Category: daily devotions

God First

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Self is the only prison that can ever bind the soul. ——————Henry Van Dyke
It is easy to get lost in ourselves. We can’t help it. Self seems to be the only things we have. It is understandable that we put ourselves first. However, we are called to put God first. It is a difficult thing to do but we have to keep trying. I don’t know if we will ever achieve it until we are united with God but we have to try.
god first
God of the universe, keep reminding us that you come first. Help us to keep trying. AMEN

Things can be idols

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Why is life sped up so? Why are thing so terribly unbearably precious that you can’t enjoy them but can only wait breathless in dread of their going? ——Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I sometimes think that things have become more important than God. Things have become our idol. If we aren’t concerned about the things we have we are longing for the things we don’t have. TV is telling us every day that there is something else we must have.

pencils

We have to learn to enjoy what we have now. We have to appreciate the life we have and give thanks.

Giving God, you have given us so much. Help us to know that it is enough and be thankful. AMEN

We need touch

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touching-quote-1Touch is important for our life. God created us to live together. He did not leave Adam alone. We need the Christian community. Sharing the peace, the touch of hands in healing are so important. God intended us to be touched.

Lord God,  you created us together, help us to find the touch of your healing community. AMEN

Community

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We hunger for a kind of group association in which, through being ourselves, we may get to something greater than ourselves. We long to touch the transcendent, and, furthermore, to do it in the company of others who, by sharing our experiences, verify and confirm them. —————-Milton J. Rosenberg

community 1

I am one of the people who feel that it is hard to be Christian without a community of faith. We need others to confirm our beliefs. We need them to be with us during our trials and we with them during theirs. We need a family of faith. If you don’t have one search until you find one.

Loving God, help us to find a community that can become our extended family AMEN

see more on this subject on https://wordpress.com/post/worrylessjourney.com/2827

 

The light of life

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When the soul is troubled, lonely and darkened, then it turns easily to the outer comfort and to the empty enjoyment of the world.  ————–Friedrich Froebel

When things don’t go well for us it is easy to try to find solace elsewhere. Some find it in a bottle, some in drugs, some in sex, some in parties and high living. The problem is that none of these things light the dark space where the soul resides. Only God can do that.

light of life

 

Patient God, you wait for us to discover that our only light is in you. Help us to turn to you in our dark times. AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

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The following is a version of the Lord’s Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book. There are so many reasons why I love this form. It’s description of God moves me to tears. “Loving God, in whom is heaven:” makes me sit and ponder on its vision. “In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.” We are hurt and we hurt others. It is so easy to see it in this version. I encourage you to read and think about the prayer. You may love it or you may hate it but it will help you think.

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

just listen

Love is come again!

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Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

Wheat Seedlings

I love this hymn. I love the music but the words really speak to me. The last verse is amazing. God’s touch can heal us and bring our hearts back to life. The love of God is incredible!

Thank you God for your amazing love! AMEN!

Happy Easter !!

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Matthew 28:
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
I have always loved the fact that Jesus first appeared to the women. I think that he knew that they would believe what they saw before them.
Lord bless those of us who believe without seeing. AMEN
easter

Mind yourself

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Difference of rite ought not to involve differences of faith-———Christopher Dawson

Sometimes I think that we spend as much or more time pointing out the flaws of other denominations that we do about other religions. Some feel that their path is the only one and want to be sure that everyone else is wrong.

God is so far beyond out understanding that none of us can claim to have the only truth. Don’t waste time putting down others.

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Gracious Lord, remind us to mind our own search for you and not someone else’s. AMEN

God with us

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scar

God never promised that life would be free of problems. There is no magic wand that can be waved to banish our troubles. Our strength to survive each day comes from God’s promise to be with us. Each struggle that we get through gives us the wisdom to survive the next. God helps us to learn and gain the strength to fight the next battle.

Intimate God, we give you thanks for your love for us and your healing presence in our struggles. AMEN