compassion

Saturday Morning Prayer

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Father,

I pray for the one who is seeking You—searching for Your guidance and compassion. Be with them as they seek and find the treasures You have hidden for them to discover throughout their day. May discernment and wisdom help them navigate what lies ahead.

I pray they will be aware of Your presence as You walk with them, hemming them in behind and before. Prepare them for all they will encounter today as they seek you with their whole heart. Give them strength and protection as they follow You, Your staff clearing the way of obstacles and things wishing to entangle and ensnare them. The day can take a drastic turn when fear engulfs and invades their heart and soul, causing their mind to spin. Please hide and shelter them with Your wings. Banish fearful thoughts the enemy pokes and prods them with, and fill them with Your peace.

Father, remind Your child that just the whisper of Your name causes a shift in the heavenlies beyond anything they can imagine. You never leave them; You never forsake them. Your promises are sure and solid.

Thank you for being all-powerful, yet full of compassion. Give them patience and a holy determination as they seek Your face and navigate this day. May they lean on You and bask in the songs of love You sing over them. Those who seek You will find You.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Shepherd,

Amen

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

Morning Blessing

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May the God of compassion fill you to the brim with generosity, kindness, and provision. May these treasures spill out and over everyone you meet – ripples of blessings and goodness.

His Smile

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Jesus smiling at me… When I slow down and let the image come to me, it is breathtaking.


A smile from another human shows acknowledgement. I am seen. The space I occupy is recognized and validated. And sometimes the smile is genuine, friendly, and true.


But, the smile of Jesus’ face shining on me takes it to a whole new level. There is no ulterior motive, social politeness, underhanded intentions, or false friendliness. He isn’t buttering me up before asking something of me, or figuring out what He can get from me at no cost to Himself.


His face full of kindness, empathy, and wisdom. He knows all of me. The ick, the good, and all the in-between and He still smiles at me. Accepts me. I’m seen, I’m noticed, I’m wanted, and sought out. The delight in being with me shows in His eyes – the way people’s eyes light up at the sight of one that they love, but on a much deeper level.


He isn’t seeking what He can get from me. He’s seeking me out. He wants to bless me, protect and provide for me. His smile reminds me that I’m loved beyond what I can understand just for who I am.
In His smile, there is healing and hope. I feel safe. His smile shining on me is powerful. The One who’s footstool is the Earth, the One who’s name is the foundation of all life, the One who is Warrior and Good Shepherd looks at me, and He looks at you, and smiles. He is gentle and fierce, kind and wise, Creator and King. He smile of His face shines on us because He delights in us.

Blessing

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A blessing spoken over you today:

May the kindness, compassion, and deep love of Jesus cover you, keep you, shield you, and encourage you as He meets all of your needs, and speaks life and acceptance into your spirit.

Photo credit: Emma Giomi

Songs of Victory

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Psalm 32:7 NLT “For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.”

The bench under this willow tree is a peaceful, restful spot at the pond by my house. I’ve written several short stories, poems, and devotions about this pond, the willow tree, and the bench. Jesus and I have had many long talks on the bench under the willow. I feel protected here listening to nature do its thing. I’ve poured out my heart to Him on this bench in laughter, joy, tears, and anger. For just a bit, I can hide myself in Him no matter what hard, frightening, out of control things are spinning around me. I’m safe. I’m protected. He’s my hiding place. Resting in nature and restoring my soul, He sings and surrounds me with songs of joy, victory, and the deep mystery of His peace that passes all understanding.

I hope you have a place that feels safe where you can sit in His presence allowing His songs of joy, victory, and deep compassion flow over you as you are tightly held and protected. You are so loved. Peace be with you.

Overflow of the Heart

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Psalm 141:3 NIV “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

The imagery of words bubbling up and out of my mouth from what is stored in my heart has always been fascinating, yet convicting for me. I like to think that my words are always lovely and inspiring, flowing from kindness, but they aren’t always. I don’t like to envision my heart filled with poisonous words and thoughts that leak and spill over onto other people, but I know that they have and they do. They likely will again.

The only way I know to keep these knife-sharp words at bay is to ask Jesus to examine what’s in my heart. It’s not pleasant. Most of us don’t relish having our hearts and deepest thoughts laid bare before God.

There are things deep inside these hidden places in each of us that are not nice, not kind, and in desperate need of healing, and cleansing. Secret things and painful wounds that we have tried so hard to heal, clean up, and bandage on our own with weak, frail bandages that are temporary and fleeting. Our self-made bandages never stop the seep and stain that taints our hearts and souls with pain that spews up and outward. That depth of exposure and healing can only come from Jesus and His mercy, compassion, and power to bind up and heal our soul deep wounds. He will do it, if we invite Him in to do that hard work.

