Devotionals Archives - Page 7 of 9

Advent, Articles, Blog Series, Christian Living, Devotionals

Longing For Christ – Hope

I have been waiting for this season for months. It is my favorite time of year. No matter what is going on in life, I am always extra hopeful during this season.

Today marks the beginning of Advent and I look forward to celebrating and focusing my area of study on the anticipation and birth of Christ. Advent means “coming,” as in “Christ is coming.” It represents the expectation, anticipation, and preparation of the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born as fully God and fully man, and even as the King of the world, He was born in a lowly manger to identify with us. He came for us so that we may have the hope of Eternal life, and to live and reign in our hearts.

His coming fulfills the Old Testament prophecies such as the one fromJeremiah 33:14-16. It states, “The days are coming, ’declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’”

Lately as I have dwelled upon the hope of Christ, I immediately think of the words from the famous Christmas hymn, “Oh Holy Night.” “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” This year has been a weary one so it does my soul good to read and study about this blessed hope. I long for Christ and need His hope today more than ever before. I’ve always been a very hopeful person but that hope has been challenged as my world has been turned upside down from health problems the past couple of years.

I am Type A by nature and have always had a plan or something to hope for in the future. However, that has changed — that is, changed in the way the world so often views hope. For example, I no longer have the hope of a job to return to, the hope of continuing education, or the hope of a marriage, and the list could go on and on. Even though none of these earthly hopes are present in a my life, I have the Heavenly Hope that comes from Jesus. He is enough. He is my healer, provider, husband, sustainer, and the lover of my soul.

Jesus is my greatest hope and that will never change no matter what comes my way. He is the only hope I need, and turns my darkness into light and brings comfort to my weary soul.

I am so grateful for this gift of hope, and I pray that you will cling to it no matter what circumstances you find yourself in today. Thanks for joining me on this Advent journey and be sure to read the blog next week as I write about peace.

To find all the post in this series viset here.

Articles, Books, Devotionals, Reading

Experiencing God Through His Names Book Review

About the Book:

Experiencing God Through His Names(Bold Vision Books, June 2016)

What’s in a name?

Names are more than groups of letters that represent a person or identify objects. Names are powerful. A person’s character and destiny can be influenced by his or her name. God’s attributes and personality support His unique and distinct names. If we comprehend the meanings of His titles, we can know God more intimately. In Experiencing God Through His Names, Sheryl Giesbrecht walks with you on an exciting journey to discover and absorb the truth about God’s character. In the next 31 days, God wants you to get to know Him. Are you ready?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts:

I greatly enjoyed this devotional from Sheryl Giesbrecht. It is 31 days of readings that focus on the names and attributes of God. This is the perfect devotional to add to your quiet time each morning. As the holidays are approaching this makes a great gift for your friends. I have enjoyed reading this during this season and it has helped to focus my heart on the Lord and who He is.

This was given to me by Litfuse Publicity Group.

About the Author:

Sheryl Giesbrecht has written three books, hundreds of articles, blogs, and columns. A nationally syndicated radio host, Sheryl is a sought after inspirational speaker who facilitates leadership training for thousands internationally.

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Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals, Disability

Blog and Life Update

Below is an update from a newsletter I recently sent out, and I thought I would share it here as well.

Health/Life Update

Hello Prayer Warriors,

Thanks for your continued prayers! For those of you who are just now reading my blog and following my journey, I am currently dealing with some ongoing health issues. Over the past two years I have had three major surgeries and been home bound much of the time. One surgery was to remove my colon and the other two were from complications dealing with my small bowel. Because of my Cerebral Palsy, I have a neurogenic bowel and bladder which means they are slow and do not function normally. We think this is the cause of the recurring bladder infections I am dealing with that have been hard to treat. Due to constant infections, I have been on antibiotics continually over the last few months. However, I have an appointment with a new urologist at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC in a few weeks. While I know, this is not an easy fix, I pray that he is able to shed some light on the situation.

