Donna's Devotionals

PTL. All turned out well, apparently it was doing its own thing with some updates and anything I was trying to do to fix it was not going to happen until it was finished. During these Covid days, or these final days before a very important election do you feel like your mind is spinning in circles.... thoughts of darkness and gloom, of fear and doubt, or possibly regrets or total confusion? If so, you are not alone. If 2020 was a laptop, a reboot and update would take much more than 30 minutes and our minds during these times require much more also. The mind is a powerful thing. Much like our laptops our minds hold a lot in the memory and those things can be accessed easily. Knowing this, makes the statement “junk in junk out” understandable. So, let me ask you, what have you been storing up in your mind during these trying times? I will admit that if 2020 has been good for one thing, it has helped me to see the need for a daily reboot more than ever. So much junk: all the patterns of this world (news, quotes, problems and social post from others) during Covid and the election campaigns at times have caused my brain to more like an explosive mind field instead of a mind filled by the peaceful spirit of the Lord. My mind needs some spinning circles. Some time to reboot and renew. How about you? We are told in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...and then Philippians 4:8 tells us what should be happening as the circles are spinning. Think about such things... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy. While we are looking at the spinning circles or waiting for the reboot, the computer is searching for anything that is harmful to it. It’s looking for viruses that have come in from outside sources that infects it and jeopardizes its performance. Once identified we are instructed to get rid of it. Our minds need the same instructions from all the bad that attaches to it each day. Ephesians 4:31, tells us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” And then Colossians 3:2 says “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Just as I waited for the laptop to do its thing in its time, we too, may be in a season of waiting. When faced with those spinning circles or darkness, those feelings of total helplessness, we must remember Who is working behind the scenes. Our minds ARE powerful, but Our God is ALL powerful. The very best way to Be Kind to Your Mind Day every day is to place your trust in Him. Isiah 55:8 teaches us about the Lord and His thoughts. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” And then those with Jesus as their Lord and Savior are promised the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7). “God is still in control. God has His hand on this. God is teaching us something though these trials and spinning times.” I am sure you like me you have heard these same or similar statements repeatedly in 2020. I do believe they are true statements. My faith has been increased, but so have my questions. The one question I keep proposing to others when they speak of learning lessons is, “OK Lord, who is the slow learner among us? And then I pray. Oh Lord, let it not be me. Let me be making the best use of the spinning circles. Please help me to see opportunities to be the light in the darkness. Let me not be so consumed by the virus or election that I shut down to what I am called to be doing for the Kingdom. “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 NLT More than a vaccine. More than the right President for our nation. The world needs Jesus. And we can be Him and share Him with those who are struggling and lost. Those whose lives are spinning out of control and lost in the darkness of sin need the Good News. They need hope. We will be equipped to do this when we are Kind to our Mind each day. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLT BE KIND TO YOUR MIND by spending time in prayer with the Lord, renewing your mind with His truth and getting rid of all the junk of this world each and every day. Let’s Pray; Father in Heaven, we praise You for who You are. Thank You that we can rest in Your Sovereignty when our world is spinning and seems like all is lost. We know that You are always working things together for the good for those who love You. Forgive us for when we let the world and its ways infect us and keep us from being all that You want us to be. Guide us with your spirit and let our minds be set on things above. We ask these things in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen

There is only one way and that is to be certain of W  ho is in control. Not just control of the country. Not just control of the openings. Not just control of vaccines. Not just control of your calendar of events. No. Sovereign Control. Total Control. You need to personally know the One who is in total control. And that is Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus is your only certain in all this uncertainty. Are you for certain that He is your Savior and Lord? Are you just a little uncertain and perhaps have some questions about what it means to call Jesus your Lord and Savior? To be a Christ follower? To trust the One who is in Total Control during all this COVID chaos. Maybe you are certain, but have friends or family that are not and they are struggling during this COVID Craziness and need the gift of certainty. A Gift Card of Certainty It may be helpful to you or them to understand some terminology and have a picture analogy to help you to be certain. A Free Gift -something that is received from another person where the receiver paid nothing or did nothing to receive. Example: You walk to your mailbox and there you find envelope with your name on it. Inside is a gift card to redeem at your favorite shoe store. It’s not your birthday or Christmas. You did nothing to deserve it or paid nothing for this gift card. It is yours to do with what you wish. It is a free gift. Your Question: Am I certain I even need this gift card? What’s wrong with the shoes I have now? I have a fairly good pair of shoes, some wear and tear, a few stains and holes. Yes, they have been around the block a time or two carrying me during times when I was hateful, made some bad choices, but they are getting me places just fine. And they are comfortable and acceptable to the culture. The Bible Says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24 NIV “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens...” James 1:17 NLT Cost - a price paid for something. Example: Your gift card was purchased for a cost by someone. Even though you are not perfect or deserving, someone who loves you regardless of your stained shoes paid a price for you to receive the gift card. Your Question: Am I certain that someone would love me in my stained and dreadful shoes (a sinner) so much to send me this free gift? Who would do this? The Bible Says: Jesus “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV “When Christ died as a sacrifice on the cross, he paid the price to make us free. Because of Christ's death on our behalf, God has forgiven our sins. God is so very kind that he has done all this for us!” Ephesians 1:7 EASY “God bought you for himself. He paid the price for you. So, do not let anyone else make you their slave.” 1 Corinthians 7:23 EASY Faith- complete trust in someone or something. Example: You accept the card. You believe that card holds a gift for you. You decide to use the card. The reason you show up at the store and use that gift card is that you trust the person who sent it to you and you believe the card can be redeemed for new shoes at the store. The value of the card and redemption has nothing to do with you, your money or your works. By acting in faith, you will receive new shoes. Your Question. Can I be certain that the gift be enough? Will it expire? Will I need to do something else along with using the card? Will I be denied new shoes? The Bible Says: “There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.” Romans 3:30 NLT “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16 NLT “When you believed in Jesus, God saved you because he is very kind. You could not save yourselves, but that is God's gift to you.” Ephesians 2:8 EASY Redeemed -gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. Example: You are at the checkout counter ready to purchase new tennis shoes, the clerk tells you the payment or debt that is due and you hand over your free gift card. The register shows the debt is paid. You were broke and had no money. Your shoes were worn and dirty. You needed new shoes, but you had no means to pay that debt. It was only with the gift card that you were able to pay that debt and walk away freely in new shoes. You are free to leave with your new shoes at no cost to you. Your Question: Is that it? Are you certain or do I need to work in the back room of the store for a couple of hours or a day? Can I be certain that I am truly debt free? Are you certain I am now able to wear new shoes? The Bible Says: “God's Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sins and made us free. Yes, God has forgiven us.” Colossians 1:14 EASY “He has not saved you as a result of any good things that you have done. So, nobody has any reason to be proud about it.” Ephesians 2:9 EASY “The message is this: You must say clearly that Jesus is the Lord. Also, you must believe deep inside yourself that God raised him to life again after his death. Then God will save you. God accepts people as right with him when they believe like that, deep inside themselves. And when people say clearly that Jesus is Lord, God saves them.” Romans 10:9-10 EASY Salvation- is being saved or protected from harm or being saved or delivered from a dire situation. Example: By receiving, believing and using your gift card, you now wear new shoes. You have been saved from the old ones with all of the wear and tear they have experienced. Your old shoes are gone and you sport new ones. And these new shoes are special. They will carry you through life much differently. They still may get holes in them, they will get dirty at times, you may occasionally see the stains of life from bad choices, but because of the gift of Jesus, his death on the cross, and resurrection, those shoes are will be seen as white as snow to your Heavenly Father. They are eternal shoes. They will never wear out. You can never lose them. They will always be found when you look for them. These new shoes will not only protect your feet and deliver you from all harm, they will guide you on the path that the Gift Card giver, your Redeemer (Jesus) wants for you. Your Question: I believe now, I am certain that Jesus is who He say He is. So how do I use my Gift Card and receive new free eternal shoes for life? The Bible Says: “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:13 NLT “Instead, we should agree that we have done wrong things and tell that to God. Then God will forgive us for our sins. He always does what he has promised to do. He always does what is right. He will forgive us and he will make us clean again, whatever bad things we may have done.” 1 John 1:9 EASY “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:8-11 NLT “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John ‪3:16-17 NLT Your Decision: I believe in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. I want to be certain of my eternity and be made new by receiving the free gift of Salvation. Your Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I am certain that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I am certain that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I am certain that I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen Welcome my friend. IT IS CERTAIN. You are now an eternal follower of Jesus Christ. You have been made new and have a BFF in Jesus Christ.

Living behind a covering is really nothing new. It started in the garden with Adam and Eve. You remember when they sinned…they hid from God or thought they were. You might say that their sin brought them separation anxiety. They thought if they were covered or hidden by the plants and forest they would be protected from God and His knowing about their disobedience. Hence let’s wear a mask. Let’s cover all this up. Immediately Gods says come out from behind your covering up, (your mask). You cannot hide in your sin. Then, God with His grace covered their raw shame and exposed nakedness by the way of animal skins. Long before Covid, much like our garden parents, each of us at one time or another has found or at this time find ourselves living behind some kind of a mask. In our humanness, we are prone to covering up our messes and mistakes in our own way or power. Two recent incidents around wearing mask has prompted this writing. Walking through the grocery store a few weeks ago my eyes met a younger woman walking towards me with what I sensed as a saddened look and no mask. (before the mask mandate) I smiled at her for encouragement and then quickly realized her expression didn’t change nor was there a returned gesture. I forgot. My smile of encouragement for her was hidden behind a mask. I then became saddened. Discouraged because I could not encourage. This caused me to think: Many people walk the isles of life hidden behind a mask. No. Not all the surgical ones or pretty printed ones, but ones that cover much more than their face. The second incident, one that truly broke my heart happened as I walked through the roped off area that led into the Walmart. A sweet older lady was standing out in 100+ degree weather handing out mask to those who were trying to enter the store without one. As I got closer to her, I could see her trembling and crying. I stopped to check on her, first thinking of her in that scorching heat at her age, could be the reason for her state, only to find out that a man had verbally attacked her for offering him a mask. In her shaking sobs she said, “I can’t help this, I am just doing my job. This is not my fault.” My heart hurt so much for her and for just a moment I wanted to search that man out and give him some peace. Well...a piece of my mind.... instead I prayed for her and told another Walmart associate about her being so upset. Some of Gods children see the wearing of a Covid mask as protection and being prudent. They wear their Covid mask out of love for others and their own health. Others feel they have lost their freedom and see it as a weakness or lack of faith? Again, the wearing of mask is nothing new. And, the division, the anxiety, the separation, the pain or discomfort caused by wearing of mask is nothing new. To wear or not to wear the Covid mask? Should we judge? Read this verse and replace the word food with a Covid Mask and the word eat with the word wear . “Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat. Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].” 1 Corinthians 8:8-9 AMP “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 NIV As Christ followers, it is imperative for us to remember and reflect now more than ever that more than our face has been covered. When we choose to wear a Covid Mask, could it be a way of serving others in Christ? Praise the Lord that our hearts, bodies and souls are covered in the precious saving blood of Jesus Christ. By His grace we are covered and it is this covering of grace that should be seen by all. It can be difficult to recognize people behind the required Covid mask of today. But, unfortunately it is often easy to recognize the Mask of Hate, Doubt, Fear, Pride, Anger, and Unbelief. These Mask are seen though our actions and words. They are not made of cloth and hang openly on our ears, but they are Mask that hide so much more than our face. When a Christ follower wears these Mask, they hide God’s grace. God addresses each of these Mask and many more in His love letter to us. He desires that His children remove the Mask that covers more than our face and replace them with a covering of His amazing Grace. What about these Mask? Should we judge? “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 NLT As a follower of Jesus Christ, we should let Grace be the covering seen at all times and to all people. Today it is common to see a sign posted on a door that reminds you: “FACE COVERING REQUIRED” Let’s look at what God says is required for the MASK we hide behind. Remove the Mask of Hate. Replace with God’s Grace. Love Required. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV “If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.” 1 John 2:9 NLT Remove the Mask of Fear and Doubt. Replace with God’s Grace. Trust Required. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs 3:5 NIV “Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’” Isaiah 41:10 AMP Remove the Mask of Pride. Replace with God’s Grace. Humbleness Required. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:3-5 NLT Remove the Mask of Anger. Replace with God’s Grace. Patience, Forgiveness and Kindness Required. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15 NLT “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV Remove the Mask of Unbelief. Replace with God’s Grace. Faith Required. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7 NIV “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1 NIV “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NIV Less than a year ago you would never think of seeing a package of mask available on a store rack, yet since the Garden all kinds of mask have been available and used by mankind. Today we discussed a few, but there are so many more for us to replace with God’s grace. Greed. Guilt. Shame. Lust. Bitterness. The rack is full. But here is the good news. His grace will be sufficient covering all things and in all ways. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians12:9 NIV “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV Where it may not be prudent during this season to remove the protective covering from our face, God wants to remove all the other Mask. He wants to replace each of these with the covering of His Grace. Perhaps we need constant reminders like the ones that are posted on every door. Instead of: “FACE COVERING REQUIRED” Maybe the signs should read “GRACE COVERING REQUIRED” What mask in your life needs to be removed and replaced by His all sufficient loving grace? Lord Jesus, we thank you for your mercies that are new each day and your grace that is abundant and sufficient. Amen