Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning! Have you ever used that expression with someone? Truthfully, I was told that more than once when I was growing up. I just was not a morning person back then. Honestly I am more of a mid morning person if there could be such a thing!

I have learned a few things over the years about how to start my day out on better ground than the wrong side of the bed. And one of them comes straight out of the Bible in Philippians 4: 8-9. Listen to it from The Message: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies."

From the moment we are coherent in the morning we get to choose which direction our attitude is going to go. Yes, negative thoughts, disruptive behaviors, challenging opportunities all try to capture our attention but beginning our day with the goodness of God and the good things we have going on in us and around us sets our feet on a path for the day to line up with God's instruction to us in Philippians 4.

Imagine that today is a song that God is writing...working everything together. When we choose to put His Word into practice in our lives we become part of a beautiful harmony in God's orchestration.

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

When I cook or bake something I use a recipe. And I never guesstimate ingredients. I want to make sure I'm giving whatever I'm making a decent shot at tasting good when I'm done! So I have just about every tool for measuring that is known to man...or woman, in my case! Measuring cups & spoons, rulers & yardsticks...it all all comes out when I am working in the kitchen.

God gives measurements in the Old Testament when He wanted something built to His exact design. He was very specific in His formula for building Noah's ark, the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. But what I love most when I'm thinking about God's design of people all throughout His Word, and today in you and I, God spares no expense in His creation of humankind. He uses a variety of ingredients in each of us....right down to the uniqueness of our DNA and fingerprints.

Ephesians 3:19 (MSG) describes God's best ingredient that He offers to our lives. "I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is." Paul tells us there is no way to measure the love of Christ in our lives...except that...when we really know Christ's love in our lives...we will be filled with all that God is.

I'll keep cooking and baking with my measuring tools but I am so grateful that God doesn't measure out His gifts to us. When we walk with Him He continues to fill us...to overflowing...with His goodness and grace and oh so much more!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

I recently had the opportunity to preview a movie that is set to launch sometime early in 2023 called "Jesus Revolution". It tells the true story of how several lives intersected for a time in California, in the 1960's, to orchestrate perhaps one of the greatest revivals in history. Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, Lonnie Frisbee and Evangelist/Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship and Harvest Crusades are names I was familiar with growing up but I didn't know their stories. This story is told mainly through the eyes of Greg Laurie who struggled as a youth and spent his time challenging authority...and running. He didn't seem to even know what he was running from as a teenager. I think he just wanted to belong and to make sense of all the things that seemed to be upside down in his life.

At one point Greg hears these words from one of the men he really trusted. The man said, "God said you don't have to run anymore". That was a turning point for Greg. What a ministry God opened up to him as he surrendered to the call!

Are you a runner? I'm not talking about the treadmill or jogging through the neighborhood. I mean - are you running from the calling God has on your life? I did that for a few years myself. Perhaps you don't even know why you are running. You are just convinced that giving up control of your life to Christ would mean certain death to your dreams. Did you know that God is the giver of dreams? He is the one who stirs up the gifts that He placed inside you before you were even born! The fruition of His plans in your life will well supersede the fear you are living with now because you are uncertain of your future.

Here is what you can know without a doubt. God is in your future! Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) says, "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." And whatever He opens before you He will be with you in it and will accomplish great things through you...when you are willing to stop running from God and begin running toward Him and all that He has planned for you!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Not long ago I met a lady who runs an amazing ministry. As I walked around her ministry base and saw what she's doing and how lives are being changed my heart was moved by her obvious love for people. Her staff are bubbly, vivacious and clearly have caught the vision God gave her for impacting their community for Christ. Little did I know that six months ago she had no staff. She had been single handedly working, financing and struggling to do it all.

When I asked her how this dream had come to life, she looked at me seriously and said, "I could take you to the very spot in the front yard where I stood and begged God to let me walk away." She was weary and felt alone. And when she cried out to God to please release her from this calling...something in the atmosphere shifted. Across town God was preparing the hearts of two more women who also love God and love people and were looking for a place to serve. Within days, their paths crossed and their hearts began to knit together. Six months later and this leader is encouraged and inspired and the team that God has brought together is doing some pretty amazing things for the Kingdom!

