.....know

The Word is clear: only those who have been born of the Spirit by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, will be given eternal life. But something as important as eternity begs another question: How do we know when we have been born again?

"God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."1 John 5:11-13

John wrote this first letter to define the changes which ought to take place in the life of a Christian. The believers who read John's letter understood that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. They knew "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23. They had been told the importance of turning from their sin; "repent, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out" (Acts 3:19), and they clearly understood the significance of Jesus' death on the cross; "God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood" Romans 3:25.

The believers knew it was through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus that they were forgiven and transformed by His Spirit; but though they knew the process, they still wrestled with knowing if they were saved.

John provided several indicators of a life which truly believes in Jesus. He said those who are born again will obey the commands of God 1 John 2:3-5, and will not continue to live in sin 1 John 3:9. He said a born again life is characterized by love: "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. John also said our love should not just be with words, "but with actions and in truth" 1 John 3:18.

The born again transformation occurs in our heart and spirit, but John was stating that becoming a new creation ought to result in change. We are not the same! And while the growth of many new creations can be painfully slow, over time there ought to be some form of maturity; all healthy creatures grow!

But if the evidence of being born again is missing, please remember that we cannot generate change by trying harder. Self effort never produces eternal life. Rather, we must return to the cross and consider the darkness of our sin and the brilliance of His love; "we love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:9. For only at the cross is there forgiveness and the power to transform. Let's truly receive the forgiveness offered through faith in Jesus and then continue to grow with a victorious assurance that we are born again. 

Let's trust the truth of His Word which has been given into our hands...so we may know. 

- steve troxel

.....sunday

Several years ago, an elderly preacher worked his way to the pulpit and said, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming” and then sat down.  Two more times, with ever-growing intensity and excitement in his voice, he made his way to the pulpit and proclaimed, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!”.  

For the disciples and the women who had faithfully followed Jesus, everything seemed hopeless. It was Friday afternoon and their friend has just died.  The one who had been their teacher and comforter was gone.  Everything they had been doing for the past three years seemed worthless.  They were depressed...  they were defeated...  they were in despair.  It was Friday, and all hope was gone. 

But wait!  Sunday’s coming! Sunday would bring Hope.  Sunday would bring Salvation.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ on that first Easter Sunday would bring indescribable Joy to those broken hearts!  No more would death have a strangle-hold on their lives.  No more darkness; no more gloom; no more despair. 

    

The hopeless, helpless, defeated feeling of Friday afternoon was replaced with the victorious Joy of Sunday morning.  The tomb was empty and “He is Alive”!!!! 

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I allow the Friday’s of my life to defeat me and make me feel hopeless and helpless.  Help me to remember and to claim all of your promises, the one who defeated death and the one who brings hope and Joy when we trust in You..  You went all in for me - I want to go all in for you.  In Jesus’s name.  Amen!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

- dave langerfeld

.....power

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me John 14:6

The cross is empty and so is the tomb.

     You can try to bury Power, but it won't stay there.

     You can try to bury Truth, but it is not dead.

     You can try to bury Love, but it cannot be contained.

Jesus is alive, He won the victory of sin and death.  And He's still the same, even in all the days after the Easter weekend. He never changes. He made a way for us to live free.

No other truth in history has the ability to change our lives and affect our future like this. Yet so many still choose to reject Christ's sacrifice and love. He offers us a choice today, and it's the best decision you could ever make.

What Christ's Death on the Cross and the Power of His Resurrection Offers:

1. It provides a bridge, a way, to God.

It gives us an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the very God who made us and loves us more than we could imagine. Without the cross, there is no way to cross over to the other side of relationship with him. Any attempt will fail. He is the Only Way.

2. It provides opportunity for forgiveness of sin.

Through the price that Jesus paid on Calvary, we have the chance to be forgiven of our own sin. He took our sin and shame upon his very shoulders. He took the blows on our behalf so we wouldn't have to suffer. Such incredible love. Such amazing sacrifice.

3. It provides freedom to all those who believe.

Freedom from the shackles of sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from hopelessness. Freedom from despair. Freedom from addiction. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from darkness and eternal separation from God.

