Daily DEVO...praise God and watch doors open

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

We have been reading the book of Psalms ever since we started this journey of reading thru the Bible. I think it is very fitting that we end the last chapter of this book giving God praise!

Psalm 150 tells us that everything that has breath should praise the Lord. God made us to praise Him! And when we praise God, good things happen. In fact, when we praise God, the enemy will flee.

It happened with King Jehoshaphat: when his singers sang and praised God, the Lord defeated their enemies. (see 2 Chronicles 20).

It happened with Paul and Silas: when they praised the Lord in prison, God sent an earthquake and the prison doors were flung open. ( see Acts 16)

It happened in Acts: when God’s people were persecuted, they prayed and praised God and the whole place shook. (see Acts 4:31)

If it happened for all these people (and more), don't you know it will happen for you?

(Psalm 150:6) "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord."

It is my prayer today that no matter how your day plays out, you will praise God. Praise Him with all that you have and watch and see if your praise doesn't unlock some doors and turn some things around.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY. Laurie

TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 26:20-28:29, 2 Corinthians 8, Psalm 149-150

DAILY DEVO...worldly sorrow vs godly sorrow

Like you, I have experienced sorrow in my life. Some grief and sorrow has been over some of the choices that I have made. Perhaps you have a regret or two of your own. 

When it comes to our wrongdoing (sin), there are two kinds of sorrow. Worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Both are felt deeply. But one kind of sorrow will lead you down a path you wish you hadn't gone. The other kind will lead you closer to God. 

Judas experienced the kind of sorrow that led to his death. He betrayed the Son of God for a mere thirty pieces of silver. His sorrow did not cause him to repent and be forgiven. Instead, he was so consumed with anguish and isolation that he took his own life. (see Matthew 27:3-5)

Peter’s suffering and sorrow was different. While Peter also failed Jesus, he was so overcome with remorse that he went out and wept bitterly. (see Luke 22:62)

Even though Peter suffered from sorrow, he allowed God to use his pain to help him turn his life around. 

Grief and sorrow over sin is good, as long as it leads us to repentance. But once forgiven, we must not hold onto it. 

(2 Corinthians 7:10) "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

Don't let your past mistakes, (that are forgiven), keep you from living the life God has for you. 

HAVE A BLESSED (and forgiven) DAY! Laurie

TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 24:1-26:19, 2 Corinthians 7, Psalm 148 

DAILY DEVO...just love the people

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

Many years ago, before going into full time ministry, I recall the wise words of encouragement from a senior pastor that I have tried to live up to ... "just love the people".

The world teaches us to love the lovable and those whom we like to spend time with. But Paul demonstrates that his love is for ALL the people in Corinth, even the unlovable...

(2 Corinthians 6:11) " Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide".

When Paul says that his "heart is wide", he means there is no favoritism, he loves the entire congregation. Not just the nice ones, or the ones that served him well, Paul loved the people. 

However, in the next verse, we see that not everyone returned that love...

(2 Corinthians 6:12) "We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us".

Love, whether it is in a marriage, a friendship, family or church, is a two-way street. Here we see Paul respond to this loveless problem in the church by saying the Corinthians are "restricted".

Here lies an awesome life lesson for each of us; straight from the Word of God: LOVE REQUIRES A RESPONSE! 

Paul is telling us that when we don't return the Christ-like love offered to us that we are limiting ourselves! We cannot experience the full richness and blessing that God gives to those who not only love, but who also return love. 

As a leader, not everyone will agree with you or even like you. That is something I learned a long time ago, but even so, I choose to love ALL people. God never charged us to "like" people, just "love" them. 

It is my prayer today that we can learn to just love the people, ALL the people and not limit ourselves of the blessings of love. 

HAVE A BLESSED (and loving) DAY! Laurie 

TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 20-23, 2 Corinthians 6, Psalm 147:12-20 

Laced with Grace...OCD is not the same as serving others

My family has accused me of being OCD. Obssesive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a “mental disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), and behaviors that drive them to do something over and over (compulsions). ”

Just recently, at a family gathering, while everyone continued to visit, I began to clean up. Putting away food that had already been out too long, picking up trash and washing dishes. I didn’t do this because I have a compulsive behavior about dishes being clean but rather, I started to clean up to help the hostess; to serve her and the rest of the family.

