RISK THE RAMP
2 Timothy 1:1-7
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
My son loved the bike ramp he got for his birthday. He was riding over it and "getting some good air," as he described it, but then it happened. He was "soaring" through the air, and when he landed, he flipped over the handlebars. Thank goodness for helmets!
He hasn't used his bike ramp since. The ramp sits on the sidewalk in front of our house, and when he rides by on his bike he pretends it's not even there. He's afraid of getting hurt again. I don't blame him.
We instinctively try to protect ourselves. If we touch something hot, we learn that it hurts and we don't touch it again. If a 1,500-pound horse throws us, we may leave the ranch and buy a dog.
Many times it makes sense to avoid things that are painful. Not always in relationships, however. Why? Because being in
relationship with others hurts sometimes. We're sinful and, intentionally or not, we occasionally hurt someone we love, or
someone we love hurts us.
"I'm giving up on relationships!" we might say after we've put our heart on the line and been rejected. We keep others from getting too close. We're terrified at the thought of loving again, because to love means to risk rejection and heart-wrenching pain again.
At some point, my son will need to try the bike ramp again. He'll have to risk getting hurt so that he can once again enjoy the thrill of "getting good air."
If you've been hurt in relationships (who hasn't?) and you've become cold and distant, think about what you're missing. Look at the relationship of Paul and Timothy and see the encouragement and intimacy they shared (2 Timothy 1:1-7). There's joy that comes from bonding with another person through love, commitment, and understanding.
Think about what you gain by opening your heart to others. You'll see it's worth the risk to try friendship again. --Allison Stevens
DESTINATION POINTS
* How do I respond to emotional pain in relationships?
* What can I learn about myself from past and present friendships? How am I acting out my faith in my relationships?
* In what ways might I be living too self-protectively by staying away from intimate friendships?
LINKS:
X Why? Z
http://www.christianitytoday.com/sports/features/athletes/articles/olympics-xwhyz.html
Friendship Beyond Color
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cr/9r1/9r1048.html
bottom line: Friendship helps refine us.
soul journey
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Today's scripture is John 6:63
"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
We've seen some tremendous medical breakthroughs in our generation. We've seen "miracle drugs" developed that can conquer many kinds of sickness and disease.
But, you know, in the 20-plus years I've been a believer, I've discovered another, much more effective, kind of medicine: the Word of God. There's never been a miracle drug that could equal it. God's medicine is the answer to every need. It is life. It is health. It is the power of God. And if you put it in your heart and act on it, you will be healed.
Sometimes people ask, "If God's medicine works every time, why are there so many believers who are still sick?" There are two reasons. Number one, because they don't take the time to plant the Word concerning healing deeply into their heart. And number two, because they don't do what that Word tells them to do.
Think of it like this: If a doctor prescribes medicine for you to swallow daily and you decide to rub it on your chest instead, that medicine isn't going to work for you. You have to follow the instructions and use it properly if you expect to get well, don't you? In the same way, if you read God's prescription for health and don't act on it, you won't reap any of its benefits.
Proverbs 4:22 says God's Words are life and health to you. So don't wait until you get sick to start using them. Start now. Begin to put God's Word in your heart in abundance and it will be hard for you to get sick. That Word within you will constantly be keeping God's healing power at work in you.
And don't worry. There's no limit to the amount of God's medicine you can take. You can't get an overdose. The more you take, the stronger you get.
Start growing strong today.
bible shack
"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
We've seen some tremendous medical breakthroughs in our generation. We've seen "miracle drugs" developed that can conquer many kinds of sickness and disease.
But, you know, in the 20-plus years I've been a believer, I've discovered another, much more effective, kind of medicine: the Word of God. There's never been a miracle drug that could equal it. God's medicine is the answer to every need. It is life. It is health. It is the power of God. And if you put it in your heart and act on it, you will be healed.
Sometimes people ask, "If God's medicine works every time, why are there so many believers who are still sick?" There are two reasons. Number one, because they don't take the time to plant the Word concerning healing deeply into their heart. And number two, because they don't do what that Word tells them to do.
Think of it like this: If a doctor prescribes medicine for you to swallow daily and you decide to rub it on your chest instead, that medicine isn't going to work for you. You have to follow the instructions and use it properly if you expect to get well, don't you? In the same way, if you read God's prescription for health and don't act on it, you won't reap any of its benefits.
Proverbs 4:22 says God's Words are life and health to you. So don't wait until you get sick to start using them. Start now. Begin to put God's Word in your heart in abundance and it will be hard for you to get sick. That Word within you will constantly be keeping God's healing power at work in you.
And don't worry. There's no limit to the amount of God's medicine you can take. You can't get an overdose. The more you take, the stronger you get.
Start growing strong today.
bible shack
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Today's scripture is Proverbs 17:14
"The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarrelling breaks out."
Throughout the Scriptures, God warns us about the danger of strife. Yet, it's still one of the most common problems among believers. We let it get into our homes, our work places, our churches...everywhere! Of course, we don't purposely let it in. We don't wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'm going to stir up some major strife today." We just inadvertently let it slip up on us one minor irritation at a time.
So, I urge you today to take a big stand against those little opportunities for strife. If you have a tendency to let things irritate you, decide to overcome that tendency. Arm yourself against them with the knowledge that this world isn't perfect, that there are people in it that aren't going to be nice to you. There are people who are going to stir you up and annoy youon purpose or by accident.
Make up your mind that, by the power of God, you're not going to let them get your peace. That peace is so important to your well-being. It will keep your body healthy. It will keep your relationships healthy. It will put you in a place where God can guide your steps and save you from some very grave mistakes.
bible shack
"The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarrelling breaks out."
Throughout the Scriptures, God warns us about the danger of strife. Yet, it's still one of the most common problems among believers. We let it get into our homes, our work places, our churches...everywhere! Of course, we don't purposely let it in. We don't wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'm going to stir up some major strife today." We just inadvertently let it slip up on us one minor irritation at a time.
So, I urge you today to take a big stand against those little opportunities for strife. If you have a tendency to let things irritate you, decide to overcome that tendency. Arm yourself against them with the knowledge that this world isn't perfect, that there are people in it that aren't going to be nice to you. There are people who are going to stir you up and annoy youon purpose or by accident.
Make up your mind that, by the power of God, you're not going to let them get your peace. That peace is so important to your well-being. It will keep your body healthy. It will keep your relationships healthy. It will put you in a place where God can guide your steps and save you from some very grave mistakes.
bible shack
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Graffiti
Read: Luke 12:13-21
One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15
Pastor and evangelist E. V. Hill went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 25, 2003. He was much sought after as a conference speaker, and few have gained the attention and respect of people from all levels of society as he did.
Many years ago, Pastor Hill was invited to speak in a suburban church of a large southern city in the United States. In the introduction to his message, Pastor Hill commented on the difference between the affluent suburb and the poor urban area where he ministered. "I know what's missing," he said. "You folks don't have any graffiti anywhere. I'd like to volunteer to provide some for you. I'll get a bucket of paint and walk through your neighborhood, writing this one word on your million-dollar homes and expensive European cars: temporary. That's it—temporary. None of it will last."
We enjoy and take care of what we have, and that's as it should be. But Jesus said we shouldn't be possessed by our possessions, for they won't last into eternity (Luke 12:15-21). A house is just a box in which to stay warm and dry; a car is a way to get us from one place to another. Since we can't take them with us when we die, we're far better off to view them as E. V. Hill did—temporary. —Dave Egner
The riches of this world are vain,
They vanish in a day;
But sweet the treasures of God's love—
They never pass away. —Bosch
The real measure of our wealth is what will be ours in eternity.
daily bread
Read: Luke 12:13-21
One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15
Pastor and evangelist E. V. Hill went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 25, 2003. He was much sought after as a conference speaker, and few have gained the attention and respect of people from all levels of society as he did.
Many years ago, Pastor Hill was invited to speak in a suburban church of a large southern city in the United States. In the introduction to his message, Pastor Hill commented on the difference between the affluent suburb and the poor urban area where he ministered. "I know what's missing," he said. "You folks don't have any graffiti anywhere. I'd like to volunteer to provide some for you. I'll get a bucket of paint and walk through your neighborhood, writing this one word on your million-dollar homes and expensive European cars: temporary. That's it—temporary. None of it will last."
