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Listen while you read: "Tell Me The Story Of Jesus"1 (Lyrics) |
I don't mean to boast, but I just saw the king! Every fall, he shows up with his loaded gun blazing. Who is he? I lovingly call my husband the King of Caulk. He inspects every inch of this house for cracks, crevices, and holes that cold air could possibly get through. With determination in his eyes, he pulls out his caulking gun, loads it with an ammunition cartridge from the hardware store, and shoots those holes full of caulk! The fellow who built our double A-frame house didn't make it weatherproof. If we were invaded with caulk-loving aliens from space and all the caulk were pulled from our house, I am sure that it would fall to the ground in a heap. But I don't mind the caulk because the cold doesn't get into our house when the winds howl and the snow blows. So, I look forward to these annual "King of Caulk" sightings.
Just like this drafty old house, doubts can creep in through holes and crevices in my spiritual life. I pray and pray for something or someone but no answer comes, and in blows doubt that my prayers will ever be answered. I pray for healing, but I am still sick. "Where are you, God?" I ask for strength, or peace or even hope to no avail, and — swoosh — I can feel the cold air of disappointment blow in.
How can we head off these doubts and feelings of disappointment? The answer is with spiritual caulk: the Word of God, truth! The truth will not only set us free but will plug those holes that let doubt come in. As the devil whispers, "It's no use," shout out, "The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17 NLT) As his icy finger points to you and says, "You aren't worth God's time," give him a shot of "caulk" like "God loves the world and me so much that He gave His Son to die for me and loved me though I was unworthy." Or try this one: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NLT) Gather truth as ammunition against the icy winds of doubt. Fill those holes with His truth and let Christ keep you warm as those winter winds blow. The King of kings can fill you with peace, hope, and even joy.
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
As I sit here in our warm home, I am thankful for the love of my life and the King of Caulk with his mighty caulking gun. But I am even more thankful for the King of kings and His mighty Word that we can use to fill those holes of doubt and give us hope.
Prayer: Father, when the cold winds of sorrow and tribulation blow, we need the warmth and security of Your love. Fill us with Your hope. Amen.
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Sunday, December 3, 2023 – IIn the Middle East — We have been walking with a brother, R, from a closed country, who has recently returned with his wife, H. and their older children. We had never met his wife before, but she had shown interest in faith as her husband often shares with her his new beliefs. Praise the Lord, my wife led H to Christ upon her arrival. Please pray for her growth and for them as a couple, that they will have the courage and wisdom to share with their children.
Prayer: "Update December 03, 2023: Please continue to pray for her to put her trust in the Lord and to live..." 
Thank you, Jeanie.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Jeanie.
Thank you, Jeannie, for a great inspiration today.
Amen Jeanie. My last little house sounds like yours! Here a draft, there a draft, everywhere a draft.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Praying for you and your family. Blessings.
Amen! You have a gift for writing. Thanks for another one that spoke directly to my heart. Be blessed today and always.
Thanks, Jeanie, for this very beautiful devotional reading today. The words of your closing prayer are encouraging and very meaningful. Blessings for your writings.
Good morning, Jeanie,
Thank you for your wonderful devotional today. It was truly beautiful and encouraging.
I truly enjoyed your comparison in today’s devotion. I won’t forget it! I have a great picture in my mind. Thank you,
(On.)
Good one. Our old house would suffer greatly if the aliens visited too. Keep warm so you can keep writing. Thanks.
(Manitoba)
Thank you for this timely devotional. It is full of humour and encouragement. Encouragement to stay on course or to get back on course, and that God cares.
Good morning, Jeanie,
As usual a very good devotional, something to think about when we are tempted or suffering.
Blessings.
Hello Jeanie.
What a beautiful and practical reminder this is for all of us. Thank you for the encouragement!
Blessed.
Excellent message Jeanie. Thanks so much. I love your metaphor.
I just prayed for your physical and spiritual health.
Your messages are always inspirational.
Blessings.
Jeanie, I loved your analogy of the caulk. God’s Word fills us with joy. I’m currently memorizing Jeremiah 15:16: When Your words came to me, I ate them. They were my joy and my hearts’ delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.
Thank you for this reminder for today.
Thank you for your devotional in how we need to continue to let the Word of God work by the moving and power of the Holy Spirit. I am 91 years old and can testify that new doubts can seem to attack us. I’m also more thankful for the passages that the Lord directs me to, and yesterday I had the focus of Romans 15:13 as the verse for the day.
Good morning, Jeanie,
I enjoyed your description of your hubby and his caulking gun. Your comparison to how sin and doubts can creep into our spiritual life is so true. I love the passages you chose to help us seal up the holes of doubt.
Romans 15:13 is filled with hope which we need at many times on our faith journey. It is a good passage to start each and every morning with. I often use “Be still and know that I am God.” It is short and easy to call to mind to quiet the doubts.
Thanks for sharing in your own unique style with great description to help us all mature. Blessings.
Dear Jeanie. Once again, I have encountered a sleepless night, and dark thoughts have invaded my mind. Rather than toss and turn, I simply get up, check the neighbourhood through the windows from the safety of inside our house, check my email messages, spend time in quietude, and then return to bed. This morning/night, I have your devotion to enjoy and think about. It is what I need as I drive away the negative thoughts with positive talk to myself.
Your writings always teach a lesson with a little humour thrown in. Thank you! The mental image of a ‘King of caulk’ plugging the little holes in my mind against the evil one helps calm me down, pick me up, and return me to sleep. Keep up the good work!
In appreciation.
(ON)
Amen, Jeanie!
(BC)
Thank you, Jeanie, for this encouragement to get out our “caulk” guns — the word of God.
Your devotional really spoke to my heart today. The illustration of your husband filling all the cracks in your home and then the cracks in our faith opened up my eyes to see exactly how we as Christians are and what a hope our Savior is!
Thank you so much!
(SC)