.....sparks

Every year, sparks from hot campfires or careless matches start fires which consume millions of trees in beautiful forests. Once begun, these fires move unrelentingly through hills and valleys - nothing is safe from the fury of the flames.

Every day, sparks from hot tempers or careless words start fires which consume millions of lives in beautiful relationships. Once begun, these fires move unrelentingly through self-esteem and trust - nothing is safe from the fury of the tongue.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body James 3:5-6

Our tongue has incredible power to build up and encourage, as well as tear down and destroy. And though our sins are eternally forgiven when we place our trust in Jesus, the day will come when our careless words are revealed and we see the full extent of the damage we have done; "men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" Matthew 12:36

David prayed that God would "set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips" Psalms 141:3. While this is a wise prayer, our lips must be seen as an absolute last line of defense - once our words escape, they can almost never be fully recovered. We must strive to control the sparks at the true source; "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" Matthew 12:34.

If our heart is filled with the ways of the world, our mouth will naturally speak the world's wisdom, we must fill our heart with the ways of God and allow our mouth to overflow with His love; "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" Psalms 119:11.

Have we been the cause of some raging fires or smoldering embers? We must fill our heart with the power of His Word and "not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths" Ephesians 4:29. 

Let's stop the destructive fires. 

Let's begin today to fill our heart with His Word

- adapted from steve troxel

.....character

For every need, there is a name of God that corresponds to the need. His faithfulness and his caring meet in the 23rd Psalm to portray our intimately personal Shepherd. God’s character in all of His covenant names can be seen in this psalm. Ask Him what He wants you to know about who He is, what He does, what you have in Him through each name. Cultivate your personal communion with God praying this Scripture.

The Lord is my Shepherd   

Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord my Shepherd

Thank your Shepherd that He knows you by name and wants to communicate with you. Talk to Him about your intimate relationship with Him.

I shall not want    

Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord my Provider

Thank your good Shepherd that He provides all your needs, beginning with redemption. Ask Him to carry all your worries, burdens, and cares.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside quiet waters

Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord my Peace

Thank Jesus your Peace for His attention to the details of your life. Tell Him you want to see Him more clearly in your “dailies.” Let Him speak to you.

He restores my soul

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord my Healer

Because Jesus your Healer became man, He understands everything you have experienced. Thank your Healer for healing the hurts. Remember His times of restoration.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord my Righteousness 

Thank the Righteous One that you are accepted in Him and completely forgiven. Thank your Shepherd for His guidance of your life for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me

Jehovah-Shammah: God who is there

Thank God who is there for His presence with you that dispels all fear. Your Shepherd is always there for you. Thank Him that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Thank God for His loving authority in your life to discipline, correct, and give you the security of loving limits. Thank Him that you can never mess up so bad that you fear punishment by Him.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies 

Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my Banner of victory

Thank your Banner for His strength and protection against the enemy. Thank Him that Jesus lives victorious in you.

You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows

Thank your Shepherd for His grace and favor that He gives you so generously. Thank Him that you can enjoy fellowship with Him.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Thank your Shepherd that you can continuously sense His presence because of His faithfulness. Worship Him with a song that speaks of His nearness and love.

- sylvia gunter. 

.....landmarks

Two prospectors went to a desert in search for gold. They carefully noted every landmark, because to be lost could mean certain death. One night a great storm drove them into a cave, and from there they watched the lightning flash. Soon the rain began to pour and floodwaters gushed across the desert, ripping up cacti and completely changing the terrain.

One of the prospectors cried out in panic, "All the landmarks are swept away and we are lost!" But the other man calmly said, "Wait! Soon the storm clouds will be gone, and we will see the sky." Sure enough the clouds rolled back and when the two prospectors saw the stars, they found their bearings.

The prospectors have faded into history, but the panic that one feels when the landmarks are swept away is still in the hearts of many people today. People see the landscape of humanity destroyed and are quick to panic. As the prospectors had to wait and look up, so the solution to your concern lies in looking upward.

Two things give me peace amidst the storms of life. 

• One is by looking at the stars in the heavens, I realize that the God who placed them above, eons of years ago, is the same today. 
• Second, by remembering the ruins of ancient civilizations, I realize that the problems confronting me are not here to stay. They are merely part of the challenge of life, and they, like the civilizations of the past, will not be with me forever.

It is by looking upward that gives us bearing when the circumstances of life are chaotic. There is the anchor of a loving God who never changes. He speaks to our hearts today amidst the thunder and roar of life.

- harold sala

.....teach

When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, He said; "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" Matthew 22:37. Jesus clearly said the most important thing we can do in this life is to love God with absolutely every part of our being. But Jesus immediately added, "the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:39.

After our love for God, we are called to love others with a love which flows from the love of Christ. At the end of His ministry, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus set a new standard for our love.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another John 13:34 Love for others had always been important, but Jesus called the command "new" and changed the standard from the way we love ourselves to the way He loved us. 

Jesus came into the world with the single purpose of dying for us so we could be restored to a right relationship with God - this is true love; "God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son..." John 3:16. We didn't do ANYTHING to deserve this love. While we were completely lost in a world of sin, "God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

This degree of love, poured out for those who are utterly undeserving, is the definition of God's grace. Peter said we are saved by this undeserved love; "it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved" Acts 15:11.  God's love is demonstrated through grace!

The concept of grace is essential in beginning our relationship with God as well as continuing with every step of our journey along His path. But try as we might, we can never adequately convey the meaning of God's grace with words. We must continue to proclaim His truth through spoken and written words, but in this important area of God's grace, we are given a "new command" to teach through our actions - to teach through our love.

We have been given an incredible gift! We are given a gift we can never repay, but it's a gift we must share. The world is in great need! It is lost and desperate to know the grace of our Lord and Savior. Let's pour out love to those around us in the same manner it was poured out on us - undeserved and without restraint! Let's live out Jesus' new command and, through love, teach the world His grace.

- steve troxel

.....embroidery

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. Looking at her work from the underside, I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was.

As I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "My son, you go about your playing for awhile, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side." 

I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. 

Then Mother would say to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing." 

Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life." I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?" The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side."

- dave langerfeld

.....found

The Psalm writer longed to be close to God - my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God Psalm 84:2. He knew his heart would only be satisfied by being in the presence of God; but not many of the children of Israel shared this same understanding.

The Israelites continually rebelled and failed to devote their hearts to God. They sought pleasure and security in the world and turned to worship idols and false gods. And though God sent many messengers to call His children home, they refused to change. Finally, God allowed the armies of Babylon to destroy the temple and lead the people into seventy years of captivity. 

But even in this most severe discipline, God demonstrated His love and true desire for His Children to return Home - I will come to you and fulfill My gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart - Jeremiah 29:10-13

God's plan is for us to be restored to Him and glorify His name as we love Him with all our heart. All other plans regarding the specific circumstances of our existence flow out of His plan for a loving relationship filled with worship; as we get to "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness..." Matthew 6:33

He has promised a glorious future - not necessarily a future free of trouble, but a future filled with "the peace of God which transcends all understanding" Philippians 4:7, a future where we can learn real prosperity by "being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. This future can only be had by those who seek Him with all their heart.

Let's allow God to be the all-consuming top priority of our life. Let's diligently seek Him in times of quiet as well as in the midst of the endless multitude of daily activities. And let's be filled with hope and encouraged by His promise that as we faithfully seek Him with all our heart, He will be found!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....cry

God created man in His own image Genesis 1:27. The image of God did not refer to our physical appearance but rather the character. The spirit of man was created in the image of God for the purpose of bringing Him glory and dwelling with Him for all eternity.

When man sinned, a separation immediately formed with God. Though man was physically banished from the garden and forbidden to experience the joy of walking side by side with his Creator, and though sin and the resulting separation was inherited by all future generations, there forever remains a damaged spirit which longs to return home.

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God Psalm 84:1-2 this passage was written by one who knew God and the joy of His presence. But the author also knew of man's inability to be satisfied with anything less.

Before we know God, we attempt to stop the heart’s cry with all sorts of pacifiers, but nothing satisfies. We pursue pleasures of the flesh, challenges of the mind, and advancement in status, but the cry remains. Sooner or later we realize that Solomon was correct when he said; "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind" Ecclesiastes 1:14.

Many things of this world are worthwhile as they are done for the glory of God; but in the sense that they attempt to satisfy, they are all meaningless. The ONLY answer to the unsettled and restless longing deep within our soul is to return to a restored relationship with God. 

When we place our life in the Father's Hands through faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit And as we learn to walk in this restored relationship, we will finally be at peace. There are so many things of this world which can occupy our time and consume our thoughts, but none that will truly satisfy. 

Our search can continue until our time on earth is gone, but the emptiness will remain. Let's return to the Father today and live the rest of our days fully devoted to loving Him. 

.....sanctuary

Seeking God and loving Him with ALL our heart is an important issue with regard to our Salvation and the eternally restored relationship to which we are called.

The author of Psalm 73 wrote with words of frustration about the things he saw in the world. He could not understand how the wicked could be so carefree and yet so successful; "For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" Psalm 73:3 He felt he may have even wasted his time in maintaining Godly values; "Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" Psalm 73:13. He kept searching for answers but found none until he returned to worship in the presence of God.

When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me - till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood Psalm 73:16-17

Many issues in our life simply cannot be resolved through our human understanding and reasoning. We often try to make sense of events in the world, or in our particular situation, only to discover there are no easy answers or solutions. 

No matter how confusing our life may become, we must always remember we are a child of God - a child of the Creator of the Universe!  Our Heavenly Father does not function according to a set of human rules. He is not confined by our understanding of time or space, and He is certainly not guided by our set of values. 

We must give God all of our mind as we seek to understand Him through His Word and study how He has moved throughout history; but we must also give Him all of our heart as we worship Him despite what we see, think, or feel. Only in the sanctuary of worship will we begin to truly understand.

We must come to our Heavenly Father with a heart-felt belief that being in His presence is more important than anything else in the world. This type of passion allows us to draw near and begin to see the disconnected pieces of our life fit neatly into God's perfect plan.

Let's return to the place where He is everything we desire and all we really need. Let's worship Him with all our heart and begin to understand His wonderful plan for our life. Let's enter His sanctuary!

- adapted from steve troxel

.....measure

God promises to be found by those who will seek Him with ALL their heart; "you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13. The consistent message through all of God's Word is that He is calling us back to a restored relationship with Himself - a relationship which is only possible through faith in Jesus. We enter in by His loving grace, but His expectation for this relationship is that, through faith, we give Him ALL of our heart.

If we desire this restored relationship with God - if we desire to truly "find" Him - then our heart must be fully devoted to Him; there can be no rivals or competing affections which pull us away. When Jesus was asked to name the most important commandment, He replied, "Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30. All means ALL - no cheating or deceiving!

Our Heavenly Father desires we give Him our love honestly and completely; "You must have accurate and honest weights and measures. For the Lord detests anyone who deals dishonestly" Deuteronomy 25:15-16. It's foolish to think we can cheat God and withhold even a small portion of our heart, for in doing so we ultimately cheat ourselves.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you Luke 6:38

God has promised to bless those who come to Him with a true and uncompromising faith in Jesus. His blessings include the right to be called children of God, as well as the inheritance of eternal life. But His blessings also extend to our days on earth as we receive the gifts of true joy, peace, and contentment.

When we understand the concept of true blessings, it should not be surprising that the measure we receive from God is directly related to the measure we use to give back to Him. Our blessings graciously flow as we give Him our worship and obedience, as we desire to walk in His presence and praise Him with every breath.

Our dealings with God become dishonest and deceitful when we expect a full measure of His blessing of peace, clear direction, or even assurance and freedom from doubt, and yet we are not committed to respond to His call. Let's enter into His presence and, each and every day, give Him the full measure of our heart.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....declaration

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:31-32

Like millions of Americans this week, my mind is on the Fourth of July holiday and what it represents: our freedom as a nation. This freedom is a precious thing, bought with the sweat, toil and blood of countless Americans who initially fought to obtain it, as well as those who have fought to secure it in the centuries since that fateful day in 1776.

Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart when I consider the brave men and women of the American military who, this Fourth of July, will be standing guard around the world to combat the tyranny of terrorism. These soldiers stand in the train of valiant warriors who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Each of these conflicts—while unique in themselves—shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.

But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom—my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "If you abide in my word," our Lord declares, "you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:31-32

This statement was shocking to Jesus' audience. These proud men thought they already had all the freedom they needed by virtue of being "offspring of Abraham" 8:33. Jesus proceeds to point them beyond any national, social or religious freedom they might enjoy to the freedom that comes through His person and work: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" 8:34,36. 

Even as Christians we can fall prey to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, good works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone.

What am I trusting in today?   The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom - as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

The great singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin was undoubtedly moved by his freedom in Christ when he penned this stanza in his song "Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone"... 

    My chains are gone, I've been set free 

    My God, my Savior has ransomed me 

    And like a flood His mercy rains 

    Unending love, Amazing Grace 

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 brings ultimate freedom - freedom from sin and death and satan; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath.  

- michael pohlman

.....wait

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

My nephew's 10 year old son came for a visit one hot, July weekend. I was enticing him to stay inside by joining him in a Nintendo game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player, I suggested that we relax awhile. I collapsed into my favorite recliner to let my neck muscles relax and my ego recover from such a beating. He had slipped out of the room and I was catching a few relished moments of peace and quiet. 

"Look, Alice," he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering. "I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it?"  Glancing out a nearby window, I noticed there was not a breeze stirring. "I'm sorry, Tripper," I said, "The wind is not blowing today. The kite won't fly." The determined 10 year old replied. "I think it's windy enough. I can get it to fly," he answered, as he hurried out the back door. 

I peeked out the window to watch determination in action. Up and down the yard he ran, pulling the kite attached to a small length of string. The plastic kite, proudly displaying a picture of Batman, remained about shoulder level. He ran back and forth, as hard as his ten year old legs would carry him, looking back hopefully at the kite trailing behind.

After about ten minutes of unsuccessful determination, he came back in. I asked, "How did it go?" "Fine," he said, not wanting to admit defeat. "I got it to fly some."  As he walked past me to return the kite to the closet shelf, I heard him say under his breath, "I guess I'll have to wait for the wind." At that moment I heard another Voice speak to my heart. "Alice, sometimes you are just like that. You want to do it your way instead of waiting for the Wind." 

And the voice was right. How easy it is to use our own efforts to accomplish what we want to do. We wait for the Wind only after we have done all we can and have exhausted our own strength. We must learn how to rely on Him in the first place!

- alice oola

.....trouble

When we commit to following Jesus and serving the Lord, there is a temptation to think that the rest of our lives will be trouble-free and smooth sailing. Sometimes it. Sometimes it is not. 

When troubles come, there is a temptation to think we are failures, that we are doing something wrong, or that God is unfaithful. Our confidence might be shaken, and our closeness to the Lord may have faded.

In those times, we must remember that missteps and mistakes do not disqualify us. Regardless of how we live our lives, God is always faithful and will not leave us. We can trust Him. He is always faithful. 

If you find yourself in one of those low and dry spaces, maybe these words from Psalm 34 will encourage you:

The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:19-22

The Lord will deliver you from your troubles, and he will rescue you when you take refuge in Him.

.....motivated

God has called us to be His witnesses and "ministers of a new covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:6. Our mission field may span the globe or be focused on a few, but our ministries are all the same: we are to glorify God as we proclaim the true gospel of Christ through our words as well as the actions of our life.

If you have dedicated your life to following Jesus, you are in full time ministry. Ministry work can be extremely rewarding as we share the truth and witness real change in the life of someone God places in our mission field. Ministry work can also be very frustrating and discouraging whenever we forget the reason for our ministry and take our eyes off the One we serve.

We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. We were not looking for praises from men, not from you or anyone else 1 Thessalonians 2:4,6

God has entrusted us with His gospel message, and we must minister out of an obedience to this trust and a desire to glorify Him in all we do. We are setting ourselves up for failure anytime we become motivated by results or praise. God will often bless us and confirm His leading with fruit in our ministry, but our focus and motivation must always remain on loving Him through our simple obedience. He has called and we must follow for a lifetime, regardless of the result of each individual step.

We must serve and trust that God will bring the harvest in His perfect timing; "for the battle is not yours, but God's" 2 Chronicles 20:15. These are God's battles and ultimately His harvest. Our job is to simply enter the field, plow, and continue to scatter seed. The praises of men will come and go, but the joy of knowing that God is glorified by our obedience is steady and unshakable.

Our efforts may sometimes seem futile, and we may feel completely unqualified, but we must continue - we have been "approved by God!" Our love and encouragement toward others may appear to have minimal effect, but a small nudge today can cause a lifetime of change. An offer of prayer can give renewed hope, and a simple testimony of God's faithfulness in times of trial can soften a heart to the saving gospel of Jesus.

As we enter the mission field, God will use us to change the lives of those He places in our path. One day, when we stand in His presence, we may be allowed to see the true impact of our service. But until that time, we must simply continue to serve and be motivated by obedience.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....choice

Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.  For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, 'They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'  Psalm 95:8-11

The word "Meribah" means to quarrel. The word "Massah" means to test. The Israelites tested and tried God even though they had seen the mighty miracles He had done.  

   God miraculously released the Israelites from Egyptian slavery...  

   He had parted the Red Sea when the Egyptian army was in pursuit of the people...  

   He provided food in the form of manna each morning... 

God had been faithful to His promises - but the people doubted. And as a consequence, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they had disobeyed God and hardened their hearts against Him.

What is God saying to you today? Are you obeying Him? There may be great urgency for you to obey God's commands. You may not see why, but you are to obey God. If you obey, your life, your family, and your ministry will be blessed beyond measure. If you disobey, you will live with the consequences for a great while... 

Look at the consequences for the Israelites. The choice is now yours. Obey and receive blessing. Disobey and reap the consequences. Each day it's your choice!

- david langerfeld

......fork

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away Revelation 21:4

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.

 

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.  "There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply.  This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." 

The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked.   "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. 

"Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?'. Then I want you to tell them: Keep your fork.... the best is yet to come." 

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming. 

At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. 

The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.  He was right!!! So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come.

- dave langerfeld 

.....vision

After entering the promised land, the Israelites were ruled by a series of Judges. This time was characterized by God's discipline when the hearts of His children turned away, and deliverance when they repented and cried out for help. Unfortunately, this cycle was repeated many times! Deborah led the Israelites to forty years of peace, but then; "the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites" Judges 6:1

After seven years of oppression, "Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help" Judges 6:6. The Israelites were living in such fear that when God answered their cry and called Gideon to be the next deliverer of Israel, he was "threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites" Judges 6:11. Gideon would eventually lead a small army to victory and rule Israel for another forty years; but when God first called, he was fearfully sifting grain for his next loaf of bread.

The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?' 'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family' Judges 6:14-15

Gideon was scared and saw himself as one with little worth, "the least in my family," but God saw the next brave leader of a nation. Gideon saw weakness, but God saw strength. Gideon saw his past failures, but God saw the future victories of a mighty warrior. Gideon's vision required him to fearfully work for his next loaf, but God's vision was calling Gideon to boldly lead many others closer to His side.

God sees each of us much differently than we see ourselves; "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. Not only does God see deeper, He sees with an expanded spiritual spectrum which we can scarcely imagine. Our Father is intimately aware of all our failings...and He loves us anyway! He not only sees who we are, but also who we will become as our heart is fully devoted to Him and we learn to walk in step with His Spirit. He sees every opportunity we will ever have to glorify His name.

