The Abundant Life Center

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

I was recently talking with an individual, and we were discussing how sad it is that Christmas’ meaning is weakening.    This woman said to me, “Where is Jesus in Christmas anymore?   Where is salvation?”   I know many people wonder this, and in our politically correct world in which we live, we are waking up to more and more things that are “no-no’s” for us as we speak.   It is so sad, and I find it appalling.   We as believers need to stay strong and hold fast that we may speak our hearts in love and boldness.  I believe as we do this that there will be hearts that will hear and receive the truth.

 

Today I just want to share from one of many people’s favorite Christmas Carol entitled “Joy To the World”.    Did you know that this song was authored by Isaac Watts in the 1600’s?    This advent humn is one of Watts’ hymns from his well-known hymnals of 1719 entitled “Psalms of David Imitate in the Language of the New Testament.”    This song is truly for the Christian that realizes the spiritual significance that God Himself invaded this world and provided a means whereby sinful man might live eternally.

 

Let us look at the third verse.   Many times people are only familiar with certain verses, and this verse really blesses me.   If you are like me, I cannot read this, I sing it to myself with the  “Joy To the World tune!

 

 

“No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as the curse is found.”

 

 

Today I leave you with the meditation that salvation came, and His Name is Jesus.    Where anything has been cursed, the Lord has come to make His blessings flow over them, and  overtake them.    No more do we need to allow sorrows to grow, nor thorns be allowed to  infest the “gardens” of our hearts.   What a blessing and celebration this should be for us as we ponder this thought.   Joy to the world!  Salvation has come!

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 We are so blessed and yet I can say at times that some blessings have spoiled me.   I also realize  how easy it is to take  blessings for granted.  I love all the modern conveniences that I am blessed with.   The microwave makes dinner preparation go quicker, and there are days that I certainly appreciate that. We go through the drive through window and we no sooner hand our money, our bag of food is being handed to us (sometimes even thrown at us!). Short and simple…we are way too used to reaching for something and we do not have to wait for it for a very long time. We could be honest and admit that we are all spoiled a bit and sometimes it causes us to  forget the importance of patiently waiting for some things.

 

 

 

I think this has sadly spilled over into our attitude toward our loving God and how we see Him dealing with us. We pray a prayer and if it does not happen in the timing we projected in our mind, we can be tempted to think that He did not hear our prayer. Maybe He answers our prayer and it was not how we imagined and we may be tempted to be disappointed with how He decided to solve our problem.

 

We must always remind ourselves that He has His timing, His wisdom and His understanding of exactly how to deal with us, and the issues in life that we face. I thank God for the times that God seemed to delay answering certain prayers because along the journey of my wait He was working out other issues in my life. Many times He used those waiting times to bring my eyes to focus on areas of my life that needed His divine attention in order that He may help me in another area that I was not aware of. Be encouraged when you pray and remember to wait, rest, and you will receive!

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

They understood the timing, and they knew what to look for. They observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth, and they simply continued to move toward it. They moved toward the light in anticipation for this was the sign of the birth of one that would be King of the Jews.

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

I had a movie on recently, and I loved this one particular part.   This young lady had never ridden a horse before yet she desired to do so.    She shared her fear with the young man with her, and he assured her that he totally understood.   He said he too at a young age shared that same fear but his Daddy helped him overcome it.   He said, “My Daddy sat me on his lap and said courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway!”    I just loved this because it was an inspiration of how to face fear with a true heart of courage.

 

 

 

 

My poor puppy, Aasha had an unfortunate thing happen to her recently.  She was running in her backyard, and playing ball.     She lives to run and play in her backyard!  One day when I had her out, she yipped and cried two different times.  I could see something painful had happened but I could not figure out what was going on with her.   It puzzled me because she did not limp, and she came in the house and that was the end of it.   A few days later I had her out and when she came in she had left a trail of blood drops behind her.   Finally we saw that her one front nail had split right in half, and the wick or vein was exposed.  Evidently the day she exhibited pain was when the nail probably split, and a few days later it broke completely. With my husband’s help, I cut the nail off and bandaged her.  I was very nervous to do this but I knew it had to be done.

 

 

This morning when I went to re-bandage her she looked at me with a troubled look and cried because it was hurting her.    Under her breath she began to growl softly at me, and I spoke to her firmly, and  corrected her for growling.   She stopped and submitted to me because she knows I love her.    I understood she was trying to protect herself from further  pain, and she did not want to be messed with.  She looked at me as if she understood I was trying to help her yet I could see it all over her that she was in fear of more discomfort and pain.

 

 

I thought this to be a great analogy of us at times with the Lord as he deals with us in our times of needing His repair, correction, and mending.   The Lord knows that we have areas of our life that need dealt with or healed.   It is when He starts the process of working on us that we can feel a bit sensitive, and not want to be “touched” in our sensitive spots.    We can become uncomfortable with His manner of dealing with us, and we could even become resistant to His discipline, and maybe even “growl” at Him. (not a good thing to do!)

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16 (AMP)

 

“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), “

 

 

Let us put our trust in Him to help us especially in those times in which we need our course corrected that we can serve Him in an unhindered way.  God’s ways and wisdom are perfect and He knows exactly what we need.    He will perfect, and bring healing to every area of our life that  concerns us.

 

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

There is a particular weight loss commercial that literally makes me cringe every time I hear it.  It is all about a weight loss pill that will make you lose weight.  I am sure it probably does but here’s the part that bothers me….”Lose weight without any lifestyle changes…”    Every time I hear it I cannot help but think that in about five years we will be hearing a commercial that says, “If you have taken this weight loss pill and have the following complications…”

 

No matter what we need to change in this life, it will usually take discipline and self control.   Some things are easier than others, and some things taken patience and time.   I will never forget hearing a man’s testimony of extreme weight loss.  He weighed over 600 lbs. and over a period of time was able to lose 400 of those pounds.   It was amazing to see his before and after, and might I add that his story was so inspiring to me.   Before he lost the weight, he  had basically given up and just stayed at home.   He did play online video games and ended up friending a woman on the other side of his world and they played video games.   She came to know his weight situation as they chatted and this is all she said…”You are throwing your life away…”   Those words inspired, and challenged him!    He made some real decisions and it was a slow but sure victory.  I shared this scripture with you yesterday, but it fits wonderfully with this devotional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

I can not begin to tell you how many times that I have strategically planned to get myself ready in the morning to be somewhere at a specific time.   I am completely ready to walk out the door at the exact moment I need to leave to find that I cannot find my car keys.   Out front of my house is sitting my Jeep.  It is the one and only thing that is able and will get me to where I need to be, yet without the keys, it is not going to happen.  I will be honest that there are occasions that I get into anxiety when this happens because I hate being late!    That one and only little key is missing, and I must find it.  Usually when I do find it, it was put somewhere that it should not have been placed, and it was only because I wasn’t thinking at the moment.

 

Have you ever felt that way spiritually?   You feel like you have done all you know to do yet you feel like something is missing or misplaced.   Many times it may be one little thing, and we just have to find it.   

 

Today I want to encourage you in the fact that the Lord has given us every thing that we need to do that which He has assigned us to do.   Good news isn’t it?  No matter what the task, the responsibility, or ministry,  God has exactly what you need.   

 

 

 

 

 

If you ever feel tempted to be anxious about how you are going to do what you need to do for Him, just think about this wonderful scripture.  He has given us the spirit of power, love and a sound mind to do all that He asks.   For every door you need to walk through, He has the key to enable you to do so.   Trust in Him for He is always able.

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I encourage you today to think about the importance of seeking Him with all of your heart.   When it appears that you cannot see clearly, know this, as you seek Him that His Word will lead and guide you to your destination.   Remember,  wise men still seek Him!

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

What does it meant to be passionate about something?    Here is one of the definitions that I found.

It is a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for something.    I want to share with you a portion of Psalm 119 in which the psalmist expresses his passion about the Word.

 

 

 

Psalm 119:130-142  The Voice

 

“When Your words are unveiled, light shines forth;
they bring understanding to the simple.
 My desire for Your commands
left me waiting, open-mouthed and panting.
 Acknowledge me and show me Your grace
as is Your habit toward all those who love Your name.
Guide my steps in the ways of Your word,
and do not let any sin control me.
Rescue me from the torment of my human oppressors
so that I may live according Your decrees.
 Let Your face shine upon Your servant,
and help me to learn what You require.
 My eyes shed rivers of tears
whenever people fail to keep Your teaching.

You are good and just, O Eternal One,
and Your rulings are right.
 You have set out Your decrees in justice,
and they can be trusted.
I AM OVERWHELMED BY MY PASSION
because my enemies have forgotten Your words.”

 

 

 

Do you have such a passion in your heart today for God’s Word?    Have you ever thought how you would live without it?    I remember the movie about the precious saint Corrie Ten Boom entitled “The Hiding Place.”     They had such love for the Word of God that they were determined to take the risk and sneak their little Bible  in with them to the concentration camp that they were being taken to.   It was amazing to see them pray before they hid it under her coat, and miraculously the beautiful little Bible made its way past the darkness and evil of that place.   You see, she and her sister were passionate about a loving God and His Word.  They well understood that all they needed would come from His love and provision.

 

 

I pray that today you too are even more passionate about His Word and  trusting Him to guide your steps.    What a blessing it is to live under the light and love of His Word that gives us everything that we need!