9 Out of 10 People Say What?
Did you check out the AOL survey last week? If not, you missed a pretty interesting set of statistics:
What is the key to getting into heaven?
•Living a good life. 65.5%
•Having connections to someone at the top. 26.7%
•Helping old ladies cross the street. 2.7%
•Slipping St. Peter $20.00. 1.9%
•Having a strong letter of reference. 0.5%
•Making a deal with the devil. 1.2%
•Telling a really good lie. 0.5%
Total votes 121,836
Are you going to heaven?
•Yes. 89.8%
•No. 10.2%
Total votes 143,309
(Source: www.aol.com)
Most of the answers didn't surprise me, but did you notice how many more people responded to the second question (are you going to heaven?) as opposed to the first? 21,473 more folks opted to answer that simple question as opposed to taking time to think about the first one.
Apparently, nearly 9 out of 10 people believe they are going to heaven, but many of them don't know and/or don't care why.
I believe Satan's goal is to take as many people as possible into hell with him. To do so, he doesn't need to get anyone to convert to Satanism; he only needs to slightly distort the truth. This survey is a case in point: in one fell swoop he has 90% of Americans feeling good about themselves while at the same time are destined for eternal separation from God.
If these figures aren't a wake-up call to our responsibility to share the good news of Jesus, I don't know what would be. The devil has this country convinced that the 'do good gospel' gets them into heaven, and we are the only ones who can help them remove the blinders and see the Light of the world.
My suggestion would be to do a little survey in your corner of the world. Perhaps use this one, or make up new questions. The point is: get people talking about their perspective on heaven/hell. My guess is that most people you talk to will end up responding similar to the survey: i.e. good works get me into heaven. Here are a few verses you can use as discussion points:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)
There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them. (Acts 4:12)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
Evidently, God's survey would come out very different: one out of every one goes to hell without Christ!
Questions:
1.Why do so many people believe they are going to heaven?
2.How do these verses help you in your Christian life?
3.Would you be willing to do a survey in your school/neighborhood? Why or why not?
FROM DARE@SHARE.ORG
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
wait till you see me when i am done.
Philippians 1:6
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God Finishes the Job
God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise.
It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.
The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.
Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord God, I praise you that you do have a plan to make me perfect and complete, just like Jesus. I also praise you for being so loving and powerful because that makes me confident that you will complete the job you’re doing on me. Please help me.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God Finishes the Job
God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise.
It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.
The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.
Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord God, I praise you that you do have a plan to make me perfect and complete, just like Jesus. I also praise you for being so loving and powerful because that makes me confident that you will complete the job you’re doing on me. Please help me.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Is Christ on the schedule.
Luke 2:9-12
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
This time of year we are all rushing around with parties and festivities. Some of you have finals and projects keeping you up. All things that have to be done before the Christmas break.
I know that for me I often find it easy to get lost in the busy calender of events, and forget what its all about. I know that if asked about the holiday season I would be sure to tell people about how blessed I am and that my family and I celebrate this time as the coming of Christ as a baby.
Problem is do I think about that if I am not asked? Sometimes I have to admit, No. I am checking emails, and looking at calendars and making sure the cookies are made for this party the candy for that one. Gifts are bought for everyone that I know. I have to be sure to attend all the usual events, and any others I am invited to. Before I know it I have scheduled Christ right out of Christmas.
Its a sad thing to admit. I have tried this year to make myself aware of this a little more. I have said no to some events. I have limited my gift buying and tried to spread it out over the year so its not one last frenzied shopping time. I am spending more time with my kids. We are watching the Christmas specials on TV and enjoying popcorn, cookies and hot coco. We don't have to go to every little event.
Remember that this season we celebrate the birth of Christ and that's real love.
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
This time of year we are all rushing around with parties and festivities. Some of you have finals and projects keeping you up. All things that have to be done before the Christmas break.
I know that for me I often find it easy to get lost in the busy calender of events, and forget what its all about. I know that if asked about the holiday season I would be sure to tell people about how blessed I am and that my family and I celebrate this time as the coming of Christ as a baby.
Problem is do I think about that if I am not asked? Sometimes I have to admit, No. I am checking emails, and looking at calendars and making sure the cookies are made for this party the candy for that one. Gifts are bought for everyone that I know. I have to be sure to attend all the usual events, and any others I am invited to. Before I know it I have scheduled Christ right out of Christmas.
Its a sad thing to admit. I have tried this year to make myself aware of this a little more. I have said no to some events. I have limited my gift buying and tried to spread it out over the year so its not one last frenzied shopping time. I am spending more time with my kids. We are watching the Christmas specials on TV and enjoying popcorn, cookies and hot coco. We don't have to go to every little event.
Remember that this season we celebrate the birth of Christ and that's real love.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
salvation the simple way.
Romans 10:9-10”If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Salvation by grace, not works
One of the first things a lifeguard has to do is help the victim calm down so he isn’t struggling against the efforts of the one who is trying to save him. Sometimes it take a blow to the head that either knocks the victim out or shocks him out of his panic so he can listen to the lifeguard’s instructions. If the victim struggles, or tries to help, it may endanger both his own life and the lifeguard’s. The best thing he can do is relax and let the expert in life-saving take over.
Jesus did everything needed to purchase our salvation. He paid the death penalty we deserve by dying in our place. It’s all done except our acceptance of the gift God has so graciously offered us.
You can receive Jesus into your heart right now. It’s so simple, you can hardly believe it. Just talk to God as if he were sitting right next to you. Tell him that you are sorry for breaking his standards of right actions and attitudes. Tell him that you believe Jesus is his Son and that he died for you. Ask him to forgive you and clean up your heart. If you’re sincere as you pray, you become a child of God forever the second you finish praying.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, try sharing Romans 10:8-10 with a friend who doesn’t yet know God. Before sharing, ask God to open your friend’s heart and mind to receive the wonderful gift of salvation. Show him/her right in the Scripture that all he/she has to do to have eternal life is believe and confess.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I thank you that you have made the plan of salvation so simple. I recognize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I do believe that you are the Lord and that God did raise you from the dead. I choose you as my Savior. I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Salvation by grace, not works
One of the first things a lifeguard has to do is help the victim calm down so he isn’t struggling against the efforts of the one who is trying to save him. Sometimes it take a blow to the head that either knocks the victim out or shocks him out of his panic so he can listen to the lifeguard’s instructions. If the victim struggles, or tries to help, it may endanger both his own life and the lifeguard’s. The best thing he can do is relax and let the expert in life-saving take over.
Jesus did everything needed to purchase our salvation. He paid the death penalty we deserve by dying in our place. It’s all done except our acceptance of the gift God has so graciously offered us.
You can receive Jesus into your heart right now. It’s so simple, you can hardly believe it. Just talk to God as if he were sitting right next to you. Tell him that you are sorry for breaking his standards of right actions and attitudes. Tell him that you believe Jesus is his Son and that he died for you. Ask him to forgive you and clean up your heart. If you’re sincere as you pray, you become a child of God forever the second you finish praying.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, try sharing Romans 10:8-10 with a friend who doesn’t yet know God. Before sharing, ask God to open your friend’s heart and mind to receive the wonderful gift of salvation. Show him/her right in the Scripture that all he/she has to do to have eternal life is believe and confess.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I thank you that you have made the plan of salvation so simple. I recognize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I do believe that you are the Lord and that God did raise you from the dead. I choose you as my Savior. I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Monday, September 28, 2009
My Life's in Good Hands
Luke 12:6-7“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Who rules your life?
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” If you want God to be in total control of your life, how can he just be the “co” pilot? Shouldn’t he be the Pilot? Watch lava sometime on T.V. As it flows it oozes into the smallest cracks and crevices of the earth. That’s the way our lives should be with God. Surrendering every crack and crevice of our life to God is hard, but that is what he asks us to do.
God knows you better than you know yourself. In Psalm 139:2-3 it says “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word comes out of my mouth, you know it completely.” Yep! God can read your mind! And He isn’t even a fortuneteller with a crystal ball!
Consider these words from Psalm 139:6-7: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God knows everywhere you go and everything you feel! God is closer than your shadow!
Look at Joseph in Genesis 37-47. He was just a teenager when his brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, one bad thing after another happened to him, but he continued to trust God because he understood that God was in control of his life. Eventually, he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. Check out how God blessed Joseph for trusting in Him!
Give God every crevice in your life: your friends, your music, the movies you watch, the books and magazines you read, your parents, the places you hang out, and your future. In Psalm 139:13 it says that he knit you together in your mother’s womb and his eyes saw your unformed body. Doesn’t it make sense to let the person that made you and intricately knows you have control of your destiny?
The truth is, even if we don’t yield our lives to him, he’s in control anyway. You might as well give up, wave your white flag and throw your arms in the air. Don’t fool yourself. God controls your life, no matter what you think. Comfort yourself with this reality. Life will be much easier when you quit trying to swim upstream away from God and instead swim along side him! It’s mighty exhausting swimming away from Almighty God!
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, I praise you for breathing life into my unformed body. I thank you Lord for caring about the number of sparrows, and for caring so much more about me. If You, O God, can raise people from the dead, then you can certainly take care of me. God, I give you complete control of my life. Help me to walk in your ways. Please accomplish your purpose in my life. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
Who rules your life?
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” If you want God to be in total control of your life, how can he just be the “co” pilot? Shouldn’t he be the Pilot? Watch lava sometime on T.V. As it flows it oozes into the smallest cracks and crevices of the earth. That’s the way our lives should be with God. Surrendering every crack and crevice of our life to God is hard, but that is what he asks us to do.
God knows you better than you know yourself. In Psalm 139:2-3 it says “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word comes out of my mouth, you know it completely.” Yep! God can read your mind! And He isn’t even a fortuneteller with a crystal ball!
Consider these words from Psalm 139:6-7: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God knows everywhere you go and everything you feel! God is closer than your shadow!
Look at Joseph in Genesis 37-47. He was just a teenager when his brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, one bad thing after another happened to him, but he continued to trust God because he understood that God was in control of his life. Eventually, he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. Check out how God blessed Joseph for trusting in Him!
Give God every crevice in your life: your friends, your music, the movies you watch, the books and magazines you read, your parents, the places you hang out, and your future. In Psalm 139:13 it says that he knit you together in your mother’s womb and his eyes saw your unformed body. Doesn’t it make sense to let the person that made you and intricately knows you have control of your destiny?
The truth is, even if we don’t yield our lives to him, he’s in control anyway. You might as well give up, wave your white flag and throw your arms in the air. Don’t fool yourself. God controls your life, no matter what you think. Comfort yourself with this reality. Life will be much easier when you quit trying to swim upstream away from God and instead swim along side him! It’s mighty exhausting swimming away from Almighty God!
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, I praise you for breathing life into my unformed body. I thank you Lord for caring about the number of sparrows, and for caring so much more about me. If You, O God, can raise people from the dead, then you can certainly take care of me. God, I give you complete control of my life. Help me to walk in your ways. Please accomplish your purpose in my life. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
My Life's in Good Hands
Luke 12:6-7“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Who rules your life?
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” If you want God to be in total control of your life, how can he just be the “co” pilot? Shouldn’t he be the Pilot? Watch lava sometime on T.V. As it flows it oozes into the smallest cracks and crevices of the earth. That’s the way our lives should be with God. Surrendering every crack and crevice of our life to God is hard, but that is what he asks us to do.
God knows you better than you know yourself. In Psalm 139:2-3 it says “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word comes out of my mouth, you know it completely.” Yep! God can read your mind! And He isn’t even a fortuneteller with a crystal ball!
Consider these words from Psalm 139:6-7: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God knows everywhere you go and everything you feel! God is closer than your shadow!
Look at Joseph in Genesis 37-47. He was just a teenager when his brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, one bad thing after another happened to him, but he continued to trust God because he understood that God was in control of his life. Eventually, he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. Check out how God blessed Joseph for trusting in Him!
Give God every crevice in your life: your friends, your music, the movies you watch, the books and magazines you read, your parents, the places you hang out, and your future. In Psalm 139:13 it says that he knit you together in your mother’s womb and his eyes saw your unformed body. Doesn’t it make sense to let the person that made you and intricately knows you have control of your destiny?
The truth is, even if we don’t yield our lives to him, he’s in control anyway. You might as well give up, wave your white flag and throw your arms in the air. Don’t fool yourself. God controls your life, no matter what you think. Comfort yourself with this reality. Life will be much easier when you quit trying to swim upstream away from God and instead swim along side him! It’s mighty exhausting swimming away from Almighty God!
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, I praise you for breathing life into my unformed body. I thank you Lord for caring about the number of sparrows, and for caring so much more about me. If You, O God, can raise people from the dead, then you can certainly take care of me. God, I give you complete control of my life. Help me to walk in your ways. Please accomplish your purpose in my life. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
Who rules your life?
Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” If you want God to be in total control of your life, how can he just be the “co” pilot? Shouldn’t he be the Pilot? Watch lava sometime on T.V. As it flows it oozes into the smallest cracks and crevices of the earth. That’s the way our lives should be with God. Surrendering every crack and crevice of our life to God is hard, but that is what he asks us to do.
God knows you better than you know yourself. In Psalm 139:2-3 it says “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word comes out of my mouth, you know it completely.” Yep! God can read your mind! And He isn’t even a fortuneteller with a crystal ball!
Consider these words from Psalm 139:6-7: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God knows everywhere you go and everything you feel! God is closer than your shadow!
Look at Joseph in Genesis 37-47. He was just a teenager when his brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, one bad thing after another happened to him, but he continued to trust God because he understood that God was in control of his life. Eventually, he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. Check out how God blessed Joseph for trusting in Him!
Give God every crevice in your life: your friends, your music, the movies you watch, the books and magazines you read, your parents, the places you hang out, and your future. In Psalm 139:13 it says that he knit you together in your mother’s womb and his eyes saw your unformed body. Doesn’t it make sense to let the person that made you and intricately knows you have control of your destiny?
The truth is, even if we don’t yield our lives to him, he’s in control anyway. You might as well give up, wave your white flag and throw your arms in the air. Don’t fool yourself. God controls your life, no matter what you think. Comfort yourself with this reality. Life will be much easier when you quit trying to swim upstream away from God and instead swim along side him! It’s mighty exhausting swimming away from Almighty God!
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, I praise you for breathing life into my unformed body. I thank you Lord for caring about the number of sparrows, and for caring so much more about me. If You, O God, can raise people from the dead, then you can certainly take care of me. God, I give you complete control of my life. Help me to walk in your ways. Please accomplish your purpose in my life. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
God Trouble
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Reflections on Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Verse 1) He is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help whether it’s your first or last day of middle school. He is your refuge whether you get good grades or often fail. He is your help whether you are the most popular guy in school or you wonder if anyone knows your name. God is your source of strength in every situation.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Verse 2) Because you have God, you need not fear, though your parents threaten to divorce, though your best friend turns her back on you, or you get cut from the basketball team. You world won’t collapse when you have to stand in front of the class and give a speech, even thought you are shy and unsure of what you’ll say. You will not fear!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Verse 4). Though you often struggle with loneliness, worries, and insecurities, God is there. Though things look dark now, a promised new day will come. God is great at changing darkness into light and despair into joy.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 7) The Lord Almighty is with you in your situation – no matter what threatens you, no matter how powerful your enemies are. God is your fortress, a strong, impenetrable place of safety.
Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. (Verses 8-9) Come and see the works of the Lord! See all the good things He has done in your life! He is your friend. He is with you always. He gives comfort, joy and peace. He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Verse 10) God is speaking directly to you. He says, “Stop. Be still. And think about Me. I am your God! I love you! I only want what’s best for you. Will you trust me? Will you praise me at home, at school and when you’re out with your friends this weekend?”
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 11) The Lord Almighty is with you; God is your stronghold. Praise the Lord!
Today’s Prayer:
Jesus, I come before you with a heart overflowing with praise that you are my refuge and strength. You are my ever-present help in trouble. I will not fear though the news broadcasts speak of war, though my parents are fighting, though my worries are many. You know my fears and troubles. Help me to be still and trust you because you are my God. Help me to praise you in the sunshine and in the storm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Reflections on Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Verse 1) He is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help whether it’s your first or last day of middle school. He is your refuge whether you get good grades or often fail. He is your help whether you are the most popular guy in school or you wonder if anyone knows your name. God is your source of strength in every situation.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Verse 2) Because you have God, you need not fear, though your parents threaten to divorce, though your best friend turns her back on you, or you get cut from the basketball team. You world won’t collapse when you have to stand in front of the class and give a speech, even thought you are shy and unsure of what you’ll say. You will not fear!
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Verse 4). Though you often struggle with loneliness, worries, and insecurities, God is there. Though things look dark now, a promised new day will come. God is great at changing darkness into light and despair into joy.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 7) The Lord Almighty is with you in your situation – no matter what threatens you, no matter how powerful your enemies are. God is your fortress, a strong, impenetrable place of safety.
Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. (Verses 8-9) Come and see the works of the Lord! See all the good things He has done in your life! He is your friend. He is with you always. He gives comfort, joy and peace. He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Verse 10) God is speaking directly to you. He says, “Stop. Be still. And think about Me. I am your God! I love you! I only want what’s best for you. Will you trust me? Will you praise me at home, at school and when you’re out with your friends this weekend?”
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Verse 11) The Lord Almighty is with you; God is your stronghold. Praise the Lord!
Today’s Prayer:
Jesus, I come before you with a heart overflowing with praise that you are my refuge and strength. You are my ever-present help in trouble. I will not fear though the news broadcasts speak of war, though my parents are fighting, though my worries are many. You know my fears and troubles. Help me to be still and trust you because you are my God. Help me to praise you in the sunshine and in the storm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
Monday, September 21, 2009
what i was made to do.
Ephesians 2:10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We’re created and saved for service to God.
Years ago, our family owned a Border collie. The first time we took her in the woods as a puppy, we noticed that she got very concerned when the members of our group didn’t stay together. My son rode his bike and was racing ahead so he could do some jumps. My husband lagged behind taking a picture of some wild flowers. My daughter and I just strolled along enjoying a good talk. Poor Missy didn’t know what to do. She nearly ran her legs off trying to check on everyone. We laughed and laughed at her efforts. They seemed terribly foolish from our point of view.
Missy was absolutely committed to her task, though. She persisted in checking on all of us because of who she was. Border collies are bred to herd and guard sheep. They just naturally try to keep them together because a stray sheep will almost certainly become coyote food. Missy didn’t understand why her barks and jumping in front of us didn’t turn us back into the pack.
There are some similarities between Missy and us, particularly when we consider what we are designed to be and do. Before God saves us, we just naturally sin. We’ve been born with a sin nature that desires to please self more than anything. But, after Jesus saves us, He gives us a new nature that desires to please God more than anything. The most natural thing in the world for a saved sinner to do is to obey God. It’s what He made us for.
God will never accept us in His presence because we keep His commandments or do good things for other people. He requires absolutely perfect holiness of anyone who enters into His presence. We can never make it by what we do. But, God made it possible for us to become righteous as we place our faith in Jesus and His death on the cross as the sacrifice for our sin. Once we believe, we do right things as an expression of our gratitude and to show our new character.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for making it possible for me to have a personal relationship with You. Thank you for Jesus who died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Now that You have saved me and given me a new heart, please help me serve you faithfully and honorably. Help me be what You made me to be. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
We’re created and saved for service to God.
Years ago, our family owned a Border collie. The first time we took her in the woods as a puppy, we noticed that she got very concerned when the members of our group didn’t stay together. My son rode his bike and was racing ahead so he could do some jumps. My husband lagged behind taking a picture of some wild flowers. My daughter and I just strolled along enjoying a good talk. Poor Missy didn’t know what to do. She nearly ran her legs off trying to check on everyone. We laughed and laughed at her efforts. They seemed terribly foolish from our point of view.
Missy was absolutely committed to her task, though. She persisted in checking on all of us because of who she was. Border collies are bred to herd and guard sheep. They just naturally try to keep them together because a stray sheep will almost certainly become coyote food. Missy didn’t understand why her barks and jumping in front of us didn’t turn us back into the pack.
There are some similarities between Missy and us, particularly when we consider what we are designed to be and do. Before God saves us, we just naturally sin. We’ve been born with a sin nature that desires to please self more than anything. But, after Jesus saves us, He gives us a new nature that desires to please God more than anything. The most natural thing in the world for a saved sinner to do is to obey God. It’s what He made us for.
God will never accept us in His presence because we keep His commandments or do good things for other people. He requires absolutely perfect holiness of anyone who enters into His presence. We can never make it by what we do. But, God made it possible for us to become righteous as we place our faith in Jesus and His death on the cross as the sacrifice for our sin. Once we believe, we do right things as an expression of our gratitude and to show our new character.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for making it possible for me to have a personal relationship with You. Thank you for Jesus who died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Now that You have saved me and given me a new heart, please help me serve you faithfully and honorably. Help me be what You made me to be. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Friday, September 18, 2009
"Fatherly Love" in the City of Brotherly Love
"Fatherly Love" in the City of Brotherly Love
Today's Story
Little girl's foul toss makes dad a celebrity.
PHILADELPHIA – Dad could not believe his good luck.Steve Monforto made a great grab, catching his first foul ball after years of going to Phillies games. He fist-bumped his buddies, high-fived his 3-year-old daughter and then handed her the prize.
Big mistake.
Little Emily threw the ball over the railing. Stunned by his toddler's toss Tuesday night, all Pop could do was hug her. "I didn't want her to think she did anything wrong," Monforto said on WIP-AM radio Wednesday.
Philly crowds are known for being a tough bunch, but everyone at Citizens Bank Park cheered — first his catch, then his cuddle. "This was the true reflection of what Philly fans are like," said Bonnie Clark, the team's vice president of communications.
Cameras captured the scene of Monforto reaching over the railing and snagging Jayson Werth's foul in the fifth inning against Washington. The video was displayed at the top of the Yahoo! Web page and made the NBC national news. The entire family traveled from their home in Laurel Springs, N.J., to appear on the "Today" show Thursday.
Steve Monforto said he was surprised at the flurry of attention their day at the ballpark has attracted. He said he didn't consider the possibility that Emily might toss his treasure. "At the time I was just excited to give it to her," said Monforto, a season-ticket holder who shares games with friends. "I've been waiting so long to catch a foul ball, and over the edge it goes," he said with a laugh.
Monforto, 32, and his daughter still went home with a baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles. On Thursday at the Today Show, they got another ball — this one signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball in the fifth inning that made the Monforto family famous. The family of four also received personalized Phillies jerseys.
Story found at www.news.yahoo.comPhoto found at www.images.google.com
God's Story
Malachi 3:10-12 (English Standard Version)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
What does God's Story teach us about Fatherly Love?Since I saw Today's Story I have continually asked myself, "What if this little girl wouldn't have thrown that ball back?" That family's world is different today, because little Emily simply thought the ball should go back to it's "rightful owner."
Because she gave up that treasure, look at what they've received ...
A baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles
As appearance on the "Today" show
Another ball signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball
Personalized Phillies jerseys for the family of four
Throughout God's Story we read about the tithe, or the first ten percent. In Malachi we read that there is a blessing that follows the obedience of giving that tithe. Today, we don't know how God, our Heavenly Father, is going to bless us when we return to Him what is already His. But we do know, that out of His love for us, He will bless us. It doesn't mean we will become rich by society's standards. But it does mean that we will have all that we need. And that is an incredible blessing!
My Story
Connecting My Story to God's Story.
Do you receive a weekly allowance from your parents? Do you have income from a part-time job? If so, have you given any thought to what God's Story says about tithing? If so, great? If not, why not start this weekend. Give ten-percent of whatever you made this week to your home church this weekend.
Are you already tithing? Why not think about going a little beyond that amount this weekend and give an offering to God about your tithe. Ask your parents for some suggestions on where you could give it.
Their Story
Connecting Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to Their Story.
Ask your friends if they saw or heard about Today's Story. If your friends are following Jesus yet, they may not grasp onto the idea of tithing, but you can use that conversation to ask some of these questions ...
What if you would have been that father? Would you have reacted the same way?
What if you did what that little girl did? Would your father have reacted the same way?
Why do you think the little girl did that?
Move on to share some similarities between God's Story and Today's Story about forgiveness and God's Fatherly Love for His children.
Today's Story
Little girl's foul toss makes dad a celebrity.
PHILADELPHIA – Dad could not believe his good luck.Steve Monforto made a great grab, catching his first foul ball after years of going to Phillies games. He fist-bumped his buddies, high-fived his 3-year-old daughter and then handed her the prize.
Big mistake.
Little Emily threw the ball over the railing. Stunned by his toddler's toss Tuesday night, all Pop could do was hug her. "I didn't want her to think she did anything wrong," Monforto said on WIP-AM radio Wednesday.
Philly crowds are known for being a tough bunch, but everyone at Citizens Bank Park cheered — first his catch, then his cuddle. "This was the true reflection of what Philly fans are like," said Bonnie Clark, the team's vice president of communications.
Cameras captured the scene of Monforto reaching over the railing and snagging Jayson Werth's foul in the fifth inning against Washington. The video was displayed at the top of the Yahoo! Web page and made the NBC national news. The entire family traveled from their home in Laurel Springs, N.J., to appear on the "Today" show Thursday.
Steve Monforto said he was surprised at the flurry of attention their day at the ballpark has attracted. He said he didn't consider the possibility that Emily might toss his treasure. "At the time I was just excited to give it to her," said Monforto, a season-ticket holder who shares games with friends. "I've been waiting so long to catch a foul ball, and over the edge it goes," he said with a laugh.
Monforto, 32, and his daughter still went home with a baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles. On Thursday at the Today Show, they got another ball — this one signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball in the fifth inning that made the Monforto family famous. The family of four also received personalized Phillies jerseys.
Story found at www.news.yahoo.comPhoto found at www.images.google.com
God's Story
Malachi 3:10-12 (English Standard Version)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
What does God's Story teach us about Fatherly Love?Since I saw Today's Story I have continually asked myself, "What if this little girl wouldn't have thrown that ball back?" That family's world is different today, because little Emily simply thought the ball should go back to it's "rightful owner."
Because she gave up that treasure, look at what they've received ...
A baseball, brought to them in the stands by Phillies executive Mike Stiles
As appearance on the "Today" show
Another ball signed by outfielder Jayson Werth, who hit the foul ball
Personalized Phillies jerseys for the family of four
Throughout God's Story we read about the tithe, or the first ten percent. In Malachi we read that there is a blessing that follows the obedience of giving that tithe. Today, we don't know how God, our Heavenly Father, is going to bless us when we return to Him what is already His. But we do know, that out of His love for us, He will bless us. It doesn't mean we will become rich by society's standards. But it does mean that we will have all that we need. And that is an incredible blessing!
My Story
Connecting My Story to God's Story.
Do you receive a weekly allowance from your parents? Do you have income from a part-time job? If so, have you given any thought to what God's Story says about tithing? If so, great? If not, why not start this weekend. Give ten-percent of whatever you made this week to your home church this weekend.
Are you already tithing? Why not think about going a little beyond that amount this weekend and give an offering to God about your tithe. Ask your parents for some suggestions on where you could give it.
Their Story
Connecting Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to Their Story.
Ask your friends if they saw or heard about Today's Story. If your friends are following Jesus yet, they may not grasp onto the idea of tithing, but you can use that conversation to ask some of these questions ...
What if you would have been that father? Would you have reacted the same way?
What if you did what that little girl did? Would your father have reacted the same way?
Why do you think the little girl did that?
Move on to share some similarities between God's Story and Today's Story about forgiveness and God's Fatherly Love for His children.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Way less than daily
Okay so I have not done so good this week with the blog. My excuse is I have been subbing and have a little cold or something so totally wiped out. I look to be off work tomorrow and I will get a blog up I promise. I will even get a few ready to go for days I have to leave the house early.
Hang in there. Read an old blog you have not read before until I am back up and running.
Becky
Hang in there. Read an old blog you have not read before until I am back up and running.
Becky
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Love Is
Love Is . . .
I Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Building from His Blueprints
This past Christmas, we left the evergreens and snow in Minnesota for the cactus and desert temperatures of Arizona. Instead of being surrounded by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins for our annual Christmas Day party, we spent the day with strangers. My husband and I, along with his parents, and our three daughters, spent part of the day serving dinner to the homeless on a vacant parking lot in the middle of Tucson. Our celebration was certainly out of the ordinary.
My 10-year old daughter Melanie, touched by the experience, wrote an email to her Minnesota cousin and asked me to edit it before she hit the send button. It read: “Christmas Day was great. We went to church and then served dinner to the homely people.”
I bit my lip and smiled. “Melanie,” I questioned, “Do you know what homely means?”
She admitted that she didn’t. As soon as I explained, her eyes widened and her hand quickly covered her mouth. “Oops! I didn’t mean that! I meant homeless!” We giggled at the error, made the correction, and sent it off.
Personally I can think of many errors I made on Christmas Day as I reached out to the homeless. I felt awkward in knowing what to do, what to say, or how to encourage and build these people up. I watched other volunteers do it so well. I wanted to be as perfect and accomplished as they were, but I was painfully aware that I fell short.
God gave us His Word, the Bible, as a blueprint for how to build others up. Rereading 1 Corinthians 13, I noticed that the Bible’s love chapter never instructs us to love perfectly. It can’t be done! Only Jesus loves with perfection!
So how do we love and build others up using God’s blueprints? We love others like Jesus did by being patient and kind. We strip envy, boasting, and pride from our thoughts and conversations. We strive to not be rude, self-seeking or easily angered. We never keep track of all the wrongs others have done against us. We hate evil and delight in the truth. We love with a love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. That kind of love is like God’s love, and it will never fail. It will never fall short.
What’s keeping you from building others up? Don’t let your desire for perfection become a roadblock to obeying God’s command to build others up. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 13 and then go and love others like Jesus loves you.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You for the blueprints in Your Word that show me how to love and build others up. Please help me to encourage others up by loving them with patience and kindness. Keep me from envy, boasting and pride. Help me to be quick to forgive and slow to become angry. Lead and guide me in the greatest and most excellent way: a life of loving You and loving others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
I Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Building from His Blueprints
This past Christmas, we left the evergreens and snow in Minnesota for the cactus and desert temperatures of Arizona. Instead of being surrounded by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins for our annual Christmas Day party, we spent the day with strangers. My husband and I, along with his parents, and our three daughters, spent part of the day serving dinner to the homeless on a vacant parking lot in the middle of Tucson. Our celebration was certainly out of the ordinary.
My 10-year old daughter Melanie, touched by the experience, wrote an email to her Minnesota cousin and asked me to edit it before she hit the send button. It read: “Christmas Day was great. We went to church and then served dinner to the homely people.”
I bit my lip and smiled. “Melanie,” I questioned, “Do you know what homely means?”
She admitted that she didn’t. As soon as I explained, her eyes widened and her hand quickly covered her mouth. “Oops! I didn’t mean that! I meant homeless!” We giggled at the error, made the correction, and sent it off.
Personally I can think of many errors I made on Christmas Day as I reached out to the homeless. I felt awkward in knowing what to do, what to say, or how to encourage and build these people up. I watched other volunteers do it so well. I wanted to be as perfect and accomplished as they were, but I was painfully aware that I fell short.
God gave us His Word, the Bible, as a blueprint for how to build others up. Rereading 1 Corinthians 13, I noticed that the Bible’s love chapter never instructs us to love perfectly. It can’t be done! Only Jesus loves with perfection!
So how do we love and build others up using God’s blueprints? We love others like Jesus did by being patient and kind. We strip envy, boasting, and pride from our thoughts and conversations. We strive to not be rude, self-seeking or easily angered. We never keep track of all the wrongs others have done against us. We hate evil and delight in the truth. We love with a love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. That kind of love is like God’s love, and it will never fail. It will never fall short.
What’s keeping you from building others up? Don’t let your desire for perfection become a roadblock to obeying God’s command to build others up. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 13 and then go and love others like Jesus loves you.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You for the blueprints in Your Word that show me how to love and build others up. Please help me to encourage others up by loving them with patience and kindness. Keep me from envy, boasting and pride. Help me to be quick to forgive and slow to become angry. Lead and guide me in the greatest and most excellent way: a life of loving You and loving others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Remembrance or ritual
Remembrance or Ritual
Luke 22:19-20And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Communion that Means Somthing
One reason the movie The Passion of Christ impacted so many Christians was that it portrayed Jesus’ suffering so vividly. As the Roman soldiers beat and ridiculed Jesus, our hearts broke at his pain. When he stumbled under the load of the cross, we wanted to lift it off his shoulders ourselves. As the nails pierced his hands and feet, they tore into our hearts. Many who saw the movie wept at the cruelty and injustice of the crucifixion.
Think back to the last time you took communion. What did you think about? Was it important to you or just a ceremony? Did you try to imagine the bread being Jesus body hanging on the cross? Did the color of the grape juice or wine remind you of Jesus’ blood running down his face and back as he bore the cross through the streets of Jerusalem?
Jesus established Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, as a reminder of the great sacrifice he gave in order for us to be saved. His red blood flowed because of our sin. His skin was flayed and his joints were literally broken apart so that we could be healed from our sin sickness. He instructed us to remember his sacrifice whenever we partake of Communion.
Next time you take communion, try to focus on Jesus’ sacrifice. Consider what it cost Him to make it possible for you to have salvation. Worship and praise him for suffering so much on your behalf.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I confess that I don’t think enough about what it cost you to give me forgiveness and right standing with God. I want to be more grateful. I want to honor your sacrifice by remembering your suffering. Please help me understand the significance of your death on the cross. Help me to truly take Communion “in remembrance of You.” Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Luke 22:19-20And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Communion that Means Somthing
One reason the movie The Passion of Christ impacted so many Christians was that it portrayed Jesus’ suffering so vividly. As the Roman soldiers beat and ridiculed Jesus, our hearts broke at his pain. When he stumbled under the load of the cross, we wanted to lift it off his shoulders ourselves. As the nails pierced his hands and feet, they tore into our hearts. Many who saw the movie wept at the cruelty and injustice of the crucifixion.
Think back to the last time you took communion. What did you think about? Was it important to you or just a ceremony? Did you try to imagine the bread being Jesus body hanging on the cross? Did the color of the grape juice or wine remind you of Jesus’ blood running down his face and back as he bore the cross through the streets of Jerusalem?
Jesus established Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, as a reminder of the great sacrifice he gave in order for us to be saved. His red blood flowed because of our sin. His skin was flayed and his joints were literally broken apart so that we could be healed from our sin sickness. He instructed us to remember his sacrifice whenever we partake of Communion.
Next time you take communion, try to focus on Jesus’ sacrifice. Consider what it cost Him to make it possible for you to have salvation. Worship and praise him for suffering so much on your behalf.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I confess that I don’t think enough about what it cost you to give me forgiveness and right standing with God. I want to be more grateful. I want to honor your sacrifice by remembering your suffering. Please help me understand the significance of your death on the cross. Help me to truly take Communion “in remembrance of You.” Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Saturday, September 5, 2009
God is powerful
1 Samuel 4:7-8The Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “We’re in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.
God is Powerful
One of the most important reasons for reading the Bible is to learn what God is like. What we know about God’s character, and personality greatly influences how we relate to him. It determines how much we can trust him to help us when we’re in trouble. Beginning today, we’re going to look at seven stories to discover some of the important aspects of God’s character.
1 Samuel 4 tells the story of how the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in a battle against Israel. The Ark represented God's presence and power. The Jews had carried it into the battle for that very reason. After losing the battle the day before, they decided they could only win against this stronger and better-equipped army if God fought for them. When the Philistine army found out that the Ark had arrived in the Jews’ camp, they were terrified. They realized that they would have to battle the God of Israel. This was the same God who had delivered the Jews from Egypt using terrible plagues. They knew they were in deep, deep trouble.
These days the army that has the most “Star Wars weapons” wins. Men armed with weapons they can carry are no match for those whose missiles are guided to their targets by satellites. This Bible story provides the same contrast. Both Israel and the Philistines knew they same thing about God. They knew about his awesome power. The Philistines understood that they faced an army whose most important weapon was their God. And, Israel knew she could win the battle only if God would use his power to fight for their side.
God’s power has helped Israel miraculously win many battles over the course of history. For instance, he made Israel win over Egypt and Syrian in the Six-Day War in 1967 through a series of coincidental mistakes made by her enemies. That same power is available to God’s children today.
We often battle powerful enemies like fear, depression, sorrow, and peer pressure. These are powerful enemies. How can we possibly win? In the same way the armies of Israel defeated superior powers and weapons. We win by tapping into the power of God who promises to be our defender. As we admit that we are weak and ask for his help, we release the power that God used to create everything in the universe by just speaking it into existence.
That power is the most important weapon we have in our battle against sin. Let’s do like the Israelites did and ask for God’s presence to help us in our battles.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father-God, I need your power today. I know I can’t win without your help. I ask you to help me win my battles today because I know that you are truly on my side. Please fight for me, especially when you know I’d lose if I tried to go it alone. Amen.
Written by Martha Menne, Flagstaff Arzona
God is Powerful
One of the most important reasons for reading the Bible is to learn what God is like. What we know about God’s character, and personality greatly influences how we relate to him. It determines how much we can trust him to help us when we’re in trouble. Beginning today, we’re going to look at seven stories to discover some of the important aspects of God’s character.
1 Samuel 4 tells the story of how the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in a battle against Israel. The Ark represented God's presence and power. The Jews had carried it into the battle for that very reason. After losing the battle the day before, they decided they could only win against this stronger and better-equipped army if God fought for them. When the Philistine army found out that the Ark had arrived in the Jews’ camp, they were terrified. They realized that they would have to battle the God of Israel. This was the same God who had delivered the Jews from Egypt using terrible plagues. They knew they were in deep, deep trouble.
These days the army that has the most “Star Wars weapons” wins. Men armed with weapons they can carry are no match for those whose missiles are guided to their targets by satellites. This Bible story provides the same contrast. Both Israel and the Philistines knew they same thing about God. They knew about his awesome power. The Philistines understood that they faced an army whose most important weapon was their God. And, Israel knew she could win the battle only if God would use his power to fight for their side.
God’s power has helped Israel miraculously win many battles over the course of history. For instance, he made Israel win over Egypt and Syrian in the Six-Day War in 1967 through a series of coincidental mistakes made by her enemies. That same power is available to God’s children today.
We often battle powerful enemies like fear, depression, sorrow, and peer pressure. These are powerful enemies. How can we possibly win? In the same way the armies of Israel defeated superior powers and weapons. We win by tapping into the power of God who promises to be our defender. As we admit that we are weak and ask for his help, we release the power that God used to create everything in the universe by just speaking it into existence.
That power is the most important weapon we have in our battle against sin. Let’s do like the Israelites did and ask for God’s presence to help us in our battles.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father-God, I need your power today. I know I can’t win without your help. I ask you to help me win my battles today because I know that you are truly on my side. Please fight for me, especially when you know I’d lose if I tried to go it alone. Amen.
Written by Martha Menne, Flagstaff Arzona
Friday, September 4, 2009
Scared of the Dark
Matthew 6:22 The eye is the lamp of the body. . . If your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.
Darkness vs. Light
Most carnivals and theme parks feature a “Tunnel of Terror.” It is a dark place with frightening monsters, and oversized tarantulas that suddenly drop down or pop up right in front of a person. People pay money for the adrenalin rush of confronting pretend ghosts and monsters. It’s altogether different, though, if we find ourselves alone in the woods at night without a flashlight. And it’s even worse to be walking down an unlit alley in the middle of a big city. The slightest sound gnaws at our nerves, setting us on edge and making our survival instincts kick in.
The darkness of evil is similar to both of these experiences. Because we have a sin nature, evil often attracts us like a carnival ride. We lie to get out of trouble. We might experiment with alcohol or marijuana just to see what it’s like. We might get an adrenalin rush by shoplifting at the mall or sneaking out at night to be with friends. These situations are similar going through a “Tunnel of Terror.” They are scary, but the consequences are not necessarily permanent.
The reality of evil, though, is much closer to walking through unknown, potentially dangerous territory in the dark. Just as we could fall into a ditch and break a leg in the woods, we can suffer severe spiritual injury by walking in spiritual darkness. In fact, spiritual darkness holds the threat of the ultimate evil, eternal separation from God in hell.
Once we realize how perilous it is to walk in darkness, we know we need a rescuer. Just as the arrival of police car with its headlights beaming would drive away our terror in that dark alley, the light of the gospel beams into our hearts, giving us spiritual safety and security. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Every one of us is born in darkness. We’re all walking in the dark in a blind alley with hosts of demonic powers lurking in the doorways ready to pounce on us. But, we don’t have to stay in the dark. At any moment, we can cry out “Lord, save me!” When we do, He immediately shines His light into our lives and frees us from the darkness and terror of sin, evil, and hell.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me see how dangerous it is to live in the darkness, dabbling in sinful behaviors. Please, shine your light of salvation into my heart today. Also, give me your Holy Spirit to help me recognize when I am heading into the darkness instead of walking in the light. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Darkness vs. Light
Most carnivals and theme parks feature a “Tunnel of Terror.” It is a dark place with frightening monsters, and oversized tarantulas that suddenly drop down or pop up right in front of a person. People pay money for the adrenalin rush of confronting pretend ghosts and monsters. It’s altogether different, though, if we find ourselves alone in the woods at night without a flashlight. And it’s even worse to be walking down an unlit alley in the middle of a big city. The slightest sound gnaws at our nerves, setting us on edge and making our survival instincts kick in.
The darkness of evil is similar to both of these experiences. Because we have a sin nature, evil often attracts us like a carnival ride. We lie to get out of trouble. We might experiment with alcohol or marijuana just to see what it’s like. We might get an adrenalin rush by shoplifting at the mall or sneaking out at night to be with friends. These situations are similar going through a “Tunnel of Terror.” They are scary, but the consequences are not necessarily permanent.
The reality of evil, though, is much closer to walking through unknown, potentially dangerous territory in the dark. Just as we could fall into a ditch and break a leg in the woods, we can suffer severe spiritual injury by walking in spiritual darkness. In fact, spiritual darkness holds the threat of the ultimate evil, eternal separation from God in hell.
Once we realize how perilous it is to walk in darkness, we know we need a rescuer. Just as the arrival of police car with its headlights beaming would drive away our terror in that dark alley, the light of the gospel beams into our hearts, giving us spiritual safety and security. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Every one of us is born in darkness. We’re all walking in the dark in a blind alley with hosts of demonic powers lurking in the doorways ready to pounce on us. But, we don’t have to stay in the dark. At any moment, we can cry out “Lord, save me!” When we do, He immediately shines His light into our lives and frees us from the darkness and terror of sin, evil, and hell.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me see how dangerous it is to live in the darkness, dabbling in sinful behaviors. Please, shine your light of salvation into my heart today. Also, give me your Holy Spirit to help me recognize when I am heading into the darkness instead of walking in the light. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
wait til you see me when I am done.
Philippians 1:6He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God Finishes the Job
God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise.
It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.
The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.
Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord God, I praise you that you do have a plan to make me perfect and complete, just like Jesus. I also praise you for being so loving and powerful because that makes me confident that you will complete the job you’re doing on me. Please help me.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
God Finishes the Job
God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise.
It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.
The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.
Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord God, I praise you that you do have a plan to make me perfect and complete, just like Jesus. I also praise you for being so loving and powerful because that makes me confident that you will complete the job you’re doing on me. Please help me.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Born According to Plan
Ephesians 1:4-5For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Chosen and Adopted
We learned that God designed you as a wonderful and unique person for a job that only you can do. He could do that because he knew his plan for you before he had even created the world. The scripture above makes it very clear that you are not an accident. He had your life all mapped out way before you were born. One vital stop on the highway of your life is the day you become his adopted child by accepting his offer to forgive your sins and save you for all eternity.
The word “predestined” means that God planned everything out and made sure you got saved so you could be his daughter or son. I never quite understood this concept until I learned what God did for my friend Margaret. I met Margaret at a Christian homeless shelter. She had suffered some of the worst tragedies we could imagine. She had been terribly abused as a child. As a teenager she used drugs and alcohol. After she was grown, she spent years and years living in poverty and unhappy relationships until she finally lost everything. She went to the shelter so she wouldn’t have to live in her car.
Soon after she arrived, Margaret accepted Jesus as her Savior. She immediately enrolled in the yearlong disciples’ Bible study program. In time, she shared her story. One day, it dawned on me that nearly every one of the women in the class had gone to church and read the Bible as children. They knew about Jesus and often prayed to him when things went wrong. God worked behind the scenes to move them here and there. He kept them alive until they came to the shelter and heard about Jesus.
Fortunately, God’s plan for most of us doesn’t include what Margaret suffered. Instead, he gave us Christian parents who love us dearly and tell us about Jesus from the time we’re born. They take us to church and share the plan of salvation with us. And one day, it all makes sense and we pray to receive Jesus as Savior. We ask him to forgive us for all the bad, mean, dishonest things we’ve done. He gives us a new heart and makes us pure enough to go to heaven when we die. At the very moment we ask him to save us, we are adopted into God’s family—all according to plan, right on time, and without fail.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for planning for my salvation. Thank you that before I was even born, you knew you would adopt me into your family. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear about Jesus and the faith to accept him as my savior. Please help me be a good son/daughter to you, one that will make you proud. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
Chosen and Adopted
We learned that God designed you as a wonderful and unique person for a job that only you can do. He could do that because he knew his plan for you before he had even created the world. The scripture above makes it very clear that you are not an accident. He had your life all mapped out way before you were born. One vital stop on the highway of your life is the day you become his adopted child by accepting his offer to forgive your sins and save you for all eternity.
The word “predestined” means that God planned everything out and made sure you got saved so you could be his daughter or son. I never quite understood this concept until I learned what God did for my friend Margaret. I met Margaret at a Christian homeless shelter. She had suffered some of the worst tragedies we could imagine. She had been terribly abused as a child. As a teenager she used drugs and alcohol. After she was grown, she spent years and years living in poverty and unhappy relationships until she finally lost everything. She went to the shelter so she wouldn’t have to live in her car.
Soon after she arrived, Margaret accepted Jesus as her Savior. She immediately enrolled in the yearlong disciples’ Bible study program. In time, she shared her story. One day, it dawned on me that nearly every one of the women in the class had gone to church and read the Bible as children. They knew about Jesus and often prayed to him when things went wrong. God worked behind the scenes to move them here and there. He kept them alive until they came to the shelter and heard about Jesus.
Fortunately, God’s plan for most of us doesn’t include what Margaret suffered. Instead, he gave us Christian parents who love us dearly and tell us about Jesus from the time we’re born. They take us to church and share the plan of salvation with us. And one day, it all makes sense and we pray to receive Jesus as Savior. We ask him to forgive us for all the bad, mean, dishonest things we’ve done. He gives us a new heart and makes us pure enough to go to heaven when we die. At the very moment we ask him to save us, we are adopted into God’s family—all according to plan, right on time, and without fail.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for planning for my salvation. Thank you that before I was even born, you knew you would adopt me into your family. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear about Jesus and the faith to accept him as my savior. Please help me be a good son/daughter to you, one that will make you proud. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
Monday, August 31, 2009
Phony Forgivness
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:23-26
If you are . . . offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, . . . go and be reconciled to that person. Matthew 5:23-24
"ALLISON SAID she was sorry for talking behind my back," Brooke fumed. "But she laughed like she thought the whole thing was stupid. And then she turned around that afternoon and did the same thing again. What am I supposed to do with that?"
Let's clarify. If you want to understand what forgiveness is, you also need to know what forgiveness isn't. Check these facts:
Forgiveness isn't conditional or earned. You can't say, "If you clean up your life, I'll forgive you." If you attach strings, you aren't showing true forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn't wait around for the person who hurt you to say "sorry." Forgiveness takes the initiative. If God had waited for you to repent and ask his forgiveness, you would still be lost. And if you won't forgive until a person first asks for your forgiveness, you are letting that person control your life.
Forgiveness isn't a feeling. Sometimes you don't feel like forgiving, but when you forgive someone in faith-knowing you have done what God wants you to do-you often feel better afterward. But forgiveness starts with an act of the will.
Forgiveness isn't pretending a situation never happened. Some people just go on with life, acting like there was never a problem. If that's how you deal with a hurtful situation, don't be surprised if it happens again.
Forgiveness isn't pretending wrong is right. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you think that what happened is right. You can forgive the offender and still challenge him or her to quit hurting you.
Forgiveness isn't saying, "Let's forget about it." Face it: You don't forget about it. Instead, the hurt turns into resentment. Forgetting doesn't result in forgiveness. It works the other way around: Forgiveness results in forgetting.
Forgiveness doesn't erase consequences. Someone who does wrong could still face a loss of reputation, financial loss, emotional loss, loss of sleep, or any number of consequences. A person who does wrong has a personal responsibility and a legal responsibility and a responsibility toward God. If you forgive someone, that means you have dealt with it on a personal level, but that person still has to answer to God and to human authorities.
You might fear that forgiving and seeking forgiveness will make you weak. But ignoring a hurt is the weakling's way out. Trying to heal a relationship through forgiveness is a real sign of your strong character.
REFLECT: In what ways have you misunderstood forgiveness?
PRAY: Talk to God about anyone you need to forgive but haven't because you misunderstood what forgiveness is and isn't.Date: 8/31/2009
From Josh.org
If you are . . . offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, . . . go and be reconciled to that person. Matthew 5:23-24
"ALLISON SAID she was sorry for talking behind my back," Brooke fumed. "But she laughed like she thought the whole thing was stupid. And then she turned around that afternoon and did the same thing again. What am I supposed to do with that?"
Let's clarify. If you want to understand what forgiveness is, you also need to know what forgiveness isn't. Check these facts:
Forgiveness isn't conditional or earned. You can't say, "If you clean up your life, I'll forgive you." If you attach strings, you aren't showing true forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn't wait around for the person who hurt you to say "sorry." Forgiveness takes the initiative. If God had waited for you to repent and ask his forgiveness, you would still be lost. And if you won't forgive until a person first asks for your forgiveness, you are letting that person control your life.
Forgiveness isn't a feeling. Sometimes you don't feel like forgiving, but when you forgive someone in faith-knowing you have done what God wants you to do-you often feel better afterward. But forgiveness starts with an act of the will.
Forgiveness isn't pretending a situation never happened. Some people just go on with life, acting like there was never a problem. If that's how you deal with a hurtful situation, don't be surprised if it happens again.
Forgiveness isn't pretending wrong is right. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you think that what happened is right. You can forgive the offender and still challenge him or her to quit hurting you.
Forgiveness isn't saying, "Let's forget about it." Face it: You don't forget about it. Instead, the hurt turns into resentment. Forgetting doesn't result in forgiveness. It works the other way around: Forgiveness results in forgetting.
Forgiveness doesn't erase consequences. Someone who does wrong could still face a loss of reputation, financial loss, emotional loss, loss of sleep, or any number of consequences. A person who does wrong has a personal responsibility and a legal responsibility and a responsibility toward God. If you forgive someone, that means you have dealt with it on a personal level, but that person still has to answer to God and to human authorities.
You might fear that forgiving and seeking forgiveness will make you weak. But ignoring a hurt is the weakling's way out. Trying to heal a relationship through forgiveness is a real sign of your strong character.
REFLECT: In what ways have you misunderstood forgiveness?
PRAY: Talk to God about anyone you need to forgive but haven't because you misunderstood what forgiveness is and isn't.Date: 8/31/2009
From Josh.org
Saturday, August 29, 2009
not getting what we deserve
Bible Reading: Psalm 103:8-14
[The Lord] has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. Psalm 103:10
HALF OF understanding forgiveness is knowing what it isn't. More on that next time. The other half is knowing exactly what it is. Check out these definitions-at least one of them will make sense to you:
Forgiveness means "to erase, to forego what is due" ... "to give up resentment" ... "to wipe the slate clean, to release from a debt, to cancel punishment" ... "to personally accept the price of reconciliation" ... "to give up all claims on the one who has hurt you and let go of the emotional consequences of that hurt." Forgiveness not only means you say the words "I forgive you" but that you also let go of your wounded emotions.
Forgiving is an action. It doesn't allow you to sit around and wait for the person who walloped you to say, "I was wrong; will you forgive me?" Just as Jesus died for you while you were still a sinner (see Romans 5:8), forgiving means you take the first step in healing a relationship.
Forgiving also means you "give up or give away." It means you give up the right to get even—no matter how good revenge would feel. Forgiving means you give mercy instead of demanding justice.
If you don't like that approach to life, ponder this: It wouldn't be smart to pray for justice in your relationship with God, because his justice would wipe you out. What you want to ask for is his mercy, the stuff that allows you to be forgiven in spite of your sin.
It works the same way in your human relationships. The world tells you to hate. God says to love. The world says you are entitled to revenge. God says to forgive.
Why? Because God wants you to forgive in the same way he forgives you-com-pletely and continually. To the Colossians, Paul wrote, "God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins" (verse 1:14). In Hebrews 10, we discover that Christ's forgiveness was "once for all time" (verse 10). Once he had offered himself as the sacrifice for sin, "he sat down at the place of highest honor at God's right hand" (verse 12).
God doesn't forgive you because of something you've done but because of who Jesus Christ is and what he accomplished for you through the cross. That's your model for forgiving others. You don't forgive because the person who hurt you has changed or begged for your forgiveness, but because you have a Christlike readiness to simply forgive.
REFLECT: Are you a forgiving person?
PRAY: Ask Christ to share his heart of forgiveness with you today.
From Josh.org
[The Lord] has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. Psalm 103:10
HALF OF understanding forgiveness is knowing what it isn't. More on that next time. The other half is knowing exactly what it is. Check out these definitions-at least one of them will make sense to you:
Forgiveness means "to erase, to forego what is due" ... "to give up resentment" ... "to wipe the slate clean, to release from a debt, to cancel punishment" ... "to personally accept the price of reconciliation" ... "to give up all claims on the one who has hurt you and let go of the emotional consequences of that hurt." Forgiveness not only means you say the words "I forgive you" but that you also let go of your wounded emotions.
Forgiving is an action. It doesn't allow you to sit around and wait for the person who walloped you to say, "I was wrong; will you forgive me?" Just as Jesus died for you while you were still a sinner (see Romans 5:8), forgiving means you take the first step in healing a relationship.
Forgiving also means you "give up or give away." It means you give up the right to get even—no matter how good revenge would feel. Forgiving means you give mercy instead of demanding justice.
If you don't like that approach to life, ponder this: It wouldn't be smart to pray for justice in your relationship with God, because his justice would wipe you out. What you want to ask for is his mercy, the stuff that allows you to be forgiven in spite of your sin.
It works the same way in your human relationships. The world tells you to hate. God says to love. The world says you are entitled to revenge. God says to forgive.
Why? Because God wants you to forgive in the same way he forgives you-com-pletely and continually. To the Colossians, Paul wrote, "God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins" (verse 1:14). In Hebrews 10, we discover that Christ's forgiveness was "once for all time" (verse 10). Once he had offered himself as the sacrifice for sin, "he sat down at the place of highest honor at God's right hand" (verse 12).
God doesn't forgive you because of something you've done but because of who Jesus Christ is and what he accomplished for you through the cross. That's your model for forgiving others. You don't forgive because the person who hurt you has changed or begged for your forgiveness, but because you have a Christlike readiness to simply forgive.
REFLECT: Are you a forgiving person?
PRAY: Ask Christ to share his heart of forgiveness with you today.
From Josh.org
Friday, August 28, 2009
TGIF
Psa 118:24
This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
When I was growing up one of the major TV networks had a comedy line up of shows and the slogan for the night was TGIF. What does that mean? Do you know? Most do. TGIF=Thank God its Friday. Well I am very willing to Thank God for Friday but. As the scripture states above not only is this a day the Lord made and we have an obligation to rejoice and an obligation to glad. I know there are times and day's that I don't remember this. But let's not rejoice just on Friday because its the day before the weekend. But because its the Lords day that's why we should rejoice. But lets thank God for more that Friday. Thank God for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Becky Sosa
This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
When I was growing up one of the major TV networks had a comedy line up of shows and the slogan for the night was TGIF. What does that mean? Do you know? Most do. TGIF=Thank God its Friday. Well I am very willing to Thank God for Friday but. As the scripture states above not only is this a day the Lord made and we have an obligation to rejoice and an obligation to glad. I know there are times and day's that I don't remember this. But let's not rejoice just on Friday because its the day before the weekend. But because its the Lords day that's why we should rejoice. But lets thank God for more that Friday. Thank God for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Becky Sosa
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Uncomfortable?
By: Brooke Macrimailing@tddm.org
Yet I am not ashamed , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He (Jesus) is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 Ever notice how sometimes its hard to voice your opinions about your faith? The world we live into today has taught us to keep the touchy "religious" subjects on the down low, as to not offend anyone. We tip toe around people not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way. Its almost like we take God and stick Him in our pocket when we go out in public, and then when no one is around we take Him back out. We don’t want to talk about the Lord at work, we don’t want to talk about Him in front of our friends, our family, ANYONE. I’m not just talking about non-believers I’m talking about the Christians as well. Unless we are at church we don’t talk about the Lord. Because if we do , we may say something that will offend someone. Usually when a Christian is "offended" by something that more often than not means that they are convicted of a certain sin in their life. No one likes being convicted in our faith, we all fancy ourselves to be these "Mega Christians" , that we never want to feel t he uncomfortableness of being convicted. The Bible tells us that we should not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means telling and talking about the Lord to anyone and everyone, no matter how uncomfortable It makes others feel. More often than not you will hear Christians defend certain behavior. Drinking , for one, is probably one of the most controversial things to talk about with different Christians. I believe that drinking is wrong. Why drink alcohol and put that temptation in front of you? Why have one or two when you could be setting an example to other believer that may make them fall? So on and so forth. A lot of Christians get very defensive when they enjoy doing things that know that are against or taking that step to being against the Lord. They take what the Bible says and put it into their own version that fits their lifestyle. But think about what kind of example you would be if you were standing in a room holding a beer talking about the Lord? Wouldn’t be a very good one would it? Believers need to stop being so afraid to speak the truth. We need to stop being afraid we will offend others with what we say and how we live our lives. In the Bible Jesus says if we deny Him in front of others , He will deny us in front of His Father (God). Denying Jesus isn’t just saying we don’t personally know Him as our Savior. Its living how we please , not what how God says we should live. You don’t want to get to judgment day and after sticking the Lord in your pocket and living how you please, Jesus looks at you and denies He knows you. Don’t stick God in your pocket, speak out your faith!
Yet I am not ashamed , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He (Jesus) is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 Ever notice how sometimes its hard to voice your opinions about your faith? The world we live into today has taught us to keep the touchy "religious" subjects on the down low, as to not offend anyone. We tip toe around people not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way. Its almost like we take God and stick Him in our pocket when we go out in public, and then when no one is around we take Him back out. We don’t want to talk about the Lord at work, we don’t want to talk about Him in front of our friends, our family, ANYONE. I’m not just talking about non-believers I’m talking about the Christians as well. Unless we are at church we don’t talk about the Lord. Because if we do , we may say something that will offend someone. Usually when a Christian is "offended" by something that more often than not means that they are convicted of a certain sin in their life. No one likes being convicted in our faith, we all fancy ourselves to be these "Mega Christians" , that we never want to feel t he uncomfortableness of being convicted. The Bible tells us that we should not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means telling and talking about the Lord to anyone and everyone, no matter how uncomfortable It makes others feel. More often than not you will hear Christians defend certain behavior. Drinking , for one, is probably one of the most controversial things to talk about with different Christians. I believe that drinking is wrong. Why drink alcohol and put that temptation in front of you? Why have one or two when you could be setting an example to other believer that may make them fall? So on and so forth. A lot of Christians get very defensive when they enjoy doing things that know that are against or taking that step to being against the Lord. They take what the Bible says and put it into their own version that fits their lifestyle. But think about what kind of example you would be if you were standing in a room holding a beer talking about the Lord? Wouldn’t be a very good one would it? Believers need to stop being so afraid to speak the truth. We need to stop being afraid we will offend others with what we say and how we live our lives. In the Bible Jesus says if we deny Him in front of others , He will deny us in front of His Father (God). Denying Jesus isn’t just saying we don’t personally know Him as our Savior. Its living how we please , not what how God says we should live. You don’t want to get to judgment day and after sticking the Lord in your pocket and living how you please, Jesus looks at you and denies He knows you. Don’t stick God in your pocket, speak out your faith!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
When Authorities Clash
Bible Reading: Titus 3:1-2
Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. Titus 3:1
CHECK OUT these statements. Do they slip out of your mouth easily?
"I wish the principal would give me detention more often."
"I'm really happy I got caught copying answers off the math whiz who sits next to me in algebra."
If you're like most people, you squirm when someone in charge of your life lays down a rule you're forced to follow or catches you when you're doing what you shouldn't. But most days you probably also recognize that authorities usually act for your good. The Bible challenges you as a Christian to show love for leaders-from the head of your home to the head of your country—by submitting to their authority. Peter writes, "For the Lord's sake, accept all authority-the king as head of state, and the officials he has appointed" (1 Peter 2:13-14). Submission clearly means obedience.
Still, even when you build a habit of respectfully obeying civil authorities, you might face situations where your loyalty and obedience to authorities clashes with your bigger love and allegiance to God. Back in the New Testament, the apostles found they had to disobey Jewish authorities and declare, "We must obey God rather than human authority" (Acts 5:29).
Whenever you have to choose between love for God and love for people, love for God always wins. Your only right choice is to love and obey God rather than government. But here's the tough news: Doing the right thing won't always spare you from negative consequences, a fact you can learn from even a quick glance at Scripture and church history. "Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips," the author of Hebrews reports. "Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword" (Hebrews 11:36-37). Countless first-century Christians were fed to the lions because they loved God more than they loved the Roman emperor.
You likely won't face a choice with life-and-death consequences, but your love for God might cost you a job when you won't lie for your boss. Or a friend, parent, or teacher might reject you for putting God first. When you have to make those hard choices and face tough consequences, you can cling to the Bible promise that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28).
REFLECT: Are you facing any situations right now where love for God and love for people are in conflict?
PRAY: Ask God to strengthen you to make the right choice.Date: 8/26/2009
Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. Titus 3:1
CHECK OUT these statements. Do they slip out of your mouth easily?
"I wish the principal would give me detention more often."
"I'm really happy I got caught copying answers off the math whiz who sits next to me in algebra."
If you're like most people, you squirm when someone in charge of your life lays down a rule you're forced to follow or catches you when you're doing what you shouldn't. But most days you probably also recognize that authorities usually act for your good. The Bible challenges you as a Christian to show love for leaders-from the head of your home to the head of your country—by submitting to their authority. Peter writes, "For the Lord's sake, accept all authority-the king as head of state, and the officials he has appointed" (1 Peter 2:13-14). Submission clearly means obedience.
Still, even when you build a habit of respectfully obeying civil authorities, you might face situations where your loyalty and obedience to authorities clashes with your bigger love and allegiance to God. Back in the New Testament, the apostles found they had to disobey Jewish authorities and declare, "We must obey God rather than human authority" (Acts 5:29).
Whenever you have to choose between love for God and love for people, love for God always wins. Your only right choice is to love and obey God rather than government. But here's the tough news: Doing the right thing won't always spare you from negative consequences, a fact you can learn from even a quick glance at Scripture and church history. "Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips," the author of Hebrews reports. "Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword" (Hebrews 11:36-37). Countless first-century Christians were fed to the lions because they loved God more than they loved the Roman emperor.
You likely won't face a choice with life-and-death consequences, but your love for God might cost you a job when you won't lie for your boss. Or a friend, parent, or teacher might reject you for putting God first. When you have to make those hard choices and face tough consequences, you can cling to the Bible promise that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28).
REFLECT: Are you facing any situations right now where love for God and love for people are in conflict?
PRAY: Ask God to strengthen you to make the right choice.Date: 8/26/2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
who controls the weather
Psalm 89:9“You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.”
Psalm 135:7“He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”
Does God Rule the Weather?
Do you ever watch the news and get worried about all the earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, famines, and volcanoes? Do you wonder what you’d do if you and your parents were driving along and you saw a giant tornado trailing behind you? Do you ever wonder what you’d do if you got caught on a boat out on the ocean and a hurricane blew in? Sometimes the weather can seem extremely scary and out of control. Sometimes it may even seem as though the weather has a mind of its own and that nothing controls it.
The news cannot change the weather, for the it is a force of nature. Humans cannot change the weather either. We can try and prepare for it by making our buildings stronger. We can use radar to detect weather patterns, and we can escape into basements. But, the weather is out of our control. The only person that can control the forces of nature is God.
God created the forces of nature. God created the weather. He made the land as well as the wind that blows the seas. He made the lava that flows underground and erupts from volcanoes. He controls the water that devastates the land in floods.
Some of our favorite Bible stories involve God’s control of the weather. It was God who hurled a great wind and storm on the sea when Jonah disobeyed him and boarded a ship headed to Tarshish. And, it was God who also calmed the seas when the sailors tossed Jonah into the ocean. Although Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, it was God who caused the famine for seven years in Egypt. When Joshua went up against the Amorites, it was God who stopped the sun in the middle of the sky for an entire day and caused the moon to stop.
These stories can offer us great hope and comfort whenever stormy weather approaches. If God can stop the sun and calm the waters, and if God is this powerful and this awesome, you can rest assured that nothing can happen to you unless he allows it. You can trust that no weather, no tornado, no volcano, no hurricane, no earthquake, NO ANYTHING can touch you or harm you unless he allows it. You are not a Force of Nature. You are his precious child that he died for before the foundation of the world. He loves you more than anything.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, help me to trust you with my life. Help me not to be scared when I travel. Help to believe that you are with me wherever I go. Help me to realize that if you can calm a Tsunami, you can protect me from absolutely anything I might encounter in my life. In short, God, help me to understand that you hold me in the palm of your hand. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
Psalm 135:7“He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”
Does God Rule the Weather?
Do you ever watch the news and get worried about all the earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, famines, and volcanoes? Do you wonder what you’d do if you and your parents were driving along and you saw a giant tornado trailing behind you? Do you ever wonder what you’d do if you got caught on a boat out on the ocean and a hurricane blew in? Sometimes the weather can seem extremely scary and out of control. Sometimes it may even seem as though the weather has a mind of its own and that nothing controls it.
The news cannot change the weather, for the it is a force of nature. Humans cannot change the weather either. We can try and prepare for it by making our buildings stronger. We can use radar to detect weather patterns, and we can escape into basements. But, the weather is out of our control. The only person that can control the forces of nature is God.
God created the forces of nature. God created the weather. He made the land as well as the wind that blows the seas. He made the lava that flows underground and erupts from volcanoes. He controls the water that devastates the land in floods.
Some of our favorite Bible stories involve God’s control of the weather. It was God who hurled a great wind and storm on the sea when Jonah disobeyed him and boarded a ship headed to Tarshish. And, it was God who also calmed the seas when the sailors tossed Jonah into the ocean. Although Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, it was God who caused the famine for seven years in Egypt. When Joshua went up against the Amorites, it was God who stopped the sun in the middle of the sky for an entire day and caused the moon to stop.
These stories can offer us great hope and comfort whenever stormy weather approaches. If God can stop the sun and calm the waters, and if God is this powerful and this awesome, you can rest assured that nothing can happen to you unless he allows it. You can trust that no weather, no tornado, no volcano, no hurricane, no earthquake, NO ANYTHING can touch you or harm you unless he allows it. You are not a Force of Nature. You are his precious child that he died for before the foundation of the world. He loves you more than anything.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Father, help me to trust you with my life. Help me not to be scared when I travel. Help to believe that you are with me wherever I go. Help me to realize that if you can calm a Tsunami, you can protect me from absolutely anything I might encounter in my life. In short, God, help me to understand that you hold me in the palm of your hand. Amen.
Written by Anne Parker, Flagstaff Arizona
Monday, August 24, 2009
God planned you as a master creation
Psalm 139:13-15For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
“Created by God”
Today we will begin to consider some scripture passages to discover just how wonderful, unique, and important you are. Nearly everyone dislikes something about his physique or her personality. Tall people wish they were shorter. Short people would give anything to be taller. Math whiz kids envy those who can read anything and figure out what it means. Athletes sometimes hate not being able to do as well in school as other kids do. It doesn’t really seem to matter what set of strengths God gave us, we can always find someone we would rather be like.
Today’s scripture tells us that God made each individual person on earth exactly the way he wanted them to be. He has a job for each of us to do that requires the precise set of strengths and weaknesses he programmed into us.
The talents and positive personality traits God gave us make it possible for us do particular things. Those who love grammar and reading often become writers. Those who have better-than-average physical strength or coordination can take on jobs like building things or hiking to isolated villages to share the gospel. We all appreciate the talents of pianists, guitar players and singers who can lead us in worship.
But what about our weaknesses? Shy people make incredible listeners. Those who struggle with reading may become engineers or businessmen. The athletically challenged frequently compensate by organizing events and encouraging others. God has another important purpose for giving us some weak points. He wants to be sure that we can sympathize with our friends who also have difficulties. Because we become stronger and more compassionate as the result of our struggles, we can help others do the same.
We must remember that God’s is reflected in everything He makes. He is absolutely and perfectly good. So, anything he creates has to be awesome. He made you exactly the way you are to do something that only you can do. What a concept!David, who wrote this Psalm, was the youngest in his family. His dad and brothers didn’t think he was even important enough to call away from the sheep when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. But, God knew David would make a great king. After all, God created him for that purpose way before he was born. David had times when he wondered if God could ever use him, but he kept on obeying the Lord. As a result, he became one of the greatest heroes in the Bible. There are no unimportant jobs and no worthless people in God’s eyes. God created you for a job in his kingdom that is just as important as the one David did.
Today’s Prayer:
My God and my Creator, I thank you for making me different from every other human being. Thank you that your goodness and wisdom are expressed in the way you mixed up my DNA. Help me accept myself as your wonderful creation and find the role you have for me to play in your plans, today and always. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
Friday, August 21, 2009
How Babies Grow Up
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:8-12
We loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
IF NEWBORNS don't have someone to feed and care for them twenty-four hours a day, they don't survive.
New believers are like newborns. Freshly born into God's family, they need a spiritual parent's care and protection-especially in the first weeks and months of their budding Christian life. And if you were the one who helped bring people to spiritual birth in Christ, it's natural that you fill the role of spiritual parent for them (see 1 Thessalonians 2:8-12). So what does a spiritual parent do?
First, check their vital signs. In the critical first few days of being a Christian, spiritual babes might be tempted to doubt they are truly different. The feelings that might have swelled when they trusted Christ might subside, making them wonder if Christ actually came into their life. Remind new believers that you care about them and their new life in Christ-and let them know you're available to talk whenever they need you.
Second, supply nourishment. Like a baby needs food to survive, a new Christian needs God's Word to mature (see 1 Peter 2:2). One of the first things new believers need is assurance about what happened to them when they trusted Christ. Go over the facts about their new life in Christ on your first visit together:
• When you trusted Christ, you became a child of God (John 1:12).
• Your sins were forgiven (1 John 1:9).
• Jesus Christ is in your life (Revelation 3:20).
• He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5-8).
• Your old life is gone. You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• You have received eternal life (John 5:24; 1 John 5:12-13).
Third, build in some bonding time. Newborns need to bond with their caregivers, and new Christians need to get involved with other believers. Introduce them right away to Christian friends and your youth leader or pastor. Invite them to church with you. Welcome them into your Bible study or prayer group. To help them develop their faith, they need fellowship with good Christian friends.
When God lets you be part of reaching someone for Christ, that's just the start of his using you to nurture that new Christian.
REFLECT: How do you feel about becoming a spiritual parent to new believers?
PRAY: Share your feelings and concerns with God today.Date: 8/21/2009
We loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
IF NEWBORNS don't have someone to feed and care for them twenty-four hours a day, they don't survive.
New believers are like newborns. Freshly born into God's family, they need a spiritual parent's care and protection-especially in the first weeks and months of their budding Christian life. And if you were the one who helped bring people to spiritual birth in Christ, it's natural that you fill the role of spiritual parent for them (see 1 Thessalonians 2:8-12). So what does a spiritual parent do?
First, check their vital signs. In the critical first few days of being a Christian, spiritual babes might be tempted to doubt they are truly different. The feelings that might have swelled when they trusted Christ might subside, making them wonder if Christ actually came into their life. Remind new believers that you care about them and their new life in Christ-and let them know you're available to talk whenever they need you.
Second, supply nourishment. Like a baby needs food to survive, a new Christian needs God's Word to mature (see 1 Peter 2:2). One of the first things new believers need is assurance about what happened to them when they trusted Christ. Go over the facts about their new life in Christ on your first visit together:
• When you trusted Christ, you became a child of God (John 1:12).
• Your sins were forgiven (1 John 1:9).
• Jesus Christ is in your life (Revelation 3:20).
• He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5-8).
• Your old life is gone. You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• You have received eternal life (John 5:24; 1 John 5:12-13).
Third, build in some bonding time. Newborns need to bond with their caregivers, and new Christians need to get involved with other believers. Introduce them right away to Christian friends and your youth leader or pastor. Invite them to church with you. Welcome them into your Bible study or prayer group. To help them develop their faith, they need fellowship with good Christian friends.
When God lets you be part of reaching someone for Christ, that's just the start of his using you to nurture that new Christian.
REFLECT: How do you feel about becoming a spiritual parent to new believers?
PRAY: Share your feelings and concerns with God today.Date: 8/21/2009
From Josh.org
Thursday, August 20, 2009
putting your best foot forward
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looksat the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.Verse from 1 Samuel 16:7
Tonight I go to back to school night at the kids new school. The teachers and school staff have been preparing for the new kids to start the year. They have put the names on desks and cubbies, prepared lessons, and cleaned everything for a fresh new start.
My kids have also prepared for going back to school. The have picked out new school shoes, new clothes, and new school supplies. I made sure they had what they needed, and most of what they wanted for school. So now the teachers and the students are all ready to put their best foot forward. Are you?
As a Christian we are called to be a light in the darkness. To stand out above the rest. To avoid the pitfalls of those that don't believe. So as you pick out the new school supplies, and new clothes, prepare your heart as well. Know that God has a plan for you. When you start the year plan to look at what God has planned for you. Where he needs you, and you will thrive. He wants you, and to use you in a mighty way this school year. Be prepared to put your best foot forward.
Becky Sosa
Tonight I go to back to school night at the kids new school. The teachers and school staff have been preparing for the new kids to start the year. They have put the names on desks and cubbies, prepared lessons, and cleaned everything for a fresh new start.
My kids have also prepared for going back to school. The have picked out new school shoes, new clothes, and new school supplies. I made sure they had what they needed, and most of what they wanted for school. So now the teachers and the students are all ready to put their best foot forward. Are you?
As a Christian we are called to be a light in the darkness. To stand out above the rest. To avoid the pitfalls of those that don't believe. So as you pick out the new school supplies, and new clothes, prepare your heart as well. Know that God has a plan for you. When you start the year plan to look at what God has planned for you. Where he needs you, and you will thrive. He wants you, and to use you in a mighty way this school year. Be prepared to put your best foot forward.
Becky Sosa
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
seeing yourself with 20/20 vision
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:11-16 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ. Ephesians 4:15
WHENEVER ELIZABETH heard her youth pastor talk about "seeing yourself like God sees you," she knew that was exactly what she wanted-and needed. But she didn't want to work at getting God's vision of herself.
