Happy Tuesday

Editor's Note:   Sorry about skipping Monday... I was in a wreck last Friday and my focus was was on the pain Sunday and most of Monday and I failed to post a Monday Devotional/Smile... Will be seeing a Doctor Tuesday Morning and praying nothing serious is wrong...

Take my Son.....

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.  About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'  There was silence...


Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?' Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...

THAT'S LOVE 

Daily Smile:

During a visit to the retirement home, I asked the director, "How do you determine whether or not a person should be institutionalized?"

"Well," said the Director, "We fill up a bathtub, and then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

The Director responded “No, a normal person would pull the plug. Would you like a room with a window?”

Happy Sunday

"This thing is from Me" 

(1 Kings 12:24) "Life's disappointments are veiled love's appointments." Rev. C. A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from Me.

Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, "he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye" (Zech. 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isa. 43:4) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.

I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the "enemy comes in like a flood," that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.

Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.

Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil.4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, "In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God" (Deut. 1:32).

Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation (2 Thess. 2:16, 17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. "They also serve who only stand and wait." Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all--prayer.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.

Daily Smile: 

An employee of the airport found a cell phone in one of the boarding areas. She switched it on, hoping a caller would identify the owner. It rang, and she answered it, but there was no response. When it rang a second time, another female employee answered, and the same thing happened.

Moments later, a supervisor came by and picked up the ringing phone. "This is Bob. May I help you?"

"Bob," the bewildered woman caller finally spoke. "Where is Bill, and who are those two women he's with?"

Happy Saturday

Gifts You Can Give Year Round

The Gift of Praise
Appropriate mention, right in front of the other fellow, of superior qualities or of a job or deeds well done.

The Gift of Consideration
Putting yourself in the other's shoes and thus providing your genuine understanding  of his side of the case.

The Gift of Concession
Humbly saying at just the right point, "I am sorry, you are right and I am wrong."

The Gift of GratitudeNever forgetting to say "Thank You" and never failing to mean it.

The Gift of Attention
When the other fellow speaks, listen attentively. If his words are directed to you personally, meet his eye squarely.

The Gift of Inspiration
Plant seeds of courage and action in the other person's heart.

The Gift of Personal Presence
In sickness, in trouble, or in great joy, there is nothing quite equal to your personal expression of sympathy or congratulations. Resolve to give these gifts each day. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will receive in return.

Daily Smile:

    A man went back to his doctor to get the results of tests he had done a week earlier. The doctor told him he had some good news and some bad news. The patient said, "OK, what's the good news?" 

 
    The doctor replied "You have 24 hours to live". 

 
    The patient gasped and said, "If that's the good news, what could possibly be the bad news?" 

 
    The doctor said, "The bad news is that I should have told you yesterday!"

Happy Friday

Today's Christian - Christian Living

by Kunal Michaels

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried – Psalm 18:30

Here is one of the great understatements of the Bible: the word of the LORD is tried.

God's people, for thousands of years, have cast their lives into the mold of God's Word. They have married, invested, raised children, decided careers, and set their ambitions according to the Word of God. They have found in the Bible their comfort in times of loss, their direction in times of change, and their joy in times of prosperity.

God's Word has been tried, tested, scrutinized, and relied upon by Christians throughout the ages. And, just as David testified, they have found it more than sufficient for their every need. They have discovered, in every generation and in every imaginable circumstance, that God's Word truly is perfect.

His counsel is always wise, His history is always accurate, His lessons are always true, and His commands are always relevant. God's way is perfect.

But David was not merely making an observation or teaching an academic lesson; David's point is that because God's Word has been tried and tested by millions of saints through the centuries, and has been found perfect, each of us should therefore build our lives on this tried and sure foundation.

Who do you look to for direction and for advice? Do you trust popular opinion, or well-meaning friends, to help you make decisions and find meaning in life? Or do you go to God's perfect Word over and over again, for counsel in every area of life?

