God Is The Master Planner

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Devotional

Our God is amazing how He sees to it that He works all things out according to what He has purposed for us at a specific time in our life.

Scripture says in 2 Thessalonians 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. God is the one that will establish in us a good word and work as we trust in Him. There are times we think we know what is best for our life, but the good news is that God knows what is the very best for us. We may have in our hearts a certain plan in which we are ready to launch out in. Take heart, if we are seeking God and crying out to Him, He will rearrange and change and adjust plans according to His plan for us.

That is how much He cares for us. He will set things in motion and establish that work on our behalf. He knows all that needs to happen, all the dynamics in order to establish the best plan and best work for you and me.

We can be assured that we are in the best of hands for God is the "Ultimate Master Planner."
Blessings,
Sandy

Christ is a ransom for all

I Timothy 2:1-6

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a

quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. ______________________________________________

Three times in four brief verses (I Timothy 2:1, 3-4, 6), God states He has planned for the salvation of all. Since He desires to save all men, they must all be given an opportunity for it. It is very obvious from human experience that very few among all mankind have ever heard the gospel or come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verse 6 also says that Christ is a ransom for all, and this will be testified or witnessed of in due time. The way Paul wrote this shows that the testifying is still future. In other words, many had not heard of Christ's ransom for sin, and Paul indicates that he expected many then living and many yet unborn would also die without hearing of it. But it would be witnessed to all in due time because Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which men can be saved.

God's plan, humanly speaking, covers a long time. Like Paul, Peter clearly says that God does not desire anyone to perish. Other scriptures indicate that some will, but it is not God's will that they do so.

The critical factor in these verses is repentance. How can a person repent if he does not have knowledge of the truth, if he does not know the purpose God is working out, of what he should repent, why he should repent, or by what means his sins are forgiven? The overwhelming majority of people who have ever lived on earth fit into this category! These things remain untestified to them.

I Corinthians 15:21-23 adds another important revelation to this mystery. "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."

Simply put, God is proceeding according to a plan. All die, but that same all will also be made alive, resurrected in a certain order according to God's plan. Verse 26 reads, "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death"—it has not yet been destroyed! This means that God's plan is still continuing, and in due time the opportunity for salvation will come to all, even though God must resurrect many to that opportunity. Most churches exclude most of this world from salvation because they are not part of their group. Why do people scoff when we point out that God will give all mankind the chance to conform to His image

Submitted by Annie

Heart of Thanksgiving

Monday, November 29, 2010 Devotional

During this Thanksgiving time we can be thankful for so many things. The greatest of these things is the Lord for sending His only begotten son, Jesus. To really appreciate who Jesus is and why the Lord sent Him will change anyone's life. As a child being brought up Catholic there was always the understanding that Jesus was to be reverenced, but after studying the scriptures and really coming to the understanding of what He did and why He died for us has forever changed my life.

The understanding that I learned from scripture that we are not brought into this world being these good wonderful people, but are born with a sin nature is evident in having to teach a child how to be good. We are born naturally selfish and wanting things our way, on our time, and right now. The Lord knew that on our own we could never be the holy people He intended us to be. Due to the fall in the garden with Adam and Eve with their sin, we inherited that sin nature.

It is so simple and powerful but yet can be so easily missed. Where there used be animal sacrifices to take away sin, the Lord sent Jesus to take away our sins once and for all. Accepting and believing in Jesus and what He did on the cross for us brings us the eternal life, peace with Him, direction and power to live a life worthy of the King, our King, King Jesus and finds pleasure with our Lord.

The greatest gift that we can give back, I believe, is a heart of Thanksgiving and praise. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. He delights in us loving Him. To love Him is to serve Him. Out of the love we have for Him and the grateful heart that we have for Him sending us Jesus to be our guide, our comfort, our salvation our power, our contentment our all in all empowers us to give back that love to all of the people that the Lord brings our way. We then can be that shining light, that love, that encouragement to those the Lord leads our way.

Let your light so shine that it gives glory to our Lord and brings peace and love to all those we encounter. How blessed is the name of the Lord. And as we enter into this Christmas season, let us remember that it is CHRIST in Christmas who we serve and who we are to be grateful for.
Grateful to be called, "A child of the King, King Jesus."

Gratefully His,

KC

ADVENT

Today is the beginning of the Advent season in our church. It is a period of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Christ. We are awaiting the arrival of the celebration of his birth, and we are also awaiting his second coming.

When I was a child, it was so hard to wait! I remember the excitement mounting as our family prepared for Christmas throughout the month. There was the writing of a list of things we wanted, then the actual buying of presents for each member of the family, and wrapping the gifts with fancy paper and curling ribbons and shiny bows. There was the hunt for a well-shaped live Christmas tree, and the difficulties getting it to fit in the stand and getting it to stand straight. Then the decorating - first the lights were checked to make sure they all still worked, replacing bulbs that mysteriously had burned out even though they were working when packed away the year before, and then someone would carefully place them on the tree, winding them in and out of the limbs. Then the ornaments were hung, with the less breakable ones near the bottom where the dog might accidentally knock them off, and several little metal bells that actually rung were strategically hung on low branches so we would hear if they were disturbed. And finally the sparkly "icicles" were carefully draped over each branch of the tree. I remember times when our family helped decorate the church in much the same way, with great care and anticipation, and attending lots of church services. Finally, when the actual Christmas break from school began, we would pack up our suitcases and take a 6 hour long drive to our grandparents' home to spend the week or more with them for the holidays. It was a quiet time in the car, as we often traveled into the night to get there. I think that was my parents' way of assuring that their 4 children would settle down and fall asleep! I remember lying in the back of the station wagon (yes, without seatbelts!), drifting off as I listened to the radio up front playing Christmas carols, looking forward to seeing the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The time had almost arrived, the waiting almost over, the preparations almost complete.

Over the years, my preparations before Christmas have changed. As we had our own children, I then experienced a different aspect of the waiting and preparing. I found great joy in the anticipation of our children as they now went through much of the same preparations that I had gone through as a child. And now that they are grown and no longer live at home, I still enjoy the month before Christmas arrives by gradually decorating the tree, though now it is artificial, and sometimes baking special goodies only enjoyed during the holidays. The aroma of freshly baked cookies, the sight of the twinkling tree lights and decorations, the joyful sounds of Christmas music playing, all bring back good memories. And now there also is the preparation of special flute and choir music for the many extra church services throughout the month, to help enrich the worship of the entire congregation. We fellowship with one another at special Advent dinners, and speak of the preparations we are each going through for the month, offering support and laughing with one another. All of it brings me great joy.

But the most important preparation is that of our hearts. We recognize that we need a Savior, and we thank God that he sent his Son into the world as a baby, to experience our life here on earth, and eventually to die in our place as payment for our sins and rise again in glory. We eagerly await his coming into our lives every day with hopeful anticipation, and we are assured that He is already with us, supplying everything we need as his will dictates. We confess that we are not perfect, that we are sinful and unclean and that we desire to turn from those ills, knowing that we are unable to do so on our own. Our hearts are grateful that God forgives those sins, provides the way out through faith in Jesus, and gives us the power to live as his children in his grace and mercy. May our preparations for Christmas be joyful in anticipation. May our hearts be like that of a child, fully trusting in Him as we prepare and wait for his coming.

"It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:26
May God bless you with peace in your heart as your waiting and preparation continues. Have a joyful Advent season!

written by Jan Andersen, child of God

Fired up for the most wonderful time of the year?

Devotional for 11/27/10



Are you fired up? Fired up for the most wonderful time of the year? Well, it should be the most wonderful time of the year. But for me, I feel it’s time to get fired up for battle…a spiritual battle that takes place right here in our own country, our own society, our own hearts.


I seem to be emotional this week. I can’t figure out why…it’s not hormonal. Our Thanksgiving celebration was nice and relaxing…just us and the kids, but I wasn’t sad about not seeing other family members. It’s definitely not a depressed feeling. I’m not the kind who gets sad at the holidays anyway. I’m usually happy or stressed or both, but not sad. But I honestly am struggling with shaking this feeling. And deep down, I feel the Holy Spirit is telling me something…something about proceeding with caution and with my battle gear on.

Fired up for the most wonderful time of the year?Fired up for the most wonderful time of the year?Fired up for the most wonderful time of the year?There are so many things to  forward to during the Christmas season, and so many things to dread. But this “something” that I’m feeling is not something to be thrilled about, and at the same time, it’s not something to dread either. But I know that I want to be prepared. This is a battle to keep Christ in Christmas.






Now, I don’t think that all the bells and whistles about the holiday are necessarily what we should be battling. Yes, I know it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of shopping, baking and decorating and allow that to drown out the real message, but I like that stuff and it’s never overshadowed the real message in my heart or in the hearts of my family members. That’s probably because I’ve already heard so many messages about not allowing that to happen. Numerous wise people have done their duty of cautioning me and everyone else for that matter of taking time to remember what we’re supposed to remember at Christmas. After all, without His birth, He could not have died for us. But I wonder if it’s because that “cautious message” has been so well presented and received that the enemy has taken the next step, and has used an already weakened and secularized society to launch an all out attack on Christ at the time of the year Christians long ago chose to celebrate His birth.


And the truth is, Christianity is attacked in our own country more than any other group whether they’re religious or not. For the last several years, I would proceed into this time of the year thinking about thankfulness for my country and those who fought for it, for my Savior and all He’s done for me, and for my family and the memories we’ve created and shared together, only to find myself at some point getting angry at the secularism of the holiday. I have nothing against Santa, Frosty or Rudolph. I love those guys. Now, I know some would argue that these cute little make-believe icons of the season are in one way responsible for desensitizing society, and I cringe as I am faced with the fact that there’s a grain of truth in that. But really, I mean really…how did we really get to this point???


Is there even an answer to that question? How about this question? When, after great pains were taken to deliberate, our founding fathers finally ratified our Constitution, did the rights spelled out within it set the stage for Christianity to eventually become the only system without rights? If only, some two hundred and twenty something years ago, those many wise men, the majority of which were strong Christian men, could have foreseen that their desire to respect all peoples with rights, with some of those rights being freedom of speech and religious expression, as they exemplified in the document that makes this country a republic, would have inevitably ended up being the detriment of Christianity itself. Would they have ratified the document?
I believe they would. That’s how much respect they had for people, for freedom, for God’s system of free choice. There was just no other way. They wanted everyone to have the freedom of expression just as they wanted it for themselves. It was worth the risk of the influence of non-Christian worldviews knowing that the influence itself could overpower Christianity, just for the sake of having the freedom to be a Christian. But that’s exactly what we’ve seen. Because for the last two decades, the surmounting number of lawsuits filed against the expression of Christianity has been proof that we truly are under more of an attack than anyone else in this country, and it’s noticeable more at Christmas than any other holiday. And the truth is, if our founding fathers lived today, they would be persecuted. They would have lawsuit upon lawsuit filed against them for speaking freely and declaring their faith and love for Jesus Christ. OK, no wonder I’m so emotional. I no longer want to be caught unawares. I want to go into this season prepared and ready to battle. How about you?


There are some simple actions to take and I’m sure you’ve heard of them. Don’t hesitate to say “Merry Christmas” and “God bless you”. Even when you’re wished a lovely greeting of “Happy Holidays”, you could respond with “Happy Holy Day”, (since that’s what “holiday” means anyway.) I think we should speak freely at every opportunity we have during the holidays to express our love for Jesus. Make sure you have an answer for those who would argue. If you don’t know how to answer, find out. You have information at your finger tips. And remember to do it with gentleness. Our weapon just might be more efficient if it’s used gently. But being gentle does not mean being a door mat.


I understand that some people just don’t like confrontation, but if lives and fortunes were lost for us to have our freedom, we owe it to them to defend it even if the most we can offer is a simple comment to the average person that just might bring a little embarrassment to ourselves. But we most certainly can offer more than a simple comment…our greatest weapon is prayer, so do it. But the worst we could do is nothing. Doing nothing has contributed to where we are right now. So stop complaining inwardly and ignoring it outwardly. The more it’s ignored, the more numb our hearts will become.


We’re not called to ignore this battle. We’re not called to become numb to it. We’re called to boldly declare the Word of God…to live our lives worthy of being called a Christian…to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. I’d like to take a military order that I’ve learned from my husband and reword it to be a Christian order. From the 11 General Orders of a Sentry (Marine Corps version), number 2 is “Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.” This order applies to the physical…the Marine himself, his fellow countrymen, his homeland. We can apply this to our spiritual battle as well, “Walk my walk in a Christian manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing and even in our hearts and souls.” This order leaves no room to ignore a calling. On the contrary, it calls us to be on the alert and take action.


I’m not thrilled about the condition of society, but I am fired up. I’m fired up for the most wonderful time of the year. I’ve got my battle gear on, and I will proceed with caution, on the alert and observing everything that takes place. As I do, I will turn my sadness into joy. I was not born into this country over two hundred and fifty years ago. I did not have to sacrifice my loved ones and our fortunes for freedom, but since I have it, the least I can do is battle to keep it. God called them for their time and place, and He has done the same for us. The Christmas season is one of the greatest opportunities we have to take our stand as Christ believers and followers.


Semper Fidelis


Amie N. Spruiell, United State Marine Corps Veteran Wife

Given Grace

Devotional for 11/26/11

“(All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God,

 freely and gratuitously by His grace, (His unmerited favor and mercy)
through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus”.

Romans 3:24

 (Amplified Bible)

For those of you who don’t know, my Husband and I own an Auto Repair Shop. I am the Office Manager and have a whole list of responsibilities, but most of it has to do with paperwork, of which there is a lot of. I deal with all of the payroll, payroll taxes, license renewal fees, quarterly taxes, accounts receivable, etc.


We have two Smog Machines which are licensed by the State of California. The license renewal date for these two machines was October 31. Well, I had known they were there, I had received them about a month and a half in advance. So, I filed them, and then I forgot about them. Somehow they managed to get further and further back as I began to file the more recent bills in front of them.

To make a long story short, I paid them late. Four days later both of our Smog Machines were shut down by the State of California. Due to a Holiday, the mail, with my renewal check, hadn’t gotten there in time. We were locked out of both machines for four days. This meant that our Smog Technician could not perform smog tests for any of our customers, which promptly led to a “piling up” of cars in the yard.

What a mess that one mistake caused. The one thing I have never wanted to do was to put added stress on my Husband. Well, I did. He was the one who had to listen to the customers complain when they called up and asked to speak directly to him. He was the one who had to go into work early on the day that the machines were finally up and running again. He was the one who carried the whole responsibility of my mistake on his shoulders.

What stood out to me is this. He was also the one who continued to tell me that “It’s okay, Beverley, mistakes happen.” For four days I kept waiting to hear him blame me in some way, but he never did. What he did do though, was to show me grace. He never humiliated me. He never yelled at me. He never even changed his behavior towards me. In fact, I heard him on several occasions “cover” me while talking to others, when he could have exposed the fact that it was my mistake that had caused this whole mess.

How humbled I was, and still am, by his Godly behavior. Now, I know that my husband is a very good man, but honestly, I was so humbled. I have thought about it since then and I don’t know how I would have responded if I had been in his place. I don’t think that I would have handled it as well at all. In fact, quite honestly, I know that I wouldn’t have. But now that I have been the recipient of that kind of grace and “covering” I know that I would love to treat others the same. I guess the hardest part for me was to know that I deserved the blame! It would’ve been easier in some ways to have just been yelled at and gotten it over with.


This all leads me to this season of Thanksgiving. How blessed we are that the Lord “covers” us in our humility. How loved we are to be given such grace. The Bible describes grace as “God’s unmerited favor”. That means that there is nothing that we could ever do that would cause us to deserve it in any way. Nothing. Ever.


Yet, we still remain the objects of His love and “unmerited favor”. At times, I just can’t fathom the meaning of all of this. I know that the Lord gives us this kind of grace, and then He expects us to give it to others just as freely. I have to admit, at times I have been known to be quite “stingy” with it. At times I have judged, instead of “covering” others in their weaknesses, or mistakes. I have behaved with a “holier than thou” type of attitude. I have with held my kindness and acceptance in the very place that grace was calling out to be given inside of me instead.


Lord Jesus, thank you today for your grace. Thank you that You died for us, while we were yet sinners. Thank you that you loved us first, in order that we would love ourselves, and others. Thank you for the grace that you show us, and also for the grace that others give to us as well. When people behave as my Husband did, they are behaving as You do. Thank you for teaching us to be thankful during this season, and for walking beside us in each and every other season of our lives. Please teach us to be more like You, we pray. In Your Name, Amen.


