​"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.”    Matthew 5:8


We often speak about King David when we speak about a turmoil of faith; however, we really do not need to go as far back as King David to understand the turmoil of faith; we can simply look within our own hearts. Our acts of faith deeply test every preconceived notion of what or who we believe God is. If you believe God is merciful, you will test and confirm His mercy. If you believe He is benevolent, you will test and confirm His benevolence. If you believe He is... you will test and confirm. 

A few days before Christmas I, along with an entire subway car full of riders, became the captive audience of a "fire and brimstone, death and destruction” Christian, who felt inclined to speak about the end of the world. Many of the things he said were true as found in the book of Revelation. However, it was two days before Christmas. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to speak about the Love of God, at a time when a significant amount of people in the world planned to celebrate the Love and birth of Jesus Christ? —A time when he could possibly reach out to those who did not know Christ?  —Or, where he could speak to those who may not have had their families and who were alone for the holidays? 

Yes, fire and brimstone have their significance, and there is a good possibility that he was sent like Jonah to warn the populace. However, more riders would have been inclined to accept his literature had he prompted their soul's quest for the Love of God, as opposed to their common fear of death and destruction. Yet, I have to believe the wrath of fire and brimstone is how our captor saw God. 

Your depth of faith has a direct correlation to how you view God. Ask yourself this, do you really believe your prayers will be answered? Is He truly Omnipotent? Are there limitations to His power?  —​Does God really Love You?
How you see God is a direct reflection of your life's paradigm of who God is.  King David saw God as merciful. —​How do YOU see God?   L.

Study Reference: Matthew 5:1-12 
From: "The Turmoil of Faith." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock

​"...Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statues, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.”     Ezekiel 36:25-26
 

Upon our baptism as adults, after we have been baptized of the Holy Spirit, we are cleansed of all filthiness and idolatry in our lives.  It means that we have received a fresh start to our lives and no stronghold will imprison us again.  It means we have received power from without to eliminate anything God does not want within.  That was the good news! 

The issue is, we must now make a conscious effort to call on the Holy Spirit to continuously aid us in resisting the temptations which can haunt our memories.  We must call on the Spirit to guide us in overcoming and resisting the memories and weaknesses of the past.  The more we do this, the more we learn to resist past temptations.  The more we practice, like everything else, the better we become at it.  It may also mean that we will have to change those people around us who are still caught in the ravages of the things we left behind.  Because, either they will continuously remind us of our past, or they will attempt to pull us back into the same pathology we elected to leave behind when we decided to follow Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, keep in mind, those who attempt to pull us back into the things we left behind are not bad.  Many times they just do not believe that we have changed, and/or they simply fall into the old adage of, “misery loves company.”  Either way, it becomes a level of power and control on your life that most people will not relinquish easily. 

Also keep in mind, many times you will not be able to have both; the thing you left behind, and the new thing God is enacting in you.  We can relate it to an attempt at keeping both eyes focused on two cars going in opposite directions.  Although easily achievable for most birds, it is an impossible feat for humans; we must make a choice to only follow one car. 

It will not matter who or what it is you leave behind when you decide to follow God; God is “no respecter of persons, powers, or principalities.”  If it is someone who truly loves you, he/she will understand your need to transition your life in the direction God commands.  If they do not understand, they will not be able to help you in the process anyway, so let them go.  Eventually, when you have gone through God’s transition period, and you are strong enough to resist the temptations of the past, God may use you to lead others lost in the ravages of your former pathology back to Him.  

God expects us to call on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in righteousness and truth.  Jesus knew and understood how difficult it was going to be for us to remain on course after our baptism, so He gave us help.  He is our Comforter; the One who aids us in overcoming temptation or any other battles we may face.  Remember to ask for guidance and the strength to overcome; because, no matter how terrible things are, or how horrible you may be feeling, The Comforter will come to you when you call on Him.  L.

Study Reference: Ezekiel 36:25-26, John 16:4-16 
From: "Accepting Power!"  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: squarespace

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“…And He said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces; for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee,…because they have forsaken Me…”
1 Kings 11:31-33
 

King Solomon, King David’s son, was considered the wisest king of Israel. He was chosen by God to build the ultimate temple, the Tabernacle of God in Jerusalem. Like Noah, God gave Solomon specific measurements to build His tabernacle. The remnants of which is still present in modern-day Jerusalem today. Given this great task, we can imagine that Solomon, like his father David, was truly loved by God. Yet Solomon lost his reverence for God by accepting and appeasing the idols of his many wives. His act of disobedience caused the dismantling of the twelve tribes of Israel. And, as a result, the mantle of leadership would be stripped from the House of David, leaving Solomon’s successor, his son Rehoboam, to ultimately lead only two tribes of Israel.

Instead, God blessed Jeroboam, a servant in King Solomon’s household with the mantle of leadership, giving him ten of the twelve tribes.  At first, he accepted God’s promised blessing, with the understanding that, he would lead Israel in reverence, back to the one true God as King David had done. But then, something happened —success.  

He was accepted by the people to become King of Israel.  And, although he built two altars to offer sacrifices to God, he feared that the people, in their repentance and worship of God, would remember their love for King David, and return the kingdom back to Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. So instead, he created two golden calves to replace what should have been God’s altar, convincing the people that it was too difficult for them to travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God.  He further convinced them to offer sacrifices locally, to the god of Egypt—the golden calf. They listened, and accepted this illicit behavior.  

