Winter Wilderness

By Art Fulks –

It always amazes me how many friends and family I reconnect with at some level during the holiday season. Many times, it is a simple passing conversation at the mall while shopping or a few connecting moments at a Christmas gathering. On a common holiday mission, we make commitments to connect on a more consistent basis and to invest in the relationships. But as the new year begins, realities set in and life sometimes seems even more overwhelming. Although we just spent an entire month in a consistent oasis of social interaction and purpose, it is easy to suddenly find ourselves lost and dried up in a winter wilderness. We are people…not camels.

Personally, I find myself in the winter wilderness for three main reasons:  (1) unmet expectations of myself; (2) unrealistic expectations of others; and (3) unrecognized fresh water right in front of me. Practically, I need to focus on pursuing a few consistent goals for growing in my journey and intentionally invest in one or two new realtionships. Also, it is unrealistic to think that every intention stated by others in passing will be made a priority. Finally, when I focus on unmet expectations of myself or others, I often miss the provision of my Heavenly Father who has promised to supply my needs day-by-day.

Sometimes the winter wilderness is unavoidable, but God can do amazing things with barren land.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may I find my encouragement from Your daily provision. Help me find consistent direction and purpose from You, the only One who always exceeds my expectations.

“He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry land into springs of water” (Psalm 107:35 NASB).

Today’s devotional is by Art Fulks, a church planter/pastor at Connection Fellowship in Greenville, South Carolina. Married for 22 years and a 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.org http://artfulks.blogspot.com.

Scared Stiff is My 2011 Goal!

Donna McCrary –

This year we are seeing a drastic change in the familiar and most popular New Year’s Resolution. For the past few decades the number one “I will lose weight” resolution has been dramatically replaced with a new not so popular statement, “I want to be scared, shocked, and amazed each day.” I know it is hard to believe such a radical resolution is the desire of so many people.

OK, not really! But, what if every Christ Follower made this their goal in the upcoming year? In the gospels, there are numerous times when the words scared, shocked, and amazed were used to describe what the disciples were experiencing. Remember when the disciples experienced a horrific storm on the boat while Jesus was sleeping? They frantically woke him up. Jesus responded to them, “Why are you fearful?” (Matthew 8:26). Throughout the gospels, it states when a miracle was performed by Jesus the crowds were “marveled.” They were astonished! They could not believe what they were seeing.

Again, they were scared when Jesus took Peter, James, and John, up high on the mountain. He then transfigured before them. They had the privilege of seeing Jesus transformed into a brilliant beautiful being whose “face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). The excitement didn’t stop there. Then they saw Elijah and Moses appear and speak with Jesus. Scared! I believe I would be shaking in my shoes by this point. To top off the experience a bright cloud came over them and a voice spoke out of the cloud. Scripture says they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid—my modern translation would say they were “scared stiff.” I know I would be.

Step back and put this in perspective. The disciples who walked, talked, ate, slept and lived with Jesus were at times “scared stiff,” astonished and marveled. So, if we are truly walking with Christ today in our lives, meaning we talk with Him, follow Him and truly experience Him each day we should have the same experiences. Is this really our goal? Are we willing to put ourselves in the position to be “scared stiff” in order to be in the presence of Jesus? Do we want our days to be filled with absolute amazement? Will we make this our goal in 2011?

PRAYER: Father, in this upcoming year give me the courage and strength to walk with You each day. Help me to overcome my fears and increase my faith so I can truly experience You and be amazed!

“Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV).

This devotion is by Donna McCrary, a life coach, author, and co-founder of Walk of Purpose Ministries. Her study, DIVAS of the Divine: How to Live as a Designer Original in a Knock-Off World, tackles the tough subject of overcoming fear. Learn more at www.walkofpurpose.com.

Could This Be The Year?

By Cynthia Ruchti –

Fresh calendars are like an unquilted stretch of new snow begging for footprints. They tease with their crisp, unmarked pages, claiming that life won’t be messy and scribbled on before the year is over.

I’m old enough to know better, to realize that somewhere within those relatively blank pages are marks already—notes about an upcoming doctor appointment made months ago, reminders about tax form due dates, speaking engagements, deadlines…

The thirty-one open boxes under the stunning photograph of a lighthouse will start to fill before I take a step back to admire it. Church meetings. A family get-together. Worship practice (what an odd phrase! Practice for worship is…worship!). Birthdays I won’t remember soon enough to send a card. Garbage night. Phone numbers. Things that don’t fit on the to-do list.

When I take down this calendar to put up a new one next January, what story will these pages tell?

Will this be the year that I conquer my battle with—? It’s a multiple choice question.

Is this the year I stick to the discipline of—? Again, multiple choice.

Will this year be marked by lightning-fast obedience, divinely-appointed risk-taking, books read and written, regret-free living in relationships?

How many squares on the calendar will be filled with surprises, unexpected challenges, things I’d rather forget than remember?

Is this the year I won’t flinch when they come?

Although I regularly commit my day to the Lord, I don’t remember laying a whole calendar before Him. But it seems like a good idea, doesn’t it?

How can I move from block to block, three hundred and sixty five times, without His help? How can I hope to navigate that maze, dodging distractions and things circled four times and accented with exclamation marks if I’m not letting Him lead the way?

PRAYER: Father God, Lord of my life, early in the morning (and the year) will I rise up and seek You. I need You every hour, every block, every page.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee… Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me,” (Psalm 63:1a, 7-8 KJV).

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer/producer of THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio ministry and past president of American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia’s debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—and novella—“The Heart’s Harbor” in A Door County Christmas—released in 2010. Cynthia writes stories of hope that glows in the dark. www.cynthiaruchti.com.

The Road Less Traveled

By Cheri Cowell –

Whether we call them New Year’s resolutions or simply think of them as plans for the start of a new year, many of us choose new paths this time of year. When choosing a path forward we can follow the road less traveled, but if we are honest, most of us prefer the path of relative ease. Crowded and filled with familiarity, this road appears to go where we want to go, after-all “everyone” is on it. One look at the commercials this time of year and we know this crowded thoroughfare—buy this product or that and you’ll look younger, feel smarter, reach your dreams. You can have it all, they scream, if only you… Songs are made to glorify this super-highway and books tempt us with stories of its fulfillment. However, once lulled by its smooth surface, we find little truth in its travel brochures. The grass isn’t greener on the other side—weeds still grow there, too.

The lesson is clear: be sure you are not fooled by their flashy advertisements. The road less traveled, the more difficult way is the true path to fulfillment. This familiar passage in Matthew speaks of this narrow way, but separated from the next passage we don’t know how to find this road and will easily fall prey to deceptive advertising. So, what is this big secret? Simple. Look at the fruit. Jesus asks, “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” The road less traveled might be less crowded, but those who’ve found it will have the life those on the other paths only dream of.

PRAYER: Thank You for being the Gate through which the road less traveled passes. Help me to be aware of false advertising, and to resist the lull of the path of relative ease.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, 15-20 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, author of Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life, a great book for those looking for a guide on the road less traveled. Visit her website at http://www.CheriCowell.com

What Did You Find?

By Jarrod Spencer –

My wife and I traveled to her grandmother’s house for the holidays one year, using my father-in-law’s directions. The car we traveled in had no overhead light, so Aubrey was forced to read the directions using the under-dash light. We thought it said to look for a “green house,” however before it was too late, we realized we needed to turn at the “greenhouse,” a plant nursery. We didn’t miss our turn, but we still joke about it each time we drive by there. We were following directions but ended up with something totally different by the time we reached this part of the trip.

Finding something totally different than what we expect isn’t abnormal. It’s possible people reacted that way when Jesus was born—and even today, when they find Jesus.

There are some interesting life lessons we can learn from trips, such as when the shepherds searched for the baby Jesus. First, don’t over-plan your trip. Each day you may do much of the same thing; but don’t forget to plan for flexibility. God may throw something at you that you never thought was going to be in your day of travels. The unexpected can make it very interesting!

Second, the unexpected may actually have been planned. God brings about something that may be a surprise to you, but certainly didn’t take Him by surprise. Your day may be going the way you planned it, but when something unplanned happens, that may have been God interjecting and saying, “This is what I’ve got planned.”

Finally, reveal the manger. Have you ever hidden something behind your back that you were going to later reveal? All Christians have something they need to reveal to others—Jesus! He is our treasure. Bring Him front and center, and show others your Savior, even if the reveal wasn’t what they expected.

The shepherds found Him in a manger. You found Him somewhere else. Let’s make sure others see Him in all sorts of places.

AUTHOR QUOTE: People may not have planned to see Jesus when they met up with you, but hopefully He is exactly what they’ll find.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2:15-18 ESV).

Today’s devotional is by Jarrod Spencer. He is a seeker of God’s surprises in everyday life, looking for ways to be used by God with anyone he comes in contact with. He has a passion for encouraging people through the written word and exercises that passion with blogging and sending out a weekly text of encouragement. You can read more of his writings at http://jarrodspencer.blogspot.com and his church’s website is http://www.colbychurch.com.

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