Friday Devotional,,,Autumn....

                          ,..God's Season that I Love Most

Weather has seemed to have always affected my frame of mind or the atmosphere that I am in or feel. Sometimes I think I should have been a storm chaser

Autumn… has to the best of my remembrance always been my favorite season of the year. I think that I inherited this from my Mom. When I think of autumn, my demeanor starts to change. A smile sets inside as I start to feel that something good is about to happen pulling me into an air of expectancy that starts to swell up in my chest.

I can think back to my childhood and recall the times that Mom’s kitchen was warm with the smells of something baking in the oven whether it was dinner or baked goods. When I think of autumn, I envision cool weather….away from the summer heat that is draining. I picture colored leaves falling from trees all orange, brown and yellow in color. This excites my senses!

Fall brings on new beginnings in my mind, a new year approaching, new fall shows on T.V., warm and snuggly socks and scarves, long sleeves and a whole range of wonderful thoughts. I hear the sound of rakes as home owners prepare for the on set of winter>>> or the sound of leaf blower swishing beautiful leaves around and around till they are captured and piled in a heap. I feel the wind at my back, and a smoky haze in the air.

Just the whole picture of the new Fall season with children putting in order their new back packs filled with crayons, pencils, rulers and pens challenging them to a time of learning new things whether it be in knowledge or adventure. Recitals and school plays, warm coats, kids standing in line, bring me to a place of complete contentment.

A further reflection that stands out in my minds eye… is the coming of pumpkins, the smells of candles burning such wonderful cinnamon and clove scents. Football games, cheerleaders, parades and Thanksgiving preparation all comes into observation with its flavored colors of dark browns and greens with pilgrim hats waiting to be made from construction paper along with a child’s hand print making the image of a plump little happy turkey. Autumn makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over with the last thoughts of camping behind as autumn is well into view.

All three of my children were born in October, could this have something to do with my overwhelming love for autumn? I was baptized in the swell of a river when I first made my decision to follow Jesus….That was in the month of October and shortly followed by the Lord filling me with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, like the book of Acts describes to those who believe.

This feeling that I get around the Fall of each year must have been a predetermined attribute of God’s plan for my life and the character that he has built in me.

I close my eyes and I can see …
The close of summer, and the

whisk of a breeze.

I can see days approaching of

static electricity in the air …

Filling me with excitement, in my mind not a care.

Visions of colors and smells

dance in my head …

Soon to be snuggled all warm in my bed.

The sound of leaves falling, dark clouds in the sky …

Surely enticing for that homemade apple pie.

Children gather excited perhaps …

Fall has approached,

summer vacation has lapsed.

Scents of apple cider fragrance
 fill our home ...

Orange, red and yellow  
brighten what’s known.

That Autumn is here, hold on to your hat …

Surely I’m not the only one to consider the stats.

Written by: Glenna Williamson

Thursday Devotional...What should I do?...

                                             ...There is only one best answer!  

I was feeling very disturbed. Thinking to myself how nice it would be to call my friend - that we would talk (well, I would talk and she would listen) and I would find comfort, feel better, be more at peace.

But I could not call her - it was not a time for calling nor was I free to call. Then I thought of my husband - but instantly I knew his own heart was burdened with the same concern and I did not want to burden him more by adding my own emotions, insecurities, doubts and fears. Even knowing we share the same pressure, I feel alone.

I caught my breath, choking on my pain, and then I remember. I can pray to the One who knows all, sees everything and cares intensely for me. Washing dishes like nothing was wrong - I cry out silently within myself - thanking God for always being there. I know that is what He desires - for us to depend on Him first and foremost - not because husbands and friends aren’t important - but because God wants to be most important - first place. No fear, no doubt, no trouble, no burden, nothing in the world is more powerful than the God in heaven who cares for you and me.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace,  which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts

and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

 (The New Living Translation)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

He's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

Run to God! Run from evil!

Your body will glow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!

Honor God with everything you own;

give him the first and the best.

Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.

But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;

don't sulk under his loving correction.

It's the child he loves that GOD corrects;

a father's delight is behind all this.

Proverbs 3:5-12

 (The Message)

Thank you, Lord, that Your mercy is new everything morning. I need the promise of a fresh start otherwise I would be overwhelmed and full of despair. Afraid of never overcoming my tendency to worry, fret, obsess, and fear. Thank You for lovingly and patiently taking me by the hand and leading me on the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Help me, Lord, unblock my ears that I may hear and recognize your voice. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Wednesday Devotional...8/29/12..."No Fear In God's Perfect Love"

       ...when we trurst and walk in God's love    

As I visited with a friend yesterday, I became more and more aware of an undeniable fear that was raging in her heart as she shared her concerns. She has a beautiful relationship with Christ, but she was allowing the facts of the matter to loom higher than her faith in Christ. She shared huge concerns about her son and that if he would continue on the path he was going, that multiple danger was sure to encompass him.

As I pondered on all she shared and the difficulties that her son could be facing, I knew I must encourage her not to walk in fear. We as believers cannot afford to walk in fear. Fear paralyzes us, keeps us from God's truth and robs us of our joy that is rightfully ours as His children.

God's word tells us in

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casts out fear,

 because fear involves torment.

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

We are never to ignore facts about situations. And we should also do all we can to prevent dangerous things from happening in our lifes and those we love as well. Our Lord has never desired His kids to operate in torment, terror and dread. That is just not His heart.

God is calling us to trust Him and look to Him in all things. He wants us to lay our concerns at His feet knowing full well He can handle them. He wants us to rest and walk in His perfect love. As we do that there is no room for fear. Oh but yes it will try over and over to creep back in to our minds. That is when we continue to release it to Him and bask in His outrageous, perfect love for us!

In His Outrageous Love,
 Sandy Billingham

Tuesday Devotional...JOY UNSPEAKABLE...

                 ...can be yours!         

Joy Unspeakable…

But those who drink the water I give will never be

thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them,

Giving them eternal life.

John 4:14
NLT

Picture a large bottle of Champagne…the evervesent bubbles. The spirit of God is like champagne bubbles stirring up our God within us…Let it break forth,

Hinder not what God is doing by HIS holy spirit…Just like the bubbles rising forth to the top of the bottle, our God has deposited HIS Holy Spirit in us, it is stirring and rising to new levels of understanding & experience, as each bubble is released in the atmosphere, there is a shift and change in us, by God. With each burst, there is joy, freedom, happiness, power, love, all aspects of God’s grace and love being released to us and others. Each bubble is a word from God released in power, released over the church. Stir it up, shake the bottle, burst forth…don’t be satisfied with things as they are, for God is shouting wake up my bride!

If your bubbles have gone flat, or you have lost your fire, it is time to stir up the presence of the Holy Spirit, to practice the presence of God..To day let us be aware of that beautiful gift God has give us...and let us go with Him, for God is alive and moving on our behalf…

Sue Bower,

Redding CA

PROMISES

devotional for Sunday 8/26/12

God's promises are amazing.  As I walked out of a doctor's office this past week, having received some serious information to consider, I was greeted by a light misting of rain.  Yet, being close to evening, the sun was shining brightly from the west, beneath the clouds.  It was bright enough that I had to wear my sunglasses - in the rain!  As the clouds and their precipitation moved off to the east, the amazing raindrop prisms refracted the light into that spectrum of colors we know as a rainbow.  It reminded me of God's promise to Noah.

 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”  Genesis 9:12-15 NIV 

This promise brings great relief from concerns, not only about the earth being destroyed by floods, but also relief from the fear that our individual circumstances will drown us.  We can place our trust in God's promise to not destroy our lives.  Interestingly, you can never see the rainbow without having the storm - we see God's promise to spare us from being completely overwhelmed most clearly when we are in the midst of facing difficulties in life.  God promises not to drown us in sorrows or worries and is there with the greatest life preserver this world has ever seen - Christ Jesus.  Even if this earthly life ends, those with faith in Jesus as their Savior are promised eternal life in heaven with him.

written by Jan Anderesn  

(I took this picture of this bright rainbow with a faint double as I looked down our street during one of our evening showers)

Saturday Devotional...8/25/12...10,000 Reasons...

