Beyond

Nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke 1:37

Today's devotional is kind of a continuation of yesterdays. The writer talks about sometimes we think our desires are too big, but a lot of times , God might actually be saying, "No, I want you dream bigger." She says if God gives you a desire, a big desire, don't be afraid. She says to attempt things for God that are so great that they're destined for failure unless He's in them. She goes on to talk about how we tend to spend time sweating out things like details, but that God always knows how everything turns out. He knew every day of your life before you ever came to be. The desires that you have are no surprise to Him, He already knows what He's going to do with them.

I am actually watching God work out a big desire. He put a desire for a backyard bible club on my husband's heart late last year. This hasn't been done through our church for quite a few years, and something my husband has never done. Our church had no budget for this at all, but my husband knew God wanted him to do this. We started our first night Monday evening, and are having a pretty good success with it. It is amazing to watch God work, and I am privilaged to be apart of it.

Steps of Faith:
Lord, You are able to do above and byond all that I ask or think-according to the power that works in you-to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Deeper Walk:
Ephesian 3:14-21 NAS

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the bredth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Waiting Room

May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.

Psalm 20:4

In today's devotional the writer talks about how sometimes God puts a desire in you that's really specific. She says that those desires are also one of the ways God establishes a deeper relationship with you, because many times they aren't going to be fulfilled unless you depend on Him. She also says that one of the signs that dreams come from God is that they are bigger than you are, and you can't accomplish them without Him.

She talks about how God may seem slow in fulfilling our desires, He may allow obstacles and hardships in order to weed out the weak desires, to strengthen your resolve, to produce endurance, and to test your faith. She goes on to say that we may be tempted to make what we heard more specific than God intended it be. For example, if God has put missions on your heart, don't narrow it down only to missions in China. She says to have specific desires, but let God handle the details, and to be open to His bigger plans.

I have experienced God putting something specific on my husband's heart, and my desires following along. God has laid several specific things on my husband's heart, and He has put it on my heart to follow my husband in his desires and help him with his ministries. We have experienced obstacles and hardships, but the writer is right. It has strengthened our resolve, and we have drawn deeper into God through the hardships and obstacles. These things are so hard to go through when you feel like you are doing what God has laid on your heart, and you are in the midst of an obstacle, but God always uses things for His glory, and your work for the kingdom never goes unnoticed by God.

Steps of Faith:
Lord, I'm not sure how the desires You have put in my heart will come to fruition, but I trust in You to prepare me and to work out the details. Let me rest in Your love and I will trust You have all things under control.

Deeper Walk:
Psalm 20 NAS
Theme: A prayer for victory in battle. Such a prayer can help us prepare for any great challenge. David knew that trust should be placed in the Lord more than in human power.
Author: David. The events in 2 Samuel 10 may have prompted this prayer.

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! May He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable!

May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your consel! We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God . They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O LORD; may the King answer us in the day we call.

Does God Care?

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry for help and saves them.

Psalm 145:19

Today's devotional talks about how when we decided to follow Jesus, we laid down everything in our lives before Him. Romans 12:1 says we became living sacrifices, surrendering our lives - including our dreams and desires-to God. The writer asks the question, does that mean every single desire we ever have is wrong? She answer with a resounding NO, not at all. She goes on to say that God doesn't want us to be passionless and dreamless. The anchor verse tells us that God wants to work through our desires, and some of the dreams and desires we have are from Him. She goes on to talk about how sometimes the Holy Spirit actually works through us by changing and moving our hearts, and our desires. But if we have a stranglehold on our desires we close ourselves off to God, and miss out on things God has for us. She also talks about how some people deny the interest, gifts, talents, and passions that God put inside of them because they think they're supposed to "deny themselves". She explains that what happens is that they keep dismissing God every time He tries to work through their desires because they assume their desires aren't from Him.

I have certainly experience God changing my desires and moving my heart in His direction for my life. A few years ago I could have never imagined myself working with teenagers. They frustrated me beyond all belief, and I didn't really know how to relate. However, my husband and felt the call to attend our first mission trip with the youth of our church. That first trip was a little rough, for a variety of reasons, but over the past couple of years of working with the youth, I have found that my heart has changed, and I am figuring out ways to connect with them. I love working the youth, it really is the last place I ever thought I would be serving, but this is where God has called me, and He has equipped me for His service by changing my heart.

Steps of Faith:
Father, You know all the desires of my heart. Please help me to know which desires are from You and let me put the rest aside so I can follow Your perfect will for me.

Deeper Walk:
Psalm 145 NAS
Theme: A time will come when all people will join together in recognizing and worshipping God because God is full of love, He satisfies all who trust in Him.
Author: David

I will extol You, my God, O King. And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

The Lord is greacious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The Lord keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

Doing Some Good

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Today's devotional talks about a woman who moved to a new city, and thought a good way to make new friends would be through a knitting class. She envisioned not just knitting with her new friends, but also sharing concerns and praying for one another, as she had done with her old knitting group. Her new group was different though. Although they did share concerns with each other, they did so with heavy doses of criticism and gossip. The woman started praying for her new friends, and fully intended to share God's love with them. However, after knitting with her new friends for a couple of months, she neglected to share her faith with them, started becoming more like her new friends. She felt convited of her actions, so she prayed and asked God if she should drop out of the group to safeguard herself from these ladies influence. In the end she felt God telling her to stay with the group, and felt even more burdened for her friends salvation.

As beleivers we have to make efforts not to isolate ourselves from unbelievers. It is wonderful to be around people who believe the same way you do, and it makes living Christ that much easier. But we are called to go out into the world. When we mix with nonbelievers it becomes difficult to be set apart. I have experienced many times when I allowed myself to become more like my nonbeliver friends. In the end I always feel unhappy with myself for allowing this. I have found though that I can be friends with nonbelievers and still live my life for Christ. My friends see that I am different, and they know why. I hope that some of them will come to Christ because of this. I pray that I can influence my nonbelieving friends to become more like me, instead of me becoming more like them.

Steps of Faith:
Father, I want ot make a difference in this world. Help me live a set-apart life while I connect with the world around me.

Deeper Walk:
Matthew 5:13-16 NAS
Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Receiving God's Provision

The LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion.

Isaiah 30:18

The devotional today tells a story about a single mother named Katy. Katy is telling her friend about a recent Saturday morning surprise. When her doorbell rang, she couldn't understand who would be at her house that early. It was the men's ministry from her church, they were there to put a new roof on her house. She was telling her friend how not only the men's ministry helped her, but that her dad had been doing repair work on her house, the older kids had helped out with groceries, and her friends had given her gift cards for her birthday. She was grateful to recieve these things, but was telling her friend how painful it was to know that she couldn't give anything back right now. Her friend told her that she needed to understand that she was not indebted to these people, that they were simply being God's hands and feet, as He honored His word and provided for her. Her friend told her that she would be robbing these people of great blessings if she refused their kindness, and that one day God would use her to extend that same blessing to someone else.

We all need help from time to time, and I think we all struggle with accepting acts of kindness like this. Even though we may desperatly need it at the time, we deny the help, and yet at the same time wonder why God is not providing for our needs, when if we would have just accepted a blessing from someone we would have been accepting God's provision for our need. During my mission trips I have had the great honor and privilage of being the hands and feet of Jesus, and meeting needs for people who desperatly need them. Some are struggling with accepting our help, and some are overwhelmed with gratitude, but I always feel like I walk away much more blessed then the person I am there serving. I have also learned that I need to accept act of kindness, and not refuse them out of my own pride. I now know the feeling of being blessed by blessing someone, and I do not want to rob anyone who feels they are being led by the Lord to bless me.

My husband and I have someone in our life that has many needs. They have let us help them on a few things, but struggle to let us help them very much. I pray that they would understand that we feel we were placed in their life for this season to help. I just wait and pray that God will show me opportunities to help.

Steps of Faith:
Thank you, Lord, that You are the God who provides. Teach us to recognize and receive Your good provision with thanksgiving and praise.

Deeper Walk:
2 Corinthians 9:6-13 NAS

Now this I say , he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudginingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.

Seek Him

You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

So I have been gone for a little while. I was on a mission trip with my yourth group last week, and I didn't post for a few days before either. I am back now though, and hopefully back on track.

Today's devotional talks about how we spend our time. The writer talks about an exercise that she had to do in her workplace where they had to keep track of and account for every minute of their time for a few weeks. She was glad when it was over, but it made her wonder about how she spent her time at home. So she started keeping track of her time at home, time spent cleaning, doing laundry, watching tv, surfing the internet, etc. She was shocked at how much time was spent on things like tv and internet, in comparison to how much time was spent on bible reading and prayer time.

I think we would all be a little shocked to find out exactly where our time is going. While the writer talks about how there is nothing wrong with watching tv, and playing games on the internet, it can get in the way of our spending sufficent time seeking our Saviour. She goes on to say that if we are seeking anything or anyone else with greater fervancy then we seek after the Lord, we are guilty of idolatry.

Last week, I spent most of the week seeking the face of God. I was on a mission trip in Cincinnati. And although every minute was filled with something to do, it was also focused and geared around worshiping and focusing on God. I had a difficult start to my week with a couple of the youth on my crew. I found myself praying everytime eyes were rolled at me, or I heard sighs or glares were thrown my way. By the end of the first workday, I was very frustrated and at the end of my rope. I talked the situation over with my husband, and I prayed about it. I truly felt like God wanted me to wait and see what happened the next day. And then if I had problems with these youth again, I was going to take them on a walk and talk to them. However, the next day went much better, and the next even better.

I was in an environment where I was fully focused on God, and was able to hear what he had to say to me. Now I am back to reality. I always try to bring what I learn on mission trips home with me. I am especially trying this year. Satan is on the attack. He has come at my husband and me with everything he has lately. But he is in for a fight! We have strapped on our armor, and we are ready to take him on.

Bottom line is I think we tend to seek God more when we are feeling Satan attack us, when we should be seeking Him every day. I don't know about you, but I know that I can't make it without His perfect wisdom, strength and guidance each and every day.

Steps of Faith:
Father, please forgive me for letting anything or anyone take the place that rightfully belongs to You. Give me the grace to make You my first priority always.

Deeper Walk:
Deuteronomy 4:15-40 NAS

So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today. Now the Lord was angry with me on your account, and swore that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. For I will die in this land, I shall not cross the Jordan, but you shall cross and take possession of this good land. So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form on anything against which the Lord your God has commanded you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord drives you. There you will serve gods, the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it? Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived? Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him. Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire. Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great pwoer, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today. Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.

Too Soon?

God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble

Psalm 46:1

In today's devotional the writer talks about how many people were shocked to see her associate pastor at church the day after his wife's memorial service. She says that not only had he lost the love of his life, but she had been taken suddenly. Many wondered was he ready to be around so many people, answering the same questions and rehashing the painful events of the previous week? The writer felt God telling her that her pastor needed to be around his church family.

The writer goes on to talk about how our responses to grief and tragedy are as different as our personalities, and it isn't our job to keep track of how long a person should stay in isolation, or what they could handle when.

I haven't experienced the loss of a spouse or a parent, but I lost my grandmother 2 years ago. It was the first person close to me that I had lost. She had, had a disease that was supposed to have taken her life at any time, but that she ended up living with for 15 years. In the end cancer took her, not the disease. I flew back and took care of her for 2 weeks right before she died. It was tiring, but God gave me the strength each day that I needed. I was so glad that I went to take care of her. It gave me some precious time with her, that I wouldn't have had otherwise. After she died, and I came home, I just wanted to be around my husband and my kids. I didn't feel up to going out and socializing. I got lots of advice on what I should do and how I should handle my grief from well meaning friends. They were trying help me, they are friends that love me and didn't want to see me hurting. But like the writer says the way we each deal with our grief is as different as we all are. And while I may want to go into seculsion for an extended period of time, someone else may want to be surrounded by people to help them get through it. God made us all the way we are, and the way we respond to the things that happen in our lives.

Steps of Faith:
Father, show me how to help when a friend is grieving. Stop me in moments when I evaluate of judge, remembering that there is no right or wrong way to mourn.

Deeper Walk:
Psalm 46 NAS
Theme: God is always there to help, providing refuge, security, and peace. God's power is complete and his ultimate victory is certain. He will not fail to rescue those who love him.
Author: The sons of Korah (temple assistants)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has wroght desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted amoung the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.