I am once again amazed by not only this devotional, but even more so by God's word!
I am leading you along a way that is uniquely right for you. The closer to Me you grow, the more fully you become your true self-the one I designed you to be. Because you are one of a kind, the path you are traveling with Me diverges increasingly from that of other people. However, in my mysterious wisdom and ways, I enable you to follow this solitary path while staying in close contact with others. In fact, the more completely you devote yourself to Me, the more freely you can love people. Marvel at the beauty of a life intertwined with My Presence. Rejoice as we journey together in intimate communion. Enjoy the adventure of finding yourself through losing yourself in Me.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone sis in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become knew.
What amazed me about this verse, is just this morning as I was waking up, God brought to mind long ago forgotten sin, and how He spared me condemnation even back before I gave my life to him....
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.
How amazing is this? Yesterday, after my meeting with TCOE, I was reminded of being a little girl....Raggedy Ann and Andy bedroom - yellow curtains and bedspread...stuffed animals lined up on one bed, because it was school time! Of course I was the teacher.... When I was 4 years old, God knew that when I was 44, He had a HUGE job for me, and has been preparing me for this all along! He alone knew the path I would take...quite a zigzagging one to get to this place, but HE prepared it. Thank you Lord!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Trust
I am coming to realize that I don't really trust... A couple of weeks ago, my young friend Desiree asked if my childhood affected the relationships I have today. The question caused me to pause for a bit... Did it? I love my parents with all of my heart, they were good parents. My dad has always been my hero...And I know that my mom did the best she could. But I am realizing that having loved many and having lost them, has affected me in two ways. The first is my tenacity to hold on. This is a good thing, and a bad thing. I've often held on to relationships for far longer than was healthy for me. On the positive side though, I've stuck through some situations that I don't know I would have been able to endure. The last semester working for VUSD would have been impossible if not for my ability to stick with it.
When I came home, I shared Desiree's question with my husband. His take was different than mine, but no less true. He said that he thinks it's made me more willing to go into battle mode rather quickly. (Funny that was yesterday's devotion) My interpretation of this is that I am slower to trust, to warm up to people. I hold back and watch life and relationships. Today, I'm wondering, do I do that with Jesus too? Do I really trust that my Savior loves me with an unending love, and wants the best for me? I want to believe it. I kind of believe it. But do I deep down believe it? I'm not sure. I guess in order to be sure, or to know that I know that I know....I need to spend more time in His word.
Today's reading says that modern man has lost the perspective of eternity. To distract himself from the gaping jaws of death,he engages in ceaseless activity and amusement. The practice of being still in My presence is almost a lost art, yet it is this very stillness that enables you to experience My eternal love.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
When I came home, I shared Desiree's question with my husband. His take was different than mine, but no less true. He said that he thinks it's made me more willing to go into battle mode rather quickly. (Funny that was yesterday's devotion) My interpretation of this is that I am slower to trust, to warm up to people. I hold back and watch life and relationships. Today, I'm wondering, do I do that with Jesus too? Do I really trust that my Savior loves me with an unending love, and wants the best for me? I want to believe it. I kind of believe it. But do I deep down believe it? I'm not sure. I guess in order to be sure, or to know that I know that I know....I need to spend more time in His word.
Today's reading says that modern man has lost the perspective of eternity. To distract himself from the gaping jaws of death,he engages in ceaseless activity and amusement. The practice of being still in My presence is almost a lost art, yet it is this very stillness that enables you to experience My eternal love.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I don't have to fix everything
Jesus Calling has been such a great devotional! Today's topic is on problems - there will be problems in the world, but it isn't my job to fix all of them. There are problems in my life - as soon as something happens that wasn't in my plan....finances - house - job - charter - I immediately try to fix it. So often that ends up in an even bigger mess.... Why can't I be more like Mary?
Luke 10:41-42
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
God's timing is always perfect
November 9, 2010
Today’s devotional is incredible. Just what I need! Thank you LORD!
Sit quietly with me, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the Light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn’t include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass, since My Presence will be with you at all times.
When a future – oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, “jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!” then come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy peace in My presence. (from Jesus Calling)
I so look forward to reading this devotional. God is using it to speak to my day… The two scriptures that were following it were for ME – on this day!
Deuteronomy 31:6 & 1 Cor 10:5
Deuteronomy 31 is when Joshua succeeds Moses – God tells him (6) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. (8) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
1 Corinthians 10:5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Why is this to incredible to read this morning? Because we are having our “open” hearing today with the board at VUSD. I have no idea what questions they will ask of us. But God’s word says it doesn’t matter. HE is going before you and will be with us. They may approve us – GREAT! Even if they do, God will never leave us nor forsake us. I will not be afraid or discouraged if they approve us. They may not approve us! GREAT! If they don’t, I will not be afraid or discouraged, because we will then go before Tulare County Office of Education, but before we go, He will go before us!
