Devotionals for the Heart: When the birds of the desert sing praise to God

The Dawn Chorus
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

—Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

This morning, my heart was touched by the Sonoran Desert’s fusion of colors and textures. I’ve lived here all my adult life, and it never ceases to amaze me.

If you’re unfamiliar with the desert, you might think it’s a desolate place filled with sand, cacti, and minimal vegetation. You would be right about the sand and cacti, but the desert offers much more. It’s a place of diversity, with Palo Verde trees, palms, and the grandeur of the saguaro cactus. Snow-capped mountains tower in the distance, and green velvet mesquite shrubs along the trails tell a story of God’s majesty and creativity.

What I love most about living here is the daily announcement of God’s morning mercies. Just before dawn, the chorus begins. The sun peaks over the tangerine horizon, and the birds of the desert sing praise for this glorious day. I close my eyes and listen. Joy fills their melody and washes over my soul. Oh, how I wish you could hear their song as they thank our Heavenly Father (God) for another day and all the possibilities it will reveal.

Even though the birds don’t make plans, God’s care for them is never-ending, and with each sunrise, they express their gratitude in song. If God cares for these magnificent creatures of the air, I can’t begin to fathom how much more God values us. We can learn something from the birds that soar effortlessly through the skies. Just like us, they don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but they seem genuinely surprised when the sun comes up, greeting each new sunrise as if it were the first they’ve seen.

Our God is a God of wonders, and His love encircles us with tender mercies. It’s astounding how many of His bounties escape my notice. The sun rises each morning and sets each evening. He holds the planets in orbit, and gravity keeps our feet on the ground. He created the stars in the sky (those in our view and beyond) and knows each of their names. This stirs my heart, and I ponder how many of God’s wonders have I neglected to see.

No one knows what today, tomorrow, or the day after will bring. But we can lift our voices and join the chorus with grateful hearts. God cares for the birds of the air and supplies their food. Yet, we are even more valuable to Him. When I hear these birds each morning, my entire being shifts into a posture of praise. Take care to listen to these fantastic creatures of the sky. Be still before the Lord, give thanks, and watch what He will do.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are the God of wonders! Help us to wake up each morning with a holy expectancy of what this day will bring. Teach us how to listen to these fantastic creatures of the sky. Help us to be still before You, thank You with a grateful heart then imagine the possibilities. Thank You, God, that your love for humankind is everlasting. Help us to fully embrace every new day with exuberance. Help us to praise You because your love has no boundaries and your grace is never ending. Praise be to God! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~ 
Song of Reflection #1: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Austin Stone Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Morning Glory” by Dr. Juanita Bynum. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “God of Wonders” by Third Day. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a follower of Jesus Christ, educator and writer. She lives with her husband in the Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are relentless and the winters are a little slice of Heaven. 

Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. This degree opened opportunities to write science curriculum, develop district programs, work with Arizona teachers, community leaders, and more. With NASA Grant funding, she was also able to work with teachers all over the country and expand their knowledge of teaching science as a collaborative effort.

Over the last few years God has placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith walk with Him. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, Colleen believes that if you fix your eyes on Jesus then you will see the heart of God.

Colleen’s writing has been published in the following online publications: Living By Design, Her View From Home, Inside Out Worldwide, Inkspirations, and in anthologies like From Ruins to Restoration, Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions of Bold Faith, and The Miracle of Prayer. She is a monthly blogger for Dressing in God’s Love.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: authorcolleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why worshipping God means warfare

Worship is Warfare
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”—2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

Did the title of my devotional today catch you off guard?

Contrary to popular belief, worship is more than swaying and singing to a soft, melodic song with hands raised and eyes closed. Sometimes worship is war. War in the heavenlies, that is.

Since the Garden of Eden (humankind’s first home on Earth), we have been on constant alert because of a real enemy known as Satan or “the devil”. Our enemy has continued to barrage us on every aspect of life and attack us from all angles because is committed to steal, kill and destroy anyone and anything that remotely reflects the image of God (John 10:10). He wanted to usurp God’s authority in Heaven. Therefore, God removed Satan from his position as chief worship leader and permanently evicted him from Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15). However, the devil remains determined to deceive and tempt humankind to follow his footsteps which can be summed up in one word: rebellion. This is the war that started before mankind was even created. According to Dictionary.com, war is defined as, “active hostility or contention”. Another definition is “a struggle to achieve a goal”. The devil knows he will never fully succeed as long as followers of Jesus Christ continue to serve the true King wholeheartedly.

All things considered, when we as believers in God gather together to give honor to Jesus our King—whether by worshipping Him in song, reading His Word (The Holy Bible) together, or listening to the Word of God being preached—oftentimes a war begins because the enemy wants to poke his head in to disrupt. Satan wants to be worshipped instead of God. He may send distractions in our minds. Sometimes he’ll drop accusations in our mind to make us feel we are not worthy to be in the Lord’s presence because of things we may have said or done. Yet when we sing songs of worship to God or recite scriptures, he leaves us alone with God.

There are times we read scripture but what we see in the natural is the complete opposite and we struggle. Do we believe what God said or what our eyes see? Our spirits are in fight when we are tempted to doubt what we’ve read in the Bible. Oftentimes we are dealing with circumstances in life and feel discouraged because things are not moving in the direction in which we wish they were moving. We want to trust God and worship Him, but we’re feeling conflicted because of our life circumstances. 

It’s during these times that we must push through the turmoil of mixed feelings so we can receive the strength that only the One who is stronger than us can give. God has given us His Word (The Holy Bible) to read, study and learn how to deal with these enemy tactics that cause our soul to feel weary. It’s in these times we can sing melodies with scripture reminding ourselves that “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). It’s in these moments where we must declare the Bible states, we ought to “be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT).

Since God’s will is for us to give thanks in all things, it would appear to be a holy worship skill that we must learn to overcome the darts of weariness and worry that will come with hard times. It can be a struggle, but we can be victorious with Jesus Christ on our side! When we are tempted to compromise our belief in what God says, we need to “be strong and very courageous” (Joshua 1:7 NLT). When we obey God’s commands then our obedience helps us to be successful in overcoming every obstacle.

Physical war in the natural is difficult and intense. However, when wage war in worshipping our Savior (Jesus Christ), we can overcome fear, disappointment, discouragement, depression and unhappiness as we press through in praise, worshipping the One who has risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father (God) praying and interceding on our behalf. In Christ, we always win!

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for reminding me that although spiritual warfare is real, I can overcome it by my testimony and the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You that your Word tells me that the weapons I fight with are spiritual. Thank You for reminding me that you have provided your Word as a weapon against the enemy’s lies. I can overcome because You already won the war for me. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Waging War” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Victory” by Yolanda Adams. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Worship Through It” by Tasha Layton. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit, as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning to worship God while we wait on Him

Worship While you Wait
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”—Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

I put a note in the calendar on my phone to remind me to arrive at least 15 minutes before the exact start time of my appointment with my doctor. On the day of my appointment, I walked into my doctor's office with plenty of time to spare.

I greeted the receptionist and took a seat. I noticed several other patients were waiting. I hoped and prayed they were not before me because I was on time. I made a mental note of the notice on the wall about a charge for missed appointments. That would not be my story today because I was on time.

Trying to relax, I opened my book to read the next chapter. I wanted to finish reading this chapter before it was my turn to see the doctor. After I finished reading the chapter, I looked at my watch and saw that I had been waiting well past my appointment time. Taking a deep breath, I prayed quietly that I would be called shortly. Can you relate to sitting in a waiting room for an appointment that you had planned your day around, only for the start time to be delayed much longer than you expected? Waiting is not fun, but every one of us faces this challenge more often than we would like.

Sometimes we are waiting on God to answer a prayer that we’ve been looking for an answer for some time. Day after day we wait in expectation. One thing I’ve had to repeatedly learn during this time of waiting is to trust Him. Trust that He has heard my prayer and that He wants me to rest in Him. God also wants me to worship Him while I wait. Trusting God requires us to learn His character. Scripture shows us that we are not alone in learning this life lesson.

There is a story in the Bible about a woman named Anna (Luke 2:36-38). She was someone who had waited many years for God to answer her prayer. The Bible tells us that Anna’s husband died when she was very young. After his death, she spent her days in the temple. She was one of many people who were waiting to see the fulfillment of the prophecy of Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem.

How was Anna able to do this for many years? She fasted from food for certain times as a spiritual discipline and she prayed to the Lord. She communicated with God and faithfully gave honor to God. When we worship through prayer and wait upon the Lord, there is a supernatural strength we are given that enables us to see our situation(s) with a different perspective. God wants us to delight so much in Him that we desire what He wants. Making His desire priority means we are placing a high worth on Him. Can we expect Him to direct our steps? Absolutely! The psalmist said in Psalm 27:14 to wait patiently for the Lord. Scripture also says in Psalm 27:13 (NLT) that he is confident he “will see the Lord’s goodness.”

The psalmist had experienced the Lord’s faithfulness just like Anna had. We too will see His faithfulness. However, we must be patient enough to wait on the Lord.

In closing, think about this: When people are honored at a public event the host will speak about that person’s character, what they have done to contribute to this world, and how they have impacted lives. Everyone’s focus is on that person with deep respect. But there is also an expectation that person will continue to do exemplary things to help make the world a better place.

Let’s put God in the spotlight and magnify His character. He has a flawless track record! Remember this when it comes to waiting on the Lord and trusting Him: God’s ways are not like ours and His timeline is different. But we can trust Him to always show up right on time and help us because His timing is perfect. Therefore, let’s continue to wait for Him and be courageous. Let’s honor God in our daily lives while we trust in Him, wait on Him and listen to His voice. Note: I’ve learned that waiting becomes less stressful because we’re worshipping God in the process.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Sometimes it is so difficult to wait when I’ve prayed for so long for an answer. Yet, I’ve learned to praise You for who You are and thank You for what you’ve done in the past. I praise You for the testimonies throughout Scripture that showcase your faithfulness. As I wait on You, help me to rest in Your will. Thank You in advance for hearing my cry and sending the answers to my prayers. Help me to wait patiently to hear from You. Teach me to trust your perfect timing.

In Jesus’s Name I pray.

Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “While I Wait” by Lincoln Brewster. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit, as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning how to live for God every day

Learning How to Live for God 
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.” 

–Hosea 14:1-2 (NKJV)

When I was young, my parents would gather the family for evening worship.

We would sing songs of our choosing. My father would read a portion of scripture or an inspirational story from Guidepost. We would recite the memory verses from our children’s devotional books. After prayer, my mother would lead us in singing “An Evening Prayer”. The lyrics imply an internal review of a person’s day and asks God’s forgiveness if during the day they had wounded, misled someone or willfully sinned.

As I matured and read the Bible with a bit more maturity, I understood Hosea 14:1-2 with new vision. I also understood my mother’s favorite song a bit better. The prophet Hosea was exhorting the people of his era to recognize their spiritual waywardness, to confess their sins to God and to offer sincere sacrifices.

Hosea gave a formula for reconciliation that is still effective today. In our spiritual relationship with God and in our interpersonal relationships, this three-part formula still works.

Step one is to reorient ourselves from a position of opposition to a posture of humble recognition where our decisions and actions have created a misalignment. Consequently, we have missed the bullseye of our relational target, otherwise known as righteousness. We have drifted from the secure moorings of rectitude and want to return to a spiritually safe harbor.

When the prodigal son, referenced in Luke 15:11-31, comes to his senses, he composed what he would say when he saw his father. As he made his way home, he rehearsed the phrase “…Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”

Step two is a rehearsed and sincere confession. That is what Hosea meant when he said, “take words with you”, in the verse I shared above. Confessions should be sincere, heartfelt, well-reasoned and well stated. But words are not enough. True confession must be followed by some token of lasting reconciliation.

Step three is to follow through. When Hosea uses the phrase “we will offer the sacrifices of our lips”, he is forcefully implying that confessions require sacrifices. In his culture and era, animal sacrifices were still common as object lessons of the price of sinfulness. Sin offerings inscribed upon the heart and mind of the offender how enormous were the effect and consequences of their actions. Saying “I am sorry and I will never do it again” was followed by an offering to God commensurate to the wealth of the offender. Sometimes, an offering to the person most affected was also required.

Now that Jesus Christ has died for our sins, been resurrected, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father in Heaven, animal sacrifices are no longer required. What is required is that we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God by using the gifts, talents, opportunities, and influence that we have in His service.

As God has forgiven us, may we pay the vows of our lips with sincere service to God by being the generous and miraculous answers to the prayers that someone else is praying.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, at the end of our day when evening comes, help us to see our highpoints as well as the mistakes, missteps and misalignments with others and forgive us. When we rest, restore our spiritual balance and prepare us to be useful representatives of Your grace in the new day that will dawn. In the name of Jesus, I ask this prayer. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Lord’s Prayer” (song) by Tamela Mann. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Paul Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Worship God with a Thankful Heart

Thanksgiving in Worship
A devotional by Kay Pflueger

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.” 

–1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (NIV)

The month of November naturally seems to beget thoughts of gratitude. In the United States of America, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day in just a few weeks. It’s our tradition to gather with friends and family to share a meal and to give thanks to our Lord.

Expressing our gratitude should not be limited to just one day in the month of November. Our personal and corporate worship should always include moments and thoughts of thanksgiving. Is it possible to speak of the love and adoration we have for God all the while ignoring what He has done for us? I don’t think so.

How do you react when you have gone out of your way to do something for someone, and they neglect to say “Thank you?” It is possible to feel taken advantage of and that is not a comfortable emotion. If we feel that way, how might God feel when we neglect to thank Him for His provisions? 

But, before we can truly be thankful to God, we need to have a relationship with Him. We need to trust that He is looking out for us. Once we recognize that we are dependent on Him, we can begin to develop an attitude of gratitude. An outgrowth of that attitude is the desire to worship Him with our whole life—our everyday life, our devotional life, our work life, our home life—and with our whole being. If we choose to worship Him in this way, then our corporate worship in church on the weekends becomes a culmination of the time we have spent worshipping Him all week long. It is a time to celebrate our blessings with our church family.

Gratitude keeps us centered. It takes the focus away from us and places it on the source of our blessings. In our corporate worship, in our private prayer time, in the small and mundane tasks of our daily lives, and in the most earth-shattering moments of life, we always have a reason to be grateful to God for what He has done and what we know and trust that He will do. 

If you are at a loss for words of thanksgiving, I encourage you to read Psalm 100 (ESV) and focus on what He, our Lord, has done for you. Let’s read this song of praise together:

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Let’s Pray: Dear God, we give you thanks for all that you are and for that all you have done for us. It is easy to praise you when life is good. Help us to praise you even when life becomes difficult. Thank you for your never-ending faithfulness to us. You, and you alone, deserve to receive our praise. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Learning to read as a young child opened a world of adventure for Kay Pflueger. She came to realize that words can have a unique power and beauty. 

Choosing to share those words in her devotional writings has become a joyful and rewarding experience for her. As a widow, she feels a special affinity towards those who are grieving or experiencing loss.

When she is not spending time with her married son and three grandchildren, she is either reading, cooking, writing, or working on pursuing her Copyediting Certification.

Kay is an avid baseball fan who looks forward every summer to following her favorite team, the Chicago Cubs.

She is an active member of Victory Lutheran Church in her hometown of San Diego, California.

Kay enjoys writing devotions to be shared on her church’s website and personal social media.

~*~
Connect with Kay:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kay.m.pflueger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irishsweetpea/

Thankful Thursdays: God Speaks

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for when God speaks!

Late Wednesday night (August 12), I was trying to focus on scheduling next week's set of devotionals for my blog. But my heart was heavy and my mind was bogged down by the issues that were hurting my heart. After what may have been about 20 minutes of feeling depressed, I felt God speak these words into my spirit:  Listen to "I Bless Your Name." 

So I went to YouTube and I looked up the version of the song "I Bless Your Name" that is performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

As I listened to this beautiful song of praise to God, slowly but surely, I felt like singing praises to God too! As I began to sing with the choir my burdens were lifted, my heart was healing, and my mind was given a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I was also reminded of the Bible story about Paul and Silas who followed Jesus and preached for Him. The pivotal part of the story takes place in prison where Paul and Silas are shackled is chains. This was after they were beaten by people who thought they were a threat to society. Not everybody wants to hear about Jesus Christ, but Paul and Silas were not afraid to preach the truth. They were not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they were willing to die for the cause of Christ! Their passion for God landed them in a desolate place (a prison cell).

But Paul and Silas did not let the bleakness of their situation rule in their hearts nor stay in their minds. They chose to lift their voices in singing praises to God! And when they praised His Name, God set them free! Literally! Read about it in Acts 16:25-34 (KJV) which says:

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." 

This song and Bible story gave me so much encouragement!

 I am so thankful that God is faithful! God speaks ... do you listen?

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA

Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Reflection

The Reflection
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 
~John 4:24 (NIV)

I clearly remember the moment I stood gazing at my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t recognize the person staring back. She looked tired and haggard. I thought I’d lost my bloom. I was single and barely thirty years old.

My reflection was not an accurate portrait of the person I felt like inside. It wasn’t appealing to me and I knew no one else was going to find it attractive either. Why wasn’t my outward appearance matching my inward spirit? I felt I had a good relationship with God. I loved him, I sought after him, I worshipped him...

Worship gave me a check in my spirit. Was there an issue with my worship? John 4:24 (NIV) says, “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

I asked the Lord what truth wasn’t measuring up in my worship. He showed me a rusty golden bowl, my current offering to him. I had lapsed in casting off all worldly cares. They were weighing heavily on me and tarnishing my ability to reflect who I really was in Christ. I prayed for God to “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me” as Scripture says in Psalm 51:10 (KJV).

A few weeks later, I attended a Hillsong United concert with my sister. Shortly before the band played, a handsome and brawny man sat down in our row. He struck up a conversation with us while he waited for his brother. Shawn was an airline pilot from the Virginia town where I had once lived and worked. There came that familiar heart string’s tug again. When he spoke about his love for God and passion for music, I felt connected to the truth in his words.

Though the music blared and the lights flashed during the concert, I found myself watching Shawn intently, not because of his looks, but how he worshipped. His hands raised high in the air and he sang with abandon to every song.

Later that night, I reflected on the image of Shawn worshipping and I asked God to show me why I had connected to him so much. The Lord revealed that Shawn was wearing an ultra-reflective armor, the kind goes through a refining fire so hot it burns all the way through the metal causing any impure elements to be removed. The result is a breastplate of righteousness that reflects the truest image of God, and so amazing is that when we meet others whose armor has also been so refined, we recognize in their armor’s reflection the Spirit of God in all His holiness.

Something that is Holy is reserved by God for His own use (The Quest Study Bible, 1994). Psalms 96:9 (KJV) tells us, “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” and 1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) says, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’.” What is it to be holy? Mainly consecrating yourself wholly unto God, but I also like this definition: “Having a spiritually pure quality.” Spiritual purity only comes out of the refining fire of God’s Holy Spirit.

When we seek to worship God in Spirit and in truth, we are asking Him to refine us so that our worship is made utterly pure in His sight and our armor will reflect Him alone. Only then we will recognize the true reflection of ourselves each and every time we look in the mirror.

Do you want to be so refined today? Ask God. He’s always willing and waiting.

~*~
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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: A Word

A New Word for a New Year
A devotional by Victoria Bylin

“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

~1 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB)

We’re at the beginning of a new year, and I’ve been thinking about a resolution I didn’t make. Typically, I chose a word to ponder as the cold winter days turned into warm summer nights, then into the crisp afternoons of Autumn. In the past, those words have been a beacon to me, a way to focus on growing closer to God, seeking Him in the midst of storms, or simply worshipping in the good times.

