Keep Your Head

 2 Timothy 4:1-5  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

            Never could there be a more dire need than now to warn God’s people to “keep their head” and to “preach the Word” and to “be prepared”! Periodically throughout modern history there have been times of highly, emotionally charged movements surging through our churches. The classic Pentecostal movement can be traced to the early twentieth century. We saw Healing Revival during the 1940’s and 1950’s.  That was a time which emphasized “gifts of the spirit.” Then came the 1960’s with the emergence of The Charismatic Movement emphasizing “gifts” and “speaking in tongues”; and throughout the 60’s and 70’s The Charismatic Movement migrated from Pentecostal to Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, Advent Christians, and Reformed. We also saw the 80’s and 90’s produce the Third Wave of the Holy Spirit movement, The Vineyard Movement, and the British New Church Movement. All of these movements feed on the emotionalism of its victims. These movements require a type of “special” baptism of the spirit—for them it is not enough to receive the Holy Spirit at conversion as taught in God’s Word—you must have something additional, something better and “deeper” than what everyone else has.

            Oh my dear friends, watch out! Be careful! Be on high alert! In my opinion, YES, it is merely an opinion that you must take for whatever you feel it is worth; one of the best things you can do is to stop reading paraphrased versions of the Bible and find a solid translation of the Bible! Be cautious when reading paraphrases (e.g., The Living Bible, The Voice, Good News for Modern Man, The Message), because while they main contain elements of translation, they are in fact paraphrases that tend to tug at your emotional side. Again, I stress this is just my opinion and you must consider it as you will. You are free to agree or disagree.

            My sincerest prayer is that precious loved ones and friends will not be taken in by the next and newest spiritual movements that are present even on our doorstep of time. Read your Bible daily. Know God’s Word so that you might be able to “keep your head” in all situations. Know that well-intending folk who are listening to what their itching ears want to hear will approach you from their mountain top experiences and make you feel like you might be missing out on something. Dear loved ones and friends, YOU ARE MISSING NOTHING if you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, because His Holy Spirit is already within you. You do not need a separate special “experience.” If Christ is in your heart, then the Holy Spirit is already in you leading you, guiding you, directing you, and comforting you. Be steadfast. Be strong. Stay firm in your faith. God will never leave you nor forsake you.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know how my heart aches for dear loved ones and friends who are enticed by the lure of special experiences. Give them peace and grant them an upright and steadfast heart for you. Bring us back to a time of sound doctrine and truth.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Keep Your Head appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

 

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

The Present is Not Our Future

 Psalm 34:17-19  The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

            The famous question is, Why do bad things happen to good people? The answer is simply that bad things happen. God created a world that was perfect and without need of fine-tuning nor adjustments. “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 24, 31). Things changed the moment man took his eyes off of the Creator, and instead began looking to that which was created for his guidance. The world from that point would be forever marred, altered, changed and bad would exist. Perhaps the real problem comes when we are already in a weakened state and errantly perceive that others—people of the world, not people of Christian faith—seem to be better off in their circumstances than what is happening in our own lives.

Proverbs 24:19-20  Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

            Good things happen to both good and bad people. Bad things happen to both good and bad people. Good and bad things happen. The difference is that Christians have a future of hope and non-Christians do not. For the non-Christian; whatever happens in this life, be it good or bad, is all they will ever have. They have no hope of a glorious future. Christians belong to a God who deeply cares for his faithful ones. He strengthens us in our weaknesses. He comforts us when we are brokenhearted and crushed. He sees us through the darkest hours. And one day, he will welcome us to our eternal home in his soon-coming Kingdom.

Revelation 21:4  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

2 Peter 3:13-14 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us when we lose site of the future you have planned for us. In our weakness or distress, keep our eyes fixed on you, the source of all comfort and strength, and the hope for all eternity.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional The Present is Not Our Future appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Forget Not All His Benefits

 Psalm 103:2 (NIV)    Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Psalm 103:2 (NLT)   Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget all the good things he                           does for me.

·       calm in the midst of life’s strife, conflict, stress, challenges

·       a place to rest your head at night

·       food to nourish you

·       clothes to keep you warm and protected

·       family; parents, children young & not-so-young, distant relatives

·       friends, neighbors, acquaintances

·       jobs, co-workers

·       finances; whether great or small

·       good health, healthcare workers, medical staff

·       first responders, lab workers, engineers, volunteers in every field

·       farmers, ranchers, grocers, truckers

·       transportation; personal and commercial

·       plants for food and plants for beauty

·       our furry friends and all God’s creatures

            But most importantly, never forget the blessings of God’s gift of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ; the daily guidance and comfort of his Spirit; the promise of resurrection, and of eternal life in his soon-coming Kingdom.

Forget not all his benefits!

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us when we become so absorbed in our lives that we fail to notice your abundant blessings. We have so much for which to be thankful. You are a good and loving, merciful Father. We offer to you our humble gratitude.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Forget Not All His Benefits appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Only Believe

 Matthew 19:26  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

            Placing this verse in context, it comes at the conclusion of another teaching opportunity for Jesus to give his disciples. It is the story referred to as “The Rich Young Ruler” and we discover this young man was able to relinquish all for the sake of following Christ except his financial status. The young man’s financial status held a higher priority in his life than yielding to Christ. Jesus explained to the disciples how difficult this would make it for such a man to enter the kingdom of God – not because of the riches, but because of the young man’s inability to yield – which left the disciples wondering if any hope was left.  Jesus response is recorded in today’s verse.  With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

            So the question for us today is this; What is it in your life that has priority and keeps you from following Christ wholeheartedly? What is keeping you, or holding you back, from full and active service for him?

            Whatever the roadblock, it may seem impossible for you to solve it or fix it. And indeed, trying on your own effort seems overwhelmingly impossible. …but with God all things are possible. God can alleviate any roadblock in your path if you yield it to him. He knows all the possible solutions. In fact, even more than this; because of God’s infinite wisdom, he knows all the possible possibilities that could possibly exist. Once again, I am reminded of a favorite hymn:

Only Believe (Paul Rader, 1921)

Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne, from death into life He went for His own; All power in earth, all power above, is given to Him for the flock of His love.

Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead, your Shepherd selects the path you must tread; The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee, He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.

Fear not, little flock whatever your lot, He enters all rooms, the doors being shut; He never forsakes, He never is gone, so count on His presence in darkness and dawn.

Only believe, only believe; all things are possible, only believe. 

       

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive our unyielding spirit. May we trust in your help and guidance to remove the roadblocks in our path, for with You, all things are possible.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Only Believe appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

It's Not About the Great Fish

 Nahum 1:3, 7  The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. … The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

            Growing up the most I recall learning about Nineveh was in the context of Jonah’s story. And of course, as with most young folk the interest was always focused on the “great fish” part of the story. What I have learned in an historical context about Nineveh is that it became or once was the great capital of ancient Assyria. Other cities (e.g., Asshur, Calah) were also consider capital cities but Nineveh became historically significant when King Sennacherib made Nineveh his capital. Nineveh was located within the fertile plain of the Tigris River and was a most desirable location. It was a city so large that it required a 3-day journey to cross through it (Jonah 3:3).

            Nineveh initially listened to the prophet Jonah and repented. Yet once again they had relented to their former sinfulness and iniquity. Now it would be Nahum to bring the news of their final consequences. You see, the book of Nahum isn’t about the great fish. The book of Nahum reveals a truth that is well for us to heed today.

            God is slow to anger, yet he will not tolerate sin and rebellion. He will not ignore the guilty. There will be severe consequence of judgment for those who refuse to heed the warnings.

            Yet there is hope and good news; there is always hope. God is good. He is our refuge in times of trouble. He truly cares for those who put their trust in him. It was Jesus himself who commended Nineveh for repenting at the warning from Jonah; yet Jesus also condemned the Jewish leaders for ignoring His own message (Matthew 12:41). That message is abundantly clear:

The way of sin is destruction.

The way of Jesus Christ is salvation.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Remind us that what was true 3000+ years ago is still true today. Forgive our sinfulness and failings because we know you will not let the guilty go unpunished. We humbly thank you for your infinite mercy, and we acknowledge you as our source of strength and comfort in the midst of life’s challenges. Truly you care deeply for us.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional It’s Not About the Great Fish appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

It's Your Choice

 Acts 2:22-24  Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

            This is truth: Christ came to earth in human form as God’s ultimate plan of salvation for an errant humanity. Christ suffered. Christ bled. Christ was put to death on a cross—nailed to that cross. Christ died. Christ was buried. But this was NOT the end of the story!

            On the third day, Christ was raised from the dead. Death could not maintain its hold on him and Christ was resurrected. Christ also ascended into heaven and there he awaits God’s command to return to the earth to receive all those who remain faithful to God; both among the living and the dead. This is our Blessed Hope and promise from God.

            This brings us to today. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

            Friends, the Gospel message is actually a simple one. The hard work has been done by Christ. He is the one who suffered and bled and died for you. Your task is comparatively simple. Your task is to believe on his name and accept him as your Lord and Savior.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Oh, Lord God Almighty, you are so loving, so gracious, so merciful. You created us and gave us the ability to make choices. We chose poorly when man took our eyes off You, our Creator, and turned toward that which was created. But in your infinite mercy you had already prepared a plan that your only begotten Son would pay the penalty for our sinfulness. Although it was our choice to turn away; you make it possible for us to choose to return. You will not force us to choose you; instead you lovingly wait for us to choose you. We ask forgiveness, and we thank you for the gift of salvation through Christ.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional It’s Your Choice appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Words Fail Me

 Psalm 71:5-9, 14-18 (NLT)  O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O LORD, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing. … But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. 

            The phrase, words fail me, apparently showed up in general use around the mid 1900’s. In my research I could not find an individual author credited with penning these words. The words are classified as an IDIOM (i.e., a group of words having a meaning which differs from the meaning of the individual words used). This particular idiom, words fail me, is used whenever one cannot think of what words to say in any given situation.

            Sometimes when a dear friend or loved one suffers with health issues, we cannot think of what to say. The growing list of people suffering from cancer, the effects of aging, and other serious long-term illnesses seems at times overwhelming. We rejoice in small victories of daily strength, and we thank our Heavenly Father for his mercy, comfort, and love. But what can we say to these dear individuals who are the ones having to do the “enduring” part? How do we encourage them? Words fail me.

            When words fail me, I turn to the Bible because God’s Word will NEVER fail. I see so much in our text today. In the midst of aging, King David cries out to God for comfort—yes—but there is more. Notice all the words of praise and thanksgiving? Ahhh, but notice something else! King David is not finished with life even though life within him seems to be finishing. King David still has a few jobs left to accomplish:

·       I am always praising God

·       My life is an example to many

·       I can never stop praising God

·       I declare God’s glory all day long

·       I will keep hoping for God’s help

·       I will praise God more and more

·       I will tell everyone about God’s righteousness

·       I will proclaim God’s saving power

·       I will proclaim God’s mighty deeds

·       I will tell everyone that God alone is just

·       I will constantly tell others about the wonderful things God does

·       Let me proclaim God’s power to this new generation

·       Let me proclaim God’s mighty miracles to all who come after me

            When my time comes to endure the aging process and my strength begins to ebb, how I pray that I might still have a job description similar to King David’s! Words may fail, and strength may fail, but I will close with another one of my favorite hymns:

 

Jesus Never Fails (A.A. Luther)

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail;

One still loves and cares for you; One who will not fail.

Tho’ the sky be dark and drear, fierce and strong the gale’

Just remember He is near, and He will not fail.

In life’s dark and bitter hour love will still prevail;

Trust His everlasting pow’r, Jesus will not fail.

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;

Heav’n and earth may pass away but Jesus never fails.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            When words fail us, remind us to turn to you, for you will never fail. Give us the words to encourage others in their time of life’s challenges. May we always praise your Name.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Words Fail Me appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

(revised from July 7, 2016)

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Unexplainable Peace

 John 14:1, 27  Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. … Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

            We often revisit these verses, especially in today’s troubling times. It seems our hearts ache for the many family, friends, and acquaintances facing difficult needs and health issues. Our prayer lists grow longer each day. One thing is certain, faith in our Heavenly Father brings a peace in the midst of pain, suffering, or any challenge we might face—a depth of peace that the world simply cannot grasp nor understand. It is an unexplainable peace that calms our hearts and minds. I am reminded of a favorite hymn penned by W.D. Cornell and set to music by W.G. Cooper in the 19^th century:

Wonderful Peace

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm; In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, Buried deep in the heart of my soul; So secure that no power can mine it away While the years of eternity roll;

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control; For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And his glory is flooding my soul.

Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest, Marching down the rough pathway of time? Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark; Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime.

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above; Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know every concern of our hearts. When words fail us, you comfort us with your peace. We lift our requests to you and trust your providential care.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Unexplainable Peace appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Gentle Whispers and Thundering Storms

 1 Kings 19:11-13  The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

Job 40: 6, 9  Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: … “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?”

            Most of us are familiar with the accounts of Elijah and Job. We know that God spoke to his people in a variety of ways. Perhaps in today’s time we place too much emphasis on the how God speaks to us, and not enough on the why God speaks to us, and we often completely ignore the follow through parts of God’s Word.

