Galatians 3:27 – For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (NIV)

Romans 13:14 – Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)

When we live in Jesus, we are able to tap into the power of God, and He can accomplish great things through us.

John 14:12 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do will he do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (NKJV)

Our divine God partners with us, even though you and I are like a frayed pair of jeans, imperfect, yet ready to work.

The fact is that God not only partners with us, but He also ordains works for us to accomplish.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

Just think of the significance. Even though we are like a frayed pair of jeans, the Jesus in whom we live, being the express image of the glory of God the Father, creates us with a divine purpose. Therefore, we are useful to God, and we get to have fun of discovering what our purpose is.

As we live our lives, frays may come, as on the hems of our jeans, but we are more useful to God because we know that we need His empowerment to live productive lives.

Let's take the limits off what we can imagine accomplishing, and bring His kingdom forward as we work for Him.

What is a work that you want to accomplish with God's empowerment? Pray with me:

Prayer: Father God, like the frayed jeans, thank You for my weaknesses. I know that all the good things that I can accomplish will happen only as I lean into Your grace-filled bosom. Especially when I have reached a goal, keep me humble and dependent upon You. Help me to proclaim Your goodness throughout the world. In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

But wait, that was yesteryear. This time when the power went out, we opened the freezer multiple times. We sat in our easy chairs and watched television. We heated our dinners in the microwave. We were able to do these things because we had purchased a generator! This time, although we still met near the fireplace, the atmosphere just wasn't the same. Our conversations were interrupted by breaking news coverage, and we had no inconveniences to overcome as a family.

It was when my daughter mentioned that she missed playing board games, that I realized that those pre-generator power outages were blessings in disguise.

Let's talk about an inconvenient blessing that wasn't fun at all. It was wrought on the most important day of history. The occasion was crucifixion day.

John 19:30b – It is finished. (KJV)

Mark 15:38 – And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (KJV)

As Jesus spoke, "It is finished", a midday eclipse darkened the sky — greater than any power outage that we've ever experienced — obscuring figures in its thickening cloak. The earth rumbled, rocks split, and the veil of the temple tore from top to bottom. It is as if all of creation stopped to honour the Saviour as He died on Calvary's cross and opened the way to be reconciled with Father God.

Why did Jesus endure this inconvenient blessing? It is because He loves you, my friend. The night prior to His crucifixion, He said, "I have chosen you" (John 15:16b KJV). But His love for you started far before crucifixion day. The Lord chose you before you were born, even before the world had its beginning.

Ephesians 1:4a – He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (KJV)

There's an aspect of your choosing that is far more important than material blessings: Father God chose to provide for you the Saviour. The words, "in Him" speak of your salvation. When you ask Jesus to be your Saviour, then you are "in Him". This is part of God's perfect plan for your life. Even now, Jesus is preparing your mansion in heaven. As a believer, your blessings stretch into eternity. Blessing after blessing awaits you that you'll receive the moment that you step into heaven. Glory!

Is there any inconvenience we've endured that compares to Christ's suffering? There is no greater love than what our Saviour demonstrated, and He provided the greatest blessing through unparalleled inconvenience.

During this holy season, let's reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, who chose to bless us, even though this decision was wrought with inconvenience. Pray with me:

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being my Saviour. I reverence You for the sacrifice that You made to save me. Although this was inconvenient, Your great love compelled You to give. Amen.

"God," I said, "What do I do? Princess needs a new home, too."

In the silence, a thought formed, She was a gift; so give her as a gift.

Memories flooded my mind. I remembered caring for Princess whenever my neighbour vacationed. One year, I teased her, saying that she could have her Appaloosa back, but I was keeping Princess. To my amazement, she said that she'd been waiting for me to ask. The benefit for her was that I'd be assuming responsibility for the vet, farrier, and feed bills.

