Daily Devotions

Archive for November, 2021

Stage of Development

Melissa — It really is an exciting time even though it may not look like it because we have entered a new era. Let’s look a little closer at what this means.  Merriam Webster defines “era” as: “a memorable or important date or event, especially one that begins a new period in the history of a person or thing, a stage in development.”  When I read this definition, that last part jumped off the screen, “a stage in development”.  So, I looked up “development“: “1. An unfolding; the discovering of something secret or withheld from the knowledge of others; 2. The unraveling of a plot.” Oh my! We have been in the midst of an “unraveling plot” our entire lives! I am basing the time span of the past era on the life of Dr. Billy Graham.  There were several words out there that the death of Dr. Graham would mark significant change, and that is when I knew we were truly in a new era.  So, for most of us we have been in this “stage of development” all of our lives.  God has been developing the Kingdom here on earth throughout the past era and we are about to see what He has been doing.


Doing Father’s Business

Free_Red DotKathy — Perceiving what the Father is doing may blow our doors at times. Participating in His Original Intent for your life can include tasks and experiences that you did not see coming. The scope of your participation may be overwhelming to the point that you want to shrink back because you suddenly feel you are just an unequipped, insignificant tiny DOT on the globe! I am alluding to one of those RED DOTS on a map that says, “You’re right here.” If you are feeling like a DOT yourself, you see such a map and think, ‘And so what! What possible difference can I make?’ However, doing what the Father is doing means we have to focus on Truth rather than our feelings. The truth is that this little DOT is a son or daughter that is right here, right now, to do Father’s business. This little DOT is an agent of agreement and this little DOT is an access point for Almighty God to bring “as it is in heaven” into this earth! 


Heart Will not Fear

As the people of God assemble today let them rejoice in His holy name and let them raise together their courage and determination to continue to trust God and His unfailing Word as they praise Almighty God confidently in spite of the entities and circumstances that seem to be bringing impossibilities against their destiny in the King’s purposes for them in their generation. Ps.27:3,Amp—“Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.”


Fear, Stress, Infirmity

Melissa — Fear leads to stress and stress puts off a fragrance that the spirit of infirmity is looking for.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1Jn.4:18, NKJV)


Reachable Kingdom

Kathy — If we have a subconscious someday in our thinking that makes the Kingdom ONLY reachable SOMEDAY “in the sweet bye and bye”, everything is distorted, our hope, our faith, our Life, our purpose and our heritage.  That “thinking”  blatantly contradicts the presence and purpose of JESUS Christ in His ministry on the earth.  He demonstrated the Kingdom by healing and delivering people and telling them, “The Kingdom has come upon you.”  He told them to repent, for the Kingdom is at hand, meaning that we must think differently so we can realize the power and will of God are within reach, now.


Thankful Memories that Heal

ThankfulA while back I walked into the kitchen and I said to Kathy, “That smells like Thanksgiving!”. As I walked in, I experienced a wide range of sensory connections with Thanksgiving. The smell of spices and basting meat and the odors of baking coming out of the oven filled my senses. But I also began to hear things. As memories of Thanksgivings-come-and-gone stirred in my mind, I could hear the sounds of those gatherings, those loved ones, those children, those songs, that worship—in my memory. Kathy couldn’t hear any of it but I could hear many things all at once. I had to just stand there for a minute or two, not focusing on anything in the room but looking with my memory into those sights and sounds that had been cherished and stored away in valuable files of my heart. Then, even as I write now, hot tears filled my eyes and my heart raced up at the peace and joy and delight all those sounds and people in my memory brought to me. I didn’t even realize that I had tucked those precious memories away so many years ago. But the loving atmosphere, the loving people, the lovely ambiance and delicious foods all impacted my senses then for a delightful, sensory and welcome release now. No camera could have accomplished what those pleasant experiences wrought, for they were drawn up out of the well of cherished ones and cherished things in my heart. And for a brief time they were all there, all real and all so lovely once again. I am so thankful for a rich heritage, deeply meaningful relationships and for cherished memories that still impact me today. May this Thanksgiving bring to you sights and sounds and smells that pleasantly soothe you and heal you, and may they all bring you to a fresh place of rest in our Lord.  (Prov.10:7a, Amp) ”The memory of the righteous [person] is a blessing,”.


Ready for Something Unusual

About the time of Moses Israel began to cry out, “Save us from Pharaoh!” Then suddenly, “Bam!” Snakes, staffs and bull frogs are flying in every direction. About the time of Jesus Israel cries, “Save us from Rome!” Then suddenly, “Bam!” Wind, fire, tongues and spiritual drunkenness hit them. God’s people are once again crying, “Save us!” Get ready for something unusual! Are you ready for the unconventional? (see Isa.55:8-9)   Isa.33:22, The Passion Translation — “The Lord Yahweh is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King; He will save us completely!” 


An Eye-opener

Melissa — Having a relationship with the King is an eye-opener: You are not junk.  You have not messed up your fictitious “one shot”.  You do not have to live with sickness and pain.  You most certainly DO have something to deposit where you are and where He takes you.  You/we are here for a purpose beyond occupying space and time.  You are here to make a difference.  There is healing in knowing this! 


The Kingdom out of Reach?

Kathy — His Kingdom has already been in effect, now is in effect and will be in effect always.  That contradicts that silent someday that would keep the Kingdom of God out of reach during our lifetime, or keep “righteousness and peace and joy” in His presence only a future, someday realization (Rom 14:17). How messed up is it to think that righteousness, peace and joy are unreachable until you die?  That thinking would make “Thy Kingdom come” a death request.  Could we get any more perversely opposite to the heart of God than that?  Could we deny His New Covenant provision any louder than that?  If we think that His Kingdom (meaning His rule and His order) cannot come into earth now when we pray, is it any wonder that manifestations of His power show up piecemeal rather than bulk, or sporadically rather than continually?  Poor God.  When His stewards on earth think like that, they only accidentally stumble into agreement that opens the earth to God’s will in the now.


Protected

Melissa  — “You crown the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow.” (Ps. 65:11 AMP) “Crown” here is the Hebrew word “atar”. It means to encircle for protection. So, we really are tiptoeing into something big this year and we are protected as we approach our reveal. And let’s just top it off, “Your paths overflow” says this year is marked with abundance. The biggest fight we have at this point is truly believing our God is as good as He really is!


Understanding “Kingdom Come”

KG Brenham 1-31-21bKathy — I have prayed or read or quoted or sang the phrase, Thy Kingdom come, for years without really being aware of the magnitude of what I was saying.  In my early understanding, Thy Kingdom come was a reference to heaven and eternity only.  So it was like a salutation, a verbal salute, before beginning the actual prayer of Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.  I’m fairly sure a good percentage of the Church prays the Lord’s Prayer with a similar paradigm which boils down to this: may heaven be ours someday and meanwhile, Thy will be done in things concerning the earth.   However, there is a different understanding of the Kingdom of God in the light of  Psa 145:13:  “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your rule endures throughout all generations.”  Rather than a place and a future existence, the Kingdom is the rule of God, His power, His authority and His government and order in effect already, in fact, for all generations.


Storms and God-Ordained Days

Melissa — Even though the sky is clearing there may be a storm or two that pop up as we head into the God ordained days ahead. No worries though, the storms have to “be still” and bow to the intention of God Almighty. In prayer the other night I heard this after it came out of my mouth, “Your Kingdom is over this nation and you are releasing another increment upon us.” What if we are that increment?! What if we are the stealth measures He is putting in place to release a deeper increment of His Kingdom on this earth? Me thinks we are!  (Melissa will be leading worship and speaking at KINGDOM CONGRESS 2022 March 2-4. Church No.: 936-856-2455. All info: martygabler.com)


Hearts of Expectancy

As the people of God assemble today may His people have a sense of the more that is to come of His purposes and His outpourings. May the hope of receiving and participating fill their hearts with expectancy. “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Rom.5:5, Msg)


In This for the Long Haul

Isa.46:9, Msg — “Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—incomparable, irreplaceable— 10 From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, ‘I’M IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL, I’LL DO EXACTLY WHAT I SET OUT TO DO,’ 11 Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I’ve said it, and I’ll most certainly do it. I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done. 12 “Now listen to me: You’re a hardheaded bunch and hard to help. 13 I’M READY TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn’t on hold. I’m putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel.”


Soul-Conflicts

Kathy — Soul-conflicts cause ulcers rather than faith. An “ulcer of the soul” is inflammation like agitation, offense, irritation, anger, fear, etc. A wound of the soul is from our history or experience. Neither of those is the starting place for effectual prayer because “ulcers” and wounds can keep us from seeing from God’s perspective. A timely example is that it cripples our faith to pray for our nation if we think God will not interrupt hell’s assignments against our nation. Since 2021 is part of our watch, we can anticipate God’s intervention in our nation this year as we pray and neutralize contradictions that influence daily.


Truth and Relationship

Melissa — Truth and relationship with the Lord is about your meditations, thoughts, words, prayers. Are your thoughts and prayers abounding from His truth or the latest from Fox, CNN, Facebook, or Twitter? A safe and healthy place from which to operate your day is praying in tongues throughout. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by national or family events. It’s the perfect prayer not swayed by the soul. In fact, don’t limit it to that. You may think you’re praying about what is concerning at the moment, but the Spirit prays what needs to be prayed at the moment whether it be for that particular situation or something completely different. Thank God that type of prayer cannot be touched by soulish fears and desires. That is exactly why it is perfect! God knew what He was doing when He gave us such a gift. Yes, I’d say it’s for today. My thought, the soul might say otherwise because it can’t control it. Ok, I’ll just leave that right there and wrap this up. It’s time to call on Him. It’s time to see great and mighty things. It’s time to be great and mighty things.


Threats, Predictions and Precautions

There are all manner of threats, predictions and precautions concerning present perils and the “need for wisdom” in future ministry considerations. While many are calling for such wisdom to be applied in this hour, somewhere a cry should also be going forth for some amount of determination (Eph.6:13-“stand firm”) to be applied. Where is it written that authority is given to events of certain times in history or to evil persons of those times to become the master decision-makers for all of us, especially those who were acknowledging and embracing a divine destiny before these threatening perils and persons started doing their destructive deeds? Job 5:12, Amp — “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.” God will partner with His people who pray and declare His purposes in the nation and “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.” (Job 5:12, Amplified)


Unique Participation

Kathy — According to the way you as an individual process and function, God knows how to make things clear to you. Then the way you participate in His Kingdom coming to earth will likely be unique, something that I nor anyone else but you would ever do. The Kingdom lifestyle, bottom line, is basic obedience that facilitates God’s will and influence and power and purpose coming into a life or a town or a situation or a church or a business or a family, etc. There is no way to list all the unexpected turns or varying ways that obedience may be walked out. We have a friend who took care of her household diligently for years. At the same time, she cared for many others with her gift of hospitality and ran her own business. I’m sure she did not foresee her part in the Kingdom of God on earth would also include raising and sowing into the lives of three small step-grandchildren even after she transitioned into widowhood. Her story is a vivid example of the unpredictable uniquenesses of living a Kingdom lifestyle and seeing the will of God done on earth as in heaven. There is literally nothing like it and nothing with more God-infused fulfillment. 


Mighty Things and Relationship

Melissa — It’s going to take loving the Truth (which is a Person—THE Person) to see great and mighty things for which an earth is groaning (Romans 8:17-19). It’s going to take some calling on that Person which requires relationship, not curbside pickup. And relationship takes time, time out of your day. This does not mean you have to set aside hours and hours every day. That is not a bad thing if that’s where you are currently, or a season you are headed into. Other than that, a relationship is all day everyday.


Limitless Jehovah God

As the people of God assemble today may they worship and trust in the limitless Jehovah God who is the God of heaven and of earth. May they hear of and speak of His unbounded power and authority to act in their behalf no matter what is seemingly solidifying to bring about their defeat. Jer.32:17—“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”


Cornelius at the Door

Kathy — There are times Father positions us for a mandate with something as obvious as a Cornelius at the door. A man knocked on our door one Sunday afternoon. Marty answered the door and the man introduced himself as a retired policeman from San Antonio who had moved into our neighborhood a few years earlier. He told Marty he had heard that we were ministers and waited for confirmation. When Marty answered yes, he proceeded to lay out a plan he had. He said there were several elderly and sick people in our neighborhood that could not attend church. He was concerned that his friends needed teaching and prayer and ministry but explained that he was raised in a non-evangelical denomination and didn’t know anything about the Bible. He told Marty that he would like to gather some people in the pool pavilion if Marty would come and preach to them! This was nothing we had ever seen coming, but our participation was clear and doable. 


Chaos and Fulfillment

Abraham walked thru chaos on the way to the fulfillment of the word over his life and Joseph did, Moses did, Joshua did, David did. Our nation/world is walking through chaos on the way to an awakening. God speaks the progression of time and events and His authority and power bring them into being. That is why we must cling to God’s Word and get into alignment with it (speak it, pray it). He already has a plan and He is looking for those who will align/act on it. Isa.14:24 — “Just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand.”  Jehovah plans and declares tomorrow for our benefit, for His declarations free us from our limitations. He wants us to see beyond immediate circumstances. His declarations (what should be/shall be) clear the atmosphere for receiving His inevitable works of wonder. 


MARTY GABLER SPEAKING

MARTY GABLER WILL BE SPEAKING AT GRACE CHURCH WILLIS 11-7-21
For more information click on the banner below.
MPG Grace 11-7-21


Not Limit God

Melissa — Let’s not limit calling on God for great and mighty answers to things we need only. If He says I’ll “show you great and mighty things” why in the world would we not call on Him on a daily basis to see what awesomeness He has in store for the here and now? The requirement for asking such things daily is to be in a dominion/heaven-on-earth state rather than a victimized one. A victimized state of mind keeps us stuck on “me, my, me”. The way out of victimhood is in truth because it has a tendency to set you free IF you know it by meditating on and living it (John 8:32). This is one of the main issues we face today because we have too much information, whether it be truth or a lie, at our fingertips every moment of every day. Easy access has become the demoralizer of an entitled culture. Yes, this applies to Christians as well.