Devoted

Devoted?  Does anyone special come to mind that you would describe as "devoted?"

I am blessed with a father who demonstrated devotion to his family throughout his life.  Through thick and thin, he stuck by us...always there to lend a helping hand, offer a word of encouragement or advice.  His devotion to his family extend beyond us kids...he faithfully stayed in touch with his own father and loved to visit with his brothers and sisters, traveling far and wide to spend time with them was pure joy to him and even better when they would come to visit him.  He wasn't one to lavish gifts but invested in the gift of time without restraint...nothing mattered more than spending time together.

While we may need to make some adjustments and improve on our level of devotion to our own families, our spiritual lives may also need some tweaking.

What does it really mean when we say someone is devoted?

A dictionary definition says this:  very loving or loyal; given over to the display, study, or discussion of.  

Thayer's Greek Lexicon offers these definitions of the Greek word proskartereo, the word used for devotion in 10 New Testament verses:

1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
3) to continue all the time in a place
4) to persevere and not to faint
5) to show one' s self courageous for
6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly 

Here are those 10 scripture verses, for your reading pleasure:

Mark 3:9: "...that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude,"

Acts 1:14: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,"

Acts 2:42: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,"

Acts 2:46: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,"

Acts 6:4: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry…"

Acts 8:13: "also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,"

Acts 10:7: "and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;"

Romans 12:12: "in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

Romans 13:6: "for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."

Colossians 4:2: " Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

As you read these definitions and the scriptures, would you say that your prayer life and walk with Christ would be described as devoted?

In the Battle Plan of Prayer Bible Study (p.16) we read this:

"Devotion involves committing to something consistently and frequently.  To be consistently devoted to prayer, we have to train ourselves in this practice.  It does not come naturally...we must train ourselves to be in constant communion with God."

Let's ask God to help us re-purpose our lives as ones devoted to prayer!

Pray for 10

This morning, we receive instructions to pray for EVERYONE!

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV)

Would you make a list of 10 people and write one word beside each name to pray over that person?  Now, do it. Pray for 10.  

Hey Siri

I made an amazing discovery last night, quite by accident.  When my iphone is plugged in to power, all I have to do is say "Hey Siri" and she answers! I ask her something and she answers!

Technological advances amaze me...I have no idea how long I've had this "power" but now that I know, it will sure be a handy feature.

Did you know that when you are plugged into God's power, all you have to do is say "Hey God" and He answers?!

Siri might be able to find the some answers by sorting through an incomprehensible amount of data but calling on the name of God gives you instant access to the One who created it ALL and who truly knows all things. He wants us to ask and wants us to want to know all about HIM,  He wants us to comprehend His love for us...and that's all I needed to know...the depth of His love...

Hey Siri, can you top that?

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJV)

Sounds

While walking in the pre-dawn darkness this morning, I was keenly aware of the surround-sound of nature. The fog enveloping this area caused condensation to form and sounded like rain as the drops of water echoed off the leaves.  In the distance, the distinctive call of an owl reverberated through to quiet.  The sound of feet hitting the pavement as a fellow morning runner moved quickly past and the sound of the spoken words of acknowledgment broke nature's "silence!"

Sounds are sweet but none sweeter than the voices of loved ones.  This weekend, I had the unique pleasure of talking with one of my beloved uncles, in person!  The warmth of his softly spoken and witty words communicated volumes, and the sound of his voice echoes in my heart today.

We are a community of people with tools and technology to keep us well-connected. This is not necessarily a "bad thing," but there is something special about the sound of a voice, speaking encouragement, truth in love, words of affirmation and love.  Cards, texts, emails and letters are excellent ways to communicate but today, someone longs to hear your voice.

Just as our family and friends like to hear from us, so does your Heavenly Father.  He is nearer than you think and hears you when you cry out.  

Today, call on the Lord, He loves to hear the sound of your voice.  Then, call or better still, visit, a friend or loved one...they might love hear the sound of your voice! 

"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles."
(Psalms 34:17 NKJV)

Game Changer

Definition of "game changer": a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way

Last night, Pastor Bryan reminded us of a   very important "game changer" from God's Word, centered in Acts 16:25-26, where we find the Apostle Paul and Silas, beaten and thrown in prison, locked in stocks, for added security.  A dire situation, to say the least.  

To be honest, most if us would be down at this point...our thoughts and our words would be focused on the negatives of the situation, correct?  We would be protesting our treatment, complaining about the pain, speaking loudly about how bad things are...

Paul and Silas weren't silent either. They had an audience of prisoners and at midnight, they were going strong....

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25 NKJV)

What? Read it again. That's right...praising God at midnight, feet in stocks, in pain and in prison...

Praise...the game changed....

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (Acts 16:26 NKJV)

Praise changed the circumstances for Paul and Silas, and can change your circumstances too!  

Speak positive, praise God in your situation and circumstances, sing praises and lift up His Name, Jesus!!!  Shake things up! Speak up and speak out praise...that's a game changer!!!

Let's talk!

When a problem, challenge, situation, or issue comes up in your life, what is your first reaction? Do you have the urge to tell someone about it...Call a friend or two or three, post it on Facebook, Tweet it, email it?  The need to talk about a problem isn't a bad thing...in fact, there is One who is ready to listen and wants you to bring EVERYTHING to Him!  Try scheduling some talk time with your Father and discover peace and a guard for your heart and mind...now that's something to talk about!!!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

Tens

Alzheimer's disease intruded into my world in 2007.  My father's official diagnosis came later but the evidence was presented earlier.  Without going into detail about this disease, the progression often steals the ability to understand and express language and words can get jumbled, if spoken at all.  Awhile back, I was stitting with Dad, holding hands.  He looked at my hands and said, "those are your tens."  In my opinion, well said.  Sometimes the words that we expressed may not be the "right" word but the meaning is communicated.  I knew exactly what Dad was saying.  

Here are our Tens...God used these Words, both spoken and written...to insure that His people understood what they should do...in view of the lack of direction in this world today...a look at our Tens is a good place to start...then put our "tens" to work in His kingdom...start by lifting them up in praise, folding them together in prayer, wrapping them around the tens of another to comfort or reach out to grab the tens of a person in need...Tens for Him....

"And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. “You shall not murder.

 “You shall not commit adultery. 

“You shall not steal.

 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:1-17 NKJV)

Do not lose heart...

On this Labor Day holiday, I celebrated by sleeping in, getting up at 5:00am, and spending the first part of the morning looking up to a crystal clear sky and a heavenly array of stars.  A breathtaking reminder of my Creator God, who spoke this all into existence, just so I could see His signature in the sky, this morning!  

"The heavens declare the Glory if God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." Psalm 19:1-3

While enjoying this fanstastic view of the western sky, unsettling events and issues that are taking place in our local news invade my thoughts.   With this canopy of stars overhead, I wonder if I can see the North Star from my vantage point.  The North Star, among the brightest of the stars and set in place very close to the Earth's North pole, and is the point of navigation, has been for centuries and still is.  The North Star has been the guide to keep many travelers heading in the right and it has been hope to those who have lost their way.  When the lost find the North Star, they can once again get back on track!  

The society we live in today is lost, with no clear sense of direction. The moral truths grounded in Word of God are no longer seen as the true north. All sense of direction is lost because the compass is broken, no longer pointed to the Truth.  The solution is a simple one, get back on track...get the compass set on what is TRUE...and the Source of all Truth... 

John 14:6 (NET)

Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What are you using as your compass on this journey?  Are you heading in the right direction? Are you focused on a point that seems to keeps moving and changing?  Don't lose heart...look up!!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Get Moving!

The "couch 2 5k" app on my phone is very handy! Any tool to help this exercise challenged individual transition from inactivity to activity is welcomed! Of course, having this app on my phone did little to improve my stamina and strength until I put on the shoes and started running.

Early this spring I had to face the fact that although my winter of "rest" had a great positive impact on my spiritual walk...early morning hours in the prayer closet brought supernatural strength and a renewed closeness with my Heavenly Father... my physical temple was in a downward spiral. 

The quest to get physically stronger began.  Building up spiritual strength  started with making the commitment and setting aside the first part of my day to spend time with God in a dedicated place and time.  Likewise, Building physical strength demands discipline!

So, here we go.  Shoes on and start walking!  Yes, that's right...walking...and then a little short running...then some more walking! After several weeks of effort, the slow walk became a steady "granny shuffle" and the goal to finish a 5k became a revised goal, to finish strong!  The first 5k was tough but I finished!!! This summer had been on of 5ks...5 under my belt! Blazing fast?  No, but finishing strong, yes indeed! 

Build up your spiritual strength in the same way... start now...set aside a time and place to meet with your Creator, He made you and wants to spend time with you...there is no app needed for this!  Just find a place, closet, chair, room...and start praying..talking to God...He is listening and will answer!  You may only start out spending a few minutes, but soon those few minutes won't be enough and you'll find that the more time you spend working on your spiritual muscles will bring supernatural strength for your run!!! 

Just like running a 5k requires preparation and finding strength to finish strong takes commitment...gaining spiritual strength for this race of life will be found in preparation and discipline...get moving!!!  

2 Timothy 4:7 (NET)

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!

Hebrews 12:1 (NET)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us...