Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about seasons of heaviness. Boy, am I familiar with this subject, I could go on and on about the heavy seasons in my life, but thanks to Jesus, I don’t have to. His life tells it all, and studying about the things He’s endured, makes my humdrum trials look like a walk in the park. Unfortunately, we’ll all experience times of heaviness, trials, temptation, stress and feelings of despair–it’s a part of life. Just as the seasons change from winter, spring, summer, to fall, our life changes from happy to sad, joy to pain, ups and then downs. King Solomon taught us about the different seasons of life, and in the book of Ecclesiastes, he constantly pointed out that “there’s nothing’s new under the sun”. Nevertheless, God will always give us the strength to endure, or as it’s written, He’ll give us “beauty for ashes”. You know the saying, “when one door closes, another one opens”, that’s how God operates in the life of a believer.

God is not always a subtle God; He’ll make sure we experience everything we’re meant to experience, by any means necessary. If we step in His way, He’ll move us to the side, and if we’re not open to change, He’ll open us up to change. Check His track record; read the Holy Bible, and learn about Him. The bible says we should fear Him, because everything is under His control. So ask yourself, do you want to take the direct path to righteousness, or do you want to take the scenic route? Just keep in mind that you serve an almighty and all powerful God, so either way you’ll get to the destination He has for you, because He has the final say.

Let’s not forget that at one time, it was necessary for God to destroy mostly every living creature with a flood, and start all over. At another time He presented salvation to the world, by offering His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice. These things may seem irrational and illogical to us, but according to His predestined will, He did what was necessary, because He loves us. Just as we can’t understand the flood or the sacrifice of an innocent man, we can’t understand why we have to experience seasons of heaviness. I believe Paul explained it best, it’s written: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Cor. 13:12) There’s no better way to explain it then this. In the flesh we can’t possible see ourselves the way that God sees us, nor can we see our future the way that He can. He knows our weaknesses, downfalls, vices, and He knows what things will interfere with our growth, and reaching the next level in life.

There are many things that our meager mind can’t comprehend [compared to the Awesome mind of God], even if He laid it all out for us, so it’s best to just thank Him every day of our life. Not just when things are wonderful, and we’re “happy”, but through every season. There’s always something to be thankful for, because we are Children of God. Everything that He puts in our path is a blessing, even if we can’t quite see it as that. The Apostle Paul taught us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ” (Phil. 4:4) Here’s a man who truly suffered for Christ, and while in Roman prisons he rejoiced! Paul was no stranger to seasons of heaviness, and he knew how hard this could be. Nonetheless, he also knew God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and that was something to rejoice about. Paul truly understood, and lived by, what Jesus said: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-29) These are indeed some of the promises that allow us to rejoice always.

Seasons of heaviness are inevitable in the life of every human being, however when we accept Jesus as Lord, He lives inside of us, and gives us insurmountable peace, and an awesome strength, that an unbeliever can’t understand. Without God, your heavy seasons are more severe, and often times last longer than a believer, because we have power in the Name of Jesus Christ. If you’re tired of suffering alone, you don’t have to any longer, salvation is, and has always been, a free gift from God. All you have to do is ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, and believe that He lives; it’s just that simple. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verses today are: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)

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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, praising God for another beautiful day! It's been while since I've written, but I've been on vacation, and kept busy over the last few days. I celebrated my 32nd birthday yesterday, and it was the most peaceful birthday I've ever had. I received the best present that I could ever have hoped for; my father will be released this week, Praise God! Thanks for all of your prayers and support, we couldn't have gotten through this without my Prayer Warriors. Last Wednesday was one of the most spectacular, yet surreal days of my life. We had church in the Courtroom, and God set everything up perfectly. We had the perfect Judge, and she was fair, and willing to listen to everything we had to say. Judge Beverly Woodard is one of the most honest and understanding Judges I've ever seen, and she made sure that Justice prevailed. By the end of the hearing there wasn't a dry eye in the courtroom, my father has truly touched a lot of people, right from where he needed to be for the last 23 years. Today's devotional is duly fitting, and it begins with Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. I want to give all honor and praise to God, because all of this worked for the good of all of us, and I never expected anything less. I will have a dinner party on Saturday celebrating my birth, and my dad's homecoming. This is just a small gathering, but we'll have a larger affair in the months to come. Also my Grandmother is back in the hospital, and she's been experiencing some anxiety, because of breathing. I need my prayer warriors once again, please continue to pray for her healing. Thank you for being there whenever I need you. Have a blessed day family!

Today's scriptures are about the evolution of God's perfect will for our lives. One of the most defining sermons I heard preached in my lifetime was one preached by Pastor Richard Pabasco, of New Song Community Church in Portland, OR, about life's different seasons. I had heard Romans 8:28 quoted numerous times, and I've also quoted it myself, but it never really hit me until that day. A woman once told me that I wasn't a victim, and I didn't quite understand what she meant by that until year later. In the past, I had been so used to being down and out, that I just expected life to that way at all times, and I had this sort of "why me" mentality, never taking time to realize that everything is working together for my good. Not to mention that I’ve reaped what I sowed, and I was in a deep refinement process. It wasn't until I heard Pastor Richard preach on Ecclesiastes chapter 3, that I understood that everything has its time. Whenever I feel like "why me", I always go back to that chapter of scripture. This also reminds me of my father's situation, because he had to be still for 23 years while waiting for this moment in his life. He usually writes letters to a group of people around the holidays a few times a year, and he's usually raising money for various Cancer research charities, and other worthy causes. About a month ago, he sent out a letter regarding the annual Cancer walk, and in that letter he also wrote about his upcoming hearing, as well as a few other things. He said he felt like all of the other times he went up for parole, or tried to get his sentence overturned, he knew it didn't happen because he wasn't ready. He knew that everything that happened to him in the past happened for a reason, no matter how rough it may have been. He had learned how to accept his circumstances and make the best of it. He was determined that no matter what was going on around him, he had to sit back and allow God to complete a work in him. Now, my dad is ready to move on to a new season, and complete new works for God. We tend to focus on the negative aspects of everything, instead seeing God in it. No matter the situation, if you're a child of God, He's always present, and working in the mist to make it all somehow work for our good. It's written in Isaiah 61:3: "To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” My dad's situation taught me a lot, because no matter how much he went through, he accepted his punishment for the crime, but he always stayed positive. He never spoke a bad word about anyone, and always accepted his fate, until God told him otherwise. My dad isn't a hero, but he's a living breathing testimony of the forgiveness and saving grace of Jesus Christ. God forgave him by the blood of Jesus, and is moving him on to new season in his life. He does the same for each of us, everyday. This transition isn't going to be easy, but then again, it's all about strengthening the Kingdom of God. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, then if you're reading this right now you're called, and this e-mail is meant for your good. However, God can't truly work in you like He wants because of sin. Take a few moments and ask Jesus to come into you life as your Lord and Savior, and that He forgive you of your sins. He's waiting to hear from you. Remember, no matter what is going on in your life, "Count it all joy!" My favorite verses today are: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)

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