The past two weeks have been some of the hardest days physically that I have dealt with in a while. I have been bed bound most days with pain, no energy, and dealing with side effects from medications, However, in the midst of all of this, God is faithful. I am so thankful for all the folks praying for me and lifting me up during this season. Your prayers and encouragement mean so much to me and I am daily blessed by you. One verse that has encouraged me lately, and a scripture I am holding tight to right now is Romans 8:18 which states,

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Blog Update-
Prior to my last surgery in May, I posted a Bible verse or inspirational quote on the blog each day that I called “Daily Inspirations.” However, I have not kept up with those, but am starting them again this week. Through the month of October the theme for my “Daily Inspirations ” is going to be favorite quotes from people that I consider to be “Heroes of The Faith,” so stay tuned for that.

Also, I am currently writing a 31 day series on the book of Nehemiah through the month of October. I would love for you to read along with me as I study the Word, and post about what I am learning. I may not be able to post every day but I will post as often as possible.

To read my Nehemiah series visit here –

https://ameliamcneilly.com/category/31-days-nehemiah/

Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals, Disability

Rest

This past week has been a hard one. My body is struggling with infections. I have been dealing with staph/skin infections and now a sore throat. Yesterday was spent in bed, and today will be much of the same. My body is in total rebellion at the moment. Earlier as I was thinking about everything and feeling overwhelmed, God gently reminded me of the verse in Matthew 11:28-30 that states,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In the quiet of yesterday afternoon I was reminded that even in the hardest circumstances I can always be at rest, and the reason for that is Jesus. Jesus will carry my burdens so I do not have to. He loves me and desires to give me freedom. God does not intend for any of us to live as overwhelmed, anxious, or tired when He offers His rest. This does not mean God will never allow us to have trouble, but that He will carry and give us His strength when troubles come.

Sickness may be present, jobs might be lost, marriages failing, discontentment abounding, but Jesus wants us to let go of these stresses and come to Him. He is ready. He is waiting. He will fight your giants so let Him. I am so guilty of striving and wanting to do more, more, and more.However, God has shown me lately that it is not how much I can do for Him, but instead how much I rest in Him.

He wants all of me, and to be the king of my heart in both the good and hard times. He wants my trust in every area of life, including the trials.

Rest can only come when you are fully surrendered to Christ, and trust Him to care for you in the way He feels is best no matter the circumstances.

I would ask that as you think of it please remember me in your prayers as you think of it. Pray that the Lord will provide healing and rest for my body. Thanks friends. How can I be praying for you?

Spend some time today in the Word getting to know the only One who can give you the rest that you so desperately desire. Jesus will never let you down.

Below is a song that has been a source of great encouragement to me lately and I hope it encourages you as well.

Trust in You – Lauren Daigle –

Articles, Blog Series, Christian Living, Devotionals

Clothed in Christ – Holy and Dearly Loved

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” ~Colossians 3:12-15

As a woman I love a good outfit. I enjoy shopping, putting together outfits for special occasions, and feeling pretty. What woman doesn’t, right? While there is nothing wrong with desiring to look nice outwardly, so many times we fail to work on how we are looking on the inside. If we are honest, we could all use a character check occasionally, and that is exactly what the passage in Colossians 3 gives us. If we are to be the people God us intends then we should strive to glorify Him in every area of our lives.

Verse 12 begins by stating, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…” — this statement is the entire motivation for why God’s children should be clothed with the qualities that are mentioned later in these verses. We are chosen and beloved by God, and as mentioned in Deuteronomy, God calls us His treasured possession.

No matter who we are or what we have done, God loves us with an everlasting love. The day we accept Him as Savior, our lives become new.

As a believer we are to put aside the former ways of life, and display the love of Christ by having compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, and peace. These qualities are not always easy to live out, especially during hard seasons. When we are not actively pursuing Jesus and His Word, we cannot glorify him in the way that He deserves. To another person, the life we live may seem perfect. However, even though we may appear to have it all together on the outside, if others do not see Jesus in us then nothing else matters. This passage calls each of us to live out these characteristics regardless of what our circumstances are.

