theOTTER

Last night, like most of America, I watched the superbowl. Instead of watching it at my house, or at a friends house, this year I watched it at my church. As I sat there, other than the noise from the actual game, I could hear the chatter of the people sitting around me and the yells and screams of “GOOO” or “YESS.” As I reflect on the game, the memories made and the events of the night, I am amazed to think about how this one game of football can bring so many people together. It is estimated that 97 million people watched the super bowl last year, 97 million! The unity of American, and possibly Europe on one Sunday night is awesome.

“May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” John 17:23

Can you imagine the effect on the world we, as Christians, could have if we stood united for one cause? That one cause being to show the world that God, their savior, loves them as much as a father loves his son. It would be absolutely astounding.
Every day, I try my hardest to show the world God’s love through my actions, my speech, my way of life. Are you?

Be Bold. Live for Him. Take a stand.

~ Erika Gray | erika@theotter.org

Have you ever thought about your testimony? Do you have one?

According to dictionary.com, the work testimony means: “open declaration.” What do you openly declare? Of course we all have that drive to be something and someone better than what we are, right? I mean, come on, think about it, you want a better car to drive, better clothes to wear, prettier hair, a sicker surf board, we all want “better.”

Philippians 3:16 tells us, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” Personally, I like the NLT version better, “But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”

I love how the Bible puts things in such simple terms, so easy to understand and apply to my life. To me, this says, “Stop worrying about what other people think, accept, love and rock what you’re been given.”

This was a shorter devotional that what I usually write, but I like it, short, simple and to the point.

~ Erika Gray |erika@theotter.org

Have you ever been so sick of failure after failure that you just want to quit? Or maybe you are so tired that life just doesn’t even bother you anymore? I was reading a book by Joyce Meyer, and she said, “”When you are tempted to give up, your breakthrough is probably just around the corner.” Read that again. Your breakthrough is just around the corner. After reading that, I couldn’t help but think about how many great things could have been invented if people would just push through till the end. It’s said that Thomas Edison failed 2000 times when inventing the light bulb. To think that it could have only taken once to invent that small thing, but Edison was persistent and kept going.

On the flip side, have you ever felt like everything was so perfect that you just knew something was going to crack and the whole thing was going to fall apart? You had everything in order, life was good, and you just couldn’t figure it out, but you knew something was up. Being a Christian, I always know that God has my back, but I also know that I will be caused more pain and more suffering because of it. Revelation 2:10 says, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

There it is. There’s our promise. God tells us that when we hold on, even to the point of death, He will give us the crown of life. He knows that the devil is going to test us, but He also knows that if we’re faithful, and if we continue to trust in Him, he will save us.

Will you let Him save you?

~ Erika Gray | erika@theotter.org

^“17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. ¹⁸ They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. ¹⁹ These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

²⁰ But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, ²¹ and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

²² And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. ²³ Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude 1:17-23 (NLT)

Usually I don’t leave the verse references in accordance to the verse, but this time I think I will only because of the fact that these 7 verses contain so much!

Verse 17 through 19: When I read these verses, I see warning. The writer of Jude is warning us; He wants us to know that there are going to be people in this day and time that don’t want us to succeed. They don’t care what everyone else thinks, they do what they want, no matter how offensive or rude.

Verse 20 and 21: The Bible says “build each other up,” do you do that? Do you go out of your way, out of your comfort zone to encourage someone? The end of verse 21 says that when we do this, when we build each other up, we will keep ourselves safe in God’s love. God is very powerful, and to know that I am safe in His love, its amazing!

Verse 22 and 23 finish out the passage with a “charge.” Knights used to do this to their brave soldiers, and I guess you could picture God as a knight or something, and we’re his brave soldiers? (This could get a little to graphic in your mind, I should probably stop now!)

Verse 23 reminds us though to “do so with great caution;” Use caution with the people you hang out with, use caution with the person your dating. Even though you have been “charged” to show mercy to those whose faith is wavering, be careful.

Be.Live.Take

~ Erika Gray | erika@theotter.org