Tonite, July 5th, 8 PM PST, Deborah Lovett will be the guest on ALIVEINCHRISTRADIO.com

For those East Coasters, the archives are available right after the show!
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A DIFFERENT JOURNEY

2 Samuel 22:29 …the Lord turns my darkness into light.

About a month ago I went to the airport to catch an 8am flight to Sarasota, Florida, with just my one carry on suitcase in hand. I arrived at the gate at 7am after being dropped off at the airport by my husband. As I approached my gate, my heart started pounding from fear due to the fact that there was not a soul in the waiting area! I quickly asked the sole man behind the desk of the airline “Where is everyone for the 8am flight to Atlanta?” as Atlanta was my connection through to my three-day trip in Florida. He looked up at me rather startled and commented, “Ma’am there is no 8am flight.” To which I responded, “Yes there is, here is my ticket!” I felt as if I was in a Star Wars Movie that was just beginning, and I was the alien invader. The man then grabbed the ticket out of my hand, took a really close look at it, as I waited on pins and needles and then responded, “This says pm not am.” Ughhhhh. My heart sank, my ego deflated, my brain turned to mush.

In just a matter of a few seconds my three day vacation turned into two, I had no ride home, and no ticket for the am flight that wasn’t—not the greatest scenario. I was glad I had my suitcase with me at least. My mind immediately flashed these choices: cry, blame, act hysterical, explain, or pray. For once in my life, I chose the right thing first: I prayed. The man started checking the computer…

To make a long story short, the Lord turned my pm flight, my darkness into light, LITERALLY. The man got me a flight at 7:45am on a different airline. When I got to that gate, they informed me they didn’t have an extra seat! I prayed again. A seat opened up. I got on the flight. They flew into a different connecting city, Charlotte,NC rather than Atlanta, GA. When I got to Charlotte, I called my husband and asked him to change my rental car pick up from Sarasota to Tampa, as I would now be flying into a different location than I had planned. He said he would take care of it, and I boarded my next flight to Tampa. As I landed in Tampa, I started praising God! Now my only prayer was to get the rental and not get lost driving to Sarasota. What should have been a 20-minute drive had turned into an hour and half drive but hey, I was just happy to be in the right State at that point!

I had told my girlfriend I would be arriving around 1pm. I pulled into her condominium at exactly 1:15pm! As I looked into my rear view mirror, she was right behind me! She had been out running errands, and had just pulled in.

God is amazing, His timing is impeccable, His plans are often different than ours. He is able to turn our darkness into light: spiritually through receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, physically by changing our circumstances and emotionally by teaching us how to take our thoughts captive.

Oh, and one more thing: Not one person ever charged me an extra dime! His grace is free! True story, don’t you just love how God works?

Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the darkness that surrounds us, His plan may be different than you think, are you willing to truly open your mind and heart to Him today and experience His amazing love and grace?

Drink up the Well is deep.
Deborah Lovett
www.DeborahLovett.com
Women of the Well Ministry

THE ONE ANOTHERS

IDEAS FOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER

By: GOD

(May I suggest you personalize these with your own name & the person’s name the Holy Spirit brings to mind-as the one another. Then make notes as to how you will apply them.)

LEVITICUS 19:11 DO NOT DECEIVE ONE ANOTHER.

ZECHARIAH 7:9 ADMINISTER TRUE JUSTICE; SHOW MERCY AND COMPASSION TO ONE ANOTHER.

JOHN 13:14 NOW THAT I, YOUR LORD AND TEACHER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET, YOU ALSO SHOULD WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET.

JOHN 13:34 A NEW COMMAND I GIVE YOU: LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

ROMANS 12:10 BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN BROTHERLY LOVE. HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES.

ROMANS 12:16 LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT BE PROUD, BUT BE WILLING TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE OF LOW POSITION.
DO NOT BE CONCEITED.

ROMANS 14:13 THEREFORE LET US STOP PASSING JUDGMENT ON ONE ANOTHER. INSTEAD, MAKE UP YOUR MIND NOT TO PUT ANY STUMBLING BLOCK OR OBSTACLE IN YOUR BROTHERS WAY.

ROMANS 15:7 ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS CHRIST ACCEPTED YOU, IN ORDER TO BRING PRAISE TO GOD.

ROMANS 15:14 INSTRUCT ONE ANOTHER.

ROMANS 16; 16 GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS.

