.....place

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3

Dr. Bronson Ray, a highly respected brain surgeon, once happened upon a scooter accident. A boy had crashed into a tree and Dr. Ray jumped into action, calmly administering first aid with the precision of someone who had spent decades saving lives.

Just then, another boy pushed through the crowd, full of confidence and energy. “I’d better take over now, sir,” he said. “I’m a Boy Scout, and I know first aid!”

The story makes us both smile and cringe, because we’ve all been there. We’ve all had moments when we overestimated ourselves and thought we knew more than we did. Romans 12:3 speaks directly to us in those moments, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.”

That’s not a call to put ourselves down or ignore the gifts God has given us. Rather, it’s a warning against letting pride cloud our vision. God has distributed gifts to each of us, but we need to use “sober judgment,” which means honest self-awareness. Not inflated ego, not false humility — just an honest sense of who we are.

That Boy Scout’s enthusiasm wasn’t the problem. A willingness to help is admirable. What he lacked was perspective. And that’s often our struggle, too. We rush into situations assuming we know what’s best, or we insert ourselves where we’re not needed. And, in the process, we sometimes elbow aside those whom God has placed there.

Humility doesn’t mean never stepping up. It means seeing the bigger picture: that we’re not the whole body—we’re just one part. It means celebrating others’ strengths and learning when we need to support instead of lead.

So, the next time you’re tempted to take charge or assume you know what’s best, ask the Lord for sober judgment. Remember that your value doesn’t come from being in charge — it comes from being in Christ.

- alan smith

Father, thank you for the gifts you’ve given me and the opportunities to serve, but keep me humble. Teach me to walk in wisdom -- to speak when it’s time, act when it’s needed, and step aside when it’s best, In Jesus’ name, amen. 

.....change

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold fast, and repent. But if you will not watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you Revelation 3:3

Before the days of GPS, driving could be tricky. If we found ourselves lost, a reliable strategy was to retrace our steps until we discovered where we made a wrong turn. We would change our mind and go a different way.

Changing our mind is at the heart of one of the Bible’s most serious spiritual actions: repentance. The original Greek word for repentance is metanoeo, a compound verb meaning “to change one’s mind or to think again.” We think of repentance as being a serious change in behavior, and it is. 

Behavior begins with how we think and what decisions we make. So when we find ourselves acting in an ungodly way, we should retrace our steps and see how our thinking led us down a path of improper behavior. That was the message Christ gave the church at Sardis: “Hold fast and repent” or hold fast and change your thinking.

If your behavior is not what it should be, examine your thinking. Ask God to show you how to think God’s thoughts after Him.

- david jeremiah

.....sacrifice

By the time Jeremiah became a prophet, the people of Israel had occupied the land of Canaan for about 800 years. Those years were generally characterized by a continuing rejection of God. Time and again the people turned from God and embraced the gods of the world.

Through Jeremiah, God called His people to return and worship Him as the One True God: "Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way" Jeremiah 26:2-3. His words reflect the heart of a Father longing to be reunited with His children. We can almost feel God's heart breaking as He tells Jeremiah how far His children have fallen.

For they have forsaken Me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned sacrifices in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal - something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter My mind Jeremiah 19:4-5

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He warned them about following the practices of the local people; "You must not do as they do in the land of Canaan" Leviticus 18:3. The Canaanite values were evil and in conflict with the way God was calling His children to live. In fact, anytime we seek to follow the path of God, we soon discover the values of the world are often in conflict with the values God calls us to hold.

God's chosen people not only turned their backs, but they even became involved in a local form of "worship" that included sacrificing their own children. It's almost as if God was shaking His head in sad disbelief: "How could they have drifted so far away?" Of course, we must wonder if God is still shaking His head today.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have become children of God and can enjoy the blessings of a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. We have also been given the ability to be blessed through relationships in our family and among our friends. And yet, how often do we sacrifice these blessings to the gods of this world? How often do we follow the practices of the world - with its "rules" for value and importance - and watch as our children are sacrificed in the fire of materialism? How often do we sacrifice loving relationships on the altar of selfish pride or lustful pleasure?

Our Heavenly Father calls us to sacrifice. But His call is to a complete sacrifice of worship to Him; "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1. This sacrifice involves the continual releasing of our will until we are "poured out as a drink offering" 2 Timothy 4:6. Let's bring Him our very best and worship Him with a pure and complete devotion. Let's evaluate our actions today and carefully consider what, and to whom, we sacrifice.

- steve troxel

.....don't

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess Hebrews 4:14.

Little Johnny's kindergarten class was on a field trip to the local police station where they saw, tacked to a bulletin board, pictures of the 10 most wanted men. Johnny pointed to one and asked if it really was a wanted person.

"Yes," said the policeman. "The detectives want him very badly."

Johnny asked, "Then why didn't you keep him when you took his picture?"

It’s a good question -- If you really want someone, why would you let them go? The writer of Hebrews understood that same principle when he wrote: Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14.