Today’s devotional is incredible. Just what I need! Thank you LORD!
Sit quietly with me, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the Light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn’t include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass, since My Presence will be with you at all times.
When a future – oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, “jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!” then come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy peace in My presence. (from Jesus Calling)
I so look forward to reading this devotional. God is using it to speak to my day… The two scriptures that were following it were for ME – on this day!
Deuteronomy 31:6 & 1 Cor 10:5
Deuteronomy 31 is when Joshua succeeds Moses – God tells him (6) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. (8) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
1 Corinthians 10:5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Why is this to incredible to read this morning? Because we are having our “open” hearing today with the board at VUSD. I have no idea what questions they will ask of us. But God’s word says it doesn’t matter. HE is going before you and will be with us. They may approve us – GREAT! Even if they do, God will never leave us nor forsake us. I will not be afraid or discouraged if they approve us. They may not approve us! GREAT! If they don’t, I will not be afraid or discouraged, because we will then go before Tulare County Office of Education, but before we go, He will go before us!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Jesus Calling 10-21-2010
I LOVE love love this devotional!
Isn't it funny how sometimes devotionals take you to the word of God, and you get scared? Is it a prophecy? Will I be going through more hard times? Well, not sure about the prophecy part, but yes, I will go through more hard times, because that's just how life is.
Today's devotional encourages me to live in God's presence consistently. Because self gets in the way, sometimes that's a difficult thing to do. The author suggests that we become aware of each resentment (of interferences with our plans or desires).
Psalm 139:23-24 Tells us to do the same thing -
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Our response to our rebellious tendencies to submission is to humble ourselves to God...
1 Peter 5:6
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
God prepares us in so many ways for upcoming trials and tribulations. I didn't quite get that until last November. Things weren't that great at work, I was at an expulsion hearing, and God spoke to me... I gave you the job, only I can take it away.... That comforted me a lot, until February, when He took it away...only to replace it with an incredible opportunity to work on starting a charter school. I don't have any idea where He's leading, but I do know I need to work on trusting Him with all of my heart...
Job 1:21
“Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Isn't it funny how sometimes devotionals take you to the word of God, and you get scared? Is it a prophecy? Will I be going through more hard times? Well, not sure about the prophecy part, but yes, I will go through more hard times, because that's just how life is.
Today's devotional encourages me to live in God's presence consistently. Because self gets in the way, sometimes that's a difficult thing to do. The author suggests that we become aware of each resentment (of interferences with our plans or desires).
Psalm 139:23-24 Tells us to do the same thing -
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Our response to our rebellious tendencies to submission is to humble ourselves to God...
1 Peter 5:6
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
God prepares us in so many ways for upcoming trials and tribulations. I didn't quite get that until last November. Things weren't that great at work, I was at an expulsion hearing, and God spoke to me... I gave you the job, only I can take it away.... That comforted me a lot, until February, when He took it away...only to replace it with an incredible opportunity to work on starting a charter school. I don't have any idea where He's leading, but I do know I need to work on trusting Him with all of my heart...
Job 1:21
“Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Day Late...
Yesterday's devotional was just as good!
How much do I trust God? It's easier to just type it out, from the book, "Jesus Calling" October 10
Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. when you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. this is a subtle sin - so common that is usually slips by unnoticed.
The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't divide your life into things you can do by yourself and things that require My help. Instead, learn to rely on me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.
This really goes hand in hand with Crazy Love - I am ordinary and inadequate, but God uses ordinary inadequate people to do His will. How blessed I am, to be chosen to go through the trials I've endured in the last 14-16 months. Not only am I blessed, but God is using each and every situation to His Glory! Not all prayers have been answered, in this moment of time, however I know that God has answered ALL of my prayers....
Psalm 37:1-6
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV) - "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
How much do I trust God? It's easier to just type it out, from the book, "Jesus Calling" October 10
Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. when you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. this is a subtle sin - so common that is usually slips by unnoticed.
The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't divide your life into things you can do by yourself and things that require My help. Instead, learn to rely on me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.
This really goes hand in hand with Crazy Love - I am ordinary and inadequate, but God uses ordinary inadequate people to do His will. How blessed I am, to be chosen to go through the trials I've endured in the last 14-16 months. Not only am I blessed, but God is using each and every situation to His Glory! Not all prayers have been answered, in this moment of time, however I know that God has answered ALL of my prayers....
Psalm 37:1-6
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV) - "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
A Day Late...
Yesterday's devotional was just as good!
How much do I trust God? It's easier to just type it out, from the book, "Jesus Calling" October 10
Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. when you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. this is a subtle sin - so common that is usually slips by unnoticed.
The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't dividi
How much do I trust God? It's easier to just type it out, from the book, "Jesus Calling" October 10
Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. when you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. this is a subtle sin - so common that is usually slips by unnoticed.
The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't dividi
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