Your Personality is What We See

but. . .what is really underneath?

I love the analogy in today's My Utmost For His Highest .

We admire the beauty, the tranquility, and the peace of a tropical island, because that is the portion that is exposed.  In the same way, we often admire people, because we only see the portion that is exposed.

A tropical island is actually a mountain that has poked it's head up above the ocean.  It's foundation may be composed of any myriad of components.  Just as the island must have a solid foundation on which to build, and to become awe inspiring, so must you have a solid foundation.

What is your foundation built upon?  What does that secret part of you, that only you know about, consist of?  

Lord, my prayer today is that my foundation continue to be built solidly upon your truths, and that the portion of myself that is seen by the world will reflect your beauty and your glory. . .in Jesus Name.  Amen.

Are you a child of the King?

If you are a child of the King, then all of your needs are taken care of before you can even ask.

Your heavenly Father promises blessings according to His riches in glory.

If you believe that, then you need to stop thinking about yourself so much, and start thinking of, and praying for others.  You can become an intercessor for those in your life who do not know how to pray for themselves.

Job's situation began to turn around when he began to intercede for his friends.

Perhaps that is our problem.  We are so busy crying to God about our own problems, when what He really wants us to do is to focus on others.

Lord help me to listen to others, and intercede before Your throne on their behalf.  In Jesus Name. . .Amen.

Examining Your Spiritual Habits

Examining Your Spiritual Habits

My mother in law had a habit of saying, "Oh, Jesus, I love You," at the oddest times, and in the strangest places.  I so clearly remember getting in an elevator at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, on our way up to visit a friend.  As Mom leaned back against the elevator wall, she whispered this phrase I had heard her say so many times before, and you know what?  Now I say it.  What a great habit to have picked up from a great lady.

As I read today's devotion, I realized, what the author was speaking of, is exactly what Mom had done.  Saying, "Jesus, I love You" was so deeply ingrained into her being, that it was no longer a habit, it was now a part of who she was.  Mom was truly, deeply in love with Jesus, and just speaking His Name, brought her into His Presence.

“For if these things (habits) are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful.”
2 Peter 1:8

The things, (habits) that Peter is speaking of in this verse, are all the things listed in the preceding Verse 7.

Diligence, Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Self Control, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly kindness, and Love. . .

Just clicking on the link above is such a Bible Study that it would take all day just to go into it all, but as the author states, and as I believe, there is a necessary contribution that each of us must make towards our salvation.

My prayer today is that a hunger for the things of God will consume each one reading this, and the habits we develop, from this day forward, will be pleasing in His sight.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you. . .

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Work out your Salvation

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

Being a Christian does not happen automatically, just as being fit and healthy does not happen automatically.  You must work out.  


Yes, you are born innocent and pure, but now after years of feeding your mind, after years of daily survival, you must learn a brand new way of living, a brand new way of being.  Just as you decide to work out your body each day, to become more healthy, so must you determine to work out your spiritual mind, to grow daily in Christ.


Set aside a few moments daily for a devotion, a simple devotion that is meaningful to you.  Have a daily devotion such as My Utmost for His Highest  emailed to your inbox each morning.


Before I had a daily devotion emailed to me, I carried a book with a years worth of devotions in my vehicle.  You know, one of those calendar style books, that has a reading for each day.  Each morning, before I got out of my vehicle at work, I would read my devotional, and say a few words of prayer asking the Lord to help me be more like Him, and asking that I would find a way to apply the words I had read to my life.


Although I had attended church my entire life, I truly believe that when I began making a concerted daily effort to study God's ways,  I began my Christian walk in earnest.


Another daily, and quick way to step into God's presence is to listen to Christian praise and worship music. . .not only to listen, but to hear the words, and apply them to your life.  I often sing a worship song as a prayer, offering up a sweet smelling savor before the throne of God.  


Only you can decide how you will work out your salvation, but work it out you must.


My prayer today is that each of us will realize, and answer,  the Call of God on our lives.


My Daily Devotion


Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.


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The ABC's of the HOLY SPIRIT

The GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT

is only the beginning of salvation.

When you willingly accept the gift of the Holy Spirit that God has so generously offered to you, 

you have only taken the first step towards salvation.

 It's sort of like when you go to school for the very first time.  You are so proud. . .you sing your ABC song to everyone, and then your teacher tells you, OK that's it, you know your ABC's now, that's everything you need to do.  Go out and start reading. 

No of course not, and salvation works exactly the same.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is only the beginning of knowledge.  That excited feeling you experience, when you receive the gift is exactly like knowing your ABC's or being able to count to ten.  

Your face is shining, you cannot contain your excitement, you need to tell everyone, and then what?  

Then the learning must begin.  Just as the learning to read began with small steps, so must your spiritual education begin.  Small incremental steps, a daily process of studying God's principles, of learning God's ways.

Just as you learned the difference between vowels, and consonants, and the sounds each letter makes, you must begin to know God's precepts. . .line upon line, here a little, there a little. 

Just as a child progresses in their reading skills, adding knowledge each day, beginning to put sounds together to form words, so must you begin to add spiritual knowledge each day, in small incremental steps.  

Just as a child must have a teacher to learn from, so must you have a spiritual mentor.  

Just as a child must practice the daily skills they learn, so must you practice your spiritual skills.

This may be something as simple as singing a worship song, and having the presence of God flow over you, as the words become a praise from your heart to the ears of God.

It may be as simple as learning the words of Psalm 23 and being able to say; The LORD is my Shepherd. . .and that's all I need to know.  As long as I stay under His protection, he will lead and guide me in all His ways.

My prayer today is that we will always know the Lord as our Shepherd, and that we will learn of Him each day.  I pray that learning God's ways will be a daily education, and that we will progress from the ABC's of HIS Word, all the way through to our College degree. . and that on graduation day when we stand before His  throne, a crown will be placed on our head, and He will say, "well done thy good and faithful servant."


How do I receive the marvelous Gift of the Holy Spirt?

My Daily Devotional 

. 

Psalm 23: For His Name Sake

Psalm 23: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.

When I allow MY Shepherd to lead; there is a predetermined plan of action.

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."




Our Shepherd has a plan for our lives, if we are willing to be led, but the opposite of that scripture is:

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death

Will we be led by our Shepherd, or will we be stubbornly insistent in going our own way until we reach the precipice?

Which is easier? Broken lives, broken homes, broken families, or, taking up your cross and following your Shepherd, by having a daily devotional, and a time for daily prayer?

Prayer does not always need to be on your knees, travailing before God.  The sweet Presence of God can whisper over you, as you sing the words of a praise chorus. . .or as you gaze at a beautiful, blue sky, with cottony clouds floating by, and marvel at the majesty of God's creation.

My prayer today is: May I see the wonder and majesty of My Shepherd in every breath I breathe. . .may I stop and appreciate the wonder of it all.

My Daily Morning Devotion: My Utmost for His Highest

Psalm 23: He Restoreth MY Soul

It becomes so easy to believe that because we are under OUR Shepherd's care, all our problems are over.

Not so. 

However, since we are under the Shepherd's care, when we become "cast down" as a sheep does, lying helpless, kicking and struggling, OUR Shepherd will be there to lift us up.

Only when we understand the dilemma of a "cast sheep", can we begin to understand OUR Shepherd's compassion.

My prayer today is, "Lord, when find my wool so long, so matted with cares and entanglements of this world, please bathe me, shear me, save me, prevent me from being cast down with daily cares. . .RESTORE MY SOUL".

Reference: A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

My Daily Morning Devotion: My Utmost for His Highest

Psalm 23: He Leadeth Me

If I will allow it, MY Shepherd will lead me beside the still waters, He will allow me to drink my fill of the good stuff, crystal clear, icy cold, delicious refreshing water.

Of course as a Christian, I must realize this means drinking of God's Word, filling my thoughts with things of Him, and allowing him to guide my every footstep.

My daily morning devotion, My Utmost for His Highest, states it perfectly today.

When I am stubborn, and, choose to go my own way, I ultimately find myself drinking out of the roadside ditches, and the disease laden mud puddles of the world.

When I follow in MY Shepherds footsteps, and stay within the reach of His arms, my life is enriched by drinking from the still waters He leads me to.