Let's put aside the baggage of our past which clouds and distorts our view. Let's refuse to look through the filter of our present understanding and perceived limitations; "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

God has called us into His Glorious Kingdom, uniquely equipped us for His service, and given us an assignment to share His love and truth. Our Heavenly Father sees our full potential as we walk in His strength. Let's answer the call and move forward with confidence as we trust His vision.

- steve troxel

.....stake

I read something interesting this week about which I had never really thought. Most of us have either been to the circus or seen pictures of them on the television. Have you ever seen or noticed the huge elephants they have there and how they keep them from wandering off? They generally have a chain from their leg to a small stake in the ground. Have you ever wondered why they don't just walk off taking the stake with them?

Well, they are trained not to do that! How you might ask? I understand it goes something like this: When they are just babies they are chained or tied to huge stakes driven deep into the ground. There is not any chance the baby elephant can pull out the stake. For weeks the baby elephant tries to pull the stake and escape and eventually learns the lesson that you can't pull out the stake. They just stay where they put you and learn to live within the boundaries which their keepers have placed upon them. Each of us can look at that massive mammal and see that they can escape anytime they wish, just walk away, but they don't know the strength contained within them.

I wonder how many of us have been have been chained to a stake by people and circumstances in our lives? God created each of us with the potential to be just about anything we want to be and far too often we don't know the strength contained within us.

Commitments and personal obligations are things we choose willingly to do in or with our lives. They don't keep us from our potential; they help us see more clearly our goals or dreams.

What is your stake? Someone giving you a hard time about what you can or can't do well? Someone criticizing you or your work? Some real mistake you made in your past that you are having trouble dealing with now? Self doubt? Self pity? Perhaps something no one knows about but you? The Apostle Paul gives us some words of encouragement for living in and dealing with our personal "stake". In Philippians 3:13-14. Paul wrote, "No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven"

So how about it, are you going to continue to be tied to a stake in your life or are you going to break free and live to the potential God has given you? The greatest potential is that of being a genuine child of God! What's holding you back? I can assure you it's nothing that you and God can't pull from the ground and set you free.

May God give you the grace and strength in fighting your spiritual battles and finding your potential today!

- russ lawson

.....cross

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Galations 6:14

I have read how, "During his reign King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly and in trying to rebuild the nation, he was seriously short of finances. He couldn't disappoint his people, and to surrender to the enemy was not an option."

"

After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. For each ornament received, he determined to exchange a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. Each decoration would be inscribed, 'I GAVE GOLD FOR IRON, 1813.'"

Apparently, "The response was overwhelming. The women prized their gifts from the king more than their former jewelry. The reason why is clear, the decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. It even became unfashionable to wear any other jewelry. And thus was established the ORDER OF THE IRON CROSS."

I wonder how much we who name the name of Christ and call ourselves Christians are willing to sacrifice for and give of our best to our king, King Jesus-and receive from him the ORDER OF THE WOODEN CROSS?

Dear God, in light of all that you have done for me-in giving me the gift of life, pardon for all my sins, and the gift of eternal life-please give me a truly grateful and willing heart so that I will always give of my best for you in all that I am and do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen

- dick innes

.....defined

God's Word is a message of love: His love for us and His call for us to love Him. We are to receive His love, return His love, and demonstrate His love by loving others. In addition, we ought to be thankful for His blessings of provision and for the beauty of His creation. We ought to be so filled with peace and contentment that we love our life?

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be My disciple Luke 14:26

These may be the most difficult words Jesus ever spoke. Clearly, Jesus is not calling us to a life of hate. That would be completely inconsistent with the rest of God's Word; "A new command I give you: Love one another" John 13:34, and "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. The problem is not with Jesus' use of the word hate but with our understanding of the word love. With the same word we say we love our food, our pet, our spouse, our home and...our Jesus? Lord, forgive us!

Jesus is not saying we should love our life or family any less, rather that we should love our Heavenly Father more - much more! He is saying that unless our love for God is so great that our love for the things of this world appears as hatred by comparison, then we do not yet understand the love He desires and deserves.

We are called to love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But this love cannot be properly defined with our limited vocabulary. As we live a life of love, NOTHING must ever come close to competing with His rightful place on the Throne. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise - He alone is worthy of our true love.

There are certainly some addictive behaviors and time consuming bad habits which greatly hinder our relationship with God. These must be removed and destroyed without mercy or compromise. 

Most areas of our life can be placed in proper order by elevating our love and passion for God. Let's allow our attachment and feelings toward the blessings of this world to become as dust when compared with the mountain of hunger and passion for our Heavenly Father. 

.....10

 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

Most men want to succeed as fathers. They believe they are taking their role seriously. Though many men wouldn't admit it, they are eager for something that will enhance their effectiveness as a father. Dads can become heroes to their children. It takes a lot of work, patience and love, but it's possible. What follows are some suggestions that will help you fight the misperceptions of fathers in your own family by doing some right things with your children.

1. Be Around

Few things are as important as your presence. Dads often make lots of excuses. There is work, there is this project or that. There's the civic club, the golf game, the tickets to the ball game or the hunting trip. Twenty years from now your kids won't care about any of that and neither will you. You'll be wondering what happened to the relationship. Your kids need you. Be there!

2. Learn How To Encourage

Parents, by nature, tend toward the negative. "Don't" and "can't" are necessary tools. They help keep the kids out of the fire and help them understand it's not good to eat the whole jar of peanut butter at once. But, kids also need to know what they CAN do. Validate their abilities by telling them when they do something well. It will give them the desire and the courage to do even better.

3. Admit Your Faults

If you don't admit your faults, you'll be the only one ignoring them. Admit faults and be man enough to apologize. It will make you more sensitive about how you handle your children's faults. It will also make it easier for your kids to forgive you when you need it.

4. Make Trust A Priority

Trust comes two ways. One is to earn it through dependability and consistency. The other way is a gift. Children need to learn both. Show children they can trust you. Earn their trust. Teach them they must earn trust as well. However, there comes a time when you extend trust as a gift. When you do, you will tap into your child's increasing maturity.

5. Show Tenderness

Too many fathers grew up with the "macho-man" idea. Be strong, be tough, be hard, be busy. That's fine if you're a character in a Clint Eastwood movie, but it doesn't do much for relationships with kids. Children need to see that Dad is touched by some things, that there are emotions inside, and not just angry ones. Little boys and girls need hugs and kisses from big Dads. Many grownups cry because they never heard Dad say, "I love you," or felt a loving embrace from strong arms.

6. Love Your Wife

The single best source of input regarding marriage is from one's parents. Respect your kid's Mom. Be kind to her. Demand that your children respect her as well. Your response to your wife develops a sense of security in your children. Give your kids the security of a loving marriage.

7. Respect Authority

Most fathers want to fill the role of authority. However, if you want your children to respect authority they must see it in you.  Show respect for God, church, government, and your boss. Show respect for your own parents, if they are still living, or speak of them in ways that show respect if they are no longer around. Your example will instill the right attitude in your children's minds.

8. Be A Christian

Take the lead in spiritually nurturing your children. Plant spiritual values in your children's hearts. Teach them about God, Christ and His church. Show them it's important. Talk about death and eternal matters, but illustrate the importance by your own life. God will become important to children when God is important to Dad.

9. Teach The Bible To Your Children

Fathers spend thousands of dollars educating children for a job. They often spend little educating them for a life. The Bible will help your kids know how to live. You should be the primary instructor. One simple way to do this is to get a children's Bible and read one story a night with your children when they are young. As they grow older, simply go to more grown-up Bible stories until you are actually reading the Bible with them, or discussing what they have read in Scripture on their own.

10. Be Fun

There are plenty of times for seriousness. Your kids need to know that you can laugh and have fun. Lighten up! Everything is not earth-shatteringly important. Laugh at jokes, mistakes and yourself. Let some things happen with a smile instead of a frown. Your kids will think that you're great fun to be with. Bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?

- william denton