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Praise the Lord! Thank you for the update tenac! God bless!
UPDATE: The 83 year old woman...Glenna... that i requested prayer for awhile back with a diagnosis of double pneumonia. Turned out she ALSO had a blood infection from a bad fall in her chicken coop that tore the hide off her arm the size of my hand and made a bad deep cut and skent her leg a couple weeks before. They figure now the bad cut got chicken manure in it when she fell and they just didnt get it all out when she went to get it sowed up at the ER. Which would be hard to do i reckon. The blood infection put her heart into Atrial fibrillation. Her kidneys also went into stage 3 failure and her sugar and sodium went crazy to the point she had to have Insulin twice a day and sodium saline by IV for a few days to get that back to normal. She became a very sick woman!
Well, yesterday, after 11 days in the hospital she came home last evening. Her heart is still acting up but on meds to control....her kidneys are still damaged...BUT....they say she is doing just fine and all is well. Gonna have home health come in for a short spell until she gets her strength back and then i reckon she will be as sassy as ever....SMILE!
God is great....THANKS again for all your prayers!
Yes, God is still in the healing business!....FAITH!
Confident in God's Promises
by Jon Walker
God wants you confident in the truth that, through him, all things are possible.
Every day of your life, you have a choice:
You can focus on the bigness of the giants that stand before you, or ...
You can focus on the bigness of the one, true God who is pouring his strength into you.
Your focus will determine your behavior, and it will influence your faith.
When the Israelites first approached the borders of Canaan, Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land to assess the situation. Ten of the scouts came back with reports that focused on the giants in the land, men so big and powerful the scouts feared they could not be defeated.
However, two of the scouts remained focused on the promise from God that he would hand the land over to the Israelites. One of those scouts, Caleb, silenced the others when he said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” ~ Numbers 13:30b.
He was focused on the magnitude of God, not the magnitude of any giant challenges ahead. Today you may see many giants that challenge your faith — giants of time and energy, finances and resources, fear and faithlessness.
God wants you to be confident that he’s pouring his strength into you so you can do whatever it takes to defeat these giants. God says you can take possession of an abundant life because he is with you.
By seeing his hand sweep away the personal giants in your life, you’ll be even more confident that you "can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Talk About It:
What giants are you facing today?
Meditate on the greatness or "bigness" of God. How do your problems compare?
Hope For A "Mudder"
Scripture Reading:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." ~ Romans 5:3-4
When my husband built a covered porch on the front of our house, he anticipated someday a bird might try to build a nest there. So he built the top of the corner post on a slant. Later we laughed smugly when we saw robins trying their best to claim squatting rights to a new home. Piles of grass on the porch revealed their wasted efforts. But after 2 days of steady rain, we saw that a nest had indeed appeared in the very spot we thought was impossible. Because of the rain, Mrs. Robin was able to mix up a batch of mud mortar. Weaving it with twigs and grass, our determined feathered friend had built herself a new nest. She had persevered.
Perseverance is inspiring! Trying to live a Christ-honoring life while experiencing hardship can leave us frustrated and discouraged. But when we depend on God to help us through our difficulties, we are empowered to keep going even when we can't always see the resolution of our problems. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow "weary while doing good" and encourages us not to give up.
Is our loving God using a seemingly insurmountable challenge in your life to produce perseverance? Let Him produce in your character, and through character, hope!
~ Cindy Hess Kasper
"When trials intrude to slow down your life, it would be easy for you to give in; but by perseverance you'll overcome strife, so just keep on plodding - with Christ you can win." ~ Branon
When the world says, "Give up," hope whispers, "Try it one more time!"
The Cross: The Believer's Victory
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31
From a worldly perspective, Christ's death signaled His defeat. After all, dying in agony on a cross hardly seems like the path to victory. But it was! And He did it all for us. Because Jesus triumphed over death, we can be victorious in life. Just consider what He won for us by sacrificing Himself on the cross.
Our Eternal Salvation: The cross was the means of our salvation. Without it, we'd have no hope of heaven. If Christ hadn't died in our place, we'd have to stand before God and receive the just punishment for every sin we've ever committed.
Power over Sin: Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sin; He also brought us present victory over it. When He was crucified, our old sinful nature died with Him (Romans 6:6). The power of the "flesh" was broken, and Jesus now lives His triumphant life through us. That means we are no longer enslaved to sin and can choose obedience to God.
Defeat of Satan: At the crucifixion, the list of decrees against us was nailed to the cross, and the Devil lost his power over our lives (Colossians 2:13-15). None of his accusations can stick, because God holds nothing against us anymore. And now every time we yield to the Spirit within us, Satan is defeated once again.
Christ met all our needs on the cross. By making us a part of His family, He gave us a sense of belonging. When He died in our place, He affirmed our value. And by coming to live His life through each believer, He gives us the ability to live a victorious, obedient life.
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_cross_the_believer_s_victory_devotional
Want to discuss and/or share information about Biblical End Time Prophecy? Come on over to the END TIME board and join in. We will be glad to have you! God bless!
Felt lead to share this over on this board as well:
As the earlier posts on this board show to us, there is much happening across America to tear down and weaken the Christian faith. Many "Christians" have been experiencing and living in, what i describe, as a "slumber party". That is, living life believing the deceptive lie that they are free to do whatever they desire and wish - completely oblivious to what God requires of us. Satan is extremely wise and patient. He knew the plans that he put into motion so many years ago would ultimately lure God's children away from the truth and into the belief of his lie - and it worked. There are so many "Christians" living no different lives than the non-believers, and society has grown to accept this as being okay with God. As Jesus clearly pointed out to us:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 7:21
I do not know how to make it more clear than what Jesus said, but if you are still somewhat confused - send me a pm and I will try clarify any questions/doubts you may have.
All of the things that have been happening in America, and throughout the rest of the "free world" has only one purpose in mind - to stifle and destroy the Church and the voice of God. There are at least 50 countries of the world that are aggressively persecuting and killing Christians for their faith, belief and out-spoken voice of Jesus Christ as our Lord, Savior, and only way to Heaven (Paradise). My friends, you need to understand that it is coming to America and the rest of the world like a high-speed rail-train, and if we Christians do not prepare ourselves for it - by putting on the whole armor of God, then we will be ran over by it. God has no patience, nor time, for the willful disobedient! The sooner we realize this - the sooner we Christians will start to prepare ourself for the "battle at hand". ~ Ranb2khz
If you are wondering what got me started on this - it was an article that I just read (shared below):
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=74188934
Trying to Satisfy Ourselves
So far, we’ve identified five false sources of joy. They aren’t really sources at all; they just appear to be. So if they’re false, why do we keep going there?
Jeremiah 2:13 says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water”.
Those of us not raised on a farm or a ranch might not know that a cistern is just an underground container to catch and hold water. In this verse, God mentions two of the specific ways the nation of Israel had disobeyed him. He tells them they had forsaken him, the true God, and they were trying to satisfy themselves instead of relying on him.
It’s like this. We’re hopelessly lost in the desert, dying of thirst, seeking anything to quench our parched, dry throats. We see a kiosk with big flashing neon lights, and God is holding up a sign that says, “Living Water Available Here.” Yet we say, “No, thanks, God! Appreciate the offer, but I see a shovel over there. Think I’ll dig my own cistern!”
Off we trot to start digging our own well and our own cistern. We abandon God — who doesn’t just have water but a spring of water that will never dry up — and decide to figure our problem out by ourselves.
The problem is our cisterns always break; they never hold up. The water leaks out, so we remain thirsty, unable to quench our own thirst.
Here’s how this plays out in my life. See if you can relate.
I’m having a bad day. Any number of things have gone wrong, and I’m feeling down. What God wants me to do is to first talk to him. He wants me to read his Word and remind myself of his ability to quench the ache in my soul. He wants me to readjust my perspective on my life that day and seek the Spring of Living Water.
Instead, I often feel the emptiness and ache in my soul and decide to call my husband or my friend in the hopes that someone else will cheer me up. But shortly after I do that, I realize that the good feelings are gone, and I’m still lonely, afraid, or upset. Then I decide I will feel better if I turn on the TV for a while and find something to distract me. That too works for a bit.
Yet the bad feelings are still there. As I walk through the kitchen, the refrigerator calls my name, and I think food will make it better, so I consume mass quantities of chips and salsa and guacamole. But I’m still empty. I’ve talked to a friend, distracted myself from my worries, eaten far too much, and I’m still sad inside.
Digging your own cistern will never satisfy. It’s not meant to. Broken cisterns cannot hold water. And to top it off? God will never help you dig your own cistern. We get angry when it seems like he won’t help us. It’s often because we’re shoveling as fast as we can. He will never help us seek joy outside of himself.
Talk About It:
To whom or what do you turn when you have a bad day or experience?
Describe a time when you sought God to fill a void in your life that seemed impossible to face?
____________________________________________
Excerpt from: “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough.” ~ Kay Warren
Joy Is for Everyone
Scripture reading:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23
As I told you a few days ago, joy doesn’t come naturally to my personality. I’ve struggled with low levels of depression for as long as I can remember. It has been easy to conclude that joy was simply not available to someone like me. It’s tempting for those of us with minor — or major — depression and discouragement to just forget about it and let the slap-happy people own joy.
There are volumes of material on personality and personality types and how they affect us, but I need it simpler. I’ve reduced all I’ve heard about personality types down to the “Winnie the Pooh School of Personalities.” Stay with me!
Tiggers: Tiggers are bouncy, flouncy, trouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! They bounce through life with a spring in their step. They laugh loudly at parties (I’ve decided they do everything loudly), they tell jokes, and they think everyone is their best friend. Even if they can’t remember your name, you’re their best friend. Of course, joy comes easily to them — right?
Winnie the Poohs: These gentle folks never get too excited about anything, but they usually have a pleasant look on their faces. They tend to have a hard time making up their minds about anything. They are usually happy to let someone else make the decisions. You ask them about going to lunch, and they respond with, “Oh, you decide.”
Rabbits: Rabbits are the task-masters of this world. Get it done, get it done right, and get it done now! Rabbits have a to-do list the size of Montana, and they don’t let much get in their way. They’re usually not the people you want to talk to if you’re having a rough day. They’re likely to tell you to “just deal with it.” Not so sure that rabbits experience much joy. If they do, it’s usually related to the completion of a task!
Eeyores: This is my favorite personality type. Eeyores are intense, serious people. They have their own personal, little rain cloud over their heads all the time. They feel things deeply and express things deeply. They get quite annoyed at all those stupid Tiggers who won’t stop smiling! Joy seems pretty elusive for the Eeyores of this world.
But that’s not what Scripture teaches us! Joy is for everyone, including Tiggers, Rabbits, Winnie the Poohs, and even gloomy old guys like Eeyore.
Joy is our birthright from the Holy Spirit. It comes from being connected to God. Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.
That verse doesn’t say that joy is available for only those whose natural personality lends itself easily to feelings of joy. No, it implies that joy is available for all who are in Christ Jesus and whose lives are full of the Holy Spirit.
That gives me hope. It makes me want to keep going.
Talk About It:
How would you describe your personality?
How do you display the fruits of being a follower of Christ, including joy?
___________________________________
Excerpt from: “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough.” ~ Kay Warren
The First Empty Tomb
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Jesus is the only person who has an empty tomb. Everyone else who's died has returned to the dust, but Christ is alive and seated at the Father's right hand. Because He overcame death, His followers are also guaranteed empty tombs someday. When Jesus returns for His church, those who have died in Him will be resurrected into glorious bodies. And believers who are alive at that time will instantaneously be changed.
Knowing this, we naturally wonder, What kind of body will I have? The best way to answer that is to see what Scripture reveals about Christ's body after He rose from the dead. He didn't come invisibly in the form of a ghost but rather had a literal, physical body. He talked, walked, and ate with His disciples. Yet although He was recognizable, He was somehow different, and at times it took His words or actions to jog their recognition.
Here's one thing I can tell you about the resurrection: you will look better than you do today! God is going to give you a strong, glorious, eternal body which is perfectly fitted for your life in heaven. Believe me, you will not be disappointed, because God has far more in store for us on the other side than we can ever imagine. You will be more alive there than you could ever be here.
A more important issue we must face is how to get ready for that day. This life is just a puff of wind compared to our eternity. It's my personal opinion that the way we live here on earth will determine our capacity to enjoy heaven. The time to begin living for God is now.
http://intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_first_empty_tomb_devotional
A Second Chance
Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11
Key Verse:
“He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” ~ John 8:10b-11
The love Jesus demonstrated at the Cross is unconditional. True love reaches out to the unlovely.
The woman caught in adultery sought affection, but reaped a scandal. As the scribes and Pharisees brought her before Jesus, they demanded that her punishment be stoning. Jesus reacted in love. Stooping down, He began writing something in the sand.
Then He related the basic truth that only the sinless have a right to cast stones. Knowing that sinlessness was not something they could claim, the crowd of religious men dispersed. Only Jesus was left, and He refused to condemn her.
Jesus ministry always allowed for second chances. His interest was not to hold on to records of wrong, but to give people the chance to accept Him and do right. We do well to reflect His love by giving others second chances. Our greatest acts of love may be offering forgiveness to someone who has wronged us, or to reach out to someone others have judged as unlovely.
Always remember the love and forgiveness God has shown you as you deal with other people. You will be less likely to cast stones, and more likely to give second chances.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the offer of a second chance. I accept. Thank You for Your mercy, love and forgiveness. Help me to give others a second chance as You give to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
_______________________
Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley
The Power Within
Scripture Verse:
“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” ~ 2 Corinthians 13:4
Spiritual power is the divine energy God is willing to express in and through us, and the divine authority needed to carry out the work God has called us to do victoriously.
We cannot “harness” the power of the Holy Spirit. This power is not just for preachers, evangelists, or people who work in special ministry; rather, it is available to every believer who willingly surrenders moment by moment in submission and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
We cannot garner the power of the Spirit in order to use God. Conversely, we experience His power when we surrender to be used by Him. God releases His power through us as we walk in obedience to Him.
He releases His power to us in several ways:
• Through the fruit of the Spirit: God’s power, and only God’s power, enables us to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which reveal the character of Christ in us.
• Through witnessing: Scripture always refers to the power of the Holy Spirit in relationship to witnessing and glorifying God. It is His power through us that emboldens us and carries out the work.
• Through the work we are called to do: God will not place you into a position, or ask you to accomplish a task for which He will not fully equip you for total victory.
Prayer:
Our glorious Heavenly Father, thank You for releasing Your power through me by the fruit of the Spirit manifested in my life, in my witnessing, and in the work I am called to do. I am surely equipped for total victory!
________________
Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley
Start Over
When you've trusted God and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day,
But your steps now take you another way...
... START OVER.
When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best and there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why...
... START OVER.
When you've told your friends what you plan to do,
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through,
And you're all alone and it's up to you...
... START OVER.
When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone,
When you've done your best - but it turned out wrong,
And now your grandchildren come along...
... START OVER.
When you've prayed to God so you'll know His will,
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still,
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill...
... START OVER.
When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it...
... START OVER.
When the year has been long and successes few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just for you...
... START OVER.
Starting over means "Victories Won"
Starting over means "A Race Well Run"
Starting over means "God's Will Done"
Don't just sit there...
... START OVER!
_____________________________
Excerpt from: "Back to the Bible" ~ Woodrow Kroll
Dart Test
A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts.
Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture. Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.
The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.
As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall:
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus.
A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. Dr. Smith said only these words:
"In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." ~ Matthew 25:40
No other words were necessary; the tear filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.
~ Author unknown
Message from Our Lord:
TRUST ME – LET MY WILL BE DONE
You are going through things you can’t understand right now. You are going through things that don’t make sense. You are going through things that challenge your faith in Me. You are going through things that have you asking why.
I have been teaching you to trust me; I have been teaching you to hear my voice. Don’t allow others to entice you, to pull you away. I want you to put your trust in Me. I will be your bridge over troubled waters. I don’t want you to continue to be on the outside looking in, I want you to be the center of My Will. Let it be said not your will, but Thy Will Be Done. Please take the time to stop and listen to what I am saying, take the time to write it down for remembrance. Remember the Book of Remembrance? (Malachi 3:16) - write it down.
Remember, I said I want you to sit at My feet, to spend time with Me. Do not be compelled to leave My presence, but dwell in it and together we will enjoy each other’s company. I still need you to do that. Shhh, be quiet. Stop fighting against Me, stop worrying about it, it won’t change anything, surrender to My will. Accept where I have you and watch how quickly I will move in your life. Focus on me and I will speak My heart to you.
Yes, it was me that led you to the wilderness; it’s for a time of great preparation, my training ground. You say you feel all alone? I have purposely kept you set apart that I might have your full attention. You say you don’t feel like you fit in? I moved that desire from your heart. You don’t belong with the “in crowds” I am placing you where I need you to be, all is being done according to My good pleasure. I will remove the desire completely and you will be set free to come away with Me into the secret place, into the Most Holy Place. I have destined you to move in great authority, but there is a time of preparation that is needed before I can release you into the full flow of the calling I have placed upon your life. You must stop, and be obedient to My will, to My way.
I am doing a mighty work in your life, but you must allow Me to do it. Do you want to move forward with Me? Then let My will be done in your life. Let Me have My way, Let Me move among you, Let Me open the doors. Let Me make the change in your life. Now is the time.
_____________________________
The Lord wants you to stop fighting against what you are going through, it is all for your good. Surrender to what God is saying to you and you will feel His peace. It may not be what you want, but it is what you need.
When we trust the Lord to give us the next step, when we wait patiently in humility upon Him, God will open door or close them, and you will get to rest and relax until He says “Now is the time, Go”, but we must TRUST HIM AND ALLOW HIS WILL TO BE DONE.
http://www.wherepeacefulwaters.com/newsletters/trust_me1.htm
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
And to you as well my brother!
Wishing each and everyone of you, and yours, a blessed Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! Our Savior is Alive and Well my friends! God bless!
False Sources of Joy
by Kay Warren
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)
This devotional is based on Kay Warren’s new book, "Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough."
If you’re like me, you want to experience joy on a daily basis, but you’re not sure how to get there. It’s ridiculously easy to look for joy in all the wrong places. Everyone wants it, but somehow we often head off in the complete opposite direction to find it. For example, we try to find it in:
People: Even though we know better, we expect the people around us to meet our needs, take care of us, make us happy, understand us, and appreciate us. We expect them to love us 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time!
Possessions: Material belongings — or the lack of them — have a way of shaping our lives. A new pair of shoes, a new computer program, a better car, or a better lawn mower have the power to improve our mood and outlook.
Places: For many of us, where we live is a key to our sense of fulfillment and joy. Where we live, who our neighbors are, what shape our house is in, and what our yard looks like can be powerful drivers in our search for joy.
Position: For many, this can make or break their level of contentment. Where do I fit on the totem pole at work? Am I climbing up the ladder fast enough? Who’s ahead of me? Who do I need to knock down so I can advance? More importantly, who’s behind me?
Do you know what these four sources of joy have in common? They’re all false. They all fail to deliver long-term joy. They all disappoint and fail to satisfy the deepest longing for joy in our souls.
The Bible says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV).
People, possessions, places, and positions are too flimsy to hold up the weight of our expectations and our desire to experience joy.
Only Jesus can meet those expectations.
Talk About It:
How have you been searching for joy or contentment in people, possessions, places, or position?
Explain the difference between happiness and joy?
The Role of the Wicked
Scripture Reading: Mark 15
With hundreds of Old Testament prophecies related to the expected Messiah, it shouldn't surprise us that God used many people - believers, non-believers, and even some unquestionably wicked individuals--to ensure that the Savior's earthly life would unfold according to plan. For example, Caesar Augustus ordered a census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, Christ's birth city (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-4).
What's more, God used some of the most powerful men of the day to bring about His Son's sacrificial death. The Pharisees' and Sadducees' trumped-up charges helped turn the crowd against Jesus (Mark 15:10-11). Pilate condemned Him, and the Romans carried out the actual crucifixion; they even bartered for His clothes and chose not to break His legs, as predicted (John 19:24, 36).
During the dark days between Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, the disciples must have believed the Messianic program had been derailed. But God's goal wasn't to bring political revolution as some believed. He sent His Son to redeem mankind: Jesus paid the death penalty for our sins.
Before the foundation of the world, God had planned for the salvation of every tribe and nation. Throughout history, He orchestrated events to fulfill His purpose, using even the ungodly to move His plan forward.
Many have had a hand in advancing the Savior's story, but the ultimate responsibility is the Father's. He gave His only Son over to death on behalf of the world He loved (John 3:16). Both the righteous and the wicked who took part in the Easter story were following God's script.
http://intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_role_of_the_wicked_devotional
Where the Battle Is Won
Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:36-56
If you want to experience victory in the conflicts you face, consider how Jesus fought and won His battles. The pivotal battle of His life was fought even before He arrived at the cross. Praying at Gethsemane, He wrestled with the knowledge that He would bear the terrible weight of sin and endure spiritual separation from the Father.
In His special place of prayer, Jesus got alone on His face before the Father and cried out. And when He left that garden, He walked out a victor over Satan, whose sway over mankind was about to be broken on the cross. Jesus would still drink the cup of suffering and separation, but He knew that in the end, He would triumph (Hebrews 12:2). That's why He could face His opponents with courage and authority. When Jesus went to confront the arresting party, He was in full control of the situation, so much so that the Pharisees and soldiers "drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). He allowed them to arrest Him, determined to do His Father's perfect will.
If you're in the habit of regularly spending time alone with God, you will come to know His heart and mind. Then, when you encounter major decisions with lifelong consequences, you'll be able to discern the guidance He offers through His Spirit.
When you fully surrender, you place the consequences of your decision into the hands of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God who holds the past, present, and future. Even when you face staggering trials, you can do so with courage and power that will glorify God and shame the Enemy.
http://intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/where_the_battle_is_won_devotional2
Fellow Christians:
We must develop an attitude of daily dying to our own self (flesh) and taking up the cross of Jesus. There is no other way that we are going to make it unless we start being 100% obedient to doing what God wants us to do - not what we want to do. If you are living your life within God's will, then He will give you the desires of your heart, because the desires of your heart will be inline with His purpose for you and your family. God bless!
Hawks and Lions
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-11
Key Verse:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." ~ 1 Peter 5:8
One morning, I watched a rabbit nibble grass in my backyard. He was on the small size, with brown flecked fur and a cotton -puff tail. Suddenly, a hawk sliced through the air as fast and precise as lightening! With talons outstretched, he snatched for his prey! But the rabbit recognized the approaching danger and sped to safety - just inches ahead of the hawk!
Like the rabbit that spotted its predator and scurried away, we as Christians need to be watchful so that we can evade our enemy. "The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Satan wants to devour us by winning us over to his ways; he does this by toying with the truth:
"He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." ~ John 8:44b
And trying to deceive us: Genesis 3
The devil's schemes reflect his dishonest nature, and his tricks are meant to catch us off guard. In response, Christians should be alert and clear-headed. Living in this state of active readiness helps us discern false teachings (1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 1:7-11) and overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41).
Today, watch out for your spiritual predator. What kind of lies is he whispering? How is he tempting you? Resist him, and he will flee James 4:7.
~ Jennifer Benson Schuldt
"The devil is cunning, deceptive, and sly; He's clever: he tricks us to swallow his lie. But his crafty methods we're sure to discern - if we make God's warnings our daily concern." ~ D. De Haan
The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy!
God Made You Alive With Christ
Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. Faith in Christ’s work on the cross brings forgiveness of sin and imputes God’s righteousness to us.
By Franklin Graham
On the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, His followers must have felt utterly defeated. Meanwhile, the Pharisees felt they had silenced a critic, the Romans felt they had quashed a rebellion, and the governor had washed his hands of the whole affair.
Then Sunday morning dawned, the gravestone was rolled away, and history was turned inside out. The news — Jesus is alive! — was almost too good to be true. Yet it was undeniably true. So true that His disciples dedicated the rest of their lives to telling the whole world the Good News about Jesus Christ.
On the cross, He died for our sins.
In the tomb, He defeated death.
Nowhere else in this sin-sick world can we find such everlasting hope.
Modern medicine is wonderful — almost miraculous sometimes — but doctors will never defeat death. Now, some of us may live to be a hundred or more. My “Uncle” Bev Shea is 102 and just traveled to Los Angeles to receive a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Every day we have on this earth is a gift from God, but ultimately everyone has to be prepared to face death and judgment. Through the triumph of the cross and resurrection, Jesus has already dealt with both of those.
Unfortunately, multitudes of people who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior are putting their hopes in the wrong places. In the secular West, we put our confidence in government and science. We define security in terms of money in the bank.
Globally, billions of people blindly follow religions that will never lead them to eternal life. In Egypt, a powerful group called the Muslim Brotherhood has a creed that says, “Islam is the solution.” Muslims believe Jesus was a great prophet, but they do not believe He was crucified or resurrected.
Without that faith, their solution is completely futile. Apart from Christ, men everywhere are separated and alienated from God, without hope in this world or the next. The Apostle Paul wrote, “there is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. Faith in Christ’s work on the cross brings forgiveness of sin and imputes God’s righteousness to us. Lost, sinful man is reconciled to God.
Just listen to Paul, who was brutally opposed to the Gospel until he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. “If Christ has not been raised,” he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
The resurrection assures Christians that we don’t have to fear the grave. “When you were dead in your sins … God made you alive with Christ” (Colossians 2:13). ©2011 BGEA
http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=7784&BA=2594&QR=120
The Necessity of the Cross
Scripture Reading:
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." ~ Colossians 2:13-15
What does the cross mean to you? Many people in the world today view it as a symbol of Christianity, but stop and think about what it represented in Christ's day. Nobody wore a miniature cross around the neck or displayed one in a place of worship. The cross was a torturous means of execution, and the mere thought of it was repulsive.
Yet believers throughout the ages have chosen this as the sign of their faith. In fact, to remove the cross from our teaching and theology would leave nothing but an empty, powerless religion. The subjects of death, blood, and sacrifice have become unpopular in many churches because they're unpleasant and uncomfortable topics. We'd prefer to hear about the love of God, not the suffering of Jesus.
But let me ask you this: How could anyone be saved if Christ had not been crucified? Some people think all you have to do to receive God's forgiveness is ask Him for it. But a sinner's request can never be the basis for His forgiveness. He would cease to be holy and just if no penalty was imposed for sin. According to Scripture, there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Christ had to bear the punishment for our sin in order for God to grant us forgiveness.
Every time you see a cross, remember what it really was - an instrument of execution. Then thank Jesus that He was willing to be crucified so the Father could forgive you of sin. Though the scene of your redemption was horrendous, Christ turned the cross into a place of great triumph.
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_necessity_of_the_cross_devotional
Have you ever wondered why you just can't seem to get through to someone (spouse, child, friend, co-worker, etc.)? This short survey will help you identify which language we interpret better, and will greatly enhance our awareness of how to effectively communicate with each other. This can really help married couples! ~ Ranb2khz
The 5 Love Languages Survey
With more than 30 years of experience as a marriage counselor, Dr. Gary Chapman has heard it all. He has helped couples at every stage of marriage and at pivotal points in their relationships—from those just discovering the joys and trial of marriage to those who are ready to call it quits.
After many years of counseling, Dr. Chapman noticed a pattern: everyone he had ever counseled had a “love language,” a primary way of expressing and interpreting love. He also discovered that, for whatever reason, people are usually drawn to those who speak a different love language than their own.
Of the countless ways we can show love to one another, five key categories, or five love languages, proved to be universal and comprehensive—everyone has a love language, and we all identify primarily with one of the five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.
The 5 Love Languages® has helped countless couples identify practical and powerful ways to express love, simply by using the appropriate love language. Many husbands and wives who had spent years struggling through marriages they thought were loveless discovered one or both spouses had long been showing love through messages that weren’t getting through. By recognizing their different love languages, they witnessed the rebirth of the love they thought had been gone for good.
ASSESSMENT LINK
General Definitions:
Words of Affirmation:
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.
Quality Time:
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.
Receiving Gifts:
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.
Acts of Service:
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.
Physical Touch:
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.
The Troublemaker Within
Scripture Reading:
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” ~ 1 Peter 4:1-5
Key Verse:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” ~ 1 Peter 3:18
I used to wonder if the Christian life really worked. Even after I had been a pastor for a while, I still wondered. I’d look at the Scriptures and then at my life, and they did not always match.
Even though most people have the idea that the Christian life does not work out the way the Bible says it does, I could not be content with doubting what the Word of God says. So, I fasted and prayed, confessing to the Lord everything I could think to acknowledge. Still, I believed I was missing something.
I soon discovered the actual reason my Christian life was not working according to Scripture. I had been overlooking one very important truth – a truth that would ultimately transform my life of faith from a burden to buoyancy. The problem was coming from within me. That is, our greatest troublemaker is our flesh. The main cause of defeat for the believer is the propensity to sin.
We receive a new nature the moment we are saved. However, Scripture reveals that because of the way our thinking has been “programmed”, we retain certain longings that do not fit a child of God. These attitudes and desires may come and go for the rest of our life, but they no longer define who we are. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, because He broke the power of the flesh! Therefore, it is clear that we cannot live the Christian life without God.
There is a battle waged between our flesh and the Holy Spirit, and the only way to win is by allowing Jesus Christ to live His life through us.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please reprogram my attitudes and desires. Give me a new way of thinking that is in accord with Your Word. Help me win the battle over the troublemaker within. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
__________________________________________
Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley
Where the Wrath and Love of God Meet
Scripture Reading:
Justification by Faith
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." ~ Romans 3:21-26
In our culture, sin is no longer considered an issue. Although some people might admit to making mistakes or being wrong, few will actually say, "I have sinned." The Lord, however, takes sin very seriously. Until we learn to see transgression as He does, we will never understand what happened at Christ's crucifixion.
The cross was God's perfect answer to a terrible dilemma. Because the Lord is holy and just, He hates sin and must respond to it with punishment and wrath. Yet He also loves sinners and wants to be reconciled with them. The cross of Christ was the place where God's wrath and love collided.
The only way to rescue fallen mankind from eternal punishment was to devise a plan whereby the Lord could forgive sins without compromising His holiness. There was no way to overlook transgressions; His wrath had to be poured out - either on us or a substitute. But there was only one possible substitute: the perfect Son of God.
So Jesus came to earth as a man and suffered the Lord's wrath for us as He hung on the cross. Sin was punished, divine justice was satisfied, and now God could forgive mankind without compromising His character. His wrath was poured out on His Son so that His love and forgiveness could be lavished upon us.
Because of human limitations, we'll never grasp all that happened while Jesus hung on the cross. We can begin to comprehend only the physical suffering He endured, but in the spiritual realm, Christ bore so much more--the very wrath of God. This costly redemption plan proves God's great love.
http://intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/where_the_wrath_and_love_of_god_meet_devotional
New I-Hub board set-up for the discussion and information sharing of the plight of persecuted Christians. Many links in the I-Box for web sites that are actively involved in this rapidly growing/spreading area of Christendom. Please remember to pray for all Christians worldwide that we will be able to stand up against the increasing persecution that we are under. God bless!
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
The Believer's Journey to the Cross
Scripture Reading: John 12:23-27
"And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his [a]life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." (vv. 23-26)
Jesus Foretells His Death:
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour." (v. 27)
We all know that Jesus walked the road to Calvary, but did you know that believers also journey to the cross? We've all been positionally crucified with Christ, but those who hunger for Him participate in a deeper experience of this reality. Jesus lovingly takes their hand and leads them to the cross. Even though this is the last place anyone wants to go, it's the only way to partake of God's best for our lives.
The trip to the cross is not one you take with family and friends. It's a lonely journey with just you and Jesus. He strips away everyone and everything you've depended on so that you'll learn to rely only on Him. While we're at the cross, He uncovers layer after layer of self-deception until we begin to see ourselves as He does. Soon our self-centeredness, inadequacy, and failures are laid bare.
The cross is a place of brokenness, but it's necessary because there's no other way we'll ever bear fruit. If we hang onto our lives and refuse to take this journey, we'll be like a grain of wheat that is never planted and never grows. But those who willingly die to themselves will produce an abundance of spiritual fruit. The only way Christ can live His life through us is if we've allowed ourselves to be crucified.
God doesn't want you to be content with just your salvation. There's so much more He desires to give you and accomplish through you. Are you willing to take the road to the cross with Him? Yes, it's painful, but the rewards in this life and in eternity far outweigh any suffering you will experience.
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_believer_s_journey_to_the_cross_devotional
What Separates You from the Love of God?
Scripture Verse:
“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:39
A historian tells us that after the Spanish Inquisition, Napoleon’s soldiers uncovered a dungeon. They went down into the dungeon and found a skeleton with chains still on it. To their surprise, they looked on the wall and saw a cross. At the apex of the cross, was the word “height.” At the foot of the cross, was the word “depth.” And on either side of the cross were the words “breadth” and “length.” To this prisoner, the cross was a picture of the dimensions of God’s love. God’s love is expansive and everlasting.
Jesus Christ went to the Cross to demonstrate the depth and height, length and breadth of the love of God. God went to extremes to show His love for you.What are you doing today to lead others to Jesus Christ?
http://www.crosswalk.com
"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation." ~ Kay Warren
Crucified, Buried, and Raised with Christ
Scripture Reading: Romans 6:1-14
Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." (vv. 1-7)
"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (vv. 8-11)
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (vv. 12-14)
Think back to when you received Christ as your Savior. You knew your life had changed but probably had no idea about everything that the salvation experience involved. You were declared righteous and sealed with the Holy Spirit, and God wrote your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. But that wasn't all. You were also crucified, buried, and raised with Christ.
This describes your position in God's eyes, but what does it all mean? Paul tells us that "our old self was crucified with [Christ]" (v. 6). The person you are today is not who you were before salvation. Your old sin nature has died with Christ, which means that its power over you has been broken. Paul isn't saying we'll never transgress again, but now we don't have to be enslaved to sin. Since we've been raised with Christ, He's living within us, giving us the power to live obediently.
Our Father's goal for us is that we become in practice what we are positionally. Many believers attempt to live the Christian life in their own strength by trying harder to overcome sin and live righteously. However, the crucified life is about a life replacement, not self-effort. Christ wants His life to flow through us so that we become living extensions of almighty God.
Every believer has been positionally identified with Christ's death and resurrection, but the only ones who will experience this in a daily manner are those who are willing to die to themselves and let Christ live through them. Jesus wants to be more than your Lord; He wants to be your very life.
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/crucified_buried_and_raised_with_christ_devotional
God Acts on Our Behalf
This is an outstanding sermon message by Charles Stanley on waiting on God for answers and direction to our prayers, needs and life in general. If you have been praying about a need, desire or want, then you owe it to yourself to watch the video from the link listed directly below. The sermon outline is included just below the video link: ~ Ranb2khz
http://intouch.org/broadcast/video-archives/content/topic/god_acts_on_our_behalf_video
Scripture Reading:
Prayer for Mercy and Help
"1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence.
2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil — to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome things which we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.
4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him." ~ Isaiah 64:1-4
I. Introduction: In order to grow as believers, you and I must learn to wait on the Lord. When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him (Life Principle #14). In other words, we must allow His timing — not our own agenda — to guide our lives. That way, we can experience His very best.
II. Waiting on God
A. What is God’s role in our waiting?
1. The Father’s reveals His will.
2. He also guides our choices and protects the outcome of our obedience.
3. When we obey Him, we are shielded from all kinds of damaging circumstances.
4. As we wait, the Lord heals, comforts, teaches, and empowers us.
5. He encourages, answers prayers, and gives peace (Philippians 4:6-7).
B. What does it mean to wait on God?
1. Resting in the Lord requires patience, which is simply the will to wait.
2. You and I must also listen for further instruction, instead of rushing ahead with our solution or agenda.
3. Waiting requires that we calmly accept the Lord’s work in our lives.
4. Some of us may have to surrender what seems like an immediate need and resist the temptation to set our own timeline.
5. Waiting on Him is purposeful anticipation that God will accomplish what He promises.
C. The Psalms speak of waiting on God.
1. The Psalms speak of waiting on God.
2. Those who obey Him ultimately won’t suffer shame (Psalm 25:3).
3. Resting in the Lord is not passive, but active (Psalm 37:7).
4. As a result of surrendering to His timing in faith, we can expect His very best (Psalm 37:34).
D. Why do we have to wait? God is…
1. Arranging circumstances (e.g., Israelites marching numerous times around Jericho; David waiting to be made king).
2. Purifying our motives. Rather than act out of lust, greed, or pride, we should be stirred by love, service, and obedience.
3. Teaching us to rely on Him. If every prayer were answered immediately, we might never learn to trust God.
4. Protecting us from unseen danger. Those who rush ahead of the Father run into unexpected difficulties.
5. Preparing us to impact others. When you wait on God’s timing, you can be an awesome testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness.
E. What are our choices?
1. We can manipulate circumstances. Doing this will forfeit the Lord’s best and may even result in disaster.
2. We can walk away from Him. In other words, we can allow disappointment to destroy our fellowship with the Father.
3. We can wait on the Lord, watch Him work, and reap the reward.
F. The Requirements
1. Faith: Can you trust Him when things get difficult?
2. Patience: We must set aside our own agenda and allow Him to work.
3. Humility: Prideful people often disobey God. They might believe their plans are better than His, or perhaps they worry too much about what others will think.
4. Courage: This is necessary if we are to resist the temptation to do things our way, disregard negative peer pressure, and stand firm against the fear of failure.
G. The Consequences of Failing to Wait
1. We experience disappointment.
2. We step outside of God’s will.
3. We miss out on His best.
4. We bring hurt, pressure, and suffering upon ourselves. Resisting Him always has negative consequences.
III. Conclusion: When believers grow impatient, it is easy to rush ahead of God’s work. My prayer is that we would learn to wait on His answer — and do it joyfully. Why? God’s Word says that He acts on behalf of those who trust in Him. No, He doesn’t promise to give us everything we want. But when you and I watch for His provision, it will come — every time.
Temptation – Part 4
Building A Defense Against Temptation – Steps 6-10:
6. Put on the Whole Armor of God:
Another very valuable defense you can build into your life is one that I personally have used for many years. Countless people to whom I have taught this defense tactic have told me how valuable it is in their lives. I strongly recommend it to you: Every morning, before you get out of bed, put on the whole armor of God. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” ~ Ephesians 6:10-20
What does it mean to put on this armor every day? It means praying, “Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation to protect what I think. I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my emotions. I gird my loins with truth so I might produce and create in truth, not error. I put on the sandals of the preparation of the gospel of peace so I might be a messenger of God’s love and mercy. I pick up the sword of the Spirit so the Word of God might work in me and through me today. I carry the total-body shield of faith to protect me against all the temptations, accusations, and assaults of the devil against my life, my mind, and my heart.” Putting on the armor of God is putting on the strength of Jesus Christ. It is declaring that He is our Lord and we are His servants.
This discipline of putting on the whole armor of God every morning is a powerful reminder to our own spirits that we do not live for ourselves, but we live and move and have our being in Christ Jesus. It is a powerful reminder that we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to guard what we think, how we feel, where we go, what we produce, what we believe, and how we respond to life.
7. Maintain a Big-Picture Focus:
The devil’s lie to us at all times is to focus on what we want. Part of his temptation to us involves a shutting out of what God’s Word says, what other people think, what the law says, what common sense dictates, and so forth. He brackets out anything that might act as a restraint.
If I am out in the snowcapped mountains on a photography trip, I have a number of options. I can use a wide-angle lens to try to take in the full panorama of a mountain range. Or, I can put a longer lens on my camera and focus on one aspect of a mountain – a particular ravine or glacier or outcropping of rock. If I put on an extremely long lens, I may be able to focus on the behavior of a single goat or bear. Once I am looking through a strong telephoto lens, I no longer have a sense of the big picture of the mountain scene. I have zeroed in on only one element, and that element dominates my concentration.
The same happens in a temptation to sin. When we focus only on what we need in a given moment, we lose all sense of the big picture of our lives. We shut out all thoughts of penalty for sin, and focus only on the pleasure we believe we will experience. In order to build a defense against this tactic of the devil, we need to keep the big picture of our lives always before us. We need to stay in the Word of God on a daily basis. We need to read the Bible every morning and then intentionally recall what we read periodically throughout the day. We need to have our radios tuned to Christian stations that give us godly messages and Christ-honoring music. We need to spend time with family members and friends to keep our perspective on life more fully rounded – we need to maintain a sense of obligation, responsibility, and duty to those we love.
8. Guard the Gates of Perception:
We also need to guard what we take into our lives. The best place to put a stop to food temptations is at the grocery store, not when you are staring into your well-stocked pantry or refrigerator. Simply don’t bring home foods that are tempting to you. If you don’t have peach ice cream in the freezer – I can’t be tempted to eat a bowl of it before bedtime. In like manner, the best move to take in counteracting a temptation to overspend or to purchase frivolous items on impulse is to stay out of the mall and turn off the television set. Refuse to watch the shopping channel. Refuse to spend time idly floating through a shopping center just to see what’s available. If you find yourself tempted to watch certain programs or movies that you know do not depict godly behavior, refuse to sign up with your cable or satellite dish provider for the stations that carry those programs.
Don’t go to the places where you routinely find yourself tempted. Don’t hang around the people who routinely try to talk you into behavior that you know is sinful. Don’t purchase an item to “try”, knowing in advance that the substance has potential for harm.
Anticipate trouble points – go over your day’s agenda with the Lord early each morning and specifically ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance as you enter situations or encounters that you believe may produce temptation.
Guard yourself against putting yourself in a personal circumstance in which your perception may be clouded. A word I recommend frequently is HALT:
H = Hunger. Never allow yourself to become too hungry.
A = Anger. Never allow yourself to become too angry.
L = Lonely. Never allow yourself to become too lonely.
T = Tired. Never allow yourself to become too tired.
It is when we are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired that we are most prone to yield to temptation. It’s easiest to overeat or eat the wrong foods when we are famished. It’s easiest to reach out to someone who is wrong for us when we are extremely lonely. It’s easiest to use substances to calm us down when we are seething with anger. It’s easiest to be talked into sinful behavior when we are tired physically.
Also recognize that some occasions during a year may be a prime time for temptation to strike. The occasion may be an anniversary, a holiday, a birthday, or some other time of general celebration. Those are occasions when we feel more like indulging ourselves, either as a personal reward, or as compensation for hurtful memories associated with that event in the past.
9. Build Accountability into Your Life:
Accountability is especially important if you find yourself facing temptations frequently, or if you find yourself dealing with the same temptation repeatedly. Find a loyal, devoted, Christ-serving, Bible-believing mentor, counselor, or close friend who will call you to account for your behavior. Admit the areas of temptation that seem especially strong in your life. If a temptation strikes and you are struggling to resist it, call this person. Admit the feelings you are having and ask for the person’s encouragement, advice, or prayer. Ask this person to check up on you periodically and to question how you are handling your propensity to sin in a particular area of your life.
Many groups designed to help people with addictions have sponsors to whom an addict can turn for support, encouragement, and counsel. This is actually a biblical principle. Jesus sent out His disciples to do their work “two by two”. Part of the reason was for mutual support and encouragement; part of the reason was for mutual accountability, wise counsel, and prayer. The truth of God is established out of the mouths of two witnesses – when you are routinely speaking God’s truth to yourself, and a close friend is also routinely speaking God’s truth to you, God’s truth is going to dominate your thinking and behaving.
You must want to be able to resist temptation and to be made strong in areas where you are vulnerable. You must choose obedience.
10. Cry Out to God for Help:
Remember always that God is in control at all times – He does not abandon you in temptation situations, or say to you, “You’re on your own in this matter.” No! He is with you at all times and in all situations, and He desires for you to ask Him for help any and every time you are tempted.
Furthermore, God has put limits on the degree to which we are tempted. He is the One who will help you escape the snare of temptation. Your ultimate defense in times of temptation is to cry out to God for His help.
If you have yielded to temptation, or if a particular temptation has become a habit, you especially must call out to God. Only God can deliver you from bondage you have put yourself in.
I recently heard the story of a man whose beloved wife had died from a suffering, painful disease when she was only in her forties. This man had served God all his life, but in the aftermath of his wife’s death, he became very angry with God for not healing his wife. He began to avoid going to church, associating with strong Christians, reading his Bible, and praying. Instead, he began spending his time with an ungodly woman who was flashy, daring, and energetic – all of which signaled life to him in the face of his grief and sorrow. In spite of the counsel of his children, his brothers and sisters, his parents, and many of his strong Christian friends, he moved in with this woman. He lived in a hellish state for nearly six years. Their relationship was marked by nearly constant argument, thrown vases, abusive language, alcohol use, and a total avoidance of godly events, friendships, or disciplines.
Then the day came when this man called out to God. He said, “I knew I was at the end of myself. I had no ability in myself to say “no” to this woman, or to say or do the things I knew were right. I cried out to God, ‘Please forgive me. Help me!’ Almost immediately, I had the courage to move out of this relationship and to refuse all contact with this woman. I also had the courage to crawl humbly back to my family and friends and ask for their forgiveness and help.”
If you are stuck in the consequences of temptation today, cry out to God for His forgiveness and assistance. He will hear you and answer you in His mercy.
Stand Steadfast
As you stand against the onslaughts of temptation, verbalize frequently your faith in God’s ability to help you withstand temptation. Voice your faith in His presence with you, your dependency on His strength, and your belief in His promise to help you.
I have absolutely no doubt that if you will put these ten safeguards against temptation into your life, God will honor your efforts and help you withstand temptation.
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Excerpt from: “Walking Wisely – Real Guidance for Life’s Journey” ~ Charles F. Stanley
Praise the Lord! Thank you brother for the update. To God be the glory!
UPDATE:.....Glenna had a diagnosis of pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital. She is doing much better tonight. Thank each of you for your prayers....Thank God for His healing!
Lana Elder Update
The amazing hope, faith and godly wisdom of Lana Elder is perhaps the greatest I have known! Through her disease-stricken situation she continues to reach out to others and show God's love, hope, compassion and mercy for His children. A Mighty Warrior of God Lana is! ~ Ranb2khz
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Always Have Hope
BY LANA ELDER ON APRIL 1, 2012
With Easter coming up this week I felt God put a message on my heart to encourage you to always have hope and never give up on God.
I heard the story recently of a seminary student who was struggling to keep going. He was tired, exhausted and ready to give up. He fell asleep in class one day and didn’t wake up until everyone else had gone home — except his teacher.
His teacher gently woke him up and said:
“Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days.”
The student followed his advice, regained his strength, and is now leading a worldwide ministry. He said his teacher’s advice was some of the best he had ever received.
Three days can often mean the difference between victory and defeat.
I think of the story of King David in the book of 1 Samuel. From almost the moment that David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, King Saul, the current king, wanted David dead. If you read in 1 Samuel 17, you’ll see that shortly after Samuel anoints David to be the next king, David kills the giant Philistine, Goliath. From then on, King Saul seems to have it in his heart to kill David. Throughout the rest of the chapters in 1 Samuel, Saul pursues David in an attempt to kill him.
Life has got to be difficult when your king wants to kill you. Can you imagine if the President or King or Prime Minister of your country wanted you dead? But every time King Saul tries to kill David, God continues to protect him.
One of the most devastating times in David’s life takes place when David escapes to the land of the Philistines to avoid being destroyed by Saul. While David was gone on one of his fighting expeditions, the Amalekites raided Ziklag, the town where David and his men and their families had settled. The Bible says:
“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
“When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:1-6).
I try to imagine what it must have been like to be David. God had anointed him to be the next king, but his life at first was nothing like royalty. King Saul was constantly trying to kill him—and then this happens. Everything David owns is burned and his wives have been captured. David and his men weep until they have no strength left. His own followers were now talking of stoning him. All hope seemed lost.
I think I would have given up. Looking at the situation from my human perspective, I would have said, “That guy Samuel the prophet was wrong. I certainly have not been chosen by God to do anything. Everyone is against me. God is not for me. If He were for me, my life would not look like this. I am just going to go back to tending sheep.”
Thankfully I’m not David. Instead, the Bible says, “David found strength in the Lord his God.” David didn’t lose his faith in God through all of his trials. If he had, we would never have known about one of the greatest kings this world has ever had. But David persevered. He inquired of the Lord and chose to pursue his enemy. Amazingly, they found an abandoned slave of an Amalekite who was left for dead because he was ill. The slave was able to lead David and his men to their families. The Bible says:
“David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back” (1 Samuel 30:17-19).
Okay, now that’s why this guy is so famous! David was certainly known to be a fighter, and in this instance, he doesn’t disappoint us. In the very next chapter, just three days after David’s most intense battle to save everything dear to him and to those around him, he gets the news: King Saul has died. The Bible says:
“After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.
“Where have you come from?” David asked him.
He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”
“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”
He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (2 Samuel 1:1-4).
In the next chapter, David becomes king of Judah, and eventually he becomes king over all of Israel. What’s significant to me is that his life really changed in a matter of days—three days to be exact. I think of how downcast David must have been up to that point, “greatly distressed” as the Bible says, when his belongings were burned and his people were captured. Then just three short days later he had it all back again, and not only that, but the king who had been pursuing him was finally dead. Life certainly was looking better for David.
This, of course, reminds me of another story in the Bible when things didn’t look too good, but God turned things around in a miraculous way — in just three days. It’s the story of Jesus.
Jesus was a man who, much like his great ancestor David, was destined to reign as king.
As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:32-3:
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”
I wonder how His mother felt on that day the angel visited. And then I wonder what she must have felt on the day she saw him crucified. Here was her beloved son, destined to be king, yet hanging dead on a cross. How could this be? All hope seemed lost.
But for God, time is relative. Hope is eternal.
Jesus had a lifetime of doing incredible things here on earth. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He walked on water. He encouraged people to forgive and to do what is right.
He told stories to encourage people to use their gifts and talents today, not worry about tomorrow, and not to judge others. He talked about what were the most important matters of the law, like justice, mercy and faithfulness. He criticized hypocrisy. And yet with all of His miracles and powerful teaching, there were still leaders who wanted Him dead. They pursued Him much like King Saul pursued David to try and kill him. And in Jesus’ case, they succeeded — or so it seemed.
But just like David, Jesus never gave up His faith in His heavenly Father. Jesus trusted His Father to do what was best, even when He was carrying His own cross to His death. Jesus prayed:
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Jesus, just like David, “found strength in the Lord His God,” even spending His last night on earth in deep and earnest prayer.
And His Father did not disappoint Him. Even though it may have looked hopeless, hope was never lost. It never is. Even after Jesus’ death on the cross, hope was just around the corner. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead!
Jesus’ death on the cross turned out to be part of God’s plan. As Jesus Himself said:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
I wanted to tell you these stories to encourage you that hope is eternal. Even when things may seem to be at their worst, God can turn them around in a matter of days, hours, or even a moment.
You may be a seminary student and ready to give up. Don’t! Go home, eat a good meal, get some sleep and don’t make any important decisions in the next three days!
You may have thought you were destined for great things in your lifetime, but now you’re hiding in caves. Even the king seems out to get you. You may think it would be better if you just gave up your dreams and gave in to despair. Don’t! Don’t lose hope now, as God’s most important miracle for your life may be just around the corner.
You may be facing an impossible situation, one that seems irreversible, incurable or unchangeable. You may be ready to give up on God altogether, perhaps even considering turning away from Him for the rest of your life. Don’t! I can’t guarantee you what the outcome will be, but I can guarantee you that God will always be there for you, if you’ll keep putting your faith in Him. Never give up on God. As David said in the Psalms:
“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible).
Let’s pray…
Father, I thank you that we can always come to you even when all hope seems lost. You always have a plan and you know what’s best. Help us to trust you in all things. Whether it’s three seconds, or three days, or three years or more, help us to trust You today and every day until we see what You have in store for us just around the corner. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
http://lanaelder.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/always-have-hope/
The Whole Armor of God
Scripture:
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." ~ Ephesians 6:10-20
The armor of God is an amazing metaphor for action we need to take in our spiritual lives. Paul sets the scene for us: We are fighting a war, and the stakes are higher than they have ever been in human history.
Our enemy? Not flesh and blood, no human foe — we fight against a much more fearsome opponent whose forces are described in Ephesians 6:12. Our adversary, Satan the devil, and his host of demons have a single, driving purpose: Obliterate the children of God.
Faced with the cares of this world, we can easily forget about the severity of this battle. But make no mistake: Our spiritual lives and future in God's Kingdom are on the line. If we lose this war, we lose everything. What can we do in the face of such overwhelming odds? Is there any hope?
Paul has the answer. In Ephesians 6:13, he gives the call to arms. By putting on all of God's armor, we can be assured of withstanding our enemy's onslaughts.
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god.htm
Be Prepared
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11
Key Verse:
"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." ~ Romans 5:9
Just as her friends were doing, my daughter Melissa was busily preparing for adulthood. At school, she was getting ready for college by taking the right courses and had signed up for the ACT college entrance test.
Outside of class, Melissa was learning the socialization skills it takes to get along with people by spending time with friends, classmates, and teammates. At her job, she was learning the relational skills needed for a future career of work. At home, Mell was preparing for future family life by experiencing the way a Christian family would interact.
Getting ready for life as an adult takes work, and Melissa was making good progress.
But none of that preparation was what she would need. In 2002, when she died in a car accident at age 17, the only preparation that mattered was her readiness for heaven.
When the truest test of preparedness came so suddenly on that beautiful June evening - when eternity's door opened for Melissa - she was prepared. She had put her faith in Jesus and trusted His sacrifice on the cross for her sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).
When she faced the ultimate test of being prepared, Melissa was ready. Are you?
~ Dave Branon
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God's time is now, for the days fly fast, and swiftly the seasons roll; Today is yours, it may be your last; Choose life for your priceless soul! ~ Fithian
You got it Tenac!
PRAYER REQUEST: I ask each of you to remember Glenna Barnes in your prayers. She's 83 and was taken to the ER this afternoon. Not in good shape.
Well Equipped For Victory
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
Key Verse:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” ~ Ephesians 6:10-11
In the lifelong struggle with temptation and natural desire, believers are told to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ. This becomes a daily activity by which you decide who is going to live your life for you today. Are you going to live in the “flesh”, or is Jesus going to have the privilege of living His life through you?
People have different terms for “flesh”, but simply put, it is the natural part of each person that desires to operate in opposition to God. It usually manifests itself by challenging the restrictions that the Lord set for mankind’s good.
Once we are saved, we fluctuate between two mind-sets – that of the Spirit leading toward God, and that of the flesh leading away from God. While we will always retain old fleshly patterns of thinking, we do not have to succumb to living by them, because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
But since our two ways of thinking are in opposition to each other, conflict and warfare naturally result. We are in a real battle, which requires real weapons. The Lord has given us the helmet of salvation so that we will not surrender our minds to ungodly thinking. The breastplate of righteousness protects our emotions from giving way to natural desires. We also put on the belt of truth, which enables us to walk in keeping with godly principles rather than according to the flesh. And the Lord has provided a true shield of faith for us because there are actual darts of doubt.
In other words, we are at war, but we are well equipped for it. God always leads us in triumph!
Prayer:
Most gracious and wonderful Heavenly Father, thank You that You always lead me in triumph! Thank You for the weapons of spiritual warfare that assure my victory! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley
Doing The Best He Can
Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:2-6
Key Verse:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you wish.” ~ Galatians 5:16-17
Many people think that life will be easy after they get saved. Instead, they frequently find they seem to have even more struggles than before. We should not be dismayed, however; this is the normal Christian life. Before we met the Savior, we were walking aimlessly; but upon our salvation, we commenced a journey that would take us through rough terrain and high mountains.
In the epistle to the Galatians, the apostle Paul warned us not to use our newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to revert – instead of drifting back into our aimless ways, we must take the yoke of Jesus and learn to walk in the Spirit. Paul specifically said, “walk” (Galatians 5:16), because the Christian life has direction. We are climbing new heights toward a specific goal, and climbing means struggling.
Every day, we grapple with jealousy, lust, and pride because we live in a world filled with such things. At the same time, we can learn to walk by the Spirit and rise above our temptations and enemies. Yes, it is tough to be in a perpetual fight, and many people have no stomach for such constant exertion. When they see the high standard of Jesus’ example, they sometimes lower their goal and settle for doing the best they can in their own strength.
But doing the best we can is exactly what Paul said will not work – it simply isn’t good enough. That’s why the Holy Spirit came. By fully submitting to Him, we can learn to let the Spirit of God do the best He can. Then we will walk in victory!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to walk in victory – not just do the best that I can. In Jesus’ name, do the best You can through me. Amen.
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Excerpt from: “Pathways To His Presence” ~ Charles F. Stanley
Be in Constant Communion with God
Scripture Verse:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
You will never grow a close relationship with God by just attending church once a week or even having a daily quiet time. Friendship with God is built by sharing all your life experiences with him.
Of course it is important to establish the habit of a daily devotional time with God, but God wants more than an appointment in your schedule. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought.
You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with him throughout your day, talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at that moment. “Praying without ceasing” means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday tasks.
A common misconception is that “spending time with God” means being alone with him. Of course, as Jesus modeled, you need time alone with God, but that is only a fraction of your waking hours. Everything you do can be “spending time with God” if he is invited to be a part of it and you stay aware of his presence.
The classic book on learning how to develop a constant conversation with God is “Practicing the Presence of God.” It was written in the 17th century by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks, like preparing meals and washing dishes, into acts of praise and communion with God.
The key to friendship with God, he said, is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself, you begin doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, working, relaxing, or taking out the trash.
Today we often feel we must “get away” from our daily routine in order to worship God, but that is only because we haven’t learned to practice his presence all the time. Brother Lawrence found it easy to worship God through the common tasks of life; he didn’t have to go away for special spiritual retreats.
This is God’s ideal. In Eden, worship was not an event to attend, but a perpetual attitude; Adam and Eve were in constant communion with God. Since God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now. The Bible says, “He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything” ~ Ephesians 4:6b.
Talk About It:
Have you wished that you could “get away” and have time alone with God?
How can you change your attitude and posture toward God today so that this day has the same effect as a spiritual retreat?
