All That Is Within Me
1. Bless The Lord, With All That Is Within Me
Every where I look now I see Emoji faces and characters. It began in Japan when Mr. Shigetaka Kurita wanted a way to express emotion in text messages. The example I saw stated that instead of reading that the weather was "fine" he would have preferred to see a bright yellow sun. This may seem like a new concept, but cave drawings done by early man still exist today. There is a magnetic board on my refrigerator that has 30 emotional faces. It came with a small frame that says, "How do you feel today?" The date on it is 1994. Through the years my children would place the frame around one of the faces. Each time I saw it around a different face I would try to guess which one of the kids was feeling like that. Now my grandchildren will sometimes study the faces and try to choose one that looks that way they feel. I like the "Happy" and "Hopeful", but back then, as a mother with five young children I probably should have chosen "Exhausted" or "Overwhelmed" more often. I wish there was a face with the title, "Blessed" because that is how I feel walking with my Lord. For our new devotional theme I want to look at some of our emotions and maybe we can find examples in the scriptures to see that it is not unusual for us to feel "Sad" or "Depressed" from time to time. We can find help in God's Word to lead us to the state of feeling "Blessed". "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (Psalm 103:1)
2. Glad
This is the Lord's day and we begin our emotional feelings with "Glad". "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1) Does it make you glad to go to the house of the Lord? Singing songs of praise to our Lord is a way to show outwardly, the joy that we feel within. Joining our Christian brothers and sisters in fellowship can make our hearts glad. Learning more from God's precious Word from the teachers and preachers gives us wisdom and knowledge about our daily walk with God. Cast your cares on the Lord today and let Him make your heart glad as you go to the house of the Lord.
3. Resilient
The North Carolina Zoo is the largest walk-through zoo in the world. I went with six of my grandchildren last weekend and again this past Saturday with two more of the grands. After we got home Saturday I told Michael that I am no longer resilient. I don't bounce back after hard stretches. I can strive to be strong when needed, but it doesn't last very long. The longer I thought about it the more I realized how my age is creeping up on me. I believe that God helps us when we seek Him and I am praying that He will show me ways I can improve on my weakness. First, from Psalm 23:3, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." I pray that the Lord will restore my soul. I know from experience that when I take time at the beginning of my day for my Bible reading and prayer, my day goes better and my burdens are lighter. Next, I think it will help me to go to bed earlier. "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2) It will also help me to get some exercise, and that is one reason I enjoy my garden so much. I Timothy 4:8 tells us that bodily exercise is profitable. Another reason I like to spend so much time in the garden is to reap the harvest, which brings me to another way to improve and that is to eat healthier. These are just a few ways I can work to become more resilient. If you need help bouncing back maybe some of these ideas will be helpful for you, too.
4. Slothfulness
Have you seen the commercial where the sloth is playing on game night and all he has time to draw is a short, straight line? I have seen several things about sloths lately. Okay, so I was reading in the book of Proverbs and I came to the verse which says, "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." (Proverbs 18:9) Then in the next chapter it says, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (19:15) and "A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again." (19:24) And while I was reading these verses all I could see in my head was that sloth hanging onto the side of the game board just barely moving the marker down the board. And I thought, we don't want to be like a sloth. God does not want us to be slothful. God made a beautiful garden paradise for Adam "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2:15) God provided the food in the garden, but He meant for Adam "to dress it and to keep it." God also gives us spiritual work to do. Let's do the work God gives us to do, and not be like the slow moving sloth.
5. Blessed
I am blessed! The Lord has brought me through another year, and blessed me with mercy and grace. I am blessed because He has forgiven my sin and given me salvation. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." (Psalm 32:1) The Lord has been so good to me and it is a joy to serve my loving Savior. "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34:8) He is with me each and every day and pours out His bountiful blessings on me. "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." (Psalm 68:19) And He has blessed me with family and friends, for whom I am so very thankful. I appreciate all the "Happy Birthday" messages sent my way. Today as I celebrate the first day of another year, I feel so blessed, from my heart, and from my soul, and with everything that is within me!
