HI, friend! I know it’s been several weeks since I sent a devotional to you – I’ve been to Israel and back during that time! I hope you missed hearing from me!
I am at peace with God...
Romans 5:1,2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Psalms 29:11 The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.
Psalms 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints--but let them not return to folly.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, Who has compassion on you.
KPRZ Encouragement for Today Devotions
March 7, 2012
How Do I Let Peace Rule?
Samantha Reed
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
“No more able are we to drive the rain back into the clouds by holding hands to the sky...
“Or stretch a rainbow's colors wide by scurrying to grasp its tails...
“Or force the tides to retreat by running at the sea...
“No more capable of these feats are we, than to pursue and capture peace.
“Peace.
“That for which the world wars. Families crumble. People roam. That for which we compromise, and improvise, and televise: It's here... if only you race after it with your time, your money, your life.
“But for all our chasing, we never lay hold of peace. Not until we reckon with these nine words that beckon a stillness. A truth that causes shoulders to fall and jaws to relax. This scripture tells us there's peace a' plenty, free for all.
"’Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 NIV).
“If we're to find peace, we must become a pupil of He who is our Peace, Jesus Christ. He who is the Word. And this bit of Word, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," is a fine educator.
“This truth teaches us to slow down. Those two strong words, "let" and "rule" mean to "umpire" our hurried heart. So when circumstances crumble and we worriedly scramble to right them, we are taught to pause and call our heart to peace. How do we do this? Through intimate knowledge of He who is our Peace.
“Christ is just, as Esther's courage and Haman's defeat reflects. (Esther 7)
“Christ redeems, as Job's great loss and even greater gain assures. (Job 42:7-17)
“Christ is trustworthy, as His promised resurrection proves. (Matthew 28:1-10)
“Christ controls the storms, as calmed winds and waves attest. (Mark 4:35-41)
“It will take time to teach our hearts to let peace rule. Umpires don't begin careers in the World Series. Indeed, umpires go through rigorous training and schooling. They must work for years in the minor leagues before even dreaming of the majors.
“We too must set our heart and mind to learning. A good place to start is with the minors. Calling our hearts to peace when running late, dinner burns, scrapes and bruises happen, and fender benders occur. This is our practice and preparation for when the doctor calls, the pink slip is given, the papers are served, and the accusations fly.
“We call our hearts to trust in He who is faithful to us in the small things, so we learn His character again and again. This gives our hearts the training needed to know He is trustworthy to us in the big things, the in-between things... everything.
“Each call leads to another, which leads to an eventual place of surety. A place where the chase ends. And peace begins.
“Dear Lord, You are our Peace. Teach me Your ways, direct me in Your truth. Help me relax my shoulders, loosen my tense jaw, calm my hurried heart. I want to know You more and more. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”
People all around you are seeking after peace. Some will try to find it in a bottle – a pill – a new relationship – but we know that true peace is found only in Jesus! I’ve tried some of the other ways to peace – and they may have helped for the moment, deep in my heart I was anything BUT peaceful. The turmoil I felt as a result of being separated from God became unbearable – and there were times when suicide looked like a really good way out. Praise JESUS I didn’t fall for that lie from the enemy! I fell for Jesus instead! Right into His waiting arms! From that moment on I have experienced a peace that truly does “surpass understanding.” That’s not to say that I don’t ever feel anxious – I do – but now I know I can turn to the One who died to make real – lasting – eternal - peace possible! When I do struggle I get deep into God’s word – because the mind that is steadfast will be at peace – that’s a promise! Sharon
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
In Christ - I am valued by God
I am valued by God...
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Today’s Devotion by Mike MacIntosh
May 8, 2012
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
Mark 8:34-35
“What makes a diamond so valuable? Essentially, a diamond is just a rock -- a pretty, sparkling rock. Intrinsically, it is basically composed of the same earthly elements as other rocks, and is even usually pretty small in comparison. But diamonds are valuable because people love them. Boy, we spend entire savings accounts on diamonds because we love them. Unless diamonds were in demand -- unless they were loved -- they would have no value. In the same way, absent God's love for us, our lives would be without value. You see, your life is valuable not because you own assets, or give money to charity, or even because you are a good person and love others. Your life is valuable because you are loved by God.
“You are loved by the Lord of heaven and earth, who formed your inwards parts (Psalm 139:14) and who ‘knew you before you were born’ (Jeremiah 1:5). You are loved by the Creator of everything you've ever known, whose thoughts toward you are ‘more than can be numbered’ (Psalm 40:5) – ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11). God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. Why? So that by believing in Him, you would ‘not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). Whether you choose to believe it or not, God loves you. And whether you realize it or not, your life is invaluable because of His infinite love for you.
“But imagine a diamond sitting lifelessly under glass in a store. If someone came and offered the full asking price for the diamond -- in cash -- wouldn't you think it absurd for the shopkeeper to refuse the sale? Why would he essentially render the diamond worthless, both to himself and to the potential buyer, by refusing the cash for it? Until the diamond is purchased, its value is not realized.
“In the same way, Jesus Christ offers to pay -- in full -- the debt for sin of anyone who will believe in Him. And make no mistake, it's a steep price; only He could pay it. He sacrificed His very life as a ransom for ours, that we might no longer be ‘slaves of sin’ (Romans 6:17). So why would we refuse? Why would we reject His love when our entire value rests in it? Why would we choose not only to render His love worthless, but to render ourselves worthless?
“You see, we fool ourselves if we think we are anything apart from the love and grace of God. Jesus says in Mark 8:35 that ‘whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.’ If you reject Jesus, you reject the value of your own life, but if you surrender to Him, He will save your life!
“Let me encourage you today to surrender to Him anew. If there is anything you are holding back from Him -- anything you cling to because it is ‘too valuable’ to give up -- surrender it to Him. Maybe you've never surrendered your heart to Him at all. Today is the day of salvation. Or maybe you're struggling through a difficult time in your life. Today is the day of restoration. Let God's love for you be your strength, your hope, and your reason for living. Let it be the foundation under your feet and the protection over your head. Let His Spirit wash over you like a liquid waterfall of love. He loves you! You are valuable because you are loved by God.”
What can I add to that? It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? God values us because He CHOOSES to – and He values us so much that He was willing to die rather than spend eternity without us! THAT, my friend, is amazing love! Rest is how valued you are by the King of kings this day! Sharon
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Today’s Devotion by Mike MacIntosh
May 8, 2012
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
Mark 8:34-35
“What makes a diamond so valuable? Essentially, a diamond is just a rock -- a pretty, sparkling rock. Intrinsically, it is basically composed of the same earthly elements as other rocks, and is even usually pretty small in comparison. But diamonds are valuable because people love them. Boy, we spend entire savings accounts on diamonds because we love them. Unless diamonds were in demand -- unless they were loved -- they would have no value. In the same way, absent God's love for us, our lives would be without value. You see, your life is valuable not because you own assets, or give money to charity, or even because you are a good person and love others. Your life is valuable because you are loved by God.
“You are loved by the Lord of heaven and earth, who formed your inwards parts (Psalm 139:14) and who ‘knew you before you were born’ (Jeremiah 1:5). You are loved by the Creator of everything you've ever known, whose thoughts toward you are ‘more than can be numbered’ (Psalm 40:5) – ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11). God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. Why? So that by believing in Him, you would ‘not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). Whether you choose to believe it or not, God loves you. And whether you realize it or not, your life is invaluable because of His infinite love for you.
“But imagine a diamond sitting lifelessly under glass in a store. If someone came and offered the full asking price for the diamond -- in cash -- wouldn't you think it absurd for the shopkeeper to refuse the sale? Why would he essentially render the diamond worthless, both to himself and to the potential buyer, by refusing the cash for it? Until the diamond is purchased, its value is not realized.
“In the same way, Jesus Christ offers to pay -- in full -- the debt for sin of anyone who will believe in Him. And make no mistake, it's a steep price; only He could pay it. He sacrificed His very life as a ransom for ours, that we might no longer be ‘slaves of sin’ (Romans 6:17). So why would we refuse? Why would we reject His love when our entire value rests in it? Why would we choose not only to render His love worthless, but to render ourselves worthless?
“You see, we fool ourselves if we think we are anything apart from the love and grace of God. Jesus says in Mark 8:35 that ‘whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.’ If you reject Jesus, you reject the value of your own life, but if you surrender to Him, He will save your life!
“Let me encourage you today to surrender to Him anew. If there is anything you are holding back from Him -- anything you cling to because it is ‘too valuable’ to give up -- surrender it to Him. Maybe you've never surrendered your heart to Him at all. Today is the day of salvation. Or maybe you're struggling through a difficult time in your life. Today is the day of restoration. Let God's love for you be your strength, your hope, and your reason for living. Let it be the foundation under your feet and the protection over your head. Let His Spirit wash over you like a liquid waterfall of love. He loves you! You are valuable because you are loved by God.”
What can I add to that? It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? God values us because He CHOOSES to – and He values us so much that He was willing to die rather than spend eternity without us! THAT, my friend, is amazing love! Rest is how valued you are by the King of kings this day! Sharon
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