Week 8: The Most Friends of All Scripture Reading: Daniel 1 (Miracles by Karen Kingsbury)

This week's devotion from Miracles by Karen Kingsbury tells us the story of a young man who struggled to make friends in high school and throughout his life.  His father taught him the power of prayer and how to never lose faith in God.  Because of his father, he lived a strong Christian life and his  faith remained strong even during the darkest times of his life.

This week's scripture reading is Daniel 1.  In Daniel 1, we learn of Daniel's journey into Nebuchadnezzar's court and how his unwavering faith in God remained strong and how he continued to follow God's law.

In both of these stories, we see one common theme...unwavering faith no matter the circumstances, no matter the time it takes, their faith is strong.

How about you?  How strong is your faith?

I think of the story that Karen Kingsbury tells in Week 8 and how long that man waited to see how many friends he truly has.  The funny thing is, God knew exactly when he needed these friends the most.  God knew when that prayer needed to be answered.  He may have thought he needed them in high school.  However, God knew better.

Then, I think of my life and my prayers that I bring to God daily.  God, please help my son.  Show me how I can help him be the best he can be.  Give me the patience to show him the love he needs to be the boy you need him to be.  God, please help my son.  In our times of storms, which happen to be more often lately, I have to remind myself how this is God's child and He will show me what to do and how to help.  I also have to remember one important thing, it's all in God's timing not mine.   It's hard to let go, especially when it's your child.  However, having that kind of faith in God will move even bigger mountains than you could ever imagine.

So, what do I do after 8 years of praying that same prayer every day since my son received his autism diagnosis?  I pray it again.  I wait.  I play with my son.  I help my son.  I remind myself that through all of these storms that we will encounter while we wait for Him to move these mountains, He will give me everything I need, my son needs and our family needs to get through it all.

Verses from Week 8:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  - 1 Timothy 4:12

When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  - ACTS 11:23

A Week Behind...

Once again, I am running a week behind.  The new year of homeschooling has begun and I am trying desperately to get things in order.

I hope to have a post up by Wednesday!  

Week 7: A Time To Go Home Scripture Reading Luke 15: 11-32

(I apologize for being a week late with this devotion.  Motherhood calls and I struggled to get it written in time.)

This week's devotion from Miracles by Karen Kingsbury is based on Luke 15:  11-32, when Jesus tells the story of the lost son.  Karen Kingsbury tells us the story of a young man who left his home to become a prizefighter and how God reached out to him to call him home.  In Luke 15: 11-32, Jesus tells us a similar story of a young man who leaves home but returns to his father knowing he made a mistake.

This lesson can be applied to many of our lives today.  Too often, many people are concerned about living the life they want to live, not the life that Jesus wants them to live.  With the world we live in today, it's very easy to turn our backs on God and try to do things our way, even without realizing it.  Unfortunately, it usually takes something drastic, tragic or heartbreaking for us to look to the one person to direct our lives...Jesus.

Think about your life.  Are you living it for God and the way He is trying to get you to live or are you putting your own selfish desires first?  I think we all need to examine our hearts and the different areas of our lives to be sure it's in line with what God desires.  Let's turn our hearts and our lives over to God.  Just like the father in the parable of the lost son welcomed his son home, our Heavenly Father will do the same for you.

Luke 15:20
"So he returned home to his father.  And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming.  Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him."