Names of God (a series)

GOD MOST HIGH

Genesis 14:18-22 (feel free to read the whole chapter)

Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine for their nourishment; he was the priest of God Most High,

And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth,

And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all he had taken.

And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons and keep the goods for yourself.

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand and sworn to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth.

OK...let's get the technical stuff out of the way! In this text God Most High comes from the following two Hebrew words;

'el (ale) - strength, mighty, power, strong. And, 'ayil (ah'yil) - an oak.

Also, the word Posessor comes from the Hebrew word quanah (kah-naw') - to create, to own, to take care or, surely redeem and possess.

Look at verse 20...Who has given your foes into your hand! He has already won ALL of our battles. He has ALREADY giving us the victory. For Abram it was then and there. For us it was an all in one deal with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God Most High is Mighty and Strong...He has ALL the power...and guess what? He's got your back!! And guess what else? THE BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!!! We need to stop focusing on the immediate "issues," and start focusing on the knowledge given to us through God's Word. The knowledge that the victory is ours!

Trust me, I KNOW hard...I KNOW pain...I KNOW trials...and I know life can throw some MAJOR curve balls. However, when I read this...when I really open my eyes to see WHO my Daddy really is, and His Character...I KNOW it will all be OK. I KNOW that God Most High has me covered...even in the darkest of darkness!!

I also remember that ALL things work for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to HIS purpose. Hold onto that when the enemy comes knocking with trials and struggles!

In closing, we must realize that the ball is in our court. God has made His strength, postition and authority clear. He has shown us who we are in Him. He has outlined the path for each of us in His Word. He has already given us the victory....now, all we have to do is RECEIVE it and WALK IN IT!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, My God Most High, You are an awesome and wonderful God. Thank You for caring for me. Thank You for giving me victory in every circumstance. Help me to remember this and walk in it. Help me to REALLY receive this Word from You. I love You, Lord. And I want to WALK in the victory that you have given to me. Thank You, my God Most High! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.

The Importance of Routines
By: Liza Asher

At 8:30 p.m. at the Osborne family house in Burlington, Vermont, an exemplary bedtime process is underway. The three children are upstairs changing into their pajamas, brushing their teeth, and settling into their beds to read. There is remarkably little protest or variation. "Bedtime is the one area where our routine has not wavered," says mom Eleanor. "Since the boys were toddlers, we've been doing the same thing, and now it's automatic. This is usually the calmest period our day."

Regular schedules provide the day with a framework that orders a young child's world. Although predictability can be tedious for adults, children thrive on sameness and repetition. "Knowing what to expect from relationships and activities helps children become more confident," says Dr. Peter Gorski, assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachussetts.

Routines begin from the first days of life, says Susan Newman, a social psychologist in New Jersey, affecting the relationship between parent and child, setting the stage for rocky or smooth sailing as your child gets older. Babies, especially, need regular sleep and meal schedules and even routines leading up to those activities (a story every day before nap- or bedtime, for example).

As she gets older, when a child knows what is going to happen and who is going to be there, it allows her to think and feel more boldly and freely, Gorski adds. When a child does not know what to expect, his internal alarms go off. Ultimately, parents benefit as well: "Knowing what is expected cuts down on parenting struggles," says Jodi Mindell, child psychologist and author of Sleeping through the Night (HarperCollins).

Tips for Implementing Routines

Plan regular mealtimes: "It is so valuable to the developing spirit of children to have one meal together each day as a family," Gorski says. Sitting together at the dinner table gives children the opportunity to share their day's experience and get support for whatever they're feeling. The emphasis is on togetherness, so if your children need to eat earlier, at least give them dessert while you eat your meal. This is also an ideal time to introduce routines that give children responsibility, such as setting or clearing the table. Older children can be pre-dinner helpers and washer-uppers.

Wind down before bed: Consistent nightly rituals are soothing and take the battle out of bedtime. But after an exhausting day, it's tempting to skip the preliminaries when bedtime finally approaches. Don't, stresses Mindell: "About 20 to 30 minutes of calm, soothing, and consistent activities get children ready." Find what works best for your child—some children are revved up
by a bath or fidgety when listening to a story. Yours may prefer doing a puzzle together or listening to music. For older children, bedtime is an ideal time for conversation. My 12-year-old son likes me to sit on his bed and talk for a few minutes before he goes to sleep.

In general, make the room conducive for sleep. Set aside a time each week for room cleanup (another important routine!), when your child puts away toys and books and you change the linens.

Be consistent but flexible: Routines are essential, but allow some room for flexibility. Although the Osborne family thought their bedtime routine was a blessing, there have been some problems recently. "I was completely rigid about my oldest son's bedtime, and he is now incapable of veering from that routine. If we are out later than his bedtime, he becomes upset," Eleanor says.

Unexpected events, like surprise guests or errands that cannot be postponed, may result in a nap in the car seat or a skipped meal. But if we react with frustration when this happens, our kids will, too. Try to prepare your child ahead of time for the change and reassure them that things will return to normal tomorrow.

Liza Asher is a mother of four and writes on parenting issues for national magazines. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

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Here's another devotional from my Names of God series...

OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT)

Psalm 139:7-12

Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be the only light about me,

Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

He is always here...He is always there. He is EVERYWHERE...AT ONCE! We are never alone. What other "god" can say that? No matter what we are going through...no matter how deep or dark the valley...HE IS WITH US!

Isn't that awesome?! He never leaves us! NEVER!

Hebrews 13:5b says; ...for God, Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake, nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not!

It reminds me of that old footprints poem we all know and love...There are many times in life we do not think we can go another step...and yet we do...We do, because He carries us! Thank God, He carries me! Thank God!

So, the next time you think you have reached the end of your rope...LET GO AND LET GOD! He's already there waiting for you to give it to HIM!

Let's Pray;

Daddy God, Thank You for NEVER leaving or forsaking me! Thank You for Your CONSTANT presence. Thank You for all the times you have carried me through the darkness. Thank You for all the times You wrapped Your loving Arms around me. Thank You for loving me, even when I don't acknowledge or see. I love You, Daddy. I love YOU! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.