Tag: devotional

RESPECT

Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you. (Exodus 20:12 AMP)

Long before Aretha Franklin wrote a song about it, God was instructing the children of Israel in how to live a long and happy life. Honor or respect your parents. Honor and respect are synonyms. They mean to treat someone with high regard or place a higher value upon them.

Working in healthcare, I come in contact with many families. There are families of various cultures, ethnicity and dynamics. The situation that often breaks my heart the most: hospitalized parents facing difficult health situations alone. They share that they are estranged from their children for various reasons. To be alone after a stroke, or cancer diagnosis just seems to increased the stress the patient feels. They are utterly alone and facing many medical trials and quality of life issues. They are often overwhelmed. Medical professionals can only assist so much and will not be there daily after discharge from the hospital.

I recognize that not everyone has had great experiences with their parents. Parents are just as falliable as each one of us. It is maturity that helps us recognize our parents are just people: full of hopes, dreams, heartbreak and failures. Their experiences may have had influenced some of their behaviors and actions during our upbringing. Previously, I have shared that my birth father basically abandoned my mother, my siblings, and myself. He formed a new family and other than cards for birthdays and holidays, there wasn’t much contact. Honestly, it took me years to forgive him for the pain resulting from his abandonment and other things I experienced in my early childhood. Although I don’t have a relationship with him, that was by his choosing. If I were to meet him today, I would still treat him with respect.

I don’t always agree with my parents. However as an adult, I understand that not being in agreement does not negate the instruction of God. He doesn’t say, “Honor your parents when your thoughts and actions are in alignment.” Our instruction is to offer them respect because it is the way righteous people act. If my parents do not believe everything I do about the Bible and the Word of God, I will still show them honor, because honoring them shows honor to my God. I am obedient to Him.

Although our culture in the United States has drawn away from the extended family model, it doesn’t mean that we should not remember our parents and provide love and support in their times of need. In Colossians 3:14 we are called to “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Or in Roman 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” If we are called to love our neighbor and our enemy, how much more honor should we be willing to give our parents.

We are to be set apart from this world, and that includes how we treat even those who hurt us. We are too used to hearing, “Respect is earned.” This is not in the Bible. We are called to love and love unconditionally. That is the way God chose to love you. Even when you were His enemy (Romans 5:10 ESV). I am not saying it will be easy, but obedience often isn’t.  However, it is God’s instruction on how we are to live, and He always equips us in all He calls us to do.

Bridges of Grace

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16 AMP)

Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff and looking out across a vast canyon. The other side is miles away and the gorge is miles below you. There is no way for you to get from the side you are standing on to other side. This is how it feels to be separated by our sins from the God who created us. Our sins and shame keep us separated from all the promises and blessings of God. We know that we cannot climb down safely, and all our efforts to search for a way to get across are in vain. Our works, our plans, and our efforts will always fail to get us closer to God. Our faith is what makes that relationship possible.

Our faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the bridge that connects us to our Heavenly Father. It isn’t something that we earn, it is a gift given from a loving Father. His love for each of us is so fierce that He willingly gave His own son to take our place and die on a cross. It supercedes any mistake that we have ever made. The chasm of our sins can no longer separate us from God, because Jesus paid the price for us. God’s mercy was poured out on us that we did not receive the penalty for our mistakes.

Understanding that we have been given such a precious gift sets us free. We don’t have to rely on our own abilities, but can trust in the word of God. His promises and provision have built a bridge across the canyon that kept us apart. We now enter His presence with all boldness. In fact, God has made His home inside us as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Jesus said that he would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit so that we would always have a direct connection with our Father. The bridge of grace that God built cannot be torn down. No mistake, no matter how big we think it is, overcomes the power of the work Jesus did on the cross. Once we have repented from our sin, and choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are forgiven. Don’t let the shame of your past mistakes make you think that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough. Let go of the past and look toward the One who purchased your future. Don’t dishonor all He has done to set you free. Walk across that bridge and choose freedom. Amen.

Casting Stones

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down a d wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued to ask Him, he raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. ” (John 8:3 – 7 NKJV)

When you continue to read the rest of this passage, all of the Pharisees were convicted and left.  They could not condemn her because they could not say they had never sinned. 

I wish I could say that I have never judged someone, but that would be a lie.  However, as a person who has been saved by the grace of God myself,  I need to look at others through a lens of compassion.  Compassion is the very heart of God. We see it Jesus’ life and in every aspect of His ministry. 

We need to recognize that we can not look at someone and see their heart – only God can. We will never walk in their shoes or fully understand their experiences. We can not see the parts of them that are broken or that are healing.  We as Christians are called to love everyone,  even those who are not our friends but who might persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48).

I have heard people say that Christians are hypocritical.  That means that we often behave or talk in the direct opposite way our moral standards indicate.  I am the first one to say that I am working on looking more like Jesus every day, but I am not there yet. So how can I expect others to be perfect? But we also shouldn’t deceive ourselves  and forget about where we were before  our Salvation.  If you gossip,  envy, choose unforgiveness, or are jealous, then you are not living like the new creation you are supposed to be (2 Cor. 5:17). We are called to live like Christ, which means walking with love and compassion.  We can use our lives to help people grow into their true potential, or we can keep them in chains. I know which type of Christian I want to be – so I put aside the sin that so easily entangled me (Hebrews 12:1), renew my mind, and reset my heart to do the work that God has placed before me. Amen.

Big Blessings in Little Packages

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more that food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:22-24 NKJV)

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all thes things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31 NKJV)

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about our state of mind and choosing to focus on our blessings. This week I want to show you how God shows up and blesses us even in the tiniest of ways. Remember that often times, God uses us – His children to send blessings, but sometimes He will surprise us. The blessings may come from people or places we couldn’t imagine.

Several years ago, I started keeping a vegetable garden. Whether starting it from seeds or purchasing the plants, I have grown a variety of vegetables every season. Some years have met with success and others a mixture of successes and failures. Gardening is such an expression of love and joy to me, because I always learn something new and many people in this area garden and love to share their ideas with me. This year I had decided I would start my garden from purchased plants. I have had a busy ten months and didn’t have the extra time to start from seeds this year. The problem was that we had a lot going on all through April and the month of May. Every time Alan and I would discuss the garden, some other barrier would come up and we just couldn’t figure out when we would get the garden started. I basically decided that I wouldn’t have a garden this year. I would just appreciate that some of the herbs I had grown in containers last year had burst into fabulous growth again this year. But God!!!

Last week I was driving home, and turning into our neighborhood, I saw a box at the edge of the road saying, “free plants”. I didn’t stop right then, because once I got home I had to run out again and I wanted to keep to my time schedule. As I was getting ready to leave the house again, I kept thinking about those plants. So we stopped as we were leaving the neighborhood and I ended up with several tomato plants – more variations, than I have ever tried growing before. We left some plants, because I wanted someone else to be blessed. However, the following day driving by the same house while running errands another box was there stating again, “free plants”. Stopping to look, there were several varieties of peppers. Again, there were more varieties than I have ever tried growing before. Then this week, while working outside putting up our greenhouse, our neighbor offered some broccoli and cucumber plants. I went from having no plants for this season to having an abudance of plants! We quickly went to work getting them transplanted into our garden.

I know many people will read this and think – that was just luck. But I don’t believe in luck, I believe in the goodness of my God. He is so good that He cares about everything that matters to me. It is His love and good character that drives Him to care for each of us. In the Epistle of First John, it states in chapter 3, verse 1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” God loves to bless those who are in His family. He understands all our needs and not only fulfills those, but often times desires to give us things that give us joy. Keep looking for God’s big blessings even in the tiniest of packages! Amen.

RECOGNIZING THE FATHER

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. (John 5:19 – 20 NLT)

During a recent conversation, the subject turned to the Bible and discussion of the Old Testament God. The person commented that the “God of the Old Testament is an angry God.” I really understood why they might have that perspective. In fact, I often preferred reading the New Testament over the Old Testament for years, because it was difficult for me to reconcile the God of the Israelites and God manifested through the life and actions of His son Jesus Christ.

In reading the New Testament, we have a clear lens of God as love. Jesus gave us the ultimate expression of love in not only laying down his life for his friends but for everyone (2 Peter 3:9).

In the Old Testament, God continued to demonstrate His faithfulness in keeping His promises to the Israelites as His chosen people, but honoring that they had free will. They often turned away from God. He remained steadfast. His position and faithfulness never shifted but man’s did (Lamentations 3:22-23). God was always working His plan for redemption for all mankind through His only Son. The laws established during the time of Moses was a way to demonstrate that without grace all mankind was lost.

Lord thank you for a love that is steadfast and unwavering. I see your deep love for all your people in both the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures. Thank you for revealing your heart and plan, to restore us to an intimate relationship, with you through Jesus Christ. When I read about his ministry it unveils your heart. Keep helping me see You throughout the ages as Holy, Mighty, but also full of grace and mercy. I love you Abba. You are so good. Amen.

Beyond Blessed

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV)

Listening to conversations happening around me, lately I have been hearing people spend a great deal of their time complaining about first world problems. They complain about the weather, when they have a roof over their head to keep them dry and warm. They complain about their health, but they have access to medical treatments and doctors – unlike many people in other countries. They complain about feeling alone, but they are only interested in the phone they hold in their hands. I have found myself often complain about traffic, but fail to recognize the vehicle that I have is a convenience and many others do not have access to the same.

