DEVOTIONALS

You will find several devotionals and lists of Scriptures written below by Pastor Jonathan. Our hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged.

You can also purchase Pastor Jonathan's new book 'Rebuilding from Brokenness' from http://www.oaksofrighteousness.net/

A Sample From 'Rebuilding from Brokenness'  

             Take a look at the blunders in today’s society of celebrities in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Sadly, its not just with celebrities but we also see this in the business world with those who lie to get ahead ending in shameful arrests and a loss of all that seemed to define their ‘success’. Those who truly know what it is to excel know that confession of wrong doing and transformation makes all the difference in the long run. These troubles in the lives of celebrities and executives alike stem from a long history of bad decisions that may have started in small matters of lies, deception or ‘one innocent drink’ for the celebrity struggling with identity issues.  Such problems may have been avoided with honest confession leading to restoration.

             We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.  - Nehemiah 1:7

             Nehemiah understood the power of confessing his wrong doing and asking forgiveness. We can try to make excuses or try to cover up when we do wrong in our business, marriage, school or any relationship or we can confess and rearrange our negative perspective that has caused us to wrong someone. We can confess with confidence knowing that God will reward our honesty and heal the hurts by His loving grace.

 “O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me…”  - Nehemiah 1: 11

 Prayer Emphasis: 1. Admit Wrong / 2. Seek Forgiveness / 3. Ask God for Transformation (This is also helpful with people!)

 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed... (James 5: 16a) 

The Gift of You

            Have you ever gone and helped someone giving of your time and you felt enriched? Its funny how that can happen, we can feel that we gain so much by giving of our finances or of ourselves emotionally or our time. Moses was far away in the wilderness after fleeing from a crime he committed, but now some forty years later after having built a good life by most people’s standards he is challenged to do something great. He was working a decent job, was married and probably fairly content. His invitation to a greater life came in form of a burning bush that was not being consumed. Being curious he came a bit closer when he heard this

"Now go and call together all the leaders of Israel. Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – appeared to me in a burning bush. He said, "You can be sure that I am watching over you and have seen what is happening to you in Egypt (Exodus 3:16).

            That’s right Moses was a descendant of Abraham and so received the protection and promise given to his ancestor. However, what we really learn in this passage is that Moses who has committed murder, a heinous and grievous crime he is considered by God to lead his people out of bondage and oppression. If God desired to use someone like Moses for greater things, don’t you think God wants to do great things in your life as well. The same forgiveness available to Moses in here for us today:  

“God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins (Colossians 1:14).”

            Like Moses God offer us forgiveness in Jesus Christ. So today, who needs help or encouragement? God saw the oppression of the Israelites and sent Moses, who is God sending you to today? Is it a child, a boss who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, is it a friend in need, or a lonely neighbor? You could be an agent of hope and as a result receive greater fullness of life yourself!

“…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive (Ac 20:35b NIV).'"

Scriptures of Peace and Encouragement

 Colossians 2:13b-15

…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

 2 Timothy 1:6-14

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Philippians 2: 9 - 11

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.