The Catcher

Good Morning Ladies!

I first wanted to share with you that we will be doing only 1 blog post a day from now on. I think this will help make it easier to follow along and make sure that everything that each of us posts gets read! :)
     Yesterday I woke up late and wasn't feeling well so I decided that I would do my devotion last night when I made it home from work. Well of course I was feeling worse when I got home last night and couldn't even think straight so I went to bed. I kept waking up all night, 1. Because I didn't feel good and 2. Because I felt guilty that I didn't do my devotion yesterday, BUT when I read my daily devotion this morning it was exactly what God put on my heart to share with you today! :) Since it was so amazing I'm going to write it exactly as it appears in my 'Daily Bread' and then attach the scripture for you as well. If you don't have a 'Daily Bread' I definitely recommend getting one. It helps you with your daily devotion and it has about 3 months in it at a time.


Daily Bread:

Life is a risky enterprise. Sometimes we fly high, enjoying great success. But then suddenly we fall into deep disappointments and the haunting reality of failure, leaving our hearts wondering if there is anything worth looking forward to.

            At a funeral recently, the pastor told the story about a trapeze artist. The performer admitted that although he is seen as the star of the show, the real star is the catcher- the teammate who hangs from another trapeze bar to grab him and guarantee a safe landing. With outstretched arms, the flyer must TRUST that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting in God as the catcher. After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and pull us safely to Himself forever. I like that thought. 

            This reminds me of Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you. And…I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

            Life is indeed a risky business, but be encouraged! If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Catcher is waiting at the end to take you safely home.

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John: Chapter 14

Jesus: ¹Don’t get lost in despair; believe in God, and keep on believing in Me. ²My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. ³I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together. ⁴You know where I am going and how to get there.

Thomas: ⁵Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the path?

Jesus: ⁶I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ⁷If you know Me, you know the Father. Rest assured now; you know Him and have seen Him.

Philip: ⁸Lord, all I am asking is that You show us the Father.

Jesus (to Philip): ⁹I have lived with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you keep asking to see the Father? ¹⁰Don’t you believe Me when I say I abide in the Father and the Father dwells in Me? I’m not making this up as I go along. The Father has given Me these truths that I have been speaking to you, and He empowers all My actions. ¹¹Accept these truths: I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. If you have trouble believing based on My words, believe because of the things I have done. ¹²I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. ¹⁴Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it. ¹⁵If you love Me, obey the commandments I have given you. ¹⁶I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you. ¹⁷The world does not recognize the Spirit of truth, because it does not know the Spirit and is unable to receive Him. But you do know the Spirit because He lives with you, and He will dwell in you. ¹⁸I will never abandon you like orphans; I will return to be with you. ¹⁹In a little while, the world will not see Me; but I will not vanish completely from your sight. Because I live, you will also live. ²⁰At that time, you will know that I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you.

The Other Judas: ²²Lord, why will You reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?

Jesus: ²³Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. ²⁴The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me.

²⁵I have spoken these words while I am here with you. ²⁶The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. ²⁷My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. ²⁸You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am. ²⁹I have told you all these things in advance so that your faith will grow as these things come to pass. ³⁰I am almost finished speaking to you. The one who rules the world is stepping forward, and he has no part in Me; ³¹but to demonstrate to the cosmos My love for the Father, I will do just as He commands. Stand up. It is time for us to leave this place.

I know that’s a lot of reading, but the entire chapter was so important and I definitely didn’t want to leave any of the good stuff out! ;)

Jesus said that there is enough room for EVERYONE not just a couple of us! He’s going to personally welcome us when we arrive, that brought tears to my eyes. He’s treating us like we are the “super stars”, making a party for us, red carpet entrance and then there’s Jesus at the gate. How awesome is that?!

            I know you can read all of this yourself and get a clear understanding, but I wanted to share a couple of my favorite verses and what they mean to me. One of my favorite parts of this entire chapter is verse ²⁰At that time, you will know that I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.  Jesus is in us ladies! God dwelled inside of Jesus and now we are lucky enough to have a part of Jesus dwelling inside of us. That makes me so happy and I feel so honored to be one of God’s chosen ones! Another one of my favorites is ²⁷My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.  I would take Jesus’ peace over anything this world could ever offer me! His peace surpasses all understanding. When we are at peace we aren’t stressed or fearful. But Jesus did give us a gift, the greatest one of them all, and that was his life.

            This entire chapter spoke to me in such a powerful way and I wanted to share it with you ladies. Some of us know where we are going and we know how to get there, but some may not know how to enter the gates of heaven, or maybe you just want to say this prayer again today because you’re turning a new leaf. Either way, please know that you’re not alone. There are so many others who are right there with you and there is enough room in Heaven for ALL of us! J I have written the prayer below please feel free to contact myself, Reda or Brandy if you would like us to pray it with you!

Dear Lord,

I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life, I give it to you. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
 Amen.

Stay encouraged, inspired and motivated today ladies! Please help someone else do the same! Be a light in this dark world! J

Can’t wait to see all of you next Sunday for some yummy Mexican food!! J

Raynisia Nagel

A Woman After God’s Own Heart