Devotionals

The devotionals will return soon!
We're taking a short hiatus while A Modern Mrs. closes out the end of her pregnancy and finds the new family groove with Baby E!

Week of July 27, 2014

Search me, O God, and know my heart.

"You created every part of me;
    you put me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because you are to be feared;
    all you do is strange and wonderful.
    I know it with all my heart.
When my bones were being formed,
    carefully put together in my mother's womb,
when I was growing there in secret,
    you knew that I was there—
you saw me before I was born.
The days allotted to me
    had all been recorded in your book,
    before any of them ever began." — Psalm 139:13-16 {GNT}

This passage.  Each time I see it, I think of my friend Christa's sweet Adelyn who's footprint is forever captured atop this passage.  I think of our chemical pregnancy, the one I never got the "see" beyond a plus sign on a pregnancy test.  God saw though, God saw that baby from the beginning and had a plan for him/her to help brother or sister Blueberry to save my life a year later.

The last few weeks we've touched on the fact that God has given us gifts and a purpose for our lives.  "The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book...."  God knew when we would exit our mother's womb and when he will require our lives of us.  Not everyone has the privilege of growing old.

What gifts has God given you? What is your purpose?  What did he design your for during those secret days, long before your Mother ever knew she was with child?

Readings for the week ahead:

• Monday: Hebrews 6:18-19; Psalm 139:1-4
• Tuesday: 1 John 2:28; Matthew 22:37
• Wednesday: Psalm 29:2; Isaiah 6:3
• Thursday: Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:19
• Friday: Romans 8:38-39; Isaiah 49:15-16
• Saturday: Psalm 21:6; Psalm 103:11

Week of July 20, 2014

Do not be afraid to be different.

"6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully." — Romans 12:6-8 {GNT}

*snicker*  I laughed when I first read the title because one thing that I always seemed to be was a little bit different.  I blend in more now in my 30's than I ever have before in my life; it's both strange and comforting.  When you hear someone talk about the gifts that God gives us, what comes to mind?  How some people can sing a tune that speaks to your soul while others sound like a dying cow?  (Me, btw!)  How about the person you know how seems to have endless patience, while you are ready to fight at the first sign of brake lights in traffic?

Each of us has gifts, some more obvious than others.  Some gifts are hidden under our vices and sin and won't be discovered until we allow the Creator to begin His work in us.    Not everyone can be a missionary or a preacher, but all of us can take a moment to encourage someone we know is struggling or hurting.  I may not be able to sing you a pretty song, but I can make you an excellent sandwich and give you a place to unload all your worries and fears for a while.

Readings for the week ahead:

• Monday: Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 30:15
• Tuesday: Ephesians 5:8-10; Matthew 6:1
• Wednesday: John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16; 2 Cor. 3:18
• Thursday: Psalm 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Friday: Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:13
• Saturday: Psalm 119:35; Psalm 143:8

Week of July 13, 2014

My God is not a vengeful God.

"He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors." — Deuteronomy 4:31 {GNT}

What is the nature of God?  If you read the bible, you can see that God has many qualities.  Sometimes it can seem like these qualities are at odds with each other.  If God is loving and merciful how can he also be jealous and wrathful?   Let me ask you this: has anyone you love very much ever made you angry or wronged you?  Did you love them any less for it?  Did you feel like they needed to be punished or make amends for what they did?  Probably.  God is not subjective, it's all black and white with him.  Yes, we are all sinners, doomed for the wrath and vengeance of a jealous, justice-serving God.  But.....  oh and I love this but.....

But, God in his love and mercy provided a pardon for us.  Jesus took our place, endured our execution to make amends for our sins.  Jesus, when we accept him as our Savior, takes our place in front of the Judge and says "I have paid this one's debt.  They have served the sentence."  With that God's nature for justice and vengeance is satisfied and we are adopted into the family of God, grafted into the family of his chosen people.  No we've come full circle, because he does not abandon or destroy his chosen people.  He made a covenant to save us, and fulfilled it through Jesus, His son.

Readings for the week ahead:

• Monday: Psalm 37:23-24; Psalm 16:11
• Tuesday: Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Wednesday: Psalm 40:2-3; Psalm 147:11
• Thursday: Song of Songs 2:13; Luke 10:42
• Friday: Acts 17:27-28; Hebrews 11:1
• Saturday: 1 John 1:5-7; Isaiah 12:2

Week of July 6, 2014

If God is for us, who is against us?

"We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 {GNT}

I hear Romans 8:28 recited very often in times of hardship, so much so that it often becomes the LAST thing someone who is hurting wants to hear.  In the midst of a storm, you are so focused on the wind/rain that it's hard to remember the sunshine and summer breezes.  God placed this verse in the Bible to remind us, when we are ready to seek him, that even the worst of times are specially designed to bring Him glory. Don't believe me?  Read (or re-read) the book of Job.  God used all the terrible things that happened to that man to bring himself glory.  Why does that bring me comfort?  Since giving my life to Christ, I seek to bring my Savior and Creator glory.  At the end of my life, I want them to tell me that I was faithful and trusted in a plan greater than my own.

When I remember that God is the author and finisher of not just our faith, but our whole lives, it brings me incredible comfort when things seem in complete chaos.  It's not chaos to Him, it's a symphony of music He's conducting melodically.  It reminds me of Job 38, where God basically says to Job "Do you think you know better than me?" I originally had the whole chapter pasted here, but that's just so much.  I'll include some of my favorite quips God included, but make sure you go read the whole thing!

The Lord Answers Job

Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job. 2 Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?  3 Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you. 4 Were you there when I made the world?  If you know so much, tell me about it.  5 Who decided how large it would be?  Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers? 

 6 What holds up the pillars that support the earth? Who laid the cornerstone of the world? 7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy. 8 Who closed the gates to hold back the sea when it burst from the womb of the earth? 9 It was I who covered the sea with clouds and wrapped it in darkness.  10 I marked a boundary for the sea and kept it behind bolted gates. 11 I told it, “So far and no farther!  Here your powerful waves must stop.” ...

31 Can you tie the Pleiades together or loosen the bonds that hold Orion? 32 Can you guide the stars season by season and direct the Big and the Little Dipper? 33 Do you know the laws that govern the skies, and can you make them apply to the earth? ...
— selections from Job 38 (GNT)

Mere humans are not in charge, God is.  So again I ask you... If God is for us, who can be against us?

Readings for the week ahead:

• Monday: Psalm 20:7; 1 John 1:9
• Tuesday: John 15:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12
• Wednesday: Deuteronomy 30:20; Romans 12:2
• Thursday: Revelation 17:14; John 15:13-15
• Friday: Exodus 20:4-5; 2 Samuel 22:29
• Saturday: Acts 4:12; John 16:24

Brand Spanking New

I'm so excited to have been asked by my dear friend from A Modern Mrs. to participate in this special feature!  Each week, Kristen and I will post, read and mediate on a devotional and then add a few extra little treasures along the way. So how is this different than what I'm already doing?  I can't give away all the secrets yet, you'll just have to check it out to see!  ;)

My Partner in Christ

I admit, I totally stole that heading from Kristen's announcement of the devotional on her blog; but it's so fitting I knew she wouldn't mind.  Kristen and I have known each other for nearly two decades.  We met in school and have maintained our friendship across many miles and even more life changes for both of us.  Kristen's interest and talent at blogging has inspired me often and she has been indescribably helpful to me in so many areas of my life and passions.  Our desire is that our friendship and faith will inspire and ignite your own meaningful relationship with Christ and hopefully your friendships and faith as well.

Growing Pains

Your feedback and comments are going to be incredibly helpful to Kristen and I.  Please use the comment boxes at the bottom of each entry or even our Facebook pages to give us feedback.  What do you like/not like?  You'd like to see more of this but less of that?  Suggestions on devotionals or commentaries... all those things will be incredibly helpful to us!

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God Still Speaks

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June 2014