A Friendship Worth Keeping

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

”Philippians 1:3 (NLB)

When Paul wrote the above verse to the people in Philippi, his heart was full of joy. The people to whom he was writing held a very special place in his heart. Together they had shared the Good News of the Gospel along with the blessings of God. He loved these people very deeply and he wanted them to continue to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord. He wanted their lives to be filled with the fruit of their salvation in order for them to bring glory and praise to God.

Paul shared his life and his heart with these people. He told them of the hard times that he had gone through, and how God had used those circumstances for the greater spread of the Gospel. He shared with them the confidence that he had in God, and how excited and determined he was to continue to serve Him with all that he was, and all that he could be. He encouraged, admonished and taught them in all honesty and sincerity… always wanting, hoping and praying for God to work out His best in and through each one of their lives.

Today I met to pray with some friends like that. They are perhaps the greatest gift (besides my own family), that the Lord has ever given to me. They are steadfast in their love for me, and their motives towards me are pure. They recognize and acknowledge the special gifts that God has placed inside of me. They support those places in prayer, and they cover me in my weaknesses. They know just about all there is to know… and they love me nevertheless. They are friends like Paul. They want my life to be filled with the fruit of my salvation and for that fruit to be used to bring glory and praise to God. I believe they know and understand that I want the same for them.

What about you? Do you have those kinds of friends in your own life? What about becoming that type of friend to someone else? We all need friends who not only love and support us, but those who also really know us. When God made us, He made us in His own image. I believe that proves that we were not only made to know others, but we were also made to “become known” ourselves. This means that we must take a risk and become vulnerable to each other. I know that as for me, this “reward” far outweighs the risk… how about you?

Beverley A. Napier
September 29, 2011

God’s Direction in Circumstances

“How do I know if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing?” “If I only knew for sure what God’s will is, I would do it!””What is my purpose in life?”

I have spent many years asking myself these and other similar questions. Maybe you’ve wondered, too.

These are questions that can’t be answered quickly or easily. We must seek wise Godly counsel and take time to pray and wait for wisdom from God. But there is also an amazing amount of direction, God’s direction, to be found by determining what the “right” thing to do is in my circumstance.

The first thing to do is assess the situation. Certain scenarios come hand in hand with certain responsibilities and duties.

Am I married? God’s will is that I am faithful and choose to love and care about my husband.

Am I single? God’s will is that I keep my body pure by avoiding sleeping with a boyfriend.

Am I an employee? God’s will is that I am honest and reliable.

Am I an employer? God’s will is that I am fair and just with my clients and employees.

Am I unemployed? God’s will is that I face this head on; searching for work as if the search is my full-time job.

Am I a stay at home wife? God’s will is for me to be a good steward (take care of) of my home.

Am I a stay at home mom? God’s will is for me to be a diligent caretaker and nurturer of my children.

No matter how different our situations may be, as sisters in Christ, we share a similar list of obligations: truthfulness, not revealing confidences, kindness, following through on a project, doing what we say, keeping our promises, etc.

 A new commandment I give to you,

that you love one another, even as I have loved you,

that you also love one another.

John 13:34 (NASB)

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly/undisciplined,

encourage the fainthearted, help the weak,

be patient with everyone.

See that no one repays another with evil for evil,

but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

I Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NASB)

Thank You, Lord, for direction in my life. I won’t pretend this is easy. But I am grateful You are with me. I know I can do all things through You who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13). In Jesus name, amen.


Written by Mary M. Wilkins

"Walking On Water"

I was just thinking what a thrill Peter must have felt when he was walking on water as He saw Jesus had. In Matthew 14:28-29 it says,"And Peter answered Him and said "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Peter's faith was in high gear at that moment Jesus said "Come." He just knew that if Jesus commanded him to come to him on the water, that he was able to accomplish that. Peter took that step of faith and confidently walked on the water. This had to have been one of the best moments in his life.

