“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).
What a wonderful verse of hope this is to everyone. It is easy to forget sometimes that God is ready and available to us when we are feeling the pressures of everyday life. He is just a prayer away and ready to quiet you with His love and peace. It is amazing how we rush through life frantically doing what we do so much that we forget who is following us around waiting to quiet us with His love. Try to imagine Jesus standing near you with His arms open wide gently whispering, “Dear one, please fall into my arms and let me give you peace.” It must be frustrating to Him as we busily go our ways building up tension within us, not even taking time to be quiet and alone with Him. There He is patiently waiting to help us. Maybe it is time to rest in His arms and take a break. Maybe life has been getting you down with worries, problems, and heartache. He is there for you and He takes great delight in you. Isn’t that wonderful? I would certainly want to take time to be with someone who delights in me, who wants to quiet me with His love and sing over me. Isn’t it wonderful to think of Jesus holding you in His arms and singing to you with a look of delight on His face. What a wonderful picture!
So my friend, this week take time to bask in the love of Christ. Take some time every day just to be quiet and feel His delight of you. Bask in His love and know that His song for you is something very special.
Dear Lord,
Help us this week to seek you in the quietness of your love. We know that you delight in us and want us to have peace even in the midst of chaos. Help us to picture your wonderful arms around us. Give us peace and comfort us with your singing.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Lesson from Esther by Ann Elaine Broughton
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
Esther was the Queen of Persia. Haman, a man who King Xerxes had given much power, had made an edict that all Jews were to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. The king did not know that Esther was a Jew. Esther had to make a choice, one that could mean her life.
She could save her people with a request to the king. Mordecai, her father, a faithful Jew, begged her to save them. He told her that she was born and put in this position for this specific reason: to save the nation of Israel. Can you imagine how she felt? How scared she must have been to approach the king, knowing that he could put her to death, because if you weren’t summoned by the king and approached him, you could be killed. She and all the Jews fasted and prayed for three days. She told her father that then she would go to the king and if she perished, she perished. She dressed in her royal robes and went to see the king. The king loved her so much that he let her approach. She cried and begged him to save the Jews and her family. He agreed. A nation was saved due to the faith of a young girl who trusted in God.
Just as God used this young girl to save a nation, He has placed you in a position that only you can fill. You are not there by happenstance, but have been chosen because God has a plan for your life. Esther was very brave and had the guidance of a godly man to help her. Do you have someone to talk to that can give you the Christian advice you need when you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? Before doing anything think about what Esther did. She fasted and prayed to God. It is very wise to do this before you make any kind of decision concerning your life. He needs you to be His ambassador, which may mean that it takes you out of your comfort zone so that He can work through you. It is amazing what faith can do. It helped Esther take those fateful steps towards a mighty and powerful man. She was willing to die for the cause. Are you willing to give your all for the cause of Christ? What price are you willing to pay? Christ paid the ultimate price for you. He deserves for you to give Him all you are.
Dear Lord,
Show us where you want us to make a difference and then give us the courage to take those steps toward the goal you have for us. Help us not to be afraid, because we trust you and know that you would never lead us to a place that would cause our downfall. Help us to accept our calling and do our best for you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
Esther was the Queen of Persia. Haman, a man who King Xerxes had given much power, had made an edict that all Jews were to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. The king did not know that Esther was a Jew. Esther had to make a choice, one that could mean her life.
She could save her people with a request to the king. Mordecai, her father, a faithful Jew, begged her to save them. He told her that she was born and put in this position for this specific reason: to save the nation of Israel. Can you imagine how she felt? How scared she must have been to approach the king, knowing that he could put her to death, because if you weren’t summoned by the king and approached him, you could be killed. She and all the Jews fasted and prayed for three days. She told her father that then she would go to the king and if she perished, she perished. She dressed in her royal robes and went to see the king. The king loved her so much that he let her approach. She cried and begged him to save the Jews and her family. He agreed. A nation was saved due to the faith of a young girl who trusted in God.
Just as God used this young girl to save a nation, He has placed you in a position that only you can fill. You are not there by happenstance, but have been chosen because God has a plan for your life. Esther was very brave and had the guidance of a godly man to help her. Do you have someone to talk to that can give you the Christian advice you need when you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? Before doing anything think about what Esther did. She fasted and prayed to God. It is very wise to do this before you make any kind of decision concerning your life. He needs you to be His ambassador, which may mean that it takes you out of your comfort zone so that He can work through you. It is amazing what faith can do. It helped Esther take those fateful steps towards a mighty and powerful man. She was willing to die for the cause. Are you willing to give your all for the cause of Christ? What price are you willing to pay? Christ paid the ultimate price for you. He deserves for you to give Him all you are.
Dear Lord,
Show us where you want us to make a difference and then give us the courage to take those steps toward the goal you have for us. Help us not to be afraid, because we trust you and know that you would never lead us to a place that would cause our downfall. Help us to accept our calling and do our best for you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Worship Him in Truth by Ann Elaine Broughton
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24 NIV).
Jesus stopped by a well and spoke to a Samaritan woman. The Jews believed that Samaritans were unclean, so they avoided Samaria. Jesus went to this place to show these people that they were precious to the Father just as the Jews were. He also went there to show his disciples that the Samaritans were people who the Lord loved also. He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. This puzzled her because no Jew would drink after a Samaritan. Then he proceeded to ask her to go get her husband. She said she had no husband and he told her that he knew that she had had 5 husbands and the one she was living with now wasn’t her husband. She was amazed that he knew that. She called him a prophet and said she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus told her that he was the Messiah. He than told her that the Samaritans must worship God in spirit and in truth. That was when she ran and told everyone to come and meet the man who told her everything she did. It is because of this that many in her town believed in Jesus.
Jesus knows you inside and out, just as he knew all about the Samaritan woman’s life. He knows what you think in your heart that nobody else knows. You may think that you have secrets, but you don’t because Jesus knows everything about you, just as he knew everything about this Samaritan woman. Here is the wonderful part: even when you have sinned, Jesus is there to say that He loves you and will forgive you if you confess. He told this woman that he was able to give her living water that would well up to eternal life. (John 4:13) If you are a Christian eternal life is awaiting you also.
He also told her that instead of worshiping God on a mountain or in Jerusalem that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Truth is important to God. The Lord will not abide lies because Satan is the Father of Lies. Jesus spoke of Satan as being a liar: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Jesus always spoke the truth and those who love Him must worship the Lord in spirit and truth. It is important for you to be truthful in your relationship with the Lord and with others.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be truthful to you and to others knowing that you cannot abide lies. The world tells us lies that are tempting to believe. Help us to follow your word as a guide and be in a constant relationship with you so that we won’t be tempted to follow ways that aren’t pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Jesus stopped by a well and spoke to a Samaritan woman. The Jews believed that Samaritans were unclean, so they avoided Samaria. Jesus went to this place to show these people that they were precious to the Father just as the Jews were. He also went there to show his disciples that the Samaritans were people who the Lord loved also. He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. This puzzled her because no Jew would drink after a Samaritan. Then he proceeded to ask her to go get her husband. She said she had no husband and he told her that he knew that she had had 5 husbands and the one she was living with now wasn’t her husband. She was amazed that he knew that. She called him a prophet and said she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus told her that he was the Messiah. He than told her that the Samaritans must worship God in spirit and in truth. That was when she ran and told everyone to come and meet the man who told her everything she did. It is because of this that many in her town believed in Jesus.
Jesus knows you inside and out, just as he knew all about the Samaritan woman’s life. He knows what you think in your heart that nobody else knows. You may think that you have secrets, but you don’t because Jesus knows everything about you, just as he knew everything about this Samaritan woman. Here is the wonderful part: even when you have sinned, Jesus is there to say that He loves you and will forgive you if you confess. He told this woman that he was able to give her living water that would well up to eternal life. (John 4:13) If you are a Christian eternal life is awaiting you also.
He also told her that instead of worshiping God on a mountain or in Jerusalem that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Truth is important to God. The Lord will not abide lies because Satan is the Father of Lies. Jesus spoke of Satan as being a liar: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Jesus always spoke the truth and those who love Him must worship the Lord in spirit and truth. It is important for you to be truthful in your relationship with the Lord and with others.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be truthful to you and to others knowing that you cannot abide lies. The world tells us lies that are tempting to believe. Help us to follow your word as a guide and be in a constant relationship with you so that we won’t be tempted to follow ways that aren’t pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Taming Your Tongue by Ann Elaine Broughton
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:26 NIV).
James wrote about the tongue and how hard it is to tame. "....but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness" (James 3:8-9 NIV). James does not mince words. When was the last time you were a victim of words spoken in haste that hurt you in some way? As Christians we must think before we speak because those who are outside of the Lord will condemn us if we say hurtful things about others. Filtering our thoughts through the Holy Spirit will help us speak words that will build others up instead of bringing them down. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
If you are ever tempted to say anything about anyone behind his/her back that would hurt his/her feelings, stop and say to yourself, “If this person was sitting next to me, would I be saying this?” This includes what you write to others on email and texting. Words are powerful. They can end careers, bring tears to eyes, and destroy lives. They can also change lives for the better, give hope, encouragement, and praise.
What kind of words have you been speaking lately? It is time to reflect on this. People judge you by your words. Are you careful in your speech? Have you said words about others that would make them sad if they heard them? It is time for you to pray and ask God to help you to control your speech so that the words you speak are ones of encouragement, peace, and love. Be an encourager this week in your speech and think before you say something that might hurt others.
Dear Lord,
I ask you to help me to pray before I speak so that I won’t hurt other people’s feelings in any way. I know that my words should be like those of Christ; full of grace, truth, peace, and love. Help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Let my words bring joy to those around me, instead of sadness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
James wrote about the tongue and how hard it is to tame. "....but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness" (James 3:8-9 NIV). James does not mince words. When was the last time you were a victim of words spoken in haste that hurt you in some way? As Christians we must think before we speak because those who are outside of the Lord will condemn us if we say hurtful things about others. Filtering our thoughts through the Holy Spirit will help us speak words that will build others up instead of bringing them down. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
If you are ever tempted to say anything about anyone behind his/her back that would hurt his/her feelings, stop and say to yourself, “If this person was sitting next to me, would I be saying this?” This includes what you write to others on email and texting. Words are powerful. They can end careers, bring tears to eyes, and destroy lives. They can also change lives for the better, give hope, encouragement, and praise.
What kind of words have you been speaking lately? It is time to reflect on this. People judge you by your words. Are you careful in your speech? Have you said words about others that would make them sad if they heard them? It is time for you to pray and ask God to help you to control your speech so that the words you speak are ones of encouragement, peace, and love. Be an encourager this week in your speech and think before you say something that might hurt others.
Dear Lord,
I ask you to help me to pray before I speak so that I won’t hurt other people’s feelings in any way. I know that my words should be like those of Christ; full of grace, truth, peace, and love. Help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Let my words bring joy to those around me, instead of sadness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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