Read: Genesis 26:14-22
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. --- Romans 12:18
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 10-11
Luke 21:20-38
Isaac lived among the Philistines, who proved to be ornery neighbors. He had grown so rich and powerful that they feared him and askedhim to leave their territory. Being "much mightier" than they [Genesis 26:16], Isaac could have refused, but he acquiesced and moved into a nearby valley where his father Abraham had dug some wells years before.
The Philistines had stopped up the wells after teh death of Abraham. Each time Isaac reopened a well they claimed it for themselves, even though they had not been using it. They were just being contentious. But Isaac kept moving on till he entered an area where the Philistines no longer contested his right to the water.
I've encountered people like that. When my brothers and I played catch as young boys, we had to be very careful about our throws, because the neighbor would confiscate any balls that went into his yard.
It's difficult to like such people, but Jesus went so far as to say that we must love them, pray for them, and be good to them [Matthew 5:44]. It may not be easy, and those ornery persons may not change. Yet, according to Romans 12:18, we must still do all we can to live peacefully with everyone. --- Herb Vander Lugt
We know there will be times of stress
With people who must have their way;
But we should always choose to love,
To live at peace, and for them pray. --- D. De Haan
TRY TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH OTHERS EVEN THOUGH THEY WANT TO FIGHT WITH YOU.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005
Go Light Your World
Read: Zechariah 4:1-6
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. --- Zechariah 4:6
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 8-9
Luke 21:1-19
Do you feel as if you're burning out in your service for God? You may want to supply spiritual light to your dark world till the end of your life, but you wonder if you can. You won't burn out if you understand and apply the truth of Zechariah 4:1-6.
The prophet saw two olive trees that supplied oil to a bowl that fed seven lamps on a golden lampstand. As we think about the reality behind this symbolism, we can be encouraged. You and I are not the source of light that enlightens the world. We can only receive the oil of the Holy Spirit that fuels the living flame He produces. If we burn steadily through the long, dark hours, it is because we have learned to yield our lives to the Spirit's unlimited supply of power and strength. This comes only through continual fellowship with Jesus our Savior.
It needs to be said again and again: It's not what we do for the Lord, but what He does through us that enlightens and enriches others. We must be satisfied to be a bright and shining lamp, drawing from the hidden resources of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Our role is to help others see the glory of His light. And we must remember daily that every demand placed upon us is a demand placed upon Him. --- David Roper
Help me, dear Lord, to be honest and true
In all that I say and all that I do;
Give me the courage to do what is right,
To bring to the world a glimpse of Your light. --- Fasick
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE --- WHETHER YOU'RE A CANDLE IN A CORNER OR A LIGHTHOUSE ON A HILL.
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. --- Zechariah 4:6
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 8-9
Luke 21:1-19
Do you feel as if you're burning out in your service for God? You may want to supply spiritual light to your dark world till the end of your life, but you wonder if you can. You won't burn out if you understand and apply the truth of Zechariah 4:1-6.
The prophet saw two olive trees that supplied oil to a bowl that fed seven lamps on a golden lampstand. As we think about the reality behind this symbolism, we can be encouraged. You and I are not the source of light that enlightens the world. We can only receive the oil of the Holy Spirit that fuels the living flame He produces. If we burn steadily through the long, dark hours, it is because we have learned to yield our lives to the Spirit's unlimited supply of power and strength. This comes only through continual fellowship with Jesus our Savior.
It needs to be said again and again: It's not what we do for the Lord, but what He does through us that enlightens and enriches others. We must be satisfied to be a bright and shining lamp, drawing from the hidden resources of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Our role is to help others see the glory of His light. And we must remember daily that every demand placed upon us is a demand placed upon Him. --- David Roper
Help me, dear Lord, to be honest and true
In all that I say and all that I do;
Give me the courage to do what is right,
To bring to the world a glimpse of Your light. --- Fasick
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE --- WHETHER YOU'RE A CANDLE IN A CORNER OR A LIGHTHOUSE ON A HILL.
Drones
Read: 1 Timothy 5:8-16
There are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. --- 2 Thessalonians 3:11
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 6-7
Luke 20:27-47
As I sat looking at my beehives, I was especially interested in the activities of a considerable number of bees that seemed to be busybodies. They were always buzzing, going in and out of the hive, but doing no apparent work. These nonproductive ones are called drones. They are male bees --- much larger than a worker or even the queen. Their only function is to fertilize a queen and then die.
While waiting for a new queen to emerge, the drones spend their time visiting one hive after another. But they do no work; they make no honey; they build no comb; they can't even sting. And they're noisy! You should hear them buzz, but it's all bluff.
For a while drones are privileged characters, but when fall comes and the honey flow slackens, the worker bees will kill every drone! Not a one lives through the winter. The time of reckoning comes and they are denied the reward of the workers.
In the apostle Paul's letter to Timothy, he warned about people who are active in the wrong kinds of activities --- going from house to house as busybodies, stirring up trouble instead of serving others [1 Timothy 5:13].
Don't be a drone if you want to share in the heavenly treasures reserved for the faithful. --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
In service true of any kind,
Lord, happy I shall be,
If by my help some soul may find
The path that leads to Thee. --- Anon.
GOD'S HOUSE SHOULD BE A HIVE FOR WORKERS --- NOT A NEST FOR DRONES.
There are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. --- 2 Thessalonians 3:11
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 6-7
Luke 20:27-47
As I sat looking at my beehives, I was especially interested in the activities of a considerable number of bees that seemed to be busybodies. They were always buzzing, going in and out of the hive, but doing no apparent work. These nonproductive ones are called drones. They are male bees --- much larger than a worker or even the queen. Their only function is to fertilize a queen and then die.
While waiting for a new queen to emerge, the drones spend their time visiting one hive after another. But they do no work; they make no honey; they build no comb; they can't even sting. And they're noisy! You should hear them buzz, but it's all bluff.
For a while drones are privileged characters, but when fall comes and the honey flow slackens, the worker bees will kill every drone! Not a one lives through the winter. The time of reckoning comes and they are denied the reward of the workers.
In the apostle Paul's letter to Timothy, he warned about people who are active in the wrong kinds of activities --- going from house to house as busybodies, stirring up trouble instead of serving others [1 Timothy 5:13].
Don't be a drone if you want to share in the heavenly treasures reserved for the faithful. --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
In service true of any kind,
Lord, happy I shall be,
If by my help some soul may find
The path that leads to Thee. --- Anon.
GOD'S HOUSE SHOULD BE A HIVE FOR WORKERS --- NOT A NEST FOR DRONES.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Still Trusting
Read: Psalm 139:1-16
In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me. --- Psalm 139:16
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 3-5
Luke 20:1-26
How could this happen? How could God allow our beautiful daughter Melissa to be taken from us in a car accident at age 17? And it's not just us. It's also our friends Steve and Robyn, whose daughter Lindsay, Melissa's friend, died 9 months earlier. And what about Richard and Leah, whose son Jon --- another of Melissa's friends --- lies in a gravesite within 50 yards of both Lindsay and Melissa?
How could God allow these three Christian teens to die within 16 months of each other? And how can we still trust Him?
Unable to comprehend such tragedies, we cling to Psalm 139:16 --- "In Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me." By God's design, our children had a specific number of days to live, and then He lovingly called them home to their eternal reward. And we find comfort in God's mysterious words, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints" [116:15].
The death of those close to us could rob us of our trust in God --- taking with it our reason for living. But God's unfathomable plan for the universe and His redemptive work continue, and we must honor our loved ones by holding on to His hand. We don't understand, but we still must trust God as we await the great reunion He has planned for us. --- Dave Branon
Though tragedy, heartache, and sorrow abound
And many a hardship in life will be found,
I'll put all my trust in the Savior of light,
For He can bring hope in the darkest of night. --- D. De Haan
DON'T LET TRAGEDY STEAL YOUR TRUST IN GOD.
In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me. --- Psalm 139:16
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 3-5
Luke 20:1-26
How could this happen? How could God allow our beautiful daughter Melissa to be taken from us in a car accident at age 17? And it's not just us. It's also our friends Steve and Robyn, whose daughter Lindsay, Melissa's friend, died 9 months earlier. And what about Richard and Leah, whose son Jon --- another of Melissa's friends --- lies in a gravesite within 50 yards of both Lindsay and Melissa?
How could God allow these three Christian teens to die within 16 months of each other? And how can we still trust Him?
Unable to comprehend such tragedies, we cling to Psalm 139:16 --- "In Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me." By God's design, our children had a specific number of days to live, and then He lovingly called them home to their eternal reward. And we find comfort in God's mysterious words, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints" [116:15].
The death of those close to us could rob us of our trust in God --- taking with it our reason for living. But God's unfathomable plan for the universe and His redemptive work continue, and we must honor our loved ones by holding on to His hand. We don't understand, but we still must trust God as we await the great reunion He has planned for us. --- Dave Branon
Though tragedy, heartache, and sorrow abound
And many a hardship in life will be found,
I'll put all my trust in the Savior of light,
For He can bring hope in the darkest of night. --- D. De Haan
DON'T LET TRAGEDY STEAL YOUR TRUST IN GOD.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
A Good Will
Read: 1 Peter 1:3-12
God ... has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. --- 1 Peter 1:3
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 1-2
Luke 19:28-48
Perhaps you know someone who didn't receive the inheritance intended by a parent because of a faulty will. In an article titled "Money & The Law," attorney Jim Flynn says that if you want your estate to go to your chosen recipients instead of to members of the legal profession, you should avoid do-it-yourself wills. Such documents are usually legal but they are often unclear and fail to make provisions for unforeseen situations. Flynn advises having a formal will to be sure your wishes are carried out.
Man-made wills can fail, but there is no ambiguous language about the inheritance God has in store for us. The apostle Peter affirmed that God "has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" [1 Peter 1:3-4].
No fluctuation in the economy can reduce this inheritance. It is not subject to review by the courts nor to debate by squabbling families. No amount of suffering or trials can diminish or change what God has in store for us. Our inheritance is certain and eternal [Hebrews 9:15]. And as we live for Him, we are assured that His will for our lives today is "good and acceptable and perfect" [Romans 12:2]. --- David McCasland
Why do we live like paupers,
When riches we possess?
We have become joint heirs with Christ
With blessings measureless. --- Sper
THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE IS GUARANTEED FOREVER!
God ... has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. --- 1 Peter 1:3
The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 1-2
Luke 19:28-48
Perhaps you know someone who didn't receive the inheritance intended by a parent because of a faulty will. In an article titled "Money & The Law," attorney Jim Flynn says that if you want your estate to go to your chosen recipients instead of to members of the legal profession, you should avoid do-it-yourself wills. Such documents are usually legal but they are often unclear and fail to make provisions for unforeseen situations. Flynn advises having a formal will to be sure your wishes are carried out.
Man-made wills can fail, but there is no ambiguous language about the inheritance God has in store for us. The apostle Peter affirmed that God "has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" [1 Peter 1:3-4].
No fluctuation in the economy can reduce this inheritance. It is not subject to review by the courts nor to debate by squabbling families. No amount of suffering or trials can diminish or change what God has in store for us. Our inheritance is certain and eternal [Hebrews 9:15]. And as we live for Him, we are assured that His will for our lives today is "good and acceptable and perfect" [Romans 12:2]. --- David McCasland
Why do we live like paupers,
When riches we possess?
We have become joint heirs with Christ
With blessings measureless. --- Sper
THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE IS GUARANTEED FOREVER!
Monday, April 25, 2005
Pain And Gain
Read: Hebrews 12:1-11
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. --- Hebrews 12:11
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 23-24
Luke 19:1-27
Years ago I was an extremely anxious Christian. When I began spiraling downward emotionally, God didn't intervene, for He knew I needed to reach the end of myself. When I finally hit rock bottom, the "rock" on which I fell was Jesus Christ.
The Lord immediately began rebuilding me, applying truths from His Word to teach me trust and faith. Gradually He changed me into the joyful, God-dependent person He intended me to be. Through this painful but profitable experience, I learned that when God disciplines us, our greatest gain isn't what we get but what we become
In Hebrews 12, we read that our heavenly Father loves us too dearly to let us remain immature. Like any loving father, He disciplines, corrects, and trains us --- often through difficult situations. God uses our times of struggle to help us grow and make us more holy [vv.10-11].
Many people are motivated to live for health, wealth, and ease, and they try to avoid pain at all costs. But the abundant life that God intends for His people isn't trouble-free. Growth and change are often unsettling, but the gain is worth the pain. --- Joanie Yoder
We shrink from the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener who knows:
The deeper the cutting and paring
The richer the cluster that grows. --- Anon.
GOD USES SETBACKS TO MOVE US FORWARD.
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. --- Hebrews 12:11
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 23-24
Luke 19:1-27
Years ago I was an extremely anxious Christian. When I began spiraling downward emotionally, God didn't intervene, for He knew I needed to reach the end of myself. When I finally hit rock bottom, the "rock" on which I fell was Jesus Christ.
The Lord immediately began rebuilding me, applying truths from His Word to teach me trust and faith. Gradually He changed me into the joyful, God-dependent person He intended me to be. Through this painful but profitable experience, I learned that when God disciplines us, our greatest gain isn't what we get but what we become
In Hebrews 12, we read that our heavenly Father loves us too dearly to let us remain immature. Like any loving father, He disciplines, corrects, and trains us --- often through difficult situations. God uses our times of struggle to help us grow and make us more holy [vv.10-11].
Many people are motivated to live for health, wealth, and ease, and they try to avoid pain at all costs. But the abundant life that God intends for His people isn't trouble-free. Growth and change are often unsettling, but the gain is worth the pain. --- Joanie Yoder
We shrink from the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener who knows:
The deeper the cutting and paring
The richer the cluster that grows. --- Anon.
GOD USES SETBACKS TO MOVE US FORWARD.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Give Him Your Burden
Read: Psalm 55:16-23
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you. --- Psalm 55:22
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 21-22
Luke 18:24-43
A poor man in Ireland was plodding along toward home, carrying a huge bag of potatoes. A horse and wagon finally drew up alongside him on the road, and the driver invited the man to climb aboard. After getting on the wagon, he sat down but contunued to hold the heavy bag.
When the driver suggested that the man set the bag down in the wagon, he replied, "I don't want to trouble you too much, sir. You are giving me a ride already, so I'll just carry the potatoes."
"How foolish of him!" we say. Yet sometimes we do the same thing when we attempt to bear the burdesn of our lives in our own strength. No wonder we become weary and overwhelmed with anxiety and fear.
In Psalm 55, David spoke of the anxiety he felt because his enemies were attacking him [vv.1-15]. But then he gave his concerns to the Lord and was filled with renewed hope and confidence [vv.16-23]. That's why he could write, "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you" [v.22].
When you recall the story of the man and his bag of potatoes, remember the simple lesson it illustrates: Rather than trying to bear your burdens by yourself, set them down in God's hands. --- Henry Bosch
Give Him each perplexing problem,
All your need to Him make known;
Bring to Him your daily burdens ---
Never carry them alone! --- Adams
GOD INVITES US TO BURDEN HIM WITH WHAT BURDENS US.
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you. --- Psalm 55:22
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 21-22
Luke 18:24-43
A poor man in Ireland was plodding along toward home, carrying a huge bag of potatoes. A horse and wagon finally drew up alongside him on the road, and the driver invited the man to climb aboard. After getting on the wagon, he sat down but contunued to hold the heavy bag.
When the driver suggested that the man set the bag down in the wagon, he replied, "I don't want to trouble you too much, sir. You are giving me a ride already, so I'll just carry the potatoes."
"How foolish of him!" we say. Yet sometimes we do the same thing when we attempt to bear the burdesn of our lives in our own strength. No wonder we become weary and overwhelmed with anxiety and fear.
In Psalm 55, David spoke of the anxiety he felt because his enemies were attacking him [vv.1-15]. But then he gave his concerns to the Lord and was filled with renewed hope and confidence [vv.16-23]. That's why he could write, "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you" [v.22].
When you recall the story of the man and his bag of potatoes, remember the simple lesson it illustrates: Rather than trying to bear your burdens by yourself, set them down in God's hands. --- Henry Bosch
Give Him each perplexing problem,
All your need to Him make known;
Bring to Him your daily burdens ---
Never carry them alone! --- Adams
GOD INVITES US TO BURDEN HIM WITH WHAT BURDENS US.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
The Worst Defeat
Read: 2 Kings 25:1-21
Because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah. --- 2 Kings 24:20
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 19-20
Luke 18:1-23
There have been some horrendous defeats in sports history, but none more convincing than Cumberland's 222-0 loss to Georgia Tech in 1916. It was the worst college football defeat ever, and the young men of Cumberland must have been devastated.
Another kind of loss happened to the people of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and it was much worse than any sports defeat. Because of God's punishment for their sin of worshiping other gods, they were defeated by the Babylonian army [2 Kings 24:20].
Led by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians laid siege to the Holy City and left it in ruins. They burned the majestic temples, the palace of the king, and the people's homes.
It was perhaps the worst defeat in the long, often tragic history of God's people. Their continued disobedience to Him had devastating consequences. Through it all, He urged them to repent and turn back to Him.
It's sobering to me to see how much the Lord longs for His people to live in a way that glorifies Him. I need to remind myself often of my duty to live as God wants me to live because of how much it means to Him.
Judah's worst loss can challenge us all to live in obedience to God. --- Dave Branon
O help me, Lord, to be afraid
Of disobeying You;
And may I bring You highest praise
In everything I do. --- Sper
THE MORE YOU LOVE GOD, THE MORE YOU HATE SIN.
Because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah. --- 2 Kings 24:20
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 19-20
Luke 18:1-23
There have been some horrendous defeats in sports history, but none more convincing than Cumberland's 222-0 loss to Georgia Tech in 1916. It was the worst college football defeat ever, and the young men of Cumberland must have been devastated.
Another kind of loss happened to the people of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and it was much worse than any sports defeat. Because of God's punishment for their sin of worshiping other gods, they were defeated by the Babylonian army [2 Kings 24:20].
Led by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians laid siege to the Holy City and left it in ruins. They burned the majestic temples, the palace of the king, and the people's homes.
It was perhaps the worst defeat in the long, often tragic history of God's people. Their continued disobedience to Him had devastating consequences. Through it all, He urged them to repent and turn back to Him.
It's sobering to me to see how much the Lord longs for His people to live in a way that glorifies Him. I need to remind myself often of my duty to live as God wants me to live because of how much it means to Him.
Judah's worst loss can challenge us all to live in obedience to God. --- Dave Branon
O help me, Lord, to be afraid
Of disobeying You;
And may I bring You highest praise
In everything I do. --- Sper
THE MORE YOU LOVE GOD, THE MORE YOU HATE SIN.
Friday, April 22, 2005
A Storm Is Coming!
Read: Proverbs 1:20-33
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. --- Hebrews 9:27
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 16-18
Luke 17:20-37
We were in a small boat on the far side of the lake and the fish were biting when we heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. Looking up, we saw a mass of dark clouds in the west.
I ignored the suggestion of my fishing partner that it might be wise to start back to the cottage --- I wanted to keep fishing. Then it happened! The storm was suddenly upon us. We tried to start the motor but it wouldn't go! My friend tried to row, but the rain came in sheets and the waves tossed our little aluminum boat. We survived, but I learned a lesson. Don't delay when a storm is brewing.
Another type of storm is coming --- a day of judgment. It may seem far off, and you don't feel you have to hurry to prepare. You may be in good health and in the prime of life. But listen, the storm may come upon you unexpectedly.
Proverbs 1 says that disaster will strike the person who foolishly ignores all warnings [v.27]. And the author of Hebrews warned, "It is appointed for me to die once, but after this the judgment" [9:27].
To heed God's warnings is true wisdom. Have you sought shelter in Christ? If you haven't, it's time to stop "fishing" and seek safety before it's too late. Turn from your sin to Christ. Do so today. --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
Oh, turn to Christ while still you may;
Too late, it soon will be ---
A glorious life you then will have
Throughout eternity. --- Anon.
THOSE WHO REJECT CHRIST AS SAVIOR WILL FACE HIM AS JUDGE.
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. --- Hebrews 9:27
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 16-18
Luke 17:20-37
We were in a small boat on the far side of the lake and the fish were biting when we heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. Looking up, we saw a mass of dark clouds in the west.
I ignored the suggestion of my fishing partner that it might be wise to start back to the cottage --- I wanted to keep fishing. Then it happened! The storm was suddenly upon us. We tried to start the motor but it wouldn't go! My friend tried to row, but the rain came in sheets and the waves tossed our little aluminum boat. We survived, but I learned a lesson. Don't delay when a storm is brewing.
Another type of storm is coming --- a day of judgment. It may seem far off, and you don't feel you have to hurry to prepare. You may be in good health and in the prime of life. But listen, the storm may come upon you unexpectedly.
Proverbs 1 says that disaster will strike the person who foolishly ignores all warnings [v.27]. And the author of Hebrews warned, "It is appointed for me to die once, but after this the judgment" [9:27].
To heed God's warnings is true wisdom. Have you sought shelter in Christ? If you haven't, it's time to stop "fishing" and seek safety before it's too late. Turn from your sin to Christ. Do so today. --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
Oh, turn to Christ while still you may;
Too late, it soon will be ---
A glorious life you then will have
Throughout eternity. --- Anon.
THOSE WHO REJECT CHRIST AS SAVIOR WILL FACE HIM AS JUDGE.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Unlimited Power
Read: Isaiah 40:25-31
[God] brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name. --- Isaiah 40:26
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 14-15
Luke 17:1-19
"Why don't the stars fall down?" A child may ask that question, but so does an astronomer. and they both get essentially the same answer: A mysterious power or energy upholds everything and prevents our cosmos from collapsing into chaos.
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that it is Jesus who upholds all things by the word of His power. He is the source of all the energy there is, whether the explosive potential packed inside an atom or the steaming kettle on the kitchen stove.
That energy is not simply a mindless force. No, God is the personal power who created everything out of nothing, including the stars [Genesis 1; Isaiah 40:26]; who divided the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage [Exodus 14:21-22]; who brought to pass the virgin birth of Jesus [Luke 1:34-35]; and who raised Him from the dead and conquered death [2 Timothy 1:10]. Our God, the one and only true God, has the power to answer prayer, meet our needs, and change our lives.
So when life's problems are baffling, when you face some Red Sea impossibility, call upon the wonder-working God who upholds all things. And remember that with our almighty God, nothing is impossible. --- Vernon Grounds
Thou art coming to a King ---
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too muhc. --- Newton
GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR GREATEST PROBLEM.
[God] brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name. --- Isaiah 40:26
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 14-15
Luke 17:1-19
"Why don't the stars fall down?" A child may ask that question, but so does an astronomer. and they both get essentially the same answer: A mysterious power or energy upholds everything and prevents our cosmos from collapsing into chaos.
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that it is Jesus who upholds all things by the word of His power. He is the source of all the energy there is, whether the explosive potential packed inside an atom or the steaming kettle on the kitchen stove.
That energy is not simply a mindless force. No, God is the personal power who created everything out of nothing, including the stars [Genesis 1; Isaiah 40:26]; who divided the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage [Exodus 14:21-22]; who brought to pass the virgin birth of Jesus [Luke 1:34-35]; and who raised Him from the dead and conquered death [2 Timothy 1:10]. Our God, the one and only true God, has the power to answer prayer, meet our needs, and change our lives.
So when life's problems are baffling, when you face some Red Sea impossibility, call upon the wonder-working God who upholds all things. And remember that with our almighty God, nothing is impossible. --- Vernon Grounds
Thou art coming to a King ---
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too muhc. --- Newton
GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR GREATEST PROBLEM.
Who Packed Your Chute?
Read: 1 Samuel 30:1-25
As his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. --- 1 Samuel 30:24
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 12-13
Luke 16
Charles Plumb was sitting in a restaurant when a man came up to him and said, "You're Plumb. You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know all that?" asked Plumb. The man, who had been on the same ship, replied, "I packed your parachute." Then he added, "I guess it worked." "Indeed it did," said Plumb.
That night Plumb thought of this man who had stood at a table in the belly of the ship carefully folding parachutes for men whose lives might depend on them. Plumb was saddened and humbled as he thought, How many times might I have passed this man but didn't even say good morning because I was a jet pilot and he was a low-ranking sailor?
This story brings to mind David's words in today's Bible reading. Two hundred of his men became too weary to march farther to fight the Amalekites. So they stayed behind to guard the supplies. When David returned from battle, he made no distinction between them and his fighting men. He said, "They shall share alike" [1 Samuel 30:24].
In God's service there are no high and low people, no high and low tasks. We all depend on one another. Let's never forget those who packed our parachute. --- Herbert Vander Lugt
Lord, help us to appreciate
The work that others do,
The service given from their hearts,
Their sacrifice for You. --- Sper
NO SERVICE FOR CHRIST IS INSIGNIFICANT.
As his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. --- 1 Samuel 30:24
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 12-13
Luke 16
Charles Plumb was sitting in a restaurant when a man came up to him and said, "You're Plumb. You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know all that?" asked Plumb. The man, who had been on the same ship, replied, "I packed your parachute." Then he added, "I guess it worked." "Indeed it did," said Plumb.
That night Plumb thought of this man who had stood at a table in the belly of the ship carefully folding parachutes for men whose lives might depend on them. Plumb was saddened and humbled as he thought, How many times might I have passed this man but didn't even say good morning because I was a jet pilot and he was a low-ranking sailor?
This story brings to mind David's words in today's Bible reading. Two hundred of his men became too weary to march farther to fight the Amalekites. So they stayed behind to guard the supplies. When David returned from battle, he made no distinction between them and his fighting men. He said, "They shall share alike" [1 Samuel 30:24].
In God's service there are no high and low people, no high and low tasks. We all depend on one another. Let's never forget those who packed our parachute. --- Herbert Vander Lugt
Lord, help us to appreciate
The work that others do,
The service given from their hearts,
Their sacrifice for You. --- Sper
NO SERVICE FOR CHRIST IS INSIGNIFICANT.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Lost In The Fog
Read: Proverbs 3:1-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. --- Proverbs 3:5
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 9-11
Luke 15:11-32
The fog was as thick as pea soup. Visibility was limited to a few feet, and the lake was as smooth as glass. The only sound to break the silence was the laughing of a loon across the lake.
I rowed for an hour around the shore, trying to catch fish in different areas, but the fish weren't biting! So I decided to go back to my cabin for a cup of coffee. I was at the mouth of a small inlet, which I knew was directly across the lake on a straight course [I thought] toward the dock.
The minutes went by --- and after an hour I was surprised when I arrived back at the mouth of the little stream from which I started. I had been going in a circle in the fog. I was so sure I knew where I was going, but after an hour I had gotten nowhere! If I had only taken my compass --- instead of relying on my own sense of direction.
Proverbs 3:5 comes to mind: "Lean not on your own understanding." Without the Lord as your guide through the fog of life, and His Word as your compass, you will wander aimlessly.
So be sure to make Proverbs 3:6 your lifelong motto: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
My Lord is ever with me
Along life's busy way;
I'll trust in Him completely
For guidance day by day. --- Anon.
TO AVOID GOING WRONG, FOLLOW GOD'S LEADING.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. --- Proverbs 3:5
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 9-11
Luke 15:11-32
The fog was as thick as pea soup. Visibility was limited to a few feet, and the lake was as smooth as glass. The only sound to break the silence was the laughing of a loon across the lake.
I rowed for an hour around the shore, trying to catch fish in different areas, but the fish weren't biting! So I decided to go back to my cabin for a cup of coffee. I was at the mouth of a small inlet, which I knew was directly across the lake on a straight course [I thought] toward the dock.
The minutes went by --- and after an hour I was surprised when I arrived back at the mouth of the little stream from which I started. I had been going in a circle in the fog. I was so sure I knew where I was going, but after an hour I had gotten nowhere! If I had only taken my compass --- instead of relying on my own sense of direction.
Proverbs 3:5 comes to mind: "Lean not on your own understanding." Without the Lord as your guide through the fog of life, and His Word as your compass, you will wander aimlessly.
So be sure to make Proverbs 3:6 your lifelong motto: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
My Lord is ever with me
Along life's busy way;
I'll trust in Him completely
For guidance day by day. --- Anon.
TO AVOID GOING WRONG, FOLLOW GOD'S LEADING.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Maintaining Character
Read: Romans 12:1-21
Do not be comformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. --- Romans 12:2
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 6-8
Luke 15:1-10
News reporting is a tough business that tends to make reporters hard and unfeeling. That's what Barbara Bradley, a correspondent for National Public Radio, tells aspiring journalists. But she also believes it doesn't have to be that way. "I made a strategic decision when I first fell in love with journalism," Bradley says, "that if I found myself beginning to get tough I would leave the business. It's just a career, and why mortgage your character for a career? Maintaining your character counts for something and you can do it; it's just a decision you have to make."
In every high-pressure situation, we can react like most people or we can choose to be different. J.B. Phillips translates Romans 12:2 this way: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity" [The New Testament in Modern English].
When we feel pressure to conform, character can stand firm on the bedrock of conviction, saying, "This is God's way and it is best." Maintaining our character begins and continues with a decision. Let's make it today. --- David McCasland
O Lord, You see what's in my heart ---
There's nothing hid from You;
So help me live the kind of life
That's loving, kind, and true. --- D. De Haan
BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER BEGINS IN THE HEART.
Do not be comformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. --- Romans 12:2
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 6-8
Luke 15:1-10
News reporting is a tough business that tends to make reporters hard and unfeeling. That's what Barbara Bradley, a correspondent for National Public Radio, tells aspiring journalists. But she also believes it doesn't have to be that way. "I made a strategic decision when I first fell in love with journalism," Bradley says, "that if I found myself beginning to get tough I would leave the business. It's just a career, and why mortgage your character for a career? Maintaining your character counts for something and you can do it; it's just a decision you have to make."
In every high-pressure situation, we can react like most people or we can choose to be different. J.B. Phillips translates Romans 12:2 this way: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands, and moves toward the goal of true maturity" [The New Testament in Modern English].
When we feel pressure to conform, character can stand firm on the bedrock of conviction, saying, "This is God's way and it is best." Maintaining our character begins and continues with a decision. Let's make it today. --- David McCasland
O Lord, You see what's in my heart ---
There's nothing hid from You;
So help me live the kind of life
That's loving, kind, and true. --- D. De Haan
BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER BEGINS IN THE HEART.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Our Life In Heaven
Read: Revelation 22:1-5
There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. --- Revelation 22:3
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 3-5
Luke 14:25-35
The following words were inscribed on a gravestone: "Don't weep for me now, don't weep for me ever; for I'm going to do nothing forever and eve." Some people think heaven will be a boring place. Others, after years of exhausting work, look forward to doing nothing in heaven --- the ultimate retirement!
It's true that in heaven we will rest from earthly labors [Revelation 14:13], but it's not a place of inactivity. When John saw a vision of the New Jerusalem with the throne of God and the Lamb, and populated with God's redeemed people, he stated plainly, "His servants shall serve Him' [22:3].
If we know Christ as Savior, we will be raised up with resurrection power to serve Him in heaven. Never again will we serve Him half-heartedly and sporadically as we often do now. Instead, we'll serve enthusiastically and continually [7:15]. In unimaginable ways, we will be involved creatively with God without the agonies of decline and death [21:4]. We'll happily spend eternity basking in God's redeeming love and exploring endless pleasures at His right hand [Psalm 16:11].
Heaven certainly isn't a boring place with nothing to do --- it's a place where we'll see Christ's face and joyfully serve Him forever! --- Joanie Yoder
Face to face! O blissful moment!
Face to face --- to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, who loves me s. --- Breck
JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR US AND PREPARING US FOR THAT PLACE.
There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. --- Revelation 22:3
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 3-5
Luke 14:25-35
The following words were inscribed on a gravestone: "Don't weep for me now, don't weep for me ever; for I'm going to do nothing forever and eve." Some people think heaven will be a boring place. Others, after years of exhausting work, look forward to doing nothing in heaven --- the ultimate retirement!
It's true that in heaven we will rest from earthly labors [Revelation 14:13], but it's not a place of inactivity. When John saw a vision of the New Jerusalem with the throne of God and the Lamb, and populated with God's redeemed people, he stated plainly, "His servants shall serve Him' [22:3].
If we know Christ as Savior, we will be raised up with resurrection power to serve Him in heaven. Never again will we serve Him half-heartedly and sporadically as we often do now. Instead, we'll serve enthusiastically and continually [7:15]. In unimaginable ways, we will be involved creatively with God without the agonies of decline and death [21:4]. We'll happily spend eternity basking in God's redeeming love and exploring endless pleasures at His right hand [Psalm 16:11].
Heaven certainly isn't a boring place with nothing to do --- it's a place where we'll see Christ's face and joyfully serve Him forever! --- Joanie Yoder
Face to face! O blissful moment!
Face to face --- to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, who loves me s. --- Breck
JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR US AND PREPARING US FOR THAT PLACE.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Leave It Buried
Read: Colossians 2:6-14
I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. --- Jeremiah 31:34
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 1-2
Luke 14:1-24
A 10-year-old boy wanted to be a pastor when he grew up. One day, when the family's black cat died, he had an opportunity to do some "practice preaching" by conducting a funeral.
The boy found a shoebox and put the kitten inside it. When he placed the cover on the box, however, the tail wouldn't fit it. So he cut a hole in the lid so that the long furry tail could stick out. Then re rounded up his friends, preached a short sermon he had carefully prepared, and buried the cat in a shallow grave.
When the service was over, he noticed that the tip of the pet's tail was still sticking out of the ground. Every 2 or 3 days curiosity would get the better of him, and he would secretly pull up the cat by the tail and then rebury it. Eventually the tail came off, and the body finally remained buried!
How many of us do this with our forgiven sins? We confess our sins, but we continue to drag them up and weep over them, even though God considers the ugly things buried once and for all [Jeremiah 31:34; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9]. As a result, we are not joyful or productive in our Christian life and service.
Please --- leave the "cat" buried! --- Henry Bosch
God has buried my sins where no mortal can see;
He has cast all of them in the depths of the sea ---
In the deep, silent depths, far away from the shore
Where they never may rise up to trouble me more. --- Anon.
THE ONLY SURE PLACE TO BURY SIN IS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. --- Jeremiah 31:34
The Bible In One Year:
2 Samuel 1-2
Luke 14:1-24
A 10-year-old boy wanted to be a pastor when he grew up. One day, when the family's black cat died, he had an opportunity to do some "practice preaching" by conducting a funeral.
The boy found a shoebox and put the kitten inside it. When he placed the cover on the box, however, the tail wouldn't fit it. So he cut a hole in the lid so that the long furry tail could stick out. Then re rounded up his friends, preached a short sermon he had carefully prepared, and buried the cat in a shallow grave.
When the service was over, he noticed that the tip of the pet's tail was still sticking out of the ground. Every 2 or 3 days curiosity would get the better of him, and he would secretly pull up the cat by the tail and then rebury it. Eventually the tail came off, and the body finally remained buried!
How many of us do this with our forgiven sins? We confess our sins, but we continue to drag them up and weep over them, even though God considers the ugly things buried once and for all [Jeremiah 31:34; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9]. As a result, we are not joyful or productive in our Christian life and service.
Please --- leave the "cat" buried! --- Henry Bosch
God has buried my sins where no mortal can see;
He has cast all of them in the depths of the sea ---
In the deep, silent depths, far away from the shore
Where they never may rise up to trouble me more. --- Anon.
THE ONLY SURE PLACE TO BURY SIN IS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Flee!
Read: James 4:1-10
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. --- James 4:7
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 30-31
Luke 13:23-35
I didn't see the movie The Exorcist, but I do recall its impact on my community. It left a lasting impression on many people about Satan's power. Even many Christians began to live in fear, swayed by the vivid images of evil. It seemed as if the devil was almost as powerful as God.
Is this perspective biblically sound? Of course not. God is the Creator, and all others, includind demons, are just created beings. Only God is almighty.
It's easy to blame the devil when things go wrong. Although he does propagate wickedness and sin, we must be careful not to conclude that we are powerless against him. We are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit within us "is greater than he who is in the world" [I John 4:4].
The Bible also says we have a role to play in overcoming evil and doing what is good. We are to "flee sexual immorality" [1 Corinthians 6:18-20], "flee frm idolatry" [10:14], "flee" from the love of money [1 Timothy 6:10-11], and "flee also youthfuls lusts" [2 Timothy 2:22].
James said that our attitude toward the devil should be to "resist" him [James 4:7]. How do we do this? By submitting ourselves to God, allowing Him to direct our lives. Then it will be the devil who will flee from us. --- Albert Lee
When Satan launches his attack,
We must take heart and pray;
If we submit ourselves to God,
He'll be our strength each day. --- Sper
TO DEFEAT SATAN, SURRENDER TO CHRIST.
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. --- James 4:7
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 30-31
Luke 13:23-35
I didn't see the movie The Exorcist, but I do recall its impact on my community. It left a lasting impression on many people about Satan's power. Even many Christians began to live in fear, swayed by the vivid images of evil. It seemed as if the devil was almost as powerful as God.
Is this perspective biblically sound? Of course not. God is the Creator, and all others, includind demons, are just created beings. Only God is almighty.
It's easy to blame the devil when things go wrong. Although he does propagate wickedness and sin, we must be careful not to conclude that we are powerless against him. We are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit within us "is greater than he who is in the world" [I John 4:4].
The Bible also says we have a role to play in overcoming evil and doing what is good. We are to "flee sexual immorality" [1 Corinthians 6:18-20], "flee frm idolatry" [10:14], "flee" from the love of money [1 Timothy 6:10-11], and "flee also youthfuls lusts" [2 Timothy 2:22].
