My Absence

Yet again I have been away from writing devotions for quite some time. I have been praying about changes the Lord has laid upon my heart for this blog. I still do not have all the answers and will continue to pray until He shows me His will. However, I wanted to let you know I haven't abandoned this blog. I plan on resuming regular posting but it may be in a more limited capacity. If you could, please pray for wisdom and guidance and I carefully consider where He wants me to take this ministry.

Living for Him,

May 28- Is Your Husband Living on the Roof?

The following devotional is an expansion of a devotion I wrote earlier. This devotional appeared on Fresh Starts this week. I had every intention of writing a new devotion tonight, but as I have always said, this blog is the work of God. I only write what He tells me to. I feel convicted to share this verse with you today once again, I hope it reaches those of you that He is speaking to.

Better to live on a corner of a roof

than share a house with a

quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 25:25 

Imagine for a minute going on a month long vacation which turns into a life changing move. Not only do you not return to your hometown to say good-bye to friends and family but you also do not return to pack up your house. Instead your husband makes the 2000 mile return trip home to pack up everything and close out your life in your hometown. For over 2 months you and your three kids live with family, a month of which is without your spouse.  Imagine the stress, the exhaustion, and the emotional toll that scenario might take on you.

I do not have to imagine, I am living this reality.  What started as a month long vacation to find work for my husband has turned into a life-long move from my hometown of over 30 years. This move had been anticipated but not quite so quickly. Soon after my husband returned home my stress level sky rocketed. I was so stressed that I was bickering with my husband over the phone almost daily. We do not argue very often so I knew something was astray within myself. As I searched for help and guidance in scripture I came across Proverbs 25:25.

This proverb rings true for me on so many levels. Ponder the depth of this verse for a moment. Think of the impact and relevance it has in your own life and marriage. A quarrelsome wife has not only the power and ability to make her husband leave his home but he might think it better to live on the roof than to live with her. Living in the cold and exposing himself to the elements on top of a hard roof top is better than being in the same room as his cranky wife. Living on a roof top is figurative of course, but you get the point.

The husband and father is the backbone to every family; the leader, the spiritual guide. His place is not on the roof forced there by an angry wife. Has this ever been you? Be honest with yourself. I know I am guilty! Personally it breaks my heart and brings me to my knees in prayer when I realize I am a thorn in my husband's side. Our husbands do so much for us everyday, we should shower them with thanks and appreciation. 

From 2000 miles away I was forcing my husband to sleep on the roof. Shame on me! Thankfully, I have been able to change my ways and we are no longer arguing. Now my kids and I are eagerly awaiting his safe arrival in our new hometown in a few weeks.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me of my sins and shortsightedness. O Lord, it is not my desire to be argumentative. I do not enjoy quarreling with my husband. O Father, please give me the strength and wisdom to change my heart, my actions, and my mind. Father I want to align my thoughts and actions according to Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Challenge:

What is something you can do today to improve your attitude toward your husband? How can you show him that you appreciate his hard work? Don't just think it, do it!

Our True Identity in Christ Conclusion

The following is a summary of the Our True Identity in Christ study that concluded today:


24 True Identities in Christ!! We are truly blessed.


We are justified (righteous).
No Condemnation awaits us.
We are set free from sin that leads to death.
We are sanctified in Jesus Christ.
We are pure and holy in Christ.
We will be given new life at the resurrection.
We are new persons.
We are made right with God.
We are one in Christ with all other believers.
We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
We are holy and without fault.
We are adopted as God's children.
Our sins are taken away, and we are forgiven.
We will be brought under Christ's authority.
We are identified as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit.
We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the Heavenly realms.
We are God's masterpiece.
We have been brought near to God.
We share in the promise of blessings through Christ.
We can come boldly and confidently into God's presence.
We are members of Christ's body, the church.
We are made complete in Christ.
We are set free from our sinful nature.
We will have eternal glory.

May 27 - We Have Eternal Glory!

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation 

and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

2Timothy 2:10

What a wonderful verse to end the Our True Identity in Christ study! God has chosen you and me, we will have eternal glory. Praise and glory be to Him!! Life is full of trials, tribulations, challenges, and adversity. Through it all though as Christians we have hope and faith that we can endure anything because one day we will be brought to salvation. We will have eternal glory in Heaven thanks to Christ. He gave it all so that we can have eternal glory and salvation. We can find strength in the difficult times knowing that we will not suffer forever. There is hope! If you are dealing with health problems, financial struggles, or other personal issues look to Him for hope and strength. You will not bear the weight of your struggles for eternity. The beauty and majesty of Heaven will embrace us when our time here on earth is complete. Through Him I am truly willing to endure anything because I know one day I will experience salvation and eternal glory, thanks be to Christ. Thanks be to God for choosing you and me for salvation.


Dear Heavenly Father, thanks be to You for choosing me for salvation and eternal glory. I am truly willing to endure anything because I know that one day I will bask in the glory of eternal life in Heaven. I am humbled and honored to be chosen for eternal life in Your beautiful home. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

May 26 - We Are Set Free

When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised", 
but not by a physical procedure. 
Christ performed a spiritual circumcision - 
the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Colossians 2:11

Circumcision was an old testament command from God. It was the way Jews entered into an agreement of faith and salvation with God. Through Christ's birth and death we have been set free from the sacrament of circumcision. Christ's death set us free from a physical commitment for eternal life. Instead we are now committed to Christ through our hearts, not our body. We are free from our evil desires through Christ's spiritual operation rather then a physical procedure. Despite the fact that Christ has set us free from a physical commitment of salvation, the commitment in our hearts must be just as strong and steadfast as in the Old Testament. What you do with your freedom and commitment to God is your choice. We must always remember though that Christ gave everything for our sins and salvation. Without Christ, the freedom you experience now would not be possible. We must give thanks to Him always for all that He gave and continues to give to each of us everyday.


Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your only son to live and die for my sins, salvation, and freedom. O Lord, please give me the strength and wisdom to live each day according to Your word. I pray that my freedom is pleasing to Your eyes. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

May 25 - We Are Made Complete Through Christ

So you also are complete through your union with Christ, 

who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Colossians 2:10

You may know someone who has a void in their life. Or perhaps you are feeling low and empty at this point in your own life. Something is missing mentally and spiritually. But where do you turn to fill that void? What do you do, who do you talk to, how do you get through each day feeling empty and unfulfilled? We all go through these times in our lives. It in only human. However, as Christians we have a place to turn to and seek solace from our emptiness. Christ alone is all we need to be made complete. He is our life, our fulfillment, our everything. Christ teaches us to be content with ourselves. God made us perfectly. 


When you know Christ you do not need anything else in your life to feel complete. Cults, gangs, other religions, or non-biblical philosophers provide nothing for true Christians. Christ alone holds the answers to our life.  We have all that we need to live a fulfilled life here on earth and be saved for salvation.


Dear friend, you have the ability to live more freely and completely with Christ in your heart. You alone have the ability to live, love, and give more freely and openly through Christ. He will provide all that you need. There is no fear or limitation because we are made complete through Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Through Him I am made complete. O Lord, with you by my side I want to live more freely, openly, and completely with You. Please guide me O Father, send me where I need to go, to do what You want me to do. I am here to serve You O Lord. I have complete faith that You will provide all that I need. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

May 24 - We Are Members

No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it;

just as Christ cares for the church. 

And we are members of his body.

Ephesians 5:29,30

As Christians we are members of Christ's body; the church. Christ cares for His body; us as members of the church. He loves us unconditionally because he feeds and cares for us. In turn however, how do we care for our own bodies; both physical and spiritual? Are you perhaps neglecting an aspect of your life that you know you need to care more for? Nutrition, exercise, time in scripture, they are all crucial for maintaining and nourishing our physical and spiritual bodies. Laziness can at times creep in to our lives and run amuck. But time in prayer and attention to ourselves is what God wants from us. He made us perfectly. It is our job to keep our bodies and minds in good condition so we are prepared to serve Him whenever and wherever He calls us to serve. We are members for Christ's body, the church, but we are also members of a greater everlasting kingdom. We are to care for ourselves and others like Christ cares for us.


Dear Heavenly Father, thanks and praise be to You for including me in Your body, the church. I am honored and humbled to be a member of your eternal kingdom. O Lord, please give me the wisdom and strength to care for myself as You care for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.