Do Others See Jesus in You?

Do Others See Jesus in You? 01 Oct 2010 '...He chose them to become like his Son...' Romans 8:29 Bill was a drunk, converted in a Skid Row mission. Before his conversion he had gained a reputation as a tramp and an alcoholic for whom there was no hope. But when he gave his life to Christ everything changed. He became the most caring person at the mission. He spent his days there doing whatever needed to be done. There was never anything he was asked to do that he considered beneath him. Whether it was cleaning up vomit left by some sick alcoholic or scrubbing toilets used by men who had left them filthy, Bill did it all with a heart of gratitude. He could be counted on to feed any man who wandered in off the streets, undress him and tuck him into bed when he was incapable of taking care of himself. One evening after the mission director delivered his evangelistic message to the usual crowd of solemn men with drooped heads, one of them came down to the altar and kneeled to pray, crying out for God to help him change. The repentant drunk kept shouting, 'O God, make me like Bill! Make me like Bill! Make me like Bill!' The director of the mission leaned over and said, 'Wouldn't it be better if you prayed, "Make me like Jesus"?' After thinking about it for a few seconds, the man looked up and asked, 'Is He like Bill?' Live, so that others see Jesus

MINISTERING ANGELS

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MINISTERING ANGELS                                  Friday - October 1, 2010

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

Arthur Blessitt is an American evangelist best known for carrying a 12-foot cross to every country of the world. The closest he came to being killed was in Nicaragua in 1978 where a civil war was raging between rebels and government troops.
A group of uniformed men ordered Arthur from his tent at gunpoint. He recalls: "They stood me beside a truck and ordered me not to move.
"They lined up about 15ft away, raised their guns and pointed them toward me. Suddenly I realized I was standing before a firing squad."
Arthur wanted to make sure that his last moments were serving the Lord. He ignored their orders and went to grab a box of Bibles to give to them. When he turned back toward the men, he noticed that the six men were lying on the ground stunned.
Arthur offered them Bibles, but they dashed to their truck and drove off.
Later, local villagers came to Arthur’s tent and fell on their knees. “We saw a bright light,” they said. “God was here.” Arthur believes a guardian angel saved his life.

Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve us and protect us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has sent His angels to protect us.

“Could the veil be lifted, we would see that angels of God are around us to preserve us from unseen dangers. Thousands of times has their care been especially manifested for us in our warfare with the agencies of Satan.” - Ellen G. White

God’s Word: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” – Psalm 91:11

Shamgar's Secret (2)

Shamgar's Secret (2) 30 Sep 2010 '...Shamgar...killed six hundred...Philistines with an ox goad...' Judges 3:31 Shamgar lived in dangerous times. Philistine gangs roamed the countryside, robbing people: 'In the days of Shamgar... people avoided the main roads; and travellers stayed on...pathroads' (Judges 5:6 NLT). Shamgar's only weapon was an ox goad, a long wooden staff with a steel tip used to prod oxen. But it wasn't until he came under attack that he discovered its full potential. Understand this: God has given you an 'ox goad', something you can use to win in the situation you're facing. If you seek Him, He'll show you what it is. Like the boy with the five loaves and two fishes, God will take something small, bless it, then multiply it to bless others. The Bible says we are to '...be instant in season, out of season...' (2 Timothy 4:2KJV). The Greek words for 'be instant' could be translated 'be prepared'. The Greek word for 'season' means 'opportunity'. You need to be preparing yourself now, when it looks like nothing is happening, because your season will change and the opportunity to act will suddenly present itself. When it does, you must be ready. In life, opportunities are either coming towards you, or passing you by. In college, a professor told Dr Martin Luther King Jr that if he kept using such lofty words, he would never be a very effective public speaker. You have to wonder what that professor thought as he listened to Dr King's 'I have a dream' speech, and watched him go on to champion civil rights. What's your ox goad? Use it, and God will bless it!

REMEMBERING THE LAW

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REMEMBERING THE LAW             Thursday – September 30, 2010

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.” – Malachi 4:4

In 2006, the Faith and Action ministry house decided to display the Ten Commandments in its front garden in Washington D.C. The house is across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Soon the ministry was served with legal action of $300 a day in fines and possible sale of the property. The District of Columbia stated the house need a permit from the D.C. Department of Transportation to display for the 850-pound granite monument.
But less than two weeks later, the District of Columbia authorities reversed themselves and approved the monument.
Part-time resident of the ministry house, the Reverend Patrick J. Mahoney, said: “We hope our refusal to remove the Ten Commandments, in spite of the threat of thousands of dollars in fines and loss of property, will serve as clear reminder that we must resist religious bigotry and discrimination on every level. This is a victory not only for the faith community but for all Americans who cherish free speech and religious liberty.”

The Lord desires us to remember and follow His laws. He gave them to us to protect us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His laws and remember them throughout the day.

“The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” – George Washington

God’s Word: “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” – Psalm 119:97

If you are a Nigerian born between 1930-1980: Congratulations To Those of us Born 1930-1980

If you are a Nigerian born between 1930-1980 Congratulations To Those of us Born 1930-1980 No matter what the new Nigerian generation thinks about us, WE ARE AWESOME!!!! OUR LIFE IS LIVING PROOF !!!! Our Nigerian mothers took aspirin, ate garri and fufu, geisha from a can and didn't get tested fordiabetes.Then we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs coveredwith bright colored lead-base paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes,we hadno helmets on our heads. As infants & children, we would ride in family cars with no car seats, nobooster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, no shock absorber, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.We drank water from the mouth of public taps and not from a bottle. We shared one bottle of coke with four friends and no one actually died from this.  (We also learnt the virtue of sharing which seems to be going extinct right now) We ate cake made with Fat and Agege bread, with real butter. We drank TreeTop made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight.  WHY?Because we were always outside playing....that' s why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the evening lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. We had no mobile phones. And, we were OKAY!!(Those were peacefull days!) We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's,no surround-sound or CD's,  no cell phones,no personal computers,no Internet and no chat rooms.WE ONLY HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them there! (where we could actually verify who they were unlike the case with the internet) We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.(These accidents actually made us strong)  We would get spankings with belts, roots, twigs, or just the raw bare hand with five fingers and no one would call child services to report abuse. (OMG, those spankings have made us what we are today, with a healthy respect for authority) We ate crickets, bush rats, grass cutters, squirrels and those insects that come after the rains . Mama always knew how to deal with them with a nice cup of Phillip Milk of Magnesia. We wore Bata shoes. We made up our games with sticks, scraps and pebbles or just the bare sand. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them, shared their lunch or their mama would prepare our lunch. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! And will even punish us for breaking the law. (I shudder to think what my father would have said if I had even suggested that he gives me money to pay for scores, what?) These generations have produced some of the bestrisk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.  The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. What can kids today do besides push buttons. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with them all. If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!   You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up in this generation. While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were. It's nice to know that God was watching over us.

God-given Dreams

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure”
(Proverbs 16:9, AMP)

Oftentimes as children, we have dreams for the future, dreams of being ball players and actresses, super heroes and firemen. But most of the time, they end up just being wishful thinking. As we get older, we grow out of them. It’s good to play and have dreams as children, but when we grow up, we have to know the difference between a God-given dream and a wish. I remember when I was a little boy, I dreamed of playing football for the Country. That was definitely a fantasy! Beyond our wishes though, we all have dreams placed inside of us by the Creator of the universe. In fact, the Latin word for “desire” means “from the Father.” One way to tell if a dream is really from God is that the desire won’t go away. You may have had it for years, but you still can’t let it go. In fact, you may have tried to let it go, but it won’t let go of you.

Today, I encourage you to search your heart and allow those God-given dreams to surface. He placed those desires inside of you for a purpose, and He’s going to use them to direct you into the destiny He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for the dreams and desires You’ve placed within me. I submit those dreams to You and ask that You direct my steps. Search my heart and make my thoughts agreeable to Your Word and to Your plan for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

GLADLY GIVE

GLADLY GIVE                    Wednesday – September 29, 2010

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' ‘In tithes and offerings.’” – Malachi 3:8 

In 1971, John Bechtel, a missionary to Hong Kong, came across multimillion-dollar hotel and conference center that had closed. Immediately he saw the potential of the place to be a Christian camp. It could house 350 children and had an auditorium that seated 450 people. But the price was $250,000. 
John’s friend Walter Meloon was an influential businessman. He said: “John this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll go to the U.S. and raise the money you need to buy the camp.”
Three months later Walter wrote back. “Dear John, O how I hate to write you this letter. I was not able to raise the money for the camp.” John’s heart sank, but he kept reading. “P.S. Enclosed please find a letter from a 14-year-old girl named Belinda Holmes.”
Belinda’s letter read: “Dear Mr. Bechtel. Here’s my ice cream money for 2 weeks. Please use this one dollar to buy the camp.” 
John went back to the owner of the hotel and read the letters. The owners decided to sell John the hotel and conference center for $1.
In the first 30 years of operation, the Suen Douh (Preach the Gospel) Camp had more than a million campers and over 100,000 children have accepted Christ as their Savior.

The Lord wants us to be cheerful givers and He can take any amount and bring glory to Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom and joy in your giving.

“As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.” – Victor Hugo

God’s Word: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Shamgar's Secret (1)

Shamgar's Secret (1)

...Shamgar...killed six hundred...Philistines with an ox goad... Judges 3:31

The Bible says, '...Shamgar... killed six hundred... Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.'(Judges 3:31 NKJV) Shamgar was just a farmer who owned a field, but he was willing to fight for it. His odds weren't good: 600 to 1. But he beat the odds, saved his field, and delivered Israel. So you can start out small and end up blessing others greatly. The Bible says, 'Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin...' (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). Every oak tree started as an acorn. Tom Monaghan started Domino's Pizza in 1960 with one little shop. He struggled for eight years. When his shop burned to the ground, the insurance company paid him only one cent on the dollar to cover his losses. All he knew was pizza, so he started another shop. He worked 100 hours a week. Up to this point he had only taken one week-longholiday - for his honeymoon. By 1971 he was $1.5million in debt. But he stayed in his field, which was the pizza business, and tried something new. He limited his menu to pizza only, and decided to deliver it hot and fresh to customers at no extra charge. It worked. By 2007, Domino's Pizza had grown to 6,100 stores across the United States and other countries. Today he's one of the richest men in the nation, and he gives most of his profits to charity. What was his secret? He started where he was. He fought for what he believed to be his God-given purpose. And when he got knocked down he got back up.

DO NOT BE STUBBORN

DO NOT BE STUBBORN                Tuesday – September 28, 2010

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.” – Zechariah 7:11-12

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, was also a scientist and inventor. 
He wrote a groundbreaking paper on paleontology, invented methods for excavating archeological sites, and experimented with new varieties of grain. He invented a new type of plow for agriculture. He even began the U.S. Patent Office. 
But as important the advancement of science and invention was in his life, Jefferson had a blind spot. He refused to believe in meteorites. 
In 1807, a meteorite fell in Weston, Connecticut. The following year, Professors Silliman and Kingsley, of Yale College, published their account of the meteorite. This paper attracted widespread attention, and drew from Thomas Jefferson the oft-quoted remark "that it was easier to believe that two Yankee professors could lie than to admit that stones could fall from heaven."

Are you a stubborn person? Today in prayer, confess any stubbornness in your heart to the Lord and seek to follow Jesus in all that you do.

