No this is not about real ills (sickness), but about devotions from Real Life Illustrations. These are true earthly illustrations that reveal a spiritual truth. We encourage you to find illustrations from your life to share with others about what God is doing in your own life. Just click on the blue titles.
Real ills 9
50th Anniversary
This is my 50th anniversary of being born again. January 1, 1972, alone in my bedroom, I confessed that I was a sinner and that I wanted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I was born the second time. The joy that filled my heart! I grabbed the globe in my room and told the Lord, “I will serve you wherever you lead me.” “You may be good, religious, a disciple or follower of Christ, but are you born again?”
This is my 50th anniversary of being born again. January 1, 1972, alone in my bedroom, I confessed that I was a sinner and that I wanted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I was born the second time. The joy that filled my heart! I grabbed the globe in my room and told the Lord, “I will serve you wherever you lead me.” “You may be good, religious, a disciple or follower of Christ, but are you born again?”
My Father
Every one of us had a natural father. Without them, we would not be here. However, it is sad that some never knew their father, or knew their father only for a short time or from a distance. I am very fortunate to have over a sixty-five-year relationship with my Father. The information for this devotion he discussed with me in early November 2021. The next day he was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. He never got his strength back. He went to be with the Lord January 7, 2022 “The view we have of our Heavenly Father is often formed through our earthly father.”
Every one of us had a natural father. Without them, we would not be here. However, it is sad that some never knew their father, or knew their father only for a short time or from a distance. I am very fortunate to have over a sixty-five-year relationship with my Father. The information for this devotion he discussed with me in early November 2021. The next day he was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. He never got his strength back. He went to be with the Lord January 7, 2022 “The view we have of our Heavenly Father is often formed through our earthly father.”
Dear Lord,
We thank you for our earthly father, Lester Stambaugh.
Through his life we see an example of our Heavenly
Father: moral, God fearing, kind, loving, patient, humble,
wise, helper, provider, friendly and very hard worker.
He has touched so many lives.
He has accomplished so many things.
He has affected our world in so many ways.
We thank you for the honor of being his children, his
siblings, his relatives and his friends.
We are all better people because of Lester.
You have blessed our days and fellowship with him.
Help us to live our lives to be honoring to You, as we
look forward someday to be reunited with him, his wife,
and our loved ones whom have gone before us.
In your Son’s name we pray.
Amen
We thank you for our earthly father, Lester Stambaugh.
Through his life we see an example of our Heavenly
Father: moral, God fearing, kind, loving, patient, humble,
wise, helper, provider, friendly and very hard worker.
He has touched so many lives.
He has accomplished so many things.
He has affected our world in so many ways.
We thank you for the honor of being his children, his
siblings, his relatives and his friends.
We are all better people because of Lester.
You have blessed our days and fellowship with him.
Help us to live our lives to be honoring to You, as we
look forward someday to be reunited with him, his wife,
and our loved ones whom have gone before us.
In your Son’s name we pray.
Amen
O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
It does not matter if we were rich or poor, famous or average, healthy or sick, male or female, religious or not, good or bad, nor our race, citizenship, or occupation our life on earth will end. Our earthly possessions will be divided. Our homes will be someone else’s. Our responsibilities will be taken over by others. Even our accomplishments will someday be replaced with someone’s greater achievements. I was once asked; “Prove to me that there is a heaven and hell.” I replied “Prove to me that there is not. If I am wrong then, there is no harm. But if you are wrong, what will you do? Are you willing to find out?”
It does not matter if we were rich or poor, famous or average, healthy or sick, male or female, religious or not, good or bad, nor our race, citizenship, or occupation our life on earth will end. Our earthly possessions will be divided. Our homes will be someone else’s. Our responsibilities will be taken over by others. Even our accomplishments will someday be replaced with someone’s greater achievements. I was once asked; “Prove to me that there is a heaven and hell.” I replied “Prove to me that there is not. If I am wrong then, there is no harm. But if you are wrong, what will you do? Are you willing to find out?”
Here Comes the Bride
Typically, when brides walk down the aisle holding onto the arm of their daddies, you hear the traditional "Here Comes The Bride" play on the church organ. Dum-dum-da-dum, Dum-dum-da-dum. It was this song that Princess Victoria walked down the aisle of the Chapel Royal in St. James Palace in 1858 to her beloved German Prince Albert. The Bride of Christ is the church. It is not one specific church or denomination but the entire body of believers throughout the ages. All who have trusted the Lord and received salvation by grace through faith are collectively His Bride. This Valentine’s Day, become a part of Christ’s wedding. Say I do.
