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Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

November 22, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Has someone hurt you?  Have you been wronged?  Have you done the best you know how to do and it still is not enough?  If you are human and walking among other people in this world, then I’m fairly certain you can answer “yes” to each of these questions.  As Christians we know we will encounter people who dislike us, who hate us, who will insult us if we are living a life for the glory of God.  Our Savior forewarned us and told us that we are “blessed if we are persecuted” on His account. Mt. 5:11.  Somehow it seems less shocking to have unbelievers who treat us wrongly.  It’s life.  It’s hardest for Christians when we endure rebuke, rebuffs, and anger from fellow Christians, or family.  It’s hard sometimes to remember that love:

“…is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

This is the season when so many of us gather to be with family.  Tradition bids us come together and celebrate.  Yet, so often family members find themselves at odds with one another.  Many times conflict arises that has nothing to do with who carves the turkey, who sits next to whom at the table, who is late for dinner, or gets the wishbone.  Conflict comes from digging up bones from past grievances.  From harbored anger.  From unforgiven contention–sometimes decades old.  Sometimes we come with the best of intentions.  We vow to accept another’s irritating habits, to keep peace no matter what.  Then something happens and it dredges up the previous hurt feelings.  It’s time to let them go.  It’s time to ask God for grace to forgive.  For me to accomplish this, I center on the mercy the Lord has shown me.  He does not count my past against me.  I am forgiven from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9-10.

As we face the days ahead, I pray each wrong committed against us is quickly forgiven.  Life is so very short.  We show our love by not acting rudely, selfishly, or begrudgingly.  Yes, I know others may act that way towards us.  But we are not accountable for how others act, only ourselves.  We show accountability by not keeping record of wrongs.  May this be our sacrifice to a Savior who gave His all for our sin.  © Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

November 22, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Website Updates

Did you know this?

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.  Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning:  the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

  -         The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-         Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-         Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love.

-         The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

-         The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-         The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-         Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Prophesy Serving,     Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

-         The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

-         Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

-         The ten Lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

-         The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Disciples.

-         The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

 MERRY (Twelve Days of) CHRISTMAS!

And so, let us remember, that it is not OK to say “Happy Holiday” – when did that all come about? 

As CHRISTmas approaches, let us remember that it is a Christian celebration of Christ’s birth!  In order to give Him the praise and the glory – let us remember to say loudly and clearly to those we meet; to those we send greeting cards to; to them all let us say:  HAPPY CHRISTMAS  one and all!

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Hitting the Right Button

November 15, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Inspirational Bible Verses

Acts 3:19 – Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord:  (NKJV)

I have just finished reading passages from my Bible and am now sitting here in front of my computer, ready to begin my daily routine of checking emails, my devotional websites and then I hope, continue on with my writing (I entered the National Writing Contest and am committed to write a minimum of 50,000 words through November).

It suddenly occurred to me how many times, during all these activities,  I have the need to hit the ‘refresh’ button; or the ‘delete’ button – and I really am truly thankful for them; after all my work would be far more time-consuming without them.  I can easily adjust my work and be sure it complies with my initial idea.

Whenever my fingers hit a wrong key I can immediately delete the error to erase it.  Whenever I linger too long and need  to bring my computer back from ‘standby mode’ – all I have to do is press the refresh button and voila - I am able to continue my work.

Thinking that, I am so glad that the times I sin, God does not look at me and decide that he needs to hit His ‘delete’ button, thereby erasing all that I am and strive to become for Him. 

I love that in the times we err in our bad-decision making or our plainly wrong behaviours, we can  approach Him in prayer, and ask His forgiveness and He will immediately ‘hit’ refresh, and we are ready to start again, with His grace. 

Prayer:  Abba Father, we know that we make mistakes – even though we try so hard to do the right thing  for Your honor and glory.  We thank you that you are a loving God, who disciplines without harshness.  We are so thankful that you continue to refresh us and guide us, even in the times, when You must often want to do the opposite.  Thank you for loving us just as we are.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

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Read the Book

November 9, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” Colossians 3:16a

 

The first time I sat down to read the Book cover to cover was during my first year of marriage.  I confess; I was ignorant of what the Bible had to say.  Oh, I had learned Bible stories as a child in Sunday school, but since my attendance was sparse I knew that I had missed out on important truths.  So I committed to reading through the Bible.

Reading the Bible is a privilege that some do not have.  I recall a man who visited our church some years ago.  He had saved up to come to a special evangelism seminar that our church was hosting.  One of our men befriended him and in the next several days learned his story.  Later all of us on staff learned his story too.

It seems that in his country it was forbidden to own a Bible.  Many of his family members were not Christians, so he was repeatedly beaten and threatened.  To them he was a disgrace, and they used these tactics to discourage him in his faith and force him to abandon it entirely.  When he came to our country, his one desire was to obtain a Bible in his native language that he could take home.  He knew that he would have to smuggle it through customs in order to keep it, but he was willing to take the risk.

His American friend prayed and through God’s intervention located a Bible for this man.  He was overjoyed!  Soon the time came for him to return to his homeland.  We all prayed that he would be able to keep his Bible.  When the call came, his American friend shared with us the good news!  He and his Bible were safe at home.

Over the next few months, his American friend shared tidbits of news.  He had begun a Bible study with a friend.  Then one day word came that he had been severely beaten by his family members with threats that he would be killed if he did not stop teaching the Word.  That was the last news we heard of him.

We take the privilege of reading our Bibles so lightly.  God has much to say to us, if we will but pay attention.  Let us not be too busy to read His Word, for in it we will discover the wisdom and encouragement to get us through life’s trials.  It is our lifeline in our times of need.

I made it through my Bible in less than a year, choosing to read the paraphrased Living Bible.  It gave me a good overview, but I knew it was time to keep my commitment by reading my King James.  I confess that I had difficulties with the language.  In total frustration I prayed and begged God for understanding.  He heard me because after that prayer, I didn’t seem to be struggling any more.

Anyone can read the Bible if you set your heart on it.  Start today with daily Bible reading to get in the habit.  Between now and January, you could fit in the Book of Proverbs and some of the Psalms by reading a chapter a day.

In January, start in earnest using a Bible reading schedule.  Do an online search using the keywords:  “Bible reading schedule” and you will find a variety of schedules.  I enjoy using the Bible reading schedule from Faith Baptist Bible College.  A 2012 version will be available on request.

I encourage and exhort you to commit yourself to reading the Bible during the coming new year.  It will change your heart and mind and your life!

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two—edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12


 

© 2011 by Linda Hull, Words of Encouragement

 

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His Choice

November 5, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Inspirational Bible Verses

While reading God’s Word – have you been surprised when certain passages seem to be speaking directly to you?  I have and I love when that happens.

This morning, I was being thankful for the beautiful sunshiny morning; and all the while making comparisons with how I imagine heaven.  I thanked God for the beauty all around me and in the world He created,  while admitting too, that we are assured that it pales in comparison to heaven.

I was thankful that I received salvation all those years ago – and do not even want to imagine the emptiness of my life without His love and guidance in my life.

I was feeling very good about being so thankful – for so many things and then I read John 15:16-17 and my eyes teared and I was, momentarily, in awe that I was His choice – not He mine!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  These things I command you, that you  love one another”.  (NKJV)

I felt humbled and amazed that I was important enough to Him, that He chose me to be one of His loved ones.  Being a part of His ‘family’ really does give me a sense of strength and peace inside: the emptiness you feel inside – when it feels as if there is a hole inside you that yearns to be filled, and yet you do not know how to fulfill that need; I can tell you – the ony way you can satisfy that inner craving is to fill it with God!  Worldly purchases – pleasure seeking – is all futile and so we waste our lives away, buying more and more stuff, which – once purchased or acquired – soon loses its’ appeal, I am sure you have found that out, or you are finding out right now.  I can assure you that only God can fill that inner need – it took me many years to find that out and truthfully, I regret ‘putting Him on the back burner” for so long, while I did things my way.

Prayer:  Father God – help us to give in and let You come in to our lives, to guide us – to love us and to show us how much more there is in life, when You are the leader.  Amen

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What do you want me to do for you?

November 4, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” -Mark 10:51-52

In Mark 10:46-52 we find Jesus healing a blind man. One of the most powerful questions Jesus could ask him was “What do you want me to do for you?” It was so simple, but yet, to the point.

To many the answer to Jesus’ question is pretty obvious. To many reading this, you would imagine that a blind man would want Jesus to heal him. That the blind man would want to receive sight so that he could enjoy the colors of the sky as the sun dips behind the mountain tops. So that he can finally look and see the face of the one who healed him.

In Jesus asking this man what he wanted Jesus to do for him…he confidently confirmed “I want to see.” It wasn’t “I’d like to see” or “It’d be nice to see.” He said it with confidence that he knew the man standing in front of him, despite being able to see his face, was able to give him sight.

What if there were opportunities where Jesus wanted to do something for us, but we didn’t have this confidence? Where He came to us and asked “What do you want me to do?” and we shrugged our shoulders or said “I’m not sure there’s much of anything you can do.”

Take a lesson from this blind man and know that Jesus wants to do great things for us, but sometimes we have to ask.

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Why are we here?

October 30, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” – Mark 16:15 NIV

I feel we often make life more difficult than it needs to be. We use more words than necessary and make the simplest of tasks difficult. That’s why I hope you see the importance of this devotional. Too often we get caught up on “why we are here” that we waste our time doing things that don’t matter, but that God tells us what we’re to do with our lives in Mark 16:15…so go do it!

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Don’t Hide!

October 28, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Whenever, I am challenged with what seems an insurmountable problem, I can easily become stressed – trying to resolve the issue myself; instead of going to God in prayer, and asking for His help and guidance. 

I think – as humans our initial response to any difficult situation is to attempt to ‘work things out by ourselves’ – and yet we can save ourselves so much anguish by ‘giving it to God’ and asking Him what we need to do.

When things go awry, in my life, my tendency is to isolate myself or to busy myself doing anything and everything – rather than confront the very issue that is causing me to waste my time and energy, “hiding in busy-ness”.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 encourages us to:  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NKJV)

That’s pretty hard to do – because when troubling times have come - the first thing I have tended to do through life, has been to ‘panic’- not even stopping to think to thank God for an opportunity to grow in my faith – that is, before I learned how my God, who loves me, strengthens me, guides me, helps me – when I have given my concerns to Him – but of course I do have to ask for His help and how I should deal with the situation.

Invariably, a solution happens along that I would not or had not thought of – I’d been so wrapped up in worry!  God pursues us each and every day – He wants what is best for us, and when times get tough we need Him more than ever – let’s not hide ourselves in busy-ness, let us make our first step to ask Him what we need to do, and then wait for His solution.

Prayer:  Abba, when we are trying to resolve troubling issues in our lives, please remind us that You are ready and will ing to help – but we have to ask You to!  Keep us from draining our energy resources, by keeping busy and keeping you at bay.  Amen

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