...instructions

There was a man who got lost in the wilderness. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance. He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note.

The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need". Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die.

After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveller.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note: “ Please prime the pump, believe me it works”!

We have the same choice to make.  Do we hold on to what we have because we don’t believe there are better things in store for us, and settle for immediate satisfaction? Or do we trust God and give up all that we have to get what God has promised us? I think the choice is obvious. We need to pour in all the water, trust God with everything. 

 

Then once we have experienced what God has to offer, the living water, we need to tell other people, “Go ahead prime the pump, believe me it works”!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

-david langerfeld

...gps

I have a love-hate relationship with my GPS because sometimes I think it takes me the wrong way. In fact, I’ve read some interesting stories about people who followed a GPS and ended up in some pretty strange places.

When the Israelites left Egypt, their GPS system was very simple: they moved when the Lord told them to move, and they went where the Lord told them to go.

Today, God directs us through His Word. It’s our GPS system, so to speak, confirmed to us by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We can find everything we need to know about God and about life in the pages of the Bible.

Psalm 1 summarizes this for us: “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers” (verse 1 NLT).

If you want to be happy, according to Psalm 1, then don’t hang out with ungodly people, go to ungodly places, and do ungodly things.

The psalmist goes on to say, “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (verses 2–3 NLT).

God has laid out His parameters for our own protection, for our own good. And as we get older, we start seeing the repercussions of the decisions people made when they were younger.

Solomon, the king of Israel, was renowned for his wisdom. With his unlimited resources, he decided to see for himself everything this world had to offer. Eventually, he came to this conclusion: “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT)

It comes down to this: God’s way is the right way.

-greg 

...big

 I heard a story recently about the University of Tennessee football coach. He bought a bolt of cloth thinking he would have a suit made out of it. He took the material to his tailor in Knoxville where the tailor measured him, examined the bolt of cloth, did some computations on a piece of paper, and said, "I'm sorry, coach, there just isn't enough material in this bolt to make a suit for you." The coach was disappointed, but he threw the bolt of cloth in the trunk of his car, wondering what he was going to do with it.

A couple of weeks later he was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- the home of the Crimson Tide. He was on his way to the coast for a vacation. Driving down the main street in Tuscaloosa, he noticed a tailor shop, which reminded him that he had that bolt of cloth in the trunk. He stopped, thinking he would give it a try. He told the tailor he had bought this bolt of cloth and wondered if he could do anything with it. 

The tailor measured him, measured the bolt of cloth, did some computations. Finally he said, "Coach, I can make you a suit out of this bolt. What's more, I can make you an extra pair of pants. And if you really want it, I can give you a vest out of this, too." 

The coach was dumbfounded. "I don't understand," he said. "My tailor in Knoxville told me he couldn't even make one suit out of this bolt of cloth." The tailor said, "Coach, here in Tuscaloosa, you are not nearly as big a man as you are in Knoxville."

Paul warned each of us in Romans 12:3, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.” It is easy for us to make the mistake of being that we are "bigger" than we really are (the Pharisee who prayed in the temple next the the tax collector in Luke 18 comes to mind).

The church in Laodicea made this mistake. They said, "I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing" Revelation 3:17. Jesus responded to them by saying, in essence, "You don't realize how poor you really are." The sad part is that God can do nothing to help people who are self-sufficient, people who are "big" in their own eyes.

Jesus reminded us (both by his teachings and his life) that to be viewed as "big" in the eyes of God, we need to be willing to be viewed as "small" in the eyes of those around us, willing to serve, ready to find our significance not in our abilities, achievements, or possessions, but in the glory we bring to God in our lives.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

-alan smith

...but

But God is my helper Psalm 54:4.

Have you ever looked up the phrase “but God” in the Bible? You’ll find it in a lot of interesting situations where God intervened.

Take the story of Noah, for example. I wonder if he started to lose hope as he and his family bobbed around in that ark with all those animals after the Flood. Genesis 8:1 tells us, “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede” 

Then we have the story of Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery and thought he was dead. Yet God preserved him. He elevated Joseph to a position of great power in which he was in charge of the food supply.

When a famine struck, his brothers appeared before him one day, asking for food. Joseph said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” Genesis 50:20 

The nation of Israel faced the Red Sea—an insurmountable obstacle—with the Egyptian army in hot pursuit. But God intervened. And what looked like a hopeless situation became a time of glorious deliverance.

The Bible tells us, “But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides” Exodus 14:29.

The lives of Noah, Joseph, and the Israelites remind us that “with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26 

Maybe, like them, you’re in a place where the only way out is God. 

You can be sure of this: God is bigger than your problem. 

And God will always have the last word.

-greg laurie

...little

 "Calling the Twelve to him, He [Jesus] sent them out two by two" Mark 6:7.

Bridge builder, Charles Eliet, had a contract to build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. One of the first problems he faced was how to stretch his first cable across the wide expanse of raging waters. If a boat tried to cross the river it would be swept over the falls. 

Eliet thought of a simple idea. If a kite could be flown to the opposite bank using a light cord, a stronger cord could be attached and pulled across, then a stronger cord pulled across and so on until a cable could be attached and drawn across.

Eliet called for a kite flying contest and a young man named Homan Walsh succeeded on his second attempt. Charles Eliet's simple plan worked and the bridge was built.

In life some of us often feel we don't have a very important role to play. What we do seems so insignificant. It isn't so. Every Christian has an important part to play. It all adds up in the numerous "little things" we are called to do every day.

Jesus started spreading the gospel to the whole world by simply sending his disciples out two by two! So, never underestimate the importance of what God has called you to do. The important thing is to keep at it -- day by day!

-david langerfeld

...voice

Samuel was born to Hannah, a woman who had a deep commitment to God. She was barren, but she cried out to God for a son. The Lord gave her Samuel, whom she completely gave to the Lord for His service. After weaning him, she took him to the house of the Lord to be reared by the priests. Eli was the priest of Israel, but he was not a godly leader. He had allowed much corruption, including the sins of his sons, in God's house. God was not pleased with Eli and later judged him and his household.

Samuel grew up in the temple serving God. He also grew up seeing the hypocrisy of Eli's household, yet this did not change the young man. God was with him. We learn that even though young Samuel had a belief in God, he had not yet experienced a personal relationship with Him. God called to Samuel three times, but Samuel thought it was Eli, the priest, calling him. Finally, Eli told him to say, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening" 1 Sam. 3:9. This is what Samuel did, and God began telling Samuel important things to come.

Many of us grow up in religious environments. 

We go to church every week. 

We have a head knowledge of God, but we do not recognize God's voice in our lives. 

There comes a time when we must recognize God's voice for ourselves. God does not want us to have a religion; He wants us to have a two-way relationship with Him. Samuel was never the same after this encounter. He would know God's voice and would respond to Him in obedience.

Do you know God's voice? 

Can you recognize it when He speaks? 

In order to hear God's voice, you must be clean before Him and listen. Listen to God's voice today and follow His plans for you.  "His sheep follow Him because they know His voice."  John 10:4. 

-dave langerfeld

...change

 Have you ever heard the saying that old habits are hard to break? That means that change is hard to do. Change defined means "to alter, to transform, to switch, or to transfer". The definition that stuck out the most to me was to break, meaning to shift to a lower register as in to "Make Change". 

My oldest daughter is in the 3rd grade and she has learned how to count money. She is amazed at how many ways you can make a dollar out of change. 2 half dollars = $1.00, 4 quarters = $1.00, 10 dimes = $1.00, 20 nickels = $1.00 and 100 pennies = $1.00. No matter which amount you have, it all equals a dollar. 

In order to "Make Change" out of a dollar, it has to be broken. When you allow God to make change in your life, things you have have to be broken. You may end up having a lot of fragmented pieces once He starts breaking things down in your life, but it's okay. You may end up 4 quarters or even 100 pennies, but once he adds all the change, you end up being whole again. 

"He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Familiarity is often hard to walk away from but it breeds complacency and stagnation. While on the other hand, change is altering, modifying or doing away with a routine or habit. Change is a breaking point in our lives where we have to step out of the ordinary to step into the extraordinary. Change is a sacrifice of things to become broken  - to be made whole. 

Allow God to make change in your life because a path in a circle eventually takes you back to where you started, so you end up going nowhere. You end up in a cycle that seems to keep repeating itself over and over again. The same bad choices with the same results. The same mountain. The same test that you have taken so many times that you end up memorizing the questions. If this applies to you, you need God to break you and "Make Change". 

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.    Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;  a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."  Psalm 51:8-12; 17

-author unknown

...line

The Bible is filled with the stories of so many people who had tremendous potential but crashed and burned in the spiritual race. There was King Saul, the namesake of Saul who later became the apostle Paul. King Saul was handsome, tall, brave, and anointed by God to be the king of Israel. He even prophesied. Saul had incredible potential, but he disobeyed God repeatedly. He allowed pride into his life, giving way to paranoia and jealousy, which ultimately consumed him. He met a tragic end on the battlefield. What a wasted life.

Then there was Samson. Talk about power. He had an incredible ability to vanquish his enemies. He would kill them left and right on the battlefield. On one occasion Samson killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Yet Samson went down in flames. Because he played around with sin, sin ultimately played around with him, and it culminated in his own death.

