Thursday Devotional - Faithful God even When We Mess Up (6/22/23)

 Sarah loves her new horseback riding place! We even went to watch a very experienced rider in a competition last Saturday. However, the horse got spooked and bucked the rider off. It seemed the new environment and weird fake stones in the arena threw the horse out of sorts. She didn’t trust her owner to lead her safely around. The horse made a mess of things instead of following and trusting her owner’s lead.

The Israelites did the same thing with God. He led them safely to a wonderful land and offered to provide for them and sustain them, as long as they obeyed Him. However, they decided to do things their way, not trust Him and rebel against him. They made a mess of things, too, and it didn’t turn out well!  

Jeremiah 2:13-19   “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
¹⁴ Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?
    Why then has he become plunder?
¹⁵ Lions have roared;
    they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
    his towns are burned and deserted.
¹⁶ Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
    have cracked your skull.
¹⁷ Have you not brought this on yourselves
    by forsaking the Lord your God
    when he led you in the way?
¹⁸ Now why go to Egypt
    to drink water from the Nile?
And why go to Assyria
    to drink water from the Euphrates?
¹⁹ Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
    and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

When have you and I made a mess of things by doing something our way? Let’s learn from our past mistakes and trust God’s way. He is Faithful and wants to help us get back up and try again.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God as a Faithful Guide (6/15/23)

Does your GPS ever send you to the wrong location? We were travelling this weekend and were sent to a wrong parking lot. Thankfully, we realized where we really needed to be was one road over.

God doesn’t ever send us to the wrong place. He is a faithful guide!

Jeremiah 2:5-8        This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
    that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
    and became worthless themselves.
⁶ They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
    through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
    a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
⁷ I brought you into a fertile land
    to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
    and made my inheritance detestable.
⁸ The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
    the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
    following worthless idols.

God faithfully led the Israelites through the Dead Sea, the wilderness, the desert, and darkness. How well did they remember that and look to Him to navigate their lives going forward? Not well, according to this passage.

It’s easy to see how foolish the Israelites were, but what about you and me? Are we quick to forget about God’s faithfulness in the past? Or, do we continually remember and look to Him for guidance each day?

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God when We’re Too Scared (6/8/23)

It’s been a crazy week with all four kids starting swim and dive team practice, in addition to all their other activities. This is the first year for the twins. Alexis was super excited and Edmund was extremely scared. He said he couldn’t go and cried on and off all afternoon before the first practice. We talked through various scenarios and his siblings tried to encourage him. I reminded him that he felt similarly last year before his first baseball practice, yet he has loved it since!

On a much larger scale, Jeremiah was terrified to be a prophet for the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:4-10       The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “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.”

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

When God calls us to do something, He promises to be with us and provide what is needed to do the job, no matter how scary it is.

As I prayed about whether Edmund was to start swim and dive team, the baseball scenario from last year kept coming to mind. So, even though he cried while waiting his turn to jump off the diving board, he did jump off and had a smile afterwards! Later that night as we were talking it over and comparing it to his experience with baseball, he said he was glad he did it. Then, he suddenly exclaimed – “and God was with me!!!”

Yes, God was with him! He is always with us, whether we are afraid of something big or small. What is scary for you right now? Will you take it to God and let Him guide you for your next steps? He will faithfully be with you!  

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God when Speechless in Prayer (6/1/23)

Last week my nephew, Mark, fell 30+ feet from a tree in his yard. He landed on his back, was knocked out and couldn’t breathe. His sister screamed for their mom (my sister) who rushed over, crying out to God. They called 9-1-1. Firemen and an ambulance came. They rushed him to the hospital, keeping him flat, and ran all kinds of tests.

When I found out, I immediately started crying out to God for help. After cries for help, I started recounting God’s attributes for comfort. Then, when we didn’t know what else to pray, the Holy Spirit brought to mind my memory verses for that week.

Jeremiah 1:17-19   ¹⁷ “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

The Holy Spirit helped me see how I could apply these verses to my nephew’s situation. We didn’t need to be terrified. I prayed for God to make Mark “an iron pillar and a bronze wall” against the impact of the fall. I prayed for Mark, his Mom, Dad, sister and all of us to feel God’s presence. I prayed for God to rescue Mark from permanent damage.

These verses were a promise God made specifically to Jeremiah, but the Holy Spirit helped me pray them for my nephew when I didn’t know what else to pray. God is faithful in all situations, whether we get the answers we want or not. In this situation, He helped me know what to pray!

God also miraculously spared Mark from paralysis, broken bones, and damage to organs!!!! The doctors told my sister that the fall would have killed them or her, but amazingly didn’t kill Mark! He was in excruciating pain, but is making progress. He can’t bend or pick up things yet, but he can read and move some! We keep praising God!!!  

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God when Confusion Continues (5/18/23)

Habakkuk was certainly confused by God’s plan to use the Babylonians to punish Judah! He took all his questions directly to God. He first acknowledged God’s eternal, holy, just and Sovereign character.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 LORD, are you not from everlasting?

    My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
¹³ Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
¹⁴ You have made people like the fish in the sea,
    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
¹⁵ The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
    he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
    and so he rejoices and is glad.
¹⁶ Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
    and enjoys the choicest food.
¹⁷ Is he to keep on emptying his net,
    destroying nations without mercy?

2:1 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

I love how Habakkuk first remembered God’s attributes before he relayed his additional questions. Then, he resolved to expectantly wait for God’s second response! I want to do the same with some issues going on in my life.

