....praise

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

We cannot always (or even often) control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen which dismay or appall, we ought to look to God for His meaning, remembering that He is not taken by surprise, nor can His purposes be thwarted in the end.

 

What God looks for is those who will worship Him in the midst of every circumstance.  Our look of inquiring trust glorifies Him.  This is our first responsibility: to glorify God.  

In the face of life's worst reversals and tragedies, the response of a faithful Christian is praise - not for the wrong itself, certainly, but for who God is and for the ultimate assurance that there is a pattern being worked out for those who love Him. 

-elisabeth elliot  

...giving

 "...You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" Acts 20:35

When I was a boy I enjoyed getting gifts. I remember the night before my birthday I would lie awake all night wondering what I would get. In the morning I would be running all over the house almost bursting with anticipation. When the time finally came to open the presents I would tear into the wrapping paper like a wild tiger until I reached the treasure underneath. I always loved what I got too. It didn’t matter if it was a book, ball, or bike. I cherished it with the pure joy of a child.

When I got older and had my own kids, however, I discovered something far more enjoyable than receiving gifts. I discovered the delight of giving them. I would watch with a smile while my children opened the gifts I bought them. The sparkle in their eyes was priceless. The smiles on their faces were invaluable. The laughter on their lips and the happy hugs they gave me were treasures beyond compare. Nothing brought me as much joy as giving them happiness with the gifts of my heart.

Our Heavenly Father has given us so many gifts in this world. He has given us the gifts of love, kindness, and compassion. He has given us the gifts of goodness, laughter, and joy. He has given us the gifts of our minds, talents, and skills. Most of all He has given us the gift of sharing our gifts with others.

Don’t waste the gifts of Heaven then. Use them. Share them. Give them to others. You were given a heart to love. You were given hands to help. You were given a mind to think. You were given a soul to shine. You were given gifts within to share with all. You were given your time here to make a difference in this world. Do so today!

Nothing will bring you more love. Nothing will bring you greater happiness. Nothing will leave you feeling closer to God.  "Tis more blessed to give than to receive."

-joseph j. mazzella

...learn

Ants are the most numerous creatures on Earth. It has been estimated that the combined weight of the world’s ants is greater than the combined weight of all humans on the planet. We also admire ants for their ability to pull 30 times, and lift 50 times, their own weight. That would be equivalent to you or me out-pulling a Clydesdale or lifting an elephant. Ants understand team work too! If necessary, they will make their bodies into ladders to climb on, or rafts to float on.

Ants are also among the most organized insects. Some ant species herd aphids like domestic livestock. The ants and aphids are engaged in a symbiotic relationship in which each benefits from the other. On the one hand, the ants actually care for the aphids and protect them from ladybugs. In exchange, the ants receive nutritious “honeydew” excreted by the aphids. 

The ants tap the aphids with their antennae to let them know they would like some honeydew sap. Then they carry the “honey” back to the nest to feed others. While tending their flock, the ants may redistribute the aphids on the host plant to prevent local overcrowding. Before winter, these ants will even carry off aphid eggs to start a new herd of aphids in the spring. 

Some ants are also farmers. Leafcutter ants from the tropical forests of Central and South America live in huge underground colonies, ruled by a single queen, that may contain as many as 8 million ants. The largest workers leave the nest and go out foraging for leaves and petals. They collect the leaves by cutting them with their sharp jaws into small pieces. 

They then carry the pieces back home. But they don’t eat the leaves. Instead, these resourceful insects use them to grow their own food! Back at the nest, smaller worker ants chew the leaves into tiny pieces to form large compost heaps. This compost grows the fungus on which they feed. These fungus gardens deep underground are carefully tended by tiny gardener ants. 

The Bible says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise” Proverbs 6:6

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:"

"Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,"

"Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8

When we study God’s creation, even the lowly ant can inspire us and give us wisdom.

-doug batchelor 

....winner

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2

Jim Ryun, America's hope at the 1972 Olympic games to win the 1500-meter race, fell just 500 meters short of the finish line in his qualifying race. After a review of the video tape, the Olympic Committee refused to reinstate him even though the video showed he had been fouled.

As a new Christian, the challenge for Jim was how he would handle the major crisis of his running career. Devastating? It could have been. Jim had focused all of his training and energy for a full year on that one Olympic event which had seemingly been stolen out from underneath him.

But, Jim had found that no glory on earth... no Olympic medal... no world record... could fill the emptiness in his heart - only Jesus Christ could bring fulfillment and purpose to his life. Later Jim wrote, "God allowed me to be disqualified from the world's most prestigious athletic competition to show me how to be a real winner."

How are you trying to fill that emptiness deep within? Are you relentlessly pursuing your dreams expecting their fulfillment to bring you fulfillment? Are you trying to fill the emptiness with success? with praise and accolades from others? with money? Or perhaps you're trying to fill the emptiness in relationships with others.  Are you expecting the emptiness to be filled by your spouse? a boyfriend? a girlfriend? your children?

The only One who can perfectly and permanently fill the emptiness within you is Jesus Christ. If you don't have a relationship with Him, or if you relationship has been weakened by trials and turmoil, why not find the peace and joy and fulfillment that Jim Ryun has found by turning to God and allowing Him to be your Lord and Savior.

-marji kruger 

together....

Many of the world's greatest dramas are not on a stage or a screen, but they are played out in that quadrennial spectacle we call the Olympics. One year Britain's representative in the 400-meter race, Derek Redmond, went down in the back stretch with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants approached, Redmond fought to his feet and set out hopping, desperately trying to finish the race. He knew he wouldn't win, he was just trying to finish.

When he reached the final stretch, a man came out of the stands, pushed past a security guard, and ran to Redmond and hugged him. That man was Jim Redmond, Derek's father, and he said to him, "Son, you don't have to do this." Gritting his teeth and with tears in his eyes, his son said, "Yes, I do."

His father's reply, "Well, then, we're going to finish this together." Derek's head was sometimes buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane to the end. When they crossed the finish line, the crowd stood to its feet, cheered, and wept as those two men finished the race.

Moses says to Israel in Deuteronomy 1:29-31 , "Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.'"

Maybe today you are tired, banged up, or stressed out, and like that 400-meter runner in the Olympics, you are staggering right now. You're having a hard time finishing your race. You started well, and you have been running hard, but you're about to go down. Maybe you have been hit by discouragement, illness, family trouble, a lack of support, or a lack of help. Maybe you've run into obstacles or pain and you are hurting, and there is still more of the race ahead of you. God wants to give you the good news that someone has left the stands to help you. He is coming to the track to help you finish the rest of the way.

It's your Heavenly Father.

God left the stands to come to the cross, and there He rescued us from the sin wounds that would have kept us from reaching heaven. He knows we can't make it alone. He is an all-powerful Father who offers to carry us, but we have to let Him. If we are too proud to collapse in His arms and surrender to His control, then our power is limited, and we're not going to make it. If we will totally release control to Him and, in the words of Scripture, humble ourselves, we will have all His power. Even little children know where the power is when they sing, "...they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me."

Each of us experience days when we just don't have any more to give. Maybe you're there now. It's those moments in the race that can take you deeper into the love and power of Jesus than you have ever been before. Your Father is not a spectator in the stands today. His arm is around you right now, where you are. Listen to His voice saying, "We're going to finish this together!"

-ron hutchraft

you

Things to Always Remember 

Your presence is a present to the world.

You're unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be what you want it to be.

Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.

You'll make it through whatever comes along.

Within you are so many answers.

Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.

So many dreams are waiting to be realized.

Decisions are too important to leave to chance.

Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.

The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.

Don't take things too seriously.

Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.

Remember that a lot ... goes forever.

Remember that friendship is a wise investment.

Life's treasures are people ... together.

Realize that it's never too late.

Do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.

Have health and hope and happiness.

Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget...

For even a day...

How very special you are.

Just hold on, be strong!

-gofaone mosepele

....only

It's a Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio."And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made:

"Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu." Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote; Nothing is working. USA, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australasia. It's as though it's just sweeping in from all over the world. And then, all of a sudden the news comes out.

The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the world, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you.

When you hear the sire! ns go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals. Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it.

Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the world.

Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. Wait a minute. Hold on!  And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type." 

Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying! and hugging one another-some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."

As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and you wife aside and says, "May we see you for moment?  We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need ... we need you to sign a consent form."

You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all." "But-but...You don't understand." "We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We need it all!" "But can't you give him a transfusion" If we had clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?" In numb silence, you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?"

Can you walk back? Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Can you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"

And when that old doctor comes back in and says," I'm sorry, we've-got to get started. People all over the world are dying.  Can you leave? Can you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? "Why, why have you forsaken me?"  And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they go to the lake, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care.

Would you want to jump up and say, "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU CARE?" Is that what GOD wants to say:

"MY SON DIED FOR YOU. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?" Father, seeing it from your eyes breaks our hearts. Maybe now we can begin to comprehend the great Love you have for us."

