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  • You are here: Blogs Directory / Devotionals / ><> DEVOTIONALS ~ LOIS J. Welcome Guest
    ><> DEVOTIONALS ~ LOIS J.
           THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. PS.119:105 ~ ~
          

          

          

    Tue, Apr 29th - 12:44AM



    KNOWING GOD AS YOUR FATHER

    MATTHEW 6:9-13

    The Old testament records few times that the Lord dealt directly with people. But that changed when Jesus God’s Son, came into the world and revealed the personal nature of God the Father.

    What is the biblical basis for calling God “Father”? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke extensively about God as a divine parent. He pointed out that our heavenly Father knows what we need ( Matthew 6:8 ) and because of His tender care, we should not worry. (verses 25-26) He also gave His followers a pattern for prayer that began by addressing God with a new title, “Our Father.”

    Who Can call God “Father”? The Bible teaches that only those in God’s family have that privilege. Many people think He is everyone’s parent, but the Scriptures indicate that we are not automatically His children. Spiritual birth is required. (John 3:3) By accepting Jesus ‘ sacrificial death as payment for our individual sins, we join God’s family. (John 1:12)

    What is God the Father like? The life and ministry of our Savior teaches us much about the caring nature of our heavenly parent. Jesus was always about His father’s business, both in word and deed. (John 5:19; 7:16)

    Our relationship with our earthly dad can hinder us from knowing God as our parent. Do not let any negative experience with your earthly father dictate how you view the heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit will instruct you about God’s paternal nature as you meditate on the Word and communicate with Him in prayer.

    God bless,

    Lois



    Comment (4)

    Thu, Apr 24th - 9:46PM



     

    NEED TO HAVE A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY

    1 TIMOTHY 1:13 -14 -- Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. V14... And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. kjv

    There are some people who believe thinking badly of themselves is a sign of humility. But Paul is a beautiful example of how we are to approach God. He does not berate himself and tell God how vile and sinful He is. Instead, Paul talks repeatedly with a spirit of humility about the grace of God. There are seven things we can do to allow God to develop such a humble spirit in our life.

    For us to pursue humility, it is necessary that we die to self. We must refuse to put ourselves first and instead ask the Lord what is His will for our situation. God wants us to be devoted to other people because He has made us reservoirs of His truth, something those around us greatly need. And when God blesses others, we who follow Christ are to delight ourselves in the good things that come to them. (Romans 12:15)

    For ourselves, we must wholly depend on God. If we want to live with genuine humility, we must rely on Him in every circumstance. The Lord has many good things in store for us. When we direct our thoughts continually to His grace and goodness, our confidence in Him will grow. It is also important that we distance ourselves from whatever appeals to our pride, such as wealth, prestige, applause, or certain relationships--the list is different for every person. Finally, we must determine to obey God regardless of the earthly consequences. When you humble yourself before Him, you can mark that day as a new beginning of obedience.



    Comment (6)

    Tue, Apr 22nd - 11:33PM



    WALKING WITH GOD

    GENESIS 6:9: 22 -- These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Kjv

    Noah walked with God, even in a decadent world . How did he do it? Part of the answer is found in Genesis 5:24 -- And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

    Noah’s great-grandfather Enoch walked with God. The faithful lifestyle of Noah’s family made it possible for him to walk with the Lord even though none of his neighbors did.

    Noah was walking with God before he built the ark. We learn to walk with God by just following Him every day. We learn to be ready for the big issue when we walk with God on the ordinary days. Then, when a significant challenge comes along, we are already walking by faith.

    Noah’s test of obedience came when God gave him unusual instructions--to build an ark and to bring two of every animal inside. Through all this, Noah continued his faithful and fruitful walk with the Lord

    He kept his focus on the Lord’s plan, the Lord’s project, and the Lord’s direction. When you and I walk with God, we learn to listen to Him and hear His voice. Then it doesn’t matter what others say, as long as we know we’ve heard the Lord. Some of us have journeyed through difficult places in our lives. Yet it’s not where we walk that matters, but with whom. Anywhere we walk with God--no matter how painful it feels--it is a place of serenity and safety.

    Remember, when we walk with the Lord, we will never take a wrong step. We will never regret a day. We will always be grateful for the moment we decided to travel alongside almighty God.



    Comment (10)

    Mon, Apr 21st - 7:50PM



     

    IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

    MATTHEW 26:-36-46

    Sometimes following the path God sets for believers requires that we trek through a personal Gethsemane. In the Garden of that name, Jesus struggled, knowing His impending crucifixion meant separation from His Father. At no other time in the gospels do we see the Son of God more brokenhearted than in these last few hours of freedom, before He is seized by the Pharisees’ men.

