When God Draws Near

– Our Need for Redemption –

Our God is not a faraway God, a character in a fairy tale. He sees our needs and He meets them. From clothing the lilies to healing the sick, He is not detached from our physical needs.

As much as He delights in meeting each need of our flesh, He is far more generous in meeting the needs of our spirit.

He draws near in the midst of our great need.
He draws near with the whispered truth of His love.
He draws near with the hope-filled promise of our redemption.
When God draws near, He meets our greatest need: redemption.

-Devotional excerpt by Teri Lynne Underwood.

You are Loved by Jesus

Higher than the sky. Deeper than the ocean.
More than you’ve even dared to dream.
The hairs on your heard are numbered.
The cares in your heart are too.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have a purpose, and there is a good plan for you.
You are fully and beautifully known, by One Who loves you…more than you can even imagine.

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Source: DaySpring Daily Devotion via Email

God’s Purpose for Adversity

I found this old devotional from InTouch Ministries while reviewing my inbox.  This is really very interesting topic and I encourage you to read it.

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Have you ever wondered why the Lord allows tragedy, sickness, and other suffering in our lives? Part of the answer lies in the fact that we inhabit a fallen world; the sin of Adam and Eve altered God’s original creation. However, the good news is that God uses adversity to show us our profound need for Him.

The Old Testament saint Jacob experienced something that forever changed how he related to God. The Lord weakened him physically to strengthen him spiritually. In a similar way, God wants to use adversity in our lives to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

Continue here (http://www.intouch.org/you/bible-studies/content/topic/god_s_purpose_for_adversity_study)

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Source: Daily Devotional from InTouch Ministries via email.

What’s Jesus Doing Now?

The New Testament tells us what Jesus did while He was on earth, but what is He doing now that He has ascended to the Father in heaven? His physical absence does not mean that He has abandoned us. Though we cannot presently see Him, His Word assures us that He is always acting on our behalf to empower, lead, and complete us.

He gives us abundant life (John 10:10). Christ enables us to live with peace, joy, and the strength and determination to persist in accomplishing whatever He calls us to do.

The Lord makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34). Jesus hears our every prayer and is seated at His Father’s right hand, presenting our requests to Him.

Christ reveals the Father. By seeing God through the Son’s eyes, we understand that He’s our loving heavenly Father, who is personally interested in every aspect of our lives. Scripture invites us to follow Jesus’ example of ongoing intimate conversation with God.

He’s preparing a place for us and will one day come to take us home to heaven so we can be with Him forever (John 14:2-3).

The Lord Jesus is also preparing for His return to rule and reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

“Out of sight, out of mind” is definitely not a phrase that describes Christ’s relationship with us. He never forgets us and is continually working to complete His plans for both our lives and the entire world. His constant care should motivate us to make sure that He’s not out of our sight and mind.

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Source: Email Daily Devotion from InTouch Ministries

God’s Perfect Gift

Little baby on the hay,
soon there’ll be another day
when nails shall pierce
Your hands and feet
as You provide our sin’s defeat.

Risen Jesus on the throne,
we lift our praise to You alone-
for You’re the gift that we receive
the moment that our hearts believe.
– Roy Lessin

Thank God for this gift, His gift. No language can praise it enough!

2 Corinthians 9:15 The Message