In Christ - I am protected by God

I am protected by God...

Deuteronomy 33:12,27  About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders."  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, "Destroy him!"

Joshua 1:5-9 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go... Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

II Chronicles 14:11  Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You."  

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Page a Day Calendar – Email Edition – April 16, 2010

MYSTERIOUS WAYS

“I gripped the steering wheel, squinting at the dark, fog-covered road. I knew this route through the Nebraska Sand Hills like the back of my hand, but the fog was so thick I couldn’t pick out a single landmark. A sign jumped out of nowhere: WARNING, SHARP TURN. I knew the curve that came after it. And I knew I was going too fast. My pickup skidded out of control. Glass shattered. I flew through the air.

“When I came to, I felt cold prairie grass beneath me. Where am I? Where’s the road? I tried to sit up. A sharp pain ripped through my chest. I turned my head gingerly. Nearby, the outline of the truck was visible through the fog.

“I gritted my teeth and dragged myself toward the vehicle. Something told me that if I could just get back to my truck, I’d make it through this. A few yards felt like a thousand miles, but I made it and opened the door. The dome light went on. I pulled myself onto the passenger seat. That light filled me with peace. Lord, don’t let the light go out, I prayed, then drifted into unconsciousness.

“I woke up in the hospital, covered head to toe in casts and bandages.

“You have a collapsed lung and a broken collarbone,” a doctor said. “But you’re going to be all right.”

“The next morning, the sun shone through the hospital blinds and a breakfast tray stood by my bed. My uncle sat next to it.

“’You’re lucky, Mike,’ he said. ‘You know how deserted that stretch of road is at night. A woman driving by spotted a light and called the police. Your truck had skidded so far into the prairie, I don’t know how she even noticed it through all that fog.’

“’That was my dome light,’ I said. ‘It went on when I pulled open the door of the pickup.’

“’It couldn’t have been, Mike,’ my uncle said. ‘The crash threw the battery twenty feet away.’”

“However You did it God, thank You for saving me.” Mike daly

What an awesome story!  Look back at the verse from Isaiah 43 and see how many times the word “when” is used – we will all face trials, some of them as painful as broken bones and a punctured lung – for others the pain will be deep heart ache at the loss of a child or a loved one – whatever the cause, we will all face “whens” in our lives.  Know that God is in it with you – He is walking right beside you through those difficult and painful times.  He will bring you out on the other side – changed, perhaps – and the other side might be THE other side – but He will see you through.  Trust Him with your life, dear brother or sister – know that He loves you and longs to let you see Him work in your life!  And when you reach that other side, be sure to look back and give God glory for what He accomplished in you during the “when” season of your life!  I’m sure that Mike is never going to forget the night God kept the light on for him – don’t forget those times in your life, either!

I am chosen...

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 

I Thessalonians 1:4  For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you... 

Ephesians 1:4-5 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love,  He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-- 

I Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
August 4, 2010
The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　-- Acts 22:14
　
"The Scripture for today offers words of comfort when it says we are His chosen ones. In fact, Jesus reminds us that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us. He has chosen us to serve and worship Him, to receive every spiritual blessing and a heavenly inheritance.
　
"But to some of his loved ones　God whispers, "I have chosen you for the furnace of affliction." Yes, He does choose some of his children to suffer. Consider the apostle Paul. God said of him, "He is a chosen vessel unto me... for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16, KJV).
　
"Chosen to serve God, yes; to praise him, of course; but to suffer for him?　 After being paralyzed for more than three decades, I am able to say yes. God gives special promises to those who have been specially chosen. If you have severe aches and pains, a husband gone astray, a wife with manic depression, or some other painful circumstances, He has a word that is spoken particularly for you: you are a chosen vessel chosen to suffer.
　
"Author Samuel Rutherford said,
　
'Therefore, all the comforts, promises, and mercies God offers to the afflicted, they are as so many love-letters written to you. Take them to you, and claim your right, and be not robbed. It is no small comfort that God has written some scriptures to you which He has not written to others. Your God is like a friend that sends a letter to a whole house and family, but speaks in His letter to some by name, that are dearest to Him in the house.'
　
　
"Take a few minutes to look up some passages that contain special promises for times of affliction. Key words are suffer, comfort, and afflict.
　
* * * * *
　
Thank You, God of all comfort, for speaking words that serve as a balm to my soul"
"

I know some of you are probably thinking that “this isn’t what I signed up for!”  Chosen?  Yes!  Chosen for suffering?  NO WAY!  But the thing is, we don’t get to choose – God makes that choice for us.  We may not know why He allows certain things to happen until we’re face to face with Him – and then we’ll see the bigger picture, and we’ll understand what we can’t comprehend now.  Is He allowing suffering because He enjoys seeing us squirm?  NO!  He allows suffering into our lives because He loves to see us wade through the muck and the mud of our lives in VICTORY, despite the suffering!  Isn’t the testimony of someone like Job so much more powerful than that of his friends – who had obviously never struggled with pain and suffering?  Are you suffering today?  If you are, keep your eyes on Jesus, believing that there is purpose even in this, trusting Him to be your comfort and strength in your hours/days/weeks/etc. of need.  He is there – He cares – and His grace is enough!  Sharon

In Christ - I am promised rest

I am promised "rest"...

Exodus 33:14  The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  

Hebrews 4:9,10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.

April 18, 2011
Is Fatigue a Spiritual Gift?
Mary Southerland/KPRZ
Today’s Truth
Then he went on alone into the desert, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree (Juniper tree) and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, ‘Get up and eat!’ He looked around and saw some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat some more, for there is a long journey ahead of you.’ So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:4-7, NLT).

Friend to Friend

“On the seventh day of creation, God rested; a fact that always amazes me. Did He need to rest? Obviously not, but when God set aside a day for rest, He made a powerful point. Our bodies were created in such a way that rest is not really an option. Rest is a physical reality and a spiritual discipline.   

“Elijah is a great example of a man in need of rest. One day he was the conquering hero, the next we find him sitting under a Juniper tree, wallowing in self-pity – and begging God to let him die. The poor man was simply exhausted. True, it was an exhaustion produced by victory, but it was still exhaustion.

“Elijah had called down fire from heaven, proving the existence of the only true God, destroying idols and idol worshippers. Big stuff! In fact, it is my personal opinion that he should have been celebrating. So why was he so discouraged? It was a woman, Jezebel, who was largely responsible for his discouragement.

“Jezebel was the evil and influential wife of Ahab, King of Israel, and widely known as the real power behind her husband’s throne. Jezebel did not worship the one true God of Israel. Instead, she was fanatical in her worship of the pagan god, Baal, and tried to impose her beliefs on the people of Israel. One man stood in her way – Elijah. When Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel, God answered Elijah's prayer with a stream of fire from heaven. You would think that a miracle like that would have convinced Ahab and Jezebel to believe in God. It didn’t. In fact, Jezebel was furious.  When she learned what had happened on Mt. Carmel with the fire and idols, she put a contract out on Elijah. Now stop and think about that for a moment.

“Elijah had been in the presence of God. God had heard and answered Elijah's prayer, putting on an impressive fiery display for all to see. Idols had fallen. The prophets of Baal had either fled or been destroyed. And Elijah is worried about one angry woman? Elijah was tired and needed to rest – big time.

“Discouragement often follows victory. Battle consumes energy and often leaves the warrior depleted and exhausted. Have you noticed that stress and exhaustion always produce skewed perspectives? Elijah lost his perspective and was ready to quit, which is where we find him ... sprawling under a Juniper tree ... the spoils of fresh victory all but forgotten. God's solution was simple. Elijah needed rest. Elijah slept and ate and then slept some more. It’s interesting to note that the Juniper tree was common to the desert. So is stress.  Deserts are filled with stress and exhaustion. Elijah stayed in the desert for 40 days, not because he had been disobedient or sinned, but because he was stressed out and needed time to rest, allowing God to replenish and restore him.

“A visitor saw several shepherds in Nazareth bringing their flocks to water them at the well. When the sheep had drunk their fill, the shepherds called and their sheep immediately followed. The visitor asked the shepherds if the sheep always followed their own shepherds when they called. One shepherd responded, “Yes, under one condition. The sheep that do not follow the voice of their shepherd are the sick sheep. If a sheep is healthy, it will always follow the shepherd, but if there is something wrong with the sheep, it will follow anybody,” the shepherd explained.

“When we are sick and exhausted, we are in danger of following the wrong voice. Our defenses are down and our discernment is dulled by the stress of life. Rest heals and restores. Fatigue is definitely not one of the spiritual gifts, girlfriend. Rest in Him.”

Boy – did I need THAT message today.  I’ve been pushing – pushing – pushing – to get through the last few weeks – and when I look ahead to the next MONTH I don’t see any time to rest – unless I MAKE time.  I’m paying the price for my fatigue – headache – snappy – irritable – you get the picture.  Be glad you’re not in the office with me today!  I know I need to have some time to do nothing – but it’s not in my nature to make the time – let alone take it.  BUT – I KNOW that’s what I have to do to stay healthy – physically, emotionally and spiritually – so I have to make the time soon.  I’m sure you can relate, right?  Let God restore you during a much needed time of rest this weekend!  Sharon

In Christ - I am created in the image of God

I am created in the image of God by Him...

Genesis 1:26,27 Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Psalms 119:73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn Your commands. 

Psalms 139:13-16 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,  Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

SHARON FOSTER – Page-A-Day Email Calendar – April 26, 2011

“To dye or not to dye, that is the question. Blonde or brunette? Should my hair be braided, straightened, or curled? Should I get myself tucked, stretched, or tweaked?

“Every morning, I play a little game with myself: I avoid looking into the mirror. What difference does it make? I ask myself. Shouldn’t I be beyond all that—worrying about my appearance? What do my looks have to do with who I really am? It doesn’t matter, right?

“Except that it does matter. A career change from civil servant to writer has meant TV appearances and speaking engagements. After having seen a little too much of me on a video monitor, I am now more conscientious about exercising, my diet, and my wardrobe. Unfortunately, sometimes I worry that I worry too much about it all. Hence, the looking-glass game.

“When I do find myself looking into the mirror, I notice how thin my eyebrows are, that my pores could be smaller, that I have lost less weight than I had planned to lose. And each day there seems to be more and more gray hair on my head.

“I sigh. Then a thought occurs to me: I’m perfect. Maybe I’m not what TV or film producers think is perfect, but I am perfect. I’m exactly the right height and weight. I’m exactly who and what I need to be to do the work that God intends for me to do. Maybe someone I will encounter today needs someone who looks just like me doing just what I’m doing so that he or she can be encouraged or inspired.

“I look in the mirror and smile at my reflection. This time, I’ve really won the game.

Lord, help me to see myself with Your eyes and be grateful.”

Every woman I know has at least one time in their life felt like the “ugly duckling.”  We compare ourselves to the world’s image of beauty – and unless you’re an airbrushed super-model, you don’t come close to measuring up.  It can be discouraging – even depressing – but it doesn’t have to be.  You see, our value isn’t in what we look like – or how much we weigh – or what we can do.  Our value is in being HIS – HE gives us our value – and He thought so much about us that He died to redeem us!  It also helps to know that all those “perfect” women – those who look like what our society says is a “perfect 10” are JUST as insecure about how they look as the rest of us!  They have to work really hard to maintain that “perfect 10” physique – and they find their value and worth solely in how they look.  There’s no peace in that mind-set – only a never ending striving to stay “perfect.”  WE can rest in knowing that we are just the way God wants us to be – and that we can fulfill our purpose no matter what we look like.  What a RELIEF!  Sharon

In Christ - I am a Friend of God

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:14, 15　"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."Mark 4:35

"Jesus

"It's so important to see Jesus Christ as your friend. John 15:5 says, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."
 "Jesus
wants to be a part of your life. He likes to be involved in what you're involved in. (I also think a lot of us would get in less trouble if we realized that He is right there with us, wanting to be involved). Our whole outlook on life would be different if we took the time to realize that Jesus is with us. He loves to be with you. He loves to speak to your heart. He loves to hear the frustrations, the pains and set-backs, and the loneliness and emptiness that you feel. And He wants to respond to your needs. He loves you to be honest with Him, and He promises to share His heart with you. So take the words of Jesus to heart and go with Him wherever He is going."Mike McIntosh - Today's Devotion - June 23, 2011
I don't know about you - but the thought that I'm GOD'S friend is a little hard to comprehend! I mean - really - the God who created the universe is my FRIEND? Yes, He's Lord - Master - Creator - King of kings - but He's also friend - lover of my soul - my confidant - my comforter. He deserves my obedience - and He longs for my fellowship. HE wants to spend time with ME?! What does that say about my value - my worth? If GOD sees me as His friend, then I must have great worth and value! And so do you, my friend "in Christ!" Sharon desires to be with you in everything you do. In fact, it may be better to say that Jesus wants you to be with Him in everything He does. That's the kind of love and compassion that Jesus has for you. Notice that Jesus didn't egotistically say, "I'm going to the other side, so hurry it up and come with me." He gently and lovingly said, "Let us cross over." There's a sense of togetherness that He is conveying here. So many times we either get ahead of the Lord or we get behind Him, and what He wants is for us to be alongside of Him. He's asking His disciples--and you--to be with Him.

In Christ - I am Jesus' Little Lamb

John 10:7-16

Psalm 79:13

Psalms 100:3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.　May 20, 2010

...our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep...

