Someone I Can Really Trust...Tuesday

My heart broke as I watched a little boy and his parent at the check out line in front of me. The child had placed a candy up with the parent's things, but the parent told him he couldn't have it. "But," the child replied with a quivering voice, "You promised." 

I have made promises to assure, give hope, and encourage. With good intentions I promised to take a specific action sometime in the future. Yet I didn’t know the future. I may sincerely intend to do something and then not be able to fulfill my commitment.  

I remember the disappointment and betrayal as a child of having a friend tell me they didn't have to keep their promise because they had their fingers crossed when they said it. Now I feel disappointment when I am the one who fails to follow through on my word.

But there is One's whose promises may be trusted at all times. God’s promises never fail (see Luke 1:37) so they bring joy, comfort, and hope. He never crosses His fingers! 

We can know for ourselves that God's promises are guaranteed by studying the history of the people of Israel.  

After the Israelites have entered the Promised Land, Joshua calls together all of the tribes. He goes through the history of God’s promises and God's faithfulness starting with Abraham all the way to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. God had proven Himself again and again in every generation by keeping His promises. Joshua then says these words: 

If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God,

 then choose a god you’d rather serve—

and do it today.

 Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped

 from the country beyond The River,

 or one of the gods of the Amorites,

 on whose land you’re now living.

As for me and my family,

we’ll worship God.

 Joshua 24:15 MSG 

No matter what we are facing, we can trust God to fulfill His promises because it is impossible for God to lie (see Hebrews 6:13-20). This truth, that He cannot lie, is our ultimate promise. It means we can hold onto His promises when everything around us is in chaos. He truly is an anchor of hope for our souls. We can stand on God's Word and develop a lifestyle of trust and patience. 

In 1834, Edward Mote wrote a hymn that beautifully describes what it can be like for us if we choose to trust God's promises:

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

 
Written by Sandy Schott
 

To hear this song performed by 4Him, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC-UyIgoaLU

Finishing Well, Starting Strong....Monday

My neighbor just took her son to his first day of kindergarten. When I asked her how it went, she responded that she had cried at the same time she had experienced pride in her little boy. I thought that's exactly how I felt every time I have faced ' a new step.' I had just gotten the hang of the previous way of doing things - I wasn't ready to change! Sometimes I could see the necessity of change - but I didn't like it.

As I look a little deeper at my issue with change, I can see that I am worried that I haven't done everything I was supposed to do. Sigh, the spirit of perfectionism just slides into the teeniest cracks of doubt. Of course I didn't do everything right! That is not possible!

So what is possible? How can I know I have finished well? Or that I am starting right? I have asked God that a hundred times (no kidding). Here are some of the answers from His Word:

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (see Matthew 6:33). At first I wondered what does this look like? How can I change diapers, answer the phone, do laundry, and make dinner while seeking God's kingdom? It turned out to be my mindset, how I viewed what I was doing. By looking at the mundane things in my life as a service unto God, it changed my attitude. I became more patient and loving.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (see Romans 12:21). I love this verse. It sounds so pure and holy. Until I am in the midst of being falsely accused or judged because the person declines to try to understand me and where I am coming from. One time I was sitting with a group of about 15 women as we watched one of our friends trying to climb a rock wall. We had been cheering each person on, encouraging them to stretch to just one more step, to reach just one more finger hold. All of a sudden I could hear one woman in our midst telling a new person in the group how myself and her sister were such bossy people. My jaw dropped open as I met the eyes of the 'other bossy woman' and before I knew what I was doing I was calling out the first woman by name. I had to yell her name a few times because of all the cheering, but it was like a scene in a movie when she finally looked at me, the crowd hushed, all eyes on me, waiting for the next line. My cheeks were flushed bright red with mortification, anger, and embarrassment. I opened my mouth and the words "I love you" are all that came out. That was the Spirit of God. I know that woman wasn't evil, but she allowed her words to be thoughtless. 


Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins (see 1 Peter 4:8). Everyone wants to be loved. I love my children and want to see them be successful. The hardest thing for me is when I can see what would be 'best' or 'better' for one of my loved ones, but they will not believe in their abilities, or they refuse my advice. Unconditional love is all about accepting that each of us is an individual with our own freedom of choice. It takes work to balance accepting others where they are, and having healthy boundaries for yourself. God wants me to do for them what He does for me, to love them for who they are, not what they do.

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 MSG

Are you facing a new beginning in your life? Do you need to let go of something in the past so that you can function well in your present? God understands us better than we even know ourselves. He doesn't look at us the way other people look at us, He looks at our hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7). Please pray with me that He may give each of us 'eyes to see', and 'ears to hear', and 'hearts that understand' that although change may be hard, we can trust Him to lead us in the way we should go (see Psalm 23:3).

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Click below to watch the Youth Puppet Team from Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus, MS perform to Casting Crown's song "Who Am I"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAszVJe4uoY

REMEMBERING... Sunday

Devotional for 8/25/13

Sometimes remembering can be a positive thing and sometimes a negative thing. When we reminisce about the past, we are usually remembering good and positive things that happened. When we remember what we learned in class at school, we are able to answer test questions better and hopefully pass our courses. But there are other times of remembering that are more difficult.  Some memories of the past are painful. They may be about the losses, like that of a loved one. Or maybe we keep remembering past sins, even though they have been forgiven, we feel we cannot forgive ourselves for the damages caused. Or perhaps there are memories of a lost childhood, such as when a child is abused, neglected or abandoned. Other times memories are buried and recovered later.  That can be our body's way of protecting us from too much emotional pain at an earlier age. There are even memories that can come back as flashbacks, as in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These are memories that the body has not been able to process because they are so distressing and painful, but can be triggered by reminders including sights, smells, etc. Remembering can be a mixed bag of blessings and sorrows.

Sometimes remembering can be healing, and give us a way to process our memories. Jesus gave us the Lord's supper as a way to remember him and what he did for us, that by his death and resurrection we are saved. Remembering that he is always with us can give us strength to carry on. We can remember that when God is with us none can be against us, and through Christ we can do anything. Remembering God's Word is a blessing to combat and replace the sorrowful parts of our memories. 

We ask God to remember us with mercy and grace, like the thief on the cross who said, "Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom." Luke 23:42  There is a beautiful chant song with only those words as it's lyrics by Taize that you can listen to on youtube.  One recording is linked here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGB2E0NzO2A

Jesus, thank you for remembering... for remembering me and not my sins!

written by Jan Andersen

The Joy of Friendship...Saturday

8/24/13

“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says,

 ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited 

to him as righteousness’ and he was called God’s friend”. 

James 2: 23 

Out of all the “positions” in my Lord’s kingdom, I would choose the position of being called His friend. 

A friend has special entry into the most intimate places of one’s heart. There is a special bonding and a feeling of security and honor and trust. A friend is one who supports and encourages the deepest of our hearts desires, one who hears and understands our dreams and motivations… and spurs us on, in intercession and faith.

Our Lord is the author and example of true friendship. He put our best interests before His own. It was for each one of us that He made His way to the cross to die for us. He knew that we had to be reconciled to His Father in order for us to live. 

I have heard it described that on the cross, Jesus “opened His arms” in order to embrace all of us. I believe that is true. But I also believe that in order for Him to have been able to accomplish this, He had to have opened His heart first. 

Today we have the choice of opening up our own hearts. We can choose to open them and offer to others this same kind of friendship. This kind of “offering” does not come without its share of risks. There is always the risk of being rejected, disappointed, or hurt. I believe that the joy of friendship far outweighs the risk. What do you believe?

Written by 

Beverley A. Napier

~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is a song to start your Saturday time with God...
"I Am A Friend of God"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcxKRsn-hGc

CONTENTMENT...Friday

8/23/13

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." 

I Timothy 6:6

     If you would take a poll today regarding how "content" people are, I think you would be surprised at how little true contentment there really is.

     As I write this, people are waiting in line as much as three hours to buy a lottery ticket for the biggest prize ever.  Upon examination you would discover that most people live beyond their limits charging multiple credit cards or buying things on time so always having to pay for something (with big interest rates, I might add).  The housing scandal some years back happened because people were allowed to buy homes which they could not hope to pay for.  People change computers and telephones and all the other electronic gadgets like they change clothes.  we are never content with what we have!

     God wants us to seek Him rather than "things."  He never said that it is not all right to fill our basic needs -- it is fine to have money and possessions.  However, He wants us to realize that there is more to life than material possessions, and we cannot all have the same things.  God wants us to count our own individual blessings, be grateful for all He gives us, and to be content.  

 

God gives us, as Christians, many gains others do not possess -- salvation through the blood of Jesus, grace and faith to live trusting Him, His unconditional love, and the hope of eternal life in heaven as a free gift.  We have more than enough to be content in God.  Truly, godliness with contentment is great gain.!

Written by 

Carol Steficek

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is the good news in song for today...
Please click on this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghC3gqNQJPQ

"Glory in Your Elevation"...Thursday

8/22/13

Let the brother in humble circumstances 

glory in his elevation [as a Christian, 

called to the true riches and to be an heir of God].

James 1:9

This is a command that the Father has given to us that those with little should rejoice in eternal things, not the things of this world.  Our God gives us eternal treasures that we will never loose.  Christians with the least amount of earthly wealth are richer than the wealthiest persons of this world. 

When we look at things from the Father's eyes we see things differently.  We see how rich we truly are.  We see the position that we have been given in Christ.  When we take hold of  Jesus as our Lord and Savior we enter into a union with Him. 

When we enter into a union with Jesus

• You have a new identity,
• You have eternal life,
• You have been declared righteous,
• You have been grafted into His family,
• You have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light,
• You have been given power and authority,
• You have now become an heir to His kingdom,
• YOU ARE NOW A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.

Your position has been moved from lowly to a high position.  You have now become a member of God's chosen people, a part of His royal priesthood, you are a citizen of God's Holy nation.

Written by 

Kathryn Hanson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a song for you to listen to this morning

as you spend time with Him.

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0F9EB1NU

"Praying For All Men"...Wednesday

 8/20/13 

Recently the Lord impressed on me the very importance of praying for our leaders that are in authority. It became so very clear to me that I needed to take that nudge from Him very seriously. When prayer for our leaders takes place daily, we all benefit from the fruit of our prayers.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, 

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, 

prayers, intercessions,giving of thanks be made 

for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, 

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 

in all godliness and reverence. 

For this is good and acceptable

 in the sight of God our Savior, 

who desires all men to be saved and 

to come to the knowledge of the truth."

I know how easy I can get caught up in my own world and focus only on the prayer needs at hand in my own sphere. I now make an intentional effort to pray for all men, knowing that is what God has called me to do. He loves all men and desires that none will perish.

We all as Christians have such a vital part to enter in with fervent prayers for those placed in authority. The Lord has good things in mind for each of us as we do our part as His people. I choose to be obedient and pray as God has called and me and trust the Lord to take care of the rest in which I know that He is faithful.

In His Radical Love, 

Sandy Billingham