I'm Above You

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

I have had some interactions with some pretty snooty people.  Sadly, it was either someone who had money or a Christian.  Of course, not all people who have a bur stuck someplace are well off or a Christian, but I’ve had more problems with Christians than I have non-Christians.  Just because you feel you’ve got your life in order, doesn’t make you better than everyone else.  One way or another, we all sin and we do it every single day; that puts us all in the same boat.  You may be realizing the stuff in your life you need to get rid of while another person may still not get it.  This just means you’re sitting at a different spot in the boat, but still in the same boat.  God is at the head of the boat giving us directions and we as Christians need to be His hands and feet and take up the rowing positions to help others around us make it through life and see the direction God is taking them.     

Proverbs 16:18 “First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”      

The Birth That Changed the World

Matthew 1:20-21 “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Lately, I’ve not had many devotions laid on my heart.  Of course, God has been speaking things to me but I haven’t felt led to speak it to anyone.  As the “day of joy” neared I kept feeling a rising in my spirit.  It grew stronger and stronger until the flood broke loose.  An emotion and passion spilled from my heart and I knew God wanted me to write it out for people to read.  On December 25^th,we celebrate the birth of a man who saved us from death.  Nobody knows the exact day He was born and we can all hypothesize but that is the day we all pause our lives to give and be given to; to bless and be blessed.  We remember who our families are and even if there’s no blood relation we realize who it is that belongs in our family.  We cherish this baby boy that was born in a feeding trough (manger), in a barn, while the freezing air bit at His newborn skin.  My dad said something that made me really stop and think.  Instead of thinking of a man dying on the cross for us, think of that little, perfect baby boy being nailed on the cross and giving His life for our stupid actions.  His soft, white skin being pierced by the nails as small cries came from his lips; blood flowing over his little head as thorns sat embedded in His scalp.  Every Christmas, we pull the inner grace out of ourselves and are willing to give more, to help more, and to be more caring.  Keep looking at things differently!  Don’t just bury it after the joyful season is over!  The world seems much lighter and happier around Christmas.  It could always be that way if we weren’t willing to stuff our “holiday cheer.”  It wasn’t Christmas day when Christ died for us.  It doesn’t have to be Christmas day for you to give the best of yourself.

Psalm 68:3 “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.”

Don't Move!

Psalm 62:1 “God, the one and only-I’ll wait as long as He says.  Everything I need comes from Him, so why not?”

Today I was pretty antsy.  God hadn’t given me a devotion to post for the past couple of days.  At first, I was worried it was me just not listening or paying close enough attention.  I thought I may just be missing what God wanted me to speak.  I felt a responsibility to post at least something for each day instead of nothing.  Instead, I waited.  Today, God spoke to me and it made the past few days make sense.  A lot of times we get impatient while waiting on God to move.  Instead of being patient, we will go ahead and do what we feel is the right action to take.  Ah, this is when we shouldn’t be surprised that it didn’t work out like we had hoped.  Wait for God to move.  Let Him tell you what the next step is.  Don’t let the way you think it needs to happen, interfere with the way God knows it needs to happen.

Lamentations 3:25 “God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.”