Healing

Healing means "to restore to health or soundness; cure. To set right; repair. To restore (a person) to spiritual wholeness and to become whole and sound; return to health."

I came across a verse that the Lord led me to on October 13, 2001 shortly after my first Women's Retreat with New Hope Christian Church. The guest speaker was not someone I really cared for but something out of that weekend brought peace to my life after my ordeal with NHL. That August I had come up to the first year after I was diagnosed. I was still recovering from treatment but I felt great because I had won a major battle. Eric was unemployed but hopeful that he'd find another design job. We had just started going to New Hope Christian Church and felt like we found a church family we could be a part of. The girls were happy and healthy. And, we were discussing having another baby. I was so happy at the thought that we could have another child and maybe make up for the fact that I lost out on Emily's first year. I have no idea when she started to crawl, talk, walk or any other major milestone because it's all a blur.

Then came the oncology appointment that fell around the anniversary of when I was diagnosed. After finding out all was well we discussed our desire to have another baby. To that he said, "I would strongly recommend you don't. If you should choose to have another baby you would have to wait 2 years for your body to be fully rid of the toxins of chemotherapy. The nature of your type of cancer is that by then it will have returned and will no longer be treatable through traditional treatments. If you do become pregnant and we discover your cancer has returned, you will have two choices. One, terminate the pregnancy and get treated immediately. Or two, carry the pregnancy to full term risking the chances of the cancer spreading to the point where it can't be treated. Thus, you'd be leaving Eric with 3 young children to take care of."

I felt like I hit a wall the size of the Great Wall of China. Reality set in and my high was over. I was a mess after that appointment. My dreams of having another baby were shattered and I mourned that loss. I mourned the loss of my previous cancer free life full of hopes and dreams. I mourned the loss of forever having to be reminded that my life wasn't my own and that I had to live with the threat of my cancer returning. That October Eric forced me to go to the Women's Retreat. I didn't want to go because I wasn't settling in at as he was. But went I did and out of it came a life changing moment.

Psalm 103:1-3 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases." Next to this verse I wrote "Another reminder of God's healing power over NHL. Note: Jeremiah 30:17" I turned to Jeremiah 30:17 and it says, "For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds; declares the Lord." I was wounded and in need of the Lord's healing both physically and spiritually. I turned to Him that day and began to release all that I mourned over into His hands. I took on the promise in Jeremiah 30:6, "Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth."

That day began my journey of healing and living the life of a cancer survivor. I had crossed over from cancer victim to cancer fighter the year before. What I didn't realize was that I had to cross over from cancer fighter to cancer survivor and that is where I was struggling. I could no longer live upon the fact that I had won my first battle with it. That fact couldn't keep me alive for the long haul. I had to somehow come to terms that I had been healed but the healing may not last for a life time. Living the life of a survivor in the beginning is not easy. In fact, it's mentally harder then going through treatment. I honestly think this is true for any major trial you're dealing with. It's a difficult process to get through but once on the other side life will be different. The fact that the trial took place may have lasting consequences and reminders that you can never escape from. But that doesn't mean you can't gain healing and peace out of it. You have to be willing to acknowledge the fact that it's part of your history and can't be changed. That you're a different person because of it but that's OK. God can bring healing through it and give you freedom and peace. Turn it all over to Him and "Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recover will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8).

Krista Jones
3.2.08

To Glorify Christ Jesus

"He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:14).

The Holy Ghost Himself cannot better glorify the LORD Jesus than by showing to us Christ's own things. Jesus is His own best commendation. There is no adorning Him except with his own gold. The Comforter shows us that which He has received of our LORD Jesus. We never see anything aright till He reveals it. He has a way of opening our minds and of opening the Scriptures, and by this double process He sets forth our LORD to us. There is much art in setting forth a matter, and that art belongs in the highest degree to the Spirit of truth. He shows us the things themselves. This is a great privilege, as those know who have enjoyed the hallowed vision. Let us seek the illumination of the Spirit; not to gratify our curiosity, nor even to bring us personal comfort, so much as to glorify the LORD Jesus. Oh, to have worthy ideas of Him! Groveling notions dishonor our precious LORD. Oh, to have such vivid impressions of His person, and work, and glory that we may with heart and soul cry out to His praise! Where there is a heart enriched by the Holy Ghost's teaching there will be a Savior glorified beyond expression. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly light, and show us Jesus our LORD!

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Chrckbook"

My Anxious Thoughts

Anxious means, "Uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter; worried." I have often been anxious throughout my whole life. As a child I remember worrying about EVERYTHING. I use to stay up worrying at night over silly things. One worried thought would lead to the next until I was piling them up like the twenty mattresses and and feather beds the Princes in the Pea slept upon. I'd literally feel heart pounding anxiety. Over the years the Lord has freed me from that deep anxiety but I do find myself falling into the worry trap easily.

Last night I came across a good verse. Psalm 94:19, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." Here is a verse that speaks directly of who I have been and still can be today. It's not often that I'm that Princesses on top of those mattresses of worry. But there are times I do wake up and the thoughts start coming and I can no longer fall asleep. It is at those times that I repeat, Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we pray this verse and give God what we're worrying about it gives Him the control. Or more likely, it helps us realize we were never in control over the situation in the first place . . . :-). I Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your anxiety to Him, because He cares for you." I like what Henry Ford had to say about worrying. "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about."

When you feel those anxious thoughts creep in, repeat Philippians 4:6-7 and say to yourself, "so what is there to worry about?"

Memo from God
Author: Unknown
To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE BOSS
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

I am God.
Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box.
All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it.
Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair.
There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work;
Think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad;
Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend;
Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance;
Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror;
Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose?
Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Should you decide to send this to a friend;
Thank you, you may have touched their life in ways you will never know!

Krista Jones
2.29.08

Do Not Forecast Grief

Sitting one still and sunny afternoon in a tiny chapel on an island in the South, I thought I heard someone enter. A young woman was weeping quietly. After a little time I asked if I could help. She confided her fears for the future--what if her husband should die? Or one of her children? What if money ran out?

All our fears represent in some form, I believe, the fear of death, common to all of us. But is it our business to pry into what may happen tomorrow? It is a difficult and painful exercise which saps the strength and uses up the time given us today. Once we give ourselves up to God, shall we attempt to get hold of what can never belong to us--tomorrow? Our lives are His, our times in His hand, He is Lord over what wil1 happen, never mind what may happen. When we prayed "Thy will be done," did we suppose He did not hear us? He heard indeed, and daily makes our business His and partakes of our lives. If my life is once surrendered, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!

Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not see clearly what is required of me now.

"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"--and the work thereof. The evil is not a part of the yoke Jesus asks us to take. Our work is, and He takes that yoke with us. I will overextend myself if I assume anything more.

God chains the dog till night; wilt loose the chain
And wake thy sorrow?
Wilt thou forestall it, and now grieve tomorrow,
And then again
Grieve over freshly all thy pain?
Either grief will not come, or if it must,
Do not forecast;
And while it cometh, it is almost past.
Away, distrust;
My God hath promis'd; He is just.
-George Herbert, "The Discharge"

By Elisabeth Elliot

Long Hours

"I will give myself unto prayer." Psalm 109:4

We are often in a religious hurry in our devotions. How much time do we spend in them daily? Can it not be easily reckoned in minutes? Who ever knew an eminently holy man who did not spend much of his time in prayer? Did ever a man exhibit much of the spirit of prayer, who did not devote much time in his closet?

Whitefield says, "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground, in silent or vocal prayer." "Fall upon your knees and grow there," is the language of another, who knew whereof he affirmed.

It has been said that no great work in literature or science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God. - The Still Hour

"'Come, come,' He saith, 'O soul oppressed and weary,
Come to the shadows of my desert rest;
Come walk with Me far from life's babbling discords,
And peace shall breathe like music in thy breast.'"

By Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

Laying Your Cares at His Feet

"Give your worries to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will never let good people down." Psalm 55:22

Only you can surrender your concerns to the Father. No one else can take those away and give them to God. Only you can cast all your anxieties on the one who cares for you. What better way to start the day than by laying your cares at His feet?

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

The Waiting Game

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11

Impatient people are like cats petted backwards - apt to yowl over the discomfort of things not done right or not done at all. But Proverbs 19:11 spells out the divine imperative: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Unlike jigsaw puzzles, people don't always fit together perfectly. Everyone's personality has unique ins and outs. Some are busy, get-it-done types, for whom people are a means to an end. Others are more laid-back; they talk about getting something done, but never quite get to it. To them, people and relationships are the end.

When these two types get together, they can despair over the other's failures, blind to their own. Or they can see those conflicts as opportunities for their own growth.

Single until her mid-thirties, Dora had numerous roommates who stretched her comfort zone.

"I like the dishes always done and the floor vacuumed," she says. "But the Lord needed to expose my inflexibility. The roommates he sent were my opposites. They lived on the telephone and were blind to dust. But they also drew me out of myself and taught me how to care for people."

In (my) family, cartoons help us celebrate our differences and be patient with one another. Any comic strip that hits home is clipped and posted on the refrigerator for laughs. Then I paste it in a notebook, kept with the family photo albums, for repeat laughs and long-term reminders of how human we are really are.

By Jeanne Zornes, taken from "Women's Daily Devotional Bible 1"

Are you your own worst enemy?

Psalm 86:11 says, "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name."

My Bible study notes say that David's dependance on God here is complete as well as his devotion to God. What he is saying is that he still needs to be saved from his enemies from the outside but also from his frailty within. He knows he is his worse enemy and seeks to be united with his God. God wants us to watch over our hearts as He tells us in Proverbs 4:23, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." It is important to guard my heart from the world with all diligence so that it doesn't become separated from our God. How are people to know the Lord if we are united with the world? How are our children to learn about Him if we united with the world? I think of how I want to break the chains of horrible things that have bound my family for generations so that the generations after me will not have to suffer the same way. What I would like to do is start a chain of God that future generations can attach themselves to. A glorious chain of love, obedience and sharing the Good News. God says, "And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them." (Jer. 32:39)

Let us not forget to seek our God diligently. By doing so we continue to become fully united with Him and separated from the world. He tells us in Deuteronomy 4:29 & 31, "There you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul . . . . . For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them." WOW, by seeking the Lord with all our heart and soul we are guaranteed the promises He has given to us.

Oh that it would be so easy!!! I still feel like the Israelites who have seen with their own eyes the miracles and power of God and yet, cannot seem to keep His commandments. It seems like such a simple thing to do. Follow God's commandments and prosper in the promised land protected by Him. Hello! easy peasy. Yet, I read and understand what I need to do but fail to follow it just like the Israelites did. I can be my worse enemy and need protection from what my sinful nature desires. I pray that we will yearn to have a united heart that fears the Lord. That we will not only hear what the Word has to say but apply it in our daily living. I understand that it doesn't guarantee an easy life but it does guarantee an eternal life filled with joy. It guarantees that you are never alone in your struggles, pain and suffering. That you have a loving Father in heaven who will gently guide you through your life if only you seek to unite your heart with Him.

Krista Jones
2.28.08

No water is too deep for our God!

Last night during my reading I came across Psalm 81:7, "You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribath."

I know I might be taking this out of context but I was stuck by the awesomeness of our God. How powerful and mighty He is. How He is in control of all things great and small. That out of His mighty thunder He reaches down to us with a gentle hand to rescue us. Psalm 18:15 talks about how powerful God is, "Then the channels of water appeared, and the fountains of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils." I pretty sure this is referring to when the Israelites walked across the sea floor while God kept the waters parted. "At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing waters stood up like a heap; the deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea." (Exodus 15:8).

And even as powerful and great as God is, He is still concerned with the small details of our lives. "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1).

Here's a tid-bit from my devotional reading this morning: "God is great in great things, but very great in little things," says Henry Dyer. "A party stood on the Matterhorn admiring the sublimity of the scene, when a gentleman produced a pocket microscope, and having caught a fly, placed it under the glass. He reminded us that the legs of the household fly in England were naked, then called attention to the legs of this little fly, which were thickly covered with hair, thus showing that the same God who made the lofty Swiss mountains had also attended to the comfort of His tiniest creatures, even producing socks and mittens for the little fly whose home these mountains were. This God is our God!" (taken from Streams in the Desert Volume 2).

I can see that when the trials come into my life and I wonder if God really cares about what I'm going through that He does care. If He cares enough to cloth the little Matterhorn fly then He cares enough to cloth me with His love. That when my trials are as deep as the deepest waters He is still deeper. I sometimes feel like the Israelites standing at the water's edge with the Egyptian army behind me wondering which way to turn. And here God provides a way of escape by parting the deep waters for me. Out of his great thunder He rescues. No water is too deep for our God!

Krista Jones
2.27.08

October's Memory Verse

Last night my family read the devotion below. I thought it perfect for today.

Don't Be A Baby

"You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn't very far along in the Christian life and doesn't know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right." Hebrews 5:12-14

It was devotion time at the Ryan home. "Tonight," began Dad, "let's each quote a Bible verse. Choose one that has had special meaning to you recently."

Uh-oh, thought Andy. I haven't learned any new verses in weeks.

Andy listened to his big sister, Angela. "Psalm 119:97; 'Oh, how I love thy low! It is my meditation all the day,' " she quoted, "This verse reminds me to think about God's Word during the day."

"A good lesson for us all," said Dad. "How about you, Andy?"

"I like John 3:16," Andy replied. " 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.' "

"You always say the same verse," fussed Angela, rolling her eyes. "Don't you ever learn any new ones?"

"It's an important verse," Mom assured him, "and I'm glad you like it. But it's also important to add new verses to our memory."

"Think of it this way," said Dad. "Mom gives Sarah baby food, right? But what if she gave all of us strained food?"

"Yuck!" Andy wrinkled his nose. "Baby food is for babies. We nee solid food so we can grow."

"Right," said Dad. "John 3:16 is an important verse - just like baby food is important for Sarah. But as we grow in our Christian lives, we need to add solid foods to our spiritual diet so we won't be spiritual weaklings."

"In that case," said Andy, "please pass the Bible. I don't want to be a baby."

How about you?: Have you learned any new verses lately? Are you adding new truths from the Bible to your spiritual life? It's important to remember verses we learned when we first became Christians, but we also should be learning new things so we can keep on growing.

Key: Learn a new verse.

Taken from Family Devotions, Volume 1


MEMORY VERSE FOR OCTOBER:

Proverbs 16:1-3

"The plans of the heart belong to man. But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:1-3 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)


September's Memory Verse: Proverbs 17:9

Remember the key is to review review review. Always review the verses you've already memorized along with learning this month's verse. If you'd like, post a comment and let me know how it's going.

The Missionary’s Goal

"He . . . said to them, ’Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem . . . ’" Luke 18:31

In our natural life our ambitions change as we grow, but in the Christian life the goal is given at the very beginning, and the beginning and the end are exactly the same, namely, our Lord Himself. We start with Christ and we end with Him?". . . till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . ." ( Ephesians 4:13 ), not simply to our own idea of what the Christian life should be. The goal of the missionary is to do God’s will, not to be useful or to win the lost. A missionary is useful and he does win the lost, but that is not his goal. His goal is to do the will of his Lord.

In our Lord’s life, Jerusalem was the place where He reached the culmination of His Father’s will upon the cross, and unless we go there with Jesus we will have no friendship or fellowship with Him. Nothing ever diverted our Lord on His way to Jerusalem. He never hurried through certain villages where He was persecuted, or lingered in others where He was blessed. Neither gratitude nor ingratitude turned our Lord even the slightest degree away from His purpose to go "up to Jerusalem."

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master" ( Matthew 10:24 ). In other words, the same things that happened to our Lord will happen to us on our way to our "Jerusalem." There will be works of God exhibited through us, people will get blessed, and one or two will show gratitude while the rest will show total ingratitude, but nothing must divert us from going "up to [our] Jerusalem."

". . . there they crucified Him . . ." ( Luke 23:33 ). That is what happened when our Lord reached Jerusalem, and that event is the doorway to our salvation. The saints, however, do not end in crucifixion; by the Lord’s grace they end in glory. In the meantime our watchword should be summed up by each of us saying, "I too go ’up to Jerusalem.’ "

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

He Watches Over Us

"From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth." Psalm 33:14

In the early 1960s, I read the novel 1984 by George Orwell, which made famous the phrase “Big Brother is watching you.” In this imaginary society, all aspects of life are under surveillance.

Today, there are an estimated 4.2 million closed-circuit video cameras in the UK alone! London is saturated with them. These cameras watch lobbies and sidewalks for security reasons. They even monitor traffic.

Psalm 33 tells us that God is also watching from on high (v.14). He sees not just images and activities but discerns thoughts and motives. As Creator God, when He speaks, it will be done (v.9). His eternal purposes march on unhindered (vv.10-11). Earthly obstacles are mere steppingstones to Him. Though many may depend on military strength for deliverance and safety, their hope is in vain (vv.16-17).

Yet we who fear the Lord need not flee from this awesome God. The psalmist affirms, “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy . . . . He is our help and our shield” (vv.18,20).

The eye of the Lord may be fearsome, but we who trust in Him rejoice. He is not an intrusive “Big Brother” but our loving heavenly Father who watches over us. — Albert Lee

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. —Keith

Keep your eyes on the Lord; He never takes His eyes off you.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Spiritual Growth of Children

I am becoming more amazed at the depth of parenting the older my children get and for the awesome responsibility we have towards their spiritual growth. Psalm 78:5-8 says, "For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children. That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but to keep His commandments. And not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God." What a great reminder of what we as parents need to be doing. We need to be teaching our children about God and what He's done for us. To train them up to know Him so that they may one day take what they've learned and impart it upon their children.

I think it's also important to break whatever chain that has bound past generations in your family. I pray daily that my children can be freed from the chain of divorce, alcoholism, drugs and so forth that have kept past generations bound in our family. I pray that the link stops with us. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of you life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons." This means that we too need to keep our selves in good spiritual shape. To be diligent in our walk with the Lord so our children can learn by our example to walk with the same diligence not forgetting what God has done for them. By this we hope to help keep our children faithful to the Lord.

Krista Jones
2.26.08

Best Seller or Bread of Life?

''How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!'' Psalm 119:103

Of the millions of Bibles bought during the last few years there is no certain way to discover how many are being read. But there is a pretty sure way to discover how many readers obey them. Total committal of a few hundred thousand persons to the message of the Bible anywhere in the world would work a moral revolution that would affect for good every facet of modern life. Since no such revolution has occurred we can only conclude that the Best Seller is not being read, or at least not being obeyed.

In a time of disaster such as earthquake or flood first-aid information and the instructions of the medical authorities are often matters of life or death. What would we think of a man if we found him at such a time comfortably reclined reading this material for its literary beauty? He might feel an aesthetic thrill at the terse, concise language and still die of typhoid, for his life depends not upon his admiration of the words of the official directives but upon his obedience to them.

As preposterous as such conduct would be, yet something like it is practiced constantly in a sphere where the consequences are far more weighty. Men who have but a little while to prepare themselves for the eternal world read the only book that can tell them how--not to learn how, but to enjoy the literary beauty of the book. Only the blindness of heart occasioned by sin would permit men so to do.

By A.W. Tozer, taken from "The Set of the Sail" - Chapter #45 (The Proper Use of the Bible)

Memory Verse Challenge

I'm going to throw out a challenge for you. I try to memorize a verse a month and will share those with you at the beginning of each month so you can join me if you'd like.
 
The key is to review review review. Don't just memorize and let it go. Keep building upon what you've already memorized by reviewing each verse everyday. It takes time but it's well worth it. Another key is to repeat the verse address before and after the verse. This month is almost over but the verse I just started working on is easy. 
 
Proverbs 17:9 
 
"He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends." 
 
Proverbs 17:9 (NASB - New American Standard Bible) 


Next month's verse will be posted on Oct. 1st. Good luck with your memory work. 

Missionary Weapons (2)

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." John 13:14

Ministering in Everyday Opportunities. Ministering in everyday opportunities that surround us does not mean that we select our own surroundings— it means being God’s very special choice to be available for use in any of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us. The very character we exhibit in our present surroundings is an indication of what we will be like in other surroundings.

The things Jesus did were the most menial of everyday tasks, and this is an indication that it takes all of God’s power in me to accomplish even the most common tasks in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels, dishes, sandals, and all the other ordinary things in our lives reveal what we are made of more quickly than anything else. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the most menial duty as it ought to be done.

Jesus said, "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (13:15). Notice the kind of people that God brings around you, and you will be humiliated once you realize that this is actually His way of revealing to you the kind of person you have been to Him. Now He says we should exhibit to those around us exactly what He has exhibited to us.

Do you find yourself responding by saying, "Oh, I will do all that once I’m out on the mission field"? Talking in this way is like trying to produce the weapons of war while in the trenches of the battlefield--you will be killed while trying to do it.

We have to go the "second mile" with God (see Matthew 5:41 ). Yet some of us become worn out in the first ten steps. Then we say, "Well, I’ll just wait until I get closer to the next big crisis in my life." But if we do not steadily minister in everyday opportunities, we will do nothing when the crisis comes.

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

Hear Their Cry

"You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry." Exodus 22:22-23

CNN recently reported that there are approximately 40 million widows in India. Fifteen thousand of them live on the streets of the northern city of Vrindavan. Unfortunately, many of their families do not hear their cries. A 70-year-old widow says, “My son tells me: ‘You have grown old. Now who is going to feed you? Go away.’?” She cries, “What do I do? My pain has no limit.”

When God gave His people instructions in the desert, He told them they had a responsibility to care for widows and fatherless children in the land (Ex. 22:22-23). They were to leave some of the harvest in the field for them, and every third year they took up a special tithe for the needy. God expected His people to hear the cries of the powerless, defend their rights, and care for them.

The Israelites were commanded to care for others as a remembrance of their experience in Egypt. When they were in trouble and cried out to God, He heard their cries and helped them. So their memory of oppression and release was intended to mold their values, attitudes, and actions toward the powerless in the land (Deut. 24:18-22).

Let us imitate our Father by hearing the cries of the needy in our world. — Marvin Williams

To love your neighbor as yourself
Is not an easy task,
But God will show His love through you
If only you will ask. —Sper

The closer you are to God, the more you’ll have a heart for others.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

God Heals Our Hurts

"He had compassion on them." Matthew 14:14

The Greek word for compassion is splanchnizomai, which won't mean much to you unless you are in the health professions and studies "splanchnology" in school. If so, you remember that "splanchnology" is a study of . . . the gut.

When Matthew writes that Jesus had compassion on the people, He is not saying that Jesus felt casual pity for them. No, the term is far more graphic. Matthew is saying that Jesus felt their hurt in His gut:

He felt the limp of the crippled.

He felt the hurt of the diseased.

He felt the loneliness of the leper.

He felt the embarrassment of the sinful.

And once He felt their hurts, He couldn't help but heal their hurts. - In the Eye of the Storm

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"

God is the Strength of Your Heart

Psalms 73:25-26 says, "Whom have I in heave but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This Psalmist was a Levite and knew the meaning of the Lord being his portion forever. A Levite lived by the tithes of the people and didn't have a portion of the promised land. In fact, God was their portion. He is saying here that the Lord is his life forever.

In my margin next to Ps. 73:26 it says, "When we feel the stress of the storm we learn the strength of the anchor." I'm feeling like this is my motto for the year. Right now I'm feeling discouraged, tried, uncertain and not liking myself for who I am. I know I feel this way because of what I put into myself. My portion has been coming from the world and seeping into the portion I get from God. I still do my daily devotional time but it's not as effective as keeping me spiritually fit because I still eat the junk food of the world. I yearn to be like this Levite Psalmist who's life is all about literally knowing his livelihood comes from God. That nothing He desires on earth compares to God.

When you're feeling like your heart and flesh are failing you, know that God is the strength of you heart and your portion forever. But if you continue to fill yourself up with things that are not of the Lord you will continue to feel like I have been. Turn to the Lord and soak up all He has to bless you with. Open the Bible find what treasures He has left for you to find. When you do that you will find that God is your strength.

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exalt over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

Krista Jones
2.25.08

Expectations Beyond Us

"But prayer" (Acts 12:5).

But prayer is the link that connects us with God. This is the bridge that spans every gulf and bears us over every abyss of danger or of need. How significant the picture of the Apostolic Church: Peter in prison, the Jews triumphant, Herod supreme, the arena of martyrdom awaiting the dawning of the morning to drink up the apostle's blood, and everything else against it. "But prayer was made unto God without ceasing." And what was the sequel? The prison open, the apostle free, the Jews baffled, the wicked king eaten of worms, a spectacle of hidden retribution, and the Word of God rolling on in greater victory.

Do we know the power of our supernatural weapon? Do we dare to use it with the authority of a faith that commands as well as asks? God baptize us with holy audacity and Divine confidence! He is not wanting great men, but He is wanting men who will dare to prove the greatness of their God. But God! But prayer! - A. B. Simpson

Beware in your prayer, above everything, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time you intercede, be quiet first and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, of how He delights to hear Christ, of your place in Christ; and expect great things. --Andrew Murray

Our prayers are God's opportunities.

Are you in sorrow? Prayer can make your affliction sweet and strengthening. Are you in gladness? Prayer can add to your joy a celestial perfume. Are you in extreme danger from outward or inward enemies? Prayer can set at your right hand an angel whose touch could shatter a millstone into smaller dust than the flour it grinds, and whose glance could lay an army low. What will prayer do for you? I answer: All that God can do for you. "Ask what I shall give thee." --Farrar

"Wrestling prayer can wonders do,
Bring relief in deepest straits;
Prayer can force a passage through
Iron bars and brazen gates."

By Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

God Can Handle It

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God." Psalm 91:1

Do you ever do anything just because it makes you feel good? You don't have to do it. There's no need to do it, but you just enjoy doing it.

Well, that's how God feels about all of creation! He created the universe out of Hi own good pleasure. He didn't have to do it, because one of the attributes of our God is that He is self-sufficient. He doesn't need anything or anyone to complete Him.

Psalm 19 invites us to see, by looking at what God has created, how glorious and sufficient He is. If you really want to know how sufficient, how good, how complete something is, look at what it produces. If what it produces is glorious, then the person responsible for that production must be more glorious then the thing produced and must be sufficient to produce ti. Today's verse says we can look at nature and see God's fingerprints all over it.

That's why God does not spend time trying to prove His existence to atheists. Only a fool would reject the existence of God after looking at the creation as complex and orderly as this world. All of the things that make life what it is prove that we have an all-sufficient God and that there is none like Him.

The Bible declares that God is responsible for creation, which of necessity means that God precedes creation. The reason God precedes creation is that He 'has life within Himself" (John 5:26). God has self-generating power, His own internal battery, by which He crated everything.

And having created all things, God is more than sufficient to handle His creation. Referring to Jesus, Colossians 1:17 says that "in Him all things hold together." Jesus is the "cosmic glue" that keeps this universe from flying apart.

God's self-sufficiency is good news for us. Why? Because Ephesians 1:5-6 says that He saved us and adopted us as His children because it pleased Him to do so, not because we were worthy that's what grace is all about, and that's why we can call god our Father.

Think about it: The self-sufficient power that God exercised in creation and in our salvation is the same power by which He will keep us secure until He comes for us.

By Tony Evans, taken from "Time to Get Serious"

When God Withholds His Hand . . . .

I came across a chapter in Psalms that I held close to me shortly after I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August 2000. My friend gave it to me because it was one that she clung to while her infant son was on life support.

Psalm 13

1How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Beside this chapter I have written, "When God withholds His hand, trust His heart." (Aug. 17, 2000). I find it interesting that the notes in my study Bible says of the verse 1-2, "An anguished complaint concerning a prolonged serious illness." I didn't know that 8 years ago. I think this goes for any trial we go through. And I think it's important to remember that no matter what we go through that we can still trust in God and rejoice because "He has dealt bountifully with me."

Note: My friends son survived and is a healthy 9-year-old today.

Krista Jones
2.13.08

A Heart at Peace

"The wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please." James 3:17

The heart of Jesus was pure. The Savior was adored by thousands, yet content to live a simple life. He was cared for by women (Luke 8:1-2), yet never accused of lustful thoughts; scorned by his own creation, but willing to forgive them before they even requested His mercy. Peter, who traveled with Jesus for three and a half years, described Him as a "lamb, unblemished and spotless" (I Peter 1:19).

After spending the same amount of time with Jesus, John concluded, "And in him is no sin" (I John 3:5).

Jesus' heart was peaceful. The disciples fretted over the need to feed the thousands, but not Jesus. He thanked God for the problem. The disciples shouted for fear in the storm, but not Jesus. He slept through it. Peter drew his sword to fight the soldier, but not Jesus. He lifted His hand to heal. His heart was a peace. - Just Like Jesus

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"

Our Most Frequent Weapon

Proverbs 12:18 says, "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

It is said that "the most frequent weapon used against the psalmist (which was in this case David) is the tongue." I agree. We can either bring love and joy into someone's life or cut them to the core by what we say.

James 3:8 says, "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." I pray that we will remember how deadly our words can be before we speak out in frustration and anger. To give to the Lord our power of speech so that He can use it for lifting those around us up and speaking to them of His love. To remember that, "A soothing tongue is a tree of life. But perversion in it crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4

Krista Jones
2.22.08

Grow in the Gloom

"I have all, and abound" (Phil. 4:18).

In one of my garden books there is a chapter with a very interesting heading, "Flowers that Grow in the Gloom." It deals with those patches in a garden which never catch the sunlight. And my guide tells me the sort of flowers which are not afraid of these dingy corners--may rather like them and flourish in them.

And there are similar things in the world of the spirit. They come out when material circumstances become stern and severe. They grow in the gloom. How can we otherwise explain some of the experiences of the Apostle Paul?

Here he is in captivity at Rome. The supreme mission of his life appears to be broken. But it is just in this besetting dinginess that flowers begin to show their faces in bright and fascinating glory. He may have seen them before, growing in the open road, but never as they now appeared in incomparable strength and beauty. Words of promise opened out their treasures as he had never seen them before.

Among those treasures were such wonderful things as the grace of Christ, the love of Christ, the joy and peace of Christ; and it seemed as though they needed an "encircling gloom" to draw out their secret and their inner glory. At any rate the realm of gloom became the home of revelation, and Paul began to realize as never before the range and wealth of his spiritual inheritance.
Who has not known men and women who, when they arrive at seasons of gloom and solitude, put on strength and hopefulness like a robe? You may imprison such folk where you please; but you shut up their treasure with them. You cannot shut it out. You may make their material lot a desert, but "the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."--Dr. Jowett

"Every flower, even the fairest, has its shadow beneath it as it swings in the sunlight."

Where there is much light there is much shade.

Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

The Danger of Not Knowing God

We are meant to be witnesses for God--people who have seen and known Him and are willing to speak of what they see and know. Sometimes there is danger for such people--as in Russia, where it can mean forced labor, banishment, death.

In China in the early 1930s a missionary couple, John and Betty Stam, were captured by Chinese Communists and marched through the streets of the village to a chopping block where each was beheaded. If they had been willing to recant their Christian faith, their lives would have been spared. Given their commitment to Christ, such a choice was unthinkable. They placed not only their lives but the life of their baby, Helen Priscilla, in the hands of God, confident that God could protect them if He chose, and, if He chose not to, it was safer to be in those hands than anywhere else in the universe. Like thousands of Christians before them, they preferred the sword to disobedience, believing that the danger of not knowing God is infinitely greater than any other danger.

Lord, be our Sun and Shield. Shine on us, protect us as we seek to live and witness to your truth. Forgive us (especially those of us who have never faced lions, fire, or sword because of our faith) for our fears of petty loss. Remind us that it is in losing ourselves that we find You.

By Elisabeth Elliot

A Hunch and a Hope

"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:34

Maybe all you have (is) a crazy hunch and a high hope. You have nothing to give. But you are hurting. And all you have to offer Him is your hurt.

Maybe that has kept you from coming to God. Oh, you've taken a step or two in His direction. But then you saw the other people around Him. they seemed so clean, so neat, so trim and fit in their faith. And when you saw them, they blocked your view of Him. So you stepped back.

If that describes you, note carefully . . . one person (whom Christ) commended . . . for having faith. It wasn't a wealthy giver. It wasn't a loyal follower. It wasn't an acclaimed teacher. It was a shame-struck, penniless outcast - (a women who had been bleeding for twelve years) - who clutched onto her hunch that He could and her hope that He would.

Which, by the way, isn't a bad definition of faith. A conviction that He can and a hope that He will. - He Still Moves Stones

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment

The God Who Is Spirit

"God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

During Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan women in John 4, He made a very important statement about God's essential nature. They were talking about worship when Jesus said, "An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers." (vs. 23)

Please notice that the phrase in John 4:24 has no article. God is not "the" Spirit; God is spirit. That is, spirit is His essence. That's who He is. This phrase is put at the front of the sentence in Greek for emphasis, so what Jesus is saying is, "I want to emphasize why you must worship God in spirit and truth."

You can't get very far in the quest to know God without talking about worshiping Him. And you can't worship God the way He wants to be worshiped until you understand that "God is spirit."

What does it mean to say something is spirit? First of all, it means that God is non material. He does not have a body. Spirits don't have bodies (Luke 24:39). You say, "But Jesus is a body."

Yes, but that's because He became man, not because that's who He is in His eternal essence. In God's essence, He is immaterial. Now the Bible knows we have trouble with that because we are material beings in a material world.

So, the Bible speaks about God in human terms: "the hand for the Lord" or "the eyes of the Lord." These human descriptions are used to help us relate to a spirit being we could not relate to otherwise.

But when it comes to worship, God says, "You must worship Me in My essence" - that is, in spirit. That's why we don't make images of God and bow down to them. He forbids it, because nothing on earth could represent our awesome God properly.

That's also why worshiping God is a matter of what you do in your inner being, your spirit. What you do in your spirit is God's first concern, because everything else will flow out of that.

Think about it: The great God is spirit is actually looking for people to worship Him in spirit and in truth! Want to join up?

By Tony Evans, taken from "Time to Get Serious"

Hyssop

"Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

Hyssop is a member of the mint family. The hairy stem of the much-branched plant is used as a sprinkling device because it retains water very well. In the O.T. it was used in ceremonial cleansing and purification rituals. It is thought that during the crucifixion the Hyssop was used to give Jesus the sour wine. "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of our wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth." John 19:28-29.

When Jesus was about to die it was like He was being cleansed with the hyssop just like the Psalmist was asking God to do for him. We who have placed our lives in Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him have have been cleansed and are whiter than snow. Jesus had to go through the dark valley of death so that we could be free from the bondage of sin and be cleansed as with hyssop.

Sometimes it's hard to go through difficult trials especially ones that can not be changed but have to be endured. I came across a devotional this morning that talked about this very thing. "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn'; I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself as present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn.' Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow." George Matheson.

Lord, may we learn from our trials, sins and the 'thorn' that is often placed in our lives. Cleanse us with hyssop that we may be clean again. Clean as the whitest snow that is pure and untouched in the bright sunshine of the morning. May we come to a point of praise for the 'thorn' that we must endure. That it may teach us to glory the cross and that through that path of pain we may see that beautiful rainbow and feel your loving arms close around us in love. - Amen

God, pity those who can not say;
"Not mine, but Thing"; who can pray
"let this cup pass," and cannot see
The purpose in Gethsemane.

- Unknown

Krista Jones
2.21.08

The Spiritual Search

"What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" Matthew 7:9

The illustration of prayer that our Lord used here is one of a good child who is asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God hears us regardless of what our relationship is to Him (seeMatthew 5:45 ). Never say that it is not God’s will to give you what you ask. Don’t faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a "good child" in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, "I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings"? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a "good child."

We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends? (see Matthew 7:12 ).

I am a child of God only by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I "walk in the light" ( 1 John 1:7 ). For most of us, prayer simply becomes some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong— a friendship, an unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, "Everyone who asks receives . . ." ( Matthew 7:8 ).

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

God’s Restraint

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself." Psalm 76:10

Augustine said that God “judged it better to bring good out of evil, than not to permit any evil to exist.” Thus God takes the worst evil that men and women can do to us and turns it into good. Even the wrath of ungodly men brings praise to Him (Ps. 76:10).

God has not promised that your life will be easy—indeed it may not be. But He has promised to sustain you in your struggle and uphold you with His mighty arm. If you trust Him, He will empower you to make your way bravely through extraordinary difficulty with faith, hope, and love. The trials God permits in your life will lead to His praise and glory, if only you will abide in Him.

Furthermore, there will be a restraint and a respite. The Hebrew text is somewhat obscure in Psalm 76:10. Literally it reads, “Surely the wrath of man will praise You; the remnant of wrath [God] will bind.” God will use men’s wrath to bring glory and praise to Himself, but when that purpose is fulfilled He will then restrain it.

God will not allow you to be pressed beyond endurance. That is His sure promise. When the lesson has been learned, when the revelation of God’s glory is complete and your soul has been tried and proven—then God will raise His hand and save you. He will say, “No more.” — David H. Roper

When He leads through some valley of trouble,
His omnipotent hand we trace;
For the trials and sorrows He sends us
Are part of His lessons in grace. —Anon.

In every desert of trial, God has an oasis of comfort.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

God Above Human Philosophy

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 1 Corinthians 1:19

This verse is a threatening so far as the worldly wise are concerned, but to the simple believer it is a promise. The professedly learned are forever trying to bring to nothing the faith of the humble believer, but they fail in their attempts. Their arguments break down, their theories fall under their own weight, their deep-laid plots discover themselves before their purpose is accomplished. The old gospel is not extinct yet, nor will it be while the LORD liveth. If it could have been exterminated, it would have perished from off the earth long ago. We cannot destroy the wisdom of the wise, nor need we attempt it, for the work is in far better hands. The LORD Himself says, "I will," and He never resolves in vain. Twice does He in this verse declare His purpose, and we may rest assured that He will not turn aside from it. What clean work the LORD makes of philosophy and "modern thought" when He puts His hand to it! He brings the fine appearance down to nothing; He utterly destroys the wood, hay, and stubble. It is written that so it shall be, and so shall it be. LORD, make short work of it. Amen, and amen.

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

You're Something Special

"Nothing . . . in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God." Romans 8:39

We want to know how long God's love will endure . . . Not just on Easter Sunday when our shoes are shined and our hair is fixed . . . Not when I"m peppy and positive and ready to tackle world hunger. Not then. I know how He feels about me then. Even I like me then.

I want to know how He feels about me when I snap at anything that moves, when my thoughts are gutter-level, when my tongue is sharp enough to slice a rock. How does He feel about me then? . . .

Can anything separate us from the love of Christ has for us?

God answered our question before we asked it. So we'd see His answer, He lit the sky with a star. So we'd hear it, He filled the night with a choir; and so we'd believe it, He did what no man had ever dreamed. He became flesh and dwelt among us.

He placed His hand on the shoulder of humanity and said, "You're something special." - In the Grip of Grace

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace For The Moment"

Manna to the Cross

The Israelites, God's chosen people are grumbling against God yet again. In Numbers 21 we come upon them grumbling about the Manna (Manna is the bread of life God rained down on them to supply them with food) and for making them wonder in the wilderness. I can understand why they were grumbling because come on, it's been close to 40 years and that's all they've eaten besides quail. How many different ways can you cook the stuff? BUT, one must remember this is from God and given as a life source. If you grumble against it you are grumbling against God. Numbers 21:5 says that they "loathe this miserable food." My study notes say that their impatience had led them to blaspheme God, reject His servant Moses and despise the bread from heaven. In fact it says that out of the several attacks upon the manna that this was the most bitter and more serious then you'd think. By rejecting the heavenly manna they were spurning God's grace. John 6:32 & 35 says, "Truly truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven . . . . . I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

God brought fiery serpents down upon the people and some were bitten and died. At this point their eyes were opened to their sin and they cried out for Moses to intercede for them with the Lord. Numbers 21:8 says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." Those who were bitten and looked at the serpent on the pole lived. Those who didn't died.

This is a foreshadowing of Christ dying on the cross for our us. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so much the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14-16

I pray that we will continue to lift our eyes up to Jesus and keep Him forever before us. To do so even in difficult times when it feels like we have fiery serpents coming after us and biting us. Let us not allow sin to continue but once we are made aware of it, to confess it to Jesus and look to Him to forgive us as He already has. He already has because Jesus died on the cross for that sin.

I can also imagine but it's not indicated, that many who looked at the serpent on the pole and were healed probably encouraged their loved ones to do the same. It reminds me that we too have looked to the Jesus and have been healed. Now, we are responsible to help others to look to Jesus so they too can be healed and have eternal life.

Krista Jone
2.29.08

Vision

"Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." Exodus 33:18

O Lord, I need you to know that you are you!
I need to have a glorious God in view;
To see your plans, so infinite and wise,
I need a mighty God before my eyes.
Show me your glory! Show yourself anew;
Lord, open up my eyes of faith to you.

So often, when I face which way to go
The problems seem to multiply and grow;
I do not see you standing, waiting, there,
So full of power for me, to do, to dare!
Show me your glory! Show yourself anew;
Lord, open up my eyes of faith to you.

O God, I know that in my present state
I could not stand the sight of you, so great;
Yet even now, the smallest glimpse is bright
Enough to bathe my soul in dazzling light!
Show me your glory! Show yourself anew;
Lord, open my eyes of faith to you.

Anne Ortlund, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 1"

Where's Our Battleground?

"Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world." Ephesians 6:12

Where's our battleground in life? Is our battle against our neighbor? Is our battle against our family? No. The battle is with the invisible forces of darkness, the evil one who has invaded the earth, whose goal is to win the battle within every Christian. Satan failed in his desire to control God, and it's only with God's help that we can defeat him.

By Max Lucado, "Walking with the Savior"

Telling The Truth

"Sanctify them in the truth." John 17:17

Part of coming to know God intimately is hearing the truth about ourselves. We need someone who will tell us the truth.

We don't do that with each other. We don't tell people the truth because we don't want to offend them or make them mad at us. Besides, all of us like being lied to occasionally. No woman wants to ask, "How do you like my new dress?" and hear, "Worst thing I ever saw in my life."

No one wants to hear that! And even though we may think a piece of clothing or a hairstyle is the worst we have sever seen, we aren't about to say so because people don't' want the truth. Therefore, our relationships are often shallow and never get to where they are supposed to be.

You don't have that problem with God. God calls it as He sees it. He's not going to tell you, "I'm okay, you're okay." He's going to tell you, "You are dead in your trespasses and in your sins." He's not going to make it comfortable or convenient for you. When God begins to unveil who He is, it also unveils who we are.

That's the problem Peter had when he ran into Jesus Christ at the lake and found out who he was. Peter fell on his face and said, "I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:8).

The Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord and cried out, "Woe is me!" (Isaiah 6:5). Why? Because if you want the real deal with God, you are going to get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and some of it's not going to be pleasant.

But God doesn't tell you the truth about yourself and then leave you where you are. Like a good doctor, He tells you you're sick so you will get the proper treatment. The proper treatment for sin is salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, who provided forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross.

You can never know God until you are properly related to Him through Christ. If you have never come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, today would be a great day to do that.

Think about it: Have you ever thanked God for telling you the truth about yourself?

By Tony Evans, taken from "Time to Get Serious"

Have You Ever Been Speechless with Sorrow?

"When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich." Luke 18:23

The rich young ruler went away from Jesus speechless with sorrow, having nothing to say in response to Jesus’ words. He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, "If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions."

"Sell all that you have . . ." ( Luke 18:22 ). In other words, rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His harsh and unyielding statements that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. Beware of allowing anything to soften the hard words of Jesus Christ.

I can be so rich in my own poverty, or in the awareness of the fact that I am nobody, that I will never be a disciple of Jesus. Or I can be so rich in the awareness that I am somebody that I will never be a disciple. Am I willing to be destitute and poor even in my sense of awareness of my destitution and poverty? If not, that is why I become discouraged. Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself.

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

The Importance of Water

As I continue reading through the book of Numbers I come to Chapter 20 where the children of those who rebelled earlier are complaining against God and Moses. And just like their parents, they are sorry they left Egypt because there was no water to drink. Here God tells Moses that He would provide water for them. All Moses had to do was take his rod and go and speak to the rock and water would come out of it. But instead, out of his frustration Moses struck the rock twice and disobeyed God.

Now I can related to his frustrations. He has spent over 40 years leading a group of complaining people. And now the children of the original complainers have seemed to learned the art of complaining from their parents. Ultimately, what Moses' disobedience did was show his lack of trust in God and did not show proper deference to God's presences thus offending God's holiness (Num. 20:12). Because of the one act Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the promised land and Aaron died shortly thereafter.

I'm reminded about how important water is from this passage. Our bodies need it to survive. In fact, our bodies are made up of water: lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water; blood 83%; body fat 25% and bone 22%. I love what Psalm 42:1-2 says about water, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" Water not only satisfies our physical needs but also our spiritual needs. The Israelites yearned for water that satisfied their thirst and God provided it. Like us, a deer pants for water because it depends on it. It especially depends on it when it's being pursued by hunters.

But spiritual water is different because it satisfies us forever. Physical water only satisfies us for the moment and we need to drink it again when we become thirsty. Jesus is our living water and He has given it to us freely, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14). When we drink of the living water we will never thirst again. "They will not hunger or thirst. Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them. And will guide them to springs of water." Isaiah 49:13

I pray that we will find our satisfaction from the water of life that Jesus offers. That we'll pant for it like the deer pants for water. We need that deep yearning for the Lord like the Psalmist says in Psalm 63:1, "O God, You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for you."

Krista Jones
2.19.08

Another Chance

"[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." Colossians 3:10

For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed Carrara marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. Then, in 1501, a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.

For 3 years, he chiseled and shaped the marble skillfully. Finally, when the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, “Master, it lacks only one thing—speech!”

Onesimus was like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful servant when he fled from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to Paul’s ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he commended him as one “who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me” (1:11). He asked Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother (v.16).

Paul knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. Now he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too. — Albert Lee

Christ takes each sin, each pain, each loss,
And by the power of His cross
Transforms our brokenness and shame
So that our lives exalt His name. —D. De Haan

Our rough edges must be chipped away to bring out the image of Christ.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Seekers, Finders

"If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee" (1 Chronicles 28:9).

We need our God; He is to be had for the seeking, and He will not deny Himself to any one of us if we personally seek His face. It is not if thou deserve Him, or purchase His favor, but merely if thou "seek" Him. Those who already know the LORD must go on seeking His face by prayer, by diligent service, and by holy gratitude: to such He will not refuse His favor and fellowship. Those who, as yet, have not known Him to their souls' rest should at once commence seeking and never cease till they find Him as their Savior, their Friend, their Father, and their God. What strong assurance this promise gives to the seeker! "He that seeketh findeth." You, yes you, if you seek your God shall find Him. When you find Him you have found life, pardon, sanctification, preservation, and glory. Will you not seek, and seek on, since you shall not seek in vain' Dear friend, seek the LORD at once. Here is the place, and now is the time. Bend that stiff knee; yes, bend that stiffer neck, and cry out for God, for the living God. In the name of Jesus, seek cleansing and justification. You shall not be refused. Here is David's testimony to his son Solomon, and it is the writer's personal witness to the reader. Believe it and act upon it, for Christ's sake.

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

The Glory of God

"Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness." PSALMS 65:8,11

"He loveth righteousness and justice: the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord." PSALMS 33:5 (R. V.)

I SING because Thy works are fair,
Thy glory makes me glad,
The garments bright of praise I wear,
For Thou art brightly clad.

Full triumph doth my soul possess,
Because Thy ways are right;
The glory of Thy righteousness
Maketh my dear delight.

- THOMAS H. GILL

THE fulness of joy is to behold God in all; for by the same blessed might, wisdom, and love, that He made all things, to the same end our good Lord leadeth it continually, and there to Himself shall bring it, and, when it is time, we shall see it. - MOTHER JULIANA

God gives us richly all things to enjoy, while He Himself is His own best gift, and to be enjoyed not in a way of duty, but in the simple, natural realizing aright of what we possess in Him. - JOHN MCLEOD CAMPBELL

Compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston, taken from "Joy and Strength"

Feed My Sheep

"Do you love Me? . . . Feed My sheep." John 21:17

Just before Jesus left this earth, He instructed Simon Peter to care for the dearest object of His love—His sheep. How could anyone care for them as Jesus cares? Only out of love for Him. There is no other way.

Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Each time, Jesus answered, “Feed My sheep.”

Was Jesus unaware of Peter’s love? Of course not. His threefold question was not for Himself, but for Peter. He asked His questions to underscore the essential truth that only love for Christ would sustain Peter in the work that lay ahead—that arduous, demanding work of caring for people’s souls—perhaps the hardest work of all.

Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him. Affection for God’s people in itself will not sustain us. His sheep can be unresponsive, unappreciative, and harshly critical of our efforts to love and to serve them. In the end, we will find ourselves defeated and discouraged.

The “love of Christ”—our love for Him—is the only sufficient motivation that will enable us to stay the course, to continue to feed the flock of God. Thus Jesus asks you and me, “Do you love Me? Feed My sheep.” — David H. Roper

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show,
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me. —Hewitt

It is love for Christ that will enable us to love His children.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Consequences

This morning I read about Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16. He and two hundred others from the tribe of Levi decided to assemble against Moses and Aaron (vs. 3). Poor Moses pleaded with them to turn away from the direction they were going. But they refused to listen and discuss the matter. We get down to the real issue in verses 13-14, "Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"

Alas, the truth of their rebellion comes to light. After all is said and done, they can't accept the fact that they were put through some major trials and because of their sin and lack of trust they are refused access to God's promise to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. It seems like they were throwing a tantrum over the fact that they had to live with the result of their sinning. Their rebellion ran thick in their blood and they refused to turn back to God. Instead, they continued to stir up trouble. Proverbs 15:18 says, "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute." These men had a choice. They could have realize that their sin changed the course of their future and live with it. By doing so they would have ended their current dispute. But they chose another direction and became embittered by what their sin did to their future. As we continue through chapter 16 we find Korah continuing to stir up the people causing them to sin even further. The result - they all died.

Sin hurts especially when you realize you've sinned and have repented yet have to live with the consequences. You're forgiven and it feels so good that you want everything to go back to normal. But some sin has dire consequences that can't be turned back to normal. They will be played out. We are like Korah in the fact that we had the same choices he had. I love what I John 1:9 has to say about our choices, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I pray that we choose to follow the Lord and trust that He will guide us through the difficult times. Even the difficult times that we've brought upon ourselves by whatever sin we chose to fall into. No matter what, there is a lesson to be learned and growth to take place.

Malachi 3:3 says, "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness." Being molded is painful. Sometimes it takes a long time to be molded and sometimes the molding process is quicker. It depends upon how willing we are to be molded. We are being refined and purified so that we can be presented to the Lord spotless and unblemished, "that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:27). Again, I pray that we would allow the Lord to purify us through the consequences of our sin so that we could be made into His image. To not turn away from him like Korah did. Let us learn from our mistakes and move forward so that we can serve the Lord to the fullest!

My life was like an uncut gem
All rough and angles sharp,
Its brilliance dimmed as by a veil
No gleam or sheen, all dark.
But the Master's hand worked miracles,
Each pain and woe or trial or test
A facet cut upon my soul,
He watched the work and blest,

And even when it seemed to me
No other facet could He add
That pain and suffering had wrought
A gleam and sheen that made Him glad.
Still other processes there were
To polish, and the gem to set,
For now become a gleaming Jewel rare,
I must be made ready for His service yet.
- Mabel M. Brown

Krista Jones
2.18.08

Increase and Abound in Love

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." - JOHN 13:34.

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love, one toward another, and toward all men." - I THESS. 3:12.

Let love through all my conduct shine,
An image fair, though faint, of Thine;
Thus let me His disciple prove,
Who came to manifest Thy love.
Simon Browne.

We should arrive at a fulness of love extending to the whole creation, a desire to impart, to pour out in full and copious streams the love and goodness we bear to all around us. - J. P. GREAVES.

Goodness and love mould the form into their own image, and cause the joy and beauty of love to shine forth from every part of the face. When this form of love is seen, it appears ineffably beautiful, and affects with delight the inmost life of the soul. - E. SWEDENBORG.

The soul within had so often lighted up her countenance with its own full happiness and joy, that something of a permanent radiance remained upon it. - SARAH W. STEPHEN

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"

Wilderness Communion

"I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her" (Hosea 2:14).

The goodness of God sees us allured by sin, and it resolves to try upon us the more powerful allurements of love. Do we not remember when the Lover of our souls first cast a spell upon us and charmed us away from the fascinations of the world! He will do this again and again whenever He sees us likely to be ensnared by evil.

He promises to draw us apart, for there He can best deal with us, and this separated place is not to be a paradise, but a wilderness, since in such a place there will be nothing to take of our attention from our God. In the deserts of affliction the presence of the LORD becomes everything to us, and we prize His company beyond any value which we set upon it when we sat under our own vine and fig tree in the society of our fellows. Solitude and affliction bring more to themselves and to their heavenly Father than any other means.

When thus allured and secluded the LORD has choice things to say to us for our comfort. He "speaks to our heart," as the original has it. Oh, that at this we may have this promise explained in our experience! Allured by love, separated by trial, and comforted by the Spirit of truth, may we know the LORD and sing for joy!

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

Guard your Attitude

"May our lOrd Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father encourage you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." 2 Thessalonians 2:16

"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work?" Luke 11:40 . . .

Martha's life was cluttered. She needed a break. "Martha, martha, you are worried and upset about many things," the Master explained to her. "Only one ting is important. Mary has chosen (it)". Luke 11:41-42

What had Mary chosen? She had chosen to sit at the feet of Christ. God is more pleased with the quiet attention of a sincere servant than the noisy service of a sour one . . .

What maters more than the type of service is the heart behind the service. A bad attitude spoils the gift we leave on the alter for God. - He Still Moves Stones

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"

Open the Trenches

"Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hands" (2 Kings 3:16-18).

To human thinking it was simply impossible, but nothing is hard for God. Without a sound or sign, from sources invisible and apparently impossible, the floods came stealing in all night long; and when the morning dawned, those ditches were flooded with the crystal waters, and reflecting the rays of the morning sun from the red hills of Edom. Our unbelief is always wanting some outward sign. The religion of many is largely sensational, and they are not satisfied of its genuineness without manifestations, etc.; but the greatest triumph of faith is to be still and know that He is God. The great victory of faith is to stand before some impassable Red Sea, and hear the Master say, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord," and "Go forward!" As we step out without any sign or sound--not a wave-splash--and wetting our very feet as we take the first step into its waters, still marching on we shall see the sea divide and the pathway open through the very midst of the waters.

If we have seen the miraculous workings of God in some marvelous case of healing or some extraordinary providential deliverance, I am sure the thing that has impressed us most has been the quietness with which it was all done, the absence of everything spectacular and sensational, and the utter sense of nothingness which came to us as we stood in the presence of this mighty God and felt how easy, it was for Him to do it all without the faintest effort on His part or the slightest help on ours.

It is not the part of faith to question, but to obey. The ditches were made, and the water came pouring in from some supernatural source. What a lesson for our faith!

Are you craving a spiritual blessing? Open the trenches, and God will fill them. And this, too, in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected ways.

Oh, for that faith that can act by faith and not by sight, and expect God to work although we see no wind or rain. --A. B. Simpson

Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

Confessing your Sin

This morning I read about how the Israelites reacted to the report the spies gave about the promised land. All but two spies gave a bad report that struck the Israelites with fear and doubt. Instead of trusting that God would bring about what He promised they turned their eyes off of Him and grumbled. In Numbers 15 the Lord's anger was against them and after Moses' pleas He decided to allow them to live but not allow them to enter the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua and the younger generation would be allowed to enter and take possession of it. Those who grumbled were to wander the wilderness for 40 years until they all died off.

At this point the Israelites realized they made a big mistake and took matters into their own hands. Numbers 15:39-45 tells of how they decided to take over the promised land on their own. Vs. 39-40 says, "When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people morned greatly. In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, "Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the lord has promised." In the end, the listened neither to God's commands nor Moses' pleas to not do this because God was not with them and they wouldn't succeed. Vs. 43 says, "For the Amalekites and the Canannites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the Lord. And the Lord will not be with you." By the end of the chapter we read that they were cut down and their mission was unsuccessful.

This chapter reminds me of how we reap what we sow. It says in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Our sins will be forgiven if we confess them before the Lord, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9. We will be forgiven but that may not change the course of your sinful actions. Do not allow your circumstances to cloud your eyesight but continue to keep your eyes on Jesus and His promises to take care of you. Do not be like the Israelites who decided to forge ahead without the Lord going before them and suffered because of it.

Krista Jones
2.17.08

Celebrating Laughter

"All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15

Laughter is a gift of God that brightens our good times and lightens the rough ones. Laughter even has a healing quality to it. People have recovered from serious diseases by learning to laugh each day. Even more people have regained the courage to go on in painful circumstances when they were able to laugh.

Proverbs 17:22 says that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Laughter can draw others to you and lighten your load in life. "When you begin to laugh at life and at yourself you gain new perspective on your struggles. You begin to see a speck of light at the end of the tunnel.

A life without laughter quickly becomes a breading ground for depression, physical illness and critical spirit. But a laughter-filled life unleashes the spirit of celebration.

So cultivate the spirit of celebration in your life by making room for laughter. Deliberately seek it out. Begin today as you smile at someone and find something worth laughing about. As the laughter permeates your life, the spirit of celebration will take root in your heart and you will discover the meaning of another proverb: "The cheerful heart has a continual feast." (vs 15).

By Emilie Barnes, taken from Women's Devotional Bible 1

Please the Lord Now

"For to-day the Lord will appear unto you." LEVITICUS 9:4

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 CORINTHIANS 6:2

DO not let your growth in holiness depend upon surrounding circumstances, but rather constrain those circumstances to minister to your growth. Beware of looking onward, or out of the present in any way, for the sanctification of your life. The only thing you can really control is the present--the actual moment that is passing by. Sanctify that from hour to hour, and you sanctify your whole life; but brood over the past, or project yourself into the future, and you will lose all. The little act of obedience, love, self-restraint, meekness, patience, devotion, offered to you actually, is all you can do now, and if you neglect that to fret about something else at a distance, you lose your real opportunity of serving God. A moment's silence, when some irritating words are said by another, may stem a very small thing; yet at that moment it is your one duty, your one way of serving and pleasing God, and if you break it, you have lost your opportunity. - H. L. SIDNEY LEAR

Compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston

Adopted by God

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:16

When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, He also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgement seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of His justice He cannot dismiss your sin, but because of His love He cannot dimiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, He punished Himself on the cross for your sins. God's justice and love are equally honored. And you, God's creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn't end with God's forgiveness . . . .
It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but He does more. He gives you His name. - The Great House of God

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace for the Moment"

Heart set on Jesus

"The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chron. 16:9).

God is looking for a man, or woman, whose heart will be always set on Him, and who will trust Him for all He desires to do. God is eager to work more mightily now than He ever has through any soul. The clock of the centuries points to the eleventh hour.

"The world is waiting yet to see what God can do through a consecrated soul." Not the world alone, but God Himself is waiting for one, who will be more fully devoted to Him than any who have ever lived; who will be willing to be nothing that Christ may be all; who will grasp God's own purposes; and taking His humility and His faith, His love and His power, will, without hindering, continue to let God do exploits. - C. H. P.

"There is no limit to what God can do with a man, providing he will not touch the glory."

In an address given to ministers and workers after his ninetieth birthday, George Mueller spoke thus of himself: "I was converted in November, 1825, but I only came into the full surrender of the heart four years later, in July, 1829. The love of money was gone, the love of place was gone, the love of position was gone, the love of worldly pleasures and engagements was gone. God, God alone became my portion. I found my all in Him; I wanted nothing else. And by the grace of God this has remained, and has made me a happy man, an exceedingly happy man, and it led me to care only about the things of God. I ask affectionately, my beloved brethren, have you fully surrendered the heart to God, or is there this thing or that thing with which you are taken up irrespective of God? I read a little of the Scriptures before, but preferred other books; but since that time the revelation He has made of Himself has become unspeakably blessed to me, and I can say from my heart, God is an infinitely lovely Being. Oh, be not satisfied until in your own inmost soul you can say, God is an infinitely lovely Being!' - Selected

I pray to God this day to make me an extraordinary Christian. - Whitefield.

Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

The Man Who Was Humble

I came upon a few verses in Number 3 when Aaron and Miriam had spoken against Moses out of what looks like jealousy. And jealousy that comes from the encouragement of Aaron's Cushite wife. It seems that they saw Moses as having all the power and they wanted it too. Verse 3 says, "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." To me this says that although Moses was in a powerful position that he didn't abuse it. He was more humble than anyone on the face of the earth. And because of this, I think God was able to speak to him face to face.

Within the same chapter God calls Moses, Aaron and Miriam together and tells Aaron and Miriam how He feels about Moses, "He said, "Hear now My words; if there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, he is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?" (vs. 6-8). My notes say that sometimes the prophets didn't always understand what the Lord was revealing to them. Yet with Moses, the Lord chose to speak to him with clarity. He fully understood what the Lord was saying.

Here is Moses, a humble man who spoke face to face with the Lord and lived. He not only lived but he was given clear instruction as to how to lead God's people. I wonder what God's voice sounded like to Moses? Psalm 29:3-9 gives many descriptions of what His voice sounds like: it is upon, over and thunders the waters; it is powerful; majestic; breaks the cedars (as of Lebanon which was the most powerful tree); it hews out flames of fire; shakes the wilderness; makes the deer to calve; stripes the forests bare; and everything says, "glory" to Him. WOW! Here is a powerful voice that can do anything when it speaks. Yet, God was gracious and loving enough to take this powerful voice and gently speak to Moses.

Moses was humble and willing to follow the Lord no matter what. At this point, he didn't abuse the powerful position that was given to him. May we learn from Moses' example!

Krista Jones
2.16.08

Do You Want an Answer?

"The way of the Lord gives refuge to the honest man, but dismays those who do evil" (Prv. 10:29 NEB)

This is the question we need to ask ourselves when we are seeking "solutions" to our problems. Often we want only an audience. We want the chance to air grievances, to present our excuses, to make an explanation for our behavior, rather than a cure. More often than not the clearest and most direct answer can be found in the Word, but it must be sought honestly.

We can approach God's word with a will to obey whatever it says to us about our present situation, or we can avoid it and say to anyone who would try to point us to it, "Don't throw the Book at me." The latter is an evasion, which supports our suspicion that our problems are, in fact, insoluble. The honest (i.e., humble) heart will indeed find the Lord's way to be a refuge.

By Elisabeth Elliot

Day by Day

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions." Exodus 16:4

Last summer while I was taking drawing lessons, my friend Betty leaned she had cancer. The day before she went to the hospital for surgery, her spirit seemed nearly depleted. "What am I going to do?" she said, thinking about the demanding weeks ahead of her. "How will I find the strength?"

That evening I found myself doodling on my drawing board, thinking of Betty. Soon I was sketching a loaf of bread. A simple, homemade loaf. Then I put it aside and wen to bed. But during the night I had the most curious dream. Betty was sitting at the table before a loaf of bread, eating a single piece.

The next morning when I came upon my drawing, an idea began to stir in my thoughts. I reached for my Bible and found the verse, "I will rain down bread from heaven" (Exodus 16:4), remembering how day by day God sent nourishment from heaven while his people wandered in the wilderness. There was always just enough for each day. They simply had to trust Him for tomorrow's.

I penciled the verse beneath the sketch of bread and carried it to Betty's hospital room. It was to remind us both . . . when we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day.

By Sue Monk Kidd, taken from Women's Devotional Bible 2

Bring your fears to God

"Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things." I Peter 3:14

Jesus is not afraid of the things that cause us fear. He never said, "Don't bring your fears to me; I'm too busy." Instead, He said, "I'm not afraid of the things that cause you fear. Bring your fears to me."

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"