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A Working Ministry

8/31/2019

"…Then Jesus went with them. And when He was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying unto Him, Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou should enter under my roof; Wherefore neither thought myself worthy to come unto Thee; but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great Faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”
Luke 7:6-10

As a society we need teachers, doctors, engineers, nurses, bus drivers, clerks, salespeople, etc., to make our economy and even God’s economy work. Imagine the impact on our economy, if as part of our everyday work-life Godly principles were a central part of our daily work. Imagine the difference it would make in dealing with your boss, co-workers, and clients. We would actually practice the principles of Jesus Christ on a daily basis in a place where we and those around us need it the most. In addition, all aspects of our work life would be based in ethics, integrity, empathy, and respect.

There is a fallacy among newly committed Christians concerning their commitment to church work. Sometimes, when we become newly committed Christians, we convince ourselves that we must work for the church full-time. We somehow feel we should give up the purpose we were created to work full-time in Church service or ministry; not fully understanding that, our full-time work can become our ministry. And, if we are working within a career that is our calling, it should be our ministry.

One of the most powerful acts of Faith in the Bible came from the Roman Centurion in today’s passage who asked Jesus to heal his servant. As Jesus approached the Centurion’s home, the Centurion replied "...but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." We often speak about his Faith prior to this encounter; however, just imagine how he conducted his army after this encounter!

Yes, utilize your gifts and talents within the church; however, remember that you are an ambassador of Christ, and all that you do must reflect your calling. L.

Study Reference: Luke 7:1-10
From: "A Working Ministry." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Tahir Juakali

Blessings Upon You!

8/30/2019

"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And ...the Lord Blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake and the Blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.”   Genesis 39:2-5

Did you know that by the very nature of being one of God’s chosen that you are blessed? Not only are you blessed, but everything under your authority is blessed. It is not only limited to your personal household; it goes wherever you are. The blessing goes with you like an unseen aura that is spiritually visible by all. It is in your surroundings, job, company, accounts, friends, and yes, even your boss will be blessed simply because you are there. As you walk in the path of righteousness, under submission to Jesus Christ, your blessing encompasses all you do—your entire existence.

It is even more important for you to know that your blessing is seen by others. You may not feel it, or even acknowledge it, but it is prevalent all around you. If you are a physician, your patients and practice will be blessed. If you are a teacher, your students will be blessed. If you are an executive, your business will be blessed. If you are a janitor, the very floors you mop and clean will be blessed simply because you are the one taking care of it.

You may not like the idea of others around you toggling your blessing; however, it cannot be stopped, it is by nature, the fulfillment of the receipt of the blessing.   It radiates from you to those things that are important to you. If God has chosen to bless you, then the people or things you put energy towards will also be extraordinarily blessed.

When Potiphar, the Egyptian, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites, he was simply purchasing a new slave for his household. But, everything that Joseph touched became successful. Potiphar noticed that when he placed Joseph in charge of the fields, they began to flourish abundantly. And, when he promoted him to manage the transactions of his household, they too became exceedingly prosperous. By the time he placed Joseph in charge of everything, Potiphar was doing so well, he did not know the extremes of his own wealth. Imagine, even his wife believed she was more desirable because of Joseph’s attention. She felt desirable enough to proposition Joseph to her private chambers, in order to tempt him into an illicit affair. -He refused and ran.

Therein lies the caveat to maintaining your blessing, temptation. Falling prey to temptation is by far a surefire way of corrupting your blessing. We forget that, no matter how hard we appear to be working, or how skilled we are at what we are doing, it is the blessing, and our respect and honor of God fulfilling the blessing that creates success.

Unfortunately, we have a weakness—our ego. When we begin to acknowledge our ego or ourselves as the architect of our success, it wanes. Joseph did not fall for the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, because he understood through whom his life was being blessed. Joseph could have accepted her advances; after all, his master did place him in charge of everything under his household. Keeping Potiphar’s wife happy could have been part of the plan; she probably would have kept the secret. However, Joseph understood his sin would be against God, and it would corrupt his destiny and God’s blessings in his life.

What about you?  Are you thanking God for your success; or, are you prone to believe your success comes from your own self? Remember, God has granted your blessing as one of His chosen; however, you have not received the blessing for yourself only. Like Joseph, whether your blessings are words, work, wealth, or wisdom —eventually, it must be shared. L.

Study Reference: Genesis 39:1-23
From: "Blessings Upon You." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Jared Erondu

Accepting Help

8/29/2019

"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” Exodus 17:11-12

There are times in your life when you will have to accept the help of others to accomplish a task God has asked of you. The story of Moses on the mountain raising his staff against the Amalekites to win the battle helps us to understand the acceptance of help from others when we need it.

