Nobody wanted her! - Sally Lloyd-Jones

And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah....(Genesis 29:30)

"No one loves me," Leah said. "I'm too ugly."

But God didn't think she was ugly. And when He saw that Leah was not loved and that no one wanted her, God chose her  -- specially, to give her a very important job.

One day, God was going to rescue the whole world -- through Leah's family.

Now when Leah knew that God loved her, in her heart, suddenly it didn't matter anymore whether her husband loved her the best, or if she was the prettiest.

Someone had chosen her, Someone did love her -- with a Never-Stopping, Never-Giving-Up, Unbreaking,
Always and Forever Love.

So when  Leah had a baby boy she called him Judah, which means, "This time I will praise the Lord!"

And that's just what she did.

And you'll never guess what job God gave Leah.

You see, when God looked at Leah He saw a princess.

And sure enough, that's what she became.

One of Leah's children's children's children would be a prince -- the Prince of Heaven -- God's Son.

This Prince would love God's people.

They wouldn't have to be beautiful for Him to love them.

He would love them with all of His heart.

And they would be beautiful because He loved them.

Like Leah.

         -- From The Jesus Storybook Bible
                  by Sally Lloyd-Jones



[Read the whole story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel, and their twelve sons in the Old Testament, book of Genesis, chapters 29 and 30. And read the genealogy of Jesus Christ, a descendant of Jacob and Leah, and King David,  in the New Testament, book of Matthew, Chapter 1.]

Christmas on June 25 - How Silently

Everything was ready.

The moment God had been preparing for was here at last!

God was coming to help His people, just as He promised in the beginning.

But how would He come?

What would He be like?

What would He do?

Mountains would have bowed down.

Seas would have roared.

Trees would have danced and clapped their hands.

But the earth held its breath.

As silent as snow falling, He came in.

And when no one was looking, in the darkness, He came. 
             -- From The Jesus Story Book Bible,
                      by Sally Lloyd-Jones


This is a really good time to ponder the meaning of Christmas. In the glittering loudness and dazzling clamor in December, it is often easy to miss the "silent gift."

How silently, how silently,

His wondrous gift is given.

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear can hear His coming -

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him,

Still the dear Christ enters in!

 -- O Little Town  of Bethlehem,

by Philips Brooks

But these are the early days of summer - a time to stop a moment and reflect - before fall rushes into our lives and when we will have little time to stop and wonder about it all - sort of like those few seconds we are perched at the top of the roller coaster, knowing very quickly it will begin its tumultuous and exciting descent!

This is the time to stop and wonder - marvel again at His matchless gift -

But when the time had fully come

God sent His Son, born of a woman,

born under the law, 

to redeem those under law,

that we might receive the full rights as sons.

Because you are sons,

God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,

the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father,"

...and since you are a son,

God has made you also an heir.

   --Galatians 4:4-7


For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
--Romans 6:23

My New Clothes - Sarah Young

Wear My Robe of Righteousness with ease.

I custom-made it for you, to cover you from head to toe.

The price I paid for this covering was astronomical --
My own blood.

You could never purchase such a royal garment, no matter how hard you worked.

Sometimes you forget that My Righteousness is a gift, and you feel ill at ease in your regal robe.

I weep when I see you squirming under the velvety fabric, as if it were made of scratchy sackcloth.

I want you to trust Me enough to realize your privileged position in My Kingdom.

Relax in the luxuriant folds of your magnificent robe.

Keep your eyes on Me as you practice walking in this garment of salvation.

When your behavior is unfitting for one in My Kingdom, do not try to throw off your royal robe.

Instead, throw off the unrighteous behavior.

Then you will be able to feel at ease in this glorious garment, enjoying the gift I fashioned for you before the foundation of the world.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God,

 for He has clothed me in a robe of righteousness,

and arrayed me in a robe of salvation.  

 Isaiah 61:10

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,

so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Put off your old self...and put on the new self,

created like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 2: 22-24

Sarah Young on Suffering

Be prepared to suffer for Me, in My Name. All suffering has meaning in My kingdom. Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me.

Bearing your circumstances bravely--even thanking Me for them -- is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden-toned bells of joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles.

When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and that I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run from pain or hide from problems.

Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My purposes. Thus your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to Me.

Joy emerges from the ashes of adversity through your trust and faithfulness.

                     -- From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young




Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
                                    -- Psalm 107:19-22

Before Answering the Phone - Sarah Young

Watch your words diligently.

Words have such great power to bless or to wound.

When you speak carelessly or negatively, you damage others as well as yourself.

This ability to verbalize is an awesome privilege, granted to only those I have created in My Image.

You need help in wielding this mighty power responsibly.

Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, My instructions about communication are quite different: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Ask My Spirit to help you when ever you speak.

I have trained you to pray -- "Help me, Holy Spirit" -- before answering the phone, and you have seen the benefits of this discipline.


Simply apply the same discipline to communicating with people around us.

If they are silent, pray before speaking to them.

If they are talking, pray before responding.

These are split-second prayers, but they put you in touch with My Presence.

In this way, your speaking comes under the control of My Spirit.

As positive patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your Joy will amaze you.

   --- From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

My dear brothers, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak

and slow to become angry.

James 1:19