Todays Daily...walking backwards

TODAY'S DAILY...

It isn't easy to navigate your steps well when you walk backwards. I suppose that is because our feet were meant to go forward.

If I were to walk backwards, I would have the need to constantly turn my head and look behind me. Making sure there were no obstacles in my way to trip me or cause me to get off course.

As a Christian, I have to ask you..."are you walking backwards?"

Do you find yourself constantly looking back over the mistakes you have made or are you looking straight ahead, concentrating on the next step you will take?

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize." -Philippians 3:13,14

Paul couldn't of said it more plainly. What is behind us is behind us, you can't do anything about it, so you my as well pick yourself up, brush the past off and keep moving.

Don't let your past prevent you from walking towards the prize. If you need to walk backwards...just keep your eyes on God and let Him steer your steps. Never turn and look back.

Daily Devo....laundry room talks

Some of the best conversations I've ever had with a friend happened in the Laundry room. It was here that we would fold laundry and solve the world problems. Talking about her kids, my kids and how we both needed to write a book about the insanity of life.

Nothing ever really got solved in the laundry room during our talks except that for a few moments, everything was shut out except for what was important for two friends to talk about that day.
Laundry talk doesn't happen much these days because we are all AWOL most of the time.

Technology and smart phones keep us from going to the laundry room for conversations. Most of us aren't even present at the table, at our kids concerts or at the movies, let alone the laundry room!
Take a look around next time you are at a restaurant and see just how many people have checked out of the conversation and have their head in their phone checking facebook or IG.

If we are not present in our conversations with our friends, how in tuned are we with our Father?
93% of communication is based upon nonverbal body language, which tells me that talking and listening just isn't enough. We must be present in mind, body and soul.

"Be attentive to My wisdom, incline your ear to My understanding." -Proverbs 5:1

Put the distractions away and discover some laundry room talks with God -just Him and you against the world.

Laced with Grace....Under the wrapping

Today I shared the following devotion with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE. Www.lacedwithgrace.com Have you ever considered that the wrapping paper has purpose?


Pretty wrapping paper. Bright Bows. Rolls of shiny ribbon. It is gift wrapping time!

I love receiving beautifully wrapped gifts. And I have received many beautiful ones over the years, but of all of the wonderful gifts that I have received, I have never saved the wrapping paper instead of the gift. Oh, I know some people who open their gift ever so carefully and fold the ribbon and paper up to save for later, but I for one have not done that. In my mind, the one thing that stands between me and my gift is the paper!

Even though I cannot wait to rip open the gift wrapping to get to what is inside, it isn’t always like that as a Christian. As a believer, we can find ourselves focused more on the gift wrapping than the actual gift. Sometimes the best gifts spiritually aren’t found in the prettiest wrapping.

God uses trials and difficulties in our lives as the wrapping to things that we otherwise may not see or appreciate. If we never got sick, we may not appreciate the gift of His healing. If we never fell on financial hard times, we may never recognize God’s provision. It is through each trial that I have seen how important the wrapping can be, even when it isn’t very eye appealing. Nobody wants to hurt, or be disappointed or struggle in life, but sometimes we have to rip off the outer wrapping to get to the good stuff underneath.

“The Lord wraps Himself in light as with a garment, He stretches out the heavens like a tent.” -Psalm 104:2

No matter the season you find yourself in, don’t forget that the wrapping is only the beginning of the good gifts that God has in store for you.

DAILY DEVO... remove the stinger

Have you ever been stung by a bee?

If you have, then you know that the fist thing you must do is remove the stinger. As much as it hurts, that little thing must be removed or it could be deadly.

Most likely, if you have been stung in the past, you probably avoid bees altogether to avoid being stung again.

Isn't that exactly what we do when we get stung by "people"? Those who have hurt us, or talked about us, or disrespected us, or made us angry we avoid them as much as possible because we haven't taken the time to remove the "stinger".

Just like a bee sting, it hurts at first but when we pull the stinger out, it begins to feel less painful.

Don't let the sting of unforgiveness, anger, pride, malice, and division keep you from being around the "bees" in your life.

Hebrews 10:21 says to "come near God with a sincere heart and a sure faith because we have been made free from a guilty conscience."

Don't let the bees of life kill your spirit, draw close to God and watch Him take away the sting.

LACED WITH GRACE...Superman strength and power

TODAY I have shared the following devotion with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE. Please go to www.lacedwithgrace.com to read other great devotions.

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I haven't always been interested in the whole super hero thing, but when my boys were young, they all, at one time, tied a cape around their neck and would jump off of the couch pretending to be the next super hero with some great super powers. Sometimes it was Aqua man or Spiderman or Batman but the one that got the most attention would always be Superman! Superman was the greatest and the strongest.

He was the strongest hero until somehow the enemy would strip him of his source of strength. Superman's powers were dependent upon his ability to absorb solar energy in his cells, which he would obtain from stars like the earth's sun. He had a Kryptonian body that was like a solar battery that absorbed solar energy and then converted it into fuel for his strength and power. As long as he had the source of the sun, he was strong. But like anything, in all of the Superman's movies and comics, there was always that one dark side that was out to get him, that one that was always trying to figure out how to cut Superman's solar energy and bring him to the dark side

.

We as Christians must realize that we are much like Superman.

None of us have any strength or power without the Son. The Son, which is Jesus Christ, is our source and as long as we are plugged into the source, we will be strong and mighty against the enemy. But just like the enemies of Superman, there is a greater enemy that is out to kill, steal and destroy us. An enemy that will stoop at nothing to get us to come to the dark side.

I always hated the part of the Superman movies where his powers were diminished, but yet, he still tried to run, he still tried to fly, he still tried fight. However, without his strength, he was at a disadvantage. No matter how hard he tried, without the solar energy to recharge him, the bad guys always ended up on top. It is so easy to be brave and strong when you have the home field advantage (when you are strong) but what happens when the tables get turned and you find yourself weak and unsteady in enemy territory?

When I think about the tempter, I remember how cunning and sharp he was towards Jesus. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for the all knowing, all powerful God of the universe to come to earth to become a human and have to listen to the taunting and ridicule of Lucifer, himself. If Jesus had to listen to it and endure it, what makes us think we will be spared?

We will not be. Listen to what C.S. Lewis says in his book Mere Christianity:

"Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is ...We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means-the only complete realist."

