Sometimes God purposely says NO

“A few days later, Jesus went out to a mountain to pray. He stayed there all night praying to God. The next morning he called his followers. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. These are the ones he chose:

Judas, the son of James, Judas Iscariot (the one who turned against Jesus).”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:12-13, 16‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Couple of things to notice here. Jesus stayed up all night praying. We have trouble talking to God for 5 minutes!

He was seeking wisdom about a major decision to choose his 12 apostles. These men would follow him around for the next three years and Jesus would pour into them. He was picking his pit crew. He needed his Father's counsel to choose these friends. So many times, I make decisions without a lot of prayer.

Were you surprised that after an all night prayer session, God allowed him to choose the "wrong" friend in Judas? This was by divine plan, not by accident. I think that we get confused when God purposely allows a terrible thing to happen to us. We have a rebellious child even when we are following the Lord. Someone that we loved dies prematurely. A friend betrays us. The finances just don't work out. Our job just does not pay enough and the money is always short. We feel like we will never be able to retire and we are getting tired.

Our thinking has to be constantly analyzed and see if it agrees with His word. He asks us to be happy and rejoice when life is tough. Be nervous if life is a bed of roses because that is not what Jesus experienced and God loved his Son so much. He allowed pain and discomfort and poverty and rejection in his beloved Son's life. Listen to what He says in the book of Luke.

“You can be happy then and jump for joy, because you have a great reward in heaven. The ancestors of those people did the same things to the prophets. “But how bad it will be for you rich people, because you had your easy life. How bad it will be for you people who are full now, because you will be hungry. How bad it will be for you people who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry. “How bad it is when everyone says nothing but good about you. Just look at the false prophets. Their ancestors always said good things about them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:23-26‬ ‭ERV‬‬

These verses make me stop and think if my requests are in line with what God wants for me. I want riches. I do not want to be hungry. I want a life of laughter. I want everyone to say good things about me. I want God to be my Santa Claus and give me everything I want all the time.

Next time, God answers our prayer with a no, rejoice and praise God and be thankful. His plan for us is to make us more like His Son and not more like the world.

Loving Your Husbands

““Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood that is in your own? Why do you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself first! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You are a hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to get the dust out of your friend’s eye.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:3-5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

My sister and I made a vow a few years ago to pray for our husbands every Tuesday morning. This does not mean that I have never prayed for Mark before but I want to be more intentional. I know that it slips off the tip of my tongue to pray for my kids, my job, my ministry, my finances, even my myself. But I think we put our husbands on a pedestal and get disappointed when they are not perfect.

After a long, busy holiday week, I realized I skipped Tuesday prayer for Mark. But the words get stuck in my mouth and my mind...I realize that the enemy always makes my sins look smaller than Mark's. I have an amazing husband but I am always looking for that little piece of dust in his eye! The Bible says that I am a hypocrite. I have a huge log in my eye that I need to deal with.

No matter who you are or who you think you are, you have a log in your eye like me. You know how I know that? Jesus had to die for our wretched sins. Satan tries everyday to convince me that Mark is the problem and not me. In fact, the enemy tries to convince me that Mark and I are in a battle and not us against the enemy.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is so easy to love Mark and pray for him when I remember that he is a gift to me. When I stand before the throne one day, I know that God will talk with me about how I treated the precious gift that He gave me. What a waste of my breath when I try to stammer and explain that Mark was not always perfect and that he did not always make me happy.

I thought about this yesterday and realized that if my goal is to be more Christlike, I should take the towel from my waist and love like Jesus.

“so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciplesʼ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I forget sometimes that Jesus did not feel like washing feet. He probably wanted to sit down and be served. But for the joy that was ahead, He loved the 12 men that God gifted him with, even one who would betray Him. He loved by putting His own desires in last place. That is a model to how the Lord wants me to love Mark. I need to remember that there will be a conversation one day and I want the Lord to say, "Well done with loving Mark."

Life's Biggest Choice

“And Jesus said, “The things that make people wrong are the things that come from the inside. All these bad things begin inside a person, in the mind: bad thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, doing bad things to people, lying, doing things that are morally wrong, jealousy, insulting people, proud talking, and foolish living. These evil things come from inside a person. And these are the things that make people unacceptable to God.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:20-23‬ ‭ERV 

If you read through the list of things that make a person wrong, you will find at least one thing on that list that would condemn you. This verse says that these things make you unacceptable to God. I think we all want to think that we are pretty good. We only have a few sins and most of our life is okay and that God is pleased with us because we are "pretty much" alright. 

But that is not true. We actually stink in God's presence. The entire book of Leviticus is filled with things that needed a sacrifice so that God could allow them to continue to live. Two of Aaron's sons died on the spot because they offered a wrong incense. God was and is warning us that He is HOLY and that we cannot stand in His presence. 

 At this point, many want to give up and say that no one can meet that standard of holiness. When you reach that point and you understand that you cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God, you have a choice. 

““If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship GOD.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

God is always allowing us to make a choice. If we want to worship Him and inherit all that He has for us, then it requires one thing...accept His only Son as payment once and for all as covering for our sins. No other way will do. If you don't accept His way, then you are choosing any other god...not the one true God. Believe me, there are a lot of other gods to serve. Problem is they can never satisfy. False gods that you created will always disappoint you. Today chose to have a relationship through Jesus Christ with the only true God.

Is There Only One Way to Heaven? Really?

“The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”

When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:4-6

Eve, chose to take fruit from a tree that gave her the ability to decide what was right or wrong. Instead of allowing God that ultimate, wise place of authority, she chose to redefine truth on her own terms. Since that time, we have all been faced with the same choice. Will we fall victim to the enemy’s lies that we can do life better on our own? Or will we choose to believe that God has a better way? ~Robin Meadows

I have a sweet friend that I work with that God has put directly in my path to talk to about the Lord. He is absolutely certain that "my way" is just one way to have a relationship with the Lord. Ever since our first conversation about having a relationship with Jesus, he has been asking me hard questions about why I believe the way I believe. He is positive that he can do life better on his own. I am positive that I can't do life on my own.

“And I command you today: Love GOD, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by GOD, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“So be very careful how you live. Live wisely, not like fools.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“Keep your eyes on the path, and look straight ahead. Make sure you are going the right way, and nothing will make you fall.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:25-26‬ ‭ERV‬‬

If you read this blog, I pray that you know the Lord and will allow Him to help you maneuver through life and not try to live it on your own.

All Sinners Are Thrown Out

“Whether they are a man or a woman, send them away so that the camp where I am living among you will not be made unclean.””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

This time of the year, I am reading through Leviticus and Numbers. When I read these books, the rules seem so harsh. These particular verses have always bothered me. If a person has leprosy, they had to leave the camp for a time. I would be sent out of camp a lot because of my sensitive skin. My skin would make me unclean.

They were not welcome because they were unclean.

“and give their offering to the Lord. Their offering must be: a one-year-old male lamb that has nothing wrong with it for a burnt offering; a one-year-old female lamb that has nothing wrong with it for a sin offering; one ram that has nothing wrong with it for a fellowship offering;”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭ERV‬‬

All of the offerings that the Israelites used to make atonement for their sins had to be perfect...nothing wrong with it. No flaws whatsoever.

“Any man who has something wrong with him must not serve as priest and bring sacrifices to me. These men cannot serve as priests: blind men, crippled men, men with bad scars on their faces, men with arms or legs that are too long,

But he cannot go through the curtain into the Most Holy Place and he cannot go near the altar. This is because he has something wrong with him. He must not make my holy places unholy. I am the Lord, and I make these places holy.””
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭21:18, 23‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Even if the heart of the priest is pure, if he has imperfections in his physical appearance he could not serve!

When you read all of these requirements for keeping the camp holy and making the sacrifices holy, you can get discouraged and ask, "Who can ever measure up to that perfection?"

The answer is no one. Not one. We can never ever be perfect enough to stand in God's presence. Our skin can never be blemish-free enough. I always have a rash somewhere on my skin. There can never be a sacrifice great enough that I could offer to a holy God. We can never live a life that is sin-free. It is useless trying to please God, except...

A perfect lamb was found. A perfect priest was found. A perfect, faultless life was found. And it gets even better. This sacrifice counted forever. It did not have to be done over and over and over. That is the incredible news about what Jesus did for me and for you. I do not have to be perfect. Jesus's blood covers me. Because of Jesus, I can come boldly before the throne of God. What an incredible promise!

Life Verse

One of my favorite things to do is search for devotional plans in You Version. After almost 40 years of reading through the Bible, I am reluctant to give up that habit. However, I want to add to that other Bible studies.

After I read my Bible, I take a minute to read a day from one of my devotional plans. One of my favorites is Simplify Your Life by Bill Hybels. I have read through this one many times. He suggested that everyone needs a life verse to live by.

This is his verse.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Powerful verse to memorize and digest over and over again. I have a different life verse.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have said over and over again, if the world does it one way, I will determine to live it the opposite way. If the world values money and what it brings, I want to devalue money in my life and remember that it will never bring me joy. If the women of the world dress one way, especially to gain attention, I will pick a different way. If the world worships HGTV, I need to shy away from decorating all the time by their standard. If the world is addicted to Facebook, I will turn off the sound of it in my life. Am I success at this all the time? Gracious no! But it is a life verse that guides me when I am losing track of "what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God."

I agree with Bill Hybels. Pick a life verse. Let it guide your decisions. You will find over the years, that you start to live by that verse. The Word transforms you and this verse will bring changes if you meditate on it and try to apply it. If you are not sure what to choose for a life verse, google "life verse." Pray about God guiding you to pick a great verse to live by.

The Truth About Tithing

“But the Israelites will give one-tenth of everything they have to the Lord, and I will give that one-tenth to the Levites. That is why I said these words about the Levites: They will not get the land that I promised the Israelites.”

“Speak to the Levites and tell them: The Israelites will give one-tenth of everything they own to the Lord. That one-tenth will belong to the Levites. But you must give one-tenth of that to the Lord as your offering.
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭18:24, 26 ERV‬‬

This verse helps us understand why tithing one-tenth of all our income(not just after tax part) to the local church exists. It is not just a long ago thing that people did. The Israelites were commanded to give one-tenth of all they received to the Levites. The Levites were like our church ministers. They used this to live on and take care of the temple.

Sometimes we read things in the Bible and "claim" promises for ourselves and say that verse applies to me. We would all agree that these verses apply to us.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:25‬ ‭ERV‬‬

““Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Yep, these verses are for me.

But with other verses, we decide that this principal does not apply to me. It is for other people. This verse about tithing is definitely one of those verses that people pick and chose if they want to do this. They figure it applies to rich people or people that don't care about money for some reason. They put it in the category of spiritual gifts. They decided that they do not have the spiritual gift of tithing. Here is some big news. There is not such thing as the "spiritual gift of tithing." Tithing is a command that we obey. By the way, rich people would be the most likely to NOT follow this verse.

God had something to say about this then and He still has something to say about it now.

““People should not steal things from God, but you stole things from me. “You say, ‘What did we steal from you?’ “You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts.

Special gifts are like feeding the poor or supporting missionaries or buying backpacks for school children. They are marvelous. But they are not part of your tithe.

The most incredible thing about this verse is that it comes with an amazing promise! You should tithe just so you can claim this promise.

The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:8, 10‬ ‭ERV

Take it from a girl that tithes. This promise is true. I have more than enough of everything.

Goals for this Year

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

I would love to be wise and successful in everything that I do in 2017. I know that the only way to do this is to know God's Word. The only way to know God's Word is to read it often. The incredible thing about this is that we all have iPhones and iPads and internet connections at our fingertips. We spend a lot of time looking at our phones and iPads. Spend part of that time reading the Bible. We can read God's Word in the morning, during lunch, at the doctor's office, when we first get off work, etc.

I encourage you to pick an app, like YouVersion, and pick a plan to read. I shudder to think that if I had not chosen this path many years ago, I may have made totally different decisions. Trust me, I made a lot of bad decisions. However, continually keeping God's Word in front of me gave me a better chance at making the best decision.

The other part of this verse says to "speak about this book." Share what you read in God's Word. Analyze what it means during Sunday morning small groups or weekly Bible studies. If you are not attending either one, make that a goal for 2017. Don't keep it to yourself. Talk about it all the time so that others will start thinking that you really love the Word and live by it!

In less than two weeks, the new year will be here. Set goals for 2017 that are radically different from last year. Pray before you begin and ask God to help you set goals. When 2016 began, I had no idea all the things that would happen...some good and others not so good. Can you imagine how thankful I am that I was trusting in the Lord this past year and not leaning to my own understanding?

None of us can fathom what this year will hold. Events that must be bathed in wisdom and prayer. Get ready. The new year begins whether we are ready or not.  

Are You a Pretender?

““Great blessings belong to those who have washed their robes. They will have the right to eat the food from the tree of life. They can go through the gates into the city. Outside the city are all those who live like dogs—those who do evil magic, those who sin sexually, those who murder, those who worship idols, and those who love to lie and pretend to be good.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:14-15‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Because I read through the Bible every year, this is what I always read on December 31...every single year. It occurred to me that I should share this truth to all who will listen.

There will be a time when our lives will be judged. There will be a time when all the pretending will be over. These verses state that outside the city will be the pretenders. Those that worship idols. There are a lot of idol worshippers in America. A lot of people worship the material things that the world offers. Can I lay these down and be satisfied with what God provides? Can I be happy with the 90% that I need to live on? Tenth percent is His, rest is ours.

A lot of people living in America are living in sexual sin and pretend that it is okay. More pretending. Some say that they can be in love with the Lord and they are awaiting His return but they do not try obey what is in His word. We are either in love with Him and want to run after Him or we are not. There will be a day when all the pretending will be over. Let today be the day when you get sick of living the lie.


He Will Keep Me in Perfect Peace

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:165‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Great reason to keep your goal of reading the Word everyday! This promise belongs to those who read the Word and love the Word. God promises us that we will not stumble. He did not say that we will never have troubles. But the powerful promise that we will not stumble or lose our balance when life brings us troubles.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He promises us peace in the middle of those troubles. When I start the day with His Word, I can start the day with peace because my mind is focused on Him. So many people start the day with Facebook. Last time I checked, Facebook does not bring you peace.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The best reason of all to start the day with His Word...we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We will be able to discern God's will. The world is not starting the day with God's Word. We need to!

If You Talk a Lot...

“The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Auuugghhh! I do love to talk. So I must be ready to accept what my words bring. Am I speaking words of encouragement, kindness, wisdom, and truth? At the end of the day, it will be worth 5-10 minutes to reflect the words that I said to others...especially to Mark.

A good way to tell if my words are bringing life or death is to see a measure of growth or discouragement with ones I am using the most words. For example, how does Mark treat me? If I don't like what I see, then I need to change my choice of words to Mark. Do you know why? I can't change Mark, only the Lord can do that. But I can change my words to be kind, patient and loving.

If you are not currently married, chose a person that you use a lot of words with...your parents, your children, your co-workers. Is there a person that needs your words to be soft and loving but full of truth? You will reap what you sow.
“If you think you can fool God, you are only fooling yourselves. You will harvest what you plant.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

There are no shortcuts in growing plants. There are not shortcuts in growing great relationships with others.

Don't Cut with a Dull Knife

“But wisdom will make any job easier. It is very hard to cut with a dull knife. But if you sharpen the knife, the job is easier.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭ERV‬‬

By this time in January, most people have forgotten their New Year's resolution. I hope one of your resolutions was to read God's Word everyday. If you are slipping, then there is something to consider.

Reading God's Word is not a checklist. Never was. Never will be. Instead it is a daily seeking the voice of all wisdom and power and pouring out your heart back to Him.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We all want wisdom. We want transformation in our lives. Gracious, we want weight loss. We want financial freedom. We want contentment. However, many of us want these things at no cost, instant results, no pain.

"If you sharpen the knife, the job will be easier." By reading God's Word every single day and pleading with God to change you, you are sharpening the knife. The change will not be overnight but it will be easier by using a sharp knife...the word of God.

The enemy wants to lie, deceive and trick you into thinking that a little more sleep is better for you than a quiet time with the Lord. Don't play his game. Don't listen to his lies. He wants to destroy you.

Wait and Look

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:25‬ ‭ERV‬‬

There are two powerful action words in this verse...wait and look. Many of His promises in the Bible revolve around waiting on Him and looking for Him.

Are you looking for Him? Looking involves a intentionality each day to stop and read His Word and talk to Him. If we spend our whole day with other things and never take time to "look for Him," we are missing the main reason that we exist. TV is not the main reason that we exist. Food is not the main reason we exist. Even work is not the reason that we were created. We were created for fellowship with our creator.

The other thing that we need to do is wait. Just because I start a diet today, I won't reach my goal today. Just because I start saving money today, I have to wait and continue to save money for a goal. When we purpose that we will not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, we have to wait and trust that God will transform us.

Hallelujah! This verse says that God is so good to those who seek Him and wait for Him. I need God's goodness today.

Who is Your Enemy?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It all started with selling my old iPhone on Craigslist. I bought a new iPhone about 6 months ago and just now decided that I could sell that phone for about $300. Mark found the original box that it came in. I was writing the ad and I sweetly asked, "Do you know where the phone charger is that came with this phone? I want to add that to my description."

Mark - Well, I still have the charger to my old phone.

Me- Well, how do you know that that is not my old phone charger?

Mark- I'm positive. I never lose my charger. I leave it in the same place.

Me- I never lose my phone charger either so that is my charger.

Mark- Nope...this is always kept in the drawer until I need it.

Pat- How do you know that you didn't put my phone charger in your drawer one time? I think that is my phone charger!

This went on and on. Wow! How can you get so mad over a phone charger? We finally had the good sense to stop and pray over it. We realized that our battle is NOT EVER against flesh and blood but against spirits and principalities.

Our enemy is a great deceiver and liar and wants to steal our joy. I love that Mark Cooper with all my heart❤️❤️❤️❤️. He is the love of my life. But he had better give me back my phone charger right now:):):).

Show Mercy to Others

“Yes, you must show mercy to others. If you do not show mercy, then God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the one who shows mercy can stand without fear before the Judge.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭ERV‬‬

One thing about reading the Bible everyday for years, you can never exhaust the knowledge that you gain from it. The knowledge and truth will be what you need that day and the same verse may show someone else that they need.

These verses jumped on me today. As a teacher of middle school students, it is a daily occurrence that a student needs mercy! They are their own worst enemy. I can't give up on them, no matter how hard I may be tempted. I can never lose hope in what they will become one day. If I don't show mercy to a 7th grader, how can I expect God to show mercy to me?

How about about work? Have you given up on your boss or a coworker? Do you sincerely give them mercy? Love never quits. Never. Don't give up on God transforming them if you ask Him.

How about people you encounter in everyday life? This is a tough one because we don't think it matters. When a salesperson messes up our order or we get overcharged or a driver smashes our car or the waiter brings us the less than perfect order? We act like this person is doing this on purpose to us and we do not give them one ounce of mercy. God will remember this when it's time for us to need His mercy. We have a hundred reasons why we deserve mercy but we accept no reasons why that person needed mercy.

What about family member? Probably every person has a story of a relative that has hurt you or wronged you and you do not feel like giving them any mercy. You tried but you have washed your hands of them. You have no hope that they will ever change. Aren't we thankful that God does not give up on us.

How about in our marriages? Do I give mercy to Mark? I try to pray every Tuesday specifically for Mark. Do I pray with confidence that God can be trusted to transform Mark? I must admit that Mark is a much better person than me but he still has some mess-ups and my first reaction is to not give him mercy. Why? We just do that when people offend us. But I certainly expect Mark to show me mercy when I mess up.

God is patiently speaking to us through His word. However, sometimes we just don't have "ears to hear." Lord, I pray that what you say in your word literally jumps off the page.

“Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