...steps

My three year-old was on my heels no matter where I went.  Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him.

I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh that's all right, Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.

After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose patience. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said: "Well Mommy, my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps! I can't see Him, so I'm walking in yours!" 

...confidence

"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." (1 Chronicles 21:1)

God always requires total trust in Him alone for our victories in life.  Throughout Scripture we are cautioned not to place our trust in the strength of horses, other men or our own abilities. In 1 Chronicles, David's decision to take a census was a failure to keep his trust totally upon the Lord.

David's purpose in counting his population was to assess his military strength, much like the second census taken under Moses (see Numbers 1:2-3).  David found 800,000 men eligible for military service in Israel, and 500,000 men in Judah (see 2 Samuel 24:9), more than double the previous head count.

David's commander evidently recognized the grave error that his king was about to make. "But Joab replied, 'May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?'" (1 Chronicles 21:3).

Joab was right - the census displeased the Lord. David was falling into the temptation of trusting in the size of his army rather than in the Lord. In consequence, God punished David and reduced his forces by bringing a plague that killed 70,000 men.

How do you avoid placing your trust in God today? Do you trust your bank accounts, your skills, your abilities, your resources, your own wisdom or your own strength?  When you begin to place your faith in these things instead of in the Provider of these things you get into trouble with God.

What a lesson this is for each of us. Today, place your total trust in the Lord for all of your needs.

-os hillman

...choice

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

In America, every year July 4th brings with it festivities, fun, food, family and friends, and fireworks—all as a celebration of national freedom.  But even with all the celebrating and fun, many Americans are still caught in the web of bondage on a mental, emotional, relational, financial, vocational or spiritual level.  Most often, we ourselves create the chains that bind us by making poor or sinful choices.

The longer I live, the more convinced I am that life is a series of choices, each choice has a consequence, and we must live with the consequences of our choices.  In order to have true freedom in your life, then, you must make wise choices.

     Will you choose good over evil (Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:21)? 

     Obedience over rebellion (Proverbs 10:8; Hebrews 13:17)? 

     Truth over deceit (Colossians 3:9; Proverbs 12:22)?

     Kindness over dishonor (Ephesians 4:32; Proverbs 14:2)? 

Every day you make hundreds of choices and these form the basis for your lifestyle.  Seek God’s wisdom in all of your decisions, not the wisdom of the world, the flesh or the devil (James 3:17).  Take the sometimes difficult step of saying, “I’ll do it God’s way!” even though it may mean avoiding the easy road.  In the long run, the freedom that comes with making godly choices is definitely something to celebrate!

Lord, we lift to You our praise and adoration for the blessings You give us each day as we choose to walk Your way.

-ann shorb

...independence

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  (John 8:31-32)

Like millions of Americans this week, my mind is on the Fourth of July holiday and what it represents: our freedom as a nation. This freedom is a precious thing, bought with the sweat, toil and blood of countless Americans who initially fought to obtain it, as well as those who have fought to secure it in the centuries since that fateful day in 1776.

Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart when I consider the brave men and women of the American military who, this Fourth of July, will be standing guard around the world to combat the tyranny of terrorism. These soldiers stand in the train of valiant warriors who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Each of these conflicts—while unique in themselves—shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.

But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom—my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "If you abide in my word," our Lord declares, "you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

This statement was shocking to Jesus' audience. These proud men thought they already had all the freedom they needed by virtue of being "offspring of Abraham" (8:33). Jesus proceeds to point them beyond any national, social or religious freedom they might enjoy to the freedom that comes through His person and work: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (8:34,36).

Even as Christians we can fall prey to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, good works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone.

What am I trusting in today?   The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom - as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

The great singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin was undoubtedly moved by his freedom in Christ when he penned this stanza in his song "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"...

    My chains are gone, I've been set free

    My God, my Savior has ransomed me

    And like a flood His mercy rains

    Unending love, Amazing Grace

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 brings ultimate freedom - freedom from sin and death and satan; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath.

May this "Declaration of Independence" be on my lips and in my heart this Fourth of July holiday. 

-mike pohlman

...will

During the late 50's and early 60's, a man by the name of Bobby Richardson played second base for the NY Yankees. Bobby Richardson was nominated as MVP of the American League nine times. He played in seven All-star Games. He won five Gold Glove Awards. And he was the only man in baseball history to ever win the World Series MVP Award while playing for the losing team.

In the later years of Bobby Richardson's career, he coached the baseball team at Liberty University. The reason such a great player was willing to coach at a Christian university was because Bobby Richardson was himself a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

During a speech at a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson was called upon to pray and here is his prayer:  

"Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen."

May that be your prayer today... 

"Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  Amen."  

...persuaded

"'King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe' Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian'" (Acts 26:27-28).

Brett Blair writes how "on January 23, 1909, a small invention played a crucial role in the lives of 1500 people. The New York-bound ocean liner the Florida rammed into the Republic. Jack Binns, the Republic's new wireless radio man, reassembled his contraption which had been destroyed in the collision. He sent out distress calls for the next 12 hours until the crew and passengers were rescued in the dawn light of Sunday morning. Only a few died.

"Jack Binns became a national hero. He was given a ticker-tape parade. Songs were written about him. He even testified before congress on the importance of regulating wireless technology on all ships. Congress listened politely but ignored his message. Binn gave up his quest, accepted no profit from his celebrity, and went back home to England to await reassignment. Three years later he received an assignment aboard a ship that he turned down.  He had fallen in love and was soon to marry. The turned down assignment? The Titanic.

"It is now felt that Binn's message was ignored because so few lives were lost on the Republic. It took tragedy on the scale of the Titanic for the importance of wireless to be understood."¹

King Agrippa was an almost-persuaded ... but lost. Be certain not to wait until it is too late to take heed of God's warnings in the Bible. Be sure you have accepted God's plan of salvation from a lost eternity. Whatever you do, don't be an almost-persuaded.

...enemy

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."  Matthew 5:44

The first statement Jesus made from the cross was, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). Maybe we would have understood it more if He had said, "Father, condemn them," or "Father, judge them." But the first thing Jesus said from the cross was a prayer for His enemies: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Jesus was practicing what He preached. Remember, in the Sermon on the Mount He said, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

And Jesus also was fulfilling a Messianic prophesy. Isaiah 53, written hundreds of years before Christ died, said that the Messiah would make intercession for the transgressors. And that is exactly what Jesus was doing. He was interceding for all the people who played a role in His death.

Pilate himself knew Jesus was innocent. He said, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:4). But because he was so concerned about his career and position, he would not pardon Jesus and let Him go. The religious rulers knew that no legitimate charge could be brought against Christ. Even the Roman centurion at the cross said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39). Judas Iscariot knew he had done wrong, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4).

So Jesus was essentially saying, "Father, forgive them. They don't realize how bad this is. Forgive them, because they need forgiveness so desperately. Forgive them, for they have committed a sin that is beyond all comprehension. Forgive them, for they have done something that is beyond bad. Father, forgive them."

When was the last time you prayed for your enemies?

 -greg laurie

...hope

Dear Friend,

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"It's impossible." 

"It's over." 

"It's incurable." 

"It's beyond repair."

"There's nothing more we can do."

These are some of the things the world tells us when we are faced with insurmountable odds.  recovery, redemption and reconciliation seem too far away.  Perhaps we have come to the conclusion that we've done all we can and there is nothing more we can do.  We have reached what the world tells us is the end of our rope.

And based upon my own experience, I've learned that when we reach the bottom of our proverbial ropes, there's only one thing we can do...

    Let go.

    Quit struggling.

    Let God take it from here.

   And have faith that when you let go, He will catch you and save you according to His purposes and His plans.

It isn't until you forego trying to save yourself is He able to come in and rescue you - to where there will be no doubt that it was He who saved you.

...prayer

Recently, I spoke about Samuel's great statement of the responsibility of praying for the people in our lives. He said, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you." That's I Samuel 12:23. The outline of the message went like this…

1.   "I pray."     That's the privilege of prayer.

What an honor to be invited by the Heavenly Father to participate in His work throughout the world simply by bowing our heads and expressing our thoughts and worship and requests to Him.

2.   "I pray for you."     That's the responsibility of prayer.

We need each other so much. We have not been sent out simply to pray for everyone everywhere, otherwise, we would get the phone book down and get started. However, we each have a circle of people who depend on us for prayer. In my case, it's my immediate and extended family first, then our church leadership and membership, and so on.

3.   "I cease to pray for you."     That's the danger of prayerlessness.

Many of us used to pray for people we no longer mention to God. What could cause us to quit? In Samuel's case, he had been rejected by the very people who were now asking for his prayers (12:9). He would have been within his rights to tell them to buzz off. But his devotion to them was not conditional on their response, so he would keep right on praying for them.

4.   "Far be it from me to cease praying for you."     This is the commitment to pray.

Samuel is not merely hoping he will pray or even asking God to help him pray; he is announcing to the people his intention of praying for them, period. He promises to intercede with God on their behalf.

5.   "Far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you."     This is the holy burden of prayer

It is a personal matter between the Heavenly Father and me. When I quit praying, I not only disappoint you and weaken myself, more importantly, I sin against God. After all, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." That's from Romans 14:23 and it applies to prayerlessness if it means anything.

I told the people about our recent meanderings around Manhattan by subway. Now, some of the Louisianians in our party had been there before and had some experience finding their way via the tube, but the rest of us were novices. We clustered around maps of the city, trying to find where we were, where we wanted to go, and which train to take. A few times we took the wrong train or missed our stop and had to back track. But everyone was in good spirits---we laughed a lot---and tried to learn from the experience.

Then, there were other times when we calmly walked to the correct station, took the right train, and got off at our stop with hardly a thought. Those were the times we had a guide along, a resident of New York City who negotiates the subways every day of their lives.

Think of that as a parable of life. God has given us the map, the Bible, to show us the way. But if He did nothing more - if we were on our own here - we would huddle around it trying to figure out where we are, where we want to go, and how to get there, making mistakes galore.  But God took pity on His wayward children and gave us a Guide:  Himself.  The Holy Spirit knows the way and we follow Him.  His leadership is always in accordance with the Map, since He wrote it!  Our task is to stay close to Him and go where He leads.

This morning my daughter-in-law Julie called. "The Lord has really been impressing on me the need for praying for my children, and your message last night was from Him."  She added, "Every morning when I take Grant (her 8 year old third-grader) to school, he says, 'Mom, did you pray for me this morning?'  I assure him I did, and then he says, 'Are you going to keep praying for me all day?'"  I said, "Wow. I had no idea he was so attuned to the need for prayer.  That is so wonderful." We pray for our little ones to open up to God and to become spiritually minded, and when it begins to occur, it takes our breath away.

A church member wrote on his worship registration form last Sunday, "Pastor, my wife and I pray for you and your wife every day."  I am so touched by those who call my name to the Father.  God alone knows the debt we owe them for their intercession and the difference they make in our labors.

There are people counting on my prayers today. God help me not to let them down.

-joe mckeever

...fixed

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." Psalm 57:7

When I was in college, I kept a motto on my desk that said, "He who would not fall down ought not to walk in slippery places. Keep yourself clean. Keep yourself pure. Watch what you set before your eyes." 

There needs to be discipline.

Job said, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look upon a maid"

(Job 31:1). If we are to have a walk of purity in obedience to God, we must determine ahead of time what our course of action will be. One big decision will take care of a lot of little ones.

Are you going on a trip alone any time soon? 

If so, make the decision right now to keep your walk pure and holy for God's glory.

...hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed  everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He  pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his  mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair  was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on  loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was  creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from  across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. 

He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running  through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute  comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and  told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man,  I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik  leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could  stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik  in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder.  The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His  aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set  squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly,  and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a  tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a  suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.'

If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

This one is a keeper.

'It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for who people think you are......

-tanya johnson

...armor

David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used   to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. - 1 Samuel 17:39

David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor.

God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armor.

What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task  with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.

However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God's power is released and manifested in the physical realm.

Mix your unique gifts with faith today; you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested.

-os hilman

watch

Watch! Begin to see everything around you with My eyes.Much is happening that fulfills My end-time plan if you have eyes to see. Most of My church is either asleep or distracted by their lusts for the world and its ways. 

They are blind. You watch! You listen!

You tell others of the coming peril, so that they can be prepared to act like Jesus would act when it comes.  Open your eyes so that you can see with My eyes!

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to

                      prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

              12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

              13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

  Joshua 7:13 Amp Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify

              yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: There are

              accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You can not stand before your

              enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

  Matt. 5:11-12 NIV  "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say

                      all kinds of evil against you because of me.

                  12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the

                      same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." 

Ten years ago if someone would have said that there would come a time in this nation when we  could lose our freedoms overnight or be persecuted for our faith in the United States, we  would've thought that they were some kind of false doom and gloom prophet. How different the world looks now!

There's no denying that as we look around and open our eyes, things sure have changed. Anything

is possible and could very well become probable as time goes on. How are you preparing to represent Jesus in a world that may be unrecognizable from even today's world? Are you preparing

for what is on the horizon or are you like the proverbial ostrich with your head in the sand, hoping that the bad things will go away?

There is incredible power and safety for those who are walking in the fullness of Jesus. It is the only true place of His incredible presence.

Make me aware and ready, Lord. 

-jim corbett

 

longing

"...we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air."  1 Thessalonians 4:17

Is your heart longing for Jesus to return? Are you looking for Him?  I am. 

The coming of Jesus is really the only hope for this world. 

And when will that be? I don't know. 

It may be at morning when the clouds break open with sunlight and shadows of night recede from the sky. It may be at noon when the world is hustling and bustling. It may be at dusk when the birds are singing their evening song or at midnight when the stars will dim by the blaze of glory when He descends from the heavenlies. What  joy fills my  heart! 

Does it fill yours as well to think of that moment? 

Are you ready?

Look up into the skies today and think about His return. Can you imagine the sound of the trumpets and the voice of the angels announcing His return?

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.

"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat."  Richard Eastman

Do your best, bring out the best in others,

Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,

tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

empty

There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One   Easter Sunday morning, he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak. "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, " What you got there son?"

"Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"

"Huh? Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing and they ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10." The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty birdcage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

"One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.

Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want those people!!

"How much?" He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your blood."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage, he opened the door, and he walked from the pulpit.

The price has been paid. The cage you are in is your sin. The door is open but Satan has placed a delusion in your mind, blinding you to the open door. All it takes to gain freedom is to believe that Jesus paid it all, accept his payment for you, and walk through the door. He wants you to. Do it now, don't delay, all there is between you and eternity is a single breath. If you don't know Jesus Christ as Saviour your feet dangle over an eternity in a Godless pit called hell. God doesn't want you to go there, He made a way, He sacrificed His only begotten Son for you. 

The price has been paid.

go

Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. - Acts 8:40

Many times I've heard a man or woman say they cannot participate in an event, a service, or activity for God because of the time it will take away from their job. God has called each of us to be good stewards of our time and our resources. It is just as important to learn how to say yes as it is to say no, and we must be faithful to our employers if we do not have freedom to take time away. However, many times I sense that workplace believers justify a lack of obedience under the guise of stewardship.

Philip was one of the first businessmen who was given a commission to preach the gospel.  He was in the city of Samaria preaching when many miracles began to take place and the crowds came to see what was happening. Then in the midst of this great move of God, the angel of God spoke to Philip and told him to leave Samaria and go to a desert road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. Imagine how Philip must have questioned the logic of this decision when he was seeing such results in Samaria. But Philip was obedient to the angel.

Along the road, he met an Ethiopian eunuch who wanted to have the Scriptures explained  to him. Philip explained the Scriptures to the Ethiopian, who was the treasurer of Ethiopia under Queen Candace, and led him to the Lord, then baptized him in a nearby well. A few moments later, Philip was supernaturally transported

-Keith overtuff 

...hand

Take out the Word of God and read: Isaiah 41: 13 - 20  “For I the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying fear not, I will help you” v13

Do you need to reach out to the Lord for your family? We are encouraged in Gods word that when we reach out He will hold on!

  This is the story behind this great song written under immense trial.

Back in 1932, I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband.  My wife, Nettie and I were living in a   little apartment on Chicago.  One hot August afternoon I had to go to St Louis, where I was to be   the featured soloist a large revival meeting.  I didn't want to go.  Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child.  But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis.  I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A car and in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66. 

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back I found Nettie sleeping peacefully.  I hesitated by her bed,  something was strongly telling me to stay.  But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. 

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again.   When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a telegram.  I ripped open the envelope.   Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words:  YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out.  I   rushed to a phone and called home.  All I could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead."

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to our little boy.  I swung between grief  and joy.  Wondering if I could survive without Nettie I went to check on my baby boy and found that he also had died.  I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket.  Then I fell apart.  For days I closeted myself.  I felt that God had done me an injustice.  I didn't want to serve Him any more or write or sing gospel songs.  I just wanted to go back to the jazz world I once knew so well.  But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis.  Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie.  Was that something God?  Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. 

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him.  But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. One the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school.  It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows.  I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys.  Something happened to me then.  I felt at peace.  I felt as though I could reach out and touch God I found myself playing a melody, once into my head they just seemed to fall into place:  

 "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand!

  I am tired, I am weak, I am worn,

  through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light,

  Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home."

  The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit.  I learned that when we are   in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we  are most open to His restoring power.  And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when we are most open to His restoring power.  I will go on living for God willingly and joyfully until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.  

  If you're feeling like the whole world is against you and nothing seems to be right click on

  this link and sing along 

  Below are the words to the song: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/l/pltmhand.htm

  Precious Lord, take my hand,

  Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

  Through the storm, through the night,

  Lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord,

  Lead me home.

  When my way grows drear,

  Precious Lord, linger near, When my life is almost gone,

  Hear my cry, hear my call,

  Hold my hand lest I fall, Take my hand, precious Lord,

  Lead me home

  When the darkness appears

  And the night draws near, And the day is past and gone,

  At the river I stand,

  Guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand, precious Lord,

  Lead me home,

  -written by tommy dorsey

getting

 A man asked his wife, "What would you most like for your birthday?"

  She said, "I'd love to be ten again."

On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early and off they went to a theme   park. He put her on every ride in the park -- the Death Slide, The Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear.  Everything there was, she rode.  She staggered out of the theme park five hours later, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. 

Into McDonalds they went, where she was given a Double Big Mac with extra fries and a  strawberry shake.  Then off to a theater to see Star Wars -- more burgers, popcorn, cola and sweets.  At last she staggered home with her husband and collapsed into bed. 

Her husband leaned over and asked, "Well, dear, what was it like being ten again?"

One eye opened and she groaned, "Actually, I meant dress size."

That story reminds me of what happened to James and John.  They came to Jesus with a request.

  Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:36). 

"They said to Him, 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your  left, in Your glory.'" (Mark 10:37)

Jesus told them they really didn't know what they were asking for.  He asked them, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" (Mark 10:38) 

Their response?  "Of course!"  However, what they had in mind (prestige, power and glory)  wasn't the same thing Jesus had in mind (persecution, suffering and servanthood).  Jesus gave them exactly what they asked for, but it wasn't at all what they were hoping for when they made the request! 

So often, the same thing happens in my life.  God has a way of answering my requests, my  prayers, in ways I never even dreamed of -- not always in a pleasant way, not always in a way I would have chosen, but always in a way that He sees best. 

-alan smith