Member Writings

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Consumed By God’s Great Love

“Consumed By God’s Great Love”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

As the days and weeks roll on with consistent changes in the world around us, it is easy for us to become consumed with all the updates and challenges going on.  I have found myself often lately saying to my wife, “Please honey, do we have to listen to the news…..again.”  It isn’t that I don’t want to be informed, I just feel consumed with hearing the news over and over and over again.  However, I struggle because I need to know updates (we all do to an extent). 

It almost seems impossible to think of not being consumed by everything going on around us, with the constant changes at home, at work, in stores, at church, etc.  We are surrounded by constant changes every day and all through the day.  We are especially dealing with the challenges now of having kids doing school at home.  That has affected so many families and I know that we are all adjusting in different ways with different things each day. 

As we are consistently dealing with the challenges of being consumed by world events, let us be challenged by our Heavenly Father that He wants us to be consumed with Him.  His great love is amazing and is so much bigger than any virus could ever be.  This is not to diminish the power and concerns of what the virus is doing in our world, but to remind us that we serve an amazing God Who is so much bigger and can comfort us when the world cannot. 

I hope and pray this passage and the thought of God’s consuming love will bring us all comfort in these continues days of uncertainty.  While so many things and activities around us have been cancelled, remember that God’s love, faithfulness and compassion will NEVER cancel on us.  No matter what is happening to us, around us or to our families, God’s powerful love will ALWAYS be with us.  We can count on this, no matter what!

I’d like to end with a prayer as we continue on these days with God’s strength in the days of uncertainty.

Father, please continue to guide and direct us as we face daily challenges of uncertainty.  We know You are in control even though the world seems out of control.  Help us to continue to provide for our families as we seek to follow You faithfully each day.  Help us to be thankful for every single thing we have that You have already provided.  Most of all, help us continue to focus on being a witness to those around us who do not know You.  Help us to spread the love, hope and compassion You give to us.  Thank You God for your consistent great love and faithfulness, which never fails or ends!

Weekly Devotional Blog Site www.zwdevotions.com

Lamentations 3:22-23 (LEB)

The loyal love of Adonai does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.22The loyal love of Adonai does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.23They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.23They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.
Read more: www.biblegateway.com/?search=Lamentations+3%3A22-23…

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Give Us Wisdom, Lord

“Give Us Wisdom, Lord”

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Last week, I shared a prayer with you all regarding how we need God’s peace, especially now with all the chaos that is happening in our world these days.  In the past week, I have continued to feel scared and overwhelmed at what might happen as we continue to learn more and receive more disturbing news.  Every day, I’m praying that God will not only give me peace, but that He will also give me wisdom. 

As I think about how I need peace and wisdom from God, I wanted to share another prayer with you as we seek God’s wisdom in the many choices we face each day as we continue into uncharted territory.  I hope these words will echo in our minds and hearts as we continue to ask god to guide us.

Father, as each day passes and I continue to hear more and more about the chaos going on in the world with sickness, I find myself desiring wisdom more than ever.  Lord, we have so many choices every day that we need to make that affects others around us.  I need wisdom Lord to continue to be faithful in whatever you ask me to do each day.  As I continue to feel worried and concerned not only about my health, my wife and my kids, but also my friends and others around me, I ask Lord that You alone with grant me wisdom that only You can give.

God, we all need wisdom as we make intentional decisions that we’ve not really thought much about before.  As we consider how we need to use what finances we have been given by you, help us to be wise and discerning.  Maybe some of us have received blessed tax returns and we need wisdom to know how You want us to use those.  Some of us, though might not be doing so well with finances and are very concerned about the days ahead and how we will provide for our families.  Along with that is how many places of businesses have shut down and that can bring so much concern and worry to so many people, Lord. 

Father, help us be wise in whether we should go certain places and do certain things.  Help us be mindful of what is going on around us and make decisions that are beneficial to others and our families.  Help us be the servants you continue to call us to be.  We need wisdom so much these days, Lord as things seem to continue to spiral out of control in so many ways.  Let us never forget God that You are always in control and You will continue to fill us with peace if we ask. 

