Let God settle the Score

6/30/15

- You can't control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction. 

- God says maturity and responsibility are evident in your life when you can handle the pressures and pains without becoming stressed out or angry and blowing up.

- put your mind in gear before you put your mouth in motion.

- Being responsible in your responses means more than what you say. It's also in your actions. 

- "Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:21 LB) 

- When you try to get even with someone for what they did to you, you've just lowered yourself to their standard. 

- And a person who tries to get even is no better than the person who did the wrong. 

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

S: I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. (Acts of the Apostles 20:19 NLT)

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Acts of the Apostles 20:24 NLT)

O: Regardless of my plea John is leaving to Denver. Unknown of where the decision may lead our relationship. I can't control his decision, but I can control my response to it. I believe I have matured and therefore can accept the responsibility of being a single mom who is still able to manage my gift and calling alongside a job. It was inevitable that John would make such a decision. Though it may hurt, I can handle it without getting puffed up. 

A: The proof of my maturity and responsibility is in my verbal response. The message is clear, I disagree and am uncomfortable with the decision, however, my words and actions must reflect growth. I'm above the standard of selfishness. I am better than this wrong. I must carry myself with pride and not disgrace. I have the opportunity to be the women of God, the mother, and fulfill the healthy lifestyle style I desire with no distractions and no excuses.

P: You have called me by name. I belong to you Lord. Humbly I come to your throne of grace knowing I will endure the unknown with tears. For you will always provide a way out. As you did last Wednesday as I called on your name. You didn't stop the storm, you sent help. I have endured trials before and I will continue to endure them. Without you oh God I am nothing. My life is nothing and useless unless I use this pressure and this pain to mold me and to create something great. Unless I use this to complete the work God has given me to do. The work of victory that comes from a relationship with you!!!! You are good!!!! You will never waste a hurt. Re-establish the drive to healthy living. My why is Christ like character. I will ensure, adjust, inspire. I will continue to grow in wisdom, stature, favor with God and favor with man. I know who I am. I am yours. Here's to a new Liz from this day forward. Transform my mind. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

You are with me

6/27/15

- the Word of God is our foundation.

- I want the people I care about to be free: I don't want them bound up by guilt. I don't want them bound up by worry. I don't want them messed up by resentment. I don't want them to be pressured by the expectations of others. 

- Jesus said, " You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 TEV) 

- when you build your life on God's Word, you'll have a life of genuine freedom.

- teach them to rely on God's Word as the sole authority for their lives.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

S: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” (Acts of the Apostles 18:9-10 NLT)

P: I'm at a lost. Thank you for never changing. I continue to praise your name and enjoy the process even as I am in the middle of it. Help me in my thoughts. I want to master your word so through me others can be saved. I know you are with me. I will not be afraid. I will speak out!!!!! I will not be silent any more. Sometimes in the middle of it situations seem hard , yet, God you are with me. No one will attack me or my family. I love you Lord, you are wonderful. In Jesus name. Amen.

Teach me

6/25/14

- God waits to see what we're going to do with what we have before He steps in and turns a little into a lot.

- Never underestimate what God can do through ordinary people and limited resources given to him in faith. 

- If you want to be used by God just get available. 

- If you want a miracle in your life, you cannot hold anything back from God.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

S: I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. (Psalms 143:4 NLT)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. (Psalms 143:10-11 NLT)

O: I have unique talents and abilities. I have a phenomenal story and an out of this world ability to encourage. I also enjoy being detailed and following order. God has given me these talents and abilities. He has also given me my life as it is laid before me. Most importantly, he hasn't given me more than I can handle. However if I can't be successful in all that already, how can he give me more? We are in an unusual circumstances yet God says he can!!!! He can still use us in our lack of resources as long as we give in faith. 

A: I need to become more available to God. Worrying leads to death. Worry is a feeling and that's not who I am. I want a miracle in my life according to Gods will. Therefore I can't hold back. I may be compelled to lose hope or fear may try to paralyze me, but greater is he that is in me. 

P: May this scripture be my prayer this morning, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress." In Jesus name, amen.

Just as the Lord has Promised

6/23/15

- Every miracle begins with a problem. If you don't have a problem, you don't need a miracle.

- The starting point is to recognize there is a problem.

- write down one problem in your life where you'd like to see a miracle. Then pray and tell God about this problem.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

     - One problem is having time to.

     manage money. I feel overwhelmed

     with the amount of responsibility I

     have that the basic needs, food,

     finance, and clothing get neglected.

     I would like to see a miracle within 

     me of wisdom to truly balance the

     basic needs. I know I can do it, I just

     need to do it; with Gods help. 

