April Fools...Tuesday

Today is April 1^st, also known as April Fool’s Day. 

In 1708, a correspondent wrote to the British Apollo magazine asking, "Whence proceeds the custom of making April Fools?" Many people today still ask this same question. There are different theories on the origin of April Fool’s Day. The most common theory involves a French calendar reform that took place in the sixteenth century.

According to legend, “in 1564 France reformed its calendar, moving the start of the year from the end of March to January 1. Those who failed to keep up with the change, who stubbornly clung to the old calendar system and continued to celebrate the New Year during the week that fell between March 25th and April 1st, had jokes played on them. Pranksters would surreptitiously stick paper fish to their backs. The victims of this prank were thus called Poisson d'Avril, or April Fish -- which, to this day, remains the French term for April Fools -- and so the tradition was born”.

On April Fool’s Day we tend to find pranks played on those who least expect it amusing, unless we are the targeted fool!

What exactly is a fool? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a fool is a person lacking in judgment or prudence, a harmlessly deranged person, or one lacking in common powers of understanding.

What does the Bible have to say about fools?

Proverbs 18:2 explains,
 “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.”

Proverbs 18:6 reads, 

“A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9 warns, 

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, 

for anger lodges in the bosom of fools”.

Matthew 5:22 reveals, 

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother
will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’
will be liable to the hell of fire”.

On this day, April Fool’s Day, let us spend some time examining ourselves. Do we act like a fool at times? Do we call other people fools? Are we opinionated? Do we speak before we think? What about our temper, do we easily become angered? I pray that when someone attempts to pull a prank on us today that we can honestly turn to that person and say, “I am not a fool according to the word of God”, even if we do fall for the prank.

Lord, 

Help us examining ourselves according to your Word, not according to our own standards or those around us. Let us be willing to make changes where needed. You gave us two ears and only one mouth so that we listen twice as much as we speak. May we learn how to think before we talk and to pay attention to what people have to say before voicing our own opinion.  Let us take pleasure in understanding Your ways and may we see others as You see them. 

Amen. 

Written by

Storm H.

Today's song is "Give Me Wisdom" sung by Micah Blake

My Push to Persevere...Monday

I almost laughed out loud when I read this quote by a famous Christian author:

   "We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

― C. S. Lewis


I was laughing at that last part, I have to turn around and head back to the right path almost every single day. Wow, I must be very progressive! Whether it's in my thought-life (often), my attitude (usually), or my focus (frequently), I catch myself heading down the wrong path, sigh inwardly, and thank God for showing me where I was headed, as I turn myself around.

In spite of my tendency to wander off the path, I want to grow in my faith and trust in God. I want to face each day and each challenge with confidence that God knows what He is doing.

Yet, sometimes it feels too hard; I am too tired; I wonder if anything I do will make any difference. Then someone will ask me how I am doing, expecting to hear a good report. God uses their concern to remind me that I am worth it. I am worth pushing through any resistance inside of myself to do what is best for me.

Dear friends,

God the Father chose you long ago

 and knew you would become his children.

And the Holy Spirit has been at work in your hearts,

cleansing you with the blood of Jesus Christ

and making you to please him.

May God bless you richly and grant you

increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear.

1 Peter 1:2 TLB

Thank You, Lord, for giving me increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear. Thank You for washing me with the blood of Jesus Christ and patiently leading me to Your paths of righteousness. Please help all of us who are tired, to keep pushing through to the good plans You have for us. In Jesus name, amen.

For I know the thoughts and plans

that I have for you, says the Lord,

thoughts and plans for welfare and peace

and not for evil,

to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11 AMP

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Today's song is sung by Calling Glory..."Don't Give Up"

TEACH US TO PRAY... Sunday

Devotional for 3/30/14

Jesus gives us many good examples of prayer.  He was able to see when he needed to pray and that sometimes he needed to do so in lonely and solitary places: 

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16 NIV 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Mark 1:35 NIV 

When he was about to be arrested and crucified, he again withdrew from even his disciples in sorrow and anguish to pray: 

  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will"   Matthew 26:36-39  NIV 

Jesus then repeated this 2 more times, always ending with acknowledging that the result ultimately would be the Father's will, not his own.  It is also acceptable for us to ask for something that we may not receive, as long as the prayer is in faith and honesty and without improper motives.  His prayer also shows us that it is not wrong for us to be sorrowful and troubled - it is a normal part of life even for a Christian.  And when we are in that state, we can come to God in prayer: 

 "LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.  May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry."  Psalm 88:1-2 NIV 

Even in our darkest hour we can come before God in prayer, acknowledging that He is the one who saves us and gives us eternal life in heaven.  We can cry out to him and pour out our troubles to him, asking that he listen to our requests for help and comfort.  He will be there listening and will answer even if the answer is "no", or "not yet", or "later".  An answered prayer does not always mean He answered yes. God always answers our prayers when they are prayed with a faithful heart and in the name of Jesus.  He answers not because of anything we have done but because of what  Jesus did to save us through his death and resurrection. 

Thank you, Lord, for always being there for me, for always listening, and for answering in the way that is best - according to your will.  In Jesus' name,  Amen.

written by 
Jan Andersen

Today's song is sung by Nicole C. Mullen "Call On Jesus"

HEART'S DESIRE...Saturday

3/29/14

"You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart." 

~Jeremiah 29:13~

     What is the desire of your hear?  Do you want to be famous like some Hollywood star?  An outstanding athlete whom everyone recognizes?  Rich beyond measure?

     

     All of the above are goals which, even after they are attained, are temporary and fleeting.  Life goes by very quickly.  We get older every day we get out of bed.  Unexpected and unpleasant things happen to all of us.

    

     Jesus wants to be your heart's desire.  He wants to be the one you look for and look to for everything in life.  He wants to fill your life with His amazing presence now.  He wants to walk with you every minute of every day. He wants to provide for all of your needs and desires.  He wants to bring you safely to your eternal home which He has prepared for you.

     

     How do you find Jesus?  Open His Word and seek Him.  Pray continually and find Him waiting for you.  Make Jesus your heart's desire.

Written by

Carol Steficek

Today's song is sung by Kim Walker Smith..."You Are My Heart's Desire

Be Still...Friday

March 28, 2014 

In my reading of “Jesus Calling” today, the following was the first sentence, “Be still in my presence even though countless tasks clamor for your attention.”  I read that as I sat down to wait to be called at the Urgent Care Center. I stopped by there to see a doctor due to having an anxiety attack; funny, huh?  Boy, did I need to read that!   The next line is, “Nothing is as important as spending time with me”.

I am an office manager at a tax office.  This is my ninth tax season and I have never had an anxiety attack…..very stressed yes, very angry, hurt and crying spells yes, but, never to the point of a true panic/anxiety meltdown.  I know that I have been spread very thin, as is the norm for this season of each year.  At the beginning of this tax season I had told myself that I was not going to put the rest of my life on hold this year, as I normally do, and forget to pay bills, etc.   However, what I have neglected this tax season is the most important of all.  My loving and faithful God!   I have not made Him a priority.  I have told myself that I was still keeping Him in my life, as I was doing my service at church, but, the reality is that I was not keeping my commitment to my quiet time, my reading and my stillness of listening for the oh so wonderful voice of my precious Father helping me through the long hours. Also I have not been allowing Him to carry me through the murky unpleasantness of tax preparation that unfortunately has to be done whilst on this earth.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—

His good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2

(NIV)

I have let my little mind be so cluttered up with the pleasing of all the clients, making my job such a priority, which yes, of course it needs to be, but, I got to the point of being diseased by the stress of wanting to be perfect without looking to the only perfect source for assistance.  I had to get in a state of illness to be put in my spot and reminded that He is always there, just waiting for me to look up.  My afternoon was so much better after being still and listening for my “Jesus Calling”.

Written by

Kelly Dobyns

The song for today is My God sung by Jeremy Camp

"Blessings"...Thursday

3/27/14

You are blessed in your home. 

( Every promise that God has put in your heart for your family get ready to receive.)

You are blessed in your work place. 

( You have the favor of God and man going before you in your job.  Get ready to be elevated to a higher level.)

You are blessed in your body. 

(No sickness nor disease can touch you.  YOU ARE the healed of the Lord.)

You are blessed in your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer.

(You lack NO GOOD THING.)

You are blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.  

(God is setting up divine appointments for you.  The goodness of God will chase you down.)

Blessed are your bank accounts.  

( Yes I said bank accounts.)

Blessed are what you put your hands to do. 

 (Yes what ever you have put your hands to do it will prosper.)

Blessed are you at what ever the Lord has put you to do.  

( With God on your side how can you fail?  YOU CAN'T!!!!)

Family of the living God we are always the head 

and not the tail, always the top dog never the bottom dog.  

We are blessed in all that we do.

Glory to the Living God!!!

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
MSG

If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:

God’s blessing inside the city,
God’s blessing in the country;
God’s blessing on your children,
    the crops of your land,
    the young of your livestock,
    the calves of your herds,
    the lambs of your flocks.
God’s blessing on your basket and bread bowl;
God’s blessing in your coming in,
God’s blessing in your going out.

 God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They’ll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.

 God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he’ll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you.

 All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe.

God will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that God promised your ancestors that he would give you. God will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan. God will make you the head, not the tail; you’ll always be the top dog, never the bottom dog, as you obediently listen to and diligently keep the commands of God, your God, that I am commanding you today. Don’t swerve an inch to the right or left from the words that I command you today by going off following and worshiping other gods.

Written by 

Kathryn Hanson

Song for today is I Am Blessed"

"

"Fullness Of Joy"...Wednesday

3/26/14 

As I entered the check-out line at the grocery store the clerk asked me how I was doing. I answered her with great charisma... "I am doing fantastic!" She was rather surprised that I would answer in that capacity. She responded back, "Rarely do I hear people say what you say." I responded back, "Before I even get out of bed every day, I declare good things for the day."

You see as Christians we have the right each and every day to have a good day! Yes, we have problems.. and yes days can be tough for us.. but we have the Lord on our side. He is always with us every moment of the day. So in that we can be thankful and joyful!

 

His Word tells us in Philippians 4:4... 

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!"
(New Living Translation)

That word always means exactly what it says, and that is always we are to be and can be full of the joy in the Lord. Why?? Because the Lord tells us to and that is one of the perks in being a daughter of the King. We may not feel it at the time... but as we put our focus strong on the Lord and rejoice in all that He has done... He will fill us with His joy because that is who He is. That is His character.

So no matter how miserable of a day you may be experiencing.. I want to exhort you to press in to rejoicing in the Lord continuously and that joy will break through. It is yours for the taking! So REJOICE!!!!

In His All Surpassing Joy! 

Sandy Billingham

People Get Ready...Tuesday

3/25/14

Spring is officially here. In some parts of the U.S buds have begun forming on the trees and in other parts flowers are already in bloom. Although snow and cold temperatures still plague the Northeast, signs of spring can be seen. A flock of geese found a patch of dry, brown grass in a nearby field. Eagles are nestled on eggs high in the trees and icicles no longer hang from roof tops. Yes, spring is here and very much welcomed.

Just as the different seasons let us know when they have arrived, God also gives us signs so that we may know when we are living in the last days. A time before an important event, known as the rapture.

   

2 Timothy 3:1-5 reads, 

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure  rather than lovers of God, 

having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Matthew 24:7 reveals,
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,
and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”

All we have to do is watch the evening news or read the front page of a newspaper and we can know that these signs are upon us. One day we will be caught up to meet our glorious Savior in the clouds. 

2 Thessalonians 4:16-18 proclaims,
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,
and so we will always be with the Lord.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

 So, we should comfort each other. Even though this world seems like it is falling apart and evil has taken over, we can rest assured that our Creator has a plan. There comes a time when God Himself says, “enough is enough” and He will take us home. However, no man knows the day or hour when this event will take place, not even God’s son. Therefore, we must be ready like the watchman in the night, like the five virgins who made sure their lamps were full of oil. 

The parable of the ten virgins, five foolish and five wise, 

can be found in Matthew 25:1-13. 

The five wise virgins were ready when the Bridegroom came. 

The Bridegroom represents Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 24:42 warns,
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Let us continue the work God has laid out before us, but stay awake and always be ready for when we are called home.

 When we know company is coming we take steps to prepare our homes. We clean, make sure fresh linens are on the bed, and everyone is on their best behavior. May we each be certain our house is in order for when the Bridegroom comes. Lord, help us be ready for that great and marvelous day. 

Written by 

Storm H.

Today's song is "People Get Ready" sung by Crystal Lewis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could not get my comment to publish so I am adding it here.

God is exercising patience because it is His desire that no may perish but have eternal life. Someday this patience will reach its limit. Thank you for pointing out this out to us.

God bless... Corinne Mustafa

My Struggle to Share...Monday

3/24/14

In the popular BBC series Downton Abby, the young man Branson is overwhelmed with a burden of guilt for something that he did. When his sister-in-law, Mary, asks him what is troubling him, he responds, "If I told you, you'd never speak to me again." Having worked through her own dark secrets, she understands his hesitation, but she concludes by encouraging him to "Talk to someone you can tell."

I am a perfect example of how easy it is for any of us to carry burdens within that are heavy and need prayer. I have known for 5 years that my body wasn't well. Yet I didn't share because I knew other's had struggles, I didn't want to bother the group, I was afraid of having a fuss made, I thought I was handling it just fine, I was afraid talking about it would make it worse in me emotionally and mentally.

It turns out all of these things are wrong. They are white-washed lies. A white-washed lie is a LIE that has a coat of white paint washed over it, to give it an appearance of truth. A lie may have a sound of sense and reason to it, but it is only successful at encouraging isolation. We are not made to be alone.

When God showed me a few weeks ago that I had withdrawn and was keeping others at arm's length, I was a little surprised. As my isolation had increased I had explained it away as busy schedules and busy lives. He didn't tell me I needed to share with others in order for me to be free from isolation. He had me share with others to provide accountability to me! If people around me didn't know what was going on - no one could check on how my thinking was going. How my prayer life was holding up?  Letting other's in on my struggle has provided a bridge of communication, which has created accountability.



Please open up and let others be your support group. Let us love on and pray over you. Give us the privilege of standing with you in prayer as you walk the path God has for you. We will not judge you. There is nothing you have done that is new under the sun. But it doesn't matter, because we are sister's in Christ, and we love you and accept you just the way you are. Do not struggle on alone - be brave - and share.

Share each other's burdens,
and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 NLT

Dear Father, You alone know each of our hearts and every one of our struggles. Please help each of us to know with whom we should share, and to humble ourselves and ask for prayer. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Laura Story performs: "I Can Just Be Me"