By Richard L. Mabry, The Upper Room

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. (Luke 5:1-11 NKJV)

Jesus’ suggestion to the men who who were to become His disciples was much more than a favor done to repay them for the use of their boat or a hint about catching fish after an otherwise unproductive day. The fishermen were tired, aching for rest. Can’t you just imagine them saying, “Go out again? And into deep water?” The miracle that day wasn’t only the glut of fish they caught; it was also the willingness of Peter and the others to heed Jesus’ command. Their readiness foreshadowed the devotion to Him that would characterize the rest of their lives.

When we Christians concern ourselves only with the contentment we find in our own salvation, we are like unproductive anglers fishing too near the bank. To truly follow Jesus may require us to launch out into “deeper water,” to get in over our heads. Whether by an act of kindness, a word of witness, or a whispered prayer, our lives and actions each day can model the active Crhristianity to which we, like those first disciples, have been called.

Dear Father, help us to recognize and obey Your leading in our lives. Help us to go deeper. Amen.

Blessings,

Joyce

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:1-20 NKJV

Merry Christmas,

Joyce

While making a meal with leftovers it can be the tastiest dish ever, but when it comes to relationships, leaving leftover’s can bring pain, confusion, and hurt to another.

Do you often feel like you or someone in your family is being served the leftovers? Or maybe you are the one leaving the leftovers? How many times do we see husbands leaving their families, mothers leaving their children, sons, daughters serving leftovers; the list goes on and on. People leave the church for minor reasons; thus leftovers in the Kingdom of God. We often times over commit to others and then leave out some, distributing the leftovers in friendships. We donate items of junk to ministries that may need newly purchased items, thus giving leftovers to those who need the best.

We must be more like the Samaritan in this story and not like the nine lepers that disappeared. Here is an example of what was left over when Jesus healed the ten lepers.

Luke 17:11-19 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? “Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

It is rewarding to reach out and love another as Christ would have you to love them, with a heart of being thankful. Serving leftovers for dinner can be a great thing, but the next time someone you know needs the best seat at your table, offer it up, serving them with all your heart. We should give God and others our best. He looks on our hearts. Be careful not too serve or give your leftovers.

Dear Lord, We thank you for the times in our life when we are desperate at the foot of the cross and You are there lovingly guiding us every step of the way.  May we not be as a leftover in your Kingdom, may we always seek to be there for another. Teach us Your ways Oh Lord! In Jesus name, Amen!

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:25-34)

Most of us are familiar with the woman Jesus healed in Mark 5. This woman had dealt with an issue of blood for twelve long years. Everyone knew about her issue and knew what it was. On the day she met Jesus, she was more than ready to have her issue resolved. She made up her mind to do whatever it took to be made well.

Do you have an issue? This is the time to get your healing. You can be free. How?

~Admit that you have an issue.

~Seek the Lord’s face and ask Him two things. First, ask that He will heal you. Second, ask if there is someone He would have you share your issue with who can help you.

~Press in, persevere, be determined that God will set you free.

No matter what your issue may be, you can be victorious, with the Lord’s help. You only need to reach out and touch the hem of His garment.

Blessings,

Joyce

Hope in God!

Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation, to place confidence in, a desire of some good, to expect,

Just this morning while spending time in the Bible with our precious one we were turning a page and she proclaimed HOPE… I said; yes that is hope, we must put all of our Hope in God! She loves to read words in the Bible and this is a word that we should not take lightly today. What are we placing our hope in today? Are we placing our hope in the One who gives us eternal hope? Lately I’ve been thinking about how we must have hope, and we must have a positive outlook when things seem to be opposite to what we think they should be. Placing our Hope in God gives us the assurance and evidence of the faith we need to place all of our trust and Hope in our day. Here are just a few:

Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.

Proverbs 13: 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

In the book of Genesis 12: 1-3, God gave Abram hope for a great nation and he told him he would bless him and that he would be a blessing. Abram (Abraham) had to give up a lot to place his trust and Hope in God for this prophecy to be fulfilled. This is just one example of how much God cares about us and our daily struggles. He cares about our sinful nature, and yet He cares about our eternal destiny. Will you place your Hope in God today?

I’d like to share with you a devotion sent to me from Torches and Pitchers. Be sure to visit their site at http://touchandpitcher.ning.com.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NLT)

In this season of Christmas we are called to a reflection of one of the titles of Jesus that reflects true meaning of what Jesus means to the world. Jesus Christ is The Prince of Peace, Hallelujah! He is the one who brings true peace to his believing followers as a gift from our father God. Christmas is therefore a time to renew and share the true understanding of peace. Today many lack true peace and do not know it. When man becomes separated from God he loses true peace which cannot be restored by any religious activity or thinking adjustments.

We lose our peace in the following ways; failures in life which leaves us in a state of helplessness or and hopelessness, loss of job, lose of opportunities, broken relationships that keeps hunting us, bad health conditions in the family, failed finances as evidenced in indebtedness and as unpaid mounting bills, and delinquent children who are sources of bad news to the family.

These failures would have started with a wrong focus on worldly things other than things of God and the purpose of his son, Jesus Christ the prince of peace in our lives and circumstances. The world proffers and provides pseudo peace that is temporary which collapses at any challenge of life. Our God of peace appeared to Gideon His prophet when His children lost relationship with Him and they became oppressed and God revealed Himself as a giver of peace and life.

“It is all right,” the LORD replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it “The LORD Is Peace.” The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day. (Judges 6:23-24 NLT)

The key revelation to Gideon was that Our God is the God of peace and through His perfect peace we shall be restored to the victory God had promised. Let us today align our peace to the real peace. The peace that is deep in Spirit not the peace that we often lose easily in times of troubles. The first step to true peace is gotten when we live in the joy of sin- forgiven through the prince of peace who by him he makes us become forgivers of those who trespass (sin ) against us too. The call today is also for us to make a list of all who have sinned against us and pronounce forgiveness to them in prayers. This is hard and difficult to do I will ask you as in common experiences to release those who trespass against you into their destiny as the word of God says that their sins will find them out and not you.

If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 NLT)

Jesus Christ the prince of peace also says in John 14:27 (NLT), “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” This is to make us understand that you can obtain God’s peace not by the shedding of your blood but by the Shed blood of Jesus.

Thank God and pray today that

• the peace of God should help you

• The peace of God should hold you

• The peace of God should protect you

Open the door of your heart today for the prince of peace to enter in and the joy of this season will give you victory over evil at this Christmas as never before. Amen.

Visit Torches and Pitchers at http://touchandpitcher.ning.com.

John 14: 15-21

Life is full of choices and every day we can choose to make positive life changing decisions. Do we choose to be happy or miserable? We must decide where we live, work, eat and travel? We can choose to follow after God today with a heart completely devoted to serving and loving Him, or we can choose to follow after the ways of the world?

Jesus Christ spoke (v. 16) of the helper (Holy Spirit) He would leave with us and leave in us, and that He would not leave us as orphans. In a world lost in sin, many are left with the feelings of being an orphan, but we can rise above this as we choose Christ? Once we choose to accept Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior, it becomes a life time journey. We learn to use our gifts and talents in service to others. What a liberating choice this is; true freedom found in Christ. We are always looking to making choices around us rather than choices that change in us. Spend a moment today thinking about your character and if these choices are characteristic of what God wants them to be?

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.