Do you know how special you are? God has chosen you as His own to bear fruit that will last for eternity. To do the Take 5! study Chosen, please click on the link.

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He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Psalm 91:15

This verse stood out to me today in my reading, because it is so encouraging. Initially, it may not seem so. I can’t think of anyone I know, myself included, who thinks Oh yea! Another problem to deal with! I’d rather my life sail along without any obstacles to get in the way of my plans. But I’ve lived long enough to know that problems and tragedies are a part of life, as Jesus tells us in John 16:33.

As I meditated on this verse, the truth of it rang clear in my life, because I’ve also lived long enough to find out that God does walk through problems and tragedies with me. Two words in this verse captured my attention, and I wanted to explore them further: deliver and honor. I think you’ll be encouraged by the nuances of these two words and the meaning that they give to our sufferings.

First of all, the word deliver is chalats in Hebrew. It has some interesting meanings including “to be equipped,” “to be armed,” “to make strong,” “brace up,” and “to invigorate.” This gave me pause. How many times have I thought as I was walking through a trial that I didn’t know if I had enough strength to get through this? Most recently, I remember thinking that when my son was burned in an accident two years ago. As I went through the debriding process with him, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to handle the horror of that procedure. But did you see what God promises us? God equips me, arms me, makes me strong, braces me up, and even invigorates (!) me so that I can withstand the troubles I am in. And He did. It was not easy, but God was true to His word. God will not let our troubles defeat us if we trust Him!

The word honor also has an interesting meaning. It is transliterated kabad, and it means “to be glorious,” “be honored,” and “gain glory.” I’ve never thought of my trials as being a means of honor and glory, but it would seem that in the process of our suffering, God gives us a spiritual honor and glory.

I know it is excruciatingly difficult to walk through times of trials, but I hope that this encourages you today to hold on to God. Don’t let go. He will walk with you, equipping you, strengthening you, and bracing you up for whatever lies ahead. If you feel like you’ve reached the end of your strength, then be even more encouraged, because that’s when the Holy Spirit takes over, if you let Him. He’ll give you a supernatural strength, or He will give you a time of rest to recharge.

Pray on!

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Do you or someone you know parent a chronically ill child? If so, you’ll want to listen to this encouraging Only By Prayer podcast with Kimberly Ehlers and Jane VanOsdol. Kimberly’s 13-year old son was diagnosed with a serious illness shortly after birth. Listen as Kimberly offers hope and suggestions to parents of chronically ill children. This is also a must-have for anyone who is a friend of family member of a person with a chronically ill child, as Kimberly shares way you can support the parents and family.

Kimberly has been happily married to her best friend, Randy, for over 15 years. Together, they homeschool their son, Seth. Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree in Mental Disabilities: Moderate, Severe and Profound from the University of Northern Iowa, and taught special education for four years before becoming a stay-at-home mom – her absolute favorite “job” ever! Kimberly is also a Christian writer and speaker whose heart is to encourage moms like her with children who have serious illnesses.
A product you’ll want to check out is Kimberly’s  “The Faith Challenge”, a devotional that focuses on healing verses and the names of God. Kimberly can be found at her site:

www.kimberlyehlers.com
Nurturing Hope.  Growing Faith.  Trusting God With Your Child’s Health.

Just click on the sideways triangle below to listen, or find us on iTunes.

“And clean up all this junk in your room!”  

“Junk? What junk? I don’t see any junk in my room…it just looks comfortable to me.”

Like my children, I have been comfortable with the rubble in my life. But rubble can cause us to trip and fall. God does not want us tripping through life. It’s time to get Beyond the Rubble! To do today’s Bible study, please click on the link.

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Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters,

They see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.

For he commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.

They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths;

Their soul melts because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.

He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.

Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So he guides them to their desired haven.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the company of the elders.

Psalm 107:23-32 NKJ

I took this picture while watching storm clouds disperse from the early morning sky in St. Augustine. I love the picture the psalmist paints of God calming the storm so that its waves are still and then guiding His people to a desired haven.

What storms do you have in your life today? Ask God to provide a safe haven for you to rest in.

Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”’ Ezekiel 11:16

I stumbled across this verse as I was reading this morning and was really struck by the phrase “yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” The Hebrew word for sanctuary also means “sacred place” or “holy place.” God was judging Israel for its sin and had scattered His people among foreigners, yet God still was a sanctuary for them right in the midst of where they were.

Jesus is still doing that very same thing for us today. No matter where we are, through our faith in Jesus, God has planted in us His Holy Spirit who resides in each one of us. Are you a missionary living in a foreign land? God will be your holy place. Are you traveling for work this week? God will be your sanctuary of refreshment for you. Are you trying to survive in a hostile work environment? God is your familiar refuge. Are you living out your calling in your busy home with little children on your hip or teens coming and going? God is your oasis of peace. Perhaps you’re in your golden years. God is your inspiration for serving others.

No matter where your corner of the world is, remember that God is your sanctuary, your holy place, your home. Nestle your heart in Him and draw from His well of love and security as you serve others today.

Pray on!

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Makeovers are all the rage. Everyone is striving to look their best. Even God is serious about makeovers. He has developed  a character makeover plan that will completely change our image. It’s not quick, easy or pain free, but it is very effective. To do the study “Makeover: A Whole New You,” please click on the link!
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Have you ever sat by the phone, watching and waiting for that certain someone to call? Someone is calling you and He’s watching and waiting for you to answer. To do the study “Called and Gifted,”  please click on the link!

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“For He was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we’re healed.” Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. Join us for our Good Friday Devotion, Following Jesus to the Cross by clicking on the link.

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Are you a good singer? Do your basketball talents rival Michael Jordan’s? Perhaps you can cook like nobody’s business! God has given all of His children gifts and talents and He is very interested in how we use them! Please click on the link to do our last Lenten Devotional, Talented and Gifted Program.

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Quickly think through your top three priorities at this time. Was God on your priority list? God wants to be your first priority…and your second…and your third. Please join us for the Lenten Devotion With All Your Heart by clicking on the link.

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I found this Lent poem on another blog and really liked it and thought if fit with our Lent devotional series. Here’s the poem and the link to the blog.

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A LISTENING
by Ann Weems

Going through Lent
is a listening.
When we listen
to the word,
we hear
where we are so
blatantly
unliving.
If we listen to the word
and hallow it
into our lives,
we hear
how we can so
abundantly
live again.

http://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/

Bad habits, bad relationships, bad thought patterns; God calls us to leave them behind so we can walk more closely with Him. Please join us for day 39 of our Lenten devotional,  The Withered Tree by clicking on the link.

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Just as Jesus needed to cleanse the temple before His crucifixion, we need to ask Him to cleanse our temples–our bodies. To do the devotion, The Cleansing of My Temple, please click on the link.

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Our Lenten Devotional series has certainly sped past. It’s hard to believe we are in our final week’s journey to the cross and then to Easter Sunday. To start off this week, let’s spend some time reviewing the past five weeks of study. Thanks so much for joining us, and be sure you make some time to spend with our Lord this week as we journey through Holy Week. Just click below to read our review.

Lent Review

May God bless you this week!

Welcome to Day 37 of our Lenten Devotional! We continue our studyon spiritual housecleaning with today’s post on the Prayer of Examen. This is a perfect time to explore this discipline developed by St. Ignatius. Juct click below for today’s post.

Lent Day 37, Examen

Welcome to Day 35 of the Lent Devotional! This week we are studying spiritual spring cleaning and today we are looking at the subject of discerning God’s will. Many of us struggle with the decisions we make throughout our lives. Is there anything we can do to make this process easier? Just click below to read today’s post.

Lent Day 35, Guidance

Have a blessed day!

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Welcome to Day 34 of our Lenten Devotional. We’ve made a lot of progress so far! I trust that you are ready to tackle this week’s study. As we are about two weeks away from Easter, we are going to zero in this week on spiritual spring cleaning. Let’s finish off the hard work this week of getting clean hands and a pure heart so that next week we are ready to follow Jesus on the path to the cross.

Thanks for joining us! Just click below to ready today’s devotional.

Lent Day 34, Clean Hands

May the Lord bless your study this week!

http://commons.wikimedia.org

Welcome to Day 31 of our Lenten Devotional! Today we delve into our study of inductive Bible study a little more with a look at interpretation. Please click on the link below to read today’s post.

Lent Day 31, Interpretation

Welcome to Day 30 0f our Lent Devotional! This week we are studying spiritual growth, and today we look at how the inductive Bible study method works, Just click below to join us.

Lent Day 30, Inductive Study Method

Welcome to Day 29 of our Lent Devotions! This week we are studying spiritual growth, and today we are looking at the power that praise can have in our lives. After writing this devotion, I am revved up and praising God! I hope this devotion sets you in an attitude of praise today! Just click on the link below to read today’s post.

Lent Day 29, Praise the Lord!

As an added bonus, here is an oldie but a goodie song by the Imperials called Praise the Lord. Listen to it on YouTube. Even after all these years, this song is anointed and the words are powerful. If you need some encouraging, really listen to the words. My favorite verse says the following:

Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think

that we are paupers when he knows himself

we’re children of the King.

So lift up the mighty shield of faith, for the battle must be won.

We know that Jesus Christ is risen, so the work’s already done.

Praise the Lord.

He can work through those who praise him,

Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise.

Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you

serve only to remind you that they fall powerless behind you

when you praise him.

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Welcome to Day 29 of our Lenten Devotions! For the rest of this week, we will be studying the topic of spiritual growth, looking at practices that will help us to grow in our faith. Just click on the link below to read today’s devotional, as we explore the topic of mentoring.

Lent Day 28, Follow Me As I Follow Jesus

Thanks for joining us. May the Lord bless your day!

Welcome to Lent Day 26! Today is our last day in our focus on simplicity. We will take a look at the importance of our words. We’ll learn how important what we say is to God.

To read today’s devotion, just click on the link below.

Lent Day 26 Yes Be Yes

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Welcome to Day 24 of our Lenten Devotional! We’ve been focusing on simplicity this week, and today we have to take a clear look at our homes. Are our homes places of organization and peace, or are we floundering in disorganization and clutter? Join us by clicking on the link below as we look to the ways of our households.

Lent Day 24, Ways of Your Household

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Please take a moment to name a few good things for which you are thankful. God wants to give us good things also. If you are have a personal relationship with Christ, Psalm 103 lists several good things that He gives us! To do the study, “Good Things” just click on the link!

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Welcome to Day 23 of our Lenten Devotional! We are continuing our study this week on the topic of simplicity. In today’s devotion, we have to take a hard look at our schedules. Are we spending our time in the areas God wants us to, or are lives out of kilter? Just click on the link below to read today’s post about redeeming the time.

Lent Day 23, Redeeming the Time

Have a blessed day!

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Welcome to Day 22 of our Lent Devotional. This week we are studying simplicity. Today we again have to dig deep into our souls as we pray about what our Sabbath Day should look like. To explore this topic with us, just click on the link below.

Lent Day 22, Sabbath Day

Thanks for joining us!

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Welcome to Day 21 of our Lenten Devotional. This week we are pursuing a life of simplicity. Today we look at the importance of spending time with God. Just click on the link below to join our study. Feel free to leave any comments or ideas. We’d love to hear what you’ve been learning from the series.

Lent Day 21, Early Will I Seek You

(photo courtesy of Wil VanOsdol)

Welcome to Day 20 of our Lent Devotions. This week, we are tackling the topic of simplicity, which is not always a simple thing to do! Join us as we explore what a lifestyle of simplicity looks like. To read today’s devotion, just click on the link below.

Lent Day 20, Simplicity, a Not-So-Simple Choice

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Welcome to Day 17 of our Lenten devotional! The time is already flying by. I trust these devotionals have been encouraging you in your preparation for Easter. We’re nearing the end of our week’s study on fasting, and today we take a look at the Yom Kippur fast. Join us by clicking on the link below.

Lent Day 17, Yom Kippur Fast