We enjoy and take care of what we have, and that's as it should be. But Jesus said we shouldn't be possessed by our possessions, for they won't last into eternity (Luke 12:15-21). A house is just a box in which to stay warm and dry; a car is a way to get us from one place to another. Since we can't take them with us when we die, we're far better off to view them as E. V. Hill did—temporary. —Dave Egner
The riches of this world are vain,
They vanish in a day;
But sweet the treasures of God's love—
They never pass away. —Bosch
The real measure of our wealth is what will be ours in eternity.
daily bread
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
A Heart That Is Set Apart For God
By Martha Noebel
He'll use other people to get you on track -- in addition to dreams, visions, and that "still small voice" of God.
The Lord has been impressing upon me lately to consider writing an article on being "set apart for God." I asked a few of my co-workers what they thought it meant and here are a few of their thoughts.
To be set apart means that God has His hand on you for a specific purpose. He'll use other people to get you on track -- in addition to dreams, visions, and that "still small voice" of God. A scripture that would fit nicely with this is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Another shared that it means to be marked by God for a particular purpose. He guides our lives differently than it might have been had we not submitted to His call. And even though it may appear that we are not in ministry, we are marked by God to minister in the day to day living. Because He has set us apart, we are already walking into our destinies.
We will feel a pull away from people and things that distract us. Even though we may feel as if we are put on a shelf and forgotten, we have been set apart for the call of God on our lives. It is during these times that we will find ourselves spending quality time with God as He molds and makes us into His image. He will build character in us so that when it is time to go on the frontlines, He knows we will be ready. He will be able to trust us with what has been appointed for us to do. Jesus said, "Come out from among them and be ye separate." II Corinthians 6:17
Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen." It is as if we can picture Jesus standing in the middle of a very busy, dusty, Middle East marketplace not even aware of all the disruption going on around Him. Instead He is intently holding up and examining select pieces of fruit. After deciding on His choice, He gently places them one by one in a basket cradled in the crook of His arm, close to His side.
One sister in the Lord spoke of a lesson she learned with the fruit in her lunch bag. As she took out the beautiful, crimson-colored nectarine, she began to cut the fruit before she ate it. To her great surprise, she found that it was totally rotten on the inside. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to her and said that this fruit is symbolic of what some Christians are like. They are beautiful on the outside but the inside tells a different story.
She felt a check to make sure that she was clean before the Lord. God has chosen us to do a work for Him and we need to be "set apart", chosen to do a work for the King. He has anointed us and equipped us to be used for the advancement of His kingdom.
Yet another one shared with me that to be set apart means to be made holy, consecrated to Him. Christians are given a special role in life to serve Him. We are transferred from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We are strangers to this world's system. Instead of thinking and acting like the world, we are set apart from this more common way of viewing and living life and are given a different purpose, which is to serve God and become more like Jesus. You could say that we are separated from worldliness and given new purpose in Jesus to be used by God.
Personally, I agree with all of the above. In my 50 years of living on this earth, I have spent 43 years as a Christian. From the very beginning I have felt called to be separated unto God. My desires were to please God. I did not always succeed, but my heart was for God.
If I get off track, God always gently guides me back onto the path He has chosen for me. First Thessalonians 4 tells us that we should live a life pleasing to the Lord. In verse one Paul is encouraging us to live it even more than before. Verse 9 instructs us to love our Christian families and Christians around us. He exhorts us to love them even more.
First Thessalonians 5:6 says, "So we should not be like other people who are sleeping, but we should be alert and have self-control." Verse 8 says, " ... We should wear faith and love to protect us, and the hope of salvation should be our helmet."
Verses 13-22 give us these insights. Live in peace with each other, warn those who do not work, and encourage the people who are afraid. We should also help those who are weak, be patient with everyone, be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other.
Further instructions are to always be joyful, pray continually, give thanks for whatever happens, do not hold back the work of the Holy Spirit, do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant, but test everything. Keep what is good and stay away from everything that is evil.
Do you get the point by now? If we are set apart to do the work of the Lord, then we will not have time to get into trouble especially if our hearts are set on pleasing God. We should be working on being full of the fruit of the Spirit and telling people about the message of the Gospel of peace. That alone is a full time job.
And as Paul ends II Thessalonians, "Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."
cbn
By Martha Noebel
He'll use other people to get you on track -- in addition to dreams, visions, and that "still small voice" of God.
The Lord has been impressing upon me lately to consider writing an article on being "set apart for God." I asked a few of my co-workers what they thought it meant and here are a few of their thoughts.
To be set apart means that God has His hand on you for a specific purpose. He'll use other people to get you on track -- in addition to dreams, visions, and that "still small voice" of God. A scripture that would fit nicely with this is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Another shared that it means to be marked by God for a particular purpose. He guides our lives differently than it might have been had we not submitted to His call. And even though it may appear that we are not in ministry, we are marked by God to minister in the day to day living. Because He has set us apart, we are already walking into our destinies.
We will feel a pull away from people and things that distract us. Even though we may feel as if we are put on a shelf and forgotten, we have been set apart for the call of God on our lives. It is during these times that we will find ourselves spending quality time with God as He molds and makes us into His image. He will build character in us so that when it is time to go on the frontlines, He knows we will be ready. He will be able to trust us with what has been appointed for us to do. Jesus said, "Come out from among them and be ye separate." II Corinthians 6:17
Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen." It is as if we can picture Jesus standing in the middle of a very busy, dusty, Middle East marketplace not even aware of all the disruption going on around Him. Instead He is intently holding up and examining select pieces of fruit. After deciding on His choice, He gently places them one by one in a basket cradled in the crook of His arm, close to His side.
One sister in the Lord spoke of a lesson she learned with the fruit in her lunch bag. As she took out the beautiful, crimson-colored nectarine, she began to cut the fruit before she ate it. To her great surprise, she found that it was totally rotten on the inside. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to her and said that this fruit is symbolic of what some Christians are like. They are beautiful on the outside but the inside tells a different story.
She felt a check to make sure that she was clean before the Lord. God has chosen us to do a work for Him and we need to be "set apart", chosen to do a work for the King. He has anointed us and equipped us to be used for the advancement of His kingdom.
Yet another one shared with me that to be set apart means to be made holy, consecrated to Him. Christians are given a special role in life to serve Him. We are transferred from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We are strangers to this world's system. Instead of thinking and acting like the world, we are set apart from this more common way of viewing and living life and are given a different purpose, which is to serve God and become more like Jesus. You could say that we are separated from worldliness and given new purpose in Jesus to be used by God.
Personally, I agree with all of the above. In my 50 years of living on this earth, I have spent 43 years as a Christian. From the very beginning I have felt called to be separated unto God. My desires were to please God. I did not always succeed, but my heart was for God.
If I get off track, God always gently guides me back onto the path He has chosen for me. First Thessalonians 4 tells us that we should live a life pleasing to the Lord. In verse one Paul is encouraging us to live it even more than before. Verse 9 instructs us to love our Christian families and Christians around us. He exhorts us to love them even more.
First Thessalonians 5:6 says, "So we should not be like other people who are sleeping, but we should be alert and have self-control." Verse 8 says, " ... We should wear faith and love to protect us, and the hope of salvation should be our helmet."
Verses 13-22 give us these insights. Live in peace with each other, warn those who do not work, and encourage the people who are afraid. We should also help those who are weak, be patient with everyone, be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other.
Further instructions are to always be joyful, pray continually, give thanks for whatever happens, do not hold back the work of the Holy Spirit, do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant, but test everything. Keep what is good and stay away from everything that is evil.
Do you get the point by now? If we are set apart to do the work of the Lord, then we will not have time to get into trouble especially if our hearts are set on pleasing God. We should be working on being full of the fruit of the Spirit and telling people about the message of the Gospel of peace. That alone is a full time job.
And as Paul ends II Thessalonians, "Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."
cbn
Monday, February 23, 2004
THE WAITING GAME
Psalm 37:1-7
1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
I pace back and forth in front of my living room window, feeling helpless because there's nowhere to go. It has been 2 years since I graduated with a degree in computer science, and still--no job. Why is it that ever since I dedicated my life to God, everything has seemingly come to a standstill? At the moment, life has become a waiting game.
Still, in the midst of all my waiting, God is faithfully moving in my heart and life. He has done amazing things these last 2 years. During the first 12 months, and for the first time in my life, I opened the Bible to find out about Jesus.
During the second year, God placed me in a teaching credential program, which I have recently completed and am waiting patiently for my chance to teach at the elementary school level. All this happened, I believe, because I waited on the Lord.
King David believed in God's faithfulness when he declared, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:5-6).
Following his declaration, David said, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him" (v.7). When we wait on the Lord and delight in His ways, He will give us the desires of our heart (v.4).
In Old Testament times, God's people waited for the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. Next time you catch yourself pacing back and forth in front of your living room window, remember what God has already done in giving you His Son. And keep waiting and trusting Him. --Michael Chen (California)
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader
DESTINATION POINTS
* How will I slow down and see what God is doing in my life?
* When was the last time I stood still and waited for God's direction?
* What are some things I can do while I wait patiently for God?
LINKS:
When Life's On Hold
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/005/5.66.html
The Flight Of Your Life
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/8w3/8w3048.html
bottom line: To wait patiently for God is to trust.
soul journey
Psalm 37:1-7
1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
I pace back and forth in front of my living room window, feeling helpless because there's nowhere to go. It has been 2 years since I graduated with a degree in computer science, and still--no job. Why is it that ever since I dedicated my life to God, everything has seemingly come to a standstill? At the moment, life has become a waiting game.
Still, in the midst of all my waiting, God is faithfully moving in my heart and life. He has done amazing things these last 2 years. During the first 12 months, and for the first time in my life, I opened the Bible to find out about Jesus.
During the second year, God placed me in a teaching credential program, which I have recently completed and am waiting patiently for my chance to teach at the elementary school level. All this happened, I believe, because I waited on the Lord.
King David believed in God's faithfulness when he declared, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:5-6).
Following his declaration, David said, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him" (v.7). When we wait on the Lord and delight in His ways, He will give us the desires of our heart (v.4).
In Old Testament times, God's people waited for the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. Next time you catch yourself pacing back and forth in front of your living room window, remember what God has already done in giving you His Son. And keep waiting and trusting Him. --Michael Chen (California)
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader
DESTINATION POINTS
* How will I slow down and see what God is doing in my life?
* When was the last time I stood still and waited for God's direction?
* What are some things I can do while I wait patiently for God?
LINKS:
When Life's On Hold
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/005/5.66.html
The Flight Of Your Life
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/8w3/8w3048.html
bottom line: To wait patiently for God is to trust.
soul journey
Sunday, February 22, 2004
The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance
Be still, and know that I am God . . . ?Psalm 46:10
Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for?love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men?will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.
If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, "because you have kept My command to persevere . . ." ( Revelation 3:10 ).
my utmost for His highest
Be still, and know that I am God . . . ?Psalm 46:10
Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for?love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men?will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.
If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, "because you have kept My command to persevere . . ." ( Revelation 3:10 ).
my utmost for His highest
Saturday, February 21, 2004
LOSING YOUR IMAGINATION
Jude 20-25
20 Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-62) said, "The greatest single distinguishing feature of the power of God is that our imagination gets lost when thinking about it." During intense times of temptation inside and outside the faith community, we need to let our imaginations get lost as we think about the power of God.
According to Jude 24, God gives a powerful guarantee to the Jesus-follower as his or her soul journeys on planet Earth.
He guarantees His unfailing power to live the full life. There is no outside force that can snatch us from God's hands (John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39).
Why is this true? Because there is no one greater than the Father and no one greater than the Son. Hell and its forces and fury, demons and darkness are not powerful enough to remove us from the loving care of God. This power is very practical. It keeps us from stumbling under the great weight of temptation.
There are times when we're weak and feel like giving up. But His power upholds and sustains us when we stumble (Psalm 37:24). Sometimes we fall, not once, but again and again.
Guess what? Even when we fall many times, His power is able to get us back on our feet to continue our journey (Proverbs 24:16). When we're weak, God's power will actually keep us from falling into sin by not letting the temptation become too great, and by providing a way out so we won't give in (1 Corinthians 10:13).
You don't know what to do? Well, don't fear, because His power will help you do as you should (Romans 14:4). Pascal is right--our imagination gets lost when thinking about the power of God.
So, as we journey into intense times of temptations and face the dark forces of the flesh, the world, and the devil, let's lose ourselves in His power. --Marvin Williams
DESTINATION POINTS
* When was the last time I lost myself in the power of God?
* How strongly do I believe that God's power can keep me from stumbling?
* How will I depend more on God's power and less on my own to live out my faith?
LINKS:
How Do I Resist Temptation?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/ 2001/003/15.10.html
Run For Your Life!
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/8c1/8c1034.html
bottom line: His power is beyond our imagination.
soul journey
Jude 20-25
20 Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-62) said, "The greatest single distinguishing feature of the power of God is that our imagination gets lost when thinking about it." During intense times of temptation inside and outside the faith community, we need to let our imaginations get lost as we think about the power of God.
According to Jude 24, God gives a powerful guarantee to the Jesus-follower as his or her soul journeys on planet Earth.
He guarantees His unfailing power to live the full life. There is no outside force that can snatch us from God's hands (John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39).
Why is this true? Because there is no one greater than the Father and no one greater than the Son. Hell and its forces and fury, demons and darkness are not powerful enough to remove us from the loving care of God. This power is very practical. It keeps us from stumbling under the great weight of temptation.
There are times when we're weak and feel like giving up. But His power upholds and sustains us when we stumble (Psalm 37:24). Sometimes we fall, not once, but again and again.
Guess what? Even when we fall many times, His power is able to get us back on our feet to continue our journey (Proverbs 24:16). When we're weak, God's power will actually keep us from falling into sin by not letting the temptation become too great, and by providing a way out so we won't give in (1 Corinthians 10:13).
You don't know what to do? Well, don't fear, because His power will help you do as you should (Romans 14:4). Pascal is right--our imagination gets lost when thinking about the power of God.
So, as we journey into intense times of temptations and face the dark forces of the flesh, the world, and the devil, let's lose ourselves in His power. --Marvin Williams
DESTINATION POINTS
* When was the last time I lost myself in the power of God?
* How strongly do I believe that God's power can keep me from stumbling?
* How will I depend more on God's power and less on my own to live out my faith?
LINKS:
How Do I Resist Temptation?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/ 2001/003/15.10.html
Run For Your Life!
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/8c1/8c1034.html
bottom line: His power is beyond our imagination.
soul journey
Amazing!
Read: Mark 2:1-12
All were amazed and glorified God. —Mark 2:12
When Jesus healed a paralytic as proof of His authority to forgive the man's sins, the people who witnessed the event were amazed, and they "glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'" (Mark 2:12). More than a dozen times in the gospel of Mark, we read accounts of people reacting in a similar way to the words and works of Jesus.
The word translated as "amazed" or "astonished" carries the meaning of "being thrown into a state of surprise or fear, or both." We may sometimes feel that way when we encounter Jesus Christ as we read God's Word. Like the disciples, we may be amazed when we read of Jesus saying, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (10:23). So often we think that having lots of money would solve all our problems.
Those who saw a man delivered from a legion of demons reacted with amazement (5:20). But why? Did they think he was beyond God's power to save? Do we feel the same way when God saves certain people?
Jesus is not bound by our limitations or expectations. He speaks and acts with authority and wisdom far beyond ours. With reverence and awe, let's hear Jesus' words and look for the transforming touch of His mighty hand. —David McCasland
I bow, O Lord, before Your throne
In awed humility
When I reflect on who You are
And all You've done for me. —Sper
Never measure God's unlimited power by your limited expectations.
daily bread
Read: Mark 2:1-12
All were amazed and glorified God. —Mark 2:12
When Jesus healed a paralytic as proof of His authority to forgive the man's sins, the people who witnessed the event were amazed, and they "glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'" (Mark 2:12). More than a dozen times in the gospel of Mark, we read accounts of people reacting in a similar way to the words and works of Jesus.
The word translated as "amazed" or "astonished" carries the meaning of "being thrown into a state of surprise or fear, or both." We may sometimes feel that way when we encounter Jesus Christ as we read God's Word. Like the disciples, we may be amazed when we read of Jesus saying, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (10:23). So often we think that having lots of money would solve all our problems.
Those who saw a man delivered from a legion of demons reacted with amazement (5:20). But why? Did they think he was beyond God's power to save? Do we feel the same way when God saves certain people?
Jesus is not bound by our limitations or expectations. He speaks and acts with authority and wisdom far beyond ours. With reverence and awe, let's hear Jesus' words and look for the transforming touch of His mighty hand. —David McCasland
I bow, O Lord, before Your throne
In awed humility
When I reflect on who You are
And all You've done for me. —Sper
Never measure God's unlimited power by your limited expectations.
daily bread
Thursday, February 19, 2004
STAR SEARCH, ROUND ONE
Romans 12:6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to
his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing
mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
My young son and I were watching Star Search one evening. I was so impressed with the singers, dancers, and comedians that I started to imagine that I was doing all that wonderful stuff.
Half-kidding, half-fishing for a compliment, I asked my son, "Do you think I could make it on Star Search?" His face suddenly froze and he became strangely captivated by a piece of old popcorn underneath one of the sofa cushions. I was sure he didn't hear my question, so I leaned in closer, eyebrows up, half-smiling, and repeated, "Do you think I could make it on Star Search?" After another pause, he mumbled, "No. I think you'd only get one star. I just don't think they'd laugh at your jokes, and you're way too old to dance."
Okay, so I may not be Star Search material, but no matter how old I am or how "unglitzy" my talents are, I'm still made in the image of a creative God and I have special abilities that He's given me.
And so do you. God has given each of us certain gifts that He wants us to use for His glory (Romans 12:6). You may be a gifted musician, teacher, or preacher. Or your strengths may lie in organizing details, offering hospitality, or caring for the elderly.
Our gifts and talents are important. They show that our Creator is a vibrant, life-giving, imaginative God. But it's not the particular gift you have that matters as much as your willingness to be used by God and the extent to which you demonstrate childlike dependence on Him. He's given us His Holy Spirit, who enables us to serve. We must be open to various opportunities for ministry, even if it's not the most glamorous assignment. And we must be aware that it is only because of grace that we have anything at all to offer others.
Have you found a place to use God's gifts to you? --Allison Stevens
DESTINATION POINTS
* What gifts do I think I have?
* Am I currently using my gifts and talents in service to the Lord? If not, how can I begin to use them?
* How does using my gifts demonstrate my faith in God?
LINKS:
Spiritual Snowflakes
http://www.christianitytoday.com/free/connection/2001/conn0615.html
How Do You Live The Christian Life?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0702
Ministry In The Mix?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/newsletter/2003/bym30426.html
bottom line: Each person is gifted by God.
soul journey
Romans 12:6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to
his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing
mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
My young son and I were watching Star Search one evening. I was so impressed with the singers, dancers, and comedians that I started to imagine that I was doing all that wonderful stuff.
Half-kidding, half-fishing for a compliment, I asked my son, "Do you think I could make it on Star Search?" His face suddenly froze and he became strangely captivated by a piece of old popcorn underneath one of the sofa cushions. I was sure he didn't hear my question, so I leaned in closer, eyebrows up, half-smiling, and repeated, "Do you think I could make it on Star Search?" After another pause, he mumbled, "No. I think you'd only get one star. I just don't think they'd laugh at your jokes, and you're way too old to dance."
Okay, so I may not be Star Search material, but no matter how old I am or how "unglitzy" my talents are, I'm still made in the image of a creative God and I have special abilities that He's given me.
And so do you. God has given each of us certain gifts that He wants us to use for His glory (Romans 12:6). You may be a gifted musician, teacher, or preacher. Or your strengths may lie in organizing details, offering hospitality, or caring for the elderly.
Our gifts and talents are important. They show that our Creator is a vibrant, life-giving, imaginative God. But it's not the particular gift you have that matters as much as your willingness to be used by God and the extent to which you demonstrate childlike dependence on Him. He's given us His Holy Spirit, who enables us to serve. We must be open to various opportunities for ministry, even if it's not the most glamorous assignment. And we must be aware that it is only because of grace that we have anything at all to offer others.
Have you found a place to use God's gifts to you? --Allison Stevens
DESTINATION POINTS
* What gifts do I think I have?
* Am I currently using my gifts and talents in service to the Lord? If not, how can I begin to use them?
* How does using my gifts demonstrate my faith in God?
LINKS:
Spiritual Snowflakes
http://www.christianitytoday.com/free/connection/2001/conn0615.html
How Do You Live The Christian Life?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0702
Ministry In The Mix?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/newsletter/2003/bym30426.html
bottom line: Each person is gifted by God.
soul journey
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Taking the Initiative Against Despair
Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, "Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore." If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, "Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.
There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing—they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.
Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
my utmost for His highest
Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, "Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore." If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, "Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.
There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing—they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.
Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
my utmost for His highest
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Today's scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
"Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it--pays no attention to asuffered wrong."
Walking in love is good for your health. Did you know that? It's true! Medical science has proven it. Researchers have discovered that hostility produces stress that causes ulcers, tension headaches, and a
host of other ills.
Now when you think of hostility, you may think of the type of anger you feel when something serious happens. But according to the experts, that kind of thing isn't what causes the worst problems. It's the little things: when the dry cleaners ruin your favorite outfit, for example. Or when the cafeteria lady puts gravy on your mashed potatoes after you've specifically told her not to. Sound familiar? Just think how much stress you could avoid by being quick to forgive,
by living your life according to 1 Corinthians 13 and not counting up the evils done to you. Imagine physical and emotional benefits of living like that!
Remember: It doesn't take a medical miracle to turn your life around. All it takes is a decision to yield to the force of love. Do it today!
bible shack
"Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it--pays no attention to asuffered wrong."
Walking in love is good for your health. Did you know that? It's true! Medical science has proven it. Researchers have discovered that hostility produces stress that causes ulcers, tension headaches, and a
host of other ills.
Now when you think of hostility, you may think of the type of anger you feel when something serious happens. But according to the experts, that kind of thing isn't what causes the worst problems. It's the little things: when the dry cleaners ruin your favorite outfit, for example. Or when the cafeteria lady puts gravy on your mashed potatoes after you've specifically told her not to. Sound familiar? Just think how much stress you could avoid by being quick to forgive,
by living your life according to 1 Corinthians 13 and not counting up the evils done to you. Imagine physical and emotional benefits of living like that!
Remember: It doesn't take a medical miracle to turn your life around. All it takes is a decision to yield to the force of love. Do it today!
bible shack
Monday, February 16, 2004
BITTERSWEET
Romans 5:1-8
1 Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A lot of people don't like Valentine's Day. Instead of flowers, poems, and "our song," it brings back haunting memories of being dumped and feeling all wrong. Some people dislike this day so much they've invented an alternative version of the little candy hearts with the cute romantic messages.
Instead of saying "Love ya" and "Heartthrob," BitterSweets(tm) offer sentiments like TIME 2 DUMP U, TRADIN YOU IN, and
RETURN MY CDs. As you might expect, this candy with an attitude is touted on the Web site "despair.com."
In a world where Christians don't seem to be immune from the travail of trying to find the right person, how are we supposed to cope with the unreality of Valentine's Day?
I wish I had a formula--three points and a poem that would wrap it up for everyone so we could all move ahead confidently in our romantic pursuits and relationships. What comes to mind is a statement I heard many years ago: "Happiness in life and marriage is more a matter of becoming the right person than of finding the right person."
If that's true, then every Valentine's Day, with or without a significant other, can be another step along the road of becoming who God wants us to be. Romans 5:1-8 describes a process that begins with suffering and leads to hope. It is repeated over and over during our journey through life. The key element is God's love, which was demonstrated when Jesus died for us on the cross (v.8) and which the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts (v.5).
Whether the experiences of life make me bitter or better depends a lot on my goals for each day. If I'm looking for someone to make me happy, today is an obstacle. If I'm seeking to become who Jesus wants me to be, today is an opportunity to move ahead.
I hope we all find someone to love who loves us in return. In the meantime, becoming the right person is something we can all work on today. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What is one important step I could take today toward becoming "the right person"?
* Have I accepted God's love in Jesus and experienced it in my heart?
* How will I celebrate Valentine's Day?
LINKS:
The History Of Valentine's Day
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/history.html
The Way We Need Love
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/newsletter/2003/bym30215.html
bottom line: Loving Jesus keeps us from becoming bitter.
soul journey
Romans 5:1-8
1 Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A lot of people don't like Valentine's Day. Instead of flowers, poems, and "our song," it brings back haunting memories of being dumped and feeling all wrong. Some people dislike this day so much they've invented an alternative version of the little candy hearts with the cute romantic messages.
Instead of saying "Love ya" and "Heartthrob," BitterSweets(tm) offer sentiments like TIME 2 DUMP U, TRADIN YOU IN, and
RETURN MY CDs. As you might expect, this candy with an attitude is touted on the Web site "despair.com."
In a world where Christians don't seem to be immune from the travail of trying to find the right person, how are we supposed to cope with the unreality of Valentine's Day?
I wish I had a formula--three points and a poem that would wrap it up for everyone so we could all move ahead confidently in our romantic pursuits and relationships. What comes to mind is a statement I heard many years ago: "Happiness in life and marriage is more a matter of becoming the right person than of finding the right person."
If that's true, then every Valentine's Day, with or without a significant other, can be another step along the road of becoming who God wants us to be. Romans 5:1-8 describes a process that begins with suffering and leads to hope. It is repeated over and over during our journey through life. The key element is God's love, which was demonstrated when Jesus died for us on the cross (v.8) and which the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts (v.5).
Whether the experiences of life make me bitter or better depends a lot on my goals for each day. If I'm looking for someone to make me happy, today is an obstacle. If I'm seeking to become who Jesus wants me to be, today is an opportunity to move ahead.
I hope we all find someone to love who loves us in return. In the meantime, becoming the right person is something we can all work on today. --Dave McCasland
DESTINATION POINTS
* What is one important step I could take today toward becoming "the right person"?
* Have I accepted God's love in Jesus and experienced it in my heart?
* How will I celebrate Valentine's Day?
LINKS:
The History Of Valentine's Day
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/history.html
The Way We Need Love
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/newsletter/2003/bym30215.html
bottom line: Loving Jesus keeps us from becoming bitter.
soul journey
Sunday, February 15, 2004
THE DEATH OF ROMANCE
[An excerpt from my wedding address to my son Eric and his bride Angie.]
1 John 4:7-11
7 Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
"You have now reached the time when your romance must die. In fact, it is necessary for romance to die in order that love
may live and grow. Think of it this way: Your wedding marks the day when you plant the seed of romance. Romance is important, but it is not love itself; it is the seed of love--the seed of married love.
"Romance is a collection of pleasant emotions that come naturally with the anticipation of spending life together with the one you love. It is healthy and natural for you to have visions about a house in the suburbs, cuddly babies, and walks in the autumn woods with your perfectly lovable children skipping through the leaves.
"Yes, those times do indeed come--but they are mostly unplanned. And the moment will come when the pleasant emotions of romance are scattered by the winds of reality: burdensome car payments, orthodontist bills, sick babies wailing in the night, children fighting on the lawn, and quarrels between the two of you. Then that towering flame of romance will dwindle--and sometimes even appear to be gone. The one you say you love has become unlovely. For a fleeting moment you allow the thought to cross your mind, 'Do I really love him--Do I really love her--anymore? Is our
love gone?'
"Don't you believe it! It is at that moment when romance finally germinates into genuine love and begins to grow. On those days when it seems that nothing is left of your relationship but commitment, that is when God can teach you the great lesson that few people seem to understand: Love is not an emotion; it is an act of the will. You are not declaring to everyone present today that you are 'in love,' but that you are now making a willful commitment 'to love.'
"Remember, your marriage can never be threatened by the loss of love, only by the loss of your personal commitment to love." --Dean Ohlman
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I fallen for the myth that love is an emotion?
* If I really believed love is an act of the will and not a state of mind, how would my relationships be different?
* How is the love God expects me to have for my spouse any different from the love He wants me to have for anyone else?
LINKS:
Love's Time Line
http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp8m2/8m2066.html
Love: As Seen On TV
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2003/001/1.38.html
What Is Real Love?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0714
How Can I Know Who To Marry?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0803
bottom line: Romance is merely the spark of love's flame.
soul journey
[An excerpt from my wedding address to my son Eric and his bride Angie.]
1 John 4:7-11
7 Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
"You have now reached the time when your romance must die. In fact, it is necessary for romance to die in order that love
may live and grow. Think of it this way: Your wedding marks the day when you plant the seed of romance. Romance is important, but it is not love itself; it is the seed of love--the seed of married love.
"Romance is a collection of pleasant emotions that come naturally with the anticipation of spending life together with the one you love. It is healthy and natural for you to have visions about a house in the suburbs, cuddly babies, and walks in the autumn woods with your perfectly lovable children skipping through the leaves.
"Yes, those times do indeed come--but they are mostly unplanned. And the moment will come when the pleasant emotions of romance are scattered by the winds of reality: burdensome car payments, orthodontist bills, sick babies wailing in the night, children fighting on the lawn, and quarrels between the two of you. Then that towering flame of romance will dwindle--and sometimes even appear to be gone. The one you say you love has become unlovely. For a fleeting moment you allow the thought to cross your mind, 'Do I really love him--Do I really love her--anymore? Is our
love gone?'
"Don't you believe it! It is at that moment when romance finally germinates into genuine love and begins to grow. On those days when it seems that nothing is left of your relationship but commitment, that is when God can teach you the great lesson that few people seem to understand: Love is not an emotion; it is an act of the will. You are not declaring to everyone present today that you are 'in love,' but that you are now making a willful commitment 'to love.'
"Remember, your marriage can never be threatened by the loss of love, only by the loss of your personal commitment to love." --Dean Ohlman
DESTINATION POINTS
* Have I fallen for the myth that love is an emotion?
* If I really believed love is an act of the will and not a state of mind, how would my relationships be different?
* How is the love God expects me to have for my spouse any different from the love He wants me to have for anyone else?
LINKS:
Love's Time Line
http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp8m2/8m2066.html
Love: As Seen On TV
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2003/001/1.38.html
What Is Real Love?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0714
How Can I Know Who To Marry?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0803
bottom line: Romance is merely the spark of love's flame.
soul journey
Saturday, February 14, 2004
The Father's Heart
By Martha Noebel
God's heart is so big for us. His love is so awesome. He wants only what is best for us.
I would like to take a few moments to share with you about your Father's heart toward you. Yes, I am referring to your Heavenly Father.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).
That's a lot of love. God loves us so much. The sins of this world have lead us to places we should not be going, doing things we should not be doing, and encouraging us to say things we should not be saying. But God's love is so great that no matter what the sin, He sent His son to die for us so that we can be forgiven and made whole. Someone had to pay the price; blood had to be given as a sacrifice. God sent Jesus, the only sinless one, to be the payment for our sins. He did this by giving His life as a ransom for our sins.
We have seen great fathers in this world. The story of the father who pushed, pulled, and carried his son through a triathlon is a great example. He swam 2.5 miles, cycled 125 miles through hot lava fields, and concluded by running 26.2 miles with his son. You see, he loved his handicapped son so much. His son's dream was to be in this contest. The father's heart was to meet that need for and with his son. No, they were not in first place or even second place, but they did finish just under the deadline. The father ran the race with the son.
Our Heavenly Father is running the race with us. We are all in a race. If we have asked Jesus, God's Son, into our hearts and to forgive us our sins, then we are pressing on to win the prize.
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
I also was thinking about the pastor of Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. Their pastor certainly showed the heart of a father for these two young women as they were held prisoners in Afghanistan. He went overseas to help in any way he could. I think he was there for several weeks praying for them and trying to assist the best way he could. I was touched as I heard that story. He showed a very big heart for these two missionary women.
God's heart is so big for us. His love is so awesome. He wants only what is best for us. Perhaps this Valentine's Day we can think of not only the ones that love us here, but also of the Father in heaven that has a very big heart for us. He cares, wants us to be healed, cleansed from our sins, in right relationship with Him and others around us, and on our way to heaven. He has a wonderful place for us to go.
I pray that you can feel His heart of love for you today -- the heart of a true loving, gentle, and kind Father.
cbn
By Martha Noebel
God's heart is so big for us. His love is so awesome. He wants only what is best for us.
I would like to take a few moments to share with you about your Father's heart toward you. Yes, I am referring to your Heavenly Father.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).
That's a lot of love. God loves us so much. The sins of this world have lead us to places we should not be going, doing things we should not be doing, and encouraging us to say things we should not be saying. But God's love is so great that no matter what the sin, He sent His son to die for us so that we can be forgiven and made whole. Someone had to pay the price; blood had to be given as a sacrifice. God sent Jesus, the only sinless one, to be the payment for our sins. He did this by giving His life as a ransom for our sins.
We have seen great fathers in this world. The story of the father who pushed, pulled, and carried his son through a triathlon is a great example. He swam 2.5 miles, cycled 125 miles through hot lava fields, and concluded by running 26.2 miles with his son. You see, he loved his handicapped son so much. His son's dream was to be in this contest. The father's heart was to meet that need for and with his son. No, they were not in first place or even second place, but they did finish just under the deadline. The father ran the race with the son.
Our Heavenly Father is running the race with us. We are all in a race. If we have asked Jesus, God's Son, into our hearts and to forgive us our sins, then we are pressing on to win the prize.
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
I also was thinking about the pastor of Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. Their pastor certainly showed the heart of a father for these two young women as they were held prisoners in Afghanistan. He went overseas to help in any way he could. I think he was there for several weeks praying for them and trying to assist the best way he could. I was touched as I heard that story. He showed a very big heart for these two missionary women.
God's heart is so big for us. His love is so awesome. He wants only what is best for us. Perhaps this Valentine's Day we can think of not only the ones that love us here, but also of the Father in heaven that has a very big heart for us. He cares, wants us to be healed, cleansed from our sins, in right relationship with Him and others around us, and on our way to heaven. He has a wonderful place for us to go.
