MY PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto 

you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let 

not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Photo provided by Sadie Marea

Do you ever feel like the little scrub in the photo?  

Feel like you are out there in this world all alone. 

Feel there is no support around you and that the

harshness of your surrounding will soon  

over take you. 

I think we have all been to that point at 

times in our lives.  Seems like the harder

we try the further we fall.  That is 

not always a bad thing.  This last couple 

years in my life has pushed me outside 

my box and working in organizations

that are doing things that have never 

been tried before.  Doing so is a 

welcome invitation to failure.  But that 

doesn't stop the tears from flowing 

when I stop and think I am alone 

battling things the average woman 

would never consider battling. 

Prior to the light bulb being invented, 

failure triumphed every day for a long

period of time. 

After the light bulb was invented there 

have been thousands of bulbs that 

have gone out leaving us standing in the 

dark.  Yet how thankful we are that 

someone took the time to try, try again. 

"Never give up," has been my motto and 

"Slow go is better than no go" but there 

are days I feel like the scrub sitting 

out among the rocks basking in the 

hot sun and I must take the time to 

pull away and have my soul restored

so that I might continue to press toward 

the mark. 

What shall we then say to these things? 

If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

THE DARKLING BEETLE TEACHES THAT PATIENCE CAN BRING RESTORATION AND LIFE

Photo by Sadie Marea

Have you ever heard of the darkling beetle?

Scientist many times find animals and plants and mimic them to bring forth a new revolutionary concept.  The darking beetle is one such case.  Scientists have created ways to collect water from the atmosphere by creating a cool location with equipment that resembles the back of a darkling beetle.  When the fog moves in and the cool air mixes together with it; condensation is formed and collected.

The beetle has a hard shell back with bumps and ridges.  It sometimes lives in extremely dry harsh terrain. This hasn't stopped the beetle from thriving.

There are many of God's creations available to his children if they but take the time to look at his vast creation and capture the knowledge.  Israel is one of the desert regions and yet has learned how to capture the moisture and is now a vibrant agricultural country and has taken the lead in agricultural export.

What can we learn if we but be patient and watch all God's wondrous works.

As the night approaches in the desert the darkling beetle turns his back in the direction the wind is blowing as the fog settles.  This is called fog basking.  As the fog moves in, the darkling beetle turns it's rear up into the air.  As the dew settles on the hard waxy shell it forms puddles, collects and eventually forms a stream that runs down the beetles back and into its mouth.

This act takes extreme patience and endurance, yet to survive the desert almost standing on his head is required for a mere drop of water.

The Lord has supplied us with the ability to survive our storms also and many times our stubborn hearts try to find a million different ways to survive and we become wounded, angry, and even blame our great God for not meeting our need.

I can assure you if the God of the universe created a way for the darkling beetle to survive in the desert, he also has provided for our needs.

Discouragement can set in and we run to facebook to be encouraged, we run to the TV to assist, we run to our friends and family to try to settle our hearts and we find most of the time we are still as discouraged when we get through.

Just the other day I was battling something and started quoting Psalm 103:1-5 and found my heart was settled.  It was to my soul as the dew was to the darkling beetle.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is

 within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget

not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine 

iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who 

crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender 

mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good 

things; so that thy youth is renewed 

like the eagle’s.

[1] https://permaculturenews.org/2017/02/28/harvesting-water-inspired-darkling-beetle/

IS THERE NOT CAUSE

What is your purpose? What is your cause?
Devotion by Steve Long


Photo by Clint McCoy on unsplash

When David was just a young man, too young to go to war, his Father sent him out to take food to the troops of Israel who were engaging the Philistines in battle. All of David’s brothers were out on the battlefield. While there, he saw the Philistine champion, the gargantuan Goliath – all nine feet of him – arrayed in massive armor.

David heard Goliath blaspheme his God, Jehovah, and belittle the army of Israel. He said to his oldest brother, Eliab, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" [i]

Eliab rebuked David for even being out there, implying that he should be with the sheep, although it was David’s father who had sent him out.

David’s answer to Eliab was this: “Is there not a cause?”

Many times I have thought of that question. It is one we should ponder when disparaged, discouraged or distracted.

When Disparaged:

David had been castigated by his brother and others who thought they understood David’s motives but did not.

If others scorn you or question your motives just remind yourself that there really is a cause.

When Discouraged:

When you have pursued that which you believed in and you knew was right, people may oppose you. It can become quite disheartening. Don’t let them cause you to falter.

You may have grown weary in your pursuit but the word of God says: “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” [ii] Don’t lose heart; God will give you a second wind and allow you to fight the fight and finish the course. Many great people of God have been discouraged; Paul, Elijah, we might could even say Jesus, but the Father gave each one the strength to go on.

When Distracted:

Sometimes we can get diverted from the great cause of God. God’s work may not be fun and flashy. As you continue your walk with him there will be those who will try to drag you down with the trivial dainties of life. We must not allow ourselves to become detoured from the call which God has placed upon us.

If your work in the Lord comes to a standstill, it is not time to resign. It is only an opportunity to reload.

If the winds are not blowing satisfactorily upon your sails, allowing you to go forward, don’t abandon the cause – just reset your sails and pray that the wind of God’s Spirit will blow upon you again. You must be ready to move.

What is the Cause of which all of us should be involved?

Be careful here. The Cause is not a little soapbox on which we stand or a big drum that we must keep beating. It is not some small matter of which we have chosen to preoccupy ourselves. It must be The Cause – not a cause.

We are all gifted in some way. None of us are gifted equally by God. Some are gifted to preach or teach; others to give, serve, show mercy or a number of other things.

Some of us have certain natural talents that others don’t have and then visa versa.

We have all been through certain life circumstances that have led us to the place where are now. The place we occupy is unique. No one else on earth is exactly where you are right now with your gifts, natural talents and life circumstances. This is your distinctive situation for which God has placed you.
Because of this, there will be certain subcauses that will capture your attention. This might include academics, apologetics, athletic ministry, care for the elderly, children’s advocacy, compassion toward the homeless and outcasts, cult education, financial expertise, governmental influence, international missions, marital counseling, men’s ministry, music ministry, occult education and deliverance, prison ministry, the right to life, strengthening the family, teaching children, work with orphans, youth ministry, and etc.

Each of these is a good endeavor. One of them may be where God has chosen to bring you to operate and there is nothing wrong with any of them. This is finding your niche. May you not only find it but also flourish in it.

BUT … none of these is really the great cause in which a Christian is to be committed to.

I remember hearing Dr. James Dobson, who founded Focus on the Family and Family Talk, once say something to this effect: He said that if anyone thought his ministry was about family, they had missed it. He said it was not really about the cause of family but about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We were made for the glory of God. The scriptures say, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." [iii]You were made for the glory of God. If you don’t accomplish that, you come short of what you were created for.
He is our cause.

Evangelism is our call, [iv] but Jesus Christ is our cause.

So whether you are out in the neighborhood passing out tracts, distributing food for the hungry, advocating for the poor and powerless or studying your bible, do it for Christ who is our cause.

[i] 1 Samuel 17.26
[ii] 2 Thessalonians 3.13
[iii] Isaiah 43.7 While this verse refers specifically to Israel, I believe it applies equally to his people today.
[iv] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16.15)

MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 

and they follow me: And I give unto them 

eternal life; and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of 

my hand. My Father, which gave them 

me, is greater than all; and no man is 

able to pluck them out of my Father’s 

hand. and my Father are one.

John 10:27-30 

NOT WALKING IN DARKNESS

Then spake Jesus again unto

them, saying, I am the light

of the world: he that

followeth me shall not

walk in darkness, but

shall have the light of life.

John 8:12

THE LORD'S MERCIES

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not 

consumed, because his compassions fail

not.  They are new every morning: great

is thy faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion,

saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

The LORD is good unto them that wait for

him, to the soul that seeketh him.  It is good

that a man should both hope and quietly

wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26

I WILL LOOK UNTO THE LORD

Photo provided by Bettina Buch Booth

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; 

I will wait for the God of my salvation: 

my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE

Photo provided by Becky Whiteman Sparks

...I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW

Photo provided by Cricket White Green 

 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking 

out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, 

and live? Or hath God assayed to go and 

take him a nation from the midst of another 

nation, by temptations, by signs, and by 

wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, 

and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, 

according to all that the LORD your God did 

for you in Egypt before your eyes?  Unto thee 

it was shewed, that thou mightest know that 

the LORD he is God; there is none else 

beside him. Out of heaven he made thee to 

hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: 

and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; 

and thou heardest his words out of the midst 

of the fire.  And because he loved thy fathers, 

therefore he chose their seed after them, and 

brought thee out in his sight with his mighty 

power out of Egypt;  To drive out nations from 

before thee greater and mightier than thou art, 

to bring thee in, to give thee their land for 

an inheritance, as it is this day.  Know therefore 

this day, and consider it in thine heart, that 

the LORD he is God in heaven above, and 

upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

Deuteronomy 4:33-39

SEEK THE LORD

Photo by Rennie Brandow

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap 

in mercy; break up your fallow ground: 

for it is time to seek the LORD, till he 

come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

FISHERS OF MEN

\Photo provided by Macie Rae Halley 

And he saith unto them, Follow me, 

and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:19

MORE THAN JUST A NAME

Behold, what manner of love the Father 

hath bestowed upon us, that we should 

be called the sons of God: therefore the 

world knoweth us not, because it 

knew him not.

I John 3:1

LOOK TO ME

Photo provided by Tammy Stein Dore 

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends 

of the earth: for I am God, and there is 

none else.

Isaiah 45:22

I HAVE MADE THE EARTH

Video clips provided Kassidy Mitchell 

I have made the earth, and created 

man upon it: I, even my hands, have 

stretched out the heavens, and all their 

host have I commanded.

Psalm 45:12

LET THE SKIES POUR DOWN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Photos provided by Tammy Stein Dore 

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, 

and let the skies pour down righteousness: 

let the earth open, and let them bring forth 

salvation, and let righteousness spring 

up together; I the LORD have created it.

Psalm 45:8

THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE

Photo provided by Femmie Thieme Jaasma

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection,

and the life: he that believeth in me, though 

he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever 

liveth and believeth in me shall never die. 

Believest thou this  She saith unto him, Yea, 

Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, 

the Son of God, which should come 

into the world.

John 11:25-27

BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all 

that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and 

forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth 

all thine iniquities; who healeth all 

thy diseases;  Who redeemeth thy life 

from destruction; who crowneth thee 

with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; 

so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD executeth righteousness and 

judgment for all that are oppressed. He 

made known his ways unto Moses, his 

acts unto the children of Israel.  The LORD is 

merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 

plenteous in mercy.  He will not always 

chide: neither will he keep his anger for 

ever.  He hath not dealt with us after our 

sins; nor rewarded us according to our 

iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above 

the earth, so great is his mercy toward them 

that fear him.  As far as the east is from 

the west, so far hath he removed our 

transgressions from us.

PSALM 103: 1-12

GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

Photo provided by Kassidy Mitchell

Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake 

thou didst not utterly consume them, 

nor forsake them; for thou art a 

gracious and merciful God.  Now therefore, 

our God, the great, the mighty, and the 

terrible God, who keepest covenant and 

mercy, let not all the trouble seem little 

before thee, that hath come upon us, 

on our kings, on our princes, and on 

our priests, and on our prophets, and on 

our fathers, and on all thy people, since 

the time of the kings of Assyria unto 

this day.  Howbeit thou art just in 

all that is brought upon us; for 

thou hast done right, but we have 

done wickedly:

Nehemiah 9:31-33

FILL THE WATERS

Photo provided by Sadie Marea

  And God said, Let the waters bring forth 

abundantly the moving creature that 

hath life, and fowl that may fly above 

the earth in the open firmament of 

heaven. And God created great whales, 

and every living creature that moveth, 

which the waters brought forth abundantly, 

after their kind, and every winged fowl 

after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, Be 

fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in 

the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Genesis 1:21-22

THE HOST OF HEAVEN WORSHIPS THEE

Photo provided by Sadie Marea 

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou 

hast made heaven, the heaven of 

heavens, with all their host, the earth, 

and all things that are therein, the seas, 

and all that is therein, and thou 

preservest them all; and the host of 

heaven worshippeth thee.

Nehemiah 9:6