The Word of the Lord is tried, it is proven, it is sure — but have you tried it?

Daily Smile:

A preacher phoned the city's newspaper. "Thank you very much," said he, "for the error you made when you announced my sermon topic for last Sunday. The topic I sent you was 'What Jesus Saw in A Publican.' You printed it as 'What Jesus Saw in a Republican' I had the biggest crowd of the year!"

Happy Thursday

Transformational Change

By D'edra Y. Armstrong

In the first Book of Corinthians, the Apostle Paul details the transformation of Christ. The fifteenth chapter describes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As we can see, Christ underwent distinct changes in order to claim victory—he was killed, he was buried, and he was resurrected. Today, many of us want the transformation without undergoing change. However, you will never be transformed without undergoing change. To be transformed and claim victory, we must undergo physical, spiritual, and emotional change. 

No matter how strategically we think we have planned, we only have limited control over our lives. Some things in life will happen no matter how much we try to prevent them. In life, there are no certainties, only a few guarantees—trouble and death. It is change that presents us with a unique opportunity to grow. It is through change that we are transformed. When change happens, we have a few options: We can live with it, adapt to it, or grow from it. Many of us, however, resist change because it takes us out of our comfort zones, exposing some degree of our vulnerability. Interestingly, it is not change that is difficult; it's adapting to change that becomes problematic.

When change occurs, we most often first feel that there is a loss of some sort. If we lose our jobs, emotion interprets the event as a loss of identity or financial stability. If we develop illness or disease, emotion interprets it as loss of good health. If our personal relationship comes to an end or experiences a major shift, emotion interprets it as a setback. But we must shift our way of thinking. Christ did not resist change; he knew that in it, there were great rewards—triumph and victory.

We are reminded in II Corinthians 4:16 that "our inner man is being renewed day by day." In order to be renewed, we must be transformed. We must develop the mind of Christ when it comes to change, knowing that there awaits a greater reward. Christ did not try to get down off the cross. And when we fully accept the fact that transformation requires a marked change, we'll know that an old job can be replaced by a new and more lucrative-paying one, our health can and will be restored, and a healthier and stronger relationship will be built. In other words, you simply cannot hold on to the old when the new is trying to break through; you have to give up one for the other. We all must undergo transformational change if we expect to experience daily renewal.

No matter how devastating the form of change, a golden opportunity awaits. The intended purpose of change is a positive one—personal and spiritual growth. The event or circumstance itself is often temporary, but the benefit can last for a lifetime. Embrace your change and be transformed and renewed in mind, body and spirit.

Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)

Daily Smile:

Vice President Pride

Tom was so excited about his promotion to Vice President of the company he worked for and kept bragging about it to his wife for weeks on end.

Finally she couldn't take it any longer, and told him, "Listen, it means nothing, they even have a vice president of peas at the grocery store!"

"Really?" he said. Not sure if this was true or not, Tom decided to call the grocery store.

A clerk answers and Tom says, "Can I please talk to the Vice President of peas?"


The clerk replies, "Canned or frozen?"

Happy Wednesday

Today's Discussion – Forgiveness

by Kunal Michael

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors – Matthew 6:12

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He responded with what is commonly known as the "Lord's prayer." Embedded in the language of the prayer is this specific request for forgiveness.

It is evident from the content of the prayer that our Lord meant for us to pray after this manner daily, because it includes a request for this day's daily bread. It is therefore equally plain that Jesus is instructing us to confess our sins daily and ask for God's forgiveness.

Too often we allow a long time, and many un-confessed sins, to amass before we go to the Lord in prayer. As a result, we begin to feel estranged from God; our guilty conscience then makes it even more difficult to go to Him in prayer at all.

It is best to keep "short accounts" with God, going to Him regularly with our sin debt and allowing Him to wipe it clean. We then delight to go to Him for a regular time of confession, communion, and refreshing.

