Thursday Writings......7/21/16

Good morning...

Today I got my hair done. For a couple of years I had been striving for a "salt and pepper" doo with less than desirable success. Today it worked. I was happy about that, Thank you Renae Earl; you are the best!      

Hope your Thursday is a good one.

God bless from
Corinne


The Devotional component in the Thursday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "Small Beginning" and was co presented by Brother Thomas Ukwute and Jody Ward.  Based on the slow work of Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple on Jerusalem. When there is steady progress you are building the foundations upon which your future life will rest.

Brother Thomas quoted from Zechariah 9, "But they will be glad when they see Zerubbabel, carrying a plumb line and continuing to build the house. They will rejoice when they see the capstone in his hand."

Jody wrote, "Growth is dynamic and takes you from one level of experience to another, from one level of knowledge to another."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Today's Devotional   

"Small Beginning"

co-presented and written by

Brother Thomas Ukwute
and Jody Ward

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house and his hands will also be the ones to finish and complete it. When this happens, then you will recognize and understand that the Lord of Heaven sent me as His messenger to you,” said Zechariah.

“Who despises the day of small things? Who is disappointed because so little progress is being made? Does anyone dare despise this day of inconspicuous beginnings?

But they will be glad when they see Zerubbabel, carrying a plumb line and continuing to build the house. They will rejoice when they see the capstone in his hand. 

They are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Zechariah 4:9-10
quoted by 

Brother Thomas Ukwute

Growth is dynamic and takes you from one level of experience to another, from one level of knowledge to another.

But always remember, no matter how big your exploits, do not forget the days of small things. Those days of small beginnings were the days of building the foundation on which your life and future would stand.

It was the time of acquiring needed experience from the various encounters in the dark valley that you went through in the process of growth. Your commitment level then was authentic and your hearts were opened to rebuke and correction. Those valleys, and your response, helped mold your spiritual character and your value systems. That is what has made you who you are today.

Not recalling those days of small things would mean throwing away the key to your value system. Many people who have forgotten the days of their small beginning have lost those very qualities that endeared them to the people around them.

If you draw a line from the day you met Christ to where you are today, how straight will the line be? How straight is your course in terms of your commitment, the level of the fear of God in you and your knowledge of the Lord and His word? Can you say for sure that you are remembering your small beginnings and holding onto those value systems make you deferent from the ordinary men on the street? Do you retain the lessons of life’s dark valleys that now give you access to the platform you stand on today?

Zechariah said, “ the hand of Zerubbabel had laid the foundation and his hand will finish it.” Those words are so strategic in maintaining the work of the builder and the quality of the materials for the building. Consistent personal growth and consistent effort building the house are needed to be able to pass on to the next generation a church, and a model, that will carry on the preaching of the Gospel without diluting the message.

May the Lord help us to stay on course, no matter what the cost. 

Jody Ward

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Snippets of Spiritual Insights  from Beverley   

I was surprised as I looked into my folder from Beverley to find she had written about the scripture that was featured in today's devotional.

do not despise the day of small beginnings,
 for the lord rejoices to see the work begin.. 

zechariah 4:10

written by Beverley A. Napier (c)      

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  What Do You Say?  

This is a poem that I wrote several years ago when a baby I knew was to be adopted
shortly after he was born, I wrote it for the unselfish mother who was making 

such a huge sacrifice for the future that she could not supply for her son.

  

What do you say to the one who decides to let him go?

The one who will let someone else be the first to hold him near

Who loved him enough to let him live and not take the easy way out

And let him become the start of who God intended him to be

Who will wonder about his baby smell and how he looks and feels

                       And who yearns for the music of his first soft coos    

What do you say to the one who decides to let him go?

The one who will miss his first baby smile and the laughs of his years

Who will look at babies everywhere and wonder if…

And hear imagined cries in the midnight dark and quiet

Yearning to feel his body, comfort him, and hold him close

While kissing away the little tears he cries

What do you say to the one who decides to let him go?

Who always wonders what he needs

and can only comfort him in her prayers-

Solitary prayers, but still so strongly prayed

For when he needs a boost to build him up

Or for when he is sad or lonely or afraid

And she can only guess how she should pray

What do you say to the one who decides to let him go?

Who will not know when or what he achieves

Trusting others to show him important things

The love of his Abba Daddy and how to stay on the right path

Instructing, teaching, modeling, and training as he grows

Seeing him become an awesome man of God

What do you say to the one who decides to let him go?

You say.

“Your unselfishness will resound forever in heaven and on earth.”

That you have become God’s partner in creation’s theme

By letting him go to follow God’s plan for His time

You have given your child life not once but twice

Enabling two who could not become three

You are a wonder  - a hero as is not often seen

God will remember your sacrifice, reward your life

And keep you and him near His throne forever

That is what you say to the one who decides to let him go!

(C) Corinne Mustafa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Today's Inspiring Graphic

Just pray for the toxic person you have turned your back on.
They need it more than you know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

~~~~~~~~