Divine Favor Fave

Monday morning greetings:)

The second definition of the word bless (as defined by dictionary.com) is:
to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on.

I love how those words sound--Divine Favor...

Dictionary.com provides an eye-opening explanation as we peel back the layers of this verse. "Favor" means "friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking; favoritism; to be partial to; prefer; to help; assist; to do a kindness for;endorsing; provided with advantages; specially priviledged."

What makes it divine is that God Himself does all those things for us. Jabez had it right; who wouldn't want advantages and preferential treatment from God?

I have a license plate tag that says, "Jesus loves you, but I'm His favorite." But the truth is we're all His favorites. Hebrews 4:16 invites every single person to "have confidence, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There they will receive mercy and find grace to help them just when they need it."

In other words, God is waiting to show us preferential treatment;
like Jabez, all we have to do is approach God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for inviting us to approach You. This means You are approachable! We need and ask for Your divine favor--for help, approval, assistance, and advantages. Especially in this area ____________. Jabez has been a powerful reminder that You grant requests, so grant ours. In Jesus' name, Amen~





Have a beautiful day~

Bless Me~

And finally we can say...TGIF:)

We know by now that Jabez cried out and the first thing he asked for was, "Oh, that you would bless me..."

BLESS ME!!!

What does this beautiful verb mean?

As always, the fine folks at dictionary.com have great, multiple definitions.

1. to make or pronounce holy.

2. to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on: Bless this house.

3. to bestow good of any kind upon: a nation blessed with peace.

4. to protect or guard from evil (usually used interjectionally): Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!

I'll take all four, but first things first. God has the means and the power to make us holy, which means He call us unto Himself and helps us live the Christian lifestyle.

In essence, the very first thing Jabez cried out for was help to make him a better man. The Christian lifestyle is NOT characterized by perfection or trying to be perfect, but rather by a daily dependence on God through prayer whereby we admit that without His help we are not going to make it. We need Him to help us with our emotional stability and with our work ethic. We need His help to maximize our ability to love and love well. We need His help to walk in kindness, patience, forgiveness, gentleness, peace, and self-control.

Jabez was wise to acknowledge God as the source of blessing in his life, and we should too. It's easy to see how if each of us ask for God's blessing, those around us will automatically be blessed as well.

One day at work I had a particularly rough day when someone said something to me extremely offensive. Jesus Himself would have understood if I would have retaliated with judo chop to the neck. But then again, Jesus is the biggest source and provider of blessing in my life, so I backed down. Instead, I calmly (Evidence number one that God helps us make better decisions) stood up and said in the most regal of tones, "I give thee the gift of my immediate forgiveness." (Evidence number two that God helps us make better decisions and that sometimes He likes it when we speak with a British accent). I gathered my things, because the only recourse after this highly dramatic event was to leave for the day. Before I even got to the car, this person called me and profusely apologized. (Evidence number three that God helps us make better decisions and that when He blesses us with the ability to have the right response others are motivated to respond in a right manner as well).

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Bless us today; make us holy. Pour out Your spirit on us so we, our children and everyone we come in contact can live rightly. When we live according to Your ways, we make wise decisions that lead to life. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

I-Need-This-Now~

TGIAF--Thank God it's Almost Friday:)

I love it when a DEVO hits a nerve, and yesterday's was a doozy. Many of you were happy to see that not only is it okay to pray for yourself, but that God actually welcomes it and shows His approval by "granting the requests."

In honor of this awesome revelation let's examine the Jabez prayer.

1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Jabez cried...

When the kids were in elementary school I made friends with another mom who was a nurse. One day she climbed onto a stool and started cleaning the ceiling fan blades. She lost her balance and fell backward and landed so awkwardly that she fractured both elbows. Yes, at the same time.

Picture this poor gal without the use of her arms for eight weeks. Picture both arms in casts up to the shoulders with a stick at the hip to keep them at an angle. Picture her needing help for EVERYTHING.

And when I think of her I think of Jabez, because on the day she fell no one was home and she cried out--loudly--for over an hour until a neighbor arrived.

Jabez's prayer was not some softly spoken, whispered, half-hearted request. It was an urgent, I-need-this-now petition. Time was of the essence!!!

God answers these kind of prayers. What do feel you feel the need to cry out for today?

And please note that Jabez cried out for more than one thing. Think of it as invitation to bring all your concerns before the Lord.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You know we sometimes need to cry out for help, and thank You that You answer. Today I cry out for __________! In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Me, My, Me, Me, & Me~

Good morning, all you precious and blessed children of the Most-high God.

Last night one of Rayray's college buddies visited, and over the years I have really grown to love these kids, who like all of us, are trying to live their lives and figure out their purpose.  

So when I sensed the opportunity to get all Biblical, I flat out asked this young man if we could pray before he left.  I kind of chuckled when he automatically stood up and made the prayer circle formation. (He remembered all those times I would "politely" encourage them to say grace before eating.  Okay--maybe I did mention one or two stories of people who ate poisoned food but only the one who prayed was spared a cruel and agonizing death.  Rayraywould always say that I was indicting my own cooking).

Nevertheless, as we stood in our little circle, I asked what he wanted for himself and he said: "I do not feel comfortable asking for myself, but I would like for God to help my mom, dad, and brother."

I prayed for him instead.  It grieves me when people say to me that they don't feel right praying for themselves, and I hear it so often that it's time to set the record straight.  I am not sure where this notion that praying for oneself is somehow wrong or self-centered, but it's out there and it's capital "C" Crazy!

As always the Bible is our infallible guide for living, and it very clearly states--in more than one verse--that we can and should pray for ourselves.  The best verse, however, to drive this point home is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10, "Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!'"  And God granted what he asked."

This is such a fully-loaded verse, but notice the me, my, me, me, and me structure.  It was all about Jabez praying for himself.

And let's not overlook the very last part of the verse: AND GOD GRANTED WHAT HE ASKED.

Could it be that praying for ourselves is actually the best thing for our families?  That when we walk in peace and protection and joy and mental stability it has a way of positively impacting those around us?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your Word is clear that we can and should pray for ourselves.  And most importantly, You grant our requests.  We lift up our voices with Jabez's and pray that You would bless us and enlarge our borders.  We pray that Your hand would be with us--guiding us--and that You would keep us from harm.  In Jesus name, AMEN~

Selah~

I'm back, and I had a lovely Holiday. I have always said that it's not what you have but who you're with. And I found myself thanking God numerous times for the wonderful family He has given me, which this year, included a daughter-in-law, a boyfriend, and a new baby. More than once as we gathered to share a meal, play games, bury someone in the sand, or take a nap with a chubby baby, I literally had a "Selah" moment.

If you look at the end of several of the verses in the Psalms, many of them end with the word, "Selah." It means to pause for a moment.

While reading scripture there are so many life-changing truths that taking a moment to let them come alive in your soul will fill you with peace. Likewise, as we live our life and pause to enjoy the many blessings God has given us, it will fill our souls with joy and gratitude.

Honestly, next time I am having a rough day at work I will think about these two pictures and thank God that His goodness outweighs everything else in my life.

Psalm 63:3 "Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!" SELAH!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We praise You for Your unfailing love, and we praise You for the many blessings we receive each and every day. Help us to always re-direct our thoughts to the good and the lovely. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Baby Eater.  Yes, that's the entire foot!

Hold me Close~

TGIF Greetings:)

One of my heroes of faith is a dear friend of mine who is an 80 year old woman.

We actually have several things in common, like a love for Christ and a never-ending concern for our families that keeps us in prayer.

And this precious soul has entered a unexpected season of life where she is sole caretaker for her four-year-old great-grandson.

When the call came that this little boy needed a place to call home, she looked up to heaven and asked God for the strength to do it. Why strength?  Because she already had the love and desire; at her age she needed the energy.

Imagine trying to raise an energetic pre-schooler who regularly goes in the backyard and yells out for his mom because he is sure she must be lost.  He does not grasp the fact that he has been abandoned.

Strong words, but true.  Seven months have passed and not a call or a visit or an anything from his mom or anyone else.

Yet talk to my friend and she will eagerly explain that her youth has been renewed.  That she has been given a purpose, and she will see it through.  That the adventure she is on, while sometimes difficult, is always filled to overflowing with love.  That a particular Bible verse has exploded with new meaning: Psalm 27:10 "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close."

God is holding this little boy close--through the loving arms of his great-grandma:)

How is God holding you close today? It may not be in a "traditional" way, but it is so, nonetheless. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, No matter what, You will find a way to make sure we are held. Open our eyes to see it, and give us grateful hearts.  In Jesus' name, Amen~

Let it Go~

Praise Him for the beauty of the earth!

Last night as I watched the sunset--I can never grow tired of seeing it--I remembered an awesome verse: Ephesians 4:26 "Do not let the sun go down on your anger."

God knows we get angry sometimes.  The key is to let it go.  When the sun goes down it takes the heat of the day with it, and that's what God wants us to do with the heat of anger--let it give way to the coolness of the night.  Besides, have you ever tried sleeping when it's hot?  It's uncomfortable!    

Anger has a way of growing if we let it sit or sleep with it.  Just ask Jorge about that time I very immaturely did not speak to him for three days over a fight that started out as, "Why did you forget the milk? You know how much I need my milk!"

So dumb; such a waste of energy.  Next time you see sun going down, remember to let any anger you may have go with it.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the wisdom of the Word.  Help us to let go of our anger so that we can sleep well.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~