4. It provides new life.

We are not only forgiven and set free, but we have a whole new life and destiny through Christ. We are changed, from the inside. He renews our minds. He changes our hearts and desires. He gives us fresh purpose for every day set before us.

5. It provides power for us to live today.

When Jesus died on the cross, and was buried, it didn't stop there. The final picture of all that the cross provides lies in the powerful Resurrection of our Lord. He won. He didn't stay dead. His power broke through, and that same power is alive within us today. As believers, God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit, living and moving through us each day.

6. It provides the way to have victory over the enemy.

We don't have to fear him or his attacks. As we live aware of his traps, the power of Christ over our lives gives us a covering and protection from his evil schemes. We're not left to fend for ourselves. We don't fight in our own strength. We can stand strong in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

7. It provides for us an eternal heavenly home.

We never need to fear about what will happen if we die. In Christ we have been given the gift of eternal life. This earth is only our temporary home. God is preparing a place for us, with him, to live forever. And you can be assured it will be far greater than we could ever imagine.

- debbie mcdaniel

.....stealers

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)

Why do many Christians fail to experience real joy, which is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22?  In his book "Laugh Again", Charles Swindoll suggests three common "joy stealers" 

   Worry

   Stress

   Fear

He defines worry as "an inordinate anxiety about something that may or may not occur." (And it usually doesn't.)  Stress, says the author, is "intense strain over a situation we can't change or control." (But God can.)  And fear, according to Swindoll, is a "dreadful uneasiness over danger, evil, or pain." (And it magnifies our problems.)

Swindoll says that to resist these "joy stealers" we must embrace the same confidence that Paul expressed in his letter to the Philippians. After giving thanks for the Philippian believers (1:3-5), the apostle assured them "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (v. 6).  

Whatever causes us worry, stress, and fear - cannot ultimately keep God from continuing His work in us. With this confidence we can begin each day knowing that He is in control. We can leave everything in His hands. 

Resist those "joy stealers" by renewing your confidence in God each morning. Then relax and rejoice!  

....isn't

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.   Matthew 6:33  Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind. Prayer is about changing our minds. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them, “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven Matthew 6:9–10.

Prayer is getting God’s will on earth, not our will in Heaven. Prayer is not pulling God our way; it is pulling us His way.  Jesus said, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” Matthew 18:19.

Our prayers need to be aligned with the will of God. But the point is that praying together makes all the difference in the world. There is power in unified prayer.   “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2. Don’t do life alone. Don’t try to be a solo Christian.

When we pray, “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” we’re saying that we long for the day when we’ll be in Heaven, in the presence of the Lord. But we’re also saying that we long for the day when Jesus will come back to this earth again, “Lord, I want Your rule in my life. I want You to take charge of my life. I want to give You the master key of every door in my house. I want to give You all my passwords. I want You to have access to everything.”

Jesus gave us this template for prayer to encourage us to pray. And we need to pray about everything.

- greg laurie

.......access

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15

Years ago when I was first getting to know Billy Graham, I addressed him as “Dr. Graham.”

But he said, “Don’t call me Dr. Graham. Call me Billy.” That was hard for me to do. It felt too personal. But I finally got around to calling him Billy. His children, though, had a more intimate name for him: Daddy. And his grandchildren called him Daddy Bill. Only his children and grandchildren had the right to address him that way. It was because of their relationship with him.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. And we have complete access to Him through prayer. We are God’s children, and He loves us. He wants to hear from us. He wants to talk to us and spend time with us. It’s never a drudgery; it’s always a delight. And the same should be true for us when we spend time with Him.

We know from the Scriptures that He is a good Father. For instance, in the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus presented God the Father as a dad who missed his wayward son and longed for his return. Then, when his son made his way back home, he ran to him and threw his arms around him.

He said, “We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found” Luke 15:23–24. This is your Father in Heaven. He’s a father who always will be there, a father who listens, a father who loves you.

In addition, Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” John 14:9. Therefore, if you want to know what the Father in Heaven is like, then look at Jesus.

Jesus was approachable. Little children were drawn to Him, and He blessed them. Tears streamed down His face as He stood at the grave of His friend Lazarus. In the upper room, He got down on His hands and knees and washed the feet of His disciples, including the feet of Judas Iscariot.

Maybe you’re thinking, “He’s the Father in Heaven, but Heaven is so far away. I need someone on earth.” God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere. And is Heaven really that far away? Perhaps, in a sense, it is. But in another sense, Heaven is closer than we may realize. Heaven is another dimension. It’s a supernatural realm.

Thus, for the Father in Heaven to step into our world is nothing to Him. Remember, when Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray, He began His model prayer by saying, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:9–10.

God is deeply involved in and deeply concerned about what you’re facing right now. If it concerns you, then it concerns Him.

- greg laurie

......unconditional

When we become a Child of God, through faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, He loves us in spite of our failures - in spite of the way we stumble and sometimes fall. But what type of love do we give in return? 

Do we have a continual love which remains through good and bad, or do we love only during our "scheduled" times and only when the conditions of our life are favorable for worship?

The prophet Habakkuk ministered during the same general time as Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel. This was a time when the southern kingdom of Judah was being invaded by Babylon and eventually taken into captivity. There was great wickedness, sorrow, and fear in the land. Habakkuk asked God many of the same questions we might ask today: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!' but You do not save?" Habakkuk 1:2.

Habakkuk was frustrated that God appeared slow in answering his prayers and was allowing so much evil to go unpunished. Yet through these many trials, Habakkuk developed a deep and unwavering love.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."Habakkuk 3:17-18

Habakkuk presented his heart-felt and anguished concerns; but regardless of the outcome, his love for God would remain unchanged. Even if every one of his prayers seemed to go unanswered, he was determined to love God with all his heart. This same love was expressed by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego before they were thrown into the furnace. They knew God could save them, but their love did not depend on being rescued: "But even if He does not {save us}, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" Daniel 3:18. They loved God simply because He was God!

We know there will be times when the world around us seems to fall apart - times when our life begins to crumble and the heat of the furnace seems very real. There will also be many times when we just don't understand God's plan or timing. Our path may seem unclear and His timing painfully slow. When this occurs, we must strive for a love that doesn't fade or waver; a love which isn't weakened by heat or torn by the force of the wind; a love which is pure and not conditioned by external circumstances.

Our Heavenly Father is our only true source of comfort and strength; "He alone is my rock and my salvation: He is my fortress, I will never be shaken" Psalm 62:2. He has given His very best, and we ought to return our very best with a life of unbroken worship. 

Let's truly rejoice that He is God and faithfully give Him our unconditional love.

- steve troxel

.....hope

Why are you downcast, O my soul?...  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

Looking at the western shores of Sri Lanka, I found it hard to imagine that a tsunami had struck just a few months earlier.  The sea was calm and beautiful, couples were walking in the bright sunshine, and people were going about their business - all giving the scene an ordinary feeling I wasn't prepared for. The impact of the disaster was sti1l there, but it had gone underground into the hearts and minds of the survivors. The trauma itself would not be easily forgotten.

It was catastrophic grief that prompted the psalmist to cry out in anguish: "My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, 'Where is your God?"' Psalm 42:3. The struggle of his heart had likewise been turned inward. 'While the rest of the world went on with business as usua1, he carried in his heart the need for deep and complete healing.

Only as we submit our brokeness to the good and great Shepherd of our hearts can we find the peace that allows us to respond to life: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" Psalm 42:5.

Hope in God -  it's the only solution for the deep traumas of the heart. 

- bill crowder

......sees

She called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees'. Genesis 16:13a

Hagar, Sarah's handmaid, was being treated unkindly by Sarah, so she fled into the wilderness.  As Hagar stood beside a spring in that desolate and lonely place, the Angel of the Lord visited her. He assured her that God himself was aware of her situation. Hagar responded, "You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees" Genesis 16:13. She found great comfort in knowing that the Lord God saw her and knew about her distress.

You and I can have that same confidence in God's watchful care. We can be sure that the Lord God is with us wherever we go, and that He knows everything that happens to us. As the All-Powerful One, He is able to solve every problem, no matter how overwhelming or perplexing it may be. We are never alone, never forgotten, and never beyond hope. 

Whatever your troubling circumstances are, whether you're afflicted by illness or injury, brokenhearted over the loss of a loved one, or disillusioned because your dearest friend has betrayed or rejected you, God knows and cares. You may be deeply depressed, or perhaps you're plagued by loneliness and discouragement. But you can be confident that you are under God's watchful eye. Yes, like Hagar, you can know that God sees you.  

"El Roi" -  "The God Who Sees"  sees you!

- richard dehaan 

.......glory

A few years ago I visited a planetarium and remember coming away with a renewed wonder of God's creation. I saw many pictures taken from large telescopes and even many taken from space. The stars are fascinating! I've often looked into the night sky and wondered about God's promise to Abraham: "'Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.' Then He said to him, 'So shall your offspring be'" Genesis 15:5. When Abraham looked into that dark clear sky, you can be sure he saw a LOT of stars.

But as incredible as our night sky appears, the facts of our universe quickly become staggering. During the day we see the sun - which is really just the closest of all the stars. Our sun, though it appears large, is a relatively small star located 149.7 million kilometres from Earth. This distance is about the same as traveling around the world 4,000 times. And though this distance is hard to comprehend, the next nearest star is 270,000 time farther away. But that's only two of the 200 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy - a galaxy which takes light 100,000 years to travel from one end to the other!!

But as incredible as our galaxy appears, the Milky Way is but one of billions of other galaxies within the Universe. There are estimated to be as many galaxies in the Universe as there are stars in the Milky Way.

But as incredible as our Universe appears...

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Just like that, it was done...and it was good. The Creator spoke and the Universe appeared. He then selected one of the billions of galaxies, one of the billions of stars within the galaxy, and one of the many planets around this star to create a people to call His own. God's plan from before the foundations of the world was to create a family who is adopted "as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace" Ephesians 1:5-6.

We who believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sin have become a testimony of praise to God's glory and grace. In the same way, the immensity of the stars give testimony; "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" Psalm 19:1. 

I can barely understand the distance to our sun, let alone the size of our galaxy or the size of the Universe, and I'll spend a lifetime trying to comprehend the "size" of our God; "The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory" Psalm 97:6.

If we would look up on a clear night we might see that our perceived status, as well as our varied problems, are all quite small. And we might begin to understand our God to be much, much bigger than we thought. We might even just shake our head, as we try to understand His love, and realize this is all for His glory.

- steve troxel

......alligators

 

But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. Matthew 13:21

A friend of actress and comedienne Gracie Allen once sent a small, live alligator to her as a gag. Not knowing what to do with it, Gracie put it in the bathtub and then left for an appointment. When she returned home, she found a note from her maid. "Dear Miss Allen:  Sorry, but I have quit. I don't work in houses where there is an alligator. I would have told you this when I started, but I never thought it would come up."

Some people who say they'll serve Christ are quick to leave when trouble comes. In Jesus' parable of the soils, He pictured the various responses that people have to the gospel. For example, a person may seem to accept God's truth, but he stumbles in his faith when difficulties arise Matthew 13:20-21. 

Such troubles test the sincerity of one's faith and expose the weakness of one's commitment to Christ.

But someone may say, "Shouldn't our Lord tell us up front what is involved in following Him?" He does. He appeals to us with one invitation: "Trust Me." If we let trouble or disillusionment shake our faith, we are breaking the spirit of the trust that brought us to Christ in the first place.

"Father, when life brings us the unexpected and we feel like quitting, help us to be faithful to You." 

- matt dehaan

.....unsearchable

As I look back through the Scriptural account of history, I can see how God sent His Son to be born in a manger, grow and live among us, and die for our sins upon a cross. I can clearly see how the sacrifice of Jesus allows us, through faith, to enter into God's presence for all eternity. I can even see the purpose of His humble birth as a permanent example of humility and service. But what I don't think I will ever fully understand is why. Sure, I know the reason is love, "For God so loved the world that He gave..." John 3:16, but I seriously doubt I will ever understand the amount of love required to sacrifice so much - the amount of love He had (and has)...for me!

