By Bethany Lashbrook
This Week's Verse: 1 John 4:10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”(NIV)
Devotion:
Easter is fast approaching, and with that comes the season of Lent. I looked up Lent and found out that it comes from a word lenten, meaning springtime. Lent is a period of forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence before Easter. Let’s take a look at these three words:
Fasting: abstaining from some or all food and drink.
Prayer: seeking to activate a connection to God through deliberate intentional practice. Prayer may be individual or communal and can take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words, song, or complete silence.
Penitence: Sorrow for sins or faults.
Early Christians prepared for Easter by fasting and praying for three days. In some places this was extended to the entire week before Easter, which is now known as "Holy Week". Currently, this time has been extended to forty days because of the length of time Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert.
I don’t know about you, but abstaining from food and Yahoo is hard enough for me. I’m not talking 40 days either – just one day!! Clint and I debated giving up something for Lent this year. We never decided on what to give up, so that’s what we did – gave up. Neither of us sacrificed anything for our God.
It’s so hard to sacrifice something, isn’t it? Yet, John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV, emphasis mine)
God gave me His Son. HE SACRIFICED HIS SON FOR ME! Yet, I still find it hard to sacrifice something for Him. Even though Lent has started, I believe it is time to show the Lord how much he means to me and give something up for Him.
I have from now until Easter to do some sort of fasting, prayer, and penitence. Letting you all in on it will help to hold me accountable! I will let you know how I did after Easter. In the meantime, if sacrificing isn’t your choice for the holiday, remember to prepare your heart for Easter – for the death, the burial, and the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Lord, please help me to prepare my heart for Easter. Show me what it is that I need to sacrifice for this season. Help me to stay strong, remain in prayer, and keep my eyes focused on You, so that I may give YOU the glory when I complete this season of Lent.
Application:
-To prepare your heart for Easter, read one of the gospels that give details of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
-Would you consider giving up something from your life with me? It would be great to have the support of Christian women on this new adventure!
Power Verses:
Hebrews 9:26, "He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."(NKJV)
Romans 1:2-7, "The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah."(MSG)
Showing posts with label Dying to self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dying to self. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
No More Bickering
by Kathy Lay
This Week's Verse: 1 Peter 4:8,"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (NLT)
Devotion:
Bickering. And more bickering. Most of the time my three kiddos get along pretty well. They invent games together, ask for permission before entering each others’ bedrooms, and share their things. But lately—I don’t know if it’s winter and cabin fever, or what—the bickering has escalated.
And consequently, so has my temper a few times.
It drives me absolutely nuts to hear the smart-aleck jabs, one-upmanship comparisons, and outright put-downs. My children are supposed to love one another and live in harmony. Right?
Maybe I need to lay down some new rules.
During the latest bickering session when I was just about ready to start pulling out hair (I won't say whether it was mine or theirs!) I was made vividly aware of the fact that my Heavenly Father knew exactly how I felt!
It struck me that in the Old Testament--under the law--God's anger burned against Israel when they were unfaithful to Him. Consequently, under the new covenant, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Also under the law, God was appalled at how his children were treating each other. But now, under grace, the second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves.
Not necessarily "new" rules, as the original ten commandments still apply, but more of a shift in perspective. Instead of volumes of "do this; don't do that" we are now told to love above all else. Why?
Because love covers a multitude of sins.
I know my kids love each other deep down, but showing it at all times is a constant battle of the flesh. It is for most of us. But every little victorious showing of love covers a sin we might otherwise have committed.
That's why oftentimes when the kids have been ugly to each other, Shane and I will have them lock eyes, apologize, and hug. The actions of love--even if they don't feel it right away--will usually result in the feeling later. And oh yeah, lots of giggles.
As God's children, we have to stop the bickering, the one-upmanship comparisons, and the put-downs. By loving instead, we're covering a multitude of sins. Thank you, Jesus, for doing it first.
Lord, when we feel like complaining and arguing, when we want to take sides and tear others down, fill us with your love instead. Help us to show it and eventually feel it. Use it to cover sins, Jesus, in Your Name.
Application:
Develop a plan for the next time (and you know it's coming!) you're around or being pulled into an argument. How can you show love to diffuse sin?
Power Verses:
Phillipians 3:15-16, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."(NIV)
Phillipians 2:14-15, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."(NIV)
This Week's Verse: 1 Peter 4:8,"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (NLT)
Devotion:
Bickering. And more bickering. Most of the time my three kiddos get along pretty well. They invent games together, ask for permission before entering each others’ bedrooms, and share their things. But lately—I don’t know if it’s winter and cabin fever, or what—the bickering has escalated.
And consequently, so has my temper a few times.
It drives me absolutely nuts to hear the smart-aleck jabs, one-upmanship comparisons, and outright put-downs. My children are supposed to love one another and live in harmony. Right?
Maybe I need to lay down some new rules.
During the latest bickering session when I was just about ready to start pulling out hair (I won't say whether it was mine or theirs!) I was made vividly aware of the fact that my Heavenly Father knew exactly how I felt!
