Mugshots: Life’s Moments Captured for Christ

Copyright © 2024 Kimberly M. Fraker, Ed.D.

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ISBN: 979-8-3850-2590-9 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2591-6 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2592-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024910563

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/18/2024

For You

… take captive every thought to

make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Contents

Introduction

SECTION 1

Caught in the Act of Obedience

SECTION 2

Caught in the Act of Optimism

SECTION 3

Caught in the Act of Humility

SECTION 4

Caught in the Act of Faithfulness

SECTION 5

Caught in the Act of Confession

SECTION 6

Caught in the Act of Perseverance

About the Author

Introduction

I like the saying, Make room for Jesus. I even used it as dating advice for our daughter. All joking aside, not too many years ago I came to the realization that what I needed most wasn’t to make room for Jesus but to make time for Jesus.

Do you have a favorite time of day? I do. It’s the early morning hours – before the sun comes up. There is nothing quite like getting up before everyone else in the house is awake.

I love the sounds – or lack of sound. In the early morning, I hear crickets, owls, and the first chirps as my bird neighbors stir and start their day. I also hear quiet, silence. Maybe the gentle hum of an appliance but nothing else. Wow – in this busy world how often does that happen? In a world full of constant sound – chatter, technology, tones. Silence.

I love the sights – the dark before the dawn and when the first tint of light hits the sky. I wonder what color it will be each day. There is also the soft glow of a lamp in the corner.

My favorite time of day - me with a cup of coffee, in a favorite mug, in a comfy chair, with a soft blanket. This is the time it is all about me and God. This is the time I connect with what is important to start each day. This is why I started writing this collection of devotionals.

I have always enjoyed writing. I am not sure why it took me so long to begin to write for a reason. Yet, then again, maybe I do.

Life. Life is what happened.

We stay so busy wrapped up in the details of living that we often overlook or put aside things we enjoy. Now I am at the point in my life I feel I can begin to concentrate on something for me personally. Sounds selfish, but I hope not. It is my hope that through sharing my thoughts in these simple reflections grounded in scripture that you, too, will begin to experience God in a more personal way just as I have through this process.

So, why Mugshots?

It is really very simple. I have a variety of mugs collected over the years from which I enjoy my morning coffee. Each day I pick a mug that reflects my mood or compliments my outfit. Silly, I know. But each mug I own has a special meaning of a place visited, a memory made, or the giver. To compliment my morning coffee, I enjoy having a small shot or dose of scripture to contemplate as I prepare for the day ahead and whatever it may bring my way. Also, after being married for over thirty years to a spouse with a career in law enforcement, I couldn’t resist the play on words.

I began writing to link raw, real-life experiences to scripture readings – to form a connection. Then, I started sharing my work thinking my meager life lessons might hit home with others and remind us all that God is in everything – the good, the bad, and the very ugly. Each devotional in this collection offers a snapshot of everyday life linked to scripture: Life’s Moments Captured for Christ.

It is my sincere hope that you enjoy each devotional message and that you will draw closer to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as you take these scriptures to heart. So, no matter what time of day is your favorite time – I encourage you to make time for Jesus!

Take time to sit back with your favorite mug, in your favorite place and meet God face to face, every day.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF

Obedience

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has

commanded to you, so that you may live and prosper

and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

DEUTERONOMY 5:33

Don’t Just Lay There

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that

he had been in this condition for a long time, He

asked him, Do you want to get well?

JOHN 5:6

Misery loves company. Have you ever known someone who is always negative, always complaining? Do you know someone who seems to enjoy being down and out? I think we all do.

We all go through seasons of our lives where things aren’t going our way. We experience peaks and valleys throughout our lives. Yet some people get to the valley and fail to rise above it. Some of us continually wallow in self-pity over difficult circumstances such as illness – our own or others. Some of us have very difficult pasts so everything we see is tempered with a tinge of negativity. If it is too good to be true, it probably is.

A person can remain so low for so long that it becomes comfortable. You become complacent. You move into this dark time not as a temporary state but setup a permanent residence. When you do this, you may as well send out change of address cards to everyone you know:

I’ve moved!

You can now find me in a permanent state of despair.

Come on over and join me.

Misery loves company!

Silly, I know, but that is exactly what happens through your words and actions. You push people away or drag them down with you.

In difficult times, we tend to lose sight of how good life can be. Instead of turning toward God and strengthening our relationship with Him, we turn away from Him. We think He abandoned us when the opposite is true. We abandoned Him. When we experience this, we have to ask ourselves, Do I wish to get well? and turn to our one and only healer.

In the scripture, Jesus saw this man who had been in a condition, unable to walk, for a very long time. He asked him the important question, Do you wish to get well? This intrigues me. It seems so simple. You might be thinking – of course, the man wanted to get well and so do all of the others around us who are suffering. You are probably right, but first the hurting person must acknowledge it.

It is hard to admit our faults. Especially to admit that we need help. It is scary to admit you want to get well. What if you acknowledge you want to get well and then it doesn’t happen? What if it does? When you aren’t struggling anymore you have to take on more responsibility. Scary stuff.

So what is the rest of the story? Verses 8 and 9 tell us, Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ And at once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

If you or someone you know is suffering, I ask, Do you wish to get well? If the answer is yes, then I urge you to take the first step. You must be willing to get well, or it won’t work. If you aren’t a willing participant in the healing process, you miss God’s blessing. You may not recognize it when you see it. The man in the scripture didn’t recognize Jesus.

Tell God. Ask for His help.

Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.

Recognizing Jesus

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were

terrified. It’s a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus

immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Lord, if it’s you, Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the

water. Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat,

walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw

the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord,

save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught

him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt?

MATTHEW 14:26-31

Many years ago, I struggled with a decision about a job. Should I apply for that job posting? Is it the right thing to do for my family? Of course, my husband and I talked about it, and he was supportive in whatever I decided to do; but, I still struggled with whether or not to apply for it. The leadership position was a big deal. It would mean many changes for our family.

As I continued to struggle with the idea, my husband questioned my hesitations. I shared with him that I prayed about it but God just wasn’t answering my question. It was then that my husband made a profound statement that has stuck with me ever since, Well, He isn’t going to put it on a billboard, you know!

But that is what I want. I need clear directions. The slap you in the face, anyone-could-see-that kind of answers in my life. Most often though that is not the form of the answer coming from God.

So often I fail to recognize the answers to my prayers, my questions, or my ponderings when they are right there. So often, like Peter, I fail to recognize Jesus when He is right in front of me. I fail to recognize Him just when I need Him most.

When do you recognize Jesus? Is it in the first glow of sunrise, the flowers blooming, a leaf falling, or the birds chirping? Is it in the clearly answered prayer, the sickness cured, a job gained, or a loved one returned home? That is when I see Him and He is crystal clear then.

Somehow, I fail to see Him during