A Word In
Due Season
1st Week of December 2006
12/01/06
FAITH WORKS
Scripture: Mark 5:34 "Your faith has made you whole."
Jesus spoke these words to a woman who had put her faith to work for
many years. She was plagued with an issue of blood and had sought
desperately for healing but obtained no results until she had an
encounter with the Master. In her quest for healing and her refusal
to stay ill, we see how her faith progressed.
First, she placed her faith in the
physicians until she had spent all the money that she had. By the
time that she had exhausted all of her finances, she had suffered
many things just trying to get healed. When all natural help failed and there was no hope medically, her
heart began to open to the supernatural. She started hearing
reports about a man named Jesus who could heal the sick. The more
testimonies that she heard about this man, the stronger her faith
grew. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word." Finally, she began to make her way towards this healer
named Jesus. As she moved towards Jesus in hopes of receiving a
miracle, she heard heard another testimony of faith. Jairus, a
ruler of the synagogue, ask Jesus to come lay His hands on his own
daughter who was dying. As she heard these words, she may have
thought, "If Jairus believes that his daughter will be healed when
Jesus touches her, then I believe that I shall be made whole if I
can only touch Jesus' clothes." Her final steps to victory were to
get her confession to agree with the faith that was in her heart,
and then to reach out and touch Jesus. As she did this, she was
healed.
Mrs. Charles E. Cowan in Streams In The Desert quoted this
selection:
"We cannot create the wind or set it in motion,
but we can set our sails to catch it when it comes;
We cannot make electricity,
but we can stretch out the wire upon which it is to run and
do its
work;
We cannot, in a word, control the Spirit,
but we can place ourselves before the Lord, do the things He
asks us
to do, that we may come under the influence and power of His
mighty
breath."
The faith of the woman with the issue of blood was not just a simple
thought. She set her sail to catch the wind. She ran the necessary
wire to carry the electricity. She put her faith to work. James
5:26 says, "Faith without works is dead." Similarly, your personal
efforts alone cannot cause your miracle to happen. But you can move
in faith towards the victory like the woman with the issue of blood
did. Start by doing all that you can do in the natural. Listen to
God's Word and the testimonies of others and allow faith to arise in
your heart. Move towards God, not away from Him, and confess
positive words concerning your situations. Most importantly reach
out to Jesus and allow your faith to touch Him. +++Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
2nd Week of December 2006
12/04/06
DISPOSSESS IN ORDER TO POSSESS
Scripture: Numbers 33:53 "You shall dispossess the
inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to
possess it."
God led His people out of Egypt with a great promise. He told them that there
was a land before them that was exceedingly rich. In fact, He said that
it flowed with milk and honey. God gave this Promised Land to His
people, but they had to go in and possess it themselves. This
meant that before they moved in and took over, they had to dispossess the
inhabitants that were already living there. To make matters worse,
some of the inhabitants were giants and some of the cities were surrounded
with walls. The challenge looked fierce, but God promised to go with
them and fight for them.
We have many promises from God that are written in the scriptures.
These words are exceedingly rich and they cover everything that we will
ever need. God's blessings are waiting to be possessed. Yet with
every promise, there comes a challenge. There are giants that must
be overcome and there are walls that must be torn down. These strong
forces are not easy to dispossess, but we can trust God to be with us each
step of the way, for He wants us to possess the blessings that He has
made available. We must be steadfast in our efforts and
remember that when the giants get too big and the battle gets too rough, the
Lord will fight for us.
For every promise that God gave to us, He gave us instruction on how to
possess that promise. He told us that He wanted us to prosper and be in
health, even as our soul prospers (III John 2). If we want to live in
God's hope for prosperity in our lives, we must dispossess the spirit of
poverty that resides in our soul. Dispossessing poverty comes by obeying
God's words concerning money. The scriptures teach us that we must work
hard, be wise and frugal with our funds, and share with others by giving
tithes, offering, and alms. If we want to possess good health, we must
obey God's laws that concern our physical bodies. Good health does not
come without responsibility. We must eat right, get plenty of
rest, exercise, and deal with stress in the proper manner. We can't
possess health until we dispossess the bad habits that plague us. If we
want to remain pure and holy before God, we must dispossess the ungodly
thoughts that linger in our minds that would lead us to commit sinful
acts. At the first sign of temptation, we must resist the devil and
flee. If we want to possess peace in our lives, we must dispossess strife
and disallow division to rule and reign in our hearts. If we want to
overcome addictions, we must dispossess them by refusing to give in or to
give up. We must cast down imaginations and every thought that exalts itself
against the spirit of Christ so that we can be transformed into His
image.
The Promised Land is ours for the taking, but we must be like Joshua and
Caleb. We must have faith in God and voice our victory before the
battles begins. With God's help, we will be able to possess
the land, for He is bigger than any foe that needs to be driven out. The
plan is simple. Dispossess the enemy so that you may possess God's
promises. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/05/06
CLEANSED BY JESUS
Scripture: John 13:8 "If I wash you not, you have no part with
me."
At the last supper before the crucifixion, Jesus began to wash
the feet of His disciples. It was a very intimate moment and
when He finally came to Peter, Peter was overwhelmed as Jesus
humbled Himself before him. Peter couldn't imagine that the One
whom he, himself, had identified as the Son of the Living God
was now kneeling before him and attempting to wash his feet. He
spoke to Jesus and said, "You will never wash my feet" (Verse
8). At Peter's refusal, Jesus explained that this was the only
way that Peter could share companionship with Him. When Peter
heard these words, he said to Jesus, "Wash not only my feet, but
also my head and hands." He clearly wanted to make sure that he
could fellowship with Jesus. Jesus the explained that Peter
only needed his feet to be cleansed.
This act showed not only self-humiliation on the part of Jesus,
it was a lesson about receiving daily forgiveness. It
teaches that even though we have repented and given our hearts
to the Lord, we still need daily cleansing. We are exposed to
the world each and every day, and as we travel down the paths of
life, our feet become very dusty. Things of this present life
lay hold upon us and make every effort to cling to us
eternally. Jesus is the only one who can wash these sins
away. We must allow Him to examine our lives continually and
then wash and cleanse us from all unrighteous. Like Peter, if
we refuse and disallow Jesus to cleanse us, we cannot be in
close communion with Him because righteousness does not
fellowship with unrighteousness and light does not have
communion with darkness ( II Corinthians 6:14).
Unrighteousness and darkness challenge us daily causing us to
miss the mark and come short of the glory of God. Even Paul who
wrote nearly three fourths of the New Testament speaks of the
struggles within himself. He said, "I know that no good thing
dwells within me. The will to do good is present within me, but
I can't seem to perform it. The things that I want to do, I do
not, and the things that I don't want to do, I do" (Romans
7:18-19). This war that raged within Paul is also present
within us and the same devil who fought against him is the same
devil that we struggle with. Life has not changed.
However, the same Jesus who washed the feet of Peter and the
other disciples stands ready to wash our feet. We must allow
Him to do this, for if we do not allow Him to wash us and
forgive us, we can have no part with Him. We cannot approach
God in our own righteousness as our righteousness is as filthy
rags. Jesus is the only who can separate us from our sins, and
as He does, we find His love and mercy overwhelming. Isaiah
1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as
snow." Allow Jesus to cleanse your soul. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/06/06
FORGIVENESS
Scripture: Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me ... to preach deliverance to the captives."
Satan's battlefield is your mind and his primary weapon is deception. If he can
get you to believe his lies, he can hold you captive by your own thoughts. He
doesn't approach you with giant lies that are the size of trees for he knows
that you would recognize and reject those thoughts. So, he starts with tiny
seeds of doubt. He then feeds and nourishes those small seeds of doubt until,
little by little, he is able to work his plan of deception in your life. John
10:10 says the devil is a thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. When
his work is left unchallenged and unchecked, strongholds are established in your
life, which enables the devil to hold you in bondage with his tormenting
thoughts.
The good news is that Jesus came to the earth and was anointed to preach the
gospel of truth. John 8:32 says, when you know the truth, the truth will make
you free. One of Jesus' messages was about a man who had been forgiven of
much. Yet, this same man refused to forgive another man that owed him little.
Because the man who had received much forgiveness refused to forgive the man who
owed little, he, himself, was turned over to the tormentors (Matthew 18:21-35).
Jesus was showing us that we reap what we sow. If we want forgiveness for our
sins and transgressions, we must likewise forgive others for their
transgressions against us. When we fail to forgive, we place ourselves in a
position to be tormented just like the unforgiving servant.
Jesus is anointed to set you free, but you must act on the truth which He speaks
to you. He says, "Forgive, if you want to be forgiven. Forgive, if you want
peace in your life." Forgiveness is a choice. You have the power and authority
to cast down imaginations and every thought in your life that exalts itself
against the Spirit of Christ. This includes the thoughts of unforgiveness that
rage in your mind. As you take those thoughts and submit them to Christ, they
will have to bow in obedience to His command. It may be hard for you to forgive
because of the circumstances that you have endured, but Jesus will help you.
The choice is yours. You can be set free or you can stay chained in bondage by
the devil's deception. The devil tries to hold you in deception by telling you
that you can't release the past. He knows that if you refuse to forgive, he
will own a portion of your heart. That portion of your heart that he owns
will remain in the torments of unforgiveness and will inflict great
emotional pain. Bitterness will also move in and hold you captive. Jesus is
preaching deliverance to your captive spirit. You can't go on with life
until you forgive and let go of the pains that are in your heart. You can't
keep revisiting those hurts. When you are able to let go, Jesus will be able
to set you free and your victory will be sweet. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/07/06
HOLD YOUR PEACE
Scripture: Exodus 14:14 "The Lord shall fight for you, and you
shall hold your peace."
