Heartlight/Leaves of Light

[Judy Harder]

May 21

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Thoughts on today's verse

For churches to get along, sometimes their leaders must remind them about unity, using the authority of the One who made his dying prayer a prayer for unity. We must work together or perish.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have presented so many of my prayers to our Father, but today, I want to thank you for loving me so. I promise that I will do all I can, to the glory of our Father, to live at peace and serve those who belong to you. By your name and through the blessed Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 22

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Thoughts on today's verse

Freedom is a wonderful gift when it is handled with responsibility. Not being under law is such a sweet grace, but we must pass that sweetness on to each other through service, kindness, and care.

Prayer:

O Great God of Deliverance, thank you for rescuing Israel from Pharaoh's grasp, David from the sword of Goliath, and Daniel from the lion's den. But O Great Deliverer, thank you most of all for the triumph of Jesus over sin at Calvary and his victory over death at the empty tomb. I long to see you face to face and thank you for my freedom. Until that day, guide me as I use this gift of liberation to serve your children and live for you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 23

Romans 15:2
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Thoughts on today's verse

Being depressed and dissatisfied with life can be caused by a myriad of things. But for many of us, these are symptoms that we have focused too much on ourselves and are angry with life. We have forgotten to count our blessings, thank and praise God, and help those around us. This verse addresses the last in this list: thinking of others is just what Christ did. It makes a difference in the life we bless and we also find ourselves immensely blessed.

Prayer:

Holy and Matchless God, help me to see the brokenness, hurt, and difficulties in the lives around me, not so I can gloat or feel better about myself, but so that I might bless another with your love and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 24

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Thoughts on today's verse

Being "devoted to another in brotherly love" requires that our church conversations -- we're family, brothers and sisters, children of God -- must be more than mere words. We must enter each others' lives, getting to know one another so that we can serve, love, and bless each other. What have you done lately to get more involved in the lives of your fellow Christians? Devotion to others follows a commitment to know and be known by them!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for giving me a world-wide family. Thank you for loving me so completely. Father I ask that you help me be more open with myself and my time to those in your family. Give me a heart that burns to bless and be blessed by those you have made your children. Through my brother Jesus I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 26

John 3:17
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Thoughts on today's verse

How do you view God? Is he someone looking for a way to condemn you? Is he an out-of-touch old man who doesn't really know what it's like in our modern world? Is he too holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves? No. NO. NO! God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us, or it, but to redeem it. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not judge us. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus who was God with us.

Prayer:

Holy and Heavenly God, thank you that you live with those who are contrite and repentant and who long for your presence. You know we are only mortal, but you love us. You know that we are flawed, but you redeemed us. You know that we are not perfect, but you sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice to save us. Thank you. Through my Savior I offer my sincerest gratitude and praise. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 27

Acts 20:24
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Thoughts on today's verse

How important is grace? Paul said it was more important than his life! Telling about grace was more important to Paul than his life! In fact, that was his life!

Prayer:

Almighty God, Holy Father, thank you for your lavish grace demonstrated and fully expressed in sending Jesus to die for me. As your child, and in thanks to your sacrificial gift, I pledge to you my life, my love, and my all. Through Jesus. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 28

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Thoughts on today's verse

We are not alone. God has given us each other to live our lives for him and get us back home to him. Along the way, we want to share each others' burdens, soar on each others joys, and love each others' hurts. There is no such thing as a solo Christian.

Prayer:

Loving Father, lead me to the people today who need their burdens lifted and their joys shared. Let me be your presence in the world of your children today. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 29

Psalms 103:17-18
From everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Thoughts on today's verse

Forever love is talked about in dime store novels, but only found in God. We tap that reservoir of eternal and divine love through the Holy Spirit, who helps us receive it and share it.

Prayer:

Everlasting Father, may your love fill your people so the world may know we are Jesus' disciples. Through him I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 30

Psalms 56:4
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. what can mortal man do to me?

Thoughts on today's verse

One of the powerful things about having a Bible, a repository of God's words, is that its age and varied countries and cultures remind us how enduring God's truth actually is. Yet it is God in whom we put our trust. His enduring presence through cultures, centuries, and countries reminds us that eternal is outside our grasp, but God holds us in his grasp.

Prayer:

O Great and Eternal God, thank you that you are more stable than the ground on which I stand, more enduring than the mountain peaks I admire, and more constant than the waves upon the oceans. I trust my life and my future and soul with you. Please be pleased, but even more, help me to be constant in faithfulness to you. Through Jesus I ask this prayer. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

May 31

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Thoughts on today's verse

What do you have that is forever? Most of everything we have falls apart, breaks, or runs down in a short time. But we have three things that last forever: God, our Christian friends, and our praise of God. These are eternal.

Prayer:

God, I look forward to the day of your next great surprise. I join the angels in standing on tiptoe as I look to the clouds to see my Lord, your Son, return in glory and receive the welcome and honor he deserves. I praise you for that day now, even though I see it only by faith. Until I see you on that day, please know my heart's desire is to serve you, even when my weakness gets in the way of showing it as fully as I should. My thanks to you in Jesus name. Amen.