Devotion: The Edge of Miraculous

mi·rac·u·lous  

/məˈrakyələs/

Adjective

1. Occurring through divine or supernatural intervention. 

It was 3am on a Monday morning when I got the call. The one I've been waiting for, for what seemed like forever. Only it was only 9 months. I rushed around the house like a caffeinated zombie, gathering and packing. By 5am, my mother, my little sister, my baby and I were headed up North. We were going to have a new family member!

It was about 8:15 when we pulled up to Littleton Hospital in New Hampshire. When we had called the hospital before arriving to check in on the status of this exciting situation, we had been told that my middle sister and her fiance were busy. To us, that was code for she is pushing! Ah! By the time my mother scooted into the delivery room, less than 15 minutes later my beautiful nephew was welcomed into this world...

Later on that day, after spending a few hours enjoying our new little red-headed bundle, my youngest sis and I sat down at the kitchen table in my middle sister's apartment. A couple of unopened Chinese fortune cookies were staring at us in the face. I mean, who just leaves those things there? No, we don't EAT the cookies, silly...but we HAVE to read what the fortunes are, duhhhh! Am I right?

Though I don't advocate going by those fortunes {we don't want to go by anyone else's predictions about the future except for true prophecy in God's Holy Word and His own Voice}, I was a bit intrigued by my sister's cookie message. It read:

"We live at the edge of the miraculous."

She then asked me "What does that mean?" Not gonna lie, I had no clue. I liked it though and told her that I will find out. That got this Christian mind thinking. What is "the edge of the miraculous?"

The very definition of miraculous is something that occurs through a divine intervention. 

Let's break these definitions down:

Divine = anything from or of God

Intervention = interference

The miraculous is God bringing forth something wonderful that interferes with our lives.  

What we had experienced that day WAS definitely something miraculous! Pure, beautiful life!

It is a miracle how God can create and breath a new soul into this world. What is more is how He can form us from inside of the womb and delegate a specific plan for us, before we even utter our first cry. Everything God says and does is nothing short of miraculous!

We are at the edge of it every day. Whenever we wake up, laugh, shed tears, walk, talk, love and even work...we are at the edge of miraculous. To us, these have become mundane things. We take everything for granted because they seem to just happen on cue. But it had to start somewhere and God started it all! He made us, gave us life and has a plan for us all.

We don't have to think of something farfetched or out of this world when we think of the word "miraculous". The divinity of the Lord is showcased in every small thing, even cells and amoebas.

One atom showcases His Almighty power just as much as the very universe Earth rotates in! 

Today, take one minute. Seriously, time yourself. Look around you, open a window, take a deep breath. Observe. Reflect. Pray. Meditate. You are a miracle. Your life is miraculous. God is divinely intervening all the time and every single day. Be still and enjoy sitting at the edge of it.  

 

Are Your Prayers Too Small?

"Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."

Psalm 66:20

Then it happened. Normally I receive prayer requests about someone's sick relative or a financial blessing. Other times I don't even know what the request is. They simply ask for an unspoken, which is fine by me. The less I know, sometimes the better! God knows all the details anyways. Better Him than I.

But this time, it was a huge prayer request {whatever a "huge" request would be}. An overseas pastor is being held in prison because of his beliefs. As his family waits anxiously here in the states, this man of God is being tortured for the Lord Jesus Christ.

What?!
My first reaction is, of course, selfish:
How can I possibly pray for him? He is a man of God. This is insane...
Will the Lord even hear me?
I am way too small in this situation to make any difference.

And, as I try and talk myself out of praying for this man of God who needs hope and strength, something stirs within me. I realize how all of my daily prayers seem so small in comparison to other prayers BUT nothing is too small to bring to God.

When these moments come our way, should we just not pray because of our feeling of inadequacy?
Why do get out our mental scales and rulers, measuring and weighing the prayer request, checking to see if it fits into our capacity?

The truth is, we have nothing without God! The only reason we can pray is because He has given us a mind to think, a heart to feel and a mouth to utter words. Prayer is communication with the Master Communicator. When we try and pray within our own power, of course we will come up short. We have to be knowledgeable about the God we serve.

Am I really praying to the God of all creation, of water, Earth and sky? If so, what do I have to worry about! I need to stop measuring my prayers before bringing them to the Lord, who is bigger than all of them. He has all power and knows all things. The way He delivered Paul from prison, He can do the same for this pastor! Why not? God is in total control.

Have you stopped yourself from bringing a "big" prayer request to the Lord because you felt it was over your spiritual head?

Sunday Devotion: Power of Influence

          

"As females, we have more power than we know what to do with. If we can learn to lean on Jesus and allow Him to use that influence to enrich His kingdom, just think how many hearts we can reach!

In society today, we see the negative effects of a woman’s influence. Instead of using her body for God’s glory, she has exploited it to curve men’s attention to herself. Instead of using her words for pleasant admirations, she speaks foul language and uses conniving attitudes to fulfill material desires. This is not how the King wants His daughters to act.

“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:16-18).

In the Book of Proverbs, we are warned of the ways in which not to act. What is more, gentlemen are expected not to give in to such women. Not just to avoid giving in physically, but also emotionally. God cares about men’s emotional states just as much a woman’s. The Scripture is clear that young men must also work on guarding their hearts as well. Yes, ladies, men do have hearts!

“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:1-8).

Gentlemen, you are not exempt. You have a different kind of power of influence. While a woman more than likely uses her influence to manipulate others to do what she wants, you on the other hand are more bold and strong. The most attractive part of the power of influence for you is that first word, “power.”

A perfect example is Jacob using his power of influence to gain the birthright from his twin and older brother, Esau. Esau was only older by like two seconds, but here’s the deal: first-born sons in those days were supposed to get a special blessing from their father. This could include giving them all of the father’s possessions and livestock. It could mean land and also money. Basically, it was a very honorable blessing, one that Jacob managed to buy with one sorry bowl of soup.

Jacob was always jealous of his brother. Even as they were in the womb, they fought and their mother Rebekah was confused:

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them” (Genesis 25:22-26).

 

There came a point when they grew up and Jacob was preparing some stew or soup. Esau, a cunning hunter, came from the field and was faint. So, naturally, he asked his younger brother for some of the food:

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint” (Genesis 25:29-30).

Jacob seized the opportunity to use his power of influence on his brother!

“And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:31-34).

This “power of influence” is a powerful tool, and if the heart has wrong intentions, it can cause some deadly damage. With actions and words, a message is sent to the other person. Verbally and nonverbally, we are given power to influence our world. 

How will you use it?"

- Excerpt from Chapter 8  of my new book "The Palace Keepers: Protecting the Purity of the Heart", available here for Kindle/iPad/Tablet users or here in paperback

Sunday Devotion: Respect Your Elders

Yesterday, I was privileged to attend and be apart of the choir at a dear woman's memorial service, who had just recently passed away from our church. Her name was Dolores and she was like no other.

As a fairly new addition to the church myself, I only have had some interaction with Dolores, but from what little time I had spent with her came a wealth of knowledge, understanding and respect.

She had an essence about her spirit that lite up an entire room. Her wit was comical and yet smart. Her words were both full of correction and love. During her last days, I can recall her fumbling doing or saying things. Dolores would just laugh and say "If I had two brains, it'll be dangerous!"

The most significant lesson she taught, however, was the power behind prayer. How we must go to the Throne of God, no matter what we are facing or how we are feeling, to get right and to make that precious connection with Jesus. This is a treasure that I personally hold dear, as I can remember visiting her and hearing her pray over me and my husband. Dolores always put others before herself. You thought you'd visit to pray for her, and soon realize she was quick to turn the tables :)

Scripture talks a lot about respecting our church elders. It commands children to honor their father and mother, but it also let's the body of Christ know that those who have started the journey prior have not only experiences to share, but God has given them wisdom they can pass down to others.

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5

Today, think about the elders or spiritual pillars in your church and home. Think about where God has brought them from and what He has transformed in their lives. Sometimes, I feel, we can get so caught up with entertaining youth groups and attending to the Sunday School department and forget to acknowledge our older examples. 

Elders can help in so many ways, but the most significant is being a testimony to the Lord's grace and humility. Take a moment and reflect on those who are seasoned saints, and pray for them. Let's also give thanks and be grateful to have such examples around us, to enlighten our minds and uplift our spirits.

After all, a forest is not only full of fresh, young spruces...most people stand in awe at the tall, rooted trees that have stood the test of time and continue to reach towards the sky.

Sunday Devotion: The All Powerful Almighty

Here I am, 16 weeks pregnant, and not feeling well. As I sit here at home, my church is enjoying Sunday night service. I started thinking about my pastor's sermon this morning and how amazing God is.

Even though right now I'm physically not feeling good, God is good all the time! Even more, He is all in all everywhere, at all times! That concept is miraculous to me. Our minds are so limited and yet the Lord is limitless.

My pastor is teaching an ongoing study of who God is. Today, he talked about how God is Absolutely Omnipotent. This means He is the source of all power and can do anything He chooses to do.

Matthew 19:26 says:
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

Though God is limitless, there are some things that He cannot do. For example, God has defined Himself as Truth. Therefore, He cannot deny Himself or else He would be denying Truth. God cannot lie. Denying Himself would be a violation of His existence!

We, however, can lie and that's why it's so easy to believe a lie. My pastor always says that believing in God is not a HOPE so...it's a KNOW so!! The definition of what believe means can be found in James chapters 2&3.

So this week I urge you to dig deeper into God's Word and pray for a deeper revelation. We need a truth-filled relationship with our Creator. It's easy to get distracted and bogged down. Don't deny the Truth or push it to the side...because even when you do, God is still there, all powerful and Almighty waiting to be known!