trumpet

In high school my career aspirations were to be a professional tennis player or trumpet player. This was before reality set in. I played tennis for eight hours every summer day, and three times a week during the school year.  And I  practiced the trumpet every day.  I studied with the principal trumpet player in the Houston Symphony Orchestra.  And I had visions of grandeur.

My trumpet hero was Doc Severinson. If you remember him, you're old (like me). He was the band leader on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show", and an amazing musician.  I once heard him say of his trumpet regime: if I miss one day of practice, I know it; if I miss two days, the band knows it; if I miss three days, the world knows it.  My thought was: if he needs to practice every day, how much more do I.  I was right.

Would it surprise you to learn that the Lord Jesus Christ had to spend time every day alone with his Father?  That the secret to his spiritual power over Satan and his demons came from his extended times of solitude?  Think about  it - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the eternal Son of God himself, had to meet with his Father every day.  And for extended periods of time regularly.

Luke 6:12: "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God."

Matthew 14:22-23: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone."   For how long?  "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake" (v. 25). This was 3 a.m. Jesus prayed for nine hours. When did you last pray for one?

Today's devotional is not about guilt. It is meant to encourage us to adopt the spiritual strategy guaranteed to give us victory over the enemy. It is a strategy available to every single Christian - no seminary degrees or ordination needed. It's a simple matter of priorities.

Martin Luther said, "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day."  If the founder of the Protestant Reformation needed time with God to win spiritual victory, what of us?  If God himself would model this discipline, and his Son would practice it daily without fail, don't we need it also?

-james c. denison.

integrity

In October 1985, Reuben Gonzales was playing in the final match of a professional racquetball tournament. It was Gonzales' first shot at a victory on the pro circuit, and he was playing the perennial champion. 

In the fourth and final game, at match point, Gonzales made a super "kill" shot into the front wall to win it all.  The referee called it good. One of the two linesmen affirmed that the shot was in.   But Gonzales, after a moment's hesitation, turned around, shook his opponent's hand, and declared that his shot had "slapped" into the wall, hitting the court floor first. As a result, he lost the match. He walked off the court.

Everybody was stunned.

The next issue of National Racquetball Magazine displayed Reuben Gonzales on its front cover. The story searched for an explanation of this first-ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit.   Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? A player, with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his hand, disqualified himself at match point and lost!

When asked why he did it, Reuben replied, "It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity."

Reuben Gonzales realized that he could always win another match, but he could never regain his lost integrity

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering." (Psalms 26:1)

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, Please give me the courage to stand by my convictions, maintain integrity, and live honestly - before men and you.  Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen"

.............tongue

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all of their might. The group of frogs kept telling them to stop because they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The second frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

You see this frog was deaf, unable to hear what the others were saying. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches a lesson...."You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words" (Proverbs 18: 20,21).

There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift him up and help him make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill his joy. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words... an encouraging word can go such a long way. May your words be a blessing to someone today.

faithful

"Many a man will declare his own goodness, but a faithful man, who can find?"  Proverbs 20:6

I saw a photo of the excavations of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that was buried, almost frozen in time, under tons of volcanic ash. The eruption was so sudden, so violent, that many people were doing the basic day-to-day things of life when they were instantly smothered. There was no warning. Death was virtually instantaneous.

One lone Roman soldier stood vigil facing the volcano. He saw the eruption and the deadly ash cloud headed for the city and could have tried to run. He chose to stand.  Roman soldiers DID NOT leave their posts unless they were relieved. They stood faithful to the task before them.

This lone soldier stood his ground and was buried alive facing the volcano. His assignment was to guard the city. He stands as a silent vigil over that doomed city today. He was faithful to the task.

God calls us to be faithful witnesses to the world and to each other of His goodness.  Your testimony of Christ to the world has little power if you are not loving your spouse, honoring your parents, raising godly children and walking out the life of Christ within you in this fallen world.

