Dona Hake, Author at The Abundant Life Center

“No, Our Love Should Be Real!”

Posted on Dec 17, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

God is looking for us to put feet to His love, and walk out His ways. He is desiring that we put action to that which we know we should do. There is a scripture that says, “In Him I live and move and have my being.” Acts 17:28 He so desires that we act according to His Word and walk away from our ways that do not exhibit His love and character. There are those that need His love and we need to avail ourselves to Him that He can flow through us.

We must remember that there will be times that He may call upon us to help people and it may just make us have to go one more mile than what we had intended. Many times His love will stretch us and that is a very good thing. It is in those times that His love will be shown and we too will grow as we give of ourselves. I think it is a good thing for all of us to be pulled away from our comfort zone and put in a place we have to rely on Him to help us to do things we never thought were possible!

Oh how liberating it is to know that when we are real with God, He will show us great things that He desires to do through us. We will then be positioned to act from our hearts and exhibit His love in a real way. Today may we be encouraged that God can enable us to show His real love by the things that we do for Him and for others.

1 John 3:18-19 (ERV)
“My children, our love should not be only words and talk.

No, our love must be real.

We must show our love by the things we do.

That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth.”

“Trust Is a Must”

Posted on Dec 16, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!”

We live in an age of information and it is readily at our finger tips. In many ways it is so wonderful and time saving how you can get information about almost anything. While this is good it can distract us, and keep us from fully trusting in the Lord. Sometimes we can be tempted to pick and choose what we think is the right thing to do according to head knowledge rather than the will of our Lord.

Today we are focusing on living a life of trust for it is a must as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the scripture says we need to trust Him from the bottom of our hearts and stop trying to figure everything out. Many times God has a totally different route He desires to take you and you need to be willing to walk in the direction He has chosen. Sometimes His paths that He is establishing for you are ones you may feel uncomfortable with. If so, let us trust Him as to how He has decided to walk beside us.

I think there is a key word that God wants us to keep before us and that is the word HUMILITY. As we stay humble, we will be thankful for the knowledge, gifts and talents He has blessed us with but we will keep them in their proper place. As we remain humble, we will always be looking to acknowledge His ways in everything that we do. He can indeed teach us to trust Him with all of our hearts and He will make those places that have seem crooked and confusing completely straight.

“No Crib For His Head”

Posted on Dec 15, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

The birth of both of our sons was such a joyous time for my husband and me. I can remember about two weeks before my due date I was having a weekly checkup and I told my Doctor that I felt I was going to go before my due date. I can still remember him pulling out his date book. He told me he had a fishing trip planned, and he was canceling it. He said, “I never ignore a woman’s intuition, especially one that is pregnant!” Sure enough I went within a few days. When both my sons were born we choose a particular method in the hospital that our Doctor honored. While I was in labor we had worship music playing, and my heart was kept at peace through every stage of labor. In the delivery room I had requested the lights remain very low and the only light used was Doctor’s light for him to deliver our sons.

As peaceful, worship music filled the room, I had also requested that everyone talked softly. Immediately after the birth of each of our sons, our Doctor did anything necessary, and our son was handed directly to me to embrace. After that he was handed to my husband, and placed in a bathtub of water the same temperature as the womb. As my husband held him in the water, he prayed over him and spoke softly. What a beautiful bonding time that was during both births of our sons as he held them for the first time. I can honestly say that childbirth has been one of the most beautiful things that I have ever done in this life. To witness the miracle of life being brought forth with my husband is a a sweet, joyous, and precious memory.

So today I am reflecting on the fact that there was no room for our Savior to lay down His head after He was born. The fact Mary was ready to give birth, and she had no clue where it was going to happen makes me wonder what her thoughts were. I cannot even begin to imagine what this poor young woman had to deal with. Mary and Joseph had no choice of location nor did they have nice accommodations that we so easily take for granted. Let’s look at what Mary had to face in her time of delivering the Son of God. Let us read the story from the book of Luke.

Luke 2:4-6 New Life Version

4 “Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee to the town of Bethlehem. It was known as the city of David. He went there because he was from the family of David. 5 Joseph went to have his and Mary’s names written in the books of the nation. Mary was his promised wife and soon to become a mother.

6 While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her baby. 7 Her first son was born. She put cloth around Him and laid Him in a place where cattle are fed. There was no roomfor them in the place where people stay for the night.”

This portion of scripture reminds us that Jesus came to this world and the only place available to lay this newborn King was a manger, the place where animals would feed from. I am very sure that Mary’s environment for the birth of Jesus was not very peaceful nor comfortable either. The other evening as I was driving my Granddaughters home we stopped at a manger scene, and I shared with them what it must have been like for little Baby Jesus. I told them it must have been noisy and stinky, and certainly not an ideal place for a newborn baby. I always love watching their little faces when I share such things with them. These pretty little manger scenes that we see on our Christmas cards certainly mislead us as to what it really was like.

Today I would like you to think about how he still searches for hearts that He may reside in. Many hearts still refuse to make room for Him. Before we were saved, our heart was a place that was cold, full of unrest, and confusion. Yet Jesus was willing to come and take residence in our hearts as we invited him in. I encourage you today, as you encounter people whether it be at work or wherever in the marketplace, to think and pray how you can be used to display the love and light of the presence of Jesus Christ.

Lord, help us to recognize the heart that is full of confusion and has great need of you, for their life is empty. Show us how to shine the light of His love that they would see their need to open their heart and make room for our loving Savior. Amen.

“It’s the Little Foxes…”

Posted on Dec 14, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

This is written in scripture and has become cliche…”It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine.” These eight words carry much truth and can be powerful to our souls if we heed to them. Something can be in full bloom, and looking beautiful and healthy, yet if a little fox if permitted to roam in the vineyard, there is going to be trouble.

I had an upsetting experience on yesterday morning. While preparing my oatmeal, I was pouring in some raisins, and one raisin fell on the floor. My German Shepherd was standing right beside me and gobbled that raisin up in no time. I immediately got on my iphone and checked for what I should do. For those of you that do not know, grapes and raisins are extremely toxic to dogs. It can cause kidney failure. I googled it into my phone, and I just felt I needed to give my vet a call. As soon as I told the technician that my 75 pound dog ate one raisin, she was quick to put me on hold and get right to the doctor. She came back to me, and said that I needed to induce vomiting on Aasha right away. The vet felt that as big as she was that the raisin probably would not affect her, but we were not taking ANY chances on it. I heeded to their advice and induced vomiting.

Now let’s look at the old saying, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” I almost was not going to call but I just wanted to be on the safe side of the whole thing. My vet felt the same way. How could something so small be such a potential hazard? Yet it can be, and I have knew of a pet owner losing her dog to kidney failure from ingesting grapes. I have got to say that inducing vomiting on Aasha was extremely unpleasant for me to do. Honestly, I did not want to do it, but I love her too much not to have taken this measure. She looked at me with those beautiful sad eyes as she kept vomiting all over my kitchen floor not once, but five times. Even though it made me upset to have to do it, sometimes in life you just gotta do the right thing no matter how unpleasant it is.

Now, can we look at this and use it as an analogy of how the smallest of things can be poison to our hearts and minds. How many times do we feel we can afford one little thought, one little word to escape our lips. Seems harmless to us, yet that one little thought or one little word could be poisonous to our soul, and cause us great pain in the end. We must be aggressive with ourselves, and go to what ever measure we need to and rid of poisonous things in our life.

Today, I encourage you to guard the vineyard of your heart and mind. Guard it with all vigilance and care. It is those times that when all is blooming beautifully that we can be deceived and miss those “little foxes” that are assigned to destroy us. God is able to cause His wisdom, grace, and all that we need to keep our hearts guarded.

“Always Before Me”

Posted on Dec 13, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Psalm 16:8 (KJV)

“I have set the Lord always before me:

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

I can remember photographing a few weddings and their location was an area that I never traveled before. I was always ever so thankful for my GPS because as long as I stayed on it’s path I eventually got there. I have to say that my GPS never let me down. I would have to say that I most appreciated my GPS at the end of shooting for maybe eleven hours and when I left the reception, it was pitch dark and I had absolutely no clue where I was. What a peace it brought me as I just followed it closely to my home destination.

Today we are reflecting on keeping the Lord always before us. As He goes before us, and we humbly submit, we will always reach our destination. He promises to show us His wisdom, and that direction may come from His Word or a wise person He has placed in your life. There are so many ways He comes along side of us when we do not know how to get where we need to be. As we stay aware of His presence in the journey we can trust Him, He is well able to get us there safely. Trusting Him in the journey is so vitally important because He may just take you a different direction than what you expected. I believe those are the times that we get an even greater revelation of “all things work together for the good to Him that loves God.”

I can remember leaving a wedding one cold, rainy and very foggy night. I was so glad that I had the GPS to get me home. I have to tell you though that I was tempted to be shaken many times as I heeded to how it was telling me to get home. You see, it was taking me home a totally different way than I came. It made no sense and there were some frightening moments for me being alone on roads I never traveled. Eventually I came to a place where I could leave out a sigh of relief that I knew where I was. Many times our spiritual journeys can be like this as well. Jesus will never fail us…He promised that. Know that He will always get us to our destination in His time by His direction. God bless you.

“Lift Up Your Inner Self To Him!”

Posted on Dec 12, 2014 in Devotions |

By Dona Hake

If you go to bed worried and troubled, you will be sure to greet your day with those troubled thoughts magnified in your heart and mind. The Word says that He gives His beloved sweet sleep, yet if we choose to meditate upon wrong things and sleep upon worrisome thoughts, we surely will not sleep a peaceful sleep. The Lord does not want us to greet our day with the thoughts of yesterday nor the worries about our tomorrows. I love how the Psalmist asks the Lord to cause Him to hear of his Lord’s lovingkindness first thing in the morning.

Psalm 143:8 (AMP)

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,

for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein

I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.”

Let us trust to hear His voice about our day. Most importantly we must remind ourselves that worry and allowing troublesome thoughts to remain and torment us is not God’s best for us. May I encourage you to cast all of your burdens upon Him that we can live free from weights that are unnecessary.

Let us remember to lean on Him not only for His strength and wisdom but for the balance and direction that He can bring to our lives. Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for our day yet be willing to allow Him to interrupt it if He has other plans.

Lift up your soul to Him and allow Him to touch you because He loves you so. Lift up your inner self to Him and allow Him to do great things in your life today!

“Lord, I Pray…”

Posted on Dec 11, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

“Lord, are my thoughts and words acceptable to you?” This would probably be a very good question and prayer that should cross our minds often. I believe that this question would keep us out of much trouble that could easily be avoided. Many times we are quick to think things or form opinions based on our first impression. Maybe you are thinking things and speaking things based on what you have seen in the past. As a result of not asking the Lord for how you are to respond in word and in thought , you could get yourself in a difficult situation or offend someone.

Psalm 19:14 (AMP)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my

[firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.”

It is only God that knows you all too well. He understands how you tend to think and react. He knows every hurt and pain that is still in the healing process within you. He is well able to help you hold your tongue and alter your thought process. It is He that can help us to be rock solid in every area of our life because He is the Rock! Look to Him as often as you need to be your Helper today that you may think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to Him. Lord, help us! We desire that our words are blessing to you and edifying to those around us.

“He Counts the Stars”

Posted on Dec 10, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Psalm 147:3-5 (TLB)

“He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

How great he is! His power is absolute! His understanding is unlimited.”

I love these verses and I love thinking about how God knows all the specifics about everything. He knows everything about everything that He created. He created you and the stars and there is no limit to what He knows! This is a powerful thought isn’t it?

This scripture should cause us to ponder His greatness and along with such greatness the psalmist proclaims that He heals the broken in heart. This time of the year always causes me to think about people that do not look forward to celebrating the holidays. This can be an extremely painful time for some people. I would dare to say that there is more depression in people this time of year than none other. For many, the holidays is simply a painful reminder of the past that they can only revisit in the precious, silent memories of their heart. I lost both of my parents very close to Christmas and also my very special Grandmother. I embrace the precious hope of seeing them again someday because I know they are in Heaven.

Today I want to encourage those of you that He that has given every single star a name knows and understands the pain of your heart. Whether it be that you have lost a loved one to death, divorce or there is broken fellowship with someone special to you, He is able to bring you comfort. He is able to come close to you and touch your heart and bring His touch of healing to it. Our Lord is great. Nothing is impossible with His overwhelming power. He is loving, compassionate, and wise beyond all measure. God bless you.

“Can You Hear Him Whispering To You?

Posted on Dec 9, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

I have been purposing to share along the lines of keeping our hearts quiet especially in prepartion for the holidays that are approaching us. Many times our lives get so jammed packed with things to do, places to go, and “to do” lists a mile long. I can remember once feeling extremely overwhelmed with much to do. There were things that needed accomplished that I felt were no way possible within my means of time and ability. I stood in the front yard with my dog and looked up and was praying about my day. I felt a “whisper” from within that seemed to quiet me and bring fresh perspective to my day. ”Sometimes it’s not as big as it looks.” Have you ever experienced how something seemed to be a mountain of things to do, but once you tackled it, it really wasn’t as big as you thought it to be.

As the Lord spoke to my heart that morning, He was plainly and simply bringing new perspective to face all that had to be done. I held fast to that and honestly I was able to accomplish more than expected because I choose a new “dwelling place” for my thoughts and my soul rested there. Sometimes we just need to be quiet and not allow the noise that goes on in our heads to dictate peace or lack of it. One very famous quote that I love from Ralph Waldo Emerson that applies beautifully…

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God.”

Today take moments of time and practice just being quiet and allow His peace to sweep over your busy soul. He will calm it with His presence, and His sweet whispers.

“

Is Your Heart Quiet Today?

Posted on Dec 8, 2014 in Devotions |

by Dona Hake

Sometimes we need to say, “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!” to our hearts! In the midst of the hustle and bustle in this holiday season, I encourage you to hold fast to your peace. I remember hearing on the news someone quote a person saying “Just knowing I am going to be with my family over the holidays makes me feel like I am gonna have an anxiety attack.” Sad isn’t it? Yet, there are alot of people that feel this way especially over the holidays. Then there are those that wish they could sit with their loved ones during the holidays but they are no longer here. Any holiday can really bring pressures, depression and anxiety IF and that is in all caps because it is IF we permit it to!

Last year I can remember driving down the road and on my radio was playing “♪♫ It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas…♪ ♫ ♪” People were speeding down the road, honking their horns in impatience. There was so much rush, rush, rush, and I thought to myself, yes it is beginning to look alot like Christmas. The anxiety and madness is in the air and people allow the true meaning of it all to slip from their minds in the midst of it all. It saddens me that people are in such a hurry and they are trying to squeeze in one too many things and that they are driven to anxiety during this blessed season. I am probably correct in saying that many times we create our own anxieties simply because we are not purposing to keep our hearts quiet in the midst of any demand.

I am bound and determined to live one moment at time especially in this holiday season. I want to embrace peace in my heart and allow nothing or no one to snatch it away from me.

Proverbs 14:30 Amplified Bible

“A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life

and health of the body…”

I pray that you too will think about pursuing living one moment at a time and enjoy the stillness of His perfect peace each and every day.