"Comforting Others"

Day #5 - "A Woman of Faith" Devotional
Verse: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

{*Editor's Note: So... obviously the devil didn't want any posts today... or someone to receive a word, as there was technical difficulties posting on the original 5th of January (as you can read by my first comment below). But the devil couldn't get a foothold in our lives, as God wanted and wants to do something great! We have been blessed by 2 special conferences with 2 special men of God... they will tell you they aren't special, but it's the amazing power of God working inside of them. (which I know, but I also know they are special to me too!) ALL PRAISE & GLORY to GOD!!}

Psalm 118 tells us that 'This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it'. Our devotional today is regarding comforting others... something some of us don't usually want to play a big role in. God comforts us, brings us joy, heals us, delivers us, etc... so that we can in turn do the same or share our testimony with others. Our testimony is our 'in-your-face' example of God at work in our world today. Some people think their problems are too big for anyone to handle... but they just don't know the power of God yet! If they see God at work in our lives, and the power of God moving in us and changing us, then they will be able to blessed knowing that He will be able to do the same for them. They just need to believe...

Every day there are those around us that need comforting, or even just a smile or a hug. Now, I know some of us aren't 'huggers', but even a hand-shake or a simple gesture that tells them you recognize they are there will help them out. We have the power of God inside of us to help those around us... His love in us helps us love those around us, even those tagged as 'unlovable'. His peace inside of us can overflow and help those who need the peace of God in their stormy lives. His joy that will bubble up inside of us and ooze out can lift even the darkest of spirits. His strength inside of us can help uplift those around us that are in need of some supernatural power. We just need to be AVAILABLE! I have heard a quote by ministers or preachers alike, "God's not interested in our abilities, he wants our availability". God wants us to be obedient and available... there are simple little things called 'shoulder taps' where God might just whisper something in your ear, or tap you on the shoulder for you to stop from your busy day, and realize that there's a hurting world of people around us. The world does not revolve around us... and sometimes we think our problems are leading us to the end of the world... but really there are ALWAYS those who are worse off then us. God wants us to be a light to them... to shine the Light of His Son. A simple word of encouragement (yes, even if your gift is not encouraging or exhortation) can make a BIG difference in someone's life.

Get out there and be the 'hands and feet' of Jesus... that's not just a cute saying someone made up, that is what God wants us to do and be. He cannot physically touch others, without us first using our hands and or feet to do so. We need to GO where he sends our feet to go, and TOUCH who He tells us to touch with our hands... or be his mouth or ears and SPEAK or LISTEN (truly listen) words of affirmation and blessing. A simple testimony of what God has done for you in the past, or even just yesterday or today will help someone else out more than you know. (I am speaking to myself here too, I don't always remember to stop and help... nor share my testimonies as often as I should.) But the Word tells us that we can OVERCOME by the Blood of the Lamb, and the WORD of OUR TESTIMONY... whether it be spoken or written...

The devil is a deceiver and he will try to tell you that your life doesn't make a difference... but GOD knows (and I know) and YOU SHOULD TOO... that your life DOES make a difference! Go M.A.D. (Go Make a Difference) Be the M.E. that God has called you to be. (M.E. = Maximum Effectiveness) Are you living up to your potential? Do you know what your potential is? None of us really are, and none of us really know... but GOD does, and He will guide us and direct us down the right paths if we just TRUST in Him!

To read other 'A Woman of Faith' devotional messages, click here...
To read other devotionals regarding the M.E. you are called to be (your MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS) Click here...

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!!

"Giving Thanks to the Giver"

DAY #4 - "A Woman of Faith" Devotional
Verse: "Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." James 5:13 NIV

There are many Scriptures in the Bible that speak of praising, thanking and being happy or joyful. One of my fav's is of course the 100th Psalm (which is spoken of in the original devotion). "Shout for joy to the Lord..."

