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Wholesome and Clean

December 1, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Inspirational Bible Verses

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

 Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

 

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When All Is Said and Done

September 19, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Affirmation goes a long way.

Don’t you just love it?  I do.

Have you ever met a single soul who hated affirmation?  Oh, some folks may pretend they don’t like it.  They may even brush off a compliment or praise.  But I have a tough time believing they don’t feel a twinge of pleasure when they are validated.  Trophies.  Blue Ribbons.  Diplomas.  Gold medals.  All ways society affirms achievement.  Yet, those cannot begin to have the validating power that three little words from your father have when he says…”You did great.”

I had someone compliment me yesterday that affirmed my decorating sense and it felt goooood.  Real good.  My granddaughter told me how much she loved me and liked being with me.  ”Beam!”  For me, validation helps balance out the inferiority within and the daily flubs in life.  I know I am not “all that”.  Therefore when someone affirms me, it encourages me to do more, be better, try harder.

Scripture tells us not to boast about ourselves, to let others do it.  That’s so we don’t get the “big head”, as Momma use to say.  Some Christians don’t want anyone to give them any validation because they want all the glory to go to God.  I understand that. But let’s face it; there’s enough criticism and condemnation in this world that few of us have to worry about giving out too much praise and giving someone the “big head”.

People like to know they make a difference in the world– that they are significant to others.  If we didn’t need affirmation, God wouldn’t have given some of us the gift of encouragement.  There would be no reason to include “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold” in the book of Proverbs.  Nor would there be any promise of “well done my good and faithful servant”.  Then there’s:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:24

As Christians we know we are significant to God.  Extremely significant.  Why else would He send His only begotten Son to die for our sins, to set us free from the guilt, shame, and rebellion?  We don’t deserve it, but God’s grace shows we mean something to Him.  A big something.  We could never be holy enough, pure enough, good enough, so God poured out His righteousness upon us.  Just thought you’d like to be reminded of that fact today.  After all, it’s Monday.  And there is something about Mondays that always seem to drag us down.

I pray you have a great week in the LORD.  I pray He blesses you and you see His blessings immediately.  I pray you hear the affirmations of others and receive them as blessings from God.  Accept them.  I don’t know about you, but when I affirm others and remind them of their value, I feel good too.  It returns a blessing to me.  I hope these words encourage you and help affirm how important you are to others in this troubled world.  I hope this feeds you and spurs you on to stir up the good within others so they are able to believe in themselves.

And if that’s notmotivating enough, take God as an example.  When Jesus was baptized, He audibly told the world, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Now, friends.  If God thought it important to confirm and affirm Jesus, it’s the least we can do for others we meet throughtout the week.  Agree?

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Light as Bubbles in the Wind

September 12, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

I have to confess.  All day yesterday, I was burdened by the grief I saw on the
faces of folks who lost their loved ones in 9-11.  I gave a lot of thought to
the people who were riding on the four air-liners.  I can’t imagine the horror
they went through.  As poignant as the whole memorial thing was, I couldn’t help
but feel the sadness.  I am acquainted with grief, too. I knew that in time, the
heartache would lessen and the soul-sadness would fade.  I resigned myself to
what I felt until suddenly, God sent me an unexpected blessing.

My daughter needed my car to go to church.  When she returned it, she asked
if I was going to feel up to watching my granddaughters tomorrow so she could
keep an early morning appointment.  I suggested she let them stay the night.
Surprisingly, she agreed.  Within moments those little balls of giggling energy
came bounding into the house and my woes were lifted like bubbles in the wind.
Kinsey came running and latched onto my neck with her precious chubby arms and
kissed me on the cheek.  “We get to spend the night, Gwama!”

Then Haylee ran and climbed up into my lap and said, “We get to spend the
night again, Grama!”  She gave me a big hug and then told me all about church.
I couldn’t tell whether she was more tickled with church or with the idea of
spending the night.  One thing was certain; her joy was contagious.  They
brought to me what my heart had lacked all day.  God knew I needed a sparkle,
their lighthearted laughter.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am
helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”  Psalm
28:7

The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.  My sadness and grief lay
heavy on my heart and mind. I thought about all the children in the world who
did not have a parent to love them and care for them and share the joys.  Yet,
we have the LORD to strengthen us, to shield us from devastating circumstances.
When our hearts trust in Him, He helps us get through the difficulty.  He helps
carry the burden.  He heals the heartache and mends the brokenness.  He fills
the void where loss leaves its crater of grief.  When we sing a song of praise
and thank Him for all He is in the shadows of life, heartaches are as light as
bubbles in the wind which find their resting place in Him.

Are you burdened?  Are you sad?  Look up.  Let God lift you on eagle’s
wings.  Let Him energize you and empower your spirit with His.  Take time to
blow your bubbles to the wind and listen to the child’s giggles of innocent
joy.  Be refreshed.  “The joy of the Lord is your strength…an everpresent help
and refuge.”  Seek Him in the morning.  Seek Him at noon.  Seek Him when the day
gives way to evening.  Allow His grace to flood your soul and cover your mind
with His presence.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today,
2011

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Place It in His Hands

July 21, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

 

 

Commit to the Lord our works.

How easy it is to forget to do that. It’s easy to forget that we can pray with our kiddos over their schoolwork and commit that to the Lord in prayer.

It’s easy to forget that God cares about the things we care about. The housework that needs to get done, the groceries that need to be bought, and the time we want to invest in our marriage and our friendships.

We don’t even give it another thought when we plan a vacation or look to buy a new home. A new car purchase can be stressed over…but is it prayed over?

God cares about it all. He wants us to seek Him in it ALL.

I think sometimes the things in our life are harder than they ought to be. We stress over making the right decision when the only decision should be to lay it before the Lord and believe that He will guide us in the right direction.

We try to control too much – only giving Him the leftovers.

Commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do. That means the cupcakes you planned to make for your child’s class party, the table you are leading at Bible Study, or the new dress you are purchasing. Commit it all to Him.

And your plans will succeed. They will work out. Everything will fall into place – just as it should be. Because our priorities were placed in the right hands. With the right person. At the right time.

“Oh Lord, I’m so guilty of storming ahead on my own willpower with my own agenda. Never including you in my plans. Please forgive me. Help me be aware of your presence and caring in my life. Remind me that you’re ever-present and ever-watchful in my life, caring about even the tiniest of details. Help me consult you FIRST and commit everything I do – to you. Help me hand it over. The big, the small, the important and the not-so-important.

I love you. I live for you. I believe in you.

I want my plans to succeed. And I want to know that they only succeeded because I submitted my will – to Yours. Amen.”

 

Dionna Sanchez (http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com)

 

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Words That Will Help Others

June 23, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

God really convicted my heart the other day. I read this verse…

“ When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.” Ephesians 4:29

Well, He couldn’t have instructed us any plainer, could He? We are not to say harmful things about others.

How often do we complain? Especially when it comes to others? We gripe about things they do that irritate us. We don’t speak in words that help those people become stronger and better. We only grumble.

We can protest and say that we don’t put others down and we don’t speak badly of them – at least in public. But what about at home? Do you talk to your husband about your feelings? Do you speak while your children are within earshot? Do you express frustrations about family members?

We all do. We all have people in our lives who rub us the wrong way. People who let us down. People who disappoint and frustrate us. People who probably DO need to make some changes in their hearts or lives. But how are we helping them by simply complaining?

We each have a choice. We can keep our thoughts to ourselves and take them to the Lord in prayer, or we can take action and do something to help the person who is the subject of our irritation. We can do or say something that will motivate them and encourage them to become stronger.

I want others to do good in the lives of those around me. I want others to respect me enough to listen to me. But it starts in my own heart and in my own home – with me doing good and with me being respectful.

I can make a difference. I can try to help someone else be better. Or I can complain. One might actually have a chance at impacting a life – the other one doesn’t even come close.

 

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com)

 

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DO WORDS OFFER HOPE?

September 27, 2010
Filed In Daily Devotionals

My four-year-old granddaughter couldn’t resist the mud-puddle as we walked across the parking lot. I told her to walk around it, but she stepped into it and splattered dirty water onto her sister’s legs and mine. As you can imagine, her impulsiveness didn’t bring her the joy she’d thought it would. She’d hoped for giggles and exclamations of excitement akin to that she felt inside. She didn’t stop to consider the feelings of others as she enjoyed her romp in the water.

Sometimes we cannot help but get a bit of mud upon our legs as we wade through the mud-puddles of life.  However, I think the way to avoid the splatter is more than avoiding the puddle.  It’s walking cautiously, with purpose, with wisdom. We do not get that from insisting upon our own way and splattering another with our opinions.  Peter reminds us how vital that is:

“But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.” 1 Peter 3:15

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to the power of words. Do my words share the depth of my heart or the shallowness of my mind?  Sometimes I believe it is the latter. I don’t want it to be that way. I want the joy I have in my Savior to show. I want the peace He bestows upon me to flow through me and into the lives of others. I want the confidence I have in the Word of God to dispel the doubt others have in their circumstances and difficulty. I want to hear–truly hear, what another is saying when they speak. I want to understand why they feel the need to be brusque, to be insensitive to others.  I want to counter hopelessness with Hope–a Hope far greater than anything this earth affords. If we find ourselves unable to talk without complaining, dialogue without irritation, then it is best we keep silent and avoid splashing others by our steps–and useless words.   

PRAYER:  Lord, keep me mindful of the biting affect my words can have. Keep my mind stayed upon You and the hope I have in knowing You. Let my words bring healing and encouragement in a world quick to stomp out the Light of Your goodness and love.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2010

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When You Want to Know What To Do

March 25, 2010
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Last week I was really sick with a stomach virus.  I couldn’t seem to bounce back and felt despondent.  However I was far more troubled about some of my friends who are struggling.  One friend has a two year-old grandson just diagnosed and undergoing treatment for leukemia.  Another has a new-born daughter with spina-bifida.  Another learned of his mother’s sudden death.  My granddaughter’s father-in-law died of lung cancer.  Illness.  Death.  Funerals and grief.  My illness was so small in comparison to all those I know and love.  I did my best to encourage them, but felt so tiny in the scheme of things.  I wanted to be able to do more, but had no idea what I could do.  Then today I read this verse:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Just as in fact you are doing.” God has a reason for everything in this world; likewise, He has a reason for us.  As we walk through our sufferings, we have each other for encouragement.  Each day we have an opportunity to encourage someone, somewhere.  Yet, all too often we fail to do so.  Why?  Perhaps our problems loom so large in our own lives, we fail to notice the problems of another.  We fail to ask, or even to hear.  So we go along, do our jobs, gas our cars, never even realizing someone else has the same struggles we do–friends dying, loved ones undergoing chemotheraphy.  We often fail to turn them over to God, to let go of them.  Sometimes we promise to pray for them, and then forget.

This week, when despondency gripped my heart, a teenager emailed me from her phone to say “hello”.  She’s my grandson’s girlfriend.  It was so sweet of her to let me know she cared.  I emailed back and she replied and told me how much she looked forward to seeing a new blog from me at the end of her school day.  Encouraging words.  A few other friends left comments on my website.  It wasn’t huge, just words fitly spoken at just the right time–when my body was worn, my spirit was low.  God wants each of us to bring our problems to Him.  He wants us to depend upon Him and recognize He is with us.  He longs to love us and give to us and bestow the riches of His glory upon us.  He often uses others to encourage us.  It’s part of His plan.

How about you?  Do you  sense the leading of the Spirit this week, this day?  Can you hear Him urging you to follow through on writing a note, or sending an email, making a call, a visit?  Someone needs you.  Do you know who it is?

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2010

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