The Power of Jesus...Friday

7/18/14 

I find myself having a much happier heart and a smile on my face more often now that I let the power of Jesus control my emotions.  Yes, I get the negative thoughts with the current depression I am going through, as well as the instant irritability that comes along with this time of my life; however, I am not allowing them to control my life.

I love being able to hand over my problems to the Lord.  Being the silly human that I am, I must do that continually throughout all days, but, instead of getting upset with myself over having to repeat this task so many times, I revel in the joy of having to stop my thoughts and reroute them to the happy and serene place that God has provided for me.

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save

 he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;

 he will exult over you with loud singing.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, 

the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those 

who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.

The comfort and security that I receive when I go through these thoughts just amazes me.  I can be feeling so low and the light goes on telling me that there is no reason for me to feel that way.  I have been saved by the everlasting love of my Father.  He has done the ultimate for me and for all of you, as well.

John 3:16
 (ESV)

  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

When I turn my thoughts to Jesus and thank Him for being my hero, I know that whatever my current earthly problem is I will come out better on the other side and travel through it with a love and peacefulness. I know I would not have this without my Jesus by my side.  I have so many silly little issues right now that I have been not liking to deal with, but, I know that I can deal with them and the guidance I am receiving from God along the way is certainly making this season a happy one that is going to be the time of my life.  

Thank you, Jesus!!  I praise you!!

Written by 

Kelly Dobyns

“Free Will...Part 1 of 4”

This is a writing that technically is not in the usual form of a devotional. It is a thought provoking teaching about Free Will. This is the first installment and the rest of it will be posted on on the next three Thursdays. I would like to suggest that you make a copy of this and save it where you can read it whenever you feel moved to and really think it over. Please feel free to make comments as you study. You can post then in the comments or mail them to me and I will post them for you. ( corinnemustafa@gmail.com  )

God bless

Corinne

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

7/17/14

I was challenged with a question and a couple of statements that sent me seeking and searching the Word of God. 

• The question, “Is God in control of everything?”
• The statements; God allows bad things to happen to us to teach us lessons and when no one knows what else to say when things bad do happen they say God is Sovereign.

None of these set right in me, so that question and those statements started me seeking and searching to find answers.  I would ask that you would read all that I have found with the help of the Holy Spirit, please consider, chew on and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you before disregarding.

 

A question I propose to you...If God was in control of everything would you have free will?  Would you have a choice?  Would you be able to choose your path?

First I did some seeking on what the definition of the following words meant.

• Control-To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; to adjust to a requirement; regulate; to hold in restraint
• Everything- all that exists
• Sovereign- A: one possessing or held to possess sovereignty                      B: one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere                      C: an acknowledged leader

Sovereignty-

1:    supreme excellence or an example of it
2 a: supreme power especially over a body politic

2 b: freedom from external control      

2 c: controlling influence

Choice-

1: the act of choosing: 

2: power of choosing:

Free Will-

1: voluntary choice or decision (I do this of my own free will)

Question, did God give you free will, did he give you a choice?  If God was in control would we then have free will or a choice?  When God created the heavens and the earth he gave the earth to man to have dominion over.

And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, 

and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; 

and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, 

and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. 
Genesis 1:28

The heavens are the Lord's heavens, 

but the earth has He given to the children of men.  

Psalm 115:17

 When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,

    What is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?

    Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], 

and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

    You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet. 

Psalm 8:3-6

 It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, 

What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man 

that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?

    For some little time You have ranked him 

lower than and inferior to the angels; 

You have crowned him with glory and honor 

and set him over the works of Your hands,

    For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. 

Now in putting everything in subjection to man, 

He left nothing outside [of man's] control. 

But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man].  

Hebrews 2:6-8

Written by 

Kathryn Hanson

End of Part 1
Part 2 will be posted on Thursday, July 24.

"Diligently Seek The Lord"...Wednesday

 7/16/14 

 

I am ever so blessed that we have a God that does not lie. He does exactly what He says He will do in His Word. He never goes back on His promises. We can fully trust in the Lord without hesitation. Having a relationship with God is a great motivating factor in getting out of bed each and every morning!

 

I was reminded of His Word today out of Hebrews 11:6 

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, 

for he who comes to God must believe that He is, 

and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

 

That word rewarder in the English dictionary means: to give a reward to; a satisfying return or result. Through faith in Christ, in fully believing His Word completely, it pleases our Lord. He never wants us to second guess His Word, but to expect He will fulfill all that He says He will do. We can be confident that He will never go back on His Word as we come to Him with great diligence.

 

He delights in His children and is well pleased when we fully walk in faith believing that He is the only True God. Our Abba Daddy will richly reward us as we diligently and fervently seek His face holding nothing back!

 

He truly is our everything and a God worth serving with every fiber within us!! There's none like Him and never will be!

In His Radical Love, 

Sandy Billingham

City on a Hill...Tuesday

7/15/14

There is a song called City on a Hill that is sung by the group called Casting Crowns. When I listen to the words of the song I think about all the people who have left the church for one reason or another. Sometimes people leave because the Pastor refuses to preach what their itching ears want to hear. Sometimes people leave because the pastor is preaching what itching ears want to hear, even if it means sugar coating Scripture or worse, twisting it to make a wrong seem right. Some people leave because their heart or pride has been wounded. Others leave because they do not feel welcomed. Sadly, there are too many churches out there with empty pews. A great deal of these pews remain empty because churches have fallen short of God’s plan for His people. The light from the city has become dull. 

God wants us to be united, grounded in His word. He desires for His people to be lights in this dark world. We are supposed to be helping each other out. Instead, many people who claim to be followers of Christ are doing more harm than good. The Holy Spirit calls Christians to lift each other up, be a beacon to the lost, offer a word of encouragement to the broken hearted, welcome the unwanted, etc. Unfortunately, some Christians are so busy gossiping, complaining, comparing their lives to others, and being judgmental that it is becoming hard to tell a Christian from a non-believer.

Here are a few common comments non-believers say about Christians according to Thom S. Rainer from the Christian Post (2012)….

1. Christians are against more things than they are for...
   "It just seems to me that Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative that they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time."

2.   I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.
     "I'm really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian that would be willing to spend some time with me."

3.   I don't see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.
      "I really can't tell what a Christian believes because he doesn't seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously."

We are the city on the hill. Our light should reflect Jesus Christ and it should draw the lost into the fold. There are many Scriptures verses that teach how followers of Jesus should act, not just behind the four walls of a church, but in our everyday walk.

\                                      Hebrews 10:24-25 says, 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, 

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

1 John 2:6 states, 

“Whoever says he abides in him
ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

2 Timothy 2:15 reveals,
"Do your best to present yourself to God
as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
 rightly handling the word of truth.”

Let the city on the hill shine again! Let God’s people come together, with one purpose, one goal. To help bring as many lost souls to Christ as we can, while there is still time.

Written by 

Storm Hendrickson

Lyrics

VERSE 1:
Did you hear of the city on a hill?
Said one old man to the other
It once shined bright and it would be shining still
But they all started turning on each other

VERSE 2:
You see the poets thought the dancers were shallow
And the soldiers thought the poets were weak
And the elders saw the young ones as foolish
And the rich man never heard the poor man speak

CHORUS:
And one by one they ran away
With their made up minds to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade in the city on a hill
The city on a hill

VERSE 3:
Each one thought that they knew better
But there were different by design
Instead of standing strong together
They let their differences divide

CHORUS 2:
And one by one they ran away
With their made up minds to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade in the city on a hill
The city on a hill
And the world is searchin' still

BRIDGE:
But it was the rhythm of the dancers that gave the poets life
It was the spirit of the poets that gave the soldiers strength to fight
It was the fire of the young ones, it was the wisdom of the old
It was the story of the poor man that needed be told

It is the rhythm of the dancers that gives the poets life
It is the spirit of the poets that gives the soldiers strength to fight
It is the fire of the young ones, it is the wisdom of the old
It is the story of the poor man that's needing to be told

CHORUS 3:
One by one, will we run away?
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade in the city on a hill?
One by one, will we run away?
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade in the city on a hill?
The city on a hill

END:
Come home
And the Father's calling still
Come home
To the city on the hill
Come home

What We Don't Know....Monday

7/14/14

He looked at me with big brown eyes. It was a warm morning and it appeared as if he'd been in the heat for awhile. Crossing the street in front of my car he seemed to know where he was going and it took me a few moments to realize he was on his own. Rolling down my car window I called to him like I would my own dog, a sweet nothing that is meant to coax and reassure. Stopping he looked at me, with relief? or just natural interest?

