Tina's Devotional Tidbits

Speak to Me

tinamcho — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:57:45 +0000

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4
The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them. Psalm 25:14

This new year I’ve been faced with a decision to make, and it’s one that baffles me. So I’ve been seeking God even more. Verses flood my brain and help me focus on what really matters…God. This morning these two verses jumped out to me. Yes, I want God to confide in me His will and path. I’m reminded of the Israelites moving from the wilderness to Canaan and how God led them with a visible cloud and pillar of fire. Sometimes I wish there was something visible above my head to lead me. But instead God has given me His Holy Spirit that lives within my heart to guide me. He brings peace when everything is right. He speaks to me through the words of the Bible.

How about you? How does God speak to you?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and Holy Spirit by which you speak to us. I’m trying to seek you with all my heart. Please show me your path.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

A Great Start

tinamcho — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:07:06 +0000

…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20-21

I’m still on a New Year’s high, that is, still expecting great things for 2012. I’m believing and having faith that God will move mountains for me! My first week of the year started with getting a children’s rebus story accepted with the kids’ magazine, Clubhouse Jr. I’m also writing for a Korean ESL company for the next 5-6 months, rewriting three ESL middle school textbooks. What else will God send my way? I’m excited to find out!

I heard a great sermon on faith yesterday. If we want God to work, we need to show Him our faith. All things are possible with God.

What’s on your impossible list? Let’s move them to the “Possible with God” list and pray with faith.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this story acceptance and great beginning to 2012. I have faith in you that You’ll do incredible things this year in my family and through my writing.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

To Write Goals or Not? That Is the New Year’s Question

tinamcho — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:22:16 +0000

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 2:20

If you’re like me, you’re probably contemplating as to whether you should write your New Year’s resolutions. Usually at this time, magazines and media emphasize goal-setting. But do they really work?

I think goals help me keep focused and striving for something. I’ve realized there are two types of goals. Goals that I pretty much have control over and goals that I hope will happen but that I can’t control. For example, I can pretty much control whether I read the Bible in a year. I just have to stay disciplined. I can have the goal to have a picture book manuscript accepted, but I can’t really control that. I can do all I can on my end, but the rest is up to God and the editors.

So I’m dividing my goals….dreams/goals I hope God will make come true and goals that I will strive for. And when we dream what God can do in 2012, DREAM BIG! God can do immeasurably MORE than we can imagine!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for another year. I want to start the year being faithful to You and believing You will do incredible things in my life.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

God’s Greatest Gift

tinamcho — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:08:30 +0000

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I’ve been stressing the past several weeks wondering which Christmas presents to buy for family members. You know how it is…some people buy early, some people wait until the last possible minute, some order online, and some stand in long lines. Christmas is almost here, and I’m still not done! aghh

This reminds me of the greatest gift to us. God sent us His only Son, Jesus Christ. Perhaps you wonder how this could be a gift.

There’s a story about a man who stayed home from church on a snowy evening and watched a small, frail bird outside his window trying to come in out of the cold. So the man went out to his garage, opened the door, and tried to coax the bird inside. But the bird didn’t understand. The man thought, if only I were a bird I could help this cold, frightened bird. It was then that the man realized what God had done. God wanted to save mankind, but in order to do it, God had to become a man. So He sent His Son into the human race as a tiny baby…fully human but also fully God.

God gave us Himself in the form of His Son Jesus. He loves you and wants you to have the greatest gift in the world…accepting His Son Jesus Christ! (John 3:16) Have you accepted this gift? If not, I’d love to share with you!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this Christmas season when we can celebrate the birth of Jesus. I treasure this most precious gift, believing in Your Son, Jesus. Thank you for saving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Holiday Stress

tinamcho — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:50:39 +0000

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7

Christmas brings extra things to our calendars—shopping, baking, decorating, and attending events. And living in another country adds to the difficulty. I have to shop and mail presents early so they will reach relatives on time. So I’ve been feeling sort of stressed this past week…

Until I focused my eyes and heart on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus’ birth! Forgive me, God. I lost my perspective.

Instead of worrying what gifts to buy for others, I’m thinking about what can I and my kids give to God? As the saying goes, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” He gave us His best, His only Son Jesus.

How are you focusing on the true meaning of the season?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for getting carried away in the commercialism of Christmas. Help me to make Jesus’ birth the number one priority in our home.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Life Goes On

tinamcho — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:26:56 +0000

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2

This was a hard week. I found out two bits of discouraging news. I found out that my best friend from high school got divorced. And today a lady I attended college with passed away from a brain tumor. She was three years older than me and leaves behind her husband and four children. How sad! Thankfully, she was a Christian and is now with Jesus.

