Monday Devotional...11/14/11

At The Sound Of Your Great Name!

“Every fear has no place at the sound of Your Great Name”

Natalie Grant

As I heard this powerful song, I asked myself do we as believers in Christ know the power that is in His name. When we are facing fears, worries, trials, and decisions, do we call out His powerful name? Do we understand that when we call out His name, a peace that surpasses all understanding comes in and takes care of us? I don’t quite know why this song stands out to me. Could it be because I have faced many fears of my own and it was Him who took them from me? It was Him that came and said, “Liz, give me all of your fears once and for all!” I know that I had to witness my own daughter surrender her fears to Him. She had to learn the power of His name. It wasn’t something I could tell her about; she had to search for that on her own. Whether we say Jesus, Lord, All Mighty, we are calling for His power to come over us. When you read in scripture about the power of His name, you know He came to show His power. People came to salvation through His power, people were healed through His power, and demons were casted out through His power. He wants us to walk in His power, He wants us to walk in freedom through His power, and He wants us to heal through His power. I hope and pray that the next time you are facing fear, doubt, trials, or something that is weighing you down; you look up and call out His Great Name! He is waiting on you! He wants you to experience His power. Take a step and see and experience the power of His great name!

Written by Liz Chavez

Here is a link to click on to listen to this song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuuLBPOYcI8

BLESSINGS (for Sunday, 11/13/11)

What do you count as your blessings from God? - children? family? friends? home? job? When we ask God to bless us, we usually think of things like good health, prosperity, relief from problems. etc. Do we also consider storms a blessing? Perhaps we would if we lived in a drought-stricken area engulfed in flames if that storm promised lots of quenching rain.

While we would never pray for adversity, our difficulties can also become blessings. We may undergo unbelievable problems or pain, but once on the other side may become something we see as having made us stronger and may allow us to minister to others. Think of Paul and Silas, locked up in prison, yet praying and singing to God and ending up witnessing to other prisoners and the jailer, who became a believer along with his whole family.

There is a young woman named Gianna Jessen that is a great example of this. Gianna should not be alive, and even having lived she should not be able to walk and talk let alone run and sing. She was in her mother's womb when her mother decided to abort her. Chemicals were used to cause the abortion, burning Gianna and causing Cerebral Palsy. She survived, and now has a most powerful witness to share, and share it she does! She states that having CP is a blessing. Mother Teresa even said, "God is using Gianna to remind the world that each human being is precious to Him."

There is a song called "Blessings" sung by Laura Story that says it so well:

We pray for blessings; We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

CHORUS:
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom; Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

(CHORUS)

When friends betray us; When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

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

by Jan Andersen

Saturday Devotional...11/12

Amie Srpuiell usually writes our Saturday devotional. This weekend she is away in Nevada at a women's ministry meeting where she is performing her original play called A SISTER'S CHOICE. It portrays the story of Mary and Martha from Mary's perspective. I am posting a devotional about the famous sisters in honor of Amie's ministry. You can read more about Amie and contact her for bookings at her website  amiespruiellministries.com.

               Corinne Mustafa

                                                   

                                                           Mary and Martha

The Bible Story of Mary and Martha is perhaps one of the most familiar for women. It’s easy to identify with Martha and much harder to keep close to the Lord Jesus like Mary. To work for the Lord is good or nothing would be accomplished, but not at the sacrifice of a deep love for God. When thinking of Mary and Martha, we see that Mary took time to show her love for the Lord. Let’s take a look at some of the things Jesus said about love.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor

and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,

bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and

pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

 Matthew 5:43-44

There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.

One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

And when they had nothing with which to repay,

 he freely forgave them both.

 Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?

Luke 7:41-42

I do not receive honor from men. But I know you,

that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come

in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me;

if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another,

 and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

John 5:41-44

By this all will know that you are My disciples,

if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

If you love Me, keep My commandments. . . If anyone loves Me,

he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,

and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

He who does not love Me does not keep My words;

 and the word which you hear is not Mine

but the Father’s who sent Me.

John 14:15 and 23-24

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; a

bide in My love. . . This is My commandment, t

hat you love one another as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one’s life

for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever

I command you. No longer do I call you servants,

for a servant does not know what his master is doing;

 but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard

from My Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you

that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit

should remain, that whatever you ask the Father

in My name He may give you. These things I command you,

 that you love one another.

John 15:9 and 12-17.

I think one of the reasons Christ spoke to Mary and Martha as He did is because at one time or another we are all like Martha. Isn’t it true that life is so busy it’s hard to take a few minutes out of the day just to sit at Jesus’ feet? Considering all of the verses above it becomes pretty apparent that love is more than just an ooy gooy feeling deep inside us. Christ often equated love, that is love for Him, with keeping His word and His commandments. Yet, how can we keep His word and His commandments when we do not have any time in our life to learn them, ponder them, and apply them to our lives.

Mary and Martha teach us that loving God isn’t really a showy sort of thing, is it? It takes time and effort to break away from our busy life just to praise and worship Christ. How much do we love Him? Do we truly understand the price He had to pay just because of each one of us? Who will love Christ more; the one who was forgiven little, or forgiven much?

Let us learn from the Bible Story of Mary and Martha. Take time each day to just sit and ponder your love for God; think of it as a necessity because it truly is! Satan is there to devour you at every step of the way, or at least to make your service to God of no effect.

I Will Praise Thee

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139: 14

Have you ever given thought to how unique and how wonderful we as humans are? God has made each and every one of us as a distinct individual. Although God chose to create only two species (Male and Female) yet each of us as separate persons are as different as night and day. Every one of us has a unique genetic code for our DNA make up (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid). We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Our make up can be compared to the individuality of a snowflake. Every snowflake has its own unique shape and is different than all other snowflakes. However being that all snowflakes have six sides, all snowflakes aren’t always white. Sometimes dust and colored particles from such as factories and earths elements can get into the atmosphere which are absorbed by the clouds thus making snowflakes different shades and colors. Just like we have DNA makeup, snowflakes are made up of ice crystals.

Another example in the uniqueness of us creatures is that of our fingerprints. A fingerprint is one of the most interesting and exceptional features of the human body. The singleness of fingerprints is extraordinary to consider that the possibility’s that two persons will have the same print is next to impossible. Therefore, the fingerprints that you have are entirely yours. They represent your identity as a person. That is what makes you so special. How Cool Is That!



So…the next time you say or think “I’m too Tall, I’m too short, I’m too skinny, I’m too fat or I wish I was of a different nationality” just remember, no matter what color you are, no matter what your size may be >>> Just know that God created us all in his image. And in his sight we are fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well.

Written by: Glenna Williamson



Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due

I had the opportunity to ask a Veteran how he will honor our national holiday, Veteran’s Day, on November 11. “I fly the flag and this year I am making a visit to a VA Hospital to personally say thank you to some of the patients. As a nation, we don’t love our Veterans. All I have to do is think back to how the military men and women who came home from Vietnam were treated. They were spit upon, booed and despised. We need to show our appreciation all year long. Every time I see an active duty soldier I shake their hand, look them in the eye, and say thank you.”

It feels a little awkward to me to say thank you when I see a stranger in their military uniform. I want to speak to them but I worry that they’ll think I am weird. (Proof that some parts of high school insecurity are with me yet!) Thanks to the efforts of many groups, it has become easier than ever to show our thanks and support to American troops. The USO, Blue Star Moms, Adopt a US Soldier, are just a few organizations making it possible for us to show our appreciation not just on Veteran’s Day but all year long. I typed “show USA troops your support” in a search engine and found a long list of groups doing their part to help those of us at home connect with active duty personnel. There is even a new Facebook page where we can leave appreciate messages for the troops in harm’s way.

A few years ago, I watched 200 soldiers graduate from a boot camp. We all applauded their success, but only half of them had someone in the stands taking pictures and smiling for them. During my son’s deployment, as I filled a care package, I thought about the soldiers who for one reason or another don’t have someone here at home sending them a box of goodies. Reminders which show that someone cares about them and thanks them for choosing to serve our country by doing what is asked of them. So I doubled up on sunscreen, toothbrushes and other sundry items and tripled the candy supply for my son to share.

I don’t like war and I wish there could be world peace. But since there will always be someone who wants what doesn’t belong to them and who would abuse and misuse nations we will always need a dedicated group of individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect our country, defend the defenseless, and help those in trouble all over the world.

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.

 See that you are not frightened,

for those things must take place,

but that is not yet the end.

Matthew 24:6

(NASB)

Render to all men

their dues.

[Pay] taxes to whom

taxes are due,

 revenue to whom

revenue is due,

respect to whom

respect is due,

 and honor to whom

 honor is due..

Dear Lord, please help me to remember to pray for and honor those who would die for this nation and therefore me. It is easy for me to forget there are some who would take over this country if they could. Please protect all those who are in harm’s way. Give them wisdom, alertness and insight before each step. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

http://www.facebook.com/USMilitary 

"Your Faith Has Made You Whole"

I am so very blessed to be a daughter of the Most High God. He has given me so much and I couldn't ask for a better Heavenly Father. There is a continuous flow of His blessings coming down from heaven.

I was recently so very moved regarding the Bible story about the woman that touched the hem of Jesus's garment. The scriptures are from Matthew 5:20-22. This woman had a of blood issue for twelve years. She spent everything she had on doctors to be free of this problem but to no avail. Because of her sickness she was isolated from the commuity. She was rejected by many as well as condemned. She was one desperate woman.

After struggling for so long, she finally came up with a solution that she was determined and confident would be successful. She just knew in her heart that if only she could touch the hem of Jesus's garment, that He would heal her completely. She took that step of faith one day, fighting through the throngs of people. She was not going to let anyone or anything stop her. After what seemed forever she finally reached within inches of the Lord. With every ounce that she could muster, she reached out and touched the hem of His garment. At that precise moment, Jesus turned around and looked at her and said "Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well."

When I read that last passage, I came totally undone. Her Lord so met her every need. Not only did He heal her physically, but every area of her life was touched so fully by His healing power. That is the kind of Father we have. He wants to meet our every need. He doesn't just meet us half way,but a God that desires His people whole in every way.

I want to have faith like that woman. I want to be willing to do whatever it takes to be whole and will not settle for less. For we have a Great God that does Great and Mighty things for His people!

Blessings,

Sandy Billingham

Keeping On track

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every

where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be

hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:1

Be aware, be warned, and be exhorted that, if we have any desire to overcome faults, if we sincerely desire to be in God's Kingdom, if we desire to be like God and glorify Him, we need to protect our relationship with Him. He is the Source of the power to do all things, even to grow while also enduring these intense times. Paul is saying that he knows how to discipline himself and thus keep on track in every circumstance of life. By this time in Paul's life, he had the skills required for making the best of every situation.

submitted by : Annie