Happy Happy Monday

PAUL'S THANKFULNESS

Scripture Reading:  2 Thessalonians 1:1-3.


The same three men named in 1 Thessalonians are named here as sending greetings. Paul's use of "we" (1:3-4, 11-12) is worth noting. More than one man was responsible for establishing this, and other churches. God's laborers work together, by His design to accomplish His work. Silas was Paul's primary associate on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). Timothy was a young man Paul had led to Christ (1 Tim. 1:2) during his first missionary Journey (Acts 13-14). It was Timothy who brought Paul news of the Thessalonian situation the first " time (I Thess 3: 12,6). These three men were those who brought the faith to and nurtured the Thessalonian Church.

Again Paul greets the Thessalonians with his characteristic "grace and peace" (vs.2). Paul wants his readers to experience these blessings in their fullest measure. Grace is God's unmerited favor bestowed upon all who receive Him (John I:12). "Peace" is the ending of the alienation that previously separated the unbeloved from God (Rom.. 5:1).

Paul thanks God for this Church because of the continual growth in their faith (gk. huperauxanei). He has seen their faith grow super abundantly or vigorously in spite of hardship and persecution. Paul often uses superlatives in his Greek expressions. The Thessalonians' faith in God continues to increase as well as their love for others (James 2:14-17). Is this a reality in Our lives?

Daily Smile:

Q. What do you call two fat men having a chat?
A. A heavy discussion.

Editor's Note: Before you become offended, I am fat and my conversations can be sometimes Heavy... Laugh with me...

Happy Sunday

Working Versus Striving

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
"So he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6 

Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord; yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our own abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it is by His power that we can do anything. 

It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers. Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and actually go against them." 

I was learning this lesson recently when I was asked to participate in a large event that would give great exposure and much needed financial increase to my ministry. It made all the sense in the world to participate. Then I prayed with a friend and asked the Lord His mind on it. The Lord showed us this was not His plan for me. I declined the invitation. 

Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit. 

Daily Smile:

Stuffed Pockets

A small boy stunned his parents after church one Sunday when he began to empty his pockets of nickels, dimes and quarters. 

Finally his mother asked the obvious question, "Where did you get all that money?"

"At Sunday school," the boy replied nonchalantly. 

"They have bowls of it."

Happy Saturday

The Poor

Psalm 74:21 O let the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

A government official was asked why more wasn't being done for the poor and starving. He answered, "We have no right to impose our culture on their chosen life-style. These people do nothing to better themselves, so they must want to live as they do. What should we be expected to do, in a case like that?"

Why do we look for ways to shame the poor and destitute? Of course, there are a few who are poor because they choose nothing better for their lives, but they are a distinct minority. All too often, poor people are made out to be lazy, evil, and greedy, when nothing could be further from the truth. The poor are our brothers and sisters, and they are worthy of our help, just because Christ said so. God blesses the poor and those who help them. Take hold of your blessing. Help someone in need.

Prayer: All your children deserve dignity and respect. Let me give all people the respect that I would give You, Lord. Humble my heart when I feel myself looking down on those around me. Amen.

Daily Smile:

A lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. To his dismay, there were thousands of people ahead of him in line to see St. Peter. To his surprise, St. Peter left his desk at the gate and came down the long line to where the lawyer was, and greeted him warmly. Then St. Peter and one of his assistants took the lawyer by the hands and guided him up to the front of the line, and into a comfortable chair by his desk. 

The lawyer said, "I don't mind all this attention, but what makes me so special?" 

St. Peter replied, "Well, I've added up all the hours for which you billed your clients, and by my calculation you must be about 193 years old!"

Happy Friday 13th

Today is Friday the 13th... If I actually believed in back luck or even good luck, I would have to say that amazing things have happened to me on this special day... Most of them were good... 
The first time I realized that the 13th was not back luck was when I went fishing with my Daddy Mac... It was my only time to go fishing with him and it was Friday the 13th... Caught 13 bream using Roaches as bait... Unlucky for the Roaches and Bream...
I have never been into fishing so that day was my personal best... 
I have sales calls to make today... Looking forward to a successful day... Happy Friday the 13th... Richard...
 
Forgiveness

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke
23:34 NASB

Ruggiero Leoncavallo was a rising star. Born in Naples in 1857, he became a successful composer, particularly after his opera, “Pagliacci,” premiered under the baton of Arturo Toscanini in 1892. Seeking to build on this success, he discovered the novel, La Vie de Bohème. This, he believed, was the story upon which he could base his next great opera.

He was distressed to learn that another composer, Giacomo Puccini, already was writing an opera based on the same book. Nonetheless, Leoncavallo continued with his project.

Puccini was first to finish his work, and his opera, La Bohème, became a sensation. Leoncavallo also finished his opera, but after a fairly successful debut, it was quickly forgotten. In the aftermath, he never could forgive Puccini, and the two men never spoke again. Crippled by bitterness and unforgiveness, Leoncavallo was stuck with the label of “one-opera composer.”

A spirit of unforgiveness can creep into any person’s life. Just like Leoncavallo, our lack of forgiveness can poison our attitudes and even lead to physical or emotional anguish.

Jesus said it was important to forgive others and to receive forgiveness from those we may have offended. If we are “at the altar,” we are to be ready to forgive those who have something against us. We even are to leave our offering and “go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Forgiveness is so important that, while dying on the Cross, Jesus took the time to forgive those who were crucifying Him. As He demonstrated, we are not just to forgive our friends, but also our enemies. Forgiveness is not an option, but a cornerstone of the Christian faith—a key to mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and the healing of relationships.

Have you been wounded by the actions or words of someone? Have you forgiven them?

Daily Smile:
It was a cold winter day. An old man walked out onto a frozen lake, cut a hole in the ice and dropped in his fishing line. He was there for almost an hour, without even a nibble, when a young boy walked out onto the ice, cut a hole in the ice not far from him. The young boy dropped his fishing line and minutes later he hooked a Largemouth Bass.

The old man couldn't believe his eyes but chalked it up to plain luck. But, shortly thereafter, the young boy pulled in another large catch.

The young boy kept catching fish after fish. Finally, the old man couldn't take it any longer. "Son, I've been here for over an hour without even a nibble. You've been here only a few minutes and have caught a half
dozen fish! How do you do it?"

The boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rrarm."

"What was that?" the old man asked.

Again the boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rarrm."

"Look," said the old man, "I can't understand a word you're saying."

The boy spit the contents of his mouth into his hand and said, "You have to keep the worms warm!"

Happy Thursday

Not Allowing Past Sins to Silence Our Witness

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A young preacher was called out of a life of sin to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. While in the pulpit one day, he received a note in which someone had written all his past sins. In addition it read, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? And you’re up there telling people to get right with God!”

Do you know what the young preacher did? He read that note, bowed his head in prayer, stood up and said, “Ladies and gentleman I have received a note, and here is what it says.” Then, in front of that whole crowd, he read every one of those sins. Then he said this: “Yes, I am ashamed of myself, but I am not ashamed of my Savior!”

ACTION POINT:
What are some past sins in your life that are holding you back from fully proclaiming God’s power to others? Confess them and bury them in His sea of forgetfulness.

Daily Smile:

First Ham

A young couple got married. When the wife prepared to bake a ham to celebrate their first Thanksgiving, she carefully cut off each end before placing it in the pan.

Her husband asked her why she did that and she replied, "I don't know - it's what my mother always did. But I can ask her."
She called Mom, who responded, "I always saw your Grandma do it, so I did the same."

They decided to check further, so the young woman called Grandma, who explained, "It was the only way I could get it to fit into my pan."

Happy Wednesday

A Letter from the Lord

‘Those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life’

For almost 10 years I have been living in South America and in my garden I grow papyrus plants. Every morning I can see them outside my window. These plants have long, sleek stems that open upwards into a multitude of smaller stems. Actually they look like small hands being held upwards.

In the early morning hours they are covered with drops of rain, or dewdrops falling during the hours of dawn. These drops glimmer in the sunshine before they fall to the ground, watering the plants during the long hours under the tropical burning sunshine. If these plants don’t get enough water, they fall over, break down, and shrink into dry, dead, brown stalks.

One morning, looking out at the papyrus plants, the Lord reminded me about the importance of taking time out with Him before the day starts. Like the papyruses He wants us to stretch towards Him to receive His life-giving water, so that we don’t wither during the day. Jesus said: ‘Those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life’ (John 4:13-14).

It’s so easy to become a busy bee and push aside our vital time of being with the Lord, reading His word, praying and just waiting upon Him in silence. For me the best time for this is in the morning.

In ancient times the papyrus plants were used to make paper, and to write upon. The plants went through a special process, and soon their green lush stems were converted to paper, where the scribes could write down important messages (often words dictated by the king!). But the plants needed to be fresh and green to fulfill this purpose.

You see, when we come close to the Lord, and let Him fill us with life-giving water, He is not only refreshing us but can also use us to write His messages upon, to reach those who need a special greeting from Him during the day.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he says that ‘Christ himself wrote this letter….not with ink , but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets, but on human hearts’ (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for not given You priority as much as I should. I want to receive Your living water! Help me to open up my heart to You today, so that You can talk to me, touch me, refresh my heart, and use me as a letter for those that I meet today, who really need Your blessing on their life! Amen.

Today's Writer : Beatriz Benestad

Daily Smile:

After the Sunday school teacher told the story of the Prodigal Son to the class, she asked, "Was anyone sorry when the Prodigal Son returned?"

One boy answered, "The fatted calf."

Happy Tuesday

Trying to Please Everyone By Alan Smith

The story is told of a man and his grandson traveling down the road, walking and leading a donkey. They met a man who said, "How foolish for you to be walking. One of you should be riding the donkey." So the man put his grandson on the animal.

The next traveler they met frowned and said, "How dreadful for a strong boy to be riding while an old man walks." So the boy climbed off the donkey and his grandfather climbed on.

The next person they met said, "I just can't believe a grown man would ride and make a little boy walk." So the man pulled the boy up and they rode the donkey together. That is, until they met another man who said, "I never saw anything so cruel in all my life -- two human beings riding on one poor defenseless donkey!"

Down the road a ways, they met a couple of men. After they passed, one of the men turned to the other and said, "Did you ever before see two fools carrying a donkey?"

The point is: You can't please everyone! And it can be very frustrating to even try to do so because it's impossible. The truth of the matter is, even if we could please everyone, we shouldn't. In fact, trying to please others can [easily] distract from the One we should be pleasing, if we're not careful.

Though Paul was certainly mindful of the feelings of others, he wrote: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, NIV)

Living our lives so as to receive the praise of people around us will only get us into trouble. I think of the chief rulers who "believed in Him [Jesus], but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:42-43). When we become attached to public opinion and pleasing others around us, we will eventually end up denying God.

Have you found lately that everyone isn't pleased with your decisions? Don't lose any sleep over it, as long as you're seeking to please the only ONE that really matters!

Daily Thought:
"Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic from both sides." - Margaret Thatcher

Daily Smile:

Soup Du Jour

When the waitress in a New York City restaurant brought him the soup du jour, the Englishman was a bit dismayed.

"Good heavens," he said, "what is this?"

"Why, it's bean soup," she replied.

"I don't care what it has been," he sputtered. "What is it now?"

Starlight News on Facebook

Happy Monday

Flea the Pea! By Greg Allen

Charles Spurgeon told the story of a preacher who was strolling through a village. As he walked along, he saw a man going down the road with a herd of pigs following in line behind him like sheep following behind a shepherd. This was a very unusual sight, because pigs, ordinarily, are very self-centered, independent creatures that never follow anyone. So the preacher asked, "Sir, how do you get those pigs to follow you like that?"

"Oh, it's easy," the farmer said. "I have a sack full of peas in my pocket; and I just keep walking, occasionally dropping a pea on the road behind me. The pigs follow along wherever I drop a pea and gobble it up, never caring where I'm leading them."

