Ecclesiastes 4:10 NAS
Pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.
For the past two days I've been reading Ecclesiastes and it has made me take a hard look at my life, a hard look at me. The me that will go out and buy a new blouse to make me feel good or because nothing in my closet fit just right this morning. The me that needed one more thing in my craft room because I knew I had one but couldn't find it. My craft room is full of stuff.
All of this stuff is meaningless. When I die there will be no luggage rack on the top of the hearst taking my body to the cemetery. I cannot stuff goodies in the casket with me hoping to use them later.
What I need to be looking at is what have I done in my life, not the things, or stuff I have in my life. Did I really take the time to talk to my neighbor instead of waving at them when they pulled out of the driveway this morning? Did I listen to my children when they tried to get my attention wanting to talk. Did I brush them off and say later, perhaps when I have more time.
For the homeless have I helped serve them a meal, speak to them about Jesus, give them a blanket to keep them warm, or just sit and listen to them talk? The widows in the nursing home, did I take time to brush their hair, hold their hand when they were feeling alone, or read to them because their eyes are failing them.
Ecclesiastes has opened my eyes.
Dear Father thank you for opening my eyes. Forgive me for my short comings and I pray with Your help to be the person You want me to me. Amen.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
GOD TALKING
Isaiah 6:4 NAS
And the foundations of the thresholds tremembled at the voice of him who called out.
While the granddaughter was visiting she told me she took my three year old, great, granddaughter to Vacation Bible School at a Catholic Church this summer. One day she was early so she slipped inside the door, and they were praying. She tried to be quiet but her daughter looked up and saw her. She said. "Mom it's God. God's talking."
Out of the mouths of babes. Or is it? Have you stopped to think about God talking to you? I'd like to think that when I get a certain tugging on my heart, my mind, or whatever you want to call it, it's God talking to me. You might say it's your conscience.
God is gentle, kind, all knowing, loving, merciful, mighty, and slow to anger. When He speaks mountains bow down, thunder rolls, lightening cracks across the sky. Foundations tremble and oceans pound at the surf.
God speaks to each one of us differently. He may appear in your dreams, whisper in your ear, or tug at your heart. Your inner being. He wants and waits to talk to you.
Abba Father thank you for wanting to talk to me, your daughter. Amen.
And the foundations of the thresholds tremembled at the voice of him who called out.
While the granddaughter was visiting she told me she took my three year old, great, granddaughter to Vacation Bible School at a Catholic Church this summer. One day she was early so she slipped inside the door, and they were praying. She tried to be quiet but her daughter looked up and saw her. She said. "Mom it's God. God's talking."
Out of the mouths of babes. Or is it? Have you stopped to think about God talking to you? I'd like to think that when I get a certain tugging on my heart, my mind, or whatever you want to call it, it's God talking to me. You might say it's your conscience.
God is gentle, kind, all knowing, loving, merciful, mighty, and slow to anger. When He speaks mountains bow down, thunder rolls, lightening cracks across the sky. Foundations tremble and oceans pound at the surf.
God speaks to each one of us differently. He may appear in your dreams, whisper in your ear, or tug at your heart. Your inner being. He wants and waits to talk to you.
Abba Father thank you for wanting to talk to me, your daughter. Amen.
COMPANY
The second thing that has held my writing back is company. Now mind you I LOVE my family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. But it slows the mind, my mind down. I got up early, extra early, but that didn't help. So I am trusting God to make the time and give me His insight on what He wants me to say.
Oh yes, company went home. It was a nice visit though.
Oh yes, company went home. It was a nice visit though.
COMPUTER PROBLEMS
Well here it is......I have been having computer problems for a couple of weeks, so there has not been any devotionals. The problem was the wiring coming in from the house. Hopefully that is corrected and I can get back to doing what I like to do. WRITE!!! AND praising God's love and grace.
Thank you for bearing with me.
Thank you for bearing with me.
Monday, August 20, 2012
A DAY HEMMED IN PRAYER
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.
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.
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.
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