Remember

Read: John 19:1-8

When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. —Romans 5:6

Prime Minister Winston Churchill was honoring members of the Royal Air Force who had defended Britain during World War II. Recounting their brave service, he declared, "Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few."

A similar sentiment appears on a memorial plaque in Bastogne, Belgium, where raged the famous Battle of the Bulge, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Second World War. The inscription, in honor of the US 101st Airborne Division, reads: "Seldom has so much American blood been shed in the course of a single action. Oh, Lord, help us to remember!"

Those are fitting and well-deserved tributes to the courageous men and women who sacrificed so much for their country.

As I think about them, I also remember the One whose selfless sacrifice resulted in benefits for people of all nations. Jesus Christ, the sinless One, died on a cross and shed His blood to pay the penalty for our sins. In so doing, He guaranteed our freedom—freedom from the penalty, power, and someday even the presence of sin. Of Jesus it can be said: Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to one Man. Yes, His was the greatest sacrifice.

Lord, help us to remember! —Richard De Haan


'Twas not a martyr's death He died,
The Christ of Calvary;
It was a willing sacrifice
He made for you—for me. —Adams

The memory of Jesus' death calls us to a life of praise.

daily bread

GRACE TASTE

John 1:14-18
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

Take a moment to think about the riches God has given you in His amazing grace. When you experience this gift, you can't help living it out loud and sharing it with others. God's grace is . . .

given to humble hearts (Proverbs 3:34)
shown to sinners (Isaiah 26:10)
forfeited by those who choose lesser gods (Jonah 2:8)
poured out on those He loves (Zechariah 12:10)
found in Jesus (Luke 2:40)
the source of true blessing (John 1:16)
what brings us to belief in Him (Acts 15:11)
building us up (Acts 20:32)
the reason we are righteous in His eyes (Romans 3:24)
accessed by faith (Romans 5:2)
overflowing to people all around us (Romans 5:15)
greater than all our sin (Romans 5:20)
reigning in righteousness (Romans 5:21)
the reason we were chosen by Him (Romans 11:5
reaching people and making us thankful (2 Corinthians 4:15)
making it possible for us to do good works (2 Corinthians 9:8)
sufficient for us in the midst of trials (2 Corinthians 12:9)
freely given to us in Jesus (Ephesians 1:6)
the source of our salvation (Ephesians 2:5)
to be revealed in our words (Colossians 4:6)
filling us with encouragement and hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
calling us to a holy life (2 Timothy 1:9)
something we should be strong in (2 Timothy 2:1)
the reason Jesus could "taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9)
helping us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
strengthening our heart (Hebrews 13:9)
extended to others through us (1 Peter 4:10)
a gift we should grow in (2 Peter 3:18)
to be seen in you and me. Amen. (Revelation 22:21)
--Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What happens when I view hurtful people and daily difficulties through the eyes of grace?
* What is the most amazing thing about grace?

LINKS:
To Illustrate
On NASCAR, Cheating, and Surgery
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2003/003/26.69.html

bottom line: God's grace is to be poured out on others.

soul journey

Too Much of a Good Thing
By Steven Halter

Too often, we as Christians believe in the wrong things, and we are quick to believe in them, too!

Faith is a wonderful thing. We have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). By faith we have become children of God (John 1:12). With faith, it is possible to please God (Heb. 11:6). When we believe God, impossible things become possible.

But can we believe too much? "Certainly not!" you may say. But to really answer that question, we have to consider what and in Whom we are believing. Too often, we as Christians believe in the wrong things, and we are quick to believe in them, too!

For example, sometimes we're quick to believe in gossip about co-workers (2 Cor. 12:20). We may believe the latest rumors about celebrities. We might believe misinformation and slander about politicians. Bosses could believe a bad report about employees. By doing these things, we can hurt others by believing (and sometimes acting on) something about them that is not true. We misjudge them, and we make it worse by telling others the half-truths and lies we've believed.

Sometimes we hurt ourselves more directly by believing whatever teaching we hear. Or we may believe a smooth talking con artist who is utilizing the latest financial scheme.

How can we protect ourselves and keep from hurting others? There are a number of things we can do. One thing is to not believe just one side of a story that is told about someone. We need to hear both sides of a story, then we can understand the situation better (Prov. 18:17).

In addition, we can protect ourselves from false doctrine by comparing what we hear to the whole counsel of the Bible (Acts 17:10-12; Eph. 4:14). We should test everything with the Bible and the guidance of the Spirit (1 John 4:1; 1 Th. 5:21).

Let us resolve to not hurt ourselves or others by believing in things that we shouldn't. Let us ask the Lord to give us discernment about what is true and wisdom about what is right. Jesus Himself once said to His disciples, "be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matt. 10:16). James wrote, "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you" (James 1:5).

Yes, faith is a wonderful thing! But let's not have too much of a good thing. Let's keep God and His truth as the focus of our faith. When we do that, we will be a brighter light to the world around us (Mat. 5:14). And as God helps us to grow in these areas, we will become more like our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus! We will be more conformed to image of God's Son (Rom. 8:29). Thank God that His love is everlasting towards us as we continue to grow in Him.

cbn

Restoring God's Image

Read: Colossians 3:8-17

We all . . . are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. —2 Corinthians 3:18

As a young boy, theologian Alister McGrath enjoyed experimenting with chemicals in his school's laboratory. He liked to drop a tarnished coin into a beaker of diluted nitric acid. He often used an old British penny bearing the image of Queen Victoria. Because of the accumulated grime, Her Majesty's image couldn't be seen clearly. But the acid cleansed away the grime and the Queen's image reappeared in shining glory.

We know, to be sure, that we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), but that image has been defaced by our sin. We are still His image-bearers, however.

Once we invite Jesus to enter our lives as Savior, He goes to work to restore the original image. He transforms us to make us like Himself (2 Corinthians 3:18). This process is described as putting off some behaviors and putting on others. For example, we are to "put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language" (Colossians 3:8) and to "put on love" (v.14).

Unless and until our sin-tarnished souls are cleansed by Jesus' forgiveness, God's image is obscured in our lives. But when we trust Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we are forgiven and the restoration begins. —Vernon Grounds


Restore in me Your image, Lord,
So tarnished by my sin and shame;
And cleanse whatever may conceal
The shining glory of Your name. —D. De Haan

Drawing close to Christ produces a growing Christlikeness.

daily bread

AN INVESTIGATION INTO EVIL

Hebrews 4:11-13
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 5:12-14
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.


Lance Morrow, an award-winning essayist for Time magazine, has written a book on a controversial subject--evil. He observes that in a growing emphasis of multiculturalism and tolerance, we're losing our ability to detect and pass moral judgment on evil acts.

"The contradictions of cultural diversity as a rule merely cancel each other out. The fact that you have your way, and I have my way,
means that neither way has moral force or authority. The result is a world in which there is no such thing as good or evil, but merely difference of perspective."

No matter how culturally sensitive we try to be, evil still does its work in this world.

Author G. K. Chesterton said that original sin is the one Christian doctrine that can be proven by experience. Chesterton was referring to the biblical belief that "human beings are sinners." The data for this is on the 6 o'clock news and in Internet headlines. Theft, domestic violence, racism, and murder are terrible reminders of the dark side of human nature.

Nobel Prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote: "Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, or between political parties either--but right through every human heart . . . and even in the best of all hearts, there remains an un-uprooted small corner of evil."

The key to understanding good and evil is having a biblical perspective of the human heart (Hebrews 4:12). To expect only good from human behavior leaves us partially blind. We need to humbly discern good from evil.

Let's be tolerant. Let's celebrate diverse cultures. But, even more important, let's direct our lives from the moral compass of God's inspired Word. It provides the means of moral discernment in a complex and confusing world (Hebrews 5:14). --Dennis Fisher

DESTINATION POINTS

* How can I learn from different ethnic groups in our culture?
* In what ways can I cultivate tolerance?
* When do I need to "stand my ground" on biblical moral guidelines?

LINKS:
Why would an all-powerful God permit evil?
http://www.questions.org/answer/god/character/permitevil.xml/

bottom line: Evil is the real deal.

soul journey

Hogans: Heroes
By Dan Betzer

You can quit when things go bad, or, you can continue up the mountain.

In October of 1956, I was working a weekend news stint for a local radio station in Springfield, Missouri. At about five o'clock one particular morning, I was on the news beat when I got a call from the state patrol. It was a report about a fatal accident 60 miles away. A teen-aged boy had been killed.

The dispatcher said, "The kid's name is Richard Hogan." I was stunned! Not THAT Richard Hogan? My fishing and football buddy from high school and college? It was him.

I attended the funeral several days later and watched J. Phillip and Virginia Hogan, Richard's father and mother, come in with their family. The Hogan family had recently moved to Springfield after serving as missionaries to China. That field had closed when the Communists took power, so they had been forced to come back to Missouri.

He has suffered two huge losses, a life's work and a son. About every other month, I have the privilege of eating lunch with J. Phillip Hogan. He is now 87 years of age. Since his son was killed, he has done the following:

Expanded a global missions movement that now embraces 160 nations;

Helped to launch a worldwide Decade of Harvest that has helped to grow the membership in the Assemblies of God to more than 40 million strong; and

Prayed through a concept of global correspondence with a man named George Flattery. Their dream has now merged into the largest distance learning school in the world.

He has done all of this and a few other things too numerous to list here. He and Virginia lost their work in China and a precious son in a traffic accident. On those twin disasters, they reached up and touched the heart of God and changed the world.

My friend, you can quit when things go bad, or, you can continue up the mountain. It really is your call.

cbn

A Talk with Grandmama
By Marsha Brickhouse Smith

" So many people are searching for something, trying to find out who they are. I tell you in my day, we did not have much time for searching, we were too busy being."

I took my grandmother's hands in mine, carefully looking at them. These hands had made biscuits for my Granddaddy. These hands had soothed fevered brows. These hands had held mine as I took my first steps. These were hands I loved with every fiber of my being.

"Grandmama, what do you think life is all about? I mean we go through so many times that hurt us so deeply, and when we love, we run the risk of getting hurt all over again."

She smiled a smile ... a smile that showed wisdom of years and love for me, and she spoke these words, "Honey, life is all about loving, and giving, and watching your babies grow. It ain't about being rich, or climbing the social ladder. It is about honoring your fellow man, about keeping your word, and about loving through it all. It is about realizing you only get one chance on life's stage. And it is about realizing nobody else has the part you do. God gave you a part to play out on this stage, and nobody can play it like you do."

"You talk about loving and being hurt, well, I tell you that is for sure. But you know what, it is worth it all. Just think, even if you lost your love, at least you knew it. At least for a little while on the stage of life you touched the edge of splendor."

"Life is about realizing you are here for a purpose, and then life is about doing what God put you here to do. So many people are searching for something, trying to find out who they are. I tell you in my day, we did not have much time for searching, we were too busy being."

"And one more thing, life is about realizing you did not get here by yourself. Somebody up there loves you far more than you can imagine. The good Lord has put a dream inside each one of us, and we are to live out that dream to the best of our ability."

We sat on the porch late into the evening. I leaned my head upon her knee as she talked of her younger days, of loving Granddaddy, and of her babies. As I listened the crickets began their night symphony. The stars began to shine as we got up. I lingered as I heard her voice echoing through me, "Life is about loving, about being, and about living out your dream."

I would remember this night for many years to come, just as I would the years of love, and Grandmama. Years have passed, the crickets still perform their evening symphony, and Grandmama's voice still echoes through time and space.

"Remember you get one chance on life's stage, and only YOU can play your part. "

Life's a stage. We are on it, the curtain has risen, and the dream has been born. There is no rehearsal. This is the real run.

I know one thing for sure, Grandmama knew her part well.

cbn

The Delight of Despair

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17

It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall "at His feet as dead." There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.

"He laid His right hand on me . . ." ( Revelation 1:17 ). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms" ( Deuteronomy 33:27 ), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, "Do not be afraid" ( Revelation 1:17 ). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?

Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . ." ( Romans 7:18 ). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.

my utmost for His highest

THE DIE-TO-IT DIET

Mark 7:14-23
14 Again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to Me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a man can make him
'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" . . . 17 After He had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples asked Him about this parable. 18 "Are you so dull?" He asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters
a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In
saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within,
out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander,
arrogance, and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

This year it's the South Beach Diet. A couple of years ago--and still going strong--the Atkins Diet returned to popularity. In between was the Zone Diet--kind of like Atkins for rich people and math geniuses.

It seems that everyone is obsessed about what they put in their mouths--carbs, fats, proteins. They want to lose weight quickly, though perhaps not healthfully. To them, appearance is important. Fat is out; thin is in.

If only we were as concerned about what comes out of our mouth . . . and out of our heart. That can also be sick.

In Jesus' time, many legalistic Jews watched what they ate. They weren't counting calories, however. Instead, they were adding up
their "righteous points," seeking God's favor. Some legalists were so obsessed that they would put a piece of cloth over a glass before
pouring water into it. That way, a gnat could not land in the water, unseen. If an insect were to enter a Jew's mouth, it would make him unclean.

As Jesus pointed out, what they ate--intentionally or otherwise--did not make them "unclean," unfit to enter God's presence. Instead,
their evil thoughts and deeds defiled them. Time after time, it seemed, the Pharisees obsessed about what was happening on the outside, while Jesus challenged them to look inside, to their spiritual state.

We can be just as outer-conscious, but in a more vain way, by obsessing about our physical appearance--but not because of what God would think. The solution is the same as above: To look on the inside, to be concerned about our spiritual health. Then, our focus needs to stay inward; we shouldn't repeat the Pharisees' mistake of concentrating on outer actions. By starting on the inside, our outward actions fall in line.

So what kind of spiritual diet are you on? Remember, in the Christian life, the key is not only diet; it's exercise. Nourish yourself on God's Word, and then put your faith into action. That will look great, inside and outside. --John Carvalho

DESTINATION POINTS

* Why is our society so consumed with diets and physical appearance?
* In what ways do I need to concentrate on my inner person?

LINKS:
Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/newsletter/wom00510.html

bottom line: God looks at what's inside, not outside.

soul journey

BLOWN AWAY

Haggai 1:2-9
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built.'" 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" . . . 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the Lord. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?"
declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."

"Who needs art?" According to theologian David Naugle, that phrase reflects the view Christians have exhibited over the past 2 or 3 centuries.

The reason for this drop in art appreciation? Naugle says modernism--emphasizing naturalism and a secular view of life--has blown away the "historic perspective on the arts."

To paint what that perspective used to be, we can brush up on what theologian David Kuyper argued in his famous Lectures on Calvinism. His primary point was "that human beings, as the image-bearers of God, have the capacity both to create something beautiful and to delight in it."

The music and art of modern times often lack the care that artists once put into their works. Passion for Jesus was obvious in the careful brush strokes and brilliant musical compositions of some classical Christian artists.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against all of today's art. But I think Naugle has a point when he writes: "The goal is to take great delight in the divinely creative process, to edify people with truth through art, and to honor and glorify God with the works of our hands."

The prophet Haggai was wrestling with the lack of "artistic" excellence in his day. The Israelites had returned from exile in Babylon some 18 years before he wrote these words from God: "'What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the Lord Almighty.
'Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.'" The people were not working on God's temple as He desired. They were enjoying the "paneled" walls of their homes, while the temple was in ruins--as finished as blank canvas.

God likely "blew away" their weak response in the form of removing His blessing--allowing their crops to be more chaff than wheat. It's ironic, because that's exactly what His people had figuratively brought to their temple building: chaff. Nothing beautiful that God could delight in.

What are you bringing Him from the works of your hands today? --Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What is my view of the purpose of art?
* Why does Naugle feel that art should edify and proclaim God's truth?
* How have I been revealing the beauty of God in my life?

bottom line: Art is always best when its beauty reflects God.

soul journey

"SURPRISE!"

Ruth 4:13-17
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous
throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women
living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The book of Ruth is a masterpiece of dramatic literature. In a few pages we move from an impossible situation to an unlikely conclusion along an improbable route.

Three widows, one old and two young, have experienced devastating loss. One of the younger widows vows to accompany her mother-in-law to her homeland and to seek her God. As the story progresses, it seems that a divine hand is guiding Naomi and Ruth toward a hope and fulfillment they could hardly imagine. By the end of the book, hopeless grief has been replaced by joyful expectation. It was as if God wrapped His loving arms around them and whispered, "Surprise!"

Oswald Chambers, a dynamic Bible teacher of the early 20th century, often spoke of the surprise visits of God: "Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him," Chambers said. "He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord's surprise visits."

Another theme that permeated Chambers' teaching was giving God room to operate in our lives: "As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God--to give God 'elbow room.' We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way."

Think of a situation you'd nominate as "Most Unlikely To Turn Out Well." Ponder all the reasons it's a mess and all the people who are part of the problem. Then think about Jesus. Tell Him you want to stay true and follow His commands. Now, make room and be ready to hear Him whisper, "Surprise!" --Dave McCasland

DESTINATION POINTS

* Why do I so easily forget to look for the surprise visits of God?
* What personal encouragement do I find in the story of Ruth?
* How can I make room for God in my life today?

