Category Archives: Devotionals

Connected to the Source

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God’s Word For Today is one of my favorite online daily devotionals. This one is convicting to me as I have felt lacking in this area lately. I felt God was speaking to me thru the use of the branches example. He has used this repeatedly to speak to me throughout my walk.

He wants us connected to Him…always. He will never stop reaching out to us. We just need to reach back and one way is daily reading of His Word. If you feel lacking in this area too will you commit with me to making it first priority in the day?

Connected to the Source
Read Psalms 1:1 through 2:12

All Christians face storms. If Christians are to be victorious, why is it that many come out of a storm broken? This brokenness shows up as bitterness, fear, or broken relationships. How can a Christian safeguard his or her life from destruction?

An ice storm wreaked havoc across Missouri in January 2007. The weight of the ice broke branches off trees that had survived storms for decades. Towns looked like war zones, with debris everywhere. Why was this ice storm so destructive? The summer before the storm yielded little rain, so the water tables dropped. The lack of water weakened the trees. They were not tapped into the source, making them unable to handle the weight of the ice.

Psalm 1 explains that the Source for a Christian is the Bible—“the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:2). If a person spends time in the Word, he or she will be connected to the Source. Words of hope, protection, peace, and instruction strengthen the believer. This constant connection produces strong branches that grow fruit and healthy leaves. Instead of broken branches, the Christian will weather the storm and exit victorious.

Challenge for Today: Renew your commitment to read—and study—the Bible every day.
Quicklook: Psalm 1:1–6

Watercolors

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(Sidenote: I wrote this about three years ago but decided to refresh it and use it as my entrance back into posting. It is one of my favorite pieces.)

There is something so thrilling about opening a new set of watercolors. Each color is beautiful, neatly in it’s own little oval, full of possibilities. It’s hard to add the water because you know that perfect little oval will forever be changed. Instead of it’s neat appearance suddenly it appears to be a mess. The thought of messing up those ovals causes some people to just close the set and wait until another time to use those beautiful paints. The sad thing is if water is never added then each of those precious ovals can only exist, useless in that closed box. There is no way the watercolor can be a part of the masterpiece that it was intended for unless the box is opened and water is added.

Our lives are much like that watercolor set. We feel we are perfect just the way we are and don’t want to change. We like our little ovals just the way they are. We don’t want to be messed with or to look messy to the world. We want to remain closed off to being used by our local church. We’re too busy we say. Someone else will do it we say. The problem is we were each given gifts for a time and a purpose. Just like that watercolor set has a purpose to paint a picture…we have a purpose in where we are in our life. It is only when we open the watercolor set of our heart and let the Living Waters flow over us that our true beauty gets to shine bright and vibrant. We were not meant to stay in our perfect little ovals never being used. God created each of us with amazing colors that have a place in His Beautiful Masterpiece. Instead of being afraid of the changes living for God requires we need to embrace them. Is it hard? Yes. Will there be pains and tears? Most definitely yes. Our Heavenly Father promises that He will care for us and wipe away all our tears though.

Revelation 7:17 – “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

So beloved one do not be afraid of His Living Waters flowing over your watercolors. God is there to take away that fear from you. To give you an abundant and eternal life in Him. I would encourage you today to open the watercolors of your heart and let God use you in His Beautiful Masterpiece. True you will never be the same. True you may appear different to the world. True dipping the water in that first color is hard. However I promise once you see how important your watercolors are in the Painter’s Masterpiece you will wonder why you waited so long to dip in!

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for keeping my watercolor box closed. I ask you today to use my watercolors for your purpose. Flow over me your Living Waters. I want to be a part of your Beautiful Masterpiece! In Jesus’ Precious Name I Pray. Amen.

Emotions

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Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. – 1 Peter 5:7-9

Some days are just plain difficult. Life is not easy. At every turn there is a reason to feel lost, depressed, angry or disappointed. We have an enemy who wants to make sure of that too. The Bible clearly tells us that the devil prowls around looking to destroy us. Sounds like we’re doomed before even starting doesn’t it? Well we sure would have been if not for our Blessed Savior, Jesus. He defeated the enemy. Case closed. The victory is already ours. Now we have to have the mindset to LIVE that way. When we live for Christ, standing firm in our knowledge of Him, the devil doesn’t stand a chance. Sure he can still throw plenty of darts at us but when we are alert to his schemes and we resist him…victory is ours. Does that mean we will always get what we want or live perfect lives? I’ll be blunt…absolutely not. I guarantee you will feel defeated at times, depressed, even burning anger. This is where we absolutely MUST turn to Jesus. If we don’t turn to Jesus and instead let these emotions overtake us then we fall into the enemy’s devouring plan. No, this is when we need Jesus! We need to fall at His feet. Take the burdens of life to Him. He loves us dear one and wants to help us through. He can only do that though if we turn to Him. The choice always has been and always will be within our own hands. Choose Jesus!

Loving Father, Let your face be the first thing we seek when emotions overwhelm us. Remind us to call on your name and pour our pains at your feet. Hold us tight within your mighty arms when the enemy draws near to us. Let us never forget we are victorious in you alone. Thank you my precious Savior…how I love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.