So why didn’t I choose one this year? Frankly, I’m wondering why, and if I should pick one now. Here are some of my favorites from the past:

Rejoice came straight from Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” This verse taught me about rejoicing when times are tough. I had no idea it would be a challenging word, but it was. My father-in-law was in the throes of Alzheimer’s that year, and there were difficult decisions regarding his care. His long, slow decline tore our hearts to pieces, but there was also great love throughout his life. Those memories sustain us now.

Worship was my word for 2013. It’s a contraction of worth + ship, and I took it as a challenge to worship God beyond singing in church on Sunday morning. What is His love worth to me? How can I share it with others? Again, I discovered a doubled-edged sword. There were days when worship came easily, and days when it revealed how self-focused I can be. What sustained me, good or bad, was the awareness of God’s love for all his children—including me.

Door isn’t the word I expected for 2017, and it didn’t play out the way I hoped. A door slammed shut when my publisher turned down a new proposal. I waited a year for a door to open at another publisher, but after several false starts, it slammed shut. Disappointing, yes. But during that long stretch of time, I was aware of all the doors Christ has opened and closed in my life, both joyful and disappointing, and always done in love.

In 2018, I chose the word Dig with the intention of digging deep and seeking God’s will for my writing. I dug all right, and ended up in a hole. Again, not the end I imagined! That hole turned out to be a grave where my old dreams died, but it was also the birth place for new ones. Somehow God’s love pierced that dark time and brought me back into the light.

Aha! I see a trend . . . My word for 2019 is right in front of me.

That word is Love.

I can’t think of greater word—or a greater challenge—but I’m confident that God’s grace is sufficient for whatever challenges arise in the coming year.

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Author Bio:

Victoria Bylin is the author of 18 traditionally published romances. Known for tackling difficult subjects with great compassion, she delights in stories that shine the spotlight of God’s love on ordinary men and women facing realistic challenges.

Writing has always been a part of Victoria’s life. As a child, she wrote hundreds of letters and scribbled in journals. As an adult, she worked as a freelance journalist and editor before taking on the challenge of fiction.

She had one goal when she started her first novel: to finish a book-length manuscript, good or bad. That first effort will never see the light of day, but it led to a second manuscript and a sale to Harlequin Historical. Since then, she has written westerns and contemporary romances for both mainstream and Christian publishers, with Together With You winning the 2016 Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary.

Writing is a joy and a challenge for Victoria, but faith, friends and family matter to her far more. She’s a wife, mom, proud grandmother, and a dog-mom to a wacky Jack Russell Terrier. Originally from California, she and her husband currently make their home in Lexington, Kentucky. When she’s not writing, Victoria enjoys long walks, travel, and dark chocolate.

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Connect with Victoria:

Website:  http://www.victoriabylin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Bylin.Author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VictoriaBylin   

Devotionals for the Heart: Thanksgiving and Heaven

Touching Heaven by Giving Thanks
A devotional by Patrick E. Craig

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, come into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” ~Psalm 100:4 (KJV)

The ancient Hebrews had a very structured set of rules by which they performed their worship in the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Solomon. These rules were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai along with the Ten Commandments. In these instructions for worship,  God was giving the Jews a glimpse into the heavenly realm. 

This is what The Holy Bible tells us about Moses’ meeting with God:

“For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
~Hebrews 8:4-5 (KJV)

According to my understanding and paraphrase based on my study of the Greek word studies by Wuest Word Studies, what God was saying to Moses was, the pattern I showed you on the mountain – for your earthly worship – is a duplicate of the pattern that happens in the heavenly throne room, when the citizens of heaven worship me.

So the priests knew that if they followed the heavenly instructions they would align themselves with the heavenly realm, and in that way, actually experience the Divine presence. God responded to their faithfulness by revealing Himself to them as a pillar of fire, the Shekinah glory, on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.

The book of Psalms is the liturgy for Temple worship the priests used every day in their tabernacle worship. Step one was exuberant praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 told the priests, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving in your heart, come into His courts with praise.” 

When they followed this instruction, the priests were able to come through the gate of the Tabernacle into his “Courts”—remember that the tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly throne room— and from there, approach the very throne of God (represented on earth by the Mercy Seat) without hindrance. 

Praising and thanking God was the mechanism by which they opened the door into the presence of God. God gave them directions for living and forgave their sins as they stood before the Mercy Seat.

In a modern context God is showing us a way to actually catch a glimpse of the peace and joy that exists in Heaven, and to share that joy – like a down payment on the next life. God knows that the best way for us to deal with our problems is to put our attention somewhere else. And if I am being thankful to God for all the blessings in my life, instead of blaming Him for all the bad things, it’s amazing how the answers to every situation just seem to come, along with real peace.

The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote these words in Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV): “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Paul also exhorted us in this way in Hebrews 4:16 (KJV): “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we sit down to our Thanksgiving feast this year, let’s remember that giving thanks is the key to his presence and peace in our lives. For it is at his throne that we will find the answer to all our questions and problems. Give thanks.

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Author Bio:

Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. 

In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, a romantic suspense novel, was published by Patrick's company, P&J Publishing, in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon Top 100 best sellers list in three categories for seven months.

The second book in the series, The Amish Princess, a historical romance novel, was released in December of 2016 and was on Amazon's Hot New Releases for over a month. Harlequin recently purchased the print rights for both books for their Walmart Amish series. Patrick also just released Cracking The Indie Egg—A Recipe For Publishing Your Own Book and it is available in most major digital bookstores.

Patrick and his wife Judy, make their home in Idaho. They have two married children and five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

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Connect with Patrick:
Website - www.patrickecraig.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig
Amazon Author page - http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg

Music Review and Giveaway of Chris Tomlin's NEW CD "Holy Roar"

Dear Blog Readers,

Today, I’m reviewing Chris Tomlin's new CD “Holy Roar” for FlyBy Promotions. You’re in for a treat because they’re offering one copy of his CD to one lucky winner!

Here's a photo of the album cover:

Enjoy this music feature!

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Artist Bio:

Chris Tomlin is one of the most heralded singer-songwriters in the world who has amassed an impressive body of work. He has sold more than 8 million albums, 11.3 million digital tracks with 16 #1 singles. 

Chris is one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, others include Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks. 



The Grammy® winner’s list of music awards include an American Music Award, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award and more. Chris’ concert tours have sold-out venues in major cities including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, The Forum in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Red Rocks in Denver, among others.

This spring, Chris marked another career milestone by launching his own imprint record label, Bowyer & Bow, in partnership with Capitol Christian Music Group.

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Ready for my review? Read on! 

Every song is rated between 1 and 5 stars. Here’s the meaning of each starred rating:

5 stars = Wonderful! I love it!

4 stars = Great song and lyrics, I really like it!

3 stars = Nice tune but not too spectacular

2 stars = I really do not like this song

1 star = Not worth listening to

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Song #1: Holy Roar
Rating: 5
Review: As the title song for this album, “Holy Roar” is worth its weight in gold! It’s like the rallying of the troops in God’s Army, a gathering of His people from around the world to worship Him. The tune is inspiring and the lyrics move you to worship God right along with Chris Tomlin and his band.

Song #2: Nobody Loves Me Like You
Rating: 5
Review: Listening to the lyrics of this song accompanied with the soft, peaceful sounds, is like watching the sunrise from the window of your home. The feel of this song makes you feel like you live in a beautiful, serene mountainside log cabin in the picturesque part of Montana (USA)! I can almost smell the fresh mountain air and feel the cool breeze. This song feels very much like the Fall season on the East Coast—beautiful in color, tone and feel. Through the sound and lyrics of this song, Tomlin does a wonderful job in moving the listener to worship God as they reflect on His Goodness that we’re reminded of in the song’s lyrics. It is beautifully serene, sweet and whimsical.

