Devot. The Power of Blessing

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week! 

 

I am starting a series on Blessings from Dayspring.com.   They sent it to with Read and Share at the top, so I thought, "I Will Read and Share!"    This devot. is the first one in the series-The Power of Blessing.

 

In Old Testament times it was a very powerful act for a parent or grandparent to lay their hands on their child/grandchild and bless them. The blessing they gave had meaning and it was expected that that blessing would come to pass.

 

We see this in Genesis 27:1-41 when Isaac blessed his youngest son, Jacob instead of his oldest son, Esau (which was a very big deal in Bible days).  In Genesis 48:8-20 we see Jacob blessing his two grandsons, Joseph's boys.  In both of these passages, what was prayed over them did come to pass.

 

Think of it this way:  In general, our words have great power.    In the first chapter of Genesis (verses 3, 6 9, 11, 14, 16, 20, 24, 26), God spoke and the sky, water, plants, animal life came into being-just by speaking.  (Just as an FYI, Verses 22 and 28 of this chapter contain a blessing, spoken by God to His creation.)

 

Proverbs 18:21 states, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

 

What this verse is sharing is that we can speak words that are negative (death producing) or positive (life giving) and we reap the consequences of what we say. I can think of incidences in my own life where I said something very negative (death producing) out of frustration or ignorance,  and sure enough, what I said in happened!

 

Just as God brought the world into existence by His Words, our words can bring forth very negative consequences or very positive blessings. 

Now I am not referring to the Power of Positive Thinking-that actually isn't Biblical.    But Scripture is warning us that the spoken word does have power, our words are powerful.   Our speech can bring forth words of death, life and we reap the results of what we have said.

 

I pray the start of this series is a blessing to you and that you learn something very valuable .

Now this devot. applies to blessing children, but extend it to mean blessing anyone.    Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2018-06-02?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily% 20Devotion%202018-06-02&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion   (Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

Devot. Christian Freedom

Hi Folks,

I hope you had a super week!  

 

The devot. for today is again Memorial Day themed, but in a spiritual way.   It covers an important truth in Scripture and the author of the devot. explains it so well.  Pray you learn something useful and will apply it to your life.

Lord bless you!

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May 28, 2018 Christian Freedom “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) Liberty has always been a cherished concept to Americans, ever since the patriotic call of Patrick Henry for liberty or death. It was also a burning issue with the Jews at the time of Christ, chafing under Roman rule as they were. Many early Christians were actually slaves or even in prison for their faith. All those in bondage have longed to be free, and wars and revolutions have been fought to gain their freedoms. But the worst bondage of all is slavery to sin. No army can free a man from sin, and if he dies in sin, he will continue in bondage forever. Among the last words of the Bible are these: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still” (Revelation 22:11). It is only Christ who can set a sinner free. Christ died for our sins, and through faith in Him we receive full pardon and liberty. “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. . . . Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:6-7, 18). There is no greater or truer freedom than freedom in Christ. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Because of Christ, the very creation itself, now groaning and travailing in pain under the curse of sin, one day soon “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). In Christ we now have freedom to live unto righteousness. “Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22). HMM     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

 

 

Devot. Searching for God

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a nice weekend and are enjoying some beautiful summer weather in your area.

 

I found this devot in one of my folders, the title caught my eye and the message captured my attention.

 

I pray you learn something from it this weekend.   Lord bless you and yours!

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July 21, 2017 Searching for God “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)   These are days when few people seem satisfied. Everyone seems to be searching for something—for riches, power, health, adventure, fame, peace, conquests, or escape. Shamefully, even few Christians seem to realize that the permanent fulfillment or redirection of such desires can only be found in the Lord, the One who created them and designed them to operate in a particular, satisfying way.   While it is true that in an ultimate sense “there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:11) for salvation without the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Christian (and indeed the entire human race) is enjoined again and again to seek God. Note the following passages of encouragement.   “If from thence [i.e., captivity due to disobedience] thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). “If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever” (1 Chronicles 28:9). “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee” (Psalm 63:1). “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17). “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).   As in our text, our search should be for God and His characteristics. All of man’s desires will either be fulfilled or reoriented as we find Him, and according to the several verses quoted, we will find Him if we truly seek Him. JDM     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

Devot. Are You Getting in God's Day?

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a peaceful weekend! 

 

I have two devots. today for you.   The first one is the one I felt the Lord wanted me to send you.

How many times do we play God and try to make things work out the way we think they should?

 

To be honest, I've been accused, by a very good source, of trying to play God, many times.

I want to work things out and make things happen in my own humanness, sometimes without

asking God "Is this the way that would be the best?"  

Proverbs 16:9 states, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps

 

The second devot. is on resting in the Lord turning times of worry.  I seems that something is always happening in our country to cause a resurfacing of concern and uncertainty, doesn't it?

 

I had something I wanted to share with you. I know that our nation is hurting again over the tragedy in Tx. last weekend.

 

My church's interim pastor mentioned something interesting on Sunday regarding the gun tragedies that are occurring. What he said really jolted me to reality about the situation and I wanted to share.

 

He stated that guns have been brought into the classroom since the days of the frontier for protection from wild animals and Indian attacks.   He said that a gentleman he knew sent him an email, an old newspaper rattle from the 1950's of a school teaching boys how to handle guns safety.   If with each of these stories, we weren't having mass shootings occurring in schools.

 

The issue a hand aren't fully the guns (even though kids should be taught that they are a weapon, not a toy and to create laws to keep guns out of the wrong hands)  it's the heart of the young people that is the root of the issue.   

 

Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  And Proverbs 4:23 says, "Proverbs 4:23, "Keep (maintain, guard, protect) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

 

If the heart of a person is murderous and intent on evil, they will cause havoc of some kind with or without a gun.  If young people don't know that God is real, loves them; If His Word is not allowed into schools to make a life changing difference in a person's heart; if the Ten Commandments aren't taught and they don't even know that killing is a sin, how can we expect the hearts of our young people to be moral?

 

We need to pray for our kids and young people that they are given to hear about the Lord Jesus, receive Him as their Saviour and have a change of heart, as only the Lord can do.

 

This thought was powerful and challenged me that I need to be praying for the young people in our world who do not know Jesus.  Pray this gives some food for thought to you as well.    Be praying for the precious families in Texas.

 

Lord bless and keep you and yours this week.   Devots. below.

 

#1: https://www.intouch.org/watch/are-you-getting-in-gods-way   (Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

    Read the sermon notes of on the right hand side of the screen if you don't have time to listen to the sermon)

 

#2.  https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2018-05-18?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202018-05-18&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion   (Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

Devot. Where Does Your Hope Come From?

HI Folks,

I hope you had a good week!

Anyway, I found this devot. in my Inbox yesterday with the "Read and Share" caption and the title caught my interest.    Where is your hope found or what does it rest in? 

 

Psalm 121:1-4 states, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.   The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand."

 

(I have included a link to Psalm 121 below, as it's a powerful Psalm describing the Lord's protection.)

 

 I pray our devot. will give you a boost of hope from the Lord this weekend!

I also have a link updating Pastor Andrew's trial in Turkey.   It's not good, so please keep praying for him and his family and pass the word along.

 

Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/where-does-your-hope-come-from?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNAEN20180516PMAfternoonContent&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter

(Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

Scripture:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121&version=KJV

 

Pastor Andrew: https://aclj.org/   (Story is on the Home page)

Devot. Our Refuge/Mother's Day Devots.

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good weekend your moms-whether you were able to celebrate her by sending

flowers, a card or giving her a call or you celebrated and remembered the life she had while on this earth.

 

I have 3 devots for you today and you can take your choice.    I very much wanted to jump back to a topic we had not too long ago-God's perspective of why the Jewish people are important to Him (in light of yesterday's historic events-the Embassy being moved to Jerusalem),  but I'm going to need more time to prepare.   As I said before, I want to show you this from a  biblical perspective, not a political perspective.

 

The three devots. below are as follows.  Two are mother's day devots. sent to my inbox from  https://www.dayspring.com/ and the heading was Read and Share.

And so I am:)

 

Our devot. directly below is a reminder that we have a refuge we can run to when life is uncertain.   I think all of us need reminders of this on a weekly basis.

 

A Prayer for Overwhelmed Moms:  https://www.dayspring.com/articles/a-prayer-for-overwhelmed-momsutm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNAEN20180509PMAfternoonMothersDayContentSend&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter

 

 This is for you moms who are in the  thick of raising children and teens every day.    (Take from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

Small Ways to Encourage Young Moms:  This is for your folks who are grandmoms, and aunties and how you can support the young moms in your life. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/small-ways-to-encourage-younger-moms utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEONANP20180502PMContentSendplusfreeshippingoffer&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter

(Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

I pray that one of the devots. is a boost of encouragement from the Lord this week!   Lord bless you and yours!

 

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

 

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April 6, 2018 Our Refuge “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2) “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9). What a comfort it is, in these days of turmoil and opposition, to know that our Lord is “a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat” (Isaiah 25:4). Our refuge is strong and secure. The psalmist testifies: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2). Then God answers: “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee” (Psalm 91:9-10 and see also vv. 10-13). Not only does our refuge provide safety and protection, but no other refuge will do. After identifying our refuge by the words “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [or be ‘alarmed’]” (Isaiah 28:16), God warns that those who refuse His true refuge will receive instead His “judgment,” for He “shall sweep away the refuge of lies” (Isaiah 28:17). The apostle Peter, fresh from his personal encounters with his risen Lord, confronted the Jewish leaders with their serious error of rejection. “This is the stone which was set at nought of you” (Acts 4:11). In his charge, however, he included the precious truth: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (v. 12). Our refuge, our sure foundation, is none other than our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we have “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18). JDM     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

Catching Up!

Hi Folks,
I hope you are having a great week!   I am going to post a bunch of devots. onto the blog and catch you up on some devotionals I have written in previous weeks.

I pray they are a blessing and feel free to copy a link, paste it in an email and send it to someone who may need encouragement from God's Word today.

Blessings!
Grace