A Word In
Due Season
1st Week of November 2012
11/01/12
FORSAKING ALL
Scripture: Luke 14:27 "Whosoever does not bear his cross, and come
after Me, cannot be My disciple."
Jesus gives the world an open and compelling invitation to come to Him for salvation. He excludes no one and says, "Whosoever will, may come." Yet He also tells us that those who want to become His disciples and follow Him must consider the cost, for full commitment to Christ means bearing a daily personal cross for His sake. It means forsaking everything that is important to yourself, submitting your all to Him, and conforming to His teachings. In verse twenty-six, Jesus said that your commitment must be so strong towards Him that you would be willing to give up everything and even put Him before your family. This doesn't in any way justify neglect, malice, or ill will towards your family. It simply means that your devotion to Christ must be the number one priority in your life. It also follows that you will be able to love and serve your family in a greater way because of the love of Christ that is within you.
Jesus was looking for more than followers. He had many who followed Him
because of His supernatural gift of healing. He healed all kinds of
diseases, caused the blind to see, opened the ears of the deaf, and made the
lame to walk. There were those who sought Him out in order to be delivered
from demonic possession and spiritual oppression. Some followed Him because He
fed them fish and bread or turned the water into wine. Others followed
Jesus because they wanted to hear Him speak His great words of wisdom or share
His revelations concerning the scriptures. These followers had a personal
agenda, but not many wanted to be a true disciple who was willing to bear a
cross in order to follow Him.
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/02/12
HOPE IN GOD!
Scripture: Psalms 42:1 "As the deer pants after the water brooks, so
pants my soul after Thee, O God."
Situations brought the psalmist to this desperate place of discouragement and
caused him to pant for God like a deer pants for the water. The word pant
has a different meaning than just a dry mouth, desire to drink, or simple
thirst. It is a loud and rapid breathing process, which is also visible
and desperate. Like the writer of this Psalm, have you ever had the
following thoughts and questions come to your mind?
1.) God, when will I see you or be able to sense Your presence? - Vs. 2
2.) God, even my tears say, "Where are You?" - Vs. 3
3.) God, why have You forgotten me? - Vs. 9
4.) God, why am I oppressed by the enemy? - Vs. 9
5.) God, even my enemies mock me, and say,
"Where is your God?" - Vs. 10
The psalmist so longed for the presence of God that his thirst to find God
became audible and visible to those close by. Like a panting deer, he was
desperately searching for God's answers and deliverance. The psalmist was
thirsting for the living God, for he knew that only God could help him and meet
his needs. In his search for God, the psalmist shed many tears, felt
rejected and forgotten, and suffered reproach from the mocking enemy. In
desperation, he spoke to his own soul and said, "Why are you cast down, O my
soul? Why are you disquieted, troubled, and in great commotion within me?"
Disquieted means "loud." In other words he was saying, "Emotions, why are
you making so much noise on the inside of me?"
Does this place seem familiar? Have you felt like you were in a hopeless
situation and that everything inside of you was crying out in a loud voice?
You felt like a deer running wildly through the forest in search of the water
brook. When this happens, I encourage you to slow down and know that God
is God. Then, address your soul and speak these same positive words that
the psalmist spoke to himself when he was in a state of desperation.
Tell yourself to hope in God - Vs. 5
Praise Him for the help of His countenance
or that His face is turned towards you - Vs. 5
Remember who God is and recall past victories - Vs. 6
Trust God to command His loving kindness towards you -
Vs. 8
Sing songs and pray in the night - Vs. 8
Confess that God is your rock - Vs. 9
Praise Him for He is your God - Vs. 11
As you allow your soul to pant after God, He will quench your thirst. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
2nd Week of November 2012
11/05/12
ALLOWING GOD TO HELP
Scripture: Psalms 55:16 "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me."
Along with the rest of the world, I watched the news and saw those who were stranded in their homes during the recent floods. I also remembered the floods in our own area a few years ago and how amazed I was at the time because many of the people refused to be rescued. They had been without power or provisions for days and the water that surrounded them was contaminated. Yet their choice was to stay in their dilemma and suffer the consequences. Their decision baffled me, but then I realized that they had been without communication and may not have understood the scope of the devastation that was around them. We were able to see their terrible plight from a totally different perspective, but their vision was very limited so they hung on to false hopes and refused to let go.
As I watched these scenes, I wondered how many times we have been in similar situations and have refused the help of God. Like a small child struggling with a project that they are incapable of doing, we wrestle with Almighty God. God pleads for us to let Him help, but we refuse His offer, and say, "No, I think I've got it." We think that we have things under control and that we can hold out. But just like the child who had refused help in the beginning of the matter, we usually come to the conclusion that we can't do this alone and that our only hope is to allow God to help.
I have come to understand that God knows more about us and our situation than we do. I am amazed at the greatness of God. He is our Maker, our Husband, our Lord of Host, Our Redeemer, and our Salvation. He is omniscient, while we only know in part. He is aware of every detail and sees things as they really are. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. When we are in the midst of our storm contaminated waters, the Lord rushes to us and desperately tries to rescue us from our situations, for He knows the dangers and the toxins that surround us. God diligently pulls on our heartstrings, but we just won't let go and allow Him to deliver us. We won't leave the past behind and cast down the imaginations that jeopardize our future. We can't forgive others and we won't forgive ourselves. Strongholds of bitterness and unforgiveness linger in our hearts and become toxin to our entire being.
Let us make this declaration as the psalmist did, "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me." Let this become our prayer, "God I am calling upon You because I need Your help. What do you want me to walk away from so that You can carry out Your plan and purposes through me? Show me what I should give or what I should do so that Your will can be completed in my life. Lord, I make a commitment to yield myself to You and I trust Your knowledge. I want You to help me so I am calling upon You to rescue me from myself and my own desires."
+++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/06/12
COVENANT KEEPING GOD
Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God,
He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love
Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations."
Moses made this statement about 3500 years ago and things still remain the same.
First, the Lord God is still God and His position has not changed. He is
still the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Ruler over all. He is
sovereign and has supreme authority over all creation, including the personal
affairs of men. Second, God is not only God but He is also a faithful God.
There is no changing with God. God is still the same as he was when Moses
declared that He was faithful. And finally, God will keep His covenant
with us as He did with Moses. Numbers 23:19 declares that "God is not a
man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. If He has
spoken it, it will come to pass."
A covenant is a contract or an agreement between two or more people. It is
a giving and receiving relationship between the parties involved and requires a
total commitment from both sides. You can't have a covenant with someone
you do not know and trust. It just won't work, for covenants are
established and developed through and upon relationships. You may have
been in a relationship that was based upon what you could and would do for that
other person. There was conversation when they wanted to talk, affection
on their terms, and all of the serving and giving was on your part. It was
all about them and their needs. Your needs and desires were never
considered, much less met, for you carried the entire load of the relationship.
Things are different when you have a covenant with God. He respects your
needs and responds to your desires. You are able to say, "If you need me,
God, you can count on me. And God, when I need You, I know that I can count on
You." You and the Lord make yourself accessible and available to each
other.
God is faithful to the faithful and He will keep His Word with those who will obey His Word. God obligates Himself to those who are in a covenant relationship with Him and He watches over His Word to perform it. In fact, His eyes continually roam the earth looking for those who love Him and who are diligently seeking to trust His Word and obey His commandants. God is not a politician who says things so that He can be voted into your life. Neither is God an actor who portrays himself to be someone that he is not. God is for real and His words are truth.
Establish or consider your covenant with God, for it is completely thorough or exhaustive. If you honor and respect God as your Heavenly Father, He will treat you as His son. If you recognize Him as the Lord God your Healer, He will heal you of all your diseases. If you look to Him as your Source of supply, He will meet all of your needs. If you see God as your Deliverer, He will come to your rescue and deliver you. If you ask Him for forgiveness, He will be faithful to forgive. If you allow Him to be your Comforter, He will be with you always. Men will continue to fail you in your time of need, but God's grace will always be sufficient. His mercy will never cease, for He is a covenant keeping God. +++Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/07/12
REPENTANCE
Scripture: I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God wants His children to do His will, which is simply obeying what He tells us
to do on a daily basis. He is our Shepherd, and all we need to do is walk
where He leads us, one step at a time. It is a simple matter of putting
our foot into His footprint. There are times, however, in all of our lives
that we fail to do God's will either because of compromise, rebellion, or simple
neglect. To receive forgiveness when we find ourselves in these places we
must call out to our Heavenly Father for help, be quick to repent, and then
search for our way back to His perfect will. We must be honest with God
and start at the point where we are.
When my oldest son was about three years old, I left him in the yard to play.
We lived in a safe neighborhood and the yard was enclosed with a cyclone fence.
There was no way he could unlock the gate and get out and I felt that he was
very safe. However, I did tell him not to climb the fence. I went into
the house for just a few minutes and very shortly I heard him calling from the
yard. His cry was loud, but not frightening. I immediately went out
and found him hanging on the fence. The hood of his winter jacket was
ensnared in the wires at the top of the fence so that he just hung there like a
picture on the wall with his back to the fence. He was not hurt or even
uncomfortable, but was just stuck in a situation that he couldn't get out of.
There was no way that he could deliver himself from this terrible dilemma that
he had gotten himself into.
When I asked him, "Did you try to climb the fence?" He said, "No, Mommy.
Just get me down." He knew that I still loved him and that I was able to fix
the situation for him. I questioned him several times about how he
happened to be hanging on the fence and each time he denied that it was his
fault. He refused to come to terms with his disobedience and make a full
confession. Finally, he realized that he wasn't getting off the fence
until he repented and promised never to do it again.
I laugh today as I remember this episode and I wonder how many times do we find ourselves in a similar predicament. We fail to obey God and then we find ourselves hanging on a fence. We know that we have stepped out of God's will, and He knows it, too. Yet, we try to deny that we've made a mistake or that we have sinned. We just want God to fix our situation and do it as quickly and easily as possible. It is amazing that even in our sin, God still loves us, His mercy endures forever, and His grace never fails. He is more than ready to redeem us from every situation. Our Father's promise is so simple. He says, "If you want to be forgiven, confess your sins! I will faithfully forgive you, and I will cleanse you from all unrighteousness." In other words, "If you really want down from the fence, repent." +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/08/12
PAIN AND
PRESSURE
Scripture:
Job 30:26 "But when I looked for good, then evil came to me, and when I
waited for light, there came darkness."
We speak of
the patience of Job and when we look at his life, we see that one bad thing
happened after another. It was a season of overwhelming problems and
trials, and even though Job didn't have anyone on his side to stand with him or
to encourage him, he endured the test. It was just him and God in a struggle
against evil. Yet from Job's own words, it seems that he must have thought
that the end of his trials would come sooner than it did. How discouraging
this must have been for Job when things did not change as he thought and his
prayers were seemingly not answered. Yet he never gave up, but continued
to trust God with his life even though evil and darkness surrounded him.
