Here in America, we don’t often hear stories about demon possession or oppression unless we’re watching a Hollywood production. We have relegated demons to the silver screen. Actually, we somewhat enjoy being spooked for an hour and a half as the actors think it’s a good idea to spend the night in a deserted house in the middle of a forest on a moonless night. We allow the shadowy images to invade our psyches and are relieved when at least one hero or heroine emerges unscathed in the end. We exit the theaters leaving both our popcorn boxes and our fear of demons behind.

The demons might not care so much about the popcorn box, but they are certainly glad we left our attention to them behind. The principalities and powers of darkness want nothing more than for us to think they are no danger, and better yet, that they don’t really exist. They know that we neither fear nor respect that which we deem nonexistent; we are not on our guard against it either.

Jesus did not wonder about the existence of the demonic and neither did the people of his day. When demon-possessed people were brought to Him, Jesus didn’t say, “Oh my friend, you are misguided in your diagnosis. This man is merely troubled.” No, Jesus cast the demons out. In order to cast demons out, He had to recognize they were real.

Christians cannot be possessed by demons because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within us. However, demons do their best to oppress believers. They will counterfeit within us some of the same troubles they bring upon the possessed. I believe two of their main weapons are blinders and muzzles.

Matthew 12:22 reads, “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.” (NKJ). Just as this man was blind and mute because of demon-possession, some of us Christians don’t see what we should see or say what we should say because we’re allowing the forces from hell to cover our eyes and shut our mouths. We refuse to recognize sin as sin and speak out about it.

It is our job to bring light, to be light, and to sound forth as the voice of deliverance in our world. Stop letting demons oppress you. Remove the blinders and muzzles. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14 (NKJ).

Receive your sight. Receive your voice.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch Sharon in two shows on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network: 
  • Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, and
  • A View from the Upper Room

from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. 

(Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

• Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Sharon’s other books still available:

Leviticus chapter 14 is dedicated to explaining “the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing” (verse 2). For 57 verses, God describes to Moses what the priests are to do when leprosy is healed. The cleansing needed several birds, water, cedar wood, scarlet, hyssop, lambs, fine flour, and a log of oil. It also involved the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, the big toe of the right foot, killing, releasing, waving stuff, sprinkling stuff, shaving, and anointing – quite an involved process.

The amazing thing about this explanation is not all that the person and priest had to go through to pronounce the cleansing. The amazing thing about this explanation is the fact of its existence. God doesn’t lay this all out if someone was ever healed of leprosy; He lays it out for when someone was healed of leprosy.

Leprosy was the most dreaded disease of Bible times. Once it caught hold of a person, it spread. It was also extremely contagious, so lepers were forced to live away from the general population, quarantined to what became leper colonies. When they needed anything, they begged for money from a distance and were required to warn everyone of their condition by calling out, “Unclean, unclean.” The life of a leper was miserable indeed, but as we see in this passage, leprosy was not necessarily a death sentence in the eyes of God. The fact that He made provision for a cleansing to follow a healing meant that healing was possible.

Many people consider AIDS to be today’s leprosy; however, I’d like to suggest that our sin-sickness is just as horrendous. Once sin-sickness catches hold, it spreads from thoughts, to convictions, to actions. It is also extremely contagious, but nowadays, it’s not required that the infected person warn us of his state. To the contrary, the sin-sick individual operates like our arch-enemy “seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJ). And 1 Corinthians 15:33 is true: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (NIV).

Nevertheless, like with leprosy, God has made provision for the cleansing of our sin-sick souls. Thankfully, we don’t have to go through all that the Old Testament folks had to go through for their cleansing. Hebrews 10:8-12 tells us:

• First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the samesacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. (NIV)

Jesus Christ has paid the price for our devastating sin-sickness. He no longer requires birds and lambs and flour and oil. He sacrificed His life for our cleansing from a sickness that would doom us for eternity. The least we can do is sacrifice our lives for His glory.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch Sharon in two shows on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network: 
  • Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, and
  • A View from the Upper Room

from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. 

(Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

• Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Using my computer and a program called Skype®, I can call my sons (and anyone else who has Skype) and see them as I talk with them. With just a few clicks, I visited with Mark who is thousands of miles away at college, saw his room, and “met” his roommates. Then I visited with Matthew while he ate his bowtie pasta meal. All of us had the same thing in mind: let’s call each other and talk. Skype erased the miles and allowed us to just be together for a few moments and it felt good. Since we all had the same program, we could be together.

