Culminate Spiritual Growth

02-24-07

a) "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:35
b) "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left [everything] for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much [today and for eternity]. Mark 3:29-30
c) ..."Are you still holding on to your integrity?" ... "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:9-10

a) Membership in God's spiritual family is more important than in our human families.
b) The life of discipleship s a combination of promise and persecution, blessing and suffering. God takes nothing from a Christian without making multiplied restoration in new forms. Christian fellowship develops most deeply in persecution.
c) Trouble and trials and discipline culminates in spiritual gain.

a) God is more important than any human.
b) A glorious restoration will happen when I let go of what He takes.
c) He's raising me in my spirit, completing me.

PRAISE YOU LORD! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Give and Take

02-23-07

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised.
Job 1:21

One's faith can dissipate in times of calamity - but Gods plan is for our faith to develop and strengthen because His hand is at work for the good of those who love Him. We are to praise God - even when we feel that there is nothing to praise about.

God wants me to trust Him, even as it seems everything has been pulled out from underneath me. He is helping me to be strong and developing my faith.

O Lord, as hard as my circumstance has been, You are there and I know that. Thank You, and I praise. It is easier with You, but so very hard. Stay with me... I need You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wait...

02-22-07

I am still confident... I will see the goodness of the Lord... be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14

God has great plans and we are to trust and endure, having faith that glory will shine and all will be accomplished.

I've seen too much not to trust that God is in my midst, not to see that God is working on His master plan. Everything that's happening is being used for His righteous results!

Hallelujah! I am so glad that all I need to do is wait and listen, then do. It is then that I can be confident and call on You, Lord! Thank You! You are so awesome. Thank You for Your constant care. Three is truly no one else like You! In Jesus name, I pray that I would be a blessing to You today. In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Vaccine

02-21-07

But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Acts 28:5


Jesus is the vaccine against Satan's poison, making him completely harmless.

In his efforts to defeat God's children, Satan is sneaky and secretly waiting to pounce from within the shadows. What he doesn't want me to know is that there is nothing he can do to harm me. I have the vaccine!

Lord, help me in my vulnerable times to turn to You, knowing that it is You alone that can save me. I have no fear against the enemy, he may think he has the upper hand but Your knowledge surpasses all we, YOUR CREATION, can understand or begin to retain. Thank You for Your provision. You make life easier! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love's Pursuit

02-20-07

a) ...and he spoke with him. Numbers 7:89
b) Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6
c) ...I urge you to keep your courage, because not one of you will be lost. Acts 27:21-6

a) God will do what it takes (and shows us how) to meet with His beloved.
b) Goodness and love (God) will follow (pursue) us all our lives, and we will dwell with Him.
c) God has promised that only the superficial will be destroyed, things are working for the good of those that love Him.

When I'm at my worst, it's always astared with a missed "meeting with God. It never fails to occur. I'm glad that He's brought me to a place where I can see it coming so I can run back to Him instead of slip further away. Had I initially listened to the Holy Spirit checks, I would not be experiencing my present circumstance, but I know I must hold on through the storm - God will bring us to new grounds, new circumstances, and new perspectives.

Thank You, Lord, for Your steadfastness. Continue to pursue me and teach me through my circumstance. I know You'll bring us safely through. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Who I'm Meant to Be

02-16-07

"'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers and I will keep my covenant with you.'"
Leviticus 26:9

Blessings are the reward of obedience just as intense punishment is the consequence of sin.

I want to do a deeper study of God's commands and truly be what is pleasing to Him.

Lord, help me to be the child of God You've planned, prepared and purposed me to be! Do Your work in me! In Jesus' name. Amen.

You Are Good, O Lord

02-15-07

Vindicate me, O Lord...
Psalm 26

A request to clear, as from an accusation, suspicion or the like with supporting arguments or proof.

Again I am reminded to leave redress for the Lord. As Psalm 25:3 says, "No one whose hope is in [God] will ever be put to shame."

I cry out to You, Lord, for I've put my trust and very name in Your hands. Show me Your ways; teach me Your paths. Instruct this sinner, me, in Your glorious ways! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Good Fruit

02-14-07

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his savior.
Psalm 24:4-5

Having right attitudes and motives, worshipping and putting trust in God, being honest and true; invites the promise of righteous treatment and favor from God.

I want to be God's favorite - to be so, I must do the things He loves: being all that He has commanded.

Lord, continue to help me in these things. May I only bear good fruits! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Holiness in God

02-13-07

Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord who makes you holy.
Leviticus 20:7-8

Consecrate; do not become complacent; be holy. Holiness is to be expressed in every aspect of life.

I dedicate myself fully to Him; on this very day!

Lord, help me to remain determined and steer clear from self-assurance and security apart from what You provide! My life is in You, Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love isn't Blind

02-12-07

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13

Though we do not understand the purpose and plans God has for any present circumstance, we are to trust what He's proven to us and praise Him for all His precious blessings and those to come.

I trust that God is working among us. Because of the history of God, I know that all things that happen are used by God to benefit His children. He has been and will continue to be good to me. That's been His promise.

Lord, thank You for Your constant character. You are unchanging and so worthy of trust. Be magnified through me Lord! Be blessed. And bless me! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotion

02-11-07

Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
Acts 18:18b

Paul had taken a temporary Nazrite vow; as expression of thanks for deliverance from dangers. Shaving the head signified the end of the vow.

I take a vow to consecrate my family role, for the glory of the Lord.

This, Lord, is not just a vow of personal self-discipline, but an act of total devotion to You. Be with me and lead me during this time of building order in Your will. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Messages of Truth

02-10-07

for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:11

Eager for the truth of God, the Bereans backed all they heard up with the Bible.

It is my obligation (and honor) to confirm everything with scripture. I am not to trust anything but the Word of God.

Lord, thank You for Your living Word and with Your great truth. Lord, help me to focus on my plank, and pray for everyone. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

Open Heart Surgery

02-09-07

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia... a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
Acts 16:14

A believer of the true God and follower of moral teachings of scripture, Lydia's heart "was opened" in order to respond to the message Paul shared.

God's preparation is necessary to receive and respond to His Word. Again I must allow Him to go before me and do the work.

Lord, again You show me that Your timing is not only perfect but must be followed in order to be effective as a witness. Help me to devote all I do to running parallel to YOU. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Heart Condition

02-08-07

God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them [the Gentiles], just as he did to us.
Acts 15:8

God cannot be manipulated.

My heart must remain right with God. I can't conform God to my likeness (nor do I desire that), but I must conform myself to His!

Lord, thank You for being constant and firm; unchanging and vast; all powerful! Conform me into the person You want me to be - in Your likeness. Continue Your gentle and sensitive pruning in my life! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Letting Go and Letting God

02-06-07

So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them... And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:51-52

A reminder of Luke 9:5 to separate from everything associated with the rejection of Christ. The severance of responsibility.

The salvation of my loved ones is no longer my responsibility when persecution and rejection occur. I must separate from them.

Lord, help me to let go and move on as You've expressed is a necessary action. Lord, move or move me. I'm standing here until You make me move. All loss is only gain! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Loss = Pure Gain

02-05-07

who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts... He who does these things will never be shaken.
Psalm 15:4-5

Fearing God is honoring Him and ordering one's life in accordance with His will because of reverence for Him, no matter how much it hurts.

No matter what the sacrifice, there is nothing like my relationship with God. Nothing I give up to be closer to Him is loss, there is only gain.

Thank You for Your wonderful promises. In all my aches and pains, You will bless me and give me strength. You always show through and fulfill! Thank You for Your constancy and consistency! Praise You Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Pleasing to You

02-04-07

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

It is to be our desire to bless God, to display the characteristics that He loves - that He's commanded.

I want to remain focused on God, steering clear of all that God is not pleased by, and living a life that is nothing but what will make God look down and smile.

Lord, I desire to be a blessing to You. I strive to be conformed in You - to be true in heart and honest in faith, standing on my firm foundation - the Rock! May I walk in accordance to Your will! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Faith AND Deeds

02-03-07

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius... He and his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly... while Peter was still speaking... the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...
Acts 10

Salvation is determined not by good deeds but through Jesus Christ and commitment to Him alone. Respect fo the moral and ethical teachings is what causes the Lord to look upon them, accepting them for fearing Him and doing what is right. Cornelius needed faith in Christ.

Fearing God and good works is not enough, I must remain focused on Christ and teaching His name - only through Him is salvation determined.

Thank You Lord, for this confirmation. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Gladness

02-02-07

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices... You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Psalm 16:9-11

Words of assurance, a confidence only through God as refuge. The Lord will not abandon His children.

I know, and am confident in my God. My life has been assigned to me an dI trust in whatever His purpose is.

Lord I rejoice in You! My heart is full of joy at knowing You! Thank You for Your delight in me!? In Jesus' name. Amen.

Set Apart; Holy

02-01-07

Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
Exodus 32:29

It is when we are willing to lose even the most important people in our lives for Him that God will set us apart.

Confirmation that God has a bigger plan. My focus must be on getting closer to God and in a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

I let go of everything in my life. May nothing matter to me except for what You would have matter! In Jesus' name. Amen.