There was Gideon, who had such humble beginnings and was mightily used by God to defeat his enemies. But as Gideon’s life came to an end, he lowered his standards and fell into immorality and pride.

All of these men started well, but they didn’t finish well. 

They ran fast in the beginning, but they didn’t get across the finish line as they should have.

The apostle Paul, however, wanted to be in the company of those who finished the race, joining the ranks of those who did so in God’s winners’ circle—men like Caleb and Joshua who finished well. He said, “I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” 2 Timothy 4:7.

If your life were to end today, would you be able to say, like Paul, “I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful”?

-greg laurie

...goodness

There's an old Dennis the Menace cartoon in which Dennis and his friend Joey are walking away from the Wilson's house with their hands full of cookies.  Joey asks, "I wonder what we did to deserve this?"

 

Dennis tells his friend, "Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we're nice, but because she's nice."

 

The same can be said of our Heavenly Father.  He gives, not because we're good, but because He's good.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us for our iniquities.  Instead, he is the one "...who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:4-5

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 

-david langerfeld

...mess

 I recently heard the following story:

“My daughter Michelle is the commander of a Coast Guard Cutter. When she gave my husband Bob a tour of her ship, he was impressed by the neatness of all decks.  “However, when Bob went to Michelle's house with her, he couldn't believe the disorganization. ‘Why is everything in its place on your ship,’ he asked, ‘but your house is such a mess?’

“‘My house,’ Michelle said, ‘does not take 30-degree rolls.’”

I found the story quite humorous, but it made me wonder. How often do others notice that things are just fine in our workplace, but not at home? Things may be “in its place” at work (and elsewhere), but at home things are “a mess.” One of the saddest passages in the Bible is found in I Samuel 8:1-3:

“Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.”

Here was Samuel – a great prophet, one of the greatest men in the Bible, arguably one of the godliest men in all of history, but his sons didn’t follow after his example. Some commentators have speculated that it was at least partly due to the fact that Samuel traveled around Israel fulfilling his responsibilities as a prophet I Sam. 7:15-16, neglecting his family in the process.

It’s a problem that everyone who works struggles with, but especially preachers because we often view our work as being done “for God” so we feel justified in pouring more of our time and effort into our work. But there is always the danger -- the temptation – that we may be neglecting things at home.

Early in my ministry, my wife used to complain, “You always have time for anybody else who comes to you with a problem, but you can’t find time for me.” There were times she was right. I felt compelled to make sure that everything was in order at “work”, but I sometimes allowed things at home to be a “mess.” I’m sure there were many times my children felt the same way. I would like to think that I’ve learned from my mistakes and have a better balance now.

My message today comes with an encouragement for all of you who work to make an assessment of your own. Are you more interested in keeping things in order at work than you are at home? May God help each of us as we strive to fulfill our God-given responsibilities to our spouses and children.

-alan smith

...adopted

The following was reported by WESTERN MORNING NEWS in 1994:

Ian Lewis, 43, of Standish, Lancashire, England, was interested in finding out about his family. He spent 30 years tracing his family tree back to the seventeenth century. He traveled all over Britain, talked to 2,000 relatives and planned to write a book about how his great-grandfather left to seek his fortune in Russia and how his grandfather was expelled after the Revolution. Then he found out he had been adopted when he was a month old and his real name was David Thornton. He resolved to start his family research all over again.

How frustrating! However, it reminds me that, for a Christian, it makes no difference whether we trace our spiritual lineage by way of birth or adoption because both images are used to express our relationship to God our Father.

"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.' " John 3:5

"...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will..." Ephesians 1:5

God is our Father by (re)birth and by adoption (we are chosen!). 

What a privilege to be a part of His family!

-alan smith

...run

When I was in high school, I went out for the track. I was a pretty good runner in the short-distance events. But I got killed on long-distance runs. I would take off at the beginning of the race and leave everyone in my dust. I would be ahead of the crowd and feeling good. But then I would start getting a little fatigued. And pretty soon people started passing me.

I think the apostle Paul must have been something of a sports fan, because he used athletic analogies quite often, especially the analogy of running a race. Writing to the church in Corinth he said, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24–25.

And in Philippians 3:14 Paul wrote, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”. Paul was saying in effect, “I’m like a runner in the last stretch, and it hurts. But I’m going to make it. I’m determined.”

A lot of Christians start out their spiritual race with a bang, much like the way I started my races in high school. They are so excited about the Lord. They take off running and leave everyone else in their dust. Then they collapse and fall.

The Christian life is a race, but it isn’t a sprint. It’s a long-distance run. There will be times when we collapse and fall. And all we can do is get up again and keep running until we cross the finish line.

-greg laurie

...?who

The following story is told about a United Airlines gate agent in Denver, Colorado who was confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. During the final days at Denver's old Stapleton airport, a crowded United flight was canceled.  A single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

 

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk.  He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, "I HAVE to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS." The agent replied, "I'm sorry sir.  I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these folks first, and I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."

The passenger was unimpressed.  He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, "Do you have any idea who I am?" Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone.  "May I have your attention please?" she began, her voice bellowing throughout the terminal.  "We have a passenger here at the gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS.  If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to gate 17."

The folks behind him in line began laughing hysterically.  Although the flight was canceled and people were late, they were no longer angry at United.

I grew up in a time when people spent a lot of time trying to "find themselves" (though I never quite figured out exactly what they were looking for).   Do we have any idea who we are?  Those of us who are Christians are children of God.  That doesn't make us "special", but it does give meaning to our lives.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." Romans 8:14-17

-alan smith

...disappointment

Disappointments are inescapable appointments in life. Why do we have to face them—and how should we deal with them?

Often, our dashed hopes, shattered dreams, and unmet expectations summon us to change directions so we can get on the right track. Setbacks are also useful for the trial and exercise of our courage and faith in God. And though painful, sometimes God allows our plans to fail, so His plans for us might succeed. Our disappointments are His appointments to transform our bitterest moments into occasions of great significance. 

Be sure to honor all your appointments with disappointment, for we sometimes have to be disappointed in order to be appointed for our unique purpose. Even our disappointments are blessed. Yes, BLESSED DISAPPOINTMENTS! Numbers 6:24-27; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28, 35-39; Hebrews 10:35

-samwel koranteng-pipim

...excuses

"I'm not perfect."

"I have all kinds of problems."

"I don't know the Bible well enough."

"I have no ability. I don't have any gifts."

"I'm limited."

"I'm just not worthy..."

Well, did you know that....

  Moses stuttered.

  David's armor didn't fit.

  John Mark deserted Paul.

  Timothy had ulcers.

  Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

  Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning.

  Jacob was a liar.

  David had an affair.

  Abraham was too old.

  David was too young.

  Peter was afraid of death.

  Lazarus was dead.

  John was self-righteous.

  Naomi was a widow.

  Paul was a persecutor of the church.

  Moses was a murderer.

  Jonah ran from God's will.

  Miriam was a gossip.

  Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

  Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.

  Elijah was burned out.

  John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

  Martha was a worry-wart.

  Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

  So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

God doesn't require an interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't check our bank statement or credit rating or our IQ before He uses us.  He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. He knows who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves.

Satan says, "You're not worthy"

Jesus says, "So what?  I am!"

Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.

God looks back and sees the cross.

There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asks will receive; and he that seeks will find; and to him that knocks it shall be opened"  Matthew 7:7-8

-david langerfeld

...spirit

I often see a lot of confusion on this topic. Some believe that when we die, our physical bodies “sleep” until God raises us in our glorified immortal bodies. But what about our “spirit,” as seen in Ecclesiastes 12? Where does it go after death? Well, Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, says it goes back to God.

Some believe this spirit to be a separate entity that can think and act on its own. But the Word of God describes it very differently. This power, this “breath of life,” which was breathed into Adam at the creation, is not any more conscious than electricity.  Notice, “The dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun” Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6.

Consider that in Luke, Jesus describes Jarius’ daughter as “sleeping” before He raises her from the dead. He also says this about Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” John 11:11. Jesus understood death to be like a peaceful, dreamless sleep without consciousness of time.

It’s also interesting to note that of the 12 or so resurrections mentioned in the Bible, not one of those raised is ever recorded commenting on being aware of anything after death.

The next thing a believer will be aware of after death is the resurrection. That’s why Paul says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52. Adam died about 6,000 years ago, but as far as he’s concerned, he’s going to come up with a new body instantly.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

Ecclesiastes 12:7

-doug batchelor

 

...emptied

 "I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts.  

But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."

  -  Dwight L. Moody

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself daily, take up his cross and follow me". Luke 9:23

 

 

...legacy

There was a man who had the unique opportunity of reading his own obituary. One day over his morning toast, he opened the paper and saw his name in the obituary column. Obviously it had been printed by mistake, but what really distressed him was the fact that he was remembered as the man who created dynamite.

He thought, “Of all of the things I’ll be remembered for, it will be my creation of something that is used for mass destruction.” So he decided to make some dramatic changes in his life. The man’s name was Alfred Nobel, and he went on to create the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

In 2 Timothy 4, the apostle Paul stated his legacy. His turbulent life was coming to an end, but he had truly made a difference. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” verses 7–8.

 

Notice that Paul didn’t say, “I ran the race.” Rather, he said, “I finished the race.” It is not enough to start well. We need to finish well. It is not enough to run fast. We need to run fast and long. The goal is to make it across the finish line and have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God 2 Peter 1:11.

 

You are running a race. Keep running. If you have slowed down, it’s time to move forward, because you will leave a legacy. 

What will you be known for?

Your life can make a difference if you’re on the right course.

-greg laurie

...run

The real problem in any problem is flight from that problem. 

A sage said: “Running away from any problem only increases the distance from the solution. The easiest way to escape from the problem is to solve it.” Yet, we tend to run when we face challenges or are in distress or trouble. But running only complicates matters. Often, we cannot outrace our problems because we are the problem! 

Running also delays the solution, since we’ll have to return to the exact spot and face the same problem from which we’ve been fleeing. Are you tempted to run because of fear Psalm 55:4-7? 

Please, don’t! For, no matter how far or fast you run, sooner or later your problems will eventually catch up to you. With God’s help, gather courage to face your challenges head on—and conquer them 1 Samuel 17. 

Not FRIGHT nor FLIGHT, but FIGHT—in His MIGHT.
-samuel koranteng-pipim

...pain

Pain is never appreciated as a gift until God unwraps it. He grabs our attention when we’re in pain and, through its refining process, He brings the best out of us. Writes the prophet Isaiah “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” Isaiah 48:10. 

Pain is a “blessing,” so wrote Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918–2008, the Russian literary giant and outspoken critic of Soviet communism. Describing his 11 years of suffering in forced labor camps and exile, and its effect on him, he said: “It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good…That is why I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say…‘Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!’” 

One day, we also will look back on our prisons of trials and afflictions, and say, “Thank you, Pain, for coming into my life!” Psalm 119:67, 71, 75; Romans 5:3, 4

-samuel koranteng-pipim 

...better

Nothing of value comes cheap or quick. A sign posted in a farm-equipment repair shop reads: “We do three types of jobs—Cheap, Quick, and Good. You can have any two. A good quick job won’t be cheap. A good job cheap won’t be quick. A cheap job quick won’t be good” Reader’s Digest, February 1994, p.127. 

The choice we make goes beyond paying for products and services. Generally speaking, in life also, we can only choose two of the three: Cheap (low cost), Quick (fast) and Good (quality). Of these, the “Good” ought to be non-negotiable. To choose well, always insist on the best or the most excellent. Everything else is optional. 

The Good Book says: 

“Whatever things are TRUE, whatever things are NOBLE, whatever things are JUST, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” Philippians 4:8; cf. Micah 6:8; Jeremiah 6:16.

 

Wondering why things of value take time and are often expensive? It’s because quality lasts and is priceless. Choose quality. Choose excellence. Nothing less!

-samuel koranteng-pipim

...rest

Are you tired? Tired from the busy-ness of life? Constantly racing to meet pressing deadlines? Are you overwhelmed by the killing demands of your ever-increasing “To-Do list”? Here are two helpful suggestions: 

1. “Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list.” Patti Digh 

2. “In an age of speed, …nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.” Pico Iyer.

To those of us who are super-busy, who have so much going on that there’s hardly any time even to eat, Jesus bids us: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Elsewhere, He counsels: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…and you will find rest for your souls” Mark 6:31; Matthew 11:28-29.

Notice the words: 

“Come with Me… and get some rest”; “Come to Me…and I’ll give you rest…. and you will find rest for your souls.” Christ’s words are not mere human suggestions. His invitations are compelling commands—divine commands that are also loaded with rich promises. 

And, just like the physical laws of nature, we break God’s commandments at our own peril. It’s why we must not wait till some painful crises—such as burnout, mental or emotional breakdown, a health crisis, divorce, spiritual failure, bereavement, etc.— compel us to slow down and take the much-needed rest.

Are you fatigued or worn out? Has your busy life drained you? Is your spiritual life empty? If so, it’s time to regain your strength and vitality—to recharge your batteries physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Stop everything and go to a quiet place where you can rest, reflect, and rejuvenate. 

A place to be alone with the Lord, meditate on His Word, commune with Him in prayer, and claim His promises: “Come with Me… and get some rest”; “Come to Me…and I’ll give you rest…. and you will find rest for your souls” Why not accept His offer today? Right now!

- samuel koranteng-pipim

 

....nothing

When you believe in something, you’ve got to give it your best and your ALL. When you say “Yes” to a person or a cause, there are no “maybes” or “ifs.” No “what ifs,” but “even ifs.” You commit to giving your ALL or nothing at all. Your “all” includes everything you HAVE—your time, resources, abilities, accomplishments, relationships, reputation, entitlements or rights, or any other thing you hold dear or claim as your own. Your “all” also includes all that you ARE—your thoughts, your will, your affections, your desires, your aspirations, or anything else you claim to define your very being or identity.

“All or nothing,” then, is a choice we make—a mindset we adopt—to willingly give ourselves and our all to a cause or a person we believe in. It’s a declaration of total surrender. It’s a resolute decision to go ALL the way, not halfway or part of the way. It’s a willingness to follow and follow through, regardless of outlook or outcome. 

The foundation for such an “ALL or nothing” commitment is an unquestioning faith in God—the kind of faith modeled in Scriptures: “Abraham followed God’s leading without knowing where it would take him. Hannah waited for God’s perfect timing without knowing when. Mary expected a miracle without knowing how. Joseph trusted God’s purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did. Each of these people were fully surrendered to God” rick warren.

Are you presently in a valley of decision? Wondering whether or not to commit to a cause or person? Begin by first committing to God, and He will establish and order your steps: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” Proverbs 3:5, 6; cf. Luke 10:27; Colossians 3:23, 24.

“Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing” E.G. White. 

Trusting God all the way, come what may, is the foundation for an “All or nothing” commitment. 

—samuel koranteng-pipim

...temptation

Someone wrote: “The Devil tempts men most when they have money. He tempts women most when they don’t have money. For us to keep the Devil away, my brothers, if you get money give it to your wife so that while you walk without money, she walks with money and the Devil is kept away!”

Interesting, but keeping the Devil’s temptation away is not quite that simple. Besides money, Satan also entices through power, pleasure, ambition, applause, flattery, fantasy, needs, and just about any desire that appeals to our carnal hearts and pride. 

The reason we yield to temptation is because deep within our hearts is a sinful desire that lies dormant, and awaits activation by some external stimulus or agent. A fall may occur when “evil within” is perfectly timed or synchronized with a tempting “evil without.”

The Bible says: “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” James 1:14, 15.

Temptation then comes from at least two sources: from without and from within: “Temptation is enticement to sin, and this does not proceed from God, but from Satan and from the evil of our own hearts” E.G. White.

We’re our own temptation! To keep the Devil away requires a Power that can defeat Satan and which can also cleanse the heart from its inherent selfish desires. We read: “The Son of God came into the world to destroy the works of the devil…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” 1 John 3:8; Ezekiel 36:26; James 4:7; cf. Mark 7:21-23; Ezekiel 18:30-32.

-samuel koranteng-pipim

...darkest

What do you do, when you cannot see your way clearly? 
What will keep you going when you see no light at the end of the tunnel? 

The inspired song writer, King David, tells us that when we face our darkest moments, it is not “what” to do to dispel our fears, but “Who” it is by our side to encourage us on: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4.

We can walk THROUGH the darkest valley because of GOD—
(i) God’s abiding presence (“You are with me”) and 
(ii) God’s leading and protection (“Your rod and Your staff”). Through the prophet Isaiah, God Himself makes these resounding promises:“I WILL bring the blind by a way they did not know; I WILL lead them in paths they have not known. I WILL make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I WILL do for them” Isaiah 42:16.

Notice the emphasis: “I will…I will…I will…I will.” It’s not what we can do, but what God will do. We can’t, but HE can and HE will. We must learn to trust Him because “His promises are very sure; [and] He is a God who never fails” James Varrick Armaah; cf. Hebrews 10:23.

So, when we cannot see our way clearly or when facing our darkest moments, we must hold on to God! (i) We must believe that He is with us and near us; and 

(ii) We must trust in what He can do and is willing to do.

 “When I try, I fail. But when I trust, He succeeds” Phil Dunham. 

In our darkest moments, let’s have confidence in God’s ability and unshakeable promises:
“I WILL turn the darkness into light before them and [I WILL] make the rough places smooth. These are the things I WILL do; I WILL not forsake them”(Isaiah 42:16, NIV; cf. Jeremiah 32:17, 27). 
We can’t, but He can and He will.
—samuel koranteng-pipim

...polished

 It hurts to be hurt—repeatedly!  

But consider this: 

“When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. 

They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, 

you end up polished and they end up useless" chris colfer. 

Incredible though it may seem, God often employs the hurtful actions of people to bless us! He uses them like abrasive or coarse “sandpaper,” to polish or “smooth off the rough spots” in our lives. Think of the envy & betrayal of Joseph's brothers, the lies & slander of Potiphar’s wife, and the forgetfulness of the chief-cupbearer. Amazingly, God used these hurtful actions to prepare and promote Joseph to become prime minister Genesis 39-41! 

Are you wondering about the prickly, mean, and vicious people who keep showing up in your life? They’re providential sand papers. Be polished by them! God uses even the worst people to bring out the best in us. Shine through your hurts!

-samuel koranteng-pipim

...seeking

 Dear Friend,"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

God wants us to seek Him more than anything else, even more than we seek answers to prayer. When we come to God in prayer, sometimes our hearts are so full of what we want that we leave God out. 

Our minds become consumed with the gift rather than the giver."You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

-charles stanley

...past

The Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13-14

At some time every one of us will experience painful circumstances of one kind or another. The important issue is not what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens. Painful experiences can make us bitter or better. The choice is up to each one of us. Like the Apostle Paul we need to learn how to let go of what lies behind so we, too, can "press on" to achieve God's goal for our life.

To do this requires the following steps on our part:

1. Quit playing the blame-game.

One lady I was working with in a group setting complained bitterly saying, "I can't understand why God gave me such a terrible husband." "Who chose him?" I asked. "God did," she replied. She had deceived herself into believing that fantasy. God will guide us if we genuinely seek his direction, but he won't make our decisions for us. As adults we are totally responsible for every decision and choice we make. As long as we play the blame-game, we can never get on with our life. We stay stuck where we are and can do so for years.

2. Overcome denial.

Fred has been divorced for close to twenty years. His former wife re-married soon after their divorce. But Fred is still living in the delusion that his former wife will return to him. He is refusing to let go of the past, and is stuck there. Denial is deadly if we ever hope to fully live and fully love.

3. Forgive to be free.

No matter how badly we feel we have been hurt, failing to forgive keeps us bound by the past as we are unconsciously allowing bitter memories of past hurts to control our present life. As another has said, "Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

4. Resolve supercharged negative emotions.

Regardless of the reason, whenever we feel let down, rejected, or even abused, we have hurt and angry feelings. This is normal. To nurse these negative emotions is damaging to all present and future close relationships and meaningful living. Until we resolve these negative emotions, it is impossible to forgive.

Denying, suppressing, and/or repressing supercharged negative emotions is also destructive of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. No wonder God's Word advises: "So get rid of your feelings of hatred [unresolved anger]. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty … deception, envy and fraud." 1 Peter 2:1,3   Stuffing negative emotions is not getting rid of them.

As we follow these steps for letting go, we are freed to forget what lies behind and move onward and upward to achieve our God-given goals and life-purpose.

-richard innes

...hope

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another...If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone... If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  Romans 12:15-16; 18-20

For many years an elderly lady in our neighborhood was noted for her beautiful tulip garden, Just passing by the colorful display made the heart want to sing; her garden represented earth's beauty at its best.

Next door to her was the unkempt home of an old bachelor. His fence was battered and broken, weeds shot up everywhere, and the paint was peeling.

Such extremes of appearance, it seems, could not coexist for long. Neighbors wondered why the elderly lady didn't complain or make a phone call to city officials. Yet no confrontation ever occurred. The beautiful tulip garden and the messy yard remained the same year after year.

But this spring an odd thing happened. As I drove down the street, I was surprised to see a few brilliantly colored rows of tulips in front of the old man's house. The rest of the yard still looked like a disaster, but those new, gorgeous tulips stood out. Curious, I stopped my car and walked up to the lady's home. She was outside weeding her flowers.

"Hello!" I greeted her. "I've always admired your beautiful tulips."

"Well, thank you," she said, smiling in a way that made those gray-blue eyes of hers twinkle. "If you will wait a minute, I will cut some for you to take home. They don't last long, mind you, but they sure brighten up a room!"

Within a few minutes, she had cut a dozen gorgeous blooms for me. I thanked her and then said, "I noticed your neighbor planted tulips, too."

"Oh, no," she said, winking at me. "I planted those for Mr. James. He lost his wife a few years ago, and his children have all grown and moved faraway. He lives such a bitter, lonely life," she sighed. "I call that my plot of hope."

"A plot of hope?" I asked, not sure what she meant.

"Yes, to give him back the hope that his own home can be beautiful again, that there is still goodness in life, and to let him know that Jesus loves him just as much as He loves me."

I clutched my bouquet of tulips and left that garden feeling I had learned much more about the meaning of brotherly love.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:20
-author unknown

....xp

Long before the initials “XP” were chosen as the name for a Microsoft operating system, XP was short for a very rare incurable skin disease, found mostly among children, called Xeroderma Pigmentosum. The nature of the incurable malady prevents skin cells from repairing once they have become sun-damaged. 

In healthy people, our skin and eye surfaces are always healing and repairing themselves from the damage resulting from normal exposure to sunlight. But not so for those who suffer with XP. Only about one in one million children are affected by this life-threatening disease, but due to their extremely severe sensitivity to UV rays, those afflicted by XP are 1,000 times more likely to develop skin cancers or lose their sight than healthy children.

In order to prolong their lives, children affected by XP must take very radical measures to avoid all direct and indirect sunlight. That even includes light from fluorescent bulbs. In order to decrease their chances of cancer, they must virtually live their lives hiding from the light behind sunglasses, slathered in sunscreen, sequestered in dim shadows and darkness. These children of the moon can only come out to play after dark and live in virtual fear of daylight! It is so sad to hear how these children with XP must spend their lives in the dark.

While there is currently no cure for those afflicted with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, there is a cure for God’s children who are imprisoned in spiritual darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” John 8:12. While the scribes and Pharisees prided themselves in having great light, they actually lived in darkness. The disease of sin made them uncomfortable with being in the presence of Jesus, the light of the world.

But there are those who want to be in the light. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” Isaiah 9:2. I sure look forward to the day when not only will Christ shine upon our world in the fullness of His glory, but heal all the children who suffer from diseases like XP.

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5

-doug batchelor

...soft

Not long ago I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.

 

Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?"

 

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply -something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.

 

The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair.

 

"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him."

 

This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice... the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper.

 

God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

 

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

 

'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

-david langerfeld 

 

...body

 Dr. David Livingstone was one of the most popular national heroes in the late 19th-century Britain. He was not only a missionary to Africa, but a scientific investigator, explorer, reformer, and anti-slavery crusader. He was especially known for his obsession with finding the source of the Nile River by penetrating the unknown (to Europeans) heart of Africa.

When the famous missionary and explorer died in 1873, his loyal friends Chuma and Susi buried his heart under a tree in Africa as he had requested. They then embalmed his body by filling it with salt and leaving it to dry in the sun for 14 days, then wrapping it in cloth. Next they enclosed the body in the bark of an Mvula tree, over which they sewed heavy sailcloth. This package was then tied to a long pole so that two men could carry it, along with Livingstone’s important papers. 

His two friends then started on a dangerous and epic 11-month, 1,000-mile journey to Zanzibar. When they arrived in February of 1874 they gave the body to the amazed officers of the British Consul. When the body arrived in England on April 15, there was some disbelief regarding the identity of the remains. However, upon examination of the left arm, they saw the awful scar from a lion attack Livingstone had survived. At that point all doubt disappeared. 

On April 18, 1874, virtually all of London came to a standstill as the remains of David Livingstone were buried in Westminster Abbey. At his funeral, along with kings and dignitaries, were his children, along with his friends Susi, Henry Stanley, and the aged Robert Moffat, who had first called Livingstone to Africa 40 years earlier. 

Did you know the Bible tells how another body remained embalmed over a period of 200 years and was carried by hand for more than 1,000 miles before it was buried? Joshua very carefully followed the request made by Joseph many years before when Israel returned to Canaan. “The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor … ”Joshua 24:32. 

Someday, all who sleep in the grave waiting for Christ’s return will awake to everlasting life. There will be no more separations, no more diseases that kill, and no more death.  

"And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence." Genesis 50:25

-doug batchelor

...spider

There was once a spider who lived in a cornfield. He was a big spider and he had spun a beautiful web between the corn stalks. He got fat eating all the bugs that would get caught in his web. He liked his home and planned to stay there for the rest of his life.

 

One day the spider caught a little bug in his web, and just as the spider was about to eat him, the bug said, "If you let me go I will tell you something important that will save your life." The spider paused for a moment and listened because he was amused. "You better get out of this cornfield," the little bug said, "The harvest is coming!"

 

The spider smiled and said, "What is this harvest you are talking about? I think you are just telling me a story." But the little bug said, "Oh no, it is true.  The owner of this field is coming to harvest it soon. All the stalks will be knocked down and the corn will be gathered up. You will be killed by the giant machines if you stay here."

 

The spider said, "I don't believe in harvests and giant machines that knock down corn stalks. How can you prove this?" The little bug continued, "Just look at the corn. See how it is planted in rows? It proves this field was created by an intelligent designer." The spider laughed and mockingly said, "This field has evolved and has nothing to do with a creator. Corn always grows that way." The bug went on to explain, "Oh no. This field belongs to the owner who planted it, and the harvest is coming soon." The spider grinned and said to the little bug, "I don't believe you," and then the spider ate the little bug for lunch.

 

A few days later, the spider was laughing about the story the little bug had told him. He thought to himself, "A harvest! What a silly idea.   I have lived here all of my life and nothing has ever disturbed me. I have been here since these stalks were just a foot off the ground, and I'll be here for the rest of my life, because nothing is ever going to change in this field.  Life is good, and I have it made."

 

The next day was a beautiful sunny day in the cornfield. The sky above was clear and there was no wind at all. That afternoon as the spider was about to take a nap, he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving toward him. He could hear the roar of a great engine and he said to himself, "I wonder what that could be?"

 

"...In the last days mockers will come, following their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is this coming he promised?'" 2 Peter 3:3-4

-david langerfeld