Song #3: Resurrection Power
Rating: 4
Review: My first thoughts in hearing the first two lines of this song were, “I heard this song on the radio!” Haha. It’s very familiar to me. I enjoy listening to it. The message that God has given us freedom from the bondage of sin if we just choose Him and accept His gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, really resonates with me. The lyrics are straight-forward and Bible-based. The tempo of the song is upbeat but perfectly paced. Nice!

Song #4: Goodness, Love and Mercy
Rating: 3
Review: This song is a nice rendition of Psalm 23. There’s not too much to it. Tomlin basically sings the Bible verses without adding or taking away anything, which is good but the sound is a bit boring. It just didn’t move me.

Song #5: Satisfied
Rating: 3
Review: This song serves to remind the listener that in a world of thirsty people, only Jesus can truly satisfy. It reminds me of the Bible verse about how wells filled with water run dry but when you drink from the Living Water (a relationship with Jesus Christ), you will never thirst again. You won’t thirst for the temporary trappings of this world. Knowing Jesus is freedom from the ways of this world that don’t save your soul. Only Jesus can save your soul. Only He can quench your thirst when you’re searching for something more or trying to figure out the meaning of life. Hint: Jesus is what your soul longs for and only He can save your soul, ushering you right into eternity when He returns to Earth to take His faithful followers home to Heaven. This song reminds me that Earth is not our Home. It helps tune me into the Bigger Picture where God wins over sin and the enemy, where His plan for humanity is restored—a plan where death, destruction, and pain have no place ever again! Despite the wonderful life lessons I hear in this song “Satisfied”, I didn’t like the tune and I thought some of the lyrics could have been written better, which is why I’m giving it this rating.

Song #6: Impact
Rating: 4
Review: This song is like a welcome to worship God. It starts off slow and sweet then picks up tempo before taking off like an airplane on a beautiful musical journey, destination: the presence of God!

Song #7: Praise Him Forever
Rating: 4
Review: This song is a worship tune for real. It made me want to stand and clap my hands and dance down the church aisles. The sound of this song will make you happy and remind you of all of God’s Goodness. His Love for humankind is unrivaled.

Song #8: Is He Worthy?
Rating: 4
Review: This song is filled with questions for the listener (literally) but these questions are not without purpose. The lyrics challenge the listener to think deeply about the meaning of life, love, and God.

Song #9: Forever Young
Rating: 5
Review: Now who doesn’t want to be “Forever Young?” But this song isn’t about the “Fountain of Youth”, it’s about the Eternal King, Creator of the Universe who is forever true to His Word (The Holy Bible) and caring about His people (humankind). I love the line about Jesus creating “rivers in my soul.” It’s beautiful on every point: sound, lyrics, tempo, everything!

Song #10: I Stand in Awe (feat. Nicole Serrano)
Rating: 5
Review: Nicole Serrano’s voice is the first sound I heard in this song, and it’s beautiful. Her voice is soulful and deep yet light as air. The way that Tomlin’s voice joins hers first like a backup singer then as an equal results in a breathtaking duet between two professional singers who know what they’re doing—they’ve created a musical masterpiece!

Song #11: Praise Is the Highway
Rating: 4
Review: This song has a powerful message about the power of God to break strongholds and how praise is the highway to the throne and heart of God. I could hear the guitar and drums, which in this case are just as necessary as the lyrics.

Song #12: How Sweet It Is (feat. Pat Barrett)
Rating: 3
Review: I thought that this song was sweet but it’s not my cup of tea. The message, however, is nice because it talks about how sweet it is to be loved by Jesus but I didn’t like the song or Pat Barrett’s singing voice.

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Buy Chris Tomlin's "Holy Roar" CD here, 
https://christomlin.lnk.to/HolyRoarQW

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Hear Chris talk about the idea of his new album "Holy Roar," here.

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Read this message from FlyBy Promotions regarding the giveaway of Chris Tomlin’s CD “Holy Roar”: 

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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Enter the giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget below for your chance to WIN a copy of "Holy Roar" (CD) by Chris Tomlin: 

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