No doubt, Jesus greatest triumph was His death and resurrection, but every day He lived, He too had to overcome the temptations of this earth. This is why so often in the Bible we read that Jesus was praying. At the final hour that the tempter would come, Jesus even asked others to pray with Him. The source of His strength was found in God and even Jesus knew that He must be filled with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit in order to face what was to come.

You and I, my friend, must be re-energized in the power of the Son "for what is to come" or the enemy will easily overtake our strength. Superman had to go to the mountain to get closer to his source, the sun. Jesus went up to the mountain to pray to get closer to His source, the power of God. You and I must find our mountain and tap into it before all of our strength and power is useless and easily taken.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." -Mark 1:35

Today, I'm headed to the mountain to pray. My family, my church, my everything is counting on me to have superman strength, so I need to get closer to the Son! How about you...when is the last time you went to the mountain?

DAILY DEVO...When life feels like a potato

Last night I was peeling potatoes, as I reached in the bag for the last one, I saw how little it was. It was just a runt, hardly worth peeling. So I set it aside.

"Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, O Zerubbabel," declares the Lord. -Haggai 2:3-5


Some of us are like Zerubbabel, feeling too small to be used by God.


The Bible says that we should not despise the day of small things because God's work is not done in size, "not by might nor by power but by His Spirit, says the Lord!"


When we only see the small potatoes in life, we miss the chance for God to do something HUGE!


God has us where we are for a reason. No matter how small or despised that place may feel, God can bring a HUGE blessing out of it. We just have to see outside the box.


? for today...what makes you feel like a small potato?


Trust God with the small stuff and see your faith grow with the even bigger stuff!

DAILY DEVO...beep, beep, what is that sound?

I couldn't figure out where the beeping was coming from until someone pointed out to me that it was my phone. It was letting me know that my battery was low but I did not recognize the alarm.

Sounds like what happens when we allow ourselves to get run down physically and emotionally. Alarms go off but we do not recognize them.


Everyone around us seems crabby, insensitive and trying to pick a fight with us but truth is it isn't "them", it is us. Often times we look everywhere else for the problem instead of looking at ourselves.
We don't recognize the beeping that is coming from within. God is the beeping inside that whispers in our spirit "It's not them, it's you".

"We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, for fear that we drift away from it." -Hebrew 2:1

? for today...if people around you are on your nerves, have you checked your own battery? Perhaps it needs recharging.


Try recharging with God's peace and joy and see if you get better at recognizing the sounds of the beeps in your life!

Laced with Grace....Honey, I'm bald!

Today, I shared the following Devo with the readers of Laced with Grace. Check this great Christian devotional site out...www.lacedwithgrace.com.


I  heard a story about a man who loved his thick and wavy hair, but one day he noticed he was losing some of his hair. Day after day, his hair was thinning until one day he was left with just one hair on top of his head. One morning he awoke and found his one lone hair laying on his pillow. He jumped up and hollered to his wife, “honey, I’ve gone bald”!

The thing about this story that strikes me is that even though the man did not notice the change until it was all gone, God knew exactly how many strands of hair he had or didn’t have.

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” -Luke 12:7

As a child, I would get a visual in my head of God counting one strand at a time the hairs on my head. I wondered how He kept track of the ones I lost every single day as I combed my hair out. Did He count the strands every day or just subtract the strands left behind in my brush?

The man in the story couldn’t even keep count, how could God?

What you, me and the balding man from the story need to understand is that it is not about God counting hairs, it is about God knowing every single detail about us. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that He is not fully aware of.  He knows about our thoughts, our dreams, our heartache, and our insecurities. And He knows about our hair too.

Imagine that, if our hair count is important enough for God to keep track of, how much more does He care about everything else about us?

God cares about you. Every single strand and then some.

PRAYER: Thank You God for caring about me. From the top of my head to the bottom of my toes, You love me. Even when my hair falls out or when my life falls apart, You are there and You know exactly what I need, when I need it. Thank you! AMEN

TODAY'S DAILY...WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

We all can hear them talking, but what do we do with what we hear?


"Put your clothes away."
"Don't forget to be home at 6:00."
"I need your report by tomorrow."

Words spoken but fallen on deaf ears. We hear what we want and do what we want with what we hear.


Sounds a lot like what we do with the Word of God!

"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." -Matthew 7:24

If you hear the instructions of where the dinner is and what time to be there but fail to follow the instructions, you will miss out on dinner.


Likewise, reading and reflecting on God's Word is totally useless unless you put it into action.
God doesn't want you to be late for supper, so listen AND obey.

DAILY DEVO...Why being a survivor isn't enough!

Do you feel like a survivor?


You have survived some test, a trial of some sort. Something or someone came along in your life that left you feeling unworthy, useless, unimportant or just defeated. But you survived it!

Going thru difficulties causes us to feel like survivors. But, I would like to point out the difference between a "survivor" and an "overcomer".


To survive is to "continue to exist" while a overcomer "is to defeat."


I don't know about you, but I would rather defeat life's battles than just continue to exist in spite of them!

"Greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world." -1 John 4:4b

Don't just be a survivor...become an overcomer!

DAILY DEVO...10,000 chances to speak life!

 On average, a person will speak between 10,000 to 25,000 words a day! That is alot of talking, tweeting, and facebooking!





With so many words coming out of our mouth, its no wonder God had so much to say about our "mouth" in the Bible.

"Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life." -Prov. 18:32 NLT

 Words have so much impact, on us and on others. We hold the tool to either giving life or giving death, all in what we choose to say. And HOW we say it.

Today, you have at least 10,000 ways to speak life.

? for today...what have the words you have spoken today said -have you spoken life or death?

"Speak life" - Toby Mac




https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZeBv9r92VQ0

DAILY DEVO...have a bad attitude-change it!

I've been reading alot lately about attitudes. The good as well as the bad. We all have them.

Oh, the things that set us off a sleepless night, haven't had our morning coffee, disappointment in life, rudeness of others, etc.





I experienced the wrath of someone's bad attitude the other day and it didn't take long before everyone in the room had a bad attitude.





"A bad apple ruins the whole barrel" isn't that so true when there is a sour one in the room.

I've really become quite emotional since the recent death of my mom and I've really been working on my attitude lately, asking God to help me see how my attitude affects those around me.

I've come to realize that my "attitudes" don't affect me as much as it does others. Choosing to have a bad attitude is selfish it makes everything be about me with no regard to others or even God!

"...testing of your faith produces patience." -James 1:3

? for today...what trials are you facing that has soured your attitude?



Count it all joy and change your attitude!

DAILY DEVO...coincidence or not?

Have you ever turned on the radio and the very song that you needed to hear comes on?

Have you ever had a bad day and you wish you could talk to that special friend, and at that very moment they call you?

Coincidence or not?

Sometimes I think it's much deeper than a coincidence, sometimes things happen when they do for a reason, for a purpose.
...
When Esther became the Queen of Persia, it was no accident or merely a coincidence that everything happened the way it did for her.

"For such a time as this." - Esther 4:14

Esther was chosen to be where she was at that very moment for a purpose. You and I must never underestimate God's ability to provide us with exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.

? for today...what is it that you are waiting for?

Perhaps, today will be your "for such a time as this" moment. It's never a coincidence with God!

DAILY DEVO...go ahead, I'm listening

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, I have learned that we just don't listen. Seriously, when is the last time you put all distractions aside and just listened to someone?

I overheard a conversation a couple weeks ago that started out with someone asking one of their co-workers what was wrong.

The lady clearly was upset about something. As she began to pour out her hea...rtache about her kids, it didn't take long for the conversation to turn and become all about the other person, who was suppose to be listening!

(Oh...the things you overhear in the dressing room of JC Pennies!) Lol

Instead of lending a listening ear, the co-worker just went on and on about how her kids had done the same thing. The poor distraught co-worker who needed to vent couldn't get a word in! Frustrated, she just walked away.

" 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' but, instead of showing love among yourselves, you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." -Galatians 5:13,14

We talk when we should listen. I do it. You do it. But isn't it an indication of what we value more, when we don't listen to people? Do you value them or you?

? for today...when is the last time you REALLY listened to someone?
Loving someone isn't just what we do for them but also how well we listen to them?

Got something on your mind? Go ahead...I'm listening!

DAILY DEVO...what are you wearing this fall?

It's fall time. That means only one thing. As the weather changes, so will our dress habits.

I love to wear light jackets and sweatshirts on a cool sunny day in the fall. But living in the south, getting dressed can be tricky. The day starts out cold but by noon, it's hot. This is where layer dressing comes in handy. One layer at a time.

Makes me think of the kind of layers we ...as Christians wear. When life gets heated, how many layers do we go thru before we find comfort or peace?

"Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." -Colossians 3:12

? for today...as a Christian, what kind of layers are you clothed in?

May we all wear "Christianity" well and when the heat gets turned up, may we reveal godly layers that never end.

DAILY DEVO: do you quack or squeal when you walk?

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fakest of them all?"

The magical mirror no longer reveals beauty but true identity. It's easy to spot a fake when you know what the real thing looks like. Test me and see. Try taking a fake $100 bill to a bank and see what happens.

What will happen is you will be found out quick because bank employees know what the real $100 bill looks like.


Too many people are trying to be Christian imposters. Phoney. Fake. Not the real deal. But it's not hard to spot the genuine ones from the imposters.


The Bible says we will know them by their fruit...

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" - Matthew 7:16

In other words, we will know the real deal by the way people act. If a duck quacks, then we know it's a duck. But if it squeals, the duck may be something else.


Same is true with people. A Christian cannot be loving to our face, but be picking up knives to throw when we turn our back. If they do...you might have a squealing duck on your hands.


? for today...what happens when you walk...do you quack or do you squeal?


Make sure you do what you say and say what you mean. Be the real deal. Not a Christian imposter.

DAILY DEVO...3 top reasons people do not pray

In observance of today's See You At The Pole, I have devoted myself today to purposely be studying and thinking about prayer.


I don't know if you or your child attended SYATP this morning, but if not, we can still put our focus on prayer and also on WHY we DON'T pray! While many gathered this morning to pray, few will remember to pray tomorrow.

3 top reasons why people do not pray...
1. No time 2. We think it's not important 3. We don't think it makes a difference.


1. Americans spend 63.5 billion minutes a day on social networks...I think we have time.

 2. I wonder how important the Israelite army thinks prayer is now. They went against the city of Ai so confidently, they didn't pray...and they were defeated!

 3. Many people do not have, because they do not ask. You think prayer doesn't make a difference...ask and see what happens.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

? for today...what is prayer to you and have you prayed today?

DAILY DEVO...today is trash pick up day!

Trash. I hate when our kitchen trash can is overflowing. How awful to grab it when something has oozed and spilled over the side. Absolutely disgusting.

Nobody likes taking smelly trash out, but yet, it is one of those chores that just needs to be done. Imagine if we never took it out how bad the smell would get.

James reminds us that we all must get rid of the garbage that resides within our own spiritual house...
 

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21)

Just like the garbage in my kitchen, the filth we allow to build up in our lives will leave a terrible stench. Sin has a way of creeping in and building up odors that quickly get out of hand. No aerosol spray can take care of the smell it leaves except for a good Holy Spirit trash pick up!

? for today...what garbage is in your life that needs to be taken to the curb?

Man is concerned with saving the earth...God wants to save your soul! It's garbage pick up day today!!

DAILY DEVO...have you washed up?

Seems like everyone is sick. Sneezing. Coughing. Runny nose. Sore throat. Last week, a local doctor said he had treated 44 cases of strep!

My husband just told me that without a doubt, we are getting the flu shot this year. The flu is said to hit hard.

Shots and vaccinations are good. But do you know what is good too...washing your hands! A regular habit of washing your hands ...can protect you from things like the flu or the common cold.

Not only is it good to wash our hands physically, but spiritually as well. James tells us how to wash our hands spiritually...

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your heart's, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:7-10)

What we need today is just a good washing...just like washing our hands will guard us from sickness, washing our heart on a regular basis will guard us from spiritual defeat.

? for today...have you washed the germs off yet today?

Don't let them reside on your hands or in your heart.

LACED WITH GRACE...see the sheep, feed the sheep

Today I have shared the following devo with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE. Please take time to visit this awesome devotion site and hear what other Christian writers are talking about.

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This week as God crossed my path with someone in need, I found myself asking “how can the little that I have to offer help?” Oh what little faith and what little expectations I must have of my God!

