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2025 Divine Goodness 3 9 24 Am I Listening To God Or To The World? 12 3 24 2023 Healing And Forgiveness 3 28 23 2022 Word Choices 1 2 22 Jesus Promises The Holy Spirit 4 20 22 The Greatest Of These Is Love 12 6 22 2021 My Heart And My Flesh Cry Out For The Living God! 1 4 21 2020 Draw Near To God And Praise Him 3 17 20 Providing Spiritual Care 5 4 20 Pray About Everything 5 26 20 My Name Is I AM 6 6 20 Assertiveness 11 21 20 |
2019 Pursuing My Love Relationship With God 3 21 19 2018 Giving Up Gossiping For Lent Again 2 27 18 The Blessing Is In The Stretching 12 15 18 2017 Over And Under 12 15 17 2016 The Power Of Jesus 3 11 16 & 10 28 20 2014 Rest In The Lord 12 2 14 & 2 11 21 |
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Wednesday, March 12, 2025 |
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Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Peter 1:21 (NIV) – “For prophesy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 22:31-32 (NIV) – “‘But about the resurrection of the dead – have you not read what God said to you, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.’” Message: The question from Jesus in Matthew 22:31 implies that God speaks to us directly through Scripture and in Scripture. Did you ever visit the Bible based theme park, “The Holy Land”, in Orlando? Did you go to the Scriptorium for the unique opportunity to explore the history of the Bible and its ancient manuscripts? The interactive experiences and stories of all that happened to bring the Bible to fruition through the centuries changed my life forever, and established a permanent appreciation for me every time I sit to read it. I am so grateful. It overwhelms me when I think of all that transpired throughout history so that I can have my Bible with me to read and meditate on God’s Word. Do you treasure your Bible as God’s own words, revealing His truth? As living water from God with transformative power? God’s Bible narrative provides a mirror which reflects the glory of Christ to us. We behold Christ’s glory through reading and meditating on the Bible. Prayer: Transform us, Heavenly Father, as we read our Bibles this Lenten season. Open our hearts, minds, and souls to Your glory, so that we may reflect You and Your love in our lives. Thank You for a renewed love of Your Word. Thank You for a renewed passion for a deeper, covenantal intimacy with You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen Bette Hillman |
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Saturday, March 9, 2024 |
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Scriptures: Psalm 34:8 (KJV) – “O taste and see that the Lord is good;” Genesis 1:4 (KJV) – “And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” Psalm 31:19 (NRSV) – “O how abundant is your goodness.” Exodus 33:18-19a (NIV) – “Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you,’” Message: Last Fall, Skip and I were driving back to Orlando from visiting Grant, Carrie, Willow, Sage, and their labradoodle, Luna. Our visit was such a contrast to the harshness and cruelty in our world. As reported in the news, the media motto today seems to be: “If it bleeds, it leads!” I was overcome by a joyous feeling and blurted out to Skip, “We just had a four-day experience of Goodness!" I can’t remember last when I used that word, yet it was the perfect word description! Divine Goodness is sweetness, friendliness, benevolence, and generosity. It came to us through joy, laughter, food, granddaughters, friends, babies, puppies, and flowers! What a bountiful four days of God’s Goodness. The Peace is undeniable. The Goodness of God makes us humble, patient, trusting, and thankful. When we meditate on the overwhelming Goodness of God, it stirs us to worship Him. Family Activity: As a family, come up with a list of different ways that you are able to see God in your lives. Then discuss ways in which you can help, show kindness and love others when they might find it difficult to have faith. Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your bountiful blessings of Goodness. Open our hearts to receive your Goodness in these days of Lent as we reflect on the life of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for this greatest gift of Goodness to us. Bless us to pass it on to others in our lives. Keep us alert to the many opportunities we have to share your Goodness to others. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday, December 3, 2024 |
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Scriptures: Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV) – “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” Revelation 21:5-6 (NIV) – “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’” Message: Comparisons, competition, and calls for censorship abound. We are bombarded by messages through communication media no other era before us has known. This messaging can be confusing, nonsensical, and overwhelming. The communication onslaught can result in crippling stress and anxiety and cause us to shut down altogether. Many times the overload of conflicting messages has caused me to shut down. At these times, when conflicting messaging overwhelms me, I am overcome with questions. Which is God’s Will? Is it the call of Christ for re-evaluation, or is it temptation causing me to question my faith? I feel frozen and lose all confidence in myself. The Bible, which at one time was a textbook in our universities, has so many answers and wisdom. Therefore, I turn to my Bible and listen to what God is saying. These unlikely verses from Moses and John provide renewed confidence to continue forward, listening as best I can through the “sounding brass” and “clanging cymbals” of the world’s messaging. I am listening for my Savior, for my God. I hear Him through these verses. Prayer: Father God, as we pour our hearts out to You in praise, in sorrow, in profound need, or joyous thanksgiving, thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. We know that You are here listening, caring, soothing, and healing even when we are overwhelmed by the noise of the world. Thank You for Your still small voice, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday, March 28, 2023 |
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Scriptures: James 5:14-15 (NIV) - "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." Acts 4:20 (NIV) - "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Message: In early 2022, our son, Grant, had a full healing of his body after 5 years of debilitating pain. No doctors were able to help. He was unable to play with his children, exercise at the gym other than approved rehab exercises. His wife, Carrie, encouraged him to pray. Even though he didn't want to bother God, he prayed without the complete expectation that God would heal him. It wasn't that he thought God couldn't heal him. It was more that He wouldn't. They were surrounded by wonderful friends who encouraged my son to seek the Lord. Some of these friends collectively prayed for him after a night of worship. Women, children, and men laid hands on his back and anointed him with oil in the Lord's name. The next day he woke up and thought, "I think I am healed". Instead of going to the gym to do rehab exercises, he jumped on the basketball court and played pain free. Then he went for a run. My son feels like the blind man who cannot help but share his story. He has continued to be pain free, even on a ten-day mission trip to India in September 2022. Praise God! "This is not a recipe for prayer success. Why was I healed and not my best friend with cancer? I don't know, but I thank God that He does know and that He is sovereign over everything. Our next step of obedience is to share this story," my son says. "The true healing is what Jesus has done in my heart by releasing me from the chains of sin.". My son's prayer is that we re-read the Gospels with fresh eyes and really come to know Jesus. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this story. Thank You that You continue to heal in the world today. Thank You for paying the price for our sins on the cross. We praise and glorify Your name in all the earth. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Sunday, January 2, 2022 |
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Scriptures: Psalm 19:14 (KJV) - "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." James 3:8-10 (NKJV) - "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." Message: While at the computer I made the mistake of reading an article in addition to the Twitter comments. It hurt my eyes to read the words and see the verbal explosion of hateful, emotional, negative verbal venting. Who would allow themselves to think such thoughts? Write such words? Publish such words? Where is the governor of the mind? Where is the boundary for what you will or will not utter? Who do you become when things don't go your way? The blessing of adulthood is the opportunity to choose. During this unbridled time in history where no boundaries prevail, let us choose to look to our God and our Savior Jesus Christ. What would Jesus say? What boundary line would Jesus draw for us to choose? Prayer: Holy Father, bridal our tongues for Your great glory. Give us Your grace, compassion, and wisdom to choose our words to show Your love, to provide healing, to provide peace. Create in us a heart so close to Yours that our words reflect You in every aspect of our lives. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, for it is in His name we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Eastertide, Wednesday, April 20, 2022 |
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Scriptures: John 14:16-17a (NIV) – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” John 14:26a (KJV) – “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,” John 14:1 (NIV) – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” John 16:7b-c (KJV) – “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Message: When Jesus was preparing to leave this earth, He comforted His disciples. John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” He said trust Him. The separation would be temporary. He told them He was going to be with the Father and that even then He could hear their prayers. The Greek word for “another” means: “another that is just like the first." So, Jesus is saying that the one who is coming is just like Him! He adds that it is for your good that I am going away. “Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7b-c).My son, Grant, gave me the book “Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”1 by Francis Chan. I am so grateful. The book challenged me to re-read the Book of John, especially Chapters 14-16. My goal was to just receive it as if for the first time. There was a deeper, new, and more personal meaning for me. I visualized myself at the table as if I was present and hearing the words of Jesus. How illuminating! There are no words to express the wonder and awe of hearing His words as if for the first time! The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us, to counsel us just as Jesus would if He was physically next to me! So much joy fills my heart! A flood of gratitude overcomes me to hear His Promise and all of what He said! Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father. You overwhelm me. I am in awe of Your promises and words in the Bible to Comfort and Counsel me. Thank You. Thank for Your Holy Spirit of Truth. Comfort me. Counsel me to live my life as a testimony of the gift of Your Holy Spirit of Truth! Let my belief and gratitude for Your Holy Spirit be reflected in my choices, words, relationships, and deeds today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday, December 6, 2022 |
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Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) – “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) – “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 1 John 4:9-10 (NIV) – “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV) – “We love because he first loved us.” Message: Without love there is no true faith. Without love there is no genuine hope. Is it really this simple? Why is it so easy to stray? Why is it so easy to be caught up into anything else and everything else? Jesus taught the greatest two commandments and both include love and that He came not to replace the law, but to fulfill the law as “all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” Advent is the perfect reminder that the unseen power of love can open hearts, tear down walls of suspicion and hate, and build bridges to the soul. Love shields us from the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Love shines in our eyes, unwrinkles our brows, and brings a smile to our lips. Love attracts us to knowledge and wisdom. Love warms our hearts for sharing and caring. Advent calls us to meditation and prayer. Meditation and prayer prepares us for the greatest gift of love to us all, Jesus. Let us greet this day and every day with love in our hearts. Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your unfailing Love. Thank You that we can reach out to You for Your Love at any time and at any place. Help us to navigate through the world’s distracting noise and seduction to the transforming power of Your Love. Help us to reflect back Your Love to others in all we say, think, and do. In Your Holy name we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Monday, January 4, 2021 |
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Scripture: Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV) – “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Message: This psalm was written by the sons of Korah. Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The punishment to Korah's sons was banishment from the temple. This psalm touches me deeply as I hear the cry of their souls longing to be with God in His Holy Temple. Being in church on Sunday, and more is a habit thankfully ingrained in me by my parents. Sunday, morning as a family we were in the pew. When my father read Evening Prayer in the chapel at All Saint's Episcopal Church, he would take me with him to praise and pray. Whenever we went on vacation as a family, we found a church for Sunday, morning. Even in the Bahamas, we were in an Episcopal church on Sunday, hearing the Word of God with His followers and refreshing our souls. It became a habit for my entire life. During summer camp, college, New York City, San Francisco, and everywhere God placed me, this habit found a court of the Lord. This habit for God's court even during our COVID 19 quarantine, placed me at our outdoor sanctuary by the lake for a fresh encounter with God. I am so grateful for His courts. Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your dwelling place, Your temple, Your sanctuary. Thank You that You meet us there and that Your Presence renews us and refreshes us! Thank You for the blessing of Your courts. Thank You for sending Your son, Jesus, to wash away our every sin. Thank You for loving us so much that Your son has prepared a place for us with You in Your heavenly courts. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday, March 17, 2020 |
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Scriptures: James 4:8 (ESV) - "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8 (NLT) - "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." Message: Lent is a time to draw closer to God and to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, meditation, and worship. Worship has become a vital part of my relationship with God and Jesus. Expressing authentically through words, lyrics, and non-verbal expressions pouring out my heart to God has transformed me. Not just prayer, not just meditation, but for me the act of worship has brought me closer to Jesus and to His transforming touch. It starts with prayer and meditation. It becomes worship, deep honoring, extravagant respect, adoration, and reverence. Drawing closer to God has helped me to understand why some Psalm begins as loud lamentations and anger; later transformed into words of extravagant devotion, admiration, and praise. Lyrics to songs echo in my mind with deeper meaning and understanding such as: "We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord" by Kirk Dearman1; "No matter how I feel or what has happened, I choose to praise Him with my whole heart, mind, body, and soul!" and "I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love for me!" by Philip Paul Bliss2. Our Lenten season is our great opportunity to come before His Presence with praise, thanksgiving, and our authentic desire to do His Will in our lives. In doing so, we draw closer to Him, and He draws close to us. Prayer: Father, in this moment we come before You praising You for this day and are grateful to You, our God. We ask that You take us wholly into Your service today. We place all the hours of this day at Your disposal. Keep us ready to do exactly as You appoint. Cleanse our hands, purify our hearts, and guide our tongues for Your service today. We are so grateful that we can come before You right now and know that You hear us. We pray in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen. Bette Hillman 1. “We bring the sacrifice of praise” by Kirk Dearman and Morris Chapman 1999 © Copyright. Permission not required for use of Title only. 2. “I will sing of my Redeemer” by Philip Paul Bliss 1876. Public Domain. |
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Monday, May 4, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scripture: John 10:10b (NIV) – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Message: Why did Jesus come? John answers in 10:10b above. In addition to the greatest commandment to love God and our neighbor as ourselves, what other instruction did he provide? “Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16b NIV), or as Willard puts it: “Have the practical good sense of a snake, and be un-devious or innocent as doves.” (Willard Swartley) Spiritual care opens the door for others to know Jesus and love him more deeply. Spiritual care means having the timing of a snake. When God gives the opportunity to witness, or to pray with someone, or to invite someone to grow in their relationship with God, you are required to act confidently and decisively. Spiritual care also requires the gentleness of a dove. A dove is incapable of intrigue. There is nothing indirect about this harmless creature. The importance spiritual teaching places on “no guile” is great. One of the traits of a child, greatest in the kingdom, is its inability to mislead. More than anything else, people need to hear and believe that God loves them. The delicately balance the combination of snake and dove to provide assertive, timely, tender spiritual care. Prayer: Gracious Lord Jesus, you gave your disciples important instructions when you sent them to serve and care for people. Show us. Help us to be gentle and genuine. Reach into our hearts now with just the right word of instruction, hope or encouragement that we will know and love you more deeply. Pour out your spirit upon us that we may become channels of your love and mercy to others. Guide us to help others see their need for you. Give us opportunities to bring others to you that they may know the joy of your healing and the peace of your wholeness. For it is in your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Monday, May 25, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scripture: Luke 11: 9-10 (NIV) – “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Message: My father prayed about everything. He meditated with my mother every morning for twenty minutes or more. He asked God for help with all of his challenges. One day he shared with us four children that he was having a terrible time keeping the raccoons out of the orange trees. They were eating, or tearing away all of the oranges. There is no doubt in my mind that he had put forth a lot of effort to get rid of the raccoons. Nothing was working. He got so frustrated that he said his prayer was; “God, these are Your orange trees and I know these are Your raccoons. But if you don't keep Your raccoons out of Your orange trees, I am going to have to shoot them!” My father said that he never had a problem with the raccoons after that prayer. Prayer: Father, thank You for answered prayers. Thank You that we can come to You about everything. Thank You for listening to our prayers and for being an active part of our lives every moment we ask. Help us to turn to You always and to recognize that You hear us. Help us to have faith that You will answer our prayers. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Saturday, June 6, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-4 (NIV) – “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Message: The losses related to aging are very challenging for me. My expectations of what my life shoulda, coulda been overwhelm me often. In addition to the scripture above from Isaiah, the poem below gives me comfort and sets my feet on solid ground.
“I was
regretting the past
‘My name is I
AM.’ He paused.
‘When you
live in the future,
When you
live in the moment, Helen Mallicoat (1982) Prayer: Thank you, Gracious God, for Your Presence. Thank You for the wisdom and experience we gain as we grow older, for the relationships that deepen and grow richer over the years, for the memories we cherish, and for the way You increase our faith over the years. Thank You for the privilege of growing older, especially since as we grow older we get to know You better. Thank You that even death will be a doorway to being closer to You. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scripture: Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) – "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Message: The Gospel of Mark 9:22-24 (NIV) tells a story about Jesus right after the transfiguration. Jesus and the disciples with him come down to find the other disciples engaged in an argument. A man explains that he has brought his son to be rid of his demon, and the disciples were not able to do it. The father of the boy indicates his fear when he says to Jesus, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." “‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’” “Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” Both Jesus and the boy's father are speaking the truth in love. They show by example the power of assertive relating. The father could have covered up his blunder by backtracking, “Oh sir, of course I believe You can cure my boy. I'm sorry.” If he had been caught in the pull of this lie, he might never have received Jesus' redemptive power. But the father's love for his son delivered him to speak the truth. I believe! Help my unbelief. Jesus was the perfect example of assertiveness. We can grow closer to Him and grow up to be more like Him when we relate with other people more assertively. Assertiveness is a positive, constructive way of relating to other people that respects their needs, wants, and rights as well as one's own needs, wants, and rights. Assertiveness is not a cookie cutter approach to relating. It calls for the highest creativity you can find in yourself. It calls on you to be you – genuine, thoughtful, and full of care. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your mercy and Your love. Thank You for Your example and help us to model our lives after Yours. Give us opportunities to respect, honor, and care for others so that they can realize how much You value them, too, and how they can turn to You for all they need. Help us to have the courage and compassion we need to relate assertively with others. Thank You for hearing our prayer. Amen.
Bette Hillman |
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 |
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Scriptures: 1 John 4:9-10, 19 (CSB) - "God's love was revealed among us in this way. God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We love because He first loved us." John 14:21 (CSB) – “And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and reveal Myself to him.” Message: Each year these verses mean something more to me. Each year Lent brings me to a renewed pursuit for a relationship with Him. Yet God is the One who brings us into a relationship with Him so that out of that relationship we have everything we could possibly need. You and I do not initiate a love relationship with God. He initiated a relationship with you and me long before our lives began on earth. God demonstrated His Love on the cross of Christ Jesus. So everything about the Lenten season is coming to a new understanding of what His loving me means and what my loving Him means. Therefore, experiencing God's love depends upon my loving Him and deepening my personal relationship with Christ Jesus. It is a new awakening. Because God loves you and me, He wants us to love Him in return. Prayer: Father, thank You for first loving me. Open my eyes and ears to a greater understanding of our loving relationship. If it is Your will to reveal Yourself to me, help me to embrace Your revelations and implement them in a way which would be pleasing to You. Help me to know Your love and to pass it on. In Jesus' name. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday, February 27, 2018 |
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Scriptures: John 8:7 - "When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'" Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) – “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Message: My mother made a lifetime choice to not speak ill of others. My father always said, “People are doing the best they can at the time. It may be a poor best in our eyes, but it is the best they can do with what is happening at the moment.” Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a first stone at her.” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” The first time I gave up gossiping for Lent, it created a problem. A flood of scathing thoughts and comments poured forth on Sundays (when we took a break from Lenten fasting) that I held back during the week. It was time to ask God to cleanse and purify the well from which the gossip came. The other challenge to giving up gossip would come when someone made a disparaging remark about another. "I gave up gossiping for Lent" created an awkward moment, although it did stop the negative flow. So, what is my choice now when the door for gossip opens? I say something like, "Let's pray for this person / this situation." I ask God to help me turn topics for gossip into prayer requests and prayer projects. Will you join me? Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen Bette Hillman |
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Saturday, December 15, 2018 |
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Scripture: John 13:17 (NIV) - "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." Message: The words “comfort” and its derivatives are found 120 times in the NKJV Bible. The words “be comforting” are found in the NKJV Bible only once in 2 Samuel 14:17, where the words “be comforting” pertain to the Lord taking care of all things. We find the word “comfort” and its derivatives three times in Isaiah 66:13 where God is portrayed at the Israel’s comforting mother; and six times in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 under “Comfort in Suffering”. Advent is a season when we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. It can be a comforting season, since we have celebrated it many times. The familiar traditions can feel comforting to us. But remember that all the main characters in the Christmas story were stretched out of their comfort zones. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem late in her pregnancy. The shepherds left their sheep on the hillside to find the Christ child. The wise men followed a star over months and possibly years. And God left the comforts of heaven to be born as a child for us. All were stretched out of their ordinary comforts, to have their blessings occur. Is it possible that, in this season, we too must stretch out of our own comfort zones? Is it possible that we must reach, stretch, and seek new ways to serve others? Is the blessing of this Advent season, the fresh encounter with Christ, coming through our stretching, reaching, and seeking Him beyond what we find comforting? Prayer: Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we long for You and for a fresh encounter with You. Thank You for the blessings of this Advent season and for the blessing of Your Son, Jesus. Guide us where You would have us stretch out of our comfort zone so that we may give and receive blessings. Amen. Bette Hillman (Editor’s note: Author has given approval for edits to meet the original intent of the Devotional by using the NKJV of the Bible.) |
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Friday, December 15, 2017 Over And Under |
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Scriptures: Psalm 47:8 (NIV) – “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” Psalm 18:2 (NIV) – “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Isaiah 6:1 (NKJV) – “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” 1 Peter 5:1-2 (NKJV) – “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;” Psalm 18:31 (NIV) – “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” Message: Effective leadership fascinates me. When thinking of leadership, “up” is good and “down” is not. We want to be “over” others, the “top dog,” and at the “pinnacle” of power. We don’t think of seeking a place “under” others, “low man on the totem pole,” or “at the bottom rung.” Scripture uses spatial metaphors, too. “God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:1a). God’s throne is “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1b). Elders are “overseers” (1 Peter 5:2a). The up / down language makes sense. To lead, you need a view of the landscape. However, being a great leader also means equipping others from the bottom up, being a foundation, a buttress, and a platform to provide support. God is not only over us, but sets Himself under us. He is our Rock, giving us a sure place on which to stand: “And who is the Rock except our God?” (Psalm 18:31b). Therefore, effective leadership is top-down and bottom-up. Overseeing and providing foundation go together. God is our true leader. He is our heavenly Father, and our Rock. In all aspects of our lives, He leads us and is our foundation and buttress. He reigns over our lives and provides the platform. He is our vision and our path to eternal life. Prayer: Thank You, Father God, for Your leadership. Thank You for Your example of true leadership through the birth and life of Your Son. Guide us through this Advent season and set us on a new foundation through the rebirth of Jesus in our hearts. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Friday, March 11, 2016 & Wednesday, October 28, 2020 |
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Scripture: John 2:1-11 - "Jesus Has the Power to Change Things." Message: Johnny Carson interviewed an eight-year-old boy on The Tonight Show who had rescued two friends from a coal mine outside his home in West Virginia. As Johnny questioned the boy, it became apparent to him and the audience that the young man was a Christian. Johnny asked him if he attended Sunday, school . When the boy said he did, Johnny asked, "What are you learning in Sunday, school?" "Last week our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine." The audience roared, but Johnny tried to keep a straight face. Then he said, "And what did you learn from that story?" The boy squirmed in his chair. It was obvious that he hadn't thought about this. But then he lifted up his face and said, "If you're going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!" Jesus has the Power to change things. Just imagine what He can change in your life if you issue the invitation. When we invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives, He can change past pain into present comfort; old wounds into fresh wisdom; stale, old thoughts into new, creative ideas to solve problems; and a cold silence into a warm conversation. No matter where you are in your life, Jesus is waiting for your invitation. Let Jesus into every part of your life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have healed us, forgiven us, and given us new life in your Son, Jesus. Thank You for loving us so. Thank You for the courage to invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives and to have faith in You totally. Amen. Bette Hillman |
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Tuesday December 2, 2014 &Thursday, February 11, 2021 |
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Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Message: When I am troubled, I seek peace and turn to words that will offer me “Rest in the Lord”. When the fighting and finger pointing begin, I trust the words of Galatians 5:22-23 and I turn to these words written by Alan Redpath (British evangelist, pastor and author) in Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua (1955): “There is nothing – no circumstance, no trouble, no testing – that can ever touch me until, first of all it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret – for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is! That is the rest of victory!” Prayer: Thank You Lord, that I may find peace and victory through Your Word. Thank You that there are those much wiser than I, whose words help me to rest in You. Amen.
Bette
Hillman |
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