Thankfulness

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of the LORD.

Job 1:21

Today's devotional talks about how part of God's will for me, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, is giving thanks no matter what happens in my life. The writer goes on to say that doesn't mean you become an insincere person, but it means that you realize that the circumstance is difficult, give it God in prayer, and then accepting it as a chance to grow in my dependence on Him.

I feel like I have been hit, with struggle after struggle, after struggle. And while at the moment I am in the midst of each these struggles, it feels overwhelming, I can be thankful for them. I am learning, slowly, how to be more dependant on God through each struggle. I think I am either way to stubborn, or a slow learner, because these things keep coming my way. =) I know that I get consumed by each problem, and it can become my way of life for a while, then something happens that makes me realize just how small my struggles and problems really are, and how truly blessed I am. I have a friend who died this past Saturday, after about a 3 year battle with cancer. She was only 32 years old, and has a husband and 2 year old daughter. She was so young, and it seems so unfair that she was taken so soon. She should have had more time with her husband and daughter. She won't get to see her daughter grow up, go on her first date, get her driver's license, get her first kiss, go to the prom, graduate from high school, or get married. I don't understand, but I know that God does. My friend has been on my mind and in my heart these last few months. As a mother that is one of my biggest fears, leaving my children much to soon. There are so many things I want to see and be apart of in their lives. And for the moment I get that hope and that chance. My friend doesn't. However, we can still rejoice with her, because she is singing with the angels at this moment, and there is no more pain for her.

Steps of Faith:
Lord, let me be thankful in all situations and help me to see things from Your perspective.

Deeper Walk: Psalm 100 NAS
Theme: An invitation to enter joyfully into God's presence. His faithfulness extends to our generation and beyond.
Author: Anonymous

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; his lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.

The Prayer Rebellion

Is anyone amoung you suffering? He should pray.

James 5:13

The devotional today talks about how most of us grew up praying before meals, at church or when we got into trouble. So when we see a verse in the bible that says "pray continually" we can't fathom how that's even possible.

I kind of touched on this last week. How I try to pray without "hanging up the phone". I have little thoughts and converstaions in my head all day with God. I had never been able to fathom the concept of being in constant prayer before a couple of years ago. I get a devotional throught my e-mail daily from a guy in Florida. He tackles the big things, and is trying to go into the secular culture to reach the lost. I really like him, and his devotionals. But one day in one of his devotionals, he talked about praying constantly. And he described it as just never hanging up the phone with God. That clicked for me, and that's when I decided to focus my thoughts into prayers, and have a constant conversation with God. I realized that I had been doing this all along, but just didn't realize it. I have just recently realized that God is answering the prayers of my heart. The desires that I didn't voice in a prayer to Him, but that He knows about anyway.

Steps of Faith:
Father, thank You that You want a relationship with me. Help me to keep in constant prayer with You so that I will be in Your perfect will.

Deeper Walk:
James 5:13-18 NAS

Is anyone amoung you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone amoung you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offereind in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. The he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

The Joy Rebellion

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God.

Phillipians 2:14-15

Today's devotional talks about being joyful when life is good, and when life is not so good. My devotional says that grumbling, doing what I want to do without seeking God first, losing heart when life gets a little tough, are all things we do when we rebel against God's will. It talks about how joy is much deeper than happiness, because happiness is based on whether life is going good. Happiness and joy come easily during the good times.

My devotional goes further into depth on this, but the bottom line is I have to choose to be joyful. The title of the devotional explains it all. My heart often chooses to rebel against joy, when things aren't going so good in my life. This, for me, goes along with what I talked about yesterday. I have to thwart my heart's rebellion against joy, and choose not to take the jab at someone whom I don't like very much. I am learning to try and see the person. Try to see their situation, and what may be going on in their lives to. God loves them to. Jesus didn't just die for me and the people I like, He didn't just die for the good people. He died for ALL people. Sometimes that's hard to accept, I know I feel like other's don't deserve it, but the truth is, I don't deserve it. God asks so very little from me, and my heart chooses to rebel.

Trusting is sometimes hard, but that's why it's called faith. I know God is in control, but sometimes the control freak in me comes out, and I decide that I know a better way, and I need to take the controls back. Then my life gets way off track, and I sit and wonder why. I finally give the controls back to God, get my life back on the right track, only to repeat the whole process all over again. To coin one my friends phrases, "I am just a stupid Isrealite!" I suppose I deserve the desert that I wander in for 40 years, if I keep trying to tell the God of the universe how to do His job!! But from now on, I am going to choose to be joyful in the wilderness.

Steps of Faith:
Lord, I confess that when life gets hard, sometimes I grumble. Please help me to remember that what I'm going through is temporary and that You are bigger than my problems.

Deeper Walk:
Hebrews 12:1-12 NAS
Jesus, the Example

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.

Heart of Rebellion

Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

No story in todays devotional. It just talks about rebellion, and how it isn't always lashing out against someone or something. Sometimes it's having a manipulative, bitter heart.

I must confess, a few months ago, I had a manipulative, bitter heart. I had someone hurt me very deeply, I had several someone's hurt me, and my heart was hurt. I let it wander into manipulative territory, which then lead to bitterness in my heart. I found myself angry, and wanting vengence for the person and persons who had hurt me. I was hardly praying, and I was certainly not spending any time at all in the word. I was becoming self-righteous, and even when I was at church, the sermons weren't for me, they were for the other people.

I realized that my heart was causing me to drift away from God, and I was letting Satan steal my peace. I am still not completely where I need to be, and I still feel the pain of the hurt that was caused, but doing these blogs each day, has helped me. I am spending more time with God, and I have focused on changing my heart. I am taking a much different approach with people who hurt me. And that new approach is something that I find is coming naturally to me. I feel more peaceful about my decisions, and I am trying to "pray constantly" as the anchor verse says. I try to just pray without hanging up the phone to God, just have a long on-going conversation with Him all day in my head. Every thought is mostly geared toward God, and so therefore a prayer. I just talk to him, like I would any of my friends.

The devotional talks about taking time to reflect on the decisions I am making in my life. It says my decisions are like little mirrors, they reflect what is in my heart, and it's where my rebellion takes hold. I had never thought about it like that before. I want my heart to reflect God to others, not anger and bitterness.

Steps of Faith:
Father, please forgive me for the times I have rebelled against Your will and followed my own selfish desires. Help me to listen to the prompting of Your Holy Spirit and to obey.

Deeper Walk:
1 Samuel 28 NAS
Saul and the Spirit Medium

Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Isreal. And Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men." David said to Achish, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life." Now Samuel was dead and all Isreal had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists. So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Isreal together and they camped in Gilboa. When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor." Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, "Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you." But the woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?" Saul vowed to her by the Lord, saying, "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" And he said, "Bring up Samuel for me." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul." The king said to her, "Do not be afraid; but what do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the earth." He said to her, "What is the form?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, " I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do." Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has departed from you and has become your adversary? The Lord has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. As you did not obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the Lord will also give over Isreal along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the Lord will give over the army of Isreal into the hands of the Philistines!" Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afreaid because of the words of Samuel; also there was not strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night. The woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified, and said to him, "Behold your maidservant has obeyed you, and I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. So now also, please listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you that you may eat and have strenght when you go on your way." But he refused and said, "I will not eat." However, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to them. So he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it; and shw took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and went away that night.

Plugged In

Now if any of lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generusly and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

Today was about a mother and a teenage son. She could see her son on the computer from the kitchen, but it really didn't do her any good because he was moving from website to website at warp speed. So she decided instead of asking him what he was doing she took another approach, she asked him to teach her how to move between websites as fast as he could. Instead of her son getting defensive and angry, he got the opportunity to teach his mother something new, and she got to monitor what he was doing to make sure it was appropriate. Not to mention getting a little quality time in.

It's important in how we approach and react to our children, when were not sure what they are doing, or what is going on. Especially tween and teenage children. I have to say, I'm not so good at this. I tend to be more of iron fist ruler, when I'm not sure. However, I do try to educate myself on things. I watch questionable shows, before I allow my kids to watch them, and check out books and music. At this point we don't really have much to worry about. My kids are 9 and 4, so they really aren't doing to much that I don't already know about. But my 9 year old is starting to want to get on the internet more, and watch more mature shows. He has even been asking for a cell phone. My husband is the technically savvy one in our household, and I mostly rely on his decisions about websites. But it is important for me to educate myself to. I need to rely more on the wisdom that God gives me, to help me navigate my son and daughter into adulthood. I hope that I will have the wisdom to see opportunities, like the mom in the story, and take the road that leads to a happy peaceful ending, rather than one that ends with screaming and yelling.

Steps of Faith:
Father, give me the energy and insight to be "plugged in" to my children's culture so I can help then stay grounded.

Deeper Walk: Proverbs 4:5-7 NAS

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.

Image Investment

For those He Foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Romans 8:29

The story today is of a woman who is looking a piece of furniture that she loves, and she imagines how perfectly it would go with all the other things in her home. She looks at the price tag, it's so expensive. She calculates how much overtime she would have to work to pay for it. About this same time a friend from her church spots her. Her friend comes by to tell her about the new ladies bible study they are planning, and wanted to know if she wanted to participate. The woman had forgotten all about the bible study, and the truth was if was going to be working so many hours, she really wouldn't have time for it. In fact she really was having trouble now fitting her quiet time into her life daily. She felt the Holy Spirt nudge her, and told her friend that she would love to participate in the bible study.

I am so like this woman. I want nice things for my home, for my children, and for myself. I want my home to look like the homes in the magazines. I worry about what I look like, and I worry about what other's think. I get so busy with all the things that I have trouble spending time with God, the lover of my soul. That is the main reason I started this blog, so I would be accountable for my quite time with God, and that I would get into a routine of doing it daily. I am sad to say that if I did a graph of my time, it would fail miserably in the the things that truly matter. I'm sure I would be quite shocked to learn exactly where all my time is going, and probably ashamed. Jesus doesn't care about what my house looks like, if my kids are wearing matching clothes, or if I have that designer purse. He cares about what my inside looks like, and what my relationship with Him looks like. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21.

Steps of Faith:
Lord, I want to look more like Christ. Show me how I can grow more like Him each day.

Deeper walk: Romans 12 NAS
Personal responsibility

Therefore I urge you, breathren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spirtual service of worship. 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. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone amound you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are on body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accourdingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hyprocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, perservering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGENCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Opportunity?

I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners

Mark 2:17

Today's devotional talks about a mother who's son has moved into his junior high/high school years, and has made some friends who are not Christians. She is concerned about her son hanging out with friends who do not believe the same things she has taught her son to believe in. Will they expose him to things she doesn't want him exposed to, will they cause him to stray from his faith??? After spending some time in prayer, she realizes that there is a possiblity that these boys were sent to her son, so that her son can reach them for Christ.

I completely understand where this mother is coming from. My son is also in a public school. I am constantly reading through the things he brings home, and quizzing him about his friends. However, right now my son is still in elementary school, so my fears are about what my son is being taught. Things in our culture are changing, and I want to have a say in the things my son learns when he is away from me. My fear for my child may be a bit different from this mother's but our solution is the same. Prayer. I pray that God will protect my son, from hearing or seeing things that could influence or sway him. This mother did the same thing with her son. While I do hope that my son befriends and brings non-believers to Christ, it scares me to. However, God has a plan and I must trust that plan. If Jesus were to come to my town today, I can guarantee you His first stop wouldn't be to my church, it would be where the sinners are. He would go to the people who need Him the most. So as much as I want my children to be surrounded by only Christian influences, they need to be exposed to non-believers to. They need to learn by example how to live Christ-like lives in the secular world, and how to bring other's to Christ. Because like my devotional says, "what if He (Jesus) had only associated with those who knew and believed God's Word? History would have turned out much differently."

Steps of Faith:
Heavenly Father, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank You also for the non-believers who cross my path each day. Help me to reach out in friendship to those who desperately need You.

Deeper Walk: Mark 2:13-17
Jesus Eats with Sinners at Matthew's House

And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He asid to him, "Follow me!" And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His desciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but thos who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."