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A Word In Due Season
1st Week of April 2010

04/01/10
WILLING SPIRIT - WEAK FLESH

Scripture: Matthew 26:41 "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after He found them sleeping when they were supposed to be watching and praying. These were not condemning words but understanding words, for Jesus Himself had just encountered a spiritual battle within Himself. His spirit had experienced the rebellion of His flesh. Jesus was willing to submit to the Father's will, but His flesh rose up in weakness. It fought hard against the coming torture of the crucifixion and separation from the Father. Look at His words from the Amplified Bible as He struggled through this conflict:

-   "He said, 'My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost
    dying of sorrow.'" (Matthew 26:38)

-   "He prayed, 'Father, let this cup pass away from Me' ... He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words."

   (Matthew 26:39 & 44)
-   "He began to be struck with terror and amazement and was deeply troubled and depressed." (Mark 14:33)

-   "Being in agony of mind, He prayed the more earnestly and intently." (Luke 22:44)

-   "His sweat became great drops of blood dropping down upon the
     ground." (Luke 22:44)

Sometimes life becomes very difficult and we question in our mind if we can make it. Yet, with all that comes against us, I doubt seriously that any one of us have faced the agony that Jesus faced. He endured so much in the garden as He prayed that His sweat became great drops of blood. Can you imagine that? The purpose of His distress and sorrow was so that He could become acquainted with our emotions and be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. His experiences qualified Him to become our High Priest and enabled Him to make intercessions for us continually before the Father. If your battle gets tough and you find yourself in deep depression and overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, remember that Jesus had the same struggles. He can help you. Lean upon Him, for He knows your spirit is willing and He understands the struggles of your weak flesh. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/02/10
BEHOLD THE LAMB

Scripture: John 1:29 "John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."

John's challenge to the people of his day to "Behold the Lamb of God" still speaks to us today. We are to turn our eyes upon Jesus and look at Him, the One who took away all of our sins by enduring the pain and crucifixion of the cross. Isaiah 52:14 and 53:1-7 prophetically tells us that His face and whole appearance was marred more than any man. His accusers actually ripped His beard from His face and when they were finished, He could not be recognized. Just think of His pain as you think about the pain that you experience when only one hair is pulled from your face.

As the Lamb of God, Jesus acquainted Himself with grief and sickness, bearing all of our weaknesses and distress. He became a man of sorrows and endured the pain, and despite His sacrifice for mankind, Jesus was still despised and rejected by mankind. Men did not appreciate His worth, nor did they esteem Him for who He was. He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, yet He had no form of royalty, kingly air, or beauty that would cause men to want to look at Him. In fact, people turned the other way and hid their faces from Him. Yet, Jesus carried the sorrow of pain and punishment for all men. Although He was innocent, He was stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God.

Peter said, "We are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19). We could not be redeemed with corruptible things, so God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, who willingly offered Himself to be the sacrificial lamb. As the Lamb of God, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our guilt and iniquities. The chastisement that was needed to obtain our peace and well being was laid upon Him. And by the thirty-nine stripes that were laid upon His back, we are healed and made whole. Jesus was abused and oppressed, yet when He was afflicted He remained submissive and did not open His mouth in self-defense. He was as a lamb that was led to the slaughter. During this season, while you honor Jesus' death and celebrate His resurrection, take the time to behold Him as the Lamb of God that was sacrificed for you. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of April 2010

04/05/10
A RISEN SAVIOR

Scripture: Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen."

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James came to the tomb where Jesus had been laid after His crucifixion. As they approached the tomb, they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. While they were standing at the empty tomb in wonder and amazement, two angels appeared to the women and asked them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The angels then declared, "He is not here, but is risen."

The question that the angels asked the women at the tomb that day is still a valid question for us today. Are we seeking the living among the dead? Do we envision Jesus on the cross of Calvary or is He alive in our hearts? Is His presence near or do we feel that He is strangely distant? Can we hear Him in our spirit or is His voice dead to us? Does He walk with us along the pathway of life or He is missing from our fellowship?

Jesus has never changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is as alive today as He was when He was laid in a manger as a babe, when He walked the shores of Galilee with His disciples, when He was crucified, when He rose from the dead, and when He ascended to the Father in Heaven. Jesus is risen and He has promised to be with us always. This is our hope and our eternal assurance.

May The Glorious Blessings Of Resurrection Day Be Yours ... Every Moment of Every Day! +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/06/10
AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

Scripture: Luke 24:32 "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?"

On the day of Jesus' resurrection, two men traveled towards a village called Emmaus, which was near Jerusalem. As they journeyed, they discussed the crucifixion of Jesus and their disappointments in His death. Their hopes had been shattered at Jesus' death because they had believed that He was the one that would redeem Israel. That day, reports began to come saying that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was alive and the two men didn't know what to think.

As they walked and communed together concerning these facts, Jesus drew near to them. He began to explain the scriptures to them, but kept Himself hidden from them. He started with the words of Moses and went through the prophets. He explained that the necessity of Christ's suffering was so that He could enter into His glory. Later, as Jesus broke bread with the two men, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus just before He vanished out of their sights. They then realized why their hearts burned within them as the scriptures were being opened to them. Jesus had been in their midst and the anointing that rested upon Him had ministered to their wounded hearts and souls as He opened the word to them.

Jesus is no less concerned about your thoughts, confusion, and disappointments. He will draw just as near to you as He did to the two men who traveled the Emmaus Road that day so that He may commune with you and give you counsel. He wants to help you with the things that you do not understand and remove your anxieties. He wants to light your path and give you clear direction. He makes Himself available so that you too will encounter Him in a fresh way and have the opportunity to come to know Him more intimately. As you seek Him, He opens your spiritual eyes and reveals Himself to you. When He does, you will experience the very depths of His love, the heights of His joy, and the richness of His grace in a fashion that you have never known before. A moment with Him is eternal and something that you will never forget. When Jesus has finished ministering to you personally, you realize that all the while that He was speaking to you, your heart was burning within you and that His presence was imparting revelation. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/07/10
LEAD ME TO THE ROCK

Scripture: Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

God made this day and we should rejoice and be glad in it, for He makes every day for our pleasure. Yet even though we know that this is true, we still experience stress, disappointments, things we don't understand, and things that we cannot fix. We make an effort to approach the day with optimism but when confusion enters our world, we lose our sense of peace. Our schedules become hectic and the issues that surround us become horrific. We must deal with illness, death, and situations in our relationships. There are also life changing decisions to be made and financial pressures to cope with. Many times these things leave our spirits totally overwhelmed.

However, God does not want us to be overwhelmed by any problem, regardless of whether it is large or small. He sent His Son so that we could live in peace and have true joy every day of the year. God's Son, Jesus, is the Rock that is higher than you or me and He is our strength and our security. He is the one that we can run to and the one whom we can depend upon when our situations and emotions try to overpower and upset us.

David declared that from the ends of the earth he would cry out to the Lord for help. He was at the end of his ordeal and he felt overwhelmed, but he had hope because he knew that there was one who was higher than himself. Yet, knowing about the Rock who is higher than us and finding the Rock in times of pressure are two different things. David had a solution to this situation. He asked God to lead him to the Rock. David knew he would find peace and comfort in God's shelter, for God always met him at the level of his need.

God will do the same for you and has given you His word of promise for peace and comfort. When you find your emotions stressed, your body wearied, and you are overwhelmed by any pressure, you can receive help by praying this same simple prayer that David prayed, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." +++

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04/08/10
ALMOST

Scripture: Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said to Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian."

Paul gave a moving testimony of the blinding light and his heavenly vision that he experienced on the Road to Damascus. He also witnessed about Christ and spoke of the things that Christ had suffered because He came to this earth as the Savior of the world. Paul was so passionate and shared so many convincing details that King Agrippa declared that he, himself, was almost persuaded to become a Christian. Yet, King Agrippa fell short and never followed through with a definite decision or action to receive Jesus.

To say "almost" in any situation is never enough. God calls us to completion. When Jesus had completed His assignment on Earth, He said, "It is finished." When the Apostle Paul came to the end of his life, he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7). For King Agrippa to say that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian was the same as saying that he was almost rescued from the fire or almost saved from drowning. A person who is almost saved from the fire or from drowning is still dead and without hope. Likewise, King Agrippa's soul was still lost and going to Hell no matter how close he had come to receiving Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his life.

There is no joy if you are almost delivered or almost saved from destruction. There is only defeat. There is no reward if you almost refrain from sin. There are only consequences. There is no virtue if you almost tell the truth, for your words are still considered to be lies. There is no such position as almost fair, almost righteous, almost justified, or almost sanctified. Almost is not enough. You can't go halfway or just nearly make it. The work has to be completed. For true victory in your life, you must go all the way with God and refuse to stop at the place that is called almost. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/09/10
MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

Scripture: I Peter 1:7 "The trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold."

These words were written by Peter to the Christians, who had been scattered. They were chosen by God, obedient to the blood of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Yet, their situation was one of suffering and trial because they were trying to live faithfully in a pagan and hostile society. Peter's message of hope was intended to comfort them and to encourage them to rejoice and stand firm even in the midst of their trials.

Life has not changed and neither has the message of Peter to the church of the Living God. When all hope is gone, God's word to His people today is the same as it was to the early Christians. We are to "greatly rejoice, though now for a season, .... that we are in heaviness through manifold temptations." Manifold temptations mean that the trials are multiplied. One of Satan's tactics is to attack your faith from all sides. He did this with Job. A messenger came to give Job bad news, and while the messenger was still speaking, there came another bad report. It was one bad thing after the other in Job's season of testing. He had to face the devil in every arena. Yet, Job refused to curse God and instead, he made a declaration of his commitment. He said, "Though God slay me, still I will trust Him." He left his life and future in God's hands. The Apostle Paul's faith was also tried in manifold situations. He said, "We are troubled on every side ... perplexed ... persecuted ... and cast down ... that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." Yet, he maintained a spirit of faith through it all (II Corinthians 4:8-13). And Jesus, Himself, faced a series of testing in the wilderness. Satan tempted Him in three areas, but Jesus placed His faith in the Word of God and remained faithful.

