Life Condensed!

Read 2 Kings 22: 1-20

Condensed Milk, Condensed Soup, Condensed Books. We like all sorts of things that are condensed, consolidated, compressed, abridged or abbreviated.  Make it short. make it quick. Whatever saves time. Whatever gets to the bottom line. The condensed version of King Josiah's life is found in a single sentence.  Thirty-one words in one verse sum up the essence of his entire life: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or the left."  Amazing! Concise! Josiah walked the path of righteousness with out swerving.

Josiah became King at age 8 (3rd grade!) and reigned until his death at 39.  His father and grandfather both reigned over Judah before him.  Both did "evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 21:20).  Despite his evil legacy, Josiah turned his heart toward God.  And although Judah, the nation he ruled had turned to worship false gods, Josiah did not waver in his allegiance to the one true God.  No other king before or after him stayed on course like Josiah.

If you life were condensed into a short synopsis-one brief sentence-what would be said of you?  How our lives are summarized depends on the choices we make each day.  We have the tendency to become distracted with the cares and responsibilities of life.  Laundry piles up.  Bills need to be paid.  Children get sick.  As we care for our families and do our work, it's easy to become sidetracked form our primary purpose: pleasing God.  It is easier to give lip service to spiritual things than to stay on the course, keeping in step with the Spirit. ( See Galatians 5:25).
How will you be remembered? Eventually someone will write your obituary or eulogy.  Your life will be abridged into a few brief sentences and paragraphs.  What will be said of you? More important, how will God summarize your life?
Let it be said of you " ________(fill in your name) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the way of truth, not turning aside to the right or to the left."

Some related reading:
Want to read more about Josiah?  Check out 2 Kings 23:8-25.
Psalm 26:1-3  Isaiah 30:19-26  Galatians 5:25

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When I read this devotion this week it one reminded me of Pastor Terry's Sermon and two made me think a little.  What will be said of me when I am gone.  Do I do what is pleasing to God?  I hope it will challenge you as it has challenged me!  

Have a Beautiful Day!  

Christina

Truth is in the Handbag

Truth is in the Handbag

Shari Braendel

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." Psalm 31:3 (NIV)

Devotion:
I recently watched as a frazzled shopper fumbled around in her bag trying to find her allusive keys. As she dug through her overstuffed purse, multiple items spilled out, landing on the counter and falling to the floor. Quickly, she began collecting her items.

I thought about her pretty purse, beautiful on the outside but hiding an unruly mess on the inside. And then I started thinking about how alike women and purses can be.

Maybe you're like a small purse that only has the capacity to hold a few things. Yet you try stuffing more into your life than you can hold, only to get frustrated. Perhaps one of those things is God: He's been crammed into a tiny space in your world and you don't give Him much room to rule because you feel more comfortable when you are in control.


Perhaps you're like a big purse, carrying all kinds of things. You're involving yourself in so many activities just because you can; with no real purpose to why you're doing it. You end up flustered like the shopper digging for her keys because you haven't spent the time needed to organize your spiritual life.

I know you're not a handbag, but when applying biblical truth and application, what kind of purse are you most like?

It's not God's desire for our inside to be out of sync with our outside. He desires for us to have our hearts turned toward Him and have our very pulse in beat with what He is doing in us.

Where should we start to curb the chaos, release our controlling tendencies and lighten the busyness to fall in step with God?

Start by being still. For some, that will go against every fiber of your being, but try it. Perhaps you abide in chaos because it's masking what is really going on with you, just like your pretty purse hides the unorganized mess within. Sit quietly and pray for God to help you be keenly aware of Him. Nothing that you are going through is a surprise to God.

Next, relax and trust the Lord. Sometimes feeling out of control causes you to hyper-control everything around you. Let go of your fears, doubts and worries and make room for God in your life.

Finally, clear your calendar. We overbook and over-schedule out of habit and now busy feels normal. Is your fast pace driven by fear, or does it define your value or identity? If so, re-evaluate where your time and energy are being spent and why.

Making a change doesn't come easily, but it can be done. Although seeking out time with God, learning to trust Him, and reorganizing your priorities can feel uncomfortable and difficult at first, I know for sure that it's not nearly as hard as living overcommitted and out of control.

Together, let's commit to cleaning out our "purses!"

Thought you might like this devotion I found!  It really spoke to where I am at right now!  So What kind of purse are you? 

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Younger Cuter Stronger...

OK Ladies I gotta believe that someone is reading this but you must be too shy to comment! It's OK I understand! But we do Luv Comments! Now onto our Devotion! This Devotion couldn't have come to me at a better time! I am sure I am not the only one who feels blah when I start comparing myself to the other's around me. It can easily drag me down and make me forget that I was created in God's image, as a masterpiece, His masterpiece! Ephesians 2:10 is a verse that I cling to when I start to notice myself going down this path! Another way to combat those thoughts is to Look at yourself in the Mirror (straight in the eye) and say "I AM BEAUTIFUL!" now repeat this until you mean it! It may take a few times for this to really sink in, but know that you are Beautiful,Loved, and Prayed for!

Younger, Cuter, Skinnier
by Melanie Chitwood


"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)


Devotion:
While I waited in the carpool line to pick up my 10-year-old son Tyler, I watched the other moms coming and going with their kids. When Tyler got in the car, we talked about his day. Abruptly changing subjects, I asked, "Tyler, do I look 46?"

He quickly answered, "No, mom, you look ... 37." I smiled, wondering how he came up with that number, but liking that it was much lower than my actual age.

I said, "Good answer!"

"Except for those wrinkles," he added as he studied my face.

"What?!"

"And ..."

"Okay, we are finished with this conversation!"

As we drove back home, I wondered what prompted me to blurt out that question. Instantly, I knew the answer. While watching the other moms, I had started comparing myself. My comparison led me to think that the other moms were younger, cuter and skinnier.

Can you relate to these thoughts? We can fall into the comparison trap in an instant. For example, we flip through the pages of a magazine and compare our bodies to the images of skinny models. We go to a new Bible study and hesitate to speak up because we're sure the other women know more than we do.

Comparison usually leads us down a dangerous path of feeling insecure and "not enough," or else prideful and "better than." Neither path of thinking is one God wants us to take. God's Word tells us exactly what to do with faulty comparison thinking in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (NIV).

What does this mean in practice? First, we have to become aware of our thoughts. Next, we clarify if our thoughts are God's truth or the enemy's lies. We can be sure that any condemning or prideful thoughts are not from God. Finally, when we recognize a thought which is a lie, we need to replace the lie with God's truth. The verse I memorized to combat the lies resulting from comparison is a personalized version of today's key verse in Ephesians 2:10: "For I am God's beautiful masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do the good things He planned for me long ago."

Take time today to ask God to reveal to you any lies you believe about yourself. Confess pride or insecurity, and ask God to fill you with His truthful perspective.

And don't ask your child how old you look!

Dear Lord, keep my mind centered on the truth of who You say I am. Don't let my thoughts be tossed all over the place by the lies of the enemy. I know I am not defined by my circumstances, what I see in the mirror, or even what other people say about me. Let me rest in Your confidence as I acknowledge who You say I am, a masterpiece, fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Did you like this devotion? You can find it at: http://www.proverbs31.org/ or http://www.crosswalk.com/


Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina