HUNGRY???

Verse for Today

2011-11-15T01:04:00.002-06:00

Psalm 16:1-2
Protect me, God, because I depend on you. Some of you have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you." (ERV)

Waiting

2011-10-21T01:07:00.001-06:00

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.

~ Psalm 37:7, NLT

Tired of Waiting?

2011-10-19T01:08:00.001-06:00

“Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.” Genesis 25:26b (NIV)

"Do you ever get tired of waiting on God to answer your prayers? Recently, I began to feel a sense of frustration with the wait, and also a little bit tired.

Tired of saying the same old prayer day after day, month after month, year after year. Tired of telling God about the same old problems still going on. Tired of hearing myself pray about the same old problems, leading me to wonder if God was as tired of hearing my prayer requests as I was of praying them.

So I bowed my head and admitted to God that I was simply tired of the wait.

In a heavy state of emotional tiredness, I turned to the crisp, white pages of my Bible. I was hoping God would illuminate a few verses that would jump out of the book and straight into my heart.

I began reading about when Isaac’s wife Rebekah gave birth to twin sons. One particular sentence caught my eye and I read it again and again. My heart leapt as I realized God was using this one little sentence to speak hope into my spirit. He used His spiritual highlighter just as I had wanted.

Genesis 25:26 tells us that Isaac was sixty years old when his twins were born; a simple Bible fact, yet profoundly meaningful to me on this specific day. You see, Isaac had been patient for the Lord to provide the perfect wife; he was forty years old when he married Rebekah. If you do the math you realize Isaac waited twenty years for Rebekah to bear him children! He could have chosen a concubine to bear him a son. But he was a man of great patience who waited on God. Eventually his patient faith was rewarded.

Isaac never gave up hope that his Lord could make the impossible, possible. He had learned that his Lord would provide. So he continued to pray the same desperate prayer for a son, day after day, month after month, year after year. In fact, we learn in Genesis 25:21 that “Isaac pleaded with the Lord” (NLT), meaning he earnestly and strongly prayed about his problem. He did not half-heartedly ask God for a son, he pleaded! He begged. He poured his heart out.

I can envision Isaac passionately pleading to God throughout those twenty years, with out-stretched arms and a tear-stained face pressed against the hot, dirty soil, begging God to answer his prayer.

Isaac was surely tired of the wait, but he never stopped praying or believing that his dreams could come true. And in God’s perfect timing, they did.

If you are tired of the wait, you may be pleading to God just like Isaac. It may take twenty years for God to answer our prayers, or it may only take twenty minutes. But today, let us find comfort in remembering Isaac’s patient faith and take hope in believing that God is not tired of hearing our prayers. Instead, He is simply waiting for the perfect time to answer.

Dear Lord, please help me have patience and faith while I wait to hear from You. Help me live in excited anticipation for the day when I will see how You answer my prayers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Tracie Miles, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse of Day

2011-10-11T23:56:00.001-06:00

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

~ Ephesians 5:1, NLT

Verse of Day

2011-10-09T23:55:00.001-06:00

Deuteronomy 8:3
"Yes, [God] humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the LORD." (NLT)

Father, help me to hold on to knowing that You are my provider... Help to me to have a deep rooted establishment in being in Your word.. Help me to be in your word every meal as a reminder that as I sup, that I sup with you feeding my spirit. Help me Lord I pray, In Jesus' Name, Amen

Trust Factor

2011-10-09T00:09:00.001-06:00

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Yesterday I went into a job interview—junior high substitute teacher; how brave am I? When I walked out of it, I had a whole new calling.

Thing is, I don’t want a new calling. I like the ones I’ve been living with—wife, mom, novelist, children’s author. I didn’t think God had anything else up His sleeve, and I was okay with that. I’m not a big fan of change.

The man interviewing me told me he has a gift of discernment. Then he did something I’ve never seen or experienced: he spoke a word over me.

This kind of thing didn’t happen in the church in which I was raised. To me, a gift of discernment meant having a reliable sense about whether or not someone’s teaching was biblical, or if someone was telling the truth. It didn’t mean God could give someone else a glimpse into His plans for me. Yet what this man told me fit, like the one missing puzzle piece, into the changes I’ve been going through lately on both a personal and a professional level. As he spoke, I knew that what he was saying was truly from the Lord.

But I didn’t leave his office glowing with excitement. In fact, I wasn’t excited at all about what he told me, despite the fact that it spoke directly to my heart. It would require that I open my hands and release things I’ve been holding too tightly. And I’ll be honest, part of me really doesn’t want to.

I like my life just as it is. Remember, God, how I’m not a fan of change—even when it means seeing another dream realized?

The bottom line is this: I struggle with trusting God.

In my novel Composing Amelia, Amelia struggles with the same thing. She’d rather stay with what is familiar than trust God to give her a calling she’ll love but can’t envision right now.

I don’t want to be like Amelia. I don’t want to be short-sighted, dubious of God’s desire or ability to bless me, or resistant to the future He has for me. But my lack of trust, fear of the unknown, and reluctance to give up my comfortable life are threatening to hold me back from obeying Him. And that’s definitely not good.

So I have a choice to make. Will I believe that God’s plans are better than my own? Will I risk stepping out of my comfort zone? Do I believe the growing pains I’ll face will be worth the blessings that will come? Do I trust God to really take care of me? Or am I going to cower beneath my desk with my fingers in my ears and pretend like yesterday’s meeting never happened?

What about you? What changes is God nudging you towards that have you digging in your heels and tightening your grip on whatever you know you need to release? Do you believe the rewards are worth the pain? Or that God’s perfect plan is worth leaving your complacency and comfort behind?

Do you trust Him? Or are you hiding and hoping He passes you by?

The unknown is scary. But ultimately—for me anyway—it’s scarier to think of what I might miss if I don’t let go. And so I say a prayer, open my hands, and peer beyond the edge of what I know, into the vast expanse of the future where a giant question mark dominates the landscape. Do you see it, too?

Today let’s choose to trust God and not require that we like or even understand what He is calling us to do. Let’s submit to Him, believing that the path He calls us to take will always be worth the change, worth the risk, worth the effort, simply because He has chosen it for us.

Dear Lord, I praise You for Your love and for Your desire to see me grow. I thank You for the promise in Scripture that You are always with us, every step of the way, regardless of whether or not we see or feel You there. Forgive my uncertainty and doubts about the future, and give me the strength to take the next step You are directing me to take. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Alison Strobel, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Daddy,
I do want a new calling, more than anything... I want to be a musician, and I acknowledge that in order for that to happen there will need to be changes in my life and my heart. Father give me strength to continue pushing even when I feel like I can't go on, when I don't "feel" you near. Father help me to quit lashing out and hurting those near to me who are trying to help me. Discernment, giving someone else a glimpse of Your plans for me... Father thank you for spelling this out to me. Help me to rest in you.
AMEN

Verse for Today

2011-10-08T00:11:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 10:35-36
Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (NLT)

Help me to rest in you today.

Transitions

2011-10-02T00:08:00.001-06:00

“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.” Joshua 1:2

"Death is a time for transition. It may be the death of a close friend, a parent, or a grandparent. Death is hard, and it is a time for pause. But grief is a bridge to transition. You may become the leader now, as responsibility is knocking at your door. It is up to you to walk by faith through the Lord’s open door into this new opportunity.

Do not let your lack of experience hold you back; your confidence is in Christ. Be very strong and courageous in Him, as He graduated your loved one or friend to heaven. He has left you behind on earth to carry out His mission. Divine destiny has created this inevitable transition to fine tune your faith.

Your struggle may be the death of a vision, or of a plan that you prayed over. You may have thought you were a lifer in this particular career, but situations change and people change. You grow in skills and abilities that may have been dormant ten years ago. Now God is tugging at your heart toward transition. His desire is transition based on truth, and the truth is, it is time for change.

Your family may need a break from your breakneck pace; so now may be the time for you to go out at the top of your game. Don’t wait until you are asked to leave, but choose to leave so another leader can build on your good work with his new and much needed leadership style. Everything is for a season. Your winter of discontent is about to bloom into a spring of contentment.

You may need to preside over a funeral of bad habits. Bury them deep into the soil of your Savior’s love and forgiveness. Let the strong hand of the Lord lay them to rest; make His confidence your confidence. Receive God’s encouragement as your strength for life’s journey. God is walking with you on this path of change; so do not fear, because your heavenly Father is not far away. Your intimacy with Almighty God is your energy for living. Tap into His truth often—especially during transitions—and trust Him with this life change. His transformation of your character is a terrific transition. But it requires a lifetime of surrender and obedience to Him.

Lastly, death is a time of transition to heaven. Life is preparation for death and is one big transition toward your eternal reward. Because of this, it matters how you invest your time and money. In whom are you investing your wisdom and discernment? Who will model the principles for successful living that God has imparted to you as a wise steward? People are your greatest investment.

One day you will transition to heaven, and part of the reward you receive from the Lord will be the people you influenced for God. Therefore, use your ultimate transition as your present motivation to pour God’s wisdom into people. People need time and truth; so train them in the ways of God. Stay teachable yourself so you are fresh in your faith, and be mentored so you can mentor. Let your life of transition point to your trust in God.

The Bible says, 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes' (James 4:14)."
-Boyd Bailey

Today

2011-09-30T23:56:00.001-06:00

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

~ Isaiah 55:6, NLT

Verse of Promise

2011-09-28T00:24:00.001-06:00

“I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come.” Genesis 45:11

Quote of Day

2011-09-25T00:24:00.001-06:00

"Mentors are not perfect, just wiser from failures and humbled by successes."
- Quote by Boyd Bailey, in Widsom Hunters Daily Devotional

Faith

2011-09-24T00:29:00.001-06:00

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. (NIV)

"Faith is the battle between belief and doubt. When you experience doubt, you may be tempted to think you have lost your faith. But take heart. If you did not have any faith, doubt would have nothing to fight against. How goes the battle?"
-BibleLeague Verse of Day

Verse of Day

2011-09-19T00:26:00.001-06:00

Ecclesiastes 11:4
If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. (TEV)

Verse for Today

2011-09-12T00:30:00.001-06:00

Psalm 27:13-14
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (NIV)

Promise for Today

2011-09-10T00:32:00.001-06:00

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT

I am trusting you Daddy for my life!!

