Not Connected

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3

All of us who use computers, mobile devices, and tablets have one time or another received that dreaded pop up 'not connected' which often occurs when traveling and away from your signal at home. It is so frustrating when you need on the Internet and can't because of a connectivity issue. 

Aren't you glad our connection with God is there and we don't receive error messages? We can call on Him 24/7 and He is there. Not having earthly connections is disruptive but Jesus is our around the clock friend. No need to talk to tech support.

Are you in need of a Jesus connection? He is waiting to hear from you.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for being there around the clock to reach out to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Get Connected

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3(NIV)

A few days ago I was in a remote location with no Internet connection near me. Because of this I was unable to do email, use blogger, or connect to Facebook. At times not being connected can be a blessing but at times when we are used to it frustration can set in.

The good news is that you never had to be disconnected from Jesus. If you are 35,000 feet in the air on a plane and there is no Go Go Wi Fi, He is there. If you are taking an underground cave tour, He is there. If you are in an elevator, He is still there. No matter where you go, He is there. He is in Communist countries where the government does not want Him. No matter where life takes you, Jesus is there.

There may be moments in life where you feel God has left you. He never leaves you. The enemy wants you to feel this way. God is always only a prayer away. Believe in Him. Trust in Him. Read His word. You are always connected no matter where you are.

PRAYER: I am comforted to know you are only a prayer away. I know I am not alone. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ANONYMOUS CALLER

 Many times when our landline phone at our house rings the caller ID will say "Anonymous Caller" and my initial reaction is to avoid the call assuming it is a sales pitch or plea for money. If your phone number at home is unlisted the callers on the receiving end do not know who is calling so they too may avoid picking it up. Even with a mobile phone if the caller is not in your contact list you may hesitate to answer.

When we "call" on God in prayer, if you have received Him as your savior, then He knows your voice and He knows exactly who you are. He listens and He cares. He speaks back to you through scriptures in the Bible as well as convictions of the spirit inside of you.

John 10:27(NIV) says 'My sheep listen to my voice and I know them and they follow me.' If any of you have ever witnessed a shepherd with his sheep, that is true. The sheep know their master and they know instinctively he will guide them to safety.

Have you asked Jesus to be your Lord and savior? Do you talk to Him in prayer? Have you repented or turned away from those sins that you know separate you from God?

In this world we live in today deceptive spirits of Satan are on the warpath and have captured even some believers to believe his lies. Make no mistake about it, Satan is the great deceiver. But we have the power to defeat him. Many may conform too much to the world and not enough to God. It can happen in a subtle way. Be on your guard. If you have a family member being deceived all you can do is pray that deception would stop and their eyes will be opened once again to the truth.

1 Timothy 4:1(NIV) says 'The Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.' No one knows the day nor hour of Christ's' return but I feel we are in treacherous times. When a President says publicly "We are no longer a Christian nation" and won't stand up for what is right according to the word of God, trouble is coming.

Does God know your voice? Are you living for Him? Are you turning away from evil and trying to do good? Today if you have never asked Jesus into your heart do it right now. Just say "Jesus come into my heart and live in me. I choose to follow you.Thanks for coming into my heart." Next find a church that is excited about Jesus. This may mean changing the denomination you were brought up in. There won't be denominations in heaven, I am pretty sure. Go where they teach the Bible and you can grow in Christ and are excited about being there.

Listen for God's voice and stay on the path that pleases Him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus you are my strength, my shield, my deliverer, and my comforter. I thank you for being my shepherd as well. You tend to your flock with loving kindness and mercy. I thank you for that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

YOUR RECOGNIZABLE VOICE

Don't you just love automated voice recognition systems which so manycompanies now utilize when you call? Kidding of course about the "loving them" as they may be modern but they annoy so many people. You just want to talk to a person
and then get a machine instead that keeps saying "I don't understand" and you may keep saying "agent please" in great frustration as you desperately attempt to talk to a human.

Or then for those with I Phones that have SIRI capability that is a whole new experience. Mine will say to me on many occasions "I don't understand Becky" and I may try and try again but my northern accent throws them off perhaps or rate of speech. Still it can be a wonderful tool but also very maddening.

Good news ahead! If you are a child of God He knows your voice. He isn't going to say "Who is this" when you pray to Him. John 10:14-15(NIV) says 'I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for my sheep.' Psalm 91:14(ESV) says 'Behold he holds fast to me in love. I will deliver him, I will protect him for he knows my name.' Jesus "speaks" to us as believers by His word and perhaps through people too.

John 10:27(NKJV) says 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.'We are His "sheep" and He is our shepherd. He cares about everyone of his "sheep".Think about parents. Most parents always recognize their child's voice. We are children of God if we have accepted Him into our heart and He knows our voice. He hears your prayers. He loves you with an everlasting love. His heart breaks when you turn away from Him, don't spend time with Him, or act ashamed of knowing Him.

Today as your "hear His voice" through scriptures thank Him for recognizing yours when you call on Him.

PRAYER: Lord forgive me for ever having a "hard heart" when I do not behave like I know I should. I want to listen for your voice and sometimes this requires being still. Help me Lord to be still and to encourage others to do the same. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a wonderful praise song.

http://youtu.be/JU4U8_wMdRs

UNCERTAIN TIMES

Today is the big day here in the USA where "mere men" ,with too much
power, have put fear in us with a word called Sequestration. Here in
a military town this is especially causing stress not knowing whose
jobs will be safe or if the whole town will fold. Defense cuts affect
not just the military and their family and defense contractors, but the entire US and the

civilian town the military is near. But God is bigger than this crisis created by man. Remember
the verse in 1 Timothy 6:17(NIV) which says 'Command those who are
rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who
richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.' Elsewhere in
Proverbs 23:5(NIV) further drives this point home when it says 'Cast
but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout
wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.'

For those "awake" and paying attention to world events and things in
our own country,we are living in uncertain times. A country of
freedom, prosperity, and independence is slowly being controlled by a
domineering tyrannical government trying to seemingly take over all
aspects of our lives. Many people are frightened today because this day was hyped by the media so much as doomsday.

 

When and if doomsday does come, as a believer we are not to

trust in riches or man to help us or save us. Our hope is to be in the
Lord who made the heavens and the earth and who is in control of it
all. Sometimes He allows men to reap what they sow and has warned us
many times. In scripture it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14(NIV) 'if my
people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and
seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' Are we
truly humbling ourselves and seeking God's face or are we way too busy
to have time? Many may be so busy in their careers or at home that
they do not even realize what is happening in the world around them
especially not getting info from the right sources. Many are oblivious

to the impending economic, military, and moral downfall of America

around them. But once again we are not to be frightened by what "mere
men" can do to us as our trust is in God. (See Psalm 118:6 and Psalm
56:4).

Psalm 23(NIV) is often just thought of as a passage of scripture read
only at funerals but there is much more within the words of that
chapter. I have copied it here. Take a moment and read it over and
think about something other than the funeral context you often
probably hear it in.

'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down
in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my
soul.He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no
evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.'

Today do not be afraid and read out loud the following scripture from
John 14:17(NIV). It says 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid." God will take care of us. Do not focus
on evil and bad around you but get into his word and let it transform
your heart and give you peace.

PRAYER: Lord we do not know what is happening. We in America have
always seemingly never had worries or fears like other countries and
have taken much for granted. Our morals have started to slide because
we chose back in 1963 to kick you out of our public schools. We did
not give heed to your precious lives you created and since 1973 have
killed millions of babies in the name of women's rights or choice. How
sad this makes me Lord. Please forgive our country for ignoring you
and turning its' back on you. Get us through the stormy days ahead
Lord and bring revival to this land. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on the link below and please take a moment and be comforted by
the words of the attached song.
http://youtu.be/2ZuVtA7Vyk8

GOD IS 24/7:UP ALL NIGHT

God never slumbers or sleeps.  24 hours around the clock He is there for us. He does not have business hours. He does not say, "do not bother me I have to go to bed now." No, He is ever present ready to listen to your prayers. He is like a 'spiritual drive thru window'. Come to him all you who are weary. He is there for your every need. He never gets tired and never gets bored with His job. He loves you and is waiting to hear from you.

Psalm 121:3-4 tells us " He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Imagine that! Non stop service from a loving God ready to listen to you and take care of your needs. Your round the clock counselor! Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

At Christmas, well meaning parents who change the meaning of Christmas to honor Santa over baby Jesus, may sing the song "You better watch out you better not cry, better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town". It goes on "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake". Say what? I do believe they must mean, Jesus sees you when you are sleeping. That is what I would think you would want to teach children in a Christ centered home. Never mind the Saint Nicholas thing but he is not seeing you 24/7, but God in fact is. So parents there is your challenge for next Christmas.

 In 2 Chronicles 16:9 it says "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war." I love that picture of his eyes roaming and watching us. Hebrews 4:13 says "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." He knows it all. He is there for you when others may abandon you. Proverbs 15:3 goes on to say "The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." He is fair. He gives everyone a chance to accept Him into their hearts.

Have you asked Jesus to be Lord of your life? Do you know if you died right now you would be in heaven with Him? If not why not stop right now and say "Lord Jesus I need you. Forgive me of my sins. Forgive me for ignoring you. I want you to come into my heart and create a new clean heart. I want to live for you and serve you and no other." When you pray and accept Christ you will go to heaven. It is not about a church membership or denomination but simply asking Jesus to be Lord of your life. Let Him into your heart today.

PRAYER: Lord I need you every hour and I am thankful you are there for me. Forgive me for the times other things took more priority than serving you and getting to know you better. Thank  you Lord for being there for me around the clock. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below to enjoy a worship song to go along with this devotion. Be blessed!
http://youtu.be/tZIMDcgrF-Q