CORINTHIANS 1:10 I APPEAL TO YOU BROTHERS, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER SO THAT THERE MAY BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU AND THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN MIND AND THOUGHT.

GALATIANS 5:13 SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.

EPHESIANS 4:2 BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE; BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.

EPHESIANS 4:32 BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS IN CHRIST GOD FORGAVE YOU.

EPHESIANS 5:19 SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS.

EPHESIANS 5:21 SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST.

COLOSSIANS 3:13 BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU.

COLOSSIANS 3:16 TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD EACH OTHER UP, JUST AS IN FACT YOU ARE DOING.

HEBREWS 10:24 AND LET US CONSIDER HOW WE MAY SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARDS LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS.

JAMES 4:11 BROTHERS, DO NOT SLANDER ONE ANOTHER.

1 PETER 3:8 LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER, BE SYMPATHETIC, BE COMPASSIONATE AND HUMBLE.

1 PETER 4:9 OFFER HOSPITALITY TO ONE ANOTEHR WITHOUT GRUMBLING.

1 PETER 5:5 CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE, GOD OOPPOSES THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Lovingly,
God

DOWNSIZING WITHOUT NOTICE

“Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Most people put a lot of time and effort into downsizing. Many plan, strategize, and declutter everything in perfect harmony as they downsize their lives. I have never been most people. My life has never resembled other people’s lives, which is one reason others have never quite understood the drama that surrounds my life, unless of course they have been through a tragic day with cataclysmic results such as myself.

On May 31, 2008 my husband, my two children and myself downsized to nothing. I remember the date; because it was the biggest fire anyone has ever seen around these parts. It wasn’t planned, timed, or even expected. That didn’t stop it from happening, and it took everything. Wha –la, overnight we downsized.

The thing is… now years later, we have rebuilt, and restocked our home. Things are gone that I thought I would have forever—like my wedding dress and baby pictures, hand crocheted baby gowns that were to be given to my children’s children from their great grandmother. My heart hurt for my children as they lost their scrapbooks, and trophies that they had worked so hard for. Oh, and every journal that I had kept my spiritual journey in- a legacy to be handed down for generations to come– are gone forever.

My pastor once said, “You’ll never see a hurst pulling a u-haul.” We would be wise to remember that.
I remember telling my son the day after the fire: “This is what’s it’s like when you go to heaven. You can’t take a thing with you.” I don’t know if I scared him or if he understood it. He has the integrity and understanding of a man who can relate with many types of people, due to the fact that he visited Pichan, Ecuador where people live downsized lives on a daily basis and now due to the fact that he can relate to those who have suffered tornadoes, hurricanes, etc…because he himself has been there.

If you are thinking of downsizing, I want you to know it is ok. If you recently lost all of your material goods due to a tornado or flooding, God really will see you through it. You can live without the stuff, for awhile. Whether you plan it or it plans you, I pray you will find God in the middle of it. Be watching!

We now use our memories to remember parties of the past, special days in school, the births of our children, funny things they said- that we once had on film that no longer exist. And we do. Really everything else is meaningless. Sure we replaced our ‘things’ but they will never own us. We know all that we have ever had has come from the very Hand of God, and He is the giver and the taker, all in HIS timing.

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Drink the blood of His cup and eat the bread of life, and you will remember that less of me– means more of Him. I must decrease so He can increase in me. Selflessness is the fire that will kindle that Holy Spirit love that compels us to remember Jesus’ own sacrifice for us on the cross, which puts everything into perfect perspective, to make us His disciples without ranting, but through remembering.
Be Blessed,
Deborah Lovett

