Devotional
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Smile? What’s that?

I believe that next year when my Facebook memories come back up I will see these posts and be reminded of the Glory of God for how he has taken care of us during these times. Today I had to go out. I know we are under advisement to stay indoors but my dog required medication. Are vet’s office was kind as always, they had held aside a prescription for my dog for his Heartgard pills because they were concerned that the office would start running out of needed medicine supplies so they were trying to get us all in early. Which of course meant that I was walking through town. I found it odd how I would be across the road from other people, and yet no matter how big that distance was, if I waved they wouldn’t wave back. And if I smiled they wouldn’t Smile Back. Guys. The virus cannot be contracted by smiling. I’m not offended, but if we are going to get through a disaster like this virus then we are going to need to be kind. By no means do I mean we should go and be together, we really should keep the social distance. We want people to be protected and we want ourselves to be protected but smiling and waving from a distance isn’t going to hurt you. My concern when I saw this was how afraid people clearly were. So afraid that people who are normally kind and friendly are suddenly cautious and wary, looking at you as if you are the next carrier who could kill them. Please don’t feel so much fear. You will be okay. We have Jesus, and as scary as it is to think about Contracting something and dying we nees to recall that when we die we still see Jesus. Go ahead and smile, keep social distance, but smile, because we are not going to get through this if we’re not smiling. Praise also, because through praise we will find strength.

A day of tears
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A day of tears

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Day of tears

‘Today is my day to sorrow’, thought the tiny flower growing beside a rock. ‘Last night a great trouble came over me as a man, or something more than a man, sat by my side and wept. His tears were so great that when they splashed upon me I felt sick and my roots were weakened. I tried to reach out to the man, but I am just a flower and cannot draw attention to myself like a bird can with her song. He cried and screamed and begged and pleaded, but no peace came to this man. I hoped that He would look at me and I could make Him smile. He left and then returned, even sadder when He came back. All I could do was sit with Him. Then I sensed a resolve in His being and He went to stand once more. He stumbled and His hands landed near me. I tried to be radiant to bring Him comfort, finally He saw me, He smiled very gently, then He rose to His feet. “Thank you my radiant flower.” He said, then He left.
  I feel that something great and tragic happened that night. Today I feel as though a friend is calling out for mercy. Today I feel sad. But being a flower, I know that tomorrow will bring new joy and hope.’

Shattered at the root
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Shattered at the root

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Foundation shattering

It’s 1:30 in the morning and the hospital just called. It looks like my grandmother could be dying. She is my step grandmother, but still very precious to us. The true heartbreak however is the crushing blow this is delivery to my grandfather. He had lost somebody dear to him before when my nana died and we don’t want to see him suffer like that again. It’s moments like this I feel Foundation shattered. Moments where I see people who are stronger than any of us fall on their knees and say, “God what did I do wrong?”
For something to shatter a strong Foundation it has to be a strong blow. Don’t we all have that happen? When things go so so very wrong we don’t know where to turn? The wave hits so solidly our foundation is shattered and we start to feel ourselves fall into the ocean. We have all had moments where we look up to God and we say, ” dear God where are you right now? Are You still here?”
He is still here. In the midst of us. We just don’t understand, and we can’t understand because we are not God. Is that a good enough answer? No. No we deserve a better answer. Or at least that’s how we feel, but we probably couldn’t handle the full truth and God’s reasoning because we aren’t Him. It might not feel like a good enough answer but it’s the only answer that I have. No matter what happens God is still King that is all I can put my faith in. We Still Believe.

Who did I forget?
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Who did I forget?

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Forgot to send out an invite?

God is the cause of all celebration, but do we remember to invite Him to celebrate with is?
Without Jesus the baby would not have been born.
Without Jesus the body would not have been healed.
Without Jesus the couple would not be celebrating 35 years together.
God is the cause of all the good things that happen to us, and if you are wondering how you can involve God in your celebration let me suggest something.
THANK HIM.
Take a moment away from the pinata and the finger sandwiches to draw everyone’s attention to Jesus. Take a moment of prayer and give the credit back to the one who earned it.
Don’t forget that Jesus wants to celebrate with you. So invite Him into your gathering, that would make Him smile.

