Devotions with Meghan DeGregory
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Wednesday
So, in my home snakes and bug toys used to get left all over. I walked into my living room one day several years ago. On my table with the beautiful nativity set was a rubber snake casually laid as though it was meant to be there. With 3 sons, it wasn’t a surprise, but it did strike me. Am I the only one who sees a spiritual application to the snake with the nativity? Genesis 3:15 KJV And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Meghan
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It’s never too late to live your calling.
Some of you know I lost my mom several years ago. Our relationship was complicated and only later in our lives together did I realize that she was a mighty woman of God who wanted to follow Him and lead others there as well. I’d like to share a snippet of her story. Due to health issues, she ended up in Assisted Living far sooner than one would have necessarily expected or wanted, but for her, it was a new lease on life. Caring for her surroundings and tending to her basic needs took up all of the energy she had so it left her drained for the things that gave her life and happiness. She was unhappy and unfulfilled. This led to worsened health, of course. Mom was a piano teacher throughout my childhood and played all the time along with playing the organ for the church. She also enjoyed to read, knit and craft as well as other hobbies, but as she aged and became weaker, those things dwindled. She just didn’t have energy for them. When she went to assisted living, after becoming acclimated of course, she developed a few ministries that I believe gave her more years than we expected. Mom began to play piano on Sunday mornings for the folks at the nursing home who were not able to go to church. She became very involved in a multi-denominational women’s group. She crafted and read like crazy. Mom developed a “prayer walking” ministry with her neighbors. They would all walk the halls in their walkers at the assisted living and would ask others if they needed prayer....then they would pray for them on the spot. See, she finally was able to get the rest she needed so that she could focus on the calling God put on her heart- her neighbors! This reminds me of a few things:
So, in a way to honor mom, I want to encourage you to remember that you’re not done...no matter your limitations and that you can find fulfillment in any stage in your life. There is work to be done and YOU ARE THE ONE TO DO IT! Don’t limit yourself. Take a lesson from Zetta who I never gave enough credit to (so sorry about that, momma) and know that we all have purpose and a responsibility to find that purpose. Then go with it, even if it means you walk with your walker down the hall to minister. Your action will change lives. Meghan And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38-39
Name 3 things that regularly make you feel separated from God. Paul states that death, demons, and hell can not separate us from God’s love, and I doubt you have anything on your list worse than those 3 things? Am I Right? So you’re covered. Not going to happen. Nothing is more powerful than the love of God. Not cancer, not suffering, not sin, not mistakes, not pain, not divorce, not violence, not death. Love is stronger than death. Always has been, always will be. Prayer: God, I Love You. Amen. Pastor Vicky Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ~Romans 4:18-21
God promised to make Abraham and Sarah the ancestors of a great nation. The problem was, Abe was about 100 years old, and Sarah, about 75. But they believed not in their ability to conceive a child, but in God’s ability to overcome every barrier to the promise being fulfilled. These days we’re hesitant to say God has promised us something, it seems a bit presumptuous. But God HAS promised us, as family members, certain things. God has promised to bring good out of even the bleakest circumstance. God has promised never to abandon us. God has promised to deal with sin and injustice, that they will not win the day. What promise do you need to remember? What promise do you need to believe in again? Prayer: God, Thank You for being faithful to keep your promises. Remind me when I falter that you are bigger than any circumstance that I face. I will trust in you. Amen. Pastor Vicky As we go about our daily business,we hear of so many things happening in the world that just seem beyond our comprehension. So, we ask ourselves, "has the world come to this?" It's scary out there! We feel lost and unsure of life. We feel afraid. What can we possibly do to make a difference? It's like watching an old movie about the city of San Francisco taken by a massive earthquake. Or there are fires out of control everywhere out west. The corona virus is still taking our loved ones. We have more and more families being put out on the street because they can't pay their rent or mortgages any more. We have friends and family members living in nursing homes that we can't visit because of covid.
What will happen to us next? How can I take care of my family when I'm not feeling well myself? Where can I get help? What can I do? Is anyone listening to me? All of these thoughts and worries and many more are always on our minds. I happened to hear an old hymn that made me think about all of these things. It's the hymn Nearer My God to Thee . THAT'S who we need to take our fears to. We need to lay them at the feet of Jesus and just step away from them. It's a very hard thing to do, I know. BUT, that's where our fear belongs. I believe the term is " LET GOD AND LET GO". You will once again find those beautiful and peaceful days. Not saying life becomes a bed of roses but you'll find your life will take on a richer meaning. And don't forget that just because you've laid down your fears you're done. God still wants to hear from you. He wants to know that you really mean to be transformed from the worrier. It doesn't take much. All it takes is a moment of time to say Thank You. Take just a moment to breath out a "THANK YOU GOD". Say it to yourself or say it out loud. Takes seconds. You got through the day without any major things happening, THANK YOU GOD. The doctor told you somethings wrong but he feels it can be fixed, THANK YOU GOD. There was someone injured in a car or motorcycle accident and you happen to hear about it. " PLEASE GOD, BE WITH THAT PERSON IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. HELP THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. BE WITH THE DOCTORS AS THEY DIAGNOSE THE INJURIES , HELP THEM SEE QUICKLY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.". Or " THANK YOU GOD FOR JUST BEING THERE". All these things take seconds. Be nearer to God. It's time to put Him back in back in your life. "LET GOD AND LET GO". I'd like to share Nearer My God To Thee. The song is about a very familiar story to you. Its about " JACOBS LADDER". Genesis: 28: 11-19. Please take some time today and open your BIBLE and read this amazing and beautiful story. You can also find this song on YouTube and you can sing along. Nearer my God, to thee, nearer to Thee! Even though it be a cross that faith me, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! Joyce Miller We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
Hebrews 12:2 TPT https://my.bible.com/bible/1849/HEB.12.2.TPT I love this verse and how it’s expressed! The Passion Translation says that Jesus’ heart was focused on knowing that we would be HIS. He actively pursued us so that we could live a full life with Him. In return, He asks for nothing. Just to trust that He is the way. That’s it. In my experience, however, I have seen that many of us feel we are just not worthy of His active pursuit of us. This may be due to poor self esteem, trauma or just plain humanity, but we tend to want to STRIVE or HUSTLE for what God wants to freely give. He endured the cross and the humiliation because He wanted to spend eternity with you. Settle in on this for a few moments and really see that for what it means. I pray you feel loved and pursued by God today. Meghan 'We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, ' https://my.bible.com/bible/392/ROM.8.28  |
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