.....seek

As Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, He said, "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again" John 3:3. He then explained being "born again" as a spiritual birth which occurs when we believe; "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. EVERYONE who will spend eternity in the Presence of God must be born of the Spirit - it is impossible to be a Child of God without being "born again."

This spiritual birth is part of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus and was revealed over 500 years before Christ through the prophet Ezekiel; "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees" Ezekiel 36:26-27. 

Paul referred to the spiritual birth as becoming "a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17, but it is most often referred to simply as being saved; "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5.

The process of spiritual birth is relatively easy to explain: God reaches down and transforms our heart by the power of His Spirit. However, the exact events which lead to the spiritual birth remain somewhat a mystery. On one hand, God's Word is very simple and clear; "Whoever believes will be saved." But understanding what it means to really believe can be difficult. We can talk about submission, obedience, sacrifice, love, or the basic faith of a child, but these will always fall short of an adequate definition of belief.

Only God can save - only He is fit to judge, and He alone can look into the innermost part of our heart and determine true belief. All we can do is seek Him with all our heart...and trust He will be found.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Our Salvation was initiated by God when Jesus came to earth and died as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. He chose us for an intimate and eternal relationship when His Holy Spirit began to call us near. And, if we will but answer the call and begin to seek His face, He will be found. In an instant, which He alone determines according to His perfect timing, He will transform our heart and adopt us as His Child.

We may not be able to explain or even fully understand true belief, but if there is any call of God on our heart, we CAN ask, seek, and knock. God never hides or runs away; "He is not far from each one of us" Acts 17:27. He is waiting for us to reach out and call on His Name. Today, let's trust He will be found as we give Him all our heart and continue to seek. 

- adapted from steve troxel

.....covenant

We are encouraged to live a life of sincere love and faithful service while we worship a God we truly know and adore. But this type of consistent life, where our daily activities match what we profess to believe, does not come easily or initially feel natural. Living such a life requires a firm commitment and a determined perseverance.

King Asa was the great-grandson of Solomon and led the southern kingdom of Judah about 900 years before Christ. He began his reign with ten years of peace because he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God" 2 Chronicles 14:2. Asa took definite action to remove the idols and places of false worship from the country, and commanded his people to "seek the Lord and to obey His commands" 2 Chronicles 14:4.

When Judah was invaded by a foreign army, Asa realized he was greatly outnumbered with little hope of victory. As he went into battle, his faith was strengthened while calling on God: "Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You" 2 Chronicles 14:11. After God granted them victory on the battlefield, the people gathered in Jerusalem to solidify their commitment by making a covenant to follow God.

2 Chronicles 15:12,15

"They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them."

Every child of God has a deep hunger for a more committed life. Once we have answered God's call and begun our journey with Him, we will not truly be at peace until His praise fills every area of our life. But this requires we establish priorities which allow us to actually spend time getting to know Him, His ways and His love.

Our Heavenly Father longs for us to abide in His presence; He rejoices when He is found by those who seek Him in a committed life of worship. He even promises to help those who begin down a committed path; "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Our time on this earth is very, very short. Let's not waste another day by aimlessly wandering through life, allowing the concerns of this world to choke off our relationship with God. Let's live with purpose and eagerly commit to seek Him with all our heart and soul - to seek Him "wholeheartedly." Let's make the decision today to enter into an eternal covenant of worship.

.....owns

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours… Psalm 89:11

I went outside in the early morning to get the newspaper that had been thrown across the driveway. It was a perfect spring day. The dew was sparkling on the lawn that my husband had freshly mowed the afternoon before. The crepe myrtle bushes were showing off their deep purple blooms.

Around the hummingbird feeder was a couple of those tiny birds with the long beaks that are so much fun to watch. A streak of brilliant blue flew past my face. I turned around to see Papa bluebird flying into the bluebird house. They had already raised one family this spring, and now were busy building another nest. 

When I looked up to the heavens there was not a cloud in the sky. "Thank you, Jesus," I found myself praying as I picked up the paper and headed back in the house.

Driving back from the grocery store later in the day, I noticed the sky was dotted with clouds. I was disappointed because it had been so gloriously bright early in the morning. Getting out of my car I continued to gaze at those clouds "messing" up my beautiful view.

I thought this is the way our day begins. So clear. So clean. And then before long it gets "messed" up with the frustrations of a job, raising a family and maybe just living. 

I know that sometimes clouds turn into thunder and lightning and become violent storms. Also, I realize the problems of the day often become turbulent and we feel like our lives have been turned upside down in a few hours time.

But, God reminded me that just as He says in Psalm 89, He owns it all. He still controls the storms of the air. In the same way, He, also, controls the storms of our lives.  And if we turn to Him for answers He moves those clouds of darkness right out of our lives. We can begin afresh again!

- melva cooper

.....disabled

 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. " Romans 12:10

"Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered... "1 Corinthians 13:5

Pulling into the parking lot, I noticed an elderly woman walking with a cane getting out of her car.  She had chosen not to park in the handicap spot, but instead left that for someone in greater need.  I slowed down as I approached because her feeble legs just couldn't sprint across the pavement, as I'm sure they once did.  Slowly and methodically, she placed the cane one step ahead of her as she shuffled in front of me.  Her fluffy white hair reminded me of my own mom and I smiled patiently waiting for her to pass by. 

Suddenly a car sped up behind her, slammed on their brakes, and wildly began blasting the horn.  A red-faced woman was about to explode in the sleek silver Honda.  Luckily, it was a hot day, so her windows were up, the air conditioning was blowing her stiff locks and we were all spared from hearing the obvious obscenities she was spouting at this poor grandmother who was now close to a cardiac arrest.  

Try as she might, her body just wouldn't move any faster.  Without mercy, the red-faced maniac continued to lay on her horn and jut forward as if she was considering running her down.  I was horrified!  As she lifted her frail foot to the sidewalk, this hot-tempered Honda squealed right into the space marked "Handicapped."  She slipped her handicap sign onto her rear-view mirror, jumped out of the car and leaped into the nail salon five steps away. 

We all have disabilities; some are just more visible than others.  This red-faced woman had a disabled heart.  She couldn't see past her own wants, needs and desires.  She is an extreme example of each one of us - looking past the needs of others and focusing on our own little world.  There are hurting people all around us that God is expecting us to see and, yet, we pass them by.  Maybe we don't run them over, but we try hard not to notice them.  

It is so inconvenient to care.  Oh, we care about our family or our friends or our church, but what about that neighbor who just keeps to themselves, or that irritating child who is left alone after school?  Look around - people around you are hurting.  Zig Ziglar says, "Pretend everyone you meet is wearing a sign around their neck that says, 'I'm hurting,' and nine times out of ten, you'll be right."  We live in a fallen world full of "the least of these."  

Even the red-faced maniac was hurting.  You can't act that nasty without having a deep hurt somewhere inside.  When you know the Savior, you have a healing balm that binds the wounds of this world.  Will you reach out to someone in need today?  Or are you just too busy to see the "least of these?" 

Lord, we live in a fallen world with so many hurting hearts.  You have appointed one of those hearts to me today; help me to see them. Give me words that care, hands that share, and shoulders to help bear the burdens of those around me.  Teach me that this day is not about me, it is about You.  In Jesus' Name 

- luann prater

.....unknown

When Paul was on his second missionary journey he came to the city of Athens, which was inhabited by people who loved to worship, and talk about their worship. They worshipped every conceivable god of their day and made sure no god was left out.

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.'" Acts 17:22-23

The people in Athens worshipped gods like Zeus, Hermes, and Diana. And to ensure they did not overlook any god, they also gave their worship to a god they did not know.

Today, many of us go through our life worshipping such gods as Pleasure, Leisure, Entertainment, Security, Power, and Wealth. Then, usually with much less intensity and commitment, we "worship" the Creator of the Universe. 

It's not surprising that our worship often becomes something we schedule and not something we live. We take part in religious activity but have no idea how to make the Almighty God an integral part of our everyday life. We attend church services but never give a thought to actually loving God or asking Him for guidance and direction. We may go through the motions of worship, but our hearts are cold and far from the One True God.

We ALL must examine what we believe and then live a life consistent with that belief. Many people profess belief in God - even the God of the Bible - but have no idea what this belief means or Who they really believe. They believe and then attempt to worship a God they do not know. 

If Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession on our behalf, if He will one day return and take us to be with Him for all eternity, then He certainly deserves more than our casual worship and the leftovers of our time.

Our Heavenly Father has been calling us back to an intimate fellowship ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and His message has remained the same: "Enjoy My creation, but give Me ALL of your heart." He must be given sole possession, without any competition. The true Creator of the Universe will never accept just being one of our many "gods."

Let's proclaim the absolute and unchanging truth, and encourage one another to "wholeheartedly obey the form of teaching to which you were entrusted" Romans 6:17. Let's resolve to live a consistent life - a life of sincere love and faithful service - a life which no longer worships an unknown God.

- steve troxel

.....back

If you have children, or are around young children, then you'll recognize this: Two toddlers are sitting on the floor playing. Suzie is playing with her blocks, and Davey is trying to decide what to play with. Suzie tells Davey, "Davey, you can play with ANY of my toys. I'm playing with the blocks, but you can use ANYTHING that you want"

So Davey takes her up on it. He picks up her toy telephone, and begins calling his little sister. He's having a great time... such a great time that Suzie suddenly wants to play with the telephone, so she reaches out and grabs the phone. Davey, of course, is upset, and tells her that HE was playing with the phone because she told him that he could use anything that he wanted to. Her response is, "I know that I gave it to you, but I want it back to play with it myself".

Do we ever do the same thing with God? He tells us, in one of my favorite verses (1 Peter 5:7) to "cast your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you." But how often do we really cast them to Him, and allow Him to keep them? Don't we take them back to "play with them ourselves for a while?"

I don't know about you, but I'm really good at giving God the burdens of my heart, but taking them back from Him and worrying with them for a bit, and then giving them back to Him. I'm good at SAYING that I'm giving God my cares and worries, but I don't seem to truly let them go.  Sound familiar?

Worried about your family? 

Concerned with your finances? 

Got a health problem keeping you up late? 

Problems with your relationship with your spouse or a friend? 

Your Boss getting on your nerves?

"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 

By prayer, and in faith, give your concerns to God. Then, again by prayer and in faith, allow Him to KEEP them, and watch as His will is done with your requests. Sometimes He says wait, and sometimes He also says no. The peace that is promised will come as you allow Him to move in your life, and as you align your life with His will.

Want God to help you carry the load? Then give Him your concerns, and DON'T TAKE THEM BACK!

- adapted from steve blair

.....walk

God's race takes place within our heart as we learn to trust and love Him more and more. His race is not in what we do but in who we are, and who we are becoming, as we do ALL to bring Him glory and honor. One of the biggest stumbling blocks which keeps us from running a successful race is the complacency caused by forgetting what God has already done in our life.

Not everyone's circumstances are what they might prefer, but each of us are on a wonderful journey which began when God sent His Spirit to open our eyes to the truth and called us to be with Him for all eternity through faith in His Son. 

The beginning of our journey ought to be a clear indication of God's miraculous grace and Guiding Hand. And as we look back on the path we have traveled, we ought to recognize the many miracles which brought us to where we are today; but unfortunately, there are many miracles we fail to acknowledge or understand...and most we simply forget.

God's children have always had a hard time with recognizing and remembering. The northern kingdom of Israel was in rebellion for almost two hundred years when God called Hosea to be a prophet. The people had created their own form of worship and had long forgotten how much God loved them and how much He had already done to guide and protect.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them Hosea 11:3-4

In this passage, Ephraim refers to the nation of Israel. God was reminding the people how He provided for all their needs as He led them out of Egyptian slavery, into the promised land of Canaan. But this passage is very applicable to each of us today. Whether we see His Hand or not, God has been at work guiding us in many different ways.

None of us are at our final destination, but each of us are on a journey with a God who loves us dearly and wants to draw us ever closer to Himself. Let's not create our own form of worship where we give Him the leftovers of our heart. He created us, saved us, and brought us to where we are today - He deserves our ALL.

We must turn our eyes back to God and praise Him for His continuous provision and His loving promise to finish the work He began in our life. Let's praise Him for His Guiding Hand, and, as we run, let's always remember it was God who taught us to walk.

.....one

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ) John 1:40-41

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Did you ever stop to think how very important you are in God's economy and his plans?  Pretty much throughout the entire Bible, when God had a work to be done, he chose and called an individual to lead. True, He chose the nation of Israel to be his special people, but He chose individuals to lead this nation to do His work. God also has a place for you and me in his plan. It may not be a gigantic role, but it is an important one.

Think of the twelve disciples, for example, who were all a vital part of God's mission. Half of them never said anything that is recorded in the New Testament. And if I remember correctly, three of them said only a word or two that was recorded. And Andrew, who didn't have much to say, brought Peter, who became the early church leader and great evangelist, to Jesus. 

Andrew was also the one who brought the boy with the two loaves and fishes to Jesus that Jesus used to feed the multitude. It was only Peter, James, Matthew and John that we heard much from, but every one of Jesus' disciples had an equally important role to play in God's program.

Whether your task is great or small, God wants to use you to be a part of his plan in what he is doing in your world today.  In the words of Edward Everett Hale: 

"I am only one. But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something. 

And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the Something that I can do." 

Don't ever forget how very important you are, not only to your loved ones, your work, and your church, but most importantly, to God.  

.....race

Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary journey. By this time in his ministry, Paul had been a Christian for nearly twenty years. Twenty years since Jesus called Paul, "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15. 

Twenty years of faithful service, and now... "In every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" Acts 20:23. Paul was returning home, but his life was not going to be easy. He knew there were many trials ahead, but his life had a purpose far beyond his immediate surroundings.

"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 It was several more years before Paul wrote, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12; yet here, when facing certain hardship, Paul showed he had already learned the secret. The particular circumstances in Paul's life had become of minor importance. He knew his contentment was not based on current events, but on bringing glory and honor to God. His life had a wonderful purpose even in the face of great adversity and harsh conditions.

We were all created for the same purpose as Paul - we were created to bring glory and honor to God! Our specific tasks may differ and change from time to time, but we each have the same unchanging purpose. Everything we do, say, and think should bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father!

God's race is run in the deepest part of our heart, not in the flurry of activity. Running well is not defined by doing more; rather, we run a "successful" race as we do every little task we are given with the complete and absolute devotion of our heart.

His race is often long and difficult. There are many distractions which seek to slow us down and even pull us from the track, and at times we may even wonder why we are running. But being a participant in God's eternal race is infinitely more rewarding than standing on the sidelines and simply watching! He has called us to run - and to run well!!

We must run the path God places before us with all the strength He provides, and within the sure and calming protection of His grace. Let's run with the motivation of bringing Him glory and honor by loving Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's continue to run well, and with a burning desire to finish the race.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....failure

And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered around him and he became captain over them... 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel." Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him.

Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army - and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" 1 Chron. 11:10

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom - if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

- david langerfed

 

.....darkened

When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, the people of Jerusalem had been living in sin for a very long time. It had been 300 years since the kingdom of Israel divided, and despite God's patient warnings, the people continued to rebel and worship other gods.

God finally told Jeremiah He would no longer endure this continued rejection; "I have withdrawn My blessing, My love and My pity from this people" Jeremiah 16:5. God also said that because of the many years of rebellion, destruction was now certain; "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness" Jeremiah 16:9. He then told Jeremiah how to respond to the inevitable cries and complaints.

"When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?' then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook Me,' declares the Lord, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook Me and did not keep My law. But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers.'" Jeremiah 16:10-12

This is a difficult message. God is characterized by extreme grace and patient love...but He has His limits. He will not tolerate continual disobedience. If we claim to be a child of God, we must deal with the very real issue of sin. God hates sin because it causes separation from those He loves.

Continual and unrepented sin causes us to lose the ability to recognize our sin. It becomes a cancer which causes our heart to turn cold and dark, unable to even hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit; "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" Romans 1:21. Sin clouds our vision and causes us to drift further and further from God's path.

The people of Jerusalem could no longer recognize their sin - they stood before God in their wickedness and boldly asked: "What wrong have we done?" Today, we are at risk of becoming equally darkened anytime we fail to address the sin which continues to push into our lives. What activities have we begun to tolerate? What behaviors have we begun to accept? What "teachings" from the modern media have we begun to receive? What sin has begun to fill our heart?

If our eyes were truly opened, would we be surprised to see how far we have compromised and strayed? Let's recommit our lives to holiness, purity, worship, and absolute love for God. Let's allow His light to indwell EVERY area of our life. Let's repent of our sin and refuse to live with a darkened heart.

- steve troxel

.....will

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The thought of what would take place in the next 24 hours caused Jesus to be deeply troubled; "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" Mark 14:34.  Being fully God, Jesus knew exactly what was about to take place and exactly why it had to occur. But being fully Man, the foreknowledge of the rejection, physical pain, and spiritual separation from the Father was nearly unbearable.

"'Abba, Father,' He said, 'everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.'" Mark 14:36 Jesus cried out and asked for the plan to be changed; and yet, His greater desire was for the Father's will to be done. 

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus taught us this same principle; "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'" Matthew 6:9-10. Even with an absolute understanding of what He must endure, Jesus' sole desire was to glorify the Father by walking the path placed before Him; "I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do" John 17:4.

This is the example we ought to follow all through our life; we should present ourselves to the Father, fully prepared to serve, and be completely emptied of our own desires. When we have allowed Him to be the only possessor of our heart, He will fill us with His Spirit and accomplish His perfect will through our life. When our life is ordered and directed only by His will, we will receive blessings from above which bring far greater joy than the fulfillment of ANY flesh-directed desire.

This is one of the mysterious "secrets" of the Christian walk. We were created to be in fellowship with God - to glorify Him and enjoy His presence for all eternity. We may spend a lifetime chasing what we believe will bring us a sense of fulfillment, but we will never be truly content until we rest in His arms, submit to His ways, and walk with Him wherever He leads.

What cup have we been given to drink? What seemingly unbearable burden have we been given to carry? Have we been asking, even demanding, that the burdens be taken from us, or are we yielding to the Father's will and being determined to glorify Him in all we do? 

Let's come to His table ready and willing to serve, but let's also come with complete submission to His perfect plan of intimate fellowship. Only in this can we fulfill the purpose for which we were created. 

Heavenly Father, we give our life fully into Your hands; let it unfold, not by our plans, goals or desires, but according to Your will. 

- adapted from steve troxel

.....wheelbarrow

On June 30, 1859, one of the greatest tightrope walkers in history, Charles Blondin, became the first man in history to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope.  Approximately 25,000 people watched him walk a 1,000 feet line suspended above the raging falls without any safety nets. When he safely reached the Canadian side, the crowd cheered with thunderous applause.  

On another occasion, he attempted to cross The Falls once again - this time, however, with a wheelbarrow.  The crowd gasp as he carefully loaded the front wheel of the wheelbarrow on the tightrope.  He turned to the crowd and asked if they believed he could do it using the wheelbarrow.  Everyone cheered in approval.  They all believed he could.. 

 

He turned to a reporter who was covering the event.  He look straight at him and asked the question, "Do you believe I can do this?"  The reported responded with a big smile, "Yes!  I believe you can do it."  

"Good", the tightrope walker responded. "Get in the wheelbarrow!!!"

If we are going to be men of God who are truly "all in" for Jesus, we need "wheelbarrow faith".  We must have faith that doesn't just "say" we believe, we have to truly believe.  We have live out our faith in our daily lives.  We have to "get in the wheelbarrow"  

Heavenly Father.  Forgive me when I just "talk the talk", and don't "walk the talk".  Make me a person of genuine faith.  Help me relinquish control of my life and absolutely, fully place my trust in you.  Lead me to encourage others to have "wheelbarrow faith." In Jesus name.  "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 "Without faith, it is impossible to please God..." Hebrews 11:6

.....sure

Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass Psalm 37:5

Catherine Marshall was a woman of luminous faith. She was a member of the Guideposts family for almost three decades during which time she helped readers -- and those of us on the staff -- to learn more about the limitless variety of prayer, about finding divine guidance in the day-to-day, about the robust and joy-filled Jesus whom she knew.

For all her deep spirituality, Catherine was a practical Christian who wrote from her experience. And the foundation of her faith, the touchstone she always kept at hand, was the soul-deep change she underwent many years before she had published a single word.

Catherine was a young wife and mother - married to the much-admired pastor, Peter Marshall - when she fell ill with what she always described as "a wide-spread lung infection." She never used the word "tuberculosis." She languished in bed for months, and the months turned into years. As her body grew thinner, so did her spirit. Then came a day of decision. Catherine stopped struggling. She stopped beseeching God to do as she asked and let Him do as He desired.

"I gave Him a blank check," she told me once. Catherine surrendered her vanity, her willfulness, her sins, her worries, her happiness and, yes, her life. From that point on, she began to recover.

