This week I decided to spend some time looking at a variety of other devotional blogs. Check them out with me, and if you find one that you like, you can continue to check it out! For each day, I selected a devotion then cut and pasted it here along with the URL for the website from which it came. Enjoy!
Thursday: Having devotions and being devoted are two different things. It’s easy to focus on your devotions rather than the object of your devotions. If you are in the habit of reading the devotions on this website every day, that’s great. But you shouldn’t simply focus on these little daily readings. Do your best to focus on God rather than discipline of daily devotions.
Being devoted simply means giving our time, our effort, our money, and ourselves to someone, some purpose, or some thing. We can be devoted to a career, a person, or even a hobby or activity. So why not devote ourselves to God? Let’s meet with Him daily to get to know Him better, to learn what pleases Him, and to find out what He wants us to do.
“Get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
To see more from this website, visit: http://christianity101online.com/blog/2009/04/07/are-you-devoted/
Friday: Ruth 1:16-17: "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
As we are entering Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel (next Tuesday, April 20), I want to share a touching story about a an exceptional woman who assisted 2,500 young Jewish children out of the ghettos during World War II.
Her name was Irene Sendler. She was an employee of the Polish Social Warfare Department who had a special permit to enter the ghettos to check for signs of typhus. During these visits, she would wear a Star of David as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish people. Once inside, she would convince Jewish parents to part with their children as she and others created for them false papers and smuggled them out so to put them in various good homes around Poland. Sendler then buried the children's true identities in jars in her back yard, hoping to reunite them with their families after the war.
In 1943, Irene was arrested by the Gestapo, severely tortured and sentenced to death. She was able to save herself by bribing German guards on the way to her execution. Listed on bulletin boards among those who had been executed, she was left in the woods unconscious, with broken arms and legs. For the remainder of the war, she lived in hiding. Though she had suffered much, she continued her work with Jewish children.
In 2007, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and lost to former vice president Al Gore.
May we take up the call of Ruth--“your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God!” To Israel and the Jewish People, know that you have thousands of friends standing in solidarity with you!
To see more from this website, visit: http://www.worthydevotions.com/
Saturday: Communicating Through Our Life John 13:34-35
Did you realize that everyone’s life makes a statement? Perhaps you’ve never looked at your routine as anything more than merely traveling back and forth to work and accomplishing daily tasks. If so, you might wonder what message this could possibly broadcast to the people around you.
The truth is that every one of us communicates to others through our character, actions, and words. The believer’s life should be an expression of glory to God while conveying to onlookers the vital importance of divine truth. Wherever we are, Jesus’ light should shine brightly through us so that He is evident in a dark world. And remember, the strength of our life message is directly related to the depth of our relationship with God.
Of course, this does not mean that our lives have to be perfect. But our responses and actions should demonstrate that our heavenly Father is dependable, faithful, forgiving, and present. We are His ambassadors, representing the Savior to the people we encounter each day. Our lives are opportunities for others to see the Lord in action, as we serve others—or as we reveal peacefulness and trust, even during difficult times.
Coworkers, family, neighbors, and friends are all witnesses to our daily conduct and conversation. Every encounter we have is an opportunity to reflect Jesus into somebody’s life. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith and your walk so that those around you can’t help but be drawn towards His light.
To see more from this website, visit: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/in_touch/
Sunday: See you at church!
Monday: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3)
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)
The Word of God has much to say about right thinking, or faith thinking. Much of the book of Proverbs deals with the subject of wisdom and how to get wisdom, how to nurture wisdom, and how to guard wisdom. This is why these devotional messages are made available. It is our prayer that these words will provide food for thought. Just as our physical bodies need necessary nutrition, our minds need spiritual and mental sustenance. It is so important for us to learn how to think with God’s thoughts from His Word.
To see more of this website, visit: http://www.ggwo.org/index.php?module=ministries&action=faiththoughts
Tuesday: "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. . . . Great is Your faithfulness."—Lamentations 3:22-23
Hudson Taylor, the humble servant of God to China, demonstrated extraordinary trust in God’s faithfulness. In his journal he wrote:
“Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning. . . . He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all. . . . Depend on it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”
We may be faint and weary, but our heavenly Father is all-powerful. Our feelings may fluctuate, but He is unchangeable. Even creation itself is a record of His steadfastness. That’s why we can sing these words from a hymn by Thomas Chisholm: “Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.”
What an encouragement to live for Him! Our strength for the present and hope for the future are not based on the stability of our own perseverance but on the fidelity of God. No matter what our need, we can count on the Father’s faithfulness. —Paul Van Gorder
To see more of this website, visit: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
Wednesday: See you at church! And I hope that this week's devotions might have helped you choose another website that inspires you!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Devotions for Week of 16-22 April: Fruits of the Spirit
Thursday: In Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus tells his disciples to be on the look out for false prophets (that is, people pretending to be of God). Basically, he reminds his followers to use good sense--to look at the "fruits" of the people to whom they are listening. An evil tree can't produce good fruit, he says, just like a good tree can't produce evil fruit. Likewise, as Spirit-filled followers of Jesus, we should also produce "fruit" that reflects this. What "fruits" in thought, word, and action would you expect from a Christian? This week we'll be reading what Paul wrote to the Galatians about the fruits of the Spirit. Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit, a third facet of God that was sent to us after Jesus died. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be our comforter; he is sort of like our conscience, prompting us to do the right thing. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit fills us up; as a result, we bear fruit that reflect the Holy Spirit. Remember, though, that fruit takes time ripen. The fruit of the Spirit also takes time to ripen. As we continue to walk with God, the fruits in our lives will be more evident.
Friday: Since there are nine fruits of the Spirit described by Paul in Galatians 5: 22, we'll talk about three each day for the next three days. The first fruit is love. Because it comes first, we can infer that this is the most important, most prominent fruit of the Spirit. To define love, we can look at the example of Jesus; by dying for our sin, he showed the ultimate expression of love. When we put others before ourselves--when we sacrifice for the benefit of someone else--this is showing love. Joy is the second fruit. We often equate joy with happiness, but they are actually very different. Happiness is based on circumstance; a certain situation can make you happy. But joy is deeper. Joy comes from knowing God and being sure of his love and concern from you; even in bad situations, you can have joy. The third fruit is peace, and it is related to joy. Like joy, peace doesn't come from a particular situation. Peace comes from knowing that God has a plan for your life and that he loves you.
Saturday: The fourth fruit of the Spirit is patience, and it seems like it takes a long time to develop! The website www.spirithome.com defines patience as "the quality or capacity of being patient; to endure something with calmness; the ability to willingly accept or tolerate delay or hardship." Patience means that being sure of God's purpose for you, sure that he will answer your prayers, and sure that all things in your life work for your good...eventually. And it's that "eventually" that makes it so hard. We view life temporally--that is, we live very much in the moment--but God lives outside of time, in eternity. What seems like a long time to us is the blink of an eye to him. The fifth fruit is kindness. Kindness refers to our relationship with others. By being kind to others, we model God's love and kindness for us; this kind of modeling will lead unbelievers to God. The sixth fruit is goodness. The Greek word used in this verse (agathosune) doesn't just refer to moral goodness ("doing the right thing"); it also refers to being useful or beneficial. In other words, having integrity or being moral doesn't do much good unless you put it into action. That's what the Spirit will help you do.
Sunday: See you at church!
Monday: The last three fruits of the Spirit are faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Like the other fruits, by having faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we mirror a side of God for those people around us. Faithfulness can refer to being faithful to God, but it can also mean being faithful to other people. In other words, we should not waiver, going from one side to another; when we give our word, we should stick to it. Gentleness is very similar to meekness, and Jesus taught us that the meek will inherit the earth. Being gentle doesn't mean that you always go along with everyone else; rather, it means making a choice to avoid anger or rashness. Gentleness lets you keep your cool when you're upset. This goes hand-in-hand with the last fruit, self-control. Self-control can refer to many parts of our lives: it can refer to our bodies (like sexual self-control or not being a glutton at the dinner table), to our tongues (like not gossiping or saying hurtful things), to our actions (like paying tithes even though it means giving up something else), or even to our thoughts.
Tuesday: The Hebrew word mitzvah (מצווה) is used to talk about two things. First, it refers to a commandment from God to the Jews given in the Torah (what we know as the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy); there are a total of 620 commandments or instructions. Second, it refers to an act of human kindness. This kindness is not merely a one-time act. The term mitzvah refers to someone who is characterized by kindness; that is his or her way of life, and it is done for the glory of God. By examining the fruits of the spirit, we can see that this is the kind of life that they Holy Spirit can help us develop: a life devoted to human kindness--putting others before ourselves--for God's glory. In your prayers today, ask for opportunities to be kind. As you go into the world, look for these opportunities, and take advantage of them.
