Revive Us Again! Part 2 2/26-28/2018

26-28 February 2018 – Part 2 of 2 Revive Us Again! – Sharing Devotion by Dorothy  

I have yet to see about “LIFE” and I also happen to read part of Frances Hunter’s book, Hotline to Heaven. “But if you live your life in Me, and My words live in your hearts . . .” (John 15:7a, Phillips). “Webster brings an interesting fact to mind in the definition of the word life – “that is property of plants and animals which makes it possible for them to take in food, get energy from it, grown, adapt themselves to their surroundings and produce their kind.”  So what is life? So I came to the part to what Frances said:

“What is prayer? If you asked me this question, I might list the following:

1. Prayer is an admission that we believe there is a God.

2. Prayer is just talking to God.  

3. Prayer is praising God for what He has done for you.

4. Prayer is listening to God to find out His will for your life.

5. Prayer is the way God talks to you.

6. Prayer is a two-way street between just you and God.

7. Prayer is heavenly communication system.

8. Prayer is that which removes you from the “worldly” world and transports you to a spiritual world.

9. Prayer is asking God to show you what He wants you to do.

10. Prayer is how we reach God and how God reaches us.

11. Prayer is the way we ask for miracles for others.

12. Prayer is a great cleansing compound for our minds.  [Dot: It means take time out to check your wrong thoughts and plead the blood of Jesus to cleanse them.]

13. Prayer is a great source of power. Did you ever see an entire church pray fervently in unity of something? You can almost physically feel the power of prayer.

14. Prayer gives you the ability to stand alone with God. You can be physically alone anywhere in the whole world yet, through prayer, immediately discover that you are no longer alone.  God, through His Son, Jesus Christ is right there with you.  Have you ever felt more alone than when you were on an operating table awaiting surgery?  And yet, have you ever felt closer to God, as you began to pray in a situation like this?

15. Prayer is the remover of guilt.  Perhaps, before you became a Christian, the problem of guilt was real in your life.  In some people the feeling of guilt is greater than in others, but it is present in every life until we ask Christ to cleanse us and forgive our sins. Prayer removes guilt from your life because God’s Word says, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”  (1 John 1:9).

16. Prayer is the answer to loneliness.  Have you been all alone in a strange city, or even in your own home town and be overcome with loneliness?  I remember years ago the strange feeling of loneliness when I was alone.  Yet no longer am I alone, because I know through prayer I can always eliminate (get rid of) any feeling of loneliness by inviting Christ to be near me.” End of Frances Hunter quoted.

Dorothy: It revived me to see why Jesus said in Luke 18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”  Frances’ devotion on what prayer is . . . really revived me to keep on praying . . . A song I remember, “I praise Thee, O God for the Son of Thy love, For Jesus who died and is now gone above. Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen; Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again. (William Paton Mackay) Yes, Lord, REVIVE US AGAIN!

God bless you!

Dorothy

Revive Me Again! Part 1 2/21-25/2018

21-25 February 2018 – Revive Me Again!  Part 1 of 2– Sharing Devotion by Dorothy  

John 10:10 “The thief comes … to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: [Jesus said] I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

I just felt like I need to be ‘retrained or relearned’ by the help of Holy Spirit through His Word.  I happen to open to Isaiah chapter 37 to where Hezekiah seeks the Lord’s help.

The prayer impressed me from NLT: “O Lord, Almighty God of Israel, You alone are the God of all the kingdom of the earth.  You alone created the heavens and the earth. Listen to me, O Lord, and hear! Open Your eyes, O Lord, and see!” (Isaiah 37:16-17).

God spoke through Isaiah, the prophet to the King Hezekiah and answered his prayer about the King of Assyria who boast that he can enter Jerusalem and destroy their God.  At the end the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops. The king of Assyria lost the battle and returned home.

This story encourages me that God had heard Hezekiah’s prayer about the king planned to destroy Jerusalem. And how God has delivered Hezekiah and spared Jerusalem. So I used this prayer against Satan our enemy.

According to John 10:10, The thief came to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Life is full of energy and abundant is plentiful; generous; ample or enough to satisfy. Supply far greater than needed. Oh Lord, I need this to remind me that You came to give me and Tony LIFE.

I have yet to see about “LIFE” and I also happen to read part of Frances Hunter’s book, Hotline to Heaven so it will go to part 2, Revive Me Again!

Song: Victory
I am trusting in the Lord,
I am standing on His Word,

Victory . . . victory . . .
I have peace and joy within,
Since my life is free from sin,

Victory . . . victory . . .

Chorus:

Victory . . . yes, victory . . .

Hallelujah! I am free,

Jesus gives me victory,
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
He is all . . . in all to me . . .
[Lyrics & Music: B.E. Warren, Sing His Praise]

Continue to part 2 and God bless you!

Dorothy 

God Has Not Promised 2/17-20/18

Sharing from a Friend by Dorothy Callies

Song: God Has Not Promised

[Anne Johnson Flint, 1866-1932 comfort in trials & grace for suffering]

1. God has not promised skies always blue
Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

CHORUS:
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.

2. God has not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He has not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

3. God not has not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river, turbid and deep.

Dorothy: A friend send this song that has really touched my heart.  I felt my inner spirit that understood God’s purpose in our lives and to be able to trust that God always promised strength for each day. His mercy is new every morning.  His miracle is new every day. His love is endearing every evening. Thank you, Lord for Your kindness.

I thought of Paul what he had gone through and how he had written 14 letters, the words of encouragement to the Christians to keep their faith in God no matter what. Also the Damascus experience that Paul had encountered with Jesus. And what Jesus told Ananias, the prophet that Paul was a chosen vessel to bring His name before the Gentiles, kings, and Israel and that Paul would suffer great things for His name’s sake.

And I recalled many verses that Paul gladly suffer for Christ so that Paul could spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. When I read Paul’s letters, my inner spirit rejoices to receive God’s Word for my soul. Especially Paul’s prayer that has really inspired me to pray specifically for Tony.  I don’t know Tony’s future, but I know who holds Tony’s hand and God lead the way. So day by day, I marveled how he remain alive after all Tony has been through. Next March 24th, Tony will be 81.   God bless you! Dorothy

Song by Marilyn Vickers & Tony's News 2/15-16/18

I sang that song in Dallas, TX around 1980.

Song: Under the Rock

I am under the rock, the rock that's higher than I
Jehovah hide me, I am under the rock
Go tell my enemies, I am under the rock
Jehovah hide me, I am under the rock

Psalm 61:1-4

Hear my cry, O God Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. 

Dorothy: Thank you Marilyn Vickers for that song and verses. Very inspiring!

I went on with some research on verse, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” I found Matthew 16:18 that Jesus is the Rock of the Church, “upon this ROCK I will build My church . . .” He will gather the people unto Himself through the gospel that the disciples has started right after the day of Pentecost. Peter is the little rock and Peter would say, “Lead me to the Rock that is Jesus who is higher than I.” It is the Jesus Christ who is the Rock the first and great foundation the church (1 Cor. 3:11).

News of Tony: Yesterday on Feb. 15^th, 2018, I noticed Tony has improved in his walking when he came to the back door of the car. He folded his walker, put it in the back floor of the car and he closed the door. Then Tony's left hand lean on the car as he walked himself to the front open door and seated himself (with little help to ease his seating).  It was awesome to watch God’s hand on Tony day by day.  It's like little miracle in some days.

            I used Paul’s prayer on Tony: “Lord, I am praying this prayer for Tony.  God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, Give unto Tony the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:  I pray that the eyes of Tony’s understanding be enlightened; that Tony may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of glory of His inheritance in the saints. . .” 

            This idea came from Kenneth Hagin’s book that encourages us to pray individual’s name as he did prayed for his brother for ten days. His brother wrote to him saying, “It’s amazing how things have opened up for me. . .”  Kenneth quoted: "We can pray these prayers in Ephesians for them.  It is necessary to stay with it—morning and night, and more often if possible."

            Prayers from Ephesians 3:14-21; 1:16-20 and 1:3-9 which I was using Tony’s name instead of you or us. It helped me to be more specific in prayers for Tony’s need of healing. The reason is that: Tony asked what is God’s plan in this? So I pray that Tony may know what the hope of God’s calling upon him is.

            Tony is meeting with personal trainer today on Friday. Thank you for continue to pray for Tony.

Hanging on Nothing! 2/12-14/18

12-14 Feb 2018 - Hanging On Nothing! – Devotion from Daily Bread

Job 26:7 “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing” (NKJV).

I want to share this Daily Bread devotion which reminds me of who God is! And God is not helpless when it seems to be silent about answering prayers. The angel told Daniel, “Your prayer got through the very first day” (Daniel 10:12) as quoted from Kenneth E. Hagin, The Art of Prayer.  So God does care about our prayers.  This devotion inspires me. It was written by David McCasland from Our Daily Bread.

“A world map published by the National Geographic Society has that notation: “Earth’s mass is 6.6 sextillion tons.” And what supports all that weight?  Nothing. The planet we inhabit spins on its axis at 1,000 miles per hour as it hurtles through space in its orbit around the sun. But it’s easy for that to remain ‘unnoticed’ in the midst of our daily concerns about health, relationships, and how to pay the bills.

“The Old Testament character Job repeatedly considered God’s creation in his struggle to make sense of the numbing loss of his health, his wealth, and his children. “[God] stretches out the north over empty space,” Job said.  “He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).  Job marveled at the clouds that did not break under the heavy water inside of them (v.8) and the horizon “at the boundary of light and darkness” (v.10), but called them “the mere edges of His ways” (v.14).

“Creation itself did not answer Job’s questions, but the heavens and the earth pointed him to God the Creator, who alone could respond with help and hope. “The Lord upholds the universe by the “word of His power” (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17) is in control of our daily lives.  Experiences that seem “empty places” are all undergirded by our heavenly Father’s power and love.” –David McCasland.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise You for Your infinite power: You created the world out of nothing and uphold it by Your word.  Help me to remember that You are also in control of every part of my life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Dorothy: What supports all that earth’s weight?  Nothing.  It is very humbling to know that God the Creator is a great big God who spoke the Word of creation on earth out of nothing. And yet He does care about tiny things in our everyday lives.

Do you ever felt like Job who questions God’s purpose in his life?  But at the end Job put his hand over his mouth (Job 40:4) that he had no answers when the Creator questioned Job: “Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand” (Job 38:4). I felt like Job that I put my hand over my mouth from asking God too many “Why’s.” 

Important thing is to love God and to trust the Creator that hangs the earth on nothing. I sense His blessings inside of me whenever I thought of this. Somehow it brings healing . . .  May the Lord heals all of us in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Song: Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above 

Sing praise to God who reigns above,

The God of all creation,

The God of power, the God of love,

The God of our salvation;

With healing balm my soul He fills

And every faithless murmur stills;

To God all praise and glory.

(Lyrics: Johann Jakob Schutz;

Frances Elizabeth cox, tr., Sing His Praise) 

Walking in Sunlight 2/8-11/18

08-11 February 2018 - Walking in Sunlight – Bread Verse by Dorothy

John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life” (NCV).

Many years ago on Sunday night service, I remember Brother Hosteller of LA Deaf Church sang this song, Heavenly Sunlight when I was a teenager.  I was impressed with his expression in rhythm in sign language that makes the song more blessing.  He moved his shoulder and swayed back and forth as to show the rhythm of the song.  It was an awesome experience for me as a Deaf person with a visual sign language with a song and to be able to feel God’s presence. This is why I love that song and want to memorize it. Also from technology Bible, I was surprised to find so many references on “Sunlight” so I just want to share one verse that impressed me.

Ephesians 5:8-9 “In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. Light brings every kind of goodness, right living and truth” (NCV).

Song: Heavenly Sunlight

(Lyrics: Henry J. Zelley, Sing His Praise)

1. Walking in sunlight, all of my journey,

Over the mountains thro’ the deep vale;

Jesus has said, “I’ll never forsake thee,”

Promise divine that never can fail.

Chorus:

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,

Flooding my soul with glory divine;

Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,

Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.

2. Shadows around me, shadows above me,

Never conceal my Savior and Guide;

He is the light, in Him is no darkness;

Ever I’m walking close to His side.

3. In the bright sunshine, ever rejoicing,

Pressing my way to mansions above;

Singing His praises gladly I’m walking,

Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.

May God bless you!

Dorothy Callies

PS. Tony still needs prayer to keep up his strength as he started seeing his personal trainer once a week at Gold Gym for work out. I also need prayer for God’s strength in me.  I believed God’s word that Tony is a brand new man. We both watched Joel Osteen’s preaching on TBN and his sermon encourage our faith that God has a plan. 

In the Night His Song 2/6-7/18

06 07 Feb 2018 - In the Night His Song – Bread Verse by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 42:8 “The Lord will command His loving kindness in the day time, and in the night His Song shall be with me, and my prayer unto God of my life.”

Ref: Job 35:10 “Where is God my Maker who gives songs in the night?”

 Acts 16:25 – “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”  Suddenly great earthquake came . . . set them free.

Prayed and Sang Praises unto God. This brief commentary is good.

The key is the believer’s joy is within, meaning inside of us, our inner spirit . . . that the enemies of Christ cannot destroy the believer’s faith and love for God . . . And that in the worse of circumstances God will furnish sufficient grace to those who are in His will and suffer for His name’s sake . . . that “the Spirit of glory and of God rested upon” those who suffer for the name of Christ. 

Ref: James 1:2-4 tell us to “count it all joy when you fall into different kind of temptations (trials)”.  Why? “Knowing this that the trying (testing) of your faith works with patience.” How do we get patience? “Let patience have her perfect work (work on maturity) that ye may be perfect (grow to become fully like Christ), and entire (complete and full work of Christ in you) and wanting nothing (to become mature like Christ is everything. Nothing else matters).”

Come to think of it, what exactly is the meaning the word patience? So I looked up the technology dictionary: the quality or state of being patient.  So patient means 1: putting up with pains or hardships calmly or without complaint. 2: showing calm self-control 3: not hasty or reckless 4: steadfast <firmly fixed in place> faithful <firm in keeping promises> firm <not weak; hold on>.

So James’ written words tells us to be patience? That is putting up with pains and hardships calmly and without complaint? So now the verses have much more meanings of what we are experiencing with pains of trials or testing.

James 1:2-4 seems to know what’s like to go through that and encourages us to “count it all joy” and just know that faith works with patience. And patience is the kind of work Holy Spirit helps us with growing in grace into the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ of what pains He has gone through. And that we are to “taste” it and understand Christ’s pain and to partake His suffering. That’s how we become perfect like Christ.

Father God, thank You for reminding me why our faith works with patience is very important to our growing in grace. So Paul and Silas knew this and were willing to suffer pain in bondage and in jail. In the darkest night, they sang praises to You and you shook the prison doors opened and souls were saved that night. Awesome and thank You for giving us grace to endure the pains and thank You for the healing power in Jesus’ name. Amen!

God bless you! 

Dorothy  

Don't Be Afraid 2/4-5/2018

04-05 Feb. 2018 - Don’t Be Afraid - Bread Verse Dec. 26, 2013 by Dorothy Callies

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you” (NLT).

The word, dismayed interest me to search the meaning when God said, “Do not be dismayed.” So God is saying, “Do not let things ‘to cause you to lose courage’ or ‘to feel concern.’” In another word, upset or to feel disturb greatly especially in mind. Do not be upset or feel bothersome in your mind. Do not let your mind trouble you.

The word, afraid also has another meaning that interests me, “having a dislike for something” that we don’t want it there. We don’t want it because it upset us. We want things to be perfect and in harmony. When it isn’t in harmony, we feel “screw up.” Things are not smooth the way we want it.

I remember Jesus’ word: “Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid. Believe in God. Believe also in Me.” (Ref. Jn. 14:1, 27) God does not want us to be afraid. God wants us to build our trust in Him. To build our trust means that we are to quote His promises that He will continue His grace and strengthen to face all the circumstances of life. He will help us through times of crisis. He quoted, “I am with you. I am your God.”

When we quote the promises of God, it would be like “we are bathing ourselves into His Presence.” Bathing would be like “swimming into the flows of the Spirit,” the rivers of life from the very throne of God. (Ref. Rev. 22:1). Bathing would wash off our being afraid and washing off our dismay in us. He would fill us with peace as Jesus said, “My peace I give it to you.” I pray in the name of Jesus that there would be peace inside of you. Amen!

Song: Wonderful Peace

Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above,

Sweep over my spirit forever I pray,

*In fathomless billows of love.

(W.D. Cornell, Sing His Praise)

[*ASL: In plenty deep and much love]

Dorothy: Once again, I love that encouragement. Right after I completed the devotion of “Rock like our God” I remembered two songs called, Rock of Ages and Hide Thou Me.  Oh, I really sang that song and it’s a wonderful song to sing unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

May the Lord encourage you to trust Him today!

Dorothy

Rock like Our God 2/1-3/2018

01-03 February 2018 - Rock like Our God – Manna from Dec.  27-29, 2013 - Bread Verse by Dorothy Callies

1 Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides You; There is no Rock like our God.”

Hannah praised God for being a Rock, a God who is firm, strong, and unchanging. In our fast-paced world, friends come and go, and circumstances change. It is difficult to find a solid foundation that will not change. Those who devote their lives to achievements, causes, or possessions have as their security which has some certain limits and often changeable. The possessions that we work so hard to get will all pass away. But God is always present. Hope in Him. He will never fail. [Part of the notes from resources]

Other references are good to share: Exodus 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Deuteronomy 4:35 “Unto thee it was showed, that thou might know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him.”

Song: Praise the Name of Jesus

Praise the name of Jesus,

Praise the name of Jesus,

He’s my Rock, He’s my Fortress,

He’s my Deliverer, in Him will I trust,

Praise the name of Jesus.

[Roy Hicks, Jr. Psalm 18:1]

Feb. 1, 2018 Dorothy: This one really encourages me to remember that God is our Rock and I can hold on to Him, the Rock of Salvation. 1 Samuel 22:3 “The God of my Rock; in Him will I trust …” Psalm 18:2 “the Lord is my Rock …” Psalm 62:2 “He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my defense …” Psalm 89:26 God said, “He (you) shall cry unto Me, ‘Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of salvation.’ ” Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation. V2. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms (songs).

Isaiah 17:10 “… Thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and has not been mindful of the rock of thy strength …” This verse give us a warning when Israel had forgotten God.  The commentary says “Forgetting God is not a sin limited to Israel. Jesus warns that the cares of this world, the deception of riches, the pursuit of material things, and the pleasure of sin can choke God’s word in the lives of believers (Mark 4:3-9, 14-20) and cause them to forget Him, to stop praying daily, and no longer to delight in Him or His word.  When this happens, we lose the blessing and presence of God.”  

Dorothy: Sometimes it is good to read what happen to Israel when they had forgotten God and how they suffer the consequences like Isaiah, the prophet wrote in chapter 17. It just made me realized, it is worth to keep being reminded that God is our rock of salvation. I felt relief to know that the Word of God reminded me that I am in the right path with God. Praise the name of Jesus! May God bless you.