Women's Focus Ministries: Wednesday Devotional.......8/17/16

Good morning…

Yesterday, after a night in Bangor we got up and started our trip down to the ocean to a town called Bar Harbor. We had reservations there for a small cabin right in front of the beach. I loved it and we walked on the beach before the sun set. We explored the town which had lots to see in it.

Today we are heading back home to Waldoboro. It is the birthday of Storm’s husband, Bruce. We are all going out to dinner to celebrate. He picked a restaurant that he likes in Rockland which is about 20 minutes away. There will be nine of us for dinner…Storm’s parents, their son Brian and his family, and the three of us. I am looking forward to this party.

Have a great Wednesday.

God bless……Corinne

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The devotional for Wednesday was written by Sandy Billingham. The title is “I GAIN NOTHING WITHOUT LOVE" The theme of this devotional is love and that love of God should be the motive for anything we do. We must do it for the Lord because of our lovez love. Sandy wrote, "My point is, that if what I set my hand to do, whatever that may be, God has called me to do it fully unto Him with His pure love."

I GAIN NOTHING WITHOUT LOVE

Today I began to really take note of the reason for the things that I choose to do. I love the Lord, I love His Word and love to serve Him in any way I am able. The clincher for me though, is when I do set out to serve Him, are my motives truly pure??? When I am helping someone, or serving at church or even praying for someone... am I doing it fully unto the Lord? Am I doing it for a pat on the back? Am I doing it to feel good about myself??? These are all legitimate questions for me. I know I always set out with my heart to please God, but sometimes I can lose sight of the total purpose in the midst of the serving.

I think even the Pharisees' motives at first were somewhat for a worthy cause, but we know their hearts were far from God. They went through the motions, because that is just the way it was for them for years and years. That is the way they were taught and they allowed their flesh to have dominion in their hearts.

My point is, that if what I set my hand to do, whatever that may be, God has called me to do it fully unto Him with His pure love. If I am not walking and serving with His love, then I may as well not do anything at all. No-one will benefit and it will be all in vain.

You see His Word tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:3 "Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but have no love, I gain nothing." The bottom line is that I must be sure that I am fully on board with the Love of Christ or I may as well hang it up.