....motive

 "He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." - 2 Samuel 22:20

Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those to whom we relate. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, and falling out of God's will. 

Sometimes we do not know the motive of another person. It is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we become judge and jury over them.

God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring us into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes beyond ourselves. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? These are positive images. Sometimes these spacious places encourage us to step out in faith into areas where we've never ventured. Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord. 

When Peter walked on the water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God. However, we must be willing to fail and let God rescue us.

The Lord delights in this process. His motive for His children is always love. It is always to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence on Him.

-os hillman

one

 "And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." - 2 Corinthians 5:15

It is believed that there were about 5,000 believers during the time of Christ. Among those believers, it was thought there were three types. The largest number of believers were those who came to Jesus for salvation. They served Him little beyond coming to Him to receive salvation. A much smaller number, say 500, actually followed Him and served Him. Then, there were the disciples. These were those who identified with Jesus. They lived the life that Jesus lived. Each of these ultimately died in difficult circumstances. They experienced the hardships, the miracles, and the fellowship with God in human form.

If you had to say which group best represented your life, which one would you fall into - the 5,000 who simply believed, the 500 who followed and sought to implement what they were learning from the Savior, or the 12 who identified completely with the life and mission of the Savior? Jesus has called each of us to identify with Him completely. "This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did" 1 Jn. 2:5-6

Pray that God will allow you to walk as Jesus did. 

Experience His power and love in your life today so that others will see the hope that lies in you

-os hilman

....title

Some years ago in the late 1930's, radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller  announced that he would speak the following Sunday on "Heaven." It was to be broadcast on radio. During that week he received a letter from an elderly gentleman who was very ill.

Here is part of that letter: "Next Sunday you are going to talk about 'Heaven.' I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice.

I am not holding it for speculation since the title is non-transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than a half-century I have been sending material out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me.  It will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old.

Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages.  

Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away.

No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected.

There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I currently live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I can not reach my home in the City of God without passing through the dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long, time ago and drove away all the gloom. 

He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first met and became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake me nor to leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me.

I hope to hear your sermon on "Heaven" next Sunday from my home, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey... no return coupon... and no permit for baggage.  Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."  

-dave langerfeld

......jacob

 "Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.'" - Genesis 50:24

I was boarding the airplane in Frankfurt, Germany, when a mentor of mine asked me this question, "Would you consider why God referred to Himself as the 'God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob'? Why didn't He simply say, 'the God of Jacob'?" What a strange question, I thought to myself.

For the next hour I racked my brain trying to discover the meaning to this question. I had never read it in a commentary, and the Scriptures do not really say why this is so. It became a good exercise with the Holy Spirit that led to some interesting observations - one from my mentor, one from my own insight.

First, could it be that the Lord has given us a "type of trinity" in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Abraham was considered a father figure to the nation of Israel. Isaac was the son who had to be sacrificed on the altar. Jacob was the man who had to learn to walk according to the Holy Spirit instead of his flesh. Each of these patriarchs had a particular relationship with God to fulfill.

My friend asked about an hour into the flight, "So, what did you discover?"

I told him of my observation.

"Hmm...that is interesting. I believe that what we also see in the patriarchs are examples of three distinct types of personalities. If the Lord had cited only one of the patriarchs, we would tend to seek to model that leader. However, the Lord has given us three distinct personalities in whom He performed His work. Abraham was the pioneer who ventured out into unknown territory and was considered righteous for his faith. Isaac was faithful to follow in his inheritance with few ups and downs in his life. He had the fewest calamities among the three. He was called simply to be faithful to what had been already given. Jacob had extreme conflict in his life. He suffered more pit experiences than either of his predecessors. He had much conflict in relationships that became the source of his inheritance. Each of us can identify with one of these men in how God has related to them."

God works in each person's life uniquely, and He has provided examples of lives for us to identify with from the Scriptures. Who do you identify with most in your Christian pilgrimage? Discover this for yourself. You will find encouragement as you seek to learn from someone who has gone before you. 

-os hilman

.....adversity

 "I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity." - 1 Chronicles 29:17

God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God's desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that we will fail to achieve without complete dependence on Him.

The greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. For it is in prosperity that we begin to lose the sensitivity to sin in our lives. Adversity motivates us to righteousness out of a desire to see our adversity changed. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We fall into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our prosperity rather than on God.

Hezekiah was a great godly king. He was a faithful, God-honoring king most of his life, but toward the end he became proud. God wanted to find out if he would still honor Him and recognize His blessings in his life. He failed the test when God sent an envoy to his palace to inquire about a miracle that God performed on behalf of Hezekiah. The test was designed to find out if Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf.

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart 2 Chronicles 32:31.

Hezekiah's failure resulted in his children failing to carry on as rulers of Israel, and the nation would eventually be taken over by Babylon.

The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we are to remain faithful to our Lord, we must remain steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. Ask the Lord to give you the grace to be a faithful follower during times of prosperity. 

-os hilman

....discouragement

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy." Proverbs 13:12

    

"That kid can't play baseball. He can't pull the ball."   This is what the manager of the Brave's Triple A team said about Hank Aaron in 1952. Aaron went on to hit 755 home runs, breaking all previous records.

Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist who discovered gravity, did so poorly in school that he was called “unpromising” by his teacher.

Albert Einstein, when he was 10 years old, was told by the headmaster of his school, (translated from German), "You will never amount to very much."  

Thomas Edison was told in grade school that he was "too stupid to learn anything".

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he  “lacked imagination and had no original ideas.” 

Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade because he could not pass the standardized tests.

 

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. 

Remember - no matter what the critics say, in God's economy, everybody has a purpose, everyone has a talent, everyone has a spiritual gift and everybody has something of value to offer. Never give up until you know what your purpose is.  Allow God to develop and sharpen your talents and your spiritual gifts in your life. 

Dedicate your talents and abilities to God.  Take courage. Nothing you ever do for God will ever be in vain. Remember, too, that one of the greatest ways we can serve God is simply by helping others - and every one of us can do that every day.

Also, as long as what you are doing is in harmony with God's will, then dream big dreams, because God will use your talents and spiritual gifts in His Kingdom work.  Know your God-given dreams and keep hope alive, no matter what the setbacks  - and never, ever, ever give up.

-dave langerfeld

....speaks

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:27

An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as they walked and agreed they would each share their beliefs with one another. The Muslim went first and dominated the time of sharing. The Englishman asked the Holy Spirit how to share his faith with the Muslim man. "Do you consider your god your father who speaks?" asked the Englishman.

"Certainly not," replied the Muslim man.

"That is one of the big differences between your god and my God. I consider my God as my Father who speaks to me personally."

"You cannot prove that," stated the Muslim man.

The Englishman again prayed to himself, "Lord, how do I prove this to this man?" A few moments later the two men began walking toward two young ladies on the other side of the road coming toward them. As they approached, the Englishman spoke to the ladies and made small conversation. He then said to one woman, "I believe you are a nurse, is that correct?"

The woman was startled that a man whom she had never met had just informed her of her occupation. "How would you know that? I have never met you before," she questioned.

He replied, "I asked my Father and He told me." The Muslim had his proof.

Many of us do not hear God's voice because we do not believe He speaks or desires to speak to us. In order to hear, we must listen. In order to listen, we must believe that He speaks. Ask the Lord today for a listening ear so that others might know that you have a heavenly Father who speaks. 

-os hilman

....race

There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They "shook out" their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their "game faces."

In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests.

There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away. At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest.

When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, "I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!"

Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are "running the race" I Cor. 9:24-25. It is a race that has a prize for those who finish (notice, not those who finish first, but all who finish). This prize, according to Paul, is an "imperishable crown." The rewards for those who enter heaven are described in scripture with a lot of terms -- "many mansions", "streets of gold", "tree of life", and the list goes on and on. All of those things are attractive. That's why God tells us about them.

But I would be willing to give up all the streets of gold and settle for a small corner of a shack as long as I can know the reward of being able to stand beside my King. That's what I look forward to more than anything else. It is the one thing that will make heaven the wonderful reward that it will be.

"...The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." Rev. 22:3

Run the race with diligence. Your King is watching and waits for you at the finish line!

-alan smith

....restoration

 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten - the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm - My great army that I sent among you." - Joel 2:25

There are seasons in our lives that involve times of famine and times of restoration. Solomon tells us that He has made everything beautiful in its time and that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

God brings about both the good and the bad. The seasons of famine have a divine purpose in our lives. They accomplish things that only these hard places can accomplish. But there is a time when those hard places have accomplished their purpose and He begins to restore. God did this with the nation of Israel after a season of famine and devastation.

Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful.  He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten - the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm - my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will My people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will My people be shamed" Joel 2:23-27.

God wants each of us to know that there is a time when He will restore - in order to demonstrate His gracious hand in our lives. He is a loving Father who tenderly guides His children through the difficult places. If God has taken you through a time of leanness, know that He is the restorer of that which the locusts have eaten. 

Wait patiently for Him to restore - to bring this about in your life. 

He will do it!

-os hillman

.....decisions

In the Canadian Rockies there is a stream called Divide Creek. This is a short creek near Kicking Horse Pass on the British Columbia/Alberta border. At a point in its course the creek divides around a large boulder. Waters which flow to the left of the boulder rush on into Kicking Horse River and finally into the Pacific Ocean. Waters which travel to the right go into the Bow River which courses into the Saskatchewan River, on into Lake Winnipeg, the Nelson River, Hudson Bay, and to the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Once the waters divide at the rock there is no turning back.  Many of the choices we make in life are much like that, which is why it's so important that we always seek God's wisdom in every decision we make. 

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

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5

-rocky henriques 

....understand

It happened so suddenly. Without warning. 

Yesterday everything was going smoothly for the Herrens. Today their whole world turned upside down.

This morning Keith Herren left for work -- a middle-level executive's position with a national corporation. He drove his company car out of his nice neighborhood, past the church his family really loves. When he got to the office, he and a number of colleagues were called into the conference room for a surprise meeting. Without warning, the company (like others) has decided to downsize for economic reasons. A large number of jobs are being terminated. Keith's is one of those positions.

"Don't worry!" company officials chirped. "There will be a very generous severance package." And it's true that Keith is young enough and talented enough to find another job. But as he drives home he thinks about having to start all over. "Lord, I don't understand. We really love this place. After five moves in ten years, we've finally found a community and a church where we feel at home and where we'd like to put down some roots. And now you're making us start all over again.

Suddenly Keith's eyes are filled with tears,and he can barely see the road. Many people think that believing in God protects them from trouble, so when calamity comes they question God's goodness and justice. But the message of Job is that God allows us to have bad experiences Job 2:10.

Faith in God does not guarantee personal prosperity, and lack of faith does not guarantee trouble. If this were so, people would believe in God simply to get rich and feel better. God is able to rescue us from suffering, but He may also allow suffering to come for reasons we cannot understand. It is Satan's strategy to get us to doubt God at exactly this moment. Job showed a perspective broader than that of seeking his own personal comfort. If we always knew why we were suffering, our faith would have no room to grow.

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise Him again, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:11  

"Lord, I choose not to be downcast, I choose not to be disturbed and discouraged, I choose to put my hope in You." 

-dave langerfeld

.......decided

There is a song I remember from the days of my youth that I still find running through my mind. The opening line goes...

    I have decided to follow Jesus, 

    I have decided to follow Jesus, 

    I have decided to follow Jesus 

    No turning back, no turning back.

Those were brave words for a young man in the early battles of life's struggles with Satan. They brought to mind shiny new uniforms and victorious battles -- a hero of the Faith with medals of valor. 

The second line was even more presumptuous. 

    Though none go with me, I still will follow. 

    Though none go with me, I still will follow. 

    Though none go with me, I still will follow. 

    No turning back, no turning back.

It never crossed my mind how lonely that boast might be. After all, if David could "Walk through the valley of the shadow of death" and "fear no evil," surely I could walk alone in the earthly shadows and be brave. But, the years have passed and the battle is still engaged. The uniform is worn and tattered. 

While there are many scars from the wounds, there are no medals to attest to heroism.  In fact, there has been precious little to point to with pride. There have been days of glory, but also days of shame. Wonderful moments when the Spirit has helped me "soar on eagle's wings," and also "days of deep darkness and despair".  I have come to understand the Psalms of King David much more clearly as he rides the roller coaster of the battle of life.

 

But, the song is still there...   and though ragged and scarred, I find the words of decision no less true. I have learned that with all my strength I am a pitiful mismatch for the forces of Satan, but I serve in the army of a King who has assured the victory!  I long for the faith of Job to cry out, "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him" Job 13:15, but I find "O God, be merciful to me a sinner" Luke 18:13, much more appropriate. 

Still, the song hasn't gone away, 

    "I have decided to follow Jesus!... 

    No turning back, no turning back!!!" 

-bill sherrill

........answers

 God always answers prayer, but not always the way we think He should...

When the idea is not right, God says,"No."

     No - when the idea is not the best.

     No - when the idea is absolutely wrong

     No - when though it may help you, it could create problems for someone else.

When the time is not right, God says, "Slow."

     What a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer at the snap of your fingers.

     Do you know what would happen? God would become your servant, not your master. 

     Suddenly God would be working for you instead of you working for God. 

     Remember: God's delays are not God's denials. God's timing is perfect.

     Patience is what we need in prayer.

When you are not right, God says, "Grow."

     The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness.

     The cautious person must grow in courage.

     The timid person must grow in confidence.

     The dominating person must grow in sensitivity.

     The critical person must grow in tolerance.

     The negative person must grow in positive attitudes.

     The pleasure-seeking person must grow in compassion for suffering people.

When everything is all right, God says, "Go."

     Then miracles happen:

     ...A hopeless alcoholic is set free!

     ...A drug addict finds release!

     ...A doubter becomes as a child in his belief.

     ...Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and healing begins.

     ...The door to your life suddenly swings open and there stands God saying, "Go!"

"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."  

1 Timothy 2:8

-dave langerfeld

 

....eyes

Cats are nocturnal animals and have a need to see well at night. Cats need only one-sixth of the light needed by people to see when it’s dark. Plus, their eyes need to work well during the daytime. How do their eyes function so well in low light? The Lord has created some special abilities in the eyes of Puff and Snowball.

First of all, when the lights go down, the pupil of a cat’s eye needs to open really wide to let more light inside. Our eyes have circular muscles that open and close our pupil, which limits just how much they can open. A cat’s eye has a couple of muscles that open and close the pupil like a shutter, giving the eye a slit-like pupil when it’s bright outside. In fact, the relative size of a cat’s eye is bigger than a human’s eye. It also has a more curved lens, which brings in more light and also gives it a greater ability to sharpen its focus on objects. 

Did you ever notice that when you shine a light on a cat’s eyes at night they seem to glow? That’s because of the tapetum lucidum, which is like a mirror behind the retina reflecting more light back onto light-sensitive cells in the retina. This special “mirror” gives the cat’s eyes the characteristic nighttime glow when they are caught in a beam of light. Another feature of a cat’s eye is the type of light receptor cells on the retina. Cones are cells sensitive to high levels of light and are good with color detection. Rods are cells sensitive to low levels of light and are helpful with black and white detection. A cat has far more rods in its eyes than people. Even the location of the optic nerve on the back of the eye is positioned to help our feline friends see better movement at night. 

God’s vision is even better than that of a cat. The Lord can see you no matter where you are. When Abraham sent Hagar away, she cried out to God. The Angel of the Lord spoke to her, and she responded; “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me?’” Genesis 16:13. We have a God who sees very well, even in our darkest nights. 

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." Psalms 139:12

-doug batchelor

 

....listen

When the electricity went out recently, I was impressed with how quiet it was. We live with continual background noise. Indoors we have the sounds of air conditioning units, washers and dryers, tv's, computers, smart phones, MP3 players and kids. Outdoors there are lawnmowers, leaf-blowers, trains, airplanes, insects, birds, animals and cars.

We have all kinds of noise inside our heads, too. Past tapes, what others have said and done, things we have done or told ourselves. And what about the noise our hearts make? They laugh, cry, remember, and talk to us too!

I don't think of myself as somebody who leads a fast-paced, jet-set life. That is until I notice how long it takes me to relax and unwind. Getting quiet doesn't happen quickly for me. Sometimes I even have to consciously work at it. Even David, songwriter extraordinaire, wise warrior and anointed King of Israel, needed to be reminded by God to "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

It's a noisy world. And we all need a quiet place in the midst of all the noise. A safe place, where we can BE STILL, and hear the Lord. He very much wants to tell us how much he loves us, and how unique and special we are to him.

Ask him to help you find a safe place, a place where you can go and listen to the quiet. Thank God he provides places for us, whether inside our mind and heart, or in a physical spot. Journey there and see what wonderful surprises Jesus has planned to share with you in this brand new day of Today that you've never seen before.

-dave langerfeld

......ground

I was reading about Moses the other day and his adventures between leaving Egypt and going back to confront Pharaoh to free the Israelites.

 

Seemingly out of nowhere, God appears in a burning bush and talks to Moses. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight - why the bush does not burn up."

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:2-6

Most of us are pretty unlikely to encounter God in a burning bush during the course of our lives. So what does this story have to do with everyday life?

To begin with, there doesn’t appear to be anything special about this bush, other than God was in it. It could have been any one of a thousand bushes that God had available. It need not have been a bush, He could have moved a mountain or made an animal talk.

The thing that made the bush special was God’s presence. When God entered the bush it became holy. When we allow God into our lives, He lives in us. He lives in all believers.

 

That's what makes believers holy. Not holy because we’re special or perfect, holy only because of His presence in us.

The next time a believer does something to irritate you, stop and think twice before getting angry and pointing accusing fingers. Before you gossip about a fellow Christian or attack them, stop and think. The object of your attack and anger is on holy ground!!!

Rejoice in the fact that the "ordinary", including you and me, can be made holy.

-dave langerfeld

letter

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you...  Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up...  Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways...  Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered...  Matthew 10:29-31
-For you were made in my image...  Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being...  Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring...  Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived...  Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation...  Ephesians 1:11-12
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live...  Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made...  Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb...  Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born...  Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me...  John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love...  1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you...  1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father...  1 John 3:1
I offer you more than any earthly father ever could...  Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father...  Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand...  James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs...  Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope...  Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love...  Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore...  Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing...  Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you...  Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession...  Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul...  Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things...  Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me...  Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart...  Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires...  Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine...  Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager...  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles...  2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you...  Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart... Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes...  Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth... Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus...  John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed...  John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being...  Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you...  Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins...  2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled...  2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you...  1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love...  Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me...  1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again...  Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen...  Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father...  Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is, will you be my child?...  John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you...  Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Father, Almighty God
Father's Love Letter

.....children

1. Pray that NOTHING hinders your child from accepting Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior early in life. Matthew 19:14

2. Pray that your child learns to know God and will have a deep desire to do God's will for his/her life. Psalms 119:27,30,34,35.

3. Pray that your child hears stories from the Bible that will be a basis for his/her decisions throughout their life. Ecclesiastes 12:1, Psalms 71:17.

4. Pray that your child will develop a keen sense of right and wrong and that he/she will truly abhor evil and cling to that which is good. Psalms 139:23-4.

5. Pray that your child will increase in wisdom (mentally) and in stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and man (socially). Luke 2:52. This prayer covers his/her total development to their full potential.

6. Pray that your child will develop a thankful heart and a positive mental attitude. Psalm 126:2-3, Romans 8:31

7. Pray that God protect your child from Satan and his schemes in every area of their life. John 17:55, Psalm 121

8. Pray that God would destroy the enemies in his/her life whether they be weaknesses, lying, selfishness etc. Psalms 120:2; 140.

9. Pray that God would make him/her successful in the work God has called them to do. Psalm 118:25, 139:9-10

10. Pray that your child will have a strong sense of belonging to a family that is loving and dwells together in unity Psalms 133, Colossians 3:12-14.

11. Pray that your child will respect authority. Romans 13:1, Ephesians 6:1-4.

12. Pray that your child's entire life will be a testimony of the greatness and love of Christ. Philippians 2:15-16 Thess 5:2-3 

koala

The Australian koala bear certainly looks like a round, furry teddy bear, but the koala is actually a pouched marsupial related more to the kangaroo and the wombat; it really has no close relatives. Today these quiet and cute marsupials are Australia’s premier icon, but until the late 1920s koalas were nearly hunted to extinction for their skin, with as many as 500,000 a month being exported. Thankfully, they are now protected and loved as one of Australia’s most unique animals.

You might say koalas are “all thumbs” because each koala foot has three toes and two thumbs, helping it climb and cling to branches. The koala is also unique from other marsupials because its pouch opens at the bottom rather than the top. The young are born small, blind, and hairless. The baby crawls to its mother’s pouch, where it suckles and grows for six months. Then the young koala climbs out onto its mother’s back and she teaches it how to feed. 

The koala spends almost all its time in eucalyptus trees and is an amazingly fussy eater. Of the more than 600 species of eucalyptus in Australia, it will only eat from 50. And it will pick through 20 leaves for every one it decides is good enough to eat. The eucalyptus leaves contain strong-smelling oils that act as a bug repellent, keeping the animal free from parasites. Unfortunately, they also make the koala smell like very strong cough syrup! 

Because the eucalyptus is not very nutritious, adult koalas have to eat about 2.5 pounds a day, and they spend most of the day sleeping in the fork of a tree to conserve energy. In fact, a koala spends up to 18 hours a day—or three quarters of its life—asleep. 

Did you know that Jesus warns that just before His coming most of the churches will be sleeping, due in part to bad nutrition? Friends, we need to feast on the Bread that came down from heaven. The Bible says, “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” John 6:51. Now that’s good nutrition! 

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."

"And five of them were wise, and five were foolish."

"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:" 

"But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." 

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."  Matthew 25:1-5

-doug batchelor

....name

 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1

There are two days in our lives when our name is prominent: the day we receive our name at birth, and the day our name appears in the obituary column. What happens between those two determines whether our name is a lovely ointment ... or a foul stench.

 

The late Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, told about growing up in Oklahoma in the 1920s and '30s watching his father and grandfather conduct business affairs with other men. It was all done on a handshake (which is almost unheard of today) because of his grandfather's reputation in the area. He didn't realize exactly how respected his grandfather's name and word really were until years later.

 

In 1948, Bill was driving from California to Oklahoma to marry his sweetheart, Vonette Zachary. As he passed through Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where his grandfather had lived for many years, he remembered that he had forgotten to purchase gifts for several members of the wedding party. Stopping at a jewelry store, he asked if he could make a purchase with an out-of-state check and was told no, that it was against store policy.

 

As he turned to leave, the owner asked him, "Do you know anyone in Okmulgee?" thinking someone might be able to vouch for his honesty.

 

"No, I don't," Bill replied. "My grandfather used to live here, but he died a few years ago."

 

"Who was your grandfather?" the store owner asked.

 

"Sam Bright."

 

"Are you Sam Bright's grandson?" the store owner asked, his face lighting up as he approached Bill. "Why, Sam Bright was the most honorable man I have ever known! If you're anything like your grandfather, I'll sell you anything in the store--and I'll gladly take your check."

A Good Name - Even though you may not have much in the way of material possessions, a good name is one of those wonderful gifts you can pass on to your children.  

-david jeremiah

....learn

 “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

President George Washington said, “The greatest teacher I ever had was my mother.”

Mothers play such a vital role in our society. Not only do they impact their children, but they also impact their grandchildren and maybe even their great-grandchildren. They impact generations because of the truths they pass on.

The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy about the impact of Timothy’s mother and grandmother on his life: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you” 2 Timothy 1:5.

This shows us the importance of a godly heritage. For Timothy, it started with his grandmother, Lois, went to his mother, Eunice, and next to Timothy. And then Timothy passed that faith on.

If you’re a mom, maybe you feel as though you didn’t do your job all that well. However, your children are a work in progress. So keep praying for them and never give up, because your impact is greater than you may realize.

Abraham Lincoln, regarded by many as one of the greatest presidents in American history, said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe it to my angel mother.” And President Ronald Reagan said, “From my mother, I learned the value of prayer, how to have dreams and believe I could make them come true.”

Scripture says of the godly woman, “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: ‘There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!’” Proverbs 31:28–29.

If you’ve been a godly mother and have done your part to raise your children in the way of the Lord, what a treasure you are. What a blessing you are. We thank you and honor you! 

-greg laurie

mothers

 "Her children rise up and call her blessed......." Proverbs 31:28

She dreamed of you from the time she was a little girl cradling a baby doll in her arms. She always saw you playing around the little cottage in her childhood dreams. She carried you in her body and you made her sick every morning for weeks and weeks. She bore you into the world through intense pain but when she heard you cry and saw your winkled face she forgot all about it and wept tears of joy.

She fed you at her breast and her whole world revolved around you. She slipped into your room at night just to watch you sleep and she was sure you were the most beautiful child on earth. She sat up through the night to bathe away the fever and at breakfast your dad said: "Sleep well, honey?" oblivious of her all-night vigil. She somehow always knew when you needed her, even in the middle of the night, and she came to your room and changed your bedding and made sure you were warm and dry.

She covered your ears and gave you your coat and checked your homework and made you practice the piano and sat through all your ball games and recitals like they were the seventh game of the world series and a debut at Carnegie Hall. She nagged you to brush your teeth with words of wisdom like: "Be true to your teeth or they will be false to you." She changed your diaper and cleaned up when you were sick and washed underwear no one else would touch without a chemical suit. And who do you think always cleaned the gunk out of the kitchen sink and bathtub drain?

She made sure you had the drumstick and your dad had the breast and acted like she preferred the wings. Her oatmeal cookies made you forget the beating you took from the neighbourhood bully, or the slow rate of greeting card sales.

She listened to you and didn't laugh when others would have mocked you. She believed in you when you didn't believe in yourself and prayed for you even when you didn't think you needed it. She made you think you could do things you were sure you couldn't do. She was tough enough to call your bluff and discipline you and give you a sense of boundaries and the security that comes with it. She spanked you when "Spocking" was all the trend with lesser mothers. She knew when you needed a spanking or just a nap and she didn't always give you candy though she longed to indulge you.

She was always waiting when you came in late. When you complained about it, she pretended to be asleep the way you always did when you wanted her to carry you in from the car after a long trip.

She read the Bible to you and read the Bible in front of you and did what mothers have to do to make sure the family is faithful in church. She made your dad a much better man than he ever would have been without her. She mended clothes as a labor of love and it broke her heart to see how quickly you grew out of them. She knew you were loaned to her from God and soon the house would fall silent again. She washed mountains of dishes and truckloads of laundry. She put up food on the hottest summer days and didn't complain.

Her most sincere prayers were the ones she sent heavenward in gratitude for you. She filled your home with fragrance and beauty and music. The smell of her perfume and fresh-cut flowers, omelet for breakfast and Saturday roast.

Her eyes were bright and happy and full of life. 

She wept though, wept and worried a thousand times for you when no one ever knew.

She rose early on holidays so you could enjoy a festive meal and an enduring memory. She planned for days and worked for hours so that in a few minutes you could gulp it down and go watch football. You didn't always thank her or help her with the dishes, but those meals have been a cherished memory for years.

She baked you special treats just to watch you eat them. 

Something inside made her happier the more you ate.

She wore old dresses so you could have a new shoes. She skipped vacations and second honeymoons so you could go to camp. She limited expenses for her hobbies so you could get your bank instrument. She was happy with last year's fashion so you could have this years fashion dress.

She didn't abandon the family when your dad was insensitive to her needs. 

She took the blame for your failures and stood back and let your dad have the glory for your successes.

And having done all these things and a thousand others that make mother a sacred word, 

she still felt she wasn't the mother she should have been.

-ken pierpont  

....baton

In the 1988 Olympics, the world assumed that the United States would be victorious in the 400-meter relay. They simply were the best.

The gun sounded and they were off and running. After the last curve, the unthinkable happened. The United States was ahead by 10 meters with no real competition in sight. And then, with victory in their grasp, it happened. They dropped the baton. The thousands in the stands gasped in disbelief. The United States team - sleek, muscular, fast - lost the race. Why?  Someone dropped the baton.

Spiritually speaking, many people are not careful and take their eye off the baton.  They let it slip from their grasp. They fail to hold on to that which is important in the game of life.  The Bible offers many such warnings and admonitions to Christians.

“Hold fast to the word which I preached to you... 1 Corinthians 15:2.  

In other words, “Don’t drop the baton!”

”Test all things; hold fast to what is good... 1 Thessalonians 5:21.  

In other words, "Don’t drop the baton!"

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” Hebrews 10:23.  

In other words, "Don’t drop the baton!".

These exhortations are saying... 

    Hold on tight to your faith.

    Stay focused on your hope. 

    Sustain your confidence in Christ. 

    Uphold your values.  

    Defend your beliefs. 

    Maintain your integrity. 

    Cling to your Christian virtues. 

In other words, "Don’t drop the baton!"

-king duncan

.....times

 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah 55:8-9

I heard a story which illustrates how we often confuse God's timing with ours. A country newspaper had been running a series of articles on the value of church attendance.

One day, a letter to the editor was received in the newspaper office. It read, "Print this if you dare. I have been trying an experiment. I have a field of corn which I plowed on Saturday. I planted it on Saturday. I did all the cultivating on Saturday. I gathered the harvest on Saturday and hauled it to my barn on Saturday. I find that my harvest this October is just as great as any of my neighbors' who went to church on Saturday. So where was God all this time?"

The editor printed the letter, but added his reply at the bottom. "Your mistake was in thinking that God always settles his accounts in October."

That's often our mistake as well, isn't it - thinking that God should act when and how we want him to act, according to our timetable rather than his. The fact that our vision is limited, finite, unable to see the end from the beginning, somehow escapes our mind. So we complain; we get frustrated; we accuse God of being indifferent to us.

That's when God gently reminds us that... "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah 55:8-9

God's timetable is perfect. He will do exactly what is best for us - in His own time - according to his wonderful plans for us, because He loves us so much. Wait! Be patient! His clock may show a different time than our clock, but it's the right one.

-dave langerfeld

 

...alone

 

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations.   I  will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

 

Do you find yourself in a place of nothingness? There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of isolation and waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities - simply inactivity.

 

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is a place of nothingness designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something" while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God."

You know the signs that you have been brought into this place when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness.

 

Many people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot see what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.

 

Has God brought you to a place of nothingness? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, your nothingness will be turned into something you will value for the rest of your life.

-dave langerfeld

...water

After the first day of fierce fighting in the Civil War battle of Fredericksburg, hundreds of Union soldiers lay crying on the battlefield, wounded and bleeding. All through the night, and most of the next day, artillery fire prevented their relief. Yet all that time their agonized cries went up, “Water! Water!” Finally, a noble Southern sergeant, Richard Kirkland, rose above his love of life and told his General Kershaw, “I can’t stand this any longer! Those poor souls out there have been praying and crying all night and all day, and it’s more than I can bear! I ask your permission to go and give them water.”

“But you know,” said the general, “that as soon as you show yourself to the enemy, you will be shot.” 

“Yes, sir, I know it,” he answered, “but to carry a little comfort to those poor dying men, I’m willing to run the risk!” 

The general hesitated, but his heart was also touched with sympathy over the suffering soldiers. “Kirkland, it’s sending you to your death, but I cannot oppose such a motive as yours. I hope God will protect you. Go.” 

So the brave soldier, furnished with a supply of water, stepped over the stone rampart and began his work of Christlike mercy. Wondering eyes watched as he knelt by the nearest sufferer, tenderly raised his head, and held the refreshing cup to his parched lips. Every soldier in the Union line understood his tender mission, and not a single shot was fired. For over an hour, one after another of the crying, wounded, and dying was given refreshing drink, had his cramped or mangled limbs straightened, his head cushioned on his knapsack, and was covered with his coat or blanket as tenderly as though by his own mother.

 

It’s the same on life’s great battlefield, where souls are crying and dying from the fearful effects of sin. They are thirsty for the water of life, with no one to reach out to them the refreshing draft they so crave, except the One who stepped over the ramparts of heaven and came down to risk His all. Christ, on the cross of Calvary, rescued them from their sins by giving to them “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” John 4:14. 

"For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." Mark 9:41

-doug batchelor