Unopened Treasures

Devotion:  Isaiah 55:1-9

Kelly MInter told a story in “No Other Gods”, regarding a man who possessed $100,000.00 worth of guitars.  His was selling his massive guitar collection; in order to start collecting pipes; yes, pipes that you smoke!  Anybody besides me find that strange? Here’s an even stranger thing; many of them were unopened, as in never looked at for the first time.  There was one guitar, for which this fellow had paid $6,000.00, still sealed in it’s case.  Who pays that kind of money for a treasure and does not even care enough to check it out before making the purchase?

We do the same thing with all the spiritual treasures God has ordained for us.  We never even open them, much less play them.  I definitely want you and I to discover what we’ve always owned; all our Heavenly Father has to offer.  Most of all, I want us to use all the treasures our Lord has placed right in front of us.

In Motion:

Ask Jesus to show you any unopened treasures right in front of you. Why leave unopened, the instrument Jesus has made available for you to play.

You Are Mine

Devotion:  Isaiah 43:1-7

Belonging is important to all humans.  We need to belong to someone.  The general population will not choose to alienate themselves from other people. God did not create us to do life alone. People who choose to go in their house and never come out are called agoraphobic.  They are afraid to come out and be around anybody.

It is so comforting to know; we never have to be alone.  The One who created you declares, He has redeemed you and called you by name.  You are His.  This passage promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”  You will not be drowned or overtaken by the rivers of life.  When you walk through the refiners fire;  you will not be burned up.  You are precious in His eyes and honored and then He declares, I love you.

Dear friend, He loves you with an everlasting love.  You belong to the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of the World.  You are called by His name; Christian.  You belong to Him.  He has given people in exchange for your life.  He is with you always, everyone who is called by His name.  He created you for His glory.  You belong to the Lord your God.

In Motion:

Live like you belong to the One who has redeemed you and called you by His name.

Casting Stones

Devotion:  John 8:1-11

You’ve heard the saying, “Those who live in glass houses, should not throw stones.”  In other words, our lives are an open book for all to observe, therefore; we need to be careful how quick we are to judge someone’s sins.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  If we are to confront a person’s sin, it must be done in love.

The scribes and Pharisees  brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus.  According the the law of Moses, she was to be stoned to death.  As they threw her before the feet of Jesus, they asked, what should be done to her? They were hoping to trick Jesus into giving a wrong answer.  Jesus picked up a rock and began to write in the dirt.  As He stood up, He looked into the eyes of her accusers and said, “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.  I picture rocks falling from the hands of those about to stone this woman.

Jesus looked at the woman and asked her, “Where are your accusers?  As she lifted her eyes, she knew they had all walked away.

In Motion:

When the time comes to confront someone regarding their sin; please do so with grace and love.  Remember the grace and love that has been bestowed upon you every single morning.

When Your Prayers Don’t Get Past the Ceiling

Devotion:  Psalm 66:18

Have you ever experienced a time of feeling separated from God? You just can’t seem to connect with His Sweet Holy Spirit.  There is either unconfessed sin or God is being silent on your particular request(s).  This can tempt you to give up all together on your prayer time with God.  We feel our 911 prayers should take precedence over any other prayers the Father may be hearing from other brothers and sisters in Christ.  Sometimes He just wants you to wait patiently because His timing is perfect.

God’s ways are higher than our ways and many times we can’t figure out the mind of Christ.  That’s when He’s calling us to trust Him.  He’s got you.  He wants you to search your heart and see if there be any wicked way in you, then confess and turn from any sin He reveals.  If He does not reveal sin, then tell Him you trust Him and that you will wait on Him.  You trusted Him to save you; now trust Him to finish what He started in you.

In Motion:

Ask the Lord to search your heart, to see if there is any sin that may be prohibiting Him from hearing your prayers.  If not, then  wait upon Him.  The answer will come in due time if you pray and faint not.

 

 

 

 

Filled to the Brim

Devotion:  John 2:1-11

This passage includes the story of Jesus’ first miracle.  Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana.  Catastrophe of all catastrophes; the wine ran out at the wedding.  This would be insulting to the guests and embarrassing to the groom.  Jesus mother went directly to tell her Son of this most difficult predicament.

Mary had faith and said to the servants, do whatever He tells you.  He told them to fill six stone water jars, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. They filled them to the brim.  Next Jesus said, “Draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.”  The master could not believe what he was tasting.  It was better than the first wine.

My question to you dear reader is; What have you filled to the brim? Are you believing Jesus to change your water into wine?  He longs to make your later days greater than the former. He will take what you offer and turn ashes to beauty, give you strength in the place of fear, gladness instead of mourning and unbelievable peace versus despair.

In Motion:

Go fill up your water pots in faith.  Then watch to see what Jesus will do as you wait upon Him.

 

The Bible, Boring?

Devotion:  John 1:1-5

A working knowledge of the Bible is critical to our prayers, our faith, our hope and or deliverance from the evil in this world.  We don’t always feel like reading or studying it but it is so critical to our spiritual growth; it must become a discipline, which means, we read it when we feel like and we read it when we don’t.

If one of Jesus’ names is the Word, then it must be pretty important. This passage tells us, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  God also tells us His Word is alive and active and sharper than any two edged sword and pierces to both joint and marrow.  It comforts us, controls our fleshly desires, convicts us of our sin and imparts wisdom to a seeking soul.  God’s Word does not return unto Him void.

Every story found in our Bible is absolutely, irrevocably true.  God leaves out no details, so some parts may be arduous to read, but every last word was written for our benefit.  It is God breathed and anything but boring.

In Motion:

There are absolutely times we don’t have a moment to read God’s Word; but on a day to day basis, would you take 15-20 minutes out of your 24 hour day to open it and talk to God about what you read?  I promise He will speak to your heart and you will not be bored!

 

No Need to Hide a Broken Heart

Devotion:  Psalm 42:3-7

If you have been a Christian for very long, you have trudged through some type of desert for a season.  God knows, there have been many things that needed to be mourned, just not for years and years.  I have to wonder how many times, I’ve grieved over things that did not need to be mourned.  All of us at some point found ourselves singing a praise song in the sanctuary that we knew to be true; but we were so heavily burdened over our circumstances; we kept our head down so that our face would not reveal our countenance.

God knows every human emotion you will ever feel. He made us to express our feelings.  He keeps our tears in a bottle, so there is no need to hide a broken heart.  He longs for us to express our true feelings to Him, because He knows them anyway. Pour out your heart to Him.  He will always listen, and He will always understand.

When my mom died, waves of grief pummeled my body.  For the first year, I would find myself crying at the strangest times.  We live in a fallen world and we cannot edit out the hard stuff.  Christians and non-Christians need to know how you survived your times of deep sorrow.

Almost every Biblical character endured some sort of hardship or sadness. God spared no details regarding what they endured in His Word, so why do we think we should have a life without any pain or suffering.?  He said, “In this world, you will have tribulation but do not be afraid, for I have overcome the world.”  God’s throne room is a safe place to store all our tear-stained stuff.  Deep sorrow causes us to commune with our God more deeply.  Lisa Harper says, “Authentic joy is often forged in the kiln of ache.”

In Motion:

Tell God all about any heartache or heart break.  He will give you beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning and peace for despair.

 

The Word was God

Devotion:  John 1

One of Christ’s names is the Word.  He existed from the beginning.  He was with the Father always.  Everything was made through Him and without Him nothing was made.  In Him was life and the life was the light of men.

Our dear John came to bear witness of Jesus who is the Light of the world.  He gives light to every  man coming into the world. Jesus was born to Mary who was of Jewish descent.  The Jews are God’s chosen people, His own did not receive Him.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John declared himself, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the LORD.”  John also said, he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals.

Phillip and Nathanael joined John in following Jesus.  This God-man always spoke and taught the Word of truth in a powerful way, so that lives were radically changed.  Here was the Word made flesh, standing in front of them.  His voice brings healing, moves mountains and brings peace in the midst of horrific storms.

In Motion:

Believe in, hope in, trust in the Word; made flesh!  You will be constantly amazed at all He will accomplish on your behalf!

Until the Calamity Passes

Devotion:  Psalm 57:1-11

Just think; we are under the shadow of God’s wings!  We can always take refuge in that safe place, until any calamity has passed.  If you are under the Shadow of God’s wings dear reader; that means He’s near by.  He who promised to never leave you nor forsake you; will be right there for you, even in the midst of your upside down world.

As you cry out to God Most High, do you believe He will perform all things for you and send from heaven to save you?  Do you believe this same God reproaches the one who would swallow you up? Stand on the fact; that He shall send forth his mercy and truth directly into your life.  Even though your enemies have prepared a net for your steps, determine your heart will be steadfast.

Sing and give praise in the midst of your calamity.  Exalt and glorify the Lord your God until He brings you safely home.

In Motion:

Read this Psalm over and over until it gets into the marrow of your bones.  You can deposit every single word into your spiritual bank. The more you read it, the deeper it will take root into your heart and soul.

Great Company

Devotion:  Psalm 68:7-11

How many times have you experienced the powerful presence of the Lord?  His Holy Spirit is with us always and never leaves us nor forsakes us; but I am talking about the times God manifests Himself to you in such a personal way, that you walk away changed.  In Christendom, these are called mountain top experiences, when God pulls back His mysterious curtain and reveals Himself to His beloved children.

God longs to go before you and march through every wilderness with you.  Your earth may be shaking and you find yourself longing for spiritual rain and the presence of your God.  Just as Sinai was moved at the presence of God; He longs to move heaven and earth on your behalf.  He will send plentiful rain to the place you are dwelling; physically and spiritually. He longs for you to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord to give His word.  Then be among the great company of those who proclaim it!  People are starving to hear the truth of all God is doing in your life!

In Motion:

Be a part of the great company to proclaim the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.