God Journal

2011-09-10T00:31:00.001-06:00

“When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.” Exodus 24:3-4a

"It is wise to journal for Jesus, for it captures the thinking of an ever-communicative Christ. When you document what God is saying, you understand more clearly and you remember more robustly. A dull pencil that writes is much better than a sharp mind that forgets. Writing out words and wrestling with how to define what you feel crystallizes your thinking. A God journal allows you to chronicle what Christ is doing in and through you. It is an immediate reminder of His faithfulness.

It is a time to unleash your anger to an absorptive white page and to celebrate answered prayer. It will one day bless those who may wade through your writings A diary deals primarily with horizontal relationships; a God journal engages with eternity. The world makes more sense when you see it from God’s perspective. And His words are more penetrating and meaningful when you filter them through your heart and mind into words on paper.

When you take the time to write out what God is saying, you see His fingerprints all over your life. It is reassuring to see Christ’s copyright on your actions and attitudes. Journaling for God reminds you that He owns everything, including you. You are His representative to a lost and dying world. Like an alert secretary, you are to listen intently to dictation from Deity. God speaks through Holy Scripture. He speaks through your body, soul, mind, and spirit; He speaks through people, both friend and foe; He speaks through money or the lack thereof; He speaks through circumstances and in quiet prayer.

So, slow down, listen, and pen the heart of God. His words do not wander far away when you write them down. You are reminded of right when you choose to write. Therefore, find a quiet corner with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Open the best-selling book of all time and meditate on God’s timeless truth. Ask Him to apply His wisdom to your mind and heart.

With pen and paper (or computer keyboard) in hand, write out what the Lord is saying to you. Write your letter from God and your letter to God. It may be one sentence, a paragraph, or a page. The length doesn’t matter. What matters is capturing your meditative moments, so you can decode Christ’s heart for you. You can release your struggles and anxieties to your loving heavenly Father and think through His will and plan for your life.

Your God journal is evidence of His love and faithfulness. It builds a foolproof faith. It is not the style or flow that matters to your Father in heaven. Your words may be misspelled and your sentences fragmented. That’s okay. God can take broken phrases and heal a fractured faith. You write about what’s important to you. Your goal is not journalistic excellence. Your goal is to align your heart with His. A God journal facilitates this outstanding outcome by faith. Journaling is therapy and trust. Writing helps you and others remember God’s faithfulness. The Bible says, 'Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it…'(Exodus 17:14a). "

-Body Bailey, Taken from the August 13th reading in the 365-day devotional book, Seeking Daily the Heart of God.

Verse of Promise

2011-09-08T00:33:00.001-06:00

Jeremiah 17:7
[God says,] "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence." (NLT)'

The day the fires started

Trust

2011-09-07T00:35:00.001-06:00

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!"

~ Psalm 31:14, NLT

My Confidence Is In You

2011-09-05T22:29:00.002-06:00

Judges 7:2
The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength." (NLT)

"Gideon had gathered 32,000 men to fight Midian, but God made him use just 300. Often God will take away our strength so we will rely on Him instead. On which of your own strengths do you tend to rely?"
-BibleLeague Verse of Day

Father, you have promised that you are indeed be Lord of our lives, and I believe that You will trust and rest wholly in you. I will trust in Your strength and Your strength alone.

Purpose of Testing

2011-08-29T21:54:00.001-06:00

“The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:3b)

Verse for Today

2011-08-27T21:56:00.001-06:00

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (NIV)

Verse of Day

2011-08-27T21:55:00.000-06:00

“Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle — even then, I will be happy with the Lord. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 (GW)

Verse of Hope

2011-08-23T22:00:00.003-06:00

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

~ Hebrews 10:23, NLT

Verse for Today

2011-08-23T22:00:00.001-06:00

...let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him...

~ Hebrews 10:22, NLT

Verse of Promise

2011-07-19T23:46:00.000-06:00

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

~ John 14:1, NLT

My Heart's Cry

2011-07-18T23:47:00.001-06:00

For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

~ Psalm 38:15, NLT

Clinging to Hope

2011-07-04T23:50:00.001-06:00

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will work out his plans for my life -- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me. (NLT)

Thank you Father that Your love does indeed endure... I ask that you would impress on my heart that you will never leave nor forsake me... make that real to me today I pray.
AMEN

Trading Fierce Independence

2011-07-01T23:51:00.001-06:00

“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.’” 2 Kings 4:3 (NIV 2011)

"Problems. I prefer to keep them to myself. Being fiercely independent, my instinct is to slam the cellar door shut at the first sign of high winds. In other words, no one’s getting in until the storm is past. I’ll let God in, no problem. But you — I keep out.

Over the years, God has challenged me on this independent approach, calling it was it is: pride.

It’s not overt arrogance, but by keeping others at a distance, it implies I’m all-sufficient and don’t need your help. Plus, the insecure little girl in me worries that if you see weakness in my life, you’ll question my competency. As so, I’ve kept to myself, creating a prideful façade of control.

That didn’t work very well, however. Repeatedly, God has called me to a place of greater interdependence with others. He’s worked miracles in my life when I’ve humbly asked for prayer. He’s broken down walls of distance when I’ve allowed people to see the real me. I’ve seen His hand move at the request of my godly friends.

It’s now obvious to me God designed us to work together. We are pieces of the same puzzle, and life makes more sense when we are connected.

There’s a story in the Old Testament that shows God’s plan for interdependence. It’s found in the book of 2 Kings and concerns a widow who had a big problem. She needed resources, but the coin jar was empty. Her husband died, leaving her with no means of support, and a pile of debts she couldn’t pay. Creditors demanded restitution. Since there was no money, they planned to take her children as slaves.

Desperate, she sought help from Elisha, a man known to be set apart for God. Elisha asked her to do something unusual: go to all her neighbors and request empty jars … lots of them. Then, she was to return home, take what little oil she had left and pour it into the jars.

The widow did as Elisha instructed. When she returned home, she started pouring. As each jar filled, her sons brought her another. They filled every borrowed jar with oil. Elisha then told her to sell the oil, pay the creditors and live off the rest. She did.

What I love about this story is that the quantity of the miracle oil was in direct proportion to the number of neighbors she asked for help. If she had asked five neighbors, that’s how much oil she would have had. Ten neighbors meant ten jars. And so on. The more people the widow asked for help, the greater God’s provision.

There’s another part of the story not told by the Bible passage, but I can’t help but wonder if it happened. At some point, the widow would have returned the borrowed jars. When she did, I imagine she would have told each neighbor what God had done for her, and how that neighbor played a part in the miracle. What a testimony that must have been!

God could have worked a miracle in any way, but He chose to involve each member of that little neighborhood. I imagine they were never the same after being part of something so amazing.

This story speaks clearly to me. God often plans to meet my needs through others. Yet if I keep my problems to myself, I might hinder His plan to bless my friends and broadcast His faithfulness. I’m learning to deny the lies of a prideful spirit in exchange for a humble plea for help. I’m trading my fierce independence for God’s plan of community.

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve kept to myself, believing I have everything necessary to solve my problems. In doing so, I may have missed Your plan for meeting my needs through others. Help me to identify pride and submit it to You. Help me to have a humble and teachable spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Glynnis Whitwer, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Father thank you for these words of life today... that as I learn submission and as I learn to really trust... for showing me that You are indeed trustworthy, as the widow obeyed you even when life seemed difficult, that you abundantly provided based on her obedience to you, even when what you were asking of her seemed ridicuolous... and actually it wasn't even you asking her... it wasn't her husband that she 'owed' some sort of obenience to.. it was a man whom she had sought after as she knew he was a man set apart by you. . You specifically told her "Don't ask for just a few"... because it was your desire to abundantly bless her with not just enought to pay off the creditors that she owed, but also enough to live on... all from one small jar of oil. Thank you for your never endng love. Help me to be the person that you desire for me to be... that I would whole-heartedly seek after you and whole-heartedly follow after you... just like we were talking about a few hours ago... that you would teach me to follow and not just with my head, but with my heart and my life... You are trustworthy.. and I choose to trust you and those you place in authority over me. .. I love you.. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Words that Heal

2011-06-20T23:52:00.001-06:00

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

"I was searching in my husband’s sock drawer when I found a familiar thick white envelope. I put on my glasses, sat at my vanity and started reading.

Tears followed.

“Dad, you are my hero.' Ryan penned these words the day my husband, Richard, finished graduate school. The words in the three pages revealed a young man who was not afraid to open his heart and let his dad see inside.

Reading the letter once again made me want to write a letter to my son. I wanted to tell him that I remembered when he was a little boy and he offered drive-by kisses as he ran past. I desired to tell him that when I was an exhausted mother to three toddlers his lopsided smile and Kermit the Frog belly laugh made me happy to be a mom.

I longed to tell him that I remembered when he walked behind me, trying to gain my attention with 'Mom, Mom, Mama!' I wanted to share that I was sorry when I wasn’t as patient as I should have been.

Most of all I wanted to let him know how proud I was of him as a man and how I saw many of the same beautiful traits of his father emerging in him.

Why do we leave such precious words unsaid? Words that heal. Words that share the way we feel. Words that become treasures one day when words are all that remain.

Today’s key verse from Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that the power isn’t in the tongue as a muscle, but in the words that fall from the tongue. We often talk about the negative words we should hold back, but what about the words that we can freely offer to those we care about?

Those are powerful words, indeed.

Dear Lord, scripture is filled with words that remind me of Your love. May my tongue be used to affirm, to encourage, to lift up, and to share simple words that say “I love you” to the treasured people You put in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-T. Suzanne Eller, Provberbs 31 Ministries

What the Ravens KNOW

2011-06-14T03:15:00.000-06:00

“He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.” Psalm 147:9 (NIV)

"I watch as the bird perches aloft a swinging power line, oblivious to the current pulsing through his perch. He raises his beak and sings in the direction of the clouds above, his song more insistent than melodic.

Until I read today’s verse I might’ve assumed that the raven was calling for his mate or trying to out sing the other birds. But with today’s verse on my mind I wonder if he is not doing what all of God’s creation inherently knows to do: call on their Creator for their needs.

Ravens are pretty plain as birds go. Missing the distinct markings of a bluebird or cardinal and the unique talents of the woodpecker or hummingbird, ravens strike me as being least likely to get God’s attention. And yet, the Psalmist mentions this unremarkable bird in Psalm 147:9. He points out that when they call, God hears them and He provides for them.

Maybe today you are feeling unremarkable, forgotten, lacking anything special. You might be feeling plain, all black feathers in a forest full of bright plumage. Why would God answer your call? You have nothing to offer in return.

This verse assures us that God doesn’t respond based on who we are or what we have to offer. He responds because we are His, plain and simple. He responds because it is in His nature to provide. Our call initiates His response. We must believe that with all our hearts and stand on that truth as we wait for that response.

I know that’s easier said than done.

Perhaps you have been waiting a long time. Maybe you are feeling hopeless that your prayers will ever be answered. Or perhaps you are losing faith that He even hears.

I’ve been there, too. There have been times when I looked into tomorrow and saw blackness as dark as the feathers of a raven. Days when I read a verse like Psalm 147:9, and thought to myself, 'Yeah, right. He might answer that bird, but He isn’t answering me.'

And in those times I’ve wondered what I needed to do to get God’s attention. In John 6:28-29 the people ask Jesus what they must do to do the works God requires. They want to please God and they know Jesus holds the key as to how they can do just that. As they wait anxiously for His answer, I imagine they are expecting a laundry list of possibilities, bullet points they can jot down and refer to later.

Instead Jesus tells them that the work of God is simply to believe in the One He has sent. Jesus knew that believing is work. It is heart work. To believe in Jesus even when He seems far away or unresponsive is some of the hardest work we will have to do as we follow Him. But that is all what He asks us to do.

The ravens know that He always provides and they sing with confidence in that, no matter what their circumstances are. Oh how I want to do the same in my life. Will you join me today, singing, believing and standing on His promises as we persevere in song.

Dear Lord, today I am going to keep singing and trust that You will answer my call because I believe You love me and want the best for me. I am going to do the work that You require and trust Your provision. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
- Marybeth Whalen, Proverbs 31 Ministries.

How amazing to think that as the bird sits perched on the power-line, clinging to what could potentially kill them, the bird opens it's mouth, and as the notes of it's song come out to think that it is asking for it's daily provision. The Bible does say that creation will and does cry out... I often wander how much we in our human flesh are unable to see around us... the babbling brooks, the wind blowing through the trees.... could Creation really be calling out for the Creator??
What an amazing thought!!!
And even more amazing is the thought that the Bible also says that even as God clothes the grass of the field, and feeds the sparrows, how much more so does the LORD God love and care for you!!
What a humbling thought today... that no matter what trials, no matter what circumstances, no matter WHAT.. My God loves me and will provide for my needs. I need just open my mouth and "sing".
Thank you Father ! AMEN

Moving from Self

2011-06-04T02:52:00.000-06:00

"The simple truth is that worship is elementary until it begins to
take on the quality of admiration. Just as long as the worshiper is
engrossed with himself and his good fortune, he is a babe. We begin
to grow up when our worship passes from thanksgiving to admiration.
As our hearts rise to God in lofty esteem for that which He is ('I AM
THAT I AM'), we begin to share a little of the selfless pleasure
which is the portion of the blessed in heaven.

Almighty God, I want to be one of Your admirers. Help me to pass
beyond thanksgiving even this morning to lofty esteem and selfless
admiration. Amen."
-A. W. Tozer, That Incredible Christian (p.127)

Funny Story

2011-05-25T02:52:00.001-06:00

"When a woman lies. One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her
thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, ''My dear child, why are you crying?'

The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family. The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.
The seamstress replied, 'No.'

The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.

Again, the seamstress replied, 'No.'

The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.

'Is this your thimble?' the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, 'Yes.'

The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, 'Why are you crying?' 'Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!'

The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. 'Is this your husband? The Lord asked.

'Yes,' cried the seamstress. The Lord was furious. 'You lied! That is an untruth!' The seamstress
replied, 'Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.

Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband... Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney. And so the Lord let her keep him.

The moral of this story is: Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.

Signed,

All Us Women"
-Author Unknown

The Moment

2011-05-24T03:13:00.000-06:00

"So familiar can some of our relationships be, we forget. We rush. We assume. We feel like we have forever.

And feeling like we have forever cheapens the right now feelings.

Each morning I have a routine with my man. It’s simple. Nothing profound. Nothing for which we’d ever stop and snap a picture.

It’s just a moment.

He asks me to help him pick a tie. He then goes away to fuss with this fixture of his professional job. Soon, he returns with a flipped up collar and a pressed down, knotted tie. He needs gentle hands to fold the collar over. No, he doesn’t need. He wants gentle hands to fold the collar over.

And I do.

It’s just a moment.

But it’s something I would miss with the deepest ache imaginable if today was the last of the moments.

If today.

Tears slip as I think about this. Dear God, help me think about this. Let me snap a hundred of these moments with the lens of my heart to be stored and appreciated and thought of as the great treasure they are.

Let my mind park there.

Let my heart relish there.

Let my mouth dare to whisper what a joy this is. “I love you. I love us. I love this moment each day.”

No, our relationship isn’t perfect. No relationship is. We’re two very strong willed people with vastly different approaches to life. And oh how easy it would be to list out all the differences. He likes the towel hanging in the same spot. I am more creative. But I stop the list here.

I stop because great love isn’t two people finding the perfect match in one another.

Great love is two people making the choice to be a match.

A decision.

To fold his collar and snap the heart lens and find myself grateful to the point of tears.

Tears of relishing today are so much better than tears of what was missed.

It’s just a moment.

Or is it?"
-Lysa TerKeurst

I Wanted to See God's Faithfulness

2011-05-24T03:04:00.000-06:00

“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Psalm 10:17 (NIV)

"My heart pounded. My teeth clenched. My hands gripped the arms of my chair. I was in the midst of watching a stressful soccer game my 15 year old son was playing in on a beautiful weekend afternoon recently.

His team had a history of unpleasant experiences with this aggressive team. Every season, each game with this team inevitably spiraled into intense rough and rude behavior, language that would make your hair stand on end and a sideline of coaches and parents that made the actions on the field seem minimal.

As we drove the hour long commute to the game, I encouraged my son to play clean and to represent God well. He asked me to “keep praying” as he got out of the car and walked toward the field.

I realize it was only a soccer game, but I started to pray and I didn’t stop. I prayed for safety. I prayed for good attitudes. I also selfishly prayed that we would finally win a game against this team.

I watched with a grateful heart as my son huddled his teammates together to pray before they embarked on the field.

I begged God, again, to let them win this game. I wanted to see His faithfulness. I wanted my son and his teammates to learn that when you pray and seek God, you will win.

But winning isn’t always the way God chooses to show His faithfulness. What a lesson for my son — what a lesson for me.

The game began, and as expected, the players got increasingly aggressive and the intimidating tactics started to build.

'lease show your faithfulness God,' I prayed.

The shoving ensued, the language flew and the opposing coaches screamed beyond reason. I wanted to leave, yet I knew I needed to stay to support my son.

Our team lost a very difficult game that day. They were frustrated and extremely disappointed.

As we drove home, I tried my best to encourage my son, but deep in my heart and mind I found myself wishing God would have stepped in. I wanted God to show His faithfulness on the field that day. I wanted them to win the game. I wanted my son to see that God heard and answered his prayers.

We trust in a God who protects, guides, listens, and always understands the hows and whys behind every intricate detail. I reluctantly admit that after this particular game, it took me quite awhile to recall these truths and in turn relay them to my son.

God shows His faithfulness in ways we do not see. I am often reminded of this when I read Isaiah 55:9, 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' I had to remind myself that His answers are not always immediately evident.

His love, strength and power unfold in ways we may never fully comprehend. I desperately wanted God to show Himself faithful on the field that day. But winning isn’t the only way He shows His faithfulness.

He heard and answered our prayers, just not necessarily in every way we wanted. No one was injured. Everyone returned home safely.

God was faithful. He surely was.

How might God be showing His faithfulness in your life today?

Dear Lord, thank you for your faithfulness, even during the times I cannot see it. I know you are always there — loving me and protecting me. Please help me to trust in you and your perfect path for me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Holly Good, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Divine Delays

2011-05-23T03:19:00.000-06:00

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:18-19 (NIV)

"My schedule was tight and I was out of make-up, so I planned to pick up my favorite foundation at the local mall, leaving room to still arrive on time for my friend’s annual Christmas tea. As I prepared to leave, the Lord whispered to my heart, Don’t go to the mall; go to the make-up store near your home.

But Lord, I argued, I have my friend’s Christmas tea and the mall is on the way. What You’re asking me to do isn’t convenient. I will have to go out of my way and I will be late for the tea. And You know how important punctuality is to me!

After more arguing, I reluctantly obeyed and went into the corner make-up store.

I knew the young woman working. She’s not only pleasant, but quick and efficient with her customers. Lord, maybe this inconvenience won’t interrupt my schedule too much after all. As I entered the store, the familiar woman greeted me and offered to help with my purchase. I told her what I needed and added that I was in quite a hurry to be on time for my Christmas tea.

Quickly and efficiently she found the needed product and walked me to the register to check out.

This was easier than I thought, I said to myself as she handed me my purchase. Then it happened… the reason I had been led to go out of my way.

'I know you’re in a hurry, and I will only keep you one more moment.' The young woman shared. 'I’d like to ask that you pray for me and my struggling marriage as you drive to your Christmas tea. I don’t think my marriage can be saved.'

In that moment I sensed the Lord, This is why I wanted to interrupt your busy schedule.

I placed my purchase on the counter, held her hands and prayed. As the Lord guided my words, the young woman began to sob, her tears landing softly on my hands. When I said 'Amen,' she hugged me tightly and whispered, 'Of all the people I’ve asked to pray for me, you’re the first one to stop and do so. Thank you. I’ve been very discouraged, and had thought no one would ever respond to my request. In fact, I had given up all hope that God even heard my cries for help.'

I reminded her of today’s key verse, 'The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.' (Psalm 145:18-19, NIV)

She thanked me for my time, adding that she would begin to dig into God’s Word for more strength and encouragement. The store began to fill with customers. There was one more hug and an exchange of phone numbers as I left for the tea.

Since that day we have talked and prayed together on several occasions and we plan to continue. Each time she and I talk, it’s a reminder that when I listen and obey the Lord’s promptings, I experience the joy of His presence in a powerful way.

God’s divine delay taught me that being used by the Lord for His glory in the life of others far outweighs arriving on time.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving me enough to use me for Your purposes and glory. Teach me to listen and obey without reservation or hesitation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Zoe Elmore, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse for Today

2011-05-22T03:17:00.000-06:00

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:7, NLT

Thought for Today

2011-05-04T03:21:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 4:2
Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. (NLT)

Thank you Father for this reminder today.. Enable me to live this out each day, not getting frustrated at those around me, but filling me with patiece..
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Verse for Today

2011-05-04T02:58:00.001-06:00

Luke 12:32
[Jesus says,] "Do not be afraid...." (NIV)

Father let me cling to this verse today. AMEN!

Banner for Today

2011-05-03T03:19:00.000-06:00

I am a forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)

I am a set-free child of God. (Romans 8:1 – 2)

I am an accepted child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

I am a holy child of God. (1 Cornthians 1:30)

I am a made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am a loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)

I am a child of God. (Ephesians 2:13)

I am a confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)

I am a victorious child of God (Romans 8:37)

Answer Envy

2011-04-29T03:15:00.000-06:00

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

"Do you ever envy God’s answers to someone else’s prayers?

I remember almost choking on the words, 'I am so happy for you!' in response to the breaking news that friends of ours from North Carolina had sold their house after it had been on the market for twenty days.

To them it had been a long twenty days. Houses were normally snatched up quickly in their area. In our shaky Michigan economy, however, it takes a bit longer. In fact, on the day she announced that her home now had a 'sold' sign in the front yard, we turned another page on our calendar — marking how long our house had been for sale. Not twenty days, but twenty months to be exact.

Although I was genuinely thrilled for my friend, I was also a tad green with jealousy.

I call this answer envy. It is that 'poor me' mentality that creeps into my heart when God answers someone else’s prayers more quickly than mine. Or when He responds to them with a 'yes' but His answer seems to be a 'no' for me, or at least a 'not right now.'

I’ve had my fair share of answer envy outbreaks over the years, at all stages of life.

As a child, I was envious of the kids who came from two-parent homes while I resided in a family torn apart by divorce. No matter how hard I folded my little hands and prayed to God, my daddy didn’t come back to us.

In high school, it was other girls’ good looks, cute clothes or even cuter boyfriends that I longed for. Instead, I was granted average looks and wore department store blue-light-special fashions. And, as sports editor of our school paper, although I was every guy’s pal, I was usually nobody’s gal.

In college, I envied those whose prayers for a knight in shining armor, complete with sparkly diamond ring, were answered while I remained single. Once married, I struggled with miscarriage and dashed dreams of motherhood. So, for five long years, I slapped a smile on my face to mask my broken heart and attended yet another pale pink or baby blue church shower.

Over the years I have discovered that the cure for answer envy is not always easy because I must play an active role in my own healing.

What I need is a shift in perspective. When I 'call to God' as encouraged in today’s key verse, I must trust that He will keep His word. He will tell me 'great and unsearchable things' that I do not know. Sometimes those things are the answers to my request. However, do you know what those great and unsearchable things more often are? They are the reasons He seems not to be answering my original request!

So, instead of only begging God to 'sell my house' or 'take away my pain' or 'fix my kid,' I need also to ask myself some questions. Questions like, 'What is my Creator trying to teach me that I might never learn if He were to suddenly pluck me out of this situation?' Or, 'What character qualities is He trying to grow in me? Patience, trust, compassion, contentment?'

Not available in quick microwave form, the cure for answer envy must be cultivated moment by moment.

We must believe that God will answer. He will clearly say 'yes,' 'no,' or 'not right now.' He is able, ready and willing to answer our prayers — here is the catch — as He sees fit and to grow us to be more like His Son in the process.

It took two years until our 'for sale' sign was finally replaced with a 'sold' banner. It was a long stay in God’s waiting room. However, I now know this to be true: I must not merely seek the answer to my prayer. Instead, I must seek a deeper relationship with the answer Giver.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect plans… Your perfect timing… and the perfect way Your development happens in my times of waiting. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Karen Ehman, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse for Today

2011-04-28T02:47:00.001-06:00

Psalm 3:5-6
I lay down and slept; I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. (NLT)

The Truth About Fear

2011-04-20T03:24:00.001-06:00

"If the enemy can keep us contained by fear, we won’t be able to fulfill our potential or make a difference in the lives of others. Satan knows what we are capable of with Christ. To prevent us from that realization, he poisons us with fear — fear of trusting God, fear of surrendering ourselves completely to His plans.

Fear that is fueled by Satan’s lies can be described by this acrostic:

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

It’s not that we shouldn’t be concerned about certain issues of life such as safety and health. But when worrying takes over by keeping us up at night and shutting us down during the day, we move into a place we were never meant to live.

We need to live in God’s presence and rely on His promises and provision. Only then will we be able to distinguish between truth and lies. Only then will our lives be marked by faith, not fear.

Dear Lord, help me to discern between false fears and real concerns. As I commit Your Word to memory, make Your truth alive in my heart so that I can battle fear and live by faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Micca Monda Campbell, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Rescue

2011-04-20T03:24:00.000-06:00

Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (NIV)

Prayer for Today

2011-04-20T03:22:00.001-06:00

"Oh, Father, I pray that prayer might never become for me 'a duty
to be fulfilled.' In a real love relationship communication is a
delight, never a duty. Fill me with that freedom in my times with
You. Amen."
-A.W. Tozer

Verse for Today

2011-04-14T03:28:00.000-06:00

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

~ Hebrews 10:23, NLT

Haiti Rising

2011-04-13T03:35:00.000-06:00

The following is a message from my friends at Passion and DO SOMETHING NOW... Check it out:

We are overwhelmed by your generosity in this first month of the new dosomethingnow.com as over $160,000 has already been given towards these incredible causes! A massive thanks to you for giving financially to the last and least of these in Jesus’ name. Our partners are already utilizing your gifts to serve the causes you have chosen to sow into, bringing hope to many across the globe! You can follow @dosomething_now on twitter to see how and to celebrate the ripple effects of your sacrifice and generosity.

Haiti Rising
One of the new causes at dosomethingnow.com is a massive undertaking as we desire to help the rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Though no longer in the media spotlight, our hearts are still overwhelmed for the people of Haiti as they attempt to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake in 2010. Many of the issues that plague Haiti’s rebirth are complex, yet rubble removal is not. That is if the proper equipment and team were available! Do Something Now is partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to purchase heavy equipment and fund a rubble removal team for a year. The result: What takes dozens of workers months to do by hand can be accomplished in one day!

Here are two ways you can be part of transforming Haiti through this project:
1. Give to www.Haiti-Rising.com
2. Update your Twitter and Facebook status this week, encouraging your family and friends to join you in making a difference

On our own, we each can make a difference, but together we are a force for good that exponentially surpasses what we can do alone. Small sacrifices can make a huge difference. Thank you for joining the movement and inviting others to follow.

Bryson Vogeltanz
Chief Steward – Do Something Now
Passion Conferences

Heart Knowledge

2011-04-13T03:32:00.001-06:00

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

"There is a very important distinction between heart knowledge and head knowledge. A person can know facts about God in their head, without applying this it to their heart by faith. A man or woman can hear all the right things, say the right things, attend church and still be 18 inches away from heaven—the distance between the head and the heart."
-Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunter's Devotional

Wow... I have heard this verse so many times, and I've always just glossed over it as something that is only talking about the "how's of salvation"... That you must believe and that you must profess... Which on the surface, that's what this is saying, but underneath all that... as I read the beginning of this devotional it hit me that instead of being a "prescrtiption" for salvation, this verse was meant instead to reaveal to us the difference between heart knowing and head knowledge... and it convicted me of how many times I feel like I've been filled with head knowledge since my childhood and being raised in the American Church mentality and environment, and that so often I don't have that "faith" (I'm not talking about basic faith in Chist as my Saviour, but more in the faith that God will do what He says he will do, and that He will provide for my every need) in my heart. It seems that I can spew out head knowledge of what God says in His word regarding me as His child and regarding HIs promises to me as HIs child, but my heart knows nothing of it. Father give me a heart that KNOWS you, and not just a HEAD filled with knowlege.

Verse for Today

2011-04-12T03:28:00.000-06:00

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

~ Psalm 112:7, NLT

Verse for Today

2011-04-08T03:38:00.001-06:00

Job 8:21
"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." (NIV)

Hidden Potential

2011-04-07T03:43:00.000-06:00

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come:
the old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

"Christ sees your value and hidden potential. Do you?

I was challenged by this thought recently after putting my son to bed.

Every night, I receive the same request when I tuck him in. He looks at me with big, blue eyes, pokes his bottom lip out for sentimental effect, and asks for a bedtime story. Last night was no exception. As usual, I skimmed the contents of his room. Searching for an item that might plant a story idea in my head, I noticed his gray sock monkey.

Instantly, my thoughts started weaving a tale about an old gray piece of cloth that lived on a shelf in a fabric store for many years. The story easily unfolded in my imagination as my little man sat wide-eyed, intently listening to the details.

When the story ended, I kissed my son goodnight and immediately felt a gentle whisper in my spirit reminding me of the truth held in today’s key verse. “You were once just like that little, old piece of fabric, but God transformed you into a new creation, too.”

You see, I started the bedtime story by explaining how this dull, gray piece of fabric would sit quietly on the shelf each day, desperately longing for someone to notice him. From his place on the dusty shelf, he had a bird’s eye view of all the beautiful fabrics that held so much more potential.

He admired the fabrics of vibrant orange and pink polka dots that would one day be transformed into frilly toddler dresses; the fabrics with elegant stripes that would make fine draperies for beautiful homes; the fabrics with tassels and shimmering coins dangling from their edges; and the myriad of fun fabrics, adorned with colorful cartoon characters.

But he was just a boring old piece of gray fabric.

Nothing special. Nothing elegant. Nothing valuable. Old. Outdated. Worthless.

Certainly nothing worthy of being transformed into anything new and wonderful.

One spring day, a frail elderly woman wandered into the store. The gray piece of fabric could tell she was a seamstress by the wrinkled tape measure around her neck and the rusty thimble on her finger.

As she meandered around the store, continually brushing wisps of white hair from her face, she seemed to be searching for something special. Suddenly, her eyes fell upon the little piece of gray fabric tucked shyly away in the corner.

He dared to think that maybe, just maybe, she would see potential in him.

As the woman drew closer, his heart began to race. She gently picked him up and headed towards the cash register, adding buttons, fabric scraps, and thread to her hands along the way.

When the seamstress returned home, she diligently set about her task. Gradually she transformed the piece of old gray fabric into an adorable new sock monkey, to be loved and cherished by her grandchildren. He made a difference in the hearts of children for many generations.

The little piece of gray fabric, who thought he had no purpose, was transformed into something new in the hands of the seamstress. Although he felt worthless at one time, she looked beyond what he was; beyond his old life as a scrap of fabric. She saw him as something new, and helped him discover his value and hidden potential.

After telling my son this story, God gently reminded me how I once felt much like that old piece of gray fabric sitting on the shelf. Ashamed, overlooked, unimportant, and paling in comparison to others. I didn’t see how anything about me or my past — any of the old stuff — could be valuable. I felt like a scrap of leftover material.

I believe God helped my imagination soar that night while sitting on the edge of my child’s bed. He helped me remember that I have been transformed by Him, and although I spent most of life not seeing my hidden potential, He always had a plan and a purpose for me.

Just like that little piece of gray fabric, which was transformed from something old into something new, we are new creations in Christ.

Remember, Christ sees your value and hidden potential. And He wants to help you see it, too.

Dear Lord, help me remember that I became a new creation when I accepted You as my Savior, and that my value is in You and You alone. Thank You for Your promise of having a plan and a purpose just for me. Help me to embrace the plans You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Tracie Miles

Word for Today

2011-04-06T03:55:00.000-06:00

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come:
the old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

"Christ sees your value and hidden potential. Do you?

I was challenged by this thought recently after putting my son to bed.

Every night, I receive the same request when I tuck him in. He looks at me with big, blue eyes, pokes his bottom lip out for sentimental effect, and asks for a bedtime story. Last night was no exception. As usual, I skimmed the contents of his room. Searching for an item that might plant a story idea in my head, I noticed his gray sock monkey.

Instantly, my thoughts started weaving a tale about an old gray piece of cloth that lived on a shelf in a fabric store for many years. The story easily unfolded in my imagination as my little man sat wide-eyed, intently listening to the details.

When the story ended, I kissed my son goodnight and immediately felt a gentle whisper in my spirit reminding me of the truth held in today’s key verse. 'You were once just like that little, old piece of fabric, but God transformed you into a new creation, too.'

You see, I started the bedtime story by explaining how this dull, gray piece of fabric would sit quietly on the shelf each day, desperately longing for someone to notice him. From his place on the dusty shelf, he had a bird’s eye view of all the beautiful fabrics that held so much more potential.

He admired the fabrics of vibrant orange and pink polka dots that would one day be transformed into frilly toddler dresses; the fabrics with elegant stripes that would make fine draperies for beautiful homes; the fabrics with tassels and shimmering coins dangling from their edges; and the myriad of fun fabrics, adorned with colorful cartoon characters.

But he was just a boring old piece of gray fabric.

Nothing special. Nothing elegant. Nothing valuable. Old. Outdated. Worthless.

Certainly nothing worthy of being transformed into anything new and wonderful.

One spring day, a frail elderly woman wandered into the store. The gray piece of fabric could tell she was a seamstress by the wrinkled tape measure around her neck and the rusty thimble on her finger.

As she meandered around the store, continually brushing wisps of white hair from her face, she seemed to be searching for something special. Suddenly, her eyes fell upon the little piece of gray fabric tucked shyly away in the corner.

He dared to think that maybe, just maybe, she would see potential in him.

As the woman drew closer, his heart began to race. She gently picked him up and headed towards the cash register, adding buttons, fabric scraps, and thread to her hands along the way.

When the seamstress returned home, she diligently set about her task. Gradually she transformed the piece of old gray fabric into an adorable new sock monkey, to be loved and cherished by her grandchildren. He made a difference in the hearts of children for many generations.

The little piece of gray fabric, who thought he had no purpose, was transformed into something new in the hands of the seamstress. Although he felt worthless at one time, she looked beyond what he was; beyond his old life as a scrap of fabric. She saw him as something new, and helped him discover his value and hidden potential.

After telling my son this story, God gently reminded me how I once felt much like that old piece of gray fabric sitting on the shelf. Ashamed, overlooked, unimportant, and paling in comparison to others. I didn’t see how anything about me or my past — any of the old stuff — could be valuable. I felt like a scrap of leftover material.

I believe God helped my imagination soar that night while sitting on the edge of my child’s bed. He helped me remember that I have been transformed by Him, and although I spent most of life not seeing my hidden potential, He always had a plan and a purpose for me.

Just like that little piece of gray fabric, which was transformed from something old into something new, we are new creations in Christ.

Remember, Christ sees your value and hidden potential. And He wants to help you see it, too.

Dear Lord, help me remember that I became a new creation when I accepted You as my Savior, and that my value is in You and You alone. Thank You for Your promise of having a plan and a purpose just for me. Help me to embrace the plans You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Tracie Miles, Proverbs 31 Ministries

When Healing Never Comes

2011-04-05T04:02:00.001-06:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

"I remember when she was 13. Sitting in a doctor’s office, between tears and trembling, we heard these words: 'scoliosis,' 'a curvature of the spine,' 'back brace,' '23 out of 24 hours a day,' 'two years.'

Words cannot explain life those next weeks and months as she faithfully wore her brace…a brace that deformed her body, caused sleepless nights filled with pain and sorrow, and required her to quit something she loved: competitive cheerleading.

Questions plagued her heart. Why me, God? What did I do, God?

Questions plagued my mind. Why her, God? What did I fail to do? Please take this from her and give it to me, Lord…PLEASE!!

I cried out for healing. We obeyed Scripture. Elders of the church prayed over her. I laid hands on her and anointed her with oil. Hundreds of women prayed for her healing.

Healing never came.

Many nights she lay in my bed, locked in her brace, sobbing, asking, 'Why me, Mom?' I lay next to her, tears rolling down my cheeks, exhausted, feeling helpless, wondering how we would make it to the other side of this.

Healing never came.

Her back worsened despite the brace, so we tried alternative methods.

Healing never came.

Oh, for a time, the brace kept her curve at bay — until she was 16. A newly licensed driver, varsity cheerleader, confident, strong, funny, and beautiful, inside and out.

A beautiful teenager with a curve in her spine and pain that had increased with astounding speed over three years, until it reached the point that we had to face the reality of surgery. A surgery that required this precious child of mine to put her life on hold. A surgery that meant rods and screws would line her spine from top to bottom. A surgery that required months and months of rehabilitation. A surgery that prevented her from ever tumbling again.

Healing never came…or has it?

At first glance I’d say 'no' because the Lord did not heal in the way I so specifically and faithfully prayed.

But, when I look at the promised result — it will straighten her spine and allow her to live pain free — I must say, 'yes' healing is coming, just not in the way I hoped and prayed.

The passion of my heart, the call on my life, is to point others to find answers to their struggles, great and small, in the Word of God. So what do I say to myself as I kneel before the Lord? I allow the tears to come. I shake my fist, asking why has it had to come to this? I ask why did He not choose MY way?

And then, I surrender.

I take my own advice.

I go to His Word. His Word that speaks sweetly to me:

'Wendy, trust Me with all your heart. Do not lean on the knowledge of chiropractors, physical therapists, and others. Do not lean on your fears. Acknowledge Me, Wendy. My Name. My Power. My Strength. My Love. I promised to direct your path, and I have. This is the path I have led you to follow. Trust Me.' (Proverbs 3:5-6)

'Wendy, I do not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.' (2 Timothy 1:7)

'Wendy, remember My ways are higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than yours…TRUST ME with her because I have a plan and I love her more than you will ever know.' (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I wish I could tell you I wasn’t afraid the day of her surgery. But I would be lying. I was afraid. I was very afraid the day they rolled her away to cut into her spine and insert foreign objects into her body. But I can tell you that I trusted my God, and I asked Him daily to help me with my unbelief. And He did.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that it is TRUTH. Father, for every woman whose heart aligns with mine today, direct us to Your Word. Speak truth into our circumstances. Help us with our unbelief. Help us take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Fill our hearts and minds with whatever is lovely, true, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy. Father cover us with Your wings. Help us to fully trust in You. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Wendy Blight, Proverbs31 Ministries

Emotional Faithfulness

2011-04-05T04:00:00.001-06:00

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28

"There is a constant allure for emotional connection between a woman and a man. A pure motive of care for someone other than your spouse can easily turn into emotional unfaithfulness. An emotional needy woman at work will give signs to seeking men who are unfulfilled at home. It seems exciting and inviting, but in the end—it wrecks homes.

This juvenile junket flies into the face of what Jesus wants and expects. Married couples are meant to fulfill their emotional needs within their marriage experience. This is why it’s imperative to process past and present pain in a healthy manner, so communication and care can flourish, thus feeding each other’s emotional desires. Husbands and wives hunger for emotional wholeness with the one they have become “one flesh” with under God’s purview.

'That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh' (Genesis 2:24).
Is the bond with your spouse beyond the surface of superficial sex? Remember those long talks you had before you were married? When was the last time you processed your feelings together in a meaningful conversation? It may mean holding hands, looking each other in the eyes and apologizing for hurting his or her heart. Engaged emotions stay engaged.

Husbands if you are emotionally dead, you will kill your marriage. Learn to loosen up and express how you feel. Yes, it is uncomfortable to be vulnerable, but this is a process that God blesses in growing your relationship with your wife. And wives, do not look for emotional support from a man that’s not your husband. Stay focused on Christ’s comfort, seek out professional help to heal your heart—and learn how to approach your husband.

Emotional faithfulness causes a marriage to flourish with fulfilling encounters of loving communication and care. A statement like, 'I am sorry you had to experience that pain', begins to describe your dialogue. You simply listen, to learn and enter into their hurting heart, instead of prescribing solutions and offering pep talks. Emotional fidelity finds a home in relationships that seek to understand, comfort, and offer hope and timely truth.

Most of all—seek together truth found in God’s word. Ignorance of proven principles that build healthy marriages is a recipe for relational disaster. Invite the Holy Spirit to jointly instruct your minds and to knit your humble hearts together in love and kindness. Seek out other married couples to learn from that are good models of emotional faithfulness.

'That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' (Colossians 2:2-3).

What relationship do I need to avoid because it is creating emotional unfaithfulness?"
-Wisdom Hunters Devotional

Emotional Faithfulness

2011-04-05T03:59:00.000-06:00

Verse for Today

2011-04-04T03:55:00.001-06:00

"He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity."

~ Proverbs 2:7, NLT

Did you see that??? He is a shield to those who walk with integrity... Father, may I walk with integrity that You would be a shield to me. Give me a heart that desires to love and serve you more.
AMEN

Fearing the Unknown

2011-03-30T03:42:00.000-06:00

“Then you will know which way to go,
since you have never been this way before.”
Joshua 3:4a (NIV)

"Do you ever fear the unknown? Perhaps it’s your health or the uncertainty of your future. Maybe it’s the decisions your children will make about following God or following their peers. Fearing the unknown can cause us to spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. There are two problems with this type of fear:

• The future is not here.
• The future is not ours.

While the future may be out of our hands, it is not out of the hands of our faithful trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example of how to trust God in the face of uncertainty.

It’s recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land — the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.

Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God’s direction. Much like their meeting with the Red Sea, God had to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant (where God’s Presence abided) to follow it because they had 'never passed this way before' (Joshua 3:4). In essence, God was saying: Follow Me and I’ll see you through this unknown territory.

That’s not all. The people were instructed on how closely they should follow the ark. Without this instruction, the people would have crowded the ark and God wanted every person to be able to see His presence faithfully leading them through the unknown valley. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, a God who was with them?

You see, friend, the Lord understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you’ve never passed through before and you’re afraid. It may be the first time you’ve been without employment. Maybe you’ve just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You’ve never been down this road before and you don’t know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way.

Joshua’s life was unpredictable and full of unknowns much like yours and mine. Yet, he successfully resisted fear by keeping his focus on God rather than the events surrounding him. Just as God guided the Israelites through unknown territory, He will guide you and me, too.

As He promises in Isaiah 43, when we come to a place we’ve never passed through before, God is always present to help us. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (v.2-3a, NIV).

Even though the children of Israel were not told how they would pass over the river, the people went forth in faith. We too can move forward in faith sharing in the promised presence of God leading the way through our unknown circumstances.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promised presence. It comforts my heart to know that I am not alone. Lead me, Lord, through the unknowns in my life. Make Your path clear and I will follow it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Micca Campbell

Important Words for Today

2011-03-29T04:04:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, I am filled with thankfulness as I remember how You pursue me with Your love. Thank You for loving me first, even before I was aware of You. Thank You for each person and situation You put in my life that lead me to You. Reignite the fire of my love for You, causing it to grow stronger than ever. Let everything I am, do, and say point to Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen"
-Melanie Chitwood, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse for Today

2011-03-28T04:03:00.001-06:00

Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (NIV)

Clinging to Your Promises

2011-03-26T22:14:00.000-06:00

1 Thessalonians 5:24
God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. (NLT)

Father, please heal my Sister!!

My Parking Space

2011-03-26T16:24:00.001-06:00

"One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car
and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, 'I always park there! You took my place!' The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down A young lady from the church approached him and stated, 'That 's my seat! You took my place!'

The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, 'That 's where I always sit! You took my place!' The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?' The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, 'I took your place.'
-Author Unknown

One or Two Verse Day

2011-03-24T16:27:00.000-06:00

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight."
Proverbs 5:1 (NIV)

"Do you ever get overwhelmed when you sit down to read your Bible? There are so many books, deep thoughts, spiritual insights and life altering truths... where do we begin for today?

My sticky farm table and I have a long history of early mornings together.I gather up my Bible and my computer. I push past the sleepy feelings begging me to go back to my bed. And I look at the well worn book as my love letter from God.

I don't say that in a syrupy, flowery way.Truly, His words are a life line to me.A whisper from my King. A personal note.A treasure.

But right now I'm in a season where I don't consume chapters at a time. Some days it's just one or two verses so that I can live Proverbs 5:1. I want to really pay attention. I need to listen well to what God is saying. I look for one verse that I can savor word by word, letting it sink in deep... interrupting me, rearranging me, redirecting me.

And I pray...

'God, what plans have I made for today that this verse needs to interrupt?'

'God, what thoughts did I bring in from yesterday that this verse needs to rearrange?'

'And God, what heart attitudes have I been carrying that this verse needs to redirect?'

His Word is the protective covering over my plans, my mind, and my heart.For to let me run free without it, will surely find me tripping over my own selfishness, insecurities, and weaknesses. So, with His love letter, He reminds me to pause- pause- pause.

Pause and let the Holy Spirit intervene in my natural flesh response.

Pause so I don't make the conversations all about me.

Pause and remember I'm not always right.

Pause to see the blessings, so many blessings, and say 'thank you' at least once an hour.

Pause to serve, pause to give, pause to encourage when everyone else rushes by.

'My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding...Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path' (Proverbs 2:1-3, 9).

Don't get overwhelmed with the enormity and depth of the Bible.

It's okay if we read just a verse or two today.

But more importantly than reading His words, we must choose to receive them. And even more importantly, we must live them.

Dear Lord, help me to see You today in a single word or in a single verse. You are all powerful and anything is possible through You. May Your words and Your truth seep into the plans I make and every thought I think today. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Lysa TerKuerst

Stay

2011-03-23T16:30:00.000-06:00

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
Psalm 33:22 (NIV)

"I failed my friend. Although I'd love to tell you how I stuck by her as an encouraging presence and practical helper through her darkest days, it simply wouldn't be true.

I didn't understand her choices. I couldn't endorse her actions. I struggled with the consequences of what she wanted to do, and so I left. I didn't actually go anywhere physically, but I withdrew my availability and my openness. I tucked my heart into a safe, little box and walked away from her situation.

That was years ago, but I still look back on that time with regret and sorrow. Although I've made attempts since to reach out and reconcile, my friend is understandably cautious as she guards her still-hurting heart. I hope one day that our friendship will be fully restored, but until then I've tried to use the consequences of my choice to learn some things. I desperately want to learn to stay.

Stay through conflict.

Stay through struggles.

Stay through suffering.

Stay through discomfort.

Stay through misunderstanding.

Mary Magdalene is a beautiful example of a constant heart. Because of her great love for Jesus, she stayed.

She stayed after He set her free.

She stayed as He traveled.

She stayed through His torture.

She stayed at the cross.

She stayed at His burial.

She stayed to pass on the news of His resurrection.

Mary Magdalene is a picture of steadfast faithfulness. But sometimes I have trouble staying.

When a church doesn’t quite fit my desires, I long for a "happier" place. When a friend is going through a bad time because of choices I can’t endorse, I tend to withdraw. When God does things I can’t understand, I yearn to flee to a more comfortable setting. It seems easier and less painful.

Come Thou Fount is my favorite hymn, and I think it’s because this verse resounds so loudly with me:

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.

I want to leave sometimes, but I long to stay. I long to learn an abiding love for God, my family and my friends that extends a grace beyond my own strength —a strength from One who never leaves. The One who is teaching me to stay.

Dear Lord, sometimes it's not easy to stay when conflict, disagreements or differences get in the way. Would You give me the power to love people unconditionally and the wisdom to know how to love them well? In Jesus' Name, Amen"
-Amy Carroll, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse for the Day

2011-03-23T16:29:00.000-06:00

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

~ Psalm 37:24, NLT

Verse For Today

2011-03-22T16:31:00.001-06:00

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

~ 1 Chronicles 16:11, NLT

What If I Let God Down?

2011-03-22T03:38:00.000-06:00

“ 'Lysa, one of my greatest fears in reading Made to Crave is not just letting myself down, but even worse, letting God down.'

I understand.

When you’ve circled this issue as many times as I have, you start to feel gun shy about trying again. I’d loose the weight, feel great for a couple of months, deceive myself into thinking I could return to old habits, and all the weight would creep back on. I’d failed at finding lasting victory with every other attempt. Even with programs I thought were the sure thing. So, why would this one be any different?

