Devotion
God Calls Each Of us to Serve and Follow Him
Frances Taylor
Do you pray to know God's will for you? We need to ask for guidance as well as listen for answers. Each of us is called for a specific purpose. It's true that we may never know the full extent of our purpose during our lifetime, but that doesn't excuse us from trying. Perhaps some of you here are being called to the ministry. Most will be called to marriage. Perhaps your gifts call you to the work in the medical field, or as lawyers or teachers or waiters. Beyond that, all should consider how we are being called to serve within the community. We are all called to work for social justice. I understand that calls to serve come at different times to different people and certainly working to provide for and care for a family is a top priority and should be. That priority includes instructing in and modeling our faith. Children need to know that God loves them and has a plan for them as well. Many families work together to gather food or clothing or the poor. Parents can also help their children by pointing out the gifts God has given them and encouraging them to use them. We all have gifts. We won't all be great athletes, musicians or painters. But God has a plan for us that uses the gifts we have been given. Thankfully, many are gifted as mechanics, electricians and plumbers! The important thing is acknowledging that God does have a plan for us that no one else can fulfill and that we seek to hear his voice in all we do.
Prayer
Lord, let me listen to your voice so that I can follow on the path you have for me. Amen.
Devotion
Forgiveness
Frances Taylor
Joseph is a lot more forgiving than I'm afraid I would be. Joseph not only forgives his brothers but sees God's hand in allowing their sin to bring good out of evil. How do we look at sins committed against us? Can we find any good that has come from them? I can remember losing a job because of the lies of a co-worker. It was devastating at the time, and yet it led to my being able to live out one of my childhood dreams and then to some of the happiest years of my life. The co-worker lost her job soon after. There are so many times when if we look back we can see how God is working. We also can see how a lack of forgiveness can cause damage to families, communities and beyond. I've seen this with divorce where one or both parents try to turn their child against the other parent. This can damage the child but also the parents themselves and their families. Forgiveness might not be easy, but ongoing hostility and anger can cause physical as well as ...
Morning Prayer
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Inspiration
I honestly believe that the world is in a state of crisis right now. There are more and more people turning away from God, and because of this, the hero that has sustained peace and love for thousands of years does not have the same reach that he once did. There is a hero vacuum, and people are looking for other places to live vicariously, wishing that they could be more like a superhero or a celebrity. We should all already have our superhero. He lived and died for our sins; he bore a cross in shame; he sits at the right hand of his Father, God in heaven. Do not look for other heroes when the mightiest of all already exists!
Prayer
Jesus, my hero and savior, why have I ever looked at other sources for motivation? Forgive me for this transgression. I am weak and did ...
Night Prayer
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Inspiration
We do not like to be wrong, and our egos become bruised when we stand corrected. The Bible provides details as to how we should conduct our lives so that we align with the will of God. We read the Word of God and gain wisdom regarding sins we need to remove from our lives. People who enjoy their sinful lifestyles don't want to hear they are wrong; they deflect from the truth and do what they want to do instead of what God asks of them. We will continue to study the Word and understand truth from false prophecy.
Prayer
Dear God, please guide us as we read Scripture. We desire wisdom regarding the truth to remain in line with Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
