Jeremiah | Kristi's Morning Devotional

December 31, 2022December 31, 2022

One More Gift

Some of you have been reading the advent devotional I wrote several years ago and today you’ll read the last chapter and then you’ll probably put the book away until next year. But I want you to know there’s one more gift I’d like to share with you before the year ends.

Last night I pulled my covers up tight, tucked myself in and began to thank the Father for the many wonderful gifts He has blessed me with over the years. As I was thanking Him for filling my life, I heard myself say “thank you for making each day a gift”.

For 10+ years I have been sharing daily the goodness of God on Facebook and the last 5 years I have also been writing this blog. Each day I wake up knowing that there will be something in the day that I can embrace, each day is a gift of His love.

“Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17 CEV

But my life wasn’t always filled with this awareness.

I grew up in a Christian home and gave my heart to Christ when I was very young. However, as a teenager my relationship with the Lord lacked relevance. I became more concerned with pleasing people and being accepted by them than I was with the Lord. My first year in Bible College I became so despondent that I attempted to take my life.

That’s when the love of the heavenly Father became real to me. That’s when I came to know that each day is a gift from God. He wasn’t just some stories I had been told in Sunday School and the Bible wasn’t just words on the pages of a book.

“…’Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. ⁶⁹We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.’” John 6:68-69 CEV

My relationship changed. I saw myself the way He saw me. With all of my faults and my failures, my Father loved me unconditionally. There was nothing I could do to earn His love and there was nothing I would do that would keep Him from loving me.

Each day His word gives me the gift of life!

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. ¹²You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. ¹³ You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

Each day is a gift – a gift of hope and a gift of help!

As this year ends and we look to 2023 we have no way of knowing what things will come our way but we have the Father’s promise that our future will be filled with hope.

Each day is a gift from the Father – a gift filled with love!

December 3, 2022December 3, 2022

A View from the Top

Dave and I have gone to the woods to cut our Christmas tree for many years. However, the last few years if wasn’t practical, we lived too far away and the drive would have been too long.

I remember one year when we lived in Montana. It was getting toward mid-December and we still hadn’t gone to get our tree. Dave wasn’t available for several more days and Kaci’s work schedule had her busy so our little dog, Glory, and I went to the mountain by ourselves.

Dave had given me strict instructions to follow. My vehicle was a 4×4 so I wasn’t concerned with the snow on the roads but he was. I had the saw and knew how to use it but I could see he was apprehensive. I was determined to go and I assured him I would be safe.

It was a wonderful day!

The sun was shining, the air was crisp and I was on top of the world, or at least the mountain. (The picture I used today is from that outing.) I took my time and found the perfect tree – tall, well-shaped with no sparse sides. Glory was having fun playing in the snow and running from place to place with me. A good day indeed.

Looking out across the valley, I spotted our house. It was so tiny. I gained a new perspective.

“The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him.” II Chronicles 16: 9 CEV

The Lord is constantly watching for those of us who need help and strength.

“The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens. ⁵Who is like the Lord our God? He sits on His throne on high. ⁶He looks down upon the heavens and the earth. ⁷He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes.” Psalm 113:4-7 NLV

He lifts up those of us who are in need!

We are not insignificant dots on a map, we are His children and He watches over us diligently.

“But the Lord watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness. ¹⁹He protects them from death and starvation.” Psalm 33:18-19 CEV

It’s important that we remember to view things from His perspective.

Our Father sees the beginning and the end of all things. He sees each step, He knows when we get up and when we lay down and He has established a plan for our lives.

The joy and the peace of Christmas is that God came to be with us. His name Emmanuel means just that, God with us.

From His viewpoint, He saw that we were a people in need of a Savior and so He came to earth. Thank God for His insight and oversight. Thank You Father, for Your view from the top!

November 19, 2022November 19, 2022

The Right Call

The last couple of weeks I have spent quite a bit of time on the phone making appointments. When we’re in the mountains all summer, time and distance prevent us from standard visits, i.e., dental appointments, physicals, eye exams, banking appointments, etc.

First, it’s the scheduling and then it’s the actual appointment – all of it takes time. Now with Thanksgiving coming up and then the activities in December before Christmas I’m beginning to feel a little rushed.

That’s why I enjoy my mornings. They are quiet, unhurried, and they set the tone for my day.

No appointment necessary! No busy signal or voice mail, no press 1, enter your account number, and hold. That’s how God the Father designed it.

“Call on Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you don’t know.” Jeremiah 33:3 Kristi’s version

I have this picture as my screen saver. It’s one of our granddaughter’s with her play phone. She was calling her Besta. It reminds me to be present when the kids call. To listen to their conversations, to slow down and be attentive just like the heavenly Father is with me.

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

“I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer.” Psalm 18:6 CEV

I love my mornings. The Lord and I can have uninterrupted conversations. I love this time and I have felt for many years that I NEED to start my day in the Father’s presence so that I get His guidance for what’s ahead.

Maybe you’re a night owl and you have more “quiet” then or maybe you’re a parent who has quiet after the kids are gone to school. You might find quiet time when you run or workout. You might find it at the clothes line or the ironing board. Is it possible to find quiet when you mow the lawn or are out on a ride?

Whenever it is, where ever it is, it’s the right time to call. You have a standing appointment, you move to the head of the line. The Father is there waiting for your call.

I’m thankful for open communication with my heavenly Father. It’s always the right time for Him.

October 27, 2022October 27, 2022

Good Reception

This past summer our communication, both cell and internet, greatly improved. Those of you that spend most of your time in the city probably don’t understand not being able to communicate efficiently but it’s very frustrating.

But no more. We purchased the Starlin link system and things started coming in without interruption. We finally had good reception.

More important than advancements in technology is my ability to communicate with the Father. He has provided each and everyone of us with our own “heaven-link”. The band width is massive and the upload and down speed top the charts.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

When I think about God’s goodness one of the things that I appreciate is His ability and desire to communicate with us. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden, He wrote His laws on tablets of stone, He came in visions and dreams to men like Joseph and Daniel and He used men to write His love letter, the Bible, for generations of people to read.

The communication lines with heaven are always open. Never any down time.

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah” Psalm 3:4

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears” Psalm 18:6

“O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” Psalm 30:2

“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” Psalm 107:6

“I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:5

I think of Dave’s relationship with our kids. There was never a time when they cried out “Daddy, I need you” that he didn’t respond. He was there for them, and our Father is here for us too.

The writer of Hebrews told us to come BOLDLY to the throne of God’s grace and find help in time of trouble. (Hebrews 4:16)

And Jesus said for all those who are weary and weighted down to come to Him and find rest! (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus invited ALL to come so that includes well…everyone! He’s there to help!

Our Father is the master communicator, and His reception is always good! For that I am grateful.

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022

When Things Go Wrong…

God is good and has a plan. This is the story of Joseph’s life.

Most of us experience things that go wrong. Troubles with our family, losing a job, being falsely accused, some even face imprisonment. How do we handle the adversities of life? Do we get angry with God? Do we blame him? Or do we keep our eyes and heart focused directly on God and His goodness?

Joseph was a young man with a purpose. God had given him a dream when he was just a teenager. He shared that dream with his family and he was ridiculed, even hated by some. Here’s how his life went for the next 13 years.

His brothers sold him to slave traders. They sold him to a captain in the Egyptian army. The captain’s wife accused him of rape. He was sent to prison. While in prison he met the baker and the butler for the pharaoh. They had dreams and Joseph interpreted the dreams. The butler returned to the palace but the baker was hanged. The butler had promised to tell the pharaoh about Joseph but he forgot, for 2 years. Then he remembered…

The pharaoh brought Joseph to the palace and promoted him to second in command of all of Egypt. Joseph ruled wisely through the famine. Enter his brothers asking for food. What did Joseph do? They had sold him into slavery 13 years before.

“Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am not God! I have no right to punish you. ²⁰It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened. ²¹So don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And so Joseph said kind things to his brothers, and this made them feel better.” Genesis 50:19-21 ERV

What do we do when things go wrong? In all those years Joseph never turned his back on God and apparently, he never let his heart get bitter toward his brothers. He kept his heart pure.

God is good and His plans for us are too.

We may not feel things are going right but God is working. His plans are for our success. He hasn’t planned for us to fail!

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022

Redirected

You know people think that when you’re retired that you wake up each morning with a blank slate and you aren’t subject to the pressures of those who are still working.

However, working folks, stay-at-home moms or dads, retirees, students all have the same 24 hours each day and we need to be good stewards of the time we have.

Yesterday was a day not planned. We had planned to have breakfast with friends who had been visiting and were heading back to the Valley. We had planned to enjoy our streaming church service, but after that nothing was according to our plan but it was part of the Father’s.

It’s probably been 35 years ago that I found these verses in Proverbs 16 and began to pray God’s Word over my plans for the day. Have I ever messed up and gone off and done my own thing? More times than I would care to admit. Have I ever wasted a day selfishly? Sadly, yes!

But I do try to honor the Lord in my busy times and in my quiet, do-nothing times. Sometimes it’s much harder to sit quietly and rest than it is to spend the whole day in strenuous, working activity. The important part of any day, especially the ones where the plans change, is to be mindful that the Lord has a purpose for us and to go forward with a heart of gratitude because His plans are always best.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiahs 29:11-13 NLT

As we all start this week let the Lord direct. As He does we will have good success.

“The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3 AMP

Be willing to be redirected, a new path directed by the Lord will be filled with blessings and good success.

September 7, 2022September 7, 2022

On Fire

Something that most every camper enjoys is their campfires.

Early in the season the vegetation was so dry that the Forest Service executed a Stage 2, Red Flag fire restriction. No campfires, not even charcoal – anything that could cause a spark was restricted. Everyone understood the reasoning, but they weren’t happy.

Then the rains came and the restriction was lifted. I have no idea how many bags of firewood we have sold. There’s something mesmerizing about watching those yellow and gold flames. It’s soothing, comforting, inviting.

Campers love to sit around those campfires and visit. It’s definitely a time of relationship building, memory-making.

That is how our conversations should be as we interact with others. Remember yesterday’s verses – we are salt and light. Fire is a type of light, a warming and welcoming light. Those who are chilled from the circumstances of life can come and be warmed, those who are hungry for what’s missing in their hearts can come and be fed.

Those lacking joy can come to the fire within us and find fellowship.

Jeremiah was a prophet in a wicked and perverse generation. His nation was under siege because of their sins and their disobedience to God. He was a prophet whose message had been ignored and in fact, he had been jailed because of his message.

Just listen to what he said:

“Sometimes I say to myself, “I will forget about him.
    I will not speak anymore in his name.”
But when I say that, his message is like a fire burning inside me!
    It feels like it is burning deep in my bones!
I get tired of trying to hold his message inside.
    And finally, I am not able to hold it in.” Jeremiah 20:9 ERV

The message of God is a fire inside of me, I can’t hold it in. His was a message of repentance and forgiveness.

Is the message of God a fire inside us? We have a message of God’s love and forgiveness to offer those around us; a message of comfort, of nourishment, of acceptance.

There is a line from an Alicia Keys song that I want to ring true in my life. “This girl is on fire”.

Lord, let Your word burn within me, a fire that can’t be contained. Let me not hold back on the message you have given me. May I warm and console those around me with your love.

“John’s answer to this was, “I baptize you in water, but there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who unties his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3:16 ERV

Holy Spirit, light the fire in my soul!

August 10, 2022August 10, 2022

Time for a Chat

Yesterday we had the opportunity just to sit and chat with new friends. It really touched our hearts.

One of the things that kept entering our conversation was our trust in the Father, even when plans change or don’t go according to the way we thought they should. We talked of times when things caught us by surprise and/or times when we had to adjust and change course. Never once was God surprised or taken back. He has never had a morning when He woke up and said “boy, I didn’t see that coming – I wonder what I should do now”.

No, He always has a plan. God’s plan B is always better than our plan A.

“I was still being held prisoner in the courtyard of the palace guards when the Lord told me: I am the Lord, and I created the whole world. ³Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.” Jeremiah 33:1-3 CEV

I can’t imagine being held in a physical prison, but I have been incarcerated both emotionally and financially and those were dark places. However, I was never alone; the Father was there with a plan. Those were times for a Father/daughter chat. I told Him my heart and He told me His.

The blogs of the last few days it seems apparent that the Father is wanting us to remember to talk with Him. Just look at a few of the verses we have covered.

“Ask and it will be given, seek and we will find.”
“Behold I stand at the door and knock, open it and I will come in and have fellowship with you”
“I know the plans that I have for you – plans for a hope and a future”

Now look at these verses:

“‘I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow. ¹⁹‘If you listen to what I say, you will get the good things from this land.'” Isaiah 1:17-19 ERV

“Come, let’s discuss this”, once again here is an invitation to come and talk to the Father.

Sit down with Him and have a chat! He sees things differently than we do and His way of seeing and doing is always right.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

Others might see us through our past and all of our mistakes and failures. But God, sees us cleansed through the blood of Jesus. We see insurmountable problems, but He sees us eating the good things in life.

When we talk with our Dad, He’ll sort things out and let us see them from His perspective.

August 9, 2022August 9, 2022

Showers of Blessing

I slept so well last night and when I woke, later than usual, this morning I asked the Lord what I could share.

Gratitude, praise, thanksgiving – those were the words that came to mind.

We have had rain nearly every day for almost 6 weeks. That’s summer in the mountains! When our campers come, they always comment on how green the mountains and the meadows are. Even now, I look out my window and see a camper who has come to look across a meadow, as the morning fog is rising and take in the beauty of the beginning of the day.

Oh, there are some who want to complain about the afternoon showers and “it would be nice to have ONE day without any rain” but those are also the same ones who complain when we have fire restrictions in place because the forest and meadows are too dry.

It’s better to sing in the rain than grumble in a tent!

“I will bless the sheep and the places around my hill. I will cause the rains to fall at the right time and will shower them with blessings. ²⁷And the trees growing in the field will produce their fruit. The earth will give its harvest, so the sheep will be safe on their land. I will break the yokes on them and save them from the power of the people who made them slaves. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 24:26-27 ERV

Shower them with blessings!

Look around you right now. What blessings do you see? Quickly, pick five and thank God for them. He is the One who brings the blessings.

“Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.” James 1:17 ERV

Ultimately it is the Father who gave you the favor you needed to secure your job. He is the one who blessed you with wisdom and creative ideas. You may have gone to the store and purchased a new item or even the house you live in, but it is gift of the Father’s provision.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. ¹²Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiahs 29:11-13 ERV

The Father has planned for us to have hope and a good future. When we ask, He listens, when we search, we find. Knowing that fills my heart with gratitude!

Instead of grumbling about the rain, let’s go out and dance as the showers of blessing fall all around us!

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022

Guard Your Thoughts

Do you ever daydream? You know what I’m talking about – you’re alone with your thoughts planning for something special, going over the details and then out of the blue a disturbing thought enters in.

It’s some thought that wants to take you in a wrong direction – it can be unnerving and even make you fearful.

How do you counter that?

“My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. ²¹Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. ²²These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. ²³Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 ERV

Be careful how you think…

Good advice from a very wise man, Solomon. Now here are some words from Solomon’s father, King David.

“May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:14 ERV

“The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made.
²Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power.” Psalm 19:1-2 ERV

These verses are from the same chapter – one from the beginning of the Psalm and the other is the last. King David tells us how to keep our thoughts centered – we stay focused on the glory of God and His power at the beginning and ending of each day, our thoughts will please our Father.

When troubling thoughts come, and they will, we counter them with God’s promises. especially those verses that counter fear.

“And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:7 ERV

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

I find such peace in the beauty of the morning sunrise and the evening sunset. They are a constant reminder to me of God’s power and provision. For all of time past, there has never been a day that there wasn’t a sunrise or a sunset. Since God keeps all of nature on its course, He surely has established a plan for my well-being. I can trust Him!

Father, I keep my mind fixed on You and Your good plan for me. Your peace will stand guard over my thoughts. I trust you!