6. Anxiety
Four years ago I was working around the house and fixing lasagna for company and suddenly I could not breathe. I went to the doctor's office and my blood pressure was very high and I had my first ambulance ride to the hospital. A short while later it all happened again and I spent several days in the hospital, had different tests, and saw several specialists. I was given fifteen different medications. Each doctor had a different diagnosis which included pneumonia, asthma, allergies, acid reflux, and anxiety. I told the specialist who said it was caused by anxiety that I didn't have anything to be anxious about. I was a Christian, I had a good marriage and family and I enjoyed my church. I didn't have a stressful job (I had lost it a while before) and really had a good life. After spending almost a week in the hospital, I finally got to go home. I began having anxiety attacks every time I had some where to go. I was constantly worried that I would have trouble breathing and end back up in the hospital. The more I worried about it, the worse I felt, and the more trouble I had getting my breath. Even a trip to get my hair cut, which I usually enjoyed, brought about fear and anxiety. We went to the beach, and had to cut our trip short. I began keeping a list of everything that seemed to cause me to struggle. I learned that one of the allergy medications actually helped ease the pain in my chest. With my doctor's help I eliminated all the other medicines, except for my inhaler. I have cut so many foods and drinks and fragrances but sometimes even the weather can bring on an asthma attack. I am thankful that as I got better, the anxiety did, too. I try not to judge other people. We can't tell the pain that others are going through. We don't know the troubles they have, whether they are physical, emotional, or financial. When we see someone in need it may seem like a small thing to us, but the struggle is real! Be kind. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32) If you are having trouble with anxiety today, take it to the Lord in prayer. In Philippians 4:6 we read, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." I believe that God is trying to help us and telling us to be anxious for nothing. He also tells us in I Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I know from experience. The struggle is real. But we serve a powerful God who can help us through our troubles and trials.
7. Slow
How do I feel today? Slow. I had some chores that I needed to do, and after working for an hour I began to feel like I was never going to get done. After two hours, I could see the end in sight and I was able to pick up my pace a little. Finally, working diligently for a while longer I was able to complete the task at hand. Being slow is not always a bad thing. I finished reading the book of Proverbs and there are three verses that tell us to be slow to anger. One is found in Proverbs 16:32, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." We could all probably use some work in this area of our lives. The Bible tells us another way we are to be slow. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" (James 1:19) I have heard it said that we have two ears and one mouth because we are supposed to hear twice as much as we speak. I definitely need to work on this. I am so bad to say something and then realize that it might have hurt someone's feelings. I say things that just don't come out the way I meant them, or maybe I speak before thinking. Sometimes it is better to keep silent.
Many years ago we took a trip to the mountains and after being in the car about six hours David said, "We ain't never, never gonna get there." At only three years of age, little David said exactly how I felt. Sometimes when things are moving so slowly we begin to feel like the end will never, ever get here. Christians have been looking for the Lord to come for 2,000 years. Keep the faith! He is coming back just like He said. The prevailing news stories are in line with how the Bible tells us it will be in the last days. Keep looking up! The closing verses of God's Word give us hope and assurance of His coming. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22:20-21)
8. Seasons
My Bible reading has carried me to the book of Ecclesiastes. So today I want us to look at the times and seasons of our lives. From the time that we are born until the time that we die, our lives are constantly changing. We go from one season to another, childhood, youth, and adulthood. I just finished planting my garden, and I will work it from spring, to summer, with final harvest times in the fall. I hope to be able to hoe it and watch it grow, harvest it and eat from it, and then it will be time to pluck it up and let the land rest during the winter. Ecclesiastes 3:4 begins with "A time to weep, and a time to laugh..." We can experience the emotions of weeping, and of laughing in a moment's time. No matter what season of life you are going through, remember that seasons change. They come and they go. But God has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you.
"1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
9. A Time For A Season
Debbie Senese sent me the following in an email and I asked her permission to share with my readers. She has written from her heart to share a message of the seasons of her life. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
It took being diagnosed with Late Stage Neurological Lyme Disease to realize, that while there is a time for everything, there is also time for seasons; Seasons of life. When I was married & beginning our family 35 years ago, we had a blessed season of not only watching our 3 sons grow, but also to see them come to the Lord. We were able to serve the Lord in so many capacities as we were the youngest couple in the church and many were growing weary of faithfully serving all these years; It was our turn to step up to the plate and start helping if not doing the things these beautiful saints were doing before I was even born. We served glady & wholeheartedly. That was a season of such joy. We then took on the added service of Homeschooling our 3 sons. That too was a joy. My husband broke his back in an accident at work when we were only married 5 years and has never been able to work another day in his life. So when he was able, he then began to help me with the schooling, and as a family, we were now serving Him and taking on more responsibility. And then, the Lord removed us from all service at all. This was not a time of joy, but a time of questioning. Not questioning the Lord, but questioning, "Did I do something wrong?", "Was I not serving faithfully enough?", "Should I be doing more?" But that wasn't the real issue. The issue was, my season was changing. As in Ecc. says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: " My season of physically serving was changing just as Autumn turns into Winter. The Lord was changing my season of physical service, to one of social media service, writing SS material, co-editor & author of a Christian email magazine called, "The Good News Magazine Global"...all from a hospital bed in my bedroom. Yes, there is a time for a change of season. Not just in weather, but in our lives as well. And just as the Lord controls the weather, He also controls every aspects of our lives if we place that ability in His very capable hands to do so...and TRUST HIM!
10. Giving From Within
Our Sunday School lesson was on "Giving From A Generous Heart". It opened with scriptures from Exodus 25, when the Children of Israel gave in abundance for the tabernacle. They gave gold, silver and precious stones, and rams' skins and cloth of blue, purple, and scarlet and also oil for the lamps. Moses told the people what he needed and all those with a willing heart gave these and many more items for the Lord's work. The lesson ended with II Corinthians 9:6-7. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." The Lord has shown me six things that we can give from within, straight from the heart.
1. Our Tithe - "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
2. Our Treasures - "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" (Matthew 6:19-20)
3. Our Time - "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)
4. Our Talents - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)
5. Our Testimony - "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (I Peter 3:15)
6. Our Thanks - "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)
11. Can We Buy Some Time?
I have favorite vegetables that I like to plant in my garden, but I have been trying a couple new things each year. Micah wanted zucchini one year, but after I reached down to pick one and saw a copperhead coiled under the shade of the humongous plant, I have not planted any since. Jedidiah kept asking me where the carrots were one year when he was small, so the next year I planted carrots for him and when I told him he said, "I don't even like carrots." I had a wheelbarrow full of carrots and didn't know what to do with them. Basil caused me to have asthma attacks and Mom graciously pulled it up and threw it into the woods. I have enjoyed the oregano, peppermint, and lemon balm which are coming back each year. I asked Deanne, my daughter-in-law, who uses herbs quite often in her cooking for some ideas for this year and she suggested thyme. As we walked through the nursery today I told Michael, "I want to buy some thyme." He saw it first and handed it to me and I liked the smell so that is my new thing for this year. After hearing how the statement sounded I thought about how time is something we can't buy. We are all given the same amount of time each day, until it is our time to go. We saw in Ecclesiastes 3:2 last week that there is "A time to be born, and a time to die;" I like the way Solomon also said in Ecclesiastes 8:8, "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it." In a prayer of Moses he reminds us that even if we live 70 or 80 years, our time on earth is short. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10) If you draw a time line and put creation at the beginning, and end it today, we see that our time on earth really is short. When you extend the line beyond both ends to represent eternity, it is clear that our life is as Isaiah 40:15 describes the nations, "as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance". In Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5 Paul reminds us that we need to be "redeeming the time". It is so important that we give the Lord our time. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) For Christians, it will be a glorious day when time will be no more. "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:" (Revelation 10:6) We shall live in the presence of our Lord and Savior throughout eternity.
12. Giving God My Troubles
When I talked the other day about things we can give, each one was something that can help others in one way or another. I am looking today at giving God our troubles. That is something we can do to help ourselves. When my youngest son, Joshua, was still in college he wrote a Bible verse on the board on my refrigerator. "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) He left that one for a while and then he wrote another one, which is still there, even after all these years. "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18) I have been thinking about the truths of this verse since reading through Ecclesiastes last week. When I was younger we had the local and national news that we could watch on television each evening. There was some bad news, but I didn't think about it very much. Today, it seems as though everywhere I look I see some type of bad news. And the more I hear about all the evil things that are going on, the more my heart is troubled. I don't think the answer is to close our eyes and ears to all the problems in the world. What can we do? Most of the situations I see are beyond my help. But, I can pray to God. And I can say with Jeremiah, " Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" (Jeremiah 32:17) There is nothing too hard for our God. Another thing we can do is give our troubles to the Lord. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7) Whether it is the sin of this world that has burdened you down, or the trials and tribulations that you or your loved ones are going through, the Lord can help you bear your burdens.
13. Discouraged Because Of The Way
In addition to the troubles we see all around us, we can also become discouraged because of our path in life. Look at Numbers 21:4. "And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." They were "much discouraged because of the way." What can we do when we get discouraged? When King Saul was trying to kill David, he fled to a cave. He had to flee from his troubles. Do you know what happened next? "And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. (I Samuel 22:2) Four hundred men, all in distress, or in debt, or discontented, ran away and joined him. There are times when we are discouraged that it might help to see that we are not the only one that becomes discouraged because of the way. One of the things I think is so unreal about social media is that people put up the best pictures, when times are great, and everyone is smiling and having a great time. We look at our friends and think, why can't my life be that easy? It might help to talk, in person, with someone you know and trust. Try to understand that you are not the only one going through difficult times. Now look at Elijah when he ran for his life.
"3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat." (I Kings 19:3-5)
Elijah left his servant and went on alone, and his depression grew worse. God let him rest, and fed him, and then sent him on to do a work for the Lord. I hope I can encourage you today. When you become discouraged because of the way, don't try to go it alone. Get the rest and food you need. And when you are ready, ask the Lord what He would have you do. Helping others can help us get our mind off our own problems.
14. Thankful
God is good! He is good all the time, but sometimes I feel extra blessed! Today I am rejoicing and praising God for our shower of rain. It has been several days since we planted our garden, and I have been praying for rain. God sent us a good little shower and I am now looking forward to watching the small plants burst through the ground. I want to take time today to thank the Lord for all that He does for me. It is by His amazing grace that He saved me, and He continues to bless me and keep me and provide all my needs. I believe in prayer! I believe that God answers our prayers! And I believe that we should give Him thanks when He answers our prayers! "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
15. Feeling Nostalgic
Eleven years ago Meredith was born and I became a grandmother for the first time. I wanted to make something special for her that would last so I made her a baby quilt. Mom helped me pick out the material and sew on it. Now, Michael and I have nine grandchildren, and Mom has helped me make baby quilts for each of them. This week Mom and I went shopping to pick out some material for another baby quilt. I am actually working on two new quilts. Making these quilts for my grandchildren reminds me of how I used to help my grandmother make quilts when I was a young girl. Grandma would make the long stitches and cut them and I would follow and tie the strings into knots. I enjoyed helping her make the quilts and I am sure she appreciated the help.
Betty, my mother-in-law, gave me several of her rose bushes a few years ago. One of the bushes is in full bloom with red roses. The small red buds remind me of my grandmother on my Dad's side. She had a red rose bush in the yard and every Mother's Day before we went to church she would cut off a red bud and pin it to my dress. These are just of few of the memories I have of my grandmothers. Now that I am a grandmother I enjoy making memories with my grandchildren. Being a Mom is great and I love my children and their spouses. Being a Grandmother is grand and I cherish the memories I am making with all of my grandchildren. "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." (Psalm 16:6)
16. Being A Mother
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" As far back as I can remember I always answered that I wanted to be a mother, and I wanted to teach children how to read. Well, God fulfilled those desires in my life. Michael and I have four sons, and a daughter. And when they were very young I helped them learn to read. I feel blessed on Mother's Day, but the older I get, the more I can see how Mother's Day is a sad day for some. It is probably sad for those who never knew their mother. It must be sad for those who have tried, and tried, and can't have children of their own. It has to be heart-breaking for those who just lost their mother, and even more so for some who just lost their child. Proverbs 31 is a great chapter to read for Mother's Day. My thought for you today is found in verse 26, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." You may have family and friends who are hurting. My hope is that you will speak in wisdom, and let the law of kindness guide your words.
17. Being Helpful
After each day of creation God saw that it was good. Then we come to Genesis 2:18 and read, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." It was not good for man to be alone so God made a helper for him. No matter how much we feel like we can do it on our own, and make it on our own, sometimes we need help. Now let's move forward from creation to the time of the early church. We can tell by Paul's letters that the church at Corinth needed help. Paul tried to help them concerning gifts in the church. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12:28) Notice the gifts that Paul listed: Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings... well those things don't apply to many of us, but look what comes next, helps. We can be helpful. Take a prayerful look at your church and ask God what you can do to be helpful. There may be a Sunday School class that needs a teacher, or a youth class that needs help in the classroom. Maybe there are some elderly people in your church that need help with simple tasks. If you can sing, the choir may be the place you can be helpful. Sometimes kind words can go a long way in being helpful, such as "I'm praying for you." Has the Lord blessed you more financially? Maybe you can be more help with tithes and offerings, or a special gift to someone in need. Many times those who are the most helpful are the ones who find life to be more fulfilling. Maybe you are getting on in years and feel like you are too old to accomplish much more in this life. Look around. There may be someone who needs help and you may be just the person to answer his or her need. We can all be a little more helpful.
18. Faith
After talking about some of our emotions and feelings, I want to spend the next few days looking at what we need within. The most important thing we need is faith in Jesus Christ. It really doesn't matter what we accomplish, or who we know, or what we possess here on earth, if we don't know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We are saved through faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8) Paul also tells us that we get faith through the Word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) After we are saved, we walk by faith. "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (II Corinthians 5:7) Our hope in Christ is through faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) And faith helps us stay on course and finish right. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (II Timothy 4:7)
19. Hope
Faith gives us hope. Not an "I hope so, maybe so" type of hope, but an assurance in God hope. Our hope is anchored in Jesus. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" (Hebrews 6:19) We have this hope because Jesus was victorious over death, hell, and the grave. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (I Peter 1:3) Through His resurrection, Christ gives us hope that we shall also be raised in His likeness and meet our Christian loved ones in heaven. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (I Thessalonians 4:13) There are many in the world today who have no hope. They are lost and helpless. We need to let them know how they can find hope in Jesus. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (I Peter 3:15)
20. Love
If you are familiar with I Corinthians 13 then you know that after faith and hope, comes charity. I like to think of charity as love that is giving. Let's look at some of those verses. Without love we are nothing.
"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (I Corinthians 13:1-7 and 13)
We also see the importance of love in Matthew 22:35-40.
"35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
21. Peace
Are you going through a storm in life? You may remember the story of when Jesus was asleep on the ship and the disciples woke Him and He calmed the storm.
"35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:35-39)
There are lessons that can be learned from these verses. First of all, when Jesus says we are passing over to the other side, we are passing over to the other side. Jesus has promised us a home in heaven and when we put our trust in Him, we can be sure that He will help us with our crossing. Another thing I see is that they were right where Jesus told them to be, and they still faced a great storm. Just because we face storms in life, it does not mean that we are out of God's will. The last thing I want to mention is found in verse 36, "And there were also with him other little ships." Sometimes when we are going through storms we don't notice the "other little ships" around us who are also in the storms. But when Jesus calmed the storm for the disciples, there was a great calm, and it helped the "other little ships", too. As we are in the storms, we need to pray to Jesus and He can give us peace. He can calm the storm as He did for the disciples, or He can calm us in the storm. When the three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, God did not put out the fire, but He delivered them in the fire. When Daniel was thrown into the den of lions God delivered him in the den of lions. As God gives us peace in our storms, others around us can be helped in their storms. If you need the peace of God, ask the Master of the sea and He can provide "a great calm".
22. How Do You Feel Today?
As I thought about the different emotions we go through to write this last devotional in the series, I began to think of some of the contrasts in a Christian's life. I thought about times that I have been lonely, like when I was in a hospital bed late at night. We get lonely when there is no one else around, or we can even be lonely in a crowd of people. But, as Christians we are really never alone. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 "... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." We also read in Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Then I thought about how we can feel helpless facing certain situations around us, but we are not hopeless. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast..." (Hebrews 6:19) Sometimes we remember sins that we have commited and we feel guilty. But God tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) We may feel empty, but Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6) The Apostle Paul also went through some contrasting emotions, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (II Corinthians 4:8-9) When your life seems to be in a tizzy, and your mind is frazzled, turn to the Lord, for He has promised, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." (James 4:8)
