Beauty and the Beast 12/31

“Ice storm 2000 hits Atlanta with a relentless rage!” The headlines on our local papers were similar to this, and proceeded to tell how devastating this particular storm was to our city.

I knew nothing of this, however, when I awoke Sunday morning and viewed the attractive scene outside my window. The snowy ice was layered on the trees and grass, and the icicles decorated the bare branches with majestic beauty. The view was so lovely and serene that I was drawn outside to absorb more of this splendor. The appeal soon left me, however, as I saw the devastation which had occurred, beginning on our own street. Pine trees were bent with weight which the ice had put on them, and many limbs had cracked and were scattered over yards and roads. Magnolia trees seemed to be the second hardest hit, and I saw many other trees damaged and broken by the ice. The most damaging aspect of the storm, however, was the loss of electrical power. This occurred when tree limbs crashed upon power lines, bringing them down and rendering them useless. How could something that seemed so beautiful and appealing to me at first actually be so devastating? This was truly a case of beauty and the beast!

Sometimes secular life draws me to it, just as my first appealing glimpse of the icicle trees had. The glamour and appeal are very strong and seem to say, “come on., venture out, join the fun?” But once I am out there, ”involved” , so to speak, I can see the beast of the situation. Just as the ice bent and broke the trees, so can secularism bend and break your moral integrity and split and render useless your Christian stand. The worst thing of all, is that sometimes the overbearing weight of secularism will cause you to topple over on you “electrical source” of spiritualism,-- the one which keeps you united with Jesus. When this happens, God is willing and able to help you get reconnected.

The Georgia Power service men worked relentlessly to repair the disrupted electrical service. Likewise, God will send helpers to assist reconnecting you to the greatest source for all our needs- Jesus. These believers will be faithful in praying for you and supporting you any way possible. Also, the Holy Spirit will be waiting for you to ask Him for His help to get this “power’ charged again.

I am thankful our God is so loving, that even though we may sever our relationship with Him, He is available for the reconnection to occur.

…..Marion Smith (noles65@aol.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

My Comments: Sometimes there is an appeal to be interested in the things of the world: fashion, television, things that others have, etc., that leads us away from the primary focus we need to have in the Lord. The Lord desires to be our first love; our purpose in being is to glorify Him and serve Him. This doesn’t prevent us from having fashionable things or doing “fun” activities, but it does mean that our primary focus is to be on what pleases God and what will honor Him in our lives. This certainly isn’t always easy or my first desire, but I pray that God will show me when I fail in this area. I want to glorify Him with my life.

Our Help and Our Hope 12/31

(by John Fischer) 
[Edited]
"O God our help in ages past - 
Our hope for years to come..."
This is the time of year when we focus on God and thank Him for getting us through another year. Remember Y2K? We were wondering if we'd survive the turnover to a new century. Hard to believe that was eight years ago.
As the hymn writer has reminded us, God is both our help and our hope - two four-letter words that pretty much sum up what we need to move into 2008. First, we look back on how He has helped us in the past.
The greatest thing about this is you can go back as far as you want into the ages past and still find God there, thinking about you. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." (Ephesians 1:4). (By the way, we are so thankful it says without fault "before Him," because we have plenty of faults in other people's eyes, including our own.) The point being, you can never go too far back to not have anyone to worship. ("In the beginning, God...")
But right now, it would be good to focus on just this last year and think about how God has specifically helped us. What do you have now that you didn't have a year ago? Think in terms of personal growth, experiences, and people God has blessed you with. How do you know God better than you did at this time a year ago? What more do you know about Him? What more do you know about yourself that He has revealed to you? What struggle has He helped you overcome? Is there anyone in your life who wasn't there a year ago that you can honestly thank God for? What has He helped you to accomplish? How has He been faithful to you even when you have been faithless?
Now think about this next year and how God is our only true hope. Think of specifically where you need to apply some of that hope. What are you afraid of? Where are you feeling inadequate? What do you want to change, and how can God help you? How about your plans? [Are they God's?] How far are you willing to stretch? For all of this, He is our hope. And for all that we will face this next year that we don't know anything about right now, He is our hope.
And He will be enough.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: This has been an incredibly hard, yet growing, year for me. So many changes in my life, some good, some not so good. I know that the Lord brought me through the year with His grace and mercy. I must hope and trust in Him for this next year... and all those beyond.

You Will Never Be Sorry... 12/27

...for thinking before acting.
...for hearing before judging.
...for forgiving your enemies.
...for being candid and frank in love.
...for helping a fallen brother.
...for being honest in business.
...for thinking before speaking.
...for standing by your principles.
...for closing your ears to gossip.
...for bridling a slanderous tongue.
...for harboring pure thoughts.
...for sympathizing with the afflicted.
...for being courteous and kind to all.
...for loving Jesus with all your heart.

My Comments: Sometimes it is hard to do right, then we regret or are sorry for the wrong we do. These are good reminders for what we should do.

Christmas Love 12/20

(By Candy Chand)
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.
Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there would be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row -- center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.
As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message: "CHRISTMAS LOVE."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her -- a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake.
But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood -- the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "CHRIST WAS LOVE."
And, I believe, He still is.
"'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'" John 3:16-18

My Comments: This reminds me so much of the true Christmas message that Christ came into this world to save sinners. He loves us each more than we can love any other. What a sacrifice He made that we might all be made free. How important it is that we share this good news with those we know who haven’t heard or made a decision for Christ.

Reconciliation This Christmas Season 12/11

(By David Massey)
The Christmas season is fully upon us. Just what was God's plan in bringing about Christmas? Why did He decide to manifest Himself as a human being? Why did He provide this wonderful plan of mercy, grace and love that I often cannot begin to comprehend?
Jesus came to reconcile man to God.
(Hebrews 2:17) Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
He came also to reconcile us with each other. Throughout the Bible, we find examples set by Jesus and others, of reconciliation between individuals. Jesus must have thought that reconciliation should be a high priority in our lives. Nowhere else in the Bible can I find an instance where a teacher instructs someone to leave the church and make up with someone before giving an offering.
(Matthew 5:23-24) (23) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; (24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Esau and his brother Jacob were reconciled:
(Genesis 33:4,11) (4) And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept. (11) “Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” And he (Jacob) urged him (Esau), and he took it.
Luke tells about the reconciliation of Herod and Pilate:
(Luke 23:12) And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
This is hard stuff. It is difficult to do. But it is Biblical and I have seen it work in both my own life and other people's lives. So let's just go through this next passage and see the steps Jesus lays out for us to take, when trying to restore a relationship.
Matthew 18:15-17 (15) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Step One is the most difficult one. Jesus is saying for us to go to the person with whom we have a problem, share our feelings and do it in private. Our natural inclination is to go tell everyone we know, except the person that we feel has wronged us. Before long, the situation has been stirred and changed into something even worse than the original version. And more harmfully, the telling of others can turn into gossip.
I am not a very confrontational person. Therefore this first step is very difficult for me. I have written short notes to people, and at other times called them on the phone. I once came out and asked for a private meeting face-to-face. But in the few times that I have invoked the Matthew 18 principle, the dispute was settled after Step One. The dispute never went any farther. Please don't think that all this happened very quickly. One reconciliation took me ten years to complete. Often we become paralyzed with anger and can never take this initial step, but if we really want to live as fully-devoted followers of Christ, we must try.
The second step, if necessary, is to take one or two people along with you to serve as witnesses to the process. I am assuming that this other person or two would help mediate the matter and provide unbiased opinions of the situation, in order to help start a process of healing and understanding.
The conflicts that I have seen, have been resolved with Step One, so hopefully the third step in this plan will not be necessary. When needed, its purpose is to shed light on the dispute. It serves as a way to reprimand the guilty party while hopefully setting up a means to restore him back to fellowship with others and with Christ. I recently witnessed a successful example of this step in action. The situation was somewhat different as it involved a church member and a pastor. The pastor had committed a sin. Another pastor confronted the pastor, who denied the charge. The pastor and an elder of the church then confronted him. Though the evidence against the pastor was overwhelming, he was still unrepentant. However, he did resign. The church was told of the reason for the Pastors' resignation and the healing has begun.
So there you have it -- a simple yet profound, three-step Biblical plan of reconciliation, given to us by none other than the great Reconciler himself, Jesus Christ. Now the question is: Are you ready to take the first step? Try it; it works. What better time than now, to start on a path of reconciliation with someone in your life?
-----
Father-thank You for giving us such an amazing book, the Bible, which contains Your word and Your instructions for doing life right. Help us make this Christmas season a season of reconciliation. Just as You sent Your Son to reconcile us with Yourself, help us to follow His example. In Christ's name, Amen.