I am a servant, I do not have OCD. There is a difference.

Most people think of the word “servant” as a negative thing. Most people visualize a servant as one who waits on people hand and foot; someone who is hired to do the dirty work. However, servants today are not slaves; they are people who help or assist others.

Jesus was the perfect example of a servant. 

He came to serve others, to help people. He wasn’t OCD, but He would rather be serving others than be served.

(Galatians 5:13) "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your feeedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

If we are to be like Christ, we must learn to serve. 

Serving others requires putting  aside our own self centeredness and seeing the genuine needs of others. When we see others like Christ sees them, we all should be compelled to get up and help; to serve them.

At our recent family gathering, I was asked why I am always cleaning – if I was just OCD? My response would be this: 

"No I am not OCD, but I have been called to serve others and to serve them humbly, in love."

Being OCD and being a servant is not the same thing. Serving others is a good thing and a God thing.  

Never belittle someone or be ashamed of having a servants heart; it is one of the highest honors a Christian can have this side of heaven.

BLESSINGS. Laurie

@copyright2017 laurieadams

DAILY DEVO...will you go?

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

In the book of Isaiah lies a question that each of us will have to answer, "who will go?" 

(Isaiah 6:8) “Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’” 

Many people apply this scripture to those called into missions. But don't you know that "missions" is everywhere and we all have to answer the question and decide if we will make ourselves available to go. 

But go where?

The mission field is in our backyards, at our jobs, in the grocery store and yes, even in the Sunday school rooms of church. God may call you to Africa or China but first He will call you at home. 

Not everyone accepts the call. Moses didn't want to go to Egypt and Jonah tried to escape what God asked of him. We aren't much different; looking for ways to get around our responsibility of teaching a class, holding a prayer meeting or witnessing to our neighbor. 

Jesus said the harvest was full, but the laborers are few. Isaiah answered the call and said, "here I am, send me." What is your answer today - will you go?

HAVE A BLESSED (and fruitful) day. Laurie

TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 6-8, 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4, Psalm 143:7-12

DAILY DEVO...God comforts us so we can comfort others

TODAY'S DAILY...

How do you react to hard times?

Hardships can either make us or break us. During times of stress and anxiety, we often lean unto our own understanding instead of God's.

Several years ago, we went thru a very difficult time with one of our kids. At a young age, we received a less than promising report from the doctor. The next few years, we would go thru surgeries and a change of life for all of us.

At the time, I often questioned why God was allowing us to go thru all of that. It wasn't until many years later that I realized that God actually had purpose for our pain, He not only would see us thru but He would use us to minister to families with similar health challenges.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul urged the Corinthians to know that God was their source of comfort in the midst of their trouble...

(2 Corinthians 1:3,4) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

He not only brings us comfort but He brings us thru so that we can turn around and be a comfort to others.

You may be feeling some pain today, but be reassured that there is purpose in your pain; God will comfort you so that you can also be a comfort for others.

HAVE A BLESSED (and comforting) DAY. Laurie

TODAY'S READING...Isaiah 3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Psalm 143:1-6

DAILY DEVO...have you been washed?

TODAY'S DEVOTION...

The first chapter of Isaiah starts off with how the acts of sin are dealt with. Not by man but by God. 

With man, our former sins will be forever remembered and even held over our heads but that's not the nature of God...

(Isaiah 1:16-17a) "Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice."

When we come to God, He doesn't want us to stay the same way as we came. He wants us to be clean of those things that separate us from Him. 

I don't know about you, but there are days that I need to bathe at least once, sometimes twice. Not just physically but spiritually. 

I am so thankful that when I lay down my wrong doings, wrong thinking and wrong attitudes before the Lord, He swoops it up, washes me and doesn't leave me sitting in my muck any longer. 

God will never leave us in our sin after He forgives us. Isn't that a wonderful thing to know?

Now if we could just learn to do right as our scripture today says, it sure would save on water and soap! 

HAVE A BLESSED (and washed by the Blood) day! LAURIE

TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 1-2, 1 Corinthians 16, Psalm 142