It struck me that in the Old Testament--under the law--God's anger burned against Israel when they were unfaithful to Him. Consequently, under the new covenant, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Also under the law, God was appalled at how his children were treating each other. But now, under grace, the second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves.
Not necessarily "new" rules, as the original ten commandments still apply, but more of a shift in perspective. Instead of volumes of "do this; don't do that" we are now told to love above all else. Why?
Because love covers a multitude of sins.
I know my kids love each other deep down, but showing it at all times is a constant battle of the flesh. It is for most of us. But every little victorious showing of love covers a sin we might otherwise have committed.
That's why oftentimes when the kids have been ugly to each other, Shane and I will have them lock eyes, apologize, and hug. The actions of love--even if they don't feel it right away--will usually result in the feeling later. And oh yeah, lots of giggles.
As God's children, we have to stop the bickering, the one-upmanship comparisons, and the put-downs. By loving instead, we're covering a multitude of sins. Thank you, Jesus, for doing it first.
Lord, when we feel like complaining and arguing, when we want to take sides and tear others down, fill us with your love instead. Help us to show it and eventually feel it. Use it to cover sins, Jesus, in Your Name.
Application:
Develop a plan for the next time (and you know it's coming!) you're around or being pulled into an argument. How can you show love to diffuse sin?
Power Verses:
Phillipians 3:15-16, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."(NIV)
Phillipians 2:14-15, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."(NIV)
Friday, October 2, 2009
Being Human
by Marsha Loftis
This Week's Verse: Hebrews 2:14, "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death."
Devotion
I love being human! I love to revel in the marvelous things that God has done and made. I love to hear the birds sing. I love to taste the sweetness of honey. I love to feel the hug of a child. I love to see the sunsets. I love to sing His praises. I love being His creation.
Most of the time. Then there are times where being human is a very rough road to travel. Times when I feel every bump and bruise like a ripened apple! Times when somehow my size eight shoe fits snuggly in my size one mouth. Times when the pain of my broken heart is almost too much to bear. Times when I feel like God has stuck a fork in me and said, "Nope! She's not done yet."
I'm not. I'm not "there" wherever "there" is; I obviously haven't reached that point yet. None of us have and we never will until He calls us home. We are walking, talking, sometimes crawling and falling works of “undoneness”.
Even the great apostle Paul struggled with his “not quite done-ness.” He fought thinking what is right, knowing what is right, and doing what is right.
Romans 7:15-25: “What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. …But I need something more! I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. … I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (MSG)
Being human is HARD! Don’t you think? If Paul struggled like this then who am I to think that I’ve got it all under control?! Have you ever told God, “I got this… I can handle this one alone.”? Well the human condition is hard enough. Why on earth would we want to go it alone?
We have been bought into a relationship with God through Christ’s death and resurrection. We don’t have to do this thing called life alone and we have been made righteous! I know it’s hard to think of ourselves as righteous. After all, we are only human, with all our baggage, our pasts, faults and flaws--a person who is still learning how to be the person that God wants, all the while being righteous and knowing without a doubt that God is not done yet. The same person who is standing on the promise that what works God has started will not cease until that work is done. That person is you! And me..... any one who believes that Jesus died for them AND now lives in them!
Father God, help me to know that I am nothing without You, your love and most of all your grace. Thank you for accepting me when I was not righteous and sending your Son so I may come to you, unashamed, washed, loved and forgiven. Help me to become the person You need me to be, the person I long to be. Help me to do what I know is right even when I feel UN-righteous. I ask all these things in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Application:
Being righteous doesn’t mean we are better than someone else. It only means that we have Saving Grace that allows us to come to God’s throne freely and present our worship, praise, and requests. Shake off that “human-ness,” that feeling of being “not quite done yet.” Let go of that guilt. Deny that shame, that feeling of being unworthy and present yourself to God as a sacrifice. Empty yourself of yourself and let God fill you up with HIM!
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:4-10: “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (MSG)
Romans 8:5, "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!" (MSG)
Romans 5:18-19, “....Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” (NLT)
Romans 8:3, “In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”
This Week's Verse: Hebrews 2:14, "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death."
Devotion
I love being human! I love to revel in the marvelous things that God has done and made. I love to hear the birds sing. I love to taste the sweetness of honey. I love to feel the hug of a child. I love to see the sunsets. I love to sing His praises. I love being His creation.
Most of the time. Then there are times where being human is a very rough road to travel. Times when I feel every bump and bruise like a ripened apple! Times when somehow my size eight shoe fits snuggly in my size one mouth. Times when the pain of my broken heart is almost too much to bear. Times when I feel like God has stuck a fork in me and said, "Nope! She's not done yet."
I'm not. I'm not "there" wherever "there" is; I obviously haven't reached that point yet. None of us have and we never will until He calls us home. We are walking, talking, sometimes crawling and falling works of “undoneness”.
Even the great apostle Paul struggled with his “not quite done-ness.” He fought thinking what is right, knowing what is right, and doing what is right.
Romans 7:15-25: “What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. …But I need something more! I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. … I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (MSG)
Being human is HARD! Don’t you think? If Paul struggled like this then who am I to think that I’ve got it all under control?! Have you ever told God, “I got this… I can handle this one alone.”? Well the human condition is hard enough. Why on earth would we want to go it alone?
We have been bought into a relationship with God through Christ’s death and resurrection. We don’t have to do this thing called life alone and we have been made righteous! I know it’s hard to think of ourselves as righteous. After all, we are only human, with all our baggage, our pasts, faults and flaws--a person who is still learning how to be the person that God wants, all the while being righteous and knowing without a doubt that God is not done yet. The same person who is standing on the promise that what works God has started will not cease until that work is done. That person is you! And me..... any one who believes that Jesus died for them AND now lives in them!
Father God, help me to know that I am nothing without You, your love and most of all your grace. Thank you for accepting me when I was not righteous and sending your Son so I may come to you, unashamed, washed, loved and forgiven. Help me to become the person You need me to be, the person I long to be. Help me to do what I know is right even when I feel UN-righteous. I ask all these things in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Application:
Being righteous doesn’t mean we are better than someone else. It only means that we have Saving Grace that allows us to come to God’s throne freely and present our worship, praise, and requests. Shake off that “human-ness,” that feeling of being “not quite done yet.” Let go of that guilt. Deny that shame, that feeling of being unworthy and present yourself to God as a sacrifice. Empty yourself of yourself and let God fill you up with HIM!
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:4-10: “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (MSG)
Romans 8:5, "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!" (MSG)
Romans 5:18-19, “....Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” (NLT)
Romans 8:3, “In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.”
Friday, January 23, 2009
Die Another Day
by Marsha Loftis
This Week's Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:11, "For we who are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (NASB)
Devotion:
When given the choice between bowing to satan and or having your head chopped off, the answer is an easy one, isn't it? I'd be singing "Pop Goes the Weasel" before they could get the blade ready! Dying that one time for that reason is a 'no brainer'. . .no pun intended.
But what about the times when I make the wrong choice? Making the choice to live for satan in that moment. Isn't that the same thing? Every time I choose to ignore what I know in my heart God wants me to do, I make the same wrong choice.
Why is the decision to lay down my life for my God so simple, but the every day deaths I either choose to endure or choose to ignore are so hard?! Losing my patience, looking down on someone, not helping when I see a need... Ignoring these everyday situations and giving into the flesh kills off a little piece of what God wants me to be. I'm killing myself off anyway, why can't I die to my earthly wants and desires and take that step that will bring me closer to the person God intended?
Every day I choose to die another day. More than that even, every moment I choose to die to myself and what my flesh wants to do and to give God the control over my life. Lordship. Ownership. I am merely a steward for this vessel that He gave me.
Father, I pray that I come to you every time I feel the flesh start to give in. Lend me Your strength to die to my fleshly desires and take one more step toward being the person You want me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application: The next time you feel those fleshy desires, take a moment to pray and decide to offer up the control so you may glorify His name. It will bring you closer to the person who wants to be like Christ. Giving Him control makes you stronger in your walk and gives Him glory!
Power Verses:
Matthew 26:41, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." (NASB)
Romans 6:19, "You can easily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing--not caring about others, not caring about God--the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?" (MSG)
2 Corinthians 4:11, "Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting the best!" (MSG)
This Week's Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:11, "For we who are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (NASB)
Devotion:
When given the choice between bowing to satan and or having your head chopped off, the answer is an easy one, isn't it? I'd be singing "Pop Goes the Weasel" before they could get the blade ready! Dying that one time for that reason is a 'no brainer'. . .no pun intended.
But what about the times when I make the wrong choice? Making the choice to live for satan in that moment. Isn't that the same thing? Every time I choose to ignore what I know in my heart God wants me to do, I make the same wrong choice.
Why is the decision to lay down my life for my God so simple, but the every day deaths I either choose to endure or choose to ignore are so hard?! Losing my patience, looking down on someone, not helping when I see a need... Ignoring these everyday situations and giving into the flesh kills off a little piece of what God wants me to be. I'm killing myself off anyway, why can't I die to my earthly wants and desires and take that step that will bring me closer to the person God intended?
Every day I choose to die another day. More than that even, every moment I choose to die to myself and what my flesh wants to do and to give God the control over my life. Lordship. Ownership. I am merely a steward for this vessel that He gave me.
Father, I pray that I come to you every time I feel the flesh start to give in. Lend me Your strength to die to my fleshly desires and take one more step toward being the person You want me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application: The next time you feel those fleshy desires, take a moment to pray and decide to offer up the control so you may glorify His name. It will bring you closer to the person who wants to be like Christ. Giving Him control makes you stronger in your walk and gives Him glory!
Power Verses:
Matthew 26:41, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." (NASB)
Romans 6:19, "You can easily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing--not caring about others, not caring about God--the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?" (MSG)
2 Corinthians 4:11, "Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting the best!" (MSG)
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