Monthly Devotional- March 2010

Moving to a Place of Trust

Kim wrote me a letter to tell me the news. Her husband was with a large company and they were being transferred to another country. She had never moved out of the city limits and now she was moving halfway around the world. Kim was excited about the opportunity, but anxious about all the unknowns that faced her family. She was leaving a job she loved, her extended family, and a town where everybody knew her name.

As Kim described her feelings of sadness about leaving so much behind, I noticed how she kept coming back to the word trust. “I trust God in all of this,” she wrote, “I’m anxious about the housing there, the kids’ school, the language barrier—but, I trust God to work out the details. He’s been faithful to us in the past, so I trust Him for our future.”

I couldn’t help but sense her calm spirit and inner strength through her words on each page. I knew, even with the adjustments ahead, she would be okay. She had already chosen to move to a place of trust in God. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God,” said Corrie ten Boom.

How about you? Are you afraid to trust your unknown future to God? At a time when everything around you is changing, put your trust in an unchanging God who will not fail you or leave you, and who even prepares a place for you. “In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” Psalm 56:4

(Exerpt from But Mom, I Don’t Want to Move! By Susan Miller, a Focus on the Family Book)

Scripture to Remember: But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord…My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:14-15

Question to Consider: Have I moved to a place of trust with my circumstances?

Prayer: Lord, I feel so worried and anxious! Help me to release my fear of the unknown and trust you each day for what lies ahead. Give me a calm spirit and an inner peace. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will choose to trust God in ALL things!

-Susan Miller

Monthly Devotional- Jan 2010

With any life change you have choices you can make...

But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year. Deuteronomy 11:11-12

Going into a New Year can be a scary thing for many people. There are so many unknowns that lie ahead and so many circumstances that are beyond our control--especially for those who have lost their jobs and their homes in this economy. For many, this results in a forced move, a change of lifestyle, and a loss of hope.

With any life change or transition, you have choices you can make. You can choose to become bitter and angry in the valleys of hardship and fear; or you can choose to climb the hills of hope and rise above your circumstances with trust and faith in God.

God is with you—always, forever, and no matter what. He will not fail you or forget you in the year ahead. Choose to look up and not down, to look forward and not backward, always remembering that God cares for you whether you soar on the hilltop or struggle in the valley. He is your provider, your source of living water that will never run dry. There is no drought in your life that He cannot fill with His mercies—“from the beginning even to the end of the year.”

Scripture to Remember:

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23

Question to Consider: Do I trust God always, forever, and no matter what?

Prayer: Lord, take my hand and lead me through the year ahead. Guide me in my decisions. Help me to make choices that honor you. Let my life reflect you in all I do. Amen

Thought for the Day: As I begin this New Year, I will put my hope in you, oh God.

-Susan Miller

Dec. Devotional

Drop everything and run to Jesus...

Read and meditate on the story of Christ’s birth as recounted in The Message translation of the Bible.

"There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, 'Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.'

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. 'Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.' They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!"

Luke 2:8-20

THE MESSAGE

Scripture to Remember: Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.…” John 14:6

Question to Consider: When was the last time you dropped everything you were doing and ran to Jesus?

Prayer: Oh Jesus, I am in awe of you as I read the story of your birth. May it always be fresh and new to me each time I read it. Let the words penetrate my heart and stir an excitement in me about your coming to be our Savior. Let me live with the same joy as the sheepherders as I proclaim your glory this Christmas season. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, and every day, I will glorify and praise God for the great things He has done!

Monthly Devotional- Nov 2009

Be the “one” who shows gratitude

In Luke 17:11-19, we are told the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Of the ten, nine left without even a thought of thanking Jesus. Only one returned to express his thanks and undying devotion to the One who had healed him. Only one in ten showed gratitude.

So often we are caught up in the excitement of the moment, and forget to stop and thank Jesus for His blessings, His mercy, and His grace in our life. Sometimes our own “leprosy” keeps us at a distance from Jesus. Perhaps your leprosy is a lack of faith or some hurt, anger, or lack of forgiveness. There might be other things that keep you from being close to Jesus—like busyness, worldliness, or selfishness.

Take the time now to exam your heart and ask Jesus to heal you of your leprosy. (“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on His face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.” verses 15,16) Be the “one” who stops, turns back, and gives Him thanks. Gratitude brings you back to Jesus. Praise Him with a grateful heart and give Him all the glory!

Scripture to Remember:

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

Question to Consider:
What is keeping me at a distance from Jesus?

