Until He Alone Is Glorified

Devotion

9-20-10

Until He Alone Is Glorified

Matthew 5:16

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” 

 

Oh there is a deep lump in my throat as I write this to you tonight.  I have sat here praying and asking the Lord a very important question and one that until I know the answer, I cannot write another devotional.  The question I am asking has to do with a powerful message I heard tonight by a guest pastor at my home church.  It was a message that really hit me hard; because my heart’s desire is that in everything I do and say in my life, it all would glorify the Lord.  Well, the message was about that very issue. 

 

I don’t know how many times I have said, when someone complemented me for something, “to God be the glory,” or when I am writing these devotions, thinking that I want them to glorify the Lord and touch those who read them with His hope.  I really want those things, yet, I still had to step back and do a little self examination of my deep down true desire to glorify only the Lord in all of my life. Let me explain.

 

When I began writing these devotions, I purposely kept my name off of them because I did not want to receive the glory for them.  I want whoever reads them to be brought to the Lord and to see Him for who He is.  However, if this is true and I (100%) wanted only God to receive the glory, than I would not be looking to see if anyone responded to what “I” wrote, even if I believe God wrote it.  I would not be looking for any pats on the back, so to say.  I would not even have the desire to be praised in any way.  Yet, my old flesh, if I am truly honest, will get in the way and quietly long for someone to say, well done.  God forgive me. Therefore, after the message I heard tonight, my soul quietly waits to hear what the Lord has to say to me and what He desires me to do about the devotions. 

 

Listen, my dearly beloved, it is my prayer that we each come to a place where we are fully and completely honest with God and ourselves about why we read the Bible, these devotions, go to Bible studies, church etc.  Why do we read God’s word when we are down or lonely?  Are we seeking God’s glory through His spoken Word, Jesus, or are we just seeking a quick fix to our problems, expecting that God somehow owes us something? Everything about God is worthy to be praised. Everything God has made shouts of His praise and glorifies His greatness. Only man struggles with knowing the glory of God and giving Him the praise He so deserves. 

 

I don’t know about you, but I want every detail of my life to bring God glory.  I want to lift His name up and step back from the lime light.  He wants me to see His glory and not take His glory for myself.  The question I am asking Him now is, “How do I remove myself to the degree that in every detail of my life He alone is glorified?” Until He alone is glorified I must step aside.  I am laying these devotions into His lap and asking Him to hand them back to me only when He knows I am ready to seek ONLY His glory through them. 

 

Therefore, my beloved, let us pray together asking God the question, “How do I remove myself to the degree that in every detail of my life God alone is glorified?”

 

Remember, though we need His Word to comfort us, to direct us, to teach us, inspire us, and to give us life, God does all those things in our lives to reveal His glory. To God be the glory forever and ever Amen. 

 

Who is God?

Devotion

9-17-10

Who is God?

 

In this life, we are all often faced with mounting struggles, problems, trials, doubts, fears, frustrations, hurts, and the impatience to overcome them.  Perhaps if we truly understood believed just who God really is we would not find ourselves so taken over by these feelings.  In the book of Isaiah, chapter 40, we see a clear picture of who God is and just what He wants to do for us.  Let’s take a look at it.

 

In verse one God is a God of comfort and He commands us to comfort one another just as He comforts us. 

In verses 3-8 we see that God’s word is powerful and lasts forever.

Verses 9-11 show us that God is a God of might, He is the one who takes charge, and He is like a shepherd who protects, provides, leads in the right direction and watches over His flock.

In verses 12-22 the explanation of how He measures the waters in the hollow of His hand, marks off the heavens, calculates the dust of the earth, keeps the mountains in balance, and shows that He is anywhere and everywhere you look, He sees everywhere we go, He knows all about the foundations of the earth and they are but a piece of sand in His sight, so small in comparison to His greatness. There is no one like Him, no one can compare to Him, no gold or silver idol shaped by the most skillful craftsman can ever make a god that is living powerful, or can create life.

 

In verses 23-24 God reveals how He hates prideful dictators and godless authority. “He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble.”

 

Verses 25-26 shows us how we are ALWAYS in His presence and He knows every detail, even the stars each have names and not one of them are missing from His sight.

 

Verses 27 reveals that we cannot keep anything from God, there are no secrets we can keep from Him. Listen, inside each and every believer is the living God who knows all and sees all; He cares about us and will never tire of hearing from us or listening to our cries.  He is full of comfort, grace and compassion for His children. So when we struggle, doubt, fear or become frustrated with our situations we are facing, have we forgotten who He is?

 

Who is this God? “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.  Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Verses 28-31

 

God wants us to know Him.  To remember that He is God, powerful, mighty, and full of grace and mercy, like a shepherd who tends His flocks, provides for their needs, protects them from the enemy and will search for them when they go astray.  He will not fail us; He will not tire of us or of taking care of us.  It is we, ourselves, who weary, tire and wander off from Him.  It is our minds that fail to remember who He is.  It is our hearts that grow fait from emotional burdens because we feel we are alone. It is our pride that causes us to say things that hurt others.  It is our sinful fleshly desires that get in the way of truly having a personal and intimate relationship with God. All this happens because we either fail to remember who God is or we frankly don’t truly know or believe who He is. 

