How refreshing to read this today! In my own struggles, messages and devotions like this are so encouraging and helpful.
The Purpose of Our Trials
READ 1 Peter 4:12
Some believers like to portray their lives as perfect and carefree. But in reality, being a Christian isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes we’ll experience trials that truly test our faith and ability to trust in God.In today’s passage, Peter refers to times of testing as “fiery ordeals.” He says we shouldn’t be surprised when hardships come our way. It’s important to remember that God has a purpose for our trials and will see us through each step of the way. But the question is, What purpose does God have for the trials we face? First, the heavenly Father will sometimes use painful experiences to cleanse and purify His children’s lives. Trials drive us to the Lord. Then, as we begin to focus on Him, we start to see things from His perspective and often become more aware of our sin.Second, the Lord at times allows difficulty in our life as a way of testing us—He might be trying our faith, endurance, or devotion to Him. He uses such experiences to reveal something about our spiritual development and to strengthen our faith.Third, God uses suffering to demonstrate His power to sustain us. When He brings you through difficult times, He glorifies Himself. In turn, this encourages others when they experience trials, because they have witnessed God’s sustaining power in your life.Ultimately, hardships strengthen our testimony. In the midst of adversity, we might feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But once the storm has passed, we can often look back and see the Lord’s providential hand carrying us through.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Significance
Significance
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands. - Psalm 90:17
Many of us begin our careers with the goal of achieving success. If we haven't entered our work as a result of God's calling, we will eventually face a chasm of deep frustration and emptiness. Success flatters but does not provide a lasting sense of purpose and fulfillment. So often we enter careers with wrong motives-money, prestige, and even pressure from parents or peers. Failing to match our work with our giftedness and calling is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. If that happens over an extended period, a person crashes.At this time, many make another mistake. Workplace believers think that beginning a new career in "full-time Christian work" will fill the emptiness they feel. However, this only exacerbates the problem because they are again trying to put another square peg into a round hole. The problem is not whether we should be in "Christian work" or "secular work," but rather what work is inspired by gifts and calling. If there is one phrase I wish I could remove from the English language it is "full-time Christian work." If you are a Christian, you are in full-time Christian work, whether you are driving nails or preaching the gospel. The question must be, are you achieving the God-given calling for your life? God has called people into business to fulfill His purposes just as much as He has called people to be pastors or missionaries.It is time for workplace believers to stop feeling like second-class citizens for being in business. It is time workplace believers stop working toward financial independence so that they can concentrate on their "true spiritual calling." This is the great deception for those called to business.Significance comes from fulfilling the God-given purpose for which you were made. Ask Him to confirm this in your own life.
*JUMPING UP AND DOWN* That's me!!!!!!!!
I went in to this line of work because I needed to so that Chris and I could live. I had trouble scoring a job when we moved to DC, and coming to this company was supposed to be temporary until I found something better. Almost four years later, and I am still here. BUT, if you read my other blog today, then you know that I applied for two management positions with PetsMart and can I say how stoked I am!? Animals are my thing. Really. I am good with them, I love them, I love to take care of them, train them, handle them and just about everything that comes with them. Could getting my foot in the door with PetsMart and eventually working with their pet adoption program be my calling? MAYBE! I am excited to find out!
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands. - Psalm 90:17
Many of us begin our careers with the goal of achieving success. If we haven't entered our work as a result of God's calling, we will eventually face a chasm of deep frustration and emptiness. Success flatters but does not provide a lasting sense of purpose and fulfillment. So often we enter careers with wrong motives-money, prestige, and even pressure from parents or peers. Failing to match our work with our giftedness and calling is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. If that happens over an extended period, a person crashes.At this time, many make another mistake. Workplace believers think that beginning a new career in "full-time Christian work" will fill the emptiness they feel. However, this only exacerbates the problem because they are again trying to put another square peg into a round hole. The problem is not whether we should be in "Christian work" or "secular work," but rather what work is inspired by gifts and calling. If there is one phrase I wish I could remove from the English language it is "full-time Christian work." If you are a Christian, you are in full-time Christian work, whether you are driving nails or preaching the gospel. The question must be, are you achieving the God-given calling for your life? God has called people into business to fulfill His purposes just as much as He has called people to be pastors or missionaries.It is time for workplace believers to stop feeling like second-class citizens for being in business. It is time workplace believers stop working toward financial independence so that they can concentrate on their "true spiritual calling." This is the great deception for those called to business.Significance comes from fulfilling the God-given purpose for which you were made. Ask Him to confirm this in your own life.
*JUMPING UP AND DOWN* That's me!!!!!!!!
I went in to this line of work because I needed to so that Chris and I could live. I had trouble scoring a job when we moved to DC, and coming to this company was supposed to be temporary until I found something better. Almost four years later, and I am still here. BUT, if you read my other blog today, then you know that I applied for two management positions with PetsMart and can I say how stoked I am!? Animals are my thing. Really. I am good with them, I love them, I love to take care of them, train them, handle them and just about everything that comes with them. Could getting my foot in the door with PetsMart and eventually working with their pet adoption program be my calling? MAYBE! I am excited to find out!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Defining Moments
Wow. This devotional really spoke to me. I haven't had my "defining moment" yet, but I am so excited about having it! This devotional really made me remember that God has so much in store for my life (and for yours!), and that is exciting!
Defining Moments
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. - Acts 9:3. For Moses, it was the burning bush.. For Peter, it was walking on water.. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, it was walking through the burning furnace untouched.. For Paul, it was being blinded and spoken to by Jesus on the Damascus road.. For Daniel, it was deliverance from the lions' den.. For Joshua, it was parting the Jordan River and crossing into the Promised Land.There have been many defining moments in the lives of human beings that changed their lives forever. These defining moments often set the course for the balance of their lives.We could go on and on. Each of these servants had years of preparation leading up to their defining moment. These moments forced the servants to be involved in something beyond their human experiences. It took them outside their own paradigms of life. God had to move them outside their own boxes. And when He did, their lives were never the same.You may be in one of three stages of life: You may not have had your "defining moment" yet-God may be preparing you with many important life experiences. You may have had your defining moment and you are living out your call. Or, you may be toward the end of your journey and you have already experienced what I speak of.We are all called to a relationship with God; and we are all called vocationally, which is often ushered in by a defining moment. And there can be more than one defining moment, each pointing you down a path that God foreordained from the foundation of the world. The secret of a great life is often a man's ability to discern the defining moments given to him, understanding them, and learning to walk in the path that leads him to his ultimate destination.Once you have had a defining moment, you are never the same. Pray that you have eyes to see and ears to hear when your Master brings a defining moment into your life.
Defining Moments
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. - Acts 9:3. For Moses, it was the burning bush.. For Peter, it was walking on water.. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, it was walking through the burning furnace untouched.. For Paul, it was being blinded and spoken to by Jesus on the Damascus road.. For Daniel, it was deliverance from the lions' den.. For Joshua, it was parting the Jordan River and crossing into the Promised Land.There have been many defining moments in the lives of human beings that changed their lives forever. These defining moments often set the course for the balance of their lives.We could go on and on. Each of these servants had years of preparation leading up to their defining moment. These moments forced the servants to be involved in something beyond their human experiences. It took them outside their own paradigms of life. God had to move them outside their own boxes. And when He did, their lives were never the same.You may be in one of three stages of life: You may not have had your "defining moment" yet-God may be preparing you with many important life experiences. You may have had your defining moment and you are living out your call. Or, you may be toward the end of your journey and you have already experienced what I speak of.We are all called to a relationship with God; and we are all called vocationally, which is often ushered in by a defining moment. And there can be more than one defining moment, each pointing you down a path that God foreordained from the foundation of the world. The secret of a great life is often a man's ability to discern the defining moments given to him, understanding them, and learning to walk in the path that leads him to his ultimate destination.Once you have had a defining moment, you are never the same. Pray that you have eyes to see and ears to hear when your Master brings a defining moment into your life.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Home Living
I have one more today......
I am the vine, you are the branches.He who abides in Me,and I in him, bears much fruit.~~ John 15:5 NKJV ~~
If I am a true Christian, I will not give way at home to bad temper, impatience, faultfinding, sarcasm, unkindness, suspicion, selfishness or laziness. Instead, each day my life will display the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).How different would your home be if you consistently practiced these Christ-like virtues?The Reverand Billy Graham: Hope for Each Day - Words of Wisdom and Faith
Your New Relationship
God works in mysterious ways. He knows when our heart is hurting and when He is the only one who can provide relief. Jesus keeps knocking at our door until we finally accept Him as our savior and begin a new found relationship with God...the most important relationship you will ever have.
I grew up in a Christian household, so I always "knew" Jesus, but the impact of who and what He is didn't really hit me until I was a teenager. I don't really remember the circumstance, I just remember the feeling. Like my eyes were new, I could see like I had never been able to see before. The whole world looked new to me. What an awesome feeling it was....and is!!!!!!!
Some people have a significant moment that changes their life forever. My Pastor's was a little boy handing out booklets on Jesus at a liquor store when he was in college! He had always known who Jesus was, he just chose to ignore it all.....thinking only of what the world has turned the word "religion" in to. His eyes were opened that day. He went home and read the Bible for two weeks straight....not coming out for anything or anyone. That is when he became saved and I thank God for him. He is awesome and full of the Holy Spirit! He has changed many lives, I'm sure.