Lord, I praise you for waking me up this morning and allowing me to see another day! I thank you for grace! I thank you for the ability to dream and the ability to know you and make you known. You are wonderful!!!! Husband daddy, I need a miracle of wisdom within me to help assist my decision making. To be a woman of integrity by sticking to my word. Abba, please see my heart and not my mistakes. May a door open with a job and everything work out for child care according to your will. I love you Lord! There is nothing and no one greater than you! I praise you. I pray this in Jesus wonderful name, amen.

S: Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, “Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!” So they would not eat it. Elisha said, “Bring me some flour.” Then he threw it into the pot and said, “Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat.” And then it did not harm them. (2 Kings 4:40-41 NLT)

One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.” “What?” his servant exclaimed. “Feed a hundred people with only this?” But Elisha repeated, “Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the LORD says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!” And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised. (2 Kings 4:42-44 NLT)

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” (2 Kings 5:13 NLT)

But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? (2 Kings 5:26 NLT)

O: Wow! I love how God talks with me!!!! The first devotion talked about identifying the problem first in order to receive a miracle from God, than to pray and tell God. After doing so my next devotion was about several different miracles. The first problem was poison in the stew. Elisha takes some flour, pours it and stirs in the stew and it was alright to eat. Nothing harmed them. The second problem was a sack of grain and twenty loaves of bread to feed hundred of people. The Lord said everyone would eat and there will be leftovers. Elisha stood on the word Jesus said. There was plenty left over just as Jesus promised.

The next problem, in the next chapter of other devotion I read, was Naaman had leprosy. Naaman went to one prophet to be cured and the prophet tore his clothes declaring who am I to cure leprosy. Naaman went to Elisha who told him a simple way to be healed but he was too prideful to receive his simple healing. He denied the process he expected the process to be difficult. His officers said to him, If it were difficult you would do it but because it's simple you doubt. 

A: My miracle is here!!!! However, my gift and call has been dabbled with poison. I need to add some substance to my gift and calling and stir it in. Than it will be alright and nothing can cause it any harm. I need to stand firm just on what Jesus has promised!!!! And I will touch more people with the little message I have to give. The process is simple. However, due to a hard life and everything currently going on being so difficult I don't accept the simplicity of what God is doing within me. I doubt the simple because it's no difficult. 

P: What a phenomenal God you are!!!! You speak to me so clearly that I get distraught by trying to complicate things. I caused own problems yet you stand by awaiting a miracle for me first than by others. I understand, this is not the season to receive money from speaking but to receive the nuggets and treasures you are giving me. Wisdom will come with experience. I believe Char is wise and she considered me to be part those among her amazing being. I am grateful for your words oh Lord. Please be with me as you know the desires of my heart. I Jesus powerful name I pray, amen.

Do It Anyway

6/22/15

- There comes a point in life where you have to stop talking about and praying about a barrier in your life. You must step out -- in spite of your feelings, your fears, and your doubts. 

- God said, "I'm going to do a miracle! But I want you to step in first. This is a test."

- What do you do when you know something is God's will but you're scared to death to do it? You do it anyway!

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

- Face your fears. "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done!" (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV)

S: LORD, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. Interlude (Psalms 140:8 NLT)

O: Yesterday on the call ET shared some powerful points on relinquishing and there always has to be a compromiser. He used this example of not telling his wife they were moving back to Michigan when he felt it was a God thing. She was initially upset however later apologized due to her behavior. I feel as its God to stay here because I haven't felt a release yet. However, to compromise in my marriage is to let John try out this job. Maybe it'll lead back to Grand Junction or maybe God will release us. Either way I need to step out in faith and also stay grounded. My feelings got the best of me at the beginning of this journey but I'm going to set aside my feelings, fear and doubt and enjoy the process. I know what Gods will is for me in using his will for my marriage. Therefore must stay consistent and keep at it. Who I am becoming in the process is greater then the decision that may or may not need to be made. 

A: I am facing my fear of the unknown and trusting God. If I wait for a decision to be made before continuing what I know I should be doing, it'll never get done. I must be busy waiting and again, enjoying the process! 

P: Abba Father, coming messiah! You deserve all of the praise and the honor. Glory to your name on high!!!! Thank you for being with me and challenging my faith. I say I believe in you but do I really believe when in the mist of a tough situation? Do I believe in you enough to trust you, to trust you process. I step aside Husband Daddy, do your will! I know there will never be a perfect decision, but I should not stop chasing after you. Let your will be done, not the way of evil people. Please do not allow there schemes to prosper. Dwell within my success may I not follow a proud heart or become proud. You are holy!  You deserve the glory. You deserve it all. In Jesus precious name, amen.

I Lean

6/21/15

- When you lean on God it means more than just "I believe in God." It means, "I am trusting Him to hold me up."

- leaning on the approval of other people is a very shaky foundation. People are going to let you down. Nobody can hold you up all the time

- If you say, "I'll just depend on me!" you'll disappoint yourself.

- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) 

- Leaning on the Lord is scary. It's uncomfortable sometimes. But that's what leaning in faith is all about.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

S: Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’ ” When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. (Acts of the Apostles 13:46-49 NLT)

The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.

But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. (Acts of the Apostles 14:1, 3 NLT)

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalms 139:5-7 NLT)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalms 139:13 NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalms 139:23-24 NLT)

O: In Metro Kids we sung a song with the lyrics, "I lean, I lean, I lean, I lean, I'm leaning on the Lord's side." What it means to lean on the Lord's side is to trust in God, trust the prices for God is the process. People have always failed me. I have always failed myself,  God however, has never failed me. He has been the constant thing in my life. Therefore, leaning on the Lord's side in every area of my life is greater than leaning on myself and the recognition of others. I will acknowledge God always that he direct my path. Not me or John, Paul, or Chris. 

A: My spiritual gift is exhortation and my Biblical example is Barnabas. Barnabas in all his ways leaned on the Lord not his self and definitely not the approval of others. He spoke out boldly and declared the good news to all who God has called him to. Some of the Jews rejected the message yet Barnabas, along with Paul, too the good news to the Gentiles. For God had commanded them to be there light. No matter the opposition, they preached with power. They continued to preach boldly and God proved there message to be true by the miraculous things they had down. They trusted in God even when people rejected there message. They did not lean on themselves or each other they trusted in the process. Therefore I to must lean on God and trust the message he has given me and speak it boldly. Parents will reject it, Paul, Ash, the students will reject it but I must continue to preach the message God has given me and trust him and he will approve my message!

P: I know you are for me husband daddy. I know that you believe in me and have called me abba father. Worthy is your name! Worthy are you and your ways almighty God! I lean oh how I lean on you and trust you by trusting the process. My understanding of what you are doing is insignificant. I am nothing you are everything. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

Discover Them

6/20/15

-  God promises strength: what God asks you to do, he'll give you the power to do.

- God promises success: "You will be successful." (Joshua 1:6)

- God promises support: God's word, done God's way, will not lack God's support. 

- God has many, many promises for you in the Bible but you've got to discover them.

- God's promise of success is not based on your ability. It's based on your commitment to His Word.

(Rick Warren Daily Devotion)

- Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

- No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. (Joshua 1:5-6 NLT)

Commit to his word

His power at work within us to accomplish

More than we might ask

I will be with you

I will not fail you or abandon you

Be strong and courageous

You are the one 

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9 NLT)

S: But first let’s find out what the LORD says.” (1 Kings 22:5 NLT)

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.” But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what the LORD tells me to say.” (1 Kings 22:13-14 NLT)

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! (Acts of the Apostles 13:22-23 NLT)

Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. (Psalms 138:6 NLT)

The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. (Psalms 138:8 NLT)

O: First and foremost, remember God's promises. Not just the one in song, but the ones he declares over me in his word.  I will triumph by staying committed to his word. Committing to the word of God means continually studying its instructions and meditating on it daily to obey every word. This is the real secret to success therefore when I stay grounded in this commitment to God, I will prosper!!!! With strength and courage I will not be afraid, I will not be discouraged. For the Lord my God, my husband daddy will go with me!!!!

A: I have a tough decision ahead of me, but before Paul, John and Chris, I need to find out what God says. I'm sitting here arguing with myself about what God is revealing to me in scripture. God I step aside and allow your word to speak through my feelings in Jesus name. Once again victory is being promised. It's easy to agree with the promise. But what is the Lord telling me. I removed Saul who said he followed me but did not follow my commands. I replaced him with David whom I given my only son to be a decedent as I promised. For David despite the affair with Uriah was a man after my own heart. Jesus is your savior Liz! Be humble for you know how pride can distance you from me. I will work out my plans for your life and your faithful love toward me. I won't abandon what I have made. 

P: Who am I that you would love me? Who am I oh Lord, precious father that you would speak so directly with your servant? Who am I God? Who am I but your child. If I need to pray, I'll pray. If I need to be still, I will be still.  My situation is to remain serving you here in Grand Junction or releasing us to serve you in Denver. Please give me clarity as clear as can be with this decision and may I not waver on the decision. Give John guidance and wisdom over a job and wisdom over his decisions. Be with my mouth and my thoughts. Give me wisdom and guidance, give me peace. May I live out today with humility from the Holy Spirit. I love you Lord!!!! You are beyond incredible. May your will, not our ego be done. Purify me. I pray this all in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.