Infinity

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV)

Devotion:

The math gene skipped our family. We do not understand algebra, geometry, or calculus. (Fortunately, we can balance our checkbooks!) Anything beyond basic arithmetic skills is beyond us.

However, there is one element of mathematics that I understand—infinity. Infinity goes on forever. It has no end. The only reason I can grasp this concept is that I have experienced it.

Sometimes, I experience discouragement concerning the problems of my child. Yet, somehow, God will provide a message of encouragement. It may be a song on the radio. A Scripture will resonant in my soul. A friend will call to chat about and pray for my wild child. The ways the Lord speaks hope to me is endless. He offers me eternal encouragement as I struggle with the never-ending episodes of wayward behavior from my child.

I may not comprehend algebra and I certainly do not understand my child. Nonetheless, I do grasp that the Lord understands both my prodigal and me. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5 KJV) Thankfully, I do not have to solve algebra equations or my wild child’s self-made problems. God’s infinite understanding equates to eternal encouragement for both of us. Because of this, I can pray and not be distracted by discouragement. I will ask God to multiply His demonstrations of love to both of us. Our family doesn’t need any more division, but to be unified by understanding and encouragement. I know God will add these to our home so we can find a balance in our relationships.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, demonstrate Your love to my child. Allow him/her to experience Your love and grace. Encourage them in their heart and strengthen them in every good deed and word. Lord God, cleanse my child from all the sin that he/she has committed against You. Grant eternal encouragement and hope to all my children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

Pray for your child every day. Look for specific Scriptures that you can pray concerning your children.

Power verses:

Ephesians 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV) 

Psalm 147:5, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (KJV) 

Jeremiah 51:15, “He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.” (NIV) 

© 2007 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

A Heart of Contentment

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (NIV)

         

Devotion:

Contentment eludes most of us much of the time. We covet what others have in their lives that we do not. It may be beauty, cars, homes, thinness, sex appeal, clothes, money, or a host of other items or qualities that we value. Day after day, we hear how inadequate our lives are without all of these things. Advertisers coax us with the promise that if we purchase their product then we will be happy and, best of all; others will covet what we have.

Today as I sat down to work, I felt anxious and irritable. My mind raced on about what would make me happier and more content. My thoughts hip-hopped from weight-loss, to more money, to a needed vacation, to less pressure in work, and to maybe a facelift.

Perhaps it’s not my face that needs a lift, but my life. Hmmm . . . I definitely needed a life-lift. Now interestingly, I had just read a magazine, pictures included, about Hollywood couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Discontent and depression crept in as I read each paragraph and looked at the airbrushed photos. Yes, I admit, I devoured the whole silly article. I bought into the lie of this world that my life didn’t measure up.

My dysfunctional thinking eventually landed me in bed—depressed. Then, I reminded myself I had a devotion to write. I went for a long walk around my neighborhood. The sun shone brightly, a breeze blew briskly, the birds chirped, and I felt God’s whisper in my spirit, “Now Susanne, what more do you really need?” Tears sprang to my eyes. I admitted humbly that I need nothing, nothing but a spiritual spanking from the Holy Spirit. “Oh, Father, forgive me,” I prayed. “Why do I always want more and more?”

Are you battling discontent and depression? Does getting out of bed seem like a monumental task? If yes, let’s decide together, to follow the advice of Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (NIV) The term fear means to revere and respect. When we grumble with discontent, it demonstrates our lack of reverence and respect of what God has supplied in our lives. Our key verse, “Godliness with contentment is great gain,” points us to what brings a heart of contentment—godliness and with contentment. 

A heart of contentment awaits, let’s allow it to become a reality in our lives today.  

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I thank You for all the blessings You have given so graciously to me. Please forgive my discontent and grumbling. Help me discover the contentment that comes only when I place You first in my life. Teach me to keep a heart of contentment. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

 Application steps: 

In a notebook, list at least twenty-five blessings that God has provided for you. Review the list when you feel the attitude of discontent creeping into your thoughts. Memorize 1 Timothy 6:6 and Proverbs 16:23. 

Reflections: 

What prompts my discontent? (Magazines, TV, movies, etc.)

Do I revere and respect God?

Am I grateful for the blessings in my life?

Power verses:

Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (NIV)

Philippians 4:11-12, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (NIV) 

Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (NIV) 

© 2007 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

“The Gift of Peace”

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

Devotion:

I fidgeted as I waited for the receptionist to acknowledge me. She hung up the phone and smiled. “Are you here to see Kurt for a radio interview?” 

I nodded and shuffled my feet a bit more.

“Just have a seat on the couch. He’ll be with you in a minute.”

I sat on the couch. The tension in my body made me straight and prim.  I thumbed through my notes and glanced around the radio studio. Then, out of the corner of my eye, a rapid movement drew my attention. A spider—a huge spider—pranced along the arm of the sofa. I caught my breath and scooted away. A different type of tenseness surged through me.

The startled receptionist looked up, questioning. I pointed to the object of my fear. Her eyes widened, and then with the bravery of a heroine she lunged toward it with a rolled newspaper in her hand. She stopped and said, “I can’t do it. It’s too big.”

Just then Kurt, the radio host, appeared. He spotted our crisis. However, unlike the two of us, he strode to the sofa, grabbed the cushion, carried it to the door and flicked the spider to a new outdoor home. “Man, that was a big one! Welcome! Let’s do the interview.”

Later, I pondered my morning’s fear. I considered my nervousness about the interview. I relived my terror of the spider. In reality, neither was worthy of my anxiety. Neither could have caused me bodily harm. (That is, unless I had passed out and cracked my head open.) Fear is a God-given emotion, yet often my fears are unwarranted or irrational. I allow ordinary circumstances rob me of my peace. I forget the promise of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). 

Christ came to earth to redeem us and grant us peace. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1NIV). My tendency is to fear scary bugs, failure and the unknown future. But, I shouldn’t. Jesus offers me the gift of peace—I just need to remember to claim it for my own each day.  His peace has my name on the gift tag.

His gift of peace has your name on it, too. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, teach me to remember each day that Your peace is my peace. I thank you that You came to earth to redeem me and that I have no need to fear. Help me claim Your peace each morning before I begin the day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

Read the Power Verses below.  Commit to memory one or more of the verses that speak peace to your heart.

Reflections: 

What do I fear?

Why do I fear?

How can I replace my fear with the gift of Jesus’ peace?

Power verses:

Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (NIV) 

Numbers 6:26, “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (NIV) 

2 Corinthians 1:2, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV) 

© 2007 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.