Wednesday: See you at church!
Friday: Since there are nine fruits of the Spirit described by Paul in Galatians 5: 22, we'll talk about three each day for the next three days. The first fruit is love. Because it comes first, we can infer that this is the most important, most prominent fruit of the Spirit. To define love, we can look at the example of Jesus; by dying for our sin, he showed the ultimate expression of love. When we put others before ourselves--when we sacrifice for the benefit of someone else--this is showing love. Joy is the second fruit. We often equate joy with happiness, but they are actually very different. Happiness is based on circumstance; a certain situation can make you happy. But joy is deeper. Joy comes from knowing God and being sure of his love and concern from you; even in bad situations, you can have joy. The third fruit is peace, and it is related to joy. Like joy, peace doesn't come from a particular situation. Peace comes from knowing that God has a plan for your life and that he loves you.
Saturday: The fourth fruit of the Spirit is patience, and it seems like it takes a long time to develop! The website www.spirithome.com defines patience as "the quality or capacity of being patient; to endure something with calmness; the ability to willingly accept or tolerate delay or hardship." Patience means that being sure of God's purpose for you, sure that he will answer your prayers, and sure that all things in your life work for your good...eventually. And it's that "eventually" that makes it so hard. We view life temporally--that is, we live very much in the moment--but God lives outside of time, in eternity. What seems like a long time to us is the blink of an eye to him. The fifth fruit is kindness. Kindness refers to our relationship with others. By being kind to others, we model God's love and kindness for us; this kind of modeling will lead unbelievers to God. The sixth fruit is goodness. The Greek word used in this verse (agathosune) doesn't just refer to moral goodness ("doing the right thing"); it also refers to being useful or beneficial. In other words, having integrity or being moral doesn't do much good unless you put it into action. That's what the Spirit will help you do.
Sunday: See you at church!
Monday: The last three fruits of the Spirit are faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Like the other fruits, by having faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we mirror a side of God for those people around us. Faithfulness can refer to being faithful to God, but it can also mean being faithful to other people. In other words, we should not waiver, going from one side to another; when we give our word, we should stick to it. Gentleness is very similar to meekness, and Jesus taught us that the meek will inherit the earth. Being gentle doesn't mean that you always go along with everyone else; rather, it means making a choice to avoid anger or rashness. Gentleness lets you keep your cool when you're upset. This goes hand-in-hand with the last fruit, self-control. Self-control can refer to many parts of our lives: it can refer to our bodies (like sexual self-control or not being a glutton at the dinner table), to our tongues (like not gossiping or saying hurtful things), to our actions (like paying tithes even though it means giving up something else), or even to our thoughts.
Tuesday: The Hebrew word mitzvah (מצווה) is used to talk about two things. First, it refers to a commandment from God to the Jews given in the Torah (what we know as the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy); there are a total of 620 commandments or instructions. Second, it refers to an act of human kindness. This kindness is not merely a one-time act. The term mitzvah refers to someone who is characterized by kindness; that is his or her way of life, and it is done for the glory of God. By examining the fruits of the spirit, we can see that this is the kind of life that they Holy Spirit can help us develop: a life devoted to human kindness--putting others before ourselves--for God's glory. In your prayers today, ask for opportunities to be kind. As you go into the world, look for these opportunities, and take advantage of them.
Wednesday: See you at church!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Devotions for Week of 2-8 April: "Doing" by Example
Thursday: For the last two weeks, we have been talking about being "doers" of the Word. First, we learned that we are not just supposed to be hearers of the Word; we should also change our actions to match the instructions that we hear. So, what does this look like everyday? Funny you should ask because how we look has a lot to do with it! In 1 Peter 3:2-5, we're instructed to dress modestly and with propriety. Our clothes should not be our focus; instead we should focus on having a clean heart and a gentle spirit. These verses were written for women, but men should consider them, too. Take a good look at your clothes today. Are they modest and proper? Or do they detract from the heart inside you?
Friday: Are you being a "doer" with your mouth? People often say that a person should put his money where his mouth is, and a christian must take this especially to heart. The Bible says that the tongue is the most unruly part of the body; often we speak before we think, and this sets a poor example for those around us. Ephesians 4:29 makes it very clear that our words should be clean (no cussing!) and meaningful: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." In other words, your words should be pertinant and, like your clothes, reveal a clean heart. Reflect on everything that you said today: is there anything that doesn't fit this criteria? Pray that God will help you control your unruly tongue.
Saturday: You can also be a "doer" with your everyday actions. For example, imagine that you are walking down the hall at school, and you see someone that you don't like drop a paper from his/her folder. You pick it up and find that it is a homework assignment. Do you give it back to person? Do you throw it in the trash? Do you just toss it back in the floor? Although this doesn't seem like a very important or noteworthy situation, this is the kind of thing that separates "doers" of the Word from "hearers." A hearer might recognize that the right thing to do would be to give the paper back to the person, whether you like him/her or not, but might still not do it. A doer recognizes the right thing to do and does it, even when it's hard. Why? We are supposed to live as an ambassador for Christ, representing him in all parts of your life. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, you should cause others to want to know God. Do your actions call others to Him?
Sunday: See you at church today! FYI: Easter Dinner and Egg Hunt today!
Monday: So is it hard to be a "doer"? Sometimes it can be. Sometimes we want to ignore the still, small voice in our hearts that tells us what to do and what not to do. Ultimately, however, we have to remember that even inside our deepest parts--the thoughts of our minds and the emotions of our hearts--we are not alone. Once we invite Him in, the Lord--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--becomes an integral part of us. According to Ephesians 4:4-6, there is only one body and one Spirit; we are all called to the same Hope; and the one righteous God is over all, through all, and in all. Meditate on God's existence in your own heart. Do you remember that He's there? Do you talk to Him? Do you thank Him? Do you praise Him? Do you make Him feel welcome?
Tuesday: Although we have talked about the importance of doing good things this week, we must remember that good deeds won't save you. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, we are saved only by the grace of God and only through his Son. No man can brag about his good works because they will not save him. However, Ephesians goes on the say that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works and that the Lord has already prepared things for us to do. So be alert: look for the good works that you could do today--works of the heart, mind, mouth, and hands.
Wednesday: See you at church tonight!
Friday: Are you being a "doer" with your mouth? People often say that a person should put his money where his mouth is, and a christian must take this especially to heart. The Bible says that the tongue is the most unruly part of the body; often we speak before we think, and this sets a poor example for those around us. Ephesians 4:29 makes it very clear that our words should be clean (no cussing!) and meaningful: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." In other words, your words should be pertinant and, like your clothes, reveal a clean heart. Reflect on everything that you said today: is there anything that doesn't fit this criteria? Pray that God will help you control your unruly tongue.
Saturday: You can also be a "doer" with your everyday actions. For example, imagine that you are walking down the hall at school, and you see someone that you don't like drop a paper from his/her folder. You pick it up and find that it is a homework assignment. Do you give it back to person? Do you throw it in the trash? Do you just toss it back in the floor? Although this doesn't seem like a very important or noteworthy situation, this is the kind of thing that separates "doers" of the Word from "hearers." A hearer might recognize that the right thing to do would be to give the paper back to the person, whether you like him/her or not, but might still not do it. A doer recognizes the right thing to do and does it, even when it's hard. Why? We are supposed to live as an ambassador for Christ, representing him in all parts of your life. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, you should cause others to want to know God. Do your actions call others to Him?
Sunday: See you at church today! FYI: Easter Dinner and Egg Hunt today!
Monday: So is it hard to be a "doer"? Sometimes it can be. Sometimes we want to ignore the still, small voice in our hearts that tells us what to do and what not to do. Ultimately, however, we have to remember that even inside our deepest parts--the thoughts of our minds and the emotions of our hearts--we are not alone. Once we invite Him in, the Lord--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--becomes an integral part of us. According to Ephesians 4:4-6, there is only one body and one Spirit; we are all called to the same Hope; and the one righteous God is over all, through all, and in all. Meditate on God's existence in your own heart. Do you remember that He's there? Do you talk to Him? Do you thank Him? Do you praise Him? Do you make Him feel welcome?
Tuesday: Although we have talked about the importance of doing good things this week, we must remember that good deeds won't save you. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, we are saved only by the grace of God and only through his Son. No man can brag about his good works because they will not save him. However, Ephesians goes on the say that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works and that the Lord has already prepared things for us to do. So be alert: look for the good works that you could do today--works of the heart, mind, mouth, and hands.
Wednesday: See you at church tonight!
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