Only the Shepherd knows the eddies and currents beneath the still surface.  He knows exactly how far I can wade out, and as long as I stay within His protection, I will be satisfied.

Just as MY Shepherd knows the dangers lying beneath the still surface, He also know the hidden eddies and currents swirling beneath the surface of my life.  When I lie down, and listen to His still, small voice, He is able to lead me around the danger zones, and into the fullness, and peacefulness of being His child.

My prayer today is that we will not be swept away in the currents of today's pleasures, but that I will keep my eyes on MY Shepherd as He leads me beside the still waters.

Reference :  A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

Psalm 23: He Maketh Me to Lie Down

In reading A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23, I am beginning to realize that sheep are very high maintenance animals.  They have a lot of needs and requirements that must be met before they can settle down.

Having been raised in the deep piney woods of East Texas, I have no concept of sheep whatsoever, but now, reading about them once again, from a shepherd's view point, I realize why God compares humans to sheep.

The common theme that I am finding is, that when sheep owners talk about their animals, they say, sheep are the dumbest animals on earth.  They don't have the sense to come in out of the rain.  They are scared of everything.  The shepherd must be there every moment to lead and guide them.  They are totally incapable of taking care of themselves.

Hmmmm. . .does the picture become a little more clear from God's point of view?

So, no wonder I am only at peace when I am in the presence of MY Shepherd, no wonder that when I stray from His Presence, I begin to feel angst and anxiety.

Just being assured of the presence of MY Shepherd causes me to be at peace.  I am able to lie down, and keep still, in His Presence, because I know that MY Shepherd, MY Owner, MY Manager is in control.

I have no need to be fearful, or to be afraid, I can rest in total confidence that God is in charge of my life, and my well being.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

God did not intend for us to have a spirit of fear.  That is something we allow, when we wander out of His Presence.

As I clicked on Ezekiel 34: 15-16, and 20-22 and read the study notes , once again I realize, I cannot even begin to comprehend the protection God chooses to offer to me, as long as I remain in HIS Presence.

When I lie down in green pastures, when my eyes are on MY Master, then I can be at peace.

My prayer today is, Lord let me see the things that are not like you, that cause me to stray from Your Presence, that cause me to take my eyes off of MY Shepherd.  Speak to me Lord in a still small voice, as I rest in Your Presence.

My Daily Morning Devotion: My Utmost for His Highest

Psalm 23: I shall not Want

It sounds so enticing at first glance.  The Lord is MY Shepherd, I shall NOT Want.

Wow, that must mean that God is just my big old Sugar Daddy, and he's gonna give me everything I ever wanted in life.  After all, he does say He will give me the desires of my heart, right?

But I think there must be more to it than that.  I know, several times in the scripture, God says, "If you will, I will."  What could that possibly mean?

 Do you think that God must have expectations of us?

What are His expectations?  When God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you", do you truly believe it?  Do you search out what His plans are with an open heart, or do you just wander around in your day to day life, waiting for God's blessings to just pour out upon you, with no effort on your part.

You must STUDY His Word.  I'm not talking about reading the Bible each day, and saying, Oh, I've done my duty for the day.  I'm talking about truly STUDYING the Word of God, cross referencing scripture, reading commentary when a particular phrase has meaning.  If YOU will. . .GOD will. . .that is a promise.  He WILL speak to you personally. . .and then you will understand the meaning of "I shall not Want".

My understanding of "I shall not Want", came at two different times in my life.

The first was when, at the age of 23, we lost our twenty month old son in a tragic incident, and I lay across my bed screaming, "Where were you God"?   It seemed as though life would never be worth living again, but guess what?  Life goes on.  None of us will ever be immune to the tragedies of life, but somehow, through our tragedies, God gives us the strength to survive, and to become stronger.

The second understanding came, at the age of 32, when I read a series of books by Frank Peretti entitled, This Present Darkness.  Only then, having been raised on a church pew, did I truly begin to understand the awesome power of God.  A light bulb literally went off, and I began to seek God.

This began my journey of becoming a "prayer warrior", a journey I am still on to this day.  This journey led me to read, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, as I began preparing a series of lessons for Children's Prayer Class.

Psalm 23

And I truly knew the meaning of "I shall not want", when I read a magazine article describing a young woman who was searching for something, something to fill the hole in her life, a void she could not even explain.  She just knew the hole was there, and that with all of her accomplishments, there was still this huge hole, UNTIL, she discovered prayer.

And that is when I knew.  I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, the true meaning of, "I shall NOT want".  Having the assurance that God is there, no matter the circumstances, just knowing that God is absolutely in control, gives me a measure of confidence to know, the Lord is MY Shepherd, I shall NOT want.

My prayer today is that each person I come in contact with will want to know who my Shepherd is.

My Daily Morning Devotion: My Utmost for His Highest








The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

When is the Lord Your Shepherd?

Following up on yesterday's thought, my question today is, WHEN is the Lord MY Shepherd?

I find it so easy to say, "Oh yes Lord, YOU are MY Shepherd.", but as I begin reading

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
by W. Phillip Keller 

I must begin to honestly question myself.

When is the Lord MY Shepherd?  If I am truly a sheep, and He is my Shepherd, do I truly love to be in His Presence, as the sheep love to be in the Shepherd's Presence, or do I linger at just the outside periphery of the flock?  Do I linger just close enough to feel the Shepherd's Presence, and to stay within the Shepherd's protection, or do I press in close to MY Shepherd?  Close enough to be within the reach of MY Shepherd's arms?

I read this book several years ago as I prepared a series of lessons for Kid's Prayer Class, but now I find myself studying these same pages with a different mind set.

My prayer today is, "Lord, let me be so close to you, that I can lead others into the Presence of the Shepherd.  Don't let me get so busy with my daily life, that when I look up, I find myself on the outer edges of the flock, and then I must work to get myself back into your arms."

MY DAILY MORNING DEVOTION: My Utmost for His Highest

Is the Lord your Shepherd?

Is the Lord your Shepherd?. . .your manager?. . .your owner? 

Is He really?

Can our minds even begin to comprehend that the God, 

who created  **ALL things,

 really wants to be in charge of us?

HE really does. . .

He want to be in charge of

every tiny aspect of our lives,

and when we comprehend

WHO HE IS. . .

we,

like David,

will say. . .

The Lord. . .HE is MY Shepherd!

My prayer today is that I will become a cherished object of the Most High God, 

and that HE will truly become MY Shepherd, My Manager, MY Owner. 

* A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 - by Phillip Keller

** Colossians 1:16 - For by him were all things created, that are in the heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him.  KJV

Are you Exhausted?

Are you exhausted? Just literally worn out?

Do you spend so much time doing things for others, that you have no time for yourself?

If you become tired and worn out from taking care of others, your body has no reserves to fight off illness.  If you continue, eventually your body will begin to shut down, and you will be forced to rest and rejuvenate.

What about spiritual exhaustion?  Are you so busy running around doing God's work that you have no time for your relationship with God?

When do you rejuvenate yourself spiritually?

If you allow yourself to become exhausted spiritually, and you have no reserves to draw on, the enemy will come in like a flood, and shut you down.

Yes, Peter was given the commandment, "feed my sheep", and yes, we must pick up the banner, and go forth, but you can only feed others when you are well fed yourself.

My prayer today is that we will begin to understand that we must rejuvenate ourselves spiritually.  We must develop our personal relationship with God daily.  Only then are we able to pour ourselves out to others.

*Thoughts taken from my daily devotional: My Utmost for His Highest 

How is your love relationship?

I've discovered a new question.

How is my relationship with God today?

Did I spend any quality time thinking about God, or reading about God, or even just pondering the goodness of God, and the many blessings in my life today?

In my daily schedule, is there a place for God, or am I so busy that He just becomes an afterthought at the end of my day? How can I narrow my own interests, and broaden God's interests?

If what I say to myself is true, and if I understand that my entire purpose for being on this earth is to worship and to magnify my creator, what am I doing on a daily basis to make that happen?

My prayer today, is that, from this day forward, I may begin to intensely concentrate on God's point of view.

*Notes and thoughts taken from my favorite daily devotion: My Utmost For His Highest