The Plight of Living a Breathless Life
By Laura Bag

Get busy! Get moving! Get on that frenetic treadmill. Nothing robs the peace and joy from a Christian's life more than constant busyness. That busyness for the Christian may be veiled as some superspiritual drive for excellence, some kind of way to work out our salvation. But in the end it comes down to just plain fear-driven, can't-stop-moving, don't-want-to-deal-with-it, got-to-please-everyone busyness.

If that is you, I understand. See, I know what it is like to live a breathless life and not even realize it, not even think about the spiritual erosion daily distractions are causing to my soul…that is until my life became literally breathless.

And I say literally because that is exactly what happened.

When an air conditioning unit quits in the middle of the hottest, sultriest week imaginable, it takes a bit of humor to beat the heat. After ranting and raving about my condition, my plight, my rights, my pathetic state, it struck me as humorous. This was the weekend that the air stood still. I thus deemed this time "the breathless life."

And then it dawned on me. One evening, while lying listlessly, I realized something. See, you get really introspective when things don't work out the way you think they ought to. In times of suffering, questions aren't far behind. At first I asked the typical 'why me?' But eventually I began to ask instead, 'What do I need to learn from this experience? Is God trying to tell me something?'

I know, it sounds cheesy. But the fact is I believe God had something very profound to tell me, and my statement said in fun was ironically not far from the truth.

God had given me this amazing blessing that took inquiry and prayer to see. To the human mind, this was disaster, but to God this was time for me to learn about resting in the Lord.

Now if you are me, you would initially note this season as forced rest -- a not too pleasant term for being unable to do what you really want, and that is to just keep on doing. But when you have done all you can and there isn't anything else you can do to get back to life as usual, you have two choices: either you continue being frustrated or you can take life as it comes; either you can try desperately to regain control or you can give up control.

Not being the kind of person who lives one day at a time, after readjusting and going with the flow and living each minute to the fullest (because there wasn't much else to do), I was amazed to find a peace and refreshment that I confess I have not experienced in over five years.

cbn

God Doesn't Forget a Single Bird
By Scott Presson

On my way into work this morning, a bird darted in front of me. I heard it bounce off of my truck and in my rear view mirror; I saw it as it fell to the side of the road. The Lord immediately spoke to me about that little bird. He impressed it upon my heart that He had seen what happened and He was totally aware of it. My mind jumped to this verse:

What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. (Luke 12:6)

God doesn't forget a single bird. God's creation is valuable to Him. As a part of His creation, He is concerned with you and me. In fact we are His chosen vessels to complete His will on earth.

Sometimes we all feel as if we've been "left out in the cold". We feel like God must have His attention elsewhere and He didn't see that problem that came up or realize we needed a quick resolution. Just like that bird that darted in front of me, we often ask why God doesn't intervene in our lives, why didn't God make him zig instead of zag?

But of course God does intervene as we yield to Him.

God really does care about us. God really does see all the problems. God really is on the job, hearing our prayers and taking care of what we need.

We have to stay focused. We hear a variation of that all the time. The world says, "Just stay focused", as if that will make our entire decision making process okay. Or they say, "Work through it," as if all the poor choices we've made can be corrected by force of will. God wants us to focus on Him:

And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don't worry about food - what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Luke 12:28)

He will give us everything we need if we make His kingdom our focus. We have to learn to rely on Him to take care of the issues in our lives. How many times have you tried to interject yourself in a situation fully intending on doing the right thing and yet it turns out so wrong. We always want to do things our way and yet half the time that's the very reason we're in that position in the first place. Our free will is not free reign to wreak havoc. In fact, that's what God is trying to get us to see, Yield To Him And He Will Take Care Of You. Look at this verse:

If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation. (Psalms 91:9)

He will protect you, rescue you, be with you, answer you, honor you, satisfy you, give you long life and His salvation. If you make God your refuge and your shelter! We just have to trust in Him and he gives us all that. What a bargain!