As part of Moses’ covenant with God, he was to use his staff as a means of accomplishing various tasks for God. We have all seen the scene in the movie, The Ten Commandments, where his staff is used to devour the snakes of Pharaoh. Moses’ staff would prove God over and over again. Yet, in the first battle against the Amalekites, as Moses stands on the mountain with his staff raised high, his hands begin to tire; and, like any of us, he eventually has to drop his arms to his side out of fatigue. The problem is, every time he does so, the Amalekites begin winning the battle. Noticing the problem, Aaron and Hur, who were on the mountain with him, sit him down on a rock, and with each man on either side of him, THEY hold up his hands for him and Joshua's army goes on to defeat the Amalekites. It is a great example of kinship, friendship, honor, respect, love and teamwork used to win a battle.

Sometimes, there are things that we must do alone that God will ask of us for our own growth as individuals. And, there are times when God will need for us to work with others because, working alone is simply not enough to accomplish the task. The Bible says, Moses’ “hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Remember, true friendships are sacred; true friends will find a way to help, even if they have to use their hands to hold up your hands as part of the process. L.

Study Reference: Exodus 17:11-15
From: "Accepting Help." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: bigstock

The Gift of Failure

8/28/2019

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”
1 John 5:14-15
“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

We have been told more often than not that, "failure is not an option;" so, it has become increasingly difficult to deal with the things in our lives we consider failures. We have taken failure out of the equation of living, because we are under the premise that failure means weakness; not understanding that, failure simply eliminates one or more methods of doing something, and can be a stepping stone to the reality of what is necessary to achieve success.

Years ago, while reading about Thomas Edison, I was surprised at how many times he failed before getting the design and function of his version of the light bulb to work. Although he remained determined to use electricity to power light in a tube, he failed miserably at it for years. Many other inventors had attempted to create a long lasting “light bulb;” however, the best bulb they were able to create was a light bulb that lasted only 3-4 hours at best. Edison wanted a light bulb that would last months. When he and his team finally got the basic concept of the bulb to work, he was asked how he finally came up with the solution. Edison replied, "I have not failed a thousand times. I have successfully discovered a thousand ways not to make a light bulb."

Many of us look at our failures as huge stumbling blocks in our lives; specific points where we have fallen short of our own expectations or the expectations of others, when in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Many times our failures are not the issue. The issue is, like Edison and his team, whether we are able to get up, dust ourselves off, and walk back to the drawing board to find a new method that works.

To be honest, we have been “failing” at various things our entire lives. We simply have not looked at these endeavors as failures. For example, when we learned to ride a bike for the first time, and all the times afterwards until we were able to ride without falling. What about when we learned to drive a car, or used a computer, or attempted to cook, etc. We regard these simply as learning, albeit by trial and error. Yet, whether it is trial and error, trial by fire, or trial of faith, our quest is to try to get it right—as right as we possibly can.

We will never be excellent at everything; some things are meant for us to appreciate, not undertake. However, when we fail, and we will fail at various undertakings in our lives, the point is for us to get up and try again, or move on to something else. Our failures should not condemn us, destroy us, or bind us from succeeding in the future. They are simply examples of how not to do something in the future. In addition to this, there will be times when our failure has nothing to do with anything we did. In those cases, the method used was absolutely correct, but the timing was off.

Even Faith can fall under the failure category. It’s when we find ourselves in a situation where having Faith is the only viable option in determining our success—and then, it fails also. When this occurs, understand that failure of Faith simply reinforces that we must increase our resolve, and strengthen our belief. It’s when we discover that Faith, like everything else in our lives, is not easy. It takes trial and error to perfect it; and, it takes practice—purposeful practice.

Yes, failure is optional, but Faith is not. You will need to truly believe in success before it becomes evident; understanding that, after many trials and a few good errors, failure is a gift. —A gift given to you so you can pursue and achieve Faith. L.

Study Reference: 1 John 5:14-15, 2 Chronicles 15:7
Excerpt from: "The Gift of Failure." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: tapyaps

Compassion

8/27/2019

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

Several years ago, I watched as ABC’s Nightline featured a story about Mitch Albom and his book, Tuesdays with Morrie. Mitch Albom, an acclaimed writer for the NY Times and a former student of Morrie Schwartz, learned that his former sociology professor was dying from a type of sclerosis called, ALS. It appears ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) slowly robs the body's motor functions until the entire body finally shuts down. When the series began, Morrie could move his upper body; by the time the series ended, he could barely move his lips to speak.
The book chronicles the final two years of his life and the wisdom he imparts to his former student. The series, like the book, is extremely emotional; and, throughout the series Morrie explains his own emotional turmoil concerning his imminent death.

Here's the thing I found compelling. During one of the final segments of the broadcast series, Mitch Albom asks Morrie, “What is the one thing you feel people should know?” He thought for a second and said, “Be compassionate.” As I sat listening to the broadcast, I thought about the brilliance in the statement! Have more compassion for each other. It is a simple statement; yet, oftentimes we find it difficult to do.

Some of us confuse compassion with love. Compassion is not like love. Love is intrinsic unto itself; you either have it or you don't. Compassion however, can be acquired. It is complete empathy. The understanding that you may not like the person, or their viewpoint, or their religion, or their accent, or their country, or their ...whatever; but, somehow you can offer them a glass of water when they are thirsty, food when they are hungry, and help when they cannot help themselves. Compassion compels us to make an empathetic connection between our worse enemy and ourselves.

Morrie’s statement was one of the last things he was able to say before his death.
Compassion, a word found 41 times in our Bible from Exodus to Jude, offers a slight glimpse into the very Spirit of God; the very Heart of Jesus Christ. Shouldn't we at least try to offer as much of it as possible? L.

Study Reference: 1 Peter 3:8-9, Psalm 78:38-39
From: "Compassion." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Laurent Baheux

Cast Down, But Not Destroyed!

8/26/2019

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”     2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I believe this is my favorite verse by far! It lists the troubled state of various human circumstances; from the nagging feeling of being troubled, to the state of being cast down. It helps us to remember we are not our circumstances. But, just in case you need a reminder:

If you are feeling troubled on every side, Jesus offers you faith, understanding that nothing can harm you, or hinder your life without God offering you a way out. You are not distressed, fearful, or weary. You feel strong with the confidence of knowing your heavenly Father is only a prayer away.

Or, maybe you are feeling a little perplexed. That nagging feeling of confusion when you believe something should have one outcome, but somehow it goes in a completely different direction than the one you prepared or prayed for. Nevertheless, you regroup, retrain, and prepare for a new strategy so you can achieve the desired outcome. You are calm. You are neither desperate or in despair. You have no fear. God has your back; of this, you are certain. Despair is for those who do not know God; those who have no concept of hope, faith, or trust in our Savior.

Maybe you are the one in this group who is feeling a bit persecuted by those in your surroundings. Your friends have forsaken you, your colleagues are against you, and your family is just not giving you what you need to soar to the top. You feel lonely and persecuted. But, you know God has not forsaken you. Your hope is in His promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you, even when everything and everyone else fails.

And, for those of you who are on the verge of feeling completely cast down, or feel as if you have been left on the ground to be trampled and stoned; remember, what does not take your life, will only make you stronger. Like a prize fighter training for the heavyweight championship, you may fall down during a bout, but the floor is not where the fight is. Go back to your prayer corner, replenish yourself, refresh with the Word of God, and go right back in there and finish the fight; you will not be destroyed! As a matter of fact; your opponents were fortunate the first time. The first time you were not prepared; you did not know they were going to cheat—hurting you in your most vulnerable spot. You mistakenly thought they would have compassion. This time you know; you are ready for anything! And more importantly, you understand that no one; no entity, no power or principality can take from you what God has already ordained for your life! Yes, cast down; but, definitely not destroyed!  L.

Study Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 4:6-16
From: "Cast Down, But Not Destroyed." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: cloudfront

Your Thoughts: Blessings!

8/25/2019

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12

When we refer to being blessed, we usually mean that we have received an unexpected monetary windfall; or, that we have received something that we prayed or hoped for. Yet, when the Bible speaks of a blessing, it refers to innate joy, peace, and Divine favor. For most of us, it is especially apparent when those mountains or hills that ordinarily seem ominous in our lives, are somehow divinely removed for our benefit; or, when the things that were considered smaller obstacles, stimulate the winds of change that blow instead, in our favor. Yet, in today’s verse there are specifics in respect to what it means to be Blessed.

So, take a look at today’s verse again. “For ye shall go out with joy:” This means that when we leave home, we leave with Joyfulness! The kind of joy that is easily shared, seen, and apparent. It means that we are not easily swayed from our Love for others, Faith in God, and an overall propensity to receive happiness. But, it does not stop there. The Bible says, “-And be led forth with peace:” This means that our hearts and spirits are led forth with a banner of peace! The kind of peace that understands that, no matter what happens in this world, God is still in control. He’s in control of the ups and downs of life, the trials and tribulations of this world, and all the inherent “drama” that happens in between.

