January 28

Hello, Precious Hillcrest Church Family!

Oh, I love reading the Word with you and sharing my heart and thoughts through these simple devotions. Today's reading captivated my heart from the very beginning. We start in Exodus 5:22 where Moses returned to God probably a little bewildered and frustrated demands to know why God has brought more trouble on the people instead of setting them free like He promised. Things aren't going like Moses thought they would. Now he's questioning why God sent him in the first place. And he actually accusses God of not doing anything. Can you imagine talking to God like that?

I imagine that despite himself this assignment that God gave Moses must have filled his heart w/pride. Moses was going to be somebody. He was going to set the Israelites free. But wait! That's not how things were going. He didn't look like somebody special to the Pharoah and he sure didn't look like someone special to the Israelites who's hero he was supposed to become. Now he stood before God humiliated and confused. And what's worse - God Almighty did not look too good either.

Instead of yelling back at Moses or pleading with him to just hang in there, the Word simply says, "Then the Lord said to Moses..." God spoke to Moses and revealed Himself in a whole new amazing way. He declared to Moses, "I am the LORD." God spoke w/Moses and shared how Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew Him as God Almighty but that now Moses and the people of Israel would know God as the LORD. From Genesis5:22-7:25, God mentions over 28 times that He is the LORD. Obviously God wanted Moses to understand something new.

I did a little reseach. The original Hebrew words for the LORD is "Jehovah" or "Yaweh." I know what those names bring to my mind, but I wanted to probe further to know exactly what God was saying to Moses. God Almighty implied God as ruler of all creation. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others as a BIG and Grandious kind of a God who ruled all. But God didn't refer to Himself as God Almighty to Moses. He distinctly called Himself the LORD - Jehovah. Wow. Think of these names of God - Jehovah Jireh - MY Provider. Jehovah Shalom - MY Peace. Jehovah Rapha - MY Healer. What God was revealing to His precious, bound children and their leader that day is that He is a personal God who wants to rule their hearts and lives. He revealed that He isn't some big, mystical God of the past who loves them from afar. He revealed through His name that He was not only the God but their God right then and there...and that He had plans to set them free from the bondage they were under.

Exodus 6:7 God declared, "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD who brings you out from under burdens..." Our great heavenly Father, chose that day to declare His personal Lordship over His people and to claim their lives for His rulership and not that of this world. Aren't you so thankful that you serve a God Who is certainly mighty and powerful but Who is personal and Who pursues your heart now in 2012? The LORD, Jehovah, loves you so deeply, so amazingly much. He is after hearts set upon Him, who know Him, and love Him and take on His burden in place of the many, many burdens and snares of this world. May He reveal Himself to you in a special new, fresh, real way this day just as He did so long ago to Moses and the people of Israel! May we cast all our cares and burdens and bondages on Him and walk in His Lordship and care this day. He is the LORD! He is Jehovah!

Have a great weekend! I'll see you tomorrow.

Blessings,

Rolanda

Hillcrest Children's Minister

January 24

Matthew 15: 29-39

There are five truths we discover when reading this passage.

Obviously, one of the first truths we find in this passage is Jesus’ compassion for the crowd who followed Him into the wilderness. I think it’s safe to assume that when Jesus retreated to the Sea of Galilee, it was probably an attempt to get some much needed rest. Yet, shortly thereafter, the desperate multitude pushed through to see Him. And He didn’t turn them away. Even though He was no doubt tired, Jesus healed them. Sometimes, in order to meet with Him, we must go into the wilderness. There, secluded from all the distractions of our I-phones and emails, Jesus has our full attention. When we follow Him into the wilderness, He is there waiting. He is eager to renew, rebuild and restore our lives, just as He was for the multitude.
The second truth we uncover as we read on is Jesus’ response to our needs is never aggravation, but deep-seated compassion. This truth is emitted in Jesus’ character throughout Scripture. Jesus said, “All whom the Father gives to me will come to Me and he who comes to Me, I will never cast away. “ Matthew 15:32 is so revealing in this facet of Christ’s nature. Let’s read it again together, “Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry or they will faint along the way.” That verse sums up perfectly the third truth revealed in this passage. Jesus will never send us away hungry. In fact, not only will He meet our present needs, but He will equip us for the journey! When we come to Him, whatever we receive from Him will always be enough to sustain and strengthen us.
The fourth truth we see is Jesus uses the little we give to Him in faith to meet to the needs of those surrounding us. Jesus asked the disciples, “How much do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves and a few small fish.” They didn’t sound to confident in what they had to give. Yet once given to Jesus, He took it and blessed it. What “little” do you have to offer Him? He cannot bless it until you hand it over.
One of the last and most powerful truths disclosed in this passage is that Jesus uses our hands and feet to accomplish miracles.
We read in verse 35 that Jesus called upon the disciples to distribute the food. Can you imagine how nervous they must have been?! They might have been thinking, “What if there isn’t enough for everyone?” They may have even formulated an exit strategy just in case the crowd of thousands became hostile in their hunger! But what happened? “They all ate as much as they wanted…”, Matthew 15:37.
Jesus is so, so good. His heart is towards you and He sees the multitudes that you will touch thoughout your life. I encourage you to come to Him with an unveiled face. He will meet all of your needs, yes there will even be overflow in your life. I also exhort you to give what little you have and when asked to distribute, do not be afraid.

In awe of Him,

Lauryn Everett

January 17

Genesis 35
 
“Arise, go up to Bethel…”
 
I believe, before going into this chapter, we must have an accurate account of the recent events in Jacob’s life.  In the previous chapter, Jacob settled in Shechem, a city in the land of Caanan. It was in this place that Jacob purchased land and pitched his tent (aka “settled down”). Shechem was also the city where Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, was raped by the prince of the land. This horrifying act disgraced Dinah and their entire household. Because of this great injustice, Jacob’s sons felt licensed to murder all the males of the city and take their wives and children captive. When Jacob hears of his son’s actions, he is deeply disturbed.
In a state of paralyzing fear, Jacob proclaims to his sons, “ You have troubled and embarrassed me among the inhabitants of this land…since I am few in number, they will gather themselves against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, me and my household!” Genesis 34:30
In this crisis, amidst uncertainty and drowning fear, God comes to Jacob and says,” Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there…”
 
Bethel means, “House of God.” After all these years, Bethel was still alive deep inside Jacob’s heart. And even though Jacob remembered the encounter vividly, it appeared God’s glorious revelation may have diminished over time. It was in this place, as a youth, that God had marvelously made Himself known in a dream.
 
In essence, God asks Jacob to return to the beginning.
“Remember Jacob?”, God asked. “Let’s go back to the place where it all began.”
So Jacob readied his household for the journey.
The first thing Jacob did was prepare himself and his family to meet with God. He knew he must dispose of all that might prove as a hindrance on their journey. “And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.” “So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands and he buried them.” Returning to God always requires a “lightening” of the load. Throughout their journey back to Canaan, it is clear that Jacob’s family had trusted in the idols of surrounding nations and Jacob had tolerated this idolatry. When we turn back to God, we realize we cannot carry with us the very things that will hinder us from seeing His face. Such was the case with Jacob’s family and often with us.
Once the idols were forsaken, they began their journey. As they traveled to meet the God of their father, they were protected from the wrath of the city and were not pursued by the sons of Shechem.
When they finally arrived at Bethel, Jacob looked to the left and saw Leah and to the right and saw Rachel. His sons and their children spanned across the distance. “Remember Jacob?” God asked again. And he did. He remembered that at this very place, decades earlier, he was alone. But now he was many, just as God had promised. He remembered that once he was fleeing in fear and his name was deceiver but now his foe was his friend and he was called “prince with God”. He remembered the God of his father’s Abraham and Isaac. The God who turned a once weak man who was full of deceit, into a great nation. This was now his God!
And God gave him the land. “The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac and give to you and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
In the midst of uncertainty and confusion, God brought Jacob back to Bethel. The place where God’s promise was once a seed. He brought him to Bethel so he could see God’s promise fulfilled.
 
Look back to your “Bethel”. You’ll be astounded at how far God has brought you!
 
Warmly,
Lauryn Everett

January 15

Good morning, Church Family!

God is so good and so worthy of our praise. His Word is Truth. I woke up singing, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Aren't you so thankful that our Heavenly Father cares enough about us that He gave us His Word to light our path?

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and ALL the things you may desire CANNOT compare with her." Proverbs 3:13-15 - just a few of the many, many verses and lessons on wisdom.

Why is the man happy who finds wisdom and understanding and why is it that ALL the things I desire CANNOT compare with her? When I think of wisdom and understanding, I think of smarts and intelligence or good sense and good judgement. But I don't think that's why in and of itself God says happy is the man who finds wisdom. First of all, there's no shortage of brains in the world. And using more brain power, more earthly knowledge, certainly doesn't equate more happiness. So why is it that finding wisdom and understanding is so important to God and so much more important than anything else we might want?

I think the answer lies in Psalm 111:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding." When you find wisdom, you are met with the fear of the Lord. Those who know God's Word and follow His commandments have good understanding. Wisdom and understanding are wrapped up in God and Who He is and what He has to say and do. As you seek for more of God, you grow in a healthy fear of the Lord. You grow in wisdom and understanding. You grow in your knowledge of our heavenly Father God and His Truth, His Way, His Life. Growing in wisdom may not mean you discover the cure to cancer over night, but it certainly does mean you find the One who can cure cancer and who can point you in the right direction.

God says to seek Him and He will be found by us. And in Isaiah 11, the prophet declared that the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Jesus - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. That same Spirit that rests upon Jesus, He sent to rest upon us, Children of God. I don't know about you, but I want to find God more than ever and I certainly want His Spirit to rest upon me. I want to grow in His wisdom and stature just as Jesus did as a child growing into a young man.

The reward for finding wisdom and understanding is so high because in finding them, we find God Himself. And we can start in prayer and in the reading of His Word. Even now our church is in the middle of 21 days of prayer and fasting. I encourage you to join us as we seek His face, His direction, His wisdom for our own lives and for our church. May the Spirit of the Lord rest upon you this day!

Blessings,
Rolanda Green
Hillcrest Children's Minister

January 11

What Kind Of Man Is This?

MATTHEW 8:18-27
vs25 “And they went and awakened Him, saying, Lord, rescue and preserve us! We are perishing”
vs27 “The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him”

The first thing that I see is that most of these disciples were raised on this sea and had fished it for years…they no doubt had been thru countless storms, but in this case they all thought they were going to die, it was so severe. They were frantic.

Ever been in a storm of life and it seemed like God was sleeping? “Where are you, Lord? Don’t you know what’s going on? Don’t you care?” The disciples went to Jesus and said, Lord, save us: we perish. It’s one of the shortest prayers in the Bible. And when we’re in trouble, we cut down on the long, fancy prayers and ramblings and get right down to business. It happened when Peter walked on the water and took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm and began to go under, but then he prayed his famous three word prayer “Lord, save me!”

There’s a contradiction in that prayer the disciples prayed, “Lord, save us” is the language of faith. “We perish” is the language of fear. Now, isn’t that just like us humans? Trying to have faith and fear at the same time. Spiritual opposites! Faith and fear cannot live in the same heart at the same time. When you are looking at the storm you are filled with fear but when looking to Jesus you are filled with faith!

What’s your first impulse in a storm? Run to a friend? That’s not entirely bad if they will give you Godly counsel, but it’s not the first response you should have. The disciples went to Jesus first, and so should we. Character is revealed in the storm. The storms of life will either draw you closer to the Lord or further away, but no one will emerge on the other side of the storm the same as they went in. Either you will become bitter or better!

Fear is looking at God thru your circumstances. Faith is looking at your circumstances thru God!

Be Blessed!
Shaun

January 10

Proverbs 3:1-6
Encouragement from the Father
Beloved,
    Today, I remind you of My unwavering and resolute love. Forget not the lessons I have taught you throughout your life. Regard them not as trivial, instead, store My words within your heart as you would invaluable treasures. For My words are your life and in hearing them your soul will be revived and when you follow them, you shall be satisfied. Yes, even in the desert places, I will satisfy you.
Child, remember My kindness and how in My mercy, I brought you up from Egypt. Now you are free! Give yourself in kindness to those I place in your path and do not hide yourself from them. For your kindness will be as light in their dark places and your name will bring My name glory!
Child, you can, once again trust Me. Set aside your well thought out plan, for it can only accomplish the possible. Instead, take my hand, follow, and I’ll take you higher than you’ve ever been.
In seeking, you will always find Me. You will hear me whisper, “This is the way, now walk in it.”
Hillcrest family, I pray this beautiful passage of scripture paraphrased will bring encouragement to your hearts during our time of seeking Him.

Warmly,
Lauryn Everett

Janurary 4

Meeting People Where They Are

Matthew 4:19-20

Come, follow me, “Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

The men our Lord called were professional fisherman. This call was about them leaving the life they knew and following Jesus into a totally new way of life. Instead of fishing for fish – they would be fishing for the souls of men. Jesus was going to train them in the skill and art of fishing for the souls of men.
As believers we understand that everyone is a sinner that needs Gods love and forgiveness and salvation – the people we minister to must be approached on the terms they can understand. I can imagine Jesus as He was walking beside the Sea of Galilee watching the men casting their nets into the lake. They were working and He came along and used the very example of their life circumstances to draw them and offer hope and a new life. It seems like the longer we are believers the less we think like unbelievers. Jesus is the great example of meeting people right where they are. As you meditate over your devotional today think about these few examples of how the Lord ministered to completely different people and changed their lives because He met people where they were.

When He was with fishermen – He talked about fish.
When He was with farmers – He talked about farming.
When He met a woman of a different ethnic background - He talked about what she understood.
When He encountered a rich young ruler – He talked about money.
If they were thirsty – He talked about the water of life.
If they were hungry – He talked about the bread of life.
If they were guilty – He talked about forgiveness.

Paul taught us this. Col 4:5

Be wise in the way you act towards those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. 6 Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

Blessings, Shaun

January 3

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted and He was hungry.

Matthew 4:1-11

It was in the wilderness, that Christ endured deep agony of a fallen humanity. A hunger in his belly he had never felt and physical weakness that left him broken. It was in his most broken state, the enemy decided to attack.
The tempter approached Jesus at His weakest moment. He had 40 days and nights to tempt the Son of Man, but he waited until the final day. At this point, Jesus wasn’t just hungry, He was literally starving.
As a lion stocks his pray, Satan knew this was the moment he had been waiting for.
He lunged at him with an assault on his identity, “If you are the Son of God, then turn these stones into bread.” In other words, “If you are really the Son of God, then why are you experiencing such weakness?” Satan taunted, “Is not the Son of Man above weakness?” Satan wanted to plant doubt in Jesus’ mind about who He was using how He felt physically. Jesus responded with authority, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” To paraphrase, Jesus was saying, “The Son of man is not sustained by flesh, but by the Spirit.”
The tempter came at Jesus again, challenging him to do something really extraordinary. To perform an act that would surely glorify God and possibly “prove” his lordship. Satan declared, “If you throw yourself off the temple’s pinnacle and then command the angels to save you, that would be magnificent!” Jesus knew Satan’s motive was to get Him to yield to his requests. Even though He was more that capable of playing Satan’s game (and winning!); He remained submitted to his Father and refused to put Him to the test.
The tempter makes one final attempt to undermine Jesus’ authority and get him to doubt his identity. He takes Him atop a high mountain where he offers all he has-the kingdoms of the world. All Jesus has to do is bow down. Jesus knows the enemy has thrown all his cards on the table and the Lord calls his bluff declaring, “Away with you! It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only!”
Defeated, the enemy left Him and the angels ministered to Jesus.

Although God, Jesus put on flesh and dwelt among us. He was in fact tempted as we are. Yet, He relied on the words of God and the power of the Spirit and overcame.

Remember 3 truths from this passage during your fast:

1. Even though you feel weak, your authority and power in Christ is not diminished.
2. We do not fast to “prove” how spiritual we are or to make God proud. Our Father is already well pleased with us because we are His sons and daughters.
3. When the enemy throws all he’s got, do not give in. Submit to God and the enemy will flee from you!

-Lauryn