Also, it is important for each of us to be on guard focusing daily on renewing our mind, and guarding our gate. The things we allow in will eventually spill over into how we live. If not, thoughts of anger, bitterness, and selfishness will consume us instead of love, gentleness, and compassion.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will sharing about each of these characteristics and what God is teaching me. I would encourage you to study this passage in Colossians along with me because I would love to hear how God is using it in your life as well.

Be sure to check back on Monday for my next post focusing on compassion.

To view more posts in this series please visit here.

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Articles, Devotionals

Hope

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” ~Psalm 62:5

Over the past few days I have been overwhelmed. Sometimes the weight of life seems too heavy, and due to not feeling well I’ve not spent as much time in the Word as I should. This is when the devil wants to creep in and steal one’s peace of mind.

Last night, I was reading the latest issue of Set Apart Girl Magazine, and one of the articles listed Psalm 62:5. When I read this verse I immediately stopped and prayed. I realized that my discontentment and worry came from resting in my desires and control rather than in God. Putting too much emphasis on my circumstances, I was allowing those old familiar feelings of anxiousness and restlessness to take residence in my heart. This did nothing to improve my situation, but instead muddied my outlook. I am thankful that in my craziness the Lord remains patient and faithful. He is always kind and loving and never fails to give me the perspective I need from Scripture.

My circumstances may not reflect much hope, but my God does and so I will put my trust in Him, and Him alone.

What are you putting your trust in today? If you are feeling overwhelmed and burdened — open the Bible and cry out to the Lord. He is ready and waiting to give you the rest you desire.

I pray that you have a wonderful Monday. Be sure to check back on Wednesday as I begin my new blog series on Colossians 3:12-14.

Articles, Devotionals

Love letters from Jesus

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and for many it is a day to celebrate with the ones you love. However, not everyone has a spouse or significant other to celebrate with, and on a day filled with lots of love, flowers and chocolate, it can be very depressing for single folks. While others are waiting to receive a special gift, singles go into the day not expecting anything. For us, it is another reminder of what we long for but do not have.

As I have been pondering this over the past few days, the Lord has gently reminded me that on Valentine’s Day I am not alone because I have Him. He is greater than a boyfriend, husband, friend, or any gift that I could ever receive. He is the greatest gift. He is enough. I have everything I need in Him. As Isaiah 54:5 states, “For your Maker is your husband– the LORD Almighty is his name– the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

Because of Jesus, I am able to go through life completely fulfilled and content even if He never chooses to bless me with an earthly love story.

No love story is complete without Him because He is the greatest lover of all time.

With or without a husband, Jesus should always be the greatest lover of our souls. Nothing or no one should ever take the place of His rule in our hearts and lives.

During the past week, the Lord has brought to mind several verses that displays His great love for us. I am calling these my “Love Letters from Jesus.” Take a moment to read them and be encouraged. Whether you are married or single today, evaluate your relationship with the Lord. Are you allowing Him to be the Lord of your life? Do you make His relationship the most important one in your life?

When we put our relationship with Jesus above all else, every other relationship in our lives will become more beautiful.

Please know that you are not alone. Jesus loves you with a perfect and everlasting love. Unlike people, He will never let you down, and will always remain faithful. Allow these words from Scripture to penetrate your heart and mind, and choose to believe them —

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” ~Jeremiah 31:3

“But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” ~Isaiah 43:1

“He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.” ~Song of Solomon 2:4

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” ~Deuteronomy 7:6

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” ~Song of Solomon 6:3

“For your Maker is your husband– the LORD Almighty is his name– the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” ~Isaiah 54:5

Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals

Love Bears All Things

The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 on love is extremely convicting to me, especially the statement, “Love bears all things.”

Love may be easy when things are going our way, but this verse is not just talking about loving in the good times. This verse specifies the word all, which also means loving when times are tough and being willing to suffer for the sake of that love. When I read this particular verse I always think about the love of Christ, and ask myself, do I love Christ enough to suffer for the sake of loving Him? Am I willing to bear anything – persecution or death for the sake of loving Christ, and for others in my life that I love. I think that is what Paul is referring to in this statement, and is a sobering reminder for us to love in the same manner that Christ loved us.

