As a Christian, I can take credit for the free-will I demonstrated to follow Christ. For the gifts, talents, blessings, elevation and favor that has come all as a result of the obedience, all of the glory and praise goes to God and God alone. I would never be outside of my mind enough to forget where every good and perfect gift comes from, they come from the Lord. 

Today, I pour out my morning blessings to God. Father God, you alone deserve the glory. I bow in reverence to you. May this devotional be a sweet smelling fragrance that lifts high to you. 

James 1:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Saints of God, pour your praises out on God. Send up sweet offerings to heaven. Blessings will soon follow, as God knows the heart of every true worshipper. Open your mouth this morning and tell God why you love and adore Him. Tell Him why you worship and follow Him. Give praise and honor to the God you serve. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. 

Rev. Marcia Davis

One thing that cannot be predicted is how God will direct our steps. The reason is because God knows the beginning from the end. So, even though we may want to take two steps to the right, God may order our steps to the left. In 2018, we must obey the voice and direction of God. 

The ordered steps of God are for a time and reason. Our obedience may not be for our benefit, but instead for the benefit of others. 

When God told Noah to build an ark, everyone thought Noah was crazy. If Noah only thought about himself and what others thought of him, I’m sure the world would be a much different place. Thankfully, Noah knew that God did things on purpose and on a grand scale. Noah’s obedience changed the world. 

What will your obedience say to future generations?

Genesis 6:14-16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitchinside and out. ¹⁵ This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.¹⁶ Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.

The worship video comes from the GMWA Women of Worship with the song entitled, “Order My Steps.”

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

 

From the age of about eight to twenty years old, I was raised and confirmed Lutheran (ELCA). One of my most favorite songs of the service was called, “Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise.” The short praise was sung usual after the prayers of the church were prayed. This is what my heart has been singing all morning.

“Thankful hearts and voices raise;
Tell everyone what God has done.
Let All who seek the Lord Rejoice and bear Christ’s holy name.
Send us with your promises, Oh God,
And lead us forth in joy,
With shouts of thanksgiving.
Alleluia, Alleluia.” 

Psalm 105:1-6

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 105

¹ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
² Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
³ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek theLord rejoice.
⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

 

I have an intimate experience with the different characteristics of God. I know God as a Sanctifier, a Mother, a Father, a Way Shower, a Friend, a Comforter, and many times over as a Healer. 

Today, I would like to brag on God as my Healer. The Healer of my heart, my spirit, my mind, my will and my emotions. Today, as I prepare to go the hospital for surgery, I thank God, ALREADY,  for the healing that has begun. 

Exodus 15:26

New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lordyour God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keepall his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

This morning, I’m walking throughout my house singing this song to God. What a Great God we serve!!!

“You are the God that healeth me. You are the Lord, My Healer.” Please enjoy the worship song by Don Moen. Sing this song for yourself or for someone that needs God’s healing.

Keep me in your prayers today. Pray for the surgeon’s hands and mind. I love you with an AMAZING LOVE.

Rev. Marcia Davis

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The love that comes from God is a love that truly surpasses all understanding. A love that makes me what to dance, sing, worship, and show my gratitude for the Grace of the cross. I try my best demonstrate my Love for God in my every day actions. It’s a love so wonderful that I must share. I can’t keep it to myself.

How does God’s love reflect in your everyday life?

Please enjoy today’s worship video from Tim Bowman Jr. entitled, “Your Love.”

I love you with an AMAZING LOVE.

Rev. Marcia Davis

What is true love? True Love is constant and unconditional. True Love is eternal. What does the bible say about True Love? 

John 15:12-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

I love you with an AMAZING LOVE. Rev. Marcia Davis

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, from all of us here at Sacred Journey Services.

I love you with an AMAZING LOVE.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning and Happy Holidays:

This is the last devotional for the week. I want to wish everyone a very Merry and Joyous Christmas. May you be blessed and remember the reason why we celebrate.

I pray that if someone asks you what you received for Christmas, your answer will be, “I received Jesus! Hallelujah!”

I love you with an AMAZING LOVE.

Merry Christmas,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Numbers 6:22-27

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Priestly Blessing

²² And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

 

Good morning,

I asked the question to a mature friend in Christ, “How will I know that God has called me to do something?” Her answer was, “What God has called you to do will be bigger than you. It will require you to look to God for guidance.”

Even though I believe I am getting closer, every day, I still believe God has called me to do greater things than I am doing now.

The key, I found, whether you are a man, woman or child – is obedience, submission and a willingness to say, “May it be done according to God’s will for my life.”

Mary, mother of Jesus, had the same heart for God and look what came from her faithfulness and obedience.

Luke 1:46-55

New International Version (NIV)

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

Luke 2:1-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry and Joyous Christmas.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Please enjoy the worship video from Chris Tomlin entitled, “A Christmas Alleluia.”