Dear Readers of FGGAM,
Focus Scripture: John Chapter 13
The Lord is taking my mind back to remember a time that I got really angry. Angry enough to WANT to pray for a “Flower Pot” to fall on a person’s head! BUT JESUS!!!
Would you like to hear that testimony?
The Lord is leading me to share it at this time and as an introduction to Today’s Devotion that took prayer to share! Holy Spirit, you are welcome here!
It was a time that the Lord put on my heart to do what I don’t normally do. Kinda like, I would not normally wash another’s feet, unless the Lord told me to do. This is what the Lord told me to do that day. I hope you see a blessing in this for your Christian walk with Jesus; as you follow Him.
“Bake Homemade Rolls for ____. Gather a Gallon of Tea and … and take them to ___ ” on this specific day. This was my assignment in that day several years ago. Like Peter didn’t understand what was really going on that day that Jesus was about to wash his feet; neither did I understand that I was about to grow in my understanding.
Jesus spoke in John 13:15, I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I looked at this as a simple duty that normally someone else did well, but something that I could do; and did this time, by God’s Ordained call that the Spirit of the Living Lord Jesus put on my heart to do.
This was something Jesus would do! But there is another message about forgiveness I had to learn deeper about, that is something Jesus has done!
And, when you receive this, you will never be the same!
So I did bake the rolls and gathered up every item on the list as I heard the Lord specify. Friends, I know, this is faith. But faith is all we have and faith is the power of God to be seen!
Little did I know that something rash was about to happen at the bus stop, as I was about ready to go!
The Bus driver motioned me over to the widow of the Bus. As we were talking, a car zoomed by the bus so fast that my body shook from the wind as the car passed by! But I didn’t even know what happened … UNTIL, the bus driver leaned his head out the window and proclaimed what had just happened!
Miracle 1: God protected me! Everything was in slow motion! And, God by HIS Power protected me, so much so, that I felt as though time slowed down. Like God put me in somewhat of a trance that I was totally unaware of the car approaching, going by and didn’t snap out of it until the car was well passed by & about to stop!
To God be the Glory! Yet, … Now my HUMAN NATURE stepped in; … and I stepped out further in the road and motioned for the driver of the car (who had stopped) and was many yards beyond the back of the bus to come back and have a little chat about what they had just done.
See the wrongful pride that was in me rising up?
She did! She backed up to talk with me. It amazed me, but she literally backed all the way back to where I stood; and by this time, I was standing way beyond the front of the bus waiting on her.
Please judge us not, but we had the stupidest conversation! She denied, but I blamed. She retaliated, and I grew angry. She blamed me. I blamed her. She defended her driving skills and her reason infuriated me. “I happen to be a good driver. I work for ___ …” I can’t remember now, but it had to do with a public service driving safety job. So, what do I do, I ask to see her Driver’s Licence. How did she respond? She asked to see mine!
That part really is humorous now, and could have been then too, if I weren’t so emotional in the moment, & if she hadn’t sped off with that comment, .. because I was a pedestrian! I didn’t need a Driver’s licence to stand.
All I knew was that she broke the law at my son’s bus stop, asked to see my driver’s license and then sped off! I was furious left standing there arguing with my self pretty much. See what anger can do?
But let’s focus on JESUS … stick with me, there is wonderful lesson here at the end!
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you (John 13:15).
I was failing in the moment at that teaching of Jesus, but Jesus has compassion on us! Just look at how Jesus responded to Peter in this study in John 13!
Praise note: By the way, no child was harmed, Daniel was the only child crossing the road that day & his grandparents had arrived moments before; and he crossed to them; as I crossed to the bus window.
Ok, painting the picture of human nature with a limited vision. Remember my assignment was to take the rolls, and other items and deliver them, which was about an hour’s drive away.
After this happened, I remember very clearly re-thinking that this was reason enough NOT to go. And, my parents had just arrived, so that was a good enough 2nd reason. BUT my faith pressed on & all glory to God; I got it! There was a purpose!
What if Jesus thought of a reason not to go to the cross for us???
Beyond my emotions, my faith is greater than my mind; and I am learning to be quicker to respond by faith over my emotions to choose God’s Will / not my will. God’s Mind had instructed me; and this I was sure of by my faith, so I began this journey.
NOW … remember I mentioned that as we can read in Scriptures that Peter didn’t see the whole picture, but Jesus spoke to him, … Read John 13 for a deeper Revelation of Jesus.
Keeping in mind that in John 13 and verse 34, Jesus give unto us a New Commandment! 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
On my trip, it began like this; and I will quickly wrap up with the point to receive from this testimony.
That the same God whom helped me overcome anger by Grace, is the same God whom will help you overcome all things for the same purpose in Christ, which is to abide in HIS love and pray for each other, instead of anything else, but LOVE in Christ!
Sometimes you may need to call on another believer whom loves you …
I literally called my husband squirming talking it out with him; and saying, “I just want to pray …. (for a flower pot to fall on her head) … grrr, but I can’t! can I?” Robert, so calmly said, “No, Karen you can’t.” Then, I just want to pray … (for the Lord to drop a tree in her path to slow her down, so that she will learn) … grrr, but I can’t pray that either can I? Robert said, “No, Karen you can’t.” I responded, “I have to pray to forgive her; don’t I!”? Robert said, “Yes, Karen you do.” “Then,” I said, “You are going to have to pray for me, because I am struggling really hard right now to forgive her.”
Ok, so here we go! I had an hour to figure this out with the Lord!
Where had my PEACE (with JESUS) gone?
I asked Jesus how to get my peace back!
My lack of peace WITH Jesus was the first thing I noticed on my drive!
I tried every religious teaching I knew of. But nothing worked; and I bet you already know why!
Nothing I did to draw nearer to God worked, because I had dirty feet!
I had a heart cleansed and feet that wanted to go another way!
I claimed the Blood of Jesus. No Peace!
I raised up the Name of God in Worship. No Peace!
Oh, I know, I rebuked the devil. No Peace!
BUT in an instant the HOLY SPIRIT caused me to experience FORGIVENESS and I began to PRAY for her!!!
I experienced a literal feeling of like WARM OIL flowing down my throat as I seeked after the Peace of Jesus! It was the Holy Spirit dwelling in me that freed me from being captive to / with my emotions / like God parting the sea that I was ABLE to forgive like Jesus; and to experience a part of Him.
I believe she was a Christian too. And I prayed that the Lord would help her, as He had just helped me.
I have learned to say to people who hurt us now, when the Lord leads of course, If there is any forgiving to do, Jesus has already done it. There is nothing left for me to further forgive, but to offer His Peace!
The problem / opportunity was that this was a lesson for me to learn what it is to forgive by the power of the Holy Spirit being part of Jesus. There was never a problem, but an spiritual agreement with Jesus that had to happen within me. But glory to God, Jesus worked it out for the good!
And, now I share this story with you.
I hope it is a blessing to you. By faith, I hear the Lord say, share this story today. I prayed and now by faith I respond.
Love in Christ,
Karen
Hope in Today Ministries, Inc.
Daily Devotion to God’s Holy Word.
By Karen Rowe
Some prayerful thoughts to ponder.
Jesus exalted those He loved and whom loved & followed Him. Exalt defined is to hold (someone or something) in very high regard; ….to raise to a higher rank or a position of greater power.
Think of what Christ Jesus has done in your own life.
1John 4:16 comes to mind.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16 KJV
Jesus has done a marvelous thing for us!
Think about whose feet you would wash freely? Isn’t that an intimate thing to wash someone’s feet?
Today, I know pedicures are a business, but I am talking about Jesus rising from the dinner table.
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; HE riseth from supper, AND laid aside his garments; AND took a towel, AND girded himself. AFTER THAT he poureth water into a basin, AND began to wash the disciples’ feet, AND to wipe them with the towel WHEREWITH he was girded. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:2, 4-5, 14 KJV
More than a mere feet washing!
Jesus is still teaching us to understand that there is power in the love of Christ & dominion with Him in the Humility of Christ as we serve each other in Him.
Look back to the OT:
“And it shall come to pass, when thy (King David) days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy SEED (JESUS) (WORD) after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish HIS KINGDOM. He shall BUILD me an house, and I WILL stablish HIS THRONE for ever. I will be HIS FATHER, and he shall be MY SON: and I will NOT take my mercy away from him, AS I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom FOR EVER: and his throne shall be ESTABLISHED FOR EVERMORE.
1 Chronicles 17:11-14 KJV
And David the king came and sat before the Lord , and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
1 Chronicles 17:16 KJV
THEN, NT Peter’s Response?
Ours?
TESTIMONY!
Love in Christ,
Karen Rowe
“WRITING THE STORY OF MY LIFE WITH EVERY CHOICE JESUS HELPS ME TO MAKE AND LEARNING HOW TO BE BLESSED AND LIVE LIFE LARGE, HAPPY AND FREE. I CARE.”
Personal Motto: “I don’t have it all figured out, BUT GOD DOES … Follow JESUS!”
Personal Revelation Life Verse: And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him (1 John 4:16 HCSB)
Thank you Jesus!
Holy Spirit you are welcome here!
Hope in Today Ministries, Inc.
The Train Whistle, Sounding the call of God’s Love, by Karen Rowe
TILL NEXT TIME!
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