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July 2009 Devotionals
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
Devotional for By Minister Mamie L. Pack The season is near! “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8) He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 7-8 NIV With hurricane season upon us, people have already begun to prepare. Stores like Target, Wal-Mart, even Winn Dixie are gathering those “must have” items for people who will prepare early for possible impacts or side effects of hurricane weather. Even our local paper is reminding residents on how to prepare, what the evacuation routes are, and what to do if you choose to stay during strong weather. Sadly, though, it seems that a good number of people will not begin to prepare until the hurricane is upon them. Then the items fly off the shelf and people are going from store to store looking for basic supplies to protect those people and things that are dear to them. Yet, no matter how much we prepare, damage does happen. This is one of the reasons that when I begin to read Jeremiah 17: 7-8, I was touched. It is great for us to do our part in planning, but our faith and confidence is not in the wood to protect the windows, but rather our faith and confidence comes in our trust of the Lord. Jeremiah reminds us that blessed is the person who not only trust God, but puts his/her confidence in Him instead of in things or people. That person understands that people are human, capable of mistakes and failing just as things are fallible as well. God on the other hand, never fails, never wavers, and never makes mistakes. When we place our trust in Christ, Jeremiah compares us to a tree that has been rooted by water. The root system of any plant is essential to its growth and development. Those plants or trees that have shallow root systems will eventually wither and die because they are received the nutrients that are needed to survive the varying conditions of the weather. Those plants that are rooted strongly are able to receive the nutrients, distribute them among its system, and become strong to stand in different conditions. Jeremiah's comparison to the one who trusts in God to the tree rooted by water is profound. He shows us that this tree has no need to worry about heat because the roots are fed by the water from the stream. This water keeps the tree hydrated and strong even when the other plants around it have begun to be impacted by such high temperatures. This tree not only continues to be green, but it continues to bear fruit. We can be like such a tree. We are encouraged to place and continue to keep our trust and confidence in Christ. When we do, we have rooted ourselves in the living water of Christ that is able to keep us strengthen when everything and everyone around us say to quit, to give up, that we are too old, that things will never improve. Our roots in Christ remind us that we will flourish, we will grow, and we will bear fruit. We just must make daily choices to trust Him instead of ourselves. Prayer Most awesome and loving Father, it is amazing how you are always there regardless of the situation. Lord, I pray that you may continue to guide me to trust more in you and less in myself. I pray that I may place all of my cares and concerns at your feet and have the faith to know that you are working all things to my good. Strengthen me where I am weak, Lord. I pray that I may be able to encourage others to trust in you as I continue along my journey in you. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Monday Jeremiah 17: 7-8 Tuesday Psalm 1: 3 Wednesday Psalm 4: 8 Thursday Jeremiah 39: 18 Friday Isaiah 30: 18 Saturday Psalm Sunday Isaiah 12: 4 Application: Make the daily choice to trust God knowing and believing that He is able to take care of all your needs. 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 You know me " 1) O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2) You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3) You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4) Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5) You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me." Psalms 139: 1-5 NIV Often throughout my life there have been "I don't know" periods. During these times, I didn't know what the next step was for me; I wasn't sure of the person I would become; and I didn't know if I would make it through. These periods were often some of the most uncomfortable and emotional times for me. I had become so accustomed to being and doing what others thought that I was oblivious to who I was to be or what it was that I was to do. I just didn't know. Then what scared me the most was making a mistake so bad that I wouldn't be able to recover from it. Thankfully, one afternoon I placed myself in God's hands. I was tired of coming up with my own plans. I was tired of trying to understand my purpose on my own. Instead, in that afternoon, I decided to go to the one who knew me best. Day by day, at times, moment by moment, I began to seek God's direction, His clarity, His guidance on His purpose and plan for my life. Slowly, I began to see that I didn't have to wear a mask with God. He was all too familiar with who I was beyond the pretense. God knows me! Guess what? He knows you too. David was aware of the powerful, omniscient God that we serve. Even the best of friends we have or the most attentive spouses cannot fathom the depths of who we are. Yet, our creator, He knows everything about us and still chooses to love who we are. David addresses God's omniscience by acknowledging that God knows where we are, who we are, what we think, even what we are about to say even before we say it. In essence, God knows ALL of our ways. Whoa!!! God knows when we are about to let loose on our coworker that continually has a nasty attitude. God knows when we are going to choose to watch the movie we rented instead of taking the time to read our word. He knows that we are still in bed Sunday morning just because we were up to late the night before. He knows those thoughts we have that we don't even want to know ourselves let alone share them with someone else. In spite of all that He knows, God loves us. He wants us. We don't have to place any pretense before God. We don't have to be perfect or be flawless. He wants us flawed, weak, broken, damaged, the entire package. Prayer My Heavenly Father, who is my creator, I am grateful to know that I serve a God that knows me. Even in those times when I am unsure of what to do or have become ashamed the things I have done, you know me and still choose to love me. You love me so much that you sent your son to die for my sins. Lord, help me to continually seek you for guidance and direction for the purpose you have set for my life. I realize that I do not have to pretend nor do I have to have all the answers. I choose to trust you and know that you know the beginning from the end. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Monday Psalm 130: 1-6 Tuesday Jeremiah 12: 3 Wednesday Psalm 17: 3 Thursday Matthew 9: 4 Friday Isaiah 66: 18 Saturday Psalm 66: 10 Sunday Zechariah 13: 9 Application: Don't be afraid to be yourself with God. 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 July 20-27, 2009 By Minister Mamie L. Pack Focused on the temporary “20)I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21) A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22) So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16: 20-22 NIV With the end of this pregnancy so close, I have begun to prepare myself mentally and physically for the labor ahead of me. What I have often found so funny after the birth of my other three children is that regardless of the anxiety, the pain, and the anguish that comes from labor, it all seems to disappear so quickly. Once the doctors place that little bundle in my arms, those months of discomfort and the hours of pain seem to disappear into a mental haze. Right away the joy of having the new life, that I waited so eagerly to see for months, is in my arms. Nothing seems to matter at that point. Even in the spirit, we labor. For months, sometimes years, we spend adjusting and preparing for what is to come. Sometimes, we may find ourselves having periods of uncomfortability and discomfort. At that point, we can look for anything to help remove the awkwardness of what we are feeling. Just as women prepare for their babies, we too prepare for God to birth His plans through us. The birthing process, like labor, may include pain, but the pain is only temporary. Instead of keeping our attention on what is to come after the laboring, we can become distracted by what must be endured in the process. In preparing the disciples for his death and resurrection, Christ takes the time to encourage them in the process. He reminds the disciples that the pain or grief they endure for his death is only temporary. For Christ knew that it was not about focusing on how they felt in the present, but rather rejoice on what is to come, the resurrection. He goes on to remind them that even for a pregnant woman, her pain although brief is predictable and followed with great joy. Her pain is predictable because it follows a certain order. Without the pain and the labor, there can be no birth and no joy. So for the disciples who will grieve, Christ comforts them by reminding them it is only for a short time. For through the resurrection, the disciples and ourselves are able to experience an intimacy with Christ that was not there before. Pain was necessary in order for us to be able to enjoy the joy that comes along with having Christ as our Lord and Savior. We each experience pain at different times of our lives, but with that pain unexplainable joy can come. A joy that removes the scars and anguish of the pain that once was. We can do our part by choosing to not focus on the temporary discomfort, but choose to focus on the lasting joy instead. Prayer Awesome and loving Father, I count it all joy to be able to come to you, to share with you, to confide in you my all. I am thankful that because of what you have done for me that I do not have to focus on my pains or discomforts. Instead, through you, I am able to have unspeakable joy. Help me Lord to place all my cares at your hands and leave it there. Help me Lord not to see the situation but to walk in faith in spite of. I pray that I may be a walking testimony for you Lord in all that I do. In Jesus name, Amen. Suggested Monday John 16: 20-22 Tuesday Mark 16: 10 Wednesday Luke 24:32 Thursday 1 Peter 4: 13 Friday James 1:2 Saturday Hebrews 12:2 Sunday 1 Peter 1: 8 Application: In the midst of your pain, remember there is joy in 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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