Thursday, October 27, 2011

In Christ - I am always in God's thoughts

I am always in God's thoughts...

Psalms 139:17,18 How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with You. 

Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me."  

Jeremiah 29:4-13 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon; “Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters - that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.  For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.  For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

October 27, 2011
Never Lost
Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... (Isaiah 49:16a)


Friend to Friend

A few years ago our family got a bouncy little puppy named Roman. One of the first things we did when Roman became a Smith was head to the pet store for doggie supplies. In addition to purchasing chew toys, a collar, and food, we ordered Roman a nameplate to go on his collar in case he ever gets lost. The cashier sold us two tokens for the tag, and sent us to the other side of the store to the engraving machine.          

The kids and I approached the engraving machine with giddy hearts. After we slid the two metal tokens into the coin slot, we looked at our ID options and settled on the blue bone for Roman’s collar. Then the engraving machine prompted us to enter Roman’s puppy information. Once we were satisfied that all the information was accurate, I gave the command for the computer to begin the engraving.           

The machine engraved just one letter at a time. With each stroke of the machine’s needle, Roman’s name began to appear, along with our address and phone number. When the engraving was finished, we immediately put the tag onto Roman’s collar. The blue bone boasts that Roman belongs to the Smith family.           

For us, in this world, we have to put our names on things so we don’t lose them. We put our names on our luggage, on our pet collars, on our backpacks, and in our Bibles. I even have a “page” button on my cordless phone so it can beep when I lose the phone in my house. I’ve also been known to lose my keys, my driver’s license, my cell phone and my purse. (Scary!)
Thankfully, God doesn’t have the same problem with losing things. He doesn’t need to put His name on anything. What’s His is His forever.           

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, take comfort in the fact that you can never be lost and that you are never out of God’s sight. There might be times when you feel invisible - times when you feel lost – times when you stubbornly choose your ways over His – or times when you feel alone, but the Bible tells us that your name is engraved on the palms of God’s hands, and that nothing can separate you from God’s love or snatch you from His hand. Nothing.

“I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:38-39,
MSG

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29, ESV

“All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].” John 6:37, AMP

God knows your name. He knows where you live. He’s got your number. You’re never lost. Praise Him!

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, Thank you for engraving my name on the palms of your hands. Please help me to remember the way home when I get lost, distracted or confused. “Because Your love is better than life, and my lips will glorify you!” (Psalm 63:3, NIV)
In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Have you ever lost a pet?  I thought I had one night recently – and even though he had a collar and tag, I wasn’t sure he’d let anyone get close enough to him to catch him and bring him to safety – even me.  He’s a bit of a “fraidy cat” – you will probably never see him if you come to my house to visit – and I have yet to be able to hold and snuggle him since my move into my new house last month – that’s how skittish he is.  And it’s really silly – I’m not going to hurt him – I want to lavish him with love and attention – I want him to know he’s my beautiful boy and give him kisses on his little pick nose – but he’ll have none of it.  I have to admit that there have been times in my life that I’ve been that way with God – a bit skittish in His presence – not sure what His mood was – afraid to let Him get too close for fear of what He might do.  Looking back I realize just how silly that was!  God is always thinking about me – always looking out for my best – always wanting to show me how much He loves me!  I don’t ever have to be afraid of Him – if I’ve come to Him on His terms then I’m His child – and my name is engraved on the palm of His hands – forever!  If you’re like my Stashe, relax and let God love on you today!  Sharon

Thursday, October 20, 2011

In Christ - I am washed clean from my sins

I am washed clean from my sins...

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Ezekiel 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 

Joni and Friends Daily Devotion – February 16, 2009

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin (KJV).  Psalm 51:2

Because I cannot reach for a Bible and flip open the pages with my hands, I make it a point to memorize scripture. It's the only way I can have the Word of God at my fingertips! For me, memorizing portions of the Bible is very practical.  I use the King James Version of the Bible when I commit God's Word to memory. The words are uncommon - a little like poetry - and my mind seems to retain it easier.

“When I was memorizing Psalm 51, I stopped short at the second verse.  It says, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity."  At first I thought it was a printing error, but after a little research, I learned it was the Elizabethan-English-way of saying "through and through." You could paraphrase it, "Wash me through and through from my iniquity."  It's not many times I prefer English from the 16th century, but this time I did. I don't want God to merely scrub me good on the outside - it's not a matter of cleansing me from my sin - but washing me clean, clear through.

“The word "throughly" doesn't exist anymore. When I wrote it on my computer, my automatic spell check kept trying to change it to thoroughly. But I'm with Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, and King James on this one.  I don't want God to do a surface job on my character; I want him to get rid of every vestige of deep-down hidden sins.

 * * * * * * * *

“First Thessalonians 5:23-24 says (in modern English), "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." From what hidden or secret sins can you ask God to wash you through and through today?

“Lord, I confess______________________. Thank you for forgiving me and completely cleansing me from all unrighteousness. Safeguard my heart and mind and keep me pure.”

This reminds me of a recent situation I was faced with – whether or not to have old carpets cleaned, or have them removed and new carpet installed. The stains were deep and dark – and I had more than one person tell me that if the carpets were cleaned that the deep, ground in stain would resurface – in a few months the carpet would look just as bad as it did before I had them cleaned.  As expensive as it was, I opted to have the old carpets removed, and replaced the padding and carpet.  Now I don’t have to worry about an old stain coming up and ruining my new carpet!  How many times in my own life have I been willing to do the “cheap” fix on the filth in my heart – I’d submit to the surface cleaning – but what I really needed was a NEW spirit and a new self – and when I finally understood that and came to God on His terms, that’s exactly what I got – a clean slate – a brand new heart and soul!  There are times when I think back to the stains of sin in my life – not with guilt and regret - but with gratitude that He’s made me “white as snow!”  If you know there’s something you need to take to the Father, I encourage you to do so quickly – let Him wash you through and through!  Sharon

Thursday, October 13, 2011

In Christ - I am a child of God

I am a child of God...

Psalms 68:5 A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. 

John 1:12,13 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 

Romans 8:14-15 Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, <"Abba,> Father."  

I John 3:1  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
April 21, 2010 
Embraced by the Father
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
Devotion:
Her smile lit up the room when her daddy entered. Her rosebud lips spread into a wide beam of a smile. Her silky black hair leapt about her face as she bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. She looked like Snow White after a large cup of espresso. The man started the music and began to walk toward her. He stopped and opened wide his muscular arms—the familiar invitation to dance. She raced to him and perched herself atop his feet. They began two-stepping to their special song, "My Personal Penguin." The princess was dancing with her Prince Charming—her daddy.

Bittersweet joy washed over me like a warm spring rain as I witnessed this scene between my son and granddaughter. Happiness for my granddaughter flowed into my heart, but there was also a tinge of sadness. I regretted never having experienced the same type of father-daughter relationship with my earthly dad.

My own father resembled the character of Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. He was suave, handsome, and self-assured, but a rogue. I traveled through my childhood and adolescence wishing for a Rhett Butler type of man to whisk me off my feet. I desired a rogue to embrace me with a wild and untamed love. Because of my "father image," I actually desired imperfect love from people. A flawed love would hurt, but it still appealed to my broken heart. I believed falsely that love could only be achieved through volatile sparks of emotion, fueled by the uncertainty of the love.

Of course, it was all a misguided representation of a girl's broken heart. But now, I have learned to know a perfect love—the love of my heavenly Father. Only He has been able to fill my heart with a perfect love. The night I accepted His love, He began to reveal to me the character of a faultless Father. As the Father embraced me, my idea of errant love slid into oblivion. I learned the true meaning of love as I gained knowledge of God. He taught me His characteristics and personality through the diversity of His names, but my favorite will always be Father—Abba—my Daddy.

Do you know Abba—the heavenly Father? He is waiting for you with His arms wide open.  Come and be embraced by the Father.
I know I’ve been blessed to have a daddy who showers me with love – even to this day I know that he’ll do anything to make sure I’m happy, healthy and safe.  There’s never been a time in my life when I doubted his love for me.  Was he perfect?  No.  But neither am I!  AND – he’s pretty darned close!  SO – it’s been easy for me to believe that God loves me, too.  I know that’s not the case for many women – they didn’t have the kind of dad I had, so they’ve gone looking for love in all the wrong places – which usually doesn’t end well.  The awesome news about our Heavenly Father is that no matter how far we’ve gone from His side, we can always come back.  Do you feel isolated – cut off from the Father’s love?  Run to Him – jump into His arms – let Him whisper in your ear.  I’ll bet you hear how much He loves you – always has – and always will.  Learn to trust that love – let it guide you – direct you – protect you – provide for you.  Your Heavenly Father has good plans for you!  Sharon

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

In Christ - I am strong in the Lord

I am strong in the Lord...

Psalms 18:1,2  I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? 

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
November 17, 2010
"They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." 
-Isaiah 40:31

Birds overcome the lower law of gravity by the higher law of flight. And what is true for birds is true for the soul. Souls that soar on wings like eagles overcome the lower law of sin and death. Hannah Whitall Smith writes, "The 'law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus' must necessarily be a higher and more dominant law than the law of sin and death; therefore, the soul that has mounted into this upper region of the life in Christ cannot fail to conquer and triumph." *[1]

Why is it then that so many Christians fail to conquer? Perhaps it's because we fail to mount up and soar with wings and choose instead to live on the same low level as our trials. Little wonder we blunder when the battleground we choose is on an earthly plane. Christians are powerless there; that is, unless they shift to a higher battleground and choose weapons of warfare that are spiritual.

What we need is perspective. We need to see what birds see. When, like eagles, we soar on wings, trials look extraordinarily different. When viewed from their own level, trials look like impassable walls, but when viewed from above, the wall appears as a thin line, something easily overcome.

You have wings. You don't need stronger, better ones. You don't need more wings, or larger ones. You possess all that you need to gain a heavenly perspective on your trials and thereby overcome. A passive or inactive trust in the Lord won't do. To use your wings is to actively trust in God.

Lord, I don't want to trust You in theory or in word only. I want my trust in You to be as active and as strenuous as "mounting up with wings." As I do, thank You for the higher, heavenly perspective You give me over my trials.


[1]* Smith, Hannah Whitall, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1976, p.169.
When you’ve done all you can do – and then some – and still don’t feel victorious – remember that God never asked you to do anything for Him in YOUR strength!  Learning to rely on HIS strength in trials and in times of weakness means giving up believing that we can do anything without Him.  We are strong “IN THE LORD” – not strong in ourselves – but in HIM.  That’s a message I need to be reminded of often – I push myself for too long and get worn out – but when I rest in Jesus and allow Him to control my calendar, I have all the strength I need to do what He’s called me to do!  Sharon