And, when the verse says, “The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing:” It means that all the obstacles and trials we face will break before us as we see their value in our life. As we learn their meaning to us
–their song, we will witness the unfolding value of their lessons as we grow in faith. Most of all, when we read, “And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands:” it means that the fruits, gifts, and bounty out of the Hand of God shall be released unto us in Divine Favor. So yes; a little joy, a little peace, a few good lessons; and an abundant dosage of Divine Favor! That’s what it means to be blessed in today’s verse!

–Just a small reminder, in case you forgot to count all your blessings today! L.

**Now, it’s your turn to write down your own thoughts in your journal regarding today’s verse.

Study Reference: Isaiah 55:12
From: “Your Thoughts: Blessings!” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Sant Pere-de-Primia

The Tortoise & The Hare

8/24/2019

"...The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11

Recently, I read a quote that said, “Experience is the best teacher, but a hard grader. She gives the test first, the lesson later.” It is a profound statement from Larry Dierker, a former Manager of the Houston Astros baseball team.
Life experience is like having a road map with a secret shortcut. The only problem is, sometimes, God places a detour on the route without telling you! The detours are added so that we can learn that, no two events in our life are the same. The experiences of the past can indicate future outcomes; however, they are not the future. You can do all things the same way, yet have different results; because, people, events, circumstances, and, even you are not the same from day to day.

Remember the story of The Tortoise and The Hare? The hare knew he was faster, sleeker, and more adept at running a race against the tortoise. He laughed at the very notion that a tortoise would have the audacity to challenge him to a race. After all, he was used to running from hawks, eagles, and other very adept predators. So, instead of training and developing his skills for the big race, he became a “slacker,” relaxing —taking his racing skills for granted. While he sat unfocused, procrastinating, and relying on his previous knowledge of racing, the slower, more focused, steady-paced tortoise walked; yes, w-a-l-k-e-d across the finish line. What a lesson for the hare! What an even bigger lesson for the tortoise!

As we can imagine, the tortoise was ridiculed by both the other animals and his peers. And, we can be sure he wanted to give up many times, knowing in his heart he could not possibly win a race against the hare. But, somehow he kept moving; faithfully, one step at a time, keeping his eyes on the finish line and not on the ridiculers perched on the sidelines. By taking the risk and keeping the faith, he was able to fulfill his destiny, ambling across the finish line at his very own pace.

Past experience is a good road map, it allows you to save time by building on the learned lessons of the past; but, don't forget that life is an evolutionary experience; like a beautiful origami pattern, God unfolds it as you go along. L.

Study Reference: Ecclesiastes 9:10-12
Excerpt from: "The Tortoise and The Hare." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Twipz Biswas

A Prophesy In Your Life

8/23/2019

"Nevertheless, My loving kindness will I not take away from you; nor suffer My faithfulness to fail, My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips." Psalm 89:33-34

Throughout the Bible, there were many instances where God prophesied a future occurrence in the lives of His people. He did so in the lives of Abraham, Samson, David, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary, to name a few. Yet, they all had to wait to see the manifestation of His promise. Why should you be any different?

Sometimes, we will receive a vision of a future event in our lives while we are still in the midst of an arduous or trialing situation. We remember the prophesy; and yet, it appears as though it will never manifest. Then, we somehow get the inclination that we should help God in producing the vision, and so we do not wait for God’s direction; only to find out, our timing was completely off. Our waiting becomes a burden, our trust in God becomes an issue, and disappointment appears to become our closest friend. However, do not be dismayed.

You received the vision so you would not lose faith. It was a key; a look into your own future to offer hope, patience, and strength when those arduous and trialing times became way too burdensome. God promised you a better future and will not falter.

According to today’s verse, even on the worse days when your trust and faith is at its lowest, God says, He will not take His loving-kindness from you. His faithfulness will not fail, and nothing that He has promised you will He alter from your life. It is right there in your Bible in black and white.
–Hallelujah! –Isn't that a terrific prophesy for your life! L.

Study Reference: Psalm 89:33-34
From: "A Prophesy In Your Life." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: unknown

Your Thoughts: The Lessons Learned

8/22/2019

" I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now, my eye seeth Thee” Job 42:5

When I finally finished, In The Master’s Hands; I wanted to conclude with a thought that would summarize the entire process. I knew that there would be a few readers who would never really believe that every daily I wrote was written for me. It did not matter if the devotion appeared cynical, redemptive, lofty, or sad; every one was written with a lesson for me. What I learned was that the only way for you to gain the kind of biblical understanding that is not limited to pleasantries, is for you to do it yourself. –Study, study, study, -learn, learn, learn; then teach, and learn some more.

I had to really sit down and ask myself what the entire writing process was all about. How can the stories contained within the Bible speak to us in today’s culture? Our lives are not about the little dilemmas or even major hardships that we go through, it is about the process. –The discoveries we uncover about ourselves as we go through our ordeals. It doesn’t matter if they are extended bouts of elation, or basic life episodes we consider devastating. In the larger scheme of things they are all the same. It comes down to how we deal with it. It comes down to the impression it leaves on our lives, and whether it defines who we are or who we become. Will the results make us bitter, wicked, vengeful, disobedient, callous, envious, and atheistic; or, will it remind us how fleeting life is, elevating our spirits to offer gratitude, love, forgiveness, humility, generosity, empathy, and devoutness. Although I love the poetry of the biblical book of Job, the story of Job is not my favorite, yet, what I found is, as a Christian in today’s culture, our lives literally come down to the book of Job, chapter and verse. It does not matter what kind of problems Job went through; they were all devastating. Yet, the lesson for us is that, throughout the process of his trials he maintained his devotion to God, recognizing that no matter what occurred, no matter how devastating the event or how he felt day to day, his devotion to God never wavered. –God was still his strength.

No matter how alone Job felt, and how much he questioned God, he knew God was always by his side. That’s what I learned. God is always there right by your side. So, don’t give up. Like all the cyclical storms of the earth, your storm will pass. The question is, How will it leave you? L.

Reference Study: Job 42:5, Job 1:6-12
Excerpt from: "The Lesson Learned." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Cardiff-Peter-Kennelly

Show Me A Sign

8/21/2019

"And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said
unto Him, if now I have found grace in Thy sight then show me a sign that Thou talkest with me.” Judges 6:16-17

We often plead with God to answer our prayers; however, sometimes we do not recognize or accept when God responds. Many times we reduce His response to good fortune, luck, or coincidence. In discussing a difficult assignment we were working on, one of my colleagues shared a story concerning God’s response to his prayer request for a “sign” to assure him the job he was praying for would come through.

“You are right;” He said, “It is a blessing. I actually found out I got this job on my birthday. You know, it’s a funny thing. I was out of work for 15 months, the longest I have ever been out of work in my life, and I was very depressed. One evening, while visiting a friend of mine who lives upstate, I was sitting on the deck quietly praying, asking God for a job. I asked Him for a sign; something that would let me know that He really heard my prayer. When I looked up at the sky, I saw a shooting star!  --I couldn't believe it! I thought that I was seeing things, so I rubbed my eyes, and checked my glasses. When I looked up again, I saw another one, then another and another. I couldn't believe it! I called my girlfriend to tell her what had happened, and she told me that there was supposed to be a meteor shower that evening. As I told her the story, she said she thought it was a coincidence not a response from God; and, that I must have somehow known subconsciously that there was going to be a meteor shower that evening from the news. I explained that I didn't know there was going to be a meteor shower, and I hadn't even heard about it. But she still didn't believe it was a response from God.  —But I did! It was too precise. I had just finished asking for a sign, and there it was. Then on November 18th, my birthday, I found out that I had gotten the job.”

As he told the story, I thought about all the people who often pray about a circumstance or problem, yet somehow do not recognize the response when it occurs. It happens to all of us. We are reminded of this in the biblical story of Gideon, found in the Book of Judges, chapter six. Although, told by an angel that he is selected by God to lead Israel into battle against the Midianites and Amalekites, Gideon does not believe that he is the one God really wants. So, to gain confirmation of the angel’s message, he requests that the angel show him a sign. When the sign occurs, he still does not believe he is the chosen one. Believing instead that the sign was a coincidence, he requests yet another sign in the reverse order. Throughout this story, although he is obedient to God, he is confused by his own fear, ultimately questioning almost every direction.

Sometimes our doubts and fears get so far ahead of us that it becomes hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yet the Light is always there. There are times when you may need a sign to encourage you in your quest; if so, ask.
But remember, it was Jesus, in response to Didymus ‘Doubting’ Thomas’ unbelief who said, “Blessed are they who have not seen, yet have believed.”  —Because, sometimes we simply have to have faith in understanding that no matter what happens, God is working on our behalf.   L.

Study Reference: Judges 6:1-40, John 20:27-29
From: "Show Me A Sign." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Dan Bush

Your Thoughts: Blooming, In A Dry Place

8/20/2019

“Be still and know that I AM God...” Psalm 46:10-a

On more than one occasion I have written about solitude; because, I believe it is the best way for most people to figure out the deeper aspects of their life, in reference to most things, including where God fits in.

