Category Archives: Devotionals

Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships, The Church

Listen to Your Body

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I easily understand the four-word-sentence. “Listen to your body.” As a senior adult, I have my share of ailments; though none is life threatening, they are chronic. I have learned to listen to the inaudible sounds of symptoms alerting me to trouble. When I hear a message, I pay close attention. I have learned that dealing with a problem, when it first surfaces, averts more serious discomfort and trips to see my doctor. I listen to my body.

As a member of the body of Christ, His church, I listen to my body. “ For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) (1 Corinthians 12:12 Amplified Bible).” If one of the members cries out in pain, or causes conflict within the body, I listen closely. I am no medical doctor; yet, I know I am wise to seek early prevention in all matters of the church body.

“So there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25 Amplified Bible).” I am hard-of-hearing and plan to invest in an affordable hearing aid soon. I tire of missing parts of conversations and repeatedly telling my husband, “I can’t hear you.” My body is talking. “I beg your pardon, what did you say? “

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Hidden Agendas

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Beware; there may be a hidden agenda! We view our homes, communities, workplaces, nations and even our churches, as being deeply divided. We keep our guard up, knowing individuals and groups often have hidden agendas. On the surface, they may say or do something, which seems to be in harmony with our convictions. Yet, beneath the facade, they have an agenda radically opposed. God the Father has an agenda. He hides it briefly within our life experiences.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:28-30 HCS).”  He, through hidden agendas, transforms lives!

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family, Friends, Relationships

A Walton’s Mountain-Walnut Grove Christmas

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As a writer, I get emotional each time I hear narratives of Laura Ingalls and John Boy Walton. Their descriptive entries into journals are like music to my ears. Through my imagination, I share Christmas on Walton’s Mountain and Walnut Grove. I learn the real meaning of Christmas.

The number of gifts, their sizes or the price tags does not measure a Merry Christmas. With Laura and John Boy, I discover joy in relationships and find warmth and security in a place called home. Their gifts were meager; yet, they treasured a wealth of family experiences.

Not all have the wealth of Magi. They offered their treasures to the newborn King. “Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11b HCS).” If you have faith, family and friends, you know the real meaning of Christmas.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Job Description

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Employers and employees have reciprocal agreements. The boss explains the job description to newly hired staff. In return, each new employee makes a firm commitment to do all that is expected of him or her. Imagine a job description for Jesus…

“And she will have a son, and you must name Him Jesus, for it is He who is to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21 Williams).”  The Savior saves. No one else could do His job. Sinless, He alone is qualified. The Son of  God came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Babylon to the Bethlehem Babe

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Follow the paper trail. Genealogy buffs do extensive research, enthusiastically searching for information on ancestors. The history of those who have gone before helps us link our past to the present. From Babylon to the Bethlehem Babe, our Father left a trail.

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David to the Babylonian exile (deportation) fourteen generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Christ fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17 Amplified Bible).” The genealogy of Jesus has no missing link.

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

But God

Don’t you hate a whiner!

 

“But Mom, all the kids are going.”

 

“But Dad, I’ve already spent my allowance.”

 

“But, you promised to keep it a secret.”

 

“But, I thought I had unlimited credit.”

 

“But, I’m too old to change my ways.”

 

“But, what I do is nobody else’s business.”

 

Is that my voice I hear? Did I say or think that?

 

Joseph said, “But God.”

 

Now that is an all together different story.

 

He was not a whiner; he was a winner.

 

“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God (Genesis 45:7-8a NIV).”

 

Joseph was not a whiner; he was a doer.

 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20 NIV).”

 

God is in control, even of if’s and’s or buts!

 

 

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey… We use the expression to describe a sudden cessation of a bad habit. We resolve to quit smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages or other addictive behavior. Bravely, we decide to go it on our own, declining outside assistance of support systems or medications to take the edge off the withdrawal. I think I can, I think I can!

Turkey and Thanksgiving are partners in time. The traditional family Thanksgiving dinner features the fowl and stuffing with all the trimmings. The aroma of basted baked birds tantalizes our appetites, and we can hardly wait to gather around the table to view carving of the golden browned center of attraction.

What do we do with leftovers? Is cold turkey something merely endured until a skeleton remains on a spacious platter? Maybe cold foreshadows our feeling of sadness at the realization that another family gathering has passed and mundane routines will return.

Our attitude of gratitude must never grow cold. We do not receive bountiful blessings by picking leftovers from a dead carcass. The resurrected Lord sustains life and through His gift of grace dishes out trimmings of unexpected joy and fulfillment. I come to Him daily with a hearty appetite, knowing He desires to fill me with His Holy Spirit. Thanksgiving is not a tip on a plate; it is praise on my lips! “Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done (Colossians 2:7b The Living Bible).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Proof Propensities

We are a people of proof propensities. We want to see before we believe. Gullibility is a liability; we would rather see proof than pay the price of wrong choices and consequences. It is with this in mind that I share the truth that God shows me proof positive of His sovereignty.

“From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse (Romans 1:20 HCS).”  He is the only true God.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Unanimous Decision

It’s unanimous, the issue carries! Are you involved in critical decisions at home, office, church, community, state and nation? Your opinion counts; God expects us to be light in darkness, salt to preserve and add flavor, being his ambassadors of reconciliation and peace amidst conflict.

How often do votes reflect a unanimous decision? Very often the vote is split down the middle, there is no clear winner. Those involved may postpone a final answer till a later date, calling for recount or run-off. It’s hard to get people to rally around any issue with little enthusiastic backing.

Is a unanimous decision a guarantee that we have made the right decision? “So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:6-7 NAS).” The public officials were in total agreement, their unanimous decision would lead to persecution of Jews.

“So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:16a NAS).” His fate did not rest in the hands of a bad decision; he found protection in his deliverer! “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:22a NAS). Believers rejoice in their unanimous decision; God is in control!

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Superstition Systematic

Superstition is systematic, based in fallacy and gullibility. One day, I may set aside time to research perceived sources of ludicrous superstitions. Today, I focus on one I have pondered lately, the jinxed number thirteen. To my surprise, in my curiosity I found both examples of believed good and bad fortune through the number thirteen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_%28number%29

As the year 2012 rushes to a close, I anticipate a great new year ahead. 2013 holds adventure and surprises. I want to prove naysayers wrong and foolish. Time and calculation is in the hand of the creator. He who numbers the hairs on my head sustains me, and is able to bless me as richly in the thirteen year as he did the twelfth. “So you should say, ‘If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that (James 4:15 ERV).” I defy superstition; I trust sovereign God.

 

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