Don't Waste Your Vacation

by Kate Hasson

Don’t Waste Your Vacation

When I last heard John Piper speak in person his message dealt with how to not waste your life. He went through a whole slew of ways to not waste your life with specifics such as don’t waste your cancer, don’t waste your money, don’t waste your robbery, etc.

As you read this post I will be on vacation, a wonderful trip we take to the same place every year with my husband’s side of the family. It is a fabulous week of relaxation and enjoyment. But as I write this and the time approaches, my mind has been drifting back to the “Don’t waste your...” encouragement from Piper. So now I’m applying it to our vacation. Just because I’m away from home and out of the normal routine, doesn’t mean that I take a vacation from wholeheartedly following Christ. I want my vacation to be filled with extra time in the word and in prayer, time spent speaking of Christ with my family and even with others I may meet along the way, time spent praising and thanking the Lord, out loud and in song, for His glorious creation. Although it is wonderful to take long naps, and play all day in the sun, it is not as Christ exalting, nor fulfilling as being mindful and praise-filled toward my Lord. I don’t want this vacation to pass without my drawing nearer to Christ.

Yes, I do look forward to getting away from it all, but even more I look forward to meeting Him and sitting at His feet in worship. I Don’t Want to Waste My Vacation. Please pray for me.

Use Less Words

by Debbi Weeks

I love all the other devotional bloggers and how they seem to be so succinct in their messages. They get right to the point and get across so much in so few words. I really wish I had that gift! J Today especially I hope to get some tidbit of wisdom across in a few short words since I have chosen to talk about how our words should be minimal!

Proverbs 10:19 says, “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” There’s something to be said for short, sweet and to the point! Oh that I would be kept from using many words! I’m famous for making short stories long (what you didn’t want all those details?!) And, it’s in those many words that I can get caught in sin. God make me quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry – help me live out James 1:19!

To that end, I bid you all adieu.

Lord, I praise You for being our Creator and making each of us individuals with different gifts and talents. I praise you that you do hold us all accountable to certain standards because you are holy.

I confess I talk too much and speak too quickly.

Thank you that you haven’t given up on me. Thank you that you challenge me to Christlikeness.

Please guard my lips and keep me from using many words when few would do.

Fill My Cup, Part III

by Sue Donaldson

Let me satisfy you.

Love,

God

PS

Anything but Me will waste your time--any well but Mine will dry up--any food but Me will disappear like cotton candy. Oh, and did I mention this? It’s free – for You – not for Me it wasn’t-- but for you, it’s free.

PPS

One more thing: you were made to be only satisfied by Me, so come on in and take a seat at My table. It’s one of those gorgeous Harvest ones with room for all who wake up and smell the coffee – two lumps or one?

You’re welcome here—right here, by Me.

Isaiah 55: 2 – “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”

(Why, indeed?)

Lord,

Please help me go to Your table and stay there.

Love, Sue

Walking in Grace

by Peggy B.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

In my blog on June 30, I talked about God’s grace. Sue Donaldson (who seems to have appointed herself my personal challenger J ) asked me if I might talk more about walking in God’s grace, so here goes!

Pastor Tim has been challenging me lately to think more about God’s grace than I ever have in my whole life. I am so excited about the thought that I don’t have to have a “to do” list to please God, or gain His favor. It’s ALL about God’s grace. (see June 30’s post for more on this).

First, I’ll use this little acronym I learned as a kid to define grace:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

Salvation, and everything after that, is given to me at Christ’s expense, not my works. I don’t have to do or be different than I am. I am a child of God, through Christ’s work!

So here’s my “Walking in God’s Grace” thought for today:

When I have one of my inevitable moments when I am feeling insufficient, not measuring up, disappointed in myself for not being “spiritual” enough, I am going to preach myself the gospel yet again… Jesus died, WHILE I was in still in sin, to give me God’s riches (yep, Grace!) I don’t have to measure up, He already does! Then I am going to thank God for His miraculous gift, forgive myself for being a human being, and get on with what He has for me to do. No more indulging in that old pity party (doesn’t Satan just love to get us there?) God’s ready to use me now…how cool is that?

