Sunday Morning Sitting or Serving
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Psalm 35:18 GW I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will praise you in a crowd of worshipers. 

This morning I dressed up. In a while we'll drive to our little church (at least we will if Keith gets back in time from being called to work). I can say it is to be encouraged for another week, but once the opening worship songs end, my husband and I follow the line of eager children to classrooms where we teach God's principles to children, many of whom have severe family dysfunctions.

Feel good motivations quickly tarnish under the onslaught of the battle we face to share Christ, week after week.

Church, as the Christian walk of faith, I've learned, is not about feeling good, but about obedience--doing what God asks, regardless of feelings, standing for truth regardless of cost and doing so with an attitude of grace and humility.

If I attend church to feel good or to stroke my ego, I'll miss out on what God in His wisdom has for me to learn. That may mean serving instead of sitting, sharing instead of absorbing. Most of all it means church is not about me, but about Him and what He wants for me.

Help me worship, Lord, with a spirit of humility, willing to stay and serve where You, not I, direct. Amen.

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Practice Good
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Psalm 37:3 GW Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.How we stay

on track? By practicing thinking, saying, and doing good, Godly things. That means watching what I view, what I read, where I go, friends I choose to hang out with.

When we wonder why good choices are difficult to make, we need to look at those things that fill our lives.

The more we practice Godly principles, the more we make positive choices, the easier the next good choice will be. Every time we fill our mind with those things that are not good--including our viewing and reading habits--the harder good choices become.

God calls us to a high standard of trust in Him. If we stand on His Word, the choices we make will bring joy and not heartache.

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Murder
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Genesis 3:6 GW The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
 
The pattern doesn't change. We put ourselves in proximity of temptation, linger a bit too long, listen and let the voice of evil twist our thoughts and often, not only choose to do wrong, but also take others down with us.
 
We have not excuse. We choose evil over good. Only in God's protecting power can we choose to run from temptation--regardless of who dangles that tempting carrot of wrong--coveting, cheating, lying, sex, and murder of reputation and feelings, if not the body.
 
The worst of all is turning away from the one who loves us enough to be there to help when those choices come.
 
The result of wrong choices is also the same--fear.
 
V. 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."

The answer is forgiveness in and following Christ.

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Special in Him
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Genesis 1:27-28a MKJV And God created man in His image; in the image
of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them. ...

Each of us is special not because of earthly parentage or privilege, not because of something accomplished, created or done. Each of us is special because we are unique creations of a loving God who made each one with a specific purpose in mind.
 
We are special because of our parentage. For when we come to our Creator, He becomes not just Creator but also our caring Father and friend.

Whatever others may say, I am special because of Christ who loved me enough to
Make me
Die for me
Live for me
And always, always
Love me.

Psalm 34:4, 17 MKJV I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ...The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

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Delusion
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Revelation 22:13 MKJV I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.
 
God is first, last and eternal. Do we really think we can get one over on Him? Really think He doesn't know our motives, our every single thought, intent, behavior and action?
 
If so, we're seriously living in delusion, rationalizing what we think and do. Maybe it is time to get real with ourselves and God. What a relief...
 
Psalm 33:22 MKJV Let Your mercy, O LORD, be on us, according as we hope in You.

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Barriers
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Psalm 31:5 MKJV Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
 
How often do I truly commit my life, my thoughts words and actions to His control? How often do I play life my way then blame Him when things don't go my way?
 
Yet, when I do, He is there. When it doesn't seem He is, have I put a barrier of self before Him?

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Whom Do I Worship?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Revelation 19:10 MKJV And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See, do not do it! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Someone catches the eye of the public and become the latest rage. Everyone wants to interview them, put them on a pedestal, be like them. The phenomenon becomes nothing less than worship.

We worship heroes, sports stars, actors and other celebrities. We even worship, often following without question, government leaders and dynamic speakers--even pastors, spouses, kids.

The trouble with this is that God in Jesus must be our sole focus of worship. Anything else is idolatry and leads away from Him and into trouble.

Do I worship someone other than God and God alone? How do I spend my heart, my efforts, my income?

Psalm 30:11-12 MKJV You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have torn off my sackcloth, and have clothed me with gladness, so that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

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Root of Peace
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Peace

Psalm 29:11 MKJV The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

We can seek peace, but will never find it through compromise with evil, through passivity or through will power. True peace begins inside. It is a gift of a heart willingly serving the Lord Christ. Without Jesus there will never be lasting peace either for individuals, nations or the world.

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Despair
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Psalm 28:7 MKJV The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise Him.

One of the best ways to pull out of despair is to quote Scripture. Make Scripture, prayer and praise part of our daily routine. How different our outlook for an otherwise bad day, when we come armed with-" The LORD is my strength and my shield;..." Something I need to remember daily.

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Light
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Psalm 27:27:1 MKJV A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and mysalvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Light chases away the darkness of fear, but only as we reach out to the One who is light. Light is also strong, frightening away enemies while shining light on the path to salvation. Christ is our rescuer, whose light finds us in the darkness and saves us by His strength.

In my darkness and fear, He's the only One who listens for my cry and died and lives to rescue me in my hour of need.

V.14 Hope in the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall make your heart strong; yea, hope in the LORD.

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Standing For Right
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

Revelation 12:11 MKJV And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.

This is a convicting passage. In the OT, Daniel's friends refused to bow down to the King's Idol statue even when threatened with death in the fiery furnace. They said what we most remember about trusting that God will rescue them. We usually miss the rest of what they said. They said that even if God didn't save their lives from the fire, they chose to trust Him.

They were willing to be burned alive rather than do something they knew was wrong--worshipping someone/thing other than God.

Do I have the courage to stand up for my faith and to live for Jesus--no matter what?

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Grief
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Trust

Psalm 25:17 MKJV The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

Recently I've had some no good, very bad days. I miss the grandkids. Hubby took vacation last week because we thought we have them here. But car problems means our kids aren't coming back home now. Too far and expensive for us to go to them. Too expensive now with car repairs for them to come here. Nothing comes in ones...problems, grief comes in waves.

God, I know you are here in my darkness, my hurt, my grief. Will you offer more than Scriptural platitudes? Need promises of provision kept. Need help in the real,physical world. Need money for debt. Need healing, able to move, take a breath without pain. I'm coming, if not boldly, at least as your child. Help!

Hebrews 4:16 MKJV Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace,that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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Reason for Church
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus
Psalm 35:18 GW I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will
praise you in a crowd of worshipers.

This morning I dressed up. In a while we'll drive to our little church. I can say it is to be encouraged for another week, but once the opening worship songs end, my husband and I follow the line of eager children to classrooms where we teach God's principles to children, many of whom have severe family dysfunctions.

Feel good motivations quickly tarnish under the onslaught of the battle we face to share Christ, week after week.

Church, as the Christian walk of faith, I've learned, is not about
feeling good, but about obedience--doing what God asks, regardless of feelings, standing for truth regardless of cost and doing so with an
attitude of grace and humility.

If I attend church to feel good or to stroke my ego, I'll miss out on
what God in His wisdom has for me to learn. That may mean serving
instead of sitting, sharing instead of obsorbing. Most of all it means
church is not about me, but about Him and what He wants for me.

Help me worship, Lord, with a spirit of humilty, willing to stay and
serve where You, not I, direct. Amen.
 

Financially Free?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

Matthew 6:27-29 MKJV Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin, but I say to you that even Solomon in his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...31-33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
 
Financially I am more than a little concerned. We're not birds; can't nest in trees. Or flowers at home in an open field. We are people who struggle tp pay our bills--fully and on time, struggle paycheck to paycheck, try to claw our way out only to have unexpected expenses shatter our budget, our resources and our illusions.
 
We believe you are sovereign, Lord, give to Your work generously and without reserve. Give our time as well and yet, here we are at another cliff. Yet determined to be financially free.
 
If we jump, will You catch us ? Show us the right path. I will trust in Your direction.

http://IDealinHope.com/author

In Charge
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Control

Revelation 11:11- 12 MKJV And after three days and a half, a spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. And great fear fell on those seeing them. And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they went up to Heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.

We like to think we're in charge, in control. But when circumstances happen we realize the truth--we're really not in control at all. Life belongs to God. Shouldn't I honor the One who both gives and sustains life?

V.13 And in that hour a great earthquake occurred, and the tenth part of the city fell. And seven thousand names of men were slain in the earthquake. And the rest were frightened and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

V. 15 ...The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.