|
Autumn and winter have passed, and now it’s early spring. Time for spring cleaning and readying those garden beds! Maybe you’ll need to rototill to loosen soil that’s compacted over the earlier seasons, and certainly it is time to weed and add soil nutrients. All this preparation will help ensure a quality and quantity crop.
God has a lot to teach us about spring cleaning and properly prepared soil to plant seeds there. Take the parable of the man who sowed grain. When he threw it out, some landed on a path, only to be eaten by birds. Some fell on rocky ground, and without any fertile soil, quickly withered. Some fell among weeds—thorn bushes, in fact—and were choked out. It’s not hard to imagine that! However, the seed that landed in good soil produced a wonderful crop, one that was a hundred times more than had been planted. (Luke 8:8) Each day presents opportunities for us to allow God to prepare the soil of our hearts, spirits, and souls. He created us in love for a purpose and desires our soil to be excellent, filled with rich nutrients to produce a tremendous crop that would feed many others. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” Matthew 28:19-20a Today, then, is a great day to examine ourselves and prepare our garden soil. Let’s do some spring cleaning! Is there anything that needs dusted? Weeded and thrown out? Deep cleaned and rototilled? Fertilized? Do I have any unrecognized or unconfessed sin in my life? Have I hurt someone and need to ask their forgiveness? Is there something, You, God, have asked me to do or obey that I have not? Do I need to fertilize my spirit better by spending more time in Your Word, in prayer, or in worship? Am I walking in righteousness as best I know how? “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 Yes, Father, open my eyes and remove any logs I may have. “How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Matthew 7:4-5 Father, help me see myself clearly! Prune me and fertilize me, however You see fit, no matter what that takes. In the end, may my soil be made rich and fruitful, multiplying itself many times over, to better serve and glorify You. VERSES: Hosea 10:12 “I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ ” Luke 8:8 “ ’Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!’ When He had said this, He called out, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’ ” Luke 8:15 “And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” PRAYER: Father, I pray with all my heart that my life may not remain a small seed, but that through Your Word and my growing relationship with Your Son, Jesus, a full crop will be produced for You. Help me to be a living testimony of a life changed because of Your Son, bringing hope to others through salvation in Jesus. Thank you, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! "And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15
World War II: the battle between the Allied powers and those of the Axis . . . D-DAY: “For years, Allied leaders and military planners had debated about when, where, and how to land troops in northern Europe. Although plans for such an action had been in the works for years, it was not until December 1943, when General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, that preparations for the future operation, code named OVERLORD, intensified . . . With a small window of opportunity in the weather, Eisenhower made the decision to go—D-Day would be June 6, 1944. Paratroops began landing after midnight as the massive invasion force took station off the coast. A short naval and aerial bombardment preceded the landings, which began at around 6:30 am . . . Things went badly from the beginning for American forces landing at Omaha and Utah. At Omaha beach, the resistance was devastating for the early waves of troops. The landing force bound for Utah was blown off course, resulting in troops going ashore nearly a mile down the beach. American airborne forces of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were scattered behind Utah, sometimes tens of miles off target. To the west, the landings went more to plan for British and Canadian forces."1 God versus Satan: the ultimate world war . . . Satan, once called Lucifer, meaning morning star, rebelled against his Creator, desiring to be like God: Isaiah 14:12-15 tells us how well this worked out: “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ ” Thrown from heaven to the earth, Satan devised every scheme he could to defeat his enemy. The war between God and Satan was on, but in the Garden of Eden, after Satan deceived Eve into eating of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and Adam’s choosing to sin with her, God promised Satan this future: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3: 14-15 As with the American forces at first, it appeared that things would go very badly for mankind: “Then He (God) said to the woman, ‘I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.’ And to the man He said, ‘Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.’ ” There were consequences for disobeying God! Pain and sweat were promised, and throughout all future years, Satan would be a thorn in mankind’s side, causing much destruction and pain: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” John 10:10 However, in spite of this, there was God’s promise to Eve . . . to us. It is true that with man’s sinful rebellion, death entered the scene, and perhaps Satan thought he had won a victory over God by causing a permanent separation of mankind from Him. But unlike the Allies who planned how to defeat their enemy for years and not knowing the outcome of their attack, God had an eternal plan of defeating His enemy and ours . . . one that would not fail! He would sacrifice His perfect, pure, and innocent Son upon a torturous cross; Jesus would take the pain of all our sins upon Himself and die in our place so that those who accepted His sacrifice would no longer bear the guilt of sin, but appear before the Father as righteous and pure—as clean as newly fallen snow. Victory had been settled . . . In God’s perfect timing, it would be His. Those who fight salvation in Christ search for meaning in this life; some search for formulas to extend their lives—they search for the fountain of youth. Silly mankind! We do have meaning in life when we live in Christ, and we do have a fountain of youth and a stream of everlasting life with His Spirit living within us; and with Christ’s victory on the cross, we have hope and joy in this knowledge! "Despite challenges and sometimes fierce enemy opposition, Allied forces persisted in establishing a beachhead in Normandy.”2 The war in Europe raged on, but ended with Germany's surrender on May 7th, 1945. Despite all Satan's challenges and fierce opposition to God’s plan of redemption through Jesus, e.g. the killing of babies under age two in Bethlehem (Jesus had escaped to Egypt), His forty days of temptation in the desert, and His suffering on Good Friday--Jesus persisted with His heart set on obedience to His Father and established His beachhead on the cross. With Jesus giving us His strength through the Holy Spirit, we can battle whatever persecution Satan may design for us. We may not know God’s timetable, but we do know He is victor. Jesus will one day rule the earth as our peace maker, our sin remover, our eternal life giver, and our KING! Praise God for His promise fulfilled! While Satan may have thought that with Jesus’ death on the cross he defeated God, the true victor became clearly known with Jesus’ Resurrection on Sunday. The battle still rages, but the end-game is settled—God, our Supreme conquering King, has won the war once for all. Let us praise Him for His promise and life-giving sacrifice.. THE VICTORY IS GOD’S! HALLELUJAH! JESUS IS RISEN; HE HAS RISEN INDEED! 1. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/d-day-and-normandy-campaign VERSES: John 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 11:25-26a Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.” Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” John 12:31 “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” PRAYER: Hallelujah! I praise you, Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Let me dance through life because You, God, are a promise keeper. You defeated death on Resurrection Sunday, and now I look forward toward your second coming and the fulfillment of all prophecy. Blessed be Your name forever, Almighty God. Hallelujah! With joy I shout, Jesus is risen . . . He is risen indeed! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to Him. ‘Listen,’ He said, ‘we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence Him to die. Then they will hand Him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day He will be raised from the dead.” Matthew 20: 17-19
Twelve men . . . personally chosen by Jesus, travel with him, talk to him, hear His teaching, and witness His miracles. Twelve men, whom Jesus directly explains what will happen to Him as they make their way to Jerusalem, hear these words, but do they really listen? They do follow His command to bring a donkey with her colt and watch Him ride into Jerusalem, being hailed by crowds as David’s heir, the Messiah King. Twelve men, who we might think should have known what Jesus was about, truly didn’t. Some fell asleep during Jesus’ time of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane where He sweat tears of blood, while all deserted Him when soldiers arrived to arrest Him and again when Jesus hung upon the cross. Twelve men—brave when Jesus’ was present and bold when anointed with the Holy Spirit . . . but for a while, fearful and clueless. One woman . . . who sat at Jesus’ feet, honored and worshiped Him as she listened to His every word, letting each sink deeply into her heart. (Luke 10:39) One woman, who watched Jesus’ command her brother, Lazarus, arise from the grave, perhaps intuitively knew that this was the last straw for the Pharisees who soon would demand His death in order to retain what they perceived as their power and authority in Judea. Thus, this one woman, Mary of Bethany, arrived at a dinner being held to honor Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9) holding a beautiful jar of precious nard in her hands: “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Him, said, ‘That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.’ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, ‘Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.’ ” John 12:1-8 (See footnote 1) Visualize Mary as she previously sat at Jesus’ feet not just hearing Jesus’ words, but truly listening. Can you better understand now why she would anoint Jesus’ feet with her best, most precious perfume, then wipe them with her hair? With complete faith that this man was God, she desired to honor Him with her best. So I picture Mary in my mind, humbly sitting on the floor at Simon’s, with heavy heart and tears pouring from her eyes, performing this self-sacrificing act—Jesus’, her Lord, had to be anointed before He walked forth into His destiny. Twelve men and one woman--can we learn anything from them? Indeed, I believe we can from both and in so doing, imitate the best in each. VERSES Matthew 16:21 “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead.” Mark 9:30-32 “Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know He was there, for He wanted to spend more time with His disciples and teach them. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of Hs enemies. He will be killed, but three days later He will rise from the dead.’ They didn’t understand what He was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask Him what He meant.” John 14:29 “I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.” Acts 4:31 “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” Luke 10:38-39 “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught.” PRAYER: Father, when I read Scripture, let me not just see words or hear Your Words, but help me listen well to them and apply them to my life. And let me always remember that when I accepted your Son, Jesus, as my Savior, I was immediately anointed with the Holy Spirit, and with His strength, I can go forth in boldness to help spread the Good News of salvation in Him, as you commanded. Maybe I won’t travel to distant nations as did some of the apostles, but I can be an example to my neighbors of one changed by Jesus; I can speak of salvation in Him when You urge me to do so. Thank you for being my strength. Then, Father, help me have a heart like Mary—seeking to spend time with You, valuing every moment in Your Word. Let me fully trust in You and Your promises while humbly seeking to do Your will. Because You sit at the right hand of the Father, I cannot anoint Your feet with oil, nor do I have the resources to purchase expensive perfume. But what I do have, I now fully give You . . . and that is my heart. SONG: What Can I Give Him What can I give Him Poor as I am If I were a shepherd, I would bring Him a Lamb If I were a wise man, I'd sure do my part So what can I give Him Give Him my heart What can I can give Him But all of my heart Give Him my heart What can I give Him But all of my heart What can you give Him What can you bring? What can you offer That's fit for a King Bow before Jesus That's where you can start What can you give Him Just Give Him your heart Give Him your Heart Give Him your Heart What can you give Him But all of your heart Give Him your heart Give Him your heart What can you give Him Just give Him your heart Give Him your heart Give Him your heart What can you give Him But all of your heart Give Him your heart Give Him your heart What can you give Him Just give Him your heart What can I give Him I'll give Him my heart. Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Cymbala Carol Joy / Emelyne Francois I'll Give Him My Heart lyrics © Carol Joy Music DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! (Based on Chapter 7, Jesus’ Words for Teens: Standing Tall, Candice Mary Thomas, © 2021)
“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.” John 12:12-16 ESV Just, sinless, pure, and perfect—Jesus was surrounded by crowds. Sometimes they listened well as He taught them how to live and pray: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” [Matt. 7:12] “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy…” [Matt. 6: 9] Once they shouted in adoration: “Praise God! Blessings on the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessing on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!” laying palm branches before Him as he rode on a donkey into Jerusalem. [Matt. 21:9, Matt.21:15, Mark 11:9, Mark 11:10, John 12:13] Yet ultimately, many of that same crowd with mob mentality shouted, “Crucify Him!” [Matt 27:22-23] Clearly, Jesus was loved; and clearly, He was hated. He was respected, adored, then condemned. He was called Holy One of God, Lord…then blasphemer, demon, and criminal. As with us, Jesus felt hunger and suffered temptation; and as with us, He did not desire to endure the torture and crucifixion that He knew (as God) lay in front of Him: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Jesus said, ‘yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’ ” [Matthew 26:39] Through it all, Jesus stood tall, BOTH when He was adored by the crowds and when persecuted by many of the same, being led by fanatical Jewish religious leaders. You may think this was easier for Jesus than for you because Jesus was God. It is true that Jesus was and is God, fully and completely. “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” [Hebrews 1:3] Other versions, the HCS, NASB, and ESV, use the terms exact expression/image/imprint of God describing Jesus. Jesus definitely is God. Yet Jesus also was and is man, fully and completely. Don Stewart gives this summary of Jesus’ humanity in his article for the Blue Letter Bible: “When Jesus became a human being, He divested Himself of certain rights as God the Son. This can be seen in three ways. First, He restricted Himself to a human body with all its limitations. He gave up His position when He became a human being. Second, He veiled or hid His glory from the people. Finally, He exercised His relative attributes only by the will of God the Father - never on His own initiative.” 1 So, although Jesus could have reveled in displaying all His mighty powers, putting Marvel characters to shame, He exemplified humility, only revealing His divine nature when it was the will of God. As God, Jesus could not sin; but as a human, Jesus could if He chose to disobey His Father’s will. Therefore, He was tested, just like you and me: “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.” NLT “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” ESV [Hebrews 4:15] Jesus was tempted and tested, yet always stood tall. How? How did He withstand pride when adored; and how did He stand tall under the persecution of Satan, the Pharisees, other religious leaders, mockers, humiliators, betrayers, deniers, and murderers--all without sinning? Jesus, as the Word and as the Son, knew who He was; He trusted His Father, prayed to Him, then lived in obedience to His Father’s will rather than displaying dependence upon Himself. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, a sign of royalty, it demonstrated that He was not coming as a military conqueror but as a humble King of peace; and when He submitted Himself on the cross, He demonstrated living in obedience to His Father, the One He loved and trusted with His life. Humility. . . obedience . . denying self. This is how Jesus stood tall. 1. “In What Sense Did Jesus Empty Himself?” (Kenosis, Condescension of Christ). Don Stewart. https://www.blueletterbible.org/fac/don_stewart/don_stewart_ 795.cfm VERSES: John 8:28 “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am He. I do nothing on My own but say only what the Father taught Me.” NLT Philippians 2:5-11 “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” NLT PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I am being approved of, help me never to be prideful but always remember that what I accomplish is not because of who I am, but who You have made me to be: “for You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb…” Psalm 139:13 Any gifts or talents I have come from You, and the walk I have been growing in through Christ comes from You. You and only You desire all honor and praise! And when I am being challenged, possibly persecuted, let me stand tall, turning to You in reliance, trust, and obedience. You have promised to be with me through all times; as you care for sparrows, providing for them daily, so also You will care for me. (Matt. 6:26; Matt. 10:29) Help me always to remember that you are love; You are trustworthy; You are a promise keeper; and because I accepted Your Son as my Savior after He suffered and died for me on that torturous cross, I will one day live forever in Your comfort and peace. Humility. . . obedience . . denying self. May I always keep Jesus' example in mind, then help me, Father, stand tall, becoming His imitator. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Olives, tea bags, and diamonds--whatever do they have in common? Think about that for a minute, and I’ll bet you’ll figure it out! To most, olives are delicious, but possibly used even more widely is that product derived from olives—olive oil. The oil, used for many things (medicines, cosmetics, soaps) is especially great for cooking as it contains many health benefits, such as good fats and antioxidants. However, to get that precious oil, olives must be ground, crushed, pressed, and decanted.1 We can smell the tea leaf, and it does have some aroma; but to make it really aromatic and useful, it must be placed in boiling water. It is that process which brings out the marvelous flavors and in some instances health benefits. Visualize yourself at your kitchen table, smelling your tea as it brews, then taste as you drink: peppermint, lemon, jasmine, spice, licorice, etc. So good…so uplifting…so healing! Then there are diamonds—so treasured by the world. Who would have thought that once they were mere lumps of coal until they were placed under intense heat and pressure; some beauties form in mere months, while others take many years. You get it now, don’t you? Olives, tea, diamonds—all must be pressed in one way or another to produce an even greater product. The same is true for you and me; when we are pressed, we can become ever better...ever purer… and more useful in God’s kingdom! Though our God is a God of life, light, and love, our enemy is not! Therefore, living in a fallen world, we not only will experience beautiful moments, but also trying, difficult, and often painful times. Satan would use those for our downfall—for doubting our good and gracious Father—yet our Father would turn those times of pressure around 180 degrees so that they would end up refining us; we may be hard pressed, but we are not destroyed! When we allow God to work within us, our tough times can cause us to become better people--people who understand and empathize with others in their suffering; then we can serve those who need us and help them through their times of sadness, grief, and despair. In so doing, we become strong servants of Christ, and we glorify our magnificent God. How does our refining take place? How can the bad in our lives be turned to good? It all depends on our response to those testing times we face. Will we respond in bitterness and despair, turning away from God; or will we, in faith, trust Him to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death to His merciful peace and comfort? Will we trust in Him to accomplish His will for our lives, no matter what that may be? If we are willing to do this, whether it takes months or years, as in the case of diamonds, we will be refined; our lives will emerge from boiling waters to become testimonies to our faithful and loving God who is with us at all times, changing our weakness to strength and the ordinary into the extraordinary. 1. https://olivadelsur.com/en/blog/how-olive-oil-is-made-b110.html#an3 VERSES 2 Peter 1:2 “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalm 71:5 “O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 “Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors He would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Joshua 1:9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as I pray to You this morning, I would ask You to forgive me all my sins and listen to my entreaty: help me face and endure any refining You know is required in my life to become the woman you mean me to be. Let my faith and trust in You ever prevail, and therefore let my every response to You be, “Yes, LORD,” no matter the circumstance. Then use me, Lord, to serve others as they endure hardships. LORD GOD, truly, You are a promise keeper, and You have promised to be with me through all times, the good and the bad. Thank you for Your incomprehensible care and agape love for me! SONG: “Make Me a Servant” Make me a servant Humble and meek Lord let me lift up Those who are weak And may the prayer Of my heart always be Make me a servant Make me a servant Make me a servant today DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what You have done. I will trust in Your good name in the presence of your faithful people.”
Psalm 52:8-9 I picture in my mind David, pursued by Saul, betrayed by Doeg the Edomite, studying his bleak surroundings in the dry, stony hills of the desert of Judah when suddenly he spots an olive tree! This may or may not have happened, but the point is that David knows olive trees, and he concludes his psalm with beautiful and encouraging truth. He is like an olive tree! Why an olive tree? What is so special about it? Here are some amazing facts:
Let us be like David, always trusting in God’s unfailing love…remembering His provision throughout our lives…and always praising God forever! Let us be olive trees, for when we fear the Lord …are respectful and in awe of Him…we will grow like they do and will be blessed! “How joyful are those who fear the Lord, all who follow His ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.” Psalm 128:1-3 Note: Information on the olive tree taken from https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/olive.php VERSES: Hosea 14:6 “Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.” Psalm 52:8 “ But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.” Romans 11:17-20 “But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. ‘Well,’ you may say, ‘those branches were broken off to make room for me.’ Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.” PRAYER: “Father God, make me an olive tree—an evergreen You can use all the days of my life. May the fruit I grow be the sharing of Your Good News with others—that is my heart’s desire! And, Father, please continue to daily renew and fill me with Your Holy Spirit so my roots in You will never stagnate, but continue growing through every situation in life—through times that seem barren and through times of rich, fertile soil. In You, Almighty God, I fully place my trust, praising Your holy name; and may I, as David, thrive in Your house forever! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Psalm 52:1-3 “Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever? All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies. You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.”
Do you know the story of the evil Doeg, who was Saul’s chief herdsman (1 Samuel 21:7)? “Doeg was an Edomite, not a Hebrew. Israel had been at war with Edom, so Doeg may have entered Saul’s service as either a captive or a traitor to his people.” (1 Samuel 14:47)1 Neither of these are good options, are they? And talk about a person like this being at the right place (the temple at Nob) at the wrong time (David was there, fleeing Saul)—this was Doeg! Doeg had been detained at Nob (we aren’t certain why), and while there, he overheard David speaking to Ahimelech, the chief priest. In an attempt to save his own and his warriors' lives, David lied to Ahimelech, saying that he, David, had been sent by King Saul on a private matter; that he needed food for himself and his men whom he would meet later at an appointed spot; and that he needed a weapon, as he had left on his mission so hurriedly, he’d not had the time to arm himself. Ahimelech, who had no regular bread, instead gave David holy bread which was meant solely for God’s priests. His reasoning? Ahimelech knew David’s reputation—that he was faithful to Saul, captain of Saul’s bodyguard, and an honored member of Saul’s household. He knew that love and compassion always should supersede Mosaic law, and in his heart, Abimelech knew that David’s life was worth saving! Ahimelech, then, in addition to food, provided David with Goliath’s sword. Saul was paranoid; he believed David, his own son, Jonathan, and the priests were conspiring to kill him. As Saul interrogated his officers about this, Doeg, who unfortunately was present, told Saul what had transpired between Ahimelech and David at Nob, purposely leaving out David’s story about being on a secret mission for Saul. This sin of omission effectively affirmed in Saul's mind his conspiracy theory. He became outraged and called for Ahimelech and all his family to come before him. Not listening to Ahimelech’s explanation for aiding David, Saul demanded his bodyguards kill Ahimelech and his entire family. The guards refused to do so, but not the evil Doeg. He killed all eighty-five of the priests, then went to Nob and wiped out the town—men, women, children, babies, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. (1 Sam. 22:18-19) About all of this, Doeg boasted! David, in Psalm 52, points out how misled Doeg was to gloat: “But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say, ‘Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.’” Psalm 52:5-7 What does all this mean for me and you today? What can we learn?
1. https://www.gotquestions.org/Doeg-the-Edomite.html VERSES: Psalm 37:28 “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 37:8-9 “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” 1 John 4:4 “…you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those (evil) people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me…” Luke 6:1-4 “One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, His disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain. But some Pharisees said, ‘Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?’ Jesus replied, ‘Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions.’ And Jesus added, ‘The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.’” PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as I see evil in our world and my soul cries out with grief, I ask You to daily remind me that You are my rock and that You promised to be with me always…leading, guiding, and protecting. I now choose, as David wrote, to fully and completely trust in You—Your will for me and Your plan for end times, whether they be soon or late. You are GOOD, You are HOLY…You are ALMIGHTY GOD! I place myself in Your arms of unfailing love, and I praise Your name forever! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Matthew 13:5 “Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.”
Roots—we know how vitally important they are. With water, oxygen, and well-tilled soil, they grow well and deep, with one of the strongest of all roots being the taproot. Just think of the strength in those pesky dandelions! Let’s compare our faith in Jesus Christ to a taproot. Without a deep root in Him, and without a loving obedience to His commands, it is possible for our faith to wilt under times of stress and trial, and we may become unable to stand firm in difficult times of challenge against all we have been taught and know to be true. What does a taproot require to grow well and deep? Water, oxygen, and good soil. Our faith also has essentials to enable growth: God’s Word, prayer, and an open heart.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1:1-3 Also, we will not be fearful in an America so unlike the one we knew in the past or in a world we see changing before our very eyes: “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 Let God be our one and only focus! It is only in Him that life lies, so let us call upon Him to deepen and, if needed, regenerate our taproot of faith in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us remember to turn all worries and fears over to Him, having full confidence in the One who saved us; and let us never forget that when we are planted in Christ and He dwells within our hearts, His love will fill us so completely that we will be vividly green with life and able to give strong witness to those who need Him. Faith in Christ makes us strong, and with Him, we need never wither under the hot sun! “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 VERSES: Colossians 2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Ephesians 3:16-19 “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” PRAYER: Father God, hear my prayer today, asking You to strengthen my faith each moment of each day. Let me always remember Your promise that because I have chosen Jesus as my Savior, nothing will ever snatch me from Your hand. You are faithful, You are strength itself, and in You, I choose never to fear. May my taproot of faith daily grow in You from reading Your Word, prayer, and opening my heart to all you reveal. Thank you for being my God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the only true God! Amen. DISCLAIMER: Just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! To orthodox churches and some protestant congregations, today is known as Ash Wednesday, a day marking a forty day period before Easter Sunday known as Lent. During this time, congregants are asked to pray and fast in remembrance of Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the desert while being tempted by Satan; they are to dwell on Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. You won’t find the term Lent in the Bible, but we do find much about fasting and repentance!
No matter our beliefs, it is always good to focus on Jesus—His life, ministry, sacrifice, burial, death, and resurrection. It is also always good for us to set aside a time to examine ourselves, asking God to reveal to us any sinful thoughts, words, or actions from which we can repent. Jesus paid too great a price for our salvation to never give thought to all He did for us and to ask His forgiveness of our sins. Today may be a good day for all of us to once again meditate on our Savior’s life—how He grew as a child in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and all the people (Luke 2:52); how He grew to be a man who loved with compassion, mercy, and grace the crowds who came to Him for healing and instruction; and how He confronted with passion false leaders who attempted to lead people away from the truth of who He was and the Good News of the Gospel—that we are saved by faith, not by works. Today is a very good day to focus on the meaning of true love, the love of our Savior, who died for us while we were yet sinners. It is a good day to pray, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:7-10 VERSES Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” 1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” PRAYER: Jesus, as the song says, “You are my all in all!” It is hard to realize that You love me--yes ME—so much that You suffered ignorance, abuse, pain, abandonment, torture, and death—more than I can ever imagine—to save me…to say, “Come, believe in Me and become your Father God’s child. Let Him hold you in His presence and in His LOVE, both now and forever.” I can never have words enough or correct enough or elaborate enough or songs or melodies enough to express my thanks. What do I have? I have YOU!! I would therefore ask You to help my every heartbeat be Yours; I would ask You to live in me completely, each and every moment, so I may live for You! May Your holy name be praised and blessed forever, my God! SONG: “You Are My All in All” by Nichole Nordeman You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool You are my all in all Taking my sin, my cross, my shame Rising again I bless Your name You are my all in all When I fall down You pick me up When I am dry You fill my cup You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Worthy is Your name DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! John 13:35 “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
I truly hope and pray that each one of us can testify to the power of God’s love in transforming our lives. The moment we believe in His Son, Jesus, that transformation begins, and our hearts are changed in such a manner that we can love others as God would—not loving conditionally, as is common with man, but with agape love—that complete, unconditional love such as God gives us. We also begin to speak as God would, using words with kindness, love, and compassion, desiring the best for others at all times. I recently read an article that so clearly demonstrates the above that I’d like to share a part of it with you. THE POWER OF LOVE by Michael Wing Epoch Times February 8, 2022 What if you saw someone about to jump off a bridge to commit suicide over a busy highway? Would you stop and open your heart to save a life? Utah man Joe Tuia’ana, 42, found himself in that situation while driving his three daughters to one of their basketball games on Saturday, Jan. 29. At around 3 p.m., they were crossing the I-15 overpass between 350 North and 760 North when Joe, a sales account manager from Lehi, spotted a young man in his early 20s in a black hoody. The run-in changed Joe’s life. ‘”He was crying and was very shaky, standing on the other side of the protective barrier fence, facing the interstate,” Joe told The Epoch Times. “He was looking down at the moving cars below while holding himself with his right hand.” Immediately, Joe knew the man was suicidal and swung his car around, parking behind the young man’s car on the bridge. He told his eldest to call the police and for his girls to stay put. “I got out of the car and immediately thought, ‘If you screw this up, not only is this young man going to die, but your daughters are going to see it happen,’” he said. “I nearly passed out due to fear and anxiety.” Joe said a small prayer, asking God to help him do the right thing. “From that point, I felt inspired to do what I thought Jesus would do: walk slowly to this young man, with your arms open to him,” said Joe. As he drew near, the young man looked over and then back to the freeway. Few words were needed, Joe knew. Just love. When close enough, I told him, ‘I love you. I love you, bro,’” Joe said. “He looked at me with fear and pain, crying so hard. With my arms open to him, I repeated, ‘I love you. I love you, bro.’” After a few minutes, he uttered softly, “help.” That was all Joe needed to hear. He jumped up, embraced the young man, and pulled him over to his side of the fence. “I held the young man in my arms like he was my own child and cried with him,” said Joe. “No words said, no questions asked. Just time for him to hug and sit with someone who loved him in peace. He was hurting and I felt like he just needed someone to love him.” Here you witness the power of God’s love expressed in simple words from one human heart to another—words that put into action true agape love. Note, however, that Joe’s words did not originate in himself, but through prayer, even his quick prayer, God listened, and the Holy Spirit inspired Joe to say just what that young man needed to save his life. Think how Joe’s words--“I love you, bro,” symbolize God’s agape love for us; no matter what we’ve done, He will always either whisper in our ears or shout into our souls, “Come to Me! I love you!” When we respond, accepting His Son Jesus as our Savior, He gives us ever so much more than physical life; He gives us life everlasting. Changed hearts, changed words, changed actions—prayer and love for others—what a difference we can make in the world when we accept Jesus as Savior and allow God to work through us in love. VERSES Proverbs 15:3 “Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time.” Proverbs 15:4 “Gentle words are a tree of life;a deceitful tongues crushes the spirit." PRAYER Father God, You are wisdom…you are LOVE…You are power. Thank you that ever since I accepted Your Son Jesus as my Savior, Your Holy Spirit has dwelt within me, giving me all I need to represent You to others. Help me now and each future moment of my life to live that out! Help me to reach out to others in their need, just as Joe did with the suicidal teen—just as You have done with each of us in our need; help me to love with Your agape love at all times. Keep working in me, growing me, changing me, and turning me more and more into your loving, compassionate, caring image. For You are my God, my only God, and I desire to honor You in all my ways! DISCLAIMER I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! |
Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
May 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
