1. Take the Cruise, Vacation Devotion

Genesis 7:1-24

Genesis 7:23 (KJV)

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in the ark.

Noah's Ark is more than a story about a man saving his family and animals from a flood. The story is symbolic of ourselves and how to protect ourselves. Life sends storms such as the pain of rejection, the loss of possessions, failures and upsets. These storms can drown us in sorrow if we don't protect ourselves by the "Ark" God has provided.

The same way Noah is the caretaker, responsible for the wellbeing of the Ark and all its inhabitants, God has ordained that the pastors in our congregations are as Noah; caretakers of the people and the church. 

Our pastor's provide our souls with nourishment from the Bible, which is the Bread of Life. The teaching of God's Word is soul-meat, strengthening us. Our pastors have committed to make the Ark of the church a safe place. In order to do that, they will have rules to enforce. 

For instance, some animals cannot eat what other animals can eat. Noah had to make sure some animals stayed out of other animals' pens. Noah had to insist that stalls be cleaned up and maintained. It was inconvenient and frustrating for both animals AND Noah at times. But Noah was responsible to uphold the standards even if it was difficult. 

Our pastors are no different. Sometimes their responsibility is frustrating and irritating. It's downright inconvenient. But he's been ordained as the overseer of the Ark. It is our job to be thankful for the safety he's trying to provide and to get in sync. 

Our church is our Ark where we find shelter and protection from the storms of life. The people who didn't get their lives in order as God had asked didn't merely "miss the boat." They DIED when the flood came! Any animal that didn't heed the call was killed by the flood. Being on the Ark saved their life. 

Being in the church saves us when the storms of life come. We cannot afford to miss the boat. Life is ravaging! Between people, finances, personal glitches in our DNA that cause addictions that can kill us, the floods of life will come. We will find ourselves (and those we love) destroyed outside of the Ark of the church. God provided us a Noah-pastor, and an Ark-church.

In our current culture, many people take vacations on cruise ships. As a vacationer you pay one flat fee and everything you need to have a nice time is included; protection and safety, food and drink, entertainment, games, lodging and shelter. I've been on a cruise even in a storm and it's never made me sick, or in any way been a bad experience. But, if I do not GET ON THE SHIP none of these things are available to me. 

The Bible let's us know that our safety and well-being is God's priority. That doesn't mean that he is a fairytale genie, granting all of our wishes. It means that our NEEDS are guaranteed. God desires to protect us, shelter us, give us joy, and whatever else we need. But if we don't get on His boat, in His Ark, we do not have these good things available to us. 

God called the people and animals into the Ark for their safety and provision. And He also calls ALL humanity to get in the Ark of the church. God is not racist. God does not save some people, but not others. He has extended a call to anyone willing to listen.

We must heed God's call and get in the Ark of the church, then STAY in the Ark of the church. When the storms come and when the floods of life rise, we will be protected and provided for if we're in the Ark of the church.

It's All About the Maintenance

Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. (Exodus 30:7 NLT)

My Epic Fail
  Nissan Quest-Thousands in repairs
  Kia Optima
Simple maintenance was left undone.
  The difference in the two vehicles;
      One was created badly.
      One was created perfectly, but needed simple maintenance.

Maintain
1. to continue or retain; keep in existence
2. to keep in proper or good condition to maintain a building
3. to support a style of living the money maintained us for a month
4. (takes a clause as object) to state or assert he maintained that Talbot was wrong
5. to defend against contradiction; uphold she maintained her innocence
6. to defend against physical attack
[from Old French maintenir, ultimately from Latin manū tenēre to hold in the hand]

Since Adam and Eve's failure in the garden, every human was reproduced after their kind.
  We're like my old Nissan Quest, CREATED WITH A GLITCH called,"born in sin, shaped in iniquity."
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Psalms 51:5 (KJV)
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

  We get a chance to be A NEW CREATION by obeying the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection.
John 3:7 (KJV)
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:15 (KJV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

We receive POWER when we are filled with (therefore, born of) the Holy Spirit of God!
  Power to be witnesses for Christ.
  Power to become higher quality human beings than our DNA allows.
  Power to rise out of depression, oppressions and addictions.
  Power to fulfill the law of Christ and properly love others.
     INDEED, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!
          Get a grip on my parenting!
          Lose weight!
          Improve my education!
          Reach my goals!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE

We set goals and resolve to get certain things under control at the on-set of a new year...
We determine some higher spiritual disciplines to live by...
We start the regimes of diet and exercise...
  When we let day after day go by without keeping up with our intentions we start feeling like a failure.

But you're NOT a failure; it's a simple matter of maintenance.
  Amusement parks that keep up with maintenance VS amusement parks that do not.

MAINTAIN YOUR FAITH IN JESUS 
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 NLT)

MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY 
...He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” (Job 2:3 NLT)

MAINTAIN PEACE 
...Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (Psalms 34:14 & 1 Peter 3:11)

MAINTAIN A CLEAR CONSCIENCE ...I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. (Acts 24:16 NLT)
[to exercise (one's) self, take pains, labour, strive]

MAINTAIN THE HOUSE OF GOD 
...Moses, the servant of the Lord, levied this tax on the community of Israel in order to maintain the Tabernacle of the Covenant. ” (2 Chronicles 24:6 NLT)

MAINTAIN YOUR TESTIMONY
...all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. (Revelation 12:17 NLT)

USE WHAT YOU LEARNED IN YOUR BATTLES TO MAINTAIN
These men dedicated some of the plunder they had gained in battle to maintain the house of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 26:27 NLT)

Amusement parks that keep up with maintenance VS amusement parks that do not.
  When people die in an amusement park, they FIX THE PROBLEM.

Maintain integrity.
Maintain your goalsetting list.
Maintain your  thinking.
Maintain your marriage, your children. 
Maintain your spiritual life.
Maintain your education.
Maintain your spiritual connection with God.
Maintain your hope.
Maintain your health.

You're not a loser if paint starts peeling, or if rides need oiling, or if garden beds need weeding...

Life simply causes wear and tear.
So don't cry if your paint fades, or chips.
Don't consider yourself a loser because of the natural force of wear and tear IN life. 

SIMPLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

When you become aware of the noticeable wear and tear, fix it!

You are your own maintenance person.
So, maintain it!


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TRUST, Prayer & Fasting, Day 1

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17, 18 NLT)

When life is bare, void of beauty and emotional nutrition, it is possible to still yet "rejoice in The Lord!" It is possible to CHOOSE to rejoice, not in the gifts, but in the God of your salvation.

I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:15-18 NLT)

Both of these passages of scripture demonstrate TRUST in God rather than dependence on a miracle.

In this time of prayer and fasting we will most definitely ask and believe God for miracles. But I want us to start with TRUST.

Our attitude must be, "I know you're able. I'm asking for this miracle. But even if you do not do or give what I ask, I will never serve other gods. I will never leave you, God."

The SAME trust we expect from God... That he will NEVER leave or forsake us. We should allow God to have that same confidence and trust in US!

In your prayer time, even throughout the day, say this multiple times out loud. Besides God hearing you say it, let the atmosphere hear you say it. Allow your own ears to hear you say it.

"I'm trusting that you, God, know what's best. But I'm also pledging that you, God, can trust me to not bow to the pressures of the fiery trials."


Try this link for information about fasting.