....wall

During World War II, a young soldier became separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. In the smoke and the crossfire, he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock and quickly crawled inside.

Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.   As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will, though, I love you and trust you. In Jesus name, Amen."

When he looked up from his despairing plea for help, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance of the cave. As he watched the delicate threads being slowly drawn across the mouth of the cave, the young soldier pondered its irony. He thought to himself, "God really does have a sense of humor. I asked God for protection and deliverance and He sent me a spider instead. I needed a stone wall and God sent a spider. How can a spider save me?"

Soon he heard the sound of his enemies, who were now scouring the area looking for those in hiding. One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave's entrance. As the young man crouched in the darkness, hoping to surprise the enemy in a last-minute desperate attempt to save his own life, he felt his heart pounding wildly out of control. As the enemy moved cautiously forward to enter the cave, he came upon the spider's web, which by now was completely strung across the opening. He backed away and headed in another direction, realizing that no one could have been in the cave because they would have broken the spider's web to enter the cave.

The young man fell on his face and cried out to God, "Lord, forgive me, I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

Years later, this young man, who become a preacher and evangelist, wrote about that ordeal. What he observed has stood by me in times of trouble, especially during those times when everything seemed impossible. He wrote: "Where God is, a spider's web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways, if we would only trust him. Nehemiah reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, "In God we will have success!" Nehemiah 2:20

Whatever is happening in your life today, just remember...

"Where God is, a spider's web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web."

  

....experiences

 "These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - 1 Peter 1:7 

One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is that if we fail to enter into a relationship with God that is born of the Holy Spirit, we are left with a religion, not a relationship. Many a person today lives with an intellectual belief in God, but without a relationship that is based on two-way communication. This is the greatest tragedy of all. It's like having a brand-new car but never having the gas to run it. It can't move you anywhere. It only looks pretty, but one cannot enjoy the ride or smell the newness inside.

Peter tells us that until our faith is proved genuine, we will never be able to give praise, glory, and honor to Jesus, because until such testing He will not be revealed in our lives. Peter describes this in the verse before: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" 1 Pet. 1:6. 

Trials are designed to bring us to a level of trust and experience with God that we would never know otherwise. These "faith experiences" with God allow us to know firsthand the faithfulness of God, the love of God, and the personal nature of God. If you cannot recount several instances when God has met you personally, then chances are your faith has not been born of the Holy Spirit into a living relationship with God. It is easy to fall prey to a relationship to God that is based on knowledge only. This is a tragic place to be. 

If this is where you have been in your Christian experience, ask God today to make Himself real to you. Ask Him to show you His personal nature and love. He desires to do this. Those whom He has called know His voice. He will show Himself to those who are His. "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him" John 14:21.

-os hillman

....drought

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

In our back yard, there is a spot where red and pink Pentas are planted. These flowers are hardy, and do well in our tropical heat.  They are colorful, and are butterfly attractors as well. Flash floods occasionally soak the Pentas. These plants are resilient, however, and after the soggy, drippy leaves dry out, the flowers bloom brilliantly.

More of a problem than too much water, is too little water. We might go for days, or weeks with no rain; sometimes with scorching sun beating down. They can look kind of pitiful, definitely dried up, with the flowers faded, or gone entirely. Yet these plants always bounce back.  A bit of rain, a little shade, and they are good to go again.

Some plants are created to withstand drought.  Are we?  

In the book Psalms, this very thing is addressed. The amplilfied version says it this way:  Blessed, happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly, following their advice, their plans and purposes, .. but his delight and desire are in the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God;  he habitually meditates, ponders and studies by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted and tended by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper and come to maturity. Ps 1:1-3

We may not be as naturally sturdy as Pentas.  Yet if we stay near the River of God, and are continually soaked and watered in His Word, we will not only be able to just make it through droughts, we will flourish in spite of them.

-sally i. kennedy

....roof

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful. 2 Samuel 11:2

Remember that David built this palace - he knew every detail of the architecture. He knew exactly where the bath houses were and knew the preferred times of bathing! "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" James 1:14-15.

David's sin began long before he climbed into bed with Bathsheba. It began with letting down his guard of self-discipline and wandering from God; it then continued by entering an area of compromise - an area where he was enticed.

We must all recognize our "roof" where we become susceptible to temptation: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" 1 Corinthians 10:13. 

Many times, our way out of temptation is simply to not visit the place where we know temptation resides - to not allow temptation to even germinate in our heart.

