Happy Wednesday

Why Don’t You Ask Me?

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me.” Psalm 119:18-19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One man loved to study the Bible, but every time he came to something he couldn't understand, he thought of his friend Charlie. Charlie was a great student of the Bible. The man would go to him and say, "Charlie what does this verse mean?" Or, “Charlie, tell me about this." One day in his Bible study, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Why don't you ask Me? I'm the One Who taught Charlie!"

I thank God for Bible students and Bible scholars and people who can teach, but the same God Who teaches them is the God Who wants to teach you. As you study the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in His truth.

ACTION POINT:
The Word of God will be dynamite in your life. But to vitalize it, you need to verbalize it. Start speaking the Word of God. Speak it clearly, speak it courageously. You'll discover as you verbalize God's Word, as you share God's Word, as you quote God's Word, as you sing God's Word, as what is in your heart finds its way to your lips, it will mold your mind in a way you never knew before. It will become vital in your heart and in your life.

Footprints Of JESUS
Chorus:
Footprints of Jesus leading the way,
Footprints of Jesus by night and by day,
Sure if I follow, my life would be sweet,
Saved by the prints, saved by the prints of his wounded feet.
They led to Bethany, that’s where He stayed,
Then to Gethsemane, that’s where he prayed,
They led to Calvary, salvation complete,
Saved by the prints, saved by the prints of his wounded feet.
Footprints of Jesus leading the way,
Footprints of Jesus by night and by day,
Sure if I follow, my life would be sweet,
Saved by the prints, saved by the prints of his wounded feet.
Once I was lost, and he heard my cry,
He left his Father’s mansion on high,
He took my burden, and now I can sing,
“Glory to God, Glory to God, I’m a child of the king.”
Footprints of Jesus leading the way,
Footprints of Jesus by night and by day,
Sure if I follow, my life would be sweet,
Saved by the prints, saved by the prints of his wounded feet.

Daily Smile:
An acquaintance of mine who is a physician told this story about her then-four-year-old daughter. On the way to preschool, the doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. Be still, my heart, thought my friend, gee, my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps and be a doctor! 

Then the child spoke into the instrument: "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order?

In The News:

Nigeria: At Least 20 Killed in Suicide Bombing in Christian Neighborhood
At least 20 people have been killed by a series of bombings targeting buses in a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Nigeria's northern city of Kano, International Christian Concern reports. The official death toll is expected to rise as security officials continue to examine the scene of Monday's attack. Officials suspect the series of explosions were likely initiated by suicide bombers, though investigators are still collecting evidence to confirm that theory. Because the attacks took place in a Christian area of Kano, most officials suspect Christians were the target of the attack. The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is suspected to be behind the bombings, but the group has yet to take responsibility. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been engaged in an armed insurgency in Nigeria's northern states, attempting to carve out a separate Islamic state where it can institute sharia law. As part of its bloody campaign to drive all Christians out of Nigeria's northern states, Boko Haram has targeted the Christian minority there by perpetrating suicide bombings at churches and killing Christians in their homes. 

Nearly Half of All First Births in America Out of Wedlock, Study Finds
The age at which men and women in America marry is now at historic heights, and as a result the number of children born out of wedlock has also increased, according to a new study by a group of family researchers, who have found that 48 percent of all first births are happening outside of marriage, the Christian Post reports. On average, women are marrying at age 27 and men at 29 -- and the average age is still climbing due to economic and cultural reasons. At the same time, the age at which women have children is also increasing, but not nearly as quickly, according to the report released last week by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and collaborators. For women as a whole, the median age of first birth, 25.7, now falls before the median age of first marriage, 26.5. The report called the phenomenon "The Great Crossover." By age 25, 44 percent of women have given birth, while only 38 percent have married. "The biggest downside to delayed marriage in America is that many young adults are now putting the baby carriage before marriage," said co-author and National Marriage Project director Bradford Wilcox. "What they often don't realize is that children born outside of marriage are significantly more likely to be exposed to a revolving cast of caretakers and the social, emotional and financial fallout associated with family instability and single parenthood."