Traveled on My Knees 2/27-29

Psalm 16:11a "You will show me the path of life" (Amplified).

The poem is from a book called, Becoming a Prayer Warrior by Elizabeth Alves. The poem is written by Sandra Goodwin.

                   I Traveled on My Knees
            --Adapted from a poem by Sandra Goodwin.

Last night I took a journey to Israel across the seas;
I did not go by boat or plane, I traveled on my knees.

I saw so many people there with scars and wounds within.
But God told me that I should go--there was oil to pour from Him.

I replied, "Lord, I cannot go and work with such as these."
He answered quickly, "Yes you can, by traveling on your knees."

He said, "You pray, I'll meet their need, you call and I will hear.
Be concerned about the fate of those both far and near."

And so I tried it, knelt in prayer, gave up some hours of ease.
I felt the Lord right by my side while traveling on my knees.

As I pray on and saw them helped, and badly wounded healed,
I saw God's workers' strength renewed while laboring on the field.

I said, "Yes, Lord, I have a job--my desire Thy will to please,
I can go and heed Thy call by traveling on my knees."

God bless you! 

Dorothy Callies

The Bird & Mustard Seed 2/26

This poem was written in 1981 from the bulletin, “God’s Chosen Vessel.”  This poem was about the bird and the mustard seed.  I thought you would enjoy this special morning poem.

Poem: The Bird and The Mustard Seed  (Matt. 13:31-32)

 

   “What a beautiful day!  Chirp! Chirp!  A wonderful day!” The bird was happily singing on a big mustard bush.  Suddenly the bird stopped singing and turned his head trying to find the sad, crying voice. “Boo hoo! Boo hoo!  Sobbed the mustard seed. The bird ask …

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     Why are you crying so?

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     What is it, you need to know?

Oh, Boo hoo!  Oh, Boo hoo!

     Why am I so small?

Oh, Boo hoo!  Oh, Boo hoo!

     Will I ever grow tall?

O, Mustard Seed!  O Mustard Seed!

     Didn’t Jesus say about thee?

Oh, Boo hoo!  Oh, Boo hoo!

     What did Jesus say about Me?

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     Though you are the tiniest.

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     Actually, you are the biggest.

Oh, my goodness!  Oh, my goodness!

     Yet I have my great doubt.

I don’t believe!  I don’t believe!

     You can’t turn me about.

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     Jesus wants you to believe.

O, Mustard Seed!  O, Mustard Seed!

     Take His Word and receive.

Oh, pity me!  Oh, pity me!

     I feel like a brat!

Oh, well, well!  Oh well, well!

     Me, the biggest! How’s that?

Now, Mustard Seed!  Now, Mustard Seed!

     Though your faith be so small.

Jesus wants you to really believe

     That you already are very tall.

Then Mustard Seed went into the dirt,

     Deciding to allow himself to grow.

He buried himself into the ground and said,

     “Here am I, the seed I sow.”

Oh, my!  Oh, my!  I am truly growing!

     Jesus was right; I’m the biggest!

Who would ever believe

     That I was the most tiniest?

The Bird says to you:

“Let this seed be an example,

     Dear Friend, don’t be a doubter.

Stop pitying yourself and learn that

     Jesus wants you as a great believer.”

--Dorothy Callies, God’s Chosen Vessel, bulletin, Nov. 1981

 

Renewed Day by Day 2/25

25 February 2016 - Renewed Day by Day – Card Verse by Dorothy Callies

“… Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day” (II Corinthians 4:16 Amplified Bible).  KJV: “… though outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

 

Renewal is a law of God.  We renew our bodies each day by eating food. The Word of God is our spiritual food.  We need to renew our minds in the Word of God.

Our Father in Heaven doesn’t want us to renew our minds occasionally. II Corinthians 4:16 tells us to renew our minds on a daily basis.

If we obey these instructions from God, we’ll continually change our thinking to more and more like He thinks.  “…be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]… (Ephesians 4:23).

Song: I’m Going Through

          (Inspiring Choruses)

I’m going through, I’m going through

I’ll pay the price, whatever others do,

I’ll take the way of the Lord’s anointed few

I’m going through, Jesus, I’m going through.

Dorothy: Praise the Lord!  It is a big encouragement to see this written from the Card Verse this morning.  It is worth the price to dig into His Word and be renewed day by day. His Word is indeed our spiritual food. Again, I am greatly encouraged and I sing this song again.

I’m going through, I’m going through

I’ll pay the price, whatever others do,

I’ll take the way of the Lord’s anointed few

I’m going through, Jesus, I’m going through.

Prayer: Oh, heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful verse from Paul who wrote this for us to remember that our inward man is renewed day by day. Truly, we are under Your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Redeemer who paid the great price for us at the cross! Thank You and we worship You and we love You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Prayer in need: Please pray for Alice Hodgson’s husband, Fred who is having a lot of problems with ringing in his ears (tinnitus). Lots of medicine did not seems to help him. He shakes badly and is in ER. Alice and her daughter, RN do not know what to do even when they prayed and Fred prayed. So I asked her for permission for Deaf Prayer Partners Lifeline news for Fred. So please help with prayer partners’ chain for Fred Hodgson.

Gather the Lambs 2/24

24 Feb 2016 - Gather the Lambs - Card Verse for the Day by Dorothy 

Isaiah 40:11b KJV: “… He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom …”
 How close are you to Jesus? NLT says: “He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.” I am sure you have seen a picture of Jesus holding the lamb in His left arm and held the staff with His right hand. He was looking at the lamb with tenderness. 

This shows how much He loves you. You are like a little lamb to Him. Open your heart to Jesus and I pray that you will feel His tenderness and His closeness. Let the healing of tenderness flows into your soul and body and mind in Jesus’ name.

Reading from Isaiah 40:1-10 was a prophecy of Christ’s coming. It is like a big herald of news! A splendor of glory! A big announcement like a trumpet sounding! NCV verse 10 says, “Look, the Lord God is coming with power to rule all the people. Look, He will bring reward for His people …” (Is. 40:10). 

Yet in the next verse 11, scenery is changed to a shepherd style and it says, “He takes care of His people like a shepherd. He gathers them like lambs in His arms. He gently leads the mothers of the lambs” (NCV). Oh! That’s very tender! Let's trust our loving Savior, the Shepherd the One who leads us through it all!

Song: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
(Dorothy Ann Thrupp’s Hymns for the Young, 1836; Sing His Praise) 
Savior, like a shepherd lead us;
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast brought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast brought us, Thine we are. 

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus for this lovely devotion to know that we are close to Your heart... We worship You and we love You...

Keep Me in Peace 2/23

23 Feb 2016 - Keep Me in Peace – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Song to Jesus: Keep Me in Perfect Peace

(Dorothy Callies made it personal from Isaiah 26:3)

You will keep me in perfect peace

When my mind is stayed on Thee;

When the shadows come and darkness falls

You give me inward peace;

You are the only perfect resting place –

You give me perfect peace!

You will keep me in perfect peace

When my mind is stayed on Thee.

Dorothy: Strange thought… perfect peace...? The Amplified Bible. Isaiah 26:3: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

The word, perfect depends on how it was used. Here it means complete peace. We could have complete calmness and quietness inside of our minds. Having a peace of mind does influence our character. This helps me to realize how to focus my thoughts … what was I thinking about… It is about guarding my wrong thoughts… when the darkness comes… Let’s pray!

Prayer: You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust You. We trust in You Lord always, because You are our Rock forever (Isaiah 26:3-4 NCV). Thank You for revealing Your Words to guard our thought and our mind. Thank You Lord for keeping our mind on You through reading Your Words and quoting the card verses. Thank You for keeping us close to You through Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

Song: Every Morning 2/22

Every morning, when I praise His name.
He is forever, forever the same.

Every morning, when I think of Him on-ly.
He will keep me from being so lone-ly.

Every morning, when I place His Word in me.
His word is so divine and my heart is close to Thee.

Every morning, when I think of Jesus as a friend.
He is with me always, always, to the end.

Every morning, when I felt Jesus on my side.
When there is trouble, I run to Him and hide.

Every morning, I just signed "Good morning, Lord."
I just asked Him, "What's up in Your Word?"

Anything new that I could really learn?
Your Word in my heart, I really, really yearn! (Hunger)

With a closure of this song,
I'll say to You, "That's where I be-long!" ....

Written by Dorothy Callies, August 31, 2012.

Many Mansions 2/20-21

20-21 Feb 2016 - Many Mansions in My Father s House - Devotion by Dorothy 

John 14:1-2a KJV: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions….” NCV: Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house…”

Jesus comforted His followers because they sensed something was going to happen to Him. So Jesus spoke the words of comforts to His disciples.  “And I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Today He is speaking to us.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not let it bother you of what is going to happen. You trust God and also trust Me. There is a place for you in heaven. My Father has many beautiful homes for you. So you keep your hope in the heavenly place where your future will be.

“For now, just go about your daily routine.  Be faithful to pray and to study My Word. God has a plan for you.  Time will come and you will know by then. For now trust Me.  Let your heart be at peace. I love you.”

Jesus’ love song to you.
“I love you with an everlasting love.
I love you with an everlasting love.
My love is so big and
My love is so deep and
I love you with an everlasting love.”

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee’.”

Dorothy: What inspires me? John 14:3 “And I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father for the words of comfort that Jesus has spoken to us. Thank You for reminding us that Jesus will come again and receive us to Himself. We look forward to that day. Thank You for keep us close to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Ordain Peace 2/18-19

18 19 Feb 2016 Ordain Peace – Card Verse by Dorothy Callies

Isaiah 26:12 KJV, “Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.” NLT, “Lord, you will grant us peace, for all we have accomplished is really from You.”

The title of Isaiah chapter 26, it is “A Song of Praise to the Lord.” From New Living Translation, verse 1: “In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is now strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. V2. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. V3. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Chapter 26 is a psalm of trust, praise, and mediation.  Isaiah prophecy that the people will praise God on the day of the Lord when Christ establishes His kingdom. Isaiah chapter 12 is also a “Songs of Praise for Salvation.” It only has six verses. This Word of God keeps reminding us that the special day will come when Christ shall come.

The word, ordain means decree: an order or decision given by one in authority. God has authority and God made the decision that we are to have peace and His work of peace is inside of us. It is really up to us to take that peace God has given to us. It is the word of encouragement that God will keep us in peace in spite of what’s happening around the world.  What a wonderful work of our Lord who loves and cares for us.

Let us keep our thoughts on God and put our trust in Him.

Song: Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace

         (Inspiring Choruses from Isaiah 26:3)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace

Whose mind is stayed on Thee;

When the shadows come and darkness falls

He giveth inward peace;

For He is the only perfect resting place –

He giveth perfect peace!

Thou will keep him in perfect peace

Whose mind is stayed on Thee.

Prayer: Lord God of Heaven, thank You for ordain the peace inside of us. Also You remind us from Philippians 4:7, “and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Thank You Lord for this card verse to keep us in tune with You.  Bless all my friends and inspire them and keep us fresh with Your Word of peace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Sweet to Trust Jesus 2/16-17

16-17 Feb. 2016 – It Is Sweet to Trust Jesus – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Song: ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus

         By Louisa M. R. Stead, Sing His Praise
1. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word.
Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know “Thus saith the Lord.”
Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er.
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! Oh for grace to trust Him more.

2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood.
Just in simple faith to plunge me ‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
[Then chorus]
3. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
[Then chorus]

Dorothy: In my technology KJV Bible, the name of Jesus total up to 942. So I tried to find something that would fit the song. What does it feel like when I sang this song? Oh, it feels so tender, so trusting, and so peaceful. Only Holy Spirit could do that. When I look through a few of the devotional list, these verses inspired me.

Jesus calls sinners [Mark 2:17].
Everlasting life through Jesus [John 3:16].
Faith in Jesus [John 3:36].
Come to Jesus [John 6:37].
Love as Jesus loves [John 15:12].
Peace in Jesus [John 16:33].
Believe in Jesus [John 20:27-28].
Made clean by Jesus [Mark 1:41].
Receive Jesus [Mark 9:37].
Salvation in Jesus [Romans 8:1].

Then just one verse touched my heart: Mark 1:41 KJV: "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." What does this means, "moved with compassion"? The dictionary says: feeling for another's sorrow or hardship that leads to help; compassionate means desiring to relieve another's suffering. So Jesus has desire to relieve your suffering today.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for touching my friends who are in need of prayers and are suffering some pains in their bodies. By faith You have relieved their suffering because You, Jesus have put forth Your hand and touched them because You were "moved with compassion" to heal my friends. I believe and I receive healing for my body. Thank You, Jesus for feeling our pains and healed us! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

I praise You and I worship You. “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust You, How I’ve proved You over and over. Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! Oh for grace to trust You more.”          

  
[Note: Some revised from July 2008 Manna)

Happy Heart Day! 2/14-15

14-15 Feb 2016 - Our Hearts – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Deut. 6:6 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts."

Happy Valentine Day!  And it falls on February 14^th, on Sunday. It is all about “the heart.” In the stores everywhere, you would see some of the racks were full of Valentine’s cards with varieties shape of all kinds of hearts. I noticed people looking for the right cards to pick from the racks. My friend picked Valentine cards for nieces and nephews and families.

There were so many cards to choose from and to express them to friends, families and lovers. I received two cards, one from my sister with a help of her daughter and her great grandson who created a very cute card and it had two creative hearts on front. And another from my niece whose card were full of “hearts” picture in a candy machine. It looks like you would put a coin in a machine and take one heart out. When I opened the card 13 small confetti hearts fell out. It was really a cute card!

Does God have something to say about the heart? He certainly does. If you read Deut. 6:1-12 you would see the instructions from God. One of the commandment was “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5).

Such a practice was in keeping with the instructions Moses gave the Israelites when he told them to write the commandments of God on the doorframes of their houses and on their gates. They were to treasure God’s Word in their hearts, to impress it on to their children, and to talk about it when they walk along the road, when they lie down and when they get up (Deut.6:6-9).

We need to remember that during Moses’ time they didn’t have the Bible like we do now. We have the Bible to read and remind us of God’s instructions for our daily lives. I am very thankful for the Bible because sometimes we forget. So reading the Bible daily will keep us in tune with God.

May our faith be real and our commitment be true, so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

Song: Keep Me True, Lord Jesus

Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;

Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;

There’s a race that I must run,

There are victory to be won.

Give me power, every hour, to be true.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Texting God 2/12-13

12-13 Feb 2016 - Texting God – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Colossians 1:9 NKJV, “[We] do not cease to pray for you.”

The word, “text” seems to be the most popular word nowadays because we might have heard others say, “I will text you” from our cell phone. The word, text means a subject on which one writes or speaks. Surprisely, it also means a passage from the Bible chosen for the subject of a sermon.

An article in The Washington Post told about a 15-year-old girl who sent and received 6,473 cell phone text messages in a single month.  She says about her constant communication with friends, “I would die without it.”  And she is not alone. Researchers says that US teens with cell phones average more than 2,200 text messages a month. [David McCasland, Our Daily Bread]

This could be a remarkable illustration of what prayer could be like for every follower of Christ. Paul seems to be constantly in an attitude of prayers for others: “[We] do not cease to pray for you” (Col.1:9). “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph.6:18). “Pray without ceasing” (1Thess.5:17). In a sense, Paul was “texting God” for the people he prayed for.

In the kitchen beside the sink, I have a jar full of card verses to draw from.  I have a need to “text” God something from one of the card verses I choose, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him (you) out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).  From the dresser desk, I have a different Card Verse Box.  One of the card verse is like God texting me, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.” –Isaiah 41:10. When I looked at the card verse as God’s text to me, it really gave me a greater encouragement.

Has God ever “text” you? Yes, you have the Bible! The Holy Spirit inspired 40 different authors to write God’s Word into 66 books. It took 1,500 years to put together many books into “The Bible.” When we read the Bible, we pray that the Holy Spirit would make God’s Word to come alive, active, and powerful inside of us (Heb.4:12). Let God “text” us every day with His Word! Amen? Amen!

      “Texting a Prayer”

Texting a prayer in the morning,

Texting a prayer at noon;

Texting a prayer in the evening,

To keep your heart in tune.

