Wednesday Devotional....Standing Alone – Together...

                                                                       ...be part of the puzzle        

I am responsible for me. I know this because I was raised to live in a way that meant that I would not have to ask for help with the basic necessities of life. Barring any disasters, from nature, the economy, violence or my own bad decisions; I will be just fine.

My parents worked hard all of their lives and taught me and my sister to do the same. They each worked for the City of New York from the time I knew that they actually did something to earn the money that kept us in our comfortable home in a nice neighborhood. We did not live a glamorous life, but we had enough. I was taught little about financial success, but everything about love.

Family and friends, with a dash of faith on the side, was the life that was modeled for us. My parents could have earned higher salaries in the private sector, but they chose to be social workers. They did not talk to us about their casework and never gave me lectures about how ungrateful I was at times. Though there were times when I was a brat. But I was made aware of the incredible gifts that we had been given. I grew up in a safe home, with two parents who loved us and each other. There was plenty of good food, clean clothes, my own new shoes whenever I wanted and most of all, emotional security to fill my heart and mind with hope for the future.

So many people have grown up with people who were ill-equipped to provide or ever talk about the possibility of these things. Yet they are expected to behave as if they are happy, healthy and whole. Many get caught up in undesirable causes, just so they have someone to stand beside.

How can I expect the hurting and hopeless to think, act or respond to these times as I do? Until someone is willing to reach out in faith and obedience to do what Jesus tells us to do; the hurting and hopeless will remain that way and this will continue into the next generation.

My painful times have been bearable because of the comfort I have received from my loved ones. My hope comes from the Lord.

Because of this, I must at least do small things to try to help, until God gives me bigger things to do for Him. I must remember to keep adding these words to my daily prayers, “Lord, please make me a blessing to someone today”. And I must listen and stand beside whoever He tells me should not be standing alone.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:4

Written by
Linda Kinnard

Monday Devotional.......F.R.O.G. ....

                                                                                 ...FULLY RELY ON GOD

Have you ever been thinking of the possibilities involved in something you might be hoping might happen. Maybe there are choices of how to proceed, and you are not sure what you need to do. Questions abound concerning which road to go down and where to begin. Have you relied on yourself only? Or do you seek help from people you think are strong or smart? Are you banking on your own strength to get you out of a problem or to move you to a goal? Are your choices even sinful?

Do you notice anything missing in this way of working on a problem? Where is God in this? What place have you given Him?

In Isaiah God warns the children of Israel against banking on anyone and anything to save them from things that they fear. He speaks to Isaiah saying…

Don’t put your trust in mere humans.

They are as frail as breath.

What good are they?

Isaiah 2:22

He further warns them...

3:1The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,

will take away from Jerusalem and Judah

everything they depend on:

every bit of bread

and every drop of water,

2 all their heroes and soldiers,

judges and prophets,

fortune-tellers and elders,

3 army officers and high officials,

advisers, skilled craftsmen, and astrologers

…………..

3:8 For Jerusalem will stumble,and Judah will fall,

because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him.

They provoke him to his face.

Isaiah 3:1-3,8

I know that there are times when I try to lean on my own understanding and power. Studying Isaiah has brought me an AHA moment. I have realized that to forget to add God into the equation is a big misstep. Such self-centered behavior is defeating. Nothing happens in the world and in life that is not allowed by God. His blessings abound, and I need to invite Him into my life, choices, and problems constantly. The children of Israel did not do that in the time of Isaiah and they were punished for their mistakes. It is also a sad fact that many people are not even aware that they need to turn to God. The result is that they attempt to do everything under their own steam. I believe that God just lets us reap what our behavior and reliance on Him sows…be it good or difficult.

Here is another scripture that has a wonderful promise. Have you ever noticed while you are flailing along trying to decide a course of action, that things start to happen that make clear which is the right way to turn. If you become sensitive to the things God is showing, you will be aware of what should be done at every turn.

I will answer them before they even call to me.

While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers! ~

Isaiah 65:24

I know that I must FULLY RELY ON GOD.

Written by
Corinne Mustafa

SOLDIERS, devotional for Sunday 11/11/12

Today is the actual Veterans Day on the national calendar.  It is a day set aside to honor our armed services veterans for their dedicated service to our country.  They may have served on land or in the air or on the seas.  Their service may have been decades ago, or just this year.  The service they provided may have been on a front line or in an office.  The time they spent in service may have been very short or extended over many years.  No matter when and in what capacity they served, our veterans deserve our special thanks.

There are some other soldiers we need to remember - those who serve in the army of Jesus, soldiers of the cross.  Our ministers/pastors have dedicated their lives to serving their commander, God.  Each of us has likely benefitted in many ways from the pastors that have touched our lives.  They share the Gospel with us and teach us how to apply God's word to our daily lives.  In fact, each one of us has a ministry here on earth.  God gives us each gifts to be used to his glory in the furthering of his Kingdom.  We are all soldiers for the Lord.  Paul's letter to Timothy uses this example:

 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer...   Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.  2 Timothy 2:1-4, 8-10 NIV

Dear Father and commander in Heaven, please give us the strength and the courage to be dedicated soldiers of the cross in the battleground here on earth.  Thank you for giving us the victory of everlasting life in Jesus Christ.  Help us to deliver this gift to others.  May we always be grateful for the gifts of your Holy Spirit and use them to your glory.  In the name of Jesus, whose death and resurrection gives us the victory in heaven. Amen.

written by Jan Andersen

Saturday Devotional...God is on His Throne And...

                                                                                                        ...HE IS IN CONTROL

This is a writing that one of the writers did on the day after Election Day. We are not trying to be overly political here in Women's Focus Ministries. But devotionals reflect thinking and happenings in our lives. We also think that some of these things are on many of our readers minds this week.

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

Today is a sad day, not that it was unexpected, but a faint hope was there that said perhaps we could turn things around. That just maybe we could save America from going further away from God. Our judgment is here and now. We have turned away from God and His commands. We continue to turn to our own ways and understanding. Perhaps it is too easy for us to believe that we are in control of our destiny.

God is on His throne and He is in control of everything. We have sat under this Godless authority for years, and it will continue on a downhill slide, picking up speed as we begin the next four years.

Lord, I pray that You would soften President Obama’s heart. He has confessed You as his Lord, make him true to those words. Bring us all to our knees and cause us to acknowledge our part in the decay of this beautiful country that You gave to us. Lord we deserve Your judgment and Your wrath.

In this time of our deep need,

help us again as you did in years gone by.

And in your anger,

remember your mercy.
  (Habakkuk 3:2)

 

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

 nor the fruit be on the vines,

 though the labor of the olive may fail,

and the fields yield no food,
though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

and there be no herd in the stalls;

yet I WILL rejoice in the Lord,

I WILL joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Written by
Jackie Gilmer
11/7/12

Friday Devotional...Your Answer Is On Its Way

                                  
    ...That takes fairh to believe
 

In the Book of 1st Kings chapter 18, the Bible tells the story of Elijah….the prophet of God. In the day of this prophet it had not rained in a long time, a terrible drought was upon the land. And Elijah began to pray. The word says starting in verse 42 of this chapter that “Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand".

The story goes on to say “And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain”.

Isn’t that faith…. Although the servant would come back time and time again to report to Elijah that there was no rain in sight or on the horizon…Yet Elijah told the servant “Go again seven times” and the servant was obedient unto Elijah’s command.

When we have faith in God, we too can know that the answer is on its way….even when we do not see the immediate results before us. But, if we will continue to pray and believe….maybe more than seven times…..know this ,,, God does hear our plea, our cry and sees our face between our knees. For He will surely open heavens gates for us even if it be minor, and your reign will come even as the size of a man’s hand,

“For your answer is on its way”.

Written by: Glenna Williamson

Thursday Devotional...Struggle and Acceptance

                                     
      ....don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.

2%  If you have been anywhere near a television or radio these last 2 days then you know we are a nation divided. Our President earned a second term in office by 2% (50% of voters chose President Obama, 48% chose Governor Mitt Romney, 2% chose other options). This split was apparent in other issues as well: new taxes, food labeling, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage, etc. Whether an issue passed or not, there was a divide. Some believe we, as a society, should do things one way, while the other portion believes we should do it another way. Both sides are convinced that their way is the best way.

It makes me think of marriage! My marriage has, like many others, been about two people who planned on becoming one but who both felt they knew the best way to make that happen. I wanted things done my way, and if I could make my husband happy as I did things “my way” how convenient! I didn’t actually compromise; I just squeezed him into my plans. It wasn’t until we truly learned to compromise and sacrifice for each other that we began to become stronger in our togetherness. That sounds just like our two major political parties: they propose what they want, then squeeze in a little of the other party’s plans and call it compromise.

There are many good things going on in our country, it is not all bad news. But clearly we are wrestling with some very big problems that the government, no matter how hard it tries, cannot fix for us. We must fix the divide ourselves because in the end we all need to live together in this country. So even when we don’t agree, or see eye to eye, we need to keep going. We must look for and acknowledge each other’s strengths, and be patient with our weaknesses, because we all have them (for all have sinned, see Romans 3:23). The government might be able to provide an empty dumpster but it takes the neighbors, you and me, to begin to clean up a neighborhood.

No matter what the election results have meant to you, whether good news or disappointment, God’s plans for you have not changed.

Jeremiah 29:11 (Amplified Bible)

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,

thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,

to give you hope in your final outcome.

Micah 6:8 (Amplified Bible)

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what GOD is looking for in men and women.

It’s quite simple:
Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.

Dear Lord, thank You for all You have blessed me with. Please help me to recognize how I may be a blessing to someone else this very day. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Wednesday Devotional...The Day After

Today I am doing the devotional. Sandy Billingham who usually does the Wednesday Devotional was unable to do it yesterday. I have some thoughts that are personal, and I think others may be harboring these kinds of thoughts as well. So, I am glad for this opportunity to write today.

When I wrote the Tuesday Devotional, I quoted this scrupture...

If my people,

who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray

and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

I still believe this promise of God. Sometimes how God answers prayer is not in the way I had envisioned.  Also we are told in the Bible that God thinks in different ways than we do. Yesterday's election results is one example of this.

I need to remember that nothing--NOTHING--ever happens that God has not allowed to happen. In a way this is a freeing thought. It shows us that our job is to be the best person we can be, to love and trust God, and to release the things we cannot control to Him.

I come to you with a confession of my sin. I literally put a lot of energy into dispising our President. This is not pleasing to God, and I am repenting. For whatever reason it is what God has allowed for our country. As for me,I plan to clean up my attitude. Hate is a bad thing. If I allow such feelings, it would turn into a cancer of the spirit. It is as harmful as unforgiveness.

Scripture also tells us....

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,
because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.
Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no benefit to you.

2.Hebrews 13:17

I think that there is one thing that, for me, needs to be done. All that I have written above does not mean that I think I need to accept floundering around pushed and pulled by high waves, feeling helpless and hopeless. However, I do need to put a coating of love over all I choose to do. Frost it with a giving attitude and put a candle of prayer to light the darkness--prayer that is to God for what I think bur also to Him with the heartfelt flame of...

          "Thy Will Be Done"

Written by Corinne Mustafa