October 2017 - Tabetha’s Devotions

October 27, 2017

Give Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Give thanks!

It has been a long week and it is has been too long since I took a look at the bright side!

So here we go, 5 gratitudes:

1. I get to spend the next 4days with my beautiful granddaughter
2. I have a 4 day weekend away from work
3. Fall weather is finally here!
4. My husband has a new job pastoring a small local church and we don’t have to move.
5. The several friends I have at work that keep me smiling.

Your turn! God has shed some light in your life. Let it shine bright!

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give Thanks!

(Give Thanks by Don Moen)

October 26, 2017

God Shops at Walmart

Proverbs 18:16
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say tonite. Then I went to the store!

Going to Walmart can bring anyone to Jesus. He always seems to find great teaching moments there…like patience. Did I mention I was born without a shopping gene? LOL!

Tonite was not a patience lesson night. Tonite was actually a fun trip.

I got my stuff and headed to the checkout. All the lanes were packed. OK, maybe there was a little lesson in patience.

Anyways…

I was behind this cute couple with an adorable little boy of about 2 years old. He immediately started getting excited over my service dog. He then started telling me about the chips and dip and canned pears they were buying.

The checker rang them up and the young father looked in his wallet clearly nervous. He leaned to his wife explaining they didn’t have enough. She started trying to decide what to put back when God reminded me of the $20 I had in my pocket and of days gone by.

You see my husband and I raised five kids on a shoestring budget. Heck, lots of times we were so poor we couldn’t afford the shoestring for the budget.

I told the family I had this and go ahead and take the groceries. They started to protest but I told them I had been there, done that and I wanted to help. They couldn’t thank me enough.

I don’t say all of this to pat myself on the back. I am telling you this because I wanted to share my high. I was the one who was truly blessed. I looked back at my life and smiled at how God was always there when we needed him. I was honored that he used me to deliver those same blessings to someone else.

Tonite God used Walmart to usher this giver into the presence of the great.

October 25, 2017

Don’t Write Me Off

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

Do you ever think of people as evil?

I know during election years, people love to vilify candidates. As we all know, it never stops there.

If you look back in history, there are names that pop up and most classify them as good or evil. But should they?

Did they do anything good?
Should we write people off as just evil?

My brother was taken from me. He was murdered execution style. It is pretty hard to not look at those who were in on it as not evil.

However, God never said forgive those who deserve it. Titus 2:11 doesn’t say He offers salvation to those who deserve it.

I am working very hard to stop putting people in categories as deserving or not deserving of me. I am trying to not deem a person as entirely good or evil.

Yes, people make bad choices. Yes, I do not agree with everyone all of the time. But it is time for me to stop writing people off because of one part of them.

I want to see the whole person. Then, I can see the deserving part. The hurting part. The beautiful part.

Because…
I am not always deserving. I don’t always have it together. I am not always beautiful. I make bad choices. I do things others don’t approve of. Yet, I am included in Titus under all people. God has not written me off. It is time for me to stop writing people off.

October 24, 2017

Children Listen

Titus 2:8
Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Wow! I really need to vent! Do you know what she did? Do you know what he did? I can’t believe they did that!

When does venting become gossip?

Why do women always get called on the carpet for gossiping?

Do men ever gossip?

Actually, my husband reminded me of an episode of Andy Griffith, where Aunt Bee told Andy something and he ran with it. All the guys in town blew it way out of proportion. She proved her point! Men do gossip.

Now, I am not man bashing here, I promise. I just want to point out no one is safe. I mean have you seen or read the news. How about looked at all the magazines while waiting to check out. I mean seriously we dedicate whole television shows to “telling all” about the stars.

And don’t get me started on social media!

In Titus, God is giving instructions for older people to pass down how to act to younger generations. He stresses how important it is, to tell the truth. When we speak the truth we are trusted. When we speak the truth no one can lie about us.

As adults, we must be very careful what we say, even on social media because just like they sing in the musical Into the Woods

Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see
And learn
Children may not obey
But children will listen
Children will look to you
For which way to turn
To learn what to be
Careful before you say
“Listen to me”
Children will listen

October 23, 2017

My Very Cold Cup of Coffee

Luke 10:38-42 (TLB)

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem[a] they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. 39 Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked.

40 But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! 42 There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”

First, I want to apologize for not blogging on Friday. I had a jam-packed day and honestly did not even remember until I was falling into bed at 1:30 Saturday morning.

That brings me to today…I have felt like I have been chasing myself all day long and I am a quick little sucker! I have been at least 10 steps behind the entire time. I would just feel like I was making ground and BOOM! There I go taking off again into twenty different directions.

My day started at 6:00 am. It is 2:50 in the afternoon and I just sat down to take a breath and enjoy my now very cold cup of coffee. However, I can finally see my desk. My emails have been answered. Copies are made and lesson plans are done. Whew!

I think I know how Martha felt. I have been that jittery type all day long fretting over all the details of my day. I unfortunatly also know how Martha felt. I did not take time this morning to just spend time with God. I rushed through my morning and didn’t even say good morning God.

I wonder if I had been a little more like Mary at the beginning of my day, I wouldn’t have ended up like Martha the rest of it. I am pretty sure my to-do list would not have gotten any smaller or magically disappeared. But maybe, just maybe, I would have caught up with myself and wouldn’t have felt so jittery. Maybe I wouldn’t be “enjoying” my very cold cup of coffee right now.

October 19, 2017

Know Whose You Are

Isaiah 43:1b
Do not be afraid — I will save you.
I have called you by name — You are mine

My granddaughter will come running from anywhere in the house if she hears Moana. I have to admit, I have become quite addicted to the songs too.

There is one song in particular that is very short, but almost brings me to tears everytime I hear it.

Know Who You Are

I have crossed the horizon to find you
I know your name
They have stolen the heart from inside you
But this does not define you
This is not who you are
You know who you are

***SPOILER ALERT***

The song comes when Moana faces the angry being you are led to believe is the villain of the story. However, Moana has figured out her secret. She is the lost goddess who only became that way when her heart was stolen.

Moana knows who she is and she reminds her this evil is not the real her. She calls her out and replaces her heart. She restores her.

Now this is truly a moving moment. However, I am brought to tears because I can’t help think about God calling me out. Telling me this is not who I am. Restoring my heart. Reminding me whose I am.

God knows who you are and he comes looking for you. He will restore you. Just take a moment and don’t let your circumstance define who you are. Remember whose you are!

October 18, 2017

Not Today Satan

Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

It has been a long and rather discouraging day. However, I did not want it to end on a bad note. So, I spent the evening working on a project and totally lost track of time.

It was nice finishing my project. I have recently learned to create digital planners. It has taken me a couple of days to finish this last one, but I love it! I was able to incorporate Snoopy all over it.

For those that don’t know, I am obsessed with Snoopy and the whole Peanuts Gang! I am excited to start using my digital planner tomorrow.

It feels good when we finish something. Specially, when we had to work hard at it.

Another project I am working on, my doctorate, is not going as well. It is at a very frustrating part, right now.

A friend reminded me of something today when I was in tears over the most recent set back. She told men:

“Every writer has setbacks! How many times was Stephen King rejected? Nothing that is worth anything is ever easy. You are a writer. The best ones have setbacks and they say “NOT TODAY, SATAN” and push forward kicking and screaming..”

She is a very wise friend.

God was saying the same when he inspired our verse today:

Proverbs 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

I stepped out in faith when I quit talking about it and actually started this journey. It has been hard work, but I will succeed.

So, you know what?

October 17, 2017

Future and a Hope

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I am sorry today is so short and sweet, but my teaching life got in the way. I had parent/teacher conferences which means 12 hours at work drive home and be back in less than 12 hours. YUCK!

The glory spot of my night was two families that I have been with their children for three years. The boys have grown into some pretty awesome young men. It is always funny to see them come in as Freshmen and watch them grow up before your very eyes.

Anyways, these families make me feel like I can walk on water. They always have. Tonite was different though. One of the dads looked at the other teachers and told them, I was more than a teacher, I was family. The other dad from the other family looked up and said they would have never made it through high school without me. I have been their lifeline.

I am not trying to pat myself on the back here. I was speechless and teary-eyed. With the ins and outs of everyday life as a teacher, you often wonder if you are really touching anyone’s life. Then a parent comes to you and says something like this. For a moment you realize your life does have purpose.

Thank you, Lord, for letting me have glimpses into the good I have done. Thank you for having a plan for me. A plan to prosper me. Please continue to use me to bring a little light into my students’ and their families’ lives.

October 16, 2017

In the Darkest Hour, There is Still Hope in the Light

Micah 7:7-8
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.

I do not want to blog today
My day has been so long
I don’t know what to say today
Everything seems so wrong

My anxiety is running high today
My energy is running low
I sit here in the darkness today
I‘ve no where else to go

I will wait right here for you today
My hope in you is strong
The light will come back today
I hope my waits not long

I really did not want to blog today, but God reminded me of why I started blogging in the first place. I wanted to be real with people. Being real doesn’t only happen when the sky is filled with rainbows and unicorns. No, it is also on the days where I feel surround by complete darkness.

Today I am in a bad place, but I am OK. I am learning to follow Micah 7:7-8. I will sit and watch and wait for the Lord. I have hope my God will hear me. Don’t count me out yet, my friends. Satan has not won. I will rise. The Lord will light my way.

October 13, 2017

Guilty As Charged!

1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

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I came across the above quote on my facebook page today. I fell in love with it immediately. Then I was reading my bible study and BOOM! It hit me. I am guilty!

I can honestly say that on an average day not seeking all-out revenge is a pretty easy idea to follow. Not that the thought doesn’t cross my mind. However, I can control myself enough to not do unto others as they do unto me.

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever given someone the silent treatment or a cold shoulder? Have you ever intentionally not helped someone when they needed all because you were angry with them? This is all called being passive-aggressive and it is revenge.

Yep, this is a well-sharpened tool in my armory. I can wield it at a moments notice. In other words, I AM GUILTY!

I hope and pray that you haven’t perfected this type of revenge, but if you have don’t beat yourself up. We serve a wonderful, grace-filled, patient God; who is waiting with open arms to fill you with his spirit. Then we can all learn to use the new tools of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

There is enough hate and anger in this world. Let’s not add to it.

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Month: October 2017

Give Thanks

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God Shops at Walmart

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Don’t Write Me Off

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Children Listen

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My Very Cold Cup of Coffee

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Know Whose You Are

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Not Today Satan

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Future and a Hope

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In the Darkest Hour, There is Still Hope in the Light

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Guilty As Charged!

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Thanks For Sharing!

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