"I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the LORD;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
"I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:1–4
"Are you feeling helpless or afraid? The antidote is to focus on God. There are many things we can't control, and we can feel helpless about our situations, other people, and even our own ability to change. But we can look to God, who is never helpless. In fact, he wants us in our helplessness to turn to him so we can experience his great power. Focus on the Lord, not your uncontrollable situation. Tell someone about something wonderful God has done for you. You've got a great God; boast about him and watch your helplessness evaporate!"
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Stay Thirsty
"Moses responded, 'Then show me your glorious presence.'"
Exodus 33:18
"The more Moses experienced God and his presence, the more he wanted. God is salty; he makes you thirst for more of him. If your heart has grown cold, find ways to get close again to God. Remember his goodness to you, and let that make you thirsty for more."
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Exodus 33:18
"The more Moses experienced God and his presence, the more he wanted. God is salty; he makes you thirst for more of him. If your heart has grown cold, find ways to get close again to God. Remember his goodness to you, and let that make you thirsty for more."
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Patience Requires Courage
"Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
Today's morning devotion was the perfect followup to my devotion yesterday on waiting for God's plan. Today's devotion reminded me that sometimes waiting on God's plan to unfold not only takes patience, but bravery and even courage.
When we are in the midst of our struggles, it is so tempting for us to search for a quick fix - anything to help us out of the immediate situation - anything to get us out of the discomfort we feel. Because of our impatience and lack of trust in God, we enact our own short-sighted plan. In short, we meddle.
When you are in the middle of troubles, it takes real guts to wait patiently on God. It takes courage and bravery to wait on God's plan to unfold in His perfect timing - especially when everything seems to be falling apart around you. Resist the urge to find a quick fix. Instead, meditate in prayer. Ask God for the patience and courage you need to wait on Him. And when it is time for you to act, He'll reveal just how. You'll know because you'll have His peace about it. You'll have His confirmation through how events unfold and through the encouragement of other believers. I'm not saying live life without planning for anything. What I'm saying is plan with His will in mind. Patiently wait on Him, yielding to His plan and His timing .
God doesn't leave us hanging. He has a plan. Trust in Him. Praying for you to have patience, bravery, and courage in the midst of life's storms!
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
Today's morning devotion was the perfect followup to my devotion yesterday on waiting for God's plan. Today's devotion reminded me that sometimes waiting on God's plan to unfold not only takes patience, but bravery and even courage.
When we are in the midst of our struggles, it is so tempting for us to search for a quick fix - anything to help us out of the immediate situation - anything to get us out of the discomfort we feel. Because of our impatience and lack of trust in God, we enact our own short-sighted plan. In short, we meddle.
When you are in the middle of troubles, it takes real guts to wait patiently on God. It takes courage and bravery to wait on God's plan to unfold in His perfect timing - especially when everything seems to be falling apart around you. Resist the urge to find a quick fix. Instead, meditate in prayer. Ask God for the patience and courage you need to wait on Him. And when it is time for you to act, He'll reveal just how. You'll know because you'll have His peace about it. You'll have His confirmation through how events unfold and through the encouragement of other believers. I'm not saying live life without planning for anything. What I'm saying is plan with His will in mind. Patiently wait on Him, yielding to His plan and His timing .
God doesn't leave us hanging. He has a plan. Trust in Him. Praying for you to have patience, bravery, and courage in the midst of life's storms!
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Deja Vu
"The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 32:8, 10–11
Deja Vu!
Yep. I'm blogging about the same passage that I have already blogged about just recently. You see, this is the second time in TWO weeks that the very same passage has appeared in my morning devotions - each time from completely unrelated devotional sources.
Thought I was having a spiritual deja vu!
But as I read and studied this passage for the second time in two weeks, God showed me something completely DIFFERENT than He had shown me previously. I love how He reveals only what you need to know or understand at the moment. I love how He dishes out the spritual truths in bite size morsels that we finite beings can spiritually digest.
And that is where I stand this morning, in awe that a passage I just recently studied would give me fresh, new insight that I was blinded to only a couple of weeks earlier.
But this new revelation and understanding, was once again, in God's perfect timing. When I last studied this passage, it was the day after my Nana passed away. I was at a completely different place in my life then with a totally different focus. But a lot has happened in these last two weeks. My heart was prepared for the next treasure of truth from this same passage.
