Monthly Archives: January 2016

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — What’s in the Bank?

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Read: Ephesians 2:4-7

Bible in a Year: Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. —Hebrews 4:16

In the winter of 2009, a large passenger plane made an emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River. The pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who landed the plane safely with no casualties, was later asked about those moments in the air when he was faced with a life-or-death decision. “One way of looking at this,” he said, “might be that for 42 years I’ve been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education, and training. And on [that day] the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.”

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Where Death Stings

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“April is the cruellest month…” begins the first line of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. The poem is thought to be a portrayal of universal despair, where we lie in wait between the unrelenting force of spring and the dead contrast of winter, and the casualty of the warring seasons is eventually hope. In the bold display of life’s unending, futile circles, one can be left to wonder at the point of it all. Does everything simply fade into a waste land? Is death the last, desperate word? Perhaps it was somewhere between the war of winter and spring when the prophet reeled over life’s abrupt and senseless end. “In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years? For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise. The living, the living—they praise you as I am doing today.”(1)

Though differing in degree and conclusions, art and literature are unapologetically full of a sense of this deep irony, often expressing itself in futility. Euripides, writing in the fifth century, remarks,

“…and so we are sick for life, and cling

On earth to this nameless and shining thing.

For other life is a fountain sealed,

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Contentment: How to Enjoy it

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“Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Your relationship with God allows you to enjoy genuine contentment.

In view of yesterday’s lesson, you may be asking, “But how can I enjoy contentment and be satisfied with what I have?” You can begin by realizing God’s goodness and believing that He will take care of you since you are one of His children. You can claim again the promise in Romans 8: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (v. 28).

Second, you should truly realize that God is omniscient—He knows all things and all your personal needs. He recognizes your individual needs long before you do and even before you pray about them. Jesus affirms, “Your Father knows that you need these things” (Luke 12:30).

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Culture of Candor  

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But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37, NKJV

From time to time I play mind games that become mentally exhausting and relationally unhealthy. Because of my need for approval and my fear of rejection—I can choose the path of least resistance—harmony—over a vulnerable course of action: healthy conflict. A short term false humility only masks my pride—instead of revealing my scared soul to those who can help me and learning to rest in a long term reliance on the Lord. A person with humble candor frees others to be real, while those who cover up their true feelings create a culture of false security.

Jesus addresses the wisdom of sincere conversations, which then become seeds that grow into authentic living. Truth spoken in love makes the recipient of what can be cold, hard facts—feel the relational warmth of feeling understood and valued. Wise and gracious words promote instruction. Prayerful directness addresses the real issues, while offering ways to help solve the problem. Jesus’ words—full of the Spirit—spoke to the heart and mind with life-giving clarity.

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I [Jesus] have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).

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Turning Point

 Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Blessed for Giving

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Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Anthropologists say the Agricultural Revolution began about 10,000 years ago. Man began to plant and harvest crops which allowed him to form towns and develop societies. Behind this revolution was a foundational principle of God’s creation: God gives more than is given. We plant one kernel of grain and harvest hundreds of new kernels. Some are eaten, some are saved for next year’s planting, some are sold, and some are shared with those in need.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – A Simple Approach to an Uncomplicated Life

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Do you ever feel like life is complicated?

It’s not supposed to be complicated. Jesus gave His life so we could have joy (John 10:10), not live complicated, frustrated lives. Complication steals joy and creates frustration.

I have a lot going on, and it can become complicated if I let it. We have hundreds of employees and travel around the world…I have books to write and speaking engagements. It’s sometimes hard to enjoy it all.

Life is probably not going to change, but I’ve learned that—with God’s help—I can change my approach to it. And making those changes starts with prayer.

 

Simple Prayer…Simple Life

Simplicity is the key to avoiding complication. Part of the definition of simplicity is “not complex or complicated; sincere.” So we could say that simple prayer is sincere prayer. It’s talking to God without trying to impress Him with eloquent speech that isn’t really from your heart.

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – The View from Here

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Today’s Truth

How Awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth.

Psalm 47:2

Friend to Friend

A few years back, my husband, Brad, and I celebrated 20 years of marriage by taking a trip to several cities, far away. We planned our days and painstakingly plotted touring strategies in order to see the sites, view the views, eat the foods, experience the local charms and soak in the unfamiliar cultures as best we could. Each city boasted different personalities and attractions, but one thing was consistent about our approach in every location: we climbed to high places.

And. We. Climbed.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

 Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Your Paths Made Plain

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“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6, KJV).

A young seminary graduate came to see me while he was investigating various possibilities of Christian service. In particular, he had come to discuss the ministry of Campus Crusade.

“In what way do you expect God to reveal His place of service for you?” I asked him.

“I’m following the ‘closed-door policy,'” he replied.” A few months ago I began to investigate several opportunities for Christian service. The Lord has now closed the door on all but two, one of which is Campus Crusade. If the door to accept a call to a particular church closes, I’ll know that God wants me in Campus Crusade.”

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Testing of Faith

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Read: John 6:1-15

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. (John 6:5-6)

Examination time has come. We are not sure why Jesus chose Philip. It may be that Philip was the one whom he thought to be most advanced in the lessons of faith. These disciples all had unique personalities. Peter was loud and brassy. He had his foot in his mouth most of the time. James and John were ambitious and fiery. They lost their tempers easily. Philip was quiet and deep, he seemed to hang around in the background all the time. Yet I am sure Jesus saw in him a man of deep perception. The quiet kind are often the deep thinkers. Perhaps he chose Philip because he was the one who would most likely understand all that was underneath the very dramatic surface phenomena which the disciples were witnessing.

In any event Jesus said to Philip How are we to buy bread so that these people may eat? He did not really expect to buy bread. In fact Jesus knew that Philip could not possibly answer his question. There was no village and no store nearby, and they had very little money besides. His question is clearly designed to set before Philip a predicament that had no human solution.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – The Greatest Obstacle to Knowing Christ

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Read: John 3:16-21

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (v. 20 NIV)

The greatest obstacle to knowing Christ better is not ignorance, but willfulness. To know Christ better you don’t just need more knowledge, though more facts are always good. The fact is that you simply can’t grow in your knowledge of Christ if you keep resisting God’s will. Indeed, if we “will not come into the light” of the truth about Christ, all the facts in the world won’t help (v. 20).

The Jewish leaders and the crowds mobbing Jesus had already seen Jesus’ miracles and heard his teaching. They had the facts before them, but they were deeply resistant to Jesus’ authority. They had their own way of thinking and living, and they had no intention of changing their ways for him.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; A.W. – Godly Guidance

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Famous evangelist Billy Graham has been privy to some of the most important decisions in the nation’s recent history. Every president since World War II has met with him to seek counsel on professional and personal matters – from war, to the existence of Heaven, to marital affairs. Two presidents, Johnson and Nixon, offered him government positions that Graham politely refused. Instead, through his crusades and messages, Graham has provided spiritual guidance to hundreds of millions of people.

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 15:22

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Choose to Forget

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This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!—2 Corinthians 5:17

As believers, we can put our past in the rearview mirror. We can put it behind us. Romans 6:14 says, “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” We are free by God’s grace.

I like what Corrie ten Boom said about her sins: “They are now cast into the deepest sea and a sign is put up that says NO FISHING ALLOWED.” We often want to dredge up our sins, but we should not choose to remember what God has chosen to forget.

When I first heard the gospel on my high school campus, I thought, This won’t work for me because I am not the Christian type. In my estimation at the time, Christians were really lame people that I didn’t want to hang around. I thought, There is no way I could be one of those people. I don’t have faith like that.

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Wants You To Love Him Most

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“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 23:37-38)

What is an idol? You have probably heard about them in missionary stories, and you’ve read about them in the Bible. An idol is a piece of wood or stone shaped like a person or an animal, and people worship it. Right?

That is one kind of idol. But there are other kinds, too. An idol is anything that we love more than God. An idol could be a person, an object, a hobby, a goal, or a desire. God commands us to love Him first. And first means most. God wants to be our highest love.

If we really knew and understood our God, we would have no trouble loving Him most. He is so worthy of our love. He is mightier, wiser, kinder, and more beautiful than any being we can imagine. His love for us is deeper and stronger than we can even begin to understand. He is perfectly holy, and yet He is merciful and forgiving. No one else could ever come close to being like Him. He is, as His Word says, “altogether lovely.”

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Say Yes

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Today’s Scripture: Titus 2:11-12

“The grace of God has appeared . . . training us . . . to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.”

In Titus 2:11-12, Paul expressed both the negative and positive aspects of what grace accomplishes in the Christian life: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to [negatively] renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to [positively] live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

Those three words—self-controlled, upright, and godly—are considered by most Bible commentators to refer to actions with regard to one’s self, one’s neighbor, and God.

Self-control expresses the self-restraint we need to practice toward the good and legitimate things of life, as well as the outright denial of things clearly sinful.

