June 20, 2026 – Providence
My dress and the Rome gift bag.
Today, Don and I went to a retirement party for the wife of a friend of Don’s who he knows from working with her in the past. In addition to this life-changing event, they are moving to Rome, Georgia and the invitation said BYOB. My wheels began churning and the idea of Rome took me back to Italy and straight to Aperol Spritz AND, then, even to my sundress with images and words from Italy on it. I may have gone a little overboard with the theme, but what the heck. It was a celebration!
Days – “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” (1 Cor. vii. 20). Simpson admonishes just a bit, “O ye who complain about your calling or fret about the changes and trials of life, how do you know but that these very changes are the divine methods by which God’s purposes of blessing and usefulness concerning you be fulfilled?” Ok, so…I wasn’t sure I should start the blog talking about alcohol but that wasn’t what I was focused on. I was focused on creativity and bringing joy to people with my, perhaps, far-reaching gift theme. (I was the only one in a dress at this backyard bbq in the rain.)
That first sentence above in the devotion was on page 89 and then I turned the page and wondered about God’s providence in guiding my thoughts for my blog today. I had almost deleted the retirement/moving-to-Rome story; but, as I started reading the first sentence on page 90, I almost laughed and felt giddy , “Had Aquila not been compelled to leave Rome….” ROME? Is it only me that thinks it’s wild for this devotion to specifically use Rome in a sentence after I mentioned Rome (especially after I was going to remove the photo and the explanation)?
When I continued reading the first sentence on page 90 and saw the word “providential”, I was even more surprised that I had used the word “providence”: “Had Aquila not been compelled to leave Rome and break up his home and business, he would probably have never met with Paul, and been called to the knowledge and service of Christ through this providential meeting.” I may be going on about something that the reader is thinking I need to get over and get on with the devotions, but…. THIS seems like an example of the little joys we are supposed to look for each day. God communicating with us in ways that are meaningful to us!!
I love this that Simpson adds, “It was in the line of their calling, their common duties, and the providential changes of their life that God called them. And so He meets us. Do not try hard to run away from it, but, as the apostle has so finely put it, ‘Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called, let him therein abide with God.’ Make the most of your incidental opportunities.” I actually sort of did that this morning and may have gotten two more readers! Yay!
My neighbors sent me a text after I got home from my walk telling me they saw me getting my exercise (I hope they didn’t see how short my walk was): “We are jealous but not jealous enough to get up and do it ourselves.” We went back and forth with fun text banter that somehow led to me to mention my blog. I had told them about getting my mother-of-the-bride dress and sent them the sneak peak photo from the blog the other day. After they asked about the blog, I almost didn’t send them the link because I feel safer with just having two readers – no judgment (that I no of) and no crushing expectations. Oh well, incidental opportunities can lead to new experiences and blessings.
Power – John 6:12 – “When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, Gather up now the fragments (the broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted.” This is an important perspective from Joyce, “Don’t just give God what you are and what you feel you have to offer – give Him what you are not. If you make mistakes or feel that you are lacking in several areas, give it to God and let Him be your all…. He will give you everything He is and has. Victory is not about what you can do; it’s about what God can do through you.”
New – Slawson uses Luke 4:17-21 to remind us that “Jesus came to save us, to set us free. Our physical circumstances may or may not change, but when He comes into our lives, His presence opens that prison. He carries our burdens for us. His light dissipates the darkness that blinds us.”
Prevail #171 – Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Larson reminds us that Jesus “bore the weight of the world along with our wrong assessments and flippant judgments. He purchased our freedom from our own rebellion, from our countless self-serving ways, from the wounds inflicted on us by others, and from everything that ails us in our bodies…. Our Savior defeated sin and death for us! No other religion honors a King who sacrificed for His people…. The power that raised Him from the grave is alive and accessible to you. So why do we live such earthbound lives? Maybe because we’re still trying to earn our way. Jesus paid it all. May you live from that reality.”
Streams – Isaiah 30:21 – “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Cowman offers this about decision-making from David, the 6th century Welsh patron saint, “Are you uncertain about which direction you should go? Take your question to God and receive guidance from either the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal. You must get alone with Him, where the lights and darknesses of this world cannot interfere and where the opinions of others cannot reach you. You must also have the courage to wait in silent expectation, even when everyone around you is insisting on an immediate decision or action. If you will do these things, the will of God will become clear to you. And you will have a deeper concept of who He is, having more insight into His nature and His heart of love.”
Utmost – Chambers offers more about prayer, “If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God’s word, then start praying for your friends…. ‘The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.’ [Job 42:10] The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realised in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.”
JC – “I speak to you continually. My nature is to communicate, though not always in words. I fling glorious sunsets across the sky…. I speak in the faces and voiced of loved ones. I caress you with a gentle breeze…. You can find Me in each moment, when you have eyes that see and ears that hear. Ask My Spirit to sharpen your spiritual eyesight and hearing….” See Psalm 19:1-2 and Jeremiah 29:13.
JL – “Jesus, my Peace, Help me to live close to You, remembering that You are my resting place…. I long to be able to stay calm in the midst of stressful situations, centering myself in You…. In Your wonderful Name, Amen.”
