Do you know Him?

Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

 

People can make anyone or anything their god. Gods of this world can be a sports hero or movie star or anything (t.v.) we set before us and give our attention to. People change their gods with each season of the year, or, new make of auto.

 

Christian folk need to be careful what takes up most of our time. If we put anything or anyone before Jesus we do wrong and we can expect reproof from God. We will not “profit” because we are “glorying” in the things of this world. To glory is to brag about or give credit to and I’m afraid the world today is glorying in itself!

 

Times and people have always changed and it seems to be getting worse. We have seen a rapid decline in morality and character this last fifty years. While at the same time we have seen crime and sin increase just as rapidly.

 

The answer, of course, is Jesus. He is the answer to all our problems.

 

Our nation has gotten worse off because Americans have “changed their gods” No President, actor, or singer is the Messiah. Jesus has come already. Do you know Him?

 

God Bless;

Walter D. Hill D. Min.

Faith

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

Today's focus is on faith. When we trust with all our heart we have faith in that person to do what he said. Our Bible says God loves us. I believe that. It says God gave His only begotten Son. I believe that. Jesus said if I go away I will come again. I’m waiting for that! I don’t understand with my simple mind How God could love some undeserving sinner; adopt him into God’s family and then give that sinner eternal life. I believe that!

 

There are a lot of things about this world and people I don’t understand. I do believe God has it all under control. God did not create this and go off and leave it to its own resources. God’s guiding hand is in everything whether we understand it or not.

 

I know, many have lost their jobs. Many are going thru very hard times. Many are about ready to give up. I believe God allows trials and hard times to come our way to test us. Not to break us! Its one thing to say we have faith and another to live that faith on a daily basis. Its our reaction that proves who we are. How are you reacting to your life’s hardship?

 

God Bless;

Walter D. Hill D. Min.

Perfect and Complete

By Bayless Conley [Edited]

Your faith in God has incredible potential to make your life complete. To take you from the place of deficiency, to the place of being perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James puts it this way in James 1:2-4: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Faith in God can make you complete, but your faith will be contested. It will be opposed, even as we read here. Your faith will go through the fire of trial.

If you lack spiritually in your life, those needs can be met. If you are lacking materially, you can get to a place where your needs are met. Whatever your lack, your faith in God has the potential to take you from where you are, and where you are lacking, to this place that the Bible speaks of...being perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

But, the path to that completeness is one of trial. Your faith will not get you there until it first goes through testing. You do have an adversary. You will be opposed. The Bible says, Your adversary, the devil, walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

The devil knows what is at stake, and he will do all he can to keep you from trusting God. So as your faith encounters the turbulence of trials, do what James says, and count it all joy. You are on your way to experiencing what it really means to be perfect and complete in Christ.

A New Way to Look at Sin

“To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” – James 4:17 NASB 

What is sin? Although we tend to think of sin as acts of evil, immoral thoughts or deeds, or actions that violate God’s Word, James provides a different perspective: Sin is also anything we should have done but did not do. As we examine the context of this verse (vs. 11-17), we see that sin can result from situations in which we excessively trust in ourselves, and do not humble ourselves before God. We see this context in that we are not to “speak against one another.”

We are to remember that “there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy.” James reminds us that none of us is in a position to judge our neighbors. Simply being critical can be a sin in God’s sight. In fact, gossip is not just a bad idea but a sin! We are warned about not being boastful or taking the future for granted. In the context of James’ teaching about sin, we see how it can be sinful to depend on our own plans and to realize that boasting is associated with pride and that “all such boasting is evil.”

If we trust in God, we will realize that we have nothing about which we can boast and that boasting, in His sight, demonstrates that we are thinking first about ourselves, not on God. This is sin.

Today, meditate on these things as you ponder your own life. Are there things you know you should be doing? Are you willfully ignoring some Biblical truths? Has God given you a burden that you have not followed? Are there people to whom He has called you to minister? Remember that, in His sight, anything can be considered a sin if it is something you know that you should do be doing, but do not do.

Your Desires

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

 

A saved person’s “desire” has been changed. Usually an unsaved person’s desire is selfish and concerns things. The saved person’s desire is selfless and concerns souls and obedience toward their LORD Jesus.

 

A few people misunderstand this verse when they say that all we need to do is believe and pray, then, God will give us anything we want.

 

 That is NOT what this verse means.

 

There is a big difference between frivolous things I want, and, my fervent desires. I really do want a new handicap van, but, one of my desires is to see all my children and grand children saved. 

 

Our greatest desire should be to please our Saviour. I have found that, when I obey and try to please Jesus, He then, will certainly take care of me! A disciple ask an Official who should we obey, GOD or man. 

 

Some folks don’t know the answer. Do you?    

 

God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.

Name It and Claim It “Gospel”

Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."¹

"The message flickered into C.F's living room each night: 'Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches.'"²

And so the TV listener pledged $500 a year to one TV evangelist and wrote checks to a flamboyant faith healer, and another to a local preacher-made-good. Only the promised blessings didn't come. C.F. ended up having to borrow money to buy food. The explanation given on TV implied that she didn't have enough faith. Now she is understandably disillusioned with all TV ministries. Undoubtedly, unlimited numbers have suffered the same fate.

As Michael Palmer, dean of the divinity school at Regent University, founded by Pat Robertson, said, "More and more people are desperate and grasping at straws and want something that will alleviate their pain or financial crisis."³

Sadly, there is no shortage of TV preachers who, primarily for their own gain, are ready to offer these people false promises under the guise of it being a part of the Christian gospel.

One teacher I know fittingly calls the "Name it and claim it gospel" the "blab it and grab it gospel"—which of course, is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When God promised the ancient Israelites prosperity and good success,⁴ he was stating that if the entire nation—as a whole—lived in harmony with God's will and obeyed his commandments, then they would be prosperous and have good success. This was a message to the nation—not to individuals. Furthermore, prosperity and success according to God can be totally different to what man thinks prosperity and good success is; which to many, at least here in the U.S. and other Western nations, means material prosperity. Sadly, many of these people may very well be spiritual and emotional paupers.

Furthermore, do these "prosperity gospel" preachers take their message to the starving masses in India and South Africa and to other extremely needy parts of the world? I don't think so.

Don't misunderstand me; I am not implying that we have to be poor to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. For those of us who live in developed countries we have the opportunity to work hard and be financially prosperous which is wonderful. However, the important issue is: what is our motive for making money and for what purpose are we using it? It does take money to get God's work on earth done—not for TV evangelists to own private jets. Giving is very important. It is one of the major resources for doing God's work on earth—to help the poor, to aid the suffering, and to proclaim the true gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.

However, in our giving, let us pray for guidance and give to churches and organizations who are truly committed to doing God's work on earth, and not to those who are seeking to build up their own empire and/or ego by offering an easy-believeism, feel-good, non-committed, name it and claim it false prosperity gospel.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the desire to know what your Word teaches, the wisdom to live by it, the discernment to identify all false teachings, and the courage to stand up for truth. And please give me a grateful heart for all your blessings, and a generous spirit to support your work on earth. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 16:33 (NIV).
2. Eric Gorski, religion writer for the Denver Post.
3. Ibid.
4. See Joshua 1:6-9 (NIV).

<:))))><

All articles on this website are written by Richard (Dick) Innes

Religion that stinks!

You know something?
There are more awful things done in the name of religion than in anything else.

I used to be pretty defensive when somebody said that but now-
I tend to agree and I think Jesus would agree as well.

Lots of problems have occurred because, in reality, much of religion stinks.

Let's think about what we can learn from Jesus about times when religion stinks:

• When religion puts ceremonial law before the needs of man;
• When good people are accused of evil because legalism is confused with Godliness;
• When religion seeks to hurt more than help;
• When religion causes man to be hardhearted towards Jesus and the needs of others;
• When religion plots to kill versus save, motivated by hate more than love.

Jesus came to save us from sin and a religion that stinks!

Christianity is not about a religion.

It's about a relationship with God.

And through Christ-
- we can learn of that relationship and discover the answer to life.

================================================

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gospelfromindia

Do It Today

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."1

"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." This timely advice is attributed to Stephen Grellet, Franco-American Quaker (1773-1855).

John, one of Jesus' disciples, wrote, "Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions."2

Do you need to make a phone call, send a card, or do something special for your wife, husband, children, friend, or neighbor? If so, do it today. Do you need to resolve an impaired relationship? Do it today. Do you need to take care of that responsibility you've been putting off for weeks/months? Do it today. Do you need to tell someone how much you love them? Do it today.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please use me to be as Jesus to the people in my world. Today. Help me to be a part of what You are doing in the world. Today. Whatever loving deeds I need to do or responsibility to fulfill help me to do it today. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen."
1. Paul the Apostle, Galatians 6:2 (RSV).
2. 1 John 3:18 (TLB).

Beneath The Cross Of Jesus

"Tell me what your escape routes were," Rev. David Robertson asked his United Church congregation in High River, Alberta, Canada, to begin an impromptu worship service last Sunday. Just over a week earlier, on June 21, 13,000 residents had been evacuated due to a flood.

"How many of you escaped by car or truck?" He began. About half the hands of the church of about 80 people went up. "How many walked out?" He asked as a few more hands went up. "How many of you escaped by front-end loader?" A couple of other hands rose. "Combine?" More hands. "What about a manure spreader?" Laughingly, several more hands moved into the air. Finally, David asked, "What about helicopter?" Amazingly two hands indicated removal by helicopter.

Then David turned to his wife and co-pastor, Rev. Susan Lukey, and asked her to share the amazing story of how she had spent the night of the "flood of a century" in her High River church "beneath the cross of Jesus".

That morning, Rev. Susan had been working with others in her church. When the waters outside grew to the extent that it began to cause real concern, the others made a hasty and safe departure, while Susan tied up some loose ends. By the time she had finished and was prepared to leave, it was too late. The water had quickly become so high that it was no longer possible to open the doors against the rising tide.

A quick call to 911 suggested that if she was safe, she should hunker down and wait until the flood lessened, when it would be safer to move about. As the water seeped through the front doors, Susan found a stepladder and put it against the highest part of the church -- the choir loft in the sanctuary, right below the cross of Jesus. As the waters rose, Susan climbed the ladder to a ledge, about three feet wide, on which the cross sits, and there, she settled in for a long night, with food, water, and prayer shawls as her source of physical comfort, but the cross of Jesus, directly about, her spiritual comfort, as the troubled water splashed beneath her.

Susan reported that she was never really afraid. "I thought that the rest of the town was safe and that I would walk out in the morning to my family. I kept reading over Psalm 29 which speaks of God being enthroned over the flood. I still don't totally understand what that means, but it reminded me that God is more powerful than the rising waters."

Psalm 29:3,10 "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever." (NIV)

What a great image, with flood waters raging below, sleeping fearlessly "beneath the cross of Jesus"!

Isaiah speaks on behalf of God when he says:

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (NIV)

Susan made it safely back to her family the next morning, after discovering that they, along with the rest of the town, had been evacuated. Since then, those words of Isaiah have focused her faith day by day, as they should for all of us.

Prayer: Loving God, as the troubled waters often swirl around us and threaten both our way of living and also life itself, help us to focus on You, on Your love, and on Your peace, for it is those things that get us through the long night. Amen.

Rick Potter
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Resurrection

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”—Martin Luther

Okay, here’s one truth that no one likes to think about too much, particularly after watching the latest zombie flick:

Your body will decompose.

Yuck. No need to talk about this one much. Whether your body is cremated, put in a casket, or donated to medical science... the result will be the same:

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. —Ecclesiastes 3:20

What happens after that? There are several very popular theories out there (but none of them can be backed up with the Bible):

• Soul sleep. This is the “eternal nap” theory. The soul still exists, but in death it goes into an unconscious snooze forever. 

• Nihilism. I call this the "poof" theory. After death, the soul and spirit just kind of evaporate and cease to exist altogether. 

• Reincarnation. This is the “repeat” theory. When any living thing dies, its soul goes into other living things—actually becoming something else over and over again in a neverending cycle of life and death.

None of that sounds like a great option, in my opinion. HOWEVER, there is definitely a flip side of the coin of death—and it's really awesome if you know Jesus Christ personally:

Your spirit will dwell.

For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. —2 Corinthians
5:7-8

This passage reveals the heart of a godly, and yet struggling, man. Paul says that he would prefer to be away from the body... he would rather be dead. When the body dies, our spirit is freed from tangible flesh and we can be with the Lord at home—home, where we will be alive and aware, home with the Father experiencing His love without distraction, home where we belong.

Paul had this in perspective—and I think it’s one of the reasons he lived such a free, focused, Paul had this in perspective—and I think it’s one of the reasons he lived such a free, focused, purpose-driven life. Yes, he knew he had good reasons to stay. But he knew from the heart that he would be moving on to much, much better things, and it gave him the freedom to live powerfully and fearlessly while on earth.

Father, conform my perspective of death to the principles of Your Word. Release my grip on physical life, which I cannot keep, so I can live freely in light of eternity, prioritizing my days for the things that will last forever. Amen.

Listen to Pete, Jill & Stuart Briscoe on the Telling the Truth broadcast at OnePlace.com

Accepting Forgiveness

by Wendy Pope

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." Psalm 32:2 (NIV 1984)

Many years were spent regretting sins from my past. These sins had hurt others and me. Day after day I would replay my decisions. Two decades later, the sting of past sin still had a hold on me.

God had forgiven me; I'd told Him about my sin and asked Him to pardon me. So why couldn't I accept the freedom of His forgiveness?

I wanted so badly to believe I was the person David mentions in Psalm 32:2, "Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." Yet I struggled with accepting that God's grace could erase my sin, wiping it away as if it never happened.

This can be a hard thing to accept for many of us. It sounds all well and good, but in reality, the weight of sin makes it difficult to believe a perfect God can forgive us.

Yet, His Word assures us that God does not count our sin against us. So how can we live in this truth?

The first step is to acknowledge our sin: to ourselves and to God. This opens up the door for honest conversations with the Lord and helps us stop hiding from the fear of being found out.

The next step is to fill our hearts and minds with truth. Throughout the Bible, God teaches how an unaccepting heart can be changed and softened to accept His forgiveness. The following verses are truth from a loving God who longs to transform our lives through the grace of His forgiveness.

My God doesn't condemn. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (NIV)

My master is grace, not sin. "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14 (NIV 1984)

My Savior Jesus has set me free, therefore I am free. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 (NIV)

My old is gone; because of Jesus Christ I am new. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV 1984)

Are you lugging a load of sin that God has already forgiven? Are you ready to stop living in shame, shackled by regret? Life is too short to exchange the freedom of grace for the bondage of unbelief.

Today, allow God to wash the hurt and regret from past sins away with the transforming power of His truth. And let's pray for an accepting heart that lives in the freedom of God's grace and forgiveness.

Dear Lord, by faith I accept Your forgiveness and refuse to be a slave to sin You've already forgiven. Today, I confess and move on! I commit to believe Your transforming truths to live fully and freely in Your grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Will You Share Your Story?

by Lysa TerKeurst

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

Whenever I've stepped out to do something I felt God calling me to do, the voices of criticism and condemnation have been there to greet me. Early on in ministry the voices were loud and cruel. "You'll never be a speaker." "You are not wanted." "Look at you. Do you really think God could use someone like you?"

Sometimes I measured myself against other people. "She's so clever. She's so educated. She's so connected. Who am I compared to all that?" Gradually, I shrank back. I pulled away. I put up a front of perfection with carefully crafted words and a house and kids that looked just right.

Polished on the outside, yet completely undone on the inside.

Eventually the Lord called my bluff. I was simultaneously going through the books Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson. Often tears streamed from my eyes while attempting to get through the lessons. But one day it was more than just tears. It was sobs pouring from a chest so heavy with burdens I thought I might literally break apart.

Down on my face, I asked God to speak to me. What I heard in reply was one simple, life-changing question: Will you share your story?

"Yes, I will share my story. The good parts that are safe and tidy and acceptable."

But safe and tidy and acceptable were not what God was looking for. He wanted the impossible.

Absolutely impossible ... in my strength.

God met every one of my arguments with scriptures about relying not on my strength, but on His.

He untangled my need for approval with the challenge to live for an audience of One. He helped me see where the voices of doubt were coming from and challenged me to consider the source. And, quite simply, God kept whispering He loved me over and over again.

The first time I shared my story was an act of absolute obedience. I kept my head down and my guard up. I expected the ladies listening to stone me ... especially when I got to the part about my abortion. The shame of childhood abuse and rejection was nothing compared to the shame of my choice to abort my child.

I'd wept over that choice.

I'd repented.

I'd gone to God hundreds of times and asked for forgiveness.

I'd laid it down every time there was an altar call.

But nothing brought the redemption that day brought. As I shook at that podium, I shared exactly what God asked me to.

And then the miracle happened.

When I finished and dared to look up, tear-stained faces were looking back at me. Mouths were whispering, "Me too. Me too."

In that moment, I finally understood the meaning behind Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Seeing God use the very thing that made me feel utterly worthless to help others changed everything. I was finally breaking free from Satan's chains of shame and could see his lies for what they were. In that moment, I felt victorious—not in my own power, but in the Lord's strength and ability to use all things for good.

My saying yes to God gave others the courage to say yes to Him as well. Burdens were lifted. Lives were changed. Hidden secrets were touched by grace. It's a beautiful thing when women say yes to God. In what way is He calling you to say yes?

Dear Lord, thank You for making the impossible, possible. Thank You for taking every event in my life and using it for good. You are worthy to be praised. I want to follow Your plan for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Celebrating My Scars

By Steve Goodier

Po Bronson, in his book Why Do I Love These People? (Random House,  2005), tells a true story about a scarred and stately elm tree. The Tree was planted in the first half of the 20th Century on a farm near Beulah, Michigan (USA). It grew to be magnificent. Today the elm spans Some 60 feet across its lush, green crown. Its trunk measures about 12 Feet in circumference. And a vivid scar encircles the tree.

In the 1950s the family that owned the farm kept a bull chained to the Elm. The bull paced round and round the tree. The heavy iron chain Scraped a trench in the bark about three feet off the ground. The Trench deepened over the years threatening to kill the tree. But, Though damaged so severely, the tree strangely did not die.

After some years, the family sold the farm and took their bull. They Cut the chain, leaving the loop embedded in the trunk and one link Hanging down. The elm continued to grow and bark slowly covered parts Of the rusting chain that strangled it. The deep gash around the trunk Became an ugly scar.

Then one year, agricultural catastrophe struck Michigan -- in the form Of Dutch Elm Disease. A path of death spread across vast areas of Countryside. Most elm trees in the vicinity of the farm became infected And died. But that one noble elm remained untouched.

Amazingly, it had survived two hardships. It was not killed by the Bull's' chain years earlier, and this time it out-lasted the deadly Fungus. Year after year it thrived. Nobody could understand why it was Still standing in a vast area where most every other elm tree was gone.

Plant pathologists from Michigan State University came out to study The tree. They looked closely at the chain necklace buried deep in the Scar. These experts reported that the chain itself actually saved the Elm's' life. They reasoned that the tree absorbed so much iron from the Chain left to rust around its trunk that it became immune to the Fungus. What certainly could have killed the tree actually made it Stronger and more resilient.

As Ernest Hemingway said, “The world breaks everyone and afterward Many are strong at the broken places.” The same chain that severely Wounded the tree saved its life in the end.

The story of this tree reminds me that the very things that have hurt Me, physically as well as emotionally, have also helped me more than I May ever know. Many of them left scars – some of the scars are visible And some not. But these days, I am learning to accept my scars – even To celebrate them.

Why not? My scars remind me that I did indeed survive my deepest Wounds. That in itself is an accomplishment. And they bring to mind Something else, too. They remind me that the damage life has inflicted On me has, in many places, left me stronger and more resilient. What Hurt me in the past has actually made me better equipped to face the present.

Yes, I have scars. I have decided to look on them as things of beauty. And I will celebrate them.

-- Steve Goodier

Where Can I Find JOY?

by Wendy Blight

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:2 (NLT)

My daughter's journey with scoliosis was a heart-breaking time for me as a mother. There were days I couldn't see past Lauren's extreme physical pain and my wondering heart questioned, why hasn't God healed her yet?

Through those years, I struggled. I felt empty ... void of hope ... void of joy. I knew what God's Word said about joy: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy" (James 1:2 NLT). But in the midst of Lauren's circumstances, her broken heart and wounded body, it was hard to follow that command.

How could I obey this scripture and find joy when someone I loved was in such pain? God graciously answered the cry of my heart by revealing to me these three words ... Jesus Only You.

I noticed the first letter of each of those words spelled J O Y. And it clicked with me. Jesus is our joy!

When God says in James 1:2 to consider trials as opportunities for joy, He's not talking about the joy found in earthly things. Circumstances turning out how we desire, possessions and positions, and even good health only offer happiness. They are temporary. What God longs for us to have is deep, lasting joy found in Jesus.

The King James Version says we are to "count it all joy" when we walk through trials. This word "count" means "evaluate."

When trials come, we must evaluate them in light of God's truths and promises. It's not the trial itself we consider a joy. Rather, it's the results that will come from the trial that we consider pure joy.

This involves trusting that God is actively working for our good even in the midst of painful circumstances. And as we trust Him, we will find an inner gladness rooted not in our circumstances, but in the reality of the living God who transcends our circumstances.

After years of praying, asking God to heal my daughter, He did. It still hurts to remember the excruciating pain Lauren suffered. But God was and is faithful. God didn't heal my girl in the miraculous way I was expecting. Instead, she endured a seven-hour surgery to place two rods in her spine. She missed nearly six weeks of school and labored through months of relearning how to sit and walk and move. She had to quit competitive cheerleading. But in and through that time, God did a new thing.

Looking back, I can see how He held us up, deepened Lauren's faith, and drew our family closer to each other. In real and personal ways, God showed us His tender, loving care. And He taught me the meaning of true J O Y.

Jesus alone is the source of our joy.

When discouragement comes and you feel you cannot take one more step, remember these three words, Jesus Only You!

Jesus came so that I . . . so that you . . . can experience His joy fully and completely in us through any and all circumstances.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the joy that is ours in Him. Every time our thoughts turn to our hurt, cause our pain to bring us back to J O Y . . . Jesus Only You. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, amen.

Unshakable Confidence

Lynn Cowell

"Mary responded, 'I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true.' And then the angel left her." Luke 1:38 (NLT)

Lord, I'm not sure I can take one more rejection.

No. No. No. Every email I received said the same thing, using different words. We don't publish that type of book. We don't publish writers we don't know. We won't publish you.

Letting each rejection seep into my heart, many days I crawled into bed and cried. Why would God ask me to do something good, yet allow a process that made me feel so bad?

But then I remembered Mary, who was much wiser than I. Her story is found in the Bible. Instead of building her confidence on something she could lose, or have taken away, she built her confidence on God.

Picture this teenager. She's engaged to a great guy. Wedding plans are in motion. Life is good.

Then suddenly, her happily-ever-after dreams are interrupted by an angel announcing this surprise:

"Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you" (Luke 1:28, MSG).

Flattered? Nope. She was scared! However, the angel assures her, "You have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus" (v. 29-33).

My reaction would have been, What? Pregnant? I'm not married yet! There's no way!

But when Mary received this news, we don't see fear or doubt. Her response isn't, "This will be the end of me! What will everyone say about me?"

Mary doesn't ditch her confidence. Instead, as we find in today's key verse, her reaction is grounded in faith: "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true" (Luke 1:38a).

Mary responded with confidence because Mary's confidence began with her relationship with God.

Not on something, like her reputation. That was outside her control.

Not on someone, like Joseph. For all she knew, he would leave her once he learned she was pregnant.

Not on some place, like her home. Mary actually left town to visit her cousin after she received this news.

Did Mary understand everything God was doing? Unlikely. Or resent what He was doing? Doesn't appear so.

Would others judge her? No doubt they would, but Mary did not allow people's opinions to prevent her from embracing God's calling, even if she didn't completely understand it. The lack of details didn't impact her confidence in His plans for her life, nor her trust in Him to take care of her.

There have been times when I've based my confidence on others. As a teenager, I based it on a boyfriend's affection, a coach's affirmation or my parent's approval. If one of them failed to give the "Atta girl!" I craved, I saw myself as a failure.

As a mom, I've built it on my kids and their performance. When they made a mistake, my confidence was shaken. I've based my security on my career and the success I wanted. Success hasn't always come, although rejection often has.

Has there been a time when circumstances were less than perfect and your confidence was shaken?

I'm learning that unshakable confidence is not built on someone, something or someplace, but on our unshakable God. This confidence is built over time, before confidence-shaking circumstances come. In the difficult times, God has taught me He alone is my firm foundation for rebuilding confidence. Only Him.

As we face inevitable uncertainties in life, in our relationships, in our futures, let's start to rebuild our confidence on the One that can never be taken away: God. The only One who will never leave us or forsake us.

Lord, it's easier to build my confidence on what I can see and what I know. Help me to build my confidence on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Other People Might Think I'm Crazy

Tracie Miles

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

It was a record-setting day, with the temperature reaching three digits. I was on the verge of whining when I saw a frail, exhausted and obviously pregnant woman at the edge of the busy highway, wearing long sleeves and pants that hung from her tiny body.

She was walking with her head down, despair evident in her posture. And despite my initial reaction to keep driving, my heart wouldn't listen.

I sensed God tugging at my heart to help her, but as my hands gripped the steering wheel, excuses gripped my mind. I'm already late to pick up my daughter up from practice. It's dangerous to pick up strangers on the side of the road. Other people might think I'm crazy if I stop to help. Someone else will help her.

But God's voice continued speaking to my heart, reminding me of the passage in Matthew 25:40: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

God's pull to turn around was stronger than my excuses to keep driving, so despite my hesitations, I did it anyway.

I made a U-turn, pulled up slowly beside her and asked if she needed help. She was hours from home and her car had run out of gas. The nearest station was five miles away, and she had no way to get to the gas, physically or financially. I realized both she and her unborn child were in danger lost — in every sense of the word.

The truth is, all too often I get busy with life and neglect to see those who may need a helping hand, a warm hug, a shoulder to cry on or a tank of gas. But if I really want to follow Jesus and make an earthly — and possibly eternal — difference in another person's life, I need to care for those Jesus called the "least of these."

This helpless woman was the "least of these" Jesus mentioned in Matthew 25:44-46. In this passage, Jesus told the crowd a story about a king to teach them the importance of caring for those the world dismissed.

Jesus explained when they cared for others, they were also caring for Him. Their actions to love the "least of these" were equivalent to serving the Savior. The faithful ones who showed compassion and exhibited a love for others were the ones to inherit His kingdom.

Unfortunately, society hasn't changed much. In fact, there are more lost and needy people in the world today than ever, and Jesus' instructions to love the least of these are as important today as they were then.

When we exhibit sacrificial empathy, tenderness, kindness and compassion, His light shines through as we extend to others the grace and mercy He's extended to us.

On this particularly hot day, I paused to help a young woman in need. It did seem like a risky decision; I was late in picking up my daughter. And when I had arrived at her practice with a total stranger in the passenger seat, some people did think I was a little crazy. But God's greater purpose is always worth the sacrifice.

How different might the world be today, if we allowed God's whispers to drown out opinions of naysayers, or voices in our minds telling us not to help those in need? Or when God calls us out of our comfort zones, if we'd put aside our inhibitions and commit to being His hands and feet?

After returning this sweet lady back to her car with a tank full of gas, she waved at me with a big, thankful smile and quietly uttered the words, "God bless you."

But in my heart, I knew He already had.

Lord, give me Your eyes to see those in need and Your heart to reach to out to them. Bless me with the ability to serve You by serving others. Help me develop a heart like Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thought for Today

The desire of love is to give. The desire of lust is to get!

Lions

By Ray Naidoo

"Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary {the} devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." Daniel 6:22 (KJV)

I feel shame to admit defeat in my life but it has been the story of my life. It is always up and down without any sign of calm ahead. My faith has been sometimes almost non-existent and I question where I am going and where is God.

But the startling revelation in all this is that God loves me but the devil hates me. I am a child of God and in all the struggles I faced, I gave the devil a foothold into my life. He took no time to make himself at home creating chaos. But another startling revelation was that it wasn't all the devil's doing, much of it was me. I moved away from God when things were tough. Then this scripture just kept on playing in my heart. I never thought of these two scriptures together before and how much sense it makes.

The devil is like a roaring lion seeking his prey. When we let go of our Protector, God, we become helpless, we become easy targets. The devil's hunger is never filled until all of God's people are devoured.

God is our refuge and shelter. He protects and provides for our every need. Jesus said that all the power and authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. The devil has no power over you, no authority over your life. God meets us at our point of weakness while the devil tries to break when we are already down and out.

The devil is like a roaring lion but remember God can shut the mouth of the lion. So take time today and see where you are in your life. Maybe, like me, you need to return to where you are supposed to be...

Remember:

God does not move away from us, we move away from Him.

Prayer: (Pray with me...)
 "Dear Lord, Thank you for your word today. Forgive us, Father, for not holding on to your love in our lives. Help us overcome our difficulties. Shut the mouths of the lions in our lives. Take full control in our lives today. In Jesus' precious name... Amen."

How Do I Trust Again?

by Suzie Eller

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Years ago, hurtful words from a friend landed in a tender spot in my heart. It was already damaged by a previous incident with her ... and the one before that.  When this friend was frustrated or lost her temper, words just tumbled out. Words that went straight to my vulnerable places.  Each time she said she was sorry, and she meant it.  I knew we could work through it, but part of me wanted to give up on trusting her altogether. Why trust someone who might let you down again?  In fact, why trust at all? Why not just close my heart and keep it safe from any potential harm?

The reality is that people are messy. My friend was a mess. Sometimes I'm a big ol' mess, too. The words my friend spoke hurt and we needed to work through it. Our hearts trust in Him and He helps us.

We need wisdom to know what to say, when to say it and when to hold those words back. God offers that guidance (James 1:5).

We need discernment over what is ours to fix and when to step back as God does His part (Psalm 55:22).

We need to know what to do when someone is destructive or unwilling to change, and how to transfer our trust to God in that hard situation, rather than take matters into our own hands. We can ask for hope and healing in our hearts while God performs His work in someone else's heart.

Our hearts leap for joy, and with a song we praise Him.

Conflicts, difficult conversations or poor behavior can make you want to give up or shut people out completely. Have you been tempted to climb into a cave of isolation?  Do you sense God asking you to trust again? Maybe not even in a specific person, but in Him? In others? In the fact that He's completely with you as you run after His plan for your life?

My friend is still my friend. She's changed a lot in the past few years, and it's delightful to have watched that transformation.  Is she perfect? No, but neither am I. We're two imperfect women whose hearts trust in God.

Dear Lord, someone has hurt my heart and my response has been to hide or build a wall. Thank You for wisdom, compassion and discernment as I trust in You first, and You show me how to trust others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Thought for Today
"For years the Bible was a dead book to me...like grits without salt. But after I gave my life to Jesus Christ, it became alive. I saw that the Bible was God's way of talking to me." - Steve Bartkowski, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons

How Gullible Are We?

By Alan Smith

A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide." And for plenty of good reasons, since:

1. it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2. it is a major component in acid rain
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4. accidental inhalation can kill you
5. it contributes to erosion
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was...

WATER!!!

The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?" The conclusion is obvious.

Religion is another area where people have a tendency to be gullible. Extreme examples can be found in David Koresh's followers and the Heaven's Gate cult. But it can happen any time we believe someone without checking out God's Word to see if what is being taught is the truth. Faith does not mean blindly accepting whatever anyone (even a preacher) says.

The apostle John warned, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (I John 4:1)

Use God's Word to discern between what is true and what is false. And if you feel like living dangerously today, pour yourself a big tall glass of dihydrogen monoxide!

Time to Do a Little Faith Stretching

Tracie Miles

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

I knew the work would be tough, the weather would be hot and the floor I'd sleep on would be hard. But little did I know none of those inconveniences would be the "stretching" part.

Several years ago, I participated in a mission trip to renovate homes of families in need. God planned to stretch me beyond what was comfortable that week, but as it turned out, it wasn't the work or inconveniences that stretched me.

I wasn't stretched as I climbed up a 10-foot ladder to hand someone a heavy can of paint. Or as I sprawled across a noisy air mattress every night — hoping it wouldn't completely deflate before morning. I wasn't stretched as I endured 105-degree temperatures, wearing the required attire of full-length jeans that stuck to my sweaty legs like glue.

I wasn't even stretched taking showers in close proximity to total strangers, separated by only a thin curtain, or when I shared that awkward shower with a large, dead, winged creature lying in the drain.

None of these things were enjoyable, but they weren't really outside of my "comfort zone." Yet when it came time to walk through a local neighborhood, knock on doors and share the Gospel, with the looming fear a door might be slammed in my face (or worse), I felt my faith being stretched.

Looking back now, I realize God was gently pushing me out of my comfort zone into a faith zone. He confronted me with the choice to stretch my faith or play it safe.

It would have been easy to send my work crew down the street without me. I could have stood in the shadows of the big oak trees as others on the team approached the strangers. But God had planted a burning conviction in my heart to trust Him and do some serious stretching. So standing alone on the sidewalk wasn't an option.

I had no idea that by stepping out in faith, I would receive the greatest blessing.

There are countless stories in the Bible of God calling people out of their comfort zones. And with each one, the stretching brought blessings they'd never imagined.

Abraham trusted God for the child he was promised, despite his and his wife's advanced age. His faith-stretching ended with a little baby in his arms named Isaac.

Jesus' disciples feared for their lives when a violent storm threatened to sink their boat. But Peter's faith to step out of the boat at Jesus' invitation resulted in Peter's human feet miraculously walking on water.

Jesus told a crippled man, with muscles weak and atrophied, to get up and walk. The man stretched his faith as he stretched out his legs and walked for the very first time.

And on it goes. A blind man who had faith to believe Jesus could heal, saw Jesus' face with those very eyes. Joshua might have felt ridiculous circling the walls of Jericho seven times, but eventually the walls came crumbling down. Joseph spent more than 10 years in a dark dungeon, but it was his unwavering faith which eventually landed him on the throne.

God calls us all to do some faith stretching now and then. Whether we are called to leave our comfort zones to obey and act, or to rest and trust God during a difficult season of life, He always rewards great faith with wonderful blessings, just as today's key verse promises.

Maybe stepping outside of your comfort zone to obey God seems like too much of a stretch right now. Keep in mind that although it may seem impossible, God will never stretch us beyond what we are capable of in His strength — not ours. And when we are willing to be stretched, blessings begin to flow.

Lord, help me fully trust You with my life and develop a faith that is willing to stretch for Your sake, and mine. Show me how You can use my life for Your good. In Jesus' Name, Amen.