....need

Samuel's great statement of the responsibility of praying for the people in our lives said, As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you." That's 1 Samuel 12:23. 

1.   "I pray."     That's the privilege of prayer.

What an honor to be invited by the Heavenly Father to participate in His work throughout the world simply by bowing our heads and expressing our thoughts and worship and requests to Him.

2.   "I pray for you."     That's the responsibility of prayer.

We need each other so much. We have not been sent out simply to pray for everyone everywhere, otherwise, we would get the phone book down and get started. However, we each have a circle of people who depend on us for prayer. In my case, it's my immediate and extended family first, then our church leadership and membership, and so on.

3.   "I cease to pray for you."     That's the danger of prayerlessness.

Many of us used to pray for people we no longer mention to God. What could cause us to quit? In Samuel's case, he had been rejected by the very people who were now asking for his prayers. He would have been within his rights to tell them to buzz off. But his devotion to them was not conditional on their response, so he would keep right on praying for them.

4.   "Far be it from me to cease praying for you."     This is the commitment to pray.

Samuel is not merely hoping he will pray or even asking God to help him pray; he is announcing to the people his intention of praying for them, period. He promises to intercede with God on their behalf.

5.   "Far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you."     This is the holy burden of prayer. It is a personal matter between the Heavenly Father and me. When I quit praying, I not only disappoint you and weaken myself, more importantly, I sin against God. After all, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." That's from Romans 14:23 and it applies to prayerlessness if it means anything.

God has given us the map, the Bible, to show us the way. But if He did nothing more - if we were on our own here - we would huddle around it trying to figure out where we are, where we want to go, and how to get there, making mistakes galore.  But God took pity on His wayward children and gave us a Guide:  Himself.  

The Holy Spirit knows the way and we follow Him.  His leadership is always in accordance with the Map, since He wrote it!  Our task is to stay close to Him and go where He leads.

-joe mckeever

.....falling

With my heart pounding in my throat and my adrenaline on supercharge, I crawled out the door of the small Cessna airplane and balanced precariously on a small step. This was it, there was no going back. I spread my arms and legs out into the arch position and let go.

As I tumbled through the air, I could see the plane departing in the distance. I looked up and saw that my chute had tangled on deployment. For a moment, I almost panicked. Then, I remembered that I could do some maneuvering and get the lines untangled.  Failing that, there was still the reserve chute. All I needed to do was pull a release which "cut away" the main chute and the reserve would deploy without problem - at least in theory.

Fortunately, I did not have to find out if the reserve would open properly as I got the lines untangled on the main chute. The rest of the trip was a delightful journey. That is until landing.

It is hard to describe the feeling of descending under the cover of a functional parachute. You are falling gently through the air, above the noise of the earth, watching the ground seeming to come ever so slowly upwards. The wonderful peace of it conflicts with the sheer adrenaline rush leaving you with a sense of exhilaration.

Just before you land with a parachute you allow the air to come out of it, and then fill again. This process, known as "flaring", stops you so that you can touch the ground gently. I flared a moment too soon, which lifted me, then dropped me from about ten feet or so. Not a huge fall, but...

It is hard to describe the events that happened next, because they happened so quickly. It involved my foot going into a gopher-hole and my forward momentum spinning me around my stuck foot, a large rock and a gust of wind. I ended up with a smashed up shin and ankle. I had no choice but to lie on the ground and wait for the rescue crew to take me to the hospital. That was more than 25 years ago and I still have the dent in my shin bone and problems with that ankle.

The doctor told me that day that next time, I might not be so lucky. I would likely not walk again if I had a similar landing. I quit the sport that day.

 

Now sky-diving is not a sin, but that day's events remind me of the way we respond to sin sometimes. We decide to give into temptation, and we get a little check in our spirit. We ignore that check thinking that we will still be fine. Sooner or later though, just like the ground rising up to meet me, our sin reaches up hard with its consequences and there is no avoiding them any more. It's too late to turn back.

We generally do not plan to go out and sin... at least not at first. We get tempted  - then we think about it a while. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted  by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

Even if we manage to "get away" with sin, and believe that "no one knows", our sins will come back to bite us.  "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs." Matthew 10:26-27

That means we need to do two things. First, run from the temptation. Second, when we fall, we need to return quickly to the grace and mercy of our loving Father, seeking His forgiveness. A fall into sin will not cause us to lose salvation, but it can damage our relationship with Father and have earthly consequences which haunt us the rest of our lives.  

In other words, flee from temptation. But if you fall, rush back in the waiting arms of your Abba Father.

-dave langerfeld

....crushed

There are times that the oddest things catch my attention. For example, I am fascinated about the ball in United States football. This relatively small, oddly-shaped ball is constantly crushed beneath hundreds, and maybe even thousands of pounds of football players, and it bounces back every time. I have never witnessed or heard of one of these balls exploding or collapsing under the pressure. Why is that? I cannot give you the detailed scientific explanation, I do know that main reason is the air pressure inside the ball.

Have you ever seen a Weeble? It's a child's toy that carries the image of a person on it, but its claim to fame is that it wobbles but it doesn't fall down. That fascinates me, too. These little toys get knocked, pushed, and thrown around, yet they always end upright. The reason for this wonderful gift is due in part to their shape. But there are also strategically placed tiny weights inside the Weeble that make it possible for it to accomplish its feat.

