Monday Devotional.......8/22/16

Good Morning... 

Yesterday was the family reunion. I am beginning to know a lot of the people who come to this event since I have been to it several times. Two of my favorites are Betty and Richard, Storm's aunt and uncle. Every time we have a new issue of THE WORD FOR TODAY, I mail them a copy. Yesterday Betty said that she and Richard read it every morning and it she always thinks of me reading it. too. That really warmed my heart when she said that.

Today is going to be a down day. We have been on the go and are actually exhausted. It will be nice to relax.

Have a marvelous Monday!
God bless

Corinne

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The Monday Devotional was written by Mary Wilkins. The title is. "A Dividing Wall." Mary uses the Berlin Wall which was built to separate and control people. They could not go across to see relatives, to shop or to travel. Mary goes on to say that we often build walls of unforgiveness and get stuck in the past. We stay in that for years. She writes, "I do not want to miss out on the present, or the future, God has for me - because I won't forgive myself, or someone else, or even God, for the past."

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A Dividing Wall

What is the worst traffic you have ever been in? Behind an accident when the emergency crew closed all lanes of traffic? Racing through bad weather in order to get home and avoid even worse? Well, 27 years ago thousands of Germans sat in huge traffic jams to cross the newly opened border while guards stood back allowing them to come and go. The celebrations surrounding the opening of the borders and the fall of the Berlin Wall were ongoing. A city and a country were no longer to be divided; the people were free to visit family and friends, seek employment, and purchase goods. Their present and their future lives were changed.

For 37 years the Germans had lived with a closed border of concrete and barbed wire. But how many of us create our own borders: walled in by fear, regret, disappointment, or resentment?  I have met people so trapped by something that happened (or didn't happen) that 20 years later it is still their primary focus and everything they discuss comes back to it. I do not want to miss out on the present, or the future, God has for me - because I won't forgive myself, or someone else, or even God, for the past.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger,

 harsh words, and slander,

as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

Dear Lord,

Thank You for all of the plans You have for us. For providing a vision of Your love to hold on to when we go through difficult times and challenges. Please search our hearts, and show each of us, any area where we are building walls where they shouldn't be. In Jesus name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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