  (Unknown author)

Busy Corners 2/10-11

10-11 Feb 2016 - Busy Corners – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Mark 1:33-34 “The whole city was gathered together at the door. He healed many…” NKJV.

While I was thinking, looking at my office, wondering how could I be busy doing all this and that, yet I do find time to study the Bible and pray. Plus doing other routine things that require our times to do which was really necessary. Is being busy really normal?  Humm…? I came across this devotion.  Again, amazing grace, God read my thought.  After reading this devotion from ‘Our Daily Bread’, I felt like God had spoken to me.  He refreshed me.  So I want to share this with you from Dennis Fisher who wrote this:

“Is your life too busy? Business deadlines, productivity quotas, and shuttling children to lessons and sporting events can really fill up your schedule.  It’s easy to think, If only I didn’t have so many responsibilities, then I could walk in vital union with God.

Yet C.S. Lewis wisely points out that no one was busier than Christ. “Our model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine Life operating under human conditions.”

We read of Jesus in Capernaum: “They brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many” (Mark 1:32-34).  The next day Christ sought out a solitary place and prayed.  There He received direction from His Father to pursue a demanding ministry in another place.  Our Lord communed with His Father and depended on the Spirit to minister through Him.

Is your schedule demanding? Follow the example of Jesus and set aside a specific time for prayer.  Then depend on God’s power to help you meet each day’s demands.”

Poem: The many tasks we face each day

                  Can burden and oppress,

             But spending time with God each day

                  Can bring relief from the stress. –Sper

Song: Let the Lord Have His Way

Let the Lord have His way

In your life every day.

There’s no rest, there’s no peace

‘Til the Lord has His way;

Place your life in His hand

Feel secure in His plan

Let the Lord –

Le the Lord have His way.

(Inspiring Choruses)

The Sparrow 2/8-9

08-09 Feb 2016 - His Eye Is on the Sparrow – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Matt. 10:31 KJV, “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

I would define the word ‘value’ as to one of several meanings, “precious and worth.” Jesus explained what Heavenly Father thinks of you as compared to a sparrow. There is something very precious here that God knows every single sparrow on the earth. Not a single sparrow falls that He is not aware of. It means that every injury to the sparrow, our Heavenly Father feels the pain and hurt no matter how common or forgotten or ignored. The sparrow is very dear to God.

Jesus teaches that God’s faithful children are of great worth to their heavenly Father. Sometimes when we go through so many trials and problems, yet have you ever wonder if our Heavenly Father really cares about all those little things that were happenings to us? Sometimes it put fears in us wondering if we did something wrong for having so much troubles.  Yet Jesus said, “Fear not, you are worth a lot more to God than the sparrow.”

What was Jesus trying to tell us from verse 29 when sparrow falls, does the Father knows about it? Here’s the point: we need to realize who God is so Christ is pointing out five powerful yet precious facts. I would like to quote this part from the Preacher’s Outline & Sermon. 

1.      God’s providence: God sees, knows, cares and oversees all the events and happenings on earth—just as He knows all about the little sparrow that is so common and forgotten.

2.      God’s knowledge: God knows every little happenings and all that is, even to the most minute details. He knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground.

3.      God’s power: God is able to control the persecution and events that happen to the believer, no matter how detailed and minute. He can control and work them out for good to such an extent that there is no need for the believer to fear.

4.      God’s love and care: God cares about every hurt inflicted upon the believer by persecutors, even to the most minute injury and hurt. The believer is not to fear but to put His trust in the love and care of God.

5.      God’s purpose: God is able to take all the injuries and pain inflicted by the sin and shame of men and work it all out for good of the believer. He is able to give purpose, meaning and significance to it all (Rom.8:28). Therefore the believer is not to fear.

The believer is of much more value than many sparrows, for we are God’s adopted son (Gal.4:5-6). Just as God has His eye on the sparrow, He has His watchful eye on His “dear children” (Eph.5:1).

Song: His Eye Is on the Sparrow

     By Civilla Durfee Martin, Sing His Praise

Why should I feel discouraged?

    Why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely,

    And long for heav’n and home

When Jesus is my portion?

    My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

    And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

    And I know He watches me.

Chorus: I sing because I’m happy;

    I sing because I’m free;

For His eye is on the sparrow,

    And I know He watches me.

Healing from Heaven 2/6-7

06-07 Feb 2016 - Healing from Heaven – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

2 Cor. 1:3 KJV, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”

The word “mercies” means compassion, pity and mercy. It means looking upon people in need and having compassion and mercy upon every one of us. Take note that God is not the God of mercies but the Father of mercies. His very nature and behavior toward us is that of a Father, not of a God. He is our Father, a Father who is merciful and compassionate. Notice the word mercies is plural. God does not show mercy just once, but showers His mercies upon us continuously. Isn’t our Father in heaven great?

How do we know that God is “the Father of mercies” and the “God of all comfort”? Because of Jesus Christ. God is “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It was God… who “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn.3:16).

Dorothy: What led me into this devotion? I was going through some ‘anguish’ time and I was wondering how I could be of some comfort. I decided to pick up one of the devotional book. I came across this story that really impressed me. I knew that God, the Father was really all caring Father. It’s amazing He comforts me with this story.

*Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish songwriter, singer, and poet. His talents brought joy to many yet, tragically, his personal life was troubled by repeated heartaches, including the death of all five of his children during his lifetime. Moore’s personal wounds make these words of his all the more meaningful: “Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” This moving statement reminds us that meeting with God in prayer can bring healing to the troubled soul.

*The apostle Paul also saw how our heavenly Father can provide solace to the hurting heart. To the believers at Corinth he wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2Cor.1:3-4). We need to be reminded that God’s comfort and healing come through prayer. As we confide in our Father, we can experience peace and the beginning of healing for our wounded hearts. For truly “earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” [*Written by Dennis Fisher, Our Daily Bread]

Song: If You Know the Lord

If you know the Lord, you need nobody else,

To see you through the darkest night.

You can walk alone, you only need the Lord

To keep you on the road marked right.

Take time to pray, every day;

And when you’re heading home,

He’ll show you the way.

If you know the Lord, you need nobody else,

To see the light, God’s wonderful Light.

         (Inspiring Choruses)

Tree of Life 2/5

05 Feb 2016 Tree of Life – Devotion for the Day by Dorothy

Genesis 2:9 KJV, “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden …

Genesis, the beginning of the Bible and Revelation, the last book of the Bible had written about the tree of life. What made the tree of life so special? The answer is found in Genesis 3:22 NLT, “… What if they eat the fruit of the tree of life? Then they will live forever!” Genesis 3:24 NLT, “After banishing them from the garden, the Lord God stationed mighty angelic beings (cherubim) to the east of Eden. And a flaming sword flashed back and forth, guarding the way to the tree of life.”

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, they were forced to leave the Garden of Eden, and worked for their own living. They were not allowed to eat the fruits from the tree of life. The Scripture quoted “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom.6:23). “… the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen.3:21). God provided clothing to Adam and Eve, clothing through the sacrifice of death through animals. God taught Adam and Eve that they were to approach Him through sacrifice, the shedding of blood.

God gave them hope through the first prophecy from the book of Genesis 3:15 that Jesus Christ would take their place through the death of the cross by faith 4,000 years later. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.  

Rev. 2:7 tells us that overcomers will have the chance to eat the fruits of the tree of life which is in the middle of God’s paradise. An overcomer is one who, by God’s grace received through faith in Christ, has experienced the new birth and remains constant in his victory over sin, the world, and Satan. An overcomer will live forever and shall not die physically.

Rev. 22:2 KJV, “… and on either side of the river there was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner (kind) of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month…”  Once someone told me of a dream that she stood beside the tree and ate the fruit that had 12 different flavor. When she took a bite, she said, “It taste like peach, then it taste like pear, and then … oh my, different flavor in one fruit was awesome!” What a vision she had when Jesus showed her the tree with 12 fruits!

Dorothy: What does this means to me? I didn’t know at that time that this was that TREE OF LIFE that bears 12 kinds of fruits that Jesus had shown to her in a dream. She didn’t even know it either. The point is that when I study the Scriptures, there’s always something to learn. Like the Tree of Life in the beginning of the Bible and Tree of Life at the end of the Bible. It just made me realize that God just wants us to enjoy that Tree of Life and someday we will get to taste it. I can’t even imagine this! God promised we’ll get to enjoy it! This should encourage us to hold on to the faith of Jesus Christ who is coming soon. I say, Amen!

Song: It Gives Strength to Me

It gives strength to me as I worship Thee

And my mouth is filled with praise.

He will break the bands as I lift my hands

And give glorious liberty.

     (Inspiring Choruses)

Blessed are They 2/4

04 Feb 2016 - Blessed are They – Card Verse for the Day by Dorothy Callies

Luke 11:28 KJV, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”

Why did Jesus say, “Yea rather”?  What happen here?  We need to go back to Luke 11:27 and see what it says.  I would like to use the Amplified Bible.  “Now it occurred that as He was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, Blessed (happy and to be envied) is the womb that bore You and the breasts that you sucked!”  In verse 28, AMP, “But He said, Blessed (happy and to be envied) rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it!”

Even more clearly to read is New Living Translation in Luke 11:27-28, “As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”  But He replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Did you “hear” that? Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice?  I would like to share the commentary from the Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible which give a very impression comment.

(11:27-28) The Word of God: the necessary thing is to hear the Word of God and keep it.  Luke is the only Gospel writer to mention this incident. Clearly what happened was that some woman in the crowd was caught up in Jesus’ teaching and presence.  She just exclaimed that a woman who could bear One like Jesus was to be blessed.  But note what Jesus said. There is a greater blessing than what even Mary had. Imagine! A greater blessing than being able to testify that one had given birth to Jesus! What is it? “Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.”

Dorothy: I hope this is as clear as it says. Greater blessing, greater happiness, and greater joy are you that hear the Word of God and keep it inside your hearts. Mary alone was blessed to give birth to Jesus, but we, the people, hearing Jesus speaking the Word of God are much more blessed. It brings happiness to our hearts. 

Song: Happiness Is…

Happiness is to know the Savior,

Living a life within His favor,

Having a change in my behavior,

Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,

Jesus and me in close relation,

Having a part in His salvation,

Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine, no matter if

     the teardrops start;

I’ve found the secret,

     it’s Jesus in my heart.

Happiness is to be forgiven,

Living a life that’s worth the living,

Taking a trip that leads to heaven,

Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is the Lord!

 (Inspiring Choruses, originally from

 Ira F. Stanphill, 100 Scared Favorites)

Gateway to Life 2/3

03 Feb 2016 – Gateway to Life – Manna/Card Verse by Dorothy Callies

Matt. 7:14, KJV “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”  NTL, “The gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”

Yesterday’s Manna impressed me with “the path of life.” “You will show me the path of life” (Ps.16:11). I decided to look up the technology Bible on “life” and I ran through different references. I came across this topic that interests me: “Leadeth unto life” and “gateway to life.” I thought I would focus this topic and see what I could learn from it.

What is strait? It is the same meaning for narrow which means limited in size and barely enough or not much room left. I try to visualize this: the mountain with the narrow path, you might have seen a movie with persons walking very carefully and often slippery. Watching them trying to get through makes my hair stands.

You get the idea of what Jesus’ meant, “You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate” Matt. 7:13, NLT. The narrow and hard way requires commitment, determination, discipline, control, and self-denial. Jesus said, “If any man wants to follow Me, let him deny himself …” Matt.16:24.

The narrow way is the way of thinking, the disciplined, the responsible, and the spiritual. A person who is a born-again Christian realizes that entering the narrow way is the hard way, the way of heaven, the way of faith, hope, and righteousness.

Dorothy: Boy! It sounds like a tough mission, but actually if you have the Holy Spirit as your Friend, He is the one who helps us along the side. He is the one who guide us in the path of life. He is our Comforter who will comfort us when it becomes too hard to bear. Blessed Holy Spirit who often ‘nudge’ (push gently to) us to get through it all for the love of Christ we have for Him. It will be worth it all when we walk the narrow way of life for Jesus.  

Song: It Will Be Worth It All

It will be worth it all

     when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small

     when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face,

     all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race,

     till we see Christ.

       (Inspiring Choruses)

(Esther Kerr Rusthoi, When We See Christ)