The Boy Genius!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.  

1 Samuel 1:27-28

Sitting on my deck and drinking coffee this morning, my thoughts turned to my son Brandon. Brandon is our quirky, super-genius kid. All his life he’s been a wonderful child to raise and now he’s fourteen and quickly becoming a man. The love and pride I have for Brandon is very strong because for many years I was a single parent.

It was during those years that I cried out fervently to the Lord on behalf of my son and the future I knew God had for him. Being a single parent is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. I was responsible for shaping and molding this child into the man God was calling him to be. And it was my relationship with God that kept me strong and kept me putting one foot in front of the other. I’ve prayed for Brandon his whole life and today I’m seeing the fruit of my prayers.

I experienced God carry both of us through the twists and turns of life and single parenthood and not once did He ever leave us or forsake us just like He promised in His Word! Brandon is a straight “A” Honor Roll student with an exciting future in front of him and it’s because of this my husband and I rejoice knowing that anything Brandon wants to do, he’ll do with excellence and for the glory of the living God. (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

The Praying Parent

1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Battle Ready

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17

 I have a confession to make: I’m a news junkie. I get the news hourly on my iPhone, laptop and television and the more I watch and read the news, the more I see the battle that swirls around our lives. You might not think we’re in a battle but the cold reality is we are:

 

A father kills himself and his two young sons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A famous pop icon dies in her bath tub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Famous Hollywood people kill themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone who lives this life will find themselves on the frontlines of a battle. But the question is how do we fight the evil that threatens to engulf our lives? I believe the answer is to be battle ready. In 2 Chronicles 20:17 there is a succinct battle plan written out for us:

• REJOICE! Because we don’t have to fight the battle.
• STAND! Watch God work on our behalf.
• CONFIDENCE! God’s Holy Spirit empowers us.
• PEACE! No matter what, God is with us.

At some point in time, the battle will end and peace will prevail but today we can PRAISE! God because His Word guides us and teaches us that we CAN be prepared for anything the enemy throws at us. Why?  because we are battle ready! (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

God Has Our Back

Genesis 28:15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Deuteronomy 20:1  When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

As For Me and My House

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

Serving God was not Joshua’s only option. He could have adopted the religious beliefs and practices of his family heritage in the pagan land of Egypt. He could have accepted the idolatrous religion of his neighbors in the region where he now lived. These options probably looked like easier choices than worshipping God. But Joshua witnessed God’s faithfulness. (Joshua 23:14). He was convinced that his Lord was the only true God and that serving Him would bring victory and blessing. Joshua decided to serve God alone. He was determined to teach his entire household to honor his Lord. He had trusted God for victory on the battlefield and he knew that God could also give him spiritual victory in his home. You too must decide whom you will serve. If you set your mind wholeheartedly on serving God, your example will bring a tremendous blessing to your family. If you place your confidence in God, those around you may decide to trust Him too. Choose as Joshua did, to serve God unashamedly with all your heart, and then watch to see how God blesses your family. (Taken from Experiencing God Day by Day)

Before I got married, I knew exactly what kind of husband I wanted. A man who loved God as much as I did and a man who had a heart for lost souls and a passion for ministry. And so the Lord brought Larry and I together.  My husband is a natural born leader and he is determined and purposeful in everything he does. My heart swells with love for him when I watch him diligently prepare to teach our Sunday school class. I get excited every morning when I listen to Larry pray out loud for our family, ministry and our friends. I am honored to be his wife and I am humbled that he chose me to be his bride. You see, from the very beginning of our marriage, Larry determined in his heart and mind that his household would serve the Lord. My husband was recently promoted at work and given recognition as a key employee. He is now in position to advance even further along in the company, but he never allows his head to swell with pride. He always gives allegiance to his God first and he works for the Lord’s pleasure and service to the Kingdom of God and not man. He is my hero! (I love you sweetheart!!)

Spiritual Service to God

Exodus 23:25 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Joshua 24:14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

(Scripture references taken from the Thomson Chain Reference Bible, NIV)

 

Related articles

• As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! (dadsjourneyoffaith.com)

The Brokenhearted

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

Hi friend, how’s your heart today? Did you wake up this morning with a happy heart or a sad heart? If your heart is sad today, I have good news. God is right there with you in your pain, anguish and despair. The Bible says this: The LORD is close to the broken hearted! Friend, is your spirit heavy, weighed down or depressed? If so then I have even more good news: The LORD saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Throughout my 45 years of being on this planet my heart has been broken and my spirit has been crushed but when we experience these emotions the Lord promises the He is walking with us through it. We are never alone in our pain. It may feel like we are but this is simply not the truth. God’s provision is all around us and never ending.

Yes, life is hard and it’s full of twists and turns but HOPE always prevails! Be encouraged today friend that you are not alone in your pain and I’m praying for you in the love of Christ. (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

National Suicide Prevention Helpline

Looking out for friends and loved ones is an important part of preventing suicide. You can call the Lifeline to speak with a crisis worker on behalf of someone you are concerned about. The crisis workers have access to local resources, and can help you identify ways to get help to your loved ones. So call 1-800-273-TALK today to help save a life.

To find out more about the difference you can make in a friend or loved one’s life, visit http://www.whatadifference.org/

What if Someone Needs Help Online? If you see someone online who is suicidal, there are several steps you can take to help this person:

• Give him or her a helpful resource – Send 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and our website www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Tell him/her we are available 24/7 for anyone in suicidal crisis in the United States
• Take his/her words seriously and respond with compassion
• Encourage him/her to reach out for help to a friend, family member, counselor, clergy and other community members
• If the person online is saying he/she is going to kill him or herself at that moment or is in the process of attempting suicide, please try to find his/her location and call the local police or 911.

How To Be Helpful to Someone Who Is Threatening Suicide

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Don’t dare him or her to do it.
• Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
• Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Be Aware of Feelings Many people at some time in their lives think about suicide. Most decide to live because they eventually come to realize that the crisis is temporary and death is permanent. On the other hand, people having a crisis sometimes perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. These are some of the feelings and thoughts they experience:

• Can’t stop the pain
• Can’t think clearly
• Can’t make decisions
• Can’t see any way out
• Can’t sleep, eat or work
• Can’t get out of depression
• Can’t make the sadness go away
• Can’t see a future without pain
• Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
• Can’t get someone’s attention
• Can’t seem to get control

If you experience these feelings, get help! If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!  (This content was developed by the American Association of Suicidology.

See No Evil…Hear No Evil…Speak No Evil

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14

News flash…evil is everywhere we go. It seeps into everything including our relationships. How do I know this? Well, I’ve witnessed it for myself. Allow me to explain. I was serving in the children’s ministry at church and loving every minute of it. It was September and our church had launched a new program for our moms and I wanted to attend that night’s opening event. I packed up Brandon, making sure he had everything he needed for his stay in the nursery that night and off we went. But when we arrived at church we were turned away. But how did that happen? You see I hadn’t read the bottom of the flyer which said “sorry ladies no nursery tonight”. To say I was a little upset is an understatement. I was downright mad as a hornet and I let the woman at the door know it!

My tongue was an evil instrument that night. I said some pretty mean things to the woman at the door. The look on her precious face was pure hurt and I was so shocked at the things I said to her that instead of apologizing and asking for her forgiveness, I ran back to my car with Brandon and cried my eyes out. I had been really mean and she was simply doing her job. As I sat there with tears streaming down my face the most intense feeling of humiliation came over me.  But immediately Psalm 34:13 came to my mind: Keep your tongue from evil. I resolved in that moment to fix the ugly situation I had created with my anger. The next morning during my quiet time I wrote her a letter apologizing for my rude mouth and asked for her forgiveness. I decided to put the letter in her hand that day. I really didn’t know how receptive she would be to my olive branch, but I had to try nonetheless.

We arrived at church and as soon as I parked I saw her. She was standing at the door and I immediately handed her the letter. Before she was done reading the letter, I could see the tears forming in her eyes. She said “Bree, I forgave you last night” then she reached out and gave me a huge hug and told me she loved me and that all was forgiven. You see God’s Word is food for our soul and when you read His Word it’s rich with holy wisdom. I started this devotional with the words: evil is everywhere. This is a fact. But the Word of God is truth. I must do my part to cut down the evil that I contribute to the world. But how do I do this? In Psalm 34:11-14 God tells us how.

• Watch our mouths (mom used to say: if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything)
• Turn from evil
• Do good
• Seek peace
• Pursue peace

Let’s keep God’s Word front and center in our hearts today and allow His love to shine through us to others! (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

Running from Evil

Job 28:28 And he said to man, The fear of the Lord–that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.

Psalm 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

Related articles

• Benefits of Fearing the Lord (pastorbob.org)
• Understanding the Fear of the Lord (lorettaredmond.wordpress.com)

Taste and See

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:8-10

I love cooking for my boys. At this very moment, my hubby and son are at the grocery store picking up some extra groceries for dinner tonight. We’re all looking forward to my Taco dinner sensation. Ummm yummy, don’t you wish you could taste them for yourselves?

Well, in today’s verse, David is saying the same thing. He’s extending an engraved invitation to you to taste and see that the LORD is good! He doesn’t just want us to take his word for it; he invites us to discover all the goodness of God for ourselves.  As a little girl growing up I remember the smell of mom cooking at the stove. I was blessed to have a mom who stayed at home and had dinner on the table at the same time each day for as long as I could remember. I felt like the most honored kid in my neighborhood because I knew when my mom cooked she put her heart into it. Everything she prepared was good and delicious.

God is good too. The Bible says that God is love. Not just that He loves us but He IS love. We are blessed when we run to Him and seek Him for our needs, our hopes and dreams. When we turn to Him we lack nothing for our lives and the lives of those we love. The LORD God wants to bless us so that we might be a blessing to someone else. What needs do you have today? What are your hopes and dreams for your life and those you love?

Take a moment to stop and realize that the LORD is good. Allow that thought to roll around in your heart and mind for a minute. Savor the knowledge that all of God’s children are provided for and blessed! Carry that thought with you throughout your day today and rejoice in it! (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

The Goodness of God

Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

Psalm 119:68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us– yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

Related articles

• When You Have Lost Your Joy (abundant-life.me)
• Lord, You Alone (gratitudeisanattitude.wordpress.com)

One Thousand Gifts 115-120

In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12

Thank You LORD for…

 115. My son calling me Mama-Mama (a sweet nickname he has for me).

116. Lunch with Larry at Tysons II.

117. A special day of meeting my husband’s co-workers.

118. A lazy weekend with my family.

119. Family taco dinner night.

120. Brandon striving for excellence in school.

Seeking His Face

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:4-7

I love the Book of Psalms and I have all of my favorite verses underlined in my Bible. When life is hard and difficult, it’s the Psalms that I turn to first. They are a soothing and healing balm to my soul.

In Psalm 34:4-7 David is letting the world know that he sought the Lord and God answered him. Right off the bat, David is telling us that God is for real and anyone who looks to Him will find Him. The Psalmist was confident that in the very midst of his trouble, pain, fear and worry the Lord would show up. Why was David so confident? Because he had seen God in action before and this was how David’s confidence was built.

God was a sure thing in David’s life. The same God David conversed with over two thousand years ago is the same God that’s available to us today. But we have a part to play as well. In this day of Facebook, and Twitter it’s even more important to seek His face. Christians have unlimited resources at our disposal to be engaged with the Lord every day.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run to these verses, looking and searching for Him to soothe my battered soul. Friend, I don’t know what life looks like for you today, but be encouraged that when you stop to look for Him, Jesus will be found and I promise, you won’t be disappointed when you discover Him. (An original Eucharisteo Devotional by Bree Beal, 2012)

Looking for the Lord

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Acts 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

One Thousand Gifts 101-114

Oh LORD, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15

LORD I’m thankful for…

101. Brandon arriving safely home from school.

102. Laughter, laughter and more laughter with my beloved.

103. A yummy dinner: spicy pork chops, greens and baked beans. So good!

104. My hubby fixing a delicious afternoon brunch for us.

LORD thank You for…

105. A quiet Sunday at home.

106. A good night sleep.

107. Warm coats, hats and gloves for my family.

108. Larry’s job with his company.

109. A healthy son.

110. A healthy husband.

LORD God I give thanks to You for…

111. The smell of fresh baked cookies in the oven.

112. Wall to wall carpeting in our house.

113. Hot showers on cold Virginia mornings.

114. Snuggling on the couch, watching football with my beloved.

Do You Have a Life Verse?

Today I’m starting a new feature on my blog called: Food for Thought. Every now and then I’ll write a post that will (1) Ask you, the reader a question (2) Supply background information regarding the question asked and (3) Supply my own answer to the question. I hope you’ll join me in some interesting discoveries as we consider some food for thought. Ok let’s get started…

Today’s question is: Do you have a life verse?

Background information: A life-verse is a verse or passage in the Bible that is significant to you. It may define your life, give you inspiration or direction, be something that you hang onto as you face difficult circumstances, or it could even be the passage of scripture that brought you to a belief in Jesus Christ. (Taken from www.shareyourstorynow.org)

My answer to today’s question: My life verse is 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I’ve claimed 1Peter 2:9 as my life verse because I believe it covers many areas of the Christian life. It speaks volumes to me about how I am to live as a believer in Jesus Christ. The words that jump out at me in this verse are: chosen, royal and holy. Each word is like a warm blanket wrapped around my soul and it reminds me that even though I’m saved, God has work for me to do and the Lord calls me by some of His special names. Being a Christian is more than going to church and reading my Bible.

It’s about living out my faith out loud to the world and God expects me to do this knowing exactly who I am in His Kingdom. Every believer is a chosen, royal and holy man, woman or child of God. Time and again this verse brings me back to the basic foundations of my faith. 1 Peter 2:9 tells me that God chose me, made me royalty and declares me holy so I can shout from the roof tops my love of Jesus. I feel such peace when I read this verse because it empowers me to do all that God has gifted me to do.

So as I end this first installment of Food for Thought, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your own response to today’s question in the comment box on the blog.

Happy Friday y’all.