All this news made me grateful for my good health and family. Life is getting shorter as I grow older. Not a minute to be wasted! Have you told your family that you loved them? I did. And for me, life goes on…I want to make a difference for God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this wake-up call. You made me realize how precious my family is to me and good health. Help me to make every minute count for Your kingdom!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

tinamcho — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:33:01 +0000

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

Being on another continent away from home brings loneliness for family and friends. I’d love to be around lots of people who really care about me, my family, and things most precious. Sometimes sharing a request through email or the phone just isn’t the same as a person-to-person meeting.

However, there is Someone waiting to hear all about my life, family, problems, and things most important–God! I don’t have to Skype, Tango, Kakao, phone, Tweet, or post on God’s wall. I have instant 24/7 access to the throne room of God, Creator of this whole world! Wow! I imagine a huge golden throne room. How can I come before Him with my puny problems? Because of God’s great love for me through His son Jesus Christ, I’m allowed. Isn’t that great?

Let’s take advantage of God’s love and open arms. He WANTS us to have a relationship with Him each day. I will continue to cast my cares upon Him. And when I’m down, He’ll push me back up (His sustaining power!)

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always being there for me. I’m so blessed that I can come to you 24/7. Thank you for caring for me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Christian Benefits

tinamcho — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:54:58 +0000

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
*who forgives all your sins and
*heals all your diseases,
*who redeems your life from the pit and
*crowns you with love and compassion,
*who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 105:2-5

Working full time as a teacher entitled me to lots of benefits—health insurance, retirement and 401k, etc… But none of those benefits equaled to what God could give me for being a follower of Him. Here David listed some benefits of being a Christian, and there’s even more we’ll enjoy which Paul discussed in Ephesians 1:3-14.

This week is Thanksgiving, and as we think about what means most to us, I am thankful to God for so many things. He has never let me down, and He has provided for our family’s needs. God doesn’t give me everything I want, but He gives me what I need just in the nick of time.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being my Savior, for listening to me, for always being there for me, for giving me a wonderful family, and for providing for our family’s needs. I love you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Pray Like a Child

tinamcho — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:23:15 +0000

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

A couple of weeks ago my daughter told me that God had answered her prayer! I was so surprised and happy for her to tell me this. In our homeschool Bible curriculum, she and I had read about how a missionary, George Mueller, received answered prayer. He ran an orphanage in England, and one morning, they had no food to provide the children for breakfast. But George went ahead and prayed, giving thanks to God for the breakfast they would eat. After praying, the baker dropped by bringing bread for the kids. The milkman’s truck broke down right in front of the orphanage, and so he gave the milk to them as well. George’s faith really made an impression on my daughter.

So she tried it. Without my knowing, she asked God for gum. Evidently, Mom hadn’t been supplying her with it. My church friend invited us to the U.S. military base, and I bought a couple packs of American gum not knowing she had wanted it. My daughter was extremely happy. God answered her prayer!

It’s the same way with my son. He also asks God for healing when he has a cold or other requests, and he always tells me when God answers his prayer!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for showing your power to my children and caring for their requests. Help me to have a childlike faith.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Serving at a Dinner Party

tinamcho — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:59:09 +0000

…”If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

This past week I hosted my father-in-law’s birthday dinner in our apartment. My husband’s two sisters and their families came, 13 people total. I always feel inadequate because I didn’t grow up with Korean food and here I am preparing most of it! AGHH! Plus, my older sister-in-law’s family and father-in-law don’t speak English. As the family was visiting, I decided to wash dishes since I didn’t know what they were saying anyway. Dishes for that many people plus dessert is a lot of dishes! I started to feel like the family’s servant.

Jesus always taught his disciples that to be the greatest in His kingdom, you must be a servant. I’m sure that meant serving without complaining! Jesus even modeled his teaching by doing the least job of a servant…washing people’s feet! In John 13 Jesus washed His disciples’ feet before He died on the cross. He wanted to show them true servanthood and expression of His love.

Back to my dinner party…my in-laws did thank me and even clapped. The kalbi I marinated was perfect. (Thank you, God!) I’m glad I could serve them and show love because some of them are not Christians.

Let’s look around this week. Who can we serve with the love of Jesus Christ? It might be a family member, a co-worker, a roommate, friend, an online buddy, or even someone off the street.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending us Jesus, our true model servant. Help me to lose my pride and serve others. Please bring people my way this week.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen