God's Timing

November 29-30, 2013 – God’s Timing – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

God has an eternal plan that includes and purposes and activities of every person on earth. “Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God” (Ecc.3:13). The ability to enjoy life and live it properly is a gift from God that comes only when we are brought into a right relationship with Him and sincerely submit ourselves to Him as our Lord and God. He then gives us joy in what we do. [Note from The Full Life Study Bible]

I was reading a story of a church near the south coast of Jamaica that took the people eight years to build a church. The people were not disappointed. In fact, they were excited about what God is doing, and they are patient with His timing.

I thought, “Wow!” We are often not that patient. We want our church to grow quickly, our people to mature right away, and our problems to be fixed today. In our microwave world, we want everything done instantaneously. But sometimes that is not God’s plan. Maybe we need to be reminded that some things take time—God’s time.

When the Israelites first left Egypt, God sent them on the long route to the Promised Land. Ex. 13:17-18 NCV “When the king (Pharaoh) sent the people out of Egypt, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was the shortest way. God said, “If they have to fight, they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.” So God led them through the desert toward the Red Sea.”

It was through the wandering desert, they came to know God as He prepared them, taught them, and challenged them. In fact, His ways brought many miracles that would not have happened if they went through the short cut route.

What touched my heart today? God has timing so we have the chance to grow in Christ and to know Him personally. So let us trust God today.

Song: How Great is our God

How great is our God …

How great is His name …

He is the greatest One …

Forever the same …

He rolled back the water …

Of the mighty Red Sea …

And He said, “I’ll lead you …

Put your trust in Me” …

(Unknown author)

Longsuffering

November 25-28, 2013 - Longsuffering – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Colossians 1:11-12 “God will strengthen you with His own great power that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that He has prepared for His people in the kingdom of light” [NCV].

King James Version quoted “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” [Col.1:11]. The word, longsuffering means patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship. The word, offense means an act of attacking (Merriam-Webster). Another High School Dictionary Thorndike-Barnhart gave a meaning of longsuffering to enduring trouble, pain, or injury long and patiently.

My story was about getting a new royal blue eye glasses when I had to make several trips between Eye Clinic and LensCrafter which irritated me and I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t hide it from the staff and I apologized for my impatience behavior when Eye Clinic made a mistake on the prescription for eye lens. When I thought it was final … again Eye Clinic made another wrong eye prescription.

When I became aware of my lack of patient, the Holy Spirit urged me to realize the importance of “longsuffering.” I learn something about the difference between short patient and long enduring patient. I remember Galatians 5:22 verse had one of the nine fruits of the Spirit was “longsuffering.” So I prayed, “Holy Spirit, help me.” The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “Be nice.  Be patient. Look pleasant. Explain kindly.”

So again I met a different staff and I explained all over again what the problem was. Finally, the Eye Clinic gave me the corrected prescription for eye lens. And again, I made another trip to LensCrafter to drop off the eye lens prescription. Two hours later, I finally got my new royal blue eye glasses that helps cut down the light glare for my glaucoma problem. This time I allowed the “fruit of longsuffering” be revealed inside of me. Slowly there was a quiet joy like the Scripture quoted, “longsuffering with joyfulness.”

I wondered my friend if you are going through some crazy situations that might cause you to “pull your hairs, huh?” I think Holy Spirit wants to talk to you about “longsuffering.” I pray that “God will strengthen you with His own great power that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient (with longsuffering).” I believe we need the touch of Jesus to enable us to have “longsuffering” fruit of the Spirit.

Song: He Touched Me

1. Shackled by a heavy burden,

‘Neath a load of guilt and shame;

Then the hand of Jesus touched me,

And now I am no longer the same.

Chorus:

He touched me, O, He touched me,

And O, the joy that floods my soul;

Something happened, and now I know,

He touched me and made me whole.

(William J. Gaither, Sing His Praise)

Wait on the Lord

November 23-24, 2013 Wait on the Lord – Bread Verse by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 37:34a “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land” (KJV). “Wait for the Lord’s help and follow Him. He will honor you and give you the land” (NCV).

Do you ever felt like you are losing patient with the Lord? Here’s another translation about that. “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along His path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroy” (NLT). You know it is hard to wait patiently for God to act when we want the change right way. But God promises that if we submit to His timing, He will honor us.

Peter encouraged us and said, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you” (1 Peter 5:6). So we are encourage to be patient, steadily doing the work of God that He has given us to do, and allow Him to choose the best time to change the circumstances or allow Him to change us. How could we do that? There’s an answer in the song.

Song: Waiting on the Lord

1. Waiting on the Lord, for the promise given;

Waiting on the Lord to send from heaven;

Waiting on the Lord, by our faith receiving;

Waiting in the upper room.

Chorus:

The po – wer! The po – wer!

Gives vic-t’ry over sin and purity within;

The po – wer! The po – wer!

The pow’r they had at Pentecost.

[vic-t’ry=victory; pow’r=power]

[Charles F. Weigle, Sing His Praise]

Yes, the power is in the Holy Spirit! He has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He will honor us in His time. So let us wait for the Lord’s help and follow Him.

So let’s ask God for Holy Spirit’s power in us!

Wait Patiently

November 21-22, 2013 - Wait Patiently – Bread Verse by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (KJV).

In this Scripture, the word, wait means state of watchful expectation and an act or period of waiting. In another word, we are put in a place to wait, watch and expect. While we wait, God promise to give us strength. Waiting is the most difficult thing to do, but God wants us to “Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Ps.27:14 NLT).

*David, the Palmist knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed King at age 16 but didn’t become King until he was 30. During the period of time, David was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign.

*Waiting on God is not easy. Often it seems that He isn’t answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking might seem natural that God is not in control or is not fair. But our God is worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses times of waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. We are encouraged to make good use of our waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach us.

*Reference: Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV ‘I said to myself, “The Lord is my portion (share); therefore I will wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.’ [*Part of the notes came from Quick Verse Life Application Bible]

Do you ever felt like “time stands still” and nothing’s happening except for tragedy that was going on around us? Actually, God is at work. We just don’t see it. That is why it is called, “Faith.” Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (Jn.20:29b). So let us “Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help” (Ps.27:14 ncv).

Song: Reach Out and Touch the Lord

Reach out and touch the Lord as He walks by;

You’ll find He’s not too busy to hear your cry;

He’s passing by this moment, your needs He supply.

Reach out and touch the Lord as he walks by.

[Lyrics: Bill Harmon, Sing His Praise]

May the Lord uplift your hearts and comfort you!

The Longing Soul

November 16-20, 2013 - The Longing Soul – Bread Verse by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 107:9 “For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:4-9).

“O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2).

This psalm exhorts (urge strongly) the redeemed to praise the Lord for deliverance from desperate and dangerous situation. The psalmist uses the examples to illustrate that God responds to the extreme (most advanced) troubles of His people when they pray: hunger and thirst (v.4-9), slavery (v.10-16), illness almost to death (17-22), and the danger of storm (v.23-32). [Note from the Full Life Study Bible, Donald Stamps]

Last Sunday noon on November 17^th, the tornado hit the town, Washington which is about 45 miles north of Bloomington where we live. It was 11:30 a.m. and the weather was nice and warm to 65 degree. Some of us deaf group went to Apple Bee to eat lunch. Then at noon there was a sudden gush of winds and we started to pray together, pleading the blood of Jesus over all our people, situations, Etc. I even plead the blood of Jesus over Taco Bells over all areas. We continue to pray until we all had peace that God will watch over us. Then it rained very hard with some hails. We remain calm and went on eating and stayed at Apple Bee until the storm was over.

Later we learned that it hit the town, Washington, partly. My boss told me that the Taco Bell was spared, but next side, the gas station and the stores were wiped out. This made me realized how important to plead the blood of Jesus because God said, ‘When He sees the Blood, He will pass over.’ The newspaper declared a miracle that only one person died.

This psalm of 107 has a purpose for us today for all believers who in misery and affliction cry out to the Lord. It builds up our faith and encourages us during those times when we need God to intervene (to come between in order to stop) specifically in our lives.

So let us continue to trust God who continues to help us!

PS. I know you’re wondering how I am doing. I am okay, but not out of the wood yet. At times, I struggle and I notice that I depend on God so much more to keep on believing God for strength and healing. This Psalm 107:9 has greatly encourages me. God bless you.

The Ship

November 11-15, 2013 The Ship – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 107:26 “Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths, the sailors’ cringed (shrink) in terror.”

 

Reading from New Living Translation Psalm 107:23-31. “Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, His impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. “LORD, HELP!” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! Let them praise the LORD for His great love and for all His wonderful deeds to them.”

Psalm 107:23-31 tells a story of people in peril (danger) at sea. In KJV, the verse quoted, “their soul is melted because of trouble.” Have you ever felt like that, “soul is melted because of trouble?” The Psalmist was telling us that when the sailors send an S.O.S. to God and God responds by smoothing out the sea and guiding them to their destination.

I visualized us inside a ship that faced a towering wall of water edged with claw-like form that was about to crash down our struggling ship. Sometimes I felt like Satan’s hands were like the claws and he tried to crash us down. The Scripture teaches us to call, “LORD, HELP!” We cried in our troubles and God held back Satan’s claw-like hands from destroying us. God gave us a “smooth” sailing and we arrive in a safe spiritual harbor of rest from the sufferings and pains.

I read this commentary and I thought it was good to share. “Those who have never truly suffered may not appreciate God as much as those who have matured under hardship. Those who have seen God work in times of distress have a deeper insight into His loving-kindness. If you have experienced great trials, you have the potential (real possible) for great praise.” (Note from Quick Verse Life Application).

As for the news: I went for a check up with the Doctor and the next thing I will see the lung specialist next month. I still need prayer since my bronchus areas are not too comfortable. My breathing seems to improve some with the medicine inhaler. As for Tony, he is fine with the new medicine he is taking. As for Manna, I am not sure what it would be like since I am struggling with my health issue. I appreciate your prayers.

God bless you!

Car Wash

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (NKJV).

Do you know what it is like to be compared as a car and you as a car would go through the car washed? Imagine we like a car would line up and waited. The guys would vacuum my car rugs, and seats. Then the powers began moving my car forward. Then there comes a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. This doesn’t sound pleasant.

What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? Oh, my car moved on to a clear rinse of water. Suddenly the water ceased. My car get blow-dry. Then guys came to my car with rags and clean inside and outside polished. Then my car is ready to go and face the world again. So this is what God was doing, preparing us …

Are you going through “the rivers of difficult time”?  The Lord God has spoken: “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!” (NLT).  Let His Word of love flows into our spirits and healed us in Jesus’ name. In His presence there is peace.

News from Dorothy and it is November 6, 2013.

I began to understand why God was preparing me the devotion for “passing through the waters” and that He would be with me. He wants me to be aware that He knows what is happening. You will understand why when I tell you this. Just after I came out of the hospital last week, Tuesday-Thursday, guess what?

Yesterday on Nov. 5, 2013, Tony went to ER to have his blood clots in his lungs being worked on with new medications and shots. He will be in the hospital for few days. So I appreciate your prayer. God has giving me strength moment by moment. What helps also was taking Ensure drinks as needed to support my body when I am on steroid medication until I see the Doctor on Nov. 11^th to reevaluate my bronchus. I am trusting God that all things will work together …

May God bless you!

Dorothy 

Halted

This devotion was halted because I was taken to emergency hospital 2 nights to be treated for the shortage of breathe. It was due to bronchitis and narrow airway. They gave me medication so that I could breathe easily and rest for 10 days. I just trust God day by day and thank you for your prayers.

Dorothy Callies