MASKS

Halloween is a time when many people dress up in costumes and wear masks either for trick or treating or to go to parties, etc. When I was a child we used to have thin plastic masks with the eyes and nostrils cut out, held on our faces with a little elastic string. They not only hid our faces, but if they slipped they would also obscure our vision. This could be dangerous when walking around on the street, which is one reason those types of masks are no longer encouraged for kids going door to door.

Sometimes in life we walk around wearing a mask. At times it is just a pleasantry, such as when someone asks us, "How are you?" and our answer is the pat, "Fine!" even when we are not. Other times it is part of a role we have in life, such as putting forth a professional image at a job we have. We smile and are pleasant to customers or clients to make them feel at ease, even when inside we may not feel like smiling. Even makeup is a mask, a way to cover what we may see as imperfections or to enhance our looks. Some of us wouldn't even dream of leaving the house with no makeup, for fear someone might see how we really look! Then there is the perfectionism mask, trying to look good in how we behave to hide those flaws which we do not like within ourselves. We may think that people would not like us if they really knew us inside and out. There are times when our "masks" even obscure our vision, or give us a distorted view of our world around us or even of ourselves. We may begin to think that those masks are absolutely necessary or even to believe that the mask is who we truly are. Or we may think that we are hiding behind a mask when actually the people around us may understand what is behind the mask more than we realize. What masks do you wear?

I used to think that I had to always wear a mask, no matter where I was. I thought I had good reasons for it. There were times that it was socially acceptable and appropriate to "put on a good face" so to speak. But I found that my mask was actually like those two-way mirrors, completely see-through on one side, and a reflective mirror on the other side. My mask was much more transparent from the outside than I realized. Those who knew me best could see right through my mask. And the inside of my mask, the part that I could see, was like a magnifying mirror that exaggerated any flaws that I saw to unbelievable proportions. Because the inside of the mask was also curved and contoured, it was like those carnival mirrors, producing a very distorted image, nothing like the true face it reflected.

But God sees us for who we truly are. He sees inside our hearts even when we try to hide from him behind a mask. God has a better costume for us. He knows we are not perfect - none of us. And He loves us just the way we are. He not only forgives us for our imperfections, but makes us new again in Jesus. When he looks at us, He sees his perfect Son who gave his life for our sins. We are clothed in his righteousness.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness... Isaiah 61:10a

I am so grateful that we have a forgiving God who loves us just the way we are. May we all be able to remove our masks and be honest witnesses to the world!

Written by Jan A.

The Woman

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It was 5:45 am, and my husband had just left for work. I knew I needed to get up though I was so tired, so I kept turning this way and that way in my bed thinking maybe I could wake up better at different positions…yeah right! I finally forced myself out of bed stomping to put on some sweats, stomping to go downstairs to do my Bible Study. I had the worst attitude. I felt like he made me look bad getting up with ease when it’s usually I who goes through the work of nagging him to wake up or else I’m blamed for letting him sleep in. This time, I felt guilty that I was sleeping in. It’s amazing the kind of garbage I allow to go through my mind. None of this was true or necessary. It was my anger, jealousy, suspicion, rebellious heart soaring off into the land of make-believe causing me to get off focus of what’s real. The next thing I know, before I even had the chance to get comfortable and open my notebook to see where I left off, there was a woman in my house. I know this seems odd, and believe me I was very confused, concerned and shocked. At first I only saw her from behind, then I noticed the front door was wide open, though I couldn’t remember hearing it open, or the chime that tells me it’s open. My heart was pounding and my blood was rushing as I jumped up to take charge of my home and question this intruder. She looked different when she turned around; in fact she looked like a different person at every angle. Then my husband came in through the front door looking panicky. He was stumbling over his words and making no sense. It seemed like he was trying to tell me that he had everything under control, but he was only raising more and more suspicion in me and causing my anger to blaze out of control. The woman, however, was calm, cool and collected, and kept walking around my house (thankfully downstairs, for all the kids were upstairs). It looked as if she was checking out her new territory. Between the yelling, cussing, and questioning coming from me, there would be responses from her of “I own a piece of this family…”, “I have a thousand dollars invested here…”, “a good portion of this household is mine…”, and “I have every right to be here.” She never said anything other than these types of phrases. I was furious! All I could think was “What does that even mean?!?” Nothing was making any sense, and the more confused I became, the angrier I got. My husband never explained any of it, even though he looked like he knew what was happening and why. Even more surprising…he never yelled back at me. It felt like a one-sided fight. It’s not an every day thing for me to yell at my husband –my kids maybe, but not my husband. He’s kind of an intimidating man, and would not put up with me acting out in anger even if he deserved it. By now, I was getting out of breath from my rage, and I was beginning to feel helpless.

That’s when I woke up. I had never gone downstairs at all. He did leave at about 5:45 am, and I did toss and turn thinking I would eventually wake up, but I didn’t. I drifted off and that’s what I dreamed. In my awakened state of mind, however, I was still furious. I was still out of breath, and my heart was still pounding. I kept thinking about it over and over again getting angrier each time. Now I was crying, but I wasn’t sure why I was still upset…after all, it was just a dream, right? No! It felt more like an attack. I partly knew what was going on, yet was still so caught up in the emotion of it, that I felt paralyzed. Still lying in bed asking God what it all means, it took much longer than it should have for me to finally listen to Him. The answer was so obvious that it was screaming at me in my head. “Get up, get rid of your attitude, and pray for your husband. He needs you to pray for him!” I did, I read what I had written for him a couple of weeks before, and prayed what God put on my heart just as I had been doing every morning since I wrote it, but still it would be a couple of hours before I could stop thinking about the dream. The day ended up being one of those days where I was doing so much and completely wearing myself out, yet feeling like nothing was getting done. It was 7pm before my husband was finally home that night, and I couldn’t believe all that he told me about his day. Of course, I won’t get into the details, but it was obvious that he was under attack at work in a number of different ways. The dream was coming back to me as I listened. Even the way the woman looked different at every angle. How many forms of her were there? How many problems was he facing at work? I listened as long as he needed me to, served him his dinner, then I asked if he minded if I went on a walk…to which he didn’t, and off I went. I called a good friend, and shared some of this with her, and we talked a bit about dreams and how the enemy will sneak in and torment. As we talked, one thing I realized that I never said to the woman…I never said, “Get Out!” I knew that nothing she said made any sense, nor was true…she didn’t own any piece of us, she had not invested anything of value in us, there was no portion that belonged to her, and she did not have any right to be in my house, let alone my dream! Why did I not take charge and tell her what to do? I don’t and never will have the authority to do such a thing with my husband, but I do have the authority invested in me by my Lord and Savior to tell the enemy what to do and where to go. How could I be so blind to forget such a thing? My anger, that’s how. My anger only causes more confusion. Well, I think it’s about time I started denouncing the enemy even in my sub-conscience! For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12. Dear God, make me alert and wise to the tactics of the enemy even in my sleep, and snuff out the fire of my anger so that it does not get in the way of Your work...Amen.

Written by Amie Spruiell

Over and Above All That We Could Ever Hope For

Devotional for October 29, 2010



BOBO...

I have been personally blessed to have had a godly Grandmother in my life. Until I was thirteen years of age, I was blessed to have a godly Great Grandmother in my life as well. She is who I want to talk about this morning.

Her name was Dorothy, but we all called her “Bobo”. Somehow my brother had begun calling her that when he was very little, and the name stuck. Bobo had a live in caregiver that used to care for her needs, but every once in awhile this lady would leave for a weekend to go and visit her own relatives.



These became some of my very favorite times, as I was able to “stand in” for her while she was gone. I would go and stay with Bobo for the weekend. Since she wasn’t able to walk very well, a hospital bed had been placed in the living room for her. All day long we would watch television together, and read, talk and share. That was so much fun and I loved it. My very favorite time though, was bedtime.



I used to sleep beside Bobo on a little loveseat that was positioned next to her hospital bed, and each night we would say our prayers together. Mine, of course, were not very long and no matter how hard I tried to think of everything that I should be praying for, they were over quite quickly. This was when Bobo would begin her prayers. I used to lay there in the “dark” and listen to her. She would first pray for one person, and then she would move on to the next. All I knew was that for being in the “dark”, that place became one of the very “brightest” places in my young life.


I would listen, and wonder at the love that I could sense and feel, as it began to permeate and fill that tiny little room. I would snuggle myself down under the warmth of the blankets, and the comfort of my great Grandmother’s prayers would fill my heart. Any worry or concern of mine would soon be forgotten in the comforting sense of love that Bobo’s prayers would bring. I listened as long as I could, but I know that not even once was I ever able to stay awake until she ended. The peace and comfort in that room was just too great, and it would “lull” me to sleep even when I fought it.



It has been a long time since my great Grandmother went on to be with the Lord, and over the years I have forgotten things. I have never forgotten that room, or her prayers though, or the sense of peace that I had come to be familiar with at that young age. What took me time was to realize and understand is that what I had been feeling in that room was the love of Christ and the peace of the Holy Spirit.



As women in general, and for some of us as mothers, a lot of us are probably very familiar with pulling the covers up over our children, or loved ones, as they settle in for sleep. It is something we do quite naturally, and most likely one of the very last things we do at night before allowing ourselves to retire. We must first “tuck” everyone else in. That, in a very real sense, is what Bobo was doing for me through her prayers. She was “tucking” me into and under the “covering” of the Lord. What a beautiful picture that brings to my heart. Although it may not have been possible for her to tuck me in physically, she perhaps, was doing it in a way that would cause me to never become “untucked”, even when, as I grew, I began to “toss” and to “turn” in so many different directions.



Bobo, in her great wisdom and through her simple act of love, was doing something for me that could never be undone. She was lifting me, and my life to the Lord. She was taking the time to ask Him to care for me, to lead me, to guide me, to keep me in each and every area of my life. She was asking Him to do what she knew that she, herself, would never be able to do. My great Grandmother’s years in my life were limited and I did go on to have a lot of “twists” and “turns” in my life. However, over the years and through the circumstances, I did turn my life over to the Lord. Bobo never lived to see how I turned out, or to see the result of her prayers in my life, but nevertheless, the results are there. They are there for others to see, and for the Lord to see.



As I look back over my life, I know that I desire to be like Bobo. I want to do the same for my grandchildren, and someday great grandchildren, as she did for me. I want to “tuck” them into the Lord’s love, as one of the last things I do, before I “retire” to my place in Heaven. I can only marvel at all the Lord has done through one woman’s prayers. I pray that each one of you will be inspired deeply, just as I have been, to pray for those whom the Lord has entrusted to you. You know who they are, and you know what to do.



Today I pray that you will be encouraged, just as I am now, to continue on in the legacy that has been “built” before us, the legacy of love and of prayer. Perhaps you didn’t know your great Grandma, or maybe she wasn’t a praying one, like Bobo was. That is the one of the greatest gifts in all of this, is that it truly doesn’t matter. Now that I have shared Bobo with all of you, you are able to “see” the example that she has set, not only for me, but for all of us. All of this is only one of the ways that the Lord causes us to bear good fruit, and to cause the good fruit that we have labored for to multiply, and to touch others and to use it for good in their lives.



