Doing It unto Jesus...Tuesday

7/8/14 

Yesterday I had to do something that I really didn't want to do. Although I had a friend visiting me for a few weeks, my husband needed help inserting a chimney liner into a customer’s chimney. I know that my husband didn't want to ask for my help, knowing that I was on vacation and enjoying time with my company. However, he would be very challenged to insert this liner alone because the house was three stories tall and the job typically requires two people. Someone should be on the roof lowering the liner down the chimney while another person checks to make sure the adapter is lined up below. In addition, chimney insulation (more like cement) needs to be mixed on the ground and hauled up to the roof in five gallon buckets. If my husband had to do this liner insert alone, he would have had to continuously climb up and down the ladder, mixing the insulation, placing it in buckets, and then climbing back up the ladder to the roof top. Certainly not an easy task! Out of desperation, my husband said, “Who am I going to get to help me with this liner?” Our son was busy with his own roofing business and could not spare any time or one of his employees. A help wanted add that my husband placed in the paper went unanswered and my step-father is still recovering from open heart surgery. There was only one answer, I had to be the “helper”. So, I put on my best happy face and said, “I’ll help you with the liner”.  My husband was quite relieved, but I was feeling disappointed. I would much rather be going to the beach with my friend, driving around, or doing anything but helping out with a chimney liner, especially when I heard it was supposed to be hot outside that day. However, I tried not to complain. I know that my husband would help me if I needed an extra hand. Besides, I am his help mate and Jesus would expect me to help my husband when he had a need.

Sometimes we have to do things in life that we don’t want to do like clean our house, do the laundry, run errands, cook supper, or help someone out when all we feel like doing is playing. However, part of being Christ like means taking care of our priorities and being responsible. We should not ignore them or a brother’s need before fulfilling our own desires.

Deuteronomy 22:4 says, 

“You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox 

fallen down by the way and ignore them. 

You shall help him to lift them up again.”

I have found that when we do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord, unpleasant tasks become easier to bear. We also sometimes find that God blesses us too.

Although helping my husband out was hard work and I was sweating so much that the salt from my skin burned my eyes, God blessed me for my efforts. He blessed me for my willingness to help. He blessed me for being obedient and for taking care of my priorities. I ended up having a good day with my husband. The job was at a house on an Island, which meant we had to take a ferry across the water. While we waited for the ferry, my husband and I took a little stroll along the beach. On the way out we saw dolphins swimming. After the job was completed, I was given a quick tour of the island. I enjoyed the scenery and the refreshing ocean air. The day ended with a juicy steak, cooked by my husband on the grill. As for my friend, she was kept entertained by my mother and step-father. It was a good day. God is good. He is worthy of our time. When we find ourselves having to do something we really don’t want to do, do it anyway. Do it unto the Lord.  

Colossians 3:17 reads, 

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Written by

Storm Hendrickson

The Door and The Window....Monday

7/7/14

Trying to focus on the Lord, I push thoughts of the past, sad moments, things to do, frustrating times, and embarrassment aside. 'I know Lord,' I say in my head, 'I am here to enter into worship and my mind is all over the place.' I join the singing and intently focus on the message we are singing to Him. As I close my eyes I see an image, there is an open doorway about 6 feet wide. I notice the frame of the doorway is solid but worn. Through the doorway I see stuff, but I can't tell what, the light is so bright yet cloudy at the same time. Then I see a window. Just to the right of the doorway is a large window with super clean glass. The window trim is in bright white perfectly painted condition. The only thing I see through the window is a beautiful solid blue. Is it sky, I wonder?

"Ms. Wilkins?" the voice confirms, "Yes," I reply sitting in the same seat again. I look away and close my eyes as the technician draws 4 vials of blood from my arm in quick succession.

"The doctor has reviewed your lab results and he is doubling your injection, please have lab work redone in 3 weeks."

So many numbers: some are too high, many are normal, and some are too low. It is not just this set of numbers, it is the pattern of these numbers over the last 6 months that is concerning. I am scared.

I don't want to tell anyone about it. So many family and friends are on vacation, I don't want to send any news that is less than happy. Then I remember a moment 6 years ago when I suddenly realized that God was using a huge crisis in our lives to provide an even bigger blessing.

'You see!" I reprimand myself, "God has done many wonderful things for you!' He is in control. No matter what comes. No matter what path, I can be confident that He is watching over me.

This is the test of my character. Will I trust God in the midst of my circumstances? Or will I succumb to my fears and doubts about tomorrow? I know immediately what God is saying to me in the vision. He is calling me to walk through the doorway into His glorious light. What I want to do is go stand at the window and admire all He has for me at a distance from the safety of the place I am in. But He is calling me out and I know I will go.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.

Proverbs 3:5-9 The Message 

Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that I have a choice and that I can choose to trust You. Thank You for peace that is beyond my own understanding. Thank You for surrounding me with loving friends and caring family. Whatever it is I end up going through, I pray You will use it for Your purposes in me and in everyone I come in contact with. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by
Mary M. Wilkins

INDEPENDENCE DAY... Sunday

Devotional for 7/6/14

This was a long holiday weekend for many people, observing the Fourth of July on Friday.  It is the celebration of our country declaring freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain.  There are many different ways that the festivities unfold.  Some people have a cookout, grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, having apple pie comes to mind, parades fill the streets, and of course there are the fireworks!  How did you celebrate?

There is another "Independence Day" we often forget to celebrate.  It is the day we receive salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin.  However, instead of celebrating being independent from a kingdom, we celebrate being adopted into the kingdom of God.  We cannot earn our way to heaven because we are all sinful.  Our forgiveness and freedom from slavery to sin was earned for us by Jesus' death and resurrection.  Because of his sacrifice on the cross. we freely receive salvation.  We are able to receive that free gift through the Holy Spirit who creates faith in Jesus in our hearts.  Faith is the key to opening our prison cell - our independence day!  May we remember to celebrate this freedom daily by standing firm in our faith, doing the good works that we were created to do, and witnessing to others of God's gift of life in heaven with him to all who believe.  Thankfully, God forgives us when we fail in these endeavors and helps us to continue to move forward when we get bogged down.  Thank you, Lord, for our freedom!

Now the Lord is the Spirit, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.  2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

[ Life by the Spirit ] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

written by Jan Andersen

HE IS WITH YOU...Saturday

7/5/14

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;

 he will never leave you nor forsake you.  

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." 

 Deuteronomy 31:8

     One of the treasures of God's Word is that He has a promise to fit all of our needs and all of our moods.  Most people leave on night lights because they are uneasy in the darkness -- they feel more vulnerable and alone and can't see clearly.  Many people don't like to travel in a car to unfamiliar destinations.  They are afraid of what might happen.  People become discouraged with failing health or plummeting financial issues.

     Remember -- God is with us.  I find comfort in the fact that God never sleeps so He watches over me 24 hours a day.  I find comfort in the fact that He is all knowing so knows just how to guide me in my daily walk with Him.  I find peace in the fact that I am His to care for, so matter what happens to me, He is there to give me strength and hope in spite of what I might see.

     

      The very best thing about God's promises is that they never fail and He never goes back on what He has said.  Take His hand and walk with Him -- He is always with you.

Written by

Carol Steficek

Walking Through Depression...Friday

July 4, 2014

I have never been this depressed regarding my employment situation.  I keep trying to make it work here, as I will have been here for ten years come this November.  There are quite a few things causing my unhappiness, but the bottom line is that I have absolutely no passion in my daily work life.  It is finally causing me to be so unhappy in all of my life.  I don’t have any get up and go to do anything.  I feel like a blob just existing.  I am so sad to say that my passion for the Lord is even slipping.  I guess because I feel so discouraged.

I have tried to talk to friends about it, but mostly they tell me that I need to be grateful for having this job.  And yes, I am grateful for having kept this job for so long.  Their comments don’t help me though; in fact they add feelings of guilt to me for appearing that I am not grateful for being employed during this crazy time we are currently living in.  Or another thing people tell me is to “pull up my boot straps” and deal with it.  Well, if they have never been through a true clinical depression they don’t understand that that does not help one bit.  Thanks, though.  So, now, I feel even more alone, because I don’t want to share my feelings with anyone.

I know I am at a crucial point and need to proceed to Plan B to put my moving forward and moving out of this situation into action. The problem of wanting to eat for comfort is also a challenge, but  I am happy that I can recognize that problem and want to stop myself.  In the past I have always given in to my food cravings.  It is always a satisfying feeling….until the next morning when I feel so upset with myself for caving in, which causes more depression, etc.  Currently, I am exercising more than I ever have on a regular basis, and I don’t want to sabotage my progress with satisfying my taste buds for a temporary fix.

I have a weekend of alone time coming up and my prayer is that I am able to have enough energy and motivation to initiate my plan to move forward.  I need to prepare a resume, begin a list of the goals I have and set my priorities, with the first one restoring my faith in our Father above.  I am so great at encouraging others in their life situations, but, I allow myself to get lost in the muck of yuck and wallow in it for way too long. While this is going on, I fail to turn my life over to my beautiful, knowing Father and walk in faith. 

 Please pray for me to have the strength to follow through with peace on my peaceful weekend.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home 

in the body we are away from the Lord,  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at 

home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

2 Corinthians 5:6-9

 (ESV)

It is also my prayer that I and all who are suffering depression may find the wisdom and strength from God to do the things we need to do to move beyond it and on into His beautiful light.

Written by 

Kelly Dobyns

Worshiping You...Thursday

We have all been called into fellowship with our Jesus.  What a joy it is to worship the King of kings daily.  This past Sunday I heard a beautiful worship song that I wanted to share with you all. 

I find I'm moving In the rhythms of your grace

Your fragrance is intoxicating

In our secret place your love is extravagant

Your love is extravagant  

Your friendship, Intimate

Spread wide in the arms of Christ

Its the love that covered sin

No greater love have I ever known

You considered me your friend

And you captured my heart

You have won my heart

You have set me free

And I am free

I am free to run into your arms

Free to hear the sound of heaven

I am free

Your love is extravagant

Your friendship, Intimate

Oh how true this worship song is we are free, free to experience every aspect of our Father.  As I worshiped I felt His unconditional love and acceptance for me. Our life with God empowers us with freedom and strength a life free from guilt, condemnation, shame and fear of rejection.  This  is an unconditional love it is the life that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit has experienced together for all eternity.  This is the kind of love that is for us.

Blessings 

Kathryn Hanson

"Keep Your Gaze Straight Ahead"...Wednesday

7/2/14 

Life sometimes has a tendency to throw many curves at you! Truly every day is full of surprises! The most important thing to remember is to stay on the well beaten path Christ has laid out for us. In other words, as it says in Proverbs 4:27 

"Don't get sidetracked; 

keep your feet from following evil." 

(New Living Translation)

Daily, distractions are beckoning us. Sometimes those distractions are intense and bombarding us from all sides, and sometimes just plain annoying! At those given moments, we can give in to whatever those distractions may be or we can choose to fix our gaze on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. As we gaze into His eyes we can also cling to His promises.

 

As we choose to fix our eyes steadfast on Jesus, the problems of this life seem to be lighter and God begins to melt our hearts and draws us to Him. As we maintain that gaze, we will experience His wonderful peace and confidence that He will take care of us.

Keep your gaze straight ahead continuously on Jesus, and you will soar higher then you ever thought possible!

In His Radical Love, 

Sandy Billingham