In closing, I’d like to leave you with the following verse. It has been on my mind and in my heart ever since all of this has happened.

“But grow in grace (undeserved favor,
 spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge

and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

To Him (be) glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now

 and to the day of eternity. Amen. (so be it)!”

II Peter 3:18

(Amplified Bible)

Written by Beverley A. Napier

Thanksgiving Prayers and Songs

Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day

We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.


For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days.

--Mary Fairchild

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day

When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing

Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload

We must rush our prayer before the food gets colld

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided

And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

--Scott Wesemann

 Thanksgiving

                                                       For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant

And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Amen

--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn

(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

 

We Give Thanks

Our Father in Heaven,

We give thanks for the pleasure

Of gathering together for this occasion.

We give thanks for this food

Prepared by loving hands.

We give thanks for life,

The freedom to enjoy it all

And all other blessings.

As we partake of this food,

We pray for health and strength

To carry on and try to live as You would have us.

This we ask in the name of Christ,

Our Heavenly Father!

--Harry Jewell

Shared by Mary Wilkins and Corinne Mustafa

Overflowing with More of God

I remember a time in my life I had felt extremely lonely. Even though, I had Christ in my life, I had my immediate family in my life, and surrounded by my church family, I still experienced a deep loneliness. I loved the Lord and continued to look to Him and live for Him each day. I still had loneliness in my heart.

I realized over a period of time, the more I sought the Lord and pursued Him with a greater tenacity and a greater surrender,the more I embraced what I felt He was wanting me to do, the loneliness began to dwindle. A very key thing that I had discovered, was the more I gave onto the Lord and the more I reached out to others in need and got my eyes off myself, the loneliness became non-existent. As I have reached out to share the love of Christ and continued to live that out I have not experienced the loneliness at all. It is no longer a part of my life.

In Haggai 2:7B it says ...and I will fill this temple with glory, says the Lord of hosts. As believers, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants to display His glory through His people, the church. He wants to fill us with His Glory so that we may exemplify Him and impact the world around us!
A prayer I pray almost daily is that the Lord would fill me to overflowing with His Glory, with more of Him. He truly does just that and satisfies my soul. I continue to want more of Him!

Blessings,

Written by Sandy

Squeezing into the world's mould

And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

ROMANS 12:2

___________________________________________________________________________

The Phillips translation says, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould," a vivid picture and excellent interpretation of what Paul really meant. If one is not alert and resisting its temptations, the world has the power to form and shape a person. It must be resisted!

In the previous verse, Paul says we need to sacrifice ourselves and strongly implies that such sacrifice involves pain. Babylon avoids suffering at all costs (Revelation 18:7)! If we fail to sacrifice ourselves, the world will have free sway and squeeze us into its mold. The world has an influence on the mind (called "the heart" in the Bible), on our emotions, and on our attitudes, and this influence ultimately shows in our conduct. Conduct begins with our attitudes, with our points of view, with our values, standards, and ideals. If those values, standards, and ideals contradict the way of God, we cannot resist the world's constant pressure to squeeze us into its mold.

submitted by: Annie

Father's Love Letter

An Intimate Message From God To You.

My Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is… Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32 Love, Your Dad Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications

© 1999-2010 http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

-Shared by C.F.

KNOCKING

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20

God is so gracious. He doesn't wait for us to come to him, but instead He comes to us, no matter what condition we are in! He will knock on our door. That knock will sometimes be soft and slow, patiently awaiting our answer, and He gives us that power to answer his knock. At other times he may be banging with all his might to get our attention, as we may be asleep or ignoring him at the time. But He is persistent. Thank God! We not only have to hear his voice and recognize it, we have to open the door for him. He actually gives us the strength and helps us to open the door. He then enters to be with us. He will and eat with us, and we will eat with him, sharing a family meal, an intimate gathering of those he loves.

Thank you Lord, Jesus, for coming to me in my weakness and taking care of me, even helping me to receive your assistance, and then supplying my every need! Amen.