“I always believed in God and Christ, but I was in rebellion - trying to make my relationship with God fit into my life instead of making my life fit in with him. I was stubborn.” – Scott Stapp

God’s Word: “But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” – Jeremiah 7:24

Your Child's Love

Your Child's Love

..."These are the children God has given me..." Genesis 33:5

It's easy to complain about the things you don't have, and overlook or take for granted the things you do - simple things that enrich your life! Maybe this story by Dr James Dobson will help change your perspective. 'Some time ago a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became upset when she tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction. But his anger flared again when he opened the box and found it empty. He shouted at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside?" The little girl looked up at him in tears and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it. I filled it with my love and I wrapped it up just for you." He was crushed. Quickly he put his arms around her, hugged her and asked for her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years, and whenever he got discouraged he'd take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it in there. In a very real sense, each of us parents has been given a gold container filled with the unconditional love of our children. There's not a more precious possession anyone could hold.'

Stir Up Your Dreams

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you...”
(2 Timothy 1:6, NKJ)

Do you need some freshness in your life today? You may simply need to stir up what God has placed on the inside of you. Stir up those gifts, stir up those dreams, stir up those talents inside. Start stretching yourself. You were created to be a dreamer and to pursue the desires God has placed in your heart.

The Scripture tells us that without vision, people perish. If you don’t have a dream or vision for your life, you’re not really going to reach your fullest potential. Maybe at one time you had a dream, but you went through some disappointments or setbacks. Things didn’t turn out the way you planned. But here’s a key: when one dream dies, dream another dream. Just because it didn’t work out the way you had it planned doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have another plan. You cannot allow one disappointment or even a series of disappointments to convince you that your dream is over. It’s time to dig your heals in and hold on to the promises in your heart. Stir up those God-given dreams today and watch Him pour out His favor and blessing upon you and fulfill every desire in your heart!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I come humbly to You. I give You my past, my disappointments, my brokenness. Fill me with Your hope and expectation and give me the dreams and desires that You have in store for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

BE COMPASSIONATE

BE COMPASSIONATE                Monday – September 27, 2010

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” – Zechariah 7:9

In October 2009, Father Edward Hinds of St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham, New Jersey was brutally murdered. The alleged attacker was Jose Feliciano, the former church janitor who was dismissed because of church finances.
After the murder, the church grieved and began the process of forgiveness. 
At a meeting of the church’s school, parents asked what to tell their children to prevent them from saying something harmful to Jose’s daughter who attended the school.  The principal replied, "Tell them, 'when you speak, let Christ fill your hearts'."
Jose’s daughter graduated from eighth grade in June 2010. Author William McGurn, whose daughter graduated in the same class, wrote about Jose’s daughter: “When this young lady walked across the gym floor to collect her diploma, she did so secure in the knowledge that at St. Pat's she is more than a student. At St. Pat's she is loved.”

The Lord puts us in situations every day where we are to be compassionate to others and to demonstrate the love of God. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can be more compassionate to others. 

“Do you wish to receive mercy? Show mercy to your neighbor?” – John Chrysostom 

God’s Word: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23

Give It All You've Got!

Give It All You've Got!

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. Proverbs 13:4

By the time she was16, Romana Bauelos had been deserted by her husband and left to raise her two children alone. Living in Mexico, she was poverty-stricken, untrained in any profession and unable to speak English. But that didn't stop her. She had a dream - one she refused to let go of. With only a few dollars in her pocket she headed for Los Angeles, where she used her last seven dollars to take a taxi to the home of a distant relative. Romana refused to live on the charity of others. Immediately she found a job washing dishes, followed by a second job making tortillas from midnight until 6 am. From her two jobs she was able to save $500 , which she used to invest in her own tortilla machine. Over time, and with a great deal of hard work and study, she became the owner of Ramona's Mexican Food Products, the largest Mexican food products business in the world. And that's not all. She was hand-picked by President Dwight Eisenhower to become the thirty-seventh United States Treasurer. Romana Bauelos exemplified what Eisenhower had to say about dreams and discipline propelling our future: 'We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else, a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to that one objective.' Whether you flip burgers or trade futures, remember these words: 'Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.'(Proverbs 13:4 NLT) God will only add His blessing to your best effort, so today, give it all you've got!

Marriage Rights (7)

Marriage Rights (7)

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love... Ecclesiastes 9:9

What if you're single, looking for a mate and haven't found one yet? God created Eve specifically for Adam. 'Then...He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh..."' (Genesis 2:22-23 NKJV). When God brings you the right person, a spiritual and emotional bonding will take place. When you try to get ahead of Him you end up with regrets and recriminations. Peter de Vries explains it this way, 'The difficulty with marriage is that we fall in love with a personality, but must live with a character.' So, wait on God! When God looked across eternity He saw you. He gave you certain traits and abilities that make you unique. He knew exactly who you would need to help fulfil His purposes and develop the gifts He's given you. Until that happens, remember, He is your spiritual partner! He's been caring for you all along: protecting you, providing for you and directing your steps, right? So be careful how you treat Him. If you can't keep your vow to the Lord, it's doubtful you'll keep it to anybody else. Speaking to those who are single, Paul writes, 'Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called...Do not be concerned about it...rather use it' (1 Corinthians 7:20-21 NKJV). Stop wrestling with your singleness and use this time to develop your relationship with God. Never forget that one of the greatest visitations of the Holy Spirit happened to a single, small-town girl named Mary, proving that when you trust God's timing He always sends you the best!

YOU are the love of my life

Marriage Rights (6)

Marriage Rights (6)

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love... Ecclesiastes 9:9

Men and women often speak a different language. Men tend to be physical while women tend to be more verbal. Sometimes a wife's memory for details can make her husband wonder if he's losing his mind. And when you don't understand each other it can feel like you're living in the Tower of Babel. That's the place in the Old Testament where families were divided because they couldn't understand each other's language, all progress stopped and confusion reigned. Before that happens, here are a few basics you need to weave into your daily communication. First, start by asking your partner to share why they do what they do, and say what they say. Study their methods of communication, and try to explain yours. In many instances you'll be surprised, if not shocked. You may be saying one thing while your mate is hearing something entirely different. Second, men tend to avoid confrontation, so cornering and interrogating your husband may bring you the opposite result to what you want. Solomon said, 'It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman' (Proverbs 25:24 NKJV). The goal is to win your mateover, not win the argument. Finally, the Bible says, '...God... creates new things out of nothing.' (Romans 4:17 NLT). The love you planned to show once your partner has changed, show it now, be patient, and watch things improve. Grace can transform your Tower of Babel into a home of love and unity. Ask God, He'll show you how!

New Garments “Provide for those who grieve...a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3, NIV) Do you need a new garment today? I’m not talking about a physical garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your mind and emotions. Are you clothed with despair and disappointment? Are you wearing ”heaviness?” If you’ve gone through a hurtful situation, the Bible says there is a time to grieve, and it’s important to release that hurt to the Lord. But the Bible also tells us that God wants to give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness and despair. Are the garments of yesterday weighing you down and holding you back? It’s time for a new garment. The garment of praise is light and filled with peace and joy. Don’t carry those heavy burdens around anymore. Choose to forgive those who have hurt you and praise God for what He’s doing in your life today. If nothing else, start thanking Him for the beautiful sunrise. Thank him for restoring you, even if you don’t see it yet. Just like this verse says, you will be as strong and secure as a tall oak tree, displaying His splendor all the days of your life! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, I come to You today and ask that You take off my old, heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me a garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendor. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Marriage Rights (5)

Marriage Rights (5) 24 Sep 2010 'Live joyfully with the wife whom you love...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 You say, 'My mate is a terrible housekeeper. What can I do?' Although keeping house is historically seen as a woman's responsibility, today roles have changed. Financial necessity may dictate that you both work outside the home. In many instances the husband helps run the house. It's not a 'right or wrong' issue; what's important is that you make sure you're both singing from the same song sheet concerning your expectations. When you expect one thing and your mate expects another, there's trouble ahead! So, here are a few suggestions to help you. 1) Pick the right time. Don't discuss difficult issues when you're upset, wait until you both feel better. The Bible says, '...be willing to listen and slow to speak... anger will not help...' (James 1:19-20 NCV). When emotions run high, instead of solving problems you just end up making things worse. 2) Try to compromise. Look for the middle ground. Recognise that what seems important to you may not be important to yourmate. Maybe it wasn't important to you either in the early days, so you let it slide. 3) Learn to negotiate or you'll always be frustrated. Aim for a 'win-win' solution. This may mean washing the dishes or helping put the children to bed so you can have more time together. It involves giving on both sides. 4) Pray with and for one another. Ninety per cent of couples today don't do this, yet it's the most important thing you can do, because Jesus said, '...if two of you agree... concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven'

BY HIS SPIRIT

BY HIS SPIRIT                 Friday – September 24, 2010

“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.’” – Zechariah 4:6

In October 1989, Lori Jacobs went into labor. Her son Austin was born just shy of 5 pounds. The umbilical cord was wrapped twice around the newborn's neck, and he had ingested meconium. Austin's heart nearly stopped beating several times during delivery.
Doctors predicted the worst. After a few hours, her husband Tom was allowed to go to the neonatal intensive care unit.
"Austin was in pretty bad shape," Tom said. "I reached through the access hole in the incubator and touched his little leg and said, 'Lord, please heal Austin.'"
"Doctors said he would probably never walk, and that there might be brain damage, but we never felt like God had forsaken us in any way," Lori remembered. "We trusted His plan."
After 10 days in the hospital, Austin soon began to develop normally. So normal, he played sports in high school and is now one of the fastest long-distance runners on Evangel University's cross country and track teams. Austin also has kept a 4.0 grade point average in college. In 2010, Austin qualified for the marathon at the NAIA national meet at Evangel, placing 16th, finishing the 26.2-mile-race in two hours and 42 minutes.

The Spirit of God is living and active in our world. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for His Holy Spirit and seek to follow Christ in all that you do. 

“There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.” – Dwight L. Moody 

God’s Word: “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 1:5

God of Comfort and Grace

God of Comfort and Grace

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9a

Recommended Reading
Romans 5:1-5

People respond to pain and suffering in two different ways, depending on how they view God. People who don't know God or have a wrong perception of Him are often offended that God would allow them to suffer and so become angry with Him, or turn away from Him. But those who know God personally react just the opposite--they turn toward God in painful moments because they know He offers comfort, security, and a ready refuge.

During the coming Tribulation, Revelation 6:15-17 says that people all over the earth will flee and try to hide from God's presence and judgment. Their pain turns them away from God because they don't know Him. But the apostle Paul is an example of the opposite--one who turned to God when he suffered: "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake" (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10a).

Does pain cause you to run toward or away from God? Turning to Him in faith today will give you reason to turn to Him for comfort tomorrow.

Our afflictions prepare us for receiving the grace of God.
John Calvin

Marriage Rights (4)

Marriage Rights (4) 'Live joyfully with the wife whom you love...' Ecclesiastes 9:9 When your mate loses their job and you find yourself suddenly going through a season of financial uncertainty, here are three things you need to keep in mind. First, remember it's just a season. The important thing is to guard your attitude while you're waiting for things to turn around. Unless he's lazy or an outright freeloader, your husband already feels bad because he can't provide. He knows the children need shoes, the bills are piling up and that you're tired of eating noodles or beans on toast, so don't keep reminding him! Second, now is the time to get behind him and strengthen his ego, not deflate it. 'How?' you ask. By asking yourself, 'Am I always complaining? Do I highlight the things we don't have? Do I covet stuff that's beyond our budget right now? Am I doing my part to cut back and make ends meet, or am I splurging on non-essentials, going shopping every day and wanting to eat out every night?' Finally, remember 'this too shall pass'. Now is not a good time to remind your husband (or your wife if she's the breadwinner) about the new car your brother bought or the great house your friend just exchanged on. Now is the time to practise saying with Paul, '...I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens... I have learned the secret of being happy...' (Philippians 4:11-12 NCV). Has God ever failed you? No, and He won't now, so make up your mind to trust Him. How you handle this season may well determine whether your relationship emerges weaker or stronger.

BEING A GOOD STEWARD

BEING A GOOD STEWARD            Thursday – September 23, 2010

“You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” – Haggai 1:6

In July 2010, the results of a Pew Survey of over 1000 Christian households found an interesting result. The survey found that for those who consistently read their Bible every day, they have less mortgage payments, car payments, or unpaid credit cards. The less people read their Bible the more likely they were to have more debts among survey participants. There are two potential reasons for this clear difference. 
The first reason is the discipline in one’s spiritual life often leads to greater disciplines in other areas of one’s life, including how someone manages their finances. 
The second reason is those who consistently spend time in the Scriptures are tapping into God’s wisdom and guidance for their daily financial decisions.
The survey found that Daily Bible readers are more than twice as likely to give 10% or more of their income to God’s work at their church and other ministries. Daily Bible reading leads people to a conviction that God is their true Provider and they are to be generous with whatever resources God entrusts to them during their lifetime.

The Lord wants us to be a good steward of all that He has entrusted to us. Today in prayer, seek the Lord in His Word and develop the discipline and wisdom the Lord wants you to have in being a good steward. 

“All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors.” – John Calvin

God’s Word: “When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.” – Haggai 2:16

The Apple of His Eye

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye...”
(Psalm 17:8, NIV)

In this day and age, people are considered to be important for so many different reasons—titles, position, possessions, where you go, what you drive. But God’s value system is very different from the value system of the world. God cherishes and values you so much today simply because He made you. You are the apple of His eye; the center of His world!

If you’ve ever thought that God has too many other important things on His plate to be concerned with you and your life, know this today—you are God’s number one priority. And there’s nothing you can do to be more important or less important to Him. He values you today and your value will never change. You are significant. Your life is significant. The things that concern you, concern God. He carefully watches over every detail of your life, and there is nothing too big or too small for His attention.

Today, don’t be afraid to take your concerns and cares to the Father. He loves to hear you call upon Him. He is waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for keeping me the apple of Your eye. I open my heart and mind to You and cast every care on You. I receive Your love for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Grace Ethic

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:16

Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:8-10

Everything we have in life is something we worked for. Or, if we received it as a gift, someone else worked for it. "There is no free lunch" is drilled into our conscious minds from our earliest days, and for good reason. Developing a sound work ethic--the proverbial "Protestant work ethic"--is a mark of mature character.

But when we bring that work ethic to God to obtain our salvation, we find it has no power. Receiving salvation from God is not on the basis of what we do, but what Christ has done for us. Our works, performed with sinful hands, cannot satisfy the demands of a holy God. We are told that salvation comes only by grace: "the gift of God... lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is a rude awakening for people who are used to working for what they have. But grace is the biblical way salvation is conveyed.

Refresh your heart and mind today with the biblical truth that your salvation is the gift of God. Rest, receive, and renew your grateful heart.

Faith is not an achievement, it is a gift.
Abraham Lincoln

Reflect Him

“Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]”

(Philippians 2:5, AMP)

When you reflect something, you are exhibiting its likeness. You are displaying its characteristics. Like a mirror, the Bible tells us that we should reflect the character and likeness of Jesus. We should have His same attitude.

That may sound like a pretty tall order; after all, Jesus was the Son of God. But remember, when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we become sons and daughters of the Most High God, too. We become empowered by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. That means we have the same spirit of humility—the same strength, the same love, and the same power on the inside. We are equipped to follow His example and do what He did. What did He do? The scripture says that Jesus walked the earth. He went around doing good and bringing healing to others; physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Notice that today’s verse starts by saying, “Let...” See, we have to open the door for God to work in our attitudes and actions. We have to be the ones to invite Him in. When we open our hearts and minds to Him, we will reflect Him in our attitudes and actions. Just like Jesus, we’ll bring good to others and reap an abundant harvest of blessing in every area in return.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I invite You to dwell in my thoughts, heart and attitude. I choose to follow Your example and bring good to others. Help me to be a pure reflection of Your love in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.