The phrase "hold firmly" literally means to grip tightly, like someone clinging to a lifeline in a storm or grasping a rope while climbing a mountain. The writer isn't suggesting we casually keep Jesus in mind — he's urging us to hold on with everything we've got.

Why the urgency? Because, like little Johnny, he understood that when you have something truly valuable, there's always the risk of losing it if you don't hold tightly.

The early Christians knew this all too well. They lived under persecution, faced social pressure to abandon their faith, and encountered daily temptations to let go of what they claimed to believe. It would have been easy to gradually loosen their grip on Jesus, to slowly drift away from the faith that once seemed so compelling.

The same is true for us today. We may not face the same kind of persecution, but we face our own pressures to loosen our hold on Jesus. The busyness of life crowds out our time with him. Disappointments make us question whether he really cares. 

Success makes us feel like we don't need him as much. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, our grip begins to weaken. Little Johnny’s question reminds us: when you have someone you really want, you don't let them go. We have Jesus — let's hold on tight.

- alan smith

Father, thank you for Jesus, our great high priest who never lets go of us. Forgive me for the times I’ve let the reality of your presence fade. Strengthen my grip on faith and help me hold tightly to you each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

.....flavor

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. Matthew 5:13

During a radio interview, an American journalist asked his British guest, “Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK?” The Brit replied, “Yes, but we celebrate it on the 6th of September.”

“Why then?” the American asked. “That’s when you left,” he quipped.

His response reminds us that not everyone celebrates our presence. As the old saying goes, “Some people brighten the room when they enter; others, when they leave.” Which raises an important question for those of us who are followers of Jesus: Which are we?

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was incredibly valuable in Jesus’ day. It preserved food and enhanced flavor. Even today, salt transforms a meal, bringing out richness and depth that wasn't there before. However: salt only works when it maintains its essential nature. If it loses its saltiness, it becomes worthless — good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Jesus didn’t call us to blend into our surroundings or just take up space. He calls us to make a difference. He intends for us to preserve what's good, to heal what's broken, and to bring out the best in every situation we encounter. Our presence should leave things better than we found them.

But transformation requires intentionality. It means choosing to listen more than we speak, encourage rather than complain, and love without strings attached. When we live this way, people don’t just tolerate our presence — they’re genuinely grateful for it.

The question isn't whether you're perfect — none of us are -- but whether you're salty. Are people better for having been around you? Do you bring out goodness in others? When you leave a conversation, a meeting, or a gathering, is there a lingering sense that something valuable was present?

We are the salt of the earth. Let's make sure we haven't lost our flavor.

- adapted from alan smith

Father, you’ve called me to be salt in this world. Restore my flavor when I lose it. Make my presence a blessing and let me leave every place better than I found it — not for my glory, but for yours. In Jesus' name, amen.

.....impressions

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. John 7:24

A college art student once asked his friend Peter to model for a portrait assignment. After hours of careful work, he submitted the painting, only to receive a grade of C-minus. Devastated, he confronted his professor. "What's wrong with it?" The professor critiqued the proportions. “The head is too big. The shoulders are too wide. And those feet — way too enormous.”

The next day, the student returned — not with a new painting, but with Peter himself. The professor took one look at Peter and said, “Okay, I’ll change your grade to an A-minus.” How often do we do the same thing? We see something — or someone — and immediately form conclusions based on incomplete information.

Jesus warned about this in John 7:24: “Do not judge by appearances.” At the time, people were judging him based on shallow impressions — they couldn't see past his humble background to recognize the truth of who he was.

We live in a world that encourages snap judgments based on looks, resumés, social media profiles, or one awkward interaction. But Jesus calls us to a different standard. “Right judgment” means slowing down, listening more, and remembering that every person has a story we can’t see on the surface.

This kind of seeing requires something our fast-paced world rarely offers: time. Time to listen, to learn. Time to look beyond the obvious and learn about the human being standing before us.

Consider the people in your life who initially rubbed you the wrong way but later became dear friends. Remember those times when you felt completely misunderstood — and how healing it was when someone finally saw you clearly.

“Right judgment” is about grace. It refuses to reduce people to their worst moments. It recognizes the possibility that there may be more to their story. Maybe there’s someone in your life who needs a second look. Or maybe you have been judged unfairly. Either way, this story reminds us: appearances rarely tell the whole story. God sees clearly — and he invites us to see others through eyes of grace.

- alan smith

Father, forgive me for those times when I've judged others by mere appearances. Help me to slow down enough to truly see the people I meet and give me a heart of grace. Transform my quick judgments into patient understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.

.....attention

Solomon's divided heart - his lack of full devotion to God - eventually led to the division of the kingdom of Israel. We are encouraged to continually draw closer to our Heavenly Father and prevent the kingdom of God within us from becoming divided in the sense of rebellion and lack of pure worship.

