.....humility

God doesn't want us to remain as 'a child'. Doesn't He want us to grow? Absolutely! Paul addressed the Corinthian church as worldly rather than spiritual because they were "mere infants in Christ" 1 Corinthians 3:1. The church was experiencing many trials because they had failed to grow: "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready" 1 Corinthians 3:2.

God's Word never calls us to maintain the faith or spiritual understanding of a child. These simple qualities are important, but we must continually grow and send down deep roots which will weather the storm. What we are called to maintain is the simple humility of a child. We must learn to be secure in our Father's hand and to "approach the throne of grace with confidence" Hebrews 4:16, but we must never let our confidence and security lead to an ungrateful assumption of His grace. We initially came to God weak and helpless, and no matter how much we grow - no matter how deep our roots - we remain weak and unable to add a single grain to the grace which He has poured over us.

But our weakness is good! In fact, an understanding of our weakness apart from Christ and our continued walk of weakness is one of the few offerings we can give to our Lord.

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' ...That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."2 Corinthians 12:9,10

God has chosen to unfold His plan through the lives of His children. We are to reflect the light of Christ into a dark and lifeless world; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. And the world will best see Christ as we remove our own perceived strength and allow the power of God to freely work through us. His power is made perfect as I get my "self" out of the way and walk with a humble weakness.

It's interesting that one of the greatest things we can give to God is an understanding of what we do not have. Let's strip away our pride and once again approach Him with empty hands. Let's offer our lives as a living sacrifice, as a humble sacrifice of weakness.

- steve troxel

....children

When the disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Matthew 18:1, He responded with a harsh rebuke; "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 18:3. 

The disciples were arguing about their eternal "greatness" and Jesus said unless they changed they would not even enter Heaven! Obviously, following Jesus, listening to His teachings, and having a general belief is not enough.

Salvation, or as Jesus said, entering "the Kingdom of Heaven," involves a submission which understands our inability to save ourselves. We can do nothing but present the "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6 of our life and receive the mercy and forgiveness of a loving Father. Salvation is not something we rise up and achieve, rather it's a gift for which we must submit and receive. When we understand this gift, we will be filled with such thankfulness that our only desire will be to love Him and do ALL to bring Him glory and honor.

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."Matthew 18:4  Becoming like a little child, humbly dependent on Christ, is necessary for entering the Kingdom, but walking in humility as we grow is God's desire for our entire life. 

We are to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29. But it was His Son "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing...He humbled Himself and became obedient to death" Philippians 2:6-8. We are being conformed to His humility.

The great temptation of spiritual "growth" is in thinking we have all the answers and thus desiring to establish our own path with its own set of rules - we become like the know-it-all teenager. When this occurs, we must immediately, and with great determination, humble ourselves and put to death the rebellious pride which leads us astray. We must "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. We must daily remember the children we really are...and the children we need to continually become.

We certainly must continue to grow and mature. We must learn more of our Heavenly Father and His desire for our life as we walk in faith, and strive toward obedience in all He has commanded. But we must also remember that as we grow, we are to walk in humility and always remain like a child.

- steve troxel 

....? failure

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.... 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel." Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him.

Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army - and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" 1 Chron. 11:10.

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom -- if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

- os hillman

....fleas

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Corrie Ten Boom, in The Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her an important principle. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck.

Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded, and flea infested. Their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. She finally succumbed.

During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was several months later when they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas!!!

There are times in our lives when we refuse to be thankful, especially when something is uncomfortable or causing us pain. We rarely feel inclined to thank God for the traffic on the freeway, the unhappy clients at work, the tantrums our toddlers have, or the unexpected illnesses that keep us from doing all the things we need to do. However, I have learned to sit and listen in the discomfort, because even there, God is present. Just like the fleas allowed Corrie and Betsy to freely share the Gospel and worship with others, our uncomfortable circumstances could also lead to something greater.

The tantrums my two-year-old throws is developing patience and love in me, and also teaching me how to discipline effectively. Common illnesses have forced me to slow down and spend time with God. The difficult client at work has led me to prayer. Listening to worship songs in the traffic has allowed me to have the most meaningful times with my Heavenly Father.

The next time you find yourself in unpleasant circumstances, thank God for that and ask Him to draw near and show you His will. Everything in the life of a Christian has a purpose. Let's take a moment to thank God for the "fleas" today.

- crystal

....past

Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

"In 1642 England was caught up in the Civil War with Cromwell and the roundheads. Five years later King Charles the First was captured, tried and sentenced to death. He was executed on January 30, 1649. Fifty-nine men put their signatures to the death warrant.

When Charles II was restored to the throne some eleven years later, he wanted to avenge his father's death. However, by that time, some had died and others were living abroad. They were arrested, taken back to England, and ordered to stand trial.

As for those who had died, the bodies of fifteen signatories, many of whom had been dead for years, were exhumed and then hung on the gallows."

That's exactly what resentment does. It digs up the past. It is caused by nursing grudges and failing to forgive - a practice that God's Words warns us not to do. This is because buried and/or unresolved anger, hurt, grief, bitterness, etc., work like emotional cancer that "rots the bones," destroys relationships, and keeps one bound by the past.

"Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." No wonder that God's Word also says, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred [unresolved anger and resentment].  Don't just pretend to be good." 1 Peter 2:1

- richard innes

....serving

 “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

— Acts 20:35

When you were a kid and your birthday or Christmas was approaching, you mostly thought about the gifts you would get. But as you got older, you started thinking less about what you would get and more about what you would give.Your outlook changes because you mature. And you discover there is joy in giving.

In the same way, when we first become Christians, we want all that God had for us, and so we should. We go to church to learn, to take in, and that is great.

But as the years pass, we realize that God wants to work through us as well. As a result, we want to give more than receive. Of course, we must always take in before we can give out. But at the same time, we discover the joy of giving, the joy of serving.

The beautiful fringe benefit is that when we give, the Lord gives back to us. Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” Luke 6:38.

Why not commit yourself afresh to this blessed responsibility and privilege?

Have you lived your life well so far? Or are you squandering it in an elusive search for happiness and forgetting God in the process? Instead of finding happiness, maybe you’re finding misery. That’s because we find true happiness in knowing God through Jesus Christ. We don’t find it in anything on this earth.

We will find the true happiness that we seek in a relationship with God. The happy life is the life with God. So don’t settle for some cheap imitation this world offers. Pursue the real thing.

- greg laurie

....new

 So, did you make at least one New Year’s resolution? 

 

There are many who value making New Year’s resolutions.  Each January seems like a fresh start as if the troubles of the present year end every December 31.

 

Recently, I *learned of an annual event known as Takanakuy in Peru. Recognising that each year brings its own problems, people use the event to close off the previous year’s conflicts and disputes by fighting so they can start the new one harmoniously. Each December at Chumbivilcas province, in Cusco, crowds gather to watch the protagonists battle to settle their differences before the New Year begins. When they finish, grievances are set aside and the day ends with a fiesta. They are free to begin a new year afresh.

 

Yes, there are far better ways of settling accounts but the Peruvians cannot be faulted for wanting to set aside the differences before the year ends. To close off a year without resolving conflicts, forgiving or seeking forgiveness, and making reconciliation, will definitely guarantee a more difficult new year.

 

While we happily greeted 2023 with hope, in the back of our minds we knew that it won’t be so for many.  Yes, some will experience joy and great pleasure as they graduate, marry, give birth, etc. but others will be faced with news of terminal illness or other personal tragedies.  Moments of joy can quickly be tempered by the reality of living in a sinful world. So, we remain hopeful and often resolve to play our part in making the year more purposeful.

 

So, did you make a resolution?  Given that we have no power over natural occurrences in 2023, what goals have you set that will help you have a more purposeful life, regardless of your situation?  Although we don’t know what 2023 will bring, how about wanting to be closely connected to the One who holds our future in His hands [Psalm 16:5]?

 

Here are three resolutions to consider:

If not already doing so, begin having daily personal relationship-building time with God.  Using only the Bible, take time to read from it and contemplate God, His worth, glory, love, and how He acts. Daily pray for the Holy Spirit to govern your life.

 

Physically participating in public worship in the church building. As disciples, we are part of the body of Christ.  Let’s not deny ourselves fellowship with the rest of the body. We need each other for growth.

 

Regularly engage in acts of service in your neighbourhood and live as a disciple to others.

If you take time to think about these resolutions, you may also see them as the most important ones you can make for 2023. If you do, let these be among your resolutions.  

It’s not too late to make them today.

- halsey peat

.....diminished

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:22–24

The Bible tells the story of the prodigal son who decided to get out of the house. He said, in effect, “Dad, I’m out of here. I’m going to go out and do what I want. Just give me my cut of the inheritance now. See you later.”