Christians are a lot like the football and the Weeble you know. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

One paraphrase of "jars of clay" reads, "cracked pots." That may be more accurate, but the key here is that we are breakable, finite beings, made from the dust of the earth.. At times life pounces on we "jars of clay," like a ton of football players. Other times evil pummels us with blow after blow. 

Yet, Christians continue to stand firm and strong, like that little football bouncing back and those little Weebles, wobbling but coming right back up to our feet. The world stands in awe of the resilience of the people of God and wonder how they can have such peace and strength amidst the crushing blows. But we know. It's what's inside!

"This treasure" spoken of in this verse is the gospel, the light and the person of Christ; it is the "all-surpassing power" given to us through the abiding Holy Spirit. It is not us, but Christ in us. Though pressure squeezes from every side, the power of Christ keeps us from being crushed. Though perplexed with all that is happening, we do not despair, for in Christ we know we are on the victorious side. Though we are persecuted, we remain strong in Christ, knowing that He never abandons His people. Though at times the blows knock us to the ground, we rise in grace and strength in Christ, not destroyed.

"Therefore, beloved, do not lose heart. Though these jars of clay are wasting away outwardly, inwardly Christ is renewing us day by day. These pressuring, perplexing, persecuting, knock down times, are but light and momentary and they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Let us keep our eyes fixed not on the present happenings which are so visible to us, but upon the eternal, which is not seen by the earthly eye, but through eyes of faith." paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

-gerry whetstone

.....purpose

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

"I'd like you to help us develop our marketing program beginning in January," said the CEO of a sports product company. The consultant was delighted to have the opportunity. It was the first new business opportunity he'd had in some time. He had just come out of some very difficult business and personal circumstances in the last few years. 

A few months into the relationship, the CEO asked the consultant to manage the entire marketing department, placing him over the current marketing staff. It appeared that God was blessing his efforts with several successful initiatives. The consultant began to build a relationship with a few of the executives. One day, the sales manager came into his office and asked for help on a personal crisis. One thing led to another, and two months later, the consultant found himself leading the sales manager in the sinner's prayer in the sales manager's office.

God prepares His servants in many ways to accomplish His purpose. The story of Joseph is repeated every workday in the lives of His people. The circumstances may be different, but the results are the same. God trains His servant through sometimes difficult "boot camps." When that training is complete, He places them in strategic places to be a provider-both physically and spiritually.

Is God preparing you to be a provider in the workplace? Do not fret at the difficult training ground you may be required to endure. He has a plan. If you'll allow Him to carry out His plan, you'll be privileged to be used by the Master's hand. 

I know because I am that consultant. 

-omar s hillman

....option

Feed your fears, and your faith will starve.

Feed your faith, and your fears will starve!

That's what Jeremiah did. He said:  "I am a man who has seen affliction under the rod of his [the LORD's] wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long." Lamentations 3:1.   

Jerusalem had been under siege. When the city fell and was utterly destroyed, Jeremiah's world collapsed like a sand castle in a typhoon. Jeremiah's body ached... His heart was sick...And Jeremiah faulted God for his horrible emotional distress.

But when he realized how fast he was sinking, he shifted his gaze: But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will trust in him" Lamentations 3:21-24.

Jeremiah altered his thoughts...

He shifted his attention...

He turned his eyes and looked into the wonder of God.

His troubles didn't cease, but his discouragement and fear did.

Storms are not an option... but fear is!

-max lucado

.....ordinary

Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Dwight L. Moody was a poorly educated, unordained, shoe salesman who felt God's call to preach the gospel. Early one morning he and some friends gathered in a hay field for a season of prayer, confession, and consecration. His friend Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him." Moody was deeply moved by these words. He later went to a meeting where Charles Spurgeon was speaking. 

In that meeting Moody recalled the words spoken by his friend, "The world had yet to see!...with and for and through and in!...A man!" Varley meant any man! Varley didn't say he had to be educated, or brilliant, or anything else. Just a man! Well, by the Holy Spirit in him, he'd be one of those men. Then suddenly, in that high gallery, he saw something he'd never realized before. It was not Mr. Spurgeon, after all, who was doing that work; it was God. And if God could use Mr. Spurgeon, why should He not use the rest of us, and why should we not all just lay ourselves at the Master's feet and say to Him, "Send me! Use me!"

D.L. Moody was an ordinary man who sought to be fully and wholly committed to Christ. God did extraordinary things through this ordinary man. Moody became one of the great evangelists of modern times. He founded a Bible college, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, which sends out men and women trained in service for God. 

Are you an ordinary man or woman in whom God wants to do extraordinary things? God desires that for every child of His. Ask God to do extraordinary things in your life. Begin today to trust Him to accomplish great things for His Kingdom through you. 

-os hillman

.....messengers

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

"You are called to free workplace believers from the Esau life." 

Those were the words spoken to me years ago by someone God sent into my life. I had been in the midst of trying to understand some catastrophic events that shook my world. Years later, I was able to see that God gave this person supernatural insight that revealed God's calling on my life.

God still uses His prophets today to reveal His plans in the lives of His people. I have seen this Scripture proved over and over in the lives of people. It is as though God sends out His "scouts" to inform His servants what is ahead for them. Sometimes He does this because He knows the event will require such changes in that person's life and so He wants to assure them of His love. 

I have experienced the Lord using me in this way in the life of other individuals. God did this in the life of Moses. He came to Moses at the burning bush to reveal His purposes for the people of Israel and His call on Moses to free them.

Has God placed individuals in your life to speak His plans for you? 

Are your eyes and ears spiritually sensitive so that you will know who are messengers of God? 

Elisha had a servant who could not see or hear with spiritual eyes and ears until Elisha prayed they would be opened. Then the servant could see the great army of God protecting them 2 Kings 6:17. 

Pray that you might see and hear with the Spirit. He may desire to reveal His purposes and plans through another individual.

-os hillman

.....call

For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

God calls us into a relationship with Him. That is our foremost calling. It is from this relationship that our "physical" calling results. Whether that is to be a teacher, a doctor, a nurse, a pastor, or any number of vocations, we must realize that when He calls us, the change in vocation never changes His call on our lives. 

It is a mere change in the landscape of our calling. This is why it is dangerous to associate our purpose and calling too closely with our work. When we define our work life exclusively as our calling, we fall into the trap of locking up our identity into our vocation. This promotes aspiration because of a need to gain greater self-worth through what we do. 

Os Guinness, author of The Call, describes the great artist Picasso, who fell into this trap.

"'When a man knows how to do something,' Pablo Picasso told a friend, 'he ceases being a man when he stops doing it.' The result was a driven man. Picasso's gift, once idolized, held him in thrall. Every empty canvass was an affront to his creativity. Like an addict, he made work his source of satisfaction only to find himself dissatisfied. 'I have only one thought: work,' Picasso said toward the end of his life, when neither his family nor his friends could help him relax." [Os Guiness, The Call (Nashville, Tennessee: Word Publishing, 1998), 242.]

What happens when you lose your job? 

Do you lose your calling? 

Do you lose your identity? 

Do you lose your sense of well-being? No. 

Calling involves different stages and experiences in life. Disruptions in your work are an important training ground for God to fulfill all aspects of His calling on your life. 

Trust in your God who says your calling is irrevocable and that all things come from Him.

-os hillman

....reality

Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18.

One the great acts of the prophet Elijah took place at Mount Carmel where he called down fire upon the altar of Baal and slaughtered 400 prophets of Baal. I have been to Mount Carmel in Israel and stood upon this mountain where this took place. Once the miracle took place Elijah was forced to flee because Jezebel swore to take his life for what he did. 

Elijah went into depression after this event. He fled to the desert and sat under a broom tree and asked God to let him die. He was so discouraged because he felt he was the only godly prophet left in the land of Israel. This is often what happens after God does a significant work through us. Satan comes along and wants to steal what God has done and bring the servant of God down. Satan makes us believe a lie about our situation. This was the case for Elijah.

Elijah's perception was not reality. He thought he was the last of the prophets. He could not see what God was doing. God informed Elijah that there were actually seven thousand of His representatives in the land who had not bowed down to Baal. Elijah thought he was the only one left. God says there are 7,000 left! What a discrepancy in perception and reality.

This is often the case for you and I. We look at our situations and conclude based on the circumstances that reality must be this way. But God says, "No, you do not see what I see or what I know or what I am doing. The situation is very different than what you are perceiving."

Be careful not to draw conclusions about your situation that may not be based on truth. God always has a plan for His servants that we may not know about. 

Ask God to give you His perception of the situation, not yours. 

-os hillman

.....calling

As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father's family? 1 Samuel 9:20

Saul and his servant were out seeking his father's lost donkeys. This was symbolic of the waywardness of the nation of Israel. The people of Israel had just asked the prophet Samuel to have a king rule over them. This saddened God greatly, yet God granted their request. 

Saul and his servant heard of a man of God named Samuel. "Perhaps this man of God can tell us where to find our donkeys," said the servant. Isn't that just like us? We seek God to solve the issues related to material life. Saul was about to receive the greatest opportunity of his lifetime. He was about to be crowned as king of Israel. His life would never be the same. What was he concerned about? His donkeys. We don't have to be worried about the material things of life if we are about the things He's called us to do. 

God called Saul to be the next king in order to free the people from the Philistines. God sent a messenger, the prophet Samuel, to inform him of his new career. The messenger also had to ease his mind about his donkeys. Donkeys often represent commerce in the Bible. They were the primary means of transporting goods; therefore, in essence, what was Samuel saying to Saul? He was saying, "You don't need to worry about your business if you respond to the call of God on your life. All the material things will take care of themselves."

Jesus said the same thing to the disciples years later. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Mt. 6:33. 

When God calls us, it often involves making major adjustments in our lives. Saul went from one kind of business to another. He went from working for his father to being a king. What changes is God calling you to make today in order to join Him in His work?

-omar s hillman

.....entrepreneurial

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark... 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

There are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do. Those activities not born out of the Spirit will result in wood, hay, and stubble. What seems good in our eyes may be an abomination in God's eyes. For instance, if you decide to build an orphanage but God has never directed you to do so, then God will not see that work as good; it was born out of your own strength, even though it was a "good work."

The most difficult challenge a Christian workplace believer will ever have is to know what things to be involved in and what things not to be involved in. Many workplace believers have a great ability to see opportunity. What appears to be a "slam dunk" may come back to haunt us if God never ordains us to enter that arena. There are many good things we can be involved with. However, there are God-things we are supposed to be involved with. 

Uzzah was a good man in David's sight. It was a time of celebration, and David and the people were transporting the ark of God. However, the ark hit a bump, and Uzzah reached for the ark to hold it steady. He touched the ark, and he immediately died. 

David became very upset with God about this situation; he questioned whether he could serve God.

God's ways are not our ways. The most important quality God desires to develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone. When we begin to make decisions based on reason and analysis instead of the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, we get into trouble with God. David later learned the importance of this principle in his own life. This encounter was one of the stepping-stones in his pilgrimage. David was an extraordinary entrepreneur. He ran the nation very successfully, but he, like each of us, had to learn the difference between "good things" and "God-things."

Are you involved in anything in which God has not directed you to be involved? 

Do you seek God about every decision, every action before you take it? 

This is where God wants you and me to be. Ask Him to show you how to walk with Him in this way. 

-omar s hillman

......still

God is present everywhere and participates in all the circumstances of our lives. It is not necessary to shut down the rest of your life or retreat to a distant mountaintop to be with him. Driving down the highway, in hospital waiting rooms, at dinner, greeting clients - God's presence fills every moment of the day.

We can't fix ourselves. We can't find our own way. We certainly can't control life's twists and turns. But we can gradually learn to sense God's presence with us in all things. His love - and His peace. But I must confess to having a problem doing it.

As I've tried to figure out why I have the problem, at least this much is clear: I am more comfortable with noise than silence, with activity than stillness, with struggling than surrender, with trying to be strong than admitting my weakness.

It was the French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal who said, "All human miseries come from not being able to sit in a quiet room, alone."  Could he possibly be right?  Do we humans need more reflection than we permit ourselves?  Time to take our thoughts and feelings seriously?  The courage to bring them honestly before God to see what he may want us to learn?  To be?

Last week I was forced to sit still in weather-bound traffic for a while. I had a schedule.  There were things to do. So... something told me to pray instead of churn. And I did -- about a host of things. The time passed quickly. When I was able to get going on the road again, there was no haste or panic. Just gratitude for an unanticipated time for prayer.  And a sense of peace about what lay ahead.

Perhaps it would be wise to book a half-day each month for silence before God. To use dead time in airports to be alone with God. To turn off the noise of an FM radio or Ipod for the chance to hear God while driving to work.

Perhaps you live at such a hurried pace that a half day or even a half hour of silence with God seems impractical. For today, put just five minutes of silence between appointments or work two five-minute periods of quiet into your morning.

At the end of the day, you may have discovered the meaning of this text from Scripture: "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations.  I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge" Psalm 46:10-11

-steve blair

.....source

After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land. 2 Samuel 21:14

During the reign of David, there was a famine in the land for three successive years. So David sought the Lord regarding this famine, "Why is there famine on this land?" The Lord answered David, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death" 2 Sam. 21:1.

Years earlier, Joshua made a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. This, too, was an act of disobedience. When God called Israel to come into the Promised Land, they were to destroy all the enemies of God. Joshua failed to see through the ruse of deception when the Gibeonites portrayed themselves as travelers. The Israelites signed a peace treaty only to discover who the Gibeonites were after the fact. Now, they had to honor the treaty. However, this led to intermarriages and much sorrow for Israel. Years later, Saul made a decision to kill the Gibeonites.

The nation was now receiving the punishment for their sin of disobedience through a famine. David knew that famines could have a spiritual source, so he inquired of God and God answered. The source was Saul's murder of the Gibeonites. Once David knew the source of the problem, he took action. He repented on behalf of the nation and made restitution. The famine was then lifted.

Do you have a problem that seems to be a continually unresolved issue? 

Have you asked God to tell you the reason for the problem? 

It may have a spiritual root that is still unresolved with God. 

He may be allowing this pressure to bring attention to an issue He wants you to take care of. Ask the Lord today to give you revelation on your problem. As a loving Father, He desires to make known anything that stands in the way of fellowship between you and Him. However, His righteousness must always be upheld. 

-omar s hillman

.....thinking

..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

God's people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This joy should be a by product of a healthy, intimate relationship with Jesus. In today's business climate, we are barraged with every possible means of becoming more productive workplace believers. Positive thinking and self-help philosophy are promoted as tools for workplace believers to fulfill their potential and overcome the mountains in their lives. 

God calls each of us to be visionary leaders, but we must be careful that vision is born out of His Spirit, not the latest self-help program. These ideas lead us away from dependence on God to a self-based psychology designed to give us more power, prosperity, and significance.

The result is heresy. 

Our faith in God becomes faith in faith. It is born out of hard work and diligence rather than obedience to God's Spirit. The problem lies in that these philosophies sound good, and can even be supported by Bible verses. Beware of anything that puts the burden of performance on you rather than God. 

There are times in our lives when God doesn't want us to climb every mountain. Sometimes He wants us to go around. Knowing the difference is the key to being a man or woman led by the Spirit.

God has called us to affect the workplace through His Spirit, not by our might. Have you tapped into the real power source of the soul? Ask the Lord to reveal and empower you through His Spirit today. Then you will know what real positive thinking is.  

-omar s hillman

......breaks

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36

With all that has been on the news lately, I find myself overwhelmed with feelings. I've been trying to think about what to say about it all. The situation is just devastating and there are plenty of opinions as to what we should or shouldn't do next, but instead of adding to the noise, I want to take a moment to hear God in the midst of it.

It is hard to see what is happening around the world and feeling like there is so little I can do to help. All the lives lost, the violence, the desperation, the grief… I asked the Lord "What can I do?!" That's when the words, "break my heart for what breaks yours" came to mind. I had previously heard those words sung by Hillsong in their song "Hosanna" and as I was talking to the Lord, he brought them to memory.

