I Haven't Moved

by Sumner Wemp

This couple were so in love that when they rode together in the car, the wife would sit so close to her husband that it looked like there was a two-headed driver in the seat.

Years later, she is sitting close to the door on the other side. A young couple pass them sitting snuggled up to each other. She looked over longingly at her husband and said with a sigh, "Remember the days when we used to sit so close to each other? I wonder what happened?"

The husband looked over at her and quietly said, "Well, Honey, I haven't moved."

O dear people, I hear from Christians, clergymen, churches and countries who once were so close to God. They snuggled up to Him. They loved His Word, His Church, prayer and preaching. Now their church is cold. Souls are not being saved. The joy of the Lord is missing and they wonder why? They ask where is God?

God looks down and says, "I haven't moved."

O dear people, God says, "Thou hast left (not lost) thy first love." God says return and do the first works. "People, Pastor, Christian, church, America, all other countries, we must come back to God. It all starts with ME (God). "Taint my brother nor my sister but its me O Lord standing in the need of prayer." This illustration just struck me and I felt the urge to send it to all of us to "examine ourselves" and do the first works that made us filled with His joy and His blessing.

Prayer:  Father bless Your children and may we just snuggle up to You and do those wonderful works that kept the fire burning in our hearts. In Jesus name. All because of Calvary, Sumner.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" James 4:8.

Happy Wednesday,

Richard

Someone Will Sin Against You Today, Are You Ready?

by Tim Brister

Growing up in North Alabama, I remember going through specific routines in the event of an emergency. I doubt there was a kid who did not know why or when you need to stop, drop, and roll. We were trained in protocols in the event of a tornado, calmly lining up in the hallway and securing our heads from potential debris. We knew how to exit the buildings in case of a fire in a single-file line to safe zones outside. All of these procedures were responses to various kinds of potential disasters we could encounter while in school.

Now what, do you think, are the possibilities that I as a kid in elementary school would actually need to follow through on those drills? How often would a tornado tear through our building? How often would a fire consume the classrooms? Hardly ever, if at all, right? But we were still trained in how to respond in the very unlikely event that they might occur.

What if I told you that on a daily basis you are going to be faced with potential crises or disasters that required a response from you? What if it was not a distant potentiality but an eminent reality? How would you prepare yourself for such situations? Would you be trained to know how to respond?

Let me break this down and make the case why every follower of Jesus must have a gospel response plan (GRP).

• Have you ever been hurt by someone else?
• Have you ever been criticized?
• Have you ever been offended?
• Has someone ever sinned against you?
• Have you sinned against someone else?
• Has your day ever taken one unexpected turn after another?
• Have other people let you down or betrayed your trust?
• Have you faced days of disappointment and despair?
• Have you experienced frustration and anger at the failure of others or yourself?

These are just a few questions addressing realities you and I face on a daily basis, and with every question/situation, a response will manifest from your life. But what kind of response will it be? We have a choice to respond out of our sinful nature (Gen. 3) or out of our new identity in Christ. Will our response be driven by guilt and shame, hiding and pretending, blaming and fearing like Adam and Eve in Genesis 3? Or will our response arise from repentance and faith out of a heart resting in God’s acceptance of you in Christ?

You are a sinner living among sinners. You are a desperately needy person rubbing shoulders with desperately needy people. What weak, needy sinners need in every moment is to look to a strong, sufficient Savior. That’s what we do when we respond to the gospel–we turn from looking to ourselves (whether out of self-pity or self-righteousness) in repentance and we look to Christ in renewed faith and trust.

The problem we have today, I fear, is that most Christians do not have a developed gospel response plan and, therefore, there is no functional repentance and faith response when things happen (internally or externally) in their lives. The default, then, is to look somewhere other than Jesus in our response. And this, I find, is a massive discipleship breakdown for believers.

Someone is going to sin against you. Will you handle that situation with a response that honors the gospel? Will you pursue reconciliation through forgiveness and view that person through the lens of grace? Or will you come across self-righteous and force that person to make atonement for their sin by working their way back into a right relationship with you based on their efforts?

You are going to sin against someone else. Will you handle that situation with a response that honors the gospel? Will you make excuses for your sin? Rationalize it? Blame others for it? Or will you own it, humbly confessing it to God and those whom you sinned against, seeking forgiveness? Will you hide away playing the victim card in self-pity, sulking in your failure, or will you take your sin to the throne of grace to your merciful High Priest?

Paul said, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him…” (Col. 2:6). You receive Jesus by repentance and faith, and you walk in that same repentance and faith. That is to say, this is how we “learn Christ” (Eph. 5:20) and “put on our new self” (i.e., our new identity in Christ). I think the most practically and helpful tool that Christians have today is to be trained to know how to respond to various situations they will encounter in a way that commends the gospel and flows out of a heart fully resting and secure in Jesus. We are not talking about potential dangers here. We’re talking about actual, real-life situations happening every day where Christians will either act out the old man of Genesis 3 or the new man being renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Think back in your life where sin has impacted your relationship with God and others. Are there people that are no longer in your life because of the functional absence of a gospel-driven response? Sadly, I can say that is true for me, and I suspect that if we are cognizant enough, nearly everyone would consent to that reality. But we don’t have to continue that way!

So what is your Gospel Response Plan?

You are sinner living in a fallen world. You are going to be hurt, betrayed, frustrated, prideful, annoyed, judgmental, pitiful, and so much more. It’s going to happen. But are you going to be trained as a follower of Jesus Christ to know, almost instinctively, how to respond with the gospel through premeditated prescriptions of specific ways to walk in repentance and faith?

Perhaps what we need to do each morning is prepare ourselves with some “gospel drills.” Think about one possible situation a gospel response will be required of you. For example, you are at a restaurant and your server is extremely slow and the food is cold. The server asks you if there is anything else you need, and you are tempted to treat her like her actions deserve. But instead, you respond by saying, “Thank you for serving me today, and by the way, as I pray over my food I would like to know if there is anything I can pray for you about?” Who knows? The server may already be feeling guilty and embarrassed by their service and surprised by your gracious response. They could be going through a terrible crisis in their lives, and they open up to you and provide an opportunity for you to minister to them (and perhaps introduce them to Jesus).

Why that gospel drill? Because you will get bad service and cold food. You will be tempted to act out of the old Adam and not out of the risen Christ. And this is one of countless other ways we need to “learn Christ” and “put on the new self” with a strategy to approach whatever comes our way to walk in repentance and faith and show the transforming power of Christ’s abundant grace actively working in our lives.

---

Tim Brister is a pastor and elder at Grace Baptist Church.

Happy Tuesday And Have A Blessed Day,
Richard

Happy Monday

Thought for Today

"Even in the winter, even in the midst of the storm, the sun is still there. Somewhere, up above the clouds, it still shines and warms and pulls at the life buried deep inside the brown branches and frozen earth. The sun is there! Spring will come." - Gloria Gaither

He Wasn't Cured But He Was Healed
(Based on Tony Compolo's "Year of Jubilee" Preaching Today Tape #212)

Tony Compolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Compolo prayed boldly for the man's healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man's wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Compolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible.

But she continued, "Don't feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn't take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence.

But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We've sung. We've laughed. We've read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they've been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing."

And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, "He wasn't cured, but he was healed."

Happy Sunday

True Hospitality

Compassion: Thoughts on Cultivating a Good Heart invites us to consider that our attention to the little things makes it easier to appreciate the concerns of our friends, families, communities, and the world at large,” writes compiler and editor Amy Lyles Wilson. “In so doing, we can begin to conduct our lives with an ever-present spirit of compassion instead of saving such outpouring for tragic situations and natural disasters.

Read Luke 14:7-14

When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.

- Luke 14:13-14 (NRSV) Today's Devotional

In my work as a pastor, I often visited people in nursing homes who were suffering from some form of dementia. I knew that within an hour or so of my leaving, many of them had forgotten who I was or even that I had visited at all. I sometimes reasoned that unless a nursing home employee or family member saw me, I would receive no credit for my ministry to that person.

This passage in Luke says otherwise. Jesus warns us that true hospitality has nothing to do with receiving a reward for our actions. True hospitality is giving without the hope of being paid back. True hospitality grows out of our love for God and our desire to be Christ in the world, not out of a desire to build or protect our ego or public image.

I might have felt that my visits with dementia patients were lost ministry moments; but in truth they may have been the more perfect ministry of my life.

Anna Shirey (Missouri, USA)

Thought for the Day: Every good deed done for Christ counts eternally.

Prayer: Dear God, show us how we can create nurturing and holy ground today. Free us of self-interest and help us to serve for your glory. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Prayer Focus: Those living with dementia

Happy Saturday

Just a Prank

Often our spirituality seems invisible and mute to a hurting world. Many of us simply internalize faith out of fear, feelings of inadequacy, or choice. A faithful response to discipleship’s call, however, is both inward and outward. Yours Are the Hands of Christ reminds us that Jesus didn’t “become flesh” so we could feel different. He came to this world so we will be different.

Read Galatians 6:7-10

Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

- James 5:16 (NRSV) Today's Devotional

Many years ago I drove to another city one rainy afternoon to see a baseball game. After the game was over, I drove through a large puddle in the parking lot and splashed a group of people. I did so intentionally, thinking it would be fun — just a prank. I heard one woman exclaim, “My new dress!” Others in the group started to react angrily. I quickly drove away to escape their wrath.

I didn’t enjoy the prank; I felt guilty then and afterward. Although I have forgiveness in Christ for this and my other sins, (see Eph. 1:7), I still feel lingering regret and remorse when I recall that incident. If I could, I would write or telephone those people, apologize, ask their forgiveness, and offer to make restitution such as reimbursing them for the cost of cleaning their soiled garments. But I cannot do that. I don’t know their names; I never even got a good look at their faces.

Nevertheless, there are some things I can do. I can seek, with God’s help, to grow in Christlike character. I can be kind and considerate of others, and I can refrain from malicious or hurtful behavior. And when someone else wrongs or inconveniences me, I can remember how much God has forgiven me.

R L (Florida, USA)

Thought for the Day: Ask for forgiveness from someone you have wronged; forgive someone who has wronged you.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to love one another as you have loved us. In your name we pray. Amen.

Prayer Focus: Those troubled by actions they cannot remedy

Happy Friday

When You Feel Like You're Not Enough

By Renee Swope

 

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12 NIV)

I had that awful yucky feeling of not being enough ... not smart enough or good enough. For weeks I felt inadequate and incompetent about everything–from the way I parented to the way I served God in ministry to the way I organized my time and my life.

I had begged God to take away my feelings of insecurity. Though He didn't answer the way I hoped, He showed me what I needed to see in the most unexpected way.

One afternoon, I was putting on make-up in my bathroom when I noticed a huge nine-foot shadow on the wall behind me. And as I stood there looking at the humongous shadow, it dawned on me: all of my insecurities were creating a huge shadow over my soul–a shadow of doubt.

That day in my bathroom, I came to two important realizations. First, I could only see the shadow when I turned away from the light. And second, I was creating the shadow by blocking the light from the wall.

Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light, and so it is with the shadow of doubt.

When we focus our thoughts on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others think about us and how we're performing, we cast a shadow of doubt in our minds by blocking the light of God's Truth in our hearts.

But we were not designed to block the light. We were created to live in the Light by focusing on what God thinks about us instead of what we think about ourselves.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b NIV) When we follow Jesus closely and completely in our thoughts, turning away from doubts and lies, we can find lasting security and confidence in Him.

That afternoon, I realized my self-doubt wasn't going to just go away. I had to purposefully shift my focus from my feelings of inadequacy to God's promises of His all-sufficiency and grace in my life.

I had to choose to focus on truth {the Light} so I could exchange my feelings of low self-confidence with lasting "God-fidence."

Feeling paralyzed and stuck in a place of insecurity is not where God intends for us to live. When Jesus spoke to the people in John 8:12, He called them out of darkness.

Now He's calling you - to step of out of the shadows of doubt so that you can become the God-fident women He created you to be. A woman whose assurance and soul-security is found in what He says and thinks about her.

And, the next time you feel your heart dwelling in the shadow of self-doubt, ask God to replace your lack of self-confidence with lasting soul-confidence as you turn towards the Light and focus your thoughts on His truths:

When you feel inadequate, God says: You are CHOSEN. "'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.'" (Isa. 43:10a NIV)

When you feel unstable, God says: You are ABLE. "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." (Hab. 3:19 NIV)

When you feel unworthy, God says: You are PRECIOUS and LOVED. "... you are precious and honored in my sight, and ... I love you." (Isa. 43:4a NIV)

Dear Lord, You say I am a chosen woman, a royal priest, a holy daughter, a woman belonging to You. Help me believe that and live beyond the shadows of my doubts as I follow and focus on the Light of Your truth today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Thursday

God is at work in our lives

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly.

But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. When we are in the point of asking, "God, how can you do this to me?" we can find the answer in prayer. Like Job we need to turn to God and speak to Him. Let us recommend ourselves to God for His mercy and compassion. We may not understand what's happening to us right now, but let us believe God knows what is best for us. Helen Steiner Rice once said, "Whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong, it is just God working in us to make our spirits strong." Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of God.

Happy Wednesday

SEEK THE LORD NOT RELIGIOUS PLACES

“This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel: ‘Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.’ Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it” (Amos 5: 4-6 NIV).

The Israelites loved religious activities. They had many places consecrated for religious services (places like Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba, not to talk of Jerusalem), and they were ready to travel many kilometers to these places to perform religious activities in these consecrated places. However, they were not ready to be in right standing with God. They were not really seeking Him. Therefore, God warned them not to rely on their religious activities or religious places, but that they should rather seek Him if they want to live. He promised to destroy all the religious places and even send them to exile if they do not repent.

It is interesting that there are many religious places today – prayer mountains, camp grounds, churches, mosques, and the likes. These places of worship are full to the brim on Sundays and other worship times with many so-called men of God leading them, but the religious activities of most of these people do not correspond to their right standing with God they claim they are serving. Many of these people are just paying lip service to God. They are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. They are only going to these religious places for their ulterior selfish motives. In fact, our society is getting worse every day. While the Samaritan woman was trying to argue about the right religious place with Jesus Christ, He declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24 NIV).

Why are you going to religious places? Are you really seeking God there or you are just performing religious activities probably because of what you can get from God? Genuinely seek God if you want Him to really bless you.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Happy Tuesday

LIVE ABOVE BOARD

“Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right” (1 Samuel 12:3 NIV).

It really saddens me to hear the news about the conviction of David Yonggi Cho, the founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea (that is considered as the world's largest megachurch). Cho was convicted of embezzling $12 million in church funds. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was also fined $5 million. This message is not intended to ridicule the more the revered man of God, neither is it an avenue for antagonists of Christianity to oppose it. Rather, it is intended to serve as a warning to every Christian (and even non-Christian) to do everything in his/her capacity to live above board wherever he/she finds him/herself.

Samuel (in the Bible) could boldly challenge the people of Israel to mention if in any way he had done anything wrongly against anyone. The people testified that he had lived above board when he was discharging his duties as a priest, prophet and the judge of Israel (see 1 Samuel 12:1-5). Samuel had the privilege of misusing his position to his own advantage, but he did not do so. Daniel as a captive was privileged to find himself in a place of authority in a foreign land. The Bible records about him that he “...distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God’” (Daniel 6:3-5 NIV).

Samuel was a religious leader while Daniel was a political appointee. Both of them lived above board. How many of our religious/spiritual leaders today (not to talk of political leaders/appointees) are living above board? If an investigative panel is constituted today to investigate you, will you not be found wanting? Before you raise an accusing finger at David Yonggi Cho or anybody for any wrong doing, firstly examine yourself. Nobody on earth is perfect. Nevertheless, do everything in your capacity to live above board.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to live above board in all your endeavours.

Happy Monday

The power of God upon you by the Holy Spirit

Sumner Wemp

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me" Acts 1:8. How urgent it is that we are "filled" with, controlled by the Holy Spirit and "walking in the Spirit" so we too can see a "demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power" 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.

 

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" Matthew 22:29. God wants us and expects us to know the "power of God" in our life and ministry. "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. Our preaching and teaching and reaching the lost must not be with "enticing words of man's wisdom" or it comes to naught. Sad to say it but too much ministry is just man's wisdom. You and I must crave and cry out for a "demonstration of the power of God." "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7. We have no excuse. "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost" 1 Thessalonians 1:5. Here is the key to soul winning power, Acts 1:8 "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit unto Galilee, and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about" Luke 4:14. If Jesus walked and worked and witnessed in the "power of the Spirit" how much more do we need to walk , work and witness in the power of the Spirit. Don't leave home without Him and without that power.

 

"And they were astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power:" Luke 4:32. Oh, my soul, how we need to teach and preach and reach the lost with "the power of God," and bless God, people will be "astonished" and come running to hear us Luke 5:1. Do people walk into your church and sense the power of God there? Do people see the conviction and conversion of lost people through the power of God in the service and sermon? We must not make excuses but let people see a demonstration of the power of God where scores of people are going to heaven instead of hell because of your people, your preaching and the presence of the power of God. It is the best way to fill your church. Look at the memory verse. God expects us to know the power of God.”

 

MEMORIZE: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” Matthew 22:29

Happy Sunday

You Can be Changed by the Holy Spirit, for Good and God

Sumner Wemp

“It is God who works in you both to will (desire) and to do of His good pleasure” Philippians 2:13

 

"But we all with open face beholding as in a glass (a mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory (step by step, "little by little") even as by the Spirit of the Lord" 2 Corinthians 3:18. Some have projected a onetime experience of the “baptism of the Spirit” as the ultimate experience of a believer and that you will be transformed beyond measure. I am sorry but that is not in the Bible. Every believer is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ or he is not “in Christ”, not saved. Make sense?

 

We are to be changed from glory to glory. God's ultimate goal is to make us "just like Jesus." "Beloved, now are we the sons of God (not maybe we will be, or we hope we will be a son of God, saved) (but “NOW are we the sons of God) and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is" 1 John 3:2. (My life verse) Everything we do, every verse is to make us more like Jesus. The ultimate is that “we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” At this very moment I almost fell on my face and worshipped Him. I did burst into tears. Can you imagine, we are going to see HIM as HE IS. In all of His glory. To me, that is the greatest and highest point of the whole Bible and all of life. The passion of all of our lives ought to be that we shall see HIM and we will be like HIM. Excuse me if you think I am over doing it, but my dear wife, Celeste, is up there and she has seen Him as He is, in all of His glory. WELL GLORY! We all know we still have a ways to go but I will ask the same question as Jesus, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. One of the most unexplainable to me is the “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:25. If just one person reading this would repent and return to their first works, it would make every moment spent on this book, worth it all.

 

The degree to which we are "changed" is determined by how much we "behold the glory of God" in the Word of God! "Be Balanced, Brother, Be Balanced." Here are six "P's" of the Christian life. We are to Proceed to church regularly, Hebrews 10:24, "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. (This is not for preachers only but for every believer. Make sense?) Present our offerings, Matthew 6:1-4. Prepare to meet Thy God" Amos 4:12, And Peer Into the face of Jesus daily and deliberately! When Moses beheld the glory of God on the mountain he came down and “his face did shine” Exodus 34:29, 35. As we behold the glory of God in the word of God we too will be changed into the glory of God. The truth and tragedy is that most of us do not spend enough time beholding the glory of God in the word of God to be so changed. You and I may need to change our priorities so we spend much more time beholding the glory of God in the Word of God! Make sense? This is absolutely essential.

 

MEMORIZE: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is” Hebrews 10:25.

Happy Saturday

You have been anointed by the Holy Spirit

Sumner Wemp

As when Jesus anointed people's eyes to open their eyesight so they could see, 1 John 2:27 indicates this anointing is to open our spiritual eyesight to see the truths in the word of God. It is not wrong at all to be taught by men and women of God but what a thrill, beyond imagination, is in store for us to have God, the Holy Spirit, to teach us wonderful truths out of God’s Word. At 88 years of age, I am still seeing fresh things out of the Word of God. What a tragedy so many Christians do not depend on and take advantage to be taught by the Holy Spirit but many remain babes in Christ all their lives. STOP IT. Get out your Bible, confess your sin of watching TV but not reading the Bible and read the Gospel of John. Ask God to show you precious and promising truths. “Seek ye first the kingdom (promises) of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Matthew 6:33. Stop being robbed by the devil himself. Make sense?

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" Luke 4:18. Don't miss this! "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power" Acts 10:38. If the MAN, Christ Jesus, did what He did in the power of the Holy Spirit, how much more must we. Every believer has this same anointing. If we will only "be filled", be controlled by and "walk in the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18 and Galatians 5:16) so He can flow though us “as living waters" to minister with our gifts in the same power! "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon thee and ye shalt be witnesses unto me" Acts 1:8. Folks, we have the power of the Holy Spirit abiding in us. You have the power of God abiding in you. There is no excuse why EVERY born again Christian does not win dozens of people to Christ so these people go to heaven instead of hell just as you will because someone obeyed God and shared the gospel with you. Make sense?

 

“The harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few” Matthew 9:37. Obey God and have the thrill of your life to see someone saved and going to heaven instead of hell because YOU gave them the gospel Then Jesus said, "I have given them thy word" John 17:14. O that we might be able to say that! 

 

MEMORIZE: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel” Luke 4:!8

Happy Friday

Thought for Today

"Someone who sees grace as permission to sin has missed grace entirely. Mercy understood is holiness desired." - Max Lucado


First Words - First Light
Rev. Kerry S. Doyal [Edited]

How fitting. God's first recorded words in the Holy Scriptures are: "Let there be light" (Gen. 1:3). As we embark on a New Year, we do well to turn to the light, let our light shine, walk in the light and worship Him who is the light.

Let us, in concerted effort with and in subordination to God, work to dispel darkness and disperse light. God saw & still sees light as good. Fellowship with Him - who is the light - separates us from darkness. On this new day of a new creation of a new year, let us purpose to be people of light.

Genesis 1:3-5 (NIV): "And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day."

Ephesians 5:8 (NIV): "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

See John 1:1-10; Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:8-14; Matthew 5:13-16; 1 John 1:4-10

Happy Thursday

Unmixing Our Motives

Amy Carroll

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV 1984)

I'll never forget when mixed motives almost killed my true calling. Soon after accepting a leadership position in the women's ministry of my church, a friend on the team came up to me. "Oh! We forgot to tell you," she said with a grin. "You're in charge of the annual women's conference."

Despite the surprise, I loved every minute of organizing the event. But as I interacted with our guest speaker, envy began to wind itself around my heart. If it could have spoken aloud, it would have said, "I want THAT!"

I wanted her platform.

I wanted her eloquence.

I wanted her audience.

I wanted her cute outfit.

Fortunately, I recognized these "wants" as signs of covetousness rather than signs of my calling. I knew God had called me to be the women's ministry director during that season—not to speak. And each time I desired what that speaker had, it took my focus off what God had for me.

So I asked God to kill the weed of envy that was choking the life from my calling to lead women. I asked Him to purify my motives and steer my heart to the women He had called me to serve.

It's so easy for wrong motives to creep in to our hearts. You might not want to be a speaker, but maybe you're the mom who dresses her children to impress others. Or maybe you're the employee who takes charge of the room to show your boss your readiness for the next step up.

There's nothing wrong with cute children or promotions, but so many times our motives trip us up. Instead of being pure, our motives get mixed with other things that sully the outcome—emotionalism, pride, and strong personal preferences are just a few.

Several years after my prayer to remove my "speaker envy," God started whispering to me about speaking as I prayed and read the Word. My first reaction was to think, "There's that old, nasty envy again. God, purify my heart!"

But this time was different. As I unpacked my motives, I realized God had really changed my heart. He'd refined my motives to just one, and that was to obey Him.

Philippians 2:5 states our ideal position: "Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus" (NIV 1984). Our one motive should be to follow Him and become more like Him. That's the motive that should supersede and reign over any others. How do we practically live that out?

I think the clue is in the following verses. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-7, NIV 1984).

Our focus has to be on becoming nothing. Nothing is not our status or worth. We are always holy and dearly loved children of the King.

Nothing is to be our chosen position as a servant.

How does this look in everyday life? Jesus is our perfect example. He is everything: the Lord of lords and the King of kings. He is so incredibly powerful and important that Colossians 1:16 says "all things were created by him and for him" (NIV 1984). Despite His exalted position, Jesus showed the purity of His motives toward us by giving up all He had.

As I've thought about how to imitate Jesus in my motives, I ask myself two questions when making choices:

• Does this put me or others first?
• Is this a choice to be more or to be nothing?

These two questions expose any twisted motives and bring me back to my chosen position of nothing. Day by day, my motives are refined. It's a painful process sometimes, but it's a good process that ultimately produces pure motives with divine outcomes.

Lord God, You are the only One with uncontaminated motives. I confess mine are often mixed with pride, emotion, or personal opinion. Please purify my heart. Forgive me, un-mix my motives, and help me move forward with a pure heart. Amen.

Happy Wednesday

ReunitedMicca Campbell

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NIV)

When my husband died, a part of me died too. Pain and fear surrounded me during those dark days. I ached inside and felt so lost, empty, and alone. I missed him terribly.

At times, my need for his comforting touch was so strong it would play tricks on my mind. Once, I saw a man who resembled my husband driving a red truck just like Porter's. I followed that truck for miles. As my heart pounded with hope, nothing else mattered more in that moment than catching up to the truck. I was willing to drive to the ends of the earth if necessary.

When I finally caught up with him at a red light and our eyes met, my fantasy ended with a devastating halt. It was as if a cruel joke had been played on me. Weakened by the truth, I pulled into a nearby parking lot, lay across the seat of my car, and wept. As the sun set, the temperature inside the car cooled. Sitting up, I wiped my face, zipped up my coat, and headed for home—without my husband.

There was a great sense of loss, thinking I'd never see Porter again. Maybe you can relate and have experienced grief too? If so, you may be encouraged by this truth: for those who love and know the Lord, parting is only temporary. It's not really goodbye, but see-you-later.

The apostle Paul assured the Thessalonians of this truth.

"The dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17 NIV).

That assurance is for us too. There are three words in Paul's statement that provide hope, comfort, and assurance for the broken-hearted: we, together, and them.

We (people on earth) who are still alive will be caught up together (two parties meeting) with them (those who are in heaven).

These words of reunion indicate that God's children never have to experience permanent separation. That's good news! One day you and I will be reunited with our loved ones who believed in Jesus while on Earth. What a glorious day that will be.

Once I really took hold of this truth, my heart settled. Though I still walked through days of missing my husband, the firm grip sadness had on me lost its strangling hold.

Now, grief no longer burdens my heart. I have hope in God's promise that one day I'll be reunited with Porter, my two grandmothers, and my grandfathers. Holding on to that hope has eased death's sting and filled my heart with anticipation.

Even in grief there is hope. For those who accept the Lord as their Savior, death is not goodbye. It's simply see-you-later.

Dear Lord, thank You for communicating to us words of a glorious reunion one day. Thank You that death is not the end. When my grief runs deep, remind my heart to hope in Your truth. I will see my loved ones again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Tuesday

LonelyAmy Carroll

"Suppose someone falls down. Then his friend can help him up. But suppose the man who falls down doesn't have anyone to help him up. Then feel sorry for him!" Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIRV)

Lonely. It's not a word I thought I'd ever use to describe myself, but that's how I felt.

For many years after a hard move I felt alone.

Close friends had always been a part of my life, and the absence of intimate friendships left me feeling sore-hearted. I longed to have someone to meet for coffee or help me expend some of my many daily words on the phone. It would have been wonderful to have a woman who would both listen and share.

Over time, I made new friends and re-established older friendships, and most days I feel connected and content. But I still remember what it felt like to be lonely. Recently, I read a study published by the American Sociological Review that cited statistics that showed half of Americans only have two close friends. And one out of four Americans say they don't have any close friends.

Not a single one. That's a lot of lonely hearts.

Why should we care? Scripture tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:10 that our friends are our helpers. When times get tough, they can help us navigate through them. "Suppose someone falls down. Then his friend can help him up. But suppose the man who falls down doesn't have anyone to help him up. Then feel sorry for him!" (NIRV)

So how can we be part of the solution, to help guarantee no one falls down without having a friend to pick them up?

If you're lonely ...
During my lonely days I told myself this over and over: When you don't have a friend, BE the friend to others that you would like to have.

"Amy," I'd say ...

• "Would you love a friend who takes time to show that she cares by picking up the phone and asking about your day? Then pick up the phone and ask about someone's day."

• "Would you love a friend who keeps confidences and is trustworthy? Then be trustworthy."

• "Would you love a friend who asks you to go the movies or for a walk? Then ask someone to go along when you do these things."

It's easier to stay isolated sometimes than to reach out, especially if you've been hurt or disappointed many times. I know too well. But I want to encourage you to reach out, show love and care about others.

God taught me so many things during my loneliness. I learned to be more dependent on Him. I learned to appreciate the friendship of my family more. I took a hard look at some things that weren't so wonderful about myself and worked to change them.

During lonely times of life, be intentional about connecting to God and others. There's so much to be learned in these times.

If you're not lonely ...
Think about your neighborhood, church, or an organization you are part of. If there are 40 women there, 10 of them feel like they don't have even one friend. Could God be calling you to be that friend?

Look for ways to open your circle of friends to new people. Watch for that woman at church sitting by herself, the co-worker who eats lunch alone, or the neighbor who never seems to be invited.

Reach out today to be part of one less life feeling lonely.

Dear Lord, You are the friend who is closer than a brother or sister. In this time of loneliness and seeming friendlessness, show me how precious friendship with You can be. Please teach me everything I need to learn in this phase of life. Would You also prepare a friend for me and prepare me to be a trusted, valued friend? In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Monday

Your Thought for Today
 Man's way leads to a hopeless end! 

God's way leads to an endless hope! 
 "A Pardon Is Not a Pardon Unless it Is Accepted"
(Author Unknown) [Edited]
 There was a young man caught and found guilty of murder many decades ago, and sentenced to death. His mother and father loved him with all their hearts, and they appealed to everyone they met for leniency for their son. Without any results they finally appealed to the Governor of their state for a lesser sentence, but to everyone's surprise the Governor granted this young man a full pardon.
 A pardon is a document that essentially erases a crime, making it as if it never happened. The pardon was sent to the prisoner, with instructions to release him from prison. When the Warden told the young man about the pardon, he became angry and said, "I'm guilty, I murdered another human being and I want to die."
 "But," the Warden replied, "I have your pardon in my hand!" No matter how the Warden pleaded, the prisoner kept demanding to die. Not knowing what to do, the Warden appealed to the Judge, to help him know what to do. The Judge said, "A pardon is not a pardon unless it is accepted!"
 So, the young man was executed. He had been completely forgiven for his sins against humanity, and for his other most grievous crimes. So why did he die? Because a pardon is not a pardon unless it is accepted!
 Jesus died in the place of every human being, who by their sins against God were deserving of the death penalty. Every human being who would ever live has been granted an unconditional pardon from God. But the catch is that you must WANT the pardon; you must see the need for the pardon and desire to have it! The pardon from God came when Jesus Christ, God's son, died on the cross for your sins. To accept the pardon means that you must believe that Jesus did this for you (He did what you could not do) and to accept Him therefore as your Savior and ask Him to be Lord of your life.
 Remember, A PARDON IS NOT A PARDON UNLESS IT IS ACCEPTED.

Happy Sunday

The Things We Do For LoveRenee Swope

"What a person desires is unfailing love ..." Proverbs 19:22a (NIV)

I had everything I wanted yet felt empty and confused.

My life was full of relationships and accomplishments I'd worked hard to gain, but none could fill or fulfill me.

Frustrated by my aching emptiness, tears streamed down my face as I thought about the guy I dated through high school and college. Our future plans had crumbled under the pressure of me expecting him to be all I needed. I had been crazy about him — a little too crazy.

I'll never forget the time a friend mentioned my ex-boyfriend was heading to our hometown for the weekend. We worked near each other, so Friday afternoon I parked by his office and waited for him to leave.

We both "happened" to be at the same fast food restaurant, at the same time and bumped into each other. After getting my order, I got in my car and followed behind him, hoping he'd see me, realize he couldn't live without me and signal to pull over so we could talk.

Seriously, what was I thinking? As you can guess, he never stopped. I was hopeless and humiliated.

A few weeks later, I was taking a walk around my college campus. My eyes drifted to the buildings, dorms and other landmarks of memories. Suddenly my mind filled with a collage of faces, reminding me of my efforts to win the approval of advisors, friends and professors — hoping their affirmation could fill my emptiness.

Although I was graduating soon, had a few great job offers and achieved success in many ways, my heart still felt restless. And I couldn't help but wonder: Why was all that I had never enough?

A thought rushed through my soul, stringing together two words I had never put next to each other. I sensed God answering me.

Renee, all you have ever wanted is unconditional love.

Unconditional love? I didn't know there was such a thing. Then God whispered into my soul: You'll never find the love you long for in anyone or anything but Me. I AM the unconditional love you're looking for.

The thought of God loving me without any conditions was inconceivable, yet something deep in my soul told me it was true. I'd been looking for love that didn't have to be earned. Love I didn't have to fear losing.

Honestly, it was hard to see how God's love could fill the emptiness in my heart. It took time, but I came to understand that God created me with that need for fulfillment so He could meet it.

Our key verse, Proverbs 19:22a, says, "What a person desires is unfailing love."

The word "desire" comes from the Hebrew word ta'avah, which means: to greatly long for, deeply desire or crave. Interestingly, unfailing love is mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, and not once is it attributed to a person. It is only attributed to God.

God gave us a desire for unfailing love because He knew it would lead us back to Him.

His love draws us to Him. Only we can stop God from reaching the deep and hidden parts within us that need Him most.

Will you invite Jesus to look into your heart today so He can show you what, who and where you might be looking to be filled and fulfilled? Then ask Him to fill and fulfill you with the promise and reality of His unfailing love instead.

Jesus, help me stop searching for fulfillment in anything or anyone but You. Will You satisfy me with Your unfailing love and help me depend on You to meet my deepest desires and needs. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Friday & Saturday

The Day I Almost Gave UpLeah DiPascal

"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help ... The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near the broken hearted; He saves those crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:15-18 (HCSB)

I gripped the steering wheel of my car and stared at the hospital emergency doors. My heart pounded furiously, like a time bomb waiting to explode. The pressure in my head was almost unbearable. The invisible weight on my chest felt like someone dropped a sledgehammer on me.

Thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to scream but could barely breathe a whisper. I just sat there lonely, afraid, shattered and completely empty inside.

Should I check myself into the hospital?

What if they admit me in the psychiatric ward and won't let me go home?

Who will take care of my children?

Will my husband still love me?

What if my friends find out?

Reaching for my phone, panic rushed over me like a tidal wave. A pool of tears cascaded down my face, as I cried, Jesus, please help me!

Sitting in my car, unable to move, I continued to pray and ask God questions like, How did I get here? I'm a Christian for heaven's sake! Things like this just don't happen to Christian women – or do they? I feel like such a failure.

Looking back now, I can see how years of worry and stress had brought me to that day.

Concerns about my family's finances kept me up most nights. Stress over a high-pressured job caused erratic panic attacks. Worry about my children's health created knots in my stomach. Struggling to help my aging parents resulted in midnight crying sessions.

My concerns consumed me. Worrying became an addiction, demanding my ongoing attention. I was trying to "hold it all together" on the outside, but on the inside, a sea of doubt and fear haunted me.

Maybe you're in a similar place. Have the stresses of life caught up with you too? Are you worried about your finances, health, marriage, job or kids? Do you wonder if anyone sees your pain or even cares? If you're brave enough to cry out for help, will anyone rescue you?

In today's verse, we are reminded we do have a Rescuer:

"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help ... the righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near the broken hearted; He saves those crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:15-18).

God sees you and hears your cries for help, even when no one else does. He knows your heartache. He sees your pain. If your heart is broken and you feel crushed from all sides, God promises to be close to you. Though you may not see Him with you physical eyes, He is there.

God rescued me that day in the hospital parking lot. After several hours of prayer, God calmed my heart and I called my husband. I reached out to close friends for help, and the healing started. Although I wanted an instant miracle, it took time, but God never left my side. He gently mended my broken heart and renewed my mind through His Word. He guided me along a journey that led to true freedom, for which I am forever grateful.

Has the stress of life taken its toll, causing you to feel afraid, lonely or ready to give up? Is your heart broken today? Let God rescue you, friend. He is ready. He is willing. He is able.

Dear Lord, it feels like my life is falling part. I desperately need You to rescue me. Thank You for hearing my cries and for delivering me from my troubles. Even when I am hidden from others, You see me, Lord. Thank You saving me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.