As a nation, we have been so blessed, but we choose to complain instead of rejoice. We have become like spoiled children, undisciplined and ungrateful. Today, I need this reminder of how blessed I am. I will recall, with wonder, the goodness of God in my life. He has provided me with so many blessings: family, friends, a home, a job, and my health. Why do I have any right to complain about the goodness that God has poured into my life?

Maybe you see your blessings too, but the negativity that surrounds you from within the world, has twisted your thoughts and speech. Now is a great time to get on top of it. We do have control of our negative thoughts and emotions. We are told in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” When we spend time in God’s word and with Him in prayer it becomes harder to see anything but His goodness and His love. He is the perfect embodiment of love.

Next week, let’s start our mornings reflecting on how good and loving God has been to us. Before our feet even hit the floor for the day, spend time thanking Him for your blessings. Then our armor is in place (Ephesians 6:10-19), and we will be able to withstand the negativity of those around us. We will be able to throw off the shackles of their disappointments and tap into the joy of the Lord – maintaining our strength and our purpose to bring light into the dark places of this earth. Amen!

Two Become One

“Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:22-24 NKJV)

“Then the man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate,’ And the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'” (Genesis 3:12-13 NKJV)

In the beginning of all creation, God created us in His image. Man and woman He created each of them – family was always part of His plan. The enemy’s plan is to destroy all that God has created and he often centers his attacks at families. When I was very young, my parents divorced. By the time I was five years old, my birth father was no longer a part of my life. There is something that happens to families when the person designed to be the head of a household is absent. We visibily see it all around the world. Some of the greatest damage is done to the children caught in the midst of the destruction broken families leave behind. For girls, it results in them struggling with their identity. The one who is supposed to love and teach them that they are priceless and worthy, has abandoned them. This leads girls and young women to doubt that they are worthy of love. For boys, it impacts their undstanding of leadership. Without that foundation of a male role model, young men often don’t understand what integrity looks like. Oftentimes, this broken family unit results in the next generation repeating the mistakes of the adults they have watched during their lives. It happened in my family. My grandparents were divorced, and then my parents, many of my aunts and uncles, and then my siblings and myself.

Generational curses stop, when we recognize our identity in Christ Jesus and understand God’s plan for our families. The weapon of every husband and wife will be the sword of the Spirit (or the word of God) as we are told in Ephesians 6:17. We must have Christ as our foundation, recognizing that He called us worthy when He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice on the cross. We are called chosen, a royal priesthood and a God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9). We have the best Father looking out for our best interests and we can depend upon Him. When we each understand the love of God, then we are able to love our spouse as we should and the family operates as God designed. I can’t change my past or my divorce, but God takes our ashes – the things the enemy uses to destroy us – and creates something even more beautiful. I have been happily married for almost seven years, to a man who honors God and understands the design God has for families.

We need to become aware of the battle that the enemy has waged against our families. We need to cast down every stronghold that comes against us. We have the weaponry at hand, we just need to pick it up and dust it off. Opening the Bible and reading God’s word is the most important equipment we will ever need for every season in our lives. Armed with His word, we will know how to stand and how to command seas to still or make mountains move. Jesus himself said that we will face trials and difficulties, but that we will not be overcome, because He overcame!

Father, I come to you now and thank you for the precious gift of your word, inspired by your Holy Spirit. I thank you for the way you designed the family. I declare that your people, sons and daughters, will walk in their identity. They will recognize they are worthy, because You call them worthy. It cost you everything to redeem what was lost in the garden, but you gave it willingly. I declare that the family will be strong and the enemy’s plans to attack the family unit is defeated! Jesus you have overcome and you ensured that we have victory in every battle. We will walk in the knowledge that in seeking after you, and loving you, we are equipped to love and serve one another. You are love and we will embody that love in our families and break any strongholds the enemy tries to establish. From generation to generation we will have families function as you, Lord designed – and the two shall become one flesh. Amen.

From Mourning to Dancing

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 NASB95

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,” Isaiah 61:1-2 NASB95

Thinking about Mother’s Day as it approaches, it is with mixed emotions. I am so very thankful and blessed to celebrate my Mom. She is generous and kind. She loves her family and has always put their many needs above her own. I am also blessed to have many other women in my life who have shown me great love, provided guidance and held me up when I needed strength greater than my own. These women deserve to be honored on Mother’s Day. However, it is a day that I also, like many others, grieve. On this day, there is a sadness that I usually keep boxed up. Things I don’t speak about often and keep wrapped tightly. I know I am not alone and that many other women feel as bittersweet about this day. The loss of a mother, the loss of child, a miscarriage, the woman who prayed and believed for a child that never came. These things speak of lost time, chances and opportunities to make precious memories. In my spirit I recognize that these things were not God’s design. Loss was never meant to be a part of our lives. God created us (Genesis 1-3) and placed us in a perfect garden. We were placed in charge of everything created, but we wanted more. We wanted equality with God. Our choice ushered in the knowledge of good and bad, joy and sorrow. Since then God has been working to restore us to His original plan. He is working to restore us to eternity with Him.

I believe God is who He says and is more than able to do all He has promised. I choose to look past my “knowledge” and trust in the Creator of all things. In Revelation, chapter 21, verse 4, states: “God Himself will be among them and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning or crying or pain; for the first things have passed away.”

There are times in life when I have to trust in God and not my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). There will always be things in this life that will be a mystery until I am standing face to face with my God and King (Deuteronomy 29:29). But I know that He has provided protection when I needed it, strength when I was weak and a peace when I had none. He has taken times of sorrow and replaced them with joy. The pain of loss will never fully dissipate, but the intensity of it lessens with time. Not because we forget, but because God is faithful to pour out His supernatural grace and peace when it is needed most.

Lord, I pray for my sisters in Christ. They are grandmothers, mothers, aunts, daughters, sisters, nieces and cousins. They have an incredible impact on the lives around them. I speak Your strength upon them. I declare that they recognize Your Spirit in them and allow You to work in mighty ways through them. Comfort them when they feel the sting of loss and pour out your peace that embraces them through it all. Help us to see one another in all the aspects of life’s journey and to encourage one another building each up in Your most perfect love. May they recall Your outpouring of grace and mercy over their lives and allow it to build their faith in Your everlasting goodness. May they feel the power of Your love upon them this day and all throughout the year. Fill their Mother’s Day with rejoicing and dancing. For they are above all Your daughters and You love them more than they can even imagine! Amen!

What’s Growing in Your Garden?

I was working in my garden today, after neglecting it way too long this spring. I felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking some wisdom to me that I wanted to share. First, as I was pulling out the weeds that had grown in among my flowers, I felt the spirit of God whisper, this is what can happen when you neglect spending time with me. Things that you don’t want in your life can begin to take root. In the bed up by my mailbox, clover had grown rapidly, but it was difficult to pull out. The roots had embedded deep into the soil and I had to work hard and pulling them out. Most of us who love God are not looking to sin, but it is often like a weed, slowly taking root and destroying the the garden it enters. Secondly, I noticed that often the weeds grew close to or even within the base of a healthy plant, making it even harder to tear out. Weeds are not desirable in a garden, because they steal the nutrients from the soil needed for healthy plants to grow. Sin is like this and steals our joy, our peace, our loving kindness and replaces it with fear, shame, anger and bitterness. This is why we have to be so careful with what we are feeding our spirits. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, “Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.” In Hebrews 12:15 we are instructed, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” I see the hand of God at work in our hearts the same way a gardener creates a garden: tilling, fertilizing, watering, weeding and pruning. It is through His loving hand that we can grow to fullness and bear the fruit which He promised is ours when we stay connected to Him. Our part is to understand that the garden of our spirit requires our care and preseveration. So I ask you again, “What is growing in your garden?” Are you planting the word of God or the cares of this world? One will grow into a faith-filled life of purpose and the other will drain you of all life. Just as a garden requires us to tend it, so our spirit requires us to continually ensure that we are feeding it with the Word of God which promises to help us stay filled so that we may overflow.

Thank you Father, that you allow me to see You through all of creation. You amaze me in the beauty and majesty that is around me in every season. Help me to be aware of what I allow into my heart, mind and spirit. Reveal to me things that will steal from the purpose and calling You placed on my life and allow me to be pruned that I may yield fruit that will bless those You called me to interact with in all areas of life. May I become more like Your son, Jesus Christ, that I may be pleasing in Your sight. I love you, Lord. Amen.

At The Table

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (Psalm 23:5 NKJV)

To prepare means – to plan, to purposefully think about something before it happens. So the Lord purposefully decided to hold a banquet in your honor. He decided how the table would be set and which decorations would be used. He decided to pick the foods that would delight you the most. He chose to show that He was honoring you before all the world, even those people who were enemies. During this feast, you will be anointed wiith oil. This anointing symbolizes that you are set apart. In the Old Testament, the king would be anointed with oil to show he was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel. You arre being anointed as kings and queens. As part of the family of the Most High King, you belong to the royal line. For the King of kings is in you!!

I love how often Jesus linked things in the Old Testament to his ministry. During a meal with the disciples He tells them, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3) Jesus purposefully is planning about bringing us home to live with Him for all eternity. Our eternal lives will be filled with peace, joy, and we will get to sit at the table with our God and enjoy worshipping in His presence.

Our God not only desires to show us honor now, but we will be given the honor of celebrating with Him one day in Heaven. But here, right now, He wants our cup – our inner spirit to overflow with the gifts that He imparts through His Holy Spirit. He invites us to come fellowship with Him now so that we will be filled again with His presence, His power and His anointing. Go and sit at the table your Father has prepared for you today and be filled. Amen.