Safe in the Arms of Jesus

If I go up to the Heavens, You are there, if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the

far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me,

Your right hand holds me fast.

Psalm 139: 8-10

I love being a grandmother. My grandson, John, has brought such joy and fun into my life. I am thankful for the special times we have shared and the memories we are making. One of his favorite expressions is, “Hold you Nonna! Hold you!” Although he is asking to hold me, what he really wants is for me to pick him up and hold him close. Isn’t it sweet how children express themselves? I cherish those moments that I have to hold him for they pass so quickly.

Our Scriptures remind us that we, too, have someone that is holding us and is always near to us. The one who holds us was born in a stable long ago. He is the Hope of the world, the Grace that saves us, and the Love that heals us. The presence of Jesus is inescapable in our lives. Once we place our faith and trust in Him, we can never be separated from His strong hold.

In the Old Testament, God told Joshua that He would never leave him or forsake him (Joshua 1:5). That same promise is ours today. God will never leave us nor forsake us; no matter the circumstances, no matter the diagnosis, no matter the financial struggle. We can rest assured that He will hold us fast as our scripture proclaims.

What is the issue that you are struggling with today? Is it a circumstance that seems too big? Is it a health issue that evokes fear? Is it a financial issue that is overwhelming? Let the promise of the Psalmist speak to you. Be mindful that you are never alone. If you are in Christ, then you are held by Hope.

I love the assurance of the old hymn, Safe in the Arms of Jesus.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,

Safe on His gentle breast;

There by his love o’ershadowed,

Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that you are my Hope, and I am always safe in Your Arms. Thank you for always holding me no matter what I face in my life. Help me to trust in You for strength and assurance.

Janet

The Lord Is Good

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

This week, we’ve looked at the verses that In-N-Out Burger uses on five pieces of packaging. If you don’t have an In-N-Out Burger in your area, you might be interested to know that these verse references are very discreet – usually at the bottom or underside of the packaging.

There’s no mention of the Bible on the company’s website or any explanation of the verses. Yet it’s a great example of a company pointing people to the God’s Word one burger at a time.

Today’s verse comes from the wrapper of the Double-Double, which is a hamburger with two meat patties.

Honestly, I had forgotten that Nahum was a book in the Bible. It’s a mere three chapters, and I haven’t heard many sermons preached from Nahum.

Yet our verse today is timeless truth. The Lord is good. He offers protection, and He cares for those who trust Him.

Those were comforting words to the tribe of Judah. In context, the prophet, Nahum, tells the people of Judah that God will destroy Nineveh, the capital city of their greatest enemy.

Today, they are still comforting words to us. He will do the same for us today.

How do you need God to be your protection today? Or you may need to deliver this message to someone just like Nahum did. Ask God to show you who needs this encouraging word.

Stacy

You’re an Overcomer!

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Proverbs 24:16

Today’s verse makes me want to dance.

This verse appears on the bottom of the fry container at In-N-Out. By the way, you may want to dance just to burn some of the calories if you eat the fries Animal Style (yes, another secret menu item). 

Seriously though, I want to dance because two of my favorite songs are based on this verse. Check out Toby Mac’s Get Back Up and Mandisa’s Overcomer.

If you don’t listen to much Christian music, you really need to try it. The songs are based on Scripture. I’ve found that I’m much more encouraged when I’m listening to songs like these.

Here’s the chorus to Overcomer:

You're an overcomer
Stay in the fight 'til the final round
You're not going under
'Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it's hopeless
That's when he reminds you
That you're an overcomer
You're an overcomer

I used to think that being a “good” Christian meant a smooth life. Unfortunately, as I grew up, I realized Christians have hard times just like non-Christians. The difference is that we have Jesus to pick us up. 

In this life, we will face difficult times. We will make mistakes. So it’s comforting to know God is holding us.

Do yourself a favor, check the song out. You might just find yourself dancing.

What situation do you find hopeless right now? Will you ask God to encourage you?

