Monthly Archives: July 2021

Devotion Matthew 7/8/21

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I can’t go to bed in a decent time. The hot weather doesn’t help either.

Could I accomplish things that seem impossible and make them possible?

I would imagine people like athletes would. They can make records that are surprising, pushing the limits that people assume the human body can only do but pass those expectations.

At the Olympics, they are impressive!

But what about doing things in God’s name? Are accomplishments in a career for an athlete like the impossible things that He can do?

It is good to have trophies and things to show off to other people. Many who get praised will sometimes even show a seeming Godly humility about it. “Oh it’s no big deal.”

But humility does not work for people in the world. One must humble themselves to make the One be glorified. People who humble themselves have no one to do so with. It’s kind of pointless for them to do so!

Wow I just looked at bible verses preceding this one. I must digress about it! Check this bible verse out:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Out of context this is a verse about how God can do amazing things.

Within context it’s about salvation.

But anyway, to go on about the subject at hand, we must have drams and goals for Jesus. Other wise if we’re just looking for being famous and making money are we really living for God?

It’s okay to become rich when following the Lord (I don’t want to get that rich, in my opinion) but the heart can really change things especially if one’s goals get shifted or one thinks of what they can do with their riches if there are no more easier opportunities (that might be bad choices!).

I think one has to look to the Lord for all things and to do any and all they can for Him to be a real servant to God.

It’s okay to do things like have hobbies of listening to music that isn’t Christian music and stuff but it is good to at least have goals to press forward keeping focused.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

That is in Philippians 3:13-14.

We must stay focused while we do our work here on earth. Look to the hills because that is where our help comes from. We must think of His goodness and His kingdom before Jesus builds it here.

Devotion Numbers 7/7/21

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I got a big dose of encouragement at work today! A song came on by NeedtoBreathe that they never played before. One I’ve been listening to almost constantly about being humbled about God’s love. Thank You, Lord…

Are we really the reflection of Jesus? Can we live for God even though we might stumble?

I sometimes will struggle constantly against my sin! In the worst of these “storms,” I get upset and wonder if I was ever a true believer.

But God sees us in ways we may not or will never understand.

To reflect godliness first takes the acceptance of the gift through Jesus Christ. If one doesn’t do that as an initial decision where they have come to the full realization to want to know the glory of God, nothing can happen.

The holy spirit needs to have the pull on a person’s heart before they can become a true believer.

Then the person goes through life. There will be struggles, there will be hardships, but all adds up to something that is worth living for, which is so tough but yet a possibly necessary life lesson!

We may have goals in life or things that we want to do in said lives but if you live for God, are those goals a reflection of the One who first loved you?

To have any job is okay. Living flipping burgers, having an office to work in, serving the public in some capacity is great. Other jobs are great. But if you are living in Christ and may have side hobbies or things you want to do, are your goals set along the lines of the straight and narrow?

To be in the truth means you must reflect the true heart of love for Him to be in your life. I pray that You find out the love in Christ may not be everything you might currently ask for.

Here’s a scripture from the Bible NKJV:

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

I am looking into what the book of Numbers is about (I’m new in examining the bible like this, bear with me, haha!) and a source says this:

“The book of Numbers was written to demonstrate that God’s covenant plan stays on track even when His people don’t. The instances of sinful complaining and rebellion and the resulting judgment are so pronounced and widespread that it seems like they will never make it (Num. 14:2-4, 26).” Source patsieler.com

People during that time had to follow rules only because as a result God would be reflected on and glorified.

People knew about God and yet sin was still rampant. To really show the heart and love of Jesus, we must not be like this “rampant” sin. We must also if we do or have given in know to ask for forgiveness and be genuine in that to continue on in the life of Jesus.

It is okay to “struggle against” your old sin, just don’t make it a habit where you end up no longer reflecting a true believer in Christ. Be strong but only in Whom you know is strong. You are weak but you need Him more and more so that you can reflect HIS goodness.

May the Lord bless you and keep you! And may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Where to Stand- Quick Quip 7/6/21

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This might be later in some time zones, but here where I live it still is the 6th, haha…!

My bible devotion from this morning was in Second Timothy 4:17: “The Lord will stand with you and give you strength.” I used to stand for a lot of things. One was my intellect, another was my heart with matters I knew weren’t good but I followed them recklessly anyway. Both were not good!

It is good to have intelligence but mine was not built on anything that could stand. I should tell people who think they “know” the wisdom of all that matters that what my thoughts were in actuality were like a “house” of lies. They stood against the truth of God’s Word. Following His ways I also have seen how awesome it is to be in Him, God’s Son Jesus Christ. Also the bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

I hope one day you will ‘stand’ for what is true. Let it be from something that is truth as well!

Quick Quip Wisdom- 7/5/21

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To have wisdom means to have applied knowledge. That means what one has learned them is something that helps guide them through life, like markers that are now in the road that are put there by the one who knows where to go.

What I need to know in wisdom is what to do about what I should do about people doing things that appear to be illegal. I have the ability to tell the authorities but I also hope that someone doesn’t get lost who happens to be pulled into that group, trying to live for money to get by. I hope that “someone” actually appreciates this! Anyway that is all I can really say about it.

So I don’t get on with that tangent, all I need overall in this situation is wisdom. This is a person who has been with us a number of years. I do care about that person though I don’t always show it (and I apologize when I haven’t gotten along and made immature ways to show I was annoyed the person was still around).

You see I found out just this year that my Godly gift is to be merciful. Though there are limits (and I will show that soon!) I have to still show love towards others as this is all a huge learning lesson. What are the limits but also what can I do to show the ones the Love of Christ?

And how can I use this applied knowledge for the future, when I will live for myself and in confidence?

God give me wisdom to use every day but also lead the way in my life though the path is pretty hard!

Amen.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding Proverbs 3:13

If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God, who gives generously and to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

Freedom

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Since 1941, we have celebrated at day annually here in the United States of America. But do we really know what true freedom is?

I hope we really will cherish our freedoms. We one day will look back and at least pray we will be as free as we were many moons ago.

Sadly there have been a lot of changes to be honest, but here I will talk about something and not go on a tangent.

July 2nd 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, on July 4th.

This was in the United States of America’s history, a historic moment for the American Revolution.

The Declaration document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was a huge win for America.

We are free to live here and stay independent from the tyranny and controlling government from England, our former home. Now to have our own land from there on the ones who helped found the land’s laws and rules to live freely but be limited as far as legalities go (that’s another story. It’s crazy how rampant substance abuse and people “celebrating” were doing freely in the streets then!).

We were free and hopefully we will be as free as we can be from today onward. Let’s celebrate our freedom today! God bless you and American freedom.

Devotion- 7/3/21

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Doing well. Physically I still need to get stuff worked out but…

To believe in the One who has changed you brings amazing changes. Just like to know a friend and you might have certain qualities. Over time, those qualities are like mutual changes: you become like them, they become like you.

But this is a completely different kind of relationship: You change for the better and God stays the same. But you have every moment to be newer to be “better” than you were before.

And this “Friend” just wants the best for you.

The opening verse is from Romans, possibly my favorite writer in the bible:

Do not be conformed to this world… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

From ‘whichever version I use.’ No one could guess it, haha. Just kidding it’s from the NKJV, the New King James Version.

Note that I separated it a little. That was not a separation in the text but it is important.

We must not be like the people in this world. There are people so stuck in sin they might need someone to talk to at the very least, while this world it is hard sometimes to even fake interest!

There are many though in the opposite spectrum who do care, but is there anyone who can tell them just what changed their lives? More importantly is there a Godly Person who has completely turned them around, or might they equate their experience in life as “I just changed my attitude…” and that’s the end of their personal story?

I hate being stuck in my own sin. It’s no fun. I shared that before, how I was feeling like I was being dragged through my old life and it would not let me go..!

I don’t want anyone to not know there is a love in something that will be like the shackles of sin have been removed and a love moves the heart and will change their life in a way that they couldn’t have imagined!

Because by the grace of Jesus I was shown there was a life that was worth living for my own self.

We must also know that His yoke is easy His burden is light:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ‘For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.'” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus had amazing words to share to the people He loved dearly who He wanted them just to have a close relationship with His Father.

He guided them and knew that what the Father wanted was what He grew up learning about and He knew they needed for their persnal lives too.

We need to remember that His way is perfect (Psalms 18:30). We must shine like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:15) if we want to really live for goodness. Sure if you “fall” there is mercy to speak to Christ and be picked back up, there is such wondrous grace in Jesus that it is worth telling in this awful disease-spotlighted world.

How worth it is to tell of this wonderful transforming grace? It’s worth everything!

Transforming Grace- 7/2/21

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The love that first loved me. That is what I hope to be. One day we will completely rid our old selves and be completely new! But sadly that will only happen after the end times. Those times will be tough for ones who especially never saw that hope here. There is a chance many Christians who have done things in the wrong heart (without Christ) will wonder why they weren’t with their fellow believers. It’s a scary sad time and will feel like the end for a lot.

But in those times within there is still somehow God’s mercy. He could have taken the earth apart and completely killed everyone who wasn’t without His grace but God’s Word does not say that will happen after the Lord is getting ready to come, to rule on earth and be back in bodily form. There in the midst of all the sorrows of loss and terrible tribulations following what has come right before it will have the chance to still know Jesus.

Why don’t we listen to what Christ wants for us today? We must be one who will be guided by His father, God. And what we can do for that is reading the bible. He can speak to us if we do that.

But the heart must be changed first before we could ever know the truth.

I was just thinking about a hymn about the transforming grace of Jesus. He can change a person from the inside out. The person and their soul does absolutely nothing to end up believing. God can get us as we are but by the power of the Holy Spirit (it’s like a “whisper” or a leading from the heart to know Him) that only He can do will a person find out they need Him, the Father.

He takes us as are, which is full of sin. We are the reviled, the awful, the worst people in all the earth even as much as early as the moment we are born to the world.

I think of my own sin. It is selfish, pitiful, it is so vile I hate is so much as I try to follow the One who’s ways are so much better than my own.

I see such deep pits of selfishness. But when I want to follow Christ, I see such depths of His heart that His father has for us.

It is amazing. It is awesome grace. It is worth living for!

We cannot live for God with our sin so we must know that Jesus died on the cross for it so we don’t have to live without him forever (and end up in hell) but accept that Christ died for you and take His love like a gift. Jesus also had risen again after He took the punishment though he was perfect. He showed that He had power even over death! Don’t you want your life to end up in a world where you get to see heaven?

Then pray if you need to like this:

God, I realize that anything I do in life is just selfishness and is not enough to go to heaven. I also know that by the love of You and through Your Son Jesus who died on the cross He paid for not just the world’s sin but for all of my sin too. I want to live a life to be a believer in Christ and be guided by what You want me to do. Thank You for hearing me. Amen.

I pray your life had been transformed by the grace of Jesus today!

Devotion 2 Corinthians and Faith 7/1/21

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This site has now reached 50 followers (or “follows”) now. Thank you so much everyone!

What does it mean to have faith? Is it okay to have a faith in some higher power or is it okay to have faith in yourself? Can a person who is a Christian who hopes to only live alone be in great faith in the Lord?

Can God make a way where a believer is a completely different person from what they were before, through Christ?

Hmm, I think most of these are great questions. One reflects more of the world in wondering but if you yourself are a believer you may know that there is a difference (hopefully).

Here is the key verse for today:

For we walk by faith not by sight.

II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

What does this mean?

Is there an “I” in faith? Yes literally, haha, but in a rather expressive sense, the only thing a believer should do is depend on the Lord and not in self.

It might be hard but even those who claim to be strong (or who say they might be stronger than others) will have this “I” attitude. Even saying that only caring about what God wants and not giving a crap about being with other believers is like having an “I” attitude.

I myself used to think that the church wasn’t important to me. There was a time I thought a church was just a “place” to go to not a body of believers. But it is a time to fellowship to lean on each other and help each other be lifted up emotionally, depending on each other through the love of Jesus.

It’s sad many Christians today now see themselves important over people they should share the gospel to, a strange newer attitude like an “I” one where own goals own drawing from the word is the only thing they think that they themselves should focus on in life.

Though we have the tendency to focus on ourselves, one should not come into a church and think that way. People who do that will probably come in, not talk to people and leave as soon as the “credits” roll, err I mean, when the service has ended.

Are we to act like we are in a movie theater or a body of ones who have learned to be love to one another?

We must have genuine love and also through a unified faith in Christ, we can help guide each other in God-honoring love that is deeper than the world would ever understand.

Also we must know that if we want to live in and for Christ, God can do amazing things in our lives!

I can only boast of the power of and transforming grace of Jesus because He has done things in my life that were not my effort, these in my old life would be impossible.

To keep faith in Jesus and be close to His Word as one walks day to day they will experience change.

And that is because of something that is what Paul mentions later in Second Corinthians about being “new” because of Christ’s blood and revealed love, to be changed by His grace.

In verse 17 of chapter 5, the writer describes being a new creation. It says that if one is in Christ they are a “new creation” and the “old things” have gone as behold by the power of God all things have become new!

When Christ died on the cross the sin of the world was being paid for as He was the lamb of God the sacrifice for all sin.

When Jesus shed His blood it was for the alcoholics, ones with the heart of Saul, people recklessly and hopelessly stuck in sin, people who don’t know any better than what their family taught them, the thieves, the liars, the ones who struggle every day yet feel their sin is not “savable” or can be loved by God, all of the world’s so-called “life,” torn apart by the awful stink of sin.

So if you have wondered what the faith is all about, I hope you one day will know and experience this life yourself.

One can only tell you what the life in Christ is because you would one day have to believe to really understand. It will not be an easy journey but it will be worth it. I sincerely hope you do have it happen in your life, today or maybe soon but all I know is God knows the way your heart really is, believe in something! Maybe you’ll learn to believe in God sooner or later, just don’t let it be too late!