Thursday Devotional - The Reason for Miracles

Have you ever seen God do an amazing miracle? At another time, did you pray for a miracle and then were disappointed that He didn’t step in and perform in an amazing way like in the past?

God displays His power to accomplish His purposes. We aren’t God and we don’t see the big picture. When God parted the Red Sea, He did so to show the Israelites and the Egyptians He was fighting for Israel (Exodus 14). When God parted the Jordan, He did it to display His power to the new generation of Israelites and to all the Canaanites living along the Jordan.    

Joshua 3:14-17        ¹⁴ So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. ¹⁵ Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ¹⁶ the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground…

Joshua 4:24     He [the Lord] did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

The town of Adam is a long way from Jericho. I didn’t realize until recently how many people (besides all the Israelites) would have witnessed God’s power to stop the Jordan River!!! He usually has numerous reasons for displaying His power through miracles.

In looking back over the miracles you have witnessed, think about all the different reasons God may have chosen to work in a might way. Let’s remember those times so we will continue to fear the Lord and trust in His power, even when He doesn’t work when and how we would like in a current situation. He’s God and we are not! His power is displayed to accomplish His purposes, not my whims and wishes.

Alice

Starbucks Is A Love Language

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT

So, a funny conversation occurred at my church over of all things … coffee.  A young lady made a Facebook post about how her wonderful fiancé had surprised her in the morning with a cup of Starbucks before heading off on a business trip.  I had to laugh at it because strangely the picture appeared to show off her and the coffee as if the coffee itself was her true love and not her fiancé.  “Starbucks is a love language?” I asked.  Before I knew it, a few of the ladies of our church joyfully chimed in saying, “lt most definitely is!”  I then knew I had to concede the point because to be honest, my wife loves her morning coffee as well!  There is nothing that brings a smile to her face faster than my bringing her coffee in the morning.  “Ooooh.  Thank you,” she says, and the glow on her face brings such warmth to my heart that I know no matter what happens later in the day, it will be alright.  It’s like a hidden love language between us.

If our relationship with Christ is a loving one, we will give generously with joy in our hearts.  Very early in my Christian life, the pastor who baptized me told me about how God loves a cheerful giver.  That thought wore on me as I thought to myself, “I have bills!  I can barely afford to make ends meet.  Where am I going to find something to give?”  Then the pastor reminded me to trust in God to provide for me when I do.  At first, I struggled.  Then slowly as God continued to bless my family, I was able to increase my giving, and one day, I found myself exceeding in my giving.  This is not to say I have not fallen off the wagon on occasion.  I have.  However, I continued to be both encouraged by and reminded of my promises to God.  Furthermore, my mind focuses on being a joyful giver.  I share this for two reasons.  First, it is to give courage to others who may have little to give to trust God a little more.  Second, it is to remind those of the joy that comes with giving.  If you are not joyful in your giving, it may be time to have a heart to heart with God.  Ask yourself, “What is in my heart?  What is it that God wants from me?  Am I expecting something from God when God is really expecting something from me?”  When asking these questions, don’t answer with a skeptical mindset that many would have.  Instead, focus on what’s in your heart and the love you have for Christ.  Then, act.

Our God is a generous God.  He gave His life freely in exchange for our sins; past, present, and future.  Furthermore, He did so without expectation.  All He provided us with is a choice.  Either follow Him or the ways of this world.  We can walk away, and live our lives knowing this.  However if we truly love Jesus and the sacrifice He Himself paid on our behalf, we will choose to follow Him.  Thus as He gave, we too will give to others not as a sacrifice but as joyful gifts honoring an unrepayable debt on our behalf.  Let us not be the ones focused on ourselves.  Let us enjoy the freedom God gave us giving freely not only to our church but also to others in need in any fashion that we can.  What is your level of giving?  What joy do you feel when giving?  My prayer is that we give in such a way that even ‘Starbucks is a love language.’  Amen.

Tues Devo: Learning

Philippians 4:8-9 “(8)Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (9)The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (NASB)

Hello,

When we look at this section of scripture, we tend to focus on verse 8….and rightly so. There are many direct application items for our minds and mindsets. But verse 9 really caught my attention. Sometimes with being in a professional role that is focused on client learning, I think that sometimes it becomes easy to take for granted the process of learning and the application of things learned. But look at the progression here in this verse:

1. ‘you have learned’ – learning is the intake. First step in the process. Notice the past tense – Paul already taught them
2. ‘and received’ – There was acknowledgement of what was taught, and agreement that it was true
3. ‘and heard and seen’ – There was a model/example to replicate. This is less relevant without the learning first.
4. ‘practice these things and the God of peace will be with you’ – the application is what they are accountable to. Not only are they accountable, but as they practice what they have learned God will be with them through the process – their reward was an even closer relationship with God

How many things have we learned – but we haven’t practiced? I challenge us to find a couple, think about acknowledging that truth; look at someone else living that truth, then execute!

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Seek Wisdom

James 1:2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Facing trials is not something that most people look forward to.  We often feel like trials are a negative thing however here in James we are told to consider it pure joy.  We are told that when we do, it produces perseverance. 

When facing a trial, we often ask others to pray.  We likely pray ourselves.  What are you praying for though?  Are you praying for wisdom or are you praying for God to “fix” whatever is wrong?  We are told to seek wisdom from God.  Once we figure out how to do that, we must take it a step further and not just ask but we must believe and not doubt.  This does not mean that God is going to answer our prayer as we want.  It does however mean that we must learn to trust God with whatever answer he gives us.  If we doubt, we should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 

Today I want to encourage you to start with seeking wisdom instead of praying for just what we want.