There is no way that Bobo could have ever known that one day I would be sharing all of this. Again, that is the beauty of what the Lord does and will continue to do in our own lives, if we are faithful to do what He has called us to do. He will always remain true to Himself, and to do whatever it is that He has promised.



In ending, I would like to leave you with these verses from Ephesians 3: 20 and 21 from the Amplified Bible: “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the (action of His ) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams). V.21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).



Written by Beverley A. Napier

What’s Hiding in Your House?

Devotional for October 28, 2010

Do you ever hide things? Not things like Christmas presents or Easter eggs, but things like: laundry, fast food wrappers, dishes, papers, empty Starbuck’s cups, magazines, shoes or clothes? I have a brother who ‘hid’ things under his bed. When my mother ran out of dishes she knew from experience right where to go. I have a son who ‘hides’ things in drawers. Imagine my surprise when I first discovered an empty soda can in one drawer and a bowl and spoon in another.

Perhaps you’re more like my daughter. She stacks up dirty dishes in her room so neat and orderly that at first glance I think they’re desk supplies. It’s impressive how many dishes she can ‘hide’ that way. I do the same thing. I know I need to clean out my closet; instead I refold a stack of one thing, to make room for a few more other things. I hide what I need to remove by making it look like it belongs. I do this with books, papers, Christmas decorations, gift bags, cooking gadgets and more. I’m actually creatively hiding (and hoarding) by making more things fit in the same space.


In “Lies Women Believe,” author Nancy DeMoss teaches Christian women how to be set free by discovering what God’s Word has to say about things like “I’m not worth anything” and “God can’t forgive what I’ve done” and “God doesn’t love me.” The process of recognizing and identifying the lie is not an easy one.


For example, we all know that deception/lying is a sin. But in an attempt to smooth over someone’s feelings, have you ever told a half truth? Have you ever told a little white lie to avoid having to say no, or to get out of something you didn’t want to do? See what I mean? What’s the difference between lying and little white lies? If you say intent, then children will rally around you as a hero, since they just ‘intend’ to get out of trouble!


I’ll admit that my daughter got her stashing technique from me. So I’m asking God to show me what I might be hiding. Have I allowed a bad habit (like eating junk food), a weakness (like not getting any exercise at all), or even a sin (like lust, lying, or judging) to waltz into my life? Even if it snuck in, did I, in my attempt to keep my life in order, just slide this unpleasantness between a few good books? Did I justify it as normal and acceptable? Did I hesitate for a moment but then shrug my shoulders because I can’t help the way I am? Besides, it’s not hurting anyone, right?


In Mark 12:1b-5:But Jesus' primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, "Watch yourselves carefully so you don't get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can't whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day's coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.


"I'm speaking to you as dear friends. Don't be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. (MSG)


Jesus makes it clear that when we live with any lie it’s only a matter of time until it’s revealed. I don’t want to be exposed and mortified by others. So, I am choosing to ask God to show me what’s hidden in my house and in my life that doesn’t belong there.


1 John 1:8:

If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. (MSG)


The process of asking God to help us identify our sins is not a weakness. It’s a sign of wisdom when we recognize that there’s no way we are perfect and it’s possible we are blind to something that is hiding in plain sight.


Written by Mary M. Wilkins

God Is My Portion Forever

As we seek the Lord and continue to keep our hearts and minds pure before Him. As we call out to the Lord and sit at His feet and ask Him to pour out His living water upon us, He will refresh us. His living water will refresh us and strengthen us in our time of need.

In Psalm 73:26 it says "My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Our fleshly ways will fail us in many,many ways. To the point of disappointment, weariness and discouragement. Many times in life we can get bogged down with "just life" in general. But God tells us He is the strength of our heart. He goes on to say He is our portion forever. He will provide whatever we need at that point of time in our life. He is more that enough.

His living water will wash away the disappointment, weariness, and discouagement and heaviness. He will give us rest and refreshing times will come. As we press into Jesus, as we surrender to Him and bask in His presence, we will be gloriously refreshed in Him.

He truly is the strength of our heart and our portion forever!

Rich Blessings,

Written by Sandy

The Strength of Our Hope

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
 through sanctification of the Spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter:1-3

*************************************************************************

The strength of our hope rises or falls on how dependable we perceive our expectation to be. The reasons we believe our expectation to be dependable are thus decisive to whether we will be motivated.


Ours is a living hope because Jesus Christ and the Father are alive. They exert sovereign control, and They cannot lie. Because our hope is revealed, grounded, sustained, and directed by God, we can know that all things work together for good for those who are the called and love God (Romans 8:28). Our hope, then, should not be ephemeral wishes or dreams based on wishy-washy sentimentality, but the solid realities of God and His Word. Our hope flows from an inexhaustible Source, and therefore no trial should ever quench our optimism for future good. Hope is our response to His work in us expressed in trust, patience, endurance, and eagerness to continue.


submitted by Annie

You Are The Light Of The World

Monday, October 25, 2010 Devotional

I was shopping for cleaning supplies the other day in Target Department store. I happened upon the frozen food cases. Normally I don't purchase groceries at Target. However, that day I was prompted to stroll down the isle to "check out" the frozen food prices and available varieties. The food case section was somewhat deserted and noticeably dark. There was a rather erie feeling about the area. As I set my foot onto the isle I was startled as a light switched on in the first section of the frozen food case. As I proceeded down the isle each section ahead of me suddenly lit up. After my initial surprise, I began to delight in the power I seemed to wield as I set my foot down and a once darkened freezer case became illuminated showing off its wares.

The Holy Spirit immediately quickened to me that this is the effect that we as believers should have as we encounter a spiritually bankrupt and darkened world. When we walk into a room of people it should be flooded with the light of Christ's love. As we fill our hearts with God's love through prayer, praise and Bible reading we can radiate our hope and joy to the lost, lonely and hurting people with whom we come in contact. Our mere presence can transform an ungodly situation into a victorious one.
There are times when we cannot seem to find the right words of comfort or encouragement, however a beaming smile and gentle touch can bring the joy of the Lord to a downcast soul. And as others see the light and life of Jesus in us, perhaps we will open the door of their hearts to inquire about the source of our hope and peace.


"Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours." Deuteronomy 11:24 (ESV)


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

Written by CF

LISTEN!

"Listen and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." Proverbs 23:19

Sometimes it is hard to listen - sometimes we are so busy talking to God, asking questions, telling him our concerns, requesting blessings, or even praising him that we forget to listen to what He has to say. We forget to just "be still" as in meditation.

"Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

Sometimes listening is hard because there is so much "background noise" in our lives, it is drowning out the Lord's voice. We may be "listening" to everything and everyone else but not God. We need to focus back on God and listen to his word through Bible study.

Other times, we may have "damaged" hearing - our life experiences may have been difficult; we may have learned false things about God and his love for us. We can pray for clarity and God will grant it, in his time.

God loves us and wants what is best for us. We can come to him with all our troubles and concerns as well as our joys and praises.... now through meditation, Bible study and after prayer while we await his answer we need to listen!

Written by Jan A

We have what the ancients desired

Devotional for Saturday, October 23, 2010


Do we realize what we have? No, I mean do we really truly realize what we have? I know the unbeliever has no clue, and so I can’t hold them accountable, but all of us new creatures in Christ…do we not know that we have something so valuable, so special, so beautiful, a precious commodity worth going to the greatest lengths to have?

Yes, of course our salvation which gives us eternal life is the pearl of great price as Jesus mentioned in the parable while referring to the kingdom of heaven. But do we realize how much that salvation truly gave us? It gave us a connection to God. It made it possible to speak personally with Him. Before we were covered by the blood of Christ, there had to be so much work, so much sacrificing and still only the High Priest could get close to Him. But because of Jesus, we not only can draw close to Him, and speak personally to Him, but we can even expect an answer from Him. We can now go confidently before the throne of God and bring our requests to Him. Do we realize what we have being on this side of the cross?


For centuries, the children of Israel had to follow their system…their sacrificial system, but at least they had a promise that it wouldn’t always be that way. What about before the children of Israel? Were they just oblivious to the fact that they could not get close to God? Of course they weren’t. Even the most ancient of religions knew that they couldn’t get close to God so they would devise their own ideas of how to strive to please Him…or at least strive to please who they thought was a god or gods as evidenced in the many pagan religions.


However, there were those who knew of the one true God even before Abraham was called out. There were surely those who kept the knowledge of God after the dispersion at Babel. We at least know that Abraham brought tribute to Melchizedek who was a priest of God the Most High. But we also know of Job. Now, whether Job lived at the same time as Abraham or before him or even after, it doesn’t matter. What we do know is that he lived a long time ago and he was not a descendent of Abraham and therefore not of God’s chosen people to whom His Word would be revealed. Yet, he was called an upright man, and man of integrity who hated evil and was devoted to God.


So, he knew of the One True God, but did he realize that he couldn’t get close to him? Did he realize that man lived in hopeless separation from the Almighty? Did he understand that there would someday be a way to bridge that gap? Whether or not he understood that it would someday happen, he did long for it. In fact, he longed for it so badly that much of his lamenting sounds, dare I say, prophetic.


I see it first in chapter 7 where he longed for God to forgive all his sins and give him a clean slate. He longed for what we have. Then in chapter 9, he wished for an arbitrator, someone to come between him and God, so that he could bring his case before the Almighty. He longed for what we have. He’s so frustrated by chapter 13, that he said that he’d do it anyway. Without a mediator, he’d still attempt to go to God himself. He was determined to, but then he reminded himself that it’s not possible. He knows that God remained hidden and silent because of the list of sins going back to his youth.


But by chapter 14, he asked if there’s life after death, and he said that if there was, he’d suffer through anything for it. He desperately desired to live a life where God is a friend who watches over him and forgives his sins to the point of locking them away. He longed for what we have.


Then when he’s told by a so-called friend that his talk was ridiculous, that he was disrespecting God and trivializing the rituals of religion, he answered with another cry for what we have. He cried out for One who would represent mortals before God, for Someone in heaven who knew him inside and out, but yet could still clear his name. He cried out for a Champion, a Friend…Someone to stand up for him…Someone who would bridge that gap. He desperately longed for what we have.


He not only longed for it, but he believed that it was possible. He knew, as it states in chapter 19, that his Redeemer lives. And he knew that one day his Redeemer would take His stand on the earth. And when that day comes, Job said that he knows that he will get to see God with his own eyes.


We have so much. We’ve been given so much. I just don’t think we realize exactly how much we have. May be it takes seeing how desperately someone longed for what we have in order for us to realize how precious it is, how great it is, and just how much it’s worth. Job knew what he didn’t have, and oh how he longed for it! It makes me wish I could reach through the pages of scripture and pull him into this side of the cross so he could have what he needed during his time of misery. Well, it makes no difference for Job now, because he’s absent from his body and present with the Lord. He’s already with the living God. So, I suppose the best way to honor his story is to never forget exactly what we have.


In Job 16:19-22 (The Message) Job says…


"O Earth, don't cover up the wrong done to me! Don't muffle my cry! There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name—My Champion, my Friend, while I'm weeping my eyes out before God. I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.


Amie Spruiell 10/22/2010

“Investing Our Talents”

Devotional for Friday the 22nd

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents,
and to another one talent,  each according to his own ability. 
Then he went on his journey.”

Matthew 25:15

Sometimes as women, we can get so caught up in those around us. It is so easy to allow ourselves to become the “roles” we play. We become Wives, Mothers, Grandmothers, Friends and Confidantes to those around us. There are many more, those are just to name a few.


I took my teenage nephew shopping the other day to get some clothes for him to wear to his Homecoming Dance. I listened to him as he spoke to me about his girlfriend, his football, his music, his school, his view on life, his likes and dislikes, etc. I listened, as I usually do, and was quite happy to catch a glimpse into not only his mind, but into his heart, as well.
Somehow as we were talking, I mentioned to him that I also, love to write. What surprised me was that he was surprised. He said that he never knew that about me. He asked me what I liked to write about, how long I had been writing, and still how surprised he was that he had never known this about me. This was when it dawned on me that I was a part of a lot of people’s lives, but a lot of people were not a part of mine.


Over the years, I have become quite good at keeping “track” of a lot of others in their lives, but I have not been very good at keeping track of myself. For a very long time I have been allowing my hopes, my inspirations, and my dreams to take the “back seat” to the hopes, inspirations and the dreams of those around me. Now, I am not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing. I know that a huge part of being a woman is recognizing that God has given us a wonderful “natural” ability to care for those around us. I also know that most of us find a sense of deep satisfaction and joy when we are able to put that ability to use.


What I am talking about is the risk that we face everyday of becoming so wrapped up in the lives of others, that we begin to “lose” our sense of self. We begin to get so caught up in the dreams and desires of others that we begin to forget our own. I can speak from personal experience that as I have allowed this to take place in my own life, I have begun to feel “restless” and more than a bit unfulfilled inside. It seems that the longer I allow myself to deny myself, the more agitated and unhappy I have become. I not only become this way with myself, but with those around me as well. It seems that allowing ourselves to stay in this place too long can easily become a “breeding ground” for discontentment.


It is not unusual for any of us to struggle with becoming unbalanced at times. There are so many things that we have to juggle on any given day, at any given time, in any given circumstance. What I find to be a tremendous shame is that as we forget ourselves in the midst of everyone else, we are actually keeping so much from them. We are, in a sense, with holding the very best part of us. The dreams, aspirations and longings that the Lord placed inside of us from the very beginning of our creation is what makes us different from any other person. It is the part that makes us “us”.


In Matthew 25:15, Jesus gives us the parable of the talents. He tells us of a man who is going on a journey and how he called his servants together and entrusted a portion of his property to each of them. This verse tells how each of the three men were given the talents according to their own abilities. That verse reads, “To one He gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” We, also, have all been given gifts and talents. I love the part of how he gave to each of them, “according to their own abilities.” We are all different from one another, and God meant for us to be. There are certain things on the inside of each of us that make us “tick”, so to speak. There are certain areas in each of our lives that we feel a certain “pull” towards.

For me it is writing and speaking. Something happens to me when I sit down to write. It seems as if my fingers begin to dance, and I cannot seem to get the words down fast enough. Or, as I ponder what I would love to speak about, new ideas just seem to “pop” into my head and very naturally begin to align them selves into a certain order. I can feel the passion inside of me begin to “build up” and “spill out” onto the blank paper in front of me. It is almost as if I have been “holding” onto or “storing” something inside of me and I feel such a sense of contentment and joy at being able to finally release it.

This is the part of me that feels the most like “me”. It is where I find the most contentment. I feel as if there is a “knowing” inside of me that this is where I belong. This is the part of me that dreams. This is the part of me that feels that deeply rooted sense of passion. This is the part of me that still feels “young” no matter what age I am. I hope that all of this is making sense to you.

I guess what I am saying is that this is the part of me that I want my Husband, my own children, my teenaged nephew, my grand daughters, and everyone else that I know, to know. This is the part of me that I want to know better. This is the part of me that longs to leave my “mark” on this world. This is the part of me that God formed and placed specifically inside of me, with a plan, and for a purpose.

This is where the Lord has entrusted me with His gifts, according to my ability, just as the man in the parable entrusted his gifts to his servants according to theirs. Also, like the man in the parable, Jesus expects me to be a good steward of these things, and to “invest” them into the lives of others and cause them to multiply. He expects a good return from His investment in me.


This is the part of me that the Lord knew that I would turn over to Him one day, my talents, my passions, and my purpose. He knew that there would be hard things in my life and He knew that He would help me to overcome them. He knew that as I began to know Him and to love Him more and more, that I would not be able to keep it all inside, but that I would desire to share His love for me with others. He designed me with the ability to do that through writing and someday, through speaking. He designed you to do that in your own unique way, with your own unique talents and abilities as well.


To go through this world simply being a part of others lives is not enough. We must share with them the part of ourselves that God has placed that passion in. We must allow them to see and recognize as God begins to “stir” up those places inside of us. We must allow them to watch as God brings our own hopes and dreams into fruition, for how else will they know that they have been given the same opportunity in life.


We must first dare to be ourselves in a world that encourages us all to be alike. We must secondly have the courage to allow God to make us into everything that He wants us to be, and thirdly, we must encourage those that we love to do the same. We must set the example. This is what Jesus was teaching us while He walked on this earth, and this is what He is still teaching us today.


Written by Beverley A. Napier

What Are You Saying?

Devotional for October 21st

Do you ever forward emails? You know the ones with the cute pictures of puppies and kittens, or babies and dogs. Or do you read the warnings concerning our health, the government or even our computers? Be honest, how many emails do you forward? How many forwards do you read? I was just reading some of these forwards and I noticed two things about myself. One, I am lazy. Two, it is so easy for me to believe what I read when it’s on the computer.


The lazy factor comes as no surprise to me. I read an email subject line that said even lazy people can lose weight. Even though my brain knows that it’s a trick or play on words, my heart starts beating hopefully as I click the link to read the article to see what lazy thing I might do to lose my unwanted pounds. I am laughing at myself as I read how important it is to get the proper amount of sleep each night (6-8 hours for most people) and that in the case of sleep, more is not better. Sigh, isn’t that always the way?


As for believing what I read it is a two-edged sword. We have all been taught that something is only as reliable as its source. It is already time-consuming to read something. To then take more time to double check the truth of every item by reading yet another article makes me start to wonder if it is worth reading anything in the first place. I will keep reading. When I read a forward that offers advice, before swallowing it, I check one of the research sites that checks into the truth of emails that currently circulate through our inboxes. But even in those instances, each site can only be as unbiased and balanced as their research.


Fortunately, or rather, amazingly, there is a plenty of reading available that does not need to be double-checked. The bible is full of history, drama, warnings and even humor in the midst of crisis. The pictures are word pictures. The humor can be ironic, embarrassing or sad. Really, how stubborn was Jonah that he hung out for three days in the stomach of the great fish before he prayed to God? How about a mom mortification moment to liven up an event? The scene is the last supper; the disciples know it is a special time. It is the Passover meal, Jesus has been washing each of their feet as they recline at the table and teaching them about leadership and what is to come. In a classic show of mankind’s self-focus, there is a sidebar discussion at the table about which of them is the greatest. All I am going to say is that I think it was a good thing that no parents were present at the meal! Of course, I know if I had been there, I would have been just as puffed up and prideful as others.


Reliable reading/information is available to us. It is His Word. Open it up and see what word picture is waiting for you today. No need to wonder if you can believe it. He is faithful and true. He loves you. His Word is the map that will lead you to the right path, encourage you to persevere when you are going the correct way, and warn you when you are on the wrong path or near a slippery slope.


What did you say? You already know that and believe it, too. That is excellent. Then I will ask you what I have been asked for the last few weeks in my bible study: are you living like you believe God’s word is true? Actions speak louder than words. What do your actions say about you?


Proverbs 23:7: For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (NASB)


James 1:26: If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. (NLT)


1 John 1:8-10: If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. (NLT)


I am taking an honest look at what my actions say about what I believe and it is humbling. Thankfully God is willing to help anyone who will ask Him. Are you ready to ask?


Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Turn Your eyes Upon Jesus

There is a beautiful song we used to sing which goes as follows:


Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things on earth, will grow strangely dim;
In the light of His glory and grace.


I have found in my life as I walk through trials and turbulent times, that when I focus on my problem, I am in big trouble.Discouragement and hopelessness can set in very quickly. The more I focus on the situation the deeper I sink into a pit of despair.


The good news is that when I fix my eyes on Jesus and rejoice in Him, hope begins to well up. I have a whole different focus when I trust in Him and in His promises. I am strengthened in Him and confident the the Lord will see me through the situation. He will take care of me and give me a way out. He is so much bigger than any mountain in my life. I can rejoice in Him and cling to Him with victory on the horizon!


I choose to "turn my eyes upon Jesus" for He is the author and finisher of my faith.


Blessings,


Written by Sandy

1 Peter 5:1-5

Devotional for Tuesday the 19th

 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,

and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by

constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock

 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:1-5

Humility has its basis in an honest and realistic comparison of us with God. To compare ourselves with other people always allows us a great deal of wiggle room because we can always find flaws in other people's character. But these rationalizations are not really honest because our goal is not to be in the image of other people or them to be in our image. Our goal is to be in the image of God, and therefore the comparison must be with Him.



When we do that—and we do it honestly—we always come out on the short end of the stick. We are woefully poor (poor of spirit) of any value, any quality or characteristic one might even begin to imagine. We fall so far short of His holiness that it knocks the props right out from under any idea we might have to take pride in what we are.



If we are striving to be like Him, to walk in His steps, to be in His image, this comparison gives us a much more realistic foundation to work from in relating both to Him and to fellow man. It is a wonderful attitude adjuster and regulator of relationships.



Humility tends to be the flipside of faith, because where the confident—the faithful, the trusting—will push themselves forward, the humble has a tendency to hesitate. It is a matter of restraint.



In the humble, there is a consciousness of emptiness, of potential weakness, of helplessness, of worthlessness. However, we should never get the idea that the humble are weak. Paradoxically, they are among the strongest of all people on earth! It all depends on one's perspective. In God's perspective, these people are strong, while from a human perspective, it depends on whom they want to impress.



Humility is so important that God gave Paul some help to make sure that he would stay humble (II Corinthians 12:6-10). Yet, if we would evaluate that, from the time of Jesus on, no one was more spiritually powerful than Paul. It all depends on one's perspective. Who is the humble person being compared with? In comparison with other men, Paul did not appear very strong, but when God looked at him, He liked what He saw—a powerful, effective servant of God.


This is so important because humility's dominant thrust is its willingness to submit to God and to what is right and true. Some, of course, would submit willingly to death if it would glorify God. Our level of humility, therefore, pretty much sets the tone of our relationship with Him and with others. In both cases, that is, with God and man, the humble esteem the other better than themselves. This quality will guard the unity of the spirit (Ephesians 4:3).



