Category: Daily Devotional

Some things worth pondering in Ephesians 1&2 We are God’s handiwork. He chose us. He predestined us for adoption. We have redemption through His blood. We have forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. In Him we were chosen. He Himself is our peace. Through Him we have access to the Father by one Spirit. It is by grace that we have been saved, through faith—and it is the gift of God! Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. Now that is GOOD NEWS! Love Mel

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, & one mediator between God & men, the man Christ Jesus. — This is good news, because our mediator has paid the full price for our freedom! —Acts 4:12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Hebr 8:6 Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. Hebr 7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. — Jesus is the guarantee for the better covenant! Now that is good news! We have a mediator that not only rose from the grave, but made a way for us to have eternal life. —Hebr 9:15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. — We are redeemed! Love Mel

From Bill— How do we develop the eulogy virtues or the Christ-like virtues. I read a great book called “Chop Wood Carry Water”. In it the author tells of a young man seeking to learn the art of Samurai archery from a master. For the first several years his job, to his sadness, was only to chop wood and carry water at the masters house. When the day finally came to try archery he was told to stand a few feet away from the target and practice the draw for hours on end. There was no great revelation from the master. He decided to quit and told the master he was frustrated at never learning to shoot the bow and arrow as the Samurai could. The master finally placed him far away from the target. The young boy, to his happy surprise, drew the powerful bow back easily and aimed with muscle imbedded precision. He found that he had great strength and great skill borne of chopping wood and carrying water and practicing process. The message? Are you saddened by events in life? Do you believe that pain, suffering and boredom are a curse? Perhaps not, if your goal is to become like The Master, ask if during those experiences you developed eulogy traits like Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, meekness, self control. If so, you have been blessed, not cursed. It is in the valley that we look up. “It was good that I was afflicted…”.  Love Mel

David Brooks New York Times writer is searching for meaning & he has come up with bucket list of resume virtues vs eulogy virtues! He states our society exalts resume virtues. He states, “The résumé virtues are the skills that are valued in the marketplace. Maybe intelligence, good looks and achievement such as King Saul had. The eulogy virtues are the ones that are talked about at your funeral — whether you were kind, brave, honest or faithful. Like King Davis was. Were you capable of deep love?” “We are all stumblers, and the beauty and meaning of life are discovered in the stumbling. The stumbler doesn’t build her life by being better than others, but by being better than she used to be.” — In this life we are encouraged to be assertive & to pursue self actualization. This world is Focused on SELF! It’s all about the Selfie! Much of the world does not value moral character! The question is, can we develop a profound inner character that will overcome during the struggles of life, thereby preparing us for eternal life. How can we become better people & what can we do to make life better for others?  Do we examine our priorities & focus? Do the choices we make really matter? What would your “moral bucket list” look like? What character traits do you wish to have? What would you want said at your eulogy? It is never ever too late, we can always choose Gal 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love Mel

Luke 22:24-27  A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. [Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; & those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, & the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. —How many people search the world over looking for greatness, when greatness can be achieved right where we are! Do you see things or people around you doing wrong or going the wrong way? Let’s make those wrongs our responsibility by making them our prayer points. As we begin, we will begin to see the wrongs righted & evils banished. This is the glorious life of greatness that opens the windows of heaven so that God can & does work in this earth. This is the one thing that can change everything, one prayer request at a time! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! Love Mel