LINKS:
My Utmost For His Highest
http://www.utmost.org

bottom line: Be ready for the surprise visits of God.

soul journey

THE ROMANCE OF RUTH

Ruth 3:2-9
2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do. 5 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. 9 "Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me,since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

On-screen romances don't often mirror real life. These scenarios are more often portrayed like this:

Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl.

Boy meets girl, boy beats up the bad guy, . . . then boy gets girl.

Boy meets girl, girl dies, boy meets new girl, everybody sings.

Sometimes real-life romances take a different turn. For example, the romance of Ruth and Boaz.

Single women in biblical times often faced a life of poverty. Ruth was in the market for a new husband since both she and her mother-in-law Naomi were widows. God's plan for Ruth would give her not only the security she was so desperate for, but would also make
her an integral part of His eternal plan.

Boaz had already noticed Ruth (2:5), but now Naomi gave her a list of things to do that would help Boaz realize his responsibility to Ruth under Jewish tradition and law (3:3-9). Following these precise instructions signified more than a request for Boaz' protection--Ruth was requesting marriage!

Just a nice romantic tale? No. Ruth's obedience set a series of events in motion.

God's plan to redeem the world through His Son Jesus included Ruth's willingness to follow instructions. Her marriage to Boaz resulted in the birth of a son, who became the grandfather of King David (4:17). Many generations later, Joseph was born and became the husband of Mary. While still a virgin, Mary gave birth to "Jesus, who is called Christ." Although Jesus is not the physical son of Joseph, He is his legal son (Matthew 1:16-18; Luke 2:4-5).

Often we are limited because we see life only moment by moment, but God has the eternal perspective. Like Ruth, our responsibility is to take continual steps of obedience as part of God's perfect plan. --Cindy Kasper

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I understand how the obedience of Boaz and Ruth was a part of God's plan of redemption?
* What steps of obedience have I taken that had a result I didn't expect? What happened?

LINKS:
Visit http://www.boundless.org/ and search for "Pulling A Ruth."

bottom line: Obedience is willingness to follow God's plan.

soul journey

See You Next Time?

Read: 1 Chronicles 16:23-36

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. —1 Chronicles 16:23

It was a Sunday afternoon several years ago. The whole family was gathered around the table for dinner. Our 4-year-old son Stevie led off our pre-meal prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank You for this nice day. Thank You that we could go to church and Sunday school today." Then, to our surprise, he said, "And we'll see You again next week."

What Stevie said in his prayer is how we often view the Christian life, I'm afraid. We easily fall into a see-you-next-time attitude about God. We forget about Him as we fulfill our daily responsibilities. We go for days at a time trying to pay the bills, keep the boss happy, and give attention to each family member. But we neglect to give God the time He deserves.

First Chronicles 16 gives us some facts about God's power and majesty that we can think and talk about "from day to day" (v.23). We can "declare His glory" (v.24) and recognize His hand of creation in the heavens (v.26). We can talk of His honor and majesty, the strength He possesses, and the gladness He gives us (v.27).

Each day brings new reasons to pray to God, to praise His name, and to proclaim His love. Let's make our worship of Him something we do "from day to day." —Dave Branon


Worship, praise, and adoration
Render now to Jesus' name;
Freely give your heart's devotion,
Constantly His love proclaim. —Anon.

No day is complete without worship.

daily bread

Living Simply—Yet Focused

Look at the birds of the air . . . . Consider the lilies of the field . . .
—Matthew 6:26, 28

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin"—they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon—all of these simply are as well—yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, "Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me." In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" ( John 7:38 ). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually—just as "the lilies of the field."

The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and "the lilies of the field"—simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.

If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live—yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.

my utmost for His highest

MJ AND IDOLS

Psalm 96:1-9
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.

In front of Chicago's United Center stands a statue of Michael Jordan. The leaping figure taunts gravity, as "His Airness" is about to consummate a patented dunk. Quite impressive.

But imagine the folly of bowing in prayer to a statue! It happens.

As a Christian influenced by Western culture, I think of idols as relics of the past. But throughout the world many people still worship man-made images. Whether made of wood, metal, or stone, these creations sit silently while worshipers pray to them or place offerings before them.

Idols--real idols--are very much a problem in the world. Some are symbols of religion. Others, such as the Windy City's tribute to a sports star, give evidence of my culture's idolatrous worship of celebrities who are just as human as we are.

Those who worship idols are aware of a significant truth: They themselves are not the center of the universe. But the focus of their worship is misdirected. "All the gods of the nations are idols," sings the psalmist, "but the Lord made the heavens" (96:5)."Splendor and glory are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary" (v.6).

The living God infinitely transcends all other gods. In contrast to the impassive and unmoving images that represent gods long dead or never living, the Lord alone is capable of hearing our prayers. Only He can provide our lives with real meaning and eternal significance.

Those of us who know Jesus have some work to do. We need to build cross-cultural bridges to people who are desperately seeking the truth in the wrong places. There is only one God who merits our praise and hears our prayers. --Tim Gustafson

DESTINATION POINTS

* In what ways do I look down on cultures that have idol worship? Is my attitude helping or hurting people who don't know the good news of Jesus?
* How have I turned away from God in my search for meaning?
* Are my spending habits or the way I use my time an indication that I have "idols" in my life?

LINKS:
Promises, Promises
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/003/23.72.html

bottom line: Only God is worthy of our worship.

soul journey

The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision

. . you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . —2 Peter 1:4

We are made "partakers of the divine nature," receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, "Oh, I can’t afford it." One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, "Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle." And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges—always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.

Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, "All my springs are in You" ( Psalm 87:7 ). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 9:8 )—then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.

my utmost for His highest

The Lost Book

Read: 2 Kings 22:8-13

I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. —2 Kings 22:8

Two US Senate staffers were cleaning out a storeroom underneath the Capitol when they spotted a partially opened door nearby. Curious, they stepped inside and found a small room jammed with dusty old brochures and payroll records. A leatherbound book with gold lettering caught their attention: Senators' Compensation and Mileage. It bore the dates 1790-1881.

What a find! It was a one-of-a-kind record of every dollar paid to senators during the Senate's first 90 years. Plus, the book contains the handwritten signatures of founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. "The book speaks volumes," says historian Richard Baker. "There is nothing that comes remotely close to it in the archives of the Senate."

I imagine that Hilkiah the high priest felt even more excitement when he discovered the long-lost "Book of the Law" in some hidden cranny in the temple (2 Kings 22:8). King Josiah recognized its value and ordered it to be read aloud to all the people of Judah (23:1-2).

Maybe it has been a while since you've read portions of the Bible such as Leviticus, Zechariah, or Philemon. Dust them off and try reading them. They speak volumes—and their message may be just what you need. —Dave Egner


I entered the world's great library doors;
I crossed their acres of polished floors;
I searched and searched their stacks and nooks,
And settled at last on the Book of books. —Anon.

The Bible is old, but its truths are always new.

daily bread

The Plans of Tomorrow
by Os Hillman

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14b

A group of workplace believers meet at my office every week for fellowship, study, and prayer. One man attended our group for several years. Jim was well liked and in good health. One Thursday he showed up as usual. The next morning I received a call, "Jim is dead! He died in his easy chair last night!" Jim had no prior problems and there was no indication he was about to go be with the Lord. Naturally, it came as a shock to us all.

Whenever things like this happen close to home, it brings us face to face with our mortality. A friend of mine said he was challenged by someone to do an experiment. He challenged him to live his life for one year as if it were the last year he would live. He responded to the challenge and did as proposed. It changed his life forever. He began to focus on different priorities and people when he viewed life in these terms.

James gives us a perspective on viewing tomorrow.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15).

Life is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. Someone once said they had never heard anyone on his deathbed say that he wished he had made more money in his lifetime or he wished he had made a certain deal. Usually it is something like, "I wish I had spent more time with my kids." Ask the Lord to give you His priorities for your life.

tgif

Salt in the Ashes
By Sally Buckner

Being a connoisseur of fine foods, and nicknamed "Sally Cuisine", I learned the art of rubbing coarse Kosher salt on my baking potatoes to enhance the flavor of these delectable goodies. Well this practice left quite a mess in my lower oven, and it was time to incinerate the debris. So yesterday, being rather cool outside, I programmed the cleaning feature and left the oven to do its work.

Much to my surprise, after a 3 hour cycle of intense heat that left all the other "gook" in ashes, the salt was still there - chunky and untouched. That's when the Lord reminded me that He wants us to be so salty and full of His word and grace that not only will others want to taste and see, but that we can withstand the heat - the heat that comes from the trials and intense situations of life.

Leviticus 2:13: . . . Salt is a reminder of God's covenant.

What situation could have been more intense than that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as told in Daniel Chapter 3? King Nebuchadnezzar heated the fiery furnace 7 times hotter than usual so as to toss the three lads in for not bowing to his statue. They knew their God was able and would deliver them - what great faith! Just as the salt survived, so did these three.

Daniel 3:27: The fire hadn't touched them - not a hair of their heads was singed; their coats were unscorched, and they didn't even smell of smoke!

Even at the end of our cycle of life, it will be our salt that remains from the ashes. Fill up your shaker today - sprinkle as needed, and be prepared if your dish will be baked, broiled or fried!

Mark 9:50: Good salt is worthless if it loses its saltiness; it can't season anything. So don't lose your flavor!

So go out today and enjoy all that God wants to share with you. God reveals his truths to everyone - even me through baking potatoes! If the world turns up the heat, you'll be ready! Be salty and survive virtually anything!

Luke 14:34: What good is salt that has lost its saltiness? Flavorless salt is fit for nothing - not even fertilizer. It is worthless and must be thrown out. Listen well if you would understand my meaning.*

* I understand his meaning, and that's another whole story about pruning that useless branch. I'll look forward to sharing that with you sometime soon.

Bible verses quoted from The Living Bible.

cbn

THE "OLD LADY"

Psalm 146:1-7
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the Lord, who remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

During a visit to London I popped in to see the "Old Lady" of Threadneedle Street. That, I'm told, is an affectionate name for the Bank of England. An informative video in the bank's free museum told me that I couldn't cash a check, open an account, or borrow a few quid to hold me until payday. This is the bankers' bank and operates much as the Federal Reserve Bank in the US.

One of the Bank of England's main tasks is to maintain the stability of the financial system for the United Kingdom, at home and abroad. In one room I hefted a 13-kilo gold bar, symbol of the reserves that help undergird the institution. Then I studied the Bank's role in responding to crisis during the dangerous and uncertain years of World War II. As I made my way back along Threadneedle Street, I tipped my cap to the "Old Lady" for all her hard work in keeping the financial system on track.

Secure, constant, even, firm, unwavering. All these synonyms remind us of how much we seek stability in a world of crisis and change.

Psalm 146 says that Almighty God is our security when things fall apart. He is our refuge--our safe place; our strength--our source of inner power; an ever-present help in trouble--always with us in time of need.

Therefore, because God is always with us and never changes, we will not be afraid--no matter what happens.

Just for today, try keeping a record of everything you read, see, or hear that affirms the unchanging, never-failing love of God. Carry a pad, jot in your PDA, e-mail it to a friend tonight. When we focus on circumstances, we cringe. When we center our attention on Jesus, our confidence grows in Him because He is the Lord and He does not change.

Today, no matter what happens, Almighty God is our stability. You can take that to the bank. --Dave McCasland

DESTINATION POINTS

* What situations are fear- generators in my life today?
* Where am I seeking stability to face them?
* I'll read the phrase: "God is our refuge and strength," placing the emphasis on a different word each time I say it.

