One reason why the church has so little influence over the world

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" Romans 12:2

I believe that one reason why the church has so little influence over the world--is because the world has so much influence over the church!

It is overwhelming to see the growing worldliness of the visible church. Many professed Christians--the Lord alone knows whether they are true believers or not--give us grave cause for apprehension. We see them tolerating practices which would not have been endured by their fathers; my blood chills when I think of how far some fashionable professors go astray!

When the Church descends to the world's level, her spiritual power is gone. Jesus said, "Preach the gospel to every creature!" But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going to be saved by the music, or by the theatricals, or by the amusements! Well, they may try these things as long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing, but utter disappointment and confusion: God is dishonored, the gospel is travestied, hypocrites are manufactured by thousands, and the church is dragged down to the level of the world!

"The world has absorbed the Church, and the church was content that it should be so!" (Horatius Bonar)

"Conformity to the world, in all ages, has proved the ruin of the church!"  (Rowland Hill)

The Forgiveness Cycle

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. (Luke 11:4)

Who forgives whom first?

• “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” ( Luke 11:4) • “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” ( Colossians 3:13)

When Jesus teaches us to pray that God forgive us “for we ourselves forgive,” he is not saying that the first move in forgiveness was our move. Rather, it goes like this: God forgave us when we believed in Christ ( Acts 10:43). Then, from this broken, joyful, grateful, hopeful, experience of being forgiven, we offer forgiveness to others.

This signifies that we have been savingly forgiven. That is, our forgiving others shows that we have faith; we are united to Christ; we are indwelt by the Spirit.

But we still sin ( 1 John 1:8, 10). So we still turn to God for fresh applications of the work of Christ on our behalf — fresh applications of forgiveness. We cannot do this with any confidence if we are harboring an unforgiving spirit (Matthew 18:23–35).

That’s why Jesus says we ask for forgiveness because we are forgiving. This is like saying: “Father, continue to extend to me the mercies purchased by Christ because by these mercies I forsake vengeance and extend to others what you have extended to me.”

May you know God’s forgiveness afresh today, and may that grace overflow in your heart in forgiveness toward others.

Acts 4:29-31

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Peter and John were warned by the hardhearted religious leaders not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter’s bold response was that they had to obey God. When they gathered with the other believers, they reported what the religious leaders had told them.
They lifted their voices together in prayer and asked God to consider the threats against them. They asked for great boldness to continue in the face of those threats. Jesus’ last words had sent them out into the world to teach and preach the good news. They asked for healings, signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus to fulfill Jesus’ instructions.
After the prayer, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The fear was gone. They spoke boldly. These were some of the same people that were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. We see that God can refill us when we face fear or feel defeated. They recognized the need for the empowerment to continue in the face of threats and prayed according to the will of God. God answers that kind of prayer.
Is something keeping your from obeying Jesus? Have threats or discouragement or even defeat robbed you of that fullness you once had? Ask again! Ask in His name and for His sake, and expect God to answer.
Remember: He pours the Holy Spirit out and fills us up when we ask according to His will, in obedience to His word.

1 Chronicles 11:9

1 Chronicles 11:9 (NIV)9 And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was with him.

In this summary of the reign of David we are reminded why he continually increased in power. The LORD Almighty was with him. God is all-powerful, and all power comes from Him and returns to Him. Several other passages in Scripture remind us of this spiritual truth. When God is with you, there is increase. Psalms 84:7 (NIV) 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The increase in your life will not be in the ways the world counts increase. David’s increase in strength was influence for the Kingdom of God. We find much of our musical heritage goes back to David and his instruments and positions he appointed at the Tent of worship. The Psalms of David have inspired and comforted millions. The world can’t see an increase in glory, but your brothers and sisters in the LORD can. This increase is an increase in eternal substance, not in temporal passing things. It is the most valuable type of increase, for it is eternal.
We run after all kinds of other increase in the world, but the heart that is after God will seek the increase that comes from the presence of the LORD Almighty.
Consider: Is that the kind of increase you are seeking? It is the only kind worth seeking.

How Long, O LORD?

By Bonnie Ricks

Psalm 13 NIV

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Oh, how easily we can relate to David's feelings! "How long, O Lord?" How often does it seem that God has us "on hold," taking forever to respond to our prayers. so very slow in acting on our behalf. allowing evil to go unchecked. bills to go unpaid. pain to go on and on. loneliness to continue unceasingly. life to continue to be frustrating?
Take a look at the number of people in the Bible who had to wait YEARS for God's promises to come true. Look at Abraham. he was 75 years old when God first told him, "I will make you into a great nation." (Genesis 12:2 NIV), but there he was with a barren wife, and already well past his prime. Twenty-five years later Isaac was finally born! What a wait!
Remember, God does not wear a watch, nor does He pay attention to our calendar. He exists outside of time and space, and He causes things to happen in HIS time according to HIS eternal purpose. But even though we know that, we can become frustrated while waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled. I can remember one particular promise God made to me through His word, and it took five months for Him to begin to fulfill that promise, and He is still fulfilling it today, sixteen years later, one step at a time.
When we feel the same feelings that David expressed in this Psalm, we must also emulate David's commitment - to continue to trust in God's unfailing love for us. to rejoice in His salvation in the midst of our pain. to sing praises to God. to remember how good He has been to us already. to seek His purpose in our lives. and to continue to live for Him, no matter how slow He seems to be to act.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Psalm 77:1-3, 16-20

By Kerry Nelson

“I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints….When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalm 77:1-3, 16-20 

Two of the oldest sermon illustrations in the book begin our devotions this morning.

The first: He came across a beach covered with stranded starfish. In the distance he saw an old man picking up starfish, one at a time, and throwing it back into the sea. “What are you doing, old man?” he laughed. “What difference can you possibly make?”

“All the difference in the world to this one,” said the old man as he rescued yet another starfish.”

And the second: The man prayed from the rooftop for God to rescue him. He turned back a jeep, a boat and a helicopter because he kept waiting for his miracle.

As we conclude this week, we begin to learn the lessons that Katrina is teaching. We have all, no doubt, been hearing amazing stories of individuals and organizations who have taken personal responsibility to do their part in being helpful. Children have raised money in many creative ways. People have opened their hearts, homes, churches and community centers to welcome the stranded.

One life at a time, one problem at a time, one challenge at a time, the rebuilding process has already begun. It will continue for a long time.

At the same time, we have come to realize the vast disparity among the victims. Those with means will do OK. They had transportation to get out and insurance to cover their losses. The hardest hit were those with nothing. The desperate conditions faced by poor hurricane victims are not all that different from the desperate conditions that the poor face every day.

Whether it was cold calculation or not, the truth is emerging that it was the poorest of the poor, the elderly and the infirm, who were left out of the emergency planning and among the last to be adequately cared for in the face of what everyone knew was the inevitable storm that would hit the Gulf Coast.

There is much talk now about personal responsibility. People taking personal responsibility for their own lives. People taking responsibility for their behaviors, their choices, their willingness to do what it takes to make it. People in elected offices taking personal responsibility for the roles they play. Government at every level reconsidering how disparate decisions can carry unintended consequences.

God led people through the water under the leadership of Moses – but that took Moses’ leadership and the willingness of the people to follow!

Let us pray: Gracious Lord, as the rescues give way to rebuilding, we continue to pray for the victims of Katrina and for those doing all they can to be helpful. We pray that you teach us what we need to learn and give us the willingness to learn those lessons well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

People Are Lost without Christ!

. . . Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Have you ever been lost? Being separated from the people you're with, even for a few minutes, is scary! There's another way a person can be "lost." People who never receive Jesus Christ as their Savior are lost in sin. Because they are sinners, they are separated from God forever.

People who are lost are not part of God's family. They don't have God's peace when things go wrong. They never feel the joy God gives to His children. They don't have the assurance that God will answer their prayers.

When lost people die, they are separated forever from God. They will never be able to be with God in the beautiful place called Heaven that He has prepared for those who love Him. Instead, they will go to a terrible place of suffering and punishment called Hell.

People who have never trusted the Lord Jesus as their Savior may not know they are lost. That's why it's important for you, as a Christian, to tell them that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Jesus said, " . . . No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Is there someone you can talk to about Jesus this week?

