Posted on Oct 20, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Today I want you to think about this question. What happens to you when your idealistic thoughts or plans meet disappointment? Truth is…. we have all done it. We build up expectations at times and if they do not turn out the way we planned, we are disappointed and let down. How we react to those disappointments will either upset us or just make us a bit stronger inside. It all boils down to how we decide to face things when they do not turn out the way we thought they should. Let our goal be that we face disappointments with a proper attitude.
Today I will tell on my parrot. Since she talks but does not read I will be able to get away with this. (lololo!!!) Our parrot, JJ, observes our household very closely and she understands our routines very keenly. I was told by a very wise woman that raises and understands these birdies that you should never get them too used to a routine, because if they like it too much and you break it…well let’s just say they will not be too happy with you. This is why I NEVER feed her at the same time everyday. All of her treats come when she least expects them. This is somewhat tough on me because I am very much a routine person, and I especially like to see my pets in a routine.
JJ even knows my personal routine in the morning and one morning everything seemed to be going wrong. I was rushing to get out the door because I had an appointment. She could see something was very different and she DID NOT like it. I always walk over to her cage before I leave, and say goodbye and tell her I love her. Well…since she did not like the “rush-rush” deal that I was doing, she decided to let me know what she thought. When I moved toward her cage to say goodbye she snapped the side of her cage in anger rather than her usual affectionate little goodbyes that I get. She just did not want me to leave her. I left her with these words… “That was not very nice JJ!” Whenever I return home I am usually greeted with happy whistles and fun greetings, but not this time. I walked over to her cage and she turned her back and would not even look at me. Oh my gosh…I could not believe it was in this little bird to act like this. You see, she had an expectation based on what “she thought” should have happened. She was indeed a disappointed and mad little bird that day!
Let us be honest and admit that we may at times have preconceived ideas of how we feel people should treat us and do for us. We can all relate to having expectations on how we think something should go. Sometimes our expectations that are based on the ideal meet up with the real, and we have great big disappointments.
Disappointments are going to happen, and life is full of them. It is what we do with our disappointments that makes all the difference. It is so important to just move on and not permit anything to hinder or rob our joy. It is of great consolation that our Lord well understands our disappointments and as we take them to Him, He will help us walk through them. Thank God for Jesus because He understands every up and down we will ever face.
“The Lord is close to those who have suffered
disappointment. He saves those who
are discouraged.”
Psalm 34:18 (ERV)
Posted on Oct 19, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
James 1:19 (AMP)
“Understand [this], my beloved brethren.
Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener],
slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.”
I think of how many arguments and misunderstandings that would be avoided if this simple truth were taken heed to. If one does not give their full attention to the one speaking to them, there will more than likely words that are spoken which could be inappropriate, hurtful or misunderstood. This verse has a wealth of wisdom in it for us. It also shows us that it is just as important to listen to another’s heart for the unspoken words and feelings they may be feeling. Many times we may feel that we have the right answer for someone yet it is not the appropriate time for that word to be spoken. As we take care to listen, our words spoken will be appropriate and edifying to the listener.
Let us ask the Lord to have sensitive hearts that we will listen more closely to those around us. Many times we may indeed know what that individual may need but we need to ask the Lord for the proper season to share it.
Proverbs 25:11 (AMP)
“A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Listening to someone may be the greatest gift you could give them. Choice words are even a greater gift to one that is in need. After you have listened carefully you will find they will be much more apt to hear your heartfelt and choice response. They will be more likely to take heed to the wisdom that you feel you are to share too. I believe the Lord can help us to guard our tongues that our words will be as choice silver and gold.
Posted on Oct 18, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Proverbs 30:5 Expanded Bible
“Every word of God ·is true [passes the test; is refined;
·He guards those [ They are a shield to those] who come to
him for ·safety [refuge].
God’s Word to us is flawless. We need not try to analyze it, we need only to believe that His Word is true. He promises that His Word is a shield to those that place their trust in Him. In your day of battle you are promised that His Word will shield you and keep you. It is in those times when the fiery darts of the enemy come to penetrate your soul that the Word of God that you believe and speak will be a protection, a refuge, and you will walk in victory. Jesus stressed the importance and the blessing of living by the truth.
John 8:31-32 (PHILLIPS)
“If you are faithful to what I have said,
you are truly my disciples. And you will
know the truth and the truth will set you free!”
Oh that we would be diligent to know His Word that we may be free in every area of our lives. Let us never add or subtract from His Word either. Proverbs 30:6 says “Add thou not anything to the words of him, and thou be reproved, and be found a liar. (Do not thou add anything to his words, lest thou be rebuked, and be found a liar.)” Again let us be reminded that God’s Word is perfect. Let us never add our own thoughts or opinions to the Word of God because His Word is total truth and it need no more.
I rejoice in the simplicity that God has laid out for us in His Word. Love His Word and live by it. He promises that as we do this, we will be free indeed!!!
Posted on Oct 17, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
I have a wooden piece that sits on top of my cabinet that encases my mirror in our guest bathroom. Everyone that ever looks into this mirror cannot help but look up and read…
“By the grace of God…I am what I am.”
I want it there for the purpose of reminding myself and others to be happy with how the Lord has created them. It always reminds me that all that has been done in me is ONLY by the grace of God. It speaks to my heart to draw upon Him for all that I need and to turn my back on my own ability. On the wall to the right I have written on a little chalkboard plaque…”His grace is more than enough.” This serves to remind me too that if I am ever tempted to think I cannot do what He is requiring of me, that I stop, pull up by “boot straps”, and go with the grace of God! Today I hope to encourage you to remind yourself of these truths.
When you look in the mirror, and you are tempted to compare who you are to others around you …STOP! God lovingly and fearfully created you and put gifts within you to serve those around you. Romans 12:6 (CJB)”But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us.” In those times that you feel you cannot face another day and do what is required of you, remind yourself that all you need is to rest on His grace, for it is more than enough. When Paul came to the end of his strength, he realized he was in the greatest position ever to live drawing on God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are
weak can everything be done completely by my power.”
His grace is all that we need to do all that we need to do!
Posted on Oct 16, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
As we commit our lives to the Lord, and seek Him first in all that we do, we will find His loving hand in every area of our life. His Word proclaims that He will perfect ALL that concerns us so we need to be able to understand the time in which we live as individuals. I encourage you to seek Him each day in the area of how He desires to use you. We need to be able to say that beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are walking the path that He desires for us. There may be specific things that you know the Lord is desiring to do in you, and they may not been totally fulfilled. Remember…even as you walk in His paths you are still a work in progress. Have you ever been tempted to be impatient with God’s timing as He works in and around you?
I think it is vital that we remind ourselves that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts. If ever there are times you find yourself impatient with His timing or how and when He is bringing things to pass, you will surely be tempted to do things in your own ability. It is in those times that we do not understand how to walk the way that He is leading us that we look up and cry out for His wisdom on the matter. The first chapter of James says that if we lack wisdom, we need to just ask Him for it, and then be patient in order that God’s perfect work be done in us.
James 1:4-6(ERV)
“If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good.
You will be mature and complete.
You will be all that God wants you to be.
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys
giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.
But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him.”
Today I want to encourage your heart that every day that you live, and as long as you have breath in your, God has a purpose for you. He has desires, and His planning and timing are perfect. As we purpose to seek His purposes, He promises to fulfill them!
Posted on Oct 15, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Psalm 105:4 (AMP)
“Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and
His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation);
seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.”
I read an interesting quote this morning by Ralph Waldo Emerson, this is what he said,
“No man ever prayed without learning something.”
As we ponder the scripture from Psalm 105:4 we too can see that as we truly seek the Lord in prayer, reading, and the hearing of His Word that there is much to be found. Even if you have read a scripture many times over, there is always freshness and newness of life that it can bring to your soul…if you allow it to.
Today I encourage you to crave Him and His strength. Think about those things you love to eat. Sometimes it will hit me and I will start craving a particular food because I love it so much. So it should be with our love for our Lord! The more we seek Him the more we will find ourselves needing to seek Him more. The more you experience HIS strength and HIS ability, the more you will crave to turn your face to Him and receive all that He is! Remember that all that He is, and all that He does is brand new everyday. He desires to teach you continually and answer all the questions of your heart. Crave Him, step into His presence, and prepare yourself to learn and receive His portion for you today. God is good!
Jeremiah 33:3 (CJB)
“Call out to me,
and I will answer you —
I will tell you great things,
hidden things of which you are unaware.”
Posted on Oct 14, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Psalm 51:15-17Amplified Bible
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering.
My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.”
These particular scriptures are David’s heart as he cried out to God after he majorly messed up and committed sin . He had sinned with Bathsheba, and he knew he was wrong and he was humbling himself to the Lord. David understood God’s steadfast love and His tender mercies. As He cried out to God, and he proclaimed his understanding that God desired him to have truth in his inner being, and to know wisdom. His prayer was his cry for a cleansed heart, and a renewed and persevering spirit.
These scriptures can serve to remind us that when we find ourselves ensnared by the devil or our own weakness that we have access to God’s forgiveness. God is looking for the contrite in spirit, and that is the state of knowing we are sincerely remorse for what we have done wrong. God does not want excuses, He wants us to look to Him with an honest and repentant heart.
Let us remember that we cannot put “bandages” on our mistakes, and hurts that we have caused ourselves or others. We cannot do good works to make it up either. Remember when we humble ourselves and confess our sin that God forgives and He forgets it. It has been thrown into the sea of forgetfulness to be remembered no more. Praise be to God for His tender mercies and the blessing of being forgiven.
Isaiah 66:2 (GNT)
“I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with
those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me.”
Posted on Oct 13, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
Have you ever heard when someone jokingly or not so jokingly says that an individual has selective hearing? Selective hearing is the capability to block out sounds and noise. It is the notion of ignoring certain things in one’s surrounding environment. Many times you can see this in small children. They may tend to hear only the fun and exciting things, but things such as “It’s time to clean up your toys, and get ready for your nap.” may not be one of those things that is eagerly heard. The question is are there times that we have selective hearing with the Lord, and we are unaware of it?
There are times we can all identify where we are reading the Word or hearing the Word of God, and your spirit has been pricked by the power of the spoken Word of God. We just know it was God specifically dealing with our heart yet we walk away and do not take heed. You can go home from church and proclaim what a good word your Pastor shared yet not take heed to it, and apply it to your life. This too is selective hearing, and we need to be very careful and cautious over our hearts that we are not guilty of this. I found several translations of John 10:27 enlightening so I will share them with you for your meditation.
“The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” (AMP)
My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me…” (GW)
” My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (TLB)
“My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.” (The Voice)
The word *know* defined is to be able to distinguish, as one from another. The Lord wants that we KNOW Him and we KNOW His voice! Today I desire to encourage your heart to be listening closely for His voice. Many times His voice is loud and clear and many times it is a mere whisper. Be quick to recognize it and respond. God truly desires this intimacy with us as we heed to His Words and walk willingly along side of Him as He gently leads us.
Posted on Oct 12, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
The other morning when I began my day I was tempted to feel a bit overwhelmed with all that needed to be done. I always try to order my day in a way that no time is wasted yet some days I feel like I wished our days were longer than twenty four hours. I proceeded to think about everything that needed to be done and up from my spirit I heard, “You are only one person.” I really began to think over and over how I need to just take my time and do my best with ONE THING AT A TIME. I began to think, “Yes, I am only one person, and God wants me to do my very best at everything I put my hand to.” I am one person that has been created by Him and He desires for me to do His will and purposes in this life. He is well able to help me accomplish all that really needs done today.
I have found that we often overdo ourselves and spread ourselves too thin. This can only go on for so long and we will soon find out that we are lacking joy in doing that which we are responsible for. The simple things that we are meant to enjoy will bypass us because we are too busy to see them. It is when you spread yourself too thin that your will find yourself lacking in enthusiasm in what you are putting your hand to. Let us look at the scripture from Colossians 3:23…
Colossians 3:23 (AMP)” Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul),
as [something done] for the Lord and not for men…”
I want to encourage you today that God desires that your heart be full of joy and energy in each and every task you put your hand to. If you are weary in doing well I encourage you to stop what you are doing, and draw upon His strength, and ask Him to order your day. He will cause His grace to flow toward everything you put your hand to as you work heartily as something done for Him. Whatever your task, remember you are only one person, and He desires to use you in a special way!
Posted on Oct 11, 2014 in Devotions |
by Dona Hake
It was last Sunday morning, and I was doing my best to accomplish many things. I was taking care of my son’s two dogs and I switched things up a bit to make things go faster, and save time. I did not want to be late for church. I strategically tried to feed three doggies, one parrot, and forty some pond children aka big gold fishies. Well, I thought I had totally accomplished all the feedings, or did I?
I was finally sitting down to eat my oatmeal and coffee, and our German Shepherd quietly laid on the chair and just kept her gaze on me. I thought it strange because she usually heads into the bedroom to sleep right after she has her run in the yard. I finished eating, and was cleaning up, and I turned around to find her positioning herself that I could not walk around her. She sat there and lovingly stared into my eyes. She was determined not to get out of my way until I got her quiet message. I said, “Aasha what’s wrong?” Her eyes spoke loud and clear! “You forgot to feed me!” Oh my gosh…here she was trying to tell me something, and I was not getting it. I felt so bad when I realized that I had fed everyone but her. The poor thing was not going to give up, and her strategy was to stay in my presence, and stare me down till I realized she had not eaten yet!
How many times do we have needs, and we get impatient with the Lord, and just walk away from His presence, and get into our own ability. Oh how important it is that we just stay in the Lord’s presence, and keep our eyes fixed on Him because He is our provision, and all of our needs are met by Him. Thank God He never forgets us! Today I encourage you to set your gaze upon Him, and do not look to anything but Him for each and every need you have.
“O God, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith)…”
Psalm 108:1
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.”
Psalm 112:7
