......intention

Joseph's life was filled with one difficult situation after another. By the time he was a teenager, his brothers had developed an intense hatred toward him. Their hatred led to an attempt to take his life - but rather than kill him, they sold young Joseph into slavery Genesis 37. And as a slave, Joseph was falsely accused of rape and thrown into jail Genesis 39. 

Joseph could have become very discouraged when he became a slave, but somehow Joseph adjusted to his circumstances and thrived; "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered" Genesis 39:2. When tempted with sexual sin by Potiphar's wife, he kept himself pure, because he did not want to "sin against God" Genesis 39:9. But false accusations still sent him into prison. 

Even after spending several years in jail, Joseph continued to place his complete trust in God. When asked to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph risked his freedom and rightly gave all the glory and praise to God rather than take credit for himself; "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires" Genesis 41:16. 

Joseph was rewarded with much more than his freedom; he was placed in charge of the entire land of Egypt during a great famine. He was also reunited with his family and able to keep them from certain starvation. Several years later, after their father had died, his brothers came and fearfully asked for Joseph's forgiveness for their earlier sins. Joseph had the power and could have now taken great revenge; but he continued to demonstrate his understanding of how God cares for His children. 

Genesis 50:19-20 "Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" 

When Joseph was sold into slavery, he had no idea of God's awesome plan. He would spend many years in jail before receiving even a hint of God's purpose. But God is ALWAYS at work in the lives of those who love Him. Joseph's life must encourage us to draw near to God during times of hardship - to continue trusting and honoring Him in all we do... no matter what our circumstances! 

We all go through "dungeon" seasons when life seems to take unplanned and seemingly "unfair" turns. We all, at times, feel abandoned and alone: "Has God forgotten us? Does He no longer care?" We may not understand why things happen the way they do; but if we will continue to love Him with all our heart and consistently trust Him in and through all our trials, we can be certain (and we will one day see) that God is in control and our situation is truly intended for good. 

- steve troxel   

....witness

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house Matthew 5:15

When you are living for Jesus Christ, your very presence sometimes will bother others because His light is shining out of you. You may even try to hide it. But it shouldn’t be that way. Just let His light shine for people to see.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house” Matthew 5:14–15.

We’ve all heard the well-worn excuses and the so-called reasons as to why people don’t come to Christ. But here’s the reason that most people don’t come to Him. This, by the way, is according to Jesus Himself: “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” John 3:19.

The reason people don’t believe is they don’t want their sin exposed. They don’t want to acknowledge their shortcomings. And the more godly a Christian is, the more obviously this will take place just by that believer’s great example.

Jesus went on to say, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” verses 20–21.

Few things are harder to put up with than a good example. And when you live it, it really gets people’s attention. Light not only exposes what the darkness hides, but light also shows the way out. And in the same way, the light that shines from us not only shows people their shortcomings and their sins, but it also shows them the way out. 

It shows them the way to Jesus Christ.

- greg laurie

.....fresh

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Showered and pressed, I felt fresh as a crisp spring morning. I arrived at the airport early. With few people in line at that hour, getting through check-in and the scanners was smooth and quick.

I stepped into a newsstand to buy a paperback suspense mystery and a candy bar, then headed down the concourse. Soon the smell of grease was strong, hanging heavy in the stale airport air. Looking around, I spotted a fast-food place preparing to open for the day. The poorly ventilated restaurant was the culprit.

My gate was just across the aisle. As I sat there I could sense that odor permeating my clothes and hair. I had started out clean, but it wasn’t going to last long. I’d need another shower by the time I arrived at the conference hotel.

I thought of how, spiritually, I can be determined, purposed, cleaned up and refreshed, and how it doesn’t last that long. Daily I have to renew my determination, cleansing, etc. The Bible has great wisdom and wonderful practical advice on this subject. Yes, I want to choose spiritual refreshing, so I’ll stay as fresh as a crisp, spring morning, from the inside out.

.....always

Soon after the death of Joseph and his brothers, the descendants of Israel were forced into Egyptian slavery. For several hundred years, the Egyptians greatly oppressed the Israelites: "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly" Exodus 1:12-13.

God heard the prayers of the Israelites and answered by calling Moses to lead the people to freedom: "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt" Exodus 3:10. Moses felt inadequate to answer God's call and began to tell God that maybe He had chosen the wrong person for this leadership position; "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11.

At this point, God could have given Moses a motivational speech aimed at building up his self confidence. He could have told Moses of his great potential and encouraged him to think positively and be more assertive. But Moses' lack of "self" confidence actually made him ideal for this task. Moses would need to trust God, not his own understanding, with absolutely every step he took. But there was one truth Moses still needed to receive.

