Devotionals for the Heart: God's love, grace and mercy for humankind

A Promise of Mercy
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” –Lamentations 3:22-24 (CSB)

I remember my unforgettable encounter with God.

It was the moment that I realized that I was a sinner. I was at odds with a Holy God because of my sinful nature and my thinking, practices, and habits. While my sin meant that I deserved to die, mercy declared that I would not receive what I deserved. Instead, I received compassion and kindness. I received forgiveness and remission of my sins by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s important to note a few things about mercy. Mercy is extended to the offender. The innocent don’t need mercy. Mercy exonerates the guilty party. Mercy is unmerited. It is not something that can be earned. The offender deserves judgment but instead, mercy is given. Mercy is a gift born from the character of the giver. Mercy is compassionate or kind forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or another person in one's power; it is the demonstration of compassion, pity, or benevolence. Because mercy is undeserved and unmerited, when extended, it truly is an act of God.

Lamentations 3:22-24 was penned by the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, who declares that God’s love preserves us. His unfailing love guards us and keeps us safe in the face of danger and uncertainty. God demonstrates his love toward us through His actions. Mercy is an essential element of our God. Scripture says that our High Priest Jesus is touched by our infirmities. He is moved emotionally by our human experience because Jesus is God incarnate. He lived, breathed, and walked on this Earth as a human. Therefore, He understands what we experience.

Jesus extends empathy and compassion and His mercies toward us never end. The mercy door is always open. When we have fallen into sin, mercy is there. God's Word (The Holy Bible) says we can boldly approach His throne to obtain mercy when we need it.

His mercies are renewed every morning. This means that each day we are forgiven, we get a brand new start. God extends mercy to us and forgives our sins, mistakes, errors, mishaps, and shortcomings. Our God is the God of second chances. He is compassionate and understanding with His children. He deals with us lovingly and compassionately.

Call to Action:

1. Believe that mercy is always near. It’s okay if you fall. Look to God and get up again. You can begin again. There is no sin too great to be forgiven.

2. Embrace God’s mercy daily. It is renewed each day. If you fall into sin today, God’s forgiveness and mercy areavailable. Tomorrow you have a fresh start. Receive it. It’s yours, no questions asked.

3. Know that God is a kind and compassionate Heavenly Father. He knows exactly what you are experiencing and He can help you like nobody else can.

4. Remember, God extends mercy to us daily because of His unfailing love for us. Be merciful to others. We all need mercy and grace.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful and unfailing love toward me that keeps me safe and protected. Thank you, Lord, that Your mercies do not end. You are always near, ready to extend mercy, ready to give me forgiveness when I don’t deserve it. I thank You that Your mercies are renewed every morning. You understand I am flawed and imperfect, yet You love me unconditionally. You understand that I am prone to make mistakes, so You make provision for me with renewed mercies. Help me to be merciful to others, as You are merciful to me. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering my prayers. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Great is Your Mercy” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Essie Taylor is an author, educator, minister, youth advocate, recording artist, podcaster, and improviser. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford College.

She is a veteran educator of Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, and Spanish Language Acquisition with National Board Teacher Certification. She is an advocate of lifelong learning, language learning, and multiculturalism.

Essie is the CEO of KenMar Press, an author agency, and The Essie Faye Collection. Essie is the author of Finding the Love You Deserve: 30 Lessons in Self-Love & Acceptance, and Finding The Love Your Deserve: A 60-Day Healing Journal For Women of Faith.

She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path. She loves God, people, and helping others.

Essie has been a Christian for nearly all of her 39 years. She was born again at 15 years old. She has been a bilingual worship leader and interpreter for 10+ years. By the grace of God, Essie helped to establish bilingual ministries at five churches in her young life. She is a survivor of domestic violence (verbal and emotional abuse) and marital abandonment in a prior marriage.

Essie is a Chicago native. She lives in Chicago with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Power, Compassion and God's Heart for Humankind

God's Power and Heart of Compassion for Humankind 
A devotional by Malinda Fugate

Key Scripture:

Matthew 8

If we open the pages of the Bible to Matthew 8, we are ushered to a front row seat where we witness Jesus Christ heal a man with leprosy, restore mobility to the servant of a centurion from afar, relieve Peter’s mother-in-law of fever, and drive out demonic spirits from numerous people.

As we continue to read through the chapter, we see Him calm a raging storm and send evil spirits into a herd of pigs. As these things unfold, we are confronted with three major truths about Christ:

Major Truth #1: Jesus has the power to heal.

Skeptics have argued since the days Christ walked on earth that He was merely a man, a good teacher at best. But through miraculous acts of healing, the Lord demonstrated power that could only be done by the Son of God. He provides care better than the most skilled doctor, defying laws of nature and physics to do what can only be done through divine power.

Major Truth #2: Jesus has authority in Heaven and on Earth.

