Not Out of Desperation

What am I suppose to do? I'm falling for a girl that I'm not sure I can have. God I need your help more than ever! Help me either to win her heart or just forget her! I can't even spend 10 minutes without thinking about her. She's the most amazing person in the world and she's so close in proximity, but I want to be close to her heart! :(

Objective Eyes

Scripture: Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that i should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean." (Acts 10:28)



Observation: It's human nature to profile people and classify people into different groups. The "geeky" club or the "cool" kids. Some, if not most of these classifications are harmless. However, there can be some that may harm people's feelings or even their physical state. This scripture tells us that what God calls clean, is clean regardless of what our laws on earth say. Jesus washed our sins away which makes us humans clean, and we should accept that anyone who has come to know Christ and accepts him, should be considered pure and clean.



Application: I must accept everyone and their differences. If everyone were the same, this life would be boring. Even those that I feel have wronged me, they are still human beings too and they probably have a reason for what they do. I am not the Almighty Judge and should not rain down judgement upon them.



Prayer: Dear Father, give me your eyes so that I may accept everyone whom I come across, and give me the patience to get to know these people before I pass ANY sort of judgement. Thank You Lord for all You have down for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Above the Storm

Scripture: The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. (Esther 9:15)

Observation: Working in the retail industry, I see a lot of different kinds of people. Though we are in the business of serving the general public, it amazes me how many people take advantage of that fact. A co-worker of mine and I had a deep talk yesterday about this very subject and in it, I told her that I have a really big problem with people who think they are better than others, just because of their race, nationality, or even the amount of money they have in their wallet. I told her that I believe every person is equal and no one person should be above any other. Anyway, the conversation got really heated, because for a moment, I almost lost my temper; not at her, but just at the general idea. This quote reminds me that any person who is against the Lord and his people, will be dealt with accordingly. I can get mad and lose my temper, but it is the Lord of Heaven and Earth that will bring judgement on these people.

Application: I need to remember that I need to be slow to speak and slow to anger. I need to treat everyone, even those that don't respect me or others, with the love that Jesus showed us by being crucified. Though it might be the most harshest, unloving person, Jesus will have His way with that person and I must shine His light through my actions.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank you for all my brothers and sisters in the world. Even the ones I don't quite see eye to eye with. Give me the patience, respect, and love for those that I don't agree with and help me to understand that we are all Your children and You have a plan for each and every one of us. Help me to be a light that shines Your love upon all those around me. Amen.

Wandering Hearts

Scripture: Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. (Isaiah 63:17)

Observation: Though the Lord never leaves us, it is pretty interesting to know that He lets us wander from His ways. I personally know many times where I've chosen the wrong path. As much as I want to follow the Lord 100%, society makes it difficult sometimes. Isaiah is asking God to return to help us in our time of need.

Application: Right now in my life I'm having the hardest dilemma I've ever faced. I really like a girl whom I work with, but first of all, I'm discouraged by the fact that she may be getting serious with someone she's been seeing. Secondly, I allow myself to be so easily distracted by the other "pretty girls" around me. I've asked the Lord for help in this matter, and though I've asked for Him to make her mine, I've also acknowledged that i'll obey if shes not in His plan for me. The signs I see, point to a possible future with her, but because of all these distractions and discouraging reminders, it's hard for me to follow the path. I must remember that the Lord is the final word in any dilemma and that no matter what anyone says, if it's His will, it will happen.

Prayer: Dear Father, I know I must keep the path that you set before me. Help me to build a strong heart so that I may resist the discouragement that surrounds me. I will work to keep the distractions from my mind Lord, but I ask for Your help for I know that without You, I am weak. Lord take my hand and guide me to the righteous path, and let me walk in Your footsteps. Amen

Scripture: Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:50,51)

Observation: The harshness of life can cloud you to what things are possible when you believe in Jesus. When you put your faith in the Lord, He will bless you with unbelievable things. Society may tell you that things cannot move in your favor, however with God, all things are possible. He will make the impossible within you grasp, if you just believe.

Application: A situation in my life now has me wound up so tight that just thinking about it makes my stomach turn. Now I've formed beliefs about this situation based on what I've seen. However some of those beliefs may be biased by the faith I've put in man. These thoughts discourage me and make me think that what I want, is not possible. However I know, if it's also what the Lord wants, if I place my trust in Him, He will make it happen.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please bless me with "selective hearing". Please give me the wisdom to pick out what You want me to hear, versus what the devil wants me to hear. I know You encourage me everyday and it's my weakness that discourages me. I feel I've grown closer with You during this trip to Kona, I'm trying to stand upon Your Word Lord, and not the eroding ground of the earth. Amen.

The Heart of a Woman

Scripture: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

(1 Peter 3:3,4)



Observation: I'm fairly young in life. 21 is the age where one becomes a true adult, at least by today's standards. This scripture describes exactly what I look for in a girl. Yeah this observation is a little selfish in a way. But I think with all the flash and glamour that Hollywood tries to portray to woman, that it's easy to get distracted from what's in front of you. It can cloud you to what you should look for in a partner.



Application: I need to not be enticed by the glamour of society these days. I must look deeper within a person and see the beauty they hold within their hearts. Only then can I truly decide whether or not I want to spend the rest of my lives with them. There's a situation now in my life where I can't decide whether or not to pursue someone that I find attractive. I've done my best to get to know her, and I feel she is of pure heart. I want to believe that but I have to try and remain objective because it could be all an illusion.



Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that You guide me in the affairs of the heart. I've done things so blindly before that now when I feel it really matters, I really wanna make the right decision. I ask that You show me what I should do. Give me Your wisdom and patience to help me find the right life partner for me. The person You have made for me, and the person You have made me for. Amen

My Shelter

Scripture: "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime." (Isaiah 39:8)

Observation: Isn't it amazing to know we have a God who will love us and take care of us for all of eternity. He will give us peace and serenity throughout our crazy and hectic lives. The storms of society surround us and constantly bombard us with rain and what not, yet we can still come to the Lord and be sheltered from all of that. When we just can't stand in the rain anymore, He will be the roof that will block all of that until we are ready and strong enough to continue in our lives.

Application: I have a lot of turmoil in my life. A lot of different things bombarding me, many paths to choose from. The voices of man fill my mind and drown out the word of God sometimes. But I must run to God and be sheltered from all of that so I may go back out into the world and serve His purpose for me. I gotta spend the time to listen to what He is saying to me and walk in obedience with Him.

Prayer: Dear God, I thank You for being my shelter, and giving me Your strength so that I may carry on each day. I know my problems are small, and You could be a god that belittles them and makes me deal with them myself. But I know You are so much more than that, You've taken my problems on Your shoulders and are helping me through it everyday of my life. I love You Lord and I thank You with all my heart. Amen

Trial by Fire

Scripture: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:6-9)

Observation: Times are tough, a lot of us are facing hardships we never would have imagined would come to us. Day after day we face test after test and it becomes harder to live our lives the way God wants us to. But when we remain true, and walk in obedience with the Lord, we build a genuine faith that He loves to see. Our loyalty and commitment to the Lord is strengthened by every trial we face. Granted there will be times when we slip and fall, but that's why it's so amazing that we have a forgiving God.

Application: I know I have to remain true to God's word. Coming back to my devotions is one way of doing that. When I strayed away, is when the world blinded me. The more I read of the Bible, the closer I come to the Lord. And when I walk in obedience with Him, the stronger relationship I build with Him as well.

Prayer: Dear Father, I know You'll never leave me Lord. Though I will sometimes stray, I'm glad that You will always bring me back to the path You've set for me. It excites me knowing that if I just follow obediently with You Lord, my relationship with You will grow ever stronger, and nothing can ever get in my way. You are an awesome God, and I'm thankful, and humbled that You sent Your Only Son to die for my sins. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Is that you, God?

Scripture: And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.
"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God." (2 Kings 19:15-19)

Observation: During these hard times, it's hard to remain focused on what God is saying to us. I personally feel that I'm at a constant struggle with following His Word while all of society's negativities and discouragement bombard me from every direction. But what I believe this scripture tells us is that if we remain steadfast in our walk with Him, He'll show us exactly what we need to do. He'll draw us closer to Him so that we can see what He has planned for us.

Application: Though it's good to have friends to seek advice from, I must remember that though all these things can help, they can also serve to confuse. I must seek God first, draw from His Word, and He will take me where I need to go. I've sought the wisdom of people for most of my problems when what I should be doing is seeking the Lord's Wisdom.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you speak to me Lord. In this time of confusion and chaos, I know it is You who can break through all of that and speak to my heart; I just have to be listening Lord. I know I haven't had my heart open for quite some time now, but I am ready to hear Your Voice and follow You Lord. Amen.

Craving vs. Striving

Scripture:

• "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" (Number 11:4-6)
• Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. (Numbers 11: 31-34)

Observation: Look around us. You can see the signs of our ever deepening recession. The gloomy faces of those walking down the street serve as reminders of our failing times. We look around for something...one thing...that will make us happy once again. Now even though bills plague our lives, and our shrinking wages choke our wallets, some still look for gratification in spending our money on frivolous items that we really don't need. We wander the malls looking for bargains on things so that we can satisfy our need to be happy. However, as this verse tells us, we may find temporary contentment in our purchases, but ultimately, if we continue to spend thoughtlessly, we will never find that true unending joy we all want. Our debt will grow, our spending will increase as we find more ways to satisfy our cravings, and eventually we will run out of money and be stuck in a hole so deep, we cant see the light of day.

Application: I'm reminded of something a friend and I were discussing a few days ago. He told me about a book he was reading regarding finances. To be quite honest, I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been, but of the few things I picked up, two words etched themselves into my brain. Those two words: ASSETS and LIABILITIES. Let me describe what that means. When you buy something, they are either an asset, or a liability. An asset pays for itself. It helps you to reach a goal and will continue to serve you regardless of changing trends or fashions. It never becomes boring because it's something that you utilize constantly. A liability is something that after it serves its brief purpose of making you happy, you start thinking to yourself, 'did I really need that?', and you end up putting it down, not using it for years. Here's an example; I'm gonna buy a fancy designer watch that costs hundreds of dollars all because it looks nice. I tell myself "hey...its an asset cuz it will help me be on time to work." Is it really an asset? Hey yeah I look nice, I can tell the time now, but did I really need to spend hundreds of dollars on something that does the same things as something that costs twenty bucks? I challenge each and everyone of you, as well as myself, to start looking at what we buy and seeing if it will be an asset, or a liability to us. When you go to the mall and see that thing that COULD make you happy, ask yourself, will that help me in the future...will that pay for itself by helping me in reaching success, or will it make me happy, and eventually become a liability because it grows out of fashion, or becomes boring. One of the biggest assets in the world, is what we already have. The family that loves us dearly, the love that God has given each and everyone of us. Sometimes we lose sight of what God has already blessed us with, and crave that bigger or better thing. We need to find the contentment in what WE have, and not what OTHERS have. Now that's not to say we shouldn't strive to be better than where we are. But we shouldn't crave those things that in the end, will only become liabilities and drag us further down into the hole.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for everything You've blessed me with in this life. I know I crave things that I shouldn't. I know I want more things than those You have already blessed me with. I ask for Your wisdom Lord, so that I may make better decisions in the things I buy, and that I may be content in what I already have. I ask that You give me the foresight to see the things that I should strive for, and the knowledge to know when to back off and cherish what I already have. I trust in You that You will give me what I need so that I may serve in the plan you have set for my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Look Before You Leap

Scripture: But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it. (Luke 14:28-30)

Observation: Speaking from personal experience, this passage speaks to the want of what others have. For me personally, I left EMS pursuing a better education and a college degree. I was not fully content with having such a wonderful job that I felt proud of. I'll be honest, there are times now that I look at an ambulance and crave the feel of that adrenaline rush one more time. Where I see that paramedic walk out the front door, with everyone's eyes on them with that look of awe. I didn't forsee that loss in my life. Also the wonderful paycheck, not realizing that perhaps without that paycheck, the college education and degree that I want, may not be attainable anymore. I feel blessed in my life knowing that, even though I gave up all these things, I've gained so much more with my new job at Target. I've found so many new people that are blessing me with knowledge every single day. I'm becoming a better person BECAUSE of that decision. Also, if going to college is something God wants in my life, as long as I stay commited to doing what the Lord has layed out for me, there isn't anything that can get in my way.

Application: I have to learn to be content with what I have. Instead of looking externally for what others have, or that new latest gadget; I must look internally and see what God has already blessed me with. I need to ask the Lord what tools I need to achieve the goals He has set before me. There isn't anything wrong with looking for something that might make your life a little easier, but going all out spending hundreds of dollars on a luxury that I haven't earned, is something that I just can't do.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I'd like to thank You for all that You've blessed me with in this life. I thank You for helping me get more out of my mistakes, so that I may become better in serving You. I'd like to ask that You continue to guide me in life, helping me to see what You want me to pursue, and continuing to give me the tools needed to achieve that. I'd like to thank You for the new people that You have brought into my life now that I'm working for Target, I ask that You use me to bless each one of them, and help me to make an impact on their lives so that they may also come to know You, and live the lives that not only they want, but also the lives You want for them. Amen.