by Dona Hake

God is great and all His works are to be greatly praised.  From the time that He created the Heavens and Earth to this very day, He continues to show Himself mighty and His wonders never cease.  When I think of how great our God is,  I realize that our understanding is limited because He is God and everything about Him is beyond the bounds of human comprehension!!  I just want to share a few scriptures with you to think upon relative to this word ~boundless~.

Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord and of great power;

His

understanding is inexhaustible and boundless.”

~~~~~

Ephesians 6:10
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord

[be empowered through your union with Him];

draw your strength from Him [that strength

which His boundless might provides].“

~~~~~

1 Peter 1:3
“Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)!

By His boundless mercy we have been born

again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

Today I encourage to allow Him to show you His boundless mercy, His boundless might and His boundless understanding which is inexhaustible!  How great is our God!

~~~~~♥~~~~~

by Dona Hake

In this life there will be things that will tempt us to worry.  We could be worrying about things that we do not WANT to happen.  There are also those things that you WANT so badly to happen and you fear they will not come to pass.  The word I want to focus on is WANT.  Now, let us reflect on a very popular scripture that many love and turn to in time of troubles.

Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not WANT.”

As we walk beside our Shepherd, sit at His feet or follow behind Him in uncertain paths, we must remind ourselves that we shall want for no good thing if our eyes are on Him.

Philippians 4:6-7  (MSG)

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

I love this translation.  “Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.”  Today I encourage you to keep your mind care free as you offer Him your praises and prayers.  He promises to take care of us no matter what and it is vital that diligently offer up all of our care and worry to Him.

~~~~~~♥~~~~~~

by Dona Hake

Proverbs 4:25 (VOICE) 
“Keep your head up, your eyes straight ahead,
and your focus fixed on what is in front of you.”

Many times when people talk about focus especially in the realm of the spiritual we tend to think of moving toward spiritual goals.    As I was pondering this I began to reflect on the importance of doing what you need to do to go forward when everything around you is a blur.  There are those times where you can be walking through such turmoil that you do not know which way to turn or what to do next.   I have had times in my life where focus seemed impossible and I had to just be still before Him to hear His voice that I may see clearly again.

I began to think about the art of photography and the use of different lenses when I shoot.  Recently during a session I was encountering different lighting problems and situations and I kept asking my client to be patient as I was taking on and off my camera body three of my favorite lenses.  In order for me to get desired results I had to be totally accurate with what lens I was using to get the highest quality shot.   It was not until I felt that everything was perfect that I was satisfied.   So it is in this life that there will be times in which we need to be willing to do what it takes to achieve our desired results.  We need to know that we are seeing as clearly as possible so we can go forward with clarity of vision.

I have observed at times where people in the midst of  “blurred vision” would up and run away to keep themselves distracted from the problem they are in.      When one does this they will soon find themselves tossed to and fro by any negative encounters in  life.  Retreating from a problem will never solve it, we must learn to stand still and see the salvation of our Lord. We need to be a people that keep our feet planted and our eyes fixed and be willing to do whatever it takes to get the victory.  God desires that we be not moved no matter what is going on around us.

Psalm 112:7 (VOICE)
” They will not be afraid when the news is bad
because they have resolved to trust in the Eternal.”

~~~~~   ♥    ~~~~~~

by Dona Hake

The Lord desires that we diligently care for our hearts, minds and tongues.   It is up to us what we deposit into our hearts and minds.  If you are a person that takes it seriously to guard your heart than you well understand the battle that it can be.  Daily we are bombarded with things that serve to pull us away.  Thoughts can seemingly come out of nowhere and if your heart is not rock solid with His Word,  you will not know how to properly discern right from wrong.

An area that I know we can all get ourselves in trouble is thinking incorrectly about ourselves.  For instance, if we make mistakes we can be tempted to not forgive ourselves and we keep thinking about our mistake.  As we meditate upon negative thoughts about ourselves that negative will grow bigger and bigger in our mind.  The strength of any negative will be an arrow that the devil will use against us.   One of his main tools will be our own tongues. You may begin to speak things about yourself and you put yourself down.  Eventually the more you hear those words from your own mouth, you will begin to believe them.

Proverbs 4:24(ERV)
“Don’t bend the truth or say things

that you know are not right. 

We well know it is wrong to lie but let it be established that we not lie about ourselves.  As we stay full of His Word and remind ourselves of who He says we are, we will not fall prey to lies about ourselves.  I encourage you today to guard your heart with ALL diligence for from it truly flows the issues of this life.

~~~~~♥~~~~~

by Dona Hake

Matthew 6:33-34

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and then all these things will be given to you too.  

So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow

worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.”

As Jesus was teaching upon the subject of seeking God’s kingdom first He was making a contrast between heavenly values with earthly values.  He was explaining that our first loyalty need to  be to those things that do not fade away.  Earthly verses Heavenly…this is a choice that our hearts have to make to serve Him wholly.   He told them, “You cannot serve two masters.  If you try, you will wind up loving the first master and hating the second, or vice versa.  You must choose.”

Jesus exhorted the people not to worry about their lives.  “Don’t worry about what you eat or drink, and don’t worry about what you will wear tomorrow.”    He pointed their eyes toward the sky and brought their attention to the fact  the birds do not store food for winter nor do they plant gardens.  They do not sow or reap yet they are always fed because the hand of His loving Heavenly Father feeds them.

“And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird.

If He looks after them, of course He will look after you. “

Even today He desires that we do not consume ourselves with the worries of today or tomorrow for He knows exactly what we need to get us through each day.  Praise Him first and seek Him for every need in your life.  As we put Him first, He will see to it that all your needs are met!

~~~~~♥~~~~~~

by Dona Hake

Today I want to encourage you to ask God for His help in every area of your life.   Allow no area to be untouched by His loving and powerful hand.     The Word says that if we seek Him early, we shall find Him.  This is referring to His wisdom and may we be reminded that we can not live apart from His divine wisdom.

May we always keep ourselves in a place of knowing that we can do nothing apart from His help.   It is only Him that can give or provide for us that which is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy our needs.    As we pray for His help we can rely on Him as we depend upon Him confidently.  Today I leave you with a simple yet precious prayer that is special to me.

“Help me to live this day quietly and easily;

To lean upon Thy great strength trustfully and restfully,

To wait for the unfolding of Thy will patiently and serenely,

To meet others peacefully and joyously;

And to face tomorrow confidently and courageously.”

Anonymous

Asking Him to live  quietly and easily is not referring to wanting everything comfy but rather that we flow in His peace and strength no matter what we face.  As we lean upon Him, He will show Himself strong.  As we meet each day looking up to Him, He will unfold His will to us as we go throughout our day and He will be faithful to explain the details of it’s course.  Know that He not only gives us the confidence and courage to make it through this day, but He will strengthen our heart for another one in the power of His Name!

~~~~~     ♥    ~~~~~~

 PLEASE NOTE!!!!  This is Sunday, May 4th’s devotional.  I

failed to get the devotional for Saturday, May 3rd sent out until

8:00 pm this evening.  If you are looking for Saturday’s devotional,

scroll down below this one!  Blessings to you!

~~~~~♥~~~~~

“LIVING BY THE GOLDEN RULE”

by Dona Hake

Matthew 7:12 (PHILLIPS)
“Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them.”

We have heard this referred to as the “Golden Rule” and it  truly is golden.  It can serve to be exceptionally valuable to us as we exercise it with our loved ones, friends and even strangers that we come in contact with in the course of our day.

How often I see rudeness in the marketplace and I am taken back that people can treat each other so wrong and it just does not seem to bother them.  Sad, isn’t it???   In the news almost on a regular basis you hear of bullying is schools.   Students treating a student cruelly and unfairly for some reason or other.  All of this is summed up in the fact that there are those that  think it is okay to be mean and hateful and they do not care how their actions are possibly devastating someone.

I believe the Lord desires that we are constantly keeping our hearts in check that we are treating people lovingly just as He has commanded us.  This love is not dictated by the behavior of others nor is it dictated by our good days or bad moods.   God’s love will always treat people right because it is unconditional.   He wants us to think before we act and He desires we ask ourselves, “How would I want to be treated in this particular situation?”  The old saying “Unless you have walked a mile in another’s shoes, do not judge them.”  There may be times someone is not being nice because they really are preoccupied with something so big and they feel like their world is coming to an end.

In this life that we will encounter treatment that is  unfair or unkind  but let us  ask Him to see people through His eyes.  As Jesus hung on the cross dying for us, He lovingly looked down as His whole body was screaming with pain and said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”   This is the kind of love that will always help us to see everyone around us through His lovingkindness and tender mercies.  He is well able to help us even with the most difficult people.  Yes, He IS well able to use you to show His love in great ways!

~~~~~♥~~~~~

 SATURDAY’S DEVOTIONAL  –   MAY 3, 2014

“From the Rising of the Sun Till Sunset”

by Dona Hake

Psalm 42:8 (CEB)
“By day the Lord commands his faithful love;
by night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.”

This scripture reminds me that from the time I awaken till I lay my head down to sleep that I should simply praise His Name. As I ponder this I think about all that can happen in a day and to be quite honest sometimes we may encounter difficulties or difficult people that make it hard to keep praise to Him in our hearts. The distractions and difficulties can tend to distort our focus on Him. The Lord desires that there is an offering of praise proceeding from our hearts no matter what is going on around us.

Psalm 113:3 (CEV)
” From dawn until sunset
the name of the Lord
deserves to be praised.”

I think the secret to this whole thing is that we ask Him for a greater understanding that He really is with us all the time and He promises to never leave or forsake us.  No matter what happened today or what you have to face tomorrow…NOTHING can keep you from offering praise to the Living God!

 “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. ” Romans 8:39 (The Message)

~~~~~♥~~~~~

by Dona Hake

As I ponder the uniqueness of each human being, it seems mind boggling.  To know that there are no two fingerprints alike seems to be impossible yet that shows what an amazing God that we serve!  Oh that we would reflect on how special we are to Him.  It seems that our culture is constantly dictating what is and is not success and we are constantly being bombarded by it.    The voice of this world is constantly whispering in our ear to conform to it’s standards.  If you do not know who you are in Christ, this voice will tug and pull at your heart.

There may have been times you have wondered why you are here.   Know that He has things for you to do, places for you to go and purposes to accomplish.  Along with this thought you can absolutely be assured that as you give Him your life, He is going to work all His plans out in His way and His timing.

Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever…”

As we look for the Lord to work through us in unique and wonderful ways, let us be reminded that we are required to surrender our life wholly to Him everyday of our lives.  We must give up doing things the way we think they need to be done and seek how He desires to work in you.

“Surrendering to the Lord is not a tremendous

sacrifice, not an agonized performance.

It is the most sensible thing you can do.”

Corrie ten Boom

~~~~~♥~~~~~

by Dona Hake

As I ponder the uniqueness of each human being, it seems mind boggling.  To know that there are no two fingerprints alike seems to be impossible yet that shows what an amazing God that we serve!  Oh that we would reflect on how special we are to Him.  It seems that our culture is constantly dictating what is and is not success and we are constantly being bombarded by it.    The voice of this world is constantly whispering in our ear to conform to it’s standards.  If you do not know who you are in Christ, this voice will tug and pull at your heart.

There may have been times you have wondered why you are here.   Know that He has things for you to do, places for you to go and purposes to accomplish.  Along with this thought you can absolutely be assured that as you give Him your life, He is going to work all His plans out in His way and His timing.

Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever…”

As we look for the Lord to work through us in unique and wonderful ways, let us be reminded that we are required to surrender our life wholly to Him everyday of our lives.  We must give up doing things the way we think they need to be done and seek how He desires to work in you.

“Surrendering to the Lord is not a tremendous

sacrifice, not an agonized performance.

It is the most sensible thing you can do.”

Corrie ten Boom

~~~~~♥~~~~~