Jesus promised that when we appear before Him, those who walked close in obedience to him will hear these words - "Well done, thou good and FAITHFUL servant.  Enter into the joy of the Lord."   We cannot experience the Lord's joy unless we are faithful to His call on our lives.

Joy is an issue of the heart. You have to be close and intimate with someone to hear their heartbeat.  The One we desire calls himself "Faithful and True."

I have wrestled with standing faithful and, in spite of many obstacles that have tried to sway me, have elected to stay with the call of God on my life. I have chosen to run the race to its completion.

I once saw on a sports broadcast a long distance runner who won a grueling race. His trainer was waiting for him at the finish line. This victorious athlete ran past the trophy right into his coach's arms. The reward could wait.  I suspect he wanted to hear his coach's praise.

I want to finish my life like that  - running right into my Saviors' waiting arms.  His words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant", are what I am running to finally hear.  His rewards, wonderful are thy are, can wait.  I want  to hear His words  I want to see His smile.

"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2:10.

Will you stand firm to the call of God?

Will you be found faithful?

.....integrity

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.Psalm 41:12.

In every action of life the true Christian is just what he desires those around him to think he is. He is guided by truth and uprightness. He does not scheme; therefore he has nothing to gloss over. He may be criticized, he may be tested; but through all, his unbending integrity shines out like pure gold. He is a friend and benefactor to all connected with him, and his fellow men place confidence in him, for he is trustworthy. 

Does he employ laborers to gather in his harvest? He does not keep back their hard-earned money. 

Has he means for which he has no immediate use? He relieves the necessities of his less-fortunate brother. 

He does not seek to enlarge his possessions by taking advantage of the untoward circumstances of his neighbor. 

He accepts only a fair price for that which he sells. 

If there are defects in the articles sold, he frankly tells the buyer, even though by so doing he may seem to work against his own pecuniary interests.... 

Satan knows full well what a power for good is the life of a man of unbending integrity, and he puts forth zealous efforts to prevent men from living such lives. He comes to them with alluring temptations, promising them wealth, position, worldly honor, if they will but yield the principles of righteousness. And he has much success.... From the sad history of many who have failed we learn the danger of prosperity. It is not those who have lost their property who are in greatest danger, but those who have obtained a fortune.... Prayer is often requested for men and women in affliction, and this is right. But those in prosperity are more in need of the prayers of God’s servants, for they are in greater danger of losing salvation. In the valley of humiliation men walk securely while they reverence God and make Him their trust. On the lofty pinnacle, where praise is heard they need the help of special power from above.... 

True religion is not an experiment. It is an actual imitation of Christ. God keeps a personal account with every man, testing him by the practical results of his work. Soon will be heard the call, “Give an account of thy stewardship.” 

– e g white, hp pg 243

..........chance

As the football season begins, I am reminded of a great football story. On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his own teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time.

Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move.

Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second." Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man's tears.

"Coach," he said, "I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."

Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of a second chance. Jesus offers us the chance to start anew - clean and fresh. No matter how badly we've blown it, no matter how many times we've failed, we can start over. Today is the day for a fresh start. Get back in the game! The second half has just started.

forgiveness

Do you know what it means to truly Forgive?   It means "to release from accountability".  When you truly forgive someone, you no longer hold them responsible or accountable for their actions.  When Jesus Christ forgives you, He no longer holds you accountable for your sin.  (I will remember their sins no more.  Hebrews 8:12)

Corrie Ten Boom shares this incredible true story in her book, The Hiding Place:

 

It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck.  He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time.  And suddenly it was all there -- the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said.  "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"

His hand was thrust out to shake mine.  And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them.  Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more?  Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.