Job's life
proved the theory that "God will not take you to a place where His grace will
not keep you, His power will not use you, and His love is not needed." In
his season of testing, Job experienced God's amazing grace and found it to be
sufficient in every conflict. This included the death of all of Job's
children, the loss of his possessions, the loss of his honor and self-esteem
among his friends and wife, and the loss of his own health. Job also
experienced God's power when God delivered him from his trials and restored more
than he had lost. And when Job was suffering pain and enduring the
pressure of rejection from those around him, he experienced God's intimate love
in a fresh and mighty way. As God communed with him personally, Job spoke
to God and said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes
see You" (Job 42:5). The light of God's love kept him, and at the end,
Job's life speaks of victory that was birthed out of adversity.
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/09/12
POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US
Scripture: Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in
us."
God is waiting to do marvelous things in our lives; things that go beyond our
imagination and things that we've never even thought about asking for.
Yet, accomplishing these great things depends upon the power of God that works
within us because it is possible for us to limit God by our doubt, unbelief, or
lack of action. Psalms 78:40-41 tells us that the children of Israel
limited God by turning away from His promises. They saw the mighty works
of God day after day, yet they grieved and provoked God because they did not
trust Him to finish what He started. They continually murmured and
complained even though God was faithfully meeting every need that they had.
As a born again child of God, we have received His Spirit and it abides within
us right now (I John 2:27). His anointing is there to empower us for the
task that is set before us. Yet, we need to be aware that He has strengthened
us for the challenge, for it is only then that we can fulfill God's plans
and purposes for our lives. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for a
lack of knowledge." We can't use something if we don't know that we have
it and we will never go forward without the knowledge of His power within us.
The devil distorts the truth and tries to keep us in the dark because he knows
that our lack of knowledge will limit the work of God in our lives. Proverbs
29:18 confirms this by telling us that if we do not have revelation we will
perish.
Paul showed us how to pray concerning this situation. The Holy Spirit led Paul
to pray for the Church at Ephesus that God would grant them a spirit of
revelation. Paul prayed that the eyes of their understanding would be
opened so they could know their calling and also the exceeding greatness of
God's mighty power that was extended to them. When Paul prayed these
words, he was praying for the Church, not the sinners. We can pray this same
prayer. Sometimes we think that we, as the Church, have arrived and know
all there is to know. My experience is that the more I learn about God,
the more I realize there is so much more that I don't know and have yet to
learn. The revelation of God and His power doesn't come suddenly but by
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. We
will be forever learning about God and His power from now through eternity, and
the more we learn, the more He will be able to work through us.
God is able to do exceeding and great things in us but we must be filled with His power. In Jeremiah 33:3, God tells us how to find His hidden power and how to cease from limiting Him. He says, "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know - things you have never seen before or even considered thinking of." We must not limit God but must allow His power to work within us. As we do, the Lord will be able to do great and mighty things when we ask. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
3rd Week of November 2012
11/12/12
LEARNING
TO FISH
Like any good fisherman, Jesus only fished for hungry souls who would receive the gospel. He didn't waste His valuable time fishing for those unresponsive religious leaders who were bound in tradition and law. He recognized their lack of interest for the truth of the gospel and He ignored their laws by doing good and healing the sick on the Sabbath. Jesus declared that He came to earth to do the works of the One who had sent Him and He ministered to those who reached out to Him, whether they were ragged beggars, blind, lame, or demon possessed. No soul was beyond His help and He extended His grace beyond their need. His gentle conviction caused those who heard His message to change their lifestyles, follow Him, and be His disciples.
There are many souls that need to be reached with the gospel and brought
into God's Kingdom. Many need to hear that God has forgiven all of
their sins and that He doesn't condemn them. They must be told that they
can come to Jesus just as they are. Some have physical needs and need to
hear about the Great Physician and Healer. Others may just need a Friend
to talk to. But everyone needs to be drawn in by a personal touch and
shown the love and compassion of Jesus, our wonderful Savior and
Lord. Jesus speaks to us today in the same manner that He spoke to
His disciples and says, "Come along with Me and I will show you how
to fish for the souls of men. Whether in the streets or the
marketplaces, in your home town or on the foreign mission field, I will tell
you where and when to let down your net, and cause you to bring a
multitude into My Kingdom." +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/13/12
BEHAVE VALIANTLY
Scripture: I Chronicles 19:13 "Let us behave ourselves
valiantly."
King David sent Joab to fight against Ammon and
Just as Joab and his brother fought valiantly for each other, you and I need
to be allies in the spirit and fight for one another, for none of us are
able to stand alone in our battle against the enemy. The devil makes
himself strong and "roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may
devour" (I Peter 5:8). Our job is to be continually vigilant, watching
for his attacks. When we see that the enemy has become too strong for
our brothers in Christ, we need to come to their rescue, pray for them,
counsel with them, and either supply or find help for them in their time of
need.
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/14/12
LITTLE
FAITH
Scripture: Matthew 14:31 "Jesus
stretched forth His hand, caught Peter, and said to him, "O ye of little
faith, why did you doubt?"
Peter saw two things that affected his faith. First,
he saw Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm and this sight
produced so much faith in Peter's heart that he asked Jesus to bid him to
walk out upon the water, also. While Peter was in the process of
walking upon the water towards Jesus, he saw something else. He turned
his eyes from Jesus and began to look at the storm and the boisterous winds.
This second vision brought fear to Peter's heart and caused his faith to
fail. As his faith grew dim, he began to sink into the waters and in
the midst of his dilemma, Peter cried out to Jesus. Jesus harkened to
his cry, stretched forth His hand, and rescued Peter. At the end of
the matter, Jesus asked him plainly, "Why did you doubt?"