"Self-surrender".  Someone once described it as the vital turning point of a Christian's life, when we fully, totally and absolutely surrender it all to God, when we give up control of our lives and surrender every facet of our lives to God.  It was, for Catherine Marshall, the SUREST STEP toward God that a human being can take.

Lord, help me to know the 'Victory' of surrender...

- van varner

.....precious

God's gift of salvation through faith in Jesus is our greatest blessing - a blessing we must never forget as we tend to become discouraged. God's gift of salvation forms the main story of the entire Bible. In the beginning, "God created man in His own image" Genesis 1:27. Then, when sin entered the world and man became separated from God, "He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.

This is the greatest love story in all history; "While we were still {lost} sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. He died for you and me, and also for all those other lost sinners scattered around us. Jesus Christ, "who being in very nature God" Philippians 2:6, was born in a dirty stable; "He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" Philippians 2:7. He lived His life with the single purpose of dying so that ALL who believe could be eternally restored to the Father; "the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" Romans 5:18.

God loves us VERY much! And He doesn't just love those who love Him in return or faithfully serve Him - He loves ALL. We are precious! Yes, God hates sin and will one day judge all who fail to believe; but His love - His offer of Salvation - extends to all...even to our noisy neighbor and difficult co-worker, our obnoxious family members, and those who hold differing views on a variety of social and political issues. He loves all!

God's love is so much a part of who He is, and of who we ought to be, that Jesus commands us by His example: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34. We are to love as Jesus loved; and as if this was too difficult a concept for our finite minds, we are commanded to love in terms we can all understand.

The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'Galatians 5:14

God wants us to love others primarily because He loves them and desires His love to be expressed through us! He encouraged this love by creating us with a natural capacity for love. When we are hungry we feed ourselves; when we are hurt we care for ourselves; and when we are down, we pray to be lifted up. These are natural expressions of self-love - the same love God desires we show to ALL.

Let's evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions in terms of their effect on others. Are we encouraging or adding burdens? Are we building up or tearing down? Are we bringing others closer to Jesus or pushing them further away? Are we as loving to others as we are to ourselves? 

Let's be His hands, feet, and voice of love in the world around us. Let's begin to see others as through His eyes; and remember, we are ALL precious in His sight.

- steve troxel

.....voice

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3-4

We were sitting around rehashing football games, slumber parties, teachers, and who went steady with whom. Yup, we were getting ready for another class reunion. The last time we had one, I remember thinking that the guys had definitely changed more than the girls, especially in the hair department! I recall looking at the Yearbook picture name tags; how memories came flooding back.

One thing stands out most in my mind from that reunion. Although most of our appearances were drastically different from high school days, one thing had not changed one iota. That was our voices. I discovered I could identify people when I heard them speak, even if I didn't recognize them from the way they looked.

How interesting! I thought of what Jesus said: the sheep listen to the shepherd's voice, and they follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger, because they don't recognize his voice. How great to think that as we listen to the voice of our own shepherd, Jesus, and follow him, we won't get mis-led or go off in the wrong direction. He is speaking, and we know His voice. It is Love, and it never changes.

- sally kennedy

.....intended

Joseph's life was filled with one difficult situation after another. By the time he was a teenager, his brothers had developed an intense hatred toward him which led to an attempt to take his life. But rather than kill him, they sold young Joseph into slavery Genesis 37. And then, as a slave, Joseph was falsely accused of rape and thrown into jail Genesis 39.

It's never really explained how Joseph learned to trust God, but he did! He could have become very discouraged when he became a slave, but somehow Joseph adjusted to his circumstances and thrived; "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered" Genesis 39:2. When tempted with sexual sin by Potiphar's wife, he kept himself pure because he did not want to "sin against God" Genesis 39:9. But false accusations still sent him into prison.

Even after spending several years in jail, Joseph continued to place his complete trust in God. When asked to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph risked his freedom and rightly gave all the glory and praise to God rather than take credit for himself; "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires" Genesis 41:16.

Joseph was rewarded with much more than his freedom; he was placed in charge of the entire land of Egypt during a great famine. He was also reunited with his family and able to keep them from certain starvation. Several years later, after their father died, Joseph's brothers came and fearfully asked for his forgiveness. Joseph could have taken great revenge, but he continued to demonstrate his understanding of how God cares for His children.

"Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" Genesis 50:19-20

When Joseph was sold into slavery, he had no idea of God's awesome plan. All he could do was continue to trust and draw nearer to God. Joseph would spend many years in jail before receiving even a hint of God's purpose. But God is ALWAYS at work in the lives of those who love Him. Joseph's life must encourage us to draw ever closer to God during times of hardship - to continue trusting and honoring Him in all we do...no matter what our circumstances!

We all go through "dungeon" seasons when life seems to take unplanned and seemingly "unfair" turns. We all, at times, feel abandoned and alone: 

"Has God forgotten me? 

Does He no longer care?" 

We may not understand why things happen the way they do, but if we will continue to love Him with all our heart and consistently trust Him in and through all our trials, we can be certain that God's work in every situation is truly intended for our own good.

- adapted from steve

.....humility

John the Baptist was born with a single purpose; "to make ready a people prepared to receive the Lord" Luke 1:17. He was chosen for service before he was conceived and was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth" Luke 1:15. John was so obedient to his calling that Jesus said, "Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John" Luke 7:28. But John also knew his position within God's Kingdom...he had come to serve.

"'I baptize with water,' John replied, 'but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'"John 1:26-27

John had been given his assignment and was empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish his tasks. He was a servant preparing the way for the King. John was the greatest man ever born; and yet, in his humility, he felt unworthy to even untie the sandals of Christ. But he continued to serve.

True humility is not simply defined by a low self-image; it is the natural condition of our spirit when we begin to understand who we really are...and Who God really is! John felt unworthy because he had been given a glimpse of the unfathomable greatness and holiness of his Lord. As he stood in the presence of Perfection, there was only one response; "He must become greater, I must become less" John 3:30.

When we know that Jesus is on the throne, "at God's right hand" 1 Peter 3:22, and that He will reign for all eternity, we begin to see our life in the proper perspective. He is infinitely perfect and worthy of infinite love, worship, and service. We live and breathe purely by His grace; we are but "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14.

And though we are compared to a mist, we are a mist with a purpose. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit with the necessary tools to victoriously serve. Though our offering will always be imperfect, and far less than He deserves, it will be pleasing and acceptable if we give Him our ALL, give Him our best, and give from the innermost part of our heart.

Our God is truly above ALL, and He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son so we could be with Him for all eternity. He calls us to believe in His gift and then serve Him for all the rest of our days. Let's continue to love Him with all our heart, give Him our absolute very best, and daily walk down the path He lays before us. Let's serve obediently, boldly, and victoriously...but let's also lift the Name of Jesus higher and higher and serve with humility.

- steve troxel

.....time

"Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night".  Psalm 1:2

A real Christian stands out in the crowd!

Their character is deeper, 

    their ideas fresher, 

    their spirit softer, 

    their courage greater, 

    their leadership better, 

    their concerns wider, 

    their compassion more genuine,

    their convictions more concrete.

They're joyful in spite of difficult circumstances and show wisdom far beyond their years. And they're full of surprises: you think you have them boxed in, but they turn out to be unpredictable. When you're around them you feel slightly off balance because you don't know what to expect next. Over time you learn that their unexpected ideas and actions can be trusted. 

Why? Because these people have a strong relationship with the Lord - one that's renewed day by day. David said: "Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night."

They have a spiritual root system that reaches down to streams of living water. Consequently, what they put their hand to prospers. Too few of us ever reach this level. How come? Because we're just too busy!

The arch-enemy of spiritual growth is business, which is closely tied to something the Bible calls "worldliness" - getting caught up with society's agenda, to the neglect of walking with God. 

Anyway you cut it, a key ingredient in real Christianity is - time. No    t left over time, not throw away time, but quality time.

     Time for contemplation.

     Time for meditation.

     Time for reflection.

Unhurried, uninterrupted time with God.

Have a good day

Keep to Jesus

.....pearl

Pearls are a product of pain. When a grain of sand pierces the shell of an oyster, all the otherwise dormant resources within the tiny oyster respond to the foreign irritant by caring for that sensitive spot. Over time, the sand particle is covered by healing fluids, and the wound becomes a pearl.

That's true for you, too. When hardships invade your life, allow God's Spirit to shape your response. Don't be bitter. Don't rush ahead of His plan. Rest in Him. Allow Him time to turn that irritation into an opportunity for your growth - and watch a beautiful pearl emerge from your set of circumstances.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1:2-5