The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections

Image Description: Butterfly in Cocoon - Symbolizing Bound By Sin Daily Bible Verse: Romans 6:3-4 (NLT) "Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptised to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with Him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." Butterfly Released From Cocoon - Symbolizing Freedom We are slaves to sin no more. We were set free from the power of sin. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin. You have been given new life.You are free by God's grace. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NLT) "God wants you to be holy..." Live in a way that pleases God. Be in control of your body, live in holiness and honor.  This is the will of God; complete sanctification. Jehovah Mekoddishkem - The Lord Who Sanctifies   We touched on sanctification in our January 10th devotional...here it is an excerpt from that post:  After the...

A Gift: 12 Monthly Chore Charts  Quick access to the Freebies Page:  Free PDF Resource Library   All charts are 8.5x11 inch PDF Print of high-quality and are embellished with colors, motifs, and bible verses. The  Free PDF Resource Library  on this blog is now updated and ready to receive visitors; the images provided below can be found therein. Or you can take a direct route to Google Drive without visiting the Library, look for the twelve monthly chore charts folder, click the folder twice to open it, here is the direct link:   Household & Classroom Printables (Google Drive Folder) Preliminary image This post is just supplying you with a preliminary image...the one you will print is of much finer quality than the image I was able to provide here. January Chore Chart February Chore Chart March Chore Chart April Chore Chart May Chore Chart June Chore Chart July Chore Chart August Chore Chart September Chore Chart October Chore Chart November Cho...

Daily Bible Verse: Isaiah 6:8-9 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?" And I said, "Lord, I'll go! Send me."  And God answered, "Yes, go..." GOD - I AM - Yahweh - Eternal Isaiah overheard the voice of the Lord and volunteered to go. God accepted him.  If you heard Yahweh's call, how would you answer? Matthew 22:14 (NLT) "For many are called, but few are chosen." Chosen : In a relationship with God through Jesus Christ; spiritual condition changed, ears opened. When we allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we will hear His voice. Yahweh will not force us or plead with us; it is our choice to answer or not. So, the next step is up to us. Prayer Lord, draw me near; open my ears that I may hear. Lead me where You want me to go, Let my life reflect Your might, In Jesus' name, Amen. Breath Prayer You are the wind beneath my wings. Benediction Eternal God, ...

Daily Bible Verse: Mark 4:10 (NLT) "...when Jesus was alone ..." Sometimes God creates grief moments for us, with us, through suffering or heartbreak. When we are spent, broken, and without words - after we quiet every question and are utterly still and alone with God -  He begins to teach us. People experience Abba Father in different ways. Here are some ways I've experienced God's quiet communication; yours may look different. Complete sentences Sudden insights  A knowing sensation One word  Silent teaching - change softly follows and thoughts begin to shift. Abba Father - His Time With Us Have you ever been alone with God? When God begins to teach you...you may want to keep notes in a journal about your journey with Him.  Alone With Abba Father - Intimate God Prayer Lord, teach us.  Reach us where we are.  Lead us in Your way.  Provide as we obey.  Protect us as we walk in faith.  Give us the courage to face the unknown.  Let our...

God's Revealing Reflection Daily Bible Verse - Mark 4:33-34 (NLT) "He used...stories and illustrations to teach the people...in public...He taught only with parables, but afterward, when He was alone with His disciples, He explained the meaning to them." Jesus did not explain the meaning to them until He was alone with them. Jesus uses solitude to reveal truths. Looking Inward We often think to ourselves, "No one understands me."  Many of us also think we fully understand ourselves . Neither statement is true. Only Abba Father truly knows and understands us.  God's Light Shines On The Deep Places of Our Soul When we are alone with God, He reveals the deep, hidden areas of our character. He reveals these things in His timing, as we become able to understand. This is a slow process as it requires us to examine our own souls. God cannot teach us until pride and conceit are removed from our inner being. Therefore we will face heartbreak and disappointment over m...

Daily Bible Verse:  Luke 23:26 (NLT) "...Simon of Cyrene, ...was forced to follow Jesus and carry his cross." It was the cross that would soon bear the body of our Lord - the cross our Lord was too weak to carry. Through the providence of God, a stranger from Africa was there to carry that heavy cross up the hill for our Lord.  Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide God will put people in place to help us and provide for us as we obey Him. There will be those that suffer along the way for our obedience. But we must simply obey Him and He will take care of the people and the consequences.  Prayer Lord, thank You for providing for us, protecting us, and guiding us. We praise You, in Jesus' name, Amen. Breath Prayer Jehovah Jireh is in control Benediction Jehovah Jireh will provide as we go forth in His promise, walk boldly in His truth, and rest in His peace. Selah. Jesus,  The Quill and Me Share God with someone today: The Quill and Me—A Devotional Blog... Visit t...

Daily Bible Verse: Acts 26:17-18 (NLT) ...to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins..." From Darkness to Light Are you saved? Have you received the ultimate gift of grace from our Lord? The forgiveness of sin is a gift from God and can only be received when we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Savior and Lord.  Many people are walking around without this gift. We have been commissioned by God to bring this message to the people. This is what it means to be "born again": you accept Christ as your Savior and receive forgiveness of your sins.  When we are saved, we also receive the Holy Spirit. In our previous message, we discussed how the Holy Spirit delves into the uttermost regions of our beings and cleanses us of all unrighteousness. If you have not received this gift of salvation from Jesus, just say a simple, heartfelt prayer asking Him to come into your he...

There is a place we do not have access to. The Holy Spirit is present there - doing great and mysterious work.  El Roi - The God Who Sees Daily Bible Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT) "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." The same Holy Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ feeds the life of our spirit. Psalm 139: El Roi Searches The Depths Psalm 139 refers to the work of the Holy Spirit:  "You both precede and follow me...I can never escape from Your spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!...Search me O God, and know my heart." 1 John 1:7 (NLT) tells us what the Holy Spirit is capable of accomplishing in us: "...the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin." An amazing truth of God...we are cleansed from every wrong...to the depths of our being. We are under the protection of God and His Holy Spirit, n...

Daily Bible Verse: Genesis 22:9 (NLT) "When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood." I still remember the first time I read this passage, it was very disturbing. But then I continued reading. An angel called out to Abraham and stopped him from sacrificing Isaac, his son.  Abraham soon discovered a ram nearby with his horn caught in a bush.  God provided the sacrifice.  Yet, like Abraham, we often equate sacrifice with death. Even Peter felt this way. Luke 22:33 (NLT) Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with You, and even to die with You." But in this passage God is not calling for our physical death. After accepting Christ as our Savior...we are asked to give up things but only so we might have abundant life in Christ. The Holy Spirit cannot thrive surrounded by unholy things. Isn't it worth it to have Him in our lives instead...

How do we move from knowing Jesus by His works to knowing Him as Friend? Today's passages invite us beyond miracles into the quiet of relationship. Daily Bible Verse: John 14:9 (NLT) Jesus replied, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see Him?"  How long have you walked with Jesus? Do you know Him only for what He does, or do you know Him for who He is? The disciples had seen power - healing, deliverance, bold preaching - but Jesus calls them to something deeper: intimacy. John 15:15 (NLT) "I no longer call you servants... Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me."  Friendship with Jesus means honesty and openness. He knows your heart and your thoughts. He invites you into conversation, not just service. This is a rare, precious kind of friendship - one that meets you where you are and walks with you thro...