Tinder in His Hand
By Laura Bagby

As we stoke the fires to fend off the chill of a winter night, I am reminded of the power of death.

Yes, that's right.

What we see sitting around the campfire or at home cozy by the fireplace is to the natural eye no more than a billowing, pulsating mass of orange flame. But in my mind's eye I sense something more, a spiritual overtone.

You see, what we are really seeing is the result of death.

You can't start a fire with wet wood, because it will never light. And you can try unseasoned wood, but it will smoke so bad you will soon be wheezing.

No. If you know what you are doing, you pick the driest, best-seasoned stock you can find. This stuff is deader than dead.

That's what makes the fire burn.

And so it is with our spiritual lives. How can God shine His light through us before all men, if our will is still kicking and screaming, 'Me, me, me?!' Only after we essentially die to our own dreams can God place His spark of His plan and ignite our inner man with power, with peace, with joy, with His ultimate will.

To us who are dying to our dreams, dying to our whims, our will, our ways, our passions, our routines, it may look like God is through with us. He has abandoned us for some other project. We hurt and He doesn't seem to be listening.

I have said it myself, 'Well, that's it. I am no longer any use to the Lord. I am tired; I am broken. I don't know what I want to do and I can't seem to do it anyway. I missed the way. I lost the skills. I lost my popularity. '

Whatever it is that you have lost when you got serious about God, know that God is not through with you yet. You are on the precipice of greater things. You are being refined.

And yes, brothers and sisters, soon it will be your day to burn. But unlike the past, you will not burn out.

Just as the flame of the Most Holy God as He appeared within the burning bush in the story of Moses never actually burned the bush, so the Spirit of God shall ignite you, and you will not grow weary for your source of strength is the Lord alone. What others will see is not the bush, but the incredible, everlasting flame of God's glory.

But first comes death. It is necessary, believe me, but you will be amazed at the results. For it is the deadest, driest wood that causes a fire to burn. Nothing is impossible with God.

cbn

wisdom@god.com

Proverbs 1:1-7
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words
of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

It is so good to see you in a setting where you are learning more about Me and how to please Me. You have the privilege of asking Me for wisdom and casting all your cares on Me. I really do care about what happens to you. I want for you to know Me and to be wise.

Today, I would like to share with you the first step in becoming wise: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).

So that you get a clear understanding of My Word, I want to help you by explaining a few words. When I use the word fear, I mean "respect," "reverence," or "worship." When I use the word beginning, I mean "essence," "chief part," or "first step." And when I use the word knowledge, I mean "knowledge of Me" and "obedience."

I want you to reverence Me by understanding that the origin of wisdom and knowledge is found in Me. I am the One who grants wisdom, and from My mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Also, reverence Me by getting to know Me--not just having a body of knowledge about Me. Check out this passage: Proverbs 2:1-5.

Then reverence Me by obeying Me. Here are some helpful verses: Deuteronomy 4:5-6; 1 Chronicles 22:12; Proverbs 9:6.

When you reverence Me in these ways, there are several benefits: avoidance of trouble, and gaining riches, honor, and long life. The following Scriptures shed light on these benefits: Proverbs 10:27; 16:6; and 22:4.

But the greatest benefit is that you will know Me more and more. I will be listening for your reply through prayer and watching for your response through your obedience.

Love,

Ancient of Days

--Marvin Williams

DESTINATION POINTS

* What does fearing God mean to me?
* How does that fear help me obtain wisdom and knowledge?

LINKS:
Knowing God Through Proverbs
http://www.discoveryseries.org/sb130

bottom line: Fear God to draw near to God.

soul journey

I AM A PRINCESS!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Every girl wants to be a princess sometime in her life, just as sure as every little boy wants to be a fireman. How cool would it be to live in a palace or a castle! A princess has servants waiting on her, hand and foot, and wears the most beautiful clothes. These perks were not what enticed me though. What attracted me was the idea of being considered special because of my heritage. Because I am an American with few ethnic traditions, I guess royalty seemed mysterious and desirable to me.

It was my freshman year of college and I was at home when I ran across a familiar verse: 1 Corinthians 9:25. (Yes, I had realized by this point in my life that I was never going to be a princess--but my desire to be part of a noble family had not diminished.) Since I despise exercise, I had never really connected with the first part of this verse. But because I was trying to be a focused, diligent Christian, I continued reading. The latter part caught my attention: "They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

A crown? The only people who receive crowns are those who win and those of royalty. I had read this verse many other times, but now it made sense--I really was a princess! Other verses about being a child of the King entered my thoughts and I knew it was true.

I can't explain how amazing that moment was. God showed me right then that I was special, that I was part of a noble family. Whenever I feel disappointed in myself or my circumstances, I remember that I am royalty! You are too, if you are a follower of Jesus. We are part of the greatest family in the world!

So, next time you're feeling low or saddened about your life and what you wish it was, remember your title: Son or Daughter of the King. And thank God that He chose you to be in His family. --Carson Newman (Indiana)

Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader.

DESTINATION POINTS

* How does the realization that I'm a child of the King affect my life?
* What responsibilities do I have in my "royal" role?
* Verses to ponder: Psalm 33:12; John 15:16; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:10; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 3:1.

LINKS:
God Our Father: What It Means To Be His Child
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0108

bottom line: In Jesus, we have great value.

soul journey

Peace In The Midst Of The Storm
By Martha Noebel

For the people of God, there is peace. Now I didn't say there were peaceful circumstances … because there were more than enough things happening to prove different. What I am saying is that in the midst of all the "stuff," God brings a supernatural peace.

We have just finished riding out level 2 hurricane Isabel. The name itself means "pledge of God." The pledge or promise of God that I saw through all of this was that God was certainly with us during the storm. With all the devastation, power outages, fallen trees, loss of water, downed phone lines, etc., there were also many, many stories of God's faithfulness and love.

I was amazed as I heard the various stories. One family needed a new roof and didn't have the finances to pay for it. For them, the majority of their shingles blew away. Now the insurance company will help them pay for the new roof.

One lady went without power for 6 days and yet she felt blessed when she heard of the repairs that some of the people had to make. She was able to handle the heat and lack of power. God's grace was with her from beginning to end.

Others who may have had damage to their homes, but yet had electricity, were thankful they were able to stay cool. It was definitely a wonderful picture of God knowing what each one could handle. He promised to not give us more than we could bear.

There were those that needed the time with their families. It was a definite "pulling together" time. Friends, families, and neighbors all pulled together, helping each other, encouraging and loving each other. One single mom shared how she played games in her living room with her two sons throughout the whole ordeal. It was a great time for them. As with most single moms and teens, relationships can become strained. They were able to talk, laugh, and work together as a team.

This time of year is very challenging for my family and me. We have so many trees around our house. When the winds come with so much force, we are usually hit by at least one tree. So it wasn't a surprise to be scurrying around in the house trying to gather up the needed supplies when the big "thud" came. A large pine tree that stretched from a neighbor's house two houses away fell from their back yard, across the full length of the other neighbor's yard, and gingerly onto the front of our house. My neighbor who heard the tree falling told us of how slowly it fell. As he told the story, I could see angels holding that big old tree and carefully bringing it down so it would not do serious damage to our house. Praise God, we only had to replace a few shingles. Believe me -- that was a miracle. It could have been so much worse.

What has so totally amazed me is that the stories I have heard share the same sentiment. They told of how God gave the peace, strength, and ability to cope no matter the situation. I am thankful for the abundance of peace I personally felt. I had to work hard to clean up the debris in the yard, and was somewhat put out by the water damage to the bedroom carpet, but all in all, I felt very blessed.

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11).

Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints... (Psalm 85:7,8a).

The wicked say, "Peace, peace, … when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). But for the people of God, there is peace. Now I didn't say there were peaceful circumstances … because there were more than enough things happening to prove different. What I am saying is that in the midst of all the "stuff," God brings a supernatural peace.

I am thankful for God's promises to us. His Word to you and I today is that there is a "peace in the midst of the storm."

cbn

LOVE RELEASED

John 15:9-13
9 "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. 10 If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Within the walls of my poor heart
there lies a hidden treasure rare.
Though I would like to claim some part,
it's God alone who put it there.

What is this gift of greatest price
that I have stifled with my fear?
It's God's great love, a sacrifice,
His grace outpoured that drew me near.

Beyond these blocks, beyond my cares
of failing or of feeling pain,
let love gush forth until it tears
the false walls down--that would contain.

God's love is more than what we know--
it's more than angels' words above.
Its richness from my heart must flow,
for I am nothing without love.
--Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* How have I been hiding from God's love?
* What is God calling me to do that requires me to break out from my fear and embrace His loving way?

LINKS:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/7c2/7c2010.html

How Has God Loved Us?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0102

bottom line: Love released is God's way to live.

soul journey

BOTOX FOR THE SOUL

Ephesians 4:22-30
22 Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is
helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Got Botox? A lot of people do. They may be older than you, but that's the point. They are seeking Botox treatments because they've reached a time in their lives when they want to look young and fresh again.

Appearances are important to us, that's for sure. And they are so important to Botox users that they will allow someone to inject them with botulinum toxin Type A (yikes!) so that their wrinkles will disappear for a couple of months. Then the treatment must be administered again.

The treatment is somewhat expensive, and it comes with possible side effects. But that doesn't seem to be stopping people from giving it a try. People go to great lengths to look better.

Looking good is not a bad thing; it's something we all know is an asset in today's world. But a more important consideration is how we look on the inside. How much are we willing to sacrifice to have the kind of character God wants?

Are we willing to try some Botox for the soul? Are we willing to inject ourselves with the kind of loving spirit, merciful compassion, caring interest in others, unselfish kindness, and gentleness of character that will show Jesus to others? Are we willing to come back to God and His Word time after time to get the spiritual character enhancement we need? That's how we can live by the suggestion of Paul in Ephesians 4 to be children of light.

Here are some character treatments we can all take:

* Speak truthfully (v.25).
* Don't sin, despite your anger (v.26).
* Don't steal, but work hard (v.28).
* Build others up with your words (v.29).
* Please the Holy Spirit with your life (v.30).

Looking for ways to look good? Go through the Epistles (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians) and find all the character-building verses you can. Then inject them into your life each day. Believe me, it'll be much better than Botox. --Dave Branon

DESTINATION POINTS

* How does the way I look on the outside affect my life? Do I also value the way I look on the inside?
* Who are a couple of people I look up to because of the way they live out their faith? What are three things I can learn from them?
* What are two or three characteristics that I feel I can use to build others up?

LINKS:
Goodness:
It Begins in the Heart
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/8c1/8c1010.html

bottom line: Let others see Jesus in you.

soul journey

LAST REQUEST

Joshua 1:6-9
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Before each space flight, NASA astronauts fill out a "last request" form. When Columbia Commander Rick Husband turned his in, heincluded a special note for his pastor: "Tell them about Jesus. He's real to me."

That request has been carried out all over the country in newspaper articles, TV documentaries, and magazines. Part of the story of the tragic destruction of the Columbia is that two of its crew, Rick Husband and Payload Commander Michael Anderson, along with many space scientists, attended Grace Community Church in Houston, located near the Johnson Space Center.

These men and women, along with others around the US, are top-notch scientists who place their trust in the living God. They defy the old maxim that religion and science don't mix; that a true scientist cannot be a person of faith and a true believer cannot be a scientist.

Rick Devera, a former NASA engineer, put it this way: "Faith filled the gap [for Rick and Michael] when science had no answers." Pastor Steve Riggle commented, "The more the true scientist discovers about the intricacies of how God put everything together, the more they have to admit that [creation] did not happen by accident."

Rick Husband and Michael Anderson lived out their faith in their church and their homes. They prayed. They put action to their faith. They made an impact with their lives. Rick recorded a series of devotional tapes for his children to view while he was gone. In Rick's address to the crew before lift-off, he read Joshua 1:7-9, "Be strong and courageous."

It is sometimes difficult for believers to respond to the discoveries of science and the claims of naturalism. We can't answer all of the questions or explain all of the discoveries. But we can point to the faith of Anderson and Husband, and many scientists and mathematicians like them, and know that they are men and women who believe in God.

And He is seeing to it that Rick's request--"tell them about Jesus"--is being carried out. --Dave Egner

DESTINATION POINTS

* If I were to write out my last requests, what would they be?
* Am I convinced that Jesus is real and the Bible is true? How can I demonstrate it in my life?

LINKS:
Dinosaurs And The Bible
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1112

Are We Alone In The Cosmos?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1110

bottom line: Faith doesn't deny science--it helps explain it.

soul journey

LABS VS. GOLDENS

1 Corinthians 12:8-14
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not
made up of one part but of many.

I love to work with dogs, and I have a habit of comparing the various breeds. Labradors and golden retrievers used to appeal equally to me. But over time, I discovered that Labs are energetic and can't seem to settle down. They're less controllable and more troublesome. The Goldens, on the other hand, are calm, peaceful, and well-behaved. That's why I like the Goldens better than the Labs!

I have another habit--comparing myself to other people. Maybe you do this too. I'm not as pretty or as smart as she is. I'm not as successful or important as he is. Does my life count for anything? Am I as spiritual as she is? Why can't I be as joyful about God?

In 1 Corinthians 12:7-31, we are told that as followers of Jesus each of us is important, and we are all part of one body. Just as each part of our physical body serves a purpose (no matter how small it is or how trivial it may seem), each of us has a purpose. God made each person unique. If we were all the same, how could we help each other grow?

Each of my furry friends is different. Bleu is a well-behaved Lab who doesn't run all over the place causing havoc. And Norman, a Golden, barks all the time and drives me crazy. Not all Labs are bad, and not all Goldens are angels. They can't be molded into the same dog. Similarly, we don't all have the same gifts or talents. Someone else may be prettier, but she might not have a gift for working with animals. We need to accept our differences and count them as blessings (v.4).

Be confident about who you are! Don't try to be someone you're not. God has made you just the way you are! --Susan Lapchon (Pennsylvania)

Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader.

DESTINATION POINTS

* Am I comparing myself with someone? Why do I think that person is better than I am?
* Why do I feel the need to compare myself with others?
* Does God compare me with others, or does He love me the way I am?

LINKS:
Ugly Me
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/9c1/9c1034.html

bottom line: Comparing ourselves with others leads to defeat.

soul journey

Silent Sermon

Read: Colossians 3:12-17; Hebrews 10:24-25

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. —Colossians 3:16

How important is our fellowship in the local church? Let me answer that question by telling a story.

A minister was concerned about the absence of a man who had normally attended services. After a few weeks, he decided to visit him. When the pastor arrived at the man's home, he found him all alone, sitting in front of a fireplace. The minister pulled up a chair and sat next to him. But after his initial greeting he said nothing more.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes while the minister stared at the flames in the fireplace. Then he took the tongs and carefully picked up one burning ember from the flames and placed it on the hearth. He sat back in his chair, still silent. His host watched in quiet reflection as the ember flickered and faded. Before long it was cold and dead.

The minister glanced at his watch and said he had to leave, but first he picked up the cold ember and placed it back in the fire. Immediately it began to glow again with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the minister rose to leave, his host stood with him and shook his hand. Then, with a smile on his face, the man said, "Thanks for the sermon, pastor. I'll see you in church on Sunday." —David Roper

Lord, help us see how much we need each other
As we walk along the Christian way;
In fellowship with sister and with brother,
You will keep us growing day by day. —Hess

The warm fellowship of the church will keep your heart from growing cold.

daily bread

PENGUIN PUZZLE

Numbers 13:30-32;14:1-4
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. . . . 1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to
let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

The evening news program included a story about the bizarre behavior of penguins at the San Francisco Zoo. Six newcomers from Sea World in Ohio managed to persuade the 46 locals to follow their lead. The zookeeper said, "We've lost control. It's a free-for-all in here."

Ever since the new guys showed up, all 52 have been swimming around the circular pool from dawn to dusk. It's quite a sight to see them swim and swim and stagger out of the pool at night. Penguin experts are puzzled, but they say that web-footed friends are highly social and are "open to new ideas fostered by newcomers."

It may be hard to explain penguin behavior, but people can be even more puzzling. As I read the biblical account of what happened soon after Moses led a huge group in their exodus from Egypt, I had to wonder how just a few were able to get everyone else to follow them in rebelling against Moses (Numbers 13:26-14:4). After everything they had been through in Egypt--the miraculous escape and the parting of the sea--they allowed the bad report of a few spies to turn them into doubting and grumbling rebels against Moses and God. They even said they wanted a new leader who would take them back to Egypt (14:4).

I'd like to think that no followers of Jesus today would be so gullible, so fickle, so foolish, so easily influenced by others. That's what I'd like to think.

But how many of us have "gone back to Egypt" or thought about it seriously? That is, how many have started out on the journey of faith, following Jesus, but have since begun to have second thoughts. We've been listening to somebody, maybe even a few friends, who have been suggesting that we're missing out on life. Trying to be moral and honest in society today, they may suggest, is too much to ask.

But is it? Is it too much for us to give our total allegiance to the One who gave His life for us? --Kurt De Haan

DESTINATION POINTS

* When is it tough to live for Jesus?
* Do my friends encourage me to go forward with Jesus?
* Why is it worth it to continue to follow Him?

LINKS:
What Does It Take To Follow Christ?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0710

bottom line: You can't walk close to Jesus while looking back.

soul journey

DON'T BE AN EEYORE

Numbers 11:1-6
1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them. 4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

One of Winnie the Pooh's friends is a cute, but sad- faced donkey, Eeyore. The most distinguishable characteristic about Eeyore is his uncanny ability to complain about everything. If it is a perfectly sunny day, Eeyore will say in his monotone voice, "But, it's gonna rain." His expression of gloomy dissatisfaction affects everyone.

In Exodus 16:1-10 and Numbers 11:1-17, you will recognize the spirit of Eeyore among God's people. The Israelites' complaining was their habitual response to stress. When they encountered danger, shortages, and inconveniences, they complained. They didn't really want to go back to Egypt--they just wanted life to be easy! The real source of their stress was lack of trust in God. The Israelites normally complained to one another instead of to God. When they complained to one another, nothing was accomplished.

Moses, however, took his complaint to God--the One who could solve the problem. The Israelites' complaining attitude was a result of their focusing on unfulfilled desires. Their dissatisfaction was the result of shifting their attention from what they had to what they didn't have.

So, how can you and I guard against becoming Eeyores?

First, we should depend on God's power and wisdom to help us deal with the cause of our stress--lack of trust in God. Second, we should take our needs to God, the One who can solve the difficult problems and answer the difficult questions. Third, we should occupy our minds with thoughts of gratitude.

At all cost, we must not let unfulfilled desires cause us to forget God's blessings and gifts--life, health, friends, family, and jobs.

Make a list of all the people and things in your life for which you are thankful to God, and start praising Him for them. Eeyores can't survive in an atmosphere of thanksgiving and praise. --Marvin Williams

DESTINATION POINTS

* How can I trust God instead of complaining when I am facing dangers, shortages, and inconveniences?
* For what in my life am I most thankful?

LINKS:
Why Should I Be Thankful?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/9c3/9c3010.html

bottom line: Complaining and praising can never coexist.

soul journey

Tested And True

Read: Daniel 3:8-18

Let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. —Daniel 3:18

A young nurse was assisting a surgeon for the first time. As he was completing the operation, she told him he had used 12 sponges, but she could account for only 11. The doctor curtly replied that he had removed them all from inside the patient. The nurse insisted that one was missing, but the doctor declared he would proceed with sewing up the incision.

The nurse, her eyes blazing, said, "You can't do that! Think of the patient!" The doctor smiled and, lifting his foot, showed the nurse the twelfth sponge, which he had deliberately dropped on the floor. "You'll do fine!" he said. He had been testing her.

