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August 19, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on The light that gives life

The light that gives life

Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 ERV

Life has felt dark at times lately. Not just all the terrible things that happen far too often in this fallen and broken world, but in my personal life too.

A sweet loving husband with a brain that’s wired a little different to most of us, mentally and emotionally, making it hard at times for him to understand and be in the world; and also with a chronic health condition that causes multiple physical disabilities. His aging mother, needing more and more support. My aging parents, too many thousands of miles away. Financial challenges. Writing deadlines I don’t know how I can meet. Even simply looking in the mirror and seeing a fat, tired, middle-aged woman I don’t know how I became staring back at me.

My life is no harder than anyone else’s. In many ways, I’m blessed. But it can feel hard and it can feel dark. It’s all too easy to focus on the darkness, and take my eyes off the light of Jesus. Even if I don’t think I can see it, the light is still there. I just need to put my focus back where it belongs. On Him.

Lord, You promised that if I follow You, I won’t live in the darkness. But sometimes, it seems I can only see darkness all around me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on Your light. Help me to follow You more closely, drawing nearer to Your light. Not ignoring the darkness. Not pretending it doesn’t exist. But knowing You are the light that will bring us safely home. All I need to do is keep following You.

[Tweet “When life seems darkest, we most need to focus on the Light of Jesus.”]

August 17, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Relax

Relax

Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way! Jude 2, The Message

Oh Lord, it feels so good to read this verse and let it really sink into my heart. I feel so overwhelmed by all I have to get done and want to get done. Then I make the mistake of thinking I need to try harder, keep busy, keep doing, keep working that never ending to-do list!
But instead, You want me to slow down.
To rest in You.
To trust in You.
All the doing in the world counts for nothing if I’m so stressed I forget to open my heart to Your love. You’re telling me today to take a slow quiet moment with You, to relax, rest, trust, and let Your love in. Thank You!

[Tweet “Take time today for a quiet moment to rest, breathe, and let God’s love touch your heart.”]

August 14, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on The work of His hand

The work of His hand

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Help me to be willing to be shaped by You Lord. Help me to be like clay beneath Your hands. Help me to be willing to be broken and reformed, if that’s what it takes. Thank You that You never abandon any pot or leave it unfinished, You work on us until we are perfectly as You designed us to be. You have a unique shape and purpose for us all.

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August 10, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Give thanks

Give thanks

Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord! How good you are! Your love for us continues on forever. Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough? Psalm 106:1-2 Living Bible

Help me to remember this Lord, when things seem tough, when I forget all You’ve done for me, when I whinge and complain instead of praising You. Help me to know that You are always there, ready to lovingly support me. Your will for me is only good.

[Tweet “God’s love endures forever. He will never abandon us.”]

August 9, 2015
by autumn macarthur
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God is ready to help

God is our shelter and our strength.
When troubles seem near, God is nearer, and He’s ready to help.
So why run and hide?
No fear, no pacing, no biting fingernails.
When the earth spins out of control, we are sure and fearless.
When mountains crumble and the waters run wild, we are sure and fearless.
Even in heavy winds and huge waves, or as mountains shake, we are sure and fearless.
Psalm 46:1-3

Lord, every day seems to bring new challenges. Help me to trust in You, no matter what’s happening. You are our hope, You are our help. Forgive me all the times I have paced and bitten my fingernails in fear! Teach me to be sure and fearless in You.

[Tweet “God is always ready to help us, a sure harbor and hope in a world spinning out of control.”]

August 8, 2015
by autumn macarthur
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God is always enough

So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size — abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Lord, help me to stop complaining about the seeming limitations You’ve placed in my life and the lives of those nearest me. Help me to accept Your will and look to You. Help me to rely on Your grace, and know that’s enough. You are always enough.

[Tweet “God’s grace is enough to turn our worst weaknesses into our greatest strengths”]

August 7, 2015
by autumn macarthur
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God’s foolishness

What is true wisdom and strength?

This so-called “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness — Christ dying on the cross — is far stronger than any man.
1 Corinthians 1:25 The Living Bible

Lord, I try so hard some days to look wise and strong and like I have it all together, even when I feel like I’m falling apart. But You weren’t afraid to look foolish, or to appear to be weak, when You died for us. Help me to stop feeling I’ve failed to measure up to our human ideas of strength and weakness, and to look to You instead. I don’t need to pretend to be stronger or smarter or more organised than I am. Even in my most messy days, when it all seems to be going wrong, I just need to lean on You. Your wisdom. Your Strength. Your plan. In You, all will be well.

[Tweet “If we lean on God, His wisdom, His strength, and His plan for us, all will be well.”]

[Tweet “Let’s stop pretending we have it all together, and live our truths in God instead”]

August 6, 2015
by autumn macarthur
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Nourished

Grow strong in Him

Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.
Colossians 2:7 The Living Bible

Days like today, Lord, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the to-do’s and the busy-ness of life and the needs of others. Help me to remember to slow down, stop, and sink myself into Your rich soil, instead of uprooting myself a dozen times a day as I run from one task to the next to the next, or seeking false nourishment in less-than-healthy eating. When I look to You, You are always there, waiting, ready to supply all I need. Only when I am nourished by You am I strong. Only when I’m nourished by You am I joyful. Only when I’m nourished by You can I do the work You’ve given me to do.

[Tweet “Our lives can overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all God has done.”]

August 5, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Love is the law that matters

Love is the law that matters

When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of — finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!
(Romans 13:8-12, The Message)

Lord, please help me to live your law of love in my life! When I’m feeling overwhelmed by the needs of those you have asked me to care for or support, help me to know that the most loving way to behave is always the best way and Your will. Please help me not to get so caught up in all the busy-ness of doing that I forget about being, being still with You. Thank You!

[Tweet “When we feel stuck in the busy-ness of doing, we need to stop and BE – be still with God. “]

August 4, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on God is with us!

God is with us!

Joshua 1:9 – God is with you

“Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Lord, it seems that every day I have more and more added to my to do list! It’s not easy juggling all I need to do, all I want to do, and all You ask me to do. Help me to trust that You are with me, always. Help me to remember, my strength and courage comes from You. Whatever You ask me to do, You will also support me with.

[Tweet “Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”]

Autumn Macarthur

Real romance, real faith!