“Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:6-8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Sometimes punching the time clock and working your eight hours can feel like an act of futility. It’s tempting to coast, to do the bare minimum required rather than your best. After all, who will know the difference? Doesn’t this company make enough money?

God calls you to see HIM, not a person, as your boss. Given the sacrifice He made in taking on your sin and dying for you to give you new life, shouldn’t your attitude should be one of thankfulness and desire to do what is pleasing for Him to give honor and glory to His name?🚦

https://youtu.be/a0xDE_5N9d0

Have you been running hard trying to fill the void in your life? Is the chasm so vast it feels as if there is no way across? Light IS ahead. He IS that light. 🚦

“So, I say this to you. I am sure that the Lord wants me to say it. You must not live any longer like the people who do not know God. They do whatever their own silly thoughts cause them to do. They cannot understand because their minds are in the dark. They are strangers to the life that God gives. They do not know him because, deep inside themselves, they are hard. So, they refuse God.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭EASY‬‬ Read Version

Simply put, you can’t walk on both sides of the fence. If you know God, stop dabbling in your relationship with God as if it were a hobby you were trying to decide whether or not to pick up. Through the saving work of Christ on the cross each of us gets another chance, no matter how bad you think you have been. Maybe you think you’ve already blown through your “do-over,” but He planned for that in advance. Let Him soften those hard, hurting parts of your soul you think are too unlovable, too shameful, too unworthy. Let Him give you a new heart.🚦

#nomoreshame #newlife #doover #newlifeinchrist #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals #wisdomforthejourney

“So then we will not be children any more. Clever people may try to make us believe things that are not true. They may teach different kinds of ideas, to confuse us. But we will not be like children, who are easy to confuse. We will not let those different ideas change what we believe. Instead, we must speak the true message because we love people. And, as a result, we will grow up in all things into Christ, who is the head.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭EASY‬‬ read version

In this age of easy access to an abundance of information (and much misinformation) do you find yourself overwhelmed with trying to navigate the waters of so many different viewpoints? Even within Christianity there can be an information overload regarding varying theological ideas within the body of Christ. Persist in studying God’s Word and meditating on it, and the Holy Spirit will guide you in truth so that you become mature in faith. Focus on the completed work of the cross of Christ and you will find strength, growth and discernment which anchors you through storms and guides you in your journey.🚦

#informationoverload #misinformation #anchorinthestorm #lighthouse #completedworkoftgecross

#devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

#godswordistrue #discernment

#wisdomforthejourney

“Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 HCSB

As you enjoy you Thanksgiving holiday, may your conversations be encouraging, uplifting, and life-giving just as the Son gave you new life.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be except a bowl to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 HCSB

Happy Thanksgiving!🚦

#thanksgiving #happythanksgiving #wordsofmymouth #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:21-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I recently watched a viral video of a woman’s brain having a meeting with anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, guilt and empathy to organize how they would wreck this woman’s day by feeding her full of lies throughout the day. The insight into how our mind plays tricks on us was amazing.

How does one ever take off the old self with all its lies once and for all when the Enemy is constantly trying to use your past to trip you up? It is through daily studying and meditating on God’s Word” that you can finally kick the old way of living to the curb. The Holy Spirit will refresh and renew your way of thinking so that it is in line with God. Before long you will find yourself sporting a brand new “robe” and a new way of doing life.🚦

#timeforchange #metamorphosis #changeyourclothes #oldmannewman #Ephesians #stoplightdevotionals #devotionals #kickthedeviltothecurb

“Render your service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does , slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.” ~Ephesians 6:7-8

“Send your bread upon the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it.” ~Ecclesiastes 11:1

Late Christian educator Vada Phillips Felder began seeing the fruits of many years of labor when at the age of 90 she was honored at the dedication of the new center or African studies in Theology at TCU’s Brite Divinity School. When she graduated with her Masters of Divinity she humbly refused to go through ordination, knowing she would be eliminating a great portion of her listening audience who did not believe women should be pastors. She put the glory of God before her own aspirations to accomplish more for Him while she was still on earth. She also found herself the recipient of others who were eager to serve her in recognition and gratitude for all she had done for them as a mentor, teacher, and friend.

Often we don’t reap the rewards for doing the right thing for many, many years. Sometimes we are blessed to see them in our lifetimes, but often we have to wait until eternity. Are you allowing God to train you in the valuable discipline of delayed gratification?🚦

To learn more about this remarkable woman of God my husband, kids, and I were blessed to call friend, read her glowing obituary in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=114572737
And here: https://www.tcu360.com/story/first-female-black-brite-graduate-dies-at-97-12287694/.

#stoplightdevotionals #devotionsls #vadaphilliisfelder #MLK #martinlutherkingjr #castyourbreaduponthewaters #dotherightthing #

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 7:9-10 HCSB

US law requires employers to provide training on diversity to their employees. One quickly learns many things that are not appropriate to say or to talk about in the workplace and about being sensitive to differences in how people look at things. While this is a relatively new requirement, the concept of diversity goes back to the creation of the world. God Himself is the author of diversity! Heaven will be a glorious place with people from all over the world, from lives and lands very different from our own, all unified by a shared salvation in Jesus Christ. He unifies people with a common purpose of worshipping and glorifying our Lord.

When we see others, no matter their background or culture, as people God thinks enough of to send His Son to die for them, we quickly find we have more in common than we ever thought possible.🚦

Good morning friends! May the glory of God shine all around you on this blessed day you and I both woke up to live another day! I have been reading and studying a great deal in the last couple of weeks in the book of Ephesians. Every single time I open it I am struck by Paul’s greeting to the saints in Ephesus. (Who are the saints? You and I, once you have become a follower of Christ!):

“Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2 HCSB

Here is a beautiful song by Fernando Ortega based upon this scripture. Wishing for you grace and peace today and always.🚦

#stoplightdevotionals #devotionals #ephesians #graceandpeace #fernandoortega

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

Driving around the roads and highways of north Texas (okay, all of Texas) over the last 30 years I am increasingly convinced road construction will never be completed. Will I-35 ever NOT be under construction? Probably not. Does it drive you as crazy as it does me?

That’s how I feel sometimes about myself, too. I know God has to work on me to bring about completion of His plan for who I am to be, chopping off the bad and chiseling away the less good to be replaced by best. This process of continually taking off the old self to put on the new self as I become more and more like Him is hard! Many times I cry out to Him for a break from transformation. I wish during those times I could put out a sign that says, “Temporarily Closed for Construction.” Instead, God calls me to press on, to move forward and shine His light through the challenges.

Thank you each for being part of my community as we all put one foot in front of the other to to step out in faith to the glory of God.

#stoplightdevotionals #devotionals #construction #notfinishedyet #underconstruction #transformation #hesstillworkingonme #forwardinfaith