Been There, Done That, Got The Tee Shirt

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Many of you may be familiar with the phrase which I chose for today's title. In other words it is a way to let others know you have walked in their shoes or gone through something as well. For my husband it was cancer twice. 

What have you gone through in life and can say you were victorious and have that coveted hypothetical tee shirt? Whenever you go through things God miraculously can give you strength and you even learn things. Even if the thing you go through turns out humanly wrong such as in an earthly death, if you don't turn your back totally on God He can grant you the ability to help others going through trials. 

God can and will be your ever present help in times of trouble as it says in Psalm 46:1 if only you will invite Him into your life and heart.

PRAYER: I need you every day Lord through ups and downs and Unexplainable things that go on in life. Open my heart to listen to when you are speaking to me. Help me shut out wrong voices that tend to drag me away from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Your Jonah Moments

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

Have you ever had those type of moments where you feel God is speaking to you to do something and for whatever reason whether scared, selfish, lazy, apathetic you turn away? I know I have. Mine was not as great as Jonah where I was thrown overboard and swallowed by a giant fish but I think of that account found in Jonah Chapter every time I back away when my gut says do it.

Whether it is leading a prayer group, going on a mission trip, befriending a stranger, being on a committee for a retreat, visiting a prison or nursing home,  or a host of other examples you may have in your own life. This is not saying God is calling you to every single task but in my case wanting to run and hide from responsibility He has for us, He can always find us.

God can strengthen and equip you for whatever task He has called you to. It is the enemy who wants you to be fearful  and run the other way and hide.

 PRAYER: Forgive me Lord for any time I have ever not done something you were impressing upon me to do. I know you give me strength for whatever it is. In Jesus' name. Amen

Greener Grass Desired? Get A Lawnmower.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Comparison is so bad. Your eyes wander and TV commercials tell you what they think you need to be happier, more fulfilled, younger, leaner, successful and on it goes. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence and if it is you probably need a new lawnmower to take care of it. 

I fall into this trap sometimes when I am out writing in coffee shops. I see some professional woman sitting at a table interviewing someone and think "I could do that". It is the enemy who makes us discontent with what we currently have. 

Do you have a roof over your head? Food on the table? Fresh running water? Clothes on your back? A vehicle to drive? Friends? I would say those basic needs are pretty well met by a majority living in America. When you start looking around at mansions, fancy cars, job titles you don't know in fact where those people's hearts are at or if in fact their life really is happy. So beware. Don't let the enemy make you jealous as that is not a fruit of the spirit and will rot on the vine. 

PRAYER: I love you Lord and I thank you for just where I am in life and the material things you have blessed me with. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Satan Stinks

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.John 10:10

Ever had an experience where your day has been awesome and you are coming out of church or on way to church and the 'flesh' attacks and family members start bickering? I have. Let's say the message at church has been 'off the charts' and somehow a misunderstanding  occurs and an argument ensues. I hate it. Spiritual warfare in progress.

What can you do to nip this in the bud? First,  be the big one and stop the fight before it happens. Remember Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy and don't allow anger or grudges to get you all tensed up and lose your joy. Next as the song in Frozen says "Let It Go" and march on.

Be willing to forgive,forget, be joyful and press ahead. You will feel better I guarantee it.

PRAYER: Love is patient and  kind. Love forgives and forgets. Love moves forward and seeks harmony. I choose love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Pick Up A Shovel, Dig A Hole

"It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”Deuteronomy 31:8

My title were words spoken by actor Matt Damon as Benjamin Mee in the 2011 Hollywood movie 'We Bought A Zoo' and I thought it would make a fantastic title. In this scene Damon's character was frustrated with his teenage son played by actor Colin Ford, who was moping around about not liking where they lived and blaming his dad for hating him. Mee's wife had passed away. 

Often times when things do get you down you do sort of need to get hopping and do something to get out of your slump. Move on in other words. Moping never solved anything. Believe me I know. 

Whatever it is you are going through know God has not abandoned you and loves you. Sometimes it is necessary to force yourself to get out, get up, and get going. Once you do eventually you feel better. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for seeing me through the good times and the not so good times. I know you love me and I love you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Purify My Heart Lord

           Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.        Psalm 51:10

Many of us could stand a good 'heart transplant'. In other words you may have allowed things to creep in to your heart that tend to make you treat others poorly, think wrong thoughts, hold ill will, and a host of other things. What is needed is a pure heart set apart to be Holy and love the Lord and things on the Lord. 

You all know the story of King David committing adultery and then murder because of Bathsheba. Out of this really bad  stuff, flows the Psalms which is full of rich teaching, truth, and wisdom for all. Your heart can deceive you and can let things in that should not be there. 

The Psalm above is something everyone should recite allot. If your heart has caused you to do wicked things it is time for a new heart renewed by Jesus. Often when you are at your lowest point is when God grabs your attention. Where are you at today friend? 

PRAYER: I want to be set apart to serve you Lord. Help me as I seek to guard my heart from things that would be impure or unholy. I choose to discipline myself for righteousness sake. In Jesus' name. Amen.

You Got Problems? Really?

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8

One day yours truly the Christian devotion writer and author was stewing over a glitch in my first ever book. Mind you, most people were raving about the accomplishment of publishing and very few noticed. So I got it fixed by publisher. Not! My editor found two more glitches I failed to catch. One of my best friends told me the book was wonderful. So back to my own advice and lessons I go. 

In the big scheme of things this is not a huge earth shattering problem. It is nothing to lose sleep over. It is not going to send me to jail or anything. It is just inconvenient and embarrassing. Many people around the globe face major issues daily. Lack of fresh water. Dying of diseases. Getting fired or losing a job. Wrecking your car. And a minor issue will pass. Everything in life needs to be kept in perspective. Someone once told me you will always find someone worse off than you and how true that is.

Are the problems you are facing now really so major that you can't rest and have peace? There is also a saying "this too shall pass". I know sometimes we think we are stuck in a problem forever it seems but when it is just a memory we wonder what was the big issue. So give worry a break and trust in God. 

PRAYER: Forgive me when I have not stopped and taken a deep breath and instead get into the worry mode. I know you don't want me to. Give me peace and help me remember to always pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enquiring Minds Want To Know!

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

There is a supermarket tabloid whose 1980's TV advertisements used to proclaim "Enquiring Minds Want To Know! I Want To Know!" My response to that is "why"? What do we gain by filling our minds with celebrity gossip? Is it a necessary part of life, fun diversion, or a time waster? Mind you I am not standing in judgment just asking you to think on this.

This sort of leads me into the area of being nosey and thinking we have to know everything about people. I am sure celebrities wish they could be left alone. Much of the write ups are sheer garbage in my opinion, but shoppers, mostly females I assume, crave this stuff. Therefore it flies off the shelves. Does it improve the life of the person consuming this information any? Another verse for my message today could be Philippians 4:8 which says "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." 

Do you focus your mind on good, decent, pure, and perfect things or do you find your mind dwelling in the moral gutter at times? It can get there easily by not only reading tabloids, but by things we read, listen to, or watch on TV or on the big screen. My challenge for you today is to try to keep your mind focused on the King! He alone is worthy! 

PRAYER: Lord I find at times it is difficult to keep my mind from going into places it should not. Help me keep the word of God as the center of my life and give me strength to resist things that are not pleasing to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Following The Crowd....Or Not

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

In the movie 'Grease' Olivia Newton-John plays the clean cut girl Sandy who meets a summer romance Danny played by John Travolta. When Sandy moves and ends up at his high school that fall as a new student,  much to his surprise, she is tempted to change to a bad girl to win him since he is part of a cool gang. 

Bad company and bad influences can make people do stupid things they regret later. Youth is full of foolishness but even as adults wrong choices can be made if you have wrong peer group or perhaps even wrong work. Deep down inside if a person was raised correctly with Christ as center of life, then the concept of right and wrong is there implanted. In the business world people may be tempted to cheat on travel reports, steal office supplies, fudge the books, and many other things. Honesty and integrity are vitally important. 

Choose wisely my friend. Surround yourself with people who love Jesus first and foremost. If you have gotten off track,  God is a God who restores and redeems. Many a despairing parent has been on their knees when the children they raised turned their back on Bible things. Stand strong as the story is not over! 

PRAYER: Oh Lord thank you for second and even third and fourth chances. Your heart breaks when your children go astray but you gently call them back. Thank you for constant hope. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Dad's Got You!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Dads seem to be more adventurous with children like the dad who tosses his toddler up in the air as the horrified mother watches in fear. Or the dad who stands at the base of the jungle gym and says "Jump, daddy will catch you." At that moment the trusting child leaps to their father with full confidence he indeed will catch them. 

Our Heavenly Father is like that. Our Abba Father Daddy wants what is best for us. He often lets us make mistakes as we grow and mature. But He is always there and has our back. We often later might ignore Him like we are ashamed of Him but He is going nowhere just waiting for your love to come back to Him. 

Do you love your Daddy in heaven? He certainly loves you and if you have never asked Him into your heart He is waiting. He has always been at your hearts door knocking just waiting for the invitation to come in. Why not invite Him in today?

Coffee Time

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Recently when I was at one of my favorite local writing caves(coffee shops) which just happens to be Christian, the tune 'Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing' was coming over the PA system. What a joy to hear that song and to really soak in the true meaning of what this song was saying. 

Here I was having time to write when many people had no choice but to go to work. Yes I felt blessed indeed. Not to say that work is not a blessing because God has each of us where we are to serve Him and to hopefully do it joyfully. Take time and do this exercise today. Make a list of your blessings. Food, clothing, shelter, friends, money, a Bible to read, freedom, good health, family, mobility, vision,hearing, and on the list goes. Each person is unique so the lists would be different. 

When you tend to want to complain about your 'lot' in life stop and count your blessings naming them one by one. Then indeed you will see what the Lord has done. 

PRAYER: Lord I do indeed thank and praise you for how you watch over me and have me right where you want me. Forgive me for ever complaining or comparing myself to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Timothy Hugs

Be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
I was in a local dry cleaners recently when a very friendly small male child came running and hopped up into my arms. This totally made my day. His name was Timothy if I remember correctly. This small boy was unlike adults who sometimes can't even smile when you pass and say hello or smile at them which also recently occurred in a local super market.

If we could only all be like children. So innocent. No quirks or hangups yet. No societal rules telling them they should not be friendly to strangers. This showed to me the love in this child's heart probably instilled by parents and how he had a joyful spirit. Oh if only all of us had that kind of attitude towards strangers. I am not saying to run up and hug a stranger but to be kind,smile, and help out when needed.

Why not go out in childlike faith today and show God's love and kindness to those in your path.

PRAYER: Lord I want to not grow up to be an old fuddy duddy who is grouchy, complaining, unhappy, unsatisfied but to be like a child and be happy and joyful to those around me. In Jesus' name.Amen.