I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand.  I could not.  I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity.  And so again I breathed a silent prayer.  Jesus, I cannot forgive him.  Give me Your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened.  From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His.  When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.

lesson

Isn't it amazing how quickly we can lose our way when we are on our own and think we are following the right path for ourselves? Years ago, my father was in the Denver Asthma Clinic and my mom and brothers went to see him. After a hard week at the hospital, some friends took them to a get-away for the weekend in the flat iron mountain range. Early the next morning, my brothers went out to climb the backside of the mountains, promising to follow a well-marked trail.

As they neared the top, they followed what looked like a small foot trail leading to a great view at the top of the mountain. But as the trail crested the top of the mountain, they realized too late that the trail was really a wash where rain and snow melt drained off the mountain. They lost their footing in the loose gravel. They fell about ten feet to a ledge near the top of the sheer flat side of the mountain, with hundreds of feet of straight dropdown below them.

Hours later, they were rescued off the mountain. One brother had to go to the hospital with an awful case of "poison ivy" — the exact kind of poisonous plant is unknown to me, but it saved his life because he grabbed to keep from plunging down the sheer face of the mountain.

My brothers thought that they were on safe footing. They realized later that taking the hike by themselves, without a map or guide, was foolish. The results were nearly catastrophic during an already incredibly stressful time in our family's life. Now this makes for a good story about boys being boys.  Yet without the grace of God, a strong vine, a "convenient ledge," and a mountain rescue squad, the story would have been the heartbreaking death of my brothers during the time my dad was beginning his slow descent into incredible health troubles.

Jesus tells the story of a son who thought he knew best how to seize the gusto out of life (Luke 15:11-24). This son shames his father — telling him he is just as good as dead to him — and demands his inheritance so he can follow the path he thinks is best. Off he goes, blowing his fortune, ruining his life, and finding himself in despicable circumstances, with little hope for the future. Then this headstrong, self-willed son comes to an important realization: it's better to be a hired hand in my father's house than to be on my own and away from my father.

Jesus' point is clear. While Satan will do everything he can to make us believe what God asks of us is unfair - capricious, mean, demanding, limiting, joy-killing, and ridiculous - what God asks of us is for our blessing and protection. It is better to be a servant in our Father's family than to be on our own and away from the Father.

This realization is the hardest lesson learned. Many of us have to learn it the hard way — wasting our influence, our lives, and our time on the pursuit of stuff that does not matter, or worse, contribute to our own destruction and the destruction of others.

The glorious truth about this hardest lesson learned is this: we have a Father who will take us back, bring us home, love us back to health, restore us with his grace as his beloved children, and give us important work to do for his kingdom (Ephesians 2:1-10). Our Father longs to show us that it is better to be a servant in his house than to be on our own and living it up without him. The only difference, and the powerful point of our story, is that once we come to our senses and really get this hardest lesson learned, God doesn't make us hired hands, he brings us home as his beloved children.

soldier

I am a soldier in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
...trained by experience,
...tried by adversity,
...and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army;
But, I will not get out,
...sell out
...be talked out
...or pushed out.

I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs, me, I am there.

I am a soldier.
I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered,
...petted,
...primed up,
...pumped up,
...picked up,
...or pepped up.

I am a soldier. No one has to call me,
...remind me,
...write me,
...visit me,
...entice me,
...or lure me.

I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place,
...saluting my King,
...obeying His orders,
...praising His name,
...and building His Kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.

I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even.
I will win.

My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me, and
Hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain.

I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up.
I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, marching, Heaven bound.
Here I stand! Will you stand with me?

light

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

A story is told of a man crossing the Atlantic by ship. One night, as he was confined to his cabin due to seasickness, he heard the cry, "Man overboard!" He felt that there was nothing he could do to help, but he said to himself, "I can at least put my lantern in the porthole." He struggled to his feet and hung the light so it would shine out into the darkness.

The next day he learned that the person had been rescued and had told others, "I was going down in the dark night for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. As it shone on my hand, a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in."

God has chosen us to reach out and bright light into the darkness, to light up lives, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel!

