Devot. How to Simplify Our Lives

Hi Folks,

I hope you had a good week!  The devot. for today is on how to simplify our lives.  I wish to share a few  things from my heart today.

 

I think we are way to busy for our own good!  We have the kids enrolled in every activity imaginable, we try to fit 20+ extra things in our day,  get to sleep super late because we are still trying to play catch up from what we didn't accomplish during the daylight hours and all for what?   

 

What does having busy lives accomplish?  I think sometimes we are afraid to have moments, even a few hours of nothing to do, silence.  Our world is stressed, people are always rushing about,

our health suffers, and for what reason?  To say we are busy and have a social calendar?

 

Have you ever tried to honestly evaluate your life and ask: Does what I am doing serve a purpose?  Is it really needful? Am I spending enough  time with my kids and family  And more importantly,  Am I accomplishing anything for eternity and making a difference in someone's life in the midst of everyday life?

Or are we filling our hours with "stuff" that isn't useful to our lives?  

 

 It's one thing to work hard to provide of our families, make time to pay the bills on time, get groceries, get the kids to routine doctors appointments so they stay well,  exercise to keep ourselves fit, or continue our education.  But when we add above and beyond what is needed to keep ourselves, the family or the house in running and in good order, it can get out of hand and cause added stress.

 

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."   What are you investing your heart, life and time in?  Is it raising children to love Jesus and come to know Him in a personal way?   Are you giving of your energy and time to take care of a sick spouse?  Do you serve in your church?  Do you look for a chance to open a door for someone while you are out running errands?  Do you pray for those who come to your mind through the day?  Are you taking care of yourself (God's house)

by eating well and exercising?    While catching up on emails, do you take the time to send an email to someone you haven't head from in awhile, just to say hi?

 

My New Year's challenge to each of us is to honestly look at our lives and see if what we are investing in, spending time doing is really important, worth our time and counts for something (either for this period of time or for eternity).  If it doesn't and causes more stress, or is just a "filler" in our day or week, can we eliminate it?

The devot. below gives some very practical ways on how to reduce stress in our lives, make our days productive, but count.

 

Pray it blesses you this weekend!

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/how-to-simplify-your-life-in-2018?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN2019-01-15HowtoSimplifyYourLifeThisYearArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

(Read and Share.   Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

Devot. Reset Your Home for the New Year

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week and are healthy, well and safe. 

 

Our devot. for today is on resetting our home for the New Year.  Now that Christmas is over with, our homes go back to looking like "normal" and that can be depressing for now. 

 

In general, once the Christmas and New Year season is over with, many folks suffer with depression and listlessness because there is nothing to look forward to.

 

So how can we re-establish our homes for the New Year, but in a way that brings in hope, encouragement, and the Lord's peace, presence?  How can we set up our homes with reminds of the "word" God has given to us in the new year (Remember the devot. last week on finding a word for the New Year,  that comes from Scripture that you can use to encourage, strengthen, challenge  yourself each day in 2019?)

 

This devot. gives some practical ideas of how to reset our homes in an  intentional, Christlike way that will give encouragement to those in our home. Thought this devot. was very neat and so useful!  I have also included a link with an article "Prayer for the New Year."  It was a great blessing to my hear and I felt strongly that the Lord wanted me to include it in the devot. for you this week.  

Pray both articles encourage your heart.

Also, if you haven't gotten around to doing the Word for 209 Quiz, consider doing it this weekend or a night when you have a few minutes of downtime.   I am finally working and thinking through my quiz today.  It's short, but thought provoking in the questions that it asks. I realize that I will wander aimlessly though 2019, fulfilling my obligations and doing my job without having a Christ centered goal for the New Year if I don't sit down and think,  "What do I wish accomplish for the Lord for this year?   How can I be used for His glory and for make a difference in an eternal way?   Looking forward to finding the word that suits the season of my life right now! :)

 

Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

P.S. While it is on my mind and freezing temps are hitting many parts of the US, keep your eyes and ears open to animals being left outside that should not be  or do not have proper/or any shelter.  

 

Call your local Animal Care and Control or even animal rescue if you see an animal that is chained or roaming around outside w/o shelter or not enough shelter or longer than normal periods of time-more than just letting a dog out for a break.  

 

You can ask to remain anonymous if they ask for your name and number.  Just provide an adequate street address/description of the property so rescue personal can find the location quickly.

This could range from dogs, cats to horses or even rabbits.   I have a heart for animals in spots like this and it happens way too much, so I felt lead to pass on the info.

 

Blessings!

 

 (Articles are Read and Share.   Taken from https://www.dayspring.com)

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/reset-your-home-for-the-new-year?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20119-01-09ResetYourHomefortheNewYearArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

 

Prayer for the New Year: https://www.dayspring.com/articles/a-prayer-for-peace?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN2019-01-13APrayerforPeaceintheNewYearArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

 

Word for 2019 Quiz: https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz#/home

The Least of These: New Christan Film in Theaters! Filmed in India

Hi Folks!

 

I wanted to share the link for a  powerful new film coming out called "The Least of These" that a church friend of mine just made me aware of.  

 

It is based on the true story of missionary George Steins and his wife who gave 35 years of their lives to serve some of the lowest,

least wanted of India's population-lepers in a remote part of India

-and the curiosity and consequences they faced because of their selflessness.

I've seen the trailer and a short clip that gives the background of the video and it looks powerful.  It has a some well known names among the actors (such as Stephen Baldwin who has played in a number of Christian films)and those who did vocals for the sound tracts (like Michael W. Smith).  (For those of you know the name of Ravi Zarcharis, the film has an exclusive discussion with him for those who go to the "sneak peek" preview hosted in some theaters 1/31.)

The official release date is Friday, Feb. 1st in theaters throughout the US, but some theaters are hosting it earlier on Thursday, Jan. 31.  

My family and I already bought tickets and cannot wait to go!   

 

We hope that you will consider joining others and gathering together your youth, small groups, and homeschool groups, families and friends, in whatever theater you choose, for a inspirational night!

Based on the trailer, I would say the movie would be good for 12 years old and up.  

Pray you would consider this!

 

Trailer: https://www.theleastofthese.movie/

 

Heart of the Movie:  https://www.theleastofthese.movie/  (Click the video that has a gentleman in a blue shirt.)

Devot. My Word for the Year is Peace

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good weekend and are staying health, well and warm:)

 

The devotional for today is a throwback to Tuesday devot. :  Finding a word for the year.

A word to strengthen your faith, give you courage and draw you closer to the Lord.

 

The devot. focuses on. lady and the word she picked: Peace.   Remember the Lord promised peace in John 14:27, a peace that the world cannot give.    I pray that it would encourage your heart to today.

 

Lord bless you and yours this week!

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/category/word-of-the-year-2019/my-word-for-the-year-is-peace
(Taken from https://www.dayspring.com)

Devot. Word of the Year

HI Folks,

 

I hope you had a super weekend! 

 

This devot focuses on our New Year and finding motivation and encouragement from God's Word through a specific word.  The article and devot. below are a bit unique.  Let me give an example beforehand of how I see the context of this topic.

 

 At the beginning  of the New Year, some Christians will find a verses of Scripture that speaks to their heart, encourages and inspires them. They will use this verse as a "life verse"-a Scripture to base their life on, find strength in, an everyday reminder.    This devot. is on finding a specific word as your spiritual encouragement for the year.  

 

In Genesis we see that God SPOKE the world into existence and Proverbs 18:21 says that "life and death are in the power of the tongue..."  Words have power to bring forth life as we see in Genesis.  The Scriptural principle behind Proverb 18:21 is that indeed our words can bring encouragement, discouragement, even the outcome of matters can be determined by what we say (My family and I have seen this is real ways in our own lives).

There is a quiz below from Dayspring.com for finding your word of encouragement  for the New Year  and then a devot. that explains why finding a word for the year can help you live intentionally and serve God more fully.  

 

I pray that this will encourage your life, give you a word or verse from Scripture for you to hold onto through 2019.

 

Lord bless you and yours this week!

 

Both the quiz and devot. are Read and Share and taken from https://www.dayspring.com )

 

Word Quiz: https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNNNN20181228What%27sYour2019WordOfTheYear&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List#/home

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/finding-a-word-for-your-year?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20181230FindingYourWordForTheYearContent%2BWOTYAd&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

Devot. Peace That Lasts

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a super weekend and are staying healthy and well.

 

This devot. is a continuation of our Tuesday devot-how to have lasting peace.

 

Isaiah 5:6 calls Jesus a "Prince of Peace" and He Himself promised to give us peace in John 14:27.

How does this peace remain?   I find myself praying, asking God for it, during the times when  my heart and mind are in turmoil.     Does He send it?  Yes, He definitely does!  The times when I lack peace are usually when I get my eyes on my circumstances, start worried or stop resting in the peace He has already sent.

 

I pray this devot. gives you a little snippet of how you too can have the Lord send you His peace when you need it:)

 

Blessings on you and yours this week!

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/daily-devotion/date/2018-05-28?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202018-05-28&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion   (Read and Share.   Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

Devot. Embracing Peace in the Busy Holiday Season

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a very blessed Christmas with your families!

 

The devot. for today is about dealing with stress during or even after the holidays.

 

For some of you, you may be thinking, "That was a wonderful Christmas.  I hate for it to end."

 

For others of you, you may be feeling like, "Whew!  I am so glad that it (the gift wrapping, card writing and business)is over with for one more year!" 

 

Some of you may have had a restful Christmas season,  but the business is just about to start over again and you wish you could re-claim the calm of Christmas.  Others of you may be hoping that the first month of 2019 is calmer than the past month of year of your life.

 

Either way, this devot. below focuses on managing the stress, overcoming it, and finding the peace of the Lord in your daily life.

Jesus promised in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled neither let it  be afraid."

 

The Lord Jesus promises to give us a peace that the world can neither understand nor give.   With this peace comes the encouragement to not  be troubled in heart or afraid.   So the Lord's peace can  be ours this year.

 

Pray this devot. is a comfort to your heart this week.   I have also included a song link for the New Year.   You will recognize the tune, but the lyrics have been changed into a worship song.   I LOVE the song and recognized some of the lyrics as passages/verses from Scripture. 

 

May the Lord bless you and yours with His peace and presence in the New Year!

      

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/embracing-peace-in-the-busy-holiday-season?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20181216EmbracingPeaceInTheBusySeasonArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List   (Read and Share .   Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=