Devotion

 Do you consider yourself a devoted mother, father, teacher, business person, coach, doctor, homemaker or child? What does it mean to be devoted? Does it mean serving? How do you defend your devotion? How does your devotion affect your attitude and behavior? Of all the things you feel you are devoted to, which one is most important to you? Why?

What about Jesus?  Why would you feel a devotion to him? How is your attitude and behavior affected by your devoton to him?Would you agree with the following?

"Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." I Peter 4:1-2 (Message)

Idle Hands

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop." Can you think of why this can be true? Can you cite examples? Just look around you. What about the grapheti along roads? If the hands that painted them were used to paint murals, think how interesting our drive would be. What about the hands that shop lift or the ones that rob cash registers? All around us we see the results and who pays for this idleness?

Look though your Bible concordance and see all the references to idleness and sluggardry in scripture. Apparently God does not intend for us to be idle. But how can idleness be stamped out? How about creating more jobs? How about a day's work for a day's pay? Wake up America. Look around you. Something isn't right here.

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied." Proverbs 13:4

Betrayed, But Not Broken

“Everyone suffers at least one bad betrayal in their lifetime. It’s what unites us. The trick is not to let it destroy your trust in others when that happens. Don’t let them take that from you.”
― Sherrilyn Kenyon

If you haven't experienced betrayal, you have lived a very sheltered life. With openess and trust comes the chance for betrayal. It can be from a loved one, a boss, a friend....any one we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with. It is very painful and leaves us with very bad, even hostile feelings toward the betrayer.  Often the feelings build up and hurt us more than the one who betrayed us when it leaves us suspicious and fearful of trusting others.

Remember, Jesus experienced the ultimate betrayal by Judas. He knows what this feels like. We can take our disappointment and anger to him for help in recovering our trust and positive feelings. Don't give the enemy the chance to use this against us by unwillingness to forgive and the negtive that goes along with hanging on to the pain.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemed. Forgive and you will be forgiven."LK 6:37
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior. Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying you heart."

Finding Favor

Remember the story of Queen Esther. What was her sign to remind the king she had found favor with him? Because of this favor, she saved her people from extinction. Is there someone you would like to find favor with? Your Boss? A Parent? A friend? A publisher? A teacher? A Child? Yes, we all seek favors. Is your reason as noble as Esther's? Like Esther, can we receive favor without manipulation or deceit? Her story reveals the way some seek favor for destructive means and what can happen. But the Bible tells us a way that is forthright, honest and usually results in receiving what we want;

" My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. "Proverbs 3:1-4

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How Clean are You?

My grandmother was one of the cleanest women I've ever known. As a child, regarless of when I'd bathed or where I had been, she washed my feet at the door and again before I got into bed. She even washed the dog's feet before they could come in the house. Sometimes I thought this was a waste of time and energy, but that washing before getting into bed was calming and relaxing.

Jesus washed his disciples feet at the last supper. They were reluctant to let the "Master" wash their feet. Of course, wearing sandals in the desert meant their feet stayed dirty, even though they bathed. Can you imagine what you would do today if your boss came to your office and began washing your feet?

Jesus' point is that bathing alone doesn't keep our whole body clean. Our feet walk through dirty paths.  Baptism has cleansed us of our sins, but every day we walk back down those paths of filth and sin. Therefore need a way to cleanse that newly formed dirt  from us. Jesus gave us the way. It's called confession. We confess our sins and our bodies are make clean again. But it isn't just for one time, is it? How often do you need a foot washing? When you feel your sin being lifted and you heart and sould cleansed again, don't you feel calm and relaxed, just like I did when Granny put me to bed with clean feet?

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

Are They Drunk?

Are they drunk? What is going on? Everyone was speaking different languages, yet, they were understanding in their own language. What awesome signs! Was the world ending? Not at all. In fact  the power of the creative spirit....the 3rd person of the Holy Trinity...had come as Jesus has predicted. Besides it's function of creating and re-creating God's will, it works intimately within each of us praying when we are unsure or can't find words and guiding and directing our steps and thoughts. This is definitely a day of celebration for the whole church and each individual Christian.

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:1-12

Freedom Means?

For the past few days our focus has been on celebrating freedom, the freedom from British domination that our forefathers fought and died for, the freedom our founding fathers created in such documents as the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and later the American Constitution, and the freedom that has been maintained on our shores by the bravery and dedication of men and women who fought to keep this nation free, those who stand firm.

Freedom in Christ is older than our country. It has been offered to us since the beginning of this world. Our greatest threat is our slavery to sin....something of our own making and what largely controls our individual thoughts, behaviors, attitudes and actions. We can not point a finger beyond ourselves even when we declare "the devil made me do it." It is our choice to become a slave to sin. It will not be solved by a war or declaration by a group of politicians. But it is a war within ourselves and sometimes a very bloody battle. It destroys individuals, families and even countries. Yet, freedom is offered to each of us and, like the sin itself, is our own choice. So, what's it going to be? When and how will we celebrate our freedom from sin or at least our struggle to defeat it?

"For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery" Galatians 5:1. Keep on reading and find the best choice.