Devot. Labor or Service?

Dear Friends,

I pray you have had a blessed week!  The devot. for today is another Labor Day devot and I pray it is a blessing.

I was just thinking of a verse that means a great deal to my family in regards to Labor or Service for the Lord.

1 Cor. 15:48 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."   The things we do for God count!

Please also remember our nation and it's 9/11 families tomorrow in prayer.  No matter how many years go by, it is still a painful reminder, esp. for those who lived through it or lost a loved one in it.How our nation needs the Lord in her life right now in the midst of the utter craziness going on in our world.  

" If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  (2 Chronicles 7:14).  I hope you learn something new from the devot. and you and your family have a blessed and safe weekend.

Devot. used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/

 

September 7, 2015 Labor or Service? “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work.” (Deuteronomy 5:13)   The term “labor” to many seems to connote drudgery or routine, repetitive, demeaning toil. As used here in the fourth of God’s Ten Commandments, however, the Hebrew word abad means rather to “serve” and is so translated 214 times in the King James. Only one other time is it translated “labor,” and that is in the first rendering of the commandments (Exodus 20:9). Thus, the command could well be read: “Six days shalt thou serve. . . .”   Furthermore, the word for “work” (Hebrew melakah) does not denote servile labor but “deputyship” or “stewardship.” The one whom we are to serve or act as deputy for, of course, is God Himself when we do our work. In the ultimate and very real sense, the Lord is our employer, and we serve Him, not man. Therefore, “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). Every honest occupation, if carried out for the Lord’s sake and to His glory, is “divine service,” and every Christian who holds this perspective on his or her work (be it preaching, or bookkeeping, or homemaking, or whatever) is in the Christian ministry—for “ministry” simply means “service.”   Note also that God has ordained not a four-day or five-day workweek: “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work,” He says, thus commemorating the six days in which He worked in the beginning, “for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth” (Exodus 31:17).   One day, Lord willing, we shall hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). Then, throughout the ages to come, “his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 22:3) with everlasting joy. HMM

Pastor Seed and Iran Deal-Critical Update and Petition!

Dear Friends,

No matter where you stand on the political side of this deal, please remember that a fellow Believer's life depends on what happens.  He has been in a horrible prison and according to reports has suffering torture and abuse for his faith for 2 years. It's time America takes a stand, thinks  of fellow citizen Pastor Saeed and brings him home to his wife and kids!  Please pray our congressman and women think of him in this whole deal.  A human life is worth more than anything. Please sign this for his family's sake and pass along.  God bless and thanks!

 

 

It's a critical week for imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini . . .

Take Action  |  Contribute   Like     f   Like this on Facebook   It's a critical week for imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini. As he languishes in an Iranian prison cell because of his Christian faith, his fate could be decided in Congress. Congress is voting this week on a critical bill to reject President Obama's bad nuclear deal with Iran - a deal made worse because it abandons Pastor Saeed. We're aggressively working in Congress, urging the House and Senate to reject the deal and bring Pastor Saeed home. As part of our comprehensive global strategy for Pastor Saeed's freedom, we're advocating in Congress and at the U.N. A team of lawyers is preparing to travel to New York for the U.N. General Assembly in just days. The House could vote as soon as tomorrow. Members of the House and Senate who unanimously demanded Pastor Saeed's freedom before are now wavering. Be heard. Pastor Saeed desperately needs your voice more now than ever. Sign Our Urgent Petition: Reject the Deal & Bring Saeed Home. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel

Devot. Going Forth to Work

Dear Friends,

I hope you have had a good, long weekend with family and friends!

 I know that while some of you may not be wanting to head back into work, I wanted to send you a devot. with the history of Labor Day and also the Biblical basis for a good, work ethic, something I see sadly lacking in our world today.

It is an honorable thing to put in a good day's labor, and receive the benefits of it in a sense of accomplishment as well as well deserved pay.

Ecclesiastics 9:10 says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

And Colossians 3:23-24 states, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Doing your job in a way that glorifies the Lord may help you to have a better perspective as you enter into your work week:)

 I hope you learn something new from the devot. and you and your family have a blessed and safe week! Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/17889  (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

 

 

Bring Pastor Saeed Home Petition!

Dear Friends,

Below is a link to the American Center for Law and Justice.  The link is a letter from Pastor Saeed's wife to the Ambassador of Iran  begging for a meeting with Iran's president when he comes to New York this month.  

The letters and pictures from Mrs. Saeed and  esp. the children will break your heart.  

About 3/4 of the way down the link's page is a petition link that you can sign calling for Iran's President to meet with Mrs. Saeed this month, and release Pastor Saeed.    The letter will be sent right to the President.  

Pastor Saeed is an American Citizen and a Christian the same as us. 

