Becoming Whole

READ: Romans 7:13-25
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. —Philippians 2:12-13

When a friend fell off her bike and suffered a severe brain injury, doctors weren’t sure she would survive. For several days she remained suspended between life and death.

The first good news came when she opened her eyes. Then she responded to simple voice commands. But with every small improvement, anxiety remained. How far would she progress?

After one difficult day of therapy, her husband was discouraged. But the very next morning he shared these welcome words: “Sandy’s back!” Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and mentally, Sandy was becoming the “self” who we knew and loved.

Sandy’s fall reminds me of what theologians refer to as “the fall” of mankind (Gen. 3). And her struggle to recover parallels our struggle to overcome the brokenness of sin (Rom. 7:18). If only her body healed, recovery would be incomplete. The same would be true if her brain worked but her body didn’t. Wholeness means that all parts work together for one purpose.

God is the one healing Sandy, but she has to work hard in therapy to improve. The same is true of us spiritually. After God saves us through Christ, we must “work out” our salvation (Phil. 2:12)—not to earn it but to bring our thoughts and actions into agreement with His purpose. — Julie Ackerman Link

More like the Master I would ever be,

More of His meekness, more humility;

More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,

More consecration for work He bids me do. —Gabriel

To become whole, keep yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Warning Lights

READ: Joel 2:12-17
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” —Joel 2:12

I didn’t think that the hesitation in my car engine and that little yellow “check engine” light on my dashboard really needed my immediate attention. I sang it away, saying that I would get to it tomorrow. However, the next morning when I turned the key to start my car, it wouldn’t start. My first reaction was frustration, knowing that this would mean money, time, and inconvenience. My second thought was more of a resolution: I need to pay attention to warning lights that are trying to get my attention—they can mean something is wrong.

In Joel 2:12-17, we read that God used the prophet Joel to encourage His people to pay attention to the warning light on their spiritual dashboard. Prosperity had caused them to become complacent and negligent in their commitment to the Lord. Their faith had degenerated into empty formalism and their lives into moral bankruptcy. So God sent a locust plague to ruin crops in order to get His people’s attention, causing them to change their behavior and turn to Him with their whole heart.

What warning lights are flashing in your life? What needs to be tuned up or repaired through confession and repentance? — Marvin Williams

God’s love is not some fuzzy thing

That lets us do what we think best;

It guides and warns, and shows the way,

And always puts us to the test. —D. De Haan

Conviction is God’s warning light.

A Time For Readjustment

READ: Leviticus 25:1-7
In the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land. —Leviticus 25:4

The earth’s solar orbit takes 365 and a quarter days. Because of this, every 4 years an extra day is added to the calendar so we don’t fall behind in the natural cycle of things. Each leap year we add that day onto the end of February. In this way, the calendar is readjusted to the astronomical timetable.

In the calendar of ancient Israel, God set up a remarkable means of readjusting things. Just as mankind was commanded to rest every seventh day (Ex. 20:8-10), so the land was to be allowed to rest during the seventh year (Lev. 25:4). This sabbatical year allowed the farmland to replenish for greater fertility. In addition, debts were canceled (Deut. 15:1-11) and Hebrew slaves were set free (vv.12-18).

With our busy schedules and our hectic pace of life, we too need readjustment. Demands of work, family, and church can require reevaluation. One way we do that is by observing the sabbath principle—making sure to set aside time to rest and prayerfully refocus our priorities. Jesus, for example, went “to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

When can you pull aside from your activities and prayerfully ask God to reset your spiritual calendar to His Word and His will? Is it time for a readjustment? — Dennis Fisher

To face life’s many challenges

And overcome each test,

The Lord tells us to take the time

To stop, to pray, to rest. —Sper

To make the most of your time, take time to pray.

Good Music!!!

Here are some of my favorite Bible verses in song.

First up is one of my favorites, no matter who sings it! Better is One Day is an AMAZING song! Truly, better is one day in His courts than THOUSANDS elsewhere!!! I like this Kutless version alot! This song is based off of Psalm 84 - please read it here - and then listen to it:



The next Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

This verse has special meaning to me and EVERY morning I wake up and turn on 104.1 to listen to the Yolanda Adams morning show it is the first song I hear! They That Wait by Fred Hammond is just the song to start your day off right! It is also God's way to remind me to go ahead and wait on Him! He has what is best for me and I need to trust and keep the faith! Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - is also another one of my favorite verses that goes along with Isaiah 40:13.

Listen to the song here:



Another verse that makes you stop and think is Proverbs 26:11 - As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Think about that. Why do we return to the same sins, over and over again! because it's comfortable? because we think we already know the outcome? I read somewhere the other day that "we can choose our sins, but we cannot choose the consequences." That's deep and resonates with me to the core.

Check out Benjah's Get Filtered; he references Proverbs 26:11:



Just had to share these songs with you! God is good to me and I LOVE my life! Through ups and downs, God is there no matter what and I am thankful He has blessed these artists with their talents to put the Gospel to song to reach us!!

Have a BLESSED day! I know I am!

Ciao, Ciao

*B*

P.S. - had to share this AWESOME picture I took the other day while tanning at the pool! Look at the cloud shaped like a heart and God's love radiating around it! Oh, I LOVE it! Another sweet reminder from God that He loves all of His children!

Talk about a Word directly from God to me and my heart! Thank you JESUS!

A Statement of Power
Wendy Pope

""But the LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth."
Psalm 11:4 (NLT)

Devotion:
Are you in a season of uncertainty? Do you find yourself in need of an infusion of power? Today's key verse holds the key to the infusion you need. The power is summed up in three simple words: But the Lord.

