Devotion Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Tabetha’s Devotions

September 27, 2017

Forget Fighting to Find Focus

Psalms 62:1-2
I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

You know the old saying about doctors make the worst patients? Well let me tell you, teachers make the worse students.

Just stop in at any meeting and you will see all of us doing all those things that drive us crazy when our students do them to us. Yes, I am guilty of a few of the more popular ones like checking my email, texting and even the occasional social media posts.

Now I do try not to be rude. I really am listening. Many times my ADHD just gets the best of me. So, lately, I have been trying an old tactic in a very new way. I doodle and color!

When I was in school, setting through long lectures, and taking notes, I would doodle in the margins of my notebooks. I have shown many of the notebooks to my students to give them ideas of what to do when they are struggling to pay attention. Isn’t that funny? I mean I have to distract my mind in order to be able to concentrate.

Anyway, as for my new way, I have recently procured an iPad Pro and I started using an app called GoodNotes to take notes and do all of my lesson planning. Last night, I downloaded several coloring pictures onto it and low and behold I created a coloring book. Below is my masterpiece from today’s meetings.

Coloring didn’t distract me. It relaxed me enough to be able to concentrate.

Long meetings aren’t the only place I struggle to focus. I often find the more I struggle and fight to focus on my prayers, bible studies and even church services sometimes, the harder it is to concentrate. Then I decided one day to have a nice long chit-chat with God and I stumbled upon this verse:

Psalms 62:1-2 I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

Notice it doesn’t say, I fought, grappled, wrestled, scuffled, brawled, sparred, strove, or tried harder before the Lord. No, it says I stand silently and wait. It seemed so simple. I needed to quit fighting and start surrender.ing Then, I would find what I was looking for…God, my rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress. Let him do the fighting. After all, salvation comes from him, not anything I can do.

I simply need to forget fighting to find focus!

September 21, 2017

Find My Way Back

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

There are days when you get pummeled from every side. Those are the days you stop and go, “Wait just a minute! Satan you are not going to get away with this.”

I also know Satan is not behind every bad thing that happens to us. First of all, he can’t be everywhere all of the time. Unlike God, he is not omnipresent. Can I please hear an AMEN to that one!

So, what about his little minions? No, I am not referring to those adorable little yellow guys. I, of course, am referring to demons. Yes, I am sure they are around and cause havoc, but they still aren’t behind every bush.

No, I believe sometimes bad things just happen. I also believe there are times when Satan is sitting back laughing because he doesn’t have to lift a finger. We humans are pretty good and creating horrible situations all on our own.

Let’s also get honest here. We can never say the devil made me do it. We always have choices.

I find my students complaining about rules and they inevitable say we have no choice. I remind them they always have choices. They can always choose to not follow the rules. We always have choices, we just have to weigh if the consequences are worth our choice.

Our daily lives are the same as my kiddos. We all have choices and consequences. Many times we just figure the consequences are worth it. We take the wrong path and we find ourselves in trouble. No, the devil did not make me do it. No, the demons didn’t set me up. Even if the last one was true, I was still in the final control. I made the decision. I chose my path.

Here is the rainbow. When we find ourselves lost, we know the direction to look. UP! We will find the great navigator just waiting for us to ask directions back to safety. He is waiting with his grace and loving warm arms wide open. He has the perfect directions to get you home and he will even light the path!

September 13, 2017

Fair Weather Fan

Psalm 28:6

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

Last year, the Chicago Cubs found themselves with a lot more fans. It is amazing how people started crawling out of the nowhere. I mean people that didn’t know their infield from their outfield where all of a sudden Chicago Cubs experts.

It is easy to be a fan when your team is on top. It takes a true fan to stick with them the other 108 years!

