Contentment 21 - 6/16-18/19

16-18 June 2019 - Building Character 21 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            Theme:  Contentment Builds Character - Series 21

 Philippians 4:11 “… for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (KJV).

This devotion is related to the “Daily Routine Builds Character” and that through daily routine, we are either contented or not contented.  The word, content means satisfy. So I choose Paul, the Apostle of Christ as an example to share his experience how he became contented.  

The Philippian church was a missionary church that ministered to Paul’s needs during his travel. They were concerned for Paul who lack the necessity of things. So they sent gifts to Paul whatever he needs for himself and for traveling. 

Paul thank them for gifts, but Paul did not want them to worry so Paul quoted, “… for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (need)” (Phil. 4:12-13). Paul’s secret of contentment when he quoted, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

When we choose to honor the Creator with our thoughts, our prayers, and our actions, we keep growing day by day.  God has given me responsibility to take care of Tony, take care of household, take care of daily things and like Paul, the Apostle, quoted, “I am contented whatever God has for me.”  

“The key to contentment is realizing that God has given you in your present circumstances everything you need to remain victorious in Christ [See ref. below]. Your ability to live triumphantly above changing circumstances is Christ’s power flowing in and through you.  This does not come naturally, however; it must be learned through dependence on Christ.”  [Commentary: The Full Life Study Bible, Donald Stamps]

            References and summary:  

            1 Cor. 15:57 Give thanks to God who has given us the victory through Jesus.

            2 Cor. 2:14 Thank God who cause us to triumph in Christ …

            1 John 5:4 Those who are born of God overcomes the world … even our faith.

Again, the key to contentment is to quote Philippian 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Christ’s power and grace are given to us to be able to do that He has asked us to do.  Prayer: Thank You, Holy Spirit for Christ’s power flowing through us that we may shine as the stars whatever work we do. In Jesus’ name!

Song: We Shall Shine As the Stars (Chorus)

We shall shine as the stars of the morning,

With Jesus the Crucified One;

We shall rise (shine) to be like Him forever,

E-ter-nal-ly shine as the sun.

(Judson W. Van DeVenter)

May God bless you!

Dorothy

Daily Routine 20 - 6/13-15/19

13-15 June 2019 Building Character 20 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            Theme:  Daily Routine Builds Character - Series 20

Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again.”

The book opens with the writer complaining about the endless cycles of daily human life as futile, even meaningless because it is repeated, we do it over and over again.  The writer complained that everything we do is vanity and having no success.  It’s useless.

What was the problem with King Solomon when he had experienced wealth, power, honor, fame and sensual pleasure—all in great abundance—everything he ever own, and yet he didn’t seem to be contented or satisfied?  So he studied the life of people from what he wrote from Ecclesiastes 1-12 chapters.  He felt like everything was a waste of time, doing the same thing over and over.

Have you ever felt like that sometimes, wondering what the purpose of living on the earth was for?   In our daily senseless tasks that are laundry, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the house, fixing things, mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, etc.  Once complete, only to have to be done again and again.   The jobs at work, every day we’re doing the same thing over and over again.

God has a goal in building our character through our daily tasks or daily routine.  Character building never happens overnight.  It takes a life time to build a character and maturity.  When we choose to honor the Creator with our thoughts, our prayers, and our actions, we keep growing day by day.  Yes, we keep growing … that is the key to our daily routine.

As for me, my daily routine is to take care of Tony, take care of household, and take care of many little things.  Every morning, I turned to my Creator and study His Word.  His Word brings life in me.  This is one of my daily routine.

At the end, King Solomon, the writer decided the whole purpose is to fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  In another words, the whole purpose of man is to “Honor God and obey His Word.”

King Solomon gave advice to young people that it is more important to commit themselves to their Creator (12:1) and to make a decision to fear God and keep His commandments (12:13-14).  This is the only path to meaning in life.

God is speaking to you today about your daily routine and what He meant for you to do. Nothing that you do is ever a “waste of time.”  Remember… it takes a life time to build a character so let God fill you with His wonderful love and peace in your soul.

And God bless you today!

Dorothy

Worship 19 - 6/9-12/19

09 - 12 June 2019 - Building Character 19 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            Theme:  Worship Builds Character - Series 19

Psalm 100:2-3 “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

Wise men and women choose to worship God.  When we worship God faithfully and fervently, we are blessed.  Blessed with what?  We are blessed with plentiful harvest of joy, peace, and abundance.

Worship reminds us of the awesome power of God.  So we are encouraged to worship God often.  Even take a moment before you start your car, and thank Him for the day to come. This allow God to work through us every day of the week—not just on Sunday. The best way to worship God is to worship God sincerely and often. 

As for Tony and me, we used the Lord’s Prayer to worship Him for a few moment before we start driving our car.  This helps us to be aware of God as our Creator who wants us to come before Him with thankful hearts.  Every night, by our bed, Tony and I worship Him through Lord’s Prayer, songs, and/or other prayers for friends and families for few minutes. 

Sometimes throughout the day, I felt an urge to spend a few moment to concentrate on our Heavenly Father in silence, and thanking Him, and quoting some verses about how great He is.  When I think of that verse, “Know that the Lord is God,” I felt like something “surge inside of me.”  God moves in me like waves.  God is making me feel alive in my inner spirit, giving me energy, and strength to carry out our daily routine. “Worship does build our character with God in it.”  Thank You, Abba, Daddy!  Awesome Abba!

Song:  Worship Him

Worship Him for who He is;

Let His glory roll (continue);

God of all this universe,

Lover of my soul.

Holy One of Israel,

Lord of hosts is He.

King of kings,

     the righteous Judge,

He my Friend shall be.

Wonderful, Counselor,

Prince of Peace His name.

Rose of Sharon, Morning Star,

Evermore the same.

(Lyrics & Music: Sam Mason, Sing His Praice)

Thank You, Abba, Daddy!  I love You!

Dorothy

Beyond Worry 18 - 6/5-8/19

05-08 June 2019 - Building Character 18 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            Theme: Beyond Worry – Series 18

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.”

What interests me to continue this title “Beyond Worry?”  Looking at weather channels, gave report that there were 500 tornadoes area of Midwest throughout USA.  That was very unusual since the weather have been hot and cold temperatures clashed that created tornadoes.  It’s enough for any of us to worry, but yet Jesus quoted, “Let not your hearts be troubled!”  I remind myself: God knows what He is doing, trust Him!

So when Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray.”  I did exactly that.  I constantly plead the blood of Jesus over us, the cities, the states, and the people.  All I could do was to trust Him to take care of us.  Pray that God send help to those who need it.  And He will!

We have the ability to think, and we also have the ability to worry.  Jesus knew this and He continues to speak to us from Matthew 6:25-27, 34.  This beautiful passage reminds us that God still sits in His heaven, and we are His beloved child.  Perhaps we would worry a little less and trust God a little more, knowing that God protected us. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:25-27, 34 NIV).

Have you ever wondered why we have so many birds all around us, flying, nesting, and looking for foods?  Come to think of it!  They are a constant reminder that we are so much more valuable than the birds!  It’s like Jesus is saying, “So stop worry. Look at the birds!”  Wow!  That is impressive because for me that is a new approach of “Beyond Worry.”  Now I believe that every time, I go out and see the birds, I will remind myself, “Don’t worry!  God will take care of us!”  

There’s a song that I remember:  “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.   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.”  Jesus’ word is powerful and it penetrated our deepest soul, even when I think, “I’m not worry!”  Yet Jesus knew, we need to go “Beyond our Worries” and He quoted those words to go deeper into our inner spirit and be set free completely. 

Song: Set My Spirit Free

Set my spirit free that I might worship Thee.

Set my spirit free that I might praise Thy name.

Let all bondage go, and let deliverance flow.

Set my spirit free to worship Thee.

(John Haddock, Sing His Praise)

God Bless you so much!

Dorothy

Because You Prayed 17 - 6/1-4/19

01-04 June 2019 - Building Character 17 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Prayer Builds Character - Series 17

                 Emphasis: Because You Prayed.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything . . . . presents your requests to God” (NIV).

In another word, do not worry about anything, just present your needs to God.  That really impressed me.  It takes practice “not to worry.”  I like the devotion when it says: “Because you prayed.”  God spoke, “Because you prayed …” So what happened that cause God to say this?  Let’s look into the history from the Old Testament in Isaiah. 

*When the brutal Assyrian King Sennacherib was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, he sent a message to King Hezekiah saying that Judah would be no different from all the other nations he had conquered.  Hezekiah took this message to the temple in Jerusalem, and “spread it out before the Lord” (Isaiah 37:14).  He then prayed and asked for help from Almighty God.

*Soon afterward Isaiah the prophet delivered this message to Hezekiah from the Lord: “Because you prayed about King Sennacherib of Assyria, the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 37:21-22 NLT).  Scripture tells us that Hezekiah’s prayer was answered that very night.  God intervened miraculously, conquering the enemy forces outside the city gates.  The Assyrian army didn’t even “shoot an arrow” (v. 33).  Sennacherib would leave Jerusalem, never to return.

*Three words in God’s message to Hezekiah—“Because you prayed”—show us the best place to go with our worries.  Because Hezekiah turned to God, He rescued him and his people.  When we turn our worries into prayer, we discover that God is faithful in unexpected ways!  [*Devotion from James Banks, Our Daily Bread].

Song: Expect a Miracle

Expect a miracle when you pray,

Expect a miracle every day.

If you expect it, God will find a way

To perform a miracle for you each day.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Let’s turn our worries to God and let Him be our God in our lives!

Dorothy

PS. June 3^rd will be our 52 years of anniversary.  Tony is much better. Thank to your prayers.  I am doing well. And happy first month of June 2019. 

God Gives Strength 16 - 5/31/19

31 May 2019 Building Character 16 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: God Gives Us Strength – Series 16

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Since it is the last month of May 2019 and it felt like life isn’t always easy. Life can seem like a long, tiring, and character-building.  But even during our darkest moments, we are protected by a loving heavenly Father and He gives us strength to keep on trusting Him.

My favorite verse from Colossians 1:11 “(We are) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience.”  Yes, it takes patience especially when it comes with series 14 about “forgiveness builds character” when it isn’t easy for many to forgive. But it is equally importance to remember when God forgives, we too, are encouraged to forgive.  God gives us strength to forgive.

There’s a river that flows from deep within. 

There is a fountain that frees the soul from sin. 

Come to the waters.  There is a vast supply. 

There is a river that never run dry.

This song was written by David and Max Sapp. 

God gives us strength to open up a river from inside of us.  Let it flows from deep within which is the Holy Spirit that flows through our lips of praise and adoration and other languages that set us free.  Through the flowing of the Holy Spirit, our river will never run dry.  Praise the name of Jesus. Amen!

May God bless you!

Dorothy

PS. This devotion was written before story appears for “Kindness Builds Character” when I ran out of idea for “kindness.”  I was a bit tired.  That was the reason I turn to God to give me strength to continue.  Bless God for the story that came from His servant, Karen Batts.  It really uplift me when the story fits that theme: “Kindness Builds Character.”  It is a beautiful testimony of what God can do through a person to reflect His work inside of us.  

Character 15 Guest 5/29-30/19

29-30 May 2019 - Building Character 15 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Guests: Karen & Terry Batts tell stories starting from “Forgiveness Builds Character.” Theme: Kindness Builds Character – Series 15

Proverbs 11:17 “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”   Max Lucado quoted, “When you extend hospitality to others, you’re not trying to impress people, you’re trying to reflect God to them.”

I would like to share Karen’s Batt’s story that is a tremendous example of kindness builds character as well as forgiveness builds character.  I want to thank Karen for sharing with us because it will glorified God when we finished reading the stories.

Reading this one last Saturday....Romans 2:1-11......bring another clear point of contact.....so happened which I will point out as the Lord told me to add this event which had happen over the weekend.......two of our neighbors had been force to moved out....all of our neighbors had a sharp eyes on what had been and huge talking in row had taken place.  Three neighbors had been talking to Cyndy who lives next door to us, and she strongly suggested that they pay me a visit and ask the same questions which they had asked her.

The happening: The Landlords to these two houses/homes having been behaving mean and strong demanding....and one had broke the Illinois Laws on timing frame of moving out. One landlord had boosting about how she is a "Christian person"......but nothing would fit it’s "Christian Characters" and most of the neighbors have been looking and viewing her behaviors. They all can hear what she saying....which I could hear but I cannot understand what was said....

Holy Spirit told me to cut their grass, pick up all the trash, clean out the garage which appearing very dirty and smelling! Even asked me to go in and do their dishes which was four days of dishes and mountains high of dishes that needed packing. Which Terry and I had done and at times were overwhelmed by the work that was set before us! With praying and asking for forgiving how this land and house/garage was treated and prayed that God our Father would speak to the couple who lived like this......and GOD DID SPEAK TO THEM! I even was asked to pray right now for their request and I did loud voice with kindness and tenderness requesting this would be turn around in their favor as You are so Merciful and so Kind!   And He did! He gave them what they had asked for! 

Now the neighbors who had questions about why we helped them when they were living trashy and did not respected our neighborhood as we all strives to keep our area clean....Holy Spirit which that voice I know very clear...told me to open go to Romans 2:1-11..explain that it keeps me in line with the Holy Bible and keep us in Good Fruits as we both are in The Vine and we are the Branches...bearing Good Fruits....helping those who really did need help. After reading this verses from Romans 2:1-11....the neighbors said that woman (Landlord) who said she is a "Christian", and a horrible landlord doesn’t have this stuff dwelling in her as this book said you are to do!  But you both (my husband and me) never told anyone that you were "Christians" but it is clear you both are!  Humbled I was direct by the Holy Spirit to show them two more verses... by their fruit, you shall know them.   Matthew 7:20

to him that knoweth to do good and does it not....to him, it is sin! James 4:17

This neighborhood has seen us doing other people yard work, snow removable, leaves pick up, trash pick up (we are in the area where there are several raccoons, owls, crows,  squirrels and cats! )They do make a mess on trash day. Giving our mail carriers and trash guys, candy and drinks daily/weekly....we give them verses and words of encouragement with smiles and love to them directly..... our neighbors are watching us. 

Let us therefore be doer of the Word instead of hearer of the Word..James 1:22-25 ....as you never know who may be watching! 

In this Forgiveness Builds Character...is set in many ways.....this events that has happen to us, did build us, Terry and myself up, along with the renters and the neighbors to see this verses in action done in humble way.....indeed build up a stronger neighborhood and kindness has been seen in action. We both LOVE how the Holy Spirit quietly worked in us....when we felt over worked....see God Hand at work.  We both were so glad that our mouth were quiet and our action was "loud". May God be glorified in this neighborhood!  God is interesting in everything that is happening in our neighborhood and indeed interesting in us Building Character to will draw people to Him. 

I will added the raccoon with cat on our street that is one house from us. It will be into another email as I don’t know how to add attachment! Sorry! Enjoy! 

Your brother and sister in the Lord, 

Karen and Terry Batts 

PS. There is one more.......here it is

One of my neighbor came over and started to ask 

"where are you from?"

"How you meet each other? "

"Why you guys are here?"

So to answer the questions.....we both show pictures of us going to school when we were very young.....and gone to Jacksonville, Illinois School for the Deaf and got married, show where we first lived, and where we raised our daughters for school years, and "retired" here, where we are now. 

"But why are you here in this location!?" You lived in very good area and in fast growing area...now you in "dead end" area!  

Had to explain that our health had taken a downturn and we needed to be closer to our daughters so we are in their care....lo behold! We got triplets for great grand kids and they lives three houses up from us.....that alone taking a lot of energy to keep up! 

Questions still asking ... but you took a step down from where you lived for 38 years and you brought it new!  Both of us looked and telling more of why we really here! 

We are send by God to be here!  God asked both of us if we Dare to TRUST Him! Yes this is the step down but what a wonderful feeling about trusting God in providing that feeling of very satisfied life this area gave both of us. Wonderful people working hand in hand.....this is the best place for us as we have a voice to work with....this area where we are now at … had problems that no one would listen to them...God open the door to us and used us to voice our concerns and many things are now starting to change!  Those who Dare to Trust God always in the Center of His Will.  All Terry and I want to be is in the Center of His Will.....even if it is step down in locations, step down in people, step down to quality of life.....the main Key is to BRING SOULS BACK TO THE FATHER....ONLY BY JESUS CHRIST. God LOVES these people!  So do we! 

SUBMITTING TO THE HIGHER POWER IS NEVER A STEP DOWN...This world not our home....we just in harvesting in souls.  What a HARVEST! 

This area is our calling....forgiveness was a start....several were in bitter feeling toward each other. Moving into helping in grass cutting, leaves raking, snow cleaning, trash pickup and such as doing dishes for other....end up being sowing the Kindness of God. 

What a life! Dare to TRUST GOD really a price of work!  But we would NOT trade this life for another! 

Karen and Terry Batts