Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Cracked and Blemished Clay Pots

In Luke 9:36-46 the disciples argued about which one of them was the greatest. John then tattled to Jesus about a man who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus. He told Jesus, "We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." To top that off, a Samaritan village wouldn't welcome Jesus on His way to Jerusalem, so James and John wanted to "call down fire from heaven to destroy them." On our road of discipleship, ego is something that rears it's head sometimes. We have to daily work on our humility and ask God to search our hearts. We must remember that we are cracked and blemished clay pots that Jesus is using to do His work, and that we don't deserve to be doing His work. That reminder should keep us humble.
Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 17:29:43 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Just Down the Road

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, "We will not walk in it."'" (Jeremiah 6:16) We won't immediately go to the crossroads to look when the Lord calls us to go there. We resist. We put it off. We think if we walk quickly, we can pass those crossroads. When the Lord God Almighty is pursuing you, is calling you, is grabbing you---go to the crossroads and look. Get out of the boat and onto the water. He is there for the walk on the path, and He is there for the walk on the water. I have chosen to walk on the path where He has told me to go. I have chosen to get out of the boat and onto the water. Where is the path and the water? For now, just down the road. I must obey Him. "'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's You," Peter replied, 'tell me to come to You on the water.' 'Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the baot, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." (Matthew 14:27-29 NIV)
Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 18:41:13 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, April 24, 2008

He Can Do Anything!

Jesus feeding 5,000 + (5,000 men, and their wives and children were probably with them) in in all 3 gospels. The disciples had witnessed Jesus raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons and rebuking storms. Why didn't they think Jesus could feed more than 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? Don't they sound a lot like us? We've witnessed the Lord's power all through our lives, yet each time we run into an obstacle, we try to overcome it ourselves instead of letting Jesus do it. Oh, when will we stop our doubting?
Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 17:15:17 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, April 21, 2008

Incompletely Surrendered?

Are things in certain areas of your life not going right? Do you feel like you're running up against a wall in some thing that you're attempting? Do you feel all askew, off-kilter, off-balance? Do you feel confused? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, ask yourself these questions:


"Am I incompletely surrendered? Am I surrendered more to myself in these areas than I am to Christ? Do I need to completely surrender to Christ in all things, not just some things?"

Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 16:40:00 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Born Worriers

We women seem to be born worriers. Maybe it's the nurturing instinct in us. At any rate, it seems to be more of a woman thing than a man thing. We need to remember that the Lord takes care of all things if only we'll surrender them to Him. I know I've written multiple devotions on worry and anxiety and stress, but it's just something we women seem to have a hard time conquering. Maybe it's because we don't realize that we can't conquer our worries and anxieties. Only the Lord can conquer them. We need to surrender. "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." (Psalm 42:5 and 11)
Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 13:50:04 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, April 18, 2008

Broken

Last night I was at a WMU Associational meeting where we signed our names on stickers and slapped them on our blouses and jackets. When I removed my jacket in the middle of the meeting, I accidentally ripped my name sticker in two. "That was my life," I thought to myself, "before Jesus. I was broken---torn in two." Jesus heals. He makes the broken whole, hallelujah!

Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 13:58:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Jesus, Rebuker of Storms

"The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. 'Where is your faith,' He asked His disciples." (Luke 8:24-25 NIV)


Yep, our Jesus was asleep in the boat as the storm raged and the waves crashed all around them. He wasn't worried, but the disciples sure were. The other day at work, I encountered a storm, one which worried me and made me feel stressed out. I then read the above scripture and knew that I needed to place the storm into the capable hands of Christ. He rebuked the wind and the raging waters. The storm subsided and all was calm. I need to remember that He is control of all things if only I'll let Him!

Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 15:38:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Gate

"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep." (John 10:7 NIV)


Jesus is: The Gate to eternal life; the Gate to joy; the Gate to strength; the Gate to support; the Gate to spiritual nourishment; the Gate to peace; the Gate to love; the Gate to unworldliness; the Gate to comfort.

Make a list of you own. What can you add to the above? Jesus is the Gate to so many things! :)

Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 12:52:10 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Don't Feel Overwhelmed!

Sometimes we become overwhelmed by a complicated task, and we forget: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). The other day I was feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming WMU spring retreat on top of things going on at work and other things. I asked my pastor to pray for me. Sunday I received a wonderful surprise: he's having the men help with the retreat! I did a spiritual Snoopy dance in church! Christ will strengthen us in any circumstances whether He does it Himself or sends someone else to do it. Ladies, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, woohoo and amen! :)

Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 15:09:17 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Discouraged?

Have you ever heard of the saying "You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him?" Makes you stop and think. It seems like it's so easy to become discouraged by those we allow to deflate our balloons.Why do we allow people to control our moods and our emotions? And why do we allow our moods and emotions to control us? We should be depending on God who will not allow us to become discouraged. "With God all things are possible"----so why be discouraged? (scripture: Matthew 19:26 NIV)
Posted by Keneta, a Christ Follower at 19:17:22 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |
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