Matthew 21:22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
I have a bad habit of leaving church bulletins in my Bible right along with those cute, little, laminated, 2" by 3" cards. The ones by the cash register in the Christian book stores. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones you can put in your pocket and pass on to a friend.
Well the other day while I was looking for verses to go along with my devotionals one of those cute little cards fell out of my Bible. It said "A day hemmed with prayer rarely unravels".
I started thinking back to another time in my life. Back when I thought just because I was a Christian I didn't need to say a prayer in the morning. Prayer at night was enough, after all I did thank God for giving me the day. What more could He want?
Fast forward to today living my Christian life. You see I accepted Jesus when I was sixteen but did not always live a life reflecting that. When in trouble I asked for help and God, who is a loving God, was always there to keep me safe and answer me.
I could go into detail but that's not the point. Now I start my day with prayer and end it in prayer. I praise God for allowing me to see another day. I thank Him at night for seeing me through the day He gave me. I have quiet time with Him in the morning when I read His Word. I talk to Him, not in words that are flowered, prim, and proper. That's not who I am. I talk to Him as if He is my daddy, and He is my daddy. My Heavenly daddy.
Most Gracious Abba Father thank you for listening to me when I am sad, when I am happy, and most of all thank you for being my Daddy. Amen.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
God Is Just
Nehemiah Chapter 9: 29-31 NAS
Verse 29: God admonished them in order to turn them back to Thy law. Yet they acted arrogantly an did not listen to Thy commandments but sinned against Thine ordinances. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
When things weren't going their way they turned their backs on God and started worshiping idols. Reminds me of my childen. When they've been told no to something they go behind my back and do it any way. They know better than I do.
Verse 30: However, Thou didst bear with them for many years. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore Thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Although I do not like to have to punish my child for their wrong doing, I know that I need to because of their disobedience.
Verse 31: Nevertheless, in Thy great compassion Thou didst not make an end of them or forsake them. For Thou art a gracious and compassionate God. Because I love my child I will not forsake them for their wrong doing. Like my Heavenly Father, who loves me, I let my child know I do not like what they've done but I'll always love them.
Praise God for His love, because I know I have been a disobedient child at times in my life. I thought I knew what was best for me. How could I trust a God I could not see or feel? Life is the present and what I can touch and smell.
How wrong I was. After I confessed my sins and opened my heart to God, He has been present in my life. Its the peace I feel, the tugging on my heart when I see someone hurting. The wanting to help others who are less fortunate than myself. And I cannot out give my God. The more I give the more I receive.
Dear Father thank you for being my Father and present in my life. Amen.
Verse 29: God admonished them in order to turn them back to Thy law. Yet they acted arrogantly an did not listen to Thy commandments but sinned against Thine ordinances. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
When things weren't going their way they turned their backs on God and started worshiping idols. Reminds me of my childen. When they've been told no to something they go behind my back and do it any way. They know better than I do.
Verse 30: However, Thou didst bear with them for many years. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore Thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Although I do not like to have to punish my child for their wrong doing, I know that I need to because of their disobedience.
Verse 31: Nevertheless, in Thy great compassion Thou didst not make an end of them or forsake them. For Thou art a gracious and compassionate God. Because I love my child I will not forsake them for their wrong doing. Like my Heavenly Father, who loves me, I let my child know I do not like what they've done but I'll always love them.
Praise God for His love, because I know I have been a disobedient child at times in my life. I thought I knew what was best for me. How could I trust a God I could not see or feel? Life is the present and what I can touch and smell.
How wrong I was. After I confessed my sins and opened my heart to God, He has been present in my life. Its the peace I feel, the tugging on my heart when I see someone hurting. The wanting to help others who are less fortunate than myself. And I cannot out give my God. The more I give the more I receive.
Dear Father thank you for being my Father and present in my life. Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A HATRED HEART
Leviticus 19:17 NSA
You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.
I write this devotional with a heavy heart. A loved one is going through some trying times and has become hateful towards relatives because of things that have happened to her. Her children have turned from her. I've tried talking to her but now she has cut me off.
Life sometimes deals us a nasty blow. How do we deal from that blow? Do we wallow in the mire and make it miserable for everyone around us? Do we seek Jesus or do we handle it by ourselves?
God says in Psalm 9:9 that He will be a stronghold for the oppressed, in times of trouble. 1 Peter 3:14 says do not be troubled.
If God's Word tells us this then we should lean on Him. Go to Him and tell Him how you feel, tell Him you are hurting, that life isn't fair, and tell Him you don't know where to go from here. His presence will give you the peace you are seeking.
That doesn't mean everything is going to be better from there on out. Each day is a learning opportunity by going to Jesus and asking Him to carry your burdens and give you direction. He will never let you down. Life won't be easier but it's lighter knowing you have Him holding you up each day.
Dear Father in Heaven forgive me when I try to muddle through my life without your help. I pray you give me the strength to take each day at a time. Amen.
You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.
I write this devotional with a heavy heart. A loved one is going through some trying times and has become hateful towards relatives because of things that have happened to her. Her children have turned from her. I've tried talking to her but now she has cut me off.
Life sometimes deals us a nasty blow. How do we deal from that blow? Do we wallow in the mire and make it miserable for everyone around us? Do we seek Jesus or do we handle it by ourselves?
God says in Psalm 9:9 that He will be a stronghold for the oppressed, in times of trouble. 1 Peter 3:14 says do not be troubled.
If God's Word tells us this then we should lean on Him. Go to Him and tell Him how you feel, tell Him you are hurting, that life isn't fair, and tell Him you don't know where to go from here. His presence will give you the peace you are seeking.
That doesn't mean everything is going to be better from there on out. Each day is a learning opportunity by going to Jesus and asking Him to carry your burdens and give you direction. He will never let you down. Life won't be easier but it's lighter knowing you have Him holding you up each day.
Dear Father in Heaven forgive me when I try to muddle through my life without your help. I pray you give me the strength to take each day at a time. Amen.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
MAN'S BREATH
Psalm 144:4 Man is like breath, his days are like a fleeting shadow. NIV
I read this verse a few days ago and wrote it down. It has plagued me each day as I sat at my computer. I've dismissed it but somehow it keeps looming back up.
Each day passes by so fast I cannot even begin to get all the things done that I want to do. By the end of the day I've gotten upset with myself because I did not write any new pages to my novel. With this snail crawl I'll never get it finished.
Oh, I get up early enough, but then it's take care of this, take care of that, lawn, laundry, dusting, vacuuming, running errands, do this for one of the kids, do that for another one of the kids, whew!!! Then it's time to fix dinner and spend time with hubby.
When I was growing up each day seemed to linger. I could lay in the grass and watch the clouds float across the sky. Skip rocks on the pond, ride my bike, play marbles, skip a rope, and maybe sit and read a book. Life drug on each day. I looked forward to my birthday with great anticipation, Christmas, school letting out for summer vacation, and then autumn when school would begin again.
I look back and wonder where did all those days, weeks, months, and years go. I grew up, went to school, fell in love, got married, had children, raised children, and now I'm in the autumn of my life. My life went by too fast. Yes, I still have a lot of years left but the growing up of my life seems like a blur, a fleeting shadow.
My life has been blessed because I'm a child of God. He has given me strength to begin each day. My fortress in whom I trust. He gave me salvation when I asked Him for forgiveness of my sins. He is my shield and my protector.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for being my shelter, provider,and armor. Amen.
I read this verse a few days ago and wrote it down. It has plagued me each day as I sat at my computer. I've dismissed it but somehow it keeps looming back up.
Each day passes by so fast I cannot even begin to get all the things done that I want to do. By the end of the day I've gotten upset with myself because I did not write any new pages to my novel. With this snail crawl I'll never get it finished.
Oh, I get up early enough, but then it's take care of this, take care of that, lawn, laundry, dusting, vacuuming, running errands, do this for one of the kids, do that for another one of the kids, whew!!! Then it's time to fix dinner and spend time with hubby.
When I was growing up each day seemed to linger. I could lay in the grass and watch the clouds float across the sky. Skip rocks on the pond, ride my bike, play marbles, skip a rope, and maybe sit and read a book. Life drug on each day. I looked forward to my birthday with great anticipation, Christmas, school letting out for summer vacation, and then autumn when school would begin again.
I look back and wonder where did all those days, weeks, months, and years go. I grew up, went to school, fell in love, got married, had children, raised children, and now I'm in the autumn of my life. My life went by too fast. Yes, I still have a lot of years left but the growing up of my life seems like a blur, a fleeting shadow.
My life has been blessed because I'm a child of God. He has given me strength to begin each day. My fortress in whom I trust. He gave me salvation when I asked Him for forgiveness of my sins. He is my shield and my protector.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for being my shelter, provider,and armor. Amen.
Monday, July 23, 2012
BLESSED
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. Romans 4:8 NIV
I wrote this verse down this morning during my quiet time. It has stuck with me all day, gnawing at me, as if God Himself was saying I want you to write about this. Every time I sat down at the desk I pushed the note around trying to dismiss it. But when God wants you to do something, you need to do it.
Satan has a way of sneeking in to my subconscious every now and then to remind me of the things I've done that were not up to par. But I know, from this verse, I count myself blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine. I know my Lord has forgiven all my sins and will never bring them up again.
I could go on and list them. I know what they were, God knows what they were, and for sure Satan knows. The difference is Satan wants to keep reminding me but God has wiped them clean. Never to be brought up again.
Dear Father thank you for wiping my slate clean. Amen.
