Weak Power

By Jarrod Spencer –

Have you ever felt “weak”? Weak in not knowing how to share your faith or not understanding what God can do with your life?

As I was growing up, I had times of discouragement. In the midst of it, I didn’t know what my purpose was here on earth. Frankly, I didn’t understand much about life.

As years continued to unfold, I was able to clearly see one of my purposes for living. My past, which seemed discouraging, had been “built” for encouragement. This became evident as I entered into ministry at age 27. Prior to this, life had led me to believe I was going to be an Athletic Trainer.

After entering into ministry I saw that people hurt—old and young, rich and poor, popular and loners. Everyone needed encouragement. Even the most positive people enjoyed encouragement. As much as I liked to give encourage, at the same time, I enjoyed my fair share of receiving encouragement, too.

This started a process of finding various ways to encourage people. Elements of modern technology have allowed me to encourage several people at the same time. First, it was e-mail. Then, I added text messaging. Both of these mediums are used to encourage hundreds each week.

Even thought I’ve discovered this ministry purpose, life has also revealed my deficiencies. As a minister, I do not know how to answer every question, nor do I hit a homerun with each sermon. In general, I don’t know how to connect with everyone. These are just a few of my weaknesses.

I have learned that in the weaknesses, God is strong. In some of my “blew it” sermons, people have said the most compliments. In times when I didn’t need to be the “know it all,” He comes through more mightily than I could ever imagine. When my wife and I thought we could not have children, He came through with a miracle.

I am awestruck at God on a regular basis. I never would have thought growing up with discouragement would have developed into a mission of encouragement. I never know how going shopping or attending a game will lead to a chance to connect with people, for His glory. My weaknesses have brought about His power more than I can remember. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

PRAYER: God, You are amazing! Thank You for surprising me. Thank You for being powerful though I am weak. You have done some mind-blowing things in my everyday situations. I look forward to what You will do with each day. How will You use me today?

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).

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 to minister to others. 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.

Singing New Songs

By Art Fulks –

My entire life as a worship leader, the words “new song” have been the most volitile ever spoken in a church. One beloved seminary professor said, “People do not know what they like, they like what they know.” Before you click your mouse or turn the page, I assure you that this is not a piece about worship wars. Bear with me for a moment.

Although I like many styles of music, the fellowship I pastor has a more contempory flavor. Over the years, I have heard Scriptures, like Psalm 144:9, used to justify a music preference. As believers who still have fleshly flaws, we can sometimes try to force the Bible to support our individual preferences.

This week, as I read this passage again in the context of the entire chapter, I realized it has nothing to do with corporate worship or musical styles. In the middle of incredible persecution and tragedy, the Psalmist finds his faith still present. It prompts him to raise a personal song of praise and promise, when most would have abandoned all hope.

It is not uncommon in dark days to find hope and encouragement in the heartfelt songs of others. But when was the last time you put your deepest desires, passions, and feelings to music and raised them as an offering from your soul to the Lord? Although many of us made up songs as children and sang them in front of our parents, most of us have never sung a personal song to our Heavenly Father.

Unlike earthly audiences, God is not impressed with lyrical structure or musical ability. Some of us have nothing but a monotone chant to offer in the privacy of our car. For others, our lyrics would be broken or drenched with tears of sorrow. As the message of Amy Grant’s song declares, what we offer from our hearts is sometimes better than a hallelujah. For those with true faith in Christ, I would add that you can legitimately cry in despair and lift expressions of praise in the same chorus.

So maybe in your car today or in the shower with a loud exhaust fan running, why not try singing a new song—your own song—to God?

AUTHOR QUOTE: Whether it is a chorus of joy, hymn of praise, or burdened spiritual, the Father longs to hear you sing it with all of your heart.

“I will sing a new song to Thee, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I wil sing praises to Thee” (Psalm 144:9 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.org or walk the journey with him daily on Facebook.

Giving It Up to Gain Him

By Jarrod Spencer –

Have you ever lost any or all of your belongings to a fire? I know a family who experienced two house fires within 5 years. One fire basically destroyed everything they possessed. The other fire—only a partial loss.

Most people who experience house fires only have to suffer through it once. Luckily, I have not had to live through one yet and hope I never do. However, can you imagine how you would react to this type of tragedy and loss? Imagine your belongings no longer being around because a fire destroyed everything. I’ve often wondered what inanimate object(s) I would take with me as I escaped a house fire. Have you thought about it or made a list/plan?

Whatever you took out of your house would only be a fraction of what would be left to burn. All those tangible memories would be gone. All the heirlooms, gone. All the toys, gone. All the clothes, gone. Not a pleasant thought. That is why there are a few areas in one’s life that are more important than things. The first one is family, both biological and spiritual. The second one is your faith.

Giving things up can be difficult but it may cause us to be more appreciative. Maybe it would help to see what we can give up in order to understand in part what it took for Christ to sacrifice so much for us.

First of all, the Apostle Paul mentions in Philippians 3 several things he accomplished in his life. Fortunately, they were nothing compared to what he found through a life in Christ. For us, may we press on toward that which is found in Christ, rather than what’s contained on a resume.

Something else to examine is that we may find it helpful to give something up for a short time to give us a hint of what Christ gave up for us. In the end we will gain an appreciation for Him, and we could also gain a new perspective on life.

Just give it up—for Him!

PRAYER: Father, I want things. However, things are not going to make me happier, as much as I think they would. May I learn from what Your Son did to give up Himself for me. May I learn to give up more than I want. May I model His example as I go through life.

“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:3-8 NIV).

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 to minister to others. 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.

Faith in the Spoken Word

By Carin LeRoy –

My little grandson will never let my husband or me get away with not keeping our word. When my husband mentioned he would make a swing in our backyard, he came in weeks later and said, “Papa, when are you going to make that swing? You said you were going to build us one.” My husband got busy and kept his word. Or to me he’ll say, “Nana, you told me I could have a Popsicle after you taught your piano lessons.” His expectation was that we would keep our word. As grandparents, we want to show our little guy that we can be trusted.

In John 4, we read the story of the official’s son who was sick and near death. When the father heard that Jesus was nearby, he went to Jesus and begged him to come heal his boy.

“Sir,” he said, “Come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said, “Go home. Your son will live.”

The man believed the words Jesus spoke and left for home. While he was still on the road, his servants came running to meet him and tell him that his son was alive. The father realized he was healed at the exact time that Jesus had spoken the word and told him his son would live.

As we look at Scripture we see great men and women of faith. Noah built the ark because God spoke. Even though he didn’t understand, he obeyed. The Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days and conquered it. God spoke, and they had faith to do as He said. Mary, mother of Jesus, didn’t comprehend how a virgin could conceive, but trusted that what God said was true. All of these incidents needed a listening heart and willingness to obey even when it made no sense to them. Circumstances that seemed impossible, took faith that God would do exactly as He had spoken. And He did.

Do we believe when God speaks? We have a Bible full of Scriptures where God speaks to us. We have promises to believe, commands to obey, admonishments to follow and warnings to adhere. We can become great people of faith, too, as we take God at His word. What is God speaking to you today?

PRAYER: Lord, give me the faith to believe that what You speak is true, and that You will fulfill all the promises that You have given in Your word.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1: 3 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

God’s Love Game

By Cheri Cowell –

“I love you more than vanilla ice cream with hot fudge,” my friend will say to his daughter, to that she will reply, “and I love you more than kisses from a puppy.” Instead of sharing the usual I love you they share in this lighthearted game. Each time trying to top what the other person has named. Not in a competitive way, but as a playful expression of the depth of love they share. God plays this game with us, too. He gives us a breathtaking sunrise and then whispers in our ear, “See this? I love you more than that.” He sends someone into your life with an unexpected blessing and then whispers again, “I love you more than that.” God’s love is so great there is no way we could have ever comprehended unless He sent Jesus to die so there would be no doubt. Still have a few doubts?

The word used in the Greek for “inner being” means in the secret depths of one’s soul. God longs for us to know Him deeply, intimately, and from the place within our souls we allow very few people to go. To love from this place requires a depth of vulnerability and trust that are difficult for us to give. God knows this so He demonstrated His love and vulnerability to us first in the life and death of Jesus. Everyday He sends us reminders of His love and His desire for communion with us. May we have eyes today to see His call, and hear His whispers, “I love you more than this…”

PRAYER: Thank You God for Your great love expressed in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. Thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit in my life that continually woos me and seeks to draw me closer to You. Help me notice the blessings You put before me today, and to return the favor by responding with my own, “I see that God, and I love You more than ___________.”

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:16-19 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

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