Notice, also, how this daily forgiveness is tied purposefully and inseparably to our own forgiveness of others. Jesus, in effect, couches this prayer in such a way that we must either forgive others completely and daily, or we are cursing ourselves each time we pray!

"Forgive us as we forgive others," Jesus tells us to pray. Have you taken your sin-debt to God in prayer today? Have you forgiven others as you yourself hope to be forgiven?

Daily Smile:

A young man went into the drug store and told the druggist he wanted to buy 3 boxes of candy; a one pound box, a 3 pound box, and a 5 pound box. The druggist brought the candy then asked, "I'm curious why you're getting 3 different boxes."

The young man replied, "I have a date tonight with a girl I've been wanting to date for months. I'm going to her house for dinner and, afterwards, if she goes out to sit with me on the swing, I'll give her the 1 pound box; if she lets me put my arm around her, I'll give her the 3 pound box, and if she lets me kiss her, I'll give her the 5 pound box." The druggist agreed that the plan was ingenious.

That night the boy arrived for dinner and when they sat down to eat, the father asked the boy to ask the blessing. Well, the boy prayed and prayed and prayed until the girl had to elbow him to stop.

Afterwards as they sat on the porch swing, the girl said, "I didn't know you were so religious." To which the young man replied, "And I didn't know your Daddy was the druggist."

Happy Tuesday

Beware of the False Lover

by Michael Knight

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps 30:5).

When a measured assault enters our life we often respond in two different ways. The pain caused by the assault drives us to a place of either embracing the pain or we embrace anything that will make us feel better. That becomes the entry door to a false lover. Men and women each seek to avoid pain in different ways. Larry Crabb has summarized these two unique strategies often used to avoid deep pain: 

All of us are trapped by addiction to a desire for something less than God. For many women, that something less is relational control. "I will not be hurt again and I will not let people I love be hurt. I'll see to it that what I fear never happens again." They therefore live in terror of vulnerably presenting themselves to anyone and instead become determined managers of people. Their true femininity remains safely tucked away behind the walls of relational control. 

More common in men is an addiction to non-relational control. "I will experience deep and consuming satisfaction without ever having to relate meaningfully with anyone." They keep things shallow and safe with family and friends and feel driven to experience a joy they never feel, a joy that only deep relating can provide. Their commitment is twofold: to never risk revealing inadequacy by drawing close to people and, without breaking that commitment, to feel powerful and alive. Power in business and illicit sex are favorite strategies for reaching that goal.

Many times we seek to deal with our pain through various forms of addictions designed to resolve the inner pain we feel. All addictions represent a counterfeit desire for genuine love and intimacy. We conclude these lesser desires are legitimate needs instead of band-aids of our fleshly soul. These addiction lovers become isolation chambers created for ourselves designed to mask our pain. 

Every human being has a desire to be loved. When we do not feel loved because of some event in our lives we seek to reconcile this emotional pain. So, if you are fighting any kind of addiction--over control of people, sex, drugs, alcohol, workaholism, shopping, overeating--you are seeking to fill a void only God can fill. 

Pain has a useful purpose in our lives. Facing it, rather than medicating it, allows us to move to a place of discovering a capacity for a different kind of joy. That is the purpose of pain. We must let inner pain do its work by experiencing it fully. It feels like a contradiction to actually embrace the pain, but it is the only remedy for moving past it so it can yield its purpose in our lives. Otherwise we will remain unaware of our deeper desire for God and be driven toward a false lover. 

Daily Smile:

Ed was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really mad. She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE."

The next morning, Ed got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up, she looked out the window, and sure enough, there was a medium-sized gift-wrapped box in the middle of the driveway.

Confused, the wife put on her robe, ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back into the house. She opened it and found a brand-new bathroom scale.

Funeral services for Ed have been scheduled for Friday.

Happy Monday

Resolutions

By Skip Heitzig

Every year, about 40 to 45 percent of people in this country will make resolutions for the New Year. That’s great. But only about six percent of those people will keep them!

I want to invite you to make a resolution based on 2 Peter 3:17-18. “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.” Peter warns that some people will fall away from the faith, and he encourages believers to stay strong.

There are three words I want you to put in your resolution. One is “grow.” This is the year your relationship with God could really take off. I pray that none of us would have the notion that we’ve “arrived,” that we’re fully mature. If you have walked with the Lord a long time, great! But only when you’re dead and in God’s presence have you “arrived.” Until that time, we should be adding to our faith the things Peter mentions in chapter 1, verses 5-7: virtue, knowledge, etc.

The second word is “know.” Growing and knowing go together, but knowing is a little different. Jesus said we should love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Paul said to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). We need to engage the mind, to think clearly, to grow by knowing. This could be the year that you give yourself to seriously studying the Bible. Get into the Word so you can know who He is, and know the truth. As you know the Bible you’ll add discernment, the ability to tell what is true from what is false.

And third, “go.” It’s my prayer that you’ll get up and go, that you’ll serve in some capacity, to make some kind of difference, and in so doing glorify Jesus Christ in your community. It’s our privilege as believers to serve Him.

Just as you are saved by grace, you are kept by grace, and you’re going to need God’s fortitude to keep this resolution every day of the year. But Jesus promised he would be with us to the end of the age. So what do we have to worry about, if He has us in His hand?

A lot of people look to the future with fear. As believers we should be confident and joyful about the future. So I want to wish you a Happy New Year, and I want to wish you the joy of the Lord. If you’re not prone to be a joyful person, I pray that the Lord would change that, that the joy of the Lord would be your strength.
Copyright © 2011 by Connection Communications. All rights reserved.

Daily Smile:

The chef of the upscale restaurant I manage collided with a waiter one day and spilled coffee all over our computer. The liquid poured into the processing unit and resulted in some dramatic crackling and popping sounds.

After sopping up the mess, we gathered around the terminal as the computer was turned back on again.

"Please let it work," pleaded the guilt-ridden waiter.

A waitress replied, "Should be faster than ever. That was a double espresso."

Happy Saturday - The Last Day Of 2011

An AMEN message
Trust Is Based On Character, Not Circumstances

Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging storm at sea. Seeing his wife’s fear, the man tried to comfort her. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back and drew his sword. Pointing it at her, he asked, "Are you afraid of this?" "Of course not!" she answered. "Why not?" he inquired. "Because I know you love me too much to hurt me," she said. He replied, "I also know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He loves us too much to fail to care for us!" Bible says in Job 13:15; Job had that same trust. He had lost his children, his wealth and his health. Even his wife had turned against him. He had only one more thing to lose—his own life. Yet Job declared that even if it were to come down to that final loss, he would continue to trust that God had a purpose in everything that happened to him.

In Job’s eyes, the important issue was not what was happening but whose hand was behind it. If God did it, Job knew he could trust it. Often our trust is based on the "what" rather than the "who." We focus on the event rather than the One who controls that event. Consequently, when trials and tribulations come crashing down upon us, our faith is shaken. We can’t understand why a loving Heavenly Father would allow such grief to enter our lives. Yet if we truly believe that He loves, we can say with Job that even though He slays us, we will believe He intends it for our good. In His infinite wisdom and goodness, He will take the most difficult circumstances and use them for our good. When you are facing life’s most severe trials, focus on the character of God. Build your trust on who God is, not on what is taking place. When you know who He is, you never have to worry about what He will allow to happen. Trust is based on character, not circumstances.

Daily Smile:

A man took his son fishing one day. After a few hours in the boat with not much to do, the son started asking his father some questions. 

"How does the boat float?" he asked.

The man thought about the question for a moment, then said, "I don't really know, son."

"Well, how do fish breath underwater?"