Peter's great faith had dwindled to little faith because
he didn't keep his eyes upon Jesus. He was overcome with
the circumstances of the moment and allowed them to bring fear to his soul.
Instead of shouting a victory shout because he was experiencing a mighty
miracle by walking on the water, his voice sounded out cries of fear and
terror. His fear and doubt drove away the miracle working power of the
Lord. Peter should have realized that when Jesus said, "Come" that the
waves and the storms were no longer his own business. The adversity
surrounding him belonged to the Lord. Jesus was the Master of the sea,
storm, and the water, and He loved Peter Jesus wasn't going to allow
Peter to drown right there before Him.
Our hearts are just like Peter's. We are human and anytime that we begin to measure and value the raging winds of the storm against the powerful winds of the Holy Spirit, it will cause doubt to arise in our soul. When we think that we are separated from Christ because of the dashing waves that are between us and Him, we will experience fear. When our vision of Jesus is lost and all we can see are the flashes of lightning, our hopes will fail. When the thunder is so loud that we can't hear His voice, our direction will be unclear. When we can only see the dangers and difficulties, we will experience doubt, and like Peter we will begin to sink.
You may be wondering where Jesus is in the midst of your current storm and why things are not working. The answer is easy. He is right where you saw Him last, on the other side of the waves that are being driven by the boisterous wind. The Lord is there with you in the midst of the adversity that is attempting to engulf your soul. His hands are stretched towards you and He will keep you safe. So keep your eyes on Jesus and your ears open to His voice. Regardless of what is happening around you, keep walking towards Him in faith. +++Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/15/12
JUST PASSING THROUGH
Scripture: Psalms 84:6 "Who, passing through the Valley of Baca, make it a
well."
Baca means a place of weeping, crises, misery, and pain. God never promised
that you would be exempted from valleys or your places of Baca. He did say,
however, that He would be with you always, even in the midst of your crises,
misery, and pain. God is there to give you victory right in the middle of
your adverse situations, but you must do your part. As you are passing
through the Valley of Baca, you must decide to make this place of weeping
into a well of life. With God's help, your tears can become a place of
refreshing for your soul instead of a place of bitterness. God will not
waste one moment of your grief and pain. If you will give it all to Him, He
will draw from the well that you create with your tears and wash your eyes,
cleanse your heart, and refresh your spirit. If you allow your Baca to
become a well, you will go from strength to greater strength (Psalms 84:7).
You can also take solace in the fact that the Valley of Baca is designed to
be a temporary place. You are only passing through this time of weeping and
despair, so in order to just pass through, you can't sit down and give up.
You must continue to take one step at a time to conquer the valley. It may
seem like the valley is too deep and the way is too hard. But remember, you
have a promise from God that He will never put more upon you than you are
able to bear. When things become too difficult for you, God will make a way
of escape. In Psalms 23:4, David spoke of walking "through the valley of
shadow of death." He said that he would not fear because he knew that the
Lord was with him. This blessed assurance will also see you through your
valley and bring you to a place of victory over your circumstances and inner
conflicts.
Andréa Crouch wrote a song with these lyrics: "I've had many tears and
sorrows. I've had questions for tomorrow. There have been times that I
didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation God gave perfect
consolation that my trials come to only make me strong. And through it all
... I've learned to trust in Jesus. I've learned to trust in God. Through
it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." What a mighty declaration
these words make. So when you find yourself in the Valley of Baca, remember
that valleys are very fertile. Glean all that you can from your valley and
embrace its strength. As you are pass through Baca - let your tears create
a well that will refresh you. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/16/12
FEEBLE
MEMBERS ARE NECESSARY
Scripture: I Corinthians 12:22 "Those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary."
The church or the body of Christ is one unit and even though there are many members, each one is significant in themselves and important to the whole body. The body of Christ cannot function without all of its parts working together no more than a human body can function well without all of its members. Each member has need of the other members. God has designed us in this fashion and it pleases Him when we dwell together in unity and become one in purpose as He and Jesus are one. The physical body could not operate if it were only an eye, for how could it hear, speak, or move about. The hand cannot tell the foot that it has no need for it, and neither can the foot make that same declaration to the hand. So it is with God's people. We all need each other. The feeble need the strong and the strong need the feeble.
In the natural the least honored members of our physical body are usually the most important and necessary, and so it is with the spiritual body of Christ. Yet, in the physical and spiritual, we tend to esteem the more attractive and visible members more than those that are hidden and unattractive. For instance, in our physical bodies, we take a lot of time and expense to care for our hair, when in reality we could live without a head full of hair. While we are taking such pains each day with our hair, we often neglect those members of our body which are hidden, but are much more important and necessary. We fail to eat the proper food for our stomachs or do exercises that will strengthen our heart, lungs, and bones. And yet, we can't live without these unseen and unattractive members of our body, for they are vital to our livelihood. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, the members that we fail to honor are usually the most necessary, such as intercessors who spend hours in prayer or those who quietly take care of the widows and orphans or other needy situations. They require and receive very little attention. The Apostle Paul said that it should not be this way, for each member is significant and should be honored.
There was an interesting sight near my home that reminded me of Paul's words. The freeway was under construction and the nearby roads were filled with all sorts of huge construction equipment. One of the pieces that was being used was a crane that reached about sixty or seventy feet into the air. It was probably worth several thousands of dollars and was very impressive. There was a cable that hung down from the crane, and attached to the end of that cable was a simple inexpensive rubber tire. The tire was being used as some sort of buffer with each swing of the cable. The tire looked feeble in itself when compared to all of the other equipment that surrounded it, yet for some reason it was necessary for the crane to accomplish what it was trying to do. I looked in amazement as this insignificant tire worked with the crane as one unit. Though feeble in size and value, it had found its place of significance.
I would encourage you to mark your place in life as significant and be faithful to fulfill the purposes that God has designed for you. No place is too small in His kingdom, so never demean the gifts that God has given to you. You may esteem yourself as feeble, but your presence. like the tire, may add the final touch that is needed for the whole unit to function. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
4th Week of November 2012
11/19/12
MATTERS TOO GREAT FOR ME
Scripture: Psalms 131:1 "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me."
David was a great leader and warrior who conquered tens of thousands. He was a man who worshipped and communed with God. He was also the king over a great nation. And although David had great position and much prestige among the people, he did not allow his heart to become haughty or his eyes to be lifted up in pride. In speaking to the Lord, David expressed his childlike trust. He said, "Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me."
David did not have the answers to all of life's questions. He was human and he went through all of the ups and downs, just as we do. There must have been many things that he did not understand, for there were times in his life when things were really rough. David's life was in jeopardy when King Saul desperately tried to kill him after he had served Saul faithfully. David faced defeat when his city was burned and his family was taken captive. He faced discouragement when his own men blamed him for the incident and wanted to stone him. David was betrayed by his son, Absalom, who tried to take his kingdom from him and his wife mocked him when he worshipped God. David had to bear the burden of shame for the sin that he had committed with Bathsheba and the guilt that he suffered for having her husband killed in battle. David also suffered great grief when he lost his young son to death.
David certainly had a lot to think about as these things may have tried to plague his mind. Yet he made a decision not to allow things that were too high to occupy his thoughts or overwhelm him. He determined to keep his spirit free by keeping his thoughts on God. He recognized that God knew the beginning and that God knew the end and that was enough for David. Like David, there are many things in our lives that are crying out for answers. Regardless of how long we analyze and rethink the situation, we can't find the solutions. Questions still remain, "Why do the young die? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the wicked prosper?" Questions that are too high for us only bring confusion. To have peace in our lives, we must come to the same conclusion that David did. We must discover that there are some things that God doesn't share and determine that we will not exercise our minds in those areas. We must let it all go and allow it to rest in the hands of an all knowing and all loving God. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/20/12
CONTINUE IN MY LOVE
Scripture: John 15:9 "Continue in My
love."
Have you ever experienced a place of strife and
division amongst your family members, your children, your co-workers, or friends
and close relationships? Did you try to close the gap that exists between
them but found yourself lacking in the precise words or counsel that would turn
their hearts and restore their fellowship with one another? In the midst
of all of the confusion, did you try to keep peace with all involved but you
found that your efforts were to no avail? There seemed to be no end to the
dispute, the debates, or the rivalry that exists between these precious people
that you love so dearly. Things so small had become so large in their minds that
they could not hear your bids for tranquility or respond to your voice of
reason.
You wish that you could fix it all but peace and
harmony had been totally deleted from their agendas and a spirit of animosity
prevailed. You wonder how did they ever get to this place of disharmony
and you question, "Why can't everyone just simply get along with each other,
even if it is just for a few hours at a holiday meal or function?" Your
heart breaks because of the misunderstandings that exist between them because
you can see the big picture that love hopes for, that peace longs for, and that
joy desires.
These types of situations don't just happen in our
lives. God gave us many examples through out the scriptures. There was
brother against brother, son against father, friend against friend, and
missionary against missionary. Cain killed his brother, Able, because Able
offered a better sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham and Lot, who were uncle
and nephew, had to separate themselves from each other because of the disputes
with their herdsmen concerning the land. Joseph's brothers rejected him
and sold him into slavery. Jacob fled from his father-in-law, Laban, who
had cheated him in his wages. Absalom attempted to kill his own father,
King David, in an effort to steal David's kingdom from him. The Apostle
Paul had a dispute with Barnabas over his choice to take Mark with them on a
missionary journey. The contention became so great that Paul and Barnabas
had to separate from each other in ministry for a season (Acts 13:37-40).
Judas followed Jesus but then sold Him for twenty pieces of silver and betrayed
Him with a kiss. This show us that we are all vulnerable and that
no relationship is exempted from attack.
As in the above stories, the pains of the individuals who are in our lives affects everyone in our circle. We stand there in disbelief. The situations are so petty and it is hard to know how to handle it all because we cannot control everyone's actions. We must lean on the Lord. Jesus told us to simply continue in His love. We must love all people, at all times, in every situation. The Lord never promised that we would understand everyone. But He did tell us to love everyone and to continue in love just as He continues in love for us. God's love for us endures forever and is without interruption. We must understand that we will never live in a perfect world of peace and tranquility, but by God's grace we can guard our own hearts and live in a place called love. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/21/12
TAKE A MOMENT
Scripture: James 4:14 "For what is your life? It is even a
vapor, that appears for a little time, then vanishes away."
A minister illustrated this scripture by taking a can of air freshener and
spraying just a very small wisp of the compressed air into a large auditorium.
When the air was released from the can, it appeared for a moment and then
vanished quickly. It could not be recaptured. The Apostle James
measures our life in the same manner to help us understand how short our life is
and how precious our moments really are. In light of this revelation, we
need to be more attentive to our life and learn to take advantage of each and
every special moment that comes our way.
In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon said that to everything there is a season and a
purpose. There is a time to laugh, dance, be healed, build, love, and embrace
the ones we love. Yet, these crucial moments that God presents to us must
be recognized and seized in the spirit. Very often, however, we allow
ourselves to become so stressed that we can't take a moment to laugh, much less
take a little time out to dance. We can't find a few spare moments to
refresh ourselves in the spirit so that God can build us up in our faith.