 

God loves us, all of us, no matter what we say or do.  He loves us with all our faults and takes us just the way we are, but He wants to transform our hearts to be like His.  He wants to love on us so much that we begin to love on others in the same way.  Who is God? Do you know?

 

Let’s examine ourselves to see if we truly know who God is. Answer the questions below to find out just where you stand with understanding who God is.

 

Are you frustrated with someone in your family, at work or in the church? God will take care of it.

Do you feel like it is your place to make sure a wrong has been corrected? God will take care of it.

Do you dwell on the wrong that has been done to you? Forgive and dwell on the good God will take care of them.

Are you worrying about the bills that need to be paid? Do your best and know that God will provide.

Are you sick from pushing yourself so hard to provide for your family?  It’s not in our power things will get better, it is in His power. God will provide.

Are you angry because someone who you thought was a Christian did something or said something that you don’t think Christians should say or do? God loves them like He loves us, He will handle them, we must focus on our own sins that need repented of.

Do you want to run away from a problem because you are tired of it or just don’t think things will ever change? A lack of faith will sink us into the pit of despair; God will work all things to the good to those who love Him.

Do you keep making the same mistake over and over again and can’t figure out how to stop? Not in our power but in His are we able to be transformed. Ask Him for help. Stay in His word.

Have you found yourself stuck in a rut of self-pity and feelings of worthlessness? God loves us the way we are, our worth isn’t from the view of the world. We must believe God loves us.

 

Did you answer yes to any of the questions?  If you did, like most of us will, than perhaps we still have not come to understand who God is and what He is able to do in us and through us.

God is in control and every one of those questions has the possibility for us to say no to when we allow God to take charge of our lives in such a way that we are able to speak with confidence that we do not have to worry about a thing because our God has already taken care of it.  “I trust my God completely.” 

 

I know we are all human, but God would not have told us it were possible if it were not possible.  We can do all things through Him who strengthens us, Phil 4:13. 

 

Who is God?  Who is He in your life? Will you allow Him to comfort you, provide for you, lead you, protect you, teach you, use us, and fill you with His grace, mercy, love and peace?

 

 

Who is God?

 

God is Able

Devotion

9-16-10

By Josh McDowell

God is Able

Matthew 9:28

“And after He had come into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’”

 

This wasn’t written by me, except for the poem at the end.

 

I learned years ago that for something to be lived out in my life, I have got to bring it down to where I understand it in a simple way. So when I hear words like, God is omniscience, omnipotent, it does not say anything to me. That’s not part of my vocabulary. So I redefine it without losing the meaning to where it speaks to me, then I am able to live it out in my life. So every time I see the word, omnipotent, I think of this, “He can do it.” That’s what it means, He is all powerful. He can do it. So maybe the rest of your life, whenever you hear the phrase, God is omnipotent, you will immediately think, He can do it. And the scriptures point out that “He ruleth over all the kingdoms of the heathen and nothing is too great for God.” But often…Luther said once, Martin Luther, that our thoughts about God are too human. And I believe that’s true because we rationalize through the way we think God will be and not the way He has revealed Himself.

 

Let me illustrate that with a little humorous situation. Johnny was in Sunday school and he came home and his mom, over lunch, said, “Well Johnny, what did you learn in Sunday School?” He said, “We talked about Moses crossing the Red Sea.” “Really? Well, what happened, Johnny?” “Oh Mom, you would not believe it. They were in captivity with the Egyptians and he broke out all the rifles and everything else and pulled in the tanks, got into the troop carriers and they took off for Israel.” But he said, “They looked back and here came all the Egyptians in the Hummers, the military vehicles, and so they sped up a little more and they got to the Red Sea and they didn’t know what to do. So they called in the Core of Engineers, Mom. And they went and built a pontoon bridge all the way across the Red Sea. And they drove everything across and then they put dynamite explosives all over. And as soon as the Egyptians got half way across, Moses ordered that it be blown up and they pushed the lever and they blew up all the Egyptians and the Israelites were saved.” And the mother says, “Johnny is that really what they taught you?” “No Mom, but if I told it to you the way they told it to us, you’d never believe it.” And you know so often we try to do that. We try to rationalize away who God is and how powerful He is. 

 

The Bible says that God is omnipotent. He can do it. He spoke to nothing and something came into existence. Now how does this affect us in our personal life and walk with Christ?

