Saturday Devotional...Diamonds That are Real

GOD'S DIAMONDS

Looking at the leaves

Roses not coming just yet

Colored rust and green.

Early morning sun

Shining down on the garden

Mottled shade and sun.

Suddenly I see

Diamonds shining everywhere.

Where do they come from.

They’re a gift of God

Delightful and beautiful

Dew drops on each leaf.

And then I notice

The leaves are rimmed with small spikes

Edges scalloped points.

It comes to my mind

That life gives challenge too

Spikes to climb over.

But it’s when we climb

If we will learn His lessons

God’s diamonds are won.

Written by Corinne H. Mustafa

Friday Devotional...Mountains CAN Be Moved!

Faith That Can Move Mountains

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary.

Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain-moving faith". They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sundayas scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.

"Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain-moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

Shared by Glenna Williamson

Thursday Devotional...7/12/12...Make God #1

What should I do?

I was feeling very disturbed. Thinking to myself how nice it would be to call my friend - that we would talk (well, I would talk and she would listen) and I would find comfort, feel better, be more at peace.

But I could not call her - it was not a time for calling nor was I free to call. Then I thought of my husband - but instantly I knew his own heart was burdened with the same concern and I did not want to burden him more by adding my own emotions, insecurities, doubts and fears. Even knowing we share the same pressure, I feel alone.

I caught my breath, choking on my pain, and then I remember. I can pray to the One who knows all, sees everything and cares intensely for me. Washing dishes like nothing was wrong - I cry out silently within myself - thanking God for always being there. I know that is what He desires - for us to depend on Him first and foremost - not because husbands and friends aren’t important - but because God wants to be most important - first place. No fear, no doubt, no trouble, no burden, nothing in the world is more powerful than the God in heaven who cares for you and me.

Philippians 4:6-7 (The New Living Translation)

Don’t worry about anything; instead,

 pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience

God’s peace, which exceeds

anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-12 (The Message)

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.

Your barns will burst,

your wine vats will brim over.

But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;

don't sulk under his loving correction.

It's the child he loves that GOD corrects;

a father's delight is behind all this.

Thank you, Lord, that Your mercy is new everything morning. I need the promise of a fresh start otherwise I would be overwhelmed and full of despair. Afraid of never overcoming my tendency to worry, fret, obsess, and fear. Thank You for lovingly and patiently taking me by the hand and leading me on the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Help me, Lord, unblock my ears that I may hear and recognize your voice. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Wednesday Devotional...7/11/12...Humlity

"A Humble Heart"

What does it truly mean to have a humble heart? Is that something we can do by simply waking up one day and deciding we will be humble. I would like to say it is that easy, but frankly we cannot walk in humility in our own strength.

This past Sunday one of our pastors was sharing the importance of having a humble heart and the Holy Spirit touched me deeply at that moment. I knew God was calling me to walk at a greater level of humility. It became very clear to me that He was wooing me and desiring for me to have a greater understanding of how to walk that out. There is a strong stirring in my heart to seek the Lord deeper and ask Him to show me to walk humbly as He walks and as He has called each of us to do.

I am blessed by reading in

Psalm 10:17

"Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear."

It is clear to me that as we surrender our all to the Lord and acknowledge all that He is, He will prepare our hearts. Not only will He prepare our hearts, but His ears are attentive to our cries. He is pleased when we are humble before Him. That is one of the Lord's strong attributes.

That is my prayer from here on out is to walk humbly before my Mighty God.

In His Great Love,

Sandy Billingham

Monday Devotional...7/9/12...HE is my “All in All”.

                                          Psalm 91:14-16

 

The LORD says,
“I will rescue those who love me,

There is nothing for me to fear. There is no aspect of my life that will ever be left undone, for weather I walk thru the rain (endless bombardment of issues), the fire (dying to self), or pestilence (others biting at my heals). HE will rescue me – it is a promise not dependent on me….HE is called “Faithfull”.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

It doesn’t matter what I see – It doesn’t matter what I hear – It only matters who I put my trust in. My eye is on the Lord. HE is my shinning knight, the faithful one, who is always larger than my life….HE is “Trust”.

When they call on me, I will answer;

Here I find my rest. I may not know the outcome of a situation, or the answers to change it, but HE is in control. HE has the provision to make it thru and gives me grace, that HE may receive glory in all that comes my way….HE is “Rest”.

