Category: Devotions

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Daily Devotion

What is your reason for Thanksgiving?
 
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].  1 Thessalonians 5:18
 
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I know that I am thankful to be alive.  Just last year, I was fighting to salvage my last 12% of kidney function, sleeping nearly 12 hours just to be up and work, and wasting away.  But look at me now and tell me God ain't good!  Of course I have experienced ups and downs, but I must truly say that this has been one of the best years of my life.  I claimed on the last day of 2008 that 2009 would be my year–I have had many things to happen to challenge that declaration.  But I must earnestly say that God has held me down and had my back even when those I always thought would be there have not.  I have had my life nearly taken several times, lost those dear to me, and been under nearly insurmountable amounts of stress.  But I am thankful for God because I have gotten through!  I now know and embrace His calling on my life and plan to do what He tells me.  I now have the undaunting faith that He will always provide!  I pray that you too have experienced that kind of faith and God's faithfulness.  But I ask, what are you thankful for?  What has God done for you that you can thank Him for every single day?  Health, wealth, love?  What ever it is, be sure to give God all the praise and glory all the time.
 
Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9: 11
I give thanks to Him Who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able [for this], Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry. 1 Timothy 1: 12
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Daily Devotion

Appreciating the Quiet

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39

Sometimes our minds get to running so far off course that we get ourselves into trouble. I realized that today is a quiet day, and I was just calm and quiet, no worries kind of day. But I kept getting thoughts in my head, annoying thoughts dead set on destroying my peace. Fortunately I recognized it and went outside into my car for my break, read a little, and took a nap. Put those thoughts to bed so that I could appreciate the calm and quiet that God has given me.

The context of the scripture above is like so: Jesus had just gotten finished preaching to the multitude and decided to leave and travel across the lake. There were other ships around with them. All of the sudden, a windstorm, and I assume much like our hurricanes came upon them. The waves were beating against the ship and caused the ship to fill with water. The disciples, who had not quite understood and appreciated the miracles Jesus had just performed, were quickly frightened and fearful. They go to Jesus, who is sleeping in the bottom of the ship, and probably cry out in fear at His lack of concern about the storm. See this is the learning point here. Jesus is the Son of God, so why would the Master of All be afraid of some little storm? He had just performed great miracles in healing the diseases and casting out demons of the crowds that He had encountered, so why would he be concerned with a few waves?(Mark 3-4) But we look at the “waves” and go ballistic! We lose all faith and are barely able to weather a light shower.

Even in times of damp ground and peace, we look and anticipate bad. So what happens, we get it! I am glad God allowed me to recognize what the devil was doing. I am on alert because he does get crafty and try to sneak up on us, but I recognize the power in changing your thoughts by speaking out loud. I said, I am going to take a nap and instantly the thoughts were gone. He was trying to make me find something to negatively meditate on. He was trying to make me find a fault with anything today and I must say that I am glad for my progress because I karate-kicked that fool! I embrace the great calm that God has given me and want to relish in it. Because not a single man or woman alive can give that to you, you should appreciate those points of peace and quiet. Be on guard because that great imp is always gearing up for ways to attack you. Be blessed and let God’s peace fall on you today!

“You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.” Psalm 89:9