Prayer:
Oh God, heal my hurts, my lack of forgiveness, my anger. Let nothing come between us God. Give me a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude in all things. Amen

Thought for the Day:
Today I will run to Jesus with thanksgiving and praise!

October Devotional

Do you choose to walk by faith or by sight?

Maybe you didn’t want to move and leave your friends. Maybe you are terribly lonely in a new place. Maybe your marriage is suffering from the upheaval of relocating. Maybe your children are rebelling against the move.

Regardless of your circumstances, you can rest, secure in the faithfulness of God. Your address may have changed, but God’s address never changes. You can always find Him, wherever you might live. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

When I am in crisis mode, I have a friend that says, “Do you walk by faith or by sight?” That sure brings me back to center very quickly. I’ll choose to walk by faith any day! I can be secure in God’s faithfulness. I know God sees the big picture of my life. I don’t need to know everything from beginning to end, because God already does, and He can handle it better than I can. Through faith in Him, I can face my circumstances with confidence, knowing that He will see me through. My God is bigger than whatever my crisis might be. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

Remember that God doesn’t always change your situation; but He will give you new strength and hope so you can face those circumstances and keep on going. So “fix your eyes on Jesus” by filling your mind with His word, by studying the Bible, by staying in touch with Him through prayer, and by being in fellowship with His people. Each day go on a “God hunt” to discover God’s faithfulness in your life.

Scripture to Remember: “The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Question to Consider: Have I taken the time to look at how God is faithful in my life?

Prayer: Oh Lord, I am so consumed with my circumstances that I haven’t taken the time to focus on you. I have been walking by sight, and not by faith. Remind me daily of your faithfulness. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will “fix my eyes on Jesus.”

Monthly Devotional- Sept 2009

Stepping Out In Faith This Fall...

Sometimes when you are new in town, it’s easier, and more comfortable to stay put in your house, or in front of the TV, or even on the computer. "After all, I don’t really know anyone," you tell yourself, "and it takes so much effort to walk into a room of strangers at a Bible study, or to go anywhere unfamiliar. It’s easier, a lot less intimidating, and not as scary, to just stay where I feel comfortable," you think.

Yes, that would be the safest place to stay. Peter probably thought the same thing too. (Matthew 14:22-32) You can imagine him saying, "It’s scary to get out of the boat, in unfamiliar waters. Besides, look at the wind and the waves! I’d rather stay right here!" Peter’s focus was on the wind and the waves, not on Jesus, his Savior. Your focus might be on the circumstances around you too, along with unfamiliar territory, and all the unknowns that come with being new in town. In fact, you might even feel terrified since you moved!

"Take courage! Don’t be afraid," Jesus said to the disciples. "It is I... Come," He said. Peter got out of the boat, and came towards Jesus. Here is where Peter’s focus shifted from his Savior to the storm around him. He was afraid and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord, "save me!" and Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. Then Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Why not step out in faith right now? Join that Bible study, go to that neighborhood party, take that class you’ve always wanted, invite someone over for coffee. Get out of the boat, one step at a time. You can do it. Just keep your focus on Jesus. Reach out and take His hand, and begin to walk towards Him.

Scripture To Remember
v.24-31 ...but the boat was already a considerable distance from land buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it... Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified... But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." "Lord, if it’s You," Peter replied, "tell me to come to You on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"
- Matthew 14:22-32

Question To Consider
What is the "boat" you are in (fear, comfort, relationships, health, success, security) that is keeping you from stepping out in faith and trusting God?

Prayer
Oh God, I am so afraid, and I struggle to take that first step towards You. Give me courage to say "yes" to your call. Help me to step out this Fall and do what I could never do on my own. Amen

Thought for the Day
Today I will step out of my boat in faith and experience the power and the presence of God.

Monthly Devotional- Aug 2009

Thinking Outside the Backpack

This is the time when moms and kids are heading for the "school supplies" aisle, stocking up on the things needed to prepare for the beginning of school. As I watched them standing in line at the check-out counter with everything from backpacks to blue folders, my mind began to think "outside the backpack" to the "school supplies" needed as we prepare to learn more about Jesus!

I do hope that all of you are planning to go back to school in the Fall by enrolling in a Bible study, either at your church or a church in your area. It might even be a home study with a group of friends, or a neighborhood group. Just do it!! We all need to reconnect after the disconnect of summer.

Here are a few "school supplies" you will need and suggestions for how to use them:

Paper (lined or unlined)...
for notes and prayer requests, for scripture and remembrances of what you’ve learned.

Pen (or pencil)...
to record your lessons in your mind and in your heart.

Super Glue (recommended)...
to bond you with God’s word.

Scissors (really sharp)...
to cut out any thoughts or ways that would not honor or bring glory to God.

Folders (with pockets)...
to tuck in handouts, keepsakes, and lessons to enfold into your life.

Crayons (a box of 24)...
to remind you of the many choices you have to color your day.

Ruler (yardstick recommended)...
to measure your growth...in Jesus!

Apple (a really big one!)...
God’s provision and nourishment to share with others in friendship and fellowship.
May God lead you to a Bible study that will bless you and take you to a deeper knowledge and love of Him. (Write us about what you learn in class this Fall!)



Scripture To Remember
Make every effort to come to me soon...
- 2 Timothy 4:9

Question To Consider
Which school supplies will you take with you?

Prayer
Lord, I need you desperately in my busy life. I need to spend time with you and reconnect after a busy summer. Thank you for your patience and unconditional love for me. Lead me to just the right Bible study! Amen

Thought for the Day
Today I will focus on God’s faithfulness in my life

July Devotional

From Bondage to Freedom

I am often asked by this younger generation, "What’s it all about--this freedom in Christ thing you talk about?" It’s easy for me to share my joy about the freedom that comes with knowing and living Jesus Christ! You see, Jesus is in the business of changing lives.

The more you become like Jesus, the more He releases your God-given potential and you experience a freedom that can only be found in Him. Jesus "moves" us from a "state" of bondage to a "state" of freedom! He "moves" us from a "state" of sorrow to a "state" of joy. Jesus makes you free, so trust Him and follow Him. His truth makes you free, so study His word, believe it, and obey it. Following the light on His path leads you out of darkness and takes you from despair to hope.

Oswald Chambers says it best. "Freedom is life controlled by God’s truth and motivated by His love. Bondage is life controlled by lies we believe and motivated by our selfishness. Freedom is the result of a living relationship with Jesus Christ--walking with Him, talking with Him, and learning from Him."

Let the freedom of Christ ring with every beat of your heart!

Scripture to Remember
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
II Corinthians 3:17

Question to Consider
Am I living in the freedom of Christ or in the bondage of the world?

Prayer
Lord, change my heart today. Help me to follow Your light on the path of life. Release me from the bondage of lies and selfishness that I might clearly see and understand the freedom of Your truth and love. Amen

Thought for the Day
Today I will choose to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm in the truth of His word!

Monthly Devotional- June 2009

Help Your Kids Handle Change...

As you face the summer months with your children out of school, the routine of their day will change. Perhaps there will be a lot of other changes that will affect their lives too. You might be facing a move, maybe this is the first summer you’ve worked outside the home, or maybe you’re a single parent trying to hold it all together.

There are so many uncontrollable changes that can upset routine, and cause instability in a child’s world. Yet, how does God want us to live in midst of change? We are reminded to be consistent and unwavering in loving God, and in living out his word daily.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, (all summer!) shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons (and daughters) and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Take the following acronym for the word change and pass it on to your children. (You will want to remember it for yourself too.)

Cling to God
He is unchanging
Always trust Him
Never give up
Great is His faithfulness
Encourage one another

Have a safe summer, make memories, and speak the name of Jesus daily!

Scripture to Remember
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (above)

Question to Consider
Have I left God out of my daily routine?

Prayer
Oh Lord, may I never forget your faithfulness in the midst of change. You are unwavering, immovable, and unchanging in my changing world. Thank you for loving me so much that you give me all that I need through your word to be a godly mom. Amen

Thought for the Day
Today, regardless of my situation, I will live out Deuteronomy 6:5-7 for my children.

May Devotional-Do not fear, for I am with you

Do not fear, for I am with you

When you wake up in the morning, are you ever gripped with fear? Sometimes fear of the unknown will clutch our heart and flood our mind as we face the loss of a job, loss of a home, a serious illness, a major life change, or even loneliness.

Satan will use every opportunity to rob us of trusting God. He will use the fear in our lives to discredit the power of God to handle our situations. If we let Satan have a foot hold in our day, fear can be all-consuming and play havoc with our emotions.

Fear is not of God. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear...” (II Timothy 1:7) All through the Bible, two little words “fear not,” encourage us and reassure us that we can trust God, regardless of our situation.

In Isaiah 41:10, we are reminded why we need not fear. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you…” The words, “I am with you” are comforting because we are assured that we are not alone. God’s presence is with us. The words, “I am your God” are a reminder that He is our personal God. He cares about every detail of our lives.

There are five reasons in Isaiah 41:10 why we should not give in to fear and discouragement:

1. I am with you.
2. I am your God.
3. I will strengthen you.
4. I will help you.
5. I will uphold you.

The next time you wake up in the morning, or in the middle of the night, and you are gripped with fear--take a deep breath, count to five, and repeat God’s personal promises to you!

Scripture to Remember: Isaiah 41:10 (see above)

Question to Consider: Am I living in fear?

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the words, “fear not” when I find myself sinking in the despair of worry and discouragement. I release my fears to you, Lord. I will trust you in every situation I am facing. Amen

Thought for the Day: Today, I will dwell on the five reasons I should not give in to fear and discouragement.

April Devotional- Bloom Wherever God Plants You!

"Many of us refuse to grow where we are put; consequently, we take root nowhere." - Oswald Chambers

We often "water our woes" instead of "fertilize our faith" when we can't see the big picture, or we can't see instant results during a time of change and transition. We choose not to put down roots in a new place, because we fear change will come again, all too soon. When our world turns upside down, it's not always clear what God is doing, or why He is doing it, so we distance ourselves from a relationship with Him and with others. We don't realize that God often works on a deeper level in our life that we can't see or understand.

Many times God will transplant us through a move, or a change in our lives, for us to grow deep roots in our relationship with Him. It is in the confusion and chaos of change that God teaches us about His faithfulness. It is through being uprooted and transplanted that we come to know Him and trust Him like never before. Once our roots grow deep in the soil of God's love, we begin to grow from within, seeds of hope begin to emerge, and then peace and contentment begin to break through the surface of our hearts. It is knowing God's faithfulness, trusting in Him, having hope, peace, and contentment, that we can begin to "bloom" again!

Scripture to Remember: I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit...that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in. And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 The Message

His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness! Lamentations 3:21-23

"And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:11

Question to Consider: Have I been "watering my woes" or "fertilizing my faith?"

Prayer: Oh Lord, I want to be able to bloom wherever you plant me! Nurture my soul, renew my faith and trust in you, till the soil of my hardened heart so that I might receive the planting of your seed and then grow!

Thought for the Day: Today I will begin to grow deep roots in God's love by digging into scripture and allowing His word to fertilize my faith.

March Devotional from Susan

In these stressful economic times of job loss and foreclosures, and the loss of homes through natural disasters of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and fires, movers are faced with tremendous physical hardships, emotional pain, and spiritual challenges. When everything is stripped away, when you've been blind-sided by devastating circumstances--what do you do, and who do you turn to in your darkest hour?

When faced with a moving crisis, or any kind of life-changing situation, we sometimes see ourselves as victims of tough times, rather than claiming victory over our circumstances. It's easy for any of us to lose focus and become consumed with the trauma of events. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake...the Lord is with us; God is our stronghold." (Psalm 46 1-3;7)

Run, don't walk, to God. Take your burdens, and your circumstances, to the Lord in prayer. Open your heart; tell God the way you feel. The psalmist David puts it this way in Psalm 142: "I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord...I pour out my complaint before him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knew my path...Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name."

When life seems the darkest, then God's dawn is about to break. "For I know the plans I have for you," the Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11, "plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." When tough times come our way, it is an opportunity to refocus from our changing circumstances to an unchanging God.

God does not always change our situation, but He does put new strength and hope within us so that we can face our circumstances courageously and keep on going. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. If we are filled with defeat and despair, then life will crush us. If we are filled with faith and hope, then life can never overcome us. "...we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Rest in His promises. Spend time in your Bible, and claim the promises of God's word. "When the night is the darkest we see the stars the clearest; and when life is dark, the promises of God shine like stars." (Warren Wiersbe) You will discover that God's word will guide you each step of the way. "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) His word brings healing to our brokenness, comfort for our hurts, and hope for our despair.

Rely on His faithfulness. Surviving tough times is not the result of a great faith, so much as faith in a great God. If we depend on God minute by minute and day by day, He will see us through. Sometimes we may wonder whether God knows, or even cares, about what's happened in our life. We even struggle in our own strength, rather than trusting the faithfulness of God. "His compassions fail not; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23) Regardless of what we are going through, we can be sure of God's faithfulness to us. "...He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Three little, but powerful words: Run...Rest...Rely. Tuck them in your pocket and carry them with you always!

Scripture to Remember:
Choose one from above that ministers to you.
Question to Consider: Have I been running from God, or running to God during these tough times?

Prayer:
Oh God, I am desperate for you! Help me get through today. Calm my spirit. Soothe my soul. Refocus my thoughts on you. Let me feel your presence. Amen


Thought for the Day:
Today I will run to God, rest in His promises, and rely on His faithfulness!