My Comments: It is so hard to take that first step. I think we are often paralyzed by fear or anger. We know it must be done to be right with God, but it can be so difficult.

Seven Things to Include for a Joyful Journey to Christmas 12/7

By Michael A. Halleen

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened..." (Luke 2:15)

People. Attend services and other events that celebrate the day, even if you are far from home. The journey is best taken in the company of others.

Tradition. What "makes" Christmas for you? Handel's Messiah? A special ornament on the tree? For many, it's the food. (I can't imagine Christmas Eve without meatballs, rice pudding with an almond in it, lingonberries and root beer.) Some tell stories, some re-enact the stable scene. Honor your traditions hold on to them. They add warmth to the journey.

Music. Turn off the television and put on some of the great music of the season. This journey is along a road filled with singing. Let your voice be added to the chorus.

Generosity. Obey any impulse to be generous, even to those who are not expecting generosity from you. "When in doubt, shell it out," one of my crazy uncles used to say, and he was right. Tip freely. Christmas is a time for liberality. It makes the journey to Bethlehem easier for others and more fun for you.

Healing. Take the opportunity to restore a lost personal relationship, to mend a broken friendship. Take the initiative without worrying about who was right or wrong in whatever it was that divided you. Get past it, and forgive. Best to travel light on this journey.

Discipline. Keep your wits about you. Do everything in moderation, the Bible says, like eating. We can overextend ourselves in a hundred ways on this journey, thinking other people's joy somehow depends on us. In fact, we simply add hazards for ourselves and others on what is meant to be a road of peace and joy.

Smiles. Erase the frown of worry from your face for the season. Think about what children see when they look into your face, and consciously make it a smile. Determine that only kind words will come out of your mouthno criticism, no complaints. Decide to let more love into your life love for God, for God's children, for life itself. It was for them that that he came and for you. Smiles carry us far on this journey.

Let's go to Bethlehem!

-------------------

You can contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net to be added to his weekly devotional email list, "Monday Moments."

My Comments: I received this message last year and again this year. It is so important. I am working out how to implement a number of these ideas in my life, even while traveling and staying with family. There are a number of ways we can bring our focus back to God during this very busy season. Hope this encourages others.

Jesus Changed My World 12/5

He changed my world, He set me free,
He cleansed my heart, that I might see,
The wondrous grace, in spite of me,
Yes, Jesus changed my world.

He changed my life from deep within,
He changed my path from ways of sin,
And so today I walk with Him,
Yes, Jesus changed my world.

My heart was filled with deep despair
His words of hope left comfort there,
With others now His words I share,
Yes, Jesus changed my world.

When trials come, He takes control,
His loving care will guard my soul,
And heaven high with Him my goal,
Yes, Jesus changed my world.

He taught me love, He gave me peace,
I find each day my joys increase,
My praise for Him will never cease,
For Jesus changed my world.

Yes, Jesus changed my world.

Yes, Jesus changed my world.

Words by Joseph Rojahn, Music by Lee Dengler


My Comments: I heard this song in church tonight. It is a good reminder of what Christ does for us at salvation and throughout our Christian lives.

God's Grace 12/4

(By Wendy Greiner Lefko)
I did not know His love before, the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care, the "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship, I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears, my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could Jesus' love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can't go on." I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side, He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood, He helped me all the way.

And now I see as ne'er before how great His love can be
How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear, and then He said, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.

And now I know more storms will come, but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow as nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more, that's where I want to be!


Reproduced with written permission. For further information about this poet and to read more of her poetry, please look at the following link to Family Christian Inspiration: http://www.famci.com/

My Comments: If I had tried for years, I don’t think I could express more clearly than this poem, what the Lord has done in my life in the past few months. This is a wonderful picture of God’s work of grace and mercy in our lives through trials. Thank the Lord, for “marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14

All that Falls Away 12/1

(Click on the title to listen to the song.)

Like a work in a sculptor’s hand
Before You, Lord, I stand
Will You carve away each part that You don’t need,
And though there’s pain with every blow
Your grace has let me know
I can trust You as You shape Your will in me.

And with all that falls away I want to please You, Lord.
Remove the part of me that can’t reflect the heart of You
Though I won’t always understand, I will trust Your loving hand
And leave behind all that falls away.

The deeper that You go, as You chisel to my soul
The more my blemished heart is clearly seen
And yet You labor on, and with every flaw that’s gone
The likeness of Your Son is seen in me.

And with all that falls away I want to please You, Lord.
Remove the part of me that can’t reflect the heart of You
Though I won’t always understand, I will trust Your loving hand
And leave behind all that falls away.

Though I won’t always understand
I will trust Your loving hand
And leave behind all that falls away.

Written by Mike Harland and Anita Renfroe © Centergy Music, BMI

This song can be purchased on CD ($15) by CenterPoint (Karey & Kelly Nickel) at this website: http://www.nickelmusic.com/onlinestore.htm

My Comments: I heard this song this week on the radio. It really touched my heart, as it says exactly what I have been working through by the grace of God over the past few months. I need the Lord to continue, in every area of my life, to remove the things that do not glorify Him. It can be painful and difficult, but Oh, so necessary!

Fire Up! Fire Up! 11/30

2 Timothy 1:6
 
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
 
 
      When I was a child in Sunday School, we often sang a chorus that went something like this:  “Fire Up! Fire Up! Christian, Fire Up!  Keep the fire going in your soul.  Fire Up!  Fire Up! Fire Up! Christian, Fire Up! Keep the fire going in your soooulll! Fire UP!”  It was a rousing song for children and most of my life I have thought that that was all it was… a rousing song to get us children excited about being in church! 
      Recently, I have been studying the significance of the tabernacle and all its accessories.   Everything God ever does or gives command to us to do has significance.   Let me explain.  In the tabernacle, the very first thing you would come to when you walk through the door was the altar of burnt sacrifice.  This was where the sacrifice for atonement was made for the congregation of Israel, the priests and the individual.   It looked forward to the once for all atoning work of Christ on the Cross.  Without atonement, there can be no forgiveness of sin.   The priests were command to keep fire for this altar burning day and night.  It was not to be allowed to go out. 
      Now, we come to the verse I have quoted.   Paul tells Timothy to “stir up the gift of God which is in thee”.  Now, I know this has been used in reference to Timothy’s commission to preach the gospel, but I want to suggest that this is a command for all who have put their faith and trust in Christ Jesus to save them from their sins.  Once we accept the atoning work of Christ on the Cross, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us.  He is the “fire” within us.    In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul gives charge to the church in Thessalonica to “Quench not the Spirit.”  Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:9, that we are  “a royal priesthood”.
      Now, comes the tough part.   How do we quench the Spirit?… How do we stir up the gift of grace God has given us?   What does all this mean?  
      After the Altar of Burnt Sacrifice, comes the Brass Laver.  This is the place the priests were to wash their hands and feet before they went into the Holy Place for service before the Lord.  This laver was made from the lookingglasses that the Hebrew women had (Exodus 38:8).   These were probably were given to them by the richer Egyptian women when they fled Egypt.  To me this is significant because the lookingglass was a symbol of our vanity as humans.   Each time the priests washed themselves, they had to look at themselves to see what dirt they might be holding onto from outside the tabernacle walls.  
      How does this apply to you and me?   If you have put your faith and trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, nothing more, nothing less, then you have been reserved a place in heaven.  However, while we walk in this world, we will have to deal with our daily sin.    That means we have to “SEE” our sin.  We cannot confess a sin we do not see in our own lives.   How do we SEE our sin?  
      The Word of God is often pictured as water.   It is the cleansing of the Water of the Word that we look for.  As a royal priesthood, we must have this cleansing before we can enter into the Holiest of places before our God.   When we look into God’s Word, the Holy Spirit within us, mirrors our sin before us if we have our spiritual eyes open.   If we refuse to see that sin in our life, we “quench the Spirit”.  If we refuse to see sin in our life, the “gift” we are to stir up -- God’s grace in our lives -- is allowed to grow cold.  
      Recently, the Lord has been working in my heart in this area.   I’ve been saved now for about 44 years.  Sometimes it’s easy to become complacent and not see my sin.  How can I come in before my Lord?   How can I come boldly before the throne of grace with sin in my life?   I can’t.  Though I’ve never robbed anyone, nor physically murdered anyone.  I have lied. I've murdered another with my tongue and in my heart.  I have been jealous of another, I have had poor attitude toward another.  I have coveted another’s possessions or another’s relationships.   These are all sins if allowed to fester without confession and putting them under the atoning blood of the Cross..  
      These will keep me or you out of the daily presence of our Lord.    The grace of God, the atoning work is always available.  Its eternal fire never goes out before the Lord but it sure can be quenched in the daily life of a believer.  
      I’ve started asking the Lord before I go to Him in intercessory prayer to show me the sin(s) in my life that keeps me from knowing His presence in my life.   Is it fear?  Is it jealousy?  Is it envy?  Is it covetousness?  Is it gluttony?   Is it a poor attitude toward another?   Is it selfishness in my relationship with another?   As I gaze in the laver of God’s Word, I pray He shows me so that I might confess it for without confession, cleansing cannot take place.  It is an awful thing for a believer to not be able to feel the presence of the Lord they profess to follow.  This is why it is imperative that we spend time in God’s Word daily.
      How about you?   Have you had difficulty “seeing” your sin?   Are you spending time in God’s Word each day?   Are you asking Him to show you the sin you have hiding in your heart so that you may confess it and know your relationship is right with Him?  
      Perhaps, you’ve never gone to the Cross and accepted the atoning work of Jesus Christ for your sins, once for all.    The atoning work of Christ takes care of all past sins, no matter how “bad” you think they are.  Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.   Don’t wait to become good enough… that will never happen.  Christ died for us knowing full well we ALL are sinners.   Accept His free gift today.  Then you too can Fire Up! Fire Up!
 
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10

My Comments: I don’t remember this song from Sunday School, but I know about songs that try to get you excited about serving the Lord. I really need to heed the admonition to stir up the coals of fire when the Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin. I have so often quenched the Holy Spirit, by not being willing to recognize and forsake sin. I need to be willing to come before the laver and cleanse my hands and purify my heart, by taking heed unto His Word. God has given us the power to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must trust Him with the results.

No One on Earth 11/30

(by list member Debbie Preuss, October 31, 2004)
No one on earth loves me so,
As my Savior, who won't let me go.
For love on earth is oft' defined
By feelings, or a state of mind.
Often times it does depend
On what I do or I intend.
It can be a fleeting feeling, too;
Gone when the day dawns new.
But the love God has for me
Will last for all eternity.
No matter what I do or say,
Even when I don't obey,
My Father's waiting patiently
For me to come back to His knee.
His love never changes nor depends
On fleeting feelings this world lends.
I am His child, He loves me so;
He will never let me go.
He won't leave me lost or lame,
So I praise His holy name.
No one on earth loves me so,
As my Savior, who won't let me go.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html

My Comments: I have been getting emails with this lady’s poems for several years. They are such a blessing to me as they express so often the feelings and thoughts of my heart at that time. This poem arrived at just the time I have been recognizing that people will fail you. No matter how much they love or care for you; they will never love you like Jesus does.

A Morning Prayer 11/29

"O, God, for another day, for another morning, for another hour, for another minute, for another chance to live and serve You, I am truly grateful.
Do this day free me
from all fear of the future,
from all anxiety about tomorrow,
from all bitterness toward any one,
from all cowardice in face of danger,
from all laziness in the face of work,
from all failure before opportunity,
from all weakness when Your power is at hand.

But fill me
with Love that knows no barrier,
with Sympathy that reaches to all,
with Courage that cannot be shaken,
with Faith strong enough for the darkness,
with Strength sufficient for my tasks,
with Loyalty to Your Kingdom's goal,
with Wisdom to meet life's complexities,
with Power to lift me to You.

Be with me for another day, and use me as Thou will.
For Christ's sake, I pray. Amen."
(From Laugh and Lift.com)

My Comments: I need to read this every day, and meditate on it along with Scripture. What power we would have if we were always yielded to this message!

The Kingdom Worth Dying For 11/28

(by Max Lucado, from "The Applause of Heaven" Copyright 1996 Max Lucado)
In my closet hangs a sweater that I seldom wear. It is too small. The sleeves are too short, the shoulders too tight. Some of the buttons are missing, and the thread is frazzled. I should throw that sweater away. I have no use for it. I'll never wear it again. Logic says I should clear out the space and get rid of the sweater.
That's what logic says.
But love won't let me.
Something unique about that sweater makes me keep it. It has no tag because it wasn't made in a factory. It has no label because it wasn't produced on an assembly line. It's the creation of a devoted mother expressing her love.
And though the sweater has lost all of its use, it has lost none of its value. It is valuable not because of its function, but because of its maker.
That must have been what the psalmist had in mind when he wrote, "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13)
You aren't an accident. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Craftsman.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
In a society that has little room for second fiddles, that's good news. In a culture where the door of opportunity opens only once and then slams shut, that is a revelation.
Jesus told John that a new kingdom was coming-a kingdom where people have value not because of what they do, but because of whose they are.

My Comments: It is a miracle to me that Jesus loves each of us so much. I am really just beginning to grasp how much He loves us. You know I’ve struggled with this for years, but recently I’ve begun to understand that Jesus loves ME... and I can trust Him, when there is no one else I can trust. Most of us think there is always someone we can trust to not forsake us. Some have experienced the frightening reality that there are no humans they can trust... but we can trust the Lord... always, in every circumstance, for all our life, with all our life. What a wonderful reality!

Divine Reasonings of Faith 11/27

(By Oswald Chambers)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." We argue in exactly the opposite way, even the most spiritually-minded of us -- "But I must live; I must make so much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed." The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the concern of your care on the other things.
"Take no thought for your life ... " Our Lord points out the utter unreasonableness from His standpoint of being so anxious over the means of living. Jesus is not saying that the man who takes thought for nothing is blessed -- that man is a fool. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his relationship to God the dominating concentration of his life, and to be carefully careless about every thing else in comparison to that. Jesus is saying -- "Don't make the ruling factor of your life what you shall eat and what you shall drink, but be concentrated absolutely on God." Some people are careless over what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it; they are careless about what they wear, and they look as they have no business to look; they are careless about their earthly affairs, and God holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second.
It is one of the severest disciplines of the Christian life to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into harmony with the teaching of Jesus in these verses.
My Utmost for His Highest, May 21st
My Comments: I had to read this several times to really understand what was being said. I find that I am often very concerned with the “things of this world.” I am finding that as I seek first God’s kingdom... I have much less need to be concerned about the here and now... God seems to make it easier to get the necessary done, when I make His kingdom my first priority.

Thought about the Life We are Given 11/26

"God has brought us into this time; He, and not ourselves or some dark demon. If we are not fit to cope with that which He has prepared for us, we would have been utterly unfit for any condition that we imagine for ourselves. We are to live and wrestle in this time, and in no other. Let us humbly, tremblingly, manfully look at it, and we shall not wish that the sun could go back its ten degrees, or that we could go back with it. If easy times are departed, it is that the difficult times may make us more in earnest; that they may teach us not to depend on ourselves. If easy belief is impossible, it is that we may learn what belief is, and in whom it is to be placed." - Frederick Denison Maurice

My Comments: Don’t we want to change places with others either from other times, or just with people that look like they have an easier life than we do? God gave each of us the life we have... to learn to be more attuned to Him, to trust Him more, and to believe on Him more fully. That’s something I need to trust Him with every day...

Hello, God 11/24

(Author Unknown)
Hello God, I called tonight. 
To talk a little while.. 
I need a friend who'll listen 
To my anxiety and trial.. 
You see, I can't quite make it 
Through a day just on my own... 
I need your love to guide me, 
So I'll never feel alone. 
I want to ask you please to keep, 
My family safe and sound. 
Come and fill their lives with confidence 
For whatever fate they're bound. 
Give me faith, dear God, to face 
Each hour throughout the day, 
And not to worry over things 
I can't change in any way. 
I thank you God, for being home 
And listening to my call, 
For giving me such good advice 
When I stumble and fall. 
Your number, God, is the only one 
That answers every time. 
I never get a busy signal, 
Never had to pay a dime. 
So thank you, God, for listening 
To my troubles and my sorrow. 
Good night, God, I love You, too, 
And I'll call again tomorrow!

My Comments: This was a good reminder of how much God wants us to come to Him with our problems and concerns. We so often turn to other people to share our burden, but we don’t share it with the Lord, who is able to bear the burden for us and give us the grace to continue on under the burden.

You are Blessed 11/22

(Author Unknown)
If you own a Bible, you are abundantly blessed. About 1/3 of the world does not have access to one.
If you wake up each morning with more health than illness, you are blessed to rise and shine, to live and to serve in a new day.
If you have anyone on the planet, just one person that loves you and listens to you; count this a blessing.
If you can freely attend a church meeting without fear, then you are more blessed than over 1/3 of the world.
If you pray today or any day, you are blessed because you believe in God's willingness to hear your prayer.
If you pray for someone else, you are blessed because you want to help others also.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep; all at the same time; you are rich in this world.
If you have a brother or sister in Christ that will pray with you and for you, you benefit from a spiritual unity, bond, and agreement, which the gates of hell cannot stand against.
If you have an earthly family that even halfway love you and support you, you are blessed beyond measure.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, or some spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the world's wealthy.
If you can go to bed each night, knowing that God loves you, you are blessed beyond measure.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than about 1/3 of the world who cannot read at all.
If you have never had to endure the hardship and agony of battle, imprisonment, or torture, you are blessed in indescribable measure.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug another person, touch someone on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can share a word of encouragement with someone else, and do it with His love in your heart, you are blessed because you have learned how to give.
If you have the conviction to stand fast upon His Word and His promises, no matter what, you are blessed because you are learning patience, endurance, and tenacity.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because most people can, but many will not.
Be Thankful to your Lord!
http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html

My Comments: What conviction this brought when I realized how truly blessed I am. Why am I so ungrateful? Probably because I, like so many others, am never satisfied with what I have, but always think I need more. Realizing that Psalm 84:11 says that “...no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” So, I really don’t need the things I don’t have, since God promises to give us everything that is good for us. I just need to trust Him.

Choose to be Glad 11/21

By Michael A. Halleen

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

The Psalmist had made a decision. The Lord God had given him that day. Now he chose to live through it with a positive spirit and a hopeful heart.

Nothing is more crucial to the quality of our lives than the choices we make about how we will approach the circumstances, relationships and crises of each day. In the end it is that attitude which largely determines the outcomes we will find. I *choose* God as my refuge...I *choose* to believe...I *choose* to find a way.

Mrs. S. had lived alone for many years and got out only with the help of a wheelchair. Every Sunday she wheeled herself into the side aisle of our sanctuary (one without handicap access) where she worshipped attentively. She always seemed to be "up," a radiant person who made people smile just to be around her.

One evening Mrs. S. spoke to the youth of the church and was asked how she could always be so alive, so full of joy. She responded, "Well, I certainly didn't choose to live the last half of my life as a widow. And I didn't choose to have my son killed in the Korean War. I didn't choose to have to ride around in this chair for the past ten years. But one thing I did chooseto be happy. I decided to make the best of every day and to see the best in every person."

A friend who has been a missionary in South America for many years told me of taking some American visitors through his city. One of them spotted a beautiful large poinsettia tree in front of a small house as they passed by. The visitor wanted to take a picture and, not realizing that the plant was brittle, reached up to pull down a branch for the camera. A six-foot length of flame-red poinsettia snapped to the ground.

At that moment the woman of the house stepped out of the door and confronted the gringos standing there, poinsettia branch in hand. Humiliated, they tried to express regret and offered to pay for her loss. But they could no more fix the personal damage than they could repair the tree. Still, instead of adding to their embarrassment, the woman cheerfully asked them in for tea. She *chose* to forgive them, to overlook their clumsy behavior. She *chose* to offer them grace.

This is the day the Lord has made. We are responsible to decide how we will live in it.

-------------------
mhalleen@att.net

My Comments: I have so often not chosen to be glad. I am convicted deeply that I have been given so much, yet I have been so ungrateful. I’m learning just how thankful I should be as I come to really recognize my neediness and God’s blessing in my life. Oh, that I might continue to grow in this area of my life. I learned this week more about being responsible to choose how we respond. We don’t have to respond to what our emotions tell us we should do. Our intellect has the ability to evaluate our emotions and choose a different response than the one that our flesh desires. Then our will must choose to do what is right or what is wrong in a given situation.

The Victorious Limp 11/20

(by Brennan Manning, in his book "The Ragamuffin Gospel")
Most of the descriptions of the victorious life do not match the reality of my own. Hyperbole, bloated rhetoric, and grandiose testimonies create the impression that once Jesus is acknowledged as Lord, the Christian life becomes a picnic on a green lawn - marriage blossoms into connubial bliss, physical health flourishes, acne disappears, and sinking careers suddenly soar. Idyllic descriptions of victory in Jesus are more often colored by cultural and personal expectations than by Christ...
The New Testament depicts another picture of the victorious life...Jesus on Calvary. The biblical image of the victorious life reads more like the victorious limp. Jesus was victorious not because He never flinched, talked back, or questioned, but having flinched, talked back, and questioned, He remained faithful.
What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse, or spectacular success in the ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions, and bruised by rejection and ridicule, authentic disciples may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far country. Yet, they kept coming back to Jesus.
After life has lined their faces a little, many followers of Jesus come into a coherent sense of themselves for the first time...Where sin abounded, grace has more abounded.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: I hesitate sometimes to make comments at the end of these devotionals, because I think the comments begin to sound super-religious, like I have attained some special level of Christianity. I haven’t. I struggle every day to just do what’s right at that given moment. I am so weak, but He is strong, and He promises to make me strong through Him. I must remain faithful.

