I remember when my children were toddlers, my wife and I seemed to have an extra sense, and could tell what my children were up to even without watching everything they were doing. It was a combination of caring and awareness. We would intervene sometimes to prevent them from getting into trouble or sometimes let them experience challenges to help them learn.

Though at a much different level, these memories came to mind when I was reading Psalm 139:1-6, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

God is completely aware of our every action, thought, and feeling, and He cares about each of us.

Dear Lord, what a joy it is to know that you are aware of our every situation and concern, and care for us with your “hand of blessing.” Help us remember this so we can overcome our fears with trust in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

You may have heard this story in other contexts, but it is good illustration of the Bible text today.

A teacher stands in front of a class with a clear plastic pitcher. Into the pitcher he pours golfball size rocks until they fill to the top of the pitcher. The teacher then asks the class, “Is the pitcher full?” Most of the students agree that it is full. The teacher then reaches behind his desk and finds a container of fine sand, which he proceeds to pour into the pitcher. The sand fills in the gaps between all the rocks and eventually all the gaps are filled and the sand reaches the top of the pitcher. The teacher then asks the class again if the pitcher is filled. Suspicious of another trick, most of the students are cautious but agree that now the pitcher is full. Then the teacher pulls out a container of water and proceeds to pour a cup of it into the pitcher, filling it to the top. “Now,” he says, “the pitcher is full.”

In John 15:10-11 Jesus says, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Some people may feel that they are fulfilled, but without Jesus, there will be something missing. Like the pitcher, it may look full, but it is not until the water fills it up that we can be truly fulfilled.

As Jesus says when his joy is in us, our joy is complete.

Dear Lord, we are incomplete as people without you in our hearts and lives. Help us obey you and remain in your love so that our Joy may be complete. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We know the story of Abraham following God’s direction in Genesis 22:2, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

God had promised Abraham a son for many years and finally when he was one hundred years old, Abraham and Sarah had Isaac. Then in this verse, God tells Abraham to sacrifice the boy. We know how the story goes, Abraham obeyed God, and then God stopped him at the last minute. There are many messages we can get from this story about obedience and trust, but I think one additional message for us is that in our hearts and minds, we need to take that thing that is important to us and be prepared to put it on the altar.

If we really trust God we need to take our dreams and say “God this is what I really want, but I am giving it to you. What ever Your will is, I can accept it.” I believe that God puts our hopes and dreams in our hearts, and he will help us achieve them, but he wants us to keep our priorities in order.

Dear Lord, We submit our desires to you. If it is your will, help us achieve and realize our hopes and dreams, and if you have other plans, we thank you for that as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You may have heard of the advanced material called carbon fiber, or carbon fiber composite. Over the last 25 or 30 years this material began being used in all types of products, from golf clubs, tennis rackets, race cars, to airplanes. It is as light as plastic but stronger than steel. If you look at this material closely, you will see that it is made up of long fibers in a plastic like shell. The fibers which are made of carbon are what give the material its amazing strength.

In a similar way Psalm 27:1 says, “..the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” God is like the carbon fiber in these materials. He can be the fiber that gives us strength during fears in our lives, and during tests of our faith, if we just believe.

Dear Lord, thank you for being the strength on which we can rely, to have confidence in our daily lives. Help us to use that strength to do your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We have all seen examples of two kinds of people in politics, sports, business, and all walks of life. My simple descriptions are, first, the wise and humble, and second, the self-centered self-promoter.

James writes about these differences in James 3. In verse 13 he writes, “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.” I am sure you have seen these types of people, the incredible athlete that credits the whole team for the win, even when he or she carried the team, or the CEO that successfully leads his or her company through difficult challenges, but shuns the spotlight.

In comparison, you have seen those who are constantly blaming problems on others, taking credit for all the success, and complaining that they are not being treated right, or paid enough. In verse 17 James describes this other type, “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” We have all seen the results of these types of people in failing businesses, cities, and governments.

We need to strive to be the wise and humble type. God promises to help and to give us wisdom if we ask. James writes, in James 1:5, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.”

Dear Lord, Please give us wisdom and understanding, and the humility to use it for your glory and not ours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.