Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-8
In verses 1-5 the Pharisees and religious leaders are asking Jesus why the disciples didn’t wash properly before meals. And in the verses that follow Jesus will tell them like it is and He starts by calling them hypocrites. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13. I have this written in my Bible; “Lord, I don’t ever want this said about me.” See Jesus is after my heart and He can see if the actions, motives, and thoughts I have reflect my true heart. I have been reading my prayer journal from 2006 and on January 31 I wrote, “Father, I want You to say of me: she always wants to say the right thing from the heart and have Jesus glorified. She truly worships me and she means, purposes, to worship me and it shows. She only wants to teach and live by My Word, she purposes to follow and obey My Word and not go the way of the world. Lord, give me a heart that pleases You – seeks after You. Lord, I never want You to look at me and say, “Jackie, you’re acting like a Pharisee.”
Do a heart search, look at these verses and let them examine you.
Do I honor Jesus with my lips, but my heart is far from Him?
Is my worship a farce?
Do I teach man-made ideas and then say God said it?
Do I ignore God’s law yet live like my way is right?
Get alone with Jesus and talk these verses and questions over with Him, let Him lead you and change you and the result will be greater love for Him, greater peace and joy. Go now, put the laptop down, turn off your computer screen – go :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Toilet Paper Rolls
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4
As you read this you will probably start thinking, girl, you have lost your mind, or you are so weird, and I am ok with that. I know I am weird and my lost mind is up for debate, it is not lost – it just functions differently. So enjoy this weird riddled devotion.
A couple of weeks ago every time I would go to the bathroom to take a leak there would be only like two squares of toilet paper left on the roll. We have two bathrooms and I mean this was happening every time I went or maybe it just seemed that way. But I do go A LOT; I have a bladder the size of an English pea (just letting you know the reason for the frequency.) Rick, my husband, takes Friday’s off and usually he is home early on Thursday so he is here plenty enough to use up toilet paper. But after I had changed the toilet paper roll it seemed like six times in one day I started getting aggravated. I mean it’s only the two of us living in this house, no other people live here. So after the sixth time of me having to change the toilet paper roll I decided that I was going to hit him over the head with the first thing I could get my hands on which at the time was the roll, not much pain involved with being hit by that but MY point would be made. I talk to the Lord all the time, and yes, you can talk to Him while in the bathroom and whatever you may be doing in there. So here is the conversation I had with the Lord.
Lord this is it! I have had it with this two sheets of toilet paper left on the roll, who can use two sheets of toilet paper, you can’t even blow your nose with two sheets, you can squash a bug with two sheets and that is what I am going to do squash him like a bug and when people see his bumped up forehead and ask what happened he can wisely say, “don’t ever leave just two sheets of toilet paper on the roll!”
And the Lord replied, “Jackie, will that matter for all eternity?”
“No, Lord, it won’t but it will matter for his forehead.” But the Holy Spirit would not let me get by with that, and because I had been studying Philippians 2:3-4, He began to ask me question after question.
Jackie, are you being selfish?
Yes, but he was selfish before I was.
Jackie, are you thinking only of yourself?
Well, obviously, You think I am.
Jackie, are you looking out for his interest?
But what about him, Lord? If he were Philippians 2:3-4ing me I would have toilet paper!!!
Right now child we are dealing with you and your attitude. You are not responsible for how he behaves but you are responsible for how you behave and how you respond. Are you going to be like Me?
Lord, forgive me, toilet paper is not important compared to the cross, compared to eternity, Your will be done in my life.
Now what if every person who loves Jesus acted like Him, and when they read Philippians 2:3-4 they prayed, “Jesus, enable me to not be selfish or conceited. Enable me to esteem others as better than myself so that their interest, their health, their problems, are more important than my own.
Now what if everyone in the church did this; we’d have to build more buildings, and have more services because Jesus’ life and love would reign instead of people and their pettiness.
Did I ever tell my husband about the toilet paper? Nope! After talking to Jesus about it - it just wasn’t that important any more.
Note to reader – if you think this is silly you are right, but I think being silly is fun. Who wants to be around boring people? And if I offended anyone – forgive me.
As you read this you will probably start thinking, girl, you have lost your mind, or you are so weird, and I am ok with that. I know I am weird and my lost mind is up for debate, it is not lost – it just functions differently. So enjoy this weird riddled devotion.
A couple of weeks ago every time I would go to the bathroom to take a leak there would be only like two squares of toilet paper left on the roll. We have two bathrooms and I mean this was happening every time I went or maybe it just seemed that way. But I do go A LOT; I have a bladder the size of an English pea (just letting you know the reason for the frequency.) Rick, my husband, takes Friday’s off and usually he is home early on Thursday so he is here plenty enough to use up toilet paper. But after I had changed the toilet paper roll it seemed like six times in one day I started getting aggravated. I mean it’s only the two of us living in this house, no other people live here. So after the sixth time of me having to change the toilet paper roll I decided that I was going to hit him over the head with the first thing I could get my hands on which at the time was the roll, not much pain involved with being hit by that but MY point would be made. I talk to the Lord all the time, and yes, you can talk to Him while in the bathroom and whatever you may be doing in there. So here is the conversation I had with the Lord.
Lord this is it! I have had it with this two sheets of toilet paper left on the roll, who can use two sheets of toilet paper, you can’t even blow your nose with two sheets, you can squash a bug with two sheets and that is what I am going to do squash him like a bug and when people see his bumped up forehead and ask what happened he can wisely say, “don’t ever leave just two sheets of toilet paper on the roll!”
And the Lord replied, “Jackie, will that matter for all eternity?”
“No, Lord, it won’t but it will matter for his forehead.” But the Holy Spirit would not let me get by with that, and because I had been studying Philippians 2:3-4, He began to ask me question after question.
Jackie, are you being selfish?
Yes, but he was selfish before I was.
Jackie, are you thinking only of yourself?
Well, obviously, You think I am.
Jackie, are you looking out for his interest?
But what about him, Lord? If he were Philippians 2:3-4ing me I would have toilet paper!!!
Right now child we are dealing with you and your attitude. You are not responsible for how he behaves but you are responsible for how you behave and how you respond. Are you going to be like Me?
