
Come Share With Me

I call this Devotional, “Come Share With Me.” These 4 words, came tenderly to my ears just weeks ago. I, a senior aged Sunday School teacher, was invited by my little curly blond hair, blue-eyed 3 year old student to come sit down at his little table and share his snack with him. So, as he patted the seat next to him, I bent down and squeezed as best that I could on the edge of the toddler picnic table. Although my attention should have been on, would this toddler table hold me, or how would I ever get up, I took one of his little donuts and scooted near, with both of us giving thanks. Being so touched by his tender child-like heart of faith that I would join him, I instantly responded. It was then that I thought, this is what my Jesus does. He tenderly bids us to come, patting the seat next to Him. He desires for us to come with the faith of a child to draw near and sup with Him.
What about you, have you been to that special place? It’s a holy place you know. It’s a constant place of intimate fellowship of the deepest love ever known. The Savior of the world bids you to come and share with Him every need of your life so that you would grow deeper in trust and Love, as you seek His face.
If you haven’t been there, the offer is still at the table. Kind David has heard the Lord’s invitation many times. Psalm 27:8 says My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me. ”And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” David, a
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Always Ready God

“Good morning, how are you today? This is the greeting I receive from my super cheerful co-worker as I walk into work most mornings. Underneath the dark sunglasses, the over flat ironed hair, & severely caffeine deprived me, is someone who would really like to be a “morning person.” I manage a less than enthusiastic “I’m good”, and walk briskly to my desk. But, how glad I am that God is ready for us anytime day or night. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness! His mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) We can always tell him our every burden and concern without waiting. There is no appointment needed. He is ready for us even early in the morning. “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3) There is no problem or concern too small for God. If it concerns us, then it concerns our Heavenly Father. We don’t have to bear it alone. God is not too tired, bored, or impatient with us. “He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28b) Aren’t you so thankful our God loves us so much? We have a faithful God who is ready to listen, to forgive, & to show mercy. We all need his help and forgiveness. Life’s problems can seem almost impossible at
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Sweet Fellowship

I watched my sister struggle for 6 years with a loss of taste and smell after suffering with a severe case of pneumonia. The mouthwatering taste gradually disappeared, and an unsettling offensive smell and taste became the norm. Even the memories of the taste of foods disappeared. The joys of “sweet fellowship” with family and friends around the table decreased and the church fellowship meals were of no interest anymore, the memories of feasting and rejoicing ceased.
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Precious Moments

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Awestruck

While making a memories photo book for my grandsons15th Birthday, I came across one of my most breathtaking photos of him. It was his first look at the ocean from the window of our condo in Florida. Through the eyes of this 4 year old came this look of “awestruck” at the beauty of the spoken words from his Heavenly Father before the beginning of time. (Genesis 1:10b) “God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”)
As a grandparent I want my grandson to always be in awe of His Heavenly Father all the days of his life. The one that created him in His own image and to always remember God’s words when He said “it was Very Good” (Genesis 1:31b).
I also want him to have memories as a young child reading that when Adam and Eve sinned God didn’t just leave him in a fallen world but made a promise to redeem him back to Himself (Genesis 3:15b) “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Thus making a way for my grandson to have spiritual life by sending His son as a sacrifice to take away his sins and the sins of the world.
And lastly, I want him to cherish knowing that he is now a Friend of God. (Romans 5:10) “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
With my grandson turning 15 in a few days, my prayer would not mainly be for him to cherish all the wonderful memories in this photo book of his childhood moments with his grandparents, but cherish and to be “awestruck” all the days of his life as he recalls the memories of His God who spoke and these waters gathered.

Keeping Watch

The first stage was the engagement and the second was the betrothal. Now comes the third stage, the marriage. In this third stage, the bridegroom comes unexpectedly for the bride. No one knows the day nor the hour, for preparations for the marriage were being made.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
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Perhaps Today

“13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage (comfort) each other with these words.”
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THE ADOPTION

Standing in the large church foyer I hear the words “Hey Mamaw”, coming from my newly adopted grandson as he comes running for a hug! My heart melts to know that just one day before, he was adopted into our family. This had been in the making for about a year. I got to experience this great love firsthand when I heard the judge called him by his new last name and watched his little 5-year-old face lite up as he hugged my son, his new dad, and said “I’m adopted”!
After signing documents, making pics, giving hugs and kisses, with family and friends, my new little grandson leaves the courthouse along with his newly adopted 1 year old sister, and their “parents”. Outside awaits a white limo with a driver to escort them to the celebration location. As they take their seats I noticed out of the corner of my eye, that just as the limo driver goes to close my grandson’s door, he holds out his hand against the door to let the driver know “I’m a Dolan” his newly adopted name.
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Greater Things

Soon I saw her at the store where she immediately shared her burdens first thing. I just listened and told her we would pray. I also found out her mom has been a believer for years. Then soon we both ran into her at the store again, this time she thanked us for praying.
Will I see her again? I don’t know, but I believe this was God ordained. Many times, we look to do “Great Things.” Maybe it’s to have a great pulpit ministry, great evangelist meetings, starting a church plant, to have great followings with YouTube, Instagram, or maybe even to move to another country to serve in a much-needed difficult place. I wonder if we are looking over the horizon to see “Great Things” while missing the “Greater Things” right in our path.
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Imitating God

Just as the little ones learn by watching, observing, and then imitating, we too must do the same with Jesus. (Ephesians 5:1-2) says “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
How do we do this you might ask. Do you remember the game “follow the leader?” The leader moves around by running, walking, zigzagging, going in every direction and you, as the follower, must follow by watching closely, listening to direction, and observing every step, and then, do the same.
If we are to imitate Christ, living a life filled with love, we must get to know Him better just as I want my grandchildren to get to know me. It must be consistent. It’s a following like we read in Luke 9: 23 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.
We too must come daily watching, listening, and observing by communing with Jesus through His Word and then doing what Jesus would do. If I want my grandchildren to get to know me, I must be consistent. I must continue the videos, some calls, and some FaceTime to bond. It is in the doing.
You will never learn to imitate Christ if you follow Him by just popping into a church service on Sunday or saying help me God only when in need. It must be a life filled with imitating daily. The only way to imitate is to watch, listen, and then do what He does which comes through fellowship, through hearing His voice from His Word, the Bible.
Then you will learn to be like Christ having a life full of love for Him and for others. He forgave us by becoming a sacrifice for us which was a pleasing aroma to His father. Watching Him we learn to forgive too those who wronged us. Luke 11:4 says, “and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” He forgave so we forgive. That is learning to live the life of Love!
Jesus’ love was a life of sacrifice even to the place of death, a pleasing aroma to God. May we too imitate Him by taking up our cross following daily, and just like when I get to see my grandchildren when I arrive, when we see Jesus, we will take up where we left off. Now that’s a beautiful aroma. Deann Dolan