Beautiful Things - A Daily Devotional - July 5

Scripture:

….And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age – Matthew 28:20

Personal Thoughts:

This morning as I sat down to write today’s thoughts I struggled to find a verse that spoke to me or better yet would speak to you. I flipped through my bible hoping the Lord would show me a verse to write about, nothing. I read my devotionals and still nothing.

Most of the time when I sit to write I have a very strong sense on what the theme is going to be or the Lord has given me a verse to write about. During these days the words come easily and I have no trouble sharing, that is not the case today. Today I don’t hear God’s voice. Today I only feel His presence. It’s warm, it’s comfortable and it’s steady.

It’s like when I’m sitting on the couch with my husband just being together. We’re not talking, his arm is around me, we’re just being together – this is how I feel this morning. Sometimes God doesn’t need to speak to us, sometimes we just need to be together.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for always being with me. With my busy, noisy life thank you for being a warm and comfortable place to be, a place to escape, a place to recharge. Thank you for holding me when times get tough and thank you sharing my tears, fears, joys and everything in between. Thank you for seeking me out when life gets too busy for me and for the gentle reminders to look to You before looking to the world. In Your Son’s name Jesus I pray.

AMEN

Application:

Can you feel God’s arm around you? Can you hear His voice? If not maybe you need to find a few quiet moments to just be in His presence. He is there, you just have to stop longer enough to notice Him.

Beautiful Things - A Daily Devotional - July 3

Scripture:

 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey , or anything that belongs to your neighbor. – Exodus 20:17

Personal Thoughts:

 Recently my husband and I decided it was time for our youngest to begin participating in some sort of sport. My husband’s choice was martial arts. I had found an advertisement for a nearby school and wanted him to check it out with David just to get a feel for the school and to see if it would work for us. As they were leaving our daughter started crying because she wanted to go too – the answer was “no this is for your brother you don’t need to go” and then the tantrum began.

After quite a bit of screaming and crying she calmed down enough for me to talk with her. I explained that she had her gymnastics and this was going to be David’s thing. As the eldest she did more than him and we needed to give him something of his very own. None of my logic or reasoning seemed to be getting through to her so I left her lying on her bed, still sniffley.

A short time later Helen emerged from her room and said something that shocked me, “Mommy, I’m sorry for throwing a fit, but I was attacked by the Green Eyed Monster. I really want David to do karate, but I wanted it too – I was jealous of him. Please forgive me.”

Wow, talk about words of wisdom coming from an 11 year old. How many of us realize our bad attitudes and temper actually come from our own jealousy? How many of us can recognize an attack of the Green Eyed Monster? God wants us to be content with what we have, not what we don’t have. There is nothing wrong with wanting things, but when they become the focus of our lives we lose focus on God. When we begin to want what other people have we start looking for ways to get them and we very easily begin to slide down a very slippery slope.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Today I’m thankful for all that you provide for me. I’m thankful that with You I have the power to fight the Green Eyed Monster and that with You I can conquer my jealous nature. Please help me focus on You and on the gifts You have given me. In Your Son’s name I pray,

AMEN

Application:

Take a moment today to ask God to show you where in your life you’ve been attacked by the Green Eyed Monster. Do you want something that belongs to someone else? Remember that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but if you water your own grass it could be even better. Who knows how many weeds, stickers and rocks lie buried beneath the surface?

Beautiful Things - A Daily Devotional - July 2

Scripture:

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.  Ephesians 3:16-21

Personal Thoughts:

 I needed these verses this morning and I felt compelled to pray this for all of you. This is something we all struggle with; the knowledge of how much God loves us.

There is absolutely nothing we need to do or can do for God to love us more than He does. Even before we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior He loves us. When we mess up and sin, He loves us. When we are obedient and following direction He loves us. I for one sometimes have trouble grasping this.

Since becoming a Christ follower I have had one main goal and that is to hear those words “Well done good and faithful friend”. When I mess up and I sin I feel so guilty because I feel He’ll be disappointed in me. Sometimes I can’t help but feel that because of this He may not love me as much as He did. This is just not possible. No matter what I do, God my Father will always love me unconditionally. His love for me doesn’t revolve around my actions. He won’t love me more if I’m doing the right thing and He won’t love me less if I’m not doing it right.

Friends if you only remember one thing, then remember that no matter where you are in your life, no matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, no matter what you have done or haven’t done, God loves you more than you could ever realize and He is just waiting for you to turn to Him, embrace Him and share your life with Him.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Please help me understand just how much You love me. Help me understand that You can’t love me any more than You do. Please forgive me when I doubt Your love and forgive me when I turn away from you. Help me see that because of your love for me you want to bless me and proper me. Thank You for loving me beyond my wildest dreams and for loving me so much that You would send Your Son Jesus to die for me. In His name I pray,

AMEN

Application:

Take some time today to look at your life and see where God has blessed you. Ask Him to show you examples of His love for you. Write down a list of blessing you have received, give thanks for the examples of His love for you.