February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

A DEVOTIONAL FROM DEB

Debra B Rodgers

1 JOHN 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

     As I went to post today’s devotional, I realized it would have been my grandmother’s, Mama Kate’s, 102^ndbirthday and the same time we just had Tracy’s sister, Rhonda’s memorial. These were two of the most precious people in my life.  I can’t help but think about the separation and how much I miss them and so many other loved ones that have gone on to their final home.  As I think of those I was closest to I can truly say with all my heart, as far as I know, they are now in heaven.  This brings me peace and joy in knowing that I will one day see them again!  So as I take a day away from my normal devotional, please make sure that your final destination will be Heaven. 

     So many people today think that because they believe there is a God or they have the head knowledge of the sacrifice Jesus Christ went through, they are saved from a devil’s hell. Please check up, make sure you know the difference between having a head knowledge or a heart knowledge of what it takes. There is a big difference. It’s the difference in Heaven (eternal LIFE) or hell (eternal SEPERATION, PAIN, and TORMENT in a NEVER ENDING FIERY PIT).

     The relationship you have with God will open your eyes so you will have no doubt where you stand. The wages of sin is death, so either you will die for your sins or you will accept Christ’s death to pay the price for your sins and His blood will be the blood sacrifice that you will have to have to cover your sins. Read His Word, speak to Him through the day, continuously seek His will for your life, and if you do these things, then you will have the peace in KNOWING that you do indeed belong to Christ and when our time comes to go, I will see you in Heaven also.

Originally penned 5-31-16

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February 24, 2020

February 24, 2020

PRAY FIRST, PLAN AFTERWARD

Evelyn Christenson

PSALM 5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

      If we could learn to pray first and plan afterward, how different would be whatever we are doing for Christ. Maybe, just maybe, we are planning in one direction and God’s will is in another direction.

     Even if we are plugged into God’s will, we may be going at a snail’s pace. God says, “Look, you see only a tenth of what I have for you. There are nine-tenths that you’re not seeing, that you don’t know anything about.”

     God wants us to make ourselves available to Him. Then our omnipotent God will pour out His power upon us. Instead of following our tiny, tiny plans, God wants to open heaven and flood us. It’s exciting.

     Gail, our children’s worker, came up with a fantastic idea after she witnessed some miraculous answers to prayer. Her suggestion, “Let’s pray first and plan afterwards,” became the slogan for our church. During Vacation Bible School that year we set up a prayer room and collected requests along with attendance sheets. Then teachers and helpers spent their break times in prayer.

     An urgent request came from one department. Not one child had received Christ though the school had been in session for a week and a half. What a difference prayer made! I stepped into the department to see twenty-three hands raised to receive Christ. The spiritual ceiling of our church went straight up!

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February 23, 2020

Febuary 23, 2020

MADE AND REPAIRED BY THE MASTER

Corrie ten Boom

JOHN 1:3    All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

      There is only One who can cleanse us from our sins---He who made us.

       In Russia, many people lived in a certain apartment house. The basement of the house was filled with the junk of all the families. Amongst the junk was a beautiful harp, which nobody had been able to fix.

       One snowy night, a tramp asked if he could sleep in the building. The people cleared a space for him in the corner of the basement, and he was happy to stay there.

       In a little while, the people heard beautiful music coming from the basement. The owner of the harp rushed downstairs and found the tramp playing it.

       The tramp smiled and replied, “I made this harp years ago, and when you make something, you can also repair it.”

Lord, you made me. What a joy that You are willing and able to repair me.

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February 22, 2020

February 22
Running with Jesus

Luke 9: 28-30 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

     Oh what a run this day would have been! We could not in our wildest dreams begin in this peon of a mind to image what it would have been like. Face to face with Jesus transformed body talking to our great Moses and Elijah! That makes me get excited because we will one day be able to do this! We won’t be asked to build 3 Tabernacles! We will be in heaven and right here on this page in the Bible, God pulls back the curtain and lets us peep into heaven and I want to shout! Some days I want to doubt God and wonder about after life and then God shows up! He says see I am revealing it to you! I struggled with what to write about this and could have written a commentary about it! However, no greater joy could I have gotten when God said, "Peek into Heaven". Right now I am in a struggle with the retreat and Mom is sick but God just wrapped His arms of love around me on this mountain. And my heart was filled with joy and hope! 

God thank You for the assurance of resurrection life and after life! Your Word is so awesome. Help the runners today feel the eternal security we believers have! You are the resurrection and life! One day we will have a new body and live eternally with You. We'll have no more sickness and no more pain! No more death! We will walk and talk with all the wonderful pillars of faith, Moses, David, Sarah and Mary!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

February 20, 2020

February 20
Running with Jesus

Luke 9:18-20 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

     Who do you say that I am? In our world today some kids I work around do not know much about who Jesus is. There was a copy of the movie "The Ten Commandments" sitting on a table one day and I was asking what that was and what it was about. They had no clue! And we wonder why we live in such a lawless society. Mans laws only effect the external but never changes the heart where they decide and make actions happen!
     The people in Christ day expected a King to arise to liberate them physically. Jesus was beginning to reveal things to come about His life to His disciples. It is during intimacy with God through prayer that He reveals the deeper truths of His Word and life to us.
     You and I must develop our intimacy in order to understand deeper truths from His Word. It is more important that we answer the question Jesus asked Peter! Who do you say I am? I think how much time we spend with Him and how we live reveals what we believe about Jesus and who He is! Who do you say He is? What actions will be different because He is your Messiah and Lord! 
     We live in a world that needs to know Christ and we are a reflection of His love and power and our lives is the only Bible some will ever read. Will they know Him by the way we live?

Father, so much to think about today. Help us live that others might say they have something I need so we can tell them You are the Christ of God! May all we do and say today be a reflection of Your love. 

Tomorrow: How we can save our life!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015