"And God said, 'I will be with you.'"Exodus 3:12

The one thing Moses needed to fully believe in his heart was that he was not alone. He needed to truly understand that God would always be at his side.

When Jesus spoke His final commands, He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19. Jesus did not need to remind His followers how to present the gospel message or how to fight discouragement; He simply said, "And surely I am with you always" Matthew 28:20.

When we answer God's call, we can be assured we have (or will be provided) adequate ability. God NEVER calls without also providing the tools to accomplish everything in His plan. But even with all the tools, we are often filled with doubts and fears, uncertain of our next step. And yet, we WILL step. We will continue to step along the path of the world or we will trust God and step out with Him in faith.

Today, as with every day, we must make a choice. As we choose which way to step, let's remember our Heavenly Father is by our side to love us and guide us along His path. Let's take the step of faith, every day, and remember that He has called, equipped, and given us His promise: "I will be with you always!"

- steve troxel

......hiding

When Samuel became too old to be an effective judge, the leaders of Israel asked for a new kind of ruler; "Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have" 1 Samuel 8:5. This request was actually an indication of the sad decline of God's people. By requesting a king, "as all the other nations," they were rejecting God's plan and choosing to follow the ways of the world.

God was disappointed with the heart of His children, but He granted their request and told Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king. Saul was "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites - a head taller than any of the others" 1 Samuel 9:2. Saul's external appearance was a perfect match for the superficial values of the nation.

When Samuel spoke with Saul, he was quite surprised to hear he had been chosen by God: "But 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. Saul's insecurities were so great that when it came time to officially anoint him as king, he was nowhere to be found.

"So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself.'"1 Samuel 10:22

Although Saul made many mistakes as king, we must not forget he was specifically chosen by God and empowered to do His will. But Saul lived with a great sense of inadequacy and was never able to effectively lead. He continually stepped out of God's will because his focus remained on his own limitations rather than on the limitless ability of the One who called him to serve.

Each of us who enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are also chosen to do His will, empowered by His Spirit to accomplish everything He desires for our life; "His divine power has given us everything we need" 2 Peter 1:3. Unfortunately, most of us enter this relationship carrying bags from our past which weigh us down and hinder our ability to serve.

What baggage are we still carrying or using to hide from God's call? There may be sins and failures in our distant (or even very recent) past which make us feel unworthy to serve. We may still carry the pain and mistrust of a broken relationship. We may have even made a sincere attempt to serve but taken a few wrong steps and fallen flat. But NOTHING must keep us from doing His will. Nothing must keep us from following where we know He is leading. Let's trust Him with all our heart and answer the call today. 

Let's keep our eyes on Christ and stop hiding.

- steve troxel

.....living

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless Matthew 5:13 

Nothing is worse than a hypocritical Christian.

Now, we’ve all had moments of hypocrisy. We have not always practiced what we preach. That is called humanity. But there’s a difference between believers who struggle but are seeking to live godly lives and those who claim to be believers yet blatantly disregard what the Bible says.

If someone who claims to be a Christian is living a lifestyle contrary to what the gospel teaches and what the Bible says, they would do other Christians a big favor if they just didn’t talk about Jesus. The world needs authenticity today. And before we can effectively tell others about Christ, we must first live it.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” Matthew 5:13 We don’t think of salt as a valuable commodity today, because it is relatively inexpensive. But in the first century, salt was a bigger deal. It was a form of currency, and it was a preservative that kept meat from spoiling in the absence of refrigeration like we have today.

So, when Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” people immediately would have understood the comparison. Jesus was saying they were a preserving factor in the culture.

And that is what we are today. Christians are the ones who stand up for what is right. Christians speak out against what is wrong. And Christians are the ones who are always at the forefront of efforts around the world to help hurting people.

That is what Christians do. 

That is what Christians are. 

We are the salt of the earth. 

- greg laurie

......stone

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Give me this money, Give me this home, Give me this job, power, social status, ect., then we have missed the point of prayer.Matthew 7 is a statement about which prayers the Father will, and will not, answer.  These are very, very powerful verses of Scripture because they simply say, “Ask.”  Asking is not a difficult thing to do.  In fact, if you have children, you know that they are almost constantly asking.  When was the last time your child came to you and said, Dad, Mom, what can I do for you today?

God invites His children to be children.  Ask, seek, knock.  And if those statements are not staggering enough, notice to whom He delivers that invitation: everyone!

The natural reaction at this point is, “Wait a minute!  I’ve been asking for years. I’ve been knocking longer than that - and I’ve been seeking, and I haven’t found anything.  You just said that Jesus was teaching us to pray about sustenance, not opulence.”

Isn’t this a contradiction?  Doesn’t this passage offer an open-ended promise of provision?  Not quite.  That’s why reading the Bible in context is so important.  Pay special attention to the two comparisons in verses 7-9 of Matthew 7: Bread and Fish to Stone and Snake.  What is the point?  Very simply, bread and fish are good for you; stones and snakes are not.  The earthly son has requested two good items, the earthly father responds accordingly.  The reverse is also true.  If an earthly son asked for a stone to eat, any loving father would refuse.

To follow through with our analogy, God is not saying, “Ask for whatever you want.”  Instead, He is saying, “Ask for what is good.”  When you ask for good things, our heavenly Father will surely approve, and He will never substitute something harmful.  If you have prayed for something you desire with all your heart and have not received it, it is because this desire is either not good, not good for now or not good for you.  God is either saying “No” or “Wait”. 

- dave langerfeld  

.....greater

In one of the last messages Moses gave to the people of Israel, he told them to obey all the commands of God and to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" Deuteronomy 6:5. About fifteen hundred years later, Jesus referred to this as the greatest of all commandments and then added: "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands" Matthew 22:39-40. The commands to love God and love others summarize how God desires us to live (this sentence is worth reading again!).

On the evening before He was crucified, Jesus gave His disciples a final command.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends"John 15:12-13

In this command, we are not all being called to physically die for one another; this one-time action would actually be relatively easy compared with the true meaning of His command. The general call from Christ is for us to daily "lay down" our lives by dying to our self gratification and considering the needs of others more important than our own Philippians 2:3-4. And as opposed to a one-time event for a select individual, we are being called to daily lay ourselves down for ALL - even when others are not deserving...even when they have not earned our love.

We are commanded to love as God first loved us. His love was with total commitment and sacrifice; "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" John 3:16. His love was with absolute compassion and forgiveness; "God demonstrated His love in this! While we were still sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

The Apostle John spent almost 60 years pondering the words of his Savior and then concluded that love was the one characteristic which identifies us as a true believer; "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death" 1 John 3:14.

Yes, we are to love as Jesus loved. This means we should love without consideration of economic, social, or ethnic class. We should love cross gender, cross race, cross culture, and EVEN cross religion! Without ever compromising the message of Truth, we must begin to view others through the eyes of Jesus, remove the barriers, and make the time to truly love. Let's begin to open our heart to those in need. Let's learn to lay down our life and love with a greater love.

- steve troxel

.....eyes

Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading John 6:21

The disciples were traveling across the lake to Capernaum when a strong wind arose and the waters grew rough. Suddenly they saw a figure on the water, and they were terrified until Jesus called out to them and identified Himself. 

Isn't that the first thing we do when unexpected calamities, or even something that we have never experienced before, comes into our life? We panic until we can see that God is behind these events in our lives. In Romans, Paul tells us that, "from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen" Rom. 11:36. God has an eternal filter in which nothing can touch us unless He permits it. 

God shows us a second principle in this story. The Scriptures say when the disciples were willing to take Jesus into the boat, they reached the shore where they were heading. Recently, I was faced with some very difficult circumstances in my business. I had no income for some time, and I saw no immediate remedy to the situation. The circumstances created fear in my heart. The anxiety began to grow until, one day after my evening prayer walk, the Lord said, "How long do you want to keep your eyes on the circumstances instead of Me? Do you think I have brought you this far to throw you into the water?" The truth was, that I was halfway in already, because my eyes were looking at the "big waves" surrounding my boat. 

One night, in a men's support group, the leader asked each of us to keep our eyes on two men who were going to walk from the room. One man represented Jesus, the other, our circumstances.

"Now, I want you to keep your eyes on both people," he said. The men stood up and began walking across the room in opposite directions. It was impossible to keep looking at each of them at the same time. So we had to choose which one we would focus on. 

The lesson was clear. We could not keep our eyes on Jesus and our circumstance at the same time.

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 

   Look full in His wonderful face.  

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim...

   In the light of His glory and grace.

- steve blair

......fragrance

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing 2 Corinthians 2:15

Some people like to wear a lot of cologne or perfume. And if they hug you, you will still smell like them hours later. But what is fragrant to one person may not be fragrant to another.

For instance, nothing smells better than when you walk into a kitchen where someone is making spaghetti sauce with garlic. And nothing smells worse than the breath of someone who just ate garlic.

That is true of the gospel as well. The apostle Paul described it this way: “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume” 2 Corinthians 2:15–16.

Some churches have become a little too preoccupied with being the cook, and they’ve forgotten how important it is to confront people with the claims of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we have the delivery system in place, but we don’t have the message to deliver. And sometimes in our attempts to cross over, we fail to bring the cross over.

But if we miss that, we have missed everything, because the gospel is the only hope for our nation and our world. It is the only hope for the human race.

When we share the message of the gospel, it will be a fragrant perfume to some. But to others it will be offensive and repulsive. Some people will respond favorably. And others will respond unfavorably.

But we still need to share the message. 

We still need to use every means possible to get the gospel out to as many people as we can. 

- greg laurie

......knocking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

- dave langerfeld

 

 

......build

When the armies of Babylon made their final invasion of Jerusalem, they took many captives into exile and completely destroyed the temple - destroyed God's dwelling among His chosen people. After many years, a group of Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild this precious dwelling place of God.

This group began the work with great excitement: "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord, 'He is good; His love to Israel endures forever'" Ezra 3:11. But they soon encountered opposition; "The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building" Ezra 4:4. The opposition grew until all construction came to a standstill.God sent a message through the prophet Haggai to encourage His people to return to their important task.

"Be strong, all you people of the land," declares the Lord, "and work. For I am with you," declares the Lord Almighty. "This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear."Haggai 2:4-5

God encouraged the people to continue building the temple by reminding them He was still with them. He had rescued His people from slavery so He could dwell among them, and He had given His Spirit as a guide and comforter; "They were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided Your people" Isaiah 63:14.

Today, WE are His temple, being built for His glory: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16. The same Spirit who was given to be with God's chosen people of the past is the same Spirit who now fills us and gives us the power to live a victorious life in Christ, gives us the power to build according to God's perfect plan.

We have all heard and read the truth - we know how Christ desires for us to live - but the Spirit is given to "guide you into all truth" John 16:13. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will "remind you of everything I have said to you" John 14:26. The Truth is our only building material, and the Spirit holds the only plans. He will guide and direct as we listen and prepare our heart to follow.

God sent His Son to set us free from sin, and He gave us His Spirit so we may live in freedom and build a temple which glorifies His name. There are many in the world who seek to discourage and make us afraid to continue building, many who create fierce opposition. But let's continue the work He has already begun. Let's continue to walk in victory and daily build according to the Spirit.

- steve troxel

.......promise

Searching for God's will is a natural step to Christian maturity. As we become more like Christ, we naturally desire to do only those things consistent with the will of our Heavenly Father. The search is a time where we learn more about trust, more about submitting our own desires to His will, and more about preparing to go when He calls.

Abraham was a man of great faith who was chosen to begin the covenant relationship between God and man. Through Abraham's son, Isaac, and his grandson Jacob, the nation of Israel was born. However, when God's Word first introduces us to Abraham, he is already 75 years old and settled with his family in the land of Haran. Then, with absolutely no warning, God calls...

"The Lord had said to Abraham, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'"Genesis 12:1

God wanted Abraham to move to the land of promise; "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you" Genesis 12:2. We are not told that Abraham was searching for God's will or even preparing for the call, but he was definitely ready. Abraham had no idea where he was going, how long he would be gone, or how he was going to get to where God directed, but he trusted God's promise and went.

It is interesting to note there was no further discussion or clarification from God after the call was made - God gave direction, and Abraham obeyed; "So Abraham left, as the Lord had told him" Genesis 12:4. Abraham may have left with a slight uncertainty in his decision - a slight hesitation in his step - but he had faith enough to trust and obey.

God has a promised land to which He is calling us today. It is a land where we find contentment in all situations Philippians 4:12, rejoice in our trials James 1:2, and give thanks in all circumstances 1 Thessalonians 5:18 because we KNOW God is working all things together for the good Romans 8:28. It is a land of united families where marriage vows represent an unbreakable covenant; a place where children honor their father and mother; and a land where parents lead their children by following Christ. Most of all, it is a land where we love Him with ALL our heart in ALL we do, say, and think!

God is calling us to trust Him and follow where He leads. Sometimes His call is very specific (and we must diligently prepare to hear and obey this call) but often His call is simply to let go of our own understanding, search His Word for truth, and follow Him to the Promised Land.

- steve troxel

....leads

George Young was a carpenter. He and his wife were dedicated to following the Lord wherever He led. "He does the leading," they often said, "and we do the following." God led the Young's to the rural Midwest, and they traveled from church to church in revival efforts. Their finances were always tight, but "through the many years, we never went hungry!" as Mrs. Young said years later.  "Oh, sometimes we didn't have too much of this world's goods, but... we always had so much of Jesus."