James said that our attitude toward the devil should be to "resist" him [James 4:7]. How do we do this? By submitting ourselves to God, allowing Him to direct our lives. Then it will be the devil who will flee from us. --- Albert Lee
When Satan launches his attack,
We must take heart and pray;
If we submit ourselves to God,
He'll be our strength each day. --- Sper
TO DEFEAT SATAN, SURRENDER TO CHRIST.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Tongue That Defiles
Read: James 3:5-12
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. --- Proverbs 13:3
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 27-29
Luke 13:1-22
My words have an effect on others; they also have an effect on me. When I speak evil, I not only reveal the sin in my own heart [Luke 6:45], I also reinforce that evil and cause it to grow. Jesus said it's not what goes into my mouth that defiles me, but what comes out. James put it another way: "The tongue ... defiles the whole body" [James 3:6]. My untamed tongue corrupts me.
On the other hand, when I refuse to give expression to impure, unkind, ungodly thoughts, I begin to choke and strangle the evil in my soul.
That's why the wise man said in Proverbs 13:3 that we must guard our mouth. When we do that, we starve the evil that is gnawing insidiously at the root of our soul. Do we want to put an end to the evil that so easily rises within us? With God's help, we must learn to control our tongue.
You may say, "I've tried to, but I have no power to subdue it." James agreed: "No man can tame the tongue" [James 3:8]. But Jesus can. Ask Him to "keep watch" over your mouth [Psalm 141:3], and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him.
Let's echo the prayer of the hymn by Frances Havergal: "Take my lips and let them be filled with messages for Thee." --- David Roper
Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
My tongue control today;
Help me evaluate each thought
And watch each word I say. --- Hess
WHOEVER GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND TONGUE KEEPS HIS SOUL FROM TROUBLES. --- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. --- Proverbs 13:3
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 27-29
Luke 13:1-22
My words have an effect on others; they also have an effect on me. When I speak evil, I not only reveal the sin in my own heart [Luke 6:45], I also reinforce that evil and cause it to grow. Jesus said it's not what goes into my mouth that defiles me, but what comes out. James put it another way: "The tongue ... defiles the whole body" [James 3:6]. My untamed tongue corrupts me.
On the other hand, when I refuse to give expression to impure, unkind, ungodly thoughts, I begin to choke and strangle the evil in my soul.
That's why the wise man said in Proverbs 13:3 that we must guard our mouth. When we do that, we starve the evil that is gnawing insidiously at the root of our soul. Do we want to put an end to the evil that so easily rises within us? With God's help, we must learn to control our tongue.
You may say, "I've tried to, but I have no power to subdue it." James agreed: "No man can tame the tongue" [James 3:8]. But Jesus can. Ask Him to "keep watch" over your mouth [Psalm 141:3], and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him.
Let's echo the prayer of the hymn by Frances Havergal: "Take my lips and let them be filled with messages for Thee." --- David Roper
Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
My tongue control today;
Help me evaluate each thought
And watch each word I say. --- Hess
WHOEVER GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND TONGUE KEEPS HIS SOUL FROM TROUBLES. --- Proverbs 21:23
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Faithfulness Required
Read: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, 14-20
It is required in stewards that one be found faithful. --- 1 Corinthians 4:2
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 25-26
Luke 12:32-59
Much of our attention and praise is directed toward highly visible and successful people. But occasionally we read about an ordinary, obscure person being honored for many years of faithful service. It may be a school custodian, a cafeteria worker, a handy-man, or a clerk in a store who has served others in a dependable and unselfish way.
That kind of reliability often goes unnoticed, but I believe it's a powerful picture of how we are to live. Although consistency may not be flashy, days add up to a life of great significance to God.
Paul wrote, "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful" [1 Corinthians 4:2]. If we live faithfully for Christ, God has promised to reward us at His appointed time. When the Lord comes, He "will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God" [v.5].
When we long for success, God says, "I will reward you."
When we ache for recognition, God says, "I see you."
When we are ready to quit, God says, "I will help you."
Whether our service is public or private, our responsibility is the same --- to be faithful. --- David McCasland
In all the little things of life,
Yourself, Lord, may I see;
In little and in great alike,
Help me to faithful be! --- Anon.
GOD DOESN'T ASK US TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUT TO BE FAITHFUL.
It is required in stewards that one be found faithful. --- 1 Corinthians 4:2
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 25-26
Luke 12:32-59
Much of our attention and praise is directed toward highly visible and successful people. But occasionally we read about an ordinary, obscure person being honored for many years of faithful service. It may be a school custodian, a cafeteria worker, a handy-man, or a clerk in a store who has served others in a dependable and unselfish way.
That kind of reliability often goes unnoticed, but I believe it's a powerful picture of how we are to live. Although consistency may not be flashy, days add up to a life of great significance to God.
Paul wrote, "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful" [1 Corinthians 4:2]. If we live faithfully for Christ, God has promised to reward us at His appointed time. When the Lord comes, He "will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God" [v.5].
When we long for success, God says, "I will reward you."
When we ache for recognition, God says, "I see you."
When we are ready to quit, God says, "I will help you."
Whether our service is public or private, our responsibility is the same --- to be faithful. --- David McCasland
In all the little things of life,
Yourself, Lord, may I see;
In little and in great alike,
Help me to faithful be! --- Anon.
GOD DOESN'T ASK US TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUT TO BE FAITHFUL.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Finding God
Read: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10
If you seek Him, He will be found by you. --- 1 Chronicles 28:9
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 22-24
Luke 12:1-31
Tourists rarely take great photographs. They seldom make the effort to be at the right spot at the right time to get the right angle of light in the right weather conditions. To capture beautiful outdoor pictures, professional photographers are careful to view th scene from different angles, during different seasons, and at different time of day.
This makes me wonder if the reason some people don't have a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God is that they make snap judgments. They come to wrong conclusions about God based on a bad church experience, or an encounter with someone who claims to be a Christian but isn't living like one. They misjudge what the Lord is like and turn away from Him, feeling disillusioned.
The pursuit of God involves more than casual observation. King David told his son Solomon, "If you seek Him, He will be found by you" [1 Chronicles 28;9]. The psalmist said, "Blessed are those who ... seek Him with the whole heart!" [Psalm 119:2]. And the author of Hebrews wrote that God rewards "those who diligently seek Him" [11:6].
To see and know God in all His fullness and glory, we can't approach Him like tourists. We need to seek Him at all times, with all our heart. --- Julie Ackerman Link
Lord, I am seeking You with all my heart,
With all my soul and all my mind;
For wondrous blessings You alone impart ---
In seeking I will surely find. --- Hess
TO FIND GOD, WE MUST BE WILLING TO SEEK HIM.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you. --- 1 Chronicles 28:9
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 22-24
Luke 12:1-31
Tourists rarely take great photographs. They seldom make the effort to be at the right spot at the right time to get the right angle of light in the right weather conditions. To capture beautiful outdoor pictures, professional photographers are careful to view th scene from different angles, during different seasons, and at different time of day.
This makes me wonder if the reason some people don't have a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God is that they make snap judgments. They come to wrong conclusions about God based on a bad church experience, or an encounter with someone who claims to be a Christian but isn't living like one. They misjudge what the Lord is like and turn away from Him, feeling disillusioned.
The pursuit of God involves more than casual observation. King David told his son Solomon, "If you seek Him, He will be found by you" [1 Chronicles 28;9]. The psalmist said, "Blessed are those who ... seek Him with the whole heart!" [Psalm 119:2]. And the author of Hebrews wrote that God rewards "those who diligently seek Him" [11:6].
To see and know God in all His fullness and glory, we can't approach Him like tourists. We need to seek Him at all times, with all our heart. --- Julie Ackerman Link
Lord, I am seeking You with all my heart,
With all my soul and all my mind;
For wondrous blessings You alone impart ---
In seeking I will surely find. --- Hess
TO FIND GOD, WE MUST BE WILLING TO SEEK HIM.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Loss And Gain
Read: Luke 24:13-35
Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. --- Luke 24:31
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 19-21
Luke 11:29-54
A Texas high school football team began the 2002 season with a 57-game winning streak and hopes for an unprecedented fifth consecutive state championship. In spite of losing their longtime coach and competing against larger schools, the Celina Bobcats remained undefeated through the regular season. But then they lost a quarter-final playoff game by one point. It felt like the end of the world --- even though they had won 68 straight games and 5 state championships in 7 years.
When our dreams are shattered and our hearts are broken, we may feel that all has been lost and nothing has been gained. It takes the touch of God to open our eyes to the greater glory of His plan.
When the crucified and risen Christ joined two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were grieving over His death. "We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeed Israel" [Luke 24:21], they told Jesus, whom they didn't recognize. But Jesus said, "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" [v.26]. Later they realized they had been talking with Jesus. He was alive!
In our time of loss, the risen Lord comes to us with comfort and peace, revealing His glory and the eternal gain that is ours because of His cross. --- David McCasland
When circumstances overwhelm
And seem too much to bear,
Depend upon the Lord for strength
And trust His tender care. --- Sper
PRESENT PAINS CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT GAINS.
Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. --- Luke 24:31
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 19-21
Luke 11:29-54
A Texas high school football team began the 2002 season with a 57-game winning streak and hopes for an unprecedented fifth consecutive state championship. In spite of losing their longtime coach and competing against larger schools, the Celina Bobcats remained undefeated through the regular season. But then they lost a quarter-final playoff game by one point. It felt like the end of the world --- even though they had won 68 straight games and 5 state championships in 7 years.
When our dreams are shattered and our hearts are broken, we may feel that all has been lost and nothing has been gained. It takes the touch of God to open our eyes to the greater glory of His plan.
When the crucified and risen Christ joined two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were grieving over His death. "We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeed Israel" [Luke 24:21], they told Jesus, whom they didn't recognize. But Jesus said, "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" [v.26]. Later they realized they had been talking with Jesus. He was alive!
