“Arise, get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” – 1 Kings 19:7′ Today’s passage was a message that an angel of the Lord gave to Elijah after he had outrun Ahab’s chariot, a distance of almost 6 miles, and then fled for his life. He was exhausted, discouraged and physically could go no further. But the Lord was preparing him for a much longer journey, 40 days to the mountain of God. No doubt you have at one time or another experienced complete exhaustion and frustration at the events of life. There are days that you simply cannot give one more ounce of anything…

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35 In the Old Testament God provided manna for the children of Israel one day at a time. Each day as they trusted in God’s provision, they would gather what was required and if they gathered more than needed, it would rot. Every day we have the opportunity to see our tasks, our to-do-lists, our relationships and our schedules as daily bread from God. Whatever the day brings we can know with assurance that He has already provided all that we will need to see it…

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:14 The phrase “I Am” in the passage above reflect on when God introduced Himself to Moses with the expression, “I Am who I Am.” This statement became a way to connect with God personally and was used throughout Israel’s history to convey that God always was, always is and always will be. In the New Testament Jesus gave seven “I Am” statements which help to teach us about His character and give us visual ways to understand His purpose, power, mercy and…

We have all heard about living the American dream which usually includes a respectable job, nice home, new cars, vacations and the appearance that everything is just perfect. But the truth is that it’s just a dream. In time our beauty fades, relationships change and we can lose our jobs, homes, health and money. The storms of life can wash away our dream lives that are built on sand. Jesus told us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” He said, “I am the bread of life, I have the words…

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19 Yesterday I was in the grocery store as several shoppers clamored to buy, balloons, flowers, chocolates and cards all to express their love to their Valentine. I looked at…

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8 Have you ever had one of those days where it feels you have a constant struggle with your attitude? You want to be joyful and happy because you have every reason to be, yet you still feel grouchy and unsettled. That was exactly how I was feeling today and thankfully God had an answer to my prayer for a peaceful spirit. – a paradigm shift. After I prayed and asked God to help me with my attitude I began reading a devotional that said, “You don’t fight for victory. You fight…

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. – Psalm 32:8 Yesterday we talked about the different places that the Lord lead the Israelites, each with a purpose of teaching them about the redemption He had provided for them, and us, before the creation of the world. His desire was that they would trust Him completely regardless of where He took them or what He asked them to do. 1 Corinthians 10:6 tell us that these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Over and over…

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1 I was studying in the Old Testament this week and read about the multiple times that the Israelites were thirsty. The first time the Lord had led them from the Red Sea into the desert to a place called Marah where they found undrinkable, bitter water. They grumbled to Moses who cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a piece of wood that when thrown into the water would make it become fit to drink. (Exodus…