​ "Yes, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.  Thou believe that there is one God; thou doest well; the devil also believes, and tremble. But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”       
James 2:18-20 


​There seems to be a serious discussion among Christians about the concept of faith vs. works.  To be honest, I just don’t understand the debate. How can we believe in Jesus Christ and not work in fulfillment of what we believe?
—​Are not our actions a manifestation of what we believe? 

There are those who faithfully attend religious services every week. They drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and partake in illegal drugs on those days when they do not attend church services. Does the scripture indicating the sanctity of the body temple mean anything to them? (1 Corinthians 6:19)  And, there are those of us, who go through the Ten Commandments on a regular basis, simply to confirm which ones we didn't break. Do these actions speak to our faith?  Maybe, we are on the fence when it comes to having a complete relationship with God, teeter-toddling between what we know and what we do.  Or, it could be that we believe, one thing does not have anything to do with the other.

It is interesting to note that the Bible says, “…But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves…”  James 1:22.  We are deceiving ourselves if we believe that we can separate our faith from our actions. Our actions are indicative of our faith.  This is the reason we ask for forgiveness for those things we have done that we know are insulting to God.  It is the reason we repent of those things which conflict with our faith.  We are not perfect; as humans we struggle with all sorts of feelings, urges, and habits that can appear difficult for us to resist. However, as Christians, we have faith.  We build our faith on God’s strength, not our own.  We function daily in God’s Divine Grace, and yet still, our works and our actions become the manifestation of our faith. 

In today’s text, the reference to the devil believing in God, reminds those of us who profess our belief in God, yet, continue to do those things which insult God, that the devil has a full understanding of God also.  He professes God as Creator; yet, he is still His enemy.  His actions support his faith. Don’t be confused. It is not enough to believe in God, your actions must support your faith in God. 

Our example is Jesus Christ; His works were the manifestation of His complete connection to God. They were the manifestations of His Faith.  Remember, it was Jesus who said, “…Greater works than these shall you do because I go to My Father.”  John 14:12

When He said this, He was referring to the dimension of faith we have in Him and its connection to our actions manifesting in our works.  Our works are manifestations of our belief.  And, just in case this concept is still difficult to understand, try not doing the work you were hired to do at your current workplace, and see how long you last. 
—Chances are, your work, or lack thereof, will manifest as a lack of faith in job security.   L.
​
Study Reference: James 1:22-25, 2:18-20, Revelation 22:11-12
From: "Faith vs. Works." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Getty Images

   "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth its fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper.”    Psalm 1:3

​
Consider writing out exactly what today's verse means to you. —Not simply a translation of the text; but, as God's personal promise to you.  For instance, for me it means that:  

“When I remain resolute concerning God's promise of replenishment in my life, my endeavors will continue to blossom; and, whatever I plan, build, believe, or create within the will of God, will prosper. And, when I stand in faith, resolute on the Word of God, I will be like a tree planted by the water, continuously replenished, nourished, and blessed for overwhelming growth.”

I figure, if God can be massive, my hopes and dreams can be massive too!

Your affirmation can be more specific in regards to your family, career, talents, gifts, health, goals, and yes, even finances. Try making the text so personal to you that, when you feel as if you are failing, or overwhelmed by life, your personal verse will completely replenish you. For example, to see how powerful this verse is in its simplicity, insert your name in the original text below.  You will feel the difference immediately.  Say it out loud.

 I, _____________ (insert your first name), shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bring forth fruit in my season. My goals, health, wealth, love, and forgiveness shall not wither and whatsoever I do shall prosper. —Amen. 

Repeat it again.

This verse, taken from the very first song/Psalm of David, is an absolute prophetic affirmation in the life of Believers; why not embrace it and make it one of God’s wonderful promises to YOU!   L.

Study Reference: Psalm 1
From: "Your Thoughts: Affirmation, Planted By The River."
​In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Daniela Duncan

           


 "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: unknown

     












 
       "...And knows His will, and approves the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness; an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which has the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teaches another, teaches thou not thyself?”         Romans 2:18-21


​
A formal mentorship is a type of training where both the student and the teacher have agreed to enter into a relationship of give and take. However, the truth is, every person is called to mentor and to be mentored throughout his or her life on a continuous basis.  At certain times, there will be those sent to you who can, and will, teach you to become a better person, parent, husband, employee, etc. And at other times you will be the person who will teach someone else to become a better person, worker, parent, husband, etc. 

We need to be able to pass on the intimately truthful lessons we have learned throughout our lives to help others overcome the obstacles placed in their way. The more you value your lessons, the more you want to help others by sharing them. Obviously, this also means lessons relating to your walk with God; and, those biblical points you have learned to use to offset the pain of your most intimate trials and tribulations. 

Your intimately personal testimonies may not be for everyone; however, you can trust that if you have learned from it, you will be able to teach from it. So today, why don't you  share your  testimony with someone.  L. 

Study Reference: Romans 2:18-21
From: "Mentorship 101."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell 
photo: s. atchinson

    ​
​"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.”     
1 Corinthians 1:27-28



For several years, my friends and I hosted a luncheon table after church; the premise was, because of the lack of parking, most people would stay to attend the afternoon program if lunch was provided. It was an open table where members, non-members, and visitors were welcome. We had very lively biblical debates regarding some of the interpretations presented by our diners. 

One afternoon we had a lengthy discussion concerning Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine. The discussion lasted three weeks, not counting the research, preparation, and the Internet emails between the two main debaters. It was quite interesting and both sides had some great points. However, just so you do not send me every email under the sun, my position is as the Bible states, Jesus turned the water into wine; yes wine!  If we take everything else at face value in our Bible, we have to take this also. OK, with that said, I do not believe the wine was capable of making people drunk no matter how much they drank; not because the wine was mere “grape juice,” but because Jesus created it. I cannot imagine that Jesus would allow the imbibing of His wine to cast others into drunken madness. Yet, the governor at the wedding exclaimed in John 2:10, “Thou hast kept the good wine until now!” 
​So, as Shakespeare said, “Therein lies the rub!”

If we consume man-made alcohol, we are destined to be drunk. If you have a certain upbringing where alcohol is an integral part of your meal, you have a tradition of consumption that can lead your body organs into decay, not to mention a chemical dependency that rarely goes away.  For those of us who believe that, since Jesus turned water into wine, imbibing should be an integral part of our own lives, why not take it a step further and do some of the other things Jesus did?  Why not spend some time healing the sick, helping the poor, or teaching the Word of God to the masses.  Let us not spend so much time concentrating on the wine; let us instead, concentrate on the miracle.  L.

Study Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:25-28
From: "Water Into Wine."  ​In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell 
photo: Tony Cenicola​
   

               

"For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.”      Matthew 10:20



At the opening ceremony of one of my favorite museums, I spotted a woman that I had not seen in a while. And, although we were not friends, we always greeted each other with a smile. 

"I can't believe you are here!”   She said, smiling at me, “—I have been looking for you for one year! "     
"No,"  I said,  "-I don't think it's been that long."   
“-Yes!"  She said firmly, 
"-It has been exactly a year! And, I was hoping that you would be here!"    I started to laugh out loud, "Hmm,... sounds serious, I don't owe you money, do I?"   We both began to laugh.  "-No.”  She said, continuing with some level of excitement. “-I just really wanted to thank you and tell you how much you helped me! -You were so right! "   She said smiling. "-And, it worked out just as you said it would!"   "Really?"  I said; trying desperately to remember what we actually spoke about one year earlier, while hoping that she would give me a hint.  

I vaguely recalled telling her that the issue she was facing may be God's way of moving her in a different direction; but, for the life of me, I could not remember the details.  And, after rattling my aging brain for a while, I finally said, "What exactly was it that I said to you?"    Looking a little stunned, she said, "You really don't remember?"   
"-No."  I said, more amazed that she was amazed that I did not remember the specifics of our year-old conversation.
"Well,"   She said, "-I have to believe that God needed for me to hear what He was trying to tell me. I was being hard-headed and would not listen. So, He used you so I could hear His Voice from someone else."  Although she never filled in the details, I had to agree; because, to this day, I still cannot recall the specific details of our conversation. 

Christians asking for The Power to speak to others about Jesus, are probably less common than God asking us to speak to others about Him. Often, there is fear. —Fear of rejection, ridicule, and a lack of knowledge associated with speaking to others about Jesus. However, Jesus understands our fears and in most instances, He will prompt us to action.

There will be times when, we will be in the right place, at precisely the right time to help someone else understand why Jesus Loves them. On some of those occasions it will be our words, on other occasions, it will be our actions. We do not have to remember the details; we simply have to remember that we are a living testimony to the Life, Love, and Power of Jesus Christ. L.

Study Reference: Matthew 10:20
From: "The Power to Speak."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

             
​"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  I am The Vine, ye are the branches; He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.”    
John 15:4-5
 



I read, Secrets of The Vine by Bruce Wilkerson who, if you recall, also wrote the NY Times bestseller, The Prayer of Jabez.  In Secrets of The Vine, he describes how a vinedresser cares for the vineyard; and, how it relates to Jesus and His fruits of the vine —us.  His explanation is quite different than the more traditional interpretation of John 15:2  which says:

"Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” Most of us believe that the translation, "to bear fruit," relates to evangelism and the statement "He takes away" means something like, “if you persist in a life without showing evidence of your salvation, you lose it.” (Secrets of The Vine, p.32)  

So, understanding that our salvation is not defined through our works “…lest we boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9);  Mr. Wilkerson began to research John 15:2 in the original Greek text and found that a more accurate translation of the words, “takes away”  in the original Greek, is the word "airo,"  which means to “lift up.” 

Here’s the reason why the change in interpretation is important.  Mr. Wilkerson met a vineyard owner prior to writing the book, and he explained how a vineyard is cared for by the vinedresser.  It turns out; the vinedresser walks up and down the vineyard aisles daily, checking on the development of the vines and the fruit.  As long as the vine is upright, held up by the trellis, it will bear fruit.  If it is growing down in the dust or dirt, it will not bear fruit; primarily because, the dirt impedes the growth of the leaves, thereby stifling the production of fruit.  

Here’s the beautiful part; when the vinedresser sees that a vine is growing along the ground in the dust, he lifts it up, cleans the dust off, and reattaches it to the trellis.  As long as the vine stays connected to the trellis and off the ground, it will ultimately bear fruit.   So, Mr. Wilkerson interprets Jesus as the vinedresser, intervening in our lives to lift us out of the dust; ultimately cleansing us; and then, reattaching us back to God, where He frees “…us of sin so we can live a more abundant life for His Glory.” (p.36) 

So, just imagine; Jesus in His Grace and Mercy walks up and down the aisles of humanity, seeking those of us who are down in the dirt, caught in the ravages of a life in sin. He then picks us up, cleanses us, and like those large, plump, succulent grapes of The Vine, He reattaches us back to Him. 

Hmmm….  I bet you never thought of yourself as a large, luscious, fruit of The Vine!  L.   

Study Reference: John 15:1-16    
From: "The Vinedresser & The Vine."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell 
photo: emaze

    ​"…For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ...So when evening was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.”      Matthew 20:1, 8-10 
 


Matthew 20:1-16, is a parable given by Jesus to His disciples when a very wealthy man walks away sorrowful, after he learns he must forsake his wealth to follow Jesus in order to inherit eternal life. The parable follows one of the most famous lines in the Bible, “…Verily I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)   

It is a perplexing parable like all the other parables Jesus taught His disciples while He walked among them.  However, this one has even greater implications for modern Christians.  Consider this; the parable speaks to those who accepted Jesus early in their lives, living the principles of Christianity, versus those who gained the wisdom of accepting the Gospel towards the end of their lives. 

