[joeNM]

Key Verse:
Psalm 119:32, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." (NIV)


Devotion:
I rebelled against God. My fist shook in anger as I turned to walk away in my own selfish pride.

But God, in His merciful love, wooed me back. I'll will never forget that moment.

The jazz music of Knott's Berry Farm echoed across the hot pavement. The smell of fried chicken and sweet funnel cakes taunted my stomach. After a long play-filled day, my family and I browsed through the shops. My head peeked through a door and detected the musty smell of books. A bookstore!

I ambled in to peruse the shelves. Immediately, I realized it was a Christian bookstore. I hadn't been in one of those in years. I almost headed out, but I hesitated.

"Can I help you?" asked a sweet voice?

To my own surprise, I answered, "Uh, yes. Could you show me that Bible, please?"

She handed me a rose-colored leather Bible. I felt my heart melt inside of me. Suddenly, it seemed like I had come home after a long, tiring journey. After I purchased it, I raced for the car. The rest of my family still shopped, but I sat in a little blue Volkswagen Jetta, reconnecting to the Father. A prodigal returned to her Father's waiting arms.

I remember hearing His quiet voice in my spirit.

"Let's start over. Use my Word to learn true freedom."

Over the next couple of years, I studied the sixty-six books found in the Bible. I learned how to make wise decisions. Forgiveness flowed to those who had hurt me. I parented my two boys with more patience. My husband gained a more loving and devoted wife. I discovered true freedom in following God's direction for my life.

Those sixty-six books became "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." As I soaked my heart in the Word of God, my path in life became clearer. God's Word developed into a daily roadmap of direction, which I call my Route 66.

Now every morning I reach for my Route 66. I can't imagine a day without it.


My prayer for today:
Father God, wake me each morning with a desire for your Word. Open my eyes to see the truth of Your Word in my daily life. Help me to apply Your timeless concepts and principles to the decisions I need to make.


Application Steps:
Pray the words of Psalm 119:18 and then read all of Psalm 119. Underline all the verses that touch your heart. Memorize Psalm 119:105 and ask God to light your path with His Word each day.

[Volina]

Thanks for the powerful insipirations.

My prayer today:

God build me and open my eyes. Increase my faith Lord, that as i hang through dear life i may see ur every truth. They will maybe done in my life and i ask that u take care of my mouth. Keep us from falling Lord. Amen.
The world is still beautiful.

[TeamManager]

Excuses

I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I don't know the Bible well enough. I have no ability. I don't have any gifts. I'm limited. I'm just not worthy...

Well, did you know that....
Moses stuttered.
David's armor didn't fit.
John Mark deserted Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Solomon was too rich.
Jesus was too poor.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a persecutor of the church.
Moses was a murderer.
Jonah ran from God's will.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

God doesn't require a job interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He knows who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves.

SATAN SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY."
JESUS SAYS, "SO WHAT? I AM."
SATAN LOOKS BACK AND SEES OUR MISTAKES.
GOD LOOKS BACK AND SEES THE CROSS.

There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

No Excuses
David Langerfeld
Mar 17, 2005

[Volina]

>Excuses
>
>I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I don't know
>the Bible well enough. I have no ability. I don't have any
>gifts. I'm limited. I'm just not worthy...
>
>Well, did you know that....
>Moses stuttered.
>David's armor didn't fit.
>John Mark deserted Paul.
>Timothy had ulcers.
>Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
>Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
>Jacob was a liar.
>David had an affair.
>Solomon was too rich.
>Jesus was too poor.
>Abraham was too old.
>David was too young.
>Peter was afraid of death.
>Lazarus was dead.
>John was self-righteous.
>Naomi was a widow.
>Paul was a persecutor of the church.
>Moses was a murderer.
>Jonah ran from God's will.
>Miriam was a gossip.
>Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
>Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
>Elijah was burned out.
>John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
>Martha was a worry-wart.
>Noah got drunk.
>Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
>So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.
>
>God doesn't require a job interview for salvation. He's our
>Heavenly Father. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.
>He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy,
>or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He
>knows who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of
>ourselves.
>
>SATAN SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY."
>JESUS SAYS, "SO WHAT? I AM."
>SATAN LOOKS BACK AND SEES OUR MISTAKES.
>GOD LOOKS BACK AND SEES THE CROSS.
>
>There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we
>are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in
>spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or
>the fact that we are not perfect!
>
>No Excuses
>David Langerfeld
>Mar 17, 2005
>

Amen.

The world is still beautiful.

[TeamManager]

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer:

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)