Simple Devotions

Tag: amazing grace

  • nothing between

    I was raised to understand the God of the Universe who created all things and then made man in His image is also The One who wants nothing between Himself and His children.

    I know this is true because I have experienced a continued favor in my life. Because of this I raised my three children to know He loves them just the same, and at the young ages when we would load up to go anywhere in the car – I would ask them ” do you have your seatbelts on?” They would say ” yes ” and then I would tell them “ok now lets put on our spiritual seatbelts ” and we would stop and pray.

    I believe that in this life we are subject to all kinds of possible accidents and it’s those accidents that would discourages us from believing that God cares, I’ve heard it said often “if God is love…”

    What we fail to understand is there is this great conflict of { Good verses Evil} this is very much the reason for all the tribulations; trials and heartache.

    This is not because God doesn’t care or love – just like driving safely doesn’t keep you from all the possibilities of an accident. We are subjected to other drivers, their distractions; their lifestyle choices.

    There is a great need for you to trust and obey the Word of God. In order to survive the daily assault’s by the evil one. If you believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you have become an enemy to the liar and deceiver. You are at war daily to stay closer to the path of righteousness.

    But you need not fear, only respect and trust that whatever is born of God {confessed sinners made new } overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ( 1 John 5:4)

    We also need to realize Jesus ~ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. ( Galatians 1:4)

    He who came and died for you will hear the desire of the humble; He will prepare your heart; He will hear.

    Friends, don’t stop praying let nothing come between you and the Savior – the reward is great.

    In Christ love, amen

  • Joy comes in the morning..

    The question is : How did you receive your name and what does it mean.

    On the day I was born, my father went to call his mom on the hospitals payphone, ” mom it’s a girl!” the conversation was “a girl?! well what are you going to call her, you were going to name a boy after you son..?” he realized immediately that I was going to be called Dawn – because I was born at sunrise. He later told me it was fitting because it was a turning point in his life.

    The name dawn represents the certainty of God’s mercy and faithfulness, often highlighting God’s rescue or the arrival of His light.

    Psalms 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

    The term is frequently associated with the resurrection of Jesus and the dawn of a new, redemptive era. 

    This was how my dad viewed this time in his life. Previous to my birth he was caught up in Vietnam right out of high school after serving in the Navy he came home to numb his mind and live his life how he wanted, he bought a motorcycle, grew out his hair and frequented bars where he eventually would meet my mom. A little while later there’s a picture of my mom wearing a lavender dress holding the hand of my older sister and about 9 months along with me.

    Here’s the thing all of us have a backstory and even if our parents didn’t plan it, God did. 

    Why do I say this?  Because the Word of God says so. He is the life giver. This is why we should never feel like we are not wanted.

    The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. He gives life and He knows each life intimately.  In Psalms 139 it says God knows everything about us even before we were formed. In other parts of the Bible records that those He chose and set apart He ordained for those jobs.

    So looking back at the time it would seem I was an unplanned accident and those in their circle would agree this was the case,  but not God. 

    Regardless of my beginnings my Heavenly Father had plans for me and gave my life purpose. I know my name is a calling.

    Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.

    Lamentations 3:22-23: Mentions new mercies every morning even in trying times.

    But here’s another reason I believe this, one morning I was awaken to the words:

    “You are called, you are set apart and you are chosen.” 

    I heard it so clearly that I knew it was the Lord letting me know He had a purpose for my life.  Never have I ever felt so sure of anything.  I begin searching the Word to understand what this would look like and here’s what I found:

    It looks like surrendering your life, to walk with Him.

    It looks like renewal, the leaving the past in the past.

    It looks like being a vessel for the Lord to use whenever and wherever. Like a build board on the highway.

    And it means having purpose and looking forward to the Kingdom of God.

    So here a question for you, what do you think your purpose is?

    If you have not accepted the invitation to learn from Christ the Lord, there’s no better way because His favor is forever and His joy truly does come in the morning.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • hope found

    Every time I try to do life on my own terms, I stumble and fall.

    And every time I come to the realization I am in need of help, the only place I have found it consistently was in the pages of God’s book, the Holy Word of God.

    The seeds of hope in those pages are what feeds my faith, its words will set my emotions straight and give clarity in moments when nothing makes sense.

    And when I surrender my will towards His ways, this is how repentance begins. It’s a process of sanctification.

    His words cause the troubled heart to lay down its brokenness, so that it may be healed.

    The only way to describe this simply is like “seeing the truth and knowing it is going to change your life.”

    This is what the Word does.

    Psalm 119:89, God’s word is eternal as the Universe. Never changing. But always changing the hearts and minds of men who would take counsel from it. His faithfulness never ends.

    He created the earth and it endures no matter what men say, because of God’s love and care. Because of His word, nothing stops, it only cycles – unending and only His word will change this.

    Everything He created serves Him. And it is because of His Word I have not given up in despair.

    So why then should we invest our thoughts and time anywhere else.

    There is no person, place or thing that would ever give what He gives. There is no void to big for Him to fill~He is the way to hope. He will make a way every time we ask. We only have to look to His Word.

    Life is fragile handle with care – His care.

    This is where HOPE IS FOUND.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • represent

    I believe when I walk through each day, I have a responsibility to represent what Christ the Lord Jesus would have me to do. His ministry is our example, and it was filled with leading others to salvation, it was His habit to go off by Himself and spend quite time with God before He did what was needed.

    What does this look like for like us?

    It’s like working for a company or business. You are a representative for them.

    How you do your job reflects the kind of company they are.

    Most all employers will ask that their employees maintain a professionalism that represent the face of the company well. Getting to work on time first requires, planning and being intentional. Not rolling out of bed, and running for the time clock.

    And we know it’s always best when we are rested and nourished taking caring of our personal needs sets us up with a good attitude and allows us to handle better what the day brings. This kind of preparation gives you the mental and emotional readiness. However when you are spiritually ready it will be the difference in how we represent Christ both actively and internally everywhere.

    To study first His words is when we purpose to sit still in the quietness of the morning to hear the Lord speak to through His Word.

    Having a personal experience in obtaining knowledge of the will of the Heavenly Father, is like a team meeting it gives the confidence we will need for whatever comes that day. It’s about waiting before Him for the words of life that lead to safety.

    Psalm 46:10 says to wait and be still and then you will see Him exalted.

    Unless we come to Him first we will never attain success because our strength is found in Him. It is there when we will be able to represent Him best. He restores, counsels and leads to greater understanding.

    With His uplifting influence we are given fresh eyes for life.

    So before you try to do all the things today – stop, remember a moment in His presence will make all the difference going forward.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • restoration

    Have you heard the story about the young women who was given everything she needed by a very devoted Father, who happened to be very well known throughout the World ? By His word alone He was able to make things happen. Having Him as her Father gave her favor and because of this she was honored wherever she went. But as she grew older the company she begin to keep ended up causing her to lose everything, only to become a slave, again. How quickly life can go from good to bad. Oh yes! I forgot to mention she was notorious for getting herself in these situations.

    Have you heard this story before?

    It’s in the bible starts in the old testament. Actually it really started in the book of Genius, literally in the garden of eden. But kinda keeps repeating itself throughout..the. whole. bible. (big sigh..)

    Some believe this to be a true story, some don’t. Either way, let me ask you a question.

    What caused her to lose everything?

    If you said choices, you’d be right. And if you said “the company you keep..” you are also right.

    In the book of Jeremiah we learn that he was appointed by God to be His prophet in the womb, a messenger to God’s people “the remnant” (aka the woman) the ones He told Abraham about under the stars.. anyways, Jeremiah was to tell them to not go back to Egypt again, where He brought them out of freeing them from slavery, giving them a promised land that would have all the milk and honey needed. Meaning, want for nothing. A sweet life, with no wants.

    So like the young woman everything was provided for, under His care in exchange they would be careful how they used their liberty. Being obedient and trusting Him. Not keeping company with sin.

    Through the prophet the Lord warns what would happen and eventually does step back, His blessings are no longer over them because they chose their way. To their own detriment they lost it all. You can read how badly this went in Lamentations.

    We are given free will, and one life to live it, so the choices we make will shape the future we have.

    This sin filled world is a sorrowful place, misery is a constant companion, hardships are a daily reality and hope is lost because most will not surrender to the will of God.

    Our souls were created to be in unison with the Heavenly Father, He created us in His image and only His love can satisfy our souls needs.

    When Christ abides in us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. His likeness will teach us how to walk, talk and live.

    We need Jesus, we need His Word, we need His healing and we need His salvation!

    He is the Restorer, always was and always has been. (Acts 3:21)

    There’s a prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 write it out, like it was written by you to Him. Allow the Heavenly Father give you the spirit of restoration.. because it is always right to say:

    ‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

    And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.’ Psalms 51:12

    In Christ Love, Amen