A Word In Due Season
1st Week of October 2008

10/01/08
FAITHFUL IN THE FEW THINGS

Scripture: Matthew 25:21 "You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the Lord."

In relating this story, Jesus lets us know that our destiny and joy depends upon our faithfulness to be good stewards over the things that God has set before us. God places within our hearts a dream and endows us with the gifts and talents to fulfill that vision. However, before the vision comes to pass, it is met with many challenging circumstances, and we find ourselves in positions that are far from the dream that is in our heart. Many times our place of service to God seems so small in our own eyes and our area of ministry seems so limited. Like Jabez, we pray for God to enlarge our territories but instead He tries our faith and tests our motives.

Throughout scripture, we see men who waited for the promises of God to come in their lives. Meanwhile, they remained faithful in their place of service regardless of how meager it may have seemed to them at the time. They exercised diligence and patience, waiting until God's appointed and appropriate time. Joseph was enslaved and bound in prison before God's dream came to pass in his life, but Joseph worked hard and gained favor with everyone around him (Genesis 39:4). He was faithful in the small things and God made him ruler over much. Elisha was plowing in the field behind twelve oxen when the prophet Elijah cast his mantle upon him and called Elisha into the ministry (I Kings 19:19). Elisha could have become discouraged as he worked daily in the hot sun following behind dirty oxen, but he remained faithful in the place where he was until God called him. David was also found faithful until God promoted him. He cared for a few sheep that were entrusted to him even though he had been anointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel (I Samuel 16:13). And Jesus waited until He was thirty years old before His ministry took shape and form.

Just like these great men, God has a time and a place for you. He wants you to continue to walk towards your destiny regardless of how long the journey may seem. You must not allow yourself to become discouraged by your seemingly small and insignificant place, but remain faithful as you look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Plow the fields that He has placed you in and care for His sheep. At the appointed and appropriate time, He will acknowledge your faithfulness and hard work and will make you ruler over much. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/02/08
ENCOURAGING YOURSELF

Scripture: I Samuel 30:6 "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

Have you ever been so discouraged that it seemed that you couldn't cry any more? You may have felt like your whole world was falling apart around you. Your possessions were gone and you were separated from the ones you loved dearly for one reason or another. No one understood your situation and even your friends had turned away from you.

These are the circumstances that David found himself in when he and his men came home to their city, Ziklag. They found the city burned and their wives and children taken captive by the enemy. "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep" (Verse 4). They had spent all of their tears. Further discouragement came to David when his men blamed him for this disastrous situation and talked of stoning him. David was greatly distressed because of his own grief and because of the many accusations.

However, David did not allow himself to stay in this place of discouragement, distress, and grief. He rose above the negative circumstances and began to encourage himself in the Lord. He didn't wait for someone else to get him out of the pit of depression. David ministered to himself and reminded himself of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Then he asked the Lord what to do about his desperate situation. God instructed David to pursue the enemy and gave David a promise that he would "overtake the enemy and, without fail, recover all." God's promise was true and came to pass just as He had said it would.

No matter how desperate your situation may be today, God also has a promise of victory for you. When you find yourself in a place of discouragement and find there is no one else to turn to, encourage yourself in the Lord. When you feel that you don't have enough strength to shed another tear, remember that God specializes in things that seem impossible. He has not changed. He is still your God and He will deliver you. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/03/08
GOD IS FAITHFUL

Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandment to a thousand generations."

God is always faithful to keep His word. When He tells you to do something or go somewhere, He waits for your obedience to carry out His instructions. Then, when you move in that direction, He makes the crooked way straight and opens the path before you. He leads you through green pastures and beside still waters. He provides every need for the journey and the anointing for the mission. He never fails to honor His covenant but also will not do anything until you step out in faith.

Obeying God's voice and following His commands may not always be easy, but it will always be possible. God may not share His master plan with you or accomplish it in the same manner as He did in the past, for God is creative. He is big on doing new things and His ways are past finding out. If God tells you to go to the other side of the lake, His presence will go before you. He may calm the waters so your ship can cross safely, or He may roll back the water and allow you to cross on dry ground like He did with Moses and the children of Israel. Then again, He may cause you to walk on the water. You just have to flow with His plan.

Arthur Blessed, the gentleman that walked across this nation and many others carrying a large cross, made this statement about obedience to God. He said:

"If God says to do something or go somewhere...
I get on a plane.
If there is no plane - I get on a train.
If there is no train - I get on a bus.
If there is no bus - I walk.
If I can't walk - I just fall in that direction!

In the walk of faith, you will find that God does not act until you move. He doesn't dry up the sea until your feet touch the water. He won't calm the storm unless you are making your way across the lake. And you will never walk on the water in faith if you don't get out of the boat. You must never allow doubt to pollute your faith. Instead, you must act on God's word. "Whatever He says unto you, do it" (John 2:5). The Lord is God, He is faithful, and He will keep His word. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of October 2008

10/06/08
TRUST IN THE POTTER'S HANDS

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:4 "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: So he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it."

