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Devotional for March 30- By Minister Mamie L. Pack
Contagious “6)These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7) Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 NIV For the past two weeks, someone in my home has had a cold. It began with my middle child who had a simple cough, which evolved to a runny nose, itchy eyes, and the blahs. From there it attached itself to my youngest and then finally to me. Now, unlike the children, my cold manifested itself only as a head cold with allergies to boot. It is amazing how contagious one little cold or illness can be until it has infiltrated your home. I believe that, as parents, mentors, or even leaders, we should do our best to allow our faith to be just as contagious. Several years ago, I heard Pastor Joel Olsteen talk about the faith and service of his parents. In his story, he recounted how in all the years that his parents served God, he could not recall one time that they murmured or complained. Instead, they showed him that serving God was a joy and a pleasure. Their attitude became contagious for him and ultimately impacted the way that he viewed serving God. Listening to this story, I began to think of my attitude toward God in front of my children. Just as it is important for me to have praise and thankfulness in my heart for all that God has done for me, it is just as equally important that I be willing to take the time to share my stories of faith with my children. Here in Deuteronomy 6: 7, the people are reminded to not only abide by the commandments on their own, but they are to impart them to their children in their words and actions. They are charged to not be ashamed of the mistakes of their past, but to share with their children how the Lord help bring them from those sinful places. They, as are we, are encouraged to take the time to tell the stories of faith, redemption, salvation, growth that have taken place on our walk with Christ. It is up to us to show our children that Christ lives beyond the church walls. We have the ability to show them that Christ resides within us everywhere we go. That Christ is in our homes, on our jobs, in our schools, or even when we go to the hair dresser. Our children learn the most about Christ from the example that we set in our homes through our language, our attitude, our willingness, even our ability to love. Our love of Christ can be so contagious that our children eagerly seek to be close to the Heavenly Father that we love so much. Prayer Our loving and forgiving Father, I give you all honor and glory. Lord thank you for placing Godly examples in my life of faith so that I may have the encouragement to seek you for myself. Thank you for all of those who tirelessly placed themselves in intercession on my behalf, especially when my heart was turned away from you. I am thankful to serve a forgiving God who not only forgives my sin but restores and heals me in all places. Help me to be a light in my home, on my job, in my school, where ever I may go. I pray that I may always have the boldness and praise in my heart for you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 Tuesday Proverbs 22: 6 Wednesday Exodus 13: 8-14 Thursday Psalm 78: 4 Friday Genesis Saturday Deuteronomy Sunday Ephesians 6: 4 Application Take time this week to share your stories of faith with those you love. 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
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Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
Time to unpack "28) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV Several years ago, when I was pregnant with my second child, I was moved by the Holy Spirit during Sunday morning church service. I felt heavy and weary, but I could not explain why. When the time came for the alter call, I knew that I needed to be there. Waddling down to the alter; I stood there with tears streaming down my cheeks and a plea to God from my heart. Then the Pastor walked up to me saying softly to me, “It’s time to let go of the guilt and shame.” Now I fully believed this Pastor to be a vessel of Christ, but just could not imagine what in the world he was referring too. I was saved, had been for several years at that time, serving in my church, actively spreading the Gospel whenever I could. What guilt was I carrying? What shame was lurking within me? I thought I had given those areas over to God. Right? The answer did not come immediately, but in prayer over a year later, God revealed it to me. It was in that moment of prayer that God gave me the revelation that the guilt and shame that I had from my unsaved life had carried over into my new life in Christ. Sure, it might not be the heavy luggage it once was, but now it was carry-on luggage instead. I was keeping it close every time that I would make a mistake or fail to meet my own expectation. There that condemnation was with the “If you wouldn’t have done______ then you wouldn’t be _______”; “You’re never going to change, you’ve been this way your whole life”; or worse yet “This is all your fault. You are to blame”. It was in that moment that I knew that it was time to unpack the guilt and shame that had become all too familiar and give it over to God. As long as I continued to carry the guilt and shame with me, then I was limiting the blessings in my life; I was limiting my relationship with Christ; I was going to stay weary and burdened. As Christ was speaking, He was inviting all of those who had become burdened down with tradition and religion but He was also speaking to those of us who have been carrying the weight of our sins wherever we go. Christ knows that when we try to deal with our own sins then we shall surely be weary and burdened. Trying to deal with our own sins wears us down spiritually, physically, and mentally. It comes to the point that we may even try to hide it through working long hours, through those comfort foods, through finding our way to the arms of someone else, or even through the liquor bottle. But God offers us a promise. If we choose to unpack all those sins, guilt, shame, or condemnation and give it to Him, then He will give us rest. We just need to come to Him, to believe in Him, and to trust in Him that He will do exactly what He says He will do. One of the greatest ways to stay where you are is to do just what I did, think that there isn’t a problem. If you want to be free, then lay it all before God, trust Him, and He will set you free. Prayer My Lord and My Savior, how wonderful it is to have you as the head of my life. For only you could free me from the bonds of sin, to create for me a new life in you. Only you could take what was once broken and create life. Thank you for helping me to draw closer to you and placing vessels in my life to bring forth a living word to help guide me in being more like you. I pray that I may be open to receiving your word and that pride does not hinder me for being able to see exactly where I am. Thank you for offering me freedom so that I no longer have to stay in bondage to my transgressions. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Matthew Tuesday Jeremiah 31: 25 Wednesday Isaiah 55: 1-4 Thursday John Friday 1 John 5:3 Saturday Psalm 107: 9 Sunday John Application Go to God in prayer and unpack the burdens that you have been carrying by placing them in His care and trusting Him to keep His word.
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
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Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.” Psalm 119: 73 NIV Loose weight now. . .Botox. . . Get rich quick. . .Be taller. . . Be smarter. . .Look younger. . . .Get longer hair . . . .Whiter teeth. . . Hide those unwanted grays. . . .and on and on it goes. Everyday that you turn on the television, open a magazine, or even read the billboards along the highways, someone is promoting some item to “fix” the unwanted, unliked, or even hated parts of ourselves. Maybe you’ve seen the undergarments that hide the unwanted “rolls” or the loose weight gimmicks that promise you can loose weight without doing any work. See, for some of us, when we look into the mirror we begin to dissect ourselves. We stand there saying, “If I could just fix this, then I would be happy.” You know, if I just 5 more pounds or if I could look just a little bit younger. Yet, the truth of the matter is, it won’t matter how many pounds you lose, how young you look, or the color of your hair because it will still continue to be something. As soon as you loose those pounds, then you’re off finding something else that isn’t quite right about your body. I know. Growing up, I tried countless time to straighten my naturally curly hair to be like everyone else’s, or so I thought. I spent countless hours in the gyms trying to keep away extra pounds, dreading those comments of “Oh my you’ve gotten a little bigger” whenever I would return to my hometown. It is funny though, because many of the ads we see don’t promote the need to work on who we are on the inside. When was the last time that you say a commercial for working on improving our bad attitudes, focusing on being thankful instead of focusing on what was are lacking, or even the importance of forgiveness, mercy, or reconciliation. When Christ formed us, He didn’t form us lacking. He formed us in His image with the gifts, talents, and abilities that are needed for the plan He fashioned for our lives even before there was an earth. Although we are to take excellent care of the Right away in this verse, the psalmist acknowledges God not just as His creator. What God creates is a good thing. When Christ created us—it was a good thing. God took extra care to fashion us with His own hands in His image. We were not an afterthought to Him. Then he goes on to ask God for understanding. In essence, God you made me, show me who it is you created me to be. He was able to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ to know that when you want to understand the creation; go to the creator. Christ has provided us with a manual that provides us clarity on how to handle every situation of our lives. When we allow God to show us to how love, not just others, but ourselves, then we learn how not to become fixated on corrected the outward person without taking an inward look at the spirit that lies within. We are able to do everything to His glory. Exercising becomes a way to please Him and not an obsession to be thin or please others, just as the kind way we treat a stranger is a way to show others the compassion of the Father that is the Lord and Savior of our lives. Prayer My Heavenly Father, I am so thankful to know that I was and am a special part in your heavenly plan. My life is not by accident or without purpose. I am special to you in everyway possible. Help me Lord to see me the way you see me. Help me not to be consumed with my frailties or inadequacies, but instead help me to know what areas and in what ways you would have me to become more like you. Thank you for providing me a Word that is real and prevalent every day of my life. I thank you that I am never alone for you are always with me. I love you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Psalm 119: 73 Tuesday Job 12: 2 Wednesday Psalm 46: 10 Thursday Psalm 139: 15-16 Friday Job 10: 8 Saturday Psalm 199: 34 Sunday Psalm 100: 3 Application Spend time with God allowing Him to show you His purpose and 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
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Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
Do your part “1) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4: 1-3 Right now my youngest child is going through the “why” phase. When he is told to do something, he will raise his shoulders placing his hands out to the side while saying “Why?” Now, he is only 20 months old and has learned something new to do, but for many of us, who are not 20 in months or years for that matter, are still stuck in that “why” phase. When we are asked to help in our churches, in the communities, or even on our jobs some of the statements such as “Why do I need to do that?” or “Why can’t _____ go and do it instead?” come to mind especially when we feel justified in not doing the task. For some reason, we need to be convinced, won over, or even threatened to do the task. It is easy to just pass the buck, blame others, and stay hands off. I know there have been several times that I was told to do something only to go and pawn the work off on others. Just as my siblings!! But the problem with waiting for others to do a task that was assigned to us is that when the task is not done or done to the standard in which it should be done, the responsibility lays on our shoulders. We are the ones that are held accountable for the success or failure of the work. When Paul was speaking to the Gentiles, he stood there reminding them that they are not babes anymore. They are no longer separated from Christ, but have chosen to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. He reminds them that they have been reconciled to Christ, as believer, heirs, family members, as one body. Now that they have been entrusted with the authority of Christ, they must do their part in the body so that Christ may get the glory. He reminds the body of believers that they are to be humble and gentle in the way they treat others. Being humble and gentle is easy when we constantly remember the grace and mercy that we bestowed upon us when we were in our stumbled state. When we remember the mistakes and the forgiveness that has been so freely given to us by Christ, then we should have no problem extended the same to others in and out of our churches. It is evident when we humble ourselves to realize that none of us is above serving Christ whether that means in the kitchen, cleaning the pews, standing at the door greeting visitors, or being kind to the person who cut you off in traffic. Paul continues by reminding the Gentiles to be patient and to let go of offense. All believers will be offended at some time or another by even those in the church, but we are not to allow those offenses to hinder us from being able to build the body of Christ. Each of us are called to do our part by showing restraint in “giving someone a piece of your mind”, restraint in walking with a wounded heart because someone did not say thank you for your hard work, or restraint in wanting to leave because people complain. So will you do to do your part in your church, community, or workplace? Prayer Our Heavenly Father, in the name Jesus Christ, thank you for showering me with your grace and mercy. Each day I stand in awe of how much you love me when I think about how often you forgave me, blessed me, allowed your favor to rain over my life. I am always in awe of you. Help me Lord to do my part in the body with the gifts and talents that you have given me. I pray that I may have the boldness needed to get involved and that I do not let fear or offense stop me from doing your work. Forgive me if my heart has been hardened due to offense or hurt. Help me to forgive so that my heart may be completely open to you. I pray that I may use my words in wisdom. Thank you for the blood that was shed for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Ephesians 4: 1-3 Tuesday Colossians Wednesday Matthew Thursday John Friday Matthew Saturday Colossians 1: 9-13 Sunday 1 Thessalonians Application Step out and do to do your part as a believer in your church, community, or workplace to let the Christ be shown in you
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 Who will you choose to be? “45) Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46) It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47) I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48) But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49) and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24: 45-51 NIV As the eldest child, I was often left in charge when my mother would need to run out for a little while. Sometimes, she would leave all of us chores or items that we were to take care of in the house before she would come home. Most of the time, she would let us know when she planned to return, but every so often, she would show up much earlier than we expected. During the time that she was gone, it was common for me to boss my siblings around giving them orders of what they should do and how they should do it with threats to follow. I would even have them at times, function as my own personal maid or butler telling them to bring me the remote, get me something to drink, bring me this or bring me that. Needless to say, at times there would be some rebellion amongst my younger siblings with my manner of leadership. But when we would hear my mom drive up in the driveway, all of us would go into overdrive. We had wasted so much time playing around, arguing, and just doing everything but what we were suppose to do that we didn’t quite do the things we were told to have done. Hearing that car, we became a team hurrying to get things done hoping that momma wouldn’t notice that it was just finished. Sometimes, it worked but most times, we knew when she walked in that house we all were in trouble. For many people, especially children, being faithful and being obedient seems easier to do when there is someone right there watching what you do. It is what we do when it appears that no one is watching that really reveals our intentions. In Matthew 24: 45-51, Christ is speaking to the disciples of the parables of two servants. Verses 45-47, begin to describe the faithful servant who is able to take care of his master’s business while his master is away with diligence, wisdom, and faithfulness. This servant understands that the work must continue and does so with the same level of excellence and fortitude as the master. When the faithful servant does this, he will be rewarded for his faithfulness. Then there is the evil servant, who seeks to only serve himself and abuses his authority as well as those around him. This servant does not see the importance of continuing the work and choose to be slothful instead. This servant is also rewarded, but his reward to receive back exactly what he gave to others. As believers, we have a choice to decide which servant we want to be in the building of Prayer Heavenly Father, who is creator of heaven and earth; I thank you for choosing to continue to be ever present in my life. Thank you Lord for creating me with a purpose and a plan; that in you all can do all things. Lord forgive me for the times that I sought to serve myself and my desires placing the plan you have for me to the side. Forgive me for the people that I manipulated and mistreating in seeking to meet my own plans. I choose to be the faithful servant building your kingdom in everything I do and everywhere I go. I pray that I may have the boldness needed to speak your words to the lost and to encourage those who are broken hearted. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Matthew 24: 45-51 Tuesday Luke Wednesday Acts Thursday Revelations Friday 2 Peter 3: 4-9 Saturday Luke 16: 1-13 Sunday Matthew 25: 21-23 Application Choose which servant you want to be before Christ.
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
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Devotional for February 23- Minister Mamie L. Pack Search me “23) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV At one point in my career, I had the opportunity to advance beyond the traditional means. I firmly believed that God had directed me to this opportunity and now all I had to do was pass the test. It seemed simple enough. For months I prepared, sought assistance, and just believed that it would come to pass. When the day finally arrived for the scores to be released, I, along with others awaited eagerly to see get the results. Unfortunately, I did not pass. I was devastated. I would go and congratulate all of the others that had passed, but something was amiss in my heart. The words were coming out of my mouth, yet, my heart was hurting. Was I just speaking the words because it was the polite thing to do? Did I genuinely mean the words but just needed time to deal with my own disappointment? Was I jealous or even bitter that they passed and I did not? These and so many more questions flooded my mind. For so many of us, we have become quite deft in saying the “right” things, being polite, and wearing the masks sometimes even to the point that we no longer know the truth ourselves. Then here was David. A man, no different from any of us, who had courage to want to know what truly lied within his heart. He wanted to know his sins for without the confession of sins there can be no repentance. In the darkness of sin, there is separation from Christ. David wanted nothing to separate him from following the path that Christ had set before him. As long as we are not willing to face the sins that lie within us, then we are willing to stay in an complacent place that is devoid of growth. For it takes wisdom to know that as our creator, Christ knows all about us—the good and the bad. It is up to us to seek Him for that revelation so that we may go from the pretense to everlasting. When we go to Christ in this manner, we must be willing to see what truly lies within our hearts so that we are able to love, forgive, and be healed.
Prayer My heavenly Father, who is my creator, my father, my everything, help me to see the inward parts of my heart. Lord it is my desire to rejoice in the blessings of others. Forgive me for the times that I have been bitter, jealous, or even resentful towards their blessings. I pray that I may get beyond saying the right words and instead have the right heart. May I always be willing to see my sin and have a repentant heart. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Psalm 139: 23-24 Tuesday Job 31: 6 Wednesday Proverbs 15: 9 Thursday Psalm Friday Jeremiah 25: 5 Saturday Proverbs 17: 3 Sunday Psalm 26: 2 Application Go to God in prayer, in the name of Jesus, to seek the condition of your heart and the strength to still go forward.
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
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