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Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack
Changing our view “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Romans 14: 13 Fear is such a funny emotion. There are times that it creeps up without us even being aware that it was there to begin with. Sometimes it is disguised with good intentions of wanting to do better, be better, live better. We may see the mistakes of our parents, friends, or others and make a decree to ourselves that we will “NEVER” do what they have done. We do all sorts of things to avoid being like them that we don’t realize that we have begun to live in fear of becoming them. We place pressure on ourselves, our relationships, even our careers because we want so desperately to not be single parents like our mothers, to not be a nag, to not be over bearing, to not live in debt, to not… Ahhh, yes! I know about this kind of fear. It is the kind that we think is our motivation or our ambition guiding us further toward success. Then when we begin to act the same as them or have made mistakes like the others we want so much not to be like, condemnation has made an entrance to settle in with fear. We may be ashamed or guilty to then face them and even ourselves. How did we let this happen? How did we become them? You see, we are guided in the Word to learn from those who have gone before us not to live in fear of making the same mistakes and not to be judgmental of their shortcomings. We can learn from their mistakes while also learning about how Christ redeemed them, forgave them, and even restored them. We can be so fixated on their mistakes that we miss all the wonderful gifts and talents that God gave them just as He has bestowed gifts and talents to us. For when we live in that kind of fear, it hinders our ability to truly love freely, to show compassion, or to even forgive them. When we move in fear of not becoming, we can inadvertently create a completely different set of problems. The fear causes us to move in ways that faith would not. Instead of looking at who we do not want to become, we can choose to go to God in prayer to seek His purpose, His design, His will for our lives. In going to Him, He reveals how even our mistakes can be worked toward our good. We must make the choice to stop being afraid of being like others and instead embrace God’s direction for our lives. Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for being judgmental and fearful of making the same mistakes as those before me. Help me not to be fixated so much on not being like them and instead spend more time in prayer seeking your plan for my life. Grant me compassion to be able to accept others for their strengths and flaws. I pray that I do not become so overwhelmed with fear that fear drowns out my faith. Thank you for the forgiveness that you have shown me toward my shortcomings and I pray that you may help me to show the same forgiveness toward others as well. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Romans Tuesday Luke Wednesday Philippians 2: 5-11 Thursday Galatians Friday Romans 7: 6 Saturday John Sunday Luke Application Allow God to guide you in His purpose instead of living in fear. 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 More than special “3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15: 3-7 NIV Often times when we are in the world, we don’t realize just how special we are. We do things like settling, compromising, and tolerating actions and people because we think that is all that we may be worth. That something is always better than nothing. When I stop to look back over my life at the relationships that I had, there was a part of me that knew that God wanted better for me, but I thought that was all that I could get. We fool ourselves into believing that mediocrity can be hidden by a good job, good credit, etc. Now, I realize that this is simply a tactic of the enemy. The enemy wants us to settle and accept less than what God has designed for us. In settling, compromise is a part of the deal. He wants us to stay attached to our sin by believing we are unlovable, that we have sinned so much there is not redemption, that we are forever damaged. When we stay in that state, it is hard to believe that anyone would want to truly love us so we settle or we can even go so far to damage relationships that are God ordained. When I read Luke 15: 3-7, I am always uplifted and encouraged. In this simple parable is Christ’s way of teaching the people about His awesome ability to love. When I close my eyes, I can see the shepherd who has realized that one of his sheep has wondered away. In that moment, the shepherd could have just counted the lost and focused instead on the 99 he still had, but NO that one sheep was just as important as the 99 he still had. Off he goes to search for that one. When he finds it, it is a time of rejoicing. I see in my mind that I, too at one point in my life, was like that sheep that had wondered away. Instead of Christ counting me lost, He sought me. Just like the lost sheep needed a shepherd to direct him back to the flock, when we accept Christ, He directs us from the lost to the found. He brings us back into His fold. We are so special to Christ that He seeks us out so that each of us may have a personal relationship with Him. It is His desire that none of us be without the covering of our father. You see, in seeking us, Christ knows our potential. Why would anyone seek something that was worthless? Each of us is priceless, that is why He chose to die for all of our sins. So I encourage you this day to celebrate, to praise, to be thankful for Christ who was and is willing to be our shepherd, seek us out, rejoice when we return, and restore us. Prayer Loving Father, I am so thankful to have a Lord and Savior who loves me so unconditionally. I realize that there is nothing so wonderful that I could ever say or do to desire your grace and mercy, but I am thankful that you offer it to me everyday. Thank you for seeking me out when I was lost and bringing me back into your loving arms. I pray that my mind, my words, and my actions may be pleasing in your sight. Help me to always have a praise in my heart for all that you have done and continue to do in my life. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Luke 15: 3-7 Tuesday Matthew Wednesday 1 Peter 1: 5 Thursday Romans 5: 9 Friday John Saturday 1 Corinthians Sunday Luke 15: 8 Application Allow God to show you just how special you are to Him. 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 Balance “23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We're going to drown!’ 26He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” Matthew 8: 23-27 NIV Have you ever been to the circus? One performer in particular has recently caught a great deal of my attention—the tightrope walker. When I began my research on tightrope walkers, I was quite impressed. For tightrope walkers always continue forward while placing their balance on one of the weakest parts of the body—the ankles. Since they walk the rope with in line steps, their balance is shifted and placed upon the ankles. This is one of the reasons why they choose to use poles or place their arms out to their side. By doing so, they allow a portion of the balance to be shifted from the ankles and placed into the weight of the pole or their arms. Seasoned tightrope walkers always continue forward never taking their eyes off of their destination because if they linger too long in one place or look down they can loose their balance which ultimately causes them to fall. Many of us walk tightropes in life. We do so much to balance being leaders, mothers, fathers, spouses, professionals, siblings, etc. that it becomes really easy to start placing trust in the wrong places and putting our strength in the weakest part. In balancing all that we do, it can become very easy to start trusting in our abilities, people, or even in the world’s system; all of which are weak. These things and people can only carry us so far. By trusting in all these other things, we can allow them to become distractions that take away from our fellowship, growth, and dependency in Christ. When Jesus and the disciplines entered the ship to set sail on the Christ was able to sleep so peacefully in that boat because He knew more than anyone that His father was with Him. He was giving an example to them and us that even though storms and difficulties come, we can be at peace in, not ourselves, but the loving Father who is always with us. Even though the disciples focused more on the storm and took their eyes off of who was with them, they did know enough to run to Him. There they stood, shaking in fear, saying “We perish”. They understood that only Christ would be able to get them through the storm. We can learn from these disciples not to be so concerned about the storm that we forget that Christ is with us, but if we do, it is never too late to run to Him. Prayer My Heavenly Father, thank you for my Lord and Savior. I am in awe of how much you truly love me in spite of all my flaws, my weaknesses, and my sins. I am thankful that even when the storms of life come, you are there to be my peace, my clarity, my protector. Help me to always be reminded that I do not have to fight the storm nor am I in the storm alone, but you are always with me. Forgive me for the times that I have tried to handle things in my own strength and in my own knowledge instead of seeking you. I pray that I may always have my eyes stayed on you. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Weekly Monday Matthew Tuesday Luke Wednesday Psalm 65: 7 Thursday Mark 4: 36-41 Friday Matthew Saturday Matthew Sunday Psalm 89: 9 Application Allow God to show you just how special you are to Him. 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 Will you choose? 38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10: 38-42 NIV There they were. Two sisters, who were about to be blessed with the greatest guest they could ever have for dinner--Christ. In my mind, I can imagine the two women doing all that they could to prepare Mary's home for His arrival. They were probably ensuring that every nook of the home was clean, the meal that was being prepared was just right and on time, and that the home was fitting for His presence. Up until Christ's arrival, I believe that both sisters work quite diligently to get the tasks complete. Then He arrived. Like Martha, Mary, was a Godly woman who loved Christ. While she was concerned with making sure everything in the home was just right, Mary was concerned about hungering after Christ. Mary hungered after the words of Christ so much that her concerns were not about what was going on around her but rather who was with her. At that moment, Mary knowing where her priorities lie, stopped the cleaning, the preparing the running around, and sat at the feet of Christ listening to every word that proceeded out of His mouth. She realized that all of the other things were secondary to His presence; instead she understood that what she was gaining would go beyond an evening but rather impacted her eternal existence. Poor Martha, distraught that her sister was not helping became frustrated. In her eyes, she viewed Mary's choice as a distraction and a choice that needed to be corrected. How surprised she must have been to then hear the words of Christ. Instead of Mary being chastised, Martha was the one that needed to learn the lesson. I, too, have been like Martha too often in my walk with Christ. It has been so easy to be distracted with all the tasks and responsibilities that need to be done. During those times, I have, for example, said to myself, "Oh, I am too tired tonight; I'll just read my word tomorrow."We all can be fixated on during the right things that we completely miss just spending time with Christ. He wants us to hunger after Him. He wants us to recognize the distractions, but choose to sit at His feet eagerly awaiting every word that proceeds out of his mouth. He wants us to be able to STOP and listen to Him and Him alone. We can learn a lot from this simple action of Mary. In one moment she made a choice. Let us decide to choose more of Him and focus less on the distractions. Prayer Lord, I am so grateful that you take the time to speak to me. Thank you for never removing your voice even during those times I choose to focus more on the things, the stuff, the people and less on building my relationship with you. Forgive me for the times I have not chosen you even when I knew to do better. Help me to be aware of the distractions around me and grant me the strength and wisdom to know how to be still to listen to your voice. Thank you for providing me with the Word to direct me, for your love, and for your blood which covers me every day. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Monday Luke Tuesday Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 Wednesday Isaiah 54: 13 Thursday Matthew Friday Luke Saturday Proverbs Sunday Jeremiah 13: 6 Application: Spend more time in prayer, in studying your word, and fellowshipping with 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 Devotional for June 29- By Minister Mamie L. Pack If you want it "28) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;" Isaiah 40: 28-30 NIV For the past few weeks there have been all sorts of television programming, news papers, even magazines who have begun to focus on the dangers of overwhelmed mothers. These overwhelmed women range in age, in culture, in location, in economics, in all sorts of ways except that they are mothers and they are overwhelmed. Sadly for some of these women, their overwhelmed emotions have cost them the lives of their children. Story after story are women who were so distracted, weary, and overwhelmed that they forgot their children in the car, forgot that they were bathing their child, or even that they even left their child in the home. One by one, with tears streaming down their faces, women are showing pictures of the child that will never grow up. Yet, as I listen to each of these stories they talk about the Super Woman complex of wanting to be the best wife, mother, career woman, neighbor, etc that they can. They talk of not asking for help because they felt it was their duty to do it all. They all vocalized this unnecessary pressure we place on ourselves for trying to measure up to the "good mother" image that no one seems to really not what that image is. Listening to their stories, I could relate in so many ways. It is not just mothers or even women who are going through these overwhelmed, weary moments. It is anyone. The senior in college who is unsure of what will happen after graduation; the husband who is concerned about how he is going to provide for his family if he gets laid off; the couple who spend day after day providing care for the elderly mother who has moved in with them. Anyone can reach that point of feeling so overwhelmed that it can cause us to move in ways that if we were not tired, worn, or frustrated, we would not do. Isaiah 40: 28-30 provides such comfort for those of us who have reached the end of ourselves. Christ, who is never tired, never worn, never overwhelmed, is there for all of us. He gives strength to those of us who are weary and increases power to those of us who are weak. God knows that when we reach the end of ourselves we are likely to say and do things that are not in our character, but unless we reach out to Him who is all powerful, we continue to trust in our own strength which will fail us. When God calls us to be mothers, fathers, caretakers, or whatever path He has for us, He is there to give us the strength, the guidance, and the peace to be able to continue on the journey without the blessing crushing us. It is up to us to realize that we must do our part in reaching out to Him, because He never changes. Prayer Most awesome and loving Father, I cannot thank you enough for the times you kept my body and my mind during times that I was sure how I was going to make it. I appreciate all of the times you protected not just me but those around me when I was thinking clearly, was tired, or was overwhelmed. Help me Lord not to be judgmental of others, but be able to be encouraging and open to pray on their behalf. Lord, help me to constantly reach for you as you provide me with strength that I cannot provide for myself. I pray that I may continue to trust in you more and less in my own abilities. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Suggested Monday Isaiah 40: 28-30 Tuesday Exodus 15:2 Wednesday Psalm 46:1 Thursday Psalm 28: 7 Friday Job Saturday Isaiah 12: 2 Sunday 2 Samuel Application: When you begin to be tired, weary, or overwhelmed, take time to pray and ask God for strength. 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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