Lord, forgive me, toilet paper is not important compared to the cross, compared to eternity, Your will be done in my life.
Now what if every person who loves Jesus acted like Him, and when they read Philippians 2:3-4 they prayed, “Jesus, enable me to not be selfish or conceited. Enable me to esteem others as better than myself so that their interest, their health, their problems, are more important than my own.
Now what if everyone in the church did this; we’d have to build more buildings, and have more services because Jesus’ life and love would reign instead of people and their pettiness.
Did I ever tell my husband about the toilet paper? Nope! After talking to Jesus about it - it just wasn’t that important any more.
Note to reader – if you think this is silly you are right, but I think being silly is fun. Who wants to be around boring people? And if I offended anyone – forgive me.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Trust Him
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:11-15
In the midst of this crowd Jesus saw this widow and He had compassion on her. Jesus saw the cry of her heart. She didn’t run up to Jesus begging Him to do something. She was weeping in the moment, missing her son. Her heart is breaking and then she hears these words, “don’t cry.” She cannot take her eyes off the One who spoke those words and as she continues to follow Jesus with her eyes she sees Him do an amazing thing. He commands her dead son to get up and he did! Now her heart is rejoicing. What all did this mother and son talk about on their way home? Just think of all the conversations they had because of this one moment in their life. Isn’t Jesus amazing?
I don’t know what you are going through, but be assured, Jesus knows. He sees your situation, maybe it’s a dream or desire you’re about to abandon because all looks dead, see Jesus come and speak over your situation. Listen to what He desires for you to do, you can trust Him.
In the midst of this crowd Jesus saw this widow and He had compassion on her. Jesus saw the cry of her heart. She didn’t run up to Jesus begging Him to do something. She was weeping in the moment, missing her son. Her heart is breaking and then she hears these words, “don’t cry.” She cannot take her eyes off the One who spoke those words and as she continues to follow Jesus with her eyes she sees Him do an amazing thing. He commands her dead son to get up and he did! Now her heart is rejoicing. What all did this mother and son talk about on their way home? Just think of all the conversations they had because of this one moment in their life. Isn’t Jesus amazing?
I don’t know what you are going through, but be assured, Jesus knows. He sees your situation, maybe it’s a dream or desire you’re about to abandon because all looks dead, see Jesus come and speak over your situation. Listen to what He desires for you to do, you can trust Him.
Monday, January 25, 2010
He Sees
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:11-15
A large crowd is with Jesus and a large crowd is with this woman; no matter the size of a crowd, Jesus always sees the need and meets it. You are not lost in the crowd; you are noticed by your Savior. Our Lord had compassion on this woman, He went right up to her and said, “Don’t cry”, and then He did something in those days that would make Him ceremonially unclean – He touched a coffin. In no way did this make Jesus unclean or defile Him, instead, His power went out and immediately dispelled all defilement. What did those carrying the coffin think when they saw Jesus coming toward them? Were they thinking to themselves, “don’t come any closer, you’ll be unclean and have to go through the steps of being purified”. (See Numbers 19) Jesus is thinking none of that, He knows that He is the one who purifies. He touches and He speaks and amazing things happen. What are your needs right now? Look to Jesus, know that in the midst of everything He sees, ask Him to touch and to speak over your situation and bring forth life. He is more than willing.
A large crowd is with Jesus and a large crowd is with this woman; no matter the size of a crowd, Jesus always sees the need and meets it. You are not lost in the crowd; you are noticed by your Savior. Our Lord had compassion on this woman, He went right up to her and said, “Don’t cry”, and then He did something in those days that would make Him ceremonially unclean – He touched a coffin. In no way did this make Jesus unclean or defile Him, instead, His power went out and immediately dispelled all defilement. What did those carrying the coffin think when they saw Jesus coming toward them? Were they thinking to themselves, “don’t come any closer, you’ll be unclean and have to go through the steps of being purified”. (See Numbers 19) Jesus is thinking none of that, He knows that He is the one who purifies. He touches and He speaks and amazing things happen. What are your needs right now? Look to Jesus, know that in the midst of everything He sees, ask Him to touch and to speak over your situation and bring forth life. He is more than willing.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Know
Ephesians 2:12-13 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
I do not know what you are going through at this moment but these verses should cause you to think differently, and feel differently.
Let the following facts from these two verses wash over you, repeat them, say them out loud till it resonates in your heart. At any point in your day where you start to feel excluded, insignificant, discouraged, then repeat these 6 facts. Go to the cross and know you are loved then grab Jesus’ hand and walk down the road to the empty tomb and know victory is yours!
1. I am no longer separate
2. I am no longer excluded
3. I have citizenship – daughtership, sonship
4. I am a partaker of the covenant
5. I have hope – I have God!
6. I am brought near because of my Jesus – His Blood.
I do not know what you are going through at this moment but these verses should cause you to think differently, and feel differently.
Let the following facts from these two verses wash over you, repeat them, say them out loud till it resonates in your heart. At any point in your day where you start to feel excluded, insignificant, discouraged, then repeat these 6 facts. Go to the cross and know you are loved then grab Jesus’ hand and walk down the road to the empty tomb and know victory is yours!
1. I am no longer separate
2. I am no longer excluded
3. I have citizenship – daughtership, sonship
4. I am a partaker of the covenant
5. I have hope – I have God!
6. I am brought near because of my Jesus – His Blood.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Zao Life
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28
Look again at verse 28. Jesus said, “Do this and you will live.” Jesus didn’t say you’ll have eternal life, He said, “live.” I looked up the word live in the Greek (Strongs). The word is zao and has these meanings: to enjoy real life, active, blessed; to be full of vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, and powerful.
I want that kind of life, I want to zao, really live. So how do we do this? Look again at verse 27, which said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
So do you want to enjoy real life, be active, be blessed, be full of vigor, fresh, strong, efficient and powerful? Then look at your life, ask yourself questions, “do I love Jesus with all my heart, soul, and strength and others as myself?” and wherever the answer is in the negative be determined to seek your Saviors face and the heart changes He wants to make in you so that you can and do live the zao life.
Look again at verse 28. Jesus said, “Do this and you will live.” Jesus didn’t say you’ll have eternal life, He said, “live.” I looked up the word live in the Greek (Strongs). The word is zao and has these meanings: to enjoy real life, active, blessed; to be full of vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, and powerful.
I want that kind of life, I want to zao, really live. So how do we do this? Look again at verse 27, which said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
So do you want to enjoy real life, be active, be blessed, be full of vigor, fresh, strong, efficient and powerful? Then look at your life, ask yourself questions, “do I love Jesus with all my heart, soul, and strength and others as myself?” and wherever the answer is in the negative be determined to seek your Saviors face and the heart changes He wants to make in you so that you can and do live the zao life.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Be Irresistible
Love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Years ago when my children were teenagers and began to drive or had friends who could drive they were gone quite often. But the desire to use their new found freedom via keys and wheels had a profound effect on their hearing. I’d ask them to do the things they knew they were suppose to do anyway, things like taking out the trash, feeding the dogs, putting up the dishes, chores that had to be done and chores they had been doing since they were single digit ages. But here is what I would hear as they were on their way out the door, “love ya, ma”, “have a great day, ma”; “see ya, ma”. Till one day I could take it no more and all three of those beloved faces were in front of me and I began with these words; “love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible”. I also told them that they could have their keys back when they became irresistible. Many words were exchanged but the point was do not tell me that you love me as you walk out the door but ignore me and the responsibilities you know you have.
How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you so busy that time with Him is the last thing you think of? You may be thinking, “But I went to church Sunday”, and I am glad you did. But how’s the rest of your week, are you running out the door telling God, “love ya, Lord”. Stop, take the time to reevaluate and become irresistible to Jesus. Let me give you an illustration: what if you only had 10 minutes because maybe you slept late, or you have a child that will not cooperate and woke up at the same time you did and getting fed is that child’s priority and your responsibility. But you promise your heart that if all I have is 10 minutes it will be 10 minutes spent with Jesus. Then consider getting on your knees, open His Word to Psalm 71 and began to pray that Psalm back to Him. Verse 1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Just pray “Lord, right now I intentionally trust you, all through out this day show up in my life and give me clear, concise direction, your perfect guidance and wisdom and because my trust is in You I will never be put to shame.”
Now, you keep going with that Psalm, your Lord will be irresistible to you. How do I know? Because those first 3 verses were part of my quiet time yesterday and I even prayed those verses over my husband and children and when I was done I was clapping my hands in delight because of my Lord, His Word and His promises.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Years ago when my children were teenagers and began to drive or had friends who could drive they were gone quite often. But the desire to use their new found freedom via keys and wheels had a profound effect on their hearing. I’d ask them to do the things they knew they were suppose to do anyway, things like taking out the trash, feeding the dogs, putting up the dishes, chores that had to be done and chores they had been doing since they were single digit ages. But here is what I would hear as they were on their way out the door, “love ya, ma”, “have a great day, ma”; “see ya, ma”. Till one day I could take it no more and all three of those beloved faces were in front of me and I began with these words; “love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible”. I also told them that they could have their keys back when they became irresistible. Many words were exchanged but the point was do not tell me that you love me as you walk out the door but ignore me and the responsibilities you know you have.
How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you so busy that time with Him is the last thing you think of? You may be thinking, “But I went to church Sunday”, and I am glad you did. But how’s the rest of your week, are you running out the door telling God, “love ya, Lord”. Stop, take the time to reevaluate and become irresistible to Jesus. Let me give you an illustration: what if you only had 10 minutes because maybe you slept late, or you have a child that will not cooperate and woke up at the same time you did and getting fed is that child’s priority and your responsibility. But you promise your heart that if all I have is 10 minutes it will be 10 minutes spent with Jesus. Then consider getting on your knees, open His Word to Psalm 71 and began to pray that Psalm back to Him. Verse 1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Just pray “Lord, right now I intentionally trust you, all through out this day show up in my life and give me clear, concise direction, your perfect guidance and wisdom and because my trust is in You I will never be put to shame.”
Now, you keep going with that Psalm, your Lord will be irresistible to you. How do I know? Because those first 3 verses were part of my quiet time yesterday and I even prayed those verses over my husband and children and when I was done I was clapping my hands in delight because of my Lord, His Word and His promises.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Go After
Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
Joshua and the children of Israel are on the verge of entering the Promise Land; they will have to cross the Jordan River to get there. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of the LORD and the children of Israel were to get up and go after it. The same is true for us; we cannot stay where we are and go after the presence of the Living God. So get up, get your Bible and get after His presence, it will change your day and your life. I want to see God’s presence in my life and last week He showed me tangible proofs of His presence through relationship. I had to go to the doctor for some pain I have been experiencing (we will not talk about how long this has been going on or what a chicken I am when it comes to doctors) and my daughter, Claudia, was there to be with me. See here’s the thing, I am so used to doing everything by myself, and the fact that she showed up was God saying, “Hey Jackie, I am here with you”. He even had my husband call that morning and ask if I needed him to come with me, I hate to be a bother to anyone, so I told Rick that I would be ok by myself. And I really didn’t expect Claudia to be there because it was an early appointment and she is not an early riser another tangible proof of God’s love for me, He gave me a husband who would rearrange his day to be with me and a daughter who would get up early to be there for me.
Joshua and the children of Israel are on the verge of entering the Promise Land; they will have to cross the Jordan River to get there. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of the LORD and the children of Israel were to get up and go after it. The same is true for us; we cannot stay where we are and go after the presence of the Living God. So get up, get your Bible and get after His presence, it will change your day and your life. I want to see God’s presence in my life and last week He showed me tangible proofs of His presence through relationship. I had to go to the doctor for some pain I have been experiencing (we will not talk about how long this has been going on or what a chicken I am when it comes to doctors) and my daughter, Claudia, was there to be with me. See here’s the thing, I am so used to doing everything by myself, and the fact that she showed up was God saying, “Hey Jackie, I am here with you”. He even had my husband call that morning and ask if I needed him to come with me, I hate to be a bother to anyone, so I told Rick that I would be ok by myself. And I really didn’t expect Claudia to be there because it was an early appointment and she is not an early riser another tangible proof of God’s love for me, He gave me a husband who would rearrange his day to be with me and a daughter who would get up early to be there for me.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?
Gen 18:9-14
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Nothing is too hard for our Lord and age does not matter to Him and He asks in verse 14 “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” I find it important that He ask Abraham that question. See, God knew that nothing is too hard for Him, He ask because He wants us to believe it. Have you been holding on to the Lord’s promises? Keep believing, nothing is too hard for Him. Have you looked at your life and said, “It’s too late”; stop saying that and start saying, “nothing is too hard for my Lord”. If you have been doubting your Lord, then ask for forgiveness and start believing anew. At the appointed time God will move on your behalf, the plans, the future, the hope, He has for you and it will be the perfect time of life. (verse14)
Your Lord knows every fear you have, every question, He knew you would be reading this and He wanted to encourage you, to spur you on in your walk with Him, He wanted to speak to you and comfort you.
Spend a few minutes telling Him how much you love Him, trust Him and that you are counting on His hand moving in your life. Place your life in His hands and be amazed at your Redeemer. To God be the glory!
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Nothing is too hard for our Lord and age does not matter to Him and He asks in verse 14 “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” I find it important that He ask Abraham that question. See, God knew that nothing is too hard for Him, He ask because He wants us to believe it. Have you been holding on to the Lord’s promises? Keep believing, nothing is too hard for Him. Have you looked at your life and said, “It’s too late”; stop saying that and start saying, “nothing is too hard for my Lord”. If you have been doubting your Lord, then ask for forgiveness and start believing anew. At the appointed time God will move on your behalf, the plans, the future, the hope, He has for you and it will be the perfect time of life. (verse14)
Your Lord knows every fear you have, every question, He knew you would be reading this and He wanted to encourage you, to spur you on in your walk with Him, He wanted to speak to you and comfort you.
Spend a few minutes telling Him how much you love Him, trust Him and that you are counting on His hand moving in your life. Place your life in His hands and be amazed at your Redeemer. To God be the glory!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Giving of our Desires
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.
If you are like me you have desires, desires for your children, spouse, marriage, even for your future.
There is a particular desire that I have been praying and talking to the Lord about for 5 years now, at first it was sporadic, and now I talk to the Lord about it all through out my day.
Between the enemy’s attacks and me “seeing” God do nothing, (I knew He was working in the background, I just couldn’t see it) I was extremely frustrated. This leads us to Sunday, November 1, 2009. I was having my quiet time that morning and just pouring my heart out to God. I knew I needed to get off my fanny and get on my knees. I was on my knees praying over this desire and said, “Here Lord, you take it because I can’t keep this up anymore, You know what to do with this far better than I do, so You take it.” At that moment that desire became an offering, an object of sacrifice, and today it has become material for praise.
There are 2 things that I know: God will accept the offering and He will use it for something redemptive.
Now He may give it back to me as He did Isaac to Abraham. But even if He does not this He knows – that I intend to be obedient.
When I got off my knees that morning peace ruled, not frustration, not discouragement but peace. Do you want to know the key to having peace in your life? Authority. You let Jesus Christ rule in your life and peace will be the result.
If we look at Psalm 37:4 as a whole, we’ve looked at the backend of it, now let’s dwell on the frontend, “delight yourself in the LORD.” What does it mean to delight? In the Hebrew it means; to be happy about, take exquisite delight. In our English dictionary it means a high degree of gratification: joy; extreme satisfaction. I could not resist the Wikipedia encyclopedia: delight means happiness and may refer to someone or something that brings such a state, such as good-tasting food.
What if we were to say it this way: delight means happiness and may refer to someone or something that brings such a state, such as a great and loving God.
I have found that when Jesus is my delight, my gratification, joy, extreme satisfaction, and my happiness then HE IS my desire and everything else in life is just a bonus of the overflow of my relationship with Him.
Here is a heart question for you: are you delighting in the Lord?
If you are like me you have desires, desires for your children, spouse, marriage, even for your future.
There is a particular desire that I have been praying and talking to the Lord about for 5 years now, at first it was sporadic, and now I talk to the Lord about it all through out my day.
Between the enemy’s attacks and me “seeing” God do nothing, (I knew He was working in the background, I just couldn’t see it) I was extremely frustrated. This leads us to Sunday, November 1, 2009. I was having my quiet time that morning and just pouring my heart out to God. I knew I needed to get off my fanny and get on my knees. I was on my knees praying over this desire and said, “Here Lord, you take it because I can’t keep this up anymore, You know what to do with this far better than I do, so You take it.” At that moment that desire became an offering, an object of sacrifice, and today it has become material for praise.
There are 2 things that I know: God will accept the offering and He will use it for something redemptive.
Now He may give it back to me as He did Isaac to Abraham. But even if He does not this He knows – that I intend to be obedient.
When I got off my knees that morning peace ruled, not frustration, not discouragement but peace. Do you want to know the key to having peace in your life? Authority. You let Jesus Christ rule in your life and peace will be the result.
If we look at Psalm 37:4 as a whole, we’ve looked at the backend of it, now let’s dwell on the frontend, “delight yourself in the LORD.” What does it mean to delight? In the Hebrew it means; to be happy about, take exquisite delight. In our English dictionary it means a high degree of gratification: joy; extreme satisfaction. I could not resist the Wikipedia encyclopedia: delight means happiness and may refer to someone or something that brings such a state, such as good-tasting food.
What if we were to say it this way: delight means happiness and may refer to someone or something that brings such a state, such as a great and loving God.
I have found that when Jesus is my delight, my gratification, joy, extreme satisfaction, and my happiness then HE IS my desire and everything else in life is just a bonus of the overflow of my relationship with Him.
Here is a heart question for you: are you delighting in the Lord?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Trust
TRUST
Mark 10:15-16 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
At the end of 2001 I ask God to give me a verse that would take me through the entire upcoming year. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
No matter what I was going through I would lean on that verse. I would say “even in this God has plans for me, a purpose for the pain, the suffering, in the joy, in the hard decisions, in the days filled with fun, whatever my situation I knew God saw and God was not neglecting me. God was fulfilling His divine plans, and in the end I would prosper, no harm would happen and through it all I would have hope and count on the future that God has for me. Each year I’d ask God for a new verse and He chose for me to cling to Jeremiah 29:11 until 2008. I clearly remember December 27, 2007 God gave me the above verse, Mark 10:15-16. I have this displayed in my kitchen:
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
So be child like - faith
The result: And He took Jackie up in His arms, laid His hands on her, and blessed her.
With that verse I purposed to be child like, to step out in faith and trust my heavenly Father. Had I not trusted Him before? Yes, I had and I trust Him now, here’s the thing, He knew what I would be going through in 2008 and 2009 and that I would not understand some of what I would go through. He also answered a prayer I had been praying since 1998, ten years of praying for God to do this one thing and let me tell you when He answered with a big fat yes I acted child like. I danced, I jumped up and down, I sang and I danced some more and I knew my Father was pleased.
Know that God loves you dearly and that He has specific, profound, heart-delighting plans for you. These plans will not harm you but prosper you and you will walk into the future with great hope. So be child like, jump into your Saviors arms and pour out your heart. He will bless you.
The verse that God gave me for 2010 is Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we finish today’s devotion let me pray this verse over you.
Holy Father, I ask that You fill Your child with all joy and peace as they trust you more and that Your child would abound, overflow in hope, by the power of Your Holy Spirit who lives within them.
Mark 10:15-16 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
At the end of 2001 I ask God to give me a verse that would take me through the entire upcoming year. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
No matter what I was going through I would lean on that verse. I would say “even in this God has plans for me, a purpose for the pain, the suffering, in the joy, in the hard decisions, in the days filled with fun, whatever my situation I knew God saw and God was not neglecting me. God was fulfilling His divine plans, and in the end I would prosper, no harm would happen and through it all I would have hope and count on the future that God has for me. Each year I’d ask God for a new verse and He chose for me to cling to Jeremiah 29:11 until 2008. I clearly remember December 27, 2007 God gave me the above verse, Mark 10:15-16. I have this displayed in my kitchen:
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
So be child like - faith
The result: And He took Jackie up in His arms, laid His hands on her, and blessed her.
With that verse I purposed to be child like, to step out in faith and trust my heavenly Father. Had I not trusted Him before? Yes, I had and I trust Him now, here’s the thing, He knew what I would be going through in 2008 and 2009 and that I would not understand some of what I would go through. He also answered a prayer I had been praying since 1998, ten years of praying for God to do this one thing and let me tell you when He answered with a big fat yes I acted child like. I danced, I jumped up and down, I sang and I danced some more and I knew my Father was pleased.
Know that God loves you dearly and that He has specific, profound, heart-delighting plans for you. These plans will not harm you but prosper you and you will walk into the future with great hope. So be child like, jump into your Saviors arms and pour out your heart. He will bless you.
The verse that God gave me for 2010 is Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we finish today’s devotion let me pray this verse over you.
Holy Father, I ask that You fill Your child with all joy and peace as they trust you more and that Your child would abound, overflow in hope, by the power of Your Holy Spirit who lives within them.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Don't Go There
Genesis 12:10-20 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.” So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.
I love reading about Abraham “the father of our faith”. There were times he was totally obedient and other times he went with his own thoughts and decisions. In today’s Scripture we see Abraham going to Egypt because of a famine, God did not tell him to go there. God told Abraham to go to a land He would show him, Egypt was not that land. And God went to work getting Abraham and Sarah out of Egypt.
Now read F.B. Meyer’s alternative plan:
“how much better would it have been for Abraham to have said, ‘Thou hast brought me here; and Thou must now bear the whole weight of providing for me and mine; here I will stay till I clearly know what Thou will have me to do.’ If any should read these lines who have come into position of extreme difficulties, as we see the sun shorn of splendor through a fog; but let them look at difficulties through God. Let them put God between themselves and the disasters which threaten them. Let them cast the whole responsibility upon Him. Has He not thus brought you into difficulties, that He may have an opportunity of strengthening your faith, by giving some unexampled proof of His power? Wait only on the Lord, trust also in Him. He will provide.”
Read it again, absorb it, and apply it!! Pray to the Father: “Go before me, I want to be obedient I cast my life before You – it is Your responsibility, do not let difficulties prevail, go between me and them so I will see Your splendor and glory.”
God does not want you beaten down or saying, “poor pitiful me”. He wants to bless you! That is why He insists on your obedience. God wants to teach you to seek His will because what He gives you will always prove better. Don’t do things your way – don’t go to Egypt, stay at the alter and believe!
I love reading about Abraham “the father of our faith”. There were times he was totally obedient and other times he went with his own thoughts and decisions. In today’s Scripture we see Abraham going to Egypt because of a famine, God did not tell him to go there. God told Abraham to go to a land He would show him, Egypt was not that land. And God went to work getting Abraham and Sarah out of Egypt.
Now read F.B. Meyer’s alternative plan:
“how much better would it have been for Abraham to have said, ‘Thou hast brought me here; and Thou must now bear the whole weight of providing for me and mine; here I will stay till I clearly know what Thou will have me to do.’ If any should read these lines who have come into position of extreme difficulties, as we see the sun shorn of splendor through a fog; but let them look at difficulties through God. Let them put God between themselves and the disasters which threaten them. Let them cast the whole responsibility upon Him. Has He not thus brought you into difficulties, that He may have an opportunity of strengthening your faith, by giving some unexampled proof of His power? Wait only on the Lord, trust also in Him. He will provide.”
Read it again, absorb it, and apply it!! Pray to the Father: “Go before me, I want to be obedient I cast my life before You – it is Your responsibility, do not let difficulties prevail, go between me and them so I will see Your splendor and glory.”
God does not want you beaten down or saying, “poor pitiful me”. He wants to bless you! That is why He insists on your obedience. God wants to teach you to seek His will because what He gives you will always prove better. Don’t do things your way – don’t go to Egypt, stay at the alter and believe!
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Immanuel Life
The Immanuel life
Matt. 1:22-23
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
How would our lives, the actions we take, our thought lives, be different if we lived the Immanuel life? Look at Matt. 1:24-25
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
THE RESULT:
There would be no more sleeping, look at the first part of verse 24, Joseph is aroused from sleep. What would that look like in our lives? Years ago my mother-in-law came for a visit; we lived right on the Tennessee River in Sheffield Alabama. We also had the cutest puppy, Lucy, she was an Akita Collie mix, someone else thought she was cute too because when she was 7 months old someone stole her. Lucy would go to the side of the yard where she could go down and be on the sandy part of the river but she could not figure how to get back up to our yard so she would begin to yelp, over and over till I would come and get her. On this day my mother-in-law was taking a nap on the couch when Lucy took her trip to the river. I quietly and quickly went to get Lucy and realized that Ruby had been asleep for well over 2 hours. When I came back into the house I checked on Ruby and she didn’t look asleep she looked - dare I say it – dead. I got concerned and scared. I bent down to see if her chest rose up and down and couldn’t see it happening, fear drove me into the kitchen for a spoon, I bent down and put that spoon under her nose and yes! It fogged up so I knew she was alive. Take a moment and look at yourself from the view of your Savior’s eyes. Would His view of you be totally different from your view of yourself? Would He have to get out His spiritual spoon and stick it under your nose? I’ve heard so many say, “I will die for Jesus.” Yes, but will you live for Him?
Like Joseph when we are aroused from sleep we will do as the Lord commands us. Our lives will be marked by obedience. Joseph did, Joseph took, and Joseph called, all marks of obedience.
Not everything that I do is something that I get excited about doing, for instance, cleaning house or grocery shopping, these are not things that excite me. But living the Immanuel life does excite me so even in the mundane things like cleaning house I can do them while knowing – God is with me. There are times that I’ll finish a task and say out loud, “looks good Jesus, thanks for giving me the energy.”
Through the moments of your day acknowledge that God is with you, it will change your day.
Matt. 1:22-23
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
How would our lives, the actions we take, our thought lives, be different if we lived the Immanuel life? Look at Matt. 1:24-25
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
THE RESULT:
There would be no more sleeping, look at the first part of verse 24, Joseph is aroused from sleep. What would that look like in our lives? Years ago my mother-in-law came for a visit; we lived right on the Tennessee River in Sheffield Alabama. We also had the cutest puppy, Lucy, she was an Akita Collie mix, someone else thought she was cute too because when she was 7 months old someone stole her. Lucy would go to the side of the yard where she could go down and be on the sandy part of the river but she could not figure how to get back up to our yard so she would begin to yelp, over and over till I would come and get her. On this day my mother-in-law was taking a nap on the couch when Lucy took her trip to the river. I quietly and quickly went to get Lucy and realized that Ruby had been asleep for well over 2 hours. When I came back into the house I checked on Ruby and she didn’t look asleep she looked - dare I say it – dead. I got concerned and scared. I bent down to see if her chest rose up and down and couldn’t see it happening, fear drove me into the kitchen for a spoon, I bent down and put that spoon under her nose and yes! It fogged up so I knew she was alive. Take a moment and look at yourself from the view of your Savior’s eyes. Would His view of you be totally different from your view of yourself? Would He have to get out His spiritual spoon and stick it under your nose? I’ve heard so many say, “I will die for Jesus.” Yes, but will you live for Him?
Like Joseph when we are aroused from sleep we will do as the Lord commands us. Our lives will be marked by obedience. Joseph did, Joseph took, and Joseph called, all marks of obedience.
Not everything that I do is something that I get excited about doing, for instance, cleaning house or grocery shopping, these are not things that excite me. But living the Immanuel life does excite me so even in the mundane things like cleaning house I can do them while knowing – God is with me. There are times that I’ll finish a task and say out loud, “looks good Jesus, thanks for giving me the energy.”
Through the moments of your day acknowledge that God is with you, it will change your day.
Friday, January 8, 2010
RPT=God's Will
RPT = God’s will
1 Thess. 5:16-18
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I began to look at these verses in a new light not long ago. I just didn’t want to do anything, things like work, cleaning, walking the dog, all the normal, everyday stuff that needed to be done. I talked to the Lord about it as I dragged through the day and He reminded me of these verses. It was literally like the light bulb went off. And it changed my day and the days that followed. It looked like this: I can be rejoicing, praising my Lord, as I walk my big dog, and while I walk I’m praying and I begin to be thankful for the energy to walk the dog. The same actions as I’m working, cleaning the bathrooms, dusting furniture, sweeping and mopping floors, cooking dinner, exercising, vacuuming, all manner of things. And here is what I began to notice; I seemed to be doing all three, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks, in the same timing, almost like a song. It looked like this: Lord, I praise You for the energy to cook this meal, use it to satisfy us and Lord thank you for giving us the money to buy this food.
When the Apostle Paul said to “pray without ceasing” he didn’t mean a constant sitting and praying posture, he meant a “God-consciousness”, where we sense the Lord’s presence, we are in constant contact with Him even in the most ordinary parts of our day.
And here is a guarantee; it is His will for you. I have had so many people say to me, “I wish I knew God’s will for me.” And I am able to tell them these verses. Are you rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all things? Start with what you know God’s will is and as you are obedient He will make known to you the other parts of His will.
A little challenge, write these 3 letters everywhere, (or put them on sticky notes) – RPT – on your bathroom mirror, on your computer screen, your remote, fridge, laundry baskets, coffee maker, in your car…
And every time you see RPT ask yourself, “am I rejoicing, praying, being thankful?” it will give you the nudge to start doing God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. And just maybe your days will never be the same!!! I’m so excited. Why? You will know you are doing God’s will and you will have joy in the process and others will see it and you’ll be able to tell them the reason for your joy – Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:16-18
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I began to look at these verses in a new light not long ago. I just didn’t want to do anything, things like work, cleaning, walking the dog, all the normal, everyday stuff that needed to be done. I talked to the Lord about it as I dragged through the day and He reminded me of these verses. It was literally like the light bulb went off. And it changed my day and the days that followed. It looked like this: I can be rejoicing, praising my Lord, as I walk my big dog, and while I walk I’m praying and I begin to be thankful for the energy to walk the dog. The same actions as I’m working, cleaning the bathrooms, dusting furniture, sweeping and mopping floors, cooking dinner, exercising, vacuuming, all manner of things. And here is what I began to notice; I seemed to be doing all three, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks, in the same timing, almost like a song. It looked like this: Lord, I praise You for the energy to cook this meal, use it to satisfy us and Lord thank you for giving us the money to buy this food.
When the Apostle Paul said to “pray without ceasing” he didn’t mean a constant sitting and praying posture, he meant a “God-consciousness”, where we sense the Lord’s presence, we are in constant contact with Him even in the most ordinary parts of our day.
And here is a guarantee; it is His will for you. I have had so many people say to me, “I wish I knew God’s will for me.” And I am able to tell them these verses. Are you rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all things? Start with what you know God’s will is and as you are obedient He will make known to you the other parts of His will.
A little challenge, write these 3 letters everywhere, (or put them on sticky notes) – RPT – on your bathroom mirror, on your computer screen, your remote, fridge, laundry baskets, coffee maker, in your car…
And every time you see RPT ask yourself, “am I rejoicing, praying, being thankful?” it will give you the nudge to start doing God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. And just maybe your days will never be the same!!! I’m so excited. Why? You will know you are doing God’s will and you will have joy in the process and others will see it and you’ll be able to tell them the reason for your joy – Jesus.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Right but not loyal
Right but not loyal
2 Chronicles 25:1-2 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
Our focus will be verse 2.
“What was” is in italics meaning those words were not in the original text, the italicized words are put there for the readers benefit, for better comprehension. So let’s look at the verse without the italicized words: And he did right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
How does that happen, being right in God’s sight but not with a loyal heart? Perhaps it looked like this: he got up each day, he performed his duties, not outwardly sinning but always his heart was looking for more. The “more” that God wanted to fill and the “more” that Satan wanted to own.
And in the end other gods won out. Look at verse 14, Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
Amaziah brought home and bowed down to gods that were weaker than he was, these gods couldn’t even save their own people. Look at verse 15, Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?”
Could verse 2 be said about you? Put your name in the blank. And _______________ did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
Does the LORD look at you and say, “Yes, that’s My child, My blood-bought wonder, but her/his heart is not in life with me.
Life verses love, what is the difference? Perhaps ask yourself, “in all that I do (life) is it obvious to myself and to my Lord that I love Him most of all?”
I have been reading Lori Wick’s book Bamboo and Lace and these words on page 147 took me by surprise and go perfect with today’s devotion:
Jesus the very thought of thee
Bores me I must confess
Putting you first in all my life
Interests me even less
I’ll give you time on Sunday morning –
Then I will sing and praise
But after that my time’s my own –
Mondays through Saturdays
Demand and no more of me, O Lord –
There is so much to do
I have a life I can’t afford
To waste it all on you.
(Sung to the tune “Jesus the very thought of You”)
Live a life knowing that you have the greatest Treasure of all – Jesus Christ living inside of you and all that you do comes from Him, enabling you, supplying the need, and energizing you. (2 Cor. 4:7) When you recognize Christ as first then loyalty and devotion will be a way of life.
2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Chronicles 25:1-2 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
Our focus will be verse 2.
“What was” is in italics meaning those words were not in the original text, the italicized words are put there for the readers benefit, for better comprehension. So let’s look at the verse without the italicized words: And he did right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
How does that happen, being right in God’s sight but not with a loyal heart? Perhaps it looked like this: he got up each day, he performed his duties, not outwardly sinning but always his heart was looking for more. The “more” that God wanted to fill and the “more” that Satan wanted to own.
And in the end other gods won out. Look at verse 14, Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
Amaziah brought home and bowed down to gods that were weaker than he was, these gods couldn’t even save their own people. Look at verse 15, Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?”
Could verse 2 be said about you? Put your name in the blank. And _______________ did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
Does the LORD look at you and say, “Yes, that’s My child, My blood-bought wonder, but her/his heart is not in life with me.
Life verses love, what is the difference? Perhaps ask yourself, “in all that I do (life) is it obvious to myself and to my Lord that I love Him most of all?”
I have been reading Lori Wick’s book Bamboo and Lace and these words on page 147 took me by surprise and go perfect with today’s devotion:
Jesus the very thought of thee
Bores me I must confess
Putting you first in all my life
Interests me even less
I’ll give you time on Sunday morning –
Then I will sing and praise
But after that my time’s my own –
Mondays through Saturdays
Demand and no more of me, O Lord –
There is so much to do
I have a life I can’t afford
To waste it all on you.
(Sung to the tune “Jesus the very thought of You”)
Live a life knowing that you have the greatest Treasure of all – Jesus Christ living inside of you and all that you do comes from Him, enabling you, supplying the need, and energizing you. (2 Cor. 4:7) When you recognize Christ as first then loyalty and devotion will be a way of life.
2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Willingness of Jesus
The Willingness of Jesus
Luke 5:12-13 NLT
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
When Jesus got up that morning He could have stretched and proclaimed loud and clear for all leprosy to hear – BE GONE!
But He chose to be among us, to spend time with us, and to let us choose to respond to His presence. He never forces us to put our attention on Him. He simply proclaims – I am here and I am willing – and then loves us enough to let us choose His presence and His willingness.
As I thought of this man in Luke 5, eat up with leprosy, how hard his life had to have been, I thought of how desperate he was, and then he sees Jesus, Hope in walking form.
This man bows with his face to the ground; this shows his reverence for Jesus and his desperation. How hard was it for him to bow low? The leprosy had made his skin rot off, if his fingers and some of his toes were gone bending down and getting up would be difficult. And the smell would have been horrendous, he smelt like decaying, dying flesh. This man had no problem begging and Jesus had no problem touching him or the smell. And this is when the Lord spoke to my heart and allowed me to see the cross. My sin, like filthy stinky rags, is atoned for on the cross.
How desperate are you and I for the willingness of Jesus?
To go face down, to beg…
To say Jesus if you are willing you can ____________.
You fill in the blank, know that Jesus is bending down touching you and saying, I am willing. Will you have an “instantly” like this man in Luke 5? I don’t know, that’s up to the Lord. My circumstances have not changed – (yet) – but I am confident in my Savior and the peace and joy is there which gives me the courage to trust.
This man’s leprosy is like our sin; it rots away our lives and makes us stink, literally and figuratively. But here is the great truth of the Cross, when we accept the willingness of Jesus - verse 13 says it all “and the leprosy disappeared” - the same is said of us, and her/his sins have disappeared! Praise His name!
Let everyday be a day that you pursue the willingness of Jesus.
Luke 5:12-13 NLT
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
When Jesus got up that morning He could have stretched and proclaimed loud and clear for all leprosy to hear – BE GONE!
But He chose to be among us, to spend time with us, and to let us choose to respond to His presence. He never forces us to put our attention on Him. He simply proclaims – I am here and I am willing – and then loves us enough to let us choose His presence and His willingness.
As I thought of this man in Luke 5, eat up with leprosy, how hard his life had to have been, I thought of how desperate he was, and then he sees Jesus, Hope in walking form.
This man bows with his face to the ground; this shows his reverence for Jesus and his desperation. How hard was it for him to bow low? The leprosy had made his skin rot off, if his fingers and some of his toes were gone bending down and getting up would be difficult. And the smell would have been horrendous, he smelt like decaying, dying flesh. This man had no problem begging and Jesus had no problem touching him or the smell. And this is when the Lord spoke to my heart and allowed me to see the cross. My sin, like filthy stinky rags, is atoned for on the cross.
How desperate are you and I for the willingness of Jesus?
To go face down, to beg…
To say Jesus if you are willing you can ____________.
You fill in the blank, know that Jesus is bending down touching you and saying, I am willing. Will you have an “instantly” like this man in Luke 5? I don’t know, that’s up to the Lord. My circumstances have not changed – (yet) – but I am confident in my Savior and the peace and joy is there which gives me the courage to trust.
This man’s leprosy is like our sin; it rots away our lives and makes us stink, literally and figuratively. But here is the great truth of the Cross, when we accept the willingness of Jesus - verse 13 says it all “and the leprosy disappeared” - the same is said of us, and her/his sins have disappeared! Praise His name!
Let everyday be a day that you pursue the willingness of Jesus.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
God is Able
God is able
Jude 24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy
Say this all through out your day, “my God is able”. This verse was on my mind when I woke up this morning. I have several things that are on my heart and mind that cause me pain, trials that seem endless, so God sweetly reminded me this morning that HE IS ABLE. Nothing in my life happens without His knowing but how I respond to life is up to me. Will I respond with selfishness, hurting others because I am hurt, will I take things into my own hands and make things happen instead of trusting God and His perfect timing?
God is able. I believe those three words, I will cling to those three words, it’s called faith. And in the process I will have joy. The joy that this verse refers to primarily is the joy of Jesus, look at Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Notice in this Scripture that the word joy comes before the word cross and shame. How could Jesus have joy and endure the cross, despising the shame? Because of you, my friend, you are His treasured possession and right now Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is praying for you. That truth brings tears to my eyes. We are so dearly loved. And that truth should fill our hearts with joy. Our God is able…Praise His Name!
I’ll leave you with one last verse in the form of a prayer.
Psalm 44:4 You are my King, O God, command victories for me today.
Jude 24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy
Say this all through out your day, “my God is able”. This verse was on my mind when I woke up this morning. I have several things that are on my heart and mind that cause me pain, trials that seem endless, so God sweetly reminded me this morning that HE IS ABLE. Nothing in my life happens without His knowing but how I respond to life is up to me. Will I respond with selfishness, hurting others because I am hurt, will I take things into my own hands and make things happen instead of trusting God and His perfect timing?
God is able. I believe those three words, I will cling to those three words, it’s called faith. And in the process I will have joy. The joy that this verse refers to primarily is the joy of Jesus, look at Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Notice in this Scripture that the word joy comes before the word cross and shame. How could Jesus have joy and endure the cross, despising the shame? Because of you, my friend, you are His treasured possession and right now Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is praying for you. That truth brings tears to my eyes. We are so dearly loved. And that truth should fill our hearts with joy. Our God is able…Praise His Name!
I’ll leave you with one last verse in the form of a prayer.
Psalm 44:4 You are my King, O God, command victories for me today.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Balanced
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
It seems that every time I read these passages I always call out, “Lord, please give me balance, to be like Martha, getting lots done, but also to be like Mary, sitting at your feet getting what can never be taken from me.
What causes us to be “out of balance”? Are we like Martha, distracted, upset and worried about many things? Yes, we have many things that have to be done every day and these many things are important but the most important part of our day should be verse 39 sitting at the Savior’s feet.
Take a look at your days this week, how easily are you distracted, what seems to eat up a lot of your time? Can you honestly say that you’ve sat at the feet of Jesus, excited because you have been in the presence of the Living God?
I heard this statement this past weekend, “The internet sucks the very life out of time.” and I thought, yes, that’s so true. There are lots of fun things to do on your computer, but when checking your Face Book page comes before you do anything else then it’s time for reevaluation. I’m not here to make you feel guilty, but to search your heart and hear your Savior say, “Child, come away with me, there is only one thing that is needed, chose that which is better and will never be taken from you.”
Many blessings,
Jackie
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
It seems that every time I read these passages I always call out, “Lord, please give me balance, to be like Martha, getting lots done, but also to be like Mary, sitting at your feet getting what can never be taken from me.
What causes us to be “out of balance”? Are we like Martha, distracted, upset and worried about many things? Yes, we have many things that have to be done every day and these many things are important but the most important part of our day should be verse 39 sitting at the Savior’s feet.
Take a look at your days this week, how easily are you distracted, what seems to eat up a lot of your time? Can you honestly say that you’ve sat at the feet of Jesus, excited because you have been in the presence of the Living God?
I heard this statement this past weekend, “The internet sucks the very life out of time.” and I thought, yes, that’s so true. There are lots of fun things to do on your computer, but when checking your Face Book page comes before you do anything else then it’s time for reevaluation. I’m not here to make you feel guilty, but to search your heart and hear your Savior say, “Child, come away with me, there is only one thing that is needed, chose that which is better and will never be taken from you.”
Many blessings,
Jackie
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