Impossible? Depends Who You Ask

Rosemary Flaaten –

Have you ever felt like God was calling you to do the impossible? You believe He created you and that He knows you more intimately than you know yourself, but you just can’t help but wonder if somehow He got you mixed up with someone else. The job before you is far beyond your natural capabilities, outside your comfort zone or just plain impossible. Why would God ask you to do something that is seemingly unattainable?

I wonder how many people down through history have asked this same question. Did William Wilberforce ever feel that challenging the established slave trade was too daunting? Did Mother Teresa ever feel overwhelmed by the needs surrounding her? The young maiden virgin, given the responsibility to bear the Saviour, asked “But how can this be?” (Luke 1:34). Great callings always seem out of reach.

What has God brought into your line of vision, prompting you to pursue? Is it a new position at work? Is it to take the ministry He has given you to a wider audience? Is it to uproot your family, starting again in a new community with new friends and neighbours? Is it to be still and do less?

The apostle Paul revelled in his inadequacies by claiming that God’s grace is sufficient and that God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). The second part to this verse gives us a peek into how this happens. “Christ’s power may rest upon me.” This is a similar statement to the angel’s promise to the Virgin Mary: “The power of the Highest [will] hover over you” (Luke 1:35 MSG).

The only way we will accomplish the purpose which God has put on our lives is to have His Spirit “move in on [our] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG). Having the Spirit hover over us will empower us, emblazon us and propel us.

Rather than focusing on the impossibilities that lie before us, let’s keep God as our focal point, trusting that He not only calls but equips. Just as Peter walked on the water, may we seize the opportunities that God brings, trusting that His Spirit is resting upon us. Then we can say with conviction: With God all things are possible.

PRAYER: Spirit of the Living God may You rest upon me, filling me with courage, strength and an unwavering conviction to follow You wherever You lead.

“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37 NLT).

Today’s Devotional is by Rosemary Flaaten. Her successful book, A Woman and Her Relationships helps women process their outside-of-work relationships, so now she’s delving into these 9-5 relationships in A Woman and Her Workplace. Her Relationships book won The Word Guild Award, which is Canada’s top Christian literary honor. A dynamic speaker—Rosemary challenges women of all professions to view their work as a calling and their workplaces as opportunities to live out Christ’s love. Rosemary lives with her husband and three children in Calgary, Canada.

I Will Find A Way!

By Nina Medrano –

Do you ever find yourself repeatedly hum a familiar song, absentmindedly, singing only parts of the lyrics that come to mind?  Often, when this happens to me, I am preoccupied and therefore miss the message of the song stirring in my spirit.

It has been three days now that my spirit has been stirring this song in my gut.  Like a scratch on a CD, the same lyric is stuck, repeating itself over and over—unable to skip to the next stanza.

“Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name”

I’m sitting traffic, singing the same lyrics over and over when suddenly the Holy Spirit descends upon me a heaviness of heart for those whose road is marked with suffering and cannot bless His name because of the pain in the offering.

It’s hard to lift your arms in praise when they have grown weary year after year waiting for breakthrough.  It’s hard to praise God when you are losing your home; when your husband did not come home last night; when you can’t pay the electric in the winter; when you cannot afford to get septic; when your teen-age daughter gets diagnosed with pre-cancer cells; when your wife leaves you with three small children to care for; when your First Time Home buyers credit check is delayed—going on a year.

“…When the darkness closes in, Lord
I WILL FIND A WAY… to say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord”

Often, life’s challenges leave a mark in our lives that render us stuck and unable to skip to the next stanza of God’s “streams of abundance flow.”

The power of praise is the weapon that releases God’s power to move on our behalf.  No matter what the circumstance, whether He gives or takes away, whether there is more pain than joy in the offering, we must resolve in our heart to FIND A WAY to bless His name.  With teeth gritting, FIND A WAY!  As if your life depends on it, FIND A WAY to say “Blessed by Your Name” and watch God move like a mighty warrior on your behalf.

^“You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7 AMP).

Nina Medrano lives in Lubbock TX with Pepper Jack, her rescued Jack Russell Terrier.

Song lyrics from “Blessed Be Your Name,” by Matt Redman.

Family Portfolio

By Art Fulks –

For most of us, the arrival of a new year causes us to do some life evaluation, including in our finances. Documents flood our mailboxes so we can complete the dreaded task of tax preparation. Most of us will wonder at some point where our resources have gone. In Alan Gotthardt’s book, The Eternity Portfolio, I have been reading about the legacy we will leave for our family both financially and otherwise.

Our family portfolio does involve our finances, but it also includes so much more. It is about investing in godly living and giving. We invest through sacrifice, preparation, personal example, and intentional training. We invest time and resources; model compassion and holiness; and take those we influence along for the journey with us. And just like a relay race, the hand-off of the baton is critical. It must be practiced repeatedly with everyone involved, or the race could be lost.

This week, I read about the generational blessings passed along by parents who revere God, persistantly follow His principles, and are consistently practicing generosity. So why is our portfolio not as productive or profitable as we desire? The answer is found in the lyrics of an old song: “I want it all…and I want it now.”

There is so much more to be invested in our family portfolio.

PRAYER: Dear God, help my vision for this day to transcend my personal and immediate desires to focus on the lasting legacy that You could lay out for my life as I invest in a lasting family portfolio today…for the sake of Your Kingdom and the glory of Christ.

“His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed” (Psalm 112:2 NASB).

Today’s devotional is by Art Fulks, a church planter / pastor at Connection Fellowship in Greenville, South Carolina. Married for 22 years and father of four, Art is a graduate of The Ohio State Univeristy and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a passionate Bible teacher, speaker, musician, worship leader, and life coach. Read more at http://www.connectionfellowship.orgor http://artfulks.blogspot.com. , a refreshing oasis in our journey today.

The Fizz Stopper

By Cheri Cowell –

Recently, I finally decided to tackle the cleaning of the dreaded “kitchen junk drawer.” Most of us have one of these drawers somewhere in our home. It’s the place where all sorts of odds and ends accumulate—the things that don’t belong anywhere else. Well, my drawer had gotten to the point I could no longer fit anything in and still close it. So, I was forced to tackle the job. To my surprise, I found amazing things in that drawer. One such find was a fizz stopper—the gadget that seals a soda bottle after it’s been opened so you don’t lose the carbonation. God sent us a personal fizz stopper.

When Jesus becomes a part of our lives, His Holy Spirit becomes the seal on our soul. He locks in the joy, peace, and contentment that come with His presence. His seal also keeps the air, or Satan, from contaminating our spirit, turning us flat and useless. Often, however, we forget to put the stopper back in after pouring ourselves out for others all week long. When we notice our fizz going flat, that is a sure signal we need time with Jesus who will refill us and seal us once again.

PRAYER: Thank You for sealing me at the moment I invited Jesus to be my Lord. Praise You for sending the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate me when I’ve gone flat and resealing me to His service.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

Fit to Win in 2011

By Laurette Willis –

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJ).

Will 2011 be a new beginning for you? Have you had fitness failures as I have? Do you wonder if the changes you’ve wanted to make will ever happen?

Someone once told me, “A leopard never changes its spots.” Did you know that’s from Jeremiah 13:23? Before I came to Christ, I had many “spots” and stains caused by a life of sin. True, a leopard cannot change its spots just as I could not cleanse myself from sin. Neither can you. But there is One who can! The blood Jesus shed for you on Calvary paid the price to eradicate every sin and stain.

Our ongoing relationship with Him will also change us from one encounter with His glory to another so we can see hard-to-conquer habits eradicated, too!

Will you submit your life and all of this new year to Him right now?  It’s that simple. Allow Jesus to give you a fresh start this year!

Let’s look at some ways you can focus on how things can be different in 2011 for you.

In the area of physical fitness and health, fill in the blanks (Example: “I want to enjoy daily exercise and eating in moderation so I can maintain a healthy weight for me.”)

I want to: __________________________________________________________________________

So I can: ___________________________________________________________________________

The Lord’s Spot Remover

Consider the Scripture from Jeremiah 13:23 (NKJ). “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.”

Wait a second! We cannot change our skin just as a leopard cannot change its spots. So why is this followed with the admonition to do good?

I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 7:24 (NKJ), “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

The answer is found in the next verse. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It is a matter of faith (firm reliance on God) AND works (doing what seems right as I follow the Lord).

Take a look at what you wrote in the spaces above. Right now, ask the Lord to tell you something you can do to help you achieve that. You may be surprised at how simple it may be. The Lord usually leads us in steps, not leaps. Start today or tomorrow to do that one thing.

God Will Change Your “Want To”

Commit this new step to the Lord. “Lord, I’m offering this up to You. I trust You to help me.” Sometimes just taking a step in the right direction with your faith firmly planted in God’s ability to make up the difference is all it takes. Follow through with action every day. In time, you will find yourself actually wanting to make the healthful choice.

You will realize that God has changed your “want to” and you will see your goals are being reached one day at a time. He is faithful—and you are loved!

Christian Fitness Expert Laurette Willis is the Director of PraiseMoves Fitness Ministry (http://PraiseMoves.com and on Facebook http://bit.ly/aAlS4u ). Get your free kit at http://ChristianFitnessKit.com . © 2010

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