Is there a restlessness which is causing us to drift from God? 

Are we spending time and energy on activities, in places or conversations (physical or virtual), which we know are not honoring to God? 

Let's remain in His presences and ask God to open our eyes to the vulnerable areas of our life; let's commit to walk the path of purity and stay off the roof!

-steve troxel

.....moment

"Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, 'Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!' Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look, I am about to die,' Esau said. 'What good is the birthright to me?'"Genesis 25:29-32

Esau was a young man who lived "in the moment" and traded his birthright for a bowl of stew. He placed much greater value on immediate gratification than on future blessings, and he exaggerated his immediate need in order to justify the future loss. The mighty hunter may have been hungry - maybe even VERY hungry - but he certainly was not about to die.

Esau's decision to let go of his birthright was based on the temporary needs he could see and feel. His focus on the immediate caused him to lose the blessings which were greater and long lasting, but unseen. Jacob would later steal Esau's final blessing from their father, but Easu freely gave away his birthright blessing because he never understood its true value.

Similar trades are being made today. We just don't understand (or believe) the value of blessings. When a child leaves home in rebellion, they trade the blessing of an honoring relationship with their parents for perceived pleasures of immediate freedom. When a spouse pursues a relationship outside of marriage, they trade the blessing of a God-honoring union for perceived pleasures of the flesh. 

When we fail to "wait upon the Lord" with decisions, we have allowed our impatience to trade away the blessing of walking in God's perfect will. We may spend a lifetime understanding the value of this blessing!

So what bowl of stew are we trading for today? God has promised a blessing for those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, for those who trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin and walk daily in His light. He has promised to set us free to live a life of true peace, purpose, and contentment, and an eternal glory in His presence when He comes to take us home. 

ALL worldly pleasures will one day fade away; "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18. Let's devote our lives to worship and obediently follow wherever He leads. Let's keep our eyes on the eternal and NEVER trade the blessing.

.....10

Most men want to succeed as fathers. Though many men wouldn't admit it, they are eager for something that will enhance their effectiveness as a father. Dads can become heroes to their children. It takes a lot of work, patience and love, but it's possible. What follows are some suggestions that will help you fight the misperceptions of fathers in your own family by doing some right things with your children.

1. Be Around

Few things are as important as your presence. Dads often make lots of excuses. There is work, there is this project or that. There's the civic club, the golf game, the tickets to the ball game or the hunting trip. Twenty years from now your kids won't care about any of that and neither will you. You'll be wondering what happened to the relationship. Your kids need you. Be there.

2. Learn How To Encourage

Parents, by nature, tend toward the negative. "Don't" and "can't" are necessary tools. They help keep the kids out of the fire and help them understand it's not good to eat the whole jar of peanut butter at once. But, kids need to know what they can do. Validate their abilities by telling them when they do something well. It will give them courage to do even better.

3. Admit Your Faults

If you don't admit your faults, you'll be the only one ignoring them. Admit faults and be man enough to apologize. It will make you more sensitive about how you handle your children's faults. It will also make it easier for your kids to forgive you when you need it.

4. Make Trust A Priority

Trust comes two ways. One is to earn it through dependability and consistency. The other way is a gift. Children need to learn both. Show children they can trust you. Earn their trust. Teach them they must earn trust as well. However, there comes a time when you extend trust as a gift. When you do, you will tap into your child's   increasing maturity.

5. Show Tenderness

Too many American fathers grew up with the "macho-man" idea. Be strong, be tough, be hard, be busy. That's fine if you're a character in a Clint Eastwood cowboy movie, but it doesn't do much for relationships with kids. Children need to see that Dad is touched by some things, that there are emotions inside, and not just angry ones. Little boys and girls need hugs and kisses from big Dads. Many grownups cry because they never heard Dad say, "I love you," or felt a loving embrace frm strong arms.

6. Love Your Wife

The single best source of input regarding marriage is from one's parents. Respect your kid's Mom. Be kind to her. Demand that your children respect her as well. Your response to your wife develops a sense of security in your children. Give your kids the security of a loving marriage.

7. Respect Authority

Most fathers want to fill the role of authority. However, if you want your children to respect authority they must see it in you.  Show respect for God, church, government, and your boss. Show respect for your own parents, if they are still living, or speak of them in ways that show respect if they are no longer around. Your example will instill the right attitude in your children's minds.

8. Be A Christian

Take the lead in spiritually nurturing your children. Plant spiritual values in your children's hearts. Teach them about God, Christ and His church. Show them it's important. Talk about death and eternal matters, but illustrate the importance by your own life. God will become important to children when God is important to Dad.

9. Teach The Bible To Your Children

Fathers spend thousands of dollars educating children for a job. They often spend little educating them for a life. The Bible will help your kids know how to live. You should be the primary instructor. One simple way to do this is to get a children's Bible and read one story a night with your children when they are young. As they grow older, simply go to more grown up Bible stories until you are actually reading the Bible with them, or discussing what they have read in Scripture on their own.

10. Be Fun

There are plenty of times for seriousness. Your kids need to know that you can laugh and have fun. Lighten up! Everything is not earth-shatteringly important. Laugh at jokes, mistakes and yourself. Let some things happen with a smile instead of a frown. Your kids will think that you're great fun to be with. Bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?

- dr. bill denton  

.....sharper

For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

Without changing in content or meaning, the Word of God adapts to every situation. If we maintain the habit of reading and reflective study, we will find new insights in what appear to be the peeling back of multiple layers of understanding. But it is actually us who are being peeled back and laid bare by the ever present truths of His Word.

We do not truly "dig deeper" into the Word; rather, the Word digs deeper into us! Scriptural truths are not revealed until our hunger is so great that we are willing to place our life on the table and allow the sword of truth to cut deep inside. 

Do we really desire to know God, His Word, and His Spirit? Do we really want to understand the depth of God's love and the implications of His justice? Then be advised: even necessary and beneficial surgery can be painful. When our chest is opened, the condition of our heart is revealed; and that which is dark and displeasing must be cut away and burned.

But fear not! Our Heavenly Father is a skilled surgeon who can make our heart new and prepared to yield to His Spirit. The solution to our most complex problems is always found in His presence, and He has given His Word to show us how to draw near. Our lives are in need of some divine surgery today! Let's allow our heart to be cut by the truth, to be exposed and purified by the Living Word.

-steve troxel

.....flute

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."  Hebrews 12:11

As the story goes, a little piece of wood once bitterly complained because its owner kept whittling away at it, gouging it and making holes in it. But the one who was cutting it paid no attention to the stick's protests. He was making a flute out of that piece of ebony, and he was too wise to stop when the wood complained so bitterly

The man said, "Little piece of wood, without these rifts and holes, and all this cutting, you'd be just a stick forever - a useless piece of ebony. What I am doing now may seem as if I am destroying you, but instead it will change you into a beautiful flute. Your sweet music will charm the souls of many and comfort sorrowing hearts. All my cutting on you is the making of you, for this is the only way you be a blessing in the world.

The meaning of this little parable is clear: That flute, whose music will blend so sweetly in the orchestra, was made a flute only by the knife and file that filled it with rifts and holes - which seemed to be its very destruction. But the purpose of the master was that it might become a melodious instrument to the praise of God

The Lord is shaping us. 

Let's be patient and allow His chastening to do its work in our lives so we will able to praise Him..

-m.r.dehaan

.....plumbline

This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. Then the Lord said, 'Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer'  Amos 7:7-8

Building a wall seems relatively easy: stack one brick on top of another until the proper height and width is achieved. But without a reference line, it's nearly impossible to determine when the wall is straight. Without a true standard as a guide, our well-intended efforts produce a jagged mess which will soon crumble and fall. 

Plumb lines have been used in the building process for thousands of years as a stable reference, a true standard. A plumb line is simply a string with a weight on one end which will hang straight because of the unchanging pull of gravity.

God used a plumb line to show that the people of Israel had once been true, but now they were building their lives without a reference. God had established clear guidelines and preserved them within His Word. He was now bringing judgments according to His unchanging standard; "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line" Isaiah 28:17.

The people did not listen to Amos' plea. They continued to live outside God's will and were guided by their own evil desires. God's judgment came thirty years after the end of Amos' ministry as He allowed the Assyrian army to march through the northern kingdom and bring complete destruction in 722 BC.

God is making the same call to us today. We cannot continue to build using the world's system of values as our reference. The world's system is a standard in constant change, sinking deeper and deeper into the slimy pit. We may try to justify our actions by remaining slightly "above" the standard of the world, but as this standard continues to sink, we will continue to follow it down. This should NOT be our chosen path!!

