Devotionals
A Letter From Jesus
Behold, I am the Good Shepherd. I offered my very life to save you - The lost.. I laid down My body to heal you - The broken. I suffered thus, not in vain, but so that I could draw you - My precious children, to My bosom, and comfort you and love you and give you forgiveness, redemption and healing. I have heard your prayers...
I have My arms outstretched, and in My hands are precious gifts to give to you, My precious children, you, My broken ones, you who are suffering, you who are crying, you who are aching. I know the world is difficult right now. But would you please hold on? Don't give up!!!I have precious gifts for you--gifts of love, of forgiveness, of mercy, and of healing. All of these things are in My hands. Yes, I still perform miracles. And, yes, I will freely give them to you if you will only reach out and receive them by faith.
These gifts are not earned by your goodness. This is not to put you down. To Do that is not of my heart. I am not a God of guilt. But don't you know that you could never be good enough to receive these precious gifts laying in My hands. But I give them to you freely. But you must only reach out by faith and receive My love, My mercy, My forgiveness, and My healing. I have heard your prayers....
I'm still there... I love you......
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The Following Note Is A True Testimony To The
Hope of Our Youth.
The time is now...
Submitted With Permission By the Author
It's the time for change, it's the time to step it up. It time to stop hiding behind excuses. It's the time to make a difference.
So many times we think, "I can't make a difference, God can't use me...I'm too young!"
Thankfully God says if you think that way, you are wrong..very wrong.
For instance, 1 Timothy 4:12 says,
"Let no man despise you because of your youth, but be an example for all the believers in speech, in conduct, in faith, in love, and in purity"
God can use YOU no matter how young/old you are, no matter how bad you were(or even are), God can and wants to use YOU...are you ready?
You might think that you aren't good enough to be used, but through Paul, God shows that you are wrong.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31&2:1-5 says,
"Brothers and Sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is becaue of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast, boast in the Lord." And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."
As shown, God would rather use the "non-usable", so He could display His true power.
I can see that God wants to move, in a BIG way.
We are the next generation, we are the ones who need to carry out the work that God has begun. We need to be bold, and unashamed. We need to put aside our worldly passions and cravings, and shift our desire to God.
Let's rebel against the society. Let's be used by God to start another "Jesus Movement" bigger than the last. Let's get on our knees and fight!
Let's not back down, but stand our ground. "Let's tighten our belt of Truth, Let's put on our breastplate of righteousness, let's fit our feet with the Gospel of Peace. Let us also strengthen our shield of Faith, let's put on our helmet, and let us sharpen our sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)"--Ephesians 6:14-17
Belt of truth-2 Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Breastplate of righteousness-2 Corinthians 6:14
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
Feet fitted with the gospel of peace-
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21
Shield of faith-Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Helmet of salvation-
"For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Acts 13:47
"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Sword of the Spirit-
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12
We've got to be strong. We've got to eat up the Word, and let our hearts and minds be transformed by the power of God. A revolution has to start from the heart, from our hearts.
It's the time for change, it's the time to step it up. It time to stop hiding behind excuses. It's the time to make a difference.
...the time is now!
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Are You There God? - It's Me..... 5:11pm
God...Where Were You?
I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad
Where the West was all but won
All alone, I said, "Where've you been?" He said, "Ask anything."
Where were you, when everything was falling apart?
All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang
And all I needed was a call that never came
To the corner of 1st and Amistad
Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me.
These words from The Fray's 'You Found Me' seem to be echoing in the hearts of literally millions of people. Does the song express your heart as well? Haven't you had things 'fall apart' on one level or another?
It's the tension we feel when we're caught in between the way things are and the way things should be. It's an emotional strain and drain that causes us to simultaneously remember that God is good - but also ask why our lives are not.
Like the home life that is supposed to be peaceful and renewing, yet is filled with the soundtrack of angry words and painful exchanges. Or perhaps even worse...is deafened by silence and disappointed glances.
Like the relationship that started so amazingly well, yet ended with a callous and cowardly text or message on Facebook and left you feeling as valuable as the garbage you took out the week before.
Like the loss of a friend. Like the disappointment in circumstances. Like the million other things that make us cry out to God and ask -
'Where were You?'
I think I know how you feel. And I definitely know of a man who lived thousands of years ago who lost more and experienced more pain than perhaps anyone else who walked this earth. His name was Job, and just when his life was going as well as any life could go, here's what happened:
Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them - burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened" (Job 1:13-19).
Can you possibly imagine this scene? In the space of a few dozen heartbeats, Job lost everything that was near and dear to his heart. All possessions and family cruelly ripped from his life in a matter of minutes.
Think Job might have been asking God where He was at this point? Think Job might have been able to pen some lyrics of doubt and expressions of pain?
And yet, here is the song that came from the pieces of his shattered heart:
"I came naked from my mother's womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The LORD gave me what I had,
and the LORD has taken it away.
Praise the name of the LORD!"
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God (Job 1:21-22).
Was Job some super saint that didn't feel pain or could just blow it off? Not at all. He was human just as much as you or me, but the difference is he didn't have a human perspective. Rather than focusing on the sting of things falling apart, he trusted in the power of the God who holds everything together. He worshipped God with tears and resisted the temptation to blame the evils of this world on the Creator of the universe.
Things do fall apart, and it is OK to find God on a corner and ask where He was. But the key to remember is that there is a difference between asking and blaming.
Asking is trying to find an answer. Blaming is assuming you already know. And what you should know is that God has it all under control. You may feel like He wasn't there in a difficult time but the reality is He was probably closer than you ever imagined. He doesn't need to find you because He never let you go in the first place. That's why we have these promises that are like the mast of a ship that we cling to during the storms of life:
Listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:1-2).
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer (Psalm 9:12).
I will never fail you. I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5).
May these truths find you in the midst of your trials.
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A MESSAGE FROM REBECCA ST JAMES
"WE NEED EACH OTHER - NOW MORE THAN EVER!"
Have you ever met someone who said, "I don't need the church! There are too many hypocrites in it. I can worship God in nature all by myself . . ."? It is true that we can worship God on our own, but God created us to live in community. He knew just how much we would need each other. None of us have it completely together. We need safe places where we can share our joys and our struggles with others who can rejoice--and empathize--with us. When Jesus first sent His disciples out on a mission of goodwill, He sent them out in twos. They were able to encourage one another as they set out to spread the good news of His kingdom.
In the music ministry I have seen the body of Christ come together in a powerful way to reach people with the gospel. Record labels, radio stations, Christian television stations, newspaper and magazine staff, local promoters, church leadership, festival organizers, stage managers, agents, and band management all come together for a common goal--to reach as many people as possible with the message of Christ! When all these people work as a united team, great things happen. That's one of the reasons our ministry has continued to partner with the church, because we believe that together we can share the love of Christ more effectively than if we attempt to do so apart.
Perhaps nowhere else is Christian unity demonstrated more powerfully than when there is a crisis. A few years ago when the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, the world rallied around to provide real help for hurting people. As the hands and feet of Jesus, believers from around the globe came streaming into the countries that were devastated. God can bring good out of tragedy, and often His people are part of the solution. Many times when we look at a difficult situation and ask, "How could He ever bring any good out of that?" we come to see that His compassionate heart is expressed through the community of faith. We are one of the ways in which He brings comfort and peace. We really do need each other.
Out of necessity, the early church banded together to fight persecution and advance the cause of Christ. There was a spirit of unity that superseded individual agendas. Luke records these words: "They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe--all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met"
We're in Australia for Easter concerts - - please pray for us--and I am closing with this prayerful Easter blessing for you, my friends!
"Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends." --Acts 20:32, The Message
Rebecca
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