Paul wrote his letter to the Romans with the intent of establishing foundational beliefs for the church. In this letter, Paul presented the greatest amount of teaching found anywhere in the Bible. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote on topics ranging from sin and judgment, to faith and salvation; from the purpose of the Law and life through the Spirit, to the sovereignty of God and the future of Israel. But toward the end of the letter, Paul paused and wrote a short prayer of praise and glory.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay Him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen."

We almost get the feeling that Paul had reviewed the first portion of his letter and just couldn't continue writing without praising the Lord. Paul had wrestled through many difficult issues and learned a most valuable lesson: God is God...and sometimes this simple truth defies understanding.

God has a perfect plan where every piece fits neatly together, but there are MANY connections which our finite minds fail to comprehend. I almost never see how to best trust God through my trials until long after they have past. I get impatient and frustrated with God's timing and want to know His plan, now! And yet, I know His love for me gave everything; "He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:8. 

I may not fully understand this love, but the little I know is enough to create a desire to live a life of devotion and faith. One day, I will stand before His throne and all His mysteries will be perfectly revealed. Until then I will simply continue to worship and trust.

We may never fully understand, but I pray we are all drawn a little closer today. If you have never experienced His love, I pray that you will release your heart into His care. If you are feeling unloved by the world, I pray you will look to Him and see a Father who gave His Son so He could hold you for all eternity. 

He is an unsearchable God who has poured out, for you, an unsearchable love.

- steve troxel 

.....grow

 

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. 

Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind 1 Corinthians 14:20 

You can’t be a kid again. But in one sense, you can because the Bible teaches that, as Christians, we should be childlike in our faith. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” Matthew 18:3. When I became a Christian, it was like a new world to me. I realized that I had so much to learn. I also realized that I really didn’t even know what I thought about so many issues in life, what really mattered, and what my priorities were. The apostle Paul urged the believers in Corinth, “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind” 1 Corinthians 14:20. There are some areas of the Christian life in which we should be childlike, in which we should be simple. We don’t need to know all the intricacies of evil and the way this world works. We need to maintain our dependence on God and be childlike in that way. On the other hand, there are areas in which we need to mature and grow. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being spiritual babies when we’re new in the faith. But as the years pass, we need to become spiritually mature. When we begin as Christians, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, when we are born again, we start out as spiritual infants. This is true of every person, regardless of age. Everyone starts out this way in the faith. Some people were raised in the church and have always been familiar with the Bible, with worship, and with prayer. But at some point, they realized their walk with God needed to be their own, so they made their own personal commitment to the Lord. Others came in cold from the world. I was one of those people. I had no background in the church. I had no understanding of the Bible. And I had never worshipped God before. I knew nothing about prayer. I knew relatively nothing about Jesus. When we’re new in the faith, it’s all so different. It’s a bit of a mystery. That’s why we need people to help us acclimatise. We need to learn how to start growing up spiritually. I like the questions that new believers ask.  I like the statements they make.  But best of all, I like their zeal.  They’re excited about what Christ has done for them. A church that does not have a constant flow of new believers coming in will be a church that is stagnating spiritually. New believers need more mature believers to help them get grounded. And mature believers need new believers to help remind them of what really matters in life. We need to remain childlike with our excitement about our faith, but we also need to mature and grow spiritually. - greg laurie

.....burden

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you Psalm 55:22

A poor man in Ireland was plodding along toward home, carrying a huge bag of potatoes. A horse and wagon finally drew up alongside him on the road, and the driver invited the man to climb aboard. After getting on the wagon, he sat down but continued to hold the heavy bag.

When the driver suggested that the man set the bag down in the wagon, he replied, "I don't want to trouble you too much, sir. You are giving me a ride already, so I'll just carry the potatoes."

"How foolish of him!" we might say. Yet sometimes we do the same thing when we attempt to bear the burdens of our lives in our own strength. No wonder we become weary and overwhelmed with anxiety and fear.

In Psalm 55, David spoke of the anxiety he felt because his enemies were attacking him Psalm 55:1-15. But then he gave his concerns to the Lord and was filled with renewed hope and confidence Psalm 55:16-23. That's why he could write, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you" Psalm 55:22.

When you recall the story of the man and his bag of potatoes, remember the simple lesson it illustrates: Rather than trying to bear your burdens by yourself, set them down in God's hands. 

"God invites us to burden Him with what burdens us."

- henry g. bosch

.....grace

When we are brought to the point of belief - the point where we see our sin, desire to change, and acknowledge God's Son as our only way to eternal life - we ask, in faith, for Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Savior. At that very moment, the grace of God abounds, His Spirit transforms our heart and He picks us up as His child: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9.

The moment of true Salvation is without question the most significant event in our Christian life. In that moment, we are "born again" John 3:7 and become a "new creation" in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 through the power of the Holy Spirit; "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" John 3:6, the moment of Salvation is so significant that even if we seem to stumble through every step past that point, we still have reason to rejoice with every breath - we are children of the King and will spend all eternity in His glorious Kingdom.

Our journey with God can indeed be rocky.  We are to diligently seek Him and "learn the secret of being content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. We must learn to "trust in the Lord with all our heart" Proverbs 3:5, but we must also remember that "apart from Me, you can do NOTHING" John 15:5. The reality of this journey is that if we strive for anything in our own strength, we are certainly destined to stumble and fall.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:1

This verse means we must continue to trust in His grace and in His grace alone. We did nothing to earn our Salvation, and we can do nothing to maintain our right standing before God - nothing besides belief in His Son; "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3. Our goal of a life which is honoring to God cannot be accomplished through our own effort!

We are saved by the grace of God and we must continue to live by this same grace: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught" Colossians 2:6. Our Heavenly Father will determine our path to holiness, purpose, contentment, and trust - and His grace will equip us with all we need for the journey.

Let's completely trust in the saving grace of Jesus! Let's apply the strength of His grace today in every trial and temptation. 

Let's live a life of pure and holy devotion by always remaining strong in His grace.

- steve troxel

....one

By the middle of the sixth day, God had created the sun, moon and stars; the land, sky, and water; the fish, birds, plants and animals. And when He looked at His creation, "God saw that it was good" Genesis 1:25. 

But God's creation was not yet complete; "Then God said, 'let us make man in our image'" Genesis 1:26. Out of the dust of the ground God breathed life into man and put him in the Garden of Eden, "to work it and take care of it" Genesis 2:15.

As God watched man go about his work, He saw that something was incomplete.  Whatever the cause, God looked at His latest creation and said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him Genesis 2:18

Adam needed more than someone to help him with his chores; he needed someone to make him complete! So God formed woman, not from the ground but from a rib taken from Adam's side; "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" Genesis 2:23

If God gives us someone as a special gift, they ought to be cherished and protected for a lifetime; "For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" Genesis 2:24. Like pieces of a puzzle that fit neatly together, a God-ordained marriage joins and completes by making two become one.

It's sad how quickly we forget these basic truths as we continue to place our individual desires ahead of the union created by God. We walk on the roof of temptation without regard to the potential devastation. The result is often a bitter war with years of spiritual bloodshed and an eventual ripping apart of what God has joined. We must stop this downward spiral before it even begins.

• To those who have suffered the painful end of a marriage, I pray that you would see the love and forgiveness found in the arms of God. 
• To the MANY singles, I pray that God would give you encouragement and strength; I pray He would be the true and faithful Helper. 
• To those who are married or planning to marry, I pray we would now and forevermore see our spouse as a true gift from God given to make us whole. 

I pray we would forever thank Him for joining us together and commit to the protection of the union. 

I pray we would always remember that when God provides our most suitable helper (and completer), the two become one flesh.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....restoration

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17

God loves to remodel.  God has to remodel. Let him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child's tear untouched... 

This might explain some of the discomfort in your life. Remodeling of the heart is not always pleasant. We don't object when the Carpenter adds a few shelves, but He's been known to gut the entire west wing. He has such high aspirations for you.

God envisions a complete restoration. 

He won't stop until he is finished...   He wants you to be "Just like Jesus."

- max lucado 

.....encouragement

Barnabas played an essential role in Paul's ministry. He boldly introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem Acts 9:27, and then searched for Paul when he fled Jerusalem to his home town of Tarsus Acts 11:25-26. After taking Paul to Antioch, Barnabas remained with him for several years while they encouraged the church...and each other.

Being an encourager was a way of life for Barnabas. His name was originally Joseph, but prior to even meeting Paul, the apostles had begun to call him "Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement)" Acts 4:36. Barnabas was able to evaluate other people according to their ability in Christ - an ability determined by the strength of Jesus and not hindered by past failures. This allowed Barnabas to see great potential where others saw only weakness, and to encourage when others had given up.

Barnabas went with Paul on his first missionary journey where they jointly proclaimed the name of Jesus wherever they went. Another young man, named Mark, began this first missionary journey with Paul but then turned back Acts 13:13. This apparent lack of perseverance bothered Paul so much that when he began his second missionary trip he refused to take Mark along.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Acts 15:37-39

Barnabas saw the Christ-given potential in young Mark and encouraged him as he had done with Paul many years before. As a result, Mark matured in his ministry and faithfully continued in his service to Jesus. He ministered alongside the Apostle Peter 1 Peter 5:13, was reunited with Paul Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24, and later wrote an account of the life of Jesus - the Gospel of Mark.

The early church faced many difficulties - many opportunities for discouragement - but God used Barnabas to strengthen those who had been called to the front lines of battle. We can't all stand up and preach in front of large crowds or travel as missionaries to foreign lands, but we ALL have the ability to encourage those whom God places in our path.

The world is full of people crying out for someone to care for and believe in them. Individual lives can be changed, families can be restored, entire communities and even nations can be turned toward God, if each of us will encourage others to draw closer to our Heavenly Father, to love Him more, and to trust Him with all their heart. Let’s do our part to change the world! Let's share the love of Jesus and effectively minister by seeing others, and then taking action, as a Son of Encouragement.

- steve troxel

......trade

When Isaac was sixty years old, his wife Rebecca gave birth to twin sons. Esau was born first, followed immediately by Jacob; "with his hand grasping Esau's heal"Genesis 25:26. Esau grew to be a skillful hunter while Jacob stayed more around the tents with his mother.

In the days of Esau and Jacob, the firstborn son was given a special honor called the birthright. The child having the birthright received a double portion of the family inheritance as well as the eventual privilege of family leadership. The birthright could be traded, but all future birthright blessings were then lost.

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

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

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

Similar trades are being made today. We just don't understand the value of blessings. When a child leaves home in rebellion, they trade the blessing of an honoring relationship with their parents for perceived pleasures of immediate freedom. 

When a spouse pursues a relationship outside of marriage, they trade the blessing of a God-honoring union for perceived pleasures of the flesh. And when we fail to "wait upon the Lord" with decisions, we have allowed our impatience to trade away the blessing of walking in God's perfect will. We may spend a lifetime understanding the value of this blessing!

So what bowl of stew are we trading for today? 

God has promised a blessing for those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, for those who trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin and walk daily in His light. He has promised to set us free to live a life of true peace, purpose, and contentment, and an eternal glory in His presence when we die. ALL worldly pleasures will one day fade away; "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18. 

Let's devote our lives to worship and obediently follow wherever He leads. Let's keep our eyes on the eternal and NEVER trade the blessing.

- steve troxel

.....911

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Most people know that dialing the numbers 911 in the United States will get them in touch with emergency help. It's so simple that even preschoolers have saved the lives of family members by using it. Three numbers do it all.

In one case, a woman's car had been hijacked with her and her infant son inside. She dialed 911 on her cellular phone, but the hijacker was totally unaware of what she had done. With the police dispatcher listening, the young mother cleverly included clues about her location as she talked to the hijacker. Police were able to locate her and her baby and arrest the criminal.

In an emergency, help is as close as three pushes on the phone keypad. Often, though, the situations we face cannot be remedied by human rescuers. Many times our crisis requires divine assistance. When that happens, we can call a different kind of 911 - Psalm 91:1. There we find the help and protection of our Almighty God. 

This verse reminds us that God is our "shelter" and that we call rest in His shadow. When we face the crises of life, we often try to survive on our own. We forget that what we need most, God's protection and the comfort of His presence, are available for the asking. The next time spiritual danger strikes, dial Psalm 91:1. 

- dave brannon 

.....roof

King David gave in to temptation with Bathsheba and then tried to cover up his sin with lies and murder. How could someone described by God as, "A man after My own heart" Acts 13:22, make such a bad error in judgment? Sin is rarely the result of a single poor choice. Most often, the actual sin is caused by a long drift away from the presence of God and several specific decisions made outside His will.

"In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem."2 Samuel 11:1

David had become complacent about his duties as King. When the rest of his men were off at war, David stayed home with not much to do. He could have spent time drawing closer to God with prayer and study of the Word, but apparently David allowed himself to become quite restless.

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

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

We must all recognize our "roof" where we become susceptible to temptation: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" 1 Corinthians 10:13. Many times, our way out of temptation is simply to not visit the place where we know temptation resides - to not allow temptation to even germinate in our heart.

Is there a restlessness which is causing us to drift from God? Are we spending time and energy on activities, in places or conversations, which we know are not honoring to God? Let's remain in His presence and ask God to open our eyes to the vulnerable areas of our life; let's commit to walk the path of purity and stay off the roof!

- steve troxel

....back

No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds.  On August 7, 1954, the two met together for an historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?”. As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. 

Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!”

One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. 
In Hebrews, we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ.  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

And in Philippians the apostle Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead," Philippians 3:12-13

You can't make spiritual progress by looking back!!!!

- dave langerfeld

......discipleship

Barnabas was an encouragement in the lives of Paul and Mark. Barnabas must have seen the "Christ-potential" in others and discipled them at critical seasons of their life.

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

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

Each of these events involved much more than a kind word as Barnabas continued on his own path. They involved evaluating the need, and then making the necessary changes in his own path to help meet the need - they involved being intentional.

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

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

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

I wish I could say it's easy to "go and make disciples," but it's not. And I wish I could say I'm good at it, but I'm definitely not! Getting schedules and desires to match up seems to get harder all the time, and the process can often become quite discouraging. And yet, we must not give up. Jesus showed us the way and commanded us to follow; this is the only true plan for discipleship!

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

- steve troxel

.....hope

10 Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting

1. God is truly in control. 

If God is God, then nothing happens apart from His knowledge and permission. While it is difficult to imagine why God allows some painful things to happen, His character, revealed in the Bible and through the testing of generations, leads us to the conclusion that He is willing and able to sustain you during the worst of times. "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on god who can raise the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

2. There is an eternal life to come. 

"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory He will give us later." (Romans 8:18) "He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns." 1 Corinthians 1:8

3. The story isn't finished yet. 

Time after time, the Bible records hopeless situations that ultimately ended in victory. Think of Job's sickness, Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, David's adultery and the many who were healed in mind, body and spirit. "But Joseph told them, 'Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.'" Genesis 50:19-20

4. God has not given up on you! Don't give up on him. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

5. There is likely purpose in your pain. 

Ask God to reveal His purpose in allowing this difficulty in your life. That's a legitimate question to ask. Often, the answer comes in the process of dealing with your circumstance. "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when Your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for When your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." James 1:2-4

6. You are loved! 

Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship. God does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you. "He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lords' favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory. Isaiah 61:1-3

7. Your prayers are heard. 

"You parents - if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?" Matt. 7:9-10

8. You are not facing this alone. 

For God has said, "I will never leave you. I will never forsake you." That is why we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

9. Others have made it through - you can too. 

Try to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. You will find hope, strength and encouragement. "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12 

10. Reach out to someone else who's struggling. 

Place your focus on someone else and invest your life in him or her. You may discover that your peace of mind is found in being a source of hope for another. "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

- mike marino