Just a Piece in the Puzzle

Psalms 37:7

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

I loved watching a TV show called Psych. It was about a guy who was overly observant and could solve crimes. However, the only way he could get people to believe him was to act as a psychic. That is very over simplified, but the jest of it. Quite often in the episodes, he would say, “Wait for it. . .” Then something would come to light. When I read today’s verse I couldn’t help but hear this phrase.

Waiting is not an easy thing to do. Heck, I am convinced that patience is a cuss word . . . LOL! However, we can’t do one thing God can. We cannot see the whole picture. We only see a puzzle piece of what is going on and often the piece looks bad, really bad. God sees how bad it is too, but He also sees how it fits to the next piece and the next one and soon those bad pieces turn into a beautiful picture. We just have to wait for it.

So, the next time life around you is looking really bad, remember it is just a piece of your life, not the entire puzzle. The ultimate puzzle master is still in charge and your picture will turn out beautiful.

Lord, today is just a piece in my beautiful puzzle. Good or bad, I will hang on for the entire picture. ~amen

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You Can Do It!

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The definitions of discipline don’t even sound like fun.

  • control gained by enforcing obedience or order, to bring a group under control
  • training , instruction, and exercise that corrects, molds, or perfects moral character for self-control
  • a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
  • to punish or penalize for the sake of enforcing obedience and perfecting moral character to train or develop by instruction and exercise.

Let’s be honest for a moment. Hebrews 12:11 is absolutely correct. If you have ever strived to learn how to do something or practiced something, or even fought to get into shape, you understand it. Heck, if you even made it through school, you get it.

Life in general is not easy. However, we fight through it. We try to be better than we were yesterday. When we do all of this we learn, we grow, and we do find peace in it.

Lord, discipline is not fun. However, I will continue in it to grow. ~amen

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Cheerful Heart


2 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

No one should be pressuring you to give. What you give, when you give, and how much you give is between you and God. This doesn’t matter if you are talking about money, time, or items.

Yes, giving is an important part of service as a Christian. Just the idea of service is based on giving of yourself. However, your attitude about giving is just as important. Giving with a grumbling heart is not really giving. Giving with an expectation of getting is not really giving. You ready for this one? Giving because you feel obligated, isn’t really true giving either.

When there is a need and you want to reach out and give ask God what you need to do. Then follow through with it. Again, I want to point out this isn’t always money. Often, it is giving up your time or items you already have. There are times it may even just be giving a smile.

Pray for God to show you where and what to give. Don’t be reluctant or under compulsion. You will be amazed at just how cheerful you will feel.

Lord, show me today where and what I need to give. ~amen

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Pure Heart

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

What does pure in heart mean? Does it mean you are perfect and always loving, kind, peaceful, faithful, hopeful, etc.? I don’t think so. Why? Because God knows we are human. If we were perfect why would we have a need for grace? Why would Jesus have to go through everything He did here on Earth?

No, I think pure of heart means you genuinely mean well. You try your hardest. You realize when you fail at being any of that long list above. When you realize it you are prepared to make amends and seek to change the situation.

I can’t tell you how many times I have had to ask God for a human moment. Seriously, I need to throw a tantrum for a minute. I need Him to hear my pain. Then I step back and ask Him to make me willing to be willing to let go of the anger. Finally, I apologize and move on. God reminds me He has big shoulders. He can handle it. He knows my intentions underneath it all are still pure. I don’t want to feel this way. I have to find a way to deal with the emotions. We all have to because we can’t just be perfect and never feel anything.

Today, let the guilt of not being perfect go. Choose a pure heart that knows you are working on dealing with all the emotions that get thrown at you every single day.

Lord, thank You for not expecting perfection. You just want us to have a pure heart and willing to try. ~amen

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Mistakes

Luke 12:1

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Hypocrisy does not mean we as Christians will always be perfect. It does not mean we preach about something and then fall flat on our faces over it. Hypocrisy is “do what I say and not what I do.”

News Flash! We are not perfect. We make mistakes. The thing that sets us apart from hypocrites or should set us apart from hypocrites is we take responsibility. We know when we have done wrong. We admit we have done wrong. We make amends when possible and seek to try better. We learn from our mistakes.

We get into trouble when we let our pride stick around. Our judgment of others to make ourselves look better is the issue. When that yeast of hypocrisy takes over it ruins it for everyone. All of a sudden every Christian looks back and Satan laughs!

Jesus was not warning against us! He was reminding us to stand up and be responsible. We must swallow our pride when we screw up and show others how we live by grace!

Lord, I don’t want to be the reason someone walks away from You. Help me swallow my pride and step up and take responsibility when I screw up. ~amen

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Are You Ready?



Luke 12:40

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

I certainly never set out to offend anyone. Today, however, I may step on someone’s toes. For that, I truly am sorry. Please, hear me out though. In the end, we can agree to disagree and still be friends.

Here is the thing. God is the ONLY One that knows when Jesus will return. Jesus, Himself has no idea (Matthew 24:36). So, why do so many people spend so much time trying to figure it out? Instead of looking for the time, how about just be ready?

I know the bible lists signs of the end time. Can I tell you something? All those signs have been seen since the moment Jesus stepped off this Earth. Why? Because Satan has no clue either. He is also in constant preparation for his big day. Seriously, look through history. You can find several people who could have potentially turned into the antichrist.

I am not saying stop watching for Christ’s return. I am saying don’t spend all your time looking for the signs and miss HIM. Just be ready!

Lord, I know You are coming for me someday. It may be the end times for us all or it may just be the end of my time here on Earth. I just know I am ready. ~amen

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Who Knows Best?



Proverbs 19:20-21

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.

I giggled over today’s verse, Proverbs 19:20-21, in the Message Bible.

20 Take good counsel and accept correction that’s the way to live wisely and well. 21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD’s purpose prevails.

I mean verse 20 is kind of a duh, you would think. However, we see everyday people ignoring that advice. Then we get to 21., “We humans brainstorm options.” Oh my goodness that is SO me. It is like I think I need to give God advice. Maybe He needs my good council, so He can live wisely and well. Really?!?!

I hope I am the only one that does this, but I am guessing I am not. Maybe together we can giggle the next time we worry and begin planning our way out. If you see me on the street cracking up laughing at nothing, I probably just asked God, “Have You
considered this option?” Good thing He is patient!

Thank You, Lord, for being so patient with me when I think I know what’s best.

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Live Christ!


Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

This is one of my favorite bible verses. As a matter of fact, it is our family verse. Newsboys uses the verse in their lyrics for the song, ‘Shine’.

Shine.
Make ’em wonder whatcha got.
Make ’em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored.
Shine.
Let it shine before all men.
Let em see good works and then
Let em glorify the Lord.

The point is very simple. Our actions are so important. Your greatest witness is not stopping everyone you see and asking them if they know Christ. Your greatest witness is living Christ! It is how you treat others, it is how you handle situations. Yes, it is also what you do when you screw up!

You want to be a witness? Shine and make them wonder what you got. That will lead them to glorify the Lord!

Lord, help me shine Your love on everyone meet today. ~amen

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Sure Thing!

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Once again I need to refer to the Message Bible for today’s verse. “Depend on GOD and keep at it because in the LORD GOD you have a sure thing” (Isaiah 26:4). It is those last five words, ‘you have a sure thing’ that caught my eye. How many things in life can you be sure are a sure thing? We usually always laugh and say, “The only two things sure in life are death and taxes.”

I know there are lots of people that wish they had the sure bet, or the lotto numbers, or even just knowing what tomorrow will bring. That is not what God is promising you. What He is promising you is to be there every single step you take. He is promising not to leave you, nor forsake you. He is promising peace, strength, and wisdom as you need it.

Life is not and will not be easy. Searching for the next sure thing here on Earth will only give you temporary satisfaction if you catch it. I want eternal peace and happiness. I think I am going to bank my sure thing on God.

Lord, You are the only sure thing I can count on in life. Thank you for always being my Rock. ~amen

I AM NOT GOD

Matthew 15:30

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

Today’s verse from Matthew comes from a Max Lucado bible study I am doing with a group of women. In combination with the verse from Max’s devotion yesterday, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” (Matthew 11:28) a thought dawned on me. I tend to take on too much, thinking I should handle it all.

I was raised to be self sufficient. I was expected to work hard and not rely on anyone. Now, this in itself is not a bad thing. However, I have a God I can always rely on for everything and need to learn how. I feel the need to point out that my parents did teach me that as well. Somewhere though I lost that thought. I felt it was my responsibility to keeping everyone happy all of the time. Boy, is that a big mistake. You see, I am not God and neither are you.

We don’t have to take on the world. We just need to do our part and let God handle the rest. No request is too small or too big for our God. Just go to Him with everything. He is waiting to help.

Lord, I am sorry I try to take on the world without You. I am learning my place and will turn to you. ~amen

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