Enjoy today's devotional. Let it fill your heart with memories of your own eye opening first experience with the Lord.
Motivations to Call
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
..."Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." - Mark 10:49
Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into relationship with Him? Were you in need of something? Were you in a crisis situation? Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him through different circumstances. More often than not, the circumstances relate to a need in their life that only God can meet.Bartimaeus had the need to see again. He was a poor blind beggar, who had heard about Jesus and the miracles He had done. The crowds rebuked him for seeking Jesus, yet he continued to cry out. "Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'...Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus" (Mk. 10:48,50). That day, Bartimaeus saw for the first time. But more than that, he saw with spiritual eyes for the first time.Each workday, we rub shoulders with someone who has not met this Jesus we know personally. God uses needs to draw us to Himself. What need has He placed in a coworker that only Christ can meet? Perhaps you are the instrument He wants to use to introduce that person to Himself. It requires availability and a willingness to look for people with needs, then point them to Christ to meet their needs. Pray for divine appointments today.
I grew up in a Christian household, so I always "knew" Jesus, but the impact of who and what He is didn't really hit me until I was a teenager. I don't really remember the circumstance, I just remember the feeling. Like my eyes were new, I could see like I had never been able to see before. The whole world looked new to me. What an awesome feeling it was....and is!!!!!!!
Some people have a significant moment that changes their life forever. My Pastor's was a little boy handing out booklets on Jesus at a liquor store when he was in college! He had always known who Jesus was, he just chose to ignore it all.....thinking only of what the world has turned the word "religion" in to. His eyes were opened that day. He went home and read the Bible for two weeks straight....not coming out for anything or anyone. That is when he became saved and I thank God for him. He is awesome and full of the Holy Spirit! He has changed many lives, I'm sure.
Enjoy today's devotional. Let it fill your heart with memories of your own eye opening first experience with the Lord.
Motivations to Call
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
..."Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." - Mark 10:49
Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into relationship with Him? Were you in need of something? Were you in a crisis situation? Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him through different circumstances. More often than not, the circumstances relate to a need in their life that only God can meet.Bartimaeus had the need to see again. He was a poor blind beggar, who had heard about Jesus and the miracles He had done. The crowds rebuked him for seeking Jesus, yet he continued to cry out. "Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'...Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus" (Mk. 10:48,50). That day, Bartimaeus saw for the first time. But more than that, he saw with spiritual eyes for the first time.Each workday, we rub shoulders with someone who has not met this Jesus we know personally. God uses needs to draw us to Himself. What need has He placed in a coworker that only Christ can meet? Perhaps you are the instrument He wants to use to introduce that person to Himself. It requires availability and a willingness to look for people with needs, then point them to Christ to meet their needs. Pray for divine appointments today.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Glory to the Father
For a long time when I would pray, it would be "God, I need this.....God, I need that". This has long since changed, but I sometimes still catch myself.
Prayer and conversation with God is about keeping Him close, doing His will, making sure that our hearts are ALWAYS open to Him, and bringing GLORY to GOD! When we pray and ask God for our hearts desires, we need to make sure that our prayer is one that will ultimately bring Him GLORY!
If you sit there and really think about it, it makes sense. Take an unbeliever for example. What if this person was witness to something that you had gone through, something terrible, a hardship; but you were open and honest with this person about your continuous prayer to the Father (while asking, you promise to bring glory to His name). Finally, in His time, your prayer was answered. Automatically, you have brought GLORY to HIS NAME by sharing your constant prayer with the unbeliever. Do you think this would have a profound impact on the unbeliever? Of course! In conversations with others who knew your hardship, you talk of your constant prayer and love for God, and how He ultimately answered your prayer. You have again, brought Glory to His Name. You have helped serve a small portion of every Christians purpose and mission for this life, to share the heart and power of God.
We go through what we SEE as hardships because the God's concern is about accomplishing His ultimate purpose through us. Just a little something to think about for your Monday morning.
I have another post from my current read "A Woman After God's Own Heart", but I will save that for tonight or tomorrow. To all of my wonderful friends who have been touched by these few posts, who have ridden along with me throughout my small turmoil that I am facing, who are women after God's heart; I hope that you are finding your way and that the Lord pours abundant amounts of blessings on you and yours. You girls mean so much to me and I want to say thank you for all of your kind words and support over the past year! I can't tell you how much it means to me.
Have a wonderful Monday and enjoy today's devotion brought to you by: The Church Growth Institute
The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. - Psalm 145:13b-14
Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would. If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact, if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness.Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been faithful with what He has entrusted to you.
Prayer and conversation with God is about keeping Him close, doing His will, making sure that our hearts are ALWAYS open to Him, and bringing GLORY to GOD! When we pray and ask God for our hearts desires, we need to make sure that our prayer is one that will ultimately bring Him GLORY!
If you sit there and really think about it, it makes sense. Take an unbeliever for example. What if this person was witness to something that you had gone through, something terrible, a hardship; but you were open and honest with this person about your continuous prayer to the Father (while asking, you promise to bring glory to His name). Finally, in His time, your prayer was answered. Automatically, you have brought GLORY to HIS NAME by sharing your constant prayer with the unbeliever. Do you think this would have a profound impact on the unbeliever? Of course! In conversations with others who knew your hardship, you talk of your constant prayer and love for God, and how He ultimately answered your prayer. You have again, brought Glory to His Name. You have helped serve a small portion of every Christians purpose and mission for this life, to share the heart and power of God.
We go through what we SEE as hardships because the God's concern is about accomplishing His ultimate purpose through us. Just a little something to think about for your Monday morning.
I have another post from my current read "A Woman After God's Own Heart", but I will save that for tonight or tomorrow. To all of my wonderful friends who have been touched by these few posts, who have ridden along with me throughout my small turmoil that I am facing, who are women after God's heart; I hope that you are finding your way and that the Lord pours abundant amounts of blessings on you and yours. You girls mean so much to me and I want to say thank you for all of your kind words and support over the past year! I can't tell you how much it means to me.
Have a wonderful Monday and enjoy today's devotion brought to you by: The Church Growth Institute
The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. - Psalm 145:13b-14
Have you ever had a relationship with someone who was faithful? You knew you could depend on that person to do what he said. You learned that his word was completely trustworthy. If he said he would call you, he would. If he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he'd be there. In fact, if he was late, you began to wonder if he had an accident because it was so contrary to his nature. It's great to have friends who are faithful.God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn't faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn't faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.The Bible is full of accounts of God's faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship. He brought Joseph out of slavery to be greatly used in a nation. He delivered the people from Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. He gave Abraham the son of promise late in his life. He delivered David from his enemies and made him a king. In story upon story, we learn of God's faithfulness.Are you a faithful man or woman? The workplace needs faithful men and women. Take an inventory of your life today and ask God if you have been faithful with what He has entrusted to you.
Friday, August 10, 2007
I Needed This
I really needed this today. All signs that I have seen lately are pointing to patience. Have patience Alicia, and God will provide.
I know God, I do. I need you to help me with that a little bit.
Girls, pray for God to give me more patience and contentment while waiting on His perfect timing to change my situation. My heart knows that His timing is perfect; it's my head and body that are the problems.
Waiting on GodTGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! - Isaiah 30:18Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt. It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban's control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. So why isn't God in a hurry?God called each of these servants to accomplish a certain task in His Kingdom, yet He was in no hurry to bring their mission into fulfillment. First, He accomplished what He wanted in them. We are often more focused on outcome than the process that He is accomplishing in our lives each day. When we experience His presence daily, one day we wake up and realize that God has done something special in and through our lives. However, the accomplishment is no longer what excites us. Instead, what excites us is knowing Him. Through those times, we become more acquainted with His love, grace, and power in our lives. When this happens, we are no longer focused on the outcome because the outcome is a result of our walk with Him. It is not the goal of our walk, but the by-product. Hence, when Joseph came to power in Egypt, he probably couldn't have cared less. He had come to a place of complete surrender so that he was not anxious about tomorrow or his circumstances.This is the lesson for us. We must wait for God's timing and embrace wherever we are in the process. When we find contentment in that place, we begin to experience God in ways we never thought possible.
I know God, I do. I need you to help me with that a little bit.
Girls, pray for God to give me more patience and contentment while waiting on His perfect timing to change my situation. My heart knows that His timing is perfect; it's my head and body that are the problems.
Waiting on GodTGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! - Isaiah 30:18Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt. It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban's control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. So why isn't God in a hurry?God called each of these servants to accomplish a certain task in His Kingdom, yet He was in no hurry to bring their mission into fulfillment. First, He accomplished what He wanted in them. We are often more focused on outcome than the process that He is accomplishing in our lives each day. When we experience His presence daily, one day we wake up and realize that God has done something special in and through our lives. However, the accomplishment is no longer what excites us. Instead, what excites us is knowing Him. Through those times, we become more acquainted with His love, grace, and power in our lives. When this happens, we are no longer focused on the outcome because the outcome is a result of our walk with Him. It is not the goal of our walk, but the by-product. Hence, when Joseph came to power in Egypt, he probably couldn't have cared less. He had come to a place of complete surrender so that he was not anxious about tomorrow or his circumstances.This is the lesson for us. We must wait for God's timing and embrace wherever we are in the process. When we find contentment in that place, we begin to experience God in ways we never thought possible.
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