Curiosity

I wonder what it was that caused Zacchius to be so interested in Jesus. I wonder what he had heard. Maybe he knew of healing, teaching and large groups of people wanting to see the Rabbi named Jesus of Nazareth.

^{Luke 19:1-4 (msg)} Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

This picture of Zaccheaus makes me picture my kids at a parade. The excitement that builds as the crowd gathers. Being just short enough that stepping on your toes doesn't even give you enough of a vantage point. You can here the sounds of the parade coming closer. I am sure for Zacchaeus, it was the sound of the crowd getting louder as Jesus was closer to them and they called out their desires for healing and restoration in their lives.

Zacchaeus' curiosity will eventually lead him to places he couldn't have imagined. But, wonder with me for a moment what it was that had built up the excitement in him to begin with. Why did he want to see Jesus?

I wonder if we do that for Christ. Do we create a curiosity about our Savior that is so exciting that someone would climb a tree for just a glimpse of it? I wonder if our lives make people wonder about our God. I wonder if we leave the message of Jesus' reputation so admonishing that even the tax collectors of our society would want to share in a moment of it's glory.

Can our lives create the same excitement as a crowd waiting for the glorifying moment of seeing it's Savior?

Thank you!!!

Thank you

by Heather Collver

I regret to inform you that after this week, Angela and I will no longer be writing the Women of Worship Devotionals. Angela and I started Women of Worship many years ago and it is not the same if it is just me. It is very sudden, and my heart is broken, but I pray that someday I will find the strength to write every week again. I just know I am not capable of writing this devotional on my own each and every week. Thank you for your encouragement and support and for the amazing relationships we have all formed through this devotional. I pray for each of you. That you will find encouragement each week and that you will know that you are loved and are in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever need to contact me, you may do so by email at hcollver@msn.com. Many of you are signed up through a feedburner and I don't have your email addresses, so if you would like to receive future emails from me concerning prayer, or the Word of God, then please also send me an email.

Blessings to you

Heather N. Collver

Tax Collector

^{Reputation, such a hurdle that we all must jump over. All of the assumptions and all of the ideas that come from one title.}

^{Luke 19:1}Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ²A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

It seems here that Luke wanted us to understand the type of man Zacchaeus was. Calling him a tax collector tells us he was a traitor to the Jewish people and working for Rome. He also adds, wealthy....making sure we understand that Zacchaeus probably wasn't an honest or noble man. Maybe, just maybe, he had a reputation for gouging his fellow Jews.

It can be so difficult to overcome who we are. The flaws of our character so evident. Or, if not evident, so hidden that we ourselves can't admit of our wrongs. I can't say that I carry a title as hefty as Tax Collector for everyone to know immediately what I am. But, I have a few. You could call me a lier, a gossip, a cheat, self-absorbed, snobby. This would be just the beginning of a long list of my sinful nature.

I must echo the words that Paul utters to Timothy:

^{1 Timothy 1:14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Thank you Father, that in spite of who I am, You sent your son to die for me. I am humbled to know your gracious love.

Yokefellow, Everyone needs one!!!

Yokefellow, Everyone needs one!!!
by Heather N. Collver

Are you someone who works independently from others? Do you prefer to be in charge? I can relate. God's Word tells us to be in fellowship with other believers and doers of the Word. So if you find yourself enjoying alone time more often, take some time to connect with others.

In ministry, one can tire really fast if they are doing it alone. I know when I first started writing this devotional, I was the sole writer. I wrote every week for a year. Before long, I was empty. I had nothing left to give. It was with great joy that I desired my sister, Angela to write with me and she agreed. She was my writing companion. On the weeks that I was not writing, I was filling back up with her teaching so that I was ready to write again the next week. It has been such a blessing to write with her. Unfortunately, life gets really busy at times and I found myself continuing to write with my sister with little to no communication otherwise. We were companions still, no doubt, but without fellowship. I felt really guilty. Last weekend, our Pastor, Lon, preached and told a story about a Missionary who had a disabled sibling that prayed each and every day for him. They didn't have any communication while he was on the mission field, but together, they were both companions in prayer and service. Just in other areas of the world. My burden was immediately lifted as I realized that both of us are in two areas of the "world" reaching out and ministering to others, finding fellowship among those we minister to and with. And together, we continue to be companions in writing. It isn't exactly how I desire our relationship, but knowing that we are both ministering to others, doesn't make me feel so bad. To fellowship with those who can encourage us and keep us on track is important.

Paul had quite a few people in his life he called Yokefellow. Silas was his companion. they even did jail time together. Timothy was his companion. He was mentioned as his son in the Lord. Even his wife was mentioned as his Yokefellow. Oh, I really like that one. How I desire to be a Companion to my husband. To be desired by him to be in communication and fellowship, that is such a blessing. The Bible dictionary I am using tells me that Paul desired Timothy to minister with him.

Who do you desire to be in fellowship with. Who are those companions in your life, either near or far, that give you a source of encouragement and fill you up when you are empty? Who do you desire to be with?

Dear Lord, thank you for this study on Yokefellow. I have to admit, at first it was not a word I wanted to write about. But, I thank you for your Word in which we learn so many new things. I praise you for those in my life that are my yokefellow and that I can lean on and fellowship with.

Praise and Prayer

Praise God for my Yokefellow: Dale, Angela, Lisa, JoAnne, Sam, Ghada, Jenn.

Please pray for Kathy Leavitt. Healing, justice, responsibility. That she is safe in Jail.

Please pray for McKayla Leavitt. Dealing with the emotions and pain from her past. Healing so she can move on. Please pray for her this month. She will turn 16, is in a Foster Home and has so many issues with her past. Please pray that she will not be lonely for her 16th birthday or Christmas as most family will be out of town.

Please pray for Allison and the Yates family.

Please pray for JoAnne . She is experiencing high blood pressure, a cold and hand and foot syndrome.

Please pray for safe travel for Hayley Collver to Myrtle Creek for a quiz meet.

Please pray for Dale's health, and his upcoming surgery at the end of this month.

Please pray for friends that are going to loose their house at the end of this month if they are not able to work out a plan to take care of the finances.

Praise God for all of those who encourage us and keep us on track, may we find peace and joy in these busy days and enjoy each day that we are given.

Yokefellow: Barnabas

Yokefellow: Barnabas
by Heather Collver

Do you know someone who is always there to encourage you? Is that someone one of the first that you will go to when you need to share? Yesterday, we learned that Luke was there for Paul, being sure to document history every step of the way, he had a desire to serve the people. He was Paul's Companion.

Barnabas was also Paul's companion. He fulfilled a need in Paul's life that Luke did not. Barnabas was an encourager and a mentor to Paul. The Bible shows us that Barnabas sold his belongings and gave his money to the Jerusalem apostles.

Acts 13:1 - 15:41 click here for the entire passage. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013:1%20-%2015:41&version=NIV

Barnabas was the leader of the church at Antioch. His name was repeatedly written first before Paul's (Saul). It wasn't until Paul changed his name from Saul to Paul that his name came before Barnabas, indicating that he was now leading the church. Later, the two separated and went their own ways when Barnabas disagreed with Paul to leave John Mark behind on a missionary journey.

I have a few Barnabas in my life. Those who encourage me to be a better person. I try to be a Barnabas at times as well, but it isn't my strongest gift. Many times I don't feel that I am qualified to encourage some of the people in my life. I had a Barnabas in my life that was there for a season. She was a breath of fresh air during my first experiences as a Christian. She encouraged me in so many ways that my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude. She helped me dig my roots deep so that I was founded on God's word and then she moved on. It was one of the most difficult seasons in my life, to separate from the one that taught me so much. But when the wounds healed, I realized that I was stronger than I thought and that I was not giving my all to God, I was stopping short.

Dear Lord, I pray that we will all strive to be encouragers. I know that if we have children, we are already part of the big picture of encouragement. Please guide us in our relationships so that we will encourage, but not block the view so that others can fully be in relationship with you. I pray also that we find encouraging people in our lives so that we are effective in serving you.

Please pray today for those who you tend to encourage and for those that encourage you.

Yokefellow: Luke

Yokefellow: Luke
by Heather Collver

How often do you labor without wanting credit or compensation? Do you work for YOU or for the glory of GOD? For everything that we have here on Earth is from God, even the skills we need to Labor. The Bible tells us that everyone who works for the Glory of God will be given the gifts of food and wealth.

Luke is definitely an example of humility. There are only 3 references to Luke in the entire New Testament.
1.Colossians 4:14
Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
2.2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
3.Philemon 1:24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

Yet, we know very little about him personally. He had no desire to write about himself. Instead he pointed the interest in the direction of our Lord and the teachings of Paul. He had no desire to be the one in the spotlight. Luke's writing reveals his concern for the poor, sick and outcast. He was a physician at heart. Taking on the reflection of the very God he served. He was more interested in people, not in ideas. Many times as Christians, we get stuck on the ideas and we forget about the people in whom we were called to serve, unconditionally. He was a faithful companion to Paul. He desired the works of the Lord to be recorded accurately so that all of history would know about our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

I find it also very interesting that the Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary starts with the definition of Luke as a "fellow" laborer of the apostle Paul. This is his life story. His headstone if you will.

Who is your fellow laborer, your companion? How would your name go down in History, in a Dictionary. Would it be fitting for your heart? Does your life work, your labor, glorify you, or God? Would anyone looking in know your heart, or are you laboring towards a cause that does not fit your hearts desire? Please share with me by email (hcollver@msn.com) so that I can pray for you and new direction so that your labor will honor and glorify our Lord.

Dear Lord, thank you for all that you have created, for the skills you have given me to further your kingdom. Lord, I pray that my hearts desire to serve you will always take greater priority in my life then wealth. Lord, I know that I am wealthy in a life serving you and I pray that everything I do and say will honor you. Help us to strive for that, Lord, even if it is not something that we see as being obtainable, help us to desire for you to be honored and glorified in every aspect of our lives.

Take some time today to pray for your hearts desire. Pray for your workplace and for peace in knowing if you are there to labor for our Lord or if you are there for YOU.