Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “sentiment

Faithful to His Promises

Our Holy Father is faithful to His promises. What is a promise anyway? It is something that began in the heart of a compassionate God. It is not something that HandsPouringGrainHe has to give us (cf.1Co. 2:12). The promises of God are what it is His desire to give us (cf.2Co. 1:20;Heb.6:17). Yet it is not like putting money in a vending machine, pushing a button and the drink we selected simply falls out into our hand. A “promise of God” is something that begins in His heart and is worked out in us through circumstances (cf.Phil.1:6), people (cf.Gen.45:7-8) AND TIME (cf.Heb.11:8-11). (Excerpt from Marty Gabler’s book “Sheep Have Short Legs”)


No Chain too Great for God to Break

There are certain things we can expect if we have been “eating” things like the gruel of bitterness or disappointment. Such a diet renders one unable to give birth. There is no birthing of the promise of God in an embittered spirit. That which God ChainsBreakingdesires to perform in and through us has no “fertile womb” in which it can be conceived when infected by bitterness. A wounded spirit is more difficult to heal than a broken body. It is more subtle, yet more devastating.  Cf.”A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Prov.17:22).”  Fraud, adultery and divisions in organized religion have not together taken a toll on the church to the extent that embittered spirits have. But no matter how devastated you may be, God has prepared deliverance. Before Israel could even come up with a plan of escape, God had a plan in a deliverer called Moses. No prison or chain is too great or too old for God to break (cf.Jer.30:8).
(Excerpt from Marty Gabler’s book “Sheep Have Short Legs”)
CLICK HERE to view Marty and Kathy’s books.

 


Something Unusual

Something quite unusual that has been happening is that the Lord has been giving me dreams on Saturday night for persons who are going to be in the service on Sunday. On one Saturday night I dreamed that I walked into a yard and a lady in her mid-fifties came out of that house and we had a brief conversation. We said our good-byes and then I began to walk back into the yard I had come from. The lady’s WalkWaterDreamhouse had a cement porch about eight feet wide and it ran the full length of the front of the house. As I neared the end of the house the porch dropped down about a foot and ran the last four feet like that. Leaves had collected back in that dropped-down area, I noticed something white down in the leaves. It looked to me like it might be the top of a golf ball. I started to reach down for it but suddenly felt checked. I then straightened up and when I did, a large copperhead snake crawled out of the area where that ball was and crawled up onto a small shelf that was sitting among the leaves. I shared the dream on Sunday and shared that I believed it was a warning for someone who was present. After the service a lady in her mid-fifties walked up and said that I had described her house and porch perfectly. Her husband had left the day before for business on the East Coast and told her to stay away from those leaves at the end of the porch. Her little two-year-old granddaughter had been staying with her Friday and Saturday and, over the course of the two days, had repeatedly said, “Granny, don’t pet the snakes”! But the lady had planned on ignoring her husband and planned on cleaning out that area Monday morning, that is, until she heard the warning Sunday. Her son-in-law had killed a nest of copperheads on the other end of the porch last year. She told me that it took my sharing that dream to shake her and get her attention that the Lord had already been trying to warn her about snakes.

Our awesome God is the God of the moment. He is able to communicate with His sons and daughters in a moment of time and He is able to save us in ways we have not seen or heard or imagined… until He does it. But as Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Cor.2:9, GW)… UNTIL NOW!  (Last excerpt from Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Embrace and Encourage

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As the people of God assemble today may we discern the trouble that people walk in and lovingly stand with them in the midst of it and be, at least a part of, that Hand of God that is stretched out to comfort and affirm. May we embrace them and give them an encouraging word to stand on.  “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.”(Ps.138:7, NKJV)


How to Limit the Unlimited God

How to limit the unlimited God —   “…they turned back and tempted God, and WildernessLeavinglimited the Holy One of Israel.” (Ps78:41) M.Henry says they limited Him to their way and their time. One can’t limit God in His wider purpose but one can limit His moving in their life. “Limited” means they circumscribed Him with bounds, virtually saying that there are some things which He cannot do; up to a certain point He has power, but after that He has not.(J-F-B) Yet, we continually long to see and experience what is beyond normal. Giving the limitless God full reign in one’s life may call for cooperating with measures and methods we have not thought normal.


From Stuck to Moving

In Kentucky, a lady walked up and told me what the Lord had done for her when I was there six months earlier. She had been sitting in the service with a damaged HandsRaisedWorshipshoulder. She had to cradle her left arm with her right arm and was in very much pain. She said that she was beginning to wonder if she was going to be able to stay in the service because her shoulder was hurting so bad. She said that her muscles were torn in three places and she was already scheduled for surgery. I had a word of knowledge that the Lord was healing a shoulder. She said that, immediately, the pain stopped! She thought, “Wow, I might be healed!” She let go of her left arm and there was still no pain. She moved her arm out to the side and still no pain. She then began to move it around in a circle and discovered that she had no pain whatsoever! She had to cancel the surgery. And six months later, she showed me that she was still healed and could vigorously move that arm around without any pain. Praise the name of the Lord! (5th excerpt from Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Splinters Being Removed

splinter2I ask, Father, that You act by the power of Your Holy Spirit and move in hearts and minds to remove the false perceptions of the faults in past relationships. I ask that the nagging sense of failure or irresponsibility be removed, especially where no cause for culpability was given.  I declare that the remaining, grievous splinters, of what was, are being removed by the moving of your hand in hearts and in lives.  “Imagine a person who lives well, treating others fairly, keeping good relationships—” (Eze.18:5, Msg)


More Than Just One

On occasion, we come across people who talk as though God can heal one thing they are dealing with but He won’t or simply isn’t interested in healing the other things they are congregation prayingsuffering from. In one service, a lady walked up afterward and pretty much communicated that she felt a little frustrated because she felt she had to choose one of several physical needs that had been mentioned in words of knowledge (as though one is all she could have). Recently I ministered three or four words of knowledge in a Sunday service. Monday afternoon the pastor called Kathy and told her that she had received an overhaul in her body in the service. She had been suffering from all of the physical issues mentioned in the words of knowledge that morning. Now she was free of pain and was able to move limbs that had been hindered before. (4th excerpt from Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Thankful My Prayer is Heard

HandsPrayingI am thankful, Holy Father, that my prayer is heard and it is not in vain.  I declare that I will relentlessly continue in prayer and thanksgiving before my God who hears and acts in my behalf. “Let my prayer be set before You as incense,The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Ps.141:2, NKJV)


God of the Moment in the Abdomen

In a meeting recently I had a word of knowledge about a raw stomach and raw intestines and Kathy had one about problems with the mind and with thoughts. PraiserejoiceThat was in the service on Saturday night. For three years a lady’s stomach and intestines have been raw and she was able to eat only certain kinds of food. She had to carry her food with her everywhere she went because certain foods could have caused her death. She said that her body was eating itself. She also had a swollen liver that protruded from her abdomen about the size of half a grapefruit. Everything going on in her body and all the medications were having an effect on her mind and thought processes. She was having great difficulty at work because she could not keep her thoughts on a concept long enough to get it written out in a complete thought. But when she heard the words of knowledge, the pain stopped and her swollen liver went down. Sunday morning she testified that she was still without pain and that she had eaten sausage and cheese for breakfast which she had not eaten in three years! Her thoughts were clear and she had no pain. He is the God of the moment. (3rd excerpt from Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Happened in the Moment

More and more often these days we are seeing or hearing about the Lord God doing awesome things in a moment of time that we have desired and prayed to see for SunlightCloudsGolddecades. A scientist who had suffered from a disease for 34 years was healed in a moment. I had a word of knowledge that described what he had been dealing with. He told me that while he was very thankful for the sudden healing, he was just a bit disappointed. He had heard people give testimonies about miracles and the awesome things that they felt or heard or saw in the event, but he told me he was disappointed that he didn’t feel or see anything. He said that, without anything unusual taking place, he was suddenly, completely healed while standing with his hands lifted. (2nd excerpt from Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Father Grant you Good Times

In days to come, as you walk before God Most High in the light of His Word and trust in Him, may our beneficent Father grant you good times, happy times and Celebratinglaughingtimes of celebration. May you look to the future expecting to see the goodness of God in your life and the lives of your family. Don’t be defeated by what appears to be on the horizon. Don’t be disheartened by rumors and every story that finds flight on the fancy of someone’s fears or imagination. May our merciful Father God send delightful surprises your way and grant you good times, happy times and times of celebration.  (2Chron.6:41b, Msg) “…let your holy people celebrate goodness…”  We are praying you discover daily God’s goodness working in your life.


God of the Moment

God Almighty is the God of the moment. He acts in a moment’s time. Things the Lord declared suddenly came to pass (Isa.48:3, Amp); Sodom was overthrown in a Lightningstreaksbluemoment (Lam.4:6, Amp); in a moment, the dead in Christ shall be raised imperishable (1Cor.15:52, Amp); enemies turned back in a moment (Ps.6:10, ESV); a nation can be born in a moment (Isa.66:8, LEB); Israel went out of Egypt suddenly (Deut.16:3, WYC); God enabled Joshua to come upon the enemy suddenly (Josh.10:9;11:7, Amp); the house of God was suddenly filled with a cloud (2Chron.5:13, WYC); the service of the house of the Lord was restored suddenly (2Chron.29:36, Amp); after instructing the Israelites to dig trenches in a dry valley so they and their animals could drink while under attack from the enemy, rain water that had fallen three days journey away suddenly filled them (2K.3:20, Amp); suddenly, a man dressed in bright, dazzling clothing stood before Cornelius (Acts 10:30, Amp);suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind (Acts 2:2, Amp). (From Marty’s article “God of the Moment”)


Joined at the Hip

Be careful who you get “joined at the hip” with. Which direction might they drag back-to-backyou? Are they wanting to join with you for your benefit and the benefit of the Kingdom or just for what they can get out of the joining?  “Do not be unequally yoked . . . [do not make mismated alliances. . .] ” (2Cor.6:14, Amp)  “…Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.” (2Cor.6:17, Msg)


God’s Access

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(Kathy Gabler)—
“My confidence in God is His access to me.”


Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of eyeGod as the Victorious Lamb. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:1-2, NAU)


He Lives!

Kathy was my Dad’s church pianist from age 13.  (As a baby, Melissa was put under the piano seat in her baby seat) We sang this one in a lively manner. But when we got to “You ask me how I know He lives,” we held “lives” for a long time and ended with a quick and hearty “He lives within my heart!” after which was an exuberant round (or two) of “Amen!” and “Glory!”.

 

 

He Lives (by A.H.Ackley; Melodies of Praise Hymnal p.86)
V.1—I serve a risen Saviour,
He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.

Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.

V.2—In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading
Thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.

V.3—Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him,
The help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.

YouTube Link Listen to Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpJfT4_COzY


Resurrection – A Present Fact

Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.  If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day?

Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25)

23—“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24  Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (Jn.11:23-25, NKJV)


Stand Where Bid to Stand

May the people of God realize His continual presence and support. May they stand where bid to stand and do what they are bid to do with a heart to get it done. May they declare that they will be strong and courageous knowing that a wise God with a successful plan has called them to stand and declare, and believe and do. “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. “ (Jos 1:7, NASB)


Getting Caught up in God’s Momentum

It is not that momentum is increasing, it is that we are getting caught up into it. There has never been a point at which Jahweh’s plan has lacked momentum nor has He ever slowed down His plan, nor has His interest in getting us to purpose waned. Jahweh is drawing us ever more into His pre-existent, always-existent momentum. “…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,’ “ (Isa.46:9b-10, Msg)


Nourish the Dream

Moses was nourished in his father’s house for three months (Ex.2:1). Anything marked for the purposes of God must be nourished within us and given ability to stand. Giving ability to stand is in the basic meaning of nourish. “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict (Heb.11:23).” That dream God gives is no ordinary dream. Feed it. Nourish it. The false report may say, “Oh, but it is so skinny and frail, it’s almost dead.” Nourish it. It will come back strong. Someone may say, ”Oh, but there may not even be an ember left because the original fire was built so long ago.” Patiently and persistently stir and feed the fire. It will come to flame again.


(Melissa Gabler)—With one word God intends to align what has been out of line.  With one word He intends to right the wrongs.  With one word he intends to do what He had in mind all along. This word “radical” has become my one word declaration over many situations and people. It’s one word, but it says it all! Right here in the middle of some of the most chaotic days of most of our lives, God says one word — one very loaded and life-changing word.  It might seem like the end of all things, but fear not.  We are about to see the radical that has been happening behind the scenes. We might think we have seen radical happening already. Nope, we are about to see radical for real.  Isaiah 55:11 (His word will accomplish what He pleases) is a truth that we will see manifest in our day.  How so? Radically.  No need in any of us trying to figure out how, for whom, or even when. God’s radical is a steam engine barreling down the track building speed. Let’s just get out of the way. To you and your family I say, “radical!” To the United States of America, one nation under God, I say, “RADICAL!”


Don’t Reject the Midwife of Your Dream

Dreams and visions are relentlessly attacked by the enemy until: (1.) they are mature and defeat him or (2.) we relinquish them. Relinquished dreams are no threat to our enemy at all. That is why God raises up midwives who will not sell out to Pharaoh. There is indeed One more desirable and more powerful than Pharaoh. Because God prepared God-fearing midwives, Moses (the offspring of God’s wise planning) was protected, kept alive and led Israel out of Egypt to the promised land.

God is ALWAYS FAITHFUL to raise up midwives to keep His offspring (promise) alive. Be sensitive to recognize them and not drive them away for they will help birth the baby of deliverance for your life. A midwife may be a prophetic word, a song in the night, a teaching or a compassionate person who may have no idea whatsoever that they are the midwife sent by God to help give birth to your deliverance.  
(From Marty Gabler’s book “Sheep Have Short Legs”)
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Click on the Books tab at the top of the page to see Marty’s books.


Radical!

(Melissa Gabler)—Recently I was praying over a situation and all I heard loud and clear was the word “radical”.  I could get behind that! Yes, radical change in this situation.  I began to speak “radical” into my concern.  It was one of those kind of things, however,  that just kept rolling around and growing inside of me.  It just felt like it meant more than I was currently grasping.  It also felt like it was for more than just that particular situation. So, I looked the word up in the Websters 1828 Dictionary. 

Check this out: Radical: 1. Pertaining to the root or origin; original; fundamental; as a radical truth or error; a radical evil; a radical difference of opinions or systems.  2. Implanted by nature; native; constitutional; as the radical moisture of a body. 3. Primitive; original; underived; uncompounded; as a radical word. 4. Serving to origination. 5. In botany, proceeding immediately from the root; as a radical leaf or peduncle.

Well, oh my! Radical is a much stronger word than I thought it was.  Basically, what I see in these definitions is that radical means going back to God’s original intent.  So, when the Holy Spirit says “radical” He fully intends to take the current situation and put that person, family, business, region, etc. back on track with His original intent.