Today's devotion was written by Mary Davis, a woman in my church. She is gifted with words, both spoken and written. She seeks to please the Lord in all that she does.
"That she might walk worthy unto the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10
"Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things." Simply put, Martha was disturbed and distracted with too much detail in preparation of Jesus' visit.
Martha, a gifted industrious woman, given to hospitality, was caught up in the moment of busyness. It would have given Jesus much pleasure to see Martha forego what she deemed necessary at the moment, and spend some quality time sitting at His feet like Mary, taking in the words of life.
In every day life, as well as individual and collective ministries, we can like Martha become distracted with too much busyness, forfeiting what Jesus called "that good part, which will not be taken away".
To sit at Jesus' feet is to learn of Him. Learning of Him is getting to know Him intimately, which brings Him much pleasure and satisfaction.
Let our goal always be to sit at Jesus' feet learning how to have an intimate love relationship with Him.
Heavenly Father, Mary, an outstanding example to all Christian women on more than one occasion, was compliant to please You. Sitting at Your feet, she learned what was truly that "good part". Martha, on the other hand was pulled away by "many things" she considered necessary for Jesus' comfort. As we endeavor to please You, help us differentiate between too much busyness and quality time spent with You, always "walking worthy of You unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God". Thank you Father, amen.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Progress or Not
Have you ever felt like you are making progress in an area and the next thing you know BAM! You have taken three steps back?
Well, that’s how I feel.
There are issues going on that I am dealing with. I have prayed and prayed about them. This past Sunday night we had a wonderful service and I left pumped and excited about what God can do.
Then three days later…
Have you been there?
Three days later I learned some things that felt like we took three steps back. Of course I cried out to God! In the midst of my crying out, I heard Him ask me “Am I not still God?”
Immediately my heart quieted and I answered, yes God, You are still God! I need You to speak to me about this situation.
I picked up my Psalms devotional book and opened it randomly. The book fell to a day mid-year with Psalms 31:14-15.
“I trust in You, O Lord, I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand.” NASB
My heart had just answered God saying yes God, You are still God! How amazing that the first scripture would say the same thing!
On the next page the verse was Psalms 106:3.
“Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.”
Wow! Happy are those who deal justly? Really?
I have read Lysa TerKeurst’s book “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God”. I do long to say yes to God in everything. Now we know that saying “yes” is not always easy and it is not always good things. This past year as I have learned to say “yes”, God has had me do what I thought were difficult things. But I did them. I said “yes”. And this verse tells me happy are they? To be honest, I didn’t feel happy at the time, but I guess if you walk in integrity and do what is right – no matter what, no matter if it is popular, then you will be happy - knowing you did what is right.
Help me God to walk in integrity as I say “yes” to You.
And finally, I turned to today’s Psalm. It is Psalms 55:2.
“Give your worries to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will never let good people down.” NCV
Another wow! Give my worries to Him! Of course we all know we can and should do this. How often do we automatically do this? How often do we have to be reminded to do so?
God, You are God. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, too difficult for You! I give you my worries, my concerns over these situations. I trust in You!
After reading these three Psalms, I know God spoke to me and it was just what I needed!
Do I feel like we still took three steps back? Perhaps. But I have been reminded that my times are in His hands. I will trust in God. You, God, are my God!
Do you feel at times that you have taken three steps back? Be reminded today that God is your God and you can trust in Him. We can give all our worries to Him and He will take care of us!
Father, we praise You for You are our God! We thank You that we have an awesome God who we can turn over all our worries. When we feel that we have taken three steps back, we can trust in You to help us overcome and gain those steps again plus more. Thank you Father for Your love and care! In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Blessings,
Well, that’s how I feel.
There are issues going on that I am dealing with. I have prayed and prayed about them. This past Sunday night we had a wonderful service and I left pumped and excited about what God can do.
Then three days later…
Have you been there?
Three days later I learned some things that felt like we took three steps back. Of course I cried out to God! In the midst of my crying out, I heard Him ask me “Am I not still God?”
Immediately my heart quieted and I answered, yes God, You are still God! I need You to speak to me about this situation.
I picked up my Psalms devotional book and opened it randomly. The book fell to a day mid-year with Psalms 31:14-15.
“I trust in You, O Lord, I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand.” NASB
My heart had just answered God saying yes God, You are still God! How amazing that the first scripture would say the same thing!
On the next page the verse was Psalms 106:3.
“Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.”
Wow! Happy are those who deal justly? Really?
I have read Lysa TerKeurst’s book “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God”. I do long to say yes to God in everything. Now we know that saying “yes” is not always easy and it is not always good things. This past year as I have learned to say “yes”, God has had me do what I thought were difficult things. But I did them. I said “yes”. And this verse tells me happy are they? To be honest, I didn’t feel happy at the time, but I guess if you walk in integrity and do what is right – no matter what, no matter if it is popular, then you will be happy - knowing you did what is right.
Help me God to walk in integrity as I say “yes” to You.
And finally, I turned to today’s Psalm. It is Psalms 55:2.
“Give your worries to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will never let good people down.” NCV
Another wow! Give my worries to Him! Of course we all know we can and should do this. How often do we automatically do this? How often do we have to be reminded to do so?
God, You are God. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, too difficult for You! I give you my worries, my concerns over these situations. I trust in You!
After reading these three Psalms, I know God spoke to me and it was just what I needed!
Do I feel like we still took three steps back? Perhaps. But I have been reminded that my times are in His hands. I will trust in God. You, God, are my God!
Do you feel at times that you have taken three steps back? Be reminded today that God is your God and you can trust in Him. We can give all our worries to Him and He will take care of us!
Father, we praise You for You are our God! We thank You that we have an awesome God who we can turn over all our worries. When we feel that we have taken three steps back, we can trust in You to help us overcome and gain those steps again plus more. Thank you Father for Your love and care! In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Blessings,
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Imprint
The other weekend was my son’s last football game. It was our second playoff game and we lost, thus no more football. We have only been playing football for the last three months and basketball has already started. It was time for football to end, but it would have been nice to go all the way to the championship.
My son, Stephen, has been playing football for this league for four years. This year was the absolute best! We had a new coaching team and my son learned more in this year than in the previous three years. It was a great year all around. The coaches gave Stephen opportunities to show his abilities and helped him to become a better football player. He’s not where he could be, but he is further along than last year.
After the lost, we were all very sad to see football come to an end. Some boys were teary-eyed and some were weeping. Some parents did the same. My son was one that was teary-eyed. And I was one of the parents doing the same.
The coaches made a difference. After every game the team quoted the Lord’s Prayer. The coaches corrected when correction was needed, but there was a ton of affirmation for the boys. The head coach and the rest of the coaching team left an imprint on my son’s life.
I got to thinking about the coaches leaving an “imprint” on my son’s life. I had to ask myself have I left an imprint on someone else’s life. Have I made a difference in another person’s life? Are they a better person because of me? I want the answer to be yes. I hope the answer is yes.
I realize that there could be someone out there that I have left an imprint but don’t know about it. That’s why Stephen and I went out after the game and purchased a thank you card to give to the head coach. We want him to know that he made a difference in someone’s life. If someone has made an impact on your life, take a moment to let them know. You will bless them in doing so.
What are some ways we can leave an imprint on someone’s life? Showing kindness. Mentoring. Visit and encourage people. There are many more ways.
Let’s leave an imprint of Jesus on the lives around us!
Blessings,
My son, Stephen, has been playing football for this league for four years. This year was the absolute best! We had a new coaching team and my son learned more in this year than in the previous three years. It was a great year all around. The coaches gave Stephen opportunities to show his abilities and helped him to become a better football player. He’s not where he could be, but he is further along than last year.
After the lost, we were all very sad to see football come to an end. Some boys were teary-eyed and some were weeping. Some parents did the same. My son was one that was teary-eyed. And I was one of the parents doing the same.
The coaches made a difference. After every game the team quoted the Lord’s Prayer. The coaches corrected when correction was needed, but there was a ton of affirmation for the boys. The head coach and the rest of the coaching team left an imprint on my son’s life.
I got to thinking about the coaches leaving an “imprint” on my son’s life. I had to ask myself have I left an imprint on someone else’s life. Have I made a difference in another person’s life? Are they a better person because of me? I want the answer to be yes. I hope the answer is yes.
I realize that there could be someone out there that I have left an imprint but don’t know about it. That’s why Stephen and I went out after the game and purchased a thank you card to give to the head coach. We want him to know that he made a difference in someone’s life. If someone has made an impact on your life, take a moment to let them know. You will bless them in doing so.
What are some ways we can leave an imprint on someone’s life? Showing kindness. Mentoring. Visit and encourage people. There are many more ways.
Let’s leave an imprint of Jesus on the lives around us!
Blessings,
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