"You Have Power"

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."  Romans 8:11

 

Sometimes we Christians live such defeated lives.  We let everything irritate us.  We get fearful at the least little thing.  We allow anxiety and worry to overcome us.  We believe the lies of the enemy.  We sit back and do nothing about the temptations and attacks of the devil.  Why is this?  Perhaps we have forgotten that we have been endued with power.  Perhaps we have forgotten, or maybe have never been taught, about the power that resides in us. 

 

At salvation we not only received eternal life, the character of Christ and righteousness, but we also received power.  Power to live a victorious life.  The power that we have received is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  The power we receive when we receive Jesus is the power that is in His Name.  At His Name every knee shall bow.  We receive the power of the Blood.  There is power, wonder working power in the Blood of Jesus.  We receive the power of the Cross.  The Cross is the power of God unto salvation.  We have the power of the Word.  It is quick, sharp and more powerful than any two-edged sword.  When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we receive power to be witnesses. 

 

We have God's power at our disposal.  We have His power residing in us.  So why are we so weak?  Why do we act so defeated?  Why do we let things bother us?  Why do we let the enemy condemn us and harass us?  Why are we so afraid?  Why are we so quiet?  Why are we embarrassed?  Why do we sit back and do nothing when the situation for action arises?  Why do we give in so easily to temptation?  Why do we "roll over and play dead"? 

 

We are called to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  And the power of His might has been made available to us and is within us.  Use the power and authority that He has given you and stop letting the enemy win in your life.  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  You have been given power over all the powers of the enemy.  You have been given power, love and a sound mind.  Make a withdrawal of that power today.  Stir up that power that is within you today.  Lay hold of that power that has been so graciously given to you and go forth strong in the Lord and the power of His might. 

 

Have a great day.  You have been given power.... use it!

     

"Nativity Memories"

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

 

If you know me very well, you know I like nativity scenes.  I don't collect them but I have a lot of them.  Many of them stay in a display case during the year.  The rest come out at Christmas time and decorate the mantle and various places all over my house.  As I was putting them out this year, I couldn't help but reminisce about each one.  One nativity set was my grandmothers.  The figures were bought at the "dime store" many years ago.  There are a couple that were given to me by my sister.  One that was ceramic came from my mother-in-law.  I found several that came from various friends throughout the years.  Each one has a special memory attached to it.

 

But when I look at the nativity scenes, the thing that I am reminded of the most is the birth of my Savior.  As I look at them I remember how much He loves me.  I remember that He came to earth to die for my sins.  I remember that He paid my debt and made the sacrifice that I couldn't.  I remember how He took my place by taking my punishment.  When I look at them, my heart is filled with thankfulness-- for what He did for me.  It is filled with peace-- the peace of knowing that it is well with my soul.  It is filled with hope-- hope of an eternity spent with Him.  It is filled with joy-- the joy of knowing my sins are forgiven. 

 

When I look at those nativity scenes, I am looking at memories.  But the greatest memory is the one that I am aware of every day, not only at Christmas time when the nativity scenes come out of storage.  It is the price of love that was paid for me. 

 

Have a great day.  When you look at the nativity scene, it should remind you of the great love that God has for you.     

"Grace In Changed Plans"

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

 

During the Christmas season we make lots of plans-- plans for gift giving, plans to get together with family and friends, plans of baking special treats, Christmas programs and so on.  Last year most of those plans did not materialize for me.  My husband was in the hospital at Christmas.  This year already many of my Christmas plans have not manifested.  I had to cancel a Christmas party with the volunteers at the shop and I had to cancel our get together with my husband's family.  Both were because of the snow, lack of electricity and icy roads.  I planned on baking cookies with my granddaughters but I hurt my back and couldn't.  

 

Yes, it was somewhat disappointing, but it wasn't the "end of the world".  Why?  Because all the things that we plan for and do during this season don't have much to do with the true meaning of Christmas.  When my Christmas plans got cancelled I had to stop for a moment and look at the real meaning of Christmas-- the birth of Jesus, my Savior and King.  When I did, it gave me the grace I needed to accept the change of plans. 

 

When our plans change, when they don't materialize, and not just at Christmas but every day throughout the year, we have to come back to "front and center" and look at Jesus and remember that He has plans for us.  As we do, grace will come.  When grace comes, it will give us peace and contentment with the change of plans.  It will give us grace to accept the change.  It will give us grace to move on.

 

Have your plans been changed?  Don't look at the plans that didn't happen.  Look to Jesus who will give you the grace you need to remember that it is well regardless.

 

Have a great day.  When our plans change, if we will look to Jesus we will find grace to be content with the change. 

"He Provides All Things"

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"  Romans 8:32

 

If the Lord God gave His Son Jesus for us, why do we think He would not give us anything else that we need?  He already met our greatest need-- the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, reconciliation to Himself-- through His Son Jesus.  So, why would we think He wouldn't give us lesser things that we need?

 

Why do we think He won't give us healing for our bodies when we need it?  Why would we think that He would withhold any provision that we need?  Why would we think that He wouldn't give us strength in weakness, help in hardships, peace in the storm, grace for life's journey, hope when all hope looks lost, and so on? 

 

Is it because we don't think that He really loves us?  Is it because we don't think He really cares?  Is it because we don't trust His promises or believe His word?  He already proved His love by sending His Beloved Son--- the One who was most precious to Him, the One that He loved greatly, the One who has always been with Him-- to die for us.  He already proved He cares by not letting us stay lost but instead providing a way for us through Jesus.  He already proved He keeps His promises and is true to His word by fulfilling His word through Jesus.  Why can't we then believe and trust Him to give us all things that we need? 

 

Have a great day.  The Lord already proved He loved us by sending Jesus to die for us.  If He took care of our greatest need through Jesus, why do we think He wouldn't provide for our lesser needs as well?

"Lessons From The Snow"

"While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."  Hebrews 3:15

 

I am a little late this morning because last night it started snowing and this morning I awoke to a Winter Wonderland... and it is still snowing.  This isn't something we normally experience here in the South.  So I had "first things first" that I needed to do.  Thinking about this snow has brought two things to mind that have a spiritual application.

 

First, because we aren't use to this, at the last minute people were scurrying to get water pipes wrapped so they wouldn't freeze and burst.  They were making sure they had wood in for the fireplaces and pulling out any other heat source they had.  They had not prepared ahead of time.  What it made me think of was the number of people who are not prepared where their eternity is concerned.  We kept receiving warnings about the weather so at the last minute people heeded them.  Constantly warnings are going out about the need to get prepared for eternity and not put if off.  But people are waiting until the last minute hoping to get right.  The difference in this and eternal preparation is that you don't get another chance.  There is no last minute preparation.  Waiting to heed until the last minute maybe too late.

 

Secondly, before I could sit down to do the devotional I had to make sure I had "first things first" taking care of.  I had to make sure I had water stored in case of power loss.  I had to make sure the volunteers were contacted to let them know we would be closed at the shop today.  I had to make sure my phones are fully charged.  And so on.  We cannot neglect to take care of the important things first.  The most important thing being the state of your eternal soul.  You can't put that off until later.  Later may be too late.

 

To sum it up, what I learned from the snow is this:  heed the warnings concerning your soul now; don't wait to the last minute and think you will get it taken care of; put first things first and don't put them off, you may wait too long and it may be too late.

 

Have a great day. Take a lesson from the snow and get prepared.