Daniel's three friends faced a different kind of test (Daniel 3), but they too would not budge. They knew their refusal to worship the image might result in their death, yet they never wavered. They proved they were true to God by standing firm.

The Lord still permits trials and temptations to enter the lives of His children. The challenge may come as an opportunity to gratify the lusts of the flesh, or as a series of disheartening circumstances. Whatever form it takes, we must not yield. Rather, we must stand for what is right and trust God to supply the grace we need (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Are you "tested and true"? —Herb Vander Lugt

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin—
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. —Palmer

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor can we be perfected without trial.

daily bread

Truth Is Liberating

Read: John 8:28-36

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. —John 8:32

A Christian friend shared several problems with me over the phone. He was particularly concerned about his frustration and anger. But talking seemed to help. The next day he e-mailed this message to me: "After our talk, I read my Bible notes and found several pages that spoke to me. But what helped me most was the realization that Christianity really is the truth. I suppose that for a Christian this should be obvious. But for me it was a fresh revelation that Jesus in fact is the Son of God and He loves me." He added, "Just knowing the truth was very liberating. Suddenly, all the frustration and anger left me."

Writer Os Guinness tells about a young, searching Christian who exclaimed, "I always knew the Christian faith was true, but I never realized it was this true!"

As these believers searched for greater understanding of the gospel, they rediscovered what Jesus promised: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

Do you need a fresh realization of truth in your life? Then spend time searching the Scriptures (the written truth), and earnestly seek Jesus Christ (the living truth). Soon the old, familiar truth of Jesus and His love will become refreshingly new to you and will make you free indeed. —Joanie Yoder

Our selfish ways imprison us—
We cry out to be free;
But if we will obey God's Word,
We'll find true liberty. —Sper

The truth of Christ is the only path to freedom.

daily bread

GOD'S DIRECTION

Numbers 9:15-23
15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at His command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out. . . .Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.


Tony Bennett left his heart in New Zealand, and he knew he had to go back there. (No, not that Tony Bennett!) This one is a sharp-shooting basketball player whose dad, Dick Bennett, coached the Wisconsin Badgers to the NCAA Final Four in 2000. After a short career in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, Tony Bennett sought God's direction for the next pathway he and his wife Laurel should take. And they received some clear signals from God about the way they should go.

Here's how God directed:

After Tony left the Hornets, he had an opportunity to hook up with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 1995-96 season. He felt good about his chances until he suffered a foot injury and got the old heave-ho from the Cavs.

Still interested in another NBA shot, Tony decided to bite on an offer from a team in Sydney, Australia. He could work his way back by playing well for the Sydney Kings, he thought. But they released him even though he was averaging 21 points per game.

Now Tony and Laurel wondered what God would do next. Where would He lead? Soon a team in New Zealand signed him up to play in their pro league. While he was playing for that team, Tony and Laurel met a man who offered them opportunities to serve in his ministry. Their involvement in the ministry grew so much that they decided to return the following year to New Zealand to play ball and to serve God as missionaries.

What was the secret to seeking God's direction for the Bennetts?

According to Laurel, "We just kept asking ourselves, where can we serve God the best? We prayed that the decision would be clear to us. God did it!"

As surely as God led the children of Israel by cloud and fire, He leads us as we trust Him. --Dave Branon

DESTINATION POINTS

* No clouds, no fire. How does God lead me?
* When was the last time I implored God to let me know which direction to take in life? Should I make that question part of my prayer life?
* What are some signs or indications that I'm going in the way God wants me to go? Is there someone who can help me?

bottom line: Pray for direction, seek God's selection.

soul journey

A Reason to Rejoice
By Tony Evans

"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance." --Romans 5:3

Read It: James 1:2-4

If you're not in the middle of a trial right now, just hang around. None of us can dodge trials. So we need to find out the resources God has given us to deal with trials.

What is a trial, anyway? It's an adverse circumstance that God allows or even brings about in the lives of us His children to deepen our faith. We'll see this week that trials are not designed to sink our boat, but to help us improve our navigation skills. In the words of the Apostles Paul and James, we can actually rejoice when we undergo trials, because we know God is doing something special in our lives.

Now trials can come from a number of directions. Sometimes God sends you a trial to teach you a specific lesson. At other times, it comes simply because you live in a sin-cursed world, and the curse rubs off on you. So you become the victim of a crime or accident or illness that crashes into your life.

Sometimes trials are the result of your own sin. You yield to a temptation that leads to a set of circumstances that are tough to deal with. And don't forget that the enemy can attack you with trials for the purpose of bringing about your spiritual defeat.

So my concern is not so much the source of your trials, but what you do when they show up. How you respond to cataclysmic circumstances has a lot to do with what shape you're in when you come out on the other side. The good news is, you're not out there alone, because no matter what the source of your trial is, God has the situation well in hand. He can work out His purposes even in a trial you may bring on yourself.

One great way to learn how to deal with trials is to watch others in the middle of one. So starting tomorrow, we'll get into a boat with the disciples and row out to the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Stay with me, and you'll learn that even when your boat starts to rock, Jesus Christ has authority over your trials.

Think About It

You're either in the middle of a trial, just coming out of one, or just heading into one. Better be ready!

cbn

MORE THAN JUST CHOPSTICKS!

1 Corinthians 1:10-17
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that 15 I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

An old Chinese man had three sons. None of the boys would look out for the others, and the father was deeply concerned about their selfish attitude.

On his deathbed, the man called his three sons to his side. He asked each of them to take a chopstick and break it in front of one another. They did it effortlessly. He then asked each of them to bring a bundle of chopsticks and try breaking it. None could do it.

He then explained that, like the chopsticks, their lives could be easily torn apart if they stood as individuals. If they would unite, however, they would be a formidable force to be reckoned with. The sons recognized their mistake and promised their father they would be more united.

This story, though a little simplistic, has a special place in the hearts of many Chinese. In an Oriental culture, unity in a community is highly valued. The country should come before the family and the family before the individual.

The Bible teaches about unity too. But unlike the Eastern worldview, the premise and the practice are entirely different. As followers of Jesus, we are to be united in mind and thought. This simply means that we are to develop a common understanding of biblical principles, as well as a common set of values by which decisions are made.

But how do we do that? First, we must establish from Scripture a correct understanding and a correct set of values. Second, we must be willing to communicate patiently and precisely to sharpen one another's understanding and to clarify one another's values.

The phrase "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:10) should guide the way we treat other followers of the Lord. He alone can bring about true unity. --Lim Chien Chong

DESTINATION POINTS

* What are some causes of quarrels, fights, and divisions?
* How can I promote greater unity in my church and among my Christian friends?
* What are some pitfalls I should avoid?

bottom line: In Jesus, unity can be our reality.

soul journey

DON'T DO THE DURIAN!

Deuteronomy 1:20-26
20 Then I said to you, "You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. 21 See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." 22 Then all of you came to me and said, "Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to." . . . 24 They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and explored it. 25 Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, "It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us." 26 But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.

Prior to a recent trip to Asia, I was warned by a co-worker, "Don't do the durian!" No, this was not a local dance--durian is a fruit. A pungent-smelling fruit about the size of a football and covered with spikes.

When I was in Malaysia, I went to an open-air market where some of my buddies started to try different Asian fruits. Sure enough, durian was on the menu.

A man who owned the fruit stand cracked one open with a knife that looked like a meat cleaver. Soon, fresh durian was being offered to me. I found it to be stinky, slimy, and (surprisingly) not bad! I think I could have learned to acquire a taste for the unusual flavor if I had eaten more of it.

In the first chapter of Deuteronomy we read what Moses was recounting to the Israelites about some fruit. He was leading them down memory road to make a point: God provides, but we don't always obediently accept or honor His provision.

Moses recalled how his spies had found the good food (fruit) that God had promised His people: "Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, 'It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us'" (Deuteronomy 1:25).

The people did not accept God's provision, however. They rejected His "good fruit." They had listened to false reports and were filled with fear. They decided "not to do the durian."

What has God provided for you that you have rejected because of someone's negative comments? The Lord brings "good fruit" your way--ministry opportunities, new activities, and changes of direction.

If through prayer, study of His Word, and godly counsel, you determine that He has laid new "fruit" before you, go for it. He will give you all you need to accomplish His will. C'mon, do the durian! --Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What "fruit" has God sent me that I am rejecting?
* How can I distinguish between God's good fruit and the bad fruit of my own making?

LINKS:
How Can I Know What God Wants Me To Do?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0704

bottom line: If God provides the fruit, it is good!

soul journey

The Master's Sandals
By Marsha Brickhouse Smith

"My Child, you need the sandals, and I have a pair for you." He slowly placed them on my feet. As He did, I felt a renewed strength.

The Dream about the Sandals

The day had been ever so long. It was one of those days that you wish had not happened. Nothing had gone right. When I came home and closed the door, I wanted to shut out all the worries and troubles the day had brought.

Later that night as I tried to go to sleep, I remember thinking, "Oh, Lord, I know you were with me today, but it was a horrible day! What am I doing wrong?"

Finally sleep came and with it a dream I shall never forget. I dreamed I was standing before an aquamarine sea, surrounded by the most beautiful, high mountains I had ever seen. And standing before me was Jesus! That was such a calm in being in His presence; such love. He looked down at my feet as the waves began to wash over them and slowly shook his head.

"Where are your shoes, My Child?" Never had I heard a voice that sounded like that. The very essence of the voice was love!

"I didn't think I needed them, Lord." I too looked down at my bare feet.

"My Child, you need the sandals, and I have a pair for you." He slowly placed them on my feet. As He did, I felt a renewed strength. No longer did I feel tired. No longer did I feel discouraged or sad.

After He finished putting the shoes on, He helped me to my feet with His arms of love and then spoke once more, "These shoes will protect you no matter where you go. They will keep you from harm. When the fires of life assail you, you will not be burned. When there are stones in the pathway, you will not be hurt, for these shoes are very special."

"But, Lord … they look old, and well worn. Are you sure about these shoes?

He smiled a smile I will never forget. "Oh, yes, my child for they were my sandals. And when my children wear them it is a perfect fit."

As I watched Him walk down the shoreline as the sunset shone across the waters in a golden splendor, I knew. I had been trying to walk through all of life without the shoes. No wonder I was so tired, so discouraged, so defeated.

But no longer ... for the Master had given me His sandals. Now I was prepared to walk with victory!

The message is for YOU too. Wherever you are right now, whatever you are going through, not only He is with you, but you are wearing His sandals … and it is a perfect fit. And those sandals are the gospel, the Good News! The good news of God's love, his forgiveness, and His saving grace that makes all the difference in our daily lives.

"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, and says to Zion, YOUR GOD REIGNS!" (Isaiah 52:7).

So whenever you start to doubt, look down at your feet and remember the Sandals, for they have been touched by the Master and given to you. It is a perfect fit!

Remember His Words and then look up. For just as He walked down the beach in my dream towards the mountains, He has prepared the way for us to follow. We walk knowing He walks with us each step of the way. He hears our every prayer, and loves us through it all.

cbn

Believe It or Not
By Tomeco N. Woods

Do you think you are not worthy enough to be used by God? Think again.

The popular television program from the past, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, has been resurrected and revived for today’s audiences. Viewers are invited to watch as daredevils attempt life-threatening feats, animals perform amazing tricks, or the world’s tallest, skinniest, hairiest, most flexible, or most tattooed person displays his or her claim to fame. The idea is that even if the viewer initially believes the task to be impossible, through the power of videotape it can be proven to be not only possible, but also a reality.

We as Christians have our own "Believe It or Not" series. We call it the Holy Bible.

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we read of the miraculous works God accomplished through ordinary men and women, who, upon receiving initial instructions from God, imagined the tasks set before them to be impossible.

We hear from Moses, "Lord, I don’t speak well." We hear from Sarah, "Lord, I’m too old." Esther said, "Lord, I don’t see an open door of opportunity." Jeremiah cried, "Lord, I’m too young." Gideon whimpered, "Lord, I’m undeserving." And today we hear each other say the very same things. Perhaps you have used one of these excuses yourself upon receiving the revelation of God’s will for your life.

Maybe you think of the promises of God (a greater anointing, a powerful ministry, a pastoral position, work in foreign missions—whatever He has purposed for your life) as impossible dreams (or nightmares to some of you). Well, believe it or not, there is no shortcoming or fault within you that is so great God cannot use you.

Do you, like Moses, think you don’t speak well enough to be God’s spokesperson? God will speak for you if you only open your mouth.

Do you, like Sarah and Jeremiah, feel you are too old or too young to be used by God? Please be reminded of that same Sarah who was in her nineties when Isaac, the son of promise, was born, and of David, Solomon, and Samuel, all of whom were called, anointed, and appointed in their youth.

Are you, like Esther, afraid to move when God says move because you don’t hear opportunity knocking? Step out onto the water the way that Peter did when called by Jesus.

If, like Gideon, you feel you are a failure in life and are unworthy of God’s call, think back to the prostitute Rahab. Because of her faith and in spite of her past failures, she was counted worthy enough to be included in the faith "Hall of Fame" (Hebrews 11) and more importantly in the lineage of Christ.

God has a plan for each one of us. Those plans have nothing to do with our capabilities, and everything to do with His.

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me" (Jeremiah 32: 27, KJV)?

If we look at the situation in regard to what we are able to accomplish in our own strength, then yes, the task is too difficult. God does not, however, use us because of our ability, but rather our availability. The men and women who were included in the Bible are not there because they were great leaders, great orators, or great soldiers. They were included in God’s holy record because they made themselves available to be used by God.

My church choir sings a song that says, "Little becomes much when you place it in this Man’s hands." It is based upon the account of the 5,000 men (plus women and children) gathered to hear Christ teach who were fed with two fish and five loaves of bread (Matthew 14:15-21). When evening had come, the disciples were ready to send them home to eat, but Jesus had another plan. Rather than send them away, He would feed them from the disciples’ own personal supply—five loaves and two fish. The disciples questioned how it could be done. I’m sure that some of them, like many of us, thought to themselves, "How in the world are all of these people going to eat? There’s not even enough to sustain the thirteen of us." What they had, though, they made available to Christ, and the need was met. In fact, not only was it met, God did exceedingly and abundantly above all that they imagined could be done. Twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…" (Ephesians 3:20, KJV).

God is able, not according to your personal abilities, but according to the power that is within you. That power, if you are a believer, is the power of the Holy Spirit.

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9, KJV).

Of course there are always skeptics who say, "It cannot be done." I am sure there were doubters in the crowd of 5, 000 plus awaiting their portion of the meal. One of the good things about God, however, is that His power is not limited by your unbelief, or by the unbelief of others.

"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13, KJV).

Believe it or not, you have the power to do all that God has destined for you to do. Believe it or not, God called a murderer (Moses), a drunk (Noah), a prostitute (Rahab), a liar (Abraham), a thief (Jacob), an adulterer (David), an idolater (Solomon), and a backstabber (Peter), so why couldn’t He have called you?

You can achieve all that He has predestined for your life. You can obtain His promises of prosperity, wholeness of body, spiritual gifts, and abundant life. God can take your weaknesses and make them your strengths.

Believe it or not.

cbn

Growing Pains
By Charlene Israel

Pain can be good or bad; it depends on how you look at it.

Pain can be good or bad; it depends on how you look at it. God often allows us to be in uncomfortable situations that stretch us.

A few years ago I began feeling restless in my spirit. I felt dry and stagnant. I asked the Lord what was going on. I cried out for a fresh anointing. I prayed and fasted and sensed a change was coming. What God spoke came as somewhat of a surprise: "I am calling you to move." I had been visiting a church in another state, but I never imagined God would call me to move there.

I knew from experience that to obey God was the key to being blessed. I poured over His message for quite some time and received many confirmations. "Wow," I thought, "this sounds awesome. God must have something powerful planned for me." I had no clue the metamorphosis I was about to go through. Pain never came to mind. God was ready to do something new in me. It was my season to mature.

"Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)" (Ephesians 4:15, The Amplified Bible).

It has been several months since my move, and it has not been as easy or spiritually uplifting as I assumed it would be. Every area of my life has been tested in fiery trials. My family, finances, health -- you name it -- it has been under attack. I remember asking myself, "Where am I?" and "What am I doing here?" I had never experienced such discomfort in my life. I asked God, "If I am doing what you have told me to do, why is everything going wrong?" I questioned if I had heard God clearly; however, I knew in my heart that I was in His will. Still, I felt discouraged and abandoned. I told God that He was the One who told me to move. It was His plan, not mine.

When I prayed and tried to understand why I was going through such hardship, the Lord ministered these words to me: "What you are feeling is growing pains." I thought, Growing pains? He went on to explain that He was shaping me and developing godly character in me. Despite the pain I felt, I leaned not on my own understanding, and I trusted that God was with me and that He would deliver me. Though I could not see what good could come from this kind of pain, I kept believing that God had a purpose for everything I was facing. While I did not understand it, I chose to remain in His will.

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening -- it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this Way" (Hebrews 12:11, The Book).

When I pondered His words to me, I discovered that discipline actually meant to train or to educate. All along, God's plan was to train me to trust Him, especially in the hard places. It was in the hard places that I began to really grow up in God.

After being a Christian for many years, I thought I was bearing enough fruit. However, during this season, He showed me things in me that I thought were long dead. He used His Holy Ghost shears to prune parts of me that were unlike Him. He began to soften my heart, and I had to cry many times, but I knew it was His will. He was proving that He was my One True Source. He had to get me away from everyone and everything familiar. I was out of my comfort zone, and I began to use faith muscles I did not know I had. All of this was part of the growing process. I often said to myself, "I am so far out on the sea of faith that I cannot see any land." I could not go back to the way things were even if I wanted to. I knew God had more blessings for me than I had ever experienced, but I had to go through the pain in order to obtain them.

Through this painful growing process, God has become my focal point. Everything in my life revolves around Him. He has taught me to run to Him every day for everything, not just when I am in trouble. I have grown to know Him as my All In All. When I felt I could not go on, He assured me that His strength was made perfect in my weakness. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9.)

From time to time, my flesh cried out for the familiar, but I looked to God and He never failed to provide for me and sustain me. I realized that I was being changed into who God wanted me to be. Every pre-conceived notion I had about moving to a new level in God was gone. I had to go through the pain and discomfort of this trial because God was making something beautiful in my life. As a loving Father, He wanted me to grow into a vessel of honor for His glory. I could not stay the same; it was time for my change.

"By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples" (John 15:8, NAS).
As I look back, I see pain and myself in a new light. I can see new growth in my life. When I was hurting the most was when God was working the most. God was perfecting that which concerned me. He was molding me. Truly, He is the Potter and I am the clay. He has replaced pride with humility and has given me an eagerness to lead with a genuine desire to serve. I have found that His love for me is deeper than I could ever imagine. Even when I felt confused and dismayed, God was at work in me.

The next time you find yourself asking "Why?" and you want to retreat from the new challenges you are facing, trust that God knows exactly where you are. He is doing a good work in you. Like the butterfly you see in springtime, you are growing into something beautiful. Begin to see that growing pains are God's way of getting you where you need to be in Him. In God's economy, everything you experience is used for His glory and your gain.

cbn

Do It Yourself

. . . bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .
—2 Corinthians 10:5

Determinedly Discipline Other Things. This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, ". . . I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ . . . ." So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will—"the Son can do nothing of Himself . . . " ( John 5:19 ). Then compare this with what we do—we take "every thought" or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.

Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are "bringing every thought [and project] into captivity" are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not "bringing every thought [and project] into captivity," but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.

We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to "be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind. . . ." ( Romans 12:2 ).

my utmost for His highest

LIAR, LIAR

1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

"When I moved to Iron Mountain, Michigan, I brought my pet sheep. He grazed on the mineral-rich grass. When it came time to shear it in the spring, I ended up with 9 pounds of steel wool."

So says Sandi Weld of Sorrento, Florida. But don't believe her, she's a champion liar.

Sandi's sheep lie was the winning lie of the 72nd World Champion Liar Contest, sponsored by the Burlington Liars Club.

Some of the other top lies include one from a man who says that when he speaks, his wife listens. And one from a guy who says his father's horse is so smart it could put on its own shoes.

Now, of course, this is all just for fun, but Scripture doesn't mince any words when it comes to lying. Telling lies is a destructive practice that hurts people and destroys relationships. It's a practice God despises. "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers" (Proverbs 6:16-19).

David encouraged those who loved life and desired to see many good days: "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies" (Psalm 34:13). And Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, said, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self" (3:9).

If we are striving to be more like Jesus--which should be the goal of every believer--we need to get rid of our lying tongues.

Whether you're telling an occasional "white" lie, or if lying has become a way of life--God hates it. Satan is described as a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). So, who's your father? --Peggy Willison

DESTINATION POINTS

* Admit it, we all lie. How do I feel about that?
* What are my "pet" lies? How often do I use them?
* What steps can I take to be more honest?

LINKS:
Just How Honest Are You?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/ 2002/001/5.38.html

bottom line: Lying leads us away from Jesus.

soul journey

MY PRISON -- MY PALACE

Philippians 1:12-18
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Samuel Rutherford, a pastor and theologian, lived in the 17th century. Raised on a farm in Scotland, Rutherford showed unusual spiritual sensitivity and insight even in the early years of his life. Having a keen intellect, he became a professor of Latin literature at Edinburgh University.

Later, he was ordained and had a fruitful ministry until he was removed from office and placed in the prison at Aberdeen. His crime? He was guilty of what was called "nonconformity"--not accepting the doctrines and practices of the state church. Samuel Rutherford was a man of faith driven by conscience.

During his imprisonment, Rutherford wrote 65 "Letters" that contained such depth of spiritual insight that they are considered devotional classics. Here is one condensed excerpt that reflects his view of being imprisoned for the faith: "Let prison be my palace; in solitude I walk with God. If contemplation will in solitude raise me to Heaven, it shall reconcile me unto solitude, and make it my Paradise on Earth."

What was going on in that prison cell that produced such enduring written words of hope? The answer lies in the grace of God. To Rutherford, the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit were more real to him than the barred cell that held him.

Centuries earlier, the apostle Paul wrote of a similar imprisonment for his faith. It too carries with it an optimistic view that God was positively at work in the apostle's confinement: "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ" (Philippians 1:12-13).

Sometimes we can feel that our circumstances are a "ball and chain."We feel trapped. But when we see God in the bigger picture, we can have a very different view of how He's using these circumstances in our lives. --Dennis Fisher

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I feel trapped in unwanted circumstances?
* What open doors has God left for me in my situation?
* How can I learn to see my prison as a palace?

LINKS:
Life Sentence
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/ 2000/003/3.32.html

bottom line: God can make a prison palatial.

soul journey

The Lifter of My Head
By Pat Young

Thou O lord, art a shield about me, you're my glory and the lifter of my head … hallelujah … you're my glory and the lifter of my head.

Have you ever noticed while attending to your daily business that you are walking with your head hanging down? I have caught myself several times hanging my head as I walk, and it is not a good feeling. During those times I am in deep thought, discouraged, or full of worry. You actually feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Thank God, I am quickly reminded of His word:

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head (Psalm 3:3).

Another reason that it is not wise to walk with your head down is the fact that you may walk into someone or something! There is one more point I would like to mention. It is the importance of holding your head up when someone is talking to you. I tell my daughter quite often, "honey child, look up, and give me eye to eye contact when we are talking. Look at my nose if it helps you." I am trying to instill confidence in her now while she is young. I stress to her the importance of knowing who she is in Christ and as an individual. Another scripture that encourages me as a child of God is:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1,2).

When problems arise and the cares of this world are attacking us, remember that God is in control. We can stand tall, throw our shoulders back, and hold our heads up in confidence knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Very often, a song rings in my heart. It is a part of Psalm 3:3.

Thou O lord, art a shield about me, you're my glory and the lifter of my head … hallelujah … you're my glory and the lifter of my head.

It ministers to me at the time I need it most. That is how God works. He meets us where we are. He loves us so much, that He gives us a song or a scripture to encourage us along life's way. He truly is the glory and the lifter of our heads!

cbn

It's Just Too Much Fun!
By Gail Casteen

I decided that I was going to give my tithe AND some offerings even if it meant I couldn't pay my rent! (That was always my biggest concern). This time though, something big was stirring in my heart about abandoning all my fears regarding giving.

How would I know it could be so much fun!?! It seemed more like an obligation… a necessary action… a must-do kind of thing. After all, the Bible says you HAVE to give. Of course I don't HAVE to give, but if I want God's favor and blessing, I have to give...

…or so I thought.

When I was a little kid trotting off to Sunday School with my parents, I remember my younger sister and I were given a dime to put in the envelope every week. As we got older, it became a quarter, then a dollar… back then, that was a LOT of money. I knew we had to do it because "God says so."

I was always told, "It is better to give than to receive." I think it would have helped if my folks could have pointed out the fact that we WERE receiving… After all, Dad was the church janitor. It was his full time job (he had 3 or 4 side jobs.) But we benefited directly from the gifts given each week. We had a car… it was old but it got us from point A to point B most of the time. When it didn't, it wasn't such a big deal. We could just ride our bikes or walk… after all it was a tiny town.

We had a house… sure it was old, the floorboards were uneven and they creaked a lot. It was heated with space heaters… cold air came in from the cracks in the floor as well as through the poor fitting windows and doors. But there was always plastic to put on the screens in the winter and fans for the summer. Sure there were mice and bugs. We just got rid of them as best we could when they showed up. Besides… there were some great climbing trees and lots of "wild animals" … squirrels, 'possums, and an occasional garden snake or two. It wasn't so bad.

We had nice clothes. No, they weren't store bought, but they were OK. Mom was a terrific seamstress and could whip up more clothes in a week than most people could in a month. Every year, my younger sister and I would earn our way to church camp. Mom always made a whole new summer wardrobe for us to wear when we went. We had an automatic washing machine, which was really cool in light of the fact that we had an old wringer washer that worked just fine. It was just that the new automatic washer with the spin cycle made my mom so happy. So that was groovy.

She made bread and noodles by hand. And the pies… she could cook (and bake) up a storm. There was always plenty of food in the fridge and the pantry. We were never hungry… unless we elected to be, and that was our problem.