Yes, it is true that I did not have much to offer, but it isn’t about what you or I can offer! A sack of groceries, a tank of gas, hand-me-down clothes, a pay it forward lunch at McDonald’s… whatever the need, God does not need OUR money to accomplish HIS works, He only needs our attention and our obedience.

I wonder how many of you are like me, and just drive by the homeless man on the corner holding that cardboard sign? How many times have I passed by that way and instead of noticing the “need”, I notice how long the red light takes to turn or how it looks like rain is coming? I notice EVERYTHING except the need staring me right in the face.

Jesus may ask us the same question He asked of Peter… “The third time, He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:17) And like Peter (Simon), we say, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

“Feed My sheep!” -Jesus

It really grips my heart and saddens me to see how very uninvolved and insensitive we have gotten towards the things that break God’s heart. Poverty in our cities, homelessness, drugs, crime, babies having babies. You don’t have to look far to see heartbreaking events, not just locally but worldwide; Africa genocide, ISIS massacre of innocent lives, little girls being sold into the black market prostitution ring.

Like me, perhaps you feel helpless with some of these atrocious crimes. And maybe even a little hopeless, wondering what in the world is this world coming to? Often times, when we keep hitting a brick wall, we tend to stop trying to climb.

But the climb requires one step at a time. If not a burger in a sack, how about donating to the local Mission, or take things even another step and pray for our country and our leaders or get involved in a local political campaign or take a missions trip abroad and give aid to a missionary.

Becoming our “brother’s keeper” is not just about feeding their stomachs, we must also be so compelled to feed the spiritual hunger that is prevalent. We, who have been washed by the Blood, who have resurrected our lives and spirits to the moving of the Holy Spirit have been called and challenged to share the same spiritual food with others. It isn’t enough to just feed the stomach, we must feed the spirit man as well.

Surely, the last days are upon us, but until He comes again, we must keep climbing and we must not turn a cheek to what is expected of us…

“Feed My sheep!” -Jesus

When you see the sheep, will you feed the sheep?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please forgive me for not seeing all of the sheep that you have put in my path. Help me to be more aware of Your call on my life to feed the sheep as you need me to do. Whether through a physical lunch, clothes, prayer or whatever you lead me to do, help me to see the needs thru Your eyes. Help me to not look away, close my eyes or become cold hearted. Every sheep is important to you, even the lost ones. May they all find their way and make the climb with me, to You! AMEN

DAILY DEV0...give and you will be blessed

This week God crossed my path with someone who had a need. After looking in my wallet, I thought to myself, I don't have much to give, how can my little bit make a difference?

Then I recalled Acts 20:35, "It is more blessed to give than receive."

Yes, there is great pleasure in being on the receiving end, but the true pleasure comes from knowing that we have been used by God.

..."Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." -Galatians 6:10

? for today...who have you helped today?

It doesn't matter how big or small it seems, we must obey God and take advantage of every opportunity God gives us.

You will be blessed for doing it. I know I was!

DAILY DEVO...Who ya gonna obey?

I'm going to be very frank today - sometimes the things and yes, even the people who mean the most to us can be the very thing that holds us back.

How can something that is such an important part of my life be the thing that holds me back?

Consider Terah's influence in Abraham's life:

Abraham had heard clearly from God, "leave your country and your relatives and come to the land I will show you." But if you read Genesis 11:32-34, you will see a closer look at Abraham's caravan...his father, his nephew and Abraham's wife all traveled with him. Doesn't sound like Abraham left his family like God said.

Partial obedience is disobedience. Abraham learned this the hard way.

? for today ..what or who stands between you and God?


Stop settling for less than what God has for you. Remove the Terah's from your path and follow God. Obey Him fully ...no matter what the sacrifice.

DAILY DEVO..need gas?

It is never a good idea to run a car down to empty. My daughter, in fact, panics once her gas gauge gets below half. She thinks she needs to stop at the next gas station for fear she will run out of gas. There is a spiritual lesson here.

Isn't it funny, no matter the price of gas, we all get in line to get refueled but when it comes to our spiritual tank...we run on empty for da

ys.

The gas pump refuels our car, the restaurant refuels our stomach, but how do we refuel our spirits? Jesus shows us in Mark how to...

 

"Very early in the morning, while it is dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." -Mark 1:35-36

? for today... need some gas?

Find time to pull up to the arms of God and get refueled and get your spiritual tank recharged! Pray before your engine light comes on!

LACED WITH GRACE...the 5 "M's" of Ministry

I have shared the following Devotional with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE today. I hope that you will be blessed and encouraged as you continue to labor for God in all of your ministries! Please support all of our daily devotional writers over at www.lacedwithgrace.com

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One of my favorite things to do is encourage and minister to small groups. There is so much wisdom and growth that can come out of small groups. I have had the privilege of leading youth and women in small group settings. So many churches are now gearing towards bringing in new people thru small group ministry. I applaud this effort but at the same time want to express my concern over so many churches that are replacing “church” with small groups.


Small groups for me is entirely different than church service. According to the Bible, worshipping together serves several functions:


1. It leads to deeper fellowship among believers (Acts 2:42)
2. It enables believers to break bread together (Acts 2:2)
3. Worshipping together brings God into our presence (Matthew 18:19-20)
4. It encourages “glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46)
5. It brings collective praise of God (Acts 2:47)

6. It encourages growth in the body of Christ (Acts 2:47)

7. It helps Christians to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)
8. And it invites the Holy Spirit unto the group (Acts 10:44)

Even though we can experience all of the above in a small setting, there is just something about gathering together in one accord to worship in a church setting. Whether it is “Church” that you love or “Small Groups”, here are 5 “M’s” to enhance the ministry of worshipping together…

MINISTER TO NEEDS

“A healthy church is a growing church”, many times we overlook that the members of our church or small groups are hurting. It should be an intended goal to become healthy, not just as leaders but our members should be healthy as well. We need to open our eyes and see the needs before us and minister to them.

MENTOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY

In order to be a spiritual mentor, we must first know the condition of those we are trying to mentor. An effective ministry leader should seek to cultivate spiritual habits in those in their realm of influence. How we can do that really depends upon the spiritual habits that exist in our own hearts. We cannot mentor, or train, what we don’t already know.

MOTIVATE FOR MINISTRY

If you want people to step up to ministry, we must first model what servant hood is. When people see in us the ideal of serving others, it will only have a ripple effect. What they see, they will do.


MULTIPLICATION EFFECT

Every church and small group desires to grow numerically, but multiplying in number is not the same as multiplying their life through others. Every church and small group will grow effectively when the leaders pour their life into others, so that those will in turn pour their lives into others as well. The multiplication effect.

MODEL A SURRENDERED HEART

There is not enough room at the pulpit or in the leaders manual for pride and arrogance. Never lose sight of the fact that everything that we are doing is by the grace of God and for His glory, not ours. Christian leaders must model a surrendered, humble attitude. God will always work best in our weakness, for when we are weak – He is strong. Give all of your fears, and inabilities to God and just see what He does with your ministry.

I love going to church. And I love being a part of a small group. I wouldn’t want to trade one for the other. Whichever place that you find yourself, may you experience the 5 “M’s” to the fullest!

DAILY DEVO

Our neighbor always have kids out in their front yard playing ball. I notice them every time I drive by, hurrying to get somewhere.

But today, instead of hurrying, I sat and watched and listened to them. Their laughter had made glued to my seat. I leaned back, with the window down, just listening. Their voices took me back to a time when my children ran and played in our yard.

It made me realize how fast life is played before our eyes. Time stops for no one, it just ticks on by.

 

? for today...when is the last time you stopped and listened to the laughter? Or the birds chirping?


Take a moment and just stop...and hear the sounds and enjoy life!

"Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord." -Psalm 35:9

Listen closely for the sounds of His beauty.

LACED WITH GRACE...top 10 things you need to know about your Pastor's wife

Today, I have shared this with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE and wanted to share with you as well. I pray it will give insight to how you can love and pray for your pastor's wife in a more powerful way. Please visit the LWG website where you can find awesome daily writings from some awesome godly ladies. www.lacedwithgrace.com

* * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * *

As a wife of a pastor, I must echo the words of James, “I count it all joy”! For more than a decade now I have had the joy of serving alongside my husband on this ministry journey that God has set in motion. For the most part, I say it has been a joyful adventure, but like James points out, I also have seen the trials and bumps in the road that serving in ministry often brings. But even so … I count it ALL  joy:

“My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” -James 1:2

James takes time out in this passage to strongly encourage his fellow believers to strengthen their Christian Character. He says that Christians are not immune to difficulties and hardships. And I am here to tell you that James is correct and not only that, Pastors and those serving in ministry are not immune either. In fact, the enemy has his insides all turned inside out over the labor of ministry that those called by God are doing. But count it all joy, my friend.

I have seen too many families in the ministry throw in the towel. It becomes too much; the burden, the struggle, the various trials and then somehow, joy is stolen. It breaks my heart to hear stories of ministries shattered because of the works of the enemy. So today, I write this very different kind of post, because I want to tell you that your pastor and his wife struggle just like you do. It is imperative that we pray for our leaders in the church, that they could count it ALL joy: the good, the bad and the ugly.

In order to help you gain some insight, I would like to give you my top ten list of what you need to know about your Pastor’s wife:

1. I AM NOT PERFECT!

and neither are you! Romans 3:23 “For we have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God.” I am not much different than you, I get frustrated, I lose my temper sometimes, and I don’t always like everyone I come in contact with. I make mistakes. My husband and children also make mistakes. Don’t judge us when we do, embrace us like we do you when you or your family messes up.

2. DON’T TALK ABOUT PEOPLE TO ME

Please do not bad mouth other people to me. Your negative comments and gossip about others only puts me in a very awkward position and makes it hard for me to remain neutral. Especially if the person you are bad mouthing is my husband or my children. If you don’t like his preaching or his kind of leadership, remember he is my Pastor too, but he is my husband and my best friend first!

3. DON’T ASK ME THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T ASK

I know that I go home with the Pastor every night, but that does not mean that he discusses every problem or situation at the church with me. In fact, you might be surprised how much I DO NOT know because he is protecting me from any potential disunity in the church. If you need to know something from the Pastor, ask him directly, do not use me as a “go between”, because I probably have no clue what you are talking about.

4. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU MESSAGE MY HUSBAND

Speaking to your Pastor about confidential issues needs to be left in the conference room behind closed doors. Please do not text or email your private issues to my husband because from time to time I or the Pastor’s children use his phone and computer.

5. RESPECT MY FAMILY TIME

As much as I would love to attend every ministry outreach, every child’s birthday party and every Scentsy or Mary Kay party, I simply cannot. My time is valuable just like yours. I too would love to have an occasional night to soak in the tub or catch a movie with my family. Please do not expect me to be at everything and do not get angry or talk about me behind my back  if I kindly have to send my regrets.

6. GET TO KNOW “ME”

Take time to get to know ME! Please do not compare me to the former Pastor’s wife. I am not her. She no longer lives here. I am unique. I am gifted. And I have been chosen for such a time as this. Let me be ME.

7. BE MY FAMLY

My blood family lives far away and because ministry keeps us working 24/7, we cannot always lean on them. Step in and be our family. Be a grandparent to my children. Cry with us when we are troubled. Rejoice with us when we are blessed. Adopt us as your family, because we miss ours so badly.

8. REALIZE THAT I CANNOT TALK TO EVERY PERSON EVERY SUNDAY

Please do not take offense if I do not get the chance to shake your hand or compliment your new dress every Sunday. There is only one of me and LOTS of you. If I have missed you a few Sundays in a row, hang around to hug my neck before you leave. On a side note: Sunday’s are a time that I enjoy greeting people and meeting visitors, please do not take away from that by telling me about a problem you have with the worship team 5 minutes before service or during altar time. If it is an urgent matter, put lunch on hold and wait around after service to speak to me in private.

9. ENCOURAGE ME

As much as I love to encourage and affirm others, especially women, I also need encouragement. I wear many hats throughout the week, and often times the hours that I put in at the church outweighs any compensation I may receive. One of the loneliest people that you will find is actually the Pastor and his wife because the burden they carry is heavy and they feel like they have no one to talk to. A card in the mail, a text message or an email goes a long way on a tiring, stressful day. Let me know that you are praying for me and that despite my shortcomings, that you love me.

10. BECOME MY PRAYER PARTNER

This is the most important thing you can do for your Pastor’s wife, especially if you don’t like me. I promise you, if we pray for one another, we will love one another, faults and all. James 5:16 says that “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much”. May we hold each other up and “avail much”.

I hope that this list will help you pray and love your Pastor’s wife to even a higher level. I am sure that many Pastor’s wives have walked the trenches like I have but when we answer the call, like many of you have, we can count it ALL joy!

Blessings to you and to your Pastor’s wife.

DAILY DEVO....closed doors

Sometimes the things we pray for aren't always the things God has in store for us. In fact, we often don't see that God has bigger things waiting for us.

When God closes one door, He will open another. Closed doors are not God's way of punishing us, He may simply be saying He has a different route for us to take to get to where He is leading.

? for today...what roadblock has you feeling like giving up?

Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come to him."

Be encouraged and know that God has a reason for everything and He, and He alone, holds the key to ALL doors.

Guest post from Heather Strickland

Today, I welcome my friend and newly published author, Heather Strickland, to my blog. I have worked with Heather on several different websites writing devotions and recently she published her very own devotional book, for the first time! I am so proud of her for chasing a dream and following God's leading. Please welcome her and take time to check out her new book!

ABOUT THE BOOK

This devotional book provides encouragement in various ways. It examines numerous scriptures in the Old and New Testaments to gain wisdom from above. Some devotions have personal stories to help you relate to the author while showing you that we all have struggles. While we are in the midst of trials and joys, triumphs and defeats, good and bad - we can turn to God's Word for encouragement. Heather invites you to sit at the Master's feet, as Mary did, and learn from Him.

A LOOK AT THE BOOK

-ENCOURAGEMENT FROM GOD'S WORD-

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

Trials can often leave us breathless and wondering why did this have to happen? We look around at others who are untouched and we grieve. No matter how big or small the trial truly is, to us, its always big. We all go through hard times at different stages of life. Trials will always exist here on earth. So how do we deal with them? What do we do when they come our way?

 

One thing the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about is trying to see the good in the trial. Is that possible you may ask. I have pondered that at times too. I have wondered how can good come from losing a loved one or coming down with a serious illness. It all involves so much pain that it seems not much good can come of it. I am learning otherwise though. We should ask God to help us see things through His eyes and not our own, for He sees the whole picture.

 

It's still so hard to go through trials even though I am trying to find some positive in them. I've been looking back on the trials I've been through the last couple of months and I have actually found some positives in them. God has a reason for them. More than anything I think He wants us to draw closer to Him through the trial. He longs to have a close relationship with us and to refine us to His image. Trials just tend to do that to us. We can either pull away or draw near to God when tragedy strikes.

 

I love to encourage others and I encourage you to seek God in your hardships. Do not stray from Him. For He is the only One who can comfort you and give you the peace that you desire.

 

This is something that's really been on my heart and mind lately. Many of my devotions came from trials I have endured or my family has endured. They may seem minor to some, but to us they were very big. They were roadblocks that God used to draw us closer to Him.

 

You can purchase the kindle version of my eBook here on Amazon. I pray you are encouraged to dig into God's Word.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Mississippi born and raised, Heather Strickland is a stay-at-home wife and mother with a passion to encourage others through writing. God planted this dream in her heart when she was a teenager, began to grow it during her early adulthood, and now - with the help of many dear friends - God has made that dream a reality. She enjoys sipping coffee on her front porch, flipping through the pages of a good book, and holding hands with her love. When she isn't serving her family, Heather blogs regularly at Becoming Titus 2Women, Laced with Grace, and The Imperfect Wives. But her primary ministry is to her husband and three boys. Not only is Heather crazy about them, they give her an abundance of writing material. Through them, God has molded her and taught her many life lessons. Heather is forever grateful for God's grace and guidance in her life.

 

You may contact Heather on Facebook at Becoming Titus 2 Women or email her at the.stricklands06@gmail .

LACED WITH GRACE...every story has an ending.

I have shared the following with the readers of Laced With Grace today. Check www.lacedwithgrace.com out for daily devotions.

***

It really frustrates me when I am watching a good movie or reading a book and then all of a sudden it comes to an end, and the ending is not AT ALL what I had expected. Have you ever just wanted a movie or a book to go on and on, not wanting it to end?

Unfortunately, everything in this world will eventually come to an end. Whether it is bad or good – all things do come to a screeching end.

No matter how much we wish for it to not happen, it happens. And most likely, it will happen when we least expect it. In a blink of an eye, each one of us will be standing by the casket of a loved one, wondering how in the world did we get here?

Just two weeks ago, I found myself in such a place. All of us wish for life to go on and on, and often times, we cannot even imagine ourselves doing anything differently or living in this world without that special someone. But then the call comes and the “happily ever after” becomes a sad, empty feeling. I remember thinking to myself, as I stood at the side of my Mother two weeks ago, that all of this was just a bad dream and at any moment I would wake up and hear her call out my name. If only I could have just one more chapter to live out with her. One more page to write or just simply one more word to speak.

But I didn’t wake up. This was real life.

The people passed by her side and told me all of their stories of her goodness and then they left. The flowers wilted and fell away. The cards and the calls stopped coming. It was time for me to realize that there were no more chapters in our story. No more pages to write. As much as I wished it away, the emptiness I felt deep in my soul was indeed the realization that God had chosen a different ending to the book Mother and I were writing (living out) together.

There was no warning. In one moment Mom was here talking and laughing and the next moment she was gone to see her Jesus. No time to say good bye. No time to say “I love you”. No time to put our finishing touches on our final chapter. Mom never liked half read books, in fact, like me, she did not like bad endings either.

But you see, as a Christian, Mom’s ending wasn’t so bad. In fact for her, it wasn’t the end at all, but only the beginning. She is experiencing things in heaven now that none of us can even imagine. No more pain. No more sorrow. No more tears. Thankfully, thru the cross, Jesus interjects hope for those of us left behind. Words like “the end” are replaced with “forever”. Paul assures you and me that “we shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51) and when the end comes knocking at our door, Paul reminds us that because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can confidently say, “Oh death …where is your victory? (v.55)

I don’t know how many of you reading this have already experienced the end of a loved ones life here on earth. Or perhaps someone has death crouching at their door right now. I want to encourage you that each of us have our own stories to write and even when the ending is not quite what we expected or planned, God can wipe our tears and give us a glimpse of how the ending of our story may just be the beginning of a new one.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” -Psalm 30:5

Thanks Mom for the chapters in my life. I will reread the pages often and remember that every story must have an ending. And a beginning.

DAILY DEVO..remembering the good calls in life, not just the missed ones!

Regret is an awful friend to have. In fact, for most of us, it is an unwanted friend but yet one we let into our lives.

All of us have that one, two or three things they wished they could do differently. ("If I knew then what I know now..) Don't worry my friend, life is full of missed opportunities and full of people desiring do-overs.

Sometimes there just aren't second chances....

Every day, since last Wednesday, I look at my phone and see a missed call from my Mom. Every day, since Wednesday, I'm filled with great remorse and regret. If only I had picked up the phone one last time. If only.

But God reminded me of all of the awesome phone calls I had with my Mother. So why do I dwell on that one that I missed? Regret is not my friend. And it's not yours either!

Romans 8:37 "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us."

? for today...Got regret? Give it to God, He will make you a conqueror over it!

Think on the good calls in life, not the missed ones!

**I haven't written since losing my Mom last week, but she would not want me to stop writing. It is the one thing she was so proud of. This one is for you Mom!

LACED WITH GRACE...oh, to have childlike faith!

Today, I have shared the following devotion with the reader of LACED WITH GRACE! "Oh, to have childlike faith!" Coming off of  4-day kids crusade, I share just a few conclusions that I have from watching our little people worship God. Please visit www.lacedwithgrace.com where you can read awesome devotions from godly women daily.

 http://lacedwithgrace.com/oh-to-have-childlike-faith/

(Click the link to read my devotion entitled Oh, to have childlike faith!)

DAILY DEVOTION... having a bad day?

How do you handle stress?

In Matthew, chapter 14, extraordinarily stressful events happened one day in the ministry of Jesus...

*The unjust execution of His good friend John the Baptist.
*Demands of over 5000 hungry, uninvited guests looking to Him for their next meal.
*A violent windstorm that threatened to capsize His Disciples boat.

But Jesus did not panic. He didn't yell, stomp his feet or let His bad day get the best of Him. Instead, He took charge of His situation.

It isn't easy to stay calm, is it? It's easier to lay on the horn in backed up traffic, or yell at the coach when he calls our kids out, or slam our phones down when someone hacks into our bank account and the bank hasn't fixed it.

Alot of people even lash out at God when they feel stressed. "Why God, why God?"

"Have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed." -Psalm 57:1

? for today...how do you handle stress?

God said "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." What a great thing to know that God remains with is even during the storm. May we be like Jesus and take charge of our bad days...and watch something good come from it!

Hope everyone is having a "good" day today!

LACED WITH GRACE...What are your family ties made of?

Today I have shared the following devotion with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE..."What are your family ties made of?"

http://lacedwithgrace.com/what-are-your-family-ties-made-of/

"THWACK!! The sound that does not sound good in anyone’s home, especially where there are children present. That sound usually is followed by hollering or crying. The kind of noise that sends any momma running to the next room to see what happened!
Our three sons were always getting into mischief at a young age. If mischief couldn’t be found, mischief found them! This particular day, ..."

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO READ THE REST!

DAILY DEVOTION....time to peel back some skin?

In Galatians, we can read about the "fruits" of the spirit. You know, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle...ness and self control. (Galatians 5:22)

These (and any other fruit) is simply the indication or evidence of our walk, or the Holy Spirit living within us.

Why was it so important to list the fruits?

Prior to this, we can read the "list of the flesh" in verse 19-21a. Perhaps, before we can walk in fruit, we must understand what the "flesh" words mean. Otherwise, how can we know if we are doing any of them?

"Immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like this". (Gal 5:19-21a)

? for today...how did you do with the list...guilty?

God wants us to crucify the flesh DAILY, in order to get to the fruit, we may have to peel back a few layers. If it's good enough to peel an orange to get to the good stuff to eat...why isn't it good enough to peel back for our fruit in our spirit?

Let's shed some skin (spiritually speaking).

DAILY DEVO...why are people so rotten?

I was asked recently why people treat others so rotten at times? I don't really know, only God knows.

All of us experience difficulties when interacting with people. Some of the hardest people to deal with are those closest to us.

God reminded me this week as I found myself at the end of someone's rotten attitude, that the only control I have is with what I do.

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." - Matthew 7:12

It is so much easier to turn around and bite someone back that has wounded you, but the easy road isn't always the right road.

? for today...who has treated you rotten?

First, go to God before you react. Second, pray for that person who has hurt you. God said it wouldn't be easy but with God's help, our actions and reactions can be the right thing!

Do the right thing....in Jesus name!

DAILY DEVOTION...are you a pot stirrer?

TODAY'S DAILY...

Are you guilty of stirring people up?

I know, I know, immediately we all respond with, "who me?" None of us would deliberately cause trouble, speak ill of someone, stick our nose where it doesn't belong or stir the waters by our social media posts because we ALL are peacemakers, right?

What we consider "stirring the pot" evidently is different than Jesus' version.

In Luke, chapter 23...

"But they kept on insisting, saying, 'He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.' " (23:5)

? for today...   have you ever considered that Christ WANTS us to stir people up?

Not in a trouble seeking, drama revengeing, mud slinging kind of way. Instead, stir people up in a way that challenges them to grow closer to God, to live for others and not themselves. Don't speak down to people, or tear them apart, instead, lift them up and lead them to Christ. Don't be a trouble maker, be a salt shaker!

Shake your world for Christ.

LACED WITH GRACE...What is your Ninevah?

I shared the following devotion with the readers of Laced with Grace today...

I don’t hear many sermon messages about Jonah. He is one of those overlooked Bible Characters that speaks so much more than just “a guy swallowed by a fish.” I just love Jonah. Why? Because I get him. I really do. A man that had a clear direction from God, but who allowed things, people perhaps, or just simply his fear to allow him to turn and run.

Jonah was no different than you and me. He was faithfully serving God, He was living among his own people and sharing God’s Word with them. Then all of a sudden, God asks Jonah to do something that would require him to step out of his comfort zone.

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” -Jonah 1:2

When God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, that was simply not the way things were done. In the old Testament, how Israel witnessed to the world was by serving God and living for Him. They did not go out to the world, instead because of their witness, the world came to them, enticed by their  faith and prosperity.