She wasn't willing to do the main thing she needed to do-spend time with her Bible, studying and soaking in God's truth. And even though she went to church, she wasn't nuts about letting those people too close.
Elizabeth sounds like someone with bad eyes who wants to see more clearly but won't wear glasses.
Fact is, you can't change how you see yourself without diving into God's Word. It's how you bring into focus the fact that you are lovable, valuable, and useful to God and others. Peter wrote, "You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness" (1 Peter 2:2-3). God's Word is the number one agent in renewing your minds to think like he thinks and see as he sees (see Romans 12:2).
But you also can't change how you see yourself without connecting with God's people. Through his Word, God shows you what he is like-huge things like his attributes, character, and personality. Then through the church, God puts skin on those qualities. He makes them real to you.
It's like what Jesus did to demonstrate who God is. He revealed God in a way human beings could understand. Jesus told his disciples, "Anyone who has seen me has
seen the Father___ Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in
me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (John 14:9-10, NIV).
God wants to use his Word and the Christians around you to make you doubly sure you are loved, valued, and useful. There's no better way to discover how God sees you than to dig into God's Word. And there's no better way to pound home that you are loved by God than to have caring believers remind you of and reflect to you what God sees. It's one thing to read about God's view of you in the Scriptures or hear about it in a sermon or Bible study. It's even more real when you experience God through the members of his church.
REFLECT: How are you letting God's Word and his people into your life?
PRAY: Ask God to help you make God's Word and interaction with his people the priority it needs to be in your life.Date: 8/16/2009
WHENEVER ELIZABETH heard her youth pastor talk about "seeing yourself like God sees you," she knew that was exactly what she wanted-and needed. But she didn't want to work at getting God's vision of herself.
She wasn't willing to do the main thing she needed to do-spend time with her Bible, studying and soaking in God's truth. And even though she went to church, she wasn't nuts about letting those people too close.
Elizabeth sounds like someone with bad eyes who wants to see more clearly but won't wear glasses.
Fact is, you can't change how you see yourself without diving into God's Word. It's how you bring into focus the fact that you are lovable, valuable, and useful to God and others. Peter wrote, "You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness" (1 Peter 2:2-3). God's Word is the number one agent in renewing your minds to think like he thinks and see as he sees (see Romans 12:2).
But you also can't change how you see yourself without connecting with God's people. Through his Word, God shows you what he is like-huge things like his attributes, character, and personality. Then through the church, God puts skin on those qualities. He makes them real to you.
It's like what Jesus did to demonstrate who God is. He revealed God in a way human beings could understand. Jesus told his disciples, "Anyone who has seen me has
seen the Father___ Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in
me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (John 14:9-10, NIV).
God wants to use his Word and the Christians around you to make you doubly sure you are loved, valued, and useful. There's no better way to discover how God sees you than to dig into God's Word. And there's no better way to pound home that you are loved by God than to have caring believers remind you of and reflect to you what God sees. It's one thing to read about God's view of you in the Scriptures or hear about it in a sermon or Bible study. It's even more real when you experience God through the members of his church.
REFLECT: How are you letting God's Word and his people into your life?
PRAY: Ask God to help you make God's Word and interaction with his people the priority it needs to be in your life.Date: 8/16/2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Heavy Get Help to Lift.
Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Being a Burden Lifter
You would think I would get the hang of packing for the airlines after a few trips, but it only seems to be moving from bad to worse. After each trip I make mental notes: 1) Do not pack that item again, you didn’t use it anyway. 2) Don’t forget these items, it would have been nice to have them along. The last two trips my suitcase came back to me marked with an orange tag: HEAVY Get Help To Lift.
Now, I knew my suitcase was heavy, but was it really necessary to inform all my fellow travelers standing around the carousel?
Wouldn’t it be helpful if hurting people were as easily identifiable as tagged suitcases? They know their burdens are heavy. Sometimes so heavy they can hardly lift themselves out of bed in the morning. But how can others know they are hurting? Maybe these people, maybe you and I, should begin clearly marking our oppressive days with an orange tag: HEAVY BURDENS Need Help to Lift!
There’s no guesswork in the Bible on if we should help carry each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 commands us to do so, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
The question is how do we obey that command without the use of orange tags identifying those who need help with their heartaches and burdens? Let’s again go to the Bible for God’s Word on burden lifting.
Ask the Holy Spirit to clothe you with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Have the attitude of Christ, looking not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2). Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Would orange tags make it easier to identify the hurting people in your corner of the world? It certainly would. But is it the best option? No, God always provides the best way. Follow God’s commands for burden lifting, imitate Christ’s example in how He reached out to others, and let the Spirit lead and guide as you go about the task you’ve been called to: being a burden lifter for others.
Today’s Prayer:
Father God, thank You for Your word on burden lifting. Please help me to see the burdens that people are carrying. Give me eyes to see where the needs are. Give me ears to hear the cries of hurting people. Give me love that reaches out in compassion and understanding. I want to imitate Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
By Lenae Bulthuis
Renville, Minnesota
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Being a Burden Lifter
You would think I would get the hang of packing for the airlines after a few trips, but it only seems to be moving from bad to worse. After each trip I make mental notes: 1) Do not pack that item again, you didn’t use it anyway. 2) Don’t forget these items, it would have been nice to have them along. The last two trips my suitcase came back to me marked with an orange tag: HEAVY Get Help To Lift.
Now, I knew my suitcase was heavy, but was it really necessary to inform all my fellow travelers standing around the carousel?
Wouldn’t it be helpful if hurting people were as easily identifiable as tagged suitcases? They know their burdens are heavy. Sometimes so heavy they can hardly lift themselves out of bed in the morning. But how can others know they are hurting? Maybe these people, maybe you and I, should begin clearly marking our oppressive days with an orange tag: HEAVY BURDENS Need Help to Lift!
There’s no guesswork in the Bible on if we should help carry each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 commands us to do so, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
The question is how do we obey that command without the use of orange tags identifying those who need help with their heartaches and burdens? Let’s again go to the Bible for God’s Word on burden lifting.
Ask the Holy Spirit to clothe you with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Have the attitude of Christ, looking not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2). Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Would orange tags make it easier to identify the hurting people in your corner of the world? It certainly would. But is it the best option? No, God always provides the best way. Follow God’s commands for burden lifting, imitate Christ’s example in how He reached out to others, and let the Spirit lead and guide as you go about the task you’ve been called to: being a burden lifter for others.
Today’s Prayer:
Father God, thank You for Your word on burden lifting. Please help me to see the burdens that people are carrying. Give me eyes to see where the needs are. Give me ears to hear the cries of hurting people. Give me love that reaches out in compassion and understanding. I want to imitate Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
By Lenae Bulthuis
Renville, Minnesota
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Spiritual Science Experiment
1 John 1:7If we walk in the light, as he is in the light . . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Fruit of the Spirit
Suppose a student chooses to test the effects of light and darkness on the growth of seeds for a science fair project. He gets some marigold seeds from the store, plants them in four Styrofoam cups, and waters them. He places two of the cups in a dark closet. The others go into a sunny window. In a couple of weeks, the seedlings appear. For a few hours, the plants in the dark and the ones in the light are quite similar. Two tiny green leaves break through the soil and begin to grow. Within a couple of days however, the plants in the closet turn yellow and begin to die, while the ones in the light grow and get more and more leaves. The experiment proves that plants have to absorb light in order to have the energy needed to grow, bloom, and make seeds.
The same is true of our spiritual lives. We need to live in the light in order to grow and become fruitful. Galatians 5:22-23 describes spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes are in stark contrast to the ones Paul listed as acts of the sinful nature: Jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, envy, etc.
Let’s imagine a spiritual science fair project in which we try to become more and more kind. At first, we determine to observe how we act after a few days of listening to rap music that encourages rebellion and watching television shows that glamorize gang members who commit violent crimes. We may continue the experiment by hanging out with some kids at school who like to sneak around after dark to paint graffiti on the sidewalks in their neighborhoods. Would we become more kind or less kind after a week or so?
Next, let’s imagine that we do exactly the opposite for a couple of weeks. We listen to music that encourages us to love others in the same way Jesus did. We read accounts of young people helping others through short-term missions projects. We watch uplifting TV programs and movies. We might even volunteer to paint some classrooms at the local community center or play games with the children who gather there after school. Would we become more or less kind after a week or so?
Clearly, kindness could grow much better in the latter situation. We tend to become like the people we hang out with. So, if we hang out with mean and violent people, we will become increasingly mean. If we hang out with kind, generous people, we will become kinder. Living in the light means developing relationships with people who will help us become more like Jesus. We grow in godliness when we choose our friends based upon whether they have the kind of qualities God approves.
Those friends will be more likely to do what Jesus would and that will help us do the same. Good friends definitely help us walk in the light as Jesus is in the light.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you are the very best friend I could possibly ever want. You always love me and accept me. You even forgive me when I mess up. Please help me choose friends who will help me grow godly fruit in my life. Also, please me be the kind of friend who encourages others to become more like you every day. Amen.
Written by Martha E. Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Fruit of the Spirit
Suppose a student chooses to test the effects of light and darkness on the growth of seeds for a science fair project. He gets some marigold seeds from the store, plants them in four Styrofoam cups, and waters them. He places two of the cups in a dark closet. The others go into a sunny window. In a couple of weeks, the seedlings appear. For a few hours, the plants in the dark and the ones in the light are quite similar. Two tiny green leaves break through the soil and begin to grow. Within a couple of days however, the plants in the closet turn yellow and begin to die, while the ones in the light grow and get more and more leaves. The experiment proves that plants have to absorb light in order to have the energy needed to grow, bloom, and make seeds.
The same is true of our spiritual lives. We need to live in the light in order to grow and become fruitful. Galatians 5:22-23 describes spiritual fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes are in stark contrast to the ones Paul listed as acts of the sinful nature: Jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, envy, etc.
Let’s imagine a spiritual science fair project in which we try to become more and more kind. At first, we determine to observe how we act after a few days of listening to rap music that encourages rebellion and watching television shows that glamorize gang members who commit violent crimes. We may continue the experiment by hanging out with some kids at school who like to sneak around after dark to paint graffiti on the sidewalks in their neighborhoods. Would we become more kind or less kind after a week or so?
Next, let’s imagine that we do exactly the opposite for a couple of weeks. We listen to music that encourages us to love others in the same way Jesus did. We read accounts of young people helping others through short-term missions projects. We watch uplifting TV programs and movies. We might even volunteer to paint some classrooms at the local community center or play games with the children who gather there after school. Would we become more or less kind after a week or so?
Clearly, kindness could grow much better in the latter situation. We tend to become like the people we hang out with. So, if we hang out with mean and violent people, we will become increasingly mean. If we hang out with kind, generous people, we will become kinder. Living in the light means developing relationships with people who will help us become more like Jesus. We grow in godliness when we choose our friends based upon whether they have the kind of qualities God approves.
Those friends will be more likely to do what Jesus would and that will help us do the same. Good friends definitely help us walk in the light as Jesus is in the light.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you are the very best friend I could possibly ever want. You always love me and accept me. You even forgive me when I mess up. Please help me choose friends who will help me grow godly fruit in my life. Also, please me be the kind of friend who encourages others to become more like you every day. Amen.
Written by Martha E. Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
he is who he said he is
Bible Reading: John 10:22-33
The Father and I are one. John 10:30
"JESUS DIDN'T really claim to be God," Alexis argued across the table. "So what if people around him said he was God? His followers just made up what they wanted to believe about him. Jesus himself never said anything about being God."
Despite the arguments of people like Alexis, it isn't hard to spot places in the New Testament where Jesus claimed his own deity. One businessman who scrutinized the Scriptures to see whether or not Christ claimed to be God put it this way: "For anyone to read the New Testament and not conclude that Jesus claimed to be divine, he would have to be as blind as a man standing outdoors on a clear day saying he can't see the sun."
One example: In the Gospel of John you see a conflict between Jesus and some Jews-a confrontation triggered by Jesus' curing a lame man on the Sabbath and then telling him to go for a celebration hike with his bedroll. "So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, 'My Father never stops working, so why should I?' So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God" (John 5:16-18).
You would think that a healing would cause everyone to throw a party and live happily ever after. So why did the leaders blow up about Jesus' words? Because he said "my Father," not "our Father," and then added, "never stops working, so why should I?" Jesus' use of these two phrases made himself equal with God—on par with God's activity. The Jews never referred to God as "my Father," only as "our Father." That sounds subtle to us, but it was astounding to the Jews. By claiming that God was his Father, Jesus identified himself as one with God. And by saying that he was working just as the Father was working, Jesus boldly implied that he was God's Son.
Jesus didn't just claim equality with God as his Father. He also asserted he was one with the Father. Another example: Once when Jesus was approached by some Jewish leaders asking about his being the Christ, he ended his answer to them by saying, "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). The leaders started rock collecting right then and there. They were ready to stone him-all because, as they said, "You, a mere man, have made yourself God" (verse 33). What Jesus stated clearly as truth, the Jewish leaders took as blasphemy.
Jesus didn't hide the fact that he was God. His enemies just didn't believe him. But his claim was clear. He was no ordinary man. He was God's Son.
REFLECT: What did Jesus claim about himself? Are you clear on that?
PRAY: Jesus, you are more than a human being. You are the Son of God.Date: 8/12/2009
from Josh.org
The Father and I are one. John 10:30
"JESUS DIDN'T really claim to be God," Alexis argued across the table. "So what if people around him said he was God? His followers just made up what they wanted to believe about him. Jesus himself never said anything about being God."
Despite the arguments of people like Alexis, it isn't hard to spot places in the New Testament where Jesus claimed his own deity. One businessman who scrutinized the Scriptures to see whether or not Christ claimed to be God put it this way: "For anyone to read the New Testament and not conclude that Jesus claimed to be divine, he would have to be as blind as a man standing outdoors on a clear day saying he can't see the sun."
One example: In the Gospel of John you see a conflict between Jesus and some Jews-a confrontation triggered by Jesus' curing a lame man on the Sabbath and then telling him to go for a celebration hike with his bedroll. "So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, 'My Father never stops working, so why should I?' So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God" (John 5:16-18).
You would think that a healing would cause everyone to throw a party and live happily ever after. So why did the leaders blow up about Jesus' words? Because he said "my Father," not "our Father," and then added, "never stops working, so why should I?" Jesus' use of these two phrases made himself equal with God—on par with God's activity. The Jews never referred to God as "my Father," only as "our Father." That sounds subtle to us, but it was astounding to the Jews. By claiming that God was his Father, Jesus identified himself as one with God. And by saying that he was working just as the Father was working, Jesus boldly implied that he was God's Son.
Jesus didn't just claim equality with God as his Father. He also asserted he was one with the Father. Another example: Once when Jesus was approached by some Jewish leaders asking about his being the Christ, he ended his answer to them by saying, "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). The leaders started rock collecting right then and there. They were ready to stone him-all because, as they said, "You, a mere man, have made yourself God" (verse 33). What Jesus stated clearly as truth, the Jewish leaders took as blasphemy.
Jesus didn't hide the fact that he was God. His enemies just didn't believe him. But his claim was clear. He was no ordinary man. He was God's Son.
REFLECT: What did Jesus claim about himself? Are you clear on that?
PRAY: Jesus, you are more than a human being. You are the Son of God.Date: 8/12/2009
from Josh.org
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Those Who Knew Him Best
Bible Reading: John 11:25-27
I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. John 11:27
YOU CAN GET a huge clue about who Jesus is by checking what his followers thought of him. Even though most of the people close to him were devout Jews-worshipers of the one true God—they recognized Jesus as God in human form.
The apostle Paul had been trained as a rabbi, making it absolutely unlikely he would worship a guy from Nazareth and call him Lord and God. But Paul acknowledged Jesus-the Lamb of God-as God when he said, "Be sure that you feed and shepherd God's flock-his church, purchased with his blood-over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders" (Acts 20:28).
When Christ said to Peter, "Who do you say I am?" Peter said this: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus answered Peter's confession not by correcting his conclusion but by acknowledging its truth-and its source: "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you" (verse 17).
Jesus' close friend Martha said to him, "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God" (John 11:27). Then there was Nathanael, who thought nothing good could come out of Nazareth. He acknowledged that Jesus was "the Son of God-the King of Israel" (John 1:49).
While Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59), acknowledging Jesus as God. The writer of Hebrews called Christ God when he wrote, "But to his Son he says, 'Your throne, 0 God, endures forever and ever'" (Hebrews 1:8). John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus by saying that "the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, 'You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you'" (Luke 3:22).
Then of course there's the confession of Thomas, a.k.a. "Doubting Thomas." After seeing the risen Christ and touching his wounds, he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus accepted Thomas's acknowledgment of him as God. He rebuked Thomas for his unbelief-but not for his worship.
Those who knew Jesus best realized he was more than just a man. They accepted him as Messiah, God come to earth as a man just as the Old Testament Scriptures foretold. Were they sure? Well, they worshiped him. They obeyed him. And like Stephen, many of them died for the One who had died for them.
REFLECT: There's an old saying that Christ isn't Lord at all unless he's Lord of all. Is he Lord in your life today?
PRAY: Talk to Jesus about letting him take control as Lord of your life.
I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. John 11:27
YOU CAN GET a huge clue about who Jesus is by checking what his followers thought of him. Even though most of the people close to him were devout Jews-worshipers of the one true God—they recognized Jesus as God in human form.
The apostle Paul had been trained as a rabbi, making it absolutely unlikely he would worship a guy from Nazareth and call him Lord and God. But Paul acknowledged Jesus-the Lamb of God-as God when he said, "Be sure that you feed and shepherd God's flock-his church, purchased with his blood-over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders" (Acts 20:28).
When Christ said to Peter, "Who do you say I am?" Peter said this: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus answered Peter's confession not by correcting his conclusion but by acknowledging its truth-and its source: "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you" (verse 17).
Jesus' close friend Martha said to him, "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God" (John 11:27). Then there was Nathanael, who thought nothing good could come out of Nazareth. He acknowledged that Jesus was "the Son of God-the King of Israel" (John 1:49).
While Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59), acknowledging Jesus as God. The writer of Hebrews called Christ God when he wrote, "But to his Son he says, 'Your throne, 0 God, endures forever and ever'" (Hebrews 1:8). John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus by saying that "the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, 'You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you'" (Luke 3:22).
Then of course there's the confession of Thomas, a.k.a. "Doubting Thomas." After seeing the risen Christ and touching his wounds, he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus accepted Thomas's acknowledgment of him as God. He rebuked Thomas for his unbelief-but not for his worship.
Those who knew Jesus best realized he was more than just a man. They accepted him as Messiah, God come to earth as a man just as the Old Testament Scriptures foretold. Were they sure? Well, they worshiped him. They obeyed him. And like Stephen, many of them died for the One who had died for them.
REFLECT: There's an old saying that Christ isn't Lord at all unless he's Lord of all. Is he Lord in your life today?
PRAY: Talk to Jesus about letting him take control as Lord of your life.
Monday, August 10, 2009
One Good Reason
One Good Reason
Lisa Whittle, She Seeks Coordinator
“Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live,
not the way you talk, that counts.” James 3:13 (MSG)
Devotion:
It all started with a girl named Debbie.
Debbie was about 18 when she attended my family’s local Baptist church. I was 8 and entering an awkward stage. She was brunette and beautiful. All the boys wanted to date her, and all the girls wanted to be her. I just wanted her hair.
Debbie successfully got her hair to form glorious, sweeping cowlicks in the front, with perfection matched only by 70’s singers on album covers. I admired it from afar, coveting its style. I bugged my mom so bad about wanting it, she finally decided to pick up the phone and ask Debbie how she did it. Seems a little Aqua Net and the blast of a hairdryer did the trick. At least for Debbie.
You may be interested to know that I never did achieve the style of my hair-icon Debbie. Apparently Debbie did not have fine hair such as mine. But boy did she give me a good reason to spray, tease and blow-dry my little heart out trying. She wore her hair so beautifully that I believed I would look just as beautiful if I had her style.
This silly childhood example reminds me of the very real influence we have on each other. Even as adults we see another woman’s fashion style and we try to copy it. We watch another woman’s success, and we try to match it. We want what others have…try to be what others are…and believe that we will be more and live better if we can only become like someone else.
The truth is, even though I want to be a trendsetter, an individualist, a unique woman with a mind of my own, I have to admit I am just as impressionable as the next person. Let’s face it, no matter our age, we influence and are influenced by each other.
As ironic as this may sound, the thought of how impressionable we are gives me great hope as to how we can help other women find Jesus. I Corinthians 11:1 talks about the type of influence we can have on one another – a way of living that comes from within and attracts those around us to want what we have. “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ,” speaks directly to this type of Godly influence.
It’s about wearing Christ with the authentic beauty of a heart that’s been changed, giving other women a reason to want what we have. To look like we look. To live like we live. To be what we are. Make no mistake, our hurting girlfriends are looking for one good reason to change their lives. The reality is that our lives may be the only reason they find to seek out something different than what they have known. It’s a beautiful, important responsibility.
May we always remember that our mission in life is not one of perfect hair or worldly achievement, but of living and breathing the message of Jesus Christ by our words, our actions, and most importantly, our life. May we embrace the privilege of imitating Christ, so that our girlfriends and others we have influence over will see something in us that they want desperately to have. May we wear Him well so His beauty is fully and completely represented. For the influence we have through Him will last much longer than a fashion fad…a social trend…or even, a coveted hairstyle like Debbie’s.
Let’s have what they want, and show them how to get it.
Jesus, You are the reason to love, to live and to breathe. You alone make the journey possible. May we remember that we represent You always, and help us understand how to do that in such a way that it will lead others to a saving relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Lisa Whittle, She Seeks Coordinator
“Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live,
not the way you talk, that counts.” James 3:13 (MSG)
Devotion:
It all started with a girl named Debbie.
Debbie was about 18 when she attended my family’s local Baptist church. I was 8 and entering an awkward stage. She was brunette and beautiful. All the boys wanted to date her, and all the girls wanted to be her. I just wanted her hair.
Debbie successfully got her hair to form glorious, sweeping cowlicks in the front, with perfection matched only by 70’s singers on album covers. I admired it from afar, coveting its style. I bugged my mom so bad about wanting it, she finally decided to pick up the phone and ask Debbie how she did it. Seems a little Aqua Net and the blast of a hairdryer did the trick. At least for Debbie.
You may be interested to know that I never did achieve the style of my hair-icon Debbie. Apparently Debbie did not have fine hair such as mine. But boy did she give me a good reason to spray, tease and blow-dry my little heart out trying. She wore her hair so beautifully that I believed I would look just as beautiful if I had her style.
This silly childhood example reminds me of the very real influence we have on each other. Even as adults we see another woman’s fashion style and we try to copy it. We watch another woman’s success, and we try to match it. We want what others have…try to be what others are…and believe that we will be more and live better if we can only become like someone else.
The truth is, even though I want to be a trendsetter, an individualist, a unique woman with a mind of my own, I have to admit I am just as impressionable as the next person. Let’s face it, no matter our age, we influence and are influenced by each other.
As ironic as this may sound, the thought of how impressionable we are gives me great hope as to how we can help other women find Jesus. I Corinthians 11:1 talks about the type of influence we can have on one another – a way of living that comes from within and attracts those around us to want what we have. “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ,” speaks directly to this type of Godly influence.
It’s about wearing Christ with the authentic beauty of a heart that’s been changed, giving other women a reason to want what we have. To look like we look. To live like we live. To be what we are. Make no mistake, our hurting girlfriends are looking for one good reason to change their lives. The reality is that our lives may be the only reason they find to seek out something different than what they have known. It’s a beautiful, important responsibility.
May we always remember that our mission in life is not one of perfect hair or worldly achievement, but of living and breathing the message of Jesus Christ by our words, our actions, and most importantly, our life. May we embrace the privilege of imitating Christ, so that our girlfriends and others we have influence over will see something in us that they want desperately to have. May we wear Him well so His beauty is fully and completely represented. For the influence we have through Him will last much longer than a fashion fad…a social trend…or even, a coveted hairstyle like Debbie’s.
Let’s have what they want, and show them how to get it.
Jesus, You are the reason to love, to live and to breathe. You alone make the journey possible. May we remember that we represent You always, and help us understand how to do that in such a way that it will lead others to a saving relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Make yourself at Home
Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Colossians 3:16
BACK IN 1909, nineteen-year-old Robert F. Stroud, a laborer with no formal education, shot and killed a man in Juneau, Alaska. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison. Two years later he assaulted a fellow inmate with a knife, adding another six months to his term. Five years later he killed a prison guard in the dining room with an ice pick. Altogether, Robert Stroud spent more than fifty years of his life in prison for his crimes, forty-three of them in solitary confinement or isolation. He died at age seventy-three.
Yet people don't remember Robert Stroud as a murderer. Early in his prison career, Stroud became interested in birds, supposedly when a stray canary flitted into his prison cell. With the prison's permission, he began raising birds in his tiny living space. When birds became sick, he requested books on bird diseases and doctored them back to health. As the years passed, he continued to study birds and bird diseases and eventually became one of the world's biggest authorities on the subject-all while serving a life sentence for murder.
Robert Stroud's life story was dramatized in a 1962 film starring actor Burt Lancaster. Since part of Stroud's sentence was served in the infamous Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay, the film was titled Birdman of Alcatraz.
How did the murderer from Alaska become the Birdman of Alcatraz? It all began when he turned his prison cell into a home for little birds. As he cared about these creatures and devoted himself to curing them, he changed. And even though he spent most of his life in prison paying for his crimes, he is most famous as a birdman, not a murderer.
Get this: Whatever you make a home for in your life will influence you big-time. If you constantly entertain yourself with music, videos, and Web sites that glorify the nastier sides of your culture, you are giving that stuff a home in your life. And like it or not, whatever you welcome into your life as a roommate eventually starts bossing you around. An old proverb states, "You can't keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair." You have control over the things you allow to live inside you.
According to Colossians 3:16, the Word of God is a good choice to let nest in you. When you let God's Word into your life as a permanent resident, it changes you. God's Word will make you more like him.
REFLECT: What sorts of things are you letting nest in your heart?
PRAY: Talk to God today about your desire to let his words live in you and change your life.
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Colossians 3:16
BACK IN 1909, nineteen-year-old Robert F. Stroud, a laborer with no formal education, shot and killed a man in Juneau, Alaska. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison. Two years later he assaulted a fellow inmate with a knife, adding another six months to his term. Five years later he killed a prison guard in the dining room with an ice pick. Altogether, Robert Stroud spent more than fifty years of his life in prison for his crimes, forty-three of them in solitary confinement or isolation. He died at age seventy-three.
Yet people don't remember Robert Stroud as a murderer. Early in his prison career, Stroud became interested in birds, supposedly when a stray canary flitted into his prison cell. With the prison's permission, he began raising birds in his tiny living space. When birds became sick, he requested books on bird diseases and doctored them back to health. As the years passed, he continued to study birds and bird diseases and eventually became one of the world's biggest authorities on the subject-all while serving a life sentence for murder.
Robert Stroud's life story was dramatized in a 1962 film starring actor Burt Lancaster. Since part of Stroud's sentence was served in the infamous Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay, the film was titled Birdman of Alcatraz.
How did the murderer from Alaska become the Birdman of Alcatraz? It all began when he turned his prison cell into a home for little birds. As he cared about these creatures and devoted himself to curing them, he changed. And even though he spent most of his life in prison paying for his crimes, he is most famous as a birdman, not a murderer.
Get this: Whatever you make a home for in your life will influence you big-time. If you constantly entertain yourself with music, videos, and Web sites that glorify the nastier sides of your culture, you are giving that stuff a home in your life. And like it or not, whatever you welcome into your life as a roommate eventually starts bossing you around. An old proverb states, "You can't keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair." You have control over the things you allow to live inside you.
According to Colossians 3:16, the Word of God is a good choice to let nest in you. When you let God's Word into your life as a permanent resident, it changes you. God's Word will make you more like him.
REFLECT: What sorts of things are you letting nest in your heart?
PRAY: Talk to God today about your desire to let his words live in you and change your life.
Friday, August 7, 2009
No Pain No Gain
Bible Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13
The word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
"HOW BAD is it, Doc?" the patient asks. "Tell me the truth."
"I'm afraid it's bad-very bad," the doctor replies. "If I don't perform major surgery and remove the tumor, you will die in a matter of weeks."
"I don't want surgery, Doc. It will hurt."
The doctor smiles. "You won't feel a thing during the surgery."
"But there will be pain after the surgery, maybe for weeks, right?"
"We have medications to reduce the pain."
"But the incision will still hurt a little and the shots will hurt."
"Well, yes, there is always some pain involved in a major—"
The patient interrupts. "No surgery then. I don't like owies."
"Owies? You're whining like a three-year-old! Get a hold of yourself, man! Nobody likes pain, but I'm afraid it's unavoidable."
The patient shakes his head. "It is avoidable, because I won't have surgery."
"I don't think you understand," the surgeon says with a look of shock. "You have a choice: Four to five weeks of minor pain and discomfort followed by many years of pain-free life, or four to five weeks of pain-free life followed by major pain, as in death. Are you telling me that you would cut short your own life to avoid a little pain?"
"I'm saying I hate pain, and surgery is painful, so I'm not having surgery."
If you're normal, you make it a rule in your life to avoid pain whenever possible. But no sane person shies away from the surgeon's life-saving knife because he's scared it will cause an owie. You know that sometimes pain produces something good, whether it's the pain of a must-do medical procedure, the effort of a sweaty fitness workout, or the agony of attending your little brother's tuba recital when you would rather be hanging with your friends.
God's Word can hurt too. The writer of Hebrews pictures God's Word as a surgeon's scalpel. God, the master surgeon, knows exactly where cancers of wrong thoughts and desires lurk. And he knows that those diseases will destroy you if they aren't sliced out. His Word is the instrument he uses to cut you open, bring those issues to light, and show you how to get rid of them.
So whenever you read the Bible and feel the pain of God's scalpel digging in to convict or correct you, don't pull away. The Great Physician only allows the hurt because he loves you and wants to help you to spiritual health.
REFLECT: How is God using his Word like a scalpel in your life? Are you pulling away or letting him do his healing work?
PRAY: Thank your Lord today for sending his Word to heal you.
The word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
"HOW BAD is it, Doc?" the patient asks. "Tell me the truth."
"I'm afraid it's bad-very bad," the doctor replies. "If I don't perform major surgery and remove the tumor, you will die in a matter of weeks."
"I don't want surgery, Doc. It will hurt."
The doctor smiles. "You won't feel a thing during the surgery."
"But there will be pain after the surgery, maybe for weeks, right?"
"We have medications to reduce the pain."
"But the incision will still hurt a little and the shots will hurt."
"Well, yes, there is always some pain involved in a major—"
The patient interrupts. "No surgery then. I don't like owies."
"Owies? You're whining like a three-year-old! Get a hold of yourself, man! Nobody likes pain, but I'm afraid it's unavoidable."
The patient shakes his head. "It is avoidable, because I won't have surgery."
"I don't think you understand," the surgeon says with a look of shock. "You have a choice: Four to five weeks of minor pain and discomfort followed by many years of pain-free life, or four to five weeks of pain-free life followed by major pain, as in death. Are you telling me that you would cut short your own life to avoid a little pain?"
"I'm saying I hate pain, and surgery is painful, so I'm not having surgery."
If you're normal, you make it a rule in your life to avoid pain whenever possible. But no sane person shies away from the surgeon's life-saving knife because he's scared it will cause an owie. You know that sometimes pain produces something good, whether it's the pain of a must-do medical procedure, the effort of a sweaty fitness workout, or the agony of attending your little brother's tuba recital when you would rather be hanging with your friends.
God's Word can hurt too. The writer of Hebrews pictures God's Word as a surgeon's scalpel. God, the master surgeon, knows exactly where cancers of wrong thoughts and desires lurk. And he knows that those diseases will destroy you if they aren't sliced out. His Word is the instrument he uses to cut you open, bring those issues to light, and show you how to get rid of them.
So whenever you read the Bible and feel the pain of God's scalpel digging in to convict or correct you, don't pull away. The Great Physician only allows the hurt because he loves you and wants to help you to spiritual health.
REFLECT: How is God using his Word like a scalpel in your life? Are you pulling away or letting him do his healing work?
PRAY: Thank your Lord today for sending his Word to heal you.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
I love your book! Can I have your autograph?
Bible Reading: John 1:1-5, 14
The Word became human and lived here on earth among us. John 1:14
SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD soccer fanatic Lucy Chavez had dominated her age group every year in the park league. Now she was dreaming that some day she would play soccer in the Olympics. But the competition kept getting tougher, and Lucy knew she had to play smarter just to stay ahead.
Then she discovered that her idol, Olympic soccer star Erin Dupree, had just published a book about soccer. In a snap Lucy ordered the book online for overnight delivery. It was the most comprehensive approach to soccer Lucy had ever seen. It was so complicated that Lucy sometimes gave up in frustration when she tried to read it. The information was there, but she wasn't getting it.
One day during soccer practice, her coach called out to her from the sideline. "Lucy," she hollered, "you need to plant your foot more ahead of the ball." When Lucy turned to acknowledge her coach, she saw another woman standing beside her-Erin Dupree. "Erin and I grew up together," Coach explained. "She's in town on a book-signing tour this week and wanted to check out the team. Erin suggested the correction I just gave you."
"Your coach has told me a lot about you," the former Olympian said, "and I like what I see. I would love to talk with you about your game. Can we get together after practice a few days this week?"
Can you imagine Lucy saying something like, "Thanks for the offer, but I have to hurry home from practice every day to study your book"? Not likely.
Unless Lucy has taken one too many headers, that girl will jump at the chance to get to know the author. What better way to understand a book than to have the author right there to explain it?
Understanding the Bible and having its truth really come alive to you happens the same way. You need a personal relationship with the author, the one John calls "the Word." That's right-the Bible you read and Jesus Christ its author are both called the Word of God. In Revelation, John describes Christ this way: "His name is the Word of God" (19:13, NIV).
Whenever you open your Bible, you are getting involved with God's written Word and his living Word. You are sitting down with the one who embodies the words you are reading, one who is eager to help you understand and put into action what he wrote.
REFLECT: Are you taking advantage of God's offer to teach you from his Word?
PRAY: Spend some time thanking God for getting so personally involved in sharing his Word with you.
From Josh.org
The Word became human and lived here on earth among us. John 1:14
SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD soccer fanatic Lucy Chavez had dominated her age group every year in the park league. Now she was dreaming that some day she would play soccer in the Olympics. But the competition kept getting tougher, and Lucy knew she had to play smarter just to stay ahead.
Then she discovered that her idol, Olympic soccer star Erin Dupree, had just published a book about soccer. In a snap Lucy ordered the book online for overnight delivery. It was the most comprehensive approach to soccer Lucy had ever seen. It was so complicated that Lucy sometimes gave up in frustration when she tried to read it. The information was there, but she wasn't getting it.
One day during soccer practice, her coach called out to her from the sideline. "Lucy," she hollered, "you need to plant your foot more ahead of the ball." When Lucy turned to acknowledge her coach, she saw another woman standing beside her-Erin Dupree. "Erin and I grew up together," Coach explained. "She's in town on a book-signing tour this week and wanted to check out the team. Erin suggested the correction I just gave you."
"Your coach has told me a lot about you," the former Olympian said, "and I like what I see. I would love to talk with you about your game. Can we get together after practice a few days this week?"
Can you imagine Lucy saying something like, "Thanks for the offer, but I have to hurry home from practice every day to study your book"? Not likely.
Unless Lucy has taken one too many headers, that girl will jump at the chance to get to know the author. What better way to understand a book than to have the author right there to explain it?
Understanding the Bible and having its truth really come alive to you happens the same way. You need a personal relationship with the author, the one John calls "the Word." That's right-the Bible you read and Jesus Christ its author are both called the Word of God. In Revelation, John describes Christ this way: "His name is the Word of God" (19:13, NIV).
Whenever you open your Bible, you are getting involved with God's written Word and his living Word. You are sitting down with the one who embodies the words you are reading, one who is eager to help you understand and put into action what he wrote.
REFLECT: Are you taking advantage of God's offer to teach you from his Word?
PRAY: Spend some time thanking God for getting so personally involved in sharing his Word with you.
From Josh.org
amazing love
1 John 4:10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God is Love
Another really important attribute of God is His love. No human being can love us as much as God does. His love for us reaches to the farthest corner of the universe. We can't begin to imagine how great it is. We can understand it in only one way. We have to think about how much love it took for God to have Jesus die for our sins on the cross.
God’s love for us goes way beyond the natural love a good father has for his children. The fact is, God loves us even when we are rebelling against every one of his commands. Every person who has been born since Adam sinned has inherited a sin nature that makes sin more attractive to him or her than goodness. You can observe this fact in action next time you hang out with your friends. Are you ever called names because you won’t do something good or right? Not likely. But, friends and classmates will tease you and call you names for not joining them in an activity that is wrong or hurtful. It’s way harder to do the right thing than it is to follow the crowd into sin.
Because of our natural attraction to sin, we are not God’s friends, but his enemies. However, he loved us so much that he sacrificed, not his own life, but the life of his son. That is way harder. Paul puts it this way in Romans 5:7-8. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins. Every once in a while I hear a story about a father who jumps into Lake Powell to save his child who has fallen into the water. Sometimes the father is successful. Other times he's not. Sometimes, someone else in the boat rescues the child, but the father dies. I am always amazed at how much a father will sacrifice for his child.
If God loves us so much that he gave his only son to save us, he will absolutely care for us in every possible way. He will make sure we have what we need to grow and mature, both physically and spiritually. He will keep us safe. He will never let anything come into our lives that would hurt us in our relationship with him.
The fact of God’s love makes it possible for us to have peace even when things aren’t going like we want them to. God is all-powerful and he loves us perfectly and without any expectations. He never allows us to suffer unless it fulfills a part of His great plan for our lives. He uses both the good and bad things of our lives to make us mature and spiritually beautiful. What a treasure we have in the promise God gave us in John 3:16! “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Today’s Prayer:
Loving Father God, I surely am glad that I don’t have to earn your love by being good. I’d never make it. Thank you for loving me just the way I am. Thank you, too, for using everything in my life to make me more like Jesus. Most of all, thank you for giving Jesus to die for me so I could know you and live with you forever.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
God is Love
Another really important attribute of God is His love. No human being can love us as much as God does. His love for us reaches to the farthest corner of the universe. We can't begin to imagine how great it is. We can understand it in only one way. We have to think about how much love it took for God to have Jesus die for our sins on the cross.
God’s love for us goes way beyond the natural love a good father has for his children. The fact is, God loves us even when we are rebelling against every one of his commands. Every person who has been born since Adam sinned has inherited a sin nature that makes sin more attractive to him or her than goodness. You can observe this fact in action next time you hang out with your friends. Are you ever called names because you won’t do something good or right? Not likely. But, friends and classmates will tease you and call you names for not joining them in an activity that is wrong or hurtful. It’s way harder to do the right thing than it is to follow the crowd into sin.
Because of our natural attraction to sin, we are not God’s friends, but his enemies. However, he loved us so much that he sacrificed, not his own life, but the life of his son. That is way harder. Paul puts it this way in Romans 5:7-8. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins. Every once in a while I hear a story about a father who jumps into Lake Powell to save his child who has fallen into the water. Sometimes the father is successful. Other times he's not. Sometimes, someone else in the boat rescues the child, but the father dies. I am always amazed at how much a father will sacrifice for his child.
If God loves us so much that he gave his only son to save us, he will absolutely care for us in every possible way. He will make sure we have what we need to grow and mature, both physically and spiritually. He will keep us safe. He will never let anything come into our lives that would hurt us in our relationship with him.
The fact of God’s love makes it possible for us to have peace even when things aren’t going like we want them to. God is all-powerful and he loves us perfectly and without any expectations. He never allows us to suffer unless it fulfills a part of His great plan for our lives. He uses both the good and bad things of our lives to make us mature and spiritually beautiful. What a treasure we have in the promise God gave us in John 3:16! “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Today’s Prayer:
Loving Father God, I surely am glad that I don’t have to earn your love by being good. I’d never make it. Thank you for loving me just the way I am. Thank you, too, for using everything in my life to make me more like Jesus. Most of all, thank you for giving Jesus to die for me so I could know you and live with you forever.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff Arizona
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wimpy or Gentle
Ephesians 4:2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Our Gentle Savior
A few years ago my husband Mike and I took our girls on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Florida. Of the five of us only two enjoy park rides, my husband Mike and middle daughter Stephanie. So, after two days of paying big bucks to get into the theme parks and having to practically drag his family unto the rides in order to get our money’s worth, Mike was growing weary.
During Wednesday morning breakfast, he gave us a pep talk. He assured us that there’s nothing to be afraid of. He tried to convince us that the rides were going to be fun. He even stressed that we weren’t coming back to Florida to try this at another time. We all needed to take the chance to fully experience it now. His motivational speech concluded with a call for action, “Is everyone ready to be BRAVE today? Are you ready to be the BRAVE family?”
It may have been a passionate conclusion to his speech, but it remained ineffective on Melanie, our 7 year old, “No!” she said, “I want to be part of the WIMPY family!”
Being a wimp goes far beyond the 3/5 of the Bulthuis family with a fear of fast rides. Many people associate being a wimp with being gentle. They wrongly equate gentleness with being afraid or weak.
We need to look no further than Jesus’ journey to the cross to realize that gentleness is not the easy road taken by wimps, but an attribute of God shown perfectly in Jesus. Notice Jesus’ strength and gentleness in some of the events of his last week he died on the cross.
1. He chose the humble mount of the common man to enter into Jerusalem. See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Matthew 21:5)
2. Jesus entered Jerusalem gently and humbly as the crowds sang praises to him. Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9)
3. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus, asking him to stop the people from singing praises to him, did he act like a wimp? Did he run away in fear of his enemy? How would a wimp act in this situation? Not at all. His reply to the Pharisees was gentle, yet bold and uncompromising. He was not afraid to stand up for the truth! “I tell you,” he replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
4. He continued to be gentle as he drove out sellers at the temple, ate the Last Supper with his betrayer and prayed at Gethsemane.
5. He patiently watched as he was disowned by His friend Peter, judged by Pilate and mocked by soldiers.
6. Even during His crucifixion He begged God to forgive those who were killing him. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)
Alleluia! What a Savior! What a gentle Savior!
Our words and actions should always be modeled after our Gentle Savior. The Bible tells us that we too should . . .be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
Consider how strength and gentleness can be more and more evident in your life as you follow in the footsteps of the One whose gentleness never wavered, even as he bore our sins on the cross.
Today’s Prayer:
Jesus, thank You that You are my gentle, loving Savior. Help me to follow Your example by being humble and gentle. Please make me; patient so that I bear with others in love. May Your gentleness be more and more evident in my words and actions. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
Our Gentle Savior
A few years ago my husband Mike and I took our girls on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Florida. Of the five of us only two enjoy park rides, my husband Mike and middle daughter Stephanie. So, after two days of paying big bucks to get into the theme parks and having to practically drag his family unto the rides in order to get our money’s worth, Mike was growing weary.
During Wednesday morning breakfast, he gave us a pep talk. He assured us that there’s nothing to be afraid of. He tried to convince us that the rides were going to be fun. He even stressed that we weren’t coming back to Florida to try this at another time. We all needed to take the chance to fully experience it now. His motivational speech concluded with a call for action, “Is everyone ready to be BRAVE today? Are you ready to be the BRAVE family?”
It may have been a passionate conclusion to his speech, but it remained ineffective on Melanie, our 7 year old, “No!” she said, “I want to be part of the WIMPY family!”
Being a wimp goes far beyond the 3/5 of the Bulthuis family with a fear of fast rides. Many people associate being a wimp with being gentle. They wrongly equate gentleness with being afraid or weak.
We need to look no further than Jesus’ journey to the cross to realize that gentleness is not the easy road taken by wimps, but an attribute of God shown perfectly in Jesus. Notice Jesus’ strength and gentleness in some of the events of his last week he died on the cross.
1. He chose the humble mount of the common man to enter into Jerusalem. See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Matthew 21:5)
2. Jesus entered Jerusalem gently and humbly as the crowds sang praises to him. Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9)
3. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus, asking him to stop the people from singing praises to him, did he act like a wimp? Did he run away in fear of his enemy? How would a wimp act in this situation? Not at all. His reply to the Pharisees was gentle, yet bold and uncompromising. He was not afraid to stand up for the truth! “I tell you,” he replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
4. He continued to be gentle as he drove out sellers at the temple, ate the Last Supper with his betrayer and prayed at Gethsemane.
5. He patiently watched as he was disowned by His friend Peter, judged by Pilate and mocked by soldiers.
6. Even during His crucifixion He begged God to forgive those who were killing him. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)
Alleluia! What a Savior! What a gentle Savior!
Our words and actions should always be modeled after our Gentle Savior. The Bible tells us that we too should . . .be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
Consider how strength and gentleness can be more and more evident in your life as you follow in the footsteps of the One whose gentleness never wavered, even as he bore our sins on the cross.
Today’s Prayer:
Jesus, thank You that You are my gentle, loving Savior. Help me to follow Your example by being humble and gentle. Please make me; patient so that I bear with others in love. May Your gentleness be more and more evident in my words and actions. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis, Renville, Minnesota
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