Prayer is like Skype. Prayer is the program that erases the miles between Heaven and earth and ushers us into the presence of God. Through prayer, we meet Him face-to-face and have conversation. We talk and He listens; He talks and we listen. We respond back and forth. When we have the program—connection to God through Jesus Christ—we can approach God.

However, I wouldn’t want to use Skype and have my boys see me if I looked bad. Each time I visit with them using this program, I want to be presentable. As with Skype, so with prayer. I’m not saying we only pray when we’re in great shape and nothing’s wrong; I’m saying we ought to approach God regarding Him with respect. Aaron’s sons didn’t do this and were severely punished. Leviticus 10:1-2 says, “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (NKJ).

God explained His actions. “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified” Leviticus 1:3. We are not to just treat God any kind of way. We are welcome to approach Him, but we must remember to do so with the proper respect for who He is. God lays forth two requirements here for approaching Him. He says, “I must be regarded as holy,” and “I must be glorified.”

Matthew Henry’s commentary explains this much better than I can.

What was it that God spoke? “I will be sanctified in those that come nigh me, whoever they are, and before all the people I will  be  glorified” (KJV).

• Note, First, Whenever we worship God, we come nigh unto him, as spiritual priests. This consideration ought to make us very reverent and serious in all acts of devotion, that in them we approach to God, and present ourselves before him.
• Secondly, It concerns us all, when we come nigh to God, to sanctify him, that is, to give him the praise of his holiness, to perform every religious exercise as those who believe that the God with whom we have to do is a holy God, a God of spotless purity and transcendent perfection, <Isa. 8:13>.
• Thirdly, when we sanctify God we glorify him, for his holiness is his glory; and, when we sanctify him in our solemn assemblies, we glorify him before all the people, confessing our own belief of his glory and desiring that others also may be affected with it.
• Fourthly, if God be not sanctified and glorified by us, he will be sanctified and glorified upon us. He will take vengeance on those that profane his sacred name by trifling with him. If his rent be not paid, it shall be distrained for.

Bottom line: As the gospel song says, “Call Him up and tell Him what you want.” Approach God often, but approach God right.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch Sharon in two shows on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network: 
  • Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, and
  • A View from the Upper Room

from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. 

(Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

• Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Sharon’s other books still available:

The Holy Spirit is mentioned three times in the first chapter of Mark’s gospel. First, John the Baptist tells the people, “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Mark 1:8 (NKJ). Second, when John baptized Jesus we’re told, “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove” Mark 1:10. Finally, verse 12 says, “And immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness” where Jesus was tempted for 40 days by the devil and ministered to by the angels.

This infusion of the Holy Spirit’s participation made the difference in Jesus’ ministry. “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins… but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” Mark 1:4 and 8. After his baptism, Jesus began “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” Mark 1:14-15. The reaction to John’s teaching was that people got baptized. The reaction to Jesus’ teaching was markedly different. Mark 1:22 tells us, “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Jesus’ ministry points us to the fact that living a life pleasing to God requires reliance upon the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 tells us that “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” When Jesus was about to leave for Heaven after His resurrection, He told His disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” Acts 1:4-5. The disciples obeyed and in Acts 2:4, Jesus’ words were fulfilled to them: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The Promise of the Father was the presence of the Holy Spirit.

So what’s the point? Simply this: the Holy Spirit’s presence, participation, and power make a difference and that difference in available to us as believers. Today, acknowledge His presence, yield to His participation, and be amazed by His power in your life.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch Sharon in two shows on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network: 
  • Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, and
  • A View from the Upper Room

from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. 

(Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

• Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Sharon’s other books still available:

While reading through Leviticus, all the talk of the sacrifices can get a little tedious and confusing. Bring a bull, bring a lamb, bring a ram, or sacrifice a turtledove. I began to sympathize with the priests who had to keep all the rules straight and deal with all that killing and blood every day. Somebody was sinning all the time so there would be a steady stream of forgiveness-seekers traipsing in and out of the temple. What a job.

Then I got to Leviticus 6:13 which says, “A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out” (NKJ). This one little verse caused me to shift my focus from the priests to the Pardoner. Sure, it cost the sinner the price of his offering, and it cost the priest the time and energy of the ritual, but it cost those animals their very lives, and it ultimately cost God His Son in order to forgive our sins. The “trouble” on our part to come and ask for forgiveness is well overshadowed by God’s amazing love to always be there to give it. The fire on the altar was always burning, indicating God’s open arms of invitation for us to ask for the forgiveness we so desperately need.

The Psalmist says, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’– and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah” Psalm 32:5 (NIV). The Hebrew word for ‘confess’ in this verse is ‘yadah’, here used to mean “to bemoan by wringing the hands, to cast out.” In the New Testament, the Apostle John tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9 (NKJ). The Greek word for confess used here is ‘homologeo’ meaning “to assent or acknowledge.”

Unlike Old Testament times, we no longer have to bring bulls, goats, rams, and turtledoves, but we are still required to confess—to acknowledge by being truly sorry and by being intent on turning away from—our sins. When we do so, we will find our loving Father is still “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Approach the throne today with true confession.

Thank God, the fire is still burning.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch Sharon in two shows on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network: 
  • Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, and
  • A View from the Upper Room

from any internet-connected device at www.HSBN.tv. 

(Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814

• Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Sharon’s other books still available:

All of our friends know that the Fourth of July is a special gathering at our house. My husband and I invite folks over to celebrate the holiday with us. James starts the night before preparing his famous fall-off-the-bone tender bar-be-que and I whip up my special potato salad, cole slaw, and fresh lemonade. By the time friends and family start arriving, we’ve tidied the yard, pulled out the games, and readied all the rest of the “fixins.” James and I are ready to enjoy our company.

Now just imagine how we would feel if our guests gave us only an obligatory hello, wave, or nod and then dug into the food, pretty much ignoring us for the rest of the time they spent at our house. Not only that, suppose when they did acknowledge us, it was only to ask for something else they wanted. Let’s say they took the run of the house, grabbing what they needed, using what they could, having a grand time with the other guests, and then upon time to go, announcing they’d be back next week for more of the same.

My husband and I would feel a bit used. Why? Because implied in the invitation to visit our house was an invitation to fellowship with us. Although we prepared a meal for our guests, it would have been nice if our guests had actually come with the mindset not only to eat, but to be with us, to enjoy our company, not just our comforts.

Exodus 33:9 and 11 say, “And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses… So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (NKJ). Moses got visiting right. He went to God’s house to be with God rather than to see what he could get from Him.

With what visiting mindset do we approach our worship services? I’m afraid many of us go to church only for what we can get. We say phrases like, “I really got a lot out of the service today,” or “I can’t wait to get to church for what I need; it’s been a hard week.” While this is well and good and we should get something out of our visits to church, this is not supposed to be our main goal. What we receive is incidental; why we’re there is what’s critical. We are at God’s house to be with God, to enjoy His company, not just His comforts.

Let’s begin to take this mindset and “heart-set” with us to church. Say to yourself, “I am going to church to be with God.” Watch how our worship times will be enriched.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network to see Sharon’s internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

One of my favorite old hymns is “Count Your Blessings.” The song was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. and was published way back in 1897. The first two verses and the chorus say:

Verse One: When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Verse Two: Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Chorus: Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

This hymn prompts us to encourage ourselves by looking back to remember God’s blessings. “Buck up!” it’s saying, “God’s been there for you and you have much for which to be thankful!”

Today’s verse extends the encouragement into the present and the future. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (NKJ). Not only has God blessed in the past, He blesses today (the path of life is fullness of joy in God’s presence), will continue to bless tomorrow (You will show me the path), and will bless forevermore.

An investment company’s television commercial pictures a green line on the sidewalk indicating the plan the man has made for his future. When he leaves his broker’s office and detours a bit to look at a luxury car he doesn’t need, his advisor calls from the office and says, “Stay on the path.”

That’s God’s admonition for us today: stay on the path. He instructs us so that we know for sure the path of life. It is the well-trodden road laid before us in the example of Jesus Christ and of the saints that have preceded us. That path is fullness of joy, satisfaction characterized by a merry heart that puts running and skipping in our steps. On that path we find ourselves in His presence where there are pleasures – things delightful, pleasant, and sweet – offered to us by His powerful right hand forevermore.

No wonder we have joy!

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
•       
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

It’s Valentine’s Day. Many couples are enjoying the special day of exchanging expressions of love through boxes of chocolates, gifts of jewelry, fancy meals at nice restaurants, expressive cards, and beautiful bouquets of flowers. My preferred flowers are roses—any color, but I have to admit that the American Beauty red rose is my all-time favorite.

To be sure I have roses all the time, my husband planted some for me in our front yard. I took over pruning them and harvesting them, bringing them in, and placing them in vases throughout the house. My red, pink, and orange/yellow roses add a splash of color to our home, and where we live in Southern California, I get to enjoy them pretty much all year long.

When I look at my roses, other than being reminded of how much my husband loves me, I’ve learned other things from them. Once, after being out of town for a week, my roses grew without my attention. When my husband pulled into the driveway after picking me up from the airport, the first things I noticed were my rose bushes, all three in full bloom. I hadn’t gathered those blooms and although they were beautiful, they were dying. I would never enjoy their beauty or their fragrance inside the house. Some of the petals had even begun falling off of the flowers and were scattered hither and yon.

Those rose bushes exist for me to enjoy. If I don’t take advantage of them as they bloom, I’ll miss out on all the enjoyment they can bring me. Their fragrance and their beauty will go to waste. More will come along, but I will have missed out on those.

John 12:3 says, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” (KJV) Mary poured out an ointment to bless her Savior, and the aroma of her praise filled the room. God blesses us daily and the aroma of that which He pours on us fills our world. Sometimes we can be so busy, we miss all that God has placed around us.

This Valentine’s Day, you may or may not have a special human Valentine, but you have a Loved One who is always giving you gifts. His name is Jesus Christ. He’s created a whole world full of vibrant colors and amazing fragrances. Note the blue of the sky, the green of the grass, the changing colors of the tree leaves, the vibrant hues of all types of vegetation, the glistening sheen bouncing off of icicles. Breathe in the scent of a freshly-mowed lawn, the aroma of coffee or orange juice, the pheromones of your loved ones, and of course, the fragrance of flowers, especially roses.

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)

• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!

• • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Many people think being called to God’s service only includes being called to teach or preach. Not so. God’s call to service can be about the use any of our gifts. Take for example the craftsmen called upon to use their gifts in the area of art and design for the construction of the tabernacle. God is speaking in Exodus 31:3-6 and He tells Moses, “And I have filled him (Bezalel) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab… and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you” (NKJ).

Are you an artist, an architect, a filmmaker, dancer, seamstress, tailor, or chef? Do you create poetry, play a musical instrument, interpret for the deaf, sing, or compose music? Notice in the verses above that the gifts were already resident in the people God called; He added His Spirit, His wisdom, His understanding, and His knowledge to their gifts and that’s when the gifts became consecrated to Him.

In God’s great love and grace, He gifts us. How about offering those gifts right back to Him by sacrificially allowing Him to tell us how He would have us use them? What an amazing thing it will be to watch as God’s Spirit ignites our gifts through us.

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©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

At graduations, there’s always that kid who has all the asterisks behind her name in the program indicating how many honors she has received. She makes her way to the podium about ten times to pick up certificates for participation, leadership, and high achievement, not to mention the scholarship awards (some actual checks) she’s earned. By mid-program, each time a new accolade is announced, the audience mouths her name along with the presenter.

Green is not our color.

Unless that’s our child, we’re at least a little bit jealous. Yet, even as we sit stewing in the our-kid-could-have-done-that juices, we realize that Certificate-Girl did a lot of hard work to make it to this point. Honors and awards follow diligence.

As in the earth realm, so too in God’s economy. Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a man traveling in a far country who leaves his fortune in the hands of his servants to care for while he’s gone. Two of the servants take their master’s money (called talents in the New King James version of the Bible), put it to work, and double it by the time he returns. One servant hides his allotment, and upon his master’s return, hands him exactly what he was originally given. The master reprimands that guy, calling him lazy and wicked, snatches his talent away, and gives it to the first guy. The master tells the first two, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” Matthew 25:21 and 23 (NKJ).

God expects us to do something with the talents He’s given to us. Are we making the absolute most of all with which He has entrusted us? What will we have to give as an offering to Jesus when He returns? We want to hear Him say, “Well done,” but are we well-doing anything?

Be about the business of well-doing if you want to hear the Master say, “Well done.”

___________________________

©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Links you won’t want to miss: 

• Watch The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network’s new internet TV show Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott from any internet-connected device at HSBN.tv. (Stream current show or view past episodes anytime!)
• Pick up a copies of Sharon’s books for yourself and as gifts for your family members and friends!
  • Why I Get Into Trouble link to our eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5131814
  • Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

Boomerangs Videolink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

• Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)