The Divine Mentor: Becoming Good Soil

February 25, 2015

Numbers 17-18, Psalms 29 and Mark 4


Today's reading allowed The Holy Spirit to give me 2 verses.
Scripture :

Mark 4:18-19 HCSB

Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries  of this age,  the seduction     of wealth,  and the desires  for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.


Objective:
This verse is to remind us that we must not be sown of thorns. It reminds me that I was once in the thorns. I believed in God and His power through fear of His wrath not understanding His love. I prayed for things to manifest in my life and when He blessed me I squandered those blessings by giving into my worries about money and the welfare of my family. Though He still continued to provide my needs my life didn't bear fruit. In order to be fruitful we must become and remain good soil.


Application:
Being good fruitful soil is living a life of consistent obedience. We must be obedient and remember that God has more to offer us than fear. God wants to only have a loving relationship with us but we must remember there are consequences for our disobedience. Just as those of us that are parents want to give our children everything, God wants to do the same. Now do we not hold our children accountable well so does our Heavenly Father. I will apply this verse to my life by remembering that when things don't go my way continue to praise Him and get excited with anticipation. Most of all let's keep our soil good.


Prayer:
Lord, I ask that you continue to love me in my imperfection and continue to provide me with the strength to be a vessel for your light to shine. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Scripture:
Psalms 29:11 HCSB
The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace.


Objective:
When we submit and commit our lives to Jesus we are given the gift of The Holy Spirit to provide us with the strength to not succumb to the things that are displeasing to Jesus. It is through that strength alone with The Living Word of God that we receive and find our peace.


Application:
The application of this verse isn't easy but it is simple. Trust, obedience and consistency is the key.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for The Holy Spirit and your living word. I ask for your continued patience as I work to not listen to my flesh but to become more grounded in the spirit. In Jesus ' name, Amen.

The Divine Mentor: God's Plan

February 24, 2015

Today’s Reading: Numbers 14-16  and Mark 3

Scripture:

Numbers 14:41

“Why are you going against the Lord’s command? It won’t succeed.”

Objective:

This verse is to let us know that when we go against what the Lord has commanded us to do, our plans will not be successful.  I can look back at many decisions I made on my own that “seemed” to be the best plan and they ultimately failed because they were not God’s plan.  God wants us to listen to His voice not our own or anyone else’s.

Application:

Though I have worked hard to not only follow the written commands of the Lord but also the daily, weekly or monthly tasks he gives me through the Holy Spirit I still find myself disregarding those things.  Sometimes it is unintentional and sometimes intentional because I may allow the circumstances or another individual to dictate how I listen to His word.  This verse reminds me of how there is no other way to live my life other than God’s plan.

Prayer:

Lord I pray that you continue to forgive me when I make unintentional and intentional decisions on my own.  I pray that you continue to provide me the strength to hear only your voice and use your voice as a beacon in my life. In Jesus’ name Amen.

CPWOMEN'S BLOG: Your Irresistible Future with God by cb.cooksey

Go in confidence and grace—no rushing, no frantic escape.
    There’s no need to be anxious—the Eternal One goes before and behind you.
The God of Israel paves the way with assurance and strength.
    He watches your back.

Isaiah 52:12 (VOICE)

“Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (1956). Section “December 31″).

God is the God of your yesterdays, your todays, and your tomorrows. Often memories of the past keep you from fully experiencing God’s grace and joy for today. It’s possible that you are longing for days gone by because they were happier times (the good ‘ole days), or it could be that you are wallowing in the junkyard of past memories, allowing the blunders of the past to overshadow God’s blessing for today. In either case, you are stuck in the quicksand of yesterday, and you can’t move into the future that God has in store.

Just remember, that God’s got your back! He’s your rear guard, and His hand can reach back into your past and settle any claims against your conscience. He can use yesterday’s mistakes and turn them into today’s ministry of growth for your future. He has a grand plan for your life, so let the past rest in God’s sweet embrace. He’s paving the way ahead with assurance and strength, so step confidently into your irresistible future with Him! “And He will be leading you. He’ll be with you, and He’ll never fail you or abandon you. So don’t be afraid!” Deuteronomy 31:8 (VOICE)

 everyday encouragement by cbcooksey

Divine Mentor: Reading God's Word- Debbie McGrath

Rest - Genesis 2:3

Today is January 1, 2015 and as most daily bible reading plans start in Genesis 1&2.
Many of us can't count how many times we have read the entire book of Genesis and quit reading thru our bibles when we get to Numbers. This year, I have made a commitment to read thru God's Word as I have done the past several years.  There is nothing more rewarding than sitting at the feet of the Savior.  We live in a world full of chaos and uncertainty but when I breathe in God's word, I am reminded He sits on the throne and He is in control.

As I was mediating on the Word,  I got to Genesis 2:3 - I saw the word rested - God rested from all his work of creation.  And I thought - what does Rest mean to me?

How would I describe a perfect day of Rest?
                                Spending time in the Word of God.
                                Journaling thru God's Word.
                                Being refreshed and nourished by His Word.
                                Praying thru the scriptures.
                                Worshipping God thru scriptures and song.
                                Fellowshipping with other believers.

As I listed my perfect day of Rest - I long to be in the throne room of Heaven where I will experience eternal rest - Worshipping my Savior.

What would your perfect day of Rest look like??

The Divine Mentor Reading: It is not About Me! by Debbie McGrath

Today's Reading: Job 19, Mark 1 & 2

As you know in the book of Job - Job loses everything - family, friends, possessions and health.
But through it all - He never lost his faith.  Through the hardships and suffering he stayed focused on God.  Love what Job wrote in verse 25-27 -

 I know that my Redeemer lives

and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed

yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him 

with my own eyes-I, and not another

How my heart years within me!

His focus was on God - not himself!  When you get to Mark 1- we are introduced to John the Baptist.

John was baptizing in the desert region and preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.

In verse 7 He says: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  He points others to Christ, not to Himself.

When I read these chapters, I am reminded of what Max Lucado wrote:

God does not exist to make a big deal out of us.

We exist to make a big deal out of Him.

It's not about you.

It's not about me. 

It's all about Him!

The Divine Mentor - Jeremiah the Prophet who never gave up! by Debbie McGrath

Our ladies class is using the Divine Mentor Plan to read thru the Bible.  We just finished the book of Jeremiah and there is so much to learn from this great prophet. 

Jeremiah is gone but the words he wrote are still with us.

One of my favorite verses: 
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever.

Jeremiah was a true prophet and he suffered persecution because of it.  He knew the greatest problem of Judah was it's sin. Today we believe our nation's greatest problem is unemployment, inflation, lack of defense, etc.  America's greatest problem - Sin.

Jeremiah did not give a surface, happy message.  He taught people so their hearts and minds would be transformed.

By human standards, Jeremiah's ministry was a dismal failure.  He preached for over 40 years and only a few believed.  He only had a few friends who stood with him and encouraged him.  Jeremiah may have thought he failed but God saw him a a faithful servant and that is all that really counts.  Jeremiah could have quit but he didn't.

I love this quote by Edman:  "IT'S ALWAYS TO SOON TO QUIT."

Jeremiah became like Jesus which is the greatest reward of ministry.

-Both 

were accused of being traitors

suffered physically

arrested, beaten and confined

wept over Jerusalem

rejected by their own families

misunderstood, rejected and lonely.

In the difficult times of life - Jeremiah was conformed to the image of Christ.

The same Lord who enabled Jeremiah enables us!!

Salvation = Jesus by Deena Serafin

Divine Mentor Reading

September 1:  Ezekiel 15-16; Psalm 70; Rev. 6

Salvation = Jesus

Ps. 70:4 "But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, 'Let God be exalted!'"

Salvation in Hebrew is yshuwah. Yeshuwa means "he will save". Yeshuwah - Jeshua - Jesus

Jesus is the only salvation- our only hope - our peace - my peace. He died for my sin -- my selfish, arrogant, demanding, self-absorbed sin. No one else could have done this for me. No one but my Yeshuwa , my Jeshua, my Jesus. 

Thank You, Father, for having a plan for my salvation before I even existed. Thank You, Jesus, for being my salvation. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for drawing me to Jesus. Thank You. Amen.