My Devotion Today

Today's Truth 
Psalm 106:1 (NIV) "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Friend to Friend 
In homes across America, friends and family will gather around beautifully decorated tables filled with warm, scrumptious food to give thanks. It's Thanksgiving Day.  However, this day will be nothing like holidays of the past for many people.   

Lonely but committed soldiers covered in the dust of battle will patrol foreign borders, fighting for our freedom while their families back home long for word of their safety.  The homeless will make their way to the nearest soup kitchen, hoping for a warm meal and a smiling face as so many celebrate this day of abundance. An empty place at the table will be a painful reminder of the loved one lost not long ago. A worried husband and dad will sit at the head of the table, wondering how he is going to tell his family that he just lost his job.  The list of wounded hearts and unmet needs is endless. 

We convince ourselves that life will be better when we have more money, when we find the right mate, when we get the kids raised or build the right house. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we get that promotion, when we are able to go on our dream vacation or when we retire.  We keep trying to find joy, contentment and peace in lifeless places and things.  Jesus Christ is life.  He is Joy and Love and He took our place on the cross.  That's why we can give thanks when it seems as if there is nothing for which to be thankful. 

One day, a man went to visit a church.  He arrived early, parked his car, and got out.  Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there.  You took my place!" The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down.  A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"  The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down.  Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!"  The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change.  Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Yes, we live in a broken world and life is filled with pain, challenges, dark times and trials, but today can still be a day of thanksgiving and praise because praise and thanksgiving have little to do with the Thanksgiving holiday and everything to do with our inner attitude toward God. It really doesn't matter how much we lose here, my friend.  I have read the Book and we win ... for all of eternity!  We just need to take the time to remember ... and give thanks.

Let's Pray 
Father, we come to You today, praising You for meeting our needs this year in ways that we may or may not have understood at the time. Looking back, we see Your hand of mercy and love.  We recognize Your presence and your power and we celebrate You ...we celebrate life.

In Jesus' name, 
Amen. 

Trust

"If you will trust Him, He will begin to work in your life.  Then you will see His plan and will for your life unfold in a mighty way.  This is His promise to each one of us."  (Charles Stanley)

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

He Wants My Praise II

After sharing this devotion on Friday, it seems to be a constant theme these past days.  It's like God keeps bringing this up.  Brother Billy preached on praising and giving thanks on Sunday and of course with it being Thanksgiving week it's not unlikely for these verses to show up.  But, probably like most of us, I tend to thank Him for the "good" things in my life.  That's not what the Bible says.  It says:

REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS. AGAIN I will say, REJOICE! (Phillipians 4:4)

That doesn't sound like God wants me to just be thankful for those good things or the times that I want to be thankful.  That sounds like He wants me to rejoice and be thankful for everything all of the time!!! And then it says:

Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let my requests be made known to Him; (Phillipians 4:6)

Hmmmm... Everything with THANKSGIVING.  So, that means everything? Everything, such as the things that are just not what I have ordered today, God?  But God, how can I THANK You for something that is just totally not something that I want?  And, I should not be worried about anything, but I should Thank You for everything while I am making my requests to You...

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:7)

So, you're telling me that if I give thanks in EVERYTHING, You will guard my heart and mind. You might (no, You can) take that awful thing that I don't want to give thanks for right now, and turn it around to something that I never expected.  God's peace... no one can understand it, or no unbeliever can understand it.  He will give us peace when we think there is no peace to be found.

And my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:19)

This doesn't say God may supply, it states that God SHALL supply all my needs... not my wants, But what He knows that I need, He SHALL supply it!!!  So, why do we (I) not thank Him for EVERYTHING?  God tells us right here... all we have to do is thank Him and praise Him and MY God SHALL supply ALL my needs through Jesus Christ His Son!!!

PRAISING HIM AND THANKING HIM FOR EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE!!! Without everything that has happened in my life, I would not be the person that I am today.  I am amazed when I look back over my journey of 45 years and see how God has put my masterpiece together. The people that He has put in my life that I call family and friends, the friends that He placed there and decided to take away... or move them on.  I thank Him for it ALL!!!  It has it's highs and it's lows but they all come together to make a beautiful song that I call my life and I thank Him for it ALL!!!

