Believe

“Blessed is she who has believed

that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Luke 1:45

Belief is a funny thing (funny odd more than funny ha-ha). As humans, and especially the female variety, we so easily believe in many things. We believe our feelings, what others say of us, what we perceive as reality, what we hear of others. We trust in people who must, by their very nature, let us down, and in financial security, which can be gone in a moment. We set our hope in things, which are temporal, unpredictable, flawed, and constantly shifting. The funny part is, we so easily place belief in these and many other things and yet we struggle to believe The Truth, The One who is the Ever-Presence. He will never harm us but only love, never change but remain steadfast in His goodness, He is never wrong but always right. He is eternally faithful and trustworthy, unmatched in His power and strength, Above All. This list could go on forever so I’ll stop and allow you to fill in the______________.

Belief is also a powerful thing (powerful as in powerful). Everything that we feel, all that we do, every word we speak finds its origin in what we believe. It is no wonder God’s Word so often admonishes us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), to be transformed in our mind (Rom 12:2), to be made new in the attitude of our mind (Eph. 4:23), just to name a few. What is equally wondrous is the result when we obey these directives—strongholds are demolished, God’s will is known, and we will be clothed in God’s righteousness and holiness. Look at the account of Mary in Luke 1:45, Elizabeth had it right—Mary was blessed because she believed. Blessed how? Certainly not by her circumstances, she had left home to isolate herself, she faced ridicule and scorn as an unwed mother-to-be, and she was nearly abandoned by her betrothed. She certainly was not blessed by her feelings, she was in her 1st trimester of pregnancy after all—nausea, uncertainty, hormones, fatigue, fears with even more fun stuff to come including a trek across the country when she was full on pregnant. Could Elizabeth have been wrong? No! Mary was blessed by what she received from the knowledge of her Lord simply because she believed. How do I know? The very next verse in Luke begins Mary’s beautiful song of praise to God. Before Christmas night, when she held her baby Son, God Himself, in her arms, she poured out her heart in praise to her Lord as proof that she was blessed because she believed Him.

You see, what you believe of God changes EVERYTHING!! Regardless of anything else, how you feel, what you perceive, and how you live are all transformed by the security of belief in the Solid Rock. So, what do you believe? The answer is in how you feel, what you say, the choices you make, and what you do. Perhaps you might sit before the Lord with this prayer, “Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for Your love is ever before me, and I walk (or want to walk) continually in Your truth.” Psalm 26:2 & 3
That You May Know (Believe) Him More,

Kimberlie Jones

Eph. 1:17

Day of Small Things

Do you ever feel like you are not doing anything of importance in your everyday life?


Do you look around and think to yourself that your life is “hum-drum” – maybe even boring?

Or, do you get a little depressed because your everyday life isn’t glamorous like some of your friend’s lives? Nothing “big” ever happens to you!!!!

After all – the house needs to be cleaned, the baby’s diaper needs to be changed, the washing machine has broken down again, the washing is piling up, you’re tired of arguing children, you cry easily (for “some” reason!), your finances are stretched beyond belief, you need new tires on your car, the bathroom needs to be mopped, you can’t keep up with the dust in your house, your children need to be taken to school and picked up, the holidays are right around the corner, you haven’t had your quiet time in three days, your boss wants you to work late all this week, and the kids want to know what’s for dinner tonight!!!!

This does not sound glamorous, does it? But yet, this is everyday life for you and me. The Father of Lies, Satan himself, will cause you to hate – even despise – your small, unglamorous life! (Be smart ladies – recognize what the devil is trying to do!)

Zechariah 4:10 says “Who despises the day of small things?” So, I’d like to ask you: What kind of lenses are your using to evaluate your day? Your life? Do you have the capacity to see things in their relative importance? Do you see the big picture? Perspective adds fresh air to your otherwise suffocating demands of life.

Zechariah had perspective. Zechariah totally abandoned himself into God’s work of rebuilding the temple The workers had grown weary – crops failed – there was financial distress – the rebuilding of the temple had become tedious. (You know what? The devil knew this community would one day reshape the world. Hmmmmm……!) Paraphrasing, Zechariah said: Look at the way God will be lifted up when we finish this task! Look at the place where God will be glorified! Think of the benefits to Zion! The Messiah will inhabit this nation!

More important than the building (temple) was what the building (temple) symbolized: a relationship with God! They would have a new beginning with a change of heart!

Ladies – is your everyday life tedious? Small? Insignificant? Boring? Do you need a change of heart? Remember: You need God’s perspective. What you do for God on an everyday basis may “seem” insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right and just, not necessarily in what is “big.” Be faithful in the small opportunities. Begin where you are, doing what you can, and accept God’s pleasure over you and your smallest steps in the right direction. If you are faithful with little, God will entrust you with more.

“Thank you, Lord, for today – the day of small things to me, but to You and Your perspective, a very valuable day, part of Your plan and purpose for my life. Please glorify Yourself in my ‘day of small things’ through the power of your Holy Spirit.”
Becky

Foundational

Hello Ladies!


I hope this (late) post finds everyone doing well. I myself am enjoying the hint of fall right around the corner. This is always such a favorite time of year for me. Cooler tempatures, football, and pumpkin spice lattes pave the way for some pretty great days ahead. Much has transpired in our home over the last couple of months. From new school supplies to new sports teams to almost completely out of diapers- (yes! can you believe it!!! ) to new responsibilites we are all growing and learning in our home. Now ladies, as sweet as that sounds let me just say two words to dispell the myth of harmony "growing pains".

Not everyone in my family recognizes these bouts we are having as pains but I do. They are all too familiar for me. Adolescence has knocked on our door and has officially made itself unwelcome and will not leave in our oldest son. ( I know there is a momma out there who can relate!) Our toddlers are in pure defiance mode by exerting every shred of independence they can and my second in a line up of four is struggling being a number two to an older brother.   Not to mention the tugs at my heart each of them take when it hurts to grow and things change. Even for me this year has brought incredulous change. Both good and devestating. The kind that makes you feel amazing and the kind that rips your heart out and brings you to your knees wondering if you will ever make it up again.

But somehow, you manage to get up or look around and realize through all that is changing and through every growing pain there is one foundational truth in life you can claim that does not change- Jesus Christ.

I have learned that through every growth experience whether or not accompanied by a heartache either for myself or for my family Jesus has not changed. He is still there to listen to every concern, to wipe away every tear, and fill our jars again so that we may continue. He truly is the only thing that sustains us. He is our foundation. Nothing else can be or is. It is also at this time I come to you and tell you that it is hard sometimes to remember that  Jesus is our foundation. When kids are sick, jobs are demanding, marriages are broken, bills are stacking up, friendships are devestated, children are lost.....the list could go on for miles. When everything else around us is spinning out of control we must remember Jesus is our foundation. He is the very thing that makes all of those things eventually okay. Does it mean everything will end with a perfect Disney ending? Hardly.....There will still be doubts, unforgiveness, broken hearts.....but He can bring all of that to pass. He is the foundation everything in our life should be built on. Our relationships, schedules, commitments, actions, words......all of them to fall upon our foundational truth of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes I do not even have enough energy but just to speak His name and let Him remind me that He has overcome for me and I will be okay. This verse has been one I am familiar with but now cling to as I need to reassurance that my house will not fall:

 "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25

Whatever your rain, or stream or wind  or even growing pain......I pray you will remember the house built upon Jesus Christ did not fall. It weathered every storm and stood for the sun to rise again.
I hope some of you know and remember the day the house was still standing and the Son with all His brilliance shone upon your face....again.

Blessings,
Crystal

Forsaken our First Love?

I’m blessed to be doing a study in the book of Revelation again. Each time I begin reading thru the book, I always come to a halt at Chapter 2, the letter to the church at Ephesus. How does a church doing so many good things....”I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary”…..forsake its first love? Even still, how do I forsake my first love? I want to know so that I don’t fall under this condemnation.


Sometimes this verse is used to promote our love for God.....“Remember your first love. Remember how much you loved Jesus at the beginning and go back to that. Love Him like you used to.” But, I don’t think that is all there is. Eric and I will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this December. Every year has been better than the last! In our first year, we loved each other with all our hearts. But, since then, our capacity for love has grown. Our hearts have gotten bigger. We love each other more deeply. We’ve been through lots of “stuff.” We’ve had two sweet babies together. We’ve been thru surgeries and sickness. We’ve faced financially hard times. We’ve faced the death of loved ones together. To go back to our first “years” of love would actually be somewhat of a step backwards for us. I think it’s the same with Jesus. I know and love Jesus more now than I ever did. We’ve been through some “stuff.” We’ve been to mountain-tops and to the valley floor. We’ve faced death together. He created me, so He has always known me completely. But, each year I learn more about him and his limitless love for me. Every year is better than the last! So, I’m not sure Jesus is just telling the Ephesians to love Him like they did in the beginning.....that could actually be a step back in a sense.

For Jesus to say to the Ephesians that they had forsaken their first love, that they needed to repent and do the things they did at first, tells us that there was something seriously wrong. It is obvious that the Ephesians had lost their zeal. Jesus does commend their hard work. But, then He says they’re not doing the things they did at first. So they’re working hard but to some extent it is the wrong sort of work. Perhaps their prayer meetings were lifeless. Perhaps they went about their works of service without any real enthusiasm. Perhaps they are no longer resting, but striving. The poor may be getting food, but were they also getting the good news preached to them and setting them free. The sick may have been getting “hospital visits” but were they also getting healed by believers who believe that they have authority to heal in Jesus’ name? They had become known for their works, not His. We can conclude that the Ephesians were a hard-working, non-loving church. They sound a lot like a church that’s coming back under the law. They may have started out with grace but they are now trying to attain their goal by human effort. Sadly, we see it in our churches today. So, the problem with the Ephesians was that they had lost something of their understanding of God’s love for them. They had forgotten that they were beloved sons of God. They were a busy church but their works were based on their love for God rather than His love for them.

John, the beloved disciple, was at one time a member of the Ephesian church. He was famous for reminding people of the Father’s lavish love toward us. “Love comes from God” (1 Jn 4:7). “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 Jn 4:10). This is our first love! “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Our love flows out of, and is a response to, His love. He is our love-source.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” Eph 3:17-19.

Love Never Fails. Remember your first love. Remember how you were first loved!
Angela

She "put-in"

This journey we find ourselves traveling is filled with both joys and sorrows- sometimes a mixture of both in a brief period of time. Our family’s journey took us northward this past week to the birthplace of my husband’s mother- we came together to say goodbye and lay her to rest in the cemetery where her parents, grandparents and other family members already lay.


Small towns in Texas are much the same, regardless of location. The people in the funeral home were warm and compassionate. The high school friends from the class of ’42 regaled the family with memories of church socials and football games. The church ladies fed the family with plates of fried chicken and mashed potatoes – much enjoyed by the grandchildren, I might add!

The time came to join as a family in the small chapel. The family is tiny now and the chapel seemed larger than it probably was. This is a time when family comes together- generations sit side by side- hands are held as each heart holds its own remembrances.

Her battle with Alzheimer’s had taken her memory years ago- she had known no one for almost a decade. The memory of her son was called upon to pick the songs and the scriptures for her- memories of Scripture she insisted he memorize as a child- hymns she encouraged him to learn on the piano- sadly, for her, with little success.

Our dear friend stood to preach from the 23rd Psalm- not all that uncommon for a funeral- but words that had brought her much peace in a life that had held little peace. Traditional hymns played as he finished. The sound of George Beverley Shea’s gravely voice singing Amazing Grace and the Old Rugged Cross, brought tears to our eyes and smiles to our lips- and the service came to an end. The family followed the hearse through the small town- cars pulled off to the side of the road- a sign of honor and respect on Texas highways. Finally, the small procession came to a stop at the designated site. And then came the part of the service, I think, that God had planned for me to hear that day.

Our friend, more a brother really, stood to read a passage that had been a favorite of Peg’s- Luke 12:41-44- a familiar story about the widow’s mite- so familiar- and yet, as God so often does, a new way to hear came to my heart that day. As I was growing up, the story was a favorite of our pastor at budget time- But God had given Scott a different message that day. Friday, as we stood together under that tent, with just a few of us gathered round, God wanted me to hear something else.

Scott noted that three times Jesus had used the phrase “put in”. Jesus, you see, had been watching- watching closely enough to SEE, truly see, what each person passing by “put in.” God drew my thoughts back to the words our pastor had preached the previous Sunday from Romans 12. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice…” As I listened to our friend talk about all Peg had “put in” to the kingdom as she rocked babies in the church nursery, my heart began to truly makes sense of Paul’s words in Romans. I am to be holy and pleasing to God- the King James says “acceptable” to God- because, after all, THIS is my “reasonable service.” It is a reasonable thing to do- to give my life in service to Him- to make an offering of all that I do, all I am, as my reasonable service to the God who gave everything for me.

All of a sudden, the living sacrifice made sense in a way, perhaps, it had not before. I heard our friend’s voice saying, “If we could find those many children rocked in that nursery, and hear their stories of growing up in Christian homes nurtured by parents who worshipped each week while their child was loved and rocked in the nursery- there would not be room on this hill for them to stand.”--- Because Peg, you see, had “put in” all she had…. And Jesus watched … and smiled.

“Therefore, I urge you brothers (and sisters) in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your { reasonable service KJV}.

The words of Jesus say, “…she put in everything she had to live on”- Our friend’s voice put the inflection on the second word in the phrase- live ON….We are called to put in everything we have- everything we ARE (living sacrifices)- so that those we meet, those we serve, will see….truly see, what makes us live ON.

BECAUSE of His great mercy- and IN VIEW of His watchful, loving eyes- what will I “put in” today so that what Christ has given me can “live on” in others for eternity?

Blessings and peace-
Marsha

Living Hope

In teaching Sunday school in Gulf Pointe Plaza Nursing Home, each lesson is aimed at giving hope and encouragement to the residents living there. A few go to the nursing home to recuperate and then leave for their own homes, but most are there to stay as their lives deteriorate. Just as the bible is God's Word to give hope to young and old, this devotional is, too.


"Our hope is based on nothing less but Jesus’ blood and Righteousness".

Hope in the biblical sense doesn’t mean wishful thinking, but fervent expectation - expectation that what God has promised we can claim and will receive.

Hope is what we all need, whether we are little children too young to think about the future, or young ones leaving the nest, or older people whose careers and work are behind them, and even those in their final days. Without hope children have no courage to go forward, and without hope our spirits wither and die before our bodies do.

The New Testament tells of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, both for now and for the hereafter. Through the blood Jesus shed on our behalf, we have hope for today, hope for tomorrow and hope for eternity.

Titus 1:2 "a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time," .

Before the beginning of time, before He created anything, God planned that He would send Jesus as our sacrifice so that we could be free of sin and could take on the righteousness of Jesus to dwell with God forever in eternity. This is our greatest Hope for the future. Over and over in the bible we are told that "I will never leave you nor forsake you", and He didn't.

But God never meant that we should only hope for death and the hereafter. If we recognize Him, the Holy Spirit will dwell in our hearts and give us overpowering love and comfort during the good days and the dark days. Jesus intends that we have more good days than dark ones: John 10:10 "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly". Abundant life is life lived to the full, trusting in God and expecting His goodness and mercy to follow you as you follow Him.

We all experience dark days and sad days, and during these times we can trust God and hold fast to him. In Rom 15: 13 the apostle Paul says: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." This is the present hope we need during those times. Just by trusting in Him, our hearts and minds can be filled with understanding and wisdom so that we will know that no matter what the circumstances, He is with us and He is sovereign.

To the Thessalonians, Paul writes: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Peter says it this way: 1 Peter 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ". A living hope - a hope that stays with us both night and day.

2 Cor. 1:3–4 TLB What a wonderful God we have — he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials.

He is a wonderful God, the source of every mercy and comfort and strength. Many times, we find ourselves unable to do the things we used to do and want to do, but we are not left without hope. God is with us and will be with us to the end and beyond.

Every day He wants us to think about Him, to thank Him for what He has done in our past, and for how he is caring for us today. If we thank him for every blessing, in the process our minds will be renewed and we will receive HOPE.

I love these verses about the great mystery of the ages, which we are privileged to have revealed to us: in Col 1:25 Paul writes: I have become its servant (that is the church’s servant) by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness —26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We are those gentiles; when we believe in Jesus as our savior, we have Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The God of Peace is the God of Hope. May the Lord’s peace and hope be with you today and every day.

Anna

A Prayer of Gratitude

Lord ~ I want to have a grateful heart. I know it's in here, inside of me, but I am finding that gratitude in all circumstances of life can be quite a challenge at times. I've had a hard time losing Catherine ~ my heart aches for her friendship, to hear her voice and yet know that when I dial her phone number there will be no "Hanna Bear" on the other end of the line.

Your word tells me in James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Is this the kind of trial that will test my faith which will in turn develop perseverance? I pray that it will be.

You say; (James 1:4) Perseverance must finish its work so that I can be mature and complete, not lacking anything. So I pray that You will help me to persevere Lord.

I am grateful for a friendship that made me a better person. For a friendship with substance that was based on a mutual love for You. For insight into your word that only Catherine could put in such a way that I not only could understand it better, but usually got a great story and a good laugh as well.

Thank you Lord for the gift of Catherine's life and how it touched so many others. I know I was just one of hundreds of lives she affected. I can see how You used her. It was amazing to watch as she struggled to make ends meet and yet always did. And then she would give You the glory for the victory; big (like her house payment) and small (dog and cat sitting jobs.)

Lord I pray that I will be that kind of friend. The kind that loves and loves with honesty. The kind that will be grateful for every situation and every person you put in my life. (And Lord when you are ready for me I really hope you put us on the same street.)

So Lord I thank you for helping me put things in perspective; for allowing my life to be blessed by hers and for helping me realize how important the friends that I have in my life right now are. Help me to persevere this day and come back to You tomorrow for more reassurance. And Lord I pray that you would give me the grace to grow in Godly character ~ Amen.

Grateful,
Julie