"For we are saved by Hope: but hope that is seen is not Hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" 
Romans 8:24
 

While channel surfing I ran across a program where a Priest was talking about a lifelong friendship he had begun with an older Jewish couple long before he was ordained as a priest. The three of them had maintained their friendship for several decades; and, over the years, they would attend various special events and services at each other’s respective place of worship. It was a special relationship honed out of love, respect, and admiration. Then, one day his Jewish friend called him to say that his wife had died from her long illness.  When the Priest came to console his friend during his time of grief, the grieving man turned to him weeping and said, “I’m truly jealous of you!”   Surprised by his friend’s words, the Priest replied, “—Uh?  What do you mean –I don’t have a wife.” His Jewish friend looked at him through teary bloodshot eyes and said, “Yes, I know. –That’s not what I meant. –I meant, as a Christian you have Hope!  But, as a Jew, all I have is a lifeless body...”  And, he began to weep.
 
Many times, as Christians, we forget that our belief in Jesus means that, we not only believe in the power of an omnipotent, omnipresent God while we live and breathe; we also believe in an eternal life with God.  --There’s more; we believe that if our loved ones are also Christians, then one day, we will be reunited in eternity. This ingrained reality really becomes our source of comfort after someone we loved has passed on. Obviously, at the beginning, this reality does not set in immediately; however, when we finally realize that the person is really not coming back to our current reality; our comfort is in knowing that we will be reunited one day. So, to those who are grieving today over the loss of a loved one, remember that God’s Love is so encompassing, His gift of Hope is yet another aspect of His eternal Love for you. 

As we commemorate, reflect, and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, remember that a grieving man, a man outside of our Faith, finally understood the overall depth of our belief in Jesus Christ. –As Christians, we have Hope!  L. 
 
Study Reference: Romans 8:24, Romans 15:13
From; "You Have Hope!" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: shutterstock

 “The Lord hath heard my supplications; The Lord will receive my prayer.”    Psalm 6:9

 
The Bible tells us that God hears our pleas, and will receive our prayers. Yet, most of us have no patience with God when it comes to our prayers.  We believe that just because He can answer immediately, He should.  Many times, it's easier for us to believe that our prayers have fallen on celestial deaf ears, than to honestly consider that our timing, regarding the issue we have prayed for, may be off.   That’s why faith is so important in the life of a Believer. It truly is the substance of things hoped for; and, the evidence of outcomes yet unseen.  For this reason, it is unnecessary to weep over something, or even someone that has been removed from your life.  Although we may have become attached to the thing or person, neither were necessary pillars for the future God planned for us.  Even if you believed that something or someone was to be an integral part of your  personal journey; often, the only reason that they were allowed to be there in the first place, was to teach you a valuable lesson about your Love, Character, Integrity, and Strength.
 
So, do not be discouraged, God’s response can emerge out of anything, through anyone, from anywhere. More importantly, it is an opportunity for Him to show that He has already opened doors just for you that no man can close; and, will close doors behind you, when necessary, that no man can open. As long as it is in the Will of God; if it is for you, it is for YOU; and nothing but an act of God can stop it from reaching you.  L.
 
**Now, it’s your turn to write down your own thoughts in your journal regarding today’s verse. Try to make it personal.

Study Reference: Psalm 6:9, Revelation 3:8
From: “Your Thoughts: Accepting...”  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock


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​“For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it.”     Ecclesiastes 7:12


In The Balancing Act I wrote, "Achieving true balance is individual. It is your ideal understanding of how God responds in your life, and can be the difference whether your gifts are used for greatness or mediocrity —success or failure." 

And, by the way, just because I wrote this doesn't mean that I have an inkling of precisely how you should get there. That is why the achievement of balance is determined by the individual. What is balance for others may be complete chaos for you, and vice versa. The only thing that we can be certain of is, if God is missing from your life you cannot have true balance. God placed Himself in your breath, so that in the very action of breathing, your soul would seek Him. 

Planning for success is also akin to balance. It allows you to develop a deeper perspective of the work it takes for you to achieve your goal. It offers a general road map so you can see all the options placed before you, determining your values, codes, and morals. It forces us to create a standard for our life, showing others the centripetal force that governs our actions. And, more importantly, it offers a testimony of the plans you made for your life, and the plans God placed before you in spite of the ones you created for yourself. 

