Tag Archives: nature

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Big Goals, Big Life

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I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

Joshua 14:11

We hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions. We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends. From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry. We call them our “Friday Friends.” So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our “Friday Friend,” Arlene Pellicane.

Friend to Friend

Every year, I attend a personal growth conference with some truly inspirational people. Speakers have included greats such as Neil Armstrong, Zig Ziglar, Lou Holtz, Andy Andrews, and Jim Rohn. I know being exposed to this caliber of professionals has pushed me to become a better person, wife, and mom.

Some may wonder about the lasting effects of motivational conferences. You may wonder how many times does one really need to hear “Think positive,” “Never give up” and “Set ambitious goals”?

One of my friends says it’s because we leak. We constantly need to be re-filled, re-inspired, redirected, and reenergized. We need role models to look up to. We need godly mentors to keep us accountable to higher goals and more meaningful living.

Caleb in the Bible was that kind of person. While the ten other spies looked at the Promised Land, all they could see were the giants. They cowered in fear and their unbelief spread like a virus to the Israelites. Caleb saw giants too – giant grapes to be taken!

In the book of Joshua, we read that Caleb at age 85 stood before Joshua, not ready for retirement, but ready for action. He still had big goals. “Now give me this hill country that the Lord has promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:12, NIV).

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – Big Goals, Big Life →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – A Blameless Watchman

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“If you refuse to warn the wicked when I want you to tell them, You are under the penalty of death, therefore repent and save your life – they will die in their sins, but I will punish you. I will demand your blood for theirs. But if you warn them and they keep on sinning, and refuse to repent, they will die in their sins, but you are blameless – you have done all you could” (Ezekiel 3:18-19).

One of the most sobering messages I find in all the words of God is this terrible warning found in the book of Ezekiel. God commanded Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel to turn from their sins. Some would argue that this has no application for the Christian. I would disagree. In principle this is exactly what our Lord commands us to do – to go and make disciples of all nations, to preach the gospel to all men, to follow Jesus and He will make us to become fishers of men.

It is a sobering thing to realize that all around us there are multitudes of men and women, even loved ones, who do not know the Savior. Many of them have never received an intelligent, Spirit-filled, loving witness concerning our Savior. Who will tell them? There are some people whom you and I can reach whom nobody else can influence.

I am writing this day’s devotion while in Amsterdam where I am speaking at an international gathering of Christian evangelists. During the course of my days here I have talked with many taxi drivers, maids, waiters and other employees of the hotel. Only one professed to be a believer and we had good fellowship together. Some were openly defiant, even angry at the name of Jesus. But in each case I have shared the gospel, constrained by the love of Christ out of a deep sense of gratitude for all that He has done for me, and as an act of obedience to His command to be His witness.

I pray that God will give me a greater sense of urgency to warn men that unless they turn to Christ they will die in their sins. I do not want to be responsible because I failed to warn them. They must know that there is a heaven and a hell and that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved but the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 3:15-21

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will ask the Holy Spirit to quicken within my heart, out of a deep sense of gratitude for all He has done for me and from a desire to obey our Lord’s commands, a greater sense of urgency to be His witness and to warn men to turn from their wicked ways and receive Christ, the gift of God’s love.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Truth About Our Heart

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Read: Jeremiah 17:1-18

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

In those two lines you have the explanation of all the misery and heartache and injustice and evil of life. It all stems from that. The heart, the natural life into which we were born, has two things wrong with it. First, it is desperately corrupt. This means it never can function as it originally was designed to do. It can never fulfill all you expect of it. It will never fulfill your ideals, or bring you to the place where you can be what you would like to be. It is corrupt. It is infected with a fatal virus. It cannot be changed. There is nothing you can do about it, ultimately. It is useless and wasted. Therefore there is only one thing it is good for — to be put to death. That is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did with it when he died some centuries later. He took that fatal nature, human nature, and he put it to death.

I know that many people have trouble at this point. This is the verse, among others like it in the Scriptures, which divides humanity right down the center. You either believe this verse, and act in these terms for the rest of your life, understanding this fact, or you deny it and say, It is not true; man is basically good. It is either one side or the other. Your whole system of philosophy and of education and of legislation, and everything else, will be determined by which one of those views you take. This is the Great Divide of humanity, right here.

