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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

All Nature Sings!

Luke 19:39-40

New King James Version (NKJV)

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”



Have you looked around at God's creation lately?  I mean really stopped and appreciated the beauty of it? Have you heard the stones cry out? I have a good friend and prayer partner that is teaching me to do that very thing! I meet with this friend on a weekly basis for prayer. She never fails to thank God for His creation and the way creation sings praises to God. It can be snowing so hard that you cannot see across the street and my friend will thank God for the beauty and the uniqueness of each snowflake.  Take time today to stop, quiet your thoughts and listen! see the intricicise of a flower, a leaf or a blade of grass. Marvel at the strength of an ant. Listen to the music a bee's wings make as they ensure the flowers and trees continue. Join the birds in singing praises to the King of kings! Don't let the stones cry out on your behalf!

Father, Creator, all of creation sings Your praises and You reply with the beauty of a rainbow and the colors of a sunset or sunrise! Teach me to hear all of nature singing Your praises. Teach me to join in the song! I do not want the stones to have to cry out on my behalf! I love You LORD! In Jesus mighty 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.

Encouragement...Pass it on!

Hebrews 10:24-25
The Message (MSG)
 22-25So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

In the beginning of the book of Daniel some of the children of Israel are taken into captivity. These young men have not been randomly selected. They are all children from nobility, good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, quick to understand, and without blemish. These were all children who had been born with a "silver spoon in their mouths" so-to-speak! Daniel does not tell us how many children were ripped from the only homes they had probably known, their parents, their families and friends and carried off 900 miles to Babylon. Four of the youth are highlighted however, they are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. We don't know if these young men knew each other prior their captivity, became friends on the long journey, or if they first met in captivity. We do know that they were all set under the same steward (Daniel 1:11) We also know these boys stuck together and were prayer partners (Daniel 1:11-17 and Daniel 2:13-18).

The purpose for the captivity of these specific children of Israel was so that they might be assimilated into the Babylonian culture and serve the king. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:6). Daniel obviously had an intimate relationship with God and he was not going to do anything to hurt that relationship. Sounds a little like resolutions we all make. Resolutions are hard to keep! We can determine to do or not do something and manage to keep the resolution for a while. We are more likely to keep that resolution when we have support and encouragement from family and friends! God provided friends for Daniel! I am sure they encouraged each other when temptations threatened to undo their conviction!

Today's devotional video is not a music video. It is a video about the resolve of one young man to accomplish a  task some thought too difficult for him. In fact he was given the option to not participate. His resolve and courage inspired his classmates to greatness. I have been truly blessed to know people like Matt W. They refuse to be imprisoned by physical or health limitations. Instead they have faith that God will give them the courage, strength and encouragement to do whatever He asks them to do. They pass that courage on to others through their encouragement!

Father, You have created each one of us! You have connected us to each other! Thank You for those in my life that have encouraged me! Help me to encourage those around me! In Jesus precious name, amen!

Great is My Faithfulness?

Micah 6:8
Amplified Bible (AMP)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?


Hebrews 11:6
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

James 2:21-23

New King James Version (NKJV)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[a] And he was called the friend of God.




Because of God's great love, faithfulness, kindness and mercy toward me I desire to please Him. Exactly how do I do that? How do you give God a gift that will please Him? He has everything and if there were ever anything He needed or wanted it He could certainly create it! Isaiah tells me that all of my righteousness is like filthy rags so how can I please God?

Micah 6:8 tells us God has already shown us how to please Him. He requires that we act justly, be honest in our dealings with friends, family, neighbors and others; to love kindness and mercy, to extend grace and forgiveness to those who offend or injure us and to treat everyone with the same love, forgiveness, patience, understanding, and mercy that God treats us with and we are to do theses things in order to bring glory to God, not ourselves.

The writer of Hebrews says that it is impossible to please God without faith. What is faith? According to Webster faith is allegiance to duty or a person, belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Seems simple enough until the next crisis hits and I scramble, worry and fret about how "I can fix" the situation. Oops, that doesn't show trust in God! Trusting in God would give me peace that no matter what happens He is in control and is caring for me. Okay so maybe my faithfulness isn't perfect, but it can be great with God's help! In those times that my faith falters He is just and good to remind me of Who He is and what He is capable of! When I repent and turn back to Him, He is quick to forgive. Through every failure, God draws me closer to Him and my faith is strengthened! He will continue to work in me and give me opportunities to work with Him so that my faith may be made perfect!

Father You are the Author and Finisher of my faith! I desire to please You above all things! So great is Your faithfulness to me! Forgive me when my faith falters! Help me to do all that pleases You! Strengthen my faith! In Jesus Name, amen!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness!

Hebrews 13:8
New King James Version (NKJV)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Psalm 103:17-18  (NKJV)
"But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.”

We live in an ever changing world. It wasn't so long go that if you wanted to see someone you had to travel to where they were. Now all we need to have is a internet access, a computer or smart phone, and Skype or a similar program. It brings a whole new meaning to "Reach out and touch someone"! Governments change, nations leadership changes, stocks, world economy, and weather. We change jobs or careers, move, buy new cars, furniture, clothing and shoes. It seems as if nothing in our lives is constant. We enjoy variety when it comes to food, clothing, cars, television show, and music. We do not like variety when it involves things we had counted on to remain in our lives such as our job or home, those types of changes bring stress.

God is unchanging! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! The words He spoke to the prophets and to the apostles He speaks to you today. His words of encouragement and promise are meant for each of us today! His love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and restoration are still available to all who will believe and ask! What a comfort to know that in this ever changing world there is a solid Rock upon which we can stand, a Fortress we can hide in! Great is God's faithfulness!

Father You are unchanging! You are still God! You can still supply our every need, calm our every fear and dry our every tear! You still answer prayers and bless our lives with wonderful gifts! You change the seasons and keep each planet and star in place! I thank You and praise You O God my Father for all of the gifts You have given me, especially the gift of salvation! Continue to transform me into Your likeness! I pray in Jesus unchanging name, amen.

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

* Conversion - by Julie Ackerman
2 Corinthians 12:14-21
New King James Version (NKJV)
Love for the Church

14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 Again, do you think[a] that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.


Before my husband and I travel, we go to the bank and trade in our US dollars for the currency of the country we’ll be visiting. We do this so we can pay for expenses while we’re away from home.

When we become Christians, another kind of exchange takes place. Our lives are like currency that we convert from one medium to another. We trade our old life for a new one so that we can begin “spending” ourselves in a different kingdom. Instead of spending ourselves for the causes of this world, we are able to start spending ourselves for the cause of Christ.

The apostle Paul is a good example of this difference. After his dramatic conversion on the way to Damascus (Acts 9), he began spending his life in a dramatically different way. Instead of pursuing Christians to imprison and kill them, he began pursuing non-Christians to convert them. Then he spent the rest of his life for their welfare. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Cor. 12:15). Everything he did was for the edification of his spiritual children (vv.14,19).

Conversion is far more than just changing our final destination. It’s changing the way we spend each day of our lives.

Lord, help me to spend myself on what will last,not on what will fade away one day.I give my life to You that I might spend and be spentfor others and Your will. Amen.Conversion takes only a moment—transformation takes a lifetime.

 * Taken from Our Daily Bread May 24, 2012

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!

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

Acts 15:7-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ[a] we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

I grew up in a Christian home and gave my life to Jesus at a young age. I knew He loved me, but growing up I believed the amount of love you received was dependent on who you were, how you looked or how you performed. Because I believed the love of important people in my life was based on these things I also, mistakenly believed God's love was as well.

In high school I took a Great Religions of the World class an decided in order for God to love me more I needed to convert to Judaism. After much research I was disappointed to learn you had to be born Jewish to actually be Jewish. God's chosen people will always be the Jewish people but how comforting these words from Acts are! They assure us that even though we were not born into the Jewish faith, God loves us too and wants us to be with Him for eternity! He makes no distinction between us and them! So deep is His love for us that He sent His only Begotten Son to pay our debt!

Father, how great is Your love for all of Your children whether Jew or Gentile! Thank You that reached down and touched my life! Thank You that You call me Yours! Help me to never forget that! In Jesus name, amen.

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

Isaiah 49:15-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.
17 Your sons[a] shall make haste;
Your destroyers and those who laid you waste
Shall go away from you.

Genesis chapter one tells us how God created the heavens and the earth. From nothingness God spoke the world into existence. He lovingly and painstakingly created everything to sustain, nourish, and delight us. His hand holds every star and planet in place. Daniel chapter two tells us that God is the one who changes the times and seasons. Job chapters 37 and 38 tell us that God has treasuries of snow and tells the snow to fall and no two snowflakes are the same.
This is the same God who created you. No one else is like you! No one else can do the things you do the way you do them! No one else can reach another person in the same way you can! Just like the snowflakes you are unique! But God knows everything about you. He knows where you are at all times (Psalm 139)! He cares so deeply about you that He has numbered every hair on your head and inscribed your name on the palm of His hands! Amazing!!!

Father God, Creator, I am amazed at how great You are! Who am I that You care so deeply for me? I feel small and insignificant. I may have never done anything the world will remember but You promise You will never forget me! Thank You Jesus! Amen!

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

Psalm 29:9-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
¹¹ The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Deuteronomy 7:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

1 Peter 2:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

God is the same yesterday, today and always! The same God that spoke all of creation into existance still speaks creation into existance, it is His voice that causes the deer to give birth. The same God that sat enthroned at the flood still sits enthroned, He is King of kings forever and reigns sovereign over every situation. The same God that strips the forest bare in the fall causes it to burst foth with new growth every spring! This same God has chosen you, you! He has sett you apart as a special treasure to Himself! He will give you strength and bless you with peace! He sat enthroned over the flood that covered the earth and sits enthroned over the floods that threaten to overwhelm you! After the flood God gave a promise, a rainbow. Trust in Him and look for your rainbow! God is faithfull!

Father God, Creator of heaven and earth, I will trust in You all of the days of my life! You have called me and set me apart. You have promised to strengthen me and give me Your peace wich passes all understanding! Thank You for chosing me! Help me to soar over the rainbow! Thank You for Your faithfulness! Your love is amazing! In Jesus, Holy, Healing, All powerful name, amen.

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.

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.

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

Matthew 22:39

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 22:39 Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 5:43-44

New King James Version (NKJV)

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,^[b]

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 5:43 Compare Leviticus 19:18
2. Matthew 5:44 NU-Text omits three clauses from this verse, leaving, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

John 15:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Genesis 43:8-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. ⁹ I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Sounds easy doesn't it! The key is in the second half of this verse, "as yourself." Do you...love yourself. Some may say, "Sure" or "I think so". Some may respond with "You don't know me. I am not worth loving." God calls us to love ourselves and then toove our neighbors in the same manner as we love ourselves. The problem is we know all about ourselves. We know our temptaions and how we have given in to them. We know every failure we have ever had and continue to struggle with. We have such a close relationship with ourselves that we know the dark secrets about ourselves no one else does. If we can't tolerate or forgive ourselves how can possibly tolerate or forgive others especially those we perceive as enemies.

God loves us and He believes we are worthy of His love. He loves us so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son for us. Jesus loves us so much that when the time came for Him to be crucified He asked His Father to remove the cup from Him, and then declared, "not my will but thine be done." God loves us so much that He rejoices over us with singing Zeph. 3:17. Imagine God is so delighted with you, He loves you so much He has a song just for you, that He sings over you.

My oldest son gave me great insight into this not long ago. We had been in church and a member had been asked to pray.  As the gentleman prayed he continually talked about undeserving he was. Those words disturbed my son. So after church he approached the gentleman to assure him that God loved him and he deserved God's love because God said he did. Then my son asked me why anyone would pray that way. I explained to Him it was because there is nothing we can do to earn God's love. My son understood that but he explained, "If God says you are desrving of a gift, a blessing, and His love you need to say 'Thank You Lord for loving me' and believe you deserve it or it is like not accepting God's gift at all!" Wow!!! Today thank your Heavenly Father for His gift of love and the gifts and blessings He has given you. Love yourself and believe you deserve it then use those gifts to bring glory to Him. Forgive yourself for your failures, God already has! Like my son pointed out "If God says you deserve it, then you desrve it!" Then see the difference it makes in all of your relationships!

Father, thank You for loving us before we loved you! Thank You for loving us when we are unloveable or unlovely! Help us to love ourselves like You love us so we can then love other as You love them. In Jesus name, amen.

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

Love Requires Sacrifice

John 15:12-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Love one another as Jesus loved us. What does that look like? Jesus gave up everything that we may have an opportunity to have eternal life in heaven. He enjoyed unbroken fellowship with His Father in heaven, He walked streets of gold, could be everywhere and knew everything, nothing was beyond His reach. In heaven Jesus never knew want or need, never knew physical pain or dependency. He was not confined to a physical body. He gave up all of that to come to earth, be confined to flesh, know what it means to hunger and thirst, know the pain of scrapes and cuts and knew the pain that could be inflicted by one person on another. He experienced the pain of separation that death causes, the pain of betrayal of a friend, the deep love of family and the hurt when family doesn't understand you. Jesus came to earth to lay down His life that we might have life. When He did that He experienced something that He had never experienced, the pain of separation from His Father, God. 


Jesus understands the sacrifice of love. This command that He gave us was not given without understanding what it could cost each individual person. This kind of love we are incapable of achieving on our own. We must be willing to put others needs ahead of our own (Romans 12:10), instead of looking for ways to benefit ourselves. God asked Abram to sacrifice his son of promise, the son of his old age as a demonstration of his faith. Abram was willing to do this trusting all the while that God would provide (Gen. 22:1-8). What have you been asked to give up in the name of love? If God is the One asking you to give it up He will give you the strength to do it. The person you give it up to or for may draw closer to God because of your obedience and God will bless your obedience as well!


Father, Creator, Savior, Lover of my soul, thank You for loving me so sacrificially! Teach me to love others like You love! Help me to love sacrificially, compassionately and forgivingly! In Jesus loving name, amen.

Today's Daily Devotional

Today's Inspiration by Dream Team Member Shelley Brandon
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 NIV

The Christmas holiday season is in full swing, off to a frantic start with the Black Friday races. Hallmark movies are playing and replaying every night with some person “saving” Christmas, occasionally even a dog “saves” Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I love these movies. They’re clean, melancholy, and invariably have a happy ending. There is something missing in every Christmas movie however. . . Easter.
...
It is no accident that the angels came first to the shepherds. No one else was awake and alert. Jesus came to us as both the lamb and the shepherd. He is waiting for us, searching for us. Just as a shepherd searches for his sheep when they wander, so Jesus searches for us.

Christmas brings us the message of a baby born in a stable. Every children’s pageant portrays this in an innocent and often side-splitting manner. Never mind the fear and danger of the times, glossing over the arduous and perilous journey that Joseph and Mary were required to make in order to fulfill the scriptures in their opulent (not) surroundings. The beautiful, vulnerable baby is the star of the show. No one remembers to add the shadow of the cross that loomed in the future of this velvety soft newborn. No one mentions the coming beating and torture after his betrayal.

Cliché reminders that Jesus is the reason for the season are only half of the actual gift. Next time you see the Nativity or are reminded that the infant is our gift from God, remember that the reason Jesus is the gift is because our Shepherd gave us Easter.

Dear God, we know that it is impossible to avoid the hustle and bustle of the advent season. Our lives become so busy trying to prepare for Christmas that we forget to prepare our hearts for Christmas. We get caught up in the decorations and the shopping, filling this time with stress rather than reflection. Lord, we ask today that you grant us daily reminders that the reason we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ is because Christ gave us the gift of Easter. In Jesus’ glorious name, Amen.

Today's Daily Devotional

Today's Inspiration by Dream Team Member Shelley Brandon
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25 NIV

Resurrection and life. The moment that Satan lost his hold on God’s creation. We have the opportunity to be resurrected into new life every day. Resurrected into better health even though we struggle with healthy living. Resurrected into freedom from addictions. Resurrected into joy when we are fighting depression. We have this opportunity, this treasure, because a tiny baby was born to die for us. This is the only gift that matters. The only gift worthy of giving in celebration of the birth of our Savior is the gift of sharing Jesus’ in your life. You can’t wrap it up in shiny paper and make it even more specta...cular with an amazing bow. You can’t exceed your credit card limit with it. You don’t have to worry if it doesn’t fit. All you can do is humbly share with those God brings in to your life, no matter how He brings them or how long they will be near you. This gift you can give to everyone you meet: the frazzled person at the checkout counter, the stylist who does your hair, the young mother trying to corral her unruly youngsters at the fast food restaurant. All it takes is a smile, calm assurance, asking if there is anything that you could pray about for them, a simple “God Bless”.

I heard Patsy Clairmont once say, “If believing doesn’t make a difference, what difference does it make to believe?” At this season of frivolity and mirth, of stress and angst, let us be intentional in sharing the one true gift of Christmas in our attitudes towards those who need to hear about Resurrection and Life. We can make a difference.

Dear Lord, help me to make a difference today in the lives of those around me. Give me the opportunity to share your love with those you bring into my path today. Help me to have the courage to speak up when I would rather remain silent. Give me the words to infuse your love into the world around me, to share the Gift. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Feast of Grace by Mary Owen

 Sitting at a worn table in a broken-down shack, an Appalachian child’s eyes light up in anticipation of immeasurable delights to be found in a brown wicker basket adorned with a bright red ribbon. The donated feast will be consumed with unabashed eagerness. Once the treasured icing on an emotionally filling cake, the red ribbon, much too nice to toss aside, will become an unwelcome reminder of too many days without that brown wicker basket.

Lying on the dirt floor of his hut, a young father despairs that his children will not receive the nourishment they need to temporarily fill their pitifully empty stomachs. Suffering from AIDS, an insidious disease that robbed him of his wife last year, he cannot walk the many miles to the food relief site. His young daughter stares vacantly through the open doorway at the dry, dusty, bleak African horizon. Languishing listlessly in her arms is a baby, her cracked lips suckling on dry air – when she has the strength to move them. Haunted eyes fill the young father’s gaunt face. For now, his table – and his faith – is empty.
For my bounteous table, and all we are about to receive, thank you, God.

Under a bridge, a homeless man hovers closely over a Coleman stove that serves up a shimmer of heat along with his meager “dinner.” The aching in his empty stomach is unmatched by that in his heart. Too many nights he has competed with rats for the scraps of food tossed onto a pile of garbage behind a nearby restaurant. His eyes get steely as fleeting thoughts of better times mix with the reality of a cook in a dirty white apron tossing dinner onto a heaping pile of filth.

A runaway huddles shivering in the doorway of an abandoned building. He yearns for the courage to reunite with his family, but his hurt, anger and bewilderment sentence him to a Thanksgiving feast gleaned from neighborhood trash cans, a feast shared with a marmalade kitten rescued from canvas sack tossed carelessly into one of those trash cans. Fear keeps him from naming the tiny kitten. The boy knows he could lose this “family,” too.
For this warm roof above my head and those of my loved ones, thank you, God.