Have you ever experienced a moment like she did? You can remember the exact time and space that you cried out to God...at the end of yourself. When there was no place else to turn. No solution in sight. Just a little tiny flicker of hope that God could do...something. Psalm 120:1 (NLT) reminds us of what God can do for us in those times.  "I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer." Our Heavenly Father wants us to call out to Him. Even cry out to Him when we are feeling lost, or alone...and especially when we are feeling desperate. And when we do, His promise is that He will respond!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Visiting a foreign country is exciting but also a little stressful. Learning the culture, breaking through the language barrier, exchanging currency...its always helpful to have a guide. Having someone from that area that knows the best places to go and how to communicate with the locals is invaluable!

When I visited Sosua in the Dominican Republic with a missions team, part of our experience was to go from home to home, knocking on the doorway and offering the family a small bag of rice and a little bottle of cooking oil. Then we would ask if we could pray with them and what their needs were as we prayed. As we walked into the first home, our translator touched my arm and you said, 'You're up'! My heart wanted to connect with this family but without the help of someone who knew their language...it would have been almost impossible. Thankfully, we had a translator with us! Renni helped us tell our story and he helped us understand theirs.

Almost every day we have the opportunity to connect with people. Some days we may feel successful at connecting and other days we may feel like we've failed. Oh we may live in the same zip code, but there is a different culture around us and at times even a bit of a language barrier. Do you know what translates the same in every language? Love. The love of God exhibited through His people can shatter every barrier and our most excellent Interpreter, the Holy Spirit can help us know the heart of God for every person if we will listen. Jesus said, in John 16:13 (CEV), "The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen."

He is the best tour guide as well. Because remember we are in this world but not of it! Don't leave home without the Holy Spirit as our guide!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

We know our home church is a ministry. There are a number of non-profit organizations that serve in a ministry capacity. And you could probably name a number of people who are involved in ministry that impact you or someone around you in one way or another.

Do YOU have a ministry? Ephesians 4:11, 12 tells us that “Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.” Perhaps you are serving in one of those capacities. But many of us feel like we don’t fit into one of those five.

There are some talents and gifts that open the door for us to be part of a larger ministry and God wants us to use those talents for His purposes. Musicians, writers, speakers may all have ministries. But what if you don’t feel like you fit into any of those?

Did you know that we are ALL called to ministry? The ministry of presence…the ministry of just being there. Think of the last time that you were really struggling and someone just sat with you. Not trying to fix anything or pile on advice. To just listen…and wait. Could that really be a ministry? You better believe it!

To be truly present, not sitting in the same room watching tv or scrolling through our news feed on our phone, but patient, peaceful, prayerful. Present. That is a powerful ministry that you and I can both walk in as God leads us. The ministry of presence.

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

If you’ve ever watched a Nascar race you know the bulk of the attention is on the driver. The driver has to have disciplined his or her body for the length and stress of the race. They must stay focused on the track and any cars in front of them and be in tune with their own car. The goal? Cross the finish line first, or as close to first as possible.

But it takes more than an experienced driver and a finely tuned race car to win a race. Every driver has a team and each team member has a specific role to play to help that driver do the very best in order to win. The pit crew are ready to jump the wall and race to replace worn tires, refuel the engine, make minor adjustments in split seconds to get the car and its driver back in the race. The spotter sits way up high, can see all the other cars around their teammate and has the ability to communicate directly with the driver to give direction, encouragement and immediate warning when there is danger. The thrill of the crowd in the stands cheering for their favorite driver is exciting and energizing.

And when the driver wins…the whole team celebrates! My favorite part of the win is watching the whole crew run to the driver and high five and hug and throw their hands up high to celebrate the victory. And if you listen you’ll hear the driver thank the crew and crew chief, the owner and so on. Because that winner knows…they did not get there on their own. It was a team effort!

You and I are in a race. While we may feel, at times, like we are on our own, in this race, the Apostle Paul told us in Hebrews 12:1 (CEV) “Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.” We are not alone! God gives us people to come alongside to cheer us on, to help us AND He puts us in the pit crew of others to do the same.

We also have a spotter! The Holy Spirit can see everything and He will communicate with us, giving us direction, encouragement and warnings of danger. The goal of our race isn’t cross the finish first. Our goal…is to finish the race well. So keep running the race. Let’s keep cheering each other on. And let’s listen closely to the voice of the One who gave His all so we could truly run this race well. And that’s the win!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The song "Jesus Loves Me" is still one of my favorite songs. It was a regular nightly bedtime song with my kids and now my granddaughter as well. I listen to Christian music every day that is filled with the message that Jesus loves us. And I'm so thankful as I know there are many in this world who haven't heard that message that they are loved by God.

You don't read very far into the gospels in the Bible to see clearly that Jesus loved His disciples and those who followed Him. In fact, Jesus' love for the world was so incredibly powerful that He was committed to love each one regardless of their love or hatred of Him.

I was thinking of the term of endearment “the disciple whom Jesus loved” the other day. I've read those verses in John's gospel so often and thought at times that John & Jesus must have had an extraordinarily close relationship for that to have been said about John. I've wondered if the other disciples were ever jealous to think that Jesus loved John more. So as I looked up all the references to 'the one whom Jesus loved' (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20) I realized they were ALL written by John.

All of those Bible verses that called John 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' were in the book of John...written BY John. Boastful? I don't think so. Teacher & Author, John Piper wrote, "perhaps this is John’s way of saying, “My most important identity is not my name but my being loved by Jesus the Son of God.” He’s not trying to rob anybody else of this privilege; he is simply exulting in it: “I’m loved, I’m loved, I’m loved — that’s who I am. I’m loved by Jesus.”*

What if we began to write that phrase about ourselves on the pages of our journal, our calendars, how about the home screen of our phone and computer? Your name...and these five words: The one whom Jesus loves. Would that begin to change how we love ourselves? how we love each other? Do we truly walk in the understanding that we are loved by Jesus? 

Where can you write those words today about yourself? Your name...followed by these words,...the one whom Jesus loves. Because it is true. You are loved!

* John Piper (John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books.

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Have you ever been part of a conversation that goes something like this? 'Honey, don't we have any more butter?' Now the word 'butter' could be anything that notoriously goes missing. Shoes. Keys. Remote control. Jacket. The response usually includes a general location of where the missing item should be. When the person who is searching says, "I didn't see it anywhere"... you know what is coming next... especially if you're a mom! 'Did you look underneath, around, behind...?' Searching for something lost sometimes requires more than our eyes! We may have to do some actual LIFTING!

It's often the same with spiritual things. Have you lost faith? Maybe hope feels like it has been hiding lately. Perhaps your JOY has been buried underneath so much heartache it seems impossible to find. Sometimes our greatest faith is right underneath that biggest doubt. We haven't really lost it. We just need to LOOK and do some LIFTING. Maybe you are so worn out you don't have the energy to lift. Here's some good news. You never have to do it by yourself. Jesus is the Light to help us find it...and HE can do the heavy lifting! All we have to do to get started is ask!

Matthew 7:7 tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

I haven't had much success with plants over the years. Usually within a few months it becomes obvious that my thumb is not green! Different plants need varying amounts of sunlight and water. And I just have never taken the time to learn that detail. Until I inherited a small tree planter when I moved into my office. Hidden between the desk and wall was a two foot tree stalk that had two branches with a few leaves and what I call a dead end. It looked like a branch had been growing there but was completely cut off and nothing ever grew back. 

My first thought was that I was pretty sure it was doomed given my past experience with live plants. But a funny thing happened. I sat it up on my desk for a couple of days while my office was being painted and I noticed that in just that short amount of time the plant actually looked a little greener. 

So I named it "Hank" and I moved it over by my office window. I made Mondays my 'water Hank' day. One of my co-workers came in every morning and started telling Hank how much better he looked. So I started talking to Hank. And Hank started growing like crazy. More and more growth on those original branches were happening. And then, that dead end that I mentioned, began to sprout a new shoot!  

Attention and care was all Hank needed to come to life. Today, Hank is thriving and probably needs to be repotted, although that may be beyond my capabilities! Attention and care. Isn't that what we all need?! Is there someone in your purview that God is tugging at your heart to speak to? to encourage? to nudge into the light? to water a bit with the Living Word?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 from The Message gives us the life giving care instructions: "So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it."

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

There is nothing quite like trying to dress a toddler. Their energy knows no bounds. Their little minds are constantly thinking – what’s next? where can I go? ooo what’s up there? hey, what’s this? and what does it do? The creativity and interest level of a toddler is pretty incredible. With very little thought for danger a toddler is driven largely by curiosity and experience.

Saying the word ‘wait’ to a toddler…well, if you’ve had one or taken care of one, you know it doesn’t really mean much to them. It’s in those earliest discovery moments that we begin to teach children about safety and obedience and the consequences of our actions.

Even as adults we struggle with the concept of waiting. Psalm 27:14 (NIV) teaches us an important component to waiting. It tells us what to DO while we wait. It says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” While we are waiting we are to be strong, encouraged, to have hope, to be bold and confident…to not give up! There is a LOT of doing in that one little verse of instruction.

I think if we could bottle up any of that toddler energy and curiosity we could serve it up best right here…in the waiting…in the watching expectantly for the goodness of God and just how He will reveal His greatness in our lives next! Now THAT is curiosity and wonder put to good use…while we are waiting!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

Music almost always seems to draw a crowd, doesn’t it?! I’ve been on a New York City subway platform with a crowd gathered to hear some guy play his saxophone. Walked around New Orleans with live music coming from almost every little cafe and street corner and there was always a crowd. Even the ice cream truck uses music to draw a crowd! Although that might be connected to the promise of ice cream! But we learned that connection by experience.

Think about our church services. We may all be having personal conversations around the building but when the worship music begins it draws us right in. It might take some of us longer than others but the beauty of opening with music is that it draws our hearts and minds into focusing on God. It’s one of the reasons I love Christian music so much. So many of the lyrics come right out of the Word of God and God uses them to teach us and help us remember what He’s done and is doing in our lives. And as we sing those songs back to God it makes our hearts grateful.

Colossians 3:16 instructs us to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

That’s the power of a song that reminds us of the message of Christ.

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

Do you know what a ‘spotter’ is? Maybe the better question is ‘do you know the importance of having a spotter?’ Wikipedia says “Spotting in weight or resistance training is the act of supporting another person during a particular exercise, with an emphasis on allowing the participant to lift or push more than they could normally do safely. Correct spotting involves knowing when to intervene and assist with a lift, and encouraging a training partner to push beyond the point in which they would normally return the weight to its stationary position.”

That’s what we need some days, don’t we?! What if we had someone walking around with us every day that spoke words of affirmation like, ‘you can do this!’, ‘you are enough’, ‘you are loved!’? Someone that pointed out the ‘lift here – not there’. One who encouraged us to keep at the hard things and jumped in to help when we are trying to pick up and carry around a weight that is too much for us.

I have really good news for you today. The Holy Spirit is with us. 24/7. There are some weights we must carry in this life but God already knows what we are capable of when we are fully equipped with His Spirit. Likewise, there are some weights we were never meant to carry and because of Jesus’ sacrifice we can lay them down. I love how The Passion Translation paraphrases 1 Corinthians 10:13. “We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing for every test or trial you face so that you can bear it.”

The Holy Spirit is like a spotter…and oh so much more! If you haven’t started working out with Him yet…being aware of His presence with you…today is your day!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

There is a scene in the movie “Finding Nemo” with a group of seagulls all sitting on posts in the water, with their sights set on a crab for dinner, all calling out, “mine, mine, mine, mine”… the scene makes us laugh because we have all been there at some point. We put ourselves in the place of the sea gull…taking ownership…claiming what’s up for grabs.

When I first read Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”, it felt like taking ownership to me. And why shouldn’t God….He made all of it, and all of us. We DO belong to Him. Then I began thinking about that word ‘belong’. The Contemporary English Version says, “The earth and everything on it, including its people, belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to Him.”

I have spent a fair amount of my life trying to figure out where I belong. And just about the time I think I have it all figured out – things change. People. Jobs. Organizations. Church. All of those may change in our lifetime. But our soul can be satisfied when we rest in what Psalm 24:1 really means to us. It’s not about God taking ownership…because He made all of it….of course it all belongs to Him. It’s really about belonging. Are you wrestling to find where you belong? In this moment, pause and breathe this in, God says, “you belong to Me”!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

My experience with fishing is very limited. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone fishing. So much waiting…so much quiet…are my top reasons for not having my own rod and reel. Followed quickly by the whole idea of unhooking whatever I finally caught. Mmm hmmm. Not my idea of relaxing. But one thing I think of every time I remember my Fishing 101 lesson? Remembering to unlock the fishing line before I cast out the line!

When I forgot to release the line, I would swing the pole as hard as I could and that line never left my reel! Embarrassing? Yes! Did I ever forget again? No! Releasing the lock on my reel allowed my swing to cast that line with the hook and the bait way out away from me and drop it in the water.

When I read Psalm 55:22 (NIV) the word ‘cast’ reminds me of my few fishing experiences. This Bible verse gives us instruction AND a promise when we obey. It reads, “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Some Bible translations say ‘leave your troubles’, or ‘tell your worries’, but I LOVE that visual of casting. We need to remember to UNLOCK the line and CAST whatever worry or burden, fear or frustration onto the One who tells us to do it. Don’t just drop it. It’s too easy to pick it back up! Cast it. Let it go!

