Reflection

I love Saturday mornings! Nothing to do, sleeping in, and spending as much time as my spirit desires with my God.  I picked up an old journal that I had not finished writing in earlier this week and read back a couple pages.  What I read brought so much trust and joy into my heart.

This time last year I was frantically trying to finish my master's degree at Auburn University and nail down an internship to become a dietitian.  There were a couple programs that had just started that I had applied to.  This journal entry was written after I heard that I did not get in either program. One of the programs even said that my application was late so they didn't consider me.  My entry was this,
 " 'Don't lose hope, daughter!'  These are the words You've spoken to me this season and in the  time.  I'm trying hard not to lose hope and to ignore the lie of I'm not good enough. I wonder if I had gotten my application in on time??? But, now that it's behind me, I won't dwell on it."

Little did I know what He had in store for me.  Looking back on this entry and being able to see with 20/20 vision gives me such great hope in who our God is and His promises to us.  That He does have a greater plan (Jeremiah 29:11), that His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55: 8 and on) and that He delights to give us the desires of our hearts if we'll surrender those desires to Him. 

Today I am writing to you from my two bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC in the very beginning stages of my dietetic internship at the Medical University of South Carolina:)!!!!! In less than a year I will be a registered dietitian. Praise Him!!

I still cannot believe that He has places me here for such a time as this.  I encourage you today to place your trust in whatever situation you may be going through into His CAPABLE hands.  It's hard going through a rough season.  It took me four years to get where I am but what I learned along the way and what I was able to do in that "in between time" was worth it's weight in gold.  I would not be the person I am today without that time. 

Your sister,
Amanda

Divine Mentor-Our God Is In Control

Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 74; I John 5

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3 " Call unto me, and I will answer you and will tell you great and unsearchable things which you do not know."

Observation: In the midst of the destruction of the Promised Land, which God orchestrated and allowed because of the rebellion of His chosen people, God speaks through Jeremiah about the future.

Application: This verse is as true today as it was 500 years before Jesus came. God wants to be involved in every area of my life, and He promises me that He knows my future and is in total control of it.

Prayer: O God, I miss out on so much when I try to run my own life. Today I am calling on You- answer me, and tell me great things which I do not know!

Divine Mentor: Highly influential Christians

“Christians are the most influential people on planet Earth. Imagine what God would do through us if we’d simply obey.” Highly influential Christians are people who are (or people of)… Holy (separate from sin, pray, read the Bible, fellowship with other Christians) Intentional (deliberate about what we do and why we do it) Focused (committed, self-disciplined, prioritize, and “niche” oriented in ministry) Generous (with time, money, and love) Passionate (positive about the things of God and the people of God) Servants (submissive to the needs of those around us) Courageous (overcome fear) Character (people of sound morals, ethics, and biblical principles) Communicative (we listen, we share our ideas, we speak–it’s called ministry) Relational (we have diverse and multi-faceted relationships; no lone-rangers, we are others-oriented) Teachable (we appreciate the wisdom of others and allow ourselves to be taught, shaped and molded by what is right) Leaders (we are visionaries, with our eyes fixed on heaven, leading others to find that sweet manna bread) Humble (we maintain a correct and honest assessment of ourselves) Criticized (because we long for a home made without hands, we tend to be at odds with worldly people) Imitated (others are able to see how we live and replicate what is good; we are mentors to those who need help) Transparent (we are not hypocrites; we don’t hide behind masks; what you see is what you get) Competitive (we want our God and Savior to be victorious in our lives; finishing last is non-optional behavior for us) Expansive (we live outside of the comfort zone, because that’s where the amazing things happen, such as change) Discerning (we don’t bend with every wind of doctrine, but compare everything to Scripture) Motivational (we can be a spark to light other people’s fire as we bear one another’s burdens) Learners (we never come to a place where we’ve arrived; there is always more to glean) Taken from CharlesSpecht.com

john 21:11 153 fishes Mon. 19th Barbara Hutchinson

Our LORD is so precise when HE is talking to us and I always wondered at the odd number of 153. In the past I ask the LORD to help me to find an explanation and in time when I had forgotten I ask the wisdom HE gave me an answer that the hebrew alphabet of each letter having a numerical value was a key.  It is considered that this means 153 sorts of fish, i.e. all kinds of men enclosed in the Gospel net. If these fishes are a symbol of the saved, this confirms of our LORD'S words, recorded in John 6:39  KJV "of all that HE (the FATHER) hath given ME I should lose nothing"  and John 17:12 "those that THOU gavest ME I have kept, and none of them is lost.  This to fulfill scripture.
This is a promise & a promise broken becomes a lie, GOD cannot lie & we cannot lie when we speak HIS promises in faith, trust & belief, expect them to come to pass and thank HIM before we see the results.
The expression in hebrew of BENI HA-ELOHIM) means "SONS OF GOD" and the numerical value adds up to 153.