Unfortunately, so many people see Christianity the same way. God is awesome when things are going your way. When you can stand on that mountain and shout the joys and praises to him all is good, but what about those dark days? Those days when it feels like this:

Imprisoned
Shackled
Darkness surrounds
Deep down inside

Those words are harsh
They cut like a knife
No longer in control
Deep down inside

Why don’t they stop
Can’t they see the pain
It’s so dark
Deep down inside

The tears are streaming
The anger is raging
Why is it so dark
Deep down inside

I hear my voice
I try to scream
I am here in the dark
Deep down inside

Too late now
The damage is done
I must wait in the dark
Deep down inside

The light will come
It always does
But for now, I wait
Deep down inside

Can you praise God for hearing your cry even when he hasn’t rescued you from it? Can you thank him before the answer comes? Can you praise him when the answer is no?

Christian’s don’t live a life of rainbows and unicorns. Dark days come and dark days go. Continuing to praise the Lord through it all is what makes you a true fan.

September 7, 2017

Mine!

Isaiah 43:1b

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Mine! What a wonderful word!

Webster’s Dictionary defines mine as meaning that which belongs to me.

Recently, my daughter welcomed our first grandson into this world. My son’s daughter who is almost two was very excited to meet her new cousin. We talked about it all day. We showed her pictures and kept telling her his name. Then we left to meet them at the restaurant.

We walked in and her mommy got to hold the new little bundle of joy first. My granddaughter was just fine with it. She sat next to her mommy and cooed over the little boy. Then the unthinkable happened. MawMaw took the baby.

These were fighting words. She was OK sharing her mommy, but she quickly stated, “My MawMaw!” She climbed up on my lap and squeezed her way between the baby and I. “MawMaw is mine!”

As much as I love to claim things are mine, it is an even better feeling to be claimed!

When I read Isaiah 43:1b, I can see Satan standing there pointing out all of the rotten things I have done in my life. Trying his hardest to show God I don’t measure up. I am not worth it. I am broken. I am nothing more than a piece of trash. No one would ever want me. Then Jesus stands up and simply says, “I have redeemed her; I have called her by name. SHE IS MINE!”

Even as I type these words, goosebumps are going up my arms and tears are trickling down my face. I am HIS! I belong to someone. He wants me, flaws and all. Just like my granddaughter wanted me that day.

There are many words I love to hear:

She is my teacher!

She is my wife!

She is my mom!

She is my MawMaw!

She is my daughter!

She is my aunt!

She is my friend!

But my favorite words by far are hearing that Jesus wants me and calls me His!

SaveSave

September 6, 2017

No Hope?

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

This week my World History students have been studying five major religions of the world. I took away a valuable idea from all of them.

The key focus of my lesson was how do our religious beliefs influence the way we live our lives. At first, my students struggled with the concept. Then we began to talk about each religion’s idea of what happens to us when we died. They quickly realized all the religions had one thing in common, hope and faith in the fact there was something else after we died.

What I took away from this lesson was a sadness for those who do not have this hope and faith. I can’t imagine walking through life without either of those. Why would I get up in the morning? Why would I even try to live my life or improve upon it?

I suffer from depression and PTSD. I know what those dark hopeless days feel like. It is Isaiah 40:31 I often turn to remind myself that my hope is in the Lord and he will renew my strength. He will give me wings to soar far from this depression and I will be able to run and walk again. Without that hope, I would stay crumpled up emotionally and sometimes physically in the fetal position unable to go on.

I am so thankful for my religious beliefs. They bring me comfort and strength. They do influence the way I live my life. I want to share this hope and faith with everyone I meet. I pray for those who have nothing to believe in.

I leave you tonight with this one thought:

If there is no God and Heaven when we die, what did I truly miss out on while I lived?

If there is a God and Heaven when we die, what will I miss out on forever?

September 4, 2017

We Were Not Called to Climb Every Mountain

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I have come to the realization, I can’t live anyone else’s life and I don’t want to.

I have a friend who sells jewelry as a side job. Her hopes and dreams are for it to take off so she can quit her full-time job. She loves selling this jewelry. She loves wearing it and she loves the smiles on her customers face when they first put it on and they realize they are beautiful!