Goathead Sin 11/19

Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
       In our neck of the woods, we have a weed called a goathead.  It is an insidious weed.   It starts out and looks a little like other grasses but as it grows it develops a “wheel spoke” appearance.  This happens when it starts to spread its fingers out.  Now, the best time to pull a weed is when it’s small but if it goes unnoticed and grows, then when the ground is wet is the best time to pull a weed because you want to get the root not just the surface plant.  Now, if goatheads are let go, they not only spread like this but they flower and the flower bears “fruit”.  However, this fruit is a small burr.   It sticks in anything and everything it can and spreads itself that way.     If it stays in the same area then it will also eventually put down roots into the ground.   When larger plants have not been pulled, they can hide other small plants and/or more roots where the fingers have put down roots.  If it continues to be allowed to grow it will take over good feeding pastures and hayfields.   Animals cannot eat these plants because they are noxious – not to mention “burry”.  So we try to pull these weeds as soon as they come to our attention.   However, sometimes the only way to get rid of them is to burn a field after the growing season.
      As I thought on these, I thought how like sin in our lives.   Sin is best “pulled” when it’s small.  However to know there’s sin to be pulled you have to see and acknowledge that it’s there.   Unfortunately, we don’t always see the sin until it has developed a large root in out lives.
      We tend to think the when we do something God calls sin that we’re just hurting ourselves.  However, like the goathead, sin has fingers when it’s allowed to stay around and the longer that sin is allowed to stay around the longer the fingers become and then those fingers develop more “little” sins.  When sin is not acknowledged and confessed in an individual, it will spread.  It spreads first to those closest to us, family and friends.   Then if it continues to be unconfessed, that sin will spread from family and friends to church family, community, city, county, state and eventually you have a nation who has deep rooted, unconfessed sin and the heart of not only individuals but the nation has become hardened and calloused to sin.   They don’t see sin as sin anymore… after all, everybody’s doing it.  Surely it can’t be wrong if so many people are doing it….that’s where we are WRONG! 
      So, let’s talk about some of the sins that start our “small” in our lives and can develop into rooted sin that develops fingers.   We’ll start with the obvious ones.   Pride.   Pride can start out as simple as taking pride in our work—which by the way, we should do.   However, when pride in our work develops a tentacle of “needing” acknowledgment from others, then we start to have a problem.   It then becomes all about us, rather than doing as Colossians 3:23 says,   23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
      What is another sin that we allow to develop… well, let’s see… what about anger.   Is it a sin to be angry?   No, not the right anger.  But anger that is allowed to seethe because our “rights” have been infringed upon… yes, that’s sin.  Or anger that’s allowed to “go down with the sun”.   That has potential to be come sin.   Frustration and anger when not rightly dealt with become bitterness or passion out of control which can lead to murder, (either bodily death or character assassination a.k.a. gossip).
      Another sin we don’t like to talk about in “Christian” circles is impure thinking.   If an impure thought crosses your mind is that sin?   Not if you immediately put it under the blood.  But what if you take the thought and play with it in your mind?   Unfortunately, we live in a world that bombards us all the time with opportunities to play with impure thoughts.   Where do impure thoughts lead when allowed to grow?   Adultery, murder, broken homes, and broken lives.
      Solomon said that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.   Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19-20, “ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:   These are the things which defile a man:…”   You may say but I’m not guilty of any of these… Really?   The only person who ever lived who had no sin, was Jesus Christ.   Pride keeps us from even seeing our own sin.   Pride is the basis for all sin.    These sins listed here are just the outward manifestations of a thought life allowed to run amok.
      So, let me ask you, are you allowing “goatheads” to grow in your life?   What’s the cure for goatheads?   John tells us in 1 John 1:9-10  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.   Do you rant and rave at crooked leadership, either local or national?   Do you say, well, those authorities need a good hanging?   
      What about you?  These people may show outward sin, but are you harboring goatheads in your life?  They may be small but when not dealt with they spread their fingers out and before you know it the only way to take care of them is to “burn” ‘em. If we do not pull the weeds of sin out of our life daily, particularly after spending time in the Word (which is water for our ground), then sin spreads until a whole nation is covered in sin and the only way God can take care of a nation is to bring judgment and that often means death.
      As you spend time in God’s Word today, won’t you ask Him to show you the “little” goatheads that are growing in your life so that you can pull them?
 
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10

My Comments: This really spoke to my heart as I consider all the little ways I can allow sin to take control in my life. I have to be on guard at all times as explained in Ephesians 6: 10-18 to stand against the attacks of the devil.

Phantom Vibes 11/15

It almost sounds mystical doesn't it?  I may have even mentioned this to you before.  You may even understand what I am talking about and experience your own "vibes."

Today, it all made sense to me. I carry my cell phone on my belt in a small holder.  The phone can ring, vibrate or both. I use the vibrate feature when I am in a meeting, the theater, out to dinner or simply when I don't want to hear it.  It vibrates, I look to see who it is and determine if I need to speak to them immediately or call them later. Truthfully, I wish they never created cell phones, call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID or voice mail.

I'm going to sound old now...I can remember when you called someone and if the line was busy, you tried later.  If it kept ringing and no one answered, you knew immediately they weren't home. When I left the house I didn't fret because no one could reach me.  I kinda liked the idea.

Anyway, now that I have a cell phone that haunts me by vibrating, I keep thinking I can feel it vibrating. I mean a dozen times a day I reach down without thinking and place my hand on the phone because I THINK it's vibrating. 

Ready for this?  I've done it even when I didn't have the phone with me! I call them "Phantom Vibes!"

But, here was my "ah ha!" moment today.

I do this with habits I've picked up along the way. They are the little things that control me.  They are the little negative thoughts that make me NOT do what my heart tells me to do.  They are the little memories of things I've said and regret and the things I've should have said and didn't.

Phantom Vibes that make me question myself even when I don't need to.

I can remember when I was a kid visiting the old Atlantic City Steel Pier.  Featured in the front was a dancing chicken.  You put a dime in and the chicken would dance.   Sadly, it did this only because feed would come out at the end of the song.  One would also play tic tac toe with you.

My point is, sometimes we become the chicken.  A light goes on and we respond without thinking. We are controlled by old habits that have no value in our lives. Phantom Vibes.

Want to stop them?

Talk to yourself.  Every time a negative thought, memory or "vibe" pops up, reject it out loud (if you are alone). Or, simply say, "No!" to yourself.  If it is an image, picture yourself picking it up and throwing it away, in a box with a key, in the garbage or see yourself rolling it up in a ball and throwing it as far as you can.

If you have Phantom Vibes from your cell phone, I dare you to leave it home the next time you go out.

You can do it!  I know you ca...  I've got to go.  My phone's ringing.  I think.

.....Copyright 2007 Bob Perks "I Believe in You!" (2believe@comcast.net) (http://www.BobPerks.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

My Comments: There are old habits I need to work to remove from my life. I am realizing that this is an intentional action that I must take regularly and faithfully to see needed changes in my life. I can’t be faithful at doing what the Lord wants in my life, unless I am relying on the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, and remind me of those things that must change.

My Child, I Love You, Come Closer 11/13

(By Debbie Preuss, January 9, 2005)
My Child, I love you, come closer to Me
I know you're not where you want to be
Draw nearer child, don't be afraid
I know that your faith is beginning to fade
Come closer, My child, and then you will see
Just how much you truly matter to Me
I miss you so much, when you wander away
I'm waiting for you, please don't go astray
Read My words. and know that they're true
I love you so much I gave My Son for you
I long to hold you, My precious dove
To shower you with My endless love
I'm watching you child, I see the tear in your eye
I want to hold you while you sob and cry
I see the struggles that you're going through
I want to remind you, that I'm here for you
No matter what comes, what your struggles may be
Come now My child, come closer to Me
I'll give you the strength to get you through
For My precious one, I truly do love you
So come back to Me, I'm waiting right here
I know you feel far away, but I am so near
Just turn around, run to My embrace
I will wipe every tear from your face
I know you're not where you want to be
My child, I love you, come closer to Me
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html

My Comments: Another reminder that the Father, as in the story of the Prodigal Son, is waiting with outstretched arms, FOR ME to return, when I choose to wander away from Him. What love! I need His love so much.

God’s Presence…All We Need 11/12

 Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
 
      When I was younger it was much easier for me to memorize Scripture verses.  Now, I look for ways to help me do it.  I often wonder how strong a Christian I would be if all I had for Scripture was what I had memorized…. Hmmm.  That bothers me, so I recently started my own perpetual verse calendar.  What I have done is taken index cards that have a spiral binding on them and when I come across a verse in my personal time or study time, I write it on one of the cards.  I even put verses that strike me during the preaching of God’s Word in it.   This way later when I’ve completed it, I can stand it on the window shelf by my kitchen sink or in the bathroom or even by my desk and flip it each day, see a new verse and be reminded who I am in Christ.
      I haven’t gotten it filled yet, so in the meantime what I’ve been doing each day, at least one time is go through each verse and repeat the reference to the verse and the verse… out loud… I try not to do it when other people are present because then I get distracted by their comments and/or annoyed looks.
      One of the verses I have in my calendar is the one I’ve quoted above.  Now, over the years, I have heard the last part of this verse quoted to comfort people.  I had even quoted that part to my young daughter to help her with her fears at night.   However, as I’ve repeated this verse each day out loud, it has stayed with me through the day and I’ve thought on it.   No, that’s not really true… it would be more appropriate to say it’s been coming to my mind… often!  
      As I thought on this verse over the years, I have to admit that I have thought there were two completely unrelated thoughts expressed in this verse.   Then the other day as I was repeating it, I felt a jolt.  
      This verse says, Let your conversation be without covetousness…. First, let me clarify this.   Conversation here does not refer strictly to verbal communication.   In other words, saying things like, I wish I had…. I wish I was…. I wish, I wish, I wish…   Conversation here refers to every part of our day to day living.  It is not just what we verbalize to another, it is our body language, it is how we live our life, it is our relationships!   The word covetousness is another word for idolatry….putting any thing or relationship before our relationship with God.
      God is saying here, let your manner of living be without inordinate desire for material possessions, human relationships, job positions, etc.   While none of these things in themselves may be wrong to desire, having an unbalanced or excessive desire may be.  Why?
      Well, let’s continue to look at this verse.  It says not only to Let your conversation be without covetousness… but it also says, and be content with such things as ye have. Whew!  I have to tell you, I’d never really thought of myself as a covetous person.  I’d never really thought I had desires that were out of balance with the rest of my life.  Yet, as I find my husband being the executor of two family estates, and having to be involved in the dispensing of contents of two households that are not ours, I feel the Holy Spirit chipping away at my self-righteousness.  I find myself seeing things I never even knew existed and thinking… Wow!  That’s cool!      All of a sudden I found myself not so content with "such things as I had". Hmmm.
      So, what’s wrong with looking at things/relationships that someone else possesses and thinking they’re nice?   Nothing… in and of itself.  In fact, we’re supposed to rejoice with those whom God has blessed.   It is when we feel like we would not be complete without having them that it becomes a problem.  
      Let’s look at the rest of this verse… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   Oh Double Wow!   Okay… I see some confusion on your face.   Let me see if I can put this all together for you.
      To paraphrase this verse (as I heard the Holy Spirit say to me), “Live your day-to-day life knowing that I am ALL that you need.  There is nothing you can add to your relationship with ME, that will make it better.   If you have need, I will provide.   However, if your eyes wander to things or relationships that are outside of MY desires for you, you will not feel MY presence, though I will not have left, because you have placed those things above Me and your relationship with Me.”
      Do you understand what I’m saying here?   God says to us, I am your ALL in ALL.   Because I will never leave you nor forsake you, you will have no other needs that I will not provide for you.   This verse is right in the middle of a passage that talks about our day-to-day relationships with others as well as our spiritual relationships with others.   It refers to our responsibility toward others.
      God is telling us here that He completes us.  Nothing… relationships or things.... can be put in place of our relationship with God and complete us.   If we allow them to, then we are guilty of idolatry.  
      Whew!  Are you aware of God’s presence today?   Are you aware of His presence in your day-to-day activities?   Are you aware of God’s presence in your church activities?   Things and relationships often cloud our vision of God if we allow them to, but God wants us to see Him.  He wants us to know that He’s right there through thick and thin and NOTHING WE TRULY NEED will be held back from us because….He will never leave us nor forsake us!
      If you don’t feel God’s presence today in your day-to-day activities, perhaps you need to do an inspection.   Is there a relationship, a position, a possession that has clouded your vision of Who God is and His ability to provide for you?   Confess it as idolatry and ask God’s forgiveness.   He will (I John 1:9 – btw, this is a promise to believers only… not a salvation promise.).    
      Perhaps you’ve never been aware of God’s presence in your life.  Perhaps you have a hard time believing that God would even want to have anything to do with you.   Perhaps you have never started a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.  He dearly wants a relationship with you.  Won’t you come to Him today so you too can know, "He will never leave thee nor forsake thee" ?

Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10

My Comments: This was one of those messages that hit a grand slam right between my eyes! There is NOTHING that I need, apart from God. HE will NEVER leave me. Anything else I put in His place is wrong and idolatry. He completes me. I can’t wrap my brain around this enough.

The Bigger Picture 11/9

Leith Anderson shared a story about when he was a boy. He grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day, his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, not a single Dodger ever got on base and his excitement was shattered.

Years later, he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a walking sports almanac. Leith told him about the first major league game he attended and added, "It was such a disappointment. I was a Dodger fan and the Dodgers never got on base."

The man said, "You were there? You were at the game when Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in all of World Series history?"

Leith replied, "Yeah, but uh, we lost."

He then realized that he had been so caught up in his team's defeat that he missed out on the fact that he was a witness to a far greater page of history.

"You were there?"

I wonder how often the same thing happens to us. We get so caught up in the "defeats" in our lives -- the times when things don't turn out the way we want them to. So we're depressed because an illness continues to linger, or when people don't treat us the way we think they ought to, or when we face financial difficulties.

But, we are often so blinded by the pain and disappointment of our "defeat" that we fail to appreciate the fact that we might be witness to something far greater that God is doing in our lives.

Remember when Paul was in prison? He wrote to the Christians in Philippi:

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather
unto the furtherance of the gospel; (Philippians 1:12)

While most of us would have focused on the "defeat" (being in prison even though he was innocent), Paul was able to see what God was doing in his life. It's not an easy thing to do. It's never easy to view things from a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly one, but it is especially difficult in the midst of pain and defeat. But it is learning how to have a heavenly view that helps us to know joy no matter what happens in our lives.

.....(c) 2007 Alan Smith (alansmith.servant@gmail.com) by way of The Daily Encourager (dlangerfeld@HarrisburgBaptist.org) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

My Comments: I know that I have been often overwhelmed by the situation as it is occurring that I don’t recognize God’s hand in the circumstances. As I look back on what has happened, I can see so many ways that God has put little touches into the situation that make such a difference and clearly have to come from Him. It shows me His love and concern for me, even in the face of my failures to walk closely with Him. To realize how much He loves me.

Human Files 11/9

(By Ron Hutchcraft)
Our daughter called the other day and told us that we had to hear what our 3-year-old grandson had just said to her - totally unprompted, out of the blue. He got on the phone and simply said, "Ronald." Karen and I cracked up. That's exactly what Karen says to me when I'm doing something weird - which, of course, is very, very rare. It's her lighthearted way of trying to correct this crazy guy she's married to. But our grandson had even mastered the tone of what she says - "Ronald." All this time he's been listening, recording - and now reproducing. Like we should be surprised?
Now, all the time our kids were growing up, we had this tapestry hanging up in our room - it said, "Children learn what they live." I guess. Our recent amusing experience with our grandson was only a reminder of the truth of that. Except the results of children learning what they live often are anything but amusing. Whether you realize it or not, your child, your grandchild - any child you're around very much - is listening ... recording ... and sooner or later reproducing what they have experienced or witnessed with you.
And if that weren't sobering enough, we have what Jesus says in our word for today from the Word of God to make us think seriously about how we're marking the children we influence. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Wow. Jesus says, "Whatever you do, don't mess up a child."
So, it is obviously very important to step back and consider what we are putting on the video and audio tapes in our kids' minds. The angry words. The names we call them or other people. The racial prejudice that diminishes someone God created - or a whole group of people God created. The children are picking up how we talk about other people ... they're absorbing all that church gossip they hear and forming feelings about the people and work of God. They're learning how to handle stress, and conflict, and disappointment - by watching you. They're learning to respect or disrespect your spouse by the way you respect or disrespect your spouse.
I wonder what our children are learning from us about money - about how important it is ... about giving it generously to Jesus ... about how to handle those times when the money isn't there. Are they learning faith in a God who's a wonderful provider or fear and complaining? And what are our children learning from what they know we watch or listen to? Are they taught that certain things are wrong - and then see you watching those things portrayed or laughed about on TV? They are learning, not so much by what you say, but by what you live.
Think about what you're writing in the wet cement of that child's heart. It may be that you need to go to a child and actually apologize for some of what they have seen and heard - to let them know it isn't right and you're trying to change. And concentrate on giving them the kinds of experiences you want them to copy - praying together, calmly talking through things, listening before talking, putting the other person first, treating people with respect.
The children in our lives are human files - storing what they experience and ultimately reproducing it. They learn what they live - and then later they live what they learned. Jesus said, "Do not mess up the children, or you'll have Me to answer to." Be sure they're learning what you want them to live - what He wants them to live.
[Copyright (c) 2002, Ron Hutchcraft. Permission to distribute this material via email, or individual copies, is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, and will not be sold. To reproduce "A Word With You" transcripts in any other format, including Internet websites, written permission is needed from Ron Hutchcraft.]

My Comments: What a challenge for me to consider with my children that my husband and I are the most likely sources of most or all of their understanding of God. I need to be so attuned to the Lord’s leading in my life that I reflect Him correctly to them. Of course, I am very human and fail at this so much. I have had to ask my kids to forgive me, more than once. I’m sure that really wouldn’t surprise anyone that knew me. We do work on havint the right kinds of experiences in our home, but it has to be intentional. It won’t just happen if we as parents aren’t keeping in mind this important concept.

Pecking on God's Window 11/5

Pecking on God’s Window
Psalm 5:2-3
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
 

 
      Meet Bruce.  He’s our pet rooster.   Now, he didn’t start out to be our pet rooster.  Long story short, we started out with a brood… and have ended up with just Bruce.  
      Bruce and I have developed a kind of relationship.    I never knew how social chickens are.   All our domestic animals know exactly where I am in the house when I’m home; in particularly, if I’m at the computer.  The other morning, I was in my office, working on my medical transcription when I heard a peck, peck on my window.   I turned around to find Bruce pecking on my window and when I turned around and said, “Hi, Bruce… How are you today?”   He seemed satisfied and went on his way.  He didn’t want to come in… he just wanted me to acknowledge his presence.   Funny, isn’t it?
      Now, Bruce isn’t the only one who comes to that window to let me know, he’s there.   While Bruce just comes to make sure I’m aware of his presence, the cats and dog will come for other reasons.   Sometimes they want in so they can have security of the protection of the house.   Sometimes they’re hungry or thirsty and want to come in where the food and water is.   Sometimes, they want to come in just to lay close by my side and feel comforted by my presence.  
       As I got to thinking about all this, I began thinking of my relationship with the Lord.   Jeremiah says in Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.   They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.    One of the things that awes me about my Lord, is that He extends His tenderness to me daily.  No matter how badly I blew it yesterday, or even just a few minutes ago, He stands ready to extend to me His grace.  I do not know about you but it seems I often blow it during the day – during the week.   I want to be a “good” Christian example.  I want to walk with the Lord in such a way, as people would be able to see Him in me.   Yet, being human, I only do fine until I get out of bed.    (Sometimes, I am not sure about that!)   
      I am often amazed and delighted when I find how well the Bible – Old Testament and New Testament intertwine.   For instance, when God took His children, the nation of Israel into the wilderness, He gave them manna each day to eat.   This was not just to provide for their physical hunger, but to provide them with a daily reminder of the glory of His presence.   In the New Testament in John 6, Jesus tells the Pharisees that He is the Bread of Life (manna from Heaven).   God wants to have a daily relationship with us. 
      Can I be honest with you?   I have often blown having that daily time with my Lord for any number of reasons.   When I do, my day seems to spiral down out of control and I always feel a little awkward trying to come back into His presence the next time.   I mean, why would God want to spend time with me when I completely blew Him off?  If it was me, and my daughter or even my husband chose not to talk to me in the morning, I would be hurt and I, being human, would want them to hurt as much as they hurt me.   Yet, God is not a man to react as we do.   He so desires to have a daily relationship with us that He will start over each day, fresh and new.  He will refresh our relationship, our companionship each morning when we come to Him and acknowledge to Him that we blew it yesterday.  
      If we refuse to come and acknowledge that we blew it, the reason we blew it , and then spend time with Him, we are like Bruce.   Pecking on God's window just to say, “God, I really don’t want to come in… I just want you to know I’m here.”
      However, we can be like the cats or dog and stand before His window and acknowledge our sin, acknowledge our pride, acknowledge our fear, and ask God to cover it.  We can acknowledge our need of Him and He will let us back into His Room of Relationship.  When He lets us back into His Room of Relationship, His mercies and compassions are brand new.  The Lord is our portion… Jesus Christ is our manna.  When we come into His Room of Relationship, we are reminded all over again of the glory of His presence and that there's no better place to be.
      What about you?   Have you, like me, blown your time with the Lord off?   Have you then gone through the day feeling off-kilter?   Are you “pecking on God’s window” just to say, “Hey, God, I’m still here” because you’re afraid you can’t come back into His presence?   Have you allowed pride or fear to keep you from standing before His window acknowledging your sin and asking Him to allow you back into His Room of Relationship?
      Let me reassure you, God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning.   God is the God of new beginnings each day.   Won’t you stand at His window today?  Confess what it was that kept you from His presence recently and ask to be let back into His Room of Relationship?  He’s waiting there for you.
 
Molly Winter
Col. 1:9-10

My Comments: How often I have allowed pride to keep me from coming back to God. I’m tired of confessing the same things over and over, so I just won’t bother. It’s a kind of pride that says, I just can’t keep admitting doing the same thing again. I’ll just have to do without God’s presence, but He wants me back even more than I want His fellowship... because He LOVES me!!! How incredible. Molly has done a wonderful job of expressing my own failures in this message. I just have to go again, knock on the window and let Him bring me back into His presence.

Marvel Not 11/2

(By Mike Hoskins, mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org) 
[Edited]
John 3:7 "Marvel Not that I said unto thee, 'You must be born again.'"
For Nicodemus, the simple truth called to him and still eluded him. He had studied under the finest teachers of the Law. His prayers were as regular and as proper as the clock by which they were measured; morning, midday and evening. His skills of debate were refined by hour upon hour of questioning and reply with his peers and his mentors. But this itinerate Rabbi, from Nazareth of all places, struck a chord deep inside. That chord reverberated inside, an empty place that had never been able to be filled with all the hours of study and the wisdom of his elders.
Taking a considerable risk, his need to fill that hollow space had driven him down dark streets in common clothes. No one who saw him quietly passing from shadow to shadow would know that this was a member of the Council of Elders. If he had been recognized, it would have caused many questions to be raised. His position would be in jeopardy especially if he were caught with this Rabbi Jesus.
And so Nicodemus became an unexpected house guest of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus, as the Son of God, knew that there would be a guest with many questions late this evening. The disciples would be slack-jawed to watch this Doctor of the Law come slipping in through the door. Nicodemus had honest, searching questions, unlike the ones that his fellows would raise. These were not traps set to trick, but probes into a darkness that Nicodemus could not pierce. When Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again he is floored. Totally confused, Nicodemus pensively asks how this can be.
Matt 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
To those who would scoff, or not even entertain the question in their minds, it would never be answered. To those like this man, who would admit that he did not have all the answers, the answer came simply and honestly. "Don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again'" (Mike's paraphrase). Jesus must have said it with a smile. The second birth is of the spirit of God. It is a renewal of the spirit of man that died when Adam and Eve sinned millennia ago in the Garden of Eden. Even though all of us are physically alive, we are born dead in spirit. To be born again is simply to have life restored to your spirit. There is no mystical mumbo-jumbo, nothing you or I can do at all in fact, except ask. If you ask with a sincere heart, Jesus has promised not to turn you away.
John 1:11-13 "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Over the years before Jesus came, the truth had become buried in laws and interpretations of those rules and guidelines. Since then, there has been much the same happen again. The simplicity of God reaching out to mankind with compassion has been lost to most. To the majority of the world, God is a big "Thou Shalt Not" in the sky. Just what any of us need is one more rule book to follow. Who would want to get mixed up in that? But a God who says:
Matt 11:28-30 "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
This is something totally different. When you have a friend helping, everything is easier.
"Lord Jesus, Help us to live out the life of compassion to others that You did. We are not perfect, but help us to better represent You and your grace and mercy to everyone around us. Help those who are seeking, or may be curious to come and ask questions. Give us honest, simple answers to help them understand and experience the new birth that Nicodemus did. Amen."
Note from Chris (based on text written by Mike): For those of you who know this compassionate Jesus, give thanks. Let this Jesus be what shows through Your heart and life to others. If this is not the Jesus you've heard of before and would like to know more, please write. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have including the question Nicodemus had for Jesus. This could be the best gift you have ever received.
Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com/list.html
My Comments: Such a message of hope for our lost world. It convicts me that I need to be showing this Christ to others in my life. I am afraid that has been lacking for quite some time in my life. Thank the Lord that He can cleanse and renew our lives and send us back out to serve Him again.

Walk with me 11/2

My Dearest Child,

I am here, in this very room.  When you sense my presence, and even when you don't, I am here.

Do not be concerned about the things that are happening to you.  They are not evidence of my disappointment, in any way.

I have seen and know your heart, and am very proud of you.

You are among my chosen.  Many are called, but few are hand-picked by me.  And I am here, by your side, every step of the way.

Worldly problems are not your destiny. Though, they are a means for you to learn to walk with me, moment by moment.

Others have not been able to help you because I want you to look to me.

You need not know when, and you need not know how, but 'day by day', I will supply your every need.  Don't worry about tomorrow, as I will be the same God who meets your need today; and all your tomorrows will be provided for.

You might imagine yourself on a foreign mission field, having gone with empty pockets and empty hands.  Yet, there is nothing to fear, as I am the one who fills your pockets, and your hands, each and every day, so that you can serve without reservation, in all I call you to do.  I am your provider, and I am faithful.

All I want of you is to walk with me, talk with me.  When I lay something on your heart to do, in ministry, do that.  When I tell you to wait on me, do that.  When you have a question, just ask.  I'll tell you the next step to take.

When you're fearful, call on me.  Ask for a promise, or some confirmation that I am still for you.  I will answer.

When you don't know what to do, even in the simple things, I care about all your needs.  In fact, especially, ask me about the little things.  If you need a specific tool for a repair around your house, let me know and I'll give you an idea of something that will work.  When you go shopping, I'll confirm when it is a good purchase.  I want to dwell with you, so feel free to take me with you, always.

Then, as you begin to experience my faithfulness, share your testimony of what I am doing in your life; as others may want to walk with me, too.

I am preparing you for greatness in my Kingdom.  Not only will you be able to teach others how to rise above their problems, but you will become more and more fearless to trust me in all things.  For the magnitude of your calling requires it.  You will be steady, strong, and sure in my might; and powerful against all evil, as you are my child and a joint heir with Jesus.

I love you.  Please come, walk with me.

Your Heavenly Father

….. Joyce C. Lock (inspirations@insightbb.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)


My Comments: It is so amazing to me that God really does care for me to the extent that He clearly rearranges things in my life to get my attention and encourage me to come to Him with my problems. Why do I keep wanting to go to people to meet my needs. God is the all-sufficient One. I am learning, oh, so slowly, to trust in Him.

The Secret 10/31

One day, one friend asked another,
"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down." 


With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?" 
To which she replied, 
"I'll tell you all about it, 
but you have to promise to 
share the Secret with others." 


"The Secret is this: 
I have learned there is little I can do 
in my life that will make me truly happy. 
I must depend on God to make 
me happy and to meet my needs. 
When a need arises in my life, 
I have to trust God to supply 
according to HIS riches. 
I have learned most of the time 
I don't need half of what I think I do. 
He has never let me down. 
Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy." 


The questioner's first thought was, 
"That's too simple!" 
But upon reflecting over her own life 
she recalled how she thought a bigger house 
would make her happy, but it didn't! 
She thought a better paying job 
would make her happy, but it hadn't. 
When did she realize her greatest happiness? 
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, 
playing games, eating pizza or reading a story, 
a simple gift from God. 


Now you know it too! 
We can't depend on people to make us happy. 
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that. 
Trust HIM! 
And now I pass the Secret on to you! 
So once you get it, what will you do? 


YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too! 
That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU! 
But it's not really a secret... 
We just have to believe it and do it... 
Really trust God! 


Do your best; let God do the rest


My Comments: Again a lesson on trust... something like 3 devotionals in two days! I have really been dealt with on this matter, in church, chapel, and on the radio as well. It hasn’t a good day in my life to be struggling with control. There is the promise of joy and happiness, though.

Control (by Chuck Swindoll) 10/31

CONTROL
by Charles R. Swindoll
Galatians 3
It’s easy to get confused these days. “Out of control” isn’t what we want to be. People who drink too much are said to be “out of control.” Those who worry too much become emotionally “out of control.” The same goes for those who go too far with anything: prescription drugs, food, fitness, sex, work—you name it.
But wait. Does this mean we’re supposed to be “in control”? Is that our goal? I know a boss (in fact I know several) who is definitely “in control.” Folks who work for him either grin and bear it or jump ship as soon as another job surfaces. Some fathers are, without question, “in control.” They intimidate, dominate, moderate, and manipulate.
But being “in control” doesn’t necessarily mean “controlling.” A healthy, happy life requires being in control of ourselves. To be punctual, we must control the use of our time. To be prepared and ready, we must be in control of our schedule. To be a good listener, our minds and tongue must be controlled. To get a project completed, our tendency to procrastinate must be under the firm control of our determination.
This means, then, that we need to be in firm control of ourselves . . . but not controlling of others. Our example? Christ, of course. He got the job done. Without wasted effort, personal panic, or extreme demands, He accomplished the objective. Right on schedule, He went to that cross. When He sighed, “It is finished,” it was. Absolutely and completely.
Did most believe? Are you kidding? The vast majority back then, as now, didn’t give Him the time of day. Could He have grabbed the controls and forced them to sit up and take notice? I hope to shout! Remember what He said? “Thinkest thoug that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53). I’d call 72,000 angels being in charge, wouldn’t you? It was His own control that restrained Him from controlling others.
The Christian life boils down to a battle of the wills: Christ’s vs. our own. Every day we live we must answer, “Who’s in charge here?”
Recently I received a letter from a fine Christian couple, and I smiled understandingly at one line: “Although the Lord has taken good care of my wife and me for the past thirty-eight years, He has taken control of us for the past two and a half.”
Tell me, how long has the Lord taken care of you? Be honest now . . . has He also taken control of you? It’s easy to get confused these days. It’s even easier to take control.
Don’t get “out of control” because you’re so determined to stay “in control.”
 
Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2000). Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

My Comments: I really struggle with giving Christ control of my life. It really comes down to trusting that He will do what is best for me. My intellect knows that He will, but my will wants to be in charge... because of pride. When all is said and done, I really have no power to be in control and holding on to the reins of my life doesn’t mean I can truly direct it in the way I want. It’s kind of like the previous entry. Do I yield control to God, or does He carry me along kicking and screaming...

Kicking and Screaming 10/31

KICKING AND SCREAMING
You can learn a lot from going to the market. The longer I live the more I learn just from going there with my eyes, ears, and heart open. The latest bit of wisdom that blessed me there came just the other day. A young mother was walking with her little child while pushing a cart loaded down with fruits and vegetables. The tiny toddler was complaining the whole time about how he hated all of these foods and wanted some candy. When his mother refused he began to throw a fit. His crying, kicking, and screaming were getting louder and louder until his mom firmly said, "If you don’t behave and eat your fruits and vegetables then you won’t be getting any of the homemade cookies your grandma brought over when we get home." With these words the crying stopped and the child’s face brightened with an angelic smile. I could hear the pure delight in his voice when he said, "Oh Boy! Grandma made cookies."
I smiled then and realized that even as adults we are often like that toddler. God is holding our hands and leading us on a path of incredible growth in learning, goodness, love, and joy. The trouble is that often we are kicking and screaming all the way. We don’t want what is really good for us. We want what we think will be good for us right now. We can’t see those delicious, homemade cookies God has waiting for us, because we are too focused on that piece of hard candy in front of our eyes.
The rewards of love, joy, peace, happiness, goodness, and delight that God has waiting for us are far greater than we know. We just have to stop kicking and screaming and see that He is taking us where we need to go. We just have to enjoy our fruits and vegetables and know that even sweeter things are to come. We just have to hold our Father’s hand and trust Him to lead us through this life and back home again.
…..Joseph J. Mazzella (joecool@wirefire.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)


My Comments: Often I can’t trust the Father to know what’s best for me now, because I want what I see is available now, not realizing the better plan He has for me that is still ahead.