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Devotions
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The Gift
"For I
say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members
in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members
one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy
according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or
he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:3-8 (KJV) I read this verse this morning, and I thought about the different gifts the Lord
has given to people around me. I have many friends that are encouragers, teachers, people with strong faith, people
with the gift of a great voice. How I wish I had that one! Read how the Message puts this portion of scripture: "In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets
its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen
people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't
amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning
parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing
ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing
else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance,
be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid
to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself
get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face." Have you ever thought
about what your gift is? Have you prayed to ask the Lord how you are to use the gift He has given you to draw you closer
to Him? It is all for His Glory. Nothing we do should be to be boastful or to make ourselves be set apart from
anyone else. Anything good in us comes from Jesus - we should humble ourselves and recognize that. We ruin our
witness when we use a gift the Lord has given us and then brag about ourselves that is not pleasing to God. Trust God.
Use the gift He has given you as a witness for Him, so that others around you can see the Light of Jesus. Have a blessed Friday! Please continue to remember Presley Melton and Garnet McKeown in prayer as well as the
Craven Family and Bobbie Hanlon. Invite someone to church with you this Sunday, if you do not go to church - what is
hindering you from worship? Why not pray for the Lord to lead you to the right fellowship? Have a great weekend.
Love, Tracy
Are You A Doer or A Sayer?
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever
cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built
an house, and  digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and
could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a
foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin
of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49 KJV I kept reading this verse this AM and thought about all the times the Lord is speaking directly to my heart and I
ignore what He is saying. We don't always like what He has to say - do we? But deep down, most of us understand
that the direction the Lord takes us in is for a reason. We don't always understand the path we are taking - but
if it is directed by the Lord and we are following His direction in the end it is all good and for His Glory. When we call upon His name and then we don't hear a response - maybe it was
because it was not what we wanted to hear! Just because I want things in life does not mean that God is going to give
them to me and just because I am not given these things it is not necessarily because of something I did. To me it is
because only God knows the outcome of any situation and He knows and sees the big picture that we cannot see. Blind
Faith. Trusting that unseen hand! Trust Him in all your ways - lean not on your own understanding - because let's
face it - 99% of the time we probably don't understand the valley. It may be years before the truth will be revealed
- but trust in Him. Why? Because He loves you! No matter what the adversity is that you
face. He will be with you in that valley. I think I told you about this song a few weeks ago ... but the words
are so great ... Praise You In The Storm (by Casting Crowns) music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved
the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear
You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift
my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your
hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember
when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how
can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
and takes away
Chorus
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You
are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never
left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes
unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Chorus
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no
matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though
my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
So lift your eyes unto the hills and praise Him in the storm! I
hope you have a great Wednesday. Please continue to remember the Craven Family, Melton Family and Garnet McKeown in
prayer as well as a close family friend, Bobbie Hanlon who just found out she has bone cancer. Thank you all so much.
Love, Tracy
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| Devotions |
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| by Tracy Beckham |
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