When We Go Through the Rivers

The Lord created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the Lord says:

Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through the sea, I am with you.
When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flames will not harm you.
I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you.
Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.
Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you.
I will exchange others for you.
Nations will be the price I pay for your life.

Isaiah 43:1-4


Heavenly Father,
When we find ourselves in uncomfortable places and feeling unsettled, unsure, shaken or overwhelmed...lead us to the Rock that is higher than us...and keep leading.

Lead us because we need to follow.
Lead us because we need to know You love us.
Lead us because we need to know You're in control.
Lead us because we need to know You're with us.
Lead us because we need to know You're real.
Lead usbecause we need to know You will.

We need to know You desire to not leave us where we are, but to take us from there to where You are...moving us to a place you've prepared for us...a place above our daily insecurities, ahead of the things that seem to always be at our heels, away from the things that burden, bind and oppress us, and over and beyond the present difficulties of circumstance.

Lead us to the place of healing You have for each one of us.

At Your feet...
Safe in You're Arms...
Where we hear the Word of encouragement...
Where a strong assuring arm is around our shoulder...
Where we feel the covering of our hand with You're hand...
Where You shelter us from the storm...
Where You carry us when we can't walk...
And steer when we can't see...

Where You Sing over us as we rest...
...Imparting joy and laughter to our spirit.
Shining light in the darkness...
...Lifting us out of the pit.
Revealing truth in the rising of Your Son...
Resurrecting in us new hope, new life and new dreams.


May we trust in You and lean not on our own understanding and may we taste and see the goodness of You in the land of the living...and find peace and rest for our souls.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen


Gina Higgins

He Holds Your Heart

In the Potter's hands,
The clay of the earth shaped the Living Temple.
The breath of God; the cry of pure innocence...brought it to life.
The blood of a Savior "taken in,"
imparted a "lasting" communion,
And the lifeblood flowed through,
And covered the Temple in grace.


Gone is the evidence

Of this earthly life,
But for eternity...in our hearts.
Freed from earthly garments

And the grave,
This earthen vessel
Once lifeless and without form,
Now contains a treasure
a heart and Spirit,
A light...
Shining out of darkness.
Full of power, not of us
But of Heaven and the Kingdom.
Giving knowledge of the glory
Of the One who gave His life...
So that we too, might have it.


"Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
'He did not make me'?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
'He has no understanding'? "
Isaiah 29:16


But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Heavenly Father,
Only You could be so well aware of our heart condition...
Over-stressed, wearied, wounded, hard or broken...out of rhythm, overworked or struggling to keep the pace. You have held each and every heart in Your hands and designed it to flow with love and beat to the chorus of heaven.
How easily we take ownership over our hearts; Your creation -- thinking we somehow know best.
If only we might quit guarding our hearts and "let go," we just might see You never have. We just might see the Potter's hands still gently wrapped around the clay, reshaping, remolding, healing and holding...the object of His love, the apple of His eye...for in it He holds the world He so loved that He gave His only Son. Thank You Father, for loving us in a way we will never fully understand until we see You face to face.
In Your Son's Glorious Name,
Amen

Cause to Celebrate

We are familiar with the old phrase from Daniel about "the writing on the wall." 

In the spirit of God's extravagant love, redeeming grace and resurrection power...I want to suggest we profess and acclaim the "new!"

That God has put a "new" kind of writing on the wall.

I saw it yesterday... and I saw it again, today.

As I looked over at three signs on the wall - with the words HOPE, FAITH and INSPIRE written on them - I saw a celebration!  Light from the window was shining through a prism and there were about 35 to 40 different dots showering the wall in a moving, colorful "rainbow" confetti of light!  It was as though God was saying:

Rejoice! My "light" and My "words of life" are great cause to celebrate! 

Heavenly Father, 

Though the Son often arrives unexpected...when we look for Him we will find Him... and when we invite Him in... He will fill the walls of our hearts with the promises of hope. And just like the prism, as we brilliantly reflect Him, our mourning will turn into dancing and joy will spring up in our heart. We will see the words of life and the promises "to give us a hope and a future" swirling around us, delighting to get our attention. 

Sweetly, You ask us for this dance...a dance of trust...and of comfort and assurance. As our steps follow Yours, we have that kind of "knowing" feeling inside that says to our hearts, "Truly, You have us," if ever we were to fall. 

And so, I can almost see You smiling and hear You saying, right after our twirl, "I think you just might be ready for the dip." 

Lead on...Awesome Savior...lead on.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins