Pasajes a leer:
1 Crónicas 7:1-8:40
Hechos 27:1-20
Salmo 7:1-17
Proverbios 18:22
"Jehová juzgará a los pueblos; Júzgame, oh Jehová, conforme a mi justicia, y conforme a mi integridad."
"Mi escudo está en Dios, que salva a los rectos de corazón." - Salmo 7:8 y 10
"El que halla esposa halla el bien, y alcanza la benevolencia de Jehová." - Proverbios 18:22
De todo lo leído en el día de hoy, me siento nuevamente como si Dios me está recordando de la importancia de velar mis palabras, mi actitud y mis pensamientos hacia mi familia especialmente, y hacia todos los que me rodean. Deseo realmente ser una buena esposa de la cual mi esposo pueda sentir orgullo en que Dios me trajo a su vida. Me siento que muchas veces no alcanzo la meta, que necesito cambiar tantas cosas, así que continúo rogando al Señor que me ayude a ser la mujer que necesito ser para mi esposo. Una que le apoya y ayuda a recordar a tener los ojos siempre puestos en Cristo, en nuestro Padre Celestial. Necesito velar mi actitud, mis palabras y la manera en que le trato.
Los pasajes de Salmos me recuerdan que Dios juzgará mis acciones, la manera en que he llevado mi vida. Mi mas profundo anhelo es que el Señor me ayude a ser una mujer de integridad, de santidad, conforme a Su perfecta voluntad para mi vida. Todavía me falta mucho por llegar a la meta, pero estoy tratando de vivir cada día como si fuera mi último, porque lo podría ser. Siento un santo temor por lo que el Señor vaya a decir acerca de mi vida, mi testimonio y mi ministerio. Ruego al Señor que me ayude a mantenerme en El, que me ayude a vivir en santidad para que así pueda ser juzgada favorablemente. No que merezco de ninguna manera Su amor y misericordia, pero El nos ha dado a todos ese hermoso regalo y yo quiero que Su regalo no se haya dado en vano por mi vida. Que así sea en Su nombre. ¡Amén!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
8 de julio de 2014: ¡Sin Biblia, No Hay Desayuno! ¡Sin Biblia, No Duermo!
Pasajes a leer:
1 Crónicas 5:18 - 6:81
Hechos 26:1-32
Salmo 6:1-10
Proverbios 18:20-21
"Todos caímos al suelo. Luego oí una voz que venía del cielo, y que me dijo en arameo: 'Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? ¡Sólo los tontos pelean contra mí!'" - Hechos 26:14 (TLA)
"Quiero que hables con ellos, para que se den cuenta de todo lo malo que hacen, y para que comiencen a obedecer a Dios. Ellos ahora caminan como si estuvieran ciegos, pero tú les abrirás los ojos. Así dejarán de obedecer a Satanás, y obedecerán a Dios. Podrán creer en mí, y Dios les perdonará sus pecados. Así serán parte del santo pueblo de Dios." - Hechos 26:18 (TLA)
"Jehová, no me reprendas en tu enojo, ni me castigues con tu ira. Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová, porque estoy enfermo; Sáname, oh Jehová, porque mis huesos se estremecen." - Salmo 6:1-2 (TLA)
"Del fruto de la boca del hombre se llenará su vientre; Se saciará del producto de sus labios. La muerte y la vida están en poder de la lengua, Y el que la ama comerá de sus frutos." - Proverbios 18:20-21 (RVR 1960)
"Cada uno recibe por sus palabras sus premio o su castigo. La lengua tiene poder para dar vida y para quitarla; los que no paran de hablar sufren las consecuencias." - Proverbios 18:20-21 (TLA)
Los pasajes del libro de Hechos tienen que ver con Pablo. El se encontraba defendiéndose de acusasiones hechas por los judíos buscando su muerte frente al Rey Agripa, hijo del Herodes de Hechos 12:1. Aunque solo rey en nombre, era considerado experto en asuntos de la religión judía, así que Festo, el gobernador romano, le había traído para ayudar a formar una opinión acerca de Pablo. El poder verdadero restaba en Festo para juzgarle. Pablo les cuenta sobre su trasfondo como fariseo y cómo llego a convertirse en seguidor de Jesús, en vez de Su perseguidor mayor. Me encanta la manera en que la Traducción en Lenguaje Actual explica su conversión y llamado al ministerio. Jesús mostró a Pablo que todos tenían acceso a la salvación, no tan solo los judíos, algo que los judíos no podían creer, pero por lo cual doy gracias a Dios siempre, pues si no fuera por ello, no podría ser salva hoy.
La última porción de Escritura a leer en el día de hoy fue un recodatorio importante para mí en el día de hoy. Las palabras que salen de mi boca pueden dar vida o quitarla. Me recuerda la importancia de meditar en lo que voy a decir, en vez de decir lo primero que viene a mi mente, especialmente cuando me encuentro frustrada o enojada. Esta es una lección que me es aún más importante como mamá, pues estoy criando a un niño que Dios, en Su perfecta gracia, me ha regalado, y quien quiero que ame a Dios y le siga de todo corazón. Si no habló palabras de vida sobre él, ¿cómo puedo esperar que sea el hombre santo de Dios que quiero que sea? Y entonces tendré que rendirle cuenta a Dios por mis acciones. Es un pensamiento que me preocupa y abruma muchísimo, pero que tengo que poner en Sus manos y por el cual tengo que pedirle sabiduría diariamente.
Ruego al Señor en este día que las palabras que salgan de mi boca siempre den vida, en vez de quitarla. Que las palabras y el mensaje que profeso con mi boca, así también lo muestre por medio de mis acciones. Que así sea en Su santo nombre. ¡Amén!
1 Crónicas 5:18 - 6:81
Hechos 26:1-32
Salmo 6:1-10
Proverbios 18:20-21
"Todos caímos al suelo. Luego oí una voz que venía del cielo, y que me dijo en arameo: 'Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? ¡Sólo los tontos pelean contra mí!'" - Hechos 26:14 (TLA)
"Quiero que hables con ellos, para que se den cuenta de todo lo malo que hacen, y para que comiencen a obedecer a Dios. Ellos ahora caminan como si estuvieran ciegos, pero tú les abrirás los ojos. Así dejarán de obedecer a Satanás, y obedecerán a Dios. Podrán creer en mí, y Dios les perdonará sus pecados. Así serán parte del santo pueblo de Dios." - Hechos 26:18 (TLA)
"Jehová, no me reprendas en tu enojo, ni me castigues con tu ira. Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová, porque estoy enfermo; Sáname, oh Jehová, porque mis huesos se estremecen." - Salmo 6:1-2 (TLA)
"Del fruto de la boca del hombre se llenará su vientre; Se saciará del producto de sus labios. La muerte y la vida están en poder de la lengua, Y el que la ama comerá de sus frutos." - Proverbios 18:20-21 (RVR 1960)
"Cada uno recibe por sus palabras sus premio o su castigo. La lengua tiene poder para dar vida y para quitarla; los que no paran de hablar sufren las consecuencias." - Proverbios 18:20-21 (TLA)
Los pasajes del libro de Hechos tienen que ver con Pablo. El se encontraba defendiéndose de acusasiones hechas por los judíos buscando su muerte frente al Rey Agripa, hijo del Herodes de Hechos 12:1. Aunque solo rey en nombre, era considerado experto en asuntos de la religión judía, así que Festo, el gobernador romano, le había traído para ayudar a formar una opinión acerca de Pablo. El poder verdadero restaba en Festo para juzgarle. Pablo les cuenta sobre su trasfondo como fariseo y cómo llego a convertirse en seguidor de Jesús, en vez de Su perseguidor mayor. Me encanta la manera en que la Traducción en Lenguaje Actual explica su conversión y llamado al ministerio. Jesús mostró a Pablo que todos tenían acceso a la salvación, no tan solo los judíos, algo que los judíos no podían creer, pero por lo cual doy gracias a Dios siempre, pues si no fuera por ello, no podría ser salva hoy.
La última porción de Escritura a leer en el día de hoy fue un recodatorio importante para mí en el día de hoy. Las palabras que salen de mi boca pueden dar vida o quitarla. Me recuerda la importancia de meditar en lo que voy a decir, en vez de decir lo primero que viene a mi mente, especialmente cuando me encuentro frustrada o enojada. Esta es una lección que me es aún más importante como mamá, pues estoy criando a un niño que Dios, en Su perfecta gracia, me ha regalado, y quien quiero que ame a Dios y le siga de todo corazón. Si no habló palabras de vida sobre él, ¿cómo puedo esperar que sea el hombre santo de Dios que quiero que sea? Y entonces tendré que rendirle cuenta a Dios por mis acciones. Es un pensamiento que me preocupa y abruma muchísimo, pero que tengo que poner en Sus manos y por el cual tengo que pedirle sabiduría diariamente.
Ruego al Señor en este día que las palabras que salgan de mi boca siempre den vida, en vez de quitarla. Que las palabras y el mensaje que profeso con mi boca, así también lo muestre por medio de mis acciones. Que así sea en Su santo nombre. ¡Amén!
Friday, February 21, 2014
February 17, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for this day:
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2
"Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of that kind among Jesus' followers.) But when the teachers of religious law saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, 'Why does he eat with such scum?' When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor --sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'" -Mark 2:15-17
"Then Jesus said to them, 'The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!'" -Mark 2:27-28
"He looked around them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus." -Mark 3:5-6
"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds."
-Psalm 36:5
"How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."
-Psalm 36:7
"Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts." -Psalm 36:10
In the portions of Scripture from Mark, we see Jesus demonstrating that unfailing love which is so perfectly described by David in Psalms. Those which society refused to acknowledge and regarded as "scum", Jesus loved unconditionally, showing them unparalleled mercy. The words of Jesus from Mark 2:17 which state that "'Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners,'" really impacted me. God came to save me, a horrible sinner, truly the 'scum' that the Pharisees so aptly named me. But God, in His unfailing love saw fit to forgive me, to forgive all those who acknowledge Christ as Savior, and are trying to live holy lives. Lord knows I am NOT perfect. I sin regularly. I cannot understand His unfailing love, but it is there for me nonetheless. It is there for each and every one of us. There are no words left but to thank God for His unfailing love and mercy.
Therefore, my prayer on this day is, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your unfailing love and mercy! Thank you that you see me not as scum, but as someone in need of healing. Lord, heal me, cleanse me, and make me pure. Lord, I know I fail constantly, but PLEASE forgive me, and help me not to sin. Help me to be holy as You have called me to be. Pour out Your unfailing love on me because God, I LOVE YOU! I cannot live without you! Give me an honest heart and mind, one that is focused solely on pleasing You and bringing others to the saving knowledge of Your grace so that they can also be saved and sanctified. May it be so, in Your name, and for Your glory, Amen!
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2
"Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of that kind among Jesus' followers.) But when the teachers of religious law saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, 'Why does he eat with such scum?' When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor --sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'" -Mark 2:15-17
"Then Jesus said to them, 'The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!'" -Mark 2:27-28
"He looked around them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus." -Mark 3:5-6
"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds."
-Psalm 36:5
"How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."
-Psalm 36:7
"Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts." -Psalm 36:10
In the portions of Scripture from Mark, we see Jesus demonstrating that unfailing love which is so perfectly described by David in Psalms. Those which society refused to acknowledge and regarded as "scum", Jesus loved unconditionally, showing them unparalleled mercy. The words of Jesus from Mark 2:17 which state that "'Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners,'" really impacted me. God came to save me, a horrible sinner, truly the 'scum' that the Pharisees so aptly named me. But God, in His unfailing love saw fit to forgive me, to forgive all those who acknowledge Christ as Savior, and are trying to live holy lives. Lord knows I am NOT perfect. I sin regularly. I cannot understand His unfailing love, but it is there for me nonetheless. It is there for each and every one of us. There are no words left but to thank God for His unfailing love and mercy.
Therefore, my prayer on this day is, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your unfailing love and mercy! Thank you that you see me not as scum, but as someone in need of healing. Lord, heal me, cleanse me, and make me pure. Lord, I know I fail constantly, but PLEASE forgive me, and help me not to sin. Help me to be holy as You have called me to be. Pour out Your unfailing love on me because God, I LOVE YOU! I cannot live without you! Give me an honest heart and mind, one that is focused solely on pleasing You and bringing others to the saving knowledge of Your grace so that they can also be saved and sanctified. May it be so, in Your name, and for Your glory, Amen!
February 16, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for this day:
Leviticus 1:1-3:17
Mark 1:29-2:12
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 9:13-18
"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. 'If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,' he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed." -Mark 1:40-42
"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.'" -Mark 2:5
Both of these stories are some of my favorite miracles that Jesus performed. Both of these instances demonstrate one of the most valuable things we possess as Christians, and that is faith! The Word says "Without faith no one can please God" (Hebrews 11:6). And in both these encounters with Jesus, we can see incredible faith demonstrated. Neither of the men Jesus heals knew him personally, they had only heard of him, but still, they had enough faith in Jesus' power, in who He was, that their faith brought them healing from that which ailed them. They second story of the man who could not walk is especially touching because Jesus not only heals him, no, that's not enough. Jesus forgives his sins, and makes him a new man. The Bible does not tell us what happens to all those people who have miraculous encounters with Jesus, but I can only imagine that after receiving such incredible healing, they go on to lead lives in which they trust God and profess what Jesus has done for them, maybe even becoming one of his many disciples. Only God knows, but it's beautiful to imagine, at least for me. Their lives were completely changed from misery, degradation, isolation, etc., etc. How amazing is our God!
My prayer for this day is that God would help my faith grow like that of these men. That I could trust Him when things are going great, and when things are going horribly, knowing that my future is in His hands, and that He knows what is best for me and my family. May it be so, in His name, for His glory, Amen!
Leviticus 1:1-3:17
Mark 1:29-2:12
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 9:13-18
"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. 'If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,' he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed." -Mark 1:40-42
"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.'" -Mark 2:5
Both of these stories are some of my favorite miracles that Jesus performed. Both of these instances demonstrate one of the most valuable things we possess as Christians, and that is faith! The Word says "Without faith no one can please God" (Hebrews 11:6). And in both these encounters with Jesus, we can see incredible faith demonstrated. Neither of the men Jesus heals knew him personally, they had only heard of him, but still, they had enough faith in Jesus' power, in who He was, that their faith brought them healing from that which ailed them. They second story of the man who could not walk is especially touching because Jesus not only heals him, no, that's not enough. Jesus forgives his sins, and makes him a new man. The Bible does not tell us what happens to all those people who have miraculous encounters with Jesus, but I can only imagine that after receiving such incredible healing, they go on to lead lives in which they trust God and profess what Jesus has done for them, maybe even becoming one of his many disciples. Only God knows, but it's beautiful to imagine, at least for me. Their lives were completely changed from misery, degradation, isolation, etc., etc. How amazing is our God!
My prayer for this day is that God would help my faith grow like that of these men. That I could trust Him when things are going great, and when things are going horribly, knowing that my future is in His hands, and that He knows what is best for me and my family. May it be so, in His name, for His glory, Amen!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
February 15, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for this day:
Exodus 39:1-40:38
Mark 1:1-28
Psalm 35:1-16
Proverbs 9:11-12
Portions which jumped out at me today:
"They mounted the two onyx stones in settings of gold filigree. The stones were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, just as a seal is engraved. He fastened these stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that the priest represents the people of Israel All this was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses." -Exodus 39:6-7
"John announced: 'Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" -Mark 1:7-8
The first portion from Exodus, as soon as I read it, gave me a mental image of myself in my Salvation Army officers' uniform, with the red and the one star on my shoulders. It really meant something to me because just as Aaron was set apart with his clothing as God's holy priest, along with his sons, and the generations that would follow from his line into priesthood, I am also set apart because of the decision I made to become a Salvation Army officer, a "priest" in my own right, a pastor/minister to my people where I find myself at. Although I do not think more of myself than I should, I do realize that God has chosen me, just as he chose Aaron and his sons, and his generations thereafter, to be set apart and lead his people, minister to them, and seek God's will for their lives. This responsibility is not a burden, but it is at the same time. It is hard to explain. I am responsible for the lives of the men, women, children, and youth in my congregation. With this responsibility comes a large weight to be carried, but God has called me to do it, and He will strengthen and help me to do it. I know that there is no way I can do this on my own, no one can. It is only by His grace that I do what I do, and am strengthened to do what I must do. One of my favorite portions of Scripture perfectly describes the responsibility I have, and not just me, all of us who profess to believe in God.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." -1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
We have been chosen to proclaim Christ to the world, to all who surround us, just as John prepared the way for Jesus' ministry, so must we prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to do its work in peoples' lives.
My prayer on this day is that God will ever remind me that He has chosen imperfect me for His ministry. It is not a coincidence. Even when things seem incredibly difficult, impossible even, I am His chosen, and He will guide me out of darkness into His wonderful light. May I declare His praises so that anyone who sees me or comes in contact with me will want to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. May it be so, in His name, for His glory, Amen!
Exodus 39:1-40:38
Mark 1:1-28
Psalm 35:1-16
Proverbs 9:11-12
Portions which jumped out at me today:
"They mounted the two onyx stones in settings of gold filigree. The stones were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, just as a seal is engraved. He fastened these stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that the priest represents the people of Israel All this was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses." -Exodus 39:6-7
"John announced: 'Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am--so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" -Mark 1:7-8
The first portion from Exodus, as soon as I read it, gave me a mental image of myself in my Salvation Army officers' uniform, with the red and the one star on my shoulders. It really meant something to me because just as Aaron was set apart with his clothing as God's holy priest, along with his sons, and the generations that would follow from his line into priesthood, I am also set apart because of the decision I made to become a Salvation Army officer, a "priest" in my own right, a pastor/minister to my people where I find myself at. Although I do not think more of myself than I should, I do realize that God has chosen me, just as he chose Aaron and his sons, and his generations thereafter, to be set apart and lead his people, minister to them, and seek God's will for their lives. This responsibility is not a burden, but it is at the same time. It is hard to explain. I am responsible for the lives of the men, women, children, and youth in my congregation. With this responsibility comes a large weight to be carried, but God has called me to do it, and He will strengthen and help me to do it. I know that there is no way I can do this on my own, no one can. It is only by His grace that I do what I do, and am strengthened to do what I must do. One of my favorite portions of Scripture perfectly describes the responsibility I have, and not just me, all of us who profess to believe in God.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." -1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
We have been chosen to proclaim Christ to the world, to all who surround us, just as John prepared the way for Jesus' ministry, so must we prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to do its work in peoples' lives.
My prayer on this day is that God will ever remind me that He has chosen imperfect me for His ministry. It is not a coincidence. Even when things seem incredibly difficult, impossible even, I am His chosen, and He will guide me out of darkness into His wonderful light. May I declare His praises so that anyone who sees me or comes in contact with me will want to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. May it be so, in His name, for His glory, Amen!
February 14, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
I have a LOT of catching up to do. It has been an extremely rough week, and I know exactly why. I should've kept up with my devotionals, but I let myself get distracted by work, and other things. It's a great thing God is SO amazingly forgiving.
Scripture for this day:
Exodus 37:1-38:31
Matthew 28:1-20
Psalm 34:11-22
Proverbs 9:9-10
The next couple of portions stood out to me from this day:
"Then the angel spoke to the women. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you'.... And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.'" -Matthew 28:5b-7 and 9-10
"Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it." -Psalm 34:11-14
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment." -Proverbs 9:10
The recurring theme through these portions of Scripture have to do with listening to God. It is only when we are attentive to His voice and will that we can truly be successful in life. When we listen to His voice, when we read His Word and take it in, make it a part of ourselves, we learn what it is He desires of us. And, in the end, what the Lord desires from each and every one of us, His children, is for us to lead holy lives. Holiness is hard, but it can be done with His help. We need to set aside anything that might hinder our growing closer to God, and hold fast to Him.
My prayer for this day is that He would keep me aware of His will for my life, that He would call my attention if I am not doing what He wants of me. May He grant me wisdom that comes from Him that I might have a life that is long and prosperous in Him. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Scripture for this day:
Exodus 37:1-38:31
Matthew 28:1-20
Psalm 34:11-22
Proverbs 9:9-10
The next couple of portions stood out to me from this day:
"Then the angel spoke to the women. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you'.... And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.'" -Matthew 28:5b-7 and 9-10
"Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it." -Psalm 34:11-14
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment." -Proverbs 9:10
The recurring theme through these portions of Scripture have to do with listening to God. It is only when we are attentive to His voice and will that we can truly be successful in life. When we listen to His voice, when we read His Word and take it in, make it a part of ourselves, we learn what it is He desires of us. And, in the end, what the Lord desires from each and every one of us, His children, is for us to lead holy lives. Holiness is hard, but it can be done with His help. We need to set aside anything that might hinder our growing closer to God, and hold fast to Him.