One, it allows me to pray for the impossible. It allows me to pray for things that I would never dream of praying for if I didn’t know He can do it. He is omnipotent. Second, when you are really tired, He gives strength to the weary.  It was first brought home to my attention, a number of years ago I was speaking at a conference, a very large one, and I had had two solid weeks of heavy meetings and the week before a true revival broke out and I was exhausted. I sat there that Saturday morning and I started to cry. I just said, God, I can’t do it. I am so exhausted. I cannot, I don’t even have the energy to get up out of this chair and walk to that podium let alone give an hour talk. And I just said, “God, please help me.” This might be just some little thing to someone, it was big to me. They were introducing me and as they were going through the introduction, I just said, “I can’t do it.” Something happened when they started to applaud and they said, “Here’s Josh McDowell.” I cannot explain it, strength came into me, I stood up, and I walked to that podium and probably exerted almost more energy for one hour than I ever have in a talk. And I remember later, I said, “God, I can’t believe it. But you are able.” And I cannot tell you how many times in my life, I have had to call upon that strength. He is able. And then, I think because we know that He can do it, when we face what appear to be insurmountable problems we need the Holy Spirit to recall to our minds, He is omnipotent. He is able. He can do it. And I think it gives you a different attitude in facing what appear to be insurmountable problems. He is able.

 

 

Dear Father,

I pray that we will each remember that You are able to do anything!!!  Build inside our spirits, our minds, and our hearts the unshakable kind of faith in You that gives us the strength, the power, and the faithfulness to trust You for every detail of our lives.  You are able and when we are faced with insurmountable problems that look impossible to the world, help us to see them as an opportunity for Your mighty hand to work in our lives.  You are able, I pray we remember this and recall it throughout our day.  You are able, You are able, You are able. Thank You Father for Your provisions and for your promises to be faithful to Your word.  I know with You being able to guide and direct our paths, we too are able to overcome anything that is set before us, because You live inside us. 

Thank You, Father, for Your love

In Jesus name

Amen

 

No Time

Devotion

9.14.10

No Time

2 Corinthians 6:2

“For He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is the ‘acceptable time,’ behold, Now is the ‘day of Salvation.’”

 

Dear Father,

As I am sitting here my mind is going to the thoughts of my loved ones and how quickly our lives seem to really pass by.  So many people I know have already said their final words of love to members of their family.  Some knew they were dying, some planned it, and still others had no idea at all that it was their last day on earth.  Isn’t it really a reality that none of us truly know when we will take our last breath?

 

Father, I know that life and death are in Your hands.  I am convinced that You alone are able to take the breath of life from man, even for those who seem to take their own lives; it could only happen if you allow it.  This is hard for so many to understand, just like it is hard for most people to understand how You could allow abuse, murder, kidnappings, etc.  I guess for me Father, it isn’t hard to understand why bad things happen, sin, it is an ugly and dark part of mankind and we all have it and must deal with it. But by Your grace we can overcome it.

What I don’t understand is how so many would rather live in sin than in the light and the love of God. Perhaps,  seeing You as a light of hope in my life is easy for me, after all You have done so many amazing things in my life; Things I know that only You could have done.  When I look at how I lived as a child, I am in awe of how You took me out of the pit and raised me up in hope of a better tomorrow.  You gave me so much to look forward to and even in the darkest moments of my life You kept shinning that flicker of light for me to see.  I took hold of that hope and it has brought me into a time of my life that is so full of wonder and beauty, so far from the darkness of abuse and loneliness.  I wonder though, this light You have placed inside me, is it shinning bright enough to give light to someone else’s dark world so that they can see You?  What if this was my last day on earth? What words would I speak to my loved ones and friends?  What words could I speak that would awaken their souls and see the light of hope You have for them? Listen now my Father; this is what I hear You telling me to say.

 

My dear loved one; there will be many days of sadness, happiness and even confusion in your life. Perhaps right now you are in a time of pain and sorrow.  Maybe you are struggling with a relationship or wanting to somehow fix every situation you run in to.  Are you hungry and not sure where to get the money to buy food?  Are you sick and wondering if you will ever get well?  Do you look at the Bible and see just a story to make people follow a man to gain wealth?  Do you believe in a heaven and hell? Do you struggle with the relationship of those in your family who call themselves Christian yet they seem to keep on sinning and you feel like they are hypocrites? Are you looking for something to hold on to that is scientific and makes since?  Are all the trials in life pulling you down and causing you to question the very existence of God?  What about you, the one who calls themselves Christian, are you too struggling with faith in God?  Well let me share this with you.  Let me tell you what I have learned being a Christian, a child of God, a sinner saved by grace.

I have learned that in every little detail of life, God is there waiting to help us and to keep His promises to us. I have learned that He (God) will always do what He says He will do in His time, and it is always for the best.  I have watched Him work miracles and turn what seemed hopeless into an amazing blessing.  There is nothing too small he does not care about and nothing too big He cannot handle.  I want you to know that if I were to die today and you were left, you would feel hopeless without Christ.  I want you to know that if you die today without the Lord as your Savior, you will be hopeless for all of eternity.  You would be forever separated from God and from me.  There is no time to wait to receive God’s gift of salvation, His son, Jesus.  He is not a name to be used for personal gain or to be an escape goat for our weaknesses.  He isn’t just a story or a good feeling.  He isn’t slang or a cuss word.  He is GOD!  He is the creator of the world!!! You may not accept this, you may think you have all the evidence to prove He is just a figment of the imagination, but I tell you the truth today, you are wrong and you will come to find that out the day you die apart from Him, the day you find yourself in a place you can never leave, a place of eternal pain and suffering.  Why take the chance?  That is what many will ask you, but I will not.  I instead tell you today that I love you so much that even as I take my last breath upon this earth I will be talking to God on your behalf, I am telling Him to show you mercy and to give you another chance.  I am pleading with Him to do something big in your life so that you will know, without a doubt, that He is God and that you need Him.  I love you that much my beloved.  No more games, no time.  No more talking about it, no time.  No more debates, no time.  No more ignoring your denial of God, no time.  Because the moment is now that we must say good bye and I desperately want to see you again, I want to spend eternity with you in heaven.  Oh my heart is breaking; I can feel my breath leaving me as I strive to compel you to hear my heart’s cry for you.  The Father will be opening heaven’s door soon and I will have to go, so please, my precious loved one, please take my hand and allow the love of God to touch you through me.  He loves you so much.  Well, I have said all the words I can, I am tired, I can’t keep my eyes open, and it is time for me to sleep.  Good night my love one.  Please bend down and give me a farewell kiss, I love you with all my heart; I hope I see you in the morning, the morning in heaven.

 

Well Father, I am not sure that is what my last words on earth would be, but I do know that it could very well be,  because I know so many who have yet to accept You as God, to accept Christ as their Savior. My heart hurts for them, Father, and I pray that this devotion story, this look into those last moments upon the earth will inspire all of us who call ourselves Christian to not wait until we are on our death bed to see the urgency of telling our loved ones they need Jesus now.  I pray we all gain a heavy burden for the lost souls and look for opportunities to tell someone every day about Jesus.  Oh the reality of our times and the reality for the need of a Savior!!!  I am thankful I have found You and I am safe in Your faithfulness and love with an everlasting promise to live with You forever.

In Jesus name Amen

 

So beloved, are you ready, really? Are your loved ones ready to meet Jesus face to face?

You may think you can wait, they can wait, but there is NO TIME! Today is the day of salvation.

 

A Faithful God

Devotion

9.13.10

A Faithful God

Mark 4:37-41

 

 Living by faith seems like such an easy concept but yet we still find ourselves caught up in fear, doubt and anxiousness / worry.  Well, this is not a new problem.  Jesus spoke to His disciples about this very issue.  In the storms of their lives, just like ours, they too struggled with total faith in a faithful God. Let’s look at the part of the history the disciples when they were faced with a fierce storm while at sea and what they felt and what Jesus said to them. 

 

“And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.  And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still,’ and the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.  And He said to them, ‘Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?’  And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’” Mark 4:37-41

 

Let’s put ourselves in this situation, but let’s say the storm is not one made by the weather.  The following is an example:

 

 Maria had been working hard fixing up an old house with the hopes of selling it to pay off some debt and to be able to put her children in a Christian school the next year.  The house looked great but the real estate market didn’t.  The bank was becoming restless and had given Maria a deadline for getting the house sold.  She had to sell it or buy herself and there was no way she could afford two house payments.   She was beginning to get very anxious and starting praying asking God for help. 

 

Maria’s mother called to see how things were going. Maria couldn’t hold back her frustration about the house not selling.  “I have to have the house sold by next week mom or the bank wants their money back. We have had so many showings but no one is buying and we have even lowered the price below appraised value.  I don’t know what we are going to do.  I’ve been praying but God doesn’t seem to be helping.”  As Maria’s mother listened she prayed for God’s wisdom to speak to her daughter and then she spoke.  “Maria, God is not going to just let you fall.  He loves you too much.  He has promised you in Philippians 4:19 that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. You must believe that He is faithful to His promises.  Do not be of little faith. He is in control sweetheart. Don’t focus on the situation, focus on Jesus. Read Philippians chapter 4 over and over again.  Insert your name.  Read it with boldness and as if you are motivating someone else.  You will find power and peace in God’s word.  Don’t let the enemy weaken your faith by believing that this is a problem. Nothing is too big for God.  I promise you that He will sell the house or place understanding on the banker’s heart.  The buyer is coming, God has provided, but you must believe this in order to see Him at work. When you start to feel the anxiousness coming, you must speak out His word and remind yourself of His promises.  You will soon see the faithfulness of His word in your life.”  Maria thanked her mom for the encouragement and after hanging up she went to her Bible to read Philippians 4.  She prayed and told the Lord she wanted the kind of faith that would be unshakable and that she was going to trust Him with this situation.

