Out of Commission

This is the longest I have ever gone without posting a devo. I have missed it, but it has been a nice break, and well I have been out of commission since Monday.

I am finally getting back on my feet and have been missing writing.

I love sharing God's Word with you so I am thrilled to be back.

Go Farther

“May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” Ephesians 1:2

When is the last time you spoke, text, emailed or called someone and said, “May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord?”

How does it make you feel just reading it? Do you laugh or mutter to yourself, “I would never say that, it’s weird.”  Maybe those words make you feel weird and so to say them would just be plain awkward.

Why?

Whatever the reason is, Paul did it because he had a genuine love for people and Christ. He didn’t just settle with a mere, “I’ll pray for you.” He always went further.

Paul was so good about pouring out the sweetest blessings and prayers to the Churches. I have yet to read one of his letters where He did not either pray or speak God’s richest blessings, love, grace and peace to fall on the Church and its people.

How often do we pour out sweet blessings and prayers to those we are in contact with? I don’t know maybe people find it weird, or uncomfortable, but honestly when I read Paul’s letters I find joy and hope in them. I like to read those sweet words from him and I want to pour out the same comfort and hope it brings me to others.

Although Paul had to be stern at times with those in the Church, he still wanted God’s best for them.

Isn’t it sad to think that maybe we don’t always want the best for others. Do we wish to have the Lord withhold His blessings, grace, and peace from those who have hurt us or offended us?

Do we want God’s absolute best for our brothers and sisters in Christ? So often I hear people say that Christians fight more amongst one another than any other religion. That is devastating!

Paul knew that he was not capable of giving any greater gift than the gift of Christ Jesus. He also knew that God was the ONLY one that could give grace and peace.

God’s Word is so powerful, so what better way to bless and be blessed than by praying and speaking God’s Word over others. Let’s go farther and do more than just mutter an “I’ll pray for you.”

May grace and peace be yours sweet brethren, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

One and Same

“We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.” Ephesians 4:4-6

There are several key words in this passage I believe we need to pay close attention to.

One and Same

We are ALL “ONE” body-The Church

We have the “SAME” Spirit-The Holy Spirit

We have ALL been called to the “SAME” glorious future-Heaven

There is only “ONE” Lord-Jesus Christ

“ONE” faith-Our faith and trust in Christ

“ONE” baptism-The same baptism and emersion as Jesus

“ONE” God and Father-He is the Creator, Inventor, Ruler, and over ALL

We as the Body of Christ are ONE and the SAME in Christ Jesus.

Are we living and working as ONE and the SAME?

Do we believe we are ONE and the SAME?

Do others outside of the Body of Christ, see the Body working together functioning as ONE and the SAME and want to be a part of it?

Jesus in You and through You we are ONE. Help us as the Body to live and do as though we are ONE and the SAME in You. Unite us to be stronger and to function as a ONE. Amen

Faithful Followers

"It is written to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus." Ephesians 1:1


The minute I read this passage I thought what an unbelievable compliment. Paul referred to the people of Ephesus as "Faithful Followers" of Christ Jesus.

Do we live our lives in such a way that we too are known as "Faithful Followers" of Christ Jesus?

For me, there is no greater compliment or reputation that I would rather have and be known as than a "Faithful Follower" of Christ Jesus.

Jesus I want to be known as a Your faithful follower from here to eternity. Help me to live my life in such a way that others are drawn to You. Amen

Altar Sunday

When you find yourself unable to get to the altar, remember Jesus is everywhere.

Nothing is Certain

Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you realize that nothing is certain in life." Ecclesiastes 7:14

As I read the stories and listen to the news of this horrible shooting in Colorado, I am reminded of how important it is to know the Lord and have a personal relationship with Him.

As I think about these people, I can see them settling in their chairs with their popcorn and drinks excited to watch the movie and then in an instant, something they NEVER expected in a theater, happened.

Nothing is certain and I believe we are now more aware of that today.

Therefore, we must never become complacent or too comfortable.

I am saddened by the actions of this young man. Satan had a huge grasp on him and he believed the lies an corruption of Satan.

We have to be connected to Christ and never allow any separation between us and Him.

It is my prayer that those who lost their lives this weekend had a personal relationship with Jesus.

Jesus be with the families who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. I pray that hearts and eyes will be focused on You and that we will all realize that You are in control and that no matter what we must praise You in good times and in bad. Give us the strength to do so. Amen

Lacking or Not Accepting

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him." Ecclesiastes 2:26

Would it be fair to say that if we are lacking in wisdom, knowledge and joy that we might be lacking in our relationship with Christ?

Solomon tells us that God "Gives" them to those who please Him.

Maybe it's not that we are lacking, maybe we are just not accepting what He is giving.

Just a Normal Days Conversation

Here is one of the conversations I had today with my 5 year old.

"Mommy I can't wait until Jesus comes. Do you know why?"

Me: "Why?"

Avery: "Because the devil won't exist anymore. Won't that be a great day mommy?"

Me: "Yes baby that will be a great day."

Thank You Jesus for the wisdom and desire You have placed within my boys. I love these precious moments when You place things on their sweet little hearts. May You continue to do so forever. I pray our conversations about You will become more and more and deeper and deeper. Amen

It was Known Long Ago

"Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny." Ecclesiastes 6:10

When you wonder why the Lord moved you out of your comfort zone and into a place unfamiliar, remember He has a plan for it. And though you don't understand it now, you will in His timing.

My Grown Babies

I have a group of college students that entered my life almost four years ago. I love them, and I say that with a Jesus-mommy type of love.  

They make me smile and bless me daily with their sweet texts, emails, and phone calls. I have even had several of them visit me since G and I have moved and I love every minute I get with them. 

I pray for them often and still mother them, probably more than they like, but they are so sweet they never say anything. (And they keep calling too! :)

These "Babies" which I know are so grown-up and so far from babies, are "My babies" and I love them. I love Jesus in them. I love their hunger and passion for the Lord, and that they desire purity in every form. 

I love their honesty in every form. I love they are not afraid to express their brokenness, fears, frustrations, and concerns. I love that the Lord has built a bond of trust between us. 

Oh, theses sweet things I love as though God gave them to me as my own. 

I say all of this to say, there are so many young men and women that surround us that need to be taken in under the Lord's wings and loved, listened to, and guided by the Word. 

They need to hear and know that we get what they are going through in this phase of life. Because all though it might not be the same, the Lord still carried us through it and He will do the same for them. They need to be shown faithfulness, consistency, and Jesus in every part of our lives. 

The Lord gives specific instruction on this very topic and today I find this passage to be lacking when it needs to be thriving.

"Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

"In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." Titus 2:6-7

There is always someone in need of discipleship. And believe me, you both will be blessed and ministered to. 

Jesus thank You for these sweet babies who are now men and women. Bless them Father as they enter they enter into new phases of life. May they continue to have a heart and love for You that is contagious on everyone they are around. Thank You for the blessing they are to me and my family. We love them tremendously and thank You for allowing us the opportunity to be changed and ministered to by them. Help us to continue to be and example of Your Word and love. In Jesus name, amen

Do You Know the Answer?

What does it mean to be complete in Christ?

Here's a hint: Read Colossians 2:9-10

Altar Sunday

"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouths shut! Don't be a fool who doesn't realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. And don't make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Keeping Your Word

The Lord hates those who don't keep their word, but he delights in those who do." Proverbs 12:22

How well do we keep our word? Do we keep our word with our friends and family, in our jobs, with our children?

How well do we keep our word with the Lord?

Is He delighted in us?

Guest Writer- James Mejias

Having a hero-savior complex is pride at the very top of its game. It is here that man is tested to see what he is really made of. Here is the place where the enemy seduces our weakest members at maximum strength. Where he offers us power, money, fame, status, identity, destiny, instant gratification and immortality. Here is where we can cultivate the lie that we deserve equal status with God and feel entitled to be the "one" worshipped. So ask yourself, who do you want to love more? Christ or yourself? It's time to stop thinking we must be the hero. The more we try to save people, the more we will destroy them.

What Do You Think?

What's worse, not reading God's Word or reading God's Word yet still living like the world and not doing what it says?