Typically, when brides walk down the aisle holding onto the arm of their daddies, you hear the traditional "Here Comes The Bride" play on the church organ. Dum-dum-da-dum, Dum-dum-da-dum. It was this song that Princess Victoria walked down the aisle of the Chapel Royal in St. James Palace in 1858 to her beloved German Prince Albert. The Bride of Christ is the church. It is not one specific church or denomination but the entire body of believers throughout the ages. All who have trusted the Lord and received salvation by grace through faith are collectively His Bride. This Valentine’s Day, become a part of Christ’s wedding. Say I do.
Use Me
It does not matter your size, health, education, strength, popularity, nationality, background, age, past or wealth, God can use you. It is not by your strength or might, but by His Spirit. He will work through you. The world has not yet seen what one person totally consecrated to Christ can do. Is that one person you? “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Is 6:8 "God does not need our abilities. He only wants our availability."
It does not matter your size, health, education, strength, popularity, nationality, background, age, past or wealth, God can use you. It is not by your strength or might, but by His Spirit. He will work through you. The world has not yet seen what one person totally consecrated to Christ can do. Is that one person you? “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Is 6:8 "God does not need our abilities. He only wants our availability."
Keep Looking Up, In and Out
Yes, we should keep looking up for Christ’s return, but it is more important that we now look inward and outward. We should share our faith of comfort, hope and salvation through our words and actions. When we cannot help physically, we can pray. We need to stop complaining about gas prices and pray for those who are fleeing and fighting. "Our prayers can destroy any enemy, can heal any wound, and can meet any need. "
Yes, we should keep looking up for Christ’s return, but it is more important that we now look inward and outward. We should share our faith of comfort, hope and salvation through our words and actions. When we cannot help physically, we can pray. We need to stop complaining about gas prices and pray for those who are fleeing and fighting. "Our prayers can destroy any enemy, can heal any wound, and can meet any need. "
Who R U?
“Beginning May 3, 2023, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.” It is getting ridiculous the amount of time that you must spend proving who you are. In my wallet, I carry eleven different cards so various places can identify me. I must have thirty different usernames with various passwords for cyber communications. Thank goodness, the only ID you need for heaven is Jesus.
“Beginning May 3, 2023, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.” It is getting ridiculous the amount of time that you must spend proving who you are. In my wallet, I carry eleven different cards so various places can identify me. I must have thirty different usernames with various passwords for cyber communications. Thank goodness, the only ID you need for heaven is Jesus.
I Was There
Christ can say about creation, “I was there”. During Noah’s flood, Christ can say; “I was there”. While Moses and the people crossed the Red Sea, Christ can say; “I was there”. During the Revolutionary, Civil War, and all wars, Christ can say; “I was there”. At the death of your loved one, Christ can say, “I was there”. At your car wreck, Christ can say, “I was there”. At your wedding, Christ can say, “I was there”. For both bad and good events, Christ can say, “I was there”. He was present everywhere in the past, is at the present, and will be in the future. Now, it is up to you how He reacts. Christ could be just an observer / reporter, or He could be as a comforter, advisor, leader, miracle worker, or even a participant, in your or world events.
Christ can say about creation, “I was there”. During Noah’s flood, Christ can say; “I was there”. While Moses and the people crossed the Red Sea, Christ can say; “I was there”. During the Revolutionary, Civil War, and all wars, Christ can say; “I was there”. At the death of your loved one, Christ can say, “I was there”. At your car wreck, Christ can say, “I was there”. At your wedding, Christ can say, “I was there”. For both bad and good events, Christ can say, “I was there”. He was present everywhere in the past, is at the present, and will be in the future. Now, it is up to you how He reacts. Christ could be just an observer / reporter, or He could be as a comforter, advisor, leader, miracle worker, or even a participant, in your or world events.
Meeting Man’s Needs
The required needs of mankind to exist in this world are: First, nourishment (food), second is shelter, third is medical and the fourth is relationship. Because of his disobedience to God, man’s needs became his (that is mankind’s) responsibility. The further and further mankind drifts from God, the more difficult it becomes for man to provide for his own needs. You may ask “How can I help with this difficult situation?”
The required needs of mankind to exist in this world are: First, nourishment (food), second is shelter, third is medical and the fourth is relationship. Because of his disobedience to God, man’s needs became his (that is mankind’s) responsibility. The further and further mankind drifts from God, the more difficult it becomes for man to provide for his own needs. You may ask “How can I help with this difficult situation?”
A Blurred Vision
Six months went by after my cataract surgery. Things began to be blurry. I thought the problem was my new glasses. However, it kept getting worse. I soon could not read a book, look at words on the computer or drive safely. At the doctor’s office, I could not read below the third of the largest line. He told me that I needed to wear a patch over my bad eye so the good one would not try to compensate until they can correct the problem. You may have been taught the truth, but something happened. and you no longer see clearly. Cover that thought, that teaching, that person and seek good counsel, church and the Word.
Six months went by after my cataract surgery. Things began to be blurry. I thought the problem was my new glasses. However, it kept getting worse. I soon could not read a book, look at words on the computer or drive safely. At the doctor’s office, I could not read below the third of the largest line. He told me that I needed to wear a patch over my bad eye so the good one would not try to compensate until they can correct the problem. You may have been taught the truth, but something happened. and you no longer see clearly. Cover that thought, that teaching, that person and seek good counsel, church and the Word.
Heart Problems
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.” “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” Matt 15:19 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezk 26:36 What is your heart’s physical and spiritual condition? “Even the healthy are born with a bad heart.”
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.” “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” Matt 15:19 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezk 26:36 What is your heart’s physical and spiritual condition? “Even the healthy are born with a bad heart.”
Wills
God has a will for your life. No, it is not for the distribution of your things after you die. It is a plan for your life while you are living But God also gave us a free will. It is the ability to choose or make decisions per our own desires. For your loved ones, make sure your Last Will and Testament and beneficiaries are correct or it could cause dissension after your passing. But it is more important that your free will is a surrendered will to God’s plan. It is not too late for both. "A written will is for things you left behind. A surrendered will is for crowns that you have sent ahead."
God has a will for your life. No, it is not for the distribution of your things after you die. It is a plan for your life while you are living But God also gave us a free will. It is the ability to choose or make decisions per our own desires. For your loved ones, make sure your Last Will and Testament and beneficiaries are correct or it could cause dissension after your passing. But it is more important that your free will is a surrendered will to God’s plan. It is not too late for both. "A written will is for things you left behind. A surrendered will is for crowns that you have sent ahead."
Trust
Trust means you rely upon or place confidence in someone, something, agreement, or authority. Trust can take a long time to develop however it can easily be lost by an intentional or unintentional word, action, or event. Once lost, it is very difficult to restore. As Christians, when we stop trusting, we really stop believing in others and in God’s promises. “We need to be kept between the t t (crosses) to r (right) us to trust.”
Trust means you rely upon or place confidence in someone, something, agreement, or authority. Trust can take a long time to develop however it can easily be lost by an intentional or unintentional word, action, or event. Once lost, it is very difficult to restore. As Christians, when we stop trusting, we really stop believing in others and in God’s promises. “We need to be kept between the t t (crosses) to r (right) us to trust.”
Once was Lost
I do not know about you, but I have a habit of losing things. I recently lost my cell phone. We are all born lost to answers about why we are here, where we are going, whether there is God, and whether there is life after death. We are all born with a sinful nature and lost to God. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 If you never admit that you are lost and heading in the wrong direction, then this day ask Jesus for forgiveness. Ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. “Sadly, there are those in the church that are still among the Lost and not Found.”
I do not know about you, but I have a habit of losing things. I recently lost my cell phone. We are all born lost to answers about why we are here, where we are going, whether there is God, and whether there is life after death. We are all born with a sinful nature and lost to God. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 If you never admit that you are lost and heading in the wrong direction, then this day ask Jesus for forgiveness. Ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. “Sadly, there are those in the church that are still among the Lost and not Found.”
Choice
What an important word, concept, idea, and thought. Our ability to choose what we want to do and when we want to do it! Problem, because we are born with a sinful nature, and we choose to sin. Rom 3:23. Today, you have the choice of where you will spend eternity. Do not wait until you no longer have that choice. Your choices today will continue eternally “Priorities when making a choice: Christ, Home, Others, I, Continues Eternally.”
What an important word, concept, idea, and thought. Our ability to choose what we want to do and when we want to do it! Problem, because we are born with a sinful nature, and we choose to sin. Rom 3:23. Today, you have the choice of where you will spend eternity. Do not wait until you no longer have that choice. Your choices today will continue eternally “Priorities when making a choice: Christ, Home, Others, I, Continues Eternally.”
Loss of Power
The other day our electricity went out in our neighborhood, for hours. We had no lights, no air conditioning, no TV, no stove, the refrigerator stopped- but worst of all, my mother-in-law’s oxygen generator stopped. (I quickly connected her up with a portable tank.) I could not do my work. I got so bored that I went outside. There I saw the birds, squirrels and rabbits moving around as if nothing were wrong. I then noticed that our inside cats did not sense a problem. I wondered how we have become so dependent on electric power.
The other day our electricity went out in our neighborhood, for hours. We had no lights, no air conditioning, no TV, no stove, the refrigerator stopped- but worst of all, my mother-in-law’s oxygen generator stopped. (I quickly connected her up with a portable tank.) I could not do my work. I got so bored that I went outside. There I saw the birds, squirrels and rabbits moving around as if nothing were wrong. I then noticed that our inside cats did not sense a problem. I wondered how we have become so dependent on electric power.
What Would Jesus Do?
When Christians began wearing WWJW bracelets with the acronym for "What would Jesus do?" in the 1990s, the phrase was a reminder for them to attempt to act in a way that personifies Jesus' teachings from the Gospels. The answer to every WWJW situation should be pray, seek God’s Word, and ask Godly council. He knows the specifics about your situation. You do not need to throw the dies, guess at the answer, and hope for the best with Jesus. He knows what you should do even before you ask. Ask Him to prepare the way. Josh 1:8
When Christians began wearing WWJW bracelets with the acronym for "What would Jesus do?" in the 1990s, the phrase was a reminder for them to attempt to act in a way that personifies Jesus' teachings from the Gospels. The answer to every WWJW situation should be pray, seek God’s Word, and ask Godly council. He knows the specifics about your situation. You do not need to throw the dies, guess at the answer, and hope for the best with Jesus. He knows what you should do even before you ask. Ask Him to prepare the way. Josh 1:8
Eddie Fast
Here is a story about a person that I am calling Eddie Fast. He wrote a long letter to New Heart Beat Devotions about his life. Some look down on him because he shares his faith not in or through a church but where the rubber meets the road. That is right on the racetrack. Religious leaders spoke against Jesus for eating with sinners. Look at Matthew 9:11-13 for His response. “God does care who you are but what you really are.”
Here is a story about a person that I am calling Eddie Fast. He wrote a long letter to New Heart Beat Devotions about his life. Some look down on him because he shares his faith not in or through a church but where the rubber meets the road. That is right on the racetrack. Religious leaders spoke against Jesus for eating with sinners. Look at Matthew 9:11-13 for His response. “God does care who you are but what you really are.”
The Elect
To turn this country around, we need people of God to run for office. We need officials that stop legalizing sin. We need to pray for God to reveal the persons for whom we should vote for. Then we need people of God to pray for those elected, whether they were our choices or not.
To turn this country around, we need people of God to run for office. We need officials that stop legalizing sin. We need to pray for God to reveal the persons for whom we should vote for. Then we need people of God to pray for those elected, whether they were our choices or not.
Thank You Lord
Giving thanks to our Creator, Provider, Protector, and Savior does not mean spending hours making sure the food and table are perfect, then saying a 10-second repeatable meaningless prayer. It does not mean then spending the rest of the day watching a parade or a bowl game, that is over and forgotten, in a flash. If we cannot spend one hour each week to thank and worship God, then we should at least take one day a year for thanking Him. “The world would be a better place if every day was Thanksgiving Day.”
Giving thanks to our Creator, Provider, Protector, and Savior does not mean spending hours making sure the food and table are perfect, then saying a 10-second repeatable meaningless prayer. It does not mean then spending the rest of the day watching a parade or a bowl game, that is over and forgotten, in a flash. If we cannot spend one hour each week to thank and worship God, then we should at least take one day a year for thanking Him. “The world would be a better place if every day was Thanksgiving Day.”
Visiting Angels
There was one lady, in a parking lot, with two young children that she was trying to keep still. She had a sign asking for food money. That really tore on my heart. I had an unusual amount of extra cash in my pocket, so I gave it to her. She looked at me and said “God bless you.” I then went into the store and saw a Christian friend wearing a Visiting Angel shirt. When we help those in need, we are like visiting angels to them. But they could really be angels unawares visiting us, testing us, teaching us, and wanting to bless us. That day, it made me wandered because the lady with the kids was nowhere in sight when I came out of the store.
There was one lady, in a parking lot, with two young children that she was trying to keep still. She had a sign asking for food money. That really tore on my heart. I had an unusual amount of extra cash in my pocket, so I gave it to her. She looked at me and said “God bless you.” I then went into the store and saw a Christian friend wearing a Visiting Angel shirt. When we help those in need, we are like visiting angels to them. But they could really be angels unawares visiting us, testing us, teaching us, and wanting to bless us. That day, it made me wandered because the lady with the kids was nowhere in sight when I came out of the store.
Joseph
As a father of two sons. I often wondered what it would be like to be the earthly father of Jesus. With what Joseph went through; he has the right to be called a Saint. He was given the responsibility to take care of Mary and raise the Christ child. Wow. This Christmas let’s try and put ourselves in his shoes. “This year forget the Christmas bling and worship the Christmas King.”
As a father of two sons. I often wondered what it would be like to be the earthly father of Jesus. With what Joseph went through; he has the right to be called a Saint. He was given the responsibility to take care of Mary and raise the Christ child. Wow. This Christmas let’s try and put ourselves in his shoes. “This year forget the Christmas bling and worship the Christmas King.”
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our Lord, e-mail us at NHBDevotions@gmail.com
The international license information is on the Home page
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NEW HEART
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