LINKS:
The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street
http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/BankofEngland.htm

Bank of England Museum
http://touruk.co.uk/london_museums/bankofengland_museum1.htm

In God We Trust
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/001/4.42.html

bottom line: God saves us and won't withdraw His love.

soul journey

TELL ME WHY?

Isaiah 55:8-13
8 "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Are Christians guaranteed immunity to temptation, tribulation, or tragedy? The answer is obviously "No! My brother Ne Yoong was a brilliant first-year university engineering student. He served the Lord actively and was a sociable, friendly, caring person.

On a missions trip to a small village in Sarawak, East Malaysia, Ne Yoong learned the native language in a few days, shared the gospel, and led more than 30 children to the Lord. On the last day of the trip, however, something tragic happened. He jumped into the river to rescue a friend who had accidentally fallen in. Even though my brother couldn't swim, he didn't think of his own safety--only for the welfare of his friend. Although his friend was eventually rescued, my brother drowned.

It's difficult to understand why such a heartbreaking tragedy would take place. We do know that a number of people accepted Jesus and others rededicated their lives to Him because they saw God's love in Ne Yoong's act. God works things out in His own mysterious way.

My family and I struggled and questioned God about Ne Yoong's death. But we finally accepted the work of His providential hand and larger purpose. As revealed in Isaiah 55:8-9, His ways are indeed higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. As followers of Jesus, we can stay secure in our faith because we rest in God's perfect plan (v.11).

Are you struggling in a particular situation right now? Be assured that God is a good God and He works things out in ways we can't even imagine. As we face painful circumstances, we may feel out of control. We begin to question if anyone's running the universe. We start asking, "Why?" Instead, we can take courage in the fact that God is sovereign and is in control of His world.

--Timothy Chew, Malaysia
Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader

DESTINATION POINTS

* When it's difficult to understand the reasons for my troubles, do I question God or do I trust that He is working for my good?
* What are some ways that can help me stay secure in my faith in spite of my problems?

LINKS:
Knowing God Through Job
http://www.discoveryseries.org/sb141/

A Brave New Worldview
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2003/004/14.22.html

bottom line: When you can't understand why, trust in God.

soul journey

HUGGING JESUS

2 Corinthians 9:12-15
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies
your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

All we wanted was to have our bathtub re-glazed. What we got in addition to a shiny tub was a great example of faith.

When I called Harvey to come work on our tub, I didn't know he was a Christian. But once he arrived, it didn't take long to discover that he was a bold believer--one of those rare Christians who can't help but talk about Jesus.

We got to know Harvey and we learned how God had directed him away from a couple of things we normally think of as Christian work--starting churches and doing evangelism. Instead, he resurfaces people's bathtubs to make them look nice. God has enabled him to
reach into a new home every day with his gregarious gospel message. And he clearly never stops speaking about his faith. This hardworking guy not only serves others (2 Corinthians 9:12), but his confession of Jesus and His grace is served up in abundance(v.13).

As I think about Harvey and his strong, got-to-get-the-word-out faith, one thing he said sticks out as a true demonstration of his unswerving devotion to Jesus. When he left our house after beautifying our tub, he said, "If we don't see each other again, I'll see you in heaven. I'll be the one on my knees, hugging Jesus."

What a great image of thankfulness to our Savior for what He did for us on the cross! What a clear depiction of gratefulness for the eternal life Jesus alone can give!

Someday in heaven we'll know how to praise Him flawlessly. But even now we can praise Jesus by the way we interact with others, making sure they too know about Him. Jesus deserves our most heartfelt, most passionate praise. --Dave Branon

DESTINATION POINTS

* When was the last time someone who talked with me understood how grateful I am for my salvation?
* What can I say to people to let them know how important Jesus is to me--without chasing them off by being too intense?

bottom line: A grateful heart for Jesus will overflow to others.

soul journey

FULL FLAVOR

Mathew 5:11-16
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Unsalted peanuts. Whoever dreamed up such a concoction was obviously no peanut lover. I am a connoisseur of the plump, crunchy, Jimmy Carter specialty. I like them boiled, in the shell, or out of the can. I like them however I can get them--cajun, honey, or classic. I do not, however, like them unsalted. A peanut without salt is bland and boring. Something's there--but it has lost its kick. You might as well be munching on gravel.

A world without radical Jesus-followers has this same dull emptiness. After spelling out an intense list of upside-down values, where the meek have the power and the poor have the wealth, Jesus told His followers that they were the salt, the taste-bud tickling force in the world. Many suppose Jesus' reference to His disciples as salt was grounded in His desire for them to be a "preservative," to hold back evil by righteous living. That may be part of it, but I don't think it's the primary essence of His imagery.

When stating what is done with "salt that loses its saltiness,"Jesus asked, "How can it be made salty again?" (Matthew 5:13). What good is salt that no longer causes a person to smack his lips, hispalate delighted with the flavor of his food?

The real questions are, "What good is a church that no longer entices people to the good news of Jesus? What good are the people of God if they no longer model true life--abundant, hopeful,generous, pleasure-filled?"

Somehow, we've abandoned the reality that we--the church--are a community of pleasure and tantalizing joy. Somehow, it seems we believe we offer truth--lifeless and bland as it may be--but real pleasure, that's an advantage the system of this world has over us.

It's a lie. God is the author of true pleasure, the God of sweet aromas, beautiful landscapes, and rich flavors. And He invites us to be His people, to season the world with His goodness. --WinnCollier

DESTINATION POINTS

* What would it mean to live a pleasure-filled godly life?
* Do Ibelieve that following Jesus is the way of pleasure? Really?
* Howdoes this help me understand the gospel as "good news"?

