....sufficient

Praise lifts us.

Prayer strengthens us.

Trials purify us.

Failure humbles us.

Forgiveness heals us.

Friends encourage us.

God works in ALL these things for our good.

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

-ray pritchard

....nobody

This is a true story about a boy who, the world might say, was a terrible underachiever. While in the eighth grade, he failed subjects repeatedly. High school wasn't much better; he flunked Latin, algebra, English, and received a grade of zero in physics. The boy managed to make the school golf team, but he lost the most important golf match of the season, and even though there was a consolation match, he failed miserably in that too. 

It's not that his peers disliked this boy; it's just that they never really seemed to notice him much. Even "Hellos" in the hall were a rarity. Out of all the failures in his life, there was something that did hold great importance to this boy, his love of drawing. Although in high school, the cartoons he submitted to the yearbook were rejected, once out of school, the boy was so sure of his artistic talent that he approached Walt Disney Studios with drawing samples. I wish I could say the studio execs loved his work and immediately hired him, but such was not the case; another huge rejection. 

Despite his many lack of successes, this boy did not give up. He then decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons, about a little boy who was regarded as a loser and a nobody.   The name of this boy was Charles Schulz, the creator of the famous Charlie Brown and "Peanuts" comic strip. 

In life, it is sometimes easy to feel like a nobody. We pass hundreds of people on the street on our way to work, or walk through a faceless crowd in a mall, and no one seems to notice or care. Deep inside, we may know we are special and unique and have lots to offer, but unless someone takes the time to look our way and give us a chance, we may feel worthless and mediocre, just like Charlie Brown who couldn't even manage to fly a kite or kick a football properly. 

Just as Charles Schulz had faith in his artistic talent, so too, must we realize that nobody is a nobody...especially in God's eyes. We all have special gifts and talents, and every human being is deserving and capable of being loved and appreciated. 

I invite you to look deep within yourself, and rather than see what you can do to improve yourself, as all the many self-help books suggest, find what you already "like" about yourself! 

Do you have an awesome laugh or smile? Are you thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of others? Are you down-to-earth and practical?  Do you enjoy your ability to dream and hope? Our heavenly Father does not see with external eyes, but sees to the very core of our foundation. There is nothing we can hide from Him, and He alone, knows our motives and most secret desires. Learn to love yourself the way our Creator does, and learn to reach out to others the same way God is awaiting you with open arms. 

But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

-melanie schurr

....hiding

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

 

In her bestseller book, "The Hiding Place", Corrie Ten Boom tells of the tense times in Holland during the German invasion. One night when there was bombing and shelling happening all around the house where she and her sister lived, Corrie couldn't sleep. Hearing her sister in the kitchen, she decided to go down and join her.

 

Long into the night after all the bombing ceased and all was silent, Corrie returned to her bed only to find that her pillow—right where her head lay—had been pierced with a sizable piece of sharp metal shrapnel from an exploding bomb! Going downstairs to the kitchen saved her life!

 

She rushed to tell her sister saying, "Betsie, if I hadn't heard you in the kitchen...".   To this her saintly sister interrupted, "Don't say it, Corrie. There are no "ifs" in God's world. The center of his will is our safety."

 

Later through terrible trying times in a Nazi prison, Miss Ten Boom was to learn over and over this marvelous truth: "God's will is our hiding place."

 

.....signal

 "Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!" Psalm 119:5

 

In the 1980s, a surgeon and his party were floating down the Colorado River when their raft got away from them. The cord wrapped around the doctor’s leg and dragged him across the rocks. His son cut the cord, but the wounded man was stranded with no way out. 

But a friend had a small mirror—a signal mirror. Using Morse code, the friend sent out a series of flashes that caught the eye of a pilot in a jetliner flying at 35,000 feet. The plane radioed for help, and soon the injured rafter was lifted to safety.

We don’t have to be very large, strong, important, or well-known to reflect the Lord’s glory. Signal mirrors are small enough to fit into any backpack or pants pocket. Yet they’re capable of transmitting signals as far as one hundred miles in the right conditions. 

Though we may be small and our time on earth fleeting, “all of us…can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Since we have entered into union with Jesus Christ, the life of Jesus Christ should be reflected in our lives.

-paul enns

.....all

Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

A wise Bible teacher once said, "Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him - no strength, no answers, no hope - nothing but Him. Without God's help, they're sunk."

He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, "My life is really in bad shape."  "How bad?" the pastor inquired.  Burying his head in his hands, the man moaned, "I'll tell you how bad - all I've got left is God." The pastor's face lit up. "I'm happy to assure you that a person with nothing left but God has more than enough for a great victory!"

In 2 Chronicles 20, the people of Judah were also in trouble. They admitted their lack of power and wisdom to conquer their foes. All they had left was God! But King Jehoshaphat and the people saw this as reason for hope, not despair. 

"Our eyes are upon You," they declared to God v. 12

And their hope was not disappointed as He fulfilled His promise:"The battle is not yours, but God's" v. 15.

Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? 

As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope in Him, you have God's reassuring promise that you need nothing more. 

"When all you have is God, you have all you need."

That's worth repeating... "When all you have is God, you have all you need."

-joanie yoder

....yeast

When God led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He told them to prepare for a quick departure by making bread without yeast. He gave instructions to remember their departure through the celebration of Passover, also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During this celebration there was a seven day period when yeast was not even allowed in the home: 

For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel Exodus 12:19.

When God established the various offerings through Moses, yeast became associated with an unworthy sacrifice; Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast Leviticus 2:11.

About 1500 years later, Jesus used the symbolism of yeast to give His disciples an important warning.

Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy Luke 12:1

With this choice of words, Jesus warned that hypocrisy has the ability to contaminate our lives, and therefore the offering we present to God. The Pharisees had an outward appearance of godliness, but their hearts had compromised true worship and become contaminated; 

"On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness" Matthew 23:28. 

When we examine our own heart, does it match how we appear on the outside? 

Or have we too become full of hypocrisy?

The symbolism of yeast gives another clear warning; "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough" Galatians 5:9. Every day we are tempted to make compromises with the world, compromises which cause us to behave contrary to our professed beliefs. This is hypocrisy and must be avoided at all cost! Each incident seems so small - like only "a little yeast" - but soon the compromises work through all areas of our life.

The only worthy endeavor during our allotted time on earth is to present ourselves, with complete abandonment, as a living sacrifice to God; "this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship" Romans 12:1. Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our very best...a pure and holy offering.

Let's celebrate our release from the slavery of sin by cleaning our home and removing all spiritual compromise. Let's give our whole heart to God in loving worship and guard against ANYTHING which pulls us away. Let's fight the hypocrisy in our lives and diligently guard against the yeast.

-steve troxel

....difficult

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29

Researchers at the University of Virginia have found that most people perceive a hill to be steeper than it really is, especially if they're tired or carrying a heavy load. When asked to estimate the slope of a hill, test participants consistently misjudged it, thinking a ten-degree slant was about thirty degrees, and rating a five-degree slope as nearly twenty degrees. Hardly any of them believed that they could be that far off.

When we're burdened and exhausted, even a minor problem can seem too big for us to handle. As we encounter a trial in life, we're tempted to sit down at the base of that difficult hill and stay there, convinced that the grade is too steep for us.

That is why we need the encouragement of God's Word. It draws our attention to our untiring God, who knows our need.  Isaiah wrote, "The Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength" Isaiah 40:28-29.

Because we so easily misjudge life's difficulties, we need courage to keep going when we are tempted to quit. Take a step of faith today and join those who depend on the Lord, who run and are not weary, who walk and do not faint Isaiah 40:31. In His strength, you can conquer any difficult hill.

Remember, God always gives enough strength for the next step.

-david c mcasland

....glory

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

—1 Corinthians 1:28–29

A while back I spoke with someone who works in hospice care. She was talking with a patient who was close dying. What a wonderful thing. This woman is in a position to reach people for Jesus Christ. Each of us are in a position to reach people that no one else can reach. God wants to use you. And when He does, make sure that you give Him the glory.

When the apostle Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Lystra, a man there who had been unable to walk from birth was listening to Paul preach. Paul could see that this man had the faith to be healed. So Paul said to him, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Acts 14:10.

And right there, this man who never had walked before jumped to his feet and began walking and leaping. This astonished the people who were watching, and they exclaimed, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” verse 11.

The Bible goes on to say they were planning to bring sacrifices to them. But Paul and Barnabas, tore their clothes and cried out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God” verse 15.

In other words, “Don’t give us the credit! Don’t give us the glory! We are here to tell you to turn away from putting your faith in people, idols, or anything else.

-greg laurie

....heard

 "What We Have Seen and Heard" encourages us to press closely into the presence of God and share how His truths have been made real in our life. As we continue to walk with our Heavenly Father and better understand His love, we learn to experience a sense of awe which we can't help but share with others.

The complete story of Jesus Christ, which began before the creation of the world and continues for all eternity, is a love story whose central theme is grace; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8. The moment we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, God lovingly welcomes us into His Family; this is His gift of Salvation! We are adopted into His Family before doing anything deserving of being called His child, meaning our Salvation is never something we earn - it is a gift of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

If we come before our Heavenly Father thinking we can do ANYTHING which makes us deserving of Salvation, then we do not yet understand His gift of forgiving grace. God's grace is extended to all who believe, but we are called to believe His grace is both absolutely necessary AND completely sufficient.

If we truly believe, our life will produce fruit/good works; "Faith, if not accompanied by action, is dead" James 2:17. But our good works will never save us - Salvation is a gift. If we truly believe, we will desire to obediently follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" 1 John 2:3. But our obedience will never save us - Salvation is a gift.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. We must come before God with empty hands, acknowledge our sin and need for a Savior, and receive the gift of grace offered through Jesus Christ.

As we then continue our walk with Jesus Christ, we learn to love Him with all our heart and strive to present our very best as we obediently follow and produce good works, bringing Him glory and honor in ALL we do. But while we walk, love, and strive, we must remember that our "best" is not what earns His favor. 

Our "successes" will not make us more worthy, and our "failures" will not cause us to lose His love. 

His gift is everything! 

Let's give Him everything in return as we continue to live each moment of this wondrous journey by trusting in His grace.

-steve troxel

heard

How will we respond to those who doubt? 

What should we say to those with uncertainties, or to those who ask, "Is Jesus really the answer?"

We could begin with how the Bible is the true Word of God: "A collection of 66 books written by many different authors, during a 1500 year time period, and all with the same message." We could discuss the Old Testament prophesies which were fulfilled with Jesus. We could show where Micah said the Savior would be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 and where Isaiah stated He would be born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14. We could point to Zechariah who prophesied that our King would enter Jerusalem "gentle and riding on a donkey" Zechariah 9:9, how David said He would be crucified, "they have pierced My hands and My feet" Psalm 22:16, and how Isaiah said He would die for our sin; "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" Isaiah 53:12.

These are all good truths to share at the appropriate time, but when someone is doubting or searching, it's usually best to follow the example of Jesus. John the Baptist had sent messengers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Luke 7:19.

"At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So He replied to the messengers, 'Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard.'" Luke 7:21-22

While it's good to be able to defend our faith, we will never convince anyone to believe by presenting Biblical "facts." The most convincing argument as to the truth of God's Word is to share how we have seen His Word come alive in our own life; how we have seen Jesus calm the seas and rebuke the storms, heal broken lives and answer prayers. 

We ought to share how we have heard Him call us to test the waters of faith and seen the waters become solid as we stepped; how we have experienced "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" Philippians 4:7. When God's truths become real in our daily life, they cannot be argued against!

If His truths have not yet become absolute and unquestionably real, then we need to press VERY close into His presence and allow His light to shine in and through you each and every day. There can be no better preparation for sharing the truth than to live the truth and watch God work in a multitude of ways. Let's prepare to share the gospel; and when the opportunity arises, let's simply report what we have seen and heard.

-steve troxel

.....hard

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Psalm 139:4

The Bible tells us that God knows our every thought and every word on our tongue Psalm 139:1-4. And when we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit "makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" Romans 8:26.

These biblical truths assure us that we can have communications with God even without a word being spoken, because He knows the intentions and desires of our heart. What a comfort when we are perplexed or in deep distress!  We don't have to worry if we can't find the words to express our thoughts and feelings. We don't have to feel embarrassed if sometimes our sentences break off half-finished. God knows what we were going to say. We don't have to feel guilty if our thoughts wander and we have to struggle to keep our minds focused on the Lord.

And for that matter, we don't have to worry about a proper posture in prayer. If we are elderly or arthritic and can't kneel, that's okay. What God cares about is the posture of our heart.

What a wonderful God! No matter how much you falter and stumble in your praying, He hears you. His heart of infinite love responds to the needs and emotions of your own inarticulate heart. So keep on praying! 

Prayer does not require eloquence but earnestness.

-vernon grounds

....potter

About 2600 years ago, God taught the prophet Jeremiah what it meant to be a sovereign God. He taught that His plan WOULD be fulfilled - one way or the other. Either His children would submit to His gentle guidance, or He would bring discipline to teach them the need for obedience.

Although God has the ability to directly give us understanding, His usual method is to teach us through His Word and then allow us to see the application and gain wisdom through our experiences. In order to give a clear understanding of His sovereignty, God told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and wait for His message.

"So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the Word of the Lord came to me: 'Can I not do with you as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand.'"Jeremiah 18:3-6

Jeremiah understood that God was the Potter and had total control over the shape of the clay. How foolish it would be for the clay to complain or rebel; "Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing'?" Isaiah 29:16. The Potter will continue to mold the clay. If the clay begins to harden in its unfinished state, the Potter loves the clay enough to crush it down, sprinkle it with water and begin anew.

The only way for us to become all that God desires is to yield and remain moldable. We have no ability to shape ourselves! The Potter is creating something eternally beautiful - we are being "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. Oh, if we could only trust that His shaping is so much better than anything we could ever create. How prideful to think we can do better!

There may be times when we have rough edges which must be removed. There may also be times when we need to be crushed down so the shaping process can start over. But we must trust the Potter and believe the results will be worth any pain or discomfort; "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" Romans 8:18.

Our Heavenly Father is in complete and loving control. Let's daily be filled with His Spirit and commit our lives to His shaping process - a process which undoubtedly will last a lifetime! Let's remain moldable clay and yield to the shaping of the Potter's Hand.

-steve troxel

....obstacle

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land,’ he said. ‘We can certainly conquer it!’"Numbers 13:30

The Israelites had come to the very brink of the Promised Land and were poised to enter in. So God commanded Moses to send in 12 spies to check things out and see what was ahead of them.

The men came back with a grape cluster that was so incredibly large, it took two of them to carry it. They told Moses, “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. . . . But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!” Numbers 13:27–28.

But Caleb, one of the 12 spies, saw things in a more positive light: “‘Let’s go at once to take the land,’ he said. ‘We can certainly conquer it!’” verse 30.

Ten of the spies, however, spread negative reports. They said, “We can’t go up against them! . . . . The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there” verses 31–32. Twelve spies went in, but only two—Joshua and Caleb—gave an encouraging report. 

It all came down to how they looked at things. God had promised that He would give them the land. But the other spies didn’t see God for who He is. They ignored His words and only saw problems. Meanwhile, Joshua and Caleb saw the same obstacles. But they also saw opportunities and great victories if they went into the land.

We all face obstacles, but can we see them in the light of who God is? 

When we fix our attention on the obstacles rather than on the objective, fear always will eclipse our faith. 

Don’t look at God in the light of your problem. 

Look at your problem in the light of God.

-greg laurie

....helpless

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I sometimes ask people, "'Where does it say in the Bible, 'God helps those who help themselves?" Most say they're not sure. but the concept is so familiar that they think it must be somewhere in God's Word.

Actually, the Bible doesn't say that at all. It tells just the opposite: God helps the helpless.

When you read the Gospels, you find that Jesus did not refuse to help the helpless. He did not withhold forgiveness and compassion from those who acknowledged their sin. He did not turn away from those who had no power to change. In fact, the people who distressed Him most were those who thought they didn't need any help at all.

God's thoughts are higher than ours Isaiah 55:9, and He sees things differently than we do. We see our own ability to deal with problems; He shows us our weaknesses to teach us to rely on His strength. We take pride in our successes and begin to think we don't need God's help; He allows us to fail so He can teach us that true success comes through His grace.

Are you feeling helpless today? 

God's grace is available for those who recognize that they cannot help themselves. "Come boldly to the throne of grace" to find help in your time of need." 

God helps those who know they are helpless.

-david h. roper 

...opportunity

Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian. Acts 26:28

Years ago, Walter took his friend Arthur to see some land in open country where cattle were idly grazing. Walter explained about his dream for developing this area. He told his friend that in time the area would be surrounded by many restaurants, hotels and convention centers. He told Arthur that his plan would take all of his money and he needed others to develop the surrounding area. He wanted his friend to have the first opportunity to buy into this project.

But Arthur thought to himself, "Who in the world is going to drive twenty-five miles for this crazy project?" He said to Walter that he would think about it and decide later on. "Later on will be too late," Walter cautioned Arthur. "You'd better move on it right now."

"And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to buy up all the land that surrounded what was to become Disneyland. His friend Walt Disney tried to talk him into it. But Art thought he was crazy."

Life's like that. King Agrippa had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and become a Christian. He turned it down. Judas had one of the greatest opportunities in all of history to become a follower of Jesus. Instead, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Two thieves crucified with Jesus also had the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life. One accepted. The other didn't.

Life offers all of us many opportunities. We all have the opportunity to become followers of Jesus. 

That choice is ours.... Today!  We do not know what tomorrow holds. 

 

"For he says, I have heard you in a favorable time, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

....gift

We are often encouraged to share the wonders of God's love through the uncompromising truth of His Word. There are so many all around us who are in great need! We live in a lost and dying world full of people who desperately need to know God's plan of forgiveness and restoration. But as we share the truth and minister to others, let's also remember to make the time to personally receive ALL our Father has to offer.

When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, she thought the request was quite odd since Jesus was clearly a Jew, and Jews did not associate with Samaritans; "How can you ask me for a drink?" John 4:9. Rather than explain His radical views on social interaction, Jesus took the opportunity to introduce the woman to the gift of God.

Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water. John 4:10

If we only knew! I often imagine a loving Father who has given the greatest gift the world has ever known. We approach and examine the gift. We ask questions and study the gift. We even shake the gift and then proudly display it on our shelf, but we never actually open the gift and receive what's inside. If we only knew! "Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:7. His gifts are perfect; and if we only knew, we would open and receive them with abounding joy!

His gift of living water is still available today. This gift refers to our Salvation by the spiritual transformation of our heart, but it also refers to His on-going gift of a victorious life of peace and contentment; "Everyone who drinks this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst" John 4:13-14. His gift of Salvation is free through faith in Jesus Christ, and peace is assured through a humble submission to His will. But we continually rebel and pump from the wells of this world - we drink polluted lies and continually thirst for more.

Approximately 650 years earlier, God gave the same message to the people of Jerusalem: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" Jeremiah 2:13. If we only knew! We sit beside a Spring overflowing with the best tasting water imaginable, but we turn away and pump sludge into our broken pots.

God has great plans for each of us - plans much bigger and brighter than anything we can accomplish through our own effort. Let's rediscover the gift of living water and put an end to our thirst! Let's return to the Spring and continue our journey in obedience. Let's drink freely and daily receive His perfect gift.

-steve troxel 

....night

Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.Psalm 134:1-3

 

Years ago when I was attending seminary, I worked the night shift on occasion. It paid a little more money than the day shift, but I was a bit lonely. If you've ever had to work the night shift, you will appreciate Psalm 134.

 

God never slumbers or sleeps. Therefore, we can serve and praise Him any time of day. The psalmist says there were priests who prayed and praised God in His temple at night. There was a constant repetition of praise and prayer from the temple.

 

We can bless the Lord in the night seasons. It's not easy when we are going through the nighttime experiences of life to lift our hands and bless the Lord. But He does give us songs in the night. Paul and Silas were able to lift their hearts in praise to God while in the Philippian jail Acts 16.

 

They were on the night shift. They knew that God was awake, so they blessed Him, and He sent deliverance. We can get some strange blessings in the night seasons, for God speaks to us in different ways. Others may not see your praise at night, but God sees and hears.

 

Whether you are in the sunshine or in the darkness, whether you are serving on the day shift or the night shift, remember that you are serving the Lord. Because He never slumbers or sleeps, He hears your prayers and praises at all times !

-steve blair 

.....discouraged

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Imagine that I dump 10,000 plastic eggs in your back yard. I assure you that inside one of those hollow eggs is a check for $1 Million dollars with your name on it. Would you get discouraged if you opened the first 100 eggs without finding the check? How about the first 1000 eggs? Of course not ! You'd just keep opening those eggs, just waiting for the moment when you'd find the check.

Paul knew the meaning of the word "suffering." He had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and rejected. And yet Paul said that his sufferings were nothing compared to the glory that would come. In other words, Paul had opened a lot of empty eggs, but he never gave up or got discouraged. He believed that something great was in his future - God's glory revealed in him.

    

Perhaps it feels to you as if your life has been nothing but empty eggs. You've already opened 99,000 of them and you're not sure you've got the will to go on.  Don't give up. Not to trivialize the challenges you are facing, only put them into perspective. They are only temporary, and God has something much greater in store for you. 

Compared to the glory that will be revealed in us one day, our suffering doesn't merit discouragement.

      

Hang on.  

Don't give up.  

Keep going. 

One day God will replace your discouragement with incomparable glory! 

-dave langerfeld

....clear

Several years ago I went to the store to buy four small bricks I needed to complete a project in the backyard, nothing special, just four bricks. After considering the options, I decided on a charcoal black which cost a little more than the standard red brick. The store was busy with several long lines of shoppers intent on completing projects before the end of the day. I chose a line and waited my turn.

The lines moved slowly and there seemed to be an impatient tension all around. When it came my turn, the clerk quickly computed the price and took my money. As I received my change, I felt something was wrong. And as I stepped toward the door, I knew I had been charged a lower price.

My mind knew a mistake had been made, but my feet kept walking out the door and toward my car. I knew I should have revealed the mistake, but my mind raced into high gear justifying my inaction: "I don't want to make others wait while the correction is made!" "The mistake is small - little more than the cost of a bar of candy." "The profit from my other purchases during the year will certainly make up for this small loss." It's amazing how easy it was to find reasons to keep walking.

As I continued, my conscience began to counter my rationalization; and by the time I reached my car, that small inner voice was screaming at me to correct the error - and correct it NOW! I walked back into the store, waited in another long line, pointed to the error, and paid the extra money. My conscience hasn't always been so sensitive - and I confess, it's not always so sensitive now - but on this day it was, and I still praise God!

I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man Acts 24:16

God has created us all with a conscience deep within our soul. At a very young age our conscience helps us maneuver the complex path of right and wrong. And when we place our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, we are given the Holy Spirit who ignites our conscience and guides us toward the presence of God and a life of holiness.

But when we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our conscience slowly becomes burned. The burning usually begins small - a little lie, a small deception - but over time, our conscience can become "seared as with a hot iron" 1 Timothy 4:2. Then, when needed in a time of great temptation, there is no "inner voice" to keep us from falling. Our conscience is a precious gift, and it's hard to believe I nearly damaged such a gift in exchange for a trivial amount of money.

Is your conscience sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit, or has it developed a hard crust which fails to point the way toward truth? Is there an issue in your life which requires ignoring your conscience and thus causing damage? Let's live so that all areas of our life bring Him glory and honor. In ALL we do, let's listen intently, obey completely, and protect God's wonderful gift as we strive to maintain a clear conscience

-steve troxel

....perfect

Every life has difficulties. It may be a difficult marriage, chronic pain, depression, painful childhood memories, past mistakes, or emotional pain. Maybe you have begged God to take it away, but it's still there.

One thing is true: God has the power to change your circumstances - so it is acceptable to ask Him to do just that. Paul asked the Lord three times to take away his thorn in the flesh. Christ prayed the night before He was crucified, My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me. Even in their willingness to do God's will, there was an expressed desire that God take the hard thing away.

In both cases God chose not to grant their requests because there was a more important good to come. When bad things happen...

1. See things from God's perspective

A "no" from God allows you to step back and look at the larger picture, perhaps even to understand His reasons.

2.Depend on God

Pain and weakness keeps you in touch with your vulnerability and in touch with your need for God and others. Turn your attention and your trust to Him.

3. Let difficulties provide character

Just as physical muscles are developed in the hard work of pulling or pushing against weight or gravity, so, too, your spiritual muscles are developed in the hard work of living in less-than-perfect circumstances. There is no other way for some character traits to be developed."we also glory in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character; and character produces hope." Rom. 5:3-4.

4. Allow difficulties to bond you with others

When we open up our pain to others, it can level the ground between us as human beings and allow us to see each other more clearly. You have the choice about whether to experience it in isolation - or to open it up and find the bond it can create with others.  When you share your pain, the beauty and strength you see in each other is nothing less than inspiring.

5. Expect God to use it

He will use areas of weakness and vulnerability in your life for His purposes. It's more natural to hide those things rather than risk misunderstanding, embarrassment, or disrespect from those who don't know how to respond to the reality of human limitations - theirs or yours. But Paul said that God wants us to boast about our weaknesses - putting them right out there in plain view - so that God's power can come shining through.

When bad things happen, trust God.  He will see you through and He will walk with you every step of the way. Most importantly, His Glory will be revealed in the midst of all that's happening.

-steve blair

.....savoring

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Watching my kids grow up was a wonderful experience ... I recall one afternoon giving my baby girl Jeana six jellybeans and telling her that she could not have anymore after she was finished eating them...

After practically inhaling the first five, Jeana lingered over the final one. She sucked on it, took it out of her mouth, bit into it, sucked on it some more, then gnawed at the outer shell. Knowing that this was her last jellybean, she took a full 30 minutes to eat the treat completely.

 

I watched my little girl with amusement as she was learning the value of savoring ...enjoying taste and texture and learning to draw out every bit of flavor from the jellybeans.

God wants us to savor His presence. He allows us to gain intimate and satisfying knowledge of Him. And when we meditate on His Word, we will draw out a deeper understanding of who He is. As we taste His goodness and love, He will reveal the distinctive flavor of His sovereignty, holiness, and faithfulness. 

Surely our Father must look on with enjoyment as we learn how to enjoy and savor Him.

- tommy johnson

....wisdom

There are many influences which compete for our attention, many different inputs which seek to shape our view of the world and, in turn, direct how we make decisions about our life. There is also an enemy who greatly desires to win this competition. The enemy is battling for the hearts of men, women, and children, and he knows if he can win the battle of the mind, the heart will remain his.

Many of the battle lines are easy to recognize. For example, the direct assault from various forms of sexual temptation and drugs claim numerous victims every day. But there are many other plans of the enemy which place hidden mine fields along the path and destroy those who are not careful where they step. Perhaps the best disguised and most effective weapon of the enemy is that of worldly wisdom.

Since the Garden of Eden, the enemy has propagated a set of values which sound wise and appealing, but which consistently lead down a path of destruction. His "wisdom" attempts to define happiness and success - tells us we must achieve, push, and obtain in order to succeed and be fulfilled. But if we will come into the presence of God, we will see the world's wisdom for what it truly is...foolishness.

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

The values of the world are continually promoted in every type of media and from every possible class of people - even sometimes from those who profess faith in Jesus. But these values are lies! They are weapons of the enemy used to pull us away from God...they are foolishness!! And when we choose to live as a captive to world values, we have chosen to live outside of God's perfect plan; "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" James 4:4.

God's plan will always require faith - always require us to be "sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1. This often means we must have the faith and courage to stand alone. Though the world may label us a "fool," we must continue (and continue some more) to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5.

We are being called to become a fool to the world, but this is not an easy task. We have been well "educated" in the world system, and now must reshape the way we think; "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2. This renewal process will take determined, consistent, and intentional prayer and the study of His Word, but God will provide sufficient strength for the process. Let's refuse to live in a cloud of deception. Let's make an uncompromising commitment to God and break free from the wisdom of the world.

-steve troxel

....truth

Loving the truth of God is our protection against the deceptive attacks of the enemy. By knowing the truth, we can recognize the lies of "worldly wisdom," and continue along God's path without painful detours into the weeds. We must be willing to faithfully apply the truth in all areas of our life and share the truth with others at every opportunity.

Prior to the final invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the people of their coming destruction and their need to repent, this was not a popular message and Jeremiah was not a welcomed prophet. But there were other self-proclaimed prophets who provided a much more comfortable message. These prophets made people feel good by telling them what they wanted to hear - telling them they could continue down their same path without fear. But God warned about falling into their seductive trap of false security.

Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you. Jeremiah 23:16-17

The ministry of encouragement is a vital part of our Christian walk. We all face valleys and need encouragers to provide a lift. And since we know there are many others who are walking through valleys today, we should encourage in every way possible; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today!" Hebrews 3:13

However, in our zeal to encourage and build up, we must never compromise by presenting a message which falls short of the absolute truth. We must never present an "all is well" message if all is not well. When God's children wander from His path and plant themselves amongst the weeds, there must be someone willing to "gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance" 2 Timothy 2:25.

Our task as an encourager is not always to make others comfortable or to deliver a pleasing message; we are not called to tell people "what their itching ears want to hear" 2 Timothy 4:3. Rather, our task is to "speak the truth in love" Ephesians 4:15. We never help when we make someone comfortable with sin.

The absolute best encouragement we can give is to help someone have a right relationship with their Heavenly Father through a surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. God's truth can and will set us free John 8:32! Let's encourage in every way possible, but let's make certain we always encourage with a message of truth!

-steve  troxel

....security

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety Psalm 18:2

The rock badger hides in the crags in the rock. They are greyish in color and blend in well with the rocks. When a predator comes to attack, they will run into a hole, the crag in the rock. The vulture or eagle must sweep down on them before they get into the rocks.

The badgers know where their security lies. If they decide to go off to the field or forest, venturing away from the rock, then it is vulnerable. It doesn't matter how courageous they are, it doesn't matter how strong or fast they can run, the most courageous badgers can fall victim to the smallest wolf or lion.  When it wanders away from the rock, a badger is dead meat.

If you have the wisdom of a badger, you'll know where your security is – the Rock of ages. God is the only place where we can rest secure, knowing that He will save us. However, sometimes we choose to stray, thinking that we have the strength and courage to do things on our own. But when the trials come, we find ourselves overwhelmed and stressed because we realize that our strength isn't enough!

Let us put our pride aside and realize that there is no need to try and do things alone. God is for us, not against us. When we stay close to our Rock, we can boldly face life and know that we won't be shaken. Hard times will come, but the deeper we go into The Rock, the safer we will be.

-dick innes

....alphabet

Regardless of your experience with your earthly father, you have a Heavenly Father who loves you more than you can imagine. It is exciting to get to know the One who fathered us before we were born (Ps 139:13-16). 

With an open Bible, meditate on your awesome perfect heavenly Father. 

Your Father wants you to know Him, love Him, and enjoy Him!  And He wants you to reflect Him!

A

My Father is my "Abba", "Papa".   I am His beloved child. (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-7, John 1:12, James 1:18)

B

My Father blesses me with every heavenly gift. (Ephesians 1:3)

C

My Father gathers me in His arms and carries me all my life. (Isaiah 40:11, 46:3-4; Deuteronomy 1:31).

D

My Father disciplines me with love and justice. (Hebrews 12:6-11, Deuteronomy 32:4, John 5:30)

E

My Father exults over me with joy. (Zephaniah 3:17)

F

My Father is father of the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5)

G

My Father has given me an inheritance, making me a fellow heir with His Son. (Rom 8:16-17, Gal 3:29, Eph 1:11-14, Col 1:12-14)

H

My Father helps me (Isaiah 43;2).   My Father honors me and cherishes me. (Isaiah 43:4)

I

My Father is my hiding place. (Psalm 32:7)  My Father instructs me. (Psalm 32:8)

J

My Father is the Judge of all the earth. (Genesis 18:25)

K

My Father knows all my needs. (Matthew 6:8)

L

My Father loves me with the same love with which He loves His Son. (John 17:23, Ephesians 2:4-5).  He lavishes me with His grace. (Ephesians 1:7-8)

M

My Father meets all of my needs according to His riches in Christ. (Psalm 23, 36:8; Philippians 4:19, Proverbs 3:9-10)

N

My Father will not abandon me. He will never, no never, leave me or forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 4:31, 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5)

O

My Father owns everything. (Psalm 24:1)   My Father is omnipotent, all-powerful. (Revelation 19:6)

P

I am precious in My Father's sight. (Isaiah 43:4)

Q

My Father quiets me with his love. (Zephaniah 3:17)

R

My Father redeems my life from all my past. (Isaiah 63:16).

S

My Father is absolutely steadfast. He never changes. (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)

T

My Father is absolutely trustworthy. (Psalm 9:10, 30:20-22; Isaiah 12:2, Jeremiah 17:5-8, Matthew 12:17-21)

U

My Father's understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:5)

V

My Father will vindicate me. (Deu 32:36, Ps 7:8)

W

My Father is always with me. (Matthew 18:20, 1 Chronicles 28:20)

X

My Father is excellent. (Psalm 8:1)

Y

My Fathers name is Yahweh. (Psalm 68.4 )

Z

The zeal of My Father will accomplish His purposes. (Isaiah 9:7)

My ABBA is a GRACIOUS AND LOVING Father!!!

-sylvia gunter

.....wait

 Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried,
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait?  You say, wait? " my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and I am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to "WAIT"?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking!  I need a reply!

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master said once again, "Child, you must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting... for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want  -  But, you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save... (for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT."
-russell kelfer