Fill the Bowl~

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."

 

Paul wrote this verse while under house arrest, and what I love about it is that he is confident that teamwork will set him free. "Deliverance." It means liberation. It means a change in circumstance. And God, for whatever reason, has made it so that you and I get to participate in His handiwork.

 

This is a huge privilege and responsibility, and I know that we all take this seriously.

 

Think about it: We pray, and Jesus Himself changes our situation.

 

What situation do you or someone you love need to see a deliverance in or deliverance from?

 

Notice how the verse does not say,..."as you pray for me OR the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me." It says "AND" because our words and concerns and desires and convos to God go together/are in tandem with the Spirit of Jesus.

 

This is great news for someone like me who loves to talk. It is not a waste of time. In fact, Revelation 5:8 assures us that right now with Jesus there are "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's holy people."

 

Every last word you have ever offered is treasured by our Lord. It is not misplaced or ignored. I find that so beautiful and comforting. I also see it as an encouragement to fill the bowl.

 

Who needs prayer today in your life and for what reason?

 

I received a prayer request from a buddy whose hubby needs a little mental adjustment. She desires for him to be more peaceful and not so anxious about some things. She knows I am putting this out here today as an example of the kind of deliverance she expects from prayer and the Spirit of Jesus.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We are humbled and amazed that our part makes a difference. Thank You that we can be proactive through prayer. We are blessed to be able to join forces with You--the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. Today we fill the bowl for ___________, who needs ___________. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

In Tandem~

Monday Greetings~

 

As you all know, I love to ride the tandem bike with Jorge. We can often be seen on the weekends waving to curious onlookers and tsk tsking the ones who are crude to me when I put my feet up to rest.

 

Favorite memories from our bike riding include the time he schooled me in the supreme importance of making eye contact with the driver in the car before proceeding through an intersection, and then at the very next intersection--in direct gross violation of his own lesson--he failed to make eye contact and yes, we got hit by a car.

 

I have a picture somewhere. No big deal. The car was stopped, and when we rode in front of it, it slightly accelerated and hit the back tire, and I crumbled very unballerina like to the ground. Please stand up and clap for me now because I did not say anything sarcastic or rude to Jorge. He was so temporarily blinded by grief at the thought of my being hurt that it would have been cruel to taunt him.

 

 

I waited three whole days before I attacked.

 

But what I love most about the tandem is that when we ride, Jorge and I are close--we're a team. I can drink water without fear of falling, I can talk on the phone. I can hand him things from his knapsack and wipe the sweat off his brow. I can kidney punch him just for fun. It's great, and it's a true joint effort. We can go twice as fast and twice as far.

 

What happens when we team up with God? When we're tandem with Him?

 

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."

 

When these two things happen simultaneously--prayer and Jesus helping--deliverance happens.

 

Never ever underestimate your responsibility or the power of prayer.

 

The question is, deliverance from what?

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have set up this universe that for whatever reason, You allow us to make an impact in our lives and the lives of those we love through prayer. Help us to never give up. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

God Makes it Grow~

TGIF Greetings~

Thirty two years ago--more or less--the man who would become my husband puffed his cheeks out as far as they would go to make fun of a certain someone riding in a car alongside his who was chubby.  On and on this went for about four blocks, and then that certain someone, who was a cop, pulled the car that Jorge was riding in over to side of the road--full blasting lights and all.

The officer, who had a partner with him, separated Jorge from the other two drivers and proceeded to interrogate him.  Jorge vehemently denied that he was making fun of the cop's girth, which was a desperate lie, but was eventually set free.

Wouldn't it have been nice if Jorge would have exercised self-control?

If God is only calling us to self-control and not controlling others, what are we to do when those we love make poor decisions?  Is it a lost cause?

Heavens no!

Stormie Omartian, who has written numerous books on prayer makes a great statement.

"We don't have to stand on the sidelines of life and helplessly watch while our kids make important life decisions.  We get in the game through prayer."

I LOVE THAT!

1 Corinthians 3:6

"I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."

While we can not control anyone we can plant seeds in their hearts.  We can water those seeds, and then stand back and watch while God brings the beautiful growth.

We plant and water through prayer but also through practical application by setting the example.  Our kids imitate us whether we realize it or not.  If we are critical, they tend to be critical.  But if we are forgiving, they tend to be forgiving too...

Having self-control has a positive impact on those around us.  The best part is that when we view our responsibilities the way God does, it takes the pressure off to want to make sure everyone is doing the right thing all of the time.    

Let's focus on planting and watering and thank God for the growth He promises.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord,  Thank You that You have trusted us with planting and watering.  That, in and of itself, is a mighty responsibility. Give us the strength to do it wisely.  But the harder part of seeing those efforts come to fruition comes from You.  Help us not to self-condemn, self-criticize, or derive our self-worth from the lack of self-control in others.  We have planted and watered today through prayer.  We trust You to do Your part.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~     

Happy Birthday to Me~

Independence Day greetings~


Today we will temporarily skip this week's DEVO topic because it's my birthday! Yea:)  But before I give a self-promoting shout out to me, I first and foremost give a shout out to God who made my life possible.  For all the highs and lows that come with living, He is incomparably the highest high for me.  Next, here is a shout out to our great country.  I LOVE YOU, AMERICA!  You're still the greatest nation in the universe.  Also, a shout out to each of you.  All of you are precious and immeasurably treasured by God; give yourselves a hug.  And last but never least, a shout out to me.

Happy Birthday, Yenisita!!!!

And now I will share my birthday verse with you all.

Isaiah 46:4 "I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are with us from beginning to end until the day You carry us into Your presence.  Thank You for Your constant companionship.  In Jesus' name, Amen to that!  Blessings:)

Self-Control~

Salutations~

 

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

 

 

Based on the verse above here's a neat and concise list of the gifts God gives when we live His way: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.

 

 

All these are the fruits that will grow and thrive in our orchards.  And all these are necessary for enjoying life.  We should also be asking God regularly to help us and our children produce these fruits.  But today I want to hone in one particular fruit that seems to often elude us and whose lack of in our life produces misery.  I am talking, of course, about self-control.

 

 

What happens when you try to control your spouse? Your kids? The weather? Someone else's reaction? God?

 

 

Simply stated--You can't!

 

 

And when we can not control something we feel helpless and afraid.

 

 

If only we could choose for our spouse when they fall into temptation.  If only we could say "no to drugs" on behalf of little Johnny.  If only we could make sure everyone driving around on the friendly streets of Miami were properly licensed and insured.  If only we could make sure that everyone else around us is always nice, always loving, always kind...In short, always producing fragrant fruit in a fertile orchard.  

 

 

All of us with half a brain know that this is not the way life works.  We really have very little control over anything much less anyone--except ourselves.

 

 

It's called self-control for a reason, and that is because you are really the only one you can control.

 

 

This does not mean we don't try in vain to control situations or other people, but more often than not, when we assume this huge impossibility and fail, we feel like failures and this leads to unhappiness.

 

 

Ask yourself what you have been really down about lately or just in general, and more than likely it will have to do with a situation beyond your control.  

 

 

For example: (all the names of my brave friends have been changed to protect their innocence.)

 

 

Pierre la Franc has been really low lately--precisely since 2007.  This is when the economy started tanking, and he took a huge personal hit.  He blamed everyone and everything and felt his happy light slowly starting to fade.  The power of positive thinking was not powerful enough, and no matter how hard he ordered his personal finances to turn around, they would not budge.  It was out of his control.  

 

 

Sally G. Away invested a lot of time and a lot of effort in raising her two little girls.  One of whom chose the straight and narrow and one of whom did not.  The one who did not went down a path of self-destruction that destroyed Sally as well.  Over and over and over again she blamed herself for her daughter's choices, and in the process fell into a severe depression.

 

 

At the root of the problem was that both these fine folks were trying to control something beyond their ability.  Add to that a heaping helping of self-condemnation and it's easy to see how these life-scenarios led to such unhappiness.        

 

 

And then there's my buddy Lois who was so convinced that her daughter deserved a certain role at school that she expended a lot of time and energy rallying the higher-ups to choose her child and was highly insulted when it did not work out.  She almost withdrew her child's enrollment because of it and would have forfeited many years of fun and friendships.  We laugh about it now, but back then it was a perfect example of "forcing one's way in life," and "not channeling one's energies wisely."

 

 

I think we can all relate.  Let us focus on the one thing we can control and trust God with the rest.

 

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are right.  Self-control is the only control we have.  Thank You that You have the rest under Your watchful eye.  In Jesus' name, AMEN

It's a Growth Process~

Salutations~

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Yesterday we learned that there is a better way of doing things, and it's God's way. Doing things His way--no matter how difficult and frustrating--leads to gifts. And these gifts appear the same way fruit does in an orchard--little by little.

 

It's a growth process. You don't plant an apple seed and then see a million apples the next day.

 

The good news, however, is that eventually there's a harvest.

 

So my shout out to you today is to give yourselves a break. When you momentarily lose your mind and overreact at something--rein it in next time. Love more, be kinder, be gentler, be good, do good, have joy, promote peace, and before you know it your orchard will be the most fragrant and fruitful of all. So much so, in fact, that others will take notice.

 

Your spouse, kids, relatives, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers will marvel at how you can be so jolly all the time. Keep in mind that this takes a dedicated effort. None of us starts off perfectly lovely all of the time. Practice really does make perfect.

 

Start thinking of all the challenges in life as an oppotunity to bear fruit.

 

Tomorrow we will look at one of the number one causes of being unhappy and what all this talk about fruit has to do with it.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want to do things Your way but we get in the way of it ourselves with our very human limitations. Strengthen us to do the right thing because we all need and desire the gifts You bring when we do. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

God's Way~

Good afternoon all you lovely saints. This past weekend one of you celebrated one of the greatest highs of life—your child got married! Your exact words to me were, “It is a tremendous blessing that my daughter married such a godly young man from such a fine Christian family!”

 

Amen to that!

 

Maybe getting from point A to point B wasn’t perfect or problem free, but a final assessment of how it all went down reminds me of a great Bible passage.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

 

What is “God’s way?”

 

God’s way is primarily about seeking Him and loving one another. It means we include Him in all our decisions and then exercise patience and forgiveness with others. It means we put Him and others first and put ourselves second. It means we pour out our troubles and complaints to Him and keep our traps shut in front of others for the greater blessing of keeping the peace. It means we practice simple kindness. It means we make sacrifices. You all know exactly what I mean.

 

Our efforts are rewarded with gifts. Go back to the verse and look at all the things we receive when we get on board with His way. Exuberance about life? Sounds awesome! Serenity? I sure could use more of that! Able to marshal and direct our energies wisely? You mean there are unwise ways in which we direct our energies?

 

All this week we will dissect this passage, but today let’s thank God that He is a giver of gifts to all those who are willing to live His way.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We all desire to receive the gifts You are willing to bring into our lives. Help us to embrace Your way of living. We all desire to have orchards filled with delicious and satisfying fruit. In Jesus name, AMEN~