From the very beginning, the potter had an image in his mind of the vessel that he desired to form. He chose a particular piece of clay, but as he began to work with the clay, it was ruined in his hands. Please notice that when the clay became marred or ruined that it was in the hands of the potter. There were several possibilities of why the clay was marred. Air bubbles, hard pieces of unpliable clay, or foreign objects like pebbles may have worked their way to the surface as the potter applied pressure to the clay. As the air bubbles or foreign material came to the surface, the potter had to separate them from the clay, which caused void places to occur in the clay. If these void areas had not been dealt with, they would have weakened and ultimately destroyed the vessel being created. Perhaps the clay refused to yield to the potter's will as it spun around on the wheel. Whatever the case, the clay had to be crushed and reworked. Yet, the potter never became discouraged, as he patiently made it into another vessel that seemed good to him.

Sometimes we may feel like the crushed clay and wonder, "What's next?" We thought we were on our way to victory and happiness but found that as God worked with us, hard areas of pride and things foreign to His will began to expose themselves in our lives. Our emotions, self esteem, and our very lives are marred by situations and circumstances beyond our control. We find our hopes and dreams failing. Then, as God begins to separate us from things in our lives, void places begin to appear within us and we find that we are not as complete as we thought we were. We may even begin to strive with our Maker and question His work, challenging Him as to why we are not like others. And like the scripture in Isaiah 45:9, we may ask, "What do you think you are making?"

Just like the potter, God knows exactly what He is trying to fashion. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I know the thoughts or plans I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." From the very beginning, God envisions a plan and a purpose for your life, and He works diligently to mold you into that destiny. As He works with you, there may be pressures and disappointments, but always remember that you are in the Potter's hands. These are the same hands that were nailed to the cross. And even though you have been marred and crushed, you can trust these nail pierced hands to mold you and make you into the vessel that He desires. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/07/08
OBEDIENCE FROM THE HEART

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:29 (Living Bible) "Oh, that they would always have such a heart for Me, wanting to obey My commandments. Then all would go well with them in the future."

God speaks to us through His word and instructs us in the ways of righteousness. He tells us to depart from evil and to always do good. He makes His commandments very plain and teaches us through the example of Jesus that it is not just the letter of the law, but also the attitude of the heart that matters. He wants us to serve Him with all of our heart, all of the time. Jesus taught that it is just as bad to have a heart full of lust or murderous thoughts as it is to commit the acts themselves.

I am reminded of a story about a man who was tired of seeing the cars speeding near the school where his child attended. He had the children's welfare and safety in his heart so he decided to make use of his time each day by conditioning the traffic to drive slower in that vicinity. He simply sat in his car and pointed a hair dryer out of the window. Thinking that the hair dryer was a radar detector, all the drivers began to slow their vehicles down because they did not want to suffer the consequences of a speeding ticket. After a while, they were conditioned to drive slower, not because they had the protection of the children in their minds, but because of the anticipation that a radar trap may be in the area.

God said, "Oh, that you would always have a heart for Me and want to obey Me." We worship God with our lives through our obedience to Him. God doesn't want us to obey His commandments only because we think that someone is watching us or that we are on His radar screen. He wants us to obey always with our whole heart regardless of the rewards that we may receive or the consequences that await us. God has a plan and a purpose for every word that He has spoken and He takes great pride when we submit to Him, for His words bring life. He spoke to Adam and Eve and told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was not because He wanted to keep the fruit from them, but because He was seeking to protect them. When they disobeyed and ate the fruit, He was forced to remove the tree of life from their midst and death resulted. We are God's main interest and He is concerned about our lives. Each word that He speaks directs our future and brings about the destiny that He has planned for our lives. We must make sure that our hearts are towards Him and that we are obeying His words so that all will go well in our future. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/08/08
GOOD THINGS FROM GOD

Scripture: Psalms 84:11 "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

Responsible fathers and mothers put away intended gifts and postpone special privileges for their children until the appropriate season. So it is with our Heavenly Father. There are blessings available for each and every one of us, but our wise Father withholds them until we are ready to receive them. He is very generous with His gifts but looks for a heart that is pure and one that He can trust to act with integrity. He also searches for a heart that is sensitive to His wishes and has a desire to meet the needs of others. When the Lord finds a heart that mirrors His attributes and one whose greatest desire is to serve Him and to bless His people, He shares Himself with that individual and withholds no good thing.

The Lord is our Shepherd, and a good shepherd provides everything that his sheep need. A shepherd does not withhold provisions or leave the sheep unprotected. He is with them always and they have nothing to fear, for he will lay down his own life for his sheep. He is their constant companion and is there daily to lead them to green pastures and beside still waters. He sees to every detail and allows no lack to enter their life. He is sensitive to the their hurts and pains and when they are injured, He treats their wounds and pours oil on their bruises. When the storm threatens or danger presents itself, he calms their spirits with soft words and gently sings over them.

This is a picture of our loving Lord who is always there to meet our need more abundantly than we could ask or think. His provisions are never meager to those whom He can trust and He will do all that He can do physically and spiritually to enhance their life for His glory. Yet many times in our struggle for the things that we need, we fail to walk uprightly and our life and focus is found lacking because we have strayed away from the Good Shepherd. We may not be involved in deliberate and outright sin, but we either neglect or leave our first love. Instead of loving the Lord God with all of our heart and seeking His Kingdom first, we allow other things to crowd out our communion with the Lord. We must look at our lives and become more determined to follow the Lord, our Shepherd, and not allow anything to hinder our relationship with Him. When He sees us following Him and walking in His footsteps, He will not withhold any good thing. +++

God speak Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/09/08
FULLNESS OF JOY

Scripture: Psalms 16:11 "You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

For David, there was one place that guaranteed joy and true pleasure, and that was the presence of the Lord. David had many disappointments with relationships in his life. His father, Jesse, left him in the field tending the sheep and overlooked him when Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king. David's brothers talked down to him when he came to the battlefield to deliver food. King Saul, whom he faithfully served, tried to kill him several times. At Ziklag, David's own army talked of stoning him. His wife, Michal, mocked him as he worshiped God, and his son, Absalom, rebelled against him and tried to take his kingdom.

However, when those who were supposed to love and support him failed, David found that he could always trust the Lord. He blessed the Lord who gave him counsel and instructed him in his darkest hours. In verse eight, David said, "Because I always looked to the Lord, I can not be shaken or moved." His confidence and security was in God, and even in the most difficult situations, David found joy in God's presence. We see this in many of the psalms as David prayed or talked to the Lord. At the beginning of the psalm, he would be in distress and grief, but as David communed with God and experienced His presence, joy would come, and praise would spring up within his heart.

In verse nine, David said that when his heart was joyful, even his flesh rested. In the natural, we all have those special friends and family that we like to be around because there is something about their presence that lifts us up. When we are with them, we are full of joy and experience pleasure because they encourage us, comfort us, and make us laugh. We make plans to be with them because we know that their presence will cause us to relax and that relaxation will regenerate our bodies, souls, and spirits. In the same way, the presence of the eternal God infuses us with life and joy when we choose to be in His presence. The Lord is with you right now. Take a few moments throughout the day to consciously acknowledge the presence of God in your life, for Jesus said, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). Speak aloud to Jesus and tell Him that you know that He is there with you. As you do, you will experience the quietness of His presence and He will fill you with joy. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/10/08
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S

Scripture:  II Chronicles 20:15  "Thus says the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed ... for the battle is not yours, but God's."

Have you ever made these statements to God?

1)  God, would you look at what is happening to me?
2)  I'm not strong enough to do anything about my situation.
3)  Even if I were strong enough, God, I don't know what to do.

These words were part of Jehoshaphat's prayer to God in II Chronicles 20:10-12 when the enemy came against him.  When fear gripped him, he set himself to seek the Lord.  As he prayed to God, he said, "The enemy came to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit."

How many times do you find yourself in the same situation where it seems the devil is trying to take away the very thing that God gave to you?  He does his very best to get you out of the will of God and to disinherit you from God's promises for your life.  You recognize it as an attack from the enemy, but everything seems to be totally out of your hands.  Your battle may be in the area of your health, finances, or relationships, but like Jehoshaphat, you have no might to fight this battle.  What do you do?  The answer comes in Jehoshaphat's example to us.  He said to the Lord, "We have no might to stand against this great multitude.  Neither do we know what to do.  BUT, OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU."  His answer was to keep his eyes on God.  As the people of Judah stood before God, the Spirit of the Lord came to answer their prayer.  The answer was, "Don't be afraid or dismayed, the battle is not yours, but God's."

I was once in a very difficult situation and felt that I needed to take some action and do something.  Anything would have been better than just waiting for God to move.  In my desperation, I talked with my son, and he told me to recall the last thing that God spoke to me about the situation.  He said, "If God hasn't said anything else about it, then just remain still and wait until He gives further instructions."  These few words imparted a wealth of wisdom into my soul that I have never forgotten.  The army never goes into battle until the commander speaks, no matter how ready or anxious the soldiers may be.  You must remember that God is your commander and chief.  Wait upon Him.  If you'll keep your eyes on Him in the midst of the battle, He will lead and direct you.  Don't worry if you don't have the might to fight.  The battle belongs to the Lord! +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of October 2008

10/13/08
SPIRIT OF TRUTH

Scripture: Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man that He should lie."

God speaks only truth into our lives because He is the Spirit of Truth. He doesn't repent or turn back on the words that He has spoken, for He cannot lie. He fulfills every promise and stands by His covenant. James 1:17 says "There is no variation or shadow of turning with God." He is a constant God, setting the days, seasons, and years into motion, and then keeping it all on tract and in order. He has a lot to take care of, yet He is never too busy to be concerned with our personal affairs. His word tells us that "All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). If He can keep the whole world and universe in line, we can trust Him to cause our lives to also come together.

When His Holy Spirit inspired the words, "All things work together for good," those words were meant to lead us into God's truth. God meant just what He said, even though during times of rough and endless battles, we may have our doubts. God knew that there would be seasons that our faith would be challenged so He gave us many scriptures to dispel those doubts and to let us know that regardless of how things look on the outside, God is working a greater work on the inside of the whole situation. All things are going to work out for good because He is going to take the lemons of our life and make them into lemonade. The situation may be bitter in the process, but God will cause sweetness to come out of it, just like the incident at the wedding in Cana of Galilee when He turned the water into wine.

People make many promises that they don't or can't keep. But God doesn't make any empty promises, for He is well able to perform all the words that He has spoken. He has good plans for you and whatever He told you will come to pass. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you a future and a hope." When the way seems narrow and the road seems long, remember His words and let Him guide you through your situation. Don't lean upon your own understanding. Trust the Lord. As you allow Him to direct your path, all things will work out for good. Listen to the still small voice of the Spirit of Truth, keep your faith in Him, and trust His words because good results are on the way. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/14/08
GIVING

Scripture: Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you..."

There is a inspiring story about giving that I would like to share with you. A woman moved back to the farm where she had been raised as a child. She soon noticed some special plants blooming in the flower garden, which her mother had planted years ago. The plants were a sweet reminder of the times that she and her mother had shared together so she weeded the garden and gave the plants special care. Then one day an elderly neighbor passed by and noticed her garden and the rare plants. The woman could see the desire in her neighbor's eyes, but was reluctant to part with her few precious plants that had belonged to her own mother. However, she finally dug up a few of them and gave them to her grateful neighbor to enjoy.

A few years later, the woman who had shared her plants lost her few remaining plants during a bitterly cold winter, and not even the slightest seedling survived. She desperately searched the garden but none of the special plants remained. A few weeks later, in the Spring, her elderly neighbor called her on the phone, as the woman's neighbor had heard that her plants were all lost. The elderly neighbor told her that her own plants had made it through the winter and were doing fine. Later that afternoon she brought some of the plants to the original owner. It was more seedlings than the woman had originally given to her neighbor years before.

This story teaches that sharing doesn't mean losing. Jesus shared with us this same principle of giving. He said, "Give, and it shall be given back to you." In fact, He said that you would receive more than you originally gave. He also said that it would return to you pressed down, shaken together, and running over, for you can never out give God. The more you give, the more you receive. Like these precious plants, it may not come back immediately, but it will come back and at the right time. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, "Cast your bread upon the waters: for you will find it after many days." It has been stated that your gifts may leave your hands, but they never leave your life. Some way and somehow God will cause them to return to you. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/15/08
GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY

Scripture: I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour."

Just as we are on guard for our safety in the natural, we must be the same in our spiritual welfare. Peter said that we have to be sober-minded or well balanced and temperate. We also must be watching for our adversary and cautious at all times, for the devil is like a fierce hungry lion who is ready to devour his prey. He roams about just looking for opportunities. In the natural, if we received word that a lion or some other danger was lurking in the darkness waiting for a chance to attack, we would take every precaution to protect ourselves. We would lock our doors and be very vigilant if we went out. Yet many times in the spiritual realm, we leave the door to our hearts wide open without regard to dangers that are near.

I work in an office that has two doors that have access to the street. I am alone there for as much as eight hours of the day so I always lock both of the doors, which have a regular lock and a dead bolt. Recently, when it was time to go home I couldn't find my keys. I finally discovered that they were still in the lock on the outside of the door. The phone was ringing when I had unlocked the door to come in that morning and in my haste I had shut and locked the door from the inside but had left the keys on the outside. The keys had a large wood carved fish attached to them and were very visible to anyone who may have wanted to enter, as they dangled in the lock all day long. In reality, when I thought that I was safe, I actually had unknowingly left myself unguarded and subject to the opportunities of harm.

Life is like that many times. We shut and lock the doors of our hearts on the inside and are unaware that we have left the keys on the outside. We think that we are totally protected but instead, we are vulnerable to spiritual attack. The Apostle Paul told us not to give any opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). We must guard our hearts above all things and be established in our faith. We can't harbor sin, hate, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, or anything that is contrary to God's word because when we do we allow it to dangle as keys on the outside of our hearts. These things give opportunity to the devil and are an open invitation for him to come in. We must remember that the devil is a fierce enemy and we must remain vigilant concerning his strategies. He walks about looking for a chance to devour hearts that are vulnerable. We cannot allow ourselves to be naive or negligent in any area of our lives but must make sure that when we have shut and locked the doors to our hearts that we are still holding the keys. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/16/08
WORKED UP OVER NOTHING

Scripture: Luke 10:41 (Message Bible) "You're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing."

Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are fussing far too much and worked up over nothing? These are the words that He spoke to Martha when she was disturbed because Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha was so busy that she could not embrace the wonder of the moment. The miracle worker, Jesus, was there in her presence but she had more important things to do than to just stop and sit at His feet. Instead of listening to the awesome revelations that were proceeding from His lips, she received a kind rebuke. Jesus let Martha know that she was troubled about too many things in her life and was burdened with responsibilities that she needed to put aside for a season. She desperately needed to let go of the concerns of life and make Jesus the priority and Lord of her life for a moment.