So what did He reveal to me today that was new in this passage? That His promise of a better pathway to life is for those who yield to His wisdom and advice - especially in difficult, hopeless situations. You see, I tend to want to fix things my way, especially when God doesn't move fast enough to suit me. But I've learned the hard way that quick fixes are most always not the best. And sometimes, unforseen consequences can make matters worse. And that is where the bit and bridle comes into play. When we become impatient with God and try to put in motion our own plans, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall - setting ourselves up for Him to reign us back in.
God desires nothing more than to guide us with love and wisdom. Yet, in our stubborness and impatience, we sometimes leave God only one option - spiritual discipline.
God is working on me to trust in Him alone, even in the most hopeless of situations and difficult of circumstances. He emphasized just how important it is for me to yield to His better plan, not my feeble, short term fixes.
Deja Vu today? I think not. It's more like a divine intervention.
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 32:8, 10–11
Deja Vu!
Yep. I'm blogging about the same passage that I have already blogged about just recently. You see, this is the second time in TWO weeks that the very same passage has appeared in my morning devotions - each time from completely unrelated devotional sources.
Thought I was having a spiritual deja vu!
But as I read and studied this passage for the second time in two weeks, God showed me something completely DIFFERENT than He had shown me previously. I love how He reveals only what you need to know or understand at the moment. I love how He dishes out the spritual truths in bite size morsels that we finite beings can spiritually digest.
And that is where I stand this morning, in awe that a passage I just recently studied would give me fresh, new insight that I was blinded to only a couple of weeks earlier.
But this new revelation and understanding, was once again, in God's perfect timing. When I last studied this passage, it was the day after my Nana passed away. I was at a completely different place in my life then with a totally different focus. But a lot has happened in these last two weeks. My heart was prepared for the next treasure of truth from this same passage.
So what did He reveal to me today that was new in this passage? That His promise of a better pathway to life is for those who yield to His wisdom and advice - especially in difficult, hopeless situations. You see, I tend to want to fix things my way, especially when God doesn't move fast enough to suit me. But I've learned the hard way that quick fixes are most always not the best. And sometimes, unforseen consequences can make matters worse. And that is where the bit and bridle comes into play. When we become impatient with God and try to put in motion our own plans, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall - setting ourselves up for Him to reign us back in.
God desires nothing more than to guide us with love and wisdom. Yet, in our stubborness and impatience, we sometimes leave God only one option - spiritual discipline.
God is working on me to trust in Him alone, even in the most hopeless of situations and difficult of circumstances. He emphasized just how important it is for me to yield to His better plan, not my feeble, short term fixes.
Deja Vu today? I think not. It's more like a divine intervention.
Peace and blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Want a Little Coffee with that Sugar?
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Psalm 22:30-31
Some things are just genetic when you get right down to it.
For instance, my Nana's younger brother, James, loved a good cup of joe - with 1/4 of a cup of sugar! In other words, he liked a little coffee with his cream and sugar.
His son, my cousin Jerry, also enjoys a good cup of coffee with lots of sugar and cream, preferably half-and-half.
And, yes, I also enjoy a well-sweetened cup of coffee with lots of cream.
What is interesting is that I did not grow up around Uncle James or Jerry. Our families would visit one another over the years, but we weren't around each other that much.
So I found it interesting that Jerry and I enjoy a very rich, sweet cup of joe, just like Uncle James. Some things are just genetic, I guess.
Oh the things you discover about yourself when you get together with your extended family.
But what was even neater, was to bear witness yesterday to a heritage of faith that spanned multiple generations of our family. As we celebrated Nana's life yesterday, there sat generations of our family - representing many different denominational backgrounds. My heart was touched when all sang Amazing Grace together - loud and strong. We prayed the Lord's Prayer without missing a beat. Voices of multiple generations of the same family, worshipping and praying together. It gave me a glimpse of what heaven will be like one day - the day when all believers will worship our God in unity. Simply amazing!
We shared with each other testimonies of love, generousity, and faith. Family stories spilled out. And intertwined in the midst of our discussions and reminiscing were statements of faith - testimonies of God's enduring love through generations. I was struck by God's faithfulness throughout our family history. The evidence is undeniable.
Though our family is not perfect - we do have a few sketchy characters and a few skeletons in the closet - there is no denying the fruit of those in the family who faithfully followed Christ. What a legacy of faith these Christian ancesters left to us. What a tremendous responsibility we have to teach future generations of God's love and salvation through Jesus Christ.
In His Love, Cathy
Thursday, December 29, 2011
God Given Skills
"'Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. … And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.'"
Exodus 31:2–3, 6
encouragement for today
"Notice what God does: First he creates us with natural talent, then by his Spirit he adds special skill to that so that we can carry out his purposes. And he does it in community. What natural talents were you born with? How might God use them to accomplish his purpose of bringing people to Jesus? How might you team up with others? Any talents can be empowered by the Spirit and used in community for God's purposes. Pray about it!"
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
My morning devotion shares a truth that has personally impacted my life. In fact, I would like to spinoff this devotion on a situation that I often see happen in church and in ministry. Too often, people use 'gifting,' or their perception of a lack thereof to keep them from serving in ministry. We've got it all wrong when we think this way. We have natural God-given gifts and abilities we are born with. But then God can add to that special skills to serve His purpose.
For example, when I was children's director, the number one excuse people gave me as why they could not volunteer in children's ministry was because they just weren't 'gifted' to work with children or teach. Now granted, there are some people who certainly should not work with children. I get that.
However, teaching younger children isn't my natural gift or talent either. My degree is in mathematics and I spent 10 years as a computer programmer before teaching high school math. I felt totally uncomfortable around younger ones yet I volunteered with that age group - 18 years to be exact - from the time my children were born. And you know what happened? God gave me the gifts and talents needed to serve younger children as both a volunteer parent and later in children's ministry leadership.
Parental involvement in the church and in a child's spiritual training is so critical. Children are only in church one hour a week. The other 168 hours of a child's week are spent outside the church. So if you aren't teaching your children about God during those other 168 hours, then who is? And if parents aren't willing to serve in children's ministry, who will? God will bless you with the skills you need if you yield yourself to Him. It will require effort on your part as well. But our children are worth the effort.
And reaching the lost is worth the effort as well. So, the next time you have an opportunity to serve or minister to others, don't whip out the old "I am not gifted" excuse so quickly. Before giving an answer or responding, pray. Get God's direction on the matter. And if the answer you are led to is "yes," then God can help you overcome any hesitations you may have.
Oh yes, I am also not naturally gifted as a writer. Math is my forte. In fact, my standard response to having to write anything is, "Writing isn't my thing. It is not my gift." Seriously, I have absolutely no writing skills on my own. But look at what God has done.
Who knew?
Peace and Blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
Exodus 31:2–3, 6
encouragement for today
"Notice what God does: First he creates us with natural talent, then by his Spirit he adds special skill to that so that we can carry out his purposes. And he does it in community. What natural talents were you born with? How might God use them to accomplish his purpose of bringing people to Jesus? How might you team up with others? Any talents can be empowered by the Spirit and used in community for God's purposes. Pray about it!"
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
My morning devotion shares a truth that has personally impacted my life. In fact, I would like to spinoff this devotion on a situation that I often see happen in church and in ministry. Too often, people use 'gifting,' or their perception of a lack thereof to keep them from serving in ministry. We've got it all wrong when we think this way. We have natural God-given gifts and abilities we are born with. But then God can add to that special skills to serve His purpose.
For example, when I was children's director, the number one excuse people gave me as why they could not volunteer in children's ministry was because they just weren't 'gifted' to work with children or teach. Now granted, there are some people who certainly should not work with children. I get that.
However, teaching younger children isn't my natural gift or talent either. My degree is in mathematics and I spent 10 years as a computer programmer before teaching high school math. I felt totally uncomfortable around younger ones yet I volunteered with that age group - 18 years to be exact - from the time my children were born. And you know what happened? God gave me the gifts and talents needed to serve younger children as both a volunteer parent and later in children's ministry leadership.
Parental involvement in the church and in a child's spiritual training is so critical. Children are only in church one hour a week. The other 168 hours of a child's week are spent outside the church. So if you aren't teaching your children about God during those other 168 hours, then who is? And if parents aren't willing to serve in children's ministry, who will? God will bless you with the skills you need if you yield yourself to Him. It will require effort on your part as well. But our children are worth the effort.
And reaching the lost is worth the effort as well. So, the next time you have an opportunity to serve or minister to others, don't whip out the old "I am not gifted" excuse so quickly. Before giving an answer or responding, pray. Get God's direction on the matter. And if the answer you are led to is "yes," then God can help you overcome any hesitations you may have.
Oh yes, I am also not naturally gifted as a writer. Math is my forte. In fact, my standard response to having to write anything is, "Writing isn't my thing. It is not my gift." Seriously, I have absolutely no writing skills on my own. But look at what God has done.
Who knew?
Peace and Blessings!
In His Love, Cathy
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