Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
This is one of the most famous Psalms, and for good reason. It is an important commandment when we are facing strife: Sit back and watch God work. We may see only trouble ahead, but in the end, God promises that He will be exalted, by all people, by all nations. We can't forget His promises during times of trouble.
Whenever we face struggles, this is a verse we should always turn to for comfort. When times are hard, sometimes the best thing we can do is “Be still” and trust in God. It isn't an option; it's a commandment, which means God expects us to just sit there and shut up if we want His best. God does his top work when all seems lost, and we don't know where to turn to. It is the world's way to try and solve our problems on our own; to many, that is the ultimate sign of strength. “I can take care of this” is the world's refrain but not God's. “I did it my way” worked great for Frank Sinatra, but not Christians.
Yet, that isn't what God expects of us. Sometimes, that “full steam ahead” routine is just stubborn pride. We want to prove to others that we are strong and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Whenever we act thusly, we cannot let God shine through. God is infinitely patient and willing for us to wait on him. It's that “Be still” part that seems to get us most often. In this fast-paced world, we don't know how to slow down. In this noisy world of ours, we don't know how to be quiet.
That is exactly what God wants us to do: slow down and listen to him. God is into the process, not the results. If we succeed in life but fail in our relationship with him, we are a failure. God repeatedly reminds us in the Bible to trust him with the outcome. So when you're looking for a job, or trying to keep your house out of foreclosure or trying to mend a vital relationship in your life, first take the time to check in with God. Spend a little quiet time with him, doing nothing more than listening. God seems to give great solutions to us when we sit calmly before him and wait for his word. Then we can get to work on our problems.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to sit quietly before you and listen for you still, quiet voice. Help me to wait on you. Amen.
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 68
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
I will not fear
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
Trouble can come in many forms. Divorce, loss of relationship, unemployment, foreclosure, addiction: The list goes on infinitely. In this Psalm, the trouble comes possibly from the end times, as evidenced by “mountains fall into the … sea.”
No matter what the circumstances, God is there to help us, and to give refuge to the needy. We know we can feel secure and at peace because of God’s presence in our life. That kind of confidence comes only from a relationship with the living God. Even if it isn’t the end times, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods can still have devastating affects for years to come. I saw the damage down by Hurricane Rita three years ago in rural Louisiana, and I saw what it did to the spirit o the community.
When a natural disaster like Rita happens, it’s easy to be scared. “Is it going to happen again? What do I need to do? Should we move or stay?” Those are all worthy sentiments in times of trouble. What the Psalmist tells us is not to worry. He reminds the Israelites that God has always delivered them, and he will do so again. “We will not fear” is a pretty positive statement amid the turmoil. The word “therefore” is an adverb, meaning “consequently.” Another words, because God has been faithful in the past, he will be faithful again in the future. We can bank it.
How do you react in times of strife? Do you panic? Do you worry? Are you fearful? Or are at peace and without fear? Those who walk with the Lord tend to be without fear, because they remind themselves of God’s faithfulness. If you’re going through hard times, God promises it won’t last forever. Just lean on him, and he will keep you upright. God’s provision is not temporary; it’s something we can count on – always.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to walk confidently in knowing you will take care of me. Help me to trust you in trying times. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 67
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
Trouble can come in many forms. Divorce, loss of relationship, unemployment, foreclosure, addiction: The list goes on infinitely. In this Psalm, the trouble comes possibly from the end times, as evidenced by “mountains fall into the … sea.”
No matter what the circumstances, God is there to help us, and to give refuge to the needy. We know we can feel secure and at peace because of God’s presence in our life. That kind of confidence comes only from a relationship with the living God. Even if it isn’t the end times, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods can still have devastating affects for years to come. I saw the damage down by Hurricane Rita three years ago in rural Louisiana, and I saw what it did to the spirit o the community.
When a natural disaster like Rita happens, it’s easy to be scared. “Is it going to happen again? What do I need to do? Should we move or stay?” Those are all worthy sentiments in times of trouble. What the Psalmist tells us is not to worry. He reminds the Israelites that God has always delivered them, and he will do so again. “We will not fear” is a pretty positive statement amid the turmoil. The word “therefore” is an adverb, meaning “consequently.” Another words, because God has been faithful in the past, he will be faithful again in the future. We can bank it.
How do you react in times of strife? Do you panic? Do you worry? Are you fearful? Or are at peace and without fear? Those who walk with the Lord tend to be without fear, because they remind themselves of God’s faithfulness. If you’re going through hard times, God promises it won’t last forever. Just lean on him, and he will keep you upright. God’s provision is not temporary; it’s something we can count on – always.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to walk confidently in knowing you will take care of me. Help me to trust you in trying times. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 67
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Thursday, June 25, 2009
When life is discouraging
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 43:5 (NIV) Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your home in God,
for I will yet praise him,
My Savior and my God.
Psalm 43 is about discouragement and is probably written by the sons of Korah, who were temple assistants. But this chapter is also about hope, something that is needed when we are discouraged. I spent the past five days in Arizona visiting my mom because she is not well physically, spiritually and emotionally. My mom’s biggest problem is that she is severely depressed because her best friend died in May. Add to that, several physical problems, and one can see where the discouragement comes from.
My mom is 80, and she also lost my dad a little more than three years ago. In the past few years, most of my mom’s friends have died or moved away. She is now the senior citizen of the church she has been attending for 42 years. What my mom most needs is socialization. We talked about getting into a Bible study with other women her age and how much she needed those friendships. Her physical problems keep her from going to church. Spiritually, she’s OK in that she loves the Lord and is in his word every day and watches several televangelists every day, but that is not the same as human contact.
What my mom is going through isn’t all that different from what single parents go through after divorce or separation from a life mate. Many single parents lose friends and support when divorce happens for various reasons. It is at that moment when we feel all alone that we realize we are never really all alone. God is always with us, through storm or calm seas. Like my mom, single parents need that socialization. We are human beings and created to interact with others. When we lose friendships, it is easy to become downcast or depressed. That is part of the grieving cycle and a vital part of our healing.
We move on from depression by going “to the altar of God” (vs. 4). The altar of God isn’t just in some church setting; it’s wherever you call out to God. We can worship God wherever we are, and he is just fine with that. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to experience the living God in our lives. God is a seven-day a week god, not a one day experience. When we realize what God is doing in our lives, our mouths are filled with praise. When we can praise God in the middle of the storm, that’s when we know we are on the downward slope of healing. That’s when hope fills our lives.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, cover my mom with your spirit of gladness. Fill her life with friends her age that can relate to her everyday life. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 65
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm 43:5 (NIV) Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your home in God,
for I will yet praise him,
My Savior and my God.
Psalm 43 is about discouragement and is probably written by the sons of Korah, who were temple assistants. But this chapter is also about hope, something that is needed when we are discouraged. I spent the past five days in Arizona visiting my mom because she is not well physically, spiritually and emotionally. My mom’s biggest problem is that she is severely depressed because her best friend died in May. Add to that, several physical problems, and one can see where the discouragement comes from.
My mom is 80, and she also lost my dad a little more than three years ago. In the past few years, most of my mom’s friends have died or moved away. She is now the senior citizen of the church she has been attending for 42 years. What my mom most needs is socialization. We talked about getting into a Bible study with other women her age and how much she needed those friendships. Her physical problems keep her from going to church. Spiritually, she’s OK in that she loves the Lord and is in his word every day and watches several televangelists every day, but that is not the same as human contact.
What my mom is going through isn’t all that different from what single parents go through after divorce or separation from a life mate. Many single parents lose friends and support when divorce happens for various reasons. It is at that moment when we feel all alone that we realize we are never really all alone. God is always with us, through storm or calm seas. Like my mom, single parents need that socialization. We are human beings and created to interact with others. When we lose friendships, it is easy to become downcast or depressed. That is part of the grieving cycle and a vital part of our healing.
We move on from depression by going “to the altar of God” (vs. 4). The altar of God isn’t just in some church setting; it’s wherever you call out to God. We can worship God wherever we are, and he is just fine with that. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to experience the living God in our lives. God is a seven-day a week god, not a one day experience. When we realize what God is doing in our lives, our mouths are filled with praise. When we can praise God in the middle of the storm, that’s when we know we are on the downward slope of healing. That’s when hope fills our lives.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, cover my mom with your spirit of gladness. Fill her life with friends her age that can relate to her everyday life. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 65
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Friday, June 19, 2009
Reach out to the weak
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 41:1 (NIV) Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
As I send out e-mails and resumes in my search for a job, I can’t stop thinking about one thing: How can I serve the needy, or, as David calls them, the “weak.” I am part of the 9 percent unemployment rate right now, but I just started and finances aren’t an issue. During the week, I meet with large groups and small groups of people trying to find a job. I look at all these men and see opportunity to reach the lost. They may be unemployed, but they still need to know that God cares for them and wants a daily relationship with them.