Life is a journey that is meant to be enjoyed, but the tragedy is that we often get so busy that we miss life itself. Like Martha, our natural obligations take precedence over the things that are eternally important. We make ourselves into slaves and serve the need to serve. God never instructed us to be busy about so many things. He told us to abide in Him and in His words so that our prayers would be answered and our lives would be fruitful and fulfilled. God never promised rewards to those who were just busy. He said the fruitful life is the one that brings glory to God (John 15:8). We must learn the difference between what is good and what is best. Jesus was never stressed or in a frenzy because He had the wisdom to pull away from everything that surrounded Him so that He could spend time with His Father and also rest His natural body.

Take a close look at your daily commitments and be honest in your evaluation of your responses to life. Are you like Martha? Are you finding yourself fussing far too much and worked up over things that not eternally important? If you take a moment to consider Mary's approach to life, you will notice that she didn't allow the burdens of life to steal the precious moments that were offered to her. She let everything go just to sit and rest at the feet of Jesus. Jesus extends the same invitation to you. He says, "Come unto me all you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." When you come to Jesus and rest in His presence, your attitudes will change because your burdens will become light. Instead of being worked up about nothing and worn out over everything, you will have peace in your spirit and fresh strength for your body and soul. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/17/08
GOD LOOKS FOR FAITH

Scripture: Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw their faith ..."

Four men went to great trouble to bring their friend to Jesus. They had such faith that Jesus was the answer to their friend's need that they literally tore the roof apart to get him there. When Jesus saw their tenacious faith, He healed their friend. There were many needs there that day, but Jesus responded to the need that exercised faith. He saw that by their desperate actions these men believed in Him and had faith in His healing power.

When Jesus ministered in His own hometown, however, He was not able to do many mighty works because of the unbelief in the hearts of the people (Matthew 13:58). The people heard Jesus teach in the synagogue and were astonished at His wisdom. They also marveled at the mighty works that He did, but they were offended because of His humble estate. Even after seeing His mighty works, they would not believe because they were too familiar with Him as a person and knew His family. They said, "Is this not the carpenter's son?" They just couldn't find it in their hearts to honor Jesus as the Messiah. Their unbelief made it impossible for them to receive from His gracious hand.

Our natural minds are trained to limit God and find reasons not to believe. Too often, we underestimate God and in so doing, we fail to receive what He has already provided. Yet, God is still attracted by faith! He looks for it. II Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole Earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them." God longs to show His great power in your situation. He wants to heal you, provide for your needs, and deliver you in times of trouble. He watches to see if there is faith in your heart and if you are desperate to get your needs met.

James 5:17 says, "The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James referred to Elijah, a man with passions like us, who prayed seven times for rain to come. When his prayer was not answered the first time, he just kept on asking. He knocked and kept on knocking. His perseverance in prayer was like the men who brought their friend to Jesus. Just like these men, Elijah had no intention of giving up. True faith carries the burden until an answer comes and the victory is won. It will not quit and it will not allow adversity or circumstances to hinder it. True faith will tear up a roof if necessary to get to Jesus. Faith is a force that reaches the heart of God and when Jesus sees it, it's impossible for Him not to respond. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of October 2008

10/20/08
WORRY IS VAIN

Scripture: Psalms 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for He gives His beloved sleep."

There are issues in life and many times it seems that things are spinning totally out of control. Our jobs come to an end, our health fails, our finances are depleted, and we unable to resolve problems with our relationships. There are many sorrows that afflict our souls. We find ourselves earnestly making an effort to remain patient in these situations, hoping that relief will come soon and free us from our dilemma. Yet, many times we find ourselves staying up late and pacing the floors in the midnight hours as we search for solutions. King Solomon advised that it was useless for us to allow our problems to bring us to this state because God is able to give us rest in every situation. We are His beloved children and even though we may face times of adversity, the Lord doesn't want us to be held captive by a spirit of worry and stress. When it is time to sleep, He wants us to lay down in peace.

There were two birds that were held captive in a cage. One flew around and beat his wings against the bars in an effort to escape, continually crying, "I don't know what to do. I can't get out. I can't get out." He did this daily and all that he accomplished was frustration, bruises, and torn feathers. The other bird sat on his perch and gently chirped and sang his songs. Somehow he had found an inner peace and was able to find joy regardless of his current state. He understood the vanity of beating himself against the bars that surrounded him, and even though the same bars held him captive, the praise in his spirit allowed him to be free.

We are always going to face problems and lack, but we have an assurance that God is our source and that He is sovereign. We are not to sit idly by and do nothing but we must decide to trust the Lord in every situation. We must allow Him to give us rest in the midst of our conflict, having the confidence that He is still in control and that no problem is too difficult for Him to solve. We are to pray for deliverance and release, yet understand that every affliction gives us a fresh glimpse of God and His glory. We are to glean from every situation, knowing that in the midst of captivity, God is going to show Himself strong, for He never fails.

There is no valley too low nor any hurt too deep that He cannot restore our soul and bring joy to our hearts, for He is able to turn every situation around and make it work together for our good. There is no desert so dry that He cannot find us a place of green pastures and still waters to nourish our hungry and thirsty spirits. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us and never leaves us. His rod and His staff comfort us and His Spirit anoints our head with oil. He prepares a table for us right in the presence of our enemies. When the Lord is on our side, His love covers it all and there is no reason for us to beat our wings against the bars of captivity. We must receive the wisdom of Solomon and understand that when we give our worries and our sorrows to God, He gives us rest. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/21/08
PECULIAR PEOPLE

Scripture: I Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people..."

The Apostle Peter called us a chosen generation and as followers of Jesus, we have become a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Peter also called us a peculiar people, set apart from the world, for we are called out of darkness and into God's marvelous light. The world cannot understand our actions or our motives in various situations. We are an epistle read of all men yet our lives are a mystery to them. They see us love the unlovely and forgive the unforgivable. They take notice of our peace as we go through valleys, witness our courage as we face battles, and marvel at our strength as we endure hardships. They are baffled by the joy of the Lord that sustains us in adversities and they are overwhelmed by the praises that we offer to God even in the midst of our difficulties.

A. W. Tozer wrote:

"The real Christian is an odd human being anyway.
The Christian feels supreme love for one he's never seen.
He talks every day with someone he can't see.
He expects to go to Heaven on the virtue of someone else.
He empties himself in order to be full.
He admits when he's wrong in order to be declared right.
He is strongest when he is the weakest,
Richest when he's poorest,
Happiest when he feels the worst.
He dies so he can live.
He forsakes so he can have.
He gives away so he can keep.
He sees the invisible, hears the inaudible
And knows that which passes all knowledge."

We are a strange lot, for God has indeed chosen us to be a peculiar people. Let us never change. +++


Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/22/08
GO AND PREACH

Scripture: Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached ever where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."

Jesus told His disciples to go into all of the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but He did not send them out empty handed. He empowered them with His Holy Spirit and placed in their hands special gifts. All they had to do was go, preach the word, and believe. He made a promise that He would be with them where ever they went and that He would confirm His preached word with signs.

This promise takes the pressure out of our ministry to others, for we know that Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday and that He will be the same in the future. There is no shadow of turning with Him. He didn't send His original disciples out empty handed and He will not send us out empty handed either. He promises that if we will take the first step, He will be with us all of the way. He works with us by anointing us with the power of His Holy Spirit and filling our hands with signs and wonders so that He can fulfill the needs of those around us. He simply said, "Go and preach." He does the rest of the work. If He doesn't do it, it won't happen. We can explain the plan of salvation, but God regenerates the spirit of man. We can talk about deliverance and peace, but God breaks the bondages and sets the soul free. We can tell others about healing and financial provision, but only God can heal and provide. It is all a work of His Holy Spirit.

Jesus told the church to go to the world. He never told the world to go to the church. He depends upon you and me to go and do His work. We must cultivate a spirit of evangelism within our hearts and obey His words. People are precious in His sight and many of them are in trouble. They are hurting, lost, and need a friend to love them and show them direction. We may think that our gifts are insignificant compared to the world's need, and we may feel that we have no answers. But Jesus can touch them through our hands, be a voice to them through our lips, and listen to their problems through our ears. We are the hope of His glory in the Earth. All that we need to do is to go and preach His good news. He will work with us confirming His word with signs and wonders. +++


Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/23/08
LEARN TO DO RIGHT

Scripture: Isaiah 1:16-17 "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doing from before My eyes; cease to do evil ... learn to do right."

We come into this world with a sin nature that we have inherited from Adam and Eve. We don't have to be taught how to do wrong and neither do we have to put a lot of effort into becoming selfish and demanding. It's also in our nature to be controlled by doubt and fear. Just look at a newborn baby or the actions of an undisciplined child. Their main interest lies in their own needs and desires. They don't hesitate to impose upon others. Their patience is limited and they demand immediate action regardless of how it may affect others. Fear also looms in their hearts until trust is developed. It's all too evident that a carnal nature rules in their spirits.

The prophet Isaiah said, "Learn to do right." Just like the small child who must be taught to do right, we must learn at every level to do that which is right. Learning comes by acquiring knowledge through study, experience, or consequence. It is a gradual and continual process of making the appropriate adjustments in our own lives and attitudes. Isaiah said, "Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean." It is our responsibility to recognize the improprieties in our lives and put away the darkness and evil that lurks in our soul.

Below are some profound words from Helen Keller, a woman who was without sight or hearing. Because of her physical impairments, she could have let bitterness rule her heart and chosen to live a life of confusion. But she learned to do what was right. She determined to live in peace, to demonstrate love, to keep her motives right, and to trust God with all of her heart. In your effort to learn about life and do what is right, think on the wisdom of her words, allow them to penetrate your heart, and make them a daily goal for your life.

"I have four things to learn in life;
To think clearly, without hurry or confusion;
To love everybody sincerely;
To act in everything with the highest of motives;
To trust in God unhesitatingly."
... Helen Keller +++


Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/24/08
ENDURING THE PRESSURE

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of October 2008

10/27/08
GOD WILL BE WITH YOUR MOUTH

Scripture: Exodus 4:12 "Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to speak."

When God called Moses to deliver the children of Israel from bondage, He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. This was quite an event, yet even with this supernatural call, Moses still had to deal with his own insecurities. He said, "Who am I? ... What shall I say? ... The people won't believe me ... I am not eloquent ... Lord, send someone else." He wanted to flee God's mighty call because of the anxiety that was taking hold of his soul. He had no self-confidence that he could fulfill God's plan because of the lack of his own abilities.

How many times has God called on us and we have responded in like manner? Our insecurities have overshadowed the plan and purposes of God. Like Moses, we feel inadequate and tend to forget that God created us. We assume that our lack is too great for Him to work with and neglect to consider that He is able to add, multiply, and even create when necessary. God is not limited in any fashion. When God chose Moses, He knew that Moses didn't know what to say and that even if Moses did have knowledge, his speech was not eloquent. God also knew that the credibility of Moses would be challenged. He made plans ahead of time to do signs and wonders to convince the people so it certainly didn't matter who Moses was or what he could do. It only mattered who God was and what God could do.

Throughout the scriptures, God always used the less likely to succeed. He chose a small young man to fight a seasoned giant. He chose an old man and woman to have a child. He chose Gideon and three hundred men to battle against thousands. When Jesus' disciples were chosen, it wasn't the priest and Levites who were called. It was unlearned and common men such as fishermen and tax collectors. God doesn't choose many wise, mighty, or noble. He chooses the foolish and the weak to convey His message (I Corinthians 1:26-27).

When God chose you, He was simply looking for a vessel that would be obedient and would willingly yield to Him. He knew all about your inabilities and shortcomings. They were no surprise to Him. So when He calls you, there is no need for you to be concerned, for God is the one who will complete the work that He has called you to do. Just trust Him and rest in His wonderful promise, "Go, and I will be with your mouth and I will teach you what to say." +++


Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/28/08
HIS WORD IS SPIRIT AND LIFE

Scripture:  John 6:63  "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

One of the first things that we do each day is nourish our physical bodies, and then through out the rest of the day we continue to eat and drink to retain our strength and satisfy our hunger and thirst.  This is a process that must be maintained on a daily basis if we are going to continue to live in our natural bodies.  The same principle applies in the spiritual realm.  As spirit beings, we need spiritual food, but we often neglect this very vital area because we fail to get into the Word of God on a regular basis.  We rely on the Sunday worship service for all of our spiritual food.  As a minister once said, "We give our natural man three hot meals a day, and give our spirit man one cold snack a week."  We then wonder why we have no spiritual life or power, for we find ourselves just merely existing spiritually instead of being quickened by God's word.

We see the importance of being quickened by God's Word when we reflect on the way Jesus responded to Satan's temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus did not try to prove who He was or stand on His own power, but instead He allowed the Holy Spirit to quicken the written word of God that was inside of Him.  He met every challenge with the words, "It is written."  These were Spirit filled words because they had come from the mouth of God and the devil could not argue with them.  Jesus had nourished Himself daily on God's Word.  Even from an early age He was in the temple studying the scriptures and asking questions.  As He took in spiritual food it produced life in His spirit and that life was there for Him when He needed it.

We eat natural food for today's strength that causes us to grow and also sustains us for tomorrow.  So it is with the spiritual food.  We receive it for today's strength, but it will also be there for us when the enemy tries to attack, tempt, or deceive.  Yet, like any natural diet, our spiritual diet must also be balanced.  God didn't give us a boring diet but gave us a variety of types of writings to choose from such as history, prophecy, wisdom, and the gospels.  These scriptures will cover every need that we will ever face.  Matthew 4:4 says, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."  However, the word of God must be taken in and digested into our spirit like natural food before it will bring life.  II Timothy 2:15 tells us that we must study the word of God for ourselves so that we are not ashamed because we are able to rightly divide the word of truth.  When we study God's word, it gives the Spirit opportunity to speak truths into our lives and causes the word of God to come alive within us, and that life will give us the strength that we need to face every challenge of the enemy. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/29/08
PURIFIED BY FIRE

Scripture: Proverbs 17:3 "The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts."

Just as silver and gold are purified by fire, so the Lord purifies the hearts of men by fiery trials. Do you ever face seemingly unusual and strange situations? For no reason at all everyone seems to be coming against you, or perhaps you find yourself facing financial problems or unusual attacks in your health. Peter said, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is come to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (I Peter 4:12). These things are not strange. God is taking you through these trials to try your heart and develop your character. So be encouraged, knowing that even in adverse circumstances, God is still in control. The reason God is allowing these fires and tests is because He believes that you are well able to pass them. As you go through these tests, you can be assured that God is sitting on His throne and watching over you constantly. Malachi 3:3 says, "God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify ... and purge them as gold and silver." He is the refiner, and He knows what the final result should be.

Purifying and purging gold or silver is a long tedious process that turns an unusable ore into precious metal. The ore is heated until all the impurities and dross rise to the top. The refiner then removes these impurities, and once the impurities are taken away, the ore is heated again. As this process is repeated again and again, the refiner sits by the fire watching. He is careful never to leave the ore to itself while it is on the fire. He keeps the fire at the right temperature for the impurities to separate from the gold and silver and never allows the fire to become so hot that it ruins the metal. He sits there constantly maintaining the temperature, watching the melt down, and removing the dross. Time after time, the fire is heated to greater degrees, and the impurities are removed until the refiner is able to get the results that he is attempting to achieve. He is waiting until he can see his own reflection in the liquid metal. When this occurs, the refining process is complete. The gold or silver is pure and fit for use.

So it is with your life. Psalms 66:10 says, "God has proved us and tried us as silver is tried." God allows seemingly strange fiery trails to come your way for the purpose of purifying your heart so that His reflection is revealed in you right in the midst of the fire and test. When this is accomplished, He then deems you to be a pure vessel that is fit for the Master's use. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/30/08
ENDEAVOR TO STAY IN UNITY

Scripture:  John 17:21  "'That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they may be one in Us."

Jesus prayed this simple but profound prayer for us just before His crucifixion. He prayed that we would be one with Him and the Father just as He and the Father were one. He also wanted us to be in unity with the other believers. Five times in this prayer Jesus prayed that we would be in absolute unity and declared that our perfect unity would be a witness to the world. Our greatest asset is to have the presence of the almighty God in our lives and to be in union with Him.

In Psalms 133, David says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity." He then describes two things that happen when we are in unity. First, unity is like the "precious ointment upon the head". Unity allows the anointing of God to be manifested in our lives, whereas strife destroys it. The Holy Spirit is peaceful and gentle like a dove and will not rest in contention. We've experienced those times when we felt God's anointing and presence leading us to do some work in the ministry. Yet, before we could finish, disagreement and strife broke out and caused us to lose all initiative to complete the assignment. The anointing was gone because disunity prevailed. 

Second, David says that when there is unity "the Lord commands the blessing." When we are in unity with God and other believers, God commands blessings in our lives. We have experienced this with our own children. It's a whole lot easier to do things for them when they are in unity with their brothers and sisters or their friends that are visiting. In fact, very often we will refuse to reward them when they are in strife with one another. Unity is pleasant and has its rewards. It's comforting to know that Jesus prayed for us concerning this matter. However, we need to support His prayers with our cooperation, endeavoring to do our part in the natural. We may have to overlook some things in love, bite our tongues at times, go the second mile, and possibly turn our other cheek, but our unity will be a witness to the world. Remaining in unity in all situations may not always be easy, but it will be worth the effort when we experience God's supernatural anointing and blessings in our lives. +++

Copyright © 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved    
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10/31/08
THE REST OF FAITH

Scripture: Hebrews 4:3 "For we which have believed do enter into rest ..."

Where there is faith, there is rest. Faith does not come by sight or the reasoning of the mind, but comes when you hear God's voice and you receive His words as truth. When God speaks His will into your life, truth comes into your heart and it gives you an assurance that brings rest. Faith brings an end to all anxiety and fear. Even in the midst of adversity, rest will be written with indelible ink within your soul if you have truly believed. Doubts will flee and struggles will cease. Even those around you will marvel as they witness the peace that prevails in your spirit and the rest that surrounds you.

The devil will challenge your faith, but when you've heard from God, there will remain a knowing within your spirit that cannot be shaken. Nothing and no one can pry God's words from your heart or destroy the faith that you have in His promise. His Word is your foundation and your heart is fixed like the men of the scriptures who did great things based on just a word from God. Noah built an ark and escaped the flood. Moses led millions of people into a desert and leaned upon God for every provision. David challenged Goliath, the giant, and defeated him with a simple sling and a stone. Abraham left his family and country to search for a city whose builder and maker was God. Sarah received strength to conceive in her old age and gave birth to Isaac. And Isaac sowed seed in the time of famine and reaped a harvest that was a hundred fold. These people of God just believed what God said, obeyed His voice, and then rested in His promise. God never failed.

God doesn't want you to be anxious in your faith and to struggle to believe. He wants you to enter into rest and follow the example that He has set. Verse four tells us that "God rested on the seventh day from all His works." In the six days of creation, He spoke everything into existence and created life. God did all that He planed to do, then on the seventh day He entered into rest. He ceased from His labors and believed that the sun, moon, and stars would function just as He commanded them to. He was at peace knowing that the herbs, trees, and every green thing would seed itself and bring forth fruit in obedience to His word. He had faith that the creatures would multiply and replenish the earth just as He had spoken. He was not anxious about His creation or its future. He left His creation to obey His words. And then He rested.

Faith causes you to act in season. It will make you calm in the midst of a storm, bold as a lion in adversity, strong for battle, and patient when you need to wait. This is the rest of faith. It meets every challenge with a dignity and a peace that possesses your soul. It hopes when there is no hope, for it is a faith that passes all understanding. +++

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