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Devotional for
Crowded out “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6: 33 NIV During this school year, my eldest son has had a lot of difficulty managing his time. It actually started at the beginning of the school year, when we decided that he could get ready for school at Often times when we sit down to prioritize the areas of our lives, we can get so fixated on looking at creating a solution that we may miss the other parts that also need adjusting. In this case, our son thought that he could continue to stay up as late as he was before without having any consequences. It wasn’t until the first few days of waking up at Children are not the only ones that struggle with time management. It seems the older we get, the more responsibilities, commitments, and distractions we are faced to contend with. Many of us go from living a life of singleness to becoming spouses and parents. We leave behind childhood to becoming responsible for our own careers and bills. That does not include the pulls of distractions that come along with television shows, movies, video games, iPods, or even the internet. We start of with good intentions, but somewhere along the way, 2 hours have past since you sat down to watch one TV show and now you are too tired to read your Bible or pray. I know! I have done it myself too many times. If we are not careful, we can crowd God right out of our lives. God craves for us to fellowship with Him; to worship Him; to seek Him with all that we have. It takes us choosing to build our relationship with Him on a daily basis which requires us to be aware of the distractions and prioritizing those areas in our lives. There is nothing wrong with playing the video games, listening to the iPod, or watching a movie. But when we allow these things to become distractions from seeking God, spending time building our relationship with Him, or as hindrances from serving Him, they become distractions. Each day we are charged with seeking Him in all sorts of ways that go beyond the Sunday morning service or a weekday Bible study. It is how we seek Him when we are alone, when we are at home, or even when we are on our jobs that continue to build upon what we may experience at those moments. Prayer My heavenly Father, thank you for providing a right now, living word to help guide and direct me in all my steps. Forgive me Lord for allowing the cares and niceties of this world to be distractions in my relationship with you. Guide me Lord on how to continue to build my relationship with you. Help me to recognize and respond to those areas that are distractions. Help me to know your timing. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Matthew Tuesday Hosea Wednesday Psalm 27: 8 Thursday 1 Chronicles Friday Psalm 105: 4 Saturday Hebrews 11: 6 Sunday Isaiah 55: 6 Application Spend more time with God this week and less on your distractions. About the author: As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com
Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
The Process “ 5) What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthian 3: 5-7 After a couple of tries, my boys and I finally have a garden growing. Of course, most of the work is left in my hands, but it is wonderful to watch their faces each day as they eagerly wait to go outside to see what new plants have grown. My middle child is just amazed to see them grow taller and makes up stories about how tall they are going to be or what they are going to grow. Yet today, as I was watering the tomato plants I was quite surprised to find two little buds just making their appearance on the scene. Most of the other seeds had begun growing over a month ago and are now over four inches tall. I thought that the ones that were there was all that was going to grow. Then to my surprise, there, trying to break its way through the soil, were two buds. Although the other seeds had taken off quite quickly to grow, these two just needed more time. When we first began the gardening process last year, it did not go so well. We purchased all of the necessary items that were needed to start a new garden. I even sought help from the individual working in the garden section to be sure that I what I was purchasing was correct. We gathered to set the soil, sow the seeds, and even watered it according to the directions. Regardless to what we did, not one seed grew. Sometimes in life, we think that we can do all the right things and that will be enough. That somehow in our own strength we are able to carry it all. Yet, what I learned from that first garden is that the seed on its own has no life, nor can it make itself grow. Even by providing water, the water has no life giving abilities. All life comes from God and God alone. But when we start to think that we can do everything on our own, away from the leaders and body of Christ’s church, our growth can be hindered. God assigns people to come into our lives to plant the seeds of His word, to help us grow by watering or rather tending us. Before any of this can start, we each are charged with connecting to the only giver of life, Christ. Just like my tomato plant that had some that started growing right away, there are those of us that attached to Christ early in life. Then there are those who are similar to those two buds that have just started to grow. This group of people accepted Christ later on in life and began their growing process at an older age. The beauty of Christ is that regardless to when the plants began to grow, each will bring forth fruit (tomatoes) in their own season. Once we connect to Christ then we truly begin to live and grow. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me with this life that I have. I am grateful that you fashioned me in your image with a purpose and a plan. I am not here by accident nor was I unplanned by you. Help me to receive help and guidance from those that you have placed in my life to help me to grow up in my relationship and purpose in you. I pray that I not be prideful in believing that anything I have is because of me, but that I humbly recognize that all blessings are a gift from you. Thank you Lord for never leaving nor forsaking me even when I my heart was turned from you. I pray that I may do my part in helping others to grow and mature in you. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday 1 Corinthians 3: 5-7 Tuesday Acts Wednesday Colossians 1: 6 Thursday Ephesians Friday Colossians Saturday Psalm 92: 13-14 Sunday Colossians Application Instead of focusing on the time that has been wasted, choose to spend some time this week praising God for the life He has given you and the growth that has occurred in your life. About the author: As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com
Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
