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Devo’s for Divas: My News Years Need
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Devo’s for Divas: My News Years Need
By Barbara Gobbs
Publicist and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19 (NASB)
Do you like theme parties? Perhaps you went to several in December – themed for Christmas. Maybe you attended a soiree this past Friday night called a New Years Eve party. Children have princess parties or parties with a cartoon character theme. You can throw costume parties or parties for a specific charity to raise money. The list is endless.
Traditionally, this is the time to make resolutions. Personally, I don’t make them but yesterday in church I decided that it was possible to have a theme for the New Year! Let me share with you how I arrived at my decision.
A week or so ago, I met with my boss. As you may know Cheryle Touchton is the director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries and allows me to be her trusty side-kick. The foundational basis of this ministry involves traveling and street evangelism. If anyone wants a more detailed description, email me. I’d be thrilled to tell you more.
Cheryle said that our working theme for this year is “Give’em Heaven in 2011!” Pretty cool, right! This theme will help us stay focused on loving God by carrying out the Great Commission and ensure that we keep the main thing, the main thing. This was the beginning of my theme-based epiphany.
Moving right along, let’s proceed to the next puzzle piece that God used: my Sunday school lesson. I am involved in an adult ladies class and I love it. Our current lessons are based off a book written by the late Paul Little entitled “Know Why You Believe.” Awesome study! I highly recommend it.
I could spend all day on this – but I can’t! So I’ll cut to the chase. Our lesson book contains five small studies for reading Monday through Friday before class on Sunday. Friday’s study contained the Romans 8:32 verse, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
When I read this, that proverbial light bulb went off in my head and my mind jumped to Phil. 4:19. Romans 8:32 confirms that God supplies my need in Christ: His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection and the certainty of His return. It’s a complete package.
Okay – you probably think I am stating the obvious. I am. But the third part of the puzzle geared my thoughts toward the question – what needs? I need food, clothing, shelter, basic medical stuff and the like. Of course, I am fully aware I have these things due to God’s good grace and loving care. He indeed has met those needs. But something kept prodding me to go deeper still.
Then I hit pay dirt. For quite some time, a particular song lyric has sweetly haunted my mind. It’s from DC Talks’ “In the Light” The line goes, “I am still a man in need of a Savior.” God meets my needs in Christ because my greatest need IS Christ!
I don’t know about you but even as a born again believer, I am still in need of a Savior. Not just any savior but the One and Only Savior. Like you, I had needs last year. God met them. I’m not trying to sound super-spiritual but for the most part allowing Him to meet my physical needs, provide peace during the death of a loved one, give guidance, well, they are generally easy for me to do.
However, there were certain more internal things I wrestled with that caused me more than a fair amount of anguish. Am I doing the right things? Am I doing anything at all? Who do I think I am to be doing some of the things I do? Why can’t I vote my SELF off the island so all that remains is a heart completely surrendered to Christ at all times? UGH!!!!!!!
At the end of day all of this in-depth struggling serves to remind me of one very important thing: I am still a woman in need of a Savior. Every minute. Every hour. Every day.
If you do not have a personal relationship with God through Christ, your greatest need is for the Savior. If you do have a personal relationship with God through Christ, your greatest need is still for the Savior.
It’s that ‘down to the bone marrow and heart deep need’ had by all mankind that calls Cheryle to adopt the theme: Give’em Heaven in 2011. My New Years Need compels me to live this year satisfying myself in my Savior. But neither will be accomplished unless we live in the theme my dear Kiki suggested Sunday morning during worship. That is we should live “In His Presence.”
May God bless you richly in all ways according to your greatest need and His greatest fulfillment in Jesus Christ – this year and all the years to come!
Barbara
Barbara is a ministry partner with and Executive Assistant for Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Barbara Gobbs at 904-566-6497. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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