Stop Before You Shop

Rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household. 

Deuteronomy 26:11

Before we rush off to catch the holiday sales, let’s take another minute or two to consider all that God has done for us this last year. Take a moment to reflect on your Thanksgiving. Did it go as expected? Well, probably not if it involved people. Somehow our expectations are often bigger or better than reality. Turkeys can be dry, cranberries can be too sweet - or sour, pumpkin pies get burned; relatives can be grumpy, kids cranky and messy; or, even more poignant, this year may have brought the loss of loved ones. Perhaps some of us found ourselves alone this holiday, or missing someone who couldn't or wouldn’t make it home for dinner, gazing at an empty chair or absent place at our table.

Yet, there are those moments buried in the midst of chaos and noise; or hidden in the midst of loneliness or disappointment that can be precious. Take a moment to consider those moments. Search for the blessings in them and record them in your memory. And then, thank God and rejoice that He remembers you in times of plenty and times of want; and He remains with you even, and especially, when you are feeling alone.

NOW, you are ready for those sales! 3- 2- 1 -- SHOP!

Meditation:

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalms 9:1

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalms 145:3

For Further Meditation and Study:

Prayerfully consider the following verse.

For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:17-19

• Make a list of people in your life, family, or community that need a helping hand this season. Plan one way that you can reach out to them in the name and character of Jesus. Consider setting aside a portion of your holiday budget for anonymous giving to others in need.

Happy Thanksgiving

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house

Deuteronomy 26:11 

Thanksgiving is generally a day of family, football, and food! In the words of the great old song, ♪We gather together to ask the Lord's blessings♪ -- emphasis on together. Today is a day to gather with those who share our lives and together celebrate the blessings of this last year. The scripture says that we should rejoice in all the good that God has given us. I'm struck by how often in my own life, things that seem to be not good at the time have turned out to be the greatest blessings of all. So today, let’s also give some thought to those things that may be hard or difficult, and give thanks that the God of ALL goodness is in our lives, sharing all of our ups and downs.

Let us also take a moment to remember that there are many people in our own family and community who have no one to share their lives or to celebrate blessings with. Ask God to bring those people to your mind and to your awareness today, and consider giving them a call, inviting them to share your meal, or just reach out to them with an unexpected act of kindness.

Meditation:

♫ FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH ♫

by John Rutter

For the beauty of the earth; For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, friends of earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For Further Meditation and Study:

1.     Prayerfully consider the verse from Deuteronomy 26:11 at the beginning of this devotion. Make a list of some of the blessings God has given you this year. Consider using that list as a prayer guide or discussion guide today when you celebrate the Thanksgiving meal.

2.     As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving today, consider the following scriptures and record any insights you may have:

·      Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

·      And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. Acts 2:46-47

Keep Your Focus This Holiday Season

 Daily Holiday Devotionals starting tomorrow!
 November 26 through January 1

Standing Firm in Times of Drought

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Pastor of my church, Pastor Mike, reminds us that behaviorists say most humans have two typical responses to threat or crisis - flight or fight; but we who know and follow Christ have a third option - stand. 

Like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream, we don't have to fear when the heat of personal crisis comes if we have come to know the Lord enough to trust in Him. If we have sunk our roots -- our hearts, minds, dreams, and priorities -- deep into His living water -- His truth, providence, and grace -- then in times of economic drought we need not give in to anxiety but can continue to produce the fruit of faith, grace, and hope. 

Scripture tells us, 

... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippines 4:6-7).

The time to start sinking our roots into The Living Water is now, not when drought or crisis comes. Today, give all of your requests -- every thought, desire, hope, and plan to Him in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your first anxious thoughts and moments to Him. And in every moment let your soul rejoice in the knowledge that you are NOT alone in your times of trouble or joy, want or plenty, need or fulfillment. There is One who is waiting to nurture and feed the very root of your being, and the peace that results will surpass any logic or expectation as Christ becomes the strength and comfort of your heart and mind. 

That is blessed indeed!

Check out Lessons from the Trail at Robyn's Thoughts

Spiritual Complacency

Jeremiah 6:16   

Thus says the LORD,
"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls."

Lately I've been struggling with what I call spiritual complacency. My journal entries, what few there have been, are mostly filled with "I need to start...", "I really should...", "Why can't I seem to...",  well, you get the idea, complacency. Every Monday I resolve to make this the week I exercise, diet, pray more, have more quiet times with the Lord... yet, by Tuesday I'm already frustrated. So once again this morning (Friday!) I found myself "re-committing." 

This time, I tried something "new." I prayed first! Pretty basic, I know. I opened my Bible to where I had left off some weeks ago, Jeremiah 6:16. Thus says the Lord... 

It felt as if the Father Himself, was asking me, are you serious about getting back on track? Are you serious about getting your passion and motivation back? If you are, here's what you need to do:

"stand by the road" -- go to where you know I AM and stand there. He is not in my intentions or my frustrations, He is in His Word, His Kingdom, His Ways.

"look and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is" -- search, seek, request, require, do what it takes to discover where the good way -- His way --  is.

"and walk in it" -- don't debate it, don't refute it, don't waste time defending or excusing why my ways are necessary; just begin to walk in HIS pathway. 

"and find rest for your souls."  -- then I will  truly be at rest in my soul. Not my body -- I still have work to do, people to love and care for. Not even my mind -- I still have things to figure out, learn, and deal with. But my soul, my true self, will find rest. Not complacency, rest. THAT will restore, refresh, and renew my passion.

Resolutions You Can Keep (Part 8)

Reap

This year, try something new for the New Year. Instead of trying to change some habit or situation, consider allowing the Spirit of God to change YOU. Let God’s Spirit bring new life, new perspective, and new power into who you are. Reflect on how serious you are about what you believe. Resolve to make yourself available to however God wants to transform you. Renew your spiritual excitement and energy. Reconnect with the One who made you and loves you, and commit to the work of reconciliation with those He gave His life for. Recognize the cost of transforming growth in your life, and then... reap the new life!

• Restore what has been faded or lost
  
• Experience His “with-you” Presence and Power
  
• Accept His abundance in your life
  
• Produce the fruit of a transformed life!
  

Meditation

Lord, help me to make each day of this year a transforming opportunity. Show me what needs to be restored, experienced, accepted or produced in my life that will glorify You and show the world how Good and Wonderful life with You can be. Amen

Happy New Year!

Resolutions You Can Keep (part 7)

Recognize

One more step is absolutely necessary if we are really going to embrace the transformed life. We must be ready and willing to recognize the cost of being transformed!

Jesus said that there are three things that will prevent us from truly following Him: relationships, comfort, and possessions! “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. But don’t begin until you count the cost... no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.” Luke 14:26-28, 33

Note that Jesus does not say you should not, or, you ought not be my disciple. Three times, He says that you CANNOT be His disciple if you will not count and agree to the cost of discipleship! Jesus’ words are very clear; we cannot be true disciples if relationships, comfort, or things are a greater influence on our life than He is! To take up your own cross you must be willing to let go of everything else.

• When we put our relationships with other people above or outside of our obedience to Christ, we prevent ourselves and those relationships from being all they can be and from reflecting His priorities and love!

• When we are not willing to be uncomfortable – or unconventional – we limit the changes that God wants to bring into our lives! Change can be scary and sometimes painful – it can mean giving up things and ways that we have become accustomed to; but if we want to live the greater life, the life of significance, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zone and let God use everything we have, including our relationships, pleasures and possessions.

• When we are not willing to honestly count and accept the cost, we are not ready to be truly transformed. If you want to go the distance, you need to know the cost of the trip, and be ready to pay it!
  

But there is one more cost to recognize, the cost of not choosing discipleship. Dallas Willard writes,

“Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s over-riding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil…Nondiscipleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10). The cross-shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who live in it with him…”

Meditation:

Lord, I accept the cost. Lord Christ, You are more precious to me than any thing. You are dearer to me than any other relationship. Your Kingdom come is more important to me than any dream or goal I may have of my own. The cost is worth it. You are worth everything. Amen

Book Recommendation: 

The Great Omission by Dallas Willard