Never think your voice and action doesn't count-it does.  

Look at Meriam Ibraheim and Pastor Youcef who have been released in the last 2 or so years.

We only have 3 days to sign and pass the info. along, so please take action as soon as you can.  Thanks!   http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/pastor-saeeds-wife-and-kids-request-meeting-with-president-of-iran-in-new-york

Devot. How to Bolster Our Faith

Dear Friends,

I hope you have had a good week! The devot. for today is how to increase, strengthen  your faith.  

I personally needed this today.  In light of the religious persecution towards Christians going on around the world, I needed a reminder of how to stand firm if the day ever comes where I am put in  a court room for my faith.

I was reminded of 1 Peter 2:20 and 3:17 which says, " For what glory is it, if, when ye be  buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it,  ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." (2:2o)

 "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (3:17)

 This verses are saying, "Is it better to suffer for doing the wrong thing, or the right thing (in God's eyes)?"

Is it better to get in trouble for stealing a car, or for standing up for the cause of Christ and the Word of God?

The answer should be clear.  I would rather get in trouble for telling someone about Jesus, then get into trouble for stealing something.

 Jesus said in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8, "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." (Luke)

I said to someone yesterday, who is under fire for their faith, would you want to deny Jesus down here, only to have Him say in Heaven, "I don't know who you are.  You didn't acknowledge me as your Saviour. You were embarrassed of Me."   The person gave an emphatic NO! No, I don't want to do that! 

 I pray this devot. helps to give all of us practical ways that we can strengthen our faith, not deny our Saviour Who has done so much for us.   Our time down here is so short.

May we make the most of it and stand for anything God's Word says is right and true.  God bless and keep you and yours this weekend.   Devot. http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/how-to-bolster-our-faith (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.intouch.org/)

 

Devot. Given to Us Eternal Life

Dear Friends,

I hope you have had a good week!  The devot. for today is taken out of one of my favorite passages of Scripture-1 John 5, esp. verses 11-15. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+5&version=KJV  It shows us Who eternal life is found in (Jesus Christ), how we can get it (Through accepting Him as our only way to Heaven) and that it is permanent (The Bible clearly shows this many times).  I pray it is a blessing to your week!

(Devotional used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

 

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July 30, 2015 Given to Us Eternal Life “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11)   Our text for today contains truths which provide great power and comfort for Christians. Let us reflect on some of them.   The word “record” needs amplification. In noun form, it means “the evidence given,” and in verb form it means “testify,” or “witness.” The apostle John used it nine times in verses 7 through 11. Study of our text and its context shows that the record mentioned is none other than the great truth that Christ Jesus was God’s only Son, and that He died as a perfect and fully sufficient sacrifice to provide us life eternal.   In our text, we see that this work of bestowing eternal life is God’s work. It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). This eternal life is our present possession, for He “hath given” it to us (i.e., in the past). This gift is to individuals—to “us”—not to a nation or even the church, but to those who have believed. Furthermore, this “eternal life” is eternal! It will last for eternity and cannot be taken away. It is inconceivable for an omnipotent God to give “eternal life” temporarily. We are alive in Him, having been born (again) into His family. This is a permanent situation.   The tense shifts to the present in the last phrase of the text. Our “life is in his Son.” We are “in him. . . . This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). Our life finds its vitality in living union with the Son. His death and resurrection made life possible, and now His present life is ours. His Spirit, resident within us, provides this vitality, and since the Spirit of God is eternal, our life is eternal. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (v. 13). JDM

 

 

Devot. A Voice in the Crowd

Dear Friends,

I hope you have had a blessed week!

The deot. for today is not allowing the world, ourselves, anything around us to drown out the voice of God which speaks to our hearts and mind through His Word, but also in a still small voice.

 Have you ever had moments where you keep thinking someone so much you wonder if anything is wrong? 

My mom has always told me that that is God impressing on/speaking to my heart to pray for that person.  That impression has been given to others in the past regarding times that my family truly needed prayer and I was asking God to bring us to the minds and hearts of specific  folks to pray for us at that time.

Or have you ever had those times of "I should" or "I shouldn't' be doing this"  That is also God speaking, quietly, yet so strongly.  Or maybe you have read a passage of Scripture and it has 'jumped off' the page at you and was what you needed to read at that time. That was also God speaking.

Isaiah 30:21 is a favorite verse of mine, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."   This is my reminder that God will speak to my heart and mind through HIs Word, godly counsel, or that still small voice when I need direction in my life.   The thing we have to do though is have open ears and hearts to what is being said.

Pray this devot. is a blessing to your weekend and that you learn something new.  Lord bless and keep you and yours this weekend!

Devot. http://intouch.org/read/blog/a-voice-in-the-crowd  (Used by permission.  Taken from http://intouch.org/)