And why in heavens would I want to add spiritual guilt on top of my physical guilt? And why would I risk the shame of making God look bad too?

Guilt wrapped in shame is a terrible burden to carry. Guilt always came when internally I knew I was making poor choices and could see the scale numbers climbing. Shame came when externally it became apparent to everyone else in the world.

It’s awful to battle something so raw, so deeply personal, with outside indications apparent to everyone else. Yes, the physical struggle was hard enough. I certainly didn’t want to drag down my spiritual life with this struggle as well.

But here’s the problem with that- my weight issues were dragging me down physically and spiritually, whether I admitted it or not. When I don’t have peace physically, I don’t have peace spiritually. I can’t separate the two. Nor should I. I need spiritual motivation to step in where my physical determination falls short.

So, I started reading the Bible from the perspective of someone struggling with food issues. Though I had read the Bible many times and have even taught Bible studies for years, I’d missed how much God cares about and talks about this issue. Tucked within this Book written thousands of years ago, were some of the most astounding, life-changing, and applicable truths to this modern day epidemic with women.

I wept with joy. I wept with relief. I wept as I realized this would be one of the most significant spiritual journeys of my life. A spiritual journey that would yield great physical benefits. And what about my concerns with letting God down?

My pastor put that to rest one day with a simple but very profound truth, “How can you let God down when you weren’t ever holding Him up?”

I had to choose to operate in the reassurance of God’s love, the remembrance of God’s grace, and the reality of God’s power. And according to Isaiah 41:10, God’s the one holding me up, not the other way around. Amen.

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10"
-Lysa TerKuerst, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse of Today

2011-03-21T16:31:00.001-06:00

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

~ Psalm 52:9, NLT

A Reminder Today

2011-03-14T20:31:00.001-06:00

Luke 16:11
[Jesus says,] "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (NIV)

"Do you want more money? Do you want more influence? Do you want more opportunities? Do you want more friends? Do you want more responsibilities? Maybe God is waiting to see what you do with what you already have before He gives you more. How well are you managing what you have?"
-BibleLeague Verse of Day

Verse for Today

2011-03-10T21:44:00.000-06:00

Psalm 42:11
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God! (NLT)

Verse for Today

2011-03-06T21:46:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 55:11
[God says,] "The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do." (NCV)

Truth for Today

2011-03-03T21:48:00.000-06:00

Romans 12:12
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. (NLT)

Thank you Father for this truth... That you indeed do have great plans for us!!

Prayer for Today

2011-03-02T22:15:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, I will believe that I am complete in You. My life is worthwhile in Your service. And I am who You say I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Rachel Olsen

Truth for Today

2011-03-01T22:19:00.000-06:00

"Though you have made me see troubles,many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up."
Psalm 71:20 (NIV)

Prayer for Today

2011-03-01T22:18:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, please help me understand the people who came before me, and who I am today as a result. Lord, on this day, I choose to let go of those things which hold me back, and to search for the beauty in my family inheritance. Please use me to be a blessing in my family tree. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Nicole Seitz

Verse for Today

2011-03-01T22:17:00.000-06:00

Exodus 14:14
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (NIV)

Truth for Today

2011-02-28T22:17:00.000-06:00

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)

Verse for Today

2011-02-26T22:16:00.000-06:00

I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.

~ Psalm 130:5, NLT

My Hope is In You

2011-02-23T22:14:00.000-06:00

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (NIV)

Today, my best friend was admitted to the ICU, I will trust in You my God.!!!

Verse for Today

2011-02-20T22:25:00.000-06:00

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

~ Psalms 98:4, NLT

Prayer for Today

2011-02-20T22:24:00.001-06:00

"Father, I need Your freedom – the ability to move about without being driven by compulsion or emotions. I seek Your direction to find Your freedom. I choose to allow my expectations to fade, enabling my family and friends to walk in a spacious and broad place. I choose to walk in Your ways, not cluttering life with me and my agenda, but having room to be led by Your Spirit. Thank You, Lord, for giving me what only You can give…true freedom. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Lynn Cowell, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Verse for Today

2011-02-20T22:24:00.000-06:00

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

~ Psalm 139:17-18, NLT

Verse for Today

2011-02-17T22:22:00.000-06:00

Jeremiah 1:5
[God says,] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (NIV)

Room for Cream

2011-02-17T22:20:00.000-06:00

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10 (NIV)

" 'Shall I leave room for cream?' the smiling barista asks me as I place my coffee order.

I smile back at her and nod, anticipating receiving my cup full of dark liquid so I can carry it over to the doctoring station and customize it with a generous splash of cream and two sweeteners.

As I wait in line to create my comfort in a cup, I ponder the barista's question. I think about the idea of leaving room for cream—not just in my cup, but in my life. I always leave room for cream in my coffee, but I can't honestly say I always leave room for cream in my life.

Cream sweetens and lightens and richens. How do I leave room in my life for the things that sweeten and lighten and richen? As I pour and stir, my thoughts drift to the last week. I've done the have-to's: laundry, carpool, dishes, exercise. But it's harder to think of those little extras that fill my cup to the brim... sweet, light, rich extras.

Sweet: Time with friends just laughing and enjoying each other. Turning on a favorite song and dancing in the kitchen. Listening to my children when they talk. Taking the extra time to hear their hearts. Putting fun things I look forward to on the calendar. Turning the pages of a novel just for the joy of experiencing a great story. Pushing pause on my life so I can rest and recharge.

Light: Time in God's Word, which the Bible says is a light for our path in life. Journaling what He's telling me and what I'm learning about life. Time to pour my worries and anxieties out to Him, then leave them at His feet. Time to press into Him so I can hear His voice above all the others in this loud, busy world. Stepping out of the rat race and worshiping Him with abandon lightens my load.

Rich: Giving of myself through my time and talent. Tithing regularly to my church. Finding people who need a meal, a donation, a word of encouragement and then making the effort to actually give it to them and not just think it's a good idea. Surrendering myself to God's will instead of holding fast to my own.

All of these are things that bring me great joy, that help me reach that place of abundance I believe Jesus wanted us to live in now. Abundance, I am finding, does not come from merely wanting it. It comes from intentionally reaching for it—a result that requires action. It requires leaving room in my life for these things—not packing my life so full of have-to's that the cup is already full.

When that happens, I can try to add the cream but it will only spill over, wasted. It starts when I leave room from the beginning or take a moment to pour out what is already too full. With a little thought and a little effort I can learn to hear Jesus ask me, 'Did you leave room for cream?'

And I can smile back at Him and say, 'You better believe I did!'

Dear Lord, I want to live the life of abundance You called me to—a life that is sweet and light and rich. Help me remember that I have to leave room in my life for abundance or it will always elude me. Help me to seek You first and let You show me how to leave room for cream. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Marybeth Whalen, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Sweet Rest

2011-02-11T22:31:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, I am tired. I am weary. I want to be at my best so I can serve You fully. Will you please grant me, Your beloved, sleep just as You promised? In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Karen Ehman, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Prayer for Today

2011-02-09T22:32:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, help me to see how the temporary sting of sacrifice will be worth the peace I will find in You. Please help me to have the courage to say no to things that distract me mentally, spiritually, and physically. I long to be empowered with Your strength and Your peace today. I admit I need You. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Lysa TerKeurst

Verse for Today

2011-02-09T22:31:00.000-06:00

For we live by believing and not by seeing.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:7, NLT

Verse for Today

2011-02-03T22:35:00.000-06:00

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

~ Romans 10:17, NLT

Do Not Bypass the Process

2011-02-03T22:34:00.001-06:00

"It’s through a prayerful process that relationships are strengthened, lessons are learned and patience is produced. We may not like the process, but later on we will appreciate the wisdom we gained from God. Indeed, treat the process as a friend and not a foe—see it as Jesus molding your mind and heart into His image of integrity.

'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it' (Hebrews 12:11).

Be careful not to bypass the process, because you may miss God’s best. The flesh faints along the way of His will, but the spirit is energized by faithfulness to Christ’s course. Success comes as you see the destination with eyes of faith and stay focused in prayer. Your patient endurance is momentary but it makes a difference to those who watch you."
-Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters Daily Devotional

SunShine and Shade

2011-02-03T22:34:00.000-06:00

Dear Lord, help me to trust wherever You have me. I might think I know what's best for me, but I am not seeing what lies ahead the way You do. I want to submit to Your plans for me every day, in sunshine and shade. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
-MaryBeth Whalen, Proverbs 31 Ministries

The Book of Days

2011-02-02T22:36:00.000-06:00

The Book of Days

"All the days ordained for me were written in
Your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:16b (NIV)

"They say that smell is the sense most linked to memory. And I know this to be true. The earthy aroma of geraniums transports me to a porch in west Texas where my grandmother tended flowers with the hands that had worked the land her entire life. I see her, water hose dangling from her fingers, spraying the heat and dust from the cobblestone patio. Washing away the residue of a hot afternoon.

The memories of my childhood are bound up in a woman whose name, Ellen, means 'shining light.' Yet most of those memories are now forgotten to her. Stolen by an illness that I once called 'Old Timers Disease.' And she laughed at that, back then, when I was all elbows and knees and teeth. Back when she told me that her father suffered from Alzheimer's. The thief of memory.

The diagnosis came early last fall, just as her flower garden began to die, the red petals of her geraniums crisping around the edges, falling away. I now live the great sadness of seeing her slip into the haze of Alzheimer’s, that shining light in her eyes replaced by confusion. And I wonder where her memories go.

Shelling peas with her grandchildren on the back porch.

Cracking open a watermelon and teaching me to spit the seeds across the yard.

Burying her second child, a little girl named Kathy, at the age of three.

Her wrinkled hand tracing the lines of Amazing Grace as we stand and sing the benediction.

Weddings and funerals and the births of grandchildren.

Her own husband of forty-plus years, gone on before her.

All these precious moments of a life falling away, like petals in an autumn frost. Is God catching them as they escape her mind? Holding them in His palm? Does He record them with a tender hand, each memory pressed between the pages of time? Will they one day be restored to her? Do our memories belong to us alone, or are they so special to God that He takes pains to keep track of each and every one?

In Psalm 139:16 we read the startling truth that every moment of our lives has been recorded by a knowing God. 'Your eyes saw my unformed body; in Your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.'

God has already written down every moment of my grandmother’s life in His book. He's done the same for me and for you as well. Our moments are precious to Him. The times we've knelt in prayer and shouted in praise. Tears and laughter. Celebration and sorrow. None will be lost forever. Not by us and certainly not by the God who ordered each moment before we were even born.

This spring I will fill my back patio with geraniums and I will inhale the scent of my grandmother. I will remember for her, until the day she sits beside her Lord and He opens His book to read the story of Ellen, a woman whose light shines brightly.

Dear Lord, thank You that my days are not forgotten to You. Each one is so important that You wrote it down, with Your own hand. My name is in Your book and Your love is written across every page of my life. For all the days that I have left, may I remember Your with the same passion that You remember me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
-Ariel Allison Lawhon

Verse for Today

2011-02-01T22:38:00.000-06:00

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.

~ Jude 1:22, NLT

Father, help me to be merciful today,. Amen!

Showing Mercy

2011-02-01T01:55:00.000-06:00

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.

~ Jude 1:22, NLT

Father, help me to be merciful today,. Amen!

Dwelling on the Past

2011-01-26T22:39:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, You make all things new. Will You give me new eyes to see the good things I sometimes miss? Help me not to dwell on the past but to focus on the present and future. You are making a way, Lord, and I trust You with my heart, my husband and my marriage. Help us deal with any issues that are damaging our relationship, so we can appreciate the new things You're doing. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Melanie Chitwood, Proverbs31 Ministries

The Necessity of Wounds

2011-01-24T00:53:00.001-06:00

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word....It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. --Psalm 119:67,71

"It is amazing to me! There are people within the ranks of Christianity who have been taught and who believe that Christ will shield His followers from wounds of every kind.

If the truth were known, the saints of God in every age were only effective after they had been wounded. They experienced the humbling wounds that brought contrition, compassion and a yearning for the knowledge of God. I could only wish that more among the followers of Christ knew what some of the early saints meant when they spoke of being wounded by the Holy Spirit....

In every generation, the people who have found God have been those who have come to the end of themselves. Recognizing their hopelessness, they have been ready to throw themselves on the mercy and grace of a forgiving God.

Lord, don't let me waste the humbling wounds. Do Your great work within me, and help me to respond properly and learn all You want me to learn through Your working. Amen."
-A.W. Tozer, Men Who Met God, pp.59,62

If We Only Knew

2011-01-20T23:29:00.000-06:00

"Here is my prayer for us this weekend, May we catch even the slightest glimpse of the tender mercy of our Jesus. For one drop of His mercy realized is better than an ocean of the world’s comfort.

The marriage situation that seems impossible.

The finances that never balance.

The hope so deferred it makes the heart sick.

The anxiety over a child bent on a wayward path.

The diet you are sick of.

The broken promises of friend.

The lack of true friends.

The constant messiness always distracting the peace you want in your home.

The impatience and frustration and anger and disappointment in losing it once again.

If only we knew how deeply Jesus understands, cares, and feels for us. If only we could see the wonder of His love. The skies He paints, the flowers He blooms, the world He arranges just for us.

If only we knew to open our hands and catch the drops of His tender mercy. If only we knew how to stop clinching our fists feeling the weight of trying to fix it all ourselves.

If only we knew to stop in the midst of it all and whisper, 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.'

Just a whispered breath formed in the wholeness of His name carries all the power and mercy and wisdom and grace we need to handle what we face.

If only we knew.

'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need,' (Hebrews 4: 15-16).

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."
- Lysa TerKuerst, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Well Pleased

2011-01-18T23:34:00.000-06:00

Last night my soul was so stirred by something Pastor Steven shared on the webcast. He was talking about how our identity must come before our activity.

As he read the Scriptures, my heart finally settled into place. A good place. A place without webcast stress, a racing pulse, turning stomach, and whispered fears. A quiet place. A place deep in my soul where just me and Jesus go. And though it was Pastor Steven’s voice reading the Scripture, it was God Himself breathing sustenance to my spirit.

'This is my Son, whom I love; with whom I am well pleased,' (Matthew 3:17).

This was Jesus’ identity being established before His activity was to be executed.

Oh how we need this. But we’re not Jesus. Jesus heard God, believed God, and remained filled.

Our humanity makes us leaky people. Truth comes in and fills us up but our cracks and crevices and circumstances are like drains pulling the truth out and leaving a hollowness that can haunt. Daily, hourly, moment by moment we must stand in the reality of our identity before we resume our activity.

Pause.

Hear the sweet whisper today. Grasp the truth and rub it deep. Let it sink in quickly and resist the drain of the day’s pull.

'You are my daughter, whom I love; with whom I am well pleased.'

Well pleased because of who you are, not what you do. Well pleased because of an unfathomable, unconditional love- not earned but simply given. Well pleased. Well pleased. Well pleased.

And isn’t it interesting right after we read these words at the end of Matthew 3, Matthew 4 starts off with Jesus being tempted. But if we know our identity before we jump into activity, we don’t have to guess how to handle the vicious lies of the enemy.

It is written. It is written. It is written. Jesus didn’t engage the enemy. He deflected the lies with the truth. Because His identity was established before His activity was executed- I am loved. I am accepted. I don’t need more to be whole. I don’t need to displace God with inappropriate physical pleasure. I don’t need to displace God with trying to get something from my material wealth it can’t ever give me. I don’t need to displace God because I crave the acceptance of others. I am loved. I am accepted. I am whole.

It is written. It is written. It is written.

Oh that the ink on the paper fine pages of Truth, be inscribed, engraved, tattooed in the most permanent of ways on our hearts.

Well pleased.

It is written.

Well pleased.

Well pleased."
-Lysa TerKuerst, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Prayer for Today

2011-01-17T23:36:00.000-06:00

"Dear Lord, help me to see myself the way You see me. Please help me to remove the lies that defeat me more often than I want to acknowledge. You have set me free. Help me to live like I truly believe that. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
-Lysa TerKeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministries

AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US

2011-01-16T23:38:00.000-06:00

Romans 8:31
If God is for us, who can be against us? (NIV)

"You are pulling with all your might in a tug-of-war against some big problems. Your fear is that you will end up face down in the mud pit. Just remember: God is anchoring your end of the rope. In your life's tug-of-war, who or what is on the other side of the mud?"
-BibleLeague Verse of Day

Trust for Today

2011-01-16T23:37:00.000-06:00

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.

~ Psalm 18:1, NLT

Alone with God

2011-01-16T23:36:00.000-06:00

And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. --John 6:3

"Just prior to this miraculous multiplying of the bread and fish, Jesus 'went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples'(6:3). That fact is noteworthy. It seems plain that Jesus withdrew purposely from the great press of people who had been pursuing Him.

There are some things that you and I will never learn when others are present. I believe in church and I love the fellowship of the assembly. There is much we can learn when we come together on Sundays and sit among the saints. But there are certain things that you and I will never learn in the presence of other people.

Unquestionably, part of our failure today is religious activity that is not preceded by aloneness, by inactivity. I mean getting alone with God and waiting in silence and quietness until we are charged with God's Spirit. Then, when we act, our activity really amounts to something because we have been prepared by God for it....

Now, in the case of our Lord, the people came to Him, John reports, and He was ready for them. He had been quiet and silent. He had sat alone with His disciples and meditated. Looking upward, He waited until the whole hiatus of divine life moved down from the throne of God into His own soul. He was a violin tuned. He was a battery recharged. He was poised and prepared for the people when they came.

Lord, I'll spend a lot of time in the company of people today, but just now I come in quietness and silence to wait for You to fill me. Amen."
-A.W. Tozer, Faith Beyond Reason, 130,133.

Expecting a Baby

2010-12-17T00:55:00.001-06:00

“He [Joseph] went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:5-7

"An expecting wife needs extra sensitivity, and a strong supportive husband. She is emotionally vulnerable, and physically overwhelmed at times. As with Mary, there may be some uncertainty of the ultimate outcome, but she trusts the Lord to care for her and her baby. The circumstances are challenging when you are away from the comforts of home and its familiar feel. Pregnancy is a transition that requires trust in the Lord.

Husbands, your expecting wife needs you to step up like Joseph and provide leadership. This is not the time to lose faith, or become frightened. Perfect love casts out fear, so overcome any apprehensions with the Christ-like love that dwells in your mind and heart. See pregnancy as a prayerful process to accomplish the plan of Almighty God, as expecting moms and dads can expect great things from Him. Hannah and her husband Elkanah gave God the glory for the blessing of their son Samuel:

'Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the LORD for him' (1 Samuel 1:19-20).

Furthermore, a husband’s leadership needs to provide protection for his wife. Accompany her, as Joseph did, to new places and people who might take advantage of your sweet spirited spouse. It makes your woman feel safe and secure when you buffer her from bad people, or strangers with unseemly motives. Stay with her, and see her through stressful situations, like family members who can be awkward and insensitive toward your bride.

Intervene and defend your wife if your children, parents or siblings show disrespect, ever how subtle it might be. God in marriage made you one flesh, so if she is offended, you are offended. Of course prayerfully confront all parties in a spirit of grace and humility, but with clarity. An expecting wife is beautiful to behold, as she brings forth an innocent infant woven in her womb by God. Be there for her labor of love for the Lord, and for His gift of a precious little one to love. Mary gave God the glory for her baby Jesus!

'The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' (Psalm 118:23).

Who can I support and pray for who is expecting a baby? How can I thank my heavenly Father for His gift of baby Jesus to me and to mankind?"
-Wisdom Hunter's Devotional