LINKS:

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

bottom line: Shake it up. Salt something.

soul journey

THE EXAMINED LIFE

John 8:3-11
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. 7 When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, Sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."


One of my greatest fears when I was growing up was taking a dreaded trip to the doctor. I was paralyzed by fear mostly because of what I thought the doctor would find during the examination. I just knew the doctor would find cancer, diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, or some other illness. As I got older, however, I realized that regular examinations and checkups are good and beneficial for my physical health.

In John 8:7, Jesus used a calm statement to cause a group of men, who had caught a woman in the act of adultery, to examine themselves spiritually: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." After Jesus said that, He stooped down and began to write on the ground.

If any one of those men had thrown a stone at the woman, he would have been guilty of delusion. Being put in a position to judge others is a lot of pressure--it can result in some serious self-examination.

Self-examination for the believer is the conscious reflection on one's own character, motives, and actions, in order to judge whether they are truly in accordance with Christian values. Examination should take place on the basis of God's revelation of Himself in the Bible and in Jesus. Why do most people refuse to live an examined life? It's painful to diagnose the sickness in our lives. Spiritual self-examination thwarts our attempt to manage an image and helps us to build a character of substance.

One of the keys to living an examined life is giving God freedom to go deep and reveal and heal our sick spiritual state. He examines us not to destroy us but to develop us into people who look like Jesus.

Just as physical examinations are good for our physical health, spiritual examinations are good for our spiritual health. Let's pray and ask the Great Physician to search us and to reveal the harmful ways in our lives. --Marvin Williams

DESTINATION POINTS

* When was the last time I had a spiritual self-examination? What was the diagnosis?
* Which of my harmful ways has the Lord revealed to me lately?
* I will read and meditate on the following passages about self-examination: Job 13:9,23; Psalm 11:4-5; 26:2; Proverbs 5:21; Jeremiah 17:10.

bottom line: Self-disclosure prevents self-deception.

soul journey

Mountains Can Move!

Read: Mark 11:20-24

Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." ?Mark 11:22

A familiar slogan about prayer is, "Prayer changes things." But prayer doesn't do this?God does. Some people think that prayer itself is the source of power, so they "try prayer," hoping "it will work" for them. In Mark 11, Jesus disclosed one of the secrets behind all true prayer: "Have faith in God." Not faith in faith, not faith in prayer, but "faith in God" (v.22).

Jesus told His disciples they could command a mountain to be cast into the sea, and if they believed it would happen, it would. Jesus then gave them His meaning behind that astonishing promise. He said, "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will" (v.24). Jesus was speaking about answered prayer. We can ask and receive answers only if our asking is directed to God in faith and according to His will (1 John 5:14).

I've often wished that I could move mountains by faith. Having once lived in Switzerland, I'd like God to move the Alps into my backyard in England. But He has done something much more important: He has removed mountains of worry, fear, and resentment from my heart and cast them into oblivion through my faith in Him. He is still in the mountain-moving business! Have faith in God and pray! ?Joanie Yoder

When the Spirit prompts the asking,
When the waiting heart believes,
Then we know of each petition?
Everyone who asks receives. ?Anon.

Faith is the key to answered prayer.

daily bread

The Miracle Goes On

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:21-27

Their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. ?2 Chronicles 30:27

Did you ever think of a prayer meeting as a miracle? That thought came to my mind one evening at church after we divided into small prayer groups. As someone in each group prayed, I heard several people talking to God at the same time. It sounded like a jumble of words. But that's the miracle. God was hearing each prayer?along with millions of others being lifted to Him around the world in many different languages.

For those of us who reach frustration levels when two children are talking to us at the same time, it is indeed a miracle that God can hear so many of His children simultaneously.

Consider the story of Hezekiah's Passover celebration. He called for the Israelites to join him in Jerusalem for praise and prayer (2 Chronicles 30:1). Multitudes came for what turned into a 2-week-long worship service. Huge numbers of people rejoiced and praised God at the same time (v.25). As the religious leaders prayed, "their voice was heard; and their prayer came up . . . to heaven" (v.27).

The miracle goes on. Today, throughout the world, millions of people are praying to God. Let's rejoice in knowing that He hears each prayer. ?Dave Branon

God hears us when we call to Him,
He does not miss one voice;
The knowledge that He always hears
Should cause us to rejoice. ?Sper

You'll never get a busy signal on the prayer line to heaven.

daily bread

Finish Like a Tiger

Philippians 3:10-14
10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

A new baseball season is upon us, and it?s likely that by now we have an idea of who the top teams and the struggling teams are for 2004.

But let?s think back to last year when everyone knew who the saddest team in baseball was?the Detroit Tigers.

If you remember the end of the 2003 regular season, though, you might recall seeing some photos of players in Tigers uniforms smiling and laughing. And you may have wondered, ?What are these guys so happy about??

After all, they had just completed a season in which they lost 119 games. It takes the Yankees almost two seasons to lose that many.

Yet the Tigers were smiling?smiling because they won five of their last six games, smiling because they didn?t set a new major league record of 120 losses, and maybe even smiling because it was all over for 2003.

Mostly, though, they were smiling because they had finished strong. Their happiness in spite of a horrendous season shows that no matter how poorly we start out, there is value in coming to the finish line with all the strength we can muster.

That?s even more true in life than it is in baseball.

Let?s say you have more losses in life than the Detroit Tigers. You keep trying to defeat a problem, but it keeps shutting you down. You struggle with anger and you can?t seem to keep it under control. Or you keep losing to an addiction. You should never let a past losing streak stop you from going for the big win. If you persevere, with God?s help and the Holy Spirit?s continual guidance you can find yourself celebrating a strong finish.

No matter how bad things have been, if we keep our eyes on Jesus and keep our hearts under the Spirit?s control, we can finish like a Tiger. ?Dave Branon

bottom line: Losses can lead to future victory in Jesus.

soul journey

Today's scripture is Mark 4:30-32

"And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."

