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 Luke 10:27 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself." |
Love, A Mighty One-Word Sentence For All Love is mentioned in the Bible over six hundred time. SIX HUNDRED times, so it must be very important to God and to each of us on how we live our lives. Christmas is a great time of the year to feel that love. It almost hangs in the air, doesn't it? People spend time with families, gifts are given to the needy, visits to the shut-in, and beautiful music fills the air. I think it would be awesome if we could keep that love going on the year round.  Now, in Scripture, notice the order God puts His words, His commands,
into: Love God, love your neighbor and love yourself. I think the hardest
command for me to obey is to love my neighbor. I am not talking about the
easy ones to love, but the grouchy man next door that does not seem
pleasant to talk to, or the neighbor who does not speak the same language
I do. Those are the hardest ones for me to love. Are they for you?
However, it must have been important to God for us to do this, or He would
not have given us the command to love so many times in the Bible.Prayer Lord God, my Father, help me to show Your love to all that come in my path, not just the easy ones. Help me to look at people with a Christ-heart so that I see beyond the surface stuff to the needs below. Thank You, sweet Jesus, for loving me just as I am. Amen
Deborah Bricker
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NOTE: This page contains 5 devotions. Pick
one using the above buttons. |
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| II Samuel 10:2 David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." |
Do It Anyhow! Several years ago, a high school student told me about something that changed their life. It is not very dramatic sounding and is so simple that anyone can do it. In fact, I've tried to do it for about two years. Hey, if I can do it, anyone can. So what is it? Write a "Thank You" note to someone every week. The problem is not trying to think of someone to receive it. The problem
is picking just one. How many people do you know who would appreciate
knowing that someone (you) noticed and appreciated something they did?
Consider these possible examples: your mail carrier, your child's
teacher, a coworker, a child, a spouse, a pastor, etc. The list is
endless. And sometimes a company, organization or group deserves thanks.I once sent a Thank You to the electric company when they restored power
after a terrible storm. They were standing in metal buckets at the top of
utility poles during weather I wouldn't even walk in. The supervisor
later told me that the company had received plenty of letters of
criticism, but they had never before received a note of thanks. He put it
on the company bulletin board.So, obviously, the recipient is encouraged, but how does this change the
life of the writer? For me, I started to see the good things people do. I
became more thankful. I became less demanding. I enjoyed the little
things. All around me, I started to see people doing more than the
minimum. And in my effort to make a day brighter for someone else, my day
became brighter as well.There's one last thing. Sometimes the thanks is not received well. (Read
the rest of the story from the Scripture reference.) What should you do?
I just keep on sending notes.Just try it. For one month send one "Thank You" a week to someone that
deserves it but doesn't expect it. I think you will be pleased. You may
make it a habit.Prayer Lord, you deserve so much thanks. I understand why King David was prompted to write so many Psalms. There is so much for which to be thankful. Open my mouth to speak words of gratitude and praise.
David Phipps |
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| I Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." |
Growing Down Being a high school teacher, I find it is always nice to see some of my former students during Christmas break. Most of them come back home from college and I get to find out how they are doing and what they are doing. I've watched them grow up from small, giggly freshmen to young men and women. Growing up, though, is really only a physical term. Most of the alumni say that they are doing great, but I wonder if they really are. What I often look for, when I see them, is not how much they've grown up, but how much they've grown down. I'm not as interested in their personal success as much as I am in their significance. Is their life all about them or all about God? When I think of growing up, beyond the physical part of it, I think of a
person's ego spiraling upward. This comes naturally to all of us and is
ever so easy. Contrary to this, growing down means that God, instead of
pride, is taking precedent. This is difficult. It is also what life is all
about.Prayer Dear Lord, I am always struggling with life. Too many times I find myself building a personal kingdom. This is like chasing after the wind. How foolish of me! I am sorry. Please forgive me. Amen. Additional Scripture Romans 1:21-23; John 15:4-5
Jim Schul
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| Ephesians 2:4-6 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. |
Worthless to Worthy In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul describes how once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins (Ephesians 2:1), but then also how God saved you by his special favor when you believed in His Son. (Ephesians 2:8) So the key to God's kingdom is to believe that he will deliver you. I work with many a non-believer and the biggest complaint
I hear is, "Yeah, but I can't possibly be worthy because of my past!"
It is then that I share my story with them in hopes that they too can also "come
to believe." When I hit bottom and begged God to help me, I thought the same
things. "It is too late for me. I have done too many bad things. I have done
nothing to deserve salvation." But still, God raised me from the dead, opened
my eyes and ears, and filled me with an incredible strength and peace I had never
known before. I had no strength of my own left and had run out of ideas of how
to keep from doing all those immoral things I was doing. Unfortunately, I had
to hit that bottom to come to God. I say unfortunately because I am still ashamed
to admit that I was unwilling to turn to God until I was completely beaten down. But I don't have to care
about my past any more. I am so grateful that God chose to listen to
me and believe me and gave me another chance, along with all His blessings.
That is the hardest thing for a nonbeliever to get past! I say to them,
Do you really have the time to argue with God over whether or not you
are worthy? Read Ephesians and you will see that it is not a debate
but a huge blessing to turn to God and put on his armor! Don't mince
words! " And don't try to take credit for your salvation because
it is strictly a gift from God." (Ephesians 2:8-9) It is true that
we have done nothing to deserve salvation. God sent His only Son to
live among us, to be persecuted and die a humiliating and painful death
so that we, too, may be raised from the dead. We must believe something
before we know it to be true. It is only through believing that we become willing
to look, watch, listen and finally see (become a part of) for ourselves (know)
that something is true. So you can waste precious time continuing to run (ruin)
your own life or you can take action (pray, listen, ask, partake) in God's big
plan for your life. Once I chose to ignore what I had been told all my life -
that I would never be worthy - and stepped out in blind faith that God could and
would restore me. And then I took action to seek-out and follow God with every
fiber of my being. He truly did restore me before I knew of His magnificent power
and love! It is there for all of us if we are willing to believe and willing to
take action.Prayer Father God, your glorious and generous favor on me has been a true testament to your Word. You have restored me and empowered me to do your bidding. In this world of "Show Me," you have empowered me with your truth that I may lead, by example, your flock home to you! Every day I have asked you to use me and every day you have expanded my territory so that I may be filled with your light and able to spread it to others. Father, I pray that I never abandon you again and that you give me the strength and the courage to put on your armor so that I will be able to "stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11). Amen Additional Scripture Ephesians 2:2-10; Romans 2:7, 3:22
Kate Geiger
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| Luke 24:13-15 The Message: That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem, deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. |
Roads That Lead Us Home Over the many years of my life, I have lived on many different roads and streets. Strange how I remember the names of only a few of them. Let me see now. I started out on Main Street, going on to Seventh, Jefferson and South Columbia Streets, Michigantown-Avery Road, Douglas Way, Bejay Drive, Deer Creek Path, etcetera, etcetera. Oh, yes. I must not forget to list North South Street and East West Street. You will never guess how many times those addresses were mixed up! But of all these roads and/or streets and/or paths, I most enjoyed two that I have not mentioned in this list. One of the two roads was not even a road, but a country lane that led to
the farm home of James Hammond (Jim) Hedleston and his wife, Laura Belle
(Lolly), the fraternal grandparents of my husband. The lane itself was not
much to speak of. Just a dirt path with two deep ruts made by the
too-numerous-to-count wagon wheels that passed over it again and again. It
did not even have an official name, except for the one Laura Belle had
laughingly given it. She called it the religious lane because it was so
hole-y. I loved visiting Jim and Lolly. Never a dull moment because our
visits always called for the whole family - brothers, sisters, aunts and
uncles and cousins by the dozen - to come together for a day or two of
great fun, food and fellowship. Every visit was special. And I could never
understand how Lolly, a devout vegetarian, could make the most
mouth-watering, country fried steak I have ever put a fork to. I watched
her carefully as she prepared this miraculous wonder, but could never
quite emulate that fantastic, culinary delight. Yes, I loved going over
that hole-y lane. Each bump brought me to a farm home of love and gave me
wonderful memories.My second most enjoyed road was not actually a road either, but a walk. An
Emmaus Walk that took me on a glorious, forever life-gladdening, 72-hour
journey with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As Scripture relates in
Luke 24:15, Jesus Himself came and walked with me, a pilgrim seeking the
road to everlasting joy and peace and eternal life with my Lord. And He
has kept His promises made to me on that beautiful journey. He has never
left me or forsaken me. Whatever the roads or valleys or mountain paths I
walk on and through, there is my Lord, right there with me. Whether the
ways are hole-y or holy, He is my constant companion, loving me
unconditionally and constantly. Brothers and sisters, while there is still
time, please seek that Walk to Emmaus, an utmost journey of a lifetime.Someone summarized II Timothy 3:16 by saying: God's Word shows us which
road to take (doctrine). It tells us when we get off track (reproof) and
how to get back on track (correction). And it tells us how to stay on the
right road (instruction in righteousness). God's Word is a precious gift
that will lead you in the way everlasting. A man's heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps. Brothers and sisters, let the Lord's
inspired Word, the Holy Bible, direct your steps daily. If you walk with
God today, you can be confident about tomorrow.
Prayer Dear Father, may everyone who reads this writing truthfully answer Your question, "Will the road you are on get you to my place" Please put in my path those who are uncertain whether they are or are not on the right road and enable me, by and through Your Spirit, to lead them to the way home to You. May my walk with You be an example of what a joy it is to be forever in Your company. I ask all this in the name of my precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes! Additional Scripture Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 16:9; II Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:13-32; Isaiah 52:12; Hebrews 13:5-6 (*) Taken from Our Daily Bread, copyright 2001, RBC Ministries
Pat Hedleston
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