Welcome!  Blessings!

I just received word that one of our family pets, Darcy, a beautiful German Shepherd, will probably have to be put down on tomorrow.  She’s 12 years old and has been a wonderful & precious friend.  Proverbs 12:10 speaks of how a righteous man cares for his animals.  I guess I’ll have to elaborate on that a little more later on, perhaps tomorrow.  This is one of those many times that I am so eternally grateful for prayer.  What a blessing it is!  May you be blessed by this devotion.

In the eighteenth chapter of Luke, Jesus puts to us a very thought provoking question:  If an unjust man will do what is right when he doesn’t want to and because he feels that he has no choice, how much more will God who is just and desires to bless us do what’s right and good by those who are His choice, His chosen ones?

What prayer request do you have before Him?  Is it one that is similar to many of mine at this time, one where you don’t know what to do?  Jesus said we ought to pray! (Luke 18:1)  So we’re doing the right thing.  And though it seems so hard, and it seems so long, God’s Word declares that He would answer even before we call, and He would hear us out while we were yet speaking.  Then Jeremiah 33:3 encourages us to call on Him, and He will show us great and mighty things that are unheard of.  Although our requests aren’t anything new to Him, He shall answer in a way that is unprecedented.

He’s ever mindful of us.  He knows what things we have need of before we ask.  He knew what we needed before we knew we needed it.  And He knows what we stand in need of when we kneel in prayer; things that we’re not even aware that we need at that very time and should be asking for.  When we pray, God joins us in prayer!

Prayer doesn’t need an answer; prayer is the answer!  An answer already comes with every prayer that we pray.  A prayer that is unheard is unheard of!  Let you heart be encouraged in prayer and ignited with excitement and expectation by these scriptures, these precious promises that the Lord has given us to believe on.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  And shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily…And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.  Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.  If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Romans 8:26&27; Matthew 6:32; Luke 18:7&8; Isaiah 65:24; Matthew 6:8; Jeremiah 33:3; John 14:14; Matthew 21:22 & James 5:16

If man will grant requests because he’s left with little choice;

How much more shall the Lord, who wants and longs to hear your voice?

If man will hear your cry because he’s forced in that position;

How much more will the Father, who delights in your petition?

Would God, who’s merciful and loves you, fail to hear and bless;

When unjust judges answer you, though they could not care less?

If man will act when he would rather do nothing at all,

Then you can rest assured that God will always hear your call.

And though some judges may deny you, just because they can;

You know that God will never do you any wise like man!

Be absolutely encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

Are you facing a dark place (e.g. an uncertainty; a sadness)?  Go with the Lord and let Him light the way.  There is something in it for you.  There is something special that He has waiting to give to you. There's a blessing, there's a song, there is strength.  There is goodness beyond description.  There are many wonderful things that remain to be seen.  Allow Him to reveal the treasures, the hidden riches that you would have never known nor owned if you had never gone with Him through the darkness.  Then you will share them with others and it will encourage them to go.  They will know that they will not only make it, but there's a blessing there waiting for them to take it!  Amen.

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and the hidden riches of the secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.  Isaiah 45:3

The darkness that most would avoid, I bid you enter in;

To know the treasure of this place where you have never been.

The darkness looks like emptiness but if you only knew—

The treasures in the darkness that I have prepared for you.

The darkness looks intimidating but you need not fear;

There is no harm by any means that shall befall you there.

Don’t enter with reluctance but with fondest expectation;

Come out of deep desire and not out of obligation.

I call you by your name to know the richness of My grace;

And by the same, I grant you access to My secret place.

And once you have discovered all the riches that were hid;

You’ll readily come through the darkness and be glad you did.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.  Psalm 139:11 & 12

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.  1 Corinthians 2:9 & Isaiah 64:4

Be implicitly encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

I pray that today’s devotion (or any devotion for that matter) does not leave you with the impression that I’ve arrived and I’m now preaching to the rest of you to step up to the plate.  I only invite you to walk with me as we travel this pilgrim journey from earth to glory.  I praise God that He gives us a glimpse into the good that’s in the unavoidable troubles in life; that we otherwise could not see.  After I read devotions like these (& yes, I do read them and take them to heart), I thank God that I don’t have to be depressed about the challenges I face and can also tell others that they don’t have to be depressed either!  So, I’m telling you right now—be blessed!

It is a necessity for every believer to be pressed to nothing in order that they may not only know that Christ is everything but also so that truth may become a conviction by which they live.  Being pressed to that extent and to those extremes; conditions and trains a believer to draw nigh to God in a crisis.  Without those dire circumstances, a Christian withdraws from God in seeking fulfillment from other places.  An effective and abundant life cannot be realized by living off of other means. Nor can it be realized by finding adequacy in drawing from other resources.

When trouble presses us further into Christ, we come to learn a fuller meaning, and know the blessedness of being pressed down and shaken together!  When a Christian can embrace a time of trouble because it has pressed him into a deeper trust in Christ, then that Christian has a solution.  When a Christian can rid himself of a problem without Christ being the core solution, then that Christian really has a problem.

...We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust ourselves, but God which raiseth the dead:  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver:  in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.  2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Pressed out of measure, but into His fullness!

I'm thankful for troubles that thrust—

My heart to a place where I trust Jesus fully,

So that only Him do I trust.

Pressed above my strength, but into His power!

It's when I could manage no longer;

I found that my own strength was weakness at best,

But by His might, I'm always stronger.

Pressed to the point where life seemed to be hopeless,

But that is the place where I saw—

His power to resurrect, even in straits,

And deliver me out of them all.

Be persistently encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

Lately, I’ve come across so many Christians who have spent themselves and their time refreshing others.  And yet they are in dire need of refreshment themselves.  I wouldn’t doubt that they are probably somewhere saying the very same thing of me.  We need moisture; we cannot live without it.  We must be refreshed.  God knows exactly what type of moisture that we need.  He has a season for rain, hail, snow and dew; and an ordained time for each one’s purpose to come to fruition.  He knows how and when to refresh you and me.

When you pour so much out of your life to water others, you have this promise in Proverbs 11:25 that you, yourself shall be watered.  Before you get to the point where you do too much, God is there to be as dew to you.  One of the definitions of dew is something resembling dew in purity, freshness or power to refresh.  God’s touch is all of that!  Let Him touch you; be refreshed this day, in Jesus’ name.

...I will be as the dew unto Israel...  Hosea 14:5

Lord, You saw this day was coming,

And all I’d be going through;

And ordained the night before

To bring a pure, refreshing dew.

You knew I’d have need of moisture,

But the sight of falling rain—

Would cause dread because my heart

Associated it with pain.

You knew though my heart was bleeding,

And my tears were falling free;

They weren’t means to cure the dryness,

But were dehydrating me.

You knew that I had no strength

To journey or let down my pail—

To joyfully draw water to sustain me

From Salvation’s well.

Lord, You saw it, and saw to it

That I’d not be slain with drought;

For You let Your dew fall down

To take me through and bring me out.

…The times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.  Acts 3:19

Be refreshingly encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

From today's devotion, it’s clear to see that if we take vengeance, we actually reward evil for good.  We know that all things work together for good, regardless to the circumstances by which the good was brought about (like with Joseph in Genesis 45:4-8 & 50:20).  So, when we seek to recompense an injustice (that undoubtedly is to our benefit), we reward and thank God for the good brought our way by doing things that are totally out of His character.  In attempting to avenge ourselves, we are never made glad or better by our doings nor the outcome, though our anger is pacified and our flesh is gratified.  God, then has to do unto us as we have done unto others and Proverbs 17:13 lets us know that we will continually reap the evil we have sown until it is repented of.  (Help ME, Lord!)

God knows and fully understands that it’s not always possible on our part to live in peace with everyone.  But that doesn’t mean that we’re justified to be combative toward them.  The Lord has made provision in Proverbs 16:7:  When our ways please Him, He will make our enemies to be at peace with us.  They may never be our friends but God will cause all that they devise and do to harmonize with His will and desire to bless us.

Do not lower yourself to be equal with evil.  You should only try to get even with those who have been kind.  Continue in love, walk in forgiveness because that path is most blessed and the end is peace.  We shall overcome, if we so choose!

Romans 12:

17 – Recompense to no man evil for evil.  Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 – If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 – Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance in Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 – Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:  for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

There is never any reason

For you to corrupt your mind,

With the thought of doing evil,

Though you're treated most unkind.

You have power to prevail:

Don't let that strength be taken from you;

Conquer ill by doing good

And don't let evil overcome you.

Feed your foe if he is hungry,

Just don't feed into his ways;

Stay consistent, never take down

From the standard Christ has raised.

When you see someone so wicked,

Who delights in doing evil,

Would you want to be the same

And change your ways to be their equal?

In Psalm 8 verse 2, it lets us know,

No matter who's to blame,

The avenger and the enemy

Are counted as the same.

And in seeking to avenge yourself,

You give a place to wrath;

You'll be punished in God's vengeance

For you're put right in its path.

Let forgiveness be what you seek after

For it's clear to see

That revenge is a dead end pursuit

Of endless misery.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:  I will render to the man according to his work.  Say thou not, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and He shall save thee.  Proverbs 24:29 & 20:22

Be insurmountably encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

The greatness of a king is known by the valor of his army.  His lordship is measured by the command he has over them.  His wisdom and power are known by his many victories and triumphant strategies.  His leadership is hailed a success by the loyalty of his soldiers.  His strength is known by the prosperity of His kingdom.

Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is known by His followers.  Praise the Lord for continuous victory & how we go from strength to strength!  We are more than conquerors; we know no defeat.  May others know the truth about this King of glory and know of His truth and majesty by how we carry ourselves, carry His name and His glorious gospel.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.  2 Corinthians 2:14

This world will know how great our God is by how well we do—

When we lift high His name no matter what we’re going through.

By us, the savor of His knowledge is in every place,

As He makes us to always triumph in all that we face.

Let’s shout and claim the victory to let the whole world know

Our Savior's presence, might and power everywhere we go.

Psalm 24:

7 – Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

8 – Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

9 – Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

10 – Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

Be always encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!  I am working really hard to keep things going and get organized.  God has truly blessed my efforts.  Thank you so much for your prayers and please continue!

In the King James version, Matthew 28:20 says “…even unto the end of the world.”  In the Variorum version, it says “…all the appointed days.”

When I read Matthew 28:20 & Hebrews 13:5, I like to think that those scriptures mean that God has cleared His calendar just to be with me and has filled His schedule with such appointments!  For all of the days that God has appointed to me, He has made an appointment to be with me.  He's not only saying, "I will be with you," but He's also assuring me, "I AM already with you all of your appointed days.”  And with that in mind, should I not do the same; shouldn't He be given the same priority and consideration?

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:  for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Hebrews 13:5 & Matthew 28:20

According to God’s wisdom, He's appointed all my days;

And He is well acquainted with my life and all my ways.

The Lord not only measured out the sum of days to be;

But each one was designed in detail and with destiny.

The Lord directs my goings so there's no way I can fail;

And His established purpose has and always will prevail.

The Lord has opened up and paved the way with great success;

And promised me His presence in unending faithfulness.

He's mapped out every day and nothing takes Him unaware;

For He has gone before and as I go, He is right there.

There is no greater peace to have in life than be assured—

That all of my appointed days will be spent with the Lord.

Who have I in heaven but Thee?  And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.  Psalm 73:25

Be incomparably encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

If only King Darius had known the all-encompassing meaning of  “the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.”  If only he could have fully realized that although he could change nothing in regards to man’s purpose to hurt Daniel, he also could not change anything in regards to God’s purpose to bless Daniel.  Then maybe he could have enjoyed a good night's rest in the comforts of his palace chambers, like the kind of rest Daniel enjoyed in the comforts of God's care, though in the lion's den.

One of many things that we can learn fro Daniel is that if we purpose in our heart to keep ourselves pure unto God and undefiled by the beggardly elements of the world and not change our purpose (see Daniel 1:8), then we can have that same confidence that God will not change His purpose concerning us.

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.  Daniel 6:17

Just because you’re upright and you stand for righteousness,

Men will seek to do what causes you the most distress.

They only will find pleasure if they cause you great dismay,

As they think how to kill you in the most tormenting way.

It’s then you must remember when thrown in the lion’s den,

And a stone is laid upon its mouth to make sure you’re locked in—

On each hungry lion’s mouth, the God you serve has placed the Rock,

And He fastens shut each lion’s mouth and makes their jaws to lock.

So no matter what men plot and scheme or what they try to do;

They cannot change the purpose that God has concerning you.

Isaiah

14:24 – The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

14:27 – For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

46:11 – …yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Be unalterably encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!  Blessings!

I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to post on yesterday.  I saw my precious family off at the airport.  Then I returned home & worked on a devotion, then fell asleep.  I was very exhausted but I’m awake now! 

We haven’t counted all of our blessings until we have counted it all joy.  It’s usually not until after patience has had a chance to do her perfect work that we are able to count our tribulations as such.  It’s afterward that we can better see and understand that without them, our lives would be incomplete and we would be lacking the very things that we want and need.

Trials are messengers that bear tidings of comfort and joy. Receive the blessedness; experience the joy!  Amen.

James 1:

2 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

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.

When the devil desires to have you,

Just to sift through your life and destroy;

And you see him attempting to do so,

Don’t be discouraged but count it all joy.

It’s a joy just to know he can’t touch you,

That your life is lived in such a way;

To the point you’re a threat to his kingdom;

And you’re causing him woe and dismay.

If you’re tempted when you are afflicted—

To succumb to some kind of depression;

Take heart:  just the fact that he wants you

Means you’re not his, but God’s own possession.

Be joyful and glad through the hard times;

Through the worst times when you’re moved to tears;

As you bask in the joy from just knowing

You are one of the ones Satan fears.

So just think who you’re pleasing:  The Father,

And just think whom it is you annoy;

And rejoice when your suffer for Jesus;

For it truly is nothing but joy!

Romans 5:

3 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 – And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Be joyfully encouraged!

Pam

Welcome!

I would like to take this time and wish a very Happy Belated Birthday (July 1st) to two dear Pastors & Friends, Elders Andraé & Sandra Crouch.  Since the poem “You’re My Chosen One” is one of the ones that really minister to you, I selected it for this day and dedicate it to you in thanksgiving to God for the encouragement and inspiration that you’ve allowed Him to send through you throughout the years.  It did not come without a price but through it all, you’ve learned to trust in Jesus and many others have, too because of your ministry & labor of love!

You must have been so special

That one just wouldn’t do;

And when God called for you,

He said, “You are My chosen TWO!”

May you live out your ordained purpose for which the Lord has chosen expressly for your lives.

Check out their ministry & Church family:  http://newcmc.org/index.html 

When I start pondering about the things that God is preparing me for, there are times that I feel I’ve always been ready and then times that I feel like I’ll never be ready.  There are times I feel like the time will never come and then other times that I feel like the time has come and gone.  Then I take my medicine  -LAUGHS-  All jokes aside, right now it’s not apparent what I shall be, but when I hear His gentle, reassuring voice say, “You are My servant,” I know that I shall be like Him.  I'm no longer anxious but I anticipate with great expectations what will become of me.

To be chosen by God means to be called upon to present our bodies a living sacrifice.  No matter what it may cost, it's a blessed privilege.  Consider how great His thoughts are toward those whom He has chosen; how much He thinks of us to choose us—for His choice is choice!  You are His best!

…Thou art My servant…in whom I will be glorified.  For many are called, but few are chosen.  Isaiah 49:3 & Matthew 22:14

 You’re My servant, you’re the one that I have set aside;

You’re My chosen one in whom I will be glorified.

You’re My servant and accordingly your life’s been planned;

Every moment of your life is governed by My hand.

You’re My chosen one whom with My heart I have selected;

You shall bear My likeness and in you, I shall perfect it.

You’re My chosen servant and I’ll make you everything

That qualifies you for a chosen servant of the King.

John 15:

16 – Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.

19 – If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Be indiscriminately encouraged!

Pam