Stacy

The “Secret Menu” of Your Life

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding

Proverbs 3:5

 

  

Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out’s milkshake cup. My California friends, who introduced me to In-N-Out, love the Neapolitan shake. You won’t see it listed on the menu. It’s considered part of the “secret” menu and made with all three regular shake flavors:  chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Did you know our lives have a “secret” menu too?

I know this may be a stretch – but just go with me on this analogy for a minute.

Sometimes we see our life through the regular menu – meaning only the things we see and experience.

God sees our lives through the regular and the secret menus. He sees all the possibilities and opportunities we don’t see, but the ones He can put together if we allow Him.

For instance, a good friend of mine debated on whether she should marry the guy she was dating. On paper, he was a fit. However, something didn’t feel right about it. After much prayer, she decided to end the relationship. At that point, she was in her 30s and wasn’t sure she would ever marry, even though she desperately wanted a husband and family.

She decided not to lean on her own understanding but trust where she believed God was leading. She trusted even though she couldn’t see the path God would take her. It wasn’t easy. She had some sleepless, tearful nights. She wondered if she’d made a mistake. But she trusted anyway.

A few weeks later, she met the man she would marry. They’ve now been married nearly 10 years and have three children.

We can trust God. He won’t let us down. 

Dear Father, please help us to trust You even when we can’t see what You’re doing.

Stacy

Does Jesus Want a Bite of Your Burger?

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Rev. 3:20

Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out Burger’s hamburger wrapper. I think it’s fitting because Rev. 3:20 sounds like Jesus wants to eat with us.

However, I don’t really think Jesus wants to share your meal. According to most commentators, eating here symbolizes intimate fellowship.

As I studied the context of this verse, I learned that these words are not to unbelievers – rather, they are to Christians. Jesus is talking to a large church located in the wealthy Asian metropolitan city of Laodicea. The city sounds a lot like Tokyo, New York, London or Shanghai today. Laodicea was known for its flourishing banking, medical, and clothing industries.  

By all earthly standards, the city and church were booming. Yet, Revelation 3 tells us that the Christians there were lukewarm. Perhaps the church had become like a social club. Maybe the Christians had compromised Biblical standards for the morals of the day. Obviously, these Christians weren’t experiencing fellowship with Christ the way He intended.

But Jesus doesn’t condemn. Instead, He stands patiently outside the door and offers kind, loving words. Jesus doesn’t force himself on anyone. He offers himself to everyone. It’s up to us to open the door. 

If you’re a believer, is Jesus waiting for you to desire intimate fellowship with him? If you don’t, it’s OK to ask him for that desire. He already knows anyway.

If you’re not a believer, Jesus waits for you too. He wants you to experience the eternal life we talked about yesterday. He loves you.  

                                                                                           

Stacy

Want a Side of Scripture with Your Order?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

This week’s devotionals were actually inspired by lunch at my favorite burger joint: In-N-Out Burger. And yes, here, you can actually get a side of Scripture with your meal.

This week, we’ll take a look at five verses the hamburger chain uses on its packaging. If you ever get a chance to visit the legendary In-N-Out Burger, you will find today’s scripture on the bottom of the beverage cup.

John 3:16 may well be the most popular verse in the Bible. Therefore, we may tend to read or say it fast without really thinking deeply about it. Let’s ponder it today.

God so loved the world. Sometimes I can get confused and think God hates the world because of its sin. While God does hate sin, He passionately loves people. After all, He made them.   

Because of His great love, He sent his only Son, Jesus, to earth. That’s sounds fine if the story ended there. But it didn’t. Jesus came to earth for one reason:  to die for our sins. 

As the mom of two sons, I can tell you there’s no way I would send my sons to die for someone good – much less a group of rebels. But that’s how much God loves you and me. No matter how good we think we are, we are still sinners.

The verse continues that whoever believes in Jesus won’t die but have eternal life with Him in heaven. God doesn’t want anyone to experience the eternal destruction referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2. The Bible is clear. He offers life. And Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

What will you do with the truth of John 3:16 today? Who will you share it with?

Stacy