I pray that you can feel His heart of love for you today -- the heart of a true loving, gentle, and kind Father.
cbn
Today's scripture is Isaiah 55:11
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Did you know that the battleground for the problem you're facing right now is in your mind and on your lips? If you'll hit the devil with the Word and cast the care of the situation over on God, you'll win. Remember this: It's the Word that does the work, not the one holding onto it. It'll work for anybody who'll put it to work. It'll work for you just like it worked for Jesus when He walked the earth. He told Satan, "It is written!" No matter what the devil tries to tell you, refuse to let go of the Word. Tell him what is written concerning your situation. Let the Word fight its own fight. It'll whip the devil every time.
bibleshack
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Did you know that the battleground for the problem you're facing right now is in your mind and on your lips? If you'll hit the devil with the Word and cast the care of the situation over on God, you'll win. Remember this: It's the Word that does the work, not the one holding onto it. It'll work for anybody who'll put it to work. It'll work for you just like it worked for Jesus when He walked the earth. He told Satan, "It is written!" No matter what the devil tries to tell you, refuse to let go of the Word. Tell him what is written concerning your situation. Let the Word fight its own fight. It'll whip the devil every time.
bibleshack
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Are You Listening to God?
They said to Moses, ’You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’ `
—Exodus 20:19
We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them—not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.
"You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . ." We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, "Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth."
Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, "Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?" This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.
my utmost for His highest
They said to Moses, ’You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’ `
—Exodus 20:19
We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them—not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.
"You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . ." We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, "Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth."
Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, "Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?" This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.
my utmost for His highest
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Through Walls of Flames
By Cheri Cowell
If what we count as most precious survives a fire (our love for others, our relationships, and our faith) then we will have received our reward.
As we watched the video news footage coming from the fires in California, all of us had heavy hearts. We found ourselves asking, What would we do? What would we take of our possessions if forced to flee? I found myself wondering if I could handle loosing everything.
I, like you, and those who lost their homes, have so many special things. I have gifts from friends no longer here, family heirlooms never able to be replaced, and little things only I would recognize as priceless. It would be heartbreaking to loose all these things. I cannot comprehend the loss, but I do know that God understands. He even tells us about surviving a fire in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have -- Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames. (NLT)
Paul states that as Christians we are building upon a solid foundation, Jesus Christ. But what are we using as our building materials, he asks? Are we more concerned with what we look like, who we please, how we feel, or what we have? What are the types of things we use to build up our self-esteems or as building blocks for our standing in the community we live?
Paul tells us there will be a time of testing when our true motives will be revealed. Now, please don't read into this that God sent the fires in California to test those people. But God can use this tragedy to help us test ourselves. We are to look at our own building blocks to see if we have used inferior materials in building our homes.
This week, as I've been enjoying my decorated-for-Fall home, I found myself asking these questions … When I look at my possessions am I more concerned with loosing them than I am about building my life with God? If I were to loose everything and still have my relationship with God, would I count myself as blessed? Would I be happy?
A fire will reveal our true priorities. If what we count as most precious survives a fire (our love for others, our relationships, and our faith) then we will have received our reward. What greater reward then to stand the test of flames and come through them still holding your greatest possessions?
cbn
By Cheri Cowell
If what we count as most precious survives a fire (our love for others, our relationships, and our faith) then we will have received our reward.
As we watched the video news footage coming from the fires in California, all of us had heavy hearts. We found ourselves asking, What would we do? What would we take of our possessions if forced to flee? I found myself wondering if I could handle loosing everything.
I, like you, and those who lost their homes, have so many special things. I have gifts from friends no longer here, family heirlooms never able to be replaced, and little things only I would recognize as priceless. It would be heartbreaking to loose all these things. I cannot comprehend the loss, but I do know that God understands. He even tells us about surviving a fire in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have -- Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames. (NLT)
Paul states that as Christians we are building upon a solid foundation, Jesus Christ. But what are we using as our building materials, he asks? Are we more concerned with what we look like, who we please, how we feel, or what we have? What are the types of things we use to build up our self-esteems or as building blocks for our standing in the community we live?
Paul tells us there will be a time of testing when our true motives will be revealed. Now, please don't read into this that God sent the fires in California to test those people. But God can use this tragedy to help us test ourselves. We are to look at our own building blocks to see if we have used inferior materials in building our homes.
This week, as I've been enjoying my decorated-for-Fall home, I found myself asking these questions … When I look at my possessions am I more concerned with loosing them than I am about building my life with God? If I were to loose everything and still have my relationship with God, would I count myself as blessed? Would I be happy?
A fire will reveal our true priorities. If what we count as most precious survives a fire (our love for others, our relationships, and our faith) then we will have received our reward. What greater reward then to stand the test of flames and come through them still holding your greatest possessions?
cbn
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
my utmost for His highest
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.
The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.
One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
my utmost for His highest
Monday, February 09, 2004
PRAISE SETS
Ephesians 1:3-12
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. 7 In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. . . . 11 In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
When I attended a conference on worship arts in Chicago, I learned a term that was new to me: praise sets.
A praise set is a worship package designed to bring the congregation into a session of genuine adoration and praise to God. The length varies, and the forms may range from Scripture reading and dramatization to praise choruses with a theme, solos, a worship band, testimonies, and even video cuts. But the purpose is always the same--to encourage people to engage with their heart and mind in worship of God.
Ephesians 1 can also be seen as a praise set--a biblical outpouring of praise. Note that the word praise appears three times in verses 1 through 12. Verse 3 praises God for all the heavenly blessings He has given us. Verses 5 and 6 say that God "predestined us to be adopted as His sons . . . to the praise of His glorious grace." The purpose for our being brought into the family of God is to praise and glorify God's grace.
Verse 12 indicates that the Christians of Paul's day were brought to faith as anthems of praise to God for the purpose of bringing Him glory. They were among the first believers in Jesus Christ, the forerunners of every follower of Jesus.
Paul concluded Ephesians 1 with one of the most magnificent "praise sets" ever written. Read verses 15 through 23 aloud. Sense the music of these words. Feel them rise to a crescendo of praise to the Father in heaven and to the Lord Jesus. The final picture is of Jesus as Head of the church, the fullness of the Father who "fills everything in every way" (v.23).
Read Ephesians 1 slowly. Read it aloud. Meditate on it. Use it to offer jubilant praise to your loving Father and living Savior. --Dave Egner
DESTINATION POINTS
* In what ways do I engage in worship during church services? When do I "shut down"?
* When was the last time I felt that I was truly worshiping God in my personal time with Him?
LINKS:
What Is Worship?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0902
bottom line: Worship is all about God.
soul journey
Ephesians 1:3-12
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. 7 In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. . . . 11 In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
When I attended a conference on worship arts in Chicago, I learned a term that was new to me: praise sets.
A praise set is a worship package designed to bring the congregation into a session of genuine adoration and praise to God. The length varies, and the forms may range from Scripture reading and dramatization to praise choruses with a theme, solos, a worship band, testimonies, and even video cuts. But the purpose is always the same--to encourage people to engage with their heart and mind in worship of God.
Ephesians 1 can also be seen as a praise set--a biblical outpouring of praise. Note that the word praise appears three times in verses 1 through 12. Verse 3 praises God for all the heavenly blessings He has given us. Verses 5 and 6 say that God "predestined us to be adopted as His sons . . . to the praise of His glorious grace." The purpose for our being brought into the family of God is to praise and glorify God's grace.
Verse 12 indicates that the Christians of Paul's day were brought to faith as anthems of praise to God for the purpose of bringing Him glory. They were among the first believers in Jesus Christ, the forerunners of every follower of Jesus.
Paul concluded Ephesians 1 with one of the most magnificent "praise sets" ever written. Read verses 15 through 23 aloud. Sense the music of these words. Feel them rise to a crescendo of praise to the Father in heaven and to the Lord Jesus. The final picture is of Jesus as Head of the church, the fullness of the Father who "fills everything in every way" (v.23).
Read Ephesians 1 slowly. Read it aloud. Meditate on it. Use it to offer jubilant praise to your loving Father and living Savior. --Dave Egner
DESTINATION POINTS
* In what ways do I engage in worship during church services? When do I "shut down"?
* When was the last time I felt that I was truly worshiping God in my personal time with Him?
LINKS:
What Is Worship?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0902
bottom line: Worship is all about God.
soul journey
Sunday, February 08, 2004
CLEAN UP!
John 2:13-17
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned the tables. 16 To those who sold doves He said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father's house into a market!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for Your house will consume Me."
Which describes your bedroom: clothes in piles on the floor, empty fast-food containers and books everywhere? Or the picture of pure organization?
