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Ixtheus Christian Devotionals |
GATHERING UP THE SCRAPS
Dear brother bob,
Being away at school has started to take
it's toll on my spiritual life. I don't have the time to spend with
the Lord like I once had. I use to have a set time
when I would sit down and pray and read
God's word, but now time is somthing
that I only can remember. I am fighting
with all that I have to keep my relationship strong, but I am not sure
if I am going to be able to keep going. I was just wondering if you
had any idea's on how I could grow closer and not just be at a stand still,
while having such a rigorous lifestyle.
Thanks...A
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And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.Mat 14:20 (KJV)
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Dear A,
Good to hear from you again. The fact that you are concerned about this tells me right away that the Holy Spirit is at work in your heart. This should be a good sign for you to know that God is still caring for you.
What you are describing is what every christian adult is faced with that works in any kind of business or working enviroment. My pastor once said that when faced with this, you have to carefully collect and utilize every scrap of time that you are given, and give all this spare time to the Lord...Here are some possible ways to do this...
1) bathroom time: carry a pocket Bible or New testament and read it while you sit there, or pray or both. Pray or recite a memory verse while you are taking a shower.
2) mealtime: read your Pocket Bible as you eat. Pray a little longer before meals, and after you finish.
3) sleeptime: sit on the edge of your bed and read your Pocket BIble, or pray for as long as you can before you go to bed. Pray as you lie down to go to sleep. Recite a memory Bible verse as the last thing you do before you fall asleep. Wake up a little early and pray while lying in your bed before the normal time to get up. Keep a little pocket notebook with you at all times to write down prayer requests, memory verses, things you learn from the scriptures.
4) Waketime- if there are times when you get to do a boring or repetitive job or function, have your pocket Bible with you...and memorize passages of scripture, say prayers, sing christian songs, all the while your hands are busy you can be doing what Paul says..."pray without ceasing".
If you have to drive a vehicle for long periods, listen to christian radio shows, write a Bible passage on a piece of paper and tape it to the dashboard so you can read and memorize it. Make a set of 3 by 5 cards with verses for this purpose and keep them in vehicle with a roll of tape so you can change verses from time to time.
Keep cards with Bible verses on them taped
inside your locker, so that you can read and memorize scripture when you
are there getting dressed. If you have a personal space, write Bible verses
on your calendar....if you have a bunk, take the lower bunk and tape verses
to the matress above you.
5) Anytime- as you are reading this, you are probably getting even more specific ideas how the Lord has provided little scraps of time and opportunities throughout your day when you can read the scriptures, praise Him, pray, memorize Bible verses, witness...Our pastor said, and he was correct for me, that there are hundreds of little spare minutes during the day that we can be giving to the Lord. He is committed to our spiritual growth. He wants us to become more like Christ. He is not going to put us in a position where there is absolutely no possibility to worship and serve Him. It is up to us to recognize what He has provided and maximize our commitment and to use our creativity to utilize what He has given us for His glory and our spiritual growth. (another suggestion: do they have a chaplain? Is it possible to volunteer to serve in some limited capacity in the chaplain corps, or to work with him in some way?)
God has also promised that He will never
leave us or forsake us..no matter what...
........and be content with such things
as ye have:
for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee.
{6} So that we may boldly say, The
Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me.
Heb 13:5-6 (KJV)
<<<<<<
Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen
thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee with the right hand
of my righteousness.
Isa 41:10 (KJV)
<<<<<<
There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor 10:13 (KJV)
<<<<<<<
His lord said unto him,
Well done, thou good and faithful
servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:21 (KJV)
<<<<<<
{17} Pray without ceasing.
{18} In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.
1 Th 5:17-18 (KJV)
<<<<<<
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts
to the Lord.
{17} And whatsoever ye do in word
or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by
him.
Col 3:16-17 (KJV)
>>>>>>
{4} "O Israel, listen: Jehovah is our God,
Jehovah alone.
{5} You must love him with all your heart,
soul, and might.
{6} And you must think constantly
about these commandments I am giving you today. {7} You must teach them
to your children
and talk about them when you are at home
or out for a walk;
at bedtime and the first thing in
the morning.
{8} Tie them on your finger, wear
them on your forehead,
{9} and write them on the doorposts of
your house!
Deu 6:4-9 (TLB)
<<<<<<
{15} And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one
body; and be ye thankful.
{16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts
to the Lord.
{17} And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by
him.
Col 3:15-17 (KJV)
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IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALS
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God Bless You.....brother bob.......<><
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