Devotionals

November 16, 2018

Colossians 2:6-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

According to our Scripture passage today, every time we follow Christ beyond the cross into “eternal living” our faith in Christ is grown and our trust expanded.  It is difficult to take those steps to follow Christ, because all of our emotions which are motivated many times by fear, come to make us feel the only safe place is what “feels” good to our flesh.  But what if our finest blessings and experiences lie beyond the fears that seek to stop us?  What if God is asking us to live beyond the fears in order to root our faith more fully in the Truth of who we really are now in Christ?  

We must get to the point where we wisely discern that God is Agape and Wisdom and the very things we have known in our human comfort zones is not necessary the Truth.  God is always wanting to give His children more glimpses of pure Truth; however, it takes obedience to follow and a heart that is hungry to discover the Truth about ourselves.   Do you think if we really believed God has only Good and Holy things for us that make us more authentic to who he created us to be, that we would stop fighting against where he wants to lead us?  How are we ever going to know how much work Christ has done inwardly in our lives until he releases it and reveals it outwardly as we follow? We must live “on earth as it is in heaven.”  Blessings for your weekend in Christ!

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November 15, 2018

Psalm 16 The Wisest Decision

David made a life time commitment to the Lord and in our psalm today, he describes the benefits of that decision that brought him peace and joy.    The fullness of God’s presence found in David’s commitment sustained him in this life and brought him hope for eternity.  The world brings fleeting pleasures, but at the righteous hand of God, we can know true and lasting pleasure as he takes us from being a refuge to making us an heir in Christ Jesus.  Jesus never promised his followers a trouble free life; rather, he promised to always be with us and to guide our paths.   Pray for God to make you hungry for eternal pleasures and fill you with heavenly joy as you trust him with your life.

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November 14, 2018

Luke 4:16-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus—wisdom incarnate—understood his Spirit-driven purpose to bring Good News. Do you know every day your purpose is to share the Good News with others in your sphere of influence? It’s true. The Spirit of Christ—who lives in you—wants to continue his purpose of connecting with the spiritually poor; bringing sight, relief, and freedom to the spiritually blind, wounded and oppressed, because God’s favor and wisdom awaits those who will turn to him. Jesus, the Light of the World, wants to shine a Light of Truth through you for the sake of others to give their life purpose, too. Favor comes to those who live with purpose!

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November 13, 2018

Psalm 113 New Living Translation (NLT)

When you think about your life and expressing gratitude, how far or high do you need to look in order to find a reason to be thankful?  If we are simply looking directly in front of us or to our immediate right or left, we may have difficulty seeing beyond the challenging situations or circumstances surrounding us.  We may have passed through some great things in the past for which we are grateful, but God is a very present help in time of need.  We cannot live in the past even though we can be thankful for God’s goodness years ago.  Where do you see him working in your life today?  How is the Lord revealing his glory in your life now? Pause and Ponder…then, Praise!

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November 12, 2018

1 Timothy 5:1-8 The Message (MSG)

Family relationships are very important in God’s eyes.  We are encouraged to lovingly care for one another in good times and in hard times.  Our passage today is a great reminder of how our faith should work to love others.  True faith expressed in love begins with our families; and if we don’t have families we should open our eyes to see how we can help others who are burdened as they take care of their families. Wisdom guides us to know the truth about where others may find themselves and stirs the servant’s heart within.

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November 9, 2018

Psalm 119:1-8 The Message (MSG)

Faith is about approaching life with an expectation that God may at any moment place something amazing in your path; a blessing because God rewards those who diligently seek him and follow his directions of love. Our words need to align with our faith in order to prepare ourselves to receive. Christ, the Living Word, is our standard of love and he’s promised to never leave us. Each day the Lord makes a way to get his love to us; to reveal his heart and the things that are eternally valuable.  It may be smile that catches your eye when you need it most, a kind word of encouragement to lift your soul because life is hard, or soothing melodies when you need peace for your anxious mind.  We must look for the Lord each day and pursue his presence; if we seek we will find the joy of our salvation. 

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November 8, 2018

Romans 5:6-11 The Passion Translation (TPT)

I live every day thanking God for his mercy over my life and the life of my family.  I am so grateful God does not return to me what I actually deserve; instead, he gives me mercy and grace to live another day in a better and more righteous way.  God extends passionate love, mercy, and forgiveness to me.  Because of the sacrificial agape of Jesus, these things are mine and I never have to worry about facing God’s anger. I have been reconciled to God through my connection to Christ.  My slate has been wiped clean and my life given new direction and motivation. This is my love story with God; I am eager to share this Good News with others and invite them to watch Christ work in my life.   If this is your story, too, then join me as we share the News of great joy!

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November 7, 2018

John 13:31-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

From my earliest memories, my mother used to have a saying when she was skeptical about an opinion that someone was embracing as truth, “The proof is in the pudding.”  When I was young I really did not understand this idiom, but as I have gotten older I do. Mother’s version of the phrase was based on the modification of an old proverb which read, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”  Pudding can look really good on the outside and someone can tell you it is delicious, but actually taste lousy; so we should not believe it is true based on words or appearances alone.  When my mother said, “The proof is in the pudding” she meant when something is put to the test truth is revealed.

In our passage today, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death and the reality of the fact they cannot go with him.  As he does so he gives the disciples a “new commandment.”  It is really not a new commandment, but it is a part of the new covenant.  The mark of faithfulness to the new covenant is agape (selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love) for those within the community of faith.  The focus is on loving action rather than simply loving feelings.  Jesus always translated agape into action that benefit others and he calls us to do the same.  It is agape that Jesus had for the Father and for his followers.  We may not always “feel” affection for others, but it is not impossible to be a help and source of support to them.  As far as our agape goes, the proof is in the pudding…the selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love and respect we extend to others will be tangible.

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November 6, 2018

Mark 11:12-14; 20-24  Contemporary English Version (CEV)

There are some spiritual principles of faith that are true and work in the positive realm of God, as well as in the negative realm of Satan; a universal spiritual principle of sowing and reaping.  Therefore, we must choose our thoughts and words wisely.  Jesus teaches agreement brings power; what we believe in our hearts and speak with our mouths without doubting will come to pass.  It’s a connection of heart and mouth; a creative connection when our heart and mouth get into agreement.  

Satan looks for agreement, as well.  So, when Satan puts negative and unloving thoughts into our heads and we choose to be negative and spew negative words…then, we reap negative results that are contrary to what God has for us as his children.  It’s one of the traps Satan uses to rob us.  Meditate on the truth of God’s Word, so your thought life has direction and your mouths will follow.

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November 5, 2018

Psalm 18:20-30 The Message (MSG)

I found the following quote today and it touch my heart.  “When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren’t grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ~~ Cynthia Ozick

In a world that takes God for granted, may we as his children never do so because he alone deserves our gratitude.  He is so good to us; so nurturing for our faith and lives to develop.  Just think about it, God desires for us to wear his glory. He lays his love out for us.  Personally, I want my heart to be an open book for God’s eyes. He sees what I cannot see and completes what I would, otherwise, leave unfinished. 

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