    We, too, experience periods of intense turmoil and distress, and the Word of God can be a beacon at such dark times. Matthew’s illumination of the Lord at Gethsemane teaches us how to respond to sorrow so that our painful experiences are not wasted. God does not squander hurt or brokenness; rather, if we willingly accept His ministrations, He utilizes our vulnerability to teach us faith-building principles. Jesus asked that the cup of suffering be removed. The metaphorical chalice was filled with the wrath of a holy God against sinful mankind. When Christ drank, He accepted all the wrongs of man--and the righteous fury of God- on Himself. As a result, He effectively severed His tie with the Father, who cannot tolerate or associate with sin. But in Gethsemane, the Son did not plead for release from the pain; instead, He prayed three times that the Father’s will be done.

    As we follow Jesus’ example and release ourselves to God’s will, inner turmoil is calmed by a sense of peaceful contentment. External circumstances may be unchanged, but in our inward Gethsemane, we are hand in hand with a loving Father.



    Comment (6)

    Sun, Apr 20th - 2:21PM



    THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES - ABIDING IN CHRIST

    JOHN 15:4-5 --Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  5... I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing. kjv

    As believers, we know the corner stone of our faith is focus on Jesus Christ.  Yet many of us find ourselves working overtime to please God through our good works and righteous behavior.  Spiritual and physical burnout is the inevitable result.  People are not meant to live the Christian life in their own strength.

    Scriptures tells us to abide in Christ, just as a branch connects to the vine.  Believers who abide in the Lord no longer exist for themselves, but rather live for Him.  Then we cease striving after righteousness and instead submit to God, allowing Him to live His life through us.  In this way, the strength and energy that characterize the life of Jesus Christ become ours.

    As we yield our entire being to God and abide in Christ, He conforms our thoughts to His will and purpose--our minds and bodies are prepared to sesrvice in His kingdom. God has a valuable role for everyone committed to doing His work.

    Too often we become ensnared by the question, "What does God want me to do?"  We wait for an answer, refusing to act until He responds.  But obediently abiding in the Lord does not mean we sit around soaking up Scripture while doing nothing.  Instead, we trust Him to guide us, leading us into the world to do what needs doing, whether it's teaching a Sunday School class, visiting the sick, or sharing our faith with the commuter riding with us on the train, bus, car or where ever we may be everyday.  The righteous acts aren't designed to earn God's approval;  rather, they are the natural outworkings of a Christ-abiding life.

    With God's Love,

    Lois



    Comment (8)

    Sat, Apr 19th - 11:56PM



     Roses will bloom again some morning, no matter how long the winter has been, when we see the rose of Sharon  in the beautiful garden, it's gonna come springtime again.

    (We all have storms in this life, but Jesus is always with us and He will see us through, all will pass and the sun will break through and the clouds will roll back just like the sea, springtime and the roses are blooming again). Thank you Jesus!

    Many blessings,

    With God's Love, Lois



    Comment (2)

    Fri, Apr 18th - 10:49PM



     

    WE NEED TO SHARE OUR HOPE

    ROMANS 12: 1-3 -- I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2...And be not conformed to this world: abut be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3...For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. kjv

    Jesus Christ came into the world to be a substitute sacrifice for mankind. He had a powerful ministry performed numerous miracles, and laid a strong foundation for the church. But His primary purpose was to die for our sins. Jesus’ death satisfied the just demands of God, who declared that the soul who sins must die (Ezekiel 18:4)

    By taking our place, the savior cleaned our hearts of sin and guilt, making us worthy to enter God’s holy presence spiritually (while we are on earth) and physically (when we arrive in heaven). We have the assurance of future with Him. And we also have hope for the present, because the Bible promises that God will protect us and provide for our needs. But the Father is not satisfied simply with our coming to faith; He desires that we be the human expression of Christ to the world ( 1 Peter 2:12 ).

    God gives us the Holy Spirit, who begins the work of renewing our minds to make us like Jesus. When we follow God’s Word and the Spirit’s guidance, our thought life transforms from selfish to righteous. And since our thoughts are what control our attitudes and actions, those change too. When we are thinking as God does, we appear to others as confident and courageous Christians.

    A relationship with the Lord means not only salvation and renewal, but also a future and a hope ( Proverbs 24:14). Jesus is the only “sure thing,” but people cannot know that unless they learn about Him through our words and actions. We need to share our hope!

    With God's Love,

    Lois



    Comment (4)

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    About Me

    Name: Lois J.
    ChristiansUnite ID: loie
    Member Since: 2006-04-10
    Location: , Alabama, United States
    Denomination: baptist faith
    About Me: Hello everyone, this seems like a good place to fellowship with others. I am a born again believer in Christ Jesus. Have been working in His vineyard for several years, enjoy it more every day. My husband and I minister in songs, where ever the Holy ... more

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