Father, as the days go on, I ask that you fill me with Your wisdom so that I can make good choices to support my family, no matter what lies ahead with what You have given to me and what happens to my place of work.  Amen!

Weekly Devotional Blog Site www.zwdevotions.com

Proverbs 2:6 (LEB)

For Adonai will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.6For Adonai will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Read more: www.biblegateway.com/?search=Proverbs+2%3A6…

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The Way

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

How I have struggled all of my life with these words. Why? Because I did not understand them. Intellectually, I could agree that Christ was worth worshiping, and I was  happy to do so. However, on an emotional level, I also had a problem with the idea of “one way. ”

Why not many paths to God? What would the harm be? What about all the good people who do not accept Christ?  So year after year I wondered, “Why must we go through Christ?” And I did not keep my angst to myself either. I shouted from the rooftops. “I don’t get it.” But deep down I wanted to “get it.” I wanted so much for it to make sense and to believe it. I wanted to be a Christian in the fullest sense of the word. Everyone I loved  believed that Christ was the only way. What was wrong with me?

One day, I was talking with my son Karl about how I did not understand why Christ was the only way, and he said, “Mom, there are two worlds—heaven and earth. They exist together like two dimensions. One world is pure and the other world is contaminated with sin. The worlds must remain separate so that the purity and sin do not mingle. Whether you like it or not, there is only one entrance between these two worlds and it is Christ”

He continued: “We could not even see the entrance if he were not there. It is invisible. To get to the other side, we must pass through him, because in the process we are purified. We must be purified so we will not contaminate the other world that we are about to enter. Part of the cleansing process is to be washed in his blood.” Karl then took his hands and washed his face of imaginary blood that somehow I could see as clearly as anything.

I closed my eyes and I could see what Karl was trying to tell me. I began to imagine that I was standing alone at the edge of a vast desert. I am lonely. I am afraid. I am stained with sin. I have heard of another world—a better world—and I want to go there so badly. Then suddenly Christ appears and tells me that behind him is the place I want to go. “But you must walk through me,” he says with a grave look on his face. “I am the way.” “Trust me,” he says.

In my vision, I  take a step toward him and he motions me to stop. “First you must take this basin of blood and wash yourself.” It is the blood of my crucifixion and it will cleanse you of your sins. Only my blood can do this because I am without sin. Come, I am the way.” Suddenly Christ becomes translucent. I realize this is how he must have looked at the Transfiguration on the mountain with Peter, James and John. Then, I wash my face in the basin of blood he gives me and pass through him to the other side. I am ready for the truth and the life.

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Give Us Peace, Lord

“Give Us Peace, Lord”

Psalm 29:10-11 NLT

“The Lord rules over the floodwaters.  The Lord reigns as king forever.  The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.

As so much uncertainty has swept over the entire world recently, I have found myself filled with so many different emotions, concerns, worries, anxious thoughts and prayers as I’m sure millions of others are experiencing as well.  I struggled with what to share this week as I sort through how I’m feeling and all that continues to unfold each day. 

I read this passage this morning and I just feel led to share it with you all and offer a prayer as we all look to God for the comfort only He can provide.

Lord, I come to You today with a very heavy heart as I consider all that is going on in the world today.  Each day that passes recently, I find myself tempted to give in to the fear of everything that is happening and the uncertainty that seems to hang over our heads.  Lord, I want to come to You and lay all of my worries and fears at Your feet because I know that no matter what happens, You are truly the One in total control. 

I don’t know how things will turn out, Father, but I know that You will give me peace because You and You alone reign over all.  There is nothing more powerful that You, Lord!  No matter what fear I may face today and the days ahead, I know that You will give me peace beyond understanding and I just need to trust in You with all my heart.  Father, some days I am very scared of the uncertainty of what will happen at my job, with the school and other closings that could occur, but I need to remember to completely trust in Your provisions and be thankful for what You have given to me.

Lord, I know that You and You alone can and will give me the peace I need to live each day as I trust in Your unfailing provisions.  Father, help me to not allow fear consume me as I continue to hear of the devastation of this sickness spreading.  Help me to completely focus on You, Lord and bring all of my concerns and worries to You anytime I have them.  I need to lay them at Your feet and know that You will give me comfort.

Lord, I pray for all of those who have been affected with all the chaos going on and I ask for Your loving arms to comfort those in need.  Father, help me to reach out and encourage others in any way that I can as needs arise.  Lord, You are in control and that will never change. 

Father, may we all trust in You and be filled with Your amazing peace as we continue in the days ahead.  Than You for being Almighty God!  Amen!

Weekly Devotional Blog Site www.zwdevotions.com

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Hope

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” Shawshank Redemtion, Stephen King

Most people think hope is a feeling that comes when they are optimistic about the future or whatever is going on their lives. But I believe we can reinforce that optimism with activity. When we give a dollar to the homeless we can then believe that someone will help us when we are down and out because we all know what goes around comes around. Or, at least, that God will be pleased and that gives us hope.

If you believe you can magnify the hope that you already have, then you can do the following:

1. Spend time thinking about hope and asking for what little hope you have to grow.

2. Water the little seeds of hope with positive thoughts.

3. Help others with their little sprouts of hope. Reassure them. Pray with them.

4. Do something with your hope. Talk about it. Write about it. Spread the word that hope is alive and well within you.

5. Watch movies about hope. My favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption. Faith, Hope, Love is a great movie.

6. If tragedy strikes, believe that things will get better even if you don’t feel like it will. When I was homeless I actually heard a voice in my head say: “Get out of bed and do something.” As soon as I got up I felt better. I walked down the street and met other homeless people who were worse off than me. It was exhilerating to find out I was not alone.

7. If you are grieving for a loved one, find a support group to share you pain. After you have shared comfort the others in the room. As they say in AA: “To keep it you must give it away.”

8. Stay in touch with God when you are struggling. Ask him for comfort and wisdom.

9. Treat your depression even if it means anti-depressants for awhile.

Hope is like a seedling. It needs water and sunshine to grow. The water may be your tears but the sunshine comes when you open the window of your pain and let the sun shine in. Where Love Abides, Susan Peabody.

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Faith

I had a dream once about God. He was sitting at the head of a conference table talking about me to his angels. Suddenly he got a sad look on his face. He said, “I just don’t understand why Susannah worries so much. I have always taken care of her. She has always had a roof over her head and food to eat. I have always comforted her during a time of crisis. Why does she still worry so much? You would think that she would have more faith in me.”

I woke up and felt guilty. After that I tried to worry less and internalize my faith more deeply.

Faith is a mysterious emotion. It is kind of like confidence. We feel intuitively during a crisis that everything will work itself out in the end. It is kind of like serenity. We feel peaceful. It is kind of like intimacy. We feel close to God. It is kind of like humility. We feel frail next to the power of God. It is kind of like awe. We feel such admiration for God. It is kind of like awareness. We feel the truth deep in our soul. It is kind of like joy. We are so happy to be loved. Faith is like all these things. But it is still mysterious.

How do you get faith? It is a gift. You ask for it and then act “as if” you have it. It comes to you the size of an acorn and grows into a great tree draping its branches around your life. If it fades away, you set aside everything you are doing to find it and bring it back into your life.

What do you do with faith? You enjoy it and you share it with others. You guard it carefully. It is your most valuable possession. When others are in trouble, who have less faith than you, you bolster them up with affirmations. You tell them how time and time again God has seen you through a crisis. You share with them how everything good in your life has come from God. Then you stand in for God. You act as an emissary and help these people in any way you can. When you part, you don’t say, “I love you,” you say, “God loves you. Have faith in him.”

When you pray, pray for faith. Everything else is in God’s hands. He will decide what is best for you. He will determine how long you are to suffer. He will determine the source of all your income. He will put the right people in your life and take the wrong ones out. If you attempt to do this yourself, you will make mistakes. Let God do it all. Just ask for faith so that you can relax while God is controlling your life.

As you grow old, thank God for your faith. So many people suffer because they do not have it. Have compassion for these people and praise the Lord for blessing you.