Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirts are crushed."

One thing you learn early on as a pastor is just how many people are brokenhearted. Kids who disappoint. Adults who have their dreams destroyed. Abusive relationships. Those are just a prelude to specific stories that I could talk about for a long, long time.

There have been a few times in life that I've had setbacks, but I still had hope. I could carry on because of that hope. But, there have also been a few times in life that I have lost hope and I've felt my spirit was crushed. Ever felt that way? Maybe you do right now?

The Good News is that God not only secures a place for us in Heaven, but also doesn't wait for Heaven to come near to us. In fact, this verse indicates that He rescues us. Sometimes it seems like He won't show up. But, He always does. Hold on. God is close to you. He will rescue.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes I think you are late. Sometimes I think you don't even show up. Remind me in a special way today of how you are close and how you are coming to rescue us when we are crushed.

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."

Did you ever play one of the games where you had to find Waldo?  Where's Waldo was one of those games that made you focus, concentrate, and search each page to find him. You were told that he was on every page, even when you felt like they didn't put one on that page. Whether a friend showed you, or you actually found him yourself, Waldo was there.  It just took time, patience, determination, and learning what Waldo looked like for your eye to pick him up.

Sometimes, it is the same with God. He wants us to look for Him, but we demand He come out in the open where it makes our spiritual lives easier. While God isn't purposefully trying to keep us from knowing Him, He longs for us to yearn for Him. He's there. On every page of life, He can be found. We just have to be willing to take time, have patience, determination, and learn where you find God. He surprises us in the most mysterious of ways, but once we get used to what He looks like, He's just like Waldo...He's there.  Maybe, since it is Friday the 13th that He will surprise you today.  Oh come on...it could be fun!

Most importantly, when we don't find Him, He always knows where we are. He won't abandon us.

Prayer: Lord, give me the discernment, patience, and determination to find you. Remind me that in the most trying of times that you haven't abandoned me nor will you ever abandon me.

Psalm 109:30-31 "But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone. For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them."

Have you ever been near a conversation and listened in when they didn't know about it? What about a conversation that you overheard and your name came up?  Did you just walk away or did you listen intentaly?  And, did you hope that whatever they said would be a flowering endorsement of you?

We love to be praised. I'm constantly amazed when people say that they don't care what anyone else thinks. Really? So, if I criticize you it doesn't matter. But, what happens if I praise you? Does it matter then? Of course it does. We love to hear our name and a glowing accomodation being given about us.

God is different. He doesn't need our response to feel better or validate Himself. We should praise Him not because He is needy but because we are and that He loved us in spite of our depravity and neediness. We should praise Him because of who He is so that others can come to know God and experience His presence.

Prayer: Lord, my your name be on my lips and not hidden away. Thank you for standing by me in my need.

3 John 11 "Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God."

My dad usually grew a garden each year. Because of my affinity for strawberries, he would usually put out a patch of them and I enjoyed the fruit. Because of my frequent tasting of the fruit, it became easy to identify strawberry plants not only in our garden but other's as well.  While I didn't go eat theirs, I sure was tempted.

The fruit gave away what it was. The strawberry comes from the strawberry plant. In the same way, our good works should show who we belong to. However, it doesn't MAKE us belong. Our good works are a result of who we belong to, just like the fruit of the strawberry comes about because of what it belongs to.

Prayer: Lord, remind me that my good works are not so that I can become one of your children, but that it shows that I am one. I pray that you will help me produce spiritual fruit in my life that draws others to you.

Psalm 40:16 "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!"

We have great reason to be filled with joy. Why do we allow the day to day events to damper that? I know I struggle with that where my joy trumps my daily difficulties. It's what satan does to distract me and focus me on the trivial and meaningless things in life.

God's joy is deeper and more full than our disappointments. But, we need to search it out as joy can be hidden under the disappointments and the mundane.

I'm not sure that it always demands a verbal shout, but we certainly should have a lifestyle that shouts that something is different about us. To have God in a relationship with us ought to make the mundane, the trivial, and the disappointments fade into the background.  In so doing, it should bring about a lifestyle that shouts that the Lord is great!

Prayer: Father, forgive me for not searching you the way that I should. Help me to live in such a way that my lifestyle communicates that you are great!