www.widsonline.com

A Word In Due Season
1st Week of June 2010

06/01/10
BOLD AS A LION

Scripture: Proverbs 28:1 "The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Did you ever notice how anxious you become when you know that you've done something wrong and you are in fear that you may get caught? I remember one of those experiences. I had a job that required me to go to the courthouses in seven different precincts of the county, and each time I went there would be numerous police cars in the parking lot. I parked my car right next to theirs without any reservations and even backed into the parking space for easy departure. I boldly displayed my front windshield because I thought that I was in right standing with the law. Little did I know that the inspection sticker on my car had expired five months earlier.

One Saturday, as I sat in my car waiting to meet some friends at a restaurant, I noticed that the sticker had expired. When I realized that I was out of the confines of the law, my boldness turned to guilt, and the guilt opened the door to fear. I could not get the car inspected until after the weekend, so from that moment on, I was like the wicked man who fled when no one pursued. When passing an oncoming policeman, I waved and tried to distract him from noticing my expired sticker. I envisioned the police pulling me over and giving me a ticket so I would make unnecessary detours. My whole attitude and actions changed because I knew that I was operating against the laws of the land.

All through the scriptures, we see righteous men who stood boldly in adverse situations. Moses confronted Pharaoh and Esther persuaded the King against wicked Haman. Paul witnessed to the people in spite of the difficulties and persecutions that challenged him and Jesus confronted the religious leaders. There were many others righteous men who did not flinch or run in the heat of the battle. However, there were others who did flee and hide from God because of their unrighteousness. Adam and Eve hid in the garden when they had eaten the forbidden fruit and Cain hid after he had killed his brother, Abel.

Just like my experience, there is something about the element of spiritual failure and sin in our lives that causes us to want to run and hide from God. Our boldness is dispelled by guilt and fear, and we feel that God is pursuing us so that He can punish us. Yet, God's true desire is not to punish us, but to extend His forgiveness. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us that the Lord knows how we feel because He was tempted in the same manner as we are when He was here on Earth. He experienced temptation so that He could free us from sin. God is waiting for our simple confession and when we own up to our sins, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). The choice is ours. We can allow ourselves to be pursued by guilt and fear or to become bold as lions through repentance. Let us make the right choice. +++

Scripture: Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

We often speak of the spiritual armor that God has provided for us and the seasons of spiritual warfare that we must face. This scripture, however, gives us another concept of victory in battle. It is a picture of a successful defense rather than a victorious campaign. It is a place that we can run to and find refuge and renewed strength. This place is God's presence, for His presence brings power and shields us from our enemy. As Psalms 91 declares, we have nothing to fear because God will cover us with His feathers and hide us under His wings.

My family recently went on an outing to the beach. A storm had passed through the area just the day before and had left the sand unstable. We parked our vehicle on the beach just as we had done for years without incident. Suddenly we discovered that the van was sinking. We tried frantically to remedy the situation but all was in vain, as it sunk deeper and deeper into the sand. There was nothing we could do and natural help seemed too far away. This scripture came to my mind in the midst of this dilemma and I reminded God that He said that He would be a "very present help in trouble." Others were praying also. Time was of the essence and there was no room for delay. We were in trouble and needed God to show Himself strong right then. Just before the body of the van went into the watery sand, a group of teenagers came to our rescue. God delivered us and made sure His promise that He was indeed a very present help in the time of trouble.

You may have a battle today that is totally out of your hands. The enemy may have you up against the wall and it seems that there is no way out. You may have no strength left in your being to maintain the warfare. Your hopes may be dashed and your future may seem dim as you see your situation sinking into the sand. These are the times that you need to run to God and hide in His presence. Let Him be your refuge and allow Him to renew your strength. He is not a God that is going to be. He is a God that is. God is God all by Himself and He can take care of any situation. There is nothing too difficult for Him. Trust Him for He is with you now and He is a present help in the time of trouble. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/03/10
GOD'S WILL

Scripture: Psalms 143:8 "... Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk."

This Psalm was written by King David, a man who sought God with all of His soul and loved Him with all of his heart. God, Himself, gave testimony concerning David's affection for Him. In Acts 13:22, He said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, which shall fulfill all My will." David's full surrender was a delight to the heart of God and God knew that He could trust him. God placed His confidence in David and raised him up to be king over Israel.

Even though David loved God and his heart was right with God, He continually asked for God's guidance and direction. He said, "Cause me to know the way that I should go." But he didn't stop there. He not only wanted to know the will of God, but also said in verse ten, "Teach me to do Thy will." Doing God's will is totally different than knowing God's will. Many times we stand at a crossroad knowing the right path, but instead we choose the wrong path. Our heart is willing, but our flesh remains weak. God's will may overwhelm us at times because our finite mind can't seem to get it all into perspective. We try to figure out God's plan on our own instead of relying upon the Holy Spirit who is our "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, and Strengthener" (John 15:26 Amplified).

David sought the Lord's will in every area of His life. Sometimes, God told Him to go out and do battle. Other times, God told him to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Whatever God said, David did. We may have great affection for the Lord, but we cannot presume to know God's thoughts without seeking Him, for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are much higher than our ways. Like David, we must ask God to cause us to know His will. When God shares this vital information with us, we then must ask Him to teach us how to fulfill it. God, Himself, is all that we need in order to complete His will. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/04/10
COMFORTING OTHERS

Scripture: II Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be God ... Who comforted us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort that we ourselves are comforted by God."

Paul declares that God comforts us in all of our tribulations so that we may be able to comfort others who are in any kind of trouble. Hardships are not fun, but they work together for good in our lives to bring us to a better understanding of the situations that others are facing. We can't give others hope for the mountaintop if we haven't successfully made it through the shadows in the valley. We can't direct someone through a tunnel of depression if we haven't experienced the darkness of a wounded spirit ourselves. Nor can we mend those with a broken heart if we've never experienced disappointment. We could never understand the anxieties of those who are facing financial lack if we have no understanding in that area. And how could we ever be touched with the physical suffering and pain of others if our own infirmities had not birthed compassion in our soul?

Comforting others is a ministry in itself, for out of the greatest pain comes the sweetest songs of assurance. The hard places in our past show us how to bring deliverance to the wounded. The emotional trials that we have faced allow us to be able to be touched by their feelings. And because we have cried, we know how to wipe away their tears. Because we have faced dry desert places and then experienced God in fresh new ways, we can assure them that God will also prepare a stream in their desert. Because we have gone through grief and sorrow, we can assure them that their season of joy will come again. Because we have been weary ourselves and have carried heavy burdens, we know how to encourage and lift their heavy load. And because we have found it necessary at times to lean on the prayers of others, we are able to give ourselves easily to intercession when prayer is needed.

The hurting never run to those who have never suffered. And likewise, those who need counsel and a word in due season never seek out those without experience. We are not above our Master. Jesus suffered and was touched by the feelings that we would experience and was tempted in all of the temptations that He knew we would face (Hebrews 4:15). He gave Himself to pain so that He could become a valid comforter through the Holy Spirit. So, even though suffering is hard for us, it brings with it an education that is of greater benefit than earning a degree. Suffering creates a dwelling place in our heart for the compassion of God and it develops a skillfulness that enables us to minister according to the will of God. At the end, we are able to agree with the Apostle Paul and say, "Blessed be God ... Who has comforted me in all my tribulations so that I may be able to comfort others who are in any trouble." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

A Word In Due Season
2nd Week of June 2010

06/07/10
WAITING FOR THE SEASON

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:17 "There is a time for every purpose and for every work."

Our lives and destinies are much like a beautiful rose. We start as a small bud covered with protective green leaves and we are hidden from view for a length of time. Like a natural rosebud, those viewing our lives can only guess what the colors of our life may turn out to be. Eventually, a little color begins to show itself and the promise of a beautiful future is envisioned. This process continues until the whole bud is in view. The rosebud, just as it is, is beautiful and even has a wonderful fragrance. Yet, it holds so much more promise within itself. If left to God's timing, it will become a glory to behold. The difficult part is waiting for the bud to open and for the petals to unfold, one by one. It is such a slow process, but there is nothing that we can do to hasten the work that nature is designed to do.

God holds our lives in His sovereign hands like He the rosebud. He plans each moment and arranges every experience that will enhance our brilliance, beauty, and fragrance. There are joys and sorrows, and there are also days of sunshine and days of rain. But God uses all of our life experiences, good and bad, to add depth and passion to our souls. Only God knows what is best for our lives, and like the precious rosebud, we must submit to His timing and wait for His divine season to come to pass. As we allow Him to unfold the petals of our lives at His discretion, He will complete His work in our lives and fulfill His purposes.

Many times it is hard to wait on God's promise, but just as we cannot unfold the rosebud and keep the petals intact, we cannot unfold the seasons of our lives. They are too tightly mingled together and cannot be forced into being. God has an appointed time for all things in our life, but His promise takes time and we must wait for Him to unfold our destiny. If we attempt to pull the petals away before their time, we will spoil the beauty and crush the fragrance that He has designed, not only for our enjoyment, but also for His kingdom purposes. The life of the promise is within us, but we must trust God's timing, for our hands are too clumsy to handle our own destiny. We must anticipate the blessing, seek the Lord, and expect to receive, but more importantly, we must wait for God to fulfill His promise at His appointed time and in His chosen season. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/08/10
IGNITING THE MOMENT

Scripture: Matthew 3:11 "Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

We all have experienced those special times when it seems that an eternal moment was birthed in our lives. It was a time when things just seemed to ignite and come alive. And even today, as we recall the memory of those times, our emotions manifest themselves as they did when the incidents happened. We laugh, we cry, or just enjoy the moment from the past. Such is the case of my own husband who passed away several years ago. When my children speak of him, they always recall the "out of the ordinary" things that happened in his life that brought us joy and laughter. Although they were with him over twenty years, they don't recall many of the daily mundane incidents that had no strength to ignite. They only recall those intense moments as we played games, enjoyed a family outing, or experienced a family crisis. It was the igniting of these special moments that burned precious memories into our hearts and minds.

Think about Jesus who only lived thirty-three years on this earth. We've heard of the angels heralding His birth and of the wise men bringing Him gifts when He was about two years old. Then, we heard about Him as a twelve-year-old boy in the temple. Suddenly the voices were silent and many years passed with no information concerning Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, even though He was the most important person who ever lived. He graced this Earth with His presence, yet it was only when the Holy Spirit ignited Jesus' life that His fame went out and His deeds and words were recorded.

As a born again believer, God has empowered you with His Spirit and with a fire that has the potential to ignite the moments in the lives of others. You have great potential. You are walking about on the earth like a match that is waiting to be struck. As the Holy Spirit wills, He ignites you for His service and moves through you to minister life and light to a darkened world. God has placed within you His kingdom which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). You have an opportunity to share that kingdom and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to ignite and burn inside of you for the purposes of God. It will fascinate the world as a natural fire does, and will ignite an unforgettable and eternal moment in the lives of those you touch. ++++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/09/10
BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, He goes with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you."

Moses tried very hard to lead the Israelites into the place that God had for them, but many of them missed out on the promises of God because of a spirit of discouragement. This discouragement came from within the group as they began to talk about the obstacles that would stand in their way. The discouraging voices said that the cities that they were to face were very great and had mighty walls. These same voices also spoke of the people who were greater and taller than themselves, in fact their enemies were giants. As God's people heard these words, their souls became very discouraged and they spoke against God and Moses (Numbers 21:4-5). Those who had no faith also deprived their brothers of their confidence and hope. Their negative words drained their spirits and caused their hearts to melt.

There will be those in your life whose words will deprive you of your confidence and hope. Very often discouragement will come from those closest to you. They may even do this in good will, thinking that they are giving you good counsel. In their own hearts they may have your best interest in mind, yet if you listen and give heed to their disapproval and objections, their words will drain your spirit. Their words will prevent you from completing God's will and deprive you from His blessings. When hindering words from any source come to you, you must make a decision to either operate in the positive (courage), or operate in the negative (discouragement). There is no neutral ground. It is either faith or fear. Not only must you disallow discouraging words to affect you, you must be very careful with your own words when you find yourself in the midst of a challenging situation. For if you are not careful you will be the one to speak words that would discourage someone else's faith and deprive them of their blessing.

Our courage rests in our faith and our hope in a faithful God enables us to face danger and hardships with confidence. Faith and hope cause us to be brave and resolute regardless of our circumstances and the fears that seek to hinder us. God said that He is the one who goes with us and He has promised never to fail or forsake us. We need no other words to keep our minds and hearts in peace. We do not have to struggle with fear for God is in control. We only need to rest in God's promise and "Be" strong and "Be" of good courage. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/10/10
CLEANSED BY JESUS

Scripture: John 13:8 "If I wash you not, you have no part with me."

At the last supper before the crucifixion, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. It was a very intimate moment and when He finally came to Peter, Peter was overwhelmed as Jesus humbled Himself before him. Peter couldn't imagine that the One whom he, himself, had identified as the Son of the Living God was now kneeling before him and attempting to wash his feet. He spoke to Jesus and said, "You will never wash my feet" (Verse 8). At Peter's refusal, Jesus explained that this was the only way that Peter could share companionship with Him. When Peter heard these words, he said to Jesus, "Wash not only my feet, but also my head and hands." He clearly wanted to make sure that he could fellowship with Jesus. Jesus then explained that Peter only needed his feet to be cleansed.

This act showed not only self-humiliation on the part of Jesus, it was a lesson about receiving daily forgiveness. It teaches that even though we have repented and given our hearts to the Lord, we still need daily cleansing. We are exposed to the world each and every day, and as we travel down the paths of life, our feet become very dusty. Things of this present life lay hold upon us and make every effort to cling to us eternally. Jesus is the only one who can wash these sins away. We must allow Him to examine our lives continually and then wash and cleanse us from all unrighteous. Like Peter, if we refuse and disallow Jesus to cleanse us, we cannot be in close communion with Him because righteousness does not fellowship with unrighteousness and light does not have communion with darkness ( II Corinthians 6:14).

Unrighteousness and darkness challenge us daily causing us to miss the mark and come short of the glory of God. Even Paul who wrote nearly three fourths of the New Testament speaks of the struggles within himself. He said, "I know that no good thing dwells within me. The will to do good is present within me, but I can't seem to perform it. The things that I want to do, I do not, and the things that I don't want to do, I do" (Romans 7:18-19). This war that raged within Paul is also present within us and the same devil who fought against him is the same devil that we struggle with. Life has not changed. However, the same Jesus who washed the feet of Peter and the other disciples stands ready to wash our feet. We must allow Him to do this, for if we do not allow Him to wash us and forgive us, we can have no part with Him. We cannot approach God in our own righteousness as our righteousness is as filthy rags. Jesus is the only who can separate us from our sins, and as He does, we find His love and mercy overwhelming. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Allow Jesus to cleanse your soul. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/11/10
WHY AND WHERE?

Scripture: Judges 6:13 "If the Lord is with us ..."

An angel of the Lord came to visit Gideon when he was hiding from a fierce enemy. The angel declared that Gideon was a mighty man of valor and told Gideon not to fear because the Lord was with him. Gideon asked the angel these two questions, "If the Lord is with us, why is all of this happening to us? And if the Lord is with us, where are all of His miracles?"

Have these two questions ever crossed your mind as you faced life's challenges? We know the scriptures declare that Jesus is a miracle worker and that He is the same today as He was yesterday. He doesn't change and we believe that He can still heal, provide, and deliver. We also know that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. Psalms twenty-three tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd and that we shall not want for any good thing. He will cause us to lie down in green pastures and will lead us beside still waters. He will even restore our soul and anoint our head with oil in the presence of our enemies. He will calm the raging seas and speak peace to all of our storms. We have nothing to fear because Jesus is our keeper. These truths fill our heart, yet when things are not working out the way they should for us, the same questions that Gideon asked come to our mind. "If the Lord is with me, why is this happening? If He is my provider, why don't I have enough money to pay my bills? If the Lord is leading me beside still waters, why do I have all of this turmoil going on in my life? Why won't my car start or why did the tires go flat? If the Lord is with me, where are all of His miracles? If Jesus is my healer, why is my body wracked with pain or why did my love one die instead of being healed?"

