The People God Uses - Joni and Friends

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional   

The People God Uses

"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."
Psalm 27:8
 
Martin Luther. Charles Finney. Susanna Wesley. Jonathan Edwards. Corrie ten Boom. Great saints these are. We can look to wonderful Christians of the past for inspiration, but who are the great believers of today? For that matter, what makes them great?
 
I like A. W. Tozer's criteria. He says, "The great in the kingdom have been those who...love God more than others did." He goes on to say, "... the one vital quality which these people have in common is spiritual receptivity. Something in them is open to heaven, something which urges them Godward. They have a spiritual awareness and they go on to cultivate it until it becomes the biggest thing in their lives."
 
According to Tozer, then, you don't have to be a famous evangelist, a mother of 16 children, a Bible teacher, or someone who has faced Nazi gas ovens to be great. (Although, if you remain open to heaven and cultivate that spiritual awareness, God is going to place you in some powerful sphere of influence or impact.)
 
If your ambition is to have no ambition except to be pleasing to God, then you are great in His kingdom. The average person senses God's nudgings but does nothing about them. Not so you, if you're spiritually great. You are the one who develops the lifelong habit of being spiritually responsive. When you read Psalms 27, you are the one whose hearts says to God, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."
_______________________________
 
The Lord is looking right now for people who will love Him more than in the average way. He's looking for people whose love is more than mediocre. Listen...is the Spirit nudging you? If you sense He is leading you to a deeper level of trust and obedience, do something about it. If you feel the inward longing, take action. Be obedient to the heavenly vision. For then you will be great in His kingdom.
 
I want to know You, Lord, in such a deep way that my self will be overwhelmed by You. Enable me to earnestly seek Your face. Amen

Blessings,
 
Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Monday, October 14th

Another beautiful morning!  Enjoying a cup of coffee waiting for my medicine to kick in.  Hoping for a better day, today. :-)

Yesterday after church we took a drive down to Winona to pick up my medication. It was a beautiful drive :-) By afternoon I was very swollen and sore...I had a tough time moving around and spent a lot of time on the couch :-(

This past week my throat has been making gurgling sounds.  It happened several times...
When my esophagus shrinks and doesn't allow food to go down...I have to cough it up :-(  Sometimes the esophagus muscle will release then the food and drink can pass. I have learned to live with it... :-). So thankful for all I can do...

Today I am taking grandma Gloria to the Dr. Wish me luck, she can be difficult at times. :-). I'll stop to see grandma Faye and then pick up Kaylee from daycare before heading back home.

My prayers go out for Judy Madden and her family...Lord surround them with your love and grant them your peace.  I pray for complete healing with no complications...Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers and granting our request. Amen!
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Today's Bible Study

Knowing God as Our Father

Read | 1 John 3:1-3

When we hear the word “father,” what images come to mind? Couch potato or hardworking? Stern or enthusiastic? Available or absent? No matter what strengths or weaknesses our earthly dads may have had, we have a heavenly Father who is perfect.

Jesus’ life provides us with a picture of God as our Father. We see the Savior tenderly holding children, ministering to the sick, and showing compassion to the undeserving. Christ’s words tell us of a heavenly Father who loves people, listens to the prayers of His children, and freely offers forgiveness.

Jesus also revealed that there are two spiritual fathers in this world: Jehovah and Satan. Only those who have been spiritually born into God’s family may call Him “Father.” This rebirth (John 3:3) takes place when a person accepts Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice for his or her own sins. Those that reject Christ—the only way to God (14:6)—consequently choose the Devil as their spiritual father (8:42-45). They have believed the Father of Lies and rejected the one true God as revealed in the person of Jesus. Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy (10:10), but Jesus came that we might have new life and be reconciled to God the Father.

God is aware of every need we have, and He has promised to provide His best for us. He delights in giving good gifts to His children and doesn’t hold our mistakes against us. With Him, we find intimacy, security, and satisfaction. Child of God, how well do you know your Father?

Another great day!

Eagle in Back Yard

Up Close and Personal - Joni and Friends

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional   

Up Close and Personal

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."    
 Ephesians 3:17a
 
Last night, right before prayer time, I was struggling to push out of my heart one of those useless daydreams. My thinking was, I don't want to approach God like this. Then it occurred to me how close God was -- right in the middle of things (because the Spirit of the Lord dwells in my heart). My next thought? Sometimes, Lord, I don't know how you can stand to live inside of me! God carries the weight of my campaign against sin, but I rarely think of Him as that up close and personal when I'm engaged against temptation. Because He lives inside me, He's literally in the thick of the battle.
 
Yet He's the one who has to put up with my choosing stupid thoughts, taking worldly advice, opting to ignore His warnings, forgetting my calling as a servant, and walking more than occasionally in the flesh. How does He put up with all that?
 
Scripture says, "The battle belongs to the Lord." I'm amazed that the Spirit I grieve when I sin, turns right around whenever He hears me repent, and empowers me to conquer that sin. I'm glad He doesn't hold a grudge. I'm relieved He doesn't say "I told you so." And I'm so grateful that, even when I quench His fire in my heart, He can always be stirred to action by the match ignited when I confess.
 
Come to think of it, I'm glad the Lord resides inside me. Because the closer He is to the battle -- right there in my heart -- the closer His love is to me.
_________________________________
 
What battles rage in your heart today? What temptations taunt you to just say yes? Picture the Holy Spirit living inside your heart. And the fiery maelstrom that He is urging you to emerge from victoriously. Thank Him for the power to do so.
Father, I know You're pleased with me as Your child, and Lord Jesus, I know You're the one who intercedes and prays for me. But Holy Spirit, You're the one who has to live with me. Thank You.

Blessings,
 
Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Sunday, October 13th

Another beautiful morning...
Yesterday morning we had an Eagle sitting in our tree in the backyard...what a beautiful site...

I've been working at sorting and cleaning again. :-) Cleaning is an ongoing project but it gives me something to do. :-)

A few months back Paul and I went down to Iowa, to my aunt Dorothy's funeral.  When we were coming back from the gravesite a huge branch fell in front of our vehicle.  It fell right after Paul walked by...wow that was so close. :-(
This year is Paul's 15th year with the CLL-Leukemia... :-) I continue thanking God everyday for protecting him. :-)

Before my dad died, he was helping his sister, Bev, get ready for a garage sale and when operating the garage door the window came out of the door and sliced his nose off...it was only hanging on by a small piece of skin.  He was rushed to the hospital and had his nose sewed back on.  :-(  

Remembering these situations in our life reminds me to appreciate everything and everyone because we don't know what tomorrow will bring... :-) Enjoy everyday!

I am thankful for all things...

Today my prayers go out for all our kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews...
Lord protect them from all that may harm them. Help them open their hearts to you for your grace and peace...

"Lord I pray that you would open my eyes, that I may always see what you are doing. Give me the grace to co-labor with your Holy Spirit and to walk in the measure of faith that has been granted to me. I bless your name Jesus and ask only that I would be transformed into Your image, that those around me may see and know You.  In Your Name King Jesus. Amen"
--------------------------
Today's Bible Study

The Freedom of the Cross

by Charles F. Stanley

In these tough economic times, many now recognize the cost of freedom. Perhaps you feel trapped in debt, unemployment, or personal heartache. And even if you are currently fortunate enough to be without trial, there is a bondage we all face: sin.

Breaking free from sin's penalty and power comes at a great price. Your symbol of true freedom—liberty from the chains of self—is a costly one. It is soaked in the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.

The Cross

The agony of Jesus' crucifixion is well known, even to non-Christians and adherents of other religions. The actual event, however, was far more than mere historic melodrama. Its significance lies not in the emotional experience of the participants and onlookers, but in what God accomplished through His Son's death.

The cross of Calvary is the extraordinary instrument of liberty where our eternal fate is secured. You see, our freedom cannot be purchased with a social revolution or a majority vote. The source of our oppression is spiritual—not political, economic, or cultural.

Yet many people today dismiss the contemporary relevance of the cross because of its apparent weakness. We are strength-conscious people. Businesspeople meet for "power" lunches. Politicians strive to gain ever-increasing legislative influence. Individuals with common causes group together to wield more clout. The military spends billions to develop and deploy Armageddon-scale weaponry. But there has never been—and never will be—anything that rivals the awesome power of the cross.

The Cost

Despite the world's skepticism and ridicule, the very core of Christianity is Jesus' death and resurrection. It is the central truth of Christian doctrine and experience. In the words of Paul, the cross is both "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24).

You see, we are born sinners, separated from the life and liberty of our Creator. We are imprisoned by the darkness of sin, chained by its grip of selfishness and under the influence of Satan. Only Christ's sacrifice has the power to liberate us from this bondage.

The gospel of the resurrection has the ability to deliver us—body and soul—from the grave. Because Christ paid the penalty of sin and emerged from the tomb, His sacrifice is the only power that can unshackle humanity from the chains of eternal, spiritual death. It is the only thing that can transport you from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of life and light (Colossians 1:13).

The cross is God's wisdom because there is no other means by which sinful human beings can be reconciled to our holy and perfect Creator. Because God became flesh, He could die as our substitute, bearing the divinely decreed penalty for our rebellion against Him.

The crucifixion has the power to radically alter every aspect of your life. Jesus' sacrifice empowers you to reorient your life toward selfless giving, loving, and serving instead of self-dominance or self-protection. Christ calls us to follow Him by dying to ourselves—to give up our lives so that we might find them in relationship with Him (John 12:25-26). Doing so transforms the heart and releases evil's grip on our lives.

Freedom

Our only hope for freedom is to be rescued by the One with the power and right to liberate us from sin's reign. That is exactly what Christ did at Calvary. Through the cross, the wrath of God the Father was spent on His Son. Jesus paid the supreme price by laying down His life.

Since Christ tasted the bitterness of death and rose again three days later, sin no longer rules over those of us who trust in Him. He triumphed over the grave, and all who place their faith in Him share His victory. The grace of the Lord is marvelous. But it is yours only because Jesus bore the penalty of sin: death (Rom. 6:23). He made it possible for us to be reconciled to the Author of spiritual liberty— Jehovah God.

Is the cross of Christ the center of your faith? There is absolutely no way to God except through the Son (John 14:6). The gift of freedom is available to all who are willing to receive because of His crucifixion—the greatest, eternal sacrifice for the world God so dearly loves.

Adapted from "Enter His Gates" (1998).

Another great day!

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Sunday, October 13th

Another beautiful morning...
Yesterday morning we had an Eagle sitting in our tree in the backyard...what a beautiful site...

I've been working at sorting and cleaning again. :-) Cleaning is an ongoing project but it gives me something to do. :-)

A few months back Paul and I went down to Iowa, to my aunt Dorothy's funeral.  When we were coming back from the gravesite a huge branch fell in front of our vehicle.  It fell right after Paul walked by...wow that was so close. :-(
This year is Paul's 15th year with the CLL-Leukemia... :-) I continue thanking God everyday for protecting him. :-)

Before my dad died, he was helping his sister, Bev, get ready for a garage sale and when operating the garage door the window came out of the door and sliced his nose off...it was only hanging on by a small piece of skin.  He was rushed to the hospital and had his nose sewed back on.  :-(  

Remembering these situations in our life reminds me to appreciate everything and everyone because we don't know what tomorrow will bring... :-) Enjoy everyday!

I am thankful for all things...

My prayers go out for all our kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews...
Lord protect them from all that may harm them. Help them open their hearts to you for your grace and peace...

"Lord I pray that you would open my eyes, that I may always see what you are doing. Give me the grace to co-labor with your Holy Spirit and to walk in the measure of faith that has been granted to me. I bless your name Jesus and ask only that I would be transformed into Your image, that those around me may see and know You.  In Your Name King Jesus. Amen"
--------------------------
Today's Bible Study

The Freedom of the Cross

by Charles F. Stanley

In these tough economic times, many now recognize the cost of freedom. Perhaps you feel trapped in debt, unemployment, or personal heartache. And even if you are currently fortunate enough to be without trial, there is a bondage we all face: sin.

Breaking free from sin's penalty and power comes at a great price. Your symbol of true freedom—liberty from the chains of self—is a costly one. It is soaked in the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.

The Cross

The agony of Jesus' crucifixion is well known, even to non-Christians and adherents of other religions. The actual event, however, was far more than mere historic melodrama. Its significance lies not in the emotional experience of the participants and onlookers, but in what God accomplished through His Son's death.

The cross of Calvary is the extraordinary instrument of liberty where our eternal fate is secured. You see, our freedom cannot be purchased with a social revolution or a majority vote. The source of our oppression is spiritual—not political, economic, or cultural.

Yet many people today dismiss the contemporary relevance of the cross because of its apparent weakness. We are strength-conscious people. Businesspeople meet for "power" lunches. Politicians strive to gain ever-increasing legislative influence. Individuals with common causes group together to wield more clout. The military spends billions to develop and deploy Armageddon-scale weaponry. But there has never been—and never will be—anything that rivals the awesome power of the cross.

The Cost

Despite the world's skepticism and ridicule, the very core of Christianity is Jesus' death and resurrection. It is the central truth of Christian doctrine and experience. In the words of Paul, the cross is both "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24).

You see, we are born sinners, separated from the life and liberty of our Creator. We are imprisoned by the darkness of sin, chained by its grip of selfishness and under the influence of Satan. Only Christ's sacrifice has the power to liberate us from this bondage.

The gospel of the resurrection has the ability to deliver us—body and soul—from the grave. Because Christ paid the penalty of sin and emerged from the tomb, His sacrifice is the only power that can unshackle humanity from the chains of eternal, spiritual death. It is the only thing that can transport you from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of life and light (Colossians 1:13).

The cross is God's wisdom because there is no other means by which sinful human beings can be reconciled to our holy and perfect Creator. Because God became flesh, He could die as our substitute, bearing the divinely decreed penalty for our rebellion against Him.

The crucifixion has the power to radically alter every aspect of your life. Jesus' sacrifice empowers you to reorient your life toward selfless giving, loving, and serving instead of self-dominance or self-protection. Christ calls us to follow Him by dying to ourselves—to give up our lives so that we might find them in relationship with Him (John 12:25-26). Doing so transforms the heart and releases evil's grip on our lives.

Freedom

Our only hope for freedom is to be rescued by the One with the power and right to liberate us from sin's reign. That is exactly what Christ did at Calvary. Through the cross, the wrath of God the Father was spent on His Son. Jesus paid the supreme price by laying down His life.

Since Christ tasted the bitterness of death and rose again three days later, sin no longer rules over those of us who trust in Him. He triumphed over the grave, and all who place their faith in Him share His victory. The grace of the Lord is marvelous. But it is yours only because Jesus bore the penalty of sin: death (Rom. 6:23). He made it possible for us to be reconciled to the Author of spiritual liberty— Jehovah God.

Is the cross of Christ the center of your faith? There is absolutely no way to God except through the Son (John 14:6). The gift of freedom is available to all who are willing to receive because of His crucifixion—the greatest, eternal sacrifice for the world God so dearly loves.

Adapted from "Enter His Gates" (1998).

Another great day!

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Saturday, October 12th

Another beautiful morning...it's dark out when I get up now and it's starting to get dark at around 6:30pm...that is so nice.  It gives me a chance to sit out on the deck and enjoy the fresh air.  Something I can't do during the summer.  :-(  I love summer but only can enjoy it from inside. 
Can you believe it's mid-October already...where does that time go?

I really enjoyed my trip to Council Bluffs...sometimes when you get away it sheds new light on your situation.  I spent the time reflecting on my life and my situation with DM and Lupus.  I can truly say I am blessed...so many have it worse than I.
I continue to focus on the good things and stay as positive as possible. :-)

In a couple of weeks we are heading down to Oklahoma to visit the kids and grandkids :-) I am looking forward to our trip.  Our grandkids continue to grow so fast... :-(  I can't believe their already 3 and 5...

Last night I was watching, Where are they now? An Oprah show...the story was about a family of five...mom, dad, two teenagers and a fourteen month old son. Dad, mom and the two older boys were addicted to heroin...It was so sad to hear this story...You wonder how they got into this situation?
Why do some people use drugs or alcohol?  Why are some living on the street?  Why do some live in mansions? Why do others have eating disorders? Why do some have disabilities or rare disorders?
So many questions...

Anyway, A tv reporter first brought the story to the publics eyes in 2008.
When this family left the Oprah show the four went into four separate treatment facilities. In 2009 the parents decided to give the youngest up for adoption because they were living on the street.  After the adoption the mother was devastated and committed suicide.  The father was having a difficult time because he lost his wife and child to adoption.  He felt bad for not providing for his family.  Then the father ended up turning himself in to the police to make good on some outstanding warrants he had.
One of the sons got into trouble and was sent to another facility. The other son got himself together and finished school and went onto college.  The reporter didn't know if they went back to using or not at the time of the last update...

Why does life take the turns that it does? Why are some better equiped to handle things? 
I am so thankful for my life and all I can do! :-)
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Today's Bible Study

The Privilege of Knowing God

Read | Philippians 3:7-11

God wants people to know Him. If He had preferred anonymity, He wouldn’t have inspired the writing of a multi-author book about Himself. But since He did, our becoming devoted followers and friends of the Creator requires us to delve deeply into Scripture.

First, we learn about God from His Word. In reading the Bible, we accumulate facts about His character, principles, and ways of operating. Unfortunately, churches are full of men and women who stop at this step. They know much about religion but haven’t developed their faith.

The second step is to meditate on Scripture by thinking about God’s words and allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret them. The only way to rightly understand this divinely inspired text is with the Spirit’s guidance.

Finally, we must apply what we learn. Suppose you read that God is a very present help in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1). Then, when trouble shows up, you will rely on Him for aid. When He answers—and He will answer, although not always as expected—you will learn something about God: He helps you by responding to your trust and dependence with a custom-made solution to your problem.

I frequently admonish believers to read the Bible, but by that, I do not mean for anyone to skim its pages and walk away with only facts. Scripture is a living document that will tell you how to practice faith in daily life, but you must do what it says. Only then can you see God as He truly is—not some ancient deity full of rules, but a vibrant Friend who wants to connect with His children daily.

Another great day!