So I pray for opportunities to just talk to people. I think I’m down to two areas of service: cooking for the homeless and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. God has given me certain skills, and I want to use them for his kingdom. I love to cook, but I’ve pretty much decided that I don’t want to cook for a living. My focus in getting work is in the writing and editing area. Cooking one day a week would give me a chance to be around other cooks and hungry people. HFH would give me the chance to get men involved and to use their carpentry skills for the good of others. I have the same desire to go to Mexico and build houses for the poor.
I shared my idea with a pastor friend, and he just nodded at the idea. He asked me if I had carpentry skills, and I laughed. “My gift is visualizing the idea and organizing its conception,” I told him. My hope is to get men to see that they still have value, even though they are unemployed. Maybe we’ll meet on the jobsite once a week, and at day’s end, we’ll open up our Bibles and study God’s word for a little while – right there in the parking lot. Then we’ll pray for each other. “See you next week guys. Good luck getting a job.”
What that does is that it shows people you care. In showing people you care about them, it shows that God cares for them. Jesus essentially said the same thing in Matt. 5:1 in the Beatitudes, that the poor in spirit will be blessed. My spirit is good right now, and I want to share with other men (you, too, gals, if you want to come along) that Christ is filling up my self esteem basket to the brim. No matter what we go through, God can use us to share the Gospel with those around us, but especially “the poor in spirit.” They need Christ.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, fill my spirit with your goodness today. Help me to be loving to the unloved. Help me to reach out to one person today. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 64
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm 41:1 (NIV) Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
As I send out e-mails and resumes in my search for a job, I can’t stop thinking about one thing: How can I serve the needy, or, as David calls them, the “weak.” I am part of the 9 percent unemployment rate right now, but I just started and finances aren’t an issue. During the week, I meet with large groups and small groups of people trying to find a job. I look at all these men and see opportunity to reach the lost. They may be unemployed, but they still need to know that God cares for them and wants a daily relationship with them.
So I pray for opportunities to just talk to people. I think I’m down to two areas of service: cooking for the homeless and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. God has given me certain skills, and I want to use them for his kingdom. I love to cook, but I’ve pretty much decided that I don’t want to cook for a living. My focus in getting work is in the writing and editing area. Cooking one day a week would give me a chance to be around other cooks and hungry people. HFH would give me the chance to get men involved and to use their carpentry skills for the good of others. I have the same desire to go to Mexico and build houses for the poor.
I shared my idea with a pastor friend, and he just nodded at the idea. He asked me if I had carpentry skills, and I laughed. “My gift is visualizing the idea and organizing its conception,” I told him. My hope is to get men to see that they still have value, even though they are unemployed. Maybe we’ll meet on the jobsite once a week, and at day’s end, we’ll open up our Bibles and study God’s word for a little while – right there in the parking lot. Then we’ll pray for each other. “See you next week guys. Good luck getting a job.”
What that does is that it shows people you care. In showing people you care about them, it shows that God cares for them. Jesus essentially said the same thing in Matt. 5:1 in the Beatitudes, that the poor in spirit will be blessed. My spirit is good right now, and I want to share with other men (you, too, gals, if you want to come along) that Christ is filling up my self esteem basket to the brim. No matter what we go through, God can use us to share the Gospel with those around us, but especially “the poor in spirit.” They need Christ.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, fill my spirit with your goodness today. Help me to be loving to the unloved. Help me to reach out to one person today. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 64
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Are we patient or impatient?
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV) I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
and set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
Waiting patiently for the Lord is not something I’ve been good at. Frankly, I’m better at praying, hearing what I believe God tells me and acting on my beliefs. My prayer is often something like, “Lord, if what I’m doing isn’t your will, just make things happen that make it clear to me.” Of course, if it wasn’t clear the first time, why would it be any clearer the second time. Just wondering.
Both sides have pros and cons. If someone really believes he is in God’s will, he works fervently to make things happen. Their prayers are often, “Make things happen for me, Lord. Open doors, if it’s your will.” That’s how I feel right now, as I send out resumes and make contacts for potential work. I keep networking, as I am being trained to do at various job search groups I attend, and throughout the day, I just lift up quick prayers. “Lord, lead me in your way.” My unemployed friends and I talk about wanting to being in God’s will and seeing the right job opportunity for what it is, and not just exerting our will on God.
People that are truly patient amaze me. Sometimes, I think God has knocked me off my well-meaning path just to get me to slow down and listen to him. Maybe what I’m missing isn’t some change of life plan, it’s simply, “Doug, I want to tell you how much I love you and how much I care about you, but you’re going to fast, and I’m not going to yell at you as you run away from me.” In the past few months, I’ve made it a point to tell God I love him regularly and to thank you for loving me. I need to understand that, even though I’m unemployed, it doesn’t mean I’m out of God’s will today. It just means the right job isn’t coming my way today.
What I need to do when I feel impatient is take note of David’s words. Because he waited “patiently,” God heard his cries. We can count on that. When things are really bad, God will lift us out of whatever muck and mire we’re stuck in. And, finally, God promises to place our feet on a “firm piece of ground.” (Some translations say “on solid ground” or on “a firm foundation.”) David knew a thing or two about waiting, because he seemed to have an awful lot of time on his hands as hid from Saul and his enemies. Patience is something learned, which is what David accomplished through his hardships.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, hear my cries. Lift me out of my situation, and help me to see the path you’re going to place me on, the one that is on solid ground. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 63
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV) I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
and set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
Waiting patiently for the Lord is not something I’ve been good at. Frankly, I’m better at praying, hearing what I believe God tells me and acting on my beliefs. My prayer is often something like, “Lord, if what I’m doing isn’t your will, just make things happen that make it clear to me.” Of course, if it wasn’t clear the first time, why would it be any clearer the second time. Just wondering.
Both sides have pros and cons. If someone really believes he is in God’s will, he works fervently to make things happen. Their prayers are often, “Make things happen for me, Lord. Open doors, if it’s your will.” That’s how I feel right now, as I send out resumes and make contacts for potential work. I keep networking, as I am being trained to do at various job search groups I attend, and throughout the day, I just lift up quick prayers. “Lord, lead me in your way.” My unemployed friends and I talk about wanting to being in God’s will and seeing the right job opportunity for what it is, and not just exerting our will on God.
People that are truly patient amaze me. Sometimes, I think God has knocked me off my well-meaning path just to get me to slow down and listen to him. Maybe what I’m missing isn’t some change of life plan, it’s simply, “Doug, I want to tell you how much I love you and how much I care about you, but you’re going to fast, and I’m not going to yell at you as you run away from me.” In the past few months, I’ve made it a point to tell God I love him regularly and to thank you for loving me. I need to understand that, even though I’m unemployed, it doesn’t mean I’m out of God’s will today. It just means the right job isn’t coming my way today.
What I need to do when I feel impatient is take note of David’s words. Because he waited “patiently,” God heard his cries. We can count on that. When things are really bad, God will lift us out of whatever muck and mire we’re stuck in. And, finally, God promises to place our feet on a “firm piece of ground.” (Some translations say “on solid ground” or on “a firm foundation.”) David knew a thing or two about waiting, because he seemed to have an awful lot of time on his hands as hid from Saul and his enemies. Patience is something learned, which is what David accomplished through his hardships.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, hear my cries. Lift me out of my situation, and help me to see the path you’re going to place me on, the one that is on solid ground. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 63
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Put a muzzle on your tongue
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 39:1 (NIV) I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
If I were to look at my life in self-analysis, I would say the two biggest areas of struggle are my mind and my tongue. My head thinks up sin, and my tongue releases vial things on occasion. I can go months on end without yelling or screaming, then suddenly just lose it. David, too, knew he was susceptible to whining about God’s treatment of him. He did not want others hearing him complain because that would put a poor reflection on his relationship with God.
Where is your weakness when it comes to the tongue? Maybe you’re like me, and you tend to swear on occasion. Maybe you are a complainer like David. Maybe you are prone to gossip. Remember your mother’s adage, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Mom knew her stuff. How often in life would we be better of if we kept our mouths shut and said nothing? How many times does our pride prod us to get in the last word in an argument? Just zip it.
How do we stop our mouths from mouthing off? David said he would “put a muzzle on my mouth.” What a great idea! But does it work? What we need is accountability and prayer sometimes. We need to share with a fellow believer that we’re struggling with our tongue, and we need to pray for strength. I once paid my son a dollar every time he heard me swear. It broke my propensity to cuss really quickly. Still, my mouth always seems to get me in trouble, and it may always be a thorn in my side.