1 Samuel 3:10  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

James 1:22  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

            The lesson is clear. God may speak by various means, and today it is primarily through his written Word. In our hearts, we know what we should be doing, God’s Word in scripture is clear. Why do we hesitate on the follow through? Is it because we want some big emotional experience, flashing lights, thunderous noise, some type of mental electric zapping? Do we hope for some big important story to tell about “our experience?” Dear friends, our calling is the call to obedience and faithfulness. You already know God’s Word in your heart, now follow through.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us for letting opportunities to serve you slip past us unattended to. Give us the mind and heart to be obedient to your Word.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional Gentle Whispers and Thundering Storms appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

The Ultimate Valentine

 John 3:16, 17  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 6:40  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

            Valentine’s Day is always a fun day! Yesterday a cousin was helping her little child write Valentines for friends at school. A dear friend mentioned the unbelievable amount of Valentine balloons being prepared at a local grocery store. This morning has been full of texting Valentines back in forth with dear family and friends. What a fun day!

            Yet none of our Valentines can ever compare with the Ultimate Valentine of love given to us by God. He has given his one and only Son to be our Savior. And Christ, through his Ultimate Valentine of love has given us his life as payment for our sins. No other words need to be added.     

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!

Have a fun-filled and blessed day!

Always remember the Ultimate Valentine of God’s love for you!

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for your Ultimate Love. Forgive us where we fail you. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, your only begotten Son, and our Lord and Savior.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The devotional The Ultimate Valentine appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

When Things Get Chaotic

 One of the things I remember well, was a Sunday School lesson that my father-in-law taught many years ago. If fact, one statement in particular has always stood out in my memory. 

God is a God of cosmos, not chaos.

Here are just a few things we can know for sure will remain constant:

Jesus                           Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

God                             Revelation 1:8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

 

God’s presence          Deuteronomy 31:8  The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

 

God’s Word               Isaiah 55:8, 11  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. … “so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

 

God’s promises          James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

 

            There are so many distractions in our lives. Suddenly we find ourselves enveloped in chaos. Our plans and lives disrupted and we find ourselves in an attitude of mental frustration.

            In times such as these; we have a constant loving God who totally understands our situations. He loves us and cares deeply for us. In the midst of all of life’s ups and downs, God remains steady. We only need to lean on him.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know everything distracting and disrupting in our lives. Calm our thoughts, steady our nerves, and remove our anxious thoughts. Everything we know about you leads us to cosmos (order and structure) and away from chaos. Help us trust you.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The devotional When Things Get Chaotic appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Self-Explanatory

 Sometimes additional words are simply not necessary. The Bible speaks for itself. 

Christianity is decaying and going down the gutter because the god of modern Christianity is not the God of the Bible.      –A.W. Tozer

2 Kings 17:37-39  You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.

Psalm 9:7-10  The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Deuteronomy 5:32 and 6:5 and 10:14, 17  So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. … Love the LORD your God with all  your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. …To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.  …  For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God , mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.                  –A.W. Tozer

2 Timothy 4:3-4  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive us for losing site of who You are; the Lord God Almighty. Compromise,  complacency, and entertainment have replaced sincere worship. Our feeble attempts at justification include the code words of unity, political correctness, being ‘woke’, tolerance, and the like; but we are not fooling you. Forgive us. Help us return to the truth of your Word.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

             The devotional Self-Explanatory appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

He Cares For You

 Luke 12:25-26 (NIV) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

            Yesterday’s devotional, “A New Attitude,” gave biblical support for learning how to view the positive things in life. As Paul Harvey so famously stated, “Here is the rest of the story…”

            Focusing on the positive things in life can be challenging for us because we deal with real situations every day. Anxiety, stress, worry, concern, fear—those are real. But so is God. He is real. And most importantly, He cares for you! He knows every challenge you are facing whether financial, social, or medical. He knows his Kingdom is coming soon which will end all trouble, strife, pain, and every kind of evil or malady we face in this earthly time. Whether or not we receive immediate relief in this life, or whether we must patiently endure for the Blessed Hope of Christ’s return; one thing remains a steady constant—He cares for you! This is what allows us the freedom and privilege to “Cast all our anxiety on him.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know each and every situation we face. Forgive our impulse to react in fear, worry, concern, stress, or anxiety. Thank you for your loving care.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

The devotional He Cares for You appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

 

A New Attitude

 Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

…to be made new in the attitude of your minds…

            The things you spend time thinking about will set the foundation for the words that come out of your mouth, and often, for the actions and activities you pursue each day.

Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 42:11  Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Proverbs 16:23-24  A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Jeremiah 17:10  I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.

Luke 10:27  …Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…

Romans 8:5-6  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. …the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…

Romans 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22, 25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:4  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22  Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

1 Timothy 6:11  …pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Although I fully understand the short attention span of today’s modern society, and although I fully acknowledge that I most likely lost the majority of my readership on about the 4^th or 5^th scripture passage noted above; nevertheless, my hope for those of you who kept reading will be one of encouragement. We are inundated with negativity from all sides—socially, politically, educationally, and even medically. And the risk for those who strive to maintain some sense of positivity in today’s world setting is to be labeled as some type of Pollyanna (heroine of the 1913 novel by Eleanor Porter). It isn’t that we as Christians are oblivious to the doom and gloom around us; but we are definitely called to check our attitudes for that becomes the framework for our words, which in turn becomes the framework for the actions and activities we pursue.

What are the things that are keeping you from renewing your attitude? Too much social media? Too much frustration with current politics? The state of our nation’s economy, education, world relations? Medical issues? Those may indeed be real issues, but I cannot find scriptures of instruction for Christians to concentrate and dwell on those things. Whatever is restricting your attitude today, I pray that you will find peace in Christ.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            You know the things that frustrate and overwhelm our minds. Forgive our anxious thoughts. Guide our focus back toward you in all that we think, in all that we say, and in all that we do. Give us a new attitude for you.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The devotional A New Attitude appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Putting the Cart Before the Horse

 Ezekiel 2:4-7 (NIV)  The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid … do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

            The idiom with its many variations, putting the cart before the horse, dates back to about the 16^th century. The basic concept is that of doing things out of order. Perhaps this is what we need to consider today.

When God called Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel, God warned Ezekiel that they were a stubborn and rebellious people. He told Ezekiel many times not to be afraid. He also told Ezekiel that the people might listen, or they might not, but either way Ezekiel was to obey.

So how does this relate to us? And what does it have to do with putting the cart before the horse? Yesterday I had coffee with a dear friend and we discussed how for us, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives was not so much some audible-flashing-lights-fireworks type of experience as it seemed to be the gentle “nudging” to go speak to someone, send a card, or give an encouraging word. If we wait until we have enough courage, have enough confidence, or if we wait until the other person is “ready,” or until we have more time, then the opportunity slips past and that moment can never be retrieved. That’s what we have a tendency to do—put the cart before the horse—wait until conditions are just right before responding to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. Now to be clear, it isn’t that we face stubborn or rebellious people as Ezekiel did, or that our message is as potent as Ezekiel’s was; it’s just that we have a tendency to use the same excuses e.g., lack of confidence, fear of what others might think or say, fear of acceptance, etc. My encouragement to you today would be to act on those small nudgings of your heart for most likely it is the Holy Spirit’s quiet work within your life to encourage others.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the opportunities you provide for us to encourage others. Forgive us when you nudge our hearts and we fail to respond. Help us to lay aside our fears and excuses. May we faithfully share your message of hope with others.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The devotional Putting the Cart Before the Horse appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

All the Days Ordained for Me

 Psalm 139:14, 16 (NIV)  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

            What interesting creatures we humans are. We are fascinated and often absorbed with the concept of time. And I suppose this varies in degrees with the various stages of life. Don’t tell me children are oblivious to time because they can tell you exactly how long it will be until recess. As adults we keep track of schedules and appointments—both social and work-related and most days seem but a blur as they speed hastily past. Then somewhere in our senior years things seem to slow down a bit. Time becomes more precious.

            Now, I’ve never really been a big fan of country music. But this morning all I could hear in my head was the Merle Haggard version of “One Day at a Time” probably ca. 1989. Let me refresh your memory of the chorus:

One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking from you.

Give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine.

So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

            Try as hard as you might, you can never re-live yesterday’s schedule. That day is gone. You can plan, and plan, and plan your schedule for tomorrow and future days, but they are not guaranteed to be yours. So what will you do with your today? Do you know someone who could use an encouraging word? a card? a letter? a text? a meal? a helping hand? a prayer?

Today matters.

Galatians 6:10 (NIV)  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            All too often we get caught up in a whirlwind of daily activities and miss the opportunities you give us to brighten the lives of others. Forgive our haste. Teach us to make the most of every day in a way that pleases you and leads us (and others) toward your Kingdom.

            In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The devotional All the Days Ordained for Me appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com