John 21:9 As soon then as they wereome to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  verse 10 JESUS saith unto them, bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Obviously the cooking fish were not of what they caught.    and the next verse says the net was not broken therefore none were lost.
Peter & the others remembering JESUS' promise to make them fishers of men in Matthew 4:19 would probably have made this connection & understood this was JESUS  preparing them for their ministry of witnessing with out fear in the dark days ahead of them in their lifetimes.
We lose so much between the lines & the depth of these precise numbers & examples of how JESUS taught HIS disciples face to face, and that is why we are to study to be found worthy as we seek HIS face in our christian walk remembering christianity cannot stand alone it stems straight out of the roots of JUDAISM.

But this is to cement in our minds that HE will not lose one of us even in the midst of this gross darkness that we are to be NOT AFRAID BUT STRONG & COURAGEOUS.  Courage in hebrew means clear headed, clear minded, sharp, alert, established & confirmed in our MINDS OF CHRIST.  That is hope eternal to hear that trump & be called home soon & very soon.  IN JESUS NAME    AMEN!

Divine Mentor - Because she Lingered - by Laila Wahba

Because she lingered

John 20.10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

20.11-15 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking..

Peter and John did “what they had to do”: they saw the situation, believed and went back home. They did not do anything wrong; but Mary lingered. Being a woman  made her linger, being emotional, made her linger; being a woman with a past whom Jesus had free, made her linger and this very lingering blessed her: she saw angels, and she saw… Jesus.

I am a to do, goal oriented woman, God spoke to me this morning that Peter and John checked their “to Do” list, and no one could blame them, but Laila, checking the to do list sometimes makes you miss so may blessings. Take your time Laila, and linger a little bit longer: tell me about your feelings, your struggles, your fears. This is not wasted time: lingering gives me time to appear to you in ways that you would never experience if you stick to your check list; or if you stick to the proper way to do things, or if you hurry through your time with ME. Linger, wait, “waste” time and you will see things that no one else experienced, just like Mary Magdalene.

Lord, today I will linger a little bit longer, like a woman madly in love with her Savior, wanting to spend one more second with You, Jesus, the lover of my soul. I do not want to leave you Lord, let me linger to see YOUR lovely face, and hear you say “Laila, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking”? and my answer will be, “I seek you Jesus”. Amen

Divine Mentor: Which Kingdom do you Serve? by Debbie McGrath

As I was reading John 19, it was so obvious that Pilate made all the wrong decisions that day. Just like Pilate, we have many decisions to make. Our choices we make, tell which kingdom we serve.  The scriptures in John 19 reveal that Pilate chose to serve the Kingdom of Earth - he went for popularity, power, security of his job and  short-term comfort.  He tried to seek a middle way, a scheme in which he could serve both or neither without having to chose, but there is none.  

Just like Pilate we choose who we will serve!
Which kingdom do you serve?

Kingdom of the Earth           OR        Kingdom of Heaven

* Public Popularity                           Personal Integrity
*Way of the World                           God's Way
*Works                                          Faith/Trust
*Pride                                            Grace
*Power                                          Truth
*Riches on Earth                             Treasures in Heaven
*Short-term comfort                        Eternal Rewards
*Earthly Success                             Spiritual Purity 
*Tangible Rewards                          Intangible and delayed rewards

Each day, we must choose which kingdom we will serve.  

Divine Mentor- How Do I Love?

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 13-15; John 15

Scripture: John 15: 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

Observation: Jesus is the perfect picture of the greatest love. Every disciple, including Paul, gave up the life he had known and even his physical life so that others could know Jesus. Believers throughout the centuries that followed gave up their homes and families, many eventually their lives, to take Jesus to others. Even today, believers are placing their lives in danger for the sake of the Gospel, and many are tortured and killed.