I am reminded of this Hymn that is probably very familiar to you:

“Just as I am without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me.

Because Thy promise I believe,

Oh, Lamb of God I come, I come!”

Lord, I long to see myself through your eyes of grace! Help me to walk daily in your Grace. I thank you that at the cross, it was FINISHED, not just begun. Thank you for taking pleasure in me, just as I am. Amen

There's Something About That Name

by Kate Hasson

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There’s just something about that name

Master, Saviour, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms

Will all pass away,

But there’s just something about that Name.”

A few nights ago I was uptight about something I can’t even remember now, but as I lay in bed Jesus’ name was the only thing that got me to calm down. I tried to pray but was distracted, I tried to think of how I should have done things better or differently yet felt more anxious, but when all that was left to do was cry to Him, I could say nothing but His name. Not always what he does comforts, but just HE comforts. At times saying His name, Jesus Jesus Jesus, and imagining His presence brings life and peace to my soul. Thank you, Jesus., for who you are.

Simplify, Focus, Execute

by Missy Grant

“Simplify, Focus, Execute.” Those are words spoken by local Parable Group President Steve Potratz. At first hearing you might think that is just a catchy phrase, but when you start to ponder it…..you realize the applicability to our lives. Do you feel like a little bible reading today? I hope so…

“So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.

And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.

Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.

So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned.

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach."

I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work.

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, "What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"

So I answered them and said to them, "The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:11-20.

Simplify – How complex is your life? Seriously, I’m asking. If you were to sit down and write out all you do in a three day span, what would the chart look like? Those with small children are thinking, “First, I don’t ever get to sit down and second, I don’t have time to make a chart.” Sure you do. Sit on the floor, take the crayon out of your toddler’s mouth and start writing. Do you see from the text above how Nehemiah took inventory? He got on an animal and rode around and through the city (v13). He couldn’t access everything (v14), but kept at it until all had been inspected. Simplifying takes inspection and introspection.

Focus – What jumps out at you from your chart? The enormous amount of tasks and time given to childcare, the amount of time given to friends, the amount of time you do have but didn’t recognize it, or did you not have enough room to write it all out! Women were created to multi-task (I’m sure I can find scripture to support that…!) But our multi-tasking can become epidemic and interfere with the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. In order to focus we must take time of inspection and introspection (aka…time with the Lord in His word and in prayer).

Execute –Verse 17 is the execution order of this chapter…”You see the bad situation we are in…come, let us rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah’s heart was in tune with the Lord’s. First he had a desire to go to Jerusalem and see for himself what was happening. Second, he assessed the physical condition of the wall, but in the final words of Chapter three addresses the spiritual condition as well. And then gives glory where it is due, “God of heaven will give us success…”

Simplify, Focus, Execute…do not be afraid to ask the Lord to do this in your life. Be clay in the potter’s hand. Most of us desire to simplify and focus, but are unwilling to shine the light of the Lord on our lives in areas that need to be inspected and rebuilt. Let the Lord encourage you in His word….

Almighty God, thank you for your word. We praise your ways today O Lord. I confess simplifying, focusing, and execution are painful processes at times. Help me Lord to remove those items which are in the way of the building process of Your grace and Your mercy and Your compassion in my life. May your name be honored today. Amen.

gratitude

by lisa leonard

gratitude.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

How do we teach our kids to be grateful? This has been on my heart the last few weeks. We are so blessed by material things in this country. We've been talking about having a thankful heart. We've been praying for thankful hearts. We've been practicing saying, "thank you", even when we didn't get exactly what we wanted or things didn't go the way we planned.

I am also praying for my own heart. I want to model gratefulness to my boys and to have a joyful heart before the Lord.

Lord, please take my heart and make it yours. Mold me into who you want me to be. You are my provider and Savior. Make my heart grateful. Amen.