Even the Mundane Work, devotional by Rick Warren

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

Every job has some parts to it that you won't like, but you can still worship God through those parts of the job.

God establishes the work of our hands by giving us gifts that will make a difference in the lives of others. That's what success is-being what God meant for you to be. Jesus said, "My purpose is to give [you] a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10 NLT)

You may be thinking, Well, Rick, what about work that needs to be done but doesn't express my gifts; it just has to be done?

Any homemaker knows exactly what I'm talking about. I would say to you that every job, even the one you are suited for, has mundane parts. Every job has some parts to it that you won't like, but you can still worship God through those parts of the job.

And I would suggest you adopt this attitude: "Maybe this job that I'm in right now is a phase of my life and I'm not going to be here the rest of my life. But this is where I am for now; therefore, I will worship God right now."

The apostle Paul says, "Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering." (Romans 12:1 MSG)

"Lord our God, may your blessings be with us. Give us success in all we do!" (Psalm 90:17 TEV).

Serve at Metropolitan Ministries on May 29

Hey Ladies! 

We've got a great opportunity to serve those in need at Metropolitan Ministries on Saturday, May 29.

At Metropolitan Ministries, there are so many diverse ways to serve-- whether it's serving food in the kitchen, cooking, organizing donations in the thrift store or spending time with the residents-- they've got needs and we've got the heart and ability to meet them. 

If you'd like to partner with us on May 29 please email catbladies@churchatthebay.com by 

Friday, May 7, with your availability, morning or afternoon, so we can confirm a time with Metropolitan Ministries.

Looking forward to serving with you!

Guest Devotional - Sandy Mayer

I honestly believe repetition is the way we learn... and boy, does God use it! I keep hearing different lessons about "faith." As Christians, we may define faith as we have read in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see."

So why is God teaching me about faith? Is it because of all the prayer requests I have for jobs, unhealthy relationships, split marriages, cancer, friends and family that aren’t followers of Christ? I have asked myself, "Where is my faith?" But Jesus says, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20. WOW! That is encouraging!

This week, I was reading Francis Chan's study, "Crazy Love." It looked at Hebrews 11 where it starts with creation, looking back at all who had faith in God’s promises and were living by faith when they died. Some only saw the promises and welcomed them from a distance. Their circumstances didn’t change their faith. God was the object of their faith.

Sometimes we base our faith on circumstances and when they are good we think, "God is evident" But when circumstances are bad, we ask, "Where is God?" And when circumstances are really bad, we ask, "Is there a God?"

So how do you rate your confidence in God? In Luke 5:13 we read: "A man covered with leprosy fell to the ground when he saw Jesus , and begged him, “Lord, IF you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him." The leper had confidence that Jesus could heal him, but wanted to know if he was willing. So faith is the confidence that God can do what I ask him to do. The question is not whether God is able to answer our prayers just the way we ask, it is whether he is willing to.

I need to keep my focus on God and not on my difficult circumstances that God isn’t willing to change at this time. Got promises to reward those who earnestly seek Him - and that's motivation to remain faithful. I choose not to worry about unanswered prayers, because I trust God knows best.

Devotional by Stacy Heckman

A couple years ago I bought a bird feeder. 

It's nothing fancy, but it is the kind that holds bird seed "cakes" instead of loose bird seed. It's been so much fun throughout the seasons to watch different birds come & go. My 5-year old son has learned the differences between a cardinal & a finch, a blue jay & a chickadee. I love opening up the french doors to the back porch early in the morning so I can watch & listen to all the birds that are visiting that day. 

We've enjoyed it so much that last week I decided that it would be fun to add another bird feeder. More birds = more fun, right?  This time I got one that holds loose seed. It has 6 different areas for the birds to sit & eat. I thought, hey...the more the better!  Boy, was I wrong. Not only did this new bird feeder attract all the WRONG kinds of birds (a flock of aggresive, fighting crows & several pooping pigeons), it scared away all my other bird friends. They have been quite scarce in the past week or so. Once I realized my mistake I immediately removed the new feeder & put it inside. 

Can you think of a time in your life when you've made a similar mistake? 

Thinking that "more is better" or "more things = more fun?" It's a dangerous mindset that is so easy for us to fall into living in such a "Babylonian Society" as Beth Moore puts it. We're constantly fed messages that we need "more" of everything - more technology, more clothes, more space in our houses or cars...always more. 

But Jesus wants us to be content with what He has provided for us.

In 1 Timothy 6:6 it says, "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." God wants us to find our wealth & happiness in Him - not in tangible things. It is so much more rewarding to find contentment in your relationship with Jesus Christ than in anything in this earthly life. 

If you have been feeling tempted lately by society's message of "more is better" then I encourage you to read all of 1 Timothy 6 & see what God speaks to your heart. 

Contentment is a very powerful emotion. Let's seek it in God & find out just how amazing it can feel.

Guest Devotional - Alexis Albright

We've made some big decisions for our family lately. One of them was that I would leave my really great part-time job as a pharmaceutical representative, which provided us a car/van, car insurance, health insurance, and other great benefits. I will now be a full-time stay at home mom to our three boys.

Because of this decision, we have had to shop for insurances and a car. Car shopping, in my opinion, is never fun--especially when you are buying used. You just never know what you're getting.

We'd been looking for a while, and kept coming back to an older sedan. I just kept thinking, with three boys, I really need a van, but I guess we will be ok in this sedan.

And then last week, God provided a VAN! Now, it's nice and will do the job for us, but I'd been used to getting a new company vehicle every 2 yrs.

This is definitely not new. There are imperfections here and there and in fact, we have already had it to the mechanic with a pretty hefty bill in the end (but we've been told it should be good from now on).

Anyway, leaving the mechanic's yesterday, I had to go to Beckett's (my oldest son) preschool. This was my first time driving the van and really hadn't had time to even think about it. I pull into the car line at his school, and as I'm nearing the front I see him, see me. And then I see him jumping up and down and pointing and it looks like he's shouting with a big smile on his face. And then it hits me, he is! I start sinking in my seat with embarrassment. He's excited about his "new ('02) van." As his teacher opens the van door he's talking a hundred words a second, "look at my new van," "would you look at this?" "This is so wonderful" "I have my own fan (vent)". "I have my own light.". "Wow, mom! This is amazing.". And on and on it went. I started to giggle on the way home, trying not to let him see me, when I was hit hard with a dose of HUMILITY!

I had been asking God for a van. He provided! And I'm embarrassed?! Why can't I have the excitement of my 3 year old? God wants me to be grateful. And not just grateful but really excited and happy. I immediately stopped everything and started thanking him for providing my family this van. I thanked him for my three year old and prayed that I could learn to be more like him. And then I thanked him for this moment in which I was humbled. I needed to lose even the little bit of pride I had left regarding my car.

Thank you, Lord, for meeting our needs. You often provide more than we "need" like you did in giving us a van. Though it may not seem "perfect" in my eyes, would you continue to give me these moments of humility so that I may be grateful in all circumstances? Speak to me and remind me of your love for me. Remind me that what you have provided is a blessing. Thank you for these teachable moments. In these moments, you are molding me and stretching me. Thank you for loving me enough to do this.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Guest Devotional - Cheryl Holmes

I have been reading through the book of Psalms, giving praise to God on a daily basis through each chapter I read. I've skipped over the ones that called for revenge or pleas during persecution as I did not feel I needed help with these areas. I just wanted to focus on God and trusting Him, or growing in grace or love or praising Him for His mighty works. Then I pray a prayer based on the passage I have read and tell God what is on my heart.

I have come across so many verses that are parts of Christian songs that I can’t help but sing these songs in my mind as I am reading. Our God is worthy of our praise and worship but how often do we praise Him? Only on Sunday during the music or only when something good happens? How many times do we want to cry out to God but don’t know the words to say? David went through some pretty tough trials and yet he praised God and wrote many of these verses during times when he was being pursued by his enemies and close to death. He pleaded with God for help, for deliverance, for protection.  

What are you going through in your life right now? Why not praise God for who He is to you and cry out to Him if you are in need? He is waiting to hear from you. I encourage you to try it too!

Psalm 103:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.