The Reward 3/30-31

30-31 March 2016 - The Reward – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Proverbs 22:4 AMP, “The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”

Many people graduate from college and go forth into the world seeking fame, fortune and a long, full life.  The Word of God tells us exactly what our Father wants us to do to receive these blessings.

Our Father promises riches, honor, and long life to His children who are truly humble.  He wants us to place Him and other people ahead of ourselves. He wants us to live to serve Him and to help others.

Our Father wants us to fear Him.  When we fear God, we revere Him.  We hold Him in complete awe at all times. Every aspect of our lives revolves around Him.  More than anything else, we want to please Him.  Our Father will bless us with riches, honor and long life if we are humble and if we revere Him.

Dorothy:  This is from the Scripture Mediation Card and that impressed me very much.  The word humility … sometimes we don’t exactly get the clear picture of this meaning so I decided to look it up. Surprisely, humility is a state of being humble. Now the word, humble means being meek in spirit, not proud or bold. In another word, meek means putting up with wrongs patiently and without complaint.

So what are the reward of humility and showing great respect to the Lord? Riches? Honor? Life? Worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Maybe we have not seen this yet, but can we trust our Heavenly Father to keep His Word of promise?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to trust Your Word of promise according to Your plan about how we would receive riches, and honor and life. We believe in You. We want to thank You for reminding us that You are our Lord, our God and our Creator. We put our faith in Your Word and believe in You with all our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

Song: Thou Art Worthy

     By Pauline M. Mills, Sing His Praise; Rev. 4:11; 5:9

Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,

Thou art worthy, O Lord,

To receive gory, glory and honor,

Glory and honor and power.

For Thou hast created, hast all things created;

Thou hast created all things.

And for Thy pleasure they are created,

For Thou art worthy, O Lord.

Troubled? 3/28-29

28-29 March 2016 - Troubled Yet Not Distressed – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

2 Corinthians 4:8a, NCV “We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated.” KJV: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed (not worry or upset).”

From “The Bible from 26 Translations” on the base of 2 Corinthians 4:8a, I became interested to check out a few translations. I find that inspiration with words have helped me mediate during the devotion time.

Con—I am hard pressed, yet not crushed (destroyed).
Bas—Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in.
Knox—For ourselves, we are being hampered (interfere with movement) everywhere, yet still have room to breathe.
Ber—We are hedged in (block with or as if with a barrier) from every side, but we live no cramped (confine) lives.

Paul wrote a letter to Corinth Christians and he encouraged them and us that any troubles around us are to be expected. But the point is do not dwell or live on troubled thought. If we experience the presence of Christ and His power in our lives, absolutely no trouble, affliction, sickness, or tragedy will cause your spiritual defeat.

When things around us become too hard to bear and when all our resources are exhausted, God’s resources are given to us to enlarge and expand our faith, hope, and strength. God will not forsake His faithful children. He is always there to help us in time of need. Let us dwell on that thought, ‘we have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated’ because we have the Holy Spirit who is making us strong in the Lord!

Let us sing the song of victory to lift our spirits in the presence of the Lord!  

Song: Victory in Jesus

  By Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sing His Praise

O victory in Jesus, My Savior forever;

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He love me ere (before) I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him;

He plunged (brought) me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

Song: Victory Ahead

    By William Grum, Sing His Praise

Victory ahead!  Victory ahead!

Through the blood of Jesus, victory ahead;

Trusting in the Lord,

I hear the conqueror’s tread,

By faith I see the victory ahead!

Something Better? 3/25-27

25-27 March 2016 - Something Better? – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV: “All these (the whole Chapter 11), having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

NLT: “All of these people we have mentioned (the whole Chapter 11) received God’s approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40) For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.* [Footnote: 11:40 Greek: for us, for they apart from us can’t finish].

It was difficult to understand exactly what the verse really meant so I read the commentary from The Full Life Study Bible that might be helpful. [KJV: They without us: All the saints of the Old Testament died without receiving the full blessings and promises of God. But the death and resurrection of Christ, He procured (gain) perfect salvation for them, and they will receive their full inheritance with us in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21-22)].

Dorothy: What start this? I was pondering why we didn’t always get all the promises until I read this devotion that Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread had written, “Something Better.” Dave Branon wrote: “Abel doesn’t seem to fit in the first half of the Hebrews 11. He’s the first “ancient” listed, but this story isn’t like the others mentioned there. 

Enoch went to heaven without dying.  Noah save mankind.  Isaac was a noted patriarch (highly respected).  Joseph rose to the top in Egypt.  Moses led the greatest exodus ever.  Clearly, their faith was rewarded.  By faith, they did what God asked, and He poured out blessings on them.  They saw God’s promises fulfilled before their eyes.

But Abel? The second son of the Adam and Eve had faith, and what did he get for it? Murdered. That sounds more like the folks in verses 35-38, who found that trusting God doesn’t always lead to immediate blessing.

They faced “mocking,” “imprisonment,” and being “sawn in two.” We might say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” We would prefer to be heroic Abraham instead of someone “destitute (lack needs), afflicted (suffering), tormented (great pain)” (v.37).  Yet in God’s plan, there are no guarantees of ease and fame even for the devout.

While we might experience some blessings in this life, we may also have to wait until “something better” (v.40) comes along—the completion of God’s promises in Glory. Until then, let’s keep living “by faith.” –Dave Branon from Our Daily Bread.

Song: Keep on Believing

Keep on believing, God will answer prayer;

Keep on believing, never despair;

Tho’ you be heavy laden and

Burdened down with care,

Remember God still loves you

And He answers prayer.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Dorothy: How do I feel about all this? I was kind of surprise how God read my heart when I was pondering why we didn’t always get our blessings immediately. When I read his name, Abel being murdered, this hit me because I knew the story … I just never thought the way Dave Branon wrote this devotion. Abel had faith and he was doing the right thing, yet his very own brother, Cain became jealous and killed him.

When the Scripture said, “sawn in two,” it was Isaiah. According to Hebrew tradition, Isaiah was martyred by being sawn in two (Heb.11:37) by Hezekiah’s wicked son and successor to the throne, King Manasseh (680 B.C.). The New Testament were often quoted from the book of Isaiah. We find many of Isaiah’s prophecies fulfilled and one of them was about the Messiah’s suffering in Isaiah 53. Famous verse we often quoted, “with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

I want to quote this commentary: “Isaiah’s rich vocabulary surpasses that of all other Old Testament writers. Isaiah is called “the evangelical prophet,” because, of all the O.T. books, his Messianic prophecies contain the fullest and clearest declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Isaiah’s vision of the cross in chapter 53 is the most specific and detailed in the whole Bible about Jesus’ atoning death for sinners.”

Impressive? With Isaiah’s writing about Messiah? Yet King Manasseh killed Isaiah. My point is that … Isaiah put his faith in the living God knowing that God has “something better” for him. Isaiah did not wavered. He stood strong in faith.

This devotion inspired me to realize God is telling me to “keep on believing, God will answer prayer. Keep on believing, don’t get despair. Even though you be heavy laden and burdened down with care. Just remember that God still loves you and He will answers your prayer.”

Let us continue to put our faith in the living God who still cares for us!  God bless you and enriched you with this understanding of “Something Better.”

Dorothy

Song: Keep on Believing

Keep on believing, God will answer prayer;

Keep on believing, never despair;

Tho’ you be heavy laden and

Burdened down with care,

Remember God still loves you

And He answers prayer.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Too Old? 3/22-24

22 24 March 2016 Too Old? – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world.”

I like the story from a devotion article by Vernon Grounds. He said, “God has limitless ways of reaching people.  So if you feel that you don’t have the ability to reach others for Christ, think about 76-year-old Ethel Hatfield.  Desiring to serve her Lord, she asked her pastor if she could teach a Sunday school class.  He informed her that he thought she was too old!  She went home heavy-hearted and disappointed.

Then one day as Ethel was tending her rose garden, a Chinese university student stopped to comment on the beauty of her flowers.  She invited him in for a cup of tea, and she had the opportunity to tell him about Jesus and His love.  He returned the next day with another student, and that was the beginning of Ethel’s ministry.

Ethel was delighted to share the gospel of Christ with these students, because she knew He has the power to change lives.  His gospel “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).

Precisely because of Ethel’s age, Chinese students listened to her with respect and appreciation.  When she died, a group of 70 Chinese believers sat together at her funeral.  They had been won to Christ by a women who was thought to be too old to teach a Sunday school class! –Vernon Grounds from “Our Daily Bread.”

What a wonderful message! I was thinking of Tony Callies who will be 79 years old on March 24, 2016. He has done many wonderful ministries over many years and still does. If you want to wish Tony’s birthday, his email is tonycallies75@icloud.com.

Tony and I work two times a week at Taco Bell for three hours and we enjoyed having five days off.  We thank God for giving us strength day by day and keep us in good health. No one is too old to do a ministry for Christ. Can you say, “Amen?” Amen!!!

May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Dorothy

Our Intercessor 3/15-21

15-21 March 2016 – Our Intercessor – by Dorothy Callies

Song: I Am Praying for You

      By Samuel O’Malley Cluff, Sing His Praise

1. I have a Savior; He’s pleading in glory,

A dear loving Savior tho’ earth-friends be few;

And now He is watching in tenderness o’er me,

And oh, that my Savior were your Savior too.

Chorus:

For you I am praying, For you I am praying,

For you I am praying, I’m praying for you.

2. I have a Father; to me He has given

A hope for eternity, blessed and true;

And soon will He call me to meet Him in heaven,

But oh, that He’d let me bring you with me too.

Chorus:

For you I am praying, For you I am praying,

For you I am praying, I’m praying for you.

3. When Jesus has found you, tell others the story

That my loving Savior is your Savior too;

Then pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,

And pray’r will be answered, ‘twas answered for you!

Chorus:

For you I am praying, For you I am praying,

For you I am praying, I’m praying for you.

Verse for the Song: Hebrews 7:25

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (KJV).

Christ lives in heaven in His Father’s presence (8:1), interceding for each and every one of His followers according to the Father’s will. It is through Christ’s ministry of intercession, we get to experience God’s great love and presence, and find mercy and grace to help in any kind of need, temptation, weakness, sin, and trial.

Without Jesus’ interceding for us and without His grace, mercy, we would fall away from God. Our only hope is to draw near to God through Christ in faith. There is no other mediator, but Christ only. Jesus is our only intercessor in heaven. We love You, Jesus!

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Jesus who lives forever to “make intercession” continually before You in heaven for all of us. Thank You, Father for allowing us come to You by faith through Jesus Christ who is our High Priest. 

Thank You, Jesus for the chorus that You are praying for us. Thank You, Jesus for the love and grace to help us in time of need, in time of our weakness in our health. By faith, we continue to hold Your promise of healing we sorely need very badly. We continue to trust You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

Higher Than the Mountain 3/8-14

08-14 March 2016 - Higher Than the Mountain – by Dorothy Callies

Deut. 4:31 “For the Lord thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee …”

Isaiah 49:13 “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”

I came across the song, called “Higher Than the Mountain” written by Haldor Lillenas. I just simply like the words in chorus, but it took me quite awhile to figure out what this chorus really meant. I study the words carefully and came up with these questions that helps me to realize that it was all about comparing His mercy with something. The writer of the song tried to compare God’s mercy with higher than, deeper than, broader than and countless as...  When I understood its meaning, I came to love the chorus and sang it often. 

What is higher than the mountain? His mercy!

What is deeper than the sea? His mercy!

What is broader than the reaches of eternity? His mercy!

What is countless as the stars that high above us shine?

His mercies are all divine!

Chorus: Higher Than the Mountain

    By Haldor Lillenas, Evangelistic Melodies 1959.

Higher than the mountain,

    deeper than the sea,

Broader than the

    reaches of eternity.

Countless as the stars

    that high above us shine,

Are His mercies all divine.

May the Lord bless you!

Dorothy

At the Fountain 3/1-7

01 07 March 2016 – At the Fountain – Devotion by Dorothy Callies

Rev. 21:6 “… I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

Song: At the Fountain

      By Herbert Buffum, Evangelistic Melodies

At the foun - tain, at the foun - tain.

Keep me Savior every moment at the foun - tain.

There my soul is satisfied,

there I ever would abide.

Keep me Savior every moment at the foun-tain.

All I could think of was the chorus to sing, ‘At the Fountain’ and I found verse, ‘fountain of water of life’ to go with it. Right now, I am taking a break from laboring to develop these Manna. It has been a hectic weekend doing Evangelistic ministry. My mind gets tired and I get to read my devotion, the Word of God to restore my soul.

So if you see seven days like March 1-7, it means I am taking a break …. I am sure you know what I meant. It might give you time to catch up with my devotions and songs to sing. Or you have other devotions to turn to which is a blessing as well. Some of you have send me devotion as an encouragement and I really do appreciate that very much.

About the subject, ‘at the fountain…’, I visualize myself sitting at the fountain of water of life to drink when I get thirsty in my soul. And when my mind goes blank from being able to develop the Manna, I would sit there and just to read the scriptures, devotions or even read a book that would feed my inner spirit and water my soul.  

So God bless you! 

Dorothy