The Author and the Finisher “1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: 1-2 NIV I am a planner. I like being able to sit down and write out my to do lists for the day and even the week. Often times, I even will jot down those short term and long terms goals that I have for myself to help me visually see the plan. Even though I love spontaneity, I prefer to have a plan for myself as a student and professional. I allot myself a set amount of time to complete my degrees or certifications and expect to meet those standards. Then, there are other areas of my life, such as being a military wife and a mom, which truly require that I be able to go with the flow, monitor and adjust. It has been through those unforeseen changes that have caused me to hold on more to my faith and trust in, not my plans, but rather God’s plans for my life. All throughout my life, I can recall moments of promises and direction that would reveal where He was going to take me. Of course, being the planner, I wanted to know up front every single step that was going to get me to that place. But that isn’t how it worked for me. Yes, God did provide me with every single step, yet it was not always at a time that was comfortable for me. God never said that race we run would be a simple one, devoid of challenges, disappointment or even temptations. Quite the opposite really! Instead, we are encouraged to run the race that God has marked out specifically for us letting go of those things or people that are hindrances to us. It is hard to continue to run the race when we are weighted by the voices of others who speak doubt, despair, distraction and even death in our lives. It is challenge to run the race without getting weary when we constantly keep the weight when we only see ourselves through the eyes of others instead of through the eyes of Christ. We are encouraged to let go of the sin that causes us to be distracted and separated from the guidance of Christ. Yes, we then encouraged to persevere. As long as we carry the weight we are doomed to fail before we ever start. But God!!! Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. We just need to keep our eyes, our hearts, our minds fixed on Him. He will provide every step, every connection, every door that is needed to get us to the next place to fulfill the plan He fashioned for us in the beginning. He knows that alone, we are weighted with our pain, pride, anger, and greed. Yet, when we stayed fixed on Him, He heals the pain; humbles us; gives us peace; and helps us to be selfless. Being fixed on Him gives us the revelation that is needed to know when to move, when to be still, when to stay the course, and when to adjust to change. So I have learned that plans are great, but it does not take the place of faith and God’s guidance. Prayer Most awesome Father, it is only through being focused on you that I am able to complete the race that is before me. Lord continue to strengthen me through your word and grant me revelation so that I may know the things and relationships that hinder me from being focused on you. Lord I pray for wisdom so that I may know how to follow your plan and not become impatient in trying to create my own. Thank you Lord for be the author and finisher of my life. What you started you shall complete. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Hebrews 12: 1-2 Tuesday Proverbs 3: 5-6 Wednesday Ephesians Thursday Philippians 2: 8 Friday 1 Corinthians Saturday Hebrews Sunday Romans Application Take time to focus on your relationship with Christ and allow Him to direct you on His plan for your life. About the author: As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
Never Absent “1) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2) Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3) though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah” Psalm 43: 1-3 Before becoming a parent at an early age, there were just so many things that I just didn’t get. There were things that I just truly took for granted and expected to happen. Yet, once my son entered my life on that day, I knew that the way I lived was no longer just about me but it impacted someone else. The idea that I was responsible for another person terrified me. What happened if I messed up? How was I supposed to know what to do and when to do it? There have been many challenges that I have faced on this journey of motherhood from being a single mom of one to now a married mom preparing for my fourth. One of the greatest lessons that I have learned is truly how much Christ is always available. With each of my children there have been visits to the hospital where I am sitting, waiting, praying, trusting God to work in ways that only He could. With each visit I learned that I was not moving in my own strength or knowledge, but it was Christ who was always present when I found myself in need. Then when we began to experience some discipline challenges with our eldest son, so often I found myself laying, crying, calling out to God for peace, for strength, for wisdom, for HELP. As a parent, I have learned that I have limits. You see, people do all sorts of things to protect their children from experiencing harm, hurt, or even something as basic as hurt feelings. What parents do to protect their children is no different than how kings would protect themselves within fortified cities with high built walls and meticulously trained armies. Yet, with all of that, only God truly provides the refuge or peace that is needed when one is under attack. For even when we are doing our part as parents, sometimes it is easy to feel as if we are lacking, inadequate, or somehow are failing. This is when taking refuge in Christ is so essential. When we place ourselves in His care, He is able to provide the direction, the wisdom, and the peace that is needed in raising our children. With each phase that my children go through, I am learning that even when I am unable to reach the family or the friends, God is always there. He is my help that provides the direction on how to encourage, how to discipline, how to reward, how to just simply be a mom to my children. I know that I will make mistakes along this journey, but I also know that I am never alone. Christ is always there to provide the present help that I need especially when I have reached the end of me. Prayer My heavenly Father, I am so grateful to serve a Savior that is always present. You never leave me nor forsake me. When I am hurting, in need, lack wisdom you are there. You hear my calls, you provide comfort for me in my tears. I know that no matter where I am in life, I can come to you for peace, for strength, for forgiveness, for help. You are my provider, my healer, my father, my savior. Thank you so much for the blood of Christ which was shed for my sins. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Psalm 46: 1-3 Tuesday Deuteronomy 4: 7 Wednesday Psalm 34: 17-18 Thursday Psalm 145: 18 Friday Isaiah 55: 6 Saturday Psalm 62: 8 Sunday Psalm 9: 9 Application Trust God more, for He is never absent during your time of need. About the author: As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com Click here to leave Guest Comments
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