Happy Saturday

Keep Your Head Right

Pastor Stephen Brown taught swimming and diving for a number of years. He tells about a young boy named Billy. Billy had watched so many professional divers and wanted so much to dive like them that he refused to take time to learn the basics. Time after time Brown tried to help Billy see that the most important thing about diving was to keep his head in the proper position. If his head entered the water properly, Brown explained, the rest of his body would enter the water properly–at least, more properly than it had been.  Billy would dive into the pool, do a belly flop, and come up grinning, “Mr. Brown,” he would shout, “Were my feet together?” “Billy, I don’t care whether your feet were together or not,” Brown shouted back. “Make sure your head is straight, and then everything else will work out.”

The next time Billy would stand on the edge of the pool and really concentrate. Then he would dive and, once again, make a mess of it. “Mr. Brown, were my hands together?” “Billy,” Brown would groan in frustration, “I’m going to get you a neck brace and weld it onto your head. For the hundredth time, if your head is right the rest of you will be right. If your head is wrong, the rest of you will be wrong.” 

And isn’t that true in all of life? If our head is wrong, our marriage will probably suffer. If our head is wrong, our priorities will be fouled up. If our head is wrong, it may even affect our health in a negative way. God understands our distress and God seeks to make us new persons so that we can handle our distress more effectively. 

Happy Friday

Running on Empty

Glynnis Whitwer

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

People often ask me, "How do you handle it all?"

Depending on the situation, I answer in a variety of ways:

1. I'm wired this way. And that's partly true. I have a God-wired ability to stay focused in the midst of chaos ... most of the time. I'm more left-brained than my husband, and he's an engineer!

2. I stay organized ... most of the time. Usually, I can find what I need when I need it. Usually, I prepare in advance. There are times when life gets the best of me, and someone wears the same socks two days in a row. But systems and schedules help me stay on top of responsibilities.

3. My kids are older. We still have issues that derail my best-laid plans, but they're different than when my kids were toddlers and one tried to use my car keys to unlock the back gate, dropping them in the alley by accident. That threw me into a meltdown of monumental proportions.

But when people ask "How do you handle it all?" it's usually when I've shared something that has changed my life more than anything else. An act of obedience my family made eight years ago has pushed me to the edge of myself, made me question who I am and question God about His choice of me for this assignment. But it's also made me cling to Him with more desperation than ever before. What is it?

Adopting two little girls from Africa.

I haven't written much about these challenges due to respecting my family's privacy. And I also don't want to discourage adoptive parents with how hard our journey has been. It's one of the most important things I've ever done. But also the most costly.

In 2005 we adopted two girls, ages 8 and 10, from war-torn Liberia. We knew nothing about their background, other than it contained deprivation even other poor countries don't experience. No running water, no electricity, no school, no exposure to books or even television. Just basic existence for years.

Welcoming these little girls into our family at first seemed easy. They responded well to our love. They thrived with good food and education. But very soon we realized challenges. And then very sad truths about what happened in Africa started being uncovered.

One daughter has cognitive challenges that will impact her ability to live independently the rest of her life, and ours. With the other we faced behavioral challenges-significant issues based on an early history of neglect and abuse.

Sometimes there are Hallmark-channel-endings, but that's not our story. We live every day with our daughters' wounds and challenges. And these hardships have deeply affected me and my husband. They have affected our three biological children.

Here's what I've discovered: all my God-wired ability to think through chaos, all my attempts at organization and having older kids didn't prepare me for this.

But God's strength did.

So how do I manage it all? Every day I turn to God and rely on what 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches me ...

I don't have it in me to do this one more day, I need Your strength.

I don't have the patience in me for this … I need Your patience.

I can't think straight right now ... I need Your clarity.

I'm not even sure I have love in me right now ... I need Your love.

And I get my portion for that day. I get just enough strength, patience, and clarity to make it through. And a new definition of love that's stronger and tougher and more determined than I have ever experienced.

I wish I could write more about my family's story, and maybe someday I will. But for now, it's brought me to my knees; it's made me more humble; it's made me less judgmental, and it's made me depend on God more than ever.

God's strength is enough. But I had to get to the end of mine to learn that.

Heavenly Father, although I didn't know I'd be facing my current challenges, You did. Thank You for offering to step in the gap between my needs and my insufficient reservoir of strength with Your peace, wisdom, strength and love. Help me to lean on You when I feel like things are falling apart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Thursday

“Sharing the Wonder”

John 4:27-30

When God blesses you with a “teaching moment,” give it away as quickly as you can so someone else can be blessed by it. That is what the Samaritan woman did when she shared the wonder of her visit with Jesus at the well.

And that is what my eleven year old third cousin did. If you want to know how to pass it forward when Jesus blesses you, take notes from Joseph:

“Me and my dad were driving down the road and an eighteen-wheeler avoided something in the road. (It was one of those little ramps that you put on a trailer.) The car tail-gating the truck was not paying attention and he hit the ramp in the road. Luckily my dad saw it flying about 10 feet in the air. He turned left because it was heading for me. He yelled at me; I didn’t know what he was saying but I had a feeling he wanted me to duck. When I ducked I heard a BANG!!! The right mirror was completely wiped out…that’s a lot of force and then it dented and scratched all down the RV and bent the steel piece that holds up the awning. If my dad did not see the piece of steel hurdling towards us I could have been decapitated. I’m really thankful to God that my dad saw it.”

I am impressed that Joseph learned to give God the glory at such a young age.

That’s all witnessing is, just sharing what God has done for you. The Samaritan woman only told what she had experienced and a village was evangelized. She was amazed that Jesus could see into her heart as no one else could, and she shared her experience with others. No discovery is complete until it fills your heart to the overflow mark, and you are then compelled to give it away.

Many who read the story of Joseph’s brush with death will be moved by it. And some will search their hearts to discover moments in life when Jesus has made a difference. When you share that information with someone else, it will bless them as much as you have been blessed by reading Joseph’s powerful story. Then do as he did, and give God the credit. You will never know how important your willing testimony means to someone until you share it.

GospeLines Prayer: Father, thank you for Joseph, who reminds us that “to God we give the glory for all things;” from his words, inspire us to share the many wonders which happen to us every day, so others can know You as we do. Amen and amen.

Tommy Harrison
tommy@gospelines.com

Happy Wednesday

Credit or Debit

By Skip Heitzig

There’s the story of a frog that fell into a pail of milk. He tried to jump out, but the sides were too high. So he just paddled around and around in the milk. Eventually it was churned into butter, and he was able to jump out and free himself. It’s a cute story, but it illustrates what a lot of people think salvation is like: “Just keep paddling, do your best, and you’ll get to heaven.”

How much different is the truth found in the Bible! Chapter 4 of Romans is a wonderful explanation of justification by faith, and I invite you to ponder it. I want to focus on one verse: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

The fact is, righteousness doesn’t come by the Law, or by baptism, or by joining a church, or by any self-effort…but by faith! “Accounted” in this verse is the Greek word logizomai. It’s a banking term, and it means to apply something to one’s credit.

Picture a financial ledger. There’s a debit side and a credit side. Abraham, with his pagan background, was spiritually bankrupt. His ledger was packed on the debit side, with nothing on the credit side. But the moment he said, “I believe you, God,” God changed the ledger and wrote “righteous” on the credit side.

So it is with us. On our debit side is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). On our credit side, we try to put “works,” “religion,” “church,” “baptism,” “good deeds,” etc. But the credit of all those things isn’t enough to match the debit. “The wages of sin is death”
(Romans
6:23). “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).

The point is, for there to be enough on the credit side, somebody had to die. So God sent Jesus to die for us. It’s as if God calculated the total number of sins that you individually (and the world as a whole) would ever commit, and He decided that the shed blood of His Son was adequate payment for it all!

So if you believe—not in your works, but in His finished work—the credit side of your ledger reads “righteous.” It’s “not of works, lest anyone should boast”
(Ephesians 2:9). Abraham isn’t the “father of those who work,” he is “the father of all those who believe…that righteousness might be imputed to them also”
(Romans 4:11).

We are saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we trust in that, God says, “I receive you. I declare you righteous.” Sovereign, holy God credits sinful man with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

We’re not left to paddle on our own. God’s wonderful accounting system has made a way for us!

Copyright © 2012 by Connection Communications. All rights reserved.

Happy Tuesday

Sorry about the delay... Seems I had it set to post at 7:27AM instead of 12:30AM... I'll try to do better...
Happy Reading,
Richard 
The Company You Keep

Our moms and dads could be pretty picky about the kinds of friends we hung around with. They understood it doesn't always take much persuasion, even for the best of kids, to turn innocent fun into risky behavior. Being with the right people, they knew, makes peer pressure a good thing.

But peer pressure isn't something that automatically ends when we take on adult responsibilities. Just because we're not teenage boys being dared to drive too fast or stay out too late, that doesn't mean we're not influenced by the grown-up friends we keep. People we go hunting with and meet for lunch can still hold significant weight on what we do, think, and say, and what we consider to be normal.

That's why we need friends who make us want to be more like Jesus. Men who have deep convictions and compassionate hearts. Men who don't have a church side and a public side. Men who love their wives and invest in their kids. Men who make us want to be even more sold-out and godly, not the kind who convince us, whether out loud or by a certain look, that we're taking this Christian life too seriously.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," the Bible says
(Proverbs 27:17). If peer pressure is something we can expect to have around for a long time, we'd better be sure we've got some guys around us who help us want to become everything we ought to be.

Pray this prayer: Father, I'm thankful for the friends of mine who bring out the best in me. And for those who don't, would you give me the courage to cut back on the time I spend with them?

Happy Monday

Kindness

While traveling from one city to the next, a man was overtaken by robbers. Taking his clothes and possessions, they left him badly beaten. Not long after the attack, a priest traveled the same road. He passed by without stopping. Then another traveler saw the man but did not offer to help.

