Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Growing in Christ

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

People today are striving for personal improvement, self-empowerment, and inner strength. Yet, Christianity has a completely opposite way of thinking; it's full of paradoxes. We die to live; we lose to find; and we surrender to gain strength.

When Jesus overcame death, he defeated the worst enemy of all. Today we're left to battle with far lesser foes, knowing that He's already won the war.

When we stop trying to control the outcome of every situation and stop demanding that God resolve our problems according to our dictates, we unlock the door for God to show us his redemptive purpose.

Praying, "Your will be done" gets us out of God's way and removes our ideas as to how things are supposed to work out in our lives, and allows God's ideas to take control 

Are you struggling to be a better follower of Jesus? Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus. A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly without knowing what's around the corner.

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." - Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

[Judy Harder]

Perfect-Mate Myth

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrong. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Do you believe the Perfect-Mate Myth? It goes something like this: "If I just had the right mate, then my life would be all right." This belief is profoundly off base. First, it assumes that we are good and our spouse is the real problem. Second, it implies that there is such a thing as a "perfect" spouse, one who is beyond the reach of sin.

This delusion keeps couples from growing the way God wants them to grow. If you're in a difficult marriage, believing this myth will prevent you from the hard work and commitment necessary to repair the relationship. To keep your relationship stable and growing you must concentrate on building your relationship with God—as a couple and as individuals. If you do that, your marriage will be strengthened and your soul will be fed.

"If you judge people, you have

[Judy Harder]

False gods

O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. - Jeremiah 16:19

We like to call ourselves sophisticated. We trust in scientific theory and read the Wall Street Journal. We subscribe to the theory, secretly or not, that mankind has evolved intellectually and that we are far superior to our simple-minded, superstitious ancestors. We smirk when we read how they worshipped man-made gods—those deaf, dumb, and blind pieces of wood and gold.

Yet at the same time, we're on our knees worshipping more subtle, but just as tangible, false gods—the "isms" of our day: workaholism, as if the fruit of endless labors will finally bring satisfaction; legalism, as if being good and performing flawlessly will secure peace; intellectualism, as if we could get so smart that we would finally feel fulfilled; and materialism, as if some possession could bring us joy.

The first step in the worship of false gods is exchanging truth for lies. "You will not surely die," was the serpent's lie to Eve in the garden. Cling to the truth. Once it's discarded, you'll believe anything.

The truth of the Bible doesn't change with our circumstances of life; rather, it defines and weeds out all falsehood. Remember Jesus' words, "...the truth will set you free."

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

[Judy Harder]

Guilty or Not Guilty

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." - Hebrews 10:22

When I was twenty years old I fell into a deep depression. I began taking antidepressants and felt as old as a grandfather. My doctor diagnosed me with eighty-three ulcers and said I would have to make some serious life-style changes or have part of my intestines or colon removed. At the time I had no idea what was causing me such misery. Then I learned that guilt was literally eating away at me.

My guilt was a merciful wake-up call from God, showing me that I'd strayed into dangerous territory—my decisions we're not only hurting me but they were hurting others.

Guilt can be a merciless taskmaster, that drives us far from God, or it can gently lead us back to a right relationship with Him.

Do you struggle with guilt? Don't ignore it, but respond to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.

"Guilt is the source of sorrow, 'tis the fiend, Th' avenging fiend, that follows us behind, with whips and stings" - Nicholas Rowe (1966 -      )

[Judy Harder]

Humor

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. - Job 8:21

I'm always looking for humor in every situation. No matter where I'm ministering, I like to find something funny in a given set of circumstances and talk about that.

When I first came to faith in Christ, however, I was under the impression that I had to give up humor and become very solemn and serious. Soon the part of me that loved to smile and laugh began to wither.

But I didn't want that aspect of my personality to die. It was a unique part of me that God had created. In reality, it was one of my best strengths. So, over time, I began to let my humor come out again, and I discovered its strength in communicating truth and grace to others.

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire (1694-1778)

[Judy Harder]

Service

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  - 1 Peter 4:10

Finding a way to help others is an expression of faith. It shows that we believe in the sovereignty of God. We don't' have to wait until the pain in our life is gone, because we know God can use it for good.

Finding a way to help others requires that you ask two questions: What is God doing? and How can I get into the flow of his activity? When we ask these questions, ideas will come. And once we begin doing this, the 'why is this happening' question, which once seemed so important, becomes irrelevant.

The best answer to why is always what. When we stop asking, "Why has God allowed this?" And begin asking, "What does he want me to do with it?", we're ready for God to start his work in us, and that prepares us for service, and that prepares us for service.

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

[Judy Harder]

Relying upon Him
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB

Do the demands of this day threaten to overwhelm you? If so, you must rely not only upon your own resources but also upon the promises of your Father in heaven. God is a never-ending source of support and courage for those of us who call upon Him. When we are weary, He gives us strength. When we see no hope, God reminds us of His promises. When we grieve, God wipes away our tears. God will hold your hand and walk with you every day of your life if you let Him. So even if your circumstances are difficult, trust the Father. His love is eternal, and His goodness endures forever.

Faith is not merely you holding on to God—it is God holding on to you. - E. Stanley Jones, 100 Days of Prayer

[Judy Harder]

Honoring God
Honor GOD with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.
Proverbs 3:9-10 MSG

At times, your life is probably hectic, demanding, and complicated. When the demands of life leave you rushing from place to place with scarcely a moment to spare, you may fail to pause and thank your Creator for the blessings He has bestowed upon you. But that's a big mistake. Whom will you choose to honor today? If you honor God and place Him at the center of your life, every day is a cause for celebration. But if you fail to honor your Heavenly Father, you're asking for trouble, and lots of it. So honor God for who He is and for what He has done for you. And don't just honor Him on Sunday morning. Praise Him all day long, every day, for as long as you live . . . and then for all eternity.

God shows unbridled delight when He sees people acting in ways that honor Him. - Bill Hybels, 100 Days of Prayer

We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we ask for molehills where He has promised mountains. - Vance Havner

What lessons about honor did you learn from your childhood? Are you living what you learned today? - Dennis Swanberg

Happiness is to be found only in the home where God is loved and honored, where each one loves, and helps, and cares for the others. - St. Theophane Venard

Today's Prayer
I praise You, Lord, from the depths of my heart, and I give thanks for Your goodness, for Your mercy, and for Your Son. Let me honor You every day of my life through my words and my deeds. Let me honor You, Father, with all that I am. Amen

[Judy Harder]

Beyond Guilt
There is therefore now no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 NKJV

All of us have sinned. Sometimes our sins result from our own stubborn rebellion against God's commandments. And sometimes, we are swept up in events that are beyond our abilities to control. Under either set of circumstances, we may experience intense feelings of guilt. But God has an answer for the guilt that we feel. That answer, of course, is His forgiveness. When we confess our wrongdoings and repent from them, we are forgiven by the One who created us.

Are you troubled by feelings of guilt or regret? If so, you must repent from your misdeeds, and you must ask your Heavenly Father for His forgiveness. When you do so, He will forgive you completely and without reservation. Then, you must forgive yourself just as God has forgiven you: thoroughly and unconditionally.

Prayer is essential when a believer is stuck in the pits of unresolved guilt. - Charles Stanley, 100 Days of Prayer

Let's take Jesus at this word. When he says we're forgiven, let's unload the guilt. When he says we're valuable, let's believe him. When he says we're eternal, let's bury our fear. When he says we're provided for, let's stop worrying. - Max Lucado

Spiritual life without guilt would be like physical life without pain. Guilt is a defense mechanism; it's like an alarm that goes off to lead you to confession when you sin. - John MacArthur

Stop blaming yourself and feeling guilty, unworthy, and unloved. Instead begin to say, "If God is for me, who can be against me? God loves me, and I love myself. Praise the Lord, I am free in Jesus' name, amen!" - Joyce Meyer

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for the guilt that I feel when I disobey You. Help me confess my wrongdoings, help me accept Your forgiveness, and help me renew my passion to serve You. Amen

[Judy Harder]

An Examined Life

He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'" - Luke 8:10

One day a nearsighted elderly man who considered himself an art expert visited a museum. He'd forgotten his glasses and couldn't see clearly, but that didn't stop him from airing his opinions.

What he thought was a full-length portrait soon caught his attention. He gazed at it a moment, then began his criticism.  "The frame is altogether out of keeping with the picture," he complained, "The man is too homely and shabbily dressed.  In fact, it was a great mistake for the artist to select such a shoddy subject for his portrait."

He continued until his wife managed to discretely pull him aside. "My dear," she whispered, "you're looking in a mirror."

It's important to examine your life, but be sure you're using the only mirror able to both diagnose and heal–the life and Word of Jesus.

The best mirror is an old friend. -George Herbert (1593-1633)