Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

I Lift My Eyes to the Hills

Psalm 121:1-2  

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.









It's normal to feel helpless in life. It's because we are not in control and as a people we want control.  I can attest to this as I am a control freak! And yes we have free will to make our own choices and they do have consequences but in reality, God is in control. And so why do I try and "control" situations.  How silly of me to think I know God's plan and that I can do better.










And so when I need help, instead of trying to figure everything out on my own, I do as the Psalmist wrote and I lift my eyes to the hill because that is where my help will come from.










This weekend in my son's Sunday School class the teacher asked the kids "Why is it so hard to trust God?" (I was helping which is why I know what was said). And one smart kiddo answered, "Because I can't see him." Boy, did that little child state the obvious.  But I contend that he was seeing life through a child's set of eyes.  I can see God's love and provision in so many ways.  But I can see it because I am looking for it.  And so we must train ourselves to not only let God be in control but also to recognize His hand upon situations.  That is why we pray yes?  As we grow in faith and maturity, we begin will begin to see God's hand in life. And for those things that don't make sense, we get to ask him later.  How wonderful that life will not go unresolved.








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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Receive God's Love

If the name and character of Jesus had not been love, it would have been impossible for imperfect and sinful people to enter into a relationship with Him. But because He is love, He calls you to Him.

And you open your life to Hs influence, the Holy Spirit will enable you to live as God intended: in His strength and in the awareness of his living presence.

He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His please and will.

Grace For Each Moment
March 19th

-- I often just stare out into the world and reflect on how Jesus IS pure love.  Usually this happens after I have sinned or hear of some awful atrocity that happened..and it makes me just want more of Him in my life. I want to live my life with nothing but pure actions motivated by love. And each day I ask him to fill me with His love so that I may share that with others.


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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Praying Friends


Praying Friends from Our Daily Bread

 by Anne Cetas


I met my friend Angie for lunch after having not seen her for several months. At the end of our time together, she pulled out a piece of paper with notes from our previous get-together. It was a list of my prayer requests she had been praying for since then. She went through each one and asked if God had answered yet or if there were any updates. And then we talked about her prayer requests. How encouraging to have a praying friend!
The apostle Paul had a praying relationship with the churches he served, including the one at Thessalonica. He thanked God for the faith, love, and hope of the people (1 Thess. 1:2-3). He longed to see them, and asked God “night and day” that he might be able to visit them again (3:10-11). He requested that the Lord would help them “increase and abound in love to one another and to all” (v.12). He also prayed that their hearts would be blameless before God (v.13). They must have been encouraged as they read about Paul’s concern and prayers for them. Paul knew too his own need for God’s presence and power and pleaded, “Brethren, pray for us” (5:25).
Loving Father, thank You for wanting us to talk with You. Teach us all to be praying friends.
I need the prayers of those I love
While traveling on life’s rugged way,
That I may true and faithful be,
And live for Jesus every day. —Vaughn
The best kind of friend is a praying friend.

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Friday, January 27, 2017

Addiction to Activity

You may say, “I am allowed to do anything.” But I reply, “Not everything is good for you.” And even though I am allowed to do anything, I must not become a slave to anything. 
—1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)

What is all the commotion about? It seems that everyone is rushing about, trying to work through our to-do lists so that we can… add more items to our to-do lists. Let’s get some perspective here! We are not doing ourselves any favors by living life at supersonic speed. Today, we cram more and more activity into our lives because our culture encourages us to do so and because we can.

This addiction to activity has also infected the church. It’s wonderful that so many churches today can offer a wide variety of ministry services in order to address a wide variety of life issues. But, far too many Christ-followers cram their schedules with too many (good) things: ministry meetings, program meetings, small group Bible studies, accountability groups, recovery groups, and even meetings to plan more meetings! And, as a result life loses its balance.

Remember, just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should! Busyness for busyness sake—even when the busyness is ministry oriented—is counterproductive at best, and simply sinful at worst.

When I look at Jesus’ life, I see a man who was not ruled by His schedule. He seldom seemed rushed. For instance, I love that while He pursued plans, He would welcome interruptions from people in need. From what we know, Jesus never said anything like this to anyone, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I need to be in Jericho by sundown.”

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to cut back on our pace of activities and actually live more like Jesus? Wouldn’t it be helpful to become more of the salt and light that Jesus called us to be in our neighborhoods and communities and spent less time in activities and meetings just talking about it?

Today, give some thought to the pace of your life. If necessary, begin the process of weeding out activities from your life that may be good, but actually prevent you from living a balanced life.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What good activities are you involved in that could actually be (or become) obstacles to your spiritual health and effectiveness in serving Christ?

2. Are you simply too busy? If so, what steps can you take this week to get your schedule under control?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 7:11-17; 10:38-42; Matthew 5:13-16; Psalm 46:10



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Friday, January 20, 2017

Productive Faith

There are many people who regard faith as a mere commodity, something you have a lot of or a little of, depending on the circumstances.

You should, however, understand the importance and necessity of maintaining a disposition of expectation towards life. Only those who have an unfailing faith and trust in the Eternal God can face the future with courage and serenity. This great truth, and the acceptance of it in your life creates stability and enables you to face the future with confidence.

He touches their eyes and said "According to your faith will it be done to you". Matthew 9:29

Help me Lord, to be steadfast in my faith and to be forever devoted to Your work. Bless me in abundance and help me to use it to Your greater glory. Amen.

Grace for Each Moment
Feb 25th

-- True faith I believe is complete trust in God so that we can "face the future with courage and serenity" because we believe without a shadow of a doubt that He is in charge of our lives. I truly find it freeing to let go of "issues" and say, "Lord, into your hands I deliver this because I can't do it". And it's like a weight being lifted. He gives me everything I need in return to go on in life. It's not easy, I know, but for those in a life of addiction, answer honestly, has what you have been doing working? No, so try trusting in God. I guarantee it will work out for you.


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Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Let Jesus Guide You

How often have you experienced doubt, loneliness and anxiety? When an important decision has to be made do you find it difficult to make the right choice? If so, you are relying on your own limited insight.

Regardless the circumstances, put your plans, your doubts, your fears and your problems before the Lord's throne of grace and ask Jesus to be your Guide. Be sensitive to the whisperings and stirring of the Holy Spirit in your life, and face the future with faith and hope. You can rest assured that the living Christ will be by your side, leading and guiding you.

Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinth 5:6-7

Grace for each Moment

-- As long as we are at home in the body - things for the flesh that is -- we are not with the Lord. I want to be Lord at all times.  Making decisions is hard..will it be good for me? Will I hurt others? Is this what God wants of me? Will it hurt? So take a vacation and let it all to Him. How relaxing that will be!!  Remember, He has plans to prosper you and not harm you!


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Friday, January 6, 2017

Addiction Can Be a Good Thing..huh??


Addiction can be a good thing! 


I ran across this at www.worthydevotions.com and the title caught my attention. 
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Does it ever happen to you – that something terribly simplistic just suddenly becomes clear? I realized something about us the other day. We humans are such addictive creatures.

We always hear stories of addictions such as gambling, drinking and using illegal drugs — most of which, many of us have either never allowed ourselves to touch or been able to conquer at some point in our lives. But it occurred to me that these are just a few of many things to which we can become addicted.

I mean, think about it. The more we work and the more money and material things we acquire as a result — the more we want to work in order to purchase more of those things. The more television we watch — the more we don’t want to miss that next episode. The more we win at the leisurely games we enjoy, the more we want to play and win more at those games. The more we sleep — the more we want to sleep! The more we complain — the more we want to complain! The more we eat — the more we want to eat! We have even created nightly support group meetings for our addictions to which, if we’re not careful, we can also become addicted! And there are countless other earthly examples we can probably add! It seems that mankind is hopelessly given to the substances and circumstances around us.

So wouldn’t it be great if we could just switch our focus from majoring on our daily grind, to majoring on the things of the Lord? And then, I'm sure we would find that the more we pray and see God answer our prayers — the more we’ll want to pray and see those victories! The more we share our faith and see people come to know the Lord through us — the more we’ll want to share and see others come! The more we read the Word and gain wisdom for our lives and others' lives — the more we’ll want to read the Word and gain that kind of wisdom! The more we serve God and those around us– the more we’ll want to serve them! And there are countless other heavenly examples we can probably add!

How about it? Let’s begin doing more of the things of the Lord and watch how they multiply! I have feeling that we just might experience more joy, peace and contentment than we ever have!

For more visit www.worthydevotions.com


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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Great Is Thy Faithfulness


“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.




“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!“
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!



Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.


Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!


Sometimes a daily devotional does not have to be anything more than a powerful song. The lyrics are simply truth. I urge you today to google a version of the song that you like. My favorite is by the group Selah.  

I hope that you can see and believe that God is faithful forever. He doesn't change. He made promises to love and keep us to Him and he does.  Have a wonderful day today reflecting on the love of our Father.



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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Find Strength in God

Immediately after praying to God to save Israel, Isaiah described Israel's distress: the Asyrians rejected their petition for peace, Lebanon was destroyed, and the plains of Sharon resembled a wilderness.

Isaiah's trust in God never faltered, he believed God's promises that He would preserve Israel and deliver His people. Because of this Isaiah could pray with confidence, "Be our strength every morning,our salvation in times of distress.

Like Isaiah, we can depend on God in times of distress and trouble. Call on Him in such times and feel the strength, that only can come from God, descend on you.

Oh Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress. Isaiah 33:2

Grace for each Moment

-- the key here is believing God's promises. When we believe, we will feel his strength each morning. Today's devotion reminds me of a hymn. Great is thy faithfulness. Powerful lyrics. If you have a moment go visit and read them. Trust me - you will be blessed.

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/19


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