A cancer victim carefully adjusts the bright-colored bandana she wears to hide the shine of her hairless head. Her home shines with love from her husband and her children, seated around the table for what might be their last Thanksgiving dinner together. That shine, she welcomes.
A 5-year-old autistic child quietly and rhythmically bangs his head against the wall. He lives in his silent world while his parents deal with a more raucous one that knocks loudly at their door. Their pain is shared by many who know the agony of “losing” a child by any twist of fate.
For the abundance of happy, healthy faces seated around our table, thank you, God.
A grandmother lovingly restyles second-hand clothing into first-hand miracles for her grandbabies. Her gnarled, arthritic fingers stitch slowly in anticipation of her daughter’s return from her low-paying job at a nearby factory. Her daughter will be home at midnight. As usual, her meth-addicted son-in-law won’t be home at all.
A scared 15-year-old hides behind defiant eyes as he bravely faces the prospect of another processed-turkey dinner in a juvenile intake facility. Released into county care by his fourth set of foster parents, he grits his teeth determinedly. He knows he must not cry. Nobody wants a boy who cries – or for that matter, a 15-year-old.
For the love we share openly as we gather with your blessing, thank you, God.

A plump, plain-Jane matron stares intently at the figures dancing across her television screen. They keep her company for the few hours, hastening another night into one of a long string of lonely mornings. She subconsciously grimaces as the image of a pretty starlet jumps in close on all 19 inches of faded glass. She knows the beautiful heroine always gets the hero – the plain-Jane does not.
The old man pushes the microwave button to cook his frozen dinner. He quickly glances at the telephone which remains painfully silent. He was sure they would call tonight. They promised to call three days ago. As the microwave dings, his trembling hand reaches for the all-too-familiar plastic tray. Tomorrow, he thinks – surely they’ll call tomorrow.
For all who take time to reach out to my family, to me and to all others needing more than just a touch of friendship, thank you, God.
A small Iraqi boy longs to be home with his family, but as he lies in his make-shift hospital bed, home seems very far away. The nurses and doctors are nice. They fixed his leg. Still, the smooth, while sheets feel as foreign to his body as did the pieces of shrapnel that put him there. Nearby, explosive booms fill the air with dust and debris – and his tortured young mind with fear.
In a Salvadoran border town, a tiny, stick-figured girl with luminous brown eyes thrills to the 10 extra beans that grace the middle of her thin tortilla. Her family is celebrating her brother’s return. Her father is still “disappeared,” but she is not aware of how many days it has been since she last saw him. She’s only aware of the vague hollowness in the pit of her stomach – and in the palm of her hand, there’s a feast to be had.
For the peace that surrounds this day of Thanksgiving, for the many who commit their lives to creating that peace in our troubled world, thank you, God.

Lying on a cot for the umpteenth day, a young Christian covers his head with his threadbare blanket in an effort to close out the horrors of his cramped cell. He contemplates smashing the dim, bare bulb that dangles from the damp, cracked ceiling. The shards of glass would end the agonizing pain from drug-induced muscle cramps – and his life. He sighs sadly, knowing he still has work to do. Too many other souls depend on his support.
A middle-aged man stands on the curb, waving to all the cars that pass by. He screeches with deranged realization that his “friends” only pass by because the highway bisects the sanitarium’s grounds. He also knows he is different from others. He longs for the key that could unlock his mentally troubled mind, a key that could open the doors of his world a little more than do the waves of the drivers to which he so desperately clings. A few stark moments of sanity fleetingly pierce his delirium before he raises his tired hand and screeches once again.
For the freedom to pursue a bounteous table, good health, warm shelter, love of family and good friends, and most of all, peace to all mankind, I humbly pray, thank you, God.


©2011 Mary Owen, SCwSG Communication Team Leader   http://www.DianeDike.org