Come To Me
Read: John 10:1-18
When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. —John 10:4
After a hijacked plane slammed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, many people inside the building were trapped by a cloud of thick, blinding smoke. Police officer Isaac Hoopi ran into the blackness, searching for survivors, and heard people calling for help. He began shouting back, over and over: "Head toward my voice! Head toward my voice!"
Six people, who had lost all sense of direction in a smoke-filled hallway, heard the officer's shouts and followed. Hoopi's voice led them out of the building to safety.
"Head toward My voice!" That's also the invitation of Jesus to each of us when we are in danger or when we have lost our way. Jesus described the true spiritual shepherd of the sheep as one who "calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:3-4).
Are we listening for Jesus' voice during our times of prayer and Bible reading? When we're in difficult circumstances, are we walking toward Him instead of groping in the dark?
Jesus is "the good shepherd" (v.11). Whatever our need for guidance or protection, He calls us to heed His voice and follow Him. —David McCasland
When you hear the Shepherd's voice
As He calls you, "Come to Me,"
In your life make Him your choice
And a faithful follower be. —Hess
You don't need to know where you're going if you're following the Shepherd.
daily bread
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
THE PLAYBOOK
Psalm 119:97-104
97 Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they
are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your laws, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Imagine a football coach getting this note from his rookie quarterback halfway through training camp:
Oh, how I love your playbook! I meditate on it all day long. Your schemes make me wiser than my enemies, for those schemes are ever with me. I have more insight than all my coaches, for I meditate on your teachings. I have more understanding than the veterans, for I obey your rules. I have kept my feet from every rules violation so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your rules, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your playbook; therefore I hate every wrong move on or off the field.
Now, that coach would either kick the kid off the team for mockery, or if he discovered that he was sincere, he would know he had a gem on his hands.
Those in authority value respect and careful attention to learning from the people they are called upon to teach. The coach loves the eager learner who asks questions and actually listens to advice. The veteran player appreciates the rookie who will pay attention to his or her advice.
And God finds our attention to His Word a real joy. He loves it when we find His words sweet to the taste, His commands delightful to obey, and His standards worth striving to follow.
Do we love God's law? Do we often spend time thinking about His standards and how we can apply them? Do we realize that trusting God's instructions will keep us off the wrong paths that can lead only to destruction?
God's playbook is our greatest guide to life on earth. Let's dig into it and learn to play by the rules--God's rules. --Dave Branon
DESTINATION POINTS
* How much time do I spend looking at the playbook of God's Word so I know what He wants me to do?
* If someone were to ask me to give him a little tour of the Bible, would I be able to lead him through it in a helpful way?
LINKS:
How Can I Understand The Bible?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0401
bottom line: Study God's Word to stay on the straight path.
soul journey
Psalm 119:97-104
97 Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they
are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your laws, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Imagine a football coach getting this note from his rookie quarterback halfway through training camp:
Oh, how I love your playbook! I meditate on it all day long. Your schemes make me wiser than my enemies, for those schemes are ever with me. I have more insight than all my coaches, for I meditate on your teachings. I have more understanding than the veterans, for I obey your rules. I have kept my feet from every rules violation so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your rules, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your playbook; therefore I hate every wrong move on or off the field.
Now, that coach would either kick the kid off the team for mockery, or if he discovered that he was sincere, he would know he had a gem on his hands.
Those in authority value respect and careful attention to learning from the people they are called upon to teach. The coach loves the eager learner who asks questions and actually listens to advice. The veteran player appreciates the rookie who will pay attention to his or her advice.
And God finds our attention to His Word a real joy. He loves it when we find His words sweet to the taste, His commands delightful to obey, and His standards worth striving to follow.
Do we love God's law? Do we often spend time thinking about His standards and how we can apply them? Do we realize that trusting God's instructions will keep us off the wrong paths that can lead only to destruction?
God's playbook is our greatest guide to life on earth. Let's dig into it and learn to play by the rules--God's rules. --Dave Branon
DESTINATION POINTS
* How much time do I spend looking at the playbook of God's Word so I know what He wants me to do?
* If someone were to ask me to give him a little tour of the Bible, would I be able to lead him through it in a helpful way?
LINKS:
How Can I Understand The Bible?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0401
bottom line: Study God's Word to stay on the straight path.
soul journey
Today's scripture is Proverbs 29:1,
The Amplified Bible
"He who being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Some people have the mistaken idea that when the direction of the Holy Spirit comes to them, they can just ignore it for a while if they want to and then obey Him later in their own good time. They think to themselves, "I know what I'm doing is wrong. I know my lifestyle isn't right, but I'm just going to do it a while longer. Then I'll get things straightened out with the Lord."
Let me warn you, that is an extremely dangerous thing to do. Because God says that when you refuse His guidance, your heart grows hard. It's not that God's grace doesn't extend to you any- more. It's not that He wouldn't forgive you if you turned to Him. It's just that sin will callous your heart to the point where you can't hear Him calling.
When the Spirit of God comes to correct you, follow His instructions and follow them quickly. Keep your heart tender. Obey the Lord!
bible shack
The Amplified Bible
"He who being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Some people have the mistaken idea that when the direction of the Holy Spirit comes to them, they can just ignore it for a while if they want to and then obey Him later in their own good time. They think to themselves, "I know what I'm doing is wrong. I know my lifestyle isn't right, but I'm just going to do it a while longer. Then I'll get things straightened out with the Lord."
Let me warn you, that is an extremely dangerous thing to do. Because God says that when you refuse His guidance, your heart grows hard. It's not that God's grace doesn't extend to you any- more. It's not that He wouldn't forgive you if you turned to Him. It's just that sin will callous your heart to the point where you can't hear Him calling.
When the Spirit of God comes to correct you, follow His instructions and follow them quickly. Keep your heart tender. Obey the Lord!
bible shack
Sunday, October 26, 2003
LOOKING PAST
2 Samuel 12:15-24
15 The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. . . . 18 On the seventh day the child died. . . .20 David washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.
Helen Keller. Fanny Crosby. Two amazing women who both lost their sight as babies. Fanny Crosby wrote more than 9,000 poems, many of which were converted into hymns that we continue to sing today. Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, graduated from college magna cum laude, and throughout her life gave lectures and wrote numerous books and articles. Both women led extraordinary lives despite their physical disabilities.
I don't have the disabilities those women had, but I had a devastating experience at age 12, which God eventually used to bless me. I was raped and abused by an elementary school teacher. For many years after my experience, I was bitter against God because I had been sinned against. Finally, I realized I had no choice but to look up.
Instead of growing bitter during a trial, we can do as David did--turn to God. After the death of his first child with Bathsheba, caused by his sin, he "went into the house of the Lord and worshiped" (2 Samuel 12:20). He said in Psalm 51, "Create in me a pure heart, O God. . . . and restore to me the joy of Your salvation" (vv.10,12).
Jesus is the Restorer of souls and He has restored mine. Now I can look back and be thankful that the man who victimized me did not kill me. God used that experience to teach me to love others as Jesus continues to love me--unconditionally.
I pray that as you look past your trials and forward to the blessings that can come from them, you will realize that He is the Restorer of your joy (v.12). The Lord will use your trials to draw you closer to Him. "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be
your glory" (Isaiah 60:19). --Stefani Hall (New Mexico)
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader.
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I been bitter against the Lord?
* Will I look beyond the face of trials to seek the face of Jesus?
bottom line: Bitterness hinders God's work in you.
soul journey
2 Samuel 12:15-24
15 The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. . . . 18 On the seventh day the child died. . . .20 David washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.
Helen Keller. Fanny Crosby. Two amazing women who both lost their sight as babies. Fanny Crosby wrote more than 9,000 poems, many of which were converted into hymns that we continue to sing today. Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, graduated from college magna cum laude, and throughout her life gave lectures and wrote numerous books and articles. Both women led extraordinary lives despite their physical disabilities.
I don't have the disabilities those women had, but I had a devastating experience at age 12, which God eventually used to bless me. I was raped and abused by an elementary school teacher. For many years after my experience, I was bitter against God because I had been sinned against. Finally, I realized I had no choice but to look up.
Instead of growing bitter during a trial, we can do as David did--turn to God. After the death of his first child with Bathsheba, caused by his sin, he "went into the house of the Lord and worshiped" (2 Samuel 12:20). He said in Psalm 51, "Create in me a pure heart, O God. . . . and restore to me the joy of Your salvation" (vv.10,12).
Jesus is the Restorer of souls and He has restored mine. Now I can look back and be thankful that the man who victimized me did not kill me. God used that experience to teach me to love others as Jesus continues to love me--unconditionally.
I pray that as you look past your trials and forward to the blessings that can come from them, you will realize that He is the Restorer of your joy (v.12). The Lord will use your trials to draw you closer to Him. "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be
your glory" (Isaiah 60:19). --Stefani Hall (New Mexico)
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader.
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I been bitter against the Lord?
* Will I look beyond the face of trials to seek the face of Jesus?
bottom line: Bitterness hinders God's work in you.
soul journey
Saturday, October 25, 2003
BRING IT
Isaiah 59:9-15
9 Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. . . . 12 For our offenses are many in Your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: 13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
In Isaiah 59 the prophet was bringing it! He was not holding back. All around him, he saw people who were not living in truth (v.15). There was a decided lack of justice and righteousness in his world. His people were messed up.
Just like you and me, he longed for truth to save the day. Perhaps unlike us, however, he recognized that the way out of
the abyss of living a lie begins with the understanding of the true offense.
We have no problem labeling our sins . . . mistreatment of others, apathy, and other offenses. But the core issue is found in verses 12-13, where Isaiah states, "Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God."
We can feel guilty all we want about our sins. We can name them one by one. But until we acknowledge that the root of our sin is rebellion against God, our lives will lack complete truth.
Christian writer A. W. Tozer had a good grasp on what it means to understand our condition before God. He wrote: "For a long time I have believed that truth, to be understood, must be lived; that Bible doctrine is wholly ineffective until it has been digested and assimilated by the total life. . . . Truth in the Scriptures is more than a fact. A fact may be detached, impersonal, cold, and totally disassociated from life. Truth, on the other hand, is warm, living, and spiritual" (from the book That Incredible Christian).
As we dig deeper into God's Word, we find that the words probe ever further into our hearts. We no longer see sin as simply "bad" or "ugly." We begin to truly grasp that sin is a result of turning our backs on God. It's flat-out rebellion.
Live in truth today. Confess to God your own rebellion against Him. Bring it to Him and hold nothing back. --Tom Felten
DESTINATION POINTS
* Why is it important to understand that rebellion against God is the core issue of sin?
* How have I been rebelling against Him?
LINKS:
What is Satan's motive for rebellion?
http://www.questions.org/answer/bible/satan/satanmotive.xml
I Turned My Back On God
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2003/001/2.30.html
bottom line: Sinful acts begin with rebellion.
soul journey
Isaiah 59:9-15
9 Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. . . . 12 For our offenses are many in Your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: 13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
In Isaiah 59 the prophet was bringing it! He was not holding back. All around him, he saw people who were not living in truth (v.15). There was a decided lack of justice and righteousness in his world. His people were messed up.
Just like you and me, he longed for truth to save the day. Perhaps unlike us, however, he recognized that the way out of
the abyss of living a lie begins with the understanding of the true offense.
We have no problem labeling our sins . . . mistreatment of others, apathy, and other offenses. But the core issue is found in verses 12-13, where Isaiah states, "Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God."
We can feel guilty all we want about our sins. We can name them one by one. But until we acknowledge that the root of our sin is rebellion against God, our lives will lack complete truth.
Christian writer A. W. Tozer had a good grasp on what it means to understand our condition before God. He wrote: "For a long time I have believed that truth, to be understood, must be lived; that Bible doctrine is wholly ineffective until it has been digested and assimilated by the total life. . . . Truth in the Scriptures is more than a fact. A fact may be detached, impersonal, cold, and totally disassociated from life. Truth, on the other hand, is warm, living, and spiritual" (from the book That Incredible Christian).
As we dig deeper into God's Word, we find that the words probe ever further into our hearts. We no longer see sin as simply "bad" or "ugly." We begin to truly grasp that sin is a result of turning our backs on God. It's flat-out rebellion.
Live in truth today. Confess to God your own rebellion against Him. Bring it to Him and hold nothing back. --Tom Felten
DESTINATION POINTS
* Why is it important to understand that rebellion against God is the core issue of sin?
* How have I been rebelling against Him?
LINKS:
What is Satan's motive for rebellion?
http://www.questions.org/answer/bible/satan/satanmotive.xml
I Turned My Back On God
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2003/001/2.30.html
bottom line: Sinful acts begin with rebellion.
soul journey
Thursday, October 23, 2003
TAKING CREDIT OR GIVING PRAISE
Psalm 136:1-9, 26
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights--His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. . . . 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
"There are two kinds of people," observed Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India: "those who do the work, and those who take the credit."
I discovered this quotation on a Web site of nature photos. It was imposed over a beautiful picture of fallen autumn leaves. The caption read: "Taking credit for someone else's work? Well, that's like lying, isn't it?" It took a moment for me to realize the irony. The photographer was doing exactly what she seemed to be against.
After all, God is the one who did the work of creating the scene. The photographer simply noticed its beauty and captured it on film. Nowhere on the Web site did she give God credit for creating such colorful leaves or for arranging them in such a stunning way.
I'm ashamed to admit how many times I do the same thing. Strangers sometimes compliment me on one of two things--my hair or my coat. And I say "thank you," as if I did something deserving of praise. But I didn't.
The reason people notice my hair has more to do with what I don't do than what I do. I don't color it, curl it, or cut it. I simply wash it, comb it, and twist it into a cord on the back of my head. God deserves all the credit because He makes it grow.
I can't take credit for my coat either. It's a black, full-length, hooded raincoat that I wear whenever the weather is cool, even if it's not raining, because it covers everything. That means I can look good no matter what else I'm wearing. The coat was a gift I bought for myself when I was offered a new job. I didn't design it, and I couldn't have afforded it if God hadn't been so generous to me.
Instead of taking credit that isn't ours, let's give praise to the Person to whom it belongs--God. --Julie Ackerman Link
DESTINATION POINTS
* What compliments do I receive for which I need to give God the glory?
* How can I turn God's gifts into opportunities to praise and worship Him?
bottom line: God alone deserves all glory.
soul journey
Psalm 136:1-9, 26
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights--His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. . . . 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
"There are two kinds of people," observed Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India: "those who do the work, and those who take the credit."
I discovered this quotation on a Web site of nature photos. It was imposed over a beautiful picture of fallen autumn leaves. The caption read: "Taking credit for someone else's work? Well, that's like lying, isn't it?" It took a moment for me to realize the irony. The photographer was doing exactly what she seemed to be against.
After all, God is the one who did the work of creating the scene. The photographer simply noticed its beauty and captured it on film. Nowhere on the Web site did she give God credit for creating such colorful leaves or for arranging them in such a stunning way.
I'm ashamed to admit how many times I do the same thing. Strangers sometimes compliment me on one of two things--my hair or my coat. And I say "thank you," as if I did something deserving of praise. But I didn't.
The reason people notice my hair has more to do with what I don't do than what I do. I don't color it, curl it, or cut it. I simply wash it, comb it, and twist it into a cord on the back of my head. God deserves all the credit because He makes it grow.
I can't take credit for my coat either. It's a black, full-length, hooded raincoat that I wear whenever the weather is cool, even if it's not raining, because it covers everything. That means I can look good no matter what else I'm wearing. The coat was a gift I bought for myself when I was offered a new job. I didn't design it, and I couldn't have afforded it if God hadn't been so generous to me.
Instead of taking credit that isn't ours, let's give praise to the Person to whom it belongs--God. --Julie Ackerman Link
DESTINATION POINTS
* What compliments do I receive for which I need to give God the glory?
* How can I turn God's gifts into opportunities to praise and worship Him?
bottom line: God alone deserves all glory.
soul journey
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Pride and Provision
By Ruth Waff
My pride had almost robbed me of the blessing of an answered prayer.
It was Sunday morning and I was excited. Monday would be the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Our church had a one-year program called Training Bible School. When people asked me what that meant, I used to joke saying we go jogging with the Bible under our arms. Actually it was a combination of Bible school and street evangelism. I had felt God directing me to join the program, and tomorrow would be my first day.
I thanked God for a new day, and I prayed that He would provide the $20 I needed to buy a one-month pass for the subway. I lived with my parents, and they provided all I needed. So right or wrong, I put a little condition in my prayer. I said, "Lord, Mom and Dad have been so good to me. Please, let the money for the pass come some other way. They have done so much for me already."
I jumped out of bed and got ready for church. I forgot all about my prayer…
Later that day, we went back to church for the evening service. After the meeting, people gathered talking and laughing in small circles in front of the church. I was in one of them with some of my friends when I felt someone putting something in my pocket. I turned around and saw my friend Rose-Marie walking back to her little circle. I stuck my hand in my pocket and pulled up what I thought might be a note. Instead, I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill… for all around me to see. I was shocked and very embarrassed.
My pride had kicked in. I walked over and pulled Rose-Marie aside. I said, "Why did you give me the money? I don’t need any money!"
She looked me straight in the eye and said firmly, "If God told me you need it, I know you need it. Don’t cheat me out of the blessing of doing what He wants me to do."
I was quiet for a little while and a tear started rolling down my cheek. I gave her a big hug and apologized for not being truthful. I told her about my prayer that morning and her face broke into a radiant smile. "See? God is so good. He's blessing me by blessing you."
What was I thinking? That the money was going to fall down from heaven? I have heard of that happening, but it is a rare thing. Most of the time He uses people like Rose-Marie, who are sensitive to His voice and willing to serve. My pride had almost robbed me of the blessing of an answered prayer.
I learned something that evening. If you ask God to provide for you, you have to be willing to open your hand and receive. You have to trust He knows best and receive His provision in whatever way He chooses to bring it to you.
"Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Luke 12:29b-31, NLT).
When I paid for my subway pass Monday morning I felt pure joy. The new chapter in my life had started with a great little miracle. I could not wait to see what was ahead of me.
"What's next, Lord? I am ready for whatever you have in store!"
cbn
By Ruth Waff
My pride had almost robbed me of the blessing of an answered prayer.
It was Sunday morning and I was excited. Monday would be the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Our church had a one-year program called Training Bible School. When people asked me what that meant, I used to joke saying we go jogging with the Bible under our arms. Actually it was a combination of Bible school and street evangelism. I had felt God directing me to join the program, and tomorrow would be my first day.
I thanked God for a new day, and I prayed that He would provide the $20 I needed to buy a one-month pass for the subway. I lived with my parents, and they provided all I needed. So right or wrong, I put a little condition in my prayer. I said, "Lord, Mom and Dad have been so good to me. Please, let the money for the pass come some other way. They have done so much for me already."
I jumped out of bed and got ready for church. I forgot all about my prayer…
Later that day, we went back to church for the evening service. After the meeting, people gathered talking and laughing in small circles in front of the church. I was in one of them with some of my friends when I felt someone putting something in my pocket. I turned around and saw my friend Rose-Marie walking back to her little circle. I stuck my hand in my pocket and pulled up what I thought might be a note. Instead, I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill… for all around me to see. I was shocked and very embarrassed.
My pride had kicked in. I walked over and pulled Rose-Marie aside. I said, "Why did you give me the money? I don’t need any money!"
She looked me straight in the eye and said firmly, "If God told me you need it, I know you need it. Don’t cheat me out of the blessing of doing what He wants me to do."
I was quiet for a little while and a tear started rolling down my cheek. I gave her a big hug and apologized for not being truthful. I told her about my prayer that morning and her face broke into a radiant smile. "See? God is so good. He's blessing me by blessing you."
What was I thinking? That the money was going to fall down from heaven? I have heard of that happening, but it is a rare thing. Most of the time He uses people like Rose-Marie, who are sensitive to His voice and willing to serve. My pride had almost robbed me of the blessing of an answered prayer.
I learned something that evening. If you ask God to provide for you, you have to be willing to open your hand and receive. You have to trust He knows best and receive His provision in whatever way He chooses to bring it to you.
"Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Luke 12:29b-31, NLT).
When I paid for my subway pass Monday morning I felt pure joy. The new chapter in my life had started with a great little miracle. I could not wait to see what was ahead of me.
"What's next, Lord? I am ready for whatever you have in store!"
cbn
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
The Big Picture
By Tomeco N. Woods
Insight from the account of Jacob's marriages to Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-30).
Your life may be painted with dismay and despair, but each struggle you endure is a brush stroke in the masterpiece called "You."
I used to get angry when I read the account of Jacob's marriages to Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-30). I was angry with Laban because of his trickery. I was angry with Leah for going along with it, and I felt sorry for Rachel who seemed to be the innocent bystander in it all. I imagined the pain she must have felt the night of the wedding, knowing that her sister Leah had been given to Jacob. I imagined the tears that must have fallen each year that Leah conceived and brought forth children while Rachel remained barren. I even grew angry with Jacob for continuing to return to Leah although he must have known how it broke Rachel's heart each time.
Later, however, I revisited Genesis 29 and received a different revelation. God softened my heart toward Leah. Leah was born during a time in which birth defects and deformities of any sort were viewed as a sign of God's displeasure or judgement. She was described as "tender eyed" ("weak eyed" in some translations), which I have also heard described as cross-eyed. Because of a condition that is now easily correctable, she was probably made to live under the assumption that God cursed her. In addition, Leah was subjected to a second class lifestyle in the shadow of her beautiful sister Rachel.
I am sure that teasing and rejection were a common occurrence in Leah's life, not only from her peers but also from her family. Rather than the unconditional love and acceptance that we expect from parents, Leah received discouragement and insult from her father. What did Laban's actions do to her self-esteem? He thought so little of her appearance, charm and personality he felt it necessary to trick a man into marrying her.
It was at that point that I began to sympathize with Leah. I pitied her, but I should not have. The revelation came that we should not feel sorry for God's children regardless of the hardships and trials we see them facing. We should never be sorry to see the work of God unfolding in the lives of other believers, because we know that everything is working for good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV
It is true that Leah had a rough life. She was married to a man who was deeply in love with another woman. That other woman happened to be her barren sister who hated Leah because she could bear children. Leah tried desperately to win the love and respect of her husband. She knew Jacob was merely with her out of a sense of duty or obligation, yet she tried to please him by giving him what her sister had thus far been unable to give -- children. Still, she remained unloved.
In Jacob's eyes, Rachel was the wife of promise. Rachel could do no wrong, and when she finally bore his children, those sons became his favorites. In the small picture, Leah's life was rather pitiful. She was stuck in a loveless marriage, her father thought very little of her, and her sister hated her. All she had was her children, and they were no treat themselves.
Rueben, her eldest child, had questionable relations with his father's concubine (who was also his half brother's mother). The vengeful spirits of Simeon and Levi forced Jacob and his entire household to move from their home. Isaachar was deemed lazy by his own father. All of Leah's sons were involved in selling their brother Joseph into slavery.
Leah had the type of life that today could have landed her on a sordid daytime talk show. Still, I believe we are not to read her life's story and pity her, but rather rejoice for her. Yes, the small picture was a grim one for her, but as believers we are called to look at the big picture.
The big picture shows that although rejected by man, Leah was accepted by God. Although Jacob chose Rachel, God chose Leah. After all, from Leah's son Levi came Moses and Aaron and subsequently the priesthood of Israel. We see in the big picture of her life the births of David and Solomon, descendents of her son Judah and Israel's two greatest earthly kings.
More importantly, though, we see in later generations from that same lineage of Judah the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the King of kings.
The small picture of your life may not look like much. Perhaps you are constantly told you are stupid, ugly or worthless. Maybe your marriage seems empty and loveless. It may be that your children have broken your heart and gone astray, or perhaps you feel you are trapped in a dead end job. Regardless of how shadowy the small picture may appear, remember the divine Artist who is creating the masterpiece of your life stroke by stroke.
As your life unfolds on the canvass, you may not understand the direction God is taking.
"Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…" I John 3:2a KJV
We may not understand the process, but it is not our job to intervene.
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:20-21 KJV
In spite of how chaotic and undisciplined the paint strokes of circumstance may appear in your life, keep your hope and trust in God. I assure you, your big picture will be a work of art.
cbn
By Tomeco N. Woods
Insight from the account of Jacob's marriages to Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-30).
Your life may be painted with dismay and despair, but each struggle you endure is a brush stroke in the masterpiece called "You."
I used to get angry when I read the account of Jacob's marriages to Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-30). I was angry with Laban because of his trickery. I was angry with Leah for going along with it, and I felt sorry for Rachel who seemed to be the innocent bystander in it all. I imagined the pain she must have felt the night of the wedding, knowing that her sister Leah had been given to Jacob. I imagined the tears that must have fallen each year that Leah conceived and brought forth children while Rachel remained barren. I even grew angry with Jacob for continuing to return to Leah although he must have known how it broke Rachel's heart each time.
Later, however, I revisited Genesis 29 and received a different revelation. God softened my heart toward Leah. Leah was born during a time in which birth defects and deformities of any sort were viewed as a sign of God's displeasure or judgement. She was described as "tender eyed" ("weak eyed" in some translations), which I have also heard described as cross-eyed. Because of a condition that is now easily correctable, she was probably made to live under the assumption that God cursed her. In addition, Leah was subjected to a second class lifestyle in the shadow of her beautiful sister Rachel.
I am sure that teasing and rejection were a common occurrence in Leah's life, not only from her peers but also from her family. Rather than the unconditional love and acceptance that we expect from parents, Leah received discouragement and insult from her father. What did Laban's actions do to her self-esteem? He thought so little of her appearance, charm and personality he felt it necessary to trick a man into marrying her.
It was at that point that I began to sympathize with Leah. I pitied her, but I should not have. The revelation came that we should not feel sorry for God's children regardless of the hardships and trials we see them facing. We should never be sorry to see the work of God unfolding in the lives of other believers, because we know that everything is working for good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV
It is true that Leah had a rough life. She was married to a man who was deeply in love with another woman. That other woman happened to be her barren sister who hated Leah because she could bear children. Leah tried desperately to win the love and respect of her husband. She knew Jacob was merely with her out of a sense of duty or obligation, yet she tried to please him by giving him what her sister had thus far been unable to give -- children. Still, she remained unloved.
In Jacob's eyes, Rachel was the wife of promise. Rachel could do no wrong, and when she finally bore his children, those sons became his favorites. In the small picture, Leah's life was rather pitiful. She was stuck in a loveless marriage, her father thought very little of her, and her sister hated her. All she had was her children, and they were no treat themselves.
Rueben, her eldest child, had questionable relations with his father's concubine (who was also his half brother's mother). The vengeful spirits of Simeon and Levi forced Jacob and his entire household to move from their home. Isaachar was deemed lazy by his own father. All of Leah's sons were involved in selling their brother Joseph into slavery.
Leah had the type of life that today could have landed her on a sordid daytime talk show. Still, I believe we are not to read her life's story and pity her, but rather rejoice for her. Yes, the small picture was a grim one for her, but as believers we are called to look at the big picture.
The big picture shows that although rejected by man, Leah was accepted by God. Although Jacob chose Rachel, God chose Leah. After all, from Leah's son Levi came Moses and Aaron and subsequently the priesthood of Israel. We see in the big picture of her life the births of David and Solomon, descendents of her son Judah and Israel's two greatest earthly kings.
More importantly, though, we see in later generations from that same lineage of Judah the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the King of kings.
The small picture of your life may not look like much. Perhaps you are constantly told you are stupid, ugly or worthless. Maybe your marriage seems empty and loveless. It may be that your children have broken your heart and gone astray, or perhaps you feel you are trapped in a dead end job. Regardless of how shadowy the small picture may appear, remember the divine Artist who is creating the masterpiece of your life stroke by stroke.
As your life unfolds on the canvass, you may not understand the direction God is taking.
"Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be…" I John 3:2a KJV
We may not understand the process, but it is not our job to intervene.
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:20-21 KJV
In spite of how chaotic and undisciplined the paint strokes of circumstance may appear in your life, keep your hope and trust in God. I assure you, your big picture will be a work of art.
cbn
Monday, October 20, 2003
WALKING IMAGES
John 16:7-15
7 I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment . . . 12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said theSpirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you.
An ad agency located in the city of Big Ben has come up with a new advertising ploy--using people's faces. The Cunning Stunts group from London has employed college students to wear logos on their foreheads.
People are paid about $7 an hour to wear the semi-permanent tattoos as they mix and mingle in public places. With the images stamped on their skin, the students are literally walking billboards for stuff like magazines and radio stations.
"The idea came when we realized how much coverage students gained in the newspapers during recent demonstrations," said Nikki Horton of Cunning Stunts. "This is a new way for them to supplement their meager income, but it's also the new advertising medium."
This bizarre way to earn money made me think of the much better way God has designed for us to project Jesus' image to the world. We have the Holy Spirit working within us to help our outward expressions become more and more like our Lord's.
In John 16, Jesus was helping His disciples prepare for their mission. He told them that the Holy Spirit would be coming to
them (v.7), and that the Spirit would allow His work to spread farther than the limits of His own localized ministry. He also
explained that the Holy Spirit would:
* Convict unbelievers of their unrighteousness.
* Direct believers into a more perfect representation of Jesus.
In verse 14 we read, "He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you." Isn't that amazing! Jesus is revealed by the Holy Spirit in our lives. His glory shines from us as we submit to the Spirit and grow into a more complete reflection of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son of God by revealing Jesus' reality in the lives of believers. No need for any logos on our foreheads. You and I are to be walking images of His glory. --Tom Felten
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I sensed the Holy Spirit working to make me more like Jesus?
* What would my friends and family say is the image I am projecting to the world?
LINKS:
The Mind Of Christ
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0209
The Promise Of The Spirit
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0306
bottom line: The Spirit helps us reflect Jesus more wholly.
soul journey
John 16:7-15
7 I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment . . . 12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said theSpirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you.
An ad agency located in the city of Big Ben has come up with a new advertising ploy--using people's faces. The Cunning Stunts group from London has employed college students to wear logos on their foreheads.
People are paid about $7 an hour to wear the semi-permanent tattoos as they mix and mingle in public places. With the images stamped on their skin, the students are literally walking billboards for stuff like magazines and radio stations.
"The idea came when we realized how much coverage students gained in the newspapers during recent demonstrations," said Nikki Horton of Cunning Stunts. "This is a new way for them to supplement their meager income, but it's also the new advertising medium."
This bizarre way to earn money made me think of the much better way God has designed for us to project Jesus' image to the world. We have the Holy Spirit working within us to help our outward expressions become more and more like our Lord's.
In John 16, Jesus was helping His disciples prepare for their mission. He told them that the Holy Spirit would be coming to
them (v.7), and that the Spirit would allow His work to spread farther than the limits of His own localized ministry. He also
explained that the Holy Spirit would:
* Convict unbelievers of their unrighteousness.
* Direct believers into a more perfect representation of Jesus.
In verse 14 we read, "He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you." Isn't that amazing! Jesus is revealed by the Holy Spirit in our lives. His glory shines from us as we submit to the Spirit and grow into a more complete reflection of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son of God by revealing Jesus' reality in the lives of believers. No need for any logos on our foreheads. You and I are to be walking images of His glory. --Tom Felten
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I sensed the Holy Spirit working to make me more like Jesus?
* What would my friends and family say is the image I am projecting to the world?
LINKS:
The Mind Of Christ
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0209
The Promise Of The Spirit
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0306
bottom line: The Spirit helps us reflect Jesus more wholly.
soul journey
Sunday, October 19, 2003
IDENTITY THEFT
John 10:1-10
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
In 2002, the US Federal Trade Commission received more than 160,000 complaints about stolen identity information such as a driver's license, credit card, or social security number, which are then used to steal money or commit fraud. It costs the average victim $1,000 to try to undo the damage to credit accounts and personal reputation.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the US. An Associated Press article reports: "In November (2002) federal authorities broke up what they called the biggest identity theft case in US history and charged three men with stealing credit information for 30,000 people."
That's huge, but there's an even larger and more destructive scheme for robbing people of their identity. And it's been around for a long time. When Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, He also described the enemy of the sheep as the thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
Have you ever thought that one thing Satan wants to steal from you is your identity? Instead of your being the unique person God created you to be, the enemy of your soul seeks to reduce you to a one-dimensional cardboard cutout with no spiritual life or power.
In his book Be Yourself and God's, the late Richard Halverson said, "Man was made to have fellowship with God, to be ruled by God, and man is never himself until he submits to this Divine rule. The harder a man tries to be himself without being right with God, the less like himself he becomes and the more like everyone else he is." Dr. Halverson's insights are true.
After Jesus described the thief who comes to steal, He went on to say, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (v.10). As you give yourself to Jesus, you become the one-of-a-kind person you're meant to be. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* Who am I? Would I like to be someone else?
* What would I like to tell Jesus about the person I want to be?
LINKS:
How Powerful Is The Devil?
http://www.questions.org/answer/bible/satan/devilpower.xml
bottom line: Look to Jesus to know your true identity.
soul journey
John 10:1-10
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
In 2002, the US Federal Trade Commission received more than 160,000 complaints about stolen identity information such as a driver's license, credit card, or social security number, which are then used to steal money or commit fraud. It costs the average victim $1,000 to try to undo the damage to credit accounts and personal reputation.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the US. An Associated Press article reports: "In November (2002) federal authorities broke up what they called the biggest identity theft case in US history and charged three men with stealing credit information for 30,000 people."
That's huge, but there's an even larger and more destructive scheme for robbing people of their identity. And it's been around for a long time. When Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, He also described the enemy of the sheep as the thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
Have you ever thought that one thing Satan wants to steal from you is your identity? Instead of your being the unique person God created you to be, the enemy of your soul seeks to reduce you to a one-dimensional cardboard cutout with no spiritual life or power.
In his book Be Yourself and God's, the late Richard Halverson said, "Man was made to have fellowship with God, to be ruled by God, and man is never himself until he submits to this Divine rule. The harder a man tries to be himself without being right with God, the less like himself he becomes and the more like everyone else he is." Dr. Halverson's insights are true.
After Jesus described the thief who comes to steal, He went on to say, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (v.10). As you give yourself to Jesus, you become the one-of-a-kind person you're meant to be. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* Who am I? Would I like to be someone else?
* What would I like to tell Jesus about the person I want to be?
LINKS:
How Powerful Is The Devil?
http://www.questions.org/answer/bible/satan/devilpower.xml
bottom line: Look to Jesus to know your true identity.
soul journey
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Getting Unplugged: Entering His Rest
By Scott Ross
Scott Ross provides wisdom from the Bible about resting in the Lord.
"This is the time and place to rest, to give rest to the weary. This is the place to lay down your burden" (Isaiah 28:12, The Message).
What is rest? Rest isn't just a place. In Hebrew, the word for rest is "menuchah", which means resting place, place of stillness, repose, consolation, peace, the condition of restfulness, to settle down. Rest is also an attitude and an internal posture. But ultimately, rest is more than that. Rest is a person -- the Person of Jesus Himself.
Abiding in the Vine (John 15)
In 1974 I went through a period of burnout. I almost left my family and the work of the ministry. When you are tired or stressed out, your judgment is affected. Molehills become mountains.
The Lord "spoke" to me and said: "I rested, what is wrong with you?"
So I began to take a day off every week. I took my vacations and long weekends. After practicing this for a period of time, I noticed a measurable difference physically and mentally.
And then the Lord indicated to me that my wife, Nedra, needed rest, too. A woman’s work is never done: a housewife makes beds to be unmade, she washes dishes to be dirtied, she cleans the house to be dirtied, and she raises children to leave home.
A day off for Nedra -- that would affect the entire church.
"Monthly conferences, special meetings – meetings, meetings, meetings, meetings – I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. You’ve worn me out!" (Isaiah 1:13-14, The Message).
We cut out a number of weekly meetings and moved our Sunday morning church meeting to Sunday evening so that people could rest and play with their families and friends.
But God also says through Isaiah, "They wouldn’t listen!" Case in point: My friend Jim had a heart attack in his early 40s. He was a pastor and burned out, too. The Lord appeared to Jim while he was in a coma and said, "I am now collecting from you all the Sabbaths you owe Me!" Jim repented and the Lord healed him.
Follow Jesus' Example: Enter His Rest!
Psalm 23:2 tells us, "He leads me beside the waters of menuchah – He leads me beside the waters of quietness." And in Mark 6:12, Jesus said, " 'Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.' There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. They left for a quieter spot" (The Book).
We need to take time out to pray so that we don't get fatigued, overworked, depressed, and anxious. And then we need to listen to God. If we don't listen, if we don't take that rest, we are liable to die prematurely.
Let's not wait until we have compromised our health. Let's instead embrace Hebrews 4:9-11, which says, "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest" (The Book).
cbn
By Scott Ross
Scott Ross provides wisdom from the Bible about resting in the Lord.
"This is the time and place to rest, to give rest to the weary. This is the place to lay down your burden" (Isaiah 28:12, The Message).
What is rest? Rest isn't just a place. In Hebrew, the word for rest is "menuchah", which means resting place, place of stillness, repose, consolation, peace, the condition of restfulness, to settle down. Rest is also an attitude and an internal posture. But ultimately, rest is more than that. Rest is a person -- the Person of Jesus Himself.
Abiding in the Vine (John 15)
In 1974 I went through a period of burnout. I almost left my family and the work of the ministry. When you are tired or stressed out, your judgment is affected. Molehills become mountains.
The Lord "spoke" to me and said: "I rested, what is wrong with you?"
So I began to take a day off every week. I took my vacations and long weekends. After practicing this for a period of time, I noticed a measurable difference physically and mentally.
And then the Lord indicated to me that my wife, Nedra, needed rest, too. A woman’s work is never done: a housewife makes beds to be unmade, she washes dishes to be dirtied, she cleans the house to be dirtied, and she raises children to leave home.
A day off for Nedra -- that would affect the entire church.
"Monthly conferences, special meetings – meetings, meetings, meetings, meetings – I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. You’ve worn me out!" (Isaiah 1:13-14, The Message).
We cut out a number of weekly meetings and moved our Sunday morning church meeting to Sunday evening so that people could rest and play with their families and friends.
But God also says through Isaiah, "They wouldn’t listen!" Case in point: My friend Jim had a heart attack in his early 40s. He was a pastor and burned out, too. The Lord appeared to Jim while he was in a coma and said, "I am now collecting from you all the Sabbaths you owe Me!" Jim repented and the Lord healed him.
Follow Jesus' Example: Enter His Rest!
Psalm 23:2 tells us, "He leads me beside the waters of menuchah – He leads me beside the waters of quietness." And in Mark 6:12, Jesus said, " 'Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.' There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. They left for a quieter spot" (The Book).
We need to take time out to pray so that we don't get fatigued, overworked, depressed, and anxious. And then we need to listen to God. If we don't listen, if we don't take that rest, we are liable to die prematurely.
Let's not wait until we have compromised our health. Let's instead embrace Hebrews 4:9-11, which says, "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest" (The Book).
cbn
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Secret Treasures for the Girl with the Servant’s Heart
By Gail Casteen
It often takes a Bible story to remind me how God has surprised me with His blessings.
It often takes a Bible story to remind me how God has surprised me with His blessings in the most unusual ways. There were times in my past when I complained that when I chose to go the second mile, I did not get so much as a "thanks" pointed in my direction. Most of the time a simple thank-you would have been more than adequate payment.
Then the change came. God began to give me a love for people right where they were -- hurt, angry, hungry, dirty, stressed, in deep despair, on top of the world, silly with excitement, and arrogant (those were the tough ones). All it took was a look at my own plump, apple-cheeked infant son to feel love well up inside of me for an individual. No matter the position in life, God showed me that each person was once somebody’s baby.
Going the second mile became more of an act of love than one of making myself feel better. It became fun to extend a compliment to the harried grocery store check-out clerk, to hold the door open for someone who could have done it for themselves, or to tell a new mom how beautiful her baby was and how cool it is to have kids. God had poured His Son’s life into encouraging and loving me; it became the least I could do for others.
The Bible story that caused me to see the blessings I’d received is in Genesis 24. Abraham sent his servant to his home country to bring back a bride for Isaac. He wasn’t as confident as Abraham. "What if she’s not willing to come back, should I come get your son and take him back there?" In essence, Abraham said, "No way, you are not to take my son out of this land God promised me. If she refuses to return with you, I release you from your promise to bring her back."
When I was little, I remember wondering how God could get a young girl to stop what she was doing and water a bunch of thirsty camels. My chore list was pretty hefty and when I was asked to water a kennel full of big dogs, it was definitely a burden. But the dogs were always delighted to see me. They would just about push me over to get me to pet them, to say nothing of getting to fresh water.
Here is Abraham’s servant with ten thirsty camels. (Do you know a camel can drink about 21 gallons of water?) And he’s pretty thirsty himself. Being the faithful servant he is, he stops to ask the God of Abraham, Isaac (and Jacob someday), "Give me success, show kindness to Abraham and give me a sign that cannot be denied. When I ask for water for myself, if this is THE girl, let her say, ‘No problem, and I’ll get the camels, too." (Personal paraphrasing here.) Can God actually cause someone to say and do exactly what needs to be said and done to fulfill a sign? He must, because that is precisely what young Rebekah did.
She did not realize as she was hauling around those 200-plus gallons of water and risking having those beasts spit on her, that they were carrying treasure intended for her. Those very camels would soon carry her to the adventure of her life.
She had a willing spirit not only to give water to a thirsty stranger and his entire caravan, but she was willing to leave homeland, family and friends to go to a country far away to marry a man she’d never seen. That marvelous servant’s heart and her willing spirit placed her solidly in the lineage of our precious Jesus. We know her name and her history. We are directly tied to her life because she was part of perpetuating the family that gave us our Older Brother who introduced us to Our Father. Can it get any better than that?
My prayer is this: "God plant in me a ‘Rebekah spirit’ that sees a need and does all she can to be a servant and a blessing. Let my heart be free enough in You to remember that I already have received my Treasure and I need nothing more. Let me serve with joy, great love and deep compassion those you bring to me. Lord be honored so those in need may encounter the greatest Treasure of all."
Now, off to find camels to water!
cbn
By Gail Casteen
It often takes a Bible story to remind me how God has surprised me with His blessings.
It often takes a Bible story to remind me how God has surprised me with His blessings in the most unusual ways. There were times in my past when I complained that when I chose to go the second mile, I did not get so much as a "thanks" pointed in my direction. Most of the time a simple thank-you would have been more than adequate payment.
Then the change came. God began to give me a love for people right where they were -- hurt, angry, hungry, dirty, stressed, in deep despair, on top of the world, silly with excitement, and arrogant (those were the tough ones). All it took was a look at my own plump, apple-cheeked infant son to feel love well up inside of me for an individual. No matter the position in life, God showed me that each person was once somebody’s baby.
Going the second mile became more of an act of love than one of making myself feel better. It became fun to extend a compliment to the harried grocery store check-out clerk, to hold the door open for someone who could have done it for themselves, or to tell a new mom how beautiful her baby was and how cool it is to have kids. God had poured His Son’s life into encouraging and loving me; it became the least I could do for others.
The Bible story that caused me to see the blessings I’d received is in Genesis 24. Abraham sent his servant to his home country to bring back a bride for Isaac. He wasn’t as confident as Abraham. "What if she’s not willing to come back, should I come get your son and take him back there?" In essence, Abraham said, "No way, you are not to take my son out of this land God promised me. If she refuses to return with you, I release you from your promise to bring her back."
When I was little, I remember wondering how God could get a young girl to stop what she was doing and water a bunch of thirsty camels. My chore list was pretty hefty and when I was asked to water a kennel full of big dogs, it was definitely a burden. But the dogs were always delighted to see me. They would just about push me over to get me to pet them, to say nothing of getting to fresh water.
Here is Abraham’s servant with ten thirsty camels. (Do you know a camel can drink about 21 gallons of water?) And he’s pretty thirsty himself. Being the faithful servant he is, he stops to ask the God of Abraham, Isaac (and Jacob someday), "Give me success, show kindness to Abraham and give me a sign that cannot be denied. When I ask for water for myself, if this is THE girl, let her say, ‘No problem, and I’ll get the camels, too." (Personal paraphrasing here.) Can God actually cause someone to say and do exactly what needs to be said and done to fulfill a sign? He must, because that is precisely what young Rebekah did.
She did not realize as she was hauling around those 200-plus gallons of water and risking having those beasts spit on her, that they were carrying treasure intended for her. Those very camels would soon carry her to the adventure of her life.
She had a willing spirit not only to give water to a thirsty stranger and his entire caravan, but she was willing to leave homeland, family and friends to go to a country far away to marry a man she’d never seen. That marvelous servant’s heart and her willing spirit placed her solidly in the lineage of our precious Jesus. We know her name and her history. We are directly tied to her life because she was part of perpetuating the family that gave us our Older Brother who introduced us to Our Father. Can it get any better than that?
My prayer is this: "God plant in me a ‘Rebekah spirit’ that sees a need and does all she can to be a servant and a blessing. Let my heart be free enough in You to remember that I already have received my Treasure and I need nothing more. Let me serve with joy, great love and deep compassion those you bring to me. Lord be honored so those in need may encounter the greatest Treasure of all."
Now, off to find camels to water!
cbn
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Upside-down Evangelism
By Dan Betzer
Jesus told us that in reaching folks in His name, we were to bless them first.
I receive letters, calls and e-mails from missionaries around the world. I got one the other day that truly amused me. He wrote:
"I just saw a large electric sign attached to the upper floor of a building here last week. English is rarely spoken or written, although there are many English-speaking people here. This particular business wanted to attract these folks.
Their sign was beautifully crafted, colorfully painted and of the kind that is illuminated from the inside by neon lighting for a brilliant night-time effect. The sign was about five feet high and thirty feet long, standing out in stark contrast to the brown of its host building and surrounding desert.
It was just perfect. Except for one thing...the people who erected it, not speaking English themselves, had erected it UPSIDE DOWN."
I think we Christians get our personal evangelism upside down all too many times. Jesus told us that in reaching folks in His name, we were to bless them first. Well, we want to preach, to grab them by the lapels, get right in their face and preach a five-point message.
Jesus said, no, bless them first.
Mike Modica is a pastor friend of mine in Florida. His church recently took up an offering and the next day he took it to the mayor and said, "Our church wanted you to have this in your care for the city's children. And if there is anything else we can do for you, just let us know."
Well, the mayor now thinks Mike hung the stars and moon, and can't do enough for him My goodness, here was a church not asking the city to do something for it, but rather how the church could bless the city! Try that in your personal evangelism. Go mow somebody's lawn, take them dinner, don't even scream at their barking dog. You might find it easy to win them when the sign's RIGHT SIDE UP.
cbn
By Dan Betzer
Jesus told us that in reaching folks in His name, we were to bless them first.
I receive letters, calls and e-mails from missionaries around the world. I got one the other day that truly amused me. He wrote:
"I just saw a large electric sign attached to the upper floor of a building here last week. English is rarely spoken or written, although there are many English-speaking people here. This particular business wanted to attract these folks.
Their sign was beautifully crafted, colorfully painted and of the kind that is illuminated from the inside by neon lighting for a brilliant night-time effect. The sign was about five feet high and thirty feet long, standing out in stark contrast to the brown of its host building and surrounding desert.
It was just perfect. Except for one thing...the people who erected it, not speaking English themselves, had erected it UPSIDE DOWN."
I think we Christians get our personal evangelism upside down all too many times. Jesus told us that in reaching folks in His name, we were to bless them first. Well, we want to preach, to grab them by the lapels, get right in their face and preach a five-point message.
Jesus said, no, bless them first.
Mike Modica is a pastor friend of mine in Florida. His church recently took up an offering and the next day he took it to the mayor and said, "Our church wanted you to have this in your care for the city's children. And if there is anything else we can do for you, just let us know."
Well, the mayor now thinks Mike hung the stars and moon, and can't do enough for him My goodness, here was a church not asking the city to do something for it, but rather how the church could bless the city! Try that in your personal evangelism. Go mow somebody's lawn, take them dinner, don't even scream at their barking dog. You might find it easy to win them when the sign's RIGHT SIDE UP.
cbn
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
If Dogs Can See Past It, Why Can't We?
By Aaron Bull
Why can we not get past our differences when it comes to things such as intermarrying, segregated churches, feeling threatened when someone from a different race asks us if we need help when we have a flat tire, etc…?
Reguarly I listen to a local college radio station that plays gospel. There is a radio show they have in the morning called, "Gospel Express." It's high-energy gospel music. Some of the music is at an aerobic level, blood pumping, wake you up in the morning whether you want to or not music.
One morning while driving to work and listening to the show a segment called, "Ask the Bishop," which is hosted by a local pastor, aired. The segment answers e-mails that listeners have sent. There are questions from, "Why did 9/11 occured?" to "How far can you go when dating." Today's question was rather interesting, because I've pondered this very question. The question was, "Should people marry someone from another race?"
I love this question, because people get really passionate about their answers. The Bishop was just as excited about answering this. Before he began, he stated that he would be giving an answer based on scripture, not personal opinion. My immediate thought was, "Go for it! I can't wait to hear this."
He, of course, mentioned the example of when Moses married Zipporah, found in Exodus 2:21. She was not of Moses tribe, however, she was still an Israelite. His point was that the rule then was to not marry outside of Israel to protect them from other religions and influences.
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons... (Deuteronomy 7:3NIV).
Then the Bishop moved to the New Testament examples written by Paul. One of which was not being unequally yoked.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV).
The other example was that of God not being a respecter of persons.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 KJV).
For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11 KJV).
So his point, from a scriptural basis, is that intermarrying is not a problem. It's our personal viewpoints that get in the way. Of course, we always have to keep in mind that being unequally yoked can be incredibly destructive. However, as I stated earlier, someone marrying outside his or her own culture or race is not a problem!
This doesn't only apply to marriage!
Here are some other questions I pose to you. Are we not supposed to be the most intelligent, most enlightened species on this planet? Are we more intelligent than dogs, elephants, zebras, ants, snakes, and any other cold or warm-blooded animal? Have we not been given permission by our Heavenly Father to reign over the earth? If you answered yes to these questions, why is that we can't get past the color, or accent, or looks of another person? I see dogs always get past the fact that other dogs don't look like them. How many of us have dogs at home that are mutts? Aren't we all really a bunch of mutts? There aren't too many families out there that are pure bred. I guess dogs see it as, "There's a dog, simply in different wrapping."
So why with our highly developed minds can we not get past our differences when it comes to things such as intermarrying, segregated churches (by choice no less), feeling threatened when someone from a different race asks us if we need help when we have a flat tire, etc…? Are we not smarter than our dogs? Are we not from the same two people --Adam and Eve? If dogs can see past their differences why can't we?
cbn
By Aaron Bull
Why can we not get past our differences when it comes to things such as intermarrying, segregated churches, feeling threatened when someone from a different race asks us if we need help when we have a flat tire, etc…?
Reguarly I listen to a local college radio station that plays gospel. There is a radio show they have in the morning called, "Gospel Express." It's high-energy gospel music. Some of the music is at an aerobic level, blood pumping, wake you up in the morning whether you want to or not music.
One morning while driving to work and listening to the show a segment called, "Ask the Bishop," which is hosted by a local pastor, aired. The segment answers e-mails that listeners have sent. There are questions from, "Why did 9/11 occured?" to "How far can you go when dating." Today's question was rather interesting, because I've pondered this very question. The question was, "Should people marry someone from another race?"
I love this question, because people get really passionate about their answers. The Bishop was just as excited about answering this. Before he began, he stated that he would be giving an answer based on scripture, not personal opinion. My immediate thought was, "Go for it! I can't wait to hear this."
He, of course, mentioned the example of when Moses married Zipporah, found in Exodus 2:21. She was not of Moses tribe, however, she was still an Israelite. His point was that the rule then was to not marry outside of Israel to protect them from other religions and influences.
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons... (Deuteronomy 7:3NIV).
Then the Bishop moved to the New Testament examples written by Paul. One of which was not being unequally yoked.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV).
The other example was that of God not being a respecter of persons.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 KJV).
For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11 KJV).
So his point, from a scriptural basis, is that intermarrying is not a problem. It's our personal viewpoints that get in the way. Of course, we always have to keep in mind that being unequally yoked can be incredibly destructive. However, as I stated earlier, someone marrying outside his or her own culture or race is not a problem!
This doesn't only apply to marriage!
Here are some other questions I pose to you. Are we not supposed to be the most intelligent, most enlightened species on this planet? Are we more intelligent than dogs, elephants, zebras, ants, snakes, and any other cold or warm-blooded animal? Have we not been given permission by our Heavenly Father to reign over the earth? If you answered yes to these questions, why is that we can't get past the color, or accent, or looks of another person? I see dogs always get past the fact that other dogs don't look like them. How many of us have dogs at home that are mutts? Aren't we all really a bunch of mutts? There aren't too many families out there that are pure bred. I guess dogs see it as, "There's a dog, simply in different wrapping."
So why with our highly developed minds can we not get past our differences when it comes to things such as intermarrying, segregated churches (by choice no less), feeling threatened when someone from a different race asks us if we need help when we have a flat tire, etc…? Are we not smarter than our dogs? Are we not from the same two people --Adam and Eve? If dogs can see past their differences why can't we?
cbn
Monday, October 13, 2003
STORM SANCTUARY
TREES UPROOTED IN STORM CRUSH SEVERAL CARS
Matthew 7:24-29
24 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, 29 because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
The headline screamed for attention on the front page of The Sunday Times. There had been a sudden thunderstorm the day before. But I had been rooted in the comfort of my own home, so the storm only made me feel drowsy throughout the day. Reading the headline in the newspaper the next day surprised me.
The news story described how the thunderstorm wreaked havoc in the western, southern, and central parts of Singapore. In the southwest part of the island, where the wind was particularly strong, it brought down at least five trees. Fortunately, no one had been hurt.
I thought about those trees that were uprooted in a storm--they had been pried free from their foundation. It made me think of Jesus' parable about a house that is built on sand. The story He told in Matthew 7 reminds us to build our foundation on the Word of God, so that when the storms come we will not falter. The psalmist compared such a wise person to a tree planted by the waters, yielding fruit in season with no withering leaves (Psalm 1:1-3).
Being rooted in the Word will help us through the storms of life. During uncertain times of war, economic downturn, and deadly diseases, we face many "storms," but we can trust God to give us a firm foundation of peace (John 14:27).
We can enter into the peace of God which transcends all understanding by sinking our roots deep into His Word. --Joanna Lim
DESTINATION POINTS
* Are there storms in my life (studies, work, social, or family)? How can I apply the Word to my situation?
* Do I have friends who are experiencing the storms of life? How can I be an encouragement to them?
LINKS:
Surviving The Storms Of Stress
http://www.discoveryseries.org/hp011
bottom line: God's Word helps us stand firm in life's storms.
soul journey
TREES UPROOTED IN STORM CRUSH SEVERAL CARS
Matthew 7:24-29
24 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, 29 because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
The headline screamed for attention on the front page of The Sunday Times. There had been a sudden thunderstorm the day before. But I had been rooted in the comfort of my own home, so the storm only made me feel drowsy throughout the day. Reading the headline in the newspaper the next day surprised me.
The news story described how the thunderstorm wreaked havoc in the western, southern, and central parts of Singapore. In the southwest part of the island, where the wind was particularly strong, it brought down at least five trees. Fortunately, no one had been hurt.
I thought about those trees that were uprooted in a storm--they had been pried free from their foundation. It made me think of Jesus' parable about a house that is built on sand. The story He told in Matthew 7 reminds us to build our foundation on the Word of God, so that when the storms come we will not falter. The psalmist compared such a wise person to a tree planted by the waters, yielding fruit in season with no withering leaves (Psalm 1:1-3).
Being rooted in the Word will help us through the storms of life. During uncertain times of war, economic downturn, and deadly diseases, we face many "storms," but we can trust God to give us a firm foundation of peace (John 14:27).
We can enter into the peace of God which transcends all understanding by sinking our roots deep into His Word. --Joanna Lim
DESTINATION POINTS
* Are there storms in my life (studies, work, social, or family)? How can I apply the Word to my situation?
* Do I have friends who are experiencing the storms of life? How can I be an encouragement to them?
LINKS:
Surviving The Storms Of Stress
http://www.discoveryseries.org/hp011
bottom line: God's Word helps us stand firm in life's storms.
soul journey
Sunday, October 12, 2003
PRAYER WALKS
Genesis 3:8-9
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Oxford professor and brilliant Christian thinker C. S. Lewis used to enjoy long walks in the English countryside. As he walked, the scent of wildflowers and the music of songbirds filled the air. There were familiar trees and bushes--the unpredictable activity of wildlife.
During those times of journeying through God's handiwork, Lewis no doubt felt at ease lifting his heart in prayer. Walking in His creation can help us relax and reconnect with God.
From the beginning, God has sought to walk with those who will respond to Him. In the cool of the day, God called for Adam and Eve to walk with Him in fellowship (Genesis 3:8-9). Examples abound in Scripture of people enjoying deep times of dialog with God while on the move.
One such person was Enoch. This celebrated Old Testament character has one of the shortest biographies in history. Many people have it memorized: "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (5:24).
Enoch was so intent on connecting with God that it became characteristic of his lifestyle. And what was God's response?
The verse ends with this mysterious phrase-- "God took him away." Enoch had stayed close to God in intimate faith. Ultimately, God took possession of him and brought him to heaven without his experiencing physical death.
Walking in step with Jesus is the call of the committed Christian. This means to commune with Him throughout the day as a way of life. But we can also benefit by setting aside a special time of walking and focused prayer. A prayer walk has a way of restoring the soul.
Are you stressed today? Walk with God in His presence. Accept His invitation. --Dennis Fisher
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I ever taken a prayer walk? What good would it do me?
* Where and when can I take one?
LINKS:
Keeping Our Appointments With God
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0718
Learn more about C. S. Lewis
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2000/001/2.26.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/001/10.40.html
bottom line: Walking with Jesus keeps us close to Him.
soul journey
Genesis 3:8-9
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Oxford professor and brilliant Christian thinker C. S. Lewis used to enjoy long walks in the English countryside. As he walked, the scent of wildflowers and the music of songbirds filled the air. There were familiar trees and bushes--the unpredictable activity of wildlife.
During those times of journeying through God's handiwork, Lewis no doubt felt at ease lifting his heart in prayer. Walking in His creation can help us relax and reconnect with God.
From the beginning, God has sought to walk with those who will respond to Him. In the cool of the day, God called for Adam and Eve to walk with Him in fellowship (Genesis 3:8-9). Examples abound in Scripture of people enjoying deep times of dialog with God while on the move.
One such person was Enoch. This celebrated Old Testament character has one of the shortest biographies in history. Many people have it memorized: "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (5:24).
Enoch was so intent on connecting with God that it became characteristic of his lifestyle. And what was God's response?
The verse ends with this mysterious phrase-- "God took him away." Enoch had stayed close to God in intimate faith. Ultimately, God took possession of him and brought him to heaven without his experiencing physical death.
Walking in step with Jesus is the call of the committed Christian. This means to commune with Him throughout the day as a way of life. But we can also benefit by setting aside a special time of walking and focused prayer. A prayer walk has a way of restoring the soul.
Are you stressed today? Walk with God in His presence. Accept His invitation. --Dennis Fisher
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I ever taken a prayer walk? What good would it do me?
* Where and when can I take one?
LINKS:
Keeping Our Appointments With God
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0718
Learn more about C. S. Lewis
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/2000/001/2.26.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/001/10.40.html
bottom line: Walking with Jesus keeps us close to Him.
soul journey
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Stepping Stones To The Throne
By Missey Butler
I took a break from working on my spiritual life. Unnoticeably to me, the moments turned into an hour, an hour turned into a day, a day into a week, and before I realized it six months had passed by...
Have you ever felt as if you've lost your way? I mean, you can't really put into words what has happened to you. All you know is that things aren't the same. It's as if you are slowly drying up on the inside and you don't know when or how it all started. Life seems to have kept moving but you decided not to. I remember reading that when it comes to our spiritual walk, we are doing one of two things. We are either moving forward or falling back. There is no neutral ground.
Boy, that really did bother me because honestly … I wanted a little breather… You know what I mean? And then, I kept hearing this catchy little jingle - "You deserve a break today"- so, needless to say … I did. I took a break from working on my spiritual life. Unnoticeably to me, the moments turned into an hour, an hour turned into a day, a day into a week, and before I realized it six months had passed by. I finally realized I had fallen into what felt like a serious backslidden condition.
My mind had turned into a raging battlefield of guilt, resentments, anger, justifications and one of my personal favorites … indifference. The things I use to care about, even have convictions over, no longer bothered me. My heart used to be so sensitive. Now it was very calloused, so much that it was almost unrecognizable to me.
Immediately, God's Word, ever faithful and always on time, began to minister to me. I heard Him say, "Break up the fallow ground of your heart and allow me to redeem back the time the enemy has stolen. His voice was so gentle, but yet firm. He was not at all the condemning, finger-shaking, personality my imagination had conjured up. Instead, I saw my Lord and myself suspended above a shallow pond. I watched him as He slowly bent down and placed before my feet a stepping stone that had writing on it. I leaned over and saw these words, Romans 2 verse 4b. … the goodness of the Lord leads men to repentance.
I felt my eyes swell with tears as I looked up at Him. He very lovingly smiled at me and said, "Step here my beloved." As I lowered my foot onto the stone, He bent forward with another stone upon which read … 1 John 1 verse 9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I heard His tender voice speak to me again, "Step here my beloved." As I stepped onto the warm sandstone, I sensed such a cleansing and lifting of a heavy weight off of my soul. I felt so clean and free. The last stone the Lord put before me had inscribed upon it a verse that was very familiar to me, but I had lost sight of it. It was one of those commands that was simple yet filled with such meaning, Matthew 3 verse 8, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
I hesitated for a moment before stepping out. I closed my eyes and whispered, "Oh Lord, you know how I have failed you in this area. How will it be any different this time? Then I heard the Lord say, "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord … My strength is made perfect in your weakness." Now, take another step.
cbn
By Missey Butler
I took a break from working on my spiritual life. Unnoticeably to me, the moments turned into an hour, an hour turned into a day, a day into a week, and before I realized it six months had passed by...
Have you ever felt as if you've lost your way? I mean, you can't really put into words what has happened to you. All you know is that things aren't the same. It's as if you are slowly drying up on the inside and you don't know when or how it all started. Life seems to have kept moving but you decided not to. I remember reading that when it comes to our spiritual walk, we are doing one of two things. We are either moving forward or falling back. There is no neutral ground.
Boy, that really did bother me because honestly … I wanted a little breather… You know what I mean? And then, I kept hearing this catchy little jingle - "You deserve a break today"- so, needless to say … I did. I took a break from working on my spiritual life. Unnoticeably to me, the moments turned into an hour, an hour turned into a day, a day into a week, and before I realized it six months had passed by. I finally realized I had fallen into what felt like a serious backslidden condition.
My mind had turned into a raging battlefield of guilt, resentments, anger, justifications and one of my personal favorites … indifference. The things I use to care about, even have convictions over, no longer bothered me. My heart used to be so sensitive. Now it was very calloused, so much that it was almost unrecognizable to me.
Immediately, God's Word, ever faithful and always on time, began to minister to me. I heard Him say, "Break up the fallow ground of your heart and allow me to redeem back the time the enemy has stolen. His voice was so gentle, but yet firm. He was not at all the condemning, finger-shaking, personality my imagination had conjured up. Instead, I saw my Lord and myself suspended above a shallow pond. I watched him as He slowly bent down and placed before my feet a stepping stone that had writing on it. I leaned over and saw these words, Romans 2 verse 4b. … the goodness of the Lord leads men to repentance.
I felt my eyes swell with tears as I looked up at Him. He very lovingly smiled at me and said, "Step here my beloved." As I lowered my foot onto the stone, He bent forward with another stone upon which read … 1 John 1 verse 9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I heard His tender voice speak to me again, "Step here my beloved." As I stepped onto the warm sandstone, I sensed such a cleansing and lifting of a heavy weight off of my soul. I felt so clean and free. The last stone the Lord put before me had inscribed upon it a verse that was very familiar to me, but I had lost sight of it. It was one of those commands that was simple yet filled with such meaning, Matthew 3 verse 8, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
I hesitated for a moment before stepping out. I closed my eyes and whispered, "Oh Lord, you know how I have failed you in this area. How will it be any different this time? Then I heard the Lord say, "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord … My strength is made perfect in your weakness." Now, take another step.
cbn
Thursday, October 09, 2003
His Idea
By Tony Evans
"He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber." --- Psalm 121:3 Read It: Matthew 14:22-24
God's Word has some great lessons for us in this classic story of a trial-by-storm the disciples underwent. We'll deal with it the rest of this week , because I don't want to shortchange you on the good stuff God wants to teach us.
Notice first that Christ controls the very existence of a trial. Matthew says, "He made the disciples get into the boat" (my emphasis). This whole trip was Jesus' idea, not theirs. The disciples wanted to stay where they were, because Jesus had just miraculously fed five thousand men. The disciples liked this action.
See, they were just like the crowd who wanted to make Jesus their "welfare" King. As we saw last week, Jesus wanted no part of it. But from the disciples' standpoint, this king business sounded like a good idea. But what the disciples wanted and what they needed were two different things. They wanted royalty, but what they got was a rowboat in a storm, because that's what Jesus wanted them to have.
So there were the disciples being battered by the waves and wind. The harder they rowed in one direction, the harder the wind pushed in the other direction. Mark pictures them "straining at the oars" (Mark 6:48). These boys were sweating. And they didn't even want to be out there.
Are you in a storm today? Can you feel the wind pushing against you? You say, "Tony, I'm not only in a storm, but I'm being pushed backwards."
I hear you. I've been in those kinds of trials too. The first thing I want to tell you about trials is that for a Christian, there is no such thing as random, pointless trials. If Jesus sent you into the storm, His authority is reigning over it even though it may be raining on you.
If you are in trial, God has a point to it. God can even hit the target with a crooked arrow. He can take a trial caused by our sin and failure and still make something out of it. The power and authority of Christ are not threatened by trials.
Think About It
Since that rowboat ride was Jesus' idea, He must have known what He was doing -- just like He knows what He's doing in your life today.
cbn
By Tony Evans
"He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber." --- Psalm 121:3 Read It: Matthew 14:22-24
God's Word has some great lessons for us in this classic story of a trial-by-storm the disciples underwent. We'll deal with it the rest of this week , because I don't want to shortchange you on the good stuff God wants to teach us.
Notice first that Christ controls the very existence of a trial. Matthew says, "He made the disciples get into the boat" (my emphasis). This whole trip was Jesus' idea, not theirs. The disciples wanted to stay where they were, because Jesus had just miraculously fed five thousand men. The disciples liked this action.
See, they were just like the crowd who wanted to make Jesus their "welfare" King. As we saw last week, Jesus wanted no part of it. But from the disciples' standpoint, this king business sounded like a good idea. But what the disciples wanted and what they needed were two different things. They wanted royalty, but what they got was a rowboat in a storm, because that's what Jesus wanted them to have.
So there were the disciples being battered by the waves and wind. The harder they rowed in one direction, the harder the wind pushed in the other direction. Mark pictures them "straining at the oars" (Mark 6:48). These boys were sweating. And they didn't even want to be out there.
Are you in a storm today? Can you feel the wind pushing against you? You say, "Tony, I'm not only in a storm, but I'm being pushed backwards."
I hear you. I've been in those kinds of trials too. The first thing I want to tell you about trials is that for a Christian, there is no such thing as random, pointless trials. If Jesus sent you into the storm, His authority is reigning over it even though it may be raining on you.
If you are in trial, God has a point to it. God can even hit the target with a crooked arrow. He can take a trial caused by our sin and failure and still make something out of it. The power and authority of Christ are not threatened by trials.
Think About It
Since that rowboat ride was Jesus' idea, He must have known what He was doing -- just like He knows what He's doing in your life today.
cbn
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
"LOOK, LORD!"
Luke 19:1-9
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. . . . 8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house."
The next time you make a high-speed merge onto the information superhighway, watch out for someone pedaling alongside! People living in the village of Ban Phon Kham, Laos, are now wired to the Internet through computers that use pedal power. One minute of bike pedaling = five minutes of online power.
Vietnam War veteran Lee Thorn came up with the idea in an effort to heal old wounds. Thorn was a bomb loader for US warplanes that flew missions over Laos. His new mission is to help the village grow economically, and to make it possible for villagers to keep in touch with loved ones. He's turning hard feelings into kindness, help, and friendship.
In Jesus' day, people in Jericho had hard feelings about the head taxman, Zacchaeus. He was a short guy who wanted to be a big shot. He was rich, he cheated people, and his neighbors probably thought he would never change. To his credit, "he wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd" (Luke 19:3). So he ran ahead and climbed a tree.
Sycamore-fig trees have low branches--easy access for someone of short stature. Its leaves and bark were used as remedies for various ailments. And Zacchaeus was about to get the biggest dose of healing he could ever imagine. All it took was one encounter with Jesus, and Zacchaeus was a new man. "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount" (v.8).
The day he met Jesus, Zacchaeus turned the hard feelings between himself and his neighbors into kindness, help, and friendship. If Jesus is your Lord, you've had just as real an encounter with Him as Zacchaeus did so many years ago--and you are a new person. Let the world see the difference Jesus has made in you. --Tracy Carbaugh
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I had a real encounter with Jesus? What was it like?
* What would I say to Jesus if I met Him on the street?
* "Look, Lord! Here and now I give ________________."
LINKS:
If you've never had an encounter with Jesus, read
Who Is This Man Who Says He's God?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0205
bottom line: Meeting Jesus makes all the difference.
soul journey
Luke 19:1-9
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. . . . 8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house."
The next time you make a high-speed merge onto the information superhighway, watch out for someone pedaling alongside! People living in the village of Ban Phon Kham, Laos, are now wired to the Internet through computers that use pedal power. One minute of bike pedaling = five minutes of online power.
Vietnam War veteran Lee Thorn came up with the idea in an effort to heal old wounds. Thorn was a bomb loader for US warplanes that flew missions over Laos. His new mission is to help the village grow economically, and to make it possible for villagers to keep in touch with loved ones. He's turning hard feelings into kindness, help, and friendship.
In Jesus' day, people in Jericho had hard feelings about the head taxman, Zacchaeus. He was a short guy who wanted to be a big shot. He was rich, he cheated people, and his neighbors probably thought he would never change. To his credit, "he wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd" (Luke 19:3). So he ran ahead and climbed a tree.
Sycamore-fig trees have low branches--easy access for someone of short stature. Its leaves and bark were used as remedies for various ailments. And Zacchaeus was about to get the biggest dose of healing he could ever imagine. All it took was one encounter with Jesus, and Zacchaeus was a new man. "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount" (v.8).
The day he met Jesus, Zacchaeus turned the hard feelings between himself and his neighbors into kindness, help, and friendship. If Jesus is your Lord, you've had just as real an encounter with Him as Zacchaeus did so many years ago--and you are a new person. Let the world see the difference Jesus has made in you. --Tracy Carbaugh
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I had a real encounter with Jesus? What was it like?
* What would I say to Jesus if I met Him on the street?
* "Look, Lord! Here and now I give ________________."
LINKS:
If you've never had an encounter with Jesus, read
Who Is This Man Who Says He's God?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0205
bottom line: Meeting Jesus makes all the difference.
soul journey
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Through His Eyes
By Barbara Cuffee
It’s amazing how we view life experiences that cause us pain or discomfort as negative forces at work. But if we were to view them through His eyes, we would see a different picture.
Recently I had the opportunity to do just that with the death of my mother.
I remember when I first heard the doctors’ report, I prayed, binding the enemy who came to steal life from her body, and loosening God’s power to heal and restore her. I never stopped to ask God, "What is your desire in this situation?"
Then one day I went to visit my mom at the hospital and spent two hours listening to her talk to Jesus. Not once did she open her eyes to even see that I was there, yet I witnessed my mother’s conversation with Jesus as He gave her a glimpse of Heaven! She began to ask, "Where am I now Jesus?" as her face beamed with excitement.
"Jesus, I need a little more air," I heard her say as she was struggling to receive oxygen. And then, "That’s it, a little more. OK, thank you, Jesus."
Another time she said, "Jesus, my feet are cold. I need some more cover." Again she voiced, "That’s it. Thank you, Jesus." At that moment I looked to see if the cover moved.
The Lord quickened in my spirit Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (KJV).
The next day my mom was a new person, sitting up in bed and eating, doing all the things she hadn’t done the day before.
In the days that followed, my mother’s health worsened. I began to ask God, "What is Your desire for her?" For the first time I had peace in saying, "God, may Your will be done in her life." I was able to say, "Lord, take her home," rather than watch her suffer, because God had given me a glimpse of the joy she had in Him.
As I have learned, we must always view every situation through God’s eyes to see the true picture.
cbn
By Barbara Cuffee
It’s amazing how we view life experiences that cause us pain or discomfort as negative forces at work. But if we were to view them through His eyes, we would see a different picture.
Recently I had the opportunity to do just that with the death of my mother.
I remember when I first heard the doctors’ report, I prayed, binding the enemy who came to steal life from her body, and loosening God’s power to heal and restore her. I never stopped to ask God, "What is your desire in this situation?"
Then one day I went to visit my mom at the hospital and spent two hours listening to her talk to Jesus. Not once did she open her eyes to even see that I was there, yet I witnessed my mother’s conversation with Jesus as He gave her a glimpse of Heaven! She began to ask, "Where am I now Jesus?" as her face beamed with excitement.
"Jesus, I need a little more air," I heard her say as she was struggling to receive oxygen. And then, "That’s it, a little more. OK, thank you, Jesus."
Another time she said, "Jesus, my feet are cold. I need some more cover." Again she voiced, "That’s it. Thank you, Jesus." At that moment I looked to see if the cover moved.
The Lord quickened in my spirit Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (KJV).
The next day my mom was a new person, sitting up in bed and eating, doing all the things she hadn’t done the day before.
In the days that followed, my mother’s health worsened. I began to ask God, "What is Your desire for her?" For the first time I had peace in saying, "God, may Your will be done in her life." I was able to say, "Lord, take her home," rather than watch her suffer, because God had given me a glimpse of the joy she had in Him.
As I have learned, we must always view every situation through God’s eyes to see the true picture.
cbn
Monday, October 06, 2003
The Nature of Regeneration
When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me . . . —Galatians 1:15-16
If Jesus Christ is going to regenerate me, what is the problem He faces? It is simply this—I have a heredity in which I had no say or decision; I am not holy, nor am I likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me that I must be holy, His teaching only causes me to despair. But if Jesus Christ is truly a regenerator, someone who can put His own heredity of holiness into me, then I can begin to see what He means when He says that I have to be holy. Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into anyone the hereditary nature that was in Himself, and all the standards He gives us are based on that nature—His teaching is meant to be applied to the life which He puts within us. The proper action on my part is simply to agree with God’s verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ.
The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a person is hit by his own sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God— ". . . until Christ is formed in you" ( Galatians 4:19 ). The moral miracle of redemption is that God can put a new nature into me through which I can live a totally new life. When I finally reach the edge of my need and know my own limitations, then Jesus says, "Blessed are you . . ." ( Matthew 5:11 ). But I must get to that point. God cannot put into me, the responsible moral person that I am, the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless I am aware of my need for it.
Just as the nature of sin entered into the human race through one man, the Holy Spirit entered into the human race through another Man (see Romans 5:12-19 ). And redemption means that I can be delivered from the heredity of sin, and that through Jesus Christ I can receive a pure and spotless heredity, namely, the Holy Spirit.
my utmost for His highest
When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me . . . —Galatians 1:15-16
If Jesus Christ is going to regenerate me, what is the problem He faces? It is simply this—I have a heredity in which I had no say or decision; I am not holy, nor am I likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me that I must be holy, His teaching only causes me to despair. But if Jesus Christ is truly a regenerator, someone who can put His own heredity of holiness into me, then I can begin to see what He means when He says that I have to be holy. Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into anyone the hereditary nature that was in Himself, and all the standards He gives us are based on that nature—His teaching is meant to be applied to the life which He puts within us. The proper action on my part is simply to agree with God’s verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ.
The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a person is hit by his own sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God— ". . . until Christ is formed in you" ( Galatians 4:19 ). The moral miracle of redemption is that God can put a new nature into me through which I can live a totally new life. When I finally reach the edge of my need and know my own limitations, then Jesus says, "Blessed are you . . ." ( Matthew 5:11 ). But I must get to that point. God cannot put into me, the responsible moral person that I am, the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless I am aware of my need for it.
Just as the nature of sin entered into the human race through one man, the Holy Spirit entered into the human race through another Man (see Romans 5:12-19 ). And redemption means that I can be delivered from the heredity of sin, and that through Jesus Christ I can receive a pure and spotless heredity, namely, the Holy Spirit.
my utmost for His highest
Sunday, October 05, 2003
IS HE ALIVE?
Acts 1:1-5
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
The "Elvis Is Alive" museum outside St. Louis, Missouri, has been called "a conspiracy theorist's dream." Along the highway, a large sign urges travelers to pull over and SEE FUNERAL ROOM. TOMB ROOM. SEE PROOF FOR YOURSELF THAT ELVIS IS ALIVE. SEE WHY HE HAD TO FAKE HIS OWN DEATH.
Nearby is an aging '74 Cadillac limo with a life-size cutout of Presley at the wheel. In addition, as Jim Suhr writes in an
Associated Press article, "You can't miss the 16-foot plywood Elvis."
Inside, a single room contains photos, government documents, and DNA-test results, all seeking to present Elvis as "the King" of deception who faked his own death in 1977 to escape feeling imprisoned by his fame and fortune.
"We don't try to make any converts," says museum owner Bill Beeny. "We just say, 'Here's the evidence we have, look
at it, and whatever you want to believe is fine. Draw your own conclusions.'"
Someone observed that it's a strange world when people believe that Jesus is dead and Elvis is alive.
Christians believe that Jesus is the living Savior, who conquered sin and death so that we might have eternal life through faith in Him.
We have no museums--only the Bible's straightforward account of Jesus' agonizing death by crucifixion, His burial, and the astounding claim that 3 days later He rose from the dead. It includes eyewitness accounts from people who saw Jesus, talked with Him, touched Him, and heard Him speak after His resurrection (Acts 1:1-5). And perhaps most powerfully, the book of Acts chronicles the changed lives of fearful disciples who spoke out boldly of Jesus the living Lord, even though it cost them their lives.
In the end, it's a matter of faith for each of us. But the Bible is out to make converts. If Elvis is alive, it probably doesn't make much difference. But Jesus is alive, and that makes all the difference in the world! --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What sometimes causes me to doubt that Jesus really is alive?
* Why is Jesus' resurrection so important to who I am and what I believe as a Christian?
* How have I experienced the presence of the living Christ in my life this week?
LINKS:
10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead
http://www.rbc.net/rtb/8rsn
bottom line: Jesus is alive and He gives me life.
soul journey
Acts 1:1-5
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
The "Elvis Is Alive" museum outside St. Louis, Missouri, has been called "a conspiracy theorist's dream." Along the highway, a large sign urges travelers to pull over and SEE FUNERAL ROOM. TOMB ROOM. SEE PROOF FOR YOURSELF THAT ELVIS IS ALIVE. SEE WHY HE HAD TO FAKE HIS OWN DEATH.
Nearby is an aging '74 Cadillac limo with a life-size cutout of Presley at the wheel. In addition, as Jim Suhr writes in an
Associated Press article, "You can't miss the 16-foot plywood Elvis."
Inside, a single room contains photos, government documents, and DNA-test results, all seeking to present Elvis as "the King" of deception who faked his own death in 1977 to escape feeling imprisoned by his fame and fortune.
"We don't try to make any converts," says museum owner Bill Beeny. "We just say, 'Here's the evidence we have, look
at it, and whatever you want to believe is fine. Draw your own conclusions.'"
Someone observed that it's a strange world when people believe that Jesus is dead and Elvis is alive.
Christians believe that Jesus is the living Savior, who conquered sin and death so that we might have eternal life through faith in Him.
We have no museums--only the Bible's straightforward account of Jesus' agonizing death by crucifixion, His burial, and the astounding claim that 3 days later He rose from the dead. It includes eyewitness accounts from people who saw Jesus, talked with Him, touched Him, and heard Him speak after His resurrection (Acts 1:1-5). And perhaps most powerfully, the book of Acts chronicles the changed lives of fearful disciples who spoke out boldly of Jesus the living Lord, even though it cost them their lives.
In the end, it's a matter of faith for each of us. But the Bible is out to make converts. If Elvis is alive, it probably doesn't make much difference. But Jesus is alive, and that makes all the difference in the world! --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What sometimes causes me to doubt that Jesus really is alive?
* Why is Jesus' resurrection so important to who I am and what I believe as a Christian?
* How have I experienced the presence of the living Christ in my life this week?
LINKS:
10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead
http://www.rbc.net/rtb/8rsn
bottom line: Jesus is alive and He gives me life.
soul journey
Saturday, October 04, 2003
SURPRISED BY DEATH?
Psalm 139:14-16; 144:3-4
14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. . . .3 O Lord, what is man that You care for him, the son of man that You think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
A New York company delivered notices to 350 employees, informing them that they were no longer entitled to benefits because of their recent demise. Surprise!
When the great American humorist Samuel Clemens (more commonly known as Mark Twain) read an obituary notice of his own death in a newspaper, he quipped, "Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
Of course, we will all die someday. But most of us would be surprised if today were the day.
We have no guarantee, however, that we will live out this day. In the last couple of years, two of my friends were killed in car crashes. A co-worker's teenage daughter died in a car accident as well. And on his regular noontime run, a friend and co-worker died from a heart attack. Which of these people, who loved Jesus, knew that final morning that they would see God face-to-face before the end of the day? None of them. It was a surprise!
Psalm 139 takes us on the journey of life, beginning with our conception. How intimately God knows us! In verse 16, the psalmist David wrote, "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." It is a shock when someone we love dies "too soon," but God always knew the length of that life. "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow" (Psalm 144:4).
"Too soon" is our interpretation, but if we look through God's eyes we realize that death is not the end for those who have trusted Jesus as Savior. It is simply the next stage of life. It is an interruption in life as we know it. But it is not the end. Death has not won (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
As followers of Jesus, we have hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Our hearts break as we say goodbye, but it is not a forever goodbye. Someday, with smiles of surprise and joy, we will see each other again. --Cindy Kasper
DESTINATION POINTS
* If I knew that I would die before tomorrow morning, how would I live my life differently today?
* Will I be spending eternity in heaven with Jesus? How can I be sure?
LINKS:
What do we need to know about God?
http://www.rbc.net/salvation/
Is There Life After Death?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1205/
Where Do We Go From Here?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1202/
bottom line: Death is simply a doorway to heaven.
soul journey
Psalm 139:14-16; 144:3-4
14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. . . .3 O Lord, what is man that You care for him, the son of man that You think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
A New York company delivered notices to 350 employees, informing them that they were no longer entitled to benefits because of their recent demise. Surprise!
When the great American humorist Samuel Clemens (more commonly known as Mark Twain) read an obituary notice of his own death in a newspaper, he quipped, "Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
Of course, we will all die someday. But most of us would be surprised if today were the day.
We have no guarantee, however, that we will live out this day. In the last couple of years, two of my friends were killed in car crashes. A co-worker's teenage daughter died in a car accident as well. And on his regular noontime run, a friend and co-worker died from a heart attack. Which of these people, who loved Jesus, knew that final morning that they would see God face-to-face before the end of the day? None of them. It was a surprise!
Psalm 139 takes us on the journey of life, beginning with our conception. How intimately God knows us! In verse 16, the psalmist David wrote, "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." It is a shock when someone we love dies "too soon," but God always knew the length of that life. "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow" (Psalm 144:4).
"Too soon" is our interpretation, but if we look through God's eyes we realize that death is not the end for those who have trusted Jesus as Savior. It is simply the next stage of life. It is an interruption in life as we know it. But it is not the end. Death has not won (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
As followers of Jesus, we have hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Our hearts break as we say goodbye, but it is not a forever goodbye. Someday, with smiles of surprise and joy, we will see each other again. --Cindy Kasper
DESTINATION POINTS
* If I knew that I would die before tomorrow morning, how would I live my life differently today?
* Will I be spending eternity in heaven with Jesus? How can I be sure?
LINKS:
What do we need to know about God?
http://www.rbc.net/salvation/
Is There Life After Death?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1205/
Where Do We Go From Here?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q1202/
bottom line: Death is simply a doorway to heaven.
soul journey
SIMPLIFY!
Proverbs 12:1-8
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man. 3 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. 4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. 5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. 7 Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. 8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.
Life couldn't be more complicated, it seems. Days are so filled with commuting and activity and conversation that we can't keep up with it anymore. There are calls to make, appointments to keep, lunch dates, magazines to read, rooms to clean, clothes to wash, TV programs you can't miss, movies to see, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
In the midst of all this frenetic activity we may feel that we've lost control. Our schedule runs us. We have no time for family. We carry on rapid conversations with friends. We feel guilty if we sit down to read a book or listen to music for pure enjoyment. And Jesus? No time left for Him at all. To get our attention, it seems, He'll have to blast His way through all that commotion.
But you know how Jesus is. He knocks and waits. He's out there right now. Do you hear Him?
Henry David Thoreau said, "Our life is frittered away by detail . . . simplify, simplify, simplify!"
Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin D., 32nd President of the US, said, "A little simplification would be the first step toward
rational living."
Then there's that K.I.S.S. saying: "Keep it simple, stupid!" So, how can we begin to simplify?
* Get things organized. Put your schedule, your responsibilities, your life in order. Every 10 minutes you spend looking for something is 10 minutes wasted.
* Evaluate your activity. "Busy work" may give the illusion of accomplishment, but it's wasted time. Make sure everything you do gets you closer to your goals.
* Lighten the load. Having too much of everything is time-consuming and wasteful.
* Turn off the TV. A television-free day brings rest to a crowded schedule.
Don't let your business or friends or schedule control you. Take charge of your life. Then you'll be able to give the Lord the time He deserves and enjoy your relationship with Him. --Dave Egner
DESTINATION POINTS
* How can I evaluate the things that occupy my time? How can I eliminate the unnecessary stuff?
* How much time do I spend with Jesus each week? What benefits would I receive by simplifying my life and spending more time with Him?
LINKS:
I Need A Break!
by Jennifer Knapp
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2002/002/15.72.html
bottom line: Let your schedule start with Jesus.
soul journey
Proverbs 12:1-8
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man. 3 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. 4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. 5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. 7 Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. 8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.
Life couldn't be more complicated, it seems. Days are so filled with commuting and activity and conversation that we can't keep up with it anymore. There are calls to make, appointments to keep, lunch dates, magazines to read, rooms to clean, clothes to wash, TV programs you can't miss, movies to see, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
In the midst of all this frenetic activity we may feel that we've lost control. Our schedule runs us. We have no time for family. We carry on rapid conversations with friends. We feel guilty if we sit down to read a book or listen to music for pure enjoyment. And Jesus? No time left for Him at all. To get our attention, it seems, He'll have to blast His way through all that commotion.
But you know how Jesus is. He knocks and waits. He's out there right now. Do you hear Him?
Henry David Thoreau said, "Our life is frittered away by detail . . . simplify, simplify, simplify!"
Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin D., 32nd President of the US, said, "A little simplification would be the first step toward
rational living."
Then there's that K.I.S.S. saying: "Keep it simple, stupid!" So, how can we begin to simplify?
* Get things organized. Put your schedule, your responsibilities, your life in order. Every 10 minutes you spend looking for something is 10 minutes wasted.
* Evaluate your activity. "Busy work" may give the illusion of accomplishment, but it's wasted time. Make sure everything you do gets you closer to your goals.
* Lighten the load. Having too much of everything is time-consuming and wasteful.
* Turn off the TV. A television-free day brings rest to a crowded schedule.
Don't let your business or friends or schedule control you. Take charge of your life. Then you'll be able to give the Lord the time He deserves and enjoy your relationship with Him. --Dave Egner
DESTINATION POINTS
* How can I evaluate the things that occupy my time? How can I eliminate the unnecessary stuff?
* How much time do I spend with Jesus each week? What benefits would I receive by simplifying my life and spending more time with Him?
LINKS:
I Need A Break!
by Jennifer Knapp
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2002/002/15.72.html
bottom line: Let your schedule start with Jesus.
soul journey
Thursday, October 02, 2003
God's Treasure Chest
Read: Psalm 119:9-16
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. —Psalm 119:14
Most of us wouldn't ignore a dollar lying on the ground. We would gladly pick it up and put it in our pocket. Yet we often ignore the Bible, a treasure chest overflowing with God's precious promises. David, the likely author of Psalm 119, recorded the rich blessings he experienced as he studied God's Word and stored it in the pocket of his heart. No wonder British pastor Charles H. Spurgeon referred to it as "David's pocket book."
David not only rejoiced in God's Word, but he also used it as a personal safeguard against sin. He said to God, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (v.11). But David did more than memorize it. He saturated his heart with its truth, using these methods: He meditated on God's precepts, contemplated His ways, and delighted himself in the Lord's teachings (vv.15-16). Therefore he could say, "I will not forget Your Word" (v.16), for we don't easily forget what we treasure in our hearts.
When you read Our Daily Bread, take time to read the Scripture verses. The Bible, God's treasure chest, is the basis for all these articles. Use them to help you hunt for precious gems in God's Word. Like David, hide them in your heart so that you'll remember them and rejoice. —Joanie Yoder
My Bible to me is a treasure house,
Where I can always find
Whatever I need from day to day
For heart and soul and mind. —Anon.
Rich treasures of God's truth can be discovered in His Word.
daily bread
Read: Psalm 119:9-16
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. —Psalm 119:14
Most of us wouldn't ignore a dollar lying on the ground. We would gladly pick it up and put it in our pocket. Yet we often ignore the Bible, a treasure chest overflowing with God's precious promises. David, the likely author of Psalm 119, recorded the rich blessings he experienced as he studied God's Word and stored it in the pocket of his heart. No wonder British pastor Charles H. Spurgeon referred to it as "David's pocket book."
David not only rejoiced in God's Word, but he also used it as a personal safeguard against sin. He said to God, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (v.11). But David did more than memorize it. He saturated his heart with its truth, using these methods: He meditated on God's precepts, contemplated His ways, and delighted himself in the Lord's teachings (vv.15-16). Therefore he could say, "I will not forget Your Word" (v.16), for we don't easily forget what we treasure in our hearts.
When you read Our Daily Bread, take time to read the Scripture verses. The Bible, God's treasure chest, is the basis for all these articles. Use them to help you hunt for precious gems in God's Word. Like David, hide them in your heart so that you'll remember them and rejoice. —Joanie Yoder
My Bible to me is a treasure house,
Where I can always find
Whatever I need from day to day
For heart and soul and mind. —Anon.
Rich treasures of God's truth can be discovered in His Word.
daily bread
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
The Picture of Unity
By Dena J. Dyer
"This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."
"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..." (I Corinthians 12:13).
At the music theater where I perform on weekends, we end each concert with a gospel/patriotic section. During our rendition of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American," we ask the veterans to stand. It's always enlightening, and sometimes touching, to see just how many men and women have served our country in the armed forces.
One night, when Russ, our lead singer, asked the veterans to stand, I watched an elderly man struggle to his feet. Beside him, a young African-American woman stood. They smiled at their spouses and then turned around.
And I had the delightful experience of seeing the expressions on their faces when the two, very different individuals saw that their "next-seat neighbor" was a vet, too. They both cried out in joy, immediately hugging each other like they were best friends.
The sight brought tears to my eyes, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: "Dena, get a good look. This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."
We Christians are in a constant battle with the forces of evil in this world. May we daily remember that no matter how different our fighting comrades may be, we have all been bought with Jesus' blood, and He sees us all the same.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my life with your sacrifice on the cross. Help me to see my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you see them.
cbn
By Dena J. Dyer
"This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."
"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..." (I Corinthians 12:13).
At the music theater where I perform on weekends, we end each concert with a gospel/patriotic section. During our rendition of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American," we ask the veterans to stand. It's always enlightening, and sometimes touching, to see just how many men and women have served our country in the armed forces.
One night, when Russ, our lead singer, asked the veterans to stand, I watched an elderly man struggle to his feet. Beside him, a young African-American woman stood. They smiled at their spouses and then turned around.
And I had the delightful experience of seeing the expressions on their faces when the two, very different individuals saw that their "next-seat neighbor" was a vet, too. They both cried out in joy, immediately hugging each other like they were best friends.
The sight brought tears to my eyes, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: "Dena, get a good look. This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."
We Christians are in a constant battle with the forces of evil in this world. May we daily remember that no matter how different our fighting comrades may be, we have all been bought with Jesus' blood, and He sees us all the same.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my life with your sacrifice on the cross. Help me to see my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you see them.
cbn