It has been a really, really long day. I am not used to getting up at 6 in the morning anymore! My body truly cannot handle a 12 hour day. I am physically and mentally exhausted. But, as exhausted as I am and even though I know it will take me a few days to recover from today, it has truly been a great day. I got a lot accomplished, made a few dollars, met a friend for lunch, handed out some flyers for a Community Thanksgiving Dinner that my friend is organizing, purchased a vacuum cleaner for my daughter which she desperately needs for her allergies, talked to another friend on the phone - just a good day overall.
I am so grateful when I have days that I can do things and accomplish things because there are many days where I can't. I feel blessed that God has given me days that I can feel part of the world and not so isolated. And even though there are days that I am unable to do much of anything, I still feel truly blessed for the life God has given me.
Even though I am exhausted tonight, I am very happy. I once read where someone said "It is better to wear out doing good than to rust out doing little or nothing." I am so grateful that today was a day that I was able to wear out doing good!
Lord, instead of complaining and be depressed about the days that I can't do anything, I pray that You will help me to be grateful for the days like today that I can do things. Help me to see all the many blessings Y0u have given me. Show me ways, Lord, where I can serve You even on those days when I am limited. Help me to see that everyday is a beautiful day when we serve You, in any way we can. I thank you, Lord, for all that You have done for me and all the blessings You have bestowed on me. I truly am blessed.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 NIV
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Son Always Shines!
I think we all have days when it feels like the sun just won't shine! We may not feel well We may have had a disagreement with our children or spouse. We may not like the way we look that day! Someone may have said something hurtful to us. We may be lonely. For whatever reason, a darkness settles in and the sun doesn't shine!
But no matter what is going on in our lives, the Son really does shine! He lifts our spirits and makes the clouds go away. We can turn to Him when we are lonely for He is always there. He never leaves our side. He will never say anything harmful to us. His words are uplifting to us. No matter what is going on in our lives, He can turn the darkness into light.
Lord, I thank you for always being there for us, for never leaving us lonely. I thank you for the brightness and joy you bring to our lives. Thank you for letting us know that we are loved and adored by you. Thank you for turning our darkness into light!
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29
But no matter what is going on in our lives, the Son really does shine! He lifts our spirits and makes the clouds go away. We can turn to Him when we are lonely for He is always there. He never leaves our side. He will never say anything harmful to us. His words are uplifting to us. No matter what is going on in our lives, He can turn the darkness into light.
Lord, I thank you for always being there for us, for never leaving us lonely. I thank you for the brightness and joy you bring to our lives. Thank you for letting us know that we are loved and adored by you. Thank you for turning our darkness into light!
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29
Friday, November 13, 2009
Taking Off Our Masks
I was at the doctor's office today. Believe me, the doctor's office is not a place you want to be if you want to stay healthy! There are a lot of sick people there! Many people had on masks. I am not sure whether they were trying to protect others from their illness or to protect themselves for others illnesses.
I started thinking about how we all wear masks at one time or another. We try to cover up who we are so others won't see the real person. We are trying to protect ourselves and others from the truth about ourselves. We are afraid to let others see us for who we really are. But if we put the mask on around others, we become the perfect people that we want others to think we are. We are the perfect parent who never loses their temper with their child, is always ready and willing to drive their child anywhere they want, always ready to coach the team, bake the cookies, take care of sick children, whatever they need! We become the perfect spouse - ready to do anything for the one we love. We become the perfect employee - ready to perform any job that our employer wants and with a smile on our face. We become the perfect neighbor - ready to help our neighbors, cook a meal, loan a tool. We become the perfect church member - ready to serve on any committee that we are asked, always present at every church service and on the front row! In essence, with our masks on we become the person that we think God wants us to be.
What happens when we take our masks off, when we are home alone or when we think no one is looking? Are we still so loving and kind? Do we still perform our jobs with a smile on our face? Are we still patient and loving with our kids? Are we still there for our spouse? Do we show love to our neighbors? Are we still so willing to help them out in any way they need? And are we still so devoted to our church family? Do we serve on those committees with the love that Christ wants us to have or do we complain about all the time it takes?
In other words, when we don't have our masks on, are we the people that Christ would have us be? Are we loving and kind to others? Do we thank God that we have a job to go to and that pays the bills? Do we thank God every day for our families - our children and spouses - no matter how frustrated we may get? Are we faithful to our church and church family? Do we praise God everyday for our church family? Do we live the life that God wants us to life? Do we thank God everyday for His love and faithfulness?
Lord, help us to be the people you want us to be everyday with our masks off! Let us show others who we truly are - the godly people you want us to be - everyday. Help us to live a life that You would have us live so that we don't need to wear any masks! Help us show You to others by the way we live, the words we speak, our actions - all without masks! Let us let your light shine through us.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16
I started thinking about how we all wear masks at one time or another. We try to cover up who we are so others won't see the real person. We are trying to protect ourselves and others from the truth about ourselves. We are afraid to let others see us for who we really are. But if we put the mask on around others, we become the perfect people that we want others to think we are. We are the perfect parent who never loses their temper with their child, is always ready and willing to drive their child anywhere they want, always ready to coach the team, bake the cookies, take care of sick children, whatever they need! We become the perfect spouse - ready to do anything for the one we love. We become the perfect employee - ready to perform any job that our employer wants and with a smile on our face. We become the perfect neighbor - ready to help our neighbors, cook a meal, loan a tool. We become the perfect church member - ready to serve on any committee that we are asked, always present at every church service and on the front row! In essence, with our masks on we become the person that we think God wants us to be.
What happens when we take our masks off, when we are home alone or when we think no one is looking? Are we still so loving and kind? Do we still perform our jobs with a smile on our face? Are we still patient and loving with our kids? Are we still there for our spouse? Do we show love to our neighbors? Are we still so willing to help them out in any way they need? And are we still so devoted to our church family? Do we serve on those committees with the love that Christ wants us to have or do we complain about all the time it takes?
In other words, when we don't have our masks on, are we the people that Christ would have us be? Are we loving and kind to others? Do we thank God that we have a job to go to and that pays the bills? Do we thank God every day for our families - our children and spouses - no matter how frustrated we may get? Are we faithful to our church and church family? Do we praise God everyday for our church family? Do we live the life that God wants us to life? Do we thank God everyday for His love and faithfulness?
Lord, help us to be the people you want us to be everyday with our masks off! Let us show others who we truly are - the godly people you want us to be - everyday. Help us to live a life that You would have us live so that we don't need to wear any masks! Help us show You to others by the way we live, the words we speak, our actions - all without masks! Let us let your light shine through us.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Life in Christ
Today I was cleaning up the house. I had to throw away a plant that was given to me a few weeks ago. This plant was a mum and was absolutely beautiful! I had never seen such vivid colors in a mum plant before. I loved it! But, as usual, I killed it. To save my life, I cannot keep a plant alive! No matter how much sun it got, how much I watered it, or how much MiracleGro I used, I still killed it!
While I was throwing away this plant and lamenting my lack of a green thumb, I began thinking of how we can come to God all beautiful on the outside but dead on the inside. But God takes us no matter what condition we are in and helps us to grow. He doesn't care how dead we are on the inside, what our sins are, what our past is. All He cares about is whether we turn our lives over to Him. When we do, He makes us grow into the beautiful creatures He intended us to be. When we live our lives for Him, He becomes our "MiracleGro"!
I am so thankful, Lord, that you take us as we are and help us to grow into the people that you want us to be. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins. Thank you for never giving up on us. I am so thankful that You never throw us away because we are dead on the inside. Thank you for the beautiful new life that we have in You.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
While I was throwing away this plant and lamenting my lack of a green thumb, I began thinking of how we can come to God all beautiful on the outside but dead on the inside. But God takes us no matter what condition we are in and helps us to grow. He doesn't care how dead we are on the inside, what our sins are, what our past is. All He cares about is whether we turn our lives over to Him. When we do, He makes us grow into the beautiful creatures He intended us to be. When we live our lives for Him, He becomes our "MiracleGro"!
I am so thankful, Lord, that you take us as we are and help us to grow into the people that you want us to be. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins. Thank you for never giving up on us. I am so thankful that You never throw us away because we are dead on the inside. Thank you for the beautiful new life that we have in You.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Being a Servant of God
It has been a very long time since I wrote a devotion. Life just seemed to get in the way. First there was my daughter's graduation from WVU and then came her engagement and all of the wedding planning! Then the big day came! Her wedding was everything she had ever dreamed of and that made me so proud and happy. I had put a lot of time and effort into making it a day that the newlyweds would never forget! And I had succeeded. But at what cost? I don't mean monetary - although that was a huge cost. But the real cost of ignoring what God really wanted me to do. I was working so hard to make it the perfect day that I became deaf to what God had planned for me. And after the big day had come and gone, I felt empty. I felt like there was nothing for me to do in life. But no matter how empty I felt, I continued to ignore the voice inside. I pushed aside whatever God was telling me, listening to what He said but not doing what He said.
As many of you know, I had written this devotion website for a while before life got in the way. I fully admit that I am no biblical scholar and that the words in the devotion were words from God. I became down, though, thinking that the devotions did not mean anything to anyone and that I wasn't reaching anyone so I used every excuse I could think of not to write them. Lately, however, I have had numerous people tell me that they missed the devotions and wished I would write them again. And even more important, I feel God has been telling me to write these devotions and that if I would just do as He wanted then He would provide the words for me to write. So, here we go! I am putting all my trust in God to help me find the words that He wants me to write. I am no longer going to ignore what He is telling me and will follow His will. I hope you are blessed by these devotions and by God's word.
Being a servant is one of the most important lessons that we as Christians can learn. But we are often afraid. Sometimes it is so hard for us to entrust ourselves to others . We want to be the boss. We want to have control over everything in our lives.
But God is the greatest Master of all! He will never abuse us or misuse us. He always has our best interests at heart. And what other master do you know that would lay down his life for his servants? Being a servant of God fills us with hope, makes us complete. When we are servants of God, we are filled with His own image. He fills us with the Holy Spirit to empower us to become all that we can be, all that He wants us to be. If we would only listen to what He is telling us, obey Him and follow His will for our lives, we will become more of whom He created us to be.
Has God been talking to you and you have been ignoring what He is saying? Open your mind, your ears, and your heart to what He is telling you. Serve Him in whatever way He is leading you and you will be truly blessed. Remember God is a master unlike any other. He is worthy of our service!!
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you not understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13: 12-17
As many of you know, I had written this devotion website for a while before life got in the way. I fully admit that I am no biblical scholar and that the words in the devotion were words from God. I became down, though, thinking that the devotions did not mean anything to anyone and that I wasn't reaching anyone so I used every excuse I could think of not to write them. Lately, however, I have had numerous people tell me that they missed the devotions and wished I would write them again. And even more important, I feel God has been telling me to write these devotions and that if I would just do as He wanted then He would provide the words for me to write. So, here we go! I am putting all my trust in God to help me find the words that He wants me to write. I am no longer going to ignore what He is telling me and will follow His will. I hope you are blessed by these devotions and by God's word.
Being a servant is one of the most important lessons that we as Christians can learn. But we are often afraid. Sometimes it is so hard for us to entrust ourselves to others . We want to be the boss. We want to have control over everything in our lives.
But God is the greatest Master of all! He will never abuse us or misuse us. He always has our best interests at heart. And what other master do you know that would lay down his life for his servants? Being a servant of God fills us with hope, makes us complete. When we are servants of God, we are filled with His own image. He fills us with the Holy Spirit to empower us to become all that we can be, all that He wants us to be. If we would only listen to what He is telling us, obey Him and follow His will for our lives, we will become more of whom He created us to be.
Has God been talking to you and you have been ignoring what He is saying? Open your mind, your ears, and your heart to what He is telling you. Serve Him in whatever way He is leading you and you will be truly blessed. Remember God is a master unlike any other. He is worthy of our service!!
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you not understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13: 12-17
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