Application: I am ashamed to think about how little, if anything, I lay aside for my friends (let alone people I don't know). Sacrifice!! What sacrifices do I make? Maybe occasionally my calendar, my time, my money and possessions? Not really. What about my choice of TV programs and books? A good night's sleep? Would my life really be any different from what it is right now if I were not a believer committed to follow Jesus in obedience?

Prayer: Jesus, I can do nothing without You, but I want to be willing to give up everything so that others may know You. Show me today how to lay down my life of comfort in ways I may not have known. Show me how to love.

Divine Mentor- Is Jesus Still Weeping?

Today's reading: Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Scripture: John 11:35 "Jesus wept."

Observation: Jesus wasn't crying because his friend Lazarus had died. He knew He could raise him back to life. Jesus cried for everyone around Him, especially those closest to Him, because of their lack of faith and belief in Him.

Application: I believe in Jesus. I believe He has power over death and disease. I believe Him when He says I will never die but will live in eternity with Him. I echo Martha's words, " Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God." (v.27) Why, then, do I ever allow the events of my life to bring doubt, fear, or unrest into my heart and mind? How different would I be today if I truly believe and totally trust Jesus when He says, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (v 40). How often is He weeping over me?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I can remember so many times you must have wept over me, and that makes me heartsick. Just like Mary and Martha, I often think you could have prevented a crisis but can do nothing once it had happened. Please keep sending me to Romans 8:28 in all things.

Divine Mentor- My Shepherd's Voice

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10
Scripture: John 10:3b,4:  "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ...he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

Observation: Picture a huge sheep pen with many flocks. Sheep wandering around, noisily bleating, only the walls keeping them from wandering off. A shepherd comes in the door and calls his sheep by name (perhaps other shepherds are doing the same). He waits, then turns, and leads (not pushes) them out. Other shepherds are leading sheep in other directions, but his sheep follow him because they recognize his voice and his alone.

Application: I am a sheep living among sheep in a world of loud bleating and many calling voices. The noise is often deafening. Every time I watch TV, listen to the radio, read a book,  have a conversation, or even sit in silence, I can hear them, calling, looking for sheep to follow them. Many know my name. Some are calling me to "good" things- eat healthy, exercise, spend time with family. Others are calling me to waste my time with mindless activity, and far too many are calling me to reject what I know is God's truth. How do I distinguish His voice from all the others?  I must spend time daily in His Word and commune with Him in prayer throughout the day.

Prayer: Jesus, my shepherd, there are so many "voices" calling my name. Many even try to sound like You! I want to hear Your voice and Yours alone. Tune my ears to hear You. Amen.

Divine Mentor - Overcoming Blindness - Debbie Higginbotham

Overcoming Blindness

Scripture that spoke to me:

S. John 9:3  Jesus answered "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him".

O.The passage is speaking about the blind man that Jesus healed. He was born blind and the disciples wondered who in the family sinned for this man to be born blind. This is the thought process that most people have when bad things happen. They ask what sin did I commit, or did someone in my family commit that I deserve this hardship in life or just why me Lord? It's easy in our flesh to look for an answer in the trials and hardships of life, but sometimes we don't find the answer. We are blinded by circumstances in our life and fail to see how God works these circumstances into something good for us as well as others. When something happens to you it could bless someone else and when you step back to see that, you can thank our Father for using you to bless someone else. Don't ask why me, ask why not me?

A. I have the privilege of having met such a person. He is the blind man so to speak from John 9. He is a young man in his 20's and has lived with a disease most of his life. He spends a lot of time making trips back and forth to the hospital when he becomes sick, which is often. The minute he leaves the hospital though his first thought is I have to go to church. This is very important to him. He loves God and loves his church. Recently he suffered a brain aneurysm. It burst in his head and he was rushed to the hospital. He was in the hospital for weeks and through much prayer he is improving, but during that time he had to have a total blood transfusion. God has spared this young guy so that he is a blessing to others. He didn't get sick because of his or his parents sins, it's God's way of using him to bless others and this boy knows that God uses him for that purpose. He never complains about being sick or the frequent visits to the hospital, rather he looks forward to serving in his church. He has blessed the nurses in the hospital with his attitude and the prayers they witnessed that saved him. If these nurses did not believe their was a God, I think they must believe it now. This young man blesses people everyday through his circumstances.

P. Father please help me to see your blessings in every circumstance in my life as this young guy does. Help me to bless others in how I look at those circumstances and not feel as though I am being punished because of my or my family's sins. We are so blessed if we overcome the blindness to see again.

Divine Mentor - God is in Your Midst!! - Laila Wahba

Scripture Reading for Today: Zeph. 1-3, John 9

Scripture that spoke to me:

Zephaniah 3:17-20

The Lord your God is in your midst,

 a mighty one who will save;

 he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

 Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

 At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

 when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Observation

The Lord is:

In your midst: just hit me how happy, and proud I should feel that God Himself is in my midst. Who else do I need? 

God rejoices over me with gladness: although He knows me through and through, yet He also rejoices over even the baby steps I take in my relationship with Him.

He will quiet me with His love: once more The Lord says shshshshshshs rest Laila, rest in My love.

He will exult over me with loud singing: come and see everybody, this is my daughter with whom I am we'll pleased (I have tears in my eyes just imagining this).

From then on He does EVERYTHING: deal with my oppressors, save my lameness gather me when I am outcast  or oppressed. What will God do with the oppressed, lame and outcast? He will not throw them away like the society does, NO He will change my shame into praise, change my shame into renown, bring me in welcoming me, and restoring my fortune.

Application

Lord, you do it all. You see me with eyes of love. Your love is awesome.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that you love me s much .

Divine Mentor- I Will To Rejoice

Habakkuk 1-3; John 8
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:18 " Yet I will rejoice in The Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Observation: Habakkuk says he will rejoice no matter what the circumstances. He does not say he will be "happy", but that he will have joy. His rejoicing is not an emotional response to what he is experiencing-- it is an intentional response to God when rejoicing is far from the normal, expected human response.

Application: This is a tough week for me even after 10 years. Joe's birthday and our wedding anniversary used to be days that naturally caused me to rejoice, but now they hold only memories and the sadness of not being together, BUT I chose to rejoice in God, and He has been faithful. He is my joy every day of my life.

Prayer: Dear God, You promised to be my husband when Joe went to be with You, and I willed myself to rejoice in You all the rest of my days. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Stay out of the way

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 35:21

"...God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God who is with me; don't make Him destroy you."

Objective:
Neco the king of Egypt was on a mission for God and King Josiah who had pledged his heart, mind and everything to God thought he needed to intervene against an attack Neco was making. Josiah decided to ignore Neco's warning that he was on a righteous mission and was killed as a result of his disobedience.

Application:
Sometimes we as Christians get so "holy" we tend to forget that God can bless someone other than us.  We get so involved in what someone else is doing getting in their way we bring destruction on ourselves.  We also can sometimes forget we are the ones that God is behind when He tells us what to do. So we allow the distractions of other Christians (because our faith isn't strong enough to believe when God speaks to us) to change or even stop our steps ordained by God.  We have to be more like Neco and stand firm in our faith and not let no man keep us from doing what we know to be God's plan.  So we have to make a decision - do we allow someone else to stop us from our destiny or do we push on and allow God to deal with the distraction?

I heard a quote in a movie yesterday that this verse makes me think about. "Plant your feet and stand firm. The only question to have to worry about is where to plant your feet."  I want to plant my feet in my faith with our Father.

Prayer:
Lord, please continue to show me patience and mercy as we continue our love affair.  Please give me the discernment and the strenght to stand strong in your protection. Also, allow me to know when to stay out of someone else's way with my own agenda. Make me more like Neco in the sense of obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Divine Mentor - Because I love you - Laila Wahba

Because I love you

Scripture..” I have summoned you by name; you are mine….Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you……….Isaiah 43.1,4

Observation   Wow, the Maker of the Universe, the One who has the cattle on a thousand hills, the one who says “Let there be ….” And there was. This very God tells me I am precious and honored and loved. Then He starts telling me what He will give because of His love for me; He tells me what He will do, because of His love for me: I will be with you, you will not be burned, I will give men in exchange for you, I am with you

Application    Everyone of us dreams of her prince charming, who will give and save and defend and understand and encourage and listen, but we soon realize that there is no one alive who can do this. And even if he does, he cannot do it all the time. He cannot protect me, or give himself up for me. But my Price Charming did give Himself for me. Today, I want to take all the love I need,  all the encouragement, and all my needs from God.

Prayer

I am redeemed. Thank you God for this great love. May I live for your glory today, making known how you have loved me and what a great price it cost you.

May I live my day- today as a woman loved; honored and precious. In Jesus Name. Amen

Divine Mentor- It's Personal

Nahum 1-3; John 5
Scripture: John 5:6 "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ' Do you want to get well?'"

Observation: I think John includes this particular miracle because it illustrates 1) the personal involvement of Jesus in our lives and 2) the futility of trying to make it on our own. With one word, Jesus could have healed every person at that Bethesda pool; however, He took the time to inquire about this particular man. We know this, because John gives us the detail that he had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus personally asks the man if he wants to get well, instead of actually answering the question, the man expresses the frustration of being unable to "heal himself" because he can't get to the pool on his own.

Application: We talk as believers about the life God desires for us- abundant living, joy in the midst of painful circumstances, thankful hearts in all things. Today I ask myself, ""Do I really want the life God has planned for me, or am I content (knowing I already have eternal life) to just "sit by the pool"?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your personal love for me, but please don't allow me to become complacent and content, always focusing on myself. Teach me to "see" others who need Your personal touch.

Divine Mentor - Believe - by Laila Wahba

Believe

Scripture reading for today: 

2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, John 4

Scripture that spoke to me:

John 4:49-50  The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

Observation:

The official wanted Jesus to answer his petition by coming with him and maybe touching his boy, or whatever he had in his mind. Maybe he had heard of other healings that Jesus had done a certain way, and was expecting Jesus to answer in a way He had done before. But Jesus just said to the man, “Go, your son will live.” And the man immediately believed and went on his way. He could have stopped, and argued, or asked for proof, or been upset that Jesus touched others, why not his son, but he did not. He immediately left when Jesus told him this simple sentence.

Application

How many times do we tell Jesus how to answer our prayers? We ask with a list of options on how His response should be. We love playing God.  God is not a vending machine where I put a coin and a certain thing has to pop from the machine. It does not work this way. I need to believe Jesus when He speaks. He does not need to do the thing the way I expect Him to, or the same way He responded to this person or that person. Jesus responds in a unique way to each situation, a way that brings Him glory. Knowing this, will bring so much peace to my life, for once Jesus speaks, I do not need to fret. He said it; He WILL do it, for God is not a liar. He is the Omnipotent God.

Prayer

Lord, I pray for faith like this official: a faith that would immediately believe and go my way once you speak. I pray for faith that will not ask you to prove what you have promised, or that doubts what you have said. 

Jesus is the Best

Today's Reading

Isaiah 63-64
Psalm 107
John 2

My Scripture is John 2:10

",,,Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now."

The objective for me is to teach us of Jesus' first miracle and the significance it brings.  It is to make us aware the water not only turned to wine, but the finest wine.  When Jesus is involved only the best will be the result.

I must remember in everything that I do it can never measure up to what Jesus can do in my life.  As we go through life drinking up what we consider to be the good stuff.  As some of us do or have done such as myself; we get drunk off the lies satan has feed us with the "finer things" so when he has us he will continue to toss us just enough to keep us entangled with his deceit.  It is only when we allow Jesus to serve us what He has offered will we realize that what we had before was inferior.

Lord, please continue to give me the power of discernment even when I don't realize it.  I want to know how to recognize your fine wine and only drink of it.  Please allow me to bring disciples to you in everything that I do.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Divine Mentor - Holy Spirit by - Laila Wahba

Scripture that spoke to me:

John 3: 34-36 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him

Observation:

It is amazing to me that John the Baptist understood the Trinity so well and realized that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life although Jesus had just started His ministry. John the Baptist realized that God gives the Spirit without measure. Only the Holy Spirit could have given him this spiritual discernment and knowledge. He had not seen any miracles performed yet.

Application

I need God to fill me with His Holy Spirit to understand the things of God. I also need the Holy Spirit to declare God’s truth even if it seems uncomfortable.

John was very clear: Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Prayer

God, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might understand; so that I might know that there is no salvation without Jesus, whatever the world, whatever religions say: Only YOU can save. Lord help me declare your truth..in love, but help me stay focused all the time that only YOU can save.