Ephesians 4:29-Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Suppose that someone walked up to you to give you the most perfect present, it is something that you have wanted all of your life but never been able to obtain. As you say thank you the giver does not reply with a common "you welcome." Instead they reply with words of hate and abuse. In this position would you even care about the perfect present if it was followed up with damaging words?
Words are a very common theme through out the Bible. God chose to reveal Himself to His people through words. Our influence towards other people comes through our words. So where do our hurtful and kind words come from? Luke 6:45 answers that question-"The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and the wicked [man] out of the wicked, brings forth what is wicked: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Our words are not where encouragement or hate start. The heart, what we think, how we feel, our attitudes, this is where all things overflow into our words.
James 3:3-5 says "Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things." Our words have the power of providing cooperation or division.When a person of influence speaks, people's lives and actions can be turned together in a positive way.
What we say can truly build up, encourage, edify, or heal. Unfortunately our words can also lead people to sin, or they can leave others feeling unwanted or discouraged.
Respond: What do you words say about the condition of your heart? Do you sometimes build yourself up by making other people feel small? Why? How have encouraging words shaped your life? How have hateful words shaped your life?
Reflect: Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Psalm 51:10- "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Matthew 15:18-"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person."
Matthew 12:36- "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,."
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Daily Bread
Matthew 6:11-" Give us this day our daily bread."
What does Matthew 6:11 mean? Does it simply ask for a physical provisions, or does it ask for a fulfillment of less tangible needs?
Matthew 6:11 comes from the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The most obvious meaning of "give us this day our daily bread" is a physical fulfillment. This is the acknowledgement that God is the provider that meets all of the physical daily needs. The Lord's prayer comes very shortly before Jesus spoke about worrying, in Matthew 6:26 Christ says "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I certainly do not think that is coincidence! God provides all of our daily needs, weather we acknowledge that or not, He does!
" Give us this day our daily bread" isn't just about a physical provision though, God is also the provider of less tangible needs being met. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Salvation is the perfect example of God's spiritual provision in our lives. He satisfied our need for salvation by providing His Son as a sacrifice for all sins. Romans 8:32 says " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God went to an extreme to fill our need for salvation.
His spiritual equipping did not stop at salvation- Philippians 4:13 says "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This verse can be misinterpreted to say that God will meet whatever need we have. It is God's will to supply all of our needs, but the key word is "God's" will. God sometimes teaches us through adversity, we may not understand that through suffering God is providing for our needs. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is also a wonderful reminder of how God provides- " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Even in the midst of whatever hardship you face, God has equipped you with what you need to not be overtaken by it- He provides a way of escape-He has provided Himself.
Respond: Do you look for all the ways God has provided for you? Does God ever ask more than you are capable of? How has God shown His faithfulness to you? How does God daily meet your physical and spiritual needs?
Reflect: Philippians 4:6-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 3:16- " For God loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
What does Matthew 6:11 mean? Does it simply ask for a physical provisions, or does it ask for a fulfillment of less tangible needs?
Matthew 6:11 comes from the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The most obvious meaning of "give us this day our daily bread" is a physical fulfillment. This is the acknowledgement that God is the provider that meets all of the physical daily needs. The Lord's prayer comes very shortly before Jesus spoke about worrying, in Matthew 6:26 Christ says "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I certainly do not think that is coincidence! God provides all of our daily needs, weather we acknowledge that or not, He does!
" Give us this day our daily bread" isn't just about a physical provision though, God is also the provider of less tangible needs being met. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Salvation is the perfect example of God's spiritual provision in our lives. He satisfied our need for salvation by providing His Son as a sacrifice for all sins. Romans 8:32 says " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God went to an extreme to fill our need for salvation.
His spiritual equipping did not stop at salvation- Philippians 4:13 says "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This verse can be misinterpreted to say that God will meet whatever need we have. It is God's will to supply all of our needs, but the key word is "God's" will. God sometimes teaches us through adversity, we may not understand that through suffering God is providing for our needs. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is also a wonderful reminder of how God provides- " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Even in the midst of whatever hardship you face, God has equipped you with what you need to not be overtaken by it- He provides a way of escape-He has provided Himself.
Respond: Do you look for all the ways God has provided for you? Does God ever ask more than you are capable of? How has God shown His faithfulness to you? How does God daily meet your physical and spiritual needs?
Reflect: Philippians 4:6-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 3:16- " For God loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
Friday, January 3, 2014
Who Is He?
God gave me such a wonderful reminder of who He is as I was reading today- Really let this Psalm sink in.
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Worship the Lord in holy array.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Spiritual Load
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Matthew 11:28- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
With one person already on her back, i took a running start and successfully landed on the back of a girl who was on another girls back. My friend took three steps with two girls on her back and just simply collapsed. She had exceeded the load that she could handle.
Do you ever just feel like you need a spiritual rest? Lately I feel like my "spiritual load" is at it's max. Should I have a "spiritual load" at all? Matthew 11:28 answers that question quite nicely. The verse doesn't say " Come to me and we will share the load," it just says come and I will allow you to rest. 1 Peter 5:7 also makes a distinct observation, the verse says to "cast ALL your anxieties on Him"- you don't have to carry ANY of the load, you just have to give it to the Lord.
I've observed that rest, to many people, doesn't line up with rest in 1 Peter 5:7 God may not fix the situation. He may not give back what was taken, He also may not work in the way that you envisioned. But cast your cares on the Lord and He will completely take the load and change your heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." That almost sounds like an excuse to get anything you want, but i promise you that it is not. When you delight yourself in the person of God, you are changed. What God wants begins to become what you want. Your desire literally becomes the Lord.
If your struggling to let the Lord handle your burdens, I encourage you to just give them to Him.You will be freed and you will be left watching God make the best out of every single circumstance in life. Fully delight yourself in the Lord and your heart will follow after God's will.
Respond: What do you need to cast upon the Lord? What is the desire of your heart? Is it God? How could letting God handle your burdens change how you view hard circumstances? Spend time in prayer asking God to allow you to hand over your burdens.
Reflect: Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Matthew 11:28- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
With one person already on her back, i took a running start and successfully landed on the back of a girl who was on another girls back. My friend took three steps with two girls on her back and just simply collapsed. She had exceeded the load that she could handle.
Do you ever just feel like you need a spiritual rest? Lately I feel like my "spiritual load" is at it's max. Should I have a "spiritual load" at all? Matthew 11:28 answers that question quite nicely. The verse doesn't say " Come to me and we will share the load," it just says come and I will allow you to rest. 1 Peter 5:7 also makes a distinct observation, the verse says to "cast ALL your anxieties on Him"- you don't have to carry ANY of the load, you just have to give it to the Lord.
I've observed that rest, to many people, doesn't line up with rest in 1 Peter 5:7 God may not fix the situation. He may not give back what was taken, He also may not work in the way that you envisioned. But cast your cares on the Lord and He will completely take the load and change your heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." That almost sounds like an excuse to get anything you want, but i promise you that it is not. When you delight yourself in the person of God, you are changed. What God wants begins to become what you want. Your desire literally becomes the Lord.
If your struggling to let the Lord handle your burdens, I encourage you to just give them to Him.You will be freed and you will be left watching God make the best out of every single circumstance in life. Fully delight yourself in the Lord and your heart will follow after God's will.
Respond: What do you need to cast upon the Lord? What is the desire of your heart? Is it God? How could letting God handle your burdens change how you view hard circumstances? Spend time in prayer asking God to allow you to hand over your burdens.
Reflect: Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Don't Give In
Do you ever feel like giving up? To be honest I feel like giving up today! Every person struggles with something different, weather it's a heartbreak, a job, a heartache, or school, at times all of us feel like giving up. But God has not given us a spirit of fear ( 2 Timothy 1:7 )! He wants to be the one who rises you above your circumstances so that you can fully glorify Him! If you feel like breaking- spend time with Him. If your hurting- tell Him. God is very interested in every part of your life, and He wants you to give yourself to Him! Reflect on the following verses:
Reflect: Psalm 28: 7- The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Proverbs 18:10-The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
John 16:33- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 46:1-God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Romans 8:31- If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Psalm 27:1 -The Lord is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the defense of
my life;Whom shall I dread?
1 Corinthians- 13:12 or now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known
Hebrews 13"8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 55:22-Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
James 1:2-4- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Respond :Before you decide that you can't handle what is around you, remember that God is the one doing to work through you ( Galatians 2:20. ) How would your circumstances look if you let God handle them instead of yourself? Would you be more stressed or less stressed if you let go of what you can't even control?
Reflect: Psalm 28: 7- The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Proverbs 18:10-The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
John 16:33- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 46:1-God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Romans 8:31- If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Psalm 27:1 -The Lord is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the defense of
my life;Whom shall I dread?
1 Corinthians- 13:12 or now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known
Hebrews 13"8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 55:22-Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
James 1:2-4- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Respond :Before you decide that you can't handle what is around you, remember that God is the one doing to work through you ( Galatians 2:20. ) How would your circumstances look if you let God handle them instead of yourself? Would you be more stressed or less stressed if you let go of what you can't even control?
Devotion Of The Day- Good Intentions
Yesterday marked the first day of the new year. All over, people are reflecting on the previous year. Broken relationships, tender moments, and bitter memories flood minds everywhere. People are always eager to begin resolutions that may only last a week. Commonly, people wish to loose weight, others may wish to learn something new, the list continues of intentions of creating a better year.
These things all are seeming good, right? Yes and no.
When I was about six years old I decided that I wanted to surprise my mom by cleaning the television. I drenched a rag with water and I began to slop that wet rag onto the television. As I continued in my cleaning process the TV began to make noises. To a six year old the noises blaring out of that television resembled the battle scene from Saving Private Ryan. It got louder and I got more concerned. As sparks started to fly, my dad ran into the room just in time to keep the television from blowing out.
I had good intentions, but I went about helping my mom in all of the wrong ways.
Resolutions are kind of like a six year old washing down a TV set. You have great intentions when you set out on your path of completing your resolution, but your going about it all wrong. Colossians 3:17 says "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Everything you do can be to God's glory, because you allow God to live through you. You can get healthy and give God the glory, You can learn a useless hobby and use it to glorify God. Everything can be used to glorify God. However, there is another part to Colossians 3:17-Thankfulness. I encourage you to find ways to be thankful in 2014. Thank God that He has allowed you to become more healthy. Thank God that He is able to mend your heart from a broken relationship, Thank God that your able to be in school, even when you don't want to.Thank God that He's given you enough blessings to clutter your house. Thank God that He allowed you to finally learn how to use a pogo stick after years of trying. Whatever it is- be thankful.
Respond: What keeps you from having a heart of thankfulness? How could God change your outlook on the new year, if you allowed Him to change your heart? What would be different if you chose thankfulness?
Reflect: 1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Devotion Of The Day: Future
Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
One of my biggest struggles is worrying about what might happen in the future. I worry about scenarios that will likely never see the light of day. Seems like a waste of time, right? It is. Every time I worry about something, even in the present, I'm saying " God, I don't believe that you can handle this, so I'm going to worry about it."
As Christmas approaches our eyes are turned to the story of Christ's birth. I want to focus in on Mary and the attitude that she had when she received the news that they would be the mother of Christ. Luke 1:30-38 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and in the midst of this ,Mary, supposed to be a virgin, is found to be pregnant. When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, he had every right to feel disgraced. Joseph knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried grave possibilities. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, but under Jewish law Joseph could have had her put to death by stoning.
Mary knew of these possibilities when the angel Gabriel disclosed the Lord's plan for her. She knew the Jewish law, and she knew the fate that could await her. Instead of arguing or worrying about her fate she simply said in verse 38 “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” But the story doesn't stop here, because God was faithful to Mary and her future. Matthew 1: 19-25 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. All of those things that could have happened to Mary, death and disgrace, God took care of. God never created a mess and left Mary without hope, He simply did His will. His will brought the savior into the world. His will changed Joseph's heart. He provided for Mary, she simply trusted God with her future and gave Him her life.
Respond: Armed with the knowledge that no circumstance is too big for God, how can you cast your worries upon the Lord? Would letting God handle your future create more worry or less worry? Is God capable of handling your future without your help? Is God faithful?
Reflect: 1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
Matthew 19:26 " And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew :-26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
One of my biggest struggles is worrying about what might happen in the future. I worry about scenarios that will likely never see the light of day. Seems like a waste of time, right? It is. Every time I worry about something, even in the present, I'm saying " God, I don't believe that you can handle this, so I'm going to worry about it."
As Christmas approaches our eyes are turned to the story of Christ's birth. I want to focus in on Mary and the attitude that she had when she received the news that they would be the mother of Christ. Luke 1:30-38 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and in the midst of this ,Mary, supposed to be a virgin, is found to be pregnant. When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, he had every right to feel disgraced. Joseph knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried grave possibilities. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, but under Jewish law Joseph could have had her put to death by stoning.
Mary knew of these possibilities when the angel Gabriel disclosed the Lord's plan for her. She knew the Jewish law, and she knew the fate that could await her. Instead of arguing or worrying about her fate she simply said in verse 38 “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” But the story doesn't stop here, because God was faithful to Mary and her future. Matthew 1: 19-25 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. All of those things that could have happened to Mary, death and disgrace, God took care of. God never created a mess and left Mary without hope, He simply did His will. His will brought the savior into the world. His will changed Joseph's heart. He provided for Mary, she simply trusted God with her future and gave Him her life.
Respond: Armed with the knowledge that no circumstance is too big for God, how can you cast your worries upon the Lord? Would letting God handle your future create more worry or less worry? Is God capable of handling your future without your help? Is God faithful?
Reflect: 1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
Matthew 19:26 " And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew :-26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Devotion Of The Day: Covered
James 4:14 " Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
Has God ever changed you future plans in a day? I know in my life He has! Weather it's something small, like not getting to where you need to be, or something large, God has a way of changing plans! James 4:14 puts this perfectly, God has not created our earthly lives to be eternal, meetings, school, and pain are all temporary.
This truth runs so deeply to me, I've made so many plans that God has changed- for the better. While I hardly never see that God is changing things for good, I can often look back and see how God has used failure and pain. He has it covered. When God changes your path, He gives you a better one. The end results of the change may be the same, but God wants you to obtain the the end through different means.
God wants the very best for you, He uses fire to refine, He uses pain to reveal Himself, He breaks so that He can mend us properly, He takes away so He can disclose who he is. God doesn't promise the absence of pain during life. But He does promise to reconstruct your pain for a deeper reason.
Respond:Can you look back and see how God has used your changed circumstances? Could you see the positive when your in the midst of pain?
Reflect: Matthew 6:27 " And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"
Hebrews 13:5 "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
Has God ever changed you future plans in a day? I know in my life He has! Weather it's something small, like not getting to where you need to be, or something large, God has a way of changing plans! James 4:14 puts this perfectly, God has not created our earthly lives to be eternal, meetings, school, and pain are all temporary.
This truth runs so deeply to me, I've made so many plans that God has changed- for the better. While I hardly never see that God is changing things for good, I can often look back and see how God has used failure and pain. He has it covered. When God changes your path, He gives you a better one. The end results of the change may be the same, but God wants you to obtain the the end through different means.
God wants the very best for you, He uses fire to refine, He uses pain to reveal Himself, He breaks so that He can mend us properly, He takes away so He can disclose who he is. God doesn't promise the absence of pain during life. But He does promise to reconstruct your pain for a deeper reason.
Respond:Can you look back and see how God has used your changed circumstances? Could you see the positive when your in the midst of pain?
Reflect: Matthew 6:27 " And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"
Hebrews 13:5 "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Devotion of The Day: Battles
2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
God has given us the power to fight battles. But how often do you find that your fighting a battle against God? Weather it's not wanting to follow His will by thinking that you know better, or being scared that He will lead you in a way that you don't wish to go, we often fight against God. We miss out on the bigger picture when we focus in on what we might lose or how we might be effected by God's will.