So how much does a person have to receive before they recognize it as receiving and as a blessing? It took me a LONG time. I kept giving… maybe not always 10%. There have been times that an adult I was in a situation where I couldn't even afford to purchase light bulbs. There were times that we had no heat, no water and no electricity. Once we had a house for a while, but we went into foreclosure and lost it. When friends brought bags of groceries, I was ashamed instead of thankful. I knew it was a God thing that they thought of us. What was wrong with us that we couldn't support ourselves?

Then the unthinkable happened. My marriage fell apart, and I had two young children to support. With finances having been so tough anyway, there was virtually nothing available for starting over again. But friends took us in, fed us and housed us until I could get work. Even though my family lived halfway across the country, they saw to it that I had money in my pocket for gasoline, insurance and for helping our friends offset some of the cost of housing us. Still I was miserable because I wasn't taking care of my children and myself…. I felt I was far too dependent on others.

If only I'd learned to see the blessing of God… I would have seen Him furnishing my apartment when we found one… sure it was with other people's throw away stuff, but I didn't have to sleep on the floor any longer, and there was a table for dining and homework. I would have seen Him paying my bills when someone in the church would anonymously pay my electric bill for a month. I would have realized that every month when the rent was paid on time that I was receiving His blessing. When people gave us clothing and the church gave us Thanksgiving food and Christmas gifts, He was blessing us.

I gave… sometimes. I HAD to give. It was required. I was sporadic about it and sometimes I was so fearful that I wouldn't be able to pay my rent that I would skip a month of tithing intending to pay it back later… Of course, that never happened.

What bothered me the most about giving was the fact that when I did give, I did it out of obligation and certainly not with a cheerful heart. In my head I knew God was taking care of us. From the time we went out on our own, our rent was paid on time every month without fail. We had food, electricity, water and a car that worked (well, most of the time.) Is that God or what?

Then it happened. I decided that I was going to give my tithe AND some offerings even if it meant I couldn't pay my rent! (That was always my biggest concern). This time though, something big was stirring in my heart about abandoning all my fears regarding giving. I had a friend to whom I held myself accountable. Every time I got a paycheck I called her if I wavered at all about fulfilling my promise to do this. I don't have to call her any more. I can't wait to get paid! This has become almost like a game between God and I. I'm having the time of my life.

I am keeping track of the score in a little book. So far, He's ahead, but I am going to keep trying. However, how am I ever going to pass Him up on the gift of a cheerful heart? I cannot begin to describe how good it is to give with a cheerful heart. I remember the years of dread and the sense of obligation I felt when it came to giving. How did I EVER live like that? There is something to this giving thing. Even when I think I am "low on dough" and God prompts me to give, I get that money out as fast as I possibly can! He always beats me to the punch. The gifts come back to us in many forms and because they are from Him, we are continually being enriched.

My heart's desire for years has been to have a home of my own for my children and I. I can honestly say that if I have to stay in the apartment forever, I will do so gladly, as long as I can keep giving. It's just too much fun!

cbn

SCHOOL OF DOUBT

Job 38:1-4; 42:1-6
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens My counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?". . .

1 Then Job replied to the Lord: 2 "I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures My counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 You said, "Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' " 5 My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Rob and I were roommates for one semester at a Christian college. And though we were dramatically different, we both struggled with the same doubts about our faith in Christ.

We each saw life as a test--which it is in many ways. But every test ought to come with an answer key. For every troubling question life throws at us, there must be a specific passage of Scripture with a concrete answer, say, x = 9!

But the Bible is remarkable in what it doesn't tell us. Rob and I couldn't accept that. We couldn't understand why God didn't make all things absolutely clear to us. Why did we struggle with sin? When would we "arrive" as spiritual giants with all the answers?

Building faith is a lot like building muscle. If we never exercise our faith, it will shrink into uselessness. The greater the test, the stronger our faith will be. Even when we think we've failed!

God puts us in situations where we've never been, so that we have to depend on Him. He gives us challenges we know we can't handle on our own. He poses questions well beyond our ability to answer. In small ways, He puts us where Job was.

After losing virtually everything through no fault of his own, Job wanted answers from God. Instead, he got more questions--four chapters' worth! "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" God asked (Job 38:4). "Have the gates of death been shown to you?" (v.17).

Job's response? "I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (42:6). God eventually blessed Job beyond his previous riches and greatest expectations.

Rob and I survived our soul-crises to go on to greater tests of faith. But I'll never forget something he said during one of our discussions: "If I didn't have any faith to doubt," he said, "I wouldn't doubt my faith." Keep the faith--even when doubt comes knocking on its door. --Tim Gustafson

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I struggle with wanting answers to everything?
* What is my reaction to the unfair and unjust things that happen to me?
* How did Jesus react to the greatest injustice of all? (see Luke 23:34).

LINKS:
Safe & Secure:
The Permanence Of Salvation
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0606

bottom line: Don't ditch your faith because of doubt.

soul journey

WHAT ARE YOU CARRYING?

Luke 9:22-26
22 And [Jesus] said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." 23 Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

I love the word anyone in Luke 9:23. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me . . ." That's one of the best things about Jesus' message--He'll take anyone. No résumés, applications, or tests. Just look at the kinds of people Jesus accepted: the mentally ill, the outcasts, the sexually promiscuous, people with different political beliefs, the old, the young, the blind--any and all who recognized their need of Him.

But once you're "in," Jesus asks something of you: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Jesus didn't say "take up the cross" or "any cross." We each have a personal cross. Each of us has his own genes, personality, and family experiences. Even your siblings, who lived in the same home with the same people and the same circumstances, probably saw things differently than you did. Tell people about your biggest temptation and they might wonder what's the big deal. Your fears are not mine. My weaknesses are not yours.

In New Testament times, people were forced to carry literal crosses for various crimes, and then were forced to die on them. People dying on crosses couldn't hide. They were hung in plain view for everyone to see, helpless to cover themselves. There's no camouflage for someone on a cross--fragile human skin splayed against rough, gnarled wood. Crosses have a way of taking pride away. And that's good, because pride keeps you from Jesus.

As you carry your cross each day, remember: You're doing it because Jesus asks you to. He carried a cross for you. It wasn't forced on Him; He carried it willingly. He gave His life on that cross so you can live. He "endured the cross, scorning its shame" (Hebrews 12:2).

Keep carrying your cross and don't be ashamed as long as it keeps you following Jesus. --Tracy Carbaugh

DESTINATION POINTS

* What is my cross? Am I aware of it every day?
* Does my cross keep me close to Jesus, or does it make me bitter and angry?
* Why does Jesus want me to "deny" myself?

LINKS:
What's The Cost Of Faithfulness?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/8c2/8c2010.html

bottom line: Your cross is a lifeline, not a death sentence.

soul journey