New Devotional Discovery

New Devotional Discovery

Last month I had the delight of speaking to the wonderful students at Davis College (formerly Practical Bible Training School) in Binghamton, NY. I had opportunity to fellowship with the President, Dr. Dino Pedrone as well as his assistant, Dan Rathmell.

Dan is a great guy and is going through some really tough times. His beloved wife who is in her late 50’s, has been diagnosed with a very rare form of early on-set dementia and is now having to live in a facility. Very difficult time for this family.

Dan shared with us a copy of a devotional, JESUS IS CALLING which he gave to my wife Jan as a gift. I happened to read a review copy of the book, and ordered my own. It has been a very refreshing addition to my daily devotional reading, and I want to HIGHLY recommend it to you.

Today’s reading was very timely for me – so timely that I decided to share it with you:

Living in dependence on Me is the way to enjoy abundant life. You are learning to appreciate tough times, because they amplify your awareness of My Presence. Tasks that you used to dread are becoming rich opportunities to enjoy My closeness. When you feel tired, you remember that I am your Strength; you take pleasure in leaning on Me. I am pleased by your tendency to turn to Me more and more frequently, especially when you are alone. When you are with other people, you often lose sight of My Presence. Your fear of displeasing people puts you in bondage to them, and they become your primary focus. When you realize this has happened, whisper My Name; this tiny act of trust brings Me to the forefront of your consciousness, where I belong. As you bask in the blessing of My nearness, My life can flow through you to others. This is abundant life! PROVERBS 29:25; JOHN 10:10

Young, Sarah (2010-03-02). Jesus Calling: A 365 Day Journaling Devotional (Kindle Locations 1765-1772). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

God spoke to my heart today through this devotional. I have never met the author, and she has no clue who I am. But God knew that I needed this today. Maybe you did too. Are you living the abundant life, my brother? – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 1 Kings 14-15; Proverbs 3; Luke 22:47-51

Motivations: While extremely sensitive as to the slightest approach to slander, you must also guard against an extreme into which some people fall who, in their desire to speak evil of no one, actually uphold and speak well of vice. If you have to do with one who is unquestionably a slanderer, do not excuse him by calling him frank and free-spoken; do not call one who is notoriously vain, liberal and elegant; do not call dangerous levities mere simplicity; do not screen disobedience under the name of zeal; or arrogance, of frankness; or evil intimacy, of friendship. No, my friends, we must never, in our wish to shun slander, foster or flatter vice in others: but we must call evil evil, and sin sin, and so doing we shall serve God's glory. Francis de Sales

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  God has not always answered my prayers. If he had, I would have married the wrong man! – Ruth Bell Graham