Weekly Spiritual Meditations - June 23

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As we strive to reflect God's nature, others will see God's love in us.

As a child of God, I am meant to resemble my maker and to show God's attributes so that others will see them. So are we all. If we do that, others will be drawn to God's family because of seeing Christ in us.

God's love is reliable and unstoppable. Yet it is also "new every morning." Each time we open our eyes to a new day, the possibilities God offers us are endless and always fresh.

We can do nothing to make God love us any more; we can do nothing that will make God love us any less. God loves us and delights in us simply because God is our father.

All of us have a loving "Father" in heaven.

God never gives up on anyone.

God calls us from bondage to freedom and fullness of life.

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Old and Familiar
Revelation 21:5 - Then the one who sits on the throne said, "And now I make all things new!" He also said to me, "Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted." (GNB)
When I bought a new sewing machine, I had to learn all about it. The spools went on differently; the bobbins went in differently; it had a cool needle threader that I had to learn to use, and a different button-hole maker. This took me away beyond my comfort zone. I had to stretch. I had to learn. I had to try new things, and if it didn't work, I had to try again. The buttonholer -- I couldn't figure it out on my own. The owner's manual didn't help. The pictures didn't help. I was lost. At this point, the old and familiar seemed so much better. I finally went to the store where I bought the machine, and they showed me how to use the buttonholer. I had to learn something new, even though the basics were the same.
Old and familiar seems good. Old and familiar is comfortable. Old and familiar is ... well ... old and familiar. We like it that way -- no stretching -- no discomfort -- no changing.
It is hard to break out of that comfort zone. It is hard to break out of old habits. It is hard to learn something new.
As in our text for today, God is making all things new. Trusting that God will do as He says is sometimes difficult too. The last part of the verse says that these words are true and can be trusted -- can be trusted -- not hopefully, not maybe -- but can.
Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. (GWT)
Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (ESV)
God is ever present to help us -- to see the old and familiar that needs to change in our lives, to see there is something new for us to learn, to trust Him to lead us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we like the old and familiar. But we also know that to grow, we can't stay there in those same spots forever. Help us, we pray. Please show us those areas that are making us stay in the old ways. You have promised that if we call to You, You will answer and You will tell us things we don't even know. Help us to listen to what You have to say. Help us to trust You. Help us to obey. How we need You today! Amen. Judy Miller

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To Whom Are You Listening? by Katherine J. Kehler
“The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness??? (John 10:10).
Sunday afternoon, I spoke to someone with accusatory words. I didn’t even notice what I must have sounded like. But God did. Later while I was reading a devotional book, the Holy Spirit reminded me that Satan is the accuser. Did I really want to be on his team?
Well, no, I sure didn’t. So I immediately apologized to the Lord and the person I accused. I could have communicated in a different way – a more positive way. I didn’t need to accuse – I could have simply state how I felt about what happened.
While I was reflecting on that thought, I remembered a spiritual concept that helped me a lot during the years. How do you differentiate between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusations of the Enemy?
The Holy Spirit will make us aware of specific actions or attitudes that need to be confessed. When we admit and confess them, we will experience God’s forgiveness and He will not bring those specific sins to our attention again. The Enemy, on the other hand, will make us feel guilty; tell us that we are no good and that we will never be forgiven.
We choose whom we listen to and believe. Will it be God or Satan? God loves us and has a wonderful plan for us. The Enemy hates us and has a terrible plan for our lives.
Let’s be like Jesus. Speak words of life.
Lord Jesus, how easily our thoughts drift to suspicions and accusations, rather than to praise and thanksgiving. We want to be like You, Jesus. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for Your Holy Spirit. You love us the way we are and You love us too much to let us stay that way. Thank You for changing us. Amen.
Questions: To whom are you listening? How do you differentiate between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusations of the Enemy?

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Help Me! I'm Stuck!
One day, a centipede walked by a tree where a wise old owl was perched. The owl asked the centipede, "You have so many legs! How do you know which one to move next?" The centipede froze in his tracks. He started thinking. He didn't know which leg to move so he couldn't move any. He cried to the owl, "Help me! I'm stuck!" The owl said, "My little friend, you are stuck because you are too focused on yourself. When you are focused on what is going on in the world around you, you have no thoughts about how to move. You simply move." The centipede looked out to the horizon and saw the sun setting. "How beautiful," the centipede said. Just then, his legs were freed and he began to walk again.
It's been reported that Dr. Karl Menninger, a famous psychologist, once gave a lecture on mental health. During a question and answer session that followed his lecture, he was asked, "What advice would you give someone who felt a nervous breakdown coming on?" He replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railway tracks, find someone in need and do something to help that person."
Both the story and anecdote above remind me that when we focus on ourselves – on our problems and circumstances – we can become inwardly paralyzed, preventing us from being everything that God intends for us to be, including serving others effectively. We can freeze in our own tracks.
Following Christ is not primarily an exercise in introspection, but rather of reaching out to others and lovingly serving them in His name. In times when I've been in tough situations, or have felt sorry for myself for some reason, I've experienced release from my anxiety by changing my focus to others and getting myself involved in serving. Routine self-evaluation is healthy. An obsession with self is not.
In Philippians 2:4 we read, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Today, if you are feeling paralyzed by the weight of a difficult personal situation, I encourage you to shift your focus from yourself to the Son and find someone you can serve in His name. The weight will seem lighter and you will start moving again Author Unknown

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A Key to Contentment
We are the happiest and most content when we are serving.
That observation may not seem logical, but I’ve discovered that the more I focus on myself, the less content I am. When I’m self-absorbed, I tend to dwell on what I think is lacking in my life. However, as I focus on others, I can allow God’s love to flow through me in practical ways.
Jesus said He came to give us abundant life, but He also instructs us to serve one another. I believe the two are directly related.
The Apostle Paul tells us to, “Serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:13,14, NIV). What a weighty sentence—“The entire law is summed up in a single command: love…”!
Love is a verb, and is demonstrated best as we serve one another. As Christ followers, serving others isn’t just a “good idea” or something we should do from time to time. It should be the defining characteristic of our daily lives.
I am challenged to look for ways to serve my husband and those I work with every day. But I also want to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s promptings to serve in new ways. Will you join me and look for a new way to serve someone this week?
Here are just a few ideas to get your creative energy flowing:
* Buy gift cards and send them to someone in need.
* Contact your local hospital and ask about their baby-holding program or other ways to volunteer.
* Take a discouraged friend out for coffee or lunch.
* Look for practical ways to help a neighbor (help them with yard work, volunteer to watch their children, go shopping for them, etc.)
* Visit the sick and homebound.
* Surprise a friend with a meal, baked goods, or a fruit basket.
* Volunteer for an hour at your church and serve in whatever way is needed.
* Find a way to say “thank you” to our troops, firemen, policemen, teachers, etc.
* Invite a college student for a home-cooked meal.
* Help a friend with a large household task (packing for a move, planning a garage sale, painting a room, etc.).
* Volunteer to read for the visually impaired in a nearby care home.
* When you are done with something, don’t trash it, store it, or sell it—give it away (furniture, clothes, computers, household appliances, etc.).
Being a conduit of His love is a life-giving experience! In His Service, Kerry

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A Glass of Milk
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life.
From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words...
"Paid in full with one glass of milk" (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands." Author Unknown

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A Big God
This is a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the Preacher's sermon this morning confused me."
The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?
The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?"
"Yes, that's true," the mother replied.
"He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?"
Again the mother replied, "Yes."
"Well," said the girl. "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?"
Read this again... Think... Author Unknown

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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Rise up to the new level and more profound way of victory that is being revealed to you at this time. Allow your faith to arise to receive all that I am releasing, and your spiritual growth will take an exponential leap. Refuse to settle for religious dogma when you can move with the flow of My Spirit to greater revelation of My kingdom. But, you must also keep My Word as the standard by which you measure truth. Do not be afraid to move forward, says the Lord. 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

