My Redeemer Lives

Ruth 3
¹⁰ Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. ¹² Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. ¹³ Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.”

Ruth had gone to Boaz under Naomi's instruction. Boaz was her kinsman redemmer and as such was obligated by Jewish law to provide and protect Ruth. When Ruth uncovers Boaz's feet she is showing submission and obedience to Boaz and is asking for him to step in as her kinsman redeemer. Boaz comends Ruth for being virtuous and promise to redeem her. Then he sends her home with six ephahs of flour. He has already begun to supply Ruth and Naomi's every need.
Like Ruth we too have a Kinsman Redeemer. When we earnestly seek God's face He promises to redeem us through our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus. Not only does He promise to redeem us but He also supplies our every need, protects us and has provided and inheretance for us in heaven with Him. Just as the blessings for Ruth from Boaz affected Naomi the blessings God gives us when He redeems us are meant to affect the lives of those around us. Share His message of hope and redemption with those you encounter today!

Father, Redeemer, Provider, I seek Your face today! I long to know You more! Give me the courage to share You with all of those I encounter today, to give them the reason for mu joy and hope, that they to may come to know and trust You! Be glorified in me today I pray, in Jesus redemptive name, amen!

 

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!

Security

Psalm 51:11-13


New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

Romans 8:37-39


New King James Version (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yesterday I heard part of an uplifting message on Pilgrim Radio. The gentleman was talking about David and Saul, God's removal of His spirit from Saul and the assurance we have as believers in our salvation. We know from scripture that God is no respecter of persons and that Jesus taught that sin is sin. There are not verying degrees of sin. In fact Jesus taught that the mere thought of committing the act was the same as committing the sin.  Saul disobeyed God; he did not utterly destroy the Amalekites and all of their belongings. He spared Agag, the king, and allowed the people to keep the best possesions. David also sinned; he commited adultery and then tried to cover it up with murder. Both lost something because of their sin. Saul lost the kingdom and God's Spirit, David lost a child and eventually the kingdom.

Romans 8:38-39 tells us that once we belong to God, nothing can separate us from his love. I have always been convinced thatthis is true, but I also believe it is wrong to take pieces of scripture and use them to promote my beliefs. God gave us all of scripture so that we can have a more complete picture of whi He is and what He desires. Psalm 51 was written after David's sin had been pointed out to him by Nathan. David knew God could and would take His Spirit away from those who turned away from God. He had seen it happen to Saul, so David pleads with God not to remove His Holy Spirit from him. David had seen what happened to Saul as a result and wanted no part of that. There is another piece of information here that I overlooked when reading Psalm 51, perhaps you have too. David does not plead with God to restore his salvation. He asks God to restore the joy of God's salvation to himDavid's sin had separated him from God and caused him great anguish. David records in Psalm 32 the physical, emotional and mental consequences of his sin, now he wanted God to forgive him and restore the joy of his salvation to him.

So take heart Believer! If you find yourself separated from God because of sin, you have not forfeited your salvation. You may have lost your joy. Repent, return to the Source of your joy and ask Him to restore the joy of His salvation to you. He will!

Father, thank You for the security and assuance of my salvation! Thank You that You promise that nothing can separate me from Your immeasuable love fo me! Father I know that my sin can and has separated me from You. Forgive my for my transgressions, ceate in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. I pray in Jesus, healing, powerful name, amen

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.

Today's Devotional brought to you by Prayer Warrior Michelle Simpson

Romans 12:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I was reading Leviticus chapter 19. The chapter begins with "...You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." Then the chapter begins to describe what that looks like. Much of the chapter talks about our relationships with others. One of the verses that stuck out to me was verse 32; "You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord."  I was reminded of a time in our Country when an elderly or disabled person came into a room or boarded a bus people would stand and offer them their seat, out of courtesy. That rarely happens anymore. We have adopted an "every one for themselves" attitude. Common courtesies seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate!
As I read my Bible I am convinced that the things we did out of courtesy were once done because God commanded them to be done. Children were taught to respect their parents and elders and to treat others as they wanted to be treated because God commanded it. A courtesy is just something you do because it is a nice gesture. It does not carry the threat of a consequence if you do not perform the task. A command is a law and as with all laws it carries the promise of a consequence if it is not followed. There is a reason God commanded us to teach our children (Deut. 4:9, 10; 6:7; 11:19; 31:19).
How we treat one another is very important to God! He loves each one of us the same.! He does not love one more than the other! It is His desire that not one be lost but all should have eternal life. How we treat each other is so important that God places reminders of how He desires us to treat each other throughout scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments. Next time you have the opportunity to be courteous do and then use it as a teaching moment. When someone asks you why tell them, "because God commands me to." It may just begin a conversation that leads to a salvation, and that may change the world!

Father, Teacher, continue to teach me Your precepts! Your word is alive and as relevant today as it was when it was written! Help me to never miss a moment  when You are teaching me or a moment to pass Your precepts on to those around me. I love You LORD! Help me to become holy just as You are holy! In Jesus cleansing, righteous name, amen!

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. 

 

You Are Glorious!

Friday April 13, 2012

Daily Devotion written by Shelley Brandon, Grief and Encouragement Coach

Romans 3:23-24 MSG

“[God Has Set Things Right]But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.”

Glorious lives…. I look back at the life I’ve lived and what I see is the long and sorry record I’ve written as a sinner.  But what God sees is the glorious life He has willed for me.  He sees me through the veil of the blood of Jesus Christ.  He sees the perfect creation I will be when I enter into His glory.

What is a glorious life?  Is it one of self-destruction and self-pity? Is it a life of hiding in the shadows or is it a life lived in the light cast upon us by the wonder of Easter?

I recently reconnected with my very first boyfriend via social networking.  He is married and has a small son.  I love that!  Having someone to share your life journey is so important.  What does this have to anything?  Exchanging emails with him made me think about the young girl who was so excited to get letters from him in the mail.  Life was ahead of me and for me everything was glorious.  I’m not sure when the “real world” stepped in, but in the matter of a few years glorious turned to gloomy.  Heart break and personal struggles created shades of gray for many years.  After my husband passed on the rainbows we’d had together turned to shades of black. 

I have determined though that I will not sit in the blackness and feed into my own personal pity party. I am surrounding myself with color and I will use every tear I’ve cried to embrace the glorious future that God has created for me and paved with blood of my Savior. 

 Heavenly Father, help me to see the glory of this day that you have created for me.  I thank You for the colors of Spring that fill my soul with joy.  I thank You for my friends and family who fill my heart with hope.  I thank You for Your all-consuming love for me that sees me as glorious in spite of my sins.  In Jesus’ name… ~Amen

Who Are You Trying to Impress?

Daily Devotion written by Shelley Brandon, Grief and Encouragement Coach

Galatians 2:20 MSG

“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.”

How are you living out your Faith?  Do you live by rules and regulations of religious traditions or are you living by the resurrection of living Savior? 

I’m afraid to say that I often try to hide behind legalisms, judging others for things that I would not want to be judged by.  Justifying myself to myself.  Backing myself into self-created corner of the world.  Trying to compete in an imaginary pageant of righteousness. 

Can I possibly hope to impress God with anything I do?  Who is it that I’m trying to impress with my show?  Others, who aren’t even watching, or myself?  Just how much righteousness can I create for myself anyway? 

Living by my faith in Jesus Christ creates a balance and content in me.  Living by my charades of religion leaves me grouchy and needy.  So why do I continue to live in pageant mode rather than by the grace allowed to me through my Savior?  Good question. 

Heavenly Father, I come to you again asking for holy blinders to keep me focused on the cross and the sacrifice You made to grant us the way to eternal life with You.  Let us not forget the power of Easter and the freedom it brings to us to live in Your grace and mercy.  “Thank you”, is not enough to express the gratitude and humility for this unsurpassed blessing.  Help us to not keep our hearts hidden away.  In Jesus precious 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.

Today's Devotional brought to you by prayer warrior Michelle Simpson

Hosea 7:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples [courting the favor of first one country, then another]; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

 

What kind of cake gets turned? A pancake! If it is not turned over one side gets done but the other side does not. So it is with our lives, if we only allow God access to certain areas of our lives. Ephraim, wanting to ensure safety, had sought treaties with one country after another. Throughout Israel's history God had instructed Israel to trust God for victory over her enemies and not to make treaties. Ephraim professed to belong to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but put its faith in trust in treaties with its enemies. Because of the close association with her enemies, Ephraim was practicing idolatry, setting up places of worship to the Gods of their enemies. A half-baked hot cake is not good for eating and a lukewarm believer is of no use to God. According to Revelation 3:15-16 God would rather have us cold than lukewarm. We all have areas of our lives that we are afraid to turn over to God. Ask God to reveal those ares to you today. Ask Him to "turn you over" and allow Him to complete the good work He has begun in you. Surrender all of yourselg to Him today. Allow Him to transform you into the image of Christ Jesus by the renewing of your mind.

 

Father, Creator, You have begun a good work in me and promise to see it through to completion until Jesus returns or You call me home. But there are areas I have tried to hide from You and not given You access to. Forgive me Father! You already know everything about me and You still love me! There is no area of my life that is so ugly that You don't wish to clean up and make beautiful. Today I surrender all of me to You. Today I trust You to take every part of my life and turn the ashes in to beauty through Your Son Jesus! In Jesus name I pray, amen!