Bank of Bad Habits
Aaron Bull

Heres a confessionI listen to Jimmy Buffett. There are some songs I object to, but overall its the escapism of being at the beach anytime I want to go simply by listening to one of his songs that I enjoy.
Theres one song that I particularly enjoy due to its biblical basis. Its called the "Bank of Bad Habits." For those of you who listen to or have listened to Buffett in the past, it will be no surprise that its a bouncy song with a beach/blues sound.

The song talks about (I dont mean to point out the obvious) a bank of bad habits where we make deposits and withdrawals. However, at this bank its not money, CDs, etc. its a bank where we deposit and withdrawal our bad habits.

Believe it or not, the bad habits he lists are, as I mentioned before, in the Bible. They are pride, coveting, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth. One of the reasons I enjoy this song so much is that when I commit one of these sins a little song starts playing in my head. Can you guess which one? It seems almost as if its Gods comical way of reminding me of what Im in the midst of. For those of you who object to me inferring that God has a sense of humor, let me answer you with a joke. How do you make God laugh? Make plans. I digress.

Another part of the song has the following lyrics:

Bank of bad habitsOne by one they'll do you in
They're bound to take their toll

Heres the other truth of the song. These same habits, which at times can become idols we hide at all costs, will catch up with us some day. They will reveal us either at work, home, with our kids or spouse. Usually its at the most inopportune time.

Numbers 32:23 says, Be sure your sin will find you out.

How do we resolve these sins? How do we break free from them? Pray, pray and then pray some more. We have to ask for forgiveness for each of them. Identify them one by one as best you can. We also need to truly repent of each sin, going so far as to ask God to help you break free. However, the decision is still ultimately up to you as to choosing Gods will or your own. He will never let the temptation be stronger than what you can handle and He will always give you a way out. He promises it in scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:14

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

To give Buffett some credit, one of the other lines in the song is:

"So put away those alibis
You can't fool that Banker in the sky"

Boy is that the truth! So what will it be todaya deposit or withdrawalor possibly a permanent closing of the account?

cbn

bring on the guava!

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

I grew up thinking Christianity was all about what we “didn't do.” Living just to abstain from evil wasn't fun or fulfilling. The enemy deceived me into thinking that at least I could feel alive if I did what I wasn't supposed to do.

My family lived across the street from the high school when I was a child. My sister and I were such a handful that when we wanted to play school, we broke into the high school to do it. The simple fact that it was locked made us want to break in.

Think about this with me: Only one tree in the entire Garden was forbidden to Adam and Eve. Instead of surveying everything God had given and marveling, Eve was seduced by the serpent into thinking, Perhaps I'd rather trade all this in for the one thing God told me to avoid. He could be holding out on me.

We've paid dearly for believing this lie. In comparison to all that we've been given to enjoy in our earthly life with Jesus, what we've been called to avoid is like one measly tree in the whole garden. We don't even begin to eat the fruit of the endless groves in our garden. Ephesians 1:3 says we have every spiritual blessing in Jesus!

We reach for the forbidden trees because we're bored with a steady diet of nothing but apples and bananas. Some of us are doing the same things to fuel our Christian faith that we did years ago, and we're in a rut. It's time to wake up and smell the guava!

When you and I start taking Jesus up on all he made possible for us, we will be so much happier in our faith that abstaining from evil will not seem nearly so sacrificial.

When we learn to really enjoy our God, the craving for the world's pleasures is diminished. The need has already been met just as it was meant to be. Nothing will make you more consistently happy than a full-bore, flood-stage relationship with Jesus Christ. —Beth Moore bethmoore.org

seeking: Jesus, how have I experienced your many blessings this day? What praise will I offer to you now?

responding: Am I bored in my faith because I have not taken all Jesus has offered me? • How can I break out of my rut and enjoy my faith?

Lord, please help me broaden my spiritual horizons and accept every spiritual blessing in Jesus. Please take away my appetite for sin and replace it with a hunger and thirst for you!

following: Take Jesus up on all he has made possible for you.

our journey

Being Politically Incorrect!
John Fischer

Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it; right is right even if no one is doing it. - St. Augustine

Notice how little you hear about right and wrong these days? When right and wrong are purely subjective (what's right for me may not be what's right for you), we lose any external standard for morality. We have a cultural expediency right now called postmodernism that allows for a great deal of ambiguity over right and wrong. Indeed, any external standard of right and wrong has now become politically incorrect. Now isn't that convenient?

Even the Ten Commandments have become more of a controversial symbol of a fight over church and state than what they were intended to be -- a standard by which human beings can behave properly and live long on the land. I read recently where one commentator suggested that with all the fighting over whether the Ten Commandments should be displayed at government sites, obeying them has been completely overlooked. I think he's right.

Based on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), lying is wrong. Stealing is wrong. Wanting what others have is wrong. Killing is wrong. Adultery is wrong (regardless of what the meaning of “is” is). Worshiping anyone or anything other than the one true God is wrong. Invoking God's name when you have no real thought towards Him is wrong. And then there are a couple things that are right: honoring your father and mother, and keeping one day of rest among seven

I don't know about you, but I have a long ways to go on just these. I tell people I'm going to do things that I end up not doing. It's always well intentioned, but it is a lie if I don't follow through with what I said. I steal by being in debt and not paying back. I was doing fine on killing and adultery until Jesus came along and redefined killing as hatred and adultery as lust. (Whoops!) And then there are those commercials that appeal to everything I want that I don't have, and I don't see a whole lot of resistance going on in my own life. I want as much as the next guy.

Meanwhile, God's idea of right and wrong hasn't budged an inch since the beginning of time. We would do well to get a little old-fashioned about this. These commandments are there not only to help us be better people, but also to remind us how far we have to go, and how much we need God's grace and forgiveness to get there.

When it comes to right and wrong, we could afford to be a little politically incorrect!

PDL

not-so-rich uncle

7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

In today's text, Jesus tells us only to ask and we shall receive. If we “seek first the kingdom of God” (see Matthew 6:33), can we expect God to add material things to our portion?

Certainly not with a demanding attitude. Those who promote a gospel of material prosperity are twisting the Scriptures. God always provides for our needs, not necessarily our wants. Yet, if you are a parent, you know the delight of surprising a child with a gift. And that's what God does sometimes.

A woman I know had struggled for years to save enough to trade in her old car for a new one. When she hoped that she had enough cash to make the switch, her uncle from overseas implored her to come for a special anniversary celebration. “Since I have no children,” he wrote, “it would mean a lot to me.” So, my friend used the car money for her trip.

Now, heading overseas, she was truly broke—but not worried. God had always supplied her needs. Her riches were found in God's “inexpressible gift” (see 2 Corinthians 9:15). He was her confidant. He alone knew about her desire that she might be able to buy a new car one day—maybe even a two-seater convertible. (Yeah, right! She couldn't even afford an economy car.)

But God already had a plan, and it was one that only he could author!

Her uncle was not rich. In fact, he lived very modestly. Therefore, what happened next was amazing. The uncle gave her his life's savings because of her faithfulness to him—an amount that would not only pay for the trip but allow her to buy a new car! “Why wait till I'm dead?” he said. And he handed her the money in cash!

Would you call that a coincidence? Or an example of the promise of Matthew 6:33? —Elfriede Mollon, California

seeking: Father, how have you just given me renewed hope? What good gifts that I've received will I praise you for?

responding: Why do I doubt God at times?
• How has he provided for me in amazing ways in the past?
• What happens to my faith when the gifts don't come?

Father, help me to see that you've already given me more than I deserve. With each gift that I receive from your hand, help me to bow down and thank you with real gratitude.

following: God gives good gifts to his children.

our journey

Long Sermons
Dan Betzer

Next time your pastor preaches a few minutes longer than you think he should, open your Bible to Acts 20 and read about the sermon preached by the Apostle Paul at the seaport town of Troas. He was still going strong at midnight. That’s when tragedy struck.

According to Luke’s narrative, the meeting was in a third story room, lighted by burning lamps (which certainly gave some illumination, but they also burned the oxygen from the air). A poor fellow named Eutychus was sitting on a sill by an open window when he fell asleep and slipped backward to his death three stories below.