Matthew 8:5-13 highlights an encounter with an official in the Roman army who had great faith in Christ. When Jesus offered to come to his home to heal his paralyzed servant, the official declined. His reasoning? As a person in authority, he understood that commanding words have power, and this was especially true of the divine power of Christ. He trusted that it would only take a word from Jesus to heal the servant and that’s exactly what happened! This healing demonstrated the authority of Jesus. The driving out of demonic spirits and the calming of the storm would also serve as evidence of Jesus’ authority on earth and in the supernatural realm.

Major Truth #3: Jesus has compassion.

The power and authority of Christ is worthy of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that He is Lord. But the most remarkable thing the healings of Matthew 8 show us is the incredible compassion of our Savior. Jesus didn’t wield His power with the heavy hand of a tyrant. Instead, He actively loved the people God sent Him to save. He sees our needs and provides gentle, kind care. He removes hindrances and brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. Jesus overflows with love for us and shows us in many ways, including healing.

My Conclusion:

Jesus Christ reigns in Heaven and on Earth, and so we rightly declare that He is worthy of glory, honor, and praise. But it is His love that moves our hearts to worship in a way beyond description, exceeding what can be articulated with words.

The precious relationship that we have with our Savior is like no other. Such a powerful love can’t be matched, imitated, improved, or replaced. Nothing can take it away or destroy it. We are secure in the love of Jesus Christ who gently holds our hearts in His strong, capable care.

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart. 

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books.

Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays.

Malinda invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International in May 2020).

She also invites you to read her previously published books: Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, and then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

When she's not writing or working at church, Malinda might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area. 

She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.

Visit Malinda online via https://www.malindafugate.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Mercy

Becoming Vessels of Mercy
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?” 

–Romans 9:22-24 (ESV)

Years ago, I was working toward the goal of becoming a Specialist in Fitness Nutrition. As a competing athlete, I was passionate about how the right nutrition could not only fuel but help shape the human form into a lean, powerful, performing machine. I put out my shingle for business.

Unbeknownst to me, grievous events would quickly alter my course. Personal injury brought my physical abilities to a halt and the business relationship I had built with a gym owner terminated. I was devastated.

Over a year later, out of the blue, I received a call from a local recovery center looking for a nutrition teacher for their program. It wasn’t what I intended for myself, but knowing it was an opportunity to work in my field, I accepted.

Within the Relapse Prevention Program, dozens of women were recovering not only from substance use, but, more sizably, traumatic life events. Their stories were filled with abusive horrors that were foreign to my life experience. Because of my naïveté, I did not understand why God would put me in a place so completely outside of my league.

These women taught me strength training of another sort and I became educated by their lessons. I felt as though I was being shaped for something completely different than expected.

That’s when news of sexual abuse within my family territory struck. The enemy hit my base. In the shock wave, I remembered the stories told to me by my students and I knew... I knew to my very core...that God had been preparing me beforehand for this, as a vessel of mercy.

In Romans 9, Paul addresses some of the very same questions that surface in the lives of believers of his time: 

“Is God fair?”

“Has God failed?”

“Am I just a puppet...a victim on the whims of God?”

Paul uses the metaphor of two vessels, one being an angry vessel (“vessel of wrath”) and the other a compassionate vessel (“vessel of mercy”), both of God’s making. Opportunity is given to both vessels to be tools for the Maker’s goodwill.

The Greek word for wrath in Romans 9:22 is ““orgé,” from the verb oragō meaning, “to teem, to swell.” This implies not a sudden outburst, but rather a growing agitation.

The vessel of wrath might be considered a crockpot of indignation, slowly breaking down its internal contents with constant heat. But, according to Romans 9:23-24, certain vessels have heeded God’s call and are filled with mercy. Like a bowl of fruit sitting on the counter, always available for the snacking.

Seeking God’s will can often look like letting go of the specific plans we have made and accepting with trust the opportunities that are offered. Being malleable under direction is a choice. Trust is a choice. And mercy might just be the consequence of accepting the offering.

I could have remained angry, stubbornly holding fast to my goal and demanding God be fair, but I would have been unprepared for what was ahead of me. Instead, I’m grateful for the very specific direction God was turning me toward, putting roadblocks on one path and opening up a new route. Without the job, without the broken ladies I was working with, I would not have had the mind frame of compassion nor the skills of grace for the marred ones in my personal sphere.

Look into the story of your life. Does it feel like God has failed you or been unjust? Is anger the temperature of your heart? God has mercy on you, my friend! His hand on you is compassionate. God knows your future and wishes to prepare you for it. Respond to His touch. You will be eternally grateful for His filling of mercy.

~*~
Author Bio:
Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Devotionals for the Heart: Tough Love

Tough Love
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 
– Luke 6:32-36 (NIV)

One of my most favorite passages in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is this description of the Christian going to his local church: “When he goes inside, he sees the local grocer with rather an oily expression on his face bustling up to offer him one shiny little book containing a liturgy which neither of them understands, and one shabby little book containing corrupt texts of a number of religious lyrics, mostly bad, and in very small print. When he gets to his pew and looks round him he sees just that selection of his neighbors whom he has hitherto avoided.”

As Christians, we need to rub shoulders with fellow believers in what is a safe place and let them challenge us to love like Jesus. It’s one of the strongest arguments for regular church attendance. The best churches have pews filled with the high and the low, the meek and the mighty, the community leader you want to befriend and the weird guy who hangs out at the gas station and that you try not to make eye contact with. Within our church family we’re supported, encouraged, and coached to love one another. What a better place to build your Christian muscles?

As the verse above makes clear, God loves the unlovable and He expects us to do the same. Jesus died for criminals, haters, adulterers, sinners. He died for us; we are the unlovable. Whatever we think of ourselves, we are no better than the worst of humanity. We’re all sinners. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). It’s tempting to think that you were always a ‘good person,’ living a ‘good’ life, that you’ve been able to avoid the curse of Original Sin. Nope! You’re not good now and you never were. However, there is hope when you become a follower of Jesus Christ.

If you’re a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ), then you’ve been redeemed and your sinful heart has been turned to Jesus and your wayward feet are on the path to glory. But don’t forget that you didn’t deserve it! You didn’t lift yourself out of the well of sin you were in. Maybe your sin didn’t feel that bad to you compared to others, but God doesn’t pick up a yardstick to measure out your sin and give you a break if it’s not ‘that bad.’ 

Because He is an infinitely Holy God, our smallest rebellion against Him deserves the most severe punishment. But it pleased Him to sacrifice His Son (Jesus Christ) so that He could display what True Love really is.

We need to love radically, like God does. Generic, worldly love isn’t enough.

And God doesn’t stop there. He wants us to love those who hate us, as well as those that we have ‘hitherto avoided.’ Loving our enemies isn’t just the absence of nastiness, it’s active love, and a big part of that is sharing the Gospel.

Don’t let your heart be turned from fellow sinners who need the same mercy and grace that has been shown to you. Remember your own story; the unbearable weight of your sins that you felt when you were confronted with them, and the panic of not knowing how to get rid of that weight. And remember what it was like when you were given the option of receiving that free gift that would take that weight away forever – repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Don’t leave someone in their sin; show them the path to God’s redeeming grace.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Sheep and The Good Shepherd's Voice

The Shepherd’s Voice
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” ~John 10:2-4 (NIV)

I was 21 and an student-teacher in London, England, when I found myself aimlessly wandering the streets at night, desperate to get away. The day had gone awry and I felt like an utter failure. I encountered a darkened path with a lone bench to conceal me from the world.

An occasional car rumbled passed on the street beyond my secret place. I tried to pray but my mind was cluttered with anger and confusion. Why He had brought me so far just to fail?

I suddenly felt something moist brush over my hands and my fingertips press into a soft, silk furry body. It was a dog...but not just any dog. I recognized the silky, red Irish Setter breed immediately.

A stern voice called out, "Lady!" A slender man with white hair and mustache came bounding toward us and grabbed the setter by the collar. Lady sat instantly and stared up at him. "I’m dreadfully sorry, Miss. I didn't know anyone would be in here this time of night."

Lady inched toward me. "No, Lady.” He patted his leg. "Stay." The dog sat again.

"That's alright," I said with genuine smile. "I love dogs." You have no idea, sir, that I grew up with this exact breed of dog. And the first one my parents owned was named Lady.

"Ah, you're American!" He observed.

I winced. It was that fact, among others, that had not helped me win the day.

Lady nudged him. "Ah, go on, girl. Do your business." She trotted toward the bushes.

Do her business? Had he bring his dog into this garden to poop and pee?!

"You must be wondering why I would bring my dog here to do her business."

I froze. Was he reading my mind?

"You see, I figure she's got to have a place to go, and in return she leaves behind something useful to help the plants and trees to grow." He praised Lady when she returned to his side.

"She's a good dog," I said, "She really listens to you."

"She's young that. But she listens to my voice to know what she should do. She knows who her master is.” He patted her head as she wagged her tail wildly and panting with glee.

He tipped his hat at me. "I wish you the best in our fair city, Miss." He looked to Lady. "Come on, girl." He tapped his side again. "Time to go."

The man and his bonny dog meandered out the garden gate. He whistled lowly as they went, eventually out of my sight. Moments later I was met with a stilled world again.

She listens to my voice to know what she should do...She knows who her master is.

The words resonated within my heart. I was exactly like Lady. Young, inexperienced and in need of my Master’s direction. I needed the Good Shepherd to guide me, but I had forgotten the importance of listening to His voice so He could guide my path.

So often in the midst of trouble, especially when we are young or new to Christ, we can become that forgetful sheep that wanders aimlessly from safety, then cries out for help when we feel lost. Thankfully, the Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) is there with us, ready to rescue us from ourselves. 

Once we are listening, He calls us by name to bring us out then goes on ahead of us so that we can continue to follow after Him on the perfect path, as we learn to wait and trust in His voice alone.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia. She teaches television production at C.D. Hylton Senior High School. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), ACFW Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England.

In her spare time, she also writes and directs Christmas and Easter passion plays at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, VA.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirachelle77/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan