Devotions by Meredith

We Will Be Known

I Corinthians 13:12

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known. 

The other day while waiting for my husband to get his haircut, I was listening to a woman’s tragic story on my phone. Her husband, little boy, and herself were struck by a car and devastatingly injured in the crash. Her husband died, and her little boy had severe injuries which put him in a coma. The doctors tried to prepare her that her son probably would not live. And if he did live, he would possibly be a vegetable or would need full time care the rest of his life as damage to his brain was overwhelming. The little boy was in and out of the coma for days. Finally, he awoke and to everyone’s amazement, there was no brain damage. He told his story that while he was in the coma, that he saw Jesus. He also told his mother that he met his two siblings in heaven. As just being a little boy, he didn’t know that his parents had lost two babies from miscarriages. He also told how he had met relatives that had passed before he was born, describing them and what they had talked about. He told his mom not to be sad, that his dad was in heaven and was working on projects there. His mother came out of her sorrow and grieving upon hearing this powerful testimony of her son’s experience while in the coma. I remember having a dream that was so vivid, I awoke from it feeling like I had actually lived it. My Grampa Small was one of the most precious family members to me. He was a grounding pillar and immense encourager and strength like no other all of my childhood, and on until he went home to be with the Lord.  He was 96 when he passed into glory. After that I would frequently have dreams of him. Grampa at times, would wear a brown felt hat. It was the style for his age group back then. I remember in the dream that I was walking down this beautiful boardwalk with little shops on either side. There were others strolling in front of me in a steady line. As I walked along at an easy pace, I looked up and over the heads of those just in front of me. There was that familiar brown felt hat that I knew so well swaying slightly on a head walking with an easy gait. My heart began to beat a little faster as I picked up my pace and started weaving my way through those strolling in front of me. It was Grampa! I just knew it! When close enough, I reached out for his arm, and sure enough, he turned and upon recognizing me, his face lit up with sheer joy as did mine. My heart felt set free! The heavy grief of losing him immediately lifted. He looked much younger, strong and healthy. In the dream, I even remember the firm embrace of his familiar arms squeezing me as I leaned into him. I awoke from the dream feeling like for the time of that brief dream, my spirit had been massaged with the warm glow of heaven. My deep sorrow at losing him, somehow supernaturally lifted. Our verse tells us we will know each other in heaven. We will be known as we are known. We have so much to look forward to. And thank God for those supernatural dreams and experiences that bring hope and peace to us as we await seeing our loved ones again someday.

What about you? Do you need to turn your sorrows over into the hands of the Lord? Ask Him to help you with any grief you may have. He knows exactly how to minister to you and that we will see them again. What a day that will be!   

Waiting

Psalm 40:1

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

In the Passion Translation Psalm 40:1 reads “I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last He bent down and listened to my cry.

Are you a good waiter? I’m not. I always tell myself whenever I’m in a waiting scenario, that I will wait patiently. I will have my phone with lots of books all ready to just be opened to read readily available to help me pass the time waiting. Yet I still will find myself impatiently swinging my leg or fidgeting in my chair while in the waiting room. Psalm 25:5 reads, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all day.” It’s the same way, especially when we first begin to cry out to the Lord for direction and other answers to our prayers. We subconsciously believe that our heavenly Father probably is going to answer our cry to Him within the day. This does happen occasionally, but more often than not, there will be a waiting time. This waiting time is not for naught for God is working something much deeper in us as we wait for the answers to our prayers. He is molding our hearts, and our character into a more mature posture. This is when the demanding attitude of a child grows into the patient ability to wait on the God that we come to know during our waits. There have been many times I thought God should answer my prayer request right away, only to have to wait and wait and wait, only to see later on down the road, why He didn’t answer my prayers when I thought He should. Many times, it would have been disastrous! The answers if coming too soon would have led us down the wrong road, on the wrong path, with the wrong people. Father was much wiser and all-knowing that I was in my finite thinking and immature emotions. As I have grown in the Lord over the years, I have found His timing is perfect, and His ways are perfect, and He will make my way perfect. Now, more often, I am able to commit my request to Him, and know to settle down and keep my eyes and ears open for His working in me even while I wait. He will reveal more of Himself and His ways to me on the spiritual journey of waiting on Him. He will answer our prayers, His time and His way. He loves us so much. He has told us to call out to Him. He will answer. He is always listening and ready to move on your behalf.

What about you? Are you impatient in your waiting for answers to prayer? Do you get discouraged? God wants to teach you as you wait that He is in control and knows exactly what is best for you. He loves you so and know that your answers are on the way. Trust Him fully today.   

When I Was a Child

I Corinthians 13:11

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Oh how tough a lot of the lessons in growing up can be! I remember feeling like I was going to die because some of my lessons were wrenching my very soul and reshaping my emotions. We all love puppies and kittens because they are so cute, right? Human babies are almost always just as cute—but different in a lot of ways. Probably God makes babies cute on purpose because we soon find out how demanding they can be, especially in the middle of the night when they want to be awake, demanding feeding, diapers changed, and close, cuddly rocking. You are having all you can do to stay awake, yet they don’t care. they want what they want. They come off as little dictators, noisy, nasty, smelly, and icky little monsters. They are expensive even before they are born, and until they leave your house. Fancy restaurants are out for quite a few years, and forget taking them to weddings, because they will demand their attention no matter what is going on around them. Church is a yes for attendance, but they really don’t care, they still will make a scene. Unfortunately, even the cutest little things outgrow their babyhood and their cuteness. It eventually is time for them to grow up. Our heavenly Father demands we grow up. Even nature expects us to mature. First a bud, then a flower, then it grows into a green apple, which matures into a red apple filled with multiple seeds. God’s purpose is to grow, and many seeds to eventually become more apple trees. Growing up is the goal, and how can we really know if that is happening? Big giant football players can truly be nothing but big babies. And there can be 15-year-olds who are more mature way beyond their present age. Babies eat different foods than adults. At the beginning of their life, they don’t have any teeth, so steak is out. They can’t chew it nor can they digest it. This is true for baby Christians as well. Some teachings in the Bible seem hard for infant Christians to swallow. Everyone comes from a different background and family. Maybe they have been taught some wrong things and need to unlearn some concepts and attitudes of those who don’t know Jesus. Babies often spit up, and baby Christians often may feel funny about truths from God’s Word at first just like a new food introduced to a baby feels funny in their mouth. Yet newborn babes naturally desire the sincere milk of the Word, but they can be very slow at swallowing the really meaty things. As we grow in knowing the Lord, we still love the milk, but we grow to relish the Word. Desire to mature, to grow in every way. God has a perfect plan for your life and He knows how to help you process and grow daily to mature you in Him.

What about you? Are you growing and maturing? Are you facing your challenges as the Lord teaches you to face them in His Word? It takes everyone time to mature. Daily ask Him to help you. Stay in His Word and in communion with Him.  He is right there to help you. He loves you so.

Confidence in God

Psalm 55:5, 6 TPT

5 Fear and dread overwhelm. I shudder before the horror I face. 6 I say to myself, “If only I could fly away from all of this! If only I could run away to the place of rest and peace. I would run far away where no one could find me, escaping to a wilderness retreat.”

This psalm is written by King David. Ahitophel was a friend and counselor to the King and was greatly known for his wisdom. Absalom, one of David’s sons, had attempted to usurp the throne, and during this time, Ahitophel deserted David and was in support of Absalom, becoming an advisor to him. Ahithophel eventually, through the ins and outs of Absalom’s betrayal of his father, and possibly feeling his own failure in betraying King David as well, returned to his hometown and hung himself. These circumstances put into perspective why David was writing such a sad and vivid psalm. Here his very own flesh and blood, his son, was betraying him. David laments in verse 5, “Fear and dread overwhelm. I shudder before the horror I face.” Family conflict can be one of the hardest kinds of upsets that can occur in our lives. These are the very people who are of our blood and whom we love very much. David expresses in verse 6 how he really feels. Verse 6 “If only I could fly away from all of this! If only I could run away to the place of rest and peace. I would run far away where no one could find me, escaping to a wilderness retreat.” Isn’t this how we really feel when we are up against such hard, seemingly unanswerable and un- solvable situations? Let me just run far away from it all and hide. But as we read on further in Psalm 55:22 David writes, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” The word “sustain” means to maintain, nourish, bear, hold up, protect, support, defend; to supply the means necessary for living. Dear one, know that God is always in the midst of whatever we are facing. God will support, nourish, and provide for anyone who acknowledges that the burden they are under is one only the Lord can handle. When we are tempted to be afraid and give up, choose to trust the Lord as an act of your will, not as a response to your emotions. Make it a determined, praise-filled refusal to be afraid. As quickly as possible release all of your concerns and worries to Abba Father who wants to and will carry them for you. Intercede in prayer that the Lord will work in and through you. Ask Him to give you a heart that will endure and stand fast on the truth. And expect God’s Spirit to enlighten the Word of God to give you clear guidance every day. He is faithful and you can be assured you can have full confidence in Him.

What about you? What do you need to lay at His feet today? No matter how tough situations can get, remember He is in the midst. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Have full confidence in Him today.   

Hateful or Hopeful?

Ecclesiastes 2:27 NIV

So, I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me…

What a hard thing to hear, “I hated life.” Have you ever heard anyone say that? Maybe not in those exact words, but maybe “My life stinks,” or “I wish I was someone else,” or some thought that was sad and negative. Have you ever felt that way? To hear someone say that they hate life is truly sad. the phrase “I hate this,” or I hate that,” is very common. It probably would be a positive thing in our life if we eliminated such phrases from our vocabulary. Hate is a strong word, a negative word, and has a sense of destruction that comes when spoken. There is such a strong power that comes with our words. Our thoughts and especially our words are affected and fills us with negativity which leaks quickly into our thinking like a rash, and into our speech. even poisoning the atmosphere around others. Positive atmospheres and situations can be taken down to a lower level by someone’s hate-filled words almost immediately. Everyone faces situations we do not like and fight hard to battle through. That can be ranked from not so nice to tragic. Life happens. How we react can set the tone for how we, and others will go through it. “I hate this!” kind of speech, does not help! By God’s grace and looking to Him, we can get through these times, and He can cause us to learn important truths in the very middle of them. Resist saying “I hate.” Remind yourself to get your mind stayed on Jesus, on His faithfulness and all-powerfulness. Cast your fears and all other emotions on Him. Say by faith that you can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength, Philippians 4:13; that God’s grace is sufficient for you, 2 Corinthians 12:9; and that you are more than a conqueror through Christ because He love you, Romans 8:37. Speak words of faith and encouragement to yourself and to others who may be walking through the same challenge as you. Our heavenly Father will help us face our battles in His strength and with a positive attitude. We go forward in Jesus’ Name. And yes, rehearse to yourself and to others the mighty things God has done for you in the past in your life. The word “testimony,” literally means “do it again.” When we testify what God has done, faith is released. Those who hear will begin to feel faith stir in their hearts that if God could do it for you, then He can answer prayer and bring help for them as well. Don’t spout hate but hope, hope in the one whose very name is Hope, Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

What about you? What is your speech and response like in hard situations? Do you give God faith-filled words from your heart that give Him something to work with or are your words filled with hate and negativity? Have a fresh start today and ask God to help you always speak hope and not hate. Have a great day.   

Show a Little Kindness

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay Him for His deed. 

I John 3:18

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

A Kenyan village chief walked the distance to our Children’s Home with a little boy not more that seven years old. The little man seemed so small walking quickly, almost two stepping to keep up with the grown man as they made their way through the gate and towards the dining hall of the Home. The village chief had come to ask if we would take the little boy as he was now without father or mother. One parent had passed away and the other had been seriously ill, finally succumbing to and dying from their affliction. I invited them to sit as we began to hear the little guy’s story. While taking down his information, little man sat stone still, not moving a muscle. His clothes were shabby and filthy. One sack bag was all that was brought with him. I asked if he had any other clothes, and the chief opened the sack for me to see. Only a ripped piece of clothe was crumbled up in a ball, not even still what you could call an article of clothing. Yet along with the sight of the bag contents, a strong whiff of urine rose from the bag. Both the chief and I instinctively pulled our heads back. Upon seeing our reaction, David, one of our older boys of about eleven who had been with me when the chief came, slowly walked over to our table, took the bag from us, pulled it behind him, and gently spoke, “I’ll take that Mum.” Then he put his hand out to the new little brother and began to talk to him in Swahili in a soft, kind tone. You see, he had been that little boy once too, coming to his new home for the first time. Another memory comes to mind concerning kindness. One of my sons called the other night wanting my apple pie recipe. It was Thanksgiving eve. He’d purchased a sack of Granny Smith apples and was working at pealing them all when he called. Pie plates had been purchased earlier at Target’s. He was on a mission to make pies and take them to older folks and friends, as many as he could get from his big sack of apples. His thoughts had not been for his own wellbeing for the holiday, but on bringing a little home-cooked sunshine to someone who could really use a little love and attention. Maybe they had had brighter days, and a heart filled with days gone by filled with loved ones long gone. Just to bring a little joy and kindness would mean a lot. I’m proud of his heart. Both of my sons, one Kenyan and one of my own blood. And both just like their heavenly Father who tells us in His Word, to show a little kindness.

What about you? Can you slow down today, notice someone along your journey, and show them a little kindness? Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see those all around you. Remember, a little kindness goes a long way. Blessings on your day.  

God Will Prosper Us

Nehemiah 2:18, 20

18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. 20 So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we, His servants will arise and build.

The people said yes, they were willing to go to work. They could have chosen not to rise up and build. Their situation had been a disastrous situation and the temple walls had been in ruins for almost 100 years. And now Nehemiah, the cupbearer, rides into town, moves around and accesses the damage and needed repair under the cover of darkness, and comes up with a plan to fix it and all the people are all in. They possibly could have denied the need for the walls to be repaired. They could have responded that the walls had been this way and they were all ok, and well, we do have the temple. How like we, as humans many times, will rationalize the challenges God puts in our lives. Well, I’ve gotten along this far in life. Why do I need to go further in my studies? Why do I need to fix up my home? Why do I need to get help with this physical challenge? I’ve gotten by with things the way they are thus far. Yet, our verse tells us they rose up and were ready to build. They said yes to the challenge. They might have seen the project as too much work. “It’s good for you Nehemiah. Have at it! We hope all goes well for you, but we can’t help just now.” Empty excuses filled with self-made lies. They might have seen the opposition that was all around them as too strong. “Nehemiah, it’s just plain useless to start this work because the last time, those enemies all around us stopped us.” Yet God’s hand was at work here. God had filled Nehemiah’s heart with this vision, and he had prayed and God had given him a boldness, a big vision, his strength and wisdom which would be fully rewarded. Two enemies who rose against them as they worked were Sanballat and Tobias who came to jeer the workers as they worked. “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Trust me, you will always have your naysayers and know-it-alls to tell you what you are doing wrong and why bother. Don’t listen to them. Don’t pay any time and attention to them. Step back from them and ascertain what they are accomplishing with their lives. You will see it will probably add up to nothing. Keep the vision and goal God has placed in your heart alive and burning. Overcome every obstacle in the strength of the Lord. Remember, He is for you and with His help you will conquer all.

What about you? Like Nehemiah, what is burning in your heart? Remember, God has a plan to prosper you and not to harm you. Keep moving forward no matter what may come your way. God has a pathway of hope and prosperity for you. Trust the Lord fully today. He is on your side! Blessing on all of your day! 

A Mansion Over the Hilltop

John 14:1-4

1 Let not your heart be trouble; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.

One of the first songs as a child that I learned to sing was an old hymn entitled Mansion Over the Hilltop. The words to the chorus go, “I’ve got a mansion, just over the hilltop, in that fair land where we never say goodbye. And someday yonder, we’ll never more wander, but walk upon those streets of gold.” I loved that old song. I would imagine these beautiful streets of pure gold with big, beautiful mansions lined up and down them. As an adult now, sometimes I daydream, imagining the great reunion of seeing our precious, dear loved ones who are waiting for us there. We all probably have someone who we dearly miss and can imagine that great reunion day with them as well. Sometimes the cares of life, the serious circumstances that may befall us will feel like they are out of our control. Our planning and effort have no effect or could ever prevent hard things from happening. Hard things do happen. We can feel at a loss in how to fix it. We may try to maintain some sense of order, but life can still feel unbalanced, uncertain and even feel out of control at times because of those pressures that wrap themselves around us too tightly. Jesus knew all about these pressures. Jesus spoke so often to us that we are not to be afraid, to worry, not to be ‘troubled” in our hearts. Jesus knew what was coming and He didn’t want them to lose their way, or to get lost in all that was going to come into their lives. These are the words He chose to speak to them on the heels of the Last Supper, before His difficult journey to the cross. He offers comfort, He prays His disciples will remember, for He knew what lay ahead for Him and for them. He knew the trials they would soon have to face. Jesus could have said so many different things, but these are the words He speaks to them. These are the words that still have so much power for us still today. There are many reasons to have a troubled heart today in this world. Remember, don’t be a follower of the crowd, yielding to the hysteria of the day that we live in.  Stand apart, for we know and understand that our true peace and security can only be found in Him. Watch carefully and take care for your “heart.” It is the fountain and seat of all the thoughts, passion, affections and purposes in our lives. He reminds us to guard it carefully. Have trust in Him, and know as you believe, He will fulfill His plan and purpose for you.

What about you? Do you ever think of your mansion just over the hilltop? Are you assured of your salvation today? Talk to Him. He you Savior, Comforter, Peace and Lord. He loves you so.   

Leave All Your Cares and Anxieties

Psalm 55:22, 23 TPT

22 So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. 23 He will watch over His lovers, never letting them slip or be overthrown.

The King James Translation reads for verse 22 “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Either translation gives us awesome insight into the heart of our heavenly Father. He means all our anxieties are to be cast on to Him, all of our worries as well onto Him, and every burden on Him. Why would He make such a proclamation? Because He cares for you and He is the one who will fortify and sustain you. So dear one, what burdens and cares are you carrying today? Are there inner struggles and concerns that are weighing heavy on your mind and interrupting your day? What are you anxious about? God is telling us to “Cast them on Me. Lay them before Me because I care for you.” As a young girl growing up, every summer it was our time to cut and bale hay for our cows. The best haying weather would be when we would get a stretch of really hot, dry weather. The hay would be cut, left to lay in the fields and then baled when dry. Our wagons would be on the ready as soon as the hay was baled. Every year I would tell myself I was strong enough to throw the heavy bales up onto the moving wagon, or to be the point man who was responsible for stacking the bales in layers so the most bales could be layered on the wagon. Year after year until I hit about twelve years old, I was unable to throw those darn bales, as hard as I would try. But the day finally came when my arm muscles had developed enough to do it. Thank God, we don’t have to have some kind of inner strength to cast our cares, to leave all of our anxieties on the Lord at His feet. As we are giving all our cares to the Lord, He even gives us a measureless grace to help strengthen us. Our heavenly Father watches over us so that we will not slip or be overthrown. What love He has for each of us! Let us hear the words of the Lord today. Don’t worry, don’t be stressed and anxious. Cast all your burdens, the big and the small concerns on Him. He cares for you. We lay our all before You. Our Father will replace worry and anxiety with faith and peace and joy and strength. God, take our burdens and by Your power sustain and strengthen us for this day. Do what you have promised to do.

What about you? Are you ready to cast and leave every care, worry, and anxiety at His feet today? Know dear one, how much He cares for you. Stress is not to be our portion, but His peace and rest for our souls. He is someone, the One, who truly is mindful for you and doesn’t want your life to be needlessly filled with worry and concern. You are His child, and our heavenly Father will take care of His own. Blessings on your day! 

As Unto the Lord

Colossians 3:22

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not men.

It amazes me when I see someone breeze into our church fellowship, not really known by any of our regular attenders, and professes some big testimony and a huge “know-it-all” attitude, as if we all have been living under a rock. In reality, these types of people don’t want to settle down, they want to be seen. When challenged to bring their attitudes down to reality and their feet planted on the ground, they soon find the door and you don’t see or hear from them again. It’s of vital importance that we become aware of human philosophy and erroneous religious traditions that are in opposition to the Word of God. We must teach servanthood and how not to be men-pleasers, but those who do all things as unto the Lord. Don’t be deceived. Hold fast to Jesus and honor Him in all you do. “Spiritual experiences” are to be evaluated with an understanding that they are not to produce pride and elitism. It is of utmost importance to be committed and belong to a local church and be under righteous spiritual authority. We always say, “to be in authority you must be under authority.” Everyone should answer to righteous authority no matter where you may be serving in the Body of Christ. To be great in God’s Kingdom, we must learn to be the servant of all. If you are in a fellowship where there are hidden sins and lifestyles that are not in alignment with the Word of God, get out. Ask the Lord to lead you to a Godly environment and place of worship. No one should submit to being under those who are living evil lives and yet putting on that they are living for the Lord wholeheartedly, when in truth, they are not. Get away. Ask the Lord to lead you to a place of strong convictions and well-founded biblical Bible teaching. A place where you can serve and grow in the things of the Lord. Be aware, there are times when egotistical people will try to persuade others to submit to their whims and ways that are not in alignment with the Word, but pleasing to them themselves. This is not being a servant but a hoax of evil design. God loves when we are servants and serve others from a heart of love and kindness. Yet be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove. Don’t let people take advantage of your servant’s heart for their own profit. And always, whatever you do, do as unto the Lord and not to men.

What about you? Do you have a servant’s heart? Are you wise in how you serve, being careful not to be used by someone taking advantage of you for their own benefit? Dear one, do ALL as unto the Lord and not to man. Father sees all and loves your kind and loving heart. Blessings on your day.