I wrote this verse down this morning during my quiet time. It has stuck with me all day, gnawing at me, as if God Himself was saying I want you to write about this. Every time I sat down at the desk I pushed the note around trying to dismiss it. But when God wants you to do something, you need to do it.
Satan has a way of sneeking in to my subconscious every now and then to remind me of the things I've done that were not up to par. But I know, from this verse, I count myself blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine. I know my Lord has forgiven all my sins and will never bring them up again.
I could go on and list them. I know what they were, God knows what they were, and for sure Satan knows. The difference is Satan wants to keep reminding me but God has wiped them clean. Never to be brought up again.
Dear Father thank you for wiping my slate clean. Amen.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
STAND FIRM
I Corinthians 16:13 NAS
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
My husband and I decided it was time to sell our rental house so we contacted a realtor friend of ours to discuss our options and what we needed to do. We had downsized about four years ago but the market for housing sales wasn't too good at the time. So we thought it was best to rent the house.
Our realtor put everything together for us and contacted the tenants. Our home would soon be vacant and that meant two house payments again. We had been loosing quite a bit of money each month to begin with, but with the thought of now another payment, well it was a bit over whelming.
I go to God with all kinds of I wants and please let me have this or that. So going to Him about the sale of the house was natural. I know in my heart and mind God is in control. I also know it is in His timing and not mine. After praying I felt at peace knowing He will take care of it.
But there it was......that little nudging began. Satan sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear. What if the house doesn't sell right away? What if the house will need so many repairs you will be deeper in debt? What if, what if, what if........ Satan has a way of worming his way into your everyday life ever so subtly. You start to doubt.
Knee time.
Dear Father I am so glad I can turn to you for everything. Thank you for taking care of my life. I know I am not in control, You are. Thank you for loving me and keeping the evil one where he belongs, far from me. Amen.
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
My husband and I decided it was time to sell our rental house so we contacted a realtor friend of ours to discuss our options and what we needed to do. We had downsized about four years ago but the market for housing sales wasn't too good at the time. So we thought it was best to rent the house.
Our realtor put everything together for us and contacted the tenants. Our home would soon be vacant and that meant two house payments again. We had been loosing quite a bit of money each month to begin with, but with the thought of now another payment, well it was a bit over whelming.
I go to God with all kinds of I wants and please let me have this or that. So going to Him about the sale of the house was natural. I know in my heart and mind God is in control. I also know it is in His timing and not mine. After praying I felt at peace knowing He will take care of it.
But there it was......that little nudging began. Satan sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear. What if the house doesn't sell right away? What if the house will need so many repairs you will be deeper in debt? What if, what if, what if........ Satan has a way of worming his way into your everyday life ever so subtly. You start to doubt.
Knee time.
Dear Father I am so glad I can turn to you for everything. Thank you for taking care of my life. I know I am not in control, You are. Thank you for loving me and keeping the evil one where he belongs, far from me. Amen.
Monday, May 7, 2012
PSALM 105
Psalm 105: 1-4 NIV
1. Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Call on Him and His holy name, El Elyon, The Most High God; Jehovah, The Lord That Healeth; Adonai, Lord, Master
Let Him know what He has done in your life and thank Him for it. Give praises to His Holy Name.
2. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Shout for joy and give Him recognition for your health, your family, your spouse, your job and the money to pay your bills. Praise Him for each day He gives you, for the ability to see and smell the flowers or the fresh rain He has sent you. Praise Him for the deep valleys you walk through.
3. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Give Him all the glory that is due Him. Without Him there was and is nothing. No majestic, snow, covered mountains, deep gorges with rivers running through, forrests filled with trees and animals, no birds of the air, no sun or moon.
4. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Ask Him, El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One, to be with you every day and to guide you in all you do. Meditate with Him, clear your mind and speak to Him. Let Him be your refuge daily. Without Him you could not walk through those deep valleys.
Dear Heavenly Father fill me with spirit each day and guide me to do Your will and not mine. Thank you for all You do in my life. Amen.
1. Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Call on Him and His holy name, El Elyon, The Most High God; Jehovah, The Lord That Healeth; Adonai, Lord, Master
Let Him know what He has done in your life and thank Him for it. Give praises to His Holy Name.
2. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Shout for joy and give Him recognition for your health, your family, your spouse, your job and the money to pay your bills. Praise Him for each day He gives you, for the ability to see and smell the flowers or the fresh rain He has sent you. Praise Him for the deep valleys you walk through.
3. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Give Him all the glory that is due Him. Without Him there was and is nothing. No majestic, snow, covered mountains, deep gorges with rivers running through, forrests filled with trees and animals, no birds of the air, no sun or moon.
4. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Ask Him, El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One, to be with you every day and to guide you in all you do. Meditate with Him, clear your mind and speak to Him. Let Him be your refuge daily. Without Him you could not walk through those deep valleys.
Dear Heavenly Father fill me with spirit each day and guide me to do Your will and not mine. Thank you for all You do in my life. Amen.
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