Our lives need an unchanging reference to call us back when we stray. This reference must be the Word of God which calls us to a life of absolute pure devotion. When we build on the foundation of Christ and determine to love Him with ALL our heart, His Word ensures we will rise tall and not be found leaning to the left or right. Let's build a life which is true and does not waver. 

Let's live by His Word and build according to God's plumb line.

-steve troxel

.....home

I will arise and go back to my father ...Luke 15:18

G. K. Chesterton tells the story of an English sailor who miscalculated his course and thought he'd discovered a new land in the South Seas. Ready to plant the British flag and claim the land as New South Wales, he'd actually landed back in his homeland. In search of the new, he had discovered the old. And for the first time he saw what he had left behind.

Jesus tells a parable about a young man who made a similar discovery. He headed off to a "distant country" where he thought life would be great. Drinking and partying looked more attractive than plowing his father's fields.

But one day, the prodigal son came to his senses. He returned home to discover the amazing welcome of his forgiving Father. Prodigal means "lavish," and what we discover is that the love of our heavenly Father is more prodigal - more lavish - than our sin. God's children come home to discover that life in the Father's house is what they've craved all along.

Some of us are in a "distant country" today. We've wandered far from our spiritual home. We've sailed far from the land of grace, and it's time to turn our ship around and head home. When we do, we'll discover that our heavenly Father has been waiting and watching for our return. He has the lights on and is calling us to come home. 

-robert heerspink

....sent

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14-15

Only God is able to draw someone near and lead them to repentance, and only the Holy Spirit can transform someone's heart into a "new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. But God has chosen to give His children the responsibility of sharing His message of forgiveness and truth with the world; "As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world" John 17:18.

In order for the message of Salvation to truly reach the world, we who know the truth must accept our commission to be "sent." We must be determined to share the gospel message whenever and wherever He directs; "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19. This may mean in another country, but it may also mean in our own backyard, or in our own family as we love them and demonstrate the true peace of Jesus.

Let's faithfully pick up the torch today. We have been given everything we need 2 Peter 1:3; we do not lack any Spiritual gift 1 Corinthians 1:7, and we have been declared ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20. 

The world is waiting to hear! 

Let's BOLDLY go forth with His Word and with an assurance that we have been sent!

-steve troxel

.....exalt

"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Philippians 2:9-11

God exalted (lifted up) Jesus to the highest place in Heaven. Have we exalted Him to the highest place in our own life? Before we have any chance of communicating a message of truth with the world, we must have a message of truth residing in our own heart. 

Have we truly accepted His forgiveness which only comes through faith, or are we still trying to earn our way, chasing after false messengers, and traveling down the broad road of destruction? Do we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength Mark 12:30, or are we still just getting acquainted from a distance?

What about our place of worship? God has an important role for the local church and desires each of us to be in fellowship with other believers. But if our church does not lift up the name of Jesus Christ, it becomes little more than a social club leading an entire flock of lost sheep down the broad road away from the gate. 

Let's exalt Jesus to the highest place in our life, in our home, and in our church. Let's love Him with all our heart and take active steps to draw closer to His presence. Let's show the world that eternal life is only through faith in the name which is above all other names - the name of Jesus Christ.

-steve troxel

....wife

When you pray for your wife, God will bless both her and you in your life together. Prayer invites God to unleash His great power, and your marriage is too important for you not to invest in praying for your wife.  Prayer will also bring you and your wife closer. There's no greater way to express your love for your wife than to pray for her

Some ways you can pray for your wife...

• Pray that you will be the kind of person God wants you to be so you can be the best husband possible for your wife. Ask God to show you how to fully love your wife, and how to pray for her in all situations
• Pray that your wife will walk closely with Christ, be led by the Holy Spirit, and be able to discern God's will and follow it
• Pray that God will give you insight into your wife's emotions, and that she would enjoy stability and peace
• Pray that God will enable your wife to be the best mother she can be, that her children will respond well to her, and that if she's not a mother yet but wants to be, that God will help her.
• Pray that God will continually strengthen all aspects of your marriage, protect it from destruction, and grow love between you.
• Pray that your wife will respect and trust you as a spiritual leader, and that you will be completely submitted to God so you can effectively serve as a spiritual leader.
• Pray that your wife will enjoy close friendships with other Christian women, get along well with family members, and will be able to forgive people who have hurt her.
• Pray that God will give your wife the wisdom she needs to discern how she should set her priorities, and the grace to spend her time accordingly.
• Pray that God will give your wife confidence that she is beautiful in His sight and yours.
• Pray that God will enable your wife to overcome fear.
• Pray that your wife will recognize God's purpose for her life, and be able to live it out as she uses her gifts God has given her.
• Pray that your wife will completely trust God, trust you as her husband, and be trustworthy herself.
• Pray that God will protect your wife - physically, mentally and spiritually - wherever she goes.
• Pray that God will motivate your wife to choose to obey His leading, and give her the grace to do so.