Written by Jan Andersen

Brainwashing

It’s his last stand…Job, I mean…the Job in the Bible. He’s the one who suffers through so much turmoil, and yet still never curses God throughout. First, his adult children, his servants and his livestock (of which there were plenty making him the richest man in the area) are all lost…killed…to be exact. Then his body is struck with a horrible ailment that’s torturous. At least that’s the gist of what most people know about Job, but reading through chapter by chapter, I’ve learned so much more about his sufferings.


So, here I am at the 27th chapter, verses 1-6. He’s right in the middle of his last chance to speak, and at this point of his speech, he’s once again asserting his innocence. Why? Because, he’s been told over and over again that he must have sinned horribly for such calamity to have cursed him. But God states right in the beginning of the book that Job is a righteous man. So, how could this be? How could it be that we so often feel as though one tragedy after another is bombarding us when we know we’ve been true to His Word? Naturally, we begin to question whether or not we really have. What in the world could have brought on our circumstances? What’s behind these agonizing arguments in our minds?


The verses came across to me with such passion, with such drive; it was as if I could see him. I could see Job on his knees, pounding his fists on the ground with all his strength declaring that he will not give up his stance. As long as he lives…no, as long as God lives, he will not give in to the pressure…he will not believe what those around him are feeding him…he will not sin.


And by “sin”, he means specifically cursing God. What perseverance he has! Constantly being beaten and battered…force fed words from his so-called friends…words that sound so convincing that we begin to wonder if he’s actually wavering. Truth is, a few times, he’s close to collapsing under the pressure…close to giving up hope of being justified…close to giving up his claim to innocence and to actually admit that he truly did bring all this turmoil upon himself.


How could he be so strong? How long have his “buddies” been there pushing and prodding, gnawing and nagging? How could the human soul withstand so much? It would be enough to morph the mind into something completely mad! I know I could not have such strength, but here he is saying one last time, “I will never give up my claim to innocence! I will never give up my integrity!”


There’s been a battle raging in the spiritual realm. These “wise guys” are being used over and over again to tear down this man while he’s already weak…used by Satan himself. But Satan is losing this battle. That’s because Job is stronger than that. I am amazed…I’m amazed at Job’s strength, and I’m amazed at what God is showing me through this scenario.

As I step back and look at the big picture, I’m reminded by God that Satan is working his hardest to get Job to break and to curse God. I see the mind of this man undergoing a process of brainwashing. It’s a technique that works. It’s been proven to work. It works like this: strip away from a man everything he has and remove any trace of a support system. Ensure that everyone who surrounds him is turned against him. Torture him physically, and then bring him to a place of mental exhaustion. Finally, repeat to him over and over again something that he at first did not believe to be true, and in the end, you will have brainwashed him.


That’s it! Satan’s brainwashing Job. Wait a minute. Satan brainwashes us all. Maybe we don’t think about it that way, but it is what it is. I wonder if this could be the first recorded incident of such a tactic? I mean a literal textbook brainwashing. You see, it may appear on the surface that he’s experiencing a series of extreme unfortunate events, but underneath, it parallels a scenario that I’ve read about God knows how many times. I’m talking about countless stories of Christians who have suffered over the last 2000 years in attempts to bring them to a place of denying Christ…of taking back their testimony…of ultimately cursing God. There’s nothing new under the sun. It’s all been a system of psychologically breaking the spirit, the mind, the person. Some of the worst scenarios I’ve read about happened at the hands of atheistic communists.


The communist soldier would strip the Christian of everything including a support system…they would rip him from his family, and place him in solitary confinement. Then they would put the Christian through physical torture, and then deprive him of sleep…mental exhaustion. Well as I mentioned, right from the start, Job has everything taken from him…his children…his servants…his property, and then, as he has lamented throughout the pages of this book, everyone else turns on him. They ignore him, mock him, or abhor him. We know he’s physically suffering, and he’s also made it clear that he can’t sleep therefore, he suffers from mental exhaustion. The stage has perfectly been set for brainwashing.


And so, just as the communist would constantly feed phrases into the mind of the Christian such as, “God does not exist,” “Jesus is dead,” and, “communism is the only way,” Satan has Job’s friends going around and around feeding him with the message that he did this to himself, he must be a godless man, and he’ll just waste away in his wickedness if he doesn’t admit it and change.


But praise God, just as so many were able to find strength to resist the brainwashing of their torturers, and instead stay true to their faith, their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Job has also (by the grace of God) managed to keep his mind sane, and has not given in to these three men who are weapons of Satan’s warfare.


Now, if so many of my predecessors, including one of the most ancient men I’ve ever read about, found the perseverance to stand their ground and believe in truth in spite of their circumstances, how is it I so often get battered down by the lies of the enemy when I know what the Word says?


I know the truth, yet I give in to the brainwashing that “I’ll never change.” I apologize and make excuses…surrendering to defeat instead of victoriously speaking the truth…the truth that I know. If Job was able to persevere…I can too. In fact, I can do better. Because I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me, I can put Satan in his place. I can rebuke his lies and believe the truth. I haven’t even suffered through the process of brainwashing…not literally. Maybe I’ve had many minor versions of it, but I haven’t had everything stripped from me, placed in solitary confinement, and physically tortured, so why should I give Satan the satisfaction? Am I really so weak to surrender?


No! I WILL put him in his place. I will rebuke him because of the power and authority invested in me by my Lord and Savior. I will pound my fists if I have to. As long as I live, as long as my Jesus lives, I will not give in to the pressure of my torturer. I will rise, and because of Jesus and Jesus only, I will be found blameless in the end.


Amie Spruiell 11/19/2010

Trust and Obedience

“So he did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank of the brook. After awhile the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land.”
I Kings 17: 5 thru 7

(Amplified Bible)

In this story we see how the Lord directed Elijah to a place where he would be fed and cared for. The Lord had commanded the ravens to bring Elijah both bread and meat in the morning, and also again in the evening. There was a brook there, from which he could drink from.



But then, it says that “after a while the brook dried up”. The good thing for Elijah was that the Lord then sent him another word and directed him where to go from there. But just for a moment, I’d like to stay right there at that little brook.



It seems to me that I have been at that place in my life. There have been times that all of my “needs” are being met, and I didn’t need to wonder at what was going to happen tomorrow. I had “found” my place of comfort and shelter and I was content at being where I was. There was no need for me to leave the place where I was at.



But then, one day the brook dries up. Now this concerns me. This wasn’t in my plans, I think to myself. “The Lord has been providing and caring for me, this just can’t be. There must be something wrong! What could I have possibly done to deserve this? Lord, there must be some mistake!” I say. I begin to call out my thoughts to the Lord, but the brook remains dry.



My first thoughts in times like these, even though I hate to admit it, are thoughts of myself. It is because I have become comfortable with the way things are. I am satisfied with being “fed and watered” without it taking too much effort on my part. I don’t have to worry about what I will do tomorrow, for I will simply do again, what I have done today.



These are the times that I have come to recognize as the “uncomfortable” times. I don’t know what lies ahead. Now, in this particular story, the Lord does tell Elijah where to go, and who is going to help him. But when he gets there, it surely doesn’t look like what the Lord said is really going to happen. He does get fed, but he surely doesn’t arrive at a place where the “banquet” table is already “set” for him.



My point is this; at times the Lord is going to give us those places of comfort. But, just like Elijah, we must be ready and willing to move on when the Lord tells us that it’s time. We cannot stay beside the “dry brook” praying for rain! We must move when the Lord says to move. He will bring us into those times of uncertainty so that we can learn to trust in Him. Not on the brook with the seemingly endless water supply. It is Him that truly supplies for all of our needs. Even when our circumstances don’t seem to appear that way, in fact, especially then.



We must be like Elijah, the Bible says, “So he arose…” . He didn’t stay there, kicking his feet and complaining that he had liked it the “way that it was”, as so many of us do. No, he arose and went on the way that the Lord was directing him to go. He didn’t know how long he would “stay” at that “new place” or how comfortable he would be, but he went anyway.

That is how I want to be. I want to willingly “rise” from that place where I’m at. I want to “rise” quickly, and without complaint. I want to leave that place, thanking the Lord for His goodness and provision to me. I want to go into the new place with a thankful heart. I want to remember how the Lord had provided, and how He will provide again, if I only allow Him. I want to be at each and every place in my life for only the appointed number of days. No more, and no less. I want to be “in step” with each and every plan that the Lord has for my life.