Finally, someone stopped—a Samaritan. He put bandages on the man's wounds and took him to an inn for the night. The next day he gave the innkeeper money and instructions to take care of the wounded man.

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is a wonderful example of godly kindness. It also demonstrates that kindness often requires something of us—time, plans, privacy, and desires. The Good Samaritan interrupted his travel plans to help a stranger. What better example to follow than that of Christ? He gave us the ultimate gift of kindness—He died that we might live.

However, we cannot learn to be kind simply by disciplining ourselves. Kindness can be hard work, and from time to time, this may mean that we have to face difficult situations that drain us emotionally and physically.

Often kindness cannot grow apart from conflict and strife. We learn to be kind through the kindness of others, but we also learn a greater kindness when we are called to be kind and caring in difficult situations.

A disagreement with a co-worker, spouse, friend, or family member can tempt us to be abrupt or uncaring. Circumstances appear out of focus and God's fruit of kindness becomes lost in the battle. However, through the power of Christ we are able to act in kindness even toward those who hurt us. Is there someone who needs your kindness today?

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

Happy Sunday

The best thing most of us can do in this world!

(J.R. Miller, "Help for the Day")

There are a few people whom God calls to do great things for Him. The best thing most of us can do in this world, is just to live out a real, simple, consecrated, Christian life in our allotted place. Thus, in our little measure, we shall repeat the life of Christ Himself, showing men some feeble reflection of His sweet and loving face; and doing in our poor way, a few of the beautiful things He would do if He were here Himself.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:11-13

Happy Saturday

Sorry About Friday's Devotional... Not sure where My mind was... I thought today was Thursday... Friday did not register with me until now... So I am posting early for Saturday...
Happy Reading,
Richard

STOMPING ANTS by Steve May
ROMANS 12:1

Clinical neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen says, "Don't believe everything you hear -- even in your own mind."

Most of the negative things we "hear" in a given day are never spoken audibly. They're the things we say to ourselves.

Dr. Amen refers to them as ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts. We all have them: "This won't work. This deadline won't be met. God isn't listening to my prayer. I can't follow this diet. I can't get organized." And on and on.

Dr. Amen tells us that we need to get in the habit of stomping these ANTs, and replacing them with positive, uplifting thoughts. It's a difficult habit to develop, but the believer has an advantage. You've got God on your side. You know that he has plans for you, that he has given you a future and a hope, that he is causing all things to work together for good so that he can finish the work he began in you. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6)

This means that you can turn an ANT into an ACT -- an Automatic Christ-like Thought. Instead of telling yourself the worst all day long, remind yourself that God is in control, that his arm is not too short to save, and that he will lead you where you need to go.

The result is that this Automatic Christ-like Thought really does become an ACT ... because what you think ultimately leads to what you do.

That's why Paul said...

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:1)

New thoughts lead to new actions. New actions lead to transformation. So spend the day stomping ants and replacing them with acts. --SM

Happy Thursday

Making the First Thing the First Thing

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I believe in church attendance, but if your relationship with the Lord and with others is suffering, then you need to stay at home and get on your face before God.

Sometimes a businessman will get very prosperous in his business—and at first it seems a good thing. He tells his wife, “Honey, you know how I couldn’t give you much when we got married? Well, now I can.” But soon the pursuit of a nice home and nice things consume him. A sadness descends upon his wife and children, and they lament, “Oh, Daddy….Oh, Husband…what we would give to just have you spend time with us.”

ACTION POINT:
What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus. Stop the cycle today. If you know you’re a workaholic, stop it. If you know your walk is far from God, get it right.

Confession of a Work-A-Holic:
___One does not have to be a Business Person to stay immersed in their work, it is so easy as just an employee to spend hours after their shift has ended, finishing up a few things they missed, to doing a little extra work as a sort of Job Preservation... 

___It is so easy for an employee to give a little extra here and there until it is soon expected... Minutes soon became hours, and then the calls start coming at home, invading your only day off with things that need to to be done at work... Most times, It's not even your job, but the boss knows you will do it anyway... In Your Mind, To say NO, would be job suicide... 

___Over the years, the time you could have spent with family is lost... Children grow up and start their families... Their priorities change and now that you have the time to spend with them, they are not around... 

___48 of my 66 years has been spent working... And as I look back, most of what I provided was a roof over the heads of my family, clothes on their backs and food in their bellies... Something I could have done with any 40 hour a week job... 

___Where most people are looking forward to retiring, I do not...


Family time is NOW... 
Tomorrow is not a Guarantee...

Happy Wednesday

Quietness and Assurance

 Part 2 of 2

 By Ike T. Sidebottom

"The full assurance of understanding" means a spiritual understanding of at least
Seven Outstanding Facts
upon which the believer's safety and security rests.

1.   The finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). On the day of His resurrection, "By His own blood He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12). See 1 John 5:11-13.
2.   The present work of Christ at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is the believer's "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1). When we sin He represents us, pleading His own blood for our forgiveness.
3.   The Father's faithfulness to His Son in answer to His prayer. The Son prayed, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me" (John 17:11). We know that the Father heard this prayer (John 11:42); therefore, we know He must grant the petition (1 John 5:14-15).
4.   The specific promises of God have been made and He cannot lie. He has spoken concerning His own, saying, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27-28). See also Philippians 1:6 and Romans 8:31-39.
5.   The choice of God the Father could not have been a blunder on his part. We are told that all the saved people of this age were "chosen" in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4). We were chosen to fit into that "holy temple" of Ephesians 2:19-22. Do you think He would build us into the structure and then have to tear us out?
6.   The sealing of the Holy Spirit was "until" a specified time; namely, the "redemption of the purchased possession" (Ephesians 1:13-14). The saint, or saved person, is sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment he is saved. That moment he becomes the purchased property of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The seal of the Spirit is God's mark of ownership upon the saint until he is redeemed or taken in body and soul into God's glory.
7.   The believer's union with Christ is such that could never be broken. God, Himself, adds each believer to the Lord (Acts 5:14 with I Cor. 12:13 and 27), and "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, or anything taken from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14)."The church, which is the body of Christ," is an organism, like a human body; and not an organization, like a legislative body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Each saved person has been baptized, by the Holy Spirit, into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and is an essential member of that organism (Ephesians 5:29-30).
God tells us how He adds His blood bought children to the church of the one body; but He doesn't say anything about taking a disobedient child out of that body. Just one missing member, in the day of our glorification, would violate the truth set forth in Ephesians 5:25-27.
"The full assurance of hope" can never be realized apart from faith and understanding. Hope has to do with the unseen future (Romans 8:24-25).
In Hebrews 6:10-12, the believer is admonished to minister diligently "unto the end," and follow "them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
In Colossians 1:24-27 the believers are reminded of Paul's "sufferings" for them and for "His body's sake, which is the church." He declared this dispensation to be a mystery, which had been "hid from ages and from generations." Then He makes it clear that God, who gave him the mystery was through him, making it "manifest to His saints." God wants the saints to know the "glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which, is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This hope will be realized when our Lord calls for the "church which is His body."
Let us not get our "hope" mixed with that of Israel or that of the Bride. Our hope is not resting upon the "promises made unto the fathers;" because this dispensation was hid from past ages and generations. We are not holding out to "the end." We are waiting for the glory. Keep looking up! He may come for us any moment.
Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for righteousness, the work of which is peace, and the effect of which is "quietness and assurance for ever."

Happy Tuesday

Quietness and Assurance

Part 1 of 2

By Ike T. Sidebottom

The world is in chaos and disturbance. Doubt and anxiety is manifested among the multitudes. Even the seasoned saints are not always confident and quiet before the Lord.

How can the human heart have "quietness and assurance" in the midst of worldwide disorder? God answers our question in the language of our text.

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever" (Isaiah 32:17).

Such righteousness must be imparted to us from God through His Son, Jesus Christ. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), but His righteousness is perfect, and brings to the trusting soul peace, quietness and assurance.

The heavenly Father wants us to have His peace and glorify His name through a quiet and confident life of faith.

Our Gentile Fathers
had their opportunity to know God and to glorify His name, but they refused to do so; and "their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:18-23). Wherefore:

"God gave them up to uncleanness" (Romans 1:24).

"God gave them up to vile affections" (Romans 1:26).

"God gave them over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28).

The moral and spiritual apostasy into which they drifted is pictured in Romans 1, verses 29 to 32, Read these verses and see the Gentile world "guilty before God."

What About the Jew?
He is no better. The Jews had the advantage in every way: "Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles, of God" (Romans 3:l-2). However, "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, they are all under sin" (Romans 3:9).

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).

The Gentile's mouth having been "stopped" by his guilt as revealed in Romans 1:18-32, and God's perfect law having "stopped" the mouth of the Jew, who was under the law, "every mouth" was stopped and "all the world" became "guilty before God."

"What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit" (Romans 8:3-4).

The law was never given that men should be made righteous by their own good works; on the other hand, God gave the law that man might have a scriptural "knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).

"As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." Why is this true? Because "It is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:21-22).

God's perfect law demanded more than fallen man could deliver. That is why the "righteousness of God without the law is manifested, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Romans 3:21-22).

This very righteousness of God is imparted to every one who is really trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. God the Father "made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

O blessed truth! Marvelous grace.
God's dear Son has taken my place.
In His own body He bore all my sin.
Now I am infinitely righteous in Him.

"Full Assurance"
is used three times over in the Word:

"The full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22).

"The full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2).

"The full assurance of hope" (Hebrews 6:11).

"Full assurance of faith" was exercised by Paul when he said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). We cannot exercise faith without knowing it. If we have faith in the soundness of the bank in which we deposit our money, that faith gives us confidence concerning the safety of our deposit and we feel at ease about it.

The one reason why so many believers lack the "full assurance of faith" is due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. Once the believer thoroughly understands the revealed facts upon which his safety in Christ is resting, he becomes quiet and confident about his soul's salvation.

continued tomorrow >>>>>>

Happy Monday

How Much Are You Worth?

By Asher Intrater

A friend used to buy old jalopies and fix them up. He would essentially rebuild them from the inside out. Then he would resell them for a profit as restored, antique cars. Once, an old car was brought in and I asked him how much it was worth.

He replied, "You don't understand. This car isn't worth anything. It’s a piece of junk. The value is all inside my imagination, my creativity and skills. I can make something out of it that is beautiful, stylish and worth money."

So it is with us and God. Without His creativity we are without worth. It takes humility to understand that. In His love, He sees potential in us that He can make something beautiful and worthwhile out of our lives. That takes faith. We have to believe in Him and let Him do His work in us.

How much are you worth?
Yeshua said, comparing us to the animals:
Matthew 6:26 - Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 10:31 - You are more precious than many sparrows.
Matthew 12:12 - You are a lot more valuable than a sheep!

On our own, we may be just a pile of junk. But with God's grace in our lives, we become a masterpiece of His craftsmanship (Ephesians 2:10), just a little lower than God Himself (Psalm 8:4-6). Many psychological problems stem from a lack of self-worth. In Yeshua, we regain the image of God in our lives, and problems of self-worth disappear.

Happy Sunday

Hide and Seek

By Micca Campbell

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

During my childhood, one of my most memorable times was during the long, hot days of summer. Each evening, the neighborhood kids and I went outside after dinner for one last game. At dusk, we would meet at the dead-end street to play "Hide and Seek."

This was a very serious game. The goal was to hide from your seeker until it was safe to run for home base without being seen and tagged out. That is why we played under the cover of twilight. The darkness kept you concealed as you dashed from object to object until you finally made it to home base - unseen and untagged by the pursuer.

I especially loved the memories of when I was young enough to still enjoy the game, but old enough to know how to keep from being found.

It was my dad who first introduced me to Hide and Seek. Although, my father and I played the game with different rules.

When Dad hid, he would leave clues on purpose so I could find him. Sometimes, I would spy his wiggling toes sticking out from under the living room curtains. Others times, I noticed a lampshade sitting atop a very large stand in the shape of his body. Or I'd hear noises coming from behind the couch.

For my dad and me, the game was not about staying hidden. It was about developing our relationship.

Our reunion brought joy and laughter. Mostly, it taught me that whenever I needed my dad, he could always be found.

The same is true with our heavenly Father. He is not playing a game of chance - that we may or may not find Him. No. God wants to be found, and He leaves clues about His presence everywhere we look.

Today's key verse assures us that we will find God if we seek Him with our heart and soul. "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut. 4:29)

When do we seek Him? God's Word tells us to seek Him while He can be found. We should seek God immediately.
How do we seek Him? With diligence, through prayer, in His Word, and with our whole hearts.

He will be found in the beauty of creation and within the pages of His Word. As we seek God, we will discover His will, His plans, and His blessings in new found strength as we face adversity, and in the comfort of His presence as we communicate with Him in prayer.

God isn't playing Hide and Seek with us. He longs to be found by those who earnestly seek Him. The Lord is ready and waiting to reveal Himself to you in such wonderful ways that it will leave you longing for more. It's an adventure you don't want to miss. Ready, set, seek!

Dear Lord, I long to see You in my daily life. Reveal Yourself to me as I seek in times of sorrow and in times of joy. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Saturday

Let Go!  "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Hebrews 12:1. NIV      I was driving along a country lane recently when I came across a bird of prey in the middle of the road, feasting on the remains of a dead rabbit. The bird tried to fly out of danger with the rabbit in its talons, but it was not able to take off quickly enough while carrying such a weight. It was obviously very reluctant to leave its meal behind, but finally, with my car nearly upon it, it abandoned the dead rabbit and flew off out of danger.    It made me think of how often we put ourselves at risk because we’re reluctant to let go of the things our carnal nature wants to hang on to. Romans 8:13 tells us: ‘If you live by the carnal nature you will die.’ The bird nearly lost its life because it wouldn’t let go. When we hold on to the things our flesh desires, which may be besetting sins, worldly pleasures and greed or lust of any kind, we can separate ourselves from God and the blessings that He has for us. We may also put ourselves in danger as we open ourselves up to the enemy to have a foothold in our lives.     Are you holding on to anything today that is jeopardising your walk with God? Is there something that God has been asking you to let go of? Let’s resolve to do as the writer of Hebrews urges, and ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.’    Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for holding on to things that hinder my walk with You. Help me to let go of everything that is holding me back from fullness of life in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Today's Writer : Jilly Lyon Taylor Editor's Note: What is hindering your walk with JESUS???  What is keeping you from submitting 100%??? You may be in the church every time the door opens, but still be missing that life changing walk with JESUS... You may have walked the aisle as a youth, but memories of the past keep you and your family from church... You Feel Out Of Touch...  You no longer feel GOD'S Presence... Guess What??? GOD Didn't move... You claim to be a Christian, but there is still a void within... MAYBE, you base your Salvation on JESUS + What you can do to be saved... After all, this is what you were taught as a child... If this is the case, then you have watered down what JESUS did when HE died on the cross... John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.   (KJV) John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 7  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 8  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 9  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (KJV) BUT You are saying, "GOD, I appreciate you sending JESUS to die for me on the cross, but I feel that this was just not enough and for me to really be saved, then I must do (fill in the blanks) _______, _______ and _______... Then??? I based my Salvation on my belief in JESUS, The Risen Savior, that HE was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died on the cross and took on all my sins, paying the price for once and always, but died on the cross for the Billions that will never accept HIM... After Crucifixation, HE rose from the grave three (3) days later, something no other god(s) of this world can claim... Other than accept JESUS as My One and Only Savior there is absolutely nothing else I can do to save myself... HE DID IT ALL... Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.   Broad is the path that the LOST of the World walk... Oblivious of the fate that waits for them with their finally breath... There are Millions that CLAIM to be a Christian, but believe the LIES of the False Teachers that sprinkled with a little truth adds a sense of reality to the lies that guide them away from the extremely narrow path of True Salvation... They never realize or question the path they walk, they have believed the lies so long that it is no longer necessary to sprinkle truth within... They walk the broad path rejoicing, still believing that they are on the right path and everyone else is headed to HELL...  Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   Sorry 'bout that... Went from a short note to preaching... ((Smile)) Digest what I have said... I welcome you comments... Stareditor70427@yahoo.com Have A Blessed Day, Richard

Happy Friday

CHOOSING JOY

Luke 1:46-47, "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

LUKE 1:39-56

Here, Mary makes a very clear distinction between her soul magnifying the Lord and her spirit rejoicing.

Our soul is the part of us that is considered to be our personality. It is our intellect, emotions and will. Our spirit is the part that gets changed at salvation and it is always operating in "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:22-23). That's true whether our souls (feelings and emotions) "feel" it or not.

Many believers wait until their emotions feel like praising the Lord before they enter in to worship. They think it's hypocritical to act like they are rejoicing in the Lord if they don't "feel" it. But our spirits are always rejoicing in the Lord. It's actually hypocritical to go by our feelings and not magnify the Lord with our souls when our born again spirits are already rejoicing.

Our born again spirits are always in tune with the Lord and walking in the joy of the Lord. Our flesh is often dominated by what it sees and feels.

Sometimes it doesn't feel like praising the Lord, but the choice rests with our souls. If we choose to praise the Lord, our emotions will follow.

The decision is yours (Dt. 30:19).

Today, choose to walk in the joy of the Lord.

Happy Thursday

When You Don't Have It In You

By Renee Swope

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

I was completely blindsided. I'd been called into a meeting at my church with another woman in leadership who had been upset with me for months. But I was just finding out about it.

Someone told her I didn't agree with her leadership style. But that wasn't what I'd said - months before - in a meeting with several other leaders. I had been asked my opinion about a situation and shared my thoughts. It broke my heart that I was just being asked about it now, many months later.

We both volunteered countless hours in ministry, pouring our hearts and lives into women in our church. All the while, we were on the same team and assumed we fully supported one another. But now the trust we'd built for years was unraveling.

It was a mess. I was a mess.

I decided I was done. I just didn't have it in me. I wasn't strong enough or resilient enough. And I was exhausted from the hurt I felt and the hurt I had caused.

That afternoon I went home and cried. Told God I was ready to call it quits. Laying my head down on my desk, I said I couldn't do it anymore.

But then a truth that had been buried deep in my heart surfaced: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

And in that moment, I knew if I was willing to die to myself and completely rely on Christ in me I could experience His resurrection power in this place of depletion - where I had nothing left to give.

There was no way around this crossroad: I could either walk away from God's calling on my life or I could allow Jesus to live HIS life through me.

I could die to my desire to protect myself from getting hurt again and choose to tap into His power by relying on the strength of His Spirit.

I wasn't enough ... wasn't strong enough, resilient enough, or humble enough, but Christ in me was more than enough.

You see Jesus did not die on the cross just to get us out of hell and into heaven. He died on the cross to get Himself out of heaven and into us! That is resurrection life - and the very place where we get our enough!

If you have been crucified with Christ, you no longer live, but Christ lives in you. The life you now live in your body, you can choose to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself for you.

I opted to rely on the Holy Spirit within me as my friend and I navigated this tough leadership situation. It wasn't easy, but it was good and it helped restore our friendship. The next time you and I find ourselves at tough relational crossroads—choosing to walk away from God's calling on our life or allowing Jesus to live HIS life through us—let's allow HIM to be our enough! For indeed He is.

Dear Lord, You are mighty, and holy, and strong. And I thank You that Your sweet Holy Spirit is more than enough to help me die to myself and let YOU live through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Wednesday

A Comfy Girl on Adventure
 Suzie Eller 

"They asked him to stay longer, but he declined." Acts 18:20 (NLT)

I have a comfy throw I snuggle in when watching my favorite TV program.

I wear faded and worn jeans at home.

I have a pair of shoes needing to be retired, but they fit in all the right places, so I keep them handy. Just in case.

I love comfort; yet following Christ means that God often leads me out of my comfort zone.

Paul the apostle modeled a life far from comfort. When he wasn't in prison for preaching about Jesus, he had a packed travel schedule. He preached in Thessalonica, traveled to Berea, spoke in the synagogue in Athens, made his way to Corinth, set sail for Syria, and made a brief stop in Ephesus. At Ephesus the crowd was eager for him to stay.

After all that travel, can you imagine how tempting that invitation must have been? It would be so easy to settle in with new friends to enjoy a respite from the unfriendly religious leaders, accusations, and fatigue of ministry.

Instead, Paul said a simple goodbye with a promise to return one day, God willing.

Five years ago I was invited to speak in Europe. Sounds amazing, right? It was, except for the fear that lodged right in the center of my chest as God called me away from my cozy throw and faded jeans. We were traveling to three countries and six cities in 10 days. There were language barriers to overcome. The speaking schedule was intense. And massive cultural differences had to be hurdled, especially in the area of faith.

There were times I was far outside my comfort zone on that journey. But I also had a front row seat to watch God work.
We witnessed the faith of moms whose families and neighbors weren't Christians light up with encouragement as we shared the Word of God. We drank thick Turkish coffee with immigrants in a refugee camp, praising and worshiping God together.

God was powerful in our own lives as we traveled by train, plane, and car—filled to overflowing in spite of the demanding schedule as we led Bible studies in homes, spoke at conferences, and ministered one-on-one.

Paul surely experienced this spiritual excitement on his journeys. Maybe he didn't linger in comfortable places because he had discovered the joy of walking straight into the lives of those who needed a Savior.

Since my first trip I've returned twice more with the team. Different countries. New challenges. Each time I was reminded that faith is an adventure and God sometimes calls comfy girls away from their safe places.

Maybe like me, you love to get comfy. It feels good to be settled. It's nice to know what to expect. But if you sense God inviting you out of your comfort zone, are you willing to go?

When God leads us out of our comfort zones, we experience uncharted territory. We might even come to the end of ourselves.

But we also have the privilege of being a small part of a big plan, offering our willing hearts and seeing the work only God can do.

Dear Lord, I'm willing to step outside my comfort zone to discover Your plan, not just for me, but for those You love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Tuesday

Enough!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."
Psalm 23:1, NIV

I recently found some old works of art produced by our sons as they were growing up. The boys were delighted to find these gems and reminisce over when and where they were made. What makes me smile the most is how each child laughed at his past creations, and tried so hard to outdo his brothers with having produced the most ‘terrible’ creation. Gone are the days where they came home from school and nursery proudly displaying their ‘masterpieces’. At the time their offering was a gem, a creation just for Andy and me, and something they were delighted to hand over to us. They never considered it was less than adequate or could be improved on. It was great and it was for us; what more could we want?
As a parent, what more could you want? The creation was amazing and admired and treasured – not because it was the work of an artist or craftsman, but simply because of the love with which it was given. As I watched the kids now laughing over their creations, jokingly mocking each other’s past art abilities, I was reminded of today’s verse.

When I used to read today’s verse, I would find myself in a quandary. It was a verse that was wonderful when considered in terms of financial needs and provision, but what about the other lacks? ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing’ and yet why, I would wonder, did I feel like I lacked so very much? Why was I so painfully aware of my lack as a mother, a wife, a child of God, a worker in His Kingdom?

For years, it would seem to me, my offering to the Lord of my heart and my being was so much lacking and limited, painfully inadequate and insufficient. It was a joke and something to be laughed at, just like the kids now mocked their earlier attempts at art. I would look at what I had to offer and I would only see the need for improvement. And how quickly the enemy reminds us of our shortcomings and compares us to the people around us, swallowing us up if we’re not careful, in shame and self pity, encouraging and enticing us to hide back all that we are and all that we have to offer.

One day as I pondered this psalm before the Lord, I discovered a truth that spoke so deeply into my heart that it continues to change me to this day. God showed me that the emphasis and responsibility wasn’t on ‘I’ but on ‘Him’. Now I always read this Psalm beginning with the word ‘Because’. ‘Because the Lord is my shepherd I lack nothing’. I began to understand that my focus shouldn’t be on what I was giving Him but on His ability to make up the difference. I lack nothing, not because I’m super duper, but because He provides all that’s missing! Because of who He is, He takes what I offer Him and He makes it enough!

Yes, my offering is just the same. I could still mock it and tear it apart with criticism; it’s still pretty inadequate and limited. The difference is now I understand that God sees beyond the gaps and the limitations. He not only takes my offering with the delight of a parent presented with their child’s masterpiece but He also transforms it into something beautiful for His glory. Just like the boy with the five loaves and two fish – it really wasn’t enough, but put into the hands of Jesus, it became so much more.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I give You my life and all that I am. I know, Lord, it isn’t all that it should be or could be, but Lord I ask You to take my life and use it for Your glory. I ask, Lord, that You would take my offering and mould it in Your time into something beautiful and reflective of You. Lord, today I chose not to look at my lack, but at Your sufficiency. Thank You, Father God, for Your love that makes this possible for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today's Writer : Cath Taylor

Happy Monday

HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL
 
By C. R. Stam
"He that is spiritual judgeth [discerneth] all things, yet he himself is judged [discerned] of no man" (I Cor. 2:15).
        
The truly spiritual man is so far above the wisest sages of this world, yes, so far above the mass of Christians with whom he comes into contact, that he can understand them, but they can never quite understand him.
        
We should all long to be truly spiritual, but what is true spirituality?
        
In the Pauline Epistles the human race is divided, by the Spirit, into four classes: the natural man, the babe in Christ, the carnal Christian, and the spiritual Christian.
        
All four of these are referred to in one passage of Scripture (I Cor. 2:14—3:4) and it should be noted that they are classified according to their ability to appreciate and assimilate "the things of God" as revealed in His Word.
        
Through diligent, prayerful study of the Word, and with a sincere desire to obey it, the spiritual man has come to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ more and more intimately. Babes in Christ and carnal believers about him cannot "discern" him, simply because they have not come to know God as he. But he, having grown to spiritual maturity, quite understands them. He is among those of whom it is written:
        
"But strong meat [solid food] belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).

Happy Sunday

Will You Give Me Your Son?
Glynnis Whitwer

"And she made a vow, saying 'LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'" 1 Samuel 1:11 (NIV)

As my arms wrapped tighter around my son, I squeezed my eyes hoping the hot tears stinging my lids would stop. Forcing a smile I knew he'd want to see, I released him and stepped back on the airport sidewalk.

Despite my efforts, tears dripped down my cheeks. I grinned and shrugged, unable to speak. Thankfully my son's gentle teasing helped get past the awkwardness of the goodbye. With a final hug, my 19-year-old left for a mission trip to China.

Having children willing to serve God was my heart's desire before they were born. It was what I've prayed for since they were small. And it is what I have worked toward for years. I just didn't know it was going to stretch my faith so much.

You see, long ago my husband and I dedicated our children to the Lord, and we raised them to serve God. I was thrilled at my son's decision to go on a mission trip, but the reality of releasing him to God's calling felt like a piece of my heart was being torn away.

It was so much easier to dedicate my children to God during the three years my husband and I struggled with infertility. Each time I read the story of Hannah and her struggle with infertility in 1 Samuel 2, my heart leapt in hope. Just as she pledged her child to the Lord if He would only give her one, I was willing to do the same.

It was also easier to dedicate my children to God once we finally had them, while they were wrapped safely in my arms.

But standing at the airport, there was a fragile part of me that wanted to take back that offer. Fears rose up. My son is so adventurous, what if something happened? What if I never saw him again?

I tried to put the fears aside, but hours after our final goodbye, I still had a crumpled tissue in my hand. It was then, I heard God speak to my heart. It was unmistakably Him. I'd never ask myself this question: Will you give Me your son?

By that time my son was on a plane, so the question seemed pointless. But what I wanted to say was this: Well, now that You've asked ... the answer is no, I've changed my mind about all that dedication stuff I said years ago.

In the weeks since that day, I've often wondered why God would ask that question since He didn't really need my permission. I've come to believe it's because He knows the influence a mother has on her children, even when they're grown. With words spoken or withheld, tone of voice, and emotional and financial support (or lack thereof) a mother can influence her children's obedience to God's call at every age.

And in my case, God knows my fears have affected my children. Ten years earlier when my oldest son wanted to go on an international mission trip, my fears stopped him. At that time, I thought he was too young and the destination too far. Without my active support, his plans fizzled.

Over the years, God has helped me overcome that fear time and time again, and eventually that same son went on other mission trips. Every time I've released my tight grip on my children to obey God, my faith has grown. Apparently my faith needed to grow again, hence God's heart check that day: Will you give Me your son?

Gripping my soggy tissue, I whispered a shaky "yes." Hoping it was good enough, but sensing it wasn't, I answered again, this time with confidence: "Yes! You can have my son!"

Immediately peace started to grow in my heart as I turned my eyes from my own situation to His plan for my son. Peace and joy continued to grow stronger each day.

Sometimes I wish I were one of those mothers who never deals with fear. They seem so confident and faith-filled. But I've learned when I give God my weaknesses, His power is displayed and His kingdom is advanced. So in spite of a bit of trembling, and a few tears, I'm going to say yes each time God asks if He can have one of my children.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me in spite of my weakness. I want to trust You more and confess the times fear has held me back. Help me to be honest with You and receive Your strength. In Jesus' Name, Amen.