THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Lord, when we meet a new friend, we often introduce ourselves by sharing what we do. Some individuals take pride in the titles that follow their names, while others like to mention their prestigious university alma mater. Some may identify as a teacher, a lawyer, or a construction worker. Mothers might downplay their roles and introduce themselves as only a stay-at-home mom. Lord, help them to recognize that being a stay-at-home mom is one of the most significant jobs in the world, as it involves creating a home for her family and using her influence to raise her children to become responsible adults.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers in Ephesus, emphasized the importance of understanding one’s spiritual identity after committing to following you. Life in this fallen world can be challenging, even for devoted Christ-followers. The Ephesian believers faced severe persecution, yet their unwavering faith became widely known.

Paul encouraged them to remain steadfast, reminding them that you would never abandon them. He noted that God the Father identifies them as his own. This truth remains unchanged through the centuries.

***We are “loved and chosen by God himself to be His people” (Ephesians 1:4).

***God has adopted us into an elite group—his family (Ephesians 1:5).

***He grants believers spiritual wisdom and revelation about His sovereign character—the mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:8, 9).

Lord, when I look at that person in the mirror, help me not see my failures and imperfections, but see myself the way you see me—beloved, chosen, and a favored child in your family. May I never forget this truth. Help me order my steps to follow in your truth every day.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, August 18, 2025

Lord, you are good. You always do what is right, especially when a follower of Christ goes astray. Scripture refers to you as our Good Shepherd, and we are your people, the sheep of your pasture (Psalm 100:3).

Like sheep, Christ-followers sometimes wander from the flock, convincing ourselves that our pastures are greener. We delude ourselves into thinking that we are the only shepherd our flock needs, muting your voice to a mere whisper. With our attention consumed by our desires, we become unaware of the ravenous wolves circling nearby, waiting to strike. Yet, as the faithful Good Shepherd you are, you stand between your flock and the wolves. Someone once wrote that the wolf is not afraid of the sheep but is terrified of the Shepherd.

True to your character, you desire that none should perish when we stray from you. The psalmist, and this writer, are incredibly imperfect believers. Some friends, and even most foes, might say our imperfections are legendary. Thankfully, both the psalmist and I have experienced your mercies firsthand. When we acknowledge our fallen, wandering state—recognizing that we don’t deserve mercy—your Spirit reminds us that “mercy” is a fundamental aspect of who you are.

Lead us home again, Lord. Help us, your followers, to order our lives so that we might stay close to you. Encourage us to recognize and reject the enemy’s voices that constantly tempt us. Personally, may I grow closer to you to the point where I hear no voice but yours, my Good Shepherd (John 10:11). When I spend time with you, Jesus, the sheep-devouring wolves don’t stand a chance.

A big AMEN!

Chatting with Jesus
Friday, July 11, 2025

Lord, we remember that in our early years, our parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and caring adults advised us that if we couldn’t say something nice about someone, we shouldn’t say anything at all. This advice was meant to keep us out of trouble. However, as young people trying to find our identity, we often ignored that wisdom. In our immature thinking, putting someone down made us feel better about ourselves. Unfortunately, this trait can stick with us into adulthood.

As I reflect on my early adult years, I realize I often did this. While exploring the Psalms, I wonder if the psalmist faced a similar struggle, dealing with his own thoughts or frustrations toward someone else. The psalmist wrote:

“Does anyone want to live a long and prosperous life? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!” (Psalm 34:12, 13 NLT).

This advice couldn’t be clearer.

Lord, Your Word speaks loudly about how our tongues can get us into more trouble than a politician’s outrageous lies. Your earthly brother James pointed out that our tongue, though a small part of our body, can ignite an uncontrollable “forest fire” (James 3:1–10). Our human nature tends to exaggerate, making us seem greater than we really are. Your Word makes it clear how you view such boasting.

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility as you relate to one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5 NLT).

Lord, may we never forget that we are not self-made believers. As your Holy Spirit guides us, may our words and actions bless others and help us honor you in everything we do.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Lord, the psalmist wrote countless songs about your faithfulness, yet surely, he experienced a bad day at some point. Scripture records his struggles with temptation and his human vulnerability. He was honest about his dark, wandering times. Fortunately, he stayed close to you for most of his life. Your mercy and the wonders of your grace showed the psalmist that despite our weaknesses, your unconditional love never ends (Lamentations 3:22). Like many believers, once he came to his senses, he called out to his “rock.”