You might be thinking how is that possible, but believe me it is possible.

So my next question is...

If your reading are you obeying?

And my last question is...

What do your actions, speech, thoughts and life look like?

A Work of Art

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

An artist takes time and pride in their work. Their completed piece is a work of art, a masterpiece. Every piece of art we view had a beginning. It was a blank slate. 

We are similar. Christ is the artist and we are the work of art. We started from nothing. Yet through Christ were transformed into a beautiful masterpiece, one that He is pleased with and loves.

The amazing thing about Christ's art is the way He signs it. It's always in red and it's very distinct. You can tell which pieces (people) are Christ's workmanship because they all have the same type of covering-His blood.

You and I brethren are Christ's masterpiece. We have been created anew to do the good things God planned for us to do long ago. 

So put God's masterpiece on display and let the beauty of His work shine and do well for those who view it. 

Jesus sometimes it is so hard to see the beauty that You created from a blank slate. But thank You for creating me and marking me in the prettiest red there is, Your blood. Set me apart and on display for Your glory. May I do the good that You planned for me to do long ago. Amen

A Praise to be Shared

"Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name." Psalm 30:4

Brethren we serve an amazing, loving, and very invested in His children God.

I got a wonderful text today from my sweet friend Dana. She is a precious woman who is battling Breast Cancer.

She has been on a roller coaster over this past year and today she told me that the Dr said...

"Getting my treatment but talked to the doctor - everything is smaller!! Not hugely smaller but smaller. The clinical trial doc had said if it stabilizes or shrinks, that is success. So YAY!!! Thanks for your prayers!!"

SO THANK YOU FOR PRAYING BRETHREN! It is helping! Let's continue to flood the Throne room for Dana and her family.

You are loved!

Jesus we praise You for the wonderful news today for Dana. We continue to seek Your face and Your will in her life. Jesus we also continue to ask bodly with complete faith for You to completely heal her. Thank You Jesus for this great news, it's hope and we know hope comes from You. Amen

Special Favor

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)" Ephesians 2:4-5

Do you ever need to know you are loved, forgiven, accepted, and wanted?

If so then let this passage fall all over you. No matter how many times you have to repeat it to yourself, do because once Christ gets His Word all over you, it will change you.

Let God's richest mercy set you free. Let His love fill you with joy, and capture your heart. Christ died and rose from the grave to give you/us life.

God chose you and it is through His special favor that you are saved.

Praise Him!

Jesus thank You. You are worthy of all the praise. Fill us with the understanding of how great Your mercy is and how loved we are. Amen

Altar Sunday

"Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there." Exodus 20:24

The Church is a great place to find an altar. It is also a wonderful reminder of who Christ is.

Go and be blessed

Listen to Christ First

"He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." Psalm 23:3

Somewhere along the way we can lose ourselves. Why this happens I don't know. Maybe it's because we listen to everyone tell us who to be, what to do, how to do it, when to do it, thus causing Christ's voice to be drowned out.

I have often heard women say they don't know who they are anymore or what there purpose in life is. Goodness I have wondered that myself many times.

Honestly I have given into so many demands and commands of others that I have often forgot whose matters most and that is Christ.

Christ defines me. Christ gives me purpose. Christ is the one who has the say in what I do on this earth.

I can tell you from experience that listening to Christ is going to be WAY better than listening to man.

Man is harsh, demanding, unloving, short fused, judgemental, belittling, and many other things. Why? Because they are mere human, we are human. I know those are harsh but we can all be that way at times.

Christ is the complete opposite of man. He is understanding, kind, gentle, patient, loving in all areas, encouraging, and He does not force us.

It's crazy that we choose man over Christ.

I don't know where you are in your life, but if you are being pressured, forced, or just confused about what you should be doing or where you should be, listen to Jesus first before you listen to man.

Let Christ define you. Let Christ lead you to where you should go. Let Christ fill you with purpose.

Otherwise it can be frustrating and even miserable.

Jesus help us to step back into Your will for our lives. You know what is best for us. No matter how hard it might be help us to stand firm in You and who You called us to be. May we find our true identity in You. Amen

Legalism…Legalist

"Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Galatians 3:3

I have been finding legalism so fascinating these last few days. As I search the depths of God's Word I have been finding that legalism is spoken a lot through-out the Bible. 

What is legalism-it is dependence on moral law rather than on personal religious faith.

In my terms, legalism is focusing more on the "Do's and Don'ts" rather than on our faith in Jesus Christ.

I like how Paul puts it, "And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ-and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law." Galatians 2:16

Brethren, there is a reason God is speaking on legalism in His Word. There is a reason He calls out the Pharisees as much as He does. They were legalist to the extreme.

It is because we too, especially me, can get caught up in legalism and not even realize how bad of a Christian legalistic we are being.

Does all of this mean we don't have to follow the law? No! It means we need to make sure we are living by faith and knowing that we are accepted by God because of Christ Jesus. 

All we do when we focus on legalism is rob ourselves of joy. We become so focused on what not to do that we miss out on what Christ has done for us and how far we have come. "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it." Romans 3:20

Therefore showing us our need for Jesus. 

We can never win God's approval if our only effort is trying to keep the law.

The more we live a legalistic life, the more we separate ourselves from God's grace. (Galatians 5:4)

The Pharisees were miserable people. All they did is walk around demanding that there rules were followed. They were joyless people, especially when Christ came because He revealed that there law was getting them nowhere. It was faith they needed. 

Legalism causes a feeling of guilt, self-hatred, the need to "do good", hopelessness, failure, inadequacy, and the expectation of living up to the demands of others, especially yourself.

It even can lead us down a path of doubting God's love for us.

In closing, "There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."  Romans 3:30-31

Jesus re-pattern my thought life to focus on Your love, forgiveness, mercy and grace, and the amazing fact that I am accepted by You. Keep me from trying to be perfect in my human effort. Amen

Healed by His Wounds

"He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!" 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross.

He personally did this for you and for me. He placed upon Himself suffering, sorrow and sin so that you and I would not have to.

He took our place upon that cross!

His wounds healed us.

The holes in His hands and feet healed us.

There is no greater love.

God's Gift-Our Freedom

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes form the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:13-15

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance." Psalm 33:12

"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws, and His decrees that I am giving you this day." Deuteronomy 8:10-11

Sweet as Honey

"Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24

A little honesty for you today, okay A LOT of honesty. I am horrible at telling G the things I love the most about him. 

You might be wondering if this is something that should be done every day and well for me, yes I think it should be, for many reasons too. 

One is because G's love language just happens to be Words of affirmation. This happens to be one of the things I am the worst at. 

So last night as I was spending time with the Lord, He reminded me of why it is so important. 

It's important because I desire the same thing from the Lord. I want to hear words of affirmation from Him. I want to hear all the ways He loves me. 

And for some odd reason it is easier for me to accept it from the Lord than it is from G.

Anyway, what better way to be an encouragement to your husband than by telling Him the things He does well and the reasons you love him.

It will also help you overcome any anger, bitterness, or frustration you have towards him. Jesus likes it when we overcome anger with love. Not that I am angry at G, because I am not, I am just telling you from personal experience when I have been it has helped. 

Jesus likes to call it, counting our blessings.

So brethren, can you share 10 things you love about your spouse? Could you do it for the next 10 days?

Jesus as I shower G with kind words let them fill his soul with sweetness and bring health to his body, just as Your Word says. Amen

A Dedicated Christian

"I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27

A dedicated Christian is...

Disciplined

Faithful

Committed

Consistent

Obedient

How well are we training our bodies, our speech, our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions to do what they should? Are we training them or are they training us?

The Spirit must become our Personal Trainer if we want to become a dedicated follower of Christ.

Altar Sunday

Could I encourage you this morning to grab the hand of a friend, your spouse, your children, your parents, or whomever and go to the Altar and pray. Pray with them, for them, and over them.

And whatever you do, don't let Satan distract you, discourage you, or put fear, embarrassment, or anything else in your mind, that you miss out on the most amazing opportunity to bless someone you love.

Let's fill the Lord's altar today and flood the throne room.