Don't fret. God sees all the little birds that fall by the wayside and He sees all you are struggling with today. He wants you to know that He loves you with His everlasting Love. He wants you to know that He alone knows all about you and every hope and dream you hold so dear. He alone knows the issues in your life. He alone knows the way it will all turn out, But You Must Yield To Him. God's plan is the best plan. His plan will make you skillful at His calling. His plan for you will enable you to go forward with confidence. His plan will prevail.

God wants to bless you right now. He is giving you strength for this day and hope for the future. He is giving you peace. Just receive all that He has for you! Rest in the fact that He is looking upon you with graciousness and favor. You are His beloved.

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6: 24)

cbn

Turning All That Glitters into Gold
John Fischer

In the little town of Bethlehem, the most important birth in all of human history took place on what we now consider the first Christmas. It was sparsely attended by some bleating farm animals and a handful of shepherds who wouldn’t have been there had not the sky lit up with a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and inviting the shepherds to the stable. What an invitation! With the exception of that outburst, however, no one else knew. Oh yes, there were some astrologers from the east that figured out what was going on by studying the stars and some ancient manuscripts, but they didn’t make it to town until at least a year or two later when the baby was a child. Why such an uneventful welcome for such an auspicious event?

It’s God’s way. He’s always been quiet about His work on earth. “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift was given/So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven.” He’s even pretty quiet about the way He works in our lives. Silently He came into the world; silently He comes into our hearts. No fanfare. No welcoming committee. God has never been into self-promotion. He lets His work speak for itself.

And His work would be you and me. Yes, believers are the result of Christ’s coming. It is all about good news and glad tidings for all people. A Savior has been born and He has been born for us. Or as the angel announced it: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David” (Luke 2:11 NLT)!

It occurs to me there are two ways to take all the fanfare and glitter of this season. We can see it as the over-commercialism of Christmas, or we can take all the lights, and gifts, and decorations, and parties, and bells, and carols, and Christmas specials on TV—even Santa and reindeer in the front yard—and bank them all as celebrations of what we know to be the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Christ. We can even take the conversion of old Scrooge as the joy of new life and forgiveness of sins.

There’s no law against sanctifying the secularization of Christmas in your own heart and mind. It’s what we make of all this in our hearts that counts. Every single light can represent another soul secured in eternity as the result of what Christ has accomplished.

There was no room available for the Son of God when He came the first time. Let’s make sure there’s room in our hearts this Christmas, and don’t let anyone take away what is good about the glad tidings of Christ’s birth!

PDL

seeing god’s goodness

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. 69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:65-71

Sometimes it's difficult to see the good that God is doing. As I described in a previous article (December 14), my wife experienced serious difficulties when she was pregnant with our youngest son. The year before she had developed phlebitis after a cross-country plane trip with a 2-year old on her lap. A blood clot had formed near her ankle and had lodged in the abdominal area on its way to her heart. The doctor put Mary on some medicine to break down the clot and told us she shouldn't get pregnant for at least a year; otherwise she would likely be in the hospital for months.

But 3 months later we discovered that she was pregnant. We lived day to day on pins and needles, striving to make it through each week without going to the hospital. With two children under the age of 5, it was difficult for her to get the rest she needed.

The hardest day was when Mary's doctor told her that she should abort Josh. He warned that the medication she had taken to break down the clot had probably adversely affected our baby. Chances were very good that we would have a deformed child. In fact, he predicted that we would have a “little monster.” Those were his exact words. (What a bedside manner that guy had!)

So now we were not only faced with concerns for Mary's health, but with the possibility of a deformed child. God's good work (Psalm 119:68) was difficult to see. But here's the good news. Josh was born and he was perfect. He could have been disabled in some way and, yes, he still would have been a gift from God. But God was gracious to us in that Josh was born without any physical defects whatever.

Every day of the pregnancy was a challenge to trust God and to rest in his goodness. We couldn't see the outcome. We could only trust in his perfect character. God can be trusted when your circumstances look bleak. These words from God's Word sum it up best, “You are good and do good!” —Steve Farrar stevefarrar.com

seeking: O God, how have you revealed your goodness to me today? What worship have you drawn from my heart?

responding: Why is it difficult at times to see God's goodness? Where is he when tough times come? What good things has he taught me through hardships?

God, you are my God. I will trust you and seek to find good in the difficulties you allow me to endure. Teach me to praise you in spite of my circumstances.

following: God is good even when bad things happen.

our journey

Wise Men Still Seek Him
John Fischer

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2 NIV)

I normally don’t like bumper stickers because they so often trivialize the message, but one exception stands out. It used to show up around Christmas time, though I haven’t seen it for a while. It is the simple but profound assertion: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM.

I like this because it says at least two things. 1) Those who seek God are wise. God affirms the dignity of the searcher and the search. The fact that God has set it up this way — has concealed His matters and invited us to search for Him — confirms our nobility. It says we have enough smarts to look for Him and recognize Him when we find Him. In fact, the proverb puts the searcher in the realm of kings. It’s a noble task to seek after God.

2) Those who seek God are given the benefit of the doubt, that if they seek Him, they will find Him. This is actually a promise in scripture: “…He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). This is why those of us who already know Him don’t have to jump all over those who are seeking when they get something wrong or don’t put it in exactly the right words. If they are truly seeking, they will find Him, and it will be God who opens their eyes anyway. We need to respect the search of those we know who are seeking and not get impatient with them or think of them as stupid for not seeing what we see. When it’s time, they will.

This may mean you might have to bite your tongue a little bit and not say everything you know all the time. Better to listen for those parts of the truth the seeker has already found and affirm them. Jesus didn’t spill all the beans as soon as He started preaching. He let a little bit out at a time. He talked in code (parables). He asked a lot of questions. He protected the search. He didn’t give what was sacred to dogs or throw out pearls to pigs. He always said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” and then He went on to not say everything. He made them hang on His words and come back for more. All of this protects not only the dignity of the search and the searcher, but also the dignity of the truth.

It really should be this way; otherwise we could just put it all on a bumper sticker.

PDL

Clothed in White
Steven Halter

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised when looking through the window to see snow falling and doing wondrous things outside? A dull and dreary day was unexpectedly and suddenly transformed into an exciting, lovely, and beautiful day. A drab landscape was turned into a delightful sight as it was blanketed with snow. Bare and seemingly lifeless trees were turned into marvelous works of art as they were decorated with brilliant white highlights.

Our own lives are like that. Like the seemingly lifeless trees, we were once dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1). We were spiritually separated from God and His kingdom.

But then we were cleansed of our sins through faith in Jesus, and were made alive (Col. 1:13). No longer dark and bare trees, we were clothed in white. We had been given the brilliant clothes of those who are in Christ (1 Cor. 6:11). We had become beautiful works of art.

Also, as we are delighted to see a beautiful winter scene, so God is delighted to see His work in our lives. We who once were unsightly, being his enemies, have been marvelously transformed by His grace into children of God (Rom. 5:10, John 1:12). And just as the trees did not cover themselves with powdery snow, neither can we claim credit for our transformation (Eph. 2:8-9). It is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We can give glory and thanks to God for what He has done in our lives. Because of His great love, He did not abandon us in a dark and helpless condition. He did not leave us in our sins, separated from Him. Instead, by His marvelous grace He changed and transformed us. He gave us right standing before Him, and made us part of His family. What a wonderful God!

May we allow the transformation in our lives to be a testimony to others of God's work. For the celestial snow that has fallen on our lives can fall anywhere. It can fall on other lives, changing souls. It can fall in China, Russia, Afghanistan, and around the world. May we testify with our words and our actions that God loves to change lives as His salvation falls like snow on believing hearts (2 Cor. 5:20).

cbn

best decision ever

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:24-28

Imagine that in just about 15 minutes this life is going to be over. Everything that seems so important to you now will fade, and the only thing that will matter is whether or not you are ready to stand before God.

Are you ready? Hebrews 9:27 states this truth: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Have your eyes been opened to the glorious truth that can be found only in Jesus? Let me share this good news with you. We'll begin with a couple of questions:

• Who do you think Jesus is? Do you believe that he is God's Son? (John 3:16).

• Do you believe that Jesus came into this world, lived a sinless life, and died in your place so that you could be forgiven by God? (Romans 6:23).

• Do you believe that he rose from the dead, proving that God's need for judgment of sin was satisfied? (Romans 4:25).

• Do you recognize that you're a sinful person and that, on your own, you're not prepared to meet God? (Romans 3:23). Do you believe that Jesus has provided the way? (John 14:6).

What will you say when you stand before God and he asks, “Why should I let you into heaven?” The best answer is, “Well, you shouldn't, except that I'm trusting completely in Jesus. I have nothing to offer, except that I believe that Jesus died in my place and you accepted his sacrifice on my behalf. I can't earn it; I'll never deserve it, but I'm trusting in Jesus for my salvation.”

John 1:12 assures us that “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” You can be sure that if you come to God on his terms, he will never send you away. When your faith is placed in Jesus alone, your sins can be forgiven and eternal life can be your confident hope.

You can make that choice right now. If you haven't—do it today! —James MacDonald walkintheword.com

seeking: Father, what have I done with your offer of salvation? How have I seen this gift in a new light today?

responding: What does it take to know God personally? • What is my faith based on? • How can I know that I've received salvation?

If you want to receive God's gift of salvation, by faith pray this from your heart: Father, I know that I'm a sinner. I believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sin. Right now I turn from my sin and I embrace Jesus by faith. Lord Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you. Come into my life and forgive my sins. Change me. Make me the person you want me to be. I give my life to you today.

following: Am I ready to stand before God?

our journey

Priceless Gift
John Fischer

Gift of service: Warm a cold heart with a blanket. Price: $35.00.

Gift of encouragement: Take flowers to a friend battling cancer.Price: $50.00.

Gift of leadership: Throw a Christmas party for your small group.Price: $100.

Gift of Christ to your next-door neighbor: Priceless.

Christmas is all about gift giving -- making lists of gifts, purchasing gifts, wrapping gifts, giving gifts and opening gifts (and probably returning some, too). All of this is because of one priceless gift given to the human race two thousand years ago -- the gift of God’s Son. And this gift came about as the result of God’s unfathomable mercy and grace. He did not have to do this. Nothing in us required it. He decided to be merciful to his own creation made in His image -- all of us having turned our backs on Him and gone our own way.

Somehow we got fortunate. It’s definitely not because we’re cute. There is no merit here -- nothing we deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve; mercy is not getting what you do deserve. We have been given both. We don’t deserve anything from God except punishment for our sins, and what did He do? His mercy up and cancelled the punishment so His grace could give us life.

Two priceless gifts; one awesome God.

What can we do except be filled with gratitude and mimic His gift-giving to the extent of our creativity and our resources?

And while we’re at it, let’s think of a spiritual gift we can give, based on what has been given to us. Regardless of our material resources, we are all rich in spiritual gifts. Give this some thought. Think of your spiritual gift (encouragement, wisdom, administration, mercy, service, teaching, etc.) and how you might turn it into a real present for someone this Christmas season. Make it something you can plan and accomplish as a deliberate act (see above). Put a bow around it if it’s appropriate.

Christmas is spiritual, full of gifts and gift giving. Let’s not forget to give the gift of Christ this Christmas. It’s the one gift among all the others that is truly priceless.

PDL

patient trust

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:7-11

Like everything else in the Christian life, patience is a learned spiritual art—perhaps one of the hardest ones to find active in our lives. Patience is the skill of waiting well, of yielding our timetables to others and—most important—to the Lord. I like the term patient waiting because patience is nothing more than the art of learning to wait! Webster's Dictionary agrees. For the word patient, it offers this definition: “the will or ability to wait.” Patience can be especially challenging at Christmastime for those of us who find it hard to wait for that moment when we can open all those tantalizingly wrapped gifts under the tree!

But it's not just about waiting to get what we want. Ultimately, it's about waiting for God to accomplish his agenda in our lives. Waiting to experience answers to prayer, the fulfillment of his promises, the development of his divine character in our lives. The psalmist encouraged us, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . . . Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you” (Psalm 37:7,34). Patience is about how much we trust God. The quicker we become uptight about life and our predicaments, the less we really believe that he is with us and is in control.

The apostle James knew something about waiting—not just waiting for something desired but waiting on the Lord and trusting him during times of intense adversity. In his letter to the scattered and persecuted Jewish Christians of his day, he used various forms of the words wait, patience, and perseverance ten times. Besides these occurrences, the idea of patiently waiting is woven throughout the book. It takes much patience, for example, to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

James was the right person to deliver a message of patient endurance in trial and patient waiting for the return of Jesus. Because James was the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55), some people might have thought he would be eligible for special treatment. But James knew the reality of persecution, and he never tried to claim special privilege. Instead, he identified himself simply as a “servant” of Jesus (James 1:1). To a group of people badly in need of wise counsel, James offered not an escape route but a path to spiritual maturity: Wait for the Lord. And as you follow this path, you too will discover that he is worth waiting for.

—Joe Stowell www.rbc.org

seeking: Father, what have I learned about trust from you today? How have you encouraged me to be patient and wait for you?

responding: What makes it difficult for me to be patient? • How is my trust in God reflected in my ability to be still and wait for him? • In what concerns will I wait patiently for him today?

Father, you have been so patient with me. Help me to imitate you in the way I face life's questions and challenges. I want to trust you with all that I am.

following: Yield to God's timetable—his timing is always perfect.

our journey

deepest desire of god

11 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. Leviticus 26:11-13

We have answers in abundance, answers that seek to “settle things once and for all” and stop the imagination dead in its tracks. What we often lack are good questions, questions that drive us to new and deeper places of intimacy and understanding of who Jesus is and what he means to us.

Here's a good question: What is the deepest desire in the heart of God?

You would expect the answer to such a significant question to echo through the Scriptures again and again. And we would expect to see the same answer written in large letters across Jesus' perfect life.

The Bible's initial response to the question is in Genesis 3. God called out, “Where are you?” He didn't ask because he didn't know where Adam was. His question was an invitation to come take a walk in spite of Adam's disobedience. Though the first man and woman demonstrated their desire to disobey and walk away from God, still he called out, inviting them to come and be with him. One of the deepest desires of God's heart is to be with us.

He knows the answer, yet he calls out this same ancient question to you and me: “Where are you?”

Our original question is answered again and again in the Old Testament. It is behind every institution of the old covenant.

• The purpose of both the tabernacle (Exodus 25) and the temple (1 Kings 6) was to fulfill this desire of God to be with his people.

• The purpose of the law was to fulfill this divine desire as well (Leviticus 26:12).

The incarnation of Jesus provides the final answer to our question, for it is the “enfleshment” of the deepest desire of God's heart. On the cross, his desire became a reality. “Immanuel” perfectly describes who Jesus is— “God with us!”

The final piece of the puzzle is found in Revelation: “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God'” (Revelation 21:3).

The reward for obedience is the gift of God's presence. —Michael Card michaelcard.com

seeking: Jesus, how have you challenged my heart with the knowledge of your love for me—your desire to be with me? How will I show my love for you this day?

responding: What effect does this teaching have on my heart, to hear that God's desire is to be with me? • Can I think of any more echoes of the answer to the question “What is the deepest desire in the heart of God?” • When I think of the person I love the most, isn't my deepest desire to be with him or her?

Immanuel, what more could you have done to make it possible for me to be with you? What greater price could you have paid? If your heart is aching to be with me, then by your Spirit put the same desire in my heart.

following: God desires to share his presence with us.

our journey