You may be scattered in your mind right now with manifold trials and temptations but remember the devil only has a season. Always keep in mind that your times of testing are precious times because you are held in the palms of God's hands. His eyes are ever on you just as His eyes were on those Christians who were scattered. God never leaves the refining pot to tend to other matters. You are His main concern and the strength of your faith is important to Him. He has judged you and counted you mature enough to endure the conflicts and the reproach that you are now facing. Satan's main goal is to destroy your faith in today's test so that it will affect your hope for the next season and your ultimate destiny. But God knows the degree of heat that you can handle, and if things get too hot He has promised to rescue you by making a way of escape. God believes that your faith will come forth as pure gold as He allows the fires of adversity to refine it. As your faith passes through the fire, things that are impure will separate from you. When this process is complete. only genuine faith will remain. In the midst of the fire, God will deliver you from fear, agitating passions, and moral conflicts. So as the fires come, embrace them and live above the reproach. Allow God to purify your faith and burn out the things that are foreign to His nature. As you do, your faith will come forth as pure gold and your suffering will be changed into glory and honor for Him. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of April 2010

04/12/10
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD

Scripture: James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

This is a wonderful promise and so simply stated. God promises us a personal one-on-one relationship with Him. How many other very important and powerful people have made this promise to you? Very few, I'm sure. Yet because of our hectic schedules and limited time, most of us do not exercise our option to enter into the Lord's presence on a daily basis for any great length of time. We spend a few minutes with a devotional, say a short prayer, and then we're off to meet the day's challenges. We promise to spend more time with Him later. But when the day is finished, we're exhausted and just too tired.

Those in scripture who spent time with God knew Him intimately. And those who knew Him intimately had great power with Him. Even the Sanhedrin marveled and took notice of Peter and John because they recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Elijah was a man of fervent and earnest prayer and his relationship with God resulted in mighty miracles. But these and other mighty men only knew God's heart because they spent time in His presence. They drew near to God and God drew near to them and manifested His power through them.

Drawing near to God is a gradual process towards a place of intimacy with Him. One definition of "intimacy" is "into-me-see." It is only as you begin to pour out your inner most thoughts to God and allow Him to see inside of you that He responds and shares His most inner thoughts with you. Even our natural relationships show us this. We can only truly know those with whom we have solitary fellowship. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:6 to enter into our closet and shut the door when we talk to Him. He wants us to fellowship with Him in secret so that He can speak to us in secret. He set the example for us several times in the scriptures as He Himself found solitary places to commune with the Father (Mark 1:35). Jesus drew near to God a great while before the day began and spent all night in God's presence.

How close do you want to be to God? You determine the relationship. Those who move towards God, evoke a response from Him. He gave the invitation and the pattern for us to enter His presence. He said, "Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you." Or, you take a step towards me, then I will take a step towards you." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/13/10
WOUNDED SPIRIT

Scripture: Proverbs 18:14 "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

The spirit of a man is amazing. It will rise up and sustain you when you are in physical pain or other trouble. It will give birth to a determination that you didn't realize you had. Your spirit will inspire you and assist you in conquering the present adversity that challenges you. It will tell you to keep going in spite of the difficulties, and that you can make it. You will find yourself taking courage and doing what you could not do before, even fighting battles that you never thought possible. Many people have lived through life-threatening illnesses simply because when they heard the evil report that was issued against them, their spirit came alive and rose up with a new and exceptional strength that enabled them to fight for their life.

While it is true that your spirit will sustain you during your season of infirmity or adverse situations, it is also true that it is difficult for one to rise up when their spirit has been wounded, crushed, or broken. Physical wounds usually come from without and are easy to understand and cope with, but there are no simple bandages for a wounded spirit. Wounds to the spirit are sudden blows, and most of the time we don't see them coming, for they usually come from those whom we love and trust the most. This makes it hard to forget the incident or to forgive the one who inflicted the pain. It may be years before reconciliation and restoration of the relationship can be achieved, for we tend to continually analyze the situation. We are never quite sure how our loved one could have tread upon our heart and transgressed our feeling in such a grievous manner. It happens with our spouse, children, family, and friends. An unexplained action or an innocent but insensitive remark from someone we love can wound our spirit and this wound will be hard to bear.

Jesus knows and understands all that you are going through. He understands how you can be wounded by rejection because many rejected Him and His own disciples abandoned Him in the time of His greatest need. He knew the tears of pain and sorrow as He grieved for His friend, Lazarus. He understood how it felt to be misunderstood because His own mother and brothers did not understand Him and even declared that He was mad. He was also wounded and hurt by the same people that He ministered to and gave His life for. Because He understands your feelings so well, He is able to not only dry the tears in your eyes, but also to wipe them from your heart. You do not have to bear your wounded spirit alone, for He will bind up your wounds for you. He will stay near you when your heart is broken and continually apply the comforting healing balm of the Holy Spirit. He will minister to your broken spirit by giving you beauty for the ashes and disappointments of your life. He will give you the oil of joy for mourning and replace the heaviness that is in your soul with a garment of praise. A wounded spirit ... who can bear? Only Jesus. So, trust and lean upon Him. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/14/10
LIFE AND BREATH

Scripture: Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life."