Recently she made a confession to me. She belongs to various social networking pages specifically designed for consultants that sell this jewelry. She was reading peoples successes and she began to feel very jealous. She wished she could be them. The Holy Spirit quickly pricked her soul and said, “No, you don’t! You don’t want the trials and tribulations she has been or is going through.”

When she told me this I realized I have done the same thing many times. I have looked at magazines or watched TV, social media or even just saw someone walking down the street. I have said things like,

“I wished I looked like _________.”

“I wished I had that person’s _______.”

“Wow, I wish I could do _______ like that person.”

God has marked out a path just for us to travel. He has equipped us with just what we need to walk that path.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked for us.

Why do some paths lead down pitfalls and rocky roads, while others seem to walk on rainbows and sunshine? I don’t know, but I can promise you something, no one is always walking on either one. When you see those people who seem to be on the high, you never know the cliffs they climbed to get there. What’s more, you weren’t meant to make that climb.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

Let us throw off the jealousy, envy, covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, jealousy, resentment that entangles and let us find our own path of blessings, grace, mercy; favor, kindness, mitzvah, advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, comfort, consolation, solace; bonus, extra, delight, joy, and pleasure.

September 1, 2017

WWJD

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

The WWJD movement is so cliche now that it is almost cliche to say that it is cliche. That made so much more sense in my head ;o)

What would Jesus do is a question or phrase we often pass around when we don’t know what else to say. How often do we REALLY ask that question and expect an answer or seek an answer?

Have you found yourself in a painful situation and seriously stopped and asked what would Jesus do if he were in my shoes right now? Well, let me tell you what he would do.

He would feel pain (John 19:1 & 2)

He would feel sorrow (John 11:35)

He would feel betrayal (Luke 22:48)

He would feel fear (Luke 22:44)

He would feel anger (Matthew 21:12)

He would feel alone (Matthew27:46)

What do all of these things have in common? He would FEEL! It is Ok to go through something and feel pain, sorrow, betrayal, fear, anger or alone. Jesus felt these things also.

Today, he is feeling them with you. He is going before you. He is walking along beside you. He is not going to leave you and he certainly will not forsake you. Feel your feelings. Walk through them. Don’t be afraid of them and don’t get discouraged with yourself.

Next time you are going through a rough patch in your life, ask yourself what would Jesus do. Then remember what he would do. He would feel and keep on moving!

August 31, 2017

Keep it Up! Reap the Harvest!

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

“I give up! I can’t do this!”

As a teacher, I often hear these words. Introduce anything new to a class and the meltdowns begin. I don’t care what age group you teach, no one likes to struggle with something new. I shake my head and try to explain (once again) everything is always hard at first. That is why I am teaching you how to do it. If you just stick with it, before long you will able to teach someone else.

I wonder how many times God is shaking his head and saying the same thing to me?

How many things have I given up on just when I was about to have a breakthrough?

How many harvests have I missed out on?

Struggling always come with some pain. No one likes to struggle. Sometimes even everyday things that you know how to do can become so mundane you feel like you are burnt out and can’t do them anymore. You are ready to give up!

That is the exact time you need to press harder. When you find there is something you can’t do or can’t do anymore, look at what you can do. Concentrate on that part of the problem. What can I accomplish right now?

Right now in my life, I am working on my doctorate degree. I am preparing to take my exit exam. It consists of two papers. When I read the first scenario I wanted to run! My brain was so overwhelmed with what in the heck they were asking I wanted to give up. I heard a small whisper in my spirit telling me to take a deep breath and do what I do best. Write!

I grabbed my notebook (paper not electronic) and a pen. I read through the scenario again and wrote down ANYTHING that popped into my head. Before I knew it, I had a plan of attack.

By not giving up and concentrating on what I could do, I had a harvest!

Image result for never give up never surrender — *Galaxy Quest 1999*

I know there are days and tasks to come that are going to rock my world. I also know that some of them I am going to probably just melt down and quit. However, I hope and pray that I will at least try to remember to keep on going and not give up on all of them. I want to continue to do good and reap a harvest!

August 29, 2017

H.U.G.S

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

That is me…S-I-M-P-L-E…simple!

I like the straightforward, easy, uncomplicated, uninvolved, effortless, painless, undemanding, elementary, candid, frank, honest, sincere, plain, absolute, unqualified, bald, stark, unadorned, unvarnished, unembellished, unpretentious, unsophisticated, ordinary, unaffected, unassuming, natural, honest-to-goodness, and some might even say country-fried.

So why is it life never seems to be any of those?

I think one reason is we tend to try so hard to make it simple, but we just end up complicating everything. For instance, have you ever thought of just relaxing? Sounds simple enough right? BUT….

Where am I going to relax? Stay at home? Which room? Living room? Couch or chair?

What am I going to do to relax? Read a book? What book? Where are my glasses? Maybe I will watch TV? Netflix? Hulu? Amazon? Vudu? Maybe I should rent a movie? What movie? Do I go to Redbox? Video Store? Back to Amazon?

What should I wear to relax? Am I in a PJ’s mood? Sweats? Jeans? Is it hot or cold? Do I need a blanket? Which blanket?

What should I drink? Do I need a drink? Coffee? Tea? Hot? Cold? Soda? Water? Which glass?

Do I turn my phone off or ignore it? What if it is an emergency and someone needs me? Maybe I should just silence it.

Seriously, I think it might be easier to order a cup of coffee at Starbucks! One venti, double shot, extra cinnamon dolce latte with almond milk, hot, please!

Believe it or not, according to various internet sources it is estimated that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. How can anything ever be simple if we average that many decisions just to make it through one day?

Well, I might not be able to help you make everything simple, but I can help you find your answers. It is as simple as turning to God and His word.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130 NIV).

God has said we can come to him with every decision. Yes, you read that right EVERY decision. He is there and wants to help us with all of life, not just the big “Christiany” things.

So instead of K.I.S.S – Keep It Simple Stupid, let’s shoot for H.U.G.S – Help Us, God, to Simplify!

August 28, 2017

Frazzled

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

A dear lady named Hazel Straub from Crown of Glory International Ministries recently wrote this,

“Today is a new day. God calls for us to release old mindsets of fear, doubt, and unbelief. Stop complaining, instead of reigning. Release the trauma, drama and hurts of the past. This will make room for the good things, God wants to give you today.”

It seemed to fit my life on Sunday so well!

I serve as a greeter upstairs in our elementary school area at church. It is my job to check kids in and make sure child and parent have matching tags. Then at the end of service, I make sure anyone coming through the doors has a tag. Yep! I am a church bouncer! Ha-Ha-Ha! No, really it is a wonderful system that keeps all of our kiddos safe. Well, it is a wonderful system when the “system” is working.

My partner and I quickly ascertained that the computers were not going to cooperate. So we had to go old school and dig out the bracelets. We also improvised some name tags so small group leaders would know which kid was which.

Now, I have to tell you something. I am a little OCD. OK, OK, I am a LOT OCD! When things don’t go as planned I tend to get a little frazzled.

My partner stepped up and looked at me with a grin and said, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” I started giggling and was able to pull an Elsa and Let it Go! Let it Go!

You know too often we let little stuff just pile up and get the best of us. It festers kind of like the popcorn hull I had stuck in my gum this morning. Ouch! How can something that small cause so much pain?!?!?!?

I know it is easy to get wrapped up in the past or even caught up in the moment. But really what good does it do us? Is my worrying going to make the situation go away or even get better? Nope!

So from now on, I am going to be the blessed flexible and not get all bent out of shape!

Tag: Devotion

Forget Fighting to Find Focus

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Find My Way Back

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Fair Weather Fan

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Mine!

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No Hope?

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We Were Not Called to Climb Every Mountain

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WWJD

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Keep it Up! Reap the Harvest!

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H.U.G.S

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Frazzled

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