Tag: 2024 devotions

It’s Time To Take Back…

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What The Enemy Stole! This election is more important than we can imagine.  Will we let the anti-christ have its way, or will we see a victory?

Bible Study

I want to share Psalm 12, today’s chapter in my devotional. I think it’s an excellent fit for this time in our land. We begin with idle, flattering lips.

Psalm 12:1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Just watch the news bites to see an example of this!

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
and the tongue that speaks proud things,
4 Who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”

It’s more than politics. Who is Lord? Only Elohim, the one who uses the earth for his footstool! Remember, vengeance is Mine, says the Lord.

5 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord;
“I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

God Hears

This is our faithful God. He has heard our cries, even as he heard the Israelites when they were under the oppression of the Egyptians. Think about the trafficking of women and children, of people who are homeless, and who can’t afford the rising food prices and crazy rise in the cost of living.

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
7 You shall keep them, O Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

God Keeps His Word

Our God keeps his promises. Jesus, the Lamb Slain from the foundations of the earth, came to the earth at just the right time. All Father God’s promises he gave through his prophets were fulfilled in Jesus. All His promises to Israel and all our promises were have in Jesus Christ will also come to pass.

Days Of Evil

8 The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

This final verse describes what we have been living through these days. It seems like evil and vileness are all around us.

I was listening to Kevin Zadai’s Coffe Talk videos while I cleaned today. He reveals that evil has been part of life on earth since Adam and Eve were banned from God’s garden. He said Cain was used by Satan in the first murder because he thought righteous Abel was the promised Messiah. The devil does not know exactly what God is doing or His timing. So, the devil uses someone in almost every generation to try and bring the anti-Christ to power. Nero and Hitler come to mind.

Well, our generation is not exempt. This election will determine what happens next. As we who claim the name of Jesus unite in praying for God’s will to be done, things can change. Remember when I said only about 33% of professing Christians exercise their right to vote? The devil loves it when we step back and let him work!

Our Red Sea?

This could be our Red Sea moment. There is no human way possible to come through this season unscathed. If the prophets are right,  we will soon see the hand of God and His glory overcome.  There will be dancing in the streets and people coming to us asking how to be saved. Are we ready?

How Do I Vote?

But, “I don’t know how to vote,” or, ” I don’t know who to vote for!” Do not let fear immobilize you. Which candidates support Israel? Which ones think life is sacred? Who will support families? Who do we need to be  in office at this time? Is it politics as usual, or could a businessman or woman who has experience in other countries and cultures be what we need?

More than which candidate, God is waiting for the body of Christ to come together behind the Father’s will. Pray, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and get out to vote!

Shalom to you, my dear readers. Until next time, may Jesus be near and msy you experience Heaven close at hand.

Father is using His billboard well these days!

What does Jesus truly want from us?

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Welcome to another gathering of my thoughts for the week. Yesterday, my devotional chapter was Romans 15. Last evening, our Life Group worked through John 14:24 into John 15. Let’s see what the Spirit does with these passages.

Romans 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Photo by Jonathan Andrew on Pexels.com

First, why did earlier revivals and outpouring of the Holy Spirit not last? I’ve heard that there wasn’t disciple making done after the Holy Fire hit people. I think maybe the pursuit of holiness that pierced hearts during the heavy outpouring eventually cooled, and worldly pursuits encroached.

If we’re the ones strong in faith, the weak ones new to faith need us to tone it down and be sensitive to their immature faith. Verse 2 tells us it will edify them if we please them and not ourselves.

The next section tells us that we learn from the things written before, prophecies fulfilled. These Scriptures,  when consumed, grow patience and comfort, giving us hope.

Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

Jesus wants us to come into agreement as His body. We should all grow in faith and glorify the Lord together. I think this also points to exercising comfort and patience among ourselves, forgiving as Christ has forgiven us. This is how we will abound in hope, the power of the Holy Spirit teaching, leading, and guiding us.

As we travel through the book of John, we notice Jesus repeats His teaching several times from different angles, He truly wants his disciples to understand what’s ahead.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Jesus wants us to keep His word. Love Jesus, love others. Jesus walked with the Holy Spirit from the day He was baptized by John the Baptist.  He showed what is possible in our lives if we appropriate the Holy Spirit. We can learn to listen and speak only what the Spirit prompts us, as Jesus did only what the Father showed Him.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus explains what is to come when His followers receive the promise. We are to walk in the Spirit. Also, to not be troubled or afraid. He is our peace!

God’s people are called to come together as the Body of Christ. This unity is not the same as all religions meeting in one building. It’s nothing like a one world government. That’s the world’s wisdom, the devil’s ultimate plan

So, let us truly come into agreement on the majors and lay down our rights on the minors. In previous revivals; outpourings of the Spirit, the theme was holiness. In this current move of God, we are called to holiness, communion with the Lord and His church, His bride. Take to heart Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Live in the love and admonition of our Lord, preferring others over our own interests. Live to radiate peace and patience. Refuse to be brought under the spirit of fear and anxiety.  Serve others in humility, and spend yourself to meet their needs as the LORD meets yours.

The view from our yard this evening.
Yes, I enhanced the photo to show
God’s magnificence!

Have i told you I’ve joined a team going to Uganda on January 1-16, 2025? We will be ministering to children through kids’ camps and medical & dental clinics in 3 communities. I’m traveling with David’s Kidz and hope to meet the young woman I’ve been sponsoring for a few years. We would appreciate your prayers. Health, provision, the team quickly coming into alignment, and wisdom in packing. Oh, last i heard, about 5 more people are needed to fill the 20-soul team. If you have medical experience or work with children, even youth are encouraged to apply. Maybe the Spirit is calling?

http://www.davidskidz.org

Pray For… And Prepare!

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Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Psalm 122:6 tells us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem… May they prosper who love you.” Do you pray Shalom for Jerusalem? I do, and I realize this is the major reason that my family is prospering… not just financially, but in all ways.

This morning, my devotional chapter is Genesis 43, when Jacob finally lets his sons take his youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt.  Katie Davis Majors says this chapter marks the beginning of God’s redemption story for Judah… and ultimately, I say, us! It always overwhelms me to tears with the great love and restoration of our God displayed. I like what Katie said,

“How often we hold on to something we believe to be precious, only to realize later that letting go yielded a much better result.”                                                            -Our Faithful God Devotional p. 249

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 … indeed, I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…  that I may gain Christ.

Are you holding on to something God is asking you to give to him? I’m asking the Holy Spirit to show me what -and how- to give up what I’m holding on to… and what that thing  is! I realize that there’s nothing in my life that didn’t come from God. I also realize from  God’s Word that in Christ, all things consist, and all things come from Him and go back to Him.

What do you need to give up to go deeper in the things God has for you in Christ Jesus? I just read Eddie Hyatt’s book:

Turns out, God has kept a remnant through all generations that have experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Those who moved in the Spirit, spoke in tongues, and exercised the gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, were often written out of history. Alternately,  their stories were written from their detractors’ point of view. They were branded heretics, witches, or of the devil. They were put out of the church, lost family, friends…, burned at the stake, persecuted in many ways. To this day, those who won’t deny Jesus, who move in the gifts and speak in tongues, are persecuted in these ways. God doesn’t change, and neither does the devil and his tactics.

From reading Hyatt’s book, I found Phoebe Palmer. Her book is an account of Phoebe and her  travels with her husband to England, Scotland, and Ireland in the mid-to-late 1850s. They were part of the revival that was happening in the U.S.A. at this time, and the churches in the British Isles begged them to come spread the fire.

Watch and pray, get deep into the Word, and release your heart and life from the dross of the world that’s built up. We need to cleanse ourselves to run freely.

I found you can get the Kindle edition of this book for $.99 or a hard copy for an exorbitant price. You know which I chose! Some of what occurred has been repeated in revivals since then, like the contemporary Toronto Blessing. The Sword of the Spirit was piercing hearts and laying many out as they wrestled with the sin in their hearts. Afternoon meetings ran into evening meetings. Bars and stores closed.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Well, I believe another heavy move of the Spirit has begun. Out of the turmoil we’re experiencing, I believe people’s hearts are going to be [and are] touched, and multitudes will come running and ask us how to find Jesus! Are we ready?

I leave you with my Scripture for 2024, which I haven’t referred to recently. Hold on to this as you walk through the coming days.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Lessons From the Fig Tree

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Last week, Mark chapter 11 was my Thursday  devotional reading. It begins with Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem.  We realize that a couple of days later, the same people honoring Him would turn their cries from “Hosanna!” To “Crucify him!” In verse 12, the next day, Jesus was hungry.

The Fig Tree Withered

12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
And His disciples heard it.

POTTED LILLIES

This impacted me. I have four large pots full of canna and calla lilies, which my husband helped me pot last year and stored for me last winter. This spring, I dug out all the rhisomes, separated them, and then replanted them.

The first summer, each one of the Lilly plants had multiple blossoms. This year started well, with one plant producing several blossoms. The other plants, even the others in this pot, grew beautiful leaves, but I haven’t seen any more flowers.

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE

In the next verses, Jesus cleanses the temple and declares that His Father’s house is called a house of prayer, not a marketplace. The leaders immediately seek a way to get rid of Jesus. What happened when Jesus and his disciples left the temple and encountered that tree again.

PRAY BELIEVING

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

This is the lesson Jesus gave them from this experience:

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

“…whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  We must pray according to the will of God, then act as though we already have what we ask for. We must trust that He hears and responds to us or we will receive nothing.

MY TAKEAWAY

Well, I perceived another object lesson when comparing the fig tree with my Lilly plants. The leaves were beautiful, and they got as big as my mom’s diefenbacia plant used to, but the lack of flowers was disheartening.

As believers, our job is to be connected to the Vine and to bear fruit. Every branch that does not bear fruit is cut off. Every branch that bears fruit is pruned. Well, my plants bloomed well their first year, I  pruned the roots and divided them, but their performance was all show and no fruit (or a very minor percent).

PERSONAL APPLICATION

This makes me stop to look at my life from God’s perspective. Are my days just filled with a flurry of ambitious activity, like the flurry of leaves my lillies are displaying? Are my efforts producing fruit for the kingdom of God? Am I working and earning money just to buy more things to build this earthly kingdom? Or am I investing in ministries, storing up treasure in heaven?

Joy!

CONCLUSION

Colossians 3

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Are you displaying the peace of God? Is the joy of the Lord evident in your countenance, spreading to others? Is your heart singing songs of praise and joy brought on by the Holy Spirit within you?

These are signs that you are bearing fruit as you live and move and breathe in Christ. He sustains you and works within, bringing growth and maturity.

Shalom my dear readers.

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing to others. And don’t forget to vote! Here’s a video from Randy Kay I recommend you watch before you vote… it’s not exactly what you’re thinking!

God’s SURPRISING PICK FOR AMERICA’S TOP JOB https://youtu.be/1nvqlK_dJCc?si=O9yZCZgI1fzP2VS5

This plant has had blossoms all season!

Psalm 5 and What’s going on?

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A visual for the battle… spiritual and natural

Welcome to this week’s musings. A battle is raging on earth and in heaven.  Many are asking where God is in all of the turmoil. You probably guessed that Psalm 5 was my Wednesday chapter in my devotions this week.  Let’s take a look at what David had to say… to… and… about God in this Psalm.

A Prayer for Guidance
To the Chief Musician.                                With flutes.                                                           A Psalm of David.  

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
2. Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.

In the first two verses, David implores the Lord to hear and consider what he’s saying, thinking, and agonizing over. He reaffirms the Lord as his King, his God.  He knows from experience that no one else can help him.


3. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You,
and I will look up.                                         David knows where to direct his voice.  He knows the morning is an apt time to seek the Lord. Notice that he directs his voice to look up to Him.

4. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You.

David has a track record with God. He knows God is not pleased with wickedness, and evil can not abide with Him. Next, David shares what God thinks of the boastful and those who work iniquity:
5. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.

David continues to enumerate the things God abhors:
6. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

In light of his knowledge of the Lord, David now turns to Him with his response to the situation.

7. But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You, I will worship toward Your holy temple.

David realizes that he can’t overcome his enemies on his own. He asks God to lead him and make his way straight because he knows God’s right-ness. As you read on, think about what we are dealing with these days.                 8. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
make Your way straight before my face.

9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.

Are you watching the debates or the news commentators?  Maybe you have a battle above and beyond the election fracas? Read  the next verses with this in mind.
10. Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

Thank God for the grace sinners have because of Jesus Christ.  Are you rejoicing in the midst of what’s swirling around you? Read on as David shares a godly way to respond to these people.                                                                  11. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.                                       12. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor. You will surround him as with a shield.

A God who blesses us with such glory in the clouds should make us pause and meditate on things. What an awesome God we serve! He loves us so much. He can handle our cries and complaints, but temper them with magnifying His Name. He truly is worthy!

I leave you with  Luke 23:34.

23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

Love them anyway…  the paraphrase on a sticker on the back of my phone case. Even our worst enemy doesn’t deserve the dark, evil, torturous, eternal fires of hell. Rescue the perishing and speak life where death is trying to overcome. Let the light of Jesus Christ break through the darkness that encroaches.

Until next time, Shalom to you all.             Don’t forget to pray and vote!

Psalm 3 & A Hymn

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Welcome to another Musing, this time on God’s faithfulness and awesomeness. The Psalm was my reading for the day. The first stanza of this hymn is one that lodged in my thoughts today.

My view from our vehicle on the way home a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I enhanced it to capture God’s amazing glory in the atmosphere.

Psalm 3 is titled:

The LORD Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 LORD, how they have increased that trouble me. Many are they who rise up against me.   2. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah

Selah… think about this. Are you troubled by the people around you? Maybe by the bad news and dire predictions swirrling around? Does anyone say that God can’t help you/us? Imagine being King David. Your son has arisen to usurp your throne. He’s gathered his cronies to be coronated before Dad can stop him. How does David handle this?

3. But You, O LORD,  are a shield for me. My glory and the One who lifts up my head.         4. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

Selah… think about this. Are you assured that God hears you? That He can bring glory out of even this trial? David has a track record with the LORD, his God, who has been a shield of protection. He knows God hears his cry for help.

5. I lay down and slept, I awoke for the LORD sustained me.                                                       6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

Do you have ten thousand people,  or more, set against you? Are you surrounded? Can you sleep? Can you trust the LORD to sustain you as you sleep, then wake you in the morning?

7. Arise, O LORD; save me, Oh my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek bone; You have broken the teeth of the  ungodly.                                                                 8. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

Selah.  Do you trust the LORD  to be your avenger?  Do you believe that His blessing is upon you? Upon those things/people you care about?

Now, let us turn to the Hymn that rested in my thoughts earlier today. I could only remember the first stanza, so I looked it up on YouTube.

Luke Powell  introduced this hymn by telling that the queen of England requested it for her 60th anniversary of her coronation. For the author, Walter C. Smith, this was the only hymn he wrote that became popular. Immortal, invisible… fhas a focus on the Light of God, as evidenced in the above photo. I’ll share the link to Luke’s video at the end.

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise.              in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,      most blessed, most glorious,                            the Ancient of Days,                                 almighty,  victorious,                                         thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,    no wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; thy justice like mountains high soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains.                       of goodness and love.

3.  To all life thou givest, to both great and small;                                                                      in all life thou livest, the true life of all;        we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish,                                     but naught changest thee.

4. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render, O help us to see, ’tis only the spendor of light hide the thee.

Words From hymnary.org

HYMN HISTORY/LYRICS ANALYSIS                 by Luke Powell

This hymn reminds me of the evening I took this photo from our deck across the yard.

Selah, I think it’s a loaded word. It’s kind of like a “pregnant pause” people talk about. In these days of wonder, waiting for God’s move, it behooves us to pause at the awe of the LORD.

Declare His will over this land, over your family, over your area. Look up, for our salvation is near. God shall defend the faithful. He is not slow as man considers it, but patient and long suffering. Awaiting the perfect timing for all to fall into place, all for His children’s good, His glory shall be revealed!

Shalom to you all, until next time.