C S Lewis has indicated "the most fundamental thing is not how we think of God but rather what God thinks of us." 

In Zephaniah 3:17 God expresses His feelings for us.  "The LORD your God is with you,"  When our God lives in our heart, He is with us all the time, we just forget how available He is, unless we are talking to Him.

"the Mighty Warrior who saves."  He is fighting for our cause, and defending us. 

"He will take great delight in you;"  imagine Him taking great delight in you and me.  He always has our best in mind.

"in His love He will no longer rebuke us."   In God's great love, He had a plan whereby He could no longer find fault in us.  Jesus has already paid the price, by dying for all wrong doing.  His blood covers the doorpost of our heart and the inside of our heart was cleansed and He would no longer rebuke us,  "but will rejoice over you (and me) with singing."    Just stop and listen He is singing His love song to you and me.   Can you hear it?  He is thinking about us…and He is crazy about His kids.   

Ruth Orlando

He is my strength and support!

Today I started the day with a devotion and this was the verse:  Isaiah 41:10  "I will make you strong and will help you.  I will support you with my right hand that saves you"

As I started out today I was feeling overwhelmed by what was ahead of me.  A house to clean, a sick kid at home, babysitting, getting my car ready for a field trip tomorrow, homework battles in the afternoon, all with a hurting neck from sleeping wrong.  I felt defeated by 8:00 AM and then I read this verse.  It reminded me that I am not doing this day with my own strength I am doing it with God's strength. 

I need to remember where my focus should be.  I need to keep it on the one who makes me strong and supports me every day.  With Him even today can be a success!

Validate

In Exodus 15 the 26th verse affirms that "If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in His eyes;  If you pay attention to His Commands and keep His decrees, He will not bring on you any of the diseases that He brought on the Egyptians."  Wow that's a promise!  They were to listen carefully, to pay attention and to keep to His advice by following His direction accurately and that would keep them healthy.  How can we listen carefully to our God's instructions, so that we too can live healthy lives? 

Listening closely is another part of raising our sons and daughters to influence them toward righteousness;  we must know what they are thinking--in other words, what is important to know.  Just as it is important for them to pay attention to what we are saying.  We  too,  as God's children must develop an attitude of careful listening, if we are to hear God speaking to us.  Then in the stillness of our souls, we will recognize His voice.   

Father God we pray help us to hear your clear direction and teach us to follow what you are saying, because we have listened carefully to what you said; and help us to pay close attention so as, not to miss a single word.

Ruth Orlando

"Do not be conformed by the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing, and perfect will. " Romans 12:2 

When God transforms us He starts changing our worldly thought patterns,  He replaces them with His thoughts and His ideas instead of the worlds patterns.  We must be receptive by the renewing of our minds.  We are so forgetful that frequently we must renew our thinking.  So that we are on the same page as God, communicating with Him continually to renew our thinking..

So, how do we renew our minds?  Reading God's Word.  By knowing what God's thoughts are.  Then by responding in a manner as Christ would have.  How do we know what that is but to read and apply what His Word says.  

The worldly patterns of doing the accepted thing, is not the best course in God's kingdom.  Remember God's ways are up-side-down.  What is down is up, and what is up is down.  Opposite the worldly patterns.

Ruth Orlando

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God's from the Start Inbox x LifeWay Devotional Every-Day@email.lifeway.com 1:00 AM (0 minutes ago) to me March 27, 2012 God's from the Start Read Ahead: 1 Samuel 1:1-18 I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life. 1 Samuel 1:11, HCSB Samuel grew up knowing he was born for a unique purpose. His birth itself had been an answer to his mother's impassioned prayers. She prayed that if God would give her a child, she would dedicate him to God. It wasn't as though Samuel had no choice in how he lived, but he wisely chose to follow the path that God set out for him. He never had to worry about an identity crisis. He lived his entire life secure in the knowledge that God had created him for a purpose. You, too, can be sure that your life has great meaning. God created you intentionally--not accidentally--and he has a purpose for you. You're probably unaware, in fact, of just how many prayers God has heard with your name attached to them. Long before you were born, godly ancestors may have been praying that their children and grandchildren would trust and follow God. Even if your parents aren't Christians, you may have no idea how many times others have prayed specifically for you. So don't ever think your life is insignificant. God has had his hand on you from the very beginning. You matter a great deal to him, and he still has much that he wants to do through your life. Take time today to celebrate your uniqueness. Thank him for the faithful people who have prayed for you over the years, and praise him for answering those prayers. What kinds of big prayers do you regularly pray for yourself and for others you love? Read Up: Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:4-9 This devotional is courtesy of TQ.

FCC Hope :: A Women's Ministry: FCC Hope :: A Women's Ministry: Welcome to FCC Hop...

In I Corinthians 10 I read that all the people from Israel's history were under the cloud of God's protection; all passed through the sea; all were baptized into the law;  all ate the same spiritual food and all drink the same spiritual drink…nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them…"  Why?

What pleases God?  It's not just knowing what God can do, It's not just acting a certain way; it's not just going to a certain church group.  But it is the response of the trusting heart.

When the Bible refers to the heart it is talking about our whole being.  Not just our emotions but our mind, our soul, our will, and even our thoughts.  So when God asks for your heart He is asking for every aspect of your life, your attitudes, your actions your food consumption; your expenditures and yes even your feelings.  Wanting all our heart is His desire…He wants us to give Him complete control over every part of our lives.  He wants it all…won't you give Him what He wants today?

Ruth Orlando

FCC Hope :: A Women's Ministry: Welcome to FCC Hope, a place for woman of faith to...

My worst fears paralyzed me…effectively halting my progress. When fear overwhelms me, like this morning, I have learned a secret that allows me to set aside those thoughts and redirects me back to the real Source of my strength, Jesus.

I lift my voice in praise to my Father God for what He has already taught me. I have learned it is a safeguard to my peace of mind if I reframe my doubts and fears with Jesus' framework. Things do not look so scary, fears have lost their hold on me, and there is great power in being transformed by our great God. It is the Peace of God that guards my heart and my mind as I employ His ways.

It is He who builds in me hope to continue doing what He wants me to do.

May we be filled with gratitude for the work of our God.

Ruth Orlando