Humanity Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Tabetha’s Devotions

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 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 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 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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October 12, 2017

A World Without Hope

Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭18‬
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. 19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

I cannot imagine a world with no hope. I live with times in my life of severe depression and anxiety. The only thing that pulls me through is hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better. This too shall pass. Light comes in the morning. These are the concepts I hang onto to keep me grounded.

However, I know there are people out there who do not have any hope. All they see around them is hate, evil and darkness. For them, there is no hope that anything will change. This too shall not pass for them. The light never comes. How awful to walk that path. To always feel alone.

To some, Christians look like fools because we stand on this hope. We seem to always find the silver lining. We see the glass half-full. People believe we are naïve and gullible.

However, even if any of that is accurate, so what? What is wrong with being hopeful? What is so wrong with being happy?

It takes hope to be creative. It took hope to convince everyone the world is round. It took hope to put some ragtag militia together to fight elite British troops to create a new country. It took hope to invent a phone without wires that fits in your pocket or on your wrist. It took hope to sit down and write a blog.

Face it, a world without hope is nothing. I think I will stick with being a Christian and hanging on to my hope

October 3, 2017

Speak to Me

Psalm 29:11
The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.

This verse has crossed my path several times today. In my experience, this means God has a reason for it. Something in my life either now or coming my way will be tied to this verse. God is trying to tell me something.

So now the question is why. Why this verse? Why now? What is going on in my life that needs a reminder from God. How am I going to apply this verse to my life today?

1. A friend had surgery today. I sent her this verse. I prayed God would send peace and strength to all who were involved in the surgery.

2. I have struggled with my depression the past couple of days. This morning I opened my email and this verse showed up as the key verse of a devotion. The author was battling her own demons and found comfort in this verse.

3. I was trying to work on my dissertation exam and getting very frustrated. I felt lost and I looked up and saw this verse. I had written it down on an index card months ago and had put it on my bulletin board.

Now, I know many people would say you can make a verse mean anything or apply to any situation. Some would even say it is a coincidence. You have the right to believe whatever you wish. It doesn’t matter because I find comfort in the verse. That is the only thing that matters.

I hope and pray that God speaks to you. I pray he sends you a verse of comfort in all your times of need. I pray God gives you strength and he blesses you with peace.

October 2, 2017

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

Luke 1:78-79

78 All this will be because the mercy of our God is very tender, and heaven’s dawn is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.

I know it is not Christmas, but today’s tragedy reminds me of a Christmas song, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. It is hard to hear peace on earth when hate is so strong. It was bad enough when the shots were fired. However, the hatred that followed from my fellow Americans from both sides is more than I can handle.

There is no reason for anyone to be shouting out anything buy prayers and love right now. However, open social media and all I see is arguing over gun control. I don’t care which side you are on, this is NOT, I repeat, this NOT the time or place. Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth goodwill to men.

My only light is my hope and faith. To all of the doctors, nurses, police officers, EMS, firefighters, blood donors and the heroes who had no regard for their own safety and reached out to help their fellow man, I want to say thank you! Thank you for proving God is not dead, nor does he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to men.

The following are the original words of Longfellow’s poem: that inspired the song:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

September 15, 2017

Bright Side!

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

So what’s your bright side today?

I happen to think there is a little bit of a poet in all of us. I mean when you walk around and you hear a bird and you stop for a second to listen or see the sun reflect just so off of a flower and stop, you show your poet side.

Blessings don’t have to be big life-altering events. Blessings can be found anywhere and anytime. As funny as it sounds, this morning I saw the sun reflect off a road sign and it made it sparkle and shine. It made me smile at how beautiful it was. That was a blessing.

How many times have you been in a hurry, you get to the store and someone just happens to be pulling out of a close spot? That is a blessing.

How about opening your purse when you are dying for a soda and you are short. You look down and there just happens to be a quarter on the ground. Yep! Blessing!

Personal favorite! I am exhausted when I get off work, but I know when I get home I need to clean the kitchen. I walk in and my hubby has already taken care of it! MAJOR BLESSING!

Believe me when I say that somedays those small blessings are hard to find. It is so hard to find a blessing in the middle of depression. Sometimes my being willing to look for a blessing IS my blessing for that day.

I don’t know what your blessings are today, but I am guaranteeing no matter what you are going through there is a blessing around you somewhere. Look for it! Search it out! Do not stop until you find it! Then hold it tight. It is your gift from God just to make you smile!

Share your bright side with others in the comments. Maybe your sharing will be some’s blessing they need to hear.

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!

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Tag: Humanity

Don’t Write Me Off

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Know Whose You Are

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Future and a Hope

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Guilty As Charged!

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A World Without Hope

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Speak to Me

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Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

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Bright Side!

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Fair Weather Fan

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Mine!

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