The story, found in 1 Kings 11, is a reminder to those in  positions of leadership that, whether you lead a ministry, state, or nation, your decisions impact a greater realm than your own life.  If you make a decision, remember to work with God’s leadership, not against it. If your ego, fear, or pride takes precedence over your love for God and the people whom He has asked you to serve, there is no question about it, you are headed for disaster. Here’s what happened to Jeroboam’s lineage because he led the people in worshiping and offering sacrifices to idols.

“Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung till all be gone.  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city, shall the dogs eat. Him that dieth in the field, shall the fowls of the air eat; for the Lord has spoken it.”  1 Kings 14:10-11 

There’s more, but you get the picture. God allowed his reign to last twenty-two years; but, He cursed his entire lineage, wiping them off the face of the earth. He didn't even allow their bodies to be buried in the ground. It would have been better for Jeroboam to have followed God’s lead, or not accept the mantle of leadership of God’s people. Unfortunately, Jeroboam’s ego got the best of him, and his entire lineage suffered because of it.  So, make a note; if you are going to lead God’s people, lead with God in mind.  L.

Study Reference: 1 Kings, Chapters 11-14, 15:29-30
​From: “Leadership Change.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo:  Tomasz Zajda

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“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” 
Psalm 147:3
 
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Have you ever had to help someone go through the healing process of mending a broken heart?  Maybe the person with the broken heart was you, or someone you loved. 
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Although love is by far, the most joyful thing we crave as human beings, it can also be the most painful. It is both remarkable and perplexing how something that can so easily empower us to be our best selves, could also cause us to sink to our lowest depths. —​What can possibly heal a broken heart? 

Physicians tell us, most wounds to the body can be repaired; some through natural healing, and others through surgical intervention. However, our heart is different; it is our center, the part that needs the most protection from those who may attempt to destroy us. So, it is important to remember, if we are damaged by a direct hit to the heart, it can be a fatal blow, both physically and figuratively. 

In Proverbs 4:23 the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” When we choose to offer our heart to someone, that person needs to handle it gently, carefully, with truth, respect, and love. It is our most vulnerable place, the epicenter of our mind, body, and spirit. When it is damaged, it is difficult to repair both physically and mentally. Does this mean you should not freely love with your whole heart?  On the contrary, when you give or receive love, you are your most powerful self. However, guard your whole heart diligently, because therein also lies your weakness.  Know to whom you are offering one of your most precious gifts—your love. 

Nevertheless, just in case you have done all of this and somehow you still end up with a broken heart, know that God understands the depth of your pain and will remain close to you until you are healed. God promises in Psalm 34 that, He “... is near unto them that are of a broken heart, and saves those of a broken spirit.” And, in today’s verse, we are reminded that “…He heals the broken-hearted and binds their wounds.”  So...
What can possibly heal a broken heart?  —God’s love!   L.
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Study Reference: Psalm 147:3, Psalm 34:18, Proverbs 4:23
 From: "A Broken Heart."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: science-all

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​“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” 
Proverbs 27:2


Have you ever overheard someone complimenting you without the knowledge that you were nearby or within earshot?  Do you remember how you felt? Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington tells a wonderful story of coming home one day, after auditioning for yet another acting job, just in time to overhear his wife and her friend talking about him. The conversation was so intense that neither of them heard when he entered the apartment. In the conversation, his wife Paulette, a former actress, tries to convince her friend how talented an actor her husband is. The friend, not really listening, insists instead that he needs to give up his “dream” of becoming an actor and find a "real" job.

So, after eavesdropping on the conversation and listening to his wife defend his dream, he quietly eased back through the front door and re-entered the apartment, this time, announcing himself. The women immediately changed the topic of their conversation. Paulette's faith in him restored his decision to push the dream even further. One week later he received his pivotal role in,  A Soldiers Play, at the renowned Negro Ensemble Company Theater. The play would later be made into the feature film, A Soldier Story, launching what has become an Oscar-winning career.

Promoting yourself, boasting of your talents and gifts is truly irrelevant; for the most part, most people will not believe you anyway. Fame and notoriety are so fickle that, today people love you, and tomorrow they don't. We know this was true even in the life of Jesus Christ. Less than one week—only a few days before the Sanhedrin called out to have Jesus crucified, He had been exalted, hailed at the gates of Jerusalem with shouts of “Hosanna in the Highest.” 

It is more honest to stay true to whom you are, using your talent and gifts as if you were using them for God Himself, with the knowledge that God is never fickle; He does not waiver with the whims of the day. Use your talents and gifts without the desire for self-promotion, because the truth is, if you are excellent, using your talents exceedingly well, everyone will notice!  L.

Study Reference: Matthew 21:7-11 & Proverbs 27:2 
From:"To Thine Own Self Be True."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…” 
John 10:27

 
Every once in a while, I tell the story of how I met one of my closest and dearest friends; a man that would influence my life on many levels, including inviting me back to church. All because, I listened to that "still small voice"and stepped out of character. I call it, The Umbrella Story.  

The weatherman had warned of rain for the last two days and so far, I had lugged my new super-sized umbrella for no reason. However, I decided I would take it with me on the third day anyway; because, chances were, if I didn't, it would rain "cats and dogs." Late that evening, as I left the subway, there it was, rain. –Not just light rain drops, but a major downpour. –The kind where both the earth and your shoes are completely soaked. I noticed only one other person on the street, a young man wearing a raincoat and a very suave fedora walking ahead of me.  As the rain came down harder and harder, I felt quite lucky to have my trusty umbrella, and a little sorry for the guy in front of me getting pelted by the rain. 

I watched as the brim of that fedora went from sleek and suave, to wet and limp; finally, completely flopping, under the pressure of the rain. I truly felt sorry for him; he was getting soaked, and now the rain was coming down even harder! In any other town, it would have been a kind gesture to let a stranger under your umbrella; but, this was New York City! It was too late, and we were the only ones on the street. Then a small voice said, “Why don’t you let him under your umbrella?” I don’t know where that voice came from, but I quickly dismissed it! Yet, although I was feeling quite dry and wonderful under my big umbrella, my eyes kept watching the rain pelt the guy in front of me. Again, the small voice said, “Why don’t you let him under your umbrella? It’s big enough for two.”  –Not listening, I began to walk faster. For some reason he slowed down, and I was able to pass him; my eyes scanning the flopped fedora that was now akin to a 1930’s flapper’s hat.   

Again the voice came back with the same question. “Why don’t you let him under your umbrella?”  Feeling guilty and a little disgusted, I said out loud, “Fine! But if I end up dead on the streets of New York City it will be your fault!”  Then, I stopped and waited; I was already at least twenty paces in front of him, but I could hear his squishy footsteps coming closer.  “Excuse me; you look like you are getting soaked, would you like to come under the umbrella?  
A little stunned by my question, he said, “Uh? –Yes!”  And starting to laugh a little, he said, “I forgot my umbrella and was hoping it didn't rain.”  “Yeah,” I said, “I almost didn't bring mine; but, since I've been lugging it for the past two days, I figured—what’s one more day!”  We both laughed. “Well, I’m glad you did!” He said laughing. “OK,” I said, “Since you are much taller than I am, why don’t you hold it?”  “Oh, okay.”  He said, taking the umbrella; “—Wow! This is a big umbrella.”   “Yeah,” I said, feeling a little guilty that I had not invited him under the umbrella before he got soaked. “
I don’t know how far you are going, but I live in the first building right pass the light." I said, clearly seeing my destination in view.  “Oh that’s great!" He said. "–I live in the building right next door!”  "Of course," I thought to myself, "he would live right next door!"   

One year later, I was sitting in a new class and a young man in our study group asked if he could accompany me to the subway. Although I was a little surprised, I said, “Yes.”  On the way, he began to tell me of a young woman who gave him shelter under her umbrella late one evening.  “That was you!” he said.  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “It could not have been me; I would never do anything so nice. It may have been my sister. She is a lot nicer and would let some unknown stranger under her umbrella.  I would have kept going. —So, you must be mistaken, I am sure it wasn't me!”  Although he insisted as we took the subway together, I adamantly denied this unmemorable event.  It was easy to dismiss the event because I sincerely believed it was clearly out of my character. “I’m getting off at the next stop.” I said, rising from my seat.  “I know,” He said, “I’m getting off also.” As we walked towards both our homes, it began to rain.  “Of course, I forgot my umbrella!”  He said, with some degree of exasperation.   “Oh, don’t worry,” I said teasing, “I have my umbrella, and —it’s big enough for two!”  As we got under that big umbrella and began walking home in the rain, it hit me.  “Oh my Goodness!  It was me!”  I said, screaming with laughter!  “I told you it was you!”  He said, laughing. 

We have been friends for over 20 years, and it is because of his urging that I found my way back to what would become my favorite church. He is an incredibly talented man, who I have never once regretted meeting, and, it is because of him that you are reading this story right now. So, just imagine for a moment what can happen when you listen to God’s voice and do something that you consider out of character.   L. 

Study Reference: John 10:25-31
From: "Friendship In The Rain." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shangrila

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​“...And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host; and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city, both with horses and chariots.  And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered, Fear not; for They that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."     2 Kings 6:13-17


We sometimes fill ourselves with such disabling fear that we cannot accomplish God's Divine desire for our lives. In today's story, the prophet Elisha prayed to have his servant’s eyes opened so he could see God’s army protecting them against the impending army of their enemy.  Imagine if you could see the angels that surround you as you go through your particular circumstance.  Our Bible says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrew 13:5-6)

Fear is the absolute killer of Faith. Sometimes you will know what your next course of action is going to be, and sometimes you will not.  Sometimes conquering your circumstances will be a simple act of faith; and sometimes, it will take a pure leap of faith on your part to move from one level of existence to another. God asks us for faith; faith that He can and will deliver exactly what we need and more.  This kind of faith moves you through whatever may be harassing you to command fear into submission, ultimately allowing you to stand boldly before your fear.
Elisha's servant could only see the impending problem plaguing them; his faith was limited to his eyesight. Yet, Elisha had been under siege before; he had already learned to internalize God’s promise to him; and so, his faith could see far into the spiritual realm beyond his fear.

I understand how a perceived reality can produce so much fear it paralyzes you--I have been there.  Like Elisha's servant in today's story, You must ultimately change your perception of the problem to overcome its power over you. And remember, the verse above says, "...I will never leave you or forsake you.”   God does not say, “sorta-kinda,” or,"maybe on a couple of days;" or even,"every once in a while." —GOD boldly says, " I will never..!"  L.

Study Reference: 2 Kings 6:13-17
From: "A Perceived Reality." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
*Painting: "Ministry of Angels, Promise of the Scriptures" by Kerri Guthrie

​"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”  And He said unto him, “Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.”        Luke 17:15-19 


Sometimes we question God's Integrity based on our own integrity.  We think because our integrity wavers between good and evil that somehow God will intentionally betray us. Well, this is partly true, if we are referring to betrayal by Truth.  God is consistently Righteous, Holy, and Truthful.  If anything, we are the ones who continually betray God with the inconsistency of our actions, words, and thoughts.  

In Luke 17:11-19, is the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus as he passed through Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem.  To fully understand the story, you have to know some of the historical correlation between the Samaritans, Jews, and the disease leprosy. All lepers, unlike others who were ailing in ancient times, had to stay away from their village for two reasons; first, villagers felt leprosy was contagious, and second, according to Hebraic law, there were to be no prolonged interactions between the healthy and the sick.  This was especially true if you were a priest.  Once someone was regarded as having leprosy, they were expelled from their village, and other lepers became their new family network, without regard to tribal heritage or culture.  Now the thing about the Samaritans is, the governing Jews despised them.  Samaritans were Jews also, however, because they were racially mixed and had intermarried non-Jews from neighboring tribes, the governing Jews felt they were not “pure-bred.”  We read into this in the exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:9.   

As the story goes, the 10 lepers, outcasts of Hebrew society, ailing with the ultimate disease of their day, cry out to Jesus to heal them, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  Merciful and faithful He hears their plea for mercy, and says to them, “Go show yourselves unto the priests.”  Although it is taboo to go near the priests, obediently they start to go; and, as they are walking, they are healed.  

Here is the part we forget even today—gratitude. Only one leper—the Samaritan, upon finding himself healed, returns, and in a loud voice, begins to glorify God, giving thanks, prostrate at Jesus’ feet!  Ordinarily, most people refer to the lack of gratitude shown by the other nine, citing Jesus’ query, “…Where are the nine?”  However, since today’s Daily is on faithfulness, let us note, it was the Samaritan, a man from a group the Jews believed to be impure, and possibly unholy, who came back to offer gratitude.   

More importantly, let us remember, although the nine did not return to offer their supplication of gratitude for receiving mercy and healing, Jesus in His Faithfulness did not retract their healing!  So, although we may waver minute by minute; God never does!   Today, in between the food, family and friends, like the last leper, take the time  to offer praises of Love and Gratitude for ALL that He has already done!  L.    Happy Thanksgiving! 

Study Reference: Luke 17:11-19  
From:"Faithfulness, Not Relying On Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Groza Danut
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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.”       2 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

“And when ye will offer a sacrifice of Thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer [it] at your own will.  On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I [am] the LORD.”    Leviticus 22:29-30
“...Saying, Amen: Blessing, and Glory, and Wisdom, and Thanksgiving, and Honor, and Power, and Might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”     Revelation 7:12

 
In The U.S., we are celebrating Thanksgiving; a national holiday set aside as a reminder to thank God for blessing our nation and all its residents. We thank Him for the bad times, and the good. We thank Him for the things that look like blessings; yet, are really lessons.  And, for those things that we believe are lessons, that eventually turn out to be blessings.  We thank Him for the things we take for granted, like clean water, food, shelter, and each other. We thank Him for abundance, even if we do not have it as yet. We thank Him for the clothing we wear, even if by modest standards, we barely wear any. We thank Him for the opportunity to be able to thank and honor His presence in our lives. We thank Him for the health and well-being of our friends, family, and ourselves. But mostly, we thank Him for the opportunity to commune with those we truly love, one more time; even, if they get on our very last nerve!  We thank Him for teaching us how to persevere, love and forgive others.  And, most of all, we thank Him for His Grace, Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, and Favor.   
 
For those of you who truly understand God’s Love in your life, even in the midst of your most arduous circumstances, May God’s Light continue to shine through you, and for you. May the abundance of His Peace, Love, Grace, Mercy, Favor, and Forgiveness; find you and every member of your family.  
 
And, just in case I have forgotten to personally thank YOU; then, I would truly like to take this opportunity to thank you whether you have been reading, In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living, for one day; or, since the beginning of the year. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank YOU for taking the time to read these words and for being a part of this journey with me! – Thank you once again, and Much Love from my family to YOURS. -L.

Study Reference: Leviticus 22:29-30, Revelation 7:12
From: "Thanksgiving: My Gratitude." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Olga Osipova ​​

​"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”
​Isaiah 44:22 
 
 
Today we are continuing our study of prayer’s correlation to forgiveness, and its relation to accessing the higher spiritual realm of answered prayers.  As written on the previous day’s post, Teach Us To Pray, and An Exercise In Forgiveness;  there is a direct relationship to your forgiveness of others, and your answered prayers.  Obviously, it does not mean that none of your prayers will be answered if you do not forgive those who have hurt you; because, if that were true, there would be no prayers answered at all.  However, by releasing those whom you may be holding hostage in the dungeon of unforgiveness, you literally release the windows of Heaven to bless your life on a far greater level than whatever you are currently experiencing.  Consider making the prayer below a part of your morning, afternoon, and/or evening meditation for the next 21 days. You are probably thinking to yourself, “I am already so blessed; I cannot imagine what else God could possibly add to my life for a greater blessing!”  That’s probably true!  Yet, by uttering a prayer to aid in releasing the binds of unforgiveness in your spirit, for the next 21 days, you may just find out exactly what you have been missing!
 
First, find a quiet place to calm and relax your spirit.  Slow down your breathing; and, more importantly, remember to accept  the words as you speak.  Below is a prayer to help you release the binds of unforgiveness.  
 
“Lord God, today I claim the power of forgiveness. I release those people in my life that I have held in the spiritual limbo of unforgiveness. I release it from my life. I promise, Oh Lord, that I will not hold on to the pain caused by others in my life –not one more day.

In honor of Your Love for me, I will utter these words daily, “I forgive you. I forgive you, I forgive you!” until I can feel the release of unforgiveness in my spirit.  As I release my pain to you, I will release to you those who have hurt me.  
Lord, I offer my heart, mind, body, and spirit to you for cleansing.  Allow Your Love to claim my heart so that I can offer compassion to those whom I believe have been harmful, disrespectful, or neglectful to me. Be patient with me.  
I claim the power of The Holy Spirit to help me overcome this obstacle in my life; and, I ask You to reveal the supernatural cleansing power of forgiveness over my life. 

Lord God, I ask for healing in my body, mind, heart, and spirit.  And, I claim your promise to open the windows of heaven to bless my life. Thank you for your Patience, Love, Compassion, Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness. –In the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. –Amen.”
 
If you add forgiveness to your life, eventually you will be able to spiritually dismiss every errant spirit that had you bound. You will be able to come from under the weight of unrelenting unforgiveness to experience the full freedom of God’s Love!  L.
 
Study Reference: Isaiah 44:22
From: “Teach Us to Pray, Too (II)” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: pinterest
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​"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a Father pities His children, so the LORD pities them that fear Him.  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.    Psalm 103:8-14

 
The core reason for Jesus in the lives of humanity is forgiveness; and although as Christians, we call it salvation, it is still really forgiveness.  Most people do not realize just how powerful it is in the lives of humanity, and how definitive it is in the lives of Christians. Yet, once we understand the power it offers, it literally places active miracles in our lives. It changes everything.  It changes how we love each other; and, it expands our compassion to every living being on earth. It teaches us who we are, and just how close to God we really can become. It tells us where our hearts are, and whether we have learned the true teachings of God. It is not doctrine, it is not dogma. It is Jesus Christ and whether we have learned the lessons of what it really means to be a Christian.  So today, I want to reach out to our audience for us to try an exercise. I am certain that there are readers who are saying to themselves, “I don’t have anyone that I need to forgive for anything! –My heart is pure and cleansed of this issue.”  Maybe that’s true.  But, unless you deeply understand this spiritual concept and practice it daily, today’s message is still for you.

Every person walking the earth has someone that they have not forgiven for one issue or another. For some of us, this is a huge issue; for others, it is just beginning to manifest. Since unforgiveness is a spiritual matter, it can enter your life without your conscious knowledge. Like most people, you may simply consider it anger; or, just some incident that occurred which simply made you mad or disgusted. It could be a person who harmed you so deeply, all you could do was cry. Even now, while you are reading, you are thinking about this person or this incident. It could be the death of a loved one, or the betrayal of someone you loved deeply.   It could be words spoken so wickedly by someone, it carved a deep scar in your spirit.  Unforgiveness is so powerful it can start with those who gave you life; or, those you related to as your Mother and Father. It can be your grandparents, adopted parents, or your foster family. It can be someone from grade school, middle school, or High school.  It can be your first crush; or, the first person who broke your heart. It can be your wife or your husband, brother or sister; or, it can be someone who hurt you yesterday.  Unbeknown to you, this thing has altered your life in one way or another.  Even if you do not fully understand it now, it has changed you and every aspect of the personal power God has granted to you.  So, instead of the usual discussion regarding a topic, I would like for us to do an exercise. Let’s call it, An Exercise in Forgiveness.
 
Take out a blank sheet of paper, and make a list of every person who has ever done something bad to you. It doesn’t matter if it is something harmful, disrespectful, or neglectful. Here are the definitions. –Harmful is, if someone physically hurt you; disrespectful is, if someone called you something outside your name, spat at you, or literally made you feel like trash; and, neglectful is, if someone left you, abandoned you, or even died.   I added death to the list, because I now understand that when someone dies and we are not prepared, we blame God.  If this is you, you will need to forgive God for taking them home.  Again, if someone in your life has been harmful, disrespectful, or neglectful; list them on your paper. –As long as you feel as if you can’t stand them, don’t want to see them, or ever speak to them in this life, those are the ones I want you to list.  Why? Because, they have a great deal of relevance in your life; and, although you do not know it, there is a roomful of blessings God has planned for you; yet, you cannot access, because your unforgiveness is blocking it.  
 
When you forgive someone it releases your spirit’s ability to access the spiritual dimension of God. It opens a spiritual parallel between you and The Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”  It is the reason that He placed forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer. Just imagine for a moment, Jesus could have placed any words that we needed into the Lord’s Prayer, yet, he placed our forgiveness as the basis whether He would forgive us for the sins committed against Him.  It’s true, God forgives our sins based on our acceptance of Jesus Christ; however, just like there is a higher level of Spiritual access that we gain when as Christians, we connect to The Holy Spirit.  There is a higher supernatural level that we achieve when we forgive those who have hurt us in some way. Forgiveness of others literally teaches us spiritual empathy in direct parallel with God.   This is not an intellectual exercise.  This is a spiritual exercise that, if it becomes a practice, will elevate our spiritual connection to God.  Jesus taught us this in many stories, including: the parable of the Prodigal Son, the story of Peter denying Him, and the parable of the man who was forgiven 10,000 talents, yet could not forgive the man who owed him 100 pence. (Luke 15:11-32, John 18:15-27, Matthew 18:23-35)
 
Forgiveness, it is the basis of every healing miracle Jesus enacted in the life of those who believed. It is the basis for healing in the body, mind, and Spirit.  It is the reason for every sacrificial lamb that was offered up to God for 42 generations prior to Jesus. And, it is the basis for Jesus, the Final Sacrificial Lamb of God. It is the reason we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and it is the very reason we became Christians. –Forgiveness.
 
If you are a man or woman, teenager or child, and you need to forgive, take the sheet of paper with all those names on it, and one by one, say each name on your list out loud.  Then, after every name, say these words out loud, “I forgive you.” –Say it until you really, really mean it. –Start today, repeat tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day after that, until it is no longer an issue. Then pray for yourself.  Remember, all words have life. They can be used to heal or to destroy; to forgive or to condemn; to bless or to curse.  Somehow they have a way of boomeranging, so choose them wisely, and make yours count!  L.  

*Click for the other parts of this series, Teach Us To Pray,  and Teach Us To Pray, Too, 
 
Study Reference: Psalm 103:8-14, Luke 15:11-32, John 18:15-27, Matthew 18:23-35
From: “An Exercise in Forgiveness.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: wordpress

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye ask of The Father in My name, He may give you.”    
John 15:16 

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Let's just imagine for a moment, that you have already been chosen by God, but all the enemy of our soul needs to snare you, are the strongholds pass down by your family to keep you from fulfilling God’s original destiny for your life. And, although strongholds can exist because of outlying circumstances within our community, our country, and so on; the most powerful accomplices of strongholds, are instilled in us through our families. Families have the opportunity and strength to literally change the way we were destined to become. Through their influence we can walk boldly into our destiny; strong, reverent, and aware of God’s power in our lives; or weak, ungodly, and ignorant of God’s desire for our life. 
 
It can be reduced to the sins of the father, which the Bible says are visited on the children for three generations.  Many of us understand and personally know about the sins of our parents; however, we may not know the sins of our great-grandparents. And, for certain, we do not know about the shortcomings of our great-great-great grandparents.  We do not know about their personal strongholds, but the enemy of our soul does.  And, a slip in one direction can mean instilling a curse into our entire bloodline.  For example: imagine that your parents abused alcohol, or, had some other issue.  It could have been suicide, atheism, murder, drug abuse, lying, cheating, stealing, tardiness, idleness, pride, jealousy, fighting, ignorance, promiscuity, hatefulness, gambling, gossiping, cursing, vengefulness, pessimism, complaining, racism, sexism, there’s tons more... –the list can go on.  These traits are going to influence you simply by your parent’s daily and continuous interaction with you. It will permeate deep into your psyche, occurring so easily and naturally, you believe it is how you actually think; when in fact, it is what you were taught. 
 
There is a wonderful adage that explains the true concept of what a generational stronghold really is. It’s about how an Indian elephant is trained. Indian elephants, although massive, are much smaller than African elephants. However, they are still massive. In order to train them, it has to start when they are very young, if not, they will understand their own personal power to leave their confines and/ or kill their owners.  So, when an elephant is very young, its owner will use a strong rope to tie one foot to a very strong tree.  The baby elephant, born with the awareness of the power God instilled in his spirit, will try to do everything within its power to free itself from the tree, pulling its foot, kicking the tree, even trying to use its small trunk to push the tree down. But, because the tree is strong, and the elephant is young, it cannot free itself.  The owner will continue to tie the elephant to a strong tree throughout its infancy. By the time the elephant is an adult, although he is massive and powerful, because of its training in infancy, whenever he is tied to a small, insignificant tree, even with a weak cord, he will not even attempt to break himself free. He already believes that fighting the stronghold that holds him back is futile. The now adult elephant, although massive and powerful, does not know of its own personal power instilled by God from birth, to break free. He is unaware that God gave him the power to destroy every enemy, every stronghold, and every master that would attempt to enslave him.
 
It is the same for us. There are things that we dare not change, because deep inside ourselves we believe we are unable to fight. We believe we are powerless against something that is really weaker than we are.  We could not fight back as toddlers; as children we were powerless against the strongholds within our family; however, now that we are adults, are we like the trained elephant? Are we ignorant of our power to vanquish the enemy of our soul?  Or, do we open our eyes and accept the power already given by God at birth to eliminate any power, entity, or principality attempting to use its wicked influence on our lives. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we not only have the personal power of choice God gave us from birth; we also have the additional power of The Holy Spirit to vanquish the devices of our enemy.  Like the elephant, our lack of power exists only in our minds, not in Spirit and not in Truth. God says, “I knew you before you were born, and took the time to number all the hairs on your head.”
 
The question is, now that you know that you have the ability to break free from whatever stronghold is holding you back, what will you do?  Do you remain hiding behind the misdeeds of others in your past, blaming them for what they did or did not do to you? -Still giving them the power they had when you were a child; or, do you break free using the power God gave you from birth?  Whether the issue is because of our parents, community, or country; Our acceptance of Jesus Christ opens our eyes to break free of every—not some, not a few; but, every stronghold in our life.  The Bible says,

“...Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statues, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.”  Ezekiel 36:25-26
 
Upon our baptism as adults, after we have been baptized of The Holy Spirit, we are cleansed of all filthiness, idolatry, and any generational strongholds in our lives.  It means that we have received a fresh start to our lives and no stronghold will imprison us again.  It means we have received power from The Holy Spirit to eliminate anything we do not want within.  The Love of God will break any and all strongholds in your life; yet, you must still make the choice to accept His Power to do so!  Someone in the family has to be first, why not you?  L.

Study Reference:  John 15:16, Ezekiel 36:25-26, Jeremiah 1:5-10, Matthew 10:30
​From: "New Generational Strongholds." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Juniors Bildarchiv/Alamy
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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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“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”    
Matthew 5:23-24

 
Jesus gave two very specific commandments to His disciples when He was asked which of the commandments were the greatest.  His response was, “Love God with all your heart and all your soul. And, love your neighbor as yourself.”  Yet, in addition to this, He made a very specific point concerning forgiveness while He taught the masses how to pray.

It is a concept so radical, that most of us overlook it.  It simply states that, if we have not forgiven those whom we believe have hurt us in some way, then, before we honor God with our sacrificial gifts –whether monetary, spiritual, or otherwise; we must first make amends with those people whom we have not forgiven.  In other words, the cleansing of your spirit to remove unforgiveness is so important to God, that although your sacrifice may be extremely important to YOU, God says to keep your gift, sacrifice, fast, prayer, or whatever else you believe you should submit to please Him, at the foot of the altar. Jesus asks us to literally leave our gift in stasis, until we have taken care of our forgiveness problem.
 
Unforgiveness places a huge barrier between you, God, and the abundance He has already ordained for you from the beginning of time. The Bible says that God’s blessing is above all that we could ever ask or think. So, I don’t know about you; but, I want every last bit of abundance God has scheduled for my life.  I do not want to leave one gift unopened! I do not want the foolishness of a stubborn heart to get in the way of receiving any of the wonderful things He has already planned for my life. Especially since, that gift may just be the gift that I have been waiting on my entire life.  It may be just the thing that will release my spirit to completely fulfill my destiny in this world.

What about you? Will you allow the stubbornness of unforgiveness to permanently place a wedge between you and all the wonderful gifts God is eagerly waiting to dispense to you?   If not, then take care of that issue.  L.
 
**Now it is your turn to write your thoughts regarding today's verse in your journal.

Study Reference:  Matthew 5:23-24
From: “Your Thoughts: Spiritual Roadblocks...” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Maroesjka Lavigne
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“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of; the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.”    Genesis 6:14-16  


We train, practice, and perfect our individual skills, so on the day that we are given a job God needs for us to accomplish we are up to the task.  Imagine for a moment being Noah.  God informs Noah that he has to build an Ark. He neglects to tell Noah that it will take him 100 years to build a vessel he has never seen before—an ark; for a weather condition he has never experienced—rain; and for an event he has never witnessed—flooding!  All of course, to the ridicule of his ungodly neighbors who probably believed he was a little crazy. After all, they had never seen any of these things either!  Yet, Noah continued to listen and obey God’s instructions.  

I recently listened as a popular pastor grumbled about the behavior of a few members of his congregation, hurling one insult after another because he felt betrayed and under siege.  His anger stemmed from one or more of his members “squealing” to city inspectors about some illegal building practices he employed in order to rebuild their church. He felt betrayed by these members, and maybe rightly so.  Here's my dilemma. God spoke with Noah so closely that He gave Noah the architectural plans for building an ark. He gave the specific dimensions, the materials, and even told him who the passengers would be on the ark. Do you really believe that if God wants you—no, needs you, to do something extraordinary, that you will need to commandeer, finagle, wrangle, or break laws in order to get His task accomplished.  

Using any type of covert strategy is an act of fear, not an act of God. When we look at the life of Jesus, our prime example, He never committed a sin or a crime. He never finagled, wrangled, or commandeered to get His tasks accomplished. As our greatest Teacher, He did not spend God’s time berating his followers; He was too busy teaching the masses, training and developing their hearts to follow God.  God, our Father, who has all and commands all, who operates in Spirit and in Truth could not and would not condone any illegal activity in His own name, no matter what the cost. Only human doubt can tempt us to force an issue that should easily flow.  Today, know that if God has given you a task to complete, you will not have to use covert actions to get it accomplished, His Will, will be done.   L. 

Study Reference: Genesis 6:14-20
From: "Illegality for God?" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock ​

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​“…Blessed is he that blesses thee, and cursed is he that curse thee.  And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together. And, Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them three times!”      Numbers 24:9-10 
 

In the verse above, Balaam understood that he could only curse those that God allowed him to curse; however, although he was keenly aware of the limitations of his spiritual authority, he attempted to use his divine gift as an oracle for his own profit, prestige, honor and wealth.  All perfectly fine, until he decided to use his gift in opposition to God.

When Balak, king of the Moabites, summoned him to come to Moab to curse Israel, Balaam makes an appeal to God to learn if he can curse the Israelites.  Although God tells him not to go to Moab and that he cannot curse the Israelites; he openly disobeys by attempting to go to Moab anyway. By the time he has the encounter with the angel armed with a sword to stop him dead in his tracks, he repents--sorta-kinda. 

Like us, Balaam tries to find another way around God’s response to his query, because, the promise of the king’s wealth is much too profitable a lure to resist.  In his repentance, God allows him to go to Moab, but tells him he will only be able to say what He tells him to say.  Nevertheless, by the time Balaam meets with the Moabite king, he is ready and willing to curse the Israelites on behalf of the king. 

King Balak takes him to the top of the mountain where he can see the encampment of the Israelites on all four sides of Moab; east, north, south, and west. They build seven altars, and offer sacrifices to curse those seen in the east. But instead, God speaks through Balaam, blessing the Israelites in the east. Balak takes Balaam to the part of the mountain where he can see the north; he builds seven more altars, and offers sacrifices to curse the Israelites in the north. And again, God speaks through Balaam, blessing the Israelites in the north. This is repeated for the Israelites seen from the west. And again, God speaks through Balaam and blesses the Israelites. To make matters even worse for King Balak, Balaam then faces the wilderness, a direction where there are no Israelites encamped at all, and there, he foretells God’s vision of the Israelites exalted over the entire kingdom.  Balak realizes that there isn't anywhere that the eye can see where God’s people will not be blessed. And so, he prophesizes the grandeur of their nation over the land and the surrounding people.

You can imagine how angry King Balak was with Balaam for his inability to enact a simple curse against God’s chosen nation.  However, the most important lesson for modern-day Christians is simple.  As God’s beloved and blessed, YOU, who have chosen to give your life and love to Jesus Christ, are divinely blessed.  No one can curse, enchant, destroy, or erase the blessings that God has placed upon you.  No one!  Here's what we learned from Balaam's very own lips:
“God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it?  Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless, and He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it!”  (Numbers 23:19-20) 

God’s blessings cannot be taken away, reversed, destroyed, or erased! Take refuge in knowing that whomsoever God has blessed is truly blessed indeed!   L. 

Study Reference: Numbers Chapters 23 through 24  
From: “Blessed Indeed!” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: devushka, firestock

​"...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.  

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

​“O keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in Thee.”   ​Psalm 25:20


In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living,  has several devotions on the book of Job; however, Job is not my favorite book of the Bible.
I love the prose and the poetry penned as Job is questioning God. The writing is absolutely beautiful.  And, I especially love when God responds.  I find it fascinating that God actually pauses to ask Job, “Where were YOU when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Who shut up the sea with doors when it broke forth as if it had issued out of the womb?  -Were YOU there ...When I wrapped it in swaddling cloth... and said, here shall thou come, but no further... Here shall your proud waves be stayed!” 

So yes, I am fascinated that the sea does not break forth as tsunamis each and every day, on every continent, on every island, killing all non-swimming life on the planet.  And yes, it is with pride that I believe in God and the promises of His Word.  It is with pride, and sometimes, much too proudly, that I put my trust in Him and prompt others to do the same.  –But, sometimes, like Job, God will question us.  Sometimes, God will ask us, “Were YOU there?”   Sometimes, He will shame us into understanding that, He is not at our command; we are at His.  And, no matter how wonderfully arrayed we are displayed, to Him, we are but dust.  It is the reason that, as Christians, we come to Him under the covering of Jesus. 

So Beloved, there will be times when you've put your trust in God; times when you've prayed, plead, begged, supplicated, pondered, confessed, cried, screamed; or, even been shamed into understanding that, sometimes, you simply will not get what you want, when YOU want it. –It is God's way of asking you, "Were YOU there ...?"  L.

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

Study Reference: Psalm 25:20
From: “Your Thoughts: Were You There?"In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: shutterstock

​“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”      2 Timothy 4:7-8


 The journey that we undertake as Christians is individual; and, like all journeys, there are various legs based on how close we are to our final destination.  The first leg of the journey, the beginning, brings with it excitement, wonderment, and curiosity.  The mid-point, or second leg of the journey, unlike the beginning, is usually where most of us get a little stuck.  It’s where we have traveled just far enough to keep going, and a little too far to turn back. It is the lengthiest part of the journey; and, it is where all the complexities of our life begin their bombardment on our faith. The third and final leg is definitely not like the other two. It is the level we aspire to; it is the level where we know what we know, and like Job, nothing that has happened, is happening, or will happen can immobilize our faith. This leg can be the shortest, but it can take a lifetime to get there. Yet, at each level there can be bouts of anguish with our faith. 

If you are a new Christian, you have accepted the call to be on this journey. The journey seems simple enough for you to maintain your faith. You are just at the beginning of the journey, ordering the steps of your new life, and eliminating those things which may conflict with your decision to be a Christian. But the truth is, God has not tested your faith as yet; you are simply in the first leg of the journey.

Maybe you are a Christian who is in the middle of the journey.  You are still sitting on the fence.  You routinely go to church out of rote; never really getting involved, donating time and money every now and then, and participating just the same. You are a “sorta-kinda” Christian; not completely out, but not fully committed either.  You believe enough to keep you interested, and fear God enough to remain respectful.  But nevertheless, you are still on the fence; a little committed, but still, a little confused. 

Then there is the mature Christian, the one who has been fully committed in the past; but lately, you have felt a little listless. At times, you may be feeling that the journey maybe a little long and tedious; or, feeling somewhat tested and stretched beyond your own physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities. You may even be wondering why you ever really committed your heart and life to Christ. You've lost your job, your house is in foreclosure, and your family is acting like the devil is a family member.  

What can you do?  For each person the journey is highly personal, yet surprisingly, the solution remains the same. We may reach plateaus at each level of our Christian journey where we wonder about our commitment and how it pertains to our life.  If it has already happened to you, you are not alone.  It is the process by which we grow in our faith, emerging stronger for the journey, with the understanding that the race goes to the finisher, not the starter; or, the one standing on the sidelines.  

Each of us will go through the journey.  Each person has to walk their own walk of faith.  Our individual trials and tribulations are custom designed to bring forth the best person God desires for us to become.  Far too often we use each other as a barometer to measure how good or bad a Christian we believe we really are; not understanding that, it is through our individual trials & tribulations that we reveal our true and innate character.  Although you may believe you have already arrived and your true character has been purged, God knows it will take a lifetime. 

If you want to find out who you really are, consider your actions when you are desperate, under the gun, under fire, and being pursued by the enemy.  Do you really know what you are willing to negotiate;—what you will offer for sale?  Will it be your character? Could it be your integrity?  Or, will it be your soul?  
No matter where you are in your journey, stand firm in the knowledge that you can “Call on Jesus in the day of trouble, He will deliver you. And you will glorify Him!”  The Bible says it; all you have to do is believe it!   L.

Study Reference: Psalm 50:15, 2 Timothy 4:7-8
From:"The Journey." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Sophia Whordley