My Shepherd Is Great!

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Typically at a funeral you may hear the 23rd Psalm read. Take time and get your Bible and read it. There are so many good verses to read at funerals but this one brings comfort to the bereaved family and friends. When I lived in Arizona in 1984-85 at Williams AFB, which was a little ways out of the metropolitan area of Phoenix, there were actual shepherds who managed flocks of sheep. It was fun to see them in action. During the summers in the desert it was too hot for the sheep to handle so the shepherd would gently guide his flock up on the mountain to a higher cooler elevation and return them to the valley in the winter months.The sheep knew their shepherd. We live on a cattle farm and the cows recognize my husbands voice too. 

God is our shepherd. A shepherd can also be one who cares for and guides people such as a pastor.  A bible study leader or prayer group leader would be a shepherd of sorts to their 'flock' under their care and need to periodically tend to their spiritual  needs. A shepherd of sheep guides them by still waters and takes them to green pasture. If we follow Jesus, our shepherd and try to not run way from the flock, he will guide us beside still waters as well. This is not to say there won't be some occasional  problems but He will be your guide and take care of you. 

Are you allowing Jesus to be your guide? Is He truly shepherd of your life? 

PRAYER: My Jesus how I need you. When I get away from doing your will and go my own way I can get into the 'briar patches' of life. Thanks for being my constant shepherd. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Brownie Points....Not My God!

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

 Have you ever heard of churches that say you are blessed more by God the more works and service you do? Sort of a hierarchy of awards or favors from the Almighty. God is not a "brownie point" God. He loves all of us, saint and sinner the same. Trying to base salvation on works is not in His game-plan. Sure when we sin it breaks His heart but he does not love us any less. Trying to win salvation by doing things and being on committees is not something I see written in my Bible.

 Basically scripture says we need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved(Acts 16:31). If you want to serve on committees, be a Sunday school teacher, bake cookies for a bazaar, chaperone a youth trip, that is great. Only know that you are  not racking up stars on a wall chart somewhere. Naturally when you ask Jesus into your heart you feel led to serve in certain ways because your life is changed. But doing deeds alone is not the key to heaven.

We pretty much are all the same to God and we all need Him in our life. Have you asked Him to be Lord of your life?

PRAYER: I know Lord that you love me whether I sit in a pew or sing in the choir. I know you love me even when I turn my back on you on Sunday for more fun things. Forgive me Lord. Thanks that you are not a brownie point God. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Whenever I go to the asthma doctor they ask me to take a deep breath of air and then blow it out. Breathe in, then breathe out. This tests lung capacity. I got to thinking how sometimes we just have to breathe out bad junk of life and pause then breathe in God's life giving power, comfort, and forgiveness. 

Practice for a moment and think of things that may have you bothered or ways you messed up. Make a list if you have to. First of all we are to give our problems to Jesus according to the verse above. Breathe in, relax. Now breathe out and consciously breathe out the bad things you are holding on to. Do it over and over if you have to. After a while you should feel a bit more peaceful. 

Take a moment every day to breathe in God's goodness and breathe out the bad stuff causing you to sin. 

PRAYER: I love you Lord and I know you do not want me hanging on to things that keep me from sweet fellowship with you. I thank you for the opportunity to breathe in your life giving power and forgiveness.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

Freedom. You Gotta Love It!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Freedom is a gift from God never to be taken for granted. Here in these United States we could become complacent and then be attacked. Remember September 11, 2001 and recent attacks at military bases and the Boston Marathon? 

With freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility to vote first of all. Responsibility to speak up against injustices or lawlessness.  Responsibility to pray for our nation and it's' leaders. 

Remember God has blessed this great nation when we followed Him and were moral. Today we need to stand strong for righteousness and speak up in love when evil tries to creep in. 

Thank God for freedom and oh by the way, Happy Birthday America! 

PRAYER: I love celebrations Lord and July 4th is one of the best. A party for celebrating America's independence. I thank you Lord for all we enjoy. Help us work and pray to protect it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Global Warning

If he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 2 Peter 2:6

The title for my devotion came after listening to a sermon from pastor Creflo Dollar. It is a catchy play on words for today's global warming fiasco, which is still largely unproven. Instead of worrying about the earth heating up maybe we should worry about our souls going to a place that really heats up. Maybe our concern should be in being the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and growing to be more like Him.

It is no surprise the devil is working overtime trying to spread his lies. One of the major areas is getting churches to accept same sex marriage. Clearly we know what the Bible says and it is not a changing book but the same today, yesterday, and forever. This is not a devotion bashing gays and there are gay Christians by the way. This is simply about making up our own rules of what is acceptable to God. Galatians 6:7 states "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows that also will he reap."  In the last days times will indeed be troublesome. We are starting to see much of that trouble today. Our enemy wishes we would stop knowing the truth. 

None of us are perfect and God can and does forgive. He died for our past, present, and future sins. Accept Him into your heart today and run the race to the truth. He loves you, warts and all. Why not love Him back today?

PRAYER: Lord you are good. Your love does not hate but is ready with open arms to receive all that would ask you into their heart. Convict me when I am doing something that does not please.you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotion to Duty

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

As a former military member, I know what it means to serve and also am quite aware about what the term 'devotion to duty' means. Recently at a laboratory visit on post, a lab tech demonstrated what devotion to duty was. I asked how many deployments he had under his belt and he responded "two". He further indicated how rewarding it was serving the warriors overseas in a war zone. It was not that taking care of the family back home didn't matter, but his heart was with those troops in harms way daily.

Each of us in life needs to be devoted to the duties we have ascribed to us. Our youngest son just completed 25 years of schooling with the completion of a three year residency in Emergency Medicine. Part of his grad gift from my husband and I were ink pens inscribed with the Bible verse above. It is a reminder of no matter what we do in life whether a simple ditch digger, garbage collector, stay home mom, teacher, doctor, or soldier, to work hard for your earthly bosses like you are working for God, because you in fact are.

Your job is to shine for Jesus and not be a slacker!

 PRAYER: Each day no matter what I am doing help me remember who my real boss is. Help me be honorable in all I say and do, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Snared

 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Psalm 25:15

 When you hear the word 'snared' what comes to mind? Right off hand I think of getting a boat snared in seaweed, or a fish tangled up on a line. You would think I was a big fisherman but I am not. Initially what comes to mind for you? Snaring something is getting it captured. The official definition found in Bing dictionary says it is "a device for capturing small animals" so I was not too far off with my fish analogy. A second definition is "a trap for the unwary". It is this definition I want to focus on.

 Satan sets snares for God's people every day. Little subtle tricks and things to lure us into his clutches. Those who already are succumbing to his lies, he pretty much does not focus on as much, as the ones he has to continue to bombard to get us off course. Twisting Bible scripture, making God's followers believe lies is common place. Remember the serpent in the Garden of Eden? He is really good with 'religious' people or those folks in church who follow manmade rules and denominations more than the word of God. People can be tricked into thinking Sunday for one hour is okay or even spending that one hour in 'nature' since God created it, will suffice.

Do you feel snared? In order to get out of the snare Satan has set get into the Bible and get to know it. Then you will be released from the snare.

 PRAYER: I want to keep my eyes and thoughts on you Lord. Help me resist Satan and his attempts to drag me away. In Jesus' name. Amen.