-whitney hopler

.....testify

There have always been those who distort the Gospel message - always those who remove the sufficiency of the Cross or the necessity of a repentant heart. The world rewards those who dilute the truth of Christ with the philosophy of man and his methods of success. Unfortunately, false teachers will continue to abound and will always have an audience.

But we must refuse to compromise! We have been given the Word of God - a message of truth which can change the world. And while this message is a wonderful blessing, it also carries an incredible responsibility. We are called to know this message and apply its principles of forgiveness, grace, and love as we live a life devoted to holiness, thanksgiving, and praise. 

We then must share this message of absolute truth with others at every opportunity.

Our time here is very, very short. We are "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14. Some of us may vanish in a few days, others not for many years - but we will ALL vanish. What remains in the end will ONLY be that which is done according to truth and for the glory of God...so let's make the most of every moment!

Let's focus more of our time and effort on the treasures which last for eternity and demonstrate the love of Christ. Let's remain aligned to His Word and continue to apply the truth we have received, sharing with others without shame or compromise.

-steve troxel

....anyone

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul was so devoted to preaching the Gospel that he could humbly minister to anyone! He was determined to reach every person God placed in his path - even if this meant lowering himself and becoming weak.

We need to understand that weakness does not mean we engage in sin! God NEVER asks us to violate His commands in order to accomplish His will; we never need to sin in order to reach someone with the gospel. Rather, becoming weak means showing compassion without regard to a person's status; it means having the "strength" to walk beside the weak, who may be living in terrible sin, and minister the love of Jesus without condemnation. 

Godly weakness means showing grace to others because we understand the grace we have been given.

As we minister to the lost - as we touch those without Christ - our message must focus on His saving grace. Without Jesus we are ALL lost and on our way to an eternal damnation; "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. We must never forget this basic truth. 

We must never let our position in Christ cloud the message of the cross. We have been saved and set free; "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness" Colossians 1:13. But now that we are free, we need to understand that the world around us is in desperate need of this same gracious Savior.

We each have a message to share, a message which can encourage and be used to draw others to faith in Jesus. Let's begin to step outside our select and "comfortable" group - outside the group we relate to and claim to understand. The Good News of Jesus Christ is a precious life-saving gift! 

Let's begin to share this gift with ALL, by ALL possible means.

-steve troxel

.....waiting

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Exodus 32:1

Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked outdoors, he often took his dog with him. That morning he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch pail. A fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where that dog had been left. But he didn't move. He waited right where he was and perished.

The Israelites, on the other hand, quickly grew weary of waiting. Moses had been gone only 40 days when they began to pressure Aaron to find "gods" that could lead them into the Promised Land. Their only thought was of the pleasures that awaited them in a land "flowing with milk and honey." They grew restless under the need to wait.

Christians face the same temptation. Often we are eager to get on with it. We have so much to do; so many tasks beckon us forward. We don't want to sit and wait, so we lurch forward with gods of our own making. We use our own wisdom and strength to try to reach goals that only God is adequate to achieve.

If you find yourself straining to go forward when God doesn't seem to be in a hurry, hold back and wait. Perhaps He has an entirely different plan for your life. Concentrate on what you must do now and let God move you ahead when the time is right.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalms 27:14

-david langerfeld

......will

 Much of our Christian walk seems to involve searching for God's will. We search for His perfect will for our job, home, school, church, and relationships; and we are often frustrated because God seems silent regarding the details of our life. But God is not silent! His Word reveals much of His will, and a large portion of His will for our life today is the same as for every past generation.

Our Heavenly Father desires us to live each moment with a thankful heart, full of joy - regardless of our circumstances. Because this reveals our trust in a loving God. He wants us to continually commune with Him in prayer and refuse to leave His presence to pursue concerns or pleasures of the world. This portion of God's will has been clearly revealed!

But some are facing situations which make following God's will very difficult. They see absolutely no reason for rejoicing and can't understand how God can be directing their path. How is it possible to remain by His side when being pressed down from all directions and when the pulls of the world seem relentless?

We must begin by viewing our life from an eternal perspective rather than the temporary nature of the world; "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" 1 John 2:17. All our trials will soon be gone (do we really believe this?). God is in control and, in the end, ALL will glorify His name; "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28. As we trust and love Him with all our heart, He works ALL things for the good - no matter how bad our situation may appear or how difficult it may be to understand His plan. He IS in control! This level of trust is what Paul referred to as "the secret of being content" Philippians 4:12.

There are certainly times when God will give us very specific direction, and this direction may very well call us to get out and change the world; but perhaps He's waiting until we follow His general will for our life - perhaps He's waiting for us to rejoice and trust. Let's come before Him today with a thankful and loving heart. Let's enter His presence and refuse to be taken away by circumstances which will soon fade. Let's trust Him without compromise and joyfully walk each step by faith according to God's perfect will.

-steve troxel

.....look

Don't you think that Moses, after a discouraging day, may have pulled open his tent flap to see the pillar of fire high in the sky and said, "Everything's fine. LOOK WHO'S HERE."

And what about Daniel, charter member of the Lion's Club. He laid his head on the mane of a lion and said, "I'm not afraid. LOOK WHO'S HERE."

King Nebuchadnezzar had those three fellas thrown in the fire but when he looked down he saw four. Shadrach and Company were just fine. "LOOK WHO'S HERE."

And what about Elijah? Water was scarce and yet he still ordered twelve barrels to be poured upon the altar.  "God or Baal? Choose you this day whom ye will serve!"  Ol' Elijah just chuckled to himself and said, "LOOK WHO'S HERE."

David, the shepherd boy who would become King, looked at Goliath, loaded his slingshot, and said "Your time's up, Goliath. LOOK WHO'S HERE."

Lazarus had been dead four days when Jesus said "roll the stone away." But Lazarus walked out of that tomb because Almighty God turned death on its heels and said "LOOK WHO'S HERE."

One of these days... "it may be at morn when the day is awakened, it may be at midday, it may be at twilight, it may be per chance in the blackness of midnight" – in one mighty shout around the world we will look up and cry "Hallelujah! He's back! LOOK WHO'S HERE!"

-vance havner

 

.....discipleship

Discipleship involves prayer, teaching, compassion, commitment, and the ability to lead by a Godly example; some portions are passive, while others are extremely active and intentional. When Barnabas saw how Paul was being rejected in Jerusalem, he "took him and brought him to the apostles" Acts 9:27. 

When he may have been concerned that Paul was discouraged; "Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul" Acts 11:25. And when Mark was facing rejection and almost certain discouragement for future ministry, "Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus" Acts 15:39.

There was certainly no better example of how to disciple others than Jesus. During His ministry on earth Jesus was an example to all who saw or heard of Him. He taught large groups and ministered to individuals at every opportunity. But with a specific group of twelve, Jesus gave an extra measure of His time and energy to help them grow closer to God and equip them for future ministry.

Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles. Luke 6:12-13

We ought to do more than encourage when it's convenient, more than live a Godly life and hope others will follow. In Jesus, we are given a wonderful example of choosing, through prayer, individuals whom we intentionally lead closer to God. This is clearly His command when Jesus says, "go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19.

Let's lead through the example of a devoted and holy life, and encourage those in need at every opportunity. But let's also take the next step and prayerfully identify those who will receive our special attention for an extended period of time. Let's pour ourselves into others and help them grow closer to Jesus through intentional discipleship.

-steve troxel 

.....better

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

As the days ticked down to my 47th birthday, I had to admit that I was experiencing a little melancholy. I was looking back over the years of my life and remembering every mistake that I had made, every wrong path that I had taken, and every chance for growth that I had turned my back on. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

When the day finally arrived, however, I was overwhelmed with the love I received from so many - gifts, cards, and birthday greetings from friends filled both my mailbox and my computer. My wonderful children took me out for dinner and then surprised me with a homemade cake, a homemade card, and a homemade gift, all wrapped with their love. By the end of the day, my melancholy had fled and my happiness had returned. I felt truly blessed and I remembered that life is about the love you share - not the mistakes you make.

I realized too that I wanted to spend the rest of my days here becoming the person that God meant for me to be. I wanted to watch more sunrises, share more smiles, spread more love and share the "good news" of the gospel with everyone I met.  I wanted to fill my life with acts of kindness and moments of joy. I wanted to give my children wise words, kind thoughts, huge hugs, gentle kisses, loving laughter, and endless happiness. I wanted to help others every chance I could and in every way I could. 

You, too, can become a better person each and every day of your life. There is no greater adventure than to become the person God meant for you to be. There is nothing better than being a blessing to everyone around you. There is nothing more powerful than sharing the way to salvation and eternal life with everyone you meet.  There is nothing more wonderful than to live all your days here in God's love, growing younger on the inside, even as you grow older on the outside. 

- joseph j. mazzella 

....rains

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," he said. Luke 24:36

This past spring, when our lone gardenia bush was in glorious full bloom, I so enjoyed seeing it each day. Many mornings I would cut a couple of flowers to bring indoors and the lovely fragrance would fill the room.  And then the rains came. Overnight every single flower was washed away.

They had a beautiful marriage for sixteen years and two sweet children. Late one afternoon, coming home from the grocery store, she was hit broadside by a truck that ran a stop sign and killed her instantly. And then the rains came.

He was 28 years old with a promising future. One drizzly afternoon they found him. His parents were devastated. It was the day the rains came.

She went into work, business as usual, when her superior walked in and said, "Clean out your desk; I'm sorry but we are cutting back".  And then the rains came.

The rains don't last forever - although when we're in the midst of a storm, it surely feels like they will. It's a fact there is always a rainbow when it rains, even when we don't see it. The sun (Son) is always shining behind the heavy rain clouds.

The loss of the flowers on the gardenia bush was no big thing, just a miniscule blip on the radar, as was the lovely crop of wild sunflowers that were drowned and flattened by a flash flood. They did serve as an illustration, however, and a reminder that when we have our hopes and plans dashed we have a God of the 'suddenlies' who can turn things around Genesis 50:20. The Lord will redeem what has been lost for you Joel 2:25. It's a promise, we can count on it. Thank you, God. 

"...Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," he said." Luke 24:36

- sally i. kennedy  

.....barnabas

Prior to meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul (who would later be known as the Apostle Paul) was one of the greatest enemies of Christians: "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" Acts 8:3. But Saul's conversion to Christ was dramatic, and after a few years he tried to join with the believers in Jerusalem. However, with his reputation for hatred toward Christians, the disciples were not willing to accept him.

But one man saw beyond the past mistakes, saw beyond the slimy pit from which he had been removed, saw the grace of Jesus which had worked a miracle in Saul's life - that man was Barnabas! Barnabas believed in Saul, comforted him, and defended him to the other believers.

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus."Acts 9:27

Saul was on fire for Jesus, ready to preach the gospel with the same energy he once used to persecute the church. But after just a short time in Jerusalem, Saul had to flee for his life back to his home in Tarsus. It's not clear what he did for the next several years, but there is no evidence of ministry work until Barnabas, once again, found Saul and provided the necessary encouragement.

"Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people."Acts 11:25-26

The Apostle Paul went on to have a greater impact in the forming of the early Church and in defining Church doctrine than any other follower of Jesus. But if not for Barnabas, Paul may not have ever preached beyond his own back yard. In the early days of the Church, Barnabas believed the absolute best in people and encouraged them at every opportunity. His encouragement of Paul resulted in more fruit for God's Kingdom than anything else he could have possibly done or imagined.

We all know someone who can use a lift - someone in desperate need of a friend to believe in them - someone in need of a Barnabas! Let's encourage others today by believing in the power of Christ working through their lives, by looking beyond what we can see to what we know Jesus can do with a life completely devoted to Him, by being the spark which reignites the fire and helps them return to the great race. 

Let's look for opportunities to encourage our Brothers and Sisters according to the example of Barnabas.

-steve trexol

....hard

We often have a difficult time seeing how all the pieces of God's plan fit together. He leads us down a path and we fail to see the purpose - especially when the enemy begins to attack. We want to fight back, but God says to patiently trust Him and pray. We want to determine a solution and solve the problem, but God says to love Him with all our heart and share His love with others.

The times in which we are most tested and pressed down ought to be the times of greatest growth and closeness with our Heavenly Father. When it seems we have nowhere else to turn, we ought to rejoice and trust Him even more! Let's put our life firmly in His Hands and submit to His guidance - even when we may not see where we are going or how we will get there. 

Let's trust His ways and always remember...for God, there is NOTHING too hard!