A few more points to ponder...~

TGIF :)

 

 

 We already know that Ruth showed devotion to Naomi not knowing what the future would hold. Even Naomi tells her, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters..."

 

In other words, Ruth had very little to gain by staying with Naomi.

 

Yet God was about to bless Ruth beyond her wildest dreams because of her faithfulness. First principle of the day: God blesses those who are faithful in their relationships.

 

A love story will soon unfold between Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi plays a significant role by helping Ruth navigate the tricky waters of the dating game. Second principle of the day: Older women and men sometimes really do know best. We have been there/done that, and as a result of our own life experiences we can help all you beautiful guys and gals avoid some of the pitfalls of relationships.

 

Naomi had expressed her desire for Ruth, which was, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?" Naomi was talking specifically about marriage, and chapter three in the book of Ruth is all about Naomi mentoring Ruth with good advice that would lead to marriage.

 

I love what Naomi says in this verse. A marriage to the right person leads to your well-being and provides security. It provides financial, sexual, relational, emotional, physical, and yes, even spiritual security. Given what's at stake we should all be seriously praying right now for our kids or even for those of us who are single to marry the right person. Yes, God can send a Boaz or a Ruth for us, and the book of Ruth exists to give us hope. But we have to do our part, which is the third principle of the day: Be willing to follow the advice of wiser people. What good is it to listen and then not follow through? For all you young'uns living at home, if mom or dad does not like the person you are dating, ask yourself, "Why?"

 

I will be the first to admit that the dynamic of the family has changed--so much so that not all of us have a mom or dad in our lives to guide us along. Please keep in mind that Naomi was Ruth's mother-in-law. It was not your standard husband, wife, two kids and a dog unit. Our Lord is telling us that the traditional definition of family is not the only source for our guidance. Amen to that! What is important is having a mutually loving and respectful relationship period, and I have seen that among friends, church family, next-door-neighbors, grandparents/grandkids, and even colleagues.

 

Next week we will still be on this topic as we see the fruit of Naomi and Ruth's relationship, which is principle of the day number four: A good and trusting relationship with a wise person is a great resource when considering dating and marriage.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Relationships can be a blessing if we follow the great guidelines You provide for dating and marriage. Help open our eyes to Your wisdom so we make good decisions. We all want security and well-being for ourselves and our children. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Your God Will Be My God~

Greetings:)

 

Yesterday we were left wondering what it was that Naomi did that caused Ruth's unwavering devotion to her.

 

As a widowed woman in a starving, foreign land you can bet that it wasn't because she had any money. And even though Naomi's name means pleasant, it wasn't necessarily because she was a joy to be around. Keep in mind that she lost her husband and her two sons, one of which was Ruth's husband. At one point Naomi even says that her name should be changed to "Mara," which means bitter.

 

So what was it? The answer is found in a portion of yesterday's passage:

 

Ruth 1:17..."You God will be my God."

 

Something about the way Naomi lived her life as a believer in the middle of a pagan nation really ministered to Ruth. Sure, some of us can fake it for a little while. But 10 years? That's how long Ruth was married to Naomi's son before his passing. If Naomi were a hypocrite Ruth would have seen it at some point. But nope. Naomi was a consistent follower of the God of Israel. And one of His greatest commandments is to love thy neighbor as thyself.

 

It may not have been easy considering that Naomi's children married outside the faith. It was actually strictly forbidden for Israelites to marry Moabites, but Naomi's son married Ruth anyway and Naomi, rather than criticize and condemn, consistently modeled what God wants us all to do--to love and accept.

 

She lived her faith day in/day out, and it was contagious. Through all the ups and downs her belief in God sustained her and made an impact on Ruth. There is no way Naomi could have ever known the magnitude of the consequences that her faith-filled life would ultimately have on history, but we will. (More on that as the DEVOs progress). But for today let us think about the impact we have on others--particularly those in our closest circles. Are we living out our faith? Do we model God's love? Are others drawn to God because we are pointing the way? Do others want to be around us because we are kind or do they avoid us because we are critical?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, You are our God, and we want others to know it. Your Word teaches that when we love You it positively impacts us because others want to hang out with us. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

...Your God Will Be My God~

Greetings:)




Late last year I added a new title to my other ones of wife, mom, sister, friend, Auntie...MOTHER-IN-LAW!!!



We poor mothers-in-law get such a bad rap, but I assure you that some of us are precious. And since we are talking about relationships, it is important to take a moment to examine the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic.



Going back to Ruth, we learn right at the beginning of the book that her husband and her father-in-law--Naomi's husband--have both died, and that there is a famine in the land. Ruth, who was from Moab, a land known for idol worship, had every right to return to her own family, but she tells Naomi in 1:16-17, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"



The first time I recall hearing that scripture was at a wedding, and it is a beautiful passage for newlyweds. But I was kind of shocked to learn that it was said by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.



It is possible, dear ones, to have deep love and respect for your in-laws. Not only is it possible, but it is recommended. (More on that later). The point is that we in-laws--present and future--have a unique opportunity to conduct ourselves in such a way that our childrens' siginificant others will show steadfast devotion to us.



What on earth did Naomi do that Ruth was so determined to follow after her? To forget the idols of her homeland for the true God of Israel? The answer might surprise you.



PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Your Word shows us that love is far reaching and should positively impact all of our relationships. It is nice to know that deep devotion can exist among in-laws. If there are any rifts right now in our ranks between in-laws, bring healing and peace. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Give Her Special Treatment~

A glorious Tuesday greeting to all; I hope you all enjoyed a nice day off yesterday:)

 

Let's continue with our look at relationships.

 

Ruth 2:15-18

"When she got up to go back to work, Boaz ordered his servants: 'Let her glean where there’s still plenty of grain on the ground—make it easy for her. Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment.'”

"Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. When she threshed out what she had gathered, she ended up with nearly a full sack of barley! She gathered up her gleanings, went back to town, and showed her mother-in-law the results of her day’s work; she also gave her the leftovers from her lunch."

 

Beautiful principle of the day: A good and generous man improves the life of the woman he is with AND her family. That's right. It's not just about you. It's also about the in-laws and the parents and the siblings, even the grandparents.

 

Naomi was so impressed with the bounty that Ruth brought home that she exclaims in verse 19. "God bless whoever it was who took such good care of you!”

 

I can assure you that I was not always so eager to bless those who dated my children. Quite the opposite, in fact. There were certain seasons in life where it took a Herculean effort to keep my mouth shut. I knew that if I said what I was really thinking I would alienate my child. Man, that was hard. But it's ok. God invites us to pour out our complaint to Him, so I did--often--daily--to be exact.

 

Start telling your children now that whoever they are going to date needs to be worthy of the blessings that you as a parent are willing to give. A good relationship brings unity--not division. The right relationship shows respect for everyone in the family. The behavior that a young man or young woman displays better have you and me saying exactly what Naomi said: GOD BLESS WHOEVER IT IS THAT IS TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF YOU!"

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We raise our voice with the good Naomi to let You know that we desire to bless those who date our kids or even those whom we are dating. You provide some clear guidelines in Your Word; help us not to settle. We all want special treatment, and we want our relationships blessed. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Famine to Feast~

TGIF Greetings~

 

So many of you beautiful and blessed children of our Relationship Expert God commented on yesterday's DEVO; you are all longing for a trip to the Acres of Hope. Hang in there; God is teaching us all some amazing things:)

 

Ruth 2:14 "At mealtime Boaz called to her, 'Come over here, and help yourself to some food. You can dip your bread in the sour wine.' So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over."

 

Principle of the day: A good man is generous; a good man improves the quality of your life.

 

Keep in mind that Ruth was a widow who traveled back to her mother-in-law's home country because the economy was so bad where they were from that there was a food shortage. Kind of scary to think that there's not enough food. Who knows how many nights Ruth and her mother-in-law went to bed hungry, but all that changed when she met a particularly generous man named Boaz. He invited her to eat and made sure she ate until she was satisfied and then some.

 

In a bigger context, Ruth's life went from not having enough to having more than enough--from famine to feast. One of the most important things we can teach our children is that when they start dating someone their lives better instantly improve. From being happy to being even happier. The person they are with better be bringing joy into their lives. Obviously, it can not be 100% bliss 100% of the time, but that initial phase needs to be drama-free and fun.

 

I have seen some excruciatingly painful situations all because some people--young girls in particular--did not understand this principle. Girls who went from a carefree existence to having to deal with dangerous jealousy, stinginess, control freaks, pressure for sex, or yes, even physical abuse.

 

When my Rayray was 15 years old a nice young man from church took a liking to her. He was adorable and noble, but his home life was a mess. That did not automatically disqualify him from dating Rayray because no one is better than anyone. But her dad and I were on hyper-alert. The advantage of this was that she was never alone with him because they were too young to drive. All four of us were kind of joined at the hip, and at first it was fine. Then the drama started. It all culminated in a dinner party that we were invited to where the mother's drunk boyfriend made threats at everyone. We all looked mortified as Rayray's young man stood up to defend his mom. My son stood up to leave, and I shot him this "let's not make this worse for Rayray and please sit down" look.

 

Later that night I sat down with Rayray, and in her little heart she knew that somehow things were not the way they were supposed to be. She was right, of course, and she was much too young to play the role of counselor/comforter to another teenager. The three-month long relationship ended--no harm/no foul--and the long talks Rayray and I had about what constitutes a beautiful relationship proved to be a solid foundation now that she is seriously dating someone.

 

Sooner or later we will all face difficulties in our relationships because life is difficult. But based on what God's word is teaching us, we need to know that at the beginning of new love it better be all about life getting better and not the other way around.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We know that You want us to be compassionate to others and care for them in times of trouble, but we need to understand the difference between being there for someone and what being a significant other means. Thank You for Your precious Word that teaches us that in a relationship we should expect to be treated a certain way. Nothing less than Your standards will do for us or our children. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Acres of Hope~

Good morning :)

 

Before we proceed with the topic of relationships, let's take a closer look at what God desires to do for each and everyone of who has ever been hurt, or is currently struggling in a relationship, or is feeling like a happy and healthy relationship is never going to happen.

 

There is one IN-YOUR-FACE verse that I trust will rev our engines.

 

Hosea 2:15..."I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope."

 

Have you ever taken a trip down Heartbreak Valley? Have you ever been mistreated? Have you ever been made to feel less than? Have you ever wondered if and when you will enjoy a mutually satisfying, mutually respectful, mutually faithful, and mutually loving relationship?

 

The entire book of Hosea has to do with God patiently courting us as we have done most or all of the above to Him. We have ignored Him, blamed Him when things go wrong, only gone to Him when there's a crisis, and yes, even looked for satisfaction in temporal things when only He can give peace that runs like a river.

 

The good news is that He completely and thoroughly understands relationships--inside and out. It was all His idea in the first place. Which is why Hosea is such a powerful love story. The same God Who pursues us and understands what it takes to have an amazing relationship--Who knows our weaknesses and tendencies--is the same one Who desires to apply these principles and power for our human relationships as well.

 

He knows that Heartbreak Valley exists--that it's a well-traveled destination filled with regrets, guilt, and sorrow. But Heartbreak Valley turns into Acres of Hope when we turn to Him. Acres with an "s", instead of a singular depressing valley. AMEN! It begins with prayer, as you all faith-filled creatures know, but let us not underscore the importance of Biblical principles. God has a way of doing things that will take you straight out of that valley into your hope-filled acreage. His way works.

 

We've already looked at how a young man must act and speak in a way that touches a woman's heart, and how he must protect her reputation. We have also seen the wisdom behind women who affirm, not nag, their men. And there is more to come. But let's conclude today's DEVO with a special prayer--especially for our young, unmarried children. There is so much misinformation out there. Let's be a line of defense between them and all that junk by (1) praying for them, (2) learning God's relationship principles, and (3) setting the right example by following these principles ourselves.

 

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You know best when it comes to our love lives. We all have young people in our lives that we love, and we have so many concerns because we want them to avoid the harsh consequences that can come when we do not choose wisely. Make our children receptive to doing things Your way, and give us the wisdom and patience we need to properly instruct them. And for those of us who are desperate for a change, we are asking You today to do Your thing. You are the One Who turns heartbreak into hope. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Vice-Versa

A happy rainy Wednesday to all:)




It is raining so hard right now in Westchester that the pool is overflowing. But it's okay; the rain reminds me of a a great hymn.

There Shall be Showers of Blessing

The first stanza says:

There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy-drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.



Amen to that! Let's all plead together today for the showers of blessing. But before we do let's go back to the verse in Ruth.



Ruth 2:8-13

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!”



The speed of light is something like over 180,000 miles per second, and that's how long one of you precious male readers took to respond to yesterday's DEVO.



To put it exactly, you asked--in all caps, "THIS APPLIES VICE-VERSA, CORRECT?"



Yes, dear people, yes.



There is so much richness in God's perfect Word. All we need to do is take the time to really dissect it. Ruth's response to the way Boaz treated her is, indeed, a powerful lesson for all us ladies in how to treat a fellow.



She affirmed him with words. Men have this built-in need for affirmation. They need to be cheered on and encouraged. They need to be told what they are doing right, and more often than not, spared the criticism that sometimes flows so easily. How do I know? I am kind of sort of an expert at spewing out of the mouth...



Proverbs 27:15 "A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm."



I think God just said that sometimes I can be annoying. But let's face it--that drip drip drip can drive anyone nuts.



So as we continue this look into relationships let's remember that men have the responsibility to touch our hearts, and women have the responsibility to affirm them as they do.



PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We need showers of blessing, so send them ASAP. We particularly want Your help with relationships. We are all at different ages and stages, but we all need wisdom to have the best relationships possible. Thank you for the excellent guidelines in Your Word. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

You've Touched My Heart~

Good morning :)

 

Yesterday a few of you wrote back to express how you wished you would have known that a man who protects a woman's reputation is a good thing!

 

Even though it sounds like common sense, the truth is that sometimes our girls do not know what exactly to look for in a man, and sometimes our boys have all the best intentions but they were never properly taught or modeled the right behavior.

 

That's where we come in.

 

For those of us who have kids, we can teach them, and for those of us who are looking to date and marry, we can be on the lookout for these beautiful qualities.

 

I myself was very blessed after reading the story of Mary and Joseph because I realized that God chose an excellent man to be Christ's earthly father. We all want the same thing for our children and for ourselves.

 

But there is one book in the Bible that has always been the source of most of the relationship advice I have given my kids--the book of Ruth.

 

Ruth 2:8-13

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!”

 

The backstory is that Ruth is a widowed foreigner traveling with her mother-in-law back to Israel. She and her mother-in-law are practically destitute. And then she meets a man named Boaz.

 

Principal number one: The words a young man speaks must be filled with grace and his actions must be kind. He must touch a girl's heart--NOT ANYTHING ELSE! Other versons of the Bible say that you have comforted me, reassured me, put me at ease, and encouraged me.

 

It is the epitome of romance.

 

If the young man you are dating is not filling your heart with grace and kindness, RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!! If he is trying to connect somewhere else besides your heart--you know what to do.

 

I once counseled a precious young lady who couldn't quite figure out what was bothering her about her boyfriend. It turns out that he had a subtle way of undermining her self-esteem by making comments like, "You are so beautiful, but you would look prettier with bangs." "I love you just the way you are, but that blouse makes you look a little pudgy." He once went so far as to suggest a nose job. Lord, have mercy! He would always give a compliment before a criticism. It was so damaging to her, and continuing to be with him would have been a mistake. Eventually she was able to see that he wasn't kind or gracious,and he certainly didn't touch her heart. There was nothing comforting, reassuring, or encouraging about his words. He did not put her at ease--he put her ill at ease. Bottom line: He hurt her heart, and she broke it off.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You for including me like Joseph and Boaz in the Bible. It provides an excellent model of what men act like and what women should look for. Help us and our kids be strong in this area because who we choose to be in a relationship with is the most important decision we will ever make. Thank You that our number one relationship is with Christ and the He guides us. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

A Good Man~

Happy Monday~

Update time.

After sending out the DEVO on Friday a buddy of mine in Pinecrest sent me this pic taken with a cellphone. There was a fox in her yard too. This one looks exactly like the one we saw. Amazing!

I am pleased to report that foxnews.com had the following article on their website over the weekend. The title: Why the Bible is the best graduation gift you can give. Check out the link. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/05/19/why-bible-is-best-graduation-gift-can-give/

One of the reasons listed in the article is that there's a whole bunch of wisdom in there, or "practical instruction for every area of life."

Amen to that! Every area? Yes.

Let's see what the Bible says about relationships. This past weekend my friend's fifth grader received a hand written note from another fifth grader asking her to dance at the upcoming end-of-the-year celebration. What I found interesting about the note is that this young man assured her that he just wanted to be friends.

