E-LIFE

Over the past several years, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blogs, games, and texting have replaced many face-to-face conversations and, for some, devotion time to the Lord. They have become a new source of temptation for us, an opportunity to live a fantasy or a momentary escape from the daily grind.

Now, hear me clearly on this. I’m not saying that electronic forums, smart
phones, or computers are bad or evil in and of themselves. (For goodness
sakes, you’re reading this devotion because of the amazing electronic world!)

I’m simply suggesting that it would be wise for each of us to thoughtfully
consider and pray about the amount of time and energy we devote to these things.

How can we be set apart in our e-life? How can we establish healthy
e-boundaries that will protect our purity and our time with God? Perhaps we could start by taking an honest look at the amount of time we commit to our e-lives versus the amount of time we commit to spending in God’s Word and in His presence each day. (Did that sting? It stings me too.)

The good news is that we can turn to God for direction and wisdom in all of this. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)

God longs for each of us to choose His set-apart best and live each
day in His strength and wisdom.

God, make a fresh start in me.
Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile; put a fresh wind in my sails!
Psalm 51:10-12

Let’s Pray:
Dear God, Please help me to “live a life worthy of You so that I may please You in every way: Help me to bear fruit in every good work, to grow in the knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the You, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:10-12)

MY SILENCE MEANS...

PEOPLE ALWAYS MISUNDERSTOOD WHY I ALWAYS PREFER TO KEEP SILENT, AND ONLY TALK IF IT’S NECESSARY. SOME SAY I’M KIND OF SNOB AND HARD TO GET ALONG WITH. IT HURTS ME BECAUSE THAT’S NOT WHAT I AM TRYING TO SHOW THEM. I JUST DON’T LIKE DIVING INTO CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE NON-SENSE LIKE YOUR NEW HAIR COLOR OR THE GOSSIPS ABOUT THE CHURCH MEMBERS. IT’S NOT MAKING SENSE. THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATION ARE NOT GOOD, AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE OPENED UP. I DON’T LIKE CHURCH MEMBERS TALK ABOUT OTHER CHURCH MEMBERS. I COULD HAVE CONFRONT THEM RIGHT THEN AND THERE, BUT I JUST CAN’T. I DON’T WANT TO ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE.

WE ARE CALLED

We are called for a holy and noble purpose! You were put on earth to make a contribution. You were not created just to consume resources, to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed us to make a difference with our life. 

Another term for serving God that's misunderstood by most people is the word "ministry." When most people hear "ministry" they think of pastors, priests, and professional clergy, but God says every member of His family is a minister. In the Bible, the words servant and minister are synonyms, as are service and ministry. If you are a Christian you are a minister, and when you are serving, you are ministering

You are called to serve God. Growing up, you may have thought that being "called" by God was something only for missionaries, pastors, nuns, and other "full-time" church workers experienced, but the Bible says every Christian is called to service (Eph. 4:14; Rom. 1:6-7; 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:2,9,26; 7:17; Phil 3:14; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:3). 

Your call to salvation included your call to service. They are the same. Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service. A "non-serving Christian" is a contradiction in terms.

TO HEAR YOUR VOICE

==================
“Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will
for you in Christ Jesus.“ 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18

Were you ever separated for an extended time from someone you loved deeply? If
so, those days apart probably seemed almost unbearable. They may have also led
to special moments to be savored—such as that catch‐your‐breath instant when
you recognized the handwriting on the letter in your mailbox, realized who
sent that last e‐mail message, or heard that familiar voice over the
telephone.

Jesus’ love for us is something like that. He longs for fellowship with us.
And when we kneel before Him and spend even a few minutes in prayer, we bring
joy to Him. The apostle Paul said Jesus wants to hear your voice “continually”
(1 Thessalonians 5:17). But, when we let ourselves get caught up in the
busyness of life and put off time for prayer, we become less sensitive to His
voice and His leading in our lives.

Relationships, whether human or divine, must be cultivated and maintained if
they are to be vibrant and meaningful. Let’s make sure we spend time every day
with our loving Master.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, we seek a thriving prayer conversation with You. We need it—to know
You better, to hear You more clearly, and to love each other more deeply.
Teach us to pray. Amen.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

There are times we all struggle to see hope. Times when we want to throw in the towel, throw up our hands, and run the other way. Times when we believe our children are too far gone, our workplaces are too insufferable, our relationships are too complicated, our finances are too overwhelming, our marriages are too fragmented, and our health difficulties are too painful. What can we do in these times? Fix our eyes on God’s promises and provision instead of on our problems.

The richest lessons of life often come from the most painful pits we pass through. Pastor John Piper, in his book Desiring God, said it this way, “God, in love, will use whatever trials are necessary to intensify our savoring of his glory.” Every ounce of every struggle you face can be used to bring honor and glory to God if you will allow His grace to meet you in your weak and weary places. In Christ, and because of His perfect love – courage, hope, and strength are fully accessible each time you look to God in the midst of your problems.

Remember? You are born to be wild. Wild for Jesus. Wild with confidence and courage to press through resistance because of His faithful, redemptive love. Wild with purpose. Wildly surrendered to the will of God. Wildly obedient to His commands. Wildly led by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within you.

Take this to heart and remember who you were born to be. Believe beyond your brokenness today, knowing that God won’t throw a whole life away just cause it’s banged up a little.

Let’s Pray:Dear Lord, Your love is wild: untamable, unstoppable and unbreakable! Pour Your grace, healing, and strength on every struggle, weakness, and banged up area of my life. Help me to rise up and live with a wildly confident and courageous faith.
In Jesus’ name,Amen.

THE AUTHOR OF LOVE

Think about what makes your heart melt when you watch a great love story. It’s not the hero’s physical strength or his beloved’s beauty, is it? No, you and I are drawn to the power of true love and its inexplicable ability to prevail over tragedy and adversity. The greater the conflict, the stronger the love must be in order to resolve the issue. When the hero does whatever it takes to save the relationship, our hearts soar with renewed hope.

The Author of love and life and the designer of our differences knew there would be conflict between us and our loved ones. The real problem comes, though, when we get accustomed to seeing relational problems solved in the time it takes to eat a bag of popcorn. Our hero and his beauty have less than two hours to defeat the dragons and overcome unspeakable challenges. True love and friendship are proved when put to the test. You and I are not going to magically resolve deep relationship conflicts in our own wisdom and definitely not in less than two hours.

Until we care more about proving our love more than proving our point we will never win what we really want... To conquer the conflict and connect our hearts to one another. We need to learn to resolve what we can, accept what we cannot, and pray for the wisdom to know the difference.

His Love Letter to You

My Forgiven Child,

Don’t engage in relational battles and drain your strength trying to prove your point, win your way, or defend yourself. I am your defense, and if you will fight the temptation to give in to relational battles, I will reward you with perfect peace. You are called to live above a life of blame and bitterness. The truth is that nothing anyone has said or done to you can stop my perfect plans or promises from coming to pass in your life. Now, break through to a life filled with peace by walking away from the relational wars of wrath. It is time to fight for the things worth fighting for, and win souls for My kingdom!

Love,
Your King who has made you blameless

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." — Romans 12:18-10

#################