Devotions by Meredith

So Blessed

So Blessed I Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign overall. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.   The other day I saw a short video online of this poor, young African emaciated girl who could not even walk. I would guess she had never had the proper nutrition to be able to grow normally, and because of that, she, as she grew older, she had lost her muscle mass and tone to be able to even move properly. Presently she has to be carried every place she goes. She lives at a Children’s Home in Africa where she is getting the proper attention she needs, both physically and spiritually. One of the young men from the Home had taken her up in his arms and slowly carried her into their lovely pool. The look on her face was priceless, a combination of nervous apprehension, fear, and glowing delight. As the young man lowered her feet in the water, out came a shriek of trembling joy! This was the first time in this child’s life she had felt water encompass any part of her body. The young man, startled, lifted her quickly up, thinking that she might be in pain, and again, lowered her feet slowly into the water. This time there was an even louder gasp and shriek of unhindered delight! My heart leaped with hers at the sensation of this simple pleasure of life.  Throughout the day, my eyes filled with tears as I thought of other scenarios that people have endured; many do not even know or have any point of reference of what they are missing. Think of those bound to a wheelchair for their entire life, or someone totally alone with a society buzzing around them, unaware of their lonely world, missing out on the laughter and camaraderie in togetherness. Loneliness, weakness, abandonment, pain, suffering, physically, mentally and spiritually. As I reeled under the incomprehensible weight of the forceful diatribe playing in my mind, I felt a powerful understanding of the unlimited blessings I have experienced in my life, too many to even begin to give account. It seems like the enemy of our souls, in his nefarious criminality, has no conscience for limiting suffering and hideous pain. That was my first pondering. The second was, what can I do to change these horrific scenarios in the lives of these victims? Can I do something, even if it be so small? I don’t want my thinking and imagination to be trapped in a weak, insipid mindset that I cannot make a difference somehow, somewhere. Can I develop a sense of high destiny? God certainly has that view for each one of us. Can I come out of my coma of staring at my navel, my own small world, to see and bare the sufferings and pain of others, even for a few moments? Can I dip an emaciated life in the pool of God’s great love? Can I include someone who usually is not included? Oh God, I want to be Your hands reaching out to the oppressed. As you have touched my life, as you have included me, pulling me into Your precious circle of love, and brought unending blessings coming down continually over my life, please help me to see as You see, and act as You would act. Seek Father today for His guidance to others who you can reach out to dip their feet in the waters of His powerful Presence and rivers of His great love.

Give God His Due

Give God His Due   Malachi 3:7-10 7 Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’ 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and try Me now in this” says the Lord off hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it.”   In the Hebrew language the term “room enough” means sufficient, enough; a large enough quantity; plenty; measurelessness. In Exodus 36:5 a freewill offering of gold and other materials is taken. The people gave so lavishly that the Scripture describes their gifts as “much more than enough.” Many times people are handicapped by their own poverty, and too often their poverty is caused by their own disobedience to the Word. There are many ways in which we can be disobedient; one way is in robbing God! This portion of Scripture clearly tells us that those who keep back their tithes and offerings are robbing God. When we do this we are robbing ourselves of the blessings that God wants to give us. You see, when you do not tithe, you are breaking the law; and if you are breaking the law, then the benevolent law of God cannot work on your behalf. Nothing will keep a wise believer from tithing and giving, but he or she will never be found to tithe or give offerings just to get something in return. Instead, the act arises from obedience, and God always rewards obedience. I remember my Gramma Small telling me how when she was younger, Grampa would not allow her to tithe. He wasn’t a Christian yet, and he didn’t understand this principle that God was requiring from Gramma. Gram determined she was going to be as obedient to the Word of God as she could be. Gramma raised chickens. She set aside the first dozen eggs each week to give to the church. Out of the loaves of bread she would bake for the week, the first one was set aside to give to the pastor. God blessed her obedience and soon Grampa came to know the Lord for himself. They both, throughout the years, came to be faithful tithers and givers. They always had more than enough. They had some powerful stories to tell of how God provided for them during the years of war when rationing was going on. Up until the time the Lord called them home, they proclaimed His faithfulness to them in every situation, financial and otherwise. God is always faithful to all those who totally obey and trust Him.   What about you? Are you tithing and giving as God would command you? If you are not, do you see your need of a greater trust in God to provide for you? Ask Him today to make you a great giver, then trust Him to take good care of you as you give to others.

Give Thanks, He Knows

Give Thanks, He Knows   Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   There will be many trials in life. The question is how will we walk through then? Some people become confused when we discuss trials and tribulations. They wonder if they are supposed to thank God for the trial. They wonder if they are supposed to thank God for the trial. Maybe if you are a real spiritual giant, you could do this. I think God is asking us to thank Him and trust Hm as we walk through them. No where does it say we have to like them. Madame Guyon, an old matriarch of the faith, teaches that you can so embrace the cross of trial that when God finally removes it from your life, you miss the fellowship of the Lord you had been privileged to have during the trial. When we walk through hard situations, Jesus reveals Himself to us in very special ways, when in normal conditions He may to show Himself quite like He wold during the times of struggle. There are people in life who seem to be waiting for the least little challenge to come into their lives to give them an excuse for not having to be involved or committed to much of anything. Then there are others, who under great burdens, do more than those who have very light loads. It is said of Mother Teresa, when she fell to of bed, injuring her arm to the place where a bone was protruding through, that she refused to stop her ministries. The doctor bandaged it and recommended some rest time. She was up and about the next day. The bandages impeded her ministering to the poor and she promptly removed them. It was said that she continued on with her work with a smile on her face. Some of us get a sniffle or stub a toe and we excuse ourselves from having to do anything for the day. What babies we are! How are we walking through life? Are we known to be whiners and complainers, or are we thankful in all things and in all situations? I have found if I discipline my heart to always see God one everything, then I can be content and joyful in a five star hotel or in the deepest jungles of India or Africa, doing what He has called me to do for that day, even with a smile.   What about you? Do you whine and complain? Do you express positive words or are you full of negativity and discouragement? Do others long to be around you because you are at peace with each day and each happening? Does the love of God in you shine through with a thankful heart? Make a list of areas you need to change and become thankful over. Make a conscious effort not to dwell on yourself, but to stay focused on Jesus, our Victory. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

In Wisdom’s House

In Wisdom’s House   Proverbs 21:20 TPT In wisdom’s house you’ll find delightful treasures and the oil of the Holy Spirit. But the stupid squander what they’ve been given.    There are those specific people who you meet in life who you can be at ease with. You can laugh deep belly laughs with them at some hilarious story, and you can also cry hot, gushing tears with them over a traumatic happening in your life. They don’t have to fix you or have all the answers. Just their presence and real transparency of heart bring great peace and solace to your needy spirit. They are a treasure. I have had a few, very few souls like this in my life. Some are now home with the Lord, and oh, how I miss them and their sweet, priceless fellowship. Full of wisdom and delightful treasures, they were wells of sweet, sweet water. They were lamps whose precious oil of the Holy Spirit never ran dry. I want to be just that. Not someone who points a judgmental finger at someone going through rough waters, or a person who turns their back to those who need them at critical times, when instead, a delightful treasure needs to be brought to the forefront to encourage and comfort.  We, as Christians, can sometimes come across as “better than thou” in our actions and words when we don’t even fully know someone’s story or heart, or what they’re living through in this season of their life. I believe our criticisms of others come from our own insecurities, when consciously or subconsciously we think we are so much better, and far more mature because we are not in the kind of situation and ramifications of poor choices, such as the ones we are presently criticizing. Wow! This for sure is not wisdom. Can we discipline ourselves to not  judge others so quickly, functioning in our “know-it-all” fashion? In wisdom’s house, there are delightful treasures. Wisdom would reach out in gentleness and kindness, not in harsh criticism from a scoffing posture. If we have been in the Presence of the Holy Spirit, soaking, listening, learning, would it stand to reason that we would illuminate the essence of Him rather than our own fleshiness? Sometimes to say nothing is the wisest posture one can take. Whatever an individual’s challenges may be, whatever the mistakes one has made, the poor choices taken, wisdom says it is not helpful to lay layer upon layer of inflated, belligerent “know-it-allism,” but to be a listening ear and a neutral sounding board for this struggling soul. Here you have an opportunity to be healing balm and a refreshing spring in the midst of turmoil. Wisdom says—be that! Remember, God sees and hears all. Let’s not squander the wisdom He has afforded us. Be wise for this day and every day.   What about you? Would you consider yourself “wise?” Do you just have to state your opinion and “get everyone told?” Are you gentle and kind, or quick to judge and respond in harsh ways to someone who is struggling? Don’t squander the wisdom God has made available to you. Be a conduit of His love and mercy today and every day. Value the wisdom He has given you. Blessings on your day.

My Presence Will Go With You

My Presence Will Go With You Exodus 33:15 KJV Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”   I have heard it said, “So much of what we do is done out of ministry principles instead of out of the Presence.” I have lived my whole life in church. From my earliest memories to my present life, I have spent a good portion of my time in church from dead, dry services where a boring form was followed, that seemed like to me, it had be done a million times with the same outcome. There have also been seasons of my daily personal time with the Lord that was as dry as burnt toast. I don’t like it. I know there are times when God withdraws His Presence, I believe so that we will run after Him, press into Him and do what it takes to find Him. It’s a learning and testing time before Him to trust Him in the dark and a time for Him to access the hunger level we have for Him. I’m with Moses. What’s the sense of doing life in our own strength. We only receive back our own human reasoning, relying on our own intellect, still coming up empty. I am asking and seeking Him today to increase my awareness of His Presence so I can move with the utmost sensitivity to Him, the Prince of Peace. He says He will never leave us nor forsake us. Its true, He always is near. My heart needs to settle into the understanding of this and practice it, not from my human emotions, but from my spirit as I learn to receive Him by faith, quiet myself and listen and watch expectantly for Him. He will speak. He will guide and lead us. He will come in whatever way we need Him to come. Maybe its just that we need to quiet enough, slow down long enough and trust in faith long enough for Him to do His thing. What’s the sense of pushing on without His Presence, without His direction and His sense of wellbeing that He places on our lives?  I, for one, am so done with manmade ideas, good ideas, maybe, but not God breathed direction. Wouldn’t it be much better to lay out our life situations before Him, not coming to Him, telling Him what and what not to do, like He doesn’t know anything about what the challenge may be? Then practice listening carefully to what He will say and direct. Yes, this means we have to slow down and really watch and listen in faith that He will speak, that He will guide. I’ve gone down too many roads of good ideas to only come up empty when its all been said and done. I have a certainty in heart now because of many learning experiences, that our heavenly Father will show Himself faithful, if I will but trust Him. Don’t move forward today in your life without His Presence. It leads to nowhere you really want to be.   What about you? Do you have areas of your life you need to talk to Him about, people you need to surrender completely to Him, and then listen and watch for what He will say and for how He will lead? Let me reassure you, He can always be trusted. Let His Presence guide you today.