Achieving success is also individual. I know for some people, there’s a prevailing belief that success has to do with money. However, believing this is deceptive; success has very little to do with money. The only people who believe success is money, are the ones who don't have it, or just received it. Money helps you buy things—more stuff, and, sometimes people, but it cannot buy God. It cannot buy faith, peace, and it rarely buys true love. And, I say rarely because, sometimes in our own confusion and ignorance, God blesses us anyway with the person we really need in our life. 

Ultimately, when you have balance in your life, you will ask God for guidance to achieve “success” in your venture, your project—your life.  If you do not, well,  ...God is quite patient.  L.

Study Reference: Ecclesiastes 7:12-14
From:"Achieving More Balance." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Burst

​"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."       Luke 6:38


All Christians know that giving is an essential part of being a Christian. Whether we give our time, share our talent, or donate our money, our faith propels us to understand that, as we give, we will receive showers of blessings and replenishments tenfold. Not necessarily monetarily, but in the form of the blessings that we actually need.

The act of giving, in and of itself, generates its own reward, both to the donor and the recipient. It is an act that somehow connects unknown people, one to another, in gratitude and love. The reward to donors is the understanding that God has already blessed us so abundantly, we have a virtual pool of resources we can offer others. 

...The acceptance of the gift also has its own reward. The reward to the recipients is the opening of our heart and mind in understanding that although we may "feel" depleted and alone, the fact is, we are not. It comes with an awareness that there are people unbeknownst to us who care about our wellbeing, simply because, they have been granted the gift of caring for others.

And to be certain, caring for and about others is a gift. -It allows us the opportunity to see our own posterity and frailties.  Like Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge; the more he held on to the things he should have shared, the more miserable he became. When he began to release the resources he was blessed with, his love, character, and quality of life expanded. The lesson he learned is exactly the same for the rest of us today.
 
When you are a Christian you develop a larger, more profound understanding of giving. We do not give to be replenished or blessed by God; we give because we are already replenished and blessed by God.
If for some reason you are not certain that giving is its own reward, try doing it today and see what happens.  L.

Study Reference: Luke 6:38
Excerpt from: "A Good Measure."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell 
photo: whitesource

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​"Again I say unto you, that if two of you agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there Am I in the midst of them.”   
Matthew 18:19-20
 

The human hand is the most significant analogy concerning the power of unity. A hand wide open with fingers outstretched, used with force, can slap, causing redness and pain to an offender.  However, a hand with fingers clench tightly into a fist will produce a powerful punch, knocking out the offender. The power of unity in your life offers a powerful punch to any entity that threatens you or those you love.  A family, neighborhood, or nation wrought together can be a powerful force against any foe.  Unity transcends all other issues, if you can unify any group for a cause, good or bad, the results can be miraculous or devastating, depending on the goal. 

Unfortunately for humanity, one act of discord separated us from God. Because of trickery and delusions of grandeur, we became subjected to evil. It is still like this today; we allow trickery and delusions of grandeur to take us from the Spirit of God, forgetting that, only with communion or common union with God can our lives be blessed. The most remarkable story of unity in the Bible came after the ascension of Jesus. It occurred, on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples replaced Judas Iscariot with Matthias and were 12 in number again. In one accord and in one vision, they were visited by the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus. In their unity they were granted the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, allowing all that gathered within hearing distance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their own native language.  

Today, it is not that difficult for people to understand the concept of unity; it is why we clan, gang, club, fraternize, commune, and sect. Even in our separation we attempt to unify, reconstituting all of our individual preferences as close to one accord as possible.

When in prayer, the Bible says, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there Am I in the midst of them.” 
It is true, you can pray by yourself; but, just imagine how significant the prayer would be if your whole family was praying together, or your friends, or your colleagues, or your city, or your nation, or this world; all in one accord, in one purpose, as one mind, calling out for an act of God. The action of unity is God’s purpose for your life, stop waiting for others; it could be that the unifying factor is you.  Isn't it time to join God in unity?   L.

Study Reference: Acts 1:1-26 & Acts 2:1-21  
From; "The Power of Unity." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

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"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  
John 15:7
 


​By nature I am an optimist; I really believe just about anything is possible!
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God has brought me through too many things for me to believe anything else. I am fascinated every time I board an airplane, recalling the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the two brothers who, through their bicycle engineering skills, developed the first airplane to actually take flight in the United States. Because of their quest, millions fly daily in planes weighing more than 100 tons. If you ever stop and really think about the concept of one hundred tons easily and swiftly zipping through the air, it becomes increasingly simple to dismiss the notion of an "impossible task."  There's more. 

