www.widsonline.com

09/01/09
GOD'S WONDROUS WORKS

Scripture: Psalms 26:7 "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works."

God's creation goes far beyond anything that we ourselves could have ever imagined to create. In fact, our minds can only comprehend a portion of His awesome works, and our most precise words are inadequate to tell of His marvelous wonders. There are no words to describe the majestic mountains whose heights surpass the clouds or explain the beauty of the lush green valleys. Who can tell of the dry barren deserts and wilderness places that are unique and wondrous in their own way, or speak of the vast oceans and enormous lakes? There are also tall trees and small intricate flowers to consider. There is the beauty of the heavens, which goes far beyond what our eyes can behold, and there is also the sunrise and sunsets that no artist could ever duplicate on canvas. God was truly very imaginative when He created this earth and this was just the beginning of His wondrous works.

After God finished creating the heavens and the earth, He created man and filled his being with wonders that surpass the wonders of nature that surrounds him. These works of God are awesome and precious to us on a personal and daily basis. God has graciously given us sight, which allows us to behold His wondrous works and enables us to move about unhindered in the earth. He has given us ears so that we may hear voices, music, and the awesome sounds of nature. He has equipped our nostrils with the sense of smell, which not only enhances life but also serves to protect us when there are the hidden dangers such as fire. We have been given the wonderful sense of taste for our pleasure so that we can enjoy all the various foods and drinks that God has created. God made our vocal cords so that we could speak, sing, and communicate with one another. We enjoy the sense of touch and also the ability to feel emotions such as love, joy, and passion. God has also given us a spirit so that we might experience the privilege of communicating directly with Him, for God is spirit.

God is awesome and His works are truly wondrous. Yet, many times we neglect to acknowledge them. Let us join with the psalmist who desired to publish the wondrous works of God with a voice of thanksgiving. Let us consider all the works of God's hands; the beauty of the mountains, valleys, oceans, lakes, trees, flowers, and all that He has set before us. And then let us speak of these wondrous works to God, to ourselves, and to others with a voice of thanksgiving. God has been so gracious to give us such beauty and wonder to behold and He deserves the glory and praise for all that He has done. +++

Scripture: John 15:2 "Every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

Jesus spoke comforting words to us concerning the purging and pruning process that happens in our lives. When God begins to purge or prune you, it is a sign of two things. First, it is a sign that you are already a fruit-bearing branch because Jesus said, "Every branch that is bearing fruit, He purges it." Second, it is a sign that He is preparing you to "bring forth more fruit." God is not happy with just "fruit," He wants "more fruit." As we watch the gardener prune the shrubs just before Spring we often wonder if the shrubs will be able to return, for it seems they are left hopeless and bare. But it is all a part of God's plan, for it is only in the pruning that new strength and life can be gained.

So it is with your spiritual life. God cuts away and separates you from the things that are unnecessary. Sometimes it's things that you really enjoy or friendships that you don't want to give up. But the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God leads you to lay those relationships aside and follow God in a closer walk. Other times you feel the pain of His pruning shears through trials and tribulations that separate you from your own selfish desires. God sees your future and knows the work that He wants to produce in your life. He also knows just how much to cut away so that you can produce more fruit. Verse three says that He convicts and cleanses you through the Word that He speaks to you. Hebrews 4:12 in part says, "The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword ... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." His word goes right to your spirit and heart and prunes away all that would leave you stunted in your growth.

You are only left to yourself and not pruned when God does not expect you to bear any more fruit. Sometimes you may see your hopes and dreams fade away as He prunes your life, but "His ways and thoughts are much higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). He has a good plan in mind and He wants to enlarge your borders. At the moment, all that you can see is the purging, and all that you can feel is the pain, but God sees a productive season and a fuller life ahead for you. He envisions the fruit that you will bear, so don't be discouraged. Remember that in every pruning experience, you have this assurance that your loving Father is the one who is holding the pruning shears. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/03/09
THE BLESSED MAN

Scripture: Psalms 1:1 (NIV) "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of the sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful."

This psalm gives us the characteristics of the man that is blessed and speaks of his righteous behavior and of his fruitfulness. A blessed man "does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly." In other words, he doesn't lean upon the world's system, but instead looks to God for wisdom (James 1:5). The blessed man makes Jesus his Wonderful Counselor, for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding rests upon Jesus (Isaiah 9:6). We are blessed when we are able to trust the One who has these attributes and when we allow Him to lead us by His Spirit. As we listen to His still small voice, we will hear Him speak words of wisdom concerning all the matters that we do not understand.

Second, the blessed man "does not stand in the way of sinners." He doesn't visit or hang out in the places where sinners go so that he doesn't put himself in the position to compromise his convictions in a moment of pressure. George Washington warned us that, "Bad company corrupts good behavior." We often become whom we are with, so we must turn ourselves away from enticing situations.

Third, the man who is blessed "does not sit in the seat of the scornful." David refused to sit with the wicked (Psalms 26:5) and Jeremiah, the prophet, chose to sit alone because the hand of the Lord was upon him. He had rather be by himself than to sit in the assembly of the mockers (Jeremiah 15:17). There are times we must choose to separate ourselves from negative influences if we want to be blessed by God. Notice that the scorner or the mocker was listed with the wicked and sinner.

