Monday, January 25, 2016

Find Rest..... Dara Maclean


Since my life was formed in His hands, only in Him I will “Find Rest.” All my fears, my weakness, my hurts, I surrender them all.

I know there are many situations in life that cause us to lose our peace and rest in God.

So where do you turn to “find rest?” Many turn to a substance of some kind. Anything other than Jesus is a temporary fix. Before I knew Jesus personally, I too use to go to substances. There is such a difference from knowing Jesus personally, and letting Him help you through the storms. Than just knowing Him by Name. He truly is what He said, the Spirit of the living God inside you. There is NOTHING, NOTHING, no drug, drink, or any substance that sustains rest like Jesus Christ.

I would be lying to you if I told you I have no fear, no worries, no weaknesses, just because I am a child of God. Oh, I have had many storms that have raged through my life, and I am sure there will be more. I have fears even now, that try to crush me if I would allow them to. But IQUICKLY go to the God who formed me in His hands. He knows my story from the beginning of my life, till I take my last breath.

This scripture brings me so much comfort.

Psalm 139: 13-16, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Romans 8: 31, He is my God who is for me, not against me. Psalm 100: 5, A God of mercy and love unchanging.  I surrender everything to Him, so my heart can find the rest that He desires for me to have.

God has a story to tell from my life. I know that I have a purpose for existing, and it is not for myself. So I surrender this life He gave me, so that He can use it for His glory.

I pray every day, that by the end of my day, I made Him smile in some way.

P.S., I know I can get Him mad too, not intentionally, but that is what I love about His unchanging love for me. He knows my heart, and His love is unconditional!


…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim


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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

No longer a slave to fear..... Bethel music

 
1 John 4: 18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear”…..
 
This scripture is a lifelong lesson for me, as God makes His love and comfort perfect in me. There will come many obstacles, but I praise You Lord, You split the sea so I can walk right through it. Remind me daily Lord, I am Your child.
 
Say it LOUD!!! I am a child of God!!!
 
So many beautiful stories in the bible of God, and still to this day, of how He protects and guides us through our life. Scripture that shows we are His chosen children. Born again into His family. John 3: 1-21. You won’t even begin to see, or understand the kingdom of God, unless you are born again. This is such a powerful conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Born once of the flesh of my mother’s womb. But born again of the Spirit of God.
 
Jeremiah 1: 5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”…  From my mother’s womb, He has chosen me. When you come to believe this too, you too will become a son and daughter of the Living God. I didn’t say it, God did in John 1: 12, “yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
 
What beautiful truth!  So I could stand and sing……. I am a Child of God! My prayer is, that as I continue to walk on this side of heaven, God will continue to take ALL my fears away from me. “Oh deliverance from my enemies, till ALL MY FEARS ARE GONE!! “No longer a slave to fear.”
 
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 
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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Just be Held.... Casting Crowns

Sometimes it feels like your world is falling apart, when really, it’s falling into place. Your story and purpose is unfolding…..
 
Life hits you out of nowhere and can leave you barely holding on. If you keep your eyes on the storm, you’ll sink. But if you keep your eyes on the cross, you know how much He loves you and always will. You’ll find purpose in life, and there is no greater feeling than that. To know you are being used by God, through your life’s story.
 
How does the living word of God continue to breathe life into lives today? Through us, through our life story.
 
God says no to a lot of our prayer request, or wait a while. Our story is no different than a lot of the faithful, devoted, on fire followers of Christ.  Also, if God said no to His own Son, why would it be any different for us? Luke 22: 42, God did not take the agony of the cross from Jesus….. Hebrews 2: 10, the beauty is what God was looking at. Not the here and now, but for the salvation of many. 1 Peter 3: 18, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.”
 
Just as God’s purpose of eternity continues today, so does our running this race to the finish line. It was never promised to be easy, but we for sure don’t go it alone. We have so much to share with people, but the enemy try’s to silence us. Thoughts like, “it’s none of my business”, or “it doesn’t affect me.” The more we stay silent, the more this world is affected. That’s a fact. Just look at it. When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger, just like all the followers of Christ who have gone before us. Think about it. If no one told you, how would you know the truth? It is our business! 1 John 5: 10, we who believe in the Son of God have a testimony. The good, the bad, and the ugly of our life, is still a testimony.  God wants to continue to show the world the good that comes from the bad. The pains and heartaches of life. Beauty that comes from the ashes. Here are just a few more scriptures to look up and see, that even though we may suffer in our life, it is used to bring salvation to those who don’t believe. 1 Thessalonians 1: 8 …… 2 Timothy 2: 9-10, . .  “for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure EVERYTHING for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, with eternal glory. Isaiah 61: 3, “To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, THEY WILL BE LIKE GREAT OAKS that the Lord has planted for HIS GLORY.”      I just love that scripture!! How much clearer could it get. Our pain is God’s gain!
 
We are here for a brief moment of time. We get one brief shot at life. What we do with it matters, forever. So shine, endure, you never know who God is leading to salvation through your story. God sometimes says no for a far more greater purpose. Eternity is more important to God than the here and now. We never know when the now is going to end.  Live with His purpose in mind and heart.
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 
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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

First.... Lauren Daigle


So as we start a New Year, does anyone have a New Year’s resolution? For most people it’s making better choices at eating, and exercise. Being a personal trainer for years, I have always tried to help people in this area. It is such a passion I have. But my first passion is Jesus Christ and getting to know Him more and more. He is where all our hope and power come from. Romans 12: 2 He renews our thoughts to be what are true.

How do you intend on keeping your resolution of making better choices at eating and exercise? Most of us give up after the first 2 to 3 months, because of the greatest line, “I don’t have any will power.” That’s right, we don’t.  How do you find the power and strength to continue at anything, when so many road blocks pop up through the 365 days of the year?

Before you speak a word of what you think you can do, why don’t you seek Him “First.” Don’t start the New Year with your plan, ask God what His is. Nothing should come before Him. That’s why most people fail at their goals. They don’t plug into the energy source. That’s like forgetting to plug something in, and then turning it on and expecting to have power.

Year after year, and day after day, many people wake up without even giving it a thought of Who woke them to have another day. Life, and each moment we are given, is a gift not to be taken for granted.

Our bodies, the temple of the living God, is usually what we take most for granted. We just fill it with whatever we want to, just to fill us up. Not even thinking of pounds, or the nourishment it’s giving us. If it is empty calories, you can bet it is putting on the pounds day after day. Then we are so tired we don’t want to do anything to work off what we ate. Many people today, at very young ages, are unhealthy and tired. I’m sure you heard the saying, “we live in a microwave world.” Well at least put in the microwave something that is good for you. Prep for the week. Then bring all your good food to work and microwave it. If we continue to be a slave to our own unhealthy desires, it can lead to major health issues, and or death.

The enemy wants to discourage and destroy us. Romans 6: 16, he wants us to become a slave to our desires. He truly is doing a good job. He doesn’t want us living a healthy life to honor God. We become useless and tired. We are filled with excuses not to spend time with God first in our day. Then excuses not to eat right or exercise. Excuses, excuses, that’s all they are. Wake up earlier! You will be better for you, your family, and your kids. Give yourself 1 hour, 3 days a week. Or 30 minutes 5 days a week. That isn’t much to give to yourself, but start with that. You deserve time to you! Take the time to prepare food for the week. Even at fast food restaurants you can make healthier choices, but try not to do this too often, even for your kids. Good habits and health start at a young age. Yes it takes time to prepare food. Yes it can be a little more expensive. But how much are you and your family worth? Look at the cross. You were worth His life. So take care of the one you were given.

More than anything, I want to keep God first. If I do this, I know everything else will fall into place the way God wants it to. He is the anchor of my heart. “Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is anchored in your heart.”
P.S… A friend of mine sent this out on face book as I was writing the last sentence of this blog….. Coincidence, or God incidence? I don’t believe in coincidence.

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

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Saturday, January 2, 2016

Tell your heart to beat again....Danny Gokey


So much has happened in the year 2015. The good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s life, and sometimes things happen that can make it feel like a thousand pieces on the floor.

In a year, at my location alone, 6 lives were gone in a blink of an eye. My husband was one of them. Some to cancer, and some to other health issues. Words fall short at times like this. All I could do is hug them.

This world will truly drive you to your knees. If it hasn’t yet, the 365 days of this year have just begun. This is where the pages of your story start all over again. I pray you don’t face any of the bad, or ugly, but sooner or later it is inevitable. We all have to face hard times. They can get so hard to bear, that it feels like your heart just stops beating. You truly feel like you’ll never get back to the you that use to be.

But yesterday truly is a closing door, and the only way to tell your heart to beat again, is when you “let every heartbreak, and every scar, be a picture that reminds you, Who has carried you this far.” Especially when there is nothing you can do about the plan of God for your loved ones life. He sees farther into the future than we could. So we just have to trust that in that moment, heaven is working everything for the good.

Then you begin to start to feel differently. New BEGINNINGS for you are happening inside you! You begin to see things differently, from heavens point of view. You feel His word come alive inside you again!  You feel His healing hands are pulling you through! You’re able to breathe again!!! You realize that your story is far from over, and your new journey is just beginning. You are excited for life again! Hebrews 12:1, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, so run the race marked out for you till He calls you home.

You stepped into the light of grace and you can tell your heart to beat again. PRAISE GOD!!!


…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim


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