Getting out of the car I kept talking to him and his head perked up as he headed towards me. A few pats on his head while I read his tag and I knew right where he belonged. I opened the passenger door and Angel the brindle-colored bull dog hopped right in. As I walked back to the driver's door he followed me into the driver's seat, laughingly I told him to get back, and he quickly and obediently went to the passenger seat and then the back seat as I drove around the block looking for his house number.

No one was home, so I tried the gate, Angel casually led me into his domain and picked up a ball. I took a quick walk around his territory looking for his escape hatch. The culprit was a second gate that had been left open. As I said goodbye to Angel and went about my day I thought about how the owner might never know the trouble they had been spared because God had put Angel in my path and I had tended to him. It reminded me of the verse about God knowing and caring when every bird dies and how much more He cares about His children:

What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right?

And God cares what happens to it even more than you do.

He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail

—even numbering the hairs on your head!

 So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk.

 You’re worth more than a million canaries.

Matthew 28:29-31 MSG 

Dear Lord, thank You for all of the things You do for me that I am not even aware of. I praise You for all of the unknown blessings in my life. If I understood all that You have brought me through, the last thing I would worry about is "How am I going to make it?" I thank You Lord for what I do not know. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by 
Mary M. Wilkins

Amy Grant performing "Angels"

 

INNER CHILD... Sunday

Devotional for 7/13/14

In psychology, our "inner child" is considered to be our childlike aspect, things we learned and experienced as children, especially those unresolved and lingering dysfunctional effects of childhood experiences.  People in counseling or recovery groups are often encouraged to get in touch with their inner children, such as by healing them (grieving the wounds suffered as children), embracing and spending time with them, loving, accepting, and soothing (fears and insecurities), reclaiming and championing them.  Sometimes more than one inner child or stage is identified.  They are often subconscious or difficult to understand without help.  

Perhaps we all need to get in touch with our spiritual inner child.  As we find those areas where our souls are wounded, we come to God for healing from the inside.  We can embrace our forgiven, healed children of God in faith.  Children are special in God's eyes.  It is not childishness but child-like faith that is desired.  He wants us to accept Him unconditionally, with full trust and awe.  As forgiven children of God, we are heirs to the Kingdom of heaven.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  Galatians 3:26 (NIV)

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

Dear Father in heaven,  you know our inner most parts, the inner child in each of us.  Where there are wounds and hurts, let there be your healing that you have prepared in advance for us.  Forgive us for anything we have done that is not pleasing to you, including when we have hurt others or even ourselves, our own inner child.  Help us learn to forgive ourselves too.  Thank you for loving us so much that you sent  your own son as a little child to come into this world to be our Savior.  Through your Spirit give us the gift of faith like that of a trusting child, and help us to share that faith with others so that they too may become children of God.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen

BAPTISM...Saturday

                                                                                  

"We were therefore buried with him 

through baptism into death in order that, 

just as Christ was raised from the dead 

through the glory of the Father, 

we too may live a new life."

Romans 6:4

    

Do you know that in the eyes of God you have two birthdays?  Everyone celebrates their 'birthday' -- the day we were born into this world.  However, how many of you remember and celebrate an even more important day -- the day you were baptized?

     My Mother's birth certificate is framed and hanging in our living room.  It is beautifully done in ink and calligraphy -- depicting angels holding an open Bible and Jesus holding a lamb in His arms. 

     The day of your baptism is indeed a special day.  With the water and the Word you became a child of God and heir of heaven through Jesus Christ.

     Life on earth is temporary and short at best, even if you live to be 100.  Baptism marks the day when you will live forever with God.  Remember this year to celebrate the day you were 'born again.'!

Written by
Carol Steficek