Do you feel God’s presence more at one time than another? Why?
http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=10446
The Ability to Believe
Scripture Reading:
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ~ Romans 10:8b-13
It is impossible to believe anything into existence. The Gospel did not come into being because men believed it. The tomb was not emptied of Christ’s body that first Easter because some faithful persons believed it. The fact preceded the faith. We are psychologically incapable of believing without an object of our faith. The object of Christian faith is Christ. Faith means more than an intellectual assent to the claims of Christ. You are not called upon to believe something that is not credible, but to believe in the fact of history that in reality transcends all history. Faith actually means surrender and commitment to the claims of Christ. We do not know Christ through the five physical senses, but we know Him through the sixth sense that God has given every man — the ability to believe.
Prayer:
As I keep my eyes on You, Lord, my faith does not waver. Too often I look down and stumble. Let me comprehend today afresh the power that raised You from the dead. In Your blessed name I pray, Amen.
http://www.billygraham.org/dailydevotion.asp?ArticleID=7215
The Truth that Sets You Free
Scripture Reading:
"13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has [a]for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
19 We love, because He first loved us." ~ 1 John 4:13-19
Knowing that God loves unconditionally changes everything. If you believe this truth, fear will no longer have any hold on you. You may be suffering or in terrible pain and as a result feel unloved. But the fact is, you are loved - deeply and personally.
I don't know why the Lord has permitted your trial, but I do know this: Pain never shouts that God doesn't love you. That's the Deceiver's voice. Did Jesus' suffering indicate that the Father didn't love the Son? No. There are hardships in life we can't always explain, but they can never cancel out or in any way diminish His unconditional love.
Knowing this truth empowers our lives with joy. How wonderful to realize that, whether you're awake or asleep--no matter what you do or don't do - His love for you never changes.
This knowledge also brings freedom. You no longer have to keep trying to measure up to some standard in order to be accepted. Since God's love isn't based on your performance, you're free from the bondage of trying to work harder to earn it - which is impossible. You also have the security and assurance of the Father's unfailing care, even when you've failed. Rely on His love - He will never leave you. His Spirit within assures us of this when we keep our hearts open to listen.
If you've ever watched the ocean, you know that its waves keep rolling into the shore. Sometimes they crash with unbelievable force, and other times they're gentle. Either way, they can't be stopped! Likewise, there's nothing you can do to stop Almighty God from loving you.
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/the_truth_that_sets_you_free_devotional
Compromise Is the Welcome Mat to Deception
No one is ever deceived unless he has first entered into compromise. We were created with the ability to recognize right from wrong because the law of God is written on our hearts. But that capacity becomes crippled when we fail to uphold what we know to be true.
In the natural, we have an immune system that protects us from the many illnesses we are exposed to in our daily lives. When that immune system is weak, we become vulnerable to every germ and virus that comes along. Maintaining the standard of righteousness in the heart is essential to strengthening our spiritual immune system, which keeps us undefiled by the spirit of deception.
A heart that is clean doesn’t desire evil. When evil is appealing, it is a warning sign that compromise is in operation, and that certain precautions must be taken. The roots of such compromises are usually found in the attitudes of the heart. That is why Solomon said, “Watch over the heart with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). When a root of compromise is exposed, repent. And repent deeply until there is a true change of heart and mind. It saves a lot of heartache in the long run. If it’s a repeated area of weakness, use the tool of accountability. Accountability gives us great strength as friends bring out the best in us.
~ Bill Johnson
http://www.bjm.org/articles/23/compromise-is-the-welcome-mat-to-deception.html
Kirk Cameron's 'Monumental' Faith
March 30, 2012 - Actor Kirk Cameron shares why his love for his six kids has propelled him into a 'Monumental' new role, how the Gospel needs to form our worldview, and how his path intersected with Billy Graham's on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"Billy Graham had a very profound impact on me in terms of inspiring me to want to passionately pursue preaching the Gospel." ~ Kirk Cameron
by Janet Chismar
When actor Kirk Cameron has a rare, quiet moment to sit and watch his six kids laugh together, his heart wells not just with joy, but also with concern.
“I am very concerned about the world my kids are growing up in—morally, spiritually, economically. I think we are headed for disaster if we don’t change course,” he said today by phone.
But instead of joining the political blame game, Cameron thought, “Let’s talk to the people who built this country” and began a journey across the United States and Europe to discover the true national treasure of America.
Known for his role on ABC's "Growing Pains," Cameron in recent years portrayed Cameron "Buck" Williams in the Left Behind film series and Caleb Holt in the 2008 drama film, Fireproof.
He is also an active Christian evangelist, currently partnering with Ray Comfort in the evangelical ministry The Way of the Master, and has co-founded The Firefly Foundation with his wife, actress Chelsea Noble.
Cameron's journey, documented in the new film Monumental, re-traces the escape route of the pilgrims from England into Holland, where they stayed for 12 years under the care of their pastor, John Robinson.
It was in Holland, said Cameron, that the Pilgrims learned the nation-building techniques that they brought to America on the Mayflower.
So what happened to America's Christian roots and how do we rediscover what the Pilgrims intended in founding this nation?
“They knew we would get off-track one day,” Cameron explained, “so they left us their strategy on how they did it. It’s in the form of the largest granite monument in America — 180 tons of granite sitting on a hill — overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Her name is Faith and she is holding the Geneva Bible and her foot is on Plymouth Rock.”
The monument lays out a Biblical worldview and a strategy for how to build and sustain a free and just society under the Word of God — and so does the documentary.
Cameron said the live, one-night event was a “phenomenal successful" this past Tuesday. “And now Monumental is going out everywhere else. We need people to see it this weekend. If it’s not in your city, you can go to demandthemovie.com and type in your zip code and bring the movie to your town.”
As the church, Cameron added, we need to stand together: “If we want a future for our kids, it’s not going to be found in a person or the White House or in a political party. It’s found in the Gospel."
“That Gospel needs to soak and saturate the hearts of our children, and we need to teach it to them at the dinner table. They need to understand the principles and lead this country like our forefathers did to liberty and blessing for the entire world.”
WALKING WITH BILLY GRAHAM:
Before Monumental and Fireproof, of course, there was "Growing Pains." One of the highlights of that era for Cameron is a day in October, 1989, when his path intersected with a certain evangelist's on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“I actually met Billy Graham when I was probably 17 years old, when Mr. Graham got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Cameron recalled. "I was there with him, standing behind him. I had no idea if he had ever heard of the TV show Growing Pains—I was there and a man named Johnny Grant had presented him with his star.”
Cameron remembers Billy Graham saying, “Some people may ask me why I would agree to have my name put down on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — isn’t that kind of egotistical?"
According to Cameron, Mr. Graham responded, "It may be for some, but the reason I agreed to do this is that I thought one day some little child will walk along this street and look down and say, 'Mommy, who is Billy Graham?' And she would be able to tell her child, 'Son, Billy Graham was a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me explain to you what that Gospel is.'
“I was so impressed by his faithfulness to the Gospel, his perseverance over all these years, and the many exciting things he’s been able to do,” Cameron added. "Billy Graham had a very profound impact on me in terms of inspiring me to want to passionately pursue preaching the Gospel."
“In his era, he was able to take the message of the Gospel and get it out to the masses of people through secular media, when that is really so much more difficult to do today."
http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=8571
Kirk Cameron Talks About Monumental:
Another Awesome Ministry Team for God!
Bill and Beni Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church. Bill is a fifth generation pastor with a rich heritage in the things of the Spirit. Together they serve a growing number of churches that have partnered for revival. This apostolic network has crossed denominational lines in building relationships that enable church leaders to walk in both purity and power.
The present move of God has brought Bill into a deeper understanding of the phrase, "on earth as it is in heaven." Heaven is the model for our life and ministry. Jesus lived with this principle by only doing what He saw His Father doing. Learning to recognize the Holy Spirit's presence, and how to follow His lead will enable us to do the works of Christ, destroying the works of the devil. Healing and deliverance must become the common expression of this gospel of power once again.
Bill and the Bethel Church family have taken on this theme for life and ministry. Healings, ranging from cancer to broken bones, to learning disorders and emotional healing, happen with regularity. This is the children's bread. And these works of God are not limited to revival meetings. The church is learning how to take this anointing to the schools, workplace, and neighborhoods with similar results. Bill teaches that we owe the world an encounter with God, and that a Gospel without power is not the Gospel that Jesus preached.
Beni has a call to intercession that is an integral part of the Bethel Church mission. She is in charge of the Bethel's Prayer House, ministry teams and the intercessors. The Lord has given her a heart for broken people of all ages. Her insight into strategies for prayer and her involvement in prayer networks have helped to bring the much-needed breakthrough in Bethel's ministry.
http://www.bjm.org/about.html
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