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Two Easter Treasures to Tuck into Your Heart

April 5, 2022Jeannie Waters20 Comments

Our two youngest granddaughters make Easter egg hunts a year-round sport. Whether the calendar reads July, December, or April, as soon as they enter our home, they make their plea, “Gigi, let’s hunt Easter eggs.” Bad weather? Indoors works, too.

No matter what other fun we plan, the hunt for empty, plastic Easter eggs is the priority. (Of course, when Poppy helps, the girls sometimes find coins in the eggs.)

“Okay, Gigi,” the girls say after they’ve hunted. “Now we’ll hide them, and you find them.” I wonder why they’re intrigued by the repetitious activity of finding normally empty plastic eggs throughout the year.

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I suppose the hide-and-find aspect resembles a treasure hunt—the thrill of the “find.” They search from low tree limbs to grassy patches and delight in discovering purple, pink, and yellow eggs. Of course, the pitch of their sweet voices heightens when they find the best prize of all—the golden egg.

I found two golden treasures this week as I reread what Jesus prayed shortly before the first Resurrection Day. John 17, a passage often labeled the “High Priestly Prayer,” begins, “Jesus … lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come’” (v. 1, NKJV).

Jesus then prayed for Himself (vv. 1-5), for His disciples (vv. 6-19), and for future believers (vv. 20-26), including us. ¹

When His heart and His words turned to us—those who would seek forgiveness, believe on His name, and surrender to His Lordship centuries later—Jesus asked that believers be united as one like He and the Father are one. Then He added, “that the world may believe that You sent Me” (v. 21).

I clutched the first treasure in this part of Jesus’ prayer and tucked it into my heart. What a treasure for us to consider—that our fellowship in Christ and with each other would influence the spread of the gospel.

What a treasure for us to consider—that our fellowship in Christ and with each other would influence the spread of the gospel. Share on X

Jesus prayed for our unity because it enhances an effective witness to the world. Unity includes marriage, families, and among friends, coworkers, neighbors, and church members.

Believers are to “be one” like Jesus and the Father are one. I’m sure you’ll agree harmony on this heavenly level requires the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. When we treasure this part of the prayer and draw closer to our Lord, He will provide wisdom for troubled relationships and instruct us in how to promote unity.

The last words of Jesus in verses 22-23 were the next golden finds I treasured. I concentrated on these verses more than I ever had before.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (vv. 22-23).
John 17:22-23 NKJV

I paused to consider the face and heart of Jesus as He looked to heaven just days before men hurled spit and hatred upon Him. Days before soldiers enjoyed mocking and beating Him. Days before thorns pierced His head and nails punctured His hands and feet. Days before His mother, Mary wept at His blood-stained feet.

In this prayer John recorded, at that particular moment in time, Jesus talked to God the Father about me—one who would surrender to Him centuries later. Through tear-filled eyes, I continued to read.

The words Jesus spoke to the Father tell us God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Ponder that. How could God possibly love me as much as He loves Jesus? “For God so loved the world …” (John 3:16, emphasis mine.)

Numerous verses in the Bible mention God’s love. 1 John 4:10 reads,

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:10 NKJV

Jesus demonstrated love. Max Lucado wrote, “When asked to describe the width of his love, he stretched out one hand to the right and the other to the left and had them nailed in that position so you would know he died loving you.” ²

As we reflect on these two treasures in the prayer of Jesus, we can look toward Easter with a renewed sense of our relationship to God through His beloved Son—our Savior—the Lord Jesus Christ. May we draw closer to Him and may our unity demonstrate His magnificent love to others.

As you read the events of the crucifixion and Resurrection, place the treasures you find in the Easter basket of your heart to give you a renewed view of Easter.

Which parts of the Easter story are golden finds to you? I look forward to reading your comments.

Here’s a link to another Easter post: Is Your Heart Dressed for Easter?

Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

¹The ESV Study Bible, Crossway: Wheaton, Illinois, 2008.

²Lucado, Max. He Chose the Nails: What God Did to Win Your Heart. Thomas Nelson: Nashville, 2000.

