Tag Archives: InnerFulfillment

Christian Growth, Devotionals

Squeaky Clean

I cannot comprehend why some children fight baths or showers with the tenacity of a snapping turtle. My times soaking in either a tub or being drenched during a shower are times to relax tense muscles, unwind after stressful situations or feel energized for the day ahead. Washing my hair is the closing act. I apply a generous amount of fragrant shampoo, work it to lather and rinse the suds away until my hair is squeaky clean.

I’m clueless as to who coined the phrase squeaky clean but it appropriately describes how God has washed away my sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NAS).” He removes guilt stains from my conscience, wraps me in a robe of righteousness and holds me securely giving everlasting life. I may begin a daily routine of singing praises in the shower!

Standard
Devotionals

Wipe Your Feet!

Pam Ford Davis

Wives and mothers frequently voice a command, “Wipe your feet, before coming in!” It takes only one time of neglect to follow her instructions and a beautiful waxed floor or steam-cleaned carpet instantly reveals dirty footprints. It may be a nuisance to take the extra time to wipe our feet before entering a house but we should remove the dirt of the day as a common courtesy. Wipe your feet before coming inside the house.

Jesus wiped the feet of His disciples. “Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded (John 13:5 RSV).” It was a menial job on the “to do list” of a common slave; as servants of the savior they should have humbled themselves and offered to wash his feet. Instead, the awe struck assembly saw him not only wash their feet but also tenderly wipe them dry.

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

Bethlehem’s Baby Lamb

Pam Ford Davis

Sheep were resting in green pastures as Bethlehem’s baby lamb squirmed in a bed of straw.  Residents of the small city were oblivious to the significance of a stable birth and blind to the baby’s future role as sacrificial lamb. Mary bound Him with swaddling clothes not sensing that in the future grave cloths would bind His lifeless body; yes, as God has always provided for faithful followers, He had provided the lamb.

“Isaac said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son (Genesis 22:7b-8a HCS).” Abraham, as father of future generations of faithful followers of God, spoke of the reality of God’s current power to meet his desperate need yet also prophetically proclaimed Jehovah as provider of the supreme sacrifice, His Son. Behold the Lamb! (John 1:29-34)

 

 

 

Standard
Family

Home for a Lifetime

Pam Ford Davis

As a writer, I sometimes see or hear something and feel compelled to turn the truths into personal testimony. A painter wants to capture those emotions with brush and canvas; I turn to my computer keyboard and let my fingers paint the picture. Simple phrases or song titles are key ingredients for an article and I can hardly wait to stir them up.

An inspired writer shared that Home is where the heart is. A sentimentalist believed Wherever you hang your hat is home. We visualize a dad hanging his hat up as he enters the house after a hard day’s work. We can never escape the cries of fearful Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She tearfully said, “There’s no place like home.”

Oh, There’s No Place Like Home For the Holidays.  Perry Como’s rendition still wrings my heart each Christmas and I know I am not alone. We remember the old houses where we grew up, family, friends and the fun times we shared. Years and miles cannot separate us from home; they only serve to tighten the bonds.

“Home is always home.” A cousin penned this perception on my Christmas card and I instantly wowed! She is also a writer and we grew up in very small neighborhoods only a few miles apart. Both of us no longer live in those nestled areas; New York State is now only a state of mind. I will not plagiarize her statement; instead, I say, “Martha, you don’t know how right you are!”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

His Intentions

Pam Ford Davis

“And what are your intentions, young man?” In days of old, a stern father met the beau of his daughter in a quaint parlor and quizzed him on his plans to provide for a wife. The younger male figure swallowed the lump in his throat and marked out a path of proper provision and a secure future for his betrothed. He stated his intentions and waited for word of the father’s blessings on the proposed marriage.

The joyous woman in Song of Solomon could not restrain her emotions as she revealed the intentions of the man of her dreams. “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his intention toward me was love (Song of Solomon 2:4 NRS).” He intended to express his lavish love for her as he provided a feast. She knew where he placed his affections and she delighted to be in his presence. His intentions were clear and she saw her own reflection as she gazed in his eyes.

 

 

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

Eternal Optimist

Pam Ford Davis

Optimism is a rare characteristic in our world of stark reality and disappointments. We become cynical and dark clouds conceal the possibilities that lay before us. I am the proud wife of a man whose favorite phrase may be, “It has potential.” Together we view a rundown shack; I see devastation but he sees a dream.

I proudly serve a God who looks beyond our failures to potential. Peter talked the talk but tripped over his faltering feet as he failed to walk the walk. The man who boasted of never deserting his Lord blundered and betrayed him. Jesus saw past the Big Fisherman’s upcoming pitiful performance to potential. The Holy Spirit would transform Peter from deserter to devotee. He would return to encourage and lead others.

“I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me (Luke 22:31 NCV).” Jesus prayed for Peter, shining rays of mercy and grace revealed potential beneath a man who would soon cower in fear. The Lord would call Peter to serve as caretaker of the flock. He proved his love for the Master through service and ministry and faithfully fed the lambs and sheep. Jesus is an eternal optimist….  

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

Unending Praise

Pam Ford Davis

His name is wonderful; his blessings are without number and words cannot express our thankfulness and praise. Children love to share the latest news with their friends; as God’s children we can be just as eager to praise him in prayer and brag on him to others.

How can I find the right words? King David, writer of many of the Psalms had the gift of expressing what I feel. I share his emotional highs and lows, questions and confidence, desire his honesty and intimacy with the Father.

“Praise the Lord! Servants of the Lord, praise him! Praise the Lord’s name. May the Lord’s name be praised now and forever. May the Lord’s name be praised from where the sun rises to where it goes down (Psalm 113:1-3 ERV).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Guest Room

Pam Ford Davis

 

In the days of large families, guest rooms were a luxury only for the wealthy. Hosts vacated their room for out of town visitors and slept on the sofa. Today many middle- class homeowners have sufficient space for the family and a guest room as well. If unexpected company drops by, the host needs little time to present a warm welcome in the designated room.

Imagine the role of preparing a guest room for the Lord Jesus… “Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there (Mark 14:14-15 NIV).”

Praise and prayer prepare the way for Jesus to enter the guest room in our hearts. He dwells in our adoration; confession through prayer removes sins residue, allowing Christ to enter a cleansed home. We must not occupy his room, be sure to leave the door open and leave the light of his word inside. We have the privilege of preparing a guestroom for the King of Kings!

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

Grace Period

Pam Ford Davis

 

Recently I discovered I was a day late on paying our electric bill, like a flash across my mind I wondered if we neglected to take the check to the local office. I had given the payment to my husband Norm as he was running errands one day a week or two earlier. He simply forgot to drop it off.

He handed it back to me and I dropped it in my purse, which we both know is akin to the black hole in the universe. I thumbed through the contents and found it hiding in the midst of necessities and a collection of crumpled checkout store receipts. There was a grace period before cut-off of power but I had to pay a small penalty for my tardiness.

I never cease to be amazed at God’s amazing grace. There is no grace period; there is grace…. Period! I cannot earn my salvation, nor can I lose it. Christ purchased it; He ransomed me. I owe everything to God’s gift of grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-not because of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 RSV).” I urge you, please do not neglect to receive His grace.

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family

House That Frank Built

Pam Ford Davis

My mind mingles memories of Mycenae and home; I left the old home place when I wed at the age of 18, yet at the age of 62 it as close as my current front door. Over a thousand miles separates me from the house that my Dad, Frank built. My thoughts soar to the structure that sheltered me from northeasters and the cold cruel world.

Solomon in his great wisdom built, bragged, and taught me a valuable lesson; a house may serve only as a monument to self. “I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 HCS).”

The industrious king had developed a dream home any real estate agent would love to include as a listing to prospective buyers. It is tragic to see the repetitive phrase “for myself” in Solomon’s monologue and to realize I too can become self absorbed and miss countless blessings of investing in others. I think I’ll just mosey on back to Mycenae and see vivid pictures of the house that Frank built…

Standard