And I Give Thanks
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Gratitude

Psalm 140:12-13 GW  I know that the LORD will defend the rights of those who are oppressed and the cause of those who are needy. Indeed, righteous people will give thanks to your name. Decent people will live in your presence.

I will give thanks
For the Lord defends me
He listens to His children
He hates oppressors
He cares for the oppressed
He hates evil
He loves those who seek to do what is right
When I come to Him
Seek to serve Him
Do what is right
In a time of need
I find He is there
Willing to hold me close
Willing to protect from oppression
Depression
PRIDE
Instead I bow
Trusting God's promises
Protection
Provision
Peace
And I give thanks.

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What Would God Do Thru Me--If I Let Him
Acts 28:8-9 GW His father happened to be sick in bed. He was suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well. After that had happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well.

Paul and his companions had God's power within them. They were not wimps, nor were they arrogant. They were confident in God's power and knew what God could and would do through them if they but trusted and stood on God's promises.

Is God's power in us short-circuited because of lack of knowledge of who God is and His promises, is it short-circuited because we fear and don't fully trust?

What would God do through us if we truly trusted and followed?

When Life Falls Apart
salm 138:7 GW Even though I walk into the middle of trouble, you guard my life against the anger of my enemies. You stretch out your hand, and your right hand saves me.

In the shadow of night
God is here
When danger lurks
Angels draw their swords
When life falls apart and pain fills my heart
I turn to Jesus for comfort
Find peace and hope within His Word.

Icons Idols Images
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Leviticus 26:1-2 GW The LORD continued, "Never make worthless idols or set up a carved statue or a sacred stone for yourselves. Never cut figures in stone to worship them in your country, because I am the LORD your God. Observe my days of worship and respect my holy tent. I am the LORD.

God made it clear to the Jews they were not to make or worship
icons/images/idols. In fact, they were not to worship (ie honor)
anything above Him. The passage goes on to enumerate the blessings
received by those to serve Him.

God offers me the same choice--honor Him 1st and know His blessings or
worship other things (wealth, power, prestige, that expensive car,
etc.) or people (family, boss, political figure, celebrities) and lose
His protection, provision and His inner peace.

What do I put first in my life? Am I, is my family, missing God's
blessings because my time, focus and efforts are directed in the wrong
place?

Help me, Jesus, put You first in my affections, time and focus. Amen.

V.3-6 "This is what I will do if you will live by my laws and
carefully obey my commanDS: I will give you rain at the right time. The land will produce its crops, and the trees in the field will
produce their fruit. i??... You will eat all you want and live securely
in your land. I will bring peace to your land. ...and there will be no
war in your land.

http://IDealinHope.com/author

God and Science
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Creation

Psalm 136:4 Give thanks to the only one who does miraculous things- because his mercy endures forever. 
  5 to the one who made the heavens by his understanding- because his mercy endures forever. 
 6 to the one who spread out the earth on the water- because his mercy endures forever. 
  7 to the one who made the great lights- because his mercy endures forever. 
  8 the sun to rule the day- because his mercy endures forever. 
  9 the moon and stars to rule the night- because his mercy endures forever.  GW

In a culture bent on eliminating God from every discipline, including science, we must come back to our foundation--God's Word. God is truth. God speaks truth. What He says in His Word is true.

When He says the world wasn't an accident, wasn't just a long drawn out natural process, will we believe God or so-called scientists so closed minded, they cannot see beyond their own biases?

As Romans 3:3-4 GW states, "What if some of them were unfaithful? Can their unfaithfulness cancel God's faithfulness? That would be unthinkable! God is honest, and everyone else is a liar,..."
 
Science doesn't save me, offer inner peace, joy or eternity. I'll go with hope; I'll go with God.

After all, In the beginning GOD...

V.26 GW Give thanks to the God of heaven because his mercy endures forever. 

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When Winds Howl
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Fear
WHEN WINDS HOWL

(c) 2008 Carolyn R Scheidies

Psalm 135:3a GW Praise the LORD because he is good. ...

When winds howl and fear beckons, I will trust in God
For He is good.
When sickness and death knock at my door, I will not grow bitter
Trusting God's purposes
Knowing He is good.
When my life falls apart
I refuse to blame God,
Recognizing I make choices
Recognizing Satan really is out to get me
And that God is there, caring,
Only a prayer away
He offers His presence, protection and peace.
And I will praise Him
Knowing no matter what
He is near
And He is good!

V.14 GW The LORD will provide justice for his people and have
compassion on his servants.

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Talk the Talk
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Sharing the Good News
Romans 10:13-14 MKJV For everyone, "whoever shall call on the name of
the Lord will be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they
have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have
not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?

I've heard Christians say they live their faith, but don't "say" much
about it. Too often this is an excuse because they feel inadequate to
speak about their faith, or fear and embarrassment keeps them silent.

We are to live our faith, too many of us don't. This is laudable, but
it isn't enough. Without words, those around us won't understand why
we live with integrity.

We're called to make a difference by BOTH words and actions. Walk the
walk AND talk the talk. What better time to start than this Christmas?

V. 15b ...As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who
preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"

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He Shoulders My Pain
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Peace

Good Morning this last Saturday before Christmas,

Today is grandson Dane's 7th birthday. It is the 2nd birthday of Dane's we missed since Chris & Jen moved to Fort Wayne. I'm feeling a bit sad we can't be there to help celebrate, but very thankful for phones and email. We will call to wish him well today.

I have most of my Christmas wrapping done--I do love bags--especially with a wrist that has gotten so bad my whole left arm is painful. Yesterday I broke down and called my Kearney orthopedist. He's getting me in next Tuesday, before Christmas. Bless him! Not sure how I'd function if I don't get some relief before going to Omaha to spend Christmas Day with daughter Cassie.

The situations is frustrating and exhausting since my left arm is the arm with the most function. (I can't take painkillers, so have been using heat ointment that is only mildly effective.)

For all that, I am thankful. Hubby and kids have jobs, our family is intact and we actually like each other and love spending time together, and we're in decent health.

I've been enjoying Christmas music from http://www.accuradio.com/holidays. I also have a neat Christmas video up at I DEAL IN HOPE http://IDealinHope.com/author.

The weather keeps me inside for the most part, but the snow is beautiful.

All of which draws me with gratitude to the One who shoulders my pain, my hurts , my struggles. Because of Christmas, because Jesus came, I am not alone. Even in hard situations, I can know peace.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -- John 14:27 MKJV

God bless you.

Road to God
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Conversion

Psalm 135:5 GW I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all the false gods. 

This is key. There are not many roads to God—only one. Being sincere doesn't save, because we can be sincerely wrong. There is one God. He is truth; He is righteous; He is love...and He is Jesus. There is no other name whereby we will be saved.

There is right and wrong. There is true and false. There is truth. He deserves our worship. Anything or one else is a false god, that not only cannot save us, but will also stand between us and the One true God.

Help me, Jesus, not put anything in Your place. Amen.

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Lord Who is There
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Gratitude

LORD WHO IS THERE

(c) 2008 Carolyn R Scheidies 

Psalm 134:2 GW Lift your hands toward the holy place, and praise the LORD. 

I praise You Lord for being there
That You aren't some distant entity
Leaving me to my own devices, my own ways.
I praise You Lord that You care
You don't leave me alone to twist in the winds of adversity.
But truly are "only a prayer away."

I praise You Lord that You came
Entering my world as a baby
Bringing hope and salvation
I praise You Lord that in Your name
I can be set free
As I come in humble adoration.

I praise You Lord, God almighty,
Jesus who loved me
Enough to die in my place
I praise You Jesus, who lovingly
Lives to comfort, help and lead
To His everlasting Grace.

And I lift my hands in grateful praise.

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Worship & Attitude
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Attitude

Psalm 131:1 GW A song by David for going up to worship. O LORD, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others. I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me. 

Like David we need to have a humble attitude, recognizing everything comes from God. If we honor Him and obey His leading, He'll use us to bring blessing.

We look for meaning to our lives. We need look no further than to Jesus who loved us enough to enter our world, share His message of forgiveness, salvation, healing and hope. He died for our sins and conquered death that, as we come to Him, we can live in victory. That victory comes at a price--a teachable spirit and a willingness to share the gospel message of hope with a hurt and needy world.

It begins as it did with David, with a heart of worship in the house of God with a community of believers.

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My Nature
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Psalm 130:3, 4, 7 GW O LORD, who would be able to stand if you kept a record of sins? But with you there is forgiveness so that you can be feared....O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, because with the LORD there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness. 

Every one of us is guilty of doing wrong. It is part of our nature without Christ. We stand condemned for our sins. There is no sense denying the truth. We are guilty. The exciting news is that when we come to Jesus, lay our sin before Him and ask, He extends mercy and forgiveness.

All He asks is everything--our hearts, our allegiance, our trust. Can I give less to the One who takes my guilt and sets me free?

Lord Jesus, help me not to play games, but to truly lay my life, my ambitions, my all before You that I might know the freedom and joy of serving You. Amen.

Acts 20:24 GW But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus-the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness. 

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Horoscopes, Ouija Boards and God
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Occult

Acts 19:19-20 GW  Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins. In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength. 

As Christians, do we take lightly being involved with occult practices? Do we read our horoscope, use an Ouija board or fill our minds with books, shows and movies filled with vampires, witchcraft and occult practices--whether serious or not? All these things build a wall between us and our loving Savior. He is grieved when we prefer to fill our minds, hearts and time with Satan's dark manipulations/illusions/deceptions to God's amazing, freeing grace & hope.

God wants us to put away anything that comes between His loving heart and us. What do I need to change/get rid of in my life that hinders my relationships with Jesus and grieves Him

Leviticus 19:2, 26, 31 GW  "... Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. 
26 ...Never cast evil spells, and never consult fortunetellers.
31 "Don't turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God. 

Psalm 129:4 GW The LORD is righteous. He has cut me loose from the ropes that wicked people tied around me. 

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God's Standards or Mine
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Standards

Leviticus 18:1-4 GW  The LORD spoke to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: I am the LORD your God. You used to live in Egypt. Don't live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don't live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards.  Follow my rules, and live by my standards. I am the LORD your God. 

God has His standards and principles, the culture (world) has theirs. Usually these standards are different, sometimes polar opposites. It is easy to go along with prevailing attitudes and behavior. Hard to learn what God requires and live out a Christ-centered lifestyle in an increasingly hostile environment. Too often some choices are made in ignorance because we don't "study to know" God's book of love and direction. Other times we just take the easier path out of laziness, fear or embarrassment. But God is clear. Follow Him or the world. Our actions and choices reveal the true state of our hearts and our walk with Jesus.

Do I walk with Him or the world?

V. 5 Live by my standards, and obey my rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD. 

Psalm 128:1b GW Blessed are all who fear the LORD and live his way. 

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Christmas Still Comes
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Celebrate!

CHRISTMAS STILL COMES
© 2008 Carolyn R Scheidies

Family and friends,
Parties and presents,
and decorated trees.
All seem part and parcel
of the Christmas season,
Yet even without all these,
Christmas will still come
to you and me.
For Christmas is
the birth of a special baby
in Bethlehem,
Who came,
the Savior,
to all who worship Him.

For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6