                                                   ...For my soul to bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, oh my soul,

Oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your holy Name

The sun comes up

It's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass

And whatever lies before me

Let me be singing

When the evening comes.

These are the lyrics to the chorus and first verse of the song called 10,000 REASONS. You can click on the link below to hear the whole song on YouTube. I love this song for its reminder that we have so many reasons to be thankful to the Lord for what we have. The words that really touch my heart are highlighted above. The remind me that no matter what happens during the day I should be singing when the evening comes. No matter what we face during our day there is still reason in God’s goodness to keep on singing to Him of our gratitude and joy in Him.

The song goes on to say that we have reasons to sing because of His goodness, because He is slow to anger and because His heart is kind. And at the end of our time on earth we go to Him and sing His praises for 10,000 years and then forevermore. WOW!!

Sometimes we get mired down in our circumstances and forget all we are as His child and because He loves us. Today I would like to invite you to make a list of at least 10 reasons why you should be singing every night. Don’t stop at 10 if you can think of more reasons. After you have made your list please keep it handy to add new blessings as they become evident to you. Then when you are done for today please click on this link and listen to this wonderful and inciteful song by Matt Redmon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

God bless you with an understanding and awareness

of your own personal 10,000 reasons to "Bless the Lord".

Corinne Mustafa

Friday Devotional...A Grandmother’s Heart...

...ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Hailey, my five year old granddaughter started kindergarten yesterday. Where has the time gone, as it seems like just yesterday my kids were starting their first day of school. As a matter of fact, it seems like it was me that started my first day of school…and now here I am staring at days gone by. Where did the years go, how did time fly-bye so fast!

I woke up yesterday morning thinking about how excited Hailey was going to be starting her first day of kindergarten and the emotions of my daughter as her little girl will begin her journey in life’s school. My heart was happy and sad all at the same time.

I began to pray over Hailey’s life and future when I felt a nudge in my spirit from the Lord to write my little Hailey Bug (my nick name for her)… a short letter in which I could make known my heart to her. Knowing that it wouldn’t make any sense to her now, but some day at the end of her educational years she can look back and see what her “Mimi” had written to her so personally and the significance from her Mimi’s heart that was intended just for her.

August 22, 2012 Wednesday 9:00 a.m.

To My Dear Precious Hailey Bug:

Well honey, this is your first day of school (kindergarten). Mimi wanted to write you a little letter on this day to tell you that I’m thinking about you, love you and have prayed for you that the Lord will have his hand upon you as you grow up and fitinto all your school days ahead.

You are such a smart girl and have ambition to succeed and excel in whatever you put your little hands to. It’s so fun for me to watch you grow up as I see your enthusiasm to learn and inquire.Hailey, you are my first grandchild and you are very special to my heart. I hope you conquer all your quests in life and the road is smooth for you.

Love You With All Of My Heart

Mimi

Written by

Glenna Williamson

Thursday Devotional...Do not let yourself be trapped in the...

 ...PIT

Picture a man who has fallen into what appears to be a deep, dark pit. He is very upset, and could see no way out. He is deep in despair and ready to die, he looks up and sees Jesus standing at the top, on the rim, of his pit. Jesus has been standing there all along, the man only needed to look up. Jesus extends his hand to the man and pulls the man out of the pit…Jesus said, “I have been here all the time, you only needed to look up.

Look back at the pit you just came out of, you thought it was an unsurpassable depth, look again, and you will see it is not deep, you only needed to step up. Your troubles are indeed real, but you have built them up to be much greater than they are, but I hold the key to unlock your bondage and strife, I am your answer, I love you so much…..Who are you depending on today? Yourself or Jesus? Do you want to fight for yourself or do you want almighty God to fight for you?

