FREE!... Sunday

Devotional for 5/18/14

Recently a local news station went to many different grocery stores for a whole week and randomly chose people and paid for their groceries.  The reactions ranged from skepticism and disbelief, to surprise and joy.  Some people reluctantly accepted, as if waiting for them to say they had to do something for it.  One person outright asked, "What's the catch?"  Many were happy and grateful.  Several cried out with joy and hugged the giver.  None of those featured declined the free gift.  How would you respond?

We have all received something like this -- a free gift with no catches.  The only choice we have in the matter is whether or not to decline that gift.  Surprisingly, many people pass on the undeserved present.  Some don't even realize what they have been given.  It is the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  This life was given to us when we were dead.  What can a dead person do to get anything?  Nothing!  They are dead.  It is only out of the love God has for us that we are able to receive this free gift.  It is not given based on anything we do or how good we are.  We can't even reach out to grasp it -- we were dead in our sins!  The only choice we have in the matter is whether or not to reject it.  And what of those who don't even know about this free gift?  That is where we come in - we were created to do good works and to witness to the world that they too have this precious free gift. So what are we waiting for? Praise God!

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins...  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved...  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  
        Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, 8-10 (NIV)

written by Jan Andersen

PLEASING GOD...Saturday

 5/17/14

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe 

that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

 Hebrews 11:6

     Many people spend their lives doing good things walking apart from God and expect they are earning a reward from Him.  The sad fact is, that the most important thing for us to have is "faith" in God.

     Faith is not just head knowledge, knowing God exists.  Even Satan knows God exists as he is continually in battle with God for the souls of men.  Faith includes trust.  That means you trust your whole self into the hands of God and seek to fulfill His will for your life.  You live your life wanting to please God more than yourself.

     By the power of the Holy Spirit, God rewards those who seek Him with an intimate relationship with Him.  Scripture says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

   God is pleased when we surrender our lives to Him and live according to what He would have us to do.  Each of us has a calling while on this earth.  Nothing pleases God more than for you to walk in faith with Him and to fulfill your calling.

 Written by
Carol Steficek

Seasons...Friday

May 16, 2014

I opened my journal to write down some thoughts this morning and this is the scripture that was on the page….. 

“There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity under heaven...”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

This has always, always been a favorite verse of mine.  It gives me a feeling of peacefulness, a calmness and contentment.  Being a nervous and worrisome person my whole life, that has been one of the most welcome scriptures for me to read, a much needed serenity for my over thinking mind.  A lot of my life has been spent thinking I should have done a season differently, and over thought WAY too many scenarios of What if or What if I had done this instead…..etc, etc.  God willing, I will not spend this next season repeating those same worries.

As I read that scripture today it was especially meaningful to me.  I am currently focusing my prayer time and training my mind on this new season of my life.  Opening my journal and reading that scripture told me that once again, God knows what I need to see and what I need to do.  He is telling me that I am on the right track.  Having Him give me such sweet little “memos” makes my heart so happy and reassures me that my life has had such a wonderful purpose….all of my life, the challenges, the joys and the rewards He has given me thus far, have all been meant to be.  The direction that I am going now is all meant to be, also.  There is so much wonderment and love throughout all of our life.  With Jesus in our hearts and God on our side there is nothing that we can’t do.  I know I will be able to see more clearly the moments of love that are given to me from my Father above; I will now treasure each and every step of my journey, as long as I keep my focus and heart in the season that God has prepared for me.

Written by

Kelly Dobyns

Rejoice Pt. 2…Thursday

This is part two of a devotional called Rejoice. Part one was posted last Thursday...May 8. You can scroll back to it if you would like to reread it.

5/15/14

Did you know that Paul was in jail at the time he was telling the church to rejoice, to celebrate our God.  Paul shows us that our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances.  Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him.  Our God is with us through all things he does not leave us nor forsake us.  Inward joy can always be ours because we are in the Lord.  In his presence is fullness of joy.  Indulge in him, allow him to wrap his arms around you and then celebrate what he has already done for you, what he is doing for you and thank him ahead of time for what he is going to do in your life.  Paul knew that there was nothing too difficult for our God!

FYI-- Rejoice is said 192 times in the Bible.

Now on to ⁵Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit).

Msg says it this way   Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them

The NIV puts it this way let your gentleness be evident to all. 

Not to some but to all – not to only those who treat you nice – but to even those who are rude, angry, or treat you like scum, etc.

This word "originally indicated a thoughtful, considerate and decent outlook. Rather than hotly demanding his or her rights, whatever the cost to others, a person with this trait seeks peace in a calm way...." This word is "opposite of an angry harshness that grows out of personal pride and a dominating selfishness" (EDBW, pp. 303-304).

—Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary

This is to be shown to all men, family, customers, bosses, patients and co-workers.  If we can do this then we are fulfilling the command.  We are not to hide our light under a bed, it is to shine and to shine brightly for the kingdom of God.  We are not to be as the world.  I want to be that person that people say there is something different about her.  I want them to come up to me and say I want what you have.  I want to be a walking testimony for my God.

Is this easy, heck no.  But with the Holy Spirit living with in I can testify that he reminds us, as we start to go there. It is a gentle reminder to us the Word of God, he will say Kathryn or what ever your name is Let your gentleness be evident to all.  Then it comes down to a choice to what we are going to do.  As for me I want my answer to be yes, let my gentleness be evident to all even this one.  Did my flesh want to, oh no, but I would smile and say yes Lord and my tone would calm back down, the rudeness would go. I so love the Word of God.  I so love the Holy Spirit reminding me of what the Word says.

Written by 
Kathryn Hansen

Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is.....Wednesday

5/14/14                                          

 

As I was in prayer today I had the image of this huge butterfly before me and the word freedom came to my mind as well. I believe the Lord was showing me that the people I was praying for would soon be experiencing His freedom in their life. I sensed that He was reminding me the process that a butterfly goes through before they actually take to flight.

 

While the soon to be butterfly is in the chrysalis, a lot is happening. There is a great deal of transformation taking place which takes approximately 10 - 14 days as a chrysalis. Then the butterfly is ready to emerge. After the butterfly has emerged there is still steps it has to take to be a full fledged butterfly. It's wings are small and wet and the butterfly cannot yet fly. The butterfly must pump fluids from its abdomen through the veins in its wings which cause expansion to full size. Next, the wings must dry and the butterfly must exercise flight muscles before it can fly. After that, and only after that can there be complete freedom for the butterfly to take flight.

 

We are a lot like that butterfly in many ways. Our freedom does not come easy for us in emerging in the fullness of the freedom that the Lord has for us. We may have to walk through much transformation to attain the greatness of freedom the Lord has for us to take flight in Christ.

 

I am reminded of the scripture verse that the Lord desires us to walk in which can only come through having His Spirit living in us and walking closely with Jesus. He tells us... 

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom" 

2 Corinthians 3:17 

In this life we will experience many struggles and it may take a process for us to attain that freedom. But we can be assured that the end result is fresh and full freedom in our Lord, which is a beautiful place to be to exercise our spiritual wings and fly! 

 

In His Freedom, 

Sandy Billingham

Saddle Up...Tuesday

5/13/14

Have you ever felt stuck in a runt? Are you tired of the same old routine and wonder, “Is there more to life than this”? I’m sure we have all found ourselves in this place at one time or another.

 When we first ask Jesus to be Savior and Ruler of our lives, we are filled with excitement as we think about what our days will be like with Him at the helm. It’s hard to contain the joy we feel inside. Everything seems to be brighter, fresher, and more exciting. Each day provides us a new opportunity to share His goodness, mercy, and grace. We wake up with a sense of anticipation as we start the day.

However, something happens as time goes on. We get caught up in the overwhelming tasks laid out before us. Unplanned and unpleasant life events dull our view of life’s joy and suck the enthusiasm right from our very core. The anticipation we once felt seeps from our spiritual veins, leaving us feeling drained and dull. We are left wondering if the adventure we had set out to follow has come to an end. There is nothing more to see or do.

This is not what God desires for our lives. There are many Scripture verses in the Bible that will renew our enthusiasm for life and restore our feeling of anticipation for each new day. 

Psalms 8: 3-4 says, 

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

 what is man that you are mindful of him, 

and the son of man that you care for him?

When we look at nature, we can easily see all the love and creativity that went into God’s creation. Knowing that He put everything into place for our benefit should bring us great joy. God provided us with many lovely things for our enjoyment. As beautiful as a butterfly or flower might be, it is only a taste of what Heaven will be like.

As we follow our Creator we should look at each day like a new adventure, one that leads to eternal bliss. Let’s saddle up our spiritual horses and get back on the path God has laid before each one of us. Open up God’s word and quince your thirst. Feed from the bread of life. Turn on the Christian music and allow it to speak to your soul. Go outside and look at God’s beautiful handiwork. Let every butterfly wing, velvet petal, and drop of dew capture your eye. Give yourself permission to be a child, a child of Gods. 

Today is a new day. 

Written by

Storm H.

Where I End and They Begin.......Monday

5/12/14

I saw the new movie, "Mom's Night Out," which was very enjoyable, I recommend having a friend with you to share the laughter. One of the mom's explains to her teenage daughter that she is being strict with her to protect her from..."Making the mistakes she had made."

Of course, it's what many of us want, for our kid's to benefit from our own errors by learning from them second hand. I want to spare my adult children the pain, grief, regret, and sorrow I knew firsthand; so I warn, and advise, and direct, and lecture, and nag, and nag, and nag.

I always told myself I wouldn't do this. I would be like my wiser and older friends. I would offer advice once, and then step back and allow them the growing opportunity to make their own decisions and to learn from them. Whether their decision has positive or negative results, it's a personal lesson for them. Because no matter how I feel, it's about them, and not me.

"Don't worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done

Philippians 4:6 NLT

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that I can't/shouldn't rescue my adult children from their decisions. Please help me to remember where I end and they begin. Please help me to respect their right to be themselves. I know that the greatest thing we can do for anyone is to pray. Please help me to remember to pray, instead of worrying. Please help me to pray, instead of lecturing. Please help me to accept the outcome, even if it's not something I like. Because, just like in my own life, where You turned my ashes into beauty, my mourning into gladness, You will do the same for them. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins