Please enjoy some of the devotionals that I have been writing for our South Puget Sound Chapter of Women of Vision, a program of World Vision.
They are posted as I found them in my file, out of the chronological order in which they were presented.
I am hoping to add more entries to this blog, as time allows:-) incluidng adding pictures and changing backgrounds. All it takes is time!
Blessings!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
REMEMBER
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 11/10/09
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember
In Observance of Veteran’s Day
See this URL for the video that was shown to begin the devotional (ignore misspellings): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbRGksthTHQ&feature=player_embedded
In honor of Veteran's Day, let us remember the men and women who are sacrificing so much for our freedom. The you tube video, shows footage from current American wars with the background song,“Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns:
I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,” I’m with you” and as
Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear
I've cried You hold in your hand; You never left my side
and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.
I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry
to You and raised me up again; my strength is almost gone
how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the
God who gives and takes away
Chorus
I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Chorus
Every American soldier has a story. This week sharing in a high school classroom, Robert, a Korean War hero clad in a medal covered navy suit jacket, shared his story of unquestioned obedience, sacrifice and integrity in the line of duty. At his superior officer’s command, Robert remembered picking up a machine gun and charging blindly; or climbing a muddy mountain, slipping and falling continually; or instantly crawling under fire delivering a message to the front. The high school students were captivated by the testimony of this older gentleman. The world map was unrolled and Robert pointed to Korea half way around the world and declared that he was honored and proud to leave his home and serve his country in war. Ironically after Robert left the classroom, amongst the next group of soldiers slated that morning was a young woman, currently active in the Air Force. She shared her story about recently returning from her tour of duty in Korea, having no idea that Robert had told the class about his experience there. She reported that continual fighting for freedom was still happening in Korea. All listening were stunned that 52 years later soldiers were following the example of Robert’s generation of soldiers by leaving their home and serving their country “in war”.
As Christians, we too are soldiers. We are in a war against darkness. We need to remember Jesus who paid the price for our freedom. We need to follow His example and His Word with unquestioned obedience, sacrifice and integrity as we minister in our generation.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12)
“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.”
(2 Corinthians 10:4)
The darker the darkness the fiercer the fight. As Women of Vision we are not just a group of women raising funds for charity; we are mighty warriors against darkness and we can count on fierce opposition from the darkness. As we begin to mobolize for this year of outreach locally, nationally and globally may we remember these verses in Ephesians and 2 Cornithians and the promises from Psalm 121, the first lines of which were the last lines in the lyrics of Casting Crowns’ song “Praise you in the Storm”.
“I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will
not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your
right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon
by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over
your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.” Psaml 121
May we remember not only the brave men and women in harm’s way who serve in our Armed Forces, but the One who died so that all might be free. May we be inspired by the faithful men and women in the Armed Forces past, present and future to serve Him as they serve with integrity, sacrifice and obedience as we stand against the darkness on behalf of marginalized women and children around us through Women of Vision.
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember
In Observance of Veteran’s Day
See this URL for the video that was shown to begin the devotional (ignore misspellings): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbRGksthTHQ&feature=player_embedded
In honor of Veteran's Day, let us remember the men and women who are sacrificing so much for our freedom. The you tube video, shows footage from current American wars with the background song,“Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns:
I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,” I’m with you” and as
Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear
I've cried You hold in your hand; You never left my side
and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.
I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry
to You and raised me up again; my strength is almost gone
how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the
God who gives and takes away
Chorus
I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Chorus
Every American soldier has a story. This week sharing in a high school classroom, Robert, a Korean War hero clad in a medal covered navy suit jacket, shared his story of unquestioned obedience, sacrifice and integrity in the line of duty. At his superior officer’s command, Robert remembered picking up a machine gun and charging blindly; or climbing a muddy mountain, slipping and falling continually; or instantly crawling under fire delivering a message to the front. The high school students were captivated by the testimony of this older gentleman. The world map was unrolled and Robert pointed to Korea half way around the world and declared that he was honored and proud to leave his home and serve his country in war. Ironically after Robert left the classroom, amongst the next group of soldiers slated that morning was a young woman, currently active in the Air Force. She shared her story about recently returning from her tour of duty in Korea, having no idea that Robert had told the class about his experience there. She reported that continual fighting for freedom was still happening in Korea. All listening were stunned that 52 years later soldiers were following the example of Robert’s generation of soldiers by leaving their home and serving their country “in war”.
As Christians, we too are soldiers. We are in a war against darkness. We need to remember Jesus who paid the price for our freedom. We need to follow His example and His Word with unquestioned obedience, sacrifice and integrity as we minister in our generation.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12)
“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.”
(2 Corinthians 10:4)
The darker the darkness the fiercer the fight. As Women of Vision we are not just a group of women raising funds for charity; we are mighty warriors against darkness and we can count on fierce opposition from the darkness. As we begin to mobolize for this year of outreach locally, nationally and globally may we remember these verses in Ephesians and 2 Cornithians and the promises from Psalm 121, the first lines of which were the last lines in the lyrics of Casting Crowns’ song “Praise you in the Storm”.
“I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will
not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your
right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon
by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over
your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.” Psaml 121
May we remember not only the brave men and women in harm’s way who serve in our Armed Forces, but the One who died so that all might be free. May we be inspired by the faithful men and women in the Armed Forces past, present and future to serve Him as they serve with integrity, sacrifice and obedience as we stand against the darkness on behalf of marginalized women and children around us through Women of Vision.
SALT AND LIGHT
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 7/20/09
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
SALT AND LIGHT
“You are the salt of the Earth.” Matthew 5:13a
At the Women of Vision Leadership Conference in Virginia in March of this year each of us was given a piece of salt crystal as a reminder that we are to be salt on the Earth. I placed mine on my bathroom sink behind the fixture to daily remind myself that I was to be salt each day. Over the months since then, it has served its purpose well. Some days when I didn’t fell like being salt, I reminded myself that none the less, that was what I was to be and they my feelings were irrelevant.
One morning this summer I noticed that the large crystal had of its own begun to break down into smaller pieces much the size of table salt. I saw an amazing analogy between us as Christians and that piece of salt: We too need to be broken into smaller pieces before we can be sprinkled. No one takes large crystals and places them on top of food. In order for salt to be useful for flavoring, it must be broken into smaller parts either through a salt grinder or through refinement in a salt factory. Isn’t it the same with our lives? In order for us to be useful, we need to be broken, to suffer, to be refined. Only then can we be salt, poured out for others; sprinkled throughout our community making a difference in the flavor of that community.
Another thing that I noticed was that the large chunk that I placed on my sink gradually broke down over time as if it was a wearing away process. That is the wonder of being changed from one degree of glory to the next as Christians; God in His infinite wisdom breaks us down over time and in a very personalized process allows us to become useful for the advancement of His Kingdom. It isn’t in our timing or through our own efforts but rather in His timing and through His process with His gentle, kind and patient hand upon us lovingly changing us. When we accept Christ, we are made whole and complete in Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to become salt. The fruit of His spirit empowers us to salt the earth with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal. 5:22) if we allow Him to do this.
My friend, Lily, reminded me that the “salt” verse comes after the Beatitudes in Matthew. She suggested that the Beatitudes tell us how to be salt. Blessed are the poor in spirit—those who don’t think that they are spiritually self sufficient. Blessed are those who mourn—those whose heart breaks for the things that break the heart of God. Blessed are the meek—those who are humble and submissive to God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—those who desire to have right standing with God and whose soul hungers and thirst for Him. Blessed are the merciful—those who have compassion and pity for those who suffer. Blessed are the pure in heart—those who have been delivered from sin’s power by God’s grace who seek righteous living. Blessed are the peacemakers—those who are reconciled to God and have peace with Him and others. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—those who stand for righteousness who are unpopular and misunderstood. May we find ourselves among “those” who are blessed by being salt in these ways.
On the challenging days when pepper seems to be more of what we are sprinkling around our community, let’s remember the salt crystal. Take heart as we remember that we are all being refined and broken so that we can be changed from one degree of glory to the next by a loving God who is making us fit for His salt shaker. Let us be poured out as blessed ones who live the Beatitudes flavoring our community, our Nation and our globe through Women of Vision. Being salt is a great challenge, but we have a great God who delights in us, equips us and patiently refines us to become salt as He has commanded.
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
SALT AND LIGHT
“You are the salt of the Earth.” Matthew 5:13a
At the Women of Vision Leadership Conference in Virginia in March of this year each of us was given a piece of salt crystal as a reminder that we are to be salt on the Earth. I placed mine on my bathroom sink behind the fixture to daily remind myself that I was to be salt each day. Over the months since then, it has served its purpose well. Some days when I didn’t fell like being salt, I reminded myself that none the less, that was what I was to be and they my feelings were irrelevant.
One morning this summer I noticed that the large crystal had of its own begun to break down into smaller pieces much the size of table salt. I saw an amazing analogy between us as Christians and that piece of salt: We too need to be broken into smaller pieces before we can be sprinkled. No one takes large crystals and places them on top of food. In order for salt to be useful for flavoring, it must be broken into smaller parts either through a salt grinder or through refinement in a salt factory. Isn’t it the same with our lives? In order for us to be useful, we need to be broken, to suffer, to be refined. Only then can we be salt, poured out for others; sprinkled throughout our community making a difference in the flavor of that community.
Another thing that I noticed was that the large chunk that I placed on my sink gradually broke down over time as if it was a wearing away process. That is the wonder of being changed from one degree of glory to the next as Christians; God in His infinite wisdom breaks us down over time and in a very personalized process allows us to become useful for the advancement of His Kingdom. It isn’t in our timing or through our own efforts but rather in His timing and through His process with His gentle, kind and patient hand upon us lovingly changing us. When we accept Christ, we are made whole and complete in Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to become salt. The fruit of His spirit empowers us to salt the earth with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal. 5:22) if we allow Him to do this.
My friend, Lily, reminded me that the “salt” verse comes after the Beatitudes in Matthew. She suggested that the Beatitudes tell us how to be salt. Blessed are the poor in spirit—those who don’t think that they are spiritually self sufficient. Blessed are those who mourn—those whose heart breaks for the things that break the heart of God. Blessed are the meek—those who are humble and submissive to God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—those who desire to have right standing with God and whose soul hungers and thirst for Him. Blessed are the merciful—those who have compassion and pity for those who suffer. Blessed are the pure in heart—those who have been delivered from sin’s power by God’s grace who seek righteous living. Blessed are the peacemakers—those who are reconciled to God and have peace with Him and others. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—those who stand for righteousness who are unpopular and misunderstood. May we find ourselves among “those” who are blessed by being salt in these ways.
On the challenging days when pepper seems to be more of what we are sprinkling around our community, let’s remember the salt crystal. Take heart as we remember that we are all being refined and broken so that we can be changed from one degree of glory to the next by a loving God who is making us fit for His salt shaker. Let us be poured out as blessed ones who live the Beatitudes flavoring our community, our Nation and our globe through Women of Vision. Being salt is a great challenge, but we have a great God who delights in us, equips us and patiently refines us to become salt as He has commanded.
HIS ANSWER
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 10/23/09
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:27 which reads, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” is a reminder to all of us.
Reading “Prayer at 14,000 Feet in the Andes” by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, about the widow and her three children in Peru has a heart challenging climax when Rich Stearns realized that
“Eight thousand miles from my home in Seattle, 14,000 feet up in
the Andes Mountains, she had cried out to God for help, and He had
sent me. God had sent me to help her, He had sent me to comfort her in
her suffering and He had sent me to be Christ’s love to her. She had
prayed and I was God’s answer, I would be God’s miracle in her life.
And then the even bigger truth washed over me. I could see that all
across the world people were crying out in desperation to God for help
for comfort; widows, orphans, the sick, the disabled, the poor and the
exploited. These millions of prayers were being lifted up to God, and
we, each of us who claim to be His followers, were to be His answer.
We were the ones who would bring the ‘good news’ of Christ to the
poor, the sick, and the downtrodden. God had not turned His back
on the poor in their suffering. God had sent us. This was the good
news of the gospel—good news indeed for the poor.”
We are all challenged to be His "answers" to prayer as Rich Stearns describes. It is a call to each one of us as Christian Women of Vision. Our prayer is "the will to make it so" as we consider the footprint of our Chapter and where and to whom we will become answers.
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:27 which reads, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” is a reminder to all of us.
Reading “Prayer at 14,000 Feet in the Andes” by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, about the widow and her three children in Peru has a heart challenging climax when Rich Stearns realized that
“Eight thousand miles from my home in Seattle, 14,000 feet up in
the Andes Mountains, she had cried out to God for help, and He had
sent me. God had sent me to help her, He had sent me to comfort her in
her suffering and He had sent me to be Christ’s love to her. She had
prayed and I was God’s answer, I would be God’s miracle in her life.
And then the even bigger truth washed over me. I could see that all
across the world people were crying out in desperation to God for help
for comfort; widows, orphans, the sick, the disabled, the poor and the
exploited. These millions of prayers were being lifted up to God, and
we, each of us who claim to be His followers, were to be His answer.
We were the ones who would bring the ‘good news’ of Christ to the
poor, the sick, and the downtrodden. God had not turned His back
on the poor in their suffering. God had sent us. This was the good
news of the gospel—good news indeed for the poor.”
We are all challenged to be His "answers" to prayer as Rich Stearns describes. It is a call to each one of us as Christian Women of Vision. Our prayer is "the will to make it so" as we consider the footprint of our Chapter and where and to whom we will become answers.
FOUNDATIONAL VERSES
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 5/18/09
Isaiah 58:6-10, John 15:12-17 and Isaiah 61:1-3.
From these verses we are given a call to action with a promise, a command with a promise, and a mission with a purpose. Because we have first been loved by God and know the Good News, we are able to love each other and we can answer the call to action and fulfill the mission and receive the promises. We were reminded that these verses enable us to truly live a life where “our hearts are broken for the things that break the heart of God”. We listened to Hosanna by Hillsong Australia in closing the devotion time (words in part below).
Isaiah 58:6-7 used in A Citizen’s Guide to Advocacy page 29 (A Call to Action)
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
John 15:12-16a (A Command)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. I have called you friends for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. . .This is my command: Love each other.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (A Mission with a Purpose)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. . .”
Isaiah 58: 8-10 (The Promises)
“THEN your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
John 15: 16b
“THEN the Father will give you whatever you ask in my Name.”
Hosanna by Hillsong Australia
I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing
Chorus:
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith, selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees
Chorus
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Isaiah 58:6-10, John 15:12-17 and Isaiah 61:1-3.
From these verses we are given a call to action with a promise, a command with a promise, and a mission with a purpose. Because we have first been loved by God and know the Good News, we are able to love each other and we can answer the call to action and fulfill the mission and receive the promises. We were reminded that these verses enable us to truly live a life where “our hearts are broken for the things that break the heart of God”. We listened to Hosanna by Hillsong Australia in closing the devotion time (words in part below).
Isaiah 58:6-7 used in A Citizen’s Guide to Advocacy page 29 (A Call to Action)
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
John 15:12-16a (A Command)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. I have called you friends for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. . .This is my command: Love each other.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (A Mission with a Purpose)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. . .”
Isaiah 58: 8-10 (The Promises)
“THEN your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
John 15: 16b
“THEN the Father will give you whatever you ask in my Name.”
Hosanna by Hillsong Australia
I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing
Chorus:
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith, selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees
Chorus
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
UNITY
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 7/22/09
. WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotions: Unity
We have now come down to the “nitty gritty” of our first big event together and we are in the throws of busyness and the fullness of activity that makes for the fun of the furious flurry of energy required for a successful happening. So, how are we all doing? Have you found yourself thinking any of the following? “How will I ever get this all done in time?” or “She knows way more than I do about what’s going on!” or “I must be doing more than the next person on this one!” Let’s pause and consider how Jesus stressed the importance of unity within the Body of Christ.
Psalm 133 is one of the unity chapters that starts with the verse “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (v.1) And ends with the promise “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life evermore.” (v.3) In John 17 Jesus addresses unity in detail with verses 21-23 as the core purpose on the topic “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” So Jesus is saying to us that if we are one, if we are like-minded and we show His love then the world will know that God sent Jesus and Jesus sent us. The world will see something supernatural. Anytime a group of ladies can work together and be unified, clearly that is evidence of God at work! When the world sees women working together with common heart, purpose and mind they will hopefully want to know our “secret”.
So what does unity look like? Ephesians 4 is all about unity in the Body of Christ. “As a prisoner of the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Why? Verse 12 in the same chapter tells us “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” And for how long do we do this? “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ .” (v 13)
How can we attain unity with others? Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other, and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Let it be so with us as we undertake this exciting partnership kickoff meeting and all subsequent events. Let us pray for unity to prevail as we plan, prepare and present. Let those watching and those receiving wonder at our love for one another as evidenced by our unity. What a privilege we have as Women of Vision in the South Puget Sound Chapter to be used by Him.
. WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotions: Unity
We have now come down to the “nitty gritty” of our first big event together and we are in the throws of busyness and the fullness of activity that makes for the fun of the furious flurry of energy required for a successful happening. So, how are we all doing? Have you found yourself thinking any of the following? “How will I ever get this all done in time?” or “She knows way more than I do about what’s going on!” or “I must be doing more than the next person on this one!” Let’s pause and consider how Jesus stressed the importance of unity within the Body of Christ.
Psalm 133 is one of the unity chapters that starts with the verse “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (v.1) And ends with the promise “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life evermore.” (v.3) In John 17 Jesus addresses unity in detail with verses 21-23 as the core purpose on the topic “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” So Jesus is saying to us that if we are one, if we are like-minded and we show His love then the world will know that God sent Jesus and Jesus sent us. The world will see something supernatural. Anytime a group of ladies can work together and be unified, clearly that is evidence of God at work! When the world sees women working together with common heart, purpose and mind they will hopefully want to know our “secret”.
So what does unity look like? Ephesians 4 is all about unity in the Body of Christ. “As a prisoner of the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Why? Verse 12 in the same chapter tells us “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” And for how long do we do this? “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ .” (v 13)
How can we attain unity with others? Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other, and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Let it be so with us as we undertake this exciting partnership kickoff meeting and all subsequent events. Let us pray for unity to prevail as we plan, prepare and present. Let those watching and those receiving wonder at our love for one another as evidenced by our unity. What a privilege we have as Women of Vision in the South Puget Sound Chapter to be used by Him.
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
SOUTH PUGET SOUND CHAPTER WOV DEVOTIONAL 9/16/09
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Things Are Possible
Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27
Randy Pausch, Professor Carnegie Mellon University gave a speech as part of an annual series known as “The Last Lecture”. Those who give the last lecture are asked, “What would you say if you knew you were going to die and had a chance to sum up everything that was most important to you?” Having been told one month earlier that his pancreatic cancer was terminal, this question was not hypothetical for Randy. He died on July 25, 2008. Over 2 million people watched it on utube. He appeared on the Oprah show and on Good Morning America. He also compiled his thoughts into a memoir as a testament to the power of childhood dreams. Both the lecture and the book were compiled for his three young children as lessons for them from their dad, an accomplished man in the world of computer technology . Here is a list of the lessons he wants to share with them:
• Roles of parents and mentors (mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues) are important
• Decide if you’re a Tigger or an Eyore (He admonished, be a Tigger—make life fun)
• Never lose the child-like wonder
• Help others
• How to get others to help you
You can’t get there alone
Tell the truth
Be earnest
Apologize when you mess up
• Focus on others, not yourself
• Brick walls let us show our dedication
• Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.
• Get a feedback loop and listen to it
• Show gratitude
• Don’t complain just work harder
• Find the best in everyone no matter how long you have to wait
• Be good at something—it makes you more valuable
• Be prepared—“luck” (I would insert success here) is where preparation meets opportunity.
• Don’t judge people by what they say, but rather by what they do
Gary Mortenson in his co-authored book Three Cups of Tea writes his story of passion for achieving universal literacy and education for all children, especially girls. He is a former mountaineer and military veteran who spends several months each year building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He asked in the acknowledgments section at the end of the book what motivated him to do this and stated that “The answer is simple: when I look into the eyes of the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, I see the eyes of my own children full of wonder—and hope that we each do our part to leave them a legacy of peace instead of the perpetual cycle of violence, war, terrorism, racism, exploitation, and bigotry that we have yet to conquer.” (Page 335) He refers to Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen’s idea that you can change a culture by giving its girls the tools to grow up educated so they can help themselves. (Page 234) Mortenson says that through the school that Central Asia Institute, of which he is the director, has built and supplied he has seen that idea in action and that it was working so well after only a generation that it “fired me up to fight for girls’ education in Pakistan”. Mortenson’s story is chilling and compelling. He sacrifices everything that he has and everything that he is to achieve his legacy of hope by providing schools for illiterate girls in foreign lands. Mortenson also lived out the lessons that Randy Pausch wrote for his children and he too accomplished incredible works for the children in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Both of these men were men of influence in their world. Pausch revealed his success strategy in his lecture and his memoir. Mortenson revealed his success in his book which is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Because of what Mortenson has done by example, CNN just ran a special showing how the US military is now going into rural towns in Afghanistan and building schools so that Americans can change their image. Both of these men had big dreams! I suppose that they would join us in our notion to “Go big or go home”. Mortensen and Pausch had grueling moments when they felt that achieving their dreams may never happen. They both faced impossible odds and yet accomplished their dreams and their goals.
As I was exposed to these two stories I began to think about us as women of influence and wonder what our story will be and what legacy we will give to the women who follow us in the South Puget Sound Chapter of Women of Vision. Will it be a list of lessons? Will it be making a difference in our community by being Jesus’ hands extended to children in impossible places? Will we be able to convince others to capture our vision jut as these men were able to convince others to capture their vision? We are all bursting with zeal and enthusiasm ready to do whatever it takes to raise up a group of women who can make a difference for poor and marginalized children and their families. Our greatest source is Jesus who makes all things possible, including bringing hope and life to the fullest in impossible places. So let’s dream big, achieve our goal of $30,000 raised to sponsor our ministry areas and capture the imagination and zeal of other local woman as we bring life in its fullness to poor and marginalized children and women remember that with God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27)
WV Vision Statement
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. . .our prayer, for every heart, the will to make it so.
Statement of Faith
• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Things Are Possible
Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27
Randy Pausch, Professor Carnegie Mellon University gave a speech as part of an annual series known as “The Last Lecture”. Those who give the last lecture are asked, “What would you say if you knew you were going to die and had a chance to sum up everything that was most important to you?” Having been told one month earlier that his pancreatic cancer was terminal, this question was not hypothetical for Randy. He died on July 25, 2008. Over 2 million people watched it on utube. He appeared on the Oprah show and on Good Morning America. He also compiled his thoughts into a memoir as a testament to the power of childhood dreams. Both the lecture and the book were compiled for his three young children as lessons for them from their dad, an accomplished man in the world of computer technology . Here is a list of the lessons he wants to share with them:
• Roles of parents and mentors (mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues) are important
• Decide if you’re a Tigger or an Eyore (He admonished, be a Tigger—make life fun)
• Never lose the child-like wonder
• Help others
• How to get others to help you
You can’t get there alone
Tell the truth
Be earnest
Apologize when you mess up
• Focus on others, not yourself
• Brick walls let us show our dedication
• Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.
• Get a feedback loop and listen to it
• Show gratitude
• Don’t complain just work harder
• Find the best in everyone no matter how long you have to wait
• Be good at something—it makes you more valuable
• Be prepared—“luck” (I would insert success here) is where preparation meets opportunity.
• Don’t judge people by what they say, but rather by what they do
Gary Mortenson in his co-authored book Three Cups of Tea writes his story of passion for achieving universal literacy and education for all children, especially girls. He is a former mountaineer and military veteran who spends several months each year building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He asked in the acknowledgments section at the end of the book what motivated him to do this and stated that “The answer is simple: when I look into the eyes of the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, I see the eyes of my own children full of wonder—and hope that we each do our part to leave them a legacy of peace instead of the perpetual cycle of violence, war, terrorism, racism, exploitation, and bigotry that we have yet to conquer.” (Page 335) He refers to Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen’s idea that you can change a culture by giving its girls the tools to grow up educated so they can help themselves. (Page 234) Mortenson says that through the school that Central Asia Institute, of which he is the director, has built and supplied he has seen that idea in action and that it was working so well after only a generation that it “fired me up to fight for girls’ education in Pakistan”. Mortenson’s story is chilling and compelling. He sacrifices everything that he has and everything that he is to achieve his legacy of hope by providing schools for illiterate girls in foreign lands. Mortenson also lived out the lessons that Randy Pausch wrote for his children and he too accomplished incredible works for the children in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Both of these men were men of influence in their world. Pausch revealed his success strategy in his lecture and his memoir. Mortenson revealed his success in his book which is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Because of what Mortenson has done by example, CNN just ran a special showing how the US military is now going into rural towns in Afghanistan and building schools so that Americans can change their image. Both of these men had big dreams! I suppose that they would join us in our notion to “Go big or go home”. Mortensen and Pausch had grueling moments when they felt that achieving their dreams may never happen. They both faced impossible odds and yet accomplished their dreams and their goals.
As I was exposed to these two stories I began to think about us as women of influence and wonder what our story will be and what legacy we will give to the women who follow us in the South Puget Sound Chapter of Women of Vision. Will it be a list of lessons? Will it be making a difference in our community by being Jesus’ hands extended to children in impossible places? Will we be able to convince others to capture our vision jut as these men were able to convince others to capture their vision? We are all bursting with zeal and enthusiasm ready to do whatever it takes to raise up a group of women who can make a difference for poor and marginalized children and their families. Our greatest source is Jesus who makes all things possible, including bringing hope and life to the fullest in impossible places. So let’s dream big, achieve our goal of $30,000 raised to sponsor our ministry areas and capture the imagination and zeal of other local woman as we bring life in its fullness to poor and marginalized children and women remember that with God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27)
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