
All That You Need


Algae and Diatom


Impossible to Hold


Contentment


Joy in Sorrow

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:3)
At some time in life all of us feel the loneliness of sorrow. Mary and Martha were saddened by the death of their brother, Lazarus, and Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Theirs was a loneliness of sorrow. The shortest verse in the Bible tells us that at the tomb of Lazarus “Jesus wept.” He enters into our sorrows.
When we come to Jesus Christ, He does not promise to exempt us from trouble or sorrow. Tears will come, but deep inside there will be a joy that is difficult to explain to you. It is a joy from God—produced by the Holy Spirit. In the midst of trials and agony and tears which come to us all, a supernatural power is given out, producing joy.
Your comfort in times of sorrow, loving Lord Jesus, enfolds me, giving light and hope in my darkness. Amen.
I have recently experienced sorrow with the loss of my grandma of whom was very dear and near to my heart and life but the loneliness that comes with sorrow is something I know my mother is feeling and so when I read this devotion it touched close to home and I felt it needed to be shared. Maybe you are feeling the loneliness of sorrow, I pray this devotion gives you some comfort in knowing that even in times of sorrow, Jesus enfolds us, giving us light and hope in the darkness. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness (Psalm 30:11). He is faithful even in times of sorrow.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 26:3

When the Bottom Drops Out


Putting God to the Test


Little by Little

In Chapter 23, God grants the Israelites various promises, including utterly overthrowing and completely cutting off their enemies. The Lord further states that He will bless their bread and water and take their sicknesses away. With the Lord on their side, the Israelites cannot lose. But in verse 30, the Lord says that He will fulfill His promises by driving out their enemies little by little. Why? Why doesn’t God just wipe their enemies out like He did the Egyptians as they entered the Red Sea? What benefit is there to do it little by little?
Exodus 23:29 says “I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.” In other words, a place of instant abundance and blessings would be harmful for the Israelites. Blessings are not true blessings unless they come when we are able to handle them. Think of areas in your life that you would love to see the Lord work in you today. Maybe you need deliverance from sin that seems to have trapped you or maybe it is your finances. The list can go on and on. God wants to deliver you and bless you, but He will only give you what you can handle. God knows what is best for us. Even the blessings can become curses if we do not have the wisdom, maturity and honesty to handle them.
The Lord’s timing is never too late nor too slow. He is patient and kind, assessing the whole situation, so that when He fulfills His promises in you, you will be able to receive them in peace. We want the quick fix or the instant gratification. We want the immediate and the miraculous. However, God’s ways are not our ways and He desires to give us a future life in His promises. Little by little, complete victory will be yours by having faith and patience day by day.
This devotion blessed me in so many ways, one part that jumped out at me was when it said “blessings are not true blessings unless they come when we are able to handle them”. So many times we are guilty of forcing things to happen and then saying it was God’s blessing when in reality it wasn’t part of His plan for your life and eventually we realize that wasn’t the best choice to have been made or forced. It’s so important we wait patiently on Him, His plan for our lives is far better and far more productive than anything we could ever imagine. What’s also so incredible about God is even when we force our plan He is able to come along and steer us back in the direction He had planned if we are willing to let go and let God. Little by little makes a huge impact. He has a perfect plan for your life, trust Him! The Lords timing is never too late nor too slow, Amen, what truth! Not my will, but thine, be done. What an example to follow after, that should be our heart’s cry every single day.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 20:1-16

What on Earth?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
When Andrew Cheatle lost his cell phone at the beach, he thought it was gone forever. About a week later, however, fisherman Glen Kerley called him. He had pulled Cheatle’s phone, still functional after it dried, out of a 25-pound cod.
Life is full of odd stories, and we find more than a few of them in the Bible. One day tax collectors came to Peter demanding to know, “Doth not your master pay tribute?” (Matt. 17:24). Jesus turned the situation into a teaching moment. He wanted Peter to understand His role as king. Taxes weren’t collected from the children of the king, and the Lord made it clear that neither He nor His children owed any temple tax (vv. 25–26).
Yet Jesus wanted to be careful not to “cause offense” (v. 27), so He told Peter to go fishing. (This is the odd part of the story.) Peter found a coin in the mouth of the first fish he caught.
What on earth is Jesus doing here? A better question is, “What in God’s kingdom is Jesus doing?” He is the rightful King—even when many do not recognize Him as such. When we accept His role as Lord in our lives, we become His children.
Life will still throw its various demands at us, but Jesus will provide for us. As former pastor David Pompo put it, “When we’re fishing for our Father, we can depend on Him for all we need.”
Lord, teach us to bask in the wonderful realization that You provide everything we need. Amen.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think, what a mighty God we serve. He’s always looking out for us and providing for us just in time. Don’t loose faith, be faithful and He will see you through. We are children of The King! In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6).
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 17:24-27

God’s Favor

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. (Daniel 1:9)
I love the Old Testament stories that illustrate how God brought someone into favor in an unfavorable situation. Daniel was given favor in the king’s palace, even though he was a captive and taken prisoner. Joseph was given favor with the guards as a prisoner in Egypt. And even David, before he was king, was given favor when he sought refuge in enemy territory with the Philistines. Why such favor with these people in these situations? Was it because of what they had done to earn it? No. It was because of who God is.
Even today, we see God’s favor upon us. There are many times that I ask God to give me favor in certain situations or with certain people. Sometimes we hold back from asking for such things because we feel unworthy or undeserving. But the Lord wants us to ask because He loves to answer. I have been given favor in situations where I felt I didn’t deserve it. When we truly embrace God’s grace, then we can begin to understand a snippet of how much He loves us.
God is so good! He always has a way of showing His grace in so many different ways and it’s through devotions like this that I read when I am reminded of just how good God is. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If He brought favor to Daniel, Joseph and David in the most unfavorable situations then He can and will do the very same for you and I. If our lives are in line with God’s word and what He has called us to do, you can guarantee He will find you favor, even in the most uncertain situations. Be merciful, loving and kind, no matter your situation and watch what God will do. Be reading your word, praying, fasting and faithful in your tithes. He is faithful that promised.
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 3