“I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die. Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help” (Psalm 28:1, 2 NLT).

Lord, he sounded desperate. He needed divine help. But without sincere repentance, all his efforts to find peace failed. Nothing has changed over time. In tough times, when hope is gone, people tend to give up.

How many of us have felt the same? How many have seen our situation as hopeless? And how many of us have experienced your grace and mercy when we were desperate? I count myself among all of these.

“Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy…” (Psalm 28:6,7 NLT).

Like the psalmist, “I burst out in songs of thanksgiving” (verse 7). Who wants to sing with me?

Amen, Jesus.

Happy Birthday, America.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 

Thank you, Lord God. 

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Lord, you have a way of revealing spiritual truths through the least known, smallest books of the Bible. One of these is the book of Hosea. The prophet Hosea lived 750 years before you came, but his description of his society easily applies to ours today. Religious, yet godless. Intellectual, yet shallow. Aware of God’s standards yet dismissed them as irrelevant. They followed religious traditions handed down to them, yet their godless lifestyles reflected a rejection of godly morals. Worship was meaningless, just a checkbox they marked as “complete.” You found these people guilty of worshiping the pleasures of life instead of you, Lord, the one true God. Read Hosea’s warning to the culture of his day. Sound familiar?

“There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another. That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away” (Hosea 4:1–3 NLT)

Fast forward 2,700 years, and Hosea’s description of society reflects today’s culture. Humanity’s selfish desires reject change. Thanks be to you, God, we have good news.

Jesus, you came to rescue us from this mess we created when we foolishly turned away from you. We’ve learned our lesson. We’re coming home to you. Only you can heal our land and renew us as people who reflect that you are our God.

Lord, as we prepare to celebrate our 250th anniversary of our nation’s freedom, help us remember that our spiritual freedom comes from you because your sacrifice on the cross has redeemed us from our sin. Thank you, Jesus, for our independence from sin. Amen.

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Lord, this broken world offers people countless life path choices. Because you have given humankind free will, we can choose the path we believe is best suited for us. For Christ-followers, your Holy Spirit, who lives within each believer, guides us on our journey. Scripture assures us of your promise never to leave or forsake your children along the way. We believe you have a unique life path for each believer, allowing each one to decide whether to follow your path or their own.

Sadly, closely following us is the devil and his temptations, becoming unwanted companions that pester believers with false promises that seem too good to be true. “Be the captain of your ship,” the Tempter suggests. “Who knows you better than yourself?” His lie that “we can be equal to God” has not changed since the Garden of Eden and that ugly forbidden fruit incident.

Jesus, your warning concerning temptation to your followers remains relevant today:

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Later, the Apostle Paul reminded the struggling Corinthian believers that they were not alone when the Tempter came knocking:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).

Lord, just as your Spirit protected believers when tempted in biblical times, your protection has not wavered. You are our safeguard today as well, and you are faithful to show us the way out.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, June 30, 2025

Lord, how arrogant of me. I was king of my hill. Raised in a religious environment, I considered myself a moral and decent guy. According to society, I fit the mold of a good citizen. Non-controversial. Not a troublemaker. Civil to all people except those I couldn’t stand, and I would have done my happy dance if they had a flat in the middle of the freeway during rush hour … in the rain.

Jesus, when your grace opened my understanding as to who you are, my inner man’s sinful condition became clear. A great spiritual abyss existed between you and me, and my soul was in danger. A personal relationship with you, Lord, was what was missing in my life. Raised in a Christian home, I knew about you from Sunday school lessons, but I didn’t truly know you. In other words, Jesus, I believed that yes, you existed, but I didn’t understand how your death on a cross in an ancient Middle Eastern land could, 2,000 years later, cancel my sins and transform me into a new person today.

The apostle Paul encouraged his Corinthian friends, reminding them where they were, and their souls’ spiritual danger, and by God’s grace only, God welcomed them into his kingdom.

“You were dead in your sins and not part of the family of God. He made you alive with Christ and forgave all your sins. He canceled our spiritual debts that condemned us as sinners by taking our sins to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-15 paraphrased).

Thank you, Jesus, for revealing how you canceled our sin debt and made us a part of your family.  Amen.