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear.

Psalm 46

Sue Bower, Redding CA

Wednesday Devotional...Praising God

"Walking, Leaping and Praising God!"

As my husband and I were driving past a park recently, my eyes were immediately drawn to the attention of a very vivacious squirrel! He was scurrying along the ground and every two or three feet he would leap into the air. I had never seen anything quite like it. He continued in this mode for several seconds. It was quite fun to watch this squirrel. My thoughts immediately went to the Bible passage about the lame man in Acts that was healed.

As you may recall in Acts 3:1-10 of a man lame from his mother's womb who was carried and laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. He saw Peter and John about to go into the temple and he asked them for alms. Peter fixed his eyes on the lame man, with John, asking him to look at them. The lame man did as he was asked, expecting to receive something from them. This man was about to get one of the biggest blessings of his life. His life was to be forever changed and because of it many would take notice.

Isn't that just like the character of our God? We have a God who overflows with goodness desiring to bless His people. God's love was so intense for this lame man that he lavished him with His goodness.

As the scripture in Acts 3 goes on to say, Peter said to the lame man, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Then Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and his feet and ankle bones received strength. So the lame man leaping up, entered the temple with them-----walking, leaping, and praising God! And all the people saw him walking, leaping and praising God!

I so love what God did in that passage for that lame man. Can't you just imagine how that lame man felt? He had never walked before and here he was leaping!! Just like that squirrel, he was leaping with great exhilaration and praising His magnificent God who had made him whole!

In His Great Love,
Sandy Billingham
_________________________________________________

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

Acts 3:1-10

"Total Wipe Out"

I will never be able to express my gratitude enough to the Lord for the debt He paid for me. Abundant gratefulness will be forever etched in my heart for the price that was paid on that Cross.

Colossians 2:13-14 says,

"And you being dead in your trespasses, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

When we are united with Christ and made alive with Him, (which is referred to as the new birth), all of our sins are forgiven. Christ fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law as well as the penalty for breaking it on the cross, which explains how he has forgiven us. Christ obliterated the bond against us, with its legal claim, which was opposed to us.

Christ took every conceivable sin of ours and totally removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross once and for all! The real struggle with sin Jesus has already won for us.

Because of the debt that has already been paid, we can each experience a "total wipe out" of our sins as we cry out to Christ for forgiveness and experience great freedom and peace in Him.

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice on that tree for us.

Blessings,

Sandy Billingham

Monday Devotional...Convidence based on...

...TRUST

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways

submit to him, and he will

make your paths straight.

 Proverbs 3:5-6

We don't need to lie in bed or hide in our room, (my cave as my kids called it)and fret over our worries and fears like I did for years. Instead, as we can grip onto the mighty power of God; our trust in Him covers every wondering doubt. God doesn't promise us a bliss-filled life. But He does promise He's in control and all things work together for our good.

The Lord says in Romans 8:28 that no matter what comes our way,

 He has the ultimate ability and power to work it out for good.

In fact, our worries and fears are no big deal to Him—God is more powerful than anything life throws our way. He wants us to come to Him, completely trusting Him with our worries and fears—that He has our best in mind.

Our God is an awesome God indeed!

Written by Terri Baker

"YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT... "

devotional for Sunday 8/19/12

President Obama recently made a statement that angered a lot of American business owners.  He said that "if you've got a business, you didn't build that."  He said it doesn't matter how smart you are or how hard you worked, other people should be able to take some credit for your success because they helped by buying your product or building the roads that lead to your business, or even taught you what you know so that you could be the business owner. This made people recall his desire to spread the wealth - it doesn't matter how hard you worked for your wealth, you should share that with others.