And fourth, the blessed man "delights in the law of the Lord and meditates in God's word day and night." He continually thinks on the word, rolling it over and over in his mind and spirit until it speaks God's wisdom to him. One of David's prayers was that the meditations of his heart would be acceptable to God. This should also be our prayer if we desire to fall into the category of the blessed. When the psalmist spoke of the blessed man, he listed four results that would occur in our lives when we meditate upon God's Word and allow it to rule our heart.

1) Stability - "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water."
2) Fruitfulness - "He shall bring forth fruit in his season."
3) Beauty - "His leaf shall not wither."
4) Prosperity - "Whatever he does shall prosper."

If you want to be blessed in this manner then stay planted by the rivers of water. Draw your strength from the Lord and do not walk, stand, or sit in places or with people who distort God's Word and draw you away from the Living Water. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/04/09
DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO DELIVERANCE

Scripture: Jonah 2:9 "... Salvation is of the Lord."

God told Jonah to go preach to people of Nineveh but he refused and went in the opposite direction. And because of his rebellion and disobedience to the word of God, Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish at the bottom of the ocean. His desperate need in this situation caused him to turn to God and make some definite life decisions. First, Jonah "prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly" (2:1). He did not wait until he was in more righteous circumstances. Instead, he prayed in the midst of his disobedience. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Second, Jonah decided that he would "turn his attention again towards God's holy temple" (2:4). Because of their shame and lack of interest, many who are in rebellion and are out of the will of God forsake their church affiliations and miss out on the encouragement and exhortation of others. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some, but let us exhort one another..."

The third thing Jonah did when his "soul fainted within him" was that he remembered God" (2:7). Reflecting on who God is and what He has done strengthens your faith in times of adversity. Jonah declared, "I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, Who has made the sea and the dry ground." He knew that God was in control of the situation and he recognized that God was the One who had sent the great wind and also prepared the great fish that was destined to swallow him (1:17). Jonah realized that his salvation and deliverance was going to come from this same God.

Fourth, Jonah "sacrificed unto God the voice of thanksgiving" (2:9). This sacrifice of praise came while he was still in the belly of the fish. This is why it is called a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Our praise to God should not be limited to the times when only blessings abound. Our hearts should be full of praise at all times. And finally, the fifth thing that Jonah did was that he promised to "pay that which he had vowed" (2:9). He turned from his rebellion and disobedience and made a decision to complete God's will for his life by returning to Nineveh and preaching God's message.

When Jonah made these decisions, God spoke to the fish to release Jonah and he was delivered. Consider these decisions for your own life and don't lose hope in the midst of your adverse situation. Like Jonah, your situation may be as dark as being in the belly of a great fish. You may feel hopeless but your decisions can lead you to deliverance. Even though your own actions may have brought you to a place of desperate need, if you turn your attention and prayers to God, praise Him, and ask for His forgiveness, He will hear your prayers. He will forgive your sins and deliver you out of your place of trouble. He is the Lord of your salvation. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

09/07/09
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:1 "... the righteous, and the wise, and their works are in the hand of God."

An illustrated cartoon depicted a large hand that was labeled 'God's Hand.' The palm of the hand was facing upward, and a very small man was standing in the center of the palm of God's hand. The man was fearfully and anxiously looking around with a bubbled caption from his lips that read, "Where's God when you really need Him?"

How true this picture is in our own lives. In the midst or our frustration, we often lose sight that God is right there with us. We can't see beyond ourselves because our heart aches and our weaknesses overwhelm us. In our confusion, we stand in the very presence of the Almighty and cry, "Where's God?" We look in every direction, but fail to see God because our circumstances and problems are blocking our view. Disappointment clouds our vision and darkness has dominion over our souls.

Even though it seems that we have no hope, God has never lost control. He holds us in the palm of His hand, protecting us from all danger and carrying us through every situation. As God watches us squirm in His hand, He must wonder at our anxiety. He has made it very plain in His word that He has every intention of meeting all of our needs. God has reassured us many times that He will not give us a burden that is too heavy to carry and that His grace will never be insufficient. His mercy will endure in every situation and His joy will be our strength. He cares for us as a father cares for his own children. All we have to do is release everything to Him. God's hand is bigger than our life and all of its problems. Regardless of the storms and adversities that we may be facing, we have nothing to fear because He has given us a promise of security. God is holding us in the palm of His hand and Jesus declared that no one could take us out of that special place (John 10:29). +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/08/09
SECRET OF THE LORD

Scripture: Psalms 25:14 "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant."

Secrets are special knowledge that are held within ones own heart or shared in confidence with just a few close friends and trusted confidants. We feel privileged when someone calls us aside and chooses us to be one whom they trust enough to share their private matters and innermost feelings. When a secret is shared, it creates a bond between those who are privy to the information and defines a certain responsibility. It also tests the trustworthiness of the one receiving the secret information, for secrets are never general knowledge but specific and guarded information. Shared secrets even create a certain amount of power and the prestige of inclusion.

We all love to be included in knowing the things that are secret and we pay very close attention when one is being shared with us or one is whispered near us. Someone told me a special way that they witness to others about Jesus. They get into a crowded elevator with another believer and then begin to whisper to each other about the goodness of God and the love of Jesus. When they begin to whisper, the people on the elevator begin to listen, thinking that they are going to hear some "juicy" private information. Instead, they are exposed to mysteries of God and His wonderful plan of salvation. As this captive audience departs the elevator, they are given a gospel tract.