Then the unfortunate happened. As the scriptures portray that the wind became boisterous, Peter became afraid and he began to sink. When the winds were blowing wildly, Peter took His eyes off of Jesus and he began to operate in fear.

I began to think how many times I have confidently and boldly walked with Christ with great faith and victory, until the storms of life began to swirl. When the storms come at me full force, I am saddened to say how quickly at times I take my eyes off of Jesus and my faith begins to dwindle and fear begins to settle in.

In Matthew 14:31B, Jesus says "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" You see the Lord desires His people to grab hold of His promises and never let go. He calls us to stand firm in Him and His word and fix our eyes upon Him continuously, no matter what we face.

I'm challenged today to ask the Lord to fill me with huge faith and not doubt, but to believe I can do what He has called me to do when he tells me to "Come."

Will you join me in that challenge today?

Blessings,

Sandy Billingham

Always pray and never stop

Prayceasing. without  

1 Thessalonians 5:17

God instructs us to pray without ceasing , I believe it is an honor to pray for others , so here is a prayer for you all .

Keep us, oh God, from pettiness;

Let us be large in thought , in work , in deed

Let us be done with fault finding and leave off self seeking .

May we put away all pretense, and meet each other face to face

without self pity, and without prejudice .

May we never be hasty in judgement and always generous .

Let us take time for all things;

Make us grow calm , serene, and gentle.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses,

straight forward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize it is the little things

that create bitterness, and that in the big things of life we are as one.

And may we strive to touch and to know the great human heart of us all ,

and oh Lord God, let us forget not to be kind.

In Thy precious name I pray.

Amen.

submitted by Annie

Do Not Place Your Hands In Your Lap

“I lift my hands to believe again,

YOU are my refuge, YOU are my strength.”

-Chris Tomlin

A few weeks ago, my 14 year old daughter was in the hospital. She was there for three days. As a mother, it was very difficult to sit and watch my daughter feel so weak and afraid. We had no idea why she was so sick. She ended up receiving 4 units of blood and her blood level would decrease even after receiving the transfusions.

I look back and I can say that God used that circumstance to work something in me. I wanted to worry, I wanted to fear, but God would not allow me to. As we were sitting there waiting for blood results, we looked at each other as my daughter was crying and I said, “We are not going to give the enemy and what he wants; we are going to believe and know that God is going to heal you. My daughter grabbed her iPod touch and played the song, “I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin. We started to sing out loud, and we repeatedly kept singing it. As we were singing, I felt this sense of strength that was coming over me. God is our refuge, He is our strength. We have to lift our hands and give all the glory to Him.

Even when we are sitting in a hospital room seeing our child sick, we have to lift our hands to give Him all the glory. Even when we have marriage problems, we have to lift our hands and give Him all the glory. Even when we are down to our last dollar, we have to lift our hands and give Him all the glory. Even when we are laid off from work and barely have food to eat we have to lift our hands and give Him all the glory. WHY??? Because He is God and He will never leave us nor forsake us! That is one of HIS many promises. You don’t tell God how big your circumstances are, you tell your circumstances how big our God is.

Like I said before, I look back and see how God used my daughter’s sickness to work something in me. He will use whatever it takes to work something in you. My sister, don’t give up, do not get weary, do not give into fear, because the Creator of the Earth has you in the palm of His hands.

Instead of placing your hands in your lap and giving up

LIFT YOUR HANDS AND GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY!!

Written by Liz Chavez

FAITH IN THE STORMS

Devotional for Sunday, 10-02-11

... the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:24-33 NIV

Jesus fearlessly walks on the stormy waters. Peter trustingly walks on water when he keeps his focus on Jesus. But when his focus changes to the turmoil around him, he sinks. We make life more difficult when we lose our focus on the One who saves, and we may feel as if we are drowning. When Jesus says "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" it stings - we may think, "How can we NOT be afraid or doubt in times of affliction?" But little or great, faith as tiny as a mustard seed saves. Even in his time of immense distress, Peter cried out to Jesus to save him. We can also continue to turn to God for help, no matter how impossible a situation may appear.

Through the storms of life, keep your eyes on Jesus. Try not to focus on the difficulties of this life, because it only makes them larger and more unbearable. Jesus is always looking over us and pulling us up, holding us in his arms. May we ever look ahead to the glories of life everlasting in heaven with Him!

written by Jan Andersen

(I took the picture of the sunrise shining up on the underside of the storm clouds in Phoenix from my car!)

The Savior of the World

When Jesus met up with the Samaritan woman, He knew exactly who would be at that well, exactly what kind of person she was, exactly what her misconceptions were, and yet He also knew that there was something in her that would believe in Him and that’s all that mattered.

We get a peek into the tension between the pure Jews and the mixed race of the Samaritans when we read the account of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the gospel of John.  Jesus approached her alone, without His disciples because they would not understand what He was about to do with her.  He asked her for some water since she was already at the well with her jar in hand to draw.  Immediately, she argued with Him.  That’s OK, He knew that she would.  No doubt with bitterness and sarcasm, she asked why in the world He, a Jew, was asking her, a Samaritan, for water.  It’s even implied that the Jews would not even drink from the same vessel as Samaritans. 

The Samaritans had Jewish heritage, but were they a pure race?  When the divided nation of Israel was taken captive hundreds of years earlier, Assyria, who took the northern part captive, sent their people to the land to occupy it.  These foreign people quite possibly intermarried with the Jews who were left in the land creating a mixed race.  Those of the southern kingdom were allowed to return to their land 70 years later.  They called these people foreigners, but these people called themselves true Jews.  Since then much hatred had developed between the two people groups.

This particular Samaritan woman had likely been the victim of plenty of racism, so she automatically scoffed at Jesus’ request.  He then mentions to her living water that He offers, knowing full well that it would stir the pot even more.  Naturally she got defensive speaking about the sacredness of the well she was drawing from and mocking His offer since He was the one without a jar as if He had some nerve speaking of Himself so high and mighty. 

Still, He continues to explain more about this living water intriguing her to the point of heightened curiosity.  So, she asks for some.  But before He reveals exactly who He is, He rattles her chain a little by telling her things about herself…sinful things about herself that this Man could not have known.  Yet, she kept her cool and drew the conclusion that He must be a prophet, and since He was willing to engage in conversation with not only a Samaritan, but a woman who is sinful and speaks boldly to men, she felt confident enough to speak controversy. 

So, here we learn of at least one misconception.  She’s been led to believe all her years, as no doubt most of her people had, that their place of worship (which happened to be on the mountain the two were standing on) was the right place of worship, but the Jews say it must be in Jerusalem.  Well, she was wrong, and Jesus told her point blank that they don’t know what they’re doing when they worship on that mountain, but the Jews who worship in Jerusalem are right in doing so.  However, it was beside the point, because He threw her for a loop when He told her that a time was coming quickly when the true worshippers would worship in spirit and truth, not on a mountain or in a city. 

Now, I can just see her at this point saying, “That’s what I thought…You’re no different than the rest of them…why should I even bother talking to You anyway….when Messiah comes, He’ll clear it all up….”  The next thing she knows, Jesus opens her eyes to who He really is…He tells her that He is that very One, the Messiah.  Just then the disciples walk up and she puts all the pieces together running to tell her people what had just happened.  They must have heard about this man.  They ran out to see Him, already believing because of what the woman told them.  Jesus decides to stay with them in their city for a couple of days.  And, yes, they all believed. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about who God really is not only between different religions, but also in different areas of the body of Christ.  When Jesus comes to you right where you are revealing who He is, showing you His love regardless of your sinful background, the hatred in your heart, and your misconceptions about the truth…believe…just believe.  He’ll meet you exactly where you are and if you believe, He’ll accept you, love you and forgive you.  He’ll be your Savior because He is the Savior of the world.

They said to the woman,

“We no longer believe just
because of what you said;

now we have heard for ourselves,

and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

John 4:42

Amie Spruiell 10/01/2011