Doorkeepers,Trust, Truth, & Peace

We are going through some times right now as a family that we are learning about life and what it means to live for Jesus. We are seeing some amazing things as we step out in faith in obedience to His plea to care for orphans. We are also dealing with hard times as it pertains to our church family and know that you will pray.

This devotional spoke to me and since I have no news to post about CC's adoption or a foster placement, I thought I'd post this. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year.

Unfolding... Meditations by Gale Hoey

Home

Does your heart ever yearn for home? David's did. He wrote, "My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (Psalm 84:2).

More and more we feel less and less at home in the world. We see leaders living and ruling by ungodly principles. We see ungodly principles prevailing in homes and in workplaces throughout our land. Sometimes we feel very discouraged as we battle for what is right, and as the fight gets tougher and tougher.

But we must remember that in spite of what goes on around us, we are blessed because we are the Lord's. We are preserved and protected by him. We know that he works all things together for our good. We know that in the end, God's way will prevail. In the end, the workers of unrighteousness will fall. But we will stand with the Victor.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor, no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Oh Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
- Psalm 84:10-12


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God's Purpose

Do you ever take time to look back over the steps God has brought you through in the past? As you walked through those times, God's purposes were not always understood. Now, as you look back, you may be able to see more clearly God's purpose in each step along the way.

Your life is like a beautiful mosaic. Each step is like one stone. Looking back, you can often see how each stone fits into the perfect pattern designed by God.

One day the veil of flesh will be removed. And you will see with perfect clarity what you now see only with eyes of faith. Now you can see only a reflection. But then you will see that God planned each stone of your mosaic. And you will fully understand that he planned it perfectly.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11


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Love Your Enemy

It is one thing to stand on the sidelines enjoying the sweet fellowship of other Christians. It is another to have the cold waters of hatred and ridicule splashed in your face.

Jesus understood very well what that felt like. Even in the face of the most bitter and cruel mockery and torture, he loved. And he interceded on behalf of those for whose sins he died.

Jesus told us that because the world hated him, it will hate us, because we are his (John 15:18-19). Just as the world did not understand who Jesus was, it will not understand whose we are.

Only through his power can we love our enemies. Only through his power can we see them as he does-hopelessly lost, and confused and blinded by sin. Only through his power can we plant seeds of hope and life in a world filled with men who have no hope and who know not the way of life.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 6:10-12


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Truth

Some people say they can find all truth by themselves. They say using your mind is the only way to know things. They look at God's world. They think about what they see. They reason that those things are real because they can see and touch them. They can't see God. So they say God is not real.

There is only one way to know the truth. Jesus is the way and the truth. God's Holy Spirit witnesses within our hearts and helps us know God is real. We can't see him now. But we know that he is real. We know we'll see him someday. God's word tells us so.

People without God can never know the whole truth. Their reasoning and their sinful minds lead them instead away from the truth. Their sinful reasoning leads them along the path of death rather than the path of life.

Thank God that you have been given real life in Jesus Christ. Thank him that his Spirit leads you and guides you along the path of life. And thank him that when this life is over, he will usher you into eternal life.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding . . . Long life is in her right hand . . . her ways are pleasant ways, all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
- Proverbs 3:13-18