Count It All Rubbish

Devotion

It’s not about being successful IN this world, it’s not about what we did in the past or what we are doing now, what we have or don’t have, or how much knowledge we have. It’s all in vain. Paul says it’s all rubbish.  We have nothing to offer God. It’s all about His grace, the free gift He offers us. It’s about grace, it’s about self-emptying; That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11

I believe that God wants to remind me that I am His, I belong to Him. I have nothing to offer Him. He can do whatever He wants with me. My purpose is to die to self and serve others. My purpose is to teach my kids to have a relationship with Him.

I know my kids will remember that I was there for them.  I loved them enough to teach them about Jesus. Through my example they will see Jesus, through my love, they will love. Teaching them to trust completely on the finished work of Jesus Christ, not on anything I’m doing, not anything I have done, not the things I’m going to do.  Counting only on Jesus and His love, His grace towards us. I will be successful by glorifying God and doing what He has called me to do. My ministry is to serve and teach my children and it’s all by the grace of God.

Seek God Himself Rather Than His Blessing.

Devotion

Seek God Himself Rather Than His Blessing.

 Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth  is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chron 29:10-20

“Seek God Himself rather than His blessings. Yes, God loves you and wants to bless you, but He’ll do so in His own ways, according to His will – not yours. Contrary to what the prosperity gospel claims, God hasn’t promised to bless all people with good health and plenty of wealth if they ask Him for it in faith. Instead, God has promised something better: His presence. You can count on the fact that God will be with you, no matter what. But trying to manipulate God into giving you want you want simply won’t work.

 When you focus on the blessings you want God to give you more than you focus on God Himself, the blessings you’re hoping for become idols in your life, drawing your attention away from God and toward your own desires. Never place your trust or sense of security in anything or anyone other than God Himself, because only God has the power to ultimately fulfill you.” Crosswalk.com

 I find it so interesting that I see people that seek God only to get things from Him instead of just simply wanting a relationship from Him.  We should be seeking His wisdom, understanding and knowledge of His will for our lives, and be thankful that He is the one that has power and strength. He exalts and gives strength to all. He is the one that gives the wealth and honor to whoever He chooses.

 I love that David in 1 Chon 29 say’s”But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” David isn’t asking for more but giving what God has given to him.  He is not keeping it for himself but using it for the glory of God. He acknowledges that everything he has belongs to God because God gave it to him.

We’re already blessed by just having a relationship with Him and all the other blessings that come are like eating ice cream with a cherry on top.  He is so good and does desire to bless each one of us in His own way. I pray that we would knowledge His everyday blessings and give Him  honor,thanks, and praise. 

Wise Men Seek Jesus and Worship Him

 

Devotion

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him”( Matthew 2:1-2).

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they came to the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matt 2:11).

Do you seek Jesus to get something,  command Him to do something, or to simply worship Him?

The first act of worship Jesus received is in Matt 2:11. Wise men fell down and worshiped Him.  They didn’t fall down and worship Mary or Joseph. It was Jesus, it is Jesus who deserves our praise and worship. I have notice that throughout scripture when someone would bow down to an angel or anyone other than God, they would ask them to get up, Rev 22:8-9 say’s “Now I, John, saw and heard these great things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophet, and of those who keep the word of this book”….. Worship God.

I think sometimes we can put people on pedestals and worship them in a sense. They end up being an idol to us. Yes, we do need to honor people. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17). Don’t worship them. They will fail you. They’re sinners just like you and me.

The wise men brought gifts; Gold is a symbol of deity and glory. It’s also associated with royalty. Frankincense is an ointment or perfume; it suggests the fragrance of the life of sinless perfection, this perfume was costly incense; and myrrh, a prized perfume or a bitter herb; it presages the sufferings He would endure in bearing the sins of the world.

What gifts can we bring to God?

 First, worship God by giving Him praise and thanksgiving. Praise is a basic way both to express our faith and strengthen it. We need to honor Him for who He is and praise Him. All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying; “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 7: 11-12).

We can give our lives to Jesus, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Rom12:1). All the gifts we have, God has given to us, so they belong to Him all ready. We can’t out give God!  The gifts that God gave, you need to give out to others. The sovereignty bestowed gifts are to be used according to the purpose of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church.

Lord, I’m Yours. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I’m not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I’m not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possession, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I’m somebody important, or to promote myself. I’m not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I’m here to please You.

Resource: Holy Spirit, Bible, Commentary, and 31 Days of praise.

Apart Unto the Lord-Holiness

Devotion

God gave rules to the Priests on how to be holy; they need to be holy unto God. In Lev 21, there are many rules listed here for the priests.

1. Defilement for dead-a priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean
2. Holy Appearance-Cant shave, cut their bodies, not profane the name of their God ect,ect,ect.
3. Noapproved Marriages-not to marry a prostitute, or a divorcee.
4. Harlot daughter-if their daughter defiles herself, she must be burned in the fire.
5. Rules for the high priest-to long for me to write. Lev 21:10-15
6. Blemished not to serve- they needed to be perfect- I mean perfect! Lev 21: 16-24
7. Unclean not to touch Holy- Lev 22:1-9…….. I’m tired already!

 

“The priests are to keep my requirements so that they do not become guilty and die for treating them with contempt. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.”

 Here I see that they need to do the work, and then God will make them holy. In the New Testament, because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are holy. He did the work for us. We are not guilty anymore, because of the blood of Jesus, which covers us. Jesus is the High Priest!

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Th 2:13).

Through the sanctification by the Spirit, that’s what it’s all apart. By the Spirit, He sets individuals apart to God from the world, convicts them of sin, and points them to Christ. He does the work in us and for us.

Yes, we do have a part in it; we are called to live according to a different set of principles and standards than the ungodly world-to lead a pure life in accordance with God’s call, commandments, and consequences. A holy life is a life that always chooses to do what God desires. We are called to no longer be conformed to our old desires and patterns of thinking and behaving.

To conform to holiness, however we need the Holy Spirit, it is His work made possible through Christ’s death on the Cross. The Holy Spirit empowers His children to pursue holiness.  We seek to be holy and invite the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. He is cleansing us, leading us, and strengthening us to withstand the temptation to return to our former ungodly lives.

Invite the Holy Spirit to do the work in you!

 Just me…… I get tired of trying to be holy, I mess up all the time, fall in to temptation, allow my flesh to get in the way, and sometimes lose hope. This was a great reminder for me, that I can’t do the work. I we fail because I’m human, but if I seek to be holy the Holy Spirit does the work, he will empower me. I am continually being sanctified daily.

Salvation- price Christ paid for our sin

Justification- position just as you has never sin

Sanctification – progressing of being set apart for God

God has given us a great Gift!  The Holy Spirit!

Resource: Holy Spirit, Bible, Believers commentary

Days of Praise….day 23

 

Days of Praise….day 23

Devotion

And we know that God cause all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Thank you that Your plan to use for good the struggles my loved ones face—including their disappointing choice, their unwise or even harmful ways of thinking and living, and their sidetracks from going your way (as I see it—and, Lord, I know I could be wrong!)

 I praise you in advance for the part these difficult things are going to play in Your good plan for us—in eventual deliverance and growth and battle is not mine but Yours…and that the final that I can call on You to give me wisdom to know that You live in me so that I can love with Your love even when it’s hard. Thank you that these trails force me to trust You more!

I worship before You, my King and my God. I’m grateful that You command victories for Your people…and that” all things are Your servants.”  You’re a God who acts on behalf of the one who puts his hope in You. Thank You that You are at work to answer my prayers in Your good way and time.

Thank You for past victories You have won in my loved ones’ lives—and for progress and growth and answered prayer—and for the victories we will yet see in the future, to the glory of Your Name. I praise You that as time goes by, in new ways You will show us Your goodness in the land of the living.

Resource:  31 Days of Praise  by Ruth Myers

Zacharias and Mary Response to Angel Gabriel

 Devotion

While reading Luke 1 this is what popped out at me, how the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and Mary. He told them about the future births of their babies. Both births were to be unusual; both sons would be fulfillment of God’s plan and of OT prophecies.

Their responses to what was told to them are what got me to think.  Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in year.” In Luke 1:34 Mary response was, and then Mary said the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

Zacharias’s response was doubt; he would lose the power of speech until the child was born. We should never doubt what God tells us, it seems to me when we have unbelief it seals the lips, and they remain sealed until faith returns and burst forth in praise and witness. Mary’s in other hand, her response was a question, “How can this be?” It was one of wonder but not doubt.  How can she conceive when she has not know (had relations) with a man?  She believed!

Zacharias was married and both him and his wife were both old, they must have known the story of Abraham and Sarah. Mary was very young maybe 15 or 16 of age and had no husband. Mary knew that God would have to take care of her because in those days if they had no husband and were pregnant she would have been stoned.  Mary had faith!

What is doubt, a status of belief and disbelief, involves uncertainty or distrust or lack of sureness of an alleged fact.

What is faith, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

There are times we do doubt what God promises us or what He is doing in our life, but no matter what, God is faithful and His plan will be fulfilled.  It’s all about Him being glorified.

We are saved by faith: Ephesians 2:8-10, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 God created a special messenger and God had prepared good works beforehand for him.  John, who, because of his ministry of repentance and baptism, will later be known as John the Baptist. John prepared the way for Jesus.

Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God and Second person of the Trinity became flesh. He left His rightful place in heaven to be in this world, He died on the cross for our sins, was risen in 3 days, and now we can live with Him in heaven forever.

Believe and know  you are saved, believe and know that God has good works for you! As Jesus came down to be a bond servant, we to need to be a bond servant, so He can be glorified.

Angel Gabriel (strong one in God, God is great) An archangel who acts as the messenger of God; he is mentioned in the Scripture only as one who stands in the presence of God and who brings messages from God to man…… Gabriel was created for His purpose.   

Resource: Holy Spirit, Bible, Believers Commentary

Days of Praise……day 17

Devotion

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Romans 11:33

Thank You that You have me in the place you want me just now…that even if I got here through wrong choices or indifference or even rebellion, yet You knew my mistakes and sins before I ever existed, and You worked them into Your plan to draw me to yourself, no mold and bless me, and to bless others through me. Thank You that, even I’m here through ill will or poor judgment of other people, all is well; for in Your sovereign wisdom You are at work to bring about good results from all those past decisions, those past events beyond my control-good result both for me and for others. Thank You again that You meant for good the terrible things that happen to Joseph, who was sold into slavery, exiled to a distant country, and later sent to prison on false accusation…and that through all this You had him in the right place at the right time, for highly important reasons. I’m glad, Lord, that you are the same today—well able to work things out for us, to turn evil into good. I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom. How safe it is for me to trust Your reasons for acting (or not acting) and Your methods of working!

Thank You that I can commit my location and situation to You. I can “be willing for You to shift me anywhere on life’s checkerboard, or bury me anywhere in life’s garden, gladly yielding myself for You to please Yourself with, anywhere and anyway You choose” (source unknown). Thank you that I can trust You with my future places—ready to go, ready to stay.

So I rest in the fact that You have me in this place for this day, and I praise You that You will faithfully guide me throughout life to just where You want me to be, as I seek to do Your will.

And most important of all is my place in You. How delighted I am to have You as my dwelling place where I can settle down, fell secure and be content anywhere on earth….you are my blessed home, “where I can enter and be at rest even when all around and above is a sea of trouble” (Andrew Murray). How my soul delights to hide in the secret of Your presence…to take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, to eat at Your table, to drink my fill of the river of your delights. How blessed I am, my king and my God, for You have chosen me, and brought me near, to live in Your presence, to behold Your delightfulness, to seek Your counsel…And to think that I will dwell in Your house forever!

Resource: 31 days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Making Disciples of Our Children

 Devotion

Deuteronomy 4:7-10

“For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.

And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to ME, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children’.”

Moses is reminding the people what God as done for them right before they go into the promise land. God has provided them food, water, guided them with fire by night and cloud by day, fought for them, protected them, kept His promises, loved them, blessed them, they witnessed miracles, judgments, and were given the law.

They had seen His power and received His word. They were to remember these events and teach them to their children. We need to be concerned for our children and their knowledge of God. If the covenant is not taught to the children, the failure of the nation is assured.

Christians’ have had the privileges to know, hear, and to experience God. We as parents need to be sharing Christ with our children and grandchildren, teaching them to love their God and love their neighbor. They learn this by watching us. Our job involves a process of “making disciples” of our children.

The LORD is our ultimate teacher, we are his students. Our children learn from us but they need to experience Jesus then selves. Teach them to pray for the Holy Spirit to give them a divine revelation, to give them wisdom, to fear the LORD (respect), His truth, right judgment, and the difference between right and wrong.

Our children need to see us being humble, eager to learn, and obedient. We are to remember His lessons and diligently do what he taught us to do. Above all, teach our children to learn with our wills as well as with our minds. We are to live out, not simply know, His law.

I will always encourage you to open up your own bibles and let God speak to you. He wants to talk to you! Write down what He tells you, so you can remember. Share with other what He has done for you.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit down in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth….. Talk about JESUS!

Resource: Holy Spirit, Bible

Lord, I see that “anger” is one little letter away from “danger”.

Devotion

Numbers 22

There is a lot in this chapter to talk about.

Balak-The King of Moab “waster” offered Balaam money to curse Israel. He was afraid of the people because there were many of them, and he heard how they defeated the Amorites.

Balaam- A heathen prophet “soothsayer” who talked to God and God talked to him. Some may say he is a prophet with a heart problem (greed). He asked God three times if he can go and curse Israel. God constrained him to bless, not curse Israel. God knew his heart and it was not to glorify Him.

Donkey- A dumb stubborn animal, the LORD opened her mouth and she talked to Balaam. God can and will use whom or whatever He chooses to. The donkey was beaten by Balaam three times.

Angel of the LORD- “Jesus Himself” The angel confronted the donkey and stopped him from continuing on. The donkey was able to see the angel, but not Balaam. The donkey saved Balaam from death.

This is what came to my mind, was Balaam so angry that he wasn’t thinking right? He was talking to a donkey!

He must have really wanted to get to the King and receive his money. He didn’t even stop when the donkey crushed his foot. He still wanted to continue.

Vs 27 So Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What I have done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day?” Was I ever disposed to do this to you? And he said, “No”. Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

As I walk with the LORD, I, to sometimes get mad when I don’t get my way, I don’t understand sometimes why God doesn’t allow me certain things.  This is when our flesh gets the best of us. The word say’s we can get angry but don’t sin. Balaam got angry and sinned, Balaam got so angry that if he had a sword he would have killed the donkey. The donkey saved Balaam life, the Angel of the LORD said, “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

Balaam took out his anger on the donkey, he reacted wrongly. Anger can most often defined as an emotional response to a perceived wrong or injustice. He reacted quickly because he felt hurt, he felt abused.  This anger is unjustified and sinful. This anger, in effect, denies the power of God to care for his needs and hurts and can even completely take over his life.

We need to leave our anger or wrath at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to act in your behalf.

Lord, I see that “anger” is one little letter away from “danger”.

Don’t give full vent to your anger (Prov.29:11).

Don’t take revenge on the violator (Rom.12:19).

Don’t get caught up in name calling (matt.5:22).

Don’t expect perfection from people (Rom.3:10,23).

Seek out the source of your anger (Ps. 139:23,24).

Ask your wise God for His wisdom (James 1:5).

Be slow to speak if angry (James 1:19,20).

Release your right to stay angry (Col.3:8).

Give your anger to God (1 Pet. 5:7).

Pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44).

Forgive as the Lord forgives you (Col. 3 13).

Trust God to bring good from your trails (Rom. 8:28).

Stay ready to forgive anyone for anything (Eph. 4:31,32).

 Resource: Holy Spirit, Study Bible.

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

Devotion

Happy Valentine’s Day

We have a choice to love, not just today but every day. For those who have great marriages, continue to do what you’ve been doing, making God number one and dying to self.

For those who are having a rough time, I encourage you to focus on God and what you’re supposed to do in your marriages. I know what you may be going through, every marriage has its seasons.

 Choose to love, die to self, edify, and honor the covenant you made with God. Believing that God, in His wisdom and providence, has established marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one women, a sacred and lifelong promise, reflecting our unconditional love for one another and believing that God intends for the marriage covenant to reflect His promise to never leave us nor forsake us. We made a solemn pledge to fulfill our marriage vows.  Remembering that your partner is a perfect gift from God, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love them, to honor them, to cherish them and to protect them, forsaking all others as long as we both shall live.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it Psalm 127

For those that may have gone through a divorce or are single, I encourage you to forgive, to know that God is with you, He knows how you feel, He wants to be your husband, your everything. God can and will turn it all for good. Stay close to Him! He will never leave you or forsake you. He is the only one that will love you the way you need to be loved “Unconditionally!” Pray for your husband or wife to be.

Those that know they are to be single, you have the best husbands in the world,…. God!

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails. ! Corinthians 13:7-8

God is all we need!

Thank you, Lord for each specific strong point and admirable quality in my life partner. Thank You for bringing us together, and for the way Your love sweetens our earthly love! I bless You, Lord, for the many benefits You have given me through this dear one.

Yet, Lord, I praise You that far surpass even the best person in my life, You are distinguished above all.  You are my share in life, my reward, my inheritance.

Who can compare with You? You are my perfect Life Partner, my dearest, most-delightful Loved One, my always-present Companion. You are the strength of my life, and my portion forever. Only my relationship with You is sure to be lifelong and more, with never a good-bye!

Thank You that “You are so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful, that You can meet and overflow the deepest demands of my total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.”

Resource: Holy Spirit, 31 Day or Praise