trust

When troubles come our way, we can be stressed and upset, or we can trust God. Scripture says to set your minds and keep them set on what is above…the higher things (Colossians 3:2).  When giants are in the land, when doubts swarm your mind, turn your thoughts to God. Your best thoughts are God-thoughts. He is above all this mess!

Scripture declares of God, He is “the most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18). Later on the same psalmist asks, “Who among the sons of the mighty is like the LORD?” It’s a good question! Pain does not plague God. The economy doesn’t faze him. The weather doesn’t disturb him. Diseases don’t infect him and death cannot claim him.

The apostle Paul says God is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Ponder the holiness of God. Let his splendor stun you, inspire you, and chase your troubles away!

-june kiwia

plans

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them….” Exodus 13:21

How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward? Many workplace believers make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has given them the green light. Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord.

It is important to do three things before you make a decision on a matter. 

First, you should gather facts. Fact gathering allows you to determine all the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive your decision, but it can put a stop to it. For instance, if you were planning to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space was to rent to a porn shop, your decision would be made. God would not lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.

Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm” (Ps. 37:23). George Mueller cites that the steps are also “by the Lord.” God puts hedges around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the guise of tenacity and perseverance. This too is unrighteousness. One wise workplace believer stated that the greatest success one can have in business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.

Third, has your decision been confirmed? God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2 Cor. 13:1b). This is God’s way of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.

“Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser.”

-os hilman

.........on

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.." (Proverbs 24:16a)

"Failure is never final for the person who gets up one more time than he stumbles, falls, or gets knocked down. The crucial thing, whenever we fail or fall, is that with God's help, we get up, go on, and learn from the experience." (Dick Innes)

Usain Bolt won another gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.  Known in the sports world as "Lightning Bolt", Usain holds the title of "The World's Fastest Man."  He holds multiple world records, Olympic records and he is the reigning World and Olympic champion in three events. 

However, Usain was not successful in every Olympic race he ran.  In his very first Olympic race, the 2004 Olympics in Athens, he was hampered by a leg injury and he was eliminated in the first round of the 200 meters.

He failed.  He did less than his best. But he didn't quit.  He didn't give up.  He didn't give in.  He continued to work,  He continued to practice.  He continued to run.  And one other time he won another gold medal. 

The Apostle Paul knew that there is a race and a prize that is so much more important than any Olympic race or gold medal -the race of life.  In that race, we can not quit.  We can not give up. Even if we have failures that seem overwhelming, failures that seem insurmountable, we must keep pressing on toward the prize that God has called us to - because "Failure is Never Final". 

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:14)

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.." (Proverbs 24:16a)

Press On!!!

? hasty

The story is told of five doctors went duck shooting one day. Included in the group were a GP, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a surgeon and a pathologist. After a time, a bird came flying overhead. The first to react was the GP who raised his shotgun, but then hesitated. "I'm not quite sure it's a duck," he said. "I think that I will have to get a second opinion." And of course by that time, the bird was long gone.

Another bird appeared in the sky thereafter. This time the pediatrician drew a bead on it. He too, however, was unsure if it was really a duck in his sights and besides, it might have babies. "I'll have to do some more investigations," he muttered, as the creature made good its escape.

Next to spy a bird flying was the sharp-eyed psychiatrist. Shotgun shouldered, he was more certain of his intended prey's identity. "Now, I know it's a duck, but does it know it's a duck?" The fortunate bird disappeared while the fellow wrestled with this dilemma.

Finally, a fourth fowl sped past and this time the surgeon's weapon pointed skywards. BOOM!! The surgeon lowered his smoking gun and turned nonchalantly to the pathologist beside him: "Go see if that was a duck, will you?"

We've all been guilty at times of shooting first and asking questions later. That's why we have the proverb, "Look before you leap." Of course, we also have a proverb which tells us of the danger in delay: "He who hesitates is lost." So which is it? Which is the wiser advice?

If you look to God's Word for the answer, you may end up just as confused:

"How long will you lie there, you lazy person? When will you get up from sleeping?" (Proverbs 6:9. NCV)

"....Those who act too quickly become poor." (Proverbs 21:5b, NCV)

The truth is, there's danger in both extremes. It is necessary to look ahead and plan before taking action (Jesus called that "counting the cost"), but we have to be careful not to procrastinate so much that we never get anything accomplished. It is a wise man indeed who can find the proper balance.

Heavenly Father, I freely confess there have been many times in my life when I have been paralyzed by analyzing the situation, and have fail to step forward in faith as you would have me to. And I also recognize the many times I have wildly plunged ahead without giving much thought to what I was doing, and later regretted my actions. Bless me with the wisdom to live with the proper balance in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ (who always knew what to do and when to do it), amen.

beautiful

A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo. The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. "You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!", a boy in the line cried.

Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head. Her grandmother knelt down next to her. "I love your freckles," she said. "Not me," the girl replied. "Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles" she said, tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"

The girl looked up. "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little girl peered into the old woman's smiling face. "Wrinkles," she answered softly.

What a beautiful story of love! How wonderful it is when those who are filled with the wisdom that comes with age can still see the beauty in those who are younger and have much to learn. And how wonderful when those just learning to spread their wings can see the beauty in those who have flown so long they have grown weary of flying.

"The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." (Proverbs 20:29)

With a heart of love, may we see the beauty of God's children both young and old.

? looking

I heard about a man who was drafted into the army. While in the army he developed a very strange habit. As he walked along each day he kept picking up pieces of paper, saying to himself aloud, "That's not it!" He would pick up one piece of paper after another and say, "That's not it. That's not it!"

This went on for about six months. His bizarre behavior was finally brought to the attention of his superiors. They ordered him to report to the base psychiatrist. The psychiatrist asked, "What is wrong with you? What is the problem?"

The man had a baffled expression on his face as he said, "What problem? I don't have a problem."

The psychiatrist said, "Well, there's got to be something wrong with you. It has been reported to me that you keep going all over this base picking up pieces of paper and saying, 'That's not it, that's not it!" So, tell me, just what is it you are looking for?"

The man said, "I don't know. I just don't seem to be able to find it." The psychiatrist consulted some of his colleagues, then told the man, "I think your problem is serious, and I'm going to give you a medical discharge from the Army."

When the psychiatrist handed him the discharge papers, the man jumped up and shouted excitedly, "This is it! This is it! This is what I've been looking for!"

This story reminds me of an incident in the gospel of John where two men were asked the same question.

"The next day John was there again with two of his followers. When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' The two followers heard John say this, so they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, 'What are you looking for?'" (John 1:35-38a, NCV)

It's an important question for all of us. What are you looking for? On occasion, we may stumble across something we weren't searching for, but most of the time we have no hope of finding something unless we're looking for it. For example, I understand that there is a lot of ginseng in the mountains of North Carolina. A lot of people found it. I never did, and I'm sure it was because I never looked for it.

Spiritually speaking, what are you looking for? So many people miss out on much that God has to offer simply because they don't have hearts that are searching. Are you searching for a right relationship with God? Are you searching for a congregation of God's people? Are you searching to know God's will in a difficult decision you're facing? What Jesus promised is

true: "Seek and you will find." (Matthew 7:7)

By the way, those two disciples in John 1 found exactly what they were looking for. "'We have found the Messiah." (John 1:41).

What are you looking for?

? alone

The story is told of an old lady who had moved to the United States from Europe when she was a child, but now she wanted to officially become a citizen of this country. After months of going through all the necessary red tape, she was finally ready to take the required oath.

"Raise your right hand, please."

She raised her right hand.

"Do you swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all its enemies, domestic or foreign?" was the first question.

The little old lady's face paled and her voice trembled as she asked in a small voice, "Uhhh . . . all by myself?"

I know the feeling. When I read what the apostle Paul had to say about the great spiritual battle going on, I tremble a bit. Paul said,

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12)

The thoughts of waging such a battle alone is enough to cause even the most stout-hearted to tremble. But we don't go into battle alone! We go forth as a part of the army of God, led by the Son of God in all his glory, and side by side with every brother and sister in Christ on the face of this earth. The battle is still a difficult one. There will be many casualties along the way. But, thank God, we do not fight it alone!

? wonders

I heard about a group of Geography students who studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, they students were asked to list what they each considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes: Egypt's Great Pyramid, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter's Basilica and China's Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are to touch and to taste, to see and to hear . . . " She hesitated a little, "and then to run and to laugh and to love."

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as "wonders" while we overlook all that God has done, regarding them as merely "ordinary." May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous.

"I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.....Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders." (Psalm 77:11-14a)

Praise be to "the God who does wonders"!

name

The following story comes from Julie Helms in Christian Reader, "Lite Fare":

My husband and I, with our two daughters, operate a small sheep farm. One day a non-farming friend asked, "How can you bear to slaughter those cute little lambs?"  

My husband explained, "We don't want to get emotionally attached to the ones we plan to eat, so we don't give them names."

Not satisfied, the friend probed, "What about your kids?"

Her husband quickly replied, "Oh, we name them!"

While very few of us are personally familiar with sheep and shepherds, the relationship between the two is one of the most powerful images in the Bible used to describe the relationship between Christ and his followers. The loving care shown by shepherds to their flock, and the willingness of sheep to utterly depend on what the shepherd can provide offer a glimpse of our personal relationship with the good shepherd. While it may seem to be a small thing, our name plays a significant role in that relationship.

"He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:2-3)

"He calls his own sheep by name." Though there are many disciples of Christ around the world, we are not just "one of the masses", not just a number. We are intimately known and loved by the good shepherd. He knows us by name. It tells us not only that he cares about us, but that he plans for his relationship with us to be a lasting one.

? lion

A first grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One by one, each child got up and announced, "I'd like to be a nurse like my mother," or "I want to be a banker like my father," or "I want to be a teacher like you, Miss Smith."

The last child to speak was the most shy and timid little boy in the class. He said, "When I get big, I'm going to be a lion tamer in the circus. I'm going to face those animals with my whip and chair and make them leap through hoops of fire and obey all of my commands." Seeing the disbelieving looks on the faces of his classmates that he could ever act so boldly or bravely, he was quick to reassure them, "Well, of course, I'll have my mother with me."

We are sometimes shy and timid about standing up for Christ in the midst of an immoral society. We keep quiet when we ought to speak up. 

We cower when we ought to take a stand. 

Where do we get the inner strength to be bold and brave? Only through the assurance that we have Christ by our side.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)

With that knowledge, take courage today to do something for God that you've been hesitant to do.

?..........carying

Two monks on a pilgrimage came to the ford of a river. There they saw a girl dressed in all her finery, obviously now knowing what to do since the river was high and she did not want to spoil her clothes. Without more ado, one of the monks took her on his back, carried her across and put her down on dry ground on the other side.

Then the monks continued on their way. But the other monk after an hour started complaining, "Surely it is not right to touch a woman; it is against the commandments to have close contact with women. How could you go against the rules for monks?"

The monk who had carried the girl walked along silently, but finally he remarked, "I set her down by the river an hour ago, why are you still carrying her?"

-- Irmgard Schloegl, The Wisdom of Zen Masters

One of the hardest things we must do is to let go of something from the past. Someone does us wrong and seeks forgiveness, but we want to keep carrying the memory. Or maybe we made a mistake and we can't seem to stop beating ourselves up, despite the fact that we have done what God says to do to be forgiven. We don't want to keep carrying the memory (and the guilt), but we do. In fact, it often seems more difficult to forgive ourselves than to forgive others.

Paul said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14-15)

Paul had to forget his past achievements (as an esteemed Jewish leader). He also had to forget his past failures (which including persecuting and killing God's people).

What are you carrying today that you should have set down a long time ago?

? know

"When my son was a small boy playing with his buddies in the back yard, I overheard them talking one day -- and the conversation was, amusingly, one of those 'My dad can whip your dad' routines.

"I heard one boy proudly say, 'My dad knows the mayor of our town!' Then I heard another say, 'That's nothing -- my dad knows the governor of our state!" Wondering what was coming next in the 'program of bragging,' I presently heard a wonderfully familiar voice (that of my own little son), saying, 'That's nothing -- my dad knows God!"

"I swiftly slipped away from my place of eavesdropping with tears running down my cheeks. I dropped on my knees in my room and prayed earnestly and gratefully, 'Oh, God, I pray that my boy will always be able to say, "My dad knows God." ' "

by Hilding Halverson

We do tend to take pride in who we know, don't we? "I went to school with Michael Jordan." "I grew up with Faith Hill." "I once shook hands with Mel Gibson." There is a sense in which we take on some of the prestige and the importance of those whom we know.

Of all the people you may know, I pray that God is one of them.

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." (I John 2:3)

target

Everybody has difficulty in life, but several years ago, Brian Hise of Provo, Utah experienced more difficulty than any human being should have on a single day. First, a water pipe broke in the upstairs apartment above his own and flooded his apartment. So the manager told him to go out and rent a water vacuum.

That's when he discovered his car had a flat tire. He changed the tire and went inside to phone a friend for help. Standing in the water, the electric shock he got from the phone startled him and he ripped the phone off the wall.

Before he could leave the apartment a second time, a neighbor had to kick down his apartment door because water damage had jammed it tight. While all of this was going on, somebody stole Brian's car. But it was almost out of gas, so he found it a few blocks away. He then had to push it to a gas station.

That evening, Hise attended a military ceremony at B.Y.U. and he injured himself severely when he somehow sat down on his own bayonet which had been tossed onto the front seat of his car.

Doctors were able to stitch up his wounds but no one was able to resuscitate Brian's four canaries which were crushed to death when wet ceiling plaster in his apartment fell on them while he was gone.

When he got home, he slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone. Mr. Hise said he began to wonder if "God wanted me dead but kept missing."

Ever had days you felt that way? I recall an Old Testament character who felt the same way. After suffering hardship upon hardship, listen to these words of Job spoken to God:

"Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?" (Job 7:19-20a, NIV)

We know that Job was not "targeted" by God. In truth, God was his source of strength in time of trial and his Redeemer when the story was over. In the midst of adversity, when everything seems to be going wrong that possibly could go wrong, it's tempting to feel the same way. Be assured -- God has not made you a "target." He is, in fact, your source of strength to get through those tough times. May you rely on that today.

"Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!" (Psalm 30:10)

-alan smith

when

Complete this sentence: 

When I am weak...

    When I am weak I feel like a failure.

    When I am weak I want to quit.

    When I am weak I want to give up.

    When I am weak I want to cry.

    When I am weak I want to run away.

    When I am weak I feel lost.

    When I am weak I think my life is a waste.

Paul said, "When I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

It is rare for us to hear anyone admit a weakness in our day, much less take pride in our weakness like Paul does. You almost never hear an athlete admit a weakness. When a celebrity admits a weakness, it is usually only after a scandal has been uncovered. Certainly not in our current political conversation will you hear any of the contenders admit a weakness.

Paul had reached a level of spiritual maturity where he not only admits his weaknesses, but takes pride in them (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). A man who read and believed the Scriptures, considered a spiritual giant, takes pride in being a failure. 

What is the message? What are we to learn from Paul's example?  Simply and profoundly this: God is our strength.

When you feel that you are weak that is when God will fill you with His strength.

When you have failed God will give you victory.

When you want to quit God will help you go on.

When you are crying God will renew your Spirit.

When you feel lost God will be your home.

When you think your life is a waste God will show you your value.

When you are weak, God's grace will be sufficient.

If this week is anything like last week, or the week before, or the week before that, there will be something that happens this week that makes you realize that you cannot handle everything by yourself. It could be a family disturbance. It could be an upset customer. It could be a disgruntled employee. I could be a bad report from the doctor.

Whatever it happens to be, you may find yourself feeling weak, helpless, and powerless. When that happens listen closely and carefully and you will hear God saying, "My grace is sufficient for you."  Trust that. Lean into that. Know that is true.

Thank Him, and when you are sharing your story include this statement: "When I am weak, then I am strong."

-tom norvell

when

Complete this sentence: 

When I am weak...

    When I am weak I feel like a failure.

    When I am weak I want to quit.

    When I am weak I want to give up.

    When I am weak I want to cry.

    When I am weak I want to run away.

    When I am weak I feel lost.

    When I am weak I think my life is a waste.

Paul said, "When I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

It is rare for us to hear anyone admit a weakness in our day, much less take pride in our weakness like Paul does. You almost never hear an athlete admit a weakness. When a celebrity admits a weakness, it is usually only after a scandal has been uncovered. Certainly not in our current political conversation will you hear any of the contenders admit a weakness.

Paul had reached a level of spiritual maturity where he not only admits his weaknesses, but takes pride in them (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). A man who read and believed the Scriptures, considered a spiritual giant, takes pride in being a failure. 

What is the message? What are we to learn from Paul's example?  Simply and profoundly this: God is our strength.

When you feel that you are weak that is when God will fill you with His strength.

When you have failed God will give you victory.

When you want to quit God will help you go on.

When you are crying God will renew your Spirit.

When you feel lost God will be your home.

When you think your life is a waste God will show you your value.

When you are weak, God's grace will be sufficient.

If this week is anything like last week, or the week before, or the week before that, there will be something that happens this week that makes you realize that you cannot handle everything by yourself. It could be a family disturbance. It could be an upset customer. It could be a disgruntled employee. I could be a bad report from the doctor.

Whatever it happens to be, you may find yourself feeling weak, helpless, and powerless. When that happens listen closely and carefully and you will hear God saying, "My grace is sufficient for you."  Trust that. Lean into that. Know that is true.

Thank Him, and when you are sharing your story include this statement: "When I am weak, then I am strong."

-tom norvell

lunchbox

In one episode from the comic strip "Peanuts", Lucy comes up to her brother, Linus, and tells him that she has "converted" someone in her class to her way of thinking religiously. Knowing his sister, Linus couldn't believe it. "How did you do it?" he asked.

Lucy explained, "I told him everything I believe and asked him if he believed it, too. When we came to something he didn't see my way, I just hit him over the head with my lunch box until he believed it!"

I've seen some instances of "lunch box evangelism", haven't you? It's not very effective. Unfortunately, there are times that the way we talk and the way we act make it difficult for us to share our faith with those around us.

Listen to these words of advice Peter gives to Christian women who are married to non-Christian husbands:

"In the same way, you wives should yield to your husbands. Then, if some husbands do not obey God's teaching, they will be persuaded to believe without anyone's saying a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live. Your husbands will see the pure lives you live with your respect for God." (I Peter 3:1-2, NCV)

Peter isn't saying that we shouldn't talk to people about the Christian life, but he is saying that it is more effective for others to see us actually living that life.

Know someone who needs to hear the gospel message? Put your lunch box away and be careful of the example that you set around them.

meaning

There was a woman who spent some months serving as a missionary in South Africa. On her final visit to a remote township she attended a medical clinic. As the Zulu women there began to sing together, she found herself deeply moved by their hauntingly beautiful harmonies. 

She wanted to always remember this moment and try to share it with friends when she arrived home. With tears flowing down her cheeks, she turned to her friend and asked, "Can you please tell me the translation of the words to this song?"

Her friend looked at her and solemnly replied . . . "If you boil the water, you won't get dysentery."

How many times have we been guilty of the same thing in a worship service? No, not of singing that particular song, but of singing (and perhaps even being moved emotionally) without being aware of the meaning of the words we were singing.

Paul said, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." (I Cor. 14:15)

The melody may be beautiful, but it is the lyrics which give our songs meaning. 
Pay careful attention to what is being said.

....patience

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” Isaiah 30:18

Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt. It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban’s control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. 

So why isn’t God in a hurry?

God called each of these servants to accomplish a certain task in His Kingdom, yet He was in no hurry to bring their mission into fulfillment. 

First, He accomplished what He wanted in them. We are often more focused on outcome than the process that He is accomplishing in our lives each day. When we experience His presence daily, one day we wake up and realize that God has done something special in and through our lives. However, the accomplishment is no longer what excites us. Instead, what excites us is knowing Him. 

Through those times, we become more acquainted with His love, grace, and power in our lives. When this happens, we are no longer focused on the outcome because the outcome is a result of our walk with Him. It is not the goal of our walk, but the by-product. Hence, when Joseph came to power in Egypt, he probably couldn’t have cared less. He had come to a place of complete surrender so that he was not anxious about tomorrow or his circumstances.

This is the lesson for us. We must wait for God’s timing and embrace wherever we are in the process. When we find contentment in that place, we begin to experience God in ways we never thought possible.

-june kiwia

diferences

It takes strength to be firm.

It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.

It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer

It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain.

It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.

It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.

It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide feelings.

It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.

It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.

It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.

It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.

It takes courage to live.

--author unknown

"....as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage...." (Joshua 1:5b-6a).

Heavenly Father, I know that many of my readers are going through difficult times. Some are suffering because of family relationships, others because of addictions, others because of financial trouble, still others because of disease and physical pain. Countless others struggle with the normal stresses that go with living in this world. I pray that you would help each of them to sense your presence so that they will draw closer to you. May they find their strength and their courage in you. In Jesus' name, amen

-alan smith

amore

Ready for some groaners? (author unknown)

When the moon hits your eye,

Like a big pizza pie,

That's amore.

When an eel bites your hand,

And that's not what you planned,

That's a moray.

When your horse munches straw,

And the bales total four,

That's some more hay.

When Othello's poor wife,

Becomes stabbed with a knife,

That's a Moor, eh?

When you ace your last tests,

Like you did all the rest,

That's some more "A"s! 

A comedian ham,

With the name Amsterdam,

That's a Morey.

When your chocolate graham,

Is with marshmallows crammed,

That s'more, eh.

When you've had quite enough,

Of this dumb rhyming stuff,

That's "No more!", eh?

What is amore? It's love! 

--the cement that holds relationships together, the "bond of perfection" (Col. 3:14)

--the essence of God's nature (I John 4:7)

--the one thing greater than any of God's spiritual gifts (I Cor. 13:8)

-- the foundation of the greatest command (and the second greatest!) (Mark 12:30-31)

--the culmination of the Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5-7)

That's amore! "Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Cor 16:14).

basics

A girl, who was not quite four years old, was alone in the house when the phone rang. She answered it and was told that Mr. Brown was calling. "I'm sorry, no one is here. Can I take a message?"

After a pause, Mr. Brown heard, "O.K., I'm ready. Who is this did you say?"

"Mr. Brown."

"How do you spell Brown?"

"B-r-o-w-n."

A long pause, and then, "How do you make a B?"

It's impossible to accomplish some things in life until we have mastered the fundamentals. Any sports coach will tell you that a great team has to first be grounded in the fundamentals. Teachers will tell you the same thing about successful students. And the same thing is true of Christians. The fundamentals, the "first principles" are not always the most enjoyable parts, but they are the most essential parts of what we need to learn.

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you

have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes

only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a

babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,

those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)

May you be grounded in the fundamentals, so that you can grow to enjoy the "solid food" found in God's Word.

understand

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” Job 42:3b

If there was any one man on earth who had reason to question God’s love, it was Job. He lost his family, his health, and his wealth – all at the same time. His friends came to his side only to question his spirituality. God had already answered the question of his integrity. Job was described in the opening verses of the book as “blameless and upright” (see Job 1:1). His calamities were not born from sin. 

Job acknowledged God’s right to do anything in his life until one day he could take it no longer. He questioned God’s motives.

God answered Job, but not in the way he wanted to hear. God answered him with a series of questions that represents the most incredible discourse of correction by God to any human being. Three chapters later, Job realized that he had questioned the motives of the Author of the universe, the Author of love. 

He fell flat before his Creator and realized his total depravity. “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

Have you ever questioned God’s activity in your life? Have you questioned His love for you based on circumstances that came your way? The cross at Calvary answers the love question. He sent His own Son in replacement for your sin. If you were the only person on earth, He would have done the same. 

His ways cannot always be understood or reconciled in our finite minds. That must be left for a future time when all will be understood. 

For now, entrust your life to Him completely. Embrace Him in the hard times and the good.

-june kiwia

real

I heard of a young student, attending a preaching school, who went home for Christmas break. A horrible snowstorm stranded the regular minister in another town where he had been visiting a member in the hospital. The leaders of the congregation asked the young man to substitute for the regular minister.

The young preacher started his sermon by explaining the meaning of a substitute. "If you break a window," he said, "and then place a piece of plywood over the hole -- that's a substitute."

After the sermon, a well-intentioned woman wished to compliment the young man. As she enthusiastically shook his hand, she said: "You were no substitute. You were a real pane!"

Ever gotten a compliment like that, where you went away scratching your head wondering how to take it?

It's easy to assume the worst. We live in a world where people are more often inclined to put you down than to lift you up, where they would rather ridicule you than encourage you.

Make it a point to say something encouraging to someone today, and do it in such a way that there will be no doubt as to your intention.

"Exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today'..." (Hebrews

3:13a)

best

Someone has composed the following list of "Cards You'll Never See at Hallmark":

"Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder....

What was I thinking?!"

"I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love....

After having met you, I've changed my mind."

"As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am....

that you're not here to ruin it for me."

"As you grow older, Mom, I think of all the gifts you've given me.....

Like the need for therapy."

"You look great for your age....

Almost life-like!"

"When we were together, you always said you'd die for me....

Now that we've broken up, I think it's time you kept your promise."

"We have been friends for a very long time....

What do you say we call it quits?"

"I'm so miserable without you....

It's almost like you're here."

"You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life jacket....

I'd miss you heaps and think of you often."

Somehow those cards truly don't seem very appropriate for a card company that advertises with the slogan, "When you care enough to send the very best." Greeting card companies certainly have made it easy for us to let our friends and relatives know that we care about them.

The apostle Paul didn't have the benefit of going into a card store, but many of the words he wrote to congregations and individuals are filled with sentiment and worded in such a way that perhaps they should be used in greeting cards. Listen to these words written to the Christians in Philippi:

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always with every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy....it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart....For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:3-4,7,8).

Warren Wiersbe outlines this section with these phrases: "I have you in my mind", "I have you in my heart" and "I have you in my prayers." That sums up well the affection that Paul had for those brethren.

Is there someone that you care greatly about? Send them a card. Better yet, drop them a line of your own creation and let them know that they are on your mind, in your heart and in your prayers today. Only do it, though, if you care enough to send the "very best."