Prostrate before Him
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Prostrate before Him

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Has God fallen off His throne somehow?
No? Then why don’t we treat Him like our King anymore?
Jesus is our Best Friend, that is true, but if you are best friends with the King you still treat Him as King.
In Lord of The Rings, when the Elves come to fight for Helm’s Deep Aragorn still bows to his friend, before giving him a big hug. Aragorn is no less of royalty (by birthright) but he still shows respect, one may even go as far as to say that he shows reverence to the Elvin lord, why? Because that is what you do. That is what is right.
(If my memory on that scene is a little off please forgive me, it has been some time since I last read those masterpieces of literature.)
We have an inheritance with Jesus, that is very true, but even younger siblings bow to older siblings within a royal household, because their birthright gives them that respect.
Always bow before our King’s throne, before running to Him amd giving a big hug. He deserves worship, but He also loves us and having us as His friends.

Your name
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Your name

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Your name

Walking down the street in the late afternoon sun. A bell jingles as you open the door to your favorite coffee shop. Your back is sore and your clothes are scuffed from a long morning as you walk up to the counter. Then the waitress behind the counter smiles. “Hi……..! The usual?”
You nod and smile back with a please and thank you. Feeling a little more refreshed you accept your coffee and leave with a wave.
Isn’t it great to have people call you by name?
Names signify belonging. We give names to our vehicles, our guitars, sometimes even our favorite pair of runners. Why? Because it signifies that they are important to you. You call them by name because you have a connection.
When people have a connection to you they call you by name. Sharing a name with a person makes you instant BFFS because you have a unique connection.
Jesus calls us by name; not because He has to, but because He wants to show is that we are important to Him. He wants us to know that He knows our name and that we have a connection to Him.
Jesus. God. Savior. Knows your name.

Use your tears
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Use your tears

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Use your tears

I once heard an urban legend about a donkey who had fallen down a hole. With no way to get him out the farmer, (whom I think was very unkind) decided to bury the animal there. But everytime the man threw a shovel full of dirt down the hole the donkey appeared to rise. Eventually the animal was out and free again. (Hopefully on his way to a better home.)
Everytime the man threw dirt on the animal he shook it off and trampled it underfoot until he had climbed out of the hole.
If we were in a hole and up to our throats in water our fear would most likely cause many of us to panic and cry; every tear drop causing the water around us to rise. The harder you cry the deeper the water gets until eventually you can swim. After treading water for a bit you find you can swim to the edge and climb out.
Sometimes letting it all go and just screaming out to God is the only way to help you rise to the surface of the hole you are in and climb out.
Use your tears to help you heal. God made it so we could cry for a reason.

Devotional
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Put your head on my shoulder

As things go from crazy to insane it is easy for your mind to begin to whirl and keep whirling until you feel sick. In those dizzying experiences where should we turn? If you said ‘to Jesus’ you are correct.
We all need that one friend that reaches out their arms and says, “come here, put your head on my shoulder.”
Once the weight of the world shifts off of your sore neck and onto that faithful shoulder you feel instant relief and start to breathe better. Once you can breathe better then you can think better and soon you feel better all over as your whirling stops.
Go. Put your head on your savior’s shoulder and feel better.

Let the storm pass by
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Let the storm pass by

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Pain and grief build like the thick muggy atmosphere before a storm. You tell yourself you are okay but after awhile your heart and mind fill until the storm clouds break and you are left in a downpour of tears and a thunderstorm of racking shakes until through the midst of the rain you see Jesus. Scarred hand reaching out and taking you into His arms. As you cry into His heart you slowly feel better, His reassuring voice trickles in through the sobs and you hear Him tell you He loves you and that you will be okay. Suddenly your pain stops and feel like air after a big storm…refreshed…renewed…clear…. better. Thank you Jesus.

Devotional
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In a world where the news is almost fully negative it is easy to forget the things that are the most important.

A. God still has the whole world in His hands

B. God is still in control

C. Jesus still died so we could be close to God, the curtain tore, we have a relationship with God.

D. God loves us. He always has.

E. Our family belongs to God.

F. Our hope is in God.

G. We are never abandoned by God.

H. God is still God!

I. The Bible is still true.

If we can remember these essentials we have enough hope and strength to get is through each day.

Thank you Lord! That we have You!

Amen.