Then he went out and blew all his money. He ended up in rags, hanging out with a bunch of pigs. But one day he came to his senses and decided to go back to his father’s house. What is worth noting is that everything the prodigal son was looking for out in the world was found in his father’s house. Judging from his actions, he wanted to have nice clothes. He wanted to enjoy great food. And he wanted to party.

Yet when he returned home, his father said to the servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” Luke 15:22–24.

In the same way, we can find everything we need in a relationship with God. The problem is that we’re not spending enough time seeing who Jesus is. When we see who Jesus is, we see what the world is. But if we are only looking at this world and not spending enough time with the Lord, we have a diminished view of God and an exalted view of this world. It should be the other way around.

Of course, you can discover the easy way or the hard way that what God says is true. We can throw our lives away. Or we can live our lives for the Lord and finish the race of life with joy.

- greg laurie

.....salt

Salt has a marvelous effect on a lot of things and more uses than "you can shake a stick at," as my mother says. Most of us are familiar with Matthew 5:13 regarding salt. In this passage God uses salt in his description of man, his religion and his relationship to the world. Notice what he says, "You are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men."

Have you ever had food that was bland, with no taste, missing something?  Maybe just a little salt would help bring out the flavor.  I have and you probably have, too. What do we begin to do? Generally we look for or ask for some salt. I have been in some situations though, where I haven't asked for or added salt. It may be that I am in a strange place and don't know where it is or it is unavailable, or maybe I don't want to hurt the cook's feelings. But you know what, the food just isn't as enjoyable without the salt. 

I have tried the "salt substitutes," that are supposed replacements for the real thing. I can tell you - they aren't!  I don't care what the advertisers try to tell you, there is no substitute for real "made by God" salt. It brings the flavor to life and there's simply nothing better that can replace it.

You see, the point of the passage above is that we are the salt of the world. If your life is not spicy enough, or doesn't zing your taste buds - maybe it's because your salt has lost its taste. What does that mean? Simply, maybe you need re-salted or your saltshaker needs refilled with a good dose of God and not a salt substitute.

We are the "salt of the earth."  How many of your friends are looking for a better, more fulfilling life?  Could you share "a little salt" with them?  You can't, unless your own salt-shaker is filled with "the real thing," a strong relationship with the source of all things, our God!

- russ lawson 

....freedom

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. 'We are your slaves,' they said. But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:18-20

If you were to reflect on the past year, I am sure that some may be reminded of hurt feelings. Perhaps some of us are dragging these feelings into the new year. While it may be easier to ignore those feelings, if not dealt with, these feelings can produce bitterness and anger in us. It is hard to practice gratitude with these feelings in our hearts. Instead of trying to sweep these issues under the rug, we can choose to enter the new year with the freedom of forgiveness. 

In order to truly forgive, we must surrender it all to God. This can be difficult because we typically associate the word surrender with defeat or losing the battle. But when our hurts are surrendered to God, this is when he lifts the weight off our shoulders and handle's the situation as he sees fit. Our healing begins when we come in total surrender to God. He covers us in his love, mercy, and fills us with his peace. Our human nature may want revenge on those who have hurt us, but when we surrender to God, we can trust that he will take care of it. Romans 12:19 says, "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God… 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back', says the Lord." 

The story of Joseph is a perfect example of this. When he saw his brothers before him that day, I am sure that all those feelings of hurt came back for all they had done to him. He had suffered greatly because of their jealousy. But he acknowledged God's control over everything and realized how God had used the hurt to accomplish His plans for Joseph. In the same way, God can take our pain and use it for good when we surrender it all to Him.

Friends don't take offenses and hurts from last year into the new year. If we want to have peace, we need to surrender our hurt feelings over to God. We need to relinquish control. If there is someone you need to forgive, take it to God in prayer right now, leave it in His hands, choose to forgive, and trust Him with the results. Forgiveness is not about the other person, but about us and the freedom we can enjoy in Christ.

- charles iness

....start

Is your life predictable? 

Do you do the same thing, day after day? 

Do you feel as though 2023 will be just as dull and monotonous as 2022? 

Here is a passage that shows us a practical example of how one man changed his life.

Mark 10:46-52   "Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see. Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."

From this passage, we can discover the ABC’s to help us change our lives…

A - Assume Responsibility For Your Own Life!

"When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v.47)

We live in a generation that tries to blame someone else for its problems.

     Teenagers blame their parents,

     Parents blame their children,

     Workers blame their co-workers or their boss.

Things happen that you can’t control – but you can control your response.   Let me repeat that. Things happen that you can’t control – but you can control your response. I hear people say all the time… “He makes me so mad” or “She makes me so mad.” Nobody can make you mad. You’re the only person who can make you mad. People can do things that upset you, things you don’t like, things that hurt you. But you decide how you’re going to respond. Look back at the scripture. See what did Bartimaeus did and did not do.

1. He didn’t blame someone else. He didn’t think that God or anyone else owed him something.

2. He DID go to Jesus. He humbled himself and sought help and deliverance.

B – Believe You Can Change!

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (v. 51)

He believed he wouldn’t walk away the same.

He believed that he’d be DIFFERENT.

So often people pray…

     “God, if you’ll just change my employer,

              if you’ll just change my husband or my wife

              if you’ll just change my children or my friend,

              if you’ll just change my boss, or co-worker, or relative

God never promises that he will change your situation. God does promise that he will change YOU. He’ll change your attitude… your perspective… your outlook… Then you can change your attitude toward your situation.

C – Clarify What It Is You Really Need

Notice the question in verse 51 – “What do you want me to do for you?”   Specific prayers get specific answers. How often do we pray, “God bless the missionaries overseas.”  Jesus already knew what the man needed. Jesus just wanted the man to say it.

How often do we play communication games with each other?  A wife will tell me, “He doesn’t meet my needs.”  “Well, does he know what you need?”  “Sure, he loves me, he ought to know.”  ” Maybe he ought to know, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he really knows. You have to tell him what your needs are.”

Another example: “I’m so mad at him.”  “Well, does he know why you’re mad at him.”  “Of course, he does. He knows what he did!”  “How does he know? Did you tell him?”  “I don’t have to tell him. He knows.”

We do the same thing with God.  We assume that since God knows everything, we don’t have to tell him.  But that’s just exactly the opposite of the way God operates.  He wants us to tell him what we need.  Exactly what we need.  Jesus will meet your needs when you tell him what your needs are.  But sometimes He doesn’t meet your needs because you never tell Him what you really want and how you really feel.

Notice his cry – “Have mercy on me.”  He was beggar.  Yet, notice, he didn’t cry out for food, or clothing, or money or housing.  He was given sight that day.  He was healed that day – because he realized that his most basic need was for mercy and grace.  He needed what only Jesus was offering – and because of that, he was healed.

D – Decide to Stop Worrying

1. First, Stop Worrying About What Other People Will Say

“Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.” (v.48)

What were they telling him?

     Shut up! Nobody wants to hear what you have to say!

     This isn’t the right place.. This isn’t the right time…

     Nobody’s ever done it that way before…

     You can’t do that – just be quiet

We have to quit worrying about what other people think. In this particular situation, everyone else was wrong. Everyone else told him he shouldn’t do it that way. He didn’t care what the protocol was. He didn’t care if all the people agreed that you just don’t approach Jesus that way. He knew he needed help and he wasn’t going to be denied.

Have you prayed for something and God hasn’t answered you yet?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Do you have a need and God hasn’t met it yet?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Are you hurting and don’t have an answer?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Are people telling you to give up?

Are people telling you to quit?

Are people telling you that God doesn’t care?

Are you worried about what other people think or what other people will say?

Are you concerned about how it might look?

Are you worried that other people will think you crazy or you’re a fanatic?

          Stop worrying.

          Don’t quit.

          Don’t give up

              JUST CRY OUT EVEN LOUDER

Two of the greatest attributes a Christian can have are persistence and perseverance. Jesus tells a parable about the neighbor who comes at midnight and is rewarded for his persistence. Someone once said, God doesn’t answer shallow prayers, he answers desperate prayer.

2. Second, Stop Waiting for the Ideal Circumstances

"As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging." (v.46)

Bartimaeus almost missed his chance. Jesus was on his way out of town. This is the last time Jesus would come to Jericho. If he had missed Jesus this time, he never would have been healed.

We have to quit waiting for just the right time.

We have to quit waiting for the right opportunity to come along. It may not happen.

We have to do something NOW!

E – Exercise Your Faith

“Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” (v.50)

Sometimes, we have to do something different. We can’t do the same old thing.

     If we’re really going to change,

     If we want life to be different,

          we have to do something bold and dramatic.