I will be with them in trouble,

Never do I ever have to be alone. He walks beside me, showing me the way; holding me up, and causing my life to become a testimony of HIS goodness. Saying that HIS right arm upholds me….HE is my most excellent “Friend/ Companion.

I will rescue and honor them,

Not only will He deliver me, and show me the way out but he will bestow honor on me, not for what I have done, but because I have trusted him. HE will move on my behalf and HE will then be the lifter of my head….HE is my “Shield & High Tower”.

I will reward them with a long life

My feelings don’t have to be apart of the equation. But my eye must be on God, my heart lost to Jesus, my days hearing HIS voice and my actions doing HIS will. My body is only a vehicle of transportation….HE is my “Healer”

and give them my salvation.

All this is given unto me by my greatest love and what HE requires of me, is love. Love that runs to, yearns for, listens to, makes time for, my LORD. Salvation to me is about living day to day, with HIM. It is nothing I take for granted...HE is my “All in All”.

Written by Kathy Bireley

ENEMIES

Sunday devotional, 7/8/12

Enemies is a strong word.  Perhaps you feel you have no enemies, but most of us can think of at least one person who rubs us the wrong way.  It may be someone with an annoying habit, or a person who has little tact and makes us feel uncomfortable.  Perhaps there is an individual in our lives who has spread a rumor about us that really bothers us.  Or maybe it is something not directed toward us but rather hurts someone else, and we are upset that they "get away with it".   This could be something we hear about on the news and we get worked up about "what this world is coming to".  There are even whole groups of people that may frustrate us because they don't "follow the rules" or meet our expectations, like people who run red lights or cheat on their taxes, or immigrants coming into the country illegally or not "learning the language".   Sometimes it is even more personal and someone's actions create a situation where we feel threatened or they have directly harmed us such as robbery, rape or even murder of someone dear to us.  We may even hold a resentment against someone for something they did years ago and we just can't find it in ourselves to forgive them.  These are all "enemies" in some fashion.   

What are we to do about our enemies?  First, realize that we, ourselves, are probably someone else's enemy, and we need to work on ourselves and ask for forgiveness. Then we can pray for our enemies, asking God to bless them as richly as we want blessings for ourselves and those we love the most - praying for them sincerely EVERY DAY.  Then do good toward them, helping them with all their needs instead of shunning or ignoring them or trying to repay them with evil thoughts and actions.  This gradually can help create love in our hearts for them if we allow it and eventually lead us to forgive them, just as we ourselves have been forgiven. Forgiveness does NOTHING for the person we are forgiving - instead, it releases US from the resentment and anger that eats away inside of us.  These are the things the Bible tells us to do about our enemies.

We are someone else's enemies too; we are even God's enemies:

For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Romans 5:10 NIV

Work on your own issues first:

 ^"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."  Luke 6:41-42 NIV

Pray for them:

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... ^{Matthew 5:43-44 NIV}

Bless them:

 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  ^{1 Peter 3:9 NIV}

Love them and do good to them:

 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you."  ^{Luke 6:27-31 NIV}

Forgive them:

 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:37-38 NIV

                 

written by Jan Andersen

Saturday Devotional...Balloons and God's Attributes

Good morning!

Do you sometimes feel kind of dry when you are trying to approach our God in a daily quiet time, Perhaps it is hard to clear your mind to hear His voice in our minds and hearts. Perhaps the cares and plans of the day keep crowing in and interrupting your prayer. Maybe even someone in your family has a need to talk even though you might be with your Bible or devotional in hand.

The world crowds in no matter what the interruption may be. In times like this it is nice to have a kind of crutch to help you keep your prayer in the forefront in spite of the challenges to that. 

We have a page in Women's Focus Ministries that is written by our Writing Team. The writing posted there to day is by Cathy Friberg. She ends her writing with what she calls the "Precious Attributes" of God. She has a list for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In my way of looking at it any one of these attributes provide something to ponder and meditate upon, and I think that they are good anchors when the helium baloons of life threaten to take you away from your dvotional time.

Written by Corinne Mustafa

Here is a link to that page and Cathy's wonderful writing. The ATTRIBUTES are listed at the end.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7200211789437429818#editor/target=post;postID=1388211030275189286