Jochebed

Today's devotion was written by Mary Davis, a woman in my church. 

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

Insight, instinct, wisdom, discretion, faith are just some of the attributes that clothed Jochebed.

Her story is a story of trust, courage and determination. Jochebed understood that she couldn’t “fix things.” Not only did she understand she couldn’t fix things, she also understood she had a part to play in preserving the life of her baby boy, Moses. Leaving the humanly unfixables to God, she concentrated on what God wanted her to do in order to keep Moses alive and well.

Certainly there are times when we can do nothing but trust God. Once Moses was placed in the Nile River, he was out of her hands. She literally put him in God’s hands and trusted God without reservation.

There comes a point in time in the life of every Christian when we have to relinquish all to God. Knowing when to take our hands off of a situation is vitally important if we expect God to intervene and bring the thing we’re seeking for to completion.

Heavenly Father, there are circumstances that arise that we have no control over. And situations that confront each lady that we have to take our hands off and place in your hands. Like Jochebed we have no choice but to trust You without reservation. Father, it’s during times like these that we need your wisdom. Your Word says “For the Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” So lead us to seek Your wisdom and not rely on our own self-sufficiency. Thank You Father, Amen.

Blessings,

Seek the Lord

What a promise we have in this verse.  If we seek God, we will find Him.  There is a condition on that promise though.  We must seek God with all our heart and with all our soul.  We can't seek Him half-heartedly.  We must give our all.

I want to be known as a seeker.

How about you?  Do you long to be a seeker?  You can.  Just seek Him with all your heart and soul and you will find Him!

Check out more Word Filled Wednesdays at Internet Café.

Blessings,

A Seeker's Heart

Yesterday morning we had a great service in church. God’s Spirit moved in a mighty way and the church was filled with His presence. My husband talked about us being seekers of God. Just as we would seek for a missing ring, or missing keys, we must seek God with all our heart.


God’s promises to seekers:

 

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV) “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

2 Chronicles 15:2 (NKJV) And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV) 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

 

In Luke 19:1-4 we read about a man name Zacchaeus who did whatever it took to see Jesus. I remember singing the song in kid’s church about Zacchaeus was a wee little man … Anyways, he was a short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus. He was not going to let his stature keep him from seeing Jesus. Jesus noticed him and went to his house to eat.

Mary, Martha’s sister, made a priority to seek Jesus. In Luke 10:38-42, Mary planted herself right at Jesus’ feet so she would not miss anything He said. Martha was running around trying to get everything ready for Jesus. Rather than help her sister, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.

In 2 Samuel 6:14-16 we read how David did not worry about what other’s said as he sought after God. 2 Samuel 6:14 tells us David wore a linen ephod which a priest would have worn. David laid aside his kingly garments and put on the linen ephod. And he danced before the LORD with all his might. He didn’t care how he looked. He was worshipping God. Sometimes we have to lay aside some things and not worry what other’s may say as we worship God, as we dance before the LORD with all our might.

We must be seekers of God!

We must do whatever it takes, whether it is pushing the plate away, turning the television off, whatever it takes to seek God.

We must make a priority to seek God. We cannot let other things, whether it’s for the Kingdom of God or not, to take away from time spent sitting at His feet.

We must not worry what other people say as we seek for more of God. People may not understand what we do or why we do things. We must keep our focus on seeking more of God.

As we seek God, as our hunger for more of Him in our lives grow, we will be filled.

Let’s pray. Father, please help us do whatever it takes to have You working and moving in our lives. Let us not worry about the opinions of others, but let us seek You as the only one we please. Thank You Father for the opportunity to seek Your face and to abide in Your presen

  

Blessings,

Serving Others

Serving others. I have had some thoughts swirling around this week. It all started on Monday when I read Week 5 of “If We are the Body” Bible study. You can read about it here.

The other night my husband and I went to visit our oldest church member, Grandma Lampie, who is 96 years old and in a nursing home. She has been there about a week and we had a great visit. She made us laugh and we made her laugh. I watched my husband interact with her. He would say something and she would give him “the look” like what are you talking about. I can picture it now. She and I worked together to give him a hard time, which he did not mind at all. While we were there, her dinner arrived. I got everything situated and then my husband fed her. I would wipe her mouth and help him. When she said she was done (after only a few bites), he would tell her he had another bite all ready for her so she would eat it. He was able to do that a couple of times before she said she was completely done.

When we left, I thought about how my husband served Grandma Lampie, by making her laugh, showing her love as well as feeding her. Needless to say, I was so proud of him.

My husband is a great example of someone who serves. Even though he is the senior pastor, he gets in and gets dirty - if need be.

Today, our society seems to be more concerned with self than with serving others. They want to make sure they are taken care of first, that they get their stuff done first, that their needs are met first. As Christians, we are called to serve so we must fight our flesh in order to do so.

In the church, we rely on people to serve in various capacities. When that doesn’t happen, the church suffers. The nursery is an important area that needs a lot of people to serve in, but few who will commit. There are times when some will commit in word, however when their time comes, there is always something else to do. That creates a hole in the ministry of the church.

Some may ask if I serve others, who will serve me? When thinking about this, I felt the Lord say to me, if you serve others, I will take care of you.

Gina, in her post for Week 5 states

“Our mind set should be one that is “others oriented.” We should rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us throughout the day into acts of service: whether big or small, whether noticed or not noticed; through a word, or an action, or silence, anything that puts another before ourselves. It may mean meeting a need regardless of the time of day or night, and being content to have, as Richard Foster describes it, “the divine nod of approval,” or, as Ephesians 6:7 says, doing service “as unto the Lord and not unto men.”’

This week I have been more mindful of serving others on my job, especially in the little things. I have been more mindful of showing appreciation to others and affirming them. To be honest, my concern is that I will get walked on and taken advantage of. That all may happen, however, I cannot let it stop me from being led by the Spirit in acts of service. I do desire the “divine nod of approval” and serving “as unto the Lord and not unto men”.

Let’s determine within ourselves that we will gladly serve others in word, in action, in big ways, in small ways, in secret, in open, in daytime, in nighttime, all for the Glory of God. Let’s determine within ourselves that we will be the hands and feet of Jesus to serve those around us whether friends, family, co-workers or complete strangers. Let us give of ourselves. After all, Christ gave of Himself completely by dying on the Cross.

Let’s go out and serve others!

Let’s pray. Father, I thank You for reminding me this week of my need to serve others more. Help me to serve others sacrificially without thought to self. Give me grace when I don’t think I can go on. Help me to be led by You to bless others. I thank You for my wonderful husband who is an example of one who serves. Continue to use him and bless him. I pray for those reading this that You will help as they serve others. Thank You Father! We praise You and give You glory for all that You do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

Be Glad

Today, may we (the righteous) be glad and rejoice before God and may we be happy and joyful. 

Have a joy-filled, Word Filled Wednesday!

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Blessings,

Wait

I came across this poem today and could so identify with it.  I wanted to share it here and encourage you in your time of waiting.

"Wait"

by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?

By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?

I'm needing a 'yes' a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

"I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting... for what?"

He seemed, then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give you, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want- But, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint;

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd Know that I give and save... (for a start),

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for Thee.'

Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My Child and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to get to know ME

And through oft' may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, 'Wait'".

Blessings,

Priscilla

Today's devotion was written by Mary Davis, a woman in my church.  Like Priscilla, Christ is first priority in Mary's life. 

I Corinthians 15:58

“Be strong and steadfast, always enthusiastic in the Lord’s work, for you know that anything you do for the Lord is never useless.”

Ephesians 4:3
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”


Paul referred to them as his “helpers in the Lord.” Their names are always linked together in scripture … Aquilla and Priscilla. What a beautiful picture of a husband-wife team. Because of their names always linked together, it’s hard to separate the two.

Priscilla was foremost in service. From the time Paul met her in Corinth she had been hard at work with her husband in the service of God. And not only that, she worked alongside her husband in their business of tent making. Theirs was a prime example of a husband-wife relationship.

From what little information given on Priscilla, we can conclude that she was an effective participant when it came to teamwork.

She was hospitable, offering her home as a place of worship, and a zealous advocate for the Christian cause. She was a spiritual mentor. Priscilla and Aquilla had mentored Paul, and he graciously accepted their wisdom and leadership, which shows that she was also a Christian leader.

But first and foremost, Christ was first priority in her life, as is seen in her service to Him. Priscilla was a queen of all trades, master of none.

Heavenly Father, one of the many attributes of Priscilla was teamwork. Lord, I pray that You remind us often of Priscilla when working for the Kingdom. May we, like Priscilla, determine to keep harmony among ourselves as we labor together. Thank You Father, Amen.


Blessings,

He is Able

We have a God who is able to keep us!  Take comfort today that God is keeping you. 

"To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen."

Check out more Word Filled Wednesdays at Internet Café.

 

Blessings,

Why Didn't You Ask Me?

Yesterday my daughter was packing her clothes to spend a few days with my mom. When I got home from work, she showed me a pair of Bermudas that had a few spots of paint on them. She asked it if would be okay to still wear them, which I replied that it would. She then said she had been worried about them all day. I replied to her that she should have just asked me - one of the many times I talked to her through the day.


As soon as I made that statement to her, I felt quickened by the Spirit. I felt God say the same thing to me – “Why didn’t you just ask Me?”

The scripture came to my mind “Call on Me and I will answer…"

Jeremiah 33:3 (New King James Version)
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

I like how The Message says it:
Jeremiah 33:3 (The Message)
2-3"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

I thought of times when I run here and there looking for answers, for direction or I worry and become anxious. All along I have Someone I can call on who has everything I will ever need.

What about you? Is God asking you “Why didn’t you ask Me?”

Let’s turn to Him for answers that we need.

Let’s pray. Father, I think you for speaking to my heart yesterday and reminding me that I have You to turn to. You know the things that go through my mind, the questions that I have, the direction that I seek. So I come to You with all this and I ask You for answers, for direction. I thank You in advance for providing for me. Bless those reading this and help them with the questions they have and the direction they need. I thank You and give You all praise, for there is none like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

My Provider

Genesis 22:13-14 (New Living Translation)

13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”


This morning at work I was talking to a guy who was sharing about his cell phone problems. He said something (I thought) profound “ when I called my provider they said this…”

My ears perked up and that statement got me to thinking about my Provider, God. You see, this guy was calling his cell phone provider to get answers for his phone problem, which he got the answers he needed. We have a Provider that we can go to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year, year after year. There is no contract. We have unlimited access to our Provider. You see, the cell phone company, has very limited resources and help. But God has unlimited resources!

If you are having financial problems, go to your Provider.
If you are having questions and need answers, go to your Provider.
If you are having car issues, go to your Provider.
Whatever you need, go to your Provider.

This guy called his cell phone provider expecting to get answers. Questions. Do we go to our Provider? If we do, do we go expecting to get answers? If not, then why do we expect more from everyone, everything else but God?

My air conditioner has been out in my car. Yes, I feel like I melt. My husband has been out of town and will be home tomorrow. Next week he is going to look at it. I am going to go to my Provider asking that He help my husband figure out what is wrong and that it will not be costly to fix.

What about you? What do you need from your Provider today? Let’s go to Him with the expectation of getting answers!

Let’s pray. Father, thank You that You are my Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider. I come to You today with the expectation of receiving answers. I ask that You help Terry figure out what is wrong with my car air conditioner and that it will not be costly at all to fix. I thank You in advance for Your provision! Now I ask that You help those reading this, that You will show Yourself to be their Provider in whatever they have need of. Thank You Father for being our Provider! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings,

He Is Your Praise!

God has done great and awesome wonders for each of us!  Let us give Him praise!  For there is none like our God!

Blessings,