Be Joyful in Hope 12/3-4/18

03-04 Dec. 2018 - Be Joyful in Hope – Manna By Dorothy and Tony Callies

Romans 12;12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (NIV).

I was reading Daily Bread devotion about Diane who was being too embarrassed to share her request with the praying group.  She was afraid what other would think if she shared that *she had a family member who had been struggling with an addiction for years.  She felt that others would not *understand how her loved one could be a believer in Jesus and still struggle daily.

So Diane only share her request with *a few trusted friends she asked to pray with her.  Together they asked God to set her loved one free from the very real bondage of addiction that he might experience freedom in Christ—and that God would give Diane the peace and patience she needed.  As she prayed, she found comfort and strength from her relationship with Him.

*Many of us have earnest, persistent prayers that seem to go unanswered.  But we can be assured that God does care and He does hear all our requests.  He urges us to continue to walk closely with Him, being “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).  We can lean on Him.  [*Actual quote from Alyson Kieda. Some are summary]

Dorothy: Reading this article really encouraged me to know that I am not the only one being in affliction.  What is my affliction? Debts from four different medicals which totaled $6,495.00. The payments are slow, but steady. $3,000 on personal loan because the car Insurance payments had doubled due to accidents quota. It would take two more years of waiting to reduce half the payment on car insurance. 

The debts are my affliction and I have been carrying this "medical" burden alone since September 11, 2017 when Tony came home from five months in hospital, and two Rehab Healthcare.  And here the devotion encouraged me to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  

I just wrote the budget plan on sheet.  Jesus said to ask the Father anything and He will supply your needs.  So I wrote a date and a prayer, thanking Him for already met this need by faith. You know, it’s strange. It’s the first time, I put anything down like this.  So all I need to do is to quote this: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Thank You, Father! I know You have a plan.  I trust You. Amen!

Song: At the Cross

At the cross, at the cross

   where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my

     heart rolled away.

It was there by faith

        I received my sight,

And now I am happy

           all the day!

[Isaac Watts, Ralph E.Hudson, chorus]

May the Lord richly bless you today!

Dorothy

Joyfully Give Thanks! 12/1-2/18

01-02 Dec. 2018 - Joyfully Give Thanks – Bread Verse

Dorothy and Tony Callies

Happy first day of the month of December 2018! Dean and his mom, Paula Hardy from Canada is visiting with us, last night and this morning of December 1^st.  They were traveling and visiting families and old friends. It was amazing to see Dean being healed from a very close to death. Dean is a living witness of what God has done! God is glorified! 

It's wonderful to see Dean and his mom, Paula, who is 86, being able to travel far and wide.  They have been traveling for a month and now plan to have a few stopover at Wisconsin and Michigan before they are finally home.  So pray for their safe trip.

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

Dorothy: Joyfully give thanks to God who made us able to share in all God has prepared for us.  I meditate on this . . .  God has prepared for us . . . Truly God was kept busy working in our daily lives.  I am learning . . .  to joyfully give thanks to God . . .  It feels like . . . this song . . .

Song: Like a Mighty Sea

Like a mighty sea,

     like a mighty sea,

Comes the love of Jesus,

     sweeping over me;

The waves of glory roll,

    the Savior to extol (praise),

Comes the love of Jesus,

     sweeping over my soul.

       [Lyrics and music by A. I. Zelley and   

         H. L. Gilmour, Melodies of Praise]

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy

Oh the Joy 11/29-30/18

29-30 Nov. 2018 - Oh the Joy – Today’s Verse

Tony and Dorothy Callies

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken unto you, 

that My joy might remain in you, and that your 

joy might be full.”

Song: He Touched Me

Since I met this blessed Savior,

Since He cleansed and made me whole,

I will never cease to praise Him;

I’ll shout it while eternity rolls (continue).

Chorus:

He touched me, O, He touched me,

And O, the joy that floods my soul;

Something happened, and now I know,

He touched me and made me whole.

(William J. Gaither, Sing His Praise)

This is a testimony song while singing with the 

people.  But in secret, I want to sing it just to 

Jesus, Himself, I use this in a personal way.

Since I met You blessed Jesus,

Since You cleansed and made me whole,

I will never stop to praise You,

I will sing to You for eternity roll (continue).

You touched me, O Jesus, You touched me.

And Oh the joy that You floods my soul;

Something happened, and You know,

You touched me and You made me whole.

(Inspiration to Jesus only)  

While I was typing, my left shoulder felt the tapped 

and no one there. I turned on right side and it was 

Tony and he greeted me, “Good morning.”   

So I start singing to him this:

Jesus touched you, O He touched you.

And O, the joy that floods your soul;

Something happened, and now you know,

Jesus touched you and He made you whole.

In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Something different today and may God bless you!

Dorothy 
PS. *Please note that it is not intended to replace 
the original song.  It is just inspiring singing to Him.

Acknowledge Him 11/27-28/18

27-28 Nov 2018 - Acknowledge Him – Verse for the Day

Dorothy and Tony Callies

Hosea 6:3 “Let us acknowledge the Lord, let us press on to acknowledge Him” (NIV). (*Few parts from reading devotion)

Two dictionaries’ meaning for acknowledge: 1. admit as true and show appreciation.  2. to recognize something. For me, it would simply mean “get to know Him.”

*Hosea, an Old Testament prophet, encouraged the Israelites to “press on” (Heb. 6:3), to acknowledge God because they had forgotten Him (4:1). As the people forgot God’s presence, they began to turn away from Him (v.12) and before long there was no room for God in their thoughts.

Hosea’s simple insight to acknowledge God reminds me that God is near and He is at work in our lives, in both joys and struggles. When I acknowledge God, His presence is right there. I remind myself that God is here. Yes, He is right here!

Song: Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord

   with all your heart,

And lean not to your own

   understanding.

In all your ways,

   acknowledge Him

     and He will direct your paths.

(Inspiring choruses, Proverbs 3:5-6)

What this means to me? It just inspires me to know that God is here. Just a simple reminder that God is here!  I speak to myself, “God is here.”  Yes, God is here! That is what acknowledge means and also “Get to know Him.”

Prayer:  I trust You Lord that You are working out our daily lives.  Just as Abraham had a dormant (boring) life, yet Abraham knew that You were working in his life and Sarah’s.  In time, they finally had Isaac, just simply bring Isaac into the world, and follow God’s greatest plan.  Thank You, Lord!

God bless you!

Dorothy

Fullness of Joy 11/25-26/18

25-26 Nov. 2018 – Fullness of Joy  

Today’s Verse by Dorothy and Tony

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy . . .” (NKJV).

Song: In Your Presence

In Your presence

   in Your presence, there’s peace;

In Your presence

   in Your presence, there is joy,

I will linger, I will stay

   in your presence day by day

      that Your likeness may be seen in me.

(Lyrics: J.D. and Steven Ray Phifer, Sing His Praise)

Dorothy: I was reading today’s devotion about

“God is Here” and it reminds me of this verse,

in His presence is fullness of joy.  And also a song,

In Your Presence.  I remember Joseph Prince sang

that song in his church and I saw how it was being

sung in rhythm.  It was very inspiring. 

Why this verse?  It was a feeling of dormant, a feeling

of “nothing is happening” with God. But it’s not true.

It just the feelings I couldn’t shake it off, so reading

that “God is here” and writing in my personal journal,

had led me to remember that In His Presence is fullness

of joy.  So I open my heart to Him to heal that “dormant

feeling” and allow His joy into my heart.

Until then, God bless you!

Dorothy

Jumps for Joy 11/23-24/18

23-24 Nov 2018 - Jumps for Joy – Verses for Today – Dorothy & Tony Callies

Psalm 28:6-7 KJV: “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”

Psalm 28:6-7 NIRV: “Give praise to the Lord.  He has heard my cry for His favor.  The Lord gives me strength.  He is like a shield that keeps me safe.  My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.  My heart jumps for joy.  I will sing and give thanks to him.

Song: Nearing the Shore

Nearing the shore, we’re nearing the shore;

Trouble soon will be over, we’ll suffer no more.

Toiling all done, victory won,

It’s joy to know that we’re nearing the shore.

(Laura Ashwood, Sing His Praise)

Dorothy: What this means to me? In NIRV, I found three words, “jumps for joy” that translates from “greatly rejoiceth.”  Sometimes the KJV seems difficult to understand so I appreciate the translation to make it more clear and meaningful.  Even just for a verse for today to keep me going.  I just flip the song book and I like this song because I had a vision of seeing two of our dogs were barking from the shore, waiting for us to come home. It is a comforting thought.  May the Lord bless you today!