Welcome!

I have to tell you this (& only because confession is supposedly good for the soul):  I have moped and moped all the day long—actually I started earlier in the week.  It had gotten so bad until I wish I could have gotten away from myself!  I had to go to the dictionary to get a better understanding and full knowledge of what I was doing (I knew that it couldn’t be anything good).  & In reading it, there is no wonder why I only felt worse and worse.  To mope is to act in a dazed or stupid manner; to become listless or dejected; to move slowly or aimlessly; to dawdle (which is to spend time idly; to move lackadaisically; to spend fruitlessly); to give oneself to brooding (which is to dwell gloomily on a subject or to think anxiously about).

What a waste!  I was wasting away in every way!  How could I act that stupid when God gave me good sense?  How could I be listless, when I have a large list of things to accomplish?  How could I move slowly when time is moving at its same pace?  How could I even associate myself with doing anything aimlessly when I am well cognizant of my God-given purpose?  How can I continue to be spent fruitlessly when I’ve become aware of how non-productive it is to be in that state?  How can I take myself away from so many other worthwhile things and give myself to brooding?  Is it possible to gloomily dwell in the secret place of the most High?  One other definition of brooding that really rattled me concerning my moping was that to brood is to sit on and incubate (which is to maintain under conditions favorable for hatching, development, or reaction) & to produce by incubation.  What was I doing!?!…sitting idly by while maintaining favorable conditions for hatching discouragement, developing failure and producing defeat!

So, it would be bad enough that my time & energy were wasted in a non-productive way.  But what’s even worse is that it was productive, but I was producing destructive and non-productive things!  I was bringing to life and giving vitality to things that take away from life and take life away.  What would have happened if I spent that same time hoping instead of moping?  Nothing, perhaps, you say?  Perhaps nothing at all, but where I could have hoped and had nothing happen, I moped and many things happened (none good).

Psalm

42:5 – Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

42:11 & 43:5 – Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Welcome!

“A time (or day) of reckoning” is a phrase that usually means an unpleasant or disastrous destiny.  But in this case (based on Romans 8:18), it means the complete opposite.  It’s a time when we count our sufferings all joy as we reckon them in light of the glory that shall be the result of it all.  When it becomes our conviction that the sufferings of the present are temporary and minor and they are but tools in the hand of Almighty God, the Master Designer, we will be more earnest in our expectations, instead of concentrating on our situations!

Hebrews 5:8&9 says that though He (Jesus) were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.  If it's good enough for Him, it's good for us; if it bettered Him, it's best for us; if it’s to His glory, it’s for our good!  We are destined for His glory:  That’s the believer’s time of reckoning!

Romans 8:

18 – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 – For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

The glory that shall be revealed presents a stark contrast—

When it's compared with temporal sufferings that will soon be past.

And since it's only "of this present time" we can endure it;

With patience and acceptance knowing we'll be better for it.

Then to this world, who would see Jesus, it will be made known

As His glory shines upon us, that we are indeed God’s own.

James 1:

3 – Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 – But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

…Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God…  Hebrews 11:16

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

(I understand that 1 John 3:2 is speaking of Jesus’ second coming.  But I find it relevant to His appearing in my life.  The place that Jesus is purposed to have in our lives is not for a cameo appearance but to make Himself known through being made visible in the life and character of every believer.  I will share more on this later.)

Be unreservedly encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

Events such as these bring a new and true meaning to light for the passage below.  It is said that ‘hurt people hurt people.’  But it goes beyond that.  There are those who are in spiritual torments and cannot begin to tell what’s happening to them.  Who would listen, who will understand, what’s the use?  They can’t articulate their life that is racked with pain and in an attempt to get their message heard; their actions speak louder with ways that rack the lives of others with pain.  The one who is unable to speak is the very one that is able to do the most unspeakable things.

Who would listen, who will understand, who can help?  If not Jesus, then no one!  We have the message of hope, of peace, of redemption, of healing, of deliverance, of salvation!  We have the good news message of Jesus Christ!  Oh, God! May we reach them with our message first, before a foul spirit does its worst!

I ask you, and thank you for agreeing with me in prayer for the people that have suffered a great loss, not only in the tragic event that we heard of today, but the many other tragedies that did not even make the local news.  We pray for them in Jesus’ name, for all needs are met in Him!

Mark 9:

25 – ...Jesus...rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 – And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him:  and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 – But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Some soul suffers in silence and they’re longing for a voice

To tell the torment they go through of which they have no choice.

Some soul suffers in silence and no one knows how they feel

As they’re controlled by demons that hold them against their will.

Some soul suffers in silence and has no way to explain

The constant struggle that they have and their unending pain.

Some soul suffers in silence and when will we recognize

The desperate plea for help that echoes in their silent cries?

Some people turn a deaf ear but nobody can ignore

The dreadful things that happen when that spirit rents them sore.

The cause of things like drug abuse and random acts of violence

Is all because some helpless soul is suffering in silence.

Be proactively encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

It’s such a pleasure to have you visit with me, but most of all, to have God visit us!  May you be blessed by this devotion as you serve God in whatever capacity that He has called you to.

When people observe you serving God with all your heart and delighting so much to do His will, they will often assume that it is all your idea.  And even though you've embraced God's calling with your whole desire, it was initially His idea (Jeremiah 29:11).  You couldn't have thought up something that wonderful if you tried!!!

I know that I may have never selected ministry because yes, it is so rewarding and wonderful but yet it can be so painful.  People only see the joy of the Lord (our strength) as we labor so diligently.  A person endures so much affliction from being accused of picking a position in ministry of their own volition, amongst various other attacks.  Many times others must believe that we're gluttons for punishment.  It’s in those times, I'm thinking to myself, "Who in their right mind would want to be put in any circumstance that would require them to deal with you and your antics?"  But we endure, not for the silly reasons that shallow onlookers claim, but because the Lord has called us by name to go in His name, that He might be glorified.

If Jesus was despised and rejected of men, why not us when we go to do even greater works through Him?  Please read Isaiah 50:4-10 & always remember:  You've got a right to serve Him and He is worthy to be served!  IT'S HIS CALL!

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called:  and whom He called, them He also justified:  and whom He justified, them He also glorified.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.

Psalm 118:23; Jeremiah 1:5; Romans 8:29;30&28 and Ephesians 1:11

As I serve God, I have been challenged by those who incite

A confrontation as to who or what gives me the right.

But I did not have anything to do with it at all,

Aside from saying yes to God, it is His choice and call.

The Word tells many times of how the Lord drew up a plan;

That detailed my entire life before the world began.

My purpose was created before all the worlds were framed;

According to that purpose He created, I was named.

It was the Lord's decision to give top priority—

Over the whole universe to form my destiny.

I didn't just think up my life, but it was from the start,

A perfect plan that God always had for me in His heart.

Before He spoke the word establishing the earth's foundations;

He saw fit to ordain me as a prophet to the nations.

He filled my mouth with words that made it like a piercing sword;

This calling on my life was never of my own accord.

He made me like a polished shaft, and hid me in His hand;

And every thing that I've become, I am by His command.

He blessed my life and prospers me so that He's glorified;

And all I am to do or be is for Him to decide.

I shall delight to be His servant and my life I'll yield;

As He guides all events concerning me just as He's willed.

Be radically encouraged!

Pam

More scriptures to feast on!

Isaiah 49:

1 - Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name.

2 - And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me;

3 - And said unto me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

Jeremiah 1:

4 - Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 - Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 - Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD!  behold, I cannot speak:  for I am a child.

7 - But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child:  for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 - Be not afraid of their faces:  for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9 - Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth.  And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.

10 - See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Isaiah 45:

2 - I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight:  I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

3 - And I will give thee treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

4 - …I have even called thee by thy name:  I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.

5 - I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me:  I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:

6 - That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me.  I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:5&6

I want to express special wishes to a very special young woman, my Goddaughter, Miriam Elisabeth Wilson!  Today is her birthday and she is quickly becoming older than I am! (laughs)

Miriam, you have continually been the rejoicing of my heart & I'm sure that's the same for everyone who God has blessed to know you (& it is truly a blessing to know you).  It's been a pleasure and delight to watch you grow in the knowledge and grace of God.  You are truly a vessel of honor and  The Lord's precious handmaiden.

May God continue to richly bless you on this wonderfully, awesome day & each day that follows!

With His love & Mine,

Welcome!

I haven’t much to say because Jesus is speaking and I don’t want to interrupt!

When Jesus speaks something, you can believe it, you can rest assured in it & expect to hear it again verbatim when you witness the manifestation.  Faith enables us to go on in the face of circumstances that ask, "What's the use?" and in the midst of adversity that emphatically denies that there is any chance of us making it.  This man did not know that his son was alive and well until the next day, but until then he believed it.  What if he would have given up during that time; a time when there was no reason for giving up?

Don’t give up in the midst of your triumph!  Thy son (your situation that is at the point of death) liveth!  Don't prepare for a burial, prepare for a miracle!  HALLELUJAH!!!

John 4:

50 – Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.  And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

51 – And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

52 – Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend.  And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

53 – So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

If we do as Christ commands and in faith, go our way;

Walking in accordance with the things we heard Him say.

We shall come to the miracle that He decreed was done;

And find that when He spoke is the same time it had begun.

Do not let fear deter our progress or turn us aside;

Do not turn back with skepticism or in foolish pride.

For when through doubt and unbelief, we forge full speed ahead;

We’ll always see Jesus has done exactly what He said.

Be undauntedly encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

One of my favorite writers, Helen Steiner Rice, said that one thing that was key to her success was that she never used words that were difficult to understand.  As someone with a goal of communicating in a way that is effective and pleasant, being understood and uncomplicated is of utmost importance to me.  So since today’s devotion uses several idioms (idioms are words that are used to express something other than their real meaning).  I won’t just take it for granted that everyone knows or fully understands what it being said, especially when it’s said in a way that is uncommon.

With that said, I am now ready to hit the ground running!  To “hit the ground running” is an idiom that means to begin or proceed quickly, energetically, or effectively. To “hit the wall” is an idiom that means to reach the point of physical exhaustion during strenuous activity or to reach a limiting point or situation at which progress or success ceases.  There are few things more disappointing to a strong runner in a marathon than to have the lead until the final stretch and then “hit the wall” and not only lose, but also not be able to finish.

And how many times have we hit the ground running with great excitement, as our new project seems to take off and soar.  Then we run into adversity and it seems that everything hits the wall!

Well, God didn’t promise that there would be no walls, but He has made provision for our continued success beyond every wall that there is.  And no matter where it is, what God does will always hit the spot (meaning to give complete and special satisfaction) and if we follow His lead and obey, in the end we will hit it big (meaning to achieve great success)!

My prayer is that this devotion will not just be a big hit (meaning to be very popular) but that it will hit the high points (meaning to touch on or at the most important points or places) in your spiritual life today & for days to come!

And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.  Joshua 6:5

Has your progress "hit the wall?"

Well, you should not despair!

March as God has ordered you,

And though it still is there—

Shout the victory believing

In God's promise that—

By His power, it shall fall

For you in no time flat!

Joshua 1:

8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Be courageously encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

I would have posted this 3 hours ago but I started working on my hymn collection & got carried away.  I have many irons in the fire and it will all come together.  But like the theme of today’s devotional thought, God’s faithfulness is sustaining me and helping me to keep pace and not drop off or fall behind (like I’ve done so many times before).  That’s why every thing that I manage to accomplish is such a great success because it never should have been.  I’m reminded of Nehemiah’s words— I am doing a great work.  It may be laughable to some but I know what it took and how much just to get it done.

It could not be more true that my great success

Is only because of God’s great faithfulness!

And the reason I’ve progressed as far as I got

It’s not that I’ve not failed, but His mercies have not!

May you be blessed & strengthened by today’s devotional thought!

Lamentations 3:

22 – It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

23 – They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.

I don’t attribute all the good I’ve seen in life to fate,

But I’ve been blessed supreme because His faithfulness is great.

In shortages, I had no lack because His faithfulness

Afforded me more than enough instead of having less.

When nights seemed long and sorrow crept upon me without warning;

His faithfulness would bring new mercies that brought joy with the morning.

Sometimes, through my own doing, I went through a barren place;

Yet in His faithfulness, He still sustained me by His grace.

I was but easy prey just destined for the tempter’s snare,

And would have fallen victim but His faithfulness was there.

I would have been cut off while walking that forbidden path;

Except His faithfulness proved far much greater than His wrath.

He would be right to leave me where I never should have been;

But in His faithfulness, He spared and rescued me again.

Without a doubt, all that I have, my fortune and success

Stand only to proclaim to God:  Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Be consistently encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

I would like to wish my sweet sister and dear, dear friend, Linda Evans Fraser, an extremely Happy Birthday.  May this day and each day that follows hold blessings beyond measure for you and all that pertains to your life.

With that said, I would like to share a thought in today’s devotional that was inspired by an experience we had.  A few years ago, Linda, who is an anointed and skillful singer, had just completed her 3^rd recording project titled “Splendor of Love.”  (Read her bio at http://cdbaby.com/cd/lef )

Her CD Release Concert / Reception had been planned and I was on my way there from the time that I got wind of it!  I would not pass up an opportunity to celebrate this milestone.  I also could barely contain the excitement at the thought that I would be able to fellowship with my beloved Detroit family (how I love and miss them).

Well, needless to say, that event was definitely not uneventful.  So many things happened that we did not foresee nor anticipate.  But despite what should have been disappointing, there were so many other good things that we also did not anticipate that happened (Ephesians 3:20), until I was rejoicing that we didn’t know about the other adversities that would occur.

I can’t go into detail but I’ll name a few:

• Because I was on my way to Detroit at that particular time, I was in the place where I was able to be a blessing to a stranded individual who needed ‘traveling mercies’ (fare to get home).
• I was able to hear my precious niece, Jessica, minister the Word of God for Youth Sunday.
• I was there to hear Sister Nabor testify of God’s mighty workings in her dire time of need & how just two words that God spoke to her “God Cares” turned everything around.

All of these good things & more, in addition to the Linda’s beautiful concert / reception—nothing was adversely affected!  There were so many awesome moments that we never would have known, if we’d had “known it all” and as a result, had the event canceled or postponed.

I came away from that experience so much wiser.  I emailed Linda and told her that God is showing us that we should go on—and not let anything stop us!  So when you’re about to get discouraged & give up, just ask yourself, “What would I have done if I didn’t know about this thing that’s discouraging me right now?  Am I allowing God to guide me or am I letting problems to ground me?”  I must wonder how many blessings I bypassed because I knew too much (but didn’t know it all).

That circumstance you just now know of

That seems like it’s going wrong,

God has planned for it and prepared

For He knew of it all along!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

We cannot go by what we know, or see with our own eyes;

Our knowledge does not make us more intelligent or wise.

We can’t depend on anything we claim to understand;

Because we can’t imagine all the things that God has planned.

But we’re to follow as He leads us in His perfect will;

And trust that He knows best when He instructs us to be still.

So, let’s acknowledge Him in not just some, but all our ways;

And like He’s shown us in the past, we’ll find it really pays!

Then when we see the blessings we would miss, it goes to show—

How small our knowledge is and just how much we really know!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Be extraordinarily encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

There are so many needs that we are facing today.  I pray that our attention will be turned to the God of our salvation in Whom all needs are met.  May you be enriched by this devotional, in Jesus' name, Amen.

God not only makes a way where there is none, but He also makes a way where there should be none.  Isaiah 49:11 is one of many scriptures that demonstrates the power of the Creator when He makes something.  He actually creates a way out of an obstacle that is supposed to make the way impossible!  This God is our God!  Praise God!

He has made all of our mountains a way.  May you see Him in the face of all of your obstacles that you face.  And remember: When God makes it, you can make it!!!

And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.  Isaiah 49:11

The mountains are a way I’ve made so you can clearly see

That there’s a way before you, and that only way is Me.

The mountains are a way I’ve made to illustrate to you

That they are not a hindrance although they may block your view.

The mountains are a way I’ve made for you to journey on;

To have you move by faith or by your faith tell them, ”Be gone!”

The mountains are a way I’ve made for you to have direction;

And when you see their greatness, you’re beholding My reflection.

Because I’ve even made them for My glory to display;

I’ve made them for your progress: they’re not in, but are a way.

Be mightily encouraged!

Pam