In our time of loss, the risen Lord comes to us with comfort and peace, revealing His glory and the eternal gain that is ours because of His cross. --- David McCasland
When circumstances overwhelm
And seem too much to bear,
Depend upon the Lord for strength
And trust His tender care. --- Sper
PRESENT PAINS CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT GAINS.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
A Sure Hope
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. --- 1 Corinthians 15:20
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 17-18
Luke 11:1-28
Konrad Adenauer, former chancellor of West Germany, said, "If Jesus Christ is alive, then there is hope for the world. If not, I don't see the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon." Then he added, 'I believe Christ's resurrection to be one of the best-attested facts of history."
Christ's resurrection and ours go together. So reasoned the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. And if Christ didn't rise from the grave, what's left? Empty preaching [v.14], false witnesses [v.15], a futile faith [v.17], unforgiven sins [v.17], no life after death [v.18], and hopelessness [v.19].
But Christ did rise from the grave. Paul asserted the proof for the resurrection in verses 1 through 11, listing many credible witnesses who saw the risen Lord: Peter [v.5], 500 people [v.6], all the apostles [v.7], and Paul himself [v.8].
When the Greek philosopher Socrates lay dying, his friends asked, "Shall we live again?" He could only say, "I hope so." In contrast, the night before author and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was beheaded, he wrote in his Bible, "From this earth, this grave, this dust, my God shall raise me up."
If we trust in Christ as our Savior, we won't say, "I hope so" about our own resurrection. Jesus' resurrection gives us a sure hope. --- Dennis De Haan
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the Judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home. --- Wesley
CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR OWN.
Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. --- 1 Corinthians 15:20
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 17-18
Luke 11:1-28
Konrad Adenauer, former chancellor of West Germany, said, "If Jesus Christ is alive, then there is hope for the world. If not, I don't see the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon." Then he added, 'I believe Christ's resurrection to be one of the best-attested facts of history."
Christ's resurrection and ours go together. So reasoned the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. And if Christ didn't rise from the grave, what's left? Empty preaching [v.14], false witnesses [v.15], a futile faith [v.17], unforgiven sins [v.17], no life after death [v.18], and hopelessness [v.19].
But Christ did rise from the grave. Paul asserted the proof for the resurrection in verses 1 through 11, listing many credible witnesses who saw the risen Lord: Peter [v.5], 500 people [v.6], all the apostles [v.7], and Paul himself [v.8].
When the Greek philosopher Socrates lay dying, his friends asked, "Shall we live again?" He could only say, "I hope so." In contrast, the night before author and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was beheaded, he wrote in his Bible, "From this earth, this grave, this dust, my God shall raise me up."
If we trust in Christ as our Savior, we won't say, "I hope so" about our own resurrection. Jesus' resurrection gives us a sure hope. --- Dennis De Haan
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord the Judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home. --- Wesley
CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS THE GUARANTEE OF OUR OWN.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Make Peace
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
God ... has given us the ministry of reconciliation. --- 2 Corinthians 5:18
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 15-16
Luke 10:25-42
It was a dramatic story of forgiveness. In December of 2000, on the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a dozen American survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor embraced three of the Japanese pilots who had flown attacking planes. The reconciliation ceremony had been arranged by the American-Japan Friendship Committee.
That moving scene is only a dim reflection of what God's grace does for us. Although we are sinful, we can be brought into a relationship with God through simple faith in Jesus. Because He died on the cross in our place, God blots out the record of our sins and makes us right with Him.
The Lord in His amazing love has not only forgiven us but has also given to us "the ministry of reconciliation" [2 Corinthians 5:18]. We have the honor of sharing the good news with others so that they too can be at peace with God. And when we are right with God, we are also to do what we can to live at peace with everyone [Romans 12:18].
Have you accepted God's offer of forgiveness in Christ? Are you telling others about His love? And are you an agent of God's grace in your relationships? Start today --- make peace. --- Vernon Grounds
God has a purpose and plan for your life
When from your sin He has given release;
You're an ambassador for Jesus Christ ---
Go and tell others of His perfect peace. --- Hess.
WHEN WE EXPERIENCE PEACE WITH GOD, WE CAN SHARE HIS PEACE WITH OTHERS.
God ... has given us the ministry of reconciliation. --- 2 Corinthians 5:18
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 15-16
Luke 10:25-42
It was a dramatic story of forgiveness. In December of 2000, on the Battleship Missouri Memorial, a dozen American survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor embraced three of the Japanese pilots who had flown attacking planes. The reconciliation ceremony had been arranged by the American-Japan Friendship Committee.
That moving scene is only a dim reflection of what God's grace does for us. Although we are sinful, we can be brought into a relationship with God through simple faith in Jesus. Because He died on the cross in our place, God blots out the record of our sins and makes us right with Him.
The Lord in His amazing love has not only forgiven us but has also given to us "the ministry of reconciliation" [2 Corinthians 5:18]. We have the honor of sharing the good news with others so that they too can be at peace with God. And when we are right with God, we are also to do what we can to live at peace with everyone [Romans 12:18].
Have you accepted God's offer of forgiveness in Christ? Are you telling others about His love? And are you an agent of God's grace in your relationships? Start today --- make peace. --- Vernon Grounds
God has a purpose and plan for your life
When from your sin He has given release;
You're an ambassador for Jesus Christ ---
Go and tell others of His perfect peace. --- Hess.
WHEN WE EXPERIENCE PEACE WITH GOD, WE CAN SHARE HIS PEACE WITH OTHERS.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Three Crosses
Read: Luke 23:32-38
They crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. --- Luke 23:33
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 13-14
Luke 10:1-24
In many paintings of the crucifixion of Jesus, the center cross on which He hung is taller or higher on a hill than the other two. We can appreciate an artist's desire to give Christ a place of preeminence, but we have no reason to believe that Jesus was given an elevated or exalted position --- higher than that of the two thieves. Those who crucified Jesus considered Him to be a common criminal, so the crosses were most likely on the same level.
As I think about this, I realize that Jesus was not out of reach --- way above the poor sinners on the other crosses. I also think it is likely that the three crosses were very close together. The two thieves could carry on a conversation with each other above the shouting and tumult of the mob around them. In fact, if the dying thief's hand had not been nailed to the cross, he might very wll have been able to reach over and put his hand on Jesus' hand. This I believe is significant. Jesus is within reach of all who will look to Him and touch Him with the hand of faith!
Yes, anyone can come to Him and receive forgiveness and new life. Have you reached out in faith to the One who died on a cross for you? --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
They nailed His hands, they pierced His brow
As they cried with a fiendish glee,
"If Thou be the Son of God, come down!"
But He stayed on the cross for me! --- Crooks
NOTHING SPEAKS MORE CLEARLY OF GOD'S LOVE THAN THE CROSS.
They crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. --- Luke 23:33
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 13-14
Luke 10:1-24
In many paintings of the crucifixion of Jesus, the center cross on which He hung is taller or higher on a hill than the other two. We can appreciate an artist's desire to give Christ a place of preeminence, but we have no reason to believe that Jesus was given an elevated or exalted position --- higher than that of the two thieves. Those who crucified Jesus considered Him to be a common criminal, so the crosses were most likely on the same level.
As I think about this, I realize that Jesus was not out of reach --- way above the poor sinners on the other crosses. I also think it is likely that the three crosses were very close together. The two thieves could carry on a conversation with each other above the shouting and tumult of the mob around them. In fact, if the dying thief's hand had not been nailed to the cross, he might very wll have been able to reach over and put his hand on Jesus' hand. This I believe is significant. Jesus is within reach of all who will look to Him and touch Him with the hand of faith!
Yes, anyone can come to Him and receive forgiveness and new life. Have you reached out in faith to the One who died on a cross for you? --- M.R. De Haan, M.D.
They nailed His hands, they pierced His brow
As they cried with a fiendish glee,
"If Thou be the Son of God, come down!"
But He stayed on the cross for me! --- Crooks
NOTHING SPEAKS MORE CLEARLY OF GOD'S LOVE THAN THE CROSS.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Bearing His Cross
Read: Mark 15:16-21
They compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross. --- Mark 15:21
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 10-12
Luke 9:37-62
In the eyes of most people in the crowd, Jesus was a common criminal going to the place of execution. So to help Him bear His cross was both degrading and humiliating.
Simon of Cyrene was pressed into this service [Mark 15:21]. Yet this was perhaps the most glorious day in his life. It is possible that he believed in the Savior, adn that his wife and children did also. Some Bible teachers come to that conclusion because many years later, when the apostle Paul sent his greetings to the Christians in Rome, he referred to a man named Rufus and his mother [Romans 16:13]. I believe that he was the son of Simon mentioned by Mark in his gospel [15:21], which probably was written in Rome. This is likely the reason Mark said that Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander.
When we walk with Jesus and "take up the cross" [Luke 9:23], we too will experience the ridicule of the world for identifying ourselves with the Savior. Yet through it all, like Simon of Cyrene, our lives will be transformed, and our testimony will have an influence on the lives of family and friends around us.
Simon was "compelled" to bear the cross [Mark 15:21], but Jesus invites us to take up our cross. Have you? --- Henry Bosch
"Take up thy cross and follow Me,"
I hear the blessed Savior call;
How can I make a lesser sacrifice
When Jesus gave His all? -- Ackley
FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS MORE THAN ANYTHING --- EXCEPT NOT FOLLOWING HIM.
They compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross. --- Mark 15:21
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 10-12
Luke 9:37-62
In the eyes of most people in the crowd, Jesus was a common criminal going to the place of execution. So to help Him bear His cross was both degrading and humiliating.
Simon of Cyrene was pressed into this service [Mark 15:21]. Yet this was perhaps the most glorious day in his life. It is possible that he believed in the Savior, adn that his wife and children did also. Some Bible teachers come to that conclusion because many years later, when the apostle Paul sent his greetings to the Christians in Rome, he referred to a man named Rufus and his mother [Romans 16:13]. I believe that he was the son of Simon mentioned by Mark in his gospel [15:21], which probably was written in Rome. This is likely the reason Mark said that Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander.
When we walk with Jesus and "take up the cross" [Luke 9:23], we too will experience the ridicule of the world for identifying ourselves with the Savior. Yet through it all, like Simon of Cyrene, our lives will be transformed, and our testimony will have an influence on the lives of family and friends around us.
Simon was "compelled" to bear the cross [Mark 15:21], but Jesus invites us to take up our cross. Have you? --- Henry Bosch
"Take up thy cross and follow Me,"
I hear the blessed Savior call;
How can I make a lesser sacrifice
When Jesus gave His all? -- Ackley
FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS MORE THAN ANYTHING --- EXCEPT NOT FOLLOWING HIM.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Keep On Asking
Read: Luke 11:1-13
I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. --- Luke 11:9
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 7-9
Luke 9:18-36
I heard a woman say that she never prayed more than once for anything. She didn't want to weary God with her repeated requests.
The Lord's teaching on prayer in Luke 11 contradicts this notion. He told a parable about a man who went to his friend's house at midnight and asked for some bread to feed his unexpected visitors. At first the friend refused, for he and his family were in bed. Finally he got up and gave him the bread --- not out of friendship but because the caller was so persistent [vv.5-10].
Jesus used this parable to contrast this reluctant friend with our generous heavenly Father. If an irritated neighbor will give in to his friend's persistence and grant his request, how much more readily will our heavenly Father give us all we need!
It's true that God, in His great wisdom, may sometimes delay His answers to prayer. It's also true that we must pray in harmony with the Scriptures and God's will. But Jesus moved beyond those facts to urge us to persist in prayer. He told us to ask, seek, and knock until the answer comes [v.9].
So don't worry about wearying God. He will never tire of your persistent prayer! --- Joanie Yoder
Don't think true prayer escapes God's ears,
He hears your every plea;
Though hope's deferred, believe --- believe!
The answer you will see. --- Anon.
GOD NEVER TIRES OF OUR ASKING.
I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. --- Luke 11:9
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 7-9
Luke 9:18-36
I heard a woman say that she never prayed more than once for anything. She didn't want to weary God with her repeated requests.
The Lord's teaching on prayer in Luke 11 contradicts this notion. He told a parable about a man who went to his friend's house at midnight and asked for some bread to feed his unexpected visitors. At first the friend refused, for he and his family were in bed. Finally he got up and gave him the bread --- not out of friendship but because the caller was so persistent [vv.5-10].
Jesus used this parable to contrast this reluctant friend with our generous heavenly Father. If an irritated neighbor will give in to his friend's persistence and grant his request, how much more readily will our heavenly Father give us all we need!
It's true that God, in His great wisdom, may sometimes delay His answers to prayer. It's also true that we must pray in harmony with the Scriptures and God's will. But Jesus moved beyond those facts to urge us to persist in prayer. He told us to ask, seek, and knock until the answer comes [v.9].
So don't worry about wearying God. He will never tire of your persistent prayer! --- Joanie Yoder
Don't think true prayer escapes God's ears,
He hears your every plea;
Though hope's deferred, believe --- believe!
The answer you will see. --- Anon.
GOD NEVER TIRES OF OUR ASKING.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Valley Of The Shadow
Read: Psalm 23
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. --- Psalm 23:4
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 4-6
Luke 9:1-17
Darkness upon darkness. Sorrow upon sorrow. Pain upon pain. Anguish upon anguish. That's death.
Death is a fearful visitor, snatching away people who are precious to us and leaving us behind to mourn, grieve, and wonder. It blocks the light that before had shined so freely and easily on our lives.
Whether we're facing the prospect of dying, or dealing with the death of a loved one, death can be devastating. It can sap our energy, change our plans, overwhelm our soul, alter our outlook, test our faith, steal our joy, and challenge our assumptions about life's purposes.
When we walk through the deep valley, we feel swallowed up by the shadow and come face-to-face with fear. The frantic emptiness of our loss threatens the comfort that previously originated from our trust in God, and so we grow afraid. Afraid of our future. Afraid to enjoy life again.
Yet in that valley, under that shadow, we can say to the Lord, "I will fear no evil; for You are with me" [Psalm 23:4]. His loving arms never let us go. He is always with us.
Slowly at first, but most assuredly, He provides comfort and release from the darkness. He gives light. He leads us out. Eventually, we escape the valley of the shadow. --- Dave Branon
We need not ponder death with fear,
Though what's ahead we cannot see;
For we who put our faith in Christ
Look forward to eternity. --- Sper
DEATH SEPARATES US FOR A TIME; CHRIST WILL REUNITE US FOREVER.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. --- Psalm 23:4
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 4-6
Luke 9:1-17
Darkness upon darkness. Sorrow upon sorrow. Pain upon pain. Anguish upon anguish. That's death.
Death is a fearful visitor, snatching away people who are precious to us and leaving us behind to mourn, grieve, and wonder. It blocks the light that before had shined so freely and easily on our lives.
Whether we're facing the prospect of dying, or dealing with the death of a loved one, death can be devastating. It can sap our energy, change our plans, overwhelm our soul, alter our outlook, test our faith, steal our joy, and challenge our assumptions about life's purposes.
When we walk through the deep valley, we feel swallowed up by the shadow and come face-to-face with fear. The frantic emptiness of our loss threatens the comfort that previously originated from our trust in God, and so we grow afraid. Afraid of our future. Afraid to enjoy life again.
Yet in that valley, under that shadow, we can say to the Lord, "I will fear no evil; for You are with me" [Psalm 23:4]. His loving arms never let us go. He is always with us.
Slowly at first, but most assuredly, He provides comfort and release from the darkness. He gives light. He leads us out. Eventually, we escape the valley of the shadow. --- Dave Branon
We need not ponder death with fear,
Though what's ahead we cannot see;
For we who put our faith in Christ
Look forward to eternity. --- Sper
DEATH SEPARATES US FOR A TIME; CHRIST WILL REUNITE US FOREVER.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Love That Lifts
Read: Psalm 40:1-3
They called upon the LORD, and He answered them. --- Psalm 99:6
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 1-3
Luke 8:26-56
When King David looked back on his life, he remembered some painful experiences. In Psalm 40, he recalled one especially severe difficulty, a time when he felt as if he had sunk deep into "the miry clay" [v.2].
In his despair David kept pleading with God for deliverance, and graciously the Lord answered his desperate cries. Lifting him out of the "horrible pit," He set his feet on solid ground [v.2]. No wonder David broke out into this hymn of praise and gratitude!
As you look back on your own life, do you remember any experience when you felt as if you had fallen into a pit? Perhaps it was the pit of failure, the pit of bereavement, the pit of painful illness, the pit of dark doubt, the pit of some persistent sin. Did you keep crying out to God, and did He mercifully deliver you?
If so, are you still praising the Lord for that answer to your cries and thanking Him for His grace? And are you now walking with Him in obedient fellowship?
You can confidently trust the Lord to help you in whatever experience comes your way in the days ahead. Rejoice that in His time He can --- and will --- bring you through and bring you out. --- Vernon Grounds
Why must I bear this pain? I cannot tell;
I only know my Lord does all things well.
And so I trust in God, my all in all,
For He will bring me through, whate'er befall. --- Smith
GOD CAN BRING SHOWERS OF BLESSING OUT OF STORMS OF ADVERSITY.
They called upon the LORD, and He answered them. --- Psalm 99:6
The Bible In One Year:
1 Samuel 1-3
Luke 8:26-56
When King David looked back on his life, he remembered some painful experiences. In Psalm 40, he recalled one especially severe difficulty, a time when he felt as if he had sunk deep into "the miry clay" [v.2].
In his despair David kept pleading with God for deliverance, and graciously the Lord answered his desperate cries. Lifting him out of the "horrible pit," He set his feet on solid ground [v.2]. No wonder David broke out into this hymn of praise and gratitude!
As you look back on your own life, do you remember any experience when you felt as if you had fallen into a pit? Perhaps it was the pit of failure, the pit of bereavement, the pit of painful illness, the pit of dark doubt, the pit of some persistent sin. Did you keep crying out to God, and did He mercifully deliver you?
If so, are you still praising the Lord for that answer to your cries and thanking Him for His grace? And are you now walking with Him in obedient fellowship?
You can confidently trust the Lord to help you in whatever experience comes your way in the days ahead. Rejoice that in His time He can --- and will --- bring you through and bring you out. --- Vernon Grounds
Why must I bear this pain? I cannot tell;
I only know my Lord does all things well.
And so I trust in God, my all in all,
For He will bring me through, whate'er befall. --- Smith
GOD CAN BRING SHOWERS OF BLESSING OUT OF STORMS OF ADVERSITY.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
The Stones Cry Out
Read: Luke 19:29-40
If these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. --- Luke 19:40
The Bible In One Year:
Ruth 1-4
Luke 8:1-25
I received a letter from a woman who told me she had grown up in a troubled home. At an early age she ran away, began a life of crime, and spent time in jail. Later, ensnared by drugs, she felt that the only way out of her sin-darkened life was suicide.