So what is the big deal with speaking like the heathens? What does it matter if we swear, or gossip or whine? After all, when in Rome … The pagans around you, at work, in your neighborhood, out in public, need to see you act differently then they do. They may be struggling with that same weakness, and if they hear it coming out of your mouth, what does that say about our faith? If God can’t help us control our tongues, what good is he? When you share with a non-believer how you broke your habit, it opens the door to sharing how Christ impacted your life.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to control my tongue and my temper. Every hour, every minute, every second. Don’t let my neighbors hear me swear or take your name in vain. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 62
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm 39:1 (NIV) I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
If I were to look at my life in self-analysis, I would say the two biggest areas of struggle are my mind and my tongue. My head thinks up sin, and my tongue releases vial things on occasion. I can go months on end without yelling or screaming, then suddenly just lose it. David, too, knew he was susceptible to whining about God’s treatment of him. He did not want others hearing him complain because that would put a poor reflection on his relationship with God.
Where is your weakness when it comes to the tongue? Maybe you’re like me, and you tend to swear on occasion. Maybe you are a complainer like David. Maybe you are prone to gossip. Remember your mother’s adage, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Mom knew her stuff. How often in life would we be better of if we kept our mouths shut and said nothing? How many times does our pride prod us to get in the last word in an argument? Just zip it.
How do we stop our mouths from mouthing off? David said he would “put a muzzle on my mouth.” What a great idea! But does it work? What we need is accountability and prayer sometimes. We need to share with a fellow believer that we’re struggling with our tongue, and we need to pray for strength. I once paid my son a dollar every time he heard me swear. It broke my propensity to cuss really quickly. Still, my mouth always seems to get me in trouble, and it may always be a thorn in my side.
So what is the big deal with speaking like the heathens? What does it matter if we swear, or gossip or whine? After all, when in Rome … The pagans around you, at work, in your neighborhood, out in public, need to see you act differently then they do. They may be struggling with that same weakness, and if they hear it coming out of your mouth, what does that say about our faith? If God can’t help us control our tongues, what good is he? When you share with a non-believer how you broke your habit, it opens the door to sharing how Christ impacted your life.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to control my tongue and my temper. Every hour, every minute, every second. Don’t let my neighbors hear me swear or take your name in vain. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 62
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A delighted God
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV) If the Lord delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37 is about patience and faith. Both are virtues we should all be seeking. Yet, we are human, and we tend to stumble and fall from the path that God has chosen for us. This message is a reminder that God does, indeed, direct our steps. In order for God to delight in our steps, we must be walking with him. When a person comes alongside an elderly or infirm person who has difficulty walking, the helper not only directs the steps, he keeps the person upright. We don’t look at it as a chore to help the person.
That is what God does with us every day – if we let him. Therein lies the challenge. Because we are human, we want to direct our own path sometimes. A battle of wills always seems to be going on. Occasionally, God lets us choose our own path, just to let us know what that really feels like. He lets us stumble and face the consequences of our actions. When we turn back to him for a helping hand, he makes us upright again.
Note that our steps are firm when the Lord delights in our ways. God clearly does not delight in our sinful ways. That is the key, to be in God’s will. One day, we honor him, the next, we stumble. Maybe God is working on our pride or our humility, or some such thing. Sometimes, the path seems to clear for days on end. Life is good. Then, perhaps overconfidence overwhelms us. We think we are stronger than we really are. That’s when we stumble. It’s a day-to-day challenge. We must accept the challenge and make the most of it.
We mustn’t think that God doesn’t have the time for our little old lives. He is omnipotent and omniscient – he is all powerful and knows everything that is ahead of us. God cares about each one of our lives, equally. You might say that we gain privilege or more time with God, but only because we are being obedient, which makes God delight in our ways. God wants a relationship with us every day, every hour, every minute, every second. When we call upon the Lord, he is delighted in us.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to walk in your ways. I want you to delight in my ways, so help me to be obedient. Help me to follow your path today. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 61
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV) If the Lord delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37 is about patience and faith. Both are virtues we should all be seeking. Yet, we are human, and we tend to stumble and fall from the path that God has chosen for us. This message is a reminder that God does, indeed, direct our steps. In order for God to delight in our steps, we must be walking with him. When a person comes alongside an elderly or infirm person who has difficulty walking, the helper not only directs the steps, he keeps the person upright. We don’t look at it as a chore to help the person.
That is what God does with us every day – if we let him. Therein lies the challenge. Because we are human, we want to direct our own path sometimes. A battle of wills always seems to be going on. Occasionally, God lets us choose our own path, just to let us know what that really feels like. He lets us stumble and face the consequences of our actions. When we turn back to him for a helping hand, he makes us upright again.
Note that our steps are firm when the Lord delights in our ways. God clearly does not delight in our sinful ways. That is the key, to be in God’s will. One day, we honor him, the next, we stumble. Maybe God is working on our pride or our humility, or some such thing. Sometimes, the path seems to clear for days on end. Life is good. Then, perhaps overconfidence overwhelms us. We think we are stronger than we really are. That’s when we stumble. It’s a day-to-day challenge. We must accept the challenge and make the most of it.
We mustn’t think that God doesn’t have the time for our little old lives. He is omnipotent and omniscient – he is all powerful and knows everything that is ahead of us. God cares about each one of our lives, equally. You might say that we gain privilege or more time with God, but only because we are being obedient, which makes God delight in our ways. God wants a relationship with us every day, every hour, every minute, every second. When we call upon the Lord, he is delighted in us.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to walk in your ways. I want you to delight in my ways, so help me to be obedient. Help me to follow your path today. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Vol. 4, No. 61
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=51
Monday, June 15, 2009
Extolling the Lord at all times
Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: Psalm 34:1-5 (NIV) I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Ed Aullie grew up in Mexico, the son of missionaries. When he grew up, he got married, had children and returned to northern Mexico as a missionary. He went from town to town, sharing the gospel with peasant Mexicans. He helped start churches in small villages. He worked among the prostitutes, drug addicts and alcoholics. He loved them all the same.
One day, the federales came and arrested him. The charges of forged documents were drummed up. They put him in federal prison, the worst by far in the country’s penal system. This was not something he could bribe his way out. He had an attorney working to get him out. He shared a small cell with seven other inmates, one of whom was a well-known pimp who ran brothels along the border towns. The pimp told Aullie to steer clear of him or else.
Aullie somehow sneaked in a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. Inside the prison, Aullie continued to “extol the Lord at all times,” and without fear. His praise was always on Aullie’s lips. He read his Bible every day, and soon inmates were asking about what he was reading, so he shared the good news of Jesus Christ. Inmates became believers. Lives were changed. Aullie planted a prison church with 65 new believers. One day, Aullie’s attorney got him released and whisked him out of the country on a plane.
What if Aullie had just kept his mouth shut and kept his nose clean while in prison? What if he hadn’t sneaked a New Testament into prison, against orders? What if he hadn’t shared the gospel with other inmates? My bet is that those who looked at Aullie in prison found a radiant face. They knew something different about him because of his countenance. As I look at my new world of unemployment, I realize that I must be radiant as I go about looking for a job. I must also remember to extol the Lord at all times. People around me need to hear about him, because they’re afraid, and they need to know that Jesus makes a difference in their lives. They must see that difference in my life.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to be bold today when meeting new people. Help me to share my faith in ways only you know how it touches the other person. Amen
Scripture: Psalm 34:1-5 (NIV) I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Ed Aullie grew up in Mexico, the son of missionaries. When he grew up, he got married, had children and returned to northern Mexico as a missionary. He went from town to town, sharing the gospel with peasant Mexicans. He helped start churches in small villages. He worked among the prostitutes, drug addicts and alcoholics. He loved them all the same.
One day, the federales came and arrested him. The charges of forged documents were drummed up. They put him in federal prison, the worst by far in the country’s penal system. This was not something he could bribe his way out. He had an attorney working to get him out. He shared a small cell with seven other inmates, one of whom was a well-known pimp who ran brothels along the border towns. The pimp told Aullie to steer clear of him or else.
Aullie somehow sneaked in a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. Inside the prison, Aullie continued to “extol the Lord at all times,” and without fear. His praise was always on Aullie’s lips. He read his Bible every day, and soon inmates were asking about what he was reading, so he shared the good news of Jesus Christ. Inmates became believers. Lives were changed. Aullie planted a prison church with 65 new believers. One day, Aullie’s attorney got him released and whisked him out of the country on a plane.
What if Aullie had just kept his mouth shut and kept his nose clean while in prison? What if he hadn’t sneaked a New Testament into prison, against orders? What if he hadn’t shared the gospel with other inmates? My bet is that those who looked at Aullie in prison found a radiant face. They knew something different about him because of his countenance. As I look at my new world of unemployment, I realize that I must be radiant as I go about looking for a job. I must also remember to extol the Lord at all times. People around me need to hear about him, because they’re afraid, and they need to know that Jesus makes a difference in their lives. They must see that difference in my life.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to be bold today when meeting new people. Help me to share my faith in ways only you know how it touches the other person. Amen
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