Still waters

08 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; ~Psalms 23:2 (CEB)

I am about to be in trouble when I start saying things like “there is just so much of me to go around”. This little flag should be a warning to me that I am close to overload. With this little comment I am saying that I realize that I have limits and I have reached them. Often I say this ignoring the red flag that should otherwise help me. I say it in exasperation but it is a choice that I make when I continue on past my limits.

Other flags of warning are physical pains that start to creep in. It might be in the form of sickness, shortness of breath, maybe things get so out of control that I begin to experience worse symptoms like tightness in my chest. God doesn’t want us to live on overload. He made us needing times of rest. God viewed our need for rest as so important that he listed it in the Ten Commandments: “Keep the Sabbath day and treat it as holy, exactly as the LORD your God commanded: Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Don’t do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals, or the immigrant who is living among you—so that your male and female servants can rest just like you.” (Duet 5:12-14)

Our innate need for rest is the reason that God created “grassy meadows” with trickling streams.  I have learned for my health and over all well-being I need moments to sit on my porch swing, smelling the jasmine as it wafts around me like a security blanket while the birds serenade me with their songs. I have to remember that I need in my day those quiet times for recharging and gathering of strength.

Thank you Heavenly Father for knowing me so well that You know my need for rest even when I don’t recognize it myself. Thank you for leading me beside still waters and giving me peace. Amen.

Thanks in every situation

07 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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

 

Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians   5:16-18

Here in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 it lays it all out pretty simply. Rejoice always. It doesn’t say, only when you feel joyful, it says rejoice ALWAYS. Pray continually, not just sometimes but in everything I should be in prayer. Give thanks in every situation… hmm. That one is harder.

Last Sunday morning I got in the car to head to church. The car didn’t start. I am to be thankful in this Lord? Well, I could have been an hour from home like I had been a few days before. I could have been at the grocery store with frozen food melting in the trunk while I waited for help. So, I was thankful. I was thankful that this didn’t happen while I was visiting my parents in West TN, 6 hours away when I had a tight schedule for getting back, not just for the day I was traveling back but also for the next two days after I got back. The few days I was without a car I only had to rearrange a handful of things and for this I was thankful too. No, I wasn’t happy about having to spend money on my car for repairs but I was thankful that I had money to pay the repairman. I was also thankful that I have a repairman that I trust. After I thought about it, I realized that I had a lot to be thankful for in spite of my car troubles.

Because I took the time to look for the things that I was thankful for despite the car troubles and the impositions it caused, I was able to handle this “crisis” I little better this time.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember to rejoice always, to pray continually and to always remember to give thanks in every situation. Amen.

Made with love

04 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , ,

God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and master it. Take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and everything crawling on the ground.”Then God said, “I now give to you all the plants on the earth that yield seeds and all the trees whose fruit produces its seeds within it. These will be your food. To all wildlife, to all the birds of the sky, and to everything crawling on the ground—to everything that breathes—I give all the green grasses for food.” And that’s what happened. God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day. ~Genesis 1:27-31

My son came home from his last day of classes. He couldn’t wait to show me the sock monkey he has been laboring over for so very long. Proudly he pulls the sock monkey out and presents him with all grander and pomp. “See mom, here he is. He may be a little funny looking, but he was made with LOVE!!” He was right, it was a little funny looking but he was so proud of that sock monkey he had created himself.

As I look at that sock monkey that sits in a place of honor in my living room, my heart can’t help but trip a little at its crooked smile and wonky ears. The monkey’s stitches show and we haven’t gotten around to finishing up his arms but that doesn’t diminish my son’s love for this monkey.

So often I notice my own stitches showing, my crooked smile, eyes that aren’t the same size. I know all the areas that are yet to be finished. Despite all that is wrong with me, I have a Creator in heaven that looks down with love and says, “I know she may be a little funny looking and she still has some parts that need to be worked on, but I made her with LOVE!!”

Lord, help me rest in Your assurance that I have been made with love. You call me good, supremely good with my stitches showing, my crooked smile and areas that still need some work. May I ever be grateful for the grace You extend to me. Amen

Shelter in the storm

03 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a hiding place from the storm, a shade from the heat. When the breath of tyrants is like a winter storm. ~ Isaiah 25:4 (CEB)

I attended a meeting one night and the facilitator accused some of us of not being thrilled to be there. He asked us to think of a word that described our feelings. When I thought about how I was feeling, I decided that I felt pretty good and I was glad to be there that night. At the same time I realized that this was not a complete picture of what I was feeling. On the surface I felt happy and peaceful, but underneath the calm I knew there still raged a storm, a storm that may never find rest this side of heaven.

I think this is what was meant about feeling peaceful despite life’s circumstances. Maybe you are in a storm right now. For you, maybe your storm is an alcoholic or drug addict in your life. Maybe someone you love is dying of a terminal illness or you are dealing with grief and great loss. Maybe you personally are suffering with drugs, alcohol or a terminal illness. Maybe your financial situation is just about to swallow you whole. Despite the storms that may never cease this side of heaven we find verses in the Bible that tell us that we are not alone. That someone walks along with us in the storm. Isaiah 25:4 even tells me that I can hide away from the storm, find refuge from my distress. How do I find refuge from the storms? In fellowship with other Christians, reading the Word, singing hymns, prayer and worship. These things can provide a shelter and a resting place.

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing a shelter in the storms of life. May I frequently seek out your comfort so that I can continue in Your peace. Amen.

All that I am not

02 Jun 2014 Leave a comment

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“He said to me, My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness. So I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me”~ 2Cor 12:9

So often I get frustrated with all that “I am not”. The key in that is frustration. If I am feeling frustrated then somehow God is not in the situation. Jesus did not come to earth, die on the cross, and rise again on the third day for us to feel frustrated, weak and defeated. He went through all that to give us an inheritance, authority in this life and His strength to rule over our circumstances.

In any area where we stumble, God is ready and willing to provide us with His strength. It seems crazy but in 2 Cor 9:12 it says that we should BRAG about our weaknesses! Why? Not for a false humility but because when we brag about our weaknesses, Christ’s power can rest on us! When we are weak we have God’s perfect strength.

Lord, help me this day to remember that your grace is enough for me. Help me when I get frustrated over my weaknesses and my inabilities to remember that these are God moments made special for me. In my weaknesses I find your powerful strength to get me through the day. Amen.

To walk with the Lord

29 May 2014 Leave a comment

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Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. ~John 15:4-5 (CEB)

As a young girl, growing up in church, I heard things like “walk continually in the presence of the Lord” and “pray constantly”. I struggled with what these meant knowing too I didn’t want to do it as the Pharisees did… for show. So how was I to do this with a true heart?

Henri J. M. Nouwen has addressed this in his book The Living Reminder ~ “To walk in the presence of the Lord means to move forward in life in such a way that all our desires, thoughts, and actions are constantly guided by Him. When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of Him. This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a

life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said, or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence.”

I do think to thank God for the flowers, the decorated trees, bird songs, beautiful sky scapes… but some of the ordinary things slip by me unnoticed. A roof over my head, food on my plate… a bed to sleep in. May I remember this day to be thankful for EVERYTHING. Not just the things that make me gasp in wonder but also the simple reliable things of life.

Dear God, Thank You for the gentle reminders You put in my life of Your Presence. Help me tune in to those reminders so that I may feel Your Presence go with me this day. May all I do and say be a reflections of Your love. Amen.

The Bible tells me so…

23 May 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 1 John 4:16 (CEB)

When my son was little and starting to say his bed time prayers on his own, he naturally began his prayers with no prompting from me, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so” and then he would move into blessing everyone he could think of, ask for good sleep and for safety through the night. Until I heard the words from my son’s mouth I never really thought about the fact that we know God’s love because the Bible tells us so.

It is so easy to go about our everyday life saying the words that God loves us without ever really knowing just what it is that we are saying.  The knowledge of God’s love should not be just some biblical fact which we adsorbed as a child but it should be a living reality in our lives. Look again at verse 16, God is love. He doesn’t just love me, He is love. The verse goes on to tell us that those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them.

How do I remain in God’s love?  John 14:21 says, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” What are the commandments to keep? Matthew 22:37-39 says, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself”

It is not enough just to know that God loves me. I must live my life in such a way that I remain in God’s love. To remain in God’s love I should love my neighbor as myself. When I love others, I am in God’s love.

Gracious God, your commands are stated simple enough for a child to grasp but sometimes it slips right by us and we forget what you want of us. You want us to love each other in all we do and say. Lord help me this day to love those around me as the Bible tells me to love. Amen.

Praying in Jesus’ name

20 May 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , ,

In that day, you won’t ask me anything. I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete. ~John 16:23-24 (CEB)

Here we find in John 16:23-24 another one of those Biblical truths that we learn but might not think about the truth behind the words. I was taught as a child to end my prayers “in Jesus’ name” I was taught to ask for what I needed in Jesus’s name but I haven’t really thought about what I am doing when I mimic my upbringing. This scripture tells me that when I pray to God using His name He answers me. What this means is that I have been given authority in His name.

The exciting part about this is that when we pray using God’s authority, it is as if He was saying the prayer. That is some powerful stuff! It is almost too awesome to think that when I am saying my payers it is as if God is saying them Himself! That should give me confidence in my prayers. Not only does God know what is in my heart, not only does He hear me when I pray, but when I pray it’s as if He has said the prayer Himself! This gives me a new perspective on the power of prayer.

This perspective on prayer gives me new meaning to prayer. Prayer is powerful. No longer will I think when the situation is bigger than me, “well, all I can do is pray”. Now I can see how it is the most powerful thing I can do. It isn’t a last resort; it should be my first step of action.

Heavenly Father, may my prayers be more confident knowing that you not only know my heart, hear me speak, but that you are right there praying with me.  In times of great need may I remember the simplicity of calling out in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayerful

19 May 2014 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , ,

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord.

Apart from you, I have nothing good.”

You, LORD, are my portion, my cup;

you control my destiny.

I will bless the LORD who advises me;

even at night I am instructed

in the depths of my mind.

I always put the LORD in front of me;

I will not stumble because he is on my right side.

That’s why my heart celebrates and my mood is joyous;

yes, my whole body will rest in safety

because you won’t abandon my life to the grave;

you won’t let your faithful follower see the pit.

You teach me the way of life.

In your presence is total celebration.

Beautiful things are always in your right hand.

~Psalm 16:2,5,7-11 (CEB)

“Most of us grew up saying prayers, reading prayers, or listening to others praying. There is a difference between a person whose says prayers and a prayerful person. It is the difference between something we do and someone we are.

Do you know someone who is a prayer? He or she is probably someone who views life in a different way than most – someone who seems to have found a way to be aware of God’s presence in an ongoing way.

We are called as Christian people to be present in each moment in order to experience that God’s time and our time have intersected. We are called to practice the presence of God. It is this for which our hearts yearn.” ~Ron Delbene, “A Simple Way to Pray,” Weavings

Heavenly Father, may I go about this day in prayerful diligence. Help me to experience You in all I do. Help me to be present in this time and space so that I can feel Your presence as I go about my day. Help me keep You ahead of me so I will not stumble through my work. Bring me home at the end of my day to the rest and peace that only You can give. Amen.

Many ways to Pray

12 May 2014 Leave a comment

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I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. ~Ephesians 1:18-19 (CEB)

Despite growing up in church I always felt that I was not good at praying. I have learned that there are many ways to pray since reading the book “50 ways to Pray”, by Teresa A. Blythe. I have always held close the scripture from Romans 8:26 that says when we don’t know what to pray the Holy Spirit will pray for us but this book about prayer helped me to see the different ways there are to pray. It helped me to see that I already prayed with song, when I painted, when I smelled flowers or listened to birds sing. Prayers could be felt as I rocked my children to sleep. Reading the Bible and thinking on God’s truth and how they apply to me was praying. Any conversation I have with God is prayer. Silence and waiting on Him is prayer. Maybe silence is the most important part. We often feel uncomfortable with silence and tend to fill it but part of praying is listening for God to speak to us.

Even after reading “50 ways to Pray”, I still felt that my word prayers needed some work. How surprised I was to discover that the Bible is full of prayers. This prayer that Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians is beautiful. “I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believes, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers.”  I love the words he uses and I can take his words and model my prayers after them. The Psalms are also a wonderful place to find inspiration for prayer. The Psalms have some of the barest emotions you will find. A few years ago I started marking the scriptures in Psalms so that when I needed hope, or a way to express joy or sadness I can easily scan through until I find verses I feel apply to my situation. I can even find verses in Psalms that express anger towards God or toward my life’s situations. The Psalms are some of my favorite scriptures.

Once again I stand amazed in Your presence, O Lord. You tell me that you will meet all my needs, even the need for words in the prayers I lift up to you. You will not leave me stranded even in the prayers that I speak. Thank you.

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