As we go about our lives and intersect others life-travelers, I hope we keep fresh in our minds that our words contain so much power – the ability to heal, lighten, inspire, and spread kindness. I want to be known for that – kindness, acceptance, compassion. Everyone we set eyes on is deeply loved by God.

Father, please keep a guard over our mouths. Let kindness, mercy, joy, and compassion be what bubbles up from our hearts, out of our mouths, splashing all whom You place in our path. Keep watch, Lord, on the door of our lips, so that hatred, condemnation, judgement, and cruelty have no room to pierce and wound those we come into contact with daily. Let us not give the Enemy a foothold to weaponize our words. Fill us with Yourself – Your name is enough to silence all thoughts and words that are not of You. You are good, You are love, You are peace. In Your name, Jesus our Healer, amen.

You are so loved. Peace be with you.

Blanket of Hope

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Romans 8:26 NLT

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”

Have you ever felt so bone-deep tired from circumstances and hard life seasons that the thought of putting together coherent thoughts, words, and ideas is just too much? I have, several times, and it’s not a pleasant place to be.

This verse brings me a lot of encouragement. When I do not know what or how to pray anymore over a certain situation and simply do not have the energy, the Holy Spirit knows. He knows. When human words cannot express the longing, the need, the fear, the hope, the Holy Spirit speaks in heavenly languages straight into the Throne room, interceding on our behalf. That is beautiful. That is love. That is power and compassion that swirls in mystery and bathes us in the supernatural.

If you are in this season now and simply can’t find the words to pray, be encouraged that He hears you, He knows, and He is acting. Let the sweet blanket of hope and mercy fall on you, cover you in the language of heaven, and rest, my friend, just rest. He’s got this. All is well. You are so loved. Peace be with you.

He is Near

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He is Near

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV) “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”

While the moon begins its descent giving way to the dawn, the Lord is near.

As the last vestiges of nighttime dreams drift away, the Lord in near.

In the early morning, as the sun rises to bathe the world in light, the Lord is near.

As you stretch and greet a new day filled with untold adventure, the Lord is near.

When your brewing coffee brings warmth to your hands and a smile to your face, the Lord is near.

In the garden as you tend to the flowers and prune off the withered and dying places, the Lord is near.

Dozing in the hammock under the purple Lilac tree, the Lord is near.

As the honeybees peacefully drone and buzz about the bright colored, lovely blooms, the Lord is near.

In line at the coffee shop as you observe humanity come and go, the Lord is near.

When the scared and frail homeless woman watches as people pass her by without a glance or offer to help, the Lord is near.

As you receive a blindsiding diagnosis and panic freezes your heart, the Lord is near.

When despair causes deep pain and loneliness, the Lord is near.

When hurtful words come against you in anger and rejection, the Lord is near.

He is found in a breathtaking sunrise, a raging storm, a kind smile, and deep conversations. He is found in the loud and frenetic just as often as the mundane and unobtrusive, where the chaos of the world and humanity is stilled.

The Lord is near as He listens attentively to your softest utterance and answers your silent need.

He is near when you recognize His voice in compassionate whispers that rustle the leaves and hover over you in the breeze – the mystery of deep calling to deep.

When you seek Him, He will be found. Peace and hope are waiting for you. Listen for His whispers. The Lord is near.

Jeremiah 29:13 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Helpers

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Helpers

I happened upon a devotion this morning that caused to me stop and think. I am a helper. I want to help, fix and make other people and their lives okay. I take on and carry things with me that are not mine to carry or hold. As an empath, I deeply feel others’ joy, pain, sadness and all the in-between and that’s a good thing, right?

Perhaps, but it also gets very, very heavy. It can choke out my own joy, gladness and peace and that is a dangerous thing. The burdens of the world are impossible for me to shoulder and quickly take my focus off of being grateful, thankful and content. I miss good and happy things as well as blessings happening in my own life, because I feel such a need to help and be there for others. I am not equipped to walk another person’s path, just as they are not equipped to walk mine.  

Matthew 28:18 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

All authority. All of it. He has the power to rescue, heal, save, change the trajectory of a situation, be miraculous or help someone navigate the rocky, unsteady, difficult road that is ahead of them, filled with important lessons and truths that they alone must walk through and learn. He has that authority. Not me. He alone knows what is needed all the time and in all ways. He is the one weaving our life tapestries and He knows.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the apostle Paul exhorts us to “pray without ceasing.” How much better would it be for me to use my time and energy in being a good listener, having compassion and praying, yet leaving the burden and outcome in His omnipotent hands? By praying for someone and asking God to speak to and love them through us, do we not become a channel of His peace, comfort and love?

I don’t know about you, but this speaks volumes to the helper in me. I can feel a literal shift in my soul and much-needed peace and joy descend. I feel His gentle breath soothe my heart – “let them go, child. Lay their burdens down. It is not yours to carry. I’ve got them, they are safe with Me.”

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; for he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:1-2