It’s always comforting to focus on God’s attributes first. It helps me have a better perspective. We have been dealing with several issues (for years) with one of our children. As much as we pray for help and try different approaches, things don’t seem to improve. In fact, it seems some issues have gotten worse and not better! I know it isn’t a surprise to God and He has a plan. I want to be like Habakkuk and station myself above the chaos (“station myself on the ramparts”) to be able to clearly hear God’s answer and direction for next steps.

How about you? What situation is frustrating or confusing to you right now? Will you take time to first praise God for who He is and list out His attributes? Then, take your honest questions to him and position yourself in a place to clearly hear His response.

Alice

Faithful God when His Answer is Confusing (5/11/23)

When Habakkuk asked God about the injustice in Judah, God answered by stating He would use Babylon to address Judah’s injustice and wickedness! 

Habakkuk 1:6-11    I am raising up the Babylonians,
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
    to seize dwellings not their own.
⁷ They are a feared and dreaded people;
    they are a law to themselves
    and promote their own honor.
⁸ Their horses are swifter than leopards,
    fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
    their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
⁹     they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind
    and gather prisoners like sand.
¹⁰ They mock kings
    and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
    by building earthen ramps they capture them.
¹¹ Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
    guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

God knew Habakkuk would be confused, so He up front acknowledge all the wickedness of the Babylonians. They were ruthless, arrogant, violent, haughty, and prideful! It would be like God saying He is going to use totally evil terrorists to judge the wickedness in our country. Yet, that was His plan.

Habakkuk pleaded with God to address the violence and injustice (as we saw a couple weeks ago). God graciously answered him with specific details. He would be faithful to avenge injustice, but it wasn’t going to be the way Habakkuk would expect.

Have you ever been confused by God’s answer? Like Habakkuk, we are finite and can’t see the big picture. We can trust God and His plans and His timing. We can be thankful for His personal responses, even if it doesn’t make sense to us. He is Faithful!

Alice

Faithful God on our National Day of Prayer (5/4/23)

What are your plans for participating in the National Day of Prayer today?

 President Harry S. Truman signed it into law in 1952 that there would be a National Day of Prayer as an annual observance. This year’s theme is “Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much.” It is taken from James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

My kids’ school is hosting an event tonight at 7pm. Feel free to come and join us, if you live in the area! Or, you can find an event near you at the National Day of Prayer website: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/events

Live broadcast at 8 pm ET here: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2023_broadcast

Proverbs 15:8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Let’s please the Lord today in prayer!!!

Alice

Faithful God when He seems silent 4/27/23

Is God listening? Why does God tolerate injustice? Why doesn’t God do something? Do you ever ask God those questions? Habakkuk did. He wondered why God continued to seemingly sit back while Judah continued to get more and more wicked.

Habakkuk 1:1-6    The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

² How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
³ Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
⁴ Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.

The Lord’s Answer

⁵ “Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.
⁶ I am raising up the Babylonians,
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
    to seize dwellings not their own.

God was working and had a plan, even though Habakkuk couldn’t see it yet. Today, we may think it looks like God is silent, but He is working and has a plan.

Where do we take our questions? Do we talk to everyone else about our frustrations and the continued evil around us? Or, like Habakkuk, do we talk to God about it and expect and look for His response? As we study the Bible, we will hear some of His answers! He already has a plan in place through the very end!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God in Judgment (4/20/23)

What do you think happened to Gehazi after he deceived Naaman and stole from him? Did Elisha ever find out? How about Naaman?

II Kings 5:24-27  When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

²⁵ When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

²⁶ But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

Gehazi got caught quickly and received swift judgment! I often wish God would do that with other people who commit horrific crimes and wickedness. God is the Judge of all. His timing is perfect and His judgment is purposeful. He is also loving, compassionate and long-suffering. He gives people opportunities to change. I often don’t understand His timing of things in my finite brain. Yet, I can trust He is in control!

Gehazi witnessed so many astounding miracles and yet chose not to trust God and His ways and His time (like Judas with Jesus). He had numerous opportunities to join in God’s work but missed out on being part of the blessing and being blessed himself!

As we cringe at all the evil in the world, will you and I trust God’s timing and plan for His judgment of sin? We can be thankful He is patient with us when we sin. He has actually judged all sin on the cross, if we choose to accept Jesus taking our place for sin! For those who don’t accept Jesus’ sacrifice, there is eternal judgment coming. Are you and I going to be like Gehazi – try things our way and reject God’s ways and timing? Or, are you and I going to be like all the other servants in Naaman’s story that believed God, trusted His ways and did their part to point others to Him?

Thursday Devotional - Faithful God Despite Unfaithful Servant (4/13/23)

Would you be motivated to go out and steal after witnessing a magnificent miracle? I think I’m usually motivated to do the opposite – praise God and be generous with others! Well, Elisha’s servant wasn’t too happy with the way Elisha rejected Naaman’s gifts after God miraculously healed Naaman.

II Kings 5:19b-24                After Naaman had traveled some distance, ²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

²¹ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

²² “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

²³ “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. ²⁴ When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

Wow! I can’t believe Gehazi! I see a correlation between Gehazi and Judas. Both men watched God/Jesus perform amazing miracles, yet focused on what was in it for them in the short-term. God had been faithful to them and to those around them, yet it wasn’t enough.

How about you and me? Maybe we aren’t motivated to steal, but maybe we  wonder what’s in it for me, when is it my turn or why God doesn’t do something that “big” for me? Instead of focusing on ourselves, let’s praise our faithful God when we see an amazing miracle in the life of someone else!

Alice