Sunday, February 28, 2016

In over my Head.... Jen Johnson (Bethel)

 
 
Not only is the scenery absolutely beautiful in this video, but the words are absolutely beautiful!!!
 
God’s goal for our life is not comfort, but character. To grow spiritually. Earth prepares us for heaven. That is why the pain here reminds us that this is not our home. Everything, every circumstance that is difficult to understand enables us to draw closer to God.
 
 
Ephesians 2: 10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
 
Have you come to a place in your life where you are full, but not fully satisfied? The longing for more.
 
Stop standing on the shore line, and go deeper…..Pray, “Lord come and do whatever You want to. This is another day You gifted me with. Tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in. Take me to the place where my heart is only about You, and all I want is just to be with You.”
 
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t take us to heaven the moment we accept His Son as Savior of our sins? Why does He leave us here in such a fallen world of pain and difficulties? He leaves us here to fulfill His purposes. God truly has a ministry and a mission for our life. How exciting each and every day can be knowing we were created to add to life, not just take up space. To go even further than knee deep. Further and further where He crashes over us. But that is right where He wants us to be. Whether we sink, or whether we swim, it makes no difference when we’re beautifully in over our head.
 
Ephesians 4: 22-24, When we forget that we were given the gift of life to fulfill God’s purpose, however short or long that may be, that is when we become frustrated with the “whys” of the things that are happening to us. The difficult things that are happening, is to develop our character, if we would only allow it to. To become more like Jesus. There really is no instant relief for a lot of things that can happen to us this side of heaven. But there is instant comfort of knowing you’re not alone, and it is for some great purpose it is happening.
 
Someday we will have the whole taste of heaven. But while we are here, we get to experience the God of heaven.
 
Start to get excited about your day. Ask God what you can do for Him, instead of always asking Him what He can do for you.
 
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
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Sunday, February 21, 2016

At The Cross.... Chris Thomlin

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zev5tHjCB_s

Psalm 130: 1-8, "Out of the depths I cry to You Lord; Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If You Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness......for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption"...

"There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies."

Are you in despair? Is there something you've done that feels like it is irreversible?

 Sometimes you just want to give up because you feel like you've gone to far this time. We've all been in this place at one or more times in our lives.

There's a place where sin and shame are powerless. Yes even on earth! "At the cross" of forgiveness.
 
Let the past go, and rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. All of us will experience times of despair in our life. Words we may have said to someone that we can't take back. Something we've done that seems unforgiveable. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, and it's never too late to lay it all at the feet of Jesus.
Put your trust in God, and pray on the basis of redemption. Your heart will finally have peace with God.

Jesus paid it all to release us from our sin. Won't you just bow down at the cross in awe of Him?

We owe it all to Him. The Savior of the world!!

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Come Alive..... Jeremy Camp

 
Did you ever wonder what the purpose of life is?
 
1 Corinthians 15: 12-20… We are all really paralyzed to some extent until we “come alive” in Christ.
 
“Oh death where is your sting?” Well, it’s not in death.  God gives us victory, only through Jesus Christ. His love has conquered deaths call. In my opinion, the sting is for those of us who are still living, and some dreams that will never be fulfilled for one reason or another.
 
I will never stop showing this hope that is holding the passion so deep in my heart. Because Christ is alive in me, I can face each day. The pains of life are real, but there is freedom that begins by receiving Jesus Christ into your life.
 
There are many wounded, hurting souls. Mark 2: 1-5, I love how much it meant for these four men, and to the extreme they went to, to have Jesus heal their paralyzed friend. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “son, your sins are forgiven.”
 
I am forever amazed at the power of God, and all He can do, if it is according to His will to do it. He never becomes tired or weary of teaching us how to live each day.
 
We should continually give thanks to God for each gifted day He gives us. It is not just for ourselves. It is for having eyes to see, and ears to hear, so many wounded souls. All they need to see is that there is hope, and lead them to it. Let God use us to show that His great love is healing. Psalm 106:1-2, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts or proclaim ALL THE PRAISE DUE HIM?”
 