How often do we really shout? When we think of shouting, some of us first think of anger... Yet shouting can be a battle cry, or a time of rejoicing. Your entire being just bursts with JOY and EXCITEMENT, that it cannot be contained, so it needs to overflow in a shout! I love shouting in worship, yet it can also be 'embarrassing', as people stare, etc. But we don't need to be 'man-pleasers', we need to be 'God-pleasers'. God gives us sooooo many blessings (some that we don't even think of as blessings, cause' they just are there everyday for us, no question.) We need to share the gifts and blessings that the Lord has given us, and allow others to experience the JOY!

Some people think that trusting in God, and depending on God makes you weaker, that it compromises your will, etc... but when GOD is in control, you are able to do much more. He gives you strength when you are tired and weary, joy when you are in midst of despair, and even peace in the storms of life.

Today, we need to THANK God for ALL that He has done! He is the giver, the healer, the deliverer, the protector, and MORE...

PRAISE THE LORD!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

"Living Righteously"

DAY #3 - "A Woman of Faith"


Verse: "But now, you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. For He Himself has said, 'You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT

When we seek righteousness, or the act of trying to live righteously, or when we seek to maintain the company of those who do we reap spiritual benefits or rewards. (found in the devotional book & paraphrased.) We can honour God by the way we live our lives. If we try to live righteous, but not self-righteously, God can and will bless us. We will never be perfect, nor should we think we can be in this day and age on this earth. But we are to be pure and holy, as God has called us to be his children. We need to live our life worthy of the calling of our Father.


Corrie Ten Boom once quoted, "Do nothing that you would not like to be doing when Jesus comes. Go no place where you would not like to be found when He returns." WOW! What an eye-opener! Back some years now, a phrase was made popular, 'WWJD' (What Would Jesus Do), it has been now mocked and made into a joke by both Christian and non-Christian... but when it first came out, it made you think... what would Jesus do? Where would Jesus Go? Some movies, and TV shows we find ourselves 'protecting' our kids from, whereas we should also be protecting ourselves from it.


For example, one of my friends daughter's was having a innocent birthday party at the movie theatre. They didn't check into the previews or whatnot off all the movies, but read some summaries, and checked ratings of course. So they allowed the 'party' children to go to view the movie 'Burlesque' which was WRONGLY rated as PG... well first of all, 'Burlesque' the word seems dirty to me, yet I also saw previews and heard about it. (Unfortunately the parent's didn't). These children (ages 9+?) went into the theatre, unknowingly, and sat for the previews and the first 5-10 minutes... they were shocked at what they saw, and wondered if they should be watching this. Well, anyway long story short, they left the theatre, and waited to see another more age appropriate movie, 'Tangled'. When the mom was recounting the story, and when I have recounted the story to others, I said that I myself wouldn't even go to watch that movie. We do also need to protect our selves from the world's garbage. Sexual innuendos being mistaken as innocent 'dancing'... and this is rated as 'PG'... where is our world's standards? It was based on Christian standards, yet this no longer is applicable due to free speech, etc... No one wants to see a movie of you in the bedroom with your husband, so why would you want to watch someone else doing this... especially in most cases when it's not husband and wife.


I do know that I have watched movies or TV shows that aren't always as 'clean' as they should be, but I still do have some standards. We also have walked out, or shut off, changed the channel, etc of other movies. Some movies I have even sat through, yet prayed in the Spirit, or prayed over the minds of us and those watching... especially when I see young children watching somewhat scary stuff.


As I said, no one is perfect... only God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are truly 'holy', but we are to live our lives as one who takes responsibilities for their actions. We choose the way to behave, we don't just do it. It's NOT genetics, or hereditary... or always ADD or something that we can 'try to' control with drugs/medicine. We need to put our FULL trust in JESUS, and lean not on our own understandings of circumstances around us, and acknowledge HIM as Lord and Saviour, and He will make straight our paths, and direct us in the way we should go!


I am looking forward to a GREAT year ahead, IF we do our part, GOD is more than willing to do His part.


Be blessed, and be a blessing!

PS - Editor's note: This was not completed on the 3rd, as I didn't come to write it due to worship practice, and playing the WII when I got home... which shows we ALL make mistakes, and yet God is faithful, and willing to forgive! THANK YOU LORD! <3