We can all agree that life does offer some discouraging moments. Fear does attack. Hardships do come. Grief and sorrow happen to the best of us and things do not always work out as we had hoped or planned. There are times when we can't feel God's presence even though He is very near. There are days of darkness as well as days of light and there are seasons of sadness as well as times of great joy. To be sure there are times of confusion, and although we do not always have the answer to all of the questions in our life, we must trust God and believe His word.

In midst of Gideon's fearful situation, the Lord promised him peace and life (Verse 23). But God also told him to go into battle against the enemy and tear down their idols of worship. Gideon still had fear in his soul when he chose to believe and receive the word of the Lord. Yet in the midst of everything that was going on, Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah-Shalom, which means the God of peace. He stopped everything that he was doing and worshiped the Lord. He laid his fear and insecurities at the feet of the God of peace. This is our answer. We don't have to know why adversity is challenging our life or where our deliverance is at the moment. All that we must do is lay our fears and insecurities on the altar of Jehovah-Shalom, our God of peace, for He is good and He is faithful all of the time. He has a good plan for our lives and we have nothing to fear. We should never question, "If the Lord is with us", but instead we are to believe His words and confess in faith, "The Lord is with us!" +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

A Word In Due Season
3rd Week of June 2010

06/14/10
FRUITS OF THE VALLEY

Scripture: Song of Solomon 6:11 "I went down into the garden ... to see the fruits of the valley and to see whether the vine flourished ..."

It is quite a beautiful sight to stand on the side of a hill or mountain and look down upon a flourishing green valley. Not only are valleys a beautiful sight, but they also produce the most luscious and fresh fruit. This is true in the spiritual realm as well. Although we long for the mountain top experiences and tend to despise the valleys, it is in the valleys where growth takes place in our hearts and where fruit is produced. It's as we endure the valley of hard times that we learn to be kind and patient to others. Through the tears of loneliness in our own lives, we understand the importance of sharing love with those who are lonely and unloved. In the valley of strife and confusion, we develop the gift of peace making. As we have passed through our own valleys of financial difficulties, it is easier to recognize the needs of others and share our means with them. And as we experience trials, the fruit of faith grows within our hearts and self-control becomes evident in our lives.

As born again believers, we were never promised a life without valleys, but we were promised a wonderful relationship with a Good Shepherd who would lead us through the valleys. The Lord promised to be there in the midst of all the shadows, even the shadows of death. He said that He would dispel our fears and supply all of our needs and He promised never to leave or forsake us. He told us that He would be the vine and that we would be the branches. It is our communion with Him that allows His Spirit to flow through us and produce fruit in our lives.

Charles Slagle said, "The real design and purpose of the valley through which you have passed cannot come into view until you are sufficiently high on the mountains." If you trust and follow Jesus, He will lead you through the valley and take you to the top of the mountain. He will restore your soul and at the end, you will understand His purpose. You will find your life flourishing and see many come to partake of the fruit that you have to offer. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/15/10
ONE ACCORD - ONE MIND

Scripture: Philippians 2:2 "... being of one accord, of one mind."

It makes the Lord very happy when His children can work together and live in harmony with one another. He rejoices that those of His own household are dwelling in peace and unity. King David declared that when the brethren dwell together in unity, it brings God's anointing and blessings upon their lives (Psalms 133:1-3). Unity is a pleasant experience, not only for the Father, but also for His children. It is like precious oil that flows down upon us and is as refreshing to us as the dew upon the mountains.

There is nothing that can be accomplished or gained by being in discord. Even nature itself shows the benefits when efforts are made in a spirit of unity. We see the flight of the geese as they travel from the north to the south and marvel at their conduct. They fly in a near perfect "V" formation with one goose in the lead. This pattern reduces the wind drag and gives lift to the geese that have lesser strength. It is estimated that flying in this pattern increases their performance by up to 70 percent. You have to wonder how they came to choose their leader. Did they have a committee to elect this particular goose or did they have some sort of try outs to determine which goose had the greatest ability, strength, and endurance? Did they argue amongst themselves as to who was going to be the front goose? We have never had a report of anyone seeing them hold an election on the ground before their flight. Yet, they all seem to be at peace with their leader and they all work together to get to where they are going. The lead goose even shares his position and will relinquish it to another goose in the midst of the flight.

The goal for the geese is their destination and not their own place of self-importance. This same unity is what we need to strive for in our walk with the Lord. Like the geese, so much more can be accomplished in our lives if we all work together to get to where we are going. King Solomon said that two are better than one; for they can keep each other warm in the cold and lift each other up if one of them should fall. Even our prayers are strengthened when we are in unity with other believers, for Matthew 18:19 says, "If two agree as touching anything on Earth, it will done of the Father in Heaven." The Lord even waited until the believers had come into one accord before He sent the promise of the Holy Spirit into their midst (Acts 1:14). Reaching our destination in life may require that we let some things go or that we do not try to be the head goose. Our destiny choice is very clear and simple. We need the Lord and we need each other to help us get to where we need to be. Yet, we can never expect the Spirit of God to move within our lives until we are not only in one accord and one mind with Him, but also with each other. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/16/10
VICTORY IN THE MIDST OF STRESS

Scripture: II Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."

Paul faced many discouraging circumstances in his life and ministry, but he maintained an overcoming faith that brought him through to victory. Regardless of what happened, Paul did not allow himself to become distressed, to engage in despair, feel forsaken, nor be destroyed. He absolutely had no 'quitting sense', and time after time he refused to give up.

You would think that Paul, a special and chosen vessel of the Lord who was destined to write nearly three-fourths of the New Testament and go on great missionary journeys, would be exempt from trials and tribulations. If he truly was in the will of God, it seems that things would be working out better for him. But we see him being stoned, imprisoned, suffering shipwreck, battling religious leaders, and encountering all kinds of major conflicts. He was constantly under some sort of pressure, yet was never stressed over it. He had learned early on that all things would eventually work out for his benefit because he loved God and was called to fulfill the purposes of God.

Sometimes we think that we should be exempt from adversity when we make a decision to serve God or give ourselves to the ministry, but like Paul, we discover that just the opposite is true. When we turn from the world and start walking towards God, we are no longer walking with the enemy but against him. Thus we face him head-on and find ourselves in great conflict. We are troubled on every side and are tempted to give in to the stress and despair of our circumstances. Persecution comes and we feel rejected and forsaken. The enemy of our soul is working towards his goal to destroy us with this mind set. Yet, it's in these times of conflicts and hard places that we are schooled in faith and our character is tested for the Master's use. Like Paul, when we come to the place where we are troubled on every side, we must make a choice. We can either give in to the strategies of the devil or stand against him and refuse to be stressed, despaired, forsaken, or destroyed. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/17/10

QUICKENED BY THE WORD

Scripture: Psalm 119:49-50 "Remember the word unto Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for Your word has quickened me."

Seasons of affliction and distress come to all of us, but our victory during these times of trial and testing depends upon our response. The harder the test, the easier it is to give up and accept the defeat of the devil. However, the right response to times of affliction is found in this psalm. The psalmist responded by holding on to the Word of God that had been quickened, or made alive, in his heart and he allowed that Word to be his comfort. He did not become embittered about his circumstances or curse God. He simply reminded God of His Word and trusted God to honor it.

Many times in the midst of our affliction, we try to hold on to a word from God that hasn't been made alive to us. We've heard someone else quote it and have seen them receive their answer, so we assume that it will work for us. We act in superficial faith, believing for the same results. But acting on someone else's miracle is not faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Faith comes when we hear God speak the Word to us. When He speaks, His words are full of power and the miracle comes because the Holy Spirit brings life to that word or scripture. Notice that God caused the psalmist to hope in His Word. Because God was connected with the Word that had been given, it was a comfort to the psalmist. God had breathed on His Word and infused it with power, causing it to come alive within the psalmist's spirit. God was the source of the psalmist's hope.

If you need a scripture to come alive in your heart that will bring comfort, it is only a prayer away. The psalmist showed us how he was quickened by the Word. He prayed in Psalms 119:107, "I am afflicted very much. Quicken me, O Lord, according to Your Word." He purposely asked God to quicken Him and bring him life. There are scriptures that are written to meet every need that you may have and bring deliverance for every bondage that is holding you captive. You must search the scriptures and find those that pertain to your situation, and then remind God of what He has said. Meditate on those scriptures and read them aloud. As you do, ask God to quicken you with those words. Do this again and again until your spirit is made alive by those words from God. It is sort of like striking a match repeatedly until it finally ignites. Faith will come but it will come by hearing. When the Word of God ignites within your spirit, faith will arise to bring comfort in the time of affliction, for "God's words are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/18/10
BREAD FOR THIS DAY

Scripture: Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray and told them that their Father already knew the things they needed before they even asked. He also told them not to have any concerns for their food, drink, or clothing for the future. He said, "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things." He continued to instruct them saying, "Seek first the kingdom of God, then all these things will be added to you ... So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble." However, Jesus did tell His disciples to ask God for bread for each new day. We serve the same God today that provided manna every day for forty years for His people when He delivered them out of Egypt. He still has the recipe for manna and is able to provide all of our needs.

When our own children were born, we knew that they needed food, water, and clothing. As parents, it was our responsibility to make that provision. They never had to worry about these necessities because we planned in advance to meet their needs. However, they did ask us for food when they were hungry, especially when they were newborn and wanted to eat every two or three hours.

God is a responsible Father and is just as loving and caring as we are as parents. Jesus tells us to consider the birds that do not sow, yet the Father feeds them. He also says consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they don't toil nor spin. Yet, Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers of the field, He will take care of His children. God wants us to rely upon Him and trust Him like the birds and the flowers do, but we also have to do our own part. The birds do not sleep late, sit around all day doing absolutely nothing, and have food dropped into their nests. They are up early, singing a song to God, and watching for His provision and blessing. They do what they can and trust God for their provision. Consider this poem by Elizabeth Cheney.

     Overheard In An Orchard

     Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
     "I should really like to know
     Why these anxious human beings
     Rush about and worry so."

     Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
     "Friend, I think that it must be
     That they have no Heavenly Father
     Such as cares for you and me." +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================

A Word In Due Season
4th Week of June 2010

06/21/10
POWER SOURCE

Scripture: II Chronicles 20:12 (Amplified) "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

When an army of great magnitude came against God's people, they began to seek the Lord with diligence. They acknowledged their lack because they knew that by themselves, they were no match against their enemy. They told the Lord that they had no might, no strength, and no power, but declared their trust in Him by saying, "Our eyes are upon You." They recognized where their strength would come from and who would give them victory in the battle. As they prayed, God gave them a simple plan, which was to go into the battle praising Him. As they obeyed His word, He gave them a glorious victory.

My grandson is fascinated with buttons and wires. And even though he doesn't understand electrical power, he knows that the buttons and wires make things work. One evening when he was a little over two years old, he began to rearrange the wires on the backside of my electronic keyboard. He had already tried the on/off switch but could not get the keyboard to work. He worked diligently but had no success because he didn't know that the main power switch at the wall outlet was turned off. He finally declared, "It boke," which translates into "It is broken." This was the only conclusion that made sense to him because he could not get the buttons and wires to work.

Many times our faith is "broken" in the same fashion. All the wires and buttons are there and we say and do the right things, but nothing works because we do not stop and recognize where our power and strength comes from. We try to work out a sensible solution on our own, when all the time, the power of God's presence and His wisdom is within our reach. James 1:5-6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God ... but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." There is no lack when God's presence and wisdom is with us. In the midst of our trials, we just need to call out to Jesus and say, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." His plan may be as simple as give praise in the midst of the battle or stand still and see My salvation. It may be a magnificent plan to confront the enemy. Whatever the solution, we can be sure that when we stop trying to figure out all the buttons and wires and begin to focus are eyes upon Him, our efforts will not be wasted. We must believe that He is the source of our strength and then as we connect directly with Him, He will infuse us with the power that we need to obtain the victory. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/22/10
MUZZLING OUR MOUTH

Scripture: Psalms 39:1 "I will keep my mouth with a bridle."

King David made a commitment to take heed of his actions and his words so that he wouldn't sin against God. He also spoke to God about his awkward situation. While the wicked were there in the room before him, he tried to act dumb, hold his peace, and just remain quiet. But the longer he did this, the worse things got and finally sorrow began to stir inside of him. David said, "My heart was hot within me, and while I was musing, the fire burned." In other words he was saying, "The more I thought about it, the more it just burned me up!" Have you ever been there, and said that?

David finally reached the point that he responded and said, "Then I spoke up with my tongue." The Message Bible says it a little plainer:

"The longer I kept silent the worse it got --
my insides got hotter and hotter,
My thoughts boiled over; and I spilled my guts."

We often allow the actions and words of others to disturb us in this fashion until we reach the boiling point. In front of God and everybody, at the worst time, we just spill our guts. God's word says that if we can control our tongue, we can control our whole body. James 3:2 (Amplified) states, "For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if any one does not offend in speech -- never says the wrong things -- he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb (or bridle) his entire nature." If we want to control our whole body and curb our entire nature, there are three things that we must consciously do:

1) We must stop musing about the situation in an adverse way.
2) We must disallow our emotions to burn within us.
3) We must keep our mouth shut until God tells us how to respond. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/23/10
RESCUE ME

Scripture: Psalms 25:20 (Amplified) " ... Deliver me; let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You."

David trusted in the Lord and called out to Him in his distress. He said that the troubles of his heart were multiplied and that he was suffering great affliction and pain. Yet, he believed that the Lord would pluck his feet out of the net and rescue him from his many enemies who hated him. He even asked the Lord to be gracious to him when he was lonely and to also forgive him for all of his sins. He knew the Lord was concerned about every detail of his life, whether it was physical, mental, or emotional, and he asked to be rescued and spared from all shame and disappointment.

You ask, "Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to be rescued?" Well, let me count the ways! In my life, there have been extreme financial difficulties, life-threatening sicknesses, physical injuries that left temporary disabilities, stressful difficulties with people on the job, and painful conflicts with close friends and family. This list is not even inclusive, for there have been many other situations which have caused me to call upon God. Each and every time that I turned to Him, I found that He was there all of the time patiently waiting in line with a solution for my problems. Yet sadly, there were times I was so wrapped up in how I thought He was going to work that I failed to recognize His deliverance when it came my direction.

I am reminded of the story of a man that faced a flood. As the storm approached, the authorities warned him to evacuate, but he did not heed the warning. When the waters began to cover his yard and left the streets impassable, he asked God to deliver him. While he was praying, his neighbor showed up in a small rowboat, but he refused to be rescued. Soon the waters were coming into his house. As he prayed again for God to deliver him, the police patrol boat came to rescue him, but again he refused the help. The floodwaters continued to rise and before long he found himself stranded on the roof of his house. Once again as he pleaded for God's help, a helicopter came to his rescue. They lowered the rescue rope, but he still refused to leave. Finally, he drowned and found himself before the throne of God. In a state of confusion, he asked, "Lord, I prayed three times for deliverance. Why didn't You come and rescue me?" God responded to his question by saying, "I answered your prayers and came to rescue you each time that you prayed, but you failed to recognize My answer and refused to receive My help."

God is always there to rescue us in every situation, for He promised that He would never put more upon us than we could bear. In every adverse circumstance, He offers His help and His way of escape. Amidst the turmoil and confusion of life, He offers His supernatural peace that passes all understanding, but we must choose to allow His peace to reign within our hearts. He offers us salvation for our souls, but we must choose to receive Him as Lord and Savior. He seeks to rescue us from disease and suffering by offering us healing through the stripes that were laid upon Jesus, yet we must choose to believe in order to receive. When sorrow comes our way, He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us, but we must be ready to give up our grief in order to accept His loving offer. In temptation, the Lord promises a way of escape, but we must look for the way out and then flee from the enemy who is after our soul. Whatever the challenge, there is an answer, but we must do our part. God's ways are higher than our ways and we must allow Him to rescue us in the way that He chooses. If we ask God to rescue us and He sends a boat, we must not miss our opportunity for His way of deliverance. +++

Scripture: Psalms 94:9 "He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?"

The psalmist makes a declaration that he believes that God is hearing and seeing everything that is going on in our lives. He calls out to God to avenge him and to pay back to the wicked what they deserve. He even asked God how long would He allow the evil doers to oppress and triumph over the righteous. The psalmist calls attention to their arrogance and boastful words, for the wicked boldly declare that God does not see nor regard their evil deeds. They mistakenly think that they will get away with their actions and not suffer any consequences.

We have either experienced the injustice of the wicked in our own lives, have seen it happen in the lives of our friends and family, or have witnessed it in the news media. We have also heard the wicked boast about the unpleasant things that they have done. They have even laughed and scorned in the face of their victims. Our heart goes out to those who are being oppressed in such a manner as this and we wonder why God lingers and allows the injustice to happen to the innocent instead of bringing immediate judgment. Yet, we must remember that God has a season for all things. God made the eye. He is not blind, He is merciful. God made the ear. He is not deaf, He is full of grace. He is hearing and seeing everything that is happening, yet He is patient and will wait a long season for the arrogant and wicked to repent of their evil ways. There will come a time, however, that His grace will expire and His mercy will cease. He will then suddenly arise, avenge the righteous, and deal with the wicked.

We should not be fearful and frustrated when it seems that evil is prevailing in the world about us. When there is nothing that we can do to remedy the situation, we must place our confidence in God and trust His judgment, for He knows much more about the situation than we do. He understands the hearts of all men and knows their deepest motives. He may be working with their soul and giving them one more chance. We must believe that the God who made the ears and formed the eyes is the One who is in charge. We must keep the spirit of faith alive in our own hearts and put our trust in Him. As we allow God to be the Lord over the situation, He will take care of all the matters that concern us at His chosen time. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/25/10
LITTLE BUT WISE

Scripture: Proverbs 30:24-28 "There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants ... the conies ... the locusts ... and the spiders."

Solomon was a man who was granted supernatural wisdom from God and yet he chose four small and insignificant creatures to show us how true wisdom operates. The first example is the ants because of their preparation and hard work. We are not only amazed as we see these small creatures carrying their enormous and heavy loads, but we are astonished that they have the foresight to prepare for the future. Proverbs 6:7 tells us that the ants "have no guide, overseer, or ruler, but they work all summer." One reference said they are the "most laborious insects in existence," each doing its own job without honor or show, working without weariness until the work is complete.

The other three examples are just as amazing. The conies or badgers show us the importance of protection and sure foundations. These small animals build their houses in the tight places of the cleft of the rocks where there is protection on all sides, and then cautiously face outwards. The next wise creature, the locusts, display exceptional unity and organization. They have no king or leader, yet they band together as one unit and work in harmony. And finally, the spiders show us boldness and confidence. They will go anywhere without fear, even the king's palaces. They are not easily discouraged and when their webs are swept down, they spin them again and again.

As we look at these four examples we come to understand that wisdom doesn't depend upon how great or rich we are, but on how we conduct ourselves in life's circumstances. We can use these examples of wisdom in our spiritual lives as well. Like the ants who store up food in the natural, we must store up bread or the Word of God so that we can make it through the seasons of famine in our lives. We can't allow ourselves to wait until we are faced with a crisis. David said, "I will hide Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You." We must feed on God's word in our summer seasons so that we are prepared for the winters of our life.

Like the badger's hidden home in the cleft of the rock, Jesus is our refuge and secure hiding place. He is the solid rock and if we build our faith on Him, He will be our sure foundation and protection from our enemies. We must allow Him to surround us on all sides but also continue to maintain a vigilant watch, for our adversary, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

The locusts show us the incredible wisdom of banding together with other believers so that we can experience tremendous victories as we work together in unity and harmony. On the day of Pentecost we see the results when just 120 believers came together in complete harmony and one accord. God sent the promise of His Holy Spirit as a rushing mighty wind to empower them to become His witnesses. Because they manifested unity, harmony, and power, they changed the world.

Finally, the spiders teach us to be bold and confident so that we can go anywhere and everywhere that God sends us. They not only show us how to go forth with courage, but that we should have faith for the king's palaces. They demonstrate how to refuse failure. Regardless of whether we fail on our own or because someone else sweeps our web away, God's gifts and callings are without repentance (Romans 11:29). Like the spiders, we still have the ability and responsibility to get up, start again, and spin another web.

So which one of Solomon's examples do you need to follow to become wise? The answer is all of the above. All these principles need to be operating in your physical and spiritual life so that you may prosper in your body, soul, and spirit. +++

A Word In Due Season
5th Week of June 2010

06/28/10
SEEKING GOD WITH INTENSITY

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29 "If you seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all of your heart and with all of your soul."

We often search for a misplaced item, but give up after a few moments because of its insignificance. Yet when it's something important like our keys, we search with intensity. We become desperate in our search for we know that we can't leave until we find them. It is as though our lives depend upon finding the keys and very often we will call upon others to help us in our search. Once, I lost my keys and searched diligently but the keys were not to be found. After much panic and frustration, I decided that I had to leave without them and to my surprise I found that my keys were in the lock on the outside of door.

We can all relate to losing something that is important and feeling the urgency in our spirits to find it. We try to recall our journey just prior to the loss and track all of the steps that we made. We put everything aside and focus on finding the lost object. We search with all of our heart and soul and we're not satisfied until we find what we are looking for. This is the same way that God wants us to search for Him. He wants us to search with intensity and anticipation in our spirits. He wants us to seek for Him as if we were searching for a lost treasure. We are to search for Him as though our very lives depend upon it. We are not to wait until we are in stress and calamity and our lives actually do depend upon finding Him. We are to seek Him early while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6). And like the keys in the door, "God is not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:27). We just need to search for Him until we find Him.

When you search for God with all of your heart and soul, I Chronicles 28:9 says that He will be found of you or He will allow you to find Him. When He unveils Himself to you, you will be forever changed for you will not only see His acts, but you will experience Him as a person. In His presence, you will get a view of His power and you will sense His strength. When your heart and soul makes contact with the Lord, you will know without a doubt that you have been in the presence of the King, and the moment will be eternally written upon your heart. God wants to minister to you and He desires to be found by you. If you seek Him with all of your heart and with all of your soul, you will find Him. When you do, He will wash your sins away with His blood, touch your pain with His love, and bring light into the darkness that troubles and clouds your soul. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/29/10
SHAKE IT OFF

Scripture: Acts 28:3 & 5 "As Paul gathered an armful of sticks to lay on the fire, a poisonous snake fastened itself onto his hand ... But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed."

I recently killed a poisonous snake in my yard and when I chopped its head off, the body and tail continued to move. This reminded me of an article that I had read in a magazine. It said that 85% of the snake related incidents that are treated at the hospital are from exposure to snakes that had already been killed. Although the snakes themselves were dead, the poison in their fangs was still very much alive and potent.

Like the snake that attached itself to Paul, there are harmful things that will seek to attach themselves to us. We will have many experiences in our lives and face many disappointments that can poison our souls and spirits if we allow them. The poison may come through abuse, divorce, grief because of the death of a loved one, lost relationships, or unfair financial situations. In our minds, we may think that we have destroyed the things that would harm us. We put the memories in the past, shut the door, and do not visit those rooms. We make every effort to forgive and let go. Yet in the farthest reaches of our being, there lingers a hurt, a grief, and a shame that will not allow us to move beyond that point into a place of absolute and total freedom. It is like a dead snake whose poison is still potent. From time to time, it shoots out its venom of pain and bitterness and disallows our heart to trust others or believe for a better future. In so doing, many times we stifle God's plan for our life.

God's desire is that we shake off the past hurts and disappointments. He wants us to go on with life, unharmed as Paul did, and live life at its fullest. The Lord doesn't want us to handle the memories that are alive with venom, lest it poison and destroy our souls. He doesn't want us to pine away our life in sorry and grief, for He has a better plan. He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, so that we could have an abundant life. God anointed Jesus to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). However, to receive the abundant life that Jesus provides, we must choose to shake off anything that would poison us. We must choose to come out of the ashes, receive His joy, and put on His garment of praise. +++

Copyright © 2010 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
06/30/10
PROMISE GIVER

Scripture: Hebrews 4:19 "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the Promised Land because they simply trusted God and believed His word of promise. The rest of the Israelites who had came out of Egypt with them wandered around in the wilderness for forty years but failed to enter into God's promise because of their unbelief. God gave them a promise and delivered them from the Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand. He then showed them His power and His provision though miraculous signs and wonders as they traveled through the wilderness. Yet, time and time again, they chose to disbelieve God. They had forty years to get it right, but they murmured against God and continually complained about their circumstances. They were never able to come into a place of total trust and confidence in God, and for that reason, they never received what God intended for them to have.

This parallels our own lives, for God has delivered us out of darkness and bondage and He has translated us into the Kingdom of His marvelous light. Yet even though we are in God's Kingdom, most of us are not experiencing the fullness of the things that His Kingdom affords. We suffer lack in many areas of our lives because of our unbelief and do not enter into the rest that He has designed for us. Instead, we wander around in the wilderness and struggle with our circumstances. Darkness, defeat, and discouragement are easy to come by and all that we have to do to experience these things is just exist. But life and light demand faith. We must believe God if we intend to receive His promises and walk victoriously in them.

God has always had good plans for you. You don't belong in the desert. Instead you belong in the Promised Land. As children of the Living God and as joint Heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ, you have been given precious promises. You are not only promised salvation for your soul through the sacrificed life of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, but God has promised to meet all of your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. He has also provided healing by the stripes that were laid upon Jesus' back and has sent the promise of the Holy Spirit to comfort, teach, and guide you. The Lord has promised to perfect all things that concern you and vowed that He will be with you until the end of the world. All of these promises belong to you but you must take possession of your blessings by faith. Faith is not mental assent. Instead, it is substance that is birthed in your heart by the Spirit of God. You must feed on God's Word and stay in communion with Him until your faith comes alive. Faith is not just about the promise; it is about the Promise Giver. As you look to God and call upon His faithfulness, He will dispel your unbelief and you can be assured that the Promise Giver will keep His promise. +++