Devotionals

January 7, 2019

Ephesians 4:17-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

Henri Nouwen, priest and theologian, once said, “Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it, can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.”

We are called to live life together as a community of believers.  We share our stories and our life lessons and we help one another press on to the high call of Christ on each of our lives.  We do not live according to the dictates of our flesh or the press of the crowd.  We are in pursuit of a God-fashioned life; renewed from the inside out.   Are you expecting God to surprise you with new experiences each day, so he can make a new place in your heart?

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January 4, 2019

Isaiah 6:1-5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

As Christ’s followers, we may casually speak about the love of God we have received in salvation.  Divine love is made available because God who is love makes his abiding presence available within us. We have become his temple.  But, today let’s take just a minute to look deeper at this love of God.  It is a holy love; pure and self-giving.  God’s love is perfect and powerful.  God’s love changes hearts and lives. God’s love mends broken and wounded souls.   When we recognize God’s love for us, we are different by even one touch.  Nothing compares to the holy love of God for his people.  He’s the Creator Father and down deep we know it.  We also know we fall terribly short of sharing the very love to others that God has imparted to us.

On this fourth day of the new year, let’s not only pay attention to our love walk with God and people, let’s pay attention to our attitudes about the holiness of God and our great need for him to work his love in our own lives to make us more like Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah understood this reality when he had a vision of the Lord.  All of a sudden he realize an exalted reality of God—loving, holy, and all powerful, thereby causing the heavenly beings to hide their eyes and bodies—and that revelation made him also take another look at himself as God’s child or offspring.  What was Isaiah’s response?  

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January 3, 2019

Acts 7:44-53 The Message (MSG)

According to Scripture, Christ followers are to find a church home that preaches the Spirit-filled Word of Truth; we are to plant ourselves so we can grow as worshipers and serve as missionaries.  The church is to be a House of Healing to groom worshipers who have become individual temples of the living God.  No matter what church you may attend as a worshiper of the Most High, it will never be perfect until Jesus’ Second Coming.  There are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people.  We all come with soul messes that need to be turned into Life lessons with Christ. However, every church can be counted as faithful as we allow the Spirit to bring forth the Truth and the necessary healing of our individual souls.

As we enter a new year, let’s reflect on our worship.  Why do we resist God’s healing Truth and the work of grace to transform our physical temples?  I suspect it is because we do not want to hear the Truth about the mess in our souls (minds, wills, emotions); it pierces, wounds, and crucifies our flesh, so we walk away rather than receive the healing Christ offers.   We may say we worship God but we deny him the power to change us; we can squander the gift of grace.  We may choose to point an accusing finger at others, ignore the Spirit, and avoid the work of grace to correct us.

The early church was filled with people who came from all walks of life with all kinds of soul messes.  Some people allowed the Spirit to bring the Truth of Christ and the power to change them.  Some people did not.  Stephen, full of the Spirit and wisdom, was a leader and preacher of the Truth in the early church.  He was accused of blasphemy and taken to the Sanhedrin or religious council of the Law for correction.  How will the religious council respond when they hear the Spirit of Truth through Stephen? Will they allow the words to stir and redirect them toward true worship?

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January 2, 2019

James 3:13-18 The Message (MSG)

Wisdom in any human life begins when that life worships the One True God.  Worship is willingly and joyfully placing ourselves under God’s authority and reign.  Therefore, worshipers of God should be the wisest people living, because we live to please our audience of One with holy lives he alone creates in us.  If we are not living our worship we are not living wisely; worship is a lifestyle of living as Christ.

In this new year as God’s children, sons and daughters, we have an opportunity to renew our commitment and turn our attention and lives toward a renewed aim of pleasing God above all; making God our first love and priority.  If all of us are committed to doing these things, we will find ourselves as a spiritual community living in the blessing of God, as well as getting along with one another because we are working hard to live wisely.  If you want real wisdom, you will have to work for it by setting new priorities that your flesh may not welcome.

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January 1, 2019

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Good News Translation (GNT)

If someone looked you straight in the eye, demanded honesty, and asked if you were really enjoying the life God gave to you what would you say?  Would your answer come forth because of what you don’t have or what you have lost?  Or, would your answer come from realizing your journey is a gift from God and everything your life touches has passed through his care for you?

In our passage today, King Solomon journals this letter.  He has been reflecting and looking back on his life.  Much of his life has been lived apart from God.  He married wives who served foreign gods and his convictions and relationship with Yahweh suffered because of those choses.  However, even though Solomon stepped away from God, the Lord remained faithful to him because God had made a promise to his father, David.  

Because of Jesus, God has made a promise to us, as well.  We are to enjoy our lives in connection to Christ.  If you are not enjoying your life, chances are you are facing a conflict involving God’s timing.  On the first day of this New Year, get into agreement with God and begin to enjoy your life in his favor. Life is a gift from God for you and your attitude about God’s timing in your life is pivotal.  Happy New Year to all!  

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December 31, 2018

John 8:12-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

If someone came to you and claimed they had the power to help you avoid the dark and dangerous places in life, what would you do? His or her claim would call for a response from you wouldn’t it?  Jesus claims to be the Light of the World that leads to spiritual life, so we must respond to his claim.  Either we believe it and are willing to use our faith to follow him.  Or, we refuse to believe it and therefore deny that Word any power in our lives. Much of Scripture is like this scenario.  The Word speaks and we respond with either “Yes Lord,” or “Won’t believe it.”

Tonight, we will step into a New Year.  This can be a new beginning in your spiritual life with Christ.  He claims to be the Light and he invites you to walk with him in the Light of His Love.  He claims you never have to walk in darkness again.  To stay close to Jesus is to stay close to the Source of Light or Truth.  He alone knows your heart and the plans he has for you.  So, stay the course and see where the Light takes you this year.

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December 28, 2018

Colossians 3:12-17 The Message (MSG)

I had to smile while I was reading our passage this morning, because I just recently had a chat with my friend, John, about the God-chosen garments we are to wear as Christians. That’s right; God is the Tailor for our holy garments. God has made us new inside; we have been born anew from above.  Our old outside garments no longer fit us; gossip, immorality, greed, drunkenness, etc.  Now he asks us to put on garments that are becoming of this new image; he has picked them out for us.   God will be identifying us by our “wedding garments” because we are the Bride waiting for the Bridegroom; we need to be dressed appropriately (Matt. 22:12).

I always pray for practical ways to remember things that are important to God heart.  So, as I pray about starting this New Year 2019, every day when I go to my closet to choose clothing for the day, I will think about the spiritual closet of clothing God has fitted just for me.  I will make a decision to put on love that translates in tangible deeds of kindness and keep a melody of peace playing in my soul. 

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December 24, 2018

Luke 2:1-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

Immanuel—God with Us—wants to be born in each one of us so we may live out the Light of His agape love in a world that prefers darkness. Allow our reading for today to fill you with gratitude, because God so loved the world he sent Messiah. As well, allow this word to prepare you to be flesh and bones over Immanuel. Like the shepherds, discover Messiah anew today. He is coming again soon to harvest his children of love. Invite the Spirit to help you get ready for the Lord’s return.

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December 17, 2018

Isaiah 12:2-6

God is the joy of our salvation; the Savior who covers us with grace and fills our hearts with His presence. Joy might be described as the sense or feeling we receive when we become aware we are in the provision of God’s abundant grace.  That grace is available to make us joyful, but if we are not careful we can allow situations to rob us and make us miserable.  Choose to hang onto your joy; keep choosing it until it settles in your heart.

On this Advent journey celebrating the joy of our salvation, we remember our joy is a gift sent down from God to humanity.  It is the fruit of God’s Kingdom and of his reign in our lives.  So let’s produce a harvest of joy for the Lord.  God with us is Good News of Great Joy!  Enjoy Jesus today!

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December 13, 2018

Isaiah 12:2-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

I truly enjoy beautiful and decorative water fountains.  One of my favorite fountains I have visited is found in Forsyth Park, Savannah Georgia.  The design is beautiful and it puts out so much water and spray.  It just makes me happy to watch it. It is beautiful in the daytime and lit up and beautiful at night. I took picture after picture when we were there visiting several years ago.

Did you know the Lord’s salvation—peace with God—within every believer is like a fountain of joy?  It bubbles up to satisfy our souls and bring peace, as well as equips us to be powerful witnesses to the healing shalom of God.  So, pursue peace and protect the joy found in your salvation.  It is a priceless gift that just keeps on giving…

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