If the first picture is your room, then you are probably a guy. Forget stereotypes. Eighty percent are just this side of livable. Now if you're married, I'll bet your room is a lot cleaner than it used to be!
Jesus liked to keep "His place" clean, so to speak. And when a lot of buying and selling started taking place in the temple, He cleaned house.
The area where all of this commerce commenced was the Court of the Gentiles. Non-Jews could go no farther into the temple, no closer to God's presence. An area that was supposed to be used for teaching had become a spiritual mini-mall, and Jesus took care of business.
Jesus wants to "clean house" in our temple too--both individually and collectively. The Bible refers to each Christian as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19) and to all Christians as living stones of a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus wants both temples to stay clean.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' authority to run everyone off, He pointed ahead to His resurrection: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19). (The Pharisees thought He was talking about the literal temple.)
When it comes to cleaning our temple, we can be like the Pharisees. We think in outside terms: We promise to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church or Bible study more.
But God wants to cleanse our temple on the inside--changing who we are instead of merely what we do. Only His Holy Spirit can do that.
That unmade bed and pile of dirty clothes is still your responsibility. But get God involved in cleaning your "temple." He knows how to get things in order. Pray and repent of the unclean things piling up in your heart. --John Carvalho
DESTINATION POINTS
*When was the last time I allowed God to "cleanse my temple"?
* What is the first thing He would address today? * Lord, only You can renew me through Your Holy Spirit. I open my life to You and invite You to cleanse me and forgive me of my sinful ways. Strengthen my faith to follow You.
LINKS:
Free In The Spirit
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0307
bottom line: The Holy Spirit helps us to see the dirt inside.
soul journey
John 2:13-17
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned the tables. 16 To those who sold doves He said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father's house into a market!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for Your house will consume Me."
Which describes your bedroom: clothes in piles on the floor, empty fast-food containers and books everywhere? Or the picture of pure organization?
If the first picture is your room, then you are probably a guy. Forget stereotypes. Eighty percent are just this side of livable. Now if you're married, I'll bet your room is a lot cleaner than it used to be!
Jesus liked to keep "His place" clean, so to speak. And when a lot of buying and selling started taking place in the temple, He cleaned house.
The area where all of this commerce commenced was the Court of the Gentiles. Non-Jews could go no farther into the temple, no closer to God's presence. An area that was supposed to be used for teaching had become a spiritual mini-mall, and Jesus took care of business.
Jesus wants to "clean house" in our temple too--both individually and collectively. The Bible refers to each Christian as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19) and to all Christians as living stones of a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus wants both temples to stay clean.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' authority to run everyone off, He pointed ahead to His resurrection: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19). (The Pharisees thought He was talking about the literal temple.)
When it comes to cleaning our temple, we can be like the Pharisees. We think in outside terms: We promise to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church or Bible study more.
But God wants to cleanse our temple on the inside--changing who we are instead of merely what we do. Only His Holy Spirit can do that.
That unmade bed and pile of dirty clothes is still your responsibility. But get God involved in cleaning your "temple." He knows how to get things in order. Pray and repent of the unclean things piling up in your heart. --John Carvalho
DESTINATION POINTS
*When was the last time I allowed God to "cleanse my temple"?
* What is the first thing He would address today? * Lord, only You can renew me through Your Holy Spirit. I open my life to You and invite You to cleanse me and forgive me of my sinful ways. Strengthen my faith to follow You.
LINKS:
Free In The Spirit
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0307
bottom line: The Holy Spirit helps us to see the dirt inside.
soul journey
Saturday, February 07, 2004
WHAT ARE YOU HOOKED UP TO?
Why Christians Doubt Sun
Ephesians 1:15-21
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power
is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
My son Steve loves to putter around with his car. He's "tricking it out," as he says, with all kinds of lights and extra features. There's neon under the dash and lights on the license plate bolts and even a thin line of lights on the gearshift boot.
One day he was moving some wires around to hook up a CB radio. As he worked on it, I suggested that I heard a noise that didn't sound right. Kind of a humming noise. Steve (who is aware that I know as little about cars as he knows about being a writer) assured me the sound was outside. He's the expert, so I figured it was the neighbor's bug zapper or something.
A couple of hours later, he asked me to go out and check out his latest gadgets with him. When he went to flick the toggles and light things up, nothing happened. That humming sound had been from something Steve had accidentally hot-wired and it had run down the battery. He had connected a wire to the wrong location, and it cost him power.
Has that ever happened to you?
I'm not talking about cars now. I'm talking about you. And me. Sometimes we get hooked up to the wrong things in life, and all they do is zap our power and run our spiritual batteries down to nothing.
For instance, what happens when we hook up our wires to a spirit of arguing and complaining. That'll wear us down in
a hurry. Or if we chase after things that are less-than-godly. The power drain on our spiritual life when that happens is
sudden and devastating.
Sadly, we sometimes hook up to things that zap our power instead of to God's "incomparably great power." That's the power that flowed through Jesus and raised Him from the dead. That power in our lives is available, the Bible says. It is "like the working of [God's] mighty strength" (Ephesians 1:19-20), and it will never leave us powerless.
Are you hooked up to Jesus through prayer, fellowship, and the powerful teachings of the Bible? If not, your battery will
run down. --Dave Branon
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I really make an effort to have my energy come from God--or am I hooked up to about 20 other things?
* What specific things can I do that will help me understand and experience the power of God?
* What has happened to me that I know came about only through God's power?
bottom line: Our power is finite; God's power is infinite!
soul journey
Why Christians Doubt Sun
Ephesians 1:15-21
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power
is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
My son Steve loves to putter around with his car. He's "tricking it out," as he says, with all kinds of lights and extra features. There's neon under the dash and lights on the license plate bolts and even a thin line of lights on the gearshift boot.
One day he was moving some wires around to hook up a CB radio. As he worked on it, I suggested that I heard a noise that didn't sound right. Kind of a humming noise. Steve (who is aware that I know as little about cars as he knows about being a writer) assured me the sound was outside. He's the expert, so I figured it was the neighbor's bug zapper or something.
A couple of hours later, he asked me to go out and check out his latest gadgets with him. When he went to flick the toggles and light things up, nothing happened. That humming sound had been from something Steve had accidentally hot-wired and it had run down the battery. He had connected a wire to the wrong location, and it cost him power.
Has that ever happened to you?
I'm not talking about cars now. I'm talking about you. And me. Sometimes we get hooked up to the wrong things in life, and all they do is zap our power and run our spiritual batteries down to nothing.
For instance, what happens when we hook up our wires to a spirit of arguing and complaining. That'll wear us down in
a hurry. Or if we chase after things that are less-than-godly. The power drain on our spiritual life when that happens is
sudden and devastating.
Sadly, we sometimes hook up to things that zap our power instead of to God's "incomparably great power." That's the power that flowed through Jesus and raised Him from the dead. That power in our lives is available, the Bible says. It is "like the working of [God's] mighty strength" (Ephesians 1:19-20), and it will never leave us powerless.
Are you hooked up to Jesus through prayer, fellowship, and the powerful teachings of the Bible? If not, your battery will
run down. --Dave Branon
DESTINATION POINTS
* Do I really make an effort to have my energy come from God--or am I hooked up to about 20 other things?
* What specific things can I do that will help me understand and experience the power of God?
* What has happened to me that I know came about only through God's power?
bottom line: Our power is finite; God's power is infinite!
soul journey
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering?
If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all —Philippians 2:17
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, "I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ’Well done.’ "
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a "doormat" under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased . . ." ( Philippians 4:12 ). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket-to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.
my utmost for His highest
If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all —Philippians 2:17
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, "I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ’Well done.’ "
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a "doormat" under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased . . ." ( Philippians 4:12 ). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket-to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.
my utmost for His highest
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Priorities… Priorities…
By Ruth Waff
"Help me to change my priorities so You will know how important You are to me. I know You don't condemn me, but I sure want to please You."
Life is interesting… God has a way of showing us things in the midst of daily life experiences.
Chatting online with a friend, I said, "we should get together to do something fun. Play a game, sing, or whatever. We haven't done that in a long time." She jokingly responded, "Fun? What is that? Who has time for fun anyway?" Nothing came out of it. No fun… no time.
In my mind I thought… we make time for the things we really want to do. When it comes down to it, it is all a matter of priorities. In all honesty, I felt a little hurt. If we can't make time for a friend every now and then, how important is really the friendship?
Later in the day, the thought popped back into my mind. I said, "Lord, I need to have fun sometimes. Life is so intense with work and obligations. I need a friend who can spend time with me."
