Planning for the Presense of Jesus-A Special Daily Devotional

This morning, is Christmas Eve, and I am downstairs and my sweet husband is upstairs still laying in bed, listening to music on his IPod, I assume he needs to be alone, and will use this time to think, relax and reflect. So, I decide to go ahead and do my daily devotion, just as I do every morning during the week. I, for a split second, had thought that I might skip it. I need to be alone during my time with God, to pray, to read my devotion and take in and reflect upon it's statements, and verses, and try to discover how to apply it to my own life. Today was extra special. This devotion was meant for me...it has to be. I always like reading a devotional and discovering that it truly applies to me, and I'm like Wow, how awesome, and then there are times like today, where I am like, Wow, what a wake up call. You see, what makes this devotional so special is that yesterday my husband and I were talking about some of the issues that him and his mother are experiencing, and of course, I butted in and wanted to know if I had caused any of these issues to arrise, or worsen. He kindly told me, in the most gentle of ways, how I do have a few things, I could work on, among the details of our conversation, he mentioned to me that I need to relax more, and how my obbession with cleanliness is making others well, to put it in simple terms, "uncomfortable". We continued to talk about my little problem and how it is causing some people to get upset, and how in the future, this might cause more problems. Now, I know that I will always be a clean freak, no doubt, but there is time to clean and time to bond. I was pretty understanding, but also, pretty defensive. Last night, I was mostly just lost in my own thoughts, I felt like there was nothing wrong with the way I was, and well, to put it frank, "screw everyone else who isn't a clean freak". Well, that was until this morning, that was until I realized how I've been for so many years. For years, with company, I will retreat to the kitchen to hurry up and clean the mess of dishes, and spend a long time in there, while guests, our guests are enjoying each others company. I for years, spend hours, frantically cleaning every inch of our home,and before I got married, my apartment, preparing for my guests. Many times I became very stressed, loosing my temper, and becoming unpleasant to me around, just becuase I didn't give myself enough time to clean, to cook and make my self look presentable. Why? Why am I so obbessed? Well, I doubt I will ever know the answer, and honestly it is unimportant. On the other hand, what it is important is how my obession is affecting my relationships. My relationships are suffering becuase of my little problem, and it is eye opening to realize it.

God must be so happy to watch me this morning, and he must be saying to himself, look my child, look what I have to teach you. I read my devotion and began to understand, a little more, how important planning for the presense of God, and my guests, friends, family, really is in the big picture. Just as Mary knew that all the other details could wait, and she took the very special time she had with Jesus to sit at his feet, so should I. I need to work on remembering to "sit with Jesus", and to enjoy my time with family and friends and not spend my entire time cleaning. And even before my guests arrive, I need to plan accordingly, so that I am in the right peace of mind to host, and to be the friend and family that others need, and want. I need to work on not allowing my obession to seriously affect relationships. I pray that I will get better with this, and that I can still keep house as I'd like, but remember what's really important.

Here is the devotional for today..."But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Luke 10:40 (NIV)

I tend to consider myself a "Martha" type personality. And I don't mean Martha Stewart. That Martha was ready for Christmas in October, I'm sure.

No, I'm nothing like Martha Stewart. In fact, a few years ago I didn't even manage to decorate the tree. It had lights on it ONLY because it was a pre-lit tree! I managed to put a few gifts under it before Christmas because my dear children kept looking at me with big hopeful eyes, asking when I was going to wrap SOMETHING. But that was it. No cards. No Christmas concerts or caroling. No trip to see lights. Just a busy life made even busier.

For those who know the Luke 10 story of Martha and her sister Mary, that's the Martha I'm talking about. That Martha had the privilege of hosting Jesus in her home. But instead of sitting at His feet, like her sister Mary did, Martha worked and complained to Jesus that Mary wasn't helping her.

Let's put ourselves in that scene for a moment. Jesus has come to YOUR house. To visit YOU. And not only are you too busy to spend some time with Him, but the time you do have you spend complaining. You complain about "someone" not doing her job, and how you have to do all this work, and if only "someone" would help you then you could actually sit down and enjoy some time with Jesus and blah, blah, blah…

Martha wasted an amazing opportunity. And many times, so do I. She let the demands of every day overshadow the call of the divine. In fact, Jesus gently chided Martha, and affirmed Mary's choice to sit and spend time with Him in the middle of all the work that had to be done.

