"His Fiery Word"...Wednesday

10/9/13

  

I am always reminded how powerful the word of God is when I read the passage Jeremiah 23:29...

 "Is not My word like a fire?" 
says the Lord,

"And like a hammer that 
breaks the rock in pieces?"

As we read and delve into His word, it enlightens, warms and deeply penetrates our hearts. His word sheds truths to our heart that will forever change us and draw us closer to Him.

As we are surrendered to Jesus, His word will burn away the chaff and will turn stony hearts to hearts of flesh. He will inflame us with His unfailing love.

Truly His word brings great comfort and warmth continuously as we meditate on His word and allow Him to penetrate our hearts.

His word resounds ever so powerfully and completely in our hearts to the place where we never be the same! 

In His Fiery Love, 

Sandy Billingham
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Here is a song for you for today,
It is "Speak Life" sung by TobyMac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rK6O0YtBRY#t=19

Belonging…Tuesday

10/8/13

How many memberships do you have? I have one each for the grocery store, AAA, our insurance company, a few school associations, Facebook, the bank, etc. How about you? Do you belong to the gym, a community care team, a local arts center, or a favorite interest group? There are a lot of ways we belong. We belong to our city, our neighborhood, our apartment building, or our dorm floor. We belong to our job, our department, and our team. We belong to our family, near or far.

But I know all of this belonging is not the same.  It doesn’t mean we have someone we can pour our heart out to in time of trouble; or that we can call any time just to talk. But we should be connected to others in just such a way; for their benefit and our own good.

I know it can take a lot of effort to get and stay connected with people. I have times when I am surrounded by many friends, and we are in and out of each other’s lives by phone, in person, and via texting. Then I have times when my life has become so busy that I am just barely in contact with others. When I am in a quiet season, it quickly becomes a disconnect season. It is just so much easier for me to wait for someone to reach out to me than for me to reach out to them.

But in the depth of my heart I know I am really saying to myself, if they want to talk to me they’ll call. Maybe they have called, and they got tired of me not calling them back? But in my usual self-focused manner, I wouldn’t remember that little detail. It even happens in my own home. Five people are living together, but are we really connecting with each other?

In everything, therefore,

treat people the same way

you want them to treat you,

for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12 NASB

In response to all he (GOD) has done for us,

let us outdo each other in being helpful

and kind to each other 

and in doing good.

Let us not neglect our church meetings,as some people do,
but encourage and warn each other,especially
now that the day

of his coming back again 

is drawing near
.                           Hebrews 10:24-25
TLB

Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that true belonging is based on relationship. Please give me eyes to see and a heart that understands what you are showing me about the relationships and lack of relationships in my life. Thank You for not leaving me where I am in the midst of my troubles. Thank You for leading me closer to Your Truth. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

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Follow this link to hear Amy Grant sing “I’ll Be Your Friend”: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ2IWpUSUdU

How To Live...Monday

10/7/13

 Live in harmony with each other.

 Romans 12:16a
NLT

A very short scripture verse with a very strong advice. It could be a tall order for many.

What is harmony? Some other synonyms for “harmony” include...

·         Agreement…
People who are in agreement share an understanding that helps them to get along with each other.

·         Accord…
When you are in accord with others your thoughts and behaviors show a consensus between you that helps you to get along with them.

·         Concord…
When two people share concord they have a friendship that is peaceful.

·         Synchronization…
This implies that two or more people are working and living in tandem.

·         Congruence..

       When people are in congruence they show a similarity of thought and values.

·         Coordination…
Coordinated people are moving in the same direction in their lives and choices.

·         Coherence…
Moving with coherence means that behavior and thought has a consistency between a person and her associates.

Yes this scripture may seem short, but it is powerful and filled with concepts that shine light on the God approved way we should live. The world is sadly lacking in these skills these days. Families are in discord over many things. Adult children are estranged from their parents and siblings. No agreement! Neighbors fight with neighbors over landscaping, parking infringements and noise just to name a few things. No congruence! City residents argue about the way the mayor and city council administer the city. No accord! Citizens of our country disagree and dispute the correct style of government…conservative or liberal. No congruence! Nations fight nations. No commonality or compassion!

But God has instructed us how to live in many stories and lessons we read about in the Bible. And he He has summed it up in the scripture…

Live in harmony with each other.
~ Romans 12:16a, NLT

In AA there is a prayer that is a wonderful prayer where God is asked to help keep the one who prayes it on the straight and narrow and to totally give all issues to Him.

“God, I offer myself to Thee – to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt.
Remove me from the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!”

To pray this prayer will put us in the position to submit to God and to do as He wills. This will be in all things including seeking harmony in all our relations with our fellow human beings.

Heavenly Father...
Thank you for showing the way and teaching me how You want me to live. All I have to do is strive to obey. Thank you for giving me strength when I am weak and for loving me when I fall short. I am privileged to be your daughter. Help me always to surrender to you, to do your will, and to fully rely on You.                                                             Amen.

Written by

Corinne Mustafa

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Here is the Monday song...
"I Surrender" sung by Hillsong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcnfT4arZtI#t=59

STUMBLING BLOCKS... Sunday

Devotional for 10/6/13

There are many things in this life that can get in the way of having a good relationship with God - forgetfulness, distractions, love of money, addictions, etc.  Even people can become a stumbling block.  We try our best to be helpful to others.  Sometimes, in spite of our intentions, we get in the way.  

We try not to take advantage of those who are weak or helpless, but rather build them up and help them:

“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:14 (NIV)

Our desire is to lead others to Christ.  If we must correct someone's actions, we must do it lovingly and be careful not to be judgemental of the person's soul so that we do not turn them away from God:

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13 (NIV)

In doing things that we know in our hearts are not sinful, such as eating or drinking certain things or dressing a certain way, we must be careful not to lead others astray to things that interfere with their faith in God.  They are still ultimately responsible for their own actions, but at the same time there is a healthy balance and we should not purposely confuse or tempt them:

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  1 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

Again, we do these things all in order to be good witnesses to Christ:

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 2 Corinthians 6:3 (NIV)

But at no time should we sacrifice the telling of the gospel, the preaching of salvation through Christ, Jesus, in order to not be offensive to someone else. Then, and only then, are we to be a stumbling block:

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 (NIV)

Dear Lord in heaven - Thank you for giving your life for me on the cross so that I would have a way to heaven.  Make me a witness of this to other people.  Help me not to be a stumbling block for others but rather a stepping stone for them to follow you. In your name, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen

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Here is a song to listen to...

"Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"   

               sung by Susan Boyle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGHOtR-v4yQ&feature=player_embedded

ALL THINGS...Friday

10/4/13

"Jesus looked at them and said,

 'With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible." 

-- Matthew 19:26

     I am convinced that if we all really believed these words of Scripture that our lives would be dramatically different.  What size is our God?

     We could take to heart that we believe in an eternal, all knowing, all powerful God who loves us with a love so deep that we cannot comprehend it.

     What affects us doesn't affect God.  The barriers we have to overcome aren't insurmountable to Him.  He doesn't grow tired and weary.  He doesn't sleep.  He says ALL thing are possible for Him.

     So, do you need wisdom to make a decision, healing for your worn body, help finding a job, strength to meet daily challenges? -- look to God.  Have faith in God and trust His promises.  God wants to be all things to us and with Him all thin gs are possible for us.

Written by 

Carol Steficek 
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Here is a song for Friday
Sung by Mandisa and Toby Mac

"Good Morning"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Sj6TmSG4w

Let Everyone Who Has Breath....Thursday

10/3/13

“Praise The Lord”

 

My husband and I are blessed each morning to witness Pacheco Pass route 152 in California and sing praises to our King as the majestic sun comes alive with the brilliance of color being cascaded across the San Luis Reservoir and the magnificent golden hills.  As I see the master at work painting this beautiful picture I, too, cannot help but sing His praises.  Let everyone that has breath praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy house of worship, 

    praise him under the open skies; 

 Praise him for his acts of power,

    praise him for his magnificent greatness;

Praise with a blast on the trumpet,

praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise him with castanets and dance,

    praise him with banjo and flute;

Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,

praise him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God!

    Hallelujah! 

(Psalm 150 Msg)

Written by,

Kathryn Hanson
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Here is a song for Thursday
sung by Hillsong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNhfTYWljY8

"His Steadfast Peace"...Wednesday

10/2/13

There is one thing the world cannot give us and that is Peace. Only our Precious Jesus can give us His Steadfast Peace.

When the storms in my life and yours are roaring, we can be sure of one thing. As we call out to Jesus to help us, He is there. He will calm our storms and give us His beautiful peace.

Just this past week my heart was heavy over one of my children.  I will have to admit, I hung out for quite awhile letting that heaviness weigh me down. After a few days I finally decided I had enough! I chose to draw closer to my Lord and lay all of that heaviness at His feet. Slowly it began to lift and God's perfect peace took the place of all that heaviness.

Whatever is keeping you from experiencing God's peace in your life, lay it down at the foot of the cross. Then rest in His Wonderful, Steadfast Peace.

  For He Himself is our Peace,
who has made both one,
and has broken down
the middle wall of separation...

Ephesians 2:14

In His Steadfast Peace,

 Sandy Billingham

Here is a beautiful song for Wednesday
"The Song of Peace"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcyfwiaQawE