Have you ever thought about the power of peanut butter? Now I know it seems to be a far-fetched topic from this devo title, but hang on....or should I say, "stick with me!" I have a brain which automatically thinks in "three parts" when I write devotionals! This strange little gift comes from my preacher dad, now with the Lord, and I am blessed to have heard a lifetime of three-part sermons a from a wonderful pastor-dad. But back to the power of peanut butter...did you know that a peanut butter sandwich comes in three parts? There's two pieces of bread and the filling in-between, holding it all together. The filling is sticky, nutty and sweet, for if you're like me, you've chosen crunchy and probably a touch of jam or jelly....a favorite of little kids, and some kids never outgrow it! Well, it's the object lesson for my Easter devotional. It works alot better than the traditional ham--we will save that for your Easter feast next Sunday!
You see, life in the "present" is really like a peanut butter sandwich....sticky, nutty, and when we're all out of jam (and IN a jam!), not very sweet! We need something more than the "power of peanut butter" to hold it all together and to make it in our world. Our world actually comes in three parts too--the world within me, the world around me, and the world beyond me--and those worlds can become so shattered, broken, and mixed-up, nothing holds them together. Nothing, that is, but the Power of Jesus Christ. Thank God for the Resurrection which power puts it all together and keeps it all together, in the darkest of nights and the bluest of days. The Resurrected Christ lives within us in all His power and authority to keep all three of our worlds in His hands....after all, He's got the WHOLE WORLD in His hands; certainly He can keep my three "little" worlds in His hands! Come with me to the Well and let's find out....bring along the PBJ sandwich, if you'd like--and if your kids haven't gotten it first!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
Today's Resurrection Power for the World Within Me!
Gals know all about the secrets of makeup and other goodies to hide scars and pounds and whatever else "flaws" our personal appearance. We do the very best we can with what we've got to work with--and many times, only our hairdresser really does know for sure. Now that's our "outer world" - and we can make ourselves look pretty good, but there's another very real world hidden deep within that no one really sees but the Lord. And in that world can reside alot of stuff...sticky situations, "nutty" circumstances, not-so-sweet thoughts, and no one knows--BUT our Lord.
This is life...in the present...and sometimes it's not too pretty. Problems, pettiness, pain--all reside within us, and only the power of our Resurrected Lord can help us handle it all. He's there to forgive us, to change us, to empower us - whatever we need for that inside world. He LIVES--to make it possible for ME to live in my present without falling apart. So on a day when YOUR inner world is in turmoil, find the Resurrected Lord in a quiet place and let HIM restore that world to the peace, joy, and love He wants you to experience. He is an ever-PRESENT and POWERFUL help in time of trouble...and He will be there...right IN your world...for YOU!
Today's Resurrection Power for the World Around Me!
God know who lives in your home, with whom you work, with whom you interact on a daily basis. It's the world around you--and sometimes it can get VERY sticky and quite out of control. Relationships can be made in heaven, for sure, but they must be worked out on earth, and sometime, there's just not enough "sweet" to go around. Especially in the family! Let's be honest--when that front door closes, and you're left with the people you love and have chosen to live with, it can be heaven, or it can be.......a place far removed! Family problems abound in our society, and just when we think we've solved the family problems, a work problem or a church problem pops up, and the sticky situations will just not go away!
This is life, in the present, and sometimes it's not too pretty! It takes the Power of the Resurrected Lord to take over in these kind of situations! He's the One who must put HIS arms around that world and draw each person into a close relationship with Him. We desperately need the Resurrected Christ to be the head of our families, to have priority in the relationships, and a free reign of His power to brings sanity and peace to the world that surrounds us. There are no instant answers to the complex people problems we deal with each day--but Jesus has the power to give wisdom, direction, love and peace. So on a day when that world around you is falling apart...find the Resurrected Lord in a quiet place and invite HIM once again to be a powerful part of the relationships you enjoy--or endure! He wants to restore each one to His peace, joy and love. He is an ever-PRESENT and POWERFUL help in time of trouble...and He wants to be there in that world that surrounds you...this day!
Today's Resurrection Power for the World Beyond Me!
You mean there's a world BEYOND me? Why, sometimes I get so wrapped up in the crazy world within me and the sticky world around me, that I can't see that beyond me lies a whole world, waiting for the love and power of a Resurrected Lord to redeem them from sin. Now many times they have no idea they are "waiting" or "longing" for Him - but deep within the heart of every human being is a space that only "HE" can fill. He's in Heaven - - He has no hands but our hands; no feet but our feet, and we must reach beyond our own little worlds to touch the "other worlds" of those without the Lord.
Let's be real--life in our real world, for most people, is a life without the Resurrected Lord, a life of mere existence, of darkness and of death. Our world is falling apart--and many people are too! We have the wonderful story of Jesus Christ to tell a lost world, and whether we do it on the Web or at Wal-Mart, there's SOMEONE somewhere today who needs to hear of a loving Lord, a risen and Powerful Savior who will make their world anew! Lord, help us to reach out, to be Your hand extended to bring the Bread of Life to a needy world!
It's Easter--and His Power is as mighty to hold together our present as it is to handle our past. He ever lives to be Lord of all of our worlds - within us, around us, and beyond us. Let the Resurrected Savior of your life be the Ruler of those worlds--and you will know His Power and His Presence in a new and dynamic way. He wants to hold those worlds in HIS hands TODAY...will you let Him?