 

As the days passed the deadline was upon her and she waited for God to do something.  She kept trying to fight off the anxious feelings, the way her mother had told her, but she still felt the feelings of dread any way.  The final day had come to an end and Maria lay on her bed wondering why God had not answered as her mother had promised.  The next day her mom called to see how things were, Maria said, “Mom, your promise didn’t come true. The house didn’t sell and I have to call the banker.” Her mom could hear the fear in her daughter’s voice and quietly said a prayer. “I know You are faithful Lord I will not let this shake what I know to be true.”  Then she said to Maria, “Look sweetheart it is not my promises you need to be holding on to, it is God’s.  He is not finished with this yet.  You need to keep the faith.”  “I have had faith but look, mom, the house is not sold.” “Oh sweetheart, do not doubt now, that’s what the enemy wants you to do.  God has your buyer. He has answered your prayers and provided for your needs, He just hasn’t revealed it to you yet.  Have you talked to the banker?”  “No” Maria replied, “he wasn’t in the office so I left him a message but he has not called me back.” “Wow that is amazing, perhaps God is distracting him for a time so your house will sell. He works in many different ways you know.”  Maria just sat silent, trying to soak in some of the faith of her mother’s as she listened.  “Maria, God is handling this situation.  You must continue to believe.  He knows how to calm the storm.  Trust Him and let Him show you His faithfulness.  Read Mark 4:32-41 and she what He can do. I will be praying for you.  I love you.”  With those words they hung up.

 

The weekend passed, Monday, Tuesday, no sale and no word from the banker.  Maria was holding on to the rocking boat when suddenly the phone rang, it was the banker.  She finished talking to the banker and called her mother right away. “Mom, I just talked to the banker and he said that he was going to give us another 90 days to sell the house.” “Praise the Lord! He is in control!” her mother replied. As they continued to talk Maria realized that perhaps this whole situation was better than she had thought.  She was going to school to become a realtor and now she would have the time to finish and be able to list and sell her little house herself.  She would double her profits and both of her boys would be able to go to Christian school.

 

You know we don’t always see the whole picture of what God has in store for us but we can be sure that whatever it is, it is better than we can plan for ourselves.  Maria was much like the disciples in the boat.  They were afraid of the storm and felt like Jesus didn’t care.  But Jesus spoke to the storm and told it to shut up and sit down, (my translation) then he said to them very clearly, “Why are you timid (afraid), How is it that you have no faith?”  This is a huge statement.  The Lord wants us to trust Him and not to think that the storm is bigger than He is.  You see when we walk around with a lack of faith in Jesus’ faithfulness we are not truly convinced of who He really is.  This was true of the disciples as well because it said in verse 41, that they became afraid after Jesus calmed the storm because they saw that the wind and the sea obeyed Him.  They asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  You see they didn’t truly understand or believe before the storm that Jesus is God. 

 

The question we each need to ask ourselves is, Do I truly believe that Jesus is God and that He can and will do all He has said He will do?  Our answer to that question is not revealed by a simple answer of yes or no but it is revealed in the storms of our lives when we are faced with the challenges of trusting Him completely to meet our needs, no matter how big or little they may be.  So my dear beloved of God, how will you reply today?

 

Dear Father, I pray for each of my bothers and sisters in Christ, that they will come to a deep understanding and acceptance of Your faithfulness to keep Your promises to us.  I pray they will study Your word and read about the promises You have made us so that they can recall them in times of the storms.  I pray their faith will be unshakable as they walk with You and trust You, knowing without doubt that You are not only God but a faithful God.

 

In Jesus name

Amen

The Silent Mind

Devotion

9.9.10

The Silent Mind

I Kings 3:9a

“So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.”

 

Angel sat quietly as she listened to the room full of adults discussing her. They talked as if she wasn’t even in the room and argued about what was right or wrong for her.  She wanted so desperately to shout out and tell them to stop but the words could not find their way to her lips.  She had been born with the inability to communicate like a “so called” normal person and it made her life so full of frustration.  She knew what she wanted to say.  She knew what her needs were.  But no one understood her.  They just all thought they knew what she wanted or needed.  As she sat listening, her ears began to ring from the sounds of their voices escalating into angry yells.  They began pointing fingers and telling each other they were wrong and needed to do things their way.  Round and round they went all the while Angel’s voice of reason remained locked in her silent mind.

 

“Oh if only I could tell them how silly they all look.  If they could only see that their many words say less than the few words I would long to be able to speak.  They argue and fight over what is wrong with me, what I need, or what I want.  They think they know because I cannot tell them.  My lack of ability to communicate with them is nothing compared to their lack of ability to communicate with each other.  How sad it is.  Their minds, their thoughts and ideas, their wants and desires, their joys and their pains, can all be expressed with words, words I cannot speak and yet they use those words to attack and hurt one another.  Ah ha, they are not any better than I am.  I cannot communicate because my mind is locked in silence, they cannot communicate because they choose to silence the voice of one another.  Oh Lord, if only I could speak I would tell them this: Please be careful with the words you say.  Don’t misuse your gift of being able to think and speak.  It is such a precious gift.  You have been given the ability to communicate; can you do so with an understanding heart for one another and for me?  God will give you the discernment between good and evil so why do you fuss and fight?  Please ask Him to give you an understanding about me, locked in a silent mind unable to tell you my thoughts, my feelings, my hopes and my dreams.  Please do not lock yourselves in a false disability that silences your hearts.  God has made each one of us special, with different abilities and gifts and together we can learn from one another, we can gain new understanding of each other and we can grow wiser because of it.  Oh if only I could speak I would tell them to stop fussing and fighting and start listening and understanding.  If only my silent mind was not silenced by lips unable to speak.”  A tear fell from Angel’s eye as she placed her hands over her ears blocking out the sounds around her. But then a ray of hope shined on her face and her silent mind quieted as her mother walked into the room. Suddenly the loud noise of angry voices was lost in the soft and gentle sound of her mother’s voice.

 

“Angel is my child and I know what is best for her. She needs a sense of security, peace, and understanding, just like you and me. Something you have all failed to see.”  With those words she walked over to Angle, embraced her and said, “Come my child, let’s go home.”   Angel’s voice had been heard and God’s discernment had been revealed.

 

Our Heavenly Father stands in the room with us to quiet the angry sounds of the world that often surround us.  He speaks for us and He knows our needs and our wants.  He calls us His children and will defend us when no one else will.

 

So let us all pray to have understanding hearts that can rightly judge good and evil and not silence the voice of our God who has so much to tell us if we will only listen.  

Path of Reflection

Devotion

September 8, 2010

Path of Reflection

Philippians 4:19

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in

Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever sat back to look at your life and been able to see the many times God has answered your prayer? It dawned on me the other day as I was walking the path on our property and talking with a very special and dear sister in Christ, my daughter. As we talked about following our dreams and fulfilling our life long goals, I could see that the many things I had dreamed about doing, the prayers I had placed before the Lord had been answered.  My life has been full and even though I am not still doing all those things now, I did them. Let me explain.

 

As a little 7 year old girl, the day I accepted Jesus and was baptized, I prayed and asked the Lord to let me have the center cup as the try of cups were passed for the Lord’s Supper, because it reminded me of Him on the center cross.  It may not seem like a very big deal to others but for me it was the first of many answered prayers in my life.  He used that simple request to teach me that He hears me and answers me. 

As my life has gone on I have watched Him provide answers to some very important prayer request such as: to free me from the effects of childhood abuse; to travel the country teaching cheerleading professionally; to get married and have four children; for my husband to become a believer; for each of my children to accept Jesus and live their lives for Him; to serve as a missionary; to work for the Baptist Children’s Home; to be a Disaster Relief Chaplain; to write these devotions; to lead in worship; to teach; and for my children to grow to be young men and women who know who to turn to for guidance – the Lord; to know that if I were to die my husband and children’s faith would sustain them; and to somehow make an eternal difference in the lives of others.  Each one of these requests has been answered in my life. I have been blessed beyond measure. I can say at the end of the day, I have followed His dreams that became my dreams.

Sometimes it may seem that you have not been able to do all the things you dreamed of doing, perhaps you are struggling with knowing if you will ever make a difference in your life or the lives of others.  Well, my precious beloved, maybe it’s time to walk the path of reflection and see if the Lord has answered more of your prayers than you realize, just like I did. Take the time to look closely at your life, all the highs and lows and see if you can see how the Lord worked in your life at that time.  I do believe you will be in awe of just what He has done for you. Walk the path of reflection, the path of Life, and rejoice in the amazing and wonderful work Jesus has done in you and for you. 

I may not hold a college degree, I may not be known by the world, I may not be a millionair, I may not have a top job with top pay and top honors, but nevertheless I do believe my life has been and is a success.  My success and yours dear beloved, comes from the Lord.  He hears your prayers and He does answer them.  It is in seeing those answers that you will find your greatest joy and contentment, it is in your relationship with Him and the way you pass it on to your children and grandchildren that you will achieve the greatest success of all.  Are you following your dreams?  Have you fulfilled your life long goals?  Walk the path of reflection and ask the Lord to reveal His work in your life.  You will be amazed at what He shows you.

 

A Good Word

Devotion

9-7-10

A Good Word

Proverbs 12:25

“Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.”

 

What is worrying you today? What are you facing that seems to overwhelmingly be consuming your every thought?  Are you so broken hearted that your anxiousness to feel happy again is crushing your spirit of hope? Well, the Lord says it is in times like these that we are to share a good word to lighten your heart and make it glad again. So my dearly beloved, here are the good words I want to share with you today.  They are God’s words, He is good and He loves you.  So as you read the following scriptures know that they are just what you need, because it is the Lord, Himself, who has placed upon my heart the words I am to share with you today; a good word to take away your anxiety and to make your heard glad.

I Peter 5:7

“Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

Philippians 4:19

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

I Corinthians 15:57-58

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in not in vain in the Lord.”

 

Matthew 10:19-20

“But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.  For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

 

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

 

John 16:33

“Theses things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”

Father, I pray we receive Your good words today to encourage us and make our hearts glad again. In Jesus name, Amen

 

He Cares For You

Devotion

9-3-10

He Cares For You

I Peter 5:7

“Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

Oh what a wonderful, wonderful Lord we have, He is faithful to take care of us and provide our every need.

 

When you’re weary and wondering how you’re going to face another day, remember that He cares for you.

 

When your heart is broken and the ache is so deep, remember that He cares for you.

 

When the darkness surrounds you and the road seems long, remember that He cares for you.

 

Fall upon your knees and bow before your God in heaven and know that He hears your cries and feels your pain.  He will not forsake you.  He is faithful to take care of you.

He longs for you to believe He is there for you and has everything under control.

 

With the faith of a mustard seed you can move a mountain, so perhaps faith with half mustard can change the situation you are facing.  Just remember it is your faith in God that will strengthen you.  It is your faith in our faithful Lord that will show you just how faithful He really is. 

 

Open up your eyes and see the promises of God He has for you.  Open your heart and feel the wonder of His love for you.  Open your arms to embrace His arms of comfort around you. Open your ears to hear His words of truth for you. Open your mind to learn His principles, laws, and perfect way to guide you.  Open your hands to take hold of His as He walks beside you.  Open up your gift of faith to believe without doubt that He will take care of you.

 

You are loved! Remember this today. 

You are loved! You are not alone.

You are loved! All is well.

You are loved! He will take care of you!

 

Father, I thank You for encouraging us with Your word, for loving us without condition, and for the promise that no matter what we have, are, or will face in our lives, You Will Take Care of Us!

In Jesus name, Amen

Thank You

Devotion

9-2-10

Thank You

Psalm 118:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loveingkindness is everlasting.”

 

There are days when everything seems bight and beautiful and days that seem dark and ugly.  There are moments of laughter and joy and moments of heartache and sorrow.  There are times when life is full and wonderful and times when life feels empty and terrible. We can get caught up in the busyness of life and forget how to live life to its fullest. The demands often become overwhelming and our eyes grow weary from the struggles.  But I have good news for you. There is an answer to facing the challenges of this life and it is as simple as saying thank you.

 

Are you dealing with financial troubles? Tell the Lord Thank You for providing my needs.

Are you sick, run down, and tired? Tell the Lord thank You for giving me strength.

Are you worried about where your next meal is coming from? Tell the Lord thank You for feeding me.

Are you worried about a wayward child? Tell the Lord thank You for watching over my child.

Are you concerned for an unbelieving spouse, child, friend, etc? Tell the Lord thank You for their salvation.

Are you afraid of losing your job or do you need a job? Tell the Lord thank You for giving me work.

Are you on a timeline to sell your house? Tell the Lord thank You for bringing a buyer.

Have you studied hard for a test but are still worried about passing it? Tell the Lord thank You for giving me recall of the information as I take my test.

Are you abused, mistreated or hurting? Tell the Lord thank You for removing those who hurt you from your life, healing me from the effects and teaching me to forgive.

Are you suffering from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, food, or anything else that consumes you? Tell the Lord thank You for freeing you from the bondage.

Are you lonely? Tell the Lord thank You for being with me.

Are you sad? Tell the Lord thank You for restoring my joy.

Are you angry? Tell the Lord thank You for calming my spirit.

Are you grieving? Tell the Lord thank You for comforting me.

Are you struggling with your faith? Tell the Lord thank You for Your faithfulness to me and for the promises You give me.

 

Spend the day thanking the Lord; don’t ask for any thing from Him.  Thank Him for the promises He has given you.  Believe in advance that He will answer your prayers by thanking Him before He does it.  This is called faith. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.

Thank You Father for loving me and for Your faithfulness to meet all my needs. In Jesus name Amen

Power in His Name

Devotion

9-1-10

Power in His Name

Psalm 103:1-5

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

 

When I read Psalm 103:1-5 I am convinced that it is talking about my life.  Why? Because throughout my life He has left His mark of power that has transformed my life and took me from the pit and gave me wings to soar like an eagle.

 

There is power in the name of Jesus.  Do I tell you this because someone told me it was true or do I tell you this because I KNOW it is true?  Well, I will let you decide the answer.

 

As a 7year old little girl the Lord called my name and I heard His voice.  I asked Jesus to come into my heart and that day, Easter Sunday 1966; my life began a new journey, a journey of faith and transformation.

As a child I was poor, abused, rejected, lonely, and broken in my spirit. My peers didn’t except me, my family was dysfunctional, my clothes were few, my education was lacking, in fact when I graduated I was what I would call, a functioning illiterate, I had no skill other than cheerleading, I cried all the time, went to bed afraid, barrowed money to pay back barrowed money to eat after school.  Though I was an outcast by my peers I felt safer at school than at home.  I have felt worthless, no good, ugly, unloved, shame, guilt and pride. I have worn the mask of happiness when I was really miserable and lonely.  I have tried to hide my pain as if it wasn’t there only to find the pain begin to make me into the very thing that hurt me. I have lied, stolen, coveted, envied, lusted, smoked, been a glutton, self-righteous, judgmental, and fallen into the trap of the world’s temptations.  I have been beaten, lied to, denied, falsely accused, pushed around, stolen from, abandoned and forgotten.  Yet, as I look back over my life I would have to tell you today that I would not change a thing about it.  Why? Because it is through all of this life journey I have been on, all of my weakness, my failures, my pain, my sorrow and my sin that has shown me the power of God in my life and the need for my Savior.

 

Today, though I continue on the journey of growing closer to my Lord and knowing His heart, I can honestly tell you that He has taken all the junk of my past and thrown it away. He has hidden it under His blood.  I am forgiven, healed, protected, provided for, washed clean, righteous, safe, joyful, blessed and free. I now have a true happiness that needs no mask.  I have walked away from the temptations of the world and He continues to give me the power to recognize them and to stay away from them.  He reminds me that He loves me, I am worthy as His child and it doesn’t matter what others may say or do to me, I am chosen by God to be His vessel of hope and joy.  I am called to be His hands and feet to tell others that they too can be free from the pain of their past.  None of us are sinless, but we do have a Savior who takes away our sin, who died for our sinful nature so that we could enter into the gates of heaven and live with Him forever.  Oh yes, there is power in the name of Jesus.  It is His name, His life, His death and resurrection that has taken my life from the pit of despair and given me hope and the wings to soar as the eagle.

 

Take a look back at your life; do you see the power of Jesus actively at work? Have you given Him the chance to show you how much He loves you?  Do you trust Him with your life and the lives of those you love?  Believe me, I tell you the truth, there is great power in the name of Jesus and He wants to make a difference in your life.  He will not change you; He will transform you and make you new.

 

Father, I pray that if there is anyone who is reading this today that has never truly asked Jesus to be their Savior that today will be the day and this moment the moment when they call out to You.  Father, thank You for the power of Your Son, Jesus, and the transforming power He brings to our lives.  I for one know personally what He, You, can do.  I pray that my fellow brothers and sisters will lay everything down before You and see Your mighty hand at work in their own lives and know for themselves that there is power in the name of Jesus.

 

In Jesus name, Amen

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAPQygrKn5A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

The Voice of Truth

Devotion

8-31-10

The Voice of Truth

John 8:32

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

 

As I was thinking about you this morning I wondered how many of you are struggling with feelings of worthlessness.  I wondered if you are facing some tough challenges right now that are making you feel tired, worried, and even withdrawn.  I wondered if you have been told you are no good, that you will not amount to much, or that you have no purpose in this life.

For each of us there are times when our hearts have been broken, we have felt as if no one cares, we might recall the words of someone in our past that hurt us physically or emotionally and as those words come back into our minds we find ourselves dwelling on them and before we know it, we might even believe them. Well, my dear beloved sister and brother, they are all lies.

 

God’s word tells us that we are His children and that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  He says that with Him all things are possible (Philippians 4:13) and He says that He will provide all we need (Philippians 4:19). He also wants us to remember that He loved us so much that He died for us (John 3:16). He says He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

 

So my beloved these are words of TRUTH. Do not believe the lies of the world and the enemy.  God is for you and He will protect you, defend you, provide for you, and give you peace.  Take His word of Truth and dwell on it, Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on the good, holy, and honorable and Jesus is all that so dwell on Him.  Colossians 1:3 says: “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the HOPE laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously hear in the Word Of Truth, the Gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in Truth.”

Believe Him not the world.  Take hold of His love for you today with these words I leave you from First John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

 

Father, I pray each one reading this today will know and listen to the voice of truth that will set them free. That they will understand that the Voice of truth is Love and Love’s name is Jesus.  Thank You for the truth of Your love for me and for them that wipes away the lies of the world and the enemy and gives us hope. In Jesus name, Amen

A Living Hope

Devotion

8-30-10

A Living Hope

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready

to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

I Peter 1:3-9

 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.”

I Peter 1:13-16

Dear Father,

It is so easy for us to read Your word and not to take it seriously, so I pray that today we will not just read it but we will embrace it.  You are our living Hope and I pray that for anyone reading this devotion today who may be feeling hopeless about a situation they are facing, about a relationship that is broken, or a need they are desperate for, that they will understand You are their hope and You are faithful to provide all their needs.  In fact Father, You have already provided it, it is coming, You have already answered, You have it all under control.  Thank You for Your faithfulness to me, my husband, my children and grandchildren, my extended family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and to the stranger on the street.

You died for us all.  In Your death You offer us life.  In Your life we have hope.  In Your hope we have a future of promise. In Your promises we have the assurance of our salvation, and in our salvation we have the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God. Wow, what a living Hope we have.

May we all remember this today and give You praise.

In Jesus name, Amen