In the above verse, we see Jesus' heart. He had compassion on the crowds because they were confused and helpless… much like what I see on the news these days. I may not be able to personally be with every person who is suffering, but Jesus is already there! When we truly understand Jesus' heart, we can pray more effectively for others. We can intercede on their behalf to our Heavenly Father who is in all places. We can come to a place where our personal opinions don't matter as much as the connection we can have with Jesus as we ask Him to break our hearts for what breaks His. Many times, praying in accordance with the heart of God is the most powerful thing you and I can do to help our hurting world.

Dear God, I don't know where to begin, but coming before you is always the best place to start. So much loss, tragedy, pain. I pray that my heart would break for the things that break your heart. I pray that you would fill me with compassion for others regardless of personal opinions. Please show me the next steps, whether big or small, on how I can be your hands and feet in our hurting world. Please provide comfort and peace to the many families who are grieving and suffering. Help me to love my neighbor, both next door and around the world. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer, in Jesus' name.

-dick innes

....others

And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. 1 Chronicles 14:2

King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God's continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him. It wasn't because he deserved it, though he was a man who sought God with his whole heart. It wasn't because of his great skill, though he was a great military strategist. It wasn't because he was perfect, for he committed some horrible sins during his reign as king. No, it was for none of these reasons. 

God blessed David for the "sake of His people Israel." God never blesses an individual just for that person's exclusive benefit. God calls each of us to be a blessing to others. So often we forget this last part. R.G. LeTourneau, a businessman who built heavy construction equipment, came to realize this only after God took him through many trials. 

Once the Lord had all of LeTourneau, he came to realize that the question wasn't whether he gave 10 percent of what the Lord gave him. Rather, the question was, "What amount does He want me to keep?" 

LeTourneau was known for giving 90 percent of his income toward the end of his career and was a great supporter of world missions. But the Lord doesn't bless workplace believers just for the ability to give financially. God has given workplace believers many more gifts beyond the financial.

What is happening with the spiritual fruit of God's blessing on your life? Is it clogged, or is it freely flowing to others? Ask the Lord to free you to be a blessing to those in your circle of influence

-omar s hillman

guarantee

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."  Ephesians 1:13

The transaction of redemption is legitimized when Paul says in Ephesians 1:13 that believers are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit" . 

In Paul's time, a seal was used to confirm that an object or a document was genuine and/or to mark a thing as one's property. 

The Holy Spirit is a deposit or payment of earnest money guaranteeing the inheritance promised by God. The Spirit is our down payment, the first installment made in advance, that secures the "legal" claim of our redemption.

When all seems lost. . . when it seems that God is silent. . . when it looks like God has disappeared. . . remember, God has not forsaken you. Jesus Christ died for you. The Holy Spirit secures God's payment in your relationship with Him. 

Read the Truth - Cling to the Truth - and Trust God! 

-dave langerfeld

.....miracles

With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared." Judges 6:21

How does God call people into His service? There is a clear pattern in the way God calls men and women into service for Him. Almost every major leader has been called while he or she was in the midst of performing his or her everyday vocation. Peter was a fisherman; Matthew, a tax collector; Luke, a physician; Paul, a tentmaker; Moses, a shepherd; Jesus, a carpenter; and so on.

When God called Gideon to free the people of Israel from the oppression of the Amalekites, he did so while Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress. Like Moses, Gideon argued with God, saying his family was nothing special, so how could he be used of God to save Israel? Gideon acknowledged God by preparing an offering to Him. The angel did an interesting thing with Gideon's offering; he took the tip of his staff and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. 

Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. As with Moses, God chose to do a miracle with a staff, the instrument that symbolized Gideon's work life. Why would God do this? It is because God wants us to know that the tools He has given each of us are the tools He wants to use to demonstrate His power. However, in order for that to happen, we must yield our tools to Him for miracles to be manifested through them.

Have you yielded your tools to the Lord? God wants you to have an overriding ministry objective to your work life. He doesn't want you to leave your work; He wants to work through your work. Allow Him to do that today.

- os hillman

.....where

Hurricanes are causing heavy rains, wind, and a lot of flooding across the country.  Where does all that water go?  When there's a flash flood, or a super heavy rain, where does ALL of that water go?  Some evaporates into the atmosphere, and creates moisture in the air we need to breathe, along with plants and animals.  Most runs off and seeps into the earth.

When we flood ourselves with the Word of God, when we soak and saturate our minds and hearts with thoughts and messages from the Lord, it is the same. Some of it evaporates into the sphere of our relationships;  other people absorb and breathe it in, and it nourishes them.  

Most of it works its way deep down into our spirits, to give drink to our spiritual roots and to sustain us in dry times.

Isaiah 55:10-11 says, "As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Thank you, Lord, your living water always goes somewhere!

-dave langerfeld

name

These were the chiefs among Esau's descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz. Genesis 36:15

God is big on giving meaning to names. Names often are specific indicators of God's plans and purposes for that individual. A young boy grew up as Moses' servant. His Hebrew name, Hoshea, means "salvation." As the lad grew, Moses could see that he had a "different spirit" from the rest of the Hebrew men. He was selected to be one of the 12 men whom Moses chose to spy out the land of Canaan. Before the expedition, Hoshea was given a new name by Moses-Joshua, which means "the Lord saves." Joshua became the new leader of Israel who would lead them into the Promised Land. He would, in fact, save an entire nation. 

In my own journey I had learned that God gave me a name that had something to do with my future call from Him. I was 44 years old and had just gone through two of the most difficult years of my life. During that time, God brought a man into my life who discipled me in areas where I had never been trained. I was discovering many new spiritual truths about myself and Christians in the workplace. I came to identify with the struggles of Esau and Joseph in their desire to understand their own birthrights. I began to write about these discoveries to help other workplace believers understand their own callings through business. One morning on a weekend getaway in the mountains, my friend looked at me and said, "Do you know the meaning of 'Omar'?"

Omar is my first name. My real name is Omar Smallwood Hillman III.  No one, not even my mother, knew the origin of "Omar." They put the "O" and the "S" together to call me "Os." "You need to know the meaning of 'Omar.' It has something to do with your future," said my friend.

Startled by his assertion, that night I looked up the name of "Omar" on a computer program. Here is what I found: Arabic for "first son" and "disciple," Hebrew for "gifted speaker," and German for "famous." Rooted in the Middle East, this name is rarely used in the West. Omar was the grandson of Esau. [http://www.babyhold.com/]

I was shocked. I had just completed 300 pages of material on the relationship of Christian businessmen to the life of Esau. My friend quickly concluded that God had called me to free Christian businessmen and women from the "Esau life." And He had allowed me to receive a name that related to the person of Esau. It was the closest thing to a burning bush experience I'd ever had. Could the Lord be this personal with us? Yes, Matthew 10:30 tells us He knows the very hairs of our head. 

......lost

Leith Anderson shared a story about when he was a boy. He grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers.  One day, his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, not a single Dodger ever got on base and his excitement was shattered.

Years later, he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a walking sports almanac. Leith told him about the first major league game he attended and added, "It was such a disappointment. I was a Dodger fan and the Dodgers never got on base."

The man said, "You were there? You were at the game when Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in all of World Series history?"Leith replied, "Yeah, but uh, we lost."

He then realized that he had been so caught up in his team's defeat that he missed out on the fact that he was a witness to a far greater page of history.

"You were there?"

I wonder how often the same thing happens to us. We get so caught up in the "defeats" in our lives -- the times when things don't turn out the way we want them to. So we're depressed because an illness continues to linger, or when people don't treat us the way we think they ought to, or when we face financial difficulties.

But, we are often so blinded by the pain and disappointment of our "defeat" that we fail to appreciate the fact that we might be witness to something far greater that God is doing in our lives.

Remember when Paul was in prison? He wrote to the Christians in Philippi: "My dear friends, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the good news."  Philippians 1:12

While most of us would have focused on the "defeat" (being in prison even though he was innocent), Paul was able to see what God was doing in his life... It's never easy to view things from a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly one, but it is especially difficult in the midst of pain and defeat. But it is learning how to have a heavenly view that helps us to know joy no matter what happens in our lives.

-dave langerfeld 

......cocoon

The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. Exodus 14:8

Overprotective parents do their children a great injustice. The caterpillar that lies inside the cocoon will never become the beautiful butterfly if someone cuts open the cocoon prematurely. It is the struggle itself that allows the butterfly to emerge as a strong, new creature of nature.

God understands how necessary this process is. That is why we are allowed to experience difficult, often life-changing events. He even orchestrates them-all for our benefit. What the Israelites thought was a cruel joke when Pharaoh sent troops to pursue them after they had been freed and penned against the shore of the Red Sea became the stage for the most publicized miracle of all time-the parting of the Red Sea. 

Generation after generation has heard this incredible story of deliverance. God puts us against the "Red Seas" in order to show His power in and through us. If we do not know God can deliver, then we can never learn to trust Him. Circumstances that go beyond our capabilities of solving them place us at God's complete mercy. This is how He likes it.

Do not fear the calamity that comes your way. If you are faithful to Him in the test, you will see God's power manifested like never before. Just as the Israelites were able to sing a song of deliverance, you too will have your own testimony of the Lord's faithfulness; and you will be able to recall it for others to build your faith and theirs.

-os hillman

interested

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.  1 Peter 5:7

So nobody seemed to care if you changed jobs or not. And nobody said much to affirm your new project venture. As you poured out your feelings in what you thought was a safe place, you found she wasn’t all that interested. He is interested.

Maybe there weren't many calls or notes from people who commented on your promotion, or sympathized in the loss of a family member, showed concern for a recent illness, or even remembered your birthday. Perhaps they are too busy or maybe they don’t care enough to make it a priority. And when you were sharing from a gut level about the childhood hurt that God's healing, and there was no feedback or affirmation.

But He’s interested.

Got is interested in everything going on with you. Everything you think, everything you say, everywhere you go, everything you do, everything and everyone you are involved with. Jesus is the friend who ‘sticks closer than a brother’.

If you would like a relationship with somebody who cares - and is interested in you all the time- there you have it, anytime you want. How awesome is that?!

Have you ever heard the saying if you feel far from God, guess who moved? He is faithful. You can count on him to be interested in every single solitary thing going on with you and in your life. Always.

The Lord himself watches over you! Psalm 121:5

-sally i kennedy

....trust

So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 1 Corinthians 14:15

How real is the spiritual realm? My lawyer friend from Nigeria tells a personal story of how he was preparing for an important case. He knew that he must be prepared to argue five separate points. He was to appear before his country's supreme court, so it was a very important case.

As he neared the time in which he was to go to court, he began to pray about how he was to argue the case. He spent much time in legal preparation and intercessory prayer. As he went to court, the Spirit spoke to him and said, "Do not argue point one, point two, point three, or point four. Only argue point five." Imagine my friend's struggle of faith. If he were reading this wrong, the shame and professional fallout would be devastating.

The time had come to present the case before the judge when my friend said, "Judge, I wish to withdraw points one through four. I wish to argue only point five." The opposing counsel stood up and objected. "Your honor, he cannot do that!" "Objection overruled, counsel," said the judge.

My friend went on to present his case around point five only, and then sat down. When the opposing counsel stood to present his case, he stood speechless for 12 minutes. He could not get a word out of his mouth. He finally mumbled a few words and complained to the judge that he was going to have to yield. It seems that the opposing counsel had prepared to argue only points one through four, but failed to prepare for point five. The judge ruled in favor of my friend.

The unseen Lord wants to help us in the physical realm of our work life. We must acknowledge His presence and tap into this incredible resource He has given to each of us. Seek Him today and ask Him to reveal His perfect plan for you this day.

-os hillman

....don't

Then Moses said to him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. Exodus 33:15

Moses was in the middle of his journey through the wilderness, leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. The people had just sinned by worshiping the golden calf. Moses interceded for them and God spared them their lives. 

Moses then talked one on one with the Lord. He knew he could not lead this stubborn people without God's presence. He had come to realize that without God's presence, he could not do anything. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? Exodus 33:16

Moses did not want to move farther without the assurance that God was moving with him. He knew it was a life-and-death situation. He sought the Lord with his whole heart on this one matter.

The question is a good one. If we are to be effective in anything we do for the Lord, the Lord must be in the midst of it. Unless the Lord's power is seen among us, we will be just another person who has religion. 

Unless we manifest His life to others, they will see only good behavior that is easily counterfeited by moral people. Moving out in presumption will end in failure and frustration. 

Ask the Lord today to assure you of His presence and power in your activities. Then you will be assured that you will be distinguished among all the other people on the face of the earth.

-os hillman

.....shelter

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:1

As we observe the 20th anniversary of 9/11, many of us can remember that day so clearly. We can visualize where we were and recall what we were doing when we stopped to watch our televisions. In stunned silence, we witnessed the first, and then the second, tower of the World Trade Center collapse in a heap of rubble.

In the forefront of our minds was the shock of Is this really happening? But in the background was the disquiet of What does this mean for the future? The realization that our borders were not impenetrable, our defenses were not impregnable, and our nation was not invulnerable was an eye-opening experience for many of us.

I visited what was being called “Ground Zero” only days after this horrific and senseless attack. I stood in absolute amazement at the spot where the mighty twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood and watched the smoke billow from the mass of destruction. It was all so surreal and incredibly sad.

On September 11, 2001, God allowed in the life of a nation what He so often allows in the lives of individuals: tragedy. I wish I could tell you that tragedy only strikes in the life of the godless, but we know the godly also suffer. Why does God allow tragedy?

Of course, there are no easy answers to this question. But I do believe that one reason is because suffering peels away the veneer of self-sufficiency in our lives. It melts away the pretense that we don’t need help. It reminds us that we need God. C. S. Lewis wrote, “Pain removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul.”

It may come as a surprise to some people that the Bible does not promise a life that is free from suffering. But it does promise the presence of God for the person who believes. The Bible promises that God will help us through that suffering if we allow Him to.

Thinking back to the events of 9/11 and the days that followed, we were barely beginning to understand that a whole new kind of battle had begun. It was at that time that the phrase “War on Terror” was coined. More than a military conflict, though it includes that, the war we now face is a war of ideas, a war of beliefs. 

You see, fear is what gives terrorism its teeth. And today, we have no shortage of things to fear: The fear of suffering, the fear of death, the fear of an uncertain future—all these dissipate when we turn our focus to God. The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear and that God is this perfect love. God removed the sting of death and gained victory over the terror of the grave more than 2,000 years ago when He sent His Son to die on the cross.

Let me direct your attention to another “911” that our country can turn to in times of urgency: Psalm 91:1, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. The psalmist goes on to say, “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him" 

May we, as a nation, find safety and refuge in the shelter of the Almighty as we trust in Him.

And let’s not forget to pray for the comfort of those who lost loved ones 20 years ago.

-greg laurie

.....opportunity

In 1967, the Green Bay Packers were playing the Dallas Cowboys in Green Bay for the right to represent the National Football League in only the second Super Bowl to be played. The weather conditions through the game were so severe that the game has come to be known as "The Ice Bowl." When the game began, it was 15 below with a minus-49 wind chill. The teams battled back and forth, somehow managing to push each other up and down the field. As the game was nearing the end, the temperature had dropped to 17 below and a minus-57 wind chill.

But that game became famous not just because of the cold. The Green Bay Packers' right guard, Jerry Kramer, had been studying films of the Dallas Cowboys games, and he had noticed that the man he would be facing on the other side of the ball tended to be off-balance when he first rose up from his position.

With only sixteen seconds left in the game, Dallas was leading 17-14, but the Packers were threatening to score. Now was the opportunity for Kramer to use what he knew about the opposing lineman. When the play was called, Kramer pushed that opponent aside, wedging an opening for Bart Starr to sneak into the end zone for a touchdown. Jerry Kramer took advantage of his opportunity, and Bart Starr took advantage of his opportunity, and the Green Bay Packers won 21-17.

How many times through our lives does the opportunity open up in front of us like that? And they are so much more important than a football game!  How many times in a single day do you and I have the opportunity for doing something good, to encourage someone, to represent Christ, to speak to others of their eternal destiny?

 

The idea behind these words is that every time we can do something good, we should. But recognizing the opportunities with godly wisdom requires that we look for them. They are not always going to just fall into our laps. If we are going to wisely use the time we have remaining, we should be looking for opportunities to serve God and serve others. 

Our churches should see every occasion as a perfect opportunity to serve His Kingdom. We as individual believers should be looking for opportunities. And it's not just so we can take advantage of them. It is primarily so we can be obedient to Scripture, and to present our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord Jesus Christ.

-rocky henriques

....way

If My people would but listen to Me.... Psalm 81:13

God has a specific training ground for leaders. There are three patterns of preparation that have been common among most of God's leaders. First, there is a time when the leader is separated from his old life. Consider Moses, Joseph, Abraham, and Paul. In order for God to mold and shape them into His nature, it appears that He had to remove them from the life of comfort. A teacher once said, "You cannot go with God and remain where you are."

Next, there is usually a time of solitude. God often brings leaders into a time of solitude in order to speak to them without other distractions. Hosea 2:14 says, "I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." Paul was sent to Arabia for two years for a time of solitude. Joseph spent years in the solitude of prison. Moses spent 40 years in the desert herding sheep.

The third characteristic of God's preparation for leaders is discomfort. The setting in which the preparation takes place usually is not a place of comfort. Abraham traveled through the difficult deserts. David lived in caves fleeing Saul. Paul was frequently persecuted.

Are you ready for the classroom of leadership preparation? If God chooses to bring you into this class, you may have one of three reactions to the events. 

1. You may say, "I don't need it." Perhaps you know intellectually that you do need this, but God wants you to know it in your heart. Pride prevents us from entering this classroom. 
2. The second reaction may be, "I'm tired of it." You decide you've had enough. If so, this will disqualify you from leadership. 
3. God's desired response from us in this preparation is, "I accept it." To accept it with joy is the place of maturity in Christ. 
4. God often keeps us in these places until we come to accept and agree that Jesus is enough. Is He all you need? 

Like the people of Israel, I think we have something to do with the timetable of our education. "If My people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!" Ps. 81:13-14

Are you ready for the process required for being a godly leader? Ask for His grace to willingly embrace these times of preparation. 

-os hillman

....knocking

A young man who was an All-American football player in college went back to his alma mater as an assistant coach. One of his main responsibilities in his new job would be to go out and scout and recruit players for his college team.

Before he made his first recruiting trip, he went in to visit with the head coach, the same coach for whom he had played when he was there in college some years before. The head coach was a crusty old veteran. He had held that position as head coach for many years, was widely known and highly respected all across the country. The new young coach said to him, "Coach, I'm about to head out on my first recruiting trip, but before I go I want to be sure that we are on the same page. Tell me, Coach, what kind of player do you want me to recruit?"

The crusty old head coach leaned back in his chair. He looked the young coach straight in the eyes and said: "Son, I've been at this job a long time and over the years I have noticed that there are several different kinds of players. For example," he said, "you will find some players who get knocked down and they stay down. That's not the kind we want!"

And he said, "You will find some players who get knocked down and they will get right back up and get knocked down again and then they stay down. That's not the kind we want!"

And then the old coach said, "But you will also find some other players who get knocked down and knocked down and knocked down, and every time they get knocked down, they get right back up!"

At this point, the young coach got excited and he said, "Now, that's the kind of player we want, isn't it, Coach?"

"No!" said the old head coach. "We want the one doing all that knocking down!!"

Yes, we are called to be strong and to stand firm and to get back up when were been knocked down - and we commend people like that for being for being people of great faith. We must also remember that we in the church are called to knock down walls of hate and hostility and unforgiveness - and to build bridges of love and reconciliation.

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." Ephesians 2:14

-dave langerfeld

....tears

My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death Mt 26:38

Often the place of our greatest pain becomes the place of our greatest triumph. Gethsemane was the place of Jesus' greatest trial. Three times He asked the Father to let this trial pass. It was not to be. The Father sent His Son to the cross to pay a debt owed by humanity.

Jesus was faced with His own temptation to quit, to not fulfill His destiny, to run from his assignment. It was a personal battle to persevere. Sometimes we face situations that cry out "Quit! I cannot endure anymore!" We want to throw in our towel of what little faith we have left. We conclude that this faith thing simply does not work.

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him Lk 22:43. After Jesus asked the Father if this cup could pass, an angel was sent to Him to comfort Jesus. The Father's answer to Jesus' prayer was "No." But, His compassion to His Son came in the form of an angel. 

Some temptations seem they are more than we can bare. However, God tells us: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" 1 Cor 10:13.

If we persevere we often realize later the place of our greatest battle becomes the place of our greatest victory. It would be here, on the Mount of Olives, near the Garden Gethsemane where Jesus ascended and would return triumphantly, not as a sorrowful soul, but a triumphant Savior. The battle He won in Gethsemane would result in the triumphant entry to be Lord of the universe.

God will use your greatest failure or greatest sorrow to be a powerful force in your life and the lives of others. Your Valley of Baca (weeping) becomes springs for you and others. You will go from strength to strength Ps 84:6. It is in the dying that the new springs are allowed to come forth and a new strength emerges.

If you find yourself in your Garden of Gethsemane, lay yourself at the feet of the only one who can sustain you. Entrust yourself to your Heavenly Father. Let Him determine your fate. It will ultimately become a place of victory.

-os hillman