Humility or lowliness goes hand-in-glove with meekness. Meekness is a rather complex subject requiring many items to describe it accurately. However, it contains an evident element of restraint. The meek are kind, gentle, and sensitive to others needs. They are thoughtful, agreeable people. They are not aggressive, assertive, insistent, or argumentative. They are easily approached and easy to get along with. Again, we should not be mistaken: The meek are not weak. Certainly, we would not classify Jesus and Moses as being weak, but meek they were. They were firm and uncompromising regarding following truth, but they did not feel constrained to overwhelm those who were aligned against them.

submitted by Annie M. Allen

A LITTLE DIRT IS TO BE EXPECTED

A recent short article in "Reader's Digest" magazine caught my eye. The passage reported current studies are showing that "kids need a little dirt to be healthy." Evidently allergies were less prevalent before the age of antibacterial waterless hand cleaners. Children seemed more resistant to germs when they were allowed to play in the dirt and drink from each other's cups. (Reader's Digest, October 2010, page 123)

Perhaps there is a parallel to this theme in the spiritual realm. Sometimes we become so cloistered in the sterile environment of our religious world that we lose our vigor and effectiveness in the Kingdom of God. It is so pleasant, secure and "sanitary" to surround ourselves with other believers in Bible studies, church services and fellowships. While staying connected to the body of Christ is vital, we must not be afraid to rub shoulders with the world. The world needs us to be salt and light and to carry out the Great Commission. The harvest is ripe and ready for the in-gathering. At this time the world is very dark and the sting of sin sometimes renders contact with our unbelieving peers and neighbors to be painful. However, as we walk in love and share God's gift with a hurting generation we will be strengthened and fortified to complete the task handed down to us by the early disciples.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

Jesus saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, two commercial fishermen, by the Sea of Galilee. He said to them,

"Come, follow me," "and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:19 (NIV).

If we are to likewise become fishers of men we cannot resist getting our hands dirty. We need to roll up our sleeves, cast our nets, and lure in the bounty of souls. We may encounter some emotional wounds, exhaustion, and ruffled feathers as we engage in this endeavor. However, we can refresh and cleanse ourselves with the pure and pristine Word of God. Then we will be healthy and vibrant and equipped for the calling of God upon our lives.

Written By CF

DISAPPOINTMENTS

We all have times when we are disappointed, either by other people or perhaps by ourselves. Sometimes they are minor disappointments, other times they are major traumas. They involve an anticipated outcome not being what was expected or desired. One thing this indicates is that we have not kept our focus on the present, but instead we have made an assumption about some future event/situation and how it will turn out that turns out to be incorrect. Also, there is often an element of self pity in these situations, a "woe is me" attitude. This points to the fact that we have not fully put our trust in God that he will work all things for good for those who love him. Whatever happens, God is still in control, even in our disappointing moments. Finally, we can be assured that in man we will inevitably be disappointed at some point in our lives, but in God we will never be disappointed in the end when we remain faithful!

...Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." Isaiah 49:23b

We can learn much from these disappointing times if we let God teach us, such as: appreciating the current moment, understanding those who disappointed us, forgiving those who may have hurt us, being content with what we have and what we experience, having patience for God's ultimate outcomes, and trusting in Him and his goodness. We can also seek God's will for what else He would have us do, always keeping in mind being a good witness to others involved. We can turn the disappointment into a new opportunity by looking at it with a different perspective. We can even thank God for our struggles when we realize how we can benefit through them or even bring glory to God because of them.

...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5

May God transform our disappointments into learning and witnessing opportunities!

Written by Jan A.

Second Place

Devotoinal for Saturday the 16th

I keep doing it. I keep trying to be everything to my husband. It’s not his fault. It’s mine. Of course, I’m failing. I’m failing because it’s not my job to be everything. I’m overstepping my boundaries. I’m stepping into the Lord’s territory, and He won’t let me in. So I’m failing. Why? Why do I do this? I’m sure I mean well.

Maybe it sounds sweet to everyone else…I mean; it’s only because I love him, right? Is that it? Is it all because I love him? Or is it really because I want to be first place in his life? Well, there’s no use sugar coating it. If I feel like I’m falling short, there’s got to be a good reason for it, and I doubt if I’m just an innocent party here. It doesn’t matter how sweet the intentions appear, there’s no power behind it. To put it lightly, it’s like a soda with no carbonation, or cinnamon candy with no spice. But I prefer to call it what it is. I’m supposed to be in second place, not first. And there’s no reason for me to worry that he won’t make God first in his life because worrying about it is also out of my boundaries. That, too, is God’s concern. My husband has a great responsibility…to lead his family. Although I desire to satisfy his every need and empower him to do his job, I can only go so far. After that, my hands are tied, and all that’s left to do is pray…which is what I should’ve been doing to begin with.

Lord, I want my husband to be satisfied, fulfilled and content. I want him to have the confidence and power he needs to walk the path You’ve laid out before him. I wish I could give him all he needs to do this, but I am insufficient for the job. Only You can be all of that for him. I’m just thankful that You allow me to play a role in it. Because I want this for him, I pray that I always come in second place. I pray that I come second to You. Amen.

Amie Spruiell 10/15/2010

“He Who Began A Good Work”

Devotional for Friday the 15th

In the past fifty years I have experienced what has felt like, at times, more than my fair share of negative feelings. I have been haunted by deeply rooted feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, low self esteem, and a strong feeling of being insignificant. It seems that I have always understood these feelings, but I have not always understood where they came from, or why they “came” at all.

I remember the Lord’s promise to us in Philippians 1:6, which reads, “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” This particular version comes from the Amplified Bible, the italics are mine. Although this is one of my very favorite scriptures, I have learned enough to know that when He speaks something like this to us that some hard days are ahead. That is only because to perform such a thorough work in us, He has to go back to the place where we began to believe and/or set up our confidences in something that was other than in Him.

These patterns in our lives often go back a long way and are pretty deeply instilled in us. I believe that the Lord knows when to begin the process of “unearthing” those things in us. I love that He knows when we are ready, even when we do not believe or feel that we are. Quite often, the pain in our lives becomes the conduit for Him to begin this process within us.

I just recently went to the Dentist for a “root planing” or a “deep cleaning”, as some may call it. In order for the Dentist to dig so deeply into your gums, he must first give you a lot of stuff to “numb” you. I think that depression is kind of like this for us during the emotional healing process. It places a type of “barrier” around us while we are going through some of the hardest places. The next thing the Dentist did was to go into the deep “pockets” and begin to scrape away all of the “build up” that was getting in the way of the gums adhering to the teeth properly. To do this, he must pull the gums down and begin to “work” in those uncomfortable places. He knows that he must do this, even though it will hurt us in the process, in order for him to reach his desired result. This is what the Lord does with us when He begins to “strip” down those years of “build up” in our hearts, minds and spirit. He too, knows that we will experience pain in the process, but He knows that it is necessary, for He desires a “clean, smooth” surface so that His Word and truths will “adhere” properly to our hearts, minds and spirits.

The amazing thing about this process is that the gums know exactly what to do, and it is the very same with our hearts! They “naturally” begin to adhere themselves back into their proper places, snugly fitted against the teeth that they were designed to hold up. I believe this is the same with us emotionally as well. As our hearts, minds and spirits “naturally” begin to move closer and closer to our Lord and Savior, we begin to realize that He was meant for us to “lean” upon, and to place our trust in.

Before this happens, though, there is a lot of “swelling” that occurs in the places that have been upset by all of the digging that has taken place. Swelling causes things to become “bigger” and “out of proportion” with the rest of us. I believe this is how we feel while we are going through this process emotionally also. Things, such as our feelings and even our perspective, begin to seem “bigger” and more “out of proportion” than they used to. Everything begins to feel as if it is “out of alignment” on the inside of us. This is all part of the process.

Today my mouth is still sore. I bit my tongue on accident while it was numb. But what I know is that this procedure, although painful at times, was necessary for my oral health. This procedure has restored my ability to use my teeth in the way that they were meant to function. This is so important, and the same is true with us also. The “surgical procedure” that we allow the Lord to perform on us are just as important to our emotional and spiritual well being. We will never be able to function properly as He has called us to do when our whole “foundation” has been built upon and held up by lies. We will only be able to “stand” when our foundation has been built upon the truths of His love and His ways. We will only be able to “lead” others to Him when we have allowed ourselves to be “led”. We will only be able to speak the truth about Him when we ourselves, have become intimately acquainted with His truth in our own lives. That is where we develop the passion that others can see, hear and that they long for and want to have in their own lives. It makes all the difference.

This is where the Lord met us. He met us in our heartbreak. He met us in our disappointment and in our shame. He met us on the road to suffering and He suffered for us. He met us on the road to death and He went before us. He overcame, and He came out, alive and well on the other side. This is why He can lead us the way that He does, because He has experienced all that we have, and even worse still, and yet He continues to hold out His hand to us today, to lead us into the way everlasting.

Written by Beverley A. Napier

Just Let It Go

Devotional for Thursday the 14th

The movie “Why Did I Get Married?” is humorous, real and very poignant. Even without seeing the movie just two of us could come up with all sorts of funny and not so funny marriage tidbits that might have any of us asking ourselves that same question.

Side note: I have been using the word poignant a lot lately, so I thought for both my sake and yours I would double check it’s meaning: the first definition is ‘pungently pervasive’ as in a strong smelling perfume. The second meaning is: painfully affecting the feelings, deeply affecting, touching. That’s the one I mean!

Even in my most loving relationships things are said or happen that deeply and painfully affect feelings. Whether or not something is intentional isn’t even the point. I deeply care how other people feel, and when I hear that I have caused pain in any way, I am overwhelmed with grief and disappointment with myself. I want to accept that hurt will happen both by me and to me; I know everything will be so much easier. So, how do I get and keep myself in emotional shape to not take everything personally? How can I learn to ‘just let it go’ as so many well-meaning people encourage me?

First, there is the intentional factor. There is no way I can be perfect! Let me repeat this so it really gets to my heart. There is no way I have done anything perfectly. But as a child of God I have the assurance that He is with me. What I cannot be on my own, He can use my willingness to let Him work through me to His glory. To His glory simply means that He gets the credit for anything well done or accomplished on my part. Let me be clear, I would rather not apologize and allow God to use it for healing a relational break. I would rather not admit that something that should be petty bothered me; even if God will use it to strengthen my character. Yet when I am humble and gently honest, God uses the one thing to achieve many things.

Second, the truth is I am not totally free of the desire to be popular and liked. So when a friend lets me know that something hurt her, I am not only crushed that I caused her pain, but then my heart sinks into a pit of rejection and worry that she will never love me again, or at least, not the same as before. This pattern screams selfishness and it’s all about me and how I feel. As I write all this out I realize that I still have so much of me to let go of, and so much room left to allow God to fill with His spirit. The Joyce Meyer’s book “Approval Addiction” defines and identifies the pattern of depending on other’s opinions.

How am I going to just let it go? I will start letting go of expectations of myself and others. The goal is not to be perfect but mature. I will start writing down on note cards what God’s word has to say, and read them over and over until my heart starts to truly believe. I will pray and thank God that He is not finished with me yet and is patiently leading me in the way I should go.

Hebrews 12:4

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. (The Message)

Bottom line: I am not perfect and it is not all about me. God has me covered and He’s taking care of everyone else.

Find out more about “Approval Addiction” and Joyce Meyers’ ministry at www.joycemeyers.org. Many of her books are available at the public library.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins