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itsheatherreese

17 Shake it off! “Throw off everything that hin

17 Shake it off!

“Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Okay, I’m not going all T Swift on you, but girl made that chorus catchy and it fits, so when you’re feeling weighed down by all the things, you gotta throw off what hinders- so shake it off! Our time is too important to be bogged down! And remember, we were made to live free!
“Beloved ones, with promises like these, and because of our deepest respect and worship of God, we must remove everything from our lives that contaminates body and spirit, and continue to complete the development of holiness within us.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
So don’t lose focus. Don’t let the worries of life bog you down. You’ve got a race to run so guard your heart and mind and don’t take on unnecessary baggage.
#thedailydevos

16 Zoom Out I’m wondering how we’ll be doing

16 Zoom Out

I’m wondering how we’ll be doing at this point in the season- has everyone been delightful? Or has anyone been a little tough? Let’s keep the lens zoomed out and remember the big picture.
“With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.” Ephesians 4:2
I’m actually super encouraged by the last part. Like it’s not ‘if’ there are people who will try our patience, but ‘when’.
Because maybe sometimes I feel like a bad christian if someone gets to me- but actually it just means I’m human.
It doesn’t mean I stop doing my best to show each one the love of Jesus, but I guess it helps to be reminded that Jesus knows it’s not always easy. Sometimes I get so caught up in the frustration or annoyance of a moment I forget the big picture. So, here’s my reminder to tenderize that humility, to quiet my patience, to ALWAYS demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward others- especially to those patience tryers. It’s not about me, remember? You are a living letter of Jesus to the world. How ya reading about now?
#thedailydevos

15 Freedom! There’s something magical about the

15 Freedom!

There’s something magical about the way a movie can grab hold of you and make you feel it. Sixth Sense when you finally get it, and chills run up and down your spine; Titanic- that opening scene going from black and white into color- all those people with their big dreams and that huge boat and you know what’s going to happen but you root for them anyway; and one of my favorites- William Wallace in Braveheart, giving that epic speech and loping along the front lines yelling “Freeeeedommmm!” that’s got me ready to go to battle!
I’m hoping in heaven we can see the replay of epic moments in history. Can you imagine? It would be way better than Imax. The parting of the Red Sea? Decaying Lazarus being raised from the dead? Precious Jesus coming back to life and leaving the tomb empty? The walls of Jericho falling?
The Bible is filled with inspiration- even better than the movies! We just need to remember those words are for us! Sometimes we let ourselves become captive to the things of this world- expectations, lies from the devil, worrying about what others think of us, getting bogged down by the things of this world. But Jesus came and died and rose again so that we can be free! He wants it more for us than that epic scene in Braveheart. So, don’t forget it! The fight for your freedom is worth it- whether its adopting new mindsets, shedding lies and old beliefs, or breaking up with instagram- don’t settle for a life of bondage when you are made to live free!
“Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free- not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.” Galatians 5:1
“When you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of grace, you will no longer be living under the dominion of the law, but soaring above it!” Galatians 5:18
#thedailydevos

14 Ask for more When I first moved out here I was

14 Ask for more

When I first moved out here I was trying to line up a job for after my summer gig at camp ended. I was driving back from Casper, coming through construction around Glenrock when my old car started chugging and smoking. Yikes! There was nowhere to pull over til I made it to the top of this huge hill. The ol girl kept getting slower and my heart was pounding through the roof as the line of cars backed up behind me kept growing. I prayed, “God, please get me up this hill.” And literally, as I hit the top and pulled the ol girl off the pavement, she came to a stop and died. Right there in the middle of nowhere construction zone. Ugh. I got what I asked for, but it wasn’t enough. Why didn’t I pray to make it all the way back to camp? I learned a big lesson that day. If you pray small you get small, but if you pray big and have the guts to believe -God might actually do it!
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
I should have asked bigger! My car might have still come to a stop at the top of that hill, or I might have gotten a crazy big miracle- but now I’ll never know, will I?
#thedailydevos

13 Beautiful Words Okay, I know we talked about b

13 Beautiful Words

Okay, I know we talked about beautiful work awhile back- but how about our words?
“Never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” Ephesians 4:29
Any of my siblings can quote this verse to you, as we had to recite it anytime we talked smack to each other. We may have rolled our eyes about it sometimes, but it stuck with us.
I really love how it is worded here. “Never let” implies that we have control over what comes out of our mouths- so it is our responsibility to keep ugly and hateful words from escaping our lips, and to deliver beautiful gifts of encouragement instead.
How can we do this?
“Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” so as the old saying goes- “garbage in, garbage out”. It’s pretty hard to dish out beautiful gifts when all you’re putting in is trash- so it is really important to watch what you let in!
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23 You have to guard that heart!
I can be really funny sometimes- but it’s usually at the expense of others. Like, I’m really good at making fun of people- ugly words. So, I’ve got to watch what I let in. No Seinfeld for me- or it rolls off my tongue way too easy! It takes a conscious decision on my part and ensuring that I am putting in good stuff so that what’s coming out are those beautiful words.
#thedailydevos

12 Stay in your lane So, following the fruit sect

12 Stay in your lane

So, following the fruit section from a few days ago, there are a few verses that really stuck out to me.
“May we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.” Galatians 5:26
I feel like so much of the world is trying to make us all the same. I like the reminder that we are each an original. We don’t need to look at what others are doing, just be who God made us to be.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
It reminds me of a story Beth Moore told once. She had gone to cheer on a friend who was competing in the Special Olympics. What really stood out to her after the races was that they were not passing out awards for who crossed the finish line first- they gave awards to runners for staying in their own lane. I feel like we could all use a little reminder to stay in our own lane instead of being sidetracked by what everyone else is doing. But, did you catch that last part? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Oof. We are made to be different, so let’s live in the freedom of that- and let’s not expect others to do it our way either! We each have different jobs and purposes.
One more because it hits. ”Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.” Galatians 6:4
I love the way Erwin McManus says this, “There is a person your soul is waiting for you to become, but it will not come easy.”
Stop looking at everyone else and stay in your lane!
#thedailydevos

11 Strength of spirit Sometimes it doesn’t come

11 Strength of spirit

Sometimes it doesn’t come easy- that’s when we have to dig deep. Keep being faithful, keep trusting, keep pursuing.
My favorite verse has always been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I love knowing that God has a plan for me- one with hope and a future. And my life has proven that his plan is even better than anything I could have dreamt up for myself. I could not have imagined when I packed up my car at 18 and headed to Wyoming that life would end up here- married to that amazing guy I told myself some girl was going to be lucky to have someday- not even daring to dream it could possibly be me! The California girl who’s favorite outfit was the ‘farmer suit’, who loved snagging up Grandpa Russell’s cowboy boots and hat, trying to ‘giddy up’ a ride on that Barbie horse- could not have believed it!
Or maybe she would have. It’s easier to dream big as a kid. Why is it that somewhere along the way we set aside our crazy dreams and settle into the mundane? Life has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? But, I think God likes the crazy pipe dreams. Maybe that’s where strength in spirit comes in. Keep reading after my fave verse and we have- “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Vs. 11-13
#thedailydevos

“Don’t get hard.” When he first said it, I j

“Don’t get hard.” When he first said it, I just totally didn’t get it. Why or how could I ever be hardened by this place and life I love?
I had loaded up my car at 18 and set out to discover what awaited me- full of wonder and excitement for this place that had awakened my soul. I had gotten just a taste the summer before - enough to know this was where I belonged. This time I was back for good.
Land stretched out for miles around me, the air so crisp and sunsets full of more color than I had ever seen. Days so calm you could feel the temperature change as you dropped from hills into valleys, catching the sagey smell of an antelope that had just been there before you. The night sky so full of stars it seemed the canopy of black might just burst open and then one shoots down so close you’re sure you can almost reach out and touch it.
Get hard? How could I ever. This place had captivated me. It had rained so much that first summer, I had been fooled into thinking green grass and flowing creek beds were a long term concept- not a 2 week stint you had to soak up with every fiber of your being. This place does not come lined in bubble wrap- it is covered in cactus and rattlesnakes and will snatch your dreams out from under you any chance it gets.
It’s been a couple decades now and this place has broken my heart more times than I can count. I have poured my heart into animals broken down by what this land threw at them and tried everything I could to save them only to watch them die; set my hopes on a garden that froze in the middle of summer; crops beaten down by hail the day before harvest; felt the sting of bitter cold when I just wanted to feel the warmth of sun on my face & had to toughen up more than once and do the thing that terrified me - because out here you have to make do and make it work.
So hard? I get it now. But I don’t want to be it. So how do we keep from getting hard when life can be so tough? “Put your hope in the Lord, He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13
#thedailydevos

9 Faith that prevails “Run as fast as you can f

9 Faith that prevails

“Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit.” 2 Timothy 2:22
I can’t help but picture that scene from Jurassic Park where the gal sees the dinosaur advancing the girl and looks at her with terror and says “RUNNNN!” You know when someone says it like that you’d better move!
Imagine God saying that to you, but instead of a raptor- you’ve got the old haunts chasing you- the you that you used to be, the things you are trying to change, old voices, doubts and fears. Constantly running from something all the time would be exhausting- so I like the idea here of having something to run toward. “Chase after all that is pure. Pursue whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love.”
This pursuit is where prevailing faith is found. And you know that dinosaur is still back there but as long as you are pursuing these things, you can have faith it won’t catch up.
#thedailydevos

8 A life full of virtue “So be very careful how

8 A life full of virtue

“So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes.” Ephesians 5:16
“God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you!” Ephesians 2:22
You know when someone is coming over and you race through the house to clean it up?
I always tell myself I’ll just keep things from getting messy in the first place, but this is real life, and especially on a ranch- messes are going to happen.
This verse says God is transforming us into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place. So instead of just coming over to your house he’s taking a look- no- moving in- to the inside of your heart and mind.
Makes me want to do a lot more than a quick tidy up- it’s time for a deep clean! The word transforming gives me a little encouragement. Transformation takes time, and messes may still happen in the midst of it.
I’m learning to be more selective with what I let into the house- is this just going to become junk and clutter? Or a lasting item that will bring peace and joy to our lives? I’m trying to do this with my heart and mind as well, so that’s God’s dwelling place looks more like the Holy of Holies than an episode of Hoarders.
Remember, we’ve got the power of the Holy Spirit to help us- kind of like the people on Hoarders who come in and clear out the house. They also coach the hoarder on how not to let it get like this again. That’s the Holy Spirit- only way better
#thedailydevos

“Don’t allow yourselves to be weary or dishear

“Don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others.” Galatians 6:9-10
One of my lifelong questions- struggles really- is how do you remain generous and giving without being taken advantage of- or being hardened by those who will abuse your generosity?
I love to give- it fills my soul. If you spend much time with me, you will likely at some point be loaded down with soap,lotion sticks, meat, cookies, tshirts- or something of the sort. I’m a horrible business woman. If you, my friend, are also a client- you will never know how hard it is for me to take payment for your hunt!
Of course, it’s easy to be generous with friends! I tend to live with the assumption that everyone is my friend until proven otherwise. Naive you say? Maybe that’s my problem, but I’d rather err on the side of trust- to assume the best. Is it wrong to want to be nice with nothing expected in return? It’s not about me.
While appreciation is nice, it isn’t about getting anything back. I’m really not great at the receiving end, so I’d rather hang out behind the scenes and give my little heart out. I guess at my core- I just want people to feel loved and know that Jesus loves them.
But, there are always a few takers. You know the ones. Those who can sniff out generosity and almost seem to prey on it. They will take all you have to give if you let them- leaving nothing for anyone else.
It is here I feel a pain in my soul. I pull back. I stop giving. I am more guarded the next time. Too guarded. Where did that trust go? It’s not about me, remember? It’s about Him. For Him. But did I just squander what He’s given me to share on someone who just wasted it? Whoah. Am I playing the judge now? It’s not my job to judge. Just give. You can’t out give God, remember?
I know this day is about kindness, but giving feels like an overflow of that. So is it meant to be limitless like this fruit we’re talking about? I’m still wondering- asking myself where that line is- between giving freely and throwing your pearls to swine? Do you know?

6 Joy that overflows “…be filled with the ful

6 Joy that overflows “…be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And your hearts will overflow with a joyful song to the Lord Jehovah. Keep speaking to each other with words of scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit! Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, And out of your reverence for Christ be supportive of each other in love.” Ephesians 5:18-21
There is so much gold to unpack in these verses! The first key to unlocking joy that I see is being filled with the Holy Spirit. I hope that each of these days we are discovering more nuggets of ways to do that. I’d say taking the time to be here right now is a great step.
Do you see what overflows out of your heart when you are filled to the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Joy! Specifically joyful song to the Lord! You know as little kids we are much more likely to unashamedly sing out- but often as life goes on we lose our fearlessness and shyness moves in. Maybe someone made fun of you or your brother told you to be quiet, or you sang that catchy song from a movie nonstop on that road trip and someone had enough. Well, look at what these verses are saying! Not only should we overflow with joyful song to the Lord- but we are also told to sing the Psalms with praises and songs given by the Spirit- to one another! So, permission to sing granted!
For me, it all ended back in the day with “There once was a monster”- I should have stuck with the Psalms because I’m pretty sure that one didn’t come from the Spirit. I think there’s something in being able to sing aloud and belt it out that gives you freedom, and apparently it’s a joy triggering mechanism. So, even if it takes some belting out in the car alone at first to work up the courage- I dare you to sing aloud!
Lastly, we are told to give thanks for every person who comes across our path. EVERY person. Got it. Giving thanks even in difficult moments is another key to unlocking joy. Hopefully we don’t have too many difficult people- but let’s find something to be thankful for even with them :)
#thedailydevos

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