Trusting God for Wants and Needs

March 22, 2022Jeannie Waters35 Comments

When my husband and I visited a mall with a friend, our five-year-old daughter, Tyler Marie, instantly spied a stuffed deer in the toy shop window. She led me by the hand into the store, picked up the cute animal with huge eyes and soft brown fur, and asked us to buy it. “I really need this deer, Mommy, because I don’t have a deer.”

“But you have lots of stuffed animals,” I responded.

“But I don’t have a deer. I’ve never had a deer in my whole life. Can we please buy him? Pleeease?”

My husband reminded our little shopper, “Honey, remember the stuffed dog we bought? There’s no money left in the toy budget.”

While we searched for a birthday gift we needed, our persistent little one occasionally circled back to the deer. Exasperated at our lack of cooperation, she tried one additional tactic.

She held the deer in front of us and cued up instant little-girl drama. “Just look at his sad eyes, Daddy. The little deer needs me. He’s very lonely.”

We’d transitioned from a five-year-old’s “need” to that of a stuffed animal. (Imagine parental eye-rolling.)

We stifled laughter, and my friend whispered to my husband, “Pleeease, could I buy the deer for her? I haven’t spent my stuffed animal budget.”

I’ll end the story by saying Tyler Marie smiled all the way to the car, and the little stuffed deer was never lonely again. In fact, he now lives … happily ever after … in Tyler’s daughter’s room.

The memory of our shopping trip prompted me to consider my wants and needs. I may not employ drama like my young daughter did or beg for material things, but I sometimes confuse wants and needs.

And I must admit … I may have pouted a time or two when I couldn’t get something I wanted or thought I needed. May have? Okay, I have. My wants sometimes cloud my view of God’s blessings and tempt me to classify my desires as needs.

Our Needs

In the Sermon on the Mount, after Jesus reminded His followers of God’s provision for the birds and the lilies, He said,

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Matthew 6:31-32 ESV

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We can trust our heavenly Father to know all our needs, as well as the deep desires of our hearts and the fears that threaten to sidetrack our faith. Rising costs, world affairs, health concerns or healthcare costs, savings account balances, family squabbles, broken relationships, wayward children …

He knows.

Once we surrender our lives to Jesus and receive the gift of salvation, we enter God’s kingdom and have the assurance of His provision for our needs. Our loving Father knows what they are, and He meets them.

Once we surrender our lives to Jesus and receive the gift of salvation, we enter God’s kingdom and have the assurance of His provision for our needs. Share on X

Jesus tells us how to view needs.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34 ESV

Our Wants

We understand, as God’s children, we can trust Him to meet our needs. But what about the wants, the “stuffed deer” we fall in love with? What about our dreams or how they will make us happier, or our lives more convenient or beautiful or pleasant?

Is it wrong to satisfy our wants with useful or pretty things to make life easier or to beautify our homes? To take a trip or enjoy a hobby? I don’t think so.

The problem arises when we confuse needs and wants, insist on our own way, refuse to give, and focus more on our gifts than the Giver. How can we view wants and needs and blessings in ways that honor God?

As always, thought transformation begins with Him. Consider this verse:

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 ESV

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will praise Him and seek Him. We will give to others from a grateful heart. We will desire His way above our way, and our eyes will focus on Him.

When we delight in our loving God, our desires align with those in His heart. As with needs, we can trust our wants to Him, too. He will grant the desires of our heart when they match His because He longs for us to honor Him, and He delights in blessing us.

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will praise Him and seek Him. Share on X

Perhaps printing Matthew 6:31-32 and Psalm 37:4 on a card will help us when we confuse needs or wants or when doubts and fears knock on our hearts’ doors. We can trust God to provide our needs and align our desires with His desires for us. Our needs and wants are safe in His hands.

Does it brighten your day to think about delighting in the Lord? How do you distinguish between needs and wants? How has God changed your heart? I hope you’ll join the conversation in the comment section.

Here’s an excellent post about trusting God by Debbie W. Wilson on her site, www.debbiewwilson.com.

Is It Wise to Trust God with Your Problems? by Debbie W. Wilson

Learning to Trust by Guest Blogger, Lori Hatcher

March 7, 2022Jeannie Waters30 Comments

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.png — Lori Hatcher~LoriHatcher.com

Welcome to Lori Hatcher, today’s guest blogger.

