Slow Down And Live

Read: Psalm 1

His delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. --- Psalm 1:2

The Bible In One Year:
Genesis 1-3
Matthew 1

Many of our New Year's resolutions many actually accelerate our pace of life instead of helping us to slow down. In a quest for greater productivity and efficiency, we over-schedule our days, then rush through meals, drive impatiently, and wonder why the joy of living eludes us.

Carol Odell, who writes a business advice column, says that slowing down can positively affect our lives at work and at home. She believes that rushing can cloud our judgment and cause us to overlook important things and valuable people. Carol encourages everyone to slow down, and even suggests the radical idea of welcoming red traffic lights and using the waiting time to meditate.

In Psalm 1, there is no hint of a frenzied pace. It describes a person who enjoys the blessing of God. Instead of thinking and acting like those who rarely consider spiritual matters, "His delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night" [v.2]. The result is a fruitful life and well-nourished soul [v.3].

Isaiah wrote, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" [Isa. 26:3]. Just for today, try thinking about that verse whenever you have to wait. Isn't it time for all of us to slow down and live? --- David McCasland

If you're working hard to make a living,
Never taking time to smell the roses,
Now's the time to heed the Bible's wisdom:
Find true joy before your life's day closes. --- Hess

COME APART AND REST AWHILE OR YOU MAY JUST PLAIN COME APART! --- Havner

Fear Escape

Read: Proverbs 1:1-7

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. --- Psalm 115:11

The Bible In One Year:
Malachi
Revelation 22

In our increasingly dangerous world, think of what we have to fear: Ominous terrorist threats, frightening crime rates, increasing natural disasters, sobering energy crises, ... God.

Yes, God. Ironic, isn't it, that in a world full of fearful things, the single source of our refuge and safety is also the One we are instructed to fear?

Consider Solomon's words: "In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge" [Prov. 14:26]. Then look at the next verse: "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life."

We try to avoid life's fearful things because they interrupt our peace. Yet we are told to move toward fear --- the fear of God. For those who "fear the LORD, ... He is their help and their shield" [Ps. 115:11].

Our faith in God can deliver us from the fears of the world [Ps. 23:4] --- but only because our faith relies on a fear that is different from worldly fear. Proverbs 29:25 says, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe."

To fear God is to sense His awesomeness. When we acknowledge that greatness and trust in Him, we no longer want to sin against Him. He becomes our refuge from the fears of this world. In Him we find peace. --- Dave Branon

Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you His service your delight;
Your wants shall be His care. --- Tate & Brady

THOSE WHO FEAR GOD NEED NOT FEAR THE WORLD.

Remembering

Read: Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. --- Psalm 103:2

The Bible In One Year:
Zechariah 13-14
Revelation 21

Some days we awaken with aching joints and dull spirits and wonder how we can shake off our lethargy and make it through the day.

Here's an idea: Like David, try lifting up your thanks to God. Use mind and memory to rekindle thankfulness for all God's "benefits" [Ps. 103:2]. Gratefulness will lead to joy.

Thank God for His forgiveness. He "forgives all your iniquities" [v.3], and "has cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" [Mic. 7-19].

Thank Him for healing your diseases [Ps. 103:3]. God uses infirmity and disorders to draw you more deeply into His love and care. And, one day when your Lord comes for you, He will heal all or your diseases.

Thank Him for redeeming your life from destruction [v.4]. This is more than rescue from a premature death. It is redemption from death itself.

Thank Him for crowning your life "with lovingkindness and tender mercies" [v.4].

Thank the One who satisfies your desires [v.5]. He is your satisfaction. Each day, He renews your strength and vigor. Then your spirit can rise up and soar like the eagle.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" [v.2]. --- David Roper

Give me a spirit of thankfulness, Lord,
For numberless blessings given;
Blessings that daily come to me
Like dewdrops falling from heaven. --- Dawe

GRATITUDE IS THE MEMORY OF A GLAD HEART.

Impaired Vision

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Now we see in a mirror, dimly. --- 1 Corinthians 13:12

The Bible In One Year:
Zechariah 9-12
Revelation 20

When I was a child, I had to wear glasses. Interestingly, my vision improved, and from high school until age 40 I didn't need them. Prior to that landmark age, my vision was better than 20/20. Now, because of the natural degeneration of the eyes, I wear bifocals. Without glasses, my vision is impaired.

About our "spiritual vision" the apostle Paul said, "Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face" [1 Cor. 13:12]. The word dimly (enigma in Greek) implies that our current spiritual perceptions in our earthly state are impaired, at best.

In the ancient world, they didn't have the clear glass mirrors we have today. Instead, mirrors were made of polished metal and provided a reflection that was dim and distorted. What was seen in a mirror was only an imperfect representation of what would be clear if it could be seen directly.

If you have questions about what God is doing in your life, continue to trust Him and to seek clarity through prayer and His Word.

For now, our understanding is limited [1 Cor. 13:9]. Our current spiritual vision is impaired, but in eternity we will see clearly. We will see Jesus "face to face." --- Dennis Fisher

Someday He'll make it plain to me,
Someday when I His face shall see;
Someday from tears I shall be free,
For someday I shall understand. --- Leech

WE NOW SEE JESUS IN THE BIBLE, BUT THEN, FACE TO FACE.

The Last Sins To Go

Read: 1 Chronicles 21:1-13

David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing." --- 1 Chronicles 21:8

The Bible In One Year:
Zechariah 5-8
Revelation 19

The apostle Paul said that we are to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit" [2 Cor. 7:1]. Even though it may seem to people around us that we are living a clean, moral life, in our spirit we may be harboring an attitude that displeases the Lord. Because sins of the spirit are unseen, hidden in the heart, we tend to ignore them until they lead to some outward behavior that reveals their presence.

King David's life illustrates these two aspects of sin. His lust for Bathsheba led to adultery and murder [2 Sam. 11-12; Ps. 32:5], and brought great pain to his own life and reproach to the nation of Israel. Then, late in his life, he succumbed to Satan's prompting to take a census [1 Chron. 21:1-6]. This seemingly innocent act displeased God [vv.7-8] because David was taking pride in his military might. He apparently made a subtle shift from complete reliance on God, who had often miraculously delivered him, to trusting in his own power and strength.

On the outside, it may appear to others that we are winning the battle against sin. But we must stay alert to the sins of the spirit, especially pride. They can cause us to stumble and fall, even at the end of life's journey. --- Dennis De Haan

We may confess our outward sins
Because they're difficult to hide,
But we must also guard against
Our inner sins, like lust and pride. --- Sper

PRIDE AND LUST ARE HIDDEN STONES OVER WHICH MANY PEOPLE STUMBLE.

A Christmas Rose

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. --- Isaiah 7:14

The Bible In One Year:
Zechariah 1-4
Revelation 18

In contrast to many of the resounding carols proclaiming the Savior's birth, "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" is a gentle song. Its words and music capture the hushed, almost preposterous assertion that a rose of hope has bloomed in the world's winter of despair. Written in the 15th century by an unknown German poet, it stands quietly in the midst of our modern Christmas rush, bearing a message of joy for all who will pause to listen.

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
As men of old have sung.
It came, a flowered bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

The song speaks of a season when rose don't bloom, of a night half gone, a time when people may yield to despair.

Christmas can be an emotional winter, a dark night when the holiday lights are dimmed and cheery greetings are muted by loneliness or fear. Yet there is this word of hope:

This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

A Rose has bloomed at midnight in winter. Christ the Savior is born! --- David McCasland

YOU'RE ONLY COOKING UP TROUBLE WHEN YOU STEW ABOUT TOMORROW.

The Great Earthquake

Read: John 10:22-30

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. --- John 10:28

The Bible In One Year:
Haggai
Revelation 17

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake shook the whole earth. Many people didn't feel it, but the South Asian region and parts of Africa suffered a devastating tsunami as a result. According to reporter Randolph Schmid, however, "No point on Earth remained undisturbed." That earthquake, he tells us, "shook the ground everywhere on Earth's surface."

The 19th-century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkergaard says that his world was rocked when his religious father told him he had cursed God for the mistreatment he was getting from others. His father's actions shook Soren so much that he called the event "The Great Earthquake." He wondered for the rest of his life if his family was cursed by God for his father's actions.

We too have had or possibly will have "earthquakes" in our lives. But it's comforting to know that under the worst of circumstances, our faith in God can --- and will --- hold us fast. After all, He's got the whole world in His hands," and that means "He got you and me, brother and sister, in His hands."

No one, nor any disaster, can snatch us out of our heavenly Father's hands [John 10:28-29]. His grip will hold us into all eternity. --- Vernon Grounds

Neither life nor death can ever
From the Lord His children sever,
For His love and deep compassion
Comforts them in tribulation. --- Berg

OUR UNKNOWN FUTURE IS SECURE IN THE HANDS OF OUR ALL-KNOWING GOD.

A Fitting Present

Read: Matthew 2:11-15

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. --- Romans 12:1

The Bible In One Year:
Zephaniah
Revelation 16

A little boy was somewhat perplexed by all the exchanging of presents on Christmas morning, for he had been taught in Sunday school that it was the birthday of the Savior. Finally, after a long period of silence, he asked, "Mommy, when are we going to give Jesus His present? I thought it was His birthday!"

Strange, isn't it, that most of us give gifts to everyone but the One whose birthday we celebrate. A good question we might ask ourselves is this: What am I going to give to the Lord Jesus this Christmas? If you have never trusted in Him as your Savior, the thing He desires most from you is a believing heart. Why not put your faith in Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross so you can be saved from your sins?

If by faith you already know Christ as your Savior, then the most wonderful thing you can do this Christmas is to present to God the one gift He most desires to receive from you --- your body [Rom. 12:1].

Our bodies are to be used for God's purposes. Because we have accepted the gift of salvation from Him, it's only reasonable that we should present ourselves to the Father. When we give ourselves, we give the one Christmas present that truly fits the occasion! --- Richard De Haan

What shall I give for Christmas
To Him who gave Himself for me?
To Him I give my life, my love,
For time and for eternity. --- Anon.

GIVE YOUR ALL TO CHRIST; HE GAVE HIS ALL FOR YOU.

Wonder

Read: Luke 2:15-20

All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. --- Luke 2:18

The Bible In One Year:
Habakkuk
Revelation 15

Elmer Kline, a bakery manager in 1921, was given the job of naming the company's new loaf of bread. As he struggled to come up with something "catchy," he found his answer in an unlikely place. While visiting the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he stopped to watch the International Balloon Festival.

Later he described the sight of the beautiful hot-air balloons launching into the Indiana sky as one of "awe and wonderment." The thought stuck, and he called the new product Wonder Bread. To this day, the packaging for Wonder Bread is brightened by colorful balloons.

Wonder, however, is a word that evokes something more significant than a loaf of bread or hot-air balloons. One dictionary defines wonder as "a cause of astonishment or admiration." It's a word that captures the experience of all the people surrounding the events of the coming of Jesus into the world --- the angels, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and all the people they told. Luke said they "marveled" [2:18]. For all of them, trying to understand the birth of Christ was an exercise in wonder.

As we celebrate Christmas, may we be filled with wonder at His love and His coming! --- Bill Crowder

Have you felt the joy of the shepherds,
Who were first to behold the sight
Of that holy Child of Mary
On that wonderful Christmas night? --- Brill

A WONDER-FILLED LIFE IS YOURS WHEN YOU KNOW THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS.

A Baby Boy

Read: Luke 2:8-14

[Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths. --- Luke 2:7

The Bible In One Year:
Nahum
Revelation 14

The full-page advertisement in the newspaper caught my eye immediately. Near the top of the light-blue page was the silhouette of a star. In the center of the page were the words: It's a boy.

Luke 2:11 was printed across the bottom of the page: "Today in the town of David a Savior had been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" [NIV].

This simple message --- it's a boy --- proclaimed the indescribable gift of a Savior who came to earth as a baby. Why did He do it?

We needed God to send Jesus. Because of our sin, we were separated from a holy God [Rom. 3:23]. A perfect Savior and mediator was needed to bring us back together. Only God could restore the relationship.

God wanted to send Jesus. He loved us so much that He gave His Son [John 3:16] so that our relationship could be restored. Jesus was the only One who could meet His demand for a perfect sacrifice --- only He was sinless [Heb. 9:11-15]. He willingly gave Himself on the cross. God accepted that sacrifice and raised Him from the dead.

Because of our need and His love, God the Father gave us the gift of Jesus the Son. Accept His gift today --- it's free. --- Anne Cetas

Rejoice, O soul, the debt is paid,
For all our sins on Christ were laid;
We've been redeemed, we're justified ---
And all because the Savior died. --- D. De Haan

JESUS DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.

The Joy Of Redemption

Read: Psalm 98

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things. --- Psalm 98:1

The Bible In One Year:
Micah 6-7
Revelation 13

For 30 straight Christmas seasons at the Omaha Community Playhouse, Dick Boyd never missed a performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. When he retired at the age of 83, Boyd no longer needed makeup to play the cynical, miserly old man who is transformed at Christmas. During the play, the dramatic change in Scrooge is seen in his face, in his voice, and in his generosity. The director who selected Boyd for the role in 1976 said, "Dick was the one who best captured the joy of redemption."

Each Christmas reminds us of God's grace shown to us in the gift of Jesus Christ, His Son. The carols of the season reflect the psalmist's words: "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations" [Ps. 98:1-2]. Isaac Watts poetically expressed Psalm 98 in these enduring words:

Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

The evidence of God's salvation can be seen in our faces, heard in our voices, and reflected by the works of our hands. May the joy of redemption shine through us this Christmas, and throughout the rest of the year. --- David McCasland

YOU'LL HAVE NO TRUE JOY AT CHRISTMAS IF CHRIST IS NOT IN YOUR HEART.

Seeing At Christmas

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

God ... commanded light to shine out of darkness. --- 2 Corinthians 4:6

The Bible In One Year:
Micah 4-5
Revelation 12

During the Christmas season of 1879, an agnostic reporter in Boston saw three little girls standing in front of a store window full of toys. One of them was blind. He heard the other two describing the toys to their friend. He had never considered how difficult it was to explain to someone without sight what something looks like. That incident became the basis for a newspaper story.

Two weeks later the reporter attended a meeting held by Dwight L. Moody. His purpose was to catch the evangelist in an inconsistency. He was surprised when Moody used his account of the children to illustrate a truth. "Just as the blind girl couldn't visualize the toys," said Moody, "so an unsaved person can't see Christ in all His glory."

On that first Christmas, only a few people understood who Jesus really was. Many heard the report of the shepherds and were amazed, but they didn't view the baby in the manger as the Son of God.

Today, multitudes are unaware of the true identity of Jesus because they are spiritually blind. If this describes you, ask God to open your eyes. Believe that the Lord of glory died for your sins. Then trust Him. Your eyes will be opened, and you'll recognize who He really is. --- Herb Vander Lugt

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping? --- Dix

WISE MEN STILL SEEK JESUS.

The "Mom Box"

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, ... able to make you wise for salvation through faith. --- 2 Timothy 3:15

The Bible In One Year:
Micah 1-3
Revelation 11

Each Christmas I give both of my daughters a "Mom box." Each box contains items to encourage them to be the best mothers they can be. It might have craft books or special projects, devotional books or tapes geared toward young moms, first-aid kids, recipes for cooking with kids --- and often something personal like bubble bath for a little pampering after a tough day of mothering! It's become a tradition that Rosemary and Tanya have looked forward to every year for the last decade.

Encouraging our children to be good parents can begin even earlier. The best way is to start equipping them with the Word of God while they are still young.

The apostle Paul wrote that "from childhood" Timothy had known "the Holy Scriptures" [2 Tim. 3:15]. And 2 Timothy 1:5 mentions the "genuine faith" of Timothy's mother and grandmother. That faithful teaching and spiritual influence helped to enable Timothy to be a godly man.

The Bible is our richest resource to help us raise children who will know and love Jesus. Nothing is more essential than "the Holy Scriptures" to equip them for all of life's challenges.

What are you doing to make the next generation "wise for salvation through faith"? [3:15]. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

Parents, give your children guidance
And instruction from God's Word;
Then with wisdom and compassion
Teach them how to love the Lord. --- Sper

THE CHARACTER OF OUR CHILDREN TOMORROW DEPENDS ON WHAT WE PUT INTO THEIR HEARTS TODAY.

Name Above All Names

Read: Philippians 2:5-11

You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. --- Matthew 1:21

The Bible In One Year:
Jonah
Revelation 10

If you knew for certain that you were going to lose your voice and that you would never be able to speak again, what would you want your final words to be?

A man with throat cancer faced an operation that would save his life but not his voice. Just before surgery, he spent time with his wife telling her of his love. He did the same with his daughter.

Then he asked his doctor to let him know precisely when the anesthetic would make him unconscious. As the man slipping off to sleep, he said distinctly, "Jesus! Jesus!" That was the last word he chose to utter in this life --- "Jesus!"

How meaningful is the name of Jesus to us? Other names, like the names of those we love, are inexpressively precious. But for those of us who are redeemed by God's grace, the name of Jesus is the most meaningful. And it is to our heavenly Father as well. He "has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" [Phil. 2:9-11].

Throughout the rest of our lives and into eternity, let's magnify that wonderful name --- Jesus. --- Vernon Grounds

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Let all heaven and earth proclaim:
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name! --- Gaither

THE NAME OF JESUS IS PRECIOUS TO THOSE WHO KNOW HIM AND PROFANE TO THOSE WHO SPURN HIM.

Learning To Lament

Read: Lamentations 3:19-27

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. --- Lamentations 3:21

The Bible In One Year:
Obadiah
Revelation 9

On February 14, 1884, Theodore Roosevelt's wife, Alice, died giving birth to their daughter, also named Alice. Roosevelt was so distraught with the loss of his wife that he never spoke of her again. But reminders of her absence haunted the family. Because the newborn had the same name as her mother, she was called "Sister" --- never Alice. On Valentine's Day, the holiday for sweethearts, few in the Roosevelt household felt inclined to celebrate it or Sister's birthday. Broken hearts made moods strained and stoic.

Burying our feelings doesn't help, but prayerful grieving can. Jeremiah's heart was broken by Israel's disobedience and the Babylonian captivity that followed. Memories of Jerusalem's destruction haunted him [Lam. 1-2]. Yet he had learned how to lament. He identified what caused him grief, began to pray, and let his tears flow. Soon his focus shifted from his loss to the steadfast grace of the Lord's provision. "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" [3:22-23]. Grief gave way to thankfulness.

Learning to lament can give us a fresh vision of hope and begin the process of healing and restoration. --- Dennis Fisher

I have been through the valley of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the God of all comfort was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain. --- Anon.

GRIEF IS ITSELF A MEDICINE. --- Cowper

A Gift Of Shelter

Read: Luke 2:1-7

There was no room for them in the inn. --- Luke 2:7

The Bible In One Year:
Amos 7-9
Revelation 8

Life was tough for Datha and her family. At age 39, she had a heart attack and bypass surgery and learned that she had coronary artery disease. A year later, her 15-year-old daughter Heather became paralyzed as the result of a car accident. Datha quit her job to take care of Heather, and the bills started piling up. Soon they would be facing eviction. Datha was so angry with God that she stopped praying.

Then came Christmas Eve 2004. A young girl knocked on Datha's door. The girl wished her a "Merry Christmas," gave her an envelope, and left quickly. Inside was a gift that would cover Datha's housing needs for the next year. The attached note read, "Please accept this gift in honor of the Man whose birthday we celebrate on this holy night. Long ago, His family also had a shelter problem."

Luke 2 tells the story of Joseph and Mary as they searched for a shelter for Mary to deliver her baby. They found a place with the animals. Later in His life, Jesus said of Himself, "The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" [Matt. 8:20].

Jesus understood Datha's troubles. He brought her hope and met her needs through others who contributed funds.

We can cast all our cares on Him [1 Peter 5:7]. In Christ, we find shelter [Ps. 61:3-4]. --- Anne Cetas

God will take care of you still to the end;
O what a Father, Redeemer, and Friend!
Jesus will answer whenever you call;
He will take care of you: Trust Him for all! --- M. Crosby

YOU DO THE CASTING, GOD WILL DO THE CARING.

Dirty Jobs

Read: Matthew 8:1-4

Jesus put out His hand and touched him. --- Matthew 8:3

The Bible In One Year:
Amos 4-6
Revelation 7

One TV personality seeks out the most dirty and grimy jobs he can find. Then he does those jobs on camera so we can all be grossed out.

The surprising thing that usually comes out of this excursion into grime is that the people who do these really nasty chores for a living seem happy to be doing them.

I wonder if that's the way it is among the people of God. In the church and in the community of God's people, there are definitely "dirty" jobs that God has called us to do.

For instance, where is the glamour in working in a homeless shelter, providing gospel hope and physical help to street people? Where is the intrinsic joy in walking into a hospital room to visit a patient who has just received awful news from the doctor? And how can it be easy to sit across the counseling room from an abused spouse and try to help her retain her dignity and piece her life back together?

Imagine how the crowds gasped when Jesus reached out and touched the leper. He was not afraid of "dirty" jobs. Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" [Luke 19:10]. He was "moved with compassion" for the lame, the ill, the downtrodden [Matt. 9:36]. Let's follow His lead and with love tackle the tough tasks around us. --- Dave Branon

No matter what my daily chores might be
To earn my livelihood, still may I see
My job, the real position that I hold,
Is bringing others to the Master's fold. --- Stalter

WORK WELL DONE FOR CHRIST WILL RECEIVE A "WELL DONE" FROM CHRIST.

Overcoming Evil With Good

Read: Luke 9:51-56

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. --- Romans 12:21

The Bible In One Year:
Amos 1-3
Revelation 6

Jesus was passing through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to prepare a place, but the villagers rejected Him.

When James and John heard about the refusal, they fumed, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [Luke 9:54]. They had just been on the Mount of Transfiguration and had seen their Lord with Moses and Elijah. No doubt they recalled the story of Elijah calling down fire from heaven [1 Kings 18:36-38]. But when they asked for a consuming fire, Jesus corrected them.

He told them, "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" [Luke 9:56]. It is not our business to seek vengeance. God treads the winepress of His wrath alone [Isa. 63:3]. Our business is to bring the good news of salvation to the world.

Paul wrote, "Do not avenge yourselves ... for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" [Rom. 12:19-21]. We must leave vengeance with God.

Jesus calls us to treat difficult people with kindness and to seek to bring them to Him. --- David Roper

When anger springs up in my heart, dear Lord,
Because of the evil I see,
Help me to channel the wrath that I feel
And do something noble for Thee. --- Branon

GOD'S WRATH AND MERCY ARE BOTH SEEN IN THE CROSS OF CALVARY.

"Little Rajah, Little King"

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. --- Isaiah 2:11

The Bible In One Year:
Joel
Revelation 5

In an editorial in Reaper, David G. Stewart wrote, "In India we used to chuckle about baby pujah, or baby worship. All the women would gather around the baby in arms, and cluck like broody hens with their approval, and note the supposed likeness to mom or dad, and hold the fingers, touch the cheek, kiss the feet. A favorite term to describe the young baby boy was 'Little Rajah, Little King.' Though they do not actually bow down and worship a new baby, those Indians give so much attention to a new infant that it's no wonder they call i 'baby worship.'"

When Jesus was an infant, He too received adoration and honor. He was adored by shepherds who left their flocks in the fields to worship a baby in a manger. Why? Because He was the King of kings.

I wonder, as this Christmas season progresses, are you able to focus your attention, even briefly, on the One whose birth we celebrate? Even more, are you willing to bow down in humility and give Him the adoration He rightly deserves? Isaiah prophesied long that His name would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace [9:6]. Jesus was no ordinary baby. He truly was the King of all kings! --- Dave Egner

As you bring your gifts to His cradle
And worship Him now as King,
Do you bow your knees to His power?
Is your life the offering you bring? --- Brill

WHEN WE RECOGNIZE JESUS' KINGSHIP, WE WILL GIVE HIM OUR WORSHIP.

Money Talks

Read: Luke 12:13-21

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness. --- 1 Timothy 6:10

The Bible In One Year:
Hosea 12-14
Revelation 4

As I was driving home from the office, I saw a minivan proudly displaying a bumper sticker that read: "Money Talks: Mine Says Goodbye." I think a lot of people can relate to that sentiment.

Much of our living is spent acquiring and using money, which doesn't last. The stock market crashes. Prices go up. Thieves steal others' goods. Things wear out and break down, requiring the acquisition and expenditure of more money to replace what has been lost. The temporary nature of material wealth makes it a poor bargain in the search for security in an insecure world. Money is much better at saying goodbye than it is at sticking around.

Nowhere does the Bible say it's wrong to have money or the things that money can buy. Where we lose our way is when money becomes the driving purpose of our lives. Like the rich man and his barns [Luke 12:13-21], we end up pursuing the accumulation of things that eventually will be forfeited --- if not in life, then certainly at death.

How tragic to live our entire lives, only to end them with nothing of eternal worth to show for our labors. To paraphrase Jesus' words, it is much better to be rich toward God than to work for treasure that can't last [v.21]. -- Bill Crowder

Let me hold lightly things of this earth;
Transient treasures, what are they worth?
Moths can corrupt them, rust can decay;
All their bright beauty fades in a day. --- Nicholson

TREASURES IN HEAVEN ARE LAID UP AS TREASURES ON EARTH ARE LAID DOWN.

God Intrudes

Read: Galatians 3:26-4:7

When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. --- Galatians 4:4

The Bible In One Year:
Hosea 9-11
Revelation 3

During this Christmas season, it's good to keep a firm grip on the reality of Easter. While the two events are celebrated at different times and in very different ways, they are both integral parts of God's initiative in His grand plan of salvation.

Peter Larson wrote: "Despite our efforts to keep Him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked 'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit.'"

James Edwards echoes this scheme in his book The Divine Intruder: "[God] breaks into this world, even when He is unexpected and unwelcome. God joins us in our weakest and worst moments. There is a Divine Intruder among us."

The stable in Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary remind us that "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son ... to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" [Gal. 4:4-5].

The Lord did not wait for an invitation to enter our world. Clothed with humanity, He lived as our teacher, died as our sacrifice, and rose from the grave as our Savior.

Christmas is coming --- and so is Easter. --- David McCasland

This joyous season of the year
Should prompt us to recall
That Jesus' death on Calvary
Provides new life for all. --- Sper

JESUS' EARTHLY LIFE IS FRAMED BY TWO IMPOSSIBILITIES: A VIRGIN'S WOMB AND AN EMPTY TOMB.

Does God Forget?

Read: Hebrews 8

Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. --- Hebrews 8:12

The Bible In One Year:
Hosea 5-8
Revelation 2

God longs to forgive sinners! But in the minds of many people, this thought seems too good to be true. Countless sermons have been preached to convince guilt-ridden individuals that it is true. Many of these sermons emphasize that God not only forgives the sinner but also forgets the sin. I've often said it myself, never doubting its soundness.

Then one Sunday I heard a sermon that revolutionized my thinking. The speaker caught my attention when he said, "The idea that God forgets my sins isn't very reassuring to me. After all, what if He suddenly remembered? In any case, only imperfection can forget, and God is perfect."

As I was questioning the biblical basis for such statements, the pastor read Hebrews 8:12, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Then he said, "God doesn't say He'll forget our sins --- He says He'll remember them no more! His promise not to remember them ever again is stronger than saying He'll forget them. Now that reassures me!"

Do you worry that there are certain sins you'll be punished for someday? Because Christ died for all our sins [1 Cor. 15:3], God promises to forgive us and never bring up our sin again [Ps. 103:12]. --- Joanie Yoder

God, whose every way is perfect,
Said in justice and in grace
That our sins He'll not remember,
And our fears He will erase. --- Hess

TO ENJOY THE FUTURE, ACCEPT GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR THE PAST.

Praying Sheep

Read: James 1:1-8

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. --- John 14:14

The Bible In One Year:
Hosea 1-4
Revelation 1

Two children dressed as sheep in the Christmas play at Kaw Prairie Community Church in De Soto, Missouri, had a special part. Whenever Murphy, the main character in the play, encountered a problem, the sheep [Maria and Luke] came on stage to offer a reminder of what he needed to do. One carried the sign: "Just." The other carried the sign: "Pray."

We've all been faced with situations when we didn't know what to do, or there was nothing we could do. When we're distressed, we probably don't want to hear someone flippantly say, "Just pray!" That answer seems too simplistic and can even feel hurtful if it's said unthinkingly.

But the simple answer "Just pray" is exactly what we need to do. During the days of the early church, James wrote to believers who were going through trials --- difficulties that most of us know nothing about: stonings, imprisonment, and beatings for their faith. He told them to ask God for the wisdom and comfort to withstand those trials: "Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" [1:5].

When you encounter a problem, remember the simple instructions of the "Just Pray" sheep and talk to God about it. He'll give you what you need. --- Anne Cetas

When with expectancy we pray
According to God's will,
We'll see Him working in our lives
His purpose to fulfill. --- Sper

NO REQUEST IS TOO GREAT OR TOO SMALL TO BRING TO GOD.

The Maker Of Mountains

Read: Psalm 102:3-12

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people. --- Psalm 125:2

The Bible In One Year:
Daniel 11-12
Jude

The Bible uses vivid imagery to express the brevity of our life on earth. Job said that his days were "swifter than a runner" and "they pass by like swift ships" [Job 9:25-26].

I recall preaching at the funeral service of a young mother. From where I stood I could see the Rocky Mountains towering over the western horizon. The scene prompted me to consider how I will one day follow that friend through the valley of the shadow of death, and yet those peaks will still be thrusting themselves skyward. Eventually they will crumble into dust, but the God who made them will exist forever in undiminished glory. I also remember thinking that my deceased friend and I will, by God's grace, live with Him forever and ever.

Whenever we are troubled by the shortness of life and the impermanence of everything in this world, let's remember the Maker of the mountains. He has always been and will always be. As the psalmist said, "You, O LORD, shall endure forever" [102:12].

That truth inspires us with hope. If by faith we belong to Jesus Christ the Savior, who is from everlasting to everlasting, we will one day rejoice in heaven in unending praise to Him. --- Vernon Grounds

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise. --- Smith

TO SEE GOD'S HAND IN EVERYTHING MAKES LIFE A GREAT ADVENTURE.

A Knightly Soldier

Read: 2 Tim. 2:1-4, 24-25

Be gentle ..., in humility correcting those who are in opposition. --- 2 Timothy 2:24-25

The Bible In One Year:
Daniel 8-10
3 John

Before he enlisted in the Union Army to fight during the US Civil War, Joshua Chamberlain was a quiet and unassuming college professor. In the crucible of military combat he distinguished himself for his heroism in holding the line on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

To recognize Chamberlain's contribution to the Union victory, General Ulysses S. Grant designated him to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. The defeated troops of the South expected to be ridiculed and humiliated. Instead, Chamberlain showed them kindness and respect. For this, the Confederate commanding officer wrote in his memoirs that Chamberlain was "one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army."

As a committed Christian, Chamberlain reflected the grace of Christ. We too need to stand for what we believe but also to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Paul exhorted Timothy, "as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ... be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition" [2 Tim. 2:3, 24-25]. In conflict and in reconciliation, our response should reflect the gracious heart of a knightly soldier of Christ. --- Dennis Fisher

Oh, to be like Him, tender and kind,
Gentle in spirit, lowly in mind;
More like Jesus, day after day,
Filled with His Spirit now and always. --- Ellsworth

THERE IS NOTHING SO KINGLY AS KINDNESS; THERE IS NOTHING SO ROYAL AS TRUTH.

Waiting For God

Read: Luke 2:25-35

Simeon ... was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel. --- Luke 2:25

The Bible In One Year:
Daniel 5-7
2 John

Author Henri Nouwen has observed that the first pages of Luke's gospel are filled with people who were waiting: Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna were all waiting for the fulfillment of a promise from God. But instead of passively waiting, they were actively looking to the Lord each day, what Nouwen calls being "present to the moment."

Simeon, for example, was controlled not by hopelessness but by the Spirit who prompted him to go into the temple. His words of praise when he saw the child Jesus, the promised Messiah, resound as an example of patient hope in God: "My eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel" [Luke 2:30-32].

Many of us find ourselves waiting on God for an answer to a prayer or the fulfillment of a promise. His word comes to us, just as it did to those who were swept up in the events that marked the first Christmas: "Do not be afraid, Zacharias" [1:13]; "Do not be afraid, Mary" [1:30]; "Do not be afraid, [shepherds]" [2:10].

As we listen to God in His Word and obey Him, we'll discover His goodness and power as we wait. --- David McCasland

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. --- Crosby

TIME SPENT "WAITING ON GOD" IS NEVER WASTED.

God's Work Of Art

Read: Colossians 3:8-17

Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. --- Colossians 3:10

The Bible In One Year:
Daniel 3-4
1 John 5

Vincent Van Gogh bought a mirror and used his own likeness in many of his paintings. Rembrandt also used himself as a model, completing nearly 100 self-portraits. These artists had a good example, that of God Himself, who used His own likeness as the pattern for His crown jewel of creation [Gen. 1:27].

Henry Ward Beecher, the famous 19th-century clergyman, said, "Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." In everything we create --- works of art, music, literature, even our children --- a bit of ourselves is revealed. The same is true of God; each of us reveals a bit of Him. The image may be tarnished, but it's always there and is never beyond repair.

Superficial changes won't fix what's wrong with us, however. Clothes, cosmetics, and surgical procedures can make us look like everyone else, not like the unique masterpiece God designed each of us to be. We need a whole new "self" [Col. 3:10], one that is renewed in His image and dressed in the wardrobe of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and long-suffering [v.12].

To improve your "self" image, put on the character of God and display His image in all its glory. --- Julie Ackerman Link

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. --- Chisholm

GOD'S CHILDREN SHOULD REFLECT THEIR FATHER'S LIKENESS.

Righteousness Endures Forever

Read: Psalm 112:4-9

His righteousness endures forever. --- Psalm 112:9

The Bible In One Year:
Daniel 1-2
1 John 4

A good deal of our unhappiness as we grow older is caused by our pining for the "good old days" --- those times when we enjoyed health, wealth, position, or power. But the things of this world don't last. They are vacillating, changeable, capricious. In time, they may be taken away from us and replaced with poverty, isolation, weakness, and pain.

When we realize that this world and everything in it is unstable and unpredictable, we are left longing for something that lasts. What is left?

The psalmist wrote, "[God's] righteousness endures forever" [112:9]. It is untouched and unharmed by time and circumstances. Nothing that happens in this world can take it away. It endures when life has stripped us of every other possession.

This righteousness is ours as we draw near to God through faith in Jesus Christ [see Rom. 1:17; 3:21-26]. He is our rock and our salvation and the only source of true and lasting happiness. Psalm 112:1 says, "Blessed [happy] is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments."

Delight in the Lord and in His Word, and you'll find true happiness. He alone offers a righteousness that endures for all eternity. --- David Roper

I love Your truth, O Lord,
The Word which You have given;
Its precepts shall my soul delight
On earth as well as heaven. --- Bosch

HAPPINESS IS OURS WHEN WE DELIGHT IN THE LORD.

Scared To Death

Read: 1 Cor. 15:51-58

Our Savior Jesus Christ ... abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. --- 2 Timothy 1:10

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 47-48
1 John 3

The opening line of a country song, "Sarabeth is scared to death....," leads the listener into the fearful heart of a teenage girl who is diagnosed with cancer. The lyrics of "Skin [Sarabeth]" expose the struggles she faces, not only with the disease and its treatment but also with the obvious evidence of her struggle --- the loss of her hair [hence, the title]. It is a touching song of triumph in the midst of tragedy, as Sarabeth deals with the understandable life-and-death fears that cancer brings.

The specter of death is faced by every human being. Yet, whether we face that reality with fear or with confidence is not dependent on having a good outlook or a positive attitude. The way we face death depends completely on whether or not we have a personal relationship with Jesus, who gave Himself to die so that death itself could be abolished.

Paul wrote to Timothy that our Savior was the One who "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" [2 Tim. 1:10]. The result is that even in the most disturbing times of life, we never need to be scared to death.

We can live confidently and filled with hope, because Jesus conquered death. --- Bill Crowder

Your love, O God, would spare no pain
To conquer death and win;
You sent Your only Son to die
To rescue us from sin. --- M. Gustafson

BECAUSE CHRIST IS ALIVE, WE NEED NOT FEAR DEATH.

The Moment I Knew

Read: Acts 26:8-18

I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light. --- Acts 26:17-18

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 45-46
1 John 2

The lights dimmed on the platform as Tom Whittaker began to sing the words of "Mary, Did You Know?" The steady, quiet strumming of his guitar beautifully complemented his calm, deep voice. His wife, Gloria, says that when she first heard him sing that song, she realized she was in love with him.

Many people who know Jesus as Savior can point to a specific moment when they suddenly grasped the extent of God's amazing love for them. At that instant, they got it. Ray Boltz describes it in a song:

The moment it happened,
It was the moment I knew;
It was like walking in the darkness
When the light comes shining through.

Paul had such a moment on the Damascus Road. His first encounter with Jesus transformed him from a fierce persecutor of Christmas to the first great missionary. Spurred on by this eye-opening experience, Paul's newfound love for the Savior compelled him to share the gospel with everyone he met [Acts 26].

Perhaps you know about Christ but have never trusted Him for salvation. John wrote, "We know that we have passed from death to life" [1 John 3:14]. But that statement applies only to those who look to Jesus for forgiveness.

Because of God's love, you too can "receive forgiveness of sins" through Jesus Christ [Acts 26:18] and be "born again" [John 3:3].

The moment is now. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW THERE IS A GOD; IT'S QUITE ANOTHER TO KNOW THAT GOD WHO IS.

Not Fair

Read: Psalm 19:7-14

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice. --- Deuteronomy 32:4

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 42-44
1 John 1

When I was coaching highschool freshman girls basketball in the fall of 2005, I was surprised at how many times I heard, "That's not fair!"

The girls' motivation seemed to depend on whether or not they thought what I asked them to do was fair. If i asked some girls to do a defensive drill while others shot free throws, I heard, "Not fair." If I allowed one group to play offense longer than another group, I heard, "Not fair."

So many situations in life shout, "Not fair!" I observe Christian couples who struggle to have babies while others are blessed with children and then abuse them. I look at families whose children are all alive and well, while I go through life without one of mine. I see friends who long to serve God but can't because of health issues.

It's then that I must go back to a basic truth. We are not the arbiters of fairness. God is, and He knows far more than we do about His plans and purposes. The question isn't about fairness. In the end, it's about trust in a faithful God who knows what He is doing. "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice" [Deut. 32:4].

Life will never look fair. But when we trust God, we always know that He is faithful. --- Dave Branon

If you feel that blessings pass you by,
And for you life seems a bit unfair,
Just remember, Christ was born to die,
And in His great salvation you can share. --- Hess

LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS FAIR, BUT GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL.

Christmas Spirit

Read: Philippians 2:1-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. --- Philippians 2:5

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 40-41
2 Peter 3

How would you define "the Christmas spirit"? Would it be a friendly smile between strangers, the sound of familiar carols, a tree with twinkling lights in a sea of brightly wrapped packages, or just that good feeling you get this time of the year?

None of these elements captures the real meaning of the phrase. They represent feelings that may be a response to the commercialism that distorts the real spirit of Christmas.

J.I. Packer goes to the heart of this matter in his book Knowing God. He writes, "We talk gibbly of the Christmas spirit, rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity .... It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the [temperament] of Him who for our sakes became poor, ... the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor --- spending and being spent --- to enrich their fellowmen, giving time, thought, care, and concern to do good to others ... in whatever way there seems need."

In Philippians 2, Paul described the God of heaven and earth as laying aside His divine glory and becoming our servant by dying on the cross for our sins. Then he urged us to duplicate that same mind of humble service to others. That's the true Christmas spirit. --- Dennis De Haan

If we look beyond the manger
To the cross of Calvary,
We will know the reason Christmas
Brings such joy to you and me. --- D. De Haan

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS GIVING SHOULD BE SEEN IN ALL OUR LIVING.

Thankful For Seasons

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. --- Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 37-39
2 Peter 2

I grew up on the West Coast of the US. The possibility of snow for Christmas was so remote that my mom would point to fog in the early morning as evidence that the holidays were just around the corner.

My wife and I now live in the Midwest. There's a lot of snow when the yuletide season comes around. And I couldn't be happier with four distinct seasons. But I don't find that same response from many who have grown up in the Midwest. I find it amusing that they don't share my appreciation for the wonderful cycles of change God has built into nature for our good.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Solomon acknowledged the cycles of life. He observed a time to sow and to reap, to weep and to laugh, to mourn and to dance, to gain and to lose, to keep silent and to speak, to love and to hate.

Just as God determines the weather, He also controls the cycles in our lives: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" [Eccl. 3:1]. Do we resist those seasons and complain about the "snowy" conditions on the horizon? Or do we trust God and thank Him for whatever He has planned for us?

Whatever our situation is today, we can be thankful for God's seasons. --- Dennis Fisher

Just as the winter turns to spring,
Our lives have changing seasons too;
So when a gloomy forecast comes,
Remember --- God has plans for you. --- Sper

RATHER THAN PRAYING FOR A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, PRAY FOR A CHANGE OF HEART.

Always Winter

Read: Psalm 30:4-12

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. --- Psalm 30:5

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 35-36
2 Peter 1

Unlike some of my family --- who can't wait to go downhill skiing --- I don't look forward to winter. When the first snowflake falls, I immediately start calculating how many months of Michigan winter left.

Imagine C.S. Lewis' fictional world of Narnia, where for a hundred years it was always winter. Cold, wet snow --- with no hope for springtime ever arriving to wipe away the memories of icy temperatures and piles of white stuff. But worst of all, in Narnia, Christmas never came. Always winter and never Christmas! To me, the best part of winter is the anticipation, excitement, and wonder of Christmas. Life is bleak when you have nothing to look forward to.

There are some whose souls are locked in winter. The hardness of life has frozen their hearts. Disappointed with life, they find that each day is filled with despair. "Weeping may endure for a night," the psalmist tells us, "but joy comes in the morning" [Ps. 30:5]. In the darkest times of our lives, God longs to turn our "mourning into dancing" [v.11].

David wrote, "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul" [Ps. 94:19]. If you cry out to God in the midst of your "winter," you can experience the joy of the Christ of Christmas today. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me;
There's love and life and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee. --- McGranaham

JESUS CAN TURN YOUR SORROW INTO DANCING.

Angry Floods

Read: Psalm 93

The floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. --- Psalm 93:3

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 33-34
1 Peter 5

Trouble comes our way, according to Psalm 93, in relentless waves that surge and pound against our souls and break upon them with furious force. "The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice," and they are deafening [v.3].

Yet above the tempest we hear the psalmist's refrain: "The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea" [v.4].

Indeed, "the LORD reigns"! He is clothed with majesty and strength. He sits as King, exalted higher than the waves that rise above us, deeper than their immeasurable depths, greater than their strongest surge. The storm is in His all-powerful hands: "The world is established, so that it cannot be moved," for His rule over it was established long ago [v.1]. He rules the raging of the sea; the "wind and the sea obey Him" [Mark 4:37-41]. He speaks and they are still.

The storm will not last forever. Yet, while it rages, you can cling to the Lord's promises of love and faithfulness, for His "testimonies are very sure" [Ps. 93:5]. Waves of trouble and grief may sweep over you, but you will not be swept away. He "is able to keep you from stumbling" [Jude 24]. Our Father in heaven is holding your hand. --- David Roper

When overwhelmed with problems,
When weak or tired or ill,
When storms are fierce and raging
Just hear His "Peace, be still." --- Jarvis

WHEN ADVERSITY IS READY TO STRIKE US, THEN GOD IS MOST READY TO STRENGTHEN US.

Come Quickly!

Read: Revelation 22:6-17

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me. --- Revelation 22:12

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 30-32
1 Peter 4

As the year 2004 ended and 2005 began, the world suffered a series of catastrophes. Were they signs of Christ's second coming? Were they evidence of God's wrath, His judgment on mankind's sin? Or were they simply the upheaval of natural forces?

Whatever our way of explaining terrible events, we need to see them from the long-range viewpoint. Through the centuries such things have happened again and again. Not only that, but humans themselves have inflicted barbaric suffering and destruction on others.

Consider just one episode in the sweep of history, the fall of Rome in AD 455, as described by a church leader: "Our citizens have given up believing in the future, especially those living in the poorest parts of the city. They have no work, little food, and no opportunity to better their lives. In some quarters of the city, riots have broken out, but for the most part there is too much despair to riot. Surely Christ will hear our cries and come soon."

Natural disasters and man's inhumanity to man will continue unpredictably until Jesus returns. We long for that time when He comes again because He will make all things right. --- Vernon Grounds

Jesus, we have much that we are thankful for.
Yet we do long for the day when You will return to bring
wickedness and disaster to an end, and to usher in
Your reign of peace. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.

AS THE WORLD GROWS DARKER, THE PROMISED RETURN OF THE SON GROWS BRIGHTER.

The Finish Line

Read: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it. --- Colossians 4:17

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 27-29
1 Peter 3

When I was in college, I ran on the cross-country team. In the final event of the season, the state's small colleges competed against each other, with about 75 runners in the event. We ran the 5-kilometer course in the rain and mud on a cold November day.

As I neared the finish line, I spied a runner from one of the other schools just a short distance ahead of me. He became my goal. I ran as hard as I could and passed him just as I crossed the finish line. That last dash meant I finished 42nd, which seemed a lot better than 43rd! It meant our team finished one position higher in the final standings than the team represented by the runner I beat. The point? I didn't give up --- I ran all the way through the finish line.

This is probably what Paul had in mind as he wrote a Archippus, one of his young ministry proteges: "Take heed tot he ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it" [Col. 4:17]. When we feel discouraged and want to quit, it's good to remember that the Lord who entrusted us with the privilege of spiritual service will give us the grace and strength to carry out that service. Let us "run with endurance" [Heb. 12:1] so that we will receive the "imperishable crown" [1 Cor. 9:25]. --- Bill Crowder

Run the straight race through God's good grace,
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the path and Christ the prize. --- Monsell

RUNNING WITH PATIENCE IS PERSEVERANCE IN THE "LONG RUN."

Emptiness Without God

Read: Haggai 1:1-11

You eat, but do not have enough; ... you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes. --- Hag. 1:6

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 24-26
1 Peter 2

A little bit of doggerel goes as follows: "A cheerful old bear at the zoo could always find something to do. When it bored him, you know, to walk to and fro, he reversed it and walked fro and to!" The writer apparently thought people could learn a lesson from the bear, for these creatures seem to be quite happy as long as they have enough food to eat and a few of their own kind around them.

This is not true of humans, however. The Israelites who had returned from Babylon discovered that man cannot find happiness when he lives only for himself. They ignored the fact that God's temple had not been rebuilt, but gave themselves to the construction of fine houses and completely occupied themselves with materialistic things. Yet their harvests were poor, their clothing inadequate, and their wages did not keep pace with rising costs [Hag. 1:6]. The prophet told them they were reaping a harvest of unhappiness because they were putting selfish pleasure first.

God has made us in His own image and for His glory. We can never find true joy until we obey Christ's admonition to seek "first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness" [Matt. 6:33]. Only then will we sow and reap abundantly, and eat and truly be filled. --- Herb Vander Lugt

O the emptiness of life without the Savior!
Nothing worldly here can truly satisfy;
We can only reap a harvest that's abundant,
Serving Jesus as to self we daily die. --- Bosch

SELFISH GRATIFICATION WILL LEAD TO SPIRITUAL STAGNATION.

Not "Why?" But "Who?"

Read: Psalm 42

Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. --- Psalm 38:9

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 22-23
1 Peter 1

While appearing on a panel with other bereaved parents, I was surprised at how much I learned by listening. We were there to help a group of chaplains minister to the grieving, but we ended up learning from one another.

One mom, who had lost her infant daughter to meningitis, shared a simple truth that touched me. She related that as she tried to work through the huge question of "Why?" she spoke to her dad about it. He told her that a better question to ask is "Who?" He explained that she may never that she may never know why her daughter was taken so early, but the help she needed most would come from pursuing who God is in this tragic situation.

Think of what this means to us in our difficulties. When we face unexpected grief and ask "Who?" we get this answer: "The Father of mercies and God of all comfort" [2 Cor. 1:3]. When we face a period of weakness, we discover that "the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer" [Ps. 18:2]. When the ungodliness of this world seems overwhelming, we can know that the "God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly" [Rom. 16:20].

When "Why, God?" is on your heart, ask instead, "Who are You, God?" Then seen Him in His Word. --- Dave Branon

Each anxious, puzzled "why?"
From doubt or dread that grows
Finds answer in this thought;
I know not, but He knows. --- Flint

IN THE DESERT OF GRIEF GOD PROVIDES AN OASIS OF GRACE.

Heartprints

Read: Acts 9:36-43

Dorcas ... was full of good works and charitable deeds. --- Acts 9:36

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 20-21
James 5

We leave fingerprints on doorknobs, on books, on walls, on keyboards. Since each person's fingerprints are unique, we leave our identity on everything we touch. Some supermarkets are even testing a technology that allows customers to pay by fingerprint. Each customer's unique print and bank account number are kept on file so that the only thing needed to pay a bill is a scan of their finger.

A woman in the early church left another kind of print --- a "heartprint." Dorcas touched many people's lives through her unique gift of sewing and giving away garments. She's described as "full of good works and charitable deeds" [Acts 9:36]. We too are to be "zealous for good works" [Titus 2:14]. We each have a unique heartprint that can touch another.

An unknown author wrote this prayer about encouraging others: "O God, wherever I go today, help me leave heartprints! Heartprints of compassion, understanding, and love. Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern. May my heart touch a lonely neighbor or runaway daughter or anxious mother or even an aged grandfather. Send me out today to leave heartprints. And if someone should say, 'I felt you touch,' may that one sense Your love touching through me."

Will you make this your prayer today? --- Anne Cetas

Just what do Christians look like?
What sets their lives apart?
They're ordinary people
Who love God from the heart. --- D. De Haan

PEOPLE WITH A HEART FOR GOD HAVE A HEART FOR PEOPLE.

All About Gratitude

Read: Col. 2:6-7; 3:12-17

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. --- Colossians 3:17

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 18-19
James 4

For centuries, people in many countries have held harvest festivals to celebrate the bounty of the land and the blessings of life. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established a national holiday in the United States as "a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father."

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen thinks that most holidays have been corrupted by commercialism, while Thanksgiving Day has retained its intended purpose. He said, "This is a very rare day. It is wholly and entirely about gratitude."

No matter what others do, we as followers of Christ have the privilege and responsibility to extend the spirit of thankfulness to every day of the year. Paul urged the Colossians to keep growing in Christ while overflowing with thankfulness [Col. 2:6-7]. We are to do everything "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" [3:17].

Abraham Lincoln's proclamation also declared that all our blessings "are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

This is fitting day to express gratitude to God. And so is tomorrow, and every day that follows. --- David McCasland

Worthy is God of our worship,
Worthy is He of our praise,
Magnify Him with thanksgiving,
Gladly our voices we raise. --- Anon.

THE JOY OF LIVING COMES FROM A HEART OF THANKSGIVING.

Hearing Aid

Read: 1 Samuel 3:1-14

It shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, "Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears." --- 1 Samuel 3:9

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 16-17
James 3

Joshua, a precocious 2-year-old, watched his mother baking cookies. "Please, may I have one?" he asked hopefully. "Not before supper," his mother replied. Joshua ran tearfully to his room, then reappeared with this message: "Jesus just told me it's okay to have a cookie now." "Jesus didn't tell me," his mother retorted, to which Joshua replied, "You must not have been listening!"

Joshua's motivation was wrong, but he was absolutely right about two things: God longs to speak to us, and we need to listen.

In 1 Samuel 3, another young boy learned those same ageless principles. When Samuel followed Eli's counsel and prayed, "Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears," he was open to receiving God's powerful message [v.9]. Like Samuel, we long to hear God speaking to us but often fail to discern His voice.

God spoke audibly to Samuel. Today He speaks to us by His Spirit through the Scriptures, other people, and our circumstances. But as a result of neglect and nonstop activity, some of us have become "hard of hearing." We need a "spiritual hearing aid" like the one in Samuel's prayer: "Speak, for Your servant hears" [v.10]. This humble attitude is a real help for the spiritually hard of hearing. --- Joanie Yoder

ADJUSTING YOUR HEARING AID
Set a specific time to read God's Word each day.
Meditate on what you have read.
Make prayer a priority throughout the day.

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD --- TAKE TIME TO LISTEN.

God's Little Blessings

Read: Psalm 36:5-10

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! --- Psalm 36:7

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 14-15
James 2

Our family was at Disney World a few years ago when God handed us one of His little blessings. Disney World is a huge place --- 107 acres huge, to be exact. You could walk around for days without seeing someone you know. My wife and I decided to do our own thing while our children sought out the really cool stuff. We parted at 9 a.m. and were planning a rendezvous around 6 p.m.

At about 2 p.m., my wife and I got a craving for tacos. We looked at our map and made our way to a Spanish-sounding place for Mexican food. We had just sat down with our food when we heard, "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad." Our three amigos had, at the same time, a hankering for a hot burrito.

Ten minutes after they joined us, a violent summer storm ripped through the park with whipping winds, heavy rain, and loud thunder. My wife commented, "I'd be a wreck if the kids weren't with us during this!" It seemed that God had orchestrated our meeting.

Ever notice those blessings from Him? Ever spend time thanking Him for His concern and care? Consider how remarkable it is that the One who created the universe cares enough to intervene in your life. "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!" --- Dave Branon

Thank You, God, that You're our Father,
Shepherd, Guardian, Guide, and Stay;
How we praise You for the blessings
You bestow on us each day! --- Sper

BELONGING TO GOD BRINGS BOUNDLESS BLESSINGS.

Gifts Without Guilt

Read: James 1:13-21

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. --- James 1:17

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 11-13
James 1

Kara and April left central Russia and traveled across six time zones to attend a retreat in Tallinn, Estonia, for women serving the Lord in Eastern Europe. Because of fogged-in airports and diverted flights, they had to spend an extra $600 on air expenses. Kara felt guilty about leaving her husband to care for their two young children and to run their ministry. The unplanned financial burden added to her guilt, and she e-mailed her husband that she was having difficulty enjoying her retreat.

He told her not to worry about the extravagance and said, "God is, after all, the God who made us heirs with Him and co-heirs with Christ. The God who gave Eve to Adam. The Father who loves to give good gifts to His children. Heaven is the ultimate of this ... but I also think that He has given us gifts to be enjoyed --- and a time to enjoy them. And this time, for you, is now. Don't worry --- sacrifice is waiting for you aplenty when you get home." We can benefit from his response.

As Kara was able then to enjoy the retreat, we too, as God's children, can let ourselves enjoy without guilt the good things He sends our way [1 Tim. 6:17]. We, in turn, can use those good gifts to bless others. --- Dave Egner

Although sometimes we may receive from others
Gifts that have a hidden guilt attached,
The blessings we receive from God our Father
Come to us by grace --- and they're unmatched! --- Hess

EVERY GOOD GIFT COMES FROM THE FATHER.

Cleaning Out The Files

Read: Philippians 3:13-21

Forgetting those things which are behind ... I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. --- Philippians 3:13-14

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 8-10
Hebrews 13

A certain businessman was notorious for saving almost everything that came across his desk --- especially correspondence. Consequently, the files in his office were bulging. One day his secretary asked if she might dispose of all the old, useless material. The man was reluctant, but finally said, "Well, all right, but be sure you make a copy of everything before you throw it away."

That's the way some Christians handle their sins. They know that Jesus paid the penalty, but somehow they can't let go of the guilt. It's as if Christ's suffering were not enough, and they must contribute some of their own anguish by continually lamenting their failures. They want to keep copies of everything they've done. How foolish!

The apostle Paul wanted nothing of this. He accepted as an accomplished fact the removal of all his guilt before God because Christ's death had marked PAID IN FULL over his account. The memory of earlier days remained vivid, but if didn't weigh him down.

Everything that happens to us is retained in that remarkable filing system called "memory." A wise forgetfulness based on Christ's atoning sacrifice can keep all guilt feelings from cluttering up our life. --- Dennis De Haan

The Lord forgives our sins because of Calvary,
And He Himself remembers them no more;
So let us not be burdened with their memory,
But look ahead to all He has in store. --- Hess

GUILT IS A BURDEN GOD NEVER INTENDED HIS CHILDREN TO BEAR.

Word Hunger

Read: Psalm 119:97-104

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. --- 1 Peter 2:2

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 5-7
Hebrews 12

I had just completed a night of Bible conference ministry in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was chatting with some of the people who had attended. At the end of the line was a young man in his twenties. He shared with me that he had been a Christ-follower for only about 4 months, and he was eager to learn more of the teachings of the Bible. I referred him to the RBC Web site with the Discovery Series topics as one possible resource for his personal study.

The next night the young man returned to the conference and shared that he had stayed up until 3:30 reading and processing the biblical truths he discovered in that online resource. With a big smile on his face, he declared that he just couldn't get enough of God's Word [1 Peter 2:2].

What spiritual hunger! That excited young man is a reminder to us of the wonder of the Bible and its heart-enriching truths. It's all too easy for us to ignore God's Book in a world filled with voices screaming for our attention. But only in the Bible can we find God's wisdom for our struggles, God's answers for our questions, and God's truths for our understanding. These truths are worth hungering for. --- Bill Crowder

My hunger for the truth He satisfies;
Upon the Word, the Living Bread, I feed.
No parching thirst I know, because His grace,
A pool of endless depth, supplies my need. --- Sanders

STUDY THE BIBLE TO BE WISE; BELIEVE IT TO BE SAFE; PRACTICE IT TO BE HOLY.

The Dead Sea Squirrels

Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

You shall teach them diligently to your children. --- Deuteronomy 6:7

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 3-4
Hebrews 11:20-40

Our family was excited to visit the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit that was coming to town all the way from Israel. These ancient copies of the Old Testament provide evidence that our Bible has remained accurate over the centuries. Our nephew Daniel was so elated about this outing that he told his schoolmates, "Our family is going to see 'the dead sea squirrels!'" We all laughed when we heard his misquote. His little ears had turned a word he had never heard [scrolls] into a word he did know [squirrels]. And in his childlike enthusiasm, he also knew that the family was going to see something wonderful!

Daniel's excitement underscores an important spiritual aspect of parenting. Values are transmitted to our children not only by what we say but by they emotions we convey. Both content and heartfelt appreciation for God's Word can be communicated to children in a variety of ways [Deut. 6:4-9], including what they overhear in our conversation with others.

Young children may not initially understand each spiritual idea we discuss, but they can catch the importance we place on it. Children pick up on spiritual values and grow in understanding as we express reverence and excitement about the Word of God. --- Dennis Fisher

Lord, give us wisdom to provide
The proper atmosphere
To lead our children in Your ways
By what they see and hear. --- Sper

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO --- BUT BE SURE YOU GO THAT WAY YOURSELF.

Truth That Transforms

Read: John 21:14-17

Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. --- John 21:14

The Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 1-2
Hebrews 11:1-19

Truth is truth even if it doesn't seem to affect our lives directly. But the truth that God gives us in the Bible not only opens heaven's door for us, it also changes our lives.

Ron Snider, a leading evangelical advocate for the poor, tells about a conversation he had with German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. As they were discussing the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the theologian emphatically declared, "The evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: It is a very unusual event, and second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live."

That's a challenging statement. If we really believe Jesus rose again, that belief mandates a change of life. Peter's life was turned upside-down after he saw the resurrected Christ. Once an impetuous fisherman-disciple who denied even knowing Christ after His arrest, he became a bold witness for Him [John 18:17,25,27; Acts 2:14-36].

Has belief in Jesus' resurrection changed your life? Are your goals and priorities different than they are? Are you kinder, more patient, more forgiving? Ask God what He wants to do in you, and then cooperate with Him in that change. --- Vernon C. Grounds

We want to do great things, O Lord,
To glorify Your name;
When You transform us by Your power,
We'll never be the same. --- Sper

THE POWER THAT GOD USED TO RAISE JESUS FROM THE DEAD IS THE SAME POWER AT WORK IN YOU.

Instant Access

Read: Hebrews 10:19-23

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. --- Hebrews 10:22

The Bible In One Year:
Lamentations 3-5
Hebrews 10:19-39

Pastor Rich McCarrell explained to his young son how his secretary screened his phone calls at the church office. He said, "If your mom calls me and I'm busy, the church secretary will tell her what I'm doing, and then Mom will decide if I should be interrupted or if she should leave a message."

Then he said to his son, "If you call me, you'll be put right through. I want you to know that you can call me anytime, because you're my son."

A few days later, the church secretary put a call through to the pastor from his son. He said hello and asked what he could do for his son. He replied, "Nothing, Dad. I just wanted to make sure I could actually get through to you that easily."

We too always have instant access to our Father in heaven. There's no secretary to screen His calls. No need for a decision on whether or not we should bother Him. No need to leave a message so that He can get back to us later. The psalmist reminds us, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" [Ps. 34:15].

Because Jesus has provided the way by His death and resurrection, you can have boldness and confidence as you draw near to your Father [Heb. 4:16]. --- Anne Cetas

Dear Father, thank You that we can talk with YOU
at any time for any reason. We are grateful for that
privilege, which was made possible by Your Son Jesus
through His death and resurrection.

THROUGH PRAYER, WE HAVE INSTANT ACCESS TO OUR FATHER.

True Victory

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. --- 2 Corinthians 4:17

The Bible In One Year:
Lamentations 1-2
Hebrews 10:1-18

In 2005, the surprising Boys Town High School Cowboys carried a perfect record into a Nebraska state semifinal football game. But more important, the players had taken giant strides toward overcoming their family backgrounds of abuse, abandonment, and neglect that had brought them to the safe, caring environment of Boys Town.

Their coach, Kevin Kush, believes that football is a way to build character, and says: "Victories at Boys Town are not won on a present-day athletic field. They are won years from now in cities and towns across this country when our players become productive citizens." His team plays to win while pursuing higher goals of sportsmanship, discipline, and team work.

Paul held a similar long-range view of our experience as followers of Christ. In the midst of personal setbacks, he urged the Corinthians not to lose heart [2 Cor. 4:17]. In spite of loss, we are to pursue the higher goals of God's kingdom now, anticipating our eternal triumph in Christ.

When the Boys Town Cowboys lost their playoff game 10-0, they were disappointed but not devastated. Their coach had taught them to keep going because their true victory in life is still to come. And so is our in Christ. --- David McCasland

Come, Lord, and give me courage,
Thy conquering Spirit give;
Make me an overcomer,
In power within me live. --- Anon.

TRIALS CAN BE GOD'S WAY TO TRIUMPH.

A Fortified House

Read: Matthew 7:15-27

The floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall. --- Matthew 7:25

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 51-52
Hebrews 9

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, some people in the US are building houses stronger than ever before.

Hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes have caused billions of dollars in property damage in states across the nation. So, at the urging of businesses, government, and hard-pressed insurance companies, some builders are constructing fortress-like homes with windows that can withstand 130 mile-per-hour winds, roof nails so strong they can only be cut off, and framing material that can weather the tremendous forces faced by a supersonic jet. In Bolingbrook, Illinois, a community damaged by a tornado in the 1990s, a company is constructing such a "fortified" house in hopes that the idea will catch on.

We who know the Lord Jesus realize that when it comes to building our spiritual foundation, it must be strong and secure. In today's Scripture, Christ made it clear what that foundation must be when He referred to "these sayings of Mine" [Matt. 7:24], which included His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount [Matt. 5-7].

When we receive by faith Christ's words and His work on our behalf, our spiritual lives are "founded on the Rock," Christ Jesus. --- Dave Egner

I do not stand on shifting sand
And fear the storm that rages;
But calm and sure, I stand secure
Upon the Rock of Ages. --- Anon.

TO SURVIVE THE STORMS OF LIFE, BE ANCHORED TO THE ROCK OF AGES.

Remembrance Day

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." --- Luke 22:19

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 50
Hebrews 8

I was in London's Heathrow Airport waiting for a connecting flight to the US. An announcement came over the public address system stating that it was "Remembrance Day" in the UK, the day on which people honored those who had died for their country in times of war. The announcement further said that at 11:00 a.m. there would be a 2 minutes of silence and that it would be appreciated if everyone kept that in mind. Thousands of people from all over the world stood in silence as a tribute to the fallen soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen of the UK.

The desire to remember those who gave their lives for their country is noble. Yet, as meaningful as that is, it cannot compare to the privilege that belongs to us when we approach the Lord's Table. As we celebrate Communion, we are obeying Christ's command that we remember His death [Luke 22:19] and to do it "till He comes" [1 Cor. 11:26]. When He sacrificed His life for us, He provided the forgiveness of sins that sets us free and secures for us an eternal home in heaven.

Rather than letting the Lord's Supper become routine, make every opportunity at the Table a true "Remembrance Day" by honoring Him till He comes. --- Bill Crowder

Thank You, Lord, for dying for me
On the cross of Calvary;
Help me always to remember
What You did to set me free. --- Sper

REMEMBERING CHRIST'S DEATH FOR US SHOULD CAUSE US TO LIVE FOR HIM.

One Problem; Two Views

Read: Romans 13:1-7

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. --- Romans 13:1

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 48-49
Hebrews 7

Jamaicans were recently concerned that their country's murder rate was nearing an all-time high. Debate was lively as good citizens sought solutions.

Typical of two common approaches came in letters to the editor of one Jamaican newspaper. One writer said, "Unless our scholars, ... policy-makers and political representatives seriously seek answers, the future of our nation is dire." Another observed, "It is time we address the heart of the problem --- that the people of Jamaica go ... not to the Minister of National Security but to God Himself."

One problem, two views: The totally secular proposal, which leans on the wisdom of man alone; and the divine approach, which depends on God and those who love Him.

We need both: God-ordained government to care for the people [Rom. 13:1-7]; and people who have a proper view of God and His guidelines for life [Prov. 14:33].

No matter where we live, we must pray for those in charge, asking God to provide direction. Then we must also work and pray that individuals --- one by one --- see their need for Jesus and their dependence on the Lord.

By combining the two views, we can make a difference. --- Dave Branon

It's always easy to complain
And say that government's unfair,
But God's Word says we should give thanks
And lift our leaders up in prayer. --- Hess

THROUGH PRAYER, THE PUBLIC BUSINESS OF THE NATION CAN BECOME THE PRIVATE BUSINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN.

Life's Storm-Tossed Sea

Read: Mark 4:35-41

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. --- 1 Peter 5:7

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 46-47
Hebrews 6

Emilie, wife of 19th-century German pastor Christoph Blumhardt, envied his ability to pray for his parishioners and then effortlessly fall asleep. So one night she pleaded, "Tell me your secret!"

He answered, "Is God so powerless that my worrying would help the well-being of our parish?" Then he added, "There comes a moment each day when we must simply drop what weighs on us and hand it over to God."

One evening Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Weary after a long day of ministry, He fell asleep in the stern of the boat. A fierce squall suddenly arose --- so fierce that even the Lord's fishermen-turned-disciples were terrified. But Jesus continued to sleep serenely until His frightened followers woke Him, crying out, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" [Mark 4:38]. You see, Jesus was in the habit of entrusting Himself to His heavenly Father. Having made that commitment, He could sleep through the turbulent squall.

When worries begin to gnaw at our mind, let's surrender them to the Lord and not take them back again [1 Peter 5:7]. That's the secret of soul-serenity when we're on life's storm-tossed sea. --- Vernon C. Grounds

Jesus knows the pain you feel,
He can save and He can heal---
Take your burden to the Lord
And leave it there. --- Tindley

DROP WHAT WEIGHS YOU DOWN BY GIVING IT TO GOD.

He Did It

Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-10

The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. --- 2 Timothy 2:2

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 43-45
Hebrews 5

At the memorial service for LeRoy Eims, longtime staff member with The Navigators, I pondered why hundreds of colleagues and friends had come from across the US to pay tribute. Why did so many people love him so deeply?

As a young Christian, LeRoy had been challenged to disciple others one on one. He took seriously Paul's charge to Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" [2 Tim. 2:2]. LeRoy embraced that clear, simple command of Scripture and practiced it faithfully for more than 50 years.

Scores of people who packed the church that afternoon had lived in LeRoy and Virginia Eims' home. They had been embraced, encouraged, and instructed by him. As his spiritual children, they had multiplied his ministry by investing themselves in others, just as he had in them.

One sentence in a written tribute captured the essence of the man: "His life was characterized by singleness of purpose, great creativity and a wonderful sense of humor."

LeRoy's example spurs us on to a lifetime of faithfully following the Lord. He did it! And by God's grace, so can we. --- David McCasland

It is in loving --- not in being loved ---
The heart is blessed;
It is in giving --- not in seeing gifts ---
We find our quest. --- Anon.

YOU CAN TEACH MORE WITH YOUR LIFE THAN WITH YOUR LIPS.

Three Certainties

Read: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? --- 1 Corinthians 15:55

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 40-42
Hebrews 4

As I waited outside the Intensive Care Unit for changes in the condition of a loved one, I was reminded that death affects all of us; old and young, male and female, rich and poor.

In 1 Thessalonians 4, the apostle Paul comforted those who mourned the death of their loved ones. He told them that excessive grief resulted from being uninformed. Weeping for our loss is good, but we need not weep like those who have no hope. Instead, we must rely on three certainties of death.

The first certainty is that the soul does not die. The souls of departed believers are with the Lord [v.14]. They have retired from this problematic world, and they "sleep in Jesus."

Second, Jesus will come for every believer. Whether a Christian is alive on earth or asleep in death, Jesus will return for all His children [vv.16-17].

Third, there will be a joyous reunion. "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" [v.17].

Knowing these certainties brings comfort to believers when their friends and loved ones depart. Although we are separated from them for a while, we will meet again in the presence of our Lord. --- Albert Lee

When facing death's shadow, remember the Light;
The shadows bring fear, and the dark shrouds our eyes;
But if we will turn to face Jesus the Light,
The shadows will fade as He brightens our skies. --- Lee

SUNSET IN ONE LAND IS SUNRISE IN ANOTHER.

The Choice

Read: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. --- Deuteronomy 30:15

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 37-39
Hebrews 3

You've heard the infamous name of John Wilkes Booth. He assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But have you heard about Edwin Booth, John's eldest brother? Edwin, a well-known actor, was waiting at a Jersey City train station when he saw someone slip and fall off the platform. Edwin quickly grabbed the man's collar and pulled him to safety --- rescuing him from serious injury or death. Who was the man he saved? Abraham Lincoln's son Robert, a soldier in the Civil War.

How ironic that the man who saved Lincoln's son had a brother who would soon kill the president. One saved a life; one took a life. One chose life; the other chose death.

The Lord gave His people a choice between life and death: They could love Him and obey His commands [Deut. 30:16], or they could worship and serve other gods [v.17]. He told them, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life" [v.19].

We too have a choice between life and death. We can receive Jesus as our Savior and live with Him forever, or we can reject Jesus and be in darkness forever without Him. The best choices is clear. Receive God's gift of His Son Jesus. Choose life! --- Anne Cetas

The choice we make determines our
Eternal destination;
One leads to everlasting life;
The other, condemnation. --- Sper

THE CHOICE YOU MAKE TODAY WILL DETERMINE YOUR TOMORROW.

A Surprise Answer

Read: 1 John 3:16-23

Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. --- 1 John 3:22

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 34-36
Hebrews 2

When Josh McDowell's mother died, he was not sure of her salvation. He became depressed. Was she a Christian or not? "Lord," he prayed, "somehow give me the answer so I can get back to normal. I've just got to know." It seemed like an impossible request.

Two days later, Josh drove out to the ocean and walked to the end of a pier to be alone. There sat an elderly woman in a lawnchair, fishing. "Where's your home originally?" she asked. "Michigan --- Union City," Josh replied. "Nobody's heard of it. I tell people it's a dumb suburb of ---" "Battle Creek," interrupted the woman. "I had a cousin from there. Did you know the McDowell family?"

Stunned, Josh responded, "Yes, I'm Josh McDowell." "I can't believe it," said the woman. "I'm a cousin to your mother." "Do you remember anything at all about my mother's spiritual life?" asked Josh. "Why sure --- your mom and I were just girls --- teenagers --- when a tent revival came to town. We both went forward to accept Christ." "Praise God!" shouted Josh, startling the surrounding fishermen.

God delights to give us what we ask when it is in His will. Never underestimate His desire to respond to our prayers. A surprise may be just around the corner. --- Dennis De Haan

That long-sought wish, oh, how I prayed,
I thought it not divinely willed,
And then the joyous, tear-stained smile
Of faith triumphant, hope fulfilled! --- Brandt

IF YOU GET DEFINITE WITH GOD, HE'LL GET DEFINITE WITH YOU.

Multitude Of Counselors

Read: Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 27:9

In the multitude of counselors there is safety. --- Proverbs 11:14

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 32-33
Hebrews 1

In October 1962, the world held its breath at the US and the Soviet Union stood at the brink of nuclear war. Premier Nikita Khrushchev had delivered nuclear missiles to Cuba and President John F. Kennedy demanded their immediate removal. Tensions were at an all-time high.

Kennedy phoned three former US presidents to get their advice. Herbert Hoover had faced the economic problems of the Great Depression; Harry Truman had ended World War II; and Dwight Eisenhower had served as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. Each had valuable insights to share. After Kennedy conferred with all of his White House advisors, a balanced course of action defused the crisis. War was averted.

The Bible encourages us to seek the advice of wise counselors. Proverbs 11:14 states, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." The word translated "counsel" is a Hebrew nautical term used for steering a ship. The wisdom of godly advisors can help steer us in the right direction.

Are you facing a crisis? A truly wise person is open to the counsel and insight of others. Why not prayerfully seek the advice of some godly believers today? --- Dennis Fisher

When a crisis looms before you,
Don't face it on your own;
Seek advice from godly counsel,
And take it to God's throne. --- Sper

IF YOU SEEK WISE COUNSEL YOU MULTIPLY YOUR CHANCES FOR SOUND DECISIONS.