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eInspirational Gems for Each Day --
VOLUME 5, Part 2.

          Written by Marilee Miller

Copyright (c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller.

PLEASE READ THIS!

Copies may be given privately to about six friends, providing that text is not changed, and
that this full notice accompanies each document or part thereof.
One GEM or parts of two, per Volume, allowed for a public review or article, under the fair use clause.
No other public circulation, no mass copying or commercial or for-profit use without consent
of the author -- e-mail to: kingfisher crossing at gmail com (close up the spaces, etc.).

See the complete archive of 365 thoughtful Christian devotionals -- Gems -- at:
www.wordforlife.com/kingfisher/gems-complete/gems-menu

Scripture texts are from the King James Version.

16. JESUS IS THERE

     Jesus is there, in our study rooms. In
our "quiet places." He's there waiting for us
to approach him. Waiting for us to take
time for him. He's there, waiting, even on
the days we hurry by without meeting with
him. Let us go and meet him there. And if
we don't feel his presence, let us spend time
"in secret" anyway. And trust that he is
Lord of all. Even of the times when we
can't feel his nearness. Jesus is always there.

           "He that dwelleth in the secret
       places of the most High shall abide
       under the shadow of the Almighty."
         (Ps. 91:1)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

17. WHAT IS LEFT?

     Do you sometimes feel as if you have
"too little" left in life? Too little to get
you through your days. Too little to bring
to the Lord? Thank God for what little
he has left you. He can make it holy in
his sight.

     Does much seem like it's been taken
away? You still have the "measure of
faith", and the treasures of the heart.

           "A good man out of the good
       treasure of the heart bringeth
       forth good things..." (Matt.13:52c)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

18. EVOKE

     Playing with words while thinking on
the word "Evoke":

     Evoke: To come forth. Smokescreen...
smokestack... fog on winter morning...
misty images and thoughts. Life is like
that. A smoky haze on the screen of
memory, pleasures from the past coming
back, crystal clear, just when we need
most to "think on lovely things".

     Evoke: to speak forth; also to create.
Then may new life come forth out of the
old me. "Lead on, Oh King Eternal,
I follow in spite of my tears and fears."*

    Lord, you are here for me. And I have
chosen you. You have also chosen me.
Evoke in me -- cause to come forth --
whatever you need me to be, until I become
the "who" you created me to be.
--
* (paraphrasing the first line of a popular hymn)

            "Come near, ye nations, to hear:
and hearken, ye people: let the earth
hear, and all that is therein; the world,
and all things that come forth of it."
(Isa. 34:1)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

19. THANK YOU

Thank you for all you do for me,
For all that comes forth from your hand;
You are more than sky or sunset to me,
You who hold the stars under your command.
So, Lord, I'm glad that you come to me:
I pray your guidance I may understand.

            "For your rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience... in
simplicity and godly sincerity..."
(II Cor. 1:12a)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

20. GOD WORKS

     God works in your life even at times when
you can't see anything at all happening.

Even when you don't know what he's
doing, he is working in you. So just keep
seeking him. Bring your willing heart to
him. Then do your best. Do what you
can -- and leave everything else in his
capable hands.

         "Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass
      over Jordan this day, to go in to
      possess nations greater and mightier
      than thyself..."   (Deut. 9:1)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

21. I, YOUR LORD

     Don't be afraid, my people. I, your
Lord, sometimes allow hard things in your
life (this doesn't mean that I cause them!)
that will work to teach and train you. I
want you to remember, however, that I
have something good for each one of you.
When I look at you, I say that you're my
kids, and I'm so proud of you! Be willing
to receive me. And I will do a mighty work.

            "Now thanks be unto God, which
always causeth us to triumph in Christ,
and maketh manifest the savour of his
knowledge by us in every place.
           "For we are unto God a sweet
       savour of Christ..."
         (II Cor. 2:14-15a)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

22. PRAYER

Dear Lord,
     Please be with me. Reassure me of your
love and care. Let me know that I am "wanted"
in your kingdom. Let me know you are here
to bring me peace. Heal me in body and mind
and heart and soul. And for all your tender
kindnesses, I thank you.

     Please look after me. May I rest in the
thought that you care for me tenderly. Let
me know I am "God's best." I am "accepted
in the beloved." Be my mainstay in all
things. Lift me up and place a healing touch
upon me. Call my heart to faithfulness in
the Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

            "And I that am the Lord thy God
from the land of Egypt will yet make
thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the
days of the solemn feast."   (Hos. 12:9)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

23. GREATER THINGS

     Jesus Christ said that his disciples would
do greater things than he did. That seems
impossible. He healed the sick, raised the
dead, opened the eyes of the blind.

     But when we look at our world today,
we see that we enjoy many benefits and do
things his disciples of Bible times never
even dreamed of. Even a few decades ago,
when missionairies traveled to China, it
was a matter of months at sea in a sailing
vessel. The settlers who came to Oregon
from the East counted on six to nine
months on the trail.

     Neither Jesus and his disciples, nor
the early missionaries, ever watched T.V.
Or operated a computer. They never
communicated with England and Australia
and Canada by this means, either. They
never flew in a jet plane. Or traveled by
automobile.

     Are we spreading the Word of God to a
modern world? Taking advantage of those
"signs and wonders" which would have
seemed as miracles to other generations?

            "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than this shall he do;
because I go to the Father."
(Jn. 14:12)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

24. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

Dear Lord,
     Sometimes, life can be a little rough.
In such times, may you, our blessed Lord,
grant us a sense of your nearness, your
presence. Thank you that you are with us
today, and every day. Make us more
aware of your love, of your kindness.
Help us to receive your compassion and
mercies -- ("for your mercies are new
every morning, and great is your
faithfulness, oh God"). May we receive
your peace. Thank you. Amen.

            "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the
       heavens: and thy faithfulness
       reacheth unto the clouds."
            "...O Lord, thou preservest
       both man and beast.
            "How excellent is thy loving
       kindness, O God! therefore the
       children of men put their trust
       under the shadow of thy wings.
            "They shall be abundantly
       satisfied..." (Ps. 36:5, 6b; 7-8a)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

25. AFFIRMATION

     I am blessed by the Lord. I receive living,
healing waters, wholth (healing-wholeness-
perfection) from his fountainhead. Most
blessed am I. I am the redeemed of the Lord.
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." I am
the healed of the Lord. "By his stripes I was
healed." I am delivered from all trouble.
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers them out of all." I
am rich in him. Best of all, I'm saved in
him, rescued by him, made whole by him.

     Such plentiful reasons for me to
rejoice! All glory to his holy name.

            "Let the redeemed of the Lord
       say so, whom he hath redeemed from
       the hand of the enemy;...
            "Hungry and thirsty, their
       soul fainted in them.
             "Then they cried unto the
       Lord in their trouble, and he
       delivered them out of their
       distresses."   (Ps. 107:2, 4-5)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

26. LITTLE SAINTS OF THE WORLD

The little saints of the world
Wait so patiently for their Lord:
Suffering so, yet trying to live in one
accord.
Your people, oh God,
Save and heal.
Oh for them, draw the angel's sword.
Deliver, oh God,
And daily draw nigh.
Heal those in pain, by your living true Word.

            "...Our flesh had no rest, but we
were troubled on every side; without
were fightings, within were fears.
            "Nevertheless God, that
       comforteth those that are cast down,
comforted us..." (II Cor. 7:5-6)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

27. OUTPOURING

     My good friend, do you have a troubled
heart? I pour out upon you the Lord's peace!
I come seeking that the Lord will give you
a new heart to replace your stony heart.
That He will write His laws on your heart.
That He will write His word on your life.
That you may be thus filled with the glory
of God. That your understanding may be
quickened. And that you may be rescued
from helplessness, hopelessness, despair,
or another need.

            "Until the spirit be poured upon
us from on high, and the wilderness
be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field
be counted for a forest.
            "...And the work of righteousness
shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance
for ever."    (Isa. 32:15, 17)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

28. FORGIVE

Lord, forgive the scrabbling in our minds
Which shuts off the flow of communication
with you;
Forgive our needless laborings for you,
When we would do better just to sit at
your feet.

Forgive our need to gain our own
recognition
Instead of giving all glory to your own
dear name.
Help us to walk with you in better
understanding.
We come, oh Lord, to be replenished with
yourself.

            "For thou, O Lord, art good, and
ready to forgive: and plenteous in
mercy unto all them that call upon
thee."   (Ps. 86:5)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

29. OPEN OUR HEARTS

     Open our hearts, Lord. To hear the
cry of your people. And to be set on the
path to learn to speak to them. Open our
hands to give to you, and receive from
you. May we be led of you, Lord, yes,
even to places we do not want to go, but
trusting that "all be well" with us, because
you are the one holding our hands and
leading us.

            "O Lord, open thou my lips;
       and my mouth shall shew forth thy
       praise."   (Ps. 51:15)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

30. WEATHERED BEAUTY

Three small wood chips, from the spread
That litters the edge of the neighbor's
walkway;
Fragments, splinters, nothing so great to see,
And yet, I pick them up to admire the
whorl of lines;
Isn't it incredible what beauty lies
locked
Within some tiny bits of weathered wood?
So may I believe that God himself sees
meaning
In just such fragments of my own
splintered,
Tattered random acts of circumstance.

            "...Jesus...saith to him, Go
       home to thy friends, and tell them
       how great things the Lord hath
       done for thee, and hath compassion
       on thee."   (Mark 5:19)
(c) 1995 & 2009 by Marilee Miller

31. from the Scriptures

     "I exhort therefore, that, first of
all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
     "For kings, and for all that are in
authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.
     "For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Saviour;
     "Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
     "For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus;
     "Who gave himself a ransom for
all..."    (I Tim. 2:1-6a)

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