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Thursday, November 5, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NIV) – “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and if different kinds of tongues.” Message: When I’m asked by anyone what I do at church as one of the receptionists, I always say, “I get paid for being nice to people and helping people out in any way I can. Best job ever!” Having been a manager and business owner all my life, this position is completely different for me. It’s a job of serving others and being willing to share my experiences. God gives people different gifts and those gifts change throughout life. At this point in my life, I feel blessed to be a “helper” rather than managing, overseeing personnel, running a business, and having the responsibilities of multi-million dollar projects. As a “helper” at church, part of my responsibilities include proof reading church publications, documents, and correspondence. As I proof read, I make recommendations for corrections, or for improvement. That’s as far as I can go. Whether the changes are made, or not are out of my hands. Even though I want the authors of the documents to look their very best, and I think my changes should be made to enhance their work, I do not have final say. This lies in the hands of the ones creating the documents, or maintaining the website. How like our Father is this? He points out ways for improvement and gently nudges us to make changes in our lives to be a better person, or a better witness for Him. He has the very best plans for our lives! He wants us to represent Him well and succeed in whatever He leads us to do. We have to be open, willing to listen, and take His recommendations for improvement without getting crosswise with Him for pointing out our shortcomings. Ouch! This is hard to do when we let “Self” get in the way! He has our best interests covered. We need to remember this and be willing to accept graciously His recommendations and the nudging of the Holy Spirit! Prayer: Father, help us to have a Christ-like attitude and put other peoples’ interests in the forefront of our minds and hearts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Janell Maxwell
(deceased) |
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Friday, April 5, 2019 |
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Scripture: Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) - "Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!" Message: Our experiences of life tend to formulate for each and every one of us a mindset, a perspective, from which we view people who cross our paths. Our individual perspectives make a vast difference in the way we look at every thing. As we look at people we come upon each day, do we see problems or individuals? Do we only see the quarrelsomeness, the hostility, the aloofness? Or does our vision penetrate deeper to the hardships, the frustrations, arid emotional traumas which produce the bitter fruits of hot anger or withdrawal from society? We must learn to practice Christianity! The world needs light, a clear and compelling witness to the reconciling and healing ways of Jesus. We need men and women who can maintain, in spite of the fears and violence and emotional sickness of our time, the Light, the Christian outlook on life. As Dr V Scott Harris once wrote, "we must practice the perpetual return of the soul into the inner sanctuary, who brings the world into its Light and re-judges it, who brings the Light into the world with all its turmoil and its fitfulness and recreates it after the pattern seen on the Mount.1 There is a Christian outlook on life, and only those who learn to see themselves and others and the world from this perspective, know wholeness within and contribute to wholesomeness around them." Prayer: Father, help us to not fix our eyes on circumstances, that which we see and is only temporary. Instead, fix our eyes on You, God, who is unseen, yet constant, permanent, eternal, and unchanging. May our lives be filled with Your perfect Light. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased) 1. “A Testament of Devotion” by Thomas R Kelley, Pages 34-35. 1941© Copyright. Published by Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York. Copyright expired 2011. Public Domain. |
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Friday, March 2, 2018 |
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Scripture: Philippians 2:3 (TLV) - "Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves." The quality of any person's life is determined by the facts and ideas they allow to take possession. What better example of this statement are the lives of Christ and the disciples? Christ taught them by example as He planted facts and ideas from His Father. The disciples went on to turn the world upside down by what they learned from Him in ordinary settings. They took to heart what He taught them by serving others, teaching, and glorifying the Father. As Pastor Scott Harris once said, "Our lives are either victimized by unworthy ideas, or glorified by ennobling ideas. We become useful, creative, and radiant personalities when the ideas of love and service find hospitality in our minds. In a very real sense, we do not get ideas, they get us. And they make us what we are." If we accept the facts and ideas of Jesus about life, mankind, and God and make them part of our lives, we truly can live the way of Philippians 2:3. Prayer: Father, help us to be open to Your promptings and the ideas You plant in us so we can live more pleasing lives for You and consider others before ourselves. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased) Back to top |
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Tuesday, December 11, 2018 |
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Scripture: Galatians 4:4a (GNT) - "But when the right time finally came, God sent His own Son." Message: A friend once wrote, "Hurried and harried are two words that describe most of us during the Advent season. We rush through the traditional Christmas parties, programs, even worship services. We experience frustration because we carry multiple responsibilities that we wonder how to fulfill. And the sad truth is that, once the special event - or even the entire season - is over, we can barely remember it. But wait; let us not forget that Christmas is a special time for hospitality. We should extend hospitality to all with whom we cross paths this season. Let's refocus our time to show hospitality and love, not only with family and friends, but with all those with whom we come in contact. Or try something even better: Make special time for hospitality by being a blessing to at least one person, perhaps a shut-in. Your one simple act of kindness and hospitality costs you little, but it can have a lasting impact on someone else. Prayer: Lord, as we celebrate Your birth, help us to be mindful of the importance of hospitality to others. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased) |
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Sunday, December 10, 2017 |
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Copyright Issue - Devotional cannot be viewed at this time Janell Maxwell (deceased) |
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Thursday, March 9, 2017 & Saturday, November 14, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Scriptures: Psalm 141:8a (NIV) – “But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Message: Every day I remind myself I must fix my eyes on Jesus! I once read: “We must fix our eyes on Jesus through trials, good times, bad times, hard times, happy times, tough times, rough times, times of smooth sailing, difficult times, times of trial, confusing times, joyful times, times of abundance, times of adversity, and all the time!” Life has its ups and downs; sometimes we are faced with different challenges. Going through hard times doesn’t mean God has abandoned us, or that God doesn’t care about us. God has promised He will never leave us, or forsake us in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” As long as God is with us, we have nothing to fear! Yes, the road may be tough, rough, and disappointing at times, but by God’s grace, we will experience God’s peace as we travel our unique paths, as we fix our eyes on Him. Remember the story of Joseph in Genesis Chapters 37-50? Through it all, through the ups and downs, God was with Joseph. This is how Joseph drew his confidence and peace. Joseph fixed his eyes on God. Everything he did always had God at the center of it. God brought him through it all, and God’s name was glorified through Joseph’s life. Prayer: Father, help us so that we don’t fix our eyes on our circumstances, that which we see and is only temporary. Instead, help us to fix our eyes on You, God, who is unseen, yet constant, permanent, eternal, and unchanging. Fix our eyes on You, Jesus, the author, sustainer, and finisher of our faith. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased)(first published in 2017) |
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Friday, March 17, 2017 & Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - "The Connection" Series |
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Copyright Issue - Devotional cannot be viewed at this time Janell Maxwell (deceased)(first published in 2017) |
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Tuesday, December 13, 2016 |
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Scripture: Deuteronomy 33:27 - "The everlasting God is your place of safety. His arms will hold you up forever. He will force your enemy out ahead of you. He will say, 'Destroy them!'" Message: No one wants to think about what it would be like to be told you have the "c" word. Until you are actually told yourself that you have cancer, and your blood runs cold in your veins, you really don't know. Having been diagnosed with cancer CLL / SLL Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia / Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, my world quickly changed. I was faced with a decision; do I let it consume me, defeat me, or do I decide, "OK, I'm at this point now so how am I going to handle this?" I once read: "God is not looking for us to be religious, and He certainly knows all about the rebellion that we try to hide... He knows when gossip dances on our lips and when our heart hangs on to un-forgiveness, jealousy, anger, deceit, hatred, and ugliness." Through this life-changing experience, I have once again been reminded to totally rest in His word, find that place of safety in Him, and trust that He will do what He says. I came through my chemo treatments quite well due to answered prayer by so many prayer warriors storming Heaven on my behalf. Now that I'm on maintenance, I continue to stand on His word and daily pray: "God force the enemy out ahead of me and destroy that which does not belong in my body." He is in control; He answers my prayers. I praise Him each day for a new day to live in Him and for Him! Prayer: Father, thank you for holding us up and going before us when we ask you to face the enemy on our behalf! In Jesus' name. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased) |
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Tuesday September 1, 2020 - "The Connection" Series & Monday, Saturday, March 9, 2015L |
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Scripture: Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV) – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mind‑set as Christ Jesus.” Message: Ouch! How many times are we guilty of not having a Christ-like attitude? As in his other letters, Paul gives words of encouragement and direction in this passage for living in harmony and obedience to God. From the scripture, we see that looking after the interests of others is not something we decide to do because we like to do it. It’s not a suggestion or a recommendation; it’s a firm direction for our daily living. By having this Christ-like attitude, we purposely look for the interests of others and less on our own self-centered interests. Our attitude about life changes. With a Christ-like attitude, we find peace that only God can give each of us in all areas of our life. For years, I have had these “God moments” when He speaks to me directly through the words of Teresa of Ávila’s writing. Someone speaks the words, I get an e-mail from a friend with the words, or I “run across” the words in something I’m reading at the exact time I need to hear them: “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.” – Teresa of Ávila Prayer: Father, thank You for the peace only You can give and for the assurance You give us that we are exactly where You want us to be at every moment. Help us to have a Christ‑like attitude and put other people’s interests in the forefront of our minds and hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased)(first published in 2015) |
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Saturday, December 6 2014 & Wednesday, February 10, 2021L |
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Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Message: My daughter is one of those individuals who always has to have “a plan!” It doesn’t matter if it’s planning every single detail of a vacation, going Christmas shopping on a specific day at a specific time at a specific location, or something simple like planning the next meal. Don’t even think of detracting her from “the plan!” Granted, I don’t want to be blind-sighted, but I pretty well roll with whatever comes in my life. I remember Allen Saunders’ (writer, journalist, cartoonist) quote (1957), “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” I do my best to be open for what God sends my way. Easy? I think not! Just when I think I have a handle on my life, something comes from another direction to try to sway me off course, or detract me from my goal. I must live each day in the realization that God truly meant what He said in Jeremiah even today, “For I know the plans I have for you…. plans to give you hope and a future.” Prayer: Father, help us to rest in You by knowing You have our lives planned. Help us to be open and receptive to Your Holy Spirit’s guidance, and then help us to be busy living out Your Plan to win others for Your Kingdom. Amen. Janell Maxwell (deceased)(first published in 2014) |
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Tuesday December 16, 2014 & Monday, February 8, 2021 |
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Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16a (NIV) – “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,” Message: As Christian believers, we are called to live set-apart lives for Christ. We must spend time with Him and be fueled by the Holy Spirit. During this time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this important season and let time get away from us. But this is not the only time that this is troublesome. . . I always say, “I’m glad I was born when I was.” I love this electronic world! Fully immersed in this e-life, I have to guard myself from the dangers of addiction to it (yes, even at my age)! The internet, including emailing, surfing the web, FaceBook, playing games, and texting, have provided a way for us to get away from the daily routine of life. But in doing this, e-life replaces valuable face-to-face conversations and more importantly, on occasion, time that could be spent in devotional time. Prayer: Father, help us to live wisely to use every opportunity You give us to learn from You and live lives pleasing for You. Help us to be wise stewards of the precious time You have given us! Amen. Janell Maxwell ( deceased)(first published in 2014) |
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