My prayer for this day is that He would keep me aware of His will for my life, that He would call my attention if I am not doing what He wants of me. May He grant me wisdom that comes from Him that I might have a life that is long and prosperous in Him. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Friday, February 14, 2014
February 13, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
So I was unable to post this yesterday as I promised, but I am posting both yesterday's and todays devotional thoughts. Today, I WILL do it!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 35:10-36:38
Matthew 27:32-66
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverbs 9:7-8
In the passage from Exodus, we continue to see Moses following the Lord's commands in constructing the Tabernacle. He asks the people to bring offerings for the construction of the Temple, and they do so. "All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord.... Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing." -Exodus 34:21a-22a. In fact, they brought SO many offerings that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing them. Now that is true worship and sacrifice. The people ha realized what an amazing and awesome God they served that they were willing to do whatever was needed of them in order to please the Lord, and they did it joyfully. This is such a great example for us as Believers today. Are we willing to sacrifice of what we have if the Lord asks us to? And if we do so, will we do so joyfully rather than out of duty?
In the portion from the book of Matthew, we read about the torture, mockery, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus. The part which always touches me when I read this is when Jesus calls out to God... "At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?' which means 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'" -Matthew 27:46. The Son calls out to His Father in anguish. But we have to understand, God had to leave Jesus when He took our sins unto Himself. God cannot be a part of anyone or anything that contains sin, so at that desperate moment, Jesus realizes that His Father is no longer with Him, and He desperately seeks His aid and comfort, to no avail. However, He does not sin nor curse His Father for leaving Him, instead he shouts out to God again, and "released His spirit" -Matthew 27:50. When he dies, the veil in the Temple tore in half, there was a great earthquake, and many godly men and women were released from their burial tombs and brought back to life. It amazes me that after seeing this happen, some were still stubborn enough to deny the fact that Jesus was in fact the Son of God, and that what they had done to Him was utterly wrong and cruel. But, they were human beings, as are we, and when we do not want to admit our wrongdoing, we make up excuses and try to cover our actions. In the end, God is the one who will pass judgment.
The portion reading from Psalm 34 happens to be one of my favorite psalms in the Bible. So I cannot do it justice. I will simply write it out.
"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me, He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." -Psalm 34:1-10
My prayer today is that He will be my refuge, that He will deliver me from any fears I might have, be they known or unknown, so that I may be able to continue being a faithful witness for Him. I also pray that He gives me joy, even when things may seem bleak and I might not feel wanted or appreciated, that He will remind me of His greatness and love, and that I may rejoice in His love and deliverance. I also pray that I may be able to give whatever He asks of me, willingly, like the Israelites did, and with joy in my heart. May it be so, In His name, Amen!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 35:10-36:38
Matthew 27:32-66
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverbs 9:7-8
In the passage from Exodus, we continue to see Moses following the Lord's commands in constructing the Tabernacle. He asks the people to bring offerings for the construction of the Temple, and they do so. "All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord.... Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing." -Exodus 34:21a-22a. In fact, they brought SO many offerings that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing them. Now that is true worship and sacrifice. The people ha realized what an amazing and awesome God they served that they were willing to do whatever was needed of them in order to please the Lord, and they did it joyfully. This is such a great example for us as Believers today. Are we willing to sacrifice of what we have if the Lord asks us to? And if we do so, will we do so joyfully rather than out of duty?
In the portion from the book of Matthew, we read about the torture, mockery, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus. The part which always touches me when I read this is when Jesus calls out to God... "At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?' which means 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'" -Matthew 27:46. The Son calls out to His Father in anguish. But we have to understand, God had to leave Jesus when He took our sins unto Himself. God cannot be a part of anyone or anything that contains sin, so at that desperate moment, Jesus realizes that His Father is no longer with Him, and He desperately seeks His aid and comfort, to no avail. However, He does not sin nor curse His Father for leaving Him, instead he shouts out to God again, and "released His spirit" -Matthew 27:50. When he dies, the veil in the Temple tore in half, there was a great earthquake, and many godly men and women were released from their burial tombs and brought back to life. It amazes me that after seeing this happen, some were still stubborn enough to deny the fact that Jesus was in fact the Son of God, and that what they had done to Him was utterly wrong and cruel. But, they were human beings, as are we, and when we do not want to admit our wrongdoing, we make up excuses and try to cover our actions. In the end, God is the one who will pass judgment.
The portion reading from Psalm 34 happens to be one of my favorite psalms in the Bible. So I cannot do it justice. I will simply write it out.
"I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me, He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." -Psalm 34:1-10
My prayer today is that He will be my refuge, that He will deliver me from any fears I might have, be they known or unknown, so that I may be able to continue being a faithful witness for Him. I also pray that He gives me joy, even when things may seem bleak and I might not feel wanted or appreciated, that He will remind me of His greatness and love, and that I may rejoice in His love and deliverance. I also pray that I may be able to give whatever He asks of me, willingly, like the Israelites did, and with joy in my heart. May it be so, In His name, Amen!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
February 12, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
So, I know I failed to blog about it yesterday, but I did read the Bible and passages assigned, so I decided that today will be a double whammy, yesterday's and today's, though in separate posts. Anyway, on to the Scripture for the day:
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6
"The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.'" - Exodus 34:6b-7a
"You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you." Exodus 34:14
"What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance."
-Psalm 33:12
"But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love." -Psalm 33:18
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone." -Psalm 33:20-22
The theme which weaved through all the passages that I read this day have to do with God's unfailing love, His relationship with us, and how we should place Him above all others in our lives. The passage from Exodus demonstrated how God desires to be THE ONE in our lives, our priority, Whom we worship and adore above all others. It reminds me of the song by the David Crowder Band "How He Loves," linked below.
I think this song perfectly exemplifies the fact that God has incredible, unfailing love, but He is ultimately a jealous God who as He commanded Moses and the Israelites wants us to worship Him only. And, this is easier said than done. Know why? Because we can so easily lose sight of WHO God is in our lives with our everyday responsibilities and relationships. It is very easy to make our wives or husbands, our children, our JOBS, the priority in our lives; And, if we do so, God has a way of reminding us WHO He is, and that He is first and foremost to ANYTHING else in our lives. But again, He might discipline us, He is our Father after all, but He does it because he LOVES US! How amazing is that! God absolutely and unequivocally loves us, and He demonstrated it by becoming man, walking among us, and casting our sins unto Himself and dying on the cross. It is because of this incredible love, and what He did that we have hope, which brings to mind another beautiful song. If you don't know me, then you do not know that I have a tendency to think about things and my life in general through songs. A bit strange, I know, but that's me. Anyway, returning to the song that came to mind about hope, because of His great love, we can find redemption and healing, and the song which I thought of was "In Christ Alone."
This song has a special place in my heart. It is one of the songs that always overwhelm me when I sing it because of the sheer power and depth of its lyrics. This is one of those songs that can only be sung in awe and surrender. It is only in Him, in His unfailing love, and in His promises that we can put our trust. So, my prayer on this day is that God will remind me daily to place my trust entirely upon Him, that He has chosen me to be His daughter, and that I have a great inheritance awaiting me. I pray that He will be my first priority, and that if I lose sight of Him, that He will remind me to return to Him, and that He will lavish me and surround me and my family with His unfailing love. I pray that this will be true for every believer, and that those who do not yet know Him, that He will become known to them, be it through my actions, or the actions of other believers like myself. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6
"The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, 'Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.'" - Exodus 34:6b-7a
"You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you." Exodus 34:14
"What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance."
-Psalm 33:12
"But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love." -Psalm 33:18
"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone." -Psalm 33:20-22
The theme which weaved through all the passages that I read this day have to do with God's unfailing love, His relationship with us, and how we should place Him above all others in our lives. The passage from Exodus demonstrated how God desires to be THE ONE in our lives, our priority, Whom we worship and adore above all others. It reminds me of the song by the David Crowder Band "How He Loves," linked below.
I think this song perfectly exemplifies the fact that God has incredible, unfailing love, but He is ultimately a jealous God who as He commanded Moses and the Israelites wants us to worship Him only. And, this is easier said than done. Know why? Because we can so easily lose sight of WHO God is in our lives with our everyday responsibilities and relationships. It is very easy to make our wives or husbands, our children, our JOBS, the priority in our lives; And, if we do so, God has a way of reminding us WHO He is, and that He is first and foremost to ANYTHING else in our lives. But again, He might discipline us, He is our Father after all, but He does it because he LOVES US! How amazing is that! God absolutely and unequivocally loves us, and He demonstrated it by becoming man, walking among us, and casting our sins unto Himself and dying on the cross. It is because of this incredible love, and what He did that we have hope, which brings to mind another beautiful song. If you don't know me, then you do not know that I have a tendency to think about things and my life in general through songs. A bit strange, I know, but that's me. Anyway, returning to the song that came to mind about hope, because of His great love, we can find redemption and healing, and the song which I thought of was "In Christ Alone."
This song has a special place in my heart. It is one of the songs that always overwhelm me when I sing it because of the sheer power and depth of its lyrics. This is one of those songs that can only be sung in awe and surrender. It is only in Him, in His unfailing love, and in His promises that we can put our trust. So, my prayer on this day is that God will remind me daily to place my trust entirely upon Him, that He has chosen me to be His daughter, and that I have a great inheritance awaiting me. I pray that He will be my first priority, and that if I lose sight of Him, that He will remind me to return to Him, and that He will lavish me and surround me and my family with His unfailing love. I pray that this will be true for every believer, and that those who do not yet know Him, that He will become known to them, be it through my actions, or the actions of other believers like myself. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
February 11, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
The passage of Scripture I read from Exodus today recounts the story of when the people of Israel turned away from God, and went to Aaron to ask him to make them a god they could adore. Aaron did as they asked, and created the gold calf. God, of course, was infuriated and planned to destroy them, but Moses was able to convince Him to reconsider, so Moses descended the mountain to find the people reveling and worshiping the calf. His response was to break the stone tablets of the Covenant, and to burn the calf of gold to dust and threw it into the water and forced the people to drink it. Then, he asked whoever was on the Lord's side to come stand next to him, and the Levites went. He then told them to kill everyone else for their great sin, and they did as they were told. The Scripture continues to speak of the great repentance the people felt, and how Moses would meet with the Lord in the "Meeting Tent" outside their camp, and how the Lord would speak with him "face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). I can't even imagine what that must've been like, speaking to the Lord face to face, hearing His voice, and being able to seek His counsel, and for Him to audibly answer.
At one point, Moses is meeting with the Lord, and he tells Him, "If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor..." (Exodus 33:13). The Lord lets Moses know that He will do as he has asked, and that he will accompany him and the Israelites personally to their destination. He says, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17). How amazing is it that God knows ALL of us by name??? However, the story continues as follows: "Moses responded, 'Then show me your GLORIOUS presence.' The Lord replied, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name Yahweh, before you.... The Lord continued 'Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by'" (Exodus 33:17-19a,21-22). The Lord tells Moses that no one may look upon His face and live, so He reveals His glory to Moses, while still protecting him. How amazing that our Father would choose to protect us mere sinners, stubborn people who defy Him constantly and who so easily forget the mercy He has showered upon us.
The Lord had a plan for Moses from the beginning, and He has a plan for each and every one of us. That amazes me. Moses was able to speak to the Lord, as a friend, face to face (without really seeing Him). And, he was also able to see the Lord manifested in full glory. I can't imagine how beautiful that must have been. The Lord allowed this to happen, He already had it in His plans. Another portion of Scripture from the readings today says: "For the Word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does" (Psalm 33:4). "The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:10-11). The Lord has a plan for us, and we need to trust Him to do what is best. Sometimes we might not understand, and we might even question, but in the end, He knows what we need, and He knows what is right, "we can trust EVERYTHING He does". Even if the world around us says differently, and even questions the existence of our God, we need to trust Him, as Moses did.
My prayer today is that the Lord will help me place my trust entirely in Him, to help me hold fast to His promises, and to continue to read His Word and seek His guidance. I also pray that I may have the boldness of Moses, to ask Him to reveal Himself to me whenever I need to see and feel His presence in my life, and when I find myself in doubt. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Exodus 32:1-33:23
Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11
Proverbs 8:33-36
The passage of Scripture I read from Exodus today recounts the story of when the people of Israel turned away from God, and went to Aaron to ask him to make them a god they could adore. Aaron did as they asked, and created the gold calf. God, of course, was infuriated and planned to destroy them, but Moses was able to convince Him to reconsider, so Moses descended the mountain to find the people reveling and worshiping the calf. His response was to break the stone tablets of the Covenant, and to burn the calf of gold to dust and threw it into the water and forced the people to drink it. Then, he asked whoever was on the Lord's side to come stand next to him, and the Levites went. He then told them to kill everyone else for their great sin, and they did as they were told. The Scripture continues to speak of the great repentance the people felt, and how Moses would meet with the Lord in the "Meeting Tent" outside their camp, and how the Lord would speak with him "face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). I can't even imagine what that must've been like, speaking to the Lord face to face, hearing His voice, and being able to seek His counsel, and for Him to audibly answer.
At one point, Moses is meeting with the Lord, and he tells Him, "If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor..." (Exodus 33:13). The Lord lets Moses know that He will do as he has asked, and that he will accompany him and the Israelites personally to their destination. He says, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17). How amazing is it that God knows ALL of us by name??? However, the story continues as follows: "Moses responded, 'Then show me your GLORIOUS presence.' The Lord replied, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name Yahweh, before you.... The Lord continued 'Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by'" (Exodus 33:17-19a,21-22). The Lord tells Moses that no one may look upon His face and live, so He reveals His glory to Moses, while still protecting him. How amazing that our Father would choose to protect us mere sinners, stubborn people who defy Him constantly and who so easily forget the mercy He has showered upon us.
The Lord had a plan for Moses from the beginning, and He has a plan for each and every one of us. That amazes me. Moses was able to speak to the Lord, as a friend, face to face (without really seeing Him). And, he was also able to see the Lord manifested in full glory. I can't imagine how beautiful that must have been. The Lord allowed this to happen, He already had it in His plans. Another portion of Scripture from the readings today says: "For the Word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does" (Psalm 33:4). "The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken" (Psalm 33:10-11). The Lord has a plan for us, and we need to trust Him to do what is best. Sometimes we might not understand, and we might even question, but in the end, He knows what we need, and He knows what is right, "we can trust EVERYTHING He does". Even if the world around us says differently, and even questions the existence of our God, we need to trust Him, as Moses did.
My prayer today is that the Lord will help me place my trust entirely in Him, to help me hold fast to His promises, and to continue to read His Word and seek His guidance. I also pray that I may have the boldness of Moses, to ask Him to reveal Himself to me whenever I need to see and feel His presence in my life, and when I find myself in doubt. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Monday, February 10, 2014
February 10, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32
The book of Exodus is a bit tedious in that it contains many instructions and regulations. It is called the book of law for a reason. But, it does contain some important rules that can still apply to us even now, thousands of years later.
"The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: "Tell the people of Israel: 'Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you.... You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord."
-Exodus 31:12-14a,15a
One of the biggest mistakes I have found many Christians make, and specifically officers and pastors like myself within The Salvation Army, is the fact that we do not really take Sabbath days, days of complete rest and relaxation. Just today, my husband and I planned to visit our family, but then we received calls regarding ministries happening with the children this afternoon at the corps. We found ourselves scrambling to resolve situations at the corps, stressing out, and to be completely honest, it ruined the day of rest and fellowship we had planned to spend without thinking about work, but rather, spending time with our family. We still ended up going and spending time with them, but it wasn't the same. Unfortunately, our minds never shut off from work. We always have something to do, something to attend to, someone to call, a problem to fix, someone to pick up, etc., etc., etc. It NEVER ends!
I think the greatest mistake we make is that we feel guilty when we take time off. But, as the Lord instructed, we are MANDATED to have a day of Sabbath, complete rest. This does not mean that we neglect our work in any way, but rather, that we also need to dedicate time to ourselves, and to our relationships, most especially our relationship with Him. It is important that we remember to set apart time for Him first and foremost, this should happen everyday during our devotional and prayer time; But, we also need to set apart time for ourselves to become refreshed to face the tasks that await us the rest of our workweek.
The work of a Salvation Army officer, and pastors in general, is unique in that it NEVER stops, we do not shut off once 5 PM rolls around. No... We are pastors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can receive emergency knocks on our door, or phone calls at all hours of the day and night, and we need to be there. It is what God has called us to do, and it is something that I, personally, enjoy doing, most of the time. I admit, sometimes it intervenes with the plans I had to achieve my tasks for the day, but God sent me to pastor my people, and that is what I love doing most. It is precisely because of the nature of our calling that we need to be diligent in setting apart a time where we can be refreshed and where we can de-stress from all the responsibility that lays on our shoulders.
So, on this day, which was difficult, I pray that the Lord will help both my husband and I to separate that time where we can rest as a family, love each other, and become refreshed so that we can continue to fulfill the calling that God has placed on our lives. I pray that He will help us forget the seemingly endless responsibilities and tasks, and instead focus on the beautiful ministry He has given us, and the lives we see changing because of what the Lord is doing through us. And finally, I pray that He gives us the strength and energy to do all the menial administration tasks and reports, so that we can get to the heart and passion of our ministry, the people He has placed under our care. In His name, may it be so, Amen!
Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32
The book of Exodus is a bit tedious in that it contains many instructions and regulations. It is called the book of law for a reason. But, it does contain some important rules that can still apply to us even now, thousands of years later.
"The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: "Tell the people of Israel: 'Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you.... You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord."
-Exodus 31:12-14a,15a
One of the biggest mistakes I have found many Christians make, and specifically officers and pastors like myself within The Salvation Army, is the fact that we do not really take Sabbath days, days of complete rest and relaxation. Just today, my husband and I planned to visit our family, but then we received calls regarding ministries happening with the children this afternoon at the corps. We found ourselves scrambling to resolve situations at the corps, stressing out, and to be completely honest, it ruined the day of rest and fellowship we had planned to spend without thinking about work, but rather, spending time with our family. We still ended up going and spending time with them, but it wasn't the same. Unfortunately, our minds never shut off from work. We always have something to do, something to attend to, someone to call, a problem to fix, someone to pick up, etc., etc., etc. It NEVER ends!
I think the greatest mistake we make is that we feel guilty when we take time off. But, as the Lord instructed, we are MANDATED to have a day of Sabbath, complete rest. This does not mean that we neglect our work in any way, but rather, that we also need to dedicate time to ourselves, and to our relationships, most especially our relationship with Him. It is important that we remember to set apart time for Him first and foremost, this should happen everyday during our devotional and prayer time; But, we also need to set apart time for ourselves to become refreshed to face the tasks that await us the rest of our workweek.
The work of a Salvation Army officer, and pastors in general, is unique in that it NEVER stops, we do not shut off once 5 PM rolls around. No... We are pastors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can receive emergency knocks on our door, or phone calls at all hours of the day and night, and we need to be there. It is what God has called us to do, and it is something that I, personally, enjoy doing, most of the time. I admit, sometimes it intervenes with the plans I had to achieve my tasks for the day, but God sent me to pastor my people, and that is what I love doing most. It is precisely because of the nature of our calling that we need to be diligent in setting apart a time where we can be refreshed and where we can de-stress from all the responsibility that lays on our shoulders.
So, on this day, which was difficult, I pray that the Lord will help both my husband and I to separate that time where we can rest as a family, love each other, and become refreshed so that we can continue to fulfill the calling that God has placed on our lives. I pray that He will help us forget the seemingly endless responsibilities and tasks, and instead focus on the beautiful ministry He has given us, and the lives we see changing because of what the Lord is doing through us. And finally, I pray that He gives us the strength and energy to do all the menial administration tasks and reports, so that we can get to the heart and passion of our ministry, the people He has placed under our care. In His name, may it be so, Amen!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
February 9, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 29:1-30:10
Matthew 26:14-46
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 8:14-26
Today's reading brought me to the point where Jesus finds himself in Gethsemane praying to His Father. He says the following to His disciples, followed by His anguished prayer to the Lord:
""My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me, Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine." -Matthew 26:38b-39
I cannot even imagine what Jesus must have felt. His words resonate so deeply in me because I have gone through periods of deep anguish, but even then, it is incomparable to what He must have felt. Knowing what lay ahead of Him, the deep suffering and torture He would have to endure, He still chose to say, "Your will be done, not mine."
So many times in life, we pray for God to remove our pain and suffering, our times of deep anguish, but do we ever really ask the Lord for HIS will to be done. What's to say that this seemingly torturous and unfair time isn't a way in which He is preparing us to be strong for what is to come in our future. We all have trials and tribulations to face, some worse than others, but can we have the strength to say to our Father, "Your will be done, not mine." Lord, I so desire to be that strong. I don't know if I can be, but I know that all things are possible through You, and through the strength which You give me. So, my prayer for this day, among others, is that You will give me strength and faith to be able to accept Your will for my life, even if that means that I must go through times of incredible anguish. I pray it not to be so, but if it does happen, Lord, help me face them with your grace and strength.
On the other hand, my reading today also provided some beautiful promises in Psalm 31:
"How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in Your presence, far from accusing tongues."
-Psalm 31:19-20
"Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him... So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" -Psalm 31:23-24
Even through those times of incredible struggle and anguish, the Lord is with us, protecting us, watching over us, carrying us through those storms that threaten to tear us apart. And ultimately, our hope is found in Christ alone. My continued prayer is that when the times of anguish come, He will remind me that He protects me, to be strong and courageous, and to put my trust in Him, that He will lavish me with His goodness and protection, as well as all who come to Him for protection and love. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Exodus 29:1-30:10
Matthew 26:14-46
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 8:14-26
Today's reading brought me to the point where Jesus finds himself in Gethsemane praying to His Father. He says the following to His disciples, followed by His anguished prayer to the Lord:
""My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me, Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine." -Matthew 26:38b-39
I cannot even imagine what Jesus must have felt. His words resonate so deeply in me because I have gone through periods of deep anguish, but even then, it is incomparable to what He must have felt. Knowing what lay ahead of Him, the deep suffering and torture He would have to endure, He still chose to say, "Your will be done, not mine."
So many times in life, we pray for God to remove our pain and suffering, our times of deep anguish, but do we ever really ask the Lord for HIS will to be done. What's to say that this seemingly torturous and unfair time isn't a way in which He is preparing us to be strong for what is to come in our future. We all have trials and tribulations to face, some worse than others, but can we have the strength to say to our Father, "Your will be done, not mine." Lord, I so desire to be that strong. I don't know if I can be, but I know that all things are possible through You, and through the strength which You give me. So, my prayer for this day, among others, is that You will give me strength and faith to be able to accept Your will for my life, even if that means that I must go through times of incredible anguish. I pray it not to be so, but if it does happen, Lord, help me face them with your grace and strength.
On the other hand, my reading today also provided some beautiful promises in Psalm 31:
"How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in Your presence, far from accusing tongues."
-Psalm 31:19-20
"Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him... So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" -Psalm 31:23-24
Even through those times of incredible struggle and anguish, the Lord is with us, protecting us, watching over us, carrying us through those storms that threaten to tear us apart. And ultimately, our hope is found in Christ alone. My continued prayer is that when the times of anguish come, He will remind me that He protects me, to be strong and courageous, and to put my trust in Him, that He will lavish me with His goodness and protection, as well as all who come to Him for protection and love. May it be so, in His name, Amen!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
February 8, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for this day:
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13
"...'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For, I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'" -Matthew 25:34b-36
"...'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" -Matthew 25:40b
"My future is in your hands." -Psalm 31:15a
"Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me." -Psalm 31:16
Today, as I was surfing through my Facebook newsfeed, as I am wont to do, way too much I must admit, I found a video of a group of young men and women from China who were receiving an illicit package of Bibles. It amazed and brought tears to my eyes as I saw all of them run towards the suitcase and grab a Bible, hugging it to themselves and to reverently touching it to their faces while their voices quaked and tears streamed down their faces. It made me realized just how much we take for granted the privilege that we have to read our Bible and praise God in freedom. It made me realize that I want to be as passionate about reading His Word as these young men and women were, to have that awestruck reverence for the gift of God that His Word is.
As I was reading through the passages for today, I found these above, and was reminded that God has called me to a minister in The Salvation Army, and that He has chosen me to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoners, and invite those who have need to my home. It reminded me what a beautiful and sacred calling officership is. And, as I read through Psalm 31, I was reminded that my future, and that of my family, is securely in His hands, and that He rescues me when I call out to Him. He is amazing, even when we don't deserve it, He hears our call and answers our prayers, in His time.
Reading these passages today, reminded me that I must pray for all my brothers and sisters around the world who do not have the same privilege that I have to read His Word and to congregate with my fellow brothers and sisters in freedom. I also need to act, when I can. It is my hope, in the future, that my husband and I, and our family, will be able to go overseas to preach the Gospel. Wherever the Lord sends us, it is my prayer that we can reach those who do not know Him, that we can be effective ministers, and especially, that we can serve them as God has called us to do in Matthew. I want to do whatever I can to serve the "least of these", that they may see the love of Christ reflected in everything that I say and do. I long for them to see holiness in action, and to long to live that way as well. I pray that God will give this generation, and those that follow, the passion to seek out those who need Him, and to preach the Gospel boldly while also providing for the needs of the "least of these." May it be so, in His name, Amen!
If you're interested in watching the video I was talking about, please find it below.
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13
"...'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For, I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'" -Matthew 25:34b-36
"...'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" -Matthew 25:40b
"My future is in your hands." -Psalm 31:15a
"Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me." -Psalm 31:16
Today, as I was surfing through my Facebook newsfeed, as I am wont to do, way too much I must admit, I found a video of a group of young men and women from China who were receiving an illicit package of Bibles. It amazed and brought tears to my eyes as I saw all of them run towards the suitcase and grab a Bible, hugging it to themselves and to reverently touching it to their faces while their voices quaked and tears streamed down their faces. It made me realized just how much we take for granted the privilege that we have to read our Bible and praise God in freedom. It made me realize that I want to be as passionate about reading His Word as these young men and women were, to have that awestruck reverence for the gift of God that His Word is.
As I was reading through the passages for today, I found these above, and was reminded that God has called me to a minister in The Salvation Army, and that He has chosen me to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoners, and invite those who have need to my home. It reminded me what a beautiful and sacred calling officership is. And, as I read through Psalm 31, I was reminded that my future, and that of my family, is securely in His hands, and that He rescues me when I call out to Him. He is amazing, even when we don't deserve it, He hears our call and answers our prayers, in His time.
Reading these passages today, reminded me that I must pray for all my brothers and sisters around the world who do not have the same privilege that I have to read His Word and to congregate with my fellow brothers and sisters in freedom. I also need to act, when I can. It is my hope, in the future, that my husband and I, and our family, will be able to go overseas to preach the Gospel. Wherever the Lord sends us, it is my prayer that we can reach those who do not know Him, that we can be effective ministers, and especially, that we can serve them as God has called us to do in Matthew. I want to do whatever I can to serve the "least of these", that they may see the love of Christ reflected in everything that I say and do. I long for them to see holiness in action, and to long to live that way as well. I pray that God will give this generation, and those that follow, the passion to seek out those who need Him, and to preach the Gospel boldly while also providing for the needs of the "least of these." May it be so, in His name, Amen!
If you're interested in watching the video I was talking about, please find it below.
Friday, February 7, 2014
February 7, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
Scripture for today:
Exodus 26:1-27:21
Matthew 25:1-30
Psalm 31:1-8
Proverbs 8:1-11
As I continue to read the Word, I will continue to post the Scriptures that spoke to me on each particular day. For today, the portions which spoke to me came from Psalm and from Proverbs:
"I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place."
-Psalm 31:7-8
"Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it." -Proverbs 8:10-11
I was particularly moved when I read the portion from Proverbs because I feel that I want so many things so often. I wish I had more than what I need, and this is something that I need to continue to pray for the Lord to help me with. Unfortunately, we live in a world and in a society that professes that our lives are measured in what we possess rather than who we are as people. Every commercial we see on TV, and hear on the radio speaks about the lifestyle we "should" be living, according to the world. It is so easy to become blind to what and who we are truly called to be, and the lifestyle that we have been called to live. Holiness, as I have heard said before, is a lifestyle. It is easy to speak the Word of Truth that we learn as we read the Scriptures, but it is FAR, FAR harder to live the Word. Ultimately, we have been called to be holy as God is holy. So, the Scripture portion from Proverbs is especially relevant to me on this day. I want to "choose" to become knowledgeable in the instruction that God has laid out for me in His Word, but far more than that, I long to become wise in His ways in order that I may live out the life He has called me to. I pray that God will help me see farther than those things I wish to have, but are not necessary nor important, to the Truth which I can find in Him only.
On this day, I pray for God to continue to grant me wisdom as I delve into His Word and learn more and more. I also pray that He will give me unquenchable thirst for His Word, so that I can grow in Him, and live in holiness. May it be so, in His name. Amen!
Exodus 26:1-27:21
Matthew 25:1-30
Psalm 31:1-8
Proverbs 8:1-11
As I continue to read the Word, I will continue to post the Scriptures that spoke to me on each particular day. For today, the portions which spoke to me came from Psalm and from Proverbs:
"I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place."
-Psalm 31:7-8
"Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it." -Proverbs 8:10-11
I was particularly moved when I read the portion from Proverbs because I feel that I want so many things so often. I wish I had more than what I need, and this is something that I need to continue to pray for the Lord to help me with. Unfortunately, we live in a world and in a society that professes that our lives are measured in what we possess rather than who we are as people. Every commercial we see on TV, and hear on the radio speaks about the lifestyle we "should" be living, according to the world. It is so easy to become blind to what and who we are truly called to be, and the lifestyle that we have been called to live. Holiness, as I have heard said before, is a lifestyle. It is easy to speak the Word of Truth that we learn as we read the Scriptures, but it is FAR, FAR harder to live the Word. Ultimately, we have been called to be holy as God is holy. So, the Scripture portion from Proverbs is especially relevant to me on this day. I want to "choose" to become knowledgeable in the instruction that God has laid out for me in His Word, but far more than that, I long to become wise in His ways in order that I may live out the life He has called me to. I pray that God will help me see farther than those things I wish to have, but are not necessary nor important, to the Truth which I can find in Him only.
On this day, I pray for God to continue to grant me wisdom as I delve into His Word and learn more and more. I also pray that He will give me unquenchable thirst for His Word, so that I can grow in Him, and live in holiness. May it be so, in His name. Amen!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
February 6, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!
The Scripture to read for for this day was:
Exodus 23:14-25:40
Matthew 24:29-51
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 7:24-27
There were a couple of verses that spoke to me as I read.
"You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness." -Exodus 23:25
"Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them." -Exodus 25:8
"I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me." -Psalm 30:1a
"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health." -Psalm 30:2
"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:5
"You have turned my mourning to joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed mt with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" -Psalm 30:11-12
Psalm 30 was especially touching to me, as I have come to realize that my attitude has not been the best lately. I have been struggling with my temper, and I have felt a lot of anger and resentment. The last couple of weeks have been very trying, what with Mateo becoming ill twice, and then I find myself feeling intense pain in my back as well today. There have also been many trials that have come our way both at the corps, and in our home. I realize now that I have been forgetting to just give everything to God and place it in His hands. He is MORE than able to handle all of these things, and I don't need to try to do all of this on my own, trying to be Supermom and Superwife, cause Lord knows, I just am NOT either of those.
Those two Scriptures of health from Exodus 23:23 and Psalm 30:2, I want to make them my own today. So, my prayer on this day is to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and do His will, and rest in the assurance that as I cry to Him for help, He will restore my health, and keep me healthy, as well as my family. And then, the Scriptures speaking about having joy, I especially want to make these true in my life, so I also pray that the Lord will give me His joy, so I can share it with others, even though I am not feeling my best, but I thank HIM because I know He hears me, and He will make me joyful as I continue to seek Him and do His will.
It is my prayer that we all seek Him, thirst for knowledge of Him and of His Word, so that we can continue to bring others to the living, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and His salvation. May it be so, in His name!
Exodus 23:14-25:40
Matthew 24:29-51
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 7:24-27
There were a couple of verses that spoke to me as I read.
"You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness." -Exodus 23:25
"Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them." -Exodus 25:8
"I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me." -Psalm 30:1a
"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health." -Psalm 30:2
"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:5
"You have turned my mourning to joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed mt with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" -Psalm 30:11-12
Psalm 30 was especially touching to me, as I have come to realize that my attitude has not been the best lately. I have been struggling with my temper, and I have felt a lot of anger and resentment. The last couple of weeks have been very trying, what with Mateo becoming ill twice, and then I find myself feeling intense pain in my back as well today. There have also been many trials that have come our way both at the corps, and in our home. I realize now that I have been forgetting to just give everything to God and place it in His hands. He is MORE than able to handle all of these things, and I don't need to try to do all of this on my own, trying to be Supermom and Superwife, cause Lord knows, I just am NOT either of those.
Those two Scriptures of health from Exodus 23:23 and Psalm 30:2, I want to make them my own today. So, my prayer on this day is to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and do His will, and rest in the assurance that as I cry to Him for help, He will restore my health, and keep me healthy, as well as my family. And then, the Scriptures speaking about having joy, I especially want to make these true in my life, so I also pray that the Lord will give me His joy, so I can share it with others, even though I am not feeling my best, but I thank HIM because I know He hears me, and He will make me joyful as I continue to seek Him and do His will.
It is my prayer that we all seek Him, thirst for knowledge of Him and of His Word, so that we can continue to bring others to the living, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and His salvation. May it be so, in His name!
New Year, New Resolution
I am starting out this new year with the resolutin of reading my Bible as often as I can, and to keep myself accountable, I will be blogging about what the Lord tells me through His Word each day that I read it. I long to be faithful in my devotional life, but I admit that I struggle SO much with accountability, and separating that time for Him. I want to study His Word and know it, engrave it into my mind and heart, so I am going to be utilizing a one year Reading Plan that The Salvation Army Eastern Territory prepared called "No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!" I am joining in late, but I trust God will still speak to me, and that I will grow in knowledge of Him and His Word and purpose for my life. And so, it begins...
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