Author: Kristi Wilson

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The Real You!

In 1980 my life with Christ dramatically changed. I had accepted Christ as my Savior when I was a young girl but things were stagnant. Now that I was a young wife and mother my heart cried out for more.

The best example I can give you is the life of Peter. For most of his time as Jesus’ disciple he was impetuous, ruled by his emotions ; it was apparent he struggled to maintain. And then…on the day of Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and his life demonstrated a power he had never known before.

Instead of denying he knew Christ when questioned by a little servant girl, he boldly proclaim Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the grave when he was being threatened with imprisonment and beatings. He went from being tossed about by his emotions to being the man Christ referred to as “the rock”.

The difference was the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. Peter’s boldness came from knowing who he was in Christ and the power that was given to him by Jesus.

We wanted to be like Peter, the rock so Dave and I began to devour God’s word in search of what the Father has given us to live a victorious life while we are on this earth.

Over the next several days I am going to share with you some of the Scriptures the Lord made real in my life during those days. These verses are life-changing. To start this study I need you to answer this question.

Do you know who you are? 

A  child, a parent, a spouse, a grandparent, a niece or nephew, a dear & trusted friend, a co-worker, an opponent – this list can be as long as the list of people we know and are related to. But really, who are you?  This question can be answered in greatest depth and meaning when we allow the Scripture to define who we are.

Paul says if any man, person, be “in Christ” he is a new creature; old things have passed away and all things have become new.  A new creature – so who or what is this new creature. What do we look like – how do we act?

One of the greatest things that can happen in our Christian walk is to realize that WE – myself included – are new creatures.  All the old with its past is dead and I’ve been given a brand new life – a new start. I have become a whole new species of being “in Christ”!  The Apostle Paul spent a great deal of his writings dealing with this new person we have become. This morning let’s look at one Scripture in particular.

“In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God. 2 Yes, in the past your lives were full of those sins. You lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. 3 In the past all of us lived like that, trying to please our sinful selves. We did all the things our bodies and minds wanted. Like everyone else in the world, we deserved to suffer God’s anger just because of the way we were.

4 But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.

8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:1-10 ERV

Over the next several mornings I will be developing a study on “Who We are in Christ Jesus”. It is my hope to give you enough Scripture and direction that you develop a hunger to learn more about your relationship “in Christ”.

Welcome to the good life – the life in Christ Jesus!

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Perspective

Some people consider the glass to be half empty while others assess that it is half full.

Perspective!

It’s important to keep a proper perspective when going through a tough time. If we begin to look too closely at the situation it can seem overwhelming. It’s important to pull back and look at things the way God’s see them.

The children of Israel saw a sea too big to cross; God saw a stream and damned it up. Saul’s soldiers saw a giant too big to conquer; David saw a man who was no match for God. Noah saw a world filled with corruption and a devastating flood; God saw a cruise ship of salvation.

What is your perspective? Do you see things as hopeless, do you see defeat?

“As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God. 2 In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face? 3 Day and night my tears are my only food, as everyone keeps asking, “Where is your God?” 4 Sorrow floods my heart, when I remember leading the worshipers to your house. I can still hear them shout their joyful praises. 5 Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, 6 and you are my God.

6 I am deeply discouraged as I think about you from where the Jordan begins at Mount Hermon and from Mount Mizar. 7 Your vicious waves have swept over me like an angry ocean or a roaring waterfall. 8 Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living Lord God. 9 You are my mighty rock. Why have you forgotten me? Why must enemies mistreat me and make me sad? 10 Even my bones are in pain, while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, “Where is your God?”

11 Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again
because you help me, and you are my God.” Psalm 42 CEV

King David saw his enemies but God saw His deliverance.

Jesus’ disciples saw a large crowd of hungry people and a little boy’s lunch; Jesus saw a hillside picnic. Mary and Martha mourned a brother who had died; Jesus saw an empty tomb. The Pharisees saw an outcast, an adulterous woman; Jesus saw someone He came to forgive and a candidate for salvation.

Satan saw Jesus as a dead man, buried in a tomb but God saw the resurrection!

Why are you discouraged or disheartened? Put your hope in God!

Some overlook the feast that God provides and see only the enemies. When the Lord gives us a cup it doesn’t remain half empty or half full. He fills our cup until it runs over.

“You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.” Psalm 23:5 CEV

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It’s Quiet – Really Quiet

Normally I will hear the dogs in the neighborhood barking, coyotes howling, an early bird warbling its song but this morning there is nothing. It is almost unnerving. I have the doors open to let in the cool morning air and with it comes the silence.

I almost hate to do any keyboarding because the touch of the keys break into the absolute quiet and disturbs my time alone with the Father.

Silence.

