Saturday, February 07, 2015

Day 103 - Emotional Safety Valve #1: Lift Your Fears to Jesus


Through a Season of Grief
365 daily emails to help you through the grieving process



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Emotional Safety Valve #1: Lift Your Fears to Jesus
Day 103

Overwhelmed by your emotions? On the verge of emotional shutdown? Feeling as if there is no future but despair? Try lifting your fears to Jesus.

“People who don’t know Christ have a different perspective on this because they have no option other than despair,” says Dr. Jim Conway. “They only have the option of using their own energy or other people around them to try and make this adjustment. They don’t have the person of God living in them, giving them the capacity to adjust and the sense that there is a future.”

You do have an option. Choose faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Make it a habit to mentally and verbally give each emotion to Him the moment that emotion arrives. You may want to picture yourself wrapping up that emotion in a package and handing it into His loving, powerful arms to keep. Repeat this exercise as needed, and trust in God to take those burdens each time.

You can take this action because God cares for you. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Second Chronicles 15:7 says, “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

Lord, I am constantly tormented by these thoughts and emotions. I need to give each one to You, one at a time. Take them from me, and I will trust in You for strength and healing. Amen.



Through a Season of Grief
The daily email messages you are receiving are also available in a book format. Purchase as a gift for a friend or buy a print copy for yourself. Through a Season of Grief by Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard is available at online and local bookstores or at griefshare.org/devotional.




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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2003-2013 by The Church Initiative, Inc., All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission in writing from Church Initiative.



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Our Daily Bread -- Who's The Boss?

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Who’s The Boss?

February 8, 2015

Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  —Romans 6:14

Read: Romans 6:1-14
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4-5; Matthew 24:29-51

As my wife was babysitting our two young grandsons, they began to argue over a toy. Suddenly, the younger (by 3 years) forcefully ordered his older brother, “Cameron, go to your room!” Shoulders slumped under the weight of the reprimand, the dejected older brother began to slink off to his room when my wife said, “Cameron, you don’t have to go to your room. Nathan’s not the boss of you!” That realization changed everything, and Cam, smiling, sat back down to play.

As followers of Christ, the reality of our brokenness and our inclination to sin can assume a false authority much like that younger brother. Sin noisily threatens to dominate our hearts and minds, and the joy drains from our relationship with the Savior.

But through the death and resurrection of Christ, that threat is an empty one. Sin has no authority over us. That is why Paul wrote, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).

While our brokenness is very real, Christ’s grace enables us to live in a way that pleases God and expresses His transforming power to the world. Sin is no longer our boss. We now live in the grace and presence of Jesus. His dominion in our lives releases us from the bondage of sin. —Bill Crowder

Thank You for Your grace, Lord, that cleanses us inside. Your grace is greater than all our sin. We know we can’t live without it. And we’re grateful that we don’t have to.
God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our sinfulness, holds us in our brokenness. —Scotty Smith

INSIGHT: Previously in Romans, Paul has been teaching about our redemption and justification—how through faith in Jesus Christ, God made us right with Him (3:21–4:25). Paul now deals with another aspect of our salvation—sanctification (Rom. 6:1–8:39). Because we have been given a new life and a new relationship with God (6:4-14), He expects us to live differently and to mature in holiness.

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To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org.

Copyright © 2015, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Friday, February 06, 2015

Day 102 - Physical Symptoms


Through a Season of Grief
365 daily emails to help you through the grieving process



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Physical Symptoms
Day 102

Has grief impacted your body as well as your mind?

“Physical problems can run the gamut,” says Dr. H. Norman Wright. “There can be stomachaches, headaches, anxiety, rapid pulse, heaviness of heart. It can affect your blood pressure. Sleep disturbances come as insomnia or sleeping ten, twelve, or fourteen hours a day. You lack energy, just plodding through the day, looking at the clock, hoping it’s time to go to bed.”

How you feel physically can deeply affect how you feel emotionally. So make sure that the basics are covered. Eat healthy food, exercise on a consistent basis, and get plenty of sleep.

Remember, healing is a journey you travel both physically and mentally. Face each difficulty one day at a time, one step at a time, until its completion. Counter each problem with the assurance of Scripture. Remain faithful till the end, and you will be victorious over every problem that sets itself up against you during this time.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

In You, victorious Lord, I am more than a conqueror over these physical problems. Show me how to endure and to win! Amen.



Grieving with Hope
This GriefShare-based book contains short, topical chapters addressing issues that grieving people face but are often hesitant to mention to others; it gently guides people to determine whether they're grieving in a way that leads to hope and ultimate healing. Look for Grieving with Hope by Samuel Hodges and Kathy Leonard at a local or online bookstore or at griefshare.org/hope.




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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2003-2013 by The Church Initiative, Inc., All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission in writing from Church Initiative.



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Our Daily Bread -- Birthday Celebration

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Birthday Celebration

February 7, 2015

By You I have been upheld from birth . . . . My praise shall be continually of You.  —Psalm 71:6

Read: Psalm 71:5-18
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 1-3; Matthew 24:1-28

I used to love birthdays. I can still remember standing excitedly on our front porch waiting for my friends to show up for my 5th birthday party. I wasn’t just excited about the balloons, the gifts, and the cake. I was happy that I was no longer only 4! I was growing up.

As I’ve gotten older, however, birthdays have sometimes been more discouraging than exciting. Last year when I celebrated a birthday that marked me by decades more than by years, my wife, Martie, cheered me up with the reminder that I should be grateful to be growing older. She pointed me to Psalm 71, where the psalmist talks about God’s presence throughout his life. He remembers that God “took me out of my mother’s womb” (71:6), and he proclaims with thankfulness, “O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works” (v.17). And now, when the psalmist is older, he has the honor to proclaim: “[God’s] strength to this generation, [His] power to everyone who is to come” (v.18). God had blessed the psalmist with His presence through every year of his life.

Birthdays now remind me of God’s faithfulness. And they bring me closer to being in the presence of the One who has been with me all these years! —Joe Stowell

Lord, remind me often that growing older means I am growing nearer to You! Keep my heart filled with gratitude for Your many blessings, and keep my mind fixed on the joy of heaven.
Count your many blessings—birthday by birthday!

INSIGHT: God’s faithfulness is cause for praise. The psalmist says, “By You I have been upheld from birth” (Ps. 71:6). It is His faithfulness that inspires our confidence in Him: “I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more” (v.14).

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Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.

Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family.

To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org.

Copyright © 2015, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Thursday, February 05, 2015

Day 101 - False Guilt: Satan's Lies


Through a Season of Grief
365 daily emails to help you through the grieving process



Grief support groups:
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False Guilt: Satan’s Lies
Day 101

“Yes, Satan knows when to come. He lays it on you,” explained Dr. E. V. Hill. “I just want you to know it’s not of God; it’s the devil. God isn’t punishing you at all. The devil’s doing that.”

The guilt and blame you hear echoing in your head is Satan lying to you. Understand and believe this.

Dr. Hill said, “So watch the fact that it’s not the voice of the Holy Spirit. It’s the visitation of the devil. Rebuke it as such. Stick with your faith in God no matter how it hurts. And God has a great reward for you.”

When guilt rears its head, stay focused on the truth and do not be deceived by lies.

“He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Holy Spirit of God, teach me to recognize Your voice and to follow it with assurance. Amen



Through a Season of Grief
The daily email messages you are receiving are also available in a book format. Purchase as a gift for a friend or buy a print copy for yourself. Through a Season of Grief by Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard is available at online and local bookstores or at griefshare.org/devotional.




If you would like to recommend these daily emails to a friend, please click here and choose one of the options under Share.



GriefShare For more information about GriefShare, including how to sign up for these daily emails, please click here.



All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2003-2013 by The Church Initiative, Inc., All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission in writing from Church Initiative.



You subscribed to this daily email through www.griefshare.org. We value your privacy! We will never give, sell, rent, or otherwise share your email or personal information with any other organization — EVER.

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(800) 395-5755

Our Daily Bread -- In Disguise

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In Disguise

February 6, 2015

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You.  —Psalm 31:19

Read: Genesis 45:4-8
Bible in a Year: Exodus 39-40; Matthew 23:23-39

In the weeks after my husband survived a heart attack, we often thanked God for sparing his life. I was asked many times during the next few months how I was doing. My answer was often a simple one: “Blessed. I feel blessed.”

Blessings, however, come in different sizes and shapes. In fact, we don’t always recognize them. Even when we are doing everything we think God wants us to do, we may still experience suffering. We are sometimes surprised that God does not answer the way we want or that His timing appears to be tardy.

We see this in Joseph’s life. From a human perspective, we would think that God had forgotten all about him. For more than a decade, Joseph experienced suffering. He was tossed in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, unjustly put in prison. Finally, however, God’s faithfulness to him became evident to all as he was lifted up as a ruler of Egypt and saved many people from famine (Gen. 37–46). C. S. Lewis wrote: “When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.”

God had always had His hand of blessing on Joseph, as He does for all who trust Him. “Oh, how great is Your goodness” (Ps. 31:19). —Cindy Hess Kasper

Lord, You love us with an extravagant love, but so often we don’t trust You in the crisis. Help us to learn and appreciate that You have everything we need—and so much more.
True happiness is knowing that God is good.

INSIGHT: Because of severe and widespread famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain to take home to feed their families (Gen. 42–45). Though Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. It seems that from this point forward he set out to bring reconciliation to his broken family. Eventually, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers (45:4-8), forgives them, and promises to care for them (50:16-21). Joseph’s story is one of the great reconciliation stories of all time.

Share your thoughts on today’s devotional on Facebook or odb.org.

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Even the smallest donation helps reach people around the world with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible.

DONATE
Spread the Word! RBC Ministries is now Our Daily Bread Ministries. #SpreadtheWord
Share With Your Friends Featured Video
Our Daily Bread Ministries

Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.

Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family.

To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org.

Copyright © 2015, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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