That's when I heard the words as clear as day: "SO DO I." It was a very unexpected reply. Suddenly I realized that I keep giving the Lord the same excuses for not spending quality time with Him. I'm too busy. The day flies by and suddenly it is too late to take some real quiet time. In the morning it gets too rushed too often…
"Priorities, priorities… if I'm as important to you as you claim, you would want to spend time with Me a whole lot more."
So there it goes, I stand corrected by my own measuring rule. I'm sorry Lord. I must really hurt you a lot with my constant excuses. Help me to change my priorities so You will know how important You are to me. I know You don't condemn me, but I sure want to please You.
Once again, in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle, the Lord took time to teach me something. Now is time for action. Join me; let us get our priorities straight. We can use the ultimate guide for priority setting: God's Word. Listen to Jesus saying…
Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends (Revelation 3:20 NLT).
cbn
By Ruth Waff
"Help me to change my priorities so You will know how important You are to me. I know You don't condemn me, but I sure want to please You."
Life is interesting… God has a way of showing us things in the midst of daily life experiences.
Chatting online with a friend, I said, "we should get together to do something fun. Play a game, sing, or whatever. We haven't done that in a long time." She jokingly responded, "Fun? What is that? Who has time for fun anyway?" Nothing came out of it. No fun… no time.
In my mind I thought… we make time for the things we really want to do. When it comes down to it, it is all a matter of priorities. In all honesty, I felt a little hurt. If we can't make time for a friend every now and then, how important is really the friendship?
Later in the day, the thought popped back into my mind. I said, "Lord, I need to have fun sometimes. Life is so intense with work and obligations. I need a friend who can spend time with me."
That's when I heard the words as clear as day: "SO DO I." It was a very unexpected reply. Suddenly I realized that I keep giving the Lord the same excuses for not spending quality time with Him. I'm too busy. The day flies by and suddenly it is too late to take some real quiet time. In the morning it gets too rushed too often…
"Priorities, priorities… if I'm as important to you as you claim, you would want to spend time with Me a whole lot more."
So there it goes, I stand corrected by my own measuring rule. I'm sorry Lord. I must really hurt you a lot with my constant excuses. Help me to change my priorities so You will know how important You are to me. I know You don't condemn me, but I sure want to please You.
Once again, in the midst of the daily hustle and bustle, the Lord took time to teach me something. Now is time for action. Join me; let us get our priorities straight. We can use the ultimate guide for priority setting: God's Word. Listen to Jesus saying…
Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends (Revelation 3:20 NLT).
cbn
Aging Gracefully
Read: Psalm 139:13-18
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ?Psalm 139:14
Many people try to reverse the aging process. Those with wrinkles get facelifts, while others have injections to remove unwanted facial lines. Behind this current trend is the notion that an aging face is unacceptable.
But not everyone feels that way. An elderly woman being interviewed on television was asked, "Do you like your face?" She responded with conviction, "I love my face! It's the face God gave me, and I accept it happily."
In Psalm 139, David expressed the conviction that his entire being was fashioned by God and therefore is worthy of acceptance. He prayed, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (v.14). He also believed that God fashioned all the days of his life (v.16).
Instead of fighting a losing battle against our waning youthful appearance, we should concentrate on cultivating inner qualities that last forever. One key attribute is a lifelong faith in God, who reassures His people: "Even to your old age, . . . and even to gray hairs I will carry you!" (Isaiah 46:4).
Myron Taylor wrote: "Time may wrinkle the skin, but worry, doubt, hate, and the loss of ideals wrinkle the soul." As we gracefully accept the passing of years, God will smooth out the wrinkles of our souls. ?Joanie Yoder
The wrinkles on a time-worn face
Can be symbols of God's grace,
If through our laughter and our tears
His love has freed us from our fears. ?D. De Haan
When you let God's love fill your heart, it will show on your face.
daily bread
Read: Psalm 139:13-18
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ?Psalm 139:14
Many people try to reverse the aging process. Those with wrinkles get facelifts, while others have injections to remove unwanted facial lines. Behind this current trend is the notion that an aging face is unacceptable.
But not everyone feels that way. An elderly woman being interviewed on television was asked, "Do you like your face?" She responded with conviction, "I love my face! It's the face God gave me, and I accept it happily."
In Psalm 139, David expressed the conviction that his entire being was fashioned by God and therefore is worthy of acceptance. He prayed, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (v.14). He also believed that God fashioned all the days of his life (v.16).
Instead of fighting a losing battle against our waning youthful appearance, we should concentrate on cultivating inner qualities that last forever. One key attribute is a lifelong faith in God, who reassures His people: "Even to your old age, . . . and even to gray hairs I will carry you!" (Isaiah 46:4).
Myron Taylor wrote: "Time may wrinkle the skin, but worry, doubt, hate, and the loss of ideals wrinkle the soul." As we gracefully accept the passing of years, God will smooth out the wrinkles of our souls. ?Joanie Yoder
The wrinkles on a time-worn face
Can be symbols of God's grace,
If through our laughter and our tears
His love has freed us from our fears. ?D. De Haan
When you let God's love fill your heart, it will show on your face.
daily bread
Monday, February 02, 2004
TRIALS! TRIALS! TRIALS!
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the US. In addition to their unique taste, a key to Krispy Kreme's phenomenal success is its strategic blueprint for individual shops. Customers are able to watch through a glass wall while doughnuts are created along an assembly-line conveyor system.
First the little balls of dough are shot through with a piercing blast of air to create a hole. Then the flat doughnuts are forced to spend time in the "proof box," where they ride an elevator up and down in an atmosphere of heat and humidity. This is what allows the flat dough to rise. Then the soon-to-be delicacies are dropped into hot oil and cooked thoroughly. As the circular survivors of this intense ordeal make their way toward the end of the line, they pass through a cascading torrent of icing. Mmmmmmm.
Just as the intense heat helps to produce the delicious treats at Krispy Kreme, so the intense heat of trials helps to produce character in the life of a follower of Jesus (James 1:2-8). Trials produce character when we respond with joy, not
murmuring and complaining. We who follow Jesus can rejoice in the midst of trials, because our joy is not based on circumstances but on a personal relationship with Jesus.
Trials, even though they hurt, produce character when we understand that they are designed to build endurance and maturity. Endurance helps us to have everything we need to survive the next trial, and maturity helps us to look more and more like Jesus.
Our trials will produce character as we depend on God's resources absolutely. Prayer is the most vital resource God has
made available to us. We must get on our knees before we can get on our feet. Through prayer, God will generously give us wisdom to help us make decisions that glorify Him in the midst of our trials. --Marvin Williams
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I responded to my trials in the past? How can I let God begin to change my response to my hard times?
* In what ways have I matured the most as a result of my difficulties?
* How can I make good use of God's resources during my trials?
LINKS:
Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0106
bottom line: Trials provide opportunities to triumph.
soul journey
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the US. In addition to their unique taste, a key to Krispy Kreme's phenomenal success is its strategic blueprint for individual shops. Customers are able to watch through a glass wall while doughnuts are created along an assembly-line conveyor system.
First the little balls of dough are shot through with a piercing blast of air to create a hole. Then the flat doughnuts are forced to spend time in the "proof box," where they ride an elevator up and down in an atmosphere of heat and humidity. This is what allows the flat dough to rise. Then the soon-to-be delicacies are dropped into hot oil and cooked thoroughly. As the circular survivors of this intense ordeal make their way toward the end of the line, they pass through a cascading torrent of icing. Mmmmmmm.
Just as the intense heat helps to produce the delicious treats at Krispy Kreme, so the intense heat of trials helps to produce character in the life of a follower of Jesus (James 1:2-8). Trials produce character when we respond with joy, not
murmuring and complaining. We who follow Jesus can rejoice in the midst of trials, because our joy is not based on circumstances but on a personal relationship with Jesus.
Trials, even though they hurt, produce character when we understand that they are designed to build endurance and maturity. Endurance helps us to have everything we need to survive the next trial, and maturity helps us to look more and more like Jesus.
Our trials will produce character as we depend on God's resources absolutely. Prayer is the most vital resource God has
made available to us. We must get on our knees before we can get on our feet. Through prayer, God will generously give us wisdom to help us make decisions that glorify Him in the midst of our trials. --Marvin Williams
DESTINATION POINTS
* How have I responded to my trials in the past? How can I let God begin to change my response to my hard times?
* In what ways have I matured the most as a result of my difficulties?
* How can I make good use of God's resources during my trials?
LINKS:
Why Would A Good God Allow Suffering?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0106
bottom line: Trials provide opportunities to triumph.
soul journey
Sunday, February 01, 2004
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