God has many secrets that He wants to share with us. He is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God, but the psalmist said that God would only reveal the secret of His covenant with those who reverently fear Him. God's covenant is precious to Him and He will not cast His pearls before the swine (Matthew 7:6). He desires to take us into His confidence, but covenants require relationship and we can never understand the things of God without personally knowing God. He is ever present in our crowded world and continually whispers His words to us. When the prophet sought to hear the Lord's instruction, it did not come in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but came in a still quite voice (I Kings 19:11-12). Even Jesus did not share God's covenant with everyone, but taught in parables so that the secret things of God would stay hidden from those who were unworthy to receive the revelation. God stands like the witnesses in the crowded elevator and continues to speak the mysteries of His gospel through His word. He whispers out His revelations to those who seek after Him and who truly want to understand His secrets. When He sees that our hearts reverently fear Him and that our spiritual ears are attentive to His voice, He will share His secrets with us. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/09/09
SUBMITTING ALL TO GOD

Scripture: Luke 5:5 "At thy word I will."

Jesus led Peter, step by step, into a place of total surrender. As the people pressed in upon Jesus to hear the word of God, He asked Peter if He could use his boat for a platform to teach the people. Peter and his men were very exhausted and discouraged. They had fished all night long and caught nothing. Dragging heavy nets is not an easy job and they just wanted to finish washing their nets, go home, and rest so that they could go out again in a few hours. The last thing they may have wanted to do was to sit there and listen to Jesus teach. Peter could have told the Lord that he was too tired and too discouraged to let Him use his boat. How many of us would go to church the morning after we had worked all night? Yet, despite his tiredness, Peter responded to the Lord's request and allowed Him to use his boat. We see the results of Peter's submission as he forgot his own worries and fatigue and sowed his boat back into the Lord's work. Peter reaped more than he sowed, for God gave back to him a miraculous haul of fish in a very short time.

Peter's boat was his business and the source of his income. It also represented his life. God requires no less from us. He wants us to show Him that He is first place in our lives by submitting all that we have to Him for His use. Most of us do not own a boat but we do have other assets that represent our lives such as our businesses, our homes, or our finances. Everything we have came to us because of the grace of God and belongs to Him. We are only the stewards of those blessings. We usually don't mind lending these things to the Lord when it is convenient, but how would we respond if we had been out all night working and God decided that He wanted to use our home or business to minister to others? Would we tell the Lord that we were too tired and try to postpone His plan? Would we refuse His request because we were discouraged, as things were not going well for us?

Jesus used Peter's business in a unique way and at a most inconvenient time for Peter and his men. God usually moves in our lives in the same way. When He calls us to do something for Him, it seems that His thoughts and His plans never coincide with ours. Yet most of us have learned from experience that His ways are always better than our ways, and His plans are higher than our plans. We must be ready at all times to submit everything that we are and everything that we have to God. As we do, we will discover that we are God's link to the world. And like Peter, we will find that when we seek to take care of God's business, God will take care of ours. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/10/09
WHOSE JOB IS IT?

Scripture: John 2:5 "Whatsoever He says to you, do it."

Obedience to these words brought about a miracle in Cana of Galilee. It was a crucial time at a marriage feast when the wine had run out. Mary approached her son, Jesus, for help and then instructed the servants to do whatever He said. The servants obeyed Jesus by filling the water pots with water, and Jesus then turned the water into wine. This great miracle shows us several things. First, Jesus is there to help us in the time of crises. Second, His miracle power rises above the natural laws and beyond our ability. And finally, the Lord expects us to do our part.

How many miracles have we missed because God told us to do something and we failed to respond? We may have been called to minister to someone needing a financial miracle, deliverance, or healing. There was such a great need and we felt that we had so little to offer, so we just did nothing at all. Most of the time Jesus used the very small, simple, and insignificant things to bring about miracles. He used a fish in Matthew 17:27 to bring finances to Peter so that taxes could be paid. What would have happened if Peter refused to go to the sea and fish as the Lord had told him to do? And what about the meager five loaves and two fish that were used to feed five thousand men, besides the women and children?

There is a song that says, "Little is much if God is in it." How true these words are. We 'hold' the miracles and blessings of God in our hands or we 'withhold' the miracles and blessings of God. If we want to be a blessing to others, we must obey His slightest command and not wait for Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody as is illustrated in the story below.

Who's Job Is It?
(copied)

There was an important job to be done.
And Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it.
But Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody
When Nobody did what Anybody could have done. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/11/09
HANDLING CONFLICTS

Scripture: Psalms 144:1 "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."

The scriptures declare that David was a man after God's own heart. He was a man who not only loved God, but who was also able to express his love with beautiful words that have lasted for thousands of years. In fact, the twenty-third psalm, which speaks of the Lord and paints a picture of a gentle and loving shepherd, seems to grow with us through the years and has a greater impact on our souls each time we read it. Throughout the psalms, we can see David's tenderness, compassion, and trust. The evidence of the depth of his love is mingled in the words that pour forth from his heart. Yet, even though David was capable of much love and passion, he was also a mighty warrior.

David blessed the Lord for teaching him how to fight, for he was engaged in many types of battles. In verse two David said that there were times that the Lord was his fortress, which is a military stronghold where he could retreat from battle and be safe from the enemy that was on the other side of the walls. During other battles, God became David's strong tower and lifted him high above the dangerous situations. There were times when the Lord was a shield about David and protected him as he went into the raging battles. The Lord also made David a victor and helped him conquered his enemies. All in all, God was David's strength and David was thankful that he had been taught how to fight and that he could have a calm assurance that God was with him in battle.

