Devot. A Thankful Spirit in the Midst of Adversity

 Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good start to your week!! Below is something that encouraged my heart greatly and convicted it as well-How to keep a spirit of gratefulness in the midst of adversity.  

A read an email from a ministry here in the US that supports Ukrainian pastors.   It was the story of a pastor's wife in Ukraine on how she is retaining a spirit of thankfulness in the midst of their great hardship and then a short lesson from Scripture on thankfulness in the midst of adversity.

I know for myself, I am not as consciously thankful as I should be on a daily basis and I tend to complain over the little things. (My mom reminded me this week that any bumps in my road pale in comparison to what Ukraine is experiencing-that was the reality I needed to get my heart right!)  When I returned from my mission trip overseas last year, I was daily thinking of the things I was grateful to have and thanking the Lord for it (clean water, clean clothes), but I haven't been as conscious these days.

I pray you will take the time to think of the above, with the examination of heart, asking yourselves, "I am even thinking to lift up a 'thank you' to God in my day for even the little things, or do I take it for granted?" and then the challenge yourself, "I am going to find things in my day that I can say 'thank You for!" (even a close parking spot or a green light).  As I have quoted many times, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Ps. 107:31-a command!)

I will also link a short podcast that you could listen to through your week of an update on Ukraine from a Christian on the ground.

I feel that the best source of reality and truth is from someone who is there, but it's also refreshing to hear it from a Sister in Christ.

Pray you will be blessed by the below this week!

PODCAST, UPDATE ON UKRAINE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3tk11rnGjs

(THIS PODCAST WAS IN THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE UKRAINE CONFLICT, BUT I STILL THINK YOU WOULD FIND IT ENCOURGAING!)

Keep Praying for Ukraine!

 DEAR FRIENDS,

I PRAY YOU HAVE A HAD A PEACEFUL WEEK....BELOW ARE SOME RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS WEEK IN LIGHT OF THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE.  KEEP UP PRAYING FOR THEM!!

EACH OF THE BELOW HAS ENCOURAGED ME A GREAT DEAL AND I PRAY THAT WOULD UPLIFT YOUR HEART THIS WEEKEND.......GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS! 

PODCAST: Hope and Perspective for the Crises in Ukraine:

(TO LISTEN TO, VERY ENCOURAGING!!!)

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

News Article: 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/ukraine-russia-churches-nonprofit-donations

A link to receive daily, updated prayer requests from Ukraine:

https://www.sga.org/. 

Devot. Praise Him in the Storm

 Hello Folks,

I hope you had a super week!  

Below I think is a timely reminder for all of us in the midst of the uncertainty in our world.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."  Jesus was saying to NOT worry about the next day, not to borrow trouble or look ahead, because today had enough problems of its own.

But then Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31,  "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? (a half of a penny) and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

The Lord Jesus is saving that if God Himself notices when a bird falls out of a tree, He knows the tiny details of our lives (how many hairs we have exactly at any given time!)- and that if He cares about that little bird, we are of even more value to Him.    

I pray that the devots below remind you that the Lord Jesus is with you in whatever storms you are facing right now, He already tomorrow in His view, you and every detail of your life are very valuable to Him.  Lord bless your weekend!

Praise Him in the Storm:

https://www.dayspring.com/dailydevotion?date=2022-02-05&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion%202022-02-05&utm_term=DaySpring%20Daily%20Devotion

(Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

Devot. Love and the Heart

 DEAR FRIENDS,

BELOW ARE 2 VALENTINE THEMED DEVOTS. THAT I THOUGHT WERE THOUGHT PROVOKING AND I ALSO INCLUDED A LINK FOR A FREE BOOK.

IT'S TRUE STORIES OF LADIES WHO LIVED OUT THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES.  

THIS BOOK KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT AND I PLOWED THROUGH IT IN 2 NIGHTS!  I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!! IT STRENGTHENED MY FAITH...THIS WOULD BE IDEAL FOR ANYONE, BUT IF YOU HAVE TEEN OR COLLEGE GIRLS IN YOUR FAMILY, THIS WOULD BE A SUPER GIFT 🎉!

PRAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!

FREE BOOK:

https://www.persecution.com/HEARTSOFFIRE/

DEVOT. ACCEPTING GOD'S GIFT OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE:  (CAN LISTEN TO OR READ)

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/accepting-god-s-gift-of-love    

(USED BY PERMISSION.  TAKEN FROM https://www.intouch.org/)

DEVOT. LOVE AND THE HEART BELOW.  

USED BY PERMISSION.  TAKEN FROM https://icr.org/)

February 14, 2022 Love and the Heart “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37) According to Jesus, this is “the great commandment of the law” and this is also the first verse in the New Testament to associate “love” and the “heart.” This “love,” of course, is not romantic love (the Greek word for that love is never used in the New Testament at all), but the divine type of love (Greek agape), as in “God so loved the world.” The “heart” (Greek kardia, from which come such English words as cardiology) is mentioned often in the Bible, but almost never means the actual physical organ. It refers to the emotional and spiritual components of man’s nature—“the hidden man of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4). We use “heart” for the same purposes in English. Just how this particular date came to celebrate the heart as a symbol of romantic love and to be called Valentine’s Day is uncertain. There were various emperors, popes, and religious leaders named Valentine in the early history of Christendom, including two Roman Catholics designated as Saint Valentine. In any case, Christians should remember that true Christian agape love should be manifested in our lives every day of the year. To that end, “see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). True Christian love can only be expressed out of a heart that has been made pure. As Paul wrote young Timothy, “Now the end of the commandment is charity [that is, agape love] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5). And remember that, first of all, we must “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). HMM

Devot. Showing Christ Like Love to Others

 Hello Folks,

I hope you had a super week!!!  

Below are some practical ways that we can express God's love to others.... Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Jesus was saying, "People will know that you love and follow me, especially if you show Christian love towards each other."   

The connotation and context of this verse (based on verse 34)  is Christians showing Christ-like love to other Christians,  but we can also apply it more broadly.  

I remember a Christian in my circle of friends relating that folks where he worked said to him, "You're different, you're not like everyone else.   What makes you different?"  They were then able to share that Christ made the difference in their lives.  These folks saw Christ in him and felt His love through them.

Below are 2 practical devots. on how we can reflect Christ's love to those who need to see that He can make a difference in their lives.

Have a blessed weekend! 

(Devot. used by permission.   https://www.dayspring.com/)

6 Ways to Show Love this Year: 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/ways-to-show-love-in-2018?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20220209WaysToShowLoveThisYearArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

A Recipe for Love from Ephesians 4:

 https://www.dayspring.com/articles/a-recipe-for-love-from-ephesians-4?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20220123LoveYourNeighborAsYourselfArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

Devot. O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

 Hello Folks,

I hope you are having a good week!!  Below are a few thoughts and a poignant song.

I found a quote this week that stated,  "I have given Christ countless ways not to love me. None of them changed His mind." (Peter Washer)

Romans 5:6 and 8 states, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  

Christ CHOOSE to die a horrible, hideous death -for YOU AND ME.  In spite of the fact that He knew we would daily hurt Him through our sin, pride and self will, He still CHOOSE to go to Calvary, die an extremely painful death and God's means of paying for each human beings ticket to Heaven, even those who would hate and reject Him and His free gift of salvation-then and now.   You have to love someone an awful lot to do that for them....

A familiar passage is John 3:16-17, "For God so loved ('so loved'-so much so that it's immense) the world, (the entire human race, past, present and future) that he gave his only begotten Son (one and only Son), that whosoever (anyone!) believeth in him should not perish, (die and spend an eternity in hell a part from the Lord Jesus) but have everlasting life. (Life forever in Heaven with Jesus!) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. "

I hope the devot. and song below will give you a more thought provoking insight into God's love for you....Have a blessed weekend!

A Prayer to Grasp the Fullness of God's Love: 

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-daily-prayer/a-prayer-to-grasp-the-fullness-of-gods-love.html?utm_source=Your%20Daily%20Prayer&utm_campaign=Your%20Daily%20Prayer%20-%20Crosswalk.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=5976600&recip=553026050&aps=43ab33d8004313f951deb9fb1e2e7802411b70278e7af96de065b2ae54435d80

(Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.crosswalk.com/)

Song- O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPlOQk-Rr8U

Devot. Sometimes You Just Need to Start Over

 Hello Folks!

I hope you have had a super week!!

Both of these devot.s are for the one who feels they need a 're do', a fresh slate and start in their walk with the Lord. 

Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

1 Corinthians 5:17 specifically says to the one who has trusted the Lord Jesus as His Savior, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

I pray the devots. below are a blessing and encouragement to your weekend!

(Used by permission.  https://www.dayspring.com/)

Sometimes You Just Need to Start Over: 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/sometimes-you-just-need-to-start-over?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20211226ReceivingWhatGodHasForYouArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List

Ways to experience His Joy this Year: 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/ways-to-experience-his-joy-in-2018?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNANN20220105PostHolidayFatigueArticles&utm_term=DaySpring%20Newsletter%20%2B%20Daily%20Devotion%20List