In verse 42 we read that Jesus told Martha her sister did what was "needed." So in Jesus' mind, whatever Martha was doing wasn't needed at that moment…whether it was to impress, pamper or comfort Him. Jesus just wanted Martha to sit down and spend time with Him.

Imagine if you had travelled far to visit the home of a friend. And in her desire to serve you, she never spends time with you. Do you know anyone like that? Don't you want to say, "Sit down. Relax. All this stuff doesn't matter. I came to spend time with you."

That's just what Jesus was saying to Martha. In other words,

Martha, thank you for caring about my needs. But, you don't have to worry so much. There's only one thing I want right now, and that's to spend time with you. Mary gets it. Come sit down next to your sister. The dishes will wait. But you won't have this time with Me very much longer.

Martha probably wasn't given much notice of Jesus' arrival, hence her rushing around. We, however, have been. Just as you would prepare for the arrival of a special guest to your home, I invite you to prepare for the presence of Jesus this Christmas.

Have you ever let the demands of the everyday pull you away from the divine? Have you ever chosen a good thing over the best thing? You're not alone. Today, I invite you to set aside all the preparations and distractions and sit in the presence of Jesus.

We don't have to do anything special to enjoy Jesus' company. We just have to quiet ourselves from the busyness of the day, take a deep breath, and allow Jesus to fill our hearts with His joy and peace. It can be sitting outside looking at the stars, listening to carols, or sipping a cup of coffee in front of a fire. Just sit down with nothing else to do and invite Jesus to join you.

When I think back about the scene recorded in Luke 10, between Martha and Mary, I can tell which sister had more peace in her life. And it wasn't Martha. This Christmas I definitely want to plan for the presence of Jesus – that's really all I need.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Your son Jesus. As I go through this Christmas and the upcoming year, please help me set priorities that are pleasing to You. Help me remember to plan to enjoy the presence of Jesus more than I plan for the details. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Worship: Nearing the Heart of God by Glynnis Whitwer

Visit Glynnis’ blog for more encouragement!

Pursuing the Christ: 31 Morning and Evening Devotions for Christmastime by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

For more encouragement on intentionally focusing on Christ during busy seasons, click here

Application Steps:
Spend some time in prayer, asking God to show you His priorities for you this day and over the next year. Write down one or two things God brings to mind.

Reflections:
In holiday seasons past, when have you experienced the presence of Jesus most? Be specific.
How does time alone with Jesus change you?

Power Verses:
Luke 10:41-42, "'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'" (NIV)

Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

© 2009 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserve

Realized What's Important

Yesterday Chris came home and found me crying. I was so upset, I had broke down crying so often that day. We are struggling financially, and the burden weighs heavy on Chris and flows to me. He is so stressed these days, and it breaks my heart. I just couldn't control my emotions yesterday, and yes, I am sure that the pregnancy hormones do play a big role in my emotional rollercoaster, but lately, I am crying allot. Anyways, he came home from work and I couldn't stop crying and he held me and looked deeply into my eyes and said, "Baby, it's going to be ok, everything will be ok, I promise". He also told me that a co-worker had lost his Dad the night before and another co-worker had just lost his grandfather. He told me that he realized all we had to be blessed about, and how small and not-important getting all mad, angry, stressed is, in comparrison to thier losses.

I finally stopped my uncontrolable crying, and was more grateful than I can express for these few minutes where my husband was compassionate, honest and understanding. I was so grateful that the Lord helped him see these losses and realize what was truly important. I was grateful for so much.

He was so kind, gentle and loving. I shared with him the baby memory book I bought, we laid together listening to music in the dark, and then later went to dinner. We had a great evening together.

Darla

Another Really Good Devotional

Friday, December 18, 2009
10:26 AM

Well what can I say? I read another really good devotional, and had to share. I needed this today, it is SO amazing that my God speaks to me exactly when I need him to, WOW, my God is SO GOOD! He renews my hope, fills my heart with peace and strengthens me with only a few minutes spent listening to him, meeting him for a little chat. Thank you Lord!



Here is the devotional (From Proverbs 31 Ministries)

As I started my run, old thoughts poured into my head. You are not beautiful. You are not special. Your life doesn't count. After years of reading the Truth, studying the Truth and even teaching the Truth, it was hard to believe I still struggled with these dark thoughts. I guess I shouldn't have expected the enemy to lie down and give up. He knows my weaknesses and all my buttons to push.

As lies poured in, I retrieved scriptures stored in my mind and heart. He sees me as beautiful. He says He is wild about me. He is more than enough for me. He is all I need.

Mulling over these precious chunks of God's Word, tears began to pour. This is what I needed. I didn't need more words of affirmation from my husband. I didn't need another pat on the back from a friend. I needed a new outpouring of love from my Love. I needed to be reminded of who He says I am, to give up the old lies and replace them with His Truths.

When we come into His presence, He fills us. The Lord changes us so that we are not the same as we were when we came to Him. Ezekiel 46:9 represents this exchange of old for new. The people of Israel were told when they came into the temple area to worship, they were to enter through one gate and exit through the opposite gate. So the same should be true with us; we are "not to go back as we came, but more holy, and heavenly, and spiritual" (Matthew Henry). As we enter into our special times with God, we need to come out the "opposite gate," different than the way we went in.

After an hour of running, crying and praying to God, I returned home a different woman. Now, I was ready. Ready to be the wife and mom I needed to be. Ready to be God's vessel to pour out. Being in the Lord's presence restored me. I had been filled and changed.

Dear Lord, I need You today. Living this life sometimes drains me and leaves me empty. As I come through Your gates and into Your presence, change me. Pour Your life and heart into me so that as I leave through the "opposite gate," I am not the same woman as when I came in. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Todays Devotion-A Gut Honest Look At Love

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Lately I have been waking up, making my decaf coffee, turning the Christmas lights on, telling Gracie to go outside and potty, giving her a treat, and finally…relaxing to my couch to talk to God. I know that opening my day with prayer, conversing with my Heavenly Father, is the best way to begin any and everyday. Sometimes I get a little distracted by other things online, but most of the time I am able to focus, to begin first with prayer, followed by a daily devotion. My Mom, for the entire time I've known her, has done daily devotions, and I've always looked up to her for her diligence when it comes to "keeping the faith". She would sit down, have her breakfast, her coffee and meet with God. So, I think it is pretty cool to follow in her footsteps. I hope that once baby Tristan arrives I will have the diligence to also sit down and meet with God. I decided to try Proverbs 31 Ministries (for Women) as a way to "get fed the word of God", and so far, so good. I wanted to share today's devotion, one because it is awesome, and two because this is actually something that I feel I tend to struggle with in my own life. I prayed this morning that God would speak to me, and I believe he did. Lately I have been guilty of expecting Chris (my hubby) to fill in empty spaces (to "love me" MORE). I am beginning to see that my emotional rollercoaster (mostly due to pregnancy hormones-but is still not an excuse, may be just weighing to heavy on him. He works so hard all day, comes home, and many times has to accomplish a few chores around the house, and then all the sudden I will break down, and he is responsible for "making everything all better"? No. Enough is enough, and I cannot continue to expect so much, so often. He loves me dearly, and yes, at times, like any marriage, there are times where we must remind out husbands that we need certain things, no one is perfect, but I must remember that it is not his responsibility to "fill my cup". Lord, help me to remember this.

Darla


"…if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)

As the holidays approach, I have to be careful about developing an overly ideal view of love. Sometimes I'm guilty of setting the expectations so high of what a 'love filled' Christmas should be that it dooms me to feeling disappointed and grumpy. Ever been there?

Well, this year I am feeling challenged to look at love a little differently. I don't want to repeat a habit that I've had from the past where I expect unrealistic things from those I love. I used to hold out the little cup of my heart to my husband, "Will you fill my empty spaces? Will you do that one really romantic thing that makes me feel like I'm the most terrific and special woman in the world?"

Then I would hold it out to my children, "Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you do something that makes me look really good as a mom so I'll feel a little more validated?"

Then I would hold it out to my friends, "Will you fill up my empty spaces? Will you provide something today that makes me feel more included and significant?"

Maybe Christmas is an odd time to consider such things.

Or, maybe this season celebrating Jesus is the perfect time to hit the reset button on my sometimes frail heart. Love is a tricky thing. Our hearts were created to crave it. But misplaced expectations from love can wreak havoc in a person's heart.

God proclaims in 1 Corinthians 13:8 that love never fails. And in the quietness of my heart that verse makes me squirm a bit. I see love failing all the time. Or do I?

If my only view of love is what it will give me, love from others will fail me every time. It's not that love fails. It's that other people were never meant to be my God. Even a great husband, wonderful children and a thriving ministry can never truly fill me up, right all my wrongs, and soothe those deep insecurities. Not at Christmas. Not at any other time of the year.

No, I can't read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with eyes hungry to see what love should give me and then demand it from those around me. I should read those steadfast Scriptures with the realization that this is the kind of love God gives to me. And this is the kind of love I can choose to give to other people.

I can choose that my love will be patient. My love will be kind. My love won't keep a record of wrongs. (Ouch - that's a hard one, right?)

I can choose that my love will protect and persevere.

And I can choose to lay the cup of my heart at Jesus' feet and stop twirling, twirling, twirling...hoping- demanding- that those around me do things for me they were never meant to do.

Interestingly enough, when I read 1 Corinthians 13 again this morning I found an odd yet perfect verse toward the end of this chapter. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (verse 11).

Yes indeed. How funny I never connected that verse about putting away childish things with 1 Corinthians 13 - known as the chapter of love. Oh how we have the propensity to grow in other areas while keeping such a childish, selfish view of love.

Love isn't what I have the opportunity to get from this world. Love is what I have the opportunity to give. And I guess there's no more appropriate time to remember this than Christmas.

Dear Lord, thank You for the ability to see love in the proper way. Help me to know how to be filled with Your love so I don't try to get others to fill my empty spaces. Lord, give me wisdom with each of my relationships. Make me a woman that properly lives the principals in 1 Corinthians 13. In Jesus' Name, Amen.Reflections:

We need to learn to live the love in 1 Corinthians 13. But this doesn't mean we enable others to treat our love with disdain. Sometimes boundaries need to be drawn in relationships to keep things healthy. Choosing love doesn't mean letting others disrespect or abuse us.

Are there some relationships in your life that need some healthy boundary lines drawn? Are there some relationships where you need to get a pastor or Christian counselor involved? Pray and ask God to reveal to you how to properly live the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 with the people in your life.

Power Verses:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." (NIV)© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Letters to Tristan

Dear Tristan,

I am 32 weeks pregnant with you, and so full of emotion. I am excited beyond words, but I am also nervous. I often wonder if I will be a good mother to you. I am just not that familar with infants, and it scares sometimes to think that there might be times where I don't know what you need. I long to hold you, to see your beautiful face...but I hope that I am able to comfort you.

I am surprised sometimes that we have made it this far. When I was 24 weeks, I was addmitted to the hospital for pre-term labor, and the dr and nurses felt that you would most likely arrive early, and put me on bed rest. Now look at you, you are rocking and rolling!

Just yesterday, at our dr appointment, Dr Young had a huge smile on his face, and you couldn't help but notice how proud and excited he was about me making this far...he said "32 weeks!" "You are rocking and rolling"! He was right!

It has been such an adventure, one that I forever will cherish. Daily I am filled with such happiness and feel so extremely blessed that you are growing inside and that one day, your Daddy and me will have the joy of holding you, looking into your precious eyes and telling you how much we adore you, love you and kissing your oh so soft skin.

We are almost finished with your nursery. I sure you hope you love it. I have enjoyed decorating it so much. I have just a few last minute touches to add. You probably will not notice all the details that make it so perfect, and precious, but that's ok, your Daddy and I just had to make it beautiful for you. We have decorated it in blue (North Carolina Blue--one day you will understand--one day you will lay with your Daddy and watch a game with him), brown, white and ivory. I handmade so many of the things in your room. I don't know why, but the entire time I have been pregnant with you, I have had the urge to make everything. Thanks to one of your Grandmothers (Daddy's Mom), I was able to teach myself to sew and made all sorts of things in your nursery. Daddy helped out tremendously, he is quite creative and has enjoyed adding special touches to your room.

We have bought all the clothes you should need when you arrive, and a few extra peices (just because we couldn't resist). I love buying your clothes, they are so little and so cute! I cannot wait to dress you in these precious clothes and take pictures of you. Oh, yes, there will be so many photos. We have washed the clothes (all expect a few) and have folded and hung them up. We have also purchased many other items for the big day, and your arrival. There are only a few more things that we need to have before you are here.

Our Baby Shower was nice. Friends and Family joined us to celebrate your upcoming arrival. We were so blessed to have been given the shower by Jennifer, Mark and your future God Mother Tisha.

Your Daddy and I have decided to make my brother Dusty and his wife Tisha, your God Parents. This means that if ever something happened where your Daddy and Me left to be with the Lord, you would go to live with them. We picked them carefully, making sure that this was the best fit for you, and we feel very confident in this decision. We know that they would love you just as we do, and that you would enjoy your life with them. They are delighted in this decision, and have been very supportive during my pregnancy.

We still need to choose a Pediatrician for you, we have to do this soon. Don't worry though, we will soon.

We Love You!
Love,
Mommy