Today’s Thought

‘And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’
Philippians 2:8-11 (NKJ)

Jesus, having all power and all authority, submitted His life to the authority of His Father. He consistently responded under authority, pointing back to the Father. The Father, in turn, rewarded His obedience and humility and exalted Him.

In our individualistic world, we try to avoid submission to authority. There’s a Chinese saying: It’s better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox. We want to be our own boss; make our own decisions; answer to no one. Truth is, we answer to the One.

Our act of saying yes, to make Jesus Lord of our life, is our primary act of submission. From that day onward we keep bringing our lives and our decisions before Him, acknowledging that there is One greater than we are. It’s a relationship of submission, rooted in our understanding that the Father loves us even more than we can comprehend. Jesus was no doormat—He understood His worth—but His authority flowed out of a heart submitted to the Father. In that place He had the power to heal the sick, raise the dead and transform lives. That’s the place I want to live from today.

Reflect:
Who do you point back to?
What do you need to surrender to the Father today?

Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving me beyond my selfish human heart. Thank You that submission to You is a safe, beautiful and even powerful place. I submit my life to You today. May I live my life in such a way that I am consistently pointing back to You. In Jesus’ exalted Name, Amen.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/08/22/im_under-authority/

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Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of www.globalgirlnetwork.com.  She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters. Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”

By Idelette McVicker
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“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

My best friend’s mom is in the hospital with cancer. She’s been battling the disease for over a year, but she’s come to a place now where they are basically unable to manage the pain. My friend knows they’re saying good-bye.

At night, especially, this brave lady has been struggling with incomprehensible pain levels. It was during one of these “sessions,” while doctors and nurses were trying to comfort her, that Jesus spoke to her:

“Yes this process is painful, my dear … Do you remember giving birth? Being in labor? You are now in labor, except you are the one being birthed. Take courage. You are being reborn, with a brand new body. No more pain.”

This is the Jesus I worship, the One who feels our pain and meets us in its midst.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/08/17/im_no-more-pain/

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Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of www.globalgirlnetwork.com.  She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters. Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”

By Idelette McVicker
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“But Lord, Gideon asked, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you …’” Judges 6:15

How often do I look within or to another before I look up? Gideon looked at where he came from. He looked at his own accomplishments and his personal sense of identity, trying to establish whether he was equipped for the task, but God had a different answer: “I will be with you,” God told Gideon.

Sometimes, living in our fearlessly independent society, we forget that we don’t have to rely on self. We don’t need the perfect credentials to walk in the call God has for us. Instead, we are partnered with the God of the Universe who promises: “I will be with you.” It’s the promise of Emmanuel - God with us. We don’t have to do it alone. We can look up and fix our eyes on this God who can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us …”

Thank you, Lord, that You are my partner and my strength. Thank You for the promise that You will be with me as I set out to do what You are calling me to today. Amen.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/07/29/im_who-stands/

******************************************************************

Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of www.globalgirlnetwork.com.  She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters. Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”

By Idelette McVicker
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“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:6 (NIV)

When I lived in Taiwan, there was a general understanding that shopping is the national pastime. Stores stay open until 10pm every day and whatever the time of day, you can usually find a place to buy something. I, too, love a good shopping adventure. Just today I found two fabulous jumpers for my girls at a quarter of their original price. I love the thrill of the find.

In Isaiah, the Lord refers to himself as a store … A rich store filled with everything good, beautiful and necessary for abundant life.

When I am in need of salvation, wisdom and knowledge, there’s only one place to shop.

You always get more when you shop with Jesus. There’s endless variety with individualized packages for each customer. Abundant life just doesn’t come any cheaper. In fact, at Jesus & Co. salvation is free. A lifetime membership, offering you every available treasure of heaven, will cost you everything and yet nothing. The value? Priceless.

Reflect: How often do you spend time shopping for the treasures of heaven?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/07/18/im_store-of-salvation/

**************************************
Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of
www.globalgirlnetwork.com. 
She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters.
Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”

By Idelette McVicker
____________________________________________________

“For in six days GOD made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore GOD blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.”  Exodus 20:11 (Msg)

 When asked, “How’s life?” I used to like saying, “Busy.” I thought being busy equaled being productive, responsible and successful. I falsely believed that when I was busy, I was doing something significant. I no longer do.

I now understand the importance of taking time to rest.

I learned the significance of taking a Sabbath while living in Taipei. This bustling city with over 3 million people, taught me to either take time out or burn out. I began to schedule one day per week as a day of rest, and not necessarily always on a Sunday.

On my personal Sabbath days I would stay home, read, make myself a cup of tea, take a bath, listen to my favourite music, read some more and spend time with God. Rather than a commandment, I began to experience the Sabbath as a pleasure and a necessity.

Even Oprah takes a Sabbath. “I give myself Sundays,” she says in O, The Oprah magazine (April 2004). “If I didn’t do that, I would implode, literally, in a crazy psychic breakdown. And whenever I’ve slipped up and missed a Sunday, I’ve noticed a definite change in my disposition for the rest of the week.”

Living in North America, with a family to care for, my Sabbath days look different again. Sometimes it just means staying home and switching off the TV.

What I have learned is that taking a Sabbath is one of God’s ancient ways that breathes strength, perspective and power into my busy life. I have permission to rest. And I have so much more to give when my well is replenished.

Dear God, Thank you that you had me in mind when you told us to keep the Sabbath. Thank you for this precious gift of time to rest and enjoy your presence and eternal perspective. Help me to keep it sacred. Amen.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/07/04/im_sabbath/

*****************************************

Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of
www.globalgirlnetwork.com. 
She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters. Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”
 

By Idelette McVicker
_________________________________________

Matthew 1

I was reading the genealogy of Jesus again when it struck me how there are only three women mentioned by name in the whole genealogy: Tamar, Rahab and Mary.

Tamar was a widow who pretended to be a prostitute, slept with her father-in-law and got him to restore her honor. Rahab, a prostitute, helped the Israelites conquer Jericho. And Mary was already pregnant when she married Joseph, something that would have been severely frowned upon in her own Jewish community.

These three women became part of the genealogy of Jesus, in spite of the labels they might have carried within their own communities. I recently heard a young woman from a respected Christian family tell how she fell into adultery. When the story came out, she went to her father. He said to her, “That’s what you did, my daughter, that’s not who you are.”

God, our Heavenly Father, sees who we really are, not the labels placed upon us by ourselves, our families or society. God sees our hearts.

Reflect: If God were to look at your heart today, what would He see?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/06/29/im_your-heart/

******************************************

Idelette McVicker is founder and editor of
www.globalgirlnetwork.com. 
She’s lived in South Africa and Taiwan, but home is now in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two young daughters.
Her mission is to “clothe this generation in Amazing.”