Have you ever moved in faith at God's command and then found
yourself in a hard situation? As you sat there in the dilemma,
confusion and fear came against your mind, and doubt and unbelief
filled your heart. God's people found themselves faced with these
same feelings when God led them out of Egypt. God instructed Moses
and the Israelites to set up their camp by the Red Sea because He
knew that Pharaoh would think that they were trapped between the
wilderness and the sea. The irony of this plan was that God was
secretly working against the enemy. The sea was to be the way of
escape for Moses and the children of Israel and a trap of
destruction for the Egyptians. But as the Israelites faced the
enemy on one side and the waters on the other, they said, "We would
have been better off staying in bondage than to be out here in the
wilderness." They had no idea that God was preparing a way of total
deliverance for them. God told them, "Don't be afraid, stand still,
and see the salvation of the Lord. Just hold on to your peace."
God had a plan. He was going to fight the battle for them and He
didn't want them to do anything except move forward at His command.
Like the Israelites, God does amazing things in our lives and we are
excited and full of faith about what He is doing until the first
impossible situation comes along. When we find ourselves between
the wilderness and the Red Sea we wonder how we got there.
We forget that God, Himself, led us there and put us in that
situation for a purpose. Our reasoning becomes limited because we
are looking at the immediate circumstances and think that we are
near failure or possible death. There seems to be nowhere to turn
and no way out of the situation. Our anxieties cause us to discount
God's wisdom and forget His words, "My ways are higher than your
ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).
Are you standing between the Wilderness and the Red Sea? Are you
facing difficulties in your personal life or financial challenges?
It is when you stand in these places of uncertainty that you
discover the sufficiency of God. When you are overwhelmed by
circumstances and there is no solution in the natural, you must
realize that you are close to a miracle. As you hold your peace and
rest in God's promises, He rolls back the sea and makes a way where
there is no way. He comes through right on time, every time. He is
a miracle working God that cannot fail, so be at peace. The Lord is
on your side and He will fight for you. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/08/06
MIGHTY PRAYER
Scripture: Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where
they were assembled together."
The Sanhedrin counsel had just forbidden the disciples to preach about the
resurrection of Jesus. The disciples responded by coming together to pray
concerning this dilemma and when they had finished praying the place was
physically shaken. That was a mighty prayer. Not many of us have ever had
this kind of prayer experience. What brought such power into the room when
they prayed? The answer is simple. They had the right perspective and
purpose for their prayers as we can see in the following verses.
1) They were in agreement with each other concerning the situation. They
all prayed the same very plain and specific prayer. (Vs. 24)
2) They made themselves aware that they were talking to God. They said,
"You are God," and then they submitted to His control and power. (Vs.
24)
3) They reminded themselves and God of what He had done in the past.
They acknowledged Him as creator and believed that as creator,
He controlled everything and could do mighty things for them. (Vs.24)
4) They asked God to look at their problem. They said, "Now, Lord, Behold
the threats of the enemy." (Vs. 29)
5) They prayed for boldness to speak the Word of God. They did not pray
for their own deliverance from persecution, but only that the Word of
God
go forth and be confirmed with signs and wonders. (Vs. 29)
6) They asked God to stretch forth His hand to heal and do signs and
wonders in the Name of Jesus. (Vs. 30) Their main concern was that
they would have a powerful witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ and that His Name be exalted in their lives.
These are valuable principles of prayer that we need to remember if we want
to experience God in a powerful way in our prayer life. Verse thirty-three
confirms that God did answer their prayer. Prayer makes a difference. It
brings God's presence into our lives and when He comes, He comes with
answers and deliverance. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
3rd Week of December 2006
12/11/06
CONSIDER NOT - STAGGER NOT
Scripture: Romans 4:19 & 20 "Abraham considered not his own
body ... and staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief."
Long before Abraham had a son, God made a promise to him that he
would be the father of many nations and told him that his seed
would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. From the very
beginning, this promise seemed impossible in the natural because
Abraham was very old and his wife, Sarah, was barren. Yet,
Abraham chose to believe the promise and he put his faith in
God's ability to fulfill His promise.
Abraham disregarded his own lack and did not stagger at the
promise that God gave to him. One who staggers does not stand
and walk straight. They lean to the left and to the right as
they stumble along. Abraham overcame each challenge by refusing
to consider the impossibilities and did not stagger to the left
or lean to the right. In other words he did not allow himself
to be driven or tossed about by unbelief. James 1:6-7 says,
"For he that wavers (in faith) is like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he
shall receive anything of the Lord."
One year before Isaac was born God changed Abram's name to
Abraham, which means father of many nations. In essence God was
saying, "It's already finished." God's eternal word established
the fact. God was calling things that be not as though they
were and His words were causing Abraham and Sarah's natural body
to come alive. When Abraham had to tell others his new name, he
was agreeing with God and declaring the promise that God had
made to him. He did not stagger at the fact that he was 100
years old and Sarah was ninety. He just continued to give glory
to God and hoped when there was no reason to hope in the
natural. Today, his faith would appear foolish to many, but
then true faith usually does.
Corrie Ten Boom sums it up with her words,
"FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE,
BELIEVES THE UNBELIEVABLE,
RECEIVES THE IMPOSSIBLE."
Scriptures declare that Abraham believed God, hoped in His
promise, stayed strong in the faith, and was fully persuaded
that God would do what He said He would do. And because Abraham
considered not and staggered not, he eventually received the
promise of God. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/12/06
POWER AND STRENGTH
Scripture: Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power to the faint; and to
them that have no might, He increases strength."
This promise of power and increased strength from God is a
wonderful scripture to hold on to in times of stress and
fatigue. In the verses following, Isaiah tells us that those
who were once weak will mount up with wings as the eagles. They
will be able to run without growing weary and they will walk
without getting faint. Notice that there are three levels where
we may find ourselves; soaring as eagles, running, and walking.
It's great when our journey with God takes us to new heights and
the winds of His Spirit lift us above the mundane obstacles of
daily life. As we soar through life, everything seems so
special and it's as though we can reach out and actually embrace
the heart of God. There are no obstructions, our vision is
clear, and all storms are beneath us. It seems that Heaven is
just a breath away. Everything appears beautiful in its own
way, and we are at ease as we are carried on the winds of God's
wings. When we soar, the mountains do not threaten us for they
are our resting place, and the valleys do not frighten us for
we are not having to walk through them. We face no shadows or
immediate dangers, and one glance in any direction reveals our
provisions.
Soaring as eagles is a wonderful place with God, but we all know
these seasons do not last forever. There are times that we must
come down from the heavenlies, walk through the valleys, climb
the mountains, and run the race that God has set before us.
Running and walking, however, do not seem to be as grand as the
heights that we once experienced, yet God still meets us in
these places and gives us added strength to endure. As we run,
the journey goes fast and our thoughts are kept busy. There are
no wasted efforts or long delays. We have no time for our
patience to be tried and our efforts bring quick rewards. But
then comes the times that we are only allowed to walk. These
are the more difficult places where progress is slow. We know
that God is with us, but it seems as though nothing is really
happening. Our vision is limited and we have no idea what is
just around the bend. The scenery changes very slowly as we can
only take one step at a time, and desperation begins to cause
our faith to faint.
This is the time to remember the words that Isaiah prophesied to
us. He explained just how the power and strength would come
to those who are desperate for help. Whether you are young or
old, you must understand that failing strength happens to
everyone. Isaiah said when you find that you have no might,
wait upon the Lord and He will cause you to grow stronger. When
you feel that you can't go on, rest in God's presence, for only
He can give power to the faint and increase the strength of
those who are weary. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/13/06
PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE
Scripture: Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble."
We often speak of the spiritual armor that God
has provided for us and the seasons of spiritual warfare that we must face.
This scripture, however, gives us another concept of victory in battle. It
is a picture of a successful defense rather than a victorious campaign. It
is a place that we can run to and find refuge and renewed strength. This
place is God's presence, for His presence brings power and shields us from
our enemy. As Psalms 91 declares, we have nothing to fear because God
will cover us with His feathers and hide us under His wings.
My family recently went on an outing to the
beach. A storm had passed through the area just the day before and had left
the sand unstable. We parked on the beach as we had done for years without
incident. Suddenly we discovered that the van was sinking. We tried
frantically to remedy the situation but all was in vain, as it sunk deeper
and deeper. There was nothing we could do and natural help seemed too far
away. This scripture came to my mind in the midst of this dilemma and I
reminded God that He said that He would be a "very present help in
trouble." Others were praying also. Time was of the essence and there was
no room for delay. We were in trouble and needed God to show Himself strong
right then. Just before the body of the van went into the watery sand, a
group of teenagers came to our rescue. God delivered us and made sure His
promise that He was a present help in the time of trouble.
You may have a battle today that is totally out
of your hands. The enemy may have you up against the wall and it seems that
there is no way out. You may have no strength left in your being to
maintain the warfare. Your hopes may be dashed and your future may seem dim
as you see your situation sinking into the sand. These are the times that
you need to run to God and hide in His presence. Let Him be your refuge
and allow Him to renew your strength. He is not a God that is going to be.
He is a God that is. God is God all by Himself and He can take care of any
situation. There is nothing too difficult for Him. Trust Him for He is
with you now and He is a present help in the time of trouble. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/14/06
GOOD COURAGE
Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage,
fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, He goes with you; He
will not fail you, nor forsake you."
Moses tried very hard to lead the Israelites into the place that God had for
them, but many of them missed out on the promises of God because of a spirit
of discouragement. This discouragement came from within the group as
they began to talk about the obstacles that would stand in their way.
The discouraging voices said that the cities that they were to face were very
great and had mighty walls. These same voices also spoke of the people
who were greater and taller than themselves, in fact their enemies were
giants. As God's people heard these words, their souls became very
discouraged and they spoke against God and Moses (Numbers 21:4-5). Those
who had no faith also deprived their brothers of their confidence and
hope. Their negative words drained their spirits and caused their hearts
to melt.
There will be those in your life whose words will deprive you of your
confidence and hope. Very often discouragement will come from those
closest to you. They may even do this in good will, thinking that they
are giving you good counsel. They may have your best interest in mind,
yet if you listen and give heed to their disapproval and objections, their
words will drain your spirit. Their words will prevent you
from completing God's will and deprive you from His blessings. When hindering
words from any source come to you, you must make a decision to either
operate in the positive (courage), or operate in the negative
(discouragement). There is no neutral ground. It is either faith
or fear. Not only must you disallow discouraging words to affect you,
you must be very careful with your own words when you find yourself in the
midst of a challenging situation, less you be the one to speak words that
would discourage someone else's faith and deprive them of their blessing.
Our courage rests in our faith. Our hope in a faithful God enables
us to face danger and hardships with confidence. Faith and hope cause us
to be brave and resolute regardless of our circumstances and the fears that
seek to hinder us. God said that He is the one who goes with us and
He has promised never to fail or forsake us. We need no other words to
keep our minds and hearts in peace. We do not have to struggle with fear
for God is in control. We only need to rest in God's promise and "Be"
strong and "Be" of good courage. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/15/06
DOUBLE PORTION
II Kings 2:9 "Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for
you, before I am taken away from you? And Elisha said ... Let a
double portion of your spirit be upon me."
Elijah was a prophet and a miracle worker. He had done mighty
things in the midst of the people and was now preparing to leave
this earth. In just a few hours, a chariot of fire and a
whirlwind was going to usher him into Heaven. Before he left,
he offered to grant the desire of Elisha, a man who had been
chosen by God to replace Elijah as prophet. Elisha
had faithfully followed Elijah and had humbly ministered to his
needs. Elisha was a man who hungered for the power of God, and
he desired not only the spirit which was upon Elijah, but also a
double portion of that same spirit.
When the servant, Elisha, made his request to the prophet,
Elijah, for a double portion of the Spirit, Elijah said, "You
have asked for a hard thing, but if you see me when I am taken
up, it shall be granted to you ... but if you do not see me, it
shall not be so." When the time came for Elijah to be taken,
Elisha acted in determination to receive the promised gift. He
kept his eyes on Elijah in the midst of the splendor of the
whirlwind and chariot, and he did not allow himself to be
distracted. When Elijah went up, Elisha saw it. Elijah's
mantle fell from the heavens, and when Elisha took it up, the
spirit of Elijah rested upon him.
Elisha had courage and boldness to make an awesome
request for what his heart desired, which was a double portion
of the Spirit of God! What if we were to make this same
request? It would be awesome, for sure, to do the miracles that
Elijah and Elisha did, but to ask for that kind of power may
seem too enormous for us at this time in our lives. However,
instead of asking for a double portion of the miracle gifts of
the Spirit, what if we started by asking for a double portion of
the fruit of the Spirit, which is listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Can you imagine the effects of having a double anointing of the
fruit of God's Holy Spirit in our lives? We would begin to
manifest twice as much love in the midst of hateful and bitter
situations. We would have twice as much peace when confronted
with the storms of life and a double amount of patience and
self-control in the midst of conflict. We would be bubbling
over with joy, and kindness and goodness would continually be
flowing from us to others. Supernatural faith would prevail in
every situation. God has called us to be able ministers to a
hurting world. What better way to fulfill His calling than to
boldly ask Him for a double anointing of His Spirit in our
lives? +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
4th Week of December 2006
12/18/06
TRADITIONS AND TRUTH
Scripture: John 14:6 " Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life."
There are many traditions that we practice during this special season. Yet
as we hold to these traditions that have been passed from one generation to
another, we rarely give thought to what they mean, how they began,
or what truths support them. I have never heard any documentation on some
of the traditions that we honor, but I thought we would explore some
possibilities with truth as our guide.
We send and receive the traditional greeting cards each year to our close
friends and family wishing them peace, reminding them about the birth of
Jesus, and often adding our own personal message. This is a wonderful heart
warming tradition but as we look at the scriptures we see that the first
salutation was made by the angels on the hills of Bethlehem. They brought a
personal message of goodwill to us, which came straight from God in Heaven,
as they declared the birth of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ the
Lord. We put up a traditional tree, but fail to connect this tree that we
have adorned with beauty to the tree of Calvary that became a rugged cross
of suffering, shame, and death. We top the tree with a star, which in
essence reminds us of the true star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men
who traveled from the East and also marked the place of Jesus' birth. We
decorate with candles and beautiful lights, but the purest light is Jesus
who drives away the darkness of evil and gives eternal light to men's
souls. We sing the traditional carols that men have composed, but the first
carols were created by the angels whose voices resounded with praise saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, peace on Earth, and goodwill towards men."
One of our greatest traditions is giving gifts, but we must consider
the gifts that were given long ago. The wise men brought gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child, and God gave the most precious
gift of all, His only begotten Son so that we could inherit everlasting
life. Jesus is the most valuable gift that has ever been given and the most
precious gift that can be received. He, Himself, is "the way, the truth,
and the life." Nothing and no one can be compared to Him. As you
experience this season, remember that traditions are to be enjoyed, truth is
to honored, and the life that Jesus gives is to be cherish. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/19/06
GOD WITH US
Scripture: Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and
shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us."
Jesus' name was called Emmanuel, God is with us. No generation
before had this wonderful promise fulfilled, for this was a new and
marvelous thing that God was doing. Jesus, the Word, was made
flesh, came to Earth, and dwelt among men. He became one of us so
that He could be touched with the same feelings that we experience.
He wanted to know our joys and understand our sorrows. And when His
work on Earth was finished and He returned to Heaven, Jesus promised
never to leave us or forsake us. He is still our Emmanuel, and He
is "with us always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).
Many in the world today tend to forget what this wonderful season is
all about and attempt to celebrate without Jesus. Attention is
turned towards the presents to be given or those to be received, and
not focused on the presence of the Eternal King who is the true
reason for the season. The celebration of the birth of the Son of
God and the fulfilling of the promise of His glorious presence
becomes lost amidst the hustle and the bustle of the traffic, the
parties, and the last minute shopping. If we are not careful, even
our times of devotion and prayer are pushed aside to meet the
demands of our busy holiday schedules. Even now, just a few days
from the eve of Christmas, we are looking forward to the rest after
the rush. We are pledging to do better and spend more time with God
in prayer and Bible study after the first of the year.
The good news is that you don't have to wait until the New Year to
find rest and a time to commune with the Lord. You don't even have
to wait until you go to a religious service. Wherever you are
throughout your busy day, just take a few moments and be still
before God. He promised to be right there, so welcome and
acknowledge Him. Experience His awesome presence that surrounds
you. Right now, even as you read these words, breathe His name
aloud several times, "Jesus - Emmanuel, God is with us." As you
speak His Name, you will sense His presence and peace and rest will
enter your soul. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/20/06
THE GIFT OF GOD
Scripture: John 4:10 "Jesus answered and
said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to
you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have
given you living water."
The Samaritan woman that Jesus spoke these words to had lived a very
hard life. Her life style and morals did not measure up to the
other women in the city, and it seemed that she did not merit their
friendship because she came to the well alone. She had been married
five times and was now living with a man that was not even her
husband. She was an outcast in society, yet this Jewish man, Jesus,
was taking time to talk with her, even though Jews normally had no
dealings with the Samaritans. He was offering her the gift of God.
This was a new concept as gifts and sacrifices were always given to
God, not received from God.
Jesus said to the woman, "If you only knew the gift of God." The
most precious gift ever given was this gift by God some 2000 years
ago. God's gift was not wrapped in beautiful foil paper and topped
off with a beautiful bow. Nor was it put in a decorative bag with
tissue paper. It was simply wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a
manger, and hidden away in a stable among the smells of the
animals. But God's precious gift was one of a kind and was
supernatural. His gift was Jesus, who brought eternal life and
light to those who would receive Him. He is the living water that
He spoke about to the Samaritan woman and He quenches every thirst.
John 3:16 tells us more about this wonderful gift and why God gave
it. God's gift was His only begotten Son, and His giving was
motivated by great love. He loved us so much that He gave that
which was most precious to Him. His great gift had great purpose,
was eternal, and was given so that we would not perish but have
everlasting life. God's gift was made flesh, for only the blood of
His Son could redeem mankind from sin. What an enormous gift; an
everlasting gift of love, a gift of great sacrifice, and a gift of
purpose. Even though this gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and
laid in a manger, its worth exceeds silver and gold, and nothing
compares to the treasure that we possess when we come to know and
receive His gift. Jesus is our Living Water and when we receive
Him, there is no room for thirst in our spirits. It is no wonder
that He approached the woman at the well and spoke these words into
her life, "If you knew the gift of God." +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/21/06
A SOUND OF A BABY'S CRY
Scripture: John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and
we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth."
In the beginning, Jesus was with God and He was God, but He came to Earth
and took upon Himself human flesh so that He could dwell among us and
ultimately become the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was unique in that He
was true deity and also common humanity. Before His birth, there had been
four hundred years of silence between the time of the Old Testament and the
New Testament. Then suddenly, in the fullness of time, the Son of God was
born and the sound of this Baby's cry heralded a new message on Earth. His
cry meant that light had come to shatter the forces of darkness and that
eternal salvation had come to mortal man.
As the silence of those years ended with His cry, many validated that the
Messiah had come. The angels declared the good tidings of great joy saying
that the Savior, which is Christ the Lord, had been born. They praised
God and declared peace on Earth and good will toward men. Years later, John
the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the
world." And Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
God the Father also spoke from Heaven and said, "This is My Beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased." Satan, Himself, recognized Jesus as the Messiah
and challenged Him by mingling these words of doubt in His ears, "If Thou be
the Son of God." Even the soldiers at the cross acknowledged who Jesus was
by saying, "Surely this was the Son of God."
If you have ever had a baby born into your life, you know the vast meaning
of hearing their cry for the first time. It means that things will never
be the same again in your household, for from their first cry, your life is
changed forever. So it was with the Baby Jesus. His cry brought change and
hope to all mankind. Today, we look for Him in beautiful cathedrals that
are filled with beautiful music and fail to realize that He is everywhere
and that He is crying out for us. He wants to intervene in our silence and
give meaning to our lives. If we listen for Him, we will hear His cry, and
if we look for Him, we will experience the glory of this only begotten Son
of God. When we find Him, we will understand His grace and truth and
validate Him as the Messiah of our lives. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/22/06
GIFTS WORTHY OF A KING
Scripture: Matthew 2:11 "They presented
unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and
myrrh."
The wise men were experts in the study of the stars and when they saw the
special star in the East, they knew that the Messiah had come. They
followed the star to Jerusalem and it then went before them and led them to
the place where Jesus was. The wise men made this long tedious journey with
the intent to worship Jesus because they knew from their studies that He was
the King of the Jews. They not only came to worship Jesus with their hearts
but to present to Him their gifts and treasures. They brought gold,
frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child. These gifts not only provided
financial substance for the family but also had special symbolic meanings.
The gold represented Jesus' deity, for He was the Son of God. The
frankincense, which was used as incense because of its perfumed
aroma, represented His purity. Finally, the myrrh, which was used for
embalming purposes, foretold of Jesus' death.
We have the opportunity to offer these same gifts to the Lord. We may not
have actual gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but we can offer what these
precious gifts represented. First, our faith that has been tried in the
fires of life and has come out as pure gold can declare Jesus' deity in our
lives. Peter said that the trial of our faith is more precious than gold
and it will give honor and glory to the Lord at His appearing (I Peter
1:7). Our faith sets Jesus upon the throne of our heart and signifies that
we believe in Him and have made Him the Lord and Savior of our
life. Second, Timothy told us to be an example of the believer in purity (I
Timothy 4:12). We are an epistle read of all men. We must not
allow impurities to weaken the rivers of living water in our life or
disqualify our witness. Our life should be as sweet incense before the Lord
and a pure example of love to a hurting world. The third gift was symbolic
of death. This is no easy chore, for the Apostle Paul said, "I die daily"
(I Corinthians 15:31). If we want to follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves
and take up our cross every moment of every day (Luke 9:23). We must
continually crucify our flesh and mortify the deeds of our bodies (Romans
8:13). We cannot allow our selfish natures to live if we want Christ to
live and reign within us as Lord over all.
As you have given gifts to your friends and families this Christmas season,
remember that you need to put something special under the tree of Calvary
for the One who gave His life for you. Jesus is not looking for your gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. His desire is to receive the gifts from your
heart. He wants to know that your faith in Him is as pure as gold. He
takes much pleasure when a heart is so pure that it becomes as a sweet aroma
of incense to Him. He is honored by a life that is so committed to Him that
it has crucified its own desires in order to please Him. These are the
gifts that are worthy to offer to Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord
of lords. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
A Word In
Due Season
5th Week of December 2006
12/27/06
RESPONDING TO COUNSEL
Scripture: Proverbs 19:20 (Amplified) "Hear counsel, receive
instruction and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time
to come."
How often do we seem unwise at the end of a situation because we
have failed to do the three things listed above; hear counsel,
receive instruction, and accept correction? We have always heard
the expression, "Two heads are better than one." This is also true
from God's viewpoint, as He never intended for us to stand alone and
figure out how to solve our own problems. Throughout His Word, He
encourages us to seek counsel with each other and look at our
situations from different perspectives. In Isaiah 9:6, God promised
us a Wonderful Counselor in the person of Jesus Christ. And in II
Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul tells us that God's written word
would give us counsel. He says, "All scripture is given by the
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof,
correction, and instruction in righteousness."
When we fail to seek and receive counsel from Jesus, the Word, or
others, we set ourselves up for failure. Proverbs 11:14 declares,
"Where no wise guidance is, the people fall; but in the multitude of
counselors there is safety." Another proverb tells us that purposes
and plans are brought to an end when there is no counsel, but with
many counselors plans are established. Direction is gained
and plans become established as you share with others and make
yourself accountable to those you've involved in your life
decisions. Yet obtaining good and wise results doesn't end with
just hearing wise counsel. You must also "receive instruction."
Counsel will tell you where you are missing it, but instruction will
tell you how to fix it. You must not only listen but also receive
what is being said. Several times Jesus made a comment about those
He ministered to, stating that they had eyes but did not see and
ears but did not hear. They were seeing and hearing but not
receiving any of it into their heart.
Wisdom takes us a step further. Hearing counsel and receiving
instruction come to an end if we do not accept the correction and
actually make the changes that are suggested or offered. For
instance, if a mechanic tells you that the transmission in your car
is bad, you may hear every detail of his wise counsel. You may even
agree that you need to repair or replace the transmission. But if
you don't make the corrections that are necessary, the transmission
in your car will continue to work improperly. Solomon said if you
accept correction, then you will be wise at the end of the matter.
Wisdom demands change when corrections are needed so listen to your
Wonderful Counselor and respond to His instructions. In so doing
you will be wise in the time to come. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/28/06
FAVORITE THINGS
Scripture: Proverbs 13:7 (Living Bible) "Some rich people are
poor, and some poor people have great wealth."
King Solomon, who wrote this proverb, was the wisest and richest
man who ever lived. People traveled from distant lands just to
see his grandeur and to listen to his words of wisdom. Yet,
with all the riches that he had obtained in this world, he
understood the concept of true wealth. He knew that true
wealth was not wrapped up in earthly possessions and riches and
declared that a person could be poor in earthly things and yet
have a great storehouse of wealth. Wealth can be yours
because you have family, friends, and health.
As time has passed, I have come to realize that my favorite
things and most prized possessions are not my most expensive
things. The things that I treasure the most are the things that
revolve around people and have been touched by a special
relationship in my life. If you were to visit my home, you
would wonder why I have such a hodgepodge of stuff sitting
around. It looks like I'm an eclectic collector of sorts
because things do not match. I would like for my home to look
like a model home where everything is designer perfect, but in
reality, I am just a sentimentalist who has saved nearly
everything that everyone has ever given to me. The results are
that I often display things that are not of my own personal
taste. Yet, these are my treasures because they were given to
me in a spirit of love and are a reminder that someone cared
enough to share their life with me.
My most treasured possessions are the hand made items from my
children and grand-children. One of these items is the
thirty-six year old paper angel who lost one of her wings many
years ago. It is placed on the top of the Christmas tree each
year. Every year when I put the angel on the tree, I remember
how proud my four-year-old son was when he presented it to me.
Our tree is full of similar decorations and my closets are
filled with boxes of other mementos that my children have made
throughout the years. Of course another favorite thing is the
family photos, which are a reminder of days past. These are the
items that fill my life with joy and could never be replaced by
any amount of money. I would be devastated if these precious
items were destroyed in a fire or a flood. Also, I could not
forget to mention my marked-up and tear-stained study Bible.
There are underlined and highlighted verses and notes and dates
scribbled in the margins. These markings all speak of the
intimate moments when the Lord spoke something special into my
life; a promise, a word of encouragement, and yes, sometimes a
correction or a rebuke.
As we travel life's journey, let us look at the stuff that is
most dear to our heart and remember what King Solomon said,
"Some poor people have great wealth." Regardless of your
financial state in life, look at your storehouse of blessings
and remember that wealth is not defined by expensive earthly
possessions. True wealth is not having all that you want. It
is being able to enjoy all that you have. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================
12/29/06
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END
Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:12 "The eyes of the Lord your God are
always upon the land, from the beginning of the year to the end of
the year."
Just as God gave a promise to His people that He would care for the
land that He had given them, to watch over it and to water it with
rain from heaven, He makes promises to us concerning our life. This
wonderful God that we serve promises to finish the things that He
starts in our lives. This is the nature of His character, for He
is the "author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Revelation 22:13 also tells us that He is the "Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last." He commits Himself
to be there from the start to the finish. Paul told us that he,
himself, was confident of this very thing, that He who had begun a
good work in us would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Right up to the time that Jesus returns, we can be sure that God
will never give up and will continue working on us and developing
perfection in us (Philippians 1:6).
This is quite contrary to our habits. As the old year ends and a
new one begins, we make our New Year's resolutions. We are bound
and determined to make changes in our lives. And as we plan, we are
very excited about the new turn that we are going to take. We plan
to discipline ourselves in various ways such as exercise, diet,
devotionals, or spending more time with the family. But soon into
the new year, our plans start falling apart. We can't seem to get
it together or to finish what we so adamantly started. What is our
answer?
I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast your cares upon Jesus for He cares for
you." Just as God cared for His people and their land in the past,
He also cares for you. He wants you to succeed in your every effort
that is noble in His eyes. He wants you to prosper and be in good
health. He knows that exercise, diet, and relationships are
important. The Lord truly cares for every aspect of your personal
life and He wants to help you keep your resolutions. Psalms 37:5
says, "Commit your ways unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He
shall bring it to pass." As you think about those things that you
want to change in the New Year, commit them to God and ask Him to
help you. Release the struggle and allow Him to take the care of it
upon Himself, for He really does care for you. As you lean upon
Him, He will impart His strength and virtue into your life. You
will not only be able to begin, but you will also be able to finish
those things that you committed to do from the very beginning of the
year to the end of the year. +++
Copyright © 2006 Mary
Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved
www.widsonline.com
=================================================================================