The desert is one of the best metaphors for inertia –stillness. It easily conjures images of insatiable thirst, unending desire, and stillness. All things, which most of us deplore; and yet, many of us must endure in order to move forward. Consider it like sleep; without it, we experience difficulty functioning the next day, a mere 24 hours later. I was thinking about today’s verse in reference to all these things, when I received a post from a friend regarding a phenomenon taking place in the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest deserts in the world.

Years ago, I was told that, if it were to rain on the Sahara Desert in North Africa, it would be one of the most fertile places on earth; possibly, even the Garden of Eden. Yet, although it made sense intellectually; I considered it mere speculation. Then I received some rare photos of the Atacama Desert in full bloom and today’s verse took on an even greater meaning.

Like the stillness of the desert waiting on God’s response to its query, there are times when we must wait, learn, and grow before we can receive a response. And, like the desert, where its seeds lie in state germinating, waiting to gain all the nutrients necessary to strengthen its ability to bloom; often, we must do the same; wait, learn, and grow so that we too can bloom. Yet, we will need to "...Be still and know that God is God." Then, just like the flowers of the Atacama Desert featured in the photo above, when we bloom, everyone will take notice! L.

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

Study Reference: Psalm 46:10, Psalm 91:1-2
From: “Your Thoughts: Blooming, In A Dry Place." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Paulo Maldonado Larrondo

Looking Back

8/19/2019

"And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61-62

In Genesis chapter 19, we learned the dismal fate of the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Both cities were destroyed because of the wicked behavior of the people. Yet, one of the most memorable parts of the story is Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt. Her penalty for turning around, pining for the city, the people, her family, and possibly her property as it all burned. It may be difficult to understand why God would rescue her family, yet allow her to be destroyed, simply because, she disobeyed by looking back at the destruction, understandably rueful, about what she left behind.

Now that God has called you unto Him, do you sometimes remember the old days; the days when you used to do the things that were not of God? Does any part of you want to go back to the way things were? -Are you rueful over the people and things that were consumed, although you were spared? Every once in a while I remember the people who passed away because their lifestyle prompted such dangerous behavior, it seemed only a matter of time before they were consumed. And, then I remember, “...there, but for the Grace of God, go I.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

There will be times after God has rescued you out of a bad situation that you begin to feel rueful about those people and things left behind. -Somehow remembering only the good times, and forgetting the pain. Ideally, there will be times when you are supposed to return to your former life to help those left behind. And, there will be other times when you will have to leave their rescue to God. However, it will be up to you to pray for a sense of discernment to identify which one is within the will of God. -Because, if you are still looking back ruefully at your former life, maybe you are not as committed as you may believe you are; and, the act of interacting with those left behind, even to free them, may just end up entrapping you, instead of freeing them. L.

Study Reference: Luke 17:32, Genesis 19:26, Luke 9:61-62
From:"Looking Back." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo image: istock

A Good Measure

8/18/2019

"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

An Uncommon Blessing

8/17/2019

"And his servant came near, and spoke unto him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, would thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, “Wash and be clean?” Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." 2 Kings 5:13-14

There are times when we are certain our blessings will emerge from a source we recognize, ignoring those things or people sent in our path, by God, to redirect our focus. Sometimes it can be a perfect stranger, a circumstance, or an event, which dramatically impacts a major decision. Our task is to maintain such a strong connection to God, when it shows up, it will be easily discernible from the other things or people in our lives.

Today's verse, found in 2 Kings, is the fulfillment of a blessing from God, through the Prophet Elisha. Naaman was a beloved Captain of the Syrian Army whom, although beloved and revered by the King of Syria for his valor, was stricken with the disease leprosy.

It is interesting to note how Naaman learned of the Prophet Elisha's gift of healing others. The short version is, the Syrians battled with Israel, and as the victors, they kept those who were captured in battle as servants. One of the captives, a young Hebrew girl, was given to Naaman's wife as a servant. One day the maiden told her mistress that she knew of a Prophet in Samaria who could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Hearing this from his wife, Naaman goes to the King of Syria for an introductory letter to the King of Samaria, requesting a meeting with the Prophet Elisha. When he arrives in Samaria, Naaman is instructed by Elisha to dip in the Jordan River seven times to heal himself, but like us, his arrogance and ego almost prevents him from receiving God's blessing.

Although the healing was miraculous, today let's consider the circumstances that led to the healing—the truly miraculous part. First, we have to assume Naaman treated all the servants in his household quite well, since, the Hebrew servant girl felt inclined to offer help to her new captor. Secondly, Naaman's own personal servant had no fear in recommending to his master that he follow Elisha's instructions precisely. And lastly, because of the sincere urgings of his personal servant, Naaman reconsiders his own arrogance and follows Elisha's instructions precisely, submerging himself into the Jordan River exactly seven times. When he finally emerged after the seventh dip, he was completely healed.