What about your cell phone, Internet, flat screen television, and all those wireless devices, quietly emitting signals, so communication can be instantaneous; it was not that long ago that these things did not exist.  In medicine, we can look at the breakthroughs in laser eye surgery, where almost instantaneously, the eye heals itself, allowing the patient to miraculously see without glasses. Not to mention, the human body itself; a vessel God designed so exquisitely that even large quantities of poisons have to work really hard just to kill us. The Bible has already told us, there are no impossible tasks.  All things are possible through God. (Matthew 19:26)

All things are possible through God, was the thought I had after reading Mark 6:37.  It is where the disciples come to Jesus, asking Him to send the five-thousand people, who had been rapt by His teachings all day, into the villages to buy something to eat.  Jesus responds by telling His disciples, “Give ye them to eat.”  
It is possible that the disciples, even after being with Jesus for some time, didn't really understand that He wanted them to believe in the power of God as He did. You can’t really blame them for not understanding that they, through their belief in God, could feed the 5000 people who had followed them and stayed to hear the teachings of Jesus. 

If it were to happen today, even the most die-hard Christian optimist would still send the multitudes into town to feed themselves.  Why would we really believe we have the power to transform the lives of 5000 people? -To actually feed them?   I believe the notion of “feeding” is key. When Jesus was admonishing Peter, He asked, “Lovest thou Me?”   When Peter replied, Jesus charged him by saying “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)   In our prayers we say, “Our Father which art in heaven ...give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:9-11)

To feed someone is a metaphor for teaching, training, and/ or mentoring, so they can be nourished, full and satisfied.  Whether you are getting your Daily Bread through a Bible study class, church sermons, or, reading the Bible on your own under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; as a Christian, Jesus expects for you to be fed and to feed others.  He expects for you to know that no task is impossible if you believe in Him.  
Impossibility is not a word for God; it should not be a word for you!   L. 

Study Reference: John 15:5-7
From: "Believing In The Impossible." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock​
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​“And he said, Hearken ye, all... Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you,... fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them; for the LORD will be with you.”    2 Chronicles 20:15, 17


Sometimes, being a Christian is seen as a weakness —a lack of strength to fight back when someone is desperately trying to destroy you.  Somehow you think to yourself, "Why are they trying to destroy me? They can't know that I am a Christian, a beloved child of the Most High God!"   —Ah, but they can!  If you are particular about what you do, what you say, how you act, and whom you select as friends, they know. If your spirit emits love and compassion to others when it is least expected; then, they are watching you when you least expect it!  And, if by profession of faith, you have chosen to follow the principles of Jesus when no one is looking, then they  will continue to watch you when you are not looking.  

"It is not my battle, but the Lord's;"  should be your personal mantra when you feel under siege by others in your surroundings.  Then, you should nonchalantly move on, offering up your battle to the Lord. Do not buckle, do not waver!  Bravely wave your banner high!

So, when you feel totally persecuted, go about your merry business and conduct yourself with the valor and integrity that belongs to a child of the Most High God. Remember, it is their job to watch you, to catch your mistakes and missteps —to take you off your game!  It is your responsibility to allow God to prove He is good all the time! Do what you are supposed to do.  STAND firm in your integrity and honor God in all you do.  Let them do what they do.
—Eventually, they will find out that, "Their arms are too short to box with God!" —Hallelujah!  L.

Study Reference: 2 Chronicles 20:15-25 
From: "Arms Too Short to Box With God."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
*Original Title, James Weldon Johnson
photo: Arches National Park, Utah, pinterest

​“And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.  And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”        1 Samuel 17:32-33


The story of David’s conquest of Goliath is probably one of the most famous stories in the Bible.  It would be easy to examine David’s conquering of Goliath as a metaphor for whatever battles you might be facing, however, let’s look at something else.  

Although as children we believed David was about 12 or 13 years old when he met Goliath, it is much more probable that he was in his late teens to mid-twenties. As the youngest of eight boys, we can imagine he was a little rambunctious, with that wonderful agility young men get from working outdoors—strong, sinewy, and muscular. His responsibility of caring for his father’s sheep was probably a great way to keep him out of trouble while learning the responsibilities of a shepherd, a task not taken very lightly in tribal Israel. When Jesse, David’s father, asked him to take provisions to his older brothers who had been perched atop a mountain for forty days prepped for war against the Philistines; chances are, he had no idea David was planning to stay! After all, he was not even dressed for battle!  

Let’s recap the story for those who don’t remember the details.  After hearing David’s bravado while speaking with his brothers and the other soldiers, Saul’s soldiers, recounting David’s bravery, take David to the King. By this time, King Saul had already lost God’s favor due to disobedience; and, unbeknownst to Saul, Samuel the Prophet had already anointed David to be the next King of Israel.  While speaking to King Saul, David repeats the same level of bravado he used while speaking to the soldiers.  Out of options, and as fearful as the rest of his army, King Saul, a massive man, offers David his own over-sized attire to fight Goliath.  David sheds Saul’s attire, and straps on his own unique armament, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones, as his weapons of choice. 

Think about this. Did Saul really expect for David to return undefeated? No. He actually sent him out there to die. Saul was simply trying to buy time, or even worse—surrender!  He had no idea that God’s favor was with David.
We can imagine David tending sheep, wondering when he was going to get the chance to join his brothers on the field of battle, daydreaming of a time when he could show the Philistines, and all the enemies of God, God’s strength. 

There are going to be times in your life when you too will be thrust into battle, simply to buy time for someone else who, running out of options, has no idea what else to do!  You will be called to step into the gap; and, they will try to give you their armaments to fight, but theirs will not be a custom fit for you.  At that time, and on that day, they will have no idea that God is using them to help you step into your destiny.  And, like King Saul, they will have absolutely no clue that your time has come!  The question is--will you be ready?  L. 

Study Reference: 1 Samuel 17:1-58, 18:6-15 
From: "Will You Be Ready?" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Matthew Henry; StockSnap

​“...And he, trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me do? And The Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”    Acts 9:6


Somehow, as humans, we find it difficult to remain on course. There is always something to distract us from our goal; people, places, things, work, —even family.  There are times when God governs our distractions so that we may fulfill His Will; and, there are times when He does not.  Our goal, as the distractions occur, is to use our inspired sense of discernment to determine the difference.

If God initiates our distraction, there are no deceptions, hidden agendas, or shady dealings; and somehow, miraculously, there is no lost time. —We remain right on schedule!  Almost everyone can attest to this; since, it has happened to most of us, at one time or another.  Just think about it for a few minutes; you'll remember.
You may remember a time when you thought you were lost, but found exactly what you were looking for.  Or, when you were in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and met the person who would become your closest friend, or lifelong partner. 

When our distractions are not initiated by God, they are usually created by us, due to our own disobedience, or innate fears. These distractions can be destructive; and, they can make accessing the detour routes back to God a difficult process.  However, do not be dismayed, there is always a road back to God!

To get back on track, each person will have to travel their respective routes separately to understand how to access the detours delivered by God.  The process is highly personal; and, like most detour routes, they are long, winding, unavoidable, and not to our liking.  Like Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, found in Acts 9:3-21, the process selected by God to get us back on track can be quite a shock to our system!  However, just like Paul’s conversion, God will also send someone to help us to clearly see the new route.  L.

Study Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6, Acts 9:3-21
From: "Course Correction." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo; publicdom
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“But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call unto Him.”
Psalm 4:3


Most people believe that they “find” God on their own, not realizing that God has always been there patiently waiting for them to seek Him. Yet, for most Believers, there will be times when God will prod you to speak to someone about Jesus in order to help them understand more about His Love.

Today’s verse reminds us that God sets apart those that are godly for Himself; but, quite often, He also sets apart those that are wallowing in the midst of sin; since, unlike us, He knows their heart and their future. 

Think about it. He set aside Zacchaeus, a hated and thieving tax collector who hid in a tree, hoping that he could look at God without being seen. He set aside each of His disciples, including Judas, while they were in the midst of doing their regular daily routine. He set aside Paul, stopping him cold; a man who, in his zeal to uphold the religious traditions of the past, was on his way to murder Christians.  —He even set aside you and me.  So remember, no one is lost until their very last breath; and even then, there's Grace.  Every single person can be touched by God, even while they are in the midst of doing something that you consider ungodly. 

It doesn’t matter if someone is hiding, working, or zealous about doing something insane, they can still be touched by the Spirit of God. —Just a little something for you to remember the next time you are making a decision on “who” you should speak to about the Love of God. L.

**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today's verse in your journal. Don't forget to make it personal to you.​

Study Reference: Psalm 4:3
From: “Your Thoughts: Set Apart (I).”  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Monique Forestier (climber),  photo: Red Bull

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 “Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy Paths.”     Psalm 25:4


Although God’s Path is perfect for us, it may not be as sexy or even as exciting as the alternative. Each day we make the choice to either follow God’s desire for our life or to follow our own.  The selection can be the result of our own tenaciousness to follow God; or, it can be the outcome of a failure to select wisely the first time around.  Either way, we will eventually learn that God’s Will, will be done.  Sometimes we select God’s Path simply because, we get so tired of selecting the wrong one so often that, we make the decision to go against our own natural inclination of selecting the wrong choice.  So, as a result, we end up asking ourselves WWJD –what would Jesus do? Just to keep ourselves on track, and going in the right direction.  
 
The Bible calls God’s Path, the narrow road; or, more poetically, "the road less traveled."  It is called this simply because, not everyone will make the decision to travel its path.  Unlike the winding detour-filled path of the wider road, the narrow road can appear straight with few, if any, detours.  At the beginning, when looking at the two roads, we can become bedazzled by all the twists and turns of the wider road; believing that, all the twists and turns will mean there is a world of excitement ahead. Young, silly, and confused, we often select the wider road. Although in hindsight, the distinctions between the two roads were easy to see.   

In the end, the choice will be yours to decide; will it be your way, or God’s Way?  If you are just starting out and trying to make a decision, this is a pretty straight forward question with very little camouflage.  
​–The answer will be determined, by just how battered  or blessed you want your life to be.  L.

Study Reference: Psalm 25:4
From: Your Thoughts: “The Road Less Traveled.”  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: Wordpress
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​“For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.”  
​Galatians 5:14


It has been said that we are separated by "six degrees of separation." Which means that most of us can find any person in the world, without knowing them, by connecting with six other people or less. When we add in the connectivity of the Internet and all the social media websites, any computer-literate person can peck a few strokes of a keyboard to connect with just about anyone.

Although the "six-degrees" concept has been proven many times, the truth is, if we really understood this concept, we would never waste any of our interactions with others. 
Think about it for a moment; an average person can connect with any person in the world without personally knowing them. This means that, no person on earth is impossible to meet or influence concerning the Word of God.

Hmmm,... –It appears that God gave us an embedded GPS microchip coded directly into our DNA to find, teach, love, or influence one another. So, the next time you interact with someone, know that your interaction will be magnified 6 degrees out into the world, and has the potential to possibly return 6 degrees back to you! 

Today, why not live in the moment, recognizing that every human interaction that you have today, has the absolute potential to eventually change the world, and /or someone's life, –even yours. L.

Study Reference: Galatians 5:14
Excerpt from: "Six Degrees of Separation." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: Pixabay


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"...But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”   
Jeremiah 31:32-34

 
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There is a reason that Jesus says, "For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there Am I in the midst of them."  (Matthew 18:20)  It is the praying people of God who form a church; and, it is people who invoke God's presence with their prayers, supplications, and submittal to God's will.  We have all seen empty boarded up churches in complete disarray across our nation; God is not sitting in those churches waiting for people to show up. We have also seen storefront churches with only 20 people praising and worshiping, no matter what some of us may think about their choice of venue, God is in the midst of them.  It is the people who invoke the presence of God. 

Of course, the problem in the church is also the people.  We bring our egos, issues, past experiences, pretense, and fear with us when we gather together. Sometimes not completely understanding that those are the very things we need to leave at the door of the church before we enter.  Our church is supposed to be a refuge, a place where we gather to invoke God's presence.  Not because we cannot invoke God's presence in the park, or in our homes, or in our closet, but because, we have set aside a specific place to invoke reverence, worship, praise, and hope.  It is also a place where non-Believers, because of the presence of Believers, can feel, see, and /or hear the presence of God; not because of the place, but because of the people. 

...Architects will tell you if a building is boarded up, the building will decay much faster than if people were in it using its doors, floors, and walls. Even in decay, with people in it, it will last longer. There is something very special about the presence of God’s people. God has hidden a secret treasure map deep within the recess of our hearts for us to find Him. Let us gather together, because together, we invoke His ultimate power in unity to combat evil.  However, even then, understand that you in your solitude, through Jesus Christ, have a direct conduit to God.   L.  

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Study Reference: Jeremiah 31:32-34
From:"Within YOU."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: istock

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”     Matthew 7:1-2

 
Christians are the most judgmental people on the earth! -I know, I'm one!  We speculate about the sins of others quite easily; in many instances, we can assess their sins upon meeting them, condemning them to Hades in about 3 minutes flat!  "Oh, she's a Hoochie!" "He's an alcoholic."  "Drug addict!" "She has 3 baby-daddies." "Gay!"  "Homeless!" "Broke!"  The list can go on and on, because it is so easy for us to forget that we are also sinners. 

You may say, "This has nothing to do with me;"
and, it may be true. Our overt sins openly seen by all are very different than those manifested under the guise of secrecy. Nonetheless, the secret ones still exist!  And, although covert, they maintain some sort of power over us.  The truth is, every time we see someone who is under the grips of an overt sin, we should thank God for His Grace, and quietly say to ourselves, “There, but for the Grace of God, go I!”   

Our shame, on the other hand, is one of those characteristics that we take with us through life. 
If you believe that you have done something wrong, whether it is real or imagined, shame will be that proverbial demon with the pitch fork, prodding your memory of a long gone incident, back into the forefront of your mind.  It shapes your self-esteem, and often, your self-respect. It can strengthen you, if you are strong enough to dismiss it; or, destroy you, if you are weak enough to let it.  It will follow you if you are very young, and haunt you if you are old enough to know better.
In Jesus’ ministry, it was the thing that those who came forth for healing needed –the cleansing of shame. There was healing for the "Woman with the issue of blood," ashamed of her illness. There was advice for Nicodemus who was ashamed to fraternize with Jesus in the light of day. There was cleansing for Mary Magdalene who was ashamed of her prostitution; and, there was redemption for Zacchaeus, the tax collector who was ashamed of stealing. If you check the others, you’ll notice that shame is a resounding chord.

We have all suffered from shame at one time or another. Some of us still carry the scars of shame from some incident that occurred in childhood. Even now that most of us are mature adults, we realize that many of those things that brought us shame as children or young adults really did not warrant the attention we gave it. 

Have compassion. It is a Jesus principle that humanity still has a difficult time administering. In today’s culture it takes only a few minutes and the click of a mouse to destroy someone. –Literally and figuratively, sending out their personal shame to be continuously ridiculed worldwide.  ..Even if you are a Christian, life and love can be confusing at any age; and often, we don't think about any future consequences until it is way too late.

Our shame began with the Fall of Adam & Eve; and, we have been trying to hide our shame since that day until now.
​–However, as Christians, we accept the cleansing of shame from our lives when we fully understand and accept God’s complete encompassing Love for us.  –Isn't it time that we paid His Love forward to others? 

Study Reference: Matthew 7:1-5   
Excerpt from: "Passing Judgment & Ashamed ll.” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Jin Young-Yu, sculptor 
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“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.“    
Psalm 18:3 a


When is God worthy to be praised?

There are some people who will only praise God when they are in church. And, there are others who will only sing the songs found in their hymnal. However, praise is personal; often, our songs are our heartfelt prayers set to music.  Whether we are happy or sad, or full of joy or sorrow, the songs we sing are our way of calling out for God’s mercy and goodness.  It is our soul’s poetry to Him and it can be completely random and made up as we go. So remember, when you call on God you do not have to be eloquent, on key, in unison, or even audible; your song simply has to be a song that encompasses your heartfelt love and honest praise. 
So today, lift your voice, sing your song, and Praise His Name!  L.  
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**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today's verse in your journal.

Study Reference: Psalm 18:3
From: "Praise" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

“I will love Thee, O Lord, my Strength.”    
​Psalm 18:1


Today’s verse is really very simple. As a Christian, one day you will look back on the worst days of your life, and realize that the only reason you survived without falling apart, is because, while you were wallowing in deep sadness, thinking that you would  never recover, the strength of God’s Love revealed itself in your weakness.  His Strength compelled you to make yourself breakfast.  It helped you to get to work, it increased your productivity, and brought you through to the other side of your sadness unscathed. 

Looking back, you now know that there is a process of self-discovery that no one can tell you about; it is the knowledge that God’s Love is real in your life.  It is not praise, and it is not worship; it is simply a place in time when you know, that you know, God has been The Supernatural Strength in your life the entire time. Yes. In good times and in bad times, He has been with You!  -You thought that you were all alone, seeing only one set of footprints marking all the places where your life has been. But now, looking back at all the times when you felt broken, just like the poem, Footprints in the Sand,  today, you know  that, God has been carrying YOU the entire time!  L.

**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today's verse in your journal.

Study Reference: Psalm 18:1
From: “Your Thoughts: My Strength In Weakness."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: J. Jimenez ​

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband, for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband, in that said thou truly... The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did; is not this The Christ?”     John 4:17-18, 28-29


We need at least one person in our life that will tell us the truth, no matter what the circumstance. It is always worth listening to, although sometimes, it can be difficult to hear. The truth allows us to make the necessary adjustments in our lives to get us back on track. And, while it is easier to be with someone who continuously tells you what you prefer to hear, it will not allow you to grow to the optimum level you were destined to reach.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman-at-the-well, He told her intimate details about her life; details that were known only to her and the men she had been intimately involved with. He lovingly told her that her insatiable desire to be with several different men came from a much deeper yearning for God’s Love.  A Love so intensely complete, it lasts forever. Outwardly, she happily went through her daily routine, secretly knowing there was an unfulfilled void in her life. When Jesus revealed the scattered details of her life, she immediately recognized her hidden desire and lack of fulfillment. Yet, it is interesting that she did not deny the truth about her life, she accepted the criticism of her past, and with it, the opportunity to change her future. In accepting what Jesus offered, she became so completely fulfilled by the Love of God, she left her pitcher and immediately went into the city to tell any and everyone about her encounter.

Find the truth in the criticism of others; sometimes, it may be just the wake-up call you need to foster a reaction, course alteration, or serious contemplation. Dismiss the criticism said in anger; because, although there may be truth in it, it will be difficult for you to see through all the inherent drama of the circumstance. If there is no one in your midst whom you can trust to honestly tell you the truth concerning a given situation, then tell your story to a perfect stranger. At least then, you will know that the person has no vested interest, is completely indifferent, and could probably care less about how you feel after they tell you the truth.  Not to mention, there is a really good chance that God will allow them to tell you exactly what you need to hear; since, you may have already decided, not to listen to Him.

The Samaritan woman-at-the-well made a conscious decision to accept the truth in the criticism she received. The Love of God freed her from concealing the weaknesses of her past, and empowered her to expose the power of her future!  Become what the Love of God has empowered you to be!  L.

Study Reference: John 4:17-18, 28-29 
From:"The Best Critic." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Sharpiron
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“But this I say, he which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remains forever.”      
Corinthians 9:6-9
 

​The principle of blessing and serving others is very basic; it is a continuance of the Blessing Cycle God has bestowed on you and your family.  In fact, in many instances it can be a cycle that began long before you were born. 

When I was 10 years old, I watched as my Grandmother created a “care box” full of supplies for a neighbor in the small town where we lived. The neighbor was apparently going through a rough time financially, and was having difficulty feeding her family.  My grandparents were certainly not wealthy. However, they were more fortunate than many others in their small town in Central America; because, they had a small income from several farms and a monthly income in U.S. dollars from my parents and other family members in America. 

As I watched my Grandmother stockpile all the supplies she bought into the box, I asked her who the supplies were for.  A little stunned by her response, I said, "But Grandma, you don't even like that woman!"  And she said, “I don't do this for her, I do this for you.”  -Looking at her in disbelief, I said, “-Huh, me?”   She repeated her statement, and further explained, “I do it so that if YOU ever find yourself in need, someone will do this for you.”  Somehow, even at ten years old, I understood.  Now that she has passed on, I realize that I have been blessed many times due to her acts of kindness.  And now, I have lived long enough to see acts of kindness from others extended to members of my own family. 

The Blessing Cycle is a really simple premise. However, if you really need to fully understand this concept, here it is; bless others with your gifts, talents, and /or fortune, so you and your generation / descendants will be continuously blessed.  L. 
​ 
Study Reference: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
From: "Continuing The Blessing Cycle." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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"...Then said He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”      
Matthew 9:37-38 


While reading Malcolm Gladwell’s New York Times bestseller, The Tipping  Point, I came across a line I found fascinating. It is a relatively simple premise; a theory in economics called the "80/20 Principle." The short version is, within any group, the key word being any, “80 percent of the work will be done by 20 percent of the participants.”  Stop and take a moment to think about it.  

Gladwell writes: 
“In most societies, 20 percent of criminals commit 80% of crimes. 20 percent of motorists cause 80% of all accidents. 20 percent of beer drinkers drink 80% of all beer.” He further states, “When it comes to epidemics, this disproportionality becomes even more extreme; a tiny percentage of people do the majority of the work.”   

This simply means that if we are referring to HIV, STDs, the flu, or any other virus, the 20 percent rule is much lower; it’s closer to 6%.  So, 6% of the group will infect 94 percent of the group if the virus is not isolated and/ or treated within a given time period. 

After reading this, I began thinking of other areas where this principle could be seen. Currently in the United States there are approximately 300 million people.  Approximately 45% of our population—135 million people, are Christian; this includes all denominations.  Yet, Christians have enormous influence in the U.S. Our influence encourages or discourages other voters in selecting their regional and national leaders.  In an effort to honor Puritan values on sobriety, regional “Blue Laws” are enforced on non-Christians weekly; and, whether we see its remnants or not, the Ten Commandments is still the basis for our judicial system.  So, this leads me to think about prayer. If the 80/20 principle works on a whole in economics and is essentially flawless when referring to an epidemic, why shouldn’t it work in God’s economy?  Why shouldn’t it work for prayer in your church?  

The original principle came directly from our Bible to begin with. Although God’s effecting percentage is much smaller and covers a much larger group.  The Bible says:

“And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will rid evil beast out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land…And 5 (5%) of you shall chase a hundred; and a hundred (1%) of you shall put ten thousand to flight; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”  (Leviticus 26:6, 8)

So, here’s the question of the day.  Is 20% of your church praying for the other 80% of your group?  Who is praying for your family?  Who covers your building? What about your block? Your city? Your state? Your country? This planet?  Our universe?  

In Matthew 9:36-38, Jesus, looking at the multitude remarked how large the harvest was, and how few laborers there were. If forty-five percent of those in our nation are confessed Christians, there should be no grumbling about the state of this world. In God’s economy where 2 or 3 gathered in His name can enact change, 135 million people can surely pray to change the heartfelt desperation of 6 to 7 billion lives.   L.  

Study Reference: Matthew 9:36-38  
From: "The 80/20 Principle." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​Photo credit: Justin Dingwall

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"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”   
1 Timothy 2:1, 2:8 


Recently I have been attending a church near my home.  It is literally within walking distance from my home; so on those rare occasions where I may not feel like attending services, I actually have no excuse but to roll out of bed and go. While visiting the church I was asked by the Prayer Ministry Leader to join their prayer group for prayer. I was a little surprised since it is customary for these groups to pray for specific people or issues within the church; nevertheless, I joined their group for prayer. 

Prayer is a personal issue, and intercessory prayer is even more personal. The idea of group intercessory prayer is based on Matthew 18:18-20, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them...”  Yet, not every person can intercede on behalf of others.  In order to intercede on behalf of another person, you truly have to believe anything is possible.  And, I mean anything!  True intercession, is based on clearing all of your own personal biases, concerns, fears, judgments, and preconceived notions so you can be in full agreement with the other person’s request. If the request is not something you agree with, you cannot pray for that request.  It simply cannot garner a solution from God based on the principle of touching and agreeing. 

Herein lies the problem.  In order to intercede on behalf of another, the other person really should tell you, in confidence of course, what their issue is.  They should not speak around the issue, talk in code, or ask in secrecy.  The idea is, you should actually agree with what the other person is asking for.  If it is done in secret, how do you know that you agree with the petition being place before God?   You don’t!  If they can’t tell you, then maybe they should find someone they can confide in, or begin the process of praying alone in their prayer closet. The intercessor has a spiritual responsibility to maintain the personal confidence of the person they are praying for. There are no grey areas concerning the confidentiality of the matter. Unless you are purposely enlisting the spirit-filled prayers of additional prayer partners in a prayer group for the person in question, everything told to you should be in confidence.  Take the time to pray for others, omit your own fears and truly pray for them; because, you never know when you will need someone to pray for you.  L. 

Study Reference:  1 Timothy 2:1, 2:8, Mark 1:35
From:"Praying For Others."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: sherry zhao