Since the beginning God has been calling us and wooing us with one desire. That we would fall so in love with Him that loving Him would be enough to satisfy every longing, every craving, everything.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:30

Dare we remember the price paid to ransom us? He took Himself, and came down to earth to dwell among man. He hung on a cross. Bled. Died. Rose again.
Before He left for good, He appeared to a few and made a promise to us all, that we would not be left alone, comfortless. He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Therefore we are never alone. Never! As alone as we may feel we can trust God. He is there and He is here; for us and not against us.
Most, if not all of us, have experienced some sort of bondage, oppression and torment. Someone right now is sick and lame in spirit because the father of all lies; the enemy of your soul, has deceived you into believing that you have no value or worth and that you can’t possibly be loved by God.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
“We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39
My Question for You:
Do you know that you know that you know that you are loved by God?
Do you believe it?
Stephanie P.

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live” Psalm 63:3

Recently, I was speaking in Lancaster, PA to a women’s group for a day-retreat. At our lunch break the ladies at my table started discussing diets, food addictions, etc. This woman shared what plan she tried, another shared a recent book she had read, and back and forth the conversation went.
One of the women pulled out a sheet of paper from her Bible on which she had jotted notes at a recent women’s conference. She read to us what she had written. She ended her recitation with “‘because Your lovingkindness is better than life…’ Better than life, can you just imagine?” One of the women sitting across from me gazed off into the distance. We waited with anticipation for her response. She finally said, “Better than life… I’m just trying to imagine anything being better than a Reece’s Peanut Butter cup.” We all laughed but isn’t that a sad a statement that reflects the thoughts of too many of our hearts?
We find it difficult to surrender in areas of food, wasting time, gossip, spending, criticism, anger, or submission (am I getting close?). We cling tenaciously to what we want because we have not yet “… taste(ed) and see (n) that the LORD is good” Psalm 34:8. I believe that when we believe in our heart that His love is better than life, I mean believe it and by faith live it out in our personal lives our “souls shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and (our) mouth(s) shall praise (Him) with joyful lips.” Psalm 63:5.

I want to encourage you to read Psalm 63 in its entirety. It is 11 short verses and will only take a few minutes. Pause. Drink it in. Let His living water pour forth from your soul as you find His lovingkindness better than _______________. You fill in the blank.

Diane

Devotions
The thing I love so much about devotions is it’s the time I get to set aside to dance, sing, shout, cuddle, talk, listen, cry, dump my every thought, all my dashed hopes, my hurts, and my sorrows. I also get to express my joy unconstrained by fearful thoughts of what others may think.
In the midst of time set apart devoted to Him, there is a joy experienced, – His joy! A joy which comes from knowing, beyond any doubt that I will not be rejected, despised, laughed at, scorned or condemned.
My Fathers arms are wide and His lap is deep. And in Him I am 100% safe.

“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High,
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I shall say of the Lord
He is my refuge and my fortress:
My God in Him will I trust”
Psalms 91:1-2

Isn’t that a beautiful thought to ponder? Pause and think on it. See yourself abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.
Webster defines abiding as, “continuing to be sure or firm; endure
Sisters, time spent with the Lord, abiding with Father, is time when we can take off our masks. You know what I mean – all those faces we were in the course of a day, week or month. If we can’t; if we don’t, we are saying that we don’t trust Him or believe Him.
Trust Him dear ones to be faithful. Rejoice in the ineffable Name. His Name.

My challenge for you is to abide, abide, abide.

Stephanie P.

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You watched me as I grew up,
But you didn’t know
That I watched you, too

I learned to work hard,
And to play hard, too
I learned how to be spontaneous
I learned it all from you.

I watched you as you watched me
On our disco nights
And putting up our Christmas tree

I watched you as you watched me,
As we sang Frank Sinatra
In Virginia Beach

I watched you as you watched me
As I took to the ice
And busted up my knees

I watched you as you watched me
As I plowed into the cement pole
And on your hair I know it took its toll

I watched you as you watched me
As I got my first job
And started making money!

I watched you as you watched me
As I met my husband-to-be
And you knew he was for me
Even though I was only 14

I watched you as you took care of me
Throwing up in bed
After my surgery

I watched you as you helped me
Grow and understand
Who God is to me

I watched you and you watched me
As we danced the night away
At my wedding party

I’m still watching you to see what I can learn
About being a great wife because now it’s my turn.

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Who is watching you?

“The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.” -Oswald Chambers

I don’t think any of us would have trouble remembering the Scripture telling of Mary and Martha. We remember Martha, busy as a bee, in service to those who occupied her home. She was doing a good thing; a right thing. In the midst of her labor she observed her sister, Mary, doing absolutely nothing, well, nothing that is except sitting at the feet of Jesus, hanging on every word that came out of His mouth.
Being anxious already about all she had to do, Martha was a bit irritated with her and decided to go a register a complaint with her friend Jesus. Jesus lovingly and gracious responds and tells Martha, “You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41b-42

In my short life as a believer I’ve heard a great number of talks regarding these friends of Jesus. The particular bent of the one speaking usually determined whether Mary or Martha gets let off the hook. (I personally think the two should coexist as comfortably as two peas in a pod.)
In my life I tend to be a Martha. I love tending to and caring for my home and family. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the life of the church.

With the exception of a precious few, most of the women I know are Martha’s too. We love serving the Lord and being “church ladies”, doing what church ladies do best. Why is it, then, that most of us feel frazzled and worn, restless and torn?

I submit to you, the answer is the need our soul has to sow and cultivate Mary moments, which are really moments -long, lingering moments with The Savior.

My Question For You:
Are you replacing serving and doing with the one thing that is necessary and best?

Stephanie P.

There are a great many who have opinions one way or another about Disney, some like it, some hate it and think of it as evil. I’ve been there four times and I love it! There are some rides, attractions, movies and shows I don’t like, I choose what’s appropriate, somewhat in the same way I do when we visit any theme park or movie theatre or even when we watch television. This past visit was wonderful. I took my son there and we had an exciting time going on rides, playing checkers on Main Street (he always beats me!), watching the fireworks and just enjoying ourselves.
One of the theme parks we visited, Epcot, was especially interesting. It offers a peek at life in various countries around the world, Canada, Japan, Italy etc… Disney has a great way of making these places seem real, almost like going to that country. They go to great lengths to make it realistic through the food, the architecture, even the authentic staff at each exhibit from the various countries that speak the native language as well as English. Although it is very realistic; it is an imitation.
As we walked through Epcot we passed a woman in a white vest and printed on the front of the vest in large red glitter was this: “JESUS IS REAL”. WOW, all I could think of saying to that was Amen! She never said a word; she just walked around, which is some walk! I kept thinking what a witness for the Lord! I am so blessed to know the truth that He is real, but many don’t. What a great way to touch others with what’s real while walking through a place that is not real, make-believe, made in the likeness of the real thing.
About eleven or so years ago, my son’s grandfather gave me a VHS tape of the movie “Jesus of Nazareth”. I took it home and watched it and for the first time in my life realized that Jesus was real! Until that time I thought of Him in some type of ghostly form, not really touchable and certainly not like human beings. I was thrilled at the thought of it and it was as if a light went on. WOW! He was real! A real God and a real man, both at the same time. How? Why?
It would be five years later that I came to know the answer. Why would God leave His throne to come here to earth, be born as a baby in a manger, live a short but power-filled life, suffer inexpressible pain and die on a cross, only then to rise from the grave three days later? Why? For me and for you!
I heard someone say she prayed to the saints instead of God because “she needed someone with skin on.” Now certainly those believers were real human beings with skin on, but they are not God. I’ve even heard women say, “I’m lonely, I know God is with me but I need a man with skin on.” The good news is He did have skin on, skin that was broken and bruised for us, Isaiah 53:5 says: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” The company of another can be a wonderful thing, God also said: “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make for him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18. Other people are never intended to take the place of God.
Now I don’t know about you but I will take a trip to Hawaii over a trip to the Polynesian Hotel in Disney any day! I want the real deal!
Is God real in your life? Or do you have an imitation? If so, seek Him with all your heart and He will be found faithful. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
It sure would be wonderful to visit Hawaii someday, but it’s even more wonderful to know the God who created it!

Dina

In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul writes Timothy and tells him, “I have served with a clear conscious”. As I read this in my devotions this morning, those words jumped out at me. I sat thinking and asking myself, “Am I serving with a clear conscious?” My instant response to myself was, “Of course you are girlfriend.” But, as is common for me, I began to work the question again and again, going over the details of my life and I must confess to you, I came up wanting (badly). In a few short moments my minded darted to and fro, hither and yon, and ran across a few stones that would likely have remained unexamined and unturned were it not for the reading of the Word of Life.

I suspect part of Paul’s ability to be secure in his heart and mind, lay in His honest assessment of Himself. Paul didn’t judge himself according to himself. I believe he saw himself clear as day. He never lost sight of who he was apart from relationship with his Redeeming Lord. In fact, Paul’s own words were, “chief of sinners”. From that humble position Paul did not neglect time with the Lord who saved Him. Night and day he prayed. Night and day! Therein lays one of my own revealed stones.
Pray with me dear ones as Father and I do business concerning the stones in my heart and life.
Praise God with me for His Word and its ability to over, over, over, and over lay truth before us in the Person of Jesus
Praise Him that in this walk of faith, the call to victory is a grace saturated process and I can, you can, serve Him with a clear conscious.

My Challenge For you Today:
Go before the LORD. Prostrate yourself before Him. Seek Him for anything that may hinder your time with Him and then seek to destroy that thing, no matter what it cost!
May we all be able to say with Paul, “I am not ashamed! I am serving with a clear conscious.”

Stephanie

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

A new day dawns and morning is a great time to plan our day and make a list of things we need to do. We usually begin our day anticipating all the “things” that need to be done, listing them in order of priority.
Have you ever come to the Lord with your “to do” list (the tasks we need to accomplish and the projects we need to finish). Sometimes we may not even realize what we’re doing. We say “this is my list, Lord, and my schedule – please help me accomplish what I need to get done”. Our attitude is one of a “to do” perspective, centered a round our own will, and it is generally works motivated.
Remember Mary and Martha? Martha had her own agenda of what she thought needed to be done; Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Martha’s mode of operation was performance based; Mary’s was character building . . . spending time with and being taught by the Master.
Scripture teaches us how “to be” not “to do”. Our attitude needs to be one of a “to be” perspective . . . that we would be more like Jesus.
God transforms our hearts and lives as we sit at His feet; through the Holy Spirit, He illuminates Scripture and teaches us His ways. Only a life of daily communication with the Lord can reflect the distinguishing marks of both His character and His presence in our lives. As we grow in the image of Christ, we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful, gentleness and self-control.
Our time with the Lord shouldn’t be a time of presenting him with our “to do” list and asking him to bless it. Instead, we should be asking the Lord “how do you want me to be . . . not, what do you want me to do.” Spending time in His presence helps us to reflect His love, display His joy, manifest His peace, practice His patience, express His kindness, make known His goodness, reveal His faithfulness, show His gentleness, and to exhibit His self-control.
Regardless of where our day may take us or the situations we may encounter, after meeting with the Lord, we have a renewed mind to think His thoughts, to do His will, and to be more like Christ. We are prepared to face whatever the day may bring and end the day with less stress and frustration.
The Lord promises that if we seek His kingdom first, all other things will be added unto us (Matt. 6:33). Making your relationship with the Lord your top priority is assuring that you will be all that God intends you to be.

When we learn what God wants us to be, then we’ll know what God wants us to do.

Carole

Is it possible that there is anything about you that God; Father; Creator; who is everywhere present, all the time doesn’t know about you? Sisters embrace and believe the truest thing. There is nothing about you that God does not know. No matter how much yuck or muck there is in your life which may hold you captive, God sees, hears and knows!

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
In the words of Betsy Ten Boom as quoted by her sister Corrie, ‘The Hiding Place’, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not greater still.”
Dear sisters see Him, hear Him and know Him!
Stephanie

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Sticks and Stones! Oh yeah, if you hit me with them that’s going to hurt, but words could scar me for life!
Did you ever say something you wish you hadn’t? Have you ever suffered from the old “Hoof in Mouth Disease”? It’s not fatal to the carrier but could be to the recipient!
I wish I could say I never said the wrong thing or hurt someone with my words, but the fact is I have many times. Sadly enough some of the people I have loved and been the closest with in my life have been wounded by my words. Sometimes even the tone of my voice can affect those I speak to, giving the words a whole new hurtful meaning.
I once told my 9 year old son, who I love more than air!, that I would never, ever go away on a vacation without him. Then in a moment of anger I turned that promise into a threat and said: “If you don’t stop behaving in this way, I am going away without you and you can stay home, etc…!”
Moms can sometimes break promises. But God never will. He promises in 1 John 1:9, that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Shortly after I realized what I did I humbly went to my son and asked his forgiveness, and thankfully received it, however I can never go back and not say it, or erase it from my son’s memory. Rewind and pause just won’t work with our words. The damage was done.
What about God? I asked for His forgiveness and very thankfully received it! Here’s the part that will never cease to amaze me, not only has He forgiven, but He does not hold it against me, bring it up again and again or remind me from time to time. I am Forgiven. Not because I am sorry or have done something nice to make up for it, but because He has already done the “making up”. He has been faithful to send Jesus to pay the penalty for me with His very own blood!

Nothing gets out the stain blood leaves behind, but HIS BLOOD takes away all the stains that sins leave behind.

Dina