Deuteronomy 31:17

New King James Version (NKJV)
Joshua the New Leader of Israel

1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. 4 And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

God is preparing His people for a change. They are about to enter the Promised Land, but it will not be under the leadership of Moses. God knows how hard change can be for people especially when it has to do with leadership. The people were not always pleased with Moses, often they complained against Moses, but Moses was the one who had led them out of bondage in Egypt and through the desert for 40 years. The people had come to trust that Moses could get them out of a tight spot. Now Moses tells the people he is too old to continue leading the people and God has said that Moses would not enter the Promised Land. Moses reminds the people that it was God, not Moses, who has gone before the people as they traveled. It is God, not Moses, who defeated the Amorites and gave their land to the Israelites and God will continue to go before the Israelites and defeat their enemies. They are instructed to remain strong and courageous because God will never leave them nor forsake them.

God has called Joshua to take Moses' place as the leader of His people. If you have ever been called to replace a beloved leader you can imagine how Joshua may have felt. He may have had feelings of insecurity and doubt. God does two things to encourage and strengthen Joshua. He has Moses appoint Joshua in front of the entire Hebrew Nation and He tells Joshua that He is with him. God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage because He will cause Joshua to be successful as He follows God's command. The people will inherit the land God has promised to them because God will go before Joshua and cause it to happen. He also tells Joshua personally that He will never leave nor forsake him.

God is still a close and personal God! He desires to have a close personal relationship with each of us. His promise to go before and never leave nor forsake is not only for Joshua and the Israelites it is for each of us. I don't know what changes you are facing in your life or what positions God has called you to but I do know that He is telling you that He is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. So remain strong and courageous my friend, your God is with you! He is going before you and He will be successful as He leads you!

Father, Source of my strength, thank You for being close beside me! Thank You Jesus that through You I can draw on the strength of the Father! Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever and that the promises in your Word are for me as well! Go before me today I pray. help me to remain stron and courageous as I walk through this life and do all the things You call me to do! In Jesus strong and powerful name, amen!

Throw Off Your Coat

Mark 10:46-50

The Message (MSG)

46-48 They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!" Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"
49-50 Jesus stopped in his tracks. "Call him over."
They called him. "It's your lucky day! Get up! He's calling you to come!" Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus.

When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by he called out to Him. The crowd tried to hush him up. He was a blind beggar and Jesus shouldn't be bothered. But Bartimaeus was undaunted by the crowed and yelled even louder. Jesus stopped and called Bartimaeus to come to him. Bartimaeus threw off his coat and immediately went to see Jesus. I was struck by the fact that Bartimaeus threw off his coat. Why and why was that fact important? Often we cloak ourselves from the world to cover our failures, blemishes and insecurities. Did Bartimaeus use his coat to hide himself as he sat beside the road and now that Jesus had acknowledged him he felt free to shed his coat?

As I drove down the street today I saw two people walking. One was headed north and the other south. One was a teenage girl and the other a young woman. They had not yet met and clearly did not intend to, as each one looked down and away from the other, changing course slightly to create more space as they passed each other. Neither one was over weight and there had never been any danger of them actually passing by close enough to touch but still they each widened the gap slightly.  Perhaps they were each having a bad day. Maybe they did not want to bother the other or maybe they were afraid of what the other might think if they spoke. Whatever the reason they passed by each other in silence. I was struck by the sadness of it. Then I though of all of the times I had been in a similar situation in the grocery store, post office, or elevator and done the same thing. Immediately Matthew 28:19-20 came to mind. Jesus told us to "Go" and keep going into our community and all of the world talking to them about the Gospel of Christ. God created us for fellowship with Him and with each other. How sad it must make Him when we blindly walk by each other.

Father we cry out to You today, heal our blindness. Help us to shed our coats of insecurity and reach out to those around us. When we find ourselves blinded by our fears and insecurities help us to cry out to You in faith just like Bartimaeus did. Open our eyes Father. In Jesus

Praise and Peace

Philippians 4:6-7


New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Throughout the Old Testament we see examples of this scripture being lived out. Moses was hesitant when God called him but once he accepted his commission he never doubted God's awesome power. Even when the Red Sea was before him and the Egyptian soldiers were behind him he knew God would deliver His people. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego showed the same resolve vowing not to ever bow to a man or his statue, praising God's power and glory no matter the out come. Daniel was just as courageous as he faced the lion's den because of his faith.

The New Testament records the same in steadfastness in Stephen, Peter, James, Paul, Silas and John as they faced death, persecution and imprisonment because of their faith.

How can anyone praise God when they are being stoned or are chained in a prison? It takes focus and resolve! I was reminded of the importance of focus as I was driving on a narrow mountain road with an S-curve. I have driven on that road many times. Sometimes I experience anxiety and hit the brakes and sometimes I have complete peace, leaving the cruise on. What makes the difference? It is my focus! If I allow my gaze to look too far into the distance I lose sight of where the road goes and become anxious about the size of the road and possible oncoming traffic, even if there is none. If I am looking to close to the front of my car I become anxious about the degree of the turn and decide the posted speed is not safe after all. But if I keep my focus where it should be I am not anxious or afraid. Peter had the same experience when he got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. As long as his focus was where it should be, on Jesus, he was fine. But as soon as he lost focus and looked at the storm he became anxious and started to sink.

We have the ability to praise God in good times and in storms if we do not take our eyes off of Jesus, then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!

Father, Creator, You are my strength and my peace! Help me to keep my eyes firmly focused on You and too praise You no matter what! I would rather face any storm with Your peace than to receive any blessing without You in my life! Today I surrender all to be in Your presence! Thank You for calling me Yours! In Jesus powerful name, amen.

"I am NOT having a good day" Part 1

Daily Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Warrior Jonathan Vasgar

"I am NOT having a good day" Part 1 
 Open Mouth, Insert Foot

 (Please note I will have two versions of this, one using KJV, the other NKJV. If you prefer KJV, please find it on my page)
 

Genesis 37:2-4 'This [is] the history of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of [many] colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.'

There's a whole lot to be found about Joseph. Some might say he had a rather unfortunate life, yet as we shall see, it's often in the darkest circumstances that light comes pouring through. But, I don't want to get ahead of myself. Let's begin!

So, for those of you not too familiar with the story, Joseph was the great grandson of Abraham. He was not the youngest in his family, but was close. However, he was the oldest of Rachel's sons. Rachel was Jacob's (Israel) favorite wife, therefore Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. He had given his son a coat of many colors to show how favored he was, which as you can see, made his brothers angry. So angry, they hated him. It got worse though. You see, Joseph was young. Impetuous. And, a bit of a braggart.

Let's take a look at what happens: Verses 5-11 tell us, 'Now Joseph had a dream, and he told [it] to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: "There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told [it] to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter [in mind].'

Yes, this would come true later on, but that's not the point. Notice how Joseph rubbed his dreams in his brothers' faces. He lorded it over them. He knew he wasn't liked and that he was the favorite, so he decides to tell them his dreams about how he'd be the ruler over them! He took the dreams God had given him and rather than see how he could become the man that would be the leader, he goes and spreads it loudly.

We are sometimes that same way. I know I can be. Someone gives you a high compliment at church and the next thing you know, you are telling EVERYONE how wonderful you are. Being a braggart is not the way to handle things at all. Not according to God who says in Matthew 6:3-4 '"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.' Let God handle your reward, you don't need to make a big show of giving in church or showing everyone how wonderful you are because you serve in a certain position. James 4:6 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." God doesn't want us to grow proud, He wants us to be humble. If God is using you in a great way, AMEN! But, don't let it become your sole focus. So focused on getting accolades, you miss out on God's blessings. On being a blessing to others!

Do you want to leave a legacy or a tragedy? We will focus on how God starts to use Joseph next, but before you can be used, sometimes you have to be broken...

My prayer for you is that you find the spot where God can use you, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of life's camera, but that you know it's God that put you there. Let His love flow through you. Leave that kind of legacy!

 

 

I give you Glory Glory

Today's Devotional
Brought to you by Prayer Team Member Bobbi Heffel

After a day of sneezing, coughing and chills I awoke this morning feeling much better with this song on my heart. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO_0VLEDcOg&feature=related

By Klaus from the Worship CD Glory, recorded Live at CFNI in 2008 

It was your words

It was your cross

Just a moment there you set me free

I give you GLORY GLORY

Jesus

You saved me

And rescued me

With a crown of thorns, you became my king forever

It was your words –

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance

(to the full, till is overflows).

 John 10:10b (Amplified Bible)

It was your cross – sin and death were defeated

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Isaiah 25:8

“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Hosea 13:14

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NIV 1984)

Just a moment there you set me free –

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

                2 Peter 3:7-9 (NIV 1984)

I give you GLORY GLORY – You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

 Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV 1984)

Jesus – Son of God

But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 1:2-4 (NIV 1984)

You saved me – no man come to the Father except through the Son

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 John 14:6 (New King James Version)

And rescued me – I was lost in self and sin

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

With a crown of thorns, you became my king forever –

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Matthew 27:28-30 (NIV 1984)

It was your words

 It was your cross

Just a moment there you set me free

I give you GLORY GLORY

PRAYER

Lord, I am humbled at all you went through so that we may enter into your kingdom. You have given such great sacrifice and love that I am in awe. Thank you could not even began to be enough to express how great full we are for all you have done and will do. May you be pleased as our hearts  sing praise to you.

Daily Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Team member Bobbi Heffel

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine


John Chapter 2

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.



After rereading this passage I was amazed at how many lessons jumped out at me.

This was not a life threating issue, but would cause a great embarrassment yet, Jesus was compelled to act on their behalf. ~ He has compassion on our pleas.

The wedding party didn’t come to Jesus in a frenzy asking him to help but someone with a close relationship to Jesus that asked on their behalf.  ~We can make requests to God on the behalf of others.

Mary didn’t just make a request of Jesus, she made preparations, she gave instructions the servants. She expected something to happen.  ~This reminds me of that saying, don’t just pray for rain go on and make the fields ready for it.

Can you imagine yourself trying to arrange for more wine in short order? I just love Jesus’ actions here. He doesn’t get all flustered or try to figure out how this will be accomplished. With confidence he instructs the servants to fill the ceremonial water jars to the brim with water. With that done he tells the servants to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. Can you imagine what that servant thought!?   ~Am I willing to do what Jesus asks of me without question when it makes no sense to me?

When Jesus acted, he didn’t just fix the situation he went beyond what was requested or expected and provided the very best. ~ God desires His best for us.

Prayer
Lord, Thank you for your Holy word through which you reveal yourself to us. Thank you that we can read example after example of how you love and care for us! AMEN

Song

Daily Devotional

Daily Devotional brought to you by Jon Vasgar Prayer Warrior

                                                                                          Title: You Want Me to Do What? Part 4

Verses: Genesis 22:2 'Then He (God) said, "Take now your son, your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."'

The last time we saw Abraham, he had just been told he was going to have a son at a very old age. Like many of us, he didn't believe God could do that. Sarah laughed and was reproved by God. Sure enough, a year later, Isaac was born to the 100 yr old Abraham and the 90 yr old Sarah.

All was wonderful for awhile as now Abraham did have the promised son who would carry on the bloodline. He had send his other son and his mother away, so now he just had Isaac. God had promised Abraham that a great nation would be born of his son. But, just when life had settled down, God had something else in mind.

Reread the verse above. God has just told Abraham to take his only son and sacrifice him. Kill his son! Can you imagine. Ah, but look at what Abraham chooses to do. Rather than question God, read what happens next: 'So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."' (Gen 22:3-5) Notice what Abraham said. 'We will come back to you.' Not, I will. No, so great was his faith that even though he knew that God was commanding him to kill his son, he knew God also would not break his promise! When Isaac questioned his father on the sacrifice, he said in vs 8 "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."

Oh, to have the faith of Abraham! Notice how far it got. In vs 9-10 'Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.' He was so committed to God, that he knew this was His will. He must have thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead or stop him from this. However, he followed through. As the knife came down, a hand reached out and stopped Abraham. God Himself sent an angel to stop Abraham and provided a ram to be sacrificed.

As a result, look at what was promised in vs 16-18 '"By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [son]-- blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which [is] on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Now, I turn the question to you. How often as God's will not made any sense? How often have you felt His prompting and thought, "Nope, not going there God. You promised me THIS, but not THAT, so I'm gonna stay here." How amazing could your life be if, like Abraham, you just took that wild leap and did what He asked you to do? God isn't cruel, He wants to teach us. He used this to build Abraham AND Isaac's faith. What is holding you back from doing what God told you to do? What is keeping you back from an unbelievable (if not easy) life? Notice what Jesus says to us in John 15:10-11 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full."

You see, Jesus never promised happiness or that it would be simple. But, He does promise joy, peace, love. How cool is that? What are you waiting for? Dive in! Following God will fill your soul. Chasing happiness will lead to nothing. You can't ever get enough happiness, but God can fill you up with His eternal, everlasting joy.

 

Daily Devotional

Today's Devotion brought to you by Jonathan Vasgar Prayer Warrior

 (All scripture taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted)

                                                                                                                        "The Names of Jesus"

Have you ever taken the time to really reflect on the different names of our Lord? He has so many different names for different uses. As we kick off our week, I wanted to mention some of them.

First think of this one: Jehovah-Jireh or God my Provider. Genesis 22:14 is where Abraham (who I will get back to tomorrow, promise!) says: 'And Abraham called the name of the place, Jehovahjireh; as it is said [to] this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.'" Feeling like you need a provider? God is there for everything. If you are His child, He is your ultimate provider.

The there's El-Shaddai or God is our rock. How cool is that? We often say, that guy or girl is a rock in my life. How much sweeter to say that God is the rock in our life. Even when storms blow around, what doesn't move? A rock, that's what! A rock also casts a shadow to keep you out of the harsh sunlight. When all around you it gets to be too much, go to the Rock for shelter. Psalm 91:1 translates El Shaddai this way:' He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.'

Jehovah-Shalom means "the Lord send peace". Can you believe it? When you are feeling scared, the LORD himself provides peace. Forget anti-anxiety pills and take a healthy dose of God instead.

He is Jehovah-Rapha or God our Healer. Who better to bandage our wounds, but Jesus. When a sparrow falls to the ground, He notices! Matthew 6:26 (NIV) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" How much love He has for us, He loves us enough to heal our brokeness.

Ezekiel 48:35b: "And the name of the city from [that] day [shall be]: THE LORD [IS] THERE." That phrase is translated from Jehovah-shammah. I love this. People so often will let you down. It's just a fact. We are humans, we aren't always there for each other like we maybe need to be. However, the one who will NEVER let you down, never leave you lonely, is there always, is the LORD God Almighty.

Here's a challenge for you today. Take a piece of paper and write down names or characteristics of God that describe who He is to you. You'll be surprised how much He really means. For fun, I used the letters A-Z. He's Amazing, Almighty, Benevolent, Beloved, Creator God, etc.

Prayer: Lord, let us never forget what You have done for us. We don't deserve Your love. We don't deserve Your grace, and yet You are there for us. Let us remember to cry out to You when we are sad, go to You with our emotions. Let us run to You when we are lonely or full, You shouldn't be there for us only when we absolutely need You. God we need Your presence felt now. God, we need Your healing, Your love, Your friendship, we need You in our lives. Fill us and free us. AMEN

Song: This song is directly to the devotion above, but is God singing over us. Another reminder of Who He is. 

 

How Much Can YOU Handle? Devotion brought to you by Shelley Brandon. SCwSG Grief and Encouragement Coach

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

 ^13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Thought for Today: I’ve got a few pet peeves.  Probably more than a few truth be told.  One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says, “God will never give me more than I can handle.”  Says who?  It’s not in the Bible anywhere, so who decided that God will never give us more than we can handle?

There are people all over the world lying in hospital beds that are facing more than they can handle.  There are millions of people dying from the unsafe water sources they must rely on.  There are more people alive right now that are dealing with more than they can handle than the total population combined just a generation or two ago. 

Try telling an abused child that God will never give you more than you handle.  Tell a mother whose baby just died that God will never give her more than she can handle and I bet she won’t give you a smile back.

The promise of God is not that we will never be given more than we can handle.  Watching my beloved husband die one day at a time for 365 days from terminal brain cancer was more than I could handle…. Alone.

God’s promise is that He will help us handle whatever life gives us.  Ephesians 6:13 tells us exactly what life will give us.  ^“13Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.”

The enemy spends endless energy trying to give us more than we can handle and his greatest desire is that we blame God when we get too much.  “Why did God do this to me?”  God didn’t do it to you.  The enemy is doing it to you so you will turn your back on the one true God.  We are also told what to do when life gives us too much.  We are to be prepared, we are to, “Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life.”

Where are we to find these tools?  “God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.”  The Bible is where we find the strength God is offering to us to make it through this earthly life.  Life is hard, God is good.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, Thank you for the weapons that You offer to us for our battles in this life.  We ask that you nudge us every day to spend time in Your word that we may learn how to apply Your armor and be prepared to enter the battle.  In Jesus’ name…. Amen

Today's Devotional brought to you courtesy of Prayer Warrior Laurie L. Thomas

John 3:16-17


New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

For God so loved the world....the world, one of the meanings listed for the original Greek word meaning "world" is the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family. Everyone reading this fits into that category! We are all inhabitants on this earth, members of the human family. That means For God so loved you, me, each of us! Not just those who love Him or those who are obedient to Him, but all of us right where we are today, this very minute! Whether we are struggling with a temptation, an addiction, an affliction, or on a mountain top doing well, God sees us and loves us! He loves us so very much He sacrificed His Only Begotten Son, and Jesus would not have had it any other way. When Jesus prayed in the Garden He asked for the cup to pass from Him, but knowing what had to be done He concluded with, "not My will but Thine be done."

God the Father and God the Son did this so you and I would not perish but have everlasting life. Ever have someone do something nice for you only to have them constantly remind you of what they did for you? That is not what Jesus will ever do! He did not come to point fingers and condemn but to offer us everlasting life with Him in His Kingdom! Wherever you find yourself today remember you are loved! You are worth more than gold or silver! You are worth more to God anything! After all He gave His Son for you!

Father, Redeemer You are God. You did not have to save me but because of Your great love for me You did! I love You LORD because You first loved me! I know that I stumble and fall often, forgive me for all of the times I fail You! Strengthen me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to be Your heart, hands and feet to someone today. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Jonah 2
New King James Version (NKJV)
2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. 2 And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
And He answered me.
“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
3 For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.
7 “When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”
10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Yesterday we saw Esther, a beautiful young orphan who had been crowned queen, then asked to do an impossible task. Although she was afraid she knew her strength came from the LORD so she asked others to pray with her so she would have courage to do what God wanted her to. The truth is not all of us are Esthers. Many of us chose to run if the task is too frightening, too difficult, or might require more than we are willing to give.

It is not comfortable to admit but many times I have been more like Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them that they were sinning and God was not going to stand for it any longer (Jonah 1:1-2). Jonah did not want to do what God had asked him to do. Nineveh was the center of the Assyrian Empire, enemies of the Israelites. Jonah was probably afraid of the consequences that could come from delivering such a message to one's enemy. Chapter 4 of the book of Jonah gives us some more insight into another reason Jonah is reluctant to go; he knows God is "a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and [when sinners turn to You and meet Your conditions] You revoke the [sentence of] evil against them." (Jonah 4:2b AMP). Jonah finds a ship headed in the opposite direction and sees it as a perfect escape so he takes it.

We often find ourselves in the midst of raging storms when we are out of God's will; storms that not only affect our lives but the lives of those around us as well. Just like Jonah we can be oblivious to the raging storm we have caused until someone points it out to us, then we have a choice, apologize and admit our wrong doing or continued denial. The good news is that when we admit our wrong doing God rescues us! God did not allow Jonah to drown when he took ownership of his sin. He sent a big fish to rescue Jonah from drowning, then when  Jonah repented and was ready to submit his will to God, God had the fish spit Jonah onto dry land.  Did you see the rescue was a big fish? Most of us would not see three days in the belly of a fish as being rescued but Jonah 1:6 assures us that Jonah did. Take heart Beloved, even if you are enduring a raging storm of your own making or find yourself in a pit you dug yourself, God loves you  and longs to rescue you! Fall on your knees in prayer, confess all to the One who made you and loves you more than any other then give Him thanks even if the rescue does not seem like a rescue right now! God is faithful!

Father, You rescue me from the pit and set my feet on solid ground. Your mercy and compassion are unmeasured.You call to me and pursue me even when I am running from You, that is how great Your love is for me! Father help me to hear Your voice and respond obediently and when I don't help me to be like Jonah and recognize my folly immediately and turn back to You! You alone are God, You alone are my salvation! In Jesus saving name, amen.

Daily Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Warrior Jonathan Vasgar

"What's Your Foundation?"

Verses: Matthew 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Have you ever looked at footage on the news after a horrible hurricane has hit the coast? Notice how many of the homes are just flattened, totally, utterly destroyed. Every once in a while though, you'll see a home with little to no damage. Why is that? These homes are built on what is essentially sand. There is no foundation to put on these homes. While outwardly, they seem strong, it doesn't take much for them to be pushed over. A harsh tornado comes along and they are swept away. However, the houses built on a rock foundation can withstand much, much more. They can stand side by side in a hurricane, but their foundation will not allow them to fall. They may lose their roof, they may have a few broken panes of glass, but their foundation prevented them from collapsing.

So often our lives are just like that. We build our lives on our jobs, on our friendships with others, our love lives, our hobbies, our dreams, and our desires. Yet, here, Jesus tells us to not make those our focus. Our focus should be on the one who is our rock. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are planting our spiritual 'house' on a rock that will NOT fail. We are putting down the right foundation. This doesn't mean we won't be hurt, not at all. We are human, we will fall. The Psalmist noted in Psalm 37:23-24 'The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds [him with] His hand.' See, when your foundation is Christ, you will never collapse entirely. He's got you. You may be battered, bruised, bleeding. But, He'll pick you up and set you on your way again.

Mark my words, storms of life will come. Sometimes, it seems like they are never ending. But, Jesus says, "Peace, be still." Even though the waters outside are raging, all's calm inside. After all, you have Him living in you, you have nothing to fear. Those who are without Jesus, you are facing a fearful journey. Why not put your trust in a rock. Look at the sand you are standing on. The minute it hits, where will you go? You won't find peace in a bottle, just more turmoil. You won't find peace in your job, that's just endless chasing of the almighty dollar. You won't find peace in a relationship, people will let you down. You know it's true. Jesus is the ONLY answer to your problems. He's the rock. The wind can howl all around you, but if you are on the rock, you will stand firm.

Today's Devotional

Brought to you by Prayer Team member Bobbi Heffel

Colossians 3

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) biblegateway.com

Rules for Holy Living

 ¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Prayer

Lord, help us to set our minds on those things that will draw us closer to you. May our hearts, minds, attitudes and actions reflect our love for you in everything we do today. Your word tells us in Matthew 6:33-34 ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV1984) So we simply ask that you will help us to stay our hearts and minds on you today. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen