There are passages in the Bible where God asked people to write down accounts of happenings so that people generation after generation would hear about them and not forget. On one occasion, Joshua had defeated the Amalekites. During the battle, as long as Moses held up his hands to God for help, the Isaraelites were winning. But Moses’ hands grew tired. They had to be held up by two men until the Amalekites were defeated. What a story!
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it.” Exodus 17:14 (NIV)
Do you write down your experiences with God? Write your stories so you will remember. Remembering the hope you have in trusting God by reading your entries of God’s presence in your life can be uplifting when you are going through hard times.
Perhaps each day you might write down the blessings you are thankful for at that time. Again use these entries to hang on to what is good in your life when things in your life are overwhelming.
Don’t like to write or journal? You can enjoy God’s presence by looking around you and taking in the things He has created. Be thankful and happy in the day God has given you by taking opportunities while driving, standing in lines, or waiting to pick up your children to talk with Him. He’s with you all day not just during your daily prayer time, so acknowledge His presence throughout the day.
I am taking time off until September from my daily blog to work on some other devotional projects. My prayer is that you will continue to build your personal relationship with God by reading and studying scripture and daily prayer. Look and listen for God in your day, He is there!
You are welcome to email me using the email address found at the top of the right column. I would love hearing from you.
My blog dates back to December 2008 so check them out by clicking on the archives list.
See you in the Fall! Judy
Monday, July 13, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Recharge Your Faith
The God of Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Comments: Read today’s scripture several times. In God is hope and he wants to bless you so you overflow with joy and peace. Where is your hope? Where is your trust? Nurture your hope and trust by the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer, meditation, and reading scripture. Look for the hope God has placed in your life and look for opportunities to lovingly share your story of hope with others. Overflow with hope, spread the good news, and help others discover God’s hope in their lives by telling your personal stories of experiencing God's hope!
Please post or email me your thoughts on this scripture.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Recharge Your Faith
What is Your Story?
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Christians have hope that gives them strength in daily life. You have access to peace and joy in happy times, ordinary times, and hard times. Your hope is noticeable to others. Others will ask you about it. You should be able to explain the reasons for your hope, for being a Christian. What will be your answer for the hope you have when someone asks you?
Comments: In the Bible we learn about God’s love and care, His guidance and direction through many stories of people who experienced God’s presence. They went off to tell others what God had done and people were moved by hearing their stories about God’s presence in their life. Every story was different because every person had their own story.
Have you thought about and acknowledged God’s presence in your life? When have you experienced God’s presence? Look for opportunities that God puts before you to share, in love, your hope through your personal story. God has given you your story because it just might be what someone needs to hear.
Please journal or email your comments on today's scripture.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Christians have hope that gives them strength in daily life. You have access to peace and joy in happy times, ordinary times, and hard times. Your hope is noticeable to others. Others will ask you about it. You should be able to explain the reasons for your hope, for being a Christian. What will be your answer for the hope you have when someone asks you?
Comments: In the Bible we learn about God’s love and care, His guidance and direction through many stories of people who experienced God’s presence. They went off to tell others what God had done and people were moved by hearing their stories about God’s presence in their life. Every story was different because every person had their own story.
Have you thought about and acknowledged God’s presence in your life? When have you experienced God’s presence? Look for opportunities that God puts before you to share, in love, your hope through your personal story. God has given you your story because it just might be what someone needs to hear.
Please journal or email your comments on today's scripture.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Recharge Your Faith
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Think about what an anchor does. It firmly and securely attaches to things. Jesus, through his death on the cross, interceded taking on your sins that separated you from God. His death gave you the way into God’s presence and allowed you to be adopted as His sons and daughters. Hope, confidence in God’s promises, is like an anchor for your soul. You are secure in your Father’s promises.
Comments: God is faithful. God’s Words are powerful and filled with hope. He keeps His promises. This is your hope. Hold on in your heart to what is good. Live so that what God promises will be yours.