Well, there are always at least two sides to a story.  It is true that we don't do things in isolation and that others help us along the way and collaborate to help us be successful, but it does take someone who is hard working and intelligent to really soar.  Without all those other people, the business would have a very hard time making it.  However, if we don't reward hard work and success, and sit around waiting for someone else to take care of us, then no one will want to work hard and open new businesses that create more jobs, etc, and it will all fall apart.  So either extreme will fail - having no one to help at all, or having no one to start building it.

But there is another part of the picture that has been left out totally.  Where do we get that inner ability to succeed and the resources to build it?  From our genes, from what we have inherited? From our parents, the way we were raised, and our environment around us?  No, it goes even further outside of ourselves, and out of this world:

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.   Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV  

So it is true, "you didn't build that", not totally on your own, not just with the help of others, but you did it with God and all that he gives you. He is the one who provides our earthly resources and our ability to succeed, etc. All that we have, and all that we have made of it is actually thanks to God, which is why we say we "give it back to God" when we use it to build his kingdom.  It all belongs to Him anyway!

written by Jan Andersen

Saturday Devotioal...What makes up...

...Perfect Conditions?

I like cutesy, adorable and charming depictions of life. However, about ten years ago, a note card by Mary Engelbreit gave me a new appreciation for this type of art. “Bloom where you are planted!” (Copy write by ME Inc) started innocently enough as an encouraging phrase with an adorable illustration. But soon it became a mantra in the lives of women around me as they searched out the deeper meaning this phrase had for their lives.

 

“Bloom where you are planted.”

To the woman who never lived in the same area for more than a few years it meant ‘get involved here and now’. To the one who lived in a small home with growing children it meant ‘make the most of what you have.’ To the single woman it meant ‘stop waiting for marriage to start living life fully.’ To the woman who wondered why she got married it meant ‘stop thinking about what might have been and love the one you’re with.’

A root meaning of Mary Engelbreit’s phrase might be to stop waiting. I have to make a constant effort to stop waiting for ________. Whether it’s when the baby sleeps through the night, when the kids are out of diapers, when I lose 10 pounds, when we have more money, when the car is paid off…..THEN I will do ________. Even now I force myself to schedule fun things in the midst of life - otherwise I would just keep on making lists and working on lists and completing lists and making new lists.

The word “bloom” suggests that rather than just getting through this season in our lives, we should stop, turn our faces to the Son of Righteousness and let His love warm our faces and fill our hearts with His peace. Only by opening our hearts up to Him in every circumstance will we be able to receive His love and comfort and then share it with others in similar situations.

 “This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24  (NIV)

 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 5:4-5(MSG)

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Friday Devotional...Believe Ye That I Am Able?

 Let Your Eyes Be Opened

It still amazes me how the Lord speaks to us, directs us and leads us. I had a thought in my mind all week about what I was going to write for my weekly devotional….the thought of “Eyes” kept coming to mind.

I opened my big family Bible that I usually don’t use, but today I thought I would look through it… thinking that I’d look through the concordance to search out scriptures regarding eyes. I thought to myself “There must be hundreds of scriptures referring to eyes, this may take a lot of time to seek out all the scriptures to that reference.” But that word was persistent to my thoughts.

When I opened my Bible, there in the middle of it was a “Get Well” card that I had saved from last year (September 25, 2011) from when I had been very sick with bronchitis. This home made “Get Well” card was signed by at least twenty Christian brothers from Soledad State Prison to whom had been praying for my health and recovery. I have been involved in prison ministry for many years and know that there are sincere Forgiven Christian Men who love the Lord ….serve and believe in Jesus with all their might and to the best of their ability.

I started reading all the special notes of the “Get Well Soon” wishes and messages from all these Brothers >>>> when one caught my eye. It was from a brother named Freddie. He wrote out the scripture from  Matthew 9: 28 – 29 which says:

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?

They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying,

According to your faith be it unto you.

Need I say any more….There it was! The scripture that I was to share … “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Thank you Freddie for sharing the word of faith and may this word be alive to you and come back to you again today.

Thank God that our eyes have been opened as He has given us Salvation and Faith to believe that all things are possible with God.

Written by: Glenna Williamson