Readjustment - A Papa Roy Devotional

Below is another devotional from Papa Roy.  Seems like I read the passage that he quoted from Mark earlier today.  Enjoy.

A Touch of Encouragement

Today, Just like Jesus, we are on a mission. Sometimes it can seem as though we are alone in that mission, but even so, we are called to be ready. Spend some time alone in prayer today.

 

 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35 NKJV)

 

 

Experts say that noise pollution is getting worse. In some major U.S. cities, noise levels have raised six fold in the past fifteen years. American ears are bombarded by noise from airplanes, traffic, lawn mowers, TVs, radios and cell phones. Maybe it’s because we’re surrounded by so much noise that we find it difficult to appreciate solitude. But getting away alone with God is essential for our spiritual health. Today’s passage shows that Jesus Himself had to withdraw from the hustle and bustle to sit quietly before His Father. (Anonymous)

 

 Papa Roy says; with our busy schedules and our hectic pace of life, we too need readjustment. Demands of work, family, and church can require reevaluation. One way we do that is by observing the Sabbath principle—making sure to set aside time to rest and prayerfully refocus our priorities. When can you pull aside from your activities and prayerfully ask God to reset your spiritual calendar to His Word and His will? Is it time for a readjustment?

 

 In God we trust, so, do you take time to read God’s Word and pray? Try it in the morning. It can transform your day.

 

 Read through the Bible this year: Exodus 7-8, Psalm 29, Proverbs 29, Mark 1

January 01/29/12 click on this Song http://youtu.be/FrCDh3wizQk

RENEW MY LIFE, LORD JESUS http://youtu.be/t7eAgcfLnwM

Papa Roy Devotional: Bow the Knee, Watch and Pray

Here is another devotional from Papa Roy.  Papa Roy is a mentor for a good friend of mine, Dan Shock.  He compiles these devotionals on a daily basis and sends them out to his mailing list.  Read and enjoy.

A Touch of Encouragement

Ask the Lord today, as you pray, to help you recognize Satan and his ways so you will not be caught as his prey. God will help you identify him if you will only ask Him.

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh  is weak.”(Matthew 26:41 NKJV)

Peter yielded to temptation because he did not first take the time to put on the armor of God. Peter would have been in a much better position to overcome the temptation if he had first prepared his heart. We spend too much time watching television and not enough time reading the Bible. We spend a lot of time talking on the phone with our friends and not enough time praying to our Creator.

It takes patience to spend the time in prayer. Satan will try to remind you about all the important things that you should be doing. However, if you want to see the victories, you must put aside the things of this world and put on the things of God. Remember that God does not work on your timetable so be ready to wait patiently and not give up until HE gives you the victory. (Anonymous)

 Papa Roy says, true Christians do not have the luxury of complacency. He who said, "Watch and pray" meant both commands because both are emphatically necessary. Watching implies taking notice, carefully assessing, discerning details and trends.

Praying implies reflection, meditation; considering God’s ways, seeking his will, placing the clues we discern by watching into the framework we have seen in God’s word—and arranging as best we can the minutiae of our own lives in harmony with the grand features of God’s design. (R. Kindig)

In God we trust, so, bow the knee watch and pray, and put the weak flesh out and let the willing Spirit in. And watch and see what happens.

Read through the Bible this year: Exodus 1-2, Psalm 26, Proverbs 26, Matthew 26

January 01/26/12 click on this Song http://youtu.be/O1SOivxtaoc

Wonderful merciful savior http://youtu.be/oiVvHxgHL5Q

Check Out Pastor Tommy Kyllonen and Crossover Church

Greetings from Len Harper at South Brandon Worship Center

Greetings Family and Friends of SBWC,
        I woke up this morning with great anticipation and excitement for the New Year 2012! The Holy Spirit is doing a "New thing among us. He is making paths in the wilderness and streams in the desert places!"  Expect a great harvest in your life in 2012 and in our church! As you celebrate the New Year tonight, dedicate your life, your family, and your church to the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to "overshadow you" as He did with Mary, and birth great things through you and through our church in 2012!
      
Start the "New Year" off right by worshiping in the Lord's House on Sunday morning. We will begin a new message series: "Inspire 2012!"
    
Also, plan to join us on Monday @ 7 pm for our "Inspire 2012" prayer service, as we pray God's blessing for 2012.  Jesus said:"You do not have, because you do not ask . . . ask and it shall be given to you!"

What is "Inspire 2012!" ? We believe the Holy Spirit wants to "Inspire" us as a church family in "2012" to: 

1. "Read the entire Bible in 2012!"  Through daily Bible readings. The Holy Spirit "inspired" men to write it and is now "Inspiring" us to read it!

2. "Share and Prayer!"  Share family devotions after dinner (read 1 or 2 verses & talk about what it means); and then pray for another family (invite them to SBWC).

3. "Worship! Grow! Serve!"  Eliminate excuses for missing Sunday worship (be faithful!); grow closer to God (join a Family Group!); serve others on mission (volunteer!).

As we commit to these 3 challenges, "Inspire 2012!" is going to be a great year for your family and for our church.  Thank you for the joy of being your pastor. I look forward to sharing this New Year . . . "Inspire 2012!" with you!

Pastor Len Harper

South Brandon Worship Center
www.southbrandon.org

A Papa Roy Devotional for the New Year

The following came from a friend.  It was written by his spiritual mentor, whom he refers to as Papa Roy.

A Touch of Encouragement

Today, when it comes to setting up circumstances, no mere game can top God.Look among the nations and watch—be utterly astounded!  For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkak  1:5)

 God’s reminder is to watch what he is doing. He is at work even through the seeming injustice. He is not wasting your time even in the pain. Observe the things going on around you. You will be “utterly amazed.” God is doing some unbelievable things. But you’ll have to look up and look out to see them. (R. Moore)

“Be Amazed!”  Have you ever stopped to think about the smallest things in life? Just think… the trees that we see, the air that we breathe, and the ground that we walk on our something we take for granted. Think about what life would have been like without any of these things that I have just mentioned. Look at the world and be amazed. God put all these things for us. Yes, we (humans) may have built the roads for us to drive on, but who gave us the land? God provides us with a strong foundation for us to live the way live today. It's too bad that we seem to forget that regularly. (M. Lee)

December 12/31/11 click on this Song [Mercy Me-I Can Only Imagine] http://youtu.be/0xwzItqYmII

         

“In God we trust”, so, “Just watch!” God seems to be saying.  Watch these things work out! Recommended Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-11, Isaiah 45:1-13,

Papa Roy says the purest mark of spiritual maturity is the confident acceptance and assurance that God is in control in all circumstances of one’s life and everyone else’s life as well. We need not understand the whys and wherefores or even the when’s. We need but trust the one who is in control. It’s a waste of time to try to strive for control over what’s in God’s hands. Isaiah makes that clear for us in 45:9. He says, “Woe to him who strives with his maker! Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, what are you doing?”

God of Wonders http://youtu.be/t7F-B2DLvAQ

Rizen You've Done So Much/ We Worship You

One of my friends from junior high school posted this on his Facebook wall. I thought it was worth posting here!!

God Alone is a Refuge from Treachery and Oppression

Today I was taking a look at Psalm 62.   At the beginning, there is a note that this is a Psalm of David.  As you read the Psalms, you will see that David, shepherd, musician, warrior, king, went through many struggles.  Despite these struggles, he states that he will put his trust in the Lord.

In verse one, David writes “My soul waits in silence for God only.” Ps.62:1.  This demonstrates that as we struggle, we still must wait on Him.  In waiting on Him, sometimes we must turn off the noise and the distraction so that we can hear where he is leading us.  Remember in Hebrews, He invites us to boldly (or with confidence) come before his throne of grace where we can receive mercy.  Heb. 4:16.  Also, in Hebrews, He promises that he rewards those who diligently seek Him. Heb. 11:6.

In the second part of the same verse, David reminds us that our salvation is from God. When it comes to our souls…eternity…our salvation definitely comes from Him. Ps. 62:1. We repent from following the ways of this world, we turn to Him, who told us to put our trust in His Son.  See, e.g. Matt. 17:5.  Not only do we look to Him for the salvation of our souls, but we look to Him to rescue us in every aspect of our lives.  David faced difficulty when his king, Saul, was trying to kill Him.  David was later challenged when his own son Absalom, stole his throne.  Still, he placed His trust in God.  Not only will God rescue our souls, He will also rescue us in all of our struggles… if we relinquish our pride and trust Him.

Then, in the second verse, David reminds us of God’s nature. See Ps. 62:2.  He is our rock!  He is our salvation! He is our stronghold!  If we stand on our trust in Him we will not be shaken!  If we drop to verse 5, we see the same description, as David reminds us that our hope comes from the Lord.

If any of us is struggling, going through a difficult time, we can certainly look to Psalm 62 for encouragement, and see how despite his oppression, David was willing to put his trust in the Lord.