I hope each one you reading have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your friends and families!!!  I love each and every one of you and hope this shares just a little of what I am thankful for this year!

He Wants My Praise

It is so hard to remember to praise God when things are not going how we think they should be. I think this is something God is really trying to impress on me right now. It's so easy to look at the situation and say, but God, this isn't what I want... but if we will step back and see that He is in control of the situation, we will see all of the great things that He has done throughout it all! In EVERYTHING we should give Him OUR PRAISE!!!

This was my devotion this morning...

Psalm 50:23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." (NIV)

My husband, Dan, grew up driving the family ski boat, pulling various family members and friends across some lake as they learned to water ski. Consequently, he is an excellent boat driver, especially for children or any novice on skis. Both our son, Jered, and our daughter, Danna, learned to ski behind a boat driven by their dad. I knew they preferred Dan to other drivers but did not realize just how important it was to them until someone else tried to take the wheel.
Several years ago, we invited some friends to join us for a few days at the lake. We had gotten to know Josh and Sarah at church and had become good friends. Our kids seemed to enjoy theirs so the idea of a combined vacation was perfect! Right!

After several days of non-stop skiing, Dan was exhausted and asked the kids for a breather. "Guys, let me have one day off and I will be set for the rest of the week", he pleaded. Josh immediately volunteered to drive the boat, assuring Dan and the kids that he was an "expert." Doubt spread across the faces of Jered and Danna but since Josh was their only option, they grabbed their life jackets and skis and headed for the boat. Dan grabbed a snack, a cool drink, the novel he had been trying to read all week and headed for the nearest hammock, a gloriously unplanned day to call his own. Actually, it turned out to be a gloriously unplanned hour before we heard our boat returning to the dock. Jered and Danna scrambled out of the boat and headed straight for their dad. I could tell by the look on their faces that the boating excursion had definitely not been a success! "Seriously, Dad, Josh has no idea what he is doing!" Jered explained. "He nearly killed me!" Danna reported with her usual dose of drama. Jered summed up his thirty minute play-by-play account of the disastrous skiing incident by announcing, "Dad, from now on I will only ski when you are driving the boat!"

What Jered was really saying was that he had no confidence or peace when someone besides his father was at the wheel. How true! When God is "at the wheel", every circumstance we face is in His hand and under His control! Peace takes up residence and the power of praise is revealed.
Praise turns trials into faith-builders as we learn to measure our problems against His limitless power, transforming the stumbling blocks of today into stepping stones for tomorrow.
Praise frees us from having to understand our circumstances, knowing that God is in control. A heart that is filled with praise does not have to understand every detail of the circumstance. In fact, the details really don't matter. What does matter is that God is aware of every minute detail, monitors the circumstance and shapes it to fit His plan.

Praise transforms tragedy into triumph. Fanny Crosby was six-weeks-old when she lost her vision because of a doctor's error as he applied the wrong medicine to her eyes, a mistake that set the course of the infant's life. She could have easily become bitter but instead, chose to praise God. I am certain she didn't understand all of the reasons for her lot in life, but I am equally certain that she made the choice to build a monument of praise on that lot instead of resurrecting a tombstone of bitterness. Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns of praise including "All the Way My Savior Leads Me", "Blessed Assurance", and "To God Be the Glory". Praise made the difference between becoming bitter or better!

I know that many of you have had a tough year! Loss, disappointment, pain, financial stress ... the list is endless. Go ahead and make that list, my friend. Add it all up. Then factor in the grace, mercy and love of God -- and it is more than enough. Praise God!

Let's Pray Father, I give You praise for Your hand in my life this year. At times, I did not understand what You were doing -- and still don't. But it doesn't matter, Lord, because I know I can trust You. Help me remember that my inner heart attitude does not have to reflect my outer circumstances. No matter what, I can praise You, knowing it will all turn out for my good. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Live Cheerfully

Have you ever seen these people that call themselves Christians and it's like they are ALWAYS angry or mumbling and muttering about how bad things are? Or how things aren't going their way. Or maybe they just don't like how things are being done.

If I have accepted HIS LOVE and HIS GRACE how can I be anything but joyful? Oh, I know I am going to have times when I am down and not as cheerful as usual. But, God promised me joy if I give Him what is rightfully His: my heart, my soul and my life!!! As a Christian I should always be lifting Him up and praising Him for His gift of grace to me! That alone should give me more joy than I could ever want for my life.

Christ can put a spring in your step and a thrill in your heart.
Optimism and cheerfulness are products of knowing Christ. (Billy Graham)

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but the people who have learned to live with those things that are less than perfect. (James Dobson)

Those who are pure in their thinking are happy, because they will be with God. (Matt 5:8)

Seeking His Guidance

We will NEVER cease to need our Father - His wisdom, direction, help and support. We will NEVER outgrow Him. We will always need His grace. (Kay Arthur)

How many times do I pray for something, I get the answer that I want and then... I tend to forget about that prayer time that I was having so regularly, I forget about that devotion that during my valley was so important to me. Why do I have such a hard time remembering that He is there ALL of the time. That's why God has to bring me to my knees... quite frequently, and say Gena, I am here ALWAYS! I want you here with Me, ALWAYS! I want you seeking Me, ALWAYS!

Dear Lord, Please help me remember that I should ALWAYS call on Your Name!!! Not just in the valleys, but on the mountain tops, also! Help me to ALWAYS remember that You know what is best and You know when is best. Help me to be patient and wait upon Your direction for my life... but even more than that, help me to remember that when those prayers are answered, I AM STILL TO SEEK YOU!!! Amen

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. (Psalm 18:30)

When We Have to Wait

I went to one of my favorite stores today... Lifeway.  I could spend a fortune in that store!!! But, today I only bought a Christmas present and a gift for myself.  Stormie Omartian's book "The Power of Praying Through the Bible".  If it is anything like the other one that I read, it is going to be great.  The difference in this one, is that it is more like a devotional.  It starts in Genesis and goes through Revelation... I thought that was pretty neat!

The second devotion in the book hit me hard... It's on Abram and Sarai (before they became Abraham and Sarah)... I think most of us know the story.  God had promised Abram that He would make him a great nation, but Abram was beginning to wonder when it was going to happen.

"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:  'Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.'  But Abram said, 'O sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damasus?'" (Genesis 15: 1-2)

Can you hear the exasperation in his voice?  It's like Abram knows that God made the promise of him becoming a "great nation" but  it's more like, okay... when is this going to happen???   God made this promise when he was 75 years old. He was 100 years old when Isaac was finally born.  That means they waited 25 years for God to fulfill His promise.

How long do we wait patiently for answers our prayers?  Does a week seem too long? A month?  To see that Abram waited for a quarter of a century for an answer should give us hope to wait for our own prayers to be answered.  Abram could have given up.  He could have decided that he didn't want to wait on God anymore.  (He did eventually make a mess of things when he tried to fulfill God's promise on his own by having a child with Hagar.)  How many times do we try to take into our own hands???  At this point, though, he chose to believe.  If only he had continued to hang on to that belief.

What answer from God are you waiting for?  Is it the answer to a prayer for the return of a rebellious child?  Is it the answer to a prayer for the salvation of a family member? For provision?  Whatever it is, keep on praying and waiting.  Release it into God's hands and let Him do it in His way and His time.  His answer will always be worth the wait.

Dear God, help me to have faith enough to believe You will answer my prayers.  Give me the patience to wait for the answers to appear.  keep me from giving up and taking matters into my own hands.  Instead, enable me to trust that You have heard my prayers and will answer in Your perfect way and time.  Help me to rest in peace during times of waiting.

Courage

What is courage? It is the ability to be strong in trust, in conviction, in obedience.

