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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FOX WISDOM" Saturday, 29 July 2017 - Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8-------
Deuteronomy 31:1 Moshe went and spoke the following words to all Isra’el: 2 “I am 120 years old today. I can’t get around any longer; moreover, Adonai has said to me, ‘You will not cross this Yarden.’ 3 Adonai your God — he will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess them. Y’hoshua — he will cross over ahead of you, as Adonai has said. (LY: ii) 4 Adonai will do to them what he did to Sichon and ‘Og, the kings of the Emori, and to their land — he destroyed them. 5 Adonai will defeat them ahead of you, and you are to do to them just as I have ordered you to do. 6 Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid or frightened of them, for Adonai your God is going with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
(RY: v, LY: iii) 7 Next Moshe summoned Y’hoshua and, in the sight of all Isra’el, said to him, “Be strong, be bold, for you are going with this people into the land Adonai swore to their ancestors he would give them. You will be the one causing them to inherit it. 8 But Adonai — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.”
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God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” [Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)]
As I drove cautiously up my long driveway, I saw a thin red fox sitting in the brush and watching over her three rambunctious babies. Not wanting to frighten them, I pulled over as the frisky trio leaped and rolled one another down the dirt driveway, seemingly oblivious to their mother’s presence. Patiently, she followed, never taking her eyes off them.
Then it occurred to me how in this moment the attentive mother fox mirrored God’s care for me. She quietly allowed her babies complete freedom in unknown territory while being constantly available to guide their way. Our reading for today records that just before transferring leadership to Joshua, Moses spoke about the law and urged the people to trust God fully. God has promised never to leave or forsake us. And yet, how often have I wrestled with something all by myself, ignoring God because I was too preoccupied to see my divine parent right there offering to help?
For me, the glimpse of that red fox reflected a very small measure of God’s infinite care. I realized that regardless of the challenges and changes that come into our lives, we can trust in God’s unfailing love and presence.
The Author: Gael Stuart Phaneuf (Colorado, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s caring presence gives me freedom.
Prayer: Dear God of the ages, give us grace to live every day confident that you are trustworthy and always present with us. Amen.
Prayer focus: PARENTS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "I JUST DO" for Friday, 28 July 2017 - Read 1 John 4:7-18-------
1 John 4:7 Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. 8 Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. 9 Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life. 10 Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins.
11 Beloved friends, if this is how God loved us, we likewise ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us. 13 Here is how we know that we remain united with him and he with us: he has given to us from his own Spirit. 14 Moreover, we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as Deliverer of the world. 15 If someone acknowledges that Yeshua is the Son of God, God remains united with him, and he with God. 16 Also we have come to know and trust the love that God has for us. God is love; and those who remain in this love remain united with God, and God remains united with them.
17 Here is how love has been brought to maturity with us: as the Messiah is, so are we in the world. This gives us confidence for the Day of Judgment. 18 There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love.
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The LORD says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” [Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)]
I raise guineas, chicken-sized fowl that are fairly common on farms in the southern United States. Like chickens, these birds eat bugs and have a special fondness for ticks, which makes them great additions to farms with livestock. They also create a cacophonous uproar at the arrival of guests or at anything that seems unusual to them, earning them the nickname “watchdog.”
Unfortunately they are also stupid creatures. I have known them to accidentally drown themselves, to fly into fences and break their necks, and to hang upside down for hours after getting a toe trapped in a cage. They often fly over a fence into an area where my potbellied pigs spend the day and then march back and forth for hours in front of the gate, apparently forgetting that if they can fly in then they can fly back out.
One day, as I was feeding the guineas, I looked at them and thought, Why do I love these birds? I don’t know why. I just do. It suddenly dawned on me that God may think of us in the same way: Why do I love these people? I just do. I am grateful that God loves us, despite our forgetfulness, poor decisions, and mistakes. No matter what we do, God loves us!
See a photo of Rebecca and the guineas, here.
Rebecca Martino and the guineas she mentions in today’s meditation
© 2017 The Upper Room®. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.Read more from the author, here.
More from Rebecca Martino
I am a city girl who has finally achieved her dream of living in the country! I have always loved animals, but never thought birds would be a part of that love. I got chickens and guineas for the eggs and because they eat ticks, and have been surprised at how attached I have become to them. Their antics are a constant source of amusement. Since moving to the farm, I have found new ways to see God. Not a day goes by that I don't see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and experience a new aspect of God's love. My husband and I have tried to create a place of peace, where people can come to find God in new ways. We feel so blessed to live here.This is a picture is of the silly guineas, doing what they do best, exploring and eating ticks! [Rebecca Martino]
The Author: Rebecca Martino (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: How can I share God’s unconditional love with others?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving us no matter what. Help us to love others in the same manner. Amen.
Prayer focus: FARMERS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD OF THE NOMAD" for Thursday, 27 July 2017 - Read Daniel 3:13-18-------
Daniel 3:13 In a raging fury N’vukhadnetzar ordered that Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go be brought. When the men had been brought before the king, 14 N’vukhadnetzar said to them, “Shadrakh! Meishakh! ‘Aved-N’go! Is it true that you neither serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I set up? 15 All right, then. If you are prepared, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, zither, lute, bagpipe and the rest of the musical instruments, to fall down and worship the gold statue, very well. But if you won’t worship, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing hot furnace — and what god will save you from my power then?” 16 Shadrakh, Meishakh and ‘Aved-N’go answered the king, “Your question doesn’t require an answer from us. 17 Your majesty, if our God, whom we serve, is able to save us, he will save us from the blazing hot furnace and from your power. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will neither serve your gods nor worship the gold statue which you have set up.”
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The LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. [Deuteronomy 31:8 (KJV)]
International migration is on the rise, and its scope, complexity, and impact continue to grow. Traveling to a new place can come with anxiety and fear of the unknown. The Israelites often reacted to such anxiety by turning to other gods and incurring God’s wrath as they moved to new lands. However, new environments can also offer opportunities to deepen our faith, as seen in the life of Abram when God asked him to leave his home to go to a strange land. The stories of Joseph and of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show how we can cultivate the presence of God, even in unfamiliar places. In the end, what really matters is that we endeavor to follow God’s will wherever God leads us.
The Bible has been my companion through all my journeys, helping me to look to God, to study, and to focus on God’s word rather than on my environment. Choosing to trust and focus on God’s never-failing love and provision can strengthen us for all the changes of life.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Felix Kwabena Donkor
"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." [Psalm 16:11]I was at a wedding a few days ago, and I was happy for the couple but also felt jealous. I thought, God is answering other’s prayers but has been slow in responding to mine in this regard. As part of my goals for the year, I asked God to lead me to a committed Christian as I search for a life partner. Now in the middle of the year, I am asking God for wisdom and to surrender to God's will.
You could call me the "minister of moon and stars" because many times, due to sleepless nights, I have been gazing in the evening skies. I guess I can call all the stars by name, and all the stars know me by now!
I know I have to keep my focus on the Lord and his promises, instead of circumstances, but I fail to do so sometimes and I panic. Like Sarah in the Old Testament, I may be tempted to take shortcuts, so I know I need God's guidance. Similarly like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to give up on God even when facing the fiery furnace, I pray for God's grace and mercies to honor him during this time in my life. Above all, I know God loves us more than we love ourselves and has the best in store for us. That is why I should follow God's word, rather than only what I see or hear. The picture above is of me while on a hunting trip, and I pray that I focus on the word of God as keenly as a hunter does when aiming at game. This period is a time for seeking the Lord’s face and asking for his perfect will to be done in my life. I also humbly request your prayers. [Felix Kwabena Donkor]
The Author: Felix Kwabena Donkor (Gauteng, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: I can trust and obey the Lord wherever I am.
Prayer: Dear God, teach us to trust and obey you no matter what our circumstances may be. Amen.
Prayer focus: MIGRANTS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S TIMING" for Wednesday, 26 July 2017 - Read Philippians 4:4-9
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Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
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Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” [John 14:27 (NIV)]
Throughout the Gospels Jesus tells his followers not to fear. Yet when I look at the notes I’ve written in the margins of my Bible, I find many concerns and worries. I pray about them, and in my anxiety I want God to answer right away. However, some of these concerns are ones I have prayed about for several years seemingly without any answers. Only later, when I look back, can I see God’s hand in these situations. God heard my pleas but the answers were often different, even better, than what I expected.
During times when I doubted that my prayers were being heard, God helped me to learn patience, understanding, and empathy for others. God gives us all time to grow and to become stronger. In the process we learn never to give up. Now when I am tempted to worry, I try to give my troubles to God completely and not expect quick and easy answers.
Worry robs us of joy and peace; but Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” If we truly trust God’s loving provision in our life, we can rely on God to respond to our call — in God’s time. All the while our hearts can rest in that knowledge and find God’s peace.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Phyllis Stone Church
I look at all of those worry notes in the margins of my Bible that I wrote about in today's meditation: children, health issues, finances, fear of travel. Beside each concern I also have written the date. Keeping track of answered prayers has made me more aware of God's hand in each situation: friends who were healed, safe travels, unexpected financial windfalls when funds were low, good health reports, lives rebuilt. Of course sometimes God answers "No." That's hard. I've lost several loved ones to illness, but even a "no" answer is an answer!
When I open my Bible, it falls open to Matthew 6:25. I've read it over and over: "Do not worry about your life..." In Luke 8:25 Jesus asks, "Where is your faith?" My faith is in the Lord, my savior and redeemer. We mustn't let fear or worry shadow that faith. [Phyllis Stone Church]
The Author: Phyllis Stone Church (Kentucky, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s timing is always perfect.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, calm our anxious hearts. Comfort us in our distress, and help us trust you more fully. Amen.
Prayer focus: TO LET GO OF WORRIES AND FEARS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "LIVING WATER" for Tuesday, 25 July 2017 - Read John 4:7-15
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John 4:7 A woman from Shomron came to draw some water; and Yeshua said to her, “Give me a drink of water.” 8 (His talmidim had gone into town to buy food.) 9 The woman from Shomron said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for water from me, a woman of Shomron?” (For Jews don’t associate with people from Shomron.) 10 Yeshua answered her, “If you knew God’s gift, that is, who it is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink of water,’ then you would have asked him; and he would have given you living water.”
11 She said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket, and the well is deep; so where do you get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Ya‘akov, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it, and so did his sons and his cattle.” 13 Yeshua answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again! On the contrary, the water I give him will become a spring of water inside him, welling up into eternal life!”
15 “Sir, give me this water,” the woman said to him, “so that I won’t have to be thirsty and keep coming here to draw water.”
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[Jesus] cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive. [John 7:37-39 (NRSV)]
I live in Texas, which can be extremely hot and dry in the summer. We recently endured a long, severe summer drought. Lakes that had once been filled with boats were dry, cracked dirt. People walked across river beds where they had previously gone swimming. Lawns that had been lush and green were dry, cracked, and brown.
The following spring we finally received heavy rains. Grass that was parched and dry became thick, lush, and green. Happy boaters and swimmers returned to the lakes and rivers.
At low points in my life, my soul has also felt dry and parched. My spirit probably has resembled a brown lawn or a dry creek bed. But by reaching out to God through prayer, worship, and Bible reading, my spirit flourishes again. Once again, my soul flows with God’s fresh and renewing water. God offers us a way to quench our thirst by drinking our fill of the living water God offers through Jesus Christ. The water God provides can restore what appears dry beyond recovery.
The Author: Dennis Burk (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s living water quenches my thirst.
Prayer: Dear God, when dry times come, we know that you offer living water that refills and renews our souls. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE EXPERIENCING DROUGHT
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "POWER TO PERSEVERE" for Monday, 24 July 2017 - Read Psalm 18:1-6
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Psalm 18:1 (0) For the leader. By David the servant of Adonai, who addressed the words of this song to Adonai on the day when Adonai delivered him from the power of all his enemies, including from the power of Sha’ul. 2 He said:
(1) “I love you, Adonai, my strength!
3 (2) “Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer,
my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter,
my shield, the power that saves me,
my stronghold.
4 (3) I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise;
and I am saved from my enemies.
5 (4) “For the cords of death surrounded me,
the floods of B’liya‘al terrified me,
6 (5) the ropes of Sh’ol were wrapped around me,
the snares of death lay there before me.
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I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [Philippians 4:13 (KJV)]
“Christ gives us power to persevere.” These words have been written on the chalkboard in my family’s kitchen since January 2003. At the time, I was in the habit of writing The Upper Room’s “Thought for the Day” on the chalkboard so that the whole family could meditate on it during the day. However, a family crisis occurred around the time I wrote, “Christ gives us power to persevere,” and the saying has remained on our chalkboard ever since. These words have reminded us to rely on Christ’s strength again and again.
The Bible tells us that God alone is the source of our strength (Pssalms 18:1; 28:7) and that we gain strength by waiting upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31). The apostle Paul learned this lesson through his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). We too can learn from difficult experiences.
Our chalkboard reminder that God through Christ empowers us to endure has seen our family through my grandma’s decade-long illness, a family friend’s suicide, my dad’s cancer diagnosis, and the deaths of my grandma and dad. In the years since then, these words have been a daily comfort to my mom and me. Rather than being a thought for a single day, the promise of Christ’s strength can be an encouraging reminder for us each and every day.
The Author:Janine A. Kuty (Virginia, USA)
Thought for the Day: Christ is my strength, today and every day.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for daily reminders of your love. Help us to rely on your strength each day. Amen.
Prayer focus: CAREGIVERS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "SEND SOMEONE ELSE!" for Sunday, 23 July 2017 - Read Exodus 4:1-12
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Exodus 4:1 Moshe replied, “But I’m certain they won’t believe me, and they won’t listen to what I say, because they’ll say, ‘Adonai did not appear to you.’” 2 Adonai answered him, “What is that in your hand?” and he said, “A staff.” 3 He said, “Throw it on the ground!” and he threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake, and Moshe recoiled from it. 4 Then Adonai said to Moshe, “Put your hand out and take it by the tail.” He reached out with his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This is so that they will believe that Adonai, the God of their fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya‘akov, has appeared to you!”
6 Furthermore Adonai said to him, “Now put your hand inside your coat.” He put his hand in his coat; and when he took it out his hand was leprous, as white as snow. 7 Then God said, “Now put your hand back in your coat.” He put his hand back in his coat; and when he took it out, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. 8 “If they won’t believe you or heed the evidence of the first sign, they will be convinced by the second. 9 But if they aren’t persuaded even by both these signs and still won’t listen to what you say, then take some water from the river, and pour it on the ground. The water you take from the river will turn into blood on the dry land.”
10 Moshe said to Adonai, “Oh, Adonai, I’m a terrible speaker. I always have been, and I’m no better now, even after you’ve spoken to your servant! My words come slowly, my tongue moves slowly.” 11 Adonai answered him, “Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes a person dumb or deaf, keen-sighted or blind? Isn’t it I, Adonai? 12 Now, therefore, go; and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what to say.”
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The LORD said to [Moses], “Who gave human beings their mouths? . . . Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” [Exodus 4:11-12 (NIV)]
Ever since I was 12 years old, attending church each week has given me a sense of peace; it lifts my spirit and helps me face the week ahead. But sometimes I have left church thinking, That sermon didn’t do much for me.
Recently, one sermon started tugging at my heart more powerfully than any had before. It was about serving Christ — not just letting the church serve me. Shortly after hearing that sermon, I read in the church bulletin of a need for Sunday school teachers. I wondered, Is this God talking to me? It can’t be—I’ve never been good with kids. When I told my friends that I was considering teaching, they laughed and said, “You’ll be eaten alive.”
I thought of the excuses Moses made when God asked him to lead the Israelites from slavery to the Promised Land. Like Moses, I wanted to say to God, “Please send someone else!” It took a full year of resisting God’s voice before I finally said, “OK, God, I will trust you,” and began teaching children at church.
One Sunday a boy who had always seemed uninterested in participating asked to speak to me after class. He said, “Miss, can I tell you about how I became a Christian?” I knew then that God had equipped me to serve my church.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Melissa Ramoo
I continued to be a volunteer scripture teacher for two years after the time I wrote about in my meditation. I wrote about a child who seemed uninterested in class and, amazingly, came to know God. However, the next year having an uninterested kid in my class would be the least of my concerns. Instead, I had three boys who spent their time rolling around inside their school bags, drawing Jesus as a donkey, an alien…you get the point. Two of the boys showed slight glimpses of wanting to be there, but their pack leader, Chris, didn’t.I must admit some nights before teaching scripture (okay, most), I would cry. I felt so out of my depth and disheartened. I’d complain to God that I was using my annual leave to teach scripture and could instead be at a tropical island, so couldn’t he make it a little easier for me??
For one full year before I volunteered, our church had unsuccessfully asked for scripture teachers, which meant three schools missed out that year. I personally knew the importance that scripture classes had on my own faith, so when I felt God’s prompting, I knew I had to become a scripture teacher. However, I continued to pray to God that he would find someone more suitable than me to teach. However, I began to realize that God was with me in many ways:
1. God’s provision - He provided another scripture teacher who used to be a missionary and was basically begging to teach scripture, as she loved working with kids.
2. God’s plan - During my time teaching scripture, there was a section at the front of each lesson to prepare teachers for the class. Often it helped explain how the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus; something I hadn’t quite grasped. Having previously thought that God was more harsh and cranky in the OT, I began to see a gracious, loving and forgiving Father from start to end. With an ignited passion for understanding the Bible, I made the decision to join Bible College part-time. It had taken me seven years to finish a four-year physiotherapy degree, and I swore I would never study again. But here I am with six years of study ahead!
3. God’s power - At my final Christmas assembly, Chris asked to speak to me after class. He told his friends to go away; something was up as he always had his pack by his side. He asked me “How do I know the resurrection was real and that Jesus really died and came alive?”
A million thoughts ran through my head—what just happened?! Did Chris just say the word "resurrection"? He was actually listening? Nine-year-old Chris who drew Mary farting on his book, while other kids diligently answered questions, is asking me a SERIOUS question?
I told Chris that after Jesus died, there was a disciple named Thomas who had doubts, just like he did. Jesus appeared to Thomas and asked him to put his finger through the holes on his hands, where he was nailed to the cross. Chris looked at me in amazement and said “WOW!” I saw this glaze of joy sweep across his face, he said thank you and ran off. That memory will remain in my heart forever – it is the sweetest of memories.
Let me leave you with this encouragement—I heard God’s voice; I trusted and followed even though I thought God chose the wrong person. I hope you will also take a leap of faith when you hear God’s voice. [Melissa Ramoo]
The Author: Melissa Ramoo (New South Wales, Australia)
Thought for the Day: Even with all my doubts and fears, I can bring others closer to Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to hear your voice and trust you when you call us to serve you in new ways. Amen.
Prayer focus: SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS
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