Too frequently I fight against God because I don't want to do what He is calling me to. But whenever I submit to God, the closeness that I feel from my submission suddenly outweighs the battle I fought trying distance myself from Him. Suddenly I understand more clearly why He wanted me to follow His plan in the first place.
Respond: Think of ways that God has used you when you fought with Him instead of against Him. How did you feel once you gave into Him through submission? Did you feel like you no longer had to fight? Were you glad that you allowed God to work through you?
Reflect: Philippians 2:4, “Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.”
God has given us the power to fight battles. But how often do you find that your fighting a battle against God? Weather it's not wanting to follow His will by thinking that you know better, or being scared that He will lead you in a way that you don't wish to go, we often fight against God. We miss out on the bigger picture when we focus in on what we might lose or how we might be effected by God's will.
Too frequently I fight against God because I don't want to do what He is calling me to. But whenever I submit to God, the closeness that I feel from my submission suddenly outweighs the battle I fought trying distance myself from Him. Suddenly I understand more clearly why He wanted me to follow His plan in the first place.
Respond: Think of ways that God has used you when you fought with Him instead of against Him. How did you feel once you gave into Him through submission? Did you feel like you no longer had to fight? Were you glad that you allowed God to work through you?
Reflect: Philippians 2:4, “Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.”
Devotion Of The Day: Make Time
Psalm 86:11 "Teach me Your way, O Lord;I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name."
Do you ever just feel like you don't have time to stop and breathe? I know I do! Being in college full time I often feel like I don't have the time for God. Isn't that an awful thing to say? " I don't have time for God." For me this thought often comes from the fact that I can't see God, but I can see the mounds of schoolwork in front of me. Whenever I do stop to spend time with Him though, I notice something. I have time for everything else that surrounds me, and not just that but the stuff that I " have " to get done doesn't seem as important.
I open my Bible and take in what He's trying to teach me. When I do this God takes away the lies that the world tries to hound me with. God's voice becomes evident, and my anxieties pass away. My time with Him gives me the perspective that I need throughout the day. He provides me what I need to handle the day that lies before Him, by living through His life.
Respond: Take time today to focus on what God wants to show you. Do you feel afterwords that you are empowered to do what lies before you? Do your other " responsibilities" become easier? Are you much more open to what God wants to do through you?
Reflect: Mark 1:35 "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there."
Devotion of The day: Water Works
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Several years ago I became sick, and as a result I also became severely dehydrated. I was passing out, and I could hardly remember my name, so my family took me to the ER. After about five hours,and two bags of fluids, I felt as thought I had never been sick. Strange how much we need water, right? In my case water changed my attitude, and my actions. I became a different person than I had previously been.
God tells us that all we need to never thirst again is water. Sound simple, doesn't it? It is! God wants to give us an abundant life, so much so that He gave Christ as the perfect sacrifice so that we can fellowship with Him. Unfortunately, all too often we never use the fellowship that He gives us. We get caught up in life and forget to cultivate a relationship with the Giver of Life.
Respond:Why do you not let God take control of what He has already given you? What do you hope to accomplish when you don't let Him change your heart? How has God revealed Himself to you when you do let Him work in you from the inside out?
Reflect: John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."
Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Several years ago I became sick, and as a result I also became severely dehydrated. I was passing out, and I could hardly remember my name, so my family took me to the ER. After about five hours,and two bags of fluids, I felt as thought I had never been sick. Strange how much we need water, right? In my case water changed my attitude, and my actions. I became a different person than I had previously been.
God tells us that all we need to never thirst again is water. Sound simple, doesn't it? It is! God wants to give us an abundant life, so much so that He gave Christ as the perfect sacrifice so that we can fellowship with Him. Unfortunately, all too often we never use the fellowship that He gives us. We get caught up in life and forget to cultivate a relationship with the Giver of Life.
God desires your heart, He desires time with you. Do you notice how in John 4:14 it says " but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." God changes you from the inside out. He starts with the issues inside of your heart(pain, bitterness, desperation...) and He begins to change your attitudes. God wants to do this in your life! He wants to make your behavior more like Christ! Believe that God, and only God, can create a clean and holy heart inside of you.
Reflect: John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."
Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Saturday, December 14, 2013
DIY: Redo
This week I'm starting my room redo! Right now my room looks like a tornado came through, but ( hopefully ) in a month it will look completely different! The room I'm basing my bedroom off of is by Urrutia Design
Decorpad.com
The color on the walls, according to the designer, is called Gray Mirage, by Benjamin Moore, I've already painted part of my room with it and it's a gorgeous greenish/gray color!
Benjaminmoore.com
I've also already gotten started in my room design, this is what the finished room will look like...If I don't change anything.
made using roomstyler.com
So far I'm happy with how the design is going, I've got a lot to do before I'm done though!
Devotion Of the Day: Moments
Psalm 118:24- This is the day which the Lord has made;Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Do you ever find yourself wishing that the next big day on the calender would come? I know that I do! When I look past the day that is before me with excitement for the days far ahead , I miss what God wants to do in the present time!Too many times I spend my time idly waiting for a special day that is coming. When that day comes and goes I'm left wishing that I had enjoyed the days in between. Because of this I don't stop and look around to see how God can use me in the present day.
I'm a very driven person, when I have my sights set on a purpose I will do everything in my power to get there. All too often God has to remind me that being personally purpose driven is not His goal- it's mine. My goal should be driven by God's purpose for my life, and to submit to His will every single day. In doing this, the stress is off of my shoulders to make something happen, it then falls in God's hands to show me what my day will be.
Respond: How can you not impose your plan on God's? Why is it difficult to let go of your control? How could God reshape your day if you would allow Him to?
Reflect: Psalm 90:12, " Teach us to number out days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
Do you ever find yourself wishing that the next big day on the calender would come? I know that I do! When I look past the day that is before me with excitement for the days far ahead , I miss what God wants to do in the present time!Too many times I spend my time idly waiting for a special day that is coming. When that day comes and goes I'm left wishing that I had enjoyed the days in between. Because of this I don't stop and look around to see how God can use me in the present day.
I'm a very driven person, when I have my sights set on a purpose I will do everything in my power to get there. All too often God has to remind me that being personally purpose driven is not His goal- it's mine. My goal should be driven by God's purpose for my life, and to submit to His will every single day. In doing this, the stress is off of my shoulders to make something happen, it then falls in God's hands to show me what my day will be.
Respond: How can you not impose your plan on God's? Why is it difficult to let go of your control? How could God reshape your day if you would allow Him to?
Reflect: Psalm 90:12, " Teach us to number out days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
Friday, December 13, 2013
Break Time
Today is the first day on my Winter break, and it is wonderful! I successfully survived my first semester of college, and with a 4.0! Laying in bed and watching movies was definitely not how I originally intended to spend my break, but God has had new plans for me lately. He is still faithful and I'm excited to see where God leads to, and what God could lead me back to. In light of the circumstances that surround me I choose thankfulness, and I choose a heart of acceptance. I choose to be thankful for:
1) The hope that God gives
2) His faithfulness to me
3) The blessings that I have
4)My sweet and odd friends
5) My family
6) The time I had with people
that God has given and
taken away
7)The ability to know God
more
8) The promise that pain is
temporary
9) My ability to be in college
10) People that encourage me
The Promise
Job 1:2-3;7-12 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side?You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Does God ever put you in a situation that you never thought you would have to be in? I know that even now God has put me in a place that I didn't think I would be in, yet alone would be able to handle. But that's what He's teaching me, I can't handle the circumstance. I also can't fix the hurt that comes from circumstances of life. So how does a person cope when they can't make themselves feel better? God does that for you, even in the tough situations.
Job is a prime example of what God can do. God had given Job everything that he could hope for, but all of that changes when Satan tries to make Job curse God. Satan is allowed by God to take everything away from Job, his family, his livestock, and his home. Job is tempted in ways that we hope we never experience. .God knew Job's limitations.He never let Satan do something to him that Job simply could not manage, and because of this Job never looked at his situation and cursed God. In verse 8 God says " (job)... A blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." God knows the condition of Job's heart, this is why God lets Satan tempt Job.