Finally they saved enough to buy a small piece of land on which George built a cottage. Though humble, it was the fulfillment of a life's dream, and when they moved in they dedicated the house to God and sang the Doxology. But some time later, when the Young's were away on a ministry trip, a thug who had been offended by George's preaching set the house on fire. Returning home, the Young's found a heap of ashes. All their worldly goods and cherished possessions were gone.

As George gazed at the ruins, he recounted the precious possessions fire could never destroy - his family, his relationship with Christ, his ministry, his eternal home. There and then, the words of a hymn began forming in his mind. Within a few days, he had written all three stanzas of the great hymn "God Leads His Dear Children Along." The chorus says...

       Some through the waters, some through the flood

       Some through the fire, but all through the blood.

       Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song

       In the night season and all the day long.

Years later, music publisher Dr. Harold Lillenas decided to track down George's widow. Driving to the small Kansas town where she resided, he stopped for directions and was alarmed to hear that Mrs. Young was living in the rundown county poorhouse. Lillenas was deeply troubled that the widow of the author of such a powerful hymn about God's guidance should spend her final days in the poorhouse.

Mrs. Young only smiled and said, "One day God took my sweet husband home. Oh, how I missed him, for we had always served the Lord together. In my heart I wondered, where will God lead me now? Dr. Lillenas, God led me here! I'm so glad He did, for you know, about every month someone comes into this place to spend the rest of their days, and Dr. Lillenas, so many of them don't know my Jesus. I'm having the time of my life introducing them to Jesus! Dr. Lillenas, isn't it wonderful how God leads?"

- david jeremiah

......afraid

As we continue the fight, whatever fight this season finds us in, we must remember our true battles are not against flesh and blood - not against the media or the government or the economy, not against our children or spouse or others in the workplace - but "against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12. 

The true battles occur in a world which is real, but unseen; and yet, the battles we see and hear everywhere we turn are the ones which tend to consume our thoughts and cause us to become angry...and to fear.

As Jesus was teaching and healing around the Sea of Galilee, large crowds of people began to come out to Him. One evening, Jesus decided to leave the crowds behind and sail with His disciples to the other side of the sea. As Jesus slept in the back of the boat, a terrible storm soon developed. The disciples woke Jesus and cried out in fear, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" Mark 4:38.

"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'" Mark 4:39-40 The disciples had seen Jesus cure a man with leprosy, heal a paralytic, and teach with the authority of Almighty God, but now they thought Jesus didn't care. When Jesus rose, He rebuked the storm as well as His disciples. These men who were chosen to walk with the Son of God were now accused by Jesus of being afraid and living without faith.

This same event occurs in our life today. Jesus climbs into our boat and directs us to a distant shore. We've heard about His miracles so we joyfully cast off, expecting a smooth sail. Suddenly, the wind begins to blow and the waves turn white; this is probably not the voyage we had in mind. No longer able to see the shore, we begin to wonder why we ever set sail. Did we really hear His voice? And in our desperation we pathetically cry out, "Don't You care if we drown?" ... Is our faith really so weak?

In the midst of our fears, we must remember that the God to whom we cry is the same God who created the Heavens and the earth, sent His Son to die for our sins, and gave us His Spirit "with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption" Ephesians 4:30. He is the same God who chose us to walk by His side!

Jesus is still committed to our journey, and still in complete control. In His perfect timing He will calm ALL the wind and waves, ALL the roaring seas. When doubts begin to surface, we must draw even closer, hold on even tighter, and trust Him even deeper. No matter what battles we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, no matter how many changes we face along the way, we must be determined to live each moment by faith and refuse to be afraid.

- steve troxel

.......leave

 .....leave et live

"...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

As we get older, we have a tendency to look back, and if we aren't careful, to give in to the selective eyesight that sees only the problems and failures of the past. It's too easy to look for someone in the past to blame or resent and way too easy to stumble around in bitterness and regret. 

The best thing to do with the past is to learn from it, while keeping our eyes on today and looking forward to the days to come!  Jesus talks about a man who "looks back" because he is not ready for service in the kingdom of God Luke 9:62. Now what that passage is telling us is that the past can be a distraction that keeps us from being what the Lord needs us to be today! 

The apostle Paul talks about "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal..." Philippians 3:13. We have to stay centered in today, seeking to honor God and living for his future for us. 

Remember what Jesus taught us to pray: "... thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. " Matthew 6:10. The best way to change the past is to leave the past and live the Kingdom! We seek to live the way God wants us to live today, rooted in the moment and living for God and his future, living in service to others and God's Kingdom. 

- paul faulkner

.....prevailing

Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world John 18:36 

The first-century believers were insulted and criticized for what they were doing. In fact, people accused them of treason, suggesting they were advocating for the overthrow of Caesar, which wasn’t the case Acts 17:7–8.

This was a complete misunderstanding of what the Christians’ objectives really were. Anyone giving a careful listen to what they were saying would have realized these Christians weren’t seeking to establish an earthly kingdom. Nor were they seeking to overthrow Caesar or Rome. Today our world still misconstrues what Christians say. People draw erroneous conclusions because they never take time to listen carefully to the gospel message.

Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world” John 18:36. Rather than reacting blow by blow, the first-century Christians outthought, outprayed and outlived nonbelievers. They preached and proclaimed the message of the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. They were ready to see lives changed.

As a result, they dramatically impacted their world. And in the end, they prevailed. Rome, on the other hand, is no longer a world power. And for the most part, we can’t remember the names of its great emperors.

Throughout history, there have been many attempts to destroy Christianity. But such attempts always will fail for one simple reason: Christianity is Christ. And in the end, Jesus Christ will prevail and establish His kingdom. It also means that because we’re with Him, we, too, will win in the end. Do you want to turn the world upside down like the first-century believers did? Then start with your world. Seek to live a godly life and share the gospel with those around you.

- greg laurie

.......returned

After Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land, the nation was governed by a series of judges. The period of the judges lasted several hundred years and ended with the prophet Samuel. Samuel lived his entire life dedicated to God. In fact, Samuel's mother dedicated him to God before he was even born.

For many years Hannah and her husband had tried to have a child, but God did not allow her to conceive. The desire for a child continued for several years and became such a consuming portion of Hannah's life that she could think of little else; "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" 1 Samuel 1:10.

Finally, Hannah's heart softened and she made a vow that if God would give her a son, "then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life" 1 Samuel 1:11. God honored Hannah's vow and she soon became pregnant. A few years after Samuel was born Hannah brought him to Eli, the priest.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."1 Samuel 1:27-28

When Hannah made her vow, she no longer desired a child to satisfy her own needs but truly desired to honor God by returning her son to Him. In turn, God blessed Hannah with five additional children after Samuel 1 Samuel 2:21. God did not bless Hannah because of her vow (we can never "bargain" with God); rather, God blessed Hannah because her heart desired to glorify Him with her blessing.

We must learn to consider everything in our life from the same perspective as Hannah. We have created nothing of lasting value with our own hands. Everything we have - everything which defines who we are - is a precious gift from God. This includes our possessions, family, business, school, special skills, and talents. ALL we have is by the grace of God.

And just as it is prideful sin to take self-credit for God's many blessings, it is equally shameful to shun His gifts - to pretend they do not exist - and fail to use them for His glory. God always blesses with a purpose, and we live a shallow life if we ignore His gifts or use them solely for our own benefit and pleasure.

Let's bless our Heavenly Father by fully receiving His gifts, and then by giving back what we have so graciously been given. Let's praise Him and determine to use even the gift of our own life to bring Him glory and honor. God has showered us with many wonderful gifts, but they are ALL gifts to be returned.

- steve troxel 

....fireflies

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:15

Fireflies, or "lightning bugs", are incredibly interesting little creations of God. These tiny bugs would go unnoticed were it not for the fact that they light up. And, because they do, this seemingly insignificant insect becomes something we marvel at once the summer sun sets. 

I've heard many interesting parallels between Christians and fireflies. Like this glowing insect, God has created us to shine for him – we were designed to be glorious, luminous beings. Lighting up our dark world so that others may see it and glorify our Father in heaven. But there is a side to the firefly that is not so shiny and is seldom spoken about. Just as the firefly uses its beauty to light up a night sky, it can also use it in a deadly and destructive manner.

Researchers found that certain females will lure in males with their enchanting light and once they've attained their mate, will then proceed to devour him. In the dark, and caught off guard, that male firefly, thinking he was in good company, is destroyed by another claiming to have "light"! It may seem that the parallel between fireflies and Christian can be fearfully accurate. 

Sadly, too many times, Christians are responsible for destroying and tearing other Christians down with their words and actions. One moment we boast a beautiful Godly glow, and in the next we have tainted our light with the ugliness of sin. God gave us free will to use our gifts and talents for His glory, but we must be careful that our freedom isn't being used to cause others to fall. If we bear the Christian name then the banner we carry should be that of humility and love — it is God's command! Galatians 5:13-15

When we grumble and complain about our situations God is not honored. When we fuss and quarrel with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are not only destroying our earthly relationships, but our Heavenly one as well. Let your light shine in the darkness of this world but be the right kind of firefly!