It is amazing, but I think one of the greatest confirmations of the truth in this verse is the Constitution of the United States of America. Our founding fathers were so aware of this great fact — that man, by nature, is desperately corrupt — that they never trusted a single man, even the best of them, with ultimate power. They set up checks and balances by which any man in office, even the most admired of men, would have his power scrutinized and examined by others. They did not trust anybody, and rightfully so! No system of philosophy, of psychology, of education, will ever serve to eliminate the wrongful, evil failing of the human heart. It cannot be done. We have to face life on those terms.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – The Truth About Our Heart →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Helps Others See the Light

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Read: John 9:1-25

One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. (v. 25)

Jesus performed a great miracle in giving sight to a man blind from birth. The healed man could not explain the miracle. All he knew was that where once he was blind, now he could see. This miracle serves as a sign that Jesus is the light of the world. Knowing God the Father is only possible when Jesus lights the way.

The condition of the neighborhood where we constructed the home is very poor. No running water or electricity. Dirt roads are lined with trash. Dust covers everything. The situation of these poverty-stricken families seems hopeless, but God can transform neighborhoods, even in the most dire of situations.

Each day we worked, we found ourselves surrounded not only by the family needing a home, but by neighbors and extended family members. During work breaks, I was amazed to see dozens of children quickly surround my wife as she passed out candy, shoes, or school supplies. Where there had been one child moments earlier there were now dozens. The scene reminded me of moths drawn to a light.

Then it struck me. We were drawing these families to God through our gifts. They were seeing Jesus through us. When we love others in Jesus’ name, this helps them see that he is the light of the world.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. May your light shine through us to draw others to the Father in love.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Missing the Point

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Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”—Jonah 4:10–11

Have you ever been angry with God? Be honest. Maybe you were hoping something would happen in your life, and it didn’t happen. Or maybe you prayed for something, and God didn’t answer your prayer in the way you wanted Him to answer it. Then again, maybe God blessed someone else when you thought you were more deserving of that blessing.

Jonah was angry with God. While he was sitting outside Nineveh, waiting for it to be judged, the Bible tells us, “The LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant” (Jonah 4:6). Then the Bible says the Lord brought a worm that ate the plant, causing it to die. So Jonah said, “Death is certainly better than living like this!” (verse 8).

Jonah seemed to be more concerned about losing his shade than he was about the people of Nineveh. He missed his comfort. He missed the whole picture. The people of Nineveh repented of their sins. They called it what it was, and God sent His healing.

The problem with Jonah was that he was preoccupied with himself. While God had spared thousands of lives, Jonah missed his shade. Here was a man who survived three days and three nights in a fish’s stomach, a man who repented, prayed, and preached the truth to the people of Nineveh, a man whom God used to bring about a spiritual awakening. Yet he fell into sin.

It’s a reminder that no matter how long we have known the Lord, we can still mess up. No matter how long we have known the Lord, we still may need to be revived again.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God’s Law Teaches Us That We Need Christ

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“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)

Are you looking forward to the day when you receive your driver’s license? If so, you will need a driving teacher to show you how to get it.

When Suzanne was fifteen, she enrolled in a driver’s training school. There were two parts to the school. One was the in-class work; the other was the in-car training. Suzanne did very well at the in-class work. She passed all her quizzes and tests because she studied hard and knew the rules of the road.

But the driving part was a little different. Suzanne did not feel very confident when it came to driving in a busy city. Thankfully, the teacher sat right next to her – right in the passenger’s seat – and the teacher had a special tool to help ensure nobody would get hurt. On the teacher’s side, near his feet, he had his own brake pedal.

One day Suzanne and her teacher were in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a fairly large city. One of the things Suzanne was learning to do that day was to merge into traffic. “Merging” is when your car comes off a ramp onto a highway and joins the fast-moving traffic. One key to successfully merging is to speed up and match the speed of the other cars.

Suzanne did not do well at merging. She sped all the way up to about 35 miles per hour, but she should have sped up to about 60 miles per hour! If she had merged onto the highway, the cars coming up behind her would have had to slam on their brakes. It was a good thing that the instructor slammed on his brake and prevented Suzanne from putting the car in a very bad position. After the instructor yelled at Suzanne for a bit, they changed drivers, and another student took the wheel. Suzanne got into the back seat and considered her mistake.

What was the instructor doing? He was teaching students how to drive. Without him and his instruction, Suzanne would never be able to receive her license.

The Bible teaches us that God’s Law is the schoolmaster (or tutor) that brings us to Christ. Just like Suzanne’s driving instructor was bringing her to the point of receiving her own license, so God’s Law is an instructor that shows us how badly we need Jesus Christ. When we see how we have failed to live up to God’s Law, it points us to the only One Who has perfectly fulfilled that Law. And Who is that? It is Jesus Christ! God’s Law guides us to forgiveness in Christ.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God’s Law Teaches Us That We Need Christ →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Grace and Gifts

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.”

In his comments on 1 Corinthians 1:4, Dr. Gordon Fee has helpful insight on the connection of grace and gifts: “The specific basis of Paul’s thanksgiving in their case is God’s ‘grace given you in Christ Jesus.’ Commonly this is viewed as a thanksgiving for grace as such, i.e., the gracious outpouring of God’s mercy in Christ toward the undeserving. However, for Paul charis (?race’) very often is closely associated with charisma/ charismata (‘gift/ gifts’) and in such instances refers to concrete expressions of God’s gracious activity in his people. Indeed, the word ‘grace’ itself sometimes denoted these concrete manifestations, the ‘graces’ (gifts), of God’s grace.”

Peter wrote, “as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). Peter and Paul are saying the same thing. Our spiritual gifts and the ministries we perform are gifts of God’s grace. None of us deserves the gifts he or she has been given by God’s undeserved favor to us through Christ.

This means that both the most “worthy” and the most “unworthy” of Christians receive their gifts and their ministries on the same basis. The “unworthy” person surely doesn’t deserve his gift, but neither does the most “worthy.” They both receive them as unmerited favors from God.

In reality there is no such distinction in God’s sight between “worthy” and “unworthy.” In his sight, we’re all totally and permanently bankrupt spiritually. Paul’s statement is just as true for believers as for unbelievers: “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – The Life of the Prayer

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Today’s Scripture: Micah 6-7

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:16

In Micah 6:6-8, the prophet asks this penetrating question about prayer:

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings?…Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression?…He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah was convinced that true prayer is more than just words. The Bible is clear that God pays as much attention to the life of the one who is praying as He does to the words of the prayer. And He also urges us to persevere in prayer.

One evening I was in a prayer meeting in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I asked for prayer for my father, who never darkened the door of a church. I had prayed for him every day for seven-and-a-half years. After the meeting, two men asked if they could visit my dad and share the gospel with him. On their first visit, my dad threw them out of the house, but a few weeks later they tried again. My dad invited them in and went over to the sofa and knelt down, weeping his way to the foot of the cross. Six weeks later, he died.

Christian, God is not reluctant to answer our prayers. He simply asks that we walk humbly with Him, pray without ceasing, and never lose heart.

Prayer

Lord, purify my heart, and that will purify my life. Amen.

To Ponder

To be effective, our prayers must be accompanied by a God-honoring life.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  A Flood of Evidence: Chronological Snobbery and Archaeology

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In his conversion story, “Surprised by Joy,” C. S. Lewis explains how his close friend, Owen Barfield, demolished his “chronological snobbery.” Lewis defined chronological snobbery as “the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our own age and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is on that count discredited.”

In Lewis’s time, much of academia was already convinced that every past generation formed a staircase of progress, leading (of course) to enlightened modernity. And since Lewis’s death, many intellectuals have only become more convinced of their own perch at the pinnacle of history. These days, we barely even notice the snobbery.

But it’s time to notice, especially in archaeology. An article last week in The New York Times describes new evidence for the Chinese great flood, an event which ancient records say coincided with the rise of China’s first imperial dynasty. For many years, Western academics have considered this flood a myth—on par with Noah’s Flood in Genesis which, unsurprisingly, they also dismiss as fiction.

But several new dig sites have unearthed inscriptions that refer to just such a flood along the Yellow River, almost 4,000 years ago. And a team of geologists led by Qinglog Wu of Peking University in Beijing says they’ve found evidence in the rocks of a natural dam that trapped several cubic miles of water. When the dam collapsed, it sent a deluge downriver large enough to wipe out a civilization—just as the Chinese legends suggest.

