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"Give Me a Break: Exchanging the Guilt of Rest for the Gift of Rest"

11/28/2018

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Good morning ladies. Well, we're just working our way through this week, aren't we? I can't slow it down....time,that is. At the end of each day, though, I just have to say that what was accomplished was enough. I'm trying to remember that it's not about the things we do as much as about who we are. It's hard to stay focused on that when it seems like there is so much to do, especially this time of here. And all while enjoying the journey, as they say.

Devotion

It's interesting how I was on this topic of "doing," and then the devotion relates to it. Let's try to look at our times of rest as a gift  that God gives us. Have a Wonderful Wednesday ladies! 


“Give Me a Break: Exchanging the Guilt of Rest for the Gift of Rest”

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

While I think we can all agree that rest is crucial to our well-being, it can also be exhausting to feel guilty that we aren’t getting enough of it.
 
Can we please kick guilt to the curb and reframe the conversation?
 
We grab hold of the good news of grace and unwrap its contents with sheer delight. The same is true for rest. It’s a gift to be freely enjoyed, not a punishment inflicted on us. “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11).
 
When we’re young, we nap. We don’t always like it, but we need it. We fall apart without it.
 
When our children need something, we do everything we can to meet their needs. Say your son needs a pair of shoes. You search for a pair that meets his need and makes him smile. You bring home a pair just his size, but a puzzling thing happens. He chooses not to open the box. He sets it down and never opens it.
 
What if your daughter has a cavity? She’s in so much pain yet refuses to let you take her in for treatment. She kicks and screams, even though the procedure would significantly improve her quality of life. Getting a filling might not be pleasant at the time, but it’s able to alleviate great discomfort long-term.
 
Do you have a need yet haven’t opened the gift God’s provided for your benefit?
 
Is your body in pain or your mind in a constant state of stress, yet you refuse to undergo what’s necessary to get back on track? I’ve been foolish and stubborn when it comes to rest. I’ve discounted the gift and refused its benefits, viewing it as punishment instead of provision.
 
Rest is an opportunity to exercise faith that we’ll be taken care of in the absence of our “doing.”
 
God knows what we need even better than we do. He doesn’t sleep on the job. He does nothing halfway. He lovingly created us to do, but we also must have sleep and a break.
 
Our needs point to His ability to provide. Our tipping point is an opportunity for Him to show up, break through and supernaturally provide when there’s no other way.
 
Resting in who He is and our identity in Him might not translate into a full night’s sleep as we face difficulties. Rest might be a life-giving gasp of air after you’ve been swimming for too long. Rest might mean receiving grace instead of bullying yourself when you’ve overdone it or underdone it. Rest might be crawling into the comfy recliner with Jesus, instead of dusting. (Yes, definitely instead of dusting!)
 
As we realize that grace abounds in the area of rest as well, we see possibilities and not limitations — the joy and not the duty of it.
 
I used to think rest had to look a certain way. But even in my own household, we rest in different ways. One sleeps as long as possible. Another likes to draw, read and be creative to unwind. I prefer a 20-minute power nap and then time to think and process while sitting in the sunshine. My husband likes to connect with God outdoors, taking in sights and sounds of woodland creatures and rugged terrain. Some of my friends connect with God by going for a run. This act of exertion calms their minds and rejuvenates their bodies.
 
Rest can look a thousand different ways. Whatever you choose, may it recharge you, not drain you. Take a break from your work and make room to enjoy things (and people) you may have been hurrying past.
 
May your time of rest demonstrate the trust you have in God, who gives His children good gifts, including rest.
 
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are trustworthy. You knew what You were doing when you wired us with a need for rest — physical and spiritual. Help us exchange the guilt of rest for the gift of rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Katie M. Reid
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
 
James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (ESV)

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"Breaking Free from Hurt"

11/27/2018

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Good morning ladies! How are you? Are you ready for a new day? Thank you for praying for Casey. He arrived home safely about seven last evening. So, what is on your planner for today?  I am starting to think about Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. Actually, PK has already done some shopping, so it's not like we haven't even started. It's just me--getting my mind in gear now that Thanksgiving is over. And, I don't like to let my mind get all filled up on the gifts and cookies because it can so easily go there, if you know what I mean. What's needed is to take time out to truly reflect on the Gift of this season. As a church, we are doing an Advent devotional beginning on December 1 and I'm really looking forward to that. What are some of the traditions that you have that help you to focus on the true meaning of Christmas?

Devotion

We all have painful emotional times in our lives. Today's words encourage us that God sets us free from our "prisons" so that we can praise Him and others will see His goodness. Have a Tremendous Tuesday!
 

“Breaking Free from Hurt”

“Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” Psalm 142:6-7 (NIV)


My family often teases me because I am such a rule follower. I have an immense fear of breaking a rule, or worse yet, breaking a law. Doing so could result in serious consequences.

 
The other day, one of my friends failed to use her blinker and got pulled over. The officer only gave her a warning. However, he also gave her a troubling piece of information when he discovered she had inadvertently failed to renew her driver’s license. An expired license could result in a $500 fine and up to 93 days in jail! (You can bet I set an alarm on my phone’s calendar to remind me to renew my own license long before it will expire!)
 
While I haven’t been incarcerated behind metal bars, I have been in prison. In a few seasons of life, I have felt as if I were in an emotional prison because of other people’s words or actions.
 
When I was a young girl, a family member’s immoral actions tore away my sense of security and caused me to fear the future, placing me in a penitentiary of fear.
 
As a teen, the gossiping ways of a few former friends greatly affected my social standing, holding my confidence captive.
 
As an adult raising young children, some acquaintances pressured me to adopt their exact ways of behaving when it came to matters of faith. Their stringent practices smacked strongly of legalism (following rules just for the sake of following rules) and stifled any freedom I had to live out my faith in a biblical but different way. It flung me into a spiritual slammer.
 
As I walked through each of these seasons of emotional turmoil, I felt like a hostage. I just couldn’t break free from the strongholds their words and actions had over me. The confinement hindered my happiness. The betrayal stung. The pressure brought anxiety. No matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to break free from those hurts.
 
Psalm 142:6-7 is part of a prayer penned by the anointed, but not-yet-king David as he was holed up in a cave, also longing to escape. He pleads, “Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”
 
David knew he could not escape his dire situation alone. His combined enemies’ actions were just too strong. He needed God to rescue him. However, David didn’t just long to break free for his own benefit. He found a greater purpose: praising God the Father in front of others, prompting them to gather and observe God’s goodness.
 
Thankfully, during each season of emotional suffering in my life, God brought along strong believers who helped me see purpose in my prison. Without fail, as I determined to seek the Lord, praising Him despite my circumstances, I was able to unearth the good in the midst of the grief. This shift in perspective not only changed my attitude, but also encouraged others who were watching.
 
When we go to God in desperation, longing to escape from what — or who — is incessantly pursuing us, He is faithful to break the chains and set us free, giving others a glimpse of His goodness.
 
Run to Him now. He alone holds the keys to whatever is holding you captive.
 
Father, at the times I feel trapped in an emotional prison, help me seek You as my only way out and praise Your name so others around me can see Your goodness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Karen Ehman
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Psalm 31:4,
“You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge.” (CSB)

 
Psalm 34:4, “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” (NLT)

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"Chalk-Line Faith"

11/26/2018

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Good morning ladies on this frigid November day! Brrr.  We aren't in that massive snowstorm here though. Please pray for Casey as he drives home from Chicago today. I guess they got hit pretty hard in parts of Illinois. So, how was your Thanksgiving? Ours was both quick and good. A very long trip to Tennessee and back in just a few short days. It was good to see Mom and Dad Hercula and to spend some time with them. For Thanksgiving dinner, we went out to a restaurant in a beautifully restored home/mansion that caters special dinners on all of the holidays. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the place was packed! All the southern people dressed to the hilt and out for a great time. And the place was decorated for Fall in such a beautiful way. We still had turkey dinner. Yay! The weather was great there also...mid-sixties to seventy. Nice for dog walking! We drove straight through on the way home, and arrived home exhausted on Friday night. We wanted to do that so PK could have all day Saturday to prepare for the service on Sunday. It was a special Thanksgiving service of praise, worship, and testimonies. Wonderful! After our discipleship hour, we had an all-church Thanksgiving potluck meal, with soup and sandwiches and then everyone stayed to decorate the church for Christmas.  Please feel free to share a story of how you were blessed on Thanksgiving, or something that you are thankful for.

Devotion

Great words to think about today. Sometimes we want to "fix" things for those in our lives who are struggling, but there are times when God simply wants us to love them and pray for them and let Him do the rest. Have a Meaningful Monday ladies!
 

“Chalk-Line Faith”

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:1 (ESV)

A few years ago, I was praying for a close friend. She had made choices that created a personal crisis. It had the power to destroy almost everything she cared about. As I prayed for her, I asked,
“Lord, what can I do?” Though I was asking God for help, I was already on task.

 
I would offer wisdom. I would be her accountability partner. I would give encouragement to support her through the hard days ahead. I would help her navigate this crisis.
 
As I prayed, however, the answer tumbling into my heart was not what I expected.
 
This is not your assignment.
 
This was surprising. It seemed right to offer words of wisdom or help her make a plan. It seemed best to help her take the next step.
 
But that’s not what God was asking of me in this situation. As the weeks passed, I started seeing this journey with my friend as “chalk-line faith.” It was like God had drawn a chalk line around my feet. Everything within that chalk line was something I could do. I could pray. I could be present. I could love her.
 
Everything outside of that chalk line was either my friend’s assignment or God’s.
 
Years later, I’ve realized the power of chalk-line faith. It’s something God has brought to mind in other situations. It’s not easy, but I’ve learned from it.
 
In today’s key passage, we find a wise saying that helps us when we’re making plans, especially if those plans concern someone else.
 
Proverbs 16:1 says, "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.”
 
My plan was to rescue my friend, because I loved her. Chalk-line faith recognized that God loves her even more than I do.
 
My plan was to offer words of wisdom, perhaps even a plethora of them. Chalk-line faith meant I held back my well-meaning words because the Lord may have had something different to say.
 
My plan, though I may not have admitted it, was to help fix the situation and soften the consequences. Chalk-line faith meant God wanted to do His work in her and for her to trust in Him as she did the hard work.
 
Chalk-line faith wasn’t easy in the beginning. There were multiple times words bubbled inside of me dying to get out, but each time, I imagined that chalk line.
 
One day she called and said, “Thanks for listening. I really appreciate all the words you spoke to me. They were so wise.”
 
I smiled at this. I had not given one piece of advice, and the words I did share contained no plans, no fix-its, but simply let her know I was praying and I loved her.
 
Instead, she and God were talking daily, and He was doing an incredible work in her heart. It wasn’t an easy or consequence-free path, but it was one that was changing her.
 
Proverbs 17:27a says, “A truly wise person uses few words” (NLT).
 
My friend was not the only one God was teaching through “chalk-line faith.” I was learning as well.
 
Wisdom is not found in our plans or our words. Wisdom is found in allowing God to have the first and final word.
 
Heavenly Father, my instinct is to rush in and make plans, especially if someone I care about has made mistakes. Remind me of that chalk line around my feet, Lord. Show me when I start to step outside of my assignment. Give me the courage to trust You and allow You to work in this person’s heart and life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Suzie Eller
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Proverbs 16:9,
“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (NLT)


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"My Words Give Me Away"

11/16/2018

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Good morning ladies. We are almost to the weekend. Yay! And Thanksgiving is next week. That really snuck up on me this year. We are going to Tennessee to visit PK's parents for Thanksgiving, so the devos next week could be sparse. What are your plans? I would love to hear about them! I love to hear the traditions and stories of others. We are planning to decorate the house for Christmas on Sunday evening and having a little party with that. We usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but since we'll be gone, we decided to do it beforehand. That way, we'll come back to a decorated house!  Other than that, looking forward to a bit of a slower weekend than the last few. Have a great weekend and a Fantastic Friday! 

Devotion


“My Words Give Me Away”

“Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” Numbers 27:4 (NIV)

I pulled my hoodie over my face.
 
What was I hoping to discover? I asked myself as my daughter read out loud the results of another personality test.
 
It “revealed” all the things I’d hoped I had moved away from: a fear of being worthless, a desire to feel valuable and worthwhile. As she continued to read more attributes I wasn’t fond of, I didn’t want to face my family, thus the hoodie over my face.
 
Disappointed it “uncovered” the things I have been working so hard to overcome, I thought, Hadn’t I made any progress?
 
I’m not sure why I find these tests so fascinating. They only tell me what I would already know if I just paid a little more attention to myself. There can be so many clues.
 
My words give me away.
 
When my husband comes home and asks how my day has gone, I often give a checklist of accomplishments. If my mother wants to know what’s new, I may relay my upcoming calendar.
 
How about you? If you carried a voice recorder all day, what would your words reveal about you?
 
In Numbers 27, we’re told the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, whose words definitely gave them away. These women had no father, no brothers, no husbands and no sons. During this time in history, with no men in their lives, that meant they could not own property or easily make a living.
 
The time had come for the Israelites to begin making plans for moving into the Promised Land. With no men to inherit land for them, the women were facing homelessness.
 
Yet, they still had a choice. They could listen to the voices in their culture — voices that (falsely) communicated that women were not capable or worthy. They could listen to the possible rumblings in their own heads about their value. Or they could believe for more.
 
In today’s key verse, the women went before Moses and the leadership and said, “Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives” (Numbers 27:4).
 
Their words don’t tell us how they felt. They may or may not have felt confident. Their words do tell us what they believed. They believed they were part of the Israelite nation, a part of God’s chosen people. They believed God’s promise of the Promised Land in Genesis 17 was for them, since they were Abraham’s descendants as well.
 
How about you? What are your words giving away? Do they reveal a confidence and faith in Christ … or a lack of it?
 
I can’t do that!
 
She’ll probably mess it up again.
 
Our words give away what fuels our heart: faith or fear. There’s not a lot we can control in this life, but we can control what is growing in our heart. We can choose.
 
May our words give away our confidence built on God and His Word, continually reminding us of His promises to us.
 
May we speak God’s words such as when God grants a new heart from Ezekiel 36:26 or as God is fulfilling the desires of my heart from Psalm 37:4.
 
Let’s fuel our hearts with faith instead of fear.
 
Father, I want my words to show my confidence is built on You. Help me fuel my heart with faith instead of fear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lynn Cowell
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)
 
1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)

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"Three Things to Remember When Your Normal Gets Hijacked"

11/13/2018

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Good morning lovely ladies! I hope you're having a good day so far. It's been a bit busy around here already and I got a little carried away with household things. So now I'm sitting for a bit and can do the devotion. I hope you have a Tremendous Tuesday! 



Devotion


“Three Things to Remember When Your Normal Gets Hijacked”

“‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” Mark 14:36 (NIV)

The only way I could fall asleep was to lie to myself. “If you can just fall asleep, when you wake up you’ll realize this is a nightmare that will soon end.”
 
But that wasn’t reality. The next morning, I woke up, and the devastation was there in an even more heartbreaking way. I reached across the covers and all my fears were confirmed.
 
My husband was gone.
 
Death hadn’t taken him. No, the hijacking of our normal was a slow erosion that led to an eventual landslide, wiping out everything secure about our relationship.
 
That awful morning happened nearly three years ago. And I promised myself if I actually survived looking my greatest fears in the face, I would eventually be a voice of help and hope for others thrust into a darkness they never imagined.
 
So, here I am. I survived. We survived. And we’re determined to turn our battle scars into a battle cry to help others.
 
Whether you’re reeling from a life-altering circumstance or you’re wrestling through something not turning out the way you thought it would, I know what it’s like to say, “It’s not supposed to be this way.” And I feel compelled to tell you three truths you must hear:
 
1. You are not alone in wanting things to be different and asking God to change your situation.
 
Did you know even Jesus asked God to change His circumstances and fix what God surely could have fixed in an instant? Listen to these words of Jesus right before He was arrested and eventually crucified:
 
“‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me …’” (Mark 14:36a).
 
I have found such comfort in remembering the humanity of Jesus. Yes, His divinity made Him perfect and sinless, but His humanity felt the brutal weight of human hurt. He understands loneliness, betrayal and being devastated by people He should have been able to trust. He knows what it’s like to be lied to, misunderstood, falsely accused and rejected. And because I know He’s felt what I feel, I know I can trust Him to lead me through my heartbreak.
 
2. There is a place to attach our hope, but it’s not to our desire for changed circumstances.
 
Our key verse (Mark 14:36) doesn’t end with Jesus’ request for things to be different. It ends with the strongest statement of trusting God that I can find in the whole Bible:

“… Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
 
In other words, Jesus had a strong desire for change. But He had an even stronger desire to trust God with it all. This is hard for a girl like me who loves to suggest to God all the ways He could surely fix my circumstances. But God loves me too much to do things my way. His plan is always better, even if I can’t understand or see it clearly as it’s unfolding.
 
3. Though my story took the most unexpected twists and turns through the darkest valleys I’ve ever known, God’s plan was good.
 
Only God could take a string of really bad circumstances and add them together to make a good I never knew was possible. None of my suggestions to fix things ever worked. The good only came in God’s timing and in unexpected ways.
 
And though our normal will never look like it used to, it’s been replaced by something better. A deeper awareness of who God is and an unexpected strength that comes with truly trusting Him.
 
Don’t give up, dear friend. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop hoping and believing. But also, don’t believe that your way of getting to the other side of your circumstance is the only way. God has a perfect plan for a path to a renewed joy and a redeemed future that’s probably one you can’t even fathom. Trust Him.
 
The hijacking is over. I no longer lie to myself. Now the only way I can fall asleep at night is to speak truth. God is here. God is near. God can absolutely be trusted with it all.
 
Father God, these devastating circumstances have left me so weary. But the truth of Your love leaves me hopeful. I’m trusting in Your plans for me and I’m lifting up these words to You — not my will, but Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lysa TerKeurst
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Psalm 62:5, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” (NIV)

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"Looking for Miracles"

11/12/2018

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Good morning ladies. I hope you had a great weekend. We had a lovely one, visiting with our friends, and also a great Sunday as they led us in worship. I was able to make it to all the events except the Agape dinner. I know I missed out on a great time, but I was exhausted by the time we got home from lunch around 3:30 pm. So, I'm sure there will be a 'next time.' What did you all do on this cold weekend? Jokingly, our friend Randy said that he figured when they reached Minnesota they would see sunshine, with temperatures in the 70's. Ah, so sorry to disppoint! On the up side, however, we will have a few days this week with average November temps, in the mid-40's. Yay! Dog walking weather.  Today is pretty quiet for me, with a few things to catch up on. How about you?

Devotion

Do you struggle with making time for a Sabbath? Today's devotion reminds us why it's so important, and it's an explanation that I honestly hadn't thought about before. Have a Marvelous Monday! 


“Looking for Miracles”

“So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little. When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.” Exodus 16:17-18 (CSB)

Miracles.
 
Every single one of them is astounding, shocking and overwhelming. Have you ever experienced one? An instance when God suspended the regular way the universe functions to interject His activity?
 
Goodness gracious, I have.
 
I wish we were meeting face-to-face right now so we could share our experiences (and some chocolate) with each other. What a conversation that would be — recounting God’s unusual activity in our lives. Actually, that’s a good definition for a miracle we can hang on to together: Miracles are, by nature, unusual. They’re unnatural occurrences that can only be accredited to the Divine.
 
If you can’t put your finger on very many in your life, and if, like me, you’d love to have as many of them as God will graciously allow, I’ve got good news for you: Implementing Sabbath margin is one of the best places to begin.
 
Turns out, the Sabbath is a breeding ground for miracles.
 
Exodus 16 records an unusual and subtle little miracle. In the desert when the Israelites gathered their fresh, new-every-morning manna, the Bible explains “some gathered a lot, some a little.” But“when they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage” (vv. 17-18). Like multiplying the loaves and fish (see Matthew 14:13-21), God made everyone’s gathered manna just right for their need.
 
But on the sixth day when they returned from their morning manna ritual, they found they’d “gathered twice as much food, four quarts apiece” (Exodus 16:22b, CSB) — which would have been reasonable and understandable had the people spent twice as much time hunched over the desert sand laced with heaven’s cornflakes that morning.
 
Twice as much gathered for twice as much work. That makes sense, but that’s not what happened. Each person, having spent just as much time and effort as normal, had raked in twice the result.
 
The people’s leaders, shocked to see the robust bounty of their work, frantically reported to Moses the surprising outcome. But really, they shouldn’t have been stunned at all. Can’t you just picture Moses staring at them blankly, shaking his head and sighing as he replied, “This is what GOD was talking about …” (v. 23b, MSG).
 
Indeed, this is exactly what Yahweh already said He would do for them. As they honored the seventh-day margin, God gave a double provision on the sixth day in order to sustain the Israelites. And they wouldn’t have to work overtime to reap it.
 
God repeats this miracle of provision over and over in history and in the experience of His children even today. When we obey the Spirit’s conviction — resisting the gnawing sense of guilt or compulsion to keep pressing beyond the boundaries, beyond that which honors God — He will bless our obedience and sustain us. He will miraculously give twice the harvest, twice the fulfillment, twice the return, even though we haven’t done anything more to garner it.
 
Unusual.
 
Double portions always are.
 
But sadly, I’ve often been unable to relish God’s double-portion miracle for me. And I think you probably know the feeling. Because believing that doing less can somehow produce more requires a resilient faith. It takes an unshakable concrete trust in God — the kind that won’t topple even in an earthquake of doubt — to maintain the confidence that allows you to stop, even when everything in you and around you says keep going. Keep pushing. Keep gathering. Keep persisting.
 
That’s hard for us to stop, just like it was for the Israelites. They decided to hoard God’s provision, just in case this Sabbath thing didn’t work the way they planned.
 
We aren’t told if they actually gathered more than what they needed, or if they deprived themselves in order to stretch what they had. Either way, they sought to store up manna beyond what Yahweh permitted. And the results were universally bad … and smelly.
 
God wanted the Israelites to trust in Him, not in their abilities to provide for themselves. He wanted to give them a double-portion miracle, so they could see what it felt like.
 
He wants to do the same for you and me.
 
Dear Lord, help me not to miss seeing You do what You do best: be God. Empower me to honor the foundation that supports a double-portion miracle — the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Priscilla Shirer
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (CSB)

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"An 'And Then Some' Life"

11/9/2018

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Good morning ladies. I hope you're doing well as we wrap up this work week. With about an inch of snow overnight, it looks kind of festive and pretty.  But be careful out there! It's still very cold and slippery. So, what do you have planned for this weekend? We are quite busy; no surprise there! Yesterday, I did the grocery shopping, or at least half of it anyway. This morning, PK is finishing it up, because we just love to go to different stores for different sales. One of the problems right now is that we like to shop at Aldi's, and both of the locations close to us have closed temporarily for renovation. This put us in a dielmma for now, so we have been running around town to find the things we need and the best deals. Anyway.....  Tomorrow we will clean the house because we have our friends Randy and Marli Brown coming to minister to us on Sunday, and they're staying with us on Saturday night. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again. We always have such a great time! You know those kind of friends that you can just pick up with right where you left off? That's them. Also on Sunday, we are going to our first 'Agape Dinner,' something we just implemented at church in order to get to know each other better and in a more personal way.  I think that;s about it. How about you?

Prayer & Praise

There are many things to pray for right now:

California, the families of the shooting victims, as well as these horrible fires. I thinnk we have an Alliance church in Paradise, CA. 

Devotion

I just LOVE this devotion today! It encourages us that, even in the midst of our ordinary lives, if we strive to go the extra mile in service, God will use and bless us abundantly! Have a great weekend and a Faithful Friday!


“An ‘And Then Some’ Life”

“After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.’ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.” Genesis 24:19-20 (NIV)

My 9-year-old daughter was learning how to make her own quesadilla. I watched closely as she placed the tortilla on the pan. She put a few pieces of cheese on her tortilla, but then she began to add more cheese. And then some more cheese. And then some more.
 
“Lucy,” I exclaimed. “You’re not supposed to put THAT much cheese on a quesadilla!”
 
To which she replied with a smile, “Daddy does!”
 
Apparently my husband puts on a few pieces of cheese like I do … and then some!
 
Just as a generous helping of cheese can make a quesadilla taste quite delicious, an “and then some” life can be quite extraordinary.
 
Simply look at Rebekah.
 
In Genesis 24, we read that Rebekah was going about her normal business at the water well. As she emerged with a pitcher of water on her shoulder, she met a man who would change her life forever.
 
This man was on a mission from Abraham to find a bride for his son, Isaac. Abraham’s servant had devised a clever test to sift out the best bridal candidate. He prayed that while he stood by the well amidst all the daughters of the townspeople, the right girl would exhibit a servant’s heart. He prayed, “May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ — let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac” (Genesis 24:14a, NIV).
 
As we see in our key verse, that’s exactly what happened when he met beautiful, virtuous Rebekah. “After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.’ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels” (Genesis 24:19-20).
 
Now this wasn’t just like getting a few glasses of water. Verse 10 reveals the servant had 10 camels. Each camel could easily drink 25 gallons (almost 100 liters) of water. Imagine having to draw out and carry 250 gallons of water in the hot sun!
 
I’ll be honest. I would have given the man a drink as requested, then gone home. It was common courtesy to offer water to another person, but it was uncommon courtesy to offer to draw water for a thirsty camel — let alone 10 of them!
 
But Rebekah was an uncommon woman. She did what was required … and then some. What does her act of service reveal about her character? We can conclude she was not above hard work. She was generous, patient, kind, resourceful, hospitable and very strong! Her “and then some” act of service was an answer to the servant’s prayer. His long journey had met success.
 
Notice the servant found Rebekah at the water well. It was ordinary work on an ordinary day in an ordinary place. Yet while she fulfilled her duty (and then some), God was about to fulfill her destiny.
 
How could Rebekah have known that her extra-mile attitude would give her a place in the lineage of Jesus? She would not only become the bride of Isaac and mother of Jacob. She would also become the grandmother of the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Talk about influence! And Rebekah’s story in the Bible all began with an act of service.
 
May we duplicate Rebekah’s “and then some” work ethic in our homes, workplaces, churches and modern water wells (sometimes known as coffee shops). The next time you have an opportunity to serve, go beyond what’s expected. You never know what that extra will lead to in God’s plan for your life.
 
Lord Jesus, thank You for Rebekah’s example. Your Word is a light to my path. Help me go the extra mile for others. May I be willing to serve others, doing even more than what is expected to the glory of God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Arlene Pellicane
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Matthew 5:41, “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” (NLT)
 
Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV)

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"When a Hobby Brings New Hope"

11/7/2018

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Hey there! Good morning ladies. How are you doing today? Cold enough? And just like that....it's Winter! Yep, snow on the ground. And ice. And cold. We're trying to dig out our winter coats, boot, gloves, hats, etc. around here. And PK told me to be careful walking Molly today. How about in your area? What weather are you having?

I've been given quite a bit of yarn recently, with no place to put it, so I've been rearranging my area/office the past few days. It's hard to decide what to give away because I never know if I will start a hobby again in the future. Anyone else have that problem? Plus, we really haven't found the 'perfect' place for many things yet in this new house. Yes, we have more room than we used to, but we can't really decide how to use it efficiently. So,that's going on right now. How about you? What things are new in your life?

Devotion

And speaking of hobbies.....wow! Great devotion today about using our talents and hobbies to bless others. Have a Wonderful Wednesday ladies!

“When a Hobby Brings New Hope”

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)


Who would have thought that posting fun, silly photos on Instagram could benefit children in the foster care system? Not me. But it has … in a big way.

 
It all started with sharing photos of my ridiculously cute Labradoodle and my darling, bespectacled foster-grandson. Watching them together warmed my heart and made me smile. I wanted to show the strong bond they’d developed, so I started dressing them alike, taking photos and posting them on Instagram. The “pawsitive” responses I received made me realize mine was not the only heart warmed by this adorable duo.
 
As my Instagram account, Reagandoodle, gained popularity, I prayed God would use it to glorify Himself and benefit children in foster care. God answered that prayer by turning Reagandoodle into something much more than I ever dreamed, drawing people to Him and shining a light on His kids. People reach out to me every day, sharing their stories of foster care and adoption and expressing the joy the photos bring to their day.
 
Using my gifts of photography and editing to share fun pictures on Instagram drew more attention than I ever expected. The photos I posted eventually gained the attention of several national TV shows who came calling. They featured the story of Reagan the Labradoodle and my then foster-grandson (now adopted grandson), bringing even greater attention to the needs of children in foster care.
 
What started as one small act became something so much bigger than I am. It is totally astounding to me that while I never saw my gift of photography as anything special, God has used it to bless so many others.
 
As 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
 
God has gifted each of us with different talents or skills, things that make us come alive when we do them. For me, that gift is photography and image editing. I love the whole process: setting up a scene with my dog and grandchildren, capturing the image, then processing it on the computer. All of that is fun for me, but the real joy is sharing the images on social media, knowing they will brighten someone’s day and bring awareness to the needs of children in foster care.
 
So, let me ask you a question: What do you love to do? Garden? Scrapbook? Sing? Maybe you love to teach or cook, or you’re great at organizing. Whatever it is you love to do, maybe, like me, you don’t see it as something special. Maybe like me, you’ve placed it in the hobby category — never imagining that your little hobby could be a blessing to someone else.
 
Although God wants you to enjoy them, He didn’t bless you just so you could keep your talents to yourself. God wants you to bless others with your talents, and give Him glory in the process.
 
How can you be a faithful steward, use your gifts to serve others and bring glory to God? By simply sharing your talents. If you love to garden, take someone a bouquet of flowers. If cooking is your jam, take a meal to a hurting friend or a busy mom. It doesn’t have to be elaborate — just do something.
 
When you share your talents, God can turn your seemingly small acts of service into something much bigger, like He did for me.
 
I can’t wait to see what He has in store for you.
 
Lord, thank You for gifting me with talents and skills. Please help me find an opportunity to use my gifts to bless others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Sandi Swiridoff
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

1 Corinthians 12:4-6,
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (NIV)

 
2 Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (NIV)

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"Fixing My Eyes On Jesus"

11/5/2018

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Good morning ladies! We are finally back together again! How are you doing? What have you been up to lately? I know that we missed a few things while we were gone and it's good to be back home, but we had a great time with family this past weekend, celebrating the wedding of our nephew and his new bride. It was also good to visit with my parents and my sisters again. We got home after dark last night (which starts about 5:00 pm now that we changed our clocks), and I pretty much crashed. Today is all about unpacking and getting back to some semblance of order around here. And, of course, the busyness of this time of year just keeps going. We are so blessed and I'm thankful for the opportunities that God gives us.

Devotion

What a powerful devotion today. Have you ever looked at the trials in your life as a way that God refines us? Even when the heat gets turned up and we feel like we can hardly stand it? Whew! What a relief to know that we can trust Him through these times. Have a Magnificent Monday ladies!


“Fixing My Eyes On Jesus”


“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)


Every one of us has problems that feel like we are walking through a “fiery” time in life. What fuel has God the Refiner added to the fire of your life, as He works to reveal Jesus in and through you?

 
Has the heat intensified to an almost unbearable level? Maybe it’s marriage problems, and your spouse walked out? Or financial problems, and now the bank says it’s foreclosing? Or challenges at work, and now the boss says they no longer need you?
 
Whatever the situation or intensity of the heat, be encouraged! When a refiner purifies gold, he melts it in a pot over a fire. He keeps turning up the heat until the dross, or impurities, rise to the surface. He then bends over the gold to skim off the dross and continues doing so, until he can see his face reflected in the surface of the liquid gold.
 
Gold refined in the fire is a meaningful visual of how God refines us. (Malachi 3:2-3) He knows exactly how hot the “fire” needs to be to bring the impurities in our hearts, minds and lives to the surface of our attention, enabling Him to skim them off until He can see His own image reflected in us. When He turns up the heat, we need to fix our eyes on Him, totally trusting Him to know exactly what He’s doing.
 
The Refiner has added fuel to the fire in my life. On August 17, 2015, between 3 and 3:30 p.m., I discovered my husband, Danny, unresponsive in our pool. Two days later, he was Home in heaven! Three years to the day, on the afternoon of August 17, 2018, at the very same time of day, 3 to 3:30, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
 
When I realized the strange “coincidence” of the timing, I came to the chilling conclusion it was evidence of an enemy assault. But just as that thought was forming, I heard the soft, gentle whisper of the Spirit, reminding me that it was on a Friday, during that very same time — between 3 and 3:30 in the afternoon — that God’s Passover Lamb was sacrificed. Jesus died on the very same day of the week, at the very same time of day, crushing the head of the serpent, forever defeating the devil and death.
 
Praise God! The cross, the blood of God’s Lamb, trumps anything the devil can throw at us or assign to us!
 
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 
So I am left to fix my eyes on the Refiner … the One ultimately in control. Of everything. Trusting Him. Especially with the intensity of the heat.
 
Each day since the cancer diagnosis, God has given me encouragement from His Word. God has been — and is — my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in this trouble. Therefore, I will not fear … but He’s also made it clear we need each other. One promise God brought to mind is James 5:16, “Pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

I’m confident my healing will be not just an answer to my prayer, but the prayers of others for me, whether healing without surgery, with surgery, with surgery plus follow-up treatment, or through the greater miracle of the resurrection. And your healing — physical, emotional, spiritual or mental — may also be an answered prayer for others as their faith strengthens yours.
 
The following poem is one I handwrote in my first Bible when I was 9 years old. I don’t know what led me to treasure it, but it seems appropriate for me now, and maybe it is for you, too:
 
Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee.
Trust Him when thy strength is small.
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Is the hardest thing of all.
 
Trust Him, He is ever faithful.
Trust Him for His will is best.
Trust Him for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place to rest.
 
Trust Him then through tears and sunshine,
All thy cares upon Him cast,
‘Til the storms of life are over,
And the trusting days are past.
 
As I follow the Good Shepherd through this Valley of the Shadow, I am firmly fixing my eyes on Jesus with a heart of absolute trust. My prayer is that my faith would be purified, God would be glorified, and Jesus would be magnified through every step I take on this new journey, until the Refiner sees His own reflection mirrored in my life.
 
Father God, help me trust You as my faith is purified, until my faith becomes sight, when I see You face-to-face, and the trusting days are past. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Anne Graham Lotz
 
TRUTH FOR TODAY
 

Psalm 46:1-2a,
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” (NIV)


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