by | Devotionals, Faith Lived Out
My Abide App devotional was spot on this morning and I had to share some of the wisdom. May this truth touch your heart as it did mine.
John 7:24 tells us to “look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” The NKJV tell us to “judge with righteous judgment.”
It’s easy to jump to conclusions without knowing the whole story. We all do it.
We see or hear something and our prejudices rise up and dominate our perception.
But remember this… things aren’t always as they seem.
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by | Devotionals, Faith Lived Out
Have you ever taken a few minutes to just stop and think about where you are today compared to where you used to be? I bet you’d be pleasantly surprised.
I think about my life today and the life I was living 10 years ago, even 5 years ago. Oh how things change.
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by | Book Reviews, Devotionals
Maybe you’ve heard about Dear Dad and you’re wondering what it’s all about. Or, maybe you’ve bought the book and want a little something extra.
That’s why I took some of my favorite truths from the book and put them into 10 daily devotionals you can get for FREE.
It was hard to narrow down bits and pieces of the book and pack them into ten days, but I’m happy about the results, and I’m even happier to share them with you.
Oh.. PS – in case you haven’t heard the news, the book releases on May 7th. Stay tuned for some great details regarding the first week release.
Just sign up in the box you see below and you’ll receive one email a day for 10 days.
It would be my pleasure and honor to walk with you for the next 10 days as we learn more about finding freedom, restoring relationships, and seeking hope.
Here’s a screen shot of the email you’ll receive:
Hope to see you on the ten day journey soon!
![The Vineyard Of Prayer]()
by | Devotionals
Hey everyone.. I’m guest posting for Mel’s World today on the subject of intimacy. Check it out here..
photo credit: flickr(creative commons)
The Vineyard Of Prayer
From Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. – Romans 8:27
O My Child, the days are heavy with burdens, burdens that need to be borne upon the shoulders of faithful prayer warriors. Where are those who are willing to make themselves available to the Spirit for this ministry? The planted Word will dry up like carelessly strewn seed if it is not watered with tears of intercession. You cannot in yourself lay this ministry upon your soul, but you can make room in your life for time apart with Me; and as you place yourself at the disposal of the Holy Spirit, He will use you as a channel when the needs arise.
Nothing is more needful at this present hour than prayer that draws its power from full operation under the direction and unction of the Holy Spirit.
I am calling My Spirit-filled believers to concentrated labor in this, the vineyard of prayer. Hidden from human eyes, it is wide open to heaven; and the saints in heaven join with you in this operation God’s love.
Other ministries you must carry on alone, but in this you have a mutual fellowship, for those in heaven have also an intercessory ministry for their brothers and sisters yet on earth.
Rejoice to be granted the privilege of so sacred a task. Count it most precious, and guard against the intrusion of distractions. Nothing of all that you can do for Me is more important in My sight. Cherish it and cultivate it. Live in prayer, and you will know a full life of joy and the remuneration of My blessing!
Comments:
As I was preparing to write this blog I was talking with my mom about the day she almost died in 2006. I remember watching her laying there, helpless, not able to breathe on her own. I was scared to death. We were all new Christians and wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. But I immediately began to pray. My step-dad prayed. My friends prayed. My church prayed. I believe the prayer never stopped. Almost a week later, after being told she wouldn’t survive the night, we wheeled Mom out of the hospital to bring her home. You will never convince me that prayer wasn’t the reason for that.
I love that God calls us to be faithful prayer warriors. It’s a privilege really. I see that now that I have dealt with my insecurities regarding my prayer life and not praying “well enough.” Malarkey!
I’m learning that when God calls me to pray, I need to do it right then. I came home last Sunday with plans to write, nap, and enjoy my day. But God laid on my heart a particular person to pray for. It was a friend’s husband. I wanted to do it later, but God pretty much prompted me to do it “now.” I’m learning obedience is the best route to take, so I agreed to do it then.
But it wasn’t just a prayer. God led me to Scriptures to pray over him. Before I knew it I was reading through passages, praying over my friend with God’s Word, not my own. It felt very empowering. God was calling me to stand in the gap for this man and I was happy to do so.
I counted it a “privilege of so sacred a task.”
God says to “live in prayer.”
What does living in prayer look like to you? Comment below…
![The Vineyard Of Prayer]()
by | Devotionals
photo credit: arlette (creative commons)
So Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, I beg of you, from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right. – Genesis 13:8-9
Don’t spend your life pretending that you like things you despise or being with people all the time whom you don’t enjoy. I called a pastor one day to ask his advice about letting an employee go. I wanted to do the right thing, but after several years of trying, I just could not be with this particular person and enjoy her. We just didn’t adapt well to each other. My pastor friend said something that was very freeing to me. He said, “Joyce, I have finally decided that I am too old and have been doing this too long to spend the rest of my life working with people I don’t like and pretending that I do.”
To some people this type of thinking might sound very “unchristian,” but it really isn’t. Jesus told us to love everyone, but He did not say we had to love being with everyone. There are people in life with whom we simply don’t fit. I made a change, and we were both better off for it.
If something in your life is pretense, get honest.
Comments
Wow! Joyce hits the nail on the head with this one. If you sit down and think for a minute, how many of us really spend so much of our lives pretending we like things? Or pretending we enjoy being with people we really don’t enjoy?
I touched on this a little bit in my previous post How To Pull The Tooth.
I don’t think we stop being around everyone we don’t necessarily enjoy being around. If that was the case, would we really have the opportunity to be Jesus with skin on to others? But we can still set our boundaries. We can control the amount of time spent around things we don’t enjoy, or people we don’t enjoy.
If there’s a job you hate, find a new one. If there’s a hobby you’re doing because someone recommended it, but you don’t enjoy it, stop doing it. If you don’t like taking the same routine to work and back home everyday, find another one. If that employee is draining you and keeping you from focusing on your job, consider moving them to another department. If all else fails, pull the tooth.
Jesus sat boundaries. He limited his time with people who drained him. He put whiners in their place. He put negative nellies in their place. He used his “no” muscle. We can too!
Name a situation with a thing or person that you had to reevaluate and stop pretending. Comment below.
![The Vineyard Of Prayer]()
by | Devotionals
Photo Credit: The Justice Project
The Burden-Bearer
From Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts
“He might test you, to do you good in the end.” – Deuteronomy 8:16
My child, do not share your burdens with all who come to you professing concern. I, Myself, am the great burden-bearer. You need not look to another. I will lead you and guide you in wisdom from above. All things will be as I plan them, if you allow Me the freedom to shape circumstances and lead you to the right decisions.
I am merciful and kind. I love you beyond measure. I intend to do you good; and I will bring to you those who can truly help, if you leave all in My hands.
I want you to prosper and be in health. I want you to know Me more intimately. If difficulties come, it is by My order and for your benefit. Others would say you have trouble: I would say you have a test.
Comments
Do you feel like you’re in the middle of a test right now? I know I am. While writing this blog I’m struggling through something and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I just know that the feeling inside me isn’t something I’m liking. But I’m also not slowing down enough to really listen to what God has to say about this particular test. It’s past time to do that.
We can’t expect our burdens to just disappear without taking them to God. Distractions may temporarily make them go away, but they will come back. I’m preaching this to myself because I need to hear it. Face the issues Sundi Jo. Face the issues.
I find comfort in this devotion that God is indeed merciful and kind. He loves us beyond measure. He loves YOU beyond measure. He intends to do YOU good.
I recommend replacing this devotional with your name. God loves ________ beyond measure. He intends to do ________ good. Say it out loud. Let’s do it!
Do you have a test that God recently brought you through, or are you in the middle of one now? Comment below.
