Category Archives: Devotionals

Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, Women

Women on Mission

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The Lord God frequently does what we least expect. If we try to put His activity in a box He is sure to escape its confines. Resurrection morning was not scripted by any of the disciples.

Before daylight, a close knit group of faithful women began a mission of love for their departed Lord and friend. Laden with spices to anoint His body, they reverently approached His tomb. They likely discussed the problem of getting inside to perform their task. The large stone sealing His tomb created a barrier they needed to overcome.

The sight of His open tomb caught them by surprise. The stone lay off to the side, giving complete access to the burial place (that had been given by a wealthy Council member). The kindness of Christ follower Joseph of Arimathea did not go unnoticed.

The women humbly entered the tomb and discovered the tomb was empty; Jesus no longer occupied the grave!

Suddenly, they encountered two men in radiant clothing. The natural reaction of fright gripped the women; in awe, they fell to the ground.

The men asked a penetrating question, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead (Luke 24:5b NAS)?”

The messenger continued, “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7 NAS).”

Yes, they remembered Jesus telling them of his death and resurrection. To rise again? That had not seemed possible. Alive? They saw Him die! Three days had passed since His lifeless body had been sealed inside the tomb…

The morning skies brightened. Hearts cold with grief now pulsed with hope and joy.

Culture, tradition and prejudice prevailed. Women held few places of influence. Against all odds, women were the recipients of the angel’s resurrection announcement. Matthew said, “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples (Matthew 28:8 NAS).”

Catch sight of frail women lifting their skirts and breathlessly running to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Before carrying out their mission, they came face-to-face with Christ. He encouraged the women and gave them His personal message. “Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see me (Matthew 28: 10 NAS)”

Women…

*Women were first to see the open tomb.

*Women were first to hear of His resurrection.

*Women were first to see the risen Redeemer.

*Women were first to carry the Gospel message. Jesus lives; He conquered death.

The disciples rejected their message.

“And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24: 11 NAS).”

Jesus later appeared to His disciples in His resurrected body.

Proof cancelled out rejection.

He lives and He is coming again!

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Symbols of Victory

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“The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: ‘Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One—the King of Israel (John 12:12-13 HCS).”

Have you ever been part of a festival’s exuberant crowd? The excitement is contagious. We lived in the historical city of De Funiak Springs Florida, for several years. Serving as home to the annual Chautauqua Festival, it has drawn crowds numbering several thousand. I have a sense of what the Jerusalem crowd anticipated as they waited for the arrival of Jesus…

They awaited their King, expecting him to deliver them from Roman rule. As symbols of victory they palmed palm branches and rushed to see this Jesus, King of Israel. Shouting praises they gave him an enthusiastic welcome. The public opinion quickly changed. In a matter of days, shouts of ‘Crucify Him’ replaced ‘Hosanna.’

“Pilate asked them, ‘What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?’ They all answered, ‘Crucify Him (Matthew 27:22 HCS).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Under Their Heels!

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I assume you are familiar with the children’s  Itsy-Bitsy Spider sing along.

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, we find whining Hebrew spies. Faithless, they felt like itsy-bitsy-grasshoppers.

“There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. (Numbers 13:33 NAS).”

They saw themselves as insignificant and powerless. Likewise, the giants in the land saw them as spineless invaders they would crush under their heels.

In contrast, Caleb had seen God’s children through eyes of courage and faith.

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it (Numbers 13:30 NAS).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, The Church

We Talk

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I live in an area that is predominately agricultural.                    

Farmers, families, and friends depend on crops to keep money in circulation. We all talk about the weather. In times of summer drought, we talk more.

Farmers pray.

Christ Jesus compared the lost and dying to a harvest.

In our churches, pastors and congregations talk about the lost. In times of dwindling numbers and apostasy, we talk more.

Missionaries pray.

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:1-2 NKJ).”

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Children, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family, Uncategorized

Family Business

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Family businesses were once the backbone of America.   

Whether family farms or Main Street Mom & Pop’s, the businesses were owned and operated by members of close-knit families. Often, children played a major role by lending a helping hand before and after school. My husband was raised in the Deep South and speaks of earlier years when schools closed during harvest season. Children were needed to assist in gathering cotton crops.

Jesus carried out His Father’s kingdom business. He had a strong family support system.

“While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:46-50 NKJ).”  

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Fill er’ up!

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“Fill er’ up!”

My best girlfriend’s dad owned and operated a Sunoco gas station in our rural Mycenae neighborhood. I’m sure ‘Fill er’ up’ was music to his ears. Back in those days, a dollar went a long way. The decision to fill the tank when stopping for gas was using common sense. Why put it off?

Why do people have a tendency to wait to make the most important decision of their lives?

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJ).”

He will fill you.

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJ).”

 
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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

I Confess

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‘I confess.’

Words of someone ready to admit their guilt.

He or she is ready to come clean.

‘I confess.’

Words of one who confesses Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Seeking Him, and His forgiveness; they are ready to receive His cleansing.

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16 NKJ).”

‘I confess. ‘

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32 NKJ).”         12471528_10204979913689110_9211174592249462285_o

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Standard of Measurement

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How do I measure up?

If I compare my compassion and generosity to that of others it is skewed. In all likelihood, I would fare better than some and below the standard set by others. It is a waste of effort.

So how do I measure up, and how do I measure others?
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. ‘Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:36-38 NKJ).”12471528_10204979913689110_9211174592249462285_o

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Bed & Breakfast

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Are you a frequent guest at Bed & Breakfast hotels?

I guess that might be on my bucket list… that is if I ever begin one.

I’m sure I’d like the comfortable surroundings and the tantalizing aroma of home cooked breakfast wafting towards my private room. I’d rank Victorian Bed & Breakfasts at the top of preferences.

Job offered Old Testament hospitality to the passersby.

“The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler (Job 31:32 KJV).”

Good for Job; he opened wide his heart and his doors!

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Devotionals

Listen…

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Animals have a keen sense of hearing. To remove any doubt, shake a bag of your pet’s food. If they eat the canned variety, depress the start button on your electric can opener. Your feline or canine can hear the sounds from a great distance; rushing to your side, they eagerly await their next meal.

I wonder what it would be like to hear so well. I wonder what I would be like…

Have you heard a butterfly as it dashes across a flower garden?

Were you ever alerted to the impending arrival of a hummingbird by the sound of its wings?

God indeed works in mysterious ways. Listen; it could be angel’s winging their way…

“And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh (Ezekiel 10:5 KJV).”

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