The Breath Between Notes (#jammed daily devo, day 204)

July #jammed: Grace serves.

Day 204: Take time to breathe.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”July 23

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

When children learn to play the recorder, that magical instrument that is music to every parents’ ear, they are taught to breathe between the notes. Otherwise, they run out of air.

If we talk without pausing we run out of air. When we run, we need to synch our breathing to our stride or we’ll run out breath. Deep breathing is healthy for just about everything …from stretching our muscles to calming our anxiety.“Take a deep breath,” is my go-to for my youngest when she’s about to flip her flip-out switch.

Today’s Scripture tells the story of how God called Samuel, a great prophet from the Old Testament, who would grow up to anoint Israel’s first king. In the night, God called him by name.

“Samuel! Samuel!”

Just a boy, he though it was Eli, the temple priest raising Him in service to God. After Eli sent him back to sleep a couple of times, it dawned on the old man that it was God calling the boy’s name. He instructed Samuel in what to say the next time God called his name, and sure enough …

“Samuel! Samuel!” On the third time, Samuel said, “Speak! For your servant is listening.”

He needed to take a breath. Out of a dead sleep, he needed a minute to collect himself and seek guidance. And God, in all His love and grace, gave Samuel a chance to breathe …and called him again.

Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we take a deep breath. The sin we owe our lives for is traded in for life by the loss of Jesus’ last breath on earth. It’s in the pause to breath that we hear from Him. When we strain to hear His voice it’s important to prayerfully pause and meet Him in His Word. There, He breaths Truth into our hearts and lights our paths.

#jammed click to tweet jun:jul:aug

Father, Praise You for patience. Thank You for knowing each of us personally …calling us by name. Forgive us for closing off our ears to hear, and help us to take a breath in between life’s notes …to allow our hearts to be moved by Your hand. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Friend-ing

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

The Thick and Surrounding Cloud (#jammed daily devo, day 284)

October #jammed: Free Grace.

Day 284: Seeing through to the other side.

Walking down the pier in the fog feels a little like taking my life in my own hands. Even
though I’ve walked that concrete slab a million times before, not being able to see the end of it is creepy! I always have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to have fallen off, I’m not going to notice until I’ve already fallen into the lake, and no one will see me because it’s too foggy to see anything!
The lighthouse horn blew through the fog, calling upon another sense to take over for the one that had been temporary hindered. Through the thick cloud I walked safely.
Today’s verse reminds us that even when we’re in a fog, whether literally or mentally or spiritually, God is nearer to us than ever before. Not only is He near, but He’s “ready to help.”
We worry, toil over, and completely avoid situations because we are scared of what we can’t see. Insecurity breeds suspect. Fear and panic give birth to discouragement. All feed fear.
When we aim our convictions at the Word of God, we can calmly navigate by the sound of His Voice. Like the lighthouse in the fog …though we can’t see God …and sometimes don’t understand how He allows this world to fall off of it’s edges like it does …we can trust that He is there and that His plan for our lives is good .
We’re not promised an easy road. But we are assured that He is guiding us down it, hand in hand, through belief in our Savior.
#jammed click to tweet jun:jul:aug
Father, Praise You for holding our hands through life. Thank You for Jesus, and His death that allows us to hold on for dear life! Forgive us for trying to make our way through the fog without You, and strengthen our hearts to seek You more each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Cloud Walking,

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

The Breath Between Notes (#jammed daily devo, day 204)

July #jammed: Grace serves.

Day 204: Take time to breathe.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”July 23

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

When children learn to play the recorder, that magical instrument that is music to every parents’ ear, they are taught to breathe between the notes. Otherwise, they run out of air.

If we talk without pausing we run out of air. When we run, we need to synch our breathing to our stride or we’ll run out breath. Deep breathing is healthy for just about everything …from stretching our muscles to calming our anxiety.“Take a deep breath,” is my go-to for my youngest when she’s about to flip her flip-out switch.

Today’s Scripture tells the story of how God called Samuel, a great prophet from the Old Testament, who would grow up to anoint Israel’s first king. In the night, God called him by name.

“Samuel! Samuel!”

Just a boy, he though it was Eli, the temple priest raising Him in service to God. After Eli sent him back to sleep a couple of times, it dawned on the old man that it was God calling the boy’s name. He instructed Samuel in what to say the next time God called his name, and sure enough …

“Samuel! Samuel!” On the third time, Samuel said, “Speak! For your servant is listening.”

He needed to take a breath. Out of a dead sleep, he needed a minute to collect himself and seek guidance. And God, in all His love and grace, gave Samuel a chance to breathe …and called him again.

Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we take a deep breath. The sin we owe our lives for is traded in for life by the loss of Jesus’ last breath on earth. It’s in the pause to breath that we hear from Him. When we strain to hear His voice it’s important to prayerfully pause and meet Him in His Word. There, He breaths Truth into our hearts and lights our paths.

#jammed click to tweet jun:jul:aug

Father, Praise You for patience. Thank You for knowing each of us personally …calling us by name. Forgive us for closing off our ears to hear, and help us to take a breath in between life’s notes …to allow our hearts to be moved by Your hand. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Friend-ing

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80.