Read and meditate on some of God’s promises that are yours:
Psalm 32:8
Isaiah 43:2
John 10:27, 28
Romans 5:8
Romans 8:28-30
1 John 1:9
There are many promises of God in Scripture. Do you have a favorite or one that is special to you?
Post on the comments or email to me.
Scripture Comments: Think about what an anchor does. It firmly and securely attaches to things. Jesus, through his death on the cross, interceded taking on your sins that separated you from God. His death gave you the way into God’s presence and allowed you to be adopted as His sons and daughters. Hope, confidence in God’s promises, is like an anchor for your soul. You are secure in your Father’s promises.
Comments: God is faithful. God’s Words are powerful and filled with hope. He keeps His promises. This is your hope. Hold on in your heart to what is good. Live so that what God promises will be yours.
Read and meditate on some of God’s promises that are yours:
Psalm 32:8
Isaiah 43:2
John 10:27, 28
Romans 5:8
Romans 8:28-30
1 John 1:9
There are many promises of God in Scripture. Do you have a favorite or one that is special to you?
Post on the comments or email to me.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Recharge Your Faith
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: What cannot be seen or touched, but is eternal and forever really matters. A believer’s hope is not in the present world on earth. Our present world is temporary. Our hope is in Christ who died that we may live and live eternally. Christ cannot be seen or touched but His significance in a Christian’s life is very real.
Comments - Read and Focus on Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-11
John 3:16
Ephesians 2:8-10
Read through either Matthew, Mark or Luke
Pray. Thank God for His mighty Words, His Son, your Savior, and helping you get your heart connected with God, you and your life. Ask God to help you grow in your relationship with Him. Humble yourself making your time with Him less of you and more of Him. Read, listen to and meditate on His Words. Allow God to build your hope and trust in Him.
Have a quiet time set aside with God each day, but every once in a while pray in the grocery store, at work, standing in lines, or walking your dog. Just open yourself to talking and listening to God. Stop worrying and let go and let God. Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8
Please leave your comments today or email me using the link found in the top right column of this blog.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: What cannot be seen or touched, but is eternal and forever really matters. A believer’s hope is not in the present world on earth. Our present world is temporary. Our hope is in Christ who died that we may live and live eternally. Christ cannot be seen or touched but His significance in a Christian’s life is very real.
Comments - Read and Focus on Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-11
John 3:16
Ephesians 2:8-10
Read through either Matthew, Mark or Luke
Pray. Thank God for His mighty Words, His Son, your Savior, and helping you get your heart connected with God, you and your life. Ask God to help you grow in your relationship with Him. Humble yourself making your time with Him less of you and more of Him. Read, listen to and meditate on His Words. Allow God to build your hope and trust in Him.
Have a quiet time set aside with God each day, but every once in a while pray in the grocery store, at work, standing in lines, or walking your dog. Just open yourself to talking and listening to God. Stop worrying and let go and let God. Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8
Please leave your comments today or email me using the link found in the top right column of this blog.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Recharge Your Faith
Paul said to the Ephesians, I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! Ephesians 1:18-19 (The Message)
Scripture Comments: Paul told the Ephesians that God was calling them to do the work He had planned for them. Paul asks God to help them be knowledgeable and discerning so they could clearly see and understand God’s plan. Their personal “heart knowledge” of God would help them be focused and clear on what He was asking of them. Those who trusted in God’s power would be richly blessed with a glorious way of life.
Comments: God has chosen you to be one of His children. He has called you to live a life according to His plan. Do you know what being chosen by God and living according to God’s will means? (Read: Ephesians 1:3-14) Do you read and study His Word? Do you spend quiet time with Him? How well do you know God personally? Do you need to work on your relationship with God?
Start this week recharging your growth in your relationship with God. Pray and listen, meditate, read and study His Word so that you might grow into greater personal (heart) knowledge of God and His ways. Ask God to help guide and direct you along the way by opening your eyes and ears to what He wants you to know about Him and
His plan for your life.
Please let me know your thoughts…
Scripture Comments: Paul told the Ephesians that God was calling them to do the work He had planned for them. Paul asks God to help them be knowledgeable and discerning so they could clearly see and understand God’s plan. Their personal “heart knowledge” of God would help them be focused and clear on what He was asking of them. Those who trusted in God’s power would be richly blessed with a glorious way of life.
Comments: God has chosen you to be one of His children. He has called you to live a life according to His plan. Do you know what being chosen by God and living according to God’s will means? (Read: Ephesians 1:3-14) Do you read and study His Word? Do you spend quiet time with Him? How well do you know God personally? Do you need to work on your relationship with God?
Start this week recharging your growth in your relationship with God. Pray and listen, meditate, read and study His Word so that you might grow into greater personal (heart) knowledge of God and His ways. Ask God to help guide and direct you along the way by opening your eyes and ears to what He wants you to know about Him and
His plan for your life.
Please let me know your thoughts…
Friday, July 3, 2009
Prayer
One Verse, Many Thoughts on Prayer
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: “Pray in the Spirit,” is how we are to pray. God is with us. We are further told to pray “on all occasions” using all different kinds of prayers. Included in the different prayers are our “requests.” Knowing this we come alive and alert in the spirit. We should always pray for all our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Remember that God will help you when you cannot put your thoughts and requests into words. Ask him to help you calm and focus your thoughts. You will be able to put
your requests before Him.
Remember to pray not just for yourself but reach outside yourself to include others you may or may not know. Be especially mindful of others during the current hard times.
God is always with you but he does his most powerful work within you when you are with him. If you haven’t found that quiet place, or haven’t committed to spending time in prayer each day remember the p-word, persistence. Persistence will get you there. God is waiting.
Post your thoughts today…
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: “Pray in the Spirit,” is how we are to pray. God is with us. We are further told to pray “on all occasions” using all different kinds of prayers. Included in the different prayers are our “requests.” Knowing this we come alive and alert in the spirit. We should always pray for all our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Remember that God will help you when you cannot put your thoughts and requests into words. Ask him to help you calm and focus your thoughts. You will be able to put
your requests before Him.
Remember to pray not just for yourself but reach outside yourself to include others you may or may not know. Be especially mindful of others during the current hard times.
God is always with you but he does his most powerful work within you when you are with him. If you haven’t found that quiet place, or haven’t committed to spending time in prayer each day remember the p-word, persistence. Persistence will get you there. God is waiting.
Post your thoughts today…
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Prayer
God Wants Us to Ask So He can Bless Us
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: You are to ask, seek and knock and be persistent and constant in prayer. Do you watch for God’s answer to your prayers? Do you give thanks when answers come? This doesn’t mean that you will get everything you ask for, only that God will answer. His answer may be yes, no, maybe, not now, or not in your way. Also, no answer is an answer. You will be blessed with God’s will, not your desires.
Post your thoughts today…
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: You are to ask, seek and knock and be persistent and constant in prayer. Do you watch for God’s answer to your prayers? Do you give thanks when answers come? This doesn’t mean that you will get everything you ask for, only that God will answer. His answer may be yes, no, maybe, not now, or not in your way. Also, no answer is an answer. You will be blessed with God’s will, not your desires.
Post your thoughts today…
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Prayer
Paul Instructed Christians to Devote Themselves to Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Paul instructed the Colossian Christians to make prayer important in their lives. Further they were to be watchful and thankful anticipating when the Lord would return. How are you doing at setting aside quiet time each day to be with God? This week is about the importance of being persistent, not giving up in prayer, and making prayer an important part of your daily life. Make a commitment to spend time on reordering your life to include more time building your relationship with God.
Post your thoughts today…
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Scripture Comments: Paul instructed the Colossian Christians to make prayer important in their lives. Further they were to be watchful and thankful anticipating when the Lord would return. How are you doing at setting aside quiet time each day to be with God? This week is about the importance of being persistent, not giving up in prayer, and making prayer an important part of your daily life. Make a commitment to spend time on reordering your life to include more time building your relationship with God.
Post your thoughts today…
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