"That's very clever!" said the pastor. "By the way; where are you leading them?" And the man said, "To the butcher's shop, of course."

The devil often follows the same strategy. The Bible warns us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8; NKJV). But he rarely carries a big sign that says, "Follow me, so I can devour you." He knows we wouldn't follow him if he was that obvious. Instead, he works subtly to draw us away from God's good will for our lives.

Just like the farmer in that story, the devil drops little, fleshly temptations in front of us through the elements of our culture: a suggestive movie or television show here; an off-color story or inappropriate joke there; a seductive advertisement or pop song here; a pornographic magazine or web page there. And if we aren't alert, we follow along behind, picking such things up and thinking, "I can handle this. This isn't so bad. It's just a little pea, after all. It tastes good. Who's it going to hurt? Who's going to care? Who's going to know?" We gobble these tempting little "peas" up, one after another; never realizing that they're forming a straight line that is leading us down a slippery slope to destruction and loss.

The answer that the Bible gives to such things is summed up in one word:

"Flee" (1 Corinthians 6:18).


As followers of Jesus Christ, let's remember the devil's strategy; and by His help, let's "FLEE THE PEA!"

Happy Sunday

WILLING TO DIE

The following story is related by Kim Noone in the book, "A Cup of Chicken Soup For the Soul":

"One day a drill sergeant came out and threw a hand grenade into a group of young soldiers. The men all ran away and took cover away from the grenade. Then the drill sergeant told them that the grenade was not set to explode and he just did it to see their reaction.

"The next day a newly recruited soldier joined the group. The drill sergeant told the other soldiers not to tell the new soldier what was going to happen. As the drill sergeant came out and threw the grenade into the crowd of soldiers, the new soldier, not knowing it wasn't going to explode, threw himself on top of the grenade to prevent it from killing the other men. He was willing to die for his fellow soldiers.

"That year the young man was awarded the only medal for courage and bravery that had not been won during battle."

How many people would you be willing to die for? Be honest now! Maybe your husband or wife, one of your children, but the list starts to get pretty short after that, doesn't it?

Can you imagine dying in the place of a convicted criminal? Someone is scheduled to die on death row for murder, and you say, "Please let me take his place!" Not very likely, huh?

Paul was so right when he said, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)

Why would Christ do that? As long as I define love by my own personal limitations, it will always be impossible to comprehend. Only the love of an Almighty God could be willing to sacrifice so much. I am led to respond in praise, and in a desire to give all my love and obedience to the One who loved me more than life itself.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ

Daily Smile:

Lady, this vacuum cleaner will cut your work in half.

Good. I’ll take two of them.

Happy Saturday

Risky Business

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. Psalm 42:1

Recommended Reading Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and his wife Sapphira lacked what we all should strive for--personal integrity and a desire for God that surpasses love for material possessions. Deliberately setting out to deceive Peter and the apostles, this calculating couple pretended devotion to God by lying about their generous financial gift to the church. Their judgment? Their very lives.

Maybe you're thinking you can't relate to this Bible story. You don't lie about your tithe to the church. Maybe you don't try to impress your pastor and elders with the amount you give each month. But do you ever lie to the Holy Spirit? Do you pretend to be devoted to God to impress your family, friends, or church? Hypocrisy is insincere. It's presenting an appearance of commitment that's not true.

Ananias and Sapphira committed a sin unto death (1 John 5:16). The undertakers might be busy in our churches today if we were judged for the motives of our hearts. When you serve the church--teaching, singing, serving in a leadership role--are you putting God to the test? It's risky business to fake spirituality. Make your heart's desire for God and God alone.

It is not the being seen of men that is wrong, but doing these things for the purpose of being seen of men. The problem with the hypocrite is his motivation.
Augustine

Daily Smile:

TGIF - Thank Goodness It's Friday

I Quit By Lysa TerKeurst

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

My heart is stirred today to say it's time to quit.

Not ministry.

Not a relationship.

But quit being critical of someone I love very much. The crazy thing is, I'm not a critical person. But I've found myself slipping into a pattern of giving this person what they give me.

They criticize.

So, I've started criticizing back. A lot.

And I'm feeling very convicted this morning that I need to model a different attitude and approach to life.

Last month, my pastor said something very convicting in his sermon, "Jesus didn't die so we'd be sorry. He died and then He was resurrected so we'd be changed."

Changed.

There is a big difference between being sorry and being changed.

To be sorry means to feel bad. It's a temporary little prick of the heart.

But change only comes when we're repentant. Being repentant is a deeper conviction to actually correct and transform our behavior—our habit—our wrong tendency.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10 we learn, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death." Leaves no regret—those are powerful words.

I want to live a life of no regrets.

And I think today is really good day to address something that could lead to a big ol' pile of regret.

So, each time I'm feeling the need to criticize I'm going to see it as a call to flip my words to encouragement.

I might still need to address some issues with this person but I will do it by pointing out their strengths and the responsibilities that come with those strengths rather than constantly focusing on their weaknesses.

For example, "You are an influencer! Have you noticed when you are happy others are happy but when you are negative it really affects those around you? I need your help to keep things positive today. Do you think you can accept this leadership role? How can you be a positive influence in this situation?"

I'm not naive enough to think this will be easy. I will need grace. They will need grace. But at least if I'm aware of how I need to change, change can be set in motion.

Are you up for quitting some old habit, negative attitude, or wrong tendency? I know I am. The next time we're presented with an opportunity, let's remember the words of my pastor, "Jesus didn't die so we'd be sorry. He died and then He was resurrected so we'd be changed."

Dear Lord, I'm ready to quit. Instead of critical words, I want to speak kind and encouraging ones. Will You please help me make this shift? In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Daily Smile:

Found a great deal on a used car...

Happy Thursday

Beggars
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Curse the beggars! It was impossible to go anywhere without seeing someone with his hand out.Ted refused to look into their faces. He despised people who were always looking for a handout. He worked hard for what he got; why couldn't they? It made him so mad. He rounded the corner and abruptly stopped in front of a young boy cradling the head of his mother in his lap. The woman was obviously very ill. The boy looked up into Ted's face and sobbed one word. "Please?"

All the excuses, all the anger, all the contempt melted away. Ted's eyes were opened for the first time. These people really needed help, and he had the power to make a difference. Perhaps he couldn't solve the whole problem, or even a big part, but he could help the boy and his mother. With new resolve, Ted swore to open his eyes to the less fortunate and give as much as he could.

Prayer: Father, am I doing all I can? In my times of need, I cry out for someone to help me. Make me sensitive to others as they cry out. Amen.

Smile:

A rapist, a gangster and a murderer are in the same car...

Who is driving the car?

A police officer!

Happy 4th Of July

God's Independence Day

By Beth Patch

Most Americans have celebrated Independence Day in their lifetime. The smell of burgers and hotdogs sizzling on the grill outside and the bursting of fireworks in the sky become familiar on July 4th. We eat, maybe the Star Spangled Banner is played or the National Anthem, and then everyone watches fireworks and goes home. It’s become rather commonplace, another day for big sales events and flying an American flag.

However, an Independence Day celebration approaches that will include and impress the whole world! We don’t know the date and shouldn’t believe anyone who tells us they do. But, no one on earth or in heaven will miss its importance, and it will mark a day of freedom from the greatest oppressor ever – Satan.

It is the day of the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It is the beginning of real freedom, like no one has ever had before (except Adam and Eve before they sinned). Those who have believed in Christ’s atoning blood for their sins and have trusted and believed in Him, might have what an old preacher of mine used to call "a Hallelujah breakdown!"

This Independence Day will release Christians from the many sins that keep them entangled. Imagine, no more sickness, no more addictions, no more gossip, no more unkindness, no more anything that does not reflect the positive attributes of the love of our Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Currently, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to strengthen us, to comfort us, and to give us power through Christ’s death and resurrection. However, we are still tripped up by sin as long as we live in this fallen world. When Jesus comes, all our ungodliness along with our negative baggage goes away. I can’t think of a better freedom than that.

Actually, the whole scene of Jesus’ return sounds so incredible that I doubt there are words to describe the immense emotional, spiritual, and physical response people will have.

The Bible tells us that Jesus will return to earth just like He left, through the clouds (Acts 1:11b), with his angels (Matt 16:27), with the trumpet call of God and a loud command (1 Thess 4:16). Scripture says believers in Christ will be changed in a twinkling of an eye and Jesus will destroy all dominion, authority and power that stands in opposition to Almighty God (1 Cor 15:52, 1 Cor 15:24).

Our earthly minds are limited in their comprehension of this miraculous time. It’s a God thing, and try as we may, we can’t peg down the details on how God will accomplish the return of Jesus Christ and the destruction of evil.

Picture in your mind the sky filled with God’s mighty angels, the sound of God’s trumpet, which has to be the most beautiful and loudest sounding instrument, and our Lord Jesus shining radiantly as He leads His mighty angelic troop in the earth’s sky.

Envision getting to see the victory as Christ and his angels capture Satan and his demons and justice is completed. It will be more graphic and stirring than any riveting movie that Hollywood could ever think of producing.

Many theologians have studied the return of Christ and not all have agreed about the order of when things happen or exactly how they happen. These varied opinions on the return of Christ and the disappearance of believers from the earth have created divisions among believers who desperately want to cling to one decided order of the end times.

My response to such division is that it won’t matter how we interpret end times scriptures when God’s day of Independence comes. Everything will be revealed in God’s perfect timing. The Independence Day of our God will come when we least expect it and we are instructed to be ready as if it were the next moment. So, in case it happens to be today, Happy Independence Day!

Daily Smile:

A minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building.

Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances."

During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up."

At that moment, the substitute organist played, "The Star Spangled Banner." 

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe 4th...

Happy Tuesday

~AT THE NAME OF JESUS~

At the name of Jesus, demons have to flee
in the name of Jesus, sinners are set free
at the name of Jesus, scales fall from blinded eyes
in the name of Jesus, dead men are made to rise.

In the name of Jesus. we have the victory
the holy name of Jesus is greater than any disease
there is no name that is greater, no authority can surpass
the blessed name of Jesus will through the ages last.

Jesus, Blessed Savior, there is no greater name
Lord, we worship you, your power is still the same
we bow our hearts before you, to worship and adore
You reign in kingdom power, now, and forevermore.

Blessings in Christ,
Jo Ann Kelly © 2010

  

Daily Smile:

A minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building.

Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances."

During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up."

At that moment, the substitute organist played, "The Star Spangled Banner."

 

Happy Monday

Expiation

‘Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.’ Isaiah 53:10

Suggested Further Reading: Luke 15:11–24

The great arms of the eternal Father are ready to save you as you are, because the great work of Christ has effected all that is wanted before God for the acceptance of the vilest sinner. How is it that the Father can embrace the prodigal? He is fresh from the swine-trough: look at him; look at his rags; how foul they are! We would not touch them with a pair of tongs! Take him to the fire and burn the filth! Take him to the bath and wash him! That lip is not fit to kiss; those filthy lips cannot be permitted to touch that holy cheek of the glorious Father. But it is not so. While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him—rags, and poverty, and sin, and filth, and all—and he did not wait till he was clean, but ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him, just as he was. How could he do that? Why, the parable does not tell us; for it did not run on with the subject to introduce the atonement; but this explains it: when God accepts a sinner, he is in fact only accepting Christ. He looks into the sinner’s eyes, and he sees his own dear Son’s image there, and he takes him in. As we have heard of a good woman, who, whenever a poor sailor came to her door, whoever he might be, would always make him welcome, because she said, ‘I think I see my own dear son who has been these many years away, and I have never heard of him; but whenever I see a sailor, I think of him, and treat the stranger kindly for my son’s sake.’ So, my God, when he sees a sinner long for pardon and desirous of being accepted, thinks he sees his Son in him, and accepts him for his Son’s sake.

For meditation: It is possible to be accepted by God in his beloved Son ( Ephesians 1:6), but the acceptable time to be accepted is now ( 2 Corinthians 6:2). After death comes judgment ( Hebrews 9:27), not a further opportunity to be washed from our sins.

Daily Smile:

Happy Sunday

FEAR NOT!

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (The Amplified Bible)

There is a lot of fear going around these days. Fear of the failing economy, fear of medical difficulties, fear of what people will think, fear of failing, fear of tomorrow, fear of the unknown—you name it—and we can and do develop a fearful attitude.

I especially like the way The Amplified Bible uses numerous nuances of the original Hebrew text in order to clarify the meaning. We should read that first phrase over and over again: Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you.

We may want to argue with others that our situation is different and that we really have something to fear, but God says we don’t. The reason that we need not fear is that He is with us.

If we go back into the Old Testament and read of the way God delivers His people, we find that He is able to protect and lead. It was only when people rejected His leadership and control of their lives that they faced defeat.

Just think of the way God led His people out of Egypt. He provided a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God’s presence in the clouds both gave the direction to travel and also stood between His people and the enemy.

Trust Him to lead and protect you and you will never need to fear!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

Daily Smile:

Last Day Of June - Happy Saturday

From Altercation To Altar Call By Tracie Miles

"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear." Matthew 13:8-9 (NIV)

I noticed my 12-year-old son involved in a commotion on the other side of the sanctuary. He was sitting with his youth group, just like he does every Sunday, on the opposite side from where my husband and I do.

I walked over there and motioned for my son to follow me into the lobby. There, we could discuss why an altercation was occurring in the church pew where he sat with his friends.

Apparently someone wanted to sit in the spot where he and another friend were sitting. And so, a middle-school-boy-scuffle ensued. Even though he had tears—due in part to receiving an elbow in the eye, but also hurt by pride and anger—he insisted on returning to sit with the rest of the youth.

Our pastor's sermon was about anger that morning. He shared ways we should respond, according to God's Word and gave a few examples:

A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. (Proverbs 12:16 NIV)

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13 NLT)

When our pastor ended his sermon, soft music played as the congregation was invited to come to the altar if they felt God leading them to do so.

I noticed a young man at the altar, bent knees, buried face in his arms, praying. He looked familiar, but seemed bigger than my son ... Could it be?

Bending over to look closely, I discovered the young man kneeling at the altar was my son.

My heart pounded as I watched my little man becoming a young man in Christ right before my eyes. His heart had been moved by the Word of God ... straight to the altar.

After church, I asked Michael what he'd prayed about. "Mom, I listened to the pastor talk about anger, and felt bad for getting upset at my friend. So I asked God to forgive me and to help me control my temper."

I was at a loss for words for three reasons: my son was actually paying attention to the sermon! His heart was hurting and he was listening for God's leading. And when God spoke to his heart, scriptures resounded in his mind and compelled him to move.

Three simple steps: pay attention to God's voice, listen when He speaks through His Word, and move when He calls.

I may not have physical altercations with others, as boys often do. But I do have emotional and spiritual altercations as I face the trials, demands, temptations and frustrations that life brings.

My son's boldness to admit his need for forgiveness and strength, and to actually walk down to the altar, has prompted me to view my "altercations" in a new light.

Instead of letting my struggles take me down and make me feel discouraged, I'm following in my son's footsteps. Paying attention to God's voice, listening when He speaks through His Word, and moving when He calls.

Today, let's do the same. Let's respond to God's Word and lay our trials, fears and temptations at the foot of the cross, allowing God to mend our heart. With the faith of a child, we too can let our "altercations" lead us to the altar.

Dear Lord, today I want to pay attention to Your voice and move when You call. Please make my heart soft to forgive my friends and family. Thanks for Your help in this. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Daily Smile:

The drill sergeant making his morning announcements to a group of newcomers in a training camp, stated: "Today, gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the good news Private Peters will be setting the pace on our morning run.”

With this the platoon was overjoyed, as Private Peters was overweight and terribly slow. But then the drill sergeant finished his statement: "Now for the bad news. Private Peters will be driving a truck."

Thank Goodness It's Happy Friday

Hoist Up Your Lamps.
Hoist Up Your Lamps. Radical Grace from the Book of Romans (2:3-4)

"So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Rom 2:3-4 NIV)

Have you ever tried to ask for help, only to be thoroughly criticized?

Have you ever tried to reach out in love, only to be rejected?

But then, who among us never criticized someone else behind their back, or avoided people we don't like . . .

Is this the correct thing to do?

It's so easy to see the mistakes of others, and it's so easy to justify avoiding certain people. But does this make it right?

In the late 19th century in certain areas located in the south of Iceland, it was common to see poles erected in the ground in frequently travelling areas, especially areas where cities were far from each other and where travelers would easily get lost.

It sure would be easy to criticize such travelers. "They should have brought better maps with them, and maybe better equipment, too!" Such ramblings of our thoughts could easily justify the idea that these travelers should have to learn a lesson from their mistakes.

But such criticism was never the case in Iceland. If a traveler in one of these regions got lost and needed help, he or she would seek out one of these poles. There would be an oil lamp under each pole, and the lost person would light this lamp and hoist it up on the pole. The light would then be seen from afar, and anyone in the region that noticed it would come to the immediate rescue of that lost person.

In our modern world, there are literally myriads of people crying out for help. Their lives are far from delightful, and they are totally lost, having no clue how to resolve their dilemmas. I wish they could hoist up a lamp, so we would understand without a doubt that they need our help. Unfortunately, no one notices this fact, and they still hunger for help.

Criticizing these people won't help them. In fact it will only drive them deeper and deeper in complete despair. Only "kindness, tolerance and patience" will open the doors of their hearts, giving us the opportunity to help them, bringing them hope instead of blame.

May our lights shine as brightly as that oil lamp on these southerly poles of Iceland. Maybe these lost souls will be drawn to Jesus' light that shines through us! "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matt 5:14 NIV)

Rob Chaffart

Daily Smile:

This what happens when I am totally tired... I really get silly...

Happy Thursday

Building momentum- fighting passivity

"And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]." Matthew 11:12, Amplified Bible.

My children received a fantastic toy from their grandmother this year: a balance bike! They have already had many hours of fun with it and I am sure that many more hours will follow. As long as they keep the bike up to speed, maintaining their balance is easy. However, once they start slowing down, the chances of them falling over increases. Once having come to a full stop, maintaining balance becomes an impossibility. Gaining and maintaining momentum is crucial to a successful trip down our corridor.

I have always been intrigued by the classic laws of motion and have found that to some extend they also apply to our spiritual life. If we loose momentum in our walk with God we are more likely to stumble and fall over! Likewise, when we find we are stuck, we must seek to gain momentum until we are up to speed again. In this it is just like the balance bike. The first steps are always the hardest ones to take!

Passivity on our part poses enormous problems if we seek to be moving on with God. Some people seem to be ‘stuck’ in the same place for a very long time. Somehow they wish things would change, but they are not making any significant effort to effect that change. The law of inertia teaches us that once an object has stopped moving, it won’t start moving until force is applied. You might very well be the one that needs to choose to start being forceful in order to move on in your spiritual life! People may say: ‘I am waiting on God to do something.’ That sounds great, except when they expect God, or somebody else, to change their behaviour for them. The truth is this: God could very well be waiting for them! Though He is undeniably almighty, He never does anything without our co-operation. Passivity from our side is a killer to spiritual progress!

I love our retreats and courses at Ellel Ministries where we see people forgiven, helped, healed, restored, released and equipped. God’s loving kindness truly knows no bounds. But the reality is this: sometimes His help comes in the form of encouraging people to come out of passivity, to take responsibility for their lives, and to actively start participating in that which God wants to do with them!

Today, if we feel convicted of any passivity, apathy or laziness, let’s turn to Him and ask Him to help us to pick up some momentum again!

Prayer: Father, where I have been passive, and have accused You of not doing enough for me, I am truly sorry. Please help me to come out of passivity, and, in Your strength, lay hold of those things which You have laid hold of me for. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today's Writer : Peter Brokaar

 

Daily Smile:

 A three-year-old had been told several times to get ready for bed. The last time his mom told him, she was every insistent. His response was, "Yes, Sir!" Since he was talking to his mother (and she is a woman), it was not expected of him to call her "Sir".
"You would say, 'yes sir,' to a man, I am a lady, and you would say 'Yes Ma'am,' to a lady," Mom said. To quiz him on is lesson; she then asked him, "What would you say to Daddy?"

 
"Yes Sir!" was the reply

 
"Then what would you say to Mama?"

 
"Yes, Ma'am!" he proudly answered.

 
"Good boy! Now what would you say to Grandma?"

 
He lit up and said, "Can I have a cookie? 

Happy Wednesday

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
Kenneth Copeland   

Let not your heart be troubled. - John 14:1

People everywhere—many believers included—are running around wringing their hands, worrying about what to do. But there’s really no need for it. After all, Jesus has already told us what to do. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

“Yes, but Brother Copeland, He said that thousands of years ago. They didn’t have the kind of trouble back then that we’re facing today.”

Friend, when Jesus said those words to His disciples, they were about to face more trouble than most of us can even imagine. Jesus was about to be crucified before their eyes. Peter was about to deny Him. Who can even imagine how distressing those days must have been?

Yet Jesus said to them, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

But, praise God, He didn’t stop there. He went on to teach us the key to having an untroubled heart even in the most troubling times.

He goes on to say...abide. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.... If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit...” (read John 15:4-8).

When you abide in Jesus, He’s not just your Sunday God. He’s not just the One you think about when you get in trouble. No, when you abide in Him, He’s your Monday Lord. He’s your Tuesday Lord. He’s your Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Lord. He’s your daytime Lord and nighttime Lord. He’s Lord of your life 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He’s involved with you every moment.

When you rest in the Word all day long like that, then the Word begins to abide in you, and it will constantly teach you the ways and wisdom of God. It will keep your heart from being troubled.

Daily Smile:

Is It Happy Tuesday Already???

Better to Ask than Assume

The late Bill Love used to tell the story of a psychiatrist, engineer, and doctor who got lost in the Canadian woods. Stumbling on a trapper's cabin but getting no response at the door, they went inside for shelter and waited for his return.

In the corner, on a crude platform at waist-high level, was a wood-burning stove. It quickly became not only the focus of interest for their half-frozen bodies but the center of their conversation as well.

The psychiatrist explained the stove's unusual position as evidence of psychological problems brought on by isolation. The engineer, on the other hand, saw it as an ingenious form of forced-air heating. The physician surmised the poor fellow had arthritis and found it too painful to bend over to fuel his stove.

When the trapper finally arrived, they could not resist asking about the stove whose warmth had saved them. "Simple," he said. "My stove pipe was too short."

I wasn't along for that hunting trip, but I've been where those guys were that day. I've tried to read someone's mind. I've seen motives that weren't there. I've walked into situations, caught a snippet of what was happening, and made a fool of myself by some badly chosen response. Or I've used a perfectly innocent slip of the tongue as my excuse to take offense. I can be a real jerk at times!

On occasion, the victim has been a stranger. At other times, it was a friend from church or colleague at work. Most often, it has been my wife or child.

Communication is a wonderful thing - when it happens. But there are so many barriers. Each of us brings baggage to every situation. Words can be vague or carry very different nuances for people from different backgrounds. Then there are the prejudices and blind spots all of us have.

Lots of confusion could be eliminated and far more progress made this week by following this simple rule: When something isn't clear, ask. Don't assume. Don't guess. Don't mind-read. Trying swallowing your pride and saying, "I'm not sure I understand. Do you mind explaining that to me?"

This simple strategy could save you embarrassment, time, and money. More important still, it might save one of your life's most important relationships.

Daily Smile:

Happy Monday

A great and noble army of holy women

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him" Matthew 27:55

These were the earliest of a great and noble army of holy women--attached to Christ by deep, personal love--following and ministering unto Him. In all the ages since, Christian women have shown similar devotion and constancy to Christ--and similar heroic love in serving Him. The record of women's
ministry to Christ, is one of the brightest in all the world's history!

Women owe an incalculable debt to Christ. He has lifted them up from base thraldom, and from degradation. Women have always been grateful too, and have served Christ with great devotion.

Women are found in every sickroom, bending over the sufferer with unwearying solicitude, with matchless tenderness ministering to bodily comfort, and pouring the warmth of affection upon feverish spirits. They are found in the wards of hospitals, and upon battlefields, moving like God's angels in blessed,  loving ministry.

Faithful Christian mothers are following the Master and doing work which will shine forever in glorious luster!

Faithful Christian Sunday school teachers are doing quiet service in lowly paths--which in God's sight, is nobler than that of many of earth's famous ones!

Everywhere, too, there is an open field for woman's ministry. Christ is no longer here in person to be served--as He was served by these women who followed Him from Galilee; but in His needy and suffering followers--He is ever present; and whoever will, may minister unto Him! For He said that in doing acts
of kindness to the least of His people--we do them unto Him.

Much practical teaching is in this picture, which is here held up before every woman, inspiring her to wholeheartedly follow Christ.

Why do so many young Christian girls choose a life . . .
of idleness,
of love of pleasure,
of aimless, purposeless existence,
of mere dressing, promenading, and trifling--

Daily Smile:

Every Saturday morning Grandpa Walt found himself babysitting his three grandchildren...all boys. The kids always wanted to play ''war,'' and Grandpa somehow always got coaxed into the game.

His daughter came to pick up the kids early one Saturday and witnessed Grandpa take a fake shot as Jason pointed a toy gun and yelled, "Bang!''

Grandpa slumped to the floor and stayed there motionless. The daughter rushed over to see if he was all right. Grandpa opened one eye and whispered, ''Sh-h-h, I always do this. It's the only chance I get to rest.''

 You can Like it or Better yet, become a follower of this blog by going to the section to the right of where this devotional began... I  also have a facebook account located at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-StarLight-News/125515754156131

Happy Reading... 

Richard

Happy Saturday

Who Me???

And the Lord said, "Go"
And I said, "Who me?"
And He said, "Yes you."
And I said;
"But I'm not ready yet.
And there's company coming.
And I can't leave the kids.
And you know there is no one
to take my place."
And He smiled, "Are you sure?"

And the Lord said, "Go".
And I said, "But I don't want to."
Aaand He smiled, "I didn't ask you if you wanted to."
And I said;
"Listen, I'm not the kind of person to get involved
in controversies.
Besides, my family won't like it and what will my
neighbors think?"

And He smiled, "I know well."

And yet a third time the Lord said "Go."
And I said, "Do I have to?"
And He smiled, Do you love me?"
And I said;
"Look, I'm scared.
People are going to hate me.
And cut me to pieces.
And I can't take it all by myself."
And He smiled, "Where do you think I'll be?"

And the Lord said, "Go."
And I smiled.

HERE I AM, LORD, SEND ME.

Author Unknown

Daily Smile:

       Two old friends met one day after many years. One attended college, and now was very successful. The other had not attended college and never had much ambition.
      
      The successful one said, "How has everything been going with you?"
      
      "Well, one day I opened the Bible at random, and dropped my finger on a word and it was oil. So, I invested in oil, and boy, did the oil wells gush. Then another day I dropped my finger on another word and it was gold. So, I invested in gold and those mines really produced. Now, I'm as rich as Rockefeller."
      
      The successful friend was so impressed that he rushed to his hotel, grabbed a Gideon Bible, flipped it open, and dropped his finger on a page. He opened his eyes and his finger rested on the words, "Chapter Eleven."

Thank Goodness It's Happy Friday

The ‘Wave’ Prayer

"But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted." Matthew 14:30, NLT

It’s probably fair to say that our prayer life goes up a notch when we find ourselves in difficult situations. It’s a desperate problem with the human heart that when all is well we tend to forget about God but when things are tough we quickly turn to Him and pray our hearts out.

The verse above is taken from the amazing passage where Jesus walks on the water. He then invites Peter to join him and, incredibly, he walks on the water too. As Peter ventures towards the Lord, however, it’s as if he suddenly has a reality check and is reminded of the natural environment that he is in and the impossibility of the situation. He sees the huge waves coming towards him and begins to panic. This panic didn’t help him at all! It actually caused him to sink into the water and bring about the very thing he was afraid of. It was at that moment that he called out to Jesus, “Save me, Lord!”

This is a ‘wave’ prayer! A prayer that is birthed in fear and panic. A prayer that can’t see a good outcome from a difficult situation. Amazingly, even though this was the kind of prayer uttered by Peter, Jesus still saved him and pulled him out of the water. Having done this, Jesus responds in an interesting way. Had we just walked on water – even for a moment – it would have been nice to hear Jesus say what a great job we had done and how much more faith we had than all those other disciples who were still in the boat looking on with wide eyes! Instead Jesus confronts Peter with the words, “You have so little faith, why did you doubt me?”

In this statement, Jesus is hitting the nail on the head. He wasn’t criticizing Peter or putting him down, He was simply challenging his faith and trust in the Lord – something which is an evidence of a close intimate relationship. The truth is, had Peter kept his faith in Jesus, he could have walked all the way to shore with Him and would have been oblivious to the size of the waves or the sound of the wind. It all would have meant nothing to him. During his evening stroll on the water with his Lord he would have experienced the amazing peace that comes from a heart that is trusting in the character and nature of God to be faithful in all circumstances. His ‘wave’ prayer would not have been necessary because of the insignificance of the waves compared to the loving kindness of the Lord.

It’s worth considering how much our prayer life is made up of ‘wave’ prayers. Prayers of desperation that are born in fear and lack of trust. Today, the Lord is challenging us too, “You have so little faith, why are you doubting me?” Whatever waves are facing you today, no matter how big they are or how ferocious they appear, God is beckoning you to rest in Him and to trust that He is able in ALL circumstances.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know the frailty of my own heart and how often I doubt You during the hard times. Please help me today to take my eyes off the waves and to fix them on You – my refuge, my fortress, my place of safety, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today's Writer : Andy Taylor

 

Daily Smile:

Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other,” Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" 

 

 "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques: visualization, association, etc. It was great." "That's great! And what was the name of the clinic?" 

 

Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?"

"You mean a rose?"

"Yes, that's it!" He turned to his wife, "Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?"

 

Yawn... Happy Thursday

When Worry Makes Me Weary

by Renee Swope

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

As we drove home from a weekend in the mountains, I felt a heavy sense of dread and sadness. Laying my head back on my seat, I told my husband, J.J., "I don't want to go home."

After talking through my reasons with him, I realized the stress and strain of countless commitments - at home and work - were taking a toll on me. I just wanted to go back to the mountains where I could rest.

J.J. encouraged me to make a list of everything on my plate and ask God what I needed to cut back. At first I resented his suggestion. It felt like he'd just added one more thing I "needed to do." Yet I knew J.J. was right and eventually I made the list.

Then I asked God to show me where to make changes. Much to my surprise the changes I sensed Him leading me to make weren't in my schedule - they were in me.

God didn't show me I needed to cut back at work or in ministry. He didn't show me our kids were in too many activities. He didn't lead me to take a sabbatical, although I was kind of hoping He would.

Instead, I sensed it was worry - not my workload - that was making me weary.

I thought about the months leading up to this point and realized I'd spent almost as much time thinking and worrying about deadlines as I spent working on them. Some days my concerns about commitments and meeting people's expectations had consumed me.

I had let my mind dwell on the possible outcome of several different decisions - all at the same time - and it left me depleted mentally, emotionally and physically.

Honestly though, until I stopped and talked to God about it, I didn't recognize my mental mayhem as worry.

My mind is wired to think a lot so I'd gotten used to the constant flurry of motion in my brain. Yet anxiety had crept in slowly, causing tangles in my thoughts, a tightening in my chest, and tension in my neck. Some days I couldn't stop thinking about ALL I needed to do.

Instead of going back to the mountains to rest, I sensed God wanted me to find a resting place in His presence right in the middle of my busy life. Through today's key verse from Matthew 11:28, He invited me to come to Him with the worries that were making me weary.

Do you sense Him inviting you to come to Him today?

He promises a place to quiet your thoughts in His presence. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps. 91:1-2 NIV)

He offers freedom from the captivity of your concerns when you bring them to Him: "'Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. And I will lead you back from captivity.'" (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)

Today, instead of letting our worries make us weary, let's respond to God's invitation and come to Him - asking, seeking and finding a resting place for our restless thoughts.

Dear Lord, when my concerns consume me, help me remember You are there inviting me to come to You and talk about all I'm thinking and doing. Show me if my workload or my worries are making me weary and help me trust You with both. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Daily Smile:

"The car won't start," said a wife to her husband. "I think there's water in the carburetor."

"How do you know?" said the husband scornfully. "You don't even know what the carburetor is."

"I'm telling you," repeated the wife, "I'm sure there's water in the carburetor."

"We'll see," mocked the husband. "Let me check it out. Where's the car?"

"In the swimming pool."

Is It Wednesday Already??? Happy Wednesday

Is Anything Too Hard for God? 

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

"So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?'" - Genesis 18:12 

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son who would be the seed of a whole nation. Sarah was now beyond childbearing years. So when some angels from God paid Abraham and Sarah a visit to inform them that Sarah was going to have a child, she happened to be listening outside the tent and erupted with laughter. The thought seemed preposterous to her. The angels reminded her that nothing is impossible with God. "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son" (Gen. 18:14). Sarah gave birth to Isaac as foretold. 

Recently, I was considering putting on another workplace-leader summit for ministry leaders who minister to those in the workplace. I had been involved in such an event a year earlier. My friend Gunnar Olson, who is the founder of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce of Sweden, had been involved with me in putting on the first event, so I inquired whether he would be willing to participate in the second event. He wrote me an e-mail letter informing me that an international gathering of Christian workplace leaders would be taking place on the island of Cyprus in March and asked if I could postpone my event and instead participate in an event in Cyprus and invite other leaders. My initial response was laughter due to my current financial condition. In fact, I had to go to a map to see just where this place was. 

The following day I received a call from a man I had met only 30 days earlier. We had not discussed this event in March. "What are you doing tomorrow? I would like you to go to the airport with me to pick up a missionary whom I want you to meet. We'd like to propose an idea to you. Can you come?"
"Sure," I said. 

The next day he picked me up and informed me that we were picking up a missionary who was flying in from Cyprus. "We are planning to take 25 workplace believers to Cyprus for an event that Gunnar Olson is involved in and would like you to come and teach your Esau-to-Joseph workshop the day before. We will cover your expenses. Would you be interested in doing this?" Again, I had to laugh as I saw the hand of God orchestrate in such a miraculous way and in such a timely manner to assure me of His involvement in the new directions in my life. 

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27). 

Are there things that make you laugh when you think of the miracle that would be required for it to take place? Ask God for the miracle you need today.

Daily Smile:

There was a student who was desirous of taking admission for a study course.

He was smart enough to get through the written test, a GD and was to appear for the personal interview. Later, as the interview progressed, the interviewer found this boy to be bright since he could answer all the questions correctly. The interviewer got impatient and decided to corner the boy.

"Tell me your choice;" said he to the boy, "What's your choice: I shall either ask you ten easy questions or ONE real difficult. Think well before you make up your mind."

The boy thought for a while and said, "My choice is ONE real difficult question."

"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice!" said the man on the opposite side. Tell me: What comes first, Day or Night?"

The boy was jolted first but he waited for a while and said: "It's the DAY, sir."

"How???????" the interviewer was smiling ("At last, I got you!" he said to himself.)

"Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!"

Admission for the course was thus secured.