Lamentations 3:22-23
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.”
We have all seen firsthand the faithfulness of God. We recently experienced it through the circumstance of what Holly, a mamber of our Leadership Team, and her family went through with their baby, Sage, while she was hospitalized for the third week of her life. Holly’s account reminded us that it was her faith along with her family and friends that enabled her to make it through this difficult trial as she had "faithful patience" believing in the faithfulness of God to hear her prayers for her baby girl.
God’s faithfulness is recorded throughout scriptures. We think of the children of Israel as they were rescued from the Egyptians as the Red Sea opened for them and closed upon the pursuing Egyptian army and God's faithful provision as they wandered the wilderness for forty years. We see God’s faithfulness to Rachel, Ruth and Rahab. Time and again we see the hand of God proving His faithfulness to His children.
God’s faithfulness is something that we can count on and yet at times, we forget. We worry and fret about things and try to count on ourselves. Today let’s focus on Him and His faithfulness to accomplish those things that concern us. He is able and He will do it.
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God My Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
God's Good Plan: Jeremiah 29:11
God’s Good Plan
South Puget Sound Women of Vision
July Devotional
Having just put my townhouse on the market as a short sale and making an appointment with the bankruptcy attorney while recovering from a hysterectomy three weeks earlier, I was challenged by the verse on my bathroom wall plaque: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. As I was brushing my teeth I questioned, “Are these present financial circumstances really God’s good plan for my life?”
There are times in our lives when circumstances belie our beliefs. Events surround us that challenge the Word of God that permeates our soul. The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God promises good plans yet, circumstances happen that appear anything but good. This is such a time in my life and God has graced me with time during recovery from surgery to reflect. Had I missed the good plan? How did I get into this financial disaster?
In retrospect, I recall the caution from my dear CPA friend who whispered “What if the market crashes? This investment in the townhouse is putting you right at the edge?” I sought counsel from other professionals who encouraged the short term investment and echoed my reasoning that the market couldn’t drop that much in 24 months. After all, I had the opportunity to make a $20,000 profit after I flipped the property with a $30,000 remodel. It was guaranteed. It was a good plan. I ignored that still, small Voice that God had sent through my friend.
I remember when the remodel was complete. The property was vastly improved with beautiful cherry wood floors, new carpet, new fixtures, new stainless steel appliances, new sinks, new windows, and new window treatments. All the “newness” was wonderful. I was confident that sitting out the next 24 months with high mortgage payments would be easy as I let the allotted time lapse before I could resell without penalty. On the 25th month after closing, I would simply put the property on the market and bank the $20,000 in savings. It was 2006 when I made this investment. What a good plan it was for my future. As I pondered my retirement I was certain that this must be God’s good plan for me.
However, within six months after the purchase of the townhouse the US market dropped in one of the biggest declines in recent history. The situation surrounding the townhouse worsened day by day. The property had more black mold then the initial inspection revealed and the crawl space was rat infested, a situation I fought for two years. The homeowners association changed the general maintenance fund, divided the monies into per unit accounts and debited all accounts for expenses since 1988. Because of previous excessive repairs, my account was zero. Shortly after, assessments were made for siding repairs, exterior painting, and a new roof. With a painting assessment lurking in the near future the $15,000 for those assessments would soon become $18,250 added to the high mortgage payments causing monthly debt. After three and a half years of continued debt accumulation, it was clearly time to put the property on the market as a short sale and get out of this upside down investment. In that short amount of time, I had gone from debt-free to debt bound. My savings account balance was zero. The good plan seemed anything but “good”.
How do we face such trails? As Christians we have the Lord and His Holy Spirit, the scriptures, and family and friends for guidance and support but we also have free will. Despite what we have in Christ, do we become angry, bitter and vengeful? Even with support from family and friends, do we engage in self pity and grovel in sadness? As I reflected and considered these questions it occurred to me that indeed we might choose some of these things for a time. Sometimes it is part of the process. However, aren’t we compelled to be better than that through Christ who strengthens us? God’s good plan for us doesn’t change with dire circumstances. All circumstances work together for the good to bring about God’s good plan for our lives. Did I have the faith to stand on that belief?
I see the bankruptcy attorney tomorrow. I complete piles of bankruptcy forms today. As I brush my teeth before I go to bed tonight it is my determination to believe that plaque on the bathroom wall and through God’s mercy and grace be better than these circumstances through Christ who strengthens me. I am listening to God’s still, quiet voice. I reflect on God’s faithfulness over the past 35 years of my journey with Him. Yes, God does have a plan for my life for good and not for calamity that does give me a future and a hope. Yes, all things do work together for the good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Yes, God’s love never fails and His Word is the same yesterday and forever. These are the promises that I hold as I work through these financial trails. All of us face difficulties, but as we stand firm on God’s promises by faith, nothing can overcome God’s will for our lives or God’s good plan. We can bank on it!
South Puget Sound Women of Vision
July Devotional
Having just put my townhouse on the market as a short sale and making an appointment with the bankruptcy attorney while recovering from a hysterectomy three weeks earlier, I was challenged by the verse on my bathroom wall plaque: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. As I was brushing my teeth I questioned, “Are these present financial circumstances really God’s good plan for my life?”
There are times in our lives when circumstances belie our beliefs. Events surround us that challenge the Word of God that permeates our soul. The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God promises good plans yet, circumstances happen that appear anything but good. This is such a time in my life and God has graced me with time during recovery from surgery to reflect. Had I missed the good plan? How did I get into this financial disaster?
In retrospect, I recall the caution from my dear CPA friend who whispered “What if the market crashes? This investment in the townhouse is putting you right at the edge?” I sought counsel from other professionals who encouraged the short term investment and echoed my reasoning that the market couldn’t drop that much in 24 months. After all, I had the opportunity to make a $20,000 profit after I flipped the property with a $30,000 remodel. It was guaranteed. It was a good plan. I ignored that still, small Voice that God had sent through my friend.
I remember when the remodel was complete. The property was vastly improved with beautiful cherry wood floors, new carpet, new fixtures, new stainless steel appliances, new sinks, new windows, and new window treatments. All the “newness” was wonderful. I was confident that sitting out the next 24 months with high mortgage payments would be easy as I let the allotted time lapse before I could resell without penalty. On the 25th month after closing, I would simply put the property on the market and bank the $20,000 in savings. It was 2006 when I made this investment. What a good plan it was for my future. As I pondered my retirement I was certain that this must be God’s good plan for me.
However, within six months after the purchase of the townhouse the US market dropped in one of the biggest declines in recent history. The situation surrounding the townhouse worsened day by day. The property had more black mold then the initial inspection revealed and the crawl space was rat infested, a situation I fought for two years. The homeowners association changed the general maintenance fund, divided the monies into per unit accounts and debited all accounts for expenses since 1988. Because of previous excessive repairs, my account was zero. Shortly after, assessments were made for siding repairs, exterior painting, and a new roof. With a painting assessment lurking in the near future the $15,000 for those assessments would soon become $18,250 added to the high mortgage payments causing monthly debt. After three and a half years of continued debt accumulation, it was clearly time to put the property on the market as a short sale and get out of this upside down investment. In that short amount of time, I had gone from debt-free to debt bound. My savings account balance was zero. The good plan seemed anything but “good”.
How do we face such trails? As Christians we have the Lord and His Holy Spirit, the scriptures, and family and friends for guidance and support but we also have free will. Despite what we have in Christ, do we become angry, bitter and vengeful? Even with support from family and friends, do we engage in self pity and grovel in sadness? As I reflected and considered these questions it occurred to me that indeed we might choose some of these things for a time. Sometimes it is part of the process. However, aren’t we compelled to be better than that through Christ who strengthens us? God’s good plan for us doesn’t change with dire circumstances. All circumstances work together for the good to bring about God’s good plan for our lives. Did I have the faith to stand on that belief?
I see the bankruptcy attorney tomorrow. I complete piles of bankruptcy forms today. As I brush my teeth before I go to bed tonight it is my determination to believe that plaque on the bathroom wall and through God’s mercy and grace be better than these circumstances through Christ who strengthens me. I am listening to God’s still, quiet voice. I reflect on God’s faithfulness over the past 35 years of my journey with Him. Yes, God does have a plan for my life for good and not for calamity that does give me a future and a hope. Yes, all things do work together for the good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Yes, God’s love never fails and His Word is the same yesterday and forever. These are the promises that I hold as I work through these financial trails. All of us face difficulties, but as we stand firm on God’s promises by faith, nothing can overcome God’s will for our lives or God’s good plan. We can bank on it!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
WOV SPS June Devotion
Psalm 121
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
We as South Puget Sound Women of Vision have been on a journey over the past six months. It began when we answered the call of God to educate and advocate for the victims of human trafficking. It culminated with an anti-human trafficking conference held in faith believing that God had called us to do this. It has been a journey worthy of reflection.
Although God met us at every turn and showed Himself strong on our behalf as we dreamed and planned, we experienced varying degrees of stress and pressure to accomplish the impossible and overcome what at times felt like the insurmountable. We were jetted out of our comfort zone and at times felt as if we were left dangling over a vacuum of despair as we stared into the face of local, national and global human trafficking. We experienced rejection from those we thought would come along side of us. We experienced failure as things we tried didn’t work out as planned. We experienced defeat in moments of letdown and discouragement. For a while, there was a storm that hovered.
When the storm clouds burst, fear of failure rained down and we wondered. We thought that we had heard Him but the tempter came to us too and asked, “Did God really say?” and we got overwhelmed. We made changes. Was our vision and dream becoming smaller? All of our calls, and all of our emails and all of our efforts couldn’t put names on Brown Paper tickets. We worried and we amped up efforts and contacts and arrangements. We waited and we waited. We met and we prayed. Finally, we had exhausted all that we could do and we had no choice but to rest in Him.
At first, we couldn’t really explain it but we knew that the Light was coming into our efforts. We came to a place of agreeing that God was God and that He would have His way. We began to praise Him for what He would do and how He would call those He wanted to be with us for our conference and that He would open doors and set all things straight. We became grateful that He would take our “loaves and fishes” and multiply every single effort that we had made into thousands of efforts as a feast was being prepared for those who would partake! We believed that “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:24). We stopped doubting. The Light came: This speaker said yes, that organization is running our flyer, their church has welcomed a presenter, that paper will run our article. We were excited as report after report began coming in showing us that God was working and that the Son was overcoming the darkness.
The day of the conference even the elements declared the defeat of the grim and gray! As the sun shone over Gig Harbor and we all arrived we knew that something amazing was about to happen. We prayed. We scurried to get things in place. The attendees began arriving, the volunteers began to bustle about, the speakers strolled in and the musicians began tuning. The day was finally upon us and we were ready and God did not disappoint! The Holy Spirit was evident as all things came together in harmony and He orchestrated a perfect day. The Word of hope went out to the people and the enemy was defeated. The light overcame the darkness in that place. God was faithful and He had done it.
This conference that we hosted along with Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church on June 5, 2010 was beyond what we could think or ask on so many levels. As God moved that first Saturday in June, people found hope as they learned about a hopeless topic. People were equipped with ways to take action against human trafficking and left inspired and encouraged. We made a footprint in the South Puget Sound community as we took our stand for freedom for the victims of this vile business. We will never fully know on earth what took place in the spiritual realm as we battled to present this conference, but we believe that God ruled and reigned. He has given us another testimony to share of His greatness. He has shown us again that when He gives a vision and sends the call that when we step out in faith He will do the rest. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.” This is our reflection and our testimony.
Praise You In The Storm
Casting Crowns
I was sure by now
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 Your 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
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
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
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
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
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Messiah, Emmanuel
Messiah, Emmanuel
Devotional
SPSC WOV 12/12/09
.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.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (KJV)
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (KJV)
“There is no one in history that has been given more names or titles than Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible, over 100 names and titles are given to Jesus. And whether He is called "Bright morning star, Wonderful Counselor, the Root of Jesse, the Alpha and the Omega, or the Lamb of God", each of these names and titles is rich with meaning. They all say something significant about who Jesus is.” (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
However, there is no name more significant than "Immanuel". This name, which Matthew refers to in his Gospel (Matthew 1:23), was first given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before His birth (Isaiah 7:14). And this very special Christmas name, as Matthew tells us, means "God with us." Jesus Christ is Immanuel, "God with us," (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
I had the privilege of attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah last Sunday at a church in Shoreline, Washington. I went with my friend, Lily, who sang with the Seattle Symphony Chorale as they performed that afternoon. Listening to Handel’s Messiah is always an awe inspiring experience. Handel’s greatest work and one of the most performed pieces of Christmas music proclaims that God is with us in the Recitativo, the seventh piece of the Sinfony in Part I when the above scripture verses are sung by an alto vocalist: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.” God with us! Handel then went on to write in the next aria and chorus from Isaiah 40:9, 60:1 about the good tidings to Jerusalem, “Behold your God! Arise shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Once again, God with us! Throughout this entire magnificent work, Handel’s fervent enthusiasm about this good news is announced. He wrote this work after a temporary misfortune which has been compared to a Lazarus-like triumphant rebirth where he no doubt experienced first hand how God was with him and had provided encouragement, provision and unparalleled inspiration and grace as he composed the Messiah. (Reference: Encore Arts Programs, Seattle Symphony, December 2009 pages 47-50)
The Messiah has two additional parts. Part II tells how despite mankind’s rejection of Jesus that He was still with them. It is entitled “The Accomplishment of Redemption by the Sacrifice of Jesus, Mankind’s Rejection of God’s Offer and Mankind’s Utter Defeat When Trying to Oppose the Power of the Almighty” “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) No matter what man tried to do, He was still with them because as Handel states in the final chorus in Part II “Hallelujah; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever, KING OF KING’S AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16).
In Part III titled “A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the Final Overthrow of Death” the first aria quotes Job 19:25-26 “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and tho worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” “God with us is the good new of Christmas. So great was His love for His fallen creation, for you and for me that He left His glory to come here. And through His perfect life and death on the cross He broke down the wall of separation that our sin had built and reconciled us to Himself; as it is written ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.’ (2 Co. 5:19). Through Jesus Christ, Immanuel, our sins are forgiven and we have fellowship with our Creator again. (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
Last Tuesday I had a “God with us” stop. I stopped at the mailbox to get my mail leaving my car running. When I returned to my car, it had malfunctioned and locked all of the doors. There I was at 7:30 at night in 24 degree weather locked out from my purse, cell phone, house keys and all that connected me to my world. I felt alone and cold and tired and frustrated. Then “God with us, Emmanuel” came into my thinking and I began to pray and ask God what to do. My neighbors became His hands extended and a locksmith was called and I was able to regain entrance into my car and my world within a relatively short time. God had been with me and I was reminded of His presence in the midst of the Christmas time busyness. Once again, “God with us”.
Handel’s incredible Messiah has become the most beloved oratorio in the English-speaking world. I would encourage you to take the time this Christmas season to join in the worship of God through Handel’s masterpiece. The good news of “God with us” has been and will continue to be a welcomed proclamation. Immanuel. In this one name, everything humankind needs and the entire plan of God's salvation is found. How blessed we are that Jesus Christ became Immanuel, God with us.
Devotional
SPSC WOV 12/12/09
.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.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (KJV)
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (KJV)
“There is no one in history that has been given more names or titles than Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible, over 100 names and titles are given to Jesus. And whether He is called "Bright morning star, Wonderful Counselor, the Root of Jesse, the Alpha and the Omega, or the Lamb of God", each of these names and titles is rich with meaning. They all say something significant about who Jesus is.” (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
However, there is no name more significant than "Immanuel". This name, which Matthew refers to in his Gospel (Matthew 1:23), was first given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before His birth (Isaiah 7:14). And this very special Christmas name, as Matthew tells us, means "God with us." Jesus Christ is Immanuel, "God with us," (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
I had the privilege of attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah last Sunday at a church in Shoreline, Washington. I went with my friend, Lily, who sang with the Seattle Symphony Chorale as they performed that afternoon. Listening to Handel’s Messiah is always an awe inspiring experience. Handel’s greatest work and one of the most performed pieces of Christmas music proclaims that God is with us in the Recitativo, the seventh piece of the Sinfony in Part I when the above scripture verses are sung by an alto vocalist: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.” God with us! Handel then went on to write in the next aria and chorus from Isaiah 40:9, 60:1 about the good tidings to Jerusalem, “Behold your God! Arise shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Once again, God with us! Throughout this entire magnificent work, Handel’s fervent enthusiasm about this good news is announced. He wrote this work after a temporary misfortune which has been compared to a Lazarus-like triumphant rebirth where he no doubt experienced first hand how God was with him and had provided encouragement, provision and unparalleled inspiration and grace as he composed the Messiah. (Reference: Encore Arts Programs, Seattle Symphony, December 2009 pages 47-50)
The Messiah has two additional parts. Part II tells how despite mankind’s rejection of Jesus that He was still with them. It is entitled “The Accomplishment of Redemption by the Sacrifice of Jesus, Mankind’s Rejection of God’s Offer and Mankind’s Utter Defeat When Trying to Oppose the Power of the Almighty” “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) No matter what man tried to do, He was still with them because as Handel states in the final chorus in Part II “Hallelujah; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever, KING OF KING’S AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16).
In Part III titled “A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the Final Overthrow of Death” the first aria quotes Job 19:25-26 “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and tho worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” “God with us is the good new of Christmas. So great was His love for His fallen creation, for you and for me that He left His glory to come here. And through His perfect life and death on the cross He broke down the wall of separation that our sin had built and reconciled us to Himself; as it is written ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.’ (2 Co. 5:19). Through Jesus Christ, Immanuel, our sins are forgiven and we have fellowship with our Creator again. (Reference: The Meaning of Immanuel, God with Us/Dr. Richard P. Bucher/ http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html)
Last Tuesday I had a “God with us” stop. I stopped at the mailbox to get my mail leaving my car running. When I returned to my car, it had malfunctioned and locked all of the doors. There I was at 7:30 at night in 24 degree weather locked out from my purse, cell phone, house keys and all that connected me to my world. I felt alone and cold and tired and frustrated. Then “God with us, Emmanuel” came into my thinking and I began to pray and ask God what to do. My neighbors became His hands extended and a locksmith was called and I was able to regain entrance into my car and my world within a relatively short time. God had been with me and I was reminded of His presence in the midst of the Christmas time busyness. Once again, “God with us”.
Handel’s incredible Messiah has become the most beloved oratorio in the English-speaking world. I would encourage you to take the time this Christmas season to join in the worship of God through Handel’s masterpiece. The good news of “God with us” has been and will continue to be a welcomed proclamation. Immanuel. In this one name, everything humankind needs and the entire plan of God's salvation is found. How blessed we are that Jesus Christ became Immanuel, God with us.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
OVER TWO YEARS LATER
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!
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!
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.
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