Monthly Archives: April 2016

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Pure Joy 

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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.    James 1:2-3

Pure joy is the position and privilege of the person who follows Jesus Christ. Ironically, Jesus-generated joy is discovered and developed in the face of trials. Trials are designed to bring out God’s best and, consequently, your best as well. You’re going through your current trial by fire so that your faith can become more sincere and real during the affliction of adversity. This is your time to experience God’s faithfulness, for His joy and contentment are calming. The presence of Christ gives you reassurance and peace. He is the joy-giver, while Satan is the joy-killer.

Therefore, you can smile because your smile while enduring a trial is the result of pure joy. It’s pure joy because God can be trusted. It’s pure joy because your faith is real and robust and Christ is faithful. It’s pure joy because you will persevere by faith. Indeed, untested faith is a naïve faith. Until your faith has been refined through various trials, it will remain immature and judgmental. You can understand others’ perspectives and respect them more when you have been broken over your own inadequacies and sins. Trials slow you down enough to allow you to look into the mirror and ask what needs to change. How can you lead and serve your family and friends during this time of unprecedented turmoil and tentativeness? Pure joy comes as a result of your faith changing and growing.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Help Hurting People

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He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor. —Proverbs 14:21

Helping the poor and those who are less fortunate than we are is not only a nice thing to do, but according to the Bible, it is our responsibility. God cares deeply for the poor and needy and seems to have a special place in His heart for the widow and the orphan because they are alone and unable to meet all their needs. God gives us hearts of compassion, but when needs arise we can’t close our hearts—we need to open our hearts and our hands wide to help the poor.

When we give to the poor, the Bible says that we lend to the Lord. Anything we give to help hurting people, God will always return many times over. Not only will He meet our needs, but our joy will increase as a result of giving in love. I urge you to share what you have with those who are less fortunate than you are.

Power Thought: I am always merciful and generous to the poor.

From the book the book Power Thoughts Devotional by Joyce Meyer.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – He Listens and Answers 

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“Mark this well: The Lord has set apart the redeemed for himself. Therefore He will listen to me and answer when I call to Him” (Psalm 4:3).

My 93-year-old mother has known and walked with the Lord since she was 16. In all the years that I have known her, now more than 60, I have never known her to say an unkind or critical word or do anything that would be contrary to her commitment to Christ, made as a teenage girl.

Hers has been a life of prayer, study of God’s Word and worship of Him. The radiance and joy of her godly life has inspired not only her husband and seven children, but also scores of grandchildren and great and great-great grandchildren, and thousands of neighbors and friends.

A few days ago I invited her – for the hundredth time, at least – to come and live with us, knowing that all the rest of the children have made similar invitations. She responded, “No, I prefer to live alone. But I am not really alone, for the Lord Jesus is with me, comforting me, giving me His peace and assurance that He will take care of me.”

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – He Listens and Answers  →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Dealing with the Discharges of Life

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Read: Leviticus 15

When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean. On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the Lord to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. Lev 15:13-14

The unavoidable diseases, afflictions, and discharges mentioned in this chapter are of a much less serious nature than the leprosy with which we have been dealing in previous chapters. You remember that when the leper was cleansed he had to go through a much more rigorous ceremony which included several offerings. But here the very simplest of the offerings is prescribed — two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one for a sin offering, one for a burnt offering — the cheapest, the most available of the offerings. Yet God never once sets aside the requirement for the blood of an innocent substitute to be shed in the place of one who is defiled for any reason whatsoever. By this means he underscores the great fact that human nature needs to be dealt with by blood. It is a deep and complicated problem. It cannot be solved by a mere rearrangement of surface symptoms. God is constantly underscoring that for us in these offerings.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Dealing with the Discharges of Life →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Fleeting Beauty

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Read: James 1:9-15

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. (v. 11)

I live in Arizona where we have magnificent displays of wildflowers in the spring. Some of the most beautiful flowers are found on the spinystar cactus. Spinystars are small; only six inches tall and hard to see amid the surrounding grass. That is, except for one day each summer. On one day, all of the spinystars bloom at the same time, and the desert is dotted with spectacular flowers! The spinystar blossoms are hot pink with bright yellow centers, and fully two inches across! Yet, their beauty only lasts for a single day.

James reminds us that our lives are fleeting too. We are like cactus blossoms in the desert. James also reminds us that no matter what our economic situation is, all human beings face the same troubles and temptations. When trials come, we must see them for what they are—universal. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). How we deal with our trials—whether with humility and prayer, or with temptation and sin—is a test of our faith.

Continue reading Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Fleeting Beauty →

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R.- Ballpark Variety

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At a grand dedication ceremony on the afternoon of April 16, 1964, New York City’s Mayor Robert Wagner praised William Shea, a lawyer who had helped bring a National League baseball team back to the city and was now having the brand new, state-of-the-art ballpark named in his honor. The mayor proclaimed it the “world’s greatest stadium” and said that with his name on it, Shea was now “practically an immortal.”

His disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

Mark 13:1

To paraphrase baseball great Yogi Berra, immortality ain’t what it used to be: Shea Stadium, old and outdated, was demolished in 2009 and replaced with a parking lot the city needed for the newer, adjacent Citi Field. Last year, the new park hosted the World Series.

Jesus understood, better than the disciples, that “wonderful buildings” have limited and distinctly short-term utility. “Do you see these great buildings?” He responded, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2) What are you building today? As you pray for America’s leaders, may you be focused on immortality – not the ballpark variety, but that offered by the eternal and loving God who offers those who love Him a hope and a future.

Recommended Reading: II Corinthians 4:13-18  Click to Read or Listen

 

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/index.php

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – The Sacrifice of a Broken Heart

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“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34: 18)

Abby was reaching to get a cereal bowl out of the cupboard when—CRASH!—she accidentally knocked a glass of orange juice off the counter and onto the kitchen floor. What a mess! Her mother had to pick up the large pieces of glass, mop up the spilled juice, and vacuum for any tiny shards that could cut someone’s foot. No one would ever drink from that glass again. It would have to be replaced.

Sometimes broken things can be fixed, but often they are useless.

Is breaking something ever a good thing? Yes! An egg, for instance, has to be cracked before it can be eaten. We have to untie or cut the ribbon on a present to open it. A plank of lumber must be cut the right size before it can be used to build a table.

One broken thing that is very valuable to God is a broken heart. When we are truly sorry for our sin, God accepts our broken heart as a sacrifice. No other sacrifice that we can offer will please Him—not even gifts of money or special acts of kindness.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – The Sacrifice of a Broken Heart →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Growing in Grace

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The term growing in grace is most often used to indicate growth in Christian character. While I think that usage has merit, a more accurate meaning is to continually grow in our understanding of God’s grace, especially as it applies to us personally, to become progressively more aware of our own continued spiritual bankruptcy and the unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor of God. May we all grow in grace in this sense.

As we grow in grace this way, we will grow in our motivation to obey God out of a sense of gratitude and reverence to him. Our obedience will always be imperfect in performance in this life. We will never perfectly obey him until we are made perfect by him. In the same way, our motives will never be consistently pure; there will frequently be some “merit points” mentality mixed in with our genuine love and reverence for God.

Continue reading The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Growing in Grace →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Our Transformation

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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 16-19

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6

What’s the most mind-boggling experience you’ve ever had? For me, I think it was my first trip to the Holy Land, where I actually looked at things Jesus saw and walked to places where He walked. But just think of the way Peter, James, and John must have felt as they were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-2). Jesus’ glory, which was usually veiled, was briefly displayed for the disciples to see. I’m sure their minds were boggled when they were permitted to see Him as He really is.

Did you know that you and I, as followers of Christ, are involved in a process of transfiguration as well? The word transfigured is the same word used by the apostle Paul in Romans 12:2, where he exhorts us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are not to be conformed to the world but transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, we read that this is accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord as the new nature of Christ is manifested in us. For us as believers, this is a gradual experience. And although it happens over a period of time, the results are clearly evident as we grow toward maturity in Christ.

Continue reading The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Our Transformation →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – FREEDOM OF THE NEW COVENANT

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Read 2 Corinthians 3

A country’s constitution is the document that describes how the government will work and details the rights and protections enjoyed by citizens. After a two-year process, in 2014 Tunisia adopted a new constitution that protects freedom of religion, banning apostasy campaigns that previously permitted a death sentence for any Muslim charged with apostasy. The constitution also protects the rights of women under the law.

Believers in Jesus have been given the new covenant, which brings life and freedom through the Spirit. We are no longer bound by an old regime of sin and death. In the same way that a change in the Tunisian constitution enacted more freedoms for its citizens, the new covenant guarantees spiritual freedoms for believers in Christ.

The apostle Paul uses a rhetorical device in this passage that we might call “from good to great” or “good compared to best.” The old covenant, established by God with His people through the Mosaic Law, was good. It was given by God (see Exodus 19). In receiving the Law, Moses also received part of the glory of God and had to veil his face in order for others to be able to look at him (vv. 7, 13). If the old covenant was good, then, we have confidence that the new covenant is even better.

Continue reading Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – FREEDOM OF THE NEW COVENANT →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Financial Plan

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Acts 20:33-35

The Lord wants us to make wise decisions that are based on sound biblical principles. But choices that follow His will aren’t always compatible with the world’s way of doing business. For instance, some people may be surprised that the foundational concept of God’s financial plan is to give rather than to save or invest.

Give sacrificially. Typically, when people decide how much to donate toward charity or church, they consider their income versus their expenses and choose an amount that feels comfortable and doable. In contrast, a sacrificial offering can mean that believers follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to pledge resources beyond their means. Initially, some Christians may feel worried about exercising their faith in this way. But thankfully, God has promised that He “will supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19), and He is totally and completely trustworthy.

Give compassionately. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” Believers with a generous spirit hold their material possessions loosely and desire to use their share of the Lord’s wealth to spread His blessing to others. A missionary, charity, or pastor does not have to beg them to part with their money.

God’s financial plan differs from any we will see in the world, but His principles have proven to be effective. The Bible and church history show that for thousands of years, Christ’s followers have chosen to give from a compassionate heart and a sacrificial spirit. And He rewards them with increased faith and enough material goods to meet all of their needs.

Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 8-9

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Apple of His Eye

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Read: Zechariah 2

Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30-31; Luke 13:23-35

Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. —Zechariah 2:8

A friend’s baby was suffering seizures, so they sped to the hospital in an ambulance, her heart racing as she prayed for her daughter. Her fierce love for this child hit her afresh as she held her tiny fingers, recalling too how much more the Lord loves us and how we are “the apple of His eye.”

The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye.

Continue reading Our Daily Bread — The Apple of His Eye →

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – High Places 

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The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD.  Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.    1 Kings 3:2-3

High places haunt, hurt, and hinder your relationship with God because they are direct competitors with Jesus. They are altars of worship from your past that you never completely destroyed or removed from your life. You are deceived when you think they can coexist with Christ and not bring you harm. You tolerate them; even thinking your love for the Lord allows you to have this mistress, who in fact, derails you into not finishing well.

The wisest man in the world, next to Jesus, learned this the hard way. Solomon thought he was smarter than God (not so wise), and went to the high place of degrading marriage. But it blew up in his face by debilitating his family. His high place of pride kept him from experiencing God’s best and from finishing well. No one is immune from sin’s insidious outcomes.

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Spring Cleaning: Wash the Windows—See Others in Need

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Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

1 Peter 3:8

Recommended Reading: Luke 6:41-42

The story is told of a woman who could look out her kitchen window and see her neighbor’s laundry drying on the line. But the woman continually complained to her husband about how dingy the neighbor’s laundry looked: “Doesn’t she know how to get her clothes clean?” But one day she announced, “Finally—our neighbor has learned to do her laundry! I wonder what has changed?” Her husband said, “It may be because I washed the outside of that window yesterday.”

Sometimes, our own impaired vision causes us to see faults in others. It reminds us of what Jesus said about removing the beam in our own eye before trying to remove a speck from someone else’s eye. And of how Paul wrote that we should focus more on the needs of others rather than our own needs. Jesus had the ability to see people as they really were—and His clear spiritual sight moved Him to compassion toward them (Matthew 9:36). We need to see with the eyes of Jesus.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Spring Cleaning: Wash the Windows—See Others in Need →

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Be Blessed

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Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. —Proverbs 31:28-29

A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband…(Proverbs 12:4). She enjoys the praise of her children and husband. They rise up to call her blessed. Her husband says that many daughters have been virtuous and noble but that she exceeds them all. In other words, he says that she is the best wife anyone could ever have. He applauds and celebrates her strength of character and goodness.

One year my birthday happened to be during one of our conferences, and my husband, Dave, stood up and read Proverbs 31 to me in front of a room filled with people. Then my children one by one rose up to say kind and edifying things to me. There is no better feeling than to spend years raising your children, and then have them tell you that they honor you, love you, and don’t believe they could have had a better mother. Or to have your husband say you are the best wife in the world. Those comments certainly were confidence boosters for me.

Lord, whether anyone ever gives me these commendations, I want to live my life in a way that brings joy and blessing to others. Build strength into my character. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – A Healthy, Growing Body 

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“Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times – speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly – and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of His body, the church. Under His direction the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

I am concerned, as you no doubt are, that God’s ideal church, in which the whole body is fitted together perfectly, becomes a reality. And if that is to happen, it will mean that I must become a part of that perfect fit.

Within the body of Christ, each of us has a unique function. True, two people might have similar functions just as a body has two hands that function similarly. But those two hands are not identical. Just try to wear a lefthand glove on your right hand!

The hands have similar functions, not identical functions. You and I might have similar abilities, but we are not identical. We are unique creations of God.

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – A Healthy, Growing Body  →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Need for Cleansing

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Read: Leviticus 14

The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. Lev 14:3-4

In Chapter 14 we move into a further development of this whole matter of handling leprosy. Here we have the cleansing of the leper. Notice that the leper does not go through all the ritual which follows in order to be healed; he does it in order to be cleansed. He is already healed. Healing is something only God can do. It is the sovereign act of God and it takes place in the inner life of a believer. His cleansing of a person allows the one who is healed to understand God’s basis and purpose for the healing. God wants the inner cleansing to be reflected in the outward life and actions of the person who is healed. That is the picture which is drawn here.

You and I can’t heal our leprous hearts. If there is some wrongful attitude within us, if we burn with envy or jealousy or resentment toward one another, if we are impatient and upset and angry at heart — we seldom see these things in ourselves until God puts us into circumstances where they are brought out — and then the only thing we can do is take them to him because we are helpless victims caught up in these dangerous attitudes. When you finally see yourself like that, then you can say, Lord, heal me! And God does! With a touch of his grace he changes our attitude. We stop being defensive about it and we admit it. And then the leprosy is arrested, its action is stopped, and we are healed.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – The Need for Cleansing →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – A Word to the Wise

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Read: James 1:1-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (v. 5)

For the next two weeks, we will dig deep into the letter written by James, who introduces himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” James was a leader in the early church, and his letter was written as an encouragement to believers who were scattered around the Roman Empire. Even by today’s standards, it is a wise and practical letter. James often sounds like the writers of Old Testament Wisdom literature (Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes). James also sounds a lot like Jesus (see Matt. 7:7-11), probably because Jesus was his older half-brother. For pastoral wisdom about living the Christian life, you can’t beat James.

Today what passes for “wisdom” seems to be gathered and dispersed online. There’s a podcast or blog for everything now—from how someone overcame severe physical disabilities and climbed Mount Everest, to why dogs can understand quantum physics better than humans. And while the internet may have content worth sharing, I am not sure it all counts as true wisdom.

Wisdom is usually gained from experience, which is why older people are considered wiser than younger people. Yet James says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and God will give it to us! The key here is asking God, and trusting that God will answer. Just the act of asking is wisdom in itself!

Prayer:

Lord, grant us the wisdom to seek all of the answers in you.

Author: Susan Hetrick

https://woh.org/

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team;  J.R. – Ballpark Variety

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At a grand dedication ceremony on the afternoon of April 16, 1964, New York City’s Mayor Robert Wagner praised William Shea, a lawyer who had helped bring a National League baseball team back to the city and was now having the brand new, state-of-the-art ballpark named in his honor. The mayor proclaimed it the “world’s greatest stadium” and said that with his name on it, Shea was now “practically an immortal.”

His disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

Mark 13:1

To paraphrase baseball great Yogi Berra, immortality ain’t what it used to be: Shea Stadium, old and outdated, was demolished in 2009 and replaced with a parking lot the city needed for the newer, adjacent Citi Field. Last year, the new park hosted the World Series.

Jesus understood, better than the disciples, that “wonderful buildings” have limited and distinctly short-term utility. “Do you see these great buildings?” He responded, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2) What are you building today? As you pray for America’s leaders, may you be focused on immortality – not the ballpark variety, but that offered by the eternal and loving God who offers those who love Him a hope and a future.

Recommended Reading: II Corinthians 4:13-18  Click to Read or Listen

 

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/index.php

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – When Does Temptation Generally Come?

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“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”—1 Peter 5:8

When does temptation generally come? Answer: Often after great times of blessing!

When Jesus began His public ministry, He went to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. The heavenly Father proudly said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Then temptation came. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted.

After the dove came the devil.

It usually works that way in our lives as well. After the blessing comes the trial. The two often go hand in hand. Don’t be surprised if temptation comes to you, for instance, right after God speaks to you in church or in a time of devotion.

Continue reading Greg Laurie – When Does Temptation Generally Come? →