God knows we are weary. He knows we could bend and falter beneath the weight of all we try to carry ourselves. His promise when we are obedient to His instruction? He will sustain us. He will never let the righteous be shaken. Are you in need of support to keep going? Do you feel like your world is being shaken? Go back to the instruction of Psalm 55:22. Begin by unlocking the line you’ve kept tethered to you with all your cares attached….and cast it all on Him.

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

We've all seen those radar speed signs typically in residential areas that flash your current speed up as you approach it. If it begins flashing your speed it's meant to be a reminder of the current speed and to slow it down.

I was driving through the town I live in one day, deep in thought, which is usually what gets me in trouble as I'm driving. All of a sudden I rounded the corner on the street and the radar sign didn't flash my speed on it...it did something I had never seen before...and have never seen since. In bright yellow CAPITAL letters it screamed YOU ARE SPEEDING. Woah! Now that definitely got my attention. To this day I remember exactly where it happened and how quickly I reduced my speed!

One of the most valuable gifts God has given us as believers is His Holy Spirit living inside us. He gives us wisdom and discernment. He helps us stay on track. And when we are approaching a potentially dangerous situation....He can warn us just as suddenly and intensely as that radar speed sign. Jesus knew that in this crazy world we live in, we would need the Holy Spirit. So He asked God to send Him to us!

Jesus said in John 14:16 (NLT), "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you." In the Greek, that word Advocate is "Paraclete" which also means Comforter, Encourager and Counselor. It is definitely to our advantage to pay attention to His direction!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

I made a last minute impulse buy when I was redecorating my daughter's bedroom a few years ago. On the way to the register my eyes fell on this gallon sized ceramic jar. It had shapes cut out on the sides...and it was orange. I don't know what made me do it...not even sure what I was going to use it for in her room....but I bought it!

Today, my daughter's room is no longer that theme, but I can not part with that orange ceramic jar. Last year I discovered that the opening was just the right size to drop a candle down inside and wow! It's still an old orange jar with holes in the sides; but, in the dark, the light glowing through those cutouts on the sides is beautiful!

You and I are sort of like that orange ceramic jar. Fragile, unique, some of us may have more holes from wounds we've weathered than others. But, unlike my last minute impulse buy, we've been chosen by the Master Potter for a very specific and spectacular mission in this world....to carry the Light! 2 Corinthians 4:7 (MSG) says, "If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us."

The next time you're feeling like the old clay pot...focus on the One we get to carry around in our hearts to share with the world. What a privilege we have been given to carry the Light!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message) Jesus spoke that invitation to His disciples and followers as a beautiful offer of exchange to us all. Bring Him all that is weighing us down, causing us pain, keeping us up at night and keeping us from truly connecting with our Father and He will take it on. In exchange, He will teach us what real rest feels like.

Learning by example is always easier than trying to figure things out on our own. Jesus' offer is to walk with Him and work with Him...and watch how He does it...and that offer is good today. The beauty of that unforced rhythm of grace is that we respond to His invitation not out of obligation but out of desiring a relationship. Evangelist Joseph Prince said it this way: "The reality is, when you don’t read the Bible, you should not be feeling guilty; you should be feeling hungry."

You can be sure of this: when we mess up...and it's inevitable that we will!...we don't have to hide. Jesus began with our exhaustion and disillusion and said - bring it! No matter what it is or how often we find ourselves way in over our head, bring it all to Him. He said, "keep company with Me and you will learn to live freely and lightly."

Right now is the perfect time to lighten your load and follow His beautiful rhythm of grace!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

The seat NO ONE wants to sit in?...the middle seat on an airplane! You know if you've flown before you either want the window seat or the aisle seat. Unless you're traveling WITH someone you know and want to be seated together...those middle seats are typically the last seats to fill in. When you're relegated to the dreaded middle seat it means you have a stranger on BOTH sides of you and...who gets the arm rest?!

Being stuck in the middle is never comfortable. Sometimes it's not a physical middle seat but we feel it just the same. Stuck between pay checks, between that rock and a hard place, between jobs, even broken relationships. Honestly, we are all stuck in the middle between heaven and earth. Yes, we are in this world, but we are not of it. If we have made a decision to follow Christ. We are on our way to heaven. We're just not there yet!

Living in the middle can be painful...but there are also amazing opportunities to grow! This is where we learn and grow, plant seeds and rejoice in harvest! This middle part reminds us that there is a glorious destination ahead. Jesus said in John 11:40 (MSG), "Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 

So rather than dread the middle let's embrace the hope of what awaits all those who believe in the Savior.
Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

I watched a tender video of a dad brushing his little girl's hair as she is sobbing. When he asks her what's wrong she chokes out, "I don't know". So he sweetly asks her if she'd like something special done with her hair. He was so patient with her as she finally said, still in tears, 'curls'. While he plugs in the curling iron he smiles and says, 'wanna hear a joke?' He tells her a dad joke...and instantly she erupts in laughter.   There's been more than half a million views of that little video that captured a dad being a heroic #GirlDad and, ok, maybe dad jokes do serve a purpose.

Do you ever have days like that little one? You just feel blue. Maybe there IS someone or something that you're carrying grief over. Sometimes there is just no explanation. There's just a sadness that hangs like a cloud over your heart. Proverbs 14:13 (NLT) tells us, "Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains." My family and I are closing in on the first anniversary of the loss of my brother. We've nearly experienced all the firsts in this first year of living without him. My sister-in-love and I were talking this past week about how we were feeling about this milestone. It is hard to put it into words. On his birthday I wrote it this way, "I'm not sorry that you're there. I'm just sad that you're not here."

Maybe you can relate. Grief has so many layers and as we go through the process we find things to smile about...maybe even laugh out loud over. I believe that verse is less about what to do or not do, and more to confirm that in this life there will be heartache, but it is ok to find moments of laughter...even joy. And that it's alright to keep company with grief and joy side by side. We can be sure of this, when we are finding our way through those days, we are not alone. God promised that "He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) And that is the BEST company to keep!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

Merci. Danke. Gracias. Xiexie. Grazie. Mahalo. Toda. Each of these words represent a unique people group, a culture, wishing to express one simple thing. Thanks!

Before I even began teaching my children their ABC's or how to count to 10, I was teaching them to say "please" and "thank you". Common courtesies that really aren't so common. I hope we never lose the capacity, or the good manners, to pause even for a few seconds, to look someone in the eye and tell them "thank you". In that little expression, a whole conversation could be shared. Gratitude for a kindness shown, or 'you noticed me!' It could mean 'I appreciate your service'. It could even mean 'I was feeling overwhelmed and you have no idea how much what you did means to me.' Thank you.

I think we all tend to walk around in our own little world much of the time. We've got a lot of responsibility, a lot of things on our minds. When we stop to say thank you to someone, for even a few brief seconds, we open the door of our little world to see someone else in their little world. And aren't we supposed to be mindful of each other?! Romans 12:13 (NLT) describes it well. "When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." 

"Thank you" can help to open the door!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

One of my favorite promises in the Bible is this: "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." And wow! Did God fight for His people! The story in Exodus 14 is packed full of drama, mystery and miracles! It's the story of the Red Sea and about a million of God's people walking on dry ground between two incredibly gigantic walls of water as God held back the sea to rescue the Israelites.

Oh there was a LOT of celebrating on the other side of the Red Sea once they saw what God did to save them. But what were they doing BEFORE the answer arrived? Pretty much freaking out! Complaining. Wishing they could go back to Egypt where they'd been enslaved and abused. Not one of their finest moments, to be sure. 

If we are being honest, we've all been there. That "Red Sea" moment when we thought God was leading us in a direction and all of a sudden the enemy came rushing in. Whatever it is...or was...it felt like life or death. What God did for His people in Exodus 14 is a reminder of what He will do for us now. Moses told the people in Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV) "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." 

What if we choose to worship God - in front of the Red Sea. BEFORE we can see the outcome...what if we trust Him...and instead of worrying we choose to thank Him for His provision AHEAD of the storm! God gives us that direction. We can pray His Word in confidence and expectation...like this:  I will not be afraid! Lord, I am going to stand still and watch You rescue me today. Thank you that You, God, are fighting for me. And in that, I can just remain calm.
Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

I love to collect certain things. If I love them and they bring me joy....why not??!! I remember buying my first Longaberger basket. Pretty. Functional. Valuable. I LOVED it! And I decided to buy more - thinking the value would only increase and...I could pass them down to my children.

Well, I now have quite a collection of functional, not so valuable baskets...and my daughter has ZERO interest in inheriting my collection! I understand. She didn't live through the era of brass tags and limited edition collecting and hostess credits. And honestly, they are a BEAST to keep dusted!

We all tend to collect things. Either for pleasure or sentimentality, things become valuable to us. But nothing compares to the treasures we must be focused on storing up in heaven. No baskets. No jewelry or artwork or baseball cards. There's nothing wrong with those things. But they can't be our priority.

Matthew 6:19-21 in the Passion Translation tells us,“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure."

Your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure. Wow. Heavenly treasures. If you are hearing my voice or reading this now....YOU are heaven's greatest treasure. That Jesus lived a sinless life here on earth, bore all of our sins on a cross, died and rose up to live again is how you and I can live forever in heaven!! Sharing His story with as many who will listen and believe...now THAT is stockpiling heavenly treasures that can never be stolen!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Patience. We all need more of it...but don't ask God for it! You know the only way we learn to have more patience...is by going through the trials. It could be small things - like waiting for that thing you ordered in the mail to finally arrive or for the long line in the grocery store or the post office to finally get moving!

Often, we must wait for things we are not sure will ever come to pass. That unanswered prayer that we have prayed over and over again...hoping, trusting that God will bring it about sooner rather than later. It is most often NOT the way we thought God would do it and sometimes not in the time frame we were asking.

But what we do IN the waiting....is what teaches us patience. Because we get to choose. Will I be impatient and worry, grumble and complain about this lack? or will I do all that I can and trust God to do what only He can? Because waiting is meant to be active. Maybe that's why servers in restaurants are called 'wait staff'?!

James 1:12 describes the reward for those who choose patience. "God bless those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." It sounds like God considers our patient endurance as very important. He promised the crown of life to those who love Him and patiently endure. Maybe we thank Him in advance for helping us to choose to be patient!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

My husband, Ken, drives for a charter bus company. Sometimes his assignments could be for just a few hours in our local vicinity. Or he could drive hundreds of miles and be gone for a few days to a week at a time. But before he ever drives out of the bus yard, regardless of how short or how long his drive will be, he checks the bus equipment. I've watched him go through the checklist. Before he even gets to the bus lot he looks up destination details and plans his route carefully. Once he arrives he cranks up the bus to let the engine warm up. He walks all around the bus, checking the tires, the lights, brakes, turn signals, windshield wipers, the fuel gauge and so on. It's all part of preparing for the journey.

Every day you and I are on a journey. How do we prepare for it? Some days we may stay close to home. And some days we may cover a lot of territory, encounter a lot of people, a lot of 'opportunities' to be the hands and feet of Jesus. How often do we check our 'equipment' to be sure we are in good working order? Getting the right amount of rest and eating the right kinds of foods is vital to our energy level and brain power; but, what about our spiritual preparation? Do we make time every day to chew on some part of God's Word? Are we having a conversation with God each day? Are we keeping track of where He is leading us, how we are growing, where we might need some reinforcements? Are we wearing our armor?

Oh yes! We get armor!...and we've got to put it on every day! That's why Ephesians 6:11 says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

So check your equipment and then remember verse 13 that directs us, after taking up the whole armor of God..."and having done all, to stand firm." Ready for the journey!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Remember the spices that the women prepared and took to the grave where Jesus' body had been laid?  In those days, it was customary to use certain spices to prepare a body for burial to help overcome the smell of death. We don't know what the ladies carried those spices in and we don't know what happened to the spices once they were surprised inside the empty tomb by two glowing angels appearance. We do know Luke 24:5 says, "The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground."

It is very likely that those spices were scattered about the ground inside the tomb as they dropped to the ground. And would've been the last thing they would think of as they raced to tell Peter and the other disciples that Jesus was alive!

The disciples heard Mary & the other women telling the good news...Jesus is risen!...and didn't believe them. But Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to see for himself. Luke tells that Peter looked inside and saw the empty grave clothes, went home again, wondering what had happened.

I wonder if Peter smelled the spices when he entered the tomb. Is it possible that the aroma of their worship to honor the Messiah, their Lord and Master, still filled the air? Did you know that our worship is a sweet aroma to God and to those around us? 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." The Passion Translation tells it this way: "We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God —a perfume of life to those being saved."

Our worship leaves behind the fragrance of Christ and helps attract the sinner to salvation. How beautiful that God would allow us to carry the fragrance of our Lord!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

I can't imagine how Mary Magdalene must have felt when Jesus died on the cross. The One who had utterly changed her life, spoken and shown only love to her & everyone around her. He healed everyone who came in search of healing and then some. How could it be that her beloved Jesus was no longer with them?

I imagine there was not much sleep to be had in the hours that followed after Jesus' body was laid in the tomb. The trauma of watching the One she loved with all her heart be condemned, beaten & pierced, mocked, hanged on a cross and left suffering in agony for hours had, no doubt, left Mary in shock, numb to anything but her next breath.

That is why it is no surprise that once the Sabbath had ended, before the sun had even begun to rise, Mary & the other women were on their way to the tomb, with the spices they had prepared for Jesus' body. Imagine their shock, panic even, that the tomb was empty. Where was Jesus?  Luke 24 tells us TWO men suddenly appeared in dazzling robes and told them, "He is not here. He is risen from the dead!"

Terrified at first sight, the ladies were reminded that Jesus had told them he would rise again. Then, Luke said, they rushed back to tell his disciples, and everyone else, what had happened. Today we celebrate that the tomb is empty. Jesus is risen and He is alive indeed! Who will WE hurry to tell the Good News to today?!

Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

You and I do not have the corner on drama in our lives. All it takes is 20 minutes or so of reading the Bible to know that drama is part of life. Esther is one of my favorite Bible stories and with only 10 chapters in the book of Esther you could read it in a single setting. You might want to get your notebook out though, with all the twists and turns of this incredible story, it might be a challenge to keep them all straight.

If you haven't read it - this is a spoiler alert! But the summary will help shine a light on something we need to remember. Esther becomes Queen after winning the heart of the King. But Esther is a Jew and Jews were hated by some who were close to the King. Haman is evil and plots to annihilate the Jews. Esther rises to the challenge that she must intercede on behalf of her people to save them. So she throws a dinner and invites both the King and Haman to the table. 

I don't know how long this banquet lasted but Esther 7 starts out with them conversing over the 'second dinner of the evening'. Esther is courageous. The king's heart is moved by his queen and he has an epiphany of the caliber of evil within Haman's heart. I'm not giving up anymore of the story right now...but I want you to remember this powerful lesson. Especially when you find yourself in a battle that feels full of twists & turn in your own story. Remember this story of Esther, and Haman, and the king and know this...the presence of your enemy at the banquet table does not diminish the presence of your King.

Psalm 23:5 (CEV) tells us, "You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as Your guest, and You fill my cup until it overflows." When you choose Jesus as your King, it will not matter who else is at your table.
Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

When my kiddos got old enough that I could let them play in the backyard for a while by themselves I would tell them, "Stay where I can see you!" I might be folding laundry or washing dishes but I was able to glance out of the kitchen window or the back patio and keep an eye on them. Of course, I wanted to keep them out of trouble but I also wanted trouble to stay away from them...and I wanted them to learn to follow directions. 

Sometimes they got interested in something beyond the backyard and would go beyond where I could see them. And I would go find them and bring them back. When they got into something they knew they weren't supposed to get into....they would hide. As a parent, we know that is a sure sign they are likely up to something!

That's nothing new. We don't have to read very far into the Bible to find people hiding. Adam & Eve, Elijah, Jonah...hiding for a variety of reasons...but none could hide from God. And neither can we. There's a great benefit of staying where God has us. It's not that we could possibly hide from God. The benefit is OURS when we stay where we can see HIM! 

Psalm 139: 7-10 (CEV) reminds us that He is always with us! "Where could I go to escape from Your Spirit or from Your sight? If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, You would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead You would also be there. Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. Even then Your powerful arm would guide and protect me."

So it's not about staying where God can see us. Let's determine today that we are going to stay where we can see HIM!
Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

We've moved four times since I've been married. The first three times we boxed up our belongings & moved our furniture and I've looked forward to the new memories we would make in our new home. The last time we moved was different for many reasons. I think the hardest part was that we were leaving the home we had raised our children in. So many memories within those walls .. like the doorframe into my office that had each height measurement & birthdate of our kids from the age they were when we moved in until we moved out etched into it. That was hard to leave behind.

My girlfriend told me that she had a similar experience. She had been dreading taking things off the walls and moving the furniture out because so much life had happened in her home. But walking back into the empty room was good for her because she realized...there's no life in the room. Life was in her!

What a beautiful thought. We take our memories with us wherever we go. And because we have life within us we can make new memories wherever God leads us next. It might not be a new home. Maybe it's a new job, a new fellowship, a new community of friends. Isaiah 43:19 (VOICE) reminds us to look for it! "Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; Waters will flow where there had been none."

Look for it!
Read more devotions written by Denise Harper at Treasured Inside
https://deniseharper.blog

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1

  Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.
  
  Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

• 
  Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2

  Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.
  
  Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...