Nov 4, 2025 – Opportunities
Yesterday’s moldy coffee debacle was/is a funny/not funny situation. I do realize how serious this could be; we are working on detoxifying our bodies. I wasn’t laughing at our potential, I guess actual, poisoning; I was laughing at how we got there and how oblivious we were to figuring out what was wrong (with our bodies and with our coffee). And I do admit that my housekeeping skills are not the best. I have a sign in my kitchen that says I’m domestically challenged. Fair warning to all who visit!
Streams – Yesterday, Cowman would have spoken even more to the coffee situation if I had kept reading rather than calling it a night. She wrote, “Our capacity for knowing God is enlarged when we are brought by Him into circumstances that cause us to exercise our faith. So when difficulties block our path, may we thank God that He is taking time to deal with us, and then may we lean heavily on Him.” Don and I definitely had difficulties blocking our paths, and God may not have actually caused the difficulties, but I bet He was speaking to us through His Holy Spirit trying to warn us to not get in this predicament. I’m grateful that Holy Spirit was persistent in trying to get my attention and I will strive to lean more heavily on Him.
Streams – today – “There’s nothing that makes the scriptures more precious to us than a time of captivity…. A person who has experienced great difficulties will not be easily parted from his Bible…. In order to receive any benefit from our captivity, we must accept the situation and be determined to make the best of it. Worrying over what we have lost or what has been taken from us will not make things better but will only prevent us from improving what remains. We will only serve to make the rope around us tighter if we rebel against it…. No calamity will ever bring only evil to us, if we will immediately take it in fervent prayer to God…. Consequently, it is through our trials and afflictions that God gives us fresh revelations of Himself.”
JC – Yesterday, Young wrote, in her interpretation of God’s message to us, “Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship…. disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are translated into opportunities for good… It is often minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence…. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost”. Today – “Walk peacefully with me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you… one step at a time…. Keep your mind on My Presence…. I designed you for deep dependence on your Shepherd-King…. When you don’t know what to do, wait…. Trust….”
Prevail – Interestingly, Larson started off yesterday’s devotion (#307) with, “As I’ve mentioned before, I’m almost fully recovered from my health battle.” We are still in ours; but ours, thankfully, isn’t major like hers. At least I don’t think ours is “major”. I really don’t know what drinking water for several weeks that poured through mold does to the body! She writes that “we all have gaps in our faith, places where God wants to shore us up, strengthen us with truth, and establish us in freedom.” Like in JC, Larson brings up opportunities, “For instance, because of my history with God, I have confidence that He’s the one who will establish me. I don’t need to posture or position for opportunities.” I do believe that I don’t have to make my own way; but, still, the opportunities for me to contribute (in the way I seem to think dictates successful contributing, i.e. through income with my creative endeavors) don’t seem to land here with me on the mountain. Larson continues, God “wants to shore up our faith and teach us how to embrace peace amidst great pressure.” I’ve grown to realize that God is using me in different ways (helping others rather than bringing home a paycheck) during this season of my life; so, I wait and trust. She continues, “When we experience wholeness and freedom, we’re able to fill the gaps for others. [I do seem to be a sounding board, that talks a lot, as others talk through their gaps.] God is working even now. Don’t fear your weaknesses. Embrace the process. Respond in faith. You’re on your way to freedom. And many will benefit as a result.” May it be so, Lord. I am willing….
Prevail #308 – 1Thessolonians 4:11-12 – “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” I feel like what I’m reading today is only for me; I hope if anyone has stumbled upon my writings that something in here speaks to them as well. For me though, wow. I am certainly living a pretty quiet life (a “captivity” of sorts) right now trying to mostly mind my own business, when I’m not sharing my two cents with my loved ones about what is going on in their lives. And, in journaling and writing this blog, I am “working with my hands”. Perhaps someday my writing will be my provision and I won’t “need to depend on others.” Larson concludes today’s devotion, “Paul charges us to live so honorably that even those who don’t share our faith will respect us. It’s the only way we’ll earn the right to share God’s love when the time is right. Your life is a living, breathing gospel message.” Again, may it be so, Lord. Lead me….”I don’t need to posture or position for opportunities.” I trust You to open and close doors….
