POUR OUT ALL OF YOUR ENERGY into trusting Me. It is through trust that you stay connected to Me, aware of My Presence. Every step on your life-journey can be a step of faith. Baby steps of trust are simple for you; you can take them with almost unconscious ease. Giant steps are another matter altogether: leaping across chasms in semidarkness, scaling cliffs of uncertainty, trudging through the valley of the shadow of death. These feats require sheer concentration, as well as utter commitment to Me.
Each of My children is a unique blend of temperament, giftedness, and life experiences. Something that is a baby step for you may be a giant step for another person, and vice versa. Only I know the difficulty or ease of each segment of your journey. Beware of trying to impress others by acting as if your giant steps are only baby ones. Do not judge others who hesitate in trembling fear before an act that would be easy for you. If each of My children would seek to please Me above all else, fear of others' judgments would vanish, as would attempts to impress others. Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One who never leaves your side.
Psalm 23:4; Matthew 7:1-2; Proverbs 29:25
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Jesus Calling
COME TO ME AND LISTEN! Attune yourself to My voice, and receive My richest blessings. Marvel at the wonder of communing with the Creator of the universe while sitting in the comfort of your home. Kings who reign on earth tend to make themselves inaccessible; ordinary people almost never gain an audience with them. Even dignitaries must plow through red tape and protocol in order to speak with royalty.
Though I am King of the universe, I am totally accessible to you. I am with you wherever you are. Nothing can separate you from My Presence! When I cried out from the cross, "It's finished!" the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This opened the way for you to meet Me face-to-Face, with no need of protocol or priests. I, the King of kings, am your constant Companion.
Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 55:2-3; John 19:30; Matthew 27:50-51
Though I am King of the universe, I am totally accessible to you. I am with you wherever you are. Nothing can separate you from My Presence! When I cried out from the cross, "It's finished!" the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This opened the way for you to meet Me face-to-Face, with no need of protocol or priests. I, the King of kings, am your constant Companion.
Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 55:2-3; John 19:30; Matthew 27:50-51
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Is This God or Is This Satan?
(Passage: Nehemiah 1:1-11)
Sometimes when we are in trouble we are not sure whether the trouble is the opposition of our enemy Satan or a punishment from God. It may be both, and in any case the thing to do is pray-first, confession of sin which is known; second, asking to be shown sin which has not been acknowledged; third, prayer for deliverance in God's way and in God's time.
When the people of Israel were in great trouble and disgrace and the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down, Nehemiah sat down and wept. Then he mourned and fasted and prayed "for some days" (v. 4) before the God of heaven. The exile of the people and the destruction of the wall were surely the work of evil men, but they were also the means employed by a sovereign God to punish the people. "If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations" (v. 8). Nehemiah reminded God in his prayer of this threat, but he also reminded him of his promise: "If you return to me and obey . . . I will gather them" (v. 9). Nehemiah became the intercessor and the means in the hand of God for their restoration, just as their enemies had, under his sovereignty, been the means of their punishment.
It is not required that we sort out all the possibilities- "Is this God?" or "Is this Satan?" It is required that we confess our sins and put our whole trust in the God who is in charge.
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm 32:1-11; Habakkuk 3:17-19
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Sometimes when we are in trouble we are not sure whether the trouble is the opposition of our enemy Satan or a punishment from God. It may be both, and in any case the thing to do is pray-first, confession of sin which is known; second, asking to be shown sin which has not been acknowledged; third, prayer for deliverance in God's way and in God's time.
When the people of Israel were in great trouble and disgrace and the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down, Nehemiah sat down and wept. Then he mourned and fasted and prayed "for some days" (v. 4) before the God of heaven. The exile of the people and the destruction of the wall were surely the work of evil men, but they were also the means employed by a sovereign God to punish the people. "If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations" (v. 8). Nehemiah reminded God in his prayer of this threat, but he also reminded him of his promise: "If you return to me and obey . . . I will gather them" (v. 9). Nehemiah became the intercessor and the means in the hand of God for their restoration, just as their enemies had, under his sovereignty, been the means of their punishment.
It is not required that we sort out all the possibilities- "Is this God?" or "Is this Satan?" It is required that we confess our sins and put our whole trust in the God who is in charge.
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm 32:1-11; Habakkuk 3:17-19
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
On Love
Some people say love is blind, but I think love is beautiful. Everything and everyone can feel love--
Birds, humans and animals--all living creatures.
Love means caring and showing understanding. Love means being there when someone is in need. Love is being a friend. You can love your pets, your doll, your favorite chair, Your friends and family. Love can be just about anything you want it to be. Love is a choice.
Stephanie Lee, age 11
Birds, humans and animals--all living creatures.
Love means caring and showing understanding. Love means being there when someone is in need. Love is being a friend. You can love your pets, your doll, your favorite chair, Your friends and family. Love can be just about anything you want it to be. Love is a choice.
Stephanie Lee, age 11
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The Plastic Years
They pass so quickly, the days of youth,
And the children change so fast
And soon they harden in the mold,
And the plastic years are past.
Then shape their lives while they are young.
This be our prayer, our aim,
That every child we meet shall bear
The imprint of His name.
---Martha Snell Nicholson
And the children change so fast
And soon they harden in the mold,
And the plastic years are past.
Then shape their lives while they are young.
This be our prayer, our aim,
That every child we meet shall bear
The imprint of His name.
---Martha Snell Nicholson
Marital Blessings
Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing (Ephesians 5:23-25).
Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends (Romans 12:10).
Blessed are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber (Proverbs 17:22).
Blessed are the married couples who abstain from alcoholic beverages which wreck far more homes than recognized (Proverbs 20:1).
Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to each other and who make their home a place "where seldom is heard a discouraging word" (1 Peter 3:1,7).
Blessed are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:1-5).
Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set aside some time each day for the reading of the Bible and prayer (1 Timothy 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems of adjustment without interference from relatives (Genesis 2:22-24).
Blessed is the couple who do not overspend (Proverbs 21:20).
Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and home to Christ and practice His teachings by being unselfish, loyal, and loving (Colossians 1:18).
--The Christian Builder, May 24, 1985
Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends (Romans 12:10).
Blessed are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber (Proverbs 17:22).
Blessed are the married couples who abstain from alcoholic beverages which wreck far more homes than recognized (Proverbs 20:1).
Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to each other and who make their home a place "where seldom is heard a discouraging word" (1 Peter 3:1,7).
Blessed are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:1-5).
Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set aside some time each day for the reading of the Bible and prayer (1 Timothy 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems of adjustment without interference from relatives (Genesis 2:22-24).
Blessed is the couple who do not overspend (Proverbs 21:20).
Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and home to Christ and practice His teachings by being unselfish, loyal, and loving (Colossians 1:18).
--The Christian Builder, May 24, 1985
Control Versus Influence
"We don't control our children's destiny; we only influence it."
Many parents operate under the mistaken notion that control and influence are the same word. Control means we have 100 percent of the power over outcome. Influence means we have somewhere between 1 and 99 percent of the power over outcome.
In reality, we can never be 100 percent responsible for the choices our children make. We can only be 100 percent responsible for what we do to try to influence them.
A very heavy hand, in the long run, can lead to lip-service obedience, passive resistance, or even outright defiance. Our challenge is to continually look for ways to positively influence our children.
One of the greatest tasks of parents is to develop a relationship with their children that motivates and inspires responsible behavior and promotes openness and trust.
Many parents focus too much on dealing with surface behaviors and fail to connect on a deeper leve. Behavior is often the end result of a series of events involving one's thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions.
To influence our children, they need to sense that it is "safe" to open up and let us "in."
"The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children" Psalm 115:14
Many parents operate under the mistaken notion that control and influence are the same word. Control means we have 100 percent of the power over outcome. Influence means we have somewhere between 1 and 99 percent of the power over outcome.
In reality, we can never be 100 percent responsible for the choices our children make. We can only be 100 percent responsible for what we do to try to influence them.
A very heavy hand, in the long run, can lead to lip-service obedience, passive resistance, or even outright defiance. Our challenge is to continually look for ways to positively influence our children.
One of the greatest tasks of parents is to develop a relationship with their children that motivates and inspires responsible behavior and promotes openness and trust.
Many parents focus too much on dealing with surface behaviors and fail to connect on a deeper leve. Behavior is often the end result of a series of events involving one's thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions.
To influence our children, they need to sense that it is "safe" to open up and let us "in."
"The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children" Psalm 115:14
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