Princess had come to live with my neighbour when her previous owner, Patty, had fallen on hard times. Nonetheless, Patty would come and ride her. I noticed that Princess high-stepped her gorgeous fox trot best for Patty.

My neighbour had moved long before, so I knew who the Lord was referencing when He spoke into my spirit to give Princess as a gift. Patty's financial situation had improved, but she did not have a pasture, so it made little sense to call her. But I decided to contact her anyway.

Patty arranged to have Princess pastured in an adjoining field that a cattleman owned, and the preparations were made to make the transfer.

As my horse-haired angel trotted out of my world, a strange sense of gratitude overtook me. As deep as this loss was for me, I knew that Patty's heart was now full. It was then that I realized that Father God had planned this Giving Day from the beginning.

In reflecting on this, I wondered how Father God felt when He gave His Son Jesus. Did He draw closer, when He had to ask His Son in Gethsemane to make the hard decision to go to Calvary's cross? As Jesus agreed to do the will of His Father, did their hearts ache together?

Mark 14:36b – Take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (KJV)

Did the holy Father feel distraught as He averted His eyes, be it ever so briefly, so that His Son could bear the weight of sin? Did Father weep when Jesus said,

Mark 15:34b – My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (KJV)

Friend, the purpose for this heartache was rooted in the ever-presence of God, whose love knows no boundaries and whose depths cannot be reached. No human can fathom this boundless love except for Jesus. And so, when Father God whispered to His Son in Gethsemane that it was Giving Day, Jesus willingly chose to pay this penalty of death. Why? Jesus' love was as rich as His Father's. We needed this pardon for sin that only the Son could pay, and Jesus made sure that we could have it.

And now, Father God has replaced King Jesus' crown of thorns with a jewelled crown. Those nail-pierced hands that stretched wide to pay the debt that humanity could not possibly have paid, have been bejewelled with the crimson-coloured beryl stones of glory.

Let's meditate on John 3:16 afresh. Giving Day is for you, my friend. It has been fervently given, and prearranged from the beginning of time, because you have been and always will be deeply loved by your Creator.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the gift of eternal life that Your Son Jesus Christ purchased for me. Amen.

Recently, while I was at a local restaurant, I kept feeling a nudge in my spirit to go to a clothing store when I finished eating. As I arrived there, I recognized a homeless man named Mike. We struck up a conversation.

"I can't give you money, but I'll be glad to buy you a meal." I pointed toward the restaurant.

"Can I get a hot dog? Or two?"

"Sure. Let's get you two hot dogs. And ice cream too."

"It's too cold fer that."

"I understand," I said, but then I wondered if I really understood the bone-chilling cold that Mike faced every winter.

As I stepped inside the restaurant, Mike hovered at the door.

"Please… come inside."

As is often the case, a homeless person is used to being shamed, so they will not enter a building.

Mike cautiously looked around.

The server was puzzled, "Back so soon?"

"My friend is hungry. Mike, tell the lady what you want."

"I wants a hot dog."

"Make that two, please."

Mike was modest with his order. To drink, he asked for a cup of water without ice. He didn't order fries because he said that he had chips in his backpack that were "not too old to eat." The entire order cost less than five dollars.

I recognized that this was God's heavenly assignment. I prayed for guidance. We talked about Mike's employment as a painter fifteen years prior. He couldn't get disability.

"Perhaps you can do something."

"That's what they says."

"And…?"

"I can't climb ladders no more."

"Because…?"

"I drinks."

"I care about you, Mike, so tell it to me straight. Do you want help with that?"

By this time, Mike's hot dogs had arrived, but he stayed put.

"Lotsa days, it's cold 'specially when the winds a-knockin' at ye collar like it was last night. If I takes to the bottle, I don't feel it as bad."

"You can have a new beginning…"

"Is ye talkin' bout Him? I likes Him, see?" Mike rolled up his sleeve to reveal a cross tattoo. "I walk past a church from where I sleep in the woods. I think 'bouts goin' in ta learn 'bout 'Him. But they won't want the likes of me." Mike glanced at his attire.

There it was again, rearing its ugly head — a creature named "shame" had browbeaten this gentle man once too often. I was ready to act.

The same Spirit who had nudged me to drop by a store was also prompting Mike to attend a certain church, and my guess was that a preacher was preparing a sermon just for Mike. God was converging forces in an attempt to rescue a man who had wandered for fifteen years.

"Mike, God loves you as much as the preacher. You are welcome there. So, this Sunday, even if you've been drinking, go inside."

I knew that Mike needed Jesus. I thought about this verse: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV)

I knew that Mike would answer my next question as candidly as he had answered the others.

"Will you go to that church this Sunday?"

"Imna go…"

"Can I pray with you?"

"Uh huh."

I felt the cold of Mike's skin and the slenderness of his fingers clinging to mine, as if holding my hands tightly would make his world straighten. As we prayed, I hoped that Mike would choose to hold as tightly to his Saviour's nail-scarred hands.

Prayer: Father God, help us to pay attention when Your Holy Spirit nudges us. Fill us with love and compassion for those whom You send our way. Help us to lead each of these individuals to Christ. Amen.

Once inside the grocery store, I set my son in the cart seat and lifted my daughter into the basket.

"Son, what were you thinking?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"I'm Superman! I stop car!" Matthew said. He flexed his muscles to demonstrate his power.

"Mom," my daughter said, "That was neat."

"Not exactly," I said, knowing that I'd ask my husband to discuss street safety with the children later that evening. I'll put the superhero videos away for a while, I thought, but I knew that that would be futile.

To my three- and four-year-old children, superheroes were as real as Charlotte the spider who lived on the back porch, and I was not permitted to sweep her web away in case she wanted to write a message. The Easter Bunny lived in the neighbourhood — my children had seen him. Sure enough, Gilligan was going to teach my children boating skills — as soon as he got off the island. And Mr. Rogers certainly would bring Lady Elaine and Daniel for a visit soon.

Superheroes empower children. With their imagination activated, they can envision the world as a safe place to grow, learn, and play. Once we become adults, we lose that safety net of knowing that there is a superpower greater than ourselves … or do we? With faith activated, we can know the One who is more majestic than any imaginary superhero, and whose name is mightier than any name that is named.

Are you looking for a Superhero? Look no farther than Jesus Christ. He is the One who carries our fears — so that we don't have to. He is the One who activates our dreams — even those that we gave up on ever achieving. Jesus Christ is the One who restores broken lives — He heals the body that aches and the doctors haven't been able to find the ailment or the cure. Jesus reinstates the marriage that is shredding apart day-by-day, as we grasp for dying love. Jesus provides bread on our table when the mortgage is due and the dollars are few.

Paul pens a picture of our Superhero:

1 Timothy 1:15b – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (KJV)

Even though Paul committed great sins, he knew that Jesus Christ saved and transformed him. I like that, because it lets us know that we qualify, regardless of the ways that we've messed up. With Christ's superpowers as the only begotten Son of God, He chose to live, die, and be raised to life to pardon us. Jesus has a beautiful future for us. This is why Paul pens this praise:

1 Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV)

How can we thank our Superhero, Jesus Christ, as eloquently as Paul did? Even though we are adults, God has placed within us the indelible gift of imagination. As we pray, we can envision with childlike faith just how majestic our Superhero truly is. And He is real!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to envision our real-life Superhero, Jesus Christ, in all of His majesty and splendour. Amen.

It was wash day. I got right to work, separating the laundry into piles and loading the washer. I reached for the cleaning agents and meticulously measured bleach, detergent, and fabric softener, pouring each into their respective receptacles. I hit the start button, turned away, glanced at the remaining piles, and realized that the white clothes were still on the floor.

"No!" I exclaimed, jamming the stop-cycle button. I removed my permanent-press clothing and replaced them with whites. I was relieved that I had retrieved my blouses before the bleach had dispensed. "Why did I do that?" I said, and quickly answered my own question, "It is because I was just going through the motions." Doing laundry isn't something that I prioritize; rather, it is a chore that I do because it is necessary. I don't mind the routine of wash day, but I don't value it.

I poured coffee, sat, and opened my Bible. I read about Mary, who had been going through the motions of religion until Jesus rescued her from a life of sin. Now, Mary offered Jesus her most precious gift: an alabaster box filled with anointing perfume, which was her dowry. As she did so, her tears fell upon her Master's feet, which she wiped clean with her hair. No longer was Mary content to go through the motions of lifeless religion; rather, she was devoted to Jesus with every ounce of her being. Mary loved Jesus! She would follow Him even to the cross.

I set my Bible on the stand. "Lord Jesus," I whispered, "am I going through the motions with my religious ways? Am I focusing my attention on You when I read Your Word? Do I have the gratitude that Mary had when I sing to You? Remake me, Lord. Help me to recognize that You paid the ultimate price — death on a cross — in order to forgive me, as You did Mary. The least that I can give You is a heart wholly devoted to You. Mary worshipped You; create in me the heart of a worshipper."

Gently, almost imperceptibly at first, the rain of the Holy Spirit began to descend upon me. The washer buzzed, but I stayed seated. Why? It was "wash day", and the Lord was answering my heartfelt prayer. A song of praise and thanksgiving, as well as peace unfettered, saturated my heart. I sang into the evening, and then, stillness permeated my soul. In the silence, I felt the empowerment of my Saviour as never before.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, wash over each one of us with Your love. Forgive us, and cleanse us through and through, that we may be vessels of honour unto You. Reign in our hearts each day. Amen.

"We should name him Nemo," I teased, as we lowered our little goldfish into the backyard pond. But then, there were those two cute dots on his tail.

"How about 'Deuce'?" my husband suggested.

"Perhaps 'Dos'?" I countered.

So, it was decided; his name would be Deucy-Dos. We were happy, and so was our goldfish. But that changed the day of the accident. While we were cleaning the pond, Deucy-Dos got into the tub enclosing the pump, exposing him to its suction. For weeks, I kept the tub lid off, hoping that he would swim out. I placed a net pondside, so that I'd be able to take decisive action. After three months, I re-positioned the lid.

"Don't give up so fast." my husband encouraged.

"He's not coming out of there!"

"But we prayed …"

My husband's words echoed within me like a soft hammer. Why hadn't I sighted our fish the first day that we prayed? Besides, I should have been more careful positioning the tub lid.

Then there was the lightning storm and subsequent power failure. When the pumps switched off, I raced to the edge of the pond to make sure they would start correctly when electricity was restored.

While listening to the thunder, I thought about Deucy-Dos. My husband's words echoed in my heart, along with the Scripture that nothing — absolutely nothing — is impossible for our holy God: "Nothing shall be impossible unto you."

The same sentiment is echoed in 1 Peter 2:9b. I should be able to "shew forth the praises of him who hath called [me] out of darkness into his marvellous light." (KJV) Deucy-Dos, if alive, was in the dark. But wasn't I, as well? I surrendered Deucy-Dos to God, and trusted Him to give or take him at His will. I was at peace even as the rain pelted me, drenching my clothing through to my skin.

To my utter amazement, when the pumps re-started, a gulp of water and air and algae spouted skyward, and Deucy-Dos landed splat into my hands, which by reflex I grasped tightly.

"Deucy-Dos!" I cried, examining him as if he were a newborn babe. We renamed our goldfish "Nemo" and thanked God for this unusual answer to prayer.

Friends, let us never give up on something that we've prayed about. God might surprise us by answering our unusual prayer. Let's surrender our concerns to the Lord, then praise Him even while we are experiencing the storms of life.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that with You, all things are possible through prayer. Amen.