-- Hebrews 13:20

The Shepherd

Phillip Keller, a shepherd (and also an author), once wrote,

"The day I bought my first thirty ewes, my neighbor and I sat on the dusty corral rails that enclosed the sheep pens and admired the choice, strong, well-bred ewes that had become mine. Turning to me he handed me a large, sharp, killing knife and remarked tersely, 'Well, Phillip, they're yours. Now you'll have to put your mark on them.'

"I knew exactly what he meant. Each sheep-man has his own distinctive earmark which he cuts into one or other of the ears of his sheep. In this way, even at a distance, it is easy to determine to whom the sheep belongs. It was not the most pleasant procedure to catch each ewe in turn and lay her ear on a wooden block then notch it deeply with the razor-sharp edge of the knife. There was pain for both of us. But from our mutual suffering an indelible lifelong mark of ownership was made that could never be erased. And from then on every sheep that came into my possession would bear my mark.

"As a sheep of the Good Shepherd, you bear His mark, a cross. It may be painful, but it's your mark of identification with your Shepherd. Ask yourself, 'Do I recognize His right and claim over me? Do I respond to His authority? Bear the mark He's given me?' If you do, you can exalt with the psalmist and say, 'The Lord is my Shepherd!'

"If His mark seems difficult to bear, remember: 'He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.'" (Isaiah 40:11).
* * * * *
Lord, I remember how You came to earth to give Your life for us - all we are like sheep who have gone astray. Thank You for being our shepherd. And thank You for laying Your life down for Your sheep, You, the Lamb of God.　
Blessings,Joni and Friends

　
I have to admit it - sometimes I'm a baaaaaaaaad sheep (sorry - I couln't help myself)! I bear His mark - and I try to live my life for Him, but there are times - too many times - when I fail. I'm grateful that I've gotten beyond the point of hiding from Him when I've failed - and I don't (usually) spend too much time in the doldrums over my failures - but I still fail. Sometimes unintentionally - sometimes not so unintential (and those are the hardest to admit). Either way, My Good Shepherd is SO patient with me - He doesn't yell and scream to get my attention - He gently uses His rod and staff to get me back on track.

Have you wondered away from the flock? Have you failed? Do you feel lost? Your Good Shepherd is waiting for you - His arms are open - He longs to bring you back into the fold. If you're like me, and you still find yourself on the discipline end of the Shepherds rod, remember that it's because He loves you and longs for you to be conformed into His image. Lean into the Shepherd - let Him love you - you are precious in His sight! Sharon www.joniandfriends.org

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional

Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

In Christ - I am the Bride of Christ

I am the Bride of Christ

Jeremiah 3:14-15

Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' "

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional

Waiting On the Groom

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom... The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'... The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

"When all the preparations for the consummation of the marriage contract were completed, it was customary for the Jewish bridegroom to go for his bride at night. He would march toward her village with his friends in a torchlight procession. As more bystanders recognized the wedding party, they would take up the call of celebration and cry out the good news from block to block (a coy way of alerting the bride to be ready!) In a short time, the torchlight processional halted outside her home. The bride, dressed in the gown she had hung by her bed in readiness, stepped out into the street amidst cheers. With laughing and singing, the bride and groom, with the wedding party, walked by torchlight back to the home of the groom's father where a feast awaited them.

"Wise virgins understand that the betrothal carries big responsibilities. We recognize that we are in covenant, albeit separated from our groom. We watch and work. We stay awake. Our groom could come for us at any moment!

* * * * *

"Don't be a foolish virgin who easily falls asleep and forgets about her soon-and-coming groom. Energize your anticipation by learning the meaning behind the many other betrothal symbols in today's devotional. Look up 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2."
Joni and Friends

"I want to ready myself for your return, Lord. I want to wait for you with spirited affection and eager anticipation. I want to be prepared with oil in my lamp and fire in my heart."


The news is full of stories about women who "play around" on their fiancé - who don't take their engagement seriously - and most of society looks poorly on them. It might be "cute" - or "fun" - but it's not becoming. Most of us know that being engaged means that we're making a commitment to one special person - and that means everyone else is "off limits." We would do well to acknowledge that we are "engaged" to be married - that Jesus is our Bridge Groom - and that the price He paid for us was as high as it could possibly be - His life. I know that most of the world watched the royal wedding with awe. It was an impressive event - the bride was lovely and the groom was handsome. Had Kate "stepped out" on Prince William during their engagement it would have been scandalous! WE'RE "engaged" to the King of kings and Lord of lords! Our groom deserves our faithfulness and loyalty. He's given us everything - all He asks of us is that we return His love by our obedience. Be ready for your Groom. Live today - and tomorrow - and forever - as though you take your betrothal to Him seriously. He does. Sharon  Matthew 25: 1, 4-6, 10, 13June 13, 2009"Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." ...