At that point, because of the witness of two women who told her about Jesus, she put her trust in the Savior and found a reason for living. Soon she wanted to tell others about Jesus. She had some artistic ability, so she began to paint Bible verses and spiritual sayings on smooth stones she collected from beaches. She sold them and used the money to aid missionary causes. Those stones were her way of telling others about Jesus.
This woman's story reminds me of what Jesus said as He approached Jerusalem a few days before His crucifixion. The multitude declared, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!" [Luke 19:38]. When the Pharisees told Jesus to quiet the crowd, He said that if the people were silenced, even the stones would cry out [v.40].
Of course, Jesus wasn't talking about painted stones, but it is still true that even if our verbal witness is silenced, there are all sorts of ways to tell others about Christ. What "stones" can you use to tell others of your Savior and King? --- Henry Bosch
Through transformed eyes, Lord, help us see
A world of people in despair,
And help us reach them with Your love,
To show them that we really care. --- Sper
I'M JUST A NOBODY TELLING EVERYBODY ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO CAN SAVE ANYBODY!
If these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. --- Luke 19:40
The Bible In One Year:
Ruth 1-4
Luke 8:1-25
I received a letter from a woman who told me she had grown up in a troubled home. At an early age she ran away, began a life of crime, and spent time in jail. Later, ensnared by drugs, she felt that the only way out of her sin-darkened life was suicide.
At that point, because of the witness of two women who told her about Jesus, she put her trust in the Savior and found a reason for living. Soon she wanted to tell others about Jesus. She had some artistic ability, so she began to paint Bible verses and spiritual sayings on smooth stones she collected from beaches. She sold them and used the money to aid missionary causes. Those stones were her way of telling others about Jesus.
This woman's story reminds me of what Jesus said as He approached Jerusalem a few days before His crucifixion. The multitude declared, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!" [Luke 19:38]. When the Pharisees told Jesus to quiet the crowd, He said that if the people were silenced, even the stones would cry out [v.40].
Of course, Jesus wasn't talking about painted stones, but it is still true that even if our verbal witness is silenced, there are all sorts of ways to tell others about Christ. What "stones" can you use to tell others of your Savior and King? --- Henry Bosch
Through transformed eyes, Lord, help us see
A world of people in despair,
And help us reach them with Your love,
To show them that we really care. --- Sper
I'M JUST A NOBODY TELLING EVERYBODY ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO CAN SAVE ANYBODY!
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Chess Master
Read: Isaiah 48:17-22
He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out. --- Isaiah 48:21
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 19-21
Luke 7:31-50
An intriguing painting is on display in the Louvre in Paris. it portrays Faust [the legendary German magician who bartered away his soul to the devil] sitting across from Satan at a chessboard. Satan is gloating over what appears to be the checkmate of Faust's king. The magician's expression is that of a beaten man.
According to an often told story, a famous chess master visited the gallery one day and studied the painting with great care. All at once he startled everyone around him by shouting excitedly, "It's a lie! It's a lie! The king and the knight have another move."
Isaiah assure the people of Judah that God always provides a way of escape. Although they would be deported to Babylon because of their sinfulness, Isaiah prophesied that a future day of release would come when they would have to leave hurriedly. But they wouldn't have to worry. Just as God has provided water for the Israelites in the desert, He would also provide for them on their long trek homeward.
Many of us have experienced situations that appeared hopeless. We saw no way out, but we prayed and God opened a way. He made that "impossible" move. We can trust Him. He can never be checkmated. --- Herb Vander Lugt
When problems seem impossible
And we can't face another day,
The Lord extends His helping hand
And shows us He can make a way. --- Sper
GOD IS THE ONLY KING WHO CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED.
He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out. --- Isaiah 48:21
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 19-21
Luke 7:31-50
An intriguing painting is on display in the Louvre in Paris. it portrays Faust [the legendary German magician who bartered away his soul to the devil] sitting across from Satan at a chessboard. Satan is gloating over what appears to be the checkmate of Faust's king. The magician's expression is that of a beaten man.
According to an often told story, a famous chess master visited the gallery one day and studied the painting with great care. All at once he startled everyone around him by shouting excitedly, "It's a lie! It's a lie! The king and the knight have another move."
Isaiah assure the people of Judah that God always provides a way of escape. Although they would be deported to Babylon because of their sinfulness, Isaiah prophesied that a future day of release would come when they would have to leave hurriedly. But they wouldn't have to worry. Just as God has provided water for the Israelites in the desert, He would also provide for them on their long trek homeward.
Many of us have experienced situations that appeared hopeless. We saw no way out, but we prayed and God opened a way. He made that "impossible" move. We can trust Him. He can never be checkmated. --- Herb Vander Lugt
When problems seem impossible
And we can't face another day,
The Lord extends His helping hand
And shows us He can make a way. --- Sper
GOD IS THE ONLY KING WHO CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED.
Two Realms
Read: John 10:1-18
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. --- John 10:10
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 16-18
Luke 7:1-30
How sad it is when a family watches a child walk away from the faith in which he or she grew up. And worst of all is to see sadness replace the joy that child once had.
One woman saw her daughter go from loving and trusting God to a life of sin and rebellion --- but then back to the joy of a walk with Jesus. The daughter's sad, empty expressions during her time of running from God changed to an open, joyful happiness when she returned to fellowship with Him. The mother said the difference was like turning on a light that dispelled the darkness.
In John 10:10, we readof the contrast between the joy of life with Jesus and the anxiety of life in the realm of Satan. He comes deceptively as an "angel of light" [2 Corinthians 11:14], but he wants to ruin us. He is described as a thief who steals, kills, and destroys. But Jesus is presented as the One who gives life --- abundant life.
These two realms are constantly in a battle for our hearts. We have this choice: the light of life with Jesus or the depts of darkness in the devil's lair. Life or death? Light or darkness? Contentment or anxiety? Both realms beckon us.
Whom will you choose to trust with your life? The thief or the Savior? --- Dave Branon
The devil is subtle, deceptive, and sly ---
He's clever and tricks us to swallow his lie;
But his cunning methods we're sure to discern
If we make God's warnings our daily concern. --- D. De Haan
GOD'S TRUTH IS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SATAN'S LIES.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. --- John 10:10
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 16-18
Luke 7:1-30
How sad it is when a family watches a child walk away from the faith in which he or she grew up. And worst of all is to see sadness replace the joy that child once had.
One woman saw her daughter go from loving and trusting God to a life of sin and rebellion --- but then back to the joy of a walk with Jesus. The daughter's sad, empty expressions during her time of running from God changed to an open, joyful happiness when she returned to fellowship with Him. The mother said the difference was like turning on a light that dispelled the darkness.
In John 10:10, we readof the contrast between the joy of life with Jesus and the anxiety of life in the realm of Satan. He comes deceptively as an "angel of light" [2 Corinthians 11:14], but he wants to ruin us. He is described as a thief who steals, kills, and destroys. But Jesus is presented as the One who gives life --- abundant life.
These two realms are constantly in a battle for our hearts. We have this choice: the light of life with Jesus or the depts of darkness in the devil's lair. Life or death? Light or darkness? Contentment or anxiety? Both realms beckon us.
Whom will you choose to trust with your life? The thief or the Savior? --- Dave Branon
The devil is subtle, deceptive, and sly ---
He's clever and tricks us to swallow his lie;
But his cunning methods we're sure to discern
If we make God's warnings our daily concern. --- D. De Haan
GOD'S TRUTH IS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SATAN'S LIES.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Arranging Your Mind
Read: Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! --- Philippians 4:4
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 13-15
Luke 6:27-49
Several years ago I read a story about a 92-year-old Christian woman who was legally blind. In spite of her limitation, she was always neatly dressed, with her hair carefully brushed and her makeup tastefully applied. Each morning she would meet the new day with eagerness.
After her husband of 70 years died, it became necessary for her to go to a nursing home where she could receive proper care. On the day of the move, a helpful neighbor drove her there and guided her into the lobby. Her room wasn't ready, so she waited patiently in the lobby for several hours.
When an attendant finally came for her, she smiled sweetly as she maneuvered her walker to the elevator. The staff member described her room to her, including the new curtains that had been hung on the windows. "I love it," she declared. "But Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen anything to do with it," she said. "Happiness is something you choose. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how it's arranged. It's how I arrange my mind."
The Bible says, "Rejoice in the Lord" [Philippians 4:4]. Remind yourself often of all that Jesus has given to you and be thankful. That's how to arrange your mind. --- David Roper
God takes delight when we rejoice
In all that He has done
And when we thank Him for the love
He shows us through His Son. --- D. De Haan
THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! --- Philippians 4:4
The Bible In One Year:
Judges 13-15
Luke 6:27-49
Several years ago I read a story about a 92-year-old Christian woman who was legally blind. In spite of her limitation, she was always neatly dressed, with her hair carefully brushed and her makeup tastefully applied. Each morning she would meet the new day with eagerness.
After her husband of 70 years died, it became necessary for her to go to a nursing home where she could receive proper care. On the day of the move, a helpful neighbor drove her there and guided her into the lobby. Her room wasn't ready, so she waited patiently in the lobby for several hours.
When an attendant finally came for her, she smiled sweetly as she maneuvered her walker to the elevator. The staff member described her room to her, including the new curtains that had been hung on the windows. "I love it," she declared. "But Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen anything to do with it," she said. "Happiness is something you choose. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how it's arranged. It's how I arrange my mind."
The Bible says, "Rejoice in the Lord" [Philippians 4:4]. Remind yourself often of all that Jesus has given to you and be thankful. That's how to arrange your mind. --- David Roper
God takes delight when we rejoice
In all that He has done
And when we thank Him for the love
He shows us through His Son. --- D. De Haan
THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
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