Listening to God

By David Muyskens

Read: 1 Samuel 3:4-10

"Speak, for your servant is listening." (v. 10)

The word for prayer in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, means to open oneself to God. In prayer I enter a relationship in which I am attentive to God, listening as well as speaking.
If I truly want to pray I need to do some listening to what God is saying to me. Reading the Bible is a way of doing that. I ask God, "What is it that you want to say to me?" As I approach the Bible with that request I am attentive to a word or phrase that seems to carry something that demands my attention. I am not trying to comprehend all that is said in the text. I am paying attention to a word that resonates in me.
When I receive that word I spend some time asking, "What does this mean for me? What am I being told? How does this apply to my life?"
Then I form my words of response. It may be in thanksgiving for what I have heard. It may be a petition for help in following what is indicated.
Finally, I let the word I have received sink deep into my heart. I give some time of silence to this. Then I can take that word with me for the day. Listening prayer isn't easy, just richly rewarding.
Prayer: Help us, Triune God, to listen attentively to your word for us. Amen.

The Landmine of Fear

By Charles Stanley

Psalm 27:1-4

Fear has been a part of our emotional makeup since the fall of man. When Adam and Eve rebelled against the Lord, they hid themselves from Him and were afraid as recorded in Genesis 3:10.

Things haven’t changed much. Anxiety often affects our thinking. It controls our actions. Anxiety can keep us boxed in and unwilling to go into unknown territory.

Let the truth help you defeat fear. God is Almighty. Through the Savior’s perfect life and his sacrifice on the cross, our two greatest enemies have been defeated, Satan and death. Jesus set us free from slavery to sin. The Devil has lost control over our lives. What’s more, we no longer face eternal separation from God. Jesus’ physical death has become the gateway to heaven, where we can live with the Father forever.

God is always with us. God called Abraham to move away from all that was familiar. But God promised to remain nearby. In Matthew 28:20, we’re similarly reassured by Jesus. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we as believers have God not only near us but also in us. Nothing can ever separate us from Him. That includes past mistakes, present circumstances, or difficult people.

God is actively involved. God promises His help. He always keeps His word. God knows what is happening in our lives. He can turn hardships into a time of spiritual growth and ultimate blessing.

God Himself is the reason we should not be afraid. Grasp the truth of His power, presence, and involvement. We should use them to disarm the landmine of fear.

The Devil is Selling Lemons

By Ed Wrather

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 5:5-11.

Have you ever bought a car that was a lemon? Wikipedia gives this definition for an automobile that is a lemon: "A lemon is a defective car that, when purchased new or used, is found by the purchaser to have numerous or severe defects not readily apparent before the purchase. Any vehicle with these issues can be termed a 'lemon,' and, by extension, any product which has major flaws that render it unfit for its purpose can be described as a 'lemon'."
I did once buy a used car that was a "lemon" and it was not a pleasant experience. The car was for my oldest son and on the outside it was beautiful, however, I failed to inspect it sufficiently. It was raining on the day we purchased the car and so I did not crawl underneath of the vehicle. If I had crawled under it I would have seen that the car had been in a severe accident. Later I found out that it had been totaled and sold for salvage or junk. Someone had bought it and rebuilt it enough for it to pass as a desirable vehicle.
This car was at the mechanics too many times to remember. I thought that eventually we could replace and repair what was wrong with it. We had too much money in it to just give up or at least that was what I was thinking. After sinking several thousand dollars more into the car a service manager told me that if it was his car he would get rid of it. Why? Because it was a "lemon" and it would never be a good car and it would always have problems. Now he tells me, right!
That old devil is constantly trying to sell us some things too. They all look good on the outside but if we look at them closely we will see that they are lemons. What harm will one snort of cocaine do? Ask the person who drops dead from a heart attack. What harm will a few minutes with a prostitute do? Ask the man who contracted HIV. What harm will a little gambling do? Ask the person who develops an addiction and loses their family.
Before we buy what the devil's selling we ought to crawl underneath and take a good long look. Submit yourself to God's will in every area of your life and resist the devil - the Lord will "exalt you in due time."

Who's Your Boss?

Colossians 3:23-25

Bob closed his door, threw himself on his bed, and pounded his fist into his pillow again and again. "It's not fair!" he growled out loud. "I use a few words that Dad says all the time, and I get sent to my room! No one punishes him."
"What do you say we have another break?" asked a loud voice. Startled, Bob glanced out his open window. Three men were working on the road in front of his house.
"Good idea," answered the tallest one, and two of the men walked to a nearby tree and flopped down in the shade. The third, a dark-haired man, kept working. Soon one of the others came back and tried to persuade him to join them.
The dark-haired man shook his head. "No, Pete. I've already had my break this afternoon," he said as he pushed his shovel.
"Haven't we all?" replied the other man. "So what's to keep us from taking another one? Harry's gone for the day, so who's to know or care? Besides, George over there has been with the company a long time-way longer than us, so he's kinda like our boss now that Harry left."
"Well, Mr. Grant wants this job finished today, and we'll have to push to get it done," replied the third man.
The other one laughed. "You're crazy to turn down a chance to loaf on the job-especially when the boss does."
"Maybe you think it's foolish," the dark-haired man said, "but I wouldn't feel right taking what isn't mine-time or anything else. Besides, I work for Mr. Grant. He's the real boss on this job."
Wow! That guy's really honest! Bob thought as he turned from the window. He keeps working even when the other guys set a bad example for him. I . . . I guess I shouldn't follow bad examples, either. I'm a Christian, and-like my Sunday school verse said-I'm supposed to be serving God. I guess it's like He's my boss, so . . . well, even though my own dad uses bad words, I should do what God wants. He sighed. I'll have to apologize to Mom, too. Then a new thought came to his mind. Instead of following Dad's example in this, I should be an example to him if he's ever going to accept Jesus like I have.
How About You?
What kind of example do you set? Perhaps people you love and generally respect set poor examples for you. You may hear them say bad words or see them cheat or do other things that are not right. When that happens, it's probably hard for you to do what you should. But if you're a Christian, you serve Christ. Do and say what He approves of, not what others are doing or saying-even if they're parents, teachers, or other adults. Set a good example for anyone who may be watching you.

The Key To Controlling Chaos In Our Culture

Jack Graham

Unless the LORD builds the house,
            those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city,
           the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1

Years ago, Newsweek magazine printed an article about the many problems in our society. And one of the conclusions of the article was: “There is a high correlation between disrupted homes and just about every social problem imaginable.”

I remember reading that article, putting the magazine down, and thinking, “Wow… what a well-researched, thoughtful, and utterly biblical conclusion!” Newsweek was exactly right. If the home is not in line, then there is going to be chaos.

The home isn't just a dwelling where people go to eat and sleep. It's a place where lessons should be taught, love given and received, and Jesus exalted. That’s the biblical model for the home – and it’s one that has been proven to be a tremendous benefit to society.

Any attack on the home is an attack on the very foundations of our society and our way of life. That’s because the home is an establishment created by God with the divine imperative to live in relationship with Him and train the next generation to do the same. So stand for the family and help fight chaos and broken lives!

STAND FOR THE HOME IN A WORLD OF CHAOS AND YOU’LL HELP KEEP FAMILES AND LIVES TOGETHER.

Just Throw the Net

Greg Laurie

He brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” - (Acts 16:30)

Many of us are afraid, for one simple reason, to ask someone if they would like to give their life to Jesus Christ. We’re afraid the answer will be no. And it just may be. But there are those wonderful times when someone will surprise you and say, “Tell me more” or maybe even, “I want to give my life to Jesus Christ.”

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to be reunited with my father, Oscar Laurie, the man who adopted me. My mother had divorced him when I was a young boy, and that was the last time I had seen him. Years later, when I had an opportunity to preach on the East Coast, he invited our family to stay at his house for the weekend.

After dinner one night, his wife said, “Greg, tell me about how you came to put your faith in Jesus Christ.” As I shared my testimony and what Christ had done for me, my dad sat there listening with his hands folded. I thought, He’s not buying this at all. But later that night, he asked me to go walking with him the next morning.

As we walked out into the cold morning air, he said, “I was listening to what you said last night. I want to know what I need to do to give my life to Jesus Christ.” He made a commitment to Christ that day, and he faithfully served the Lord for the remaining fifteen years of his life.

Sometimes when you share your faith, you don’t think you’re getting through. But you never know. That is why we need to simply throw out the net, so to speak. We need to give people the opportunity.

On Getting Older

By David Jeremiah, 

In his book, Coming Home, James Dobson notes that Immanuel Kant wrote one of his most famous philosophical works at age seventy-four; Verdi was still composing when he was eighty-five. When he completed The Pieta, his greatest work of art, Michelangelo was eighty-seven; and Ronald Reagan was the most powerful man in the world as president of the United States at age seventy-five. Instead of sixty-five being the presumed age for retirement, it ought to be seen as the age when a lifetime of learning is focused on new achievement.

Consider the following biblical figures over the age of eighty who were still going strong: Abraham becoming a father and raising his son Isaac; Moses and Aaron leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the Promised Land. ... The fact is, the older we get, the more accumulated wisdom and perspective we should have to bring to bear on new goals. Regardless of your age, consider replacing "retirement" with "transition" in your vocabulary. See life as a continual process of moving from one accomplishment to the next with God as your guide.

Yes, age is a small part of growing old, but attitude is the largest. 
http://www.turningpointonline.org

Today's Thought:
"All God's giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them..."
- James Hudson Taylor

Froggy Grief

"So then, how are you doing now?" they ask. I muster up my best going-forward face and say "Oh, good, thanks," then change the subject as fast as I can. Some days, what I say is true, but some days, it is not. Grief is like a frog struggling up the side of a well, bent on escape into fresh air and solid ground. Just as the frog climbs up a couple of feet, he loses his grip and slides back down. Then, he has to start all over again.

It's over three years since my husband died, but some days, it feels like yesterday.

Psalm 6:6-7 – I'm tired of all this — so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights on the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope. (MSG)

But in all of this, repeatedly, I find God as faithful as ever to my lonely and distressed widow self. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He comforted all who lost loved ones years before me, and the ones since, and yes, the ones in the years to come. What a gracious God!

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). (AMP)

Prayer: Thanks, God. Your promises are true and real and forever, and they are ours. Amen.

Brenda Wood

He Knows Your Need

Do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (Matthew 6:31–32).

Jesus wants his followers to be free from worry. In Matthew 6:25–34, he gives at least seven arguments designed to take away our anxiety. One of them lists food and drink and clothing, and then says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” ( Matthew 6:32).

Jesus must mean that God’s knowing is accompanied by his desiring to meet our need. He is emphasizing we have a Father. And this Father is better than an earthly father.

I have five children. I love to meet their needs. But my knowing falls short of God’s in at least three ways.

First, right now I don’t know where any of them is. I could guess. They’re in their homes or at work or school, healthy and safe. But they might be lying on a sidewalk with a heart attack.

Second, I don’t know what is in their heart at any given moment. I can guess from time to time. But they may be feeling some fear or hurt or anger or lust or greed or joy or hope. I can’t see their hearts.

Third, I don’t know their future. Right now they may seem well and steady. But tomorrow some great sorrow may befall them.

This means I can’t be for them a very strong reason for not worrying. There are things that may be happening to them now or may happen tomorrow that I do not even know about. But it is totally different with their Father in heaven. He knows everything about them now and tomorrow, inside and out. He sees every need.

Add to that, his huge eagerness to meet their needs (the “much more” of Matthew 6:30).

Add to that his complete ability to do what he is eager to do (he feeds billions of birds hourly, Matthew 6:26).

So join me in trusting the promise of Jesus to meet our needs. That’s what Jesus is calling for when he says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

For more about John Piper's ministry and writing, see DesiringGod.org.

Fishing in the Dead Sea

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1, NIV

The Dead Sea is an interesting place to visit. You arrive in the middle of the desert and before you is an expanse of water that has no life in it - no fish, no plants, just a lot of salt. In fact the only thing living in there are the thousands of tourists that bob up and down on the surface, marvelling at the way they can float.

When I visited the Dead Sea recently our tour guide pulled out an interesting certificate to show me the fishing licence she had bought for about $100 that gave her rights to catch fish in the Dead Sea. This seemed a waste of money, as there’s no way you could catch anything but a tourist in that water, but she had confidently bought this licence. For you and I, someone was investing in something that, to the natural eye, was a waste of money and time. But she was looking ahead at a promise from the Lord in Ezekiel 47:8-10 that says:
‘He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds - like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea”’.

The tour guide was living by a promise in the word of God and had invested in that promise that one day she will catch fish in the Dead Sea. Perhaps people, with the same certificate, had already bought rods, nets and invested in other equipment, in preparation for the day they can go fishing.

The Lord has promised something to each one of us. To the disciples Jesus said, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’ (Mathew 4:19). He gave them the licence to fish before they were ready, saying that in the future they would fish, and they did! If you have a promise from the Lord, and it all seems like the Dead Sea, hang on to the promise and invest in it. The Lord has not forgotten you. Invest in that promise, prepare for that promise, trust the Lord with that promise, because one day it will be fulfilled and you will be fishing in the Dead Sea.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your promises to me and the fishing licence You have given me, even though I struggle to see how it’s going to be used. I want to move on today with that investment You’ve put in me, and look forward to all You have for me to do in the future. What do You want me to do to prepare for that promise? In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today's Writer : Paul Lawrence

Walking In Valleys

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4)

Walking In Valleys

Situated within the Mojave Desert in eastern California is the lowest, driest and hottest location in North America.

On July 10, 1913, the highest reported temperature in the Western Hemisphere, 134 degrees Fahrenheit, was reported at Furnace Creek in Death Valley-a reading two degrees short of the world record. With a basin 282 feet below sea level and walled by steep mountain ranges, the dry air and sparse plant cover allows the sun to heat the surface to unbearable temperatures. Annual precipitation averages only 2.36 inches a year.

Life's valleys can be just as hot and dry. I've walked through a few I don't care to repeat. My emotions were scorched and my physical energy drained. David was familiar with valley walking. He led his sheep through valleys frequented by robbers and wild animals, but he didn't fear because his shepherd protected him.

Yea, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4 KJV).

We all periodically walk through valleys. Our world groans under the curse of sin which brings damaging effects on people and the natural order. People do despicable things and nature acts in devastating ways. Others can put us in the valley or we can do it ourselves through disobedience. And valleys are painful, but they don't last forever. At some point-either through confession or the natural progression of events, we walk out and up to the mountaintop.

Valley walking is more easily endured by remembering God walks with us through them. We have no reason to fear. He'll protect and comfort us no matter how dark, hot or long the valley. Put your trust in God when you're in the valleys.

Drink from his Word, trust his Spirit's guidance and lean on good friends.

Prayer: Merciful Shepherd, we trust ourselves to Your care when we're in the valleys.

Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA

Finished!

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. —John 19:30 The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was so there would be His death. The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfill, He summed it up with a single word: “finished.” In the original Greek, it was a common word. Jesus probably used it after He finished a project that He and Joseph might have been working on together in the carpentry shop. Jesus might have turned to Joseph and said, “Finished. Now let’s go have lunch.” It is finished. Mission accomplished. It is done. It is made an end of. So what was finished? Finished and completed were the horrendous sufferings of Christ. Never again would He experience pain at the hand of wicked men. Never again would He have to bear the sins of the world. Never again would He, even for a moment, be forsaken of God. That was completed. That was taken care of. Also finished was Satan’s stronghold on humanity. Jesus came to deal a decisive blow against the devil and his demons at the cross of Calvary. Hebrews 2:14 says, “Only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who hadthe power of death.” This means that you no longer have to be under the power of sin. Because of Jesus’ accomplishment at the cross, finished was the stronghold of Satan on humanity. And lastly, finished was our salvation. It is completed. It is done. All of our sins were transferred to Jesus when He hung on the cross. His righteousness was transferred to our account. So Jesus cried out the words, “It is finished!” It was God’s deliberate and well-thought-out plan. It is finished—so rejoice! Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries

Learning from Failure

 by Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 22:31-34

The disciple Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of "miserable failure" rather than that of "obedient servant."

We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a learning process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God's authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.

Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered that humility is required of believers (John 13:5-14); that God's ways are higher than the world's ways (Mark 8:33); and that one should never take his eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30). He took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn't that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter's failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.

God doesn't reward rebellion or wrongdoing. However, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth.

We would probably all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake before God's eyes, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches believers that it is much wiser and more profitable to be obedient to the Lord. That's a lesson we all should take to heart.


IT IS FINISHED!!!

The May '15 Edition of The StarLight News has been printed, picked up and delivery will start in limited locations Saturday... The remainder will be delivered next week...

If you would like to read it on line the click on the link... http://the-starlight-news.blogspot.com/
Happy Reading,
Richard