Having this time alone with my Father is wonderful. One of my favorite hymns when I was girl was “In the Garden”. It still is one of my favorites. And this morning I am singing it in my heart as I treasure these quiet moments with Him.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Sitting here this morning while it’s still dark , enjoying the warmth of a good cup of coffee and seeking the Father for the day’s direction, I am very thankful.

Thankful that my Father is in control.  He hasn’t fallen off His throne, His omniscience is superior to the knowledge of the world’s wisest men and His omnipresence penetrates to the farthest reaches of the universe. With all He has before Him this day He says to me, come and get to know me better.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.” Matthew 11:27 CEV

Jesus has taken the time to tell us about the Father and through what Christ has done we’ve been adopted by the Father. We can call Him “Abba Father” (Papa or Daddy) and we can experience firsthand His love and compassion.

In the silence, I feel His embrace and sense His love. In a small way, I imagine how things might have been when Jesus would pull away from the crowds for time alone with the Father.

I don’t have to have all the answers and I don’t have to learn by “hard knocks”. I can trust the Father and learn from Him.

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Well, the coyotes are beginning to howl and there’s a hoot owl in the mesquite tree telling me  it’s time to start the day. Let the Father lead you.

Listen to the Father speak in the silence of your heart!

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Mi Top 10

Parece que cada industria o ámbito de la vida tiene un Top 10. Top 10: restaurantes, lugares de vacaciones, canciones, películas, jugadores, empleados, coches, etc. Esta mañana me gustaría hablarles sobre las principales distracciones.

Cuando me despierto TEMPRANO en la mañana  tengo varias opciones. 1) Puedo luchar para volver a dormir 2) Puedo preocuparme por cualquier cosa y todo 3) Puedo orar por todo y/o 4) Puedo alabar a Dios y descansar en él.

Honestamente, paso por varios de estos pasos cada mañana cuando me encuentro despierto temprano, muy temprano. Esta mañana eran las 2:30. Así que me detuve y oré y  dije”  Señor, realmente me gustaría volver a dormir”. Luego me acosté allí otros 30 minutos, pero  no vino el sueño.

Las cosas empezaron a llenar mi mente y así comencé a orar. Oren por mis hijos, mi familia, amigos, nuestra nación, mi vecindario, salud, finanzas, la condición del mundo. Escuché a un pastor decir una vez que cuando encuentras “distracciones” inundando tu mente mientras tratas de rezar debes moverlos a la parte superior de la lista, orar sobre ellos, sacarlos de tu mente, de tu corazón y en las manos de Dios.

Y cuando hice eso, inmediatamente sentí una canción que me vino a la mente. Una canción escrita por Hillsong, Mighty to Save

“Salvador, puede mover las montañas
Mi Dios es poderoso para salvar.
Es poderoso para salvar.
Para siempre, autor de Salvación
Se levantó y conquistó la tumba.
Jesús conquistó la tumba.”

Mi Dios es poderoso para salvar – ¡piensa en eso! Tendemos a pintar la salvación con un pincel estrictamente espiritual, pero esa no es la forma en que Dios lo ve.

Su propósito y plan desde el principio era tener un pueblo que estuviera en relación con El. ¡Amistad! ¡Filiación! Y proporcionó a “Su” pueblo todo el tiempo – le dio a Noé un arca; Abraham hijo; Isaac una esposa; José se reunió con su familia; Moisés liberando; Josué una nueva tierra; David un convenio; Isaías una profecía; Jesús un propósito; Pedro un mensaje; y Pablo una revelación de la gracia de Dios.

Hemos recibido la salvación por nuestro espíritu, nuestras almas y nuestros cuerpos. ¡Es poderoso para salvar!

“El Señor vuestro Dios está en medio de  vosotros, un Poderoso, un Salvador [quien salva]! Se regocijará por vosotros con gozo; Descansará [en silencio] y en Su amor se callará y no hará mención [de los pecados del pasado, ni siquiera los recordará]; Se exultará sobre ti con el canto. Sofonías 3:17 AMP

Al llevar nuestras mejores distracciones al Señor y dejarlas en Sus manos,  descubriremos que tenemos más espacio para alabanza y acción de gracias.

“Da todas tus preocupaciones y preocupaciones a Dios, porque él se preocupa por ti.” I Pedro 5:7 NLT

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Exciting News!

I mentioned a few weeks back that I was working to develop a Spanish translation page for Kristi’s Morning Devotional. Well that day is here.

It won’t be a daily posting but I will have the format available a few times each week. If you have Spanish speaking friends they will be able to read the blog on Facebook from my page “Kristi’s Morning Devotional” or they will be able to subscribe here on the www.arizonakristi.com site and receive the post directly to their email.