Thank you, Lord, that you are the One in Whom I can put my trust. Thank you that with You, all things stay the same, yet you allow change to take place in our lives so that we will come to fully know and understand You and your ways of caring for us. Help us to arise when its time to arise and to rest when it’s time to rest. Above all else, help us to place our love and trust in You alone, and never on the circumstances that surround us. It is in Your name that we pray, and that we ask these things. Amen.

Written by Beverley A Napier

Perfectionism

Perfectionism:
Is it a disorder, a necessary tool, or a cover for fear?

Did you know that when you take a class about mental illness, most professors introduce their topic with a warning: Do not self-diagnose? In other words, many students from many classes read the definition of a disease, recognize those very same symptoms or conditions within themselves and fear they have that disease.

The professors will then explain that they have taught these subjects for years, each year students will approach them with the concern that they have obsessive-compulsive disorder, or attention deficit disorder or something. When I heard this I thought to myself, sheesh, who would be stupid enough to think they have every disease in the book? That’s just not statistically possible, I continued, smiling and laughing with my neighbors as the professor assured us we were all fine.

You probably see this next part coming. Through the coming months, as we reviewed over 40 mental illnesses and diseases, I proceeded to think I had each and every one. It was only the professors’ words at the beginning of the class that kept me from running to the nearest doctor. I mulled over every symptom, worried over each tendency in myself to behave in even the smallest way like the disease being described. As for being forewarned, I excused it with the thought that “Oh no! What if I am the exception? I think I really have this disease!”

Definition of obsession:

an irrational motive or compulsion to do repetitive actions.

Obsessive-Compulsive disorder is a mental health illness. It is probably not OCD that has you cleaning the house every evening before you go to bed, or doing all your chores before relaxing. That’s perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a nasty little tendency that can choke the life out of us. I discovered the root of perfectionism about 15 years ago. You’ve probably already heard that it’s a control issue. True, but is that all? It’s also a source of vanity. As in, how I appear to others is who I am. Say that out loud (yes, even you messies, you’re just closet perfectionists – you don’t do anything until you can do it right (or should I say, until you can do it perfectly?).

So, if the root of perfectionism is control and vanity, what are their roots? It gets easier now, because these two issues share the same root: pride. I cringe just thinking about it.

Isaiah 2:16-17: Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment. (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:8b-9: Patience is better than pride. Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. (NLT)

Thanksgiving is around the corner. It’s a time when we are encouraged as a nation to count our blessings and thank God that we are still a free country. I wish that knowing what was important was the same as doing what is important.

If you’re anything like me, the perfectionism monster has been lurking in the back of your head for at least a month. Nagging you to make a list and get going or you’ll never be ready to share love, joy and laughter with family and friends. Wait, that’s not what your monster says? I know, mine either. It’s all about the house, the food, the shopping, the cleaning, the bills, the weight (on my body), the kids, the bonding and so on. As if that’s not enough of a burden, the pressure to make this Christmas the best Christmas ever (in only 30 days) is laying the ground work for a full-blown emotional and physical work-fest that can melt-down and burnt out the most determined among us.

So, is this just the way we are? Is this what we expect from ourselves? Is it what we think others expect from us? Is this what God wants or expects of us?

Jesus said,

"'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."

Matthew 22:37-40

(MSG)

Dear Lord, we choose to let you show us the way through this frenzied time of celebrations. Be our guide as we pick and choose only those things that we can afford and will add a positive light to our family. Help us to limit ourselves to what we have the time to do while keeping our priorities. Help us to maintain balance. Please help us keep our commitment to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. There’s always someone worse off than we are. Please help us to notice when we are starting to feel sorry for ourselves so that we can remember to be grateful. Thank you, Lord, for faithfully watching over us. Please forgive us for whining and longing for more. Help us to let go of being the perfect anything and instead to focus on what you have provided. In Jesus name, amen.

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Psalm 23:23-28

(NIV).

Written by Mary M. Wilkins
I am praying that I will do what’s most important and let go of what that voice in my head keeps nagging me about. I am not my house, I am not the clothes I wear, I am not my kids, I am not my yard, I am not my job, I am not the vehicle I drive. I need to work hard, do my best and trust God for the rest.