Bigger than me

05 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. ~Philippians 3:14
Once again I find myself sitting in a “bigger than me” problem. It’s enormous. I want to say I am dealing with it beautifully. I can’t. Last night as I struggled to calm my mind down enough to sleep, I felt God’s reminder that the problem didn’t occur in one day. It would also take “time” to correct things. Somehow I managed to finally get to sleep.

Upon awaking the panic crept back in. Since I obviously was not going to sleep anymore I picked up my phone to see if the blog I scheduled a few days back posted correctly today. If I had been in a laughing mood I would have laughed out loud. The post that I had written several days before was on anxiety. God’s way of preparing a message that He knew I needed to hear today. When I wrote the blog I was just reflecting. Today I needed the reminder to take each day at a time.

So today I am just practicing my breathing skills, trying to wait on God’s wisdom and I am taking to heart once again that I CAN endure all things through Christ who gives me strength. I have no great wisdom today. I am just an ordinary woman just trying to take life one day at a time. Breath by breath.

With every breath of air I take this day Lord, may I be reminded that Your Spirit lives in me. I know that You are bigger than my problems and that You in time will reveal the wisdom I need. I thank You for the strength you hide in me to endure each day. Amen.

Be Strong! Don’t Fear!

02 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. ~2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSV)

 

I have never really thought before about fear being a spirit. It certainly can influence me. Fear keeps me from doing a lot of things. Fear makes me realize my limitations, my ignorance and all my short comings and that there are so many. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells me that these feelings are not from God. Instead God gives me a spirit of power, a spirit of love and a spirit of discipline. From Romans 8:15 I learn that fear leads to slavery and bondage. Paul wrote, “You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as His children. With this Spirit, we cry, Abba, Father.” As a child of God my Father wants me to live in freedom knowing He has given me strength and power to overcome my fears.

“Say to those who are panicking: Be strong! Don’t fear! Here’s your God, coming with vengeance; with divine retribution God will come to save you” (Isaiah 35:4) “Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) “I am the LORD your God, who grasps your strong hand, who says to you, Don’t fear; I will help you.”(Isaiah 41:13)

So, I am empowered because “God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.” (Psalms 46:1-3) No matter that my life may feel at times that it is crumbling around me, God wants me to stand strong. Even though I feel that I am overwhelmed and that I am drowning, God has His hand out to grasp me and to keep me from going under. So I should not trust my “feelings”. I should not be afraid. This is a discipline that God wants me to learn. He says these words throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is a message that He has repeated over and over again. He says to all of us “Do Not Be Afraid”.

Lord, I know that the spirit of fear is not from you. Help me to use the spirits of power and discipline to stand strong in times of trial. Amen.

A sign upon my heart

28 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , ,

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth ~Genesis 1:1 (NRSV)

 

I spent my growing up years in little country churches with my daddy as the preacher. The churches often were so small that to have special music my daddy had to pull from his family resources. A few times my sister and I were asked to sing and one song we had worked up was entitled, “He’s Still Working on Me”.

The first verse says, “There really ought to be, a sign upon my heart, don’t judge me yet there’s an unfinished part. But I’ll be perfect just according to His plan, fashioned by the Master’s loving hand.” Then the Chorus says, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and faithful He must be, ‘cause He’s still working on me.” The last verse says, “The mirrors of my heart, reflections that I see, make me wonder why He never gave up on me. But He loves me as I am and He helps me when I prayer. Remember He’s the potter I’m the clay.”

When I sang this song at eleven I didn’t have the life experiences behind me to appreciate the message of this song. Thirty years later of living I am thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet. I am far from perfect but God loves me as I am. He loves me enough to patiently shape and mold me into what I ought to be. To think that the God who made the universe faithful works on me is more than I can fathom. All I can do is my part by continuing to be moldable until He deems me finished.

Heavenly Father, may I always be open to your pushing and prodding me in the way I need to change and grow. I thank you for Your patience and love. Thank you for not giving up on me. Amen

The air I breathe

27 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

The LORD God proclaims to these bones: I am about to put breath in you, and you will live again. ~ Ezekiel37:5 (CEB)

There was a time in my life that I struggled just to breathe. I carried such burdens inside of me I felt that there was no more space left for my lungs to fill with air. My breathing actually felt shallow. Breathing is essential but unless there is something wrong we never pay attention to the act of breathing. The Bible speaks about the Holy Spirit being the breath of God, breathing in us. The Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma, which means “breath.”

There is a song by Mercy Me, “Breathe”. At times when I was almost gasping for air I would say in my heart, “You are the air I breathe; You are the air I breathe”. This was my prayer when no other words would form. Ezekiel 37:9 says, “Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.” I feel that God has done that in my life. Every time I reached out to Him, He breathed life back into this dead heart bit by bit.

When I don’t have words to pray, Romans 8:36 assures me “In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans.” It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy. Lamentations 3:25 tells me “The Lord is good to those who hope in Him, to the person who seeks Him”, so I hope in God with my whole heart. Psalm 130:5 says, “I hope, LORD. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise.” What is God’s promise to me? “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1Co 3:16) As long as I let Him live in me I can have life because it is His breath that breathes through me. When it is God’s breath flowing through my lungs it is not a struggle to breathe.

Lord, You are the air I breathe. I thank You for your Holy Presence that lives in me. I thank You that You give me words every day to tuck deep in my heart. I would be lost without You. May I always be desperate for Your love. Amen.

More than I am

26 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , ,

Send your light and truth—those will guide me! Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. ~Psa 43:3 (CEB)

 

I cannot spell. In my early years I was told I was lazy; I might have some dyslexia; artistic people are naturally not good spellers or that I probably didn’t hear sounds correctly. But the simple fact is probably somewhere along the way I didn’t learn the rules of spelling. If I had learned these rules it would have been easier to spell words even if I wasn’t born a natural speller.

Sometimes I treat the “rules” from the Bible in the same way. I am just too lazy; I feel that it will stifle my creative spirit; I am afraid it will cramp my life style; or maybe I won’t understand what has been written. These are lies that Satan feeds me. But what is the real truth? I know what happened when I didn’t take the time to learn the rules for spelling… and grammar. I became conditioned into thinking that I was not good at writing.

In my junior year of High School I had an English teacher who looked past my inabilities and saw my capabilities. She saw me as I was, a poor speller who did not grasp the rules of grammar, but she didn’t let me stay there. She pushed my creativity and helped me wrestle with how to line words up in a way that made more sense.

I think that we can get conditioned into believing that we are incapable of doing things right. We get trapped in Satan’s lies. Thank goodness God accepts us where we are in life but He doesn’t leave us there. He brings us up out of our misunderstandings and confusion guiding our steps to walk in truth. His boundaries are meant to give us Life.

Lord, I want to truly live. Help me hide your truths in my heart so that I may feel the freedom and confidence of being a child of God. Help me step out of my conditioned self-concepts and learn to be more than I think I am. Amen.

Faith to see yourself in God’s eyes

22 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , ,

You are from God, little children, and you have defeated these people because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~1 John 4:4

 

It is so easy to judge ourselves by what others think of us. I often forget that my true value is through God’s eyes. My value is not from the people who surround me. If I base my significance on what others think I can be lifted up as high as the sky by their praise or I can find myself plummeting quickly be their disapproval. This creates such a roller-coaster effect on my emotions and is very dangerous to my well-being.

Instead I need to look in the Bible to find my self-worth. Who does the Bible say I am? If I look through the Bible I can find many references. One of my favorite verses on “who I am in Christ” comes from Romans 5:1 “Because of Christ and His redemption, I am completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. I am totally accepted by God. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” My favorite part of that verse is that I am accepted by God, just as I am. No, I am not perfect. Whether I am at my best or at my worst I am still totally accepted by God. That is not always true of fellow humans. If I based my significance on others approval I begin to fear rejection. My fear of rejection can begin to control me and my self-worth. My dependence on others for value brings bondage and darkness.

God doesn’t want us living in darkness so He sent Jesus into the world to seek out those who find themselves in bondage. He came to speak truths to our heart about God’s love and acceptance. Taking this truth into our heart brings freedom and joy. I want to live in the light where freedom from bondage of what others think of me exists. I want joy in my life so I hold a simple truth in my heart, “I am a beloved child of God” (Gal 4:7). The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear (Psalm 27:1)

May I live securely in Your love and acceptance of me oh Lord. Help me this day to remember that my relationship with You is what matters above all others opinions. Hide deep in my heart Your truths of who I am through You. Amen.

Joy in the moment

19 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones ~Proverbs 17:22 (CEB)

Looking at the big picture can seem overwhelming sometimes. Too many times I forget to live in the moment. I see the bigger picture looming ahead of me and I don’t see my son’s little dances, don’t feel my daughter’s hugs or appreciate my husband sitting on the porch swing with me. I forget to smell the jasmine, to see my blooming flowers or my vegetable garden grow. I forget to laugh at my dog as she takes serious her task of chasing the rabbits. I forget to listen to the bird’s songs or listen as the wind rustles the leaves.

Seeing things piece by piece and searching for the joy in the moment helps to lighten my day. When I get to worrying about all the things that I have no power to fix at this moment, those things that are out of my control, I allow those things to steal the simple joys from my heart. Missing out on these simple things soon finds my spirit hurting.

God doesn’t want me to live with the weight of the world on my shoulders. He has put things in my path to help me enjoy life. He created flowers and bird songs for my enjoyment. He gave me my family for comfort and love. May I remember each day to appreciate all that he has blessed me with down to the simplest and smallest of details.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember to stop and smell the flowers, to hear the birds sing, to hug my family. May I not take any of these joys for granted. May they ever be fresh on my heart. Amen.

A smile and a kind word

18 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. ~Galatians 6:10 (CEB)

A smile and a kind word, I would say that this is my mother’s ministry. I grew up with my mother always smiling to those she met and giving a smile. It seems like such a simple thing. It seems that it couldn’t really make a difference, but I have seen many eye light up when my mother smiles.

Often I forget that we are called even in the little things of life to serve Christ. If I put on God’s eyes and look around, His ears and listen, He is calling me to reach out every day even in the little things. Acknowledging a cashier and asking them about their day, holding open the door for someone, letting someone ahead of me in line who only has a couple of items, a smile, these are all things that I can do to serve Christ. Sometimes these “small things” can impact someone greatly. I will probably never know how my small actions may impact someone’s life this day but I am called to be Christ even in the small things that I do.

Lord may I not be so caught up with my own life that I forget to look out beyond myself. May I notice those around me with a smile and a kind word today. Amen.

Chosen for a priesthood

17 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are Gods own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. ~1 Peter 2:9 (CEB)

 

The first few words in this verse jump out at me and grab my heart. I am chosen. If you know a little Bible history you know that once it was the Jewish race that was chosen to carry God’s truth to the world. When Jesus came into the world He established a fulfillment of the law and all races are now the chosen. But what have I been chosen for?

I am part of a royal priesthood now. My character my behavior, everything I say and do should reflect the fact that I am part of Christ’s royal priesthood. I have to admit I sometimes don’t act very royal. I also forget that I am to share with others that I once was in darkness but that Jesus came into that darkness, brought me up out of that darkness into the light of his saving grace. I forget that I am to seek out the lost and share with them the truths that I have learned and stored in my heart. 2 Thes 3:5 says, “May the Lord lead your hearts to express God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

Sometimes it seems strange to think that I have been “saved” so that I might go out and speak to others about God and what He has done for me. 1 Peter 2 is built around this verse 9 and calls us to a Holy Living. Our new birth is not a magical event that changes us instantly into the likeness of Christ but a daily journey. Part of that journey is seeing those along my way that need someone to reach out to them. In sharing my salvation story it not only could provide someone with a hope but also reminds me of where I have been. This reminder helps my personal journey and helps to keep me on the right path.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for what you have done in my life. I thank you that you sought me out in the darkness and walked with me until I was ready to come out into the light. May I in my thankfulness remember to see with your eyes those who may be stuck in darkness. May I help them to see there is a hope and that hope is You. Amen.

I can’t bear this on my own

16 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

 

I can’t bear this people on my own. They’re too heavy for me. ~Numbers 11:14

 

Sometimes life is just more than I can handle. Some days it is all I can do to manage what I need to do for that day. In reading Numbers chapter 11 we read where Moses is feeling overwhelmed with leading the Israelites. They aren’t happy with the fact that God has been providing them just manna to eat. Now they are complaining that they want meat to eat too. Moses cries out to God in verse 13, “Where am I to get meat for all these people? They are crying before me and saying, ‘Give us meat, so we can eat’.”

The first thing Moses did when he realized he had come to the end of his rope in this situation was to admit, “I can’t bear this people on my own. They’re too heavy for me.” This allowed God to say, “I can!” The problem was bigger than Moses but once he allowed God into the situation it allowed God to go to work.

I often forget that God is waiting on the sidelines for me to call out to Him for my needs. God wants to work in my life but He isn’t going to come into the situation without my invitation. I first need to call out to God, “Help, this is more than me!” I need to realize Who can get the job done and then I need to let Him.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are my God and I ask You into my life this day to help me through this day. Amen.

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