religion Archives - Page 10 of 21 - Tabetha’s Devotions

May 30, 2018

The Wrong Side of the Bed

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Boy did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed!

I actually considered crawling back in and getting out on the other side…hahaha!

My poor husband. I was neither wise in my actions, nor were my words seasoned or full of grace. As a matter of fact, I felt so badly that I arranged to have lunch with him to refresh our day. I am happy to report that it did.

We all have those days. Maybe something went wrong to throw your day off. Maybe you didn’t sleep well or woke up sick. It doesn’t matter what started it. It is how you finish it.

I know taking words back is like putting toothpaste back in the tube. If like me, you let things get out of control before you could get a hold of them, then make up for it. I know this isn’t always possible, but try.

Whenever possible, be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6). But when it is not and the damage is done please remember foolish people laugh at making things right when they sin. But honest people try to do the right thing (Proverbs 14:9, NIRV).

May 25, 2018

An Intelligent Failure

1 John 2:1
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

If I were writing 1 John 2:1 it would come out a little more like this…

Hey, I really hope you don’t find yourself doing things wrong. However, when you do, don’t try to hide it or pretend you didn’t screw up. It’s OK! Admit you are wrong, learn from it and move on. Jesus has you covered. He is there to help. He died for your sins. You will be forgiven.
~1 John 2:1 (Tabetha Version)

God knew we were not going to be perfect. He knew we were going to need Jesus to help us out of our sin. He also knew that Jesus dying wasn’t going to keep us from screwing up.

I have a philosophical question for you…is it failure if we learn from it?

I was reading a devotion this morning. The author was saying trying to get across how to fail successfully. He used a quote from inventor Charles Kettering that suggested we must learn to fail intelligently. He said, “Once you’ve failed, analyze the problem and find out why, because each failure is one more step leading to the cathedral of success.”

I love this idea of learning to fail successfully. Kettering went on to explain in order to do so one must do three things. (1) Face defeat, don’t fake success. (2) Learn all can from the mistake. (3) Never use failure as an excuse to not keep trying.

So, to answer my own question, no I don’t think it is truly failure if we learn from it. To stay in the light with Jesus (1 john 1:7) does not mean to not make mistakes. It means to own up to them, learn from them and start again.

Remember Jesus is always there to be our advocate. He will give you sound advice even when you screw up. So don’t be a failure. Be an Intelligent Failure!

May 23, 2018

What A Day

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

I am so exhausted! It is tech week for our high school drama club. I will be so glad when this play is over this weekend.

In truth, I was going to skip writing my blog tonite because I was so exhausted. God had other plans.

Just as I put my head on my pillow, I got that familiar nudge.

“Tabetha, I am not finished with you yet.”

”Are you sure Lord? Cause, I feel like we put in a full day.”

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

“Well, when you put it that way LORD, how can I refuse.”

Please tell me I am not the only one that has these little conversations with God! You know those moments when you feel you are done! You can’t take one more step and God comes back with, “Don’t worry. I got this!”

Let me tell you something…He Does! He has you. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will be your rock, your shield and your strength. Don’t be afraid when He calls you. Even when you are exhausted and can’t take one more step.x

May 21, 2018

Cuss, Cry, Cringe or Thank God

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It was a really long day! I was feeling a little overwhelmed. It seemed everyone needed me at the same time today and there just wasn’t enough of me to go around.

I still had several more things to accomplish once I got home, but I was excited because at least I was leaving work and headed that way!

Then I came to my “favorite” road home…the one with the railroad tracks!

Yep! You guessed it there was a train on the track. It was going really slow. As a matter of fact, it stopped and went the other way and then stopped again and came back.

What did I do? Do I scream (cuss)? Did I throw a tantrum (cry)? Did I give up and bang my head on my steering wheel (cringe)?

Nope!

I rolled down my windows. Turned off my car grabbed my phone to play some tunes and a book to read. I laid back and thought, “Wow! Time for me!” (Thanked God!)

I would love to tell you this is always my reaction when life throws something in my way. If I did, I would be lying through my teeth!

Patience has not and is not always my friend. However, there are sometimes I just have to find the silver lining! Today was one of those days. I mean seriously, how many times do you get to just kick back and read a book when you have a million other things to do. I had an excuse and everything! I was going to take full advantage of this!

Let’s be real here. Even the most organized list maker and planner is going to face obstacles though out the day. Now, I am not saying throw all the plans out, but how about we start looking at is as an outline of possibilities for the day. Then let’s just sit back and see what gifts God has to offer us for the day! Maybe you will be lucky enough to get a train to help you stop and relax too!

May 18, 2018

I Hope

Romans 5:5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I am drawing a blank today. I prayed and prayed, but nothing is coming to me.

A writer’s worst nightmare!

I had actually picked the verse above a few days ago and set it aside. I am staring at it and still nothing is coming, or is it?!

I think I am living this verse right now in this very moment. I am praying and hoping that God will tell me what I am suppose to blog about. I am hoping for some words of wisdom to pass on.

I am HOPING!

Hope is such a teeny tiny little word, but has such a BIG meaning. I wake up in hope and I go to bed in hope.

I hope for a good day.

I hope for a message from my children.

I hope for one more day with my mother and father.

I hope I remember everything when I leave for work.

I hope for green lights and no trains or accidents.

I hope for something good for dinner (my hubby does all the cooking).

I hope for enough energy to do my workout after work.

I hope for a relaxing evening.

I hope for a good nights sleep.

These are just a few things that pop through my mind as I go through my day. I have bigger hopes and dreams also, but the important thing is I have hopes. I do hope. When I continue to hope, God doesn’t let me down.

Do all of those things always come to pass right then?

No, but I never give up hope.

Hope is what gets me through each moment, even the ones I hoped would never come. My hope is what sustains me because God’s love has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to me.

Hmmm…I hope this blog has encouraged you to keep hoping. I also hope to see you again on Monday.

*Hugs*

Tabetha

May 14, 2018

I Am Free!

Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

On the way in to work this morning, I was having a chat with God. I am struggling with how to resolve a relationship issue I have with a couple of people in my life. I got my usual answer of “Be still, Tabetha and let me do my thing!” Then I got a startling reminder of my adventure through a twelve step program.

Yes, I once went through a twelve step program. It doesn’t matter if you are an overeater, alcoholic, gambler or porn addict, addiction is addiction and the twelve steps do help. I can even say that if you are just struggling with life the twelve steps help.

Anyway, back to my conversation with God!

He reminded me of a very important piece to the program or at least to a couple of the steps. Steps 8 and 9 are what most people refer to as the make amends steps. They state:

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Now, let me state right now, YES these steps are difficult! However, as God reminded me today they are even harder when you are seeking recognition from the other person. Someone once put it to me like this… “We are only responsible for our side of the street.”

This means, that I am responsible for MY forgiving and MY being sorry for my part in my relationship. I cannot expect forgiveness from them, nor can I expect an apology. More importantly, once I have given my forgiveness and apology I am FREE! I don’t have to carry around the guilt or anger any more. If the relationship does not mend, it is OK. I did what I needed to do. I can walk away a free woman.

LORD, I know it is my responsibility to forgive other people when they sin against me, so YOU will also forgive me (Matthew 6:14). Help me to move on LORD, knowing that I have done what you asked and I am free.

May 9, 2018

I Will Be Strong Tomorrow, but Not Right Now

1 Corinthians 12:9
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

I remember my brother’s funeral like it was yesterday, instead of 23 years ago. I remember standing tall and stiff. I remember saying over and over again, “I am an army wife. I must be strong. I cannot cry. I have to support my mom and dad.”

It was a very difficult day for all of us. My brother had been taken away in a very brutal way and much too young. He left a wife and two beautiful daughters behind.

No one ever wants to get a phone call saying your loved one is dead. I can’t explain how hard it is to hear the person on the other end of the phone tell you they were murdered.

For me, it was like the wind was knocked out of me and at the same time the world just stopped spinning and fell away. I couldn’t feel my body at all. I remember having my newborn in my arms and my friend quickly grabbing her then turning to me and setting me down on the couch.

It was in that very moment, I knew without God, I wasn’t even going to be able to take my next breath. I had no strength for anything.

At the time, I lived 12 hours away, but I don’t even remember the drive home.

When I reached my parents house and saw my parents faces, I could only mutter a quick prayer of “God, get us through this!”

The voice I heard came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I knew from that moment on, it was not going to be easy. I was going to be very hard. The days to come would even seem impossible to get through at times. However, I knew I was going to get through them. I knew God was going to go through them for me.

Yes, you read that last statement correctly. He was going to get through them for me and not just with me. He had already been down that road watching a group of people murder His son. He knew the pain I was going through.

In one of my weakest hours, he was my strength. It wasn’t easy at all, but there was hope for the sun to shine again. That is what got me through. Everything was going to be OK, just not right now. And that was OK too.

May 7, 2018

I Need A Hero!

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

I don’t care if you are Team Marvel or Team DC. In this day and age, we are all looking for a superhero! There is so much destruction around us. You can’t turn on the TV, read a newspaper of even check your social media without being pounded with bad news from around the world.

I woke up this morning and in my devotion I stumbled up the Isiah 1:17. As I read this verse, Do Something from Matthew West popped into my head.

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How’d we ever get so far down, and
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, yeah, I created you” (now listen)

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something, yeah
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I laughed because I couldn’t help but look in the mirror and see my lightening bolt across my chest (Yes, I am Team DC, but I still love me some Marvel)! I quickly put my hands on my hips and recited “God created me!”

I don’t need to look for a hero. God created me. Not only that he armed me!

I recently heard a lady tell a room full of women, “Jesus is our shield and our rock! We can defend off those pesky little darts Satan is throwing at us. But don’t you ever forget you also have a ROCK to throw right back at him!”

So, go ahead! Take the Superhero Stance! Recite after me! “I am a Superhero! God created ME!”

May 4, 2018

It Takes Boldness to be Quiet

1 Thessalonians 4:11a
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.

I read this verse today in Fiercehearted by Holley Gerth and fell in love!

I am NOT an extrovert. As a matter of fact, I really don’t like crowds or parties. I panic when I have to meet new people or go to a new place. I think that is why I love to read and write so much. I get to lose myself in the pages.

So, when I read this verse I immediately thought, yep that is me! I can do this verse with no problem! 1 out of 31,102 verses I can safely check off my to-do list! This one is a slam dunk to-done!

Then I started to think of all the verses that say we much be bold or strong.

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Well, how in the world am I suppose to be be bold and strong while being quiet? Then the Holy Spirit kind of poked me and replied, “Don’t you know just how hard it is to be quiet? How much strength and boldness it takes?”

That is when I read the second part of the verse.

You should mind your own business!

Oops! Ouch! I have to have the strength and boldness to stay out of other people’s business in order to live a quiet life. Yes, that means learning to hold my tongue.

Proverbs 21:23
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Now, I wouldn’t call myself a busy body, but I certainly have my opinions and sometimes they escape my mouth. I am always battling to take captive every thought.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The place I find it the hardest to hold my tongue is in text form. Facebook, Instagram, Emails and even text messages. I can be a little too quick to open my mouth (or fingers). I am learning to weigh my answers.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

So, maybe I am not quite ready to check that verse off my list. Maybe I need to work on a few others along the way to help support that verse.

OK, for today, I am going to make it my ambition to live a quiet life, minding my own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11) by learning to not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephisians 4:29).

May 2, 2018

Fight to Fly

1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

No one likes pain and struggles. But what is the alternative?

How many times have you read a book or saw a movie with that spoiled rotten person who was handed everything. He never worked a day in his life. He never faced any consequences for any of his actions. He just lives to enjoy himself no matter what the cost or who he hurts.

You are probably scowling right now just thinking about it. You may even no someone in real life like that.

News Flash! That is the alternative!

You are the product of all your actions and reactions. You learn and grow through your struggles.

We are very much like the caterpillar. What would happen if it just continued to lay around and eat or crawled into the cocoon and stayed asleep? It would never learn to fly!

Tag: religion

The Wrong Side of the Bed

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An Intelligent Failure

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What A Day

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Cuss, Cry, Cringe or Thank God

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I Hope

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I Am Free!

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I Will Be Strong Tomorrow, but Not Right Now

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I Need A Hero!

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It Takes Boldness to be Quiet

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Fight to Fly

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