Month: October 2008

Scripture Text: Luke 9:23-27

Peter and I seem to have some things in common. Sometimes the Lord has to tell me two or three times until I finally get it. Beth reminds us that Peter was invited to follow Christ “three times before Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father.” The scripture verses in today devotion clearly expressed how to follow Him.

Taking up a cross daily does not necessarily have to be bad. I heard it said once that “if you pick a calf up everyday until its grown, you can pick him up when he’s a grown cow.” (I guess you build some muscles. Ha!Ha!) What about this in a spiritual sense? If we take up our cross daily- – if we don’t just get lazy (ouch) and pick it up only when we need Him. If someone gave you a brand new car and you didn’t maintain it, keep it clean and running good, it would eventually stop running. Jesus paid the price for an eternal gift to us, but we do have to maintain our walk with Him once we accept His precious gift.

What does it mean to take up a cross? I believe it is different for everyone. Maybe your cross is your wayward child, maybe your cross is a dependent family member, maybe your cross is your lost spouse, maybe your cross is a stressful job, maybe your cross is the bad habit in your life that you set healthy boundaries so you won’t go back to it, or maybe your cross is simply loving someone that does not care about you or has hurt you. Whatever your cross is, go ahead and pick it up and march on. He will “make your burdens light.” We must keep following Him! He is leading us to “the Promised Land.” I am longing to go there more than ever, but I must do more for Him, that’s why I am still here.

I like what Beth said , “the key to true ‘follow-ship’ with Christ is the recommitment to take up the cross daily.” She also stated, “live life one surrendered day at a time.” – one step at a time. Salvation is not a one-time commitment, it’s a daily walk. Crosses are supposed to be comfortable, but “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. I like this one, too: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Colossians 1:11. Have a great day friends. Keep carrying your cross and one day you’ll “Trade the Old Cross for a Crown.“
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Keeping the Faith,

Aimee

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-23

What did you think of the weekend studies…did you finish Saturday and Sunday? Remember everyone is on their own. No guilt trips here if you were not able to get to them. Usually, I tie Saturday and Sunday into one sit down session for myself. Usually Saturday is SWAMPED….anyone else? But I have to tell you…the devotion from both days…caused tears to spring to my eyes. The miracle of the fish and loaves…well, I won’t say more…but my highlighter got a work out!

Now on to today. We are almost at our half-way point. Can you believe it? Do you feel Him? In your everyday life? Whispering in your heart? I have.

After you read the passage for today, I am going to head straight to something powerful that really hit home with me, “2) All Satan needs to have momentary victory over a disciple is for us to have in mind the things of men. Satan doesn’t have to get us blatantly thinking satanic thoughts to have victory over us. All he needs is to get us looking at life from man’s perspective rather than God’s.”

…and then I was hit with THIS….

“What Peter didn’t understand is that what may have seemed best in the short run would have been disastrous in the long run. Had Jesus saved His disciples the anxiety of His betrayal, trials, and death, He wouldn’t have saved them at all.”

Did you see that?

What did that do to your heart?

How many times have you been like me….worked the solution to whatever problem out in your head and just expected God to “see it your way”?

I cannot tell you HOW many times when troubles or anxiety have overtaken my thought processes that I have absolutely come up with something or some way to fix it…and totally left out the fact that God might have other ideas or plans….Well of COURSE He has other plans! I mean…He is God after all!

It is for us to CONFORM to His plans, NOT the other way around….why, oh why, do we waste precious time trying to solve an issue that we have prayed and asked God for the answer??

I’m trying —really I am. I know we don’t see the big picture. We don’t see what He is working out of us in the process of all the trials we are currently enduring. All we see is the current pain, instead of the blessing to come. The blessing is hidden from our view by the daily tears of frustration. We can’t build it, nor fix it to suit ourselves. If it is not God’s making…it is for naught.

So girls, let us “hold fast to the faith” that the work He is doing in our lives will one day reveal such beauty, the scars of the battle will be jewels in our crown of life that we will cast at His feet. I know I sort of got off the track of the lesson today, but these things burned in my heart even as I studied the “miracle of the fish and loaves”. What God wanted to “show the disciples”….He wants to show us as well. Let’s take a look at what He’s holding in His hands…

Father God, You just blow me away sometimes. The way You love us without hesitation. You are teaching us to do the same. To love and to follow You without hesitation. We do. Today we choose to listen and obey. We give you this day and everyday. Create in us what You desire us to be. In the holy name of Your only Son, Jesus~Amen.

Keeping the Faith,

Angie

Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples to go–with special instructions. I especially re-read vs. 8b. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” This is a passion of mine- sharing Jesus!

Periodically, we have a class at our church called “E.E.” which stands for”Evangelism Explosion.” I took this class a couple of years ago and what a blessing I received learning how to share Jesus and sharing Him! There is a lot of scripture memorization along with an outline to learn. Our whole church would get involved when we have this class. Only a certain number can take the class itself, but many are involved. First, we have a Scout Team that locates the target areas in our community. Some get to be the prayer partners that prays for the E.E. Team and the prayer needs, along with the people visited , some are on the Visitation Team that would go out ahead to take a prayer plant to the different homes and they would take prayer request with that. (Even sinners have prayer request!) Next the E.E. team would follow up with our visit to “share the Gospel.” This is not something thrown together, there are instructions to follow. A lot of planning is involved – and wow- does miracles happen, lost saved, and people blessed!

Beth explains the meaning of the word dorean- or freely in vs. 8b, meaning “freely, gratis, as a free gift.” Jesus has given us a free gift, because He paid the price. We must share though, not keep it to our self. We do not earn it. He gives us the gift just because He loves us. Angie, recently gave me a gift and I asked what was it for and she said, “Just because.” (She’s so thoughtful!) Christ gave us a gift and says, “Just because” but He wants us to “Pay It Forward” (that was a good movie by the way, if you have not seen it, you need to rent it- it’s an older one – but a goodie)

I’m the type person when I try something new and I like it, I want everyone else I know to get it, too. If it’s a new recipe, I’ll share it. If it’s a new item from Wal-mart, I’ll show it to everyone, so they can get one, too. I pray my life will speak to others that I enjoy being a Christian and want everyone to know Him. Let me challenge you today – talk to two people about Christ. Share your testimony with them. (If you are saved, you have one.) Ask them, “May I ask you a question? Do you know for certain that if you were to die today that you would go to Heaven, or is that something you are still working on?” Share the gospel with them, if they are uncertain. Pray for them and with them. It’s our commission, “the Great Commission.”

Let’s close with Beth’s prayer today. “Lord, I know we have not received the spirit of the world but Your Spirit, in order that we may know what You have freely given us in Christ. I pray that we will also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by Your Spirit (1 Cor.2:12-13). We desire to give freely, Lord, out of the abundance we have received.” In Jesus name- – Amen. Keep smiling sisters!

Keeping the Faith,

Aimee

Luke 8-40-42a, 49-56

Girls have you had the opportunity to pull something from your memory of some of the material we have studied so far? I did…just this morning. I was overwhelmed with joy at the fact that I REMEMBERED it! I have been praying for the “remembering ability”–to latch on to what we are learning and allow me to use it again in studies, blogging, sharing, or just plain trying to help someone else!

Let’s get on in the study. Desperation is what Beth titled it. Fitting.

As a parent who has been in a “desperate” situation with my own children before…I know the feeling.

Traveling at a high rate of speed in order to get to my youngest daughter who had been in an automobile accident that took the life of the driver at fault—I was desperate for God to enable my truck to sprout wings. My wings didn’t come…but what He did was pave the way. He cleared the highway before me of any oncoming traffic.

As amazing as it was, I look back and see the miracle in that. I was praying and crying out to God and driving about 85+ miles per hour. This mother was distraught. I wasn’t thinking about anything but my baby girl. God was there. April saw the horrified look on my face when I looked at her in the ambulance and she instantly reassured me. “Mom, I’m fine.”—bloody face, cuts, bleeding from her neck…“Mom, I’m fine, stop worrying.” God was faithful. He had her in His hands. No, He didn’t prevent it—but yes He could have. He had a reason. I just don’t know what it was—and may never…that has to be okay with me….I must live my life with my COMPLETE TRUST in HIM! God heard the desperation in my voice. He knew my heart. He answered.

Fast forward a few years and again—with extreme desperation in my voice—I called on God. Our oldest daughter is about to either give birth 2 1/2 months too early or die. And possibly both. As she lay in the hospital bed, her husband was a basket case—she looked at me with swollen eyes from crying and said–“call Grandleria”. That is our name for Mother. “Tell her to pray”. I did and she did. God heard the desperate plea in our hearts and voices. Yes, He could have prevented all of the trauma of this child birth. But He didn’t. Reason? I may never know this side of heaven. Maybe we needed some sifting in our lives. Maybe our attention was not fully focused on what it should have been. Maybe someone else needed to see Christ at work IN US. Maybe my child needed to KNOW in Whom we all believe. Maybe it was time that she got an up close and personal visit from the heavenlies. Whatever the reason—He alone knows.

Girlfriends, I don’t know what you may be facing. I know that our family has endured many hardships–from financial collapse to major sicknesses and death, to the loss of a home and even runaway teenager….but through every single hardship or trial, we have turned to our Source of strength. He has never failed. Although the trials may have lasted far longer than we thought necessary, it is sometimes very necessary to complete whatever process He may be working in our lives. And, in the scheme of things, we don’t know the “whole” of what is actually going on anyway. We only see a small portion of the picture.

Tomorrow, when Aimee talks about the “in-between” miracle—she will shed more light on this story. The fact was that while Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house, a miracle takes place—all because of the faith of one woman….in desperation. He could have healed Jairus’ daughter without ever being present…but the happenings were all for a reason. There are times in our lives when we call on Him in desperation for a need in our lives…and there are times when we are literally crawling before Him and reaching with desperate hands for a touch of His garment.

I love Psalm 121:1, 2 “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Thank you Father, for being here….and there. Wherever we are is where You are. You wrap us in the arms of Your strength and hold us with the everlasting peace. I ask today that You will wrap up each life that is reaching out to You. All the girls that have joined with us in the study to know You more. As we learn more of You, help us to learn more about what You have for us. We live such lives that rarely do we reach out until we are in desperate need. When every single day You long for conversation and time alone with each of us. Help me Lord to take that time more. Use my time wisely. For You. So that I can KNOW YOU MORE. Help me retain what I learn. Hold it in my heart—and give it away at the same time. In Jesus precious name I pray~Amen.

Keeping the Faith,

Angie

A great web tool can be found here: God’s Yellow Pages. You may have seen it. I sometimes use it at work for a quick and handy reference for certain passages. When you click on any verse, it will take you directly to BibleGateway.