Continue reading The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Say Yes →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Out of the Ordinary

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 12-14

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. – Exodus 19:5

Abraham was a most remarkable man. From Genesis 12 to the end of the Bible, he and his descendants are almost the only subject of the divinely inspired Word of God.

Here is a man whom both Christian and Jew claim as the father of their faith. He is even mentioned in the Koran, the holy book of the Muslim religion, in 188 verses. What was it that made Abraham so remarkable? He simply did what God said to do.

As Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Abraham’s willingness to pack up his family and all his belongings to move to an unknown land is one of the first indications of his commitment to the Lord.

Continue reading The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Out of the Ordinary →

BreakPoint

BreakPoint – Christian Health-Sharing: Putting ‘Affordable’ in Health Care

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It’s been nearly six years since the “Affordable Care Act” became law, and for millions, the law mandating that we buy health insurance has made it anything but “affordable.” No wonder Congress recently passed yet another bill to repeal the ACA, though of course, the President vetoed it.

According to the annual Kaiser Family Foundation report, average annual family premiums for employer-based health insurance have risen by $4,865 since 2008. That’s a tough pill for many of us to swallow, especially given that when President Obama sold us the Affordable Care Act, he repeatedly promised to lower premiums by $2,500. And no, many folks didn’t get to keep their doctor either.

This year’s premium increases are even worse. The organization Freedom Partners notes, “In most states, health insurance premiums on the individual marketplace are rising by double digits.”

Now some people, particularly the poor, have benefited from Obamacare coverage, primarily by the expansion of Medicaid and guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions; but many other folks have been hurt badly by skyrocketing costs and broken promises. So where is that good news that I mentioned at the beginning of this commentary?

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Moody Global Ministries, Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word –JESUS: RESURRECTION FROM SHAME

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Read Matthew 28:1-15; Psalm 30

Every story needs conflict. In the best stories, the conflict increases the tension and complexity, causing a reader to wonder how any happy resolution could be possible. Often, when all hope is lost, something amazing happens.

For the next nine days, we’ll study biblical examples of how God heals us from shame, and we’ll begin with the greatest example of all. Jesus’ story is packed with edge-of-your-seat conflict, superseded only by its out-of-this-world ending. The depths of suffering that He experienced on the cross provide a fitting contrast for the glorious ending God has for Him.

God allowed Jesus’ enemies to succeed in their evil plan—for a time. But in the end, God was victorious. He not only raised Jesus’ body from death, He also took care to restore Jesus’ wounded honor. The crowd, soldiers, and religious leaders mocked Jesus on the cross—but when Sunday dawned it was a different story! Now the Roman soldiers were the victims of terror, and the religious leaders’ lack of integrity was exposed.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – ISIS ATTACK IN INDONESIA: A SURPRISING FACT

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Kami Tidak Takut is Indonesian for “we are not afraid.” After yesterday’s attacks in Jakarta that killed at least two and wounded nineteen, the Twitter hashtag #KamiTidakTakut began trending. One man tweeted, “Terrorist, their job is to spread terror and create fear. If you are afraid, they win. So stay courageous guys.”

The tragedy in Indonesia followed a suicide attack in Istanbul that killed ten German tourists. That attack took place in front of the Obelisk of Theodosius, near the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. I stood before that obelisk with eighty fellow Americans last fall. If an ISIS attacker had seen us, we might have been his victims.

Over the last year, terrorists loyal to ISIS have attacked Paris, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Tunisia again, Cairo, Turkey, Egypt, Paris again, California, Turkey again, Philadelphia, and now Indonesia. Authorities say an ISIS sympathizer in Houston planned to blow up two malls there, then attack a military base in Grand Prairie (a suburb of Dallas).

It’s hard not to be afraid as ISIS-related terror attacks continue to escalate at home and around the world. Nearly half of Americans are afraid they or a family member will be a victim of such an attack.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Learning to Pray With Confidence

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1 John 5:14-15

Prayer is the Christian’s most powerful God-given means for effecting change. Yet we’re often hesitant about our appeals.

But we should be confident in prayer, primarily because of the knowledge that we belong to God’s family (John 1:12). When we received Jesus Christ as Savior, God became our heavenly Father. As a result, we can be absolutely sure He will hear our prayers (1 John 5:14).

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Saying Goodbye

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Read: Luke 9:57-62

Bible in a Year: Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20

No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. —Luke 9:62

Saying goodbye is hard—to family and friends, to a favorite and familiar place, to an occupation or livelihood.

In Luke 9:57-62 our Lord describes the cost of being His disciple. A would-be follower says to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus responds, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (vv. 61-62). Is He asking His followers to say goodbye to everything and every relationship considered precious?

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