Reader friend, you’re in for a treat with Lori’s devotion AND an opportunity to win A FREE COPY of her new devotional book.

We all know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares five-minute story-driven devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Lori, one of my favorite devotional writers, has a brand new book out. Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise. I’m learning so much from Lori’s valuable devotions. Today, I’m honored to share one devotion from the book with you, dear reader.

Guest Post by Lori Hatcher: Learning to Trust

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

(Mark 4:40)

Our dog Winston was the biggest scaredy cat in the canine world. We credit his timidity to his time in “The Big House.” The runt of the litter, seven-week-old Winston was malnourished and mangy when someone dropped him off at the animal shelter.

Thankfully the animal control officer was married to Grace, the president of the animal rescue league. He told her about the tiny, freckle-faced puppy, and she saw potential in him. Eying his patchy fur and protruding ribs, she announced, “I can cure his mange and fatten him up. He’ll make someone a great pet.”

Until his mange cured, Grace kept Winston isolated. By the time we adopted him, he’d spent a large portion of his life alone. We weren’t surprised to discover he had trust issues.

Imagine what it would be like to go from an isolated crate in the corner of a room to a big wide world bustling with sights, sounds, and smells. Falling leaves sent him running for cover. Sudden noises caused him to hide under the nearest piece of furniture. One day we were playing in an open field when a plastic grocery bag blew his way. He bolted like Sasquatch was chasing him.

Winston reminds me of myself in the early days of my faith. God didn’t rescue me from The Big House, but He did rescue me from a dark and hopeless future. He cured my sin sickness and promised to take care of me all the days of my life.

But I had trust issues. At the first rustle of change or clatter of trouble, I ran for cover.

Like the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, I cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care about me?”

I was convinced—God was sleeping, and I was going to drown.

I had to extend lots of love and patience to persuade Winston to trust me. When scary things frightened him, I called his name, dropped to my knees, and opened my arms wide. “Come, Winston,” I said. “Come to me. I’ll protect you.”

Before long he learned to run to me instead of away from me. One day I walked him on a busy street to condition him not to fear traffic noises. In the distance a fire truck roared our way. Seeing the threat, I dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around him, and covered him with my body until the truck howled past.

“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered into his trembling ear. “I’ve got you.”

God did the same for me. As I prayed and He answered, I learned to run to Him whenever anything frightening entered my world. When I brought financial needs, sickness, and relationship troubles to Him in prayer, I saw Him respond. When the leaves of uncertainty rustled, I shared my fears with Him. When unemployment, a wayward child, or a troubling situation roared into my life, I sought protection in His mighty arms and found comfort and help.

As He answered my prayers and responded to my needs, my trust grew.

“Don’t be afraid,” God whispered to my trembling heart. “I’ve got you.”

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to pray about everything. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God met my needs; kept me free from sickness, pain, and sorrow; and intercepted every problem before it touched my life?

If He did, though, I’d never learn to trust Him. My faith would be as malnourished as Winston when Grace rescued him. I’d take every good gift for granted and never recognize that it came from the generous hand of my heavenly Father.

In heaven, nothing will make me afraid, and my faith will become sight. Until then, my fear drives me to pray, and God’s answers grow my faith.

As Winston learned to trust me, our relationship grew sweeter. No longer plagued by fear and distrust, he could freely enjoy the life we shared.

As I’ve learned to trust God, our relationship has grown sweeter too. I’ve learned He’s not asleep on the job. He’s aware of all my needs and is fully able to meet them. This knowledge frees me to face life with confidence.

Jesus asked His disciples two questions in the middle of the storm. He asks us the same: “Why are you so afraid?” and “Do you still have no faith?” Because faith pleases God, I’m learning to embrace every need that sends me running into His arms. No matter what threatens, I find them always open.

Uncommon Power

God calls me to pray so I can learn to trust Him.

Praise Prompt

Father, thank you for patiently teaching me to love and trust you. I praise you for being trustworthy, faithful, and good. Grow my faith, Lord. When trials and trouble enter my life, help me run to you first. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, amen.

Live It Out

List all the ways God has provided for you in the last week. In the last month. In the last year. List everything from the air in your lungs, to the clothes on your back, to the roof over your head. Think also of the nonmaterial gifts. Has God been faithful? Remember this the next time you feel afraid. Run to Him and grow in faith and trust.

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A GIFT FROM LORI

You could win a FREE copy of Refresh Your Prayers. On Friday, March 11th at 12:00 noon, I’ll draw a name from readers who comment on the post. Watch for the winner’s name in the comments here and on my Facebook page, Jeannie Waters, Writer.

In the comments, share your thoughts about how prayer helps build your faith or how Lori’s devotion blessed you.

About the Author

Lori Hatcher is a pastor’s wife who lives delightfully close to her four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. She’s the author of several devotional books including Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise. She’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Refresh . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

About the Book

Taken from Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise by Lori Hatcher© 2022. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at permissionsdept@odb.org.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com, Christian Book.com, and wherever fine books are sold.

A Picture Window View: Notice God’s Blessings

February 22, 2022Jeannie Waters26 Comments

If you could select any location to visit today, would it be the endodontist’s office? It certainly wouldn’t be mine, but there I was a few weeks ago. I’d prayed for peace because complications with a back tooth’s root canal made the prior visit less than pleasant.

Although I sensed God’s presence and knew I could trust Him, anxiety perched on my shoulder and accompanied me into the room. I reluctantly settled into the reclining leather chair which faced a huge window with a view of a grassy courtyard.

I took deep breaths and once again asked God to calm me and help the endodontist do well. (I reasoned if she did well, I’d do well.) After the x-rays and numbing shots, I waited alone while the staff cared for patients in adjoining rooms.

More prayer. More deep breaths.

Then I gazed out the picture window because God’s creation usually calms me. I concentrated on the clouds, the trees, and a huge bird feeder suspended from a pole.

My mother was always so brave. She trusted You. Why can’t I simply trust you, God? You are worthy of my trust, and I know You’re with me.

As I prayed, a black-capped chickadee landed on the bird feeder. I watched him through teary eyes and thanked God for the pretty bird—my mother’s favorite species.

A little tufted titmouse soon joined the chickadee. I remembered my dad teaching me how to identify them. God’s providing entertainment while I wait. He knows I’m a fan of nature.

Next, a red cardinal added color to the scene, and then a sweet little brown and white sparrow flitted in to join the party. Oh, heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that You care for the little sparrow—this very one—and you care for me.

As if the visits of these feathered friends weren’t enough, guess which species showed up next. Doves. A pair of doves. They gleaned the seeds that fell on the ground from the activity at the feeder. Father God, how generous You are to send me this symbol of Your peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

I thought about a familiar passage with a command and a promise:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

When I released the anxiety, God’s peace filled my soul. No more deep breaths and clenched teeth.

His peace surrounded me as I noticed a new party attendee. A squirrel joined the doves for a seed fest under the feeder.

All was well until a party crasher disturbed the peace. A huge orange cat darted into the outdoor dining room and caused quite a ruckus while seeds scattered and birds flew. The squirrel raced up a nearby tree. The bird feeder slowly stopped swaying.

By the time the endodontist re-entered the room, the courtyard was as still as it had been when I entered the room. I felt like the outdoor entertainment with its symbolism was for me alone–at the exact time I needed it.

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How often do I miss God’s provision? How often do I ignore His gifts on the table He prepares before me (Psalm 23:5) because I’m too focused on the problem I’m facing or the fear of something unseen?

What I notice easily are signs of spring. Bright green leaf buds on a tree that’s looked dead all winter. The yellow flowers on my forsythia bush. Tiny wildflower blossoms in still-brown grass. More hours of sunlight.

What if we noticed the signs of God’s care like we notice early signs of spring? He will surely help us if we make that request. He can open our physical and spiritual eyes.

What if we noticed the signs of God’s care like we notice early signs of spring? Share on X

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As we notice signs of spring, let’s ask God to show us what He wants us to see. We can watch for signs that He cares for us and for others. We can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us toward those who need our help. And most importantly, we can look through the picture window of His Word and ask Him to teach us, to open our eyes so we can see what He wants us to learn.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Psalm 119:18 ESV

God speaks through His Word. He offers signs of His care, convicts us of sin, gives us wisdom, and provides guidance.

As the earth warms and displays signs of growth, let’s notice signs of God’s love and care and learn lessons from Him as new as baby birds and crocus blossoms.

As the earth warms and displays signs of growth, let’s notice signs of God’s love and care and learn lessons from Him as new as baby birds and crocus blossoms. Share on X

Let me hear from you:

What signs of God’s care and goodness have you noticed lately?

By the way, the endodontist did a great job! 😉

How Can We Embrace God’s Love and Share It with Others?

February 8, 2022Jeannie Waters33 Comments

A Valentine’s Day memory reminds me to embrace and share God’s gift of love.

A Special Memory

My favorite Valentine’s Day gift is the one my daughter gave to me when she was seven. While we were shopping, I spied a black sweater vest with embroidered hearts of various colors. I noticed it because we elementary teachers enjoyed wearing cheery shirts and sweaters on special days.

After I tried on the vest, I checked the price tag and returned the garment to the rack. My daughter responded, “Mommy, why did you put it back? It looks beautiful on you.”

“Honey, it costs too much,” I responded, “and I could only wear it one day each year. It’s just not practical.”

On February fourteenth I unwrapped a gift and pulled aside pink tissue paper. Tyler Marie’s smile was wider than mine.

After our shopping trip, she’d sequestered her dad and pleaded, “Please, Daddy, help me buy the heart vest for Mommy. I don’t have enough money, but it’s really pretty, and it will look beautiful on her.”

Within minutes, they’d driven to the store and returned with a secret package which she wrapped and hid under her bed. She then presented it to me on Valentine’s Day. I knew she loved me prior to receiving her gift, but she demonstrated her love by putting it into action.

Tyler Marie had observed what delighted me and enlisted her dad’s help to make a purchase that exceeded her piggy bank’s balance. Her love was abundant, and her resources paltry, however, she knew—compared to her supply—her dad had plenty.

How We Feel and What Jesus Says

Our feelings of love are sometimes paltry—especially when other people disappoint us or act in unbecoming ways. We’re sometimes reluctant to demonstrate love, and we’re tempted to withhold expressions of love when they’re unappreciated or not reciprocated.

If we focus on our feelings of love (or lack thereof), we may be reluctant to obey a commandment of Jesus.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12 ESV (All Bible verses in this post are from the ESV.)

I stopped to ponder this part of His words: “…as I have loved you.”

He also said,

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:15

One of the ways we demonstrate our love for God is by obedience, and one way to obey Him is to embrace His love and love others as He loves us. We can comply only by trusting the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of love in our hearts (Galatians 5:22). Mustering love on our own cannot measure up to the standard of Jesus, “as I have loved you.”

God’s love is undeserved. It’s based on His lovingkindness, not our behavior. As Christ-followers, our expressions of love to others are based on His lovingkindness and unconditional love.

Although we lack unconditional love, our Father holds a storehouse, and He fills our hearts with His love—not to store, but to share.

Although we lack unconditional love, our Father holds a storehouse, and He fills our hearts with His love—not to store, but to share. Share on X

As our daughter did, we can turn to our Father when our love supply is inadequate. The One who turned water into wine and fed multitudes with two fish and five loaves of bread can supply all we need to obey His commandments—even the charge to love as He loves.

Put on Love and Put Love into Action

His Word doesn’t teach us to love based on our feelings or our ability. Instead, the Bible teaches us to “put on love” among other virtues.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14

Once we surrender our lives to Christ, His love resides in our hearts, but we choose our behavior on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. We choose to “put on love,” to align our behavior with the love of Jesus that resides in our hearts.

On Valentine’s Day this year, I’ll put on my heart-covered vest and remember my daughter’s love. Each day, let’s embrace God’s love by putting on the love of Christ and translating His love into action by sharing it with others.

Let’s embrace God’s love by putting on the love of Christ and translating His love into action by sharing it with others. Share on X

Love in action may lead to a gift or a card with a verse of Scripture or perhaps to an account of how God’s love has changed our lives. Maybe we’ll wrap God’s love with encouraging words and acts of kindness as He points us toward the needs of others.

As we notice the plethora of hearts this season, let’s remember what Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Please share your thoughts about how embracing God’s love and choosing to put on love each day can help us share His love with others. How has someone shared God’s love with you?