Simple Devotions

Tag: christianity

  • It is Him

    Based on Isaiah 40

    On this day 30 years ago I married my best friend, the one God appointed for me to walk with on this life’s journey. We have seen the goodness of life because He was put in the center of our marriage. It was Him who taught us to surrender our self-will and conceed in an argument. It was Him who gave us eyes to see with love. It was Him who reminded us of true love towards one another in forgiveness. It was Him who provided when we didn’t know how it would work. It was always Him.

    In this life that is like that of grass and flowers, here today and gone tommorow, we can be assured of only one thing that will last, the Word of God stands forever.

    When we surrender our life to Jesus we will never be defeated. He will never cease to care for and minister to the needs of His children. He purposed to come and reason with us, to lay down His life for us that we may believe and have life enternal.

    It is He who sits above the circle of the earth. There is non like God, and you will learn this, when you trust in His Word.

    Pray, Read, Repeat.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • Beholding

    Psalm’s 34 Please stop and read His Word before proceeding.

    Today’s scripture helps us to know that we can trust in the promises of God’s word! When you read it line by line, the evidence is in the experience we have had or will have because He wants us to “taste and see”.

    Instead of depending on the word of another, we can go to the direct source and know we will not lack any good thing because God is good!

    And again there’s more proof of His Angels who protect (Cover) us as Christ faithful followers in verse 7.

    I personally believe if you could see what evil agencies we are up against daily, you would cling to the Word of God more fully and give every opportunity for His leading us step by step. This is something we should always talk to Him about in our prayers.

    However on that day of His return when His eternal light comes, we will see the full providence of God. What He has been protecting us from all along, until then we need to lean into His word and behold His goodness and His faithfulness.

    Here’s more Words to consider:

    Proverbs 16:20; this I will do! Proverbs 16:25; this we need to pray against following our own way ..is pure folly. Like traveling an unknown area without a GPS. ( ohhhh another good topic ..)

    In Christ love, Amen

  • sweet smelling

    As a follower of Christ we have an unconscious influence, meaning we either “smell good or we can smell offensive” at times.

    Have you ever found yourself standing in public and you smelled a really good scent and you wondered what it was they were wearing? Your thinking “wow I want to smell that good”?!

    That I can remember this has happend only once to me and I’ll never forget the persons response when I asked: “the One”.

    {Now that I think about it how appropriate for this post.}

    Needless to say I went out and bought it.

    Is our Christian aroma putting off the same reaction?

    That someone likes what we are “wearing” enough so that they want to run out and purchase it for themselves?

    There’s so much we could learn in the way of scriptures today, but lets keep it simple.

    Romans 14:19 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    Are You sweet smelling?

  • Abiding in Christ: How to Discover Truth

    To study the Word of God is to know the matter of the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error.

    Read 1 John 4:1-6

    Once we start to know the difference we will have choices to make. And He will help us.

    Read 1 Corith 2: 9-16

    As we read these words alone it’s pretty convincing, and while Paul shared with the teachers and the students of the law most were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God but it was not in harmony with their own ambitious desires to confess Him.

    How many times does “our will” conflict with His truth ?

    So it is even still today, for the sake of gaining worldly treasures most will not confess Christ Lord of their lives. And since this is the case for them the treasures of His word are hidden. They will believe in error over truth.

    Yet even so He laid down His life to pay the penalty for our sins – knowing we would still “wonder”.

    There’s only one way to find knowledge. And God intends that the truth of His word shall be ever unfolding to His people. There is only one way we can attain understanding God’s Word.

    By Abiding in Christ..

    1 Corith 1:9 John 15:15 John 15:4

  • abide

    Recently I was clearing some land to plant a new bush I’ve grown from a seed. The hole I dug had roots from every kind of tree and shrub around the area. As I was pulling up anything that would cause issues for my new baby plant. I quickly realized how deep most of those roots ran. What should have taken a few minutes took over an hour to prepare. The vines and buried roots varied in sizes but all had a grip and were not letting go easily, I was tugging and pulling to dismantle these roots from branches that were running deep, even pulling up some web roots. This reminds me how important it is to stay “rooted” in Gods word daily. So that I will be able to withstand the daily dose of life unhinged here. (Eph 6:10-12)

    Being surrendered to Jesus means a life to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between me and my Savior. Because like the branches and roots that ran deep they draw life and continue to grow and thrive even in dark places. So just like these, we must abide to receive from Him, as His word clearly says. John 15:4-5

    Pray, Read, Apply and Repeat.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • God’s standard, not ours

    2 Peter 1:2-4    According to scripture God gave us  His wonderful and powerful promises, so that as a result, we will share in His divine nature. 

    God's  truth is to be planted in our hearts . It will teach us self control of the mind and feelings. Our whole character will be transformed by His Word, when brought into the daily practice. And when we do this we become in harmony with God's standard of righteousness.  His holy law we will learn to love because the  rule by which God measures the actions in that we should "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul And Love your neighbor as yourself,"  will be the test of character in judgment. 

    Prayer:  "Lord help me to be a voice and light in this dark World.
    Teach me to abide in Your ways completely, being quite when the time calls for it or speaking out clearly for Your glory when necessary.  Let no caution of mine take head to lead when You have a purpose.  Let Your plans for our lives prosper!
    Your Word says: be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger.  These are areas I need more self control of - show me - instruct me to learn this for the purpose of being used by You for Your glory. 
    Thank you Lord for times like this - when clarity and peace meets."

    In Christ love, Amen

    ” I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

    John 15:15 NIV

  • know Him

    How often have we asked the question,

    “what must I do to please God?”

    Maybe:

    We start praying more; reading our bibles more or maybe we are just nicer to others.

    Make plans to go to church more, give more money to the offering plate.

    Then there are those who say : ” it’s impossible I’m not good enough and I won’t stick with it, therefore why even try.”

    This is actually a lie of the conscience that won’t allow them to believe that they have not gone to far from God.

    The problem here is they didn’t even get to know Him.

    The truth is how do we get to know anyone?

    If you answered “spend time with them” then you just answered the first question as well .

    To know Him is to love Him, that’s how we to please Him.

    Here’s something to read to know Him better today.

    {Psalms 111}

    In Christ love, Amen

  • fruitless

    What good is a fruit stand without fruit?

    What good is a fruit tree if it never gives good fruit?

    And what good is it to be a Christian without the fruit of the Spirit?

    In Mark 11:12-14 It reads that Jesus was hungry for something to eat and going to this fig tree which had leaves and the appearance of it looking like it was giving fruit, but it offered nothing to eat. And He cursed the tree ” let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

    The strange thing was it wasn’t even in “season” and even the disciples heard and wondered. But I’ve learned that this is a WARNING to all the churches and Christians, no one can live the law of God without ministering to others “the fruits of the spirit”.

    Believing you are a Christian but not serving the needs is like a tree with no fruit. This is of no service to God. If we plan and study to please ourselves this is the act only in respect to self. And those who live for self are like that fig tree, which made every pretention of being useful but was fruitless.

    Galatians 5:16-26 does an excellent job of planting seeds in us to grow into a fruit bearing tree for God. As we receive His spirit of truth to do His good will, may we grow and bring forth good good fruit!

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • are you happy

    Recently while scrolling through social media I came across a document type of platform. Someone just walking around recording random strangers and asking this question, and the answers are not what you would expect. Some answered directly and to the point and when pressed about why or why not, the door of conversation would open. Most were really transparent and those who had true happiness were always quick to point out that it was JESUS who was the reason for their countenance.

    How much do we really value other people?

    Enough to care about them beyond “how are you”? Do we really want to hear something other than the usual “fine” reply, because for most, these conversations need to happen.

    What if today were your last day? How would you show others how you value them? I’m guessing you would do more than normal. It’s a simple matter of asking and listening. You don’t have to have answers. Remember God gave us two ears and one mouth, the need to listen outweighs the need to speak.

    The word says and I’m paraphrasing a part: lets be quick to listen today and slow to speak. As well as, the least we do undo those (Are you Happy?) we have done unto Him.

    But whatever we do:

    Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure , pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • beloved of God

    I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is still day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the World. John 9:4

    The Heavenly Father accepts those who with contrite hearts come and repent, He desires for them to trust His ways and return to His leading.

    Jesus said to them ” My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. John 4:34

    His commandments are safe guards and instructions how to love God and your neighbor. Giving God our loyalty in obedience gives us prosperous, healthy lives as it teaches us to do to others how we would like them to do to us.

    In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God And Your law is within my heart. Psalms 40:7-8

    Then Jesus said to them, ” Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19

    But I have a greater witness than John’s : for the works which the Father has given Me to finish-the very works that I do-bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. John 5:36

    And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12

    Let me always remember that You Lord are fair and merciful to a 1000 generations!

    Thank you Lord for your grace and mercies in our lives.

    In Christ Love, Amen