Whatever your circumstance remember that God knows the condition of your heart, He knows that you can grow in Him through the pain.1 Corinthians 10:13 says " No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." What a great promise is that? God will be faithful to you and He will deliver you.
Application: Max Lucado, in his book, "God Will Use This For Good," says these encouraging words " You'll get through this, It won't be painless. It won't be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don't be foolish or naive. But don't despair either. With God's help you will get through this."
Does God ever put you in a situation that you never thought you would have to be in? I know that even now God has put me in a place that I didn't think I would be in, yet alone would be able to handle. But that's what He's teaching me, I can't handle the circumstance. I also can't fix the hurt that comes from circumstances of life. So how does a person cope when they can't make themselves feel better? God does that for you, even in the tough situations.
Job is a prime example of what God can do. God had given Job everything that he could hope for, but all of that changes when Satan tries to make Job curse God. Satan is allowed by God to take everything away from Job, his family, his livestock, and his home. Job is tempted in ways that we hope we never experience. .God knew Job's limitations.He never let Satan do something to him that Job simply could not manage, and because of this Job never looked at his situation and cursed God. In verse 8 God says " (job)... A blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." God knows the condition of Job's heart, this is why God lets Satan tempt Job.
Whatever your circumstance remember that God knows the condition of your heart, He knows that you can grow in Him through the pain.1 Corinthians 10:13 says " No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." What a great promise is that? God will be faithful to you and He will deliver you.
Application: Max Lucado, in his book, "God Will Use This For Good," says these encouraging words " You'll get through this, It won't be painless. It won't be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don't be foolish or naive. But don't despair either. With God's help you will get through this."
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Castles and Such
One of all time favorite Bible verses is Psalm 62:6 which says " He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken." He ALONE- this is important. It's not God + something, But God + Nothing= Everything! He alone is my rock and my salvation. Rock in Hebrew means " Sold Ground." And Salvation in the Hebrew is "Yeshuw'ah" which means deliverance. So if God is our solid ground and our deliverance, what do we have to fear? He alone is my solid ground and my deliverance, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. Stronghold means Castle, and typically people have the wrong view of castles. Normally when someone says something about a castle an image is drawn to mind of an extravagant mansion. In reality most ( but not all ) castles were dimly lit, and plainly decorated. They had one purpose: to protect what was on the inside. So if you truly place your faith in Him alone, as your solid ground and deliverance, He will be your fortification. He will also do all the work, just like the castle.
Psalm 62:6 " He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken"
~Leeandra
Psalm 62:6 " He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken"
~Leeandra
You Are Not The Only One
We as people have very few concerns on our minds. When you get to our core we primarily have one concern: us. From what we want, how we want it, and when we want it. We want to look the best, be the best, and always want someone to notice our efforts. But when you put a different light to it- Are any of these things really concerns? What's one thing every person has in common, something that 1 out of every one 1 person will experience? Not to be morbid, but Death is an experience that every person will share. From Bill Gates to the homeless man on the streets of New York City, no person can escape death, no matter where they rank. So when we measure out lives up to that reality, what truly matters? People. Shouldn't we as human beings be concerned with the person that has the least to offer us? Have you ever noticed that God rarely uses the Superstar to lead a people. He picks out The one who doesn't want to go. Moses, in Exodus 4:10 says "Then Moses said to the LORD, 'Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." Moses is making excuses, he's worried about how he's going to do the task the Lord has set before him. Exodus 4 goes on to say in verses 11-13 "The Lord said to him, 'Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Moses truly didn't want to go. But Through God, Moses brought the entire nation of Israel out of captivity. If God can use Moses in such a big way, why can't He use you in a big way? I believe He can. So next time You have the chance to share a kind word, to love on a child, to go out of your way to be a servant. Do it without hesitation. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change the world for one person. So take the focus off of you, and Show Christ's love, from the least to the greatest.
~Leeandra
~Leeandra
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