Posted on

Sharpening the ax…. (devo reflection)

Ecc 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. (NIV)
Commentary contained an interpretation of verse 10 that focused specifically on the Christian worker. But if we are all to work as though working for God instead of human masters (Col 3:23), wouldn’t that be all of us, all the time?
Ecc 10:10 Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. (NLT)
Renewal is important. Nourishing my soul so that I can give my Savior 100% effort is important. If my ax is dull, it will take more effort for the same outcome, leading to burnout. If I’m burned out, I’m no good to anyone.
Ecc 10:10 If your ax is dull and you don’t sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead.  (GNT)
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder to nourish my soul, to be still and know, so that I can root myself in You. Help me to sink my roots deep into Your love. Give me a firm foundation. Draw me closer. Amen.
Ecc 10:10 If you don’t sharpen your ax, it will be harder to use; if you are wise, you’ll know what to do. (CEV)
Have a blessed day.
Posted on

Focus on hope…. (devo reflection)

Ecc 9:4 As long as we are alive, we still have hope….
Once again, I am intentionally choosing to focus on hope as I read Ecclesiastes. The second half of verse 4 is: “…just as a live dog is better off than a dead lion.” Not very positive. But the first part, as long as there is life, there is hope, I can definitely get behind. Hope, God’s hope, is what keeps me going.
Ecc 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might….
And with verse 10, I choose to focus on hope, shoving aside the second part of the verse, which says, “…for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” I know that God can use ALL things (Romans 8:28), so whatever the task in front of me, I’ll work at it with all my might, as though working for God instead of human masters (Col 3:23).
Ecc 9: 17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the hope that can only come from You. Thank You for allowing me to focus on the positive and uplifting. Help me to shine Your light for all to see. Draw me closer. Amen.
Ecc 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Have a blessed day.
Posted on

Lead me boldly…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 10:12a “Be strong….” (NIV)
God is steadfast and faithful. This morning, these lines in 2 Samuel, are like balm to my soul—strengthening and encouraging me for what lies ahead. First, I must always remember the source of my strength: Jesus. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Cor 12:9).
2 Samuel 10:12b “…let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God…” (NIV)
Next, I must remember why I do what I do, who I’m fighting for, working for, striving for: Jesus. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the LORD rather than for people” (Col 3:23). Lord, I know You can use me wherever I am, but I also know You have a plan specifically for me, something I was uniquely created to do. Help me to see it, know it, and do it for Your honor and glory. Guide me.
2 Samuel 10:12c “…The LORD will do what is good in His sight.” (NIV)
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for being steadfast and faithful, even when I feel like a hot mess. Thank You for words of wisdom and encouragement this morning. You are my strength. You are my center. Lead me boldly in Your will so that I can shine Your light. Amen.
2 Samuel 10:12c “…May the LORD’s will be done.” (CSB)
Have a blessed day

Posted on

My first resort…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 5:1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.”
I have seen church signs that said: “When all else fails….PRAY!” Those signs have always bothered me because prayer should be a first resort and not a last-ditch effort.
2 Samuel 5:2 “In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
The Israelites behavior in this chapter reminds me of the “wisdom” on those church signs. They embraced Saul as king. He was killed. They embraced Ish-Bosheth as king. He was killed. It was only when they had no other viable options that they turned to David, God’s anointed.
2 Samuel 5:9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for reminding me that You are always my first resort. Help me to turn to You in all things, Lord. You are my center. Hold me together (Col 1:17). Amen.
2 Samuel 5:10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.
Have a blessed day.

Posted on

An aroma pleasing to the LORD…. (devo reflection)

Numbers 29:2 As an aroma pleasing to the LORD….
The word aroma has a positive connotation. When I think of aromas, I think of the yeasty scent of bread baking, the spicy scent of cinnamon and apples, the sweet floral scent of spring. The word odor has a negative connotation: body odor, nasty socks, flatulence, poop. Both aromas and odors are pervasive. They are not easily contained to a specified area. 
Numbers 29:8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD….
If our actions were scents, I can easily divide several into odors and aromas, negative and positive. Ephesians 4:31 and 1 Peter 2:1 give a long list of offensive odors: bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy. Meanwhile, Galatians 5:22-23 and Colossians 3:12-13 provide an extensive list of pleasing aromas: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, compassion, humility, meekness, forgiveness.
Numbers 29:13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that our actions carry with them a scent that reaches all the way to You. Help us to always act in such a way that provides an aroma pleasing to You and not an offensive odor. Help us to root out and eliminate offensive odors from our behavior. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
Numbers 29:36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD….
Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Delayed gratification…. (devo reflection)

Matt 6:2 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Delayed gratification is a difficult concept to embrace. According to britannica.com, it is “the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future.” Unfortunately, like Veruca Salt, we often stand, hands-on-hips, demanding gratification NOW! And this world is happy to oblige.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the LORD comes…. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
But God doesn’t call us to work for the accolades of this world. He knows our hearts, He sees our efforts, our setbacks, our triumphs. He’s not here to stroke our egos. He’s here to build His kingdom, a task which transcends this world, a task more important than anything the world will ever ask of us or celebrate us for achieving. Building God’s kingdom is incompatible with instant gratification. I have every hope that He will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but that will not happen while I walk this earth.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though working for the LORD, not for human masters…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You see us, You know us, You are paying attention. The human side of me longs for recognition of my efforts, but I know that meaningful recognition can only come from You. Give me peace and hope as I continue working for You. Help me transcend the need for earthly accolades. Draw me closer. Amen.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Have a blessed day

Posted on

Focused on my Savior…. (devo reflection)

Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Currently, I have three devotions I read along with my morning bible study. This morning, two of the three dealt with staying focused on Christ, ironic since I found my mind constantly wandering to my laundry list of things to do today. To stay focused on my Savior this morning took way more effort than it should have, which is a clear sign I need to reorder my priorities. Jesus, Help me.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….
My morning prayer and study time is crucial for so many reasons, focus chief among them. But the nature of the world is intrusion, insistence that this thing, no this one, no this, is so critical that it must be dealt with NOW. The frenetic pace of the world’s demands makes it dangerously easy to shift our focus away from our Savior and onto the “whack-a-mole” demands of life. Jesus, Help me.
Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the need to stay focused—first and foremost—on You. This world is loud and insistent, and it wants my full attention, but I can never find true peace, Your peace, peace that passes all understanding, unless I keep my eyes, my mind, my heart focused on You. Help me, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 26:4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.
Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Rooted in Him…. (devo reflection)

Jer 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him, They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream….”
I am not a gardener. It’s not that I don’t like plants. It’s just that I have to work really hard at keeping them alive. But I have noticed that every time a piece falls off a plant, my instinct is to put the fallen piece in water to see if it will root. Many of the pieces do put out roots, and I’ll eventually plant them in dirt to see if I can keep them alive. And the cycle continues.
Col 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him….
God, the Master Gardener, is good at taking those fallen pieces and rooting them in Him. With time, patience, nurturing, He can take something that once appeared dead, useless, and turn it into something vibrant and thriving. He can do that with people, too. With time and love, grace and mercy, He can take someone considered too far gone to save and give them new life in Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Eph 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder. Thank You for the hope that comes from tending plants and the hope that is firmly planted in You. Thank You for Your willingness to take what others have cast off and given up on, to root them in Your fierce love and grace, to give them new life. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
Heb 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure….
Have a blessed day.

Posted on

Life’s surprises…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Life is often full of surprises, a fact which the planner in me does not appreciate. Life’s surprises aren’t always fun, either. My planner nature has much to do, I think, with wanting to be prepared for anything, with NOT wanting to be surprised. But that’s not how life works. And because I know my precious Savior holds me securely in the palm of His hand, I need to find a way to be ok with the uncertainty of life.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I don’t know what life holds for me, but I know the One who does. I don’t love unplanned, unpleasant surprises, but nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He can work all things, ALL of them, for my good and His glory, if I allow Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You hold me together, no matter the storms or struggles of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You—Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy—no matter what life has in store. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to take all things, even life’s unpleasant surprises, and use them to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Have a blessed day.

Posted on

When the going gets tough…. (devo reflection)

Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Sometimes God calls us to do difficult things. When the hubs and I felt His prompting for this incredible AT adventure, I don’t think we really had any concept of what He was calling us to do. It has been an amazing journey thus far, but it has had its challenges—both on the trail and on the home front. But God is good, He is with us, and He can use all things for our good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus.
Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
There is so very much that I don’t know, don’t understand about my amazing Savior, but I know He has promised to be with me always (Matt 28:20); I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11), and I know I will find Him when I seek Him with my whole heart (Jer 29:13). Even when I’m struggling, I know these truths and I can trust them because the one who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23). Thank You, Jesus.
1 Thess 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the promises of Your word, for Your fierce love and Your plan for each of us. Help us, even when the going gets tough, even when we are struggling in the present moment, to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts focused solely on You. Help us to be thankful in ALL circumstances, Lord, knowing that You are sovereign and can use all things, even the difficult things, for our good and Your glory (Rom 8:28). Draw us closer. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.
Col 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
Have a blessed day.