Really? That the possibility of being more than friends is even an option for children barely a decade old is a tad mind boggling. And yet, even as I write this, I am reminded of a redhead named Todd Paris who in fifth grade sent me a note asking me to check yes or no as to whether I would sit next to him on the bus on a field trip to Roosevelt's Little White House in Warm Springs Georgia.

I did, in fact, sit next to him. Let's face it: The need to be loved and accepted is the most universal desire in the world. There is nothing wrong with that, but I do think we need to practice some age-appropriate intervention and teach our kids what is and what isn't acceptable in members of the opposite sex.

Principal number one is found in Matthew 1:19 "Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly."

Mary, as we all know, is pregnant with Christ, and Joseph knew he wasn't the father. He assumed that Mary had been unfaithful. Yet Joseph was a good man. And what do good men do? They do things quietly. They protect reputations. They never want to cause public shame or disgrace. They are discreet and noble. Assuming Joseph would have been correct about Mary, no one would have blamed him if he would have pointed a finger at her and announced to the world that he had been betrayed. But even so, he chose to protect her reputation.

A good man does not kiss and tell. He does not share the private details of what he has or hasn't done or is planning to do with anyone--EVER. And a young man who grows up to become a good man is taught early that he must never ever speak unkindly about a young lady or brag to his friends about the relationship.

For those of us who have kids or will have kids, ask God to show you when and how to modify this lesson, and teach it to your children. We all want our little ones to be good and marry those who are good.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, What a beautiful lesson. We all want our sons and daughters to be like Joseph or marry someone like him. Make us alert to those who come into our childrens' lives so we can intercept any bad behavior. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Animal Control~

TGIF Greetings~

 

Last weekend Jorge and I were preparing to leave when we noticed a weird cat lurking across the street. When Jorge got a little closer he realized it wasn't a cat but an actual fox. I know! How crazy is it that there is a fox on the loose in Westchester? We both prided ourselves on the fact that our community is home to an exotic animal, and then Rayray saw the fox in our backyard.

 

Suddenly it wasn't so cool anymore. What if it has rabies? What if it attacks us? What if it gnaws through the hurricane glass on the window and comes inside and bites me on the neck? Yes, these are the thoughts that cross my mind. It doesn't help that in 1982 a big grey rat came up to me and nuzzled against the warmth of my neck as I was asleep in the sun. In other words, stuff happens.

 

Nevertheless, the fox has now come a little too close for comfort, so I called animal control.

 

But did you know that God wants us all to practice animal control?

 

Song of Solomon 2:15 "Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!"

 

There are seasons in life when beauty is in full swing. When blessings flow abundantly. When couples are in love, when children are obedient, when everyone is stable and at peace...and then something threatens.

 

It is different for each of us.

 

For a young woman in love it might be the pressure to have sex.

 

For someone on a diet it might be the lure of a cheeseburger, fries, and key lime pie.

 

For someone in business it might be cutting corners.

 

For someone in a marriage it might be the new employee down the hall.

 

We all know where our vulnerabilities are. I could walk past a strip joint all day and never give it a second thought, but would it be wise for me go to Fuddruckers and try to order a salad?

 

Isn't it interesting that it says foxes and not puppies, teddy bears, or kangaroos? Or for that matter, crocodiles, anacondas, and bats?

 

Foxes are sly, cunning, sneaky, and alert, but they are also kind of cute. I did some research on them this morning, and another interesting aspect about them is that some folks are buying them as pets. But they are highly territorial and must be constantly entertained because they are so energetic. I guess once they become a part of us they do not want to let go.

 

We must be on the lookout because they bring destruction. The good news is they can be caught before they ruin.

 

Besides, it is always better to practice animal control than damage control.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Your Word is so true. Help us be alert. Too many things out there are harmful. Do not let these foxes even come close to us, but if they do, either because they snuck up on us or we outright invited them in, help us catch them. Do not let anything spoil the blessings you want us to enjoy. And, because our children are still in the process of maturing, help us be on the alert for them as well. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Get Back Up~

May the Lord's blessings be upon us all today~

 

Yesterday we looked at how we should not take advantage of God's goodness by purposely doing the wrong thing just because He will forgive us. But the truth is that there will be times when we will mess up simply because we are human. What's the difference?

 

Proverbs 24:16 "For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again."

 

First of all who are the righteous? We are. We are upright and in right standing with God. Everything between Him and us is A-OK. We had a need to be loved, accepted, and forgiven. He sent us His Son so we could receive all these things, and the instant we said Yes to Him, He gave gave gave it all so we could have it all.

 

Except that we will still fall--over and over again.

 

Most of us know the "Our Father" prayer. One line in there says, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Why is it in there? Because we mess up. The key difference between those who are righteous and those who are not, is that the righteous get right back up.

 

In other words, we don't wallow in the mud. Over the years I have often told Jorge that the bird may land on his head, but he better not let it make a nest.

 

I am not sure where I even heard that, but it's a powerful truth. As soon as you fall, ask Jesus to grab you by the hand and get up!!! The sooner the better. Don't let something become a habit.

 

Things have a way of escalating if we're not careful. And the longer you stay down, the harder it becomes to get up.

 

And we have all seen the commercial where a geriatric falls and says, "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" An entire industry of push-button alert devices has emerged as a result of this rampant problem plaguing our senior citizens. There's even a website, www.learnnottofall.com, dedicated to educating folks about this matter because, "By 80 years of age, over half of seniors fall annually."

 

That is a startling statistic, but I have another one: 100% of us will fall. What will we do?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, You know we will fall, but You also know that getting up is possible, and that is what You are encouraging us to do today. Thank You that even when we make mistakes, You still love us. Your Word assures us that You have enough mercy to see us through. We're counting on it. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Of Course Not!!!

Good morning~




One of the things I love about you all is that you ask great questions! Yesterday I received a doozy.



"If God's mercies are new every morning, why not just take advantage of His unending goodness and do what you want?"



Back in 1978 at the ripe ol' age of 13 God allowed me a glimpse into the life of someone who lived recklessly precisely because he was taking advantage of God's forgiveness.



"B" was a husband and father with three teen aged sons when he started an inappropriate relationship with another woman. I barely knew about sex much less infidelity, but I recognized sorrow when I saw it. His family was devastated, and while the exact details of how it all came out are fuzzy, I distinctly remember him saying, "God forgives me everyday. I am not going to stop seeing this woman."



I knew in my heart that what he was saying was wrong, but I also knew that God forgives. And all that confusion was put on the back burner until I had to face certain tragedies in my own family. So as I sit here and write this today I want to, more than anything else, bring clarification. Can you imagine this man's poor wife praying and God saying to her, "He keeps on asking for forgiveness, so it's ok?"



Romans 6:1 "So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"



God keeps forgiving, and Amen! to that. But we died to sin the instant we said yes to Christ. Notice the word "died." It's past tense. If we have truly died to a wrong way of living and thinking, then we should not be following it.



In other words, Mr. B, your viewpoint was wrong then, and it's wrong now.



Only God can judge Mr. B's true intentions and his soul, but if he made a legitimate decision to begin a new life with Christ, then the evidence of it should be that his old way of living was dead.



How tragic that there are those who will misuse God's love as a license to do whatever they want--not caring who they hurt in the process--as opposed to purposely trying to live right precisely because God loves us. (I wonder if Mr. B would have changed his behavior if he could have seen into the future and seen the devastation that continues in his childrens' lives to this very day?)



In other words, God offers us a new life, overflowing with love, peace, joy, hope, goodness, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, and our response should be one of gratitude not disobedience.



Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness."



That's a rough verse, but it's in the Bible for a reason. There will always be those who want to hang on to sin, and it is plain disgusting.



We, on the other hand, are not foolish. We are wise. Wise enough to know that a blessed and beautiful life comes from right living. Notice I said right living--not perfect living.



Let's tie it all up tomorrow:)



PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your Word, which guides us day-to-day. Sometimes life is confusing, but one thing we do know is that we can not live without You. We never want to take advantage of Your generous outpouring of blessings, so help us and those we love stay on the right track. And we especially pray today for our kids. If anyone of them is struggling to do the right thing, empower them to make the right decision. In Jesus' name, Amen~

Mercy~

Good morning :)

 

Yesterday after I sent the DEVO I immediately thought that for most of us, even though new life has begun, we are going to need more than one do-over. God knows this, which is why He says in Lamentations 3:22-23, "The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning."

 

Each and every morning His mercies begin afresh, and we get a fresh start.

 

Maybe yesterday you yelled at your kids. Today you get an opportunity to be gentle.

Maybe yesterday you were less than kind to your spouse. Today you get an opportunity to be sweet.

Maybe yesterday you lied about something to avoid a consequence. Today you get an opportunity to tell the truth.

Maybe yesterday you had a short fuse, a nasty scowl on your face, were overly sarcastic, rude to your neighbors, just plain in a bad mood and mean. All of which, by the way, is emotionally draining and sucks the joy out of life.

 

But today, armed with the knowledge that God's faithful love never ends and that no matter what, neither do His mercies, we can have a better day. Actually, we can have a better day each and everyday because God has an inexhaustible supply of whatever we need.

 

What is mercy, by the way?

 

Dictionary.com defines mercy as showing compassion toward someone, the power of a judge to pardon, an act of kindness or favor, or something that gives evidence of blessing.

 

God's mercies embody each of these definitions. And because we are His children, every single morning His unceasing compassion, pardon, kindness, and blessings make it possible for us to start the day off right.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You give never give up on us. With Your help we will always get it right. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

The Old Life is Gone~

Monday greetings! I hope you all had a lovely weekend:)

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

 

This morning I received a phone call from a distraught young lady who was very upset about some things, and of course, my heart broke right alongside hers as she spilled the details of what happened. I found myself begging God under my breath to give me the right words to say because I felt as though this would be the one golden opportunity to get it right.

 

I have said it before and I will say it again that our lives should be one living, breathing NO JUDGMENT ZONE. So in keeping with my own advice, I withheld my judgment and offered her my love instead.

 

And how wonderful that Friday's DEVO was still fresh in my mind.

 

"God is inviting us today to take a step of faith and ask Him to go into action for us today," I said. "Would you join me in taking this step right now?"

 

She tearfully replied, "Yes," and that is where today's verse comes in. Over the course of a simple, heartfelt prayer, this broken young lady asked Jesus to move into her heart. She asked Him to forgive her of all that she had done. To do away with the mess and start something new and beautiful.

 

We will take a few days this week to explore what all this means. But for today let us rejoice that God gives new life, He gives do-overs, that there is one more young person whose life has been dramatically changed for the good.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that new life begins when we belong to You. That's exactly what we needed to hear today. We all need do-overs, and that is one of Your specialties. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

For This Child I Prayed~

TGIF Greetings!

 

One thing we all have in common is that we all have moms, and this Sunday is a day that is set aside to honor moms. So today let's take a look at one fabulous, inspiring mom from the Bible. Her name is Hannah.

 

Hannah could not get pregnant. She longed for a child, and it was heartbreaking. To make matters worse, others in her community made fun of her because she couldn't get pregnant ( I guess mean girls have always been a problem), and, surprise surprise, her own husband didn't understand her. He was so thoughtful that in 1 Samuel 1:8 he asks her, "Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

 

What did Hannah do?

 

I Samuel 1:11-12, "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably.'Oh, God...take a good, hard look at my pain, go into action for me by giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline."

 

Verse 19 tells us that as Hannah and her husband made love, "God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked."

 

First, let's address a couple of notable points from this passage.

 

Sometimes we are going to be crushed in our souls. It's part of life. Hannah didn't turn to anyone or anything but her Lord. He is always a good starting point when we are inconsolable. She was also bold. Can we really tell God to go into action for us? Yes!

 

And it's true. The Bible also says Hannah and her husband made love. Amen! This is part of God's design for marriage, and it's beautiful. Why would He shy away from something He created? Notice that Hannah and her husband had to literally do something for God to move supernaturally. You can't ask for a baby then sit back and not sleep with your hubby. So many things in life boil down to taking a step of faith. That is a principle we can almost apply universally.

 

"Lord, help me get into college." God says, "Fill out the application."

"Lord, help me meet the right person to marry." God says, "Follow my guidelines for who is and who isn't a good companion and go out on a date."

"Lord, help me love my spouse whom I don' t like that much anymore." God says, "Love is not a feeling; it's an action. Cook him dinner."

"Lord, I need more income." God says, "Schedule some job interviews. I've got your back."

 

There is a pattern here for us to follow. We pray, and then we act accordingly.

 

Nevertheless, God began doing His new thing--making a way--bringing rivers of new life into Hannah's barrenness, and verse 20 says, "Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, 'I asked God for him.'”

 

We pray; He hears. Amen amen amen!

 

And if you are a mom, want to be a mom, or are currently pregnant, please take this next verse to heart and cherish it forever.

This chapter concludes with Hannah joyfully testifying, "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to Him."

 

FOR THIS CHILD I PRAYED!

 

When moms pray amazing things happen in their families. Samuel grew up to be a mighty man of God who was powerful and prominent in his nation of Israel.

 

And one more thing. Hannah went from being unable to have children to eventually becoming a mom to three more sons and two daughters. Glory :)

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You for moms. Some of our moms are in Your tender care, and we are grateful that we will see them again. For those moms here on earth, bless them with long healthy lives. We are grateful that Your Word teaches us that when we invite You to go into action for us, You do. We count ourselves among the faithful who can say that we are praying for those we love--especially our children. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

God is Doing a New Thing~

Dear DEVO Readers,

 

Yesterday I had an AHA! moment. We learned in Isaiah 43:35 that God keeps no record of wrongs. And just a few DEVOs ago we learned that one of the definitions of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is that it keeps no record of wrongs. God loves us, and He practices what He preaches! Amen! If He isn't keeping tabs then we shouldn't either.

 

Several of you wrote back expressing how hard it has been to forget some things in your past--the regrets are overwhelming.

 

How do we let it go?

 

I hope this verse will inspire us all.

 

Isaiah 43:19

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

 

Is there something in your past that could be described as a wasteland? Something that has left you empty, heartbroken, feeling crushed under a weight of guilt, or bitter?

 

Then thank God that He has started something new in you, and it began the day you turned to Him. He makes a way through all the brokenness and brings a torrent of relief.

 

Consider the story of my friend whom I will call Z.

 

As a teenager she gave her heart and her body to a young man and became pregnant. He supported her--all the way to the abortion clinic. Why he even paid for it. Nice guy. For years and years and years she lived with the unbearable pain that she had taken an innocent life. All of this surfaced when she got married and tried to have a baby. She could not get pregnant, and it was later determined that her fallopian tubes were blocked. (I'll spare you the details.)

 

Of course she blamed herself and even told her husband that she wouldn't blame him if he left her. It was one big boulder after another that she threw at herself, and this left her feeling bruised and battered. And all this on top of the already profound sadness she felt at not being able to get pregnant.

 

One day I had a really strong and really loud one-sided conversation with her--something I rarely do. But sometimes we just need to help others snap out of it.

 

"STOP IT!" I yelled. "Your refusal to let this go is like telling God that His love is not enough. That His forgiveness is limited. That He lied in the Bible when He said His mercies were new every morning."

 

Slowly but surely she worked it out. Every time a negative thought popped into her head, she would replace it with a truth from God's Word.

 

"Look at what you did!"

 

"That was the old me. God says I am a new person."

 

"You'll never have a baby, and it's your fault."

 

"Nothing is impossible with the Lord."

 

"You are worthless and don't deserve a baby."

 

"I am, actually, so valuable that Jesus was willing to die to save me and to answer my prayers."

 

On and on this internal struggle went, but sure enough, the day came when her focus completely shifted from the old stuff and onto the new thing God was doing. That new thing was, in fact, a baby through in-vitro fertilization that has long since been born and is currently providing this woman and her husband with rivers of joy.

 

Glory glory glory!!!

 

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, Thank You that You are doing a new thing. Some of us need this in our marriages, families, emotions, other relationships, finances, employment, health etc...If anyone can make a way, it is You--the Great Waymaker. If anyone can create rivers in the middle of a dry dead existence, You, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth can. So do Your thing! The verse above asks us if we see it. Sometimes we're too focused on the past to see the good right now. Open our eyes, in Jesus' name. AMEN~

Forgiven, Removed, & Forgotten~

Wednesday Greetings :)



One time I miscalculated a trip Jorge and I were planning and stayed at a cabin in the mountains that was three hours away from where we needed to be. What was only a one-inch separation on a map, turned out to be a two-hundred mile difference. I remember telling Jorge as I was planning everything that, "How far could it be? The two cities fit between my fingers." I may have even said, "Duh!"


Luckily for Jorge he loves taking road trips with me or all those extra hours driving might have driven him insane. HAHAHAHA!


