"The Abundant Life"

Day #101 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "A thief comes to steal, and kill and destroy, but I came to give life -- life in all it's fullness." John 10:10 NCV

"It would be wrong to have a 'poverty complex', for to think ourselves paupers is to deny either the King's riches or to deny our being His children." ~ Catherine Marshall

...to be continued!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"Renewal & Celebration"

DAY #92 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new'." Revelation 21:5

New days bring new beginnings, and new beginnings bring renewal. Repenting and returning to Christ so that He can renew and restore us is a part of our daily routine. I love NEW... new beginnings, new changes, newness of life, new HOME...! It's all in the works I know -- God has BIG plans for us, and we just need to step out in faith! :)

My husband & I are coming into our 8th year of marriage, and 8 signifies NEW BEGINNINGS, so we are pretty excited to see what will transpire this year. There are alot of 'new' things on our wishes, hopes & dreams list... and we know that God can and will do MORE than we can think or imagine, so that makes it a time for excitement, yet also making sure we are in right relationship with God. When these things, and/por the things that God has in His plans for us come to fruition it's time for a CELEBRATION!! :) Yet we can also CELEBRATE before the fact, because of FAITH! Knowing that we are in God's hands, when we have a relationship with Him makes life worth celebrating!

We had a great reminder today of the importance of our relationship with the KING of KINGS. We need to first and foremost have a relationship with the FATHER. Yet we also have to have a relationship with the SON and SPIRIT! Salvation is a gift from the Father - Water baptism gives us new life through the Son - and we should be baptized by the Spirit to receive the power to go through each day & to share the gospel & make disciples of the world. (Paraphrased from 'The Power of Your Words' by Robert Morris. --bibliography info to come, I don't have the book with me.)

NEW Life, and RENEWAL should always be a celebration. In the Word, it says that the angels in Heaven rejoice, so we should too! (Luke 15:7 -- "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." and Luke 15:10 -- "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.")

We need to make our whole lives a 'celebration' -- people love parties and celebrations, and worldly people are attracted to it. If we show the world that following Christ is a boring day to day ritual who wants to be a part of that? But if we live our lives as a daily 'celebration' then they will see the JOY and we will reflect the image of JESUS wearing our 'garments of salvation' and they will want to be a part of what we have too! :)

So get out there and START CELEBRATING... If you do not know about, or do not have the relationship I am speaking of with the Father, Son and/or Holy Spirit (as we all are and can be in different stages of our relationships) JUST ASK... Ask the FATHER in Jesus' name, and by the power of Holy Spirit you can and WILL receive!! :) -- I would love to hear your 'testimonies' of God's faithfulness --!

Check out this great song by Steven Curtis Chapman... and celebrate all things that are made new, including YOU!!



BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

"Wisdom & Hope"

Day #50 (WOW!) - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 24:14 NIV

v.13-14 MSG "Eat honey, dear child—it's good for you— and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock."

Wisdom and hope actually do work together -- if we walk in wisdom, we walk in the true hope that the Father will do and say what He says He will. We need to walk out our lives optimistically, with much hope and faith. We cannot judge by circumstances or appearances around us. To become truly wise, we must seek the wisdom of God. Now, we know that God's thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, but He can give us a little piece of His wisdom so that we may make clear and concise judgements and thoughts.

We must seek after wisdom, for God will gift us with that which we desire, when we trust in Him. God will guide us and direct us in the ways that He sees fit for our lives, but again it's still our choice which way we are going to follow.

There are some deep subjects that require a lot of wisdom on our parts as Christians and believers today. There are things that the world and the government/political/educational systems cannot see or perceive as being right. Such as forgiveness. God's forgiveness goes beyond our worldly view of forgiveness. Unfortunately some people in the world choose to do 'bad' things. They are not 'bad' people... they are 'good people' who choose 'bad' things. Sometimes we get involved in things that we shouldn't have, and sometimes it is before we are saved. When we pay for the 'crime', and accept Jesus, repent, and ask for forgiveness, God sends our sins and iniquities as far from Him as the east is from the west. He remembers them no more, as we have been forgiven, as Jesus paid the debt of our sins once and for ALL. We are 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17). The world however has to 'protect the innocent' (which is good in itself) but then they proceed to use our past faults against us (which is not so good sometimes in the way they do it), even though we have made a fresh new start. Unfortunately, because there are those out there, who are there to manipulate, continue to sin and enjoy it -- the innocent (those who have been made innocent through the Blood) people who are striving to make a 'new beginning' cannot be a part of some of the things that they love to do, or are called to do, due to past mistakes. People making a 'new beginning' to live a CHANGED life, who have criminal records, etc... should be treated equally. If they have truly repented, and are truly changed through the blood, and received pardon from the world's view, they should be able to have a new start --- obviously under strict observation, if they are put into situations that consist of the things that got them into trouble in the first place. (This would be where applied wisdom comes in!) Remember, we ALL have sinned, and ALL fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Before we start 'bashing' someone's good name, we should take a look at the plank in our own eye. People in the media must be careful of this when they write or publicly state public matters with their own (and other's) personal opinions. "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege." (Matthew 7:1-6 MSG)

(Same verse in the NIV translation - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.")


Wisdom and hope go together - - for we have hope that God will work everything out in His plans, for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. God does allow trials and tests to come into our lives, as it says in His word, that '...in this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33 - See yesterday's 'Genuine Peace' devotional here) We also need to play the 'forgiveness' card to those that are judging us (or our friends/family) and saying these things about us. We need to be WISE in our reactions and reciprocations. We should not repay evil with evil.

I really love the way that God works... I have had this devotional since last year, but didn't read it faithfully nor meditate on it as I am doing now with these 'devotional passages' that I am writing. I know that each devotional is for me... yet it is also for you who are reading these. They however are totally matching things that are going on in the world around me... my friends, family, co-workers, etc are having struggles, and these verses remind me of how faithful God is. I can use the words from the Scriptures to help those in need. I truly am blessed with a GREAT God, a great amount of HOPE and FAITH, and even wisdom. God has made me wise in ways I could not imagine. I thank Him, as I even am getting 'choked up' a little thinking of how amazing He is! Continually thank Him for even the little things in life that He does... 'cause yes it is Him that is doing it! "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." (Albert Einstein -The World As We Know It)

So after you are blessed by these words, get out there and use the Scriptures to bless someone in return. That's what I'm gonna' do!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

Spread your wings & fly...

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

So, because I am playing catch-up on my blogs, I just completed a post here regarding 'Then Sings My Soul Saturdays', a fun blog meme that I joined a while back. I haven't really kept up with it though, so yesterday and today I thought I would. I chose the song, 'COCOON' by Jack Johnson. (You can read the lyrics and hear the song on my other blog site.) So as I was thinking about what to write for the song, a cool devotional came out of it. THANK YOU LORD! So I thought I would share it here too!

This song is really about a tough break-up between a couple, which does seem rather sad. Yet the man (as it is a male-Jack Johnson, that's singing) wants the woman to see him as more of a cocoon than a regret. A cocoon is a place where growth (sometimes undesired) happens, and something great comes out of it in the end. A regret on the other hand is a thing that has happened to you, that you wish didn't happen.


Life is made up of all kinds of choices, and the choice to date is an option facing many people young and old. Not all relationships have fairy-tale endings, whether they be dating or just friendship, accquaintance, co-workers, etc. Every relationship that people are involved in will most likely have some type of conflict come, because we are just that human people. However, we do have the choice also to see our obstacles, problems or conflicts as a time to whine, complain & 'wish it didn't happen' (regret) or a time for growth (cocoon). I have been meditating on this thought, as I have been reminded during Sunday School & Sermon/Teachings at church, as well as living it out in my own life. Paraphrasing a quote from the teachings, and from a status line I have posted on my FB page, 'STOP LOOKING AT YOUR PROBLEMS AS OBSTACLES, LOOK AT THEM AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOD TO DO SOMETHING BIG IN YOUR LIFE!'

A cocoon itself, is something that requires 'patience & waiting'.
Caterpillar - a time of growth
Chrysalis - a time of change
Butterfly or Moth - a time of rebirth & flight

Taking another look at this idea, we found a huge green caterpillar (which we were told was a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar) at our daycare on a Friday in August. So we thought it would be cool to keep him inside our aquarium for the weekend, so that we could show our other teachers & friends (who didn't get to see him). I didn't have my camera with me on Friday, so because my daycare is also in my church, I was going to get a picture of him on Sunday. So on Sunday when I went to see him in the aquarium I couldn't find him anywhere. I opened the lid carefully, and there was already a brown cocoon made and attached to the top of the lid. WOW! God is amazing! Since I couldn't get pictures of the caterpillar (and I didn't think to take on of the cocoon) I found some online to post here.

So, because we had studied some info from the internet, my co-worker decided to take our friend home and keep it in cold storage for the winter, and then we will release him in the spring. I am so excited to see the transformation. The kids were all a part of it, so they are excited as well. (Assuming we don't forget all about him) =)

This is what he/she will look like when he/she emerges and spreads her wings...


He/She will be able to take flight and soar after many months 'trapped' in his/her cocoon.
(I will try to remember to post pictures if we can get any, and link them here.)


Anyway, every thing that may come our way, whether positive or a challenge/conflict is a time where we can grow our character. God is busy at work in us, and as with the caterpillar, it's not a one-day event. It takes time for our real character to emerge, and soar beyond our wildest dreams. God wants you to become the M.E. (Maximum Effectiveness) He has created you to be. He wants you to live a life to the MAX!

So I pray that you will receive these words of instruction and encouragement, and let God 'challenge, grow, change & give you wings'! I know I am excited to see the transformation of the Cecropia Moth, but I am even more encouraged and excited about my own transformation, and you should be too (about yours)!

Be blessed & Be a blessing!

Day 11: October 11th, 2009 - - Psalm 139:13-14 NCV

“POINTS TO PONDER” – Day 11
Written by M. Hall
Please feel free to agree or disagree with points made, and feel free to comment if so desired. If you would like, you could write your own thoughts on the verse of the day, and include that in your own comments below. Thank you and may you be blessed!! =)

“You made my whole being; You formed me in my mother's body. I praise You because You made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.” Psalm 139:13-14 N.C.V.HaPpY BiRtHdAy to Me!
Well, today is one of my favourite days in the year, the day to celebrate the day that I was born. I enjoy birthdays, because life is not a matter of counting years, it’s a matter of making years count. It’s a day to celebrate being alive, and to thank God for creating me. I think it is so cool that God knew me in my Mommy’s womb. Just another verse to prove, that a baby is a baby at conception.

I do praise the Lord for making me, and I know that I was indeed a miracle baby, although I think each baby’s birth is a miracle in itself. I love the family that My Father created me to be a part of. I know that God has made me wonderful, and that is not an ego boosting or prideful thing to say. We need to change our mindset to remember that God is the One to tell us who we are, what we look like, not man. We need to stop listening to man, when kids in school tease us for our looks, or our brains. God has made everything amazing and wonderful and we are created in His image. That is an amazing thing right there. In the NIV translation, it says, ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. God took time to make each one of us, to put in qualities, characteristics, features, charm, personality, ethnicity, likes & dislikes, and more. He even knows how many hairs are on my head, which is still unbelievable to me. It’s not that I don’t believe it, but its hard to imagine - - so I guess it would be unimaginable to me, God is so BIG, and He still cares enough for EACH person He created, whether we choose to love Him or not. I am soooooo glad that I chose to love Him, and I am so glad that He chose me, and that I chose to be chosen!
What a blessed time to have a birthday, at Thanksgiving time; A time to be with friends and family, and to appreciate life in its fullness, a time to ponder all the things that the Lord has brought us to, and through, and will continue to do. I am so thankful to have my extended family as well, thanks to God for bringing Mark and I together. The love my family and my extended family have for each other and for the Lord is exciting. We just have to pray harder for the rest of our family and friends, who have not come to understand that JOY. You can have the JOY, when you put Jesus first, then Others, and then You.

I pray that you had a blessed Thanksgiving Weekend (if you are Canadian), or a blessed Columbus Day Weekend (if you are American), or a blessed October 11th, 12th & 13th, 2009 (for those who live elsewhere)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus I thank you for my friends and family that You have given to me. Again I pray, bless my family and friends, and “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” (Prayer of Jabez - - 1 Chronicles 4:9-11) Help us be remindful of the fact that You created us in our mother’s womb for a purpose, for such a time as this. Help us remember Your words, that we are wonderfully made, and not ugly, or stupid, or worthless. We are beautiful, intelligent, and very precious in Your sight. Guide us in the way that we should go, and help us teach and train others to view themselves as wonderful too! Allow Your Holy Spirit to guide our mind and thoughts, to higher things, not earthly things. Thank You Lord. I ask all these things in the precious name of Your Son Jesus, AMEN.