To be courageous is to step out in faith - to trust and obey, no matter what. (Kay Arthur)



Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13)

Anything Is Possible II

This is a follow-up to my post the other day. I know I have shared with several of you that I have been journaling my prayers for almost a year now. Some days I am very good and will post in my journal up to 3 entries... other days are not so good and I won't post anything. But, that doesn't mean that I am not praying, it just means that I didn't have a chance to put anything down that day. I must say that when I journal, I seem to pray for more and seem to have a more intimate talk with God.
The best thing about journaling; all those thoughts are recorded and I can go back and see how God worked and answered my prayers. I love reading back through the things that I have written down... I love it more when I come across an entry that I TOTALLY forgot about, and realize that God answered it! It is what I like to call "one of those WOW moments" where the breath is kinda sucked out of me and there are really no words to describe what happened... it was just a God thing!!!

Now, one of the most important things that you need to remember if you do start journaling... ALWAYS PUT THE DATE AND TIME ON IT! Because that is what will truly amaze you, when you read something and realize that God did answer it right on time! AMAZING!!! Now, if that doesn't get you motivated to pray even more, I don't know what will!!!

I hope that you will be inspired and start your own journal... you can go buy a real pretty one at the Christian book store (I have one of those with the scripture for each day that kind of helps to get you started.) You can even use an old pad or composition book that's laying around the house. But, personally I like to type it out on my computer. I have a file on each computer and when I feel the need to pray... I type it out. However you decide to do it, you will be rewarded beyond belief!!!

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Anything is Possible!!!

I have been reading Jim Cymbala's book "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire".  I started the book before we left for our trip to the BTC... I don't have a lot of spare time to read so it has taken me a while, and I am still not finished.  Which, there are several parts that I have gone back and re-read, several times. If you want a book about prayer, this is the one! 

I think I may have shared this in one of my previous posts, or maybe not, I can't remember... but that is probably the most amazing thing to me about the Brooklyn Tabernacle, their praying! There is no set time for prayer listed in their bulletin.  They may sing a song and then pray for 10 minutes, and it isn't a prayer of thee's and thou's and words that you don't use in everyday talking. It is HEARTFELT, DEEP DOWN, I MEAN WHAT I SAY, CRYING OUT TO GOD TO HELP ME, PRAYER!  This even goes on during their choir rehearsal!!! True prayer and worship!  It's the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of in my life.

Honestly though, I didn't realize just how powerful their praying was until I really got into the heart of this book.  Some of the testimonies and stories are just amazing.  Jim and Carol Cymbala's story about their oldest daughter running away and turning her back on God is incredible.  The fact that they are ministers in one of the most praying churches and for over a year they never had that church pray for them and her... but man, when they did... like the song says, "something happened, supernatural"!  It is an amazing story of how God heard a powerful prayer and pulled their daughter back to Him and to them!

I want to have a prayer life like that!  I have been working on it since about July of last year.  Now, I have always prayed, but it has been those, bless me, bless you, thank you... you know, not the heartfelt prayers and discussions that He desires from us.  But since about July of this year, God has really laid this on my heart.  This past summer I read Stormie Omartian's book, "The Power of a Praying Woman".  If you've never read it, buy it, read it!!!  God desires a relationship with us... that means talking to Him, discussing things with Him, asking Him for our deepest desires of our lives!!! and then... waiting patiently for Him to answer (the hardest part of all!).  But He will answer, in His time and in His way.  He has a plan and purpose for everything.  And while we are waiting for Him to answer, we are supposed to be praising and thanking Him for EVERYTHING in our lives!!!  Even the parts we don't like, ESPECIALLY those parts!!!

This is an excerpt out of "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire", which was the main thing I was going to write on this blog today (sorry, I got carried away!):

Anything and everything is possible with God if we approach Him with a broken spirit.  We must humble ourselves, get rid of the debris in our lives, and keep leaning on Him instead of our own understanding.  Your future and mine are determined by this one thing: seeking after the Lord.  The blessings we receive and then pass along to others all hang on this truth:

"He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6)