....blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses;
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes;
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears;
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean;
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on GOD instead of yourself!!!!

"... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God..." 2 Corinthians 1:9

....rock

 

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

We must make every effort to firmly stand; and yet, we must realize we cannot stand in our own strength. The ground is solid only because of Christ. He IS the rock upon which we have been set - the Rock of our Salvation. Whenever we feel unworthy or unable to follow - whenever we feel we can no longer stand - we have surely begun to look to our own strength rather than God; "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ" 2 Corinthians 1:21. He alone gives us the strength.

We have trusted Him to lift us out of the pit, and now that we are His children, we must continue to trust Him to strengthen us and be the stable Rock of our life. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!" Romans 5:10.

The solid Rock is no place to tremble, no place to fear. He will remain solid for all eternity, and as we stand on Him, He will accomplish through us what we are unable to do in our own strength. He is our new life, our strength, our identity, and all our self-worth. 

He is our comfort when we grieve, and He is our guiding light when we have lost our way. Let's honor our Heavenly Father as we continue to stand. Let's bring Him glory as we resolve to stand firm on the Rock!

- steve troxel

....hand

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3 You never know when you need the Lord's comfort the most - when God's care will be your only hope to face tomorrow.

One day in 1932, pianist, singer, and songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey discovered his need for God's comfort. He left his pregnant wife, Nettie, at home in Chicago while he drove his Model A to St. Louis to sing at a revival meeting. All went well, and the crowd responded enthusiastically. At the end of Dorsey's performance, he received a telegram with the tragic news that his wife had died in childbirth. Within hours, the baby boy also died.

Filled with grief, Dorsey sought answers. Should he have stayed in Chicago and not gone to St. Louis? Had God done him an injustice? A few days after Nettie's death, Dorsey sat down at the piano and began to p1ay. Finally, sensing God's peace and closeness, he began to sing some new words and play a new song:

   Precious Lord, take my hand

   Lead me on, let me stand;

   I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

   Through the storm, through the night

   Lead me on to the light;

   Take my hand, precious Lord, take me home. 

Is there a problem too big for you to handle alone?  Or a grief to great to bear?  Put your hand in the Lord's.  Let the "God of all comfort" lead you home. 

 

When God permits trials, he also provides comfort.  

....ground

The life changing benefit of God's perspective can only be found through a clear understanding of His gospel message. And His gospel changes everything!

The gospel message is one of hope which says, God loves us and has an ETERNAL plan for our life through faith in His Son Jesus. Without the hope of the gospel, we would continue to live a life of emptiness and an eternity separated from God. Even if we stumbled onto temporary fulfillment - even if our burden was made light - without the gospel our life would end without hope.

But as we place our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, He lifts us up, gives our life new meaning, and transforms us into a new creation through the power of His Spirit.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:1-2

These words were written by King David over one thousand years before the death and resurrection of Jesus. And yet, they provide an excellent illustration of the hope found in the message of Salvation.

In our sinful nature, we all "have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" Isaiah 53:6. Our nature is to follow our own sinful desires and walk down paths which cause us to "fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Each of us have been firmly embedded in the mire of sin and none of us can climb out of the slimy pit with our own strength; we have no ability to build eternal hope!

But before the creation of the world God loved us and had a plan to bring us back to Himself, a plan to rescue us; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. The death and resurrection of Jesus allows us victory over sin and creates a way out of the mud; "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9.

If we truly desire to be clean and live with hope and a new view of life, we must call out to Jesus and believe He is who He claimed to be - our Savior and Lord! If we will trust Him and cry out in faith, He has promised to hear our cry and lift us up. He will pour His cleansing love upon us and fill us with purpose! 

He will set our feet for all eternity upon Himself and we will forever stand on solid ground.

- steve troxel

....strange

 "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" 2 John 1:6

A distinguished Indian evangelist named Sadhu Chellappa was on a mission trip to a village north of Chennai, when in the middle of the night he suddenly sensed God speaking to him: "Leave this house quickly and run away!"

Not exactly a convenient thing to do. But Chellappa was accustomed to accepting even strange instructions from the Lord without debate, so he dressed quickly and ran into the darkness.

After a while, he was in open country. As he passed beneath a large tree, he felt God tell him, "Stay here and start to preach!" Now, even for an experienced evangelist, this was puzzling--because there was no one to be seen. Why did God want him to preach to an empty field in the middle of the night? But he stopped under the tree and began to preach the gospel.

Finally, he reached the point at which he called on his unseen listeners to give their lives to Jesus. He was surprised to hear a voice from the top of the tree and see a man climb down, crying. The man tearfully gave his life to Jesus. When Chellappa asked why he was in a tree out in the middle of nowhere, the man admitted, "I came out here to hang myself."

How is your obedience quotient? God calls us to be obedient to that small voice inside that can direct us to sometimes do strange things. Jesus was obedient in ALL things. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" Rom 5:19. God can do exceedingly great things through one man or woman who is willing to be obedient to God's voice. Ask for His grace today to be obedient to His voice.

.....never

Are you discouraged?  Remember, the game's not over until it's over. Anyone going through a difficult time needs to remember that the end has not yet come, and that our Heavenly Father may have all manner of wonderful things in store just around the bend in the road. 

USA TODAY once reported a story which demonstrates this fact very well.  Milwaukee Hamilton High School had a 22-15 lead against Milwaukee Marshall with just a few seconds left in a football game one Friday night in September of 1983. It appeared to be a sure victory. With only four seconds remaining, Hamilton, which was on its 40-yard line, snapped the ball to Jose Alba. Alba ran back toward his end zone to run out the clock, then tossed the ball into the air as time expired, thinking the game was over, and the victory belonged to him and his teammates.

But, remember - in football, the play is not finished until the ball is downed while in the possession of a player. So when the ball came down, one of Marshall's players, Floyd Heard, picked it up on the five and ran it in for a touchdown. Then with time expired, Marshall attempted the two-point conversion - and made it. They won the game 23-22.

There are many times in our lives when we're on the losing side of the scoreboard, and time is running out. If Floyd Heard had believed what the circumstances told him, he would have walked to the sideline, accepting defeat. Yet, that is what we do so many times in our lives. The game - nor life - is over until it's over. Be encouraged! Don't give up! Stay the course!

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."Galatians 6:9

- rocky henriques 

....waiting

As Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, he already had a sense of where his next journey would lead; "after I have been there, I must visit Rome" Acts 19:21. But he also knew he was about to face many difficulties; "in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" Acts 20:23. Paul was arrested less than ten days after arriving in Jerusalem. He probably didn't realize it at the time, but his journey to Rome had just begun.

Paul's journey to Rome would last about two and a half years and include many legal and physical trials, and many opportunities to demonstrate his faith in Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, it also included two long years where Paul had nothing to do but sit in prison and wait for an occasional visit with Governor Felix before being transferred to the courts of Rome. "As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"Acts 24:25

This must have been a difficult time for someone accustomed to being so actively involved in ministry. Paul was treated well in this prison, but after receiving specific instructions to minister in Rome, two years must have felt like a painfully long time.

We are never told of God's reason for this waiting period. Many times, waiting is necessary to allow other events to occur and other people to be properly positioned. And many times, waiting is necessary because we need to better learn some of God's truths...or we simply need a good rest.

Paul was about to face his most challenging journey and possibly his most significant ministry opportunity; "Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" Acts 23:11. On his journey, Paul faced a severe storm, shipwreck, snakebite, and many threats on his life, but Paul was also given the opportunity to minister to the leaders of the Roman Empire.

Much of our own journey involves patience and learning how to trust and wait on God. Almost nothing seems to occur as fast as we would like; difficult situations take longer to resolve, people take longer to mature, and ministries take longer to grow. But our present circumstances always serve a purpose!

If we have earnestly sought God and not received specific direction, it's possible we are simply being told to wait - wait and be refreshed; wait and spend time abiding in His presence; wait...and prepare. Let's continue to rejoice and learn to trust Him even more during our times of waiting.