"To the world you might just be another person, but to one person you may be the whole world."

bible

In Genesis the world was made by God's creative hand;
In Exodus the Hebrews march to gain the Promised Land;
Leviticus contains the Law, holy, just and good,
Numbers records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham's blood.
Moses in Deuteronomy records God's mighty deeds.In Joshua their rebellion oft provokes the Lord to smite,
But Ruth records the faith of one well pleasing in His sight.
In 1st and 2nd Samuel of Jesse's son we read;
Ten tribes in 1st and 2nd Kings revolted from his seed.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles we see Judah captive made,
But Ezra leads the remnant back by princely Cyrus' aid.
The city walls of Zion Nehemiah builds again,
While Esther saves her people from the plots of wicked men.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath afflictions' rod,
And David's Psalms are precious songs to every child of God.
The Proverbs, like a goodly string of choicest pearls, appear;
Ecclesiastes teaches men how vain are all things here.
The Song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon's lovely rose,
While Christ the Saviour and the King the rapt Isaiah shows.
The warning Jeremiah apostate Israel warns,
His plaintive Lamentations their awful downfall mourns.
Ezekiel tells in wondrous words the Kingdom's mysteries,
While God's great Kingdom yet to come Daniel in vision sees.
Of judgment and of mercy Hosea loves to tell,
Joel describes the blessed days when God with man will dwell.
Among Tekoa's herdmen Amos received his call,
And Obadiah prophesies of Edom's final fall.
Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, our risen Lord;
Micah pronounces Judah lost - lost but to be restored.
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment shall be poured
When Christ our risen Saviour shall come to be adored.
A view of Chaldees coming doom Habakkuk's vision gives,
While Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent and live.
Haggai wrote to those who saw the Temple built again,
Zechariah prophesies of Christ's triumphant reign.
Malachi was the last to touch that high prophetic cord;
His final notes sublimely show the coming of the Lord.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the Gospel story give,
Describing how the Saviour was born and died that man may live.
Acts tells how well the apostles preached with signs in every place,
And Paul in Romans proves that man is saved through faith by grace.
The Apostle in Corinthians instructs, exhorts, reproves;
Galatians proves that faith in Christ alone the Father approves.
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be;
Colossians bids us live for God and from all sin be free.
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord would come from heaven,
In Timothy and Titus a shepherd's rule is given.
Philemon marks a brother's love as only brethren know;
Hebrews reveals Christ's priestly works prefigured long ago.
James teaches without good works, faith is but vain and dead;
While Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
John in his three epistles on love delights to dwell;
But Jude gives warning terrible of those once who fell.
The Revelation prophesied that tremendous day
When the old heaven and earth with noise did pass away.

carpenter

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow." The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work -- handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

.....eyes........

A young and foolish pilot wanted to sound cool and show who was boss on the aviation frequencies.  It was his first time approaching a field during the night time.

Instead of making any official requests to the tower, he said: "Guess who?"

The controller switched the field lights off and replied:  "Guess where!"

It important for a pilot to be able to see the place where he is landing! There is a true story about a pilot who was flying a fighter jet in bad weather and was about to make his instrument approach to an airport. The air traffic controller called and asked how much fuel he had. -- “Plenty,” he said.

“Well,” the controller said, "We’ve got a little problem.  There’s a young pilot who is not instrument rated.  He’s lost in the clouds, and we were wondering if you could intercept him and lead him back to the airport."

“Sure,” the pilot responded.  He found the lost plane and pulled up beside it.  He called on the radio and told the pilot to look out to his left. When the pilot of this small plane saw the powerful jet, he burst into tears of relief.  As far as he was concerned, his life was about over. He would soon run out of fuel and crash.

“Don’t worry,” the test pilot said. “Everything’s going to be OK. I’m going to pull in front of you several hundred yards.  Do everything I do.  When I turn, I’ll turn gently.  All you have to do is do exactly what I do.”

So carefully the leader and the follower turned toward the airport and slowly descended.  When they finally broke through the clouds at 500 feet, the frightened pilot saw the most beautiful sight.  There in front of him was the runway, and he was perfectly set up to land.  What a blessing that the young pilot had someone nearby that he could look to!

There's a story in the Bible where an ancient king of Judah must have felt that same sense of relief.  Jehoshaphat's kingdom was being threatened by the armies of Ammon, Moab, "and others" (2 Chronicles 20:1).  In fact, those armies were so large and so strong, Judah didn't stand a chance of surviving an assault.  There seemed to be nothing Jehoshaphat could do about it, so he turned to God (which, incidentally, is not such a bad place for us to find ourselves!).  Eventually, God rescued the people of Judah by causing the armies of the enemy to turn on one another.  But it is the prayer of Jehoshaphat that I think is so valuable.  In fact, I think this may become my favorite verse in the Bible:..

"For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Is there a problem you're facing in your life that just seems overwhelming? 

Pray along with Jehoshaphat -- "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  

Do you have a difficult decision to make and you don't know which course to take?  "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  

Are you suffering the attacks of enemies, those who would seek to do you harm?  "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  Pray it today and pray it often.

-alan smith

prayer

When you pray continually about a concern, don't be surprised at how Christ answers.

 

Paul prayed to visit Rome so he could teach the Christians there. When he finally arrived in Rome, it was as a prisoner.

 

Paul prayed for a safe trip, and he did arrive safely - after getting arrested, slapped in the face, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake.

 

God's way of answering our prayers are often far from what we expect. When we sincerely pray, God will answer - although in his timing and sometimes in ways we do not expect.

- Life Application Study Bible

adversity

Every adversity that comes across our path, whether large or small, is intended to help us grow in some way. If it were not beneficial, God would not allow it or send it, "For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." (Lamentations 3:33).

God does not delight in our sufferings. He brings only that which is necessary, but He does not shrink from that which will help us grow.

-jerry bridges

weird

A Sabbath School teacher was teaching a class of 4-year-olds.  The lesson dealt with one of the widows in the New Testament and the teacher asked the children if they knew what a widow was.  When they responded to her question with blank stares, she explained a widow like this:  "If a man and a woman are married and the man dies, then the woman would be a widow."  The children seemed to grasp the concept.

 However, one of the little girls went home and, in the course of explaining what she learned in Bible class, told her mother, "I learned that if Daddy dies, then you'll be a weirdo!"

 The truth is, God calls all of us as Christians to be "weirdos".  A life of faith has always meant living a life that's different from everyone else.  The  Hebrew writer tells us that our faith takes us "outside the camp" (13:13).   We need to come to see ourselves as "outside the camp" of the world's value system.   We must accept the fact that in doing so we will be seen as different from the world -- sometimes radically different.

 I'm not talking here about isolation from the world.   We can't be salt and light to the world if we isolate ourselves.  But it's a serious problem when  we begin to adopt the same goals of the world, when we're immersed in the things of the world, when we talk like they talk and have the same priorities they do.  When that happens, then we become totally indistinguishable from the world.   We're no longer different and we've become comfortable "inside the camp".

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9)

Just a little food for thought:  Are we prepared to be seen as "weirdos" when our faith takes us "outside the camp"?
-alan smith

u-turn

Dear Friend,

Hope you are keeping strong and growing in Him, are you working on some spiritual goals? the following article might help with the resolve:

"Thanks for inviting me to go to church with you next Sabbath, Uncle Al." Tim and his uncle were on their way to Bonny Lake. They had heard the fishing there was great. "I... I don't want to hurt your feelings," continued Tim, "but... well... I'm not sure I want to get into this religious stuff. Besides, Mom and Dad don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh?" asked Uncle Al in surprise. "I thought you said that your parents wouldn't mind if you went with me. You sounded quite interested last week. You even said the Gospel was beginning to make sense to you."

"Yeah, but since then I've done a lot of thinking," Tim said slowly. "I don't think I feel like getting 'saved' right now. The crowd I hang around with at school wouldn't understand, and I like being with them. Someday I'll start going to church, but I think I'll just go on the way I am for a while. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm not so bad, either."

Tim's uncle drove on silently for a few minutes. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed as they passed a road sign. "I was so intent on our conversation that I missed the turnoff! We should have gotten off this road five miles back!"

"Guess we'll have to turn around and go back now, huh?" asked Tim.

But Uncle Al shook his head. "I don't feel like turning around right now," he said. "I guess we'll just keep going this way. I kind of like this road, and the scenery is nice."

Tim looked at his uncle in amazement. "But we have to turn around to get to Bonny Lake," he protested, "and the longer we keep going this way, the longer it will take to get back. If we wait too long to turn around, we might not even get there in time to fish."

Uncle Al smiled at Tim as he slowed down for the next turn. "You're right," he said, "and what you said just now is exactly what I've been trying to tell you about spiritual life... that when you're traveling down the wrong road, the sooner you turn around, the better. If you wait too long, you might never get to your spiritual goal."

"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

choice

"It's quiet. It's early. 

The sky is still black. 

The world is still asleep. 

The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. 

! Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so ......

I Choose Love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of yelling at the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I Choose Faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...

I am a spiritual being. I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.

"LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL" (Gal.5:22,23)

To these, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all understanding.   (Philippians 4:7)

----regardless

When you serve God, "regardless" 
Regardless... of what others do or think, of what you don't have, of how you feel 
When you serve God, "regardless", twelve things happen:
   God is honored,
   Jesus is pleased,
   The Spirit is freed,
   Satan is infuriated,
   Enemies are baffled,
   Critics are silenced,
   The church is edified,
   Fellow strugglers are encouraged,
   Outsiders are drawn to Jesus,
   You are strengthened,
   Your reward is great, and
   Your reputation goes through the roof.
   -joe mckeever

faith

When Abraham was over eighty years old, God made him a wonderful promise: "A son coming from your own body will be your heir. Look up at the heavens and count the stars - so shall your offspring be" (Genesis 15:4-5).

Many years went by without any indication that God would fulfill this promise. Finally, when Abraham was one hundred years old (and his wife, Sarah, was ninety) God fulfilled His promise through the birth of Isaac. But when Isaac was a young boy, God told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son.

Genesis 22:2 "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

We can't even imagine receiving this type of command from God. Abraham loved Isaac; and Isaac also represented the fulfillment of God's promise. But Abraham didn't even question the apparent conflict between God's promise and His command...he simply believed and obeyed. Abraham took Isaac and climbed the mountain, placed him on top of a pile of wood, and "took the knife to slay his son" (Genesis 22:10).

Many people speculate about the turmoil in Abraham's mind during this time, but Scripture gives no indication that Abraham ever seemed anxious or concerned. He believed in God, believed His promises, and his faith never seemed to waver. As Abraham was about to kill his son, God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice (Genesis 22:13).

God put Abraham through an unimaginable test of faith... but why? The test wasn't for God - surely God already knew of Abraham's faith! It's possible the test given in order to strengthen Abraham's faith. God often tests us as a way of refining and drawing us closer to Himself. But I believe the main reason for Abraham being asked to climb the mountain was so we would have a clear picture of what it means to believe and trust God.

Belief is central to the gospel message. It is so important that God gave a picture through Abraham which allows us to truly understand what Jesus meant when He said; "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

God is calling us to believe. He is calling us to a life of faith where we have such a strong assurance of His presence that He is all we need...all we value and hold dear. Let's give ourselves completely to Him, without ANY reservation - let's truly believe! Let's give Him ALL our heart and be willing to sacrifice ALL for His glory and honor. Let's once and for all climb the mountain of faith.

-steve troxel