This is our purpose. Love and find the joy in the life God has given us yes, but also have that burning passion to lead others to the hope you have after this life.
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 
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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Shepherd.... Amanda Cook (Bethel music)

 
Hope you take the time to listen to the music that is above. Always inspires my heart to write.
 
Is the Lord Jesus your Shepherd, or just your Savior? If you are not following Him, you won’t get the benefits from Him while you walk this side of heaven. I may be going to heaven because He is my Savior, but I NEED HIM TO SHEPHERD ME HERE! My personal Shepherd. I don’t want to follow anyone else’s walk. They may not be going in the same direction as me.
 
Think of the navigational systems that we use to get directions to go somewhere. And to think we can trust this human invention, and we don’t trust the Creator of the universe. That baffles me... Anyway, this system gets us where we want to go, but it doesn’t work for your walk through life of the many mountains and valleys we go through. How do you navigate through life? I have a great Shepherd….
 
Psalm 23… Meditate on these verses, and relate it to the God Who still is, not was.
 
Oh God, “You are able to keep me from stumbling. In my weakness You are the strength that comes from within. Good “Shepherd” of my soul, take my hand and lead me on.”
 
Things that happen to us in life can make us lie down in fear, (the valley). What if the results you were waiting for show up as cancer? How am I financially going to do it? What if I end up in divorce? The terrorist attacks are so close to home…. When I have thoughts like these, I need my Shepherd to take my hand and walk me through to green pastures. I am like a sheep, prone to wonder in my thoughts.
 
We all want the Mountain View, but we have to cross the valleys in our life walk. Don’t stop walking through the shadow. The scripture tells us, “You are with me.” A right now God. Even when it comes time to die, the shadow of my fear, He will comfort me.  My Shepherd will show up and comfort me. I’ve seen this, watching my husband when he knew his time was close. I saw the glory of God in his eyes. I will NEVER forget it.  The scripture tells me, He prepares my table before me. Death has NO STING!
 
“He makes my footsteps and my path secure. So walking on water is just the beginning.”
 
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 
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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Loyal..... Lauren Daigle

 
Definition of Loyal,,, Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.
Faithful, true, devoted; constant, steadfast, staunch, dependable, reliable, trusted, trustworthy, trusty, dutiful, dedicated, unchanging, unwavering, unswerving……
 
Can you even comprehend a grace we can’t out run? A heart that continues to pull us closer no matter how far we may go in our sinful ways. He loves us even on our worst days. Amazing love!
 
We can’t even earn God’s love. That is just Who He is. The Pharisees felt that way. Religious people feel that way. Like you have to be good enough. You will never earn God’s heart. You can never reach that far. But those who have a relationship with Jesus, know what it is to be loved, and love, without having to earn it. It is amazing the things that change within yourself, the more you seek after God’s heart. You love so much, even those who are hard to love. It even hurts, but in a good way, if you can understand that. Jesus sat with sinners more than He sat with those who loved Him, because that’s who He was after. The Shepard after His lost sheep. We don’t have to be a part of what we know is against God’s Holy standards. But we do need to show them the love of Jesus. Don’t make judgments about people thugs, gay, lesbian, whatever. They are trying to love God too. Let God be the judge. We need to be the only Jesus they may see.  When asked, speak the truth in love.
 
I know you may be married to the best man in all this world, but there is none as “Loyal” as our Lord. He never changes!
 
I can’t even comprehend a love that has time to listen every time I speak. A love that has NO CONDITIONS at all. It’s a love that just wants to be loved back. A love that remains unshaken, no matter how bad things get……. His love is NEVER shaken. ….So constant…, so perfect ….unwavering,… unfailing….. That’s LOYAL!!
 
The statement “I love you” is thrown around today without even really knowing what love really is.  1 John 4: 8, God is love, and love is loyal!
 
I don’t know about you, but personally, I have never been loved with the depth of the love that Jesus has for me.
 
Hope you take the time to listen to this song above…
 
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 
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