Jonathan Edwards, one of my favorite theologians speaks of this matter and he gives several ways “love bears all things” in this regard. They are:

Love bears all things is being willing to undergo all sufferings, of all kinds, that are in the way of duty. For example, to prefer the honor of Christ before their own. This means to suffer and being willing to lose all things whether it be family, earthly possessions, etc. for that love.

Love bears all things is being willing to undergo all sufferings, of all degrees that are in the way of duty. This means to forsake all for the sake of Christ and to endure all degrees of mocking, contempt, etc for the sake of that relationship.

This type of love mentioned above is one that never gives up and has the ability to endure any hardship, sorrow, or disappointment that comes. This is how we should strive to love Christ and the people he puts into our lives. I think the true test of love in any relationship comes not when things are easy but when things are hard, and loving a person during the unlovable times. After all, that is how Christ loves us. When we are going through hard times and love does not come easy, Christ loves us anyway. There is nothing that we could go through that would make Christ not love us, and we should apply that concept to all the relationships God places in our lives.

Take some time today to pray and to surrender yourself to the Lord. Ask Him to show you how to love Him better, and ask him to give you wisdom in finding the ability to love the ones He has placed in your life.

Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals, Friendship

Loving the Unlovable

If we are honest with ourselves we can all think of people from different parts of our life that have been hard to love. Examples could be that one person from high school who sought to make your life miserable each day, the neighbor who is always starting trouble, the co-worker that is always pointing out your flaws, or that one family member who is always telling you you are not good enough. Of course there are also extreme examples of those who are hard to love like people who commit murder or those who participate in terrible acts of violence. However, the unlovable may not necessarily be someone that is considered an enemy, but rather an outcast. Maybe befriending and loving that person would make you uncomfortable and force you to step out of your comfort zone. As Christians, the Bible speaks specifically to this topic. God is very clear in His command throughout the Word that we are to love everyone.

No matter who you consider unlovable, or what they have done — God calls us to love them anyway.

I know from personal experience that can be a hard pill to swallow. Certainly God cannot expect me to love someone who made fun of me everyday for years, and made me out to be a laughingstock right? Wrong. In Mark 12:31 Jesus gives the command to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Also, Matthew 5:44 states, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus was the perfect example of this. He was persecuted and scorned but He still loved. In John 13 when Jesus washed the disciples feet He knew that some of them in that room would later betray Him. However, He still served and showed them love.

Christ could consider each and every one of us unlovable because it was our sin that He died for, but instead He loves us with an everlasting love that we do not deserve.

Being a friend to the unlovable takes on a whole new meaning when I think of the sacrificial love of Jesus. He is the example we should follow with everyone we come in contact with. Our purpose should be to love like Jesus loves. Instead of treating others as an enemy or outcast, we should look at them from God’s perspective.

Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel and have a chance to know Jesus as their Savior. This includes our enemies, and we need to live our life in a way that would be an example of this.

Take some time right now and search your heart and ask God to show you the person in your life that has been hard to love. Ask God to give you wisdom on how to love this person, and to show you some ways to serve them.

Articles, Blog Fun, Christian Living, Devotionals, Family, Sports

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, friends. I am sure the talk in your house or work place this morning is about the super bowl’s outcome. I love me some football, and it has been a super weekend celebrating with family (mom, thanks for all the delicious food)! Of course being the Carolina girl that I am, I was cheering for the Panthers. It was sad to see them lose but it has been a great season, and congrats to all the Broncos fans.

I know things have been quiet on the blog since the new year has begun, but my health hasn’t been cooperating. I have had one infection right after the other, but the Lord has been good to renew my strength day after day, and I am grateful for that. I would appreciate prayers for continued healing — that infections and all bowel blockages will stay away. Thanks friends. I greatly appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement as I have walked this journey.

Also, keep watch on the blog this week as I will be posting some new articles as well as information about a new blog series I will be starting soon.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. No matter how busy you are or how overwhelmed life may be — take some time to stop and thank God for the little joys He has given you, and allow His peace to rule in your hearts and minds. God has brought John 16:33 to my mind many times lately and I pray that it encourages you like it has me. Jesus states, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Dwell on these truths today! 🙂

ameliamcneilly

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