Paul rushed down to him, prayed a prayer of faith, and life came back into this kid -- whereupon, Paul went back to preaching and continued until dawn. Now, friend, THAT is a long sermon.

Strange, isn’t it, how we regard the length of time in church? Now if we go to a baseball game and it goes extra innings, we are thrilled! Or if a football or basketball game goes into overtime, well, we have just hit the jackpot, haven’t we? But let a church service get a little long and we get fidgety.

No, preachers should not abuse the privileges they have in declaring the Gospel. Many of us are finished long before we stop speaking, if you get my drift. But on the other hand, if God’s Spirit is at work, be patient.

And, for goodness sake, don’t get up and leave during the altar call. How people can walk out of church when people are coming to the altar is just beyond me, but they do. I often wonder if they would leave just as the ballgame goes into overtime.

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IS GOD'S WILL A MYSTERY?

Romans 12:1-6
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing, and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

The young man was facing his senior year of high school without much direction for the future. Unsure what the next year would bring, he concluded that the future was a mystery for everyone. "After all, nobody really knows what God's will is," he said.

Is he right? He equated an unsure future with an inability to know ahead of time exactly what God wanted him to do the following year. All he knew about God's will was that it was some mystical thing God wanted a person to do in the future. And since he wasn't sure whether he'd be a college student or a hamburger flipper next year, there was no reason to know God's will.

But is it true that this indecisiveness translates into not knowing God's will? I don't think so. Often we translate the concept of His will into the ability to discern what kind of job or schooling or marital situation we will be in at some future time. When we limit the idea of God's will to this kind of thinking, however, we ignore an important reality about living in the center of His will: God has told us exactly what His will is for each of us, and that will is no different from one believer in Jesus to the next.

God has told us that His will for us is that we do good in order to stop foolish people from talking ignorantly (1 Peter 2:15). The best way to shut down foolish talk is by good, honorable behavior.
Another element of God's will is choosing to give Him thanks, no matter what the circumstance. That's not easy to do when bad things happen--but that's what God wants us to do.

One more item. God wants us to be pure in regard to sexuality and to avoid immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). As we follow God's will, we are more able to find what Romans 12:2 calls God's "good, pleasing, and perfect will." Living in the light of God's approval allows us to know how He wants us to serve Him.

Do we know God's will? Yes. As we act on it, trust Him, and wait for His direction, He will reveal how we should spend our lives for His glory. --Dave Branon

DESTINATION POINTS

* Perhaps it would be a good idea for me to do a word study of the term "God's will." What are some references to it in Scripture? What does the term mean?
* What are some ways that I've been a little lax in fulfilling God's will for me?

bottom line: To know God's will, know Him well.

soul journey

His Compassions Fail Not
Missey Butler

As our nation watches in disbelief the unfolding of what appears to be an unending nightmare for the people of the Gulf Coast states, it soon becomes apparent that mere words cannot adequately describe the rising toll of human suffering.

It’s one thing to view such heartbreaking scenes in a far-away country, but quite another when the same scenes begin to unfold right here on our own soil. It’s like being punched in the stomach and then reeling from the pain as the reality of what has just happened begins to fully register. It was stated that many have become “American refugees” as news footage shows the stories of one brother, arm in arm, leading another brother out from among the ravages of destruction.

My husband and I sat numbed with silence as we witnessed the utter ruin of city after city. I felt overtaken with a multitude of emotions, the more evident one being disbelief. Psychologists describe such feelings as empathy, but I’m not even sure if we can begin to understand the scope of the pain and misery that is now pouring over the victims of this monstrous storm.

I heard a news reporter state, “We are just going to have to come up with some new words because what we are seeing here cannot be described by ordinary words.” Yes, words often fail us!

There is one word, however, that we can always count on -- hope. It acts as an anchor, helping us to stand firm and fixed through the storms of life. In biblical terms, hope is closely aligned with faith. The book of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). Hope, therefore, is the object upon which we can direct all of our energies.

In the days and weeks to come, we need to be faithful to pray that God will cover our Gulf Coast friends with the promise and the hope of His unfailing word:

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress (Psalm 71: 1-3).

We as a nation will once again rise up in response to the cry of our fellow man by extending a compassionate heart and a helpful hand, as we together begin to take steps toward restoration and the healing of all who have suffered. Our hope and trust is in our God, whose compassions never fail us.

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Dual Citizenship
John Fischer

Save the Whales! Collect the whole set!

Okay, I’ll admit, I was pulled in by the joke, but it did start me thinking about the environment and what a purpose-driven Christian should do about it.

Christians do not have much of a reputation for caring about the environment. Traditional doctrines of dispensationalism and pre-millennialism have led us to be pessimistic about society and the world we live in. Since God’s going to destroy this world anyway and build a new one (and get us out of here first), why care about it? This has created a detachment to culture and the environment that has made faith appear irrelevant and aloof. What do we care what happens to this place? It’s not our home anyway.

But this kind of thinking reflects negatively on our neighbors and on us as good citizens, and ultimately limits our opportunities to share Christ with those who don’t know Him. Jesus told his disciples to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God, what is God’s (Matthew 22:17-21). Well, in a democracy as we have in America, part of our responsibility to “Caesar” includes being knowledgeable about our society and the world we live in. In a democracy, citizens have more of a voice than they did under Caesar, and I’m sure in this context that Jesus would mean in “rendering unto Caesar” more than just paying our taxes.

We had an election in California yesterday. Only 42% were expected to turn out. If those 42% didn’t include 100% of all believers (and I’m sure it didn’t), then we are not fulfilling our responsibility to “Caesar.”

As Christians in a democracy, we need to see ourselves as responsible for bettering the lives of those around us. God’s salvation plan for us involves caring about the world we live in. He doesn’t save us to take us out of the world, but to send us into it (John 17:15-18). The world should be a better place because of Christians who take up residence in it. The message of salvation is not just for us.

Remember? It’s not about us. We got saved for someone else. That “someone else” includes our neighbors, co-workers, communities and yes, even the whales. The environment is a part of the splendid creation of God that He left us in charge of. Some of our non-Christian

friends care about this mandate more than we do. We need to change that. We are citizens of this world as much as we are citizens of the next. We need to live as good citizens of both.

PDL

an inviting refusal

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Mark 7:24-30

The story of the Syrophoenician woman represents a fascinating echo of the story of the faith of the centurion (Luke 7:1-10). Both are “long-distance” miracles. Both involve the faith of a Gentile.

Once again it seems that Jesus has fled the draining presence of the crowd to get some rest. But once again he discovers that even for him, this is an impossibility. A desperate woman barges into the silence that surrounds the exhausted Jesus. Perhaps she had heard of his miraculous power from a group of her countrymen who had been with Jesus earlier (3:8). She frantically falls at his feet, begging for a miracle.

Rabbis were not supposed to speak to women in public, much less Gentile women. But Jesus engages the worried woman in an unforgettable conversation. At first his response sounds like a refusal. In fact, however, it was an invitation for her to hear Jesus' heart.

To us, Jesus' reply sounds harsh. Is he really calling her a “dog"? After all, dogs are looked on as unclean animals in Judaism (Leviticus 11:27). But Jesus does not use the word for stray dogs. He uses the diminutive term for “little dogs” or perhaps “pet dogs.” I don't think that the scene he is painting for the woman is a Jewish scene, but a thoroughly Hellenistic one. In her world it was common to keep small pet dogs. The image of the children throwing scraps of bread to their pets underneath the table does not offend her in the least. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect. Her charming but stubborn response appears to delight Jesus. It represents an imaginative expression of her faith in him. In the give-and-take of ordinary human conversation, Jesus is enchanted by the faith and wit of this extraordinary woman.

When she returned home, she sensed that the dark demonic cloud was gone. Her little girl was lying quietly in bed, no more convulsions, no more self-destructive behavior. Her home and her family would never be the same, and all this represented a crumb that had just fallen from the table! —Michael Card michaelcard.com

seeking: Lord, how has this story drawn me closer to your heart? How has it strengthened my faith in you?

responding: Does Jesus' attempt to reach out to someone in the language of a different culture represent a challenge and perhaps even a pattern for me? • How does it make me feel when I read that Jesus was delighted by someone? Have I ever realized that he delights in me?

Lord, sometimes all I can do is fall at your feet and beg for crumbs. Forgive me for my failure to know you better. Forgive me for forgetting your standing invitation to the banquet you have prepared and the special place at your table, just for me. Forgive me for believing that you are unapproachable—after all you have done to pursue me.

following: Faith in Jesus makes for miraculous change.

our journey

Before They Call
Missey Butler

On my drive into work recently, the Lord and I were conversing, as we often do. I said, “Lord, I know that You are well aware of the deep suffering that Your children are now enduring within the Gulf state region. Your heart must be truly breaking.”

I heard Him say, “Yes, My daughter, you know My heart well; you have understood that I am well acquainted with grief and sorrow. I not only see this particular area of devastation, but I also see the entire suffering world as My eyes roam to and from the earth. Though you can only see what is directly in front of you, I see the entire picture.”

I was immediately humbled as I thought of Isaiah 55:8, where the Lord God says, “My thoughts are higher than your thoughts, my ways are higher than your ways.”

“You are right, My Lord,” I prayed. “Our human limitations many times cause us to quickly doubt Your capacity of love and cause us to mistrust Your longing desire to deliver, heal, and restore all of those precious souls who find themselves in dire straits while living in a fallen world.”

God immediately reminded me of two powerful Scriptures that speak of His omniscience. In the book of Isaiah 65:24, He reminds us, “Before they call I will answer.” And again in Psalm 139:4, the Bible says, “Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely O Lord.”

Naturally, my initial response was “Well, Lord, if it’s true that You know the answer even before we call, why would You even have us pray to You at all?”

Right away I heard His voice speak, “Prayer never changes Me -- but it does change you.”

Wow! I had never thought of it that way. But the longer I allowed His words to settle within my spirit, the more I realized that it was true.

For I am the LORD, I do not change (Malachi 3:6).

In that moment, I realized we don’t pray to God in order to get Him to change His mind. God chooses to use our prayers as a means of transforming US into willing vessels. He, in turn, pours back His manifested power as we are made into His very image. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” We become a human extension of God to a suffering and dying world in desperate need of a divine touch.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (Romans 8: 22).

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8: 19-21).

As the cars quickly rushed by me on the busy morning commute, I quietly pondered the wonderful things I had just heard. Once again I was seeing into the heart of the King of all hearts, and I was moved with genuine compassion.

Will you answer the call to prayer? You may be surprised to find that even before we call, He has the answer. What a wonderful God we serve!

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Your Shelter in the Raging Storms
By Cathy Irvin

Do you see the storm clouds on the horizon of your life? Do you know that the Rescuer waits to take your hand so that you are not blown away? There are so many trials, problems, and chaos in families. You shake your head, throw up your hands, and the only prayer you can really utter is “Help, Lord!”

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9, NIV).

Obeying the above Scripture is not always an easy task. Like powerful winds that shake your house, you can feel uneasy and begin to tire just from the anxiety of the unknown. That is what it feels like in the daily hassles of life. Where is the peace and rest? It is under the shadow of the Almighty. He is the secret place, that shelter from all the storms.

When storms are raging in your life, you must grab a hold of The Rock—that is Jesus. He is your refuge, your shelter, the only secure, safe place. He is the bright ray of sunshine in any storm that comes your way.

Think of the enemy as the storm and you are a ship out at sea in the whirlwind of the storm. You are being tossed by the waves, which represent anything that is thrown at you to bring you turmoil. You see a light ahead from the lighthouse, who is Jesus your Rescuer, to guide you to safety. You begin to sense the calm inside of you. The fear leaves, and you have the needed hope to weather this storm and reach your destination. There is no other way to safety. You can’t fight the storms of life without the help of the Lord. He shows you the way. He provides the Holy Spirit for comfort.

Your life might be smooth sailing, but then there might be those who try to make it rough waters. Don’t let any kind of storm rock your boat. Call on the Lord for strength and support. Remind yourself that He is the Captain of your ship.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones” (Isaiah 54:10-12, NIV).

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Stepping into Your New Season
Paul Dailey

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday" (Psalm 37:5-6).

We have those times in our lives when it seems we have stepped from sure footing onto shaky ground. Looking back, we find that everything seemed so certain. But in the present we feel like someone standing on a log in the middle of a river, frantically moving our feet this way and that, with our arms outstretched and trying to keep our balance.

I'm sure that's how Peter felt when he got out of the boat. Along with the other disciples, he was in a storm, but as a fisherman, he was used to that and the boat was a place of safety for him. It was familiar and required relatively little faith to stay in the boat. Despite his fear, he could go under his own strength and do what he knew to do in order to save himself. But the minute he stepped over the side of the boat and placed his foot solidly on the top of that first wave, he was in foreign territory.

Walking on water isn't something you do halfway. In the same way, you either commit totally to the Lord, or you don't. That's where God separates the men from the boys. (No offense ladies.) However unnerving it may be to find yourself standing in the most unlikely, unpredictable circumstances as Peter did, it's really a place of surety. When you put your trust in the Lord and commit to follow Him wherever He leads, you've actually stepped out of the boat and onto the solid rock. God will never allow you to utterly fall when you are living by faith.

Verse six of Psalm 37 says, "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light." Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith. He left his normal routine in order to follow God's voice. From that day on, his life was changed. When his enemies attacked him, they were destroyed. When people tried to curse him, God cursed them. His life was indelibly etched into the tablets of history. Isaiah 30:15 says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and confidence is your strength."

If you are facing a time of uncertainty in your life right now, I beg you to return to the Lord. Orchestrate your schedule in such a way that you can have some time alone with the Lord. Come back to that place of rest, the place where you first met Jesus. You remember it, don't you? It was there, in your “Garden of Eden”, as you walked with Jesus in the cool of the day, that you found your confidence in God. You knew in the deepest part of your soul the reason why you were created. You knew you would never be alone. You knew you could never fail. Your mind was quiet before the Lord, and He spoke without hindrance into your life.

I'm finding more every day how invaluable these regular times with Jesus really are. It's bearing fruit in every area of my life. My joy has increased, which has enabled me to more boldly share the Gospel. I'm able to see past the temporal, frustrating circumstances that I often have to deal with and into God's plan for me. My thoughts are more orderly. There is a peace in my heart that is not shaken by external things. It is wonderful. It's killing every bit of jealousy and strife in me. Worry is becoming less of an issue. Also, it is freeing me to serve others. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.

This is my prayer for you as you step into the next phase of your life, into your new season. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). And may you also find this beautiful place of rest in the Lord.

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A Day in the Life of an Overcomer
Missey Butler

It is the dawning of a beautiful September morning. I feel the crisp fall air as it gently nudges away the remaining days of summer. I must admit, it is a welcomed change.

I want to share with you another welcomed change. It all took place in a split second, a defining moment of clarity. It was like a misty fog that instantly evaporated into a crystal clear sky. It happened the moment I entered the realm of revelation understanding.

I looked up the word “revelation” and found it to mean the unveiling of something that before had been hidden (out of sight), or to bring into view. Another definition in Webster’s states it as “an enlightening or astonishing disclosure.”

Jesus Christ began to reveal to me a truth that the enemy of my soul had worked very hard to keep from me. He pulled back the curtains that held the secret of who I really am. He showed me that I am an overcomer.

That’s right. I am an overcomer! This is not to be confused with “I hope to be an overcomer,” “I want to be an overcomer,” or “maybe some day I will be an overcomer.” No, I am an overcomer today!

At one time I thought I had a good understanding of what that word really meant. As it turns out, that’s all I had… a good understanding. I realize now that all I did was mentally assent to the knowledge of it. What was the result? I was unable to demonstrate it in my day-to-day living. So, you might ask, what is the difference now?

I’ll tell you what the difference is. It is 6:30 a.m. Monday morning, and before my day has even begun, for the first time I can see (with eyes of faith) that I am already an overcomer in every circumstance that awaits me. I am completely victorious as I sit here sipping my coffee. I am because He Is! The strength is in the seeing!

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word (Jeremiah 1:12, NIV).

I already have victory over every obstacle, every problem, and every situation. I have discovered a “treasure in the field,” a “priceless pearl”. I have found the redemptive truth of what Christ did for us when He uttered the words, “It is finished.” I never saw the full significance of what those three words held. I could not have imagined that what He did 2,000 years ago on the cross could directly affect how my day would go today.

The next step is where our faith must kick into gear. But first, a clarification has to be made. Faith is not a power that we exert in order to change our circumstances. It is the assurance we have inwardly even if our circumstances do not change. Living independently of our circumstances is what makes us overcomers. I think that’s worth repeating: Living independently of our circumstances is what makes us overcomers! It’s a matter of putting legs and feet to the promise that we find in Romans 4:17, which says, “Calling those things that are not, as though they were.”

In other words, if I have no money, I still believe that God is my infinite supply. If I am still sick and not healed, I can believe that God is the life of my body. If I am attacked and even defeated, I still believe that today Christ is my victory!

Christ is our all in all no matter what the outcome. We have already won by simply standing on His side.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – your faith (1 John 5: 4, NKJV).

Father, we ask that You would continue to open the eyes of our understanding by the mystery of the revelation of Your Spirit. Reveal Your Son to us afresh. God, give to us an open heaven that we may ascend to greater heights as You transform us into Your holy remnant, Your called out ones, your… overcomers.

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What Kind of Christian Are You?
Scott Presson

Are you a "Seeker"? Are you running hard after God? Or are you nursing a grudge? Are you holding onto past hurts, or anger and unforgiveness? How about disappointments and heartache? We tend to dress up a lot of things as Christianity when in reality it’s just us barely hanging on and doing our thing in the natural.

We call it a "walk" when really we’re sitting on a fence hoping we don’t get pulled into anymore than we can handle.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

God is commanding us to seek Him! I like a command.

There’s no ambiguity there. God spells it out in any Bible translation the same way: seek Him. We have to be seekers in every area of our walk with God. David was a seeker and he even asked God to help him not to wander.

I have tried my best to find you – don't let me wander from your commands. (Psalms 119:10)

There are some great benefits to being a seeker, but God requires some things of us as His followers. He wants is to have clean hands and a pure heart, and not to worship idols and tell lies. If we do the right thing here’s what we get:

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalms 24:3-5)

We get the Lord’s blessing and we will be in right standing with Him. In righteous simplicity, Jesus spelled out the answer to the cry of a seekers heart.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10)

We will receive, we will find Him and He will respond to our knock. Seeking hard after God is not an exercise in futility, it’s the will of God. It’s His command. It’s His way to bless us. It’s the way we receive righteousness more abundantly.

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)

God says NOW is the time to be a seeker after Him. God wants us to sow right standing with Him and we will reap what we all really want –the unfailing love of God! A seeker is running hard after God, and looking for Him. A seeker wants to witness. A seeker wants to pray. A seeker wants to do God’s will. A seeker is looking at every opportunity to pour out what God has given them that day. Whether it’s a song, or a word of encouragement or just a listening ear, God wants us to step in the gap for each other every day. We don’t all get "full" of God every morning but when we’re on empty, He can still use us and only He gets the glory for it!

God is not far from us. In fact the Word says, "He’s the friend that sticks closer than a brother". No matter how far you feel from God today take the chance and sow right standing with Him – He will shower you with righteousness. As, you sow an upright walk and as the Word says- we reap what we sow – so you will get more righteousness. That all leads to fulfilling your place in the Kingdom. As you fulfill your call that God has placed upon you it will help you equip others to fulfill theirs and all of the sudden the Church is doing what it’s supposed to do! You see – we actually carry part of the responsibility as Christians to fulfill God’s destiny on the earth! We don’t think we actually have a part, but we do! And it all starts with the desire to seek after God and to do His will.

Relinquish your past, drop that burden of past sins in the sea of forgetfulness and move forward into your future as a Seeker after God!

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Transformed by Trouble
Missey Butler

I heard someone say one time, “Testings will last as long as it takes to change our mind, attitude, and actions.” But isn’t it just like our human nature to respond with the “knee jerk” reaction of “Yeah, but I really can’t see the value or purpose behind all of this trouble and all of these trials”?

Our carnal mind is as shrewd as a lawyer looking for a loophole. Let’s face it: we don’t like tribulation one bit, and if we had our way, it would be “us” on “easy street” from here on out! But God’s Word tells us a different story.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The mind of Christ knows that the servant is not above his Lord. The disciple is not above his Master, who learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). God is even now preparing a people who cannot be moved, upset, or frustrated by anything. The cry of His heart is for His sons and daughters to share His throne and shepherd the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26-27).

We have to be a people whose character is unshakable. Can we walk around in the furnace of testing without complaining? Can we still shout praises in the jail at midnight? Tall order, I know, but there is always a purpose in our trials, a purpose in our affliction, a purpose in our tribulations. All the temptations, tears, heartaches, unfaithful friends, loss of property, loss of business, peril, hateful neighbors, fiery furnaces, dens of lions, rugged crosses—all things too numerous to mention—are working for the good of God’s elect and are adding, though unseen now, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory to us.

“O Majestic heavenly Father, we know that all things work together in Your hands, and nothing comes into our lives without it first coming through You. All that comes to us is for our good and Your glory. Your desire for us is that we be refined and purified, even through fire. And at Christ’s return, we will be part of His bride, without spot or wrinkle, ready to reign with Him in glory forever. In all things, no matter how trying or difficult, teach us to rejoice and always trust in You.

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Well Seasoned in the Word
Cathy Irvin

As the world grows darker in sin, we must find time to trim our wicks and get filled up so that we have plenty of oil in our lamps. We should never let our flames grow dim. We are to be the light to the world and salt to the earth, but have we lost our flavor? If we are well seasoned in the Word and we maintain our prayer life, we should be making an obvious difference.

It takes soaking up the Word of God daily so that what comes forth from our lips is a sweet savor, an encouraging word to the hearer. It is so easy to become dull and bland without those times of refreshing in God’s presence. Nobody likes plain ole, plain ole anything.

Even a good steak many times needs some seasoning salt, a little garlic, butter, or steak sauce while it is marinating on the grill. The flavor of the meat is greatly enhanced -- and so it is with us. When our lives reflect Christ, it will be evident that after we have spent time with Him, we more and more will manifest His glory. The light will shine brightly for all to see.

People need to see Christ in us, the hope of glory, for them to want Him. Who wants what we have if we are not positive, and not full of joy and peace? I hear some Christians who always speak negatively. They are worrying all the time, and they are sad and gloomy. I think they must be lacking in some quality Bible study time, prayer, and church fellowship. We want those who do not know Him to say, “I know there is something different about you” or ask, “Why are you so happy?” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear them say, “I want whatever it is that you have”?

I remember that I said those very words more than 29 years ago. I gave my heart to the Lord while watching The 700 Club. I went to visit a local church. The people there were singing and clapping, and some even danced in the aisle to the songs. I was overwhelmed. I had always attended a very traditional church while growing up, and I felt no enthusiasm or joy in it at all. I recall listening to the message intently; I had blocked out everything and had focused intently on the preacher as he spoke. I sat on the edge of my seat like I was at a long-awaited concert.

At the close of the service, I remember a lady asking me if I wanted to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t even know what she was talking about, but I said, “Whatever you people have, I want it!” I was gloriously filled that very evening and spoke in tongues. My life was changed forever, and I have felt the joy ever since.

We can share the things we have learned by being salt and light with other believers so that they can enjoy their Christian walk and be better witnesses. It is important to remember that we are not offering a “religion” to anyone. We are telling them about a relationship with a loving, living Savior who can transform their lives and not only give them the gift of eternal life, but also the abundant life while here on planet earth. Jesus wants to add some seasoning to their bland life.

Got your lamps filled with oil? Follow me! Let’s shine our lights and pour out some salt on those who need to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him (Psalm 34:8, NKJV)!

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The Big Sneeze
Paul Dailey

God bless you. Bless you. Gesundheit. Salud. Make sure you wipe that up when you’re finished. For every person there is a different response to the common sneeze.

It’s difficult to outline the roots of why we feel a need to say anything at all. Most likely, though, it comes from the ancient Romans. The Romans held the belief that when someone sneezed, that person was expelling evil spirits from his or her body. In reply, others would invoke some sort of blessing to wish the person luck in ridding himself or herself of the evil.

I started thinking about this today when a co-worker of mine sneezed and I instinctively said, “God bless you.” Those really are some powerful words. Do I realize what I’m saying when I ask the God of the entire universe to bless someone?

Well, it got me thinking about the whole sneeze thing, so I did some research just to make sure I had my facts straight. What a thing to research! I found out that, according to the dictionary, the act of sneezing is an attempt by the body to expel air to get rid of the irritating bodies (i.e., dust, pollen, strong perfume, etc).

This new vein of research follows directly on the heels of some especially forceful prayers of mine. I’ve been asking God frequently for a revelation of the cross of Christ. I keep expecting to have a dynamite, soul-shaking experience, but instead I’m finding that it comes little by little in a hundred different ways.

At this point you may be asking yourself, what in the world does sneezing have to do with a revelation of the cross? Let me explain.

When God fashioned Adam and Eve, they were absolutely sinless. Then within a short amount of time, Eve was deceived, Adam disobeyed, and sin sprang into the picture. Essentially, God now had this dreadful irritation to deal with. What was God’s solution? God’s answer was to send His son, Jesus, to die on the cross.

II Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us….”

Remember the definition, that the act of sneezing is an attempt by the body to expel air to get rid of the irritating bodies? Mark recorded the following concerning Jesus on the cross: “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last” (Mark 16:37). There on the cross, having become the essence of God’s irritation, Jesus blew our sin away.

Then think about another aspect: doesn’t it feel great when you stop sneezing? Your head seems a little clearer and your whole body just feels good -- even if it is just for a moment! It’s a purifying act. Because of the cross, we have been purified, times of refreshing come from God, and we embrace the cross and repent.

Peter preached to the crowd shortly after the day of Pentecost and implored them to do this very thing:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19).

So the next time someone near you lets go with one of those ogre-ish sneezes or even a dainty “sneezelet”, rather than merely doing your social duty, stop and pray that the Lord will open their eyes to see what Jesus accomplished for them on the cross. Take the opportunity to pray that they will repent and turn to God so they can know those times of refreshing.

And the next time you sneeze, remember to thank God for the real blessing, salvation purchased by Christ’s death and resurrection.

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Today's scripture is John 15:17

"These things I command you, that ye love one another." In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said:

"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

That's probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with what Jesus said in John 15:17:

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you'll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life. If you'll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God. If you'll build your business on love, you'll prosper beyond your wildest dreams. I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned. "Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?" asked the Jewish owner. "Because the Word of God says that if I will bless
you, God will bless me. So I'm going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal," answered my friend.

Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of His life. He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio.

When love rules, prosperity can flow!

Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow--at home, at work, or in any situation--you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.

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God's Portrait of My Life
Marsha Brickhouse Smith

I dreamed one night after I had prayed about so many things in life that were troubling me; after I had cried and asked the Lord the questions most of us ask during those horrid times ... "Why?"

I dreamed I was sitting beside a large covered canvas and the Lord stood before me. Slowly He lifted the canvas from the painting of my life as He spoke these words:

"My Child, I have heard your question of why. I would like to show you what I have been painting on the canvas of your life. I know you thought I did not hear your prayers, but I assure you I heard each word, for I was there with you. You see, I was painting on the canvas of your life. I saw each tear, and in each of those times I painted on the canvas of your life."

"You see, I took the times in your life when you hurt so much and painted a sapphire blue, the color that I love so very much. I took the times in your life when you felt all alone and painted a crimson red. I took the times in your life when you knew such joy, and painted a golden hue. I took the times in your life when you ran into My arms, spending much time with Me and I painted a vivid violet."

He held up the portrait and I caught my breath, for as I beheld the canvas of my life -- He had painted a rainbow of such splendor I have never seen. And it was then I realized He had been there all the while in my life, through all the times, using each of them to make the portrait of my life into a rainbow of promises fulfilled.

He used all those colors ... all those times ... each one of them He had been in, right beside me, causing them all to work together for my good. And out of that, He had created a rainbow of such splendor my eyes could not take it all in.

Then I awoke from the dream. Never again would I doubt such a love. And somehow I knew that in all the times to come I would remember the rainbow, and God's love, always...

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to whose who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

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Recreating the Masterpiece
Paul Dailey

Philippians 3:8, 13-14 says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. . . . 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

The chances are pretty fair that if you’ve been a Christian for some length of time, you have probably read this verse. And if you have even the slightest love for Jesus, those words evoke a retort in your heart -- something like a teenager at a rock concert. The Spirit of God inside you is leaping in untamed exhilaration at having identified with the very heart of God that beats in Jesus. The Spirit inside you testifies to the truth. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what your denominational slant on things might be. I don’t even care what version of the Bible you trust the most. There is something inside every believer that, when you read this verse, you can’t help but cry out, “Yes Lord, that’s what I want!”

But what happened from the time you first read that verse till now? Why doesn’t every believer live like that? Why did the colors of that picture run together like finger paints in the rain? Ask yourself, “What took place in my life that caused that picture of Jesus to become blurred beyond recognition?” I believe the answer is all around you.

Paul said, “But one thing I do . . .” There was nothing else for him. But life isn’t set up that way. The whole system of the world and the entire plan of the enemy are deliberately intended to keep you from the one thing. From there to here you have gotten caught up in many things. Your life has splintered into a million tiny pieces. The beautiful magnum opus Jesus painted on your heart the very first day you surrendered to Him was slowly torn to shreds until all that remains is a shattered, fruitless existence. You find you have traded the magnificence of that work of art for old, washed-out snapshots of your own mundane life.

But take heart, friend. All is not lost. Jesus is the great Master Artist, and He can always start again to create a masterpiece in you. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. He can gather the fragmented pieces of your life and begin to reconstruct them together again for His glory.

I am on this journey with you. I have found that I had lost that fervor, that desire to press beyond the gossamer veil of accomplishment, in order to find the excellence of the knowledge of Christ. It’s a challenge to forget those things. But I am realizing that, one day at a time, as I lie on my face before the Lord, the passion is returning quickly. It is mental and spiritual warfare to put aside the accolades, as well as the disasters, and fasten myself to the one thing. God is faithful, and for each thing I have laid aside, for each trophy that I now count as rubbish, I find another portion of that work of genius. With the Lord’s help, I am piecing the “Mona Lisa” back together again and rediscovering the glory of God.

I want to encourage you today. Wherever you are right now, if you read that passage from Philippians and your heart still cries in youthful exuberance, “Yes, Lord, that’s the hunger for You I want,” there is still time. You haven’t gone too far. You haven’t blown your last chance. Get down on your knees right now and ask God to help you regain that passion for Him. Let the Lord put His brush to the canvas of your heart and paint something new and fresh in you today. Little by little you will see the image of Jesus begin to take shape in you. And before you know it, you’ll be right back where God wants you, pressing into Him and reveling in the all-surpassing excellent knowledge of Jesus.

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Tattoos
Dan Betzer

There are two things in life I’ve never been even remotely tempted to do: 1) Get a motorcycle and 2) Get a tattoo. Now I have friends who have done one or the other and even several very good friends who’ve done both and seemingly have lived good lives.

Not for me. When I think about motorcycles, the word “spatula” comes to mind. Think about it for a moment. And when I think of tattoo, two words come to mind: “ugly” and “off.”

So let’s say you’ve got this tattoo and you want to get it off. How do you do it? Well, not easily, according to people who know. The three primary choices are: lasers, surgery or chemicals.

One on-line article had this advice: “Home techniques for tattoo removal, such as the use of a hot cigarette or heated coat hanger, are not recommended. The scarring and infection rates are very high with these methods.”

Now that’s a revelation, isn’t it? Kind of like saying hitting your thumb with a ball peen hammer hurts. But hang on, you know someone very famous who has a tattoo?

Isaiah 49:16 informs us that God does: “Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.” Or as the Amplified Bible puts it, “I have indelibly (tattooed) you on each of my hands.”

Well, my goodness, you have to have a very personal relationship with someone to have that person’s name tattooed somewhere on your body. There are those who say that God is merely some impersonal “force” somewhere. The Bible denies that base canard. No one has ever wanted intimate contact with you more than your Creator.

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Don’t Get Yourself Stuck in a Rut
Dan Betzer

A friend of mine who is a deadly putter at golf told me his secret the other day. He said, “Before I stroke the putt, on the screen of my mind I see the ball rolling into the cup.” Well you know Proverbs 23:7 teaches, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Small wonder Paul told the Corinthians, “Bring every thought into captivity!” You and I are controlled by the way we think.

In my kid days in Iowa, I remember cars and trucks moving along those old clay and gravel roads. The first few times they did so, there was scarcely a trace of their having passed that way. But before long, the earth was worn away until the road was rutted.

Then my Grandpa Harshfield, who worked for the county highway department, would go over those roads with his big grader until they were smooth again. Otherwise, the grooves would have become so deep that vehicle wheels would have been like a needle tracking a record.

It makes me think of the Grand Canyon, formed by the Colorado River digging away through the millennia at the rock strata until that vast chasm was at last formed. My friend, thoughts do that to your brain! One expert has written, “As a man at first is master of his thought, so, at last, the thought becomes the master of the man.”

Big thoughts make big people. Shallow thinking forms hapless ones. There has never been a person who reached lofty heights of noble living who was not driven there by dominating thoughts.

What about your thought life? Does it bring you better life? Or are you a prisoner of unworthy thinking?

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Cheering Us On
Cathy Irvin

These are exciting days for me. I recently went to a children’s football game where my little great granddaughter was cheering. This was her very first game. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, since she is so little and so cute. She was all dressed up in her outfit, team color ribbons in her hair, pom-poms on her shoes, and a larger set of pom-poms in her hands. Mind you, she did not say or do much. But her coach told me that as long as she had on her uniform, she could just look pretty for this game.

I thought of how God was like that coach, saying, It is OK, child. You will learn. But for now, just be a team player. I know He is cheering me on every step of the way to stay in the game. I think of life like that field -- a big game and the saints in heaven are like those cheerleaders, cheering us on as we race to win.

When the game was over, she rode back to her house with me and she started saying, “Set, Set, Ready!” while I hollered back like the cheerleaders and said, “OK!” They say this before every new cheer they start. She must have repeated this phrase at least 10 times. She did get that part of what the leader of the cheer says.

I tried to explain to her, “You have to learn the cheers first before the coach will let you be one of the leaders.” Isn’t that like us? We want to lead first before we follow. The Lord is teaching us how to hear His voice and instructing us on what to do. I went on to tell her she would learn these cheers if she paid attention to the coach. She frowned and folded her arms. Her stubbornness reminds me of myself sometimes. We all react the same way.

God is patient. He wants us to be more than spectators. His expectation is for us to be participants and to follow His instructions so we can lead others to follow Him as we follow Christ.

If you’re a new believer in Christ, God is saying, It is OK, child. You will learn. But for those of us who have been in the game a while, He says, Ready?

Our response should be, “OK!”

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1, NKJV).

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get on the right path

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:1-4

Your life can go down many different paths.

• Some paths are obviously wrong and lead to very bad places.

• Some paths appear to be right but are still wrong (Proverbs 14:12).

• Some paths are right for a while, until the road forks and a wrong choice takes you far from God.

If your heart desires to be on the right path, your ears will perk up a little when you hear, “He leads me in paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3).

God himself is highly interested in your being on the path that produces righteousness. Psalm 37:23 tells us that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Aren't you glad that submission to God will keep you heading the right way? “I want that!” you say. “How do I get on the right path?"

Now, there's a lot of confusion about the issue of knowing God's will, but I can give you some signposts. First of all, God's Word lights your path; it gives direction. It promises to be a beacon to you in really dark places. Are you reading it on a regular basis? You'll not wander far from God's will if you get into God's Word each day (Psalm 119:105).

Second, godly counsel will help you discern the right path. Ask wise people—spiritually mature people you respect—which direction to take. But what if they tell me to do something I don't want to do? Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."

Third, Philippians 2:13 reveals that God works in us by his Spirit. But if we're not reading God's Word and seeking godly advice, we're not giving the Spirit very much to work with. God's not going to tell us to do something that's contrary to his Word. When we get all three in sync, we can say from our heart, “He leads me in paths of righteousness." —James MacDonald walkintheword.com

seeking: Father, what has your Spirit just shown me? How will I respond to your voice?

responding: Am I on a path that will produce righteousness? • What evidence of my going the right way can be seen in my life? • Have I applied biblical principles to the decisions I'm making? Sought wise counsel? Responded to the Spirit's leading?

From now on, Lord, I want to be much slower to launch out on my own, much quicker to kneel down, and more consistent in laying hold of the plentiful resources you've given me to direct my path.

following: Get on the path that leads to righteousness.

our journey

Just Because
Missey Butler

Of all the lovely things my husband has ever done for me, one thing he did early on in our relationship will forever linger in my heart as special.

For no apparent reason, I opened the door one morning to find the florist guy standing there holding a bouquet of the most beautiful coral-colored roses. My heart leapt as I reached out, took the flowers, and just about shut the door on the poor fellow before realizing I had to sign something.

I was so taken by the moment that for a split second I lost myself in anticipation. I closed the door, leaned back against it, fumbled with the little envelope, and finally got the envelope open. With a soft sigh I read the two words on the card: “Just Because.”

Immediately, I felt my heart and my cheeks flush warmly. My sweet guy could not have spoken his unconditional love to me more clearly.

I’ve often thought about just how lovely and fitting it would be to send the very same message of love to God, a “Just Because” in response to His unselfish love toward all of mankind.

• Just because You created life in all its wonder and beauty.
• Just because You clothed yourself in humanity and walked among us.
• Just because You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son.
• Just because You are the Great I Am… and there is no other.

All of these and a thousand more beside are the reasons for our complete and total love, just because… of “Who” You are!

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You're All I Want
Martha Noebel

One day, as I started my morning, I decided that I wanted a can of cold soda. I was hot and the air conditioning had not kicked in yet at the office, so I went to the drink machine to get one of my favorite drinks. You can imagine my facial expression as I reached for my cold can of refreshment only to find out it was as hot as I was. I walked back down the hall feeling greatly disappointed.

One hot can of soda should not have left me feeling this way, but it did. Then I began to softly sing the song, "You're all I want / You're all I ever needed / You're all I want / Help me know You are here." My heart was reaching out to God and my words were calling on Him for just a moment of His presence. Physically, I wanted a can of drink, but my spirit nature took over. I wanted something much more, a moment with God.

Sometimes there is this sense of wanting to see God, wanting to know Him in a special way. I wanted to feel Him. When this song came from deep within me, I realized I needed a touch from my loving Father.

"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust"
(Psalm 103:13-14, NLT).

I went back to my office. A few minutes later, someone who had passed me in the hall and heard of my dilemma brought me a cup of ice for my drink. Can you believe it? That had never happened to me before. I was shocked. Then the Lord reminded me of what I had really wanted. I wanted to know that God loved me and to have Him show me in a tangible way. Well, He certainly did just that.

"…I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee"(Jeremiah 33:3, KJV).

God is ever present with us. We all know that. He desires to show Himself to us in practical, loving ways. You see, I love Him, too. He truly is all I want and all I'll ever need. He let me know He was here. What a special day!

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Our Greatest Need
Martha Noebel

When asked, "What, in your opinion, is the greatest spiritual need in the world today?" theologian Dr. R. C. Sproul once replied, "The greatest need in people's lives today is to discover the true identity of God."

This is so true. God is exactly what we want and need, and we don't know it. He loves us unconditionally and is always there when we need Him. The problem is that we don't truly realize just how much He cares for us.

God sent His son Jesus to die for us because He loved us so much. If we have given our hearts to Him and asked for our sins to be forgiven, we can rest in His unfailing love. We need to encourage ourselves in that. What more do we need?

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us (Romans 8:33-34, NLT)

He is a God worthy of our honor and our love. We should be growing in His love and grace and reaching out to others so that they can know, too. There is so much joy in being an active part of the family of God.

"In the time of my favor I will answer you and in the day of salvation I will help you. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and reassign its desolate inheritances" (Isaiah 49:8, NIV).

What a wonderful Savior! We have His favor and salvation. He longs to use us to restore others. We are His hands; we are His feet. We speak His words and lives are changed.

For the last several months, I have been working with my church by going into a low-income area of my community. We have been providing food and clothing, and this past summer, we conducted an outdoor Bible School. I know the greatest joy is being a part of helping others and seeing God work. I can really feel God's love for these people being poured into my life so I can allow it to pour back out to them. I love to see the glee in the faces of the children when I go to their community. It is wonderful to see the deep appreciation from the parents struggling to do the best they can. It is truly God's heart that we go to them and try to help them where they are.

If I don't go, who will? If you don't go, how will they know of God's great love for them?

Let's take a moment to ask God to show Himself to us in a special way today. Let's ask Him to fill us with all that we need to become more involved in what pleases Him. Let's get to know the true and living God and learn to know all we can about Him. It's an adventure, one well worth taking.

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our real christian duty

16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Many US citizens want to see the day when their country returns to its moral foundations. Yet, as wonderful as a reclaimed nation would be, if it were simply a political victory that reinstates rules of better behavior, it would not be better off.

As Ravi Zacharias has noted, “If we succeed in making America more moral, then what we will have is more lost moral Americans.” In The Pilgrim's Progress, Pilgrim gets sidetracked into a layover in the village of Morality, where all is morally correct. He finds, however, that morality without the cross cannot alleviate his burden of sin.

Unfortunately, we have often been led to believe that political triumph over the enemies of godliness is the best strategy. Yet, a political situation is a seductive sidetrack. It tempts us to shift our eyes away from what must be the focus of true followers—concern for the lost and for the growth of believers in Jesus.

Some of us can probably identify with the woman who approached me before a meeting. She told me that for 2 years she had been so deeply involved in political causes that she had neglected her growth in Jesus and her commitment to her local church in both time and giving. She had even come to see those on the other side of the political fence as enemies rather than ones for whom Jesus died. She admitted that during this time her intimacy with the Lord had dimmed. She was convicted about how quickly her political adrenaline had eclipsed her passion for the things of God and eternity.

While it may be energizing and exciting for us to believe that we are doing our Christian duty by marching, politicking, protesting, and supporting groups that do these things, it may well distract us from the most important task—glorifying God through Christlikeness and an unwavering commitment to the eternal destinies of friends and enemies alike.

The best way to win any nation is to care about the citizens . . . one at a time! —Joe Stowell www.rbc.org

seeking: Father, what have you shown me about how I've been glorifying you with my life? What have you helped me see about my priorities?

responding: What have I done recently to advance the cause of Jesus? • What is the balance between appropriate concern for a declining culture and concern for the people living in it?

Father, make me a disciple of Jesus who loves others and shows them your reality. Give me a greater passion for loving you and the people you bring into my life.

following: Reach one person at a time with the love of Jesus.

our journey

Onward, Christian Soldiers
Martha Noebel

God's words to Joshua exhort us, "No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you" (Joshua 1:5).

God is with us, just as he promised Joshua. Joshua found himself in a large place. He was asked to be the leader of the people of Israel. He did not know if he could do the job or not. He just knew God had asked him to stretch himself, to grow, to be obedient, and to trust Him in this new position of leadership.

It must have been a scary thought at first. He was now the one in charge of God's people. He had to follow behind in the footsteps of Moses, who had done an awesome job. Could he do it? Did he want to do it? God knew Joshua's concern. It showed in His repeated admonishing to “be strong and courageous" (See Joshua 1:6-9).

God also gave Joshua good instructions to go with the promise that God would give the people every place where they put their feet. Joshua was instructed to obey the law, to meditate on God's Word day and night, and to be strong and courageous. The Lord also told him, "Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (vs. 9b).

It sounds like God knew there would be those times when the enemy would be roaring in Joshua's ears with sounds of defeat. And it is like that today in the lives of Christians everywhere. We hear the negative words, we are frightened by terrible thoughts, and we feel overwhelmed. But God wants us to put aside all those feelings and thoughts. He wants us to speak His Words of truth and to trust in Him.

We want to be like David when he prayed this prayer:

"I have followed your commands, which have kept me from going along with cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 17:4-8).

Like Joshua, David, and the great men and women of old, we are given the choice to follow the Words of the Lord and to succeed. Let us speak God's Words into our circumstances. Let's use them like a key to open the heavens and receive all God has promised. We will not let doubt and discouragement stop us from walking into our promised land.

Like the song of old, Onward, Christian Soldiers, we must fight the fight of faith. We are overcomers! God is with us!

Onward, Christian Soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before!

Christ the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go!

—lyrics by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

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The Canvas of Autumn
Cathy Irvin

Winter, spring, summer, and fall are God’s seasons. I have always been a big fan of summer and spring and not too fond of fall and winter. But lately I have changed. I think it is something about those leaves of red, orange, yellow, and burgundy that fall from the trees. I feel as if I have noticed them for the very first time.

I like taking a ride and watching people setting out pumpkins in the yard with hay bales and planting mums in the yard. I am looking forward to getting some lavender and yellow mums myself for my yard and a few pumpkins.

The other day, one of my friends and I went to visit a friend who has been ill, and in her neighborhood, we noticed many yards decorated for fall. I don’t remember seeing this too much in the past. Have I missed this season all these years, or is it just that as I get older I appreciate God’s world just a little more?

The latter is what I concluded. The Bible says, “This is day that the Lord hath made, and I will rejoice in it.” Each day He has given me beauty to enjoy, so I think I should sit back and take in this glorious creation.

God is the best artist in the world, for only He can create such different themes. We see many artists that try to capture the seasons on their canvases by painting what they see around them, and they do a wonderful job. However, neither picture nor paint could ever replace the real thing splashed across the sky and spilled over the earth like the Master’s display of His finest artwork. God’s creativity is unmatched, for every day is different, just like every snowflake in winter.

When people say there is no God, I know they do not see with eyes like mine. They must see a plain, white canvas or a black drop cloth and not the blue skies that fade into light pink in the evening. Nor do they see the flowers that no paint on any artist’s palate could attempt to match or the trees that were each given a certain color leaf to change into when autumn arrives. ‘No God,’ they say. It is just that they do not know the Master of the seasons, the One who has created such magnificent displays of perfect art.

Instead of always looking forward to the summer and springtime, I have decided to enjoy the Master’s autumn masterpiece for the rest of my life.


Psalm 147 4, 8, 16-18 (NIV)
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

16 He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow

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The Flood and The Blood
Dan Betzer

Recently our church presented a drama of Noah and the Ark, complete with a massive wooden ship right in the sanctuary. There were many terrific animals in the production, including a 1400-pound zebra, an alligator, a python, a leopard, a lion, some monkeys, birds, and you name it. Thousands of children, teens, and adults sat there with eyes like golf balls--especially when the storm hit with thunder, winds, and rain!

I have wondered what this planet was like before the great deluge. Many believe that there was more living space on Earth then, compared to the present 58,000,000 square miles that are only about a third of the total surface. Some believe that England was connected to the mainland of Europe before the flood. Fossils of plants have been found in great deserts such as the Sahara, indicating that there was once lush vegetation there.

Some think that the eastern coast of North America extended much farther eastward into the Atlantic and in the northern parts was even connected to Europe. We believe that western Kansas was once underwater and the home of great marine reptiles.

Genesis 6 begins the amazing story of Noah, a man of faith and conviction who God used to spare humanity. Over a period of decades, he and his boys laboriously constructed that 450-feet long Ark that would carry family and a bunch of animals to safety. The Ark was made of wood, the same as another implement of divine safety, the cross of Jesus Christ.

In Noah's time, those who availed themselves of the Ark survived. In our day, those who avail themselves of the blood of the Cross have abundant life beyond measure.

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The Webs of Life
Missey Butler

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Fall. The cool breezes of autumn cause us to reach for our favorite sweater, as we step outdoors to take a brisk walk in the crisp, clean air. The smell of burning leaves always reminds me of my childhood, with thoughts of flickering fireplaces and large mugs of hot chocolate, topped with a big ole melting marshmallow.

Another not so fond memory of autumn’s past, was one of me riding along on my bicycle, minding my own business when suddenly I would find myself plowing head-long, face-first, into the middle of a large sticky spider web! Oh, how I hated that! With arms flailing and lips sputtering, I would attempt to peal off the remnants of what used to be Madame Spider’s abode as she would have no other choice but to now come along for the ride, and I just new that her little eight legged self was creeping along somewhere in the vicinity of my shoulders.

For some unknown reason, I have found myself very intrigued (again) with spider webs. I happened to spot one the other morning as I was heading out for my usual morning bike ride with my favorite Labrador companion, “Champ.” It was still dark and the moon was shining at just the right angle where I could see the reflection of the silk woven web. I was amazed at how perfectly concentric its’ design was.

A few seconds later, I was stunned, as I witnessed a very large fluttering butterfly come out of no where and rapidly plunge head-long into the center of its web. The poor butterfly frantically began to struggle only to find itself being wrapped tighter with each panicky movement. I instinctively lowered my bike and walked over and with both hands, reached in and as gently as I could cupped my palms around her and slowly pulled her out. I released her into the moonlight and watched as she hastily flew away.

Immediately, I thought of God’s own hands and how they had lovingly reached down into my own web of impending death. I recalled those web-like sticky fibers of sin that had wrapped themselves around my mind and heart so tightly, just waiting for me to die a slow death. I desperately tried to free myself from the bondage of sin, but could not. He came along at just the right moment and cupped his palms around me and set me free.

Today, I am that butterfly and I now soar in my new found freedom, knowing full well just what I have been rescued from. I rejoice in the liberty that He has given me by way of my salvation. The very same palms that were nailed to a cruel cross, one day lovingly reached down into my own web of sin and forever set me free.

Will you allow Him to do the same for you? He understands how we so readily fall prey to the enemy of our soul, and He longs to release us from the entanglement of sin. Stop trying to release yourself, and let Him reach down and set you free.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galations 5:1).

How to give your life to Christ:

1. Admit you are a sinner and need forgiveness.

2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

3. Through prayer, confess that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and commit to live for Him for the rest of your life.

What to Pray:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know You are the only way to God so now I want to quit disobeying You and start living for You. Please forgive me, change my life and show me how to know You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Kill Your Idols
Scott Presson

Once I saw a popular singer on an awards program on TV. He was wearing a t-shirt that said, “Kill your idols”. I was intrigued enough to watch him and wonder what he was saying with that shirt. That is, until he turned around. The back of his shirt had a traditional portrait of a crucified Jesus Christ. He was in effect calling Jesus an idol.

Unfortunately, many Christians also have a skewed, idealized definition of idols. We only see idols like those mentioned in the Old Testament or those in the movie “The Ten Commandments” where Moses, played by Charlton Heston, descends from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf and in righteous anger, hurls the tablets at the golden calf and destroys it.

When God gave Moses the Commandments, He said:

"Do not worship any other gods besides me.” Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! (Exodus 20:3-5 NLT)

An idol is any person, object or activity you give a higher priority in your life than a relationship with God. An idol can be your home, your job, a vehicle, a relationship, or even your family. An idol can be a pet, a computer, or what you look at on that computer. An idol can be alcohol, drugs, sex, or any sin. An idol can be the work you do for the Lord that consumes all your energy and time. God says He’s a jealous God. He wants our time and attention.

Look at this:

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw what I did to Jerusalem and to all the towns of Judah. They now lie in ruins, and no one lives in them. Because of all their wickedness, my anger rose high against them. They burned incense and worshiped other gods – gods that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors have ever known. "Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, 'Don't do these horrible things that I hate so much.' But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways. They kept right on burning incense to these gods. And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and now they are a desolate ruin.” (Jeremiah 44:2-6 NLT)

This is God’s anger against HIS PEOPLE. The prophets warned them but they refused to listen. Today, just as in those days, righteous men and women are saying, turn back to God! Destroy the idols. Put away the things that are hindering a righteous walk with God. Repent of putting others before the Creator of the universe!

Recently, the Elijah List published a warning from Patricia King. Here is an excerpt:

“…For a few days now, I have felt very unsettled in my spirit. The New Orleans disaster has been on my heart, but also, I have been receiving warnings that more upheaval is coming. It is almost as though I can smell war and crisis. It is not good, but can be thwarted, if we come into proper alignment.

I sense upheavals in many nations, but my spirit is especially feeling a warning for North America, with a specific prayer burden for the USA.

I have seen a vision of the enemy planting grenade-like objects in the land and getting ready to detonate them. I believe this involves terrorism and a "sudden" attack. I have also seen further shakings in the land of such magnitude that many people's lives could be lost.

I also see critical, economic shakings coming that man will have no control over. I see increased taxation and escalation of interest rates and commodities. I see crime and violence out of control as lawlessness increases. Prayer and repentance can thwart disaster. The answer is to go to prayer and to repent for our sins.

Recently a cricket got into our office space. Everyone commented on the chirping cricket. I could not hear it. I honestly asked them if they were kidding me. I could not hear the sound of that cricket at all! I began to get disturbed. To my knowledge, I hear just fine. My co-workers were even puzzled that I couldn’t hear this cricket.

God immediately began to speak to me and showed me that some Christians hear different things at different times in the natural and in the spiritual realm. I have heard some godly leadership say they do not have any clear revelation about Hurricane Katrina and what it means for our times and our nation, while others are alarmed at the bell that seems to be pealing in the Spirit realm; BE WARNED! BEWARE! BE WARNED! BEWARE!

Recently, God began to give me a clear revelation about Christians in this country. He told me that many intercessors are caught up in idol worship. We are guilty of putting people and things ahead of praying and entering in with Him. As I have prayed in the Spirit about Hurricane Katrina, one prayer keeps coming up -- that God will re-establish our nation’s borders and that the Watchmen will get back on the wall.

God is gracious and kind, but God’s Word prevails. In the days of Noah, God gave the people over a hundred years to repent. But then a day came when the rains started. On that day, no amount of crying out could change the outcome.

A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (Proverbs 27:12 NLT)

We must heed the signs of the times. Do we believe the word of the prophets? Are we going to take seriously the admonition of the Lord to repent and to destroy our idols! If we do not repent, there is a day coming in this nation where no amount of crying out will change the plan God puts into motion.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. ” (Colossians 3:5-7 NLT)

“Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry…” People everywhere are caught up in the “good things of this life”. There is a bell tolling in our nation today. We must pay attention. However, As Patricia King notes, the Body of Christ is full of sin. “As long as there is unaddressed darkness in the church, we lack authority.” We’ve got to address what hinders our walk with God and let it go!

To take authority, we’ve got to release the sins and repent. The Word points out that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. Our hearts are guilty before the Lord. God is done with the mess we call righteous living. We have to destroy idol worship. We have gone long enough with a wink and a nod toward sin in the Body. I am not pointing fingers. I am as guilty as anyone is.

There is a call going out among the Body today. I hear the Lord saying,

WAKE UP

SHAKE YOURSELVES

KILL YOUR IDOLS

REPENT

GET BACK ON THE WALL

RE-ESTABLISH THE BORDERS

TAKE AUTHORITY

The Word of the Lord for this hour is NEW BEGINNINGS. In the Spirit realm, we are coming into a spring season. Spring is a time of new growth. It’s a time of renewed hope. This is a time of new beginnings in the Spiritual, but only if you’ve left the baggage of the past behind.

The Word says it’s better to obey than sacrifice. Obey what? The Word of the Lord. When God says to repent, we must repent. God hates idolatry. It’s a commandment and God has been judging -- yes, judging righteous people on earth for it since time began. It’s true, He loves us and yes HE HAS A PLAN for each of us but only in His parameters.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

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