The man scratched his head. "I guess I don't know the answer to that one either."

"Why is the sky blue?" the boy persisted.

The father replied, "I really don't know, son."

The boy started to worry that his father was getting upset at all the questions. "Do you mind me asking questions, Dad?"

His father immediately reassured him. "No, of course not, son! If you don't ask questions, you'll never learn anything!"

What to Do to Go to Hell???  

     Rien!!! Nichts!!! Semmi!!! Ingenting!!! Nada!!! Non niente!!! Nic!!! Hiçbir!!! NOTHING!!!

    You do Absolutely Nothing!!!

    We, including me, have already sinned enough to deserve Hell!!! There will be NO Boasting in Heaven. We cannot be Saved by Our Own Righteousness, BUT only by GOD’S Grace, through Faith...

    “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23...

    “The wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23a...

    “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:18b...

    Where is the place of condemned sinners??? Hell.

HELL is described in GOD’S Words, the Bible as a place of torment, outer darkness, and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in Matthew 8:12b... It’s “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” Mark 9:44...

    Now the Good News: God does not want you to go to hell!!!

    “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9...

    The World would like everyone to believe that there are many ways to Heaven... Let me be very clear when I say, God provided the only absolute way to be saved from hell!!!

    “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” 1 Timothy 1:15a...

    Trust in Jesus Christ to save you!!!

    “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23b... “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him” John 3:36b...

    It's your decision...

    Why not take God at His Word??? 

    Jesus said that whoever “cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37b... “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13...

    Will you place your trust in Jesus???

    Why not pray and ask Him???

    “JESUS, I now admit that I am a sinner headed for  hell, and I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I now cease to rely on myself, my religion, or anything I might do to save myself. I now know and believe that You died on the cross for my sins, You were buried, and You arose the third day. I now trust in You as my Savior. Thank You, Lord Jesus.”

    You have just made the MOST Important Decision of You Life Today; however, satan is not happy about your decision and will go out of his way to discourage you... Get in touch with your pastor or one of the pastors writing for StarLight News and tell him of your decision... He will help you learn more about the Bible and JESUS... He will introduce you to others that will help you and pray for you... 

     AND Welcome my brother or sister to the Family of GOD...

Happy Friday

Weighed Down

By Alan Smith [Minor editing]

A few stupid criminal stories:

One man robbed a liquor store at gunpoint and demanded all of the cash from the register. He then asked for some liquor, but the cashier declined saying that he didn't look 21. The robber again demanded, but the cashier declined saying that he could not give liquor to anyone under 21. The stupid criminal proceeded to show the cashier his driver's license to prove he was 21! The cashier took down his information, gave the robber his liquor, and called the police when he left. The robber was arrested AT HIS HOME later that evening.

Another guy was in a verbal lineup (where you have to say something to see if the victim can identify you by voice). He was told to say "Give me your money or I'll shoot you", and he refused to do it. When asked why by the detective, he said "Because that's not what I said"!

David Posman 33, was arrested in Providence, R.I, after allegedly knocking out an armored car driver and stealing the closest four bags of money. It turned out they contained $800 in PENNIES, weighed 30 pounds each, and slowed him to a stagger during his getaway so that police officers easily jumped him from behind.

David Posman is not the first person to make the mistake of trying to run while being weighed down. In fact, it happens spiritually all the time. The writer of Hebrews talks about sin being a weight that keeps us from effectively running the Christian race. We can get bogged down with things that pull us away from God. And, by the way, as with Posman, those things that are weighing us down are not worth nearly as much as we thought they were when we grabbed hold of them.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

Anything weighing you down? May you lay it aside today as you run the Christian race. 

Daily Smile:

A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible. Then, one day, she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

Happy Thursday

A Door for the Word

"Continue earnestly in prayer; being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also
for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in chains." Colossians 4:2-3, RSV

There are opportunities that pass by, when we could speak of God’s glory and love. So
often the door opens and then closes, and we miss the ‘moment’.

In Colossians Paul tells us to keep praying, with thankful hearts that God will open this door
of opportunity for the Word. God is the one who opens the door, and enables us to share
this mystery of the Christ with people. He knows people’s hearts, and when their spirits are
receptive to His Word. He will give us His words of love and wisdom, to share our faith with
them.

Let’s pray for those who have the gift of preaching and teaching the Word, that God would
open that door as they speak. They need our prayer. Paul needed that kind of prayer, that
the two-edged sword of the Spirit would touch the ‘heart places’ with the truth. ‘For a great
and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries’ (1 Corinthians
l6:9). And so it is today.

So let’s be watchful, especially backing up those whom we know, who are on a mission, or
who are called to speak. And let’s pray for ourselves that we will be prepared for those
times that the door of opportunity opens to us in daily conversation, and to recognise who
is opening that door.

Once I was walking alongside a lady in the park. She was wearing a Hijab (Muslim dress)
and as I felt that the door was open I just said, “Jesus loves you.” She responded with such
a burst of gratitude, thanking me profusely for my words. Maybe she was a secret believer,
I thought. The Holy Spirit knew exactly what was going on in her heart.

‘Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with
God’ (Ephesians 6:15, LB).

Prayer: Forgive me for the missed opportunities, dear Lord, and please help me to
recognize those times when the door is open. Help me to be more prepared and vigilant,
in Jesus’Name. Amen.

Today's Writer : Pam Smith

Daily Smile:

And one particular four-year old prayed,  "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

Happy Wednesday

Be Anxious For Nothing
Jesus warned that, in the last days, the world would face unfolding trauma. There would be wars, earthquakes and many other disasters. Yet, to His disciples, He said, "Do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9). He also said that, because of world conditions, men's hearts would fail "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth"(Luke 21:26 NKJV). Not only would actual events generate worldwide fear, but the expectation of difficulties would cause men's hearts to fail.

Today, heart failure is the number one cause of death in North America. Approximately every thirty-four seconds a heart stops beating and another person dies, usually suddenly. There may be many contributors to heart failure, but one major source is the inability to handle stress.

There are times when stress is unavoidable - the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, moving to a new home, severe illness, or going through a divorce - all take a toll. But most of the time accepting anxiety should not be so readily accommodated. The problem is that, just as death entered the world through Adam's sin (see Rom. 5), so the substance of death enters our personal world through our sins as well. Indeed, when we carry anxiety-related stress, we are carrying in our soul a container of death that, without fail, takes an ever increasing toll upon our lives.

Consider our world: War and terror attacks can occur at any time and anywhere. Our stock market and economy continues to bolt up and down, like a wild roller coaster. We have many unanswered questions about the future that are multiplied stress factors.

We also have personal situations. We worry about aging and our health. We have stress at our jobs and stress with a lack of jobs. Our homes should be a harbor of peace, yet they often are a place of strife and anxiety, especially as our children become teens. Someone once said, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child." It is true for fathers also. We all carry people in our hearts, and as we love them their battles become ours, further adding to the burden of anxiety we carry.

If you want to know how stressed you are, look at your disposition when you drive. If you are always exceeding the speed limit, it reveals the lack of rest in your soul. That extra push on the accelerator is continually occurring on your heart throughout the day, not only when you are driving. Driving simply makes apparent the level of anxiety we have learned to live with.

Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6). Yet we seem to be anxious for everything. In fact, stress-related anxiety is so much a part of our lives that, somehow, it has escaped being identified as being sinful. We medicate it, but do not change the habits of fear that caused it in the first place. But anxiety is sin. At its core, it is a stubborn refusal to trust the goodness of God or rest in His power. Anxiety is a by-product of unbelief. It is a spiritual "terror attack" from hell that is silently killing tens of thousands every day.

God Is With Us Certainly, I am not suggesting we become passive. However, I am saying we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful anxieties that come from not trusting in God. Our Messiah is "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus promised to be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At some point we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise. Those who believe enter His rest (Heb. 3). He is with us always! To mistrust this promise is to reject the very character of God's nature. This is not a minor issue.

Yet, even now Jesus says,

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).

Let us come to Him. Let us cast our burdens upon Him, for truly He cares for us. Let us break our addictions to stress. We don't have to be tied up in knots inside. The God of peace will crush Satan beneath our feet shortly (see Rom. 16:20). Anxiety is sin. Let us break the bondage of this sin and walk as sons and daughters of God, who are anxious for nothing.

Lord, forgive me for my sin of anxiety. I renounce fear. I declare that my soul is Your property, that You have promised to care for me. I believe Your promises. I come to You and entrust all I am into Your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Daily Smile:

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" 

One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

Sovereignty of God

Today's Discussion - Sovereignty of God  

by Kunal Michaels

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will-- Proverbs 21:1

Jesus Christ is not only the King of kings, and the Lord of lords – He is the President of presidents, the Sovereign over every sovereign. He rules in every place, no matter what form the local government takes. 

There is not a prime minister, or a dictator, or a guerilla force, or a terrorist cell that is outside God's notice. No one is able to upset the immutable purposes of God or overthrow His supreme reign.

This is a great comfort, when we see that there are so many things outside of our own control. Whether it is a military coup in Africa or an election race in America , our hopes and plans are easily overthrown. But not so with God.

God has shown His power to overthrow human purposes, even of the most august and revered leaders on earth. He brought down Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Ahab, and Herod. He turned the heart of Pharaoh in Moses' day, Xerxes in Esther's day, and Saul of Tarsus in Ananias' day.

Dear believer, take heart. God is still on his throne, no matter what political or social or economic upheavals shake our world. The hearts of kings are still in His hand, and He is still turning them perfectly, according to His wise and good will.

Daily Smile: 

The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went. Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again. After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"

Happy Monday

The Value of a Soul
(True Missionary Story based on an account by Troy Carl, "Faith Comes By Hearing" (FCBH) ministry)

The Konkomba people of Ghana were listening to a ministry broadcast relating to Mark 5:1-20. It revealed the story where the demons that Jesus cast out of a man asked to enter a herd of pigs. Upon hearing that the pigs ran off a cliff and died, one person suddenly asked, "Wait a minute! Did Jesus know that the demons were going to go into the pigs?"

Someone responded, "Well, yes."

A woman wondered, "Did Jesus reimburse the village for the pigs?" Then for half an hour, they discussed,

"Why would Jesus do this?" and "If we invite Jesus into our village, is He going to make us lose all of our property?"

After much debate, the elders silenced the group and said, "We think we know what Jesus was teaching us. You know we also have a man in our village that's demon-possessed. He's crazy, and he's worthless. We'd rather he die than even one of our animals."

Everyone agreed.

"Well we believe that Jesus was trying to teach us that the value of one man's soul is worth more than the economy of the whole village." And the entire group said, "OH!"

With the Holy Spirit's guidance, great wisdom came out of this exchange. Just because these villagers were illiterate doesn't mean they were stupid. This whole tribe came to Christ as a result of hearing this.

Today's Thought:

"We can preach the Gospel of Christ no further than we have experienced the power of it in our own hearts." - George Whitefield 

Daily Smile:  

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it.

The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, 'Good morning Alex.'

'Good morning Pastor,' he replied, still focused on the plaque.

'Pastor, what is this?'

The pastor said, 'Well son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the (military) service.'

Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.

Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, 'Which (church) service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?' 

Merry Christmas

Today's Thought: 

          There was a gift for each of us left under the tree of life 2000 years ago by Him whose birthday we celebrate today.  The gift was withheld from no man.  Some have left the packages unclaimed.  Some have accepted the gift and carried it around, but have failed to remove the wrappings and look inside to discover the hidden splendor.  The packages are all alike:  In each is a scroll on which is written, "All that the Father hath is thine."  Take and live!

Unknown

THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER

At Christmas time there was a man, who looked so out of place. As people rushed about him, at a hurried sort of pace.   He stared at all the Christmas lights, the tinsel everywhere. The shopping center Santa Claus, with children gathered near.   The mall was packed with shoppers, who were going to and fro. Some with smiles, some with frowns, and some too tired to go.   They rested on benches, or they hurried on their way. To fight the crowds for purchases, to carry home that day.   The music from the stereo, was playing loud and clear. Of Santa Claus and snowmen, and funny nosed reindeer.   He heard the people talk about, the good times on the way. Of parties, fun and food galore, and gift exchange that day.   I'd like to know what's going on, the man was heard to say. There seems to be some sort, of celebration on the way.   And would you tell me who this is, all dressed in red and white And why are children asking *him* about a special night.   The answer came in disbelief, I can't believe my ear. I can't believe you do not know, That Christmas time is here.   The time when Santa comes around, with gifts for boys and girls. When they are asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys.   The man you see in red and white,  is Santa Claus so sly. The children love his joyful laugh, and twinkle in his eye.   His gift pack is pulled along, by very small reindeer. As he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there.   The children learn of Santa Claus, while they are still quite small. When Christmas comes he is the most, important one of all.   The stranger hung His head in shame, He closed a nail pierced hand. His body shook in disbelief, He did not understand.   A shadow crossed his stricken face, His voice was low but clear. "After all these years they still don't know." And Jesus shed a tear.  May CHRISTmas this year Be your happiest yet May it bring you bright moments You'll never forget May its meaning and joy Bring pleasure to you And may loved ones share In your happiness, too Merry CHRISTmas

Happy Christmas Eve

He Leads us to Safety  

Author Unknown  

One Christmas Eve, many years ago, Grandma and Grandpa were babysitting their grandchildren. One special event each Christmas Eve was to attend the services at the town church. This Christmas Eve, Grandpa would have nothing to do with the special services. He said to his wife, "You take the grandchildren to the services, I can't be bothered...I don't believe that this God could become a little baby..why would He want to become one of us?" And so the grandmother took the children off to the services, leaving Grandfather to stay home by himself.  While Grandfather read the newspaper alone in the living room, he heard a loud noise coming from the kitchen. He hurried to into the room to see what was making all the noise. To his surprise, he saw three little sparrows, each trying to fly into the house through the glass kitchen window.  "The poor little birds will die," he said, as the storm outside got worse. "What can I do to save these little ones?" he thought. "I know what I will do! I'll go outside and turn on the light in the back shed."  And so, he put on his boots, his coat and hat and went outside in the cold wind to turn on the light in the shed. But to his surprise the birds would not go into the barn. "What will I do now?" he said. "Ahh, I know! I'll get the bird seed and make a trail of seed to the barn so that the birds will eat their way to safety."  And so he spread the bird seed. But they would not go. He thought again. "What would get those birds into the barn? I know! I'll shoo them in! They will be afraid of me and I'll chase them into the barn." He tried to shoo them, but they fluttered about and still would not go into the barn.  In frustration he fell to the ground and pounded the snow with his fists and said, "If only I could become a little bird, one of them, I could lead them and show them the way to safety so that they would not die."
Just then, the bells sounded at the church in the town square, and at that moment, Grandfather understood why God would want to become one of us, in Jesus. He became one of us to lead us to safety. 

Daily Smile:

On Christmas afternoon, the Pastor's wife dropped into an easy chair saying, "Boy!  Am I ever tried."  

Her husband (the Pastor) looked over at her & said, "I had to conduct two special services last night, three today, & give a total of five sermons.  Why are you so tired?" 

"Dearest," she replied, "I had to listen to all of them."