Devotions

The End Of The Rainbow

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today (April 18, 2016) over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

Rainbow

After The Storm

“Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”   Genesis 9:14-15 NIV

 

I vividly remember a time when my family was in our car and we drove through a very heavy rain.  When the downpour ended, we saw a beautiful rainbow.  It was right in front of us and then we drove right through the end of the rainbow!  A prism of color appeared all around us and even the inside of the car had a majestic glow.  Then just as quickly, we drove out of that cloud of color and continued down the road.  However, I hate to inform you that we did not find a pot of gold!

The amazing feeling of being enveloped in the rainbow’s glory has never been forgotten.  I would like to think that when Noah and his family first saw the rainbow God placed in the sky, they were also filled with awe.

However, before they were blessed with the sight of that rainbow, Noah and his family had to endure a great storm.

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Love Is The Reason

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today (April 1, 2016) over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

 

Experience The Love

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.   2 Timothy 4 7-8 (NIV)

I’ve never been good at sports, but I am looking forward to watching the Olympics this summer.  I enjoy hearing the personal stories of the athletes.  It is easy to tell they love their sport with a passion to have to endure the hours and hours of work.  They look forward to the end result of their work by striving to win their competition.

I enjoy quilting.  It takes hours selecting the pattern and fabric, cutting the fabric, sewing the pieces together, then quilting the top to the back, which I do by hand.  The reason I spend so many hours working on a quilt is because I anticipate seeing the joy on the faces of the people I give the quilt to.  That goal gives me the incentive to do the work.

The reason most people work so hard at a particular activity is for the end result.  Yes, there is joy to be had along the way.  I enjoy the creative process of quilting.  Athletes enjoy the thrill of their sport.  But the ultimate goal is to finish, and finish well.

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Who Has Time To Rest?

Published on by Joan

He Will Meet our Needs

“Getting Away From It All”

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)  They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.”   Mark 6:31-32 (NASB)

Do you ever wish you could just take a time out from life?  Life is so busy and every moment is filled with work, errands, home and family responsibilities.  Moments for rest seem to be few and far between.  And it’s not just the busyness, but it’s also the people we have to deal with.  As Christians, we need to be an example to others when facing challenging situations, but that can lead to stress, too.

We often just want to get away from it all.  Even the Psalmist said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest.”  (Psalm 55:6 NASB)

Here are some things we can do to help us face all the madness. 

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That’s Life!

Published on by Joan

Being broken can be a good thing… if it draws us closer to the Healer

God Sees Our Brokenness

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.  Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.  Psalm 147:3-5 NKJV

One day when my daughter was younger, we were discussing some disappointments we had.  Those things were not really big issues, but to a teenager, everything seems to fall into the “major events” column.  I made the comment, “That’s life.”  Neither of us really liked that statement of reality.  After that though, when we found ourselves complaining over things that were not all that important, we began to tell each other, “That’s life, Jack!”  It would help us laugh, and put things in perspective.

But sometimes there are major events we have to face. 

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Reflection Of Love

Published on by Joan

Joan - Freedom from discouragement

“Mirror, Mirror On The Wall”

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:4-6 (NIV)

 

Have you ever heard it said, “You are your own worst enemy?”  I searched this quote and found it really can’t be attributed to any one person.  Maybe it’s because we all have been our own enemy at some point in our lives.

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Anticipating God’s Words

Published on by Joan

 

Joan -Carpe

A Word for Every Day

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  Colossians 3:16 NKJV

Anticipating a new year can give us a feeling of excitement or anxiousness.  Excitement comes when the anticipation is for positive, good things to come.  Anxiety is felt for the possibility of negative things happening that are out of our control.

As Christians, we should be looking forward with anticipation that whatever may come, God has it taken care of already.  The way we can have that kind of hopeful anticipation is to stay immersed in the Word of God.

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Anticipating A New Day

Published on by Joan

Sing to the LORD a new song,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.   2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Remember the anticipation of Christmas as a child?  And looking through toy catalogs with longing?  Now, I love seeing the excitement on my grandchildren’s faces over a new toy.  I recall how I felt when the anticipation finally became reality.

Then came New Year’s Day.  As a child, that meant Christmas break was almost over.  I didn’t look forward with anticipation to a new year like I had Christmas.

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Moments Remembered

Published on by Joan

Joan - Remembering past blessings

Sweet Memories

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations.  1 Chronicles 16:12, 15 NIV

Entrée:

Another calendar change.  Another year over.  If this New Year is like all the others, it takes me about three months before I remember to write the correct year!

When I was a little girl, I remember hearing adults say that the older you get, the faster time flies.  I didn’t understand that at all…until I became a parent … then a grandparent.  Now I know that the saying is true.  It seems like as soon as I do remember to write the correct year, it’s time to add another digit.

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The Splendor of The Stable

Published on by Joan

Focusing on God’s gift puts all the others into perspective. (2)

Think of a time when you saw a place – a restaurant, hotel, or home – that you thought so beautiful, it took your breath away.  Or perhaps a place where the wonders of nature filled you with awe.  Being an ordinary southern girl, I’ve never been to a lot of, in southern speak, “plum fancy” places.  On rare occasions, I’ve been to restaurants where I was afraid I was going to pick up the wrong fork!

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Leaving Marks of Rage

Published on by Joan

A gentle

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Have you ever experienced road rage?  I was traveling one day and had to get onto an interstate.  It was rush hour and the traffic was horrible.  I had to merge quickly into the fast moving traffic.  Although I thought I was moving at the pace of the other vehicles, I pulled in front of someone who wasn’t very pleased with me.  The man accelerated, switched lanes and then came barreling around me, glaring the whole time.

Once he got around me, he moved back over in my lane and slowed down.  Next thing I knew, here came a cheeseburger out of his window and it plastered on my windshield!  It only stayed there a few seconds before it flew off, but it did leave some ketchup and mustard behind.

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