"But the Lord" is a powerful phrase. The word "but" is a conjunction and used in this sentence it means "contrary to." Contrary to what? In the proceeding verses of Psalm 11, David proclaims how he trusts the Lord for his protection. He followed his proclamation with the details of how the wicked are preparing their weapons for attack against him. Then he belts out the transition statement of power: But the Lord.

Maybe you feel like King David. You have been surrounded by the Lord's protection in the past. You have marveled at His work in your life, however, in this present season of life you feel as if the enemy is stocking his armory against you. It seems Satan spends his days sharpening the arrows and stringing his bow.

Regardless of his current circumstances, David could be assured of two certainties: the Lord is in His Holy Temple and the Lord still rules from heaven. Oh, the peace this must have given King David. God is constant.

This statement of power can infuse you and help you look at your life through a different set of lenses. In the midst of downsizing or divorce, buyouts or payoffs, layoffs or let downs, disappointments and despair, we can count on the same two certainties as the great King David. We can put our faith in the certainty that the Lord is in His Holy Temple and the Lord still rules from heaven. Oh, the peace this can bring to us. Rest in the peace this statement of power offers and don't look back.

Dear Lord, Your power is indescribable. Forgive me for failing to remember the power that is mine as a child of God. Thank You for remaining constant when life is not. I rest today in the comfort that You are in Your Holy Temple and You still rule from Heaven. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps: Claim this powerful phrase for yourself. Write down a current circumstance that you feel is uncertain. Copy Psalm 11:4 as your next sentence. Then read the entire passage a prayer.

Reflections: What is my usual way of handling life's uncertain circumstances? Do I truly trust the Lord to change my perspective of life's uncertainties? If not, why?

Power Verses:
Psalm 14:6, "You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge." (NIV)

Psalm 18:18, "They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support." (NIV)

Psalm 118:13, "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me." (NIV)

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Walk with Me Today, Lord: Inspiring Devotions for Women by Emilie Barnes

Trials for Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life by Jan Eckles

For more from Wendy, visit her blog and resource page.

The new 30 day Challenge

What's up world! I've got to say I'm LOVING my life right now! I truly am living a BLESSED life and I have noone to THANK but the Good Lord up above!!! He's ALWAYS providing for me and making ways out of NO way! I must give Him praise!!

I was over at my homey, Autumn's blog, B-more BAP Life, and she recently attended a church service where the Pastor preached on having and living a completely surrendered life. He then went on to challenge the youth and young adults to fully surrender and consecrate themselves for the Lord for 30 days! Powerful right!!?

I don't know about anyone else, but this is just the challenge I've needed! That is something I have struggled with for some time now; fully surrendering. It's kind of like, well, what am i waiting for? Nothing really, I'm just selfish, and often wonder, "well, I've given this much of me, how much more is there to give?" and God says "I want ALL of you." That's a big pill to swallow, ok!

But, honestly, it's about time! God has done AMAZING things in my life, I can only imagine what joy and peace will be bestowed upon me when I fully surrender. So I challenge you too, to take this 30 day challenge. Look inside yourself and have a little talk with Jesus and give Him what He has been asking of you, YOU!!!

I can say, these past two days have been pretty amazing since I decided to take on this challenge and I only expect the next 28 to be an amazing experience!! I am going to leave you with a very powerful and wonderful song by Maurette Brown Clark - It Ain't Over; listen to the words, the song in itself is a sermon!

I know the issue seems unchangeable

And that there’s no reason to shout

But the impossible is God’s chance

To work a miracle, a miracle

So just know

Chorus

It ain’t over until God says it’s over

It ain’t over until God says it’s done

It ain’t over until God says it’s over

Keep fighting until your victory is won

Verse II

He never said it would be easy

But you’re a winner in the end
Jesus defeated all your enemies

Way before the fight began

But the impossible is God’s chance

To work a miracle, a miracle

So just know

Chorus

Bridge

When people say you can’t, remember

(He can, He can)When you don’t know what to do,

Please remember(He has the master plan)

He will free you from your sin

And give you peace within

So hold your head up high

You’re gonna win(You’re gonna win)

Chorus

Vamp

Keep fighting, keep praying, keep fasting

It ain’t over, no

Keep pressing, progressing, keep moving

It ain’t over, no

Keep reading, interceding, keep believing

It ain’t over, no

Keep trusting, keep trying, keep travailing

It ain’t over, no

Keep living, keep giving, keep goingIt ain’t over, no (8x)

Keep fighting until your victory is won

Be Blessed!!

In All Kinds Of Weather

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. —Matthew 28:20

When Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Literally, the word always means “all the days,” according to Greek scholars Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown.

Jesus didn’t simply say, “always,” but “all the days.” That takes into account all our various activities, the good and bad circumstances surrounding us, the varied responsibilities we have through the course of our days, the storm clouds and the sunshine.

Our Lord is present with us no matter what each day brings. It may be a day
of joy or of sadness, of sickness or of health, of success or of failure. No matter what happens to us today, our Lord is walking beside us, strengthening us, loving us, filling us with faith, hope, and love.

As He envelops us with quiet serenity and security, our foes, fears, afflictions, and doubts begin to recede. We can bear up in any setting and circumstance because we know the Lord is at hand, just as He told Paul in Acts 18:10, “I am with you.”
Practice God’s presence, stopping in the midst of your busy day to say to yourself, “The Lord is here.” And pray that you will see Him who is invisible—and see Him everywhere. — David H. Roper

God’s unseen presence comforts me,

I know He’s always near;

And when life’s storms besiege my soul,

He says, “My child, I’m here.” —D. De Haan

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. —Isaiah 55:6