Thought of the Day: #2 "Don't Take it for Granted"

Thought of the day: 
I was sitting in my room with my laptap on my lap trying to get some work done. I had the a/c on, my fan on, feeling nice and cool. It's a warm day today and was thankful that I was comfortable. Then out of nowhere the power went out! Everything turned off in one quick "whoosh!" No a/c. No fans. No wi-fi either. I checked to see what was going on. Bill was paid so that's not it. Everything checked out fine, so, this was one of those things that was out of my control. Ok. "So," I wondered, "what can I do now? With no electricity, what can be done?" Then it hit! Funny how conviction works that way.

How spoiled are we? We depend so much on electricity and the latest gadgets of the day! So much of our days are filled with things we use that need electricity. It's so normal to have the central air/heat readily available. We walk into a room that's dark and the first thing you do is turn on the light. You're hungry, you walk over to the refrigerator and get something to eat. We have it pretty good don't we? But yet...

We dare to complain. We take so much for granted in our lives that we don't even realize we are taking them for granted. It's not until we lose it, even if it's for a brief period of time, that we realize just how much we depend on these things and value them.

I don't know about you, my dear friend, but the next time I go to switch on the light or enjoy the comfort of the coolness of the a/c I will try my hardest to not take it for granted and be thankful instead.

Philippians 4:12, "I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little."

God bless you my dear friend!

Thought of the Day: Stand Firm

My dear friends my thought of the day: "Stand firm," Eph. 6:14. We are to stand firm on what? On something solid. "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:18-20. Some live firmly in what they posess instead of on the firm foundation of God's Truths. We need to choose one or the other; choose God or choose money. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:23-25. Money comes and goes but the Lord is constant. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! So let's all "stand firm" on the solid foundation of God's Truths!

Thank you my dear friends for reading this blog! You're in my prayers. If you're on Facebook come and check out the ministry page at www.Facebook.com/ReflectingTruthMinistries.com 

If you or someone you know would prefer to read these postings in Spanish please visit www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com

Devotional #42: “The Never-Ending To-Do List"

Hello my dear friends! It's amazing how quickly time flies! We're already towards the end of October and it feels like we just rang in 2013! In just about 68 days we will be ringing in 2014! WOW! Do you feel like me? Do you stop and think about how quickly time passes by? Do you wonder, like I do, if we're spending the time that the Lord is giving to us adequately? Are we doing what God wants us to do with the time that He's giving us or are we doing what we want to do? Are we just doing what needs to be done and not realizing that time is quickly fading away and the "to-do" lists will always be never-ending but, our time with God, our spouses, our children and other loved one's is fading too?  Did I just get too deep?  

This is what concerns me when I look at the calendar and look at how much time has passed and how much time is left before the end of the year. I'm not just concerned about living for God instead of "self." I'm concerned for you too, my dear friend. There are so many of you that are dear, sweet, wonderful people that are just living for today...getting things done, very important things done but, not enjoying what's going on around you because you're so busy. Please know that I'm sharing this from my heart. I was just like you, living for the right now. Busy getting done what needed to get done and being so busy that I didn't enjoy life anymore.  

Life became this big "to-do" list. Life became redundant. I remember thanking God for the day but wishing it was done…well, because I was tired of being so tired…I was tired of working so hard at trying to keep up with the “to-do” list that I started to resent the never-ending “to-do” list. I started to resent those around me that seemed to be better at accomplishing everything on their “to-do” lists while I seemed to always be behind with mine. 

Oh, my dear friends, it wasn’t until the Lord convicted me about this resentment that was growing quickly in my heart like a cancer!  My heart was growing cold towards Him, my loved ones and even towards myself. I was headed towards a very dangerous place. A place that many have gone to and have never returned. This place is called “abandonment.”  It is the place in the heart that is cold and harsh.  It is where those that have given up go to.  It is in “abandonment” that they dare to do the unthinkable.  

They abandon their spouses, loved ones, their lives as they know it with the belief that they can start anew again.  What they don’t know is that this place of abandon has been set up by the devil himself. It is a trap that is set like a spider that slowly, quietly, patiently weaves its web. Once what’s caught in the web is felt the spider attacks and kills its prey.  This is what the devil does in the place of “abandonment.”  He kills the joy of God, spouse, children…life as we know it. Ephesians 6:12, “^For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)

No, my dear friends, let’s not take time for granted. Let’s not allow the never-ending “to-do” list keep us from living this beautiful life God has given to us. Yes, it is very important to be responsible for those we so deeply care for.  Yes, it is very important to be responsible with our work, schools, churches and communities.  But, nothing is more important than our relationship with God.  Nothing on our “to-do” list can compare to the joy of laughter from our children.  Let’s live life the way God intended it.  Let’s live and enjoy every minute we get. Let’s enjoy God’s joy and hope. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

 

Thank you for reading! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a devotional! Hope you have all been well. My dear friends you are all in my prayers. God bless you and yours.  For more of my writing check out my other posts on the blog or you can check out my “Thought of the Day” on the ministry’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ReflectingTruthMinistries.com

 

*If you would like to read this same devotional in Spanish or know of someone that would please visit my Spanish blog at www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com