Nevertheless, none of us needs to be good with navigational maps to understand what God says in Psalm 103:12, "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."


God makes sure that we and our sins are as distant as possible because east and west can never technically meet in the same spot. Okay, I looked this fact up because, as you all know, I am not an expert in navigation.


But wait! It gets better. According to Isaiah 43:25, our Lord does not keep a list of our sins.


But then how could He possibly keep track of something that He is too busy removing as far away from us as is possible?


I said all of that to say this:


If God, Who is the only One Who has the right to judge us, is keeping no record of wrongs, then let it go. Forgive yourself. Remember all that talk about emptying your pockets of stones? Not throwing them at others? Sometimes we have to stop torturing ourselves for the stuff we messed up, and stop throwing stones at ourselves.


I have said it before and I will say it again. The Bible is clear and does not mince words. If God keeps no records at all, that means that it does not matter what happened--it's forgiven, removed, and forgotten--every bit of it.


All those "I should have...", "I wished I would have...", "I could have...", as well as all those other, "I shouldn't have...", "I wished I wouldn't have..." and "Why did I do that...?" DO NOT MATTER.


PRAYER:
Dear Lord, That settles it. If You forgive and forget then we will too. Help us to get over anything we regret. Thank You that each and every day we get a fresh start to get it right with Your help. In Jesus' name, Amen~

Our Sorrow Has a Purpose~

Psalm 56:8

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."

 

Psalm 126:5

"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy."

 

I read somewhere once that the Romans had a custom that whenever there was a funeral a friend would go to the one in mourning and wipe away their tears with a cloth and then squeeze the moisture into a small bottle. That bottle was then kept as a precious memorial of friendship and sorrow.

 

I am trying to imagine the tenderness of a moment like this--how thoughtful and comforting.

 

But guess what? Over the years these bottles have been unearthed in ancient Roman tombs and the only thing inside is dust. This doesn't mean the gesture was meaningless at the time it happened. It just means that we humans, in all our human efforts, have limitations.

 

This is why it blesses my heart to know that, (A) The tears that God has collected from me are still fresh, and (B) The more I cry the more joy I will one day have.

 

In other words, not one of your tears has been shed in vain. If you do not see a purpose now, please know, precious one, that at the very least God will turn those tears into joy some day.

 

Oh my goodness! I want to say that one more time. If you do not see a purpose in all the crying you have done, please know, that at the very least God will turn those tears into joy someday!!!

 

That's what these two verses mean. God knows we have sorrow. He is not insensitive to it, but rather in an act of unparalleled kindness He preserves them--perfectly. He is planning on taking every last drop that we have cried for ourselves, our loved ones, our pals, our neighbors, the injustices of the world, the evil--you name it--every last drop and turning them into an abundant harvest of shouts of joy. Amen~

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You are paying attention to us. You lovingly collect every single one of our tears, and one day they will be released as joy in our lives! We find it comforting to know that our sorrow has a purpose. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Choose Faith~

I trust you all had a wonderful weekend:)

 

What kind of people are we? Allow me the pleasure of answering that question:

 

Hebrews 10:39 "But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved."

 

There are those out there who, when trouble comes their way, become fearful or refuse to acknowledge it. They hope that whatever is wrong will go away on its own. What is the result? Destruction.

 

But that's not our case. We have learned that no matter what we will pray. We have faith, and we are saved.

 

There are moments when we will have fear, but we will turn it around and go from being cowardly to courageous.

 

Why? Because destruction for someone we love or even for ourselves is not an option when the Most High God Creator of heaven and earth is on our side.

 

Case in point--my friend whom I'll call A.

 

Yesterday her daughter got married to an amazing young man! The wedding was beautiful and the reception a true celebration of love, family, and friends.

 

But A has had plenty of difficult moments in her life. Not only is she herself currently undergoing chemotherapy, her brother died of cancer six weeks ago. She, however, did not let that stop her. She did not give in or give up. Rather, she exercised her faith--sometimes every moment of every day--and plugged into God for His strength. I watched her glide around the party welcoming guests with such warmth. If I would have had a crown at that moment I would have gladly placed it on her head and declared her the Epitome of Grace.

 

At one point she made a bee line for me and we exchanged hugs. I choked up because I have such profound respect for her. She is one of my faith heroes, and I hope that her story will inspire each of you to engage. Use your faith! Never shrink back! No matter what it is, declare today that there will no destruction in your future--only salvation.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Every day we have a choice. We can either turn away and become despondent, or we can use our faith and have victory. We choose faith, and we choose You. Help us today. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

This Woman Prayed~

TGIF Greetings:)

 

This morning I was ready to park when a vulture swept right in and scooped up the space. I momentarily lost my mind then came back to my senses because of each of you. How can I possibly sit here and write the DEVO if I have been rude? So thank you for keeping me in line:)

 

What does our journey look like when Jesus travels alongside?

 

Our protagonist from this week's DEVOs will testify that although it's not always obvious, it is true nonetheless. That looking back provides plenty of evidence of His guidance and comfort, and now that a year has passed she has finally settled into a peaceful season of life.

 

Long story short: Marriage was in deep trouble, every one's future was a frightful unknown, but just last week something private took place that was as an act of even a stronger devotion than before.

 

Talk about everything working out better than expected!

 

What is the number one exercise we should all be doing on our own journeys? What guarantees that Jesus is with us?

 

Group shout: PRAYER!

 

Every single day this woman prayed. She prayed in the morning, in the car, at home, at night in bed...She asked for prayer as well. She found a couple of like-minded buddies to come alongside her and trust God for the future of her family. Time after time she made sure every one was on the same page because someone praying for reconciliation and someone praying for a divorce will stop the hand of God.

 

Matthew 18:19 "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, My Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of Me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

 

Would any one have blamed her if she would have chosen to go her separate way? Would any one have said she wasn't entitled? That she didn't have the right to divorce someone who was unfaithful? No~

 

But sometimes taking the higher road, being willing to do the hard, heart-wrenching work of rebuilding, leads to something that was even better than before. There's enough destruction in this world already. I say REBUILD. Let's all take a step of faith and REBUILD! Whether it's our own marriage, a strained relationship with a friend, sibling, in-law, or child, let's fix it.

 

For me, the most profound and blessed moment came when this precious young woman said to me the other day, "If I would have ended my relationship there is a great likelihood that my spouse would not even be alive right now."

 

I will not share certain details, but when she said that, I immediately thought that perhaps, rather than seeing forgiveness as some sort of undeserved gesture she extended to the person who hurt her, it was a gift she gave herself--a gift that she will continue to unwrap as time goes on and the kids get older and dad is there every step of the way holding her hand and theirs...

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, There are more than three of us praying right now, so thank You that You are here with us. Thank You that You go into action when we pray. Do Your thing and we will do ours, which is pray. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Change Yourself~

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and we DEVO readers will be doing our part. And even though I didn't see the headlines anywhere, every first Thursday in the month of May is set apart for a time of collective national head-bowing. Our President himself prayed this morning and said, "All of us have the freedom to pray and exercise our faiths openly. Our laws protect these God-given liberties, and rightly so. Today and every day, prayers will be offered in houses of worship, at community gatherings, in our homes, and in neighborhoods all across our country. Let us give thanks for the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit, whether individually or in fellowship."

 

AMEN! to that.

 

Yesterday's DEVO ended with this question:

"If this young wife and mom was not driven to despair, then to what, or shall I say, to Whom was she driven?"

 

Notice what the President said above--that we have the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit. We have a choice to make. We can either practice or not. We can seek God or not.

 

This young woman chose to go to God. It might be more accurate to say she RAN to God.

 

When it all started falling apart, it was very clear to her, like it should be to you and me, that there are some things we can not change. She could not undo the infidelity.

 

But there was one thing she could change, and it was herself.

 

How did she change herself? Ask her and she will tell you that previously she might have flipped out and broken down. But something had already been happening in her life that had her steadily approaching God with confidence.

 

One of her children had a health concern that prompted this mom to make prayer a regular part of her diet.

 

At first, when they were visiting different doctors and getting opinions, it was a struggle not to give in to panic. But over and over again our friend acted on Hebrews 4:16, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

 

Like all of us, some days she needed His help more than others, but when the other issue surfaced, she was already well-practiced in prayer.

 

She knew her only hope was to keep it up.

 

The only One Who could help her keep her attitude in check was God.

The only One Who could keep her from getting bitter was God.

The only One Who could keep unforgiveness from growing in her heart was God.

 

But let's be honest; she had to make the effort. No one could our would force her. No matter how much someone begs for forgiveness, we don't have to give it if we don't want to.

 

And in her world, where family and friends alike, practically conspired against her marriage by telling her to dump him or get back at him, she chose a different route. One that was difficult, one that was scary, one that was more often than not lonely, and one that was foreign to her except one thing--JESUS would be travelling with her.

 

What does our journey look like when Jesus travels alongside?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

We join our voices with everyone else today on the National Day of Prayer, and we thank You for the freedom to practice our faith in this fellowship of DEVO readers. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is forget about the things we can not change and instead change ourselves with your help. We are grateful for the invitation that You have given us all to come boldly to Your throne and ask for help. HERE WE ARE! Help us. In Jesus name, AMEN~

Leave and Cleave~

Good morning all you citizens of heaven~



Last night Hormone and his lovely wife and Rayray and her lovely beau joined Jorge and me for a celebratory farewell dinner. Jorgie is off to New Mexico this Friday pursuing his baseball dreams, and I wanted one more family meal together because who knows when we will all be together again.


During the meal I wanted to share a few words with my son, whom I love more than my own life, and so I shared an inspirational story etc...and I finished off with this flourish:


"We are all proud of you for your efforts and support you wholeheartedly. But make no mistake. The real kudos goes to your wife because if she did not support you nothing else would matter. She is the one who has to endure the separation and the financial sacrifices, so thank you, Lis, for believing in Hormone."


Did you see what just happened there? I had a full-fledged grown-up moment.


Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."


Other versions say "unites to his wife," "clings to his wife," "bonds with his wife," " be joined with his wife," and "hold fast to his wife."


Before any of that uniting, clinging, bonding, and joining can take place, the young man must LEAVE.


The principle here is that every newly-married couple is now or should be independent from parental meddling. And our heroine from this week's DEVOs realized that not only did she have to cut loose some friends, but she also had to gently, and sometimes not so gently, remind her parents that her husband and her marriage were her priority. You would think this is common sense, but sometimes we parents, overzealous creatures that we are, do more harm than good. We forget that our children and their marriages take precedence over our relationships with them.


You know that expression, "When it rains it pours?" As if there weren't enough going on already, this determined gal found herself dealing with hostile parents, hostile siblings, negative friends, confused in-laws, and all the whispering and speculation from the other parents at her kids' school.


So much pressure.


2 Corinthians 4:8 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair."


If this young wife and mom was not driven to despair, then to what, or shall I say, to Whom was she driven?


When you feel as though everything that could go wrong has. When you feel that no matter where you turn there's trouble waiting, read verse 9: "You are never abandoned by God (NLT Version)."


PRAYER:
Dear Lord, Thank You for including those verses in the Bible. You knew we would have seasons in life where it seems that everything that could go wrong has. But You never have nor will You ever abandon us. Keep this life-saving truth ever present in our hearts. In Jesus' name, AMEN~