Roller Coaster Ride

By Bethany Lashbrook

Today’s Verse: Psalm 18:30, “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” (NLT)

Devotion:

Recently my family went to a theme park where we road roller coasters and went to a water park all day long! On one roller coaster, I was riding with our youngest daughter, who is just six. From the time the roller coaster started to move until the time it finished, I believe I screamed.

As soon as we came to a halt, I said, “I screamed the whole time!” Then, Gabi, sitting next to me said, “I didn’t scream at all!”

I think in life, it doesn’t matter if you are a screamer or a non-screamer; what matters is if you get on the roller coaster or not!

Life isn’t all about peaceful walks without interruption, one-way streets without traffic, and life lessons learned without pain.

Life is more like a roller coaster ride with ups and downs, turns we aren’t expecting, terrifying moments that make our heads spin, yet thrills we just can’t humanly explain.

I’ll take the roller coaster ride any day – because I know every day is a day God is by my side helping me through the ups and downs and ins and outs!

Dear Lord, thank you for the simple pleasures in life like roller coasters. Help me to hold on tight to you when life becomes a swirly, twirly, exhilarating walk. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Application: This week, think of how God is displayed in all areas of our lives, and then tell others about it!

Power Verses:

Genesis 2:7, "Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person." (NLT)

Exodus 3:12, God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (NLT)

Hide and Seek

By Bethany Lashbrook

Why is it when I get on the phone, immediately something dramatic happens with my children? It's like they enter a different world and become little people I've never met before. They turn into little rascals who think that since a phone is by my ear that I can neither see nor hear. This week alone I hung up on both my mom and husband while hearing terrifying screams come from my children. I ran to them - arms open - asking what has happened (of course, thinking something serious like broken bones) just to find they have been fighting.

For you that only have boys, let me tell you, girls fights can be brutal. They hit, kick, bite, pinch (with fingernails mind you), pull hair, and yes, spit. Oh, and don't forget the punching.

How often do I act different because I think God is looking a different way? "That earthquake is so large, He must have His eyes on it, so I can [fill in the blank]."

This week, I need to remember that it's not important what I do when people are watching, but what's important is what I do when people AREN'T watching! When no one is watching, and we still act like God-loving, God-fearing, God-made people, we can make Him proud!

Dear Lord, help me to remember to always act in an upright manner. Help me to remember someone always sees me - if no one on earth - then you. Help me to live a life that becomes so natural to be loving and kind towards others that I do it without ceasing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: When was the last time you picked up a good book to read? Ask one of your gals what she has been reading and pick it up! A good book can lead us to repentance, acceptance, and a loving attitude towards those that surround us.

Power Verses:

Job 19:25, "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end, he will stand on the earth." (NIV)

Romans 12:2, " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)

Psalm 127:3, "Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a gift from him. (NLT)

White Noise

By Bethany Lashbrook

This Week’s Verse: Genesis 1:31 "God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!" (MSG)

Devotion:

Recently, my family took a trip to Florida and enjoyed seven days at the beach! I did something that I had never done before – I swam in the ocean. I have been to the ocean several times but never have I went below knee deep. Do you know what I discovered past all of those waves? It’s calm, it’s quiet and it’s nice!

Being out in the ocean – even to where I couldn’t touch – was amazing! I couldn’t hear the kids on the beach. I wasn’t thinking about possible sharks eying my meaty legs. It was just the ocean, God, and myself. It was incredible to me that more than half of the Earth is water, and yet I hadn’t experienced it like God intended it to be…precious, living water. I had been too scared to enjoy the beauty of it. But, internally looking at it gave it a whole new meaning!

I looked up white noise and the definition was so long and scientific that I was frustrated until I came upon this sentence: “white noise is a good masking agent”. John 1:10
(NIV) states, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” I wonder what white noise people were listening to when Jesus arrived on Earth? Why didn’t they recognize him? What white noise had I been listening to being afraid all of those years to enter the ocean? After all, it is God’s creation.

When God created the world, imagine how quiet it was before people started changing it. Until recently, I didn’t understand simple practices such as yoga, quiet prayer or (imagine this) just silence.

Deliberately slowing our world down, ridding our lives of the white noise to absorb God’s creation so we can become one with Him.

Now, that’s a vacation.

Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful Earth. Thank you for letting us come across stunning scenery like the open sea on a sunny day, the beautiful snow-capped mountains out west, and the rainbows after the rain. Help us to remember that this world is your Creation and that we need to filter out the white noise some days to enjoy it as you have intended. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: Is there any white noise in your life? What can you do to slow down and enjoy God’s creation?

Power Verses:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (KJV)

Psalm 23:2 "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside the still waters." (NKJV)

Isaiah 32:17 "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (NIV)

Prayer Modeling

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Luke 11:1, “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."(NIV)

Devotion:
Prayer came hard for me on a recent morning. I’d been praying for a lot of people’s health issues lately, as well as my own “usual” stuff, and I just felt I couldn’t ask God for one more single solitary thing. Do you ever get to that point? He’s just given us so much, ya know?

Plus, I’d just woken up and wasn’t fully engaged mentally. Trying to put aside the grogginess, I told God, “I have no idea what to pray, Lord. You take care of all things, I know that, so I’m finding it hard to put thoughts into words. And you already know it all anyway.”

Instantly, my mind woke up to a verse in Luke 11 where the disciples ask Jesus how to pray. Jesus’answer? The Lord’s prayer. I felt like God responded to me by saying, “Just pray that.” So I did, in a personalized way:

Lord, you are my God in Heaven. Holy is your Name. Let your Kingdom burst forth here on earth just like in Heaven and allow my family and me to be a mighty part of that. Show us your will and give us the strength to walk in it. Thank you for providing food, shelter, transportation and so much more and I do ask your continued provision. Thank you for your forgiveness and please keep extending grace, helping me to do the same with others. Keep temptation to sin at bay governed by the self-control your Spirit allows and keep evil from us by your wall of protection. To You is the power and glory, Jesus, forever. Amen.

By the end of the prayer I felt that wonderful peace that passes all understanding. God reminded me that I sometimes make things more complicated than they really need to be—even talking to Him, when he modeled how to do it.

In this simple prayer, all the power of heaven is released to do its work here among us.

Lord, thank you for modeling prayer for the disciples, both then and now.

Application:
Practice putting the Lord’s Prayer into your own words, including more specific and detailed requests, if you’d like. Or revel in the simplicity of keeping it general. Anticipate the Kingdom descending to earth as it is in heaven.

Power Verses:
Matthew 6:9-13, “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”(NIV)
1 Kings 8:28, “Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.”(NLT)
1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”(NIV)

He Meets Us There

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Devotion:
Anyone familiar with my dad knew that the man enjoyed food. Restaurant gift cards were always a great gift option because we always knew they'd be used with pleasure.

As my brother, sister, and our spouses shared stories the other day as we gathered around Dad, my brother-in-law commented that Dad's chili was always an adventure unto itself because you never knew exactly what he'd throw in. Each dish was an experimentation because Dad was into sampling and dabbling and bringing taste to new heights.

So imagine the difficulty that my brother, sister, and I faced when told that Dad's condition was worsening and that he would never again swallow. The doctors said we should start considering whether we wanted Dad to have a feeding tube. Or not.

At one point in the hospital room I was alone with Dad. He was peaceful at the moment and I decided to take the opportunity to speak with God about the whole feeding tube situation. I didn't want to starve Dad but I didn't want to prolong his suffering either.

From these thoughts I turned to my Bible reading for that day which happened to be John 6. Certain scriptures began to jump out at me and I knew God was speaking to me specifically about this situation. Verse 27 said, "But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose." Verse 35 said, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again..." And verse 51 said, "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live."

Friends, my Jesus had spoken His Will through His Word once again. That's what he does! I felt assured of the following: 1) God would take Dad home before we even had to make the decision, or 2) If we did have to make the decision, we need not worry because Jesus is the only nourishment Dad needed. And He had it taken care of.

It turned out that we did have to make the decision, but the nourishment of His Savior was all Dad needed to sustain him for his journey home to meet his maker.

I envision Dad sitting at the banqueting table right now, enjoying a meal with Jesus unlike anything he'd ever had here on earth and he's grinning from ear to ear and possibly sharing a joke.

And I can see that because the Lord showed me everything would be fine. God met me there in the circumstance.

He always does when we ask him to.

Lord, thank you for bringing my earthly father home to you, my heavenly Father. What a meal you must be sharing! And thank you for always meeting us in our circumstances when we only invite you in. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application:
What circumstance to you need to invite God into right now? Ask Him to meet you there and then go to His Word to see what He has to say.

Power Verses:
Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."(NIV)
Isaiah 58:2, "For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them."(NIV)

Amazing Grace

by Stephanie Neibarger

This Weeks' Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you.”(NIV)

Devotion:
For the past couple of weeks, the word “Grace” has reverberated over and over in a variety of ways. I don’t think I’ve ever really understood the real meaning of the word so I decided to look up what grace means in the dictionary. I found one common definition: the unmerited (undeserved) and freely given, infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to man by God.

Lately I have come to understand grace a little differently. [Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this topic. Just as I am not an expert on any of the devotions I have written. I mostly write these for myself!]

I was watching a Charles Stanley program one day and he spoke of how grace “sustains” us through the difficulties of life. God did not promise we would just roll through life without any issues. In fact, He specifically told us we would have them. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

So often when we go through painful circumstances in life, we often ask God to take away our pain. Paul asked God three times to take away his pain, but we see God’s response in this week’s verse: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” God’s not always going to take away the pain; instead He gives us the grace to go through it.

Grace sustains us so we can keep on going, even when we don’t see the circumstances change. I’ve come to realize that even though I don’t always “see” anything happening in a particular situation, I know God is working “behind the scenes.” When we go through hard times and don’t see anything happening, it’s natural to wonder if God really cares. Satan wants us to doubt God and take matters into our own hands or just give up completely. I know. I’ve fallen into this trap many, many times.

In James 5:10-11, we see the example of Job and how he persevered: “My friends, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They were patient, even when they had to suffer. In fact, we praise the ones who endured the most. You remember how patient Job was and how the Lord finally helped him. The Lord did this because he is so merciful and kind.”

On Charles Stanley’s website (here), he lists seven ways of how grace works:

*Grace releases supernatural strength to keep going in the midst of pain, suffering, and loss. The Holy Spirit helps us face adversity.
*Grace ignites determination to keep going.
*Grace reminds us that God is always with us.
*Grace points us toward the Father’s goal in allowing trials. We can be content knowing we are in the center of His will.
*Grace reminds us that God uses trials to strengthen our faith and deepen intimacy with Him.
*Grace assures us that the Lord sets limitations on what can happen to His children.
*Grace gives us faith to believe God will transform tough times into something good.

Next time you feel like giving up and throwing in the towel or you don't see how things could possibly work out, remind yourself of God's grace and how He is always with you. Just remember, Satan fights us the hardest when he knows God has something great planned for our lives!

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your grace. Helps us to stay more focused on You and Your love for us when we are going through difficulties. Sometimes it’s hard to feel Your presence, but please remind us that You are there and Your grace is sufficient for us.

Application:
As we approach another New Year and make resolutions, why not make this year your resolution to grow closer to God and allow His grace to wash over and transform you. Listen to Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone” by clicking here.

Power Verses:
2 Peter 1:2-3 “May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better. As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!” (NLT)
Romans 8:28, "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him." (NCV)
Hebrews 4:16, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."(NLT)

Mercy Flood

by Kathy Lay

This Week's Verse: Romans 9:16, "It does not therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." (NIV)

Devotion:
This past Monday evening was ridiculously hot, humid, and still. According to my husband, it was a perfect evening for a bike ride together. I grumbled a little (maybe more than a little) but I went because that's what wives do for husbands they love. Shane is a serious cyclist so I knew this was not going to be a leisurely pleasure cruise. He even broke out his padded cycling shorts for me. (He's sweet like that.)

Equipped with our water bottles, we started off towards the east. The plan was to ride towards the river bottom and at a certain point, I'd turn off and end up doing a ten-mile ride back to the house, while he'd go on straight and loop around for a 25 mile ride. He was merciful to me and knew what I could and couldn't do in the short amount of daylight we had left.

After we'd split, I continued down my road at a pretty good clip because I wanted to surprise him by beating him home. Cornfields on both sides, a blacktop road baked out with the heat, areas of steamy fog beginning to rise in patches, the smell of farm life...AH! I took a deep breath and just inhaled the moment.

Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone" began to run through my mind and I found myself singing the chorus (as much as singing is possible being short of breath!): "My chains are gooooooone; I've been set freeeeee; My God, my Savioooooor has ransomed meeeeeee. And like a floooooood..."

And at that moment, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a sign along the road that read, "Flood Area Ahead." A flooooood area ahead.

Sisters, what are the odds of that? That I'd read a sign with the very same word that was resonating in my brain at exactly the same time? Call it coincidence if you want, but that kind of stuff makes my heart skip a beat and my tummy do a little flip. I felt God's presence right there with me among those stalks of young corn and oily spots of road.

"...And like a flooooood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." A flood of mercy ahead. What a gift; what a blessing.

No matter what else I encountered along the the rest of my journey--my bike ride, my week, the rest of my life--God promised me there would be a flood of mercy ahead to see me through. He makes the same promise to you.

Father, thank you for speaking to us in that still small voice, through such random things as a sign by a road. Thank you for flooding us with your mercy and for your amazing grace.

Application:
Consider the subtle ways God speaks to your heart. I Kings 19:11-13 tells of God speaking to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. Be vigilent for His whisper as He speaks His promises into your heart. Rejoice in His flood of mercy.

Power Verses:
Nehemiah 9:31, "But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." (NIV)
2 Samuel 24:14, "'I'm in a desperate situation!' David replied to Gad. 'But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.'"(NLT)
Lamentations 3:22, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (MSG)

His Presence

by Bethany Lashbrook

This Weeks Verse: Luke 11:13, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"(NIV)

Did you have that one gift that you asked for this Christmas season? I sure did! And, knowing my family, I received it from someone; if not my husband, then my mom. My oldest daughter knew exactly what she wanted! My greatest joy of the season will be watching my two children excitedly open that ONE gift they just HAD to have. This, to me is the greatest “earthly” joy of the season.

Like many other women, I live for my Lord, and I live for my husband, and I live for my children. So it goes without saying that nothing on this earth is comparable to me making them happy. I get an overall contentment knowing that I gave them something they needed. Sure, I give them love every day, but it’s not every day you get love and a present under a Christmas tree!

Unfortunately, many presents opened this season will soon end up in the bottom of the toy box. But as for God’s present – it lasts for an eternity! And for the first time this morning, reading a daily devotion, I felt God get excited about me opening his present! I realize that God gave us a gift when He gave us His son wrapped in swaddling cloths in that manger the first Christmas morning. But, He also gave us the present of the Holy Spirit. This way we are never, ever alone. We never have to face a challenge or a disaster without Him.

Each time we listen to Him, we are using His gift, His offering to us. And not only are we using it, but He is getting excited about it! God – gets excited about me! Say that out loud. God – gets excited about me! Oh what a joy to know that his present to me will never be thrown out with all the other presents I will receive!

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Please continue to guide us through You so that we may continue to do good. Lord, thank You for all the presents under the tree, but help us not to forget about the presence of You. Gifts from earth are short-lived, but YOU are forever. Guide and direct us in whatever You do. In Your Son's precious Name we pray, Amen.

Application:
Did you find yourself more excited about the presents under the Christmas tree or the presence of God in your life this Christmas season? If you feel like you need a boost, pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Just like other gifts, the gift of the Holy Spirit works best when you get it out from the bottom of the pile, and place it back on top!

Power Verses:
Luke 11:9-10, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (NIV)
Ephesians 2:8,"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God." (NLT)
John 14:16, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you." (NLT)