Pride for Lunch
Author: Pat Aman 3/14/2001

Luke 8:41-42 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to entreat Him to come to his house; 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. (NAS)

Let’s try to put ourselves in Jairus’ place for just a minute here. His young daughter is gravely ill, near death. Jairus is well-known in the community as a teacher, counselor and man of faith.

The itinerant Rabbi was strictly to be avoided, off limits according to the leadership in Jerusalem. To meet him or have anything to do with him was to be required to explain yourself, in the very least. It could easily mean to be excommunicated. They were dead serious about it.

But there were also stories, supposedly true ones from good sources, that this Jesus had the power to heal. There were other very interesting tales surrounding this man. Some of which were just too wild to be true. If it were not for the fact that this edict had come down from the top, Jairus might have liked to have at least met this Rabbi and talked with him.

But now he, who was the pillar of strength to the community, was in need of strength beyond his reach. His only daughter was dying and all the prayers he could muster were not changing a thing. All the kind words, which were meant to comfort, only drove the point deeper into his heart. She was slipping away from him like sand through his fingers. God’s gift to his heart was being recalled.

Luke 8:42-44 But as He went, the multitudes were pressing against Him. 43 And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, 44 came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. (NAS)

He had to choose. A moment of destiny for himself, his family and his daughter. If this man could heal his daughter and he did not try, he would never be able to forgive himself. The leadership would understand, maybe. And if they did not and he was thrown out, he would still have his beloved child. With that he swallowed his pride and decided. He closed the books on his desk, got up and fairly ran out the door.

The people who had decided to come and see this Jesus were stunned to see one of the leaders in the synagogue there too. They had heard of the letter from the temple leaders, too. Some knew of his situation at home. As Jesus entered the town the large crowd parted slightly and Jairus and Jesus were face-to-face. Jairus in his fine robes and Jesus in his garments covered with dust from the journey.

Everything he had thought to say at their meeting fled Jairus’ mind. He managed a brief hello and half choked out the words he dreaded. “My daughter is dying. Please come to my home and touch her.”

He controlled the plea in his voice as much as possible. But it was there. There was no pause in the Rabbi at all. His head tilted slightly to one side as he said, “Of course, please lead the way.” Hope flowed in, hope which had been dripping out like sand from an hourglass. He said he would come, and He didn’t say He couldn’t do it! Jairus struggled to lead the way through the crowd when suddenly he heard Jesus speak. “Who touched me?”

A delay. Not now. We have to go. I’ll bring Him back. My daughter, my child is so sick. Please! He knew the woman he spoke with as well. Her situation was well-known. An unstoppable bleeding that had lately begun to take its toll on her. The doctors said that she also was dying.

He wanted to barge in and break it up, but the compassion that this Jesus had shown him, he now also showed this poor woman. No condemnation at all, and there had been fear in her voice and her eyes when she had admitted her actions. The same fear that gripped Jairus’ heart as he met the Rabbi. The very same.

The delay was only minutes. Jairus was stunned at the man’s power to heal and by the gentle power in Jesus’ words and his gaze. The miracle he had just witnessed was almost lost on him in his own need. Then he say two men coming from his home. He could tell by the look in their eyes, they had horrible news that they would have given anything not to have to deliver. As they met, Jairus steeled himself for the news but it crushed him all the same. His only daughter was dead, beyond help now. The sliver of hope that had swelled inside him was in ashes.

Jesus reached up and put his hand on his shoulder. Jairus looked up expecting pity and saw power and love.”Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Luke 8:52-53 Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” 53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. (NAS)

The hired mourners all wore sad faces and tears flowed liberally. Their mock tears ate at Jairus’. Their presence had been arranged. Yet they knew no pain in his daughter’s death. When Jesus instructed them to stop crying they did. When Jesus told them the little girl was only sleeping they mocked Him. They railed on Him and jeered Him. They knew dead, they had seen dead and she was. How unfair of you to raise this man’s hope. How dare you insult us like that? With a single word of command He sent the mourners packing.

The authority in that voice made Jairus’ hair on the back of his neck stand to attention. Silence again reigned where there had been wailing before.

Luke 8:54-56 He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” 55 And her spirit returned, and she rose immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened. (NAS)

Jesus took a few of his friends and Jairus into the house. Jairus’ wife looked up from beside the still form on her child to her husband. The pain in her eyes was staggering. When she saw Jairus, she did not see the broken father she expected to see. And she saw his companions and was very confused. “Dear, this is Rabbi Jesus who we have all heard so much about. He has agreed to come and heal our daughter.”

She stood up slowly, half in shock at the words. Could it be? She walked toward her husband as Jesus walked toward the mat that held the young girl. Jesus touched her arm as they passed and looked at her with promise and hope in His eyes. She continued over to her husband. Her mouth opened to speak but words would not come. She quietly turned and looked as Jesus knelt beside her child.

Jesus picked up her cool hands and held them for just a second. The term He used was a term of endearment. Jairus would be later struck by the irony that though they had never met, Jesus showed a genuine caring for this little girl. “Princess, time to get up.” There was no lightning or event of any kind.

There was a brief pause. Was that a breath she took? Fighting with his unbelief Jairus stared as his daughter’s eyelids fluttered and opened. She sat up, and then stood. Jesus smiled widely at her and gestured her to her parents.
Her mother met her halfway across the floor with a hug. Immediately she checked her daughter’s forehead and cheeks. The burning heat that had radiated was no longer there. It was as if she had never been ill. Before Jairus could gain his wits Jesus asked that they see to it that their daughter had something to eat. It was as if He had somehow known she hadn’t eaten for several days.

Jairus walked over to Jesus and grabbed both arms and shock them for joy. He hugged Jesus and kissed His cheeks and thanked him from a grateful heart. “Can I do anything for you? I could arrange for you to speak that the synagogue on the Sabbath if you would like? I could arrange for you to meet the leaders of the city? Anything, name it, please.”

The compassionate smile turned to Jairus and said, “Let’s keep this between ourselves, and you are very welcome.” It was a knowing smile too. Jesus would do nothing to further endanger Jairus’ livelihood or reputation with his leadership. He had gone way out on a limb, stretching his faith for his family. Jesus would honor that. He quickly said His goodbyes and left as the girl snacked on bread and honey with something to drink. He waved from the doorway with his companions. He was gone, leaving the family in wonder.

“How do you keep this a secret?”, Jairus wondered. A miracle happens before your eyes, restores something this precious to you and then you tell no one? It would not be a surprise to me if the family had thrown a block party in celebration.

Jairus swallowed his professional and personal pride to meet Jesus. When he did so, Jesus was able to restore His only daughter to him and her family.
How many times do we prevent Jesus from helping us by not swallowing our pride and going to Him? Sometimes it takes getting down to were there is nothing else left to hold on to before we do.

There are times when we look back and say, “if only I had. We waited too long.” Jairus abandoned himself to Jesus, as did the woman with the bleeding. Both knew desperation, and both knew redemption from there hopeless plights. They had both reached beyond what they knew to be possible, literally throwing themselves into the dark and trusting Jesus to catch them.

What does it take to get you to that point?

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Father God Is Not Unpredictable
Author: Pat Pat AH Aman
May 19, 2021

Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Malachi 3:6, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

James 1:7, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

I am not sure about you, but, everyday I seem to check the Weather App. Well, several times a day.

Maybe I think it might change from thirty minutes ago when I last check it. Other than that, I think it is just habit.

As I think about this, I finally realize I am putting to much effort in this thought.

In the summer we do have times when we may experience a quick summer rain which makes us run for shelter for a few minutes. So, in a way things can change fast.

You know even though the Weather App says, no rain and sunny sky’s, a small thunderstorm can happen. The atmosphere can change, and Wham, Boom, Kapow“and we realize we need shelter.

Last summer I was in the swimming pool. All at once in sunny sky’s, because the Weather App said so, “wham, boom and kapow “, the thunder was so loud that I knew immediately the lightening was close. My eight year old neighbor started running to me screaming, “Mrs. Pat, get out of the pool!”

I was already getting out, but Ethan was going to make sure. He knew I was in danger. He wanted to make sure I was being protected from the storm. Ethan had my back.

I want to tell you now, “weather may change, but my Father God is unchanging.”

There can be days in our lives that the unexpected happens.

Yes, the Good, Bad, and Ugly.

But, in those times when the atmosphere of our life changes we need to know with all our heart, mind, body, soul and spirit Father God has our back.

Well, when we let Him! And when you put your eyes on the things of this world, you take your atmosphere of your life out of Father God’s hands.

Everyday we must keep our eyes on Father God. He is constantly watching over us, His children.

Father God tells us in, Matthew 11: 28-30, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Today, I want you to asked yourself a question, does Father God have your back?

If you cannot say yes, then right now stop looking to this world for the answers to the questions of your atmosphere. Look to the all knowing Father God, the creator of the universe. He is already in charge. And He has all the right answers. For He is never changing.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Rest and Relax
Author: Pat Aman
May 19, 2021 © “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals”

Luke 6: 12-13, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.”

I have two seasons I enjoy which includes Summer and Fall.

I know if our family is sitting around in the summer, we may decide to get in the car and ride down to the Topsail Beach.

Joe and my honeymoon ended at Topsail Beach at the cottage his parents owned. We got married in Louisiana and then went to Disney World, Sea World and Silver Spring, Florida, and back to North Carolina. So that area of North Carolina has a lot of memories for us.

Our family has spent many summers enjoying Topsail Beach, Southport and Sneeds Ferry.

We may only get out of the car on these day excursions if we decide to ride the ferry from Fort Fisher to South Port, take a short walk on the beach, are to eat at our favorite restaurant at Sneeds Ferry, “The Riverview”.

Extra note: “The Riverview is the first restaurant my husband Joe of 44 years had our first date.”

Even though we are in the car riding and sightseeing, it is still relaxing.

And in the Fall we always go to the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains.

And I love The Mast General Store. I can walk thru it every year and feel the days of years gone by.

But, we just have a lot of fun, and rest and relax.

Hummm, relax? Why do we only take time to really relax during those certain seasons of our life? We need to take the time to relax everyday.

But with life,family, friends, jobs, and careers, resting and relaxing seems can only happen twice a year. Maybe more times in the summer on weekends.

We all would be healthier and happier if we took time to rest and relax.

And really who can call a vacation resting and relaxing? You usually have to come home to rest and relax from vacation.

Hey a thought: “And Jesus, while ministering here on earth, even took time to rest and relax.

Let’s see what Mr. Webster has to say about rest and relax.

Rest: to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
Relax: to become or to cause (something) to become less tense, tight, or stiff : to stop feeling nervous or worried.

In today’s society we get so caught up that we do not take the time to enjoy life with family and friends. And even the most important is we do not take the time to spend moments with our Father God.

What if, when we set aside the distractions of our day to see God’s beauty all around us that we hadn’t noticed before?

I actually did this today. “Not really meaning too,” (more to this statement at a future time)but I spent about three hours in the back yard looking at the trees, flowers, birds, and children in the neighborhood playing. I heard the sounds of Nature not only with my ears, but with my eyes and heart.

While I was listening, Father God even miraculously let me hear the sound from my Bayou home. Frogs croaking, crickets chirping, and the sound of water flowing.

Was this Father’s God’s way of bringing me back to Him and taking me out of the business and craziness of the last 17 months of chaos?

Whatever the reason, my Father God loved me enough to put His foot down and say, “Pat, my daughter, Stop, relax and rest. Spent this time in fellowship with me.

He let me know that the distractions of this world should not stop and overwhelmed me.

My Father God reminded me-
Pat, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5

Yes, He reminded me to relax and rest in His loving tender arms.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest (and relax) in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-4‬ ‭

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Being Thankful While Trying Too Find Your Tail
Author: Pat AH Aman

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Are You Eeyore?
Author: Pat Aman
November 21,2003

Can you be thankful while trying to find your tail… Lately it seems I have been busy, and I think a couple of days I lost mine.

Have you ever felt like Eeyore. You know the little gray patched up donkey in the Winnie the Pooh series.

They lived in a beautiful 100 acre woods Eeyore use to say, “Is my tail still on?” Then he would say, “let’s have a look, and he turned slowly round to the place where his tail had been a little while ago, and then, finding that he couldn’t catch it up, he turned round the other way, until he came back to where he was at first, and then he put his head down and looked between his front legs, and at last he said, with a long, sad sigh, “I believe you’re right, Pooh, it is still there.”

Sometimes I feel the same way, I feel I have lost my tail, and cannot find it. I think that we sometimes go to that 100 acre woods, a beautiful place, but it becomes our gloomy place just like Eeyore.

When you are in that gloomy place it is hard to give praise and thanks when we feel like Eeyore that we have lost our tail.

Even though Eeyore had great compassion for others, and was always trying to help people, he still at times felt, Oh, poor me. See, he lost his love for life. He some how lost the sense of a positive attitude. His fire had gone out.
In our lives we all at times may think, I am burned out, woe is me. We still truck along trying to do our best, but we have to continually put patches on our lives just to hold us together.

See, God speaks of this very thing in Revelation chapter two. He tells the church at Ephesus, that He knows all their good deeds, but He is getting a little disappointed in them, because they have lost their first love. “Him.”

Again, I myself sometimes feel tired, even though I keep getting up from being knock down, that my first love is getting depleted from my life. I need to get that fire back, the fire that helps build my faith up. Yes, that is when I need to get down on my knees and look up to God and find my tail.

God promises to give strength to the weary, and I tell you now, I have to stand on that promise.

So, if today, you are feeling like Eeyore, and you have lost your tail, and are sitting in your gloomy place look up to the Heavenly Father.

Yes, get back on your knees, and look up to God and say, “I think you are right God, I still have it together.”

And then begin singing, praising and thanking God and see your life turn around, as we become thankful instead of woe is me.

In others words, you may have to be like Eeyore, turn around, check things out, and see if you may have to let some things go that maybe clouding up your way.

The way God wants you to go. You may as Eeyore, have to get in a downward position on your knees, so God can show you that your tail is still on and your headed in just the way He wants you to go.

You just need to turn around and follow God with Thankfulness and Praise.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing”dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. I do not even know how to dance so this was enlighting to me. But I do remember that when Joe and I owned our own business, we use to go to alot of conventions.

There was a older couple, in their 70’s who went to the conventions every year also. They did Ball Room dancing. I remember loving to watch them dance. It was like a glove on a hand. It fit perfectly. They flowed like two doves soaring in the sky. Each one seem to know what the other wanted. The woman seem to float as her partner lead the way. It was beautilful.

This makes me think again about the word

“Gui-dance.”

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.” “God, ‘u” and “i” dance.” ! ! God, you, and I dance.

This statement is what guidance means to me.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you and your family on this day and everyday. May you abide in Him as He abides in you.

John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask what you will and it will be.”

Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

God, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power of the Holy! Spirit. ! I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace.

My prayer is they learn to dance with you.

I Hope You Dance!!

Love and Prayers
Pastor Pat

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Power of Attorney
Author: Pat AH Aman

I know God will use each of us as vessels if we let Him. He gave us His POA to carry on His ministry to others.

I saw this very Miracle this week with our daughter who had surgery. She is home, showering daily, walking around, eating, and daily getting her strength back. God has and continues to restore her daily. How many people do you know that have had their entire sigmoid colon removed and not have a colostomy bag? God worked a big miracle.

St. John 14:12 says, “verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.”

Jesus came to earth and miracles were abound. Then when He knew He was going to died, he told His disciples, listen I am going to give you my Power of Attorney, though the Holy Spirit, that you shall do the same miracles that I have done.

Now right off the bat, do not tell me that was in the passed. Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world teaching and making disciples of all that came in contact with. That means you. If you are a born again, child of God, you are a disciple.

The verse above is clear. It refers to miracles, healings, signs, wonders and mighty acts of power.

Jesus’ works consisted of healing all manner of sickness and disease, casting out devils, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, and doing innumerable acts of deliverance from all the works of satan.

He controlled the elements, multiplied food, walked on water, restored a severed ear, turned water into wine, accomplishing anything He undertook to do in the material and spiritual realms.

The promise in the above verse is that each believer can be endued with Jesus’ Power of Attorney, and receive the Spirit without measure, so he can do all the works of Christ and even greater works than what Jesus did.

To make this promise of spiritual works only when He did material and spiritual works is a poor excuse for unbelief.

To make it refer to saving souls is to ignore facts, because He did this also.

To limit it to the works of the apostles will rob the other believers of the benefits of the promise.

The greater works are not those of reaching more people by means of radio, television, and the newspaper, for these are natural means and can be used by unsaved men and women who do not have the Holy Spirit’s power to do the works of Christ. No man can receive greater power than Christ, for He received the Spirit without measure.

Therefore, the greater works could not consist of doing greater things than Christ could have done had He had the occasion to do them. The thought is that each believer can have equal power with Christ to do what He did as well as greater things if and when the occasion requires it.

In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

But, John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

We pray! We ask God to do for us through Christ what we can’t do for ourselves and others, until we bear fruit through Jesus’ Name, so His Father in Heaven will be glorified.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of © Thomas Nelson Publishing and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

The Woodpecker (satan) Never Gives
Up!
Author: Pat Aman

Since several people have seen an unusual Woodpecker this week, I thought I would share an devotional I wrote many years ago.

I think woodpeckers are beautiful birds and would never hurt or harm one. I just use the woodpeckers persistence as an example for this devotional.

Well, have you ever watched a Woodpecker? They never give up. They will constantly peck away at a tree branch until it is destroyed. They have even pecked at the wood on houses, until the wood on the house had to be replaced.

You also can hardly get rid of a Woodpecker. The only way some people have gotten rid of one is to destroy it, which is a federal offense.

Now I am going to share some facts about the Woodpecker. Please read the facts, then you will understand the devotion. ** Woodpeckers are seldom seen in flocks. Most of them are solitary or in pairs. Their lives are lived mostly on tree trunks and branches, head up and tails down. They perch on or move up tree trunks, searching for insects or digging holes for roosting and nesting spots. They have pointed beaks that are straight and very hard, and they use their beaks rather like chisels. They also use their beaks to hammer or drum and tap to communicate with one another, and to court. There are three-toed woodpeckers and four-toed woodpeckers, but all woodpeckers have short legs and long, strong toes with curved, sharp nails so that they can cling to trees.

First try to get rid of the Woodpecker: Cover all holes as soon as possible. Place a metal sheathing or plastic sheeting over the pecked areas on building siding to offer permanent protection from continued damage. Occasionally, the birds will move over to an unprotected spot and the protected area must be expanded. Aluminum flashing is easy to work with to cover damaged sites. Woodpeckers will sometimes peck through aluminum flashing. Metal sheathing can be disguised with paint or stimulated wood grain to match the siding. ** Just make sure that the woodpecker is not living in your home. Disturbing a woodpecker den or killing one is a federal offense.

Second: Harass and scare the woodpecker causing damage using one or more of the following techniques. Remember no harassment technique works all the time or in every situation. It may take a variety of techniques and repeated prevention methods to effectively solve the problem. Woodpeckers can be very persistent and are not easily driven from their territories or selected pecking sites. In any event, once a woodpecker problem has been noted, you should act quickly to discourage him before the woodpecker decides your home is a delightful place to live!!**

Well, do you know what I am going to talk about? Yes, The devil and his team of demons.

When you ask Jesus to come into your heart and you are delivered of your past, I can guarantee that satan will come back and try to tempt you of the things you did in the past. He will see if you are strong in the Lord, or if you are straddling the fence. He will keep hammering away, until he can find a place where he will perch himself on you, and go up and down, trying to find your weak spot.

The best way to prevent the devil from taking up residence in your life, is to GET IN THE WORD. Then you will know that you know, that the devil is not living in your life.

(Luke 7: 24-26) 24. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Jesus is talking about the empty place left in your life, after you have been delivered. If you do not fill it with the God’s Word, Prayer, and fellowship with other Christians, you are opening yourself up to be drawn back into that sinful nature. Then your state will be seven times worse than before.

And do not depend on your wife, husband, children, preacher, etc. to do the studying and the praying for you, to keep you covered. It does not work that way. You must do it yourself.

When others pray for you, it is them just asking God to protect you and watch over you until you get some sense in your head. You cannot get to Heaven on someone else’s coat tail.

I really do not want to get into the next statement at this time, but I feel I need to share what the scripture is really talking about, then I will go on with the devotion. (I will let you know that Jesus was mainly talking in the verse about a person being delivered from demons and not being saved. The vacuum left by the departure of an evil spirit must be filled with the Holy Spirit, or else the individual is open to worse demonic activity. Jesus is warning that when a situation like this happens before a fundamental reform happens, the person’s state can be worse than before the deliverance. In other words, when a person lacks the spiritual discernment to recognize Jesus as the Savior.)

When you are saved, you need to get into the Word of God. That is so important. You need to dress daily in the armor of God. You need to keep yourself covered from the attacks of satan and his demons. You need to make sure that you do not let your armor down.

Ephesians 6:10-18 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Just like when they tell you to put up metal sheathing to keep the Woodpecker away, they also tell you that the Woodpecker will move to another spot, and while looking for food he will destroy that portion of the wood. Satan will also do the same thing. He tries to feed on you and destroy you. If you do not stay covered he will slip in, just like the Woodpecker, trying to find another weak spot, a place in your life that you have not completely turned over to God. Hidden sin in your life, that you have not asked God to forgive you of…

Remember the people around you may not see or know it, but God does. And please remember, when you ask for forgiveness of your sins, God removed them from the pages of your life. He remembers them no more. So, do not let satan throw old sins up in your face that God has forgiven you of. If God remembers them NO more, why you should constantly dwell on them or the past. You just need to dwell on doing the assignment God put you on earth to do. And I promise you, you do have a work to do for God.

We are all sinners saved by the blood and grace of Jesus.

The Armor of God does not cover a sinful nature. The devil will try to find out where you are the weakest. He is persistent, just like the Woodpecker. I will say, that when dealing with satan, you must be strong in the Lord. You cannot play church on Sunday and Wednesdays, and think you have the strength to tell satan where to go. You cannot scare the devil away on your own.

How much can I emphasize that you must study God’s Word and pray, to be strong in the Lord. The devil does not play fair, and the only way you can get rid of that persistent devil is to defeat him with the Word of God and be covered with the Armor of God.

Jesus defeated satan in the wilderness by saying, “It is written” He was talking about the Word of God. And satan who also knows the Word of God and was stupid enough to try to temp Jesus with the Word.

Matthew 4:1-11 1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, ‘and, in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. ’Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Just as the Woodpeckers can be very persistent and are not easily driven from their territories or selected pecking sites, Satan is persistent and cannot be driven away with just a little, “devil get out of my life.”
You need to realize that when Jesus died on the cross, He then gave you the authority to stomp the devil into the ground. When Jesus died on the cross, He put the devil under your feet.

I cannot understand why people who know God’s Word, just like the devil knows God’s Word, let the devil run over them. Even the demons know God and fear Him. And when you have Jesus in your heart and know you are in Christ, the devil and demons should fear you when you walk into the room.

In any event, once a woodpecker (The devil and his demons) problem has been noted, you should act quickly to discourage him (The devil and his demons) before the woodpecker (the devil and his demons) decides your home is a lovely place to live.

Do you have any Woodpeckers (habits or sins) in your life today?

Has the devil and his demons taken up residence at your house?

If so, get rid of them now. Get down on your knees and repent of those sinful habits. Ask God to forgive you, then get in God’s Word, Pray, and get into a church where you can be in fellowship with other Christians. Being in fellowship with other Christians will help you. For sometimes you need someone to help hold your hands up.

You may be saying, but the church is full of hypocrites. Well, one more won’t hurt. If you are judging the people in the church, you are just as bad as they are.
You just get in there and do what God wants you to do. Do not worry about what the other church people are doing. God will take care of them.

And again, please remember, when you ask for forgiveness of your sins, God removed them from the pages of your life. He remembers them no more.
So, today, ask God to forgive you of your sins. Then keep yourself bathed in the Word if God and Pray.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of
© Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Picture taken by Lisa Lisa Wimberley Cotten

Just Seek God
Author: Pat Aman

(Luke 1:13NIV) says, “The angel said unto him, Fear not, Zechariah for thy prayer is heard…..”

For a long time Elizabeth and Zechariah had prayed for a child to bring them joy. Finally their prayers were answered, in miraculous ways. But as years passed, they never experienced a son’s wedding, a grandchild’s birth, or old age softened by a son’s love. Instead, they watched their son endure public shame and execution.

I wonder if they ever felt baffled, even embittered, by the way their prayers were answered?

Maybe that’s why God’s messenger to Zechariah said what he did: “Don’t be afraid. This is the answer to your prayers.” In years to come, when Zechariah and Elizabeth feared for their son, they were need to remember in their hearts this word from God. John the Baptist would indeed bring joy to his parents, to us all, by announcing the Messiah. Their prayers would be answered, but God’s answer would be different from what they expected, and ultimately better.

This last year we have walked together through a pandemic, but we have hopefully learned to walk together with Jesus, praying that He teach us what discipleship is about.

We have discovered it means turning over to Him our whole life, our fears, our weaknesses, our abilities, our will, our relationships, and our what-ifs.

And as we have walked with Jesus in a closer relationship we have realized He sometimes handled situations different from what we expect, we may have felt baffled, doubtful, afraid.

But in those times we remembered the word of a loving Father God to Zechariah: “Don’t be afraid. This is My answer to your prayers.

I do not know about you, but Joe and I when going through changes in our lives may feel overwhelmed until we realized we needed to go back to Father God’s table of comfort. We realized that we needed to constantly seek and depend totally on Father God. Our faith is in Him, the great and mighty God, the creator of the universe.

If you are having to make decisions in your life, remember Father God is always on time, in His time.

Just as the prayer of Zacharias and Elizabeth holds encouragement and hope for those who have prayed in secret.

And remember, it was not dependent on them holding on; they had already given up.

It was not about some sin in their life hindering their prayers; they had none.

Proverbs 13:12 says; “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Yes, they were heartsick for a time. But what does the end of the verse say? “But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

What a great ending for their great prayer!

But, “desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of
© Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

“Why Not Go Out On A Branch”
Author: Pat AH Aman

I have mentioned before that I have quite a Library. We have a selection of Mark Twain’s books. I remember reading this statement in one of the books but have not thought of it in a long time. Mark Twain said, “Why Not Go Out On A Limb? That’s Where The Fruit Is.”

Now, I know you are thinking, why did you remember that?

Well, I will tell you. I opened a new roll of paper towels, and it had the saying all over it! I just laughed. They are now making paper towels to be more intellectual. I thought, huh, these paper towels might be too smart for me to use in my kitchen. Then I grabbed one up and wiped some dirt up off the floor. I thought to myself again, just like the paper towel could hear me, “You might be smart, buddy, but I got the dirt on you.”

Now you are not going to tell me, that you have never talked to yourself, I know.

Anyway, to the point of the devotion, the statement says a lot. If you are not willing to take a step of faith, you will not receive the fruit of your blessings. If you are a Christian, you must bear fruit for the Lord. And sometimes you really must step out on a limb (Your Comfort Zone) to do what He has called you to do. Have Faith in the true vine (Jesus), and (God) who is the vinedresser. Then when you step out on that limb, which is (yourself), you are showing that you have the confidence to do whatever God wants you to do. Then there will be good fruit, growing and flowing from you.

Luke 6:43-45, 43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of this heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

John 15:1-6, 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; [a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of
© Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….

Do You Truly Love Each Other?
Author: Pat Aman

Luke 6:32 If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them.

Love, ah… it’s easy for us to love each other. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s easy to love members of your family, of your church, and it’s easy to love friends.

But how about the hard-to-love?

What about the person that has wronged you?

The person who has talked bad about you, spread gossip, rumors?

The person that did you wrong in a business deal, at school or at a social function?

How about that person you truly feel you cannot love anymore, because of the hatred they have shown to you or you untruths they have told you?

We all have them, don’t we? Or am I the only one?

Jesus is saying, “Hey Christians, even the pagans love those who love them. How are you going to show MY Love?”

Notice how the love of Christ turns the “world’s” value system upside-down.

The world says, “hate your enemies;”

Jesus says love your enemies. But how do we do it?

I remember one time someone ask my daddy, “hey do you like me?” His answer was, “as a human man I do not like your ways, but as a child of God, and my brother in Christ, I love you.” WOW!

Now as the sentence above states, Jesus says love your enemies. But how do we do it?

Ready for the answer?

Hang on to your hats!

Pray. Yes, prayer.

Simple answer yes, but a powerful solution. Pray for that person who has wronged you. Now don’t go and pray like I used to pray, “Lord get back at that person. Lord, make them pay for what they did to me, or Lord, give me a chance to blow him out!”

You really don’t think God wants us to pray to change God, do you?

Prayer doesn’t change God; it changes us.

In my opinion, God uses prayer for two reasons.

One — to allow us to participate in His plan and two — to change us. Pray fervently and earnestly for someone that is hard for you to love, and God will change your heart toward that person. God will show you what He Himself sees in that person.

How will the world know us Christ-Followers? They will know us by our love that flows from our love of Jesus Christ.

John 13:34-35 I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.

Well… tough stuff, but we need to do it, folks — and we can do it — armed with His love.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of
© Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….