Tag Archives: human-rights

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Knowing God’s Will

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Read: Colossians 1:9-14

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. Col 1:9b

The one thing Paul asks for is that the Colossians might come to understand God’s will. This is the important thing to Paul. He knows that if they begin to understand the will of God, everything good that he desires for them will follow. Thus, the chief aim of a believer’s life ought to be to know God’s will.

Here is where many young Christians go astray. They think the will of God is an itinerary they must discover: where God wants them to go, and what God wants them to do. Most of their prayers are addressed with those thoughts in mind. What should I do today? Where should I go? Whom should I marry? But knowing God’s will is about much more than simply knowing what to do, it begins with knowing who we are. Have you ever asked someone who upset you, Who do you think you are, anyway? We instinctively know that offensive behavior is a result of who we think we are. That is why such challenges are given.

God, too, knows that. The glory of the good news is that he has made us into something different than what we once were. Therefore the primary course in the curriculum of the Spirit is to learn what God has made you to be. You no longer belong to yourself, so you are no longer to live for yourself. Your will, your pleasure, your comfort are no longer to be primary in your life, but what God calls you to be and what he has made you to be. The more you understand who you now are, and what God has done to make you that, the more your behavior will automatically change and you will do the things that please him.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Knowing God’s Will →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Reduce Speed

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Read: Psalm 62

Truly my soul finds rest in God. (v. 1 NIV)

Her name was Sharon Lampert. She wore a sequined red mask, flowing white cape over a black body-stocking and white go-go boots. She called herself an anti-stress superhero, pushing her sales on the busy streets of Manhattan. Sharon sold a “one and only anti-stress kit,” which consisted of a mix of toys, including a little white teddy bear, “a friend who will unconditionally love you.” At $19.95 it was a steal!

Our stress-filled life style is hazardous to our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Why do we rush about when the best gifts of life come not from endless activity with its stress and strain but from the generous hand of God? See the road sign for Christians: REDUCE SPEED. The Lord is not in a hurry. No need to rush to travel with Jesus. Psalm 62 calls us to speed less and trust God more.

Think of the things we value most. The love of God, the love of a marriage partner, your family gathered around the dinner table, the companionship of a friend, a good night’s sleep, a sun-filled day. Now ask yourself a question. Do any of these come from my work or business or are they gifts from the hand of God?

Isaiah reminds us, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will . . . soar . . . like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (40:30-31 NIV).

Prayer:

I rest in you, Lord.

Author: Chic Broersma

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – God Has the Final Word

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Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. —Psalm 115:3

History tells us that on the morning of the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon stood gazing on the field of battle and described to his commanding officer the strategy for that day’s campaign. Then he declared that at the end of the day, England would be at the feet of France, and the Duke of Wellington, who was leading the British forces, would be the prisoner of Napoleon.

After a pause, Napoleon’s commanding officer boldly said, “We must not forget that man proposes, but God disposes.”

With arrogant pride, Napoleon shot back, “I want you to understand, sir, that Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes.”

Commenting on that statement, Victor Hugo said, “After that moment, Waterloo was lost, for God sent rain and hail so that the troops could not be maneuvered as he had planned, and on the night of the battle it was Napoleon who was prisoner of Wellington, and France was at the feet of England.”

Anything that any man or woman accomplishes in life has been given to him or her as a gift from God. No matter what someone may have discovered or invented, no matter how much wealth someone has amassed or how successful they may have been, their lives were given to them by God. Their intellectual capacities were given to them by God. The beat of their heart was given to them by God.

It is good to remember that everything we have is from the Lord. As Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us, “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”

Fear God. Reverence God. Remember, He has the final word on every subject, no matter what. God will have the last word.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Wants You Certain

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“And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (1 John 3:19-20)

When someone asks you whether you know for sure that you are a child of God, how do you respond? I remember as a child trying to answer that question. I would always say, “Yes! I know I’m saved!” After answering, however, I would always ask myself whether or not I really knew for certain.

You see, when I was very young, I prayed with my mother to accept Christ as my Savior. But, I didn’t, and still don’t, remember it! I don’t remember what I prayed, or where I was. I loved going to church, and told my grade school friends about Jesus, but I didn’t remember when I got saved. I was so worried that I would pray, “Lord, if I’m not saved, please save me now.” I prayed this prayer every night! I had no confidence in my salvation, but was too embarrassed to ask my parents or teachers for help.

A few years later, I began reading through the book of 1 John. As I read, I began to see many verses that told me how I could know for sure that I was saved. For example, 1 John 4:15 says that if I confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God, God lives in me, and I live in Him! For each of these verses, I would write a paragraph about how I knew from that verse that I was saved. Even though I don’t remember what I prayed when I asked Jesus to be my Savior, I know that right now I am trusting in His payment on the Cross for my sins! I also know that God cannot fail, and that He has promised that if I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then I am (not might be) saved and have eternal life.

Are you struggling with whether or not you are truly saved? Maybe you don’t remember what you said when you prayed for the first time; maybe you don’t know if you said the right words; maybe you don’t even remember praying! Are you worried that you didn’t “do it right” or that God didn’t hear you? 1 John 1:9 says that God is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins” when you confess them to him! When you told God that you were a sinner and asked Him to forgive you, He did! In 1 John 5:11, 13-14, God tells us that we can know – not just guess or hope – that we are truly saved and have eternal life. God knows you better than you know yourself. Even though you may not “feel” saved, God knows whether or not you have truly trusted in Jesus Christ to be your Savior.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Wants You Certain →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Train in the Right Direction

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 5:14

“The mature . . . have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Paul exhorted Timothy, “Train yourself for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). Though godliness is a broader concept than holiness, holiness is a major part of it, so training ourselves to be godly certainly includes training in holiness.

This training requires exercise. In fact, the King James Version translates this phrase, “exercise thyself . . . unto godliness.” How do we exercise ourselves in the spiritual realm? Through the choices we make. When we make wrong choices, we train ourselves in the wrong direction—like the false teachers Peter described, who had “hearts trained in greed” (2 Peter 2:14).

God wants us to train ourselves in the right direction through making right choices. Frankly, this is where the going gets tough. We’ll agree with Scripture’s teaching about some particular sin and even make a commitment of sorts to put it out of our lives. Then the temptation to indulge that sin comes once again, and we’re unwilling to make the tough choice. We would like to be rid of that sin, and even pray to God to take it away, but are we willing to say no to it?

Every day we’re training ourselves in one direction or the other: toward lying or truthfulness; selfishness or unselfishness; anger or forgiveness; impurity or purity; irritability or patience; covetousness or generosity; pride or humility; materialism or simplicity.

Only through making the right choice to obey God’s Word will we break the habits of sin and develop habits of holiness. This is where we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s power to enable us to make the right choices. So cry out to God every day for his help; cry out each time you are confronted with the choice to sin or to obey.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Relationship Versus Fellowship

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Today’s Scripture: Mark 1-3

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. – 1 Corinthians 1:9

It is essential for every Christian to understand the difference between relationship and fellowship. Relationship is fixed and cannot be broken. Once we come to God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, we are His sons and daughters, and nothing can change that.

I remember talking to a businessman who was bowled over by this truth. He couldn’t fathom the depth of the grace of God. He was convinced there was something he had to do, some work that would buy him a ticket to heaven. I told him it was too late, Jesus Christ had died on the cross to pay the penalty for his sins, and nothing more was needed.

Fellowship, on the other hand, is fluid and must be constantly renewed. We do it by confessing our sins and asking His forgiveness. Once restored, we must maintain our fellowship with God. In Mark 1:35, we read these words about our Lord Jesus Christ: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” The previous verses tell us that the evening before, the whole town had gathered at Jesus’ door after sundown, and He had healed many. No doubt He had been up late. But long before sunrise, He left His bed and went to prayer.

Have you come to God through faith in Jesus Christ? If so, nothing can change your relationship with Him. But are you spending time with Him each day in prayer and reading the Word? Relationship and fellowship–one depends on God’s action, the other depends on our own.

Prayer

Lord, it is beyond my understanding that You have made me Your child–forever. Please give me the faithfulness to come to You every day in fellowship. Amen.

To Ponder

Relationship has to do with our standing in Christ while fellowship concerns our walk with God.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Why Pro-Lifers Should Not be Discouraged Despite Abortion Ruling

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Yesterday, we talked about the Supreme Court’s supremely disappointing ruling against a common-sense Texas law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and abortion mills to meet the same safety standards as other medical facilities.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court ruled the law unduly burdened a woman’s right to an abortion. It’s just another indication that, at the end of the day, our culture is committed to sexual autonomy above anything and everything else—even the health and safety of women.

Then yesterday, we learned the Supremes had left a Washington state couple, and their right not to violate their consciences as pharmacists, out to dry. Now pharmacists in Washington state must offer abortifacients, or go out of business.

For pro-lifers, these rulings can feel like a gut-punch. But let’s be clear, these decisions are by no means the end of the pro-life movement.

Enormous strides for life have been made over the past few years. The needle is pointing in our direction—which is why the pro-abortion crowd is so wildly celebrating these decisions.

Look at the lay of the land. Half of all Americans now believe abortion should be legal only under extreme circumstances—and the pro-life movement is getting younger, not older. Pregnancy care centers outnumber abortion clinics three to one. Ultrasound and in-utero photography show us beyond a shadow of a doubt the humanity of the preborn—even on TV shows like the Big Bang Theory!

Don’t forget the legislative advances: 286 abortion restrictions have been passed at the state level just since 2010 –all but two remain untouched by this SCOTUS decision. As Sarah Kliff gloomily reported at Vox, “the Pro-life movement is winning.”

And consider this: The Daily Show’s celebratory tweet yesterday about the decision was met with harsh criticism—even by pro-choicers!

A year ago, the Obergefell decision making so-called same-sex “marriage” the law of the land, felt like a gut punch too.  And on July 4 last year, I woke up to an email from a friend in New Zealand. He wrote this:

“Dear John, I’m celebrating American rebellion by saying extra prayers for your country, after I have prayed . . . for my own. I know from our experience here, where the gay marriage debate was lost… how discouraging the whole thing can look.

Continue reading BreakPoint –  Why Pro-Lifers Should Not be Discouraged Despite Abortion Ruling →

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – ISTANBUL BOMBING: DON’T LET TERRORISM BE THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

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I was in a staff meeting yesterday afternoon when news broke of another terrorist attack in Istanbul. As of this morning, forty-one are dead and 239 are injured. The Turkish prime minister has announced that ISIS is likely responsible for this atrocity.

If this seems like another chapter in the same horrific story, you’re right.

Yesterday’s airport bombing is the eighth terrorist attack in Turkey this year. Radical Islamists have struck tourist areas in Istanbul and the capitol city of Ankara as well as cities in southeastern Turkey. I have been everywhere terrorists have struck and have flown into and out of Istanbul’s airport numerous times. Any of the dead could have been me.

Sixteen other terrorist attacks this year have been linked to ISIS. Yesterday’s tragedy came after an ISIS spokesman called for renewed atrocities during the last ten days of Ramadan. As with numerous other attacks, Muslims were on the front lines of the assault, proving that radical Muslims will kill other Muslims as readily as they target anyone else.

Let’s remember why this is happening. ISIS and other radical Islamists are convinced that the West has been attacking Islam since the Crusades. The Qur’an requires Muslims to defend Islam. Therefore, they believe that attacking Western targets is a defense of Islam. Civilians are on the front lines since they support their governments with their taxes and military service. To radicalized Muslims, every killing yesterday advanced Islam.

As a result, no place is safe. The more ISIS loses territory in Iraq and Syria, the more it will sponsor and incite terrorism abroad. Yesterday’s atrocity is by no means the last we should expect as this “war on terror” continues.

It’s easy to become numb to the carnage. We were initially shocked by reports of ISIS beheadings, but now they are common news stories. Bombings that slaughter innocent people used to outrage the world, but now they numb us with their frequency.

Therein lies my point.

Continue reading Denison Forum – ISTANBUL BOMBING: DON’T LET TERRORISM BE THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Letting Go of Our Procrastinating Ways

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Acts 24:24-27

We like to think that our delay tactics are no big deal. After all, we tell ourselves, no one is really getting hurt by the things we put off. Over time, however, our choices to postpone action can develop into a lifelong pattern of procrastination. In today’s reading, the ruler Felix delayed making a decision about Christ and eventually turned away completely.

To get on track, we must change our attitude about procrastination, admitting it is a serious problem and noticing where we consistently put off action. It’s important to identify any feelings of doubt and discomfort that we may have, confess that procrastination has a hold in our life, and then decide in our heart to turn away from it. Tell God, “I want to live by Your schedule and please You by my obedience.”

Repentance should be joined by a commitment to actively embrace new ways of decisive living. Use God’s Word to fight against feelings of doubt and discomfort whenever they arise. Who we are in Christ and who He is to us are the truths needed to overcome bad habits. The Bible says that we are new creations, indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, and we are no longer slaves to sin (Gal. 5:1). Jesus, our Savior, is also our Lord. He provides all we need through His resurrection power (2 Pet. 1:3), and His grace turns our weakness into strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Victory is ours through Him (Rom. 8:37).

When we order our life on the basis of Scripture, we will live by faith rather than feelings. Jesus offers to set us free from the bondage of procrastination. Don’t put off accepting His invitation!

Bible in a Year: Psalms 90-94

 

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Leaving the Past Behind

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Read: 2 Corinthians 5:12–21 | Bible in a Year: Job 11–13; Acts 9:1–21

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (nlt)

Chris Baker is a tattoo artist who transforms symbols of pain and enslavement into works of art. Many of his clients are former gang members and victims of human trafficking who have been marked with identifying names, symbols, or codes. Chris transforms these into beautiful art by tattooing over them with new images.

Jesus does for the soul what Chris Baker does for the skin—He takes us as we are and transforms us. The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17 nlt). Before knowing Christ, we follow our desires wherever they lead us, and our lifestyles reflect this. When we repent and begin to walk with Christ, the passions and pitfalls that once dominated our lives are the “old life” (1 Cor. 6:9–11) that fades away as we are transformed. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18).

To enjoy the future, accept God’s forgiveness for the past.

Still, life as a “new person” isn’t always easy. It can take time to disconnect from old habits. We may struggle with ideas that were foundational to our old way of life. Yet over time, God’s Holy Spirit works in us, giving us inner strength and an understanding of Christ’s love. As God’s beautiful new creations, we’re free to leave the past behind.

Jesus, thank You for the power of Your death and resurrection. Your victory over sin means that I can be forgiven and can enjoy a new life in You.

To enjoy the future, accept God’s forgiveness for the past.

INSIGHT:

Second Corinthians likely arrived around ad 56 and is probably the fourth letter Paul sent to the church of Corinth. Many scholars believe the apostle wrote a letter prior to the New Testament letter of 1 Corinthians (see 1 Cor. 5:9) and that Titus delivered a third letter—one containing a severe reprimand—about a year after sending 1 Corinthians and before the New Testament letter of 2 Corinthians (see 2 Cor. 2:3–4).

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Faith and Incongruity

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All of us, at one time or another, have experienced the strange physiological reaction of zygomatic stimulation and subsequent larynx strain. This strain upsets the respiratory system, which results in deep, noisy gasps. The mouth opens and closes as the lungs struggle for oxygen. The struggle for oxygen causes the face to turn various shades of red and strange, unique noises emerge from deep within. What is this strange, physiological reaction I am describing? It is laughter!

We normally associate laughter with humor. But gelotology, the study of laughter, suggests another trigger for laughter that has been called ‘the incongruity theory.’ This theory suggests that laughter arises when logic and familiarity are replaced by things that don’t normally go together—when we expect one outcome and another happens. Generally speaking, our minds and bodies anticipate what’s going to happen and how it’s going to end based on logical thought, emotion, and our past experience. But when circumstances go in unexpected directions, our thoughts and emotions suddenly have to switch gears and laughter often emerges out of the tension between what we expect—and what actually happens.

Recently, I was struck by how the incongruity theory of laughter may shed light on the nature of faith, particularly as it relates to Sarah and her laughter at God’s promise of children in Genesis 18:11-15. In general, the account of her laughter at God’s promise that she would indeed bear a child is read as a lack of faith. Yet, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews counts Sarah among the faithful. Sarah, we’re told by the author, is one of the faithful witnesses because she “received the ability to conceive by faith, even beyond the proper time of life since she considered God faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).

It is not difficult to understand why many see a lack of faith as they read this story. For many have difficulty believing that faith can be found in the gap between what we expect and what actually happens. Or perhaps it is assumed that faith never doubts, nor questions, nor struggles with the seeming incongruities of life. Sadly, some cannot conceive of a faith that laughs!

But even if Sarah’s laughter indicates a level of disbelief who could blame her for being incredulous? Who wouldn’t laugh at the promise of a child to someone barren and long beyond the childbearing years? This is where the incongruity theory of laughter is so helpful. For Sarah’s laughter contains a glimmer of faith; faith that is really found in incongruity—holding together belief and disbelief in the face of incongruent circumstances and situations.

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Faith and Incongruity →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Integrity Will Be Vindicated

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“Then Daniel spoke to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.’ Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones” (Daniel 6:21-24).

God will always vindicate His people.

One of the challenges of the Christian life is to react properly when being unjustly accused. Our natural inclination is to defend ourselves, which is appropriate at times. But there are other times when we must remain silent and trust the Lord to defend us.

Apparently Daniel said nothing in his own defense when he was charged with disregarding the king’s decree to stop praying. Of course the charge itself was true, but his motives were righteous, and he knew he was innocent before God. Therefore, like Jesus Himself before His accusers, Daniel chose to remain silent and entrust himself to God, who “judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:22-23).

Vindication doesn’t always come quickly, but in Daniel’s case it did. God affirmed his innocence by protecting him from the hungry lions. King Darius affirmed his innocence by putting his accusers to death. That was swift and decisive judgment.

Continue reading John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Integrity Will Be Vindicated →

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – You Belong to Me

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So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.  Galatians 4:7-9

I love refreshing seasons with the Lord when He transforms and changes us in surprising ways with His truth. I am in one of those seasons now. The Lord has been reminding me of the beginning of my relationship with Him when I knew I was saved by grace and that His love for me was not based on anything I had to do or had done, but based entirely on His sacrifice on the cross. He is reminding me that the grace I was saved by is the grace in which I now stand. And, oh how my heart has needed these blessed truths!

You see, there was a time in the past when I embraced the idea—without realizing it—that I had to do more for God or He would be displeased with me. Honestly, deep down I feared He would love me less. I also believed my significance with Him was tied to my behavior. These false beliefs were heavy burdens to bear; I have only begun to realize just how heavy during this refreshing season with Him. I forgot that God’s love is unchanging and consistent, not based on anything I can do or have done for Him, but because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Maybe you can relate to my sentiment. Perhaps you believe God’s love for you is tied to what you do, rather than who you are in Him (1 John 3:1-2), and this has led to all kinds of emotional and spiritual problems. Please accept these words as encouragement for your heart as if from Him.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – You Belong to Me →

Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – When We Fail

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My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Recommended Reading

Hebrews 11:32-40

In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy wrote about George W. Norris of Nebraska, who began his career as a country teacher on the plains of Nebraska. He became a small-town lawyer, then a local prosecuting attorney and judge. In 1903, he entered the U.S. House of Representatives and was later elected to the Senate. Norris was a Republican who took up unpopular causes and fought uphill battles. Near the end of his career, Norris told a friend, “It happens very often that one tries to do something and fails. He feels discouraged, and yet he may discover years afterward that the very effort he made was the reason why somebody else took it up and succeeded. I really believe that whatever use I have been to progressive civilization has been accomplished in the things I failed to do rather than in the things I actually did do.”1

Avoid the temptation of judging others when they fail. God often uses our failures to train us for future opportunities.

Sometimes our failures even become stepping stones of success for others.

I would rather go down to my political grave with a clear conscience than ride in the chariot of victory.

Senator George W. Norris

1John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage (New York: Pocket Books, Inc., 1956), 178.

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Psalms 134 – 140

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – What is Grace?

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. . . The [Holy] Spirit [Who imparts] grace (the unmerited favor and blessing of God).—Hebrews 10:29

Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit available to you to do with ease what you cannot do by striving in your own strength. Grace is God’s power coming into our lives, freely enabling us to do whatever we need to do. God’s grace is always available, but we do need to receive it by faith and refuse to try to do things in our own strength without God.

The Holy Spirit ministers grace to us from God the Father. Grace is actually the Holy Spirit’s power flowing out from the throne of God toward people to save them and enable them to live holy lives and accomplish the will of God.

We can rejoice and be full of peace, joy, and contentment each day because of God’s grace in our lives. It is His grace that allows us to live in close fellowship with Him. With the grace of God, life can be enjoyed with an ease that produces rest and contentment.

We are saved by grace through faith, and we should learn to live the same way!

From the book Closer to God Each Day by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – When Your Heart Needs Healing

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Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

Isaiah 40:31

Friend to Friend

A friend of ours has struggled for years with heart problems. He’s gone through seasons of wellness and seasons of strain. Last year his health challenges moved from the back burner of his life to the front when his doctors recognized the need to operate.

He didn’t just need a simple procedure. He needed open heart surgery to the max. I mean we are talking valve replacements, ablations, hole repairs and more. You name it – and the surgeon pretty much had to do it.

In the wee hours of the morning prior to his surgery, our friend’s heart decided to cause problems that led them to the Emergency Room instead of the Operating Room. Thankfully, his surgeon rushed to the scene and took him right into surgery. Hours later, his heart was repaired.

In the days that followed, scary set backs came and went. Each one was dealt with head on. Thankfully, after 8 days in the hospital, our friend was able to go home to fully recover.

I asked his wife how I could pray for him. Was there anything specific?

Her answer surprised me. “Just pray that he will have the will to press on through the healing process because it is going to be a long, hard hull.”

When I hung up from our conversation, I paused and reflected on her request.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – When Your Heart Needs Healing →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Strength to the Humble

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“But He gives us more and more strength to stand against all such evil longings. As the Scripture says, God gives strength to the humble, but sets Himself against the proud and haughty” (James 4:6).

Dr. A. B. Simpson, leader of the Christian and Missionary Alliance at its inception, wisely said years ago.” Humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is not thinking of yourself at all.”

Under that rigid definition, not many of us would qualify as being truly humble – nevertheless, the statement contains a great deal of truth, for it is a goal toward which we should all strive.

No real progress is made toward God in any person’s life – believer or unbeliever – without this special characteristic of humility. One proof of that is found in the familiar verse:

“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV).

Even before we pray, before we seek His face, before we turn from our wicked ways, we must humble ourselves. Why? Because we are in no position to meet any of these other three criteria without first humbling ourselves.

Every Christian who seeks to advance in a holy life must remember well that humility is the most important lesson a believer has to learn. There may be intense consecration, fervent zeal and heavenly experience, yet there also may be an unconscious self-exaltation. True humility must come from God.

Bible Reading: James 4:7-10

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Remembering that pride is the root sin from which all others grow, I will humble myself and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit I will stay so busy helping, praying for and encouraging others that pride cannot take root in my life.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Unceasing Prayer

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Read: Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. Col. 1:9a

Paul knows that the Colossian Christians are living in a dangerous world. A seething volcano of false teaching has begun to erupt and engulf them, threatening to destroy the simplicity of the faith that is producing such beauty and liberty in their lives. Paul is in Rome, a prisoner in chains, and unable to travel to Colossae, a thousand miles east, to help them. There is nothing he can do physically for them. But spiritually, he is a powerful prayer warrior who can create in their midst a tremendous opportunity to know truth that will free them and enable them to withstand the assault of false teaching. That, then, is what he is doing: he is praying for them.

The striking thing about this prayer is the very first sentence of it: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you… This was a continuing prayer. As far as we know, Paul had never been to Colossae. Apart from one or two among them, he did not personally know these believers. And yet he prays continually for them. When we come to statements like this in Scripture it is quite fair to ask, when did he do this? Day and night he is chained to a Roman guard, he never has a moment to himself. Awake or asleep, he is bound to his jailer. Furthermore, when he is awake, his friends are dropping by to see him to seek his counsel and instruction. He even ministers to the Roman guards, many of whom came to Christ, as we learn in the letter to the Philippians. He is busy writing letters, too, so when did he find time to pray for the Colossians?

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Unceasing Prayer →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Soul Food

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Read: Psalm 34:1-14

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (v. 8)

Recall stopping your car at roadside fruit and veggies stands? Of course you do! And There’s nothing like freshly picked produce from the garden or fruit from the orchard.

Psalm 34 calls us to enthuse even more over a table laden with spiritual food and drink. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” To experience God’s goodness we need to seek him and trust in him daily. At the same time we must be alert to sins that tempt us while we also develop a greater conscience, a greater sense of our responsibilities toward our good God and the needy human family. As you look around you and review your past years isn’t it evident that God does bless those who obey him, while those who disregard the laws of God suffer for it?

As we sing or meditate on this psalm we’re giving God glory and teaching ourselves to continue doing so. If we hope to spend our eternity praising God, it’s appropriate that we should spend as much time as possible doing so here and now. It’s a good thing to keep set times for giving praise to God as the psalmist did. Most of us find this discipline hard to maintain. Happily there is a way to give praise to God that is open for all of us undisciplined types. As we go through the day we see many occasions that are ripe for praise immediately. So let’s do so then and there.

Prayer:

Feed me Lord. Receive my praise.

Author: Chic Broersma

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Grace Isn’t Lenience

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“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”—Numbers 32:23

Sometimes we confuse God’s grace with lenience or maybe even ignorance. Because we don’t face the immediate consequences of our actions, we might think we are getting away with it.

But the Bible says, “Your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). If we were to go back and translate that from the original Hebrew, it would say, “Your sin will find you out.” And what that means is your sin will find you out.

When Jonah went and preached to the Ninevites, he warned them, “Forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4) Actually there was hope in that message, because the fact they were being warned by God implied there could be forgiveness if they turned from their sin. When God brought His judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, there was no warning. There was no prophet Jonah walking through the streets, preaching to them. It came on them unexpectedly. In Nineveh’s case, however, God gave them a chance.

God does give a lot of chances. We might sin and then tell ourselves, “Nothing happened. Maybe God wasn’t paying attention. Maybe God doesn’t care.” Or worse yet, we’ll deceive ourselves into thinking that God is okay with it. God isn’t okay with it. God never will contradict His Word. We are going to face the consequences of our sin, but God may be giving us the opportunity to repent. As Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong” (NLT).

We will reap what we sow, no matter what. It may be ten years. It may be a year. It may be a month. It may be a week. It could be ten minutes. But it will happen. The wheels of God’s justice may grind slowly, but they grind surely.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie