Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying the beginning of another workweek (for most). I'm doing well, had a wonderful weekend. I spent my entire weekend with family and friends. I actually spent the night with my sister, and we stayed up until 3am talking one night. It's been years since we've done that, and it was awesome. My sister and I are only 1 year apart in age, so we've always been close growing up, but when you're "grown up", you start to live your own life, and frankly "life happens". It felt good to have a flash back moment, and hang with the girls. I remember when my sister, our best friends, and I were all between 18-21, and we used to have our "Exhale" parties, where we'd get bottles of wine, and light candles all over the house, and just have girl talk. We should do that again, because it's always good to have our girl time. Thanks for letting me vent guys, I love all of you who welcome and enjoy my devotionals, and your support means a lot to me. Tomorrow is my uncle’s birthday, Happy birthday Uncle Calvin! Have a wonderful day!

Today's scriptures are about how God set us apart from the world. If you're a believer of Christ Jesus, then you've been set apart from the rest of the world. God's light has been instilled in us, and we're no longer slaves to the flesh. He gives us choices, and He'll never force us to choose Him. He has a perfect plan for our lives that allows us to overcome the world, yet we sometimes choose to do our own things. Being disobedient in some parts of our lives hinders us from growing at the rate that we should. The world is filled with sorrow, pain, and heartache, and we will experience some of that, when we choose to follow the world. Jesus has made intercession for us to bring us right back into God's will, so we’re no long subjected to the world’s ways. We're to help each other out as well, because all of us are a part of one body, and that's the Body of Christ. Jesus came so we could have life, and it have it more abundantly. We're different, and I love 1 Peter 2, verses 9-10 says: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. We have been given a special ordinance to live a peaceful and happy life. Why then are so many Christians unhappy? I ask myself, and God, that all the times. I wonder why there's so much unhappiness within the Christian community, let alone in the world. I wonder why we suffer so much, and the one answer I keep getting is disobedience. Scripture says that we're a "peculiar people", and I'm wondering why the word sticks out to me so much. The word Peculiar has three different meanings, but my favorite is: Distinct from all others. Whether you know it or not, you're different. Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior you instantly receive the power of Jesus Christ, as well as the Helper who is the Holy Spirit. This overcomes our darkness, and God is gradually bringing us into His marvelous light. We still battle with our flesh, because our flesh is ruled by the world, but our Spirit belongs to God. We’re tempted on every angel, and God allows certain things to happen in our lives, as test and trails, as well as for refinement. Yet, He'll never give us more than we could handle, He won't allow us to get so far down, where we can't be brought out. He always gives us a way out of no way, but again it's our choice to follow. When we're around people, our light shines bright, for the world to see, and most of the time people are watching us, and we don't even realize it. That's why it's so important to be aware of our surroundings, and open to each other. There's a reason why we all make up of one body of Christ. We each have our roles to play in the strengthening the Kingdom, it is written in Romans 15:1-3: We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” We all have our weak points, and God always puts people in our lives that make up for our weaknesses. Our peace and happiness all boils down to our trust in God. We must trust God with our whole hearts before we could live in complete peace. He's instilled the light in us, and our sin is the only thing that hinders that light shinning to its full capacity. Nonetheless, sin is the least of our worries, because Jesus has already overcome that for us. Now we're the only ones standing our own way. Jesus said in Luke 8:16-17: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." God didn't chose us to be a part of the body of Christ to keep us covered, that's not possible, so just know that you are an important vessel for Christ. Don't let anyone tell you (especially the devil) that God can't use you. No matter what the world says, or what type of sin you've committed, forgiveness of free, and the Peace that surpasses all understanding is very much attainable when you have Christ in your life. The only person that could cover your light is you. Be sure to know that you are a special, loved, child of God, and no matter what happens, He's using you for His purpose. Know that trouble don't last always, and forgiveness waits for you at the foot of the cross. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior, then your heart is dark. If you're reading this right now, then you've been given the fuel to ignite the fire, and Jesus is the flame you need to get it started. He's a prayer away. My favorite verses today are: A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14,16)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455033&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5283727&ct=7162579

I love you!