then take to heart what Joshua said to the tribes as they entered the promised land when he proclaimed that he and his house would serve the Lord.

“No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house, no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked…”  Psalm 101 7-8a

May

27

Eroding the Foundation of Faith

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Fear, the enemy of our faith, is knocking on the door of our hearts in an attempt to kill, steal, and destroy our confidence in God’s protection.

Recently, I’ve had an opportunity to learn first-hand the difference between fear and faith.  They are direct opposites; one cannot live in fear and in faith at the same time, just as it cannot be night and day at the same time.  You either live and move and have your being in fear or in faith.

Fear erodes the foundation of faith, quickly and thoroughly if not soon recognized and dealt with.  During these uncertain times, it would be so easy for us to fall prey to fear, causing our focus to turn from God to the uncertainty of the future.  But, our future IS certain, whether in the flesh or in the spirit.  We should know in whom we have believed and be persuaded that He is able to keep us, in peace and in war, in sickness and in health, in plenty or in want.  God is fully able.

It’s easy to understand why the prophet Isaiah wrote as led by the Spirit of God in Isaiah 41:10-13, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Dear friends, don’t allow the enemy to cause your heart to be filled with fear.  Let peace reign on the throne of your heart . . . the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that will testify of God’s great goodness and tender mercy even our times of uncertainty.  We are the bearers of peace.  The Peacemaker has made His abode in us.  Allow the peace that is found in the presence of the King to comfort you today and every day.

Father, many around me fear what tomorrow may bring.  Help me, Lord, to remain firm in faith, believing and knowing that You are indeed my Help, my Protector, my Comfort, and my Peace.  Father, as I cling to the hope I have found in You, help me to share the Source of my hope with those whose hearts have been gripped with fear for whatever reason.  Use me, Lord, to be an instrument of Your peace in the earth today.  In Jesus’ precious name, amen and amen!

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:13)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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