Hard Questions

"For who makes you different than anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

I think it is pervasive in our culture to not answer questions. If I don't say anything or can avoid saying anything then I can avoid incriminating myself. Have you ever tried to get a straight answer from a utility company or a bank? It is not just the public sector though, where they seem to train people to evade answering, it has crept over into our everyday relationships too. I am certainly not suggesting that we begin interrogating each other or trying to set each other up to answer embarrassing or trivial questions.

Minefields

"My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled." Psalm 17:5TNIV

Tonight, while watching television, an ad for the new season of Necessary Roughness was shown. In the commercial, the lead character, who is a therapist, tells her patient, " The minefields in life never go away- we just get better at navigating them." As I listened to that statement, I couldn't help but think how true it was.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:13-16

Mark 10:13-16 has got to be one of the most precious passages in His word. You probably know it by its subtitle, "Jesus Blesses the Little Children." I think it was the inspiration for the song that says…”Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."

True Forgiveness

True Forgiveness by Justin Eggen is the third in a series of devotionals by the 2012 Grace Harbor Colombia Mission Team. I encourage you to find a quiet place and consider this powerful message.

"If You, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You." Psalms 130:3-4

In these two verses, it speaks of sin and forgiveness. For Psalms 130:3 says "if you O Lord kept a record of sins, O Lord who could stand?" In this verse it tells us that if the Lord was to keep tally of all are sins, we would probably fall to our knees and maybe die. Everyone person sins. Sin is like an addiction, once you do it, it’s hard to stop. I’m not saying you need to live a perfect life because that is highly impossible. All I’m saying is you should sin less.

Spoken Words

Are the words you speak to others a good witness for Christ or not?

As I've shared in many of my previous Friday devotionals, my husband, John and I read each night before bed a short Scripture verse and from two devotional books I was blessed to be given from my Secret Sisters in the past few years. It just so happens that the theme for the devotionals for the month of March in Search My Heart, O God by Kay Arthur was titled "Search My Conversations", and WOW,[Women of the Word - no pun intended] did each of them give an earful and wake-up call to just how important the words are that we speak and the power of the tongue.

What Do You Prefer?

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?" 1 Corinthians 4:20-21

In these two verses, Paul makes a statement of principle, then gives the Corinthians a choice and then tells them what the two choices are. The statement of principle is clear. Powerful talk without powerful actions is not very powerful. Additionally the power really comes from the principle of the action not just the mere words. In the preceding verses Paul is addressing the issue of arrogance and the presumption that Paul would not come to Corinth in person. So Paul tells them he is indeed coming in person. He has said already that he is sending Timothy and that they should listen because Timothy will remind them that Paul's words and actions match. What Paul is driving at is exemplary living vs. hypocrisy and that those who talk should also be better examples. There seems to be a gap in what the Corinthians say and do or even teach and do.

Captive, Not Conquered

"No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

I love it when God speaks to me during moments of desperation and frustration. This past Sunday, I had such a moment. I was in the ICU unit at Kaiser, and I was looking out my window at the beautiful day it was. I got really angry because I felt like a prisoner in my body.

Our God

"For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end." Psalm 48:14

This God is my God.

He Can Bring You Joy

"anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." Psalm 94:19

It is a good thing when verses of scripture offer comfort and encouragement. I believe that the simple truth of David’s words can be taken at face value and we can know that when dealing with anxiety, His consolation can actually give us joy. I have experienced this. That joy that comes in the midst of trouble, seemingly for no reason, other than remembering that God is in control, and accepting that fact.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Our Bible Verse for today:

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

Clasp and Worship Him

"Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings.' He said, and they came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him." Matthew 28:9

Can't even imagine what this would have been like, where my head is at today. Jesus was dead, buried, and gone, and reports of His Resurrection are just beginning to swirl. Then, out of nowhere, Jesus suddenly meets up with some of the believers and somewhat casually says, 'Greetings'. He had come back from the dead. Dead for sure, too. They had seen or heard firsthand that He had been nearly beaten to death, then crucified and hung on the cross to die in agony. Some had actually heard His words as He died and now He is saying 'Hey!' What a shocker!

Taming the Tongue

Thoughts for the devotionals we are called upon to share can come to us in many ways. Sometimes, it's a song, a poem that we read, a story we hear about on the news, or a random act of kindness shared by someone to another. Well, the thought for this week's devotional message came to me from my daughter. It was entitled "Nails In the Fence", and it had been forwarded to her by a friend. The message struck a chord with me because for those of us who enjoy the "Mother-Daughter" relationship "communications", even with the greatest of intentions, they can at times not go as planned. So, the bottomline message of the e-mail that Chelsea forwarded to me was such a good one that I thought it was one worthy of sharing with all of you because it's a reminder worthy of making a part of the fabric of our being.

The piece itself did not give any scriptural reference (not unusual because we know that the world frequently borrows/steals from Him and just doesn't give Him the credit, huh?) but it so reminded me of the message in James, Chapter 3 - "Taming the Tongue". Therein, we are told that "the tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by Hell." (James 3:6) I can think of several recent situations where the hurt and harmful effects of unkind words spoken unnecessarily challenged relationships, when "kinder/gentler/loving" communication would have been the best (God's) way to handle the perceived issues. I am sure that you yourselves can think of numerous instances, probably involving yourself, that you have said things to a person you love, in anger or frustration, that you wish you could take back, but once said, the damage was done. You've heard the expression that "a bell once rung cannot be unrung."

With all of that having been said, you're probably wondering what "Nails In the Fence" says, so enjoy reading it below, and embrace it as a life lesson for the "day", "week", "month", "year", - "your life". If the message convicts you, please feel free to pass it on to someone you love with the following request as the piece ended- "Please forgive me if I have ever left "a hole" in "your fence."

Wishing you a blessed weekend in fellowship with fellow believers at your Church home.

Love In Him,
Charlotte

Nails in the Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."

More Blessed to Give than Receive

"remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35b

You may not find these words that Jesus said in your red letter Bible. This is Paul quoting something he knew was said by Jesus. Since Paul never saw Jesus in the flesh, this saying must have been commonly attributed to Jesus. Yet, in the Gospels it is never quoted as words from Jesus, but, it is also says in Scripture that not everything Jesus said or did was recorded, because all the Books ever written could not contain that.

Weary and Burdened

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Wise Rebukes

"He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home with the wise." Proverbs 15:31

It is always wise to seek, receive, take to heart, and follow wise counsel. I love Proverbs because they have so much content. When I first read this one it struck me as kind of one-dimensional. You know, if you take counsel and listen when someone corrects you, you would be wise and therefore feel comfortable around other wise people. Ok.... A little obvious, but true.

His Glory

"Restore us O Lord God Almighty; make your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved."
" Psalm 80:3,19

I believe two things that are pretty fundamental to my faith. One, that we are "once saved, always saved", eternally secure, and that we are in the process of "working out our salvation" at the same time. Though seemingly contradictory both principles really do fit together just fine. I am irreversibly redeemed. After all, if I am truly saved, how can I be unsaved? Though my salvation is secure I am still in the process of maturing within that salvation. My salvation happened, is happening and will ultimately happen. (I am available to discuss this if I totally have lost you)

Live for Him

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Dolly:

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last." Luke 23:44-46

Today and over the next couple of days, as you contemplate the impact of the life and death of Jesus Christ, allow yourself to imagine the darkness that came over the world at the time of His death. Imagine the sorrow and despair of those who loved Him.

Spiritual Things are Fulfilling

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life." John 6:63

The world we live in is becoming increasingly drama-filled. I think in part because as we try to fill the need for true spirituality in our lives, for a lack of ability to do so, we grasp at all the emotional, thinking somehow this will fill the void. Like much of the nutrition-free food we eat, this is not satisfy our inner hunger for something more meaningful, so we consume more and more and are never satisfied. Because the emotional stuff will never fill the spiritual void, just like empty calories do not satisfy physical hunger.

God is the Judge

"But it is God who judges, He brings one down, He exalts another." Psalm 75:7

I am so glad that God is the judge. He is totally and completely and perfectly sovereign. He is judge, jury and prosecutor of the whole cosmos and He alone is worthy of that responsibility. His decisions are always right, all the time. Whatever He rules is His divine will. His preventive, permissive and divine decisions are constantly accurate and righteous. He needs no counsel, has impeccable understanding and always knows precisely what to do.

Don't Wait

"Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake." Psalm 79:8-9

It is important to remember as we read Psalms, that not only are they written as inspired pieces of prose and poetry, songs and prayers and praises to God, they most often are also directly connected to real historical events for the people of God. This particular Psalm is written by Asaph or one of his descendants after the Babylonians had leveled Jerusalem. This event is recorded in II Kings 25. All of the horrible things that are told in the opening verses of
Psalm 79 are also shared in more detail in II Kings 25.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as a King

Matthew 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

Matthew 21:2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.

Matthew 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."