What was this thing that God was asking Jonah?

I could hear it being said … “Seriously, God? Ninevah? The largest Gentile city that there is! You do realize of course that it is the capital city of what is  known to be the cruelest and most brutal nations in the ancient world. Assyria is known for burying their enemies alive, skinning them alive and all kinds of other insanely brutal acts. This is where you want ME to go?”

Poor Jonah. He had no problem sharing God’s love but he wasn’t sure about this “judgment” assignment. Who can blame him for wanting to run, it’s one thing to be sent outside of his comfort zone, but on top of that go to a place with hostile people and bring them a very unwelcomed message!

“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” - Jonah 1:3

Seems to me that Jonah isn’t too far off from me and you. How often have we put on our running shoes and ran as fast as we can, away from what wasn’t comfortable for us? Face it, if it feels uncomfortable or if it goes against the norm, we find all kinds of excuses to not obey. Jonah ran, but he didn’t get far. In fact his running shoes took him to places he never dreamed of….in the belly of a fish!

“Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” -Jonah 1:17

Is the story of Jonah sounding more like your story -do you feel his struggle? Do you see his failures?

Often times, it takes a storm or even alittle bit of belly-aching to come around and see that God is full of grace and compassion and when He asks us to do something, even if it seems crazy, we might want to just listen and obey.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for your compassion and grace. I do not want my Ninevah’s to keep me from doing what You are asking of me. Take the blinders off of my eyes and help me to see that you will not take me anywhere that You won’t be with me. I trust You. And I want to obey You, even when it feels uncomfortable. AMEN.

 

DAILY DEVO ....Sunday has nothing to do with Worship!

? for today...what do you think of when you think about worship?

Perhaps you think worship is good music or coming together with other Christians.
I like doing all of that. And all of that is important but I was reminded today that my worship is a sacrifice.

Today I read Ezra chapter 3. The Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem, which had been destroyed. You would think that the first thing they would do is clean up and start rebuilding. But no, what they did was offer sacrifices to God.

1 Peter 2:5 says we are to "offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God."

The Jewish exiles understood what worship was. Worship can be different things to different people. Worship IS music. Worship IS lifting hands. Worship IS also being still and listening to God.

True worship demands our entire being, our heart, our mind and our body. Worship is not "just Sunday", in fact it isn't even about Sunday! Worship is living in obedience to God - EVERY day!

Today is Thursday...what has been your acceptable spiritual sacrifice today or are you waiting for Sunday to worship Him?

 

DAILY DEVO...while on vacation, don't quit!

Ahhh, the last week of school for most of you. Whether you are a student or a parent or a grandparent of a student, summer break is always a treat.

We all look forward to "vacation" in summer, whether it is going to the beach, going fishing or just sleeping in. But so many of us need a vacation from our vacation. Lol

We all need a rest, but Christians need not ever confuse rela...xing with quitting.

Leisure is part of God's plan for our life. Afterall, God rested after working so hard for 6 straight days creating this world. He understands the need for rest.

Taking a vacation or a rest from our faith was never Gods intention for us. Just because it is summer, we should not be relaxed in our commitments or faithfulness, especially to God.

? for today...what does recreation mean to you?

Broken down, it is re-creation....our minds and bodies need renewing from time to time, but never resigning.

Romans 12:2a "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...."

While on vacation, don't quit God!

DAILY DEVO...In God we trust!

? for today...has someone broken your trust?

A broken trust leads to hurt, confusion and anger. While all of these feelings are real and even reasonable, broken trust leads us to not want to trust anyone any longer.

But dismissing all relationships because we can't trust is simply closing the door to joy and fullness of life that God intends for us.

We must remember that we live in a imperfect, sinful world and each of us, in our sinful nature, has the capability of breaking a trust. No-one is perfect and often times we just act, or speak, without thinking. That's the human side of us.

While none of us may feel like we can find someone who is totally trustworthy, trust can be found. Jesus Christ can be trusted.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

As you work through your trust issues, remember that even when everyone else fails you, Jesus will not.

You can trust Him. In everything. For everything.

LACED WITH GRACE...change your perspective!

Today I shared the following devotion with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE. Please take time to check this devotional site out. I am honored to be a regular contributor to this sight along with many other gifted Christian writers.  www.lacedwithgrace.com

**********

“This trial that I find myself in seems so difficult, it is so frustrating at times. Dear Lord,  surely, it is about to be over.”

I wonder how many of you have been in this place? Just this past week, I was spending time with God and asking Him to show me the purpose of my current difficulty. Now listen to me! I DID NOT ask for Him to take it away, but instead, asked if He would at least open my eyes to the what purpose it served.

I think that this is a legitimate question to ask.  A lot of Christians tend to be afraid of asking God why, we often think that asking such a question indicates a lack of faith or an admission that we do not want to endure such a struggle. We certainly would not want others to see or hear us questioning God, after all, what would they think of us and our Christianity?

Why do we get so confused, frustrated and even disillusioned or deceived during hard times? If we do not know WHY things are happening or worse yet, if we cannot figure out WHAT we can do about it, we fall apart.  Yet, in the Psalms, we see David went through so much and yet he still trusted and obeyed, more than most of us could ever do. David asks God the hard questions. However, he did not stop there, David knew God intimately and he trusted him wholeheartedly, EVEN, in times of severe trials!

Do you have a problem you are facing today? Look at your problem thru the eyes of God! He does not see our trouble like we do…

We see stress, He sees opportunity!
We see crisis, He sees growth!
We see failure, He sees potential!

I do not know what purpose your difficulty has but today I was able to see my own hardship thru the eyes of God. While my cloud of darkness seemed to stick around, and I didn’t understand why, God sent someone along my path that also had a dark cloud, perhaps darker than my own. It was in this moment that I recognized the opportunity to minister to someone in a way that I may not have been able to before enduring my difficulty.

 ”God is our Redemption, so because of what He did, we can draw our strength from Him and rest in His protection. Remember He always helps in times of trouble, if you do not see it, then you are not looking. (Ps. 46:2)

You see, difficulties are not punishments. They are opportunities. It is a growing time. And it is a breeding ground for potential. It’s really all in how you look at it. Changing your situation may ease the pain, but changing your perspective will change everything!