I hope you will help me make this information known. I praise the Lord for the opportunity to reach Spanish speakers with the Good News of Jesus and His love.

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Like A Little Child

Yesterday morning Dave and I drove up to the Phoenix area to visit our daughters and their families. Today we will be celebrating one of our granddaughters’ third birthday.

It just so happened that our youngest daughter, her husband and two little girls had regular doctor’s visits and so we were asked to stay with our grandson while they were gone. We were reading books and learning all about the new and fun things he had been doing. He is such a smart little guy and is so much fun to listen to.

I could go on telling you stories about how smart he is but… At one point I was telling Dave about an email I had received from a friend and told him that she had requested prayer for her husband. At that, Sam said “And we need to pray for Mr. Dave, he needs a job”. We weren’t sure who Mr. Dave was so he explained it to us and that he was without a job and needed one.

I asked Sam if he would like to pray from Mr. Dave and our friend. He told me we could do it at bedtime. I told him we wouldn’t be there at bedtime but we could do it now. “Ok” and so we did. I am confident that those prayers will bring Mr. Dave to a new job very soon.

Child-like faith.

“Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 ‘And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.'” Matthew 18:2-5 NLT

Little children are accustomed to asking their parents for what they need and knowing that their parents will provide. The necessities of life, (food, water, shelter, protection), are the things that we as parents naturally take care of. Sometimes we go without ourselves to provide for our children – its part of who we are as parents. God, the Father, has a much deeper compassion and commitment to His children than we do.

Jesus was telling the adults who were listening to Him that they needed to be humble enough to ask their heavenly Father for help. They needed to quite relying on their own abilities or lack thereof, put their faith and trust in the Father and in so doing they would learn a valuable lesson about living in reliance and dependence upon their loving heavenly Father.

How better can we learn about placing our trust in God than from a child? They have much to teach us.

When we come to the Father in childlike faith we won’t be turned away.

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Time to Sit

The last few weeks have been very busy but yesterday we had a good rain and everything came to a stand still. It was time to sit.

Relax and reflect!

This year has been one of so many changes. A lot of things have been turned up-side-down. But some things should never change – one being our faith and trust in the unfailing, inerrant Word of God. The Word of God should and will be the final authority by which all is judged. It is the word of God that spoke this world into existence and it is what is holding it together still.

Many struggle with issues in life, depression, recession, dis – ease, fear, hopelessness, anything but the abundant life that God has promised to us in His word. The authority of God’s word and His promises are unchangeable and infallible.

If we live by the Bible we are considered old fashioned, uninformed, not academically in tune or worse yet intolerant and politically incorrect. But, I know of no other Book that has stood the test of time and not had to be revised or rewritten – it is the living Word of God. We either acknowledge it as absolute and live in victory or we disregard it as old fashioned and passe` and live defeated in those areas of our life.

“When Jesus had finished these talks to the people, he came to Capernaum, where it happened that there was a man very seriously ill and in fact at the point of death. He was the slave of a centurion who thought very highly of him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he would come and save his servant’s life. When they came to Jesus, they urged him strongly to grant this request, saying that the centurion deserved to have this done for him. “He loves our nation and has built us a synagogue out of his own pocket,” they said.
6-8 So Jesus went with them, but as he approached the house, the centurion sent some of his personal friends with the message, “Don’t trouble yourself, sir! I’m not important enough for you to come into my house—I didn’t think I was fit to come to you in person. Just give the order, please, and my servant will recover. I am used to working under orders, and I have soldiers under me. I can say to one, ‘Go’, and he goes, or I can say to another, ‘Come here’, and he comes; or I can say to my slave, ‘Do this job’, and he does it.” 9 These words amazed Jesus and he turned to the crowd who were following behind him, and said, “I have never found faith like this anywhere, even in Israel!”
10 Then those who had been sent by the centurion returned to the house and found the slave perfectly well.” Luke 7:1-10 ERV

Jesus was amazed because this man recognized the authority of His words. The same word of God that had authority all those years ago still has power today.

“But as for me, I will sing of Your strength. Yes, I will sing with joy of Your loving-kindness in the morning. For You have been a strong and safe place for me in times of trouble. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to You. For God is my strong place and the God Who shows me loving-kindness.” Psalm 59:16-17 NLV

It’s good to sit and reflect on the power of God’s word. I choose to put my faith in the authority of God’s Word. There is nothing greater!

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My Top 10

It seems like every industry or walk of life has a Top 10. Top 10: restaurants, vacation spots, songs, movies, players, employees, cars, etc. This morning I would like to talk to you about the top distractions.

When I wake EARLY in the morning I have several options. 1) I can fight to go back to sleep 2) I can worry about anything and everything 3) I can pray about everything and/or 4) I can praise God and rest in Him.

Honestly, I go through several of these steps each morning when I find myself awake early, very early. This morning it was 2:30. So I stopped and prayed and said “Lord I really would like to go back to sleep”. Then I laid there for another 30 minutes but sleep didn’t come.

Things began to fill my mind and so I began to pray. Pray for my children, my family, friends, our nation, my neighborhood, health, finances, the world condition. I heard a pastor say once that when you find “distractions” flooding your mind while you are trying to pray you should move them to the top of list, pray about them, get them off your mind, out of your heart and into God’s hands.

And when I did that, immediately I felt a song come to mind. A song written by Hillsong, Mighty to Save

“Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save.
He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave.”

My God is mighty to save – think about that! We tend to paint salvation with strictly a spiritual brush but that’s not the way God sees it.

His purpose and plan from the beginning was to have a people who would be in relationship with Him. Friendship! Sonship! And He provided for “His” people all along – He gave Noah an ark; Abraham a son; Isaac a wife; Joseph reunited with family; Moses deliverance; Joshua a new land; David a covenant; Isaiah a prophesy; Jesus a purpose; Peter a message; and Paul a revelation of God’s grace.

We have received salvation for our spirit, our souls and our bodies. He is mighty to save!

“The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 AMP

As we take our top distractions to the Lord and leave them in His hands we will find we have more room for praise and thanksgiving.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 NLT

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The Treasure Hunt

This morning I decided to go on a treasure hunt and I wanted to take you along. I know that God’s word is more valuable to me than any amount of silver or gold. If I was asked to give up my Bible or access to Scripture for a million dollars, without hesitation I would turn it down.

I read an article about the treatment of Christians in China. The government is going in to impoverished areas, searching homes, removing crosses and pictures of Jesus from the walls and replacing them with pictures of Chairman Mao or President Xi. These are the homes of people who receive government welfare. If they refuse to comply they are being removed from the list of names that receive assistance. It’s the government or God. Many are standing strong and refusing to deny their faith. They need our prayers.

They have found a treasure and they refuse to let go.

So here are some of the verses that came to mind after reading that article. Verses that promise treasure, better than silver or gold, to those who are willing to search for it.

“If you cry out to know right from wrong, and lift your voice for understanding; 4 if you look for her as silver, and look for her as hidden riches; 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find what is known of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5 NLV

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are sinful and have done bad things. There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven at the children of men to see if there is anyone who understands and looks (searches) for God.” Psalm 53:1-2 NLV

God is always watching for those who will search for Him and there is a promised blessing for those who do. God is not a narcissist; He’s not an ego-centric dictator. He’s a loving Father who wants to protect and provide for His children.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

This verse is in the chapter that many refer to as the Hall of Fame of Faith. It recounts the stories of men and women who abandoned all and sought God. Maybe you’ve heard of a few of them – Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab (a prostitute), Samson, Gideon, David. These all sought the treasure of knowing God and their lives were enriched and serve as a testimony to all of us.

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks…But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

This is just part of the teaching Jesus gave on searching for the things of God. The promise is that everyone who searches will find. There are stories upon stories of men who have led expeditions on land and sea searching for treasure. They search for years and never find what they are looking for but always hoping that someday they will make a great discovery.

As Christians we don’t have to wait for the “someday” of discovery. Each day, as we seek to know more about our heavenly Father, we will find Him. He’s not hiding!

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

There is no greater treasure than finding a personal relationship with God, our Father!

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Start Each Day Right

I love the way the Father gives me examples of Christian life. This morning He showed me something about my routine that reflects on Him.

“Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.” John 6:35 ERV

My morning begins with starting the coffee, coming to my office, telling the Lord I love Him, talking about the morning blog with Him and then having my Bible reading and prayer time. I have done this for over twenty years. There are a few variations when I go visit family or am traveling on the road, the location is changed but the routine is the same.

Before that, I was a working wife and Mom. I needed to be at work by 6:30 and had a husband to send off and a daughter to get up for school. My routine was different in those days. I like this one better. But if you have a busy morning routine already let me encourage you to get up just a little earlier and spend some time with the Father before you spend time with anyone else.

My time with the Father is my most important part of the day. It’s a time of refreshing. A time of friendship. A time of counsel. A time of joy. It’s a time I come to Him to get nourishment, eat from His word and then stay to visit and experience His love.

He doesn’t want our Bible reading to be “drudgery”. We should be excited to come, eat and then stay to be loved on. God’s word is a wonderful love letter but it’s also a banquet, a meal that will strengthen us and provide all we need for each day. We shouldn’t eat and run.

“So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!

31 “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 ERV

They say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Getting spiritual nourishment at the beginning of our day is like starting the day with a big country breakfast. It will stay with us all day long!

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