Three Part Being...Friday

Three Part Being

And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly;
 and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body 
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Did you know we are a three part being.  We have a Spirit, a Soul and a Body.  

When we say yes to Christ our spirit goes from death to life.  It is now sealed.  It is 100% saved and a 100% whole lacking nothing.  Our spirit is born again.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.  Also 1/3 of your salvation is complete it is saved.  

Your body and soul are not saved only your spirit is.  Our soul is our mind, will and emotions.  Our soul is the deciding factor whether we allow our spirit to rule or allow our soul and body to rule. Our mind is the valve that can block or release the Spirit of God.  Renewing our mind to the truth is the key to releasing the Spirit.  

We now have a new nature that compels us toward righteousness.  Sin does not take place in our spirit, it only takes place in our soul and body.  Our God relates to us based on who we are in the spirit.  He fellowships with us based on our spirit not our flesh.  Sin will not cause you to loose your salvation but it will cause you to harden your heart towards God. 

This is Good News knowing that we can not loose our salvation do to sin and that our God is dealing with us based only on who we are in the spirit. 

Written by
Kathryn Hanson

This Hillsong recording of  "Surrender" will bless you today.

A Thanksgiving Prayer...Thursday

11/7/13

Has the Lord ever taken you back to a time in your life that you may have forgotten about, but when the image comes back to you… you have a whole new perspective on that particular event.

Our devotionals for this week was to reflect on “Thanksgiving” and it seemed as though as soon as I heard this request, my mind was immediately transformed back to Thanksgiving of 1974.

My four year old son Ronald had been released from Stanford Children’s Hospital that very day from a serious bout of asthma. I can remember being so weary from the mental and physical exhaustion that we had all just gone through with my precious little boy. I recall being nervous about going to my cousin Brenda’s house for Thanksgiving dinner as there would be lots of kids running and playing like all children do and I was worried that Ronald would try to keep up with his friends which could throw him right back into an asthma attack.

I remember the women bustling around in the kitchen making the last minute preparations for our big day. The kitchen windows were steamed up as potatoes were being mashed, gravy was being thickened and the delicious aroma of turkey filled the house. Finally everyone was called to gather around the tables that were set up for our Thanksgiving feast!

There was lots of chatter and laughter while Moms were trying to gather all their broods around the tables, and finally the bell rang “Every One Dig In” !!

My heart instantly felt burdened because no one stepped up to say “Let’s offer Thanks”. The sting of all that we’d just gone through with Ronald was fresh on my heart and my thoughts were on how thankful I was that God had once again seen us through. I can remember my eyes tearing up as I discretely left the table and went into the bathroom, closed the door, got on my knees and crossed my arms over the toilet seat cover and began to cry. These were mixed tears of thankfulness that our little Ronald was home with us, thankful for all the blessings that God had given to us and yet sorrowful of heart that no one offered “Thanks”. I prayed and cried for a while, but soon stood to my feet as I knew in my heart that I had stood in the gap for our family. Since recollecting that scene, I believe God was in my presence and proud that someone offered “Thanks” even if it was at the foot of the toilet.

Written by
Glenna Williamson



“We Are His Hands And Feet"...Wednesday

1/6/13

At three different times yesterday in three different ways, I heard the importance of us as the Body of Christ being called to be Jesus' Hands and Feet. He clearly talks to us in His Word about us being used for His Glory.

In Matthew 25:35-36, 40 b it says, 

"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; 

I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; 

I was a stranger and you took Me in; 
I was naked and you clothed  Me;
I was sick and you visited Me; 

I was in prison and you came to Me. 

Assuredly, I say to you, 
inasmuch as you did it to one 
of the least of these My brethren, 

you did it to Me."

We are Jesus' vessels in which He pours Himself into us as we allow Him to. When we are walking filled up with His Spirit, then our hearts are soft and pliable for Him to speak to us and show us where we can be His Hands and Feet.

When the doors open wide for us to feed the hungry and thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those imprisoned, we are doing not only to them but as to Jesus. 

Be His Hands and Feet today! The opportunities are endless!

In His Love and Mercy,

Sandy Billingham

Here is Casting Crowns singing "If We Are The Body"

She Did What She Could....Tuesday

I will shamelessly admit that I stole, ahem, I mean, "borrowed," that wonderful line from a bible study lesson. Jesus was dining at the home of Simon the leper, when a woman came in with a fancy and expensive bottle of perfume. She opened the bottle and poured the oil over Jesus' head. As the men in the room complained about her presence and her actions, AND her waste of a valuable resource, Jesus rebuked the men, and announced "She did what she could." (see Mark 14:8a)

When I have so many things to do, so many things I haven't even started, I become discouraged. If I can't even make a dent, I reason, then why do anything? But thinking of that verse, Jesus didn't say she did what she should. He said she did what she could.

What could I do? I could buy a frozen lasagna, a bag of salad, and a loaf of garlic bread for the family with a sick parent. I could call someone for a chat. I could invite someone to meet for tea. I could listen. I could smile. I could pray.

The men at the table continued to grumble, Jesus put them in their place by declaring:

Truly I tell you,

wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,

what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. 

Mark 14:9 NASB

Jesus not only recognized what this woman had done for Him, but confirmed that He would remember what she had done. She didn't build a ministry, she didn't write books, she didn't write songs, nor speak at conferences. These are all wonderful things but not all of us are called to do them nor are they more important than anything else. They are just some of the pieces of the very large puzzle that is this life. Yet all of us are a piece of the puzzle, and what we do in love helps other's to fit in and find their place in His kingdom of love.

Don’t just think about your own affairs,

 but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.

Philippians 4:2 TLB

Right now, where you are at, where I am at, can it be said of us, "She did what she could?"

Dear Lord, may Your love shine out of us in every little thing we do for You this day. In Jesus name, amen.

A song by Matthew West: My Own Little World

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Inspired by teaching on Mark 14 by Jonalyn Fincher

Our Father is Kind....Monday

As a little girl, my mother has told me, I seemed to seek out grumpy people at the grocery store, and after making eye contact, I would give them my biggest smile. She has described my actions as very intentional and that she didn't encourage or discourage me. Interestingly, the person would often look to see who I belonged to and then would give my mother a smile, too.

Studies have been done that confirm that something as simple as a friendly smile can change a person's emotional status and by doing that end up changing their whole outlook on the day. I think I care about other people and wish everyone could have a good day today. But as I look at how I behave in the grocery store now, I am very intentional at avoiding people who appear to be grumpy or upset.

Is God bringing this to my attention so that I will smile more, make eye contact, and speak kindly to strangers? Then this verse came to my attention:

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior:

 Ask yourself what you want people to do for you;

 then grab the initiative and do it for them!

 If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back?

 Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.

 If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal?

 Garden-variety sinners do that.

If you only give for what you hope to get out of it,

 do you think that’s charity?

 The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I tell you, love your enemies.

 Help and give without expecting a return.

You’ll never—I promise—regret it.

 Live out this God-created identity

 the way our Father lives toward us,

 generously and graciously,

even when we’re at our worst.

 Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Luke 6:31-36 MSG

Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder that I can minister to other's while going about my every day routine and responsibilities. Please help me to remember that rejection, or the fear of rejection, is no excuse. My confidence is in You. It is You that I live for, and You who are watching over me. As long as I am doing what Your Word is leading me to do - I do not need to fear the people, or their reactions. In Jesus name, amen.

If you hear Love calling you, listen to Britt Nicole perform "The Lost Get Found":

Written by Mary M. Wilkins   

WHAT DOES IT MATTER?... Sunday

devotional for 11/03/13

Today we celebrate All Saints Day in my church.  It is an occasion to remember all believers who have passed away in the past year.  Some people will be remembered by many for a very long time, perhaps because they touched so many lives while they were here on earth, or maybe even because they became famous for something they did.  Others may only be remembered for a very short period by only a few people.  They may not have many relatives or friends still living that had much interaction with them.  Does that matter? 

Sometimes we feel so insignificant.  We may wonder, "Why am I here?  Why do I keep trudging through this life?  What is my purpose?  I feel like just a tiny speck of dust in the whole universe of life.  What would it matter if I were no longer on earth?  My importance is minimal in the overall scheme of this world."

We are gently reminded by God that we are here because He sent us to be here, in this place, at this time.  It does not matter if our name is not known around the world or if we make no mark in history that will be remembered by many people years later.  That is not what is important.  What matters most in life is God and what HE has done for this world.  Our life simply exists to bring him glory and to bring others to him. 

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Phillipians 1:18 (NIV)

written by Jan Andersen 

There is a song called "Do Everything" sung by Steven Curtis Chapman that talks about our day and that it matters, no matter how unimportant it may seem.  Maintaining faith and giving glory to God is what matters most!  Here is a video and  the lyrics of his song: 

LEARNING EXPERIENCES...Saturday

11/2/13

"My purpose is that they may be 

encouraged in heart and united in love, 

so that they may have the full riches 

of complete understanding..." 

 Colossians 2:2

     One interesting fact which I have read about a number of great inventors like Salk and Edison, is that they did not consider their many trials on the way to their successful inventions or discoveries to be "failures" but rather "learning experiences."

     I doubt many of us look at life that way.  We tend to be hard on ourselves and think we have "failed" when we just need to learn from our experiences and go on from there.  We gain understanding only from experience.  There is no easy road to completing any task or job, and we do not learn from osmosis.  Life isn't that easy.

     God wants us to be encouraged by what we learn.  God doesn't expect us to stay as we are.  Neither does He expect perfection. He expects perseverance. 

     As humans we will never be perfect.  We will all spend our entire lives learning and growing.  Look at all you do the way great inventors did and the way God does.  Life is a process of learning experiences.

Written by 

Carol Stefecik

Here is a song about acceptance of yourself to listen to today!

It is called "True."