- steve troxel

....momentary

There is no example of a Christ-changed life which is more dramatic than the Apostle Paul. While on his way to Damascus to capture Christians and put them in jail, Jesus blinded Paul and asked, "Why do you persecute Me?" Acts 9:4. When Paul asked who was speaking, Jesus replied: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" Acts 9:5-6.

Jesus identified Paul as "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15. This special selection did not make Paul perfect, but he was gifted with a close relationship with Jesus as well as special insight into the true gospel message.

Paul suffered many hardships and trials during his years of ministry. His life was continually threatened; he was beaten many times, placed in prison for extended periods, and faced the frustration of ministering to people who failed to truly appreciate his message. And yet, Paul weighed his trials on the scale of eternity.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Paul had learned "the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. This secret involved knowing who he was in Christ and viewing his life from the perspective of eternity. This secret also gave him a new understanding of his trials.

Though our days on earth may sometimes be difficult, our days are very few. A hundred years is not even a visible speck on the canvas of eternity - our days are momentary! And the weight of our burdens vanish to nothing when compared to the glory of Heaven - our burdens are truly light! This is the lasting power of an eternal perspective.

God's peace and contentment require us to expand our view to include an eternity we cannot see and a glory we may not understand; "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace" John 16:33. His peace is available today; it is available in our relationships, our work, our finances, our health, and our ministry.

Let's allow the world to see our confidence in His promised eternal glory by the peace which fills our life. Let's live by the faith of an eternal perspective and be renewed as we rightly consider ALL our trials to be light and momentary.

- steve troxel

.....bank

I don't want to admit how debit-card-dependent I am. It's getting embarrassing. 

One day this week I couldn't find my card. I looked everywhere. Even by the next morning there was still no trace of the card. I searched high and low, near and far- even under the sofa cushions. I found 37 cents, three marbles, a T-shirt (how had we ignored that lump?), seven M & M's, a screwdriver, my favorite sunglasses, and the TV remote (hey, we'd been looking for that thing) - but no card.

I checked our bank account online to make sure no one had used the rogue card.  Nope, no extra charges (although how in the world could all those charges be mine?). Still, I was just this side of panic.

Why is it that I wait until panic starts to set in before I remember where I really need to turn? Finally I thought, "I'll have my quiet time with the Lord and then I can resume the hunt with more peace, less panic." I opened my Bible and guess what fell out; my card! I had absentmindedly stuck it between the pages the morning prior to mark a passage.

What a lesson my Father taught me about where I should run first. I found such treasure in His Word that morning and, believe it or not, the real treasure was not even card-related. Psalm 119:14-16 says it best: "I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."  Ah, it's great to be rich!

- rhonda rhea

.....nehemiah

"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days,and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah's name means "the Lord's Comfort." He was a prayer-warrior in every sense of the word. Whenever a situation arose, Nehemiah went straight to the Lord. We don't see him faltering or wavering. What we see is constant open communication with God.

Nehemiah spent most of his prayer time praying for others. In the first chapter of Nehemiah, we hear his heartfelt cry for Israel. It isn't until the end of his prayer that he asks for the privilege of being used by God.

Nehemiah trusted in the Lord. He knew God would make a way for the protective wall around Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Was it easy? No! Nehemiah and his people were taunted, attacked and burdened with an economic crisis almost to the point of failure. They endured the verbal and physical scorns from their opposition. "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon."  Nehemiah 4:17. 

But, Nehemiah always reminded them that God would fight their battles. He kept encouraging them.

With the wall completed Nehemiah gathered the people and had Ezra the priest, read the "Book of The Law." Israel realized the error of their ways, confessed their sins and repented. Nehemiah once again had pointed the people to God.

Intercessory prayer is so important in our life. It takes the focus off self and places it on God. Are your prayers more focused on your own requests or those of others? Who do you consistently pray for? If your intercessory prayer life needs help, why not start today by making a commitment to pray for others around you? And like Nehemiah you will find favor in God's eyes! 

....cross

"Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38

Luke records similar words as Jesus spoke to a large crowd: "and anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple" Luke 14:27. Jesus also said that anyone who would come after Him must "take up his cross daily and follow" Luke 9:23.

But what does it mean to take up our cross? I've heard people refer to a hardship or difficult situation as "my cross to bear," and I know many of us are facing these kind of hardships right now! But God's Word contains no such reference to cross as hardship. The cross has only one Biblical association: Death! The only time anyone would carry their cross was when they were about to die.

Yes, we are called to die. But the call is not to a physical death; this death will eventually come to us all, and there is never a need to hasten its arrival. The call of Jesus is to a death of "self," the old sinful nature with its evil desires, dreams, and ambitions: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God" Galatians 2:20.

We are called to a death which leads to true contentment and peace. But this death is not a one-time event; we are called to die daily! And this death is never easy. Don't be surprised when every day seems to breathe life into our old nature, when we begin to talk, act, and think contrary to the way of Christ. When this occurs, simply praise God for the conviction of His Spirit, take up the cross once again, and continue to follow down His path.

As we "die" and completely surrender control to God, temptations of the world lose their pull and anxieties lose their source of concern. As we no longer live, we no longer focus on the cravings of our flesh or about what tomorrow may or may not bring. 

As Christ lives in us, the enemy loses the ability to effectively attack - they are no longer attacking us but Christ...and He always wins!  Being fully crucified with Christ is a process, and we often have too much of our own life, full of anxieties and fears. And yet, we have to press on!

Our call is to become a follower of Jesus Christ and be transformed into His image. But to follow we must die! Let's become His worthy disciple as we love Him and trust Him with all our heart. Let's set aside all that is not directed by God and take up our cross. 

- steve troxel

....struggling

"Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.  Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down." Mark 6:45-50 

A story is told of a man taking a trip on an old wooden sailing ship. He was out of the deck one day and saw one of the crew-members climbing the ropes, going up to the crow’s nest. When he was about half way up, the ship pitched to one side and he was thrown overboard. When he hit the water, he began to scream for help, and flail his arms wildly, as he struggled to survive. The traveler watched as a sailor walked over to the rail of the ship, and calmly observed the man in the water. After a short while the man in the water tired, and began to sink. 

Immediately the sailor standing by the rail jumped overboard, and rescued the drowning victim. After both men were safely on board, the traveler went over to the rescuer and asked, “why did you wait so long to jump in the water and rescue this man?” 

He calmly replied, "I have found that as long as a man is struggling in the water, there is a greater chance that he will get us both killed if I jump in too quickly, and try to save him. I have learned that it is better to let them struggle awhile, and when they come to the end of their own strength, I can then jump in and rescue them." 

Are you like the drowning man in the story? Have you fallen from your place of comfort and safety, and you are now struggling just to survive? Have you cried out to God to come and rescue you immediately? 

It is possible the Lord is waiting until you have come to the end of yourself, and stop struggling in a vain attempt to save yourself, through any means. When you finally admit you can’t save yourself, God will jump into the water and save you!  

....ready

But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness' 2 Corinthians 12:9

If there is one thing that is consistent throughout scripture, it is this: God calls people when they are not ready. God will never call you into service when you think you are ready. This is intentional on God's part.

And, you can be sure when God calls you, you will have similar responses as Saul did when he was called to be the first king, or Gideon, when he was called to take down the idols in his nation, or Moses, when he was called to deliver his people from Egypt.

Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" 1 Samuel 9:21.

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" Judges 6:15. But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11.

When God calls, you will most likely be in the most unlikely circumstances to receive that call. You will be in the midst of a crisis, you will lack resources, you will not have the skills you think you need. This, too, is the way of God.

God does this because He wants you to know your call is only based on His ability, not yours. When you think it is based on you, this is a false humility. And, it is unbelief and disobedience on your part. Has God called you to something you have failed to do because you felt you were not ready? Repent before the Lord and let God accomplish great things through you!

-os hillman

...yoke

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

A yoke is a dual harness used to attach oxen and plow fields. Jesus said to take up His yoke and join Him in working His field. He is already pulling the load and wants us to attach ourselves to the other harness. As we do, we will discover a well-defined row in bad need of plowing. We will also find a load which is easy to bear.

But plowing can become tedious, so we often try to increase the pace. We look for ways to accomplish more and begin to see the many weeds scattered in other rows and other fields. In an attempt to pull as many weeds as possible, we begin to wander from our row and our load becomes increasingly heavy. We soon find we have unhitched from His yoke and are trying to pull the plow with our own strength - not a smart move!

More is not always better, and faster is not always the desired result. It's interesting that Jesus said our main task as we take up His yoke is to "learn from Him." It's as if walking by His side is really enough; as if walking by His side IS our ministry. The field will still get plowed, but in the process we will be blessed with a closer and deeper relationship with the Son of God.

If our burden has become heavy - if we are feeling weary and ready to quit - let's determine if we are properly "hitched" to His yoke and aligned to His row. A heavy burden requires some adjustments - maybe an adjustment in attitude, maybe an adjustment in priority. Let's ask our Heavenly Father for guidance and where to find rest for our soul. Let's take up His yoke and remember: His burden is light!

-steve troxel

....speck

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Luke 6:41-42

 

An issue of Our Daily Bread shares and incident in the life of English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770). On one occasion Whitefield received a very critical letter accusing him of doing something wrong. His reply was brief and to the point: "I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield."

Whitefield didn't defend himself. Probably because he wasn't guilty of doing the thing he was being accused of. We often get defensive when we are guilty, or if we are more concerned about our image than we are about pleasing God, or if we are insecure and need to appear "perfect" in the eyes of others.

The fact is, we are all sinners and we all have faults and make our share of mistakes. So, before we try to take the speck out of another's eye, let us first, as Jesus suggested, take the log out of our own.

"Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of a critical attitude that is constantly looking for a speck in another's eye as a means of avoiding the log in my own eye. Please give me the willingness to see the log in my own eye, and make the changes in my life that need correction. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen." 

....service

It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 4:11-12

We are all called to be a disciple, a close and intimate follower of Jesus Christ. We are each given different gifts and different ministry opportunities, but the focus of a disciple is always to serve as we build up the body of Christ and love Him with all our heart. We help others become His disciple as we teach them to follow Jesus and provide the necessary tools which prepare them to serve.

We have been blessed in so many ways. By His grace we have been granted the forgiveness of all sin and given a place to worship Him for all eternity. As we better grasp this wonderful truth, we will be filled with an unshakable contentment and peace while we walk in the presence of God. But this blessing must never be selfishly held - it must be shared; "Freely you have received, freely give" Matthew 10:8.

I pray that every day brings us closer in our relationship with God through the forgiveness and love of His Son, Jesus. I pray we minister in our church, our work, our family, and among the friends God places in our path, with love and uncompromising truth. And I pray that each of us looks for ways to build up the body of Christ by preparing God's people to serve. 

....complaining

 "Do everything without complaining" Philippians 2:14

Complaining is toxic. It contaminates both the complainer and everyone within earshot. Sometimes we think we're helping by complaining. We maintain, 'If somebody doesn't say something, nothing's ever going to change!' - as though positive change can come from negative words.

We imagine we've contributed something worthwhile by our complaint. But, complaining is what we do to avoid facing, dealing with and solving the problem. It's what we do instead of contributing to constructive change, and it makes us part of the problem instead of the solution. 

The more you complain the more problem-focused you become, and the more problem-focused you become the more you complain. Ultimately, your complaining affects you more than anyone else. The Psalmist said,  "...I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed." Psalm 77:3.

If no one else pays attention to your words, you do. Before you say them, you think them: "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" Matthew 12:34. And when you say them, you hear them and believe them just as you would the words of a trusted authority. 

Every time you repeat them you reinforce their power over you until eventually you make yourself the victim of your own complaints! Your spirit (attitude) will be overwhelmed, not by the problems and difficulties people bring to you, but as the self-inflicted product of your own complaints.

So, "Do all things without complaining... that you may become blameless and harmless... without fault... in a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" Philippians 2:14-15.

....choice

 In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose......

I Choose Love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of yelling at the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I Choose Faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.

To these, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all understanding.   (Philippians 4:7)

....restoration

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!"  Romans 5:8-10

All of scripture was written for the purpose of restoring the relationship which sin destroyed; "All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" 2 Corinthians 5:18. 

The message is clear: return to God! Believe He sent His Son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin and begin to walk in an intimate fellowship of obedience which is consistent with that belief. God sent His Son to die so we could be restored. This is the heart of a loving Father, to call His children home.

The enemy will try to deceive us into believing this relationship is no longer possible, but this is a lie!! Jesus came to restore what the enemy destroyed, and His restoration is made complete by grace through faith. The pain of separation does not need to continue. 

Let's begin today to trust Him with all our heart and truly experience the joy of restoration.

.....new

We often consider our need to be set free from the deceptive entanglements of the world, meaning the sinful temptations, misguided priorities of selfish ambition, or simply the vast number of trivial activities which consume our time, they all hinder our intimacy with God.

These "hindrances" keep many from knowing Jesus and coming to a saving faith in His sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. They also keep many from walking closer with God and glorifying His name. That is why Jesus strongly says, we must crucify the things of the flesh; "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" Luke 9:23. Following Christ means to be "crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:20 - a full and complete death of ALL which would pull us away!

But praise God this is not the end of the story. We are not simply called to the glum and dreary dead life so many Christians seem to be living, we have been called to much more; we have been called to a glorious new birth! We die so we can live in Christ and give Him full control to work in and through our life.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

Jesus came into the world to die on a cross in our place. But Jesus was not just crucified and buried...He rose!! His resurrection was God's declaration to the world that Jesus was His Son Romans 1:4; and it confirmed, with absolute assurance, the complete victory over sin and death. This life of crucifixion and victorious resurrection is the full life to which we have been invited.

We must put to death our sinful desires but we must never remain locked inside a dark and lonely tomb. We must truly rise and be born again. Let's begin to walk as a "new creation" declaring to the world through our joy and peace that we are a child of God. Let's arise with new desires and dreams formed in our heart by a loving and gracious Father - and live by the guiding power of His Spirit, praising Him all of our days as we joyfully live the resurrected life!

 

....trespassing

The sign nailed to the tree said "No trespassing." The red letters stood out for metres in every direction. But that didn't stop the young boys from climbing the fence in order to reach the apples that grew on the trees on the other side.

One day, a small boy slipped while he was climbing the apple tree, and fell into a pile of sharp branches, cutting himself badly and breaking his ankle. Alone and afraid, the young boy lay crying for hours amidst the tumble of sticks.

Finally, the owner of the property happened by. He came out and lifted the boy from the branches. The child was afraid of the wrath of the farmer who had posted such ominous signs, but the old gentleman merely smiled at the boy and said, "I didn't put the signs up to be mean. I put them there to try to keep things like this from happening. It was a kindness which caused me to want to protect little boys just like you."

Our loving heavenly Father gives us rules for the same reason. He is hoping to save us from pain and suffering. When we ignore His guidance, we find ourselves in terrible situations. We can feel confident that God is trying to protect us by His rules.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

“Great peace have those who love your law and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 

.....want

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

A number of years ago, I heard a sermon on the topic of "wants" versus "needs". The woman in the minister's opening story did not get one thing that she had always planned on having, but she had everything she needed.

She had planned on marrying a young man in her career area, but she married an older man who was wise, good, and kind to her in marriage. She wanted a girl but had a boy, who grew to be a fine young man. She wanted a large plantation-style home, but enjoyed her comfortable bungalow home. And so it went.

Even though the Bible promises that God will give us the desires of our heart if we believe in Him, the Bible also makes it clear that God meets our needs, our true and genuine needs, not our unrealistic or picky desires that lack wisdom and insight. He knows better than we do what we really need and can use to our benefit.

We should all take a moment today to look back over the course of our lives and smile when we see God's loving guidance in the shaping of our lives and choices. Our unrealistic dreams and desires gave place to the solid needs and the wise choices. Where we have erred and suffered, God has been with us giving us hope for better days and better situations. He has supported us through the difficult days and rejoiced with our joy and success.

As we watch our children and their children dream and grow, we can smile as we see their desires turn to genuine delight as the Lord guides their way. We see the hardship that produces character and growth. We can nod in agreement as we see God's wisdom guide them in the ways they should go. We can trust in the love and goodness of God, always and ever.

-mary-ellen grisham 

.....where

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?  Genesis 3:8-9

The very first sin caused the delusion that it was possible to hide from God. This delusion continues today! We sit among the weeds and think God doesn't notice - that He doesn't see us in the midst of our sin. But the all-knowing Creator of the Universe knew exactly where Adam was hiding. 

God wasn't searching through the bushes trying to find His lost creation. No, God was speaking directly to Adam: "Adam, why are you in this condition? Do you even know where you are and how far you have drifted?"

Adam's willful disobedience caused him to tremble as he answered: "I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid" Genesis 3:10. Adam was lost. Somehow, even in their garden paradise, Adam and Eve had wandered in their relationship with God. The devil had found them alone - not walking with their Father - and began his great deception. Now, sin had caused shame, fear, and separation.

ALL sin has its beginning in our wandering from the presence of God. No one "falls" into sin by a momentary slip; rather, sin is the result of a long slow drift away from intimate fellowship with God. Drifting from His presence causes us to become more susceptible to sin, which continues the cycle of even further separation. Soon, we have become entangled and completely lose sight of His path.

The way back always begins with a humble and repentant heart. We must confess we have strayed, admit our straying as sin, and ask for the strength and guidance to return. God will immediately shine His light, strengthen our steps, and ask us to simply focus on loving Him with all our heart.

Let's return to the presence of God and be determined to never leave. Let's continually examine our life and make sure we're walking right by His side whenever God asks, "Where are you?"

.....boundary

God has shown each of us the boundary line between right and wrong - we KNOW the truth. God's line is not subject to our control, and we are not given the freedom to cross the line depending on our circumstances or perceived benefit.

We are often deceived by simple justifications: "I know this is wrong, but my increased wisdom from this experience will eventually be used to help others." Or, "I know this is wrong, but what else can I do? God surely wants me to eat and pay my bills." Or, "I know this is wrong, but at least it's not as bad as ...." Or the common sexual deception; "I know this is wrong, but we really love each other."

It's God's desire that we trust Him with all our heart and follow His path each and every day, without ANY shortcuts or deviations. As we follow His leading, we will face many decisions - many places where the path divides - and we must decide which direction to turn. 

We can depend on God to NEVER direct us into sin. If a path contains sin, we can be sure it is NOT God's path, not the path we ought to follow!

Let's trust Him to absolutely direct our every step. Let's draw so close to our Heavenly Father that all deception is exposed. Let's walk His path without compromise and refuse to shift, or cross over, His boundary line of truth.

- steve troxel

 

.....banner

 "Moses built an altar and called it 'The Lord is my Banner"'. Exodus 17:15

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. God instructed Moses to stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand. Moses' staff represented something that God said He would use to bring glory to Himself. 

The staff represented what Moses had done for most of his life - shepherding. It was his vocation. When God first called Moses at the burning bush, He told him to pick up the staff; He would perform miracles through it.

God wants to perform miracles through each of our vocations. At Rephidim, God defeated the Amalekites only when Moses held his staff to Heaven. It was a symbol of dependence and acknowledgment that Heaven was the source of the Israelites' power. When he dropped his hand, the power was removed and they began to lose the battle.

Each day we are challenged to reach toward Heaven and allow God to be the source of victory in our lives or be defeated. God calls us to let His banner reign over our lives so that others may know the source of our victory. 

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven' " Ex. 17:14. The Lord wants those behind us and around us to know that He is the source of our power and success. 

With each victory is a testimony that is to be shared with our children and our associates. Is the Lord your banner today? Reach toward Heaven today and let His banner wave over your work so that He might receive glory from your life.

-os hillman

....integrity

In October 1985, Reuben Gonzales was playing in the final match of a professional racquetball tournament. It was Gonzales' first shot at a victory on the pro circuit, and he was playing the perennial champion.

In the fourth and final game, at match point, Gonzales made a super "kill" shot into the front wall to win it all.  The referee called it good. One of the two linesmen affirmed that the shot was in. But Gonzales, after a moment's hesitation, turned around, shook his opponent's hand, and declared that his shot had "slapped" into the wall, hitting the court floor first. As a result, he lost the match. He walked off the court.

Everybody was stunned.

The next issue of National Racquetball Magazine displayed Reuben Gonzales on its front cover. The story searched for an explanation of this first-ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit. Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? A player, with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his hand, disqualified himself at match point and lost!

When asked why he did it, Reuben replied, "It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity."

Reuben Gonzales realized that he could always win another match, but he could never regain his lost integrity

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering." Psalms 26:1

Dear God, Please give me the courage to stand by my convictions, maintain integrity, and live honestly - before men and you.  gratefully in Jesus' name. 

Amen

.....attack

God's Word says: "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. 

But the devil says: "Did God really say there is only one way? Surely God wants everyone to go to heaven and will accept many beliefs as long as they are good and sincere." This deception pulls people from God's path every day. Jesus clearly said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" John 14:6. 

The one and ONLY way is Jesus!

If we are not firm in our conviction that God's Word is true, we too will become vulnerable to the devil's attacks of doubt and will soon begin to believe his twisted lies. God's Word says our most important "duty" is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30. Let's prepare by studying His Word, praying for wisdom to know His truth, and loving Him with our absolute ALL. 

Let's hold firmly to God's Word and not be even slightly shaken when the enemy asks: Did God really say?

 

......mist

Our real sense of identity, purpose, and worth, will only be realized as we understand that our value is never attained through the things of this world which all pass away. Our value comes only from our Heavenly Father who has adopted us as His child and made us an heir of His Kingdom!

"You received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."Romans 8:15-17

The eternal inheritance we receive through this adoption makes everything of the world seem extremely insignificant. We are a child of God! This is our identity. While we walk on this earth, we are being "conformed into the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. This is our purpose. And in our adoption, we are made "co-heirs with Christ." This is our worth!

As this world tries to pull us down, let's remember our Father owns ALL; "Every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills" Psalm 50:10. He owns it all, created it all, and nothing is beyond His reach. As others try to continually show us our faults and put us down, let's remember that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us; one day we will be made perfect and walk down streets of "pure gold, like transparent glass" Revelation 21:21.

Let's pull these truths together into a victorious Christian life. Let's hold on very loosely to anything of the world which artificially determines our worth and passionately cling to our worth in Christ; "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

Let's live our life as a "vanishing mist" while remembering we are co-heirs with Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Let's always remember that we are indeed a highly valued mist.

....anew

I suppose one might regard Thomas Edison as one of the world's greatest failures. This man tried more than a thousand different light bulbs until he got it right. Have you ever failed at something a thousand times before you got it right? If you had, your name might be right up there with that of Thomas Edison.

Actually Edison didn't think of these failed experiments as failures. He regarded them as steps in a long process. But late in his life something happened to Thomas that would have defeated a lesser man. 

Thomas Edison's son Charles, one-time governor of New Jersey, tells the story. On the night of December 9, 1914, Edison Industries was virtually destroyed by fire. Edison lost two million dollars that night and much of his life's work went up in flames. He was insured for only $238,000, because the buildings had been made of concrete, at that time thought to be fireproof. 

Charles was 24; Thomas was 67. The young man ran about frantically, trying to find his father. Finally he came upon him, standing near the fire, his face ruddy in the glow, his white hair blown by the December winds. 

"My heart ached for him," Charles Edison said. "he was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. He spotted me. 'Charles,' he shouted, 'where's your mother?' I don't know, Dad,' I said. 'Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this again as long as she lives.'" 

The next morning, walking about the charred embers of all his hopes and dreams, Thomas Edison said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew." 

Three weeks after the fire, his firm delivered the first phonograph. 

"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14