SIGN OF JONAH... Sunday

Devotional for 8/4/13

We are always looking for a sign.   We look for signs of the things to come, whether that be about predicting the weather, or about what might happen in our lives.  There is an old adage about the color of the sky at sunset and sunrise:  "Red sky at night, sailor's delight.  Red sky at morning, sailor take warning."  Those are some signs people have used to predict the weather for centuries.  Some people look for signs about their own future, like in horoscopes and fortune telling.  We are seldom content to just live in the present.  Sometimes we are just looking for signs to prove something is real, or to show us we are on the right track.  We ask God to give us a sign so that we might know for sure.  We often are not content to just let God know and do what is right.  We have to know and understand everything for ourselves.  We need to make plans and get things ready you know - we need a sign!

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus. They wanted to test Jesus. So they asked Jesus to show them a miracle to prove that he was from God. Jesus answered, "When you people see the sunset, you know what the weather will be. If the sky is red, then you say we will have good weather. And in the morning you watch the sunrise. If the sky is dark and red, then you say that it will be a rainy day. These things are signs of the weather. You see these signs in the sky and you know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that are happening now. These things are also signs. But you don't know the meaning of these signs. Evil and sinful people are the kind of people that want a miracle for a sign (proof). But those people will have no sign--only the sign of Jonah." Then Jesus left that place and went away.  Matthew 16:1-4 (ERV)

The sign of Jonah - he was inside the big fish for 3 days before being "resurrected" from it's belly.  It shows us that even if we run away, God is in control and will put us where we need to be.  It reminds us that when we pray for deliverance, God will deliver.  But most importantly, it was a foreshadowing of Jesus being in the grave three days before rising from the dead, earning our salvation for us.  That is all we really need to know - that God is in control of what happens to us and has saved us.  That is the only sign that is absolutely necessary.  We need to learn to be content knowing that God is in control, not us, and that we need no further signs.  Actually, that is a comforting thought.  We don't need to be the ones in control - God already is!  If only we can remember that when we desire a sign.  Remember the sign of Jonah!

written by Jan Andersen

No Other Name

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

IMPOSSIBLE...Friday

8/2/13

"...all things are possible with God." 

Mark 10:27b

     We live in a world with technological advancements happening so quickly that man no longer thinks anything is impossible for him to do.  Medical advancements make headlines almost daily.  Computers and other such items are almost outdated every six months, certainly every year.  The car has come a long way since the days of Henry Ford.

     The only place where I think we could start looking at a few more possibilities for the "impossible" is in the realm of religion.  In the Bible it states that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Yet, much of the church operates like it is in the dark ages.

     When I worked at Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky I met many missionaries taking sabbaticals from their mission fields.  I heard many fantastic stories of God's miraculous intervention in the lives of the missionaries and the people to whom they witnessed.  I asked one pastor why we see so little of the same events in the church today.  He told me that the western church neither looks for the impossible nor believes it will happen and so never experiences it.

     The impossible did not go out with the church in the Book of Acts.  Faith and hope should be expectant.  Christians, of all people, should be seeing the impossible fulfilled in their lives as God is a God of unlimited resources and the miraculous.  I do hear occasional stories from Christians about unexplained healings or being saved miraculously from some danger.  This should not be the exception but the rule.  We serve the God of the impossible -- expect great things from Him.

Written by 

Carol Lynn Steficek

Love Revealed...Lesson 8....Thursday

7/31/13

God’s Kind of Love

Boundless.....having no bounds; infinite or vast)

 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; 

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 36:5

Compassionate 

.....Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it)

The Lord is like a father to his children, 

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Psalm 103:13(NLT)

Extravagant

.....Exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or
          passions. Going beyond what is deserved or justifiable

 Consider the incredible (extravagant) love 

that the Father has shown us in allowing us 

to be called “children of God”

—and that is not just what we are called, but what we are.

1John 3:1a

Sacrificial .....Of, relating to, or concerned with a    sacrifice

 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us
while we were still sinners.Romans 5:8(NLT)

Permanent.....Lasting or remaining without essential change

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. 

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—

not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—
indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate
us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) 

Transforming.....Make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of

But the Holy Spirit produces 

this kind of fruit in our lives: 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22 

                    


Authentic .....Not false or copied, genuine,    real                                                                                               

  “For God loved the world so much
that He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 

(NLT)

Written by

Kathryn Hanson

"Be Strong In The Lord"...Wednesday

Devotional...7/31/13

 

I love the thought that our Lord and Savior has strength that never runs out. As we call upon Him for His strength, He stands ready to provide that for us each and every time. He is faithful to fill us with His strength that only He can give.

 

I love to pray the scripture out of Ephesians 6:10 that says;

"Finally my brethren, 

be strong in the Lord 

and in the power of His might."

 

We can only be strong in the Lord as we look to Him to manifest His strength and power in us. He is fully where our strength comes from. We do not have to feel weak and feeble as believers in Christ, because He is living within us and he so wonderfully provides every ounce of strength that we need.

 

I can't tell you how many times I have been weary and felt like I just couldn't make it through that particular day. As I cried out to God to endowme with His strength, He always so remarkably came through and provided His great strength to me.

 

The Lord 

is truly where 

our strength 

comes from, 

so Be Strong 

In The Lord Sisters!

 

In His Radical Love, 

Sandy Billingham

The Kept Woman...Tuesday

Devotional...July 30, 2013

I was still relatively new to the church the first time I saw her. She was one of those people who “Had something about her” as my mom used to say. Even from a distance, I knew what mom meant.  I tried not to stare but glanced in her direction often. After clearing tables one Sunday, a friend and I sat down with our coffee. As we talked and were getting to know each other, I asked her if she knew "that woman."

 “Oh, her!” my friend responded. Now, when I was young, that meant something scandalous was about to be shared. I held my breath waiting for her to continue. 

“She’s a kept woman,” she clarified. I was right! There was something about that woman. I sipped my coffee and kept my attention on my friend as she told me the story.

The woman had come to the church some years ago as a visitor. She had heard about a man who had been in the congregation from its beginning.  What she didn’t know was that he was hoping she’d be interested in him.  After introductions and spending some time together, it was a love made in heaven!  Everyone noticed the contentment and joy of their relationship and were very happy for them. But, it wasn't the end of the story.

We never knew what happened, but she slowly withdrew from his love, and eventually from the rest of us. His sadness was deep but he wouldn’t give up on their relationship.  We watched in awe as he pursued and took care of her in ways she wasn’t even aware were his doing. He protected her. Prayers for her were on his lips continually, hoping she’d remember their love, hoping she missed him, and would one day again desire his love as much as he desired hers. 

Then we started to notice that she was staying around more often, talking about him with a smile on her face. She seemed to deeply miss their life together but something was holding her back. I heard that she was afraid he couldn’t possibly want her back. Apparently she was ashamed of something and thought she didn’t deserve his love.

She must have forgotten the lesson from King David - 

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon You.
⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And give heed to the voice of my supplications!
⁷ In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
For You will answer me.

Psalm 86:5-7 NASB

"But," my friend continued, ”He recognized her change of heart. He knew he’d won back his lady’s love. One day during worship I saw her weeping. After service we could all tell by the joy on her face that they were reunited!

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you

and continued My faithfulness to you.

Jeremiah 31:3 AMP

As wiped my eyes, my friend smiled and said, "Let me introduce you to her! She loves to have her story told and to talk about all the Lord has done. She's the one who started calling herself "A Kept Woman" and she is quick to remind us that we are all kept women.

My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

 The Lord is your keeper;

Psalm 121:2 & 5a NKJV

Written by Sandy Schott

Click on this link to hear the beautiful song "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" written by Hillsong and performed by Shelley Nirider: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZdMOx_HY 

Is There A Right Answer?...Monday

Devotional for Monday, July 29, 2013

We were standing around a kitchen island with a glass of water sitting innocently in front of us. The younger kids thought perhaps our fearless leader was going to show us a magic trick. Serious expressions and a tense atmosphere indicated something very important was about to happen. I held my breath.

Unknown to me, only two of us were unaware of what was to come. The leader of this test said, in a nonchalant tone, "Tell me what you see?" As we were encouraged to answer honestly I finally declared, "The glass is half empty!"

Our leader smirked all-knowingly, leaned back against the counter, and announcing for all to hear that I was a "pessimist."

I didn't know what a pessimist actually was, but the context was enough to convince me this was something I didn't want to be. "Not true!" I cried. But judgment had been passed. I was condemned.

By using one small perception device I had been labeled. Personality tests can have upwards of 500 questions meant to cover the many angles and nuances of who we are, how we view our environment, and what motivates us as individuals. We are unique and in-depth individuals who cannot be defined by a simple kitchen trick.

As harsh as the actions and words of that childhood experience, I am aware that it is very easy for me to do the same thing to others, on any given day. The young woman in front of me who is dressed in a manner I find lacking, do I immediately decide she is lacking in morals or judgment? Or do I wonder where she is coming from, who is she, and what is going on in her life?

It is not wise to make decisions about anyone based on minimum information. What do strangers think of us upon first glance? I am grateful that God does not see us as we see ourselves nor each other.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you.

 Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

 Luke 6:36-37 NLT

Dear Lord, thank you for continuing to work out your good work in me. Please forgive me for doing the very thing I would wish that others would not do to me. Please give me eyes to see others as You do, ears to hear others as You do, and a heart that is filled with compassion. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins