Author Archives: jsjdevotions

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June 22, 2014

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Forgiveness, Obedience

‘TIS EASIER SAID THAN DONE

Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. [Matthew 6:12 (NCV)]

Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:14-15 (NCV)]

“All I want is an apology,” he said, “and then I’ll forgive him.” But that’s not how it works! Jesus said nothing about requiring an apology or waiting for amends to be made before granting forgiveness. In fact, God’s forgiveness is offered with a unique proviso: we have to extend forgiveness to others if we expect to receive it from God.

We have a god who loves us unconditionally and forgives us endlessly, but we also have a god who demands that we love others as much as ourselves and forgive them as ceaselessly as we are forgiven. We can’t have one without the other.

Lord, it’s so much easier to accept your forgiveness than to extend our own. Please, give us obedient, loving and forgiving hearts.

Forgiveness always seems so easy, when we need it, and so hard when we need to give it. [Dr. Jim L. Wilson, from “Fresh Start Devotionals”]

Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love.Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. [Colossians 3:3-4 (NCV)]

 

 

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June 20, 2014

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Fear & Doubt, Forgiveness, Joy, Prayer, Temptation & Sin

IT’S GARBAGE DAY

When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long. … Then I confessed my sins to you and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave my guilt. [Psalm 32:3, 5 (NCV)]

Most of us aren’t good at admitting when we’ve sinned or even misbehaved. In fact, some of us are pretty good at denying it altogether. When my children were small, the guilty party in our household always seemed to be someone named “Not me” or “I don’t know.” One child always said, “The fox did it!” Is it the fear of punishment or the fear of not being forgiven that so often prevents us from acknowledging our sins?

As a girl, whenever I was caught misbehaving or admitted to disobedience, I knew I could expect yelling, tears, humiliation, disgrace and punishment. Forgiveness wasn’t guaranteed and wrongs were often rehashed again and again. I knew I deserved the punishment, but it was forgiveness that I craved. So, like many people, I did my best to hide my problems, failures and transgressions. Hiding sins, however, is like hiding garbage; as the guilt and shame accumulate, sooner or later things are going to stink!

Our Heavenly Father  gives us a guarantee our earthly parents didn’t: unconditional forgiveness. It’s amazing how easy it is to confess one’s sins when assured of forgiveness. Today, if there is any guilt or shame stinking up your life, confess your sins to God and be restored. There’s no secret so shameful and no sin so vile that He won’t forgive. Toss the disgusting garbage of past transgressions and start fresh today.

Father, help us acknowledge our wrongs and accept responsibility for our transgressions. Listen to our litany of offenses as we offer our confessions to you. Empty our lives of guilt and shame; fill us with joy at your merciful love and promised forgiveness.

When God forgives us and purifies us of our sin, He also forgets it. Forgiveness results in God dropping the charges against us. [Billy Graham]

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done. [1 John 1:8-9 (NCV)]

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June 17, 2014

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Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Joy, Salvation: A New You

WHAT ROBE AM I WEARING?

I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. [Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)]

Lord, don’t let me forget that you have clothed me with a robe of salvation and righteousness, not one of condemnation and self-righteousness. I am redeemed and righteous, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you have done. It is your love and forgiveness that have saved me. If I don’t extend that same love and forgiveness to others, I am simply a sanctimonious, pious, and holier-than-thou hypocrite.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. [Luke 6:37 (NLT)]

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June 16, 2014

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Temptation & Sin

DON’T GET BURNT (OR BIT)

Burnt or bitten-cropYou cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes, and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet. [Proverbs 6:27-28 (NCV)]

There it was, perfectly placed near the pathway in the Botanic Gardens: a small alligator. “What an authentic looking bronze,” was my first thought. I stepped off the path to get a better view and stood just a few inches from it. As I wondered why a bronze alligator would be in the Asian garden, it finally occurred to me that it just might be real. “What’s the harm?” I thought. “I’m just looking, not touching.” I took a photo and stepped back. Two days later, I returned to the garden. In place of the alligator was a sign cautioning people, “Danger, alligators might be present.”

Sin is a little like that alligator. There is rarely a “danger” sign and it doesn’t always look like sin; often, it seems innocent and harmless. We venture near for just a look; we’re not planning on touching it. What’s a little flirtation with the forbidden? Does it never occur to us that sin could turn on us? That gator could have taken a nasty bite out of my foot; sin can take a lot more from our lives.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT)]

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June 14, 2014

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God's Promises, Nature, Worry

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

2014-6-13Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? [Matthew 6:26-27 (GW)]

Jesus tells us not to worry and that God will take care of us. He doesn’t, however, tell us to sit back and do nothing.

June was the official start of hurricane season and the Florida newspapers were filled with articles about hurricane preparedness. In fact, several days were even set aside as sales tax holidays on hurricane supplies. Yet, I guarantee that there will be some people who, when the hurricane hits, won’t have the flashlights and batteries, the extra water and the other emergency supplies they should have stock-piled. Are they the ones who simply trust God to provide or are they the ones who have ignored God’s provision because it involved effort on their part?

Yes, God will provide all we require to meet our needs, but let us never make the mistake of thinking there won’t be some work on our part, as well. After all, the robin still has to wake early to get the worm, the egret has to get his feet wet to catch the fish, and the woodpecker has to drill into the bark for bugs.

I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. [Thomas Jefferson]

So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:34 (GW)]

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June 13, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit

HOW TO BEHAVE

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. [1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)]

It seems so simple on paper, yet so difficult in actuality. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill these simple instructions. Lead us; live in us, so that we can truly be a blessing to those we encounter.