Meeting God In The Everyday Moments

  “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to
his excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2).
    The mighty God – THE mighty God – the MIGHTY God – the mighty GOD – THE MIGHTY GOD – no matter where you put the emphasis, it means that HE is greater than I am. He is mighty.
    From the beginning, God’s plan was to be involved in the daily lives of His creation. He wanted fellowship with the people He created. He walked and talked
with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. He spoke with Noah, Abraham, Samuel, David, Solomon, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Mary, Joseph and then He came personally
to dwell with mankind and reveal His nature – His heart – His plan.
    The MIGHTY God made an old couple able to bear a child; shut the mouth of hungry lions, brought victory after victory in battle, fed the Israelites with bread
from heaven, raised the dead, healed the sick, open the eyes of the blind, walked on water, defeated Satan and death to rise triumphantly from the grave.
    The mighty GOD came to live among us, to experience what we experience and to give us the victory. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

There is NO situation or circumstance in our life today that “the mighty God” can’t handle. When we give it over to Him, we experience His presence and His peace.
    “Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7
    All our worries, cares and frustrations need to be given over to our “Mighty God”. He promises to carry the load; to give us His peace, mercy and kind help in our time of need. He promises to never abandon us or leave
us without help. He promises to be our help in times of trouble.
    He is Mighty God and He is our constant friend and guide.

Excerpts from Kristi’s Morning Devotional

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers” (Acts 9:31).
    Fearing the Lord helps us understand who God truly is, which inspires us to love, obey,
and serve him – and we grow more wise day by day in the process. Feeling awe from
fearing the Lord motivates us to respect God’s holiness and obey his just commandments. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 asks: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him,
to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the
Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” and Deuteronomy 10:20-21 urges: “Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.”
    Encountering wonder instills a healthy fear of God – a reverence for God’s awesome nature – in our souls. That is the foundation on which we can build our knowledge and grow in wisdom. Awe shows us who God really is. That healthy fear of God reveals that God is much more than just a buddy or a distant being who doesn’t care about our choices. When we fear the Lord through awe, we can see that God is the all-powerful
Creator who is the source of all wisdom. It becomes clear to us that listening to God is the best choice for us in all circumstances. Fearing God helps us understand that he is a loving Father who wants what’s best for us. It wakes us up to the reality that God’s
presence is always with us, and he notices and cares deeply about our thoughts, words,
and actions.                                 When we fear the Lord, we gain wisdom because our perspective enlarges so we can see how much we need God. Seeing the wonder of God’s awesome power and holiness opens our eyes spiritually. In the face of our Creator’s glory, we can see where we really are in relationship to him – and we can be inspired to move closer. Encountering the wonder of
God at work in our lives inspires us to take stock of our choices. Have we been making a relationship with God a top priority in our lives? Have we accepted his forgiveness for our sins? Have we chosen to pursue greater holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions? We acquire more wisdom as we do so.                                 By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk

“I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts” (Psalm 119:45).
  This profound verse encapsulates the essence of true freedom that is found not in the absence of restraint, but in the embrace of divine guidance. The author
of this Psalm, often attributed to King David, highlights a beautiful paradox: it is through seeking God’s precepts—His teachings, rules, and commandments—that
we discover the immense freedom that comes from living within His will.
    At first glance, the concept of precepts can seem burdensome. In a world that often equates liberty with complete autonomy, the idea of adhering to a set of divine guidelines may appear as a limitation. However, the Bible presents a different narrative. The precepts of God, far from shackling us, are designed to
guide us on the path of life abundant. When we choose to follow His directives, we invite a freedom that extends beyond mere physical or societal constraints into the very depths of our soul.
    Consider the context in which David penned this verse. The Israelites were a people who understood the struggle of external oppression, having been subject to slavery in Egypt and later to other nations. However, throughout their tumultuous history, it was always God’s law that provided them with a framework for not only survival but flourishing. By seeking God's precepts, David recognizes
that true freedom is aligned with God’s nature and character. This truth is echoed throughout Scripture; from Jesus' declaration in John 8:32, "And ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free," we see that freedom comes from understanding and abiding in the truth of God’s word.
    Walking at liberty implies a journey. As Christians, we are called to a dynamic relationship with our Creator, which encompasses both the heart's longing for intimacy and the mind's pursuit of knowledge and understanding. When we seek God's precepts, we are not merely pursuing rules to follow but are engaging in a relationship that transforms us. The more we immerse ourselves in His Word, the more we are shaped by His truths. This shapes our worldview,
influences our choices, and ultimately steers our actions.
    As we meditate on Psalm 119:45, let us commit ourselves anew to seek His precepts daily. Let us walk in the liberty that He provides—a freedom that comes from alignment with His will, purpose, and love. In doing so,
may we experience the abundant life that Jesus promised, marked by a freedom that can only come from Him.
Excerpts from Bible Art

  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
   Have you ever lost your ability to focus your eyes? Even for just a
moment? Gently rubbing your eyes when you wake up in the morning might help you see clearly after a long night’s rest. Sometimes, computer eye strain will affect your ability to focus. There is a formula to help with
that, too – after every 20 minutes of close work stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to help regain your focus (20-20-20).
    I’ve gained much knowledge this past year following the simple
procedure of cataract surgery. Most people have great results right away, but it has been a challenge for me because I require a somewhat challenging lens prescription for my glasses. My up-close vision has been
difficult to adjust. After four or five prescriptions, several optical remakes of those prescriptions, and numerous doctor visits and eye dilations, my eyes have been exhausted! I just wanted to be able to focus on my computer work, my phone, reading, and hobbies. Some adjustments made it better, but not right. My pre-surgery glasses were still better than the new.                                              But what I learned this week from a top-notch optician has been an eye-opener. The lens that
replaced my god-given lens is, of course, less than perfect. Even with the changes caused by “age,” the
original lens probably still had some ability to adjust itself to my need for up-close vision. He gave me some ideas for improvement by simply changing the position of my computer and wearing a pair of glasses from several years ago.
    Over the last several days, I have noticed that my focus has been clearer. Praise God! Let’s translate
this from the physical level to the spiritual level.
    How can we maintain our focus on God? I “see” three things in today’s scripture that will help us.
• Lay aside every weight and sin. Get rid of things that hinder your sight.
• Run the race with patience. No matter what, have a made-up mind.
• Look unto Jesus who is at the right hand of God. Keep your focus heavenward.
We must do this daily if we want clear vision. We must never take our eyes away from Him. Stay
focused this week!                   mdz

“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
    God is looking for a man, or woman, whose heart will be always set on Him,
and who will trust Him for all He desires to do. God is eager to work more mightily now than He ever has through any soul. The clock of the centuries points to the
eleventh hour.
    "The world is waiting yet to see what God can do through a consecrated soul." Not the world alone, but God Himself is waiting for one, who will be more fully
devoted to Him than any who have ever lived; who will be willing to be nothing that Christ may be all; who will grasp God's own purposes; and taking His humility
and His faith, His love and His power, will, without hindering, continue to let God
do exploits. --C. H. P.
    "There is no limit to what God can do with a man, providing he will not touch the glory."
    In an address given to ministers and workers after his ninetieth birthday, George Mueller spoke thus of himself: "I was converted in November, 1825, but
I only came into the full surrender of the heart four years later, in July, 1829. The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was
gone, the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God, God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him; I wanted nothing else. And by the grace
of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God.                                            I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing with which you are taken up irrespective of God?
    I read a little of the Scriptures before, but preferred other books; but since that time the revelation He has made of Himself has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely
Being.
    Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, "God is an infinitely lovely Being!"
     I pray to God this day to make me an extraordinary Christian.     –Whitefield
Streams in the Desert