Western experts were less than enthused at the news. The Times quotes several prominent archaeologists who scoff at the discoveries as attempts to read too much into Chinese myths. Dr. Paul Goldin of the University of Pennsylvania derides what he sees as a “fixation” among Chinese archaeologists with “[proving] that all the ancient texts and legends have some fundamental truth…It shouldn’t be every archaeologist’s first instinct,” he says, “to see if their findings are matched in the historical sources.”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  A Flood of Evidence: Chronological Snobbery and Archaeology →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE AUTHORITY OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

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Read JOHN 5:16–30

When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush and called him to liberate His people, Moses had some doubts and questions: “What is your name?” The Lord responded, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you’” (Ex. 3:14).

“I AM” is God’s name. Anyone using that name is declaring that he or she is God. In today’s reading, Jesus infuriated the Jewish religious leaders by claiming equality with God (v. 18). Though they refused to acknowledge His identity or the source of His authority, Jesus embraced their “accusation” as true and explained the all-encompassing authority and perfect unity existing between Himself and His Father.

The Father and Son are unified in will (vv. 19, 30), in love (v. 20), in power (vv. 21, 25–26), and in authority (vv. 22, 27).

The Son does not act as a maverick but does just as the Father does. The Father loves the Son and has fully revealed to Him His plan of salvation. God alone holds power over life and death, but that power belongs equally to the Father and the Son, revealing both to be God. Similarly, God alone has the authority to judge, but He has entrusted that prerogative to the Son, and expects everyone to honor and worship the Son equally with Himself (v. 23).

One result of this relationship is that it’s the Father’s will that all people should look to the Son for eternal life (v. 24; see John 6:40). The idea that God holds life and death in His hands includes not just power but also essence. That is, God is “life in himself” (v. 26)—a quality that the Father has granted to and shares with His only begotten Son.

APPLY THE WORD

We can rejoice in our certain hope of resurrection! We who trust in His name—the name of the One with resurrection power and all authority to judge eternal destinies—will rise to life, not through any merit of our own, but thanks to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. Sing or listen to music that celebrates the resurrection today.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – THE MOST ASTONISHING STORY I’VE SEEN LATELY

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It was an amazing day for the US at the Rio Olympics. Michael Phelps won his fourth gold medal, his twenty-second in his career. Simone Biles won the all-around gold in women’s gymnastics. And Simone Manuel became the first African-American swimmer to win gold.

We can always use some good news. That’s why I’ve just published a new booklet, Half-full or Hopeful? Five reasons for optimism in a pessimistic day, which I hope you’ll order from our website.

But this morning I must tell you about a story that seems too appalling to be true, but it is. According to USA Today, a mother in New Mexico gave her son up for adoption when he was a baby. He is now nineteen years old. They found each other on Facebook last year and began a sexual relationship.

They have been arrested for incest and now want to bring attention to something called “Genetic Sexual Attraction,” defined as “intense sexual desire that can arise between genetically related people who are united in Adulthood, after having been denied the opportunity to form proper emotional bonds.” Advocates want to “eliminate the irresponsible stigma associated with such relationships.”

You and I live in a culture which no longer has the tools necessary to determine right from wrong. We read stories daily about increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, pornography, and cohabitation. Across the moral spectrum it seems America is becoming less biblical than ever before.

That’s why, more than ever before, it is critical that the church be the church. Before we can counter unbiblical cultural trends, we must first recognize that they are unbiblical. Then we must decide that the Bible is right, no matter how unpopular its teachings might be today.

Continue reading Denison Forum – THE MOST ASTONISHING STORY I’VE SEEN LATELY →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley –The Storms of Life

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Genesis 50:15-21

When life gets hard, we tend to get upset and wonder how soon the difficulty will end. But God wants us to focus on Him in times of trouble. As we do, we will discover that He is doing important spiritual work during these “storms.”

Beliefs. The Bible contains what we need to know about our life in Christ. When circumstances are beyond our control, what we really believe will surface. The depth of our faith in God’s character and promises will become evident, as will any doubts or uncertainties we may have. For example, Joseph revealed strong belief when he acknowledged that God intended his hardships for his good (Gen. 50:20). There will be times when we don’t succeed—like Peter, whose fear led to denying Christ (John 18:25-27)—but we should think of trials as opportunities to grow and deepen our faith.

Transformation. As God’s children, we are to live our lives in a way that displays Christ’s character. But we are more like jewels in the rough, aren’t we? The heavenly Father can use the storms of life to transform us into His Son’s image.

Comfort. This blessing is not only for us but also for others. Our Father comforts us in our sufferings and asks that we share what we have received with other people (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

Difficult times can come from our own mistakes, the schemes of the enemy, or the hurtful actions of others. They can even be ordained by God. Regardless of the source, our Father works in them to benefit us and to bless others. What testimony about Him can you give to a hurting world?

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 9-11

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — No Fear

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Read: Luke 2:8–20 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 81–83; Romans 11:19–36

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.” Luke 2:10

Nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words he says are, “Do not be afraid” (Dan. 10:12, 19; Matt. 28:5; Rev. 1:17). Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet Earth, it usually leaves the human observers flat on their faces in catatonic fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance on earth in a form that does not frighten. In Jesus, born in a barn and laid in a feeding trough, God finds at last a mode of approach that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a newborn baby?

Puzzled skeptics stalked Jesus throughout His ministry. How could a baby in Bethlehem, a carpenter’s son, be the Messiah from God? But a group of shepherds in a field had no doubt about who He was, for they heard the message of good news straight from a choir of angels (2:8–14).

In Jesus, God comes close to us.

Why did God take on human form? The Bible gives many reasons, some densely theological and some quite practical; but the scene of Jesus as an adolescent lecturing rabbis in the temple gives one clue (v. 46). For the first time, ordinary people could hold a conversation, a debate, with God in visible form. Jesus could talk to anyone—His parents, a rabbi, a poor widow—without first having to announce, “Don’t be afraid.”

In Jesus, God comes close to us.

I’m humbled, Lord, that You would come near to me. But I’m grateful. Thank You.

For further study read Is Jesus God?

God incarnate is the end of fear. F. B. Meyer

INSIGHT:

While the writers of Matthew, Mark, and John had direct contact with Jesus, Luke was written by a historian after a great amount of research. The others begin simply by diving into the story of Jesus. In the introduction to Luke’s gospel, he begins by giving the reader reason to trust what he or she is about to read. (See Luke 1:1–4.)

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Longing to Comfort

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My little girl was just sixteen months old when her younger brother arrived. I rocked her to sleep every night before he came. She was not one who slept through the night, and I had wakened with every cry, holding her again at various hours and countless times in a night. As each week fell into the next she began to show her growing displeasure—her annoyance, even—at my protruding baby belly as she tried to find a place on my shoulder where it didn’t get in her way. I saw this as a kind of symbolism for the impending change to her small world and tried to use those days where I had enough arms to hold each child as an opportunity to affirm her invaluable place against me.

I researched how to prepare siblings for the arrival of a new little one. I placed her tiny hands on my belly as the baby kicked and explained that he was talking to her. I took her to appointments to see his black and white sketch on the screen of the doctor’s office where she lay nestled in the crook of my arm as I pointed to toes and elbows of “her baby.” After many months, an appointment to my doctor’s office resulted in the instruction to drive straight to the hospital, for labor had begun early. Instead, we first drove back to the house to tell our two little ones where we were going, to have one last moment as the family of four familiar to us all to navigate before receiving the tremendous gift to be five; to give them a hug and kiss before sleeping away from them for a few days; before introducing them to their baby brother whose arrival would change their world as they knew it.

I had been concerned she would resent him. But she didn’t. She welcomed him, she kissed him, she longed to care for him from the moment she saw him. She didn’t hold it against him seemingly at all. It was me. I had not read that, I had not prepared for the fact that it was me she could feel abandoned her or betrayed her. While always close to her daddy, she suddenly attached to him with an adhesive that forbid another to come close. As hours and days melted into weeks and then months of eternity for me, she resisted all of my attempts to hold her, to be close to her, or to care for her even when she was sick. Each morning as my husband left for work, he had to peel her off of the safe zone of his shoulder and she would crumple to the floor in a pool of sobs that would break your heart and crushed mine. Her beautiful round, light brown eyes were flooded with an ocean of hurt, full lips trembling through the sobs. I tried so hard and so gently to get close, bending down and holding my arms out to comfort her. But she refused and angrily pushed me away, choosing to ache entirely alone. I felt deeply rejected, but even more, it literally pained me to see her hurting so much and opting to endure it alone rather than allow me to provide comfort. So I stood at the distance she demanded, tears streaming down my own face as I watched her struggle day after day. “All I want to do is to love you, to help you, and you won’t let me even comfort you,” I felt and audibly whispered.

And a parallel was not lost on me, with an awareness never considered before. For how many times have I refused to allow God to come close in comfort and instead in my anger and lostness, forced Him to a distance in favor of my lonely puddle of fear, confusion, and grief?

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Longing to Comfort →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Living Unselfishly

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“‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth’” (Matthew 6:19).

The believer is to use his possessions unselfishly.

Some years ago I happened to have contact with two quite wealthy men during the same week. One was a former professor at a major university who through a series of investments made possibly a hundred million dollars. In the process, however, he lost his family, his happiness, and his peace of mind and had aged far beyond his years. The other man, a pastor, also made some investments and acquired great wealth but was not preoccupied with his investments. Because of his financial independence, he gave to his church over the years more than it paid him for being its pastor. He is one of the happiest, most contented, and most godly persons I have ever met. The difference between the two men was not their wealth, but their contrasting views about wealth.

In Matthew 6:19 Jesus taught the right way to view wealth by saying you are not to lay up treasure for yourselves. When you accumulate possessions simply for yourself—whether to hoard or to spend selfishly and extravagantly—those possessions become idols. Jesus is saying, “People in my kingdom shouldn’t amass fortunes or stockpile things for themselves.” Colossians 3:5 says, “Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to . . . greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Covetousness is idolatry.

What about you? Are you consumed with extending God’s kingdom instead of accumulating possessions for yourself? Do you desire to invest in eternity and God’s causes, or are you being greedy and miserly? First Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Glorify Him by investing in His kingdom and living unselfishly.

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask God to help you use your possessions unselfishly for His glory.

For Further Study

What warning does Jesus give in Luke 12:15?

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Joy and Sorrow 

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Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Throughout the journey of life, there are moments of unspeakable joy and crushing heartache and pain. Most likely, as you read these words today, you have recently experienced both joy and pain, celebration and sorrow. Often these emotions exist within us at the same time, where moments of joy are tempered with sorrow, and seasons of pain can be relieved by the promise of hope and peace.

So often, our experience of joy and sorrow is entirely out of our control. Joy comes to us as a free gift, or sorrow becomes an uninvited companion on our journey. In a sense, there is a passive reality to emotions- we often receive them whether we want to or not!

In St. Paul’s words to the early Christians in Rome, we find another dimension to emotion: a radical invitation into an active and intentional life of joy and sorrow.

What if joy isn’t simply an emotion that comes your way but is instead something you intentionally look for and seek out? To do this, it means you must broaden your capacity to love and celebrate, looking not simply for your own joy but for the joy of others as well. A sign of the Spirit’s work in your life is the ability to celebrate with others even when you receive no direct benefit in return. Their joy truly becomes your joy, free from all envy, jealousy, or comparison.

Likewise, we must ask for the grace to take the sorrow and pain of others into our hearts and let it become our own. This is an active and intentional choice, for it is possible to hold the pain and brokenness of others at arms length, remaining emotionally detached and unaffected. It is for good reason that St. Paul’s words to us are a command, not a suggestion! We must choose to weep with those who weep, actively looking for those who are in sorrow and letting their pain become our pain.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Joy and Sorrow  →

Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The Answer Is Jesus

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Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us … that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:13-14

Recommended Reading

Job 38:1-18

A middle school teacher recently shared some of the answers he received from students on assignments. One student said, “The pistol of a flower is its only protection against insects.” Another thought the word germinate meant to “become a naturalized German citizen” and that a vacuum was where the pope lived. A fibula, said another student, is a small lie; and a terminal illness is what happens when you get sick at the airport.

Job had a lot of questions, but he and his friends kept getting their answers mixed up. But on the final exam, Job got it right when he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25).

All our great and confusing questions can be answered in our living Redeemer. If you’re suffering, He can ease your pain. If you’re confused, He can clear your mind. If you’re fearful, He can give you peace. If you have bad habits, He can help you conquer them. If you struggle with guilt, He can forgive your sins. If you’re afraid of death, He can give you eternal life.

Our Redeemer is the answer to all the questions in our hearts.

I know that my Redeemer lives; / What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

Samuel Medley in the hymn, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 25 – 27

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – A Steadfast Heart

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My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody.- Psalm 57:7

In order to experience victory in our lives and achieve great things for God, it is crucial that we choose to be determined. The Bible says that Jesus steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), and we can do the same thing as we live for God. If we are going to accomplish anything worthwhile, it is important we “steadfastly and determinedly” set our face in that direction and not give up.

When you receive Christ as your Savior and Lord, Satan will oppose you at every turn. He wants you to give up! The devil is not going to roll out a red carpet for us just because we decide to receive Christ. But Jesus has already overcome the devil. Satan is a defeated foe. His opposition is not strong enough to stop you if you are close to God, walking in His strength and will for your life.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that everything in life should be easy for us. Ask for God’s help, receive His grace, and be determined to do the will of God, to stay positive and happy, and to walk in the peace of God no matter what.

Press on with holy determination, and God’s plan will be fulfilled in your life.

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

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Are You Enjoying God?

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Today’s Truth

You will go out with joy, and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break out into sounds of joy before you. And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

Friend to Fiend

When I was a little girl, I used to love pretending to be a bride. I’d wrap a sheet around my body, drape a towel over my head, and hold a bouquet of plastic flowers to my chest. Then I would start at one end of our ranch-style house’s hallway and make my saunter down the “aisle.” In my little mind, all eyes were on me, as my sheet became a pearl studded wedding gown, my towel a lace veil, and the bouquet a spray of white roses.

My Uncle Ernest understood the longings of little girls to be a bride, so for Christmas one year, he gave me a two-foot doll dressed in full bridal regalia. Along with her white wedding gown and netlike veil, she had short cropped, curly brown hair that felt as real as my own, soft plump skin that squished when I squeezed her, and moveable eyelids lined with thick black lashes. Her eyes opened and closed with her changing positions so that when she lay in her box, she resembled Sleeping Beauty just waiting to be kissed. Her perfectly shaped lips were small and dainty, and her crystal blue eyes appeared strangely real.

But there was one problem with this delightful gift. Because she was so expensive, my mother wouldn’t allow me to play with her.

“You’ll have to wait until you are older,” she explained. “She’s too nice of a doll to play with. You might tear her gown. We’ll just keep her in the box until you’re old enough to know how to take care of her.”

So the bride doll remained in her box, safely stowed away in the bottom dresser drawer.

Day after day, I slowly opened the drawer and stole a peek at the doll as she lay sleeping inside the drawer like a treasure in a safety deposit box. Sometimes I removed the box lid and gently stroked her pink skin, but I knew if I ever took her out of the box and played with her, I would be in big trouble. As time passed, I forgot about the bride doll in the drawer, and today, I don’t even know what became of her.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – Are You Enjoying God? →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – He Will Uphold Us

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“Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

An obsolete Army transport plane was filled with people from various parts of the world. We flew, at the invitation of the president of a third world country, for a dedication ceremony of a historic sight. But it was not until we were crowded into the plane and ready to take off that we observed that there were no seatbelts. In fact there were not even enough seats for all of the guests. It was quite an unusual experience at best. Yet, I was able to claim this assuring promise that God gave to Isaiah and gives to all of his children who trust and obey Him.

Many times in my trips to various parts of the world, I have encountered difficulties, opposition, problems and challenges. In such times as these, I have needed and claimed the promises of God.

God’s banquet table is full to overflowing. Not only can we be free from fear, but we can also be encouraged knowing that He is our God and thus He will strengthen and help and uphold us with His victorious right hand. If you and I come to such a banquet table and come away with only crumbs, we should not blame the one who has prepared the table. He has made all things possible for us and given us all things in Him. Even if your task today is simply to perform routine duties, you may approach them without fear, even of boredom, knowing that God is with you.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:1-9

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Claiming this marvelous promise from God’s word, I will not fear, but will claim with joyful confidence His faithful promise to meet my every need, knowing that I am complete in Him who will enable me to live the supernatural life.

 

http://www.cru.org