| Thursday, January 21, 2010 |
| Jeremiah 29:11 (Ruby Murphy & Gail Matthews) |
There is a very familiar passage in the book of Jeremiah - one that many Christians know and love. It may very well be one of your favorites. Jeremiah 29:11: "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."
Ruby Murphy is reading through Jeremiah in her private meditation time. That allows her to have a strong sense of the context in which these words appear. Listen to the fresh insight that came to her as she came to these very familiar words ...
I'm up to chapter 29 in Jeremiah, and I read something that made "the light bulb come on." I'm familiar with verse 11 that says "I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." I never knew the story leading up to that verse. God is telling the Jews that are in exile that, even though they are somewhere they don't want to be, make long-term plans anyway. And what really hit home for me was when He told them to pray for the city they were in, because if the city prospers, then they will prosper. It made me realize that just because I'm somewhere I don't want to be. God isn't leaving me hanging. He wants me to do well, and also to pray for some things I don't want to pray for. That part can be hard, but with God's help it can be done. And as we all know, prayer makes any situation easier.
Something else I've come to appreciate as I make my way through this book is the fact that God is unchanging. The things that broke His heart and upset Him thousands of years ago still break His heart and upset Him today. Because He is unchanging I know what He expects of me, all because some people from 2000+ years ago did break His heart. I pray that I don't act the same way. Let me learn from their mistakes.
Thank you, Ruby. I needed that reminder to pray for Houston, TX. Some of our readers may need that reminder to pray for their city, or their workplace, or some circumstance they are in the midst of that is unwelcome. Our God is truly a God of hope.
As we move into a new year, know that you serve a God of hope. You serve a God who has your best interest at heart - even when you have to walk in places you did not choose. Serve Him with joy and faithfulness. This unchanging God has your future - and He has your back!
Gail MatthewsLabels: Devotional Moments |
posted by gm @ 7:14 PM  |
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| Monday, November 23, 2009 |
| Eternally Grateful - Jill McDonald |
ETERNALLY Grateful
This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for...thankful for my loving husband, wonderful family, caring friends, our health, our safety, happiness, and love. Thankful for my husband’s and younger sister's new jobs, my twin sister's blessing of a child, my grandfather's successful surgery; the list could go on and on. God has been so good and blessed my family so much this year.
And yet, as hard as it is to write this, my greatest moment of thanksgiving came at the greatest tragedy of the year. As I stood in a small country cemetery with tears streaming down my face after a horrible accident and a life ended too soon, I realized that even with all the earthly blessings I have received this year, the GREATEST blessing was the reassurance, the eternal Heavenly reassurance, I knew in my heart beside his grave. JESUS DIED for him and for me and for ALL of us! We are God's children and we, by the grace of God and by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, are saved. Saved!!! Words cannot even express how THANKFUL I am for such a sacrifice and a blessing! Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:25-26) Hallelujah! Though the pain, sadness, and loneliness are still so difficult to bear, we have such amazing comfort, strength, and peace because of what Jesus did for us. We know that we were "buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) We know that "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) We know that "God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him...and so we will be with the Lord FOREVER." (1 Thessalonians 4:14,17b) Forever! Forever together with all our loved ones praising, rejoicing, and worshipping God our Father and Lord! Hallelujah!!! Thank You, Lord Jesus! You truly are our Savior, Redeemer, Comforter, and life-GIVING King! I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!!
Labels: Devotional Moments |
| posted by gm @ 4:12 PM |
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| Wednesday, August 26, 2009 |
| New Beginnings (Gail Matthews) |
School has begun! As a teacher, I always loved the beginning of school. Everything was so “in order”! My supplies were new and fresh and clean. My classroom was straight. My gradebook was in alphabetical order with no whiteouts. It provided quite a contrast to that last day of school at the end of May! But the beginning was (and is!) a time of new beginnings, fresh starts. I feel those emotions and that energy and excitement every September. In fact, I keep buying new pencils and pens in September!
In addition to my supplies being new and fresh, my determination was as well – the determination, the will, to do the best job I possibly could do. The list of my own, personal “I wills” included things such as: “I will” treat each of these young men and women with respect. “I will” stay current on grading papers so I can give timely correction. “I will” praise and commend more often than I critique and correct. Etc. Did I succeed 100%? Of course not! But the awareness, the desire, the “will” was there.
September is here. I still use it as a time to reflect on the “I wills” in my life. What are the things that I determine to focus upon as this time of new beginnings is here - the things that I determine to do, to be? Will you join me? Perhaps your determination, your "I wills" need to be refreshed. I know that mine do quite often. Life has a way of beating us down into survival mode. We have to fight that way of living and continually remember and re-determine.
For a devotional reading today, look to Psalm 63. Read it with your eyes looking for the “I wills” from David. What determination from this man of God. I loved listing his “I wills” from this Psalm. The following things really are a decision of the “will” …
Will you join me in determining to commit to these “I wills”? After all ... September is here!
1. I will seek You
2. I will glorify You
3. I will lift up my hands in Your Name
4. I will be satisfied
5. I will praise You with singing
6. I will remember You on my bed
7. I will think of You
8. I will sing in the shadow of Your wing
9. I will cling to You
10. I will rejoice in my God
The best “Top Ten” list I can imagine …
Labels: Devotional Moments |
| posted by gm @ 10:52 AM |
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| Tuesday, August 11, 2009 |
| Observations from Jeremiah (Ruby Murphy) |
(Note: Ruby's private study has been in the book of Jeremiah and what follows are some of her observations. You may want to read these first four chapters as you contemplate Ruby's thoughts.)
Every time I pick up my bible, I go back and reread these chapters. I'm not sure why, but I feel it's what I need to do. Just a couple of observations from my reading. Based on the imagery here, and the way God talks to the Israelites, He doesn't just feel betrayed, He feels violated, dirty, raped even. By using the husband/wife trust, and also the comparison to a prostitute you can really feel His hurt and anger at what they have done to Him. And He is appalled at the fact that they don't even hang their head in shame, but have the "brazen look of a prostitute" (chapter 3, verse 3).
And yet, when things go wrong who is the 1st one they call on? Isn't that just like us today? Do what we want, and then ask God to rescue us from the problems we tend to create? My prayer lately has been to not be like that.
I want to walk in His light, no matter what the circumstance of the moment is.
And last, in chapter 3, verse 9 God talks about faithless Israel and Juday. He seems to be more upset with Judah because she didn't return to Him in her heart, just in pretense. To me, that shows God is more concerned with my heart (read that as "true motivations") than anything else. This has made me pray for a true heart.
Eventually I will make it past chapter 4, but god is keeping me there for a reason, I am sure!
Prayer: Lord, help me be the kind of woman who listens to Your voice first - then responds. I desire a heart that is true to You ... always.Labels: Devotional Moments |
| posted by gm @ 3:18 PM |
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| Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
| Father's Love (Kathrese McKee) |
Father’s Love Kathrese McKee
“But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she’d find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first”
So goes the chorus of “I Loved Her First” by the country music group, Heartland. This is a father’s song, the words directed to his daughter’s bridegroom, reminding the young man of just how much and how long the father has loved his precious daughter.
As I drove down the road, listening to my radio, the thought occurred to me that even before the girl’s father held her, even before she breathed her first breath, Abba Father held her and loved her and wanted the best for her.
Abba Father knows how hard it is to “give her away” to another, a priceless treasure to be redeemed at countless cost. Today, if you battle with issues of self-esteem and feelings of low worth, remember – Abba Father loves you first, last, and always.
“Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”
Psalm 22:9-10 (NIV) Labels: Devotional Moments |
| posted by gm @ 10:11 PM |
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