There are two special things about us that we need to understand so that we can enjoy life the way that God intended for us to enjoy it. First, the Spirit of God made us and that makes each one of us special in our own way. We did not evolve from some lower beings, nor were we were created by chance. We were made in God's own image and according to His special design. Our voices are different and we do not act or think the same as anyone else on Earth. We are individuals and this is a marvel of God. God has created millions of people since the Earth began and yet we all look different and each of us can be identified by our personal fingerprints. It is a miracle that God could make a half inch square on our thumb totally different from that of the other millions of people that have lived and not duplicate Himself in the process. God is an awesome Creator and we are His awesome creation.

Most of the times, we do not think in these terms and may even look at ourselves and wish that we were someone else or wish that we could at least be like them. Yet, God's choices are sovereign and we should never question His work. The same people that we admire may be looking at us in the same manner. We can't afford to be envious of each other or complacent about who we are. Red roses are my favorite flower but it would be sad if all the flowers of the field were red roses. Where would the variety be? Can you imagine every floral arrangement being a dozen red roses? God is creative and His work is never boring and that includes you and me.

The second special thing about us is that the breath of the Almighty gives us life. We were alive within the womb, but the first gift that we received when we exited our mother's womb was breath. God was there at our birth and He, Himself, breathed His breath of life into our being. Without His breath, there is no life. Yet we seldom think about our ability to breathe or give thanks for our breath. We take it for granted and it is only as we experience some sort of episode where we are unable to breathe that we give thought to this awesome gift. As we make our way through today, let us realize that life should be exuberant and exciting. God loves each and every one of us and we should love ourselves just the way that He created us. We are definitely one of a kind, fingerprints and all. So let us acknowledge and give thanks to our Maker, cherish our life and breath, celebrate who we are, and enjoy every moment of the day. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/15/10
ORDER MY STEPS

Scripture: Psalms 119:133 "Order my steps in Thy word."

What a simple but profound request this is. Can you imagine where you would be today if this had been your prayer each day many years ago? What if God had ordered each step that you took according to His word? This would mean that every situation in your life would have been the perfect and ordained will of God. Unfortunately, as we look back on those yesterdays, we can see many times that we strayed from the perfect path that God had placed before us. It looks all too clear now that God was trying to direct our steps. But instead of allowing His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, we followed our own wills and desires. As a result, some of the paths turned out to be pretty dirty and bumpy. They were surely not through the green pastures and beside the still waters.

Jeremiah 10:23 tells us that it is not in man to determine and to direct his own way. It is not in us to even know what direction to take. Our natural man cannot envision the ultimate purpose and plan that God has for our lives. And although God may show us the large picture of His plan so that we can work towards it, He only leads and guides us one step at a time. Each step we take must be taken in faith for He requires that we trust Him with all of our heart and that we do not lean upon our own understanding. As we acknowledge God in all of our ways, He promises to direct our steps.

Psalms 37:23 says that God busies Himself with every step you take. He is right there watching you take steps through life just like a loving father watches his child walk. God wants to give you direction, but He will not force you. As you step out into life each day, think about your future being set in order by the Lord. Imagine the enormous changes that may happen in your life if you start each day with these eight simple and profound words, "Order my steps in Thy word, O Lord." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/16/10
THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Scripture: Romans 2:4 " ... the goodness of God leads to repentance."

When we were children we were wise in our own eyes and many times we couldn't understand why we were not allowed to make our own decisions. We tried to do things our own way and often despised the correction that our actions demanded. As time progressed, however, we began to understand and appreciate the protection and the benefits of the discipline that we had received at the hands of those who loved us very much. We saw the wisdom of not being allowed to play in the street where our bodies could have been mangled or our lives lost. We could also appreciate the other benefits that were forced upon us such as good diet and hygiene. And we began to understand that going to school and studying were not a means of punishment but were meant for our own growth and development. As we matured, we came to realize that it was good that we were not left to ourselves.

Paul's statement that the goodness of God leads to repentance is similar to the discipline that we received in our youth. Many times we don't understand the workings of God. Our natural desires pull us one direction which is to enjoy our own lives for a season, while the Holy Spirit strives within us to lead us into the way that is intended to fulfill God's eternal purposes. When we go against the leading of the Holy Spirit a Godly sorrow begins to manifest within our hearts. This Godly sorrow is called conviction and pulls at our heartstrings. It is never to be despised, for God is our loving Father and He is seeking only our good. It is because of His goodness that He deals with us so patiently in this manner in an effort to lead us into His paths of righteousness. It is because of His mercy that He brings us to repentance and diverts us from our own thoughts and plans. Eventually we come to understand that His plan was much higher and far greater than our own plan.

In II Corinthians 7:10, Paul speaks of the two kinds of sorrow. There is the Godly sorrow, which works repentance and brings salvation, and then there is the worldly sorrow, which brings death. Godly sorrow releases us to experience life and light as we release the things that cause death to our soul and spirit. This Godly sorrow leaves no regrets. Worldly sorrow, however, leads to discouragement, defeat, and death. It condemns and causes you to hate yourself. The Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11). There is a time to grow up and go on with life. Repentance means to turn from one direction and go in the opposite direction. To experience life, you must release the things that hold you in bondage, whether it be sins of the flesh or the pains of the past. The bondage of sin and the regrets of the past always cause death to your soul and spirit. God is seeking to change your heart, turn you around, and bring you to repentance, not because He is selfish and mean, but because of His infinite goodness and grace. God knows that His love and His light will drive out the darkness as you repent and release it all to Him. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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A Word In Due Season
4th Week of April 2010

04/19/10
EMBRACING THE MOMENT

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12 (Living Bible) "There is nothing better for a man than to be happy and to enjoy himself as long as he can."

Life on this earth is as a vapor, and compared to eternity it is as a moment in a day. James 4:14 tells us that our life "appears for a while, then it vanishes." Not only is the span of life that we are given very short, it is also divided into many unpredictable seasons. Some of them are joyful and some are sad. Solomon said there are seasons to laugh and seasons to cry. There are times to love, to hate, to build, to tear down, to have peace, and to be at war. He lists many other seasons that we will encounter in our lifetime, but he says, "God makes everything beautiful in His time."

For so long, we have murmured and complained and taken so many things for granted. We are often dissatisfied because we see our glass as half-empty instead of half-full. It is only when we encounter sickness that we begin to appreciate health. Or when we come face to face with death that we see life as a gift, and our every breath becomes precious to us. We give little thought to our vision and mobility until we see a close friend suddenly lose their eyesight or become paralyzed due to injury. We never think of the blessing of hearing until our hearing is gone. Our voice and ability to communicate is considered mundane until we are unable to speak or sing. And it is only when a loved one is stricken with a fatal disease that we come to the realization that we should cherish our loved ones and thankfully hold on to each moment that we have together and spend it very carefully.

Solomon said learn to be happy and enjoy life as much as you can. Whatever season you find yourself in, even in the midst of a trial, rejoice knowing that God is sovereign and God is in control. Don't murmur and complain about insignificant things. Instead, be thankful and embrace the little things of life that you have taken for granted. In the midst of your disappointments, don't consider what you have lost, look at what you have left and praise the Lord. Right now, if you have breath and life, embrace the moment and appreciate what that moment has to offer. +++

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04/20/10
YOUR HEART'S TREASURE

Scripture: Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In this verse and the verses following, Jesus speaks to us about being focused. He talks to us about our heart's attitude concerning material things, our spiritual vision, and our service. He exhorts us to lay up heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. He tells us to keep our vision single so that our whole life is filled with light, and then concludes by telling us that there can be only one master in our life. He makes it very clear that our hearts, vision, and service will revolve around only the things we count as treasures in our lives.

All of us have treasures of some sort that we are concerned about. When we were kids, our minds and hearts weren't the least bit concerned about the security of the banks or the stock market. Our treasure was wrapped up in a few coins in a piggy bank in our room, but we guarded that small bank because it was our personal treasure. As we matured, however, our treasures began to change and our hearts became concerned about the national and global economy. For some of us, our career became our prize and priority. For others, our children remained our most treasured possessions. We were there for every school program and band concert, not because we wanted to be there for the performance, but because our personal treasure was involved. We counted it a joy and a privilege because we were supporting our personal treasure.

Regardless of what we count as most dear in our lives, whether money, position, or relationships, our hearts will lean in the direction of that treasure, for just as Jesus said, where our treasure is, there will be our heart also. Jesus said that whenever He is the true treasure of our life, our hearts and minds will be stayed on Him and there will be no other gods in our lives. Our vision and attention will become single and nothing will be allowed to interfere, as our heart follows after our treasure. We will joyfully dedicate all that we are and everything that we have to Him to fulfill His will and complete His purpose. This is the simple truth that Jesus wanted us to understand; that our heart will remain with our treasure. He exhorted us to choose God as the utmost treasure of our hearts. Then He promised that as we seek Him and His kingdom before anything else, the lesser treasures will also be added to us. +++

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04/21/10
APPLE OF GOD'S EYE

Scripture: Psalms 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings."

The apple of the eye is the pupil, or the darkest part and very center of the eye. It is the most precious part of the eye because it lets the light in and allows the body to see. The eyes are very delicate and demand extreme care and protection, and if lost, the whole body suffers and is left handicapped. David knew the value of his own eyes and the lengths that he would go to in order to protect them, so he prayed and asked God to keep him as safe as God would the very apple of His own eye. The word 'keep' in this text meant to guard, protect, or hide like the eagle hides her young under her wings.

In the natural, God made provisions to protect the human eyes. The eyes have eyelashes, eyebrows, and eyelids that guard against small things like dust, dirt, and smoke. The eyes are also deeply entrenched in the skull with bones around them to protect them from further injury. The arms and hands also act instinctively and spontaneously to guard the eyes if something harmful should come in their direction. The head will turn or duck and even the knees bend to lower the entire body to help the eyes get out of the way of injury. The entire body responds to protect this vital organ and would rather suffer injury itself than to allow the eye to be damaged, for it recognizes that the eyes are precious and irreplaceable.

Just as David was kept as the apple of God's eye, so are you. You are a valuable part of God's body and kingdom, and just as you would protect your own eyes from harm, God is there to protect and guard you. If someone were to hit you in the eye, you wouldn't try to hit them back with your eye. Your eye is not designed to fight for itself so the other parts of your body, like the arms and hands, would take up the eye's defense. In the spiritual realm, God is your defense. God's word says that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Psalms 94:1). Zechariah 2:8 says, "For he that touches you touches the apple of God's eye." In other words, when others come against you, they are touching a very sensitive part of God and He will respond. Verse nine says that "God will shake His hand against those who touch you." When others come against you, you can't fight your own battles, but God can fight for you. Your part is to simply shut your spiritual eyelids to the offense, leave things in God's hands, and pray for those who come against you. You are the apple of God's eyes so rest in Him and allow Him to hide you under the shadow of His wings. +++

Scripture: John 16:13 "When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come He will guide you into all truth."

Truth in these last days is becoming a rare commodity, whether it be from those in the advertisement field, politics, news media, or the ministry. Many times we don't know what to believe and sometimes even our personal relationships fail in this area. Yet God has not left us helpless. He has endowed us with His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, which is a discerner of men's hearts. One of His main responsibilities is to lead us down the right path and bear witness with our spirits to confirm the truth and expose the error that we encounter.

In Matthew chapter twenty-four, Jesus warned us of several voices that would seek to deceive even the very elect of God. He spoke of the deception of men, those that would come in His name, false prophets, and even those showing great signs and wonders. We must realize that everything supernatural is not always spiritual. The Apostle Paul warned us of the deceptions of good words, fair speeches, and doctrines of men that would attempt to deceive the simple (Ephesians 5:6; Romans:18). He also said that we could even deceive our own selves (Galatians 6:3).

Scriptures declare that Satan comes as an angel of light to deceive, which means that he makes things look nearly correct. This tactic makes his deception more dangerous for us because when something is blatantly wrong we are more apt to recognize it. Consider a clock that is incorrect. If it is off by just a few minutes, we may not recognize the error until precise timing is required of us. However, if the clock is off by several hours, we would immediately recognize that it is wrong because our routine habits would conflict with the time displayed. Even a clock that is not running is still exactly correct twice a day. The spirit of error tells us just enough truth to deceive us, but notice that John said that the Holy Spirit guides us into ALL truth. ALL means that the Holy Spirit is not sometimes right and sometimes wrong. He is the Spirit of Truth and is one hundred percent correct - one hundred percent of the time. He will not force us along the way, but will gently lead and guide us. We must be very sensitive to His voice and yield to His leading so that we can walk in His truth. +++

Scripture: I Samuel 17:48 "David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."

David had no fear when he came against Goliath because his heart was full of faith. He refused Saul's armor and placed his confidence not in a big sword, but in a big God. David knew that the God he served could and would deliver him because this same God had fought David's battles before. David came against the giant in the Name of the Lord and He also came with a purpose and a cause. That cause was to stand against the spirit that was defiling the armies of the Living God. As David began to maximize and magnify God with his words, he minimized and diminished the giant that was challenging him. David did not shrink in the sight of the giant even though Goliath threw out frightening threats and disdaining accusations. Instead, David ran towards the giant and the Philistine army with great courage.

We are continually called to face giants in our lives whether they be in our homes or work places. There are situations that even come up with those that we love because the enemy is at work. He is still seeking to defile the people of God and their purposes. The devil makes his mission known with frightening threats and accusations in his effort to reduce us to nothing before the real battle even begins. The secret to our victory is the same as it was for David. We must have a cause within our heart and the Name of the Lord in our breath. We must rely upon what we know about God and His word and our purposes must line up with His will. We cannot rely upon someone else's armor, for it will be too weighty and unproved. We must come to believe so much in the Name of the Lord and His purpose that it becomes a power within us.

We cannot shrink back in our darkness and despair. We must be bold and run towards the enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. God's Word promises that if we resist the enemy, he must flee. He has no choice! David said that the battle was the Lord's and he relied totally on that premise. He did not rely on his own strength or ability. He allowed God to work through him with a simple sling and a stone against a mighty giant who held a huge spear, sword, and a shield. Yet David prevailed without a sword in his own hand. You may feel very inadequate as you come against the giants in your life. God may only provide you with meager weapons as he did with David. Your natural sling and stone may not look like very much as you view the spear, sword, and the shield of the enemy. However, you must not consider what you hold in your hand but what you hold in your heart, for God will honor your faith and your pure motives. Run with faith towards the enemy and God will stand with you as you fight for His cause and in His Name. +++

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of April 2010

04/26/10
SEED TIME AND HARVEST

Scripture: Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

From the very beginning of time, God set irrevocable laws into motion. One of those laws is that there would always be seed time and harvest. God has established a season to plant and also a season for us to enjoy the fruits of all of our labors. The law of seed time and harvest is as sure as the night that follows the day or the promise of summer and winter. Another part of that law is that we will reap what we sow. We can't plant a bean seed and hope for a corn crop any more than we can plant an orange seed and expect to produce an apple tree. Seeds are limited to the laws of nature and respond to the commands of God. In the beginning, when God created the Earth and everything in it, He spoke to every plant and told them to bring forth after their own kind, and that law is still in force today. God's eternal word still controls the harvest.

The law of seed time and harvest sounds so simple, but many times we fail to remember that it works just as well in the spiritual realm as it does in the physical realm. The Apostle Paul spoke to the church in Galatia and said, "Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." The Amplified Bible makes a firmer statement saying, "that and that only is what he will reap." When we think about Paul's words, we must consider more carefully what we sow, for every deed that we do and every word that we speak is going to bring forth a harvest after its own kind. Even the thoughts that we allow ourselves to think will eventually bear some kind of fruit, for every kind action starts with a kind thought and every evil action starts with an evil thought.

Another law of seed time and harvest is that there is a space of time before the seeds begin to produce a harvest. Seeds are placed in the ground and hidden from view and for several weeks it looks as though nothing is happening. And then suddenly, life springs forth from the ground and whatever has been planted will make its way through the soil and expose itself. Sometimes the seeds lay dormant and the crop is slow in coming. Three years ago, I planted some yellow iris seeds in my flowerbed. I was very disappointed the first year because they did not come up. I thought they were totally lost so I just forgot about them. The next year, to my surprise, a few of them came up and bloomed. Finally, the third year, I had a large harvest of yellow irises. It was slow but the promised harvest did come.

The same is true with the spiritual seeds that we sow. We may not see immediate results for the good or bad seed that we have sown, but we can be sure that ultimately there will be a harvest. We may even think that we are getting away with sowing bad seed, but when we least expect it, our seed will yield fruit and it will be according to the kind of seed that we have planted. Our good deeds will produce rewards and our sins will surely find us out. Let us keep these thoughts in our minds and remember that every choice is a seed. For that reason, we must be careful to sow only what we want to reap, for a harvest will surely follow our seed time. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
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04/27/10
THE GOLDEN RULE

Scripture: Luke 6:31 (NIV) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

We've heard this Golden Rule since we were children but we may not realize that these words are right in the middle of a sermon that Jesus preached nearly two thousand years ago. Yet, the value of these words still remains. In this great exhortation, Jesus spoke of loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us. He told us to bless those that curse us and pray for those who use us. If we are struck on the cheek, we are to turn and offer our other cheek to our abuser. Jesus' teaching also declared that if someone decided to take away our coat or material goods, we should allow them to take even more. We are to lend and expect nothing in return. Show mercy in all situations and not be judgmental.

In this teaching, Jesus takes us through several areas of abuse: emotional abuse because our enemies hate us; verbal abuse by those who curse us; physical abuse by those who actually strike us; and abuse by those who would take advantage of us materially. How can we do good to these types of people and why should we obey this command? The answer is found in verse thirty-five, which tells us to love our enemies and our reward will be great. Love is the "How" and God's reward is the "Why."

As God enables us with His supernatural love, we are able to bless, forgive, and pray for those who abuse and do evil against us. We may not like the circumstances or appreciate the actions against us, but we can love because Jesus lives within us. He is the vine and we are the branches. As His life flows through us, we are able to manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit. His life is full of mercy, love, and forgiveness and His grace extends to all situations. II Corinthians 13:4 & 7 tells us that His "love is patient and kind ... and is able to bear and endure all things." Our Father showed us by example how to love the unlovely. He obeyed His own Golden Rule and sacrificed His Son, by being "kind to the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke 6:35). When we are able to emulate our heavenly Father, Jesus said that we would receive a great reward and be called children of the Highest. Doing good to others is a very small price to pay for such a great reward. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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04/28/10
TEMPTATION

Scripture: Matthew 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation."

Jesus taught us to pray and ask our Heavenly Father to keep us from being led into temptation. James 1:13 says two things about God and temptation; God, Himself, is incapable of being tempted by evil, and God does not tempt anyone else to do evil. Satan is the tempter and as long as we are in this body of flesh, he will try to draw us into places of temptation.

A farmer saw a young boy standing in his watermelon patch and asked, "Son, are you trying to steal one of my watermelons?" The young boy responded by saying, "No. I'm trying NOT to steal one of your watermelons!" The boy was standing in the midst of his weakness and was trying to resist its temptation. Like this young boy, how often do we allow ourselves to be put into compromising positions that cause us to have to deal with temptation? Look at the pattern of temptation according to James 1:14-15. "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Temptation starts with a thought in the mind, and as we dwell on that thought, we begin to justify it until it is conceived in our hearts. It then becomes an evil desire of lust and passion that entices and baits our carnal appetites into action.

God deals with us a very long time before we get into these situations and He faithfully warns us that we are heading in the wrong direction. He stops us right in the midst of the field of watermelons and encourages us to turn from our evil ways. He says don't eat of the fruit, for sin has consequences. When it is finished, it brings forth death. The Holy Spirit convicts us and attempts to lead us away from temptation and even in the midst of temptation, He makes a way of escape. God does all that He can do to keep us from falling, but many times we fail because of the hardness of our heart and because we choose the liberty that God gives us to follow our own will.

When Jesus instructed us to pray for ourselves that God would not lead us into temptation, He was telling us not to wait until we needed deliverance from evil. On a daily basis, the Lord wants us to ask God to keep us from getting into compromising situations in the first place. We are to tell God that we want Him to intervene and keep us out of the place of temptation and trouble because even though our spirit is willing to do right, our flesh is weak. Then as temptations present themselves, we must submit ourselves to God and immediately resist the enticing thoughts of the devil (James 4:7). As we express our desires to God, He will come to our rescue and will lead us away from the temptation. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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04/29/10
STRETCHED BEYOND MEASURE

Scripture: II Corinthians 1:8 (NIV) "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure."

A couple of years ago I stored some documents in my garage. I had put them in envelopes and then placed a rubber band around the envelopes. I was surprised when I went to retrieve them, for the rubber bands that secured them had lost their elasticity and had become limp in some parts and brittle in others. When I touched the rubber bands, they fell apart. They had been stretched beyond their ability to endure and had collapsed under the enormous pressure they were under.

We are much like the rubber bands in the story. God has designed each of us in such a way that we have a great capacity to face challenges and handle everyday stress. He also gave us a promise that He would not put more upon us than we could bear. Yet, we often take on more than God, Himself, intended for us to carry. We get overly committed and allow stress to weave its way into our lives by embracing every challenge that comes our way. We stretch ourselves beyond our limits and don't know when to let go. We then wonder what is happening with our life. We are serving the Lord, but we are overwhelmed with all of life's activities. It seems that there is pressure coming against us from all sides and we are so involved physically and over extended emotionally that we can't stop and get a grip on our situation.

We may feel that we have too much to do and can't justify seasons of rest and relaxation. Yet, Jesus had a greater commission to fulfill on Earth than we will ever have. His limited time was very valuable, but He always took time to rest and commune with God. He called His disciples away from the crowds to rest with Him, and He even took a nap on the boat. Even though He was the Son of God, He did not allow Himself to be stretched beyond His natural limitations. It doesn't matter what we are called to do in life, we need seasons of rest. Even those in ministry are never at their best when they are continually stretched beyond their measure. Like the rubber band, without rest, we either become brittle and limp or eventually break. We must find that balance where we can stretch our lives to meet the challenge at hand and then relax and regenerate in the life that God gives. It is only then that we will have the ability to endure. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
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04/30/10
FAITH WORKS

Scripture: Mark 5:34 "Your faith has made you whole."

Jesus spoke these words to a woman who had put her faith to work for many years. She was plagued with an issue of blood and had sought desperately for healing but obtained no results until she had an encounter with the Master. In her quest for healing and her refusal to stay ill, we see how her faith progressed.

First, she placed her faith in the physicians until she had spent all the money that she had. By the time that she had exhausted all of her finances, she had suffered many things just trying to get healed. When all natural help failed and there was no hope medically, her heart began to open to the supernatural. She started hearing reports about a man named Jesus who could heal the sick. The more testimonies that she heard about this man, the stronger her faith grew. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word." Finally, she began to make her way towards this healer named Jesus. As she moved towards Jesus in hopes of receiving a miracle, she heard another testimony of faith. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, ask Jesus to come lay His hands on his own daughter who was dying. As she heard these words, she may have thought, "If Jairus believes that his daughter will be healed when Jesus touches her, then I believe that I shall be made whole if I can only touch Jesus' clothes." Her final steps to victory were to get her confession to agree with the faith that was in her heart, and then to reach out and touch Jesus. As she did this, she was healed.

Mrs. Charles E. Cowan in Streams In The Desert quoted this selection:

"We cannot create the wind or set it in motion,
but we can set our sails to catch it when it comes;
We cannot make electricity,
but we can stretch out the wire upon which it is to run and do its
work;
We cannot, in a word, control the Spirit,
but we can place ourselves before the Lord, do the things He asks us
to do, that we may come under the influence and power of His mighty
breath."

The faith of the woman with the issue of blood was not just a simple thought. She set her sail to catch the wind. She ran the necessary wire to carry the electricity. She put her faith to work. James 5:26 says, "Faith without works is dead." Similarly, your personal efforts alone cannot cause your miracle to happen. But you can move in faith towards the victory like the woman with the issue of blood did. Start by doing all that you can do in the natural. Listen to God's Word and the testimonies of others and allow faith to arise in your heart. Move towards God, not away from Him, and confess positive words concerning your situations. Most importantly reach out to Jesus and allow your faith to touch Him. Then you will discover that faith works. +++