Those who accepted the Gospel at the beginning of their lives accepted it for very little, maybe this person is you; you were young, heard the Word, and simply believed.  You did not need to witness the miracles of Jesus in your life, you simply believed and adhered to a straight and narrow path. It was all you asked, and for your belief and faith, payment will be the inheritance of eternal life.  Those who came to God closer to the end of their lives, possibly someone who you believe has lived an unrighteous life for instance, asked for more; more love, more miracles, more faith, and more time, as shown by the ragged, frayed edges of their life. God agreed; and their payment will be the same inheritance, eternal life. Yet, we have the same old debate, "Does the thief on the cross inherit eternal life equally as the man who repented or followed Christ early in his life?"  Does God honor your lifelong repentance the same as the person who repented on his deathbed? 

As Christians, we would like to believe God honors all repentance the same, no one is greater than another, no sin is lesser or greater than the other. In James 2:10 the Bible says, if you commit one sin you are guilty of all. Yet, in our scant human understanding, we place our own sins in some type of hierarchy, as if we believe God says, “Hmmm… his sin wasn't as bad as the murder in the first degree committed by…”  And so, we live our lives trying to make up for the sins we committed throughout our lives as if we have to, forgetting that we are all saved by Grace.  Upon our baptism we are dead to sin; Jesus stands in our stead with God.  Does this mean we can continuously dishonor God by repeating and repenting as we go? Well,... yes; at our very lowest we can, but it is a ridiculously hard way to live. Living on the straight and narrow path is hard enough. 

Ideally, we live to maintain a higher standard for our lives, because as Christians it shows our love, reverence, and respect for Jesus’ sacrifice of His life for ours.  Why would anyone wait until the end of their life, or possibly their very last breath to make a commitment to God?  What are the chances that you will make your commitment in time to repent for a lifetime spent away from God?  L.   

Study Reference: Matthew 20:1-16
From: “Different Deal, Same Pay.” In The Master’s Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: fern/ istock

               "…That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”      1 Corinthians 2:5


Have you ever been in a rush to get somewhere and someone unknown and/or in distress said, “Excuse me?”  interrupting your schedule?  Do you brush the person off?   Or, do you stop for a moment to see if you can be of assistance?  What about interruptions caused by family members, or those you love?  Can you look pass your own needs to see that they may be in distress or in need?  With all the media, mobile devices, and unscheduled events purposely trying to distract you from your life’s purpose, how you deal with the interruption says a lot about you and how you will react to life’s interruptions. 

God has many different ways of getting our attention; sometimes it is a whisper, and sometimes it’s a bomb.  Either way, it causes us to pause, rethink, and re-purpose our lives. The whisper may come in the form of a nudge to get something done primarily for someone else. It pulls on your heartstrings, and although it is out of character, you just know it is the right thing to do. The bombs are a little different. —They are usually highly personal. They propel your level of thinking or behaving a quantum leap forward; but, in a completely different direction —with no turning back! 

God does not really allow you to turn backwards. Similar to Lot’s wife and the children of Israel in their  mountainous experience, you either go forward or you stagnate, feeling sorry for yourself while reliving the heydays of smooth roads and sunny skies. Or, you forge ahead towards the new path set before you.  Sometimes, you will know it is in the will of God for you to take the mountainous road ahead. And sometimes, you will simply have to travel by faith, understanding that, “this too shall pass.”

Faith is always tested.  At times it may come in the form of an interruption; when it does, the lesson is never in the interruption. The lesson will always be in how you react to the interruption.  L.

Study Reference: 1 Corinthians 2:5-9
Excerpt from: "Interruptions."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: wallpaperup

             










  "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14


Jesus did many miraculous things while He walked among the Disciples; yet, He also took the time to teach multitudes of people how to pray. We know God answers prayers because, we live and breathe.  And, I would suggest that, if you have never had a prayer answered, you must be praying for the wrong things. The email I received below is quite powerful. It shares the story from one of our readers who started a Morning Prayer group after initially praying with a coworker.  Each day, she led her group of nurses in beginning their daily shift routine with prayer. Just imagine the power that is put forth by a group of healthcare professionals who began their day with prayer. Below is an update concerning her Morning Prayer Group. 


​Hi Lavona,
 
"I just got a chance to read today’s 'Daily' Devotion.'  The latest chapter in my workplace early Morning Prayer session is that it has begun to spread. I don't have to ask anyone to come together anymore; they refuse to work without our prayer session... Needless to say, I didn't know it would take off like it has. This morning I got the shock of my life when my head nurse invited one of our doctors to join our prayer group and he came. At first he said, "Well, I don't know if I really believe in a gray-haired man who is supposed to be hearing us."   But he came, joined our circle, put his arms around his neighbor and we prayed. -It was awesome!!  I'm thinking about it even now and just marvel at the greatness of God. Well,... I'll continue to keep you posted."     -Claudette J.

How would it impact your workday if you and your co-workers began the day with prayer?  How would your group deal with customers, clients, or major issues throughout the day, if your morning began with prayer? You may be thinking, “I can pray alone at my desk for everyone.”  -True. However, Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there Am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)   So, in coming together with your group, your prayer will be more effectual in your workplace.  When you pray alone, you are praying for yourself and the workplace environment, placing "your" mind at ease. When you pray in a group, you are praying for each person and their respective specifics, whether you know their issues or not. This puts "their" mind at ease, allowing them to relinquish control of "their" problems to God. 

All you need is one other person to start the process. You will be surprised how many people really need prayer in their life, but are afraid to ask. Your presence in your workplace is not to convert the staff; it is to bring the Love of Christ into the environment through you. And remember, just like the physician in Claudette’s letter, it does not matter if they believe, it simply matters that you believe.  L. 

Study Reference: 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 
Excerpt from: "Teaching Prayer." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

                








​         


       "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit has he that works in that wherein he labors?"       Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 


​Science proves God every single day.  As Christians we must embrace science and technology as proof in understanding how difficult it is to dismiss how truly awesome God is!  

Scientists say that in order to create a computer that does all of the unconscious and mundane things your brain does every day, they would have to build a computer that takes up the entire square footage of the Empire State Building, in New York.  And, even then, if they are really lucky, it would barely function with the minimal workings of a newborn baby.  But Of course, as most new mothers can tell you, even this feat by a computer is impossible, since human babies evolve minute by minute after they are born.  And, we continue to evolve, minute by minute, day by day, month by month, and year by year until we take our very last breath.

The Bible says that the average human will live 70 years (Psalm 90:10).  If we break it down to seconds, every day that we live we would have consumed the 86,400 seconds which were added to our time on earth. On average, every month, we use 2,592,000 seconds; and, every year we use 31,536,000 seconds, give or take a leap year. And just in case we actually live to age 70, as most of us will, then, we would have consumed 2,207,520,000 seconds during our lifetime. Computers are evolving every day; they were designed to reduce the minutia and mundane so that we could do the things that really matter in the lives of humanity with and for other humans. They were not created to isolate us from each other. No one will ever say, “It was so wonderful the way she loved her computer.”  Or, “My, my; he spent so many hours with his beloved computer/ phone.”  

Somehow, our time on earth is always shorter than we think. Why not maximize every single second, of every single minute, of every single day?  L.
​
**Now, It's your turn to write your thoughts on today's verse in your journal.

Study Reference: Ecclesiastes 3:1-9   
From: "Your Thoughts: Time."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: istock

​     "...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
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​ "If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.”         Job 36:11-12


It's true; I previously wrote, the hardest thing about being a Christian is forgiving those who have hurt you, especially those who have damaged you to your very core. The second has to be obeying God. In truth, obedience is first; because, if we obeyed, then forgiveness would be a non-issue. 

Most Christians liken obedience to lightly obeying the Ten Commandments, and adhering to church dogma. However, in many instances, obedience comes down to God moving you in a direction you believe you are not prepared to go. He may ask you to speak to people you really don't want to interact with. He may ask you to do something you definitely never planned on doing. Or, you may be asked to go to the very last place on earth, you said, you would never be caught dead in. 

We have many examples in the Bible of those who openly obeyed God, and those who did not. Moses in fear, asked God to send his brother Aaron to speak with Pharaoh instead, because he felt he was a terrible speaker. (Exodus 4:10-16)  On the other hand, a young David obeyed; showing no fear, he picked up his slingshot and stepped onto the battlefield to defeat a looming Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:32-54)  Both had their successes and failures along the way.

The thing to remember is, God's Will, will be done. Whether you decide to obey or not, His Will, will be accomplished. Why not eliminate your own fears and allow Him to work through you, instead of without you.  L.

Study Reference: Job 36:1-12
From: "The "O" Factor." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: eskipaper

                   

"Keep thy foot when thou goeth into the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven and thou upon the earth, therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of busyness, and a fool’s voice is known by the multitude of words. When thou vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou should not vow, than thou should vow and not pay.”        Ecclesiastes 5:1-5
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Each day our life speaks volumes regarding our beliefs; and, every day we affirm our convictions by our actions. Some days we speak flippantly about things that are true convictions, and on other days, we speak convictions about things that are irrelevant, not understanding how important it is to pay attention to what we actually say.

Most people believe a vow to God is limited to money, because many times we find ourselves negotiating with God for some degree of monetary gain. The truth is, God does not need our money. However, if you make a monetary pledge, even if it is in jest, keep it. –It is a vow.   A vow is anything that you have promised God you will do. Whether it is in return for something or not, is irrelevant, to be certain, God will keep His end of the bargain. If you use the term, “I swear to God…,” then you should be aware that you are dangerously avowing whatever you have said.  And, if you are one of those people who like to "...swear to God" in anger, guess what? –It is a vow.  In Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote, "It is better not to vow, than to vow and not to fulfill your vow."  Hannah understood this when she fulfilled her vow by taking her only son, Samuel, to the temple to live. (1 Samuel 1-2:11)

...What about you?  Have you promised God that you were going to do something that you have not done? If so, today is the day to ask for forgiveness. And, when you have finished asking for forgiveness, if your vow falls within the realm of love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness, fulfill what you have vowed!  L.

Study Reference: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, Judges 11:1-40
Excerpt from: "Vows." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: bigstock

           “For I, The Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I Will help thee.”          Isaiah 41:13

 
Fear is the greatest killer of dreams. For several years I planned to volunteer as an adult literacy instructor, with the hopes of encouraging two men I met to learn how to read. I can only imagine what it would be like to be illiterate, not in the negative connotation, but in the true definition of the word. I am fascinated at the high level of aptitude and social achievement those who cannot read, something many of us literally take for granted, are able to achieve. 

As Christians, we take literacy for granted, after all, aren't we supposed to read our Bible?  As a literacy volunteer, prior to receiving your own class you must sit and view a class in session, listening to the intimate interactions between the tutor and his / her students. Each class is made up of 6-7 students, ranging in age from about 20-70+, with one or two people representing each age group.  In the group I visited, two of the older students were motivated to learn how to read because they simply wanted to read their Bibles and hymnals in church. 

My first inclination upon entering the class was thinking that these students carried immense fear, shame, and embarrassment; however, after interacting with them for a few hours, I realized it was just the opposite. These students were extremely courageous! They had taken the initial steps necessary to eliminate what was previously  their shame, to ultimately conquer their fear. 

Conquering our fears with faith is the ultimate achievement for all Christians; it is our secret weapon against the wiles of the enemy.  Fear can rob all, including Christians, of their hope in the future and their faith in God.  Yet, it is in our fear that God offers the greatest strength.  He promises in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that, “...His strength is made perfect in our weakness.”  It is in this promise that we are given our salvation from fear.

So, no matter what ails you, threatens you, or scares you, believe this promise; faith in God is your ultimate weapon against whatever is thrown your way.  His strength is perfected in your weakness; the weaker you are, the stronger He is!  L. 

Study Reference: Isaiah 41:10-13, 2 Corinthians 12:9
From: "Fear Not!"  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Raul Boesel

               
"For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be for them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”    
1 Peter 4:17-18 

 

​It is interesting to note that when God planned the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he began with judging the righteous first—the people who profess to believe in God.  It doesn't sound familiar?   Then let’s look it up. 
In Genesis 18:23-26, Abraham asks God, 

“Will Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure, there be fifty righteous within the city; will Thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should get as the wicked, that be far from Thee; shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

In a more modern version it would say, “Lord, suppose there were only fifty righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, would You destroy the righteous with the wicked?"  And of course, God responds, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.”

So, an entire nation would have been spared if fifty righteous people existed in Sodom and Gomorrah.  Most of us already know the dismal end of this story. Abraham, wondering if God will find fifty people, negotiates the number of the righteous down to ten people.  So, God promises Abraham if He finds ten--ten righteous people in the nation of Sodom and Gomorrah, he will spare the entire nation.  We can imagine that God, being God, searches the hearts of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and after not finding ten people who within their hearts stand on the side of righteousness, He destroys the two cities and its inhabitants. 

Let’s fast forward to today’s world. In our fast paced era with all its bells and whistles, fast cars and fast people; quick fixes and hot tempers; high tech and low standards, --where do you fit?  Many of us spend far too much time looking at, and complaining about, the routines of non-Christians and those who do not believe in God.  When in fact, we should be paying attention to the caveat found in today's verse, remembering that when the time comes, we will be judged first, not them.  Will we be found righteous in the eyes of God or as the verse says, scarcely saved?    

So, the question today is, if God approached a beloved human being today, the same way he appeared to Abraham, and told him or her that He planned on destroying your city tomorrow; would your city and its inhabitants be saved because of you? —Or, would you ignite the flame that burns the city?  L.  

Study Reference: 1 Peter 4:17-18, Genesis 18
From: "Starting With Us." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo credit: istock

  "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.” 

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

    "And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His Disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.'”     John 9:1-3


Nick Vujicic is an amazing man who travels the world speaking about the Blessings of abundance on his life in an attempt to achieve a personal goal of leading 15 million people to Christ. The thing I found most intriguing about Mr. Vujicic was his optimistic attitude about life, his powerful ability to persevere, and his pragmatic outlook on his missing limbs; you see, Mr. Vujicic has no arms or legs. 

As Mr. Vujicic was reading today’s verse, he felt so blessed when he read the last line, that he literally stopped asking God for limbs! He said he realized that, the way he was born was a testament to God’s Miracle and Love in his life. There was no reason to ask God “Why?” any longer. –And, there was now no reason to ask "What"  his life’s purpose was; he understood!  But, I have to say,  it was his statement about having an afterlife conversation with Jesus that truly gave me pause. It went something like this:
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“I imagine Jesus asking me two questions, number one;
"Why did you ask for limbs, didn't you understand that I created you for My Glory?  –You are my walking, breathing miracle! " And, number two; "Whom did you bring with you?”"

Both questions are quite powerful for every person, with or without a physical disability!  When we look in the mirror, somehow, we needlessly want to change the way we were designed by God.  We believe we are too fat, too thin, too dark, too light, too short, or, too tall; just to name a few.  In our minds, something is always wrong with the way we were created. And, too often, as Christians, we forget that we are supposed to glorify God in all we do, lifting the hearts and minds of those whom we come in contact with, helping them to eventually see Jesus.  How can we do this if we are endlessly complaining about superficial things? 

As I watched Mr. Vujicic’s exuberance for Jesus, his acceptance of his life situation, and his optimistic outlook on his mission to save the world, it made me stop to reconsider my own life.  So consider this. The next time you feel like grumbling about any aspect of your life, or your lack of abundance in any way, check out one his videos on our Media page. There you can see more about his life and hear his personal testimony. 

His personal testimony will cure what ails you, it will remind you to respect the life you have, in the abundance that God has allocated to you.  And, more importantly, it offers a gentle reminder that, when it comes to God, no one is insignificant; every person counts. –Even you!  L.

Study Reference: John 9:1-41, Psalm 139:13-18 
From: "Tested For Abundance."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
​Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: hdwallpapers

   


"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.”  Psalm 30:11


There’s a Christian song in which the lyrics state,"You turned my mourning to dancing, You turned my sorrow to joy, You gave me beauty for ashes, you came and made my heart sing."   Yet, we are still taken by surprise by all types of issues that plague us for one reason or another; and, we meet people every day who are in various state of sadness. Who can be happy all the time?

Being a Christian is not necessarily about happiness, it is about innate joy. Happiness is normally based on something or someone; it fluctuates based on the time, place and state of mind that you are in.  Joy, on the other hand, is a state of being. It is understanding that God's Love for you supersedes the fluctuations of your day to day emotions, routines, or dilemmas.  -You can have true Joy and still be saddened by the current state of events surrounding your life or daily routine.  When the Bible speaks of Joy, it is really referring to a state of being.  -A radical sense of inner peace that governs our understanding of every event, good or bad, happy or sad.

As Believers, we learn to live in the moment, but, hope in the future. The current events in our lives do not shape us. We hold fast to the Ultimate Power of God. It shapes our reaction to each event with the confidence of understanding that, good or bad, happy or sad, God is still  in control. -And, ultimately, every circumstance that stands against us will fall into the category of, "This too, shall pass.”  L.

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

Study Reference: Psalm 30:11, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
From: "Your Thoughts: Joy!."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell 
photo: Dautore

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​   "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith The Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”       Jeremiah 29:11-13
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American writer, Henry David Thoreau, was born in 1817. He wrote in an era when the male majority literally had all the privileges of a new independence. Yet, he is credited with the quote: “Most men [and women] lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Thoreau wrote this statement contemplating his own personal understanding of quiet desperation and that of mankind.

At some point in our lives, we all suffer from secretly living in quiet desperation. For most of us, it occurs when we believe we are not fulfilling, or have no hope of realizing our God-given potential. For others, it is the full acceptance of mediocrity, both in themselves and others. It is safer to continue in the mundane routine of our daily lives, than to take the risk of the unknown, to break free of the quiet unlit embers that have somehow quelled the fire in our souls.

In today’s verse, God reminds us that no matter how dismayed we become, His thoughts towards us are of Divine Love and complete peace. No matter how discouraging our circumstances, when we call on the name of Jesus, the verse says, He will hear our plea and respond. There is absolutely no reason to go through your life in quiet desperation. At some point, you will have to really believe that God values your life’s potential.  After all, He was the One who placed it in you to begin with.

Take the time to really read your Bible; it was created to inspire deep internal thought about your life in relation to God. Use it as the ultimate tool to guide you in understanding the God-given potential for your life. Pray for guidance to alleviate any inner doubts so that you can internalize the depth of God’s Love towards you. Continue to write down your thoughts as you read. It will recalibrate your thinking to foster action, helping you to develop a keen awareness of your life’s purpose; and, eliminate that quiet desperation we often feel.  Believe that God values your life’s potential, because the contrary would be to agree with Thoreau, and, go to the grave with your  song still inside you. L.

Study Reference: Jeremiah 29:11-13 
From: "Quiet Desperation." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock