Showing posts with label #devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #devotional. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2020

JOBS, PART THREE ~ Christina Sinisi ~ Devotional


JOBS - Part Three


A Devotional by Christina Sinisi


When I wrote the first two parts to this series, the COVID-19 crisis was not on the horizon. My own personal worries and the troubles of those close to me were paramount in my mind. A job was an aggravation to some degree, politics and frustration with administration and stress from too much to do were the items on the list.

All that has changed with the onslaught of a little ball of a virus with tiny little antennae, or are they feet, all around it stomping all over the world.

Now that I can’t be at my workplace, I miss the people there. I’m still doing the work so that isn’t marked off my list, but I’m also very grateful for the job I have. So many people now are out of work or facing financial hardships that we don’t have to face (at least in the foreseeable future). We have a nice-sized house with space where we each can get away from the others, but also have each other to talk to and support and love. We have porches, a back yard, and walking trails that haven’t been closed off—we can get outside. 

And most of all, we have our health.

It’s funny, perhaps sad, definitely amazing that it sometimes takes being on the brink or even tipping over to force us to count our blessings. In my bible reading right now, I’m in Judges. Not the most pleasant of reading, but I read the bible straight through in a constant stream and that’s where I am. One lesson from that book, and much of the Old Testament, is how easy it is to forget God’s blessings and miracles. When we do forget, it’s so easy then to think we don’t need God or, the worst possible outcome, believe that He doesn’t exist.

Times like this teach us: He does exist, and we do need Him.

It shouldn’t take a pandemic or the parting of a sea for us to remember our first love. Talk to Him every day, read His word, and stay in His presence.

And we’ll be fine, no matter what.

Pray with me?  “Heavenly Father, please be with me, my family, friends, this country, and this world. Heal those who are sick and take those in your arms who are struggling. Let us never forget just who You are. Amen.”

Genesis 2:15  The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.


A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and finalists in a number of writing contests, such as the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

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Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi
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Friday, April 3, 2020

JOBS: PART TWO~ Christina Sinisi - Devotional

JOBS - Part Two


A Devotional by Christina Sinisi

On the Friday following the terrible Thursday, Portals of Prayer addressed jobs directly. By the way, do you ever feel that God is talking directly to you through his word and his people? He is.
The verses for the following Friday was Genesis 2:4 – 25. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

God values work. Even in paradise, Adam had a job. I could be wrong, but that implies (to me) that in eternity, we’re going to have jobs. Does that blow your mind or disappoint you?  I honestly don’t know how I feel about that since I’ve been teaching for thirty years and getting a little burned out—eternity sounds like an awful long time. 

Maybe we need to rethink work. God gives only good gifts. He also gives us everything we have. He created everything there is. So, work must not be a four letter word, or at least in the bad way.
At the same time, we do live in an imperfect world, tainted by original sin. Therefore, the people at work, the politics at work, the tedium, the physical and mental stamina needed to get everything done can all affect the joy we should find in doing a good day’s work.

Rather than general platitudes, I want to be specific about how to find joy in work. By the way, I’m a psychologist and professor in my day job so much of this is based on research.

Be careful in your choice. Most of us make career choices when we are very young and that may be an issue. We may not have enough self-awareness to know what is really the best choice for our lifetime, and that is why it is okay to change our minds. But, when making a decision, no matter at what stage in your life, ask God. Prayerfully consider more than just the obvious. Take interest surveys. Get some experience by volunteering or observing. And be patient with yourself--God is.

Fully engage while you are at work. Nothing breeds dissatisfaction more than distraction. If you need distraction from a thing, the thing must not be that great. I mean, vegetables just exist to get to the dessert, right? Hopefully, we know better, or learn better as we get older. Put away the phone, close all tabs other than the right one, and engage.

At the same time, take breaks. When you are on vacation, vacate. I mean, leave. Get out of there. Not just the place, but exit those corners of your mind..if I’m not taking my analogy too far. Just don’t answer the email for a day. That’s all I’m saying. Give yourself a real break.
Or, at the very least, fully engage for a period of time and then take a break. What? We’re all human.

Our Lord gives us our jobs and places us in our life. He places us to receive the Word as well.

Can we pray? “Lord God, grant that we may work and keep your gifts for Your service and glory. Help us to find joy in the mundane and to support each other through our mistakes and confusion and joy. In your son, Jesus’ name, Amen



A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and finalists in a number of writing contests, such as the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

How can writers connect with you?
Social Media Links:

Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi
Instagram: @csinisi123

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Friday, March 27, 2020

JOBS: PART ONE ~ Christina Sinisi - Devotional


JOBS - Part One
A Devotional by Christina Sinisi


Warning: This is my first devotional.

Comfort: But it’s not God’s first rodeo in inspiring people to write for Him.

This week, several people in my circle experienced trouble with work. One failed to get a job that he very much wanted, and another failed at a job he thought was the first step in his career. In each case, the individual called himself a failure and feared our disapproval. I was so emotionally involved that I spiraled down with them.

My husband was the rock. He stayed calm and helped us see that a person’s life isn’t over because of one failure, or even a number of them. We all make mistakes, we all take the wrong roads. He also pointed out other possible paths and ways we/they might get over those big humps in the road they were on.

My church provides a daily devotional titled, “Portals of Prayer.” Terrible Thursday’s scripture was 2 Corinthians 6:4-5: “But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger…”

Not exactly what I or anyone else wants to hear. I turned to my devotion for comfort, and this is what I get? More from my devotional…”Who would want this? Why does it seem like one bad thing after another continues to happen?”

The answer: “This is enduring under the cross as a Christian. When all that we do fails, we have only Jesus.” 

God wants us to turn to Him. When we get a rejection from a publisher (and I have ten years worth), when we get a bad review at work, when a loved one falters and we hurt so much for them, we MUST turn to God. We also need to turn to each other, and be there for others when we can. This is why God gave us relationship.

“Afflictions, hardships, calamities…hunger…”

I wish we could just say no. But we can’t. At the same time, as Christians, we know that Jesus will help us through whatever hardships come our way. He doesn’t want us to go through these things, but sometimes they happen because we live in a broken world. Sometimes they happen because we need to be turned down a different path or learn a lesson. Sometimes they happen to bend or break us to the point we turn to HIM.

No matter what, Jesus will see us through it.

Can we pray together? “Jesus, we know we can count on you to help us through the hard times. Help us to remember you have plans for us that are good and that you love us, every single one of us. Amen.”


A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and finalists in a number of writing contests, such as the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

How can writers connect with you?
Social Media Links:



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Friday, February 21, 2020

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Devotional


Strength For The Journey
Image courtesy Pixbay.com

A Faithful Friday devotional by Alexis A. Goring




One bright and sunny morning, I woke up with my issues on my mind.

As the minutes of what was otherwise a beautiful morning, ticked by, I felt more upset and depressed.

I opened my True Identity Bible and prayed to God, asking Him to be with me as I read the texts. At first, I couldn’t focus. So I was honest with God, telling Him what was on my mind. Then I returned my focus to Bible study. And then I saw it: My handwritten, blue ink colored note in the margin of a page in my Bible where I commented on the boxed text. Previously, I had written, “beautiful thought, could be a devotional!”

Inspired, I closed my Bible and asked God to guide me as I turned that thought into a devotional. Less than an hour later, I had written a devotional about how believers in God need to show people Jesus Christ, not just preach about Him.

After I finished editing my devotional, I realized that I felt so much better. The heaviness on my heart and sadness in my mind were lifted. I felt refreshed. And I knew why: Instead of reaching out to a friend or family member as I had so many times before, I went straight to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

There’s a beautiful SONG by Byron Cage called “There is A Name.”

The song basically says that the precious name of Jesus brings healing. It is a holy Name that we are to praise and revere. And what really stands out to me is a practical application he makes toward the end his song when he stops singing and starts preaching. He says:

“You can’t really get the victory until you call on the name of Jesus. You can talk to your girlfriend on the phone all night long. You can talk to your mother and to your father, but it’s not until you call the name of Jesus that demons have got to tremble. You can cry about it, you can talk about it but until you open up your mouth and begin to bless the name of Jesus and begin to rebuke the adversary in the name of Jesus: I speak healing in my body, in the name of Jesus. I speak deliverance in my spirit, in the name of Jesus! I speak peace in my mind, in the name of Jesus! It’s in the Name of Jesus!”

Finally, not only did I learn my lesson of going to God before you go to people; I also experienced the peace and freedom that results in consulting God first! Taking my concerns to Jesus Christ before speaking to anyone else has greatly blessed me.

I am encouraged to, from now on, go to God first.

Just like the preaching at the end of the song says: You can talk to anyone here on Earth, but complete and true deliverance doesn’t come until you talk to God! Calling on the Name of Jesus sets you free. His name brings healing. His name brings peace. Only Jesus truly understands you and only He knows what’s on your heart before you find your voice to express it.

The older I become, the more I realize what a blessing it is to have Jesus as my Savior and my Best Friend. He understands me completely and sees my flaws, yet He loves me unconditionally.

Growing up, I wanted what people called a “forever friend” who was loyal and true and whom I could call upon any time of the day or night. As an adult, when God blessed me with a few forever friends, including one who said I can text her “anytime” as often as I need to. She assured me that I’m “not exasperating” her at all. God also blessed me with a few other God-fearing, true friends who share her sentiment and want to be there for me. I treasure their friendship, kind words and prayer support.

However, I realized that though I am grateful to have true friends who want to be there for me any time of the day or night, the only one whose love for me is unfailing and whose patience in hearing me endures forever, is Jesus Christ. He is my Forever Friend for life.

Jesus is the only one who has the power to give me a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). He is the only one who understands me and knows how to help me before I begin to ask. Even the most helpful humans can become exhausted in dealing with other humans because we’re only human. But our Heavenly Father (God) and His Son (Jesus Christ) never become exhausted! The Bible says that they never sleep (Psalm 121:2-4), nor do they become exasperated from hearing from us whenever we call, even if it’s more than once a day. And as for comfort, they send their Holy Spirit to comfort us in ways that mere mortals (humans) cannot. Read John 14:26.

As an adult, I realized how blessed I’ve always been to have the Savior of the world Jesus Christ (1 John 4:14) on my side. The Bible says that God formed us and knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows us more intimately than our mamas who carried us for nine months and gave birth to us. Only He is perfectly capable of helping to meet our every need.

The older I become, the more I realize that I always need to go to God first in order to get strength for my journey through life on this Earth. God places His people on this planet in all professions to help us, and He orchestrates friendships and relationships between humans that are a beautiful blessing. However, we should never place any human before Him. And no human should ever be one who we rely on for strength. Just like the song by Byron Cage says, only the Name of Jesus has the power to set us free. Calling on Him is a game changer!

As I close this devotional, I’d like to encourage you always to remember that you have a Friend named Jesus Christ who loves you with His life (John 3:16). Ask Him to be your life coach and best friend. He’s already cheering you on because He loves you!

Jesus wants to encourage your heart as you go through the human experience here on Earth. He says not to let your heart be troubled (John 14:1) because He has overcome the world (John 16:33), and He can help you overcome it too!



Author Bio: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.


Friday, November 15, 2019

Kings and Kingdoms ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Faithful Friday


Kings and Kingdoms
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)


It was a normal Saturday morning. Except, I didn’t feel like going to church.

I was tired from the week of work and wanted to rest. Another reason why I wanted to stay home was that the weather was too cold for my taste. It felt like the perfect reason to stay home, cozied with a warm blanket and my plush pillow. Sleeping in until the early afternoon sounded good to me!

However, God prompted me to go. Our pastor often says that you’re on time for work because they give you a paycheck; why can’t you be on time for church because the Creator of the Universe, who enabled you to get that job, wants to meet with you?

So I dragged myself out of bed and began the process of getting ready to go to church. I arrived just in time for the worship service. As I walked in and sat in one of the cushioned chairs, the praise team leader was pausing in her performance to make the congregation really think about the lines in the song they’d been singing as I walked in.

The song was “There’s Something About That Name.” Growing up, I heard it so many times before but on that Sabbath morning as an adult, it really resonated with me, especially the lyrics that the praise team leader was emphasizing that day. She said, “Listen to this verse: Kings and kingdoms will all pass away/But there’s something about that name!”

Suddenly, everything clicked! I had what educators call a “teachable moment” because I realized that all of my hopes, dreams, and plans for my life were what Clay Crosse in his song “I Surrender All,” calls “temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand.”

More than that, I realized that all of the most beautiful, wealthy and influential real estate or kingdoms of this world will pass away but the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ and God Himself still stands!

God always existed and He will always continue to exist (Isaiah 43:10)! He cannot be shaken from His Throne nor can His kingdom be destroyed. His authority, sovereignty and endless heart of compassion for humanity will last forever!

No one can kill Him. No one can make Him not be God! He is the Ultimate Authority. The most wonderful Heavenly Father. He is the King of a Kingdom that is good, just, beyond beautiful and will never stop existing!

The Bible says that the streets in Heaven are made of gold (Revelation 21:21)! It also says that the glory of God and Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God), lights the Heavenly City. (Revelation 21:23). It also says that there will no more pain, sickness and death in Heaven. (Revelation 21:4). And the Bible also admonishes followers of Jesus Christ to remember that Earth is NOT our home. (Hebrews 13:14)!

We are pilgrims passing through this planet (Hebrews 11:13)! So don’t get too attached to the kings and kingdoms of this world. Place your trust in God (Psalm 118:8), not mankind. Put your hope in Him!

You can trust God with your very life and soul. After all, God loves you so much that He sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to rescue you from the king of this world (the devil) and give you the opportunity to save your soul (John 3:16) in His Kingdom so that when human history on this Earth ends, you can have hope of an eternity spent with Him!

Yes, we have some pretty impressive and awe-inspiring places here on this planet but none of it compares to what awaits all those who follow Jesus to Heaven! The Bible says that, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV). All manmade kingdoms and human-led establishments will pass away, but God’s Kingdom will last forever!

Remember these Bible-based truths: God is Good! He is the only true living God. He loves you with ALL of His Heart and He wants to spend eternity with you! That’s why He sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to save your soul. Now all you have to do is to accept Christ into your life, believe in God and follow Him all the way to Heaven.

In closing, I’d like to share this song, “I Surrender All” by Clay Crosse.

God bless you, dear friends.

Love,

Alexis



About Alexis: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.










Friday, October 4, 2019

Our Greatest Resource ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Devotional


Our Greatest Resource
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring
 
“You know how to reach me.”

These are the words spoken to me by one of my close friends when I called her in distress but could not put my emotional pain into words.

After two minutes of pauses between starts of sentences and barely-there words on my end of the phone line, that is what she told me before we both hung up the phone.

It comforted my heart to know that she left the door to her support open for me, as she understood that I was not ready to talk about my troubles. It was helpful to know that when I am ready to talk, she will be there.

Thinking back on this experience, a spiritual parallel formed in my mind.

I realized that though this dear friend of mine tried her best to be there for me in my distress, I serve a God who is always there for you and I in our troubling times.

And unlike our family and friends who we may turn to for help, His resources to help us are unlimited! He never sleeps and He is always ready to rescue us. There may be times when we cannot reach our loved ones or a professional for help but we can always reach God! He is with us anywhere we go (Joshua 1:9). We are never hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). He knows all and sees all (Psalm 139). God cares about everything that affects us (Psalm 37:23) and He has all of the resources we need (Philippians 4:19).

The Bible and several gospel music songs say that our God is the “Balm in Gilead” that is “healing for the soul.” Listen to the song “
Healing” by Richard Smallwood and his choir as they sing about this great balm that only God can give to us.

God understands the cries of our hearts. Not only does He know what we want to say but are struggling to speak it, He answers us before we call (Isaiah 65:24). What a mighty God we serve!

I love God’s Heart of compassion and the way that He loves us unconditionally. I am forever grateful that He is always open to being there for us. The Bible says that He has promised to be with us until the “end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) otherwise known as “the end of the world.”

I would like to encourage you to run to Jesus Christ (God’s Son) when you cannot find the words to say. Go to God when you need help or comfort. Yes, still reach out to the people who God has placed in your life to help you. But never neglect your greatest resource (God). He is waiting for you with open arms.

Now the question is, “How can you reach God?”

The answer is simple: Open The Holy Bible and ask God to send His Holy Spirit to guide you as you read. Before you read a word, ask God for understanding and spiritual discernment. Then listen as God speaks to you through His written word. And always pray! Prayer is like talking to a friend because God wants to be your friend (John 15:15). Just remember to be respectful, because He is King of the Universe and He is Holy. But don’t be afraid to tell Him what is on your heart. God can handle your honesty. Then trust Him to answer all of your prayers according to His will and in His perfect time.

Finally, dear friends, never give up on God because He will not give up on you!

God loves you with all of His Heart. And just like my dear sister friend told me that I “know how to reach” her, you “know how to reach” God! So don’t despair when you are troubled; go to your greatest resource (God). He understands what you are trying to say even when you cannot find the words to say it. And only He can truly comfort and heal your heart.

Be encouraged, dear friends. God’s Love for you will never end. I cannot say it enough: Go to God. He is your greatest resource!

God bless you.

Love,

Alexis


 About Alexis: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.