Devotional for 2/7/13

Nothing versus Something

I feel like I have always been waiting. Waiting for things to change, waiting for more money, waiting for the right time, etc. Each time I go through a change in my life I feel like I am waiting on God to show me the way to go, or, if I know the way but it’s hard or boring I am waiting for God to show me the benefit of doing what I don’t feel like doing. Please forgive my tongue-twisting sentences; this is what my thoughts tend to do when I am in the process of discovering that it is, again, time to, “Wait on God.”

It’s hard to believe that after many years of doing this and doing that, that God would want me to trust and wait. It looks like I’m doing nothing, but inside I am asking Him over and over, am I really just supposed to wait on You? Aren’t there any errands I could run, some few items I could tend to while I am waiting? Isn’t there anything I could do to help?

 Hahaha! I am actually laughing at that last question, because I can see that is the root of my problem, my question. I don’t want to just leave it in God’s hands and trust in His ways and timing. I want to reassure my insecure self that I have done absolutely everything that I could do. Why would that be?

I suspect that I want people to know and think that I have done my best and that I have not failed at my duties and responsibilities. But if I go a little deeper, I discover that my pride wants my actions and life choices to be proven right! Pride is such a sneaky little devil, disguising itself in all sorts of way, and in this case, in the appearance of just wanting to be diligent and helpful.

 

God has told me very clearly in scriptures, and confirmed it through conversations with trusted and mature Christian friends, that God is moving even when I think nothing is happening.  Right now all I am supposed to do is pray, trust, and wait on Him. Who knew that doing ‘nothing’ would be harder than doing ‘something’?

 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. ⁶ Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. ⁷ Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Good News Translation

Dear Lord, thank You for leading us in the way we should go. We trust You and thank You for watching over us. Thank You for hearing every prayer whispered in our hearts. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Devotional for 2/6/13

"Outbursts of Joy"

 

I am so very glad that we serve an exciting God. Our God is not just waiting up in heaven for us to sin, so that He can squash us like an annoying bug. He is not a hard and cold God, but just the opposite my friend. God is full of joy and much laughter. He delights in His people. He is always, with much pleasure making interecession on behalf of us. He joyously spurs us on to do well. God never gives up on us, but is there to help us when we fall with a tender hand and gentle smile. He rejoices over us with singing. And the list goes on!

As it is written in Nehemiah 8:10 " Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

 

It is God that will give us His strength because of His great joy! He is our full source of joy because He is overflowing with joy!

Walk in His jubilant joy today my friend!

In His Radical Love,

Sandy Billingham

Devotional for 2/5/13

 

"Old School"

 

In recent years I have decided to revert to more natural home cleaning remedies and solutions. Oven and bathroom cleaning sessions found me traipsing outdoors even in cold weather. I needed some fresh air to soothe my lungs and windpipe. The harsh chemicals I was using could not possibly be good for me nor for the environment.

I was amazed to find that there were a myriad of old “tried and true” simple natural products which work quite effectively. These concoctions can clean everything from windows and counters to refrigerators and ovens. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are just a few highly effective substances which most of us already have around the house. Many of these solutions work better than commercial chemical products. I've found too that proper diet and lifestyle, while a disciplinary challenge, are beneficial alternatives to pharmaceuticals for good health. These homespun approaches, of course, take more time and effort but they don't have the negative side effects associated with commercial formulas.

 

As I was using “good old” soap and water to clean my kitchen cabinets one morning, the Lord dropped a thought into my heart. These natural “old fashioned” cleaning remedies are in some ways analogous to Biblical solutions to all sorts of maladies. The result of sin and beaking God's laws has been a world plagued with disease, poverty, crime, strife, violence and the break up of families. Government and other worldly sources have all kinds of answers for these dilemmas. But most of these solutions never address the root of these problems. Worldy designs also have negative side effects or ramifications. Building bigger prisons, legalizing alternative family unions, and doling out more and more entitlements only perpetuate society's ills. Only the time tested classic methods declared in God's Word will truly eradicate and heal the world's malaise. Of course, embracing Jesus as Lord of one's life is the first step in being able to receive and comprehend the Bible's wisdom.

Let us then pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out more laborers into His fields. ( Matthew 9:38) Let us continually ask the Father for souls to be saved and the Word of God to go forth. Only then will hearts and minds be changed and true answers to our problems be embraced and employed.

By Cathy Friberg

Devotional for 2/4/13

CHANGE
 

One of the most difficult stressors in my life is change. I get into a comfort zone and dig in my heels, not wanting to move out of it. The problem is that life is filled with change. 

In any life change can be pleasant or unpleasant; we experience it in every stage and season. 

Childhood is one passage when change is nearly constant. 

 

1. A child is the center of existence and then a new sibling is born. There is a humorous poem where an older child says that her momma said that she was wonderful and amazing, Then the child asks: if she is so perfect like her momma said then why did she have her little brother? Change! 

2. Five years go by and a child starts school. All of a sudden his life changes and he is no longer a preschooler who is home most of the time. Change!
 
3. Years go by and with each grade there is a period of adjustment until he becomes comfortable. But growth means going to new schools which means more adjustments. Change! 

4. A family can suffer reversals and a child could end up living in a car or in a shelter. Change! 

5. Death, divorce, and marriage  happens to loved ones, creating more change.Change! 

Change happens to adults as well.  

1. Jobs have to be found and kept. Often a job is not forever, and change is thrust into a life. Change!  

2. The perfect partner is found and promises are made about the commitment of husband and wife; yet sometimes death or divorce happens. Change!
 
3. Children come along and life becomes nothing but change and challenges to be the kind of parent we want to be. Sometimes there are mistakes or miscalculations about what should be done. Change!  

4. The years go by, the children leave, then come back. They bring spouses and grandchildren into our lives. Change!  

5. More passage of time brings retirement and aging. Change!  


So we get it. Every one of us, no matter the details of our individual lives, all go through change.

There is only one constant in life that we can depend on. God will always be there for us. He loves us and forgives us of our misdeeds when we repent. He sent His Son to make salvation a gift to us.

The Bible tells us…

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

~ Hebrews 13:8, NLT

Heavenly Father,

We are so grateful that you treat us in the way that You do. We know that You never change and that we can depend on You. When we deal with difficult changes in our lives we can be confident that You never change. You have been the same and will always be the same throughout eternity. Your promises never change. Your love never changes. We are blessed that in You there is No Change! Amen.

Written by Corinne Mustafa.

I'M DROWNING!

Sunday devotional, 2/3/13

As they sailed, [Jesus] fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.  Luke 8:23-25a NIV

Perhaps you've felt this way before: "If the saying is true, 'when it rains, it pours', then I'm drowning!"  Sometimes I can say I've had one of those days, or one of those weeks.  Well, this year I can already say, I've had one of those months!  Maybe you've had times like this too, or perhaps are going through things that are overwhelming right now.  As for me this year, some of these things are minor, but when they just keep adding up, it seems like a huge wave about to engulf me.

Starting New Year's Eve: my car died and the shops were closed that day and the next, and it ended up being rats had chewed up the wires under the hood ("cha-ching"); our dog had a GI bleed causing black diarrhea at 2 a.m. that required 2 hours to clean up; I had a cancer scare with need to have an unwanted surgery, and the ensuing extended hospital stay due to errors/oversights/poor pain management issues (cha-ching again), and then 6 weeks off work with only partial pay; difficulties getting short term disability even approved in a timely manner and I am still working on getting the appropriate people to fill out the necessary paperwork on a secondary policy to partially make up the pay deficit; my husband injured his shoulder the week after my surgery, requiring spending most of the night at the ER (cha-ching!) and causing both of us to be unable to lift things around the house at the same time... then this week alone: a roof leak that had to be repaired; a furnace not working that had to be fixed; more car repairs for 2 days and at the same time a huge windshield crack requiring replacement (cha-chings deja vu!); the day after getting the car back, had to be towed back to the shop for a stuck parking brake; husband chipped a tooth and has to get a root canal (cha-ching!); discovered my psych nurse practitioner has cut back the days she is in the office where I see her, but they didn't notify me; husband finally had his shoulder MRI (2 weeks after injury) and now he can't get the results for another 2 weeks to see if he needs surgery... you get the picture. 

Taken individually these things are mostly minor with only a few significant scares.  But added together and all in one short time period, they could really cause a lot of stress.  Surprisingly, God has been gracious.  While I have had my moments, overall I have come out calm and trusting that God has it all handled.  He even saw to it that I am off work for 6 weeks total so that I have had time to deal with all these things!  I just have to remember to keep coming to him in prayer and laying it all at his feet.  God doesn't just observe us struggling, He comes to us and helps bring us through.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  Isaiah 43:2a NIV

So when you feel like you are drowning, remember - your Life-preserver walks on water!

written by Jan Andersen 

Devotional for 2/02/13

The Hummingbird

 

As I stood just outside of our garage (the big garage doors were closed, but the side entry door was open), I noticed that Sam, our black lab, was jumping up trying to get something. I went in to investigate, and there I saw a tiny hummingbird trying to get out of the closed window. Apparently, the attraction that drew him into the garage was the red on our lawnmower. The poor thing couldn't figure out how to get out and tried in vain to get through the closed window, exhausting himself.

 

As I tried to steer the tiny creature out the open door, Sam was no help, and the poor bird was panicked. Ultimately, he stopped (I think maybe on the windowsill, but not sure about this), and I gently put him in my hand and took him outside where I put a drop of water in my palm and delicately pushed his beak toward the water. He drank a little and stayed in my hand for a few more moments before he flew away to his own home.

 

This reminded me that at times we race around, like a hummingbird in a shoebox, but when we want to approach the Lord, we should do it with a quiet heart. Put away distractions. Then He will give us that living water so that we may face the day and the challenges ahead of us.

Jan Baguley

written 1/30/13

Devotional for 2/01/13

Consider Your Ways

Proverbs 4:23-27

Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life. 

Put away from thee a froward mouth,
and preverse lips put far from thee.

Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet,
and let all thy ways be established. 

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: 

remove thy foot from evil.

 

The sense of "keep your heart" is that we need to exert more vigilance in guarding our minds than men do over anything else. Governments go to great pains to guard their installations, plans, and secrets, but God says that it is even more important to guard what we allow to reside in our minds.

Why is this is so important? Because our hearts, our minds, guide and direct everything we do, and if we do not guard and protect it from the ungodly ideas, beliefs, and entertainments, it can cause our spiritual downfall. It is in our minds and hearts that our characters are shaped, and if we allow perverse and unrighteous character to enter, the righteous character that God wants to see in us will never form.

The other instructions that Solomon gives spring from this. He tells us to ponder and control what comes out of our mouth and what we allow our eyes to view. He teaches us to make sure our feet stay on the right path, as well as to work on establishing our habits and manner of living, meaning we should not become involved in insensitive, hasty, careless, and destructive actions. The prophet Haggai puts all this very concisely, "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5, 7)

— John O. Reid

Shared by Glenna Williamson