WHEN WE FAIL TO BELIEVE…

We fail to believe God has chosen us,
therefore we don’t seek or search for our Savior.
We fail to believe God has given us royal robes to wear,
therefore we walk around in rags of deprivation.
We fail to believe God loves us,
therefore we don’t obey His instructions.
We fail to believe God has a plan and a future for us,
therefore we never fulfill our purpose.
We fail to believe God’s faithfulness stands firm,
therefore we dive into despair.
We fail to believe God answers our prayers,
therefore we just don’t ask.
We fail to believe God’s truth sets us free,
therefore we keep living in bondage to lies.
We fail to believe God’s shield of protection,
therefore we fret in fear.
We fail to believe God promises to provide,
therefore we work like maniacs to provide for ourselves.
We fail to believe God’s warnings and discipline,
therefore we continue in sin, refusing to repent.
We fail to fail to believe in God’s mercy and forgiveness,
therefore we continue to waste away in self-condemnation.
We fail to believe God’s compassion is new every morning,
therefore we fail to meet Him for quiet time.
We fail to believe God’s resurrection healing power,
therefore we never find wholeness or restoration.
We fail to believe God brings joy in the morning,
therefore we mourn our losses for the rest of our days.
We fail to believe God has the answers for our questions,
therefore we never ask for wisdom.
We fail to believe God’s plan cannot be thwarted,
therefore we won’t wait for Him or trust in His timing.
We fail to believe God can give us rest,
therefore we are disquieted and burdened by all kinds of stresses.
We fail to believe God can crown us with beauty,
therefore our lives remain in ashes.
We fail to believe God wants us to consider others better than ourselves,
therefore we put progress before people.
We fail to believe God can cleanse our hearts and consciences,
therefore we are oppressed by guilt and shame.
We fail to believe in the Messiah’s offer of the Living Water,
therefore our souls remain thirsty.
We fail to believe God wants a personal relationship with us,
therefore we walk in loneliness.
We fail to believe God sent His Son to die for our sins,
and that He promises us eternal life,
therefore we forfeit all the blessings, plans, life and power of the
resurrected Christ.

SO BELIEVE!

Taken from Deborah’s book, “GUSHING SPRINGS”. Copyright Women of the Well 2011

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FIELD OF WHEAT

FIELD OF WHEAT
By: Deborah Lovett

John 4:35 ‘Do you not say, “Four months more and then the harvest”? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’

After a long day at work, my husband and I like to take walks on the beautiful piece of property God has so graciously given us. During one of those walks, Tim showed me a field of wheat that a farmer he hired had planted on our acreage. It was gorgeous—all about the same height, golden brown, and blowing in the wind, like something you would imagine seeing in the movies. But then he told me, “It’s time to cut it down.” I exclaimed, “But why? It’s so pretty!” He smiled and said, “That’s why we planted it.”

I understood, but was disappointed. About a month later, we took another walk, but this time that same field was filled with weeds. The wheat was an ugly brown, and it was no longer all the same height. I asked Tim, “Why haven’t you harvested it?” He replied, “Can’t find a farmer to do it.” My husband is the greatest husband a girl could ever want, but a farmer he is not—a cowboy, maybe, but not a farmer!

“It’s a shame to have planted all those seeds only to let the whole field go to waste. The longer the field goes without being harvested, the more the weeds overtake it.” My thoughts reeled. Tim called every day for farmers to harvest the wheat, but he always received the same answer, “We’re too busy,” or “Your field just isn’t large enough.”

The more I thought about the wheatfield, the more my heart broke. The only way I could figure out how to harvest this field was to cut it down myself—stalk by stalk. Before you think I’m some lunatic or something, be assured that I don’t plan to do that! But I believe God never wastes a thing, and all things work to our good when we love Him. He used this experience to teach me a valuable lesson.

Could it be that God has sent us, the Women and Men at His Well, a message today? I believe He wants to tell us, “The way to harvest in this busy, self-centered world is one person at a time. Don’t worry about what is in it for you, and don’t become discouraged if you don’t get to every person. Don’t make excuses. Just look around you and see who I have put in your path. If you don’t act soon, evil will spread. But take heart, for I have overcome the world. Look beyond what you see, think eternally, and persevere in My Power.” (This can all be seen in Scripture as well.)

Our Heavenly Father amazes me with His ability to take a field of wheat that looked like a hopeless disaster, and still use it to motivate us to take action to reach people. He never wastes a thing, and He’s still our Redeemer! What a joy it is to work in His field, doing His will. That is my spiritual nourishment for today. What’s yours? Jesus tells us to open our eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest today.

Drink the Living Water
Matthew 9:37 “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ ”

Deeper Reflections
—When is the last time you took a walk, either by yourself or with a friend or family member to admire God’s creation? Describe a time when God taught you a lesson as you observed the natural world.
—What would you say is your own wheat field in God’s harvest?

Prayer
Lord of the Harvest, I pray that You will send more workers out into your fields today. Prepare them, provide for them, send them and reward them with your spiritual blessings. And Lord, send me. Amen.

TODAYS DEVOTIONAL HAS COME DIRECTLY FROM DEBORAH’S BOOK,
GUSHING SPRINGS.