God's Wardrobe

Greetings,

Easter Sunday is almost here, and it reminds me of my mom.  She always made sure my sister, Delvys, and I were dressed in brand new frilly spring dresses.  She always wanted us to look our best, but especially on Christ’s Resurrection Day!  I have memories of shopping at Rich’s, the main department store at that time, looking for the perfect outfits. And I loved the brand new patent leather white shoes, socks, and matching hairbows that would finish off our new matching ensembles.  

God cares about clothes too, and He has picked out some very stylish pieces for us to wear.

“Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline…and regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it” (Colossians 3:12-14 The Message Version).

The end result of dressing in God’s wardrobe?

“God Himself will reward you” (v 24).

We all desperately need the rewards of peace, calm, joy, hope, self-control, and health that come when we do the right thing and have the right reaction.  The best part? God always helps us get dressed.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You that we don’t have to zip our zippers, button our buttons, or tie our shoes without You. You help us each step of the way to clothe ourselves with Your life-blessing wardrobe.  Help us especially, to never go anywhere without the most important garment of all, LOVE! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Easter Sunday, April 22,1973, Yenisita (on the right), seven years old

Ministry of Prayer

Greetings,

This past week I received an email talking about Saint Augustine.  On the same day, I also read about him in one of my little devotional books.  I figured God must really want me to learn something, and I did!

St. Augustine lived in the 300s, and before his mighty conversion at 31, and before he became one of Christianity’s most influential theologians, he was a wild child – the wildest of the wild.  His mother, however, was a praying mom, and she never gave up hope.  Saint Augustine finally turned to Jesus as a young adult. His mother, Monica, was so joyful, but she died nine days later.

That’s rough, to say the least.  But as I read and re-read this story, one mighty phrase jumped out at me again and again.  “Her ministry of prayer complete, her purpose in living fulfilled, Saint Augustine’s mother went to heaven.”

We all have a purpose and a ministry in this life, and it begins with praying for those we love.  Monica did not give up and was greatly rewarded.  And if you need encouragement today to keep up the conversations with God, consider the words that Saint Augustine’s mother heard when she reached out for comfort and assurance from a bishop she knew, “It is impossible that the son of so many tears should perish” (from Confessions, St. Augustine). Amen~

Dear sweet DEVO readers, if you are alive and breathing, you have purpose. PRAY. You have a ministry, a job to do for those who need Christ’s healing and salvation.  Become a daily channel through which God sends his blessings.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We come before you on behalf of those we love.  Thank You for receiving us and hearing us.  Answer our call today for help.  Send hope, faith, joy, peace, health, and protection.  Wrap Your arms around me and my family today. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Take Him at His Word

Greetings,

When I was in college I had an English Lit professor, who was HARD CORE.  For every misspelled word or wrong word usage, it was an automatic letter grade off.  My only B all semester long was when I spelled doesn’t d-o-s-e-n-‘t.  OUCH!  Since then, computers and spell check have made my life easier.  But I am still prone to errors now and again.  Take for example last Tuesday’s DEVO.  I, as lovingly pointed out by one of you precious DEVO readers, said “God’s failing love,” instead of “God’s unfailing love.”  The horror! I definitely deserve a lower grade for that one.  Thank God He does not make grammatical errors, and as such we can take Him at His word.

Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor shall you take anything from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God…” (Modern English Version).

God is clear. His word is perfect and reliable, and we better not go around adding our own thoughts or interpreting it to suit us.  If God says His forgiveness is ours unconditionally, then we better not go around saying we have to get our lives in order before we come to Him.  If He says He will provide for all our needs, we better not go around saying God only takes care of us some of the time.  If God says honor your mother and father, we better not go around saying we will but only if they are worthy. 

We can take God at His word, and the best way to know His word is by reading it for ourselves and praying it over ourselves.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your powerful and mighty word.  We need the stability and truth that Your immutable commandments provide.  Help us to treasure Your word because Proverbs 2 promises us that when we accept Your word, “knowledge will bring joy to our souls, wise choices will watch over us, and understanding will keep us safe.” We believe it and receive it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God Pursues Me

Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

Greetings,

When I was a fifth grader in Georgia, I would take the bus every morning.  Somedays, when I had a little time, I would take a small detour to a Tenneco mini mart right next to the bus stop to buy my favorite candy of all time – Sugar Babies.

One fine crispy fall morning while en route to the mini mart, a huge German shepherd jumped out of nowhere and growled at me. It’s four gigantic paws were spread wide in an aggressive stance, and I was so afraid. I did the only thing I could, which was turn and run. It was such a horrible feeling thinking that at any moment I was going to feel sharp fangs sinking into my leg! Poor scared Yenisita! But thank God; the dog did not give chase.

God, however, gives pursuit! He chases us with kindness and unfailing love.  He follows after us with loads of forgiveness and friendliness. And unlike that gnarly old dog, God is persistent.  He never gives up.  Every single day of our lives God is pursuing us. Even when we run away, when we don’t feel like praying, when we are too tired, bored, disinterested, faithless, hopeless, and mean, God keeps up the chase.  He knows we need Him to live a life of joy, peace, protection, provision, health, hope, and faith.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, Thank You for never giving up on us.  Help us to embrace this truth: WE CAN NOT LIVE LIFE WITHOUT YOU!  This is why You pursue us; You know we need You every moment of every day!  Thank You for Your amazing love.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Prayer is the Key

Greetings~

My husband has a magnetic spare key holder that he hides under the fender of his truck, and on more than one occasion it has come in handy. Suffice to say that even the most trustworthy, gas-filled, powerful vehicle is of no use without the keys.

Likewise, prayer is the key to making our life work. We need keys to unlock things and start things up. We also need keys to lock things and turn things off. Prayer is vital to getting our life in gear, and  we all need God's guidance and protection. The good news is found in the verse below:

Ephesians 3:20 "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

God is able to accomplish infinitely more, which means abundantly beyond and exceedingly above what we can ask. But we must use the key. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want our lives moving in the right direction. We pray today as an invitation for You to accomplish infinitely more than what we can even imagine. I especially need Your mighty power to work in this area of my life ________________________.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

I Keep My Eyes on the Lord~

Greetings, 

The other day Jorge and I took our Hershey Pie to the dog park.  Jorge immediately set about to mingling with the other pet parents. He loves to share stories about how brilliant our boy is and how he is practically a pure bred genius.  I, on the other hand, like to sit and people watch.  I found a comfy bench under the shadow of a huge tree, and right away I noticed a mom and her two kids playing football while their little poochie pranced around.  I was kind of impressed with one of the kids, a little boy, who I thought threw a pretty good spiral.  Suddenly, the mom looked away for a second to see where her dog had gone, but her son threw the football anyway and hit her smack in the middle of her face.  She was so upset, and I – I couldn’t help it – stifled a hearty laugh. That poor mom should have kept her eye on the ball.

Okay, I’ll give that poor bruised mom a pass.  I myself don’t pay attention 100% of the time. (This past January marked the three-year anniversary of when I was so focused on some pretty parrots in a tree that I didn’t see the uneven sidewalk beneath me, fell, and twisted my ankle.)

There is, however, a good reason to keep our eyes on God. 

Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

When we keep our focus on Him, on His nearness, on His presence, we are protected from fear and we stand firm.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We Focus on You right now and thank You that You are right here with us.  We accept this as fact, even if we don’t feel it. We live by faith not by feeling.  You are our protector, provider, deliverer, and comforter. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Willow's Rope

Greetings,

One of my favorite things ever is a bird planter Jorge gave me.  It hangs on my porch, and I have named it Willow.  It pleases me tremendously to water Willow, and the bigger the plant grows, the prettier Willow looks.  Interestingly enough, however, is that before Jorge hung it up on the trusty nail, he took a lighter and set the ends of Willow's rope on fire.  I didn't freak out because I have seen him do this before.  The fire, which is such a destructive force, when applied properly and supervised, actually strengthens the rope. Any loose fibers are melded together and prevent the rope from unravelling.  If Willow's rope ever frayed, she would fall and shatter.

Is it any wonder our Lord talks about refining fire in the Bible?

Psalm 66:8-12 “Bless God! Give Him a thunderous welcome! He set us on the road to life. He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires…pushed us to our very limit…finally brought us to a well-watered place” (The Message Version).

God trains us by allowing certain fiery trials in our lives, but look at the final destination: A well-watered place.  A refreshing place. A place of abundance. A place that flourishes with life.

Difficulties and struggles are prime training ground, and we can easily be pushed to our limit.  But consider the following.  I have a buddy whose child needed certain medical treatment but was turned away because of a scheduling issue.  The treatment was time sensitive, and she called me near hysteria.  Old-timey Yenise would have joined her in screaming, “OH KNOW! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?” But well-trained Yenise, in a calmness that can only come from God, very quietly said that if God wanted that test today, it would happen.  We prayed and handed God the reins on the way to the medical center. I calmly and persistently explained the issue to a less-than-kind receptionist, but I kept my cool, and the child was eventually seen. It was all a result of my having been there in similar situations, situations where my first reaction was to FREAK OUT.  Situations where praying was the last thing on my mind, wondering if it even made a difference. But I learned and continue to learn to seek Him first, no matter what, and practically demand the peace He says He gives.  

I remained unfrazzled in that circumstance, and my buddy and I were both better off because of it.  There is such a benefit to acknowledging God as the Lord of your life and blessing His name.  Thanking Him that He will bring something good out of your troubles.  Thanking Him that you will be stronger as a result of the fire. Thanking Him that the stuff that used to frazzle you is no longer an issue.  Thanking Him that your life will never ever shatter when He is in control.  And thanking Him that a well-watered, cool, refreshing place, drenched in blessings is in your future.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our Father, and we trust You during our training. We all want to arrive safely to the well-watered places of life, and You know best how to get us there. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

The Name of the Lord

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” 

I love the word fortified in the passage above.  It’s a powerful description that means the tower protects against attack, furnishes a means of resisting force, and imparts vigor and strength” (dictionary.com).

The name of the Lord, our friend, Jesus, protects us when we have a problem, strengthens us when there is trouble, helps us resist enemies, like fear, and gives us the energy to face our day.

But first we must run to Him.   

PRAYER: Lord, We run to You today.  We are in a hurry to receive Your protection and strength.  Thank You that we find peace and safety in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Dig a Little

Greetings,

The state of Florida has a website called Florida Treasure Hunt, and it was set up so people like me, who forgot about a deposit I made at the electric company 30 years ago, can claim that cash.  I periodically check it, and it’s fun to get a little unexpected money.

I also like the use of the word “treasure” in the website because it implies you have to do a little digging to uncover what you are owed.  That perhaps your moolah was buried underneath a mound of forgetfulness and/or neglect but that you are still entitled to it.

And that is precisely why God uses the word treasure in this verse:

Colossians 2:2-3 God wants us woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know about Him. Then we will have minds confident and at rest. Focused on Christ.  All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in Him and nowhere else.”

The very best of the very best of sanity, understanding, insight, know-how, learning, intelligence, judgment, prudence, stability, comprehension, reason, discernment, ability, awareness, insight, and power are in Christ alone, BUT, you have to dig a little.

All the above does not automatically happen.  We have to do our part.  Is it worth our while to go for it or, should I say, Him? To pray and read the Bible? Only if you want a confident mind that is at rest.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are our Treasure. We focus on You today and thank You that You desire to share all that You are with us. We desperately need You and invite Your wisdom and knowledge into our lives.  Our lives are so much better when we are sane, discerning, and prudent, when we have Your ability flowing through us so we can be stable and aware.  The applications are endless, and we need You. We are so grateful that You make Yourself completely available for anyone who makes the effort.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.