.....active

Although loving others will not save us, John forcefully states that if we are truly saved we will love one another; "whoever does not love does not know God" 1 John 4:8.

In the five chapters of 1 John, the word love is used 46 times. If love is this important, we ought to understand what it means.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

John is saying that Jesus set the example for love and that our love for others is a direct result of the love of God within us. As we love God and surrender our life to Jesus Christ, His love fills us and overflows into the lives of those around us. If love for others is lacking, we must lay down our life and increase our love for God; a truly increased love for God will certainly increase our love for others.

John also makes it clear that a Godly love for others is not simply an emotional feeling, or gentle and kind words. When we begin to understand God's love for us - when we catch even a glimpse of His mercy and love in giving us His Son - we will be compelled to express our love with meaningful action such as meeting physical needs, readily forgiving when wronged, and showing Godly compassion when others are hurting. God so desired to be with us for all eternity that He gave His Son and loved us all the way to the cross. We are to love others in this same manner, "because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19

Our love for God is demonstrated by our real love for others. Jesus made this clear when He said; "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me" Matthew 25:40 

We are actually loving and serving God as we love and serve others: "I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me" Matthew 25:35-36

Love must be an integral part of our Christian walk. Love must be directed up; "love the Lord with ALL your heart" Mark 12:30, and love must be directed out; "love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. Let's love as Jesus loved us! Let's look for ways to love with more than words; let's love with an active love.

- steve troxell

.....forget

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

I have read that, back in the 19th century, when many people from Ireland were seeking passage to move to the New World, a young boy who didn't have the fare secretly boarded a ship as a stowaway. At sea the ship ran into an iceberg and began to sink.

When the boy realized what was happening, he came out of hiding and rushed to the deck only to see the captain taking the last seat in the last lifeboat. In the tradition of the sea the captain got out of the lifeboat and gave his seat to the boy. The last thing the captain said to him was, "Never forget what's been done for you."

In the years ahead the boy grew up to be a very successful man. When asked what was the secret of his motivation, he said, "Whenever I begin to doubt myself or let up from what I ought to be doing, I always remember a captain standing on a deck and saying, 'Never forget what's been done for you.'"

May you and I never forget what Jesus Christ has done for us in giving his life on the cross in your place and mine to pay the penalty for all our sins, to grant us a full and free pardon, and to give us the gift of eternal life. May our manner of life and how we live for God and others be evidence of our heartfelt gratitude.

.....liar

God desires that we know Him in a personal relationship. He has revealed Himself and provided a way to know Him through the life and sacrifice of His Son; "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father... Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?" John 14:9-10. As we grow in our faith and begin to know Him better, it becomes essential to know the promises of His Word. But it's even more important to believe that His promises are true! 

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son 1 John 5:10

Our old nature sometimes clouds our ability to clearly see the truth; and some of God's truths can be hard to accept and actually put into practice. But we either believe His words and begin to take steps to apply them in our life, or we do not believe and call God a liar by the way we live.

It may be a difficult process, but we must confront our beliefs and begin to make them real. When we face a trial and don't know which direction to turn, do we believe the words, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6? Do we really believe that as we trust Him, He will remove the confusion and guide our steps?

When our circumstances seem out of control, do we believe "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28? Do we really believe that as we continue to love Him, God works for the good in ALL things, regardless of our understanding? And when we feel alone, do we really believe God's promise to always be near; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5.

How about the promise of being content Philippians 4:12, or being given the peace of Jesus John 14:27, or the fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23; can we really "do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13? Parents, have we given up hope for our children or do we believe, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6?

God's Word is true and His promises are real!! 

Let's praise Him all the rest of our days and let our lives demonstrate we REALLY know and believe. Let's make our actions and decisions, fears and anxieties, hopes and dreams,  governed by truth.

- adapted from steve troxell

.....deserves

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10

Daniel is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. Since his youth, he was an example of devotion and obedience to God amidst his circumstances. Even when faced with threats of death, he remained faithful and gave thanks to God.

During king Darius' reign, Daniel was placed as one of three high officials that were placed throughout the kingdom. Some folks became jealous of Daniel and tried to find fault in him to accuse him before the king. When they were unable to find error in him, they decided to try and attack his faith. They tricked the king into establishing a law where petitions could not be made to any god or man besides the king. 

The jealous officials did this because they knew of Daniel's close relationship with God and his faithfulness to Him. When Daniel heard of this, he could have become angry and accused God of injustice, but instead, he went home and did what he always did… he prayed and gave thanks to God. 

It would be interesting to know what Daniel thanked God for that day. Was it for His constant provision? His faithfulness in every circumstance? His friendship and the fact that he was never alone? Every bit of this was true even if God had chosen not to rescue Daniel from the lion's den after having chosen to obey God over the king's decree. Daniel chose to express gratitude and remain faithful regardless of what happened to him, and God protected him. 

The God of Daniel is the same God we worship and serve today! His faithfulness, goodness, protection, provision, and friendship has not changed. Choose to put God above all else, express your gratitude to God daily for who He is, and remain faithful to His calling in your life. 

.....appointments

 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

"Os is now taking over this division. He will be managing all of these activities from now on. You should know that he has a different management philosophy than what you may have experienced before. He has a biblical management philosophy. Os, would you like to explain what they could expect from you in this regard?"

These were the words spoken to me by a non-Christian CEO recently when he decided to increase my responsibilities in the company. We had never spoken of spiritual issues before.

Each business day, you and I will have the opportunity to stand before presidents, marketing directors, secretaries or other coworkers to create a defining moment. When that happens, there is a good chance you will be thought of as someone to avoid. You might be considered "religious" or "fanatic." If so, consider this a great compliment because it says you are standing apart from the crowd.

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10:17-20

You may never be flogged for your faith. However, you may very well be brought before others to give account for what you believe. It may be at a water cooler, or it could be during lunch with a coworker. In whatever situation you find yourself, the Holy Spirit awaits the opportunity to speak through your life to that person who needs to hear. Ask the Lord whom He wants to speak to today through your life.

- oscar hillman

.....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

.....imperishable

We are called to "scatter" God's Word to as many people as possible without becoming preoccupied with the condition of the soil. We also knot that our technique or ability has little to do with the  yield or spiritual harvest; all growth is by the grace of God and we must simply be faithful farmers who plant the seed.

We should know that we are responsible for the type of seed we are sowing. The deceptive enemy of this world is very good at helping and encouraging us to sow weeds, and seeds which never bear fruit. It does no good to scatter seed which has no hope of germination and growth.

As we walk out into the field, we must remember that God's message of Salvation is not about a new set of regulations; we are not saved by trying extra hard to live according to God's commandments. His commands are an essential guide for our spiritual walk, but no amount of obedience, done outside the path of faith, will ever result in the transformation which identifies us as a child of God. Our self-effort will never yield eternal life and we hinder the harvest when we spread such a message!

When Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, He said, "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again" John 3:3. He then said this second birth is not of the flesh but of the Spirit. When we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin, God's grace gives us a spiritual birth as a new creation; "The old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Peter wrote to believers in Jesus, that they had been "born again" and had become "new creations" in Christ, but they had come under great persecution for their faith. Peter encouraged them to remember the eternal nature of our second birth.

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God."1 Peter 1:23

Our first birth resulted in our physical bodies - praise God! But, one day, these earthly vessels in which we live are guaranteed to run down and stop functioning - we were birthed of a perishable seed. In contrast, our second birth is of a seed which does not perish - a seed which results in eternal life.

We must never settle for a "good" life or allow our message to stop with good morals and "right" living. These are also perishable seeds which will fade away and lead to death. True life which is abundant and eternal is only found by His grace through faith in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Let's plant a true message of our need to be born again by ensuring we always scatter imperishable seed.

.....soils

A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown Luke 8:5-8

Usually, this parable is considered from the aspect of the different types of soil. The farmer represents one who plants the seed of God's Word into someone's life, and the different soils represent the different types of people who hear the gospel message. 

There is encouragement in these verses for us to be well tilled soil, free of weeds and ready to receive the Word of God. 

In the days of Christ, fields were planted by scattering or throwing out seed over all areas of a field. In this parable, the farmer is never criticized for waste as he throws seed on the path, in the weeds, or on the rocks. Planting day had arrived and it was the farmer's job to simply scatter the seed. He was not required to evaluate the soil, and there was no special technique required for planting. As long as the seed was scattered over a wide area, it would reach the good soil and produce a bountiful crop.

We are sent out as farmers into the fields of this world with God's Word in our hand and written on our heart; "go and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19. We must remember that the condition of the soil should never be our primary focus. God has entrusted us with a life changing message and it's His desire for this message to be "scattered" to all!

There is definitely a time for tilling soil, pulling weeds, and digging out the rocks that hinder our spiritual growth and the growth of those within our care; but in the field which God has placed us today, the time is always right for planting. 

Let's share His message of love and forgiveness, of Godly unity and peace. A new day has arrived! Regardless of our perception of the soil - regardless whether we believe they are ready - let's  be determined to sow the seed!

.....babes

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read the scripture, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" Matthew 21:16

Today, we phoned over 1800 miles of America to talk to our son and his family - you know, just to see how they were doing and to keep in touch. Our 2-year-old granddaughter Allison said she wanted to talk to us so they put her on the phone. She piped up, "Hi Gram-ma, Hi Gram-pa".  I have to admit that it made my eyes light up and I smiled and so did my Melody. How sweet that was to hear her voice speaking to us. 

We had heard through my sister that Allison had bumped her nose and she told us that it was OK now. Our 8-year-old grandson, Christopher, got on the phone and told us some things that were important to him right now and we shared a little of our life with him.  It left us with a warm feeling when we were done.

I believe that is how God feels about us! I think he longs to hear us call his name and tell him about how we are and how much we love him. Yes, I know he knows all that we do, but don't you think he wants to hear it from us personally - at least as much as we want to hear it from our grandchildren.

We hear the words repeated so often that I think they sometime lose their impact on our hearts, but John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Do you love your children or grandchildren enough to give up the most precious thing in the world for them? That's how much God loved us!

How about taking some time today to talk with God! Paul gives us some insight into what we need to be doing in Philippians 4:6-7. Notice what he says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" 

.

Some folks say, "I really don't know how to pray, I just don't know what to say." Notice again what Paul said, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Can it be any simpler than that? How about stopping right now and talking with your Father!

- russ lawson

.....water

God promises to lift up those who hope and trust in Him. His promise of encouragement does not depend on the difficulty or darkness of our situation. No matter how hopeless our circumstances may appear, His promise remains and we must trust Him with all our heart - He WILL lift us high and send us soaring! We also considered how we are called to provide lifts of encouragement when others are drifting in the valley of despair. We are called to encourage even when we are unable to see or recognize the results.

The Corinthians believed in Jesus and were encouraged in their faith through the efforts of multiple people. But Paul reminded them that, although many may have provided influence and guidance, it was God who did the real work.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." 1 Corinthians 3:6

I've often pondered the idea of watering without being able to see growth. My grandparents were married for sixty-five years, lived most of their life in a small farm house, and died a short distance from where they were born. In my youth, their love for the Lord was the foundation upon which I could stand when all else was crumbling. 

God used their faithful and patient watering for many years to soften my rebellious heart and call me to His side, without knowing the results they diligently continued to water.

Indeed, God's Word does not return empty Isaiah 55:11! No matter what our current circumstances, we must obediently plant His message and continue to water with encouragement at every opportunity. 

Many people are walking in a spiritually dry land and we may be the only bit of Jesus they see or hear...or read. Some seeds take a long time to germinate, and some plants can take years to fully mature and bear fruit. Let's minister with our focus always on the glory of God. He will produce the growth in His timing and according to His perfect plan. 

Let's join His work by simply, and faithfully, continuing to plant and water.

.....knowing

The Apostle Paul had a definite passion to serve God. Even before his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul strictly observed God's law; "as for legalistic righteousness, faultless" Philippians 3:6. But after being confronted by Jesus, his focus forever changed; his passion remained, but his every desire now centered around faith in Jesus and the good news of His gospel message.

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death Philippians 3:10

Paul pursued an intimate relationship with Jesus and sought to be identified with His death and resurrection. He knew the only way to experience the power of Jesus was to live as a new creation whose sinful nature had been crucified with Christ; and as a new creation, he continually desired to know his Creator.

Truly knowing Jesus Christ is much more than simply knowing "about" Him. We can fill our head with every possible biblical fact and still never know Christ. To know Him is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; to trust Him regardless of our circumstances, and to draw close to His side in our joy as well as our suffering. Nothing else in life has any real meaning; "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" Philippians 3:8.

Paul's passion for Jesus allowed him to loosen his hold of all worldly attachments; "I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3:8.. This uncontested supremacy of Jesus allowed Paul to be "content in any and every situation" Philippians 4:12. By giving himself fully to knowing Christ, Paul gained true contentment and peace.

We have the same ability to know Christ today. We are also promised the same results! Peace and contentment will NEVER be achieved through more possessions, activities, or relationships - these are ALL temporary and will fade away with time. Our life will only be truly content when we give ourselves to Jesus and love Him without reservation; we will only be filled with His peace as we seek to know Him.

We may never be asked to give up much for the sake of the gospel; but then again, we may be asked to give up everything! Either way, our heart must always hold loosely to the things of this world. Anything which cannot be released has effectively become a god and crowds the throne which MUST be reserved for the King of Kings. 

Let's reconsider our priorities - where we spend our time and what commands our thoughts and consumes our energy. Let's give ourselves fully to Him and make sure nothing has become more important than knowing Christ.

- steve troxell

....know

Be still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10

A woman was the mother of ten children, the wildest kids you could imagine. The father traveled extensively in his work, so she was, for all intents and purposes, raising these kids alone. The poor woman's life was unbearable.

A minister from the local church heard about her situation and called on her.  Seeing their small house and the behavior of the children, the man's heart went out to her. He tried to provide what little help and support he could. The minister offered the woman a playpen that someone had donated to the church. The distracted woman, who had never heard of a playpen, nonetheless welcomed the gift.

Sometime later, the minister saw the woman at church. With tears in her eyes, the mother thanked him for the gift. "That playpen has saved my life!" she said to him. "It's marvelous. Every afternoon at three o'clock, I jump into the playpen with a book and the children can't get to me."

Like this poor harried mother, we all need that "out of the way" place to re-center our lives on the things of God. Like Jesus, who rose at dawn and went to a deserted place, we must create our own "out of the way" place. 

An early morning hour before the rest of the house rises, a brief visit to a church during lunch, the last few minutes each evening before retiring. It can be a time for quiet prayer, for reading the Scriptures or for reflecting on the words and insights of some of the great spiritual writers.

Finding that "out of the way" place, creating within our day that "sacred time" to be alone with God can be the source of insight and grace that will illuminate every place and moment of our lives.

- david langerfeld

.....encouragement

Many of us have experienced that spiritual valley where we think the sun will never shine again. Some were swiftly thrust into that valley by a specific event; others drifted gradually until they reached the bottom and can't say how they got there. In either case, we wandered in darkness until something began to lift us to new heights.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint."Isaiah 40:29-31

An eagle appears to fly effortlessly through the air with only the occasional flap of its wings. These large birds are experts at finding areas of rising air called thermals that allow them to rise without using their own energy.

God uses spiritual hot springs to lift up those who wait on and trust in Him. Those who believe in the truth of His Word and diligently seek the updrafts through prayer and devoted worship will be freed from the heavy baggage that limits their upward flight—they will be lifted up by the guidance and power of God's Spirit.

If we find ourselves in the valley now, we must continue to seek Him with all our hearts and trust that our thermal is on its way. He has promised to strengthen us and make us soar again! 

And if we are currently soaring in our communion with God, we must give honor and praise to our Heavenly Father; but we must also recognize that there are many others in the valley who desperately need help—many who are searching and feeling overcome by darkness. As we ascend, we must understand that we are never called to fly alone.

God has chosen to use people to accomplish much of His work on earth. He could have chosen other methods; “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would cry out” Luke 19:40, but He chose us. We should “encourage one another daily” Hebrews 3:13. Why? Because there is a valley full of people waiting and longing for that current that will lift them up and set them free. We can be those updrafts for others with simple words or acts of encouragement that show God’s love and gently lead them back to His peace.

We have been adopted into God's "family"...and our family needs each other so much! Let us dedicate ourselves to rising to new heights through worship of God in absolutely every area of ​​our lives. Let us continue to soar to new heights and always seek out others in need of God's encouragement.

- steve troxel

.....plural

Two of the best-known passages in the Bible are the Twenty-Third Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer. They are similar in several ways, but there is one major difference between them. Psalm 23 is personal and singular: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (verse 1). The writer didn’t say, “The Lord is our shepherd.” He was writing for himself.

The Lord’s Prayer, on the other hand, is plural throughout. Jesus didn’t tell us to pray, “My Father in heaven” but “Our Father in heaven.” We’re to pray, “Give us…. Forgive us…. Deliver us” Matthew 6:9-13. We are praying for ourselves and for others.

God is our Heavenly Father; we must remember our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are part of a family, and we need to make sure to take care of those relationships. When you offer the Lord’s Prayer, think not only of yourself but also of others. 

You can make this a prayer that includes your children, your pastor, your fellow church members, and the family of Christ around the world. Here’s an idea to get started. Offer the Lord’s prayer now, and emphasize with your voice all the plural pronouns. It will be a blessing for you.

- david jeremiah

.....burden

Cast all your cares on Him; for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

"Growing in Grace" can be a very great "burden" to earnest, godly people. They go from conference to conference, preacher to preacher, speaker to speaker - notebook in hand, so eager to get a "blessing" or a "new insight" on how to live the Christian life.  However, because they hear of others having incredible experiences which they don't have, they carry heavy burdens of disappointment and self-reproach.

These same feelings might equally well belong to a child in the grade school because he is not in the higher classes of the school. But why should he worry about his future progress? His one business in grade school is to complete only the lessons set before him by his teacher. Once these lessons are learned, the teacher will assign more and deeper lessons, with deeper insight, and then will continue to advance him to where progress can be made more quickly.  

The same is true for us.  We are to learn the lessons which the Lord Jesus sets before us day by day - which, once learned, will allow Him to lead us into a fuller knowledge and deeper love of Him every day.

The Apostle Thomas was one of the "less-knowledged" pupils in our Master's school. He could not see what was clear to everyone else.  But instead of chiding him, and leaving him to grope in the dark, the Master paid him a special visit, and made the incredible fact of His resurrection so simple, that the "doubter" was able to rejoice with the all the others. 

 

So, don't worry about your lack of knowledge or lack of learning, it only means that our dear Master will give you longer and more personal attention. 

- f.f bruce

.....job

A resourceful doctor in rural Australia saved a boy's life with a handyman's power drill.  Hailed as a hero when the story broke globally years ago, he reacted modestly. "It was not a personal achievement," he said. "It is just a part of the job, and I had a very good team of people helping me."

Dr. Rob Carson diagnosed a 12-year-old boy brought to a small hospital's emergency room with a soon-to-be-fatal brain bleed. Nicholas Rossi had been riding his bike and took a fall. His mother, a nurse, realized the bump on his head could be serious and insisted on taking him to the hospital. By the time they arrived, Nicholas was already slipping in and out of consciousness.

Dr. Carson made the correct call on what was happening and knew he had a very short time to take decisive action. He made two decisions.  First, he sent to the maintenance room for a drill, because the rural hospital didn't have sophisticated neurosurgical tools. Second, he called a neurosurgeon in Melbourne to ask help with his dilemma.

With an ordinary household drill in hand, he followed the specialist's guidance through a procedure that worked flawlessly. "General practitioners in country towns do procedures all the time," said Dr. Carson. But a father's reaction to that modest take on what happened was very different. "He saved our son's life!" declared Michael Rossi.

People took what was at hand and put it into God's hands!

Some of us would do well to follow the good doctor's example and learn to be a bit more clever, gutsy, and inventive in our lives. Are you a sales person who sits for long periods waiting to see clients? Keep a Bible or a christian book with you to read instead of old magazines. Are you a commuter? Listen to a Christian podcast as an alternative. 

Has the tough economy challenged your company's customary client base?  Has illness altered the way your family functions? Has the community around your church changed radically over the past few years? Every challenge is a disguised opportunity for creative adaptation and productive learning.

Gideon used clay jars and trumpets to rout an army. Samson used the jawbone from a donkey's carcass to defeat his enemies. Jesus used a little boy's sack lunch of bread and dried fish to feed thousands. In these biblical episodes, people took was at hand and put it into God's hands -- with amazing outcomes.

Creativity often comes not from seeing the light but from feeling the heat. Maybe it will be that way with the challenge you are facing today. Your task is not to guarantee outcomes with certainty but to address problems with courage.

- rubel shelly

.....amazement

We are called to grow and mature, but never to "grow" such that we are led away from the simple and unchanging truth: God loves us so much that He provided a way to restore a right relationship with Him through faith in His Son. Jesus died so we could live! Does this awesome act of love still amaze us, or have we "matured" to more "important" matters?

"And He said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"Matthew 18:3

When my daughter was four years old, we read the Bible story about young Samuel. While discussing this story, my daughter showed me the excited faith God calls us to maintain. Perhaps her faith could teach us all...

As a young boy, Samuel was ministering with an old priest named Eli. One night God called to Samuel, but Samuel thought it was Eli's voice. Eli said he had not called and told Samuel to go back to bed. After God called a few more times, Samuel realized who was calling and answered: "Speak, for Your servant is listening" 1 Samuel 3:10. God then gave Samuel a message - but the message was all about Eli.

My daughter asked, "Why did God speak to Samuel if the message was really to Eli?" We talked about how we must be ready and willing to hear God. I said Eli may have had some problems or distractions in his life which kept him from hearing God, so God spoke His message through a child. I said little kids (like her) can often hear God better than older people (like me).

"But, I don't hear God talk to me," she said, with a little disappointment in her voice. I explained how God doesn't usually speak so we can hear Him with our ears; rather, His Spirit speaks to our heart and we hear Him as we listen to our heart. Her little eyes widened, "Like today when I was going to sit on one of the baby toys - Jesus told my heart I was too big and shouldn't do it so I listened to what He said."

I encouraged her that this is exactly how God speaks to us, we just need to learn how to listen and then obey. My daughter thought for a moment and then slowly shook her head in amazement: "Wow! That's sooooo cool!!"

Heavenly Father, I pray that Your Word never becomes just an interesting collection of stories. You created us, loved us, and will one day call us Home to be with You for all eternity - and Father, that's sooooo cool!! Help us to come into Your presence with a thankful and loving heart. Strengthen our faith every day and allow us to continually look on You and Your wonders with a childlike amazement.

- steve troxel

...basics

As we continue down God's path of sanctification, "being transformed into His likeness" 2 Corinthians 3:18, moving from milk to solid food Hebrews 5:12, and growing in grace and "all spiritual wisdom and understanding" Colossians 1:9, it's wise to return often to the basics of our faith. As we learn more of our Heavenly Father and ponder His "deeper truths," we must never forget that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. The truth of all scripture is that God loves us and is inviting us to join Him, to know Him and enjoy Him, for all eternity.

The Apostle Peter understood the importance of fundamentals. He wrote his second letter to warn us against false teaching and to remind us that, as we step out in faith, we have been given all the necessary tools to accomplish what God desires for our life; "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" 2 Peter 1:3.

Peter taught that when we place our trust in Jesus, we receive everything we need to live a victorious life; "so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" 2 Peter 1:4. The real challenge of our Christian walk is not in acquiring new and "greater" gifts, but in learning how to best utilize what we have already received.

Peter also wanted us to remember that Salvation is not the end of our journey; rather, it is the beginning of a long and wonderful walk which begins in faith and continues by growing ever closer to Christ. Since we have been given such a wonderful gift, we should "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love" 2 Peter 1:5-7. We must continue to grow such that the end result - the highest quality of our Christian life - is love!

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live." 2 Peter 1:12-13

To ensure we don't wander down side-paths filled with self-effort and self-importance, or stumble in the world's temptation of corruption and evil desires, we must continually return to the starting point of our faith. We must never forget that God loves us and desires to walk with us each and every day. 

All that we do must be directed by God and accomplished with the tools He has provided. Let's dig deep at every opportunity, but let's remain lovingly close to His side and always remember the basics.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....energy

When the Apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was forever changed. Prior to meeting Jesus, Paul was "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" Acts 9:1. After the encounter with Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul "began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God" Acts 9:20.

Paul had been given the task of preaching the gospel of God's grace through faith in Jesus, and he would do so for the remainder of his life. But Paul would endure many trials along the way. He faced those who desired to take his life and others who simply refused to listen to his message...but he continued on.

"To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29 Paul "labored" and "struggled" with the task he had been given. But rather than relying on his own strength and abilities, Paul learned to labor with the energy of Christ.

The word "energy" refers to the active working of God's power. Paul used this same word to describe the power all believers have received from God; "That power is like the working {energy} of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the Heavenly realms" Ephesians 1:19-20.

God has provided a power like the energy which flowed through Jesus and raised Him from the dead. This is a remarkable gift, yet one we seldom use. With His energy we can receive clear direction; we can be focused and accomplish all He desires. Without His energy we may wander from task to task, become exceedingly weary, and never accomplish anything of eternal value.

There will be times of overwhelming adversity when God simply takes charge and directly fights the enemy. But also, God directs us to continue struggling in the daily labor of accomplishing His work. Jesus said the burden of this work will be greatly eased as we learn to attach ourselves to Him and walk by His side; "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" Matthew 11:30.

We only fail in His work when we fail to trust; "I can do EVERYTHING through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13. God's path can certainly change direction and become difficult from time to time, but His provision will always be sufficient, and it is ALWAYS too soon to quit - we must continue! We can do all things and find great fulfillment as we attach ourselves to Christ and labor with all HIS energy.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....broken

Many of us are broken at one time or another. We are sometimes broken in spirit, sometimes broken in body, sometimes broken in relationships and sometimes broken by the death of a loved one or even the loss of a job. We often struggle to find a reason for this happening, but we just as often struggle for a reason to go on, to have some purpose in our lives. We want to cry out, "What's the use?" "Why should I even try." "No one cares, no one sees me."

It may be that you are hurting, lonely, feeling dejected, useless or abandoned… broken. I understand how hard that is to deal with in your life right not, but remember that God always has a use for you, always has love for you, even when you feel unlovable and unloved. 

In the book "Heart Held High," the author wrote, "We are now His broken things. But remember how He used broken things. The broken pitcher of Gideon's little army. The broken roof, through which the crippled man was lowered, and the broken alabaster box, which shed its fragrance over the broken body of our Savior." 

Have you been broken?  it is not the "end of life as you know it". God has more for you to do and to be for him. 

Don't get caught up in holding on to things so dearly here on this earth, that the loss of them breaks you beyond use or recovery. The apostle Paul had the right idea about holding onto things. He shared his philosophy regarding this in Philippians 3:7-11.  "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (NLT)

What are you holding on to? What gives you the ability to stand strong when your world crumbles around you? Paul also wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, "With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter."

The key is to "stand firm and keep a strong grip on" God's word. You may be broken now or may be yet in the future, but remember to let go of the world and stand firm in the Word of God. Because, even broken things can be used by Him.

- adapted from russ lawson

.....all

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,  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 150 million kilometers 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 

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.

- adapted from stephen troxel

.....gave

 "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  James 1:2-4

I asked God for Strength... 

        And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked God for Wisdom... 

        And God gave me problems to solve.

I asked God for Prosperity... 

        And God gave me a work-hard mindset and the strength to work.

I asked God for Courage... 

        And God gave me danger to overcome.

I asked God for Love... 

        And God gave me troubled, hurting, lonely people to help.

I asked God for Favors... 

        And God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted...

        But I received everything I needed!

- dave langerfeld

.....slow

We live in an instant society. Internet speed is no longer in seconds, but in nanoseconds.  It is a day of fast food, speedy connections, super-fast computers, higher speed limits, and faster travel. We get frustrated, even angry, at having to wait in line, or slow service, or traffic, and things that take too much time. We have a limited view of time and this view greatly impacts out understanding of how God works.

The people were becoming tired and frustrated. Persecution of Christians was now rampant. They had held on to the hope that Jesus would soon return and put an end to it all. He promised that He would return, but where was He? Why was He being so slow in keeping His promise?  Frustration was setting in and discouragement was just around the corner.

 Peter was concerned for the early Church, afraid that they would abandon the faith and give up. So he wrote them a letter of encouragement in which he notes a very important fact: "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

The early disciples struggled just as we do with issue of time. The delayed return of Christ led them to doubt that He would return at all, thus they were becoming discouraged. Though this verse speaks specifically to Christ's return, it rises out of the overarching faithfulness of God. He is true to His Word and when it seems He is slipping in keeping His Word, He is not. We look at and understand time in nanoseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc. But God works within the framework of "kairos," which is time understood broadly, such as a period of time. 

That is why Peter uses the illustration, "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day." 2 Peter 3:8 This is not to be understood as some sort of mathematical way to discover God's timetable. Rather it is an illustration that although God's timing is different from ours, it is nonetheless perfect.

God is not slow in keeping any of His promises and though it is not always fast enough for our liking or understanding, He does His work in perfect timing. What seems like slowness to us is actually patience. God is being patient with us for He does not "want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 

His patience has to do with our salvation: "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation." God doesn't want anyone to perish, but all to have their life transformed and turned around, grounded in Him. This is not only true with regard to our Lord's return, but with all of God's work in us. We can be confident that God is faithfully accomplishing His plan and purposes in perfect timing. He is not slow in keeping His promises!

Beloved, let us relax and rest in our God's faithfulness. He is patiently, persistently and passionately fulfilling His promises in and through us.  Let us take heart in the assurance that He will accomplish His promises in "just the right time!"

- pr gerry whetstone

.....unconditional

When we become God's children, through faith in Jesus, He loves us in spite of our failures - in spite of the way we stumble and sometimes fall. 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.

- adapted from steve troxel

.....humbly

Seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth, the prophet Micah wrote words given to him by God, words that tell what God expects from His Children.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8

God loves us so much that He gave His Son so we may be restored to Him and receive the gift of eternal life John 3:16. When we begin to understand the fullness of His love and place our complete trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, it's natural to ask: "What do You now require of me Lord?" But as we search the Scripture, we find no additional "requirements" for our Christian walk which are not summed up in the words of Micah.

As we live by faith, we must "act justly" by doing what is fair and right; "Anyone who does not do what is right is not a Child of God" 1 John 3:10. This means we live with integrity and "love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31.

God requires that we "love mercy" by showing compassion and forgiveness for others; "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful" James 2:13. It also means we live with a continual thankfulness for God's mercy toward us. An understanding of God's merciful forgiveness of our sins should compel us to forgive and show mercy to others. Without God's mercy, we would all be lost.

The final requirement is for us to "walk humbly" with our God. The word humble means to place a low value on "self." This is not a very popular concept in our "me-first" generation which seems to reward the individual who is prideful and confident in his own ability. We are trained to achieve, acquire, and rise higher than we believe possible; but God calls us to submit and walk with Christ continually exalted above all else in our life: "He must become greater; I must become less" John 3:30.

True humility is required for proper worship and thankfulness before God. We did NOTHING to deserve eternal life and yet we have received. We are made worthy and given value without having done anything to earn our Salvation. This heavenly gift ought to produce a never-ending stream of praise from our heart and cause us to focus less on ourselves and more on the needs of others.

All we have, and ALL we are, has been given to us by a loving God who created the Universe and accepted us into His Kingdom through faith in His Son. Let's glorify Him with every step we take; and with each step of faith, let's remember to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.

- steve troxel