Today, we may or may not have servants; however, consider this. How do you treat those whom you consider    beneath you? What about those employees on your job who are your subordinates? What about those you consider less fashionable, less educated, younger, unattractive, or of a lower income group? Had Naaman not respected or listened to the urgings offered by both his servants, he would not have experienced the healing prepared for him by God.

How we treat those whom we command, or those who serve us, can be the difference between receiving a blessing or not. So remember, the most wondrous thing about receiving a blessing from God is, we never know through whom the blessing will manifest. We simply cannot predict who will be chosen to fulfill God's blessings in our life. Furthermore, we have no idea when, where, or how our blessings will take form. It is thoroughly uncanny; it can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. We only need to be prepared for it by faith, and to accept it graciously and with gratitude when it occurs. L.

Study Reference: 2 Kings 5:13-14
From: "An Uncommon Blessing." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: creative digital

Patience

8/16/2019

“Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith produces patience.”
James 1:2-3

Patience is one of the hardest things for us as Christians; and, God works with us on a continuous basis to learn the art of patience. The issue with patience is, our time is limited. We want, what we want, now, not later. It is indicative of our generation. We have learned how to make things faster, streamlining as many things as possible, taking out some of the extraordinary to make room for the mundane and the ordinary. We have become so accustomed to the basic that, when we see something just a little above ordinary, we are inspired.

Take a look around; we have fast food, fast lanes, quick-dry, instant-this, and instant-that. Gone are the days of slow-brewed, slow-broiled, homemade, and hand-done. The problem is, although we want everything as quickly as possible, God’s timing is still the same. A day is still 24 hours; and, one year is still 365 days, give or take a leap year. And, although calendar days were originally named by men, “the rising of the sun and the going down of the same,” still represents one day. God’s original clock works on a schedule, both for days and for human beings. This has not changed since the beginning of time.

For most of us, patience is a problem; I am no different. If I could walk faster without running, type faster without practicing, and learn more without studying, I am certain I would sign up in a minute. But the truth is, everything takes time—everything. We are the decision makers of what we do with our time. Even when we seemingly have no choice, we have a choice. We have the choice to work and be miserable, or to work and be thankful. We have the choice to wait on line with patience, while doing something that interest us, or wait in line tapping our foot and complaining about the slowness of the process. We have the choice to spend our time with people we love, or waste it with mundane onlookers who could care less about our life. We have the choice to learn something new every day, expanding the horizon of our knowledge; or to sit back comfortably believing we know everything we need to know in this life, remaining closed-minded and archaic.

...Learn to have patience. Patience with what you do, with whom you love, with what you learn, and more importantly, with God. God answers all prayers necessary for you to have the best of the life you have chosen for yourself. Respect those things not chosen for you and understand that somehow they are not distributed to you for a reason. Acknowledge those things placed in your life, taking the time to reflect backwards so you can learn how certain decisions made in the past have resulted in the here and now. Have patience. Patience removes fear. Be patient; for God created time, and time always wins whether you are patient or not. -L.

Study Reference: James 1:2-3
Excerpt from: "Patience:" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Peter Gridley / Getty

Six Degrees of Separation

8/15/2019

“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

Knowing Your Value

8/14/2019

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Although science and engineering tout the attributes of technology, no computer is even vaguely close to your intelligence, charisma, artistry, emotion, understanding, love, or human interaction, etc. It cannot offer a dimpled smile, or retain crow’s feet from laughing with its eyes. It cannot curl its toes while reading a book; or, look into the eyes of its best friend, only to laugh hysterically at a silent joke known only between friends. It simply can compute faster, work more efficiently, compile and store data. Computers aid us in taking the mundane out of our lives so that we can focus our attention on each other and the higher aspects of life. And, although we value the work they do, we are the ones who actually input all that data for computers to compute, compile, store and regurgitate. They are no match for you.

There is nothing in this world that is even vaguely equivalent to the beauty and wonder of even one human being. Nothing is more valuable than one man and one woman, period. –Not a pocket full of diamonds, a briefcase full of money, or an oil well in your backyard. And, although people may devalue other people, and we may devalue ourselves; any one man or any one woman is absolutely priceless to God.

Yet, just so that you fully understand just how valuable you are to God, remember that, in order to keep you, your family, your ancestors, and your descendants as the apple of His eye, God gave His Only Begotten Son’s life for your life. He did it simply so that He could offer you Grace, Forgiveness, Mercy, Love, and eternal Life. -Then, He fused this unmerited favor with the dismissal of your past, present, and future sins. And, as if this were not enough, He threw in the opportunity to begin your life anew at this very minute. If you already know God's Love—speak up! —It’s time that everyone else knew too!

Study Reference: John 3:15-18
From: “Knowing Your Value.” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2015 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock

The Appearance of Faith

8/13/2019

"And Zacharias said unto the angel, whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shall be dumb, and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”
Luke 1:18-20

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was a priest in the temple of God. Based on priestly hierarchy, he was the priest who lit the incense while people prayed in the temple. The Bible says, he and his wife “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke 1:6) Yet, although he was an experienced priest, with what we assume to be many years of service in the temple, when Gabriel, the Archangel, appeared unto him with the information that he would not only become a first time father in his old age, but also, father to the son who would announce the coming of the Messiah; Zacharias did not believe him. And, because of his unbelief, the Bible says, he was stricken with dumbness, unable to speak for the entire nine months of his wife’s pregnancy.

We can imagine Zacharias, a pillar of strength within the temple of Judean society. A man worthy of marriage to a descendant of Aaron, the famed high priest of Israel, going about his temple duties with love and devotion to God. It is easy to imagine his supplications on behalf of the people being fulfilled with answers from God; while his secret prayers to be blessed with children throughout his life, went seemingly unanswered by the Lord. And, just when he finally accepted his fate of never being the high priest, never having an heir, and never being able to see the birth of a son, along comes Gabriel with a message of both shock and hope!

Unbelief is not limited to the unrighteous, or the ungodly, many times it is found in the very faithful. Those whom we believe should easily accept God’s responses and promises to their pleas whenever they manifest. Yet truthfully, even in our staunchest testimony of our faith in Christ, sometimes we will fail in our belief when we need it most. It is in those times when we are the most vulnerable in remaining steadfast that we need to strengthen our belief in God; because, no matter how it appears on the outside, or how we feel on the inside, God is forever faithful! L.

Study Reference: Luke 1:5-64
From: "The Appearance of Faith." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
Photo credit: fotolia

Freedom to Love

8/12/2019

"For God so loved the world that, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

In the mid-1960's, in the U.S., the motto was “Free Love.” It was an oxymoron created by beatniks and hippies to counteract the stodgy-straight-laced rules of the 1950’s, where only a brave few married or interacted with others outside their class, race, income, status, neighborhood, etc. However, the reality is, love does not set you free, and is by no means free. It has a cost. To love, is to be in true bondage in the purest sense of the word. It is complete dependence and emotional surrender to another human being. When you make the decision to love, and do not be fooled, it is a decision, you allow another human being full access to your spirit. This is the reason why it hurts so much when it is purposefully not returned, nurtured, or strengthened. The recovery process does not occur on the façade, the pain does not hide, and it cannot be hidden; it is much too deep and unrelenting.

When we really think about it, who, in their right mind, would elect to relinquish their spirit’s sanity for unabashed emotional surrender? Yet somehow, as human beings, we crave its beauty, its eloquence, its spiritual transcendence —its pain.

In our armor of love we transcend time, space, and energy; and, it is the closest that we come to truly understanding God’s Love for humanity in its purest form. Even the pain of love bonds us closer to God. The innate pain of love allows us to freely understand man’s utter betrayal of his first love—God. And, the surrender, or lack thereof, of one to another allows us to deeply empathize with God, gaining a greater more profound understanding of His Love for us.

Think about someone you truly love deeply for a moment. Really stop and think about this person. Think about the happiest, most pleasurable moment with this person. Have you done so as yet? I can imagine it is a wonderful memory for you.

Now consider this. —Knowing what you know about the pleasure of loving this person; and, feeling what you are feeling at this very minute, imagine yourself propelled far into the future where, you can now see that your beloved will betray you and hurt you deeply. You can see your future self and the pain you will experience at an undetermined date in the future. Would you still continue to surrender your heart today, experiencing the high of complete surrender? Or, would you allow the person to go their own way, not knowing what they did wrong—or in this case, what they will do wrong?

Chances are, you would still go through the process of experiencing the love you are currently giving and receiving, dealing with the betrayal in the future, when it actually occurs.

We are God’s beloved; His first Love. The ones He Loves in spite of our continual betrayal of His Love. The ones He waits for, and longs for. The ones He openly accepts when we show up at His front door, forgiving us without any questions. The ones He gave Jesus for. —Isn't it time we went back to Him? Hasn't He waited long enough?   L.

Study Reference: John 3:16
From: "Freedom To Love." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock