Raise the Roof!

Greetings,

Today's DEVO is a prayer of worship with verses taken from Psalms 16, 147 and 150 (The Message Version). May the Lord bless our souls!

"We shout praises to You, our God, and we raise the roof for the Rock Who saved us.  We invite You to take our hand so that our feet and the feet of those we love will always be on the right path.

"We enter Your presence singing praises because You are the best. Your hands sculpted the earth, and with those same powerful hands, You take care of us.  You are our God! Hallelujah!

"Praising You is the right thing to do.  You rebuild our lives when we need it.  You put us on our feet again. You heal our broken hearts and bandage our wounds.  You are great, with limitless strength, and we depend on Your strength.

"Thank You that when we praise You, we get Your attention. You make our city secure, and You bless our children. You put the best bread on our tables. You launch Your promises earthward - how swift and sure they come!"

Amen! Amen! Amen!

What Can Jesus do For You Today?

Greetings,

Bartimaeus was a blind and lowly beggar sitting by the roadside when his ears perked up and he heard Jesus walking by.  Seizing the moment, fully aware of Christ's reputation as a Miracle worker,  having heard that our Lord had fed the thousands and healed the sick, he shouted, “Jesus, have mercy on me!”

Well, having mercy is one of our Lord's specialties; hearing a cry for help moves His heart.  So Jesus stopped and paid attention. “What do you want Me to do for you” (Mark 10:51)?

Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate. “Lord, I want to see.”

The answer came quickly. “Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus along the road” (Mark 10:52).

This short passage teaches us that it's okay to shout out for mercy.  Jesus always hears and will stop and pay attention to us just like He did for Bartimaeus.  It's also okay to tell Jesus what we want Him to do.  He literally invites us to share our deepest longings with Him.  Bartimaeus certainly didn't hold back, and he received exactly what he wanted.  Jesus will always answer with what is best for us! 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I take You at Your Word; this is what I want You to do for me today: ___________________.  By faith, I receive the answer You have for me because You know best. In Your name I pray, Amen!

Write Your Own Passage!

Greetings,

The Bible is filled with fascinating passages like this one:

“Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite, most blessed of women is she, favored above all women who dwell in tents! Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk in a dish fit for lords. And then she took a tent peg in her left hand and a worker’s hammer in her right, and she struck Sisera.  She broke and battered his head; she pierced his temple, and he dropped dead” (Judges 5:24-27). 

Sisera was the captain of a mighty enemy army, and he was greatly feared in Israel.  But in the verses above we learn that he was overthrown by a gal. That’s right.  After a brutal battle where Sisera saw his defeat coming, he abandoned his troops and landed in Jael’s tent. She recognized the enemy, and she was willing to fight.  Jael was a mighty woman who brought victory! 

If I could write my own passage it would say this:

“Yenise, wife of Jorge, the New Jerseyan, most blessed of women is she, favored above all women who live in Westchester.  The enemy came close to her dwelling, and she met him head-on.  He tempted her and her family, and she prayed for them not to fall for it.  Then she chose prayer as a way of life for every single obstacle and trouble that headed their way, and she struck that enemy down.  She broke every single plan he had for destruction in the mighty name of Jesus, and victory was hers and her family’s!”

Now go write your own passage!

Last-minute Shingles

Greetings, 

On the last DEVO I shared, we gained a new perspective about fleas, that the infestation God allowed among women in a concentration camp kept them safe from cruel guards who would have otherwise taken horrific advantage of them.  The fleas were a gift from God.  Can we say the same about other things that happen to us that we may not fully understand?  

Today I want to share something about my sister, Aldys, who has graciously given me permission to do so. 

For the past several weeks she has been dealing with some severe pain in her side and after visiting several different specialists, her OB/GYN finally narrowed it down to a cyst that is growing on her ovary.  The pain has been unbearable at times, and she was scheduled for surgery last Friday, October 12, 2018.  She was actually looking forward to it because even though it meant hormone replacement therapy (she had her other ovary removed a few years ago) and a few weeks recovering, she was eager to be pain-free.

But two days before the operation she noticed a little rash on her backside.  She immediately went to the emergency room, and that’s where they diagnosed shingles.  They started her on anti-viral medication right then and there, and then she called me, struggling to hold onto hope.  Having shingles meant no surgery.  All those pre-op tests useless.  All the preparation a waste.  Worst of all, she would have to endure the pain until surgery could be rescheduled.

When she called me with the news, she was on the verge of tears, and I struggled to stay positive.  I did not understand the timing or the purpose.  But hey, I am a child of the living God and I got my act together and did what God has called each of us to do: pray, be an encouragement, put trust in the One Who is trustworthy.

I reminded her that we have been praying about this for a while already.  Every word, concern, and fear has been heard by Jesus.  That He is in control and has good reasons for allowing this.  When I first started my upbeat chat, I kind of believed everything I said, but by the time I was finished, I fully embraced everything we spoke about as TRUTH and that NOTHING would take our eyes and faith and hope off Christ.

Well, dear brothers and sisters, the shingles is what was causing the pain in the first place!  The cyst is now a non-issue.  Had that rash not appeared, she would have been operated in vain!  She would have started hormone therapy for no good reason!  She would have missed work for nothing!

Those last-minute shingles kept her from unnecessary surgery. Amen, amen amen!

“You parents - if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good and advantageous gifts to those who ask Him" (Matthew 7:9-11)!

Those last-minute shingles were an “advantageous gift” indeed.

The key in the verse above is to ask. When we ask, He gives. When we pray, He responds.  If you are experiencing some “shingles” of your own, even if you have been praying for a long time, trust the Lord that something good is in the works.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we ask for Your forgiveness for all the times we have complained about receiving “shingles” when all along it was exactly what we needed to be blessed and bless others. Help us to trust Your goodness over what our eyes see and what our puny little human minds think. Change our perspective today.  When we ask You, You give only the best gifts. We are grateful. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God-given Fleas~

“You parents -  if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good and advantageous gifts to those who ask Him" (Matthew 7:9-11)!

Greetings,

Corrie Ten Boom is one of my faith heroes.  She was an AMAZING woman who helped many Jews during World War II.  Eventually, she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp.  You can read her inspiring and powerful story in her book The Hiding Place.   As you might imagine, she endured many incredibly difficult situations.  And just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, she and the others in her barracks came down with fleas.  Fleas in a concentration camp where there were no ointments, baths, remedies or relief.  God, really?  But Corrie was a mighty woman of faith, and she thanked God for those fleas.  She believed as a praying child of God that there must have been a good reason for them. 

It turns out that the fleas were a God-given blessing that spared Corrie and the other women unspeakable horrors at the hands of monstrous, abusive guards who would systematically rape and torture other prisoners; the guards would not go anywhere near the infestation. The God-given fleas even allowed Corrie to share the gospel and have prayer meetings in those barracks.  So many women came to know Jesus because of those fleas.  Imagine that! Fleas being responsible for a legacy that will last all eternity.

If we really think about it, those fleas were actually the choicest of "bread" and "fish" – the best possible gift from God.  Tremendously "good" and beyond "advantageous."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes we think we have received "fleas" when all along it was exactly what we needed to ultimately be blessed and bless others.  Help us to trust Your goodness over what our eyes see or what our minds think.  Change our perspective today; You are the best Gift-Giver. We are grateful.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Willow's Rope~

*Originally published March 2018

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 unraveling.  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.

I Have Beautiful Feet!

Tuesday greetings!

I skipped my last pedicure appointment on purpose; I am giving my nails a break from all the polish.  But at this point, I desperately need some clipping, cuticle cutting, and fresh polish.  Essie Marshmallow, please! I will also require a professional-grade sander and copious amounts of coconut oil to smooth out my calluses.  And yet, dear people, I HAVE BEAUTIFUL FEET!

Romans 10:15 "…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

That’s right!  Whenever you or I get up and go to encourage someone with the good news of God’s forgiveness, eternal salvation, joy, love, hope, provision, faith, peace, healing, and protection, that makes our feet – pedicured or not – BEAUTIFUL!

Notice how this verse does not say, “How beautiful are the lips of those who bring good news.”  Sometimes, we need to get up and go and make a person-to-person connection.   A phone call or a text is not enough.  The best part is that when we show up, the focus will be on God’s goodness and not on how we look.

Over the years there have been many lovely feet that showed up and reached out to help me and pray with me in my moment of need.  It was life-giving and life transforming. 

May all our feet be “beautiful” on a regular basis.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the beautiful feet of those who have reached out to us in the past.  Bless them for their encouraging words, and bless us as we get up and go encourage others.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Our Safe Haven~

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you and completely protect you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall."

Greetings,

Jorge and I like the beach  -  especially early in the morning.  We fill our little wagon with towels, food, a radio, swim noodles, a radio, sunscreen etc...  But the most important thing we take  -  the one thing that will enable us to enjoy our day  -  is our pop-up tent.  Positioned just right, it is the perfect barrier between us and the hot smoking sun.

God covers us as well.  He does so completely, and it's a safe haven.  No matter how hot it gets, we are protected and secure under His wings.   This happens when we pray, and we will always find refuge when we seek it.

Let us seek!

PRAYER: Dear Lord,  We look to You today to be our protector.  It is comforting to know that in an increasingly dangerous world, You keep us from evil and temptation.  When we are under Your wings, we are close to Your heart and that gives us peace.  How beautiful it is to pray and activate our faith in You.  In Jesus' name, Amen~

This is the Moment!

Greetings,

When Jorge and I were first married we happily moved into our little condo with all the joy that comes from being newlyweds.  Our first washer/dryer was a small stackable combo unit, and I remember how nicely it fit in the small utility room.  One day the dryer started making a funny noise, and Jorge, Mr. Fix-it that he is, removed the back panel, tinkered with it for a while, and reassembled it.  It worked perfectly fine, except there were 16 tiny screws left over that Jorge did not know where they were supposed to go, so off to the surplus screw jar they went.  Jorge, of course, was proud of himself nonetheless.

He and I have something in common: Jorge enjoys taking things apart, rebuilding them, and feeling a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.  I also enjoy breaking down scripture, examining every bit of a verse, extracting as much truth as I can so I can build myself up – encourage myself, bring joy to myself, and bring peace to myself.

Take Esther 4:14, “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" 

I have known this verse since forever.  But yesterday I read another translation that says, “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”

Suddenly, I wanted to break this verse down.  I wanted to examine and extract any inspiration God had for me. 

Let’s think about it.  Why were we born when we were born?  Why weren’t we born in 1865?  Why weren’t we born 20 years ago or 20 years from now?

Could it be that right now, at this very moment, we are to use our life, and the season of our personal existence in the continuum of history, to do something AMAZING?

Esther had to be born at just the right time to just the right family to be just the right age when God called her to literally marry the one person who could save the Jews, her own race, from annihilation.   It’s an incredible story that reminds us that this is the moment for which we have been created.

In the absence of history-altering scenarios like saving an entire race of people, is there still something grand that we can be a part of?

Absolutely! We can all pray, and prayer changes lives and circumstances.  It has positive effects on our families, friends, communities, churches, and yes, even the government. We should never ever underestimate its power because of the Almighty One to Whom we are praying.  

Not one of us is alive on October 2, 2018 by accident.  God has us here for a GREAT PURPOSE!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that we are important and matter to You.  We are living right now because You have a purpose for us that only we can fulfill.  Make it clear to us what You want us to do. We are willing to step in and change the course of history.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.