As you have heard, patience is a virtue and is the ability to endure and not quit. But you, beloved, have thought of impatience as being antsy and impetuous when it really is the offspring of a spirit of divination, which tries to control. If you can see impatience as being beyond your sphere of responsibility and outside of your boundaries, you will be able to overcome it easily. Then, it is simply a matter of staying in the flow of the things you have legitimate authority over and minding your own business. And, I am with you to help you in this process, says the Lord. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be instant in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

I have gone before you to make a way for you to fulfill your destiny. You are under My protection, and I have made provision for you. However, the enemy will do what he can to undermine your sense of security and to abort My plans and purposes for you. Do not believe his lies, and refuse to allow fear to undermine your faith, says the Lord. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Many of you, My people, are approaching a turning point in which there will be a decided departure from what has been your accepted normal. When you are faced with change, I will give you the grace and guidance to move forward in strength and the power of My Spirit if you will trust Me. At this time you must be willing to let go of what was in order to grasp what is to be, says the Lord. Press on to obtain the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Take time to look and discern your spiritual atmosphere. Then, you must war against the darkness by active resistance and bring light to your environment by establishing truth. In this way you will facilitate victory over all the works of the enemy. Quiet your flesh and exercise your faith to accomplish this task, knowing that I have given you authority over all the powers of darkness. Do not be afraid, says the Lord. I have called you to overcome. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

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The Trumpet by Bill Burns
"Set the trumpet to your mouth!" Hosea 8:1
I hear His voice say come! Come on. Don’t hesitate any longer. How long will you falter? For, these are the days of truly entering into the most holy. These are the days of the coming forth of My beloved. So, when you read My word and it says the door has been opened to you and the key of David has been given, then understand you have been equipped along the way as you have walked with Me. This equipping is reaching a fullness that you do not yet understand and possibly do not even see yet. But, out of the fires of your circumstances you have come forth, even as the three Hebrew children came--they came forth from the fires of destruction without even the smell of smoke upon them. Even in these days it shall be so for you. These things are written for your admonition. They are told again and again to strengthen you. As you read My word, the word becomes power within you. And, as you dwell in My Spirit, the Spirit imparts power and brings it forth in your life, which will indeed become a river of God that runs fully through you. This river will bring life and strength to you. It will bring the glory of the kingdom into manifestation. I am inviting you to dwell in that place of glory with Me, says the Lord.

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Despite My Imperfections
I came to understanding
salvation later in life,
after having survived
multitudes of trials and strife.
Being acutely aware I must
fulfill other’s expectations,
after being forsaken
by my closest relations.
Learning one is not accepted
unless they made the grade;
if you wanted to be loved
the price must be paid.
I grew up acutely aware
of my imperfections,
learning early in life to practice
sincere introspection.
I learned to do what was required
or pay the price;
I learned that not everyone
you meet is loving and nice.
I learned just the opposite
of what God wanted me to see,
that His love is perfect
and it’s offered for free.
But having been drawn
to God’s Holy Word,
one day in solitude the most
awesome thing occurred.
My eyes were opened
and discernment was mine,
I could see that God
had loved me all of that time.
He loved me before I was formed
in my Mama’s womb,
and Jesus offered salvation
by going to the tomb.
I learned I had to unlearn
the lessons of my past,
if I was to feel being
unconditionally loved at last.
I learned I had to surrender
trusting God each new day,
asking that He
guide my way.
I learned with God I need
not fear facing rejection,
despite my many mistakes
despite my imperfections!
July 18, 2007 Barbara Philbrook

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Never Alone
You've always been here with me
Lord and never left my side,
Even when I've doubted you and
given in to my self pride!
You've never turned your back on me
when lack of faith, I've shown;
The love that you have given me
is the truest I have ever known!
How could I ever leave you, Lord
when you've given me your all;
You've held me when I was so weak
and knew that I would fall!
I've never had a friend so real
so faithful and so true;
I know that I would be so lost
if I did not have you!
I know you'll always be with me
through whatever I must face;
I know that I can count upon
your mercy and your grace!
I know you'll never leave me Lord
to walk this road alone;
You promised You'd go with me
for You've claimed me for Your
very own!
Helen Johnson

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ANOTHER DAY - Author Unknown
Another day is dawning
another day's begun
another day to turn to God
and pray, "Thy will be done"
A day to slay doubt's dragon,
To know within your soul
That as you give yourself to Him
He'll bless and make you whole.
A day to live with purpose
a day to show you care
When others turn to you distraught
Confused or in despair
A day to share God's blessings
In quiet countless ways
That touch the heart with hope and joy
And brighten cloudy days
A day for sweet rejoicing
For gratitude and praise
Because His love enfolds you
Both now, and all your days.

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11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-9

36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Matthew 14:36

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. Psalm 42:1

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

A Better Estimate
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:9-12

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Debunk The Junk
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NKJV)
Whenever I check my e-mail, I see that there are numerous messages of indeterminate nature in the junk box! No matter how often I sweep them away or block them, there are still more to replace them the next time I look. Even the titles of some of these messages make my skin crawl, and I wish I could completely block them from coming into my box. But my security settings are already at the highest level, so the system is obviously inadequate to deal with the influx of mindless garbage that still manages to filter through.
Junk mail reminds me of sin. It is insidious and ever-flowing. It respects no boundaries and can be difficult to eliminate from our lives. It manifests itself in words, thoughts, actions, deceptions, and distractions of all kinds, and it can seep into our lives despite our meagre efforts to block it.
The best and most effective way to clean up sin is to call upon God -- to give the problem to Him and trust Him for all we're worth. When we receive Jesus into our lives, He gives us His Holy Spirit, who equips us for the lifelong battle of discerning good from bad and right from wrong, often in ways that we would not have recognized or been willing to utilize before that. God's intervention is the only way to clean up our lives totally. Giving control of everything to Him on a daily basis causes our words, thoughts, and actions to change -- they are cleaned up and made acceptable. The junk will not vanish from our lives, but we'll find that we become better equipped and more adept in our efforts to recognize it and seek God's forgiveness and power to change.
Isaiah 1:16-17 - Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. (NKJV)
In other words, we are called to stop doing wrong, however insignificant it might seem! God sees and knows all our rights and wrongs!
Prayer: Father, there are so many lurid distractions around us. So many people spend their lives sending out these messages, attempting to trap innocent and naive minds with their seemingly captivating baits. Help us to be guided in Your ways by Your Word. Each time sin pops up, enable us to block it from our lives, keeping our minds, bodies, and spirits pure and unpolluted from the refuse and gossip of the Internet and the world! In Jesus' name. Amen. Patricia Day

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Dear God, I am willing and open to the movement of Your Spirit within me. I am willing to believe that I am capable of being more loving and joyful. I am willing to forgive myself and any other person I think has wronged me. am willing to be transformed at the core of my being. I am willing to believe that I am healed, healthy and whole. I am willing to be a peacemaker. I am willing to walk the path of Love. I am willing to be the person You would have me be. I am willing to be of service to the people around me. I am willing to see every situation as an opportunity. I am willing to grow spiritually. I am willing for Your will to be my will. I am willing and available for the Holy Spirit to show me how to be; truly me. Thank You God. Amen

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Read Through The Bible
Psalm 92
1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5 O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: 8 But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. 9 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. 11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

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Dear God, I know that in every situation and circumstance of my life, I am at choice. I choose thoughts that bless and heal. I choose actions that express the Love that I am. I choose words that bring joy and harmony and I speak from my heart. I choose to be a conscious expression of the Divine which is my source and my strength. I am guided by the Holy Spirit to do Its will. I am open and ready to be the person You have in mind. I am blessed by and a blessing to everyone I encounter today. Thank You for the power to choose and the wisdom to choose again. I am that which You are. Amen

Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.bluidkiti.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130 .
Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.