Jesus compares the workings of the kingdom of God to planting seeds in the earth. "When the seed is sown," He said, "it grows up...." Notice He didn't say that it would occasionally grow up. Or it grows up if it's God's will. He said, "It grows up and becomes greater." Period.

God's economy isn't like ours. It isn't up one day and down the other. It's always the same and it always works perfectly. If you have good earth, good seed and good water, you're going to have growth. It's inevitable.

So, if you're facing a need, don't panic...plant a seed!

That seed may take the form of money or time or some other resources you have to give. But, no matter what form it takes, make sure you put life in it by giving it in faith and surrounding it with praise and worship. Say, "Lord, as I bring You my goods, I bring myself. I give myself to You--spirit, soul and body."

Pray over that seed. Fill it with faith, worship and the Word. Then plant it. You can rest assured--it will grow up and become greater!

bible shack

Today's scripture is 1 John 2:27

"But the anointing which ye have received of [God] abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth."

Have you ever noticed that you are sometimes aware of certain things even before you know what the Word says about them? That's because the Holy Spirit is inside you teaching you the truth. He speaks into your spirit. Then your spirit relays His promptings to your mind. Suddenly, you'll have a new thought. "I need to forgive that person," you'll think, or "I need to stop saying those unkind things."

As you become more aware of the Spirit of God in your everyday affairs, you'll be quicker to hear and obey those promptings. You'll actually get in the habit of allowing the Spirit of Truth to reveal the will of God to you. And, believe me, that's one habit God wants you to have!

Start tuning your ear to His still small voice within you. Honor Him and welcome His guidance into your everyday affairs. Listen for His promptings and be quick to obey. He's ready to speak to you.

bible shack

A BIGGER ERASER

Psalm 103:8-13
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; 10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord
has compassion on those who fear Him.

Crafting the pencils we use every day has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry. But have you ever wondered why
companies make the pencil erasers so small? If you're like me, you find that the eraser gets used up before the second sharpening! In my opinion, at least half of the pencil should be eraser, simply to keep up with all of my mistakes!

Not only do we make errors jotting down notes or leaving a message, but we continually make all kinds of mistakes. And we're not alone. Even biblical characters were not immune to making mistakes. Simon Peter did some great things for God, even delivering a stirring sermon at Pentecost and 3,000 people came to Jesus (Acts 2:14-47).

But only weeks before this memorable moment, Peter had made a shameful decision. After Jesus was dragged away by the Roman soldiers, Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). Thomas, another disciple, erred when he doubted Jesus' resurrection after the disciples told him of His reappearance (John 20:24-29).

So, whom can we turn to as an example? The answer is Jesus, the only One to live on the earth sinlessly. Because of His death for sinners, we can be forgiven by God for all of our failures. When we receive Jesus as our Savior and repent of our sins, God forgives us, erasing all of our sins in one great stroke (1 Corinthians 6:11). And although it can be extremely difficult to forgive ourselves, as well as forgive someone who has sinned against us, we need to follow the Lord's command to forgive others (Colossians 3:13).

As Christians, we aren't called to be perfect, simply authentic. The next time you've done something wrong and it seems unforgivable, just remember that God cleansed you of all your sins when you were saved. Confess your sin, recognizing that it is affecting your fellowship with God (though your relationship with Him is secure). Turn from your sin and seek His power in living a godly life. --Stephen Summers, Oregon

DESTINATION POINTS

* Is there something in my life for which I need to ask forgiveness? What's keeping me from repenting?
* Is there someone I need to forgive for wronging me?
* Do I know someone who needs to hear of God's eternal forgiveness?

LINKS:
10 Reasons To Believe Real Christians Can Look Like They're Not
http://www.rbc.net/rtb/5rsn

Accepted By God
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0607

bottom line: God's eraser is bigger than my sin.

soul journey

CELEB WORSHIP

Luke 4:1-8
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry. 3 The devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5 The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to Him, "I will give You all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if You worship me, it will all be Yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"

So, whom have you been worshiping lately? According to a recent study published in New Scientist, one-third of the US population has the starry-eyed condition known as Celebrity Worship Syndrome.

About 20 percent closely follow celebs for entertainment and social reasons. Another 10 percent have an "intense personal" feeling for a specific idol--many believing they have a special bond with a movie, sports, or music star. These people are experiencing signs of addiction in their celebrity worship.

One percent of US citizens are struggling with a "borderline-pathological" condition in their adoration of a pop figure. They would willingly hurt themselves or others in the name of their idol. (Kinda makes you glad you're not a celeb, huh?)

Last summer, an NBA superstar who admitted he committed adultery--and had been charged with rape--was given the Teen Choice Award for "most favorite male sports figure." It's evident that we often idolize a person for what they look like or what they can do--not for who they are.

As Jesus-followers, we must realize how important it is that we reserve our worship for God alone. Satan once tried to tempt our Savior, telling Him that the kingdoms of the world would be His "if You worship me" (Luke 4:7).

Jesus responded by telling the evil one, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only'" (v.8). These words are a paraphrase of what God told Moses way back in the OT: "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only" (Deuteronomy 6:13). The way Jesus responded revealed three things:

1. He was God's Son.

2. He was not going to be sidetracked from His mission.

3. He was the perfect, sinless Man who would not bow down to one not worthy of worship.

What an example Jesus gave us! Let's worship God for who He is. He alone is worthy of all our praise . . . not some pop idol in the midst of 15 minutes of fame. --Tom Felten

DESTINATION POINTS

* What pop idols have I been worshiping?
* How can I appreciate a person's talent and ability without being consumed with him or her?
* In what ways does my life reflect these words: "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only"? Where am I missing the mark?

LINKS:
One-Third Of Us Worship Celebrities
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34129

bottom line: God alone is worthy of worship.

soul journey