Today’s Devotional: Philippians 2:3

When I read this verse during my devotional reading, I thought about a totem pole. Crazy right? Like the totem pole with its base or support, we become the support for others when we put them ahead of ourselves. We support them by being there for them. At times that can feel like a daunting task because of things we may be facing ourselves. However, when we humble ourselves and put others first, we may find that our situation isn’t as bad as we originally thought. We experience a peace that makes things seem brighter, cheerful, and even a little less stressful. We are focused on others. But sometimes in the back of our mind, a whispered: What about me? pops up rearing its ugly selfish head. So: what about you? Would you rather it be your way or God’s way? Christ Jesus took on the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men. Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth for us. We should follow His example, humble ourselves and put others first. Have a blessed week! Praying for you.

~Faith

Reading about the centurion and his faith I thought, “I want to have that kind of faith”. He knew that he wasn’t worthy of the Lord to enter his home, but he also knew that just a word from Jesus and his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at this man’s faith!

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Matthew 8:10

That’s the kind of deeply rooted faith I want to have all the time. God bless!

Devotional ~ He Is There

Do you remember a time when you felt overwhelmed by a situation and you needed someone to talk to but no one was available? Maybe you were facing a life changing situation or just had a bad day, and you wished someone was there in that moment to sit with you and let you talk it out. Oftentimes, our thoughts turn toward people we know that we think, if I could just talk to so and so, they could help me figure this out. There is One we can turn to anytime of day or night. One who is always around and available at any given time. He is never too busy and He doesn’t put you on hold. Jehovah-Shammah, The Lord is There. There is no place on earth that we can go to that the Lord isn’t there. He says in Jeremiah 23:24 do I not fill heaven and earth? Even if we wanted to hide we can’t. So why not turn to the One who is always there? One who will listen to us and give us wise counsel on what we should do. I say wise counsel because even though He tells us what we should do, it is our choice to obey.

As someone who comes from a dysfunctional family, years ago, when I left home I thought I was headed to a better life. Turned out not to be the case. I remember a particular situation where I was feeling overwhelmed and wished I could talk to somebody. Anybody except for the person I was with. There was no one. I wasn’t really on speaking terms with family, at least not to where I could just pick up the phone and call them. I knew who the Lord was, that He had died for my sins, but I wasn’t walking with Him and so I didn’t think to call out to Him. To take my problem to Him and seek His wisdom. Instead, I made a wrong choice, that would take years before finding my way back to Him. I thought I had been alone but I was wrong. I was never been alone. There is no secret place that He isn’t already there.

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen

Matthew 28:20b

No matter what we face in life, we are never alone. The Lord is always with us ready to help us, all we have to do is turn to Him. God bless!

Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving was an especially extra happy day for our family. My husband had been feeling downright awful this week. He wound up going home from work feeling nauseous, weak, and in a lot of pain. It was all he could do to move around. He went to the doctor and they drew blood, checked him over but couldn’t seem to find anything wrong. They gave him a prescription for the nauseousness and sent him home. Later that evening he received a call from the doctor’s office; they wanted him to return to the office the next day to pick up paper work and have a CT scan to check for pancreatitis. Apparently his levels were up and they were concerned. By this time, he had been hurting for several days, and moving around was a struggle for him. I asked him if he wanted me to take him but he said he could manage. So the next day he goes to have the scan. I had asked my sister, who happens to my prayer warrior sister, to pray. I also sent out a prayer request asking our church family to pray for negative results. Our prayers were answered! His test came back clear. This took place on Nov. 24th, the day before our 23rd wedding anniversary, which happened to fall on Thanksgiving day this year. 💕

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

We still don’t know what is causing him to feel bad, he still feels weak, and is in pain although it has eased up a little. We’re praying he can get in to see a pain management doctor before the end of the year.

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

Matthew 21:22

God bless!

Devotional ~ Value of Friendships

Have you ever stopped to think about your relationships with others and what they mean to you? The time you spend cultivating those relationships? In order to develop deeply rooted friendships you have to sow into the relationship. These are the kind of friendships where you can trust them with your deepest fears or struggles; where they listen and don’t judge you, and you know they won’t say anything to anyone.

It takes time to develop and nurture our relationships with others. When we make the time to sow into those friendships we reap a bountiful lifetime of friends who will always be there when you need them no matter what. God bless.

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

John 15:13