Bartimaeus did something unique and unusual for that day and time. It was not normal for a man to cast aside his garment. It was not the usual protocol for a man to leave his garment. Sometimes we have to do something totally out of the norm. Totally different. Hebrews 12:1 says, let us lay aside every weight, every sin that so easily entangles us.”

Notice those words, lay aside every weight and every sin. We know the sins. But what are the weights? Whatever is keeping you from keeping Jesus first in your life. Whatever is keeping you from running to Jesus. Whatever is holding you back from surrendering your life to the LORDSHIP of Jesus so he can do a miracle in your life.

F – Follow Jesus

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (v. 52)

He was a beggar, he was blind, he had been healed. It would have been so easy to go into town and tell everybody what had happened – to show his friends and relatives, to let the whole town know that he had been healed – but that’s not what the scripture says. It simply says, “He followed Jesus!”

2023 can be totally different from 2022 if you will…

    A  –  Assume responsibility for your own life

    B  –  Believe you can change

    C  –  Clarify what it is you really need.

    D  –  Decide to stop worrying

    E  –  Exercise Your Faith

    F  –  Follow Jesus!

- david langerfeld

....key

"The Key to Victory in 2023"

The key to victory in 2023 is Philippians 3:13-14. Paul was using the illustration of a race to describe his life. He was in the home stretch, but he was still running the race; the race wasn't over. He said, "I have not apprehended it yet." - NOT YET!

Right behind this conjunction is one of Paul's secrets to living: THIS ONE THING I DO!  It's the only time this particular phrase is used in the New Testament. Single-minded concentration on the things of God is essential to running the race of Christianity.  You cannot be dwelling on other things as an athlete and give your best performance. Therefore, Paul says "this one thing I do."

What is "This One Thing I Do"?

"Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That's the key for victory in the Christian life. That's the key for victory in 2023.

What do we need to forget?

Paul had learned that we have to lock the door on yesterday and throw away the key. Paul discovered that looking back almost always ends up in going back. Let me repeat that... Looking back almost always ends up in going back. In the Old Testament we find the wandering Israelites ready to return to their old ways rather than pressing on. In the New Testament Jesus clearly taught us in Luke 9:62 that "no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God's Kingdom."

4 THINGS WE NEED TO FORGET:

1. YESTERDAY'S MISTAKES

In his book "ENCOURAGE ME", Chuck Swindoll has a chapter entitled, "The Fine Art of Blowing It". It begins like this, "It happens to every one of us. Teachers as well as students. cops as well as criminals. Bosses as well as secretaries. Parents as well as kids. The diligent as well as the lazy. Not even presidents are immune. Or corporation heads who earn six-figure salaries. The same is true of well-meaning architects and hard-working builders and clear-thinking engineers... not to mention pro ball players, politicians, and preachers. What? making mistakes, that's what. Doing the wrong thing, usually with the best of motives. And it happens with remarkable regularity."

Everyone makes mistakes. Everybody does stupid, foolish things. God's Word says: "forget it" - leave them behind you. There are 3 things we should do about yesterday's mistakes:

   1. Learn from them

   2. Determine with God's help not to do them again

   3. Forget them.

Satan will want to remind you and make you feel guilty for your past mistakes – but God says: "Forget Them. I HAVE"!

2. YESTERDAY'S HURTS

Life is a battlefield. You're a soldier in God's Army. On any battleground, injuries will occur and soldiers are going to get hurt. Sooner or later, someone is going to

   ... hurt you.

   ... lie about you

   ... verbally or physically harm you

   ... misrepresent you

   ... chop you up in little pieces

   ... slander you

It's going to happen--what do you do?

You have two choices:

   1. Allow the resentment and hate to build

   2. Forgive and Forget

          A. Forgive as Christ forgave you - just as He forgave the Roman soldiers who crucified Him

          B. Forget those things that are behind you Phil. 3:13

You might say, but -

   ... You don't Understand

   ... You don't understand what's happened to me.

   ... You don't know how bad I've been hurt.

   ... I was innocent.

   ... I didn't do anything wrong, but they hurt me.

   ... They lied about me.

   ... They hurt my feelings and they didn't care.

   ... They criticized me when I didn't do anything wrong.

   ... They talked about me behind my back.

   ... They cheated me, they rejected me, they hurt me really bad.

God understands. Jesus was innocent, but they beat him, they tortured him, they mocked him, they crucified him. He didn't deserve it, but they did it anyway. On the cross, He forgave them. On the cross, He provided salvation for even those who beat him, who mocked him, who crucified him. In order to press on in the Christian life, we have to lock the door on yesterday's hurts.

3. YESTERDAY'S POSSIBILITIES

How often do I see people unable to operate in today because they are still living a "what if" life of yesterday. They keep talking about "what could have been"--"if I had only..."

Quite often they blame someone else

   ... if only my wife hadn't...

   ... if only my parents (children) hadn't...

   ... if only my business partner had...

   ... if only the war hadn't...

They even blame God - "if God would have… or if God wouldn't have…"

We can't live on yesterday's promises or yesterday's dreams. Too many people are dissatisfied with life because they've had an expectation that just hasn't worked out. Paul is saying - forget your past hurts, forget your past mistakes and forget living with what might have been and finally...

4. YESTERDAY'S SINS

Billy Graham once said that 60% of all the patients in mental hospitals could go home if they would accept the fact that they are not guilty or that they have been forgiven.

Many people are carrying a burden of guilt:

   ... A past mistake

   ... A moral failure

   ... A painful cut to a friend

   ... A physical hurt to someone

   ... A stupid, hateful remark

   ... A poor decision

   ... A sin so horrible that they believe either God will not forgive them or they will not forgive themselves

***There is no sin, no matter how great or small, once it has been confessed and forgiven, that the memory of it should torment us no more."

"When sin, no matter how great or how grievous, has been confessed and forgiven, the memory of it should not torment us any more!"

Paul didn't say, "I've forgotten those things which are behind. Paul said, forgetting those things. Paul had learned the secret. There are some things in our memory that we will never forget.  We have to keep practicing forgetting...

Guilt will eat us alive. Every time the memory comes back, every time a song or a word or a smell or a picture or a person reminds us, we continue to practice forgetting. How long do we practice forgetting?

   ... until the memory doesn't hurt any more.

   ... until we allow God to forgive us

   ... until we allow God to forgive through us

   ... until the pain is no longer there

   ... until we can use our past to help us grow in the present

   ... until we can use our past to help others in the present

God says: 

Jeremiah 31:34 "I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more."

Psalm 103:12 "I will remove their sin as far as the east is from the west."

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

It's time to:

     Lock the Door on the Past!

     Throw Away the Key!

     Forget Where You Have Thrown It!

- david langerfeld

.....purpose

So I run with purpose in every step 1 Corinthians 9:26 

The Christian life is not only a race that we must run well; it’s also a race that we must finish. It isn’t worth it if we lead the pack for years and then fall back in the end.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! . . . So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” 1 Corinthians 9:24, 26–27

Although we run to win, we must not compete with each other. God gives each of us our own lane, a course to follow. We run for the sake of giving our best to the One who gave His best for us.

Paul said, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” Philippians 3:13–14.

Sadly, story after story in the Bible tells us about people who had enormous potential, who started well but ended miserably. We strive not to let that happen to us, by God's grace.

We’re about to begin a fresh year with new opportunities. Let’s seize them. Let’s wholly follow the Lord our God.

- greg laurie

...whole

So that day Moses solemnly promised me, The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God. Joshua 14:9 

One of the reasons this world still appeals to many of us is that we lack closeness to God.

When we’re only giving God our bare minimum and our love for Jesus isn’t burning brightly, the ways of the world and the temporary pleasures the world offers will look more and more appealing to us. But if we can get our priorities right, we can see our world for what it is. That was what Caleb did. The Bible says that he “wholeheartedly followed the Lord” Joshua 14:9.

Wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb didn’t compromise. He stood his ground, wanting the approval of God more than the approval of others. Wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb took God at His Word and stood on it. And wholeheartedly following the Lord meant that Caleb desired fellowship and communion with God, which gave him the strength to continue.

In contrast, it was a lack of fellowship with and closeness to God that caused the children of Israel to turn to idolatry, immorality, complaining, and testing God in the wilderness.

When we are in love with Jesus Christ, we will see Him for who He is, and will see this world for what it is. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full at His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

When we maintain a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, this world will lose its appeal to us.

Caleb wholeheartedly followed the Lord and wanted fellowship, intimacy, and closeness with Him. This sustained him through difficult times. It will also sustain us through difficult times.

May we not be casualties in the spiritual battle. 

May we be strong as believers living in these last days.

- greg laurie

....race

These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age - 1 Corinthians 10:11  

Of the two to three million Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, only two of the original adults made it to the Promised Land. What caused them to finish well while so many others got lost in the wilderness?

Idolatry was one of the pitfalls of the Israelites who got lost in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. At the root of their problems was a lack of relationship with God, a lack of intimacy with Him. When Moses was away receiving the commandments of God, they turned to worship a golden calf. They remade God in their image, rationalizing their blatant idol worship by saying it was a feast to the Lord.

People do the same thing today. They give God a makeover, looking to conform Him to our perverse society instead of the other way around. But once we lose that set of absolutes in our lives, all kinds of problems will develop.

Most people today who have fallen away from the Lord and into various problems and sins would be able to trace this to a point in their lives when they began to let go of the Lord. They were no longer walking as closely with Him as they should have been.

The same thing happened to the Israelites. Because God was not on the throne of their hearts and lives, they needed something or someone to take His place.

Then they tested God and complained. They exploited His goodness, pushed Him to the limit, and griped about His provision. As a result, they never made it to what God had prepared for them. They had so much potential and possibility, yet it never came to fruition in their lives.

The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a battle and a march. We are in it for the long haul of our lives. So by God's grace we need to pace ourselves and persevere.

- greg laurie

.....firm

But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.

Numbers 14:24 

When the children of Israel arrived at the edge of the Promised Land, they sent in twelve men to spy out the land. Among them were Joshua and Caleb. Ten of the spies returned to Kadesh-Barnea terrified by what they’d seen. They looked at the land through eyes of unbelief and concluded, “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” Numbers 13:31. They were paralyzed by fear.

Joshua and Caleb, however, brought back a favorable report. Caleb told them, “Let’s go at once to take the land… We can certainly conquer it!” verse 30.

But the people were swayed by the majority report. They allowed the fear and paranoia of ten people to influence them rather than the words of faith and belief brought to them by two people. In fact, they were so angry with Joshua and Caleb for even suggesting that they go into the land that they wanted to kill the two.

However, Joshua and Caleb held their ground. They didn’t do what everyone else did and stood firm at the risk of being ostracized and losing their friends, even their lives.

At this point, God had a message for the people: “You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun” Numbers 14:30.

The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” Proverbs 29:25. We can become paranoid about what others think and go along with the crowd instead of being concerned with what God thinks.

If we want to fully follow the Lord and finish well in the race of life, we must refuse to compromise and instead stand our ground. We must be more concerned with God’s approval than with anyone else’s approval. 

- greg laurie

.....? what

It’s almost Christmas and whether or not you celebrate it, there’s no avoiding it. The multi-coloured lights on houses, the Christmas-themed movies, Christmas carols on the radio, in malls, and the crush of people in the shops. 

The question is, what will you do with it?

It’s very easy to fall prey to the craftiness of advertisers and to social pressure and find ourselves engulfed by self-indulgence and consumerism. Some will get into debt for what they don’t even need.

If we choose to celebrate Christmas with the intention to create wonderful memories for our children and grandchildren, we’ve two choices: 

1. We may choose to engage in the enjoyable but secular custom of Santa Clause, hearty Christmas meals, and the excitement of ripping off wrapping paper from gifts. 
2. We may choose to celebrate it as a time to focus on the incarnation of Jesus. Doing so may even include a traditional Christmas dinner, gift exchange, and time with family but the focus is on the significance of the incarnation.

The choice to make Jesus the focus could include the best gift we can give our children—taking them out with us to help someone in our neighbourhood. Even prior to Christmas, parents and grandparents can excitedly talk about Christmas and the plans they are making to help people on Christmas day and beyond into the New Year. Of course, if the children are included in this, the lesson isn’t just taught, it’s caught.

Just imagine what Christmas could be like if we’re able to connect the birth of Jesus and how He lived to how we’re to live. We could use it to show our children what it really means to be Christian—to demonstrate our love for our neighbours in very practical ways. They will soon understand what the Bible means when it says it is better to give than it is to receive because it becomes their experience.

One Christmas, a young adult shared with me pictures of her family joyfully making cookies for their neighbourhood. Not only was it their gift to their community but they made many friends and built new relationships. She said her parents had made it a tradition for their family to think of others and not just about themselves.

If I could raise my children again, I’d work to create a different meaning of Christmas for them. However, even without them, I can still reflect Jesus to those in need.

While we may warmly wish others a ‘Happy Christmas’, imagine the effect if, by our outreach to them, we did something that relieved a burden, met a need, resolved an issue or provide help, so that they will experience a happy Christmas

Let’s make Christmas a happy one for someone.

- halsey peat

...move

In our celebration of the birth of Christ, we know the focus of Christmas should be the eternal gift given through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This season ought to irresistibly draw us nearer to God as we reflect on His wonderful gift of love. But perhaps there are times we need to be reminded of the true significance of this gift.

The birth of Jesus gives great insight into the character of God. For one, we see His methods are far different from our own; "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways" Isaiah 55:8. How many of us would bring the King of Kings into the world through two common people in a dirty area reserved for the animals? But God had a purpose!

These lowest of beginnings set the example for a life of humility. Jesus Christ is the Creator of the Universe! "For by Him all things were created" Colossians 1:16. Yet, He humbled Himself to the point of being born with the animals, and continued by humbly walking all the way to the cross.

As we reflect on His humility, how can we then make prideful demands on life? How can we assume there is a standard to which we are entitled? Jesus set the standard for humility and we are now called to follow; "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5.

But perhaps the greatest insight we can learn from the birth of our Savior is simply that He came. Our sin must have been detestable and vile to One so holy, but He came to live with us...and love us! Without Jesus Christ, we have absolutely no hope; we can do nothing to save ourselves from the bondage of sin and an eternal separation from God. We can do nothing, yet God came to love us and set us free. He took the initiative in our Salvation by providing a way and calling us Home.

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him."1 John 4:9

God clearly saw our sinful condition, yet He loved us enough to send His Son so we might be restored to a right relationship with Him. He sent His Son so we might live! God made the first move over 2000 years ago and He continues to make the first move in our lives today. He calls long before we even recognize His voice, and He continues to call us to surrender our life and live with Him in a deeper and more intimate relationship.

If you hear His call today, please respond! It's a great privilege to hear His call, so be encouraged...but then respond! His call cost Him dearly, and it represents a love we will never fully understand. Let's boldly answer and follow wherever He leads. And remember, He loved us enough to look past our sin and make the first move.

- steve troxel

....forgiveness

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32

We cannot properly celebrate the birth of Jesus without reflecting on why He was born. Through His life He offered us a message of eternal hope, and through His death on the cross He offered us the complete forgiveness of sin. With this single act of unbelievable love, Jesus removed the sin which would otherwise keep us eternally separated from our Heavenly Father. This is the manner in which we are to love and forgive others.

Jesus told a parable about a servant who had an enormous debt canceled: "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go" Matthew 18:26-27. But when the servant went away, he refused to cancel the relatively minor debt a fellow servant owed him; "Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt" Matthew 18:30.

Jesus used this parable to show that unless we completely forgive others from deep within our heart, we have somehow failed to understand the forgiveness we have already received; "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" Matthew 18:33. Any sin which others may commit against us is small when viewed in light of the many sins we have committed against God! We have been completely forgiven of so much.

During this most wonderful time of the year, let's reflect on the awesome gift we have been given through our Savior. Then, let's give to others as we have already received. Let's love and give the gift of true forgiveness.

- steve troxel

...extravaganza

I like looking at extravagant Christmas gifts. Not out of any desire to give or receive them. I just like to marvel at what's available. Some of them are amazingly expensive. 

1. Like the customized fully-electric Barrett-Jackson Hummer truck at Neiman Marcus; it can be yours for only $285,000. You may want to hurry. They only have 10 available
2. For mom, Neiman Marcus lists a 30-carat Mughal Heart Diamond for a mere $6,000,000. Don't worry, the diamond ships for free.
3. For the traveler, there is a luxury tour of Portugal for only $80,000.  
4. For the truly discriminating, might I suggest you consider purchasing an island? You can get a lovely 20-acre island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro for a mere $8 million. Sorry. only one per customer.

Most of us won't be spending quite as much on Christmas gifts, though many of us will spend more than we should. There's something about the Christmas season that makes us want to give gifts in a big way.

However, we know that the greatest gift has already been given. No one can match the extravagance of our Heavenly Father, who gave us what the apostle Paul calls an "indescribable gift" 2 Corinthians 9:15. God gave us His own Son, not as a one-time Christmas gift, but as the gift that never stops giving. God's Son, Jesus, came and died, to give us all the right to claim the gift of eternal life.

The apostle John wrote, "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" John 3:16.

In this season of giving and receiving, let's take time to remember the greatest gift of all: God's Son. And let's make sure that we've claimed the gift He offers each of us: the gift of eternal life.

- tim archer