Joy

Do you know the difference between Joy and Happiness? How do you describe the difference?

Happiness is the feeling you get when everything is going your way.

Joy is the feeling of knowing in the midst of it all your God is bigger and will get you through it. It is the thing that gives you the strength to laugh through pain. It is the hope that comes in the midst of heartache. It is the one thing that pulls you into God's arms to find comfort when there is nothing else left to grasp on to.

^{Habakkuk 3:17} Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

¹⁹ The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

Joy requires Faith. Do you believe that through your struggle God can be glorified? Habakkuk understood that through the turmoil His people were going to be brought back into God's graces.

I challenge you. Look at how you handle disaster in your life. Are you complaining to God and looking for the answers? Or do you complain to everyone who will listen and continue to live in despair? God has answers, promises and a plan to find joy in. Are you looking in the right places for those answers? In the midst of your calamity are you finding joy in the promises?

Do you show the world a life of misery lived for God or a life of overcoming lived for God?

Please continue to pray for Sue O this week. Also, please send along any prayer requests to share for Friday.

Giants: Goliath

What is 9 feet tall in your life? What is the thing that just seems too big to conquer?

My life has been full of Goliath's, as I am sure yours has. When I look back at the times in my life when I may have only had a bag full of rocks, it seems that my focus may have been better. If I think I am strong enough, if I have all the right weapons and tools, I often forget to rely on the One that has brought me through. When I am down to the basics, me and my faith against the big things in life, God wins. No more Angie, just my God who is big enough to conquer the world.

The next time you feel too small and unequipped, remember that with God all things are possible. If victory isn't the picture you had, maybe it is the picture God had.

^{1 John3-5} This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Caleb: Whole Hearted

Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan by Moses to explore the land and report back to him. Was Canaan the land of milk and honey that God had promised them? Numbers 13-14

I highly recommend you take the time to read the whole account for yourself. Click the link when you have a few moments.

^{Numbers 13:26-30} They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

The story goes on to tell of us that the spies spread rumors and scared the Israelites into believing taking the land was impossible. 

Caleb believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Canaan belonged to him and God's people. His perspective was different. He was not afraid. 

It can be difficult to stand in the minority, to see the promises of God in the midst of big obstacles. Where do you stand? Do you stand up and command the attention of others to show them another way? Do you see the milk and honey in your life or do you only see the things that need to be overcome? 

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Heavenly Father ~ Thank you Lord for your amazing gift of grace. Thank you that when I can't see your promises and when I am too weak to stand and whole heartedly believe, you still love me. I pray for more faith Lord. Use your account of Caleb this week to bless us and teach us, to guide and give understanding. Thank you Father for your divine Word. In His Precious Name. 

Please pray for Jennifer S this week. 

Never Satisfied

Proverbs 27:20

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, 

and neither are the eyes of man.

I once had someone tell me that they didn't believe in evil. The thing is, even if she didn't believe in it, evil still exists and had a hold in her life.

If you don't believe that you envy anything that someone else has, or if you believe that you are absolutely truly satisfied and never fight discontent, it may be time to dig deep and look in the mirror.  Our culture and our flesh are constantly discontent and constantly looking for more. 

This verse reminds me of my reliance on God. There are things that I may never personally overcome in my life. Coveting other people's lives or things is certainly a struggle for me. I know when I put those unhealthy desires and lusts at His feet, I can overcome them. When I deal with those things with God, I am leaning on his strength, finding contentment in His provision and putting my love and attention into the things He desires for my life.

Take a moment today to evaluate the things your eyes can't get enough of and take them to God. He knows and He wants you to be the overcomer of those things in your life.

Please continue to pray for Dale C this week.

Harmonious

Proverbs 10: 31 (Amp)
The mouths of the righteous (those harmonious with God) bring forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down [like a barren and rotten tree].

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Regardless of how you spent your time, with Easter egg hunts, family bbq's or watching the Masters, I hope you found time to reflect on the sacrifice made for you. I hope you found time to celebrate in the Resurrection of our Lord.

Verse 31 is a good one for today. I could point out to you the power and words, yet again. But, I want to focus on something else. Something you may have overlooked. The promise in this verse.

Matthew 3:10"The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Have you ever been in the midst of gossip, of lies and deceit from someone close to you or maybe not so close? Do you wonder, Why Me? Do you ask God what you did to deserve the cruelty? It can be very difficult to see the light through the tunnel of gossip and perverted words.

Forgiveness and Redemption are promised to us, but so is judgement and accountability. What you do not see today, may be seen in the everlasting. While we are in the midst of our struggles and fighting the injustices of this place, hold close the promises of being adopted into God's family. It is easy to get lost in the here and the now. Maybe, next time (and there will be a next time), someones words tear at your life and pride you can find a glimpse of hope. Being in harmony with God isn't painless but it does promise you justice.

1 John 4:4-6 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them;because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Heavenly Father~Thank you for this day. Thank you for the sacrifice. Thank you for the power that overcomes death. Continue to work in my life Lord. I desire a life focused on the promises of your word and not on the words of this world. Give me the power to discern those that are speaking in your wisdom and those that defile. ~In Your Precious Name.

Please pray for Janice J this week

Upcoming event: I (Angela) will be teaching at my first women's retreat. I am so excited and would like to invite anyone who may be in the Knoxville area or would like to travel here. It is May 8th and 9th. Email me through womenofworship1@gmail.com and I will get you the information.

Power, Day 4

There is only one place to truly know the Power that is in your Identity in Christ. That is in the Word. Take time to learn the promises God has for you.

1 John 5:1-12
Overcoming the World

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Please continue to pray for our ministry, Women of Worship, this week. Remember to send in Praise and Prayer for tomorrows devotional.

Power, Day 2

I have a question for you....Do you live with the knowledge that you are on the winning team?

Sometimes, from my own perspective, it seems that we very rarely live life with the mindset that our God has overcome the world. (John 16:33"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." )

There is no doubt that life can leave a sour taste in our mouths. It is tough, and it is getting harder to find people that aren't struggling with something. Finances, marriage, family, children, drugs, alcohol, anger; do I need to say more? As a believer how do you find focus when things are getting out of control? Do you proclaim to love Jesus with all of your heart and all of your mind, speaking His testimony to those around you? Do you show your loved ones, your community that there is power in the Almighty Creator of the Universe? Or, do you react the same as everyone, with self-doubt and pity?

You need to find strength in Our Father, Your neighbors need to know that there is Hope beyond the things that they see in our world. I don't want to get preachy and start giving you a how-to with your life. I do want to challenge you to reevaluate the things you proclaim as power in your life and then take a good look at the things that have power in your life. If words and your actions don't line up, it may be time to makes some changes.

Romans 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO
DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE
SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him
who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please Continue to pray for our ministry, Women
of Worship, this week

Athaliah and Jehosheba

Day 1

Athaliah "The Lord is Great"

She is the granddaughter of Omir, one of Israel's most idolatrous and evil kings, she was the daughter of of Ahab and most likely of Jezebel as well. She was the only women to rule over Judah. While Ahab and Jezebel spread baal worship in the northern kingdom of Israel, Athaliah was busy promoting it a few years later in the southern kingdom of of Judah. Controlled by her need for power, she murdered her own family members to secure it.

Her triumph: That her ruthlessness paid off, at least for a time, making her the ruler of Judah.

Her Disappointment: That her attempt to destroy the royal line of Judah failed.

2 Kings 11
Athaliah and Joash 1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. 3 He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king's son. 5 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath—a third of you guarding the royal palace, 6 a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple- 7 and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8 Station yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."
9 The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. 11 The guards, each with his weapon in his hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
12 Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"
13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD. 14 She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, "Treason! Treason!"
15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: "Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD." 16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
17 Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne, 20 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.
21 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.

2 Chronicles 22
Ahaziah King of Judah 1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.
2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.
3 He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. 4 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing. 5 He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram; 6 so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramoth in his battle with Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab because he had been wounded.
7 Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. 8 While Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives, who had been attending Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He then went in search of Ahaziah, and his men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, "He was a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." So there was no one in the house of Ahaziah powerful enough to retain the kingdom.
Athaliah and Joash 10 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. 12 He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

2 Chronicles 23:11-21
11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, "Long live the king!"
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the LORD. 13 She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"
14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: "Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not put her to death at the temple of the LORD." 15 So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.
16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he and the people and the king would be the LORD's people. 17 All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
18 Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the LORD in the hands of the priests, who were Levites, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. 19 He also stationed doorkeepers at the gates of the LORD's temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.
20 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the LORD. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne, 21 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

Day 2

Jehosheba "Swear by His Name"

Jehosheba was a princess and the wife of the high priest, she was a courageous woman whose actions preserved the line of Judah, from which the Messiah would come.

Her joy: To have preserved the life of her brother's youngest son, Joash, so that he could become the rightful king of Judah.

Her Sorrow: To have endured Athaliah's reign in Judah and to have suffered the loss of many of her nephews aat the queen's hand.

2 Kings 11:2
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

2 Chronicles 22:11
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him.

Day 3

God always wins. Even when people like Athaliah try to stomp out an entire family and put an end to God's plan for redemption, when people like the priests of Baal lead others to worship idols instead of the true God, God will always triumph in the end. The negative forces of our culture make us wonder where we're headed as a people. Many of our leaders show little integrity or morality, and dishonesty is overlooked in the workplace. Kindness is often the exception rather than the rule. But don't despair. This is not a battle God plans to lose. In the end, he will prevail!

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame. ~Psalm 25:3

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
~Proverbs 19:21

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ.
~2 Corinthians 2:14

Day 4

Lift your Heart

Scripture often yields its richest insights once you learn to slow down and pray through what you have just read. Use the story of Jehosheba to teach yourself how to pray the Scriptures. Though a minor character, overlooked by most readers, she played a decisive role in the life of God's people. Put yourself in her shoes for just fifteen minutes. Imagine what she must have felt like, not for a moment, but for several years as she defied an evil and powerful queen.

Where did Jehosheba find the strength?

What were her temptations and fears?

Let your imagination help you envision what her life might have been like. Ask God to speak to you through her story. Then ask for the grace to be like her--to be a women who always cherishes, protects, and nurtures life. After you've done that, take a moment to think about Jehosheba's joy the moment she learned of Athaliah's final defeat, realizing that the boy whose life she saved was now her king. Let another woman't story encourage you to do what is right regardless of the risks involved.

Day 5

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him.

~2 Chronicles 22:11~

Reflect on: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 23

Praise God for his power, whish is far greater than the power of evil.

Offer thanks that God always does what he says he will no matter the odds against him.

Confess any tendency to allow difficult circumstances to suffocate your faith.

Ask God for courage to act on behalf of the innocent regardless of the consequences.

Lord, when I am faced with evil, whether it is in government, in the church, or in my neighborhood or family, help me to do whatever is in my power to resist. Give me the wisdom to know what to do, courage to act well, and grace to trust you for the outcome.