And if we are not careful, we will even get too busy to embrace those that we
love, pay attention to their needs, and enjoy their presence. We will fail
to recognize the precious moments that are being offered to us until it is too
late. In this fast paced life, it is crucial for us to just waste some time
enjoying the fellowship of our family, our friends, and even life itself.
We must slow down long enough to smell the roses, watch a sunrise or sunset,
hold a baby in our arms, and quietly rest in God's presence. When we take
these moments, they will create a memory that will last a lifetime.
Following is a prayer that I encourage you to pray if you need help in this
area.
Lord, help me to take a moment in the midst of the storms of my life to
acknowledge that You are God and that You are sovereign and in control.
Help me to recognize that You can speak peace into my life and calm all of the
adverse circumstances that are challenging me right now. Help me to take a
moment from the busyness and stress of my life to rest in Your presence so
that You can renew my strength. When I fall into sin, help me take a moment
to confess my sins so that You can forgive me, cleanse me from all
unrighteousness, and restore the joy of my salvation. When my body is
infiltrated by disease and racked with pain, help me take a moment to remember
that Your Word says, "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." Help me take a
moment away from my financial pressures to acknowledge Your promise that You
will meet all of my needs according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. When I
am grieved in the spirit, help me take a moment to know that You are surrounding
me with songs of deliverance and that You will give me beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
When things seem hopeless, help me take a moment and remember that all things
are working together for good and to praise You for Your love and mercy that
endures forever.
Lord, remind me to take a moment to appreciate my sight, my hearing, my mental faculties, and my physical mobility. Help me not to allow the moments of my life to pass unnoticed. Instead help me seize them with anticipation and store their memories as special treasures in the chambers of my heart. Last but not least, help me to remember that my life is as a vapor and that I should cherish every moment that You create for me. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/22/12
BEST THANKSGIVING
EVER
Scripture: Colossians 2:7 (Living Bible) "Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all that the Lord has done."
As we journey through life, we learn more about the Lord and also come to understand the more precious things that life has to offer. We learn that each and every year contains its own special storehouse of blessings; new births in the family, new friends added to our circle, new songs to sing, fresh experiences, and the addition of special memories. As I review what God has done in my life, I am overwhelmed at His bountiful goodness. When I add together all of the blessings that I have received in the years past, I realize that I am truly very blessed and that I have more to be thankful for this year than any year in the past.
There are many blessings that we take for granted. I remember standing in the family circle as we prayed over our dinner on Thanksgiving Day just a few weeks after 9/1, 2001, a day when our nation was attacked by terrorist. It was a special moment as we offered our prayer of thanksgiving for our food. Yet, in our hearts, there was also a unanimous and awesome feeling of gratitude for our free nation. We probably had never expressed those thoughts with such passion before, but the recognition of our freedom had become more important to us than the food that was spread before us. In just a few hours of time, things in our nation had drastically changed and we had all come to realize that we must never again take our lives, families, freedom, or blessings for granted.
As we approach this wonderful season, let us vow that Thanksgiving will no longer be just a one-day ritual of food and fellowship. Let us celebrate it as a continual reflection of God's goodness in our lives. Let us determine that our voices will resound throughout the year declaring our gratitude for the gracious blessings that we have been granted. Let us learn to celebrate life itself each and every day and allow our hearts to continually overflow with joy and thanksgiving to the Lord. With hearts filled with anticipation, let us believe that this will be our best Thanksgiving ever. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/23/12
AN
OPEN DOOR
Scripture: Revelation 3:8 "I have set before you an open door."
God doesn't give us everything that we want, but He gives us all that we need to complete our journey in life. He sets before us an open door and tells us that He will go before us and make a way where there seems to be no way. He will clear a path through the wilderness and also make the crooked ways straight. His Word will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path so that we don't have to walk around in darkness. He will make our feet stable like the hinds feet and set us upon the high places that He has ordained for us. He will lead us beside still waters and in paths of righteousness. He will be with us each step of the way, even on the other side of the door. All we have to do is go through the door.
Doors, however, can be very frightening and intimidating because we never know what is on the other side. When a door opens before us, it requires a new level of faith and trust on our part, for the door could lead to a room full of light or a place of total darkness. The other side of the door could offer joy unspeakable or grief and sadness. We could discover new relationships or we could find ourselves all alone. There could be prosperity or lack waiting on the other side. The door may lead to the mountaintop or to the lowest valley. Who knows what is on the other side? Small doors can open into wide places and large doors can lead to narrow passages. We will never know what awaits us until we take that step of faith and go through the open door that God has set before us.
God wants us to open our hearts to all of the possibilities of life, but He will not force us to go through any door. He opens the door and then we must choose to experience all that He has for us or to shrink back in fear and miss out on His bountiful blessings. Yet there is no reason to fear when we are under His leadership, for where God leads there will be protection and where He guides, He will provide. When God is leading us by His Holy Spirit, we can be sure that it is a promising door and that He wants us to follow Him in faith. He doesn't withhold any good thing from us but He allows us to make our own personal decision.
An open door is a simple choice, but it requires that we leave the familiar behind and go forward into the unknown. Behind the door is the future and it holds many adventures and mysteries. As we go through, we must surrender to God's assignment for us and set our expectations upon Him. He has set before us an open door and we need to trust Him enough to take advantage of that opportunity. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
5th Week of November 2012
11/26/12
MADE INTO ANOTHER VESSEL
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:4 "... He made it again into another vessel ..."
God led Jeremiah to the potter's house to encourage Jeremiah and to show him a
very important life lesson. God wanted to show him that things do not always
work out as planned and that sometimes you just have to start over. He allowed
Jeremiah to witness the great patience of the potter and his attentiveness to
every detail of the vessel that he was working with. Jeremiah saw the potter
diligently work with the clay in an effort to create a particular vessel, only
to destroy it. This did not mean that the clay itself was useless but that it
needed special attention by its maker. The potter didn't try to patch the vessel
or paint over the cracks and flaws but took time to work with the clay and made
it into another vessel that was without imperfections.
Like the vessel on the wheel of the potter, God puts us on the wheel of life.
From the very beginning of our lives, He has a plan to mold us into the vessel
that can be used for His particular purpose. Yet many times we do not stay in
the center of His wheel, but instead we venture to the left or to the right. We
make great promises to the Lord but fail to keep them. We develop unhealthy
relationships, dwell on bitter memories, and allow both to hold us in bondage.
We leave unspiritual doors open to the enemy of our lives and we visit
addictions. Eventually the temptations become so strong that we go through those
doors. This variance keeps us from becoming the vessel that God has designed us
to be. God's intentions for our lives are thwarted, yet He is not discouraged
but continues to work with us and eventually makes us into another vessel.
You may have situations in your life that cannot be altered or corrected. The
sins of your past may haunt you and you may think that there is no hope for your
destiny to be fulfilled because of your past experiences. You must remember that
God's love has no end and surpasses our understanding. He has faith in us even
though we feel that we are miserable failures. He looks at us with hope in His
heart and has a vision of a vessel that is without imperfections. God speaks
life and light into our spirits and is determined to personally work out all of
the defects in our lives. As clay in His hands, we must trust the Potter. It is
time to let go of evil condemnation and take hold of the Lord's conviction. We
must make Jesus the Lord of our life, obey His laws, live in His covenant, and
allow Him to make us over again into another vessel. Only as we find victory
over the past will we be able to have hope for the future. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/27/12
KEPT FROM EVIL
Scripture: John 17:15-16 "I pray that You should not take them out of the world,
but that You should keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world."
Jesus prayed these words to the Heavenly Father for you and me. He realized that
we would face many evils in this wicked world, "For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of
the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:16). Yet, Jesus didn't pray that we
would be rescued and taken out of the world and from all of these things, but
that God would protect us while we remained in the world. Jesus continued to ask
God to sanctify us through His truth, which meant that He wanted God to keep us
separated from the evil that was present in the world and to be set apart for
Him and His holy purposes.
There is a saying that a boat is safe when it is in the water, but the boat is
not safe when the water is in the boat, for it will sink. The same is true in
the spiritual realm. We can be in the world and be safe, but we are not safe
when the world makes its way into our hearts. When the things of the world begin
to scatter our thoughts and displace the things of God in our lives, our
spiritual boat will be in trouble. When we allow lust, pride, and disobedience
to rule we will begin to sink. We must guard our hearts and disallow this to
happen. We can't let anything and everything into our lives and hearts. We must
turn our eyes towards Jesus and be so full of His Spirit and the Word of God
that we have no appetite for the things of the world.
Have you ever found yourself in a sinking boat, trying to dip the water out?
Often times this is a fruitless effort and help has to come from someone outside
of our situation if we are to be rescued. So it is with our exposure to the evil
that is in the world. We must depend upon God to keep us from the evil just as
Jesus prayed to that effect for us. And we must pray, ourselves, for Jesus
taught us to pray these words, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil." There is a constant battle between right and wrong, good and evil, and
the spiritual and carnal. But you will be safe as long as none of the evil is
allowed to take residence within you. You will be enticed and tempted by the
world, but you must not wait until your boat is full of water and about to sink
before you take action. Instead, take authority over the situation and agree
with Jesus' prayer for you, asking God to keep you from the evil that is in the
world. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/28/12
BE NOT AFRAID
Scripture: Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good
courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you
where ever you go."
It is said that courage is the art of not allowing anyone to know that you are
scared to death. Can you imagine how Joshua felt when God chose him to take the
place of Moses? After Moses' death, Joshua was chosen to lead the people across
the Jordan into the Promised Land. He was to follow in the steps of a man whom
God had used for forty years to bring the plagues on Egypt, to part the Red Sea,
to provide daily manna from Heaven and water from the rocks, and to generally be
responsible for millions of people. Moses had been the people's link to God, and
now it was Joshua's turn. What an overwhelming assignment this must have seemed.
It is no wonder that God gave this commandment to Joshua, "Be of good courage;
be not afraid." God could not allow His chosen leader to stand before the people
in weakness, fear, discouragement, and dismay. So He told Joshua to resist the
feelings that may try to overwhelm him. He was telling Joshua, "Be strong
whether you feel like it or not!" Joyce Meyer says when God tells you to do
something, "Do it afraid!" Feelings have nothing to do with completing the
assignment. We can complete our assignments just as Joshua did because of the
promise that comes with the commission. Like Joshua's word from the Lord, when
God tells you to do something, He is with you wherever He sends you and He will
help you do what He told you to do.
The psalmist said, "Be of good courage, and God shall strengthen your heart"
(Psalms 27:14 and 31:24). When we choose to be strong in our minds and act
courageously, God is able to strengthen our spirit, or the inner man of our
hearts. As God strengthens our hearts doubt and fear will not be able to
manipulate us and discouragement will not be able to control us. We know for
sure that regardless of what comes against us, God will never leave us, fail us,
or forsake us. So we must simply trust and obey. When God gives an assignment,
He also issues the command, "Do not be afraid" and that command comes with the
promise, "For, I am with you." +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/29/12
ACCEPTANCE
Scripture: Ephesians 1:6 "He has made us accepted in the beloved."
Jesus is not only the Savior of the sinner, but He is also the Healer of the
brokenhearted, the bruised, and the cast down. He brings freedom for all who are
caught in Satan's designs and grants victory to those who are held captive in
Satan's snares. Regardless of your faults and failures, Jesus still loves you
and accepts you just as you are. Scriptures declare that He is no respecter of
persons, for He has no favorites and treats everyone the same way. Wherever you
are today in life's walk, Jesus is waiting to save you, heal your rejected
spirit, and restore your joy and purpose.
Acceptance is one of the most basic needs that people have so Jesus has included
all people in His invitation into the Kingdom. Rejection is a very lonely and
heart breaking experience but Jesus understands your feelings of rejection and
has compassion for you because He experienced rejection. Isaiah 53:3 tells us
that He was despised, rejected, and forsaken by men. The majority of men could
not see His worth, nor did they esteem or accept Him as the Messiah sent by God.
In fact, they turned their faces from Him. Yet, regardless of men's refusal to
accept Jesus, His life and purpose remained in the hands of God and He
ultimately fulfilled that purpose, which was personally designed for Him. Satan
formed a weapon against Jesus, but it did not prosper.
Jesus was the stone that was rejected and thrown aside, but through His death,
burial, and resurrection, He established the Church and became its Chief
Cornerstone. Jesus' goal is to make you a part of His building and fit you into
His kingdom (Ephesians 2:21-22). He accepts you just as you are and desires that
you be a habitation for the Spirit of the Lord. He remains the Chief Cornerstone
of this building and He holds it together by His power. You may think that you
are different from the other stones and rejection may have tried to move in and
disillusion your spirit, but don't be discouraged, your hope is in the Lord. God
knows exactly what He is doing with you and He is fitting you and all of your
experiences into His perfect plan. Each stone is important to God and you must
believe that there is no weapon that is formed against you that can prosper.
Remember that Jesus has been where you are and He understands your deep pain and
lack of self-esteem. Allow the Lord to release you from the spirit of rejection
so that He can restore your joy and purpose. Believe His word for you truly are
accepted in the beloved. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
11/30/12
CONTENTS OF YOUR
HEART
Scripture: Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."
King Solomon was a man to whom God imparted great wisdom. He wrote this proverb
declaring that we are the essence of the contents that are within our heart. It
is a matter of fact that whatever is in our hearts, whether good or bad, will
eventually come to the surface and be revealed by the words that we speak. Jesus
confirmed this in Luke 6:45 when He said, "A good man out of the good treasure
of his heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart brings forth evil, for out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaks." Not only will the thoughts of our heart be revealed with
words, but those words will create an atmosphere around us. It is a circle of
events. Our heart thinks, our mouth speaks, and then our lives become what we
have spoken. It is not a mind over matter thing. It is a principle of God's
Word, for His Word says that there is life and death in the power of the tongue
(Proverbs 18:21). So we must be careful what we think and be cautious of the
words that we speak, for that is what we will become.
James said that our tongue is like the rudder of a ship that controls and steers
the vessel. Consider your course of direction. Where are your words taking you;
towards the hazardous rocky shores or to the smooth deep waters? Are you
constantly confessing defeat because your heart has no hope of victory? Do the
past hurts and distrusts that are within your heart cause you to speak words
that bring strife and division, which hinder your relationships? Is your heart
always filled with dissatisfaction and complaints?
God became very tired of hearing the Israelites mummer and complain. He finally
told them that He would bring to pass the words that they had spoken in His ear
and He held true to His decision. Of out the abundance of their heart, their
mouth had spoken evil judgment upon themselves and eventually they died in the
wilderness. David, on the other hand, confessed victory before his battles and
declared that God was with him. Even when he faced Goliath, the giant, his heart
was overwhelmed with faith and his mouth was filled with positive words. As
David ran towards Goliath with a sling and a few stones, he declared from the
abundance of his heart, "This day God will deliver you into my hands" (I Samuel
17:46). The contents of David's heart harbored a mighty cause for right and he
became what his heart believed, a conqueror over the giant and evil.
What are the contents of your heart? If your words are negative, the contents of
your heart are defeat. If your words share no light with others, your spirit is
filled with darkness. If you can share no words of joy, your own heart is
harboring grief and sorrow. If your words gender strife and division, you have
no peace or contentment within yourself. If your tongue spews forth words of
judgment and attempts to destroy the accomplishments of others, it is because
your heart is full of envy and jealousy. Your heart is dissatisfied because its
own dreams have been shattered. Examine your ways and your words and if they are
lacking, then examine your thoughts.
God wants His presence and His purposes to be the contents of your heart. If you
are thinking anything less than victory, you need to ask God to help you change
your thinking. David prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of
my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer
(Psalms 19:14). If you are considering settling for anything less than God's
best for your life, you need to rearrange and upgrade your expectations, for God
declared that He has a good plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). If fear and doubt are
looming large within your heart, you need to cast those thoughts aside and look
to God with faith. Isaiah 26:3 says, "God will keep you in perfect peace when
your mind is fixed upon Him." Look to God for help. If you study and listen to
His words, He will exchange the contents of your heart and fill it with His
thoughts. Then as you yield to Him, He will create a right spirit within you and
you will bring glory to Him, for as you think in your heart so shall you be. +++
Copyright ©
2012 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================