Carried to the Table

2 Samuel 4:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 9:1-3, 5-7, 9-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”
And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”

5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”
And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”

At a recent church service, just before partaking in the LORD's Supper, I heard a beautiful song. Immediately God brought the story of Mephibosheth and David to mind. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, grandson of king Saul. Now Jonathan had a son who was injured at age five. His injury caused him to be lame in his feet. Mephobisheth would need someone to care for him for the rest of his life. No problem, right!? His father was next in line to become king. But God has given each of us free will and we do not always make good choices. Such was the case with Saul. God had given Saul explicit instructions that he chose not to follow completely. When Samuel confronted Saul he lied and made excuses. Saul lost his kingship because of unconfessed sin. God made David king, not Jonathan. This meant Saul's transgression had cost his family their inheritance and Mephibosheth his security.

But God had a plan. He had brought Jonathan and David together early and they had a friendship based with God in the center. David had promised Jonathan that he would never forget Jonathan or any of his descendants when he became king. David was true to his word!

Our ancestors, Adam and Eve forfeited our inheritance in paradise when they sinned in the garden. But God had a plan for us too! He sent His Son, Who calls us to Himself. When we come to Him He restores our inheritance and carries our broken, lame, helpless spirits and set us where we could never earn the right to be, His table! Won't you come to Him today!

Father, Creator, Provider, Healer, I come to You just as I am, broken and lame by the things of this world. A sinner, undeserving to receive the gift of life You offer me. I know I am a sinner. Today I confess me sins to You. I open the door of my heart that You have been knocking at and ask You to come into my life. Create in me a clean heart O God. Carry me to Your table! In Jesus saving name, Amen!

Perserverence

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

New King James Version (NKJV)
Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.



Today the Olympic Opening Ceremonies will be broadcast from London, England to the world. Much of the world has been looking forward to this day with great anticipation and hope! Every nation hopes to achieve bragging rights of having the "best" by winning gold medals.As I though about the word opening I was struck by the irony of the word. Opening paints a picture of a beginning point, a starting place and although that is true for these particular competitions, it is far from the beginning for the participants!. Years of training, discipline and competitions have preluded this particular point in time. Most of these athletes began training as children for their events. All of them know the agony of defeat, the thrill of success and the difficulty of dedication. I am sure all of them at one time or another wondered if it was really worth the early mornings, late nights, giving up of television, birthday parties, dances, school functions, torn muscles, aching or broken bones, and bruises. They had times they wondered if the hard work and perserverence would bring them to their goal. They all had skills that seemed impossible to "get" when they were in the process of learning them. Some of them may have even given up at one time and quit and then returned because of their love for the sport. I promise you Beloved that every athlete competeing at the Olympics is glad they perservered now. The hardships of training are behind them and they are all jubilant to be in London this year!

Paul likens our Christian walk to a race. There are certain things that God asks us to do to help make our walk easier. God teaches us to Hide His word in our hearts so we don't sin against Him (Psalm 119:10-12). Memorizing scripture is not easy but with God's help, it is not impossible. Memorizing and meditating on God's word gives us tools in our arsenal to defeat discouragement, depression, and temptations. It is the tool that gives us strength when we are weak, hope when we are hopeless and words to encourge the down trodden around us. God's word teaches us about God's character. It reveals the image of Christ, who we are striving to be transformed  into (Romans 12:2). It is one of the greatest skills we can aquire!

Another part of our training is prayer. Luke records numerous times that Jesus drew away to pray. Just like athletes depend on their coach for guidance, instruction, correction, and encouragement, we must depend on God. If an athlete showed up for practice unwilling to communicate with their coach the would not improve. Simply showing up is not enough. Simply showing up for church and Sunday school is not enough either. We must be willing to be active in our training! Training is never easy but when the opening ceremony begins for you in heaven you will recall all of your training with great joy!

Father, thank You that You never give up on me! You never lose patience. You wait with loving arms and kind words for me to seek You perfect coaching. Search me and know my heart. Show me if there is any wickedness in me. Create in me a clean heart. Help me to hide Your words in my heart so that I might not sin against You! Prepare me for eternity with You! In Jesus healing, saving name, amen!

Fitting In

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.

We all want to "fit in". We want to "fit in" at home, at work, at school, at church, in our communities, and even with our activities. Sometimes it becomes so important to us that we are willing to compromise our own likes, desires, or dreams to "fit in". "Fitting in" can look like different things to different people. Some people equate acceptance with prestige, wealth, success and good looks. Others want to be mediocre. To them "fitting in" is not standing out or being noticed. There are even those who see "fitting in" as being the biggest, baddest, toughest person on the planet. We equate "fitting in" with freedom. Freedom from insecurity, hopelessness, shame, hurt and numerous other things. The reality is "fitting in" leads to sin and sin is bondage. We become a slave to the world's way of thinking. We are always striving for the next thing that we need to do, buy, or achieve in order to "fit in". The other problem with "fitting in" is often times the crowd you were so eager to "fit it" with will leave you as soon as you no longer suit their purpose.

God warned the Israelites of trying to conform to the ways of the people He was casting out of the pomised land. He knew conformity with the wold would draw His people away from Him and lead to slavery and misery. Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son who so desperately wanted to do what looked like fun that he demanded his inheritance and left his father's house. While the prodigal had money he had friends and "fit in". As soon as the money ran out his friends abandoned him and he was left penniless, homeless and friendless in an unfamiliar city.

The good news is God loves us! He loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the debt we accrued while trying to "fit in"! He does not leave us friendless, He is our friend (John 15:15)! He does not leave us homeless, He is our shelter (Psalm 143:9)! He does not leave us hopeless, He is our hope! The truth is this world is not our home. We will never "fit in" here. Stop trying to conform to this world. Be conformed, by the Holy Spirit, into the image of Jesus. Only then will you know true joy and freedom!

Abba, Father, for too long I have tried to "fit in" to the world's mold. It has led me far from You! Here I am today, Daddy, with my arms open wide towrd You! I repent and turn away from the things of this world. Mold me and shape me into the image of Your Son. Take me in Your arms I pray! In Jesus beautiful 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.

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!

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.

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

Name Above All Names

Genesis 14:18  Common English Bible (CEB)

18 Now Melchizedek the king of Salem and the priest of El Elyon[a] had brought bread and wine,
 
 Genesis 16:13

13 Hagar named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are El Roi”[a] because she said, “Can I still see after he saw me?”[b]

Genesis 17:1
1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai.[a] Walk with me and be trustworthy.

Genesis 21:33
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and he worshipped there in the name of the LORD, El Olam.[a]

Genesis 22:14

Darby Translation (DARBY)
14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh; as it is said at the present day, On the mount of Jehovah will be provided.


Genesis 33:20 (CEB)
20 Then he set up an altar there and named it El Elohe Israel.

Exodus 17:15  Darby Translation (DARBY)
15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi.

Isaiah 9:6  New King James Version (NKJV)

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As we look forward to remembering the glorious, triumphant entry of our Saviour Jesus into Jerusalem take time to reflect upon His character. By what name(s) has He revealed Himself to you? If you have clothes to wear, a roof over your head, food to eat, an income or a means of transportation He has revealed Himself to you as Jehovah Jireh, the LORD Who Provides. If you have received salvation you know Him as your Kinsman Redeemer and Saviour. If He has ever led the way into a battle in your life you know Him as Jehovah Nissi, The LORD my Banner. Have you or a loved one experienced healing, then you know Him as Jehovah Raphe, the God Who Heals, the Great Physician.

Today take time to worship God by adding to this list. Write in a journal or share in a comment below how God has revealed Himself to you and by what Names you have come to know Him by! Not only will you be encouraged and rejuevenated but you will encourage others as they see our El Shaddai, Almighty God, at work!

El Shaddai, Abba, Alpha and Omega, You are El Roi, the God Who Sees, You reach down from heaven to earth to touch and enrich our lives. You keep our feet from stumbling. You renew our strength. Today we look forward to Your triumphant return with great anticipation. We want to pave the way, just as they did in Jerusalem so many years ago, with shouts of praise to You for You alone are worthy! In the Name above all names, Jesus, 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

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!

 

 

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 Devotional

Brought to you by prayer warrior Bobbi Heffel

Love and Forgiveness

1 John 4:16-18

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (NIV)

1 John 2:11-13

¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Colossians 3:12-14

 ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

What do love and forgiveness have in common? Well, you can’t really have one without the other. It takes a measure of love to forgive and it takes forgiveness to be able to love. Even in a healthy relationship unforgiveness will choke out love and an abundance of love will usher in forgiveness. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we just don’t think we can possibly love this person or ever be able to forgive that person for the horrible wrongs they have committed. Yet, we must remember that God first loved us and that he commands us to love others. If it were not possible how could he commands us to love and forgive?

 Because He loves us, love is already present in the situation. When we choose to obey him and practice love and or forgiveness because he told us too, and we are obeying him, we are loving him back. Sometimes we must repeatedly choose to love/forgive a person until it takes root in us and becomes real.” Lord, I choose to love/forgive ’ Z’ because you have told me too.” Even when we have practiced love/forgiveness to the point that our heart has been transformed, the enemy will fling that thing back up at us in a moment of weakness. He so delights in stirring up troubles for us, if we allow him to. We must stand strong against his tactics. We must choose to obey the Lord. 

I am reminded of Cory ten Boom. How the guard who had tormented her during her imprisonment came to her and asked for her forgiveness. May we also choose to love and forgive, especially when we must pray for the strength and ability from the Lord to accomplish his teaching 

"Her teaching focused on the Christian Gospel, with emphasis on forgiveness. In her book Tramp for the Lord (1974), she tells the story of an encounter while she was teaching in Germany in 1947. She was approached by a former Ravensbrück camp guard, who had been known as one of the most cruel. She was reluctant to forgive him, but prayed that she would be able to. She wrote,
"For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then."
She also wrote (in the same passage) that in her post-war experience with other victims of Nazi brutality, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives."

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/corrie-ten-boom#ixzz1mNOZs0Ux

Prayer

Lord thank you for loving us so much that you sought us out at our lowest, worst condition. Thank you for transforming us into the image of Christ. Please continue to teach us to love in a way that glorifies and honors you. Thank you for the freedom that comes with forgiveness. It always amazes me just how heavy unforgiveness is when I feel the lightness of it being lifted off my shoulders. I don’t know why our human nature wants to hold onto unforgiveness when it is so much more pleasant to live in the light of your glory and grace. Thank you for the assurance that we, your children, are forgiven and loved! 

Today's Devotional

Brought to you by Dream Team member Bobbi Heffel

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV1984

Lord, it is easy to love the loveable but not everyone is loveable. In fact we are all unlovable at times. Help us to practice love the way you have taught us, putting one another above ourselves. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:4)Love doesn’t come in chocolates, flowers, cards or even diamonds. It is far more precious that these things! Help us to be loveable and to truly, deeply love in for your name sake. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34)May we be known by Your love that flows through us. Amen

 

 

 

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

Genesis 37:5-10, 23-24

⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ 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.”

⁸ 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.

⁹ 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.”

¹⁰ 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?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

²³ So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. ²⁴ Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

So Joseph finds himself in a pit right after God had revealed that He was going to set Joseph apart and above is family. We have all been there, a mountaintop experience when we have felt so close to God and then we find ourselves in a pit! Sometimes we have dug the pit ourselves and sometimes others have dug it for us. Sometimes we are pushed into the pit and sometimes we blindly follow others into it, nevertheless we are there wondering if we misunderstood what God had shown us on the mountaintop. I am sure Joseph probably questioned his circumstances at times. He was human, but the Bible doesn't record it. Instead we see Joseph trusting God through it all. We all know the end of this story. God used the pit time to get Joseph to Egypt. Then He used more pit time, in a dungeon, to have Joseph appointed over all of the agriculture in the area so that through Joseph God could provide for His people all over that region during a severe drought and famine.

I hear you beloved follower of Christ. You think God has never spoken to you or given you a vision of greatness to hang on to. Maybe you think it might be easier if you had something to hang on to like Joesph. I have good news! He has spoken a word of promise to you, something you can hang on to during trials and tribulations. It is found in I Peter 2:9; '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; " He has chosen you. When you chose something it is because it is your favorite, you prefer it over all others! God has chosen you! You are His favorite! We are royal. We worth dignity and honor in His eyes! We are a priesthood. Priests were intercessors in Jesus' day. He has given us all the job of being intercessors for our fanily, friends and those around us! We are a specail people. We are so treasured by God that He purchased us! So you see my friend, you are set apart by God for a purpose!! Wherever you are today hang on to that truth!

Father there is none like You! You created everything visible and invisible and in all of your creation you call us your favorite! It is almost too much for our minds to grasp. Thank You for loving us so much, for setting us apart and giving us a purpose! Help us to remember that when we find ourselves in a pit and to trust You inspite of our circumstances just like Joseph did! In Jesus name, amen!