When we consider our closeness to God, we tend to look at our priorities and schedules. Closeness to our Heavenly Father requires a certain amount of dedicated time. We cannot expect to hear His direction if we do not spend time learning to recognize His voice and then make the effort to turn off the competing inputs so we can truly listen. And once we have set aside those times to hear God through prayer, preaching, or the reading of His Word, we are encouraged in the very strongest of terms to pay close attention to what we hear.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away Hebrews 2:1

It will do no good to make adjustments to our schedule - to give God more priority - if we do not become disciplined students of His Word. We can fill our time with good preaching and quality books, but if we do not do as the Bereans, who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" Acts 17:11, we will be easily swayed and subject to spiritual drift. As disciplined students we must maintain an excitement for the things God has done, as well as for the promises He has made for our future through His Word.

God has given us a wonderful gift, a gift without which we could never know Him. Through the lives of many different writers, God has presented us with a love letter which calls us into fellowship through Jesus Christ...we call His letter the Bible. 

In His authoritative and essential letter, God has revealed the fullness of His character and established a set of unchanging truths. A deep belief and understanding of these truths will push aside fears, erase lingering doubts, and instill a new sense of hope.

We need not allow our kingdom to be divided; we need not drift away. The Spirit has made our hearts receptive and hungry for God's Word. We must now submit to His leading and become as the workman who "correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15. 

Let's give Him the total devotion of our heart as we pray, read, and listen to His Word. And as we hear, let's maintain a great excitement and always pay more careful attention.

.....divided

Solomon was the third king of Israel, the son of David and Bathsheba. And although not the eldest son, he was chosen by David to be his successor. As David was about to die, he gave Solomon some final counsel for ruling the kingdom.

"Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go." 1 Kings 2:2-3

David knew that Solomon would influence an entire nation - influence it either toward the good...or the bad. This was an awesome responsibility which would require a deep commitment to God.

Solomon initially established a God-centered kingdom; "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David" 1 Kings 3:3. He ruled with great wisdom and spent seven years building a magnificent temple in which God would be worshipped. Yet Solomon failed to demonstrate total commitment to the One True God.

Solomon married many women from the surrounding nations and allowed these wives to turn his heart toward other gods; "His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" 1 Kings 11:4. God was greatly angered at Solomon's lack of commitment and rose up enemies who would eventually divide the kingdom and create civil war.

Every believer in Jesus has been given a kingdom. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you" Luke 17:21. This kingdom is established when we believe, in faith, that Jesus died for our sins; it is therefore a kingdom of "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17.

The kingdom we have been given is more precious than ANY other. But, as with Solomon, it is also a kingdom which must be ruled with an absolute, undivided love for the Lord, with a commitment to walking in the ways He establishes for our life and worshiping Him with the pure focus of our heart.

If we desire God's kingdom to remain firmly established and at peace in our life, then we must keep our heart fully devoted to Him and guard against the influences which seek to pull us away. Let's not become distracted by the other "gods" of this world. Let's make the necessary adjustments to our priorities and schedules which will allow us the time to continually draw closer to the one true God and prevent a divided kingdom.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....clean

God commands us to recognize our sin and tear our heart in sorrowful repentance as we cry out for His gracious and abundant forgiveness. The instant we first place our complete trust in Jesus we are born of the Spirit and released from the bondage of our sinful nature. Sin may still war within us and sometimes cause us to stumble, but it no longer has dominion and control over our lives - we have been set free!

Jesus often taught of this radical transformation in terms of our need for a clean heart. "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" Mark 7:20-23

Our heart pumps life into all the other parts of our body. If our heart is made clean through the forgiveness of Jesus, the rest of our life will also become clean as His life flows through us; "First clean the inside...and then the outside also will be clean" Matthew 23:26. But if our heart remains soiled by an unrepentant sinful nature, no amount of outside scrubbing and polishing will ever make us clean.

In the above passage, Jesus presented a list of "evils" for our self evaluation, as an outward test of inward cleanliness. Our lives may be free from the obvious stealing, murder, and adultery, but the rest of the list requires us to look a little deeper: 

- Folly is the lack of good sense. 

- Arrogance is an overbearing confidence. 

- Slander is making false statements against someone. 

- Envy is discontent due to another's good progress. 

- Lewdness is indecent language or action. 

- Deceit means to conceal the truth. 

- Malice means to cruelly tease, and greed is excessive desire.

A transformed believer in Jesus Christ, one who is "circumcised of the heart" Romans 2:29, should never be characterize by this type of behavior. As the Spirit of Jesus makes us into a "new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17 and begins to flow through our life, these old sins slow to a trickle and eventually pass away. Though sin will never completely disappear, it does not define who we are. 

Is the cleansing power of Jesus flowing into all areas of our life? Or are there still areas we claim as our own? If we desire to offer our lives as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1, then we must allow our sacrifice to be completely cleansed; we must place our heart more fully in His hands. Let's come before our Heavenly Father and allow the transforming and absolute forgiveness of Jesus to make us clean from within.

- adapted from steve torxel

 

.....chosen

The great Apostle Paul was once the great and mighty persecutor of Christians and destroyer of the Church. He was so zealous that he actually went from house to house and dragged believers off to prison Acts 8:3. Paul then set off for Damascus to rid the land of these "misguided" Christian troublemakers. However, Jesus had other plans!

"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him." Acts 9:3 Jesus revealed Himself to Paul in such a magnificent manner that there was no doubt as to the truth of the Gospel; "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting" Acts 9:5. Paul encountered the living Christ on the road to Damascus and was literally blinded from the brilliant light - but his life was forever changed.

After three days, Jesus sent a man named Ananias to restore Paul's sight. When Ananias hesitated because of Paul's destructive reputation, Jesus made it clear that Paul was now God's servant. "The Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" Acts 9:15, [emphasis added]

Most of us will never encounter Jesus in such a dramatic fashion as Paul. One day, without any lights, voices, or great fanfare, Jesus simply meets us on the road and forever changes the course of our life. And just as Paul was called to carry the name of Jesus, we also have been called to follow the living Christ and carry His name to everyone He places along our path.

God could have chosen the rocks and trees to advance the Gospel message, but He didn't. He could have written His plan of Salvation with a fiery finger in the clouds, but He didn't. God chose us! Even with all our many flaws, jagged past, and sometimes overwhelming insecurity and fear of failure, we are still His messengers to a dark and dying world; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20.

As we continue on this wonderful journey, with all its glorious peaks and fearfully jagged valleys, let's commit to drawing closer to God and listening more intently to His leading. Let's be faithful to advance His message of love through the forgiveness found only in Jesus. In this time of great spiritual need, with the world so desperate for truth, let's remember that we are now God's chosen instrument.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....always

Soon after the death of Joseph and his brothers, the descendants of Israel were forced into Egyptian slavery. For four 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 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,  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!"

.....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 among the baggage.'"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 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. 

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 among the baggage.

.....compromise

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon desired to unite his kingdom by instituting a centralized form of worship. He built a statue of gold about 30 meters tall and 3 meters wide and ordered that everyone must fall down and worship the statue whenever the royal music began to play.

A report was delivered to the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had refused to worship the golden image. The King summoned these three young Jewish men and gave them one more chance to conform to his rules for worship: "If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Daniel 3:15.

These three followers of Almighty God were faced with an ultimatum: "Compromise your beliefs, or die!" They could have found a way to rationalize this false worship. They could have found a variety of excuses for compromise. But rather than fall to the pressures of their surrounding environment, the three decided to live a life of unwavering faith and unashamed devotion to the One True God.

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, 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 3:17-18

Though we seem to hear more stories every day, few of us will ever face a "Compromise or die!" ultimatum. But almost everyone will be tempted to push aside convictions and bow to such "golden images" as financial gain, physical pleasure, personal recognition, or the fear of conflict. We are also constantly tempted to "bow down" with the entertainment we watch, listen to, or read. Standing firm requires a determined effort to remain solidly on God's path.

Hearing God's direction for our life can sometimes be difficult; but one truth remains: God never asks us to compromise His standard in order to follow His path, in discerning His standard, we need to look to what God has made clear and not necessarily to what has been created through our well-intended traditions. But once His standard is clear, we can be assured that ANY compromise represents a deviation from His plan.

Let's strengthen the convictions God has already placed on our heart. We need not be ashamed of, nor fear, what we know is true, and we need never doubt the perfection of His path. Let's live a life of consistent belief and trust such that what we believe is directly reflected in the way we live. Let's take a stand and live a God-honoring life by His grace alone...without compromise

.....resolve

The three young Jewish men faced the ultimate test of their conviction, when the king threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace if they did not bow to a golden image, the three calmly refused to compromise; "We will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" Daniel 3:18.

These three men had learned the importance of convictions when they were first brought as captives to Babylon. They were selected, along with another young man named Daniel, for a special program to prepare them to serve the Babylonian king. One of the "benefits" of this program was being fed choice food and drink from the king's table. But Daniel knew these special favors were designed to pull them into a culture that did not honor God.

"Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." Daniel 1:8 Although Daniel was determined not to partake in the ways of his captives, his initial approach was to graciously ask permission for himself and his friends to follow their convictions. Daniel was resolved, but he also knew the importance of serving God through his interaction with other people.

Daniel continued to minister in this foreign land for over sixty years. He was a respected advisor to four different kings and taught them many lessons about the One True God. During this time, his faith was severely tested and he often faced great pressures to adopt the value system of ungodly people. But Daniel was prepared with a resolve that he would continue to follow God and God alone.

Many of us live in an environment which is hostile to the ways of God. Some are in work environments which actively promote ungodly activities and strike down those who even mention God. Many more of us face subtle hostilities from a world system which calls faith a crutch for the weak and uneducated, and teaches a truth which is relative and continually changing. Many ministry leaders even face pressures to dilute the gospel truth in the name of a distorted view of grace and tolerance, or the perceived need for increased membership.

We must be firm in our resolve not to defile ourselves by compromising our convictions or lowering our standards; our lives as well as our message must remain true to God's Word.

 But we must also be gentle as we keep the doors open for the opportunity to minister and shine His light into the darkness of other people. Our convictions must stand; and yet, they must be implemented with true grace and compassion. Let's show the world around us the unfailing and never-changing love of God through a firm and gentle resolve.

- adapted from steve troxel's

.....calm

Consider Abraham and Sarah as they waited for God's promise through the birth of Isaac. Waiting for God's direction and blessing can be a great test of our faith, but waiting on God for our rescue can be an even greater challenge.

There are three great storms detailed in the New Testament. The first occurred when Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. Jesus was asleep when the storm began, and the disciples became afraid and woke Him: "Lord save us! We're going to drown!" Matthew 8:25. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their fear and proceeded to calm the storm; "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Matthew 8:26.

The second storm occurred immediately after the miraculous feeding of over five thousand people. This time, Jesus sent the disciples across the sea by themselves. When the storm rose up, Jesus went out to meet them...walking on the water. As Jesus again calmed the storm, He spoke the same message against fear; "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" Matthew 14:27.

The last storm occurred about thirty years after Jesus was crucified. Paul had proclaimed the gospel through much of the Roman empire and was being transported by boat to stand trial in Rome. A storm arose which blew the ship terribly off course. The ship was battered and tossed for several days; "We finally gave up all hope of being saved" Acts 27:20.

It must have been difficult to trust God's timing as the storm continued through the many long days and sleepless nights. But as hope was fading away, God sent an angel to Paul with a familiar message.

"Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid.'" Acts 27:23-24

There may be times when our ability to trust is severely tested. But our faith in God - in His ability to hold us secure - must be independent of the force of the wind. Though the winds may blow, we remain in His hands and must not fear; "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, but even if He does not..." Daniel 3:17-18.

Most storms last longer than we prefer. But our Heavenly Father is leading us to the place where we can have peace, contentment, and even joy, whether the sun is shining or the storm is raging. He is calling us to be free of fear, calling us to trust Him more and experience His calm within the storm.

- steve troxel

.....good

 

God will either:

  1. Fix it

  2. Remove it 

  3. Use it 

...and all three will be for your good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose Romans 8:28

.....needed

It seems everywhere we turn, whether in the news or in our own relationships, we are faced with stories of pain and heartache, frustration and confusion; people are crying out for help and simply existing from day to day. This is NOT the life God intended! Yes, our world is facing some dramatic changes that continue to produce trials. But some of what we see is often the result of our eyes being opened and our heart becoming more sensitive to His Spirit. This is good and means we are on the path of transformation; however, our ability to see now begs us to offer a solution.

We who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ have been radically changed, whether we realize it or not. We have been given the ability to see with new eyes and redefine what is truly important; we have been set free to live a new kind of life. We now must live this life and proclaim His truth: Jesus came to set us free! Eternal freedom is found only through the complete forgiveness offered by Jesus, but daily freedom - daily contentment and peace - is found only through complete submission and devotion.

Martha had become irritated that her sister Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than helping her prepare the meal. In fact, she was so bothered she approached Jesus and said: "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:40. But Jesus very patiently replied:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42

The world continually tries to tell us what is necessary and important - but it's a lie! And we never really understand or see the deception until we consistently make the time to worship at the feet of Jesus and hear Him say; "You have now chosen what is better."

No matter what this day (or however many future days) may bring, we must live each and every moment in devotion to our Lord. No matter what our circumstances, we CAN be set free...and we can offer this freedom to others. 

We may need to adjust our priorities and eliminate some things which consume our time and clutter our thoughts, but the freedom of true worship at His feet is worth it ALL. Let's boldly respond by taking a stand for Christ, faithfully proclaiming His truth to the world, and building our life on His solid foundation. Let's remember that though many things may seem important, only one is needed!

- steve troxel

.....regrets

Four years ago, my brother died and once again I was reminded. Twelve years ago we were in the middle of cancer treatment with our thirteen year old daughter, and I was reminded. Many of you remember the cancer struggles with my sister and her dying at age forty-four. During that time I was certainly reminded! Cancer has been cruel to our family with my mother also dying of cancer at age forty-three. Often over the past many years, and more frequently as I get older, I am reminded of the frailty of life and I ponder the questions: "What if this day was my last? Would I have any regrets?"

John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as he sat in prison.

I guess they call me John the Baptist because I preached a message of repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus (John 1:31-33). The Baptist isn't such a bad name. I could have been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of Locusts."

King Herod must be mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying his brother's wife Matthew 14:3-4  I sure wish I was back in the desert preaching, but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It's pretty loud in the palace tonight. They must be having quite a party.

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. Matthew 14:6-10

Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put your neck on the block." I sure wish I would have.....

No one knows when they will breathe their last. We may have sixty years or sixty minutes; but no matter how long we have, it will seem to pass in an instant. It amazes me how fast life passes by. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God for His blessings and grace is absolutely NOW!!

Each of us enters this day with things we wish we could change, decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of us also enters this day with the ability to begin, right this very moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin today to live fully committed to following Christ. Let's give Him our ALL and live toward an end which will leave no regrets.

- steve troxel

.....follow

Soon after entering the promised land of Canaan, the children of Israel forgot about God and all He had done. They soon began to worship the false gods of Baal and the love-goddess, Asherah. It seemed like every generation from that time forward was tempted into worshipping these false gods.