- veronica b

......different

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15–16 

Why is it that the Christians of the first century were able to do so much damage to the kingdom of the devil, in such a relatively short period of time?

And how is it that these first-century believers, without the tools, technology, and media that we utilize today, were still able to radically impact their culture?

They followed and practiced a Christianity that isn’t known by many in this day and age. When we read about Christianity in New Testament books like Acts, we might classify it as something that was radical, over the top, and perhaps a bit on the extreme side.

But for these first-century believers, it would have been nothing less than ordinary Christian living. It is not that their faith was so radical. Rather, it’s that our faith is wimpy. Our faith, many times, is anemic, malnourished at most. It doesn’t measure up to the standards of the New Testament.

Christians should differ from non-Christians in every realm, not just the religious realm. We should differ from non-Christians not simply because we show up at church on Saturday[Sabbath] or attend a Wednesday [midweek] Bible study.

Rather, we should differ from non-Christians because we conduct our businesses differently, we treat our spouses differently, and we raise our children differently. 

Our values should be different from those of non-Christians. People need to see this in our lives, but all too often, it simply isn’t happening.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” Ephesians 5:15–16.

If we want to impact our world like the first-century believers did, then we have to get back to the principles they applied. It starts with the Christianity they practiced.

- adapted from greg laurie's

......will

 "We are all the work of Your hand" Isaiah 64:8

We are the clay being molded by the loving hands of the Potter.  Our Father is shaping us to the likeness of His Son; but what is our purpose during this shaping process?

Our transformation begins the moment we trust in Jesus, and we soon learn that our Salvation is never earned by "doing" anything; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" Ephesians 2:8.

But we also learn that eternal life is for those who do God's will; following Him is not an optional part of the Christian walk.  We cannot truly accept Jesus as Savior without also beginning a journey of trust while walking in His steps.  Faith means trusting Him enough to follow!

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17

We generally like the idea of "new birth" when we think of being born into God's Kingdom as His child.  But we become uncomfortable when we hear, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  We get uneasy when we read, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God." Romans 6:22.  There is no Salvation without a willful transfer of ownership; and we need to face the difficult truth that this means a transfer of control.

Giving up control is never easy.  It can be extra scary to face the unknown from the passenger seat; and it can be an offense to our pride to allow someone else (even God!) to take the lead.  The roots of "self" go very deep!  But as we learn to completely trust, God brings us to that wonderful place of peace where we can say, "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You" Psalm 73:25.  Though sometimes difficult, there is great joy in a complete surrender to the will of our Heavenly Father.

As we give Him control over every area of our life, He will show us how to use ALL for His glory; "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" Ephesians 2:10.  He will give us the tools to accomplish His will, and in the process meet every need and fulfill our deepest desires.

He is the Potter and we are the clay.  He is the Creator and we are definitely "the created."  But we have been created with an awesome purpose. We have been given gifts, talents, and abilities, which when given back to God are used to bring Him glory and honor.  This IS our purpose!  We have been created to glorify His Name as we love Him and trust Him with all our heart.  Let's bring Him glory and honor as we walk in the understanding that we have been created to do His will.

......perspective

The path of a successful Christian walk is one of daily commitment to Christ and submission to the leading of His Spirit. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" Luke 9:23. 

Paul understood this commitment when he said, "I die every day" 1 Corinthians 15:31. Our old nature died when our heart was transformed by the Spirit of God; yet, there remains an on-going death which occurs as we continue our walk and battle temptations from a world which seeks to pull us away from Christ.

Our daily commitment, denial, and "self-death" can become a painful burden if we focus on our present circumstances. Anytime our walk is characterized by self-pity, and our trials become viewed as the heavy cross we must bear for Jesus, we have missed the true joy and peace - the true success - that God desires for our life.

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."1 Corinthians 15:19

If our hope in Christ is only for today's protection and blessings, then we have grossly underestimated the power of the gospel. This limited view of a Christian life will always fall short of our expectations. Through faith in Jesus, we have been given eternal life! This means the life we now live must be viewed on an eternal time scale.

When we place our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, our life begins anew. But this means far more than a fresh start. In an instant, EVERYTHING has changed. The burdens that were once so heavy must now be weighed against the magnificent glory of Heaven. And our "never-ending" trials must now be timed on the clock of eternity.

The world screams at us to focus on the here and now, on immediate gratification from what we can see and feel. It tells us life is short so fill it with sensual pleasures and tangible possessions. God's Word agrees that our earthly life is short; "A mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14. But it also teaches that our spiritual life continues forever! "What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18.

We have been given new eyes! Let's begin to view our life in the context of eternity and gain the greater hope and power this view can provide today. Let's carry our cross with greater joy, live with more peace and contentment, and experience new victories in life's many battles. Let's find true success as we evaluate all areas of our life from an eternal perspective.

- steve troxel

......eternity

If our view of Heaven contains no real foundation, the thought of eternity will never make our troubles seem "light and momentary" 2 Corinthians 4:17. And while it's true that "faith is the substance of things hoped for" Hebrews 11:1, we still need some understanding or our faith will never generate the hope which can truly impact our life.

When Jacob was looking for a wife, he found Rachel. Jacob quickly fell in love and promised to work seven years in exchange for receiving Rachel as his wife.

"So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."Genesis 29:20

Jacob worked hard for many years, but the hope of being with the one he loved eased any burden he might have felt. Jacob had a good understanding of the one he hoped for, and this brought him great comfort. He saw Rachel's beauty every day and was certainly permitted to talk with her often. He knew Rachel and probably spent many hours dreaming of her and holding her in his arms. There was undoubtedly a longing inside Jacob which he knew only Rachel could fill.

God gave His Son so we could be brought back to a full and right relationship with Him for all eternity. But God did not leave us with an empty view or ask us to cling to a blind hope. He allows us into His presence and gives us the ability to know Him NOW! We will never grasp all that Heaven has to offer until we see Him face to face. But God allows us to taste eternity if we will remove the competing distractions, draw near to His side, and ask for our hunger to be satisfied.

Let's dedicate our lives to knowing the One with whom we will spend eternity - the One on whom we base our hope. Let's commune with our Father in prayer and learn of His nature through His Word. Let's strive for an all-consuming love - a love complete with the empty ache which only His presence can fill. Let's rejoice, receive comfort and gain strength, as we draw near and are allowed a taste of eternity.

- steve troxel

.......excuses

 "I'm not perfect."

"I have all kinds of problems."

"I don't know the Bible well enough."

"I have no ability. I don't have any gifts."

"I'm limited."

"I'm just not worthy..."

Well, did you know that....

    Moses stuttered.

    David's armor didn't fit.

    John Mark deserted Paul.

    Timothy had ulcers.

    Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

    Amos' only training was in fig-tree pruning.

    Jacob was a liar.

    David had an affair.

    Abraham was too old.

    David was too young.

    Peter was afraid of death.

    Lazarus was dead.

    John was self-righteous.

    Naomi was a widow.

    Paul was a persecutor of the church.

    Moses was a murderer.

    Jonah ran from God's will.

    Miriam was a gossip.

    Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

    Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.

    Elijah was burned out.

    John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

    Martha was a worry-wart.

    Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

    So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.

God doesn't require an interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't check our bank statement or credit rating or our IQ before He uses us.  He knows who we are, what we are, what we’ve done, what we think we can’t do and what we think we can do (in our own strength) and loves us in spite of ourselves.

There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!

Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asks will receive; and he that seeks will find; and to him that knocks it shall be opened"  Matthew 7:7-8

 

.....leprosy

The term leprosy, as used in the Bible, actually refers to a whole variety of skin conditions ranging from rashes, to open sores, to various infectious diseases, and includes true leprosy as we know it today.

According to God's Law given through Moses, a person with leprosy was ceremonially unclean and not allowed to take part in any form of worship. They were to live in isolation or cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" as they walked about the community Leviticus 13. Lepers were strictly avoided since even accidental contact would cause a person to become unclean. Therefore, imagine the turmoil in the crowd as a leper boldly approached Jesus.

"A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."Matthew 8:2-3

Yes, imagine the turmoil as many in the crowd scattered to get out of the leper's way. Some must have been calling out warnings, others delivering harsh rebukes. But even more important, consider the faith of the leper as he stepped forward. He knew he would face ridicule and scorn, but he had heard about Jesus and his faith propelled him to action.

Jesus looked past the ugliness of the man's condition and saw directly into his heart. In the heart, Jesus saw a beautiful man of faith reaching out to be made clean. He saw a heart which reflected the heart of king David; "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" Psalm 51:2.

Our sin creates an ugliness far greater than any skin disease. Sin caused man to be repulsive to God and totally separated from His presence. But while we were in this terminal state, God poured out His love; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.

No matter how bad we think we look - no matter how much sin is covering us and making us unclean - Jesus sees directly into our heart. No amount of sin can keep Him from rescuing those with a repentant heart and a desire to be cleansed.

If there is anything causing us to be separated from the presence of our Lord today - any past sin, any current temptations, or any lack of obedience - we must kneel before Him and seek forgiveness. Others may turn away and not understand, but Jesus stands ready to lovingly touch us with His outstretched hand and say, "Be Clean!"

- steve troxel