It would be great if we could go throughout life without conflicts and challenges to face. And life would be so much simpler if there were no battles to fight or wars to wage. Yet the Lord, Himself, told us that in this life there would be much tribulation. There would be conflicts with enemies and also with those whom we loved. For that reason, when we face a battle of any kind, we must first seek God and ask Him what weapons we should use and how we should fight the particular battle that is at hand. David fought some battles through physical combat, but God often told him to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Once David used a simple stone to conquer the giant, but in other battles he used mighty weapons of war. Joshua's army shouted the walls of their enemy down. Gideon's pathetically small army broke their lanterns and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and Gideon." And Jehoshaphat confused the enemy and won the battle by sending a praise team before his army. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek to those who do us wrong. What kind of weapon are these? Yet, God knows the mind and the ways of our enemies and God's ways are never like our ways. He will surprise us every time. We must remember that the battle always belongs to the Lord and if we want to win, we must trust Him to teach our hands to war. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

09/14/09
BE AN EXAMPLE

Scripture: I Timothy 4:12 "Be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

There is an awesome power that dwells within our being and it is so powerful that it quickens mortal body. Romans 8:11 tells us that it is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. This Spirit also empowers us to minister to others as we touch their lives in a personal way. Our mission doesn't start with a vision and then end when we reach that goal. Our purpose is fulfilled as we are making our journey towards our goal. Our assignments are our family, our jobs, our friends, and our church. And each and every gift that God has so graciously endowed to us belongs to them.

There is a great need and an abundant harvest before us. If we remain sensitive in our spirit, we will recognize that no place is meaningless. No matter where we find ourselves, that place is an open mission field to hurting souls, for everyone has needs of one kind or another. Those who deny their need for others are living behind walls of deception that they have constructed to protect themselves for one reason or the other. These individuals need our love most of all. It may be a stranger you meet who has a scowl upon his face. A consistent smile on your part may turn his life around. I ventured to smile at someone each morning as I passed them at the post office. The initial response that I received caused me to never want to smile at them again. But as the days went by, the smiles that I gave away soon started to return to me. I began to understand that the scowl was a billboard that simply advertised the pain that was in the heart of that individual and that they just need to be recognized and loved.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to be an example of the believers. He was supposed to show what a believer should do through the actions of his own daily life. He was to put God above the system of the world. We must make a decision to do the same and then keep that commitment. An example of a believer is one who is willing to make sacrifices as Christ did for the church. We must allow the anointing of God's Spirit to flow through us and quicken us in such a manner that as we touch others it will cause them to come alive. Our words should be examples, ministering grace to the hearer. Our love and faith should ignite the love and faith in others. Our conversation and life should enhance the way others live their lives and our purity should convict them to remain pure. These six words can change the world about you if you obey them; Be An Example Of The Believers." +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/15/09
FAITH TO FORGIVE

Scripture: Luke 17:4-5 "If your brother trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you saying, I repent; you shall forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."

As Jesus was teaching about forgiveness and the necessity to forgive again and again, His disciples asked Him to increase their faith. The two main things in this context of scripture is faith and forgiveness, for it takes faith to forgive. Jesus responded by telling His disciples that they only needed a little faith as a grain of a mustard seed. He said that with a small amount of faith, they could tell the sycamine tree to be plucked up and cast into the sea, and it would obey. The sycamine tree was known for its particularly strong roots and was regarded as almost impossible to be uprooted. Yet with just a little faith, even the roots of bitterness and unforgiveness could be uprooted and cast into the sea.

In verse one, Jesus says that it is impossible for offenses to never come. We live in an imperfect world and at some point in time, we will offend others as well as be offended by them. Misunderstandings will happen, views and opinions will clash, and actions will be disappointing. Time and time again, our feelings will be hurt and our hearts will be broken by those we love. Jesus let us know that even though repeated offenses are frustrating, we must always forgive. In another scripture, Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven, which equals four hundred and ninety times (Matthew 18:22). Four hundred and ninety times is a lot of forgiving, but Jesus was stressing the point that regardless of what is happening, we can't allow offenses to take root in our heart. If offenses take root, they will become like the roots of a sycamine tree, strong and almost impossible to deal with.

Matthew 6:15 says, "If we do not forgive others, we also cannot be forgiven by our Father in Heaven." The unforgiving spirit and bitterness caused by the offenses that we harbor in our hearts will make it impossible for us to receive forgiveness from God. It does take faith to forgive in the manner that Jesus described, but forgiveness is a choice. It is also God's law and it works. You must trust that your offender's repentance is true and you must forgive them, and forgive them, and forgive them, and then continue to forgive. You must exercise your faith to forgive, seventy times seven if necessary or four hundred and ninety times. Remember Jesus words and at the first sign of offense, use the little faith that you have and forgive those who trespass against you. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/16/09
POWER TO GET WEALTH

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:18 "But you shall remember the Lord your God: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant ..."

These words spoken by Moses make two things very clear concerning finances and blessings. First, Moses identifies the Lord our God as being the source of our wealth. He instructs us to remember the Lord, for He is the One who gives us the power to gain wealth. We have nothing that did not come from His gracious hands. We may think that we earned it all by ourselves but the truth is that He gave us the abilities and He placed us in positions to gain and accumulate our wealth. If you think about it, the power to get wealth is worth more than the wealth itself, for wealth in itself can be lost in a moment's time. We have witnessed this truth recently throughout the world as the tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires have suddenly destroyed the possessions of many. Their wealth failed as they lost their possessions, but the power to get wealth will enable them to regain everything that they lost, for God is able to restore all things and cause all things to work together for good in their lives.

Second, Moses states the purpose for our wealth and blessings is so that God can establish His covenant with His people. This is much the same as the unspoken covenant that we have with our own children. When they are born, we become committed to provide their food, clothing, meet their emotional needs, and allow them their special place at the family table. As they grow and continue to mature, we allow them other special opportunities such as the privilege of driving the car. As the parent, we are the source of their blessings and we share those blessings with them simply because they are our children and we love them.

God feels the same towards us. Our prosperity is never about us, but about what God wants to do with us, for we are only stewards of the material blessings that God bestows upon us. Remember that God's wish is that you prosper and be in health and this will happen as you put God first and seek His kingdom. As your soul prospers, God's blessings will come upon you so that He can use you to establish His covenant in the Earth. That means sharing with those who have nothing and who are not gifted with the power to gain wealth for themselves. God is never limited by our circumstances, but we must understand that contrary to everyone's wishes, not everyone is going to be rich in this world's goods, for Jesus, Himself, said that you will have the poor with you always. If you really want to be blessed with the power to gain wealth, then begin to be a blessing to those about you and seek to meet the needs of others. God will see your compassion and faithfulness. Even the smallest gift that you share to establish His covenant in the Earth will become a seed. That seed will reap a harvest in your own life so that God can give you more wealth to share. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/17/09
WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Scripture: Matthew 16:15 "But whom do you say that I am?"

What a powerful challenge this question was to the disciples of Jesus, and it remains a powerful challenge to us today, as we must also identify who Jesus is to us personally. Jesus had first asked the disciples what other men thought about Him, but His main interest was their own personal revelation. This knowledge that Jesus is the Son of the Living God comes only as God the Father gives insight. It is a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit. When the disciples identified Jesus as the Christ, they were saying that He was the Messiah that the prophets had spoken about. He was the one that would be anointed to preach to the poor, heal the broken hearted, and do many other mighty miracles (Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61). They were acknowledging that Jesus was not only the Savior, but that He was their healer and deliver, and in essence that He came to fulfill all scriptures pertaining to the Messiah.

It was upon this personal revelation that Jesus said that He would build His church. Acts 2:21 says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." There is a saying that sums it up, "Sitting on a pew will not make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage will make you a car." Jesus is still in the process of building His church. Salvation comes only through a personal encounter with the Savior. And likewise the other things that Jesus came to fulfill as the Messiah only come through the personal realization and acceptance that He is willing and able to do those things. Many trust Him as Lord and Savior, but never release their faith to trust Him for physical healing, emotional restoration, or as the Shepherd that will lead them and meet their material needs.

God wants us to live in the total revelation that His Son, Jesus, is the Messiah. He wants us to receive all that Jesus came to provide. He does not want us to ignore the thirty-nine stripes that were laid on His Son's back for our healing or to forget that the chastisement of our peace has been paid for by the crown of thorns He bore. He also wants us to understand that His Son was bruised for our iniquities and that He has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Everything that we need has been paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. Yet, these blessings can only come to us as we receive a personal revelation of who Jesus is and embrace a personal relationship with Him. Our active response to these two things will dictate our answer to Jesus' direct and profound question, "Who do you say that I am?" +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/18/09
TAKE A MOMENT

Scripture: James 4:14 "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, then vanishes away."

A minister illustrated this scripture by taking a can of air freshener and spraying just a very small wisp of the compressed air into a large auditorium. When the air was released from the can, it appeared for a moment and then vanished quickly. It could not be recaptured. The Apostle James measures our life in the same manner to help us understand how short our life is and how precious our moments really are. In light of this revelation, we need to be more attentive to our life and learn to take advantage of each and every special moment that comes our way.

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon said that to everything there is a season and a purpose. He said there is a time to laugh, dance, be healed, build, love, and embrace the ones we love. Yet, these crucial moments that God presents to us must be recognized and seized in the spirit. Very often, however, we allow ourselves to become so stressed that we can't take a moment to laugh, much less take a little time out to dance. We can't find a few spare moments to refresh ourselves in the spirit so that God can build us up in our faith. And if we are not careful, we will even get too busy to embrace those that we love, pay attention to their needs, and enjoy their presence. We will fail to recognize the precious moments that are being offered to us until it is too late. In this fast paced life, it is crucial for us to just waste some time enjoying the fellowship of our family, our friends, and even life itself. We must slow down long enough to smell the roses, watch a sunrise or sunset, hold a baby in our arms, and quietly rest in God's presence. When we take these moments, they will create a memory that will last a lifetime. Following is a prayer that I encourage you to pray if you need help in this area.

Lord, help me to take a moment in the midst of the storms of my life to acknowledge that You are God and that You are sovereign and in control. Help me to recognize that You can speak peace into my life and calm all of the adverse circumstances that are challenging me right now. Help me to take a moment from the busyness and stress of my life to rest in Your presence so that You can renew my strength. When I fall into sin, help me take a moment to confess my sins so that You can forgive me, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and restore the joy of my salvation. When my body is infiltrated by disease and racked with pain, help me take a moment to remember Your word that says, "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." Help me take a moment away from my financial pressures to acknowledge Your promise that You will meet my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. When I am grieved in the spirit, help me take a moment to know that You are surrounding me with songs of deliverance and that You will give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. When things seem hopeless, help me take a moment and remember that all things are working together for good and to praise You for Your love and mercy that endures forever.

Lord, remind me to take a moment to appreciate my sight, my hearing, my mental faculties, and my physical mobility. Help me not to allow the moments of my life to pass unnoticed. Instead help me seize them with anticipation and store their memories as special treasures in the chambers of my heart. Last but not least, help me to remember that my life is as a vapor and that I should cherish every moment that You create for me. Amen. +++

09/21/09
STABLE FEET

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:19 "The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me walk upon my high places."

Habakkuk was in fear when he saw the Chaldeans coming to invade the land. He said, "My whole inner self trembled and my lips quivered at the sound." There was nothing that he could do to prevent the situation as he waited quietly for the day of trouble and distress to come against his people. Yet in the midst of all this turmoil and the uncertainty about the future, Habakkuk put his trust in God and continued to praise Him. He made a bold declaration that God's strength would help him and his people get through the hard and uncertain times that they were facing. He said, "I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. If the fig tree does not blossom and bring fruit; if the product of the olive fails; if the fields yield no food; if there are no flocks; and if there are no cattle in the stalls, I will still rejoice." He made a decision ahead of time to praise God regardless of what the future held for him and his people. He was determined not to let the circumstances separate him from God. As he depended upon God for strength and help, he held three secrets in his heart that caused him to be able to continue in praise to God in spite of impending danger.

1) The Lord would be his strength.
2) God would make his feet to be stable.
3) God had a personal plan for him and would help him walk in it.

Habakkuk knew that the eternal supernatural God that he served was bigger than any natural circumstance that he would have to face. Even though Habakkuk's own natural resources were failing, he knew that God would sustain him and he placed his confidence in the God who was his source and strength.

Like Habakkuk, you can also have this same assurance. Regardless of the trouble or distress that you may be facing, you must stop relying on your own strength and lean upon God. As you begin to depend upon God, He will make your feet like the feet of the deer, strong and sure. As you develop your faith by hearing His word, He will give you the ability to climb your mountain of adversity without fear. You must acknowledge God as your source of strength and praise Him regardless of how bad your circumstances look. As you do, He will then lead you to the places that He has prepared for you and enable you to conquer each cliff, one step at a time. Be assured that the same God who made Habakkuk's feet stable and allowed him to walk in high places is also there for you. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/22/09
OPENING OUR HEART'S DOOR

Scripture: Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him ..."

When we read this scripture, we often think of the picture that we have seen of Jesus standing and knocking at a door that has no doorknob on the outside. The scene represents the door of our heart, which can only be opened from the inside. It leaves the impression that we must open the door if we want Jesus to come into our lives. We often think of this picture just in terms of our initial salvation and fail to realize that Jesus stands at the door of our heart on a daily basis wanting to commune with us on a personal level.

This section of scripture was addressing not the lost, but those in the church who had become spiritually lukewarm and arrogant. They said, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." They thought that they had it all together, but the scriptures say that God saw them as wretched, poor, blind, and naked. So, He personally stood at their door and tried to get their attention. He wanted to come into their lives and make them into overcomers (verse 21). He told them that He would come in if they would respond to Him in two ways; by hearing His voice, and by opening the door.

God makes those same promises to us and He desires to experience an intimate fellowship with us. He knocks on our heart's door to summon us to prayer and the study of His word, but many times we don't respond for various reasons. We may be so far away spiritually that we actually don't hear Him, or we may be too distracted with the cares of this life to respond. It may be that we are depending upon others to hear His voice for us. Then again, we may hear the Lord's voice, but feel we are just too busy to answer. The bottom line is that we will never be overcomers in this life if we are not attentive to His voice or if we refuse to open the door and allow Him into our lives. He makes His invitation very plain. He says, "I'm standing at the door of your heart and I'm knocking. Do you hear me? Will you open the door? Can we commune with one another?" If you are willing, wait for the Lord just as you would wait for a special friend that you are expecting to come visit you. Listen for His voice and respond to the knock at your heart's door. When Jesus knocks, remember that you are the only one who can open the door because the knob is on your side! +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/23/09
NO GOD - NO POWER

Scripture: John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches ... without Me you can do nothing."

Jesus compared Himself to the vine and His followers to branches. The analogy that He was making was that if we want to be able to draw continual strength from Him, we must stay in relationship with Him. To walk in light and maintain life we must abide in Him and allow Him and His words to abide in us. A branch must stay attached to its source to maintain life. A branch that is separated from the vine or trunk may flourish for a short season, but it will soon dry up and wither away because it is not self-supported. Like the natural branch, God is our life and the source of all of our strength. All the power that we experience comes from God, and God alone. Without Him, we can do nothing.

We must have the same mindset that Peter had in Acts 3:12 when the lame man was healed. Peter recognized that he was simply a vessel of the Holy Spirit. The people tried to attribute the miracle to Peter, but he said, "Don't look on us as though by our own power or holiness that we made this man to walk." Instead, he gave all of the glory to God. God could have chosen anyone, but He chose Peter and allowed a miracle to flow through him because Peter was attached to the vine. He had an intimate relationship with Jesus and drew strength from Him daily. Peter was filled with the Spirit of the Living God and was fully aware that God was the one who was responsible for performing the miracle. He dared not take the glory.

It is so easy for us to forget how insignificant we really are when God immediately answers our prayer or does something supernatural in our lives. When God uses us for something, we may forget for a moment and tend to look at ourselves in grandeur. We become like the woodpecker who pecked continuously at the trunk of a tree. Suddenly, lightening struck the tree and split the tree down the middle. The woodpecker declared, "Wow, I didn't know I had that much power in me!" He failed to realize and acknowledge that the act was wrought by God's power.

Zechariah 4:6 explains our ability. It says it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Host." We have no might or power to call our own, for we are simply a branch drawing our strength and power from The Vine. Power is held in the hands of the Almighty God. Let us remember that without Him, we can do nothing. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/24/09
WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?

Scripture: Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love

God does not overlook any of the deeds or labors of love that you show when you minister in His name. He sees each time that you meet the needs of others and He promises not to forget about it. His word says that when you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord and He will repay. It also says that whatever you give will be given back to you in greater measure. God is righteous and there is no way that you can out give the Lord, for He pays good interest rates on what your lend to Him and He rewards your works.

Love is not a big, red, heart-shaped box full of chocolate candy, a dozen red roses, or a special card with cupids. Neither is love a mushy feeling or goose bumps. These are all neat expressions of love but true love has actions. Love sets its own desires aside to take care of the needs of others. It does not look inward but forgets about its own discomfort. We see this unselfish love manifested in the love that a parent has for their children or in the love that a child has for an elderly parent. We see it when a married couple live out the words of their wedding vows, "to love in sickness as well as in health". We also see it when the saints minister to the needs of the other saints, when pastors sacrifice their own agendas for their sheep, or when a missionary leaves all he has to go minister in a foreign field. Love always can be seen by its actions and endures all things, without fail.

"Love has hands to help others,
Feet to hasten to the poor and needy,
Eyes to see misery and want,
Ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like." - Augustine +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/25/09
THE ROOMS OF YOUR HEART

Scripture: II Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations ..."

Have you ever tried to clean a room, closet, or garage but found that your determination to do so was met with conflict by your own desires and actions? Your efforts were met with struggle, as you found it hard to get rid of the old junk. You looked at your broken items, declared that you still intended to fix them, and dreamed of having the time to master this feat. Even though you had items that were taking valuable space and that you had not used in years, you were afraid to throw them away because you thought that you might need them later. You didn't want to get rid of the clothes in your closet that were too small because you had hopes of getting back down to that size again. By the time you had finished your cleaning project, you ended up only discarding a few items and straightening the rest of the clutter. Everything left will continue to irritate you and eventually will have to be dealt with again.

Like our physical spaces, we have spaces within our hearts that desperately need to be cleaned out. I had some hurtful things in the past that I found hard to give up. My mind continually wanted to dwell on these disturbing thoughts that only revived the pain. One day when I began to recall the events and talk about the bitter pain of those days, my son said, "Mom, don't go to that room." When he said those words, I began to realize that I had a spiritual room within my soul where I was harboring all the evil memories from the days gone by. Most of the time, I would visit this room alone, but sometimes I would invite a close friend or one of my children to look inside my heart as I expressed my hurt.

The therapy did help and their words were a comfort, but my heart stayed cluttered. My soul was in total disarray, for I was surrounded by mental darkness and confusion because I could not understand why I had allowed myself to get into such a terrible situation. As I began to look into this chamber within my heart, I saw that there was a spirit of bitterness on one shelf because I felt that part of my life had been stolen from me. On another shelf there was pain because I had been deceived by someone who I thought cared for me, and for that reason, I now found it hard to trust others. There was a space that was full of hopelessness because I could not let go of the past and move towards the future. All of the other feelings such as self-pity, anger, and shame were also crammed into this space that should have been storing the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Just like the clutter in my physical closet, all of this spiritual baggage and junk was my stuff and I had to deal with it personally. No one could let go of the past for me or resist the spirit of anger or self-pity that was inside of me. I had to repent and seek God's forgiveness. I had to forgive those who had wronged me and also forgive myself for being deceived and making bad choices. I had to learn to consciously let go and cast down all of the painful memories of the past. I realized that if I wanted total deliverance, I couldn't just shut the door to the room, I needed to clean it thoroughly and then replace every negative thought with God's word or something good and peaceable. Memories remain, but I do not allow them to surround me with pain. I choose instead to learn from them and I look to the future with hope and trust God to restore the years that were stolen from me. I have forgiven those who deceived me and am learning to trust others. I disallow myself to store up spiritual clutter. This is a continuing process in my life, for things are still being revealed to me.

I encourage you today to allow God to shine His light upon your heart and show you the things that you are harboring within your spirit that are contrary to His will and then begin to work towards removing them. If the weight is too heavy, the Lord will help you lift it. If it is too high, He will help you reach it. If it is too difficult to bear, He will carry it for you. If it is too hard for you to let go, then allow Him to take it from you. Allow the winds of His Holy Spirit to sweep through your spirit and let His precious blood wash you clean. Begin to cast down all of the imaginations that keep you from walking in freedom and towards the destiny that God has ordained for you. The Lord is eager to help you get rid of weights that hinder you from being able to run the race that He has set before you. He is waiting for you to ask Him to help you clean your spiritual closet. Make a commitment to work with Him and enjoy your new day of beginnings. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

09/28/09
SUFFERING AND GLORY

Scripture: Romans 8:18 "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Everything that we enjoy and every object of beauty that we behold has suffered through a time of intense preparation. The olive must be pressed to produce oil and the rose petal must be bruised to bring forth a fragrant perfume. The dough must be kneaded and sent to a hot oven to produce bread and the sculpture or woodcarving must be cut and chipped with a sharp instrument. Precious gold must be heated, melted, and formed and the diamond must be cut. The moth must be imprisoned in a lonely dark cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly. And a child is brought forth from the womb through much labor and pain In all of these instances we see that adversity and suffering produces a glorious result.

Our lives are much the same. The soul that has never known lack can never truly be full, for self sufficiency never appreciates the gift of God's mercy and grace. It is through the suffering of bruises and pain that we come to know and understand God's marvelous love. It is through our hardships and crushed spirits that a depth of compassion is created within our souls. Afflictions become our personal trainer, for the pain in our own sorrows enable us to comfort others in their time of grief. Our lack shows us the importance of sharing with others and our illnesses cause us to know their pain. Our mistakes become revelations that help us to teach others the virtues of wisdom and the importance of waiting for the appropriate time. The disappointments that we experience help us to understand the tears and heartaches of others and our broken hearts give birth to moving songs.

You must never be discouraged or allow your patience to be exhausted in your present suffering, for there will never be a harvest in your life without rain and heat or a birth without pain and labor. The Lord sees your situation and the trying of your faith is very precious in His eyes. You must wait upon Him and allow Him to complete His plan in your life. You can trust God's word and be assured that you will reap if your strength does not fail. When all the trials are finished, you will discover that your present sufferings were not worthy to be compared to the glory that is destined to be revealed in you. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/29/09
BE HOLY

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4 " ... be holy and without blame before Him in love."

Paul spoke to ordinary Christians at Ephesus and told them to be holy and without blame. These same words are meant for us today, but this instruction seems almost impossible to accomplish. Our carnal mind cannot comprehend the concept that we can be holy. Yet God never gives us an assignment that we can't handle and He confirmed His desire in Leviticus 19:2 saying, "You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." God wants His children to be just like Him, and because He spoke these words to us, there must be a way to attain this place of holiness in our lives. But how can we possibly fulfill these words with all of the daily challenges that we face?

The word "be" means to exist, to live, to remain, or to continue. It is not something that happens just one time but is a continuation. How can we exist, live, or continue to be holy as God is holy? It is simple, for being holy is like living life. Life happens one breath at a time, one heartbeat followed by the next heartbeat. From the time we are born until the time we die, we are one breath away from death and one heartbeat away from eternity. Yet even though we are that close to death, we say that we are living and that we have life. The same is true with holiness. God tells us to be holy, but regardless of how hard we try, we will always be one thought, one attitude, or one action away from relinquishing our state of holiness. We can only live as God gives us breath to live and we can only be holy as He empowers us to live in holiness and continues to forgive us when we fail. Being holy is a constant and continual moment by moment journey.

There is a story of a father who tied a bag of candy to the ceiling. His young son desperately tried to reach it, but when he discovered that he could not reach the candy, he began to jump for it. When that failed, he decided to stand on a chair but he was still too short and the candy remained out of his reach. Everything he attempted failed. The son wanted the candy with all of his heart, but regardless of all of his efforts, he finally realized that it was impossible for him to reach the bag at the top of the ceiling and he gave up. When he gave up, his father took him in his arms and lifted him up so that he could grab the bag of candy. What was too difficult for the boy to do by himself was easy with his father's help.

God wants us to know that being holy may seem impossible for us, but when He sees our desperate desire and struggle to be holy like Him, He will take us in His loving arms and lift us up so that we can accomplish His will. We must include God in our quest for holiness, for He understands. When things get too hard, we must simply surrender to the Lord, pray, and ask for His help. Like breathing one breathe of air at a time, He will help us to live, moment by moment, in holiness. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
09/30/09
CREATE AND RENEW

Scripture: Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me."

Nathan, the prophet, had exposed and brought to light the sin that David had committed in his relationship with Bathsheba. As David owned up to his personal failure and his sin against God, he began to plead for God's mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. He also asked God to do something new in his life and to create within him something that wasn't there. David needed a clean heart and a right spirit and he recognized that without God, he could not change.

This is an awesome revelation! It declares that God is still creator and shows us that we too cannot truly change without the work of the Holy Spirit. We may cover our faults over with pretense for a season, but unless God changes our heart and renews our spirit, our sin nature remains within us and will eventually manifest outwardly. This truth not only applies to the temptations of sin that knock at our heart's door but also to our daily spiritual lack. We may feel the tugging of God's presence in our lives but struggle with the simple things that He calls us to do. This is the reason that we need God to create within our being something that will effect a change.

David's prayer gives us great insight and shows us that we too can pray and ask God to meet any lack that we may have in our lives. God can and will create within us whatever it is that we need if we cry out to Him. You may have lost the passion that you once had for spiritual things. You can ask God to create within you a passion to pursue Him. You can ask Him to create a fresh desire and hunger for His word and a thirst for His Spirit. You will be amazed as He begins to work in those areas. If you find that you no longer worship as you once did in the past or find it difficult to be thankful, ask God to create within you a spirit of thanksgiving, adoration, praise, and worship for Him. He will begin to work on those areas, for He loves to be worshiped. If your actions are not as they should be, ask Him to create the fruits of His Spirit within your heart. He longs for you to manifest His fruits. If you feel spiritually lethargic, ask Him to ignite a fire within you and cause you to burn with His glory, for you are the hope of His glory in this Earth. Whatever the need, God desires to make the change within you, but He is never forceful. As He did with David, He will wait for you to yield your heart and submit your spirit to Him. When you do, He will create and He will renew. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================