About five hundred years later, God rose up Elijah to be His chosen spokesman - His prophet. The Israelites were still being enticed to worship other gods, and the time had come for a direct confrontation between Elijah and the many false prophets of Baal: "Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal" 1 Kings 18:19.

Elijah and the false prophets were to pray to their respective gods, with the winner determined by how the prayers were answered: "You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire - He is God" (1 Kings 18:24). But prior to calling on the Lord, Elijah gave a challenge for the people of Israel to make a commitment.

How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him 1 Kings 18:21

Elijah prayed, and God answered with enough fire to remove any and all doubt. The people clearly saw the hand of the Lord and readily made their choice: "The Lord - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" 1 Kings 18:39.

We face the same challenge today. However, instead of two or three choices, we now have many gods which continually entice us into worship - many gods who desire our time and energy. The world offers a long list of "worthy" candidates: television, money, power, prestige, sex, drugs, food, sports, internet, education...the list goes on. "These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens" Jeremiah 10:11. Who, or what, is truly worthy of our worship?

The challenge today is simple. If the Lord is God, follow Him. If we have recognized our sinful condition, repented of our sin and asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we must continue by being transformed into His likeness - we must follow Him. We cannot allow the distractions in life to become our god. We must devote our heart, soul, mind and strength to loving our Heavenly Father, and commit ourselves to whatever tasks He has given us to accomplish. Our choice is clear, and our response must be boldly decisive: The Lord is God - Follow Him!

- steve troxel

.....compassion

The prophet Elijah was used to call the people of Israel back to worship of the One True God. Elijah witness the mighty power of God but then become afraid and run into the desert when threatened by the Queen.

How would God handle His chosen prophet, His messenger who had been assigned to proclaim the Truth to the people of Israel? What would God say to Elijah, the man now crumpled under a tree wishing to die: "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life" 1 Kings 19:4.

All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again 1 Kings 19:5-6

God could have chastised and rebuked Elijah. He could have answered with a loud thunder, "Am I not the God who rained down fire from Heaven and then blackened the sky with clouds? Have I not answered your prayers? How can you now doubt Me and wish to die because of your fear?"

Yes, God could have given His "How can you doubt Me?" speech, but He did not. Rather, God saw Elijah's tired pain and showed simple compassion. He ministered to Elijah by sending an angel to give a gentle touch and bake a cake. The time would soon come for Elijah to rise and follow hard after God; but for now, God comforted Elijah and allowed for a very necessary rest.

We must continue to learn what it means to be a loving and caring Family. All who have been saved through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus have been "baptized by one Spirit into one body" 1 Corinthians 12:13. And as members of "one body," we must learn to effectively minister and truly help one another.

Very few circumstances require us to provide a complete solution. We usually must avoid trying to "fix" what we believe has been broken. Most often, our Brothers and Sisters simply need a friend who will compassionately listen and show they care by helping them rest and regain their strength. It's amazing how many Spiritual truths are clearly seen after a little cake and a good night of sleep.

So many of God's children face pain, weariness, fears, and frustration which keep them from experiencing the fullness of God's joy and peace. But each of us can help ease the pain and lighten the load through biblical words of truth and encouragement...along with a gentle touch of compassion.

- steve troxel

.....whisper

God's understanding and mercy as He sent an angel to comfort Elijah during his moment of deepest despair. The angel demonstrated great compassion by offering food to Elijah and helping him regain his strength.

God then sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert - a journey which ended at the same mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. When confronted by God on the mountain, Elijah honestly expressed his discouragement: "The Israelites have rejected Your covenant...I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too" 1 Kings 19:8.

Elijah felt utterly alone. He understood the holiness of God and how far his people had strayed from God's path, but he also felt overwhelmed and helpless, unable to make a significant impact in God's Kingdom. God answered Elijah by calling him to be spiritually revived; "stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" 1 Kings 19:11.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face. 1 Kings 19:11-13

Everyone who desires to walk God's path and serve Him with all their heart will sooner or later relate to Elijah. It's unfortunate, but many will face Elijah's overwhelming helplessness time and time again. The mission is simply too great when we only consider our limited ability! But no matter what the problem, God's solution is always the same: we must come into His presence, be clothed with His strength, and listen intently for His leading.

We often assume that when the Creator of The Universe desires to "speak," it will be with a thundering call; "Walk this way!!" But God desires for our heart, soul, mind, and strength to be focused on Him, to be free of the clutter and noise - the distractions which tend to "choke the word, making it unfruitful" Mark 4:19. A major part of God's calling to all His Children is for us to simply be prepared to truly hear. It is therefore not surprising that God most often speaks in a whisper during the quiet and still moments of our life.

No matter how busy we become, we must set aside time which is quiet and undisturbed, time where we can enter into the presence of God, worship Him, and listen. God desires to encourage us and give us clear direction today. Let's love Him with all our heart and listen intently for His gentle whisper.

.....here

Prophet Elijah as was used by God to miraculously confront the 450 prophets of Baal, but then sank into deep despair when threatened by Queen Jezebel; "I have had enough Lord, take my life" 1 Kings 19:4. We saw how God demonstrated His compassion, sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert, and revealed His presence in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). But after all this, God had a very serious question for Elijah.

Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:13

Obviously, the question was not in reference to Elijah's physical location. Elijah was standing on the mountain because God had called him to that exact location. Though God already knew the answer, His question was asking Elijah what had brought him to this spiritually defeated condition. Elijah had been given the opportunity to talk with God, witness His power, and actually stand in His presence, yet he was filled with doubt and felt terribly alone; "I am the only one left" 1 Kings 19:14.

Once again, God could have lectured Elijah on his lack of faith. Instead, in His mercy, God gave Elijah the reassurance he needed to continue; "I reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal" 1 Kings 19:18. God encouraged Elijah that there were many others fighting this same battle. He also gave Elijah a companion who would walk with him for the remainder of His ministry; "Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet" 1 Kings 19:17.

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sin so we could be restored to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship saves us from an eternal death and separation from God, but it also allows us to be saved from the despair, fear, loneliness, and lack of purpose which surrounds us today. 

As we trust God for our eternal salvation, we must also trust Him to daily save us from the effects of a fallen world as well as our own weak and sinful nature. He is there to hear our cry, and we must never be afraid or ashamed to tell Him exactly how we feel: "I'm weak and lonely, frustrated and discouraged. Lord, I need You! ... please hold me!!" Nothing we say will ever surprise God or cause Him to let us go.

Our Heavenly Father has called us to examine our heart, confess our condition, and trust Him for the solution - He has called us to be saved! When we recognize and confess our weakness, we actually demonstrate our strength in the Lord. Let's strive to live each day in His presence, but let's also be prepared to respond honestly and without fear when God asks: "What are you doing here?"

- steve troxel

.....provision

During the ministry of Elisha, a widow came to him for financial help. Creditors had threatened to take her two boys as slaves if she didn't pay her debt, but all the woman had left was a little oil. Elisha told her how to miraculously multiply her oil and pay her bills...and in the process bring great glory to God.

Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side 2 Kings 4:3

The woman gathered empty jars and began to fill them from her one small jar of oil. She continued to fill the jars until each one she collected was full; "Then the oil stopped flowing" 2 Kings 4:6. The woman was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

Notice that the oil stopped flowing as soon as the last jar was full. If the woman would have collected half as many jars, the oil would have stopped flowing when the collected jars were filled. And if she would have collected twice as many jars, the oil would have continued until every last one was full. God's provision was equal to the number of jars she collected - equal to the number of jars she believed God would fill.

In our limited understanding of God we often place artificial restrictions on what we think He can accomplish, and our prayers become reduced to what we believe is actually possible. In this sense, our low level of faith has limited what God provides. Hundreds of years after Elisha we read about Peter walking on the water toward Jesus; but Peter never would have stepped out of the boat if confined to the realm of his own understanding. Peter left room for God to work beyond what he could understand.

Please do not read this message as a formula for worldly prosperity; God's Word never teaches that we are all to be rich with material wealth! But God does desire for each of us to trust Him beyond the bounds of our best analysis, and to draw closer than what we believe is ever possible. Peter didn't need to understand how the atomic structure of water might be altered to provide stability, he simply needed to know with certainty that Jesus was calling; "Lord, if it's You, tell me to come to You on the water" Matthew 14:28.

We serve an Awesome God - more awesome than we will ever comprehend; "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:9. We must never believe there is a problem too big for God to handle; "He is able to do immeasurably more..." Ephesians 3:20. Let's pray with a faith that truly believes our Father is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and let's refuse to place limits on God's provision.

- steve troxel

 

.....double

God gave Elijah a spiritual companion to share the burdens as well as the joys of ministry. I'm so glad God understands this need in His children! Elisha served as Elijah's attendant for many years while learning the ways of God. Just before the end of Elijah's ministry, immediately before "Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" 2 Kings 2:11, Elisha made a bold request of his mentor.

Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied. 2 Kings 2:9

According to Jewish law, a double portion of the inheritance was given to the firstborn son. This son would also then have the honor of leading the family. By boldly asking for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, Elisha was asking to inherit Elijah's prophetic ministry and his ability to serve God. Elisha could have made many different requests, but he asked to be blessed with an increased ability to serve.

God granted Elisha's request and used him to perform many miracles and serve as a prophet for more than 50 years, almost twice as long as Elijah. God granted his request because Elisha's motives were pure; his heart was firmly set on worshiping God through his service and proclaiming His Word throughout the land.

Solomon made a similar request when God offered to grant him anything he asked; "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9). The primary focus of our requests should always be to draw closer to God and glorify Him in all we do. Jesus said if this is the one true desire of our heart, all our other needs will also be satisfied; "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33.

Our Heavenly Father desires to abundantly bless His children as we seek His kingdom. He desires to increase our abilities, knowledge, wisdom, peace, and all manner of gifts; He desires for us to inherit these blessings as firstborn sons, "coheirs with Christ" Romans 8:17. And when He blesses those with pure hearts, we ought to remember that He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" Ephesians 3:20.

God honors the prayers of those who love Him with all their heart and desire to increase their ability to serve. Let's "approach the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16) and live our lives as firstborn sons. Let's inherit all He has promised, and glorify His name as we boldly ask to be blessed with a double portion!

- steve troxel

.....surrender

Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem for many years that they must repent or be destroyed. He often warned with direct words from God: "I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways" Jeremiah 18:11. It's hard to imagine a more direct warning.

But the people of Jerusalem ignored God's warning and failed to repent. And once the attacks on Jerusalem began, the promised destruction would not be stopped; "I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword" Jeremiah 20:4.

The righteousness of God requires that sinful hearts be punished. But the mercy of God always provides a path for those who place their trust in Him. This path may contain some painful consequences, but as we continue to trust, it will always lead us closer to His side. Jerusalem would be destroyed, but God provided one final opportunity for His chosen people to live.

I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life  Jeremiah 21:8-9

The people of Jerusalem felt secure in their city. They had weapons, strong walls, and a location which was hard to attack. Their worldly nature told them to remain in the safety of their "created" security, but God said the only way to survive was to trust Him and surrender.

Jesus used similar words when teaching the disciples; "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it" Matthew 16:25.

Though we are trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus for our eternal forgiveness, are we living in complete surrender for our daily walk? Have we lost our life, in the sense of our control, agenda, and even our dreams, for the sake of our faith? Our flesh wants to place trust in what we can touch and feel - in what we can create and control - but Jesus says the only way to truly live is to surrender ALL into His hands. His promise is that if we release all we think we hold, we will find a life more abundant and fulfilling than any we could imagine!

We may not understand how all this works, but the truth remains and the truth will set us free!  John 8:32. God has a wonderful plan for our life - a plan which will bring fulfillment and peace - but it's a plan which requires surrender; and often this surrender will require us to trust Him in an area filled with great uncertainty and fear. Let's begin today to place EVERYTHING in the loving control of His hands. Let's begin a new life as we completely surrender and live!

-  steve troxel

.....best

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength, for there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave, where you are heading Ecclesiastes 9:10

Enrico Caruso was an Italian tenor who thrilled audiences in Europe and North and South America about 100 years ago. He was one of the first to embrace the new technology known as the phonograph (or gramophone). One of his recordings was the first sound recording to sell one million copies. Though his 290 commercially-produced sound recordings were made from 1902-1920, all of them are available even to this day.

During the days of the first World War, Caruso was asked if he would sing at a concert for the benefit of the soldiers. The chairman of the committee who invited him said, "Of course, Mr. Caruso, as this is a charity affair, we would not expect you to do your best. Your name will draw the crowd. I would suggest that you merely sing some song requiring little strength or skill."

Caruso is said to have drawn himself up to his full height of 5’9”, and with great passion declared, "Caruso never does less than his best."

What a great lesson we followers of Christ should learn from that! Sadly, though, we are far too often lackadaisical in our devotion and service for the One Who Died For Us.

A church I pastored several years ago was facing some major repairs to a very old building. The bottom floor had settled until it was actually below ground level by several inches, and consequently, the entire building was moldy and had a musty, dirty smell. In one of our many meetings about the problem, one of the deacons spoke up and said, “Why can’t we just do enough to get by?”

That apparently was the prevailing attitude. But it was worse than I thought: they eventually did nothing.

My point is that too often followers of Christ just do enough to “get by,” rather than giving it all we’ve got. We offer God the leftovers in our time, our talents, and our resources, and are surprised when the blessings we read about in Scripture are not poured out on us! The Kingdom of God is not built with leftovers.

Today may you be as passionate about the quality of your service to God as Enrico Caruso was about singing opera!

- rocky henriques

.....pure

As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on. Mark 12:43-44

This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances, but the real message actually goes much deeper. We have all been blessed in so many ways, and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. 

God created us for a purpose. And though we may need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda!

Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our "offering" is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God's Kingdom, but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" 1 Samuel 15:22. How we give is much more important than what we give.

God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value.

If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart. 

- steve troxel

.....enough

You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north Deuteronomy 2:3

Will the second half of 2025 be any different than first half?  Will you "press on" in your faith this year or will you continue to wallow in self-pity or live in the "Land of  What If" or the "Land of If Only"?  Will you focus on what lies ahead or will you continue to focus on your past?

Listen to this wonderful challenge from Ruth Graham.  "Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it. Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and it is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north' Deuteronomy 2:3.   

Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."

What about you?

     Do you keep talking and talking and talking about something you just can't get over?

     Are you living in the past because you just can't "let it go"?

     Do you keep wallowing in self-pity wondering what "could have been"?

     Have you discussed it over and over with different people, but you've never taken action?

     Have you worried and worried about it, but you've never done anything?

     Are you still living in misery because it's something you can't forgive or forget?

Have you circled and circled and circled this issue all of your life?

The time has come!!!   You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north!!! 

- david langerfeld