Open my eyes:

Christine (Tina) Berglund

   Of all the daylilies in the garden, the prettiest are the ones that appear to have eyes!

   In a few days,I’ll be having a procedure done in an attemptto heal my eyes. If some of the biblical scholars are right, Paul suffered from eye troubles; and I would have to agree that eye pain is truly a “thorn in the flesh.” It is not only painful, but it is terribly inconvenient.

   One place that eye pain isn’t so noticeable is in the garden. The eye doctors explain that it is because of the combination of near and far vision, and the extra moisture of our humid outdoor climate. The relaxing nature of the tasks that cause normal blinking action could also help.

   My theory is that there is so much that is pleasing to the eyes that it just feels better!I guess you could say that a garden is literally “a sight for sore eyes.”

   Revelation 3:18 admonishes the church in Laodicea to “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (NKJV). The odd thing was, Laodicea was a city known for its eye salve! This play on words showed the Laodiceans that they didn’t really see as well as they thought.

   We sing the children’s song, “Be Careful Little Eyes What You See,” but maybe we miss the point. We are concerned, and rightly so, of guarding our eyes against the things we should not see.

“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes” (Psalm 101:3, NASB).

   We post sticky notes of this or similar verses on our televisions. We put filters on our computers so that pornography doesn’t pop up and assault our eyes, nor our children’s eyes.

But what do we TRY to see?

   Do we see the good in people, especially those with whom we don’t get along? Do we see the best in humanity, even when it’s almost invisible? The famous children’s television personality, Fred Rogers, recalls the advice of his mother whenever a terrible tragedy strikes. “Look for the helpers.”

   The key is to “look.” If we don’t make the attempt to look for it, immeasurable good and so much beauty will be overlooked!

Did you see your 3-year-old sharing his last cookie with his brother? Did you see the young mother smiling through the hymns Sunday morning as she wrestled her toddlers and quieted them with a prepared snack or book? Did you see the older man shuffle over to the table where the correspondence courses are kept, so he could send the next one to his eager student on another continent?

   Yes, there are beautiful moments that surround us in the garden of our everyday lives. God’s protection surrounds us, too; although we cannot see it with our human eyes. Elisha’s servant had to be shown.

   “Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NASB).

Our eyes are so very important to us, but we must not only see, but also LOOK.

Thou Hast Made Me Glad

“For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.” (Psalm 92:4)

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1). So begins this “Song for the Sabbath day” (heading), the psalmist extolling the virtues of praising God both day and night (v. 2). The true believer, with a proper understanding of God’s majesty, can see, in every situation, His lovingkindness and faithfulness. There is no better way to begin and end the day than to rehearse manifestations of His loving control over each event and circumstance and express confidence in His ability to handle new situations. “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” (v. 5).

Vexation over the seeming prosperity of the enemies of God is understandable, but we must rest in the fact that God will act justly at the proper time, when it best suits His purpose. “The wicked . . . shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, . . . shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered” (vv. 7-9).

Conversely, the righteous will ultimately flourish. Whether in this lifetime or in the next, God’s justice will prevail. “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God” (v. 13).

The claim of ultimate victory must not be considered as vague, insufficient, and improbable, as skeptics have always claimed. The reputation of God Himself is on the line. He will not allow His name to be tarnished. He must act “to shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (v. 15). As in our text, we can even now be “glad” and “triumph” in His works, whether we see them in this life or in the life to come. “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” (v. 5). JDM 

Showing Genuine Love for Others

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Psalm 18:35

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Can a person donate to the poor and not have love? Can a person work in a soup kitchen for the homeless and not have love? Yes. You say, “A person wouldn’t do that!” Oh yes, they would…if they had a guilty conscience. Sometimes it is neater to write a check or donate some used things than to give of our time.

Do you know what the world needs? Not more money, though I’m sure they’d be glad to take it. First Corinthians 13:3 says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving of yourself to others.

ACTION POINT:
Ask God to show you the ways you can show His genuine love to others.

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

Quotation

Bad situations don't have to make us bitter-they can make us better! God can use the good, the bad, the happy, the sad to mold us into the people He wants us to be. Our goal should be to focus not on what man does to us but what God will do through us. Rest assured, what man may intend for evil, God will use for good.

Skip Heitzig

Choose To Not Be Easily Offended

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

Do you walk in forgiveness or offense? Does every little thing someone else says or does bother you? Do you have a tendency to allow things to just roll off or do you hang on to offenses? Don’t be easily offended! We need to have our focus on God and not on every little thing others say and do. Now the really tough thing is to not allow yourself to get offended when someone else gets offended with you over something you said or did with a heart that was never intending to offend! Did you follow that? We could just keep the ball rolling with one offense after the next and one more person being rolled up in it all if we don’t just get a grip!

I have watched as some people seem to get offended over the silliest of things and then they hold onto it until the grudge is so overwhelming they can hardly stand to be in the other persons presence. We are talking silly things here, like: “have you noticed she had to ‘one up’ my story?” “I put my daughter in that dance class and now she has to put her daughter in it, why can’t she find her own” “Did you hear what she just said to me? I am sure she said she liked my outfit just to be spiteful!”

Give others the benefit of the doubt and stop taking what they say and adding an attitude to it that you don’t even really know exists! What purpose does it serve to make more out of something than is really there. Life on earth is too short to allow every little thing to offend you, seriously move on!

When you feel as though someone else is doing something or saying something just to be hateful, ask God to help you show them the love of Christ! Ask God to show you how to be kind to them and forgive them. If you deal with someone who is just incredibly spiteful and mean, ask God to give you a tender heart toward them so you can be who you need to be! We are called to forgive ladies and we are called to be kind, we all wish some people didn’t make those callings so difficult at times but that’s life. There are too many really important things to dwell on without making something out of nothing or taking things to heart that are better allowed to just roll of your back! If you find you are easily offended ask God to show you what insecurities or hurts you have buried in your heart that are causing you to feel that way. Ask Him to heal your pain and to help you forgive! Don’t waste another moment allowing the emotions of offense and unforgiveness to rule your day! Take control of those emotions and focus on God!

Quote:
“A person is not defeated by their opponents but by themselves.”
Jan Christiaan Smuts

Gathering in His Name

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There is something wonderful about unity.

I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her. Do you know what happened? She married the mail carrier!

There is nothing like being there. There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that’s not in any other sense. You cannot get it the same way at home.

ACTION POINT:
Do you have a church home? If not, I encourage you to find one today. If church attendance isn’t important, I wonder why Satan works so hard to keep folks away. If you do have a church home, make a special effort this week to meet a new friend and find a need they have which you can meet. Discover Jesus

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

Five Things to Do While You Wait

By Rick Warren

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” ( Matthew 7:7 NLT, second edition)

When God has you in a waiting period, don’t put your life on hold. Instead, imitate the habits that grow strong faith.

The Bible says there are five things you should keep on doing even in the waiting period.

1. Keep on praying.

The Bible says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 NLT, second edition). Keep on praying, and you will get your answer.

2. Keep on serving.

Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Don’t worry about having a significant ministry. Just make your ministry significant.

3. Keep on going to small group.

The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together …. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer” (TEV).

4. Keep on sowing.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow —perhaps it all will” (TLB).

5. Keep on believing.

The Bible says, “You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true” (2 Timothy 3:14).

The point is this: Stay active. Don’t be passive. God cannot steer a parked car! Don’t tell God you’re waiting on him. Turn on the ignition, and just start driving. Where? Anywhere! Get involved in a ministry. Get involved in service. Get involved with small group. Do the things you know you could be doing to develop your skills and habits and become more like Jesus. 

Talk It Over

• How do you tend to react when God has you in a waiting period? 
• In what ways does a small group help you become more like Jesus, especially in the waiting periods of life? 
• What steps can you take today to be more active about your faith?

SEX

Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
 

Many people have had their reputation, their career, and even their lives destroyed by sex outside of marriage. God's word is true, “ he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.”

 

We all know of circumstances and people so selfish that they want what others have. They envy and desire what ever others have, and, many times it is their good friend's.

 

In today's culture, we are overwhelmed by sex. It's on most every commercial, bill board, and printed matter. Sex is used to sell every thing from cars, to furniture, to even young children's clothes. Those advertising executives and Holly wood types know that the naked body will get the attention for their product. They know this and still disregard any sense of morality. In the eye of this world any thing goes as long as you can get away with it.

 

Christian friends, this should not be. We must keep our self respect, our honesty, our commit to our Lord. Remember, God made clothes for the first sinners

 

Clothes serve two purposes. First, clothes keep our body protected from the weather. Second, clothes cover up any imperfection of our body such as any blemish, mole, or defect we might have.

 

God created the human body in his own likeness. It is beautiful and to be appreciated. BUT, don't allow appreciation turn to lust!

 

Ain't God good?

 

God Bless;
Walter D. Hill D. Min.
e-mail= hill.walter19@yahoo.com

He Wants To Prove His Power In Your Life ~The Best Is Yet To Come

2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of God may rest upon me.

Have you done all you can, taken all you can and feel as though this morning you just can’t do it any more? Are you struggling in relationships or maybe with an addiction, what is it this morning that is just more than you handle?

Stop trying to “handle” it or fix it and let go, give it totally to God. God’s grace is sufficient! That means it is sufficient for all you have done right or all you have done wrong! Stop trying to handle everything on your own and allow God’s grace to fill you with His peace, grace and understanding. It is our areas of greatest weakness that God loves to show His power in our lives. If we never needed Him, how would the world see Him work in our lives. If we were just self sufficient instead of “grace sufficient” why would we need Him?

God’s grace covers more than just our sins it covers our hurts and our abilities to handle horrifying situations that we may face. Have you ever watched as someone else goes through something just awful and you wonder how on earth they can get through and yet there seems to be a strength about them that is beyond comprehension “my power is made perfect in weakness”. You don’t understand their strength because God hasn’t given you the grace He is giving them for their situation! God’s grace covers us where we are and how we need it - it isn’t just a blanket covering that smothers us all whether we need it or not and we don’t all just get the same dose, based on our weight or something. I have watched as friends and loved ones on Facebook have lost loved ones or one couple’s young son was hit by a car and some have had children drift from God and some have faced divorce, some have struggled and have been hurting from the rejection of Christian friends or the church because they made a sinful choice and through it all I have seen how when each one has turned to God and gave their situation to Him how He has moved in their lives and circumstances. Has it made every day great and easy through their situation? No, but it is more bearable and there is a strength that fills you as you give it all to Him that is beyond understanding!

I don’t know what you are facing this morning, I know I have a few Giants of my own today, but I do know this: I woke up this morning with God saying over and over, “my Grace is Sufficient Janet”, and I need them to know this morning that I am waiting to prove my power in their lives this morning just as I will yours! Give it to Him, don’t spend one more day fretting over it, give Him your struggle and allow Him to give you the grace and power you need for it all today! God’s love for you is beyond anything you can comprehend and He cares about everything you are faced with, nothing is too big for Him!

I am praying we will all find peace and grace as we face today and the days to come! Draw from His strength today and take one day at a time as He fills you with His grace and power!

Live In Christ

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Have you ever asked yourself why I am here? Wouldn’t it be great that the Lord save us and take us on home with Him! What a thought. We would have no trouble, sorrow, aches and pains.

 

But, think of all the blessings we would miss. We would miss seeing our loved ones saved, our friends and their fellowship, and, yes, the Lord helping us thru hard times. So yes,”for me to live is Christ”.

 

Now it gets really good,

” and to die is gain”. Wow!!

 

What a blessed hope! This life is not all there is. We saved folks have something to look forward to.

 

How about you? Are you looking forward to heaven? I sure hope so. I would love to walk around heaven with you.

God Bless;

Walter D. Hill D. Min.

e-mail= hill.walter19@yahoo.com

It's a relationship that lasts forever

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5.

Do you share your innermost thoughts with anyone?

Who really knows you and the thoughts of your heart and the secret things you intentionally keep hidden from others?

Some may say it's their spouse or a best friend.
Yet, I suggest that even though you may think you know yourself well and that others see the real you, no one knows you more completely than the One who created you.

God says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."

It only makes sense that to know and understand ourselves-
- we need a personal relationship with the One who knows us best.

The good news is that God knows us best-
- and loves us more than anyone else.

He knows our failings and our shortcomings and loves us anyway.

Through Jesus Christ-
- we have the privilege of having a personal relationship with our Creator.

That relationship begins when we accept God's love through faith.
It's a relationship that lasts forever, and that's incredibly good news.

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

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).

 

Prayer Point: Lord, help me to genuinely seek you, and not religious places.

Sin in general

"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins . . . He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3.
The Tsunami that hit Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004 is-
- one of the most horrific natural disasters in recorded history.

In times like these, the question often asked isL
"Why?" More specifically, "Why did God let this happen?"

The disciples asked Jesus a similar question in John 9.

After seeing a man who had been blind from birth, the disciples asked one of the big questions in life, "Why?" They asked, " 'Why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?' " v. 2.

But Jesus dismissed the idea out of hand, saying, " 'It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins . . . He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him' " v. 3.

So why was this man in the condition that he was in?

Even more so, why is there suffering and natural disasters like the tsunami that killed over 150,000 people in at least 11 countries in Southeast Asia?

Why do we have war, and terrorism, and tragedy?

First of all, this man's blindness was not a result of personal sin.
His blindness was the result of sin in general.

For that matter, natural disasters, disease, and suffering are the result of sin in general.

God told our first parents, Adam and Eve, that if they eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden they would surely die. Genesis 2:17.

Despite God's warnings, they ate of it.

Since that moment-
- death has spread through the human race like wildfire.

But God has offered a solution to death through His Son Jesus Christ.

God loves us so much that-
He reached out to us by sending His own son, Jesus Christ,
- to this earth to die for our sins. 

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

HE WALKS ON WATER

Isaiah 55:8

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

 

Whenever water is in contact with air, one of the most delicate structures in the universe is created. That structure is called surface tension. Surface tension is created because water molecules touching the air move just a little bit closer to one another, forming a delicate "skin" on the water.

The water strider is one of the very few insects that can actually walk upon this delicate and extremely thin "skin" formed by surface tension. However, should he need to, he can dive right through it. Each of his six legs ends in a foot looking something like a snowshoe that spreads his weight on the water surface. The bottom of each foot is covered with sensitive hairs and a tiny oil gland to prevent the hairs from getting wet. Those hairs are also very sensitive to vibrations so that the water strider knows who is beneath him as he skates across the surface. Unlike most other insects, the strider is actually covered with hairs, and these provide for flotation when he dives for food.

Only the Creator of all things could have known about surface tension and design a creature that can literally walk on water. Doesn't He deserve our worship and praise, especially since He did not even spare the life of His only Son to save us when we were lost to Him?

Dear Father in heaven, You can do all things, and with You nothing in or out of this world is impossible. Help me to remember that Your thoughts are far above ours, and that with Your unlimited creativity, power, and wisdom, You also love me and will take care of me, for my Savior's sake. Amen.

Michael Ford <jonsquillministries@yahoo.com>

DO YOU LOVE ME?

“The third time [Jesus Christ] said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’” (John 21:17 NIV).

 

As a matter of fact, most of the followers of Jesus Christ were following Him because of what they could get from Him (see John 6:26). No wonder, when it seemed to them that His teaching was hard, many of them no longer followed Him (see John 6:60-66). From that incident, it seemed His twelve disciples were different because they stood by Him (verses 67-69). However, as Jesus Christ predicted, one of the Twelve - Judas Iscariot - betrayed Him (verse 70; 13:21-30; Luke 22:1-6, 47-48) and Simon Peter - the spokesperson of the disciples - denied Him trice (see Luke 22:54-62). This same Peter led some of the disciples to go back to their old profession after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see John 21:1-3). When Jesus Christ appeared to them, He asked Peter that important question three times: “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus could ask him this question three times. Then, Jesus told him what was required of him if he truly loved Him: he should act in favour of Jesus Christ, NOT in his (Peter’s) favour.

 

The Valentine’s Day for this year has just been celebrated. Many people (especially men) asserted that they love some ladies. Most of such ladies have been used and dumped after such assertion. The real meaning of the day (that is, sacrificial love as demonstrated by some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD that were killed because of their love-related actions) has been defeated. If anybody asserts that he or she loves you, you should ask him or her again and again, “Do you really love me?” If he or she answers in the affirmative, then let him or her prove it by acting in YOUR favour. 

 

Jesus Christ demonstrated the real love by laying down His life for us. We also ought to do likewise for our fellow human beings (cf. 1 John 3:16). Why are you following Jesus Christ? Is it not to get something from Him? Are you ready to really surrender your whole being to Him and do His biddings? Why do you love that person that you claim to love? True love is rooted in what a man or woman can give, not what he or she can get from the object of his or her love.

 

Do you really love me? 

 

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

When We Belong to Jesus

Renee Swope

"For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — a wife who married young, only to be rejected,' says your God." Isaiah 54:5-6 (NIV)

We had what felt like a storybook Christian romance. Mike was tall, dark and handsome. He had a successful business and he loved Jesus. But to top it all off, instead of asking me for a date, Mike asked if we could "court."

Our lives were connected on so many levels. We lived on the same floor of the same apartment complex. We attended the same church. And we had several mutual friends. We loved when people told us we made a great couple, in life and in ministry.

Eventually we started praying about marriage and talked to our pastor. Not long after, Mike proposed.

But two weeks into our engagement he looked into my eyes and said: "I've made a horrible mistake. You are not the one God wants me to marry."

I was devastated and wondered what I'd done to make God change His mind.

After counseling and walking through a painful process of forgiveness, I eventually recovered. Much to my surprise, Mike showed back up in my life and asked me to consider rebuilding our friendship.

I was shocked and hesitant. But I also wondered if God wanted to redeem our story. Eventually I gave Mike a second chance. We spent time with friends and took things slowly. But in time, the topic of marriage came up. He proposed again. And he dumped me again!

That time I got smart and kept the ring, holding it as collateral to get Mike to counseling with me. In our first session, the counselor explained that Mike had a fear of commitment. Having a name for it helped me feel better, but Mike felt embarrassed and ashamed.

One night I woke up with a deep sense of concern for him, so I drove to his apartment. Sitting in the parking lot, I felt compelled to get in his van and pray for him. Afterwards I opened my eyes and noticed his journal sitting on the console.

Though I shouldn't have opened it, I turned to the entries he had written when he called off our engagement. I came face-to-face with why he didn't want to marry. There were many things about me he wished were different.

After reading Mike's journal, every time I stood in front of a mirror, doubt whispered: No man will ever want you. You'll never be good enough.

Rejection. Betrayal. Abandonment. Our greatest fears can become reality. Maybe your father abandoned you, or your husband betrayed you. Maybe your best friend broke your trust, or your teenager has shut you out.

The deep pain from broken relationships can make us doubt our value. We begin to see ourselves as disposable. Easily replaced. Not good enough.

One morning, I woke up and felt the heavy weight of rejection. Opening my Bible, I read through the book of Isaiah and landed in chapter 54. There, God showed me He is my Maker, Husband and Redeemer - the One who bestows the honor and acceptance I long for.

As devastating as it was, I learned two life-changing lessons from the pain:

• I have to choose to separate myself, and my worth, from a man's decision to want me or not.

• I have to hold others' words and preferences up to God's Word and choose which one I will rely on.

Although people's preferences will change, God's desire for us won't. Others might not think we're good enough, but God always will. And even if someone decides they don't desire us anymore, God most certainly does!

The truth is, when we belong to Jesus we are loved and accepted forever. We are covered in His goodness, and His goodness makes us good enough!

Lord, I want to know and rely on the love You have for me and live in Your love. Remind me each day that Your goodness makes me good enough! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Good News From Renee's Profile:

Although Renee wears a lot of hats, her favorite and most important are the ones she wears at home. She and her husband JJ have been married for over twenty-one years and have three children: Joshua (19), Andrew (17) and Aster (6) who their family adopted from Ethiopia in 2009.

Make God Flesh and Blood

from KenBible.com

What an amazing concept! Our loving God, an infinite Spirit being, holy, unseen, and transcendent, made Himself a real human being. He longed for us to know Him. He wanted us to trust Him. He wanted to assure us that He understood us. He became like us in every way, sharing our existence, our life, our temptation, our pain, even our death. He became like us so that we could become like Him.

That is incarnation: God made flesh…God become human. God became incarnate in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is no longer with us in physical form. But God’s deep longing to be incarnate has not cooled. He still burns to be seeable and touchable. He still desires to be flesh and blood here on this earth, among the human beings who need to know Him and come to Him. Incarnation is still what He wants.

How can He be incarnate here? We, His children, His Church, are His incarnation. As soon as Jesus returned to the Father, He poured out His own Spirit on all who trusted Him. By the Spirit of God we make God flesh and blood, here and now. We make Him real to needy people. We are His face, His hands, His feet, His heart. We are His love, His compassion, His holiness, His peace, and His unconquerable joy.

Our wonderful God become seeable and touchable. What an amazing possibility! And each of us and all of us can play a part.

Seek Those Things Which Are Above

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

 

People who play sports learn very quickly to keep their eyes on the ball. It does not matter what the spectators are shouting or doing. It doesn't not matter even what the opposing players are doing. What really matters is who has the ball, and, in which direction is that ball going!

Folks that are saved, folks that have overcome this world by the faith in the blood of the LAMB, folks that are waiting for Jesus to come again and take us to live with him; WE must stay focused with uplifted eyes and “seek those things which are above”. We need to stay focused on what things are permanent and important, NOT, on things that just get attention and are temporary.

I would never pay a hundred dollars for some ice cream cone, but, I would pay that amount for a one caret flawless diamond.

The lesson in our verse today seems to tell us to set our priorities correctly.In other words, we need to get our head on straight, know what our goal is, and, commit our ways to getting to that goal.

Keep looking up Christian, our redemption draweth nigh!

 

God Bless;

Walter D. Hill D. Min.

e-mail= hill.walter19@yahoo.com

Jesus, the Savior

BIBLE MEDITATION: 
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 
One day I drove my car off the hot pavement out into a grassy area because I knew where there was a persimmon tree. I love persimmons and I thought, “Well, this is about the time those persimmons would be ripe.” But I got impossibly stuck in the mud. I got a board and tried to dig myself out. I found a piece of carpet there in the woods and put that under the tires. My tires only sunk deeper.

I prayed, “Lord, I’m in the mud. I need your help. I’m helpless here. Lord, get me out.” And almost at the same time, a man came by in a four-wheel vehicle. With that mighty truck, he pulled me slowly out of the mud. I was back on solid ground.

I was so grateful. I hadn’t known what to do, but God sent someone in a four-wheel truck with a cable. That’s so much like salvation. We’re looking for the things of this world and sinking in the mud. We say, “Well, I can get myself out of this.” And the more we try to handle it, the deeper and deeper we sink. We need somebody who will see us, care for us, come to us, and get us out. Jesus is a Savior. He has what it takes to extricate us from the mud we’ve gotten in.

When I got home, my car was covered with mud. I got out the hose and began to get the mud off. That man got me out of the mud, but it was up to me to deal with the mud that was still on there. When I got saved, I was covered with mud. But since then, I’ve been letting Jesus, the Water of Life, clean me up.

ACTION POINT: You can struggle all you want, but all you’re going to do is sink deeper. Stop the struggle. Surrender to Christ. You don’t have what it takes to get out unless someone takes you out. And that one is Jesus. His name is wonderful. He is the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. Discover Jesus

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

Christians-- We Aren't Promised Success

by Rachel Dawson

It’s no secret that the American dream is rooted and established on the idea of personal success. Our whole culture is centered upon personal achievement, and it’s become an obsession. We hear endless chatter of success in all different forms-- box office hits, viral blog posts, bestselling books, massive social media followings, promotions at work, big deals signed, showy purchases made, awards and trophies for kids at school or in sports, fame found and status gained… it’s everywhere we look.
For American Christians especially, we run the risk of success becoming an idol we put in higher priority than God in our lives.
“Where did this idea of ‘Christian success’ come from, and why have we equated influence with notoriety?” Rachael Graf asks in her trending article “God Doesn’t Promise You’ll Be Successful” for Relevant.
The irony in all of this for us Christians is that Jesus was the total opposite of what we today would call “successful.” He didn’t have a home, he didn’t have a wife, he didn’t have the label of a king or the security of a stacked bank account, and he wasn’t even very well-liked. “If we really think about it,” Graf says, “Jesus, from the perspective of his culture, was a failure.”
Why do we expect to be successful when our Lord and Savior was anything but?
He never promised us a glamorous, glorified lifestyle if we chose to follow Him. Luke 21:17 says “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” Graf gives even more examples of this: “He told his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him (Matthew 16:24-26). He told them that the gate is narrow and the way is hard (Matt. 7:13-14). He told them that whoever wanted to be the greatest had to be a servant (Mark 10:43-45). He told them that he was going to the cross (Matthew 17:22-23). And he did.”
Not all of the disciples stayed with Jesus. Not surprising, when we consider the challenges guaranteed to face those who associate themselves with such a radical man. It’s not surprising that many Americans haven’t stayed with Jesus either, for the same reason. We want the fame, the fortune, the family, the followers online, the friends in high places, the fancy car in the garage, the fabulous vacations around the world… we don’t necessarily want to give that all up to follow the footsteps of Jesus.
It seems like setting ourselves up for failure in a way, doesn’t it?
Jesus was familiar with failure, Graf says, but He also claimed a truly victorious success over all sin and death through his crucifixion and resurrection.
“We serve a paradoxical God, one who says that worldly gain is loss if it costs you your soul. That in foolishness there is wisdom and that in dying we live. That in failure there is redemption. Jesus does not promise us earthly success if we choose to follow him, because earthly success was never his aim. What he does promise us is a future so glorious that it cannot be fully described in human language (1 Cor. 2:9). Success is not inherently wrong, and achievement is good cause for celebration. But we must remember that if we succeed—at anything—it is only because our abundantly gracious God has allowed us, for His glory. When we let the world define our success instead of Jesus, we fall into idolatry.”
Dr. James Emery White, a Crosswalk.com contributor, shares a striking contrast between worldly success and Biblical success that is helpful for us to keep in mind: “But doesn't the Bible say to judge people by their fruit?  Yes, but not as defined by the world, such as money, success, numbers, buildings, publications, position, title, speaking engagements, notoriety, rankings, sales or press coverage. That is the world's standard of success, not the Bible's. The fruit the Bible has in mind is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Is that person loving, joyful and a peacemaker?  How do they handle adversity - with faith or despair?  Would they be considered kind, good and faithful?  Is there a gentleness that surrounds them; are they self-controlled? And interestingly, the qualifications of leadership as outlined by the apostle Paul say nothing of the ability to speak, market yourself, write or inspire.  But it says much about a spirit of humility and a godly character.”
So while it may seem like setting yourself up for failure to focus on things the world doesn’t prioritize, we best live like Jesus when we follow His footsteps and seek to glorify Him above ourselves through all that we say and do. He promises a far greater reward than anything this earth or the American dream could offer us!
What does it look like for you to be successful in your life and faith? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Rachel Dawson is the editor of BibleStudyTools.com
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