Changes in Me...Friday

November 14, 2014

I have been going through some challenging times, but, I am currently feeling so blessed.  There is so much to be grateful for.  One of those very grateful things is the changes I have seen in my heart.  It is really hard living on this earth, but, there are so many things our Father does that make life such a blessing.

After working at my current company for over ten years I recently had the worst employment review I have ever had in over thirty-five years of working.   I was very hurt by it and am standing up for some of the judgmental things that were said of me. However, I am also taking it with a change of heart and a message from God that it is time for me to move on.  I have been dedicated and given my all to this company and now at this point in my life things are being taken away from me.  In my opinion, a lot of that is because of one particular person having a personality issue with me.

What I can say is Thank you, Jesus for loving me as much as you do.  For doing all that you do for me and not turning your back on me when I don’t act as you would like me to.  I have that with you, Father, and I will never have that from a human on earth, at least not as perfectly as you.

The other positive about this situation is that I was able to open someone else’s eyes to the behaviors of someone else.  And this person was quite surprised at some truths, but, at the same time so understood, and gets it, so therefore shared with me.  I know that with God on my side it had to get to this point so that I could see the love and find the prize He has for me that is yet to come.

 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; 

I will remove from you your heart of stone 

and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

(NIV)

Written by

Kelly Dobyns

We are not made for ordinary lives..Thursday

11/13/14

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

1 Peter 2:15-16

This morning I was in Bible Gateway looking for a specific verse. I knew what I planned to write about. I am late with this devotional because of some issues that went on last night. When I opened the site the verse they had up for the day is the one I have quoted above. (Now I am saving my planned topic for next week.) 

I started to think of the despair that some have about our country. The list of concerns go on and on. The list is not the same for everyone, but I think it is safe to say that we all do have a list, and it is probably pretty long. 



In the midst of it all we forget the admonition in scripture that says we realize that the people in high places would not be there if God had not allowed them to be there. When I think about it I find myself asking Him a loud, "WHY???" Who knows the mind of God and His reasons for what he allows? On verse (not quoted exactly here) reminds us that He is God and we are not. In the Scripture we find that God had (and probably still does have many reasons for the things that happened through out the time man has known Him. One is to teach and train. At times the need to face punishment for our stubborn ways and sin is behind things people have faced. ("RESPECT AUTHORITY" is the wording...first line...second box...sorry it was not easy to read)

I think that what is written here needs no more explanation from me. I could go on and on, but this is a personal thing that is better done by each individual. Take time to spend with God and let Him guide you in your thoughts and prayers today. You may emerge from this pondering knowing you were meant to thrive.

Written by
Corinne Mustafa

"Trust Fully In The Lord"...Wednesday

11/12/14

Why is it that I would ever doubt our Powerful Lord can handle every difficult situation that I will ever face. He is our ultimate, powerful God and is always ready to take care of His sons and daughters.

In Psalm 37:3 His Word says...

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;

 Dwell in the land,
and feed on His faithfulness."

We are encouraged to Trust in the Lord and Him alone. God is the one that will see us through the storms. God is the one that will help us in our time of trouble. God is the one that will give us full assurance that as we Trust in Him, He is more than able to take good care of us.

He has our very best of interest in mind and knows that as we trust Him we will feel secure in His wonderful arms. There is no other place that I would rather be than in the solid, strong arms of my Blessed Jesus!

In His Arms, 

Sandy Billingham

Organize and Plan....Tuesday

So much to think about. Thanksgiving is less then three weeks away and will be closely followed by Christmas. It is a time of celebration, and it is also a time when busyness can seem to overtake us. That leaves us exhausted and challenged to even relax and enjoy the season. Even more important to worship God for His gifts given during these holidays. The phrase, "Stop and smell the roses." (or the pine needles) comes to mind. 

I am already trying to gear up while it is early so that I will not be crazed at the last minute. Added to the regular needs of the season I will be leaving for Bangladesh two days after Christmas. So added to all the  things to do will be getting gifts to take with us and planning our packing. Just writing about it makes my heart start to beat a little faster. The thing I want to remain unspoiled is my worship and thankfulness to God at both holidays. I also want to remain mindful of the "Reason for the Season." So I have already made my list and checked it lots of times. I am trying to organize and chip away at the things I want to do so that it will not pile into a mountain in December. 

We often think of trying to have the mind of God and of striving to be more like Him. Well there is no scripture showing that God was planning ahead to celebrate holidays and such. However, I found this scripture of how God planned everything from before the time of the foundation of the earth. He planned for His gift of Jesus. He planned for us and our place in the unfolding of His amazing plan. He chose us to become part of His family.

It even says that He found pleasure in planning all these things. Hallelujah!

How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is!
He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ,
and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him.
Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, 

He had us in mind, had settled on us as
the focus of his love, to be made whole 

and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided
to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ.
(What pleasure He took in planning this!)
He wanted us to enter into the celebration of
His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

Ephesians 1:3-6

Father, I want to thank You for the plans You made before time. I am making plans now. I ask you to help me to take the kind of joy in fulfilling these plans I have made as much as you took pleasure in making your plans. Please help me to be organized and realistic of the what needs to be done and to prioritize. Help me to keep the stress at a minimum as I move through the next forty five days. Thank you God. Amen

Written by

Corinne Mustafa

A Dividing Wall.......Monday

What is the worst traffic you have ever been in? Behind an accident when the emergency crew closed all lanes of traffic? Racing through bad weather in order to get home and avoid even worse? Well, 25 years ago this week thousands of Germans sat in huge traffic jams to cross the newly opened border while guards stood back allowing them to come and go. The celebrations surrounding the opening of the borders and the fall of the Berlin Wall were ongoing. A city and a country were no longer to be divided; the people were free to visit family and friends, seek employment, and purchase goods. Their present and their future lives were changed.

For 37 years the Germans had lived with a closed border of concrete and barbed wire. But how many of us create our own borders: walled in by fear, regret, disappointment, or resentment?  I have met people so trapped by something that happened (or didn't happen) that 20 years later it is still their primary focus and everything they discuss comes back to it. I do not want to miss out on the present, or the future, God has for me- because I won't forgive myself, or someone else, or even God, for the past.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander,

as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

Dear Lord, thank You for all of the plans You have for us. For providing a vision of Your love to hold on to when we go through difficult times and challenges. Please search our hearts, and show each of us, any area where we are building walls where they shouldn't be. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

Live Like That performed by Sidewalk Prophets

WAIT!... Sunday

Devotional for 11/9/14

Waiting is so hard, especially when anticipation runs high like with children right before Christmas.  It's not just children who have difficulty waiting, however.  In this day and age when everything is expected to happen right away, even adults can have trouble waiting.  People run red lights to avoid being stuck for one more cycle of the stoplight.  Fast food makes meal time happen even faster than microwaving a frozen dinner.  We get impatient even waiting for something to load on the computer and get upset when it takes more than 10 seconds.  And a whole minute - forget it!  That's just too long.

What about when we are having difficulties?  The tension of waiting is multiplied when we are struggling.  We pray, yet it doesn't seem as though God hears us.  Or He hears us but doesn't care that we are hurting.  And what about when things happen in the world that just don't make sense to us?  We ask, "How long will you let this go on, Lord?"

God has waited for us so many times - I'll go to church next week, I'll give more when I get a raise, I'll pray more starting tomorrow, etc.  And then there are those pesky sins, daily limiting our conscious contact with God, or short comings that keep repeating in our lives.  He is so patient with us and forgiving when we get tripped up on the same issues over and over.  His patience never wears thin, even when we don't realize that what we are doing is wrong.  God gives us the power to turn away from our sins and to follow him, even though he knows we will trip and fall again.

If God can be that patient with us, we should also be patient waiting for him.  Sometimes it seems as if the Lord will never come to our aid.  God is always there, but we aren't always aware of how he is working in our lives.  We can take heart in knowing that He will never let us down - He will always be there for us, but in his own way and his own time.  

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. 

Dear Lord, thank you for all the times you have been patient with me and forgiven me.  Help me to wait for you patiently as well.  May I remember your promise to always be with me and to give me the strength to make it through anything with your help.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen

QUIETNESS...Saturday

 11/8/14

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,

 in quietness and trust is your strength, 

but you would have none of it."

 Isaiah 30:15b

     How much time do you really spend quietly with God?  Many people are so busy they don't have time to work God into their schedules.  This age is addicted to activity.

     The problem is, much of what confronts us in life on a daily basis involves spiritual battles against the enemy, Satan.  We let him gain too many footholds in our lives by not making room for God.

     The best way to gain victory and succeed in life is by spending quiet time with God every day.  Reading God's Word and staying in communication with Him through prayer is the best way to make it through the day's obstacles and challenges.

     Spending quiet time with God will reveal to you that you don't have to be afraid of anything the day can throw at you.  Trust God with every area of your life and know He is with you through everything.  Resting with God is the way to gain your strength.

     Next time you feel defeated, burned out, frustrated, and exhausted -- take a minute to reflect on your schedule to see if you are spending enough quiet time with God.

Written by

Carol Steficek