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, grateful for anther day. Fall is quickly approaching; it was really gray outside this morning, and a little cool with the temperature being about 65°F. It felt like the first day of school, and I believe that a lot of schools started today. School means the summer is coming to a close, and I haven't been in any water, or had any barbecue all summer, which means I have to barbecue this weekend. I'm looking forward to cooking for the family. My brother's game was good, although it was really, really hot on Saturday afternoon. I felt like I was sitting in a skillet while on those metal bleachers. I got about two shades darker, but on the bright side, they beat the game 55-20, and Demitrius played well. The next game is Friday night, and I'm looking forward to it. Have a wonderful day!

Today's scriptures are about the gifts salvation. What do you consider a gift? The word is defined: Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation. We usually give wonderful gifts to the people we love, such as jewelry, clothing, household appliances, cash, or small trinkets or a greeting card. We do this to show how much we care about them, because after all, love is an action. Normally, when we give gifts they're warranted, such as a birthday big accomplishment, or just a thank you for a previous gift received. No matter what the gift is or what it's for, it's a wonderful gesture that we do out of the kindness of our hearts, and we do it unselfishly, with no expectations of reciprocation, just gratitude and thanks. God is the ultimate gift giver, and the most valuable, and important gift He's given us is Salvation, by the blood of Jesus Christ. He gave His only Son, as a spotless lamb, to be sacrificed for the sin of all mankind. This gift is free to anyone who asks, which is given by His grace. Along with salvation come freedom, light, and abundant life, for everyone who believes. It's written in Luke 11:10-13: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Even knowing this, there are so many people who live in darkness. There are people who see the work of God first hand, and still choose to doubt Him. There people who are lost, meaning they've never confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and others who have, but don't trust Him to keep all of His promises. That lack of trust usually comes from the enemy, through from fear, anxiety, the past hurts and pains they've experienced, or saw someone close to them experienced. The devil plays on those weaknesses, and continually attempts to get you separated from God, by making you believe all of these lies. We then should study our bibles, and read our devotionals daily, to refresh and renew our relationship with God. His gifts are given freely to all who ask and receive them. Being open to receive His gifts is also sometimes hard, and some of us don't notice when God is trying to give us an awesome gift. Sometimes we sabotage our blessings simply because we think we're not worthy of them, or we don't realize what we had until it's gone. Nobody's perfect, not me, not your pastor at Church, and not even the Pope. We all have and will sin. We tend to judge and condemn ourselves the worst, when God forgives us when we initially ask for forgiveness. His grace is a gift that keeps on giving, and it's written in Isaiah 30:18: Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. He has an enormous amount of love for us, so much so, that no matter how much we sin against Him, He'll always forgive us. No matter how much we stumble and fall, He'll be right there to pick us up. If you don't know Him, then accept the first and most important gift that He offers, which is to make you one of His children through Salvation in Jesus Christ. It's a simple prayer confessing the fact that you're a sinner, and you then make a covenant with Him by repenting. This let's Him know that you'll try your best to be righteous. Then He'll shower you with gifts of love, peace, joy, and happiness, and those priceless gifts are automatic bonuses that come with our Salvation. My favorite verse today is: For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455075&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=5336537&ct=7301725

I love you!