by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember the day that I surrendered my life to the Lord.   I can still remember how I could feel the weight of my sin taken off of my back, and all of a sudden everything seemed to make sense.   I saw everything differently around me.   For the first time I felt whole, and it was a wonderful feeling.   I saw light, and I felt free! I knew I no longer needed to live in fear, I had a purpose, and from that day forward the Lord has been faithful to lead, and guide me paths that truly echo His Name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Let us look to His way, His paths, and we can live a life that is  blessed because when we are walking hand in hand with Him. May our paths be paths that echo His loving Name, and may they be a testimony of His love and goodness to everyone around us!

 

 by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

I am thinking today about the kindness of the Lord flowing through us.     Have you ever felt so weary from a battle you are walking through, and someone speaks an encouraging word or a kind word into your soul?   It is such a blessing when you are touched by an act of kindness especially if you are running out of energy to do that which is required of you.   May we look for and seize opportunities to be kind to someone today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving

better and happier. Be the living expression of

God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness

in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

— Mother Teresa

 

 

 

 

Lord, we ask you to help us to be vessels of Your kindness this day.   Help us to recognize and seize opportunities to give kindness to one in need.    May we submit to Your plans for us that we can be used by You to touch someone’s heart.   We thank you that we can be the living expression of Your wonderful love to the one that needs it most.

 

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

 

I can remember a few years ago as my husband was sharing the word, and  he said something that just inspired my heart, and I want to share with you about it in  this devotional.  He said,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think one of the saddest things is seeing people live in the pain of their past yet they have so much to be thankful for in the present moment. If you live in the past, even when there are good things going on around you, you may be hindered from even noticing them.   Even the smallest of goodness around you is overlooked because you are looking in life’s rear view mirror.  The past has the ability to rob you of the good things that are in your life RIGHT NOW!    We need to stop and purposely think of each and every good thing that God has blessed us with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to encourage you today that if you are tempted to look over your shoulder into your past to stop, and guard your heart, and check your attitude.   ! Stop and look at who you are today and how far God has brought you.    Ponder all the victories you have experienced as you have released your faith in the living God. Stop and think about every blessing you possess whether it be spiritual blessings, family, friends or material things. Let us not allow the wonderful joys in our present be robbed from us because we feel we are unable to go forward.

 

 

 

 

 

Know this, God can heal you from the pain and scars of your past.     He is well able to take the things in your life that have been bad, and reveal the depths of His wisdom to you.   He can give you hope for a future, and He can bring joy unspeakable into your heart and peace that passes all understanding that will permeate your mind. Enjoy the current joys that are around you and allow God to give you the strength to continue to move forward!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a wonderful thing that God’s wisdom is. As we seek it first before any task we can know that we are doing the right thing and it is in accordance with His will. Today let us meditate on how wonderful it is that godly wisdom is as a spring, a gushing stream with life giving power! As you draw upon it, it will flow to you and from you to others.  I love the thought of my words being vessels that carry life to those around me!

 

 

Wisdom may be in word or it may be in deed, and it may even be wisdom at times to just be silent. We can probably all testify of times that words have been spoken to us apart from His wisdom. Those words can hurt you, leave scars and divide the closest of relationships.

 

 

 

Proverbs 18:4 (AMP)

“The words of a [discreet and wise] man’s mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].”

 

 

 

May we always remember that the  wisdom of God will always be full of peace, it is always easy to be entreated and it will always be without hypocrisy. Wisdom will always stand in line with the truths of God’s Word, and there is no wavering in the words or actions of wisdom. Let us seek to be vessels of those that speak His wisdom offering words and actions that are life giving and pure. God bless you!

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

I have always heard that if you need someone to help you get something done, you should ask a busy person. I love the people in my life that are there to help me. These people are faithful and dependable…they keep their word. Nothing is more disheartening than someone not following through with something, and they do not keep their word.   A faithful friend is a valuable friend.  A friend that vows to keep his word is a precious jewel.  Isn’t it wonderful that we can have a friend like this in Jesus? He is faithful and He will always keep His Word.    I praise God that we serve a living God that promises to do all that He says He will.    He desires that our hearts be of good courage and we be willing to stand fast and wait upon Him.

 

 

Psalm 27:14(KJV)

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,

and he shall

strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

 

 

 

When I was pondering this scripture to share today the emphasis I want to make is on three words and they are AND HE SHALL. The scripture does not say “wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and it is likely he will strengthen your heart.” Nor did it say “wait on the the Lord: be of good courage and perhaps he will strengthen your heart.” NO! it says, “He shall.” If He said He shall, then He will!
Thank God today that all that God promises to do in His Word, He shall do it! God is good, He is faithful, and He always keeps His Word!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I shared about how we need to treat others as we desire to be treated.    Sometimes we all fall short of treating people from God’s heart of love.     It is vital that we continue to walk patiently and lovingly with everyone around us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I want us to  consider  the whole realm of patiently waiting for circumstances to change in our life.   We must stand firm in our faith that God is well able to change that which we are believing for.   We cannot permit ourselves to be impatient with our Lord as His hand works on our behalf.   We cannot make Him work on our timetable but we should trust in His timing and wisdom that is at work within us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we meditate upon patience and it’s perfect work, have you ever had  times that you are impatient with yourself.   You may have an area in your life that you are purposing to surrender to Him, yet you find yourself failing.   It can be very tempting to put yourself down through your own words or how you see yourself.  As we pursue to grow in God’s love and in His Word there will always be opportunities to  focus too much on what we are NOT rather that how far He has brought us. With any work that needs done in us there needs to be a time of waiting for His loving hand to work. I guess there are all times we wished He would work a bit faster, but His wisdom encompasses more than we will ever understand. As He works, He promises that the transformation will indeed happen, but remember sometimes we can tend to be impatient in that which we have to wait for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be encouraged today that as you are applying yourself to do that which is right and good in His sight that His loving hand IS at work in your life. Guard yourself from focusing on your weaknesses but rather the gifts, the strengths and abilities He has blessed you with. As we keep our hearts humble and open to Him, He will be faithful to show us the areas in which we need to give attention. He promises to lead  and guide us  in ALL truth in every area of our lives! God bless you.

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

Psalm 55:22

 

I like the absoluteness of this scripture…”HE SHALL SUSTAIN THEE…” Burdens will hold you down, and burdens will keep you from moving forward into your dreams…if you are trying to deal with them in your own strength and ability.   God desires that you give Him every burden in order that He may anchor you in His hope, and keep you from being  shaken or moved.

Matthew 11:29-30 (NLV)

“Follow My teachings and learn from Me.I am gentle and do not have pride.

You will have rest for your souls.

For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.”

 

I just want to encourage you to daily examine yourself that you  are not attempting to carry burdens, and  do things in your own ability.   Remember, your help is from Him, and all you have to do is ask Him to take that burden. He promised He would and He is faithful to do that which He said in His Word.

 

 

 

 

 

When the Lord created all that we see, He purposed it to be beautiful.  He desires that we

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As God in Heaven proclaims what He did with the work of His hands He goes on to say, “but here is where I look…” I do not know about you but I want to know what God is looking for. After all the beauty and wonder of His creation He is still looking? I love this because it is reminding us that God’s eyes are moving to and fro watching for the one that will ALWAYS put Him and His Word first and reverently respond to what He says. He is looking for those that even when they mess up they admit they are wrong and receive His forgiveness. He is watching for the man and woman that desires to be humble and respect His Word above their own opinions and thoughts. He is watching you and your heart.

 

 

Let us be reminded today that His eyes are looking and watching for the one who will listen and hear what He is speaking. Know that He is waiting for someone that He can use for His purposes. Think about it…He made it all and in all it’s grand beauty He is still watching for those of a humble and contrite spirit. I encourage you today to think about how He desires to use you as you purpose to remain humble and reverent to His Word.

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can still remember the horrible situation that West Virginia had to face with the contamination of their water supply.    A chemical seeped into the water supply and threatened to sicken hundreds of thousands of people. Officials found out about the spill when people started calling in complaints about a strong licorice-type smell in the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found it interesting that this potentially harmful chemical seeping into the water had a sweet smell of licorice. Some said it smelled like cough syrup, and the smell puzzled them. I am sure they figured out how this happened but what really mattered  is that it rendered over 300,000 people no drinking, no bathing, and no cooking with the water. One chemical literally zapped the pureness of their water to poisonous and harmful, and brought a huge amount of people helpless, and  without pure water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us look at this story, and apply it to how our hearts can become contaminated by the things that seem sweet and okay in this life.   God’s Word speaks to us through Proverbs 4:23, and warns us as well to be careful and be vigilant to watch over our hearts. This scripture warns us to guard the purity of our heart and all that flows from it. Our heart is as a wellspring from where all issues flow. A wellspring is a source or supply of anything, especially when considered inexhaustible.

 

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance

and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

 

 

 

 

 

Let us be careful to never leave down our guard over our hearts. There are so many “sweet smelling” temptations in this world that could taint and poison our hearts in which the life of God desires to flow purely.  Oh that we will take it seriously to guard our hearts with all vigilance for this is where life begins and flows from.