God with us | Kristi's Morning Devotional

May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

Going South

Many in the continental U.S. like to travel south every year. We call them winter visitors. This year some of them stayed longer than expected because they felt it wasn’t safe to head home. There was so much uncertainty – would they be jeopardizing their health, would there be a safe place to stay while on the road, could they fly safely. So many questions.

We should all ask these same questions about life in general. Our daily routine needs to be taken to the Lord in prayer and He will guide.

Years ago when we were young in faith and learning to listen to the Lord’s voice we had a cowboy preacher, a dear friend, tell us this: “If God says go South, He will provide; If you go North you’ll think you died!”

Now that’s not scripture but it is Biblical. Solomon put it this way: “Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the LORD and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverb 3:5-8 ERV

And then this one: “Turn to the LORD for help in everything you do, and you will be successful. 4 The LORD has a plan for everything.” Proverbs 16:3-4a ERV

God has a plan for each day – it doesn’t really matter what the activities are in the day He has a plan! Some days His plan is to change our plan, His plan is better.

When we listen, He speaks and when we follow His leading we are blessed! We have a choice – it would be silly to lean to our own understanding since following Him is the right way to go and His wisdom is perfect.

“Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God that I have told you today. 28 But you will get the curse if you refuse to listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God. So don’t stop living the way I command you today, and don’t follow other gods that you don’t know.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ERV

Trust the Lord today. He loves us and His desire for us is good!

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the LORD. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Go South today – He will provide!!!

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019

“With” Is Better

Where are you going today? Doing anything special? I always find that even the mundane is more fun when I have someone along to share it with. Yesterday, Dave and I had lots of errands to run and we enjoyed it more because we were “with” each other.

We are never alone even in the dullest or most difficult moments. We have a promise that God is with us. That’s what His name means:

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].” Isaiah 7:14 AMP

Immanuel, God with us!

God came to walk with Adam in the cool of the day; then He came and walked and talked with Abraham and Moses, David and Daniel, Enoch and Elijah, you and me. God loves being with His people. It’s only fitting that one of His names should mean God with us. That was His goal – to have relationship with us, to walk and talk with us, friend to friend, Father to child.

Do you recall the first time your child didn’t want you around? I remember hearing our toddlers say “I do this”. It was cute but then when they were in their teens, they got too big to need my presence or it wasn’t cool to have their folks hanging out with them. It hurt. I can only imagine how much it must hurt the Father when we exclude Him from our activities, not wanting Him around, taking the attitude “I’ve got this”.

He’ll let us try to handle things, sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail but He’s always there. He never leaves us alone – that’s who He is, that’s what He does.

“God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” Hebrews 13:5b ERV

Friends may come and go; relationships change. Death may separate us from the ones we love. But the Lord will be with us forever and when we have Him, He takes care of the rest.

What’s on your list of things to do today?

Take Him along. Lunch with a friend, bring the extra guest. Need some down time, the two of you can sit quietly together, after all He IS Immanuel! He’ll be excited you’ve included Him in your plans.

December 15, 2019December 15, 2019

Open House – Open Heart

Growing up our Mom always had an Open House at Christmas. We didn’t live around family so she would bake and then invite our friends to just drop in for a while and spend part of their Christmas with us. I have some wonderful memories of playing with childhood friends, the smell of baking cookies coming from the kitchen and the laughter that filled the air.

When I grew up and had a home of my own, I continued the Christmas Open House tradition because I love entertaining and filling our home with the love and laughter of friends. Someone told me once that my love language is baking. It makes me happy to package up the freshly baked cinnamon rolls and give them to friends and neighbors.

Christmas can be a lonely and depressing time for some. Missing a loved one, being far from home…so many reasons. Think of that first Christmas night when God’s Son came to earth; it was separation for both Father and Son.

Now here’s the good news!

Immanuel, God with us, even when we are by ourselves, we’re not alone! God with us, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us…God with us! When we open our heart, He makes it His home.

So this year if your home is filled with family and friends or quiet and only you, remember God came to join us. His presence will certainly fill both heart and home. Invite Him in.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT

July 21, 2017February 27, 2018

Talk Too Much, Listen Too Little

Many times we talk too much and listen too little. We go on and on about our successes and complain about our failures; or we expound on our challenges and bemoan the routine and mundane. Let today’s verse be an admonition for all of us.

” Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

When we focus on the Father, when we are still, things seem to fall into a proper perspective and we find peace in the midst of a storm and reason to rejoice in the daily routine.

“God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea.
3 Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains.
4 A river and its streams bring joy to the city, which is the sacred home of God Most High.
5 God is in that city, and it won’t be shaken. He will help it at dawn.
6 Nations rage! Kingdoms fall! But at the voice of God the earth itself melts.
7 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come! See the fearsome things the Lord has done on earth.
9 God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears, and burns the shields.
10 Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.”
11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46 CEV