In Due Season

June 8, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” NKJV

Observation

In this verse, the apostle Paul is encouraging the believers in Galatia to keep doing good because the Lord will provide a harvest of blessing when the time is right if they don’t lose heart and give up. It is clear that God’s kingdom law of reciprocity returns goodness, favor, and blessing when believers plant goodness, favor, and blessing in the lives of others. In verse 7 of this same chapter in Galatians, the apostle Paul affirms the kingdom law of reciprocity stating, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Application

As a believer, I am encouraged by Paul’s letter to the Galatians to keep doing good in life even though the planting seasons of life can become wearisome at times. Because God is Lord of the harvest, He will return a harvest of goodness, favor, and blessing in my life from the seeds of goodness, favor, and blessing that I plant in other people’s lives. Although a farmer can grow weary in his planting season, the wise farmer keeps on planting because he knows there is a harvest season coming if he doesn’t lose heart and give up. I realize that I too can grow weary in the planting seasons of life; however, like the wise farmer, I will choose to keep planting seeds of goodness, favor, and blessing in the lives of others because in due season, the planting seasons in my life will change to harvest seasons in my life if I don’t lose heart and give up.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Lord of the planting seasons in life and also Lord of the harvest seasons in life! Thank You for Your faithfulness to return harvest seasons of life blessing from the planting seasons of life blessing. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, give me supernatural strength to not grow weary in the planting seasons of life and give me Your abundant grace to lavishly plant seeds of goodness, favor, and blessing in the lives of others. I love You Jesus! Amen!

In Due Season Copyright 2013, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, In Due Season, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

A Mother’s Day Blessing For My Mom

May 12, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , Leave a comment

Love 

On this Mother’s Day,

Better than flowers in a bouquet,

I want to bless you Mom,

In a special kind of way.

Please know that this is true,

Of all the Moms that are living,

And that I could have been given,

I am grateful that God chose you.

Although life is not a breeze,

Your constant encouragement,

Gave me a loving environment,

To bloom with relative ease.

Through day and night,

I know your prayers for me,

Truly helped me see,

God’s redeeming light.

Having a beautiful family of my own,

I know what it means personally,

For you to still pray for me,

Even now that I am fully grown.

From my birth til even now,

Thank you Mom,

For always making me feel,

As if I wear a crown.

So on this Mother’s Day,

This is all I really want to say,

I love you Mom,

In a special kind of way.

A Mother’s Day Blessing For My Mom Copyright 2013, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the poem, A Mother’s Day Blessing For My Mom, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Blow The Trumpets

May 10, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Scripture

Numbers 10:9-10 “When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the Lord your God of His covenant with you. I am the Lord your God.” NLT

Observation

In these verses, the Lord is commanding His people to praise Him in times of battle by blowing the trumpets. When they do, the Lord promises that He will remember His people and rescue them from their enemies. Additionally, the Lord commands His people to praise Him during the good times of life to remind Him of His covenant with them.

Application

In my life, it seems easy to remember the Lord by calling upon Him when I am in trouble and need Him to rescue me. However, in these difficult times, I must remember to not only pray for His help but also praise Him in the midst of the trial until He brings complete victory. Additionally, I must remember to praise the Lord in the good times of life and not just the difficult times of life. Jesus is Lord of the valleys and also Lord of the mountaintops. He alone deserves praise for His goodness, His word, and His faithfulness during the good and bad times in my life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are good! Thank You for always remembering Your covenant with me through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Give me the everyday mindfulness to praise You in the valleys of life and praise You on the mountaintops of life for You are good, Your word is true, and You are faithful. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Blow The Trumpets Copyright 2013, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Blow The Trumpets, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Examined Life

April 26, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Psalms 26:2 “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.”

Observation

In this verse, David prostrates himself before the Lord and opens his heart and his mind to be examined by the Lord. David understands that his life is safe in the hands of Almighty God, the only True and Righteous One, who knows his every thought and the motives of his heart.

Application

Socrates has said that, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Life becomes dark when I do not allow my life to be open and vulnerable to the Lord and others because our heart and our thoughts can easily deceive us. The only way that we can prevent ourselves from being led astray by deception is to allow God and others to examine us, speak truth to us in love, and expose our blind spots. The reason blind spots are called blind spots is because we cannot see them with our own eyes. The scariest thing about being deceived is that a deceived person does not know that they are deceived. Being open and vulnerable to God and others immediately solves the deception problem.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are All Knowing, Righteous, and True! Thank you Lord for searching me, knowing me, and leading me in Your paths of righteousness. By Your grace Lord, lead me into all truth and teach me all things as I open my life to You and to others who will speak truth in love to me. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Examined Life Copyright 2013, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Examined Life, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Dare To Hope

March 29, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Lamentations 3:21-24 “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!’” New Living Translation

Observation

In these verses, Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet, refuses to succumb to utter gloom and despair over the sin and rebellion of the people of God in his day. Although the sin and rebellion committed by the people deserve God’s full judgment, Jeremiah reminds himself that the Lord’s unfailing love, His unending mercies, His faithfulness, and His tender mercies are new every morning. As a result, he throws himself on the rock of God’s love and faithfulness where he dares to find his hope in the Lord.

Application

Even though my sin and rebellion against God deserve His full judgment, like Jeremiah, I will remind myself of the Lord’s unfailing love, never ending mercy, faithfulness, and new mercies every day through the complete and total forgiveness of my sin by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter what, I throw myself on the rock of His love, faithfulness, and inheritance of my salvation in Him which is where my daring hope comes from.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness! Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness that reaches to the heavens and Your tender mercies that are new every morning. Despite my failures, sin, and rebellion against You, I dare to place my trust and hope in You, the Lord my Righteousness in Christ Jesus, because You are good, You are faithful, and Your word is true. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Dare To Hope Copyright 2012, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Dare To Hope, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Set Apart

March 1, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Jeremiah 1:5 “I [the Lord] knew you [Jeremiah] before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” New Living Translation

Observation

In this verse, the Lord tells Jeremiah that He knew Jeremiah before the Lord formed him in his mother’s womb. Furthermore, the Lord tells Jeremiah that before he was even born, the Lord set him apart and divinely appointed him as a prophet to the nations. This declaration from God is the calling that Jeremiah needed to hear from God, be encouraged to follow diligently after Him, and step forward into his divinely appointed destiny as a holy, set apart, unique, prophet of God to the nations.

Application

If the Lord knew Jeremiah before He formed him in his mother’s womb, I can rest assured that the Lord also knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb. In fact, the Apostle Peter says in Acts 10:34, “God is no respecter of persons.” And if this truth is not astounding enough, I can also trust that the Lord has a holy, set apart, unique, divine calling and appointment for me as a child of God, just like He did for Jeremiah. In Luke 12:6-7, the Bible says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Understanding that I am worth more than many sparrows to the Lord, that the Lord knew me before I was even born, and that He has set me apart with a God-ordained calling in Him, encourages me to: 1) carefully listen for His still small voice, 2) follow diligently after Him, and 3) courageously step forward in faith into my unique divinely appointed destiny in God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are El Elyon, God Most High, Creator and Possessor Of Heaven And Earth! Thank you Lord for knowing me before I was formed in my mother’s womb and creating me with a unique divinely appointed destiny in You. Help me Lord to carefully listen for Your still small voice calling me, leading me, and encouraging me to courageously step forward in faith into my unique divinely appointed destiny in You. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Set Apart Copyright 2012, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Set Apart, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Valley Of Blessing

February 15, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Scripture

2 Chronicles 20:26 “On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.” New Living Translation

Observation

This verse highlights a day when the people of Judah, under the reign of King Jehoshaphat, celebrated a huge victory in the Lord. Just prior to this celebration in the Valley of Blessing, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites had declared war on King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. As they were marching towards Judah, King Jehoshaphat declared a fast and prayed to the Lord for deliverance. The Lord heard his prayer and the Spirit of the Lord communicated that the battle was not King Jehoshaphat’s battle, but rather God’s battle. King Jehoshaphat sought wisdom from God, stood still in the presence of the Lord, and watched the Lord deliver a complete victory. The victory was so great that it took three full days for the people of Judah to gather the plunder from the battlefield. On the fourth day, they gathered at the Valley of Blessing to praise the Lord and thank Him there.

Application

There are times when I find myself just as King Jehoshaphat, faced with an opposing situation that is simply too big for me to handle and I don’t know what to do. It is in those times when I must follow the example of King Jehoshaphat and seek the Lord for His guidance, wisdom, and protection. In a humble posture of complete yielding and dependence upon the Lord, I can position myself to trust the Lord, stand still in His presence, and watch the Lord accomplish the victory on my behalf. As I give praise to the Lord in every circumstance as a child of God, the battle becomes God’s battle and not mine which assures me victory as well as a valley of blessing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Tsebioth, the Lord of Hosts! Thank You Lord for Your name being a strong tower where I can run to it and find safety in every situation. I place my total trust in You and have no fear of any adverse circumstance prevailing against me because You are for me. Help me Lord to always remember that Your faithful love endures forever. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Valley Of Blessing Copyright 2012, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Valley Of Blessing, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

The Borgstede Family Constitution

February 12, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , Leave a comment

  • ForeverKeep God the focal point of our family and relationships
  • Remain married until death, thru sickness and health, for richer or poorer
  • Pursue long-term active involvement in church and community
  • Teach our children the fear and admonition of the Lord
  • Maintain a stable home environment that fosters full utilization of God-given talents and potential
  • Love and respect one another unconditionally with the help and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

The Borgstede Family Constitution Copyright 1991, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint The Borgstede Family Constitution, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Convicted In Christ

February 1, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Scripture

Revelation 1:9 “I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.”

Observation

As the writer of the book of Revelation to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, the apostle John reveals his identity in Christ as a fellow believer by stating 1) he is a brother in the Lord, 2) he is a partner in suffering, 3) he is a partner in God’s kingdom, 4) and he is a partner in the patient endurance of the call of Christ for all believers. Furthermore, he unashamedly declares his conviction in Christ as a person banished to the island of Patmos for preaching God’s word and sharing his testimony about Jesus.

Application

I once heard someone ask this question, “If you were accused of being a follower of Christ, would there be any evidence to convict you?” In contemplating an answer to this question, I believe there would be significant evidence in my life to convict me as a Christ follower provided that I share the same evidences that identified and convicted the apostle John as a fellow believer and follower of Christ. To accumulate such evidences in my life, I must faithfully live my life in a way that affirmatively answers the following questions: 1) Am I a true brother in the Lord to other believers in Christ? 2) Am I a true partner in the sufferings experienced from a personal faith in Christ along with other believers? 3) Am I a true partner with other believers in building God’s kingdom in my generation? 4) Am I a true partner in the patient endurance of the call of Christ for all believers during my lifetime? 5) Am I faithful to unashamedly share the good news of the gospel with others and tell them about my relationship with Jesus?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord my Righteousness! Thank You Lord for Your unfailing love towards me that never gives up on me even when I have failed You and have demonstrated a weak conviction in You. By Your overwhelming grace in my life and the power of Your Holy Spirit working in me, help me to grow in Christ day by day in ways that produce solid evidences of my life surrendered to You, my Lord and Savior. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Convicted In Christ Copyright 2012, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Convicted In Christ, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Safe And Secure

January 19, 2013

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , 3 Comments

Scripture

Proverbs 14:26 “Those who fear the Lord are secure; He will be a refuge for their children.”

Observation

In this proverb, King Solomon encourages people who fear the Lord with two tremendous promises from God: 1) they will be secure in the Lord, and 2) their children will have safe refuge in Him.  

Application

As a father, my heart is to always provide a safe refuge for my children and to always be there for them, no matter what. How much more will my heavenly Father do for my children since He created them in the womb, knew them before they were born, and gave His life for them at the Cross? Because I fear the Lord and place my trust in Him, I am safe and secure in His blessing. And so too are my children. Isaiah 65:23 (NLT) confirms this promise stating, “They [people who fear the Lord] will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner! Thank You Lord for covering me, my wife, and each of my children with the blessing of Your Banner over us! I am forever grateful for the safety and security that we have in You. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Safe And Secure Copyright 2012, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Safe And Secure, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

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