-subilaga kejo

 

security

I need the confidence to face the future with, I realized in the following reading that it is found in Christ alone. May this be your experience in the coming year and more

 

Security from Yesterday.

 ". . . God requires an account of what is past"  Ecclesiastes 3:15. At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. 

". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation—that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. 

"You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. 

Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

...day

THE God of the mountains is the God of the valley,   when things goes wrong he’ll make them right, for the God of the good times same God in the bad times, God of the day is the God in the night. See this to the following story……

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

You say, "It's impossible". God says: "All things are possible". Luke 18:27

You say, "I'm too tired." God says: "I will give you rest". Matt 11:28-20

You say, "Nobody really loves me". God says: "I love you". John 3:16 - John 13:34

You say, "I can't go on." God says: "My grace is sufficient." II Cor. 12:9 - Psalm 91:15

You say, "I can't figure things out." God says: "I will direct your steps." Proverbs 3:5-6

You say, "I can't do it." God says: "You can do all things in me." Phil 4:13

You say, "It's not worth it." God says: "It will be worth it." Romans 8:28

You say, "I can't forgive myself." God says: "I forgive you." I John 1:9 - Romans 8:1

You say, "I can't manage." God says: "I will supply all your needs." Phil 4:19

You say, "I'm afraid." God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." II Tim. 1:7

You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated". God says: "Cast all your cares on ME I Peter 5:7

You say, "I don't have enough faith." God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith." Romans 12:3

You say, "I'm not smart enough." God says: "I give you wisdom." I Cor. 1:30

You say, "I feel all alone."  God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you." Heb. 13:5

There are some weeks that we all feel our huts are burning.

-veronica tembe

pew

DIFFERENT PEWS 

In most churches the pews look alike. But they are really very different.

THE CRITICAL PEW - This pew watches the pastor of the church with an eagle eye. The singing is too soft or too loud. The building is always too hot or too cold. The critical pew finds everything but the blessings of God.

THE IRREGULAR PEW - Sometimes this irregular pew is full; sometimes it is empty. The problem is that you never know what to expect from this pew.

THE CORDIAL PEW - This pew is always radiant like the sunshine. This pew greets other pews with genuine cordiality, extends a handshake to every visitor and listens with joy to the sermons.

THE PRAYERFUL PEW - This pew spends a moment or two with bowed head in silent prayer upon entering the church. This pew comes to worship and brings the spirit of worship with it into the church.

THE SLEEPY PEW - This is the pew usually occupied by those who watched the late show. There are many "nods" in this pew but there are seldom "nods" of approval.

THE BORED PEW - This pew is occupied by those who take no mental or spiritual preparations for the service. It seldom offers a prayer for the pastor or singers or that the message will be helpful. This pew is located very near the Critical pew, usually in the back of the church.

Not much music comes from the bored pew and when the services ends, it complains that the spiritual meal was blah. Which of these pews will you occupy when you come to worship in the Lord's house...?

-rachel mbope

...career

EVERY moment in life, we are faced with a choice. Which should command our preference -- the demands of our job or the duties to our family?

IF there is a board meeting today at the same hours that our son graduates from school, where should we go -- to the boardroom or to the graduation ceremony?

IF we have to make a very important presentation tomorrow, so as to advance our career, but our wife says she has to see the doctor on a suspicion of cancer, which appointment should we keep?

THESE are the daily battles of conscience we have to wage, trying to keep a balance between our responsibility to earn a living and our opportunity to live a life. And our choices invariably reveal who we really are.

OUR preferences indicate our true character. Our priorities are the best indicators of our real identity. What profits success? I know that many of you out there would go for career on the pretension that after all, you are doing all these for the family.

MANY of us, would rather become outstanding employees, model personnel instead of being doting fathers or loving husbands. 

MANY of you would opt to perform exceedingly well in the office even if you work 12 to 16 hours a day, going home only to change clothes or catch a few hours of sleep.

BUT what for? At the end of the day, what have you accomplished? What profits a highly successful professional or wealthy businessman if ultimately, he loses his family, wrecks his marriage or dishonors the name he will leave to his children?

WHAT has a rich man accomplished if he has built a fortune and founded conglomerates of highly profitable companies and yet drives his own wife to vices or infidelity, his children to drugs and delinquency and himself to spiritual decay and total burnout?

WHAT matters most? Look around you. The evidence is overwhelming and irreversible. Families are shattered. Marriages are broken. Lives are reduced to utter emptiness.

EVEN as man advances in wealth and success, he deteriorates on the basic standards of joy, peace and serenity. As we all compete and struggle for power and possessions, we often neglect what really matters most. In our insatiable mania for supremacy over the rest, we often forget the most important things in life.

I WILL respect your choice. But as for me, my priorities are clear. Between career and family, I will always go for family. I can forego that board meeting and earn the ire of my boss or make a bad impression on my peers. But I shall not inflict a lifetime trauma on my son by sending him alone to graduate without his dad. I can forget that business presentation and lose a valued client or waste a career promotion, but I cannot leave my wife alone in her moments of anxiety.

MEANINGLESS.

WHY should a well-known public figure commit suicide given all his fame and fortune? Can his wealth and wisdom compensate for ruptures in his relationships?

WHY should a wife of a famous politician commit adultery...? Is it lust or vain fixation for the pleasures of the flesh? Or is it the pain of being neglected and ignored by the husband she used to adore?

WHY should a son cut his wrist or a daughter drink poison despite all the luxuries and pleasures they are showered with? Can money replace love? Can pleasure take the place of affections?

THE ULTIMATE HELL

TO succeed in career and fail in the family is, to me, the ultimate hell John Grisham, that famous author of legal fictions wrote "The Testament," which tells of a highly successful industrialist who made billions of dollars but lost his family. In the first 10 pages of the novel, he jumped to his death from his multi-story building in front of his self-centered children. By his will, he disinherited all of them and bequeathed his entire estate to an illegitimate daughter who refused to accept it.

THAT is the ultimate irony; those who lusted for money lost it. Those who were given all the money refused it. In all his dozen masterpieces, Grisham tells us about the importance of family.  "A Time to Kill" tells of a father who went to jail for killing his daughter's rapists.

INDEED, we...should learn from the mistakes of others. We should straighten our lives and put our priorities in order.

I DON'T know about you. But as for me and my house, our credo is: There is no success in a career that can make up for a failure in the family.

BUT if forced to make a choice between career and family, I'll gladly choose the latter. This is my philosophy, my article of faith. I pray and work hard to live up to it.

-richard mbope

....side

 "The positive side of life"

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year. How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live. Happiness comes through doors you, didn't even know you left open. Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us. If Walmart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet? You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors.... but they all exist very nicely in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Have an awesome day, and know that someone who thinks you're great has thought about you today!...

"And that person was me.".....

fork...

There was a young man who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as he was getting his things in order, he contacted his pastor and had him come to his house to discuss certain aspects of his final wishes. He told him which songs he wanted sung at the service, what scriptures he would like to read, and what outfit he wanted to be buried in. 

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young man suddenly remembered something very important to him.

"There's one more thing," he said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the pastor's reply. 

"This is very important," the young man continued. 

"I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The pastor stood looking at the young man, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young man asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The young man explained, "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.'

"It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming - like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What"s with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ... the best is yet to come.'"  

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young man goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see him before his death. But he also knew that the young man had a better grasp of heaven than he did. He had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice his age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. He KNEW that something better was coming at the resurrection!

At the funeral, people were walking by the young man's casket and they saw the suit he was wearing and the fork placed in his right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young man shortly before he died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to him. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

He was right. 

So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

-mikey's

battle

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world - they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Aqaba, Jordan, in 1917 seemed impregnable. Any enemy vessel approaching the port would have to face the battery of huge naval guns above the town. The Turks believed Aqaba to be safe from any attack. But they were wrong.

Lawrence of Arabia rallied support among the local people.  

On July 6, 1917, the Arab forces swept into Aqaba from the North, from the blind side.  Galloping past the gigantic naval guns, the Turks were totally powerless to stop them.  The guns were facing in the wrong direction.  Aqaba fell, and the Turkish hold on the territory was broken; to be later replaced by the State of Israel.

The Turks failed to defend Aqaba because they made two mistakes.

  1. They did not know their enemy

  2. They did not have the right weapons

We must be careful not to make the same mistake.  

Ephesians 6:12-20 makes it quite clear who our enemy is and that Prayer and the Word are our weaponry.  "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world." 

You already have all the weapons you need to demolish every stronghold.

Have a victorious day, because in Jesus, you have victory!

-dave langerfed

...ring

All 22 of us were standing in the shop and listening to our guide explain the unique nature of the porcelain works we were visiting. Made from a special mineral-content clay taken from nearby Turkish hills, some of the beautiful work was on display around us. All of us were interested in the process.

 

He began by explaining the work of the master craftsman whose wheel was turning. A skilled artisan would take the clay and mold it under the steady pressure of his trained hands. Then, when the piece was in the form the master desired, it would be placed in a kiln heated to some 1,200 to 1,400 degrees Celsius. The delicate-looking plate, vase, or bowl would be left in that extreme heat for 14 hours, then allowed to cool for ten.

 

In the transforming heat of the kiln, the clay forms glass and metal particles that interlock to form fine porcelain that has high mechanical strength and hardness. Henceforth, it is both resistant to thermal shock and penetration by chemicals that would weaken or discolor it. Finally, the translucent piece will be colored by an artist and glazed for the sake of brilliant and lasting color.

 

Fascinating as the narration had been to someone who knew nothing of the process, the part of his account that impressed me the most was yet to come. Reaching for a large bowl, the narrator asked, "Does anyone know how to distinguish high-quality porcelain from its inferior cousins?" I certainly did not and looked around only to see similar blank looks on the other 21 faces in our group. He smiled, balanced the bowl with the fingers and thumb of his left hand, and lifted it for all of us to see.

 

"Please," he said. "Listen!" With that, he thumped the lip of the translucent piece with the forefinger of his right hand. A distinct and resonant ring came from it and wafted over his audience -- a sound almost as beautiful as the sight of the piece he had lifted for us to admire. "Now," he continued, "listen to the sound from this piece that is flawed." Lifting a piece with his left hand that looked identical to the first, he thumped it with his right forefinger. And the sound reminded me of one I used to hear as a child when I threw rocks onto the rusty tin roof of my neighbor's barn. Grating. Harsh.. Anything but beautiful.

 

How like human character! 

All of us are being formed by life's experiences and our practiced responses. Through the pleasant and unpleasant days, we are formed. Then the crisis moments put us into the fire. And we emerge - refined and matured, or embittered and brittle.

 

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow" James 1:2-3.

 

If life gives you a thumping, pray that your heart will ring true.

-rubel shelley

....smallest

 "...what are they among so many?" John 6:9

Andrew's thinking was a lot like our thinking.  He thought the gift of a small boy's lunch was insufficient for the task of feeding thousands.  Indeed, if it were offered to anyone else other than the Lord, it would have been.  But with the Lord, it was more than enough.

Sometimes the devil deceives us into believing the little we have to offer isn't worth offering.  What a big lie!  Even the smallest life, the slightest talent, or the least gift is mighty when presented to the hands of the Lord. 

Don't let the devil trick you!  Give your best to Lord and don't let the size or amount hinder you.

-jim barr

....matters

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Luke 12:22-24.

Most people spend most of their time sweating over things that won't really matter when all is said and done. 

You've probably heard the one about the up-and-coming entrepreneur who was opening the door of his sleek new Jaguar when a truck roared by, hit it, and ripped it off its hinges. The police arrived at the scene quickly and found the man jumping up and down in the street. He was shrieking to anyone who would listen about the horrible damage done to his precious automobile. 

"You wheeler-dealers are all so materialistic!" began the investigating officer, shaking his head in bewilderment. "You make me sick."   "What's your problem?" the driver snapped. 

"You're so worried about your precious Jaguar," said the cop, "that you appear not to have noticed that your left arm was ripped off!" 

"Oh, no!" bellowed the guy as he looked down at the grisly stump where his arm had been a few minutes before. "What happened to my Rolex?" 

When one of us gets where my young friend was when he was told that he likely had less than six months to live, he will focus intensely on the things that really matter in life. There will be far less concern about the newest electronic gadget, a bigger house, liposuction, a luxury car, or some other inconsequential indulgence. In fact, I doubt that a one of those items will come to mind at all. 

When your time on Planet Earth is about to end and you are reflecting on how your once-around trip through life has worked out, you'll think about and reach for the people who are most important to you. And you will think about what happens after you have taken your last breath. These are the really important things — as opposed to burning yourself out at the office, neglecting your family and friends, and pushing spiritual concerns to the fringe of your life. 

Being responsible and working hard are good things. And there is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of honest labor. Yet the Bible cautions us to remember that we came into the world without a company, portfolio, or fortune — and will leave it the same way. So the smart thing is to major in what will matter at the end and not to fritter away your life with what cannot go into eternity. 

Judged by that standard, how does your plan for the week look now? 

-rubel shelly

...burning

 Keep the fire Burning!

 “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” Leviticus 6:13

There is a story of a group of fishermen who while out fishing got caught in a storm. 

The wives of all the fishermen gathered to pray. While praying for their husbands’ safety, one of the houses in the village caught fire. The women tried to put it out, but with all the men out at sea there were not enough people, and the house burned to the ground.

The next morning the storm cleared and to the joy of everyone the fishermen were will alive and made their way into the harbour. 

The woman who’s house burned to the ground was filled with joy when she saw her husband but then with sadness as she told him how the house had burned down. Her husband said to her ‘Praise God that our house burned, if it weren’t for that burning light at shore we would all have drowned last night.’ You see the pain of the burning house was actually the salvation for the fishermen.

Life isn’t always comfortable, but wherever we find ourselves, even within the heat of painful circumstances, we must keep our fire burning for God. As we usher  the new year begins let’s keep shining for him.

God provided his Old Testament people with priests who had to keep the fire of the burnt offering going. 

• Some scholars see the fire on the altar as a symbol for the flame of our devotion for the Lord. Spiritual passion is not something to be treated lightly or taken for granted. It will grow cold if we fail to keep it supplied with fuel.
• The apostle Paul addressed the subject of spiritual fervor in his letter to the Romans 12:1-2,11. To keep the fire of our devotion burning strong, we must continue the hard work of stocking our fuel supply with hope, patience, steadfast prayer, generosity, hospitality, and humility V.11-16

None of us can keep the faith without God's power. If you would have your soul kindled with the Fire of God you must draw near to the source of that Fire, God and shut yourself out from the world – that cold world which so swiftly steals our Fire away. By keeping the fire burning and living, God’s light will shine through us people will see Him instead of us.

Our love for Jesus is the key to spiritual passion.

-evelyn k nyamwange

...into

Howard Hendricks, former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, believed that every person should seek to have three individuals in their life - a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.

 

A Paul

A Paul is an older person who is willing to mentor you, to build into your life. Not someone who's smarter or more gifted than you, but somebody who's been down the road. Somebody willing to share their strengths and weaknesses - everything they have learned in the laboratory of life. Somebody whose faith you'll want to imitate.

 

A Barnabas

A Barnabas is a soul brother, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody to whom you can be accountable. Somebody who's willing to keep you honest, who's willing to say, "Hey, man, you're neglecting your responsibilities, and don't give me any guff!"

 

A Timothy

A Timothy is a younger person into whose life you are building. For a model, read 1 and 2 Timothy. Here was Paul, the quintessential mentor, building into the life of his protege - affirming, encouraging, teaching, correcting, directing, praying.

 

Do you have these three people in your life?

 

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

....secret

Sometimes it appears that other Christians have a special "secret" to be able to do what they do or to know what they know.  But the truth is, there's no secret.  The story is told about someone coming to Gus Nichols, a great preacher, and saying, "Brother Nichols, I'd give my life to know the Bible as well as you do."  It is reported that Nichols' reply was, "That's exactly what it took."

There's no secret to knowing the Bible -- just a determination to spend time studying the Word of God. 

There's no secret to always having time to devote to the Lord's work -- you just have to make the time. 

There's no secret to developing spiritual maturity -- it's a lifetime commitment to growing up in Christ.

There's no secret: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." 2 Peter 1:5-7

-alan smith

...sacrifice

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2

One Sunday in Copenhagen, Corrie ten Boom, 80, spoke from Romans 12:1, urging her audience to present their bodies to Christ as living sacrifices. After church, two nurses invited her to their apartment for lunch, and Corrie went with them—only to discover they lived on the tenth floor, and there was no elevator. 

The task of mounting those stairs was almost more than she could stand, and she wondered if she might die en route. "Perhaps I am leaving earth to go to heaven," she complained to herself.

Finally arriving in the apartment, Corrie found the parents of one of the girls waiting there, wanting to be saved, and both gloriously received Christ as their Savior.

On her way down the steps, Corrie said, "Thank you, Lord, for making me walk up all these steps. And next time, Lord, help Corrie ten Boom listen to her own sermon about being willing to go anywhere You tell me to go - even up ten flights of stairs."

Lord, make me willing, get me going, and take me higher! 

-dave langerfeld

...lessons

 1. The only real mistake we can make in prayer is in not praying.

If we pray earnestly, almost anything we do is better than not praying. After all, no father rejects the child's plea because she did not use the right words or form. He welcomes his child into his arms.  Someone has said, "Nothing never happens when we pray."

 

2. No matter how much you pray, you will never be completely satisfied with your prayer life.

You will always feel the goal is out there beyond you somewhere. We must work against perfectionism, that mental disease that convinces us because we're not doing something perfectly, that we should stop it altogether. No matter how ineffective you think your prayers are, believe that they matter to God and keep on praying.

 

3. The Holy Spirit helps us in our prayer.

Romans 8:26 assures us "He helps us in our weakness because we do not know how to pray." The Greek word translated "helps" is a compound Greek verb "synantilambanomai."  The "syn" means "together, with us."  The "anti" means "opposite to, in front of."   And the "lambanomai" is a form of the verb "to lift."  Together they tell us the Holy Spirit gets on the other end of our task, opposite to us, and together with us lifts the burden.  He does not do this in our place, but works with us.

 

4. Keep on praying.

Persistence in prayer is taught so many times in Scripture. My favorite is blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18. Let nothing stop you from praying. Not your own inadequacy (of which there is much), your own needs (which can be overwhelming), not your fears (which never tire of assaulting you), and most definitely not other people (discouragement is all around us). Just keep at it.

 

5. Our emotions and feelings are irrelevant to effective praying.

We need to rescue our prayer life from bondage to our emotions. You know, "I don't feel like my prayers go beyond the ceiling," or "I don't feel like praying today." When you turn to the Father in prayer, how you feel has nothing to do with anything. Pray anyway.

 

6. Heaven places the same value on our prayers that we do.

If it matters to us, it matters to our Heavenly Father. The widow's mite did not mean much to anyone else in the Temple that day, but because it mattered a great deal to her, it was precious to the Father. This principle holds true for our prayers, our offerings, and anything else we give to the Lord: when it arrives in Heaven, it carries the same value there we placed on it here.

 

7. Throw away your clock.

Jesus said it's the heathen who think they will be heard for their much speaking. The goal in our prayer time is to be real, to touch Heaven, and not to log so much time. Think how insulted your sweetheart would be if you brought along a clock on your next visit, and you kept looking at it to see how much time had gone by so you could feel good about the investment you were making in the relationship. How much time you spend in prayer has little to do with anything. This assumes, of course, that you are spending some quality time with Him each day in prayer.

 

8. It's not necessary to know the will of God in order to ask for something.

Go ahead and ask for healing, for that new job, for this blessing, or that condition to change. What if it's not the will of God? Then, friend, He won't do it.   Do not think you are tying God's hands by your prayers. That's why Jesus ended His prayer in Gethsemane with "Not my will, but Thy will be done." He taught us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."    My job is to ask. It's the Father's place to sort things out and decide what He wishes to answer and grant.

9. There is a mystery involved whenever we come into the presence of God.

We are kneeling before the Almighty Sovereign God, Lord of the universe. Be quiet. Be still. Get alone with Him. Humble yourself. Wait on Him. Respect Him as having sense and quit insulting Him with your pet memorized phrases. Tell Him the truth, what you've been up to and what you're thinking now. Tell Him what blesses you about Him, and what areas of your life you need particular help with.

 

Jesus said He already knows our needs before we ask, but He likes to see if we have figured things out, too. So, go ahead and make your requests to Him. Whatever answer comes, accept that as His will, at least for the time being. And keep on praying.

 

10. Always keep paper and pen handy when you are praying.

My experience is that when you come into the Father's presence in prayer, He will frequently call your attention to something He wants you to know or do. He may tell you someone to see, something to do, someone to call, something to forgive, a verse to look up, a text to remember, a debt to pay, or a neighbor to help. Write it down. Then, go back to your prayer. Expect to receive from Him every time you turn to Him in prayer.

 

When I was a kid on the Alabama farm, times were hard and surprises were rare. But we were always glad when our uncle Johnny Chadwick drove up from Birmingham. He was a police officer with the city and was forever meeting interesting people, getting challenging ideas, and having things given to him. He would bring up day-old cakes and pies from bakeries. He once brought me an old used bicycle, the first I'd ever owned. Once he arrived with a truckload of calves which it became my assignment to feed before and after school. He never came empty-handed. We were always eager to meet Uncle Johnny.

 

How much more when we come to pray, entering into the very presence of the loving Heavenly Father, should we be eager and expectant about what is about to happen.

-joe mckeever

...living

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

 

I remember picking up a book one day called "Sleeping Through the Revolution" by Dr. Paul Rees . In that book, I came across a quotation from Dr. Stanley Jones' book, "Abundant Living".  This is how the quote ran : "The early Christians did not say in dismay, 'Look what the world has come to', but they said in delight, 'Look what has come to the world!'"

 

They saw not merely the ruin, but the resources for the reconstruction .

They saw not merely that sin did abound, but that grace did much more abound .

 

Dr. Jones added this significant sentence, "The whole secret of abundant living can be summed up in this sentence :

     'Not your responsibility but your response to His ability"'

 

 "Not your responsibility but your response to His ability"

-dave langerfeld

 

weak

"'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'" - Judges 6:15

Once when he was to preach at the University of Sydney in Australia, evangelist and Pastor John Stott lost his voice. He says: "What can you do with a missionary who has no voice? We had come to the last night of the evangelistic campaign. The students had booked the big university hall. A group of students gathered around me, and I asked them to pray as Paul did, that this thorn in the flesh might be taken from me. But we went on to pray that if it pleased God to keep me in weakness, I would rejoice in my infirmities in order that the power of Christ might rest upon me.

As it turned out, I had to get within one inch of the microphone just to croak the gospel. I was unable to use any inflection of voice to express my personality. It was just a croak in a monotone, and all the time we were crying to God that his power would be demonstrated in human weakness.  Well, I can honestly say that there was a far greater response that night than any other night. I've been back to Australia ten times now, and on every occasion somebody has come up to me and said, 'Do you remember that night when you lost your voice? I was converted that night.'"

The Lord loves us when we are weak, because it is then that He can work through us. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that when we are weak He is strong.

"God had looked for a man weak enough, and He found me." - Hudson Taylor

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

-peter kennedy 

Happiness

When Bill Borden, son of the wealthy Bordens, went out to China as a missionary, many of his friends thought he was foolish to "waste his life," as they put it, "trying to convert a few heathens to Christianity".  But Bill loved Christ and he loved teh Chinese people!

He hadn't been there very long before he contracted a disease native to that area and died. At his bedside they found a note that he written while he was dying. It simply read: 

"No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets."

Bill had found more happiness in his few years of sacrificial service than most people find in a lifetime.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philip. 4:12-13

-billy graham

attorney

After living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end. The first thing I remember is sitting on bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a cours opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed familiar to me.The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. As he took his seat behind the bench, he said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others.

Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I've done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."

When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned him to come forward.

As he got up and started walking, I was able to see him in his full splendor and majesty. I realized why he seemed so familiar. This was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad," and then he turned to address the court.

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And yes the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted me as his Savior, so he is mine."

My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all on the cross."

The judge lifted his mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from his lips...

"This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed.

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I'll win the next one."

I asked Jesus as he gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, Paid in Full."

Prayer

We know prayer is good for us, a healthy habit we want to include in our lifestyle. only remember what Ellen G white says in Steps to Christ Chapter 11:....Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

How can you deepen your prayer life, make it more vital and energized? These five tips can help:

1. Move beyond just asking.

Of course, we should ask the Lord for what we need. He encourages, “Ask and it will be given you” Matthew 7:7. But suppose you had a friend who never spoke to you unless he was asking you for something. Wouldn’t that be a strange friendship? 

Incorporate praise into your prayers; read the Psalms aloud; thank God for his wisdom and guidance. And don’t forget that prayer time is also for confession…and forgiveness.

2. Learn to listen.

When Jesus visited Mary and Martha, Mary did Jesus the honor of simply sitting and listening to his matchless words. And he said Mary had “chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” Luke 10:38-42. 

Remember: “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10, invite God to speak to you.

3. Let God love you.

Spend part of your prayer time thinking only of how good and gracious the Lord is. “One thing have I desired of the Lord,” said David, “… that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord” Psalm 27:4. “God is love” 1 John 4:8. Even if you feel unlovable, know that your Heavenly Father loves you a great deal. Ask him to show you the many ways he has loved you in the past; trust him to continue loving you.

4. Practice positive affirmation.

Bring your problems to God and leave them there.  Don’t keep mentally going over them. Instead, believe that he will provide the right solution. Picture a good outcome. Pray with David, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1. Believe that good things are headed your way, and they will be. Your optimism and prayer will draw them to you.

5. Pray without ceasing.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul exhorts us to pray continually. While it is good to have a regular time and place for prayer, we can pray anywhere, at any time. 

Realize that God is always with you. 

The more you pray, the more you will want to pray. Live in the spirit of thankfulness, faith, affirmation and praise, and you may discover that your whole life is one continuous, joyous prayer.

Prayer is more than a habit; prayer is purpose and power. 

Begin this very day to make it so in your life! 

-mary l carney