Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 14, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

True Trust

READ: John 9:1-11

Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. -John 9:3
If you didn't know him, you might think Nick Vujicic has everything going for him. Nick has never had a sore arm. He's never had knee problems. He's never smashed his finger in a door, stubbed his toe, or banged his shin against a table leg.

But that's because Nick doesn't have a shin. Or a toe. Or a finger. Or a knee. Or an arm. Nick was born with no arms and no legs. Before you begin to feel sorry for Nick, read his words. "God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of 15 after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was 'so that the works of God may be revealed through him.' . . . I now see that glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used." Nick travels the world to spread the gospel and love of Jesus.

Nick says, "If I can trust in God with my circumstances, then you can trust in God with your circumstances. . . . The greatest joy of all is having Jesus Christ in my life and living the godly purpose He has for me."

Can we say that? Can we look beyond our limitations and have the same trust in God that transformed a man with no arms or legs into a missionary for Jesus?

  - Dave Branon

Lord, shape my life as only You can,
Guiding each day by Your loving plan;
Take what You need and give what You will;
My life is Yours to use and to fill. -Branon

Trusting God turns problems into opportunities.

God's Protection by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 3:27
And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

God's Protection

No one could say that George Smith didn't have courage. A daring test pilot in the 1950s, back when the sound barrier was first being broken, he could face anything, until he had to bail out of a jet going 805 miles per hour. Though he survived, he was so fearful he thought he might never fly again. Then, during his hospital stay, a nurse gave him an antidote to fear. He took her words to heart when she said, "Courage is knowing the worst, and discovering that, in God's world, the very worst can't really hurt you."

Daniel's three friends experienced the worst that King Nebuchadnezzar could dish out to them. He not only cast them into a fiery furnace but also had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The flames were so deadly that the king's men who cast the three Jewish teens into the fire were themselves consumed by the heat. But when it was all over, God so protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego that they emerged from the flames without the smell of smoke on their clothes and without a singed hair on their bodies.

Nothing can happen to a Christian without first passing through the hands of an all-powerful God. Furthermore, He is committed to the protection of those He loves. The psalmist declared, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling" (Ps. 46:2?3).

The fiery furnace of affliction can bring you pain and heartache, but it can't cause you eternal harm. God is your protector. You are the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:, and under His wings you will find safety forever (Ps. 17:8; 57:1). Replace your fears with faith. Enjoy God's protection in your hottest furnace of affliction.

What God protects, nothing harms.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Thoughts for Today
A commitment to effective communication is vital for a healthy marriage relationship. The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love. Learning how to express ourselves with "I"-messages rather than "you"-messages is a positive approach to communication when settling differences.

You-messages come across as being judgmental. "You don't care." "You are a problem." "Can't you?" "You are so " This type of message may cause your spouse to feel put down, rejected or unimportant. And he or she will probably respond defensively.

An I-message tells how you feel rather than pointing an accusing finger at your spouse. "I feel very angry because " "I feel rejected because " "I feel hurt because " this type of message helps to communicate your feelings without strengthening the defenses of your spouse.

Consider this
I-messages deal with facts rather than evaluation. They communicate honesty and openness and do not attack your spouse's self-esteem. Using I-messages can help you and your spouse settle differences in a more positive way and open the doors of communication in your marriage.

Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have spoken carelessly or unkindly to my spouse. Help me to be more honest, open  and sensitive. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Committed Couples: God's Plan for Marriage & the Family by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. Whether in a private or group setting, couples will be encouraged spiritually and romantically as they research biblical principles that affirm their vows. It can help every married couple grow spiritually and emotionally in their relationship. It is also a great help for engaged-to-be-married couples.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

THE HABIT OF ENJOYING THE DISAGREEABLE
Oswald Chambers
 
"That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:10

We have to form habits to express what God's grace has done in us. It is not a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved in order to manifest the life of the Son of God in our mortal flesh, and it is the disagreeable things which make us exhibit whether or not we are manifesting His life. Do I manifest the essential sweetness of the Son of God, or the essential irritation of "myself" apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy the disagreeable is the keen enthusiasm of letting the life of the Son of God manifest itself in me. No matter how disagreeable a thing may be, say - "Lord, I am delighted to obey Thee in this matter," and instantly the Son of God will press to the front, and there will be manifested in my human life that which glorifies Jesus.

There must be no debate. The moment you obey the light, the Son of God presses through you in that particular; but if you debate you grieve the Spirit of God. You must keep yourself fit to let the life of the Son of God be manifested, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means of manifesting how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure the Son of God is. The thing that ought to make the heart beat is a new way of manifesting the Son of God. It is one thing to choose the disagreeable, and another thing to go into the disagreeable by God's engineering. If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.

Keep your soul fit to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on memories; let the word of God be always living and active in you.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 15, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

Surprise Me!

READ: Ephesians 3:14-21

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. -Isaiah 55:8
When our family went out for an ice cream cone, my dad would ask my mother what flavor she'd like. Often she would reply, "Surprise me!" She told me she was rarely disappointed in his choice.

Do you like surprises? Would you ever dare say, "Surprise me!" to God? A lot of us are a little scared to do that. Yes, we have faith that God is good and that He loves us. Yet we're afraid we won't like what He chooses for us.

Throughout the Bible we read that God delights in doing the unexpected. Sometimes it's folding back the waters for His people to cross a sea on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). Or forgiving and embracing those who repent of their sin (Ps. 130:1-4). Jesus' time on earth was filled with amazing events that pointed people to His Father-He turned water into wine, calmed storms, healed the sick, and raised the dead.

What kind of God do we serve? One who is not confined by our finite imagination (Eph. 3:20). God's thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isa. 55:, and He wants to bless us with far more than a special flavor of ice cream. He delights in His children who trust Him and are willing to say, "Surprise me, Lord!"

  - Cindy Hess Kasper

O Lord, give me the grace to be
Content with what You give to me.
No! More than that, let me rejoice
In all You send me-it's Your choice! -Anon.

Those who let God provide will always be satisfied.

Heaven Rules by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 4:26
And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

Heaven Rules

One night an admiral on a U.S. Navy battleship ordered a certain course. The navigation officer, seeing a light in the distance, reported that the battleship seemed to be on a collision course with another ship. The admiral immediately ordered his radio officer to send a message to the oncoming ship demanding that it change its course ten degrees to the south. The reply came simply, "No. You change your course ten degrees to the south." After two more unsuccessful exchanges, the admiral, now quite furious, came thundering into the radio control room, grabbed the microphone and bellowed into it, "Change your course. I am a battleship!" After a brief moment of silence, the even-tempered reply came back, "Change your course. I am a lighthouse!"

Nebuchadnezzar was confident that he was the most powerful and important ruler alive. Dozens of lesser kings had challenged his authority, only to be conquered and brought into submission. Therefore, it disturbed him when he was given the vision of a great tree that was chopped down. The prophet Daniel revealed to this mighty despot that great as he was, heaven was greater still. And only after the proud ruler was willing to acknowledge the priority of God would his kingdom be restored to him.

No matter how important and powerful we might be, even as mighty as Nebuchadnezzar himself, we can no more challenge God than a ship can oppose a lighthouse. When God speaks, our best recourse is to submit and obey.

Are you struggling with God? Is there an area of your life that is cause for conflict? Don't crash your life into the rocks beneath the lighthouse. Let heaven rule. Surrender yourself to God and let Him have His way. It will not only preserve your life but will bring meaning to it as well.

To live your life with confidence, let heaven rule.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!" Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Some marriages with no major problems get into trouble because of an accumulation of little things. The Bible says that it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyard.

Make a commitment not to ignore the little foxes in your marriage: being thoughtless or preoccupied, forgetting special days like anniversaries and birthdays, criticizing, taking your spouse for granted  The little foxes might seem unimportant, but they can eventually knock a marriage and family relationship off its feet.

Consider this
Go on a fox hunt!

Are you letting any foxes loose in your marriage? Are you spending time with your spouse or has "busy-ness" taken over? Do you really listen to her or him talk? Do you continue that little habit that irritates your spouse? With God's help, identify the little things before they become big things.

And then stay on the alert. Do an occasional fox hunt to be sure pesky little habits aren't creeping up on you. And replace the destructive little foxes with acts of love. Plan a surprise dinner for two. Buy a sentimental gift. Join your spouse in one of his or her favorite activities-even if it's not your thing. These little acts of thoughtfulness can help a marriage thrive.

Prayer
Father, help me become more aware of the "little foxes" that I bring to the marriage and help me replace them with acts of love. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Committed Couples: God's Plan for Marriage & the Family by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. Whether in a private or group setting, couples will be encouraged spiritually and romantically as they research biblical principles that affirm their vows. It can help every married couple grow spiritually and emotionally in their relationship. It is also a great help for engaged-to-be-married couples.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The HABIT of RISING to the OCCASION
By
Oswald Chambers
 
"That ye may know what is the hope of His calling . . ." Ephesians 1:18

Remember what you are saved for - that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time.

You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must do something to manifest it, you must work out what God has worked in. Are you working it out with your tongue, and your brain and your nerves? If you are still the same miserable crosspatch, set on your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

God is the Master Engineer, He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly - "By my God have I leaped over a wall." God will never shield you from any of the requirements of a son or daughter of His. Peter says - "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you." Rise to the occasion; do the thing. It does not matter how it hurts as long as it gives God the chance to manifest Him self in your mortal flesh.

May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh. God never has museums. The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested, and all dictation to God vanishes. Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured out wine to feed and nourish others.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 16, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

Dragon Skin

READ: Ephesians 4:17-24

Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:24
In the fifth Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace are summoned to help on a quest in the Eastern Sea. Along the way, Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasure and turned into a dragon. The desperate dragon accepts the help of the great lion Aslan, king of Narnia. But Eustace can only be freed by allowing Aslan's claws to painfully tear off the dragon's flesh. Grateful for his deliverance, Eustace chooses to become a better boy.

Receiving God's gift of salvation through Christ is a one-time event, but to become like Him often requires suffering and struggle. It involves putting off old sinful habits and replacing them with new godly ones. Paul wrote, "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt . . . [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22-24).

What is troubling you today? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of a sinful habit and to replace it with godly character (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 4:1-2).

The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful, but it's always worth it.

  - Dennis Fisher

To be like Jesus is our goal,
Though it doesn't happen fast;
We trust the Spirit as our Guide
Till we're glorified at last. -Branon

The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment; the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.

Long-suffering Grace by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 4:29?31
At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!"

Long-suffering Grace

Someone once said, "To become long-suffering, one has to be long-bothered." This was certainly true of God's relationship with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Even after the king had been warned in a night vision about his pride, he apparently failed to change his ways. In spite of knowing what was going to befall him, Nebuchadnezzar continued to indulge his arrogant spirit. In his conceit, he refused to acknowledge that all he had accomplished was by the expressed aid of the Lord. Yet God, with long-suffering grace, allowed him 12 more months before bringing down judgment on him.

God does not sit in heaven and glee-fully look for opportunities to bring about affliction. His desire is for all men to come to repentance. Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Accordingly, He both warns and waits, seeking to bring about change through the conviction of His Spirit rather than the heavy hand of judgment. Only as a last resort does He apply the consequences of sin to those who commit it.

Christians also should be willing to show grace over an extended period of time. Rather than quickly doling out condemnation, we ought to offer ample opportunity for grace. While judgment ultimately must be meted out, give plenty of time for a change of heart.

If you are dealing with a rebel in your life, do so with long-suffering grace. Make sure that you show others the kind of grace that God has demonstrated to you. That's the way to be like God.

Grace shines brightest when it suffers longest.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart." Colossians 4:2 NLT

Thoughts for Today
One of the most important commitments married couples can make is to set aside time each day for family prayer. Prayer is the very fabric that will hold your marriage and family in the loving hands of God.

Although prayer is not limited to certain places, having a special place for family prayer, a family altar, can leave a lasting impression on family members. Consider designating a certain room or piece of furniture as a place where the family assembles to pray at a specific time every day.

Consider this

You can find many reasons not to make this commitment: over-booked schedules, television, fatigue and all kinds of distractions. But if you will make this commitment to prayer a priority, you will see a difference in your marriage and, if you have children, in all your family relationships. It is an expression of your total dependence of God. It is an expression of caring for each other. It opens the door to real communication. And, most importantly, it honors God.

Seriously consider agreeing as a couple to make family worship a part of your life. Structure your prayer time in a way that best fits your family's lifestyle. And then do it. You'll be glad you did.

Prayer
Father, we've been neglecting this area of our family life. Please forgive us. Our schedules are all so busy, but I know we really need to put first things first. I pray that each member of our family will join together in a commitment to prayer. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Committed Couples: God's Plan for Marriage & the Family by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. Whether in a private or group setting, couples will be encouraged spiritually and romantically as they research biblical principles that affirm their vows. It can help every married couple grow spiritually and emotionally in their relationship. It is also a great help for engaged-to-be-married couples.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

THE HABIT OF WEALTH
by
Oswald Chambers
   
"Partakers of the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:4

We are made partakers of the Divine nature through the promises; then we have to "manipulate" the Divine nature in our human nature by habits, and the first habit to form is the habit of realizing the provision God has made. "Oh, I can't afford it," we say - one of the worst lies is tucked up in that phrase. It is ungovernably bad taste to talk about money in the natural domain, and so it is spiritually, and yet we talk as if our Heavenly Father had cut us off with a shilling! We think it a sign of real modesty to say at the end of a day - "Oh, well, I have just got through, but it has been a severe tussle." And all the Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will tax the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will obey Him. What does it matter if external circumstances are hard? Why should they not be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we banish God's riches from our own lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it obliterates God and puts self-interest upon the throne. It opens our mouths to spit out murmurings and our lives become craving spiritual sponges, there is nothing lovely or generous about them.

When God is beginning to be satisfied with us He will impoverish everything in the nature of fictitious wealth, until we learn that all our fresh springs are in Him. If the majesty and grace and power of God are not being manifested in us (not to our consciousness), God holds us responsible. "God is able to make all grace abound," then learn to lavish the grace of God on others. Be stamped with God's nature, and His blessing will come through you all the time.
God bless

[Judy Harder]

May 17, 2008

An Unrestrained Hand by Woodrow Kroll ',


Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"


An Unrestrained Hand


In 1812 Napoleon proposed to invade Russia and bring its people under his control. When the plans were laid out, someone ventured to say, "Man proposes, but God disposes." On hearing that remark, Napoleon replied, "I propose, and I dispose." His pride, however, proved fatal. Using one of His tiniest, most fragile creations, the snowflake, God brought the proud general to his knees. Bogged down in heavy snow, Napoleon ordered a retreat. His army of 600,000 men was decimated, with fewer than a 100,000 making it back home again. Ultimately, this disaster weakened his armies and brought about his final defeat in 1813. Napoleon learned what King Nebuchadnezzar also had learned. When God wills it, no one can stop it. After recovering from his seven years of madness, a much humbler king of Babylon declared, "No one can restrain His hand." Even though they led mighty armies and conquered many lands, both of these proud men discovered that God does what He desires and no one says to Him, "What have You done?" It's a great comfort to those who love the Lord to know that He can be neither intimidated nor defeated. If they are from the Lord, whatever plans we have will unfold no matter who opposes them. Jesus said, "See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it" (Rev. 3:. Conversely, if your plans are not from the Lord, they ultimately will fail no matter who proposes them. Prayerfully place your plans and desires into God's hands. Be assured that if they are His will, He will bring them about. Nothing can stop God's will.


No matter what man proposes, it's God who disposes.







He Understands
by Max Lucado




Cries of loneliness. Tune out the traffic and turn down the TV. The cry is there. You can hear their cries. You can hear them in the convalescent home among the sighs and the shuffling feet. You can hear them in the prisons among the moans of shame and the calls for mercy. You can hear them if you walk the manicured streets of suburban America, among the aborted ambitions and aging homecoming queens. Listen for it in the halls of our high schools where peer pressure weeds out the "have-nots" from the "haves."
Many of you have been spared this cruel cry. Oh, you have been homesick or upset a time or two. But despair? Far from it. Suicide? Of course not. Be thankful that it hasn't knocked on your door. Pray that it never will. If you have yet to fight this battle, you are welcome to read on if you wish, but I'm really writing to someone else.
I am writing to those who know this cry firsthand. I'm writing to those of you whose days are bookended with broken hearts and long evenings. I'm writing to those of you who can find a lonely person simply by looking in the mirror.
For you, loneliness is a way of life. The sleepless nights. The lonely bed. The distrust. The fear of tomorrow. The unending hurt.
When did it begin? In your childhood? At the divorce? At retirement? At the cemetery? When the kids left home?
Maybe you have fooled everyone. No one knows that you are lonely. On the outside you are packaged perfectly. Your smile is quick. Your job is stable. Your clothes are sharp. Your waist is thin. Your calendar is full. Your walk brisk. Your talk impressive. But when you look in the mirror, you fool no one. When you are alone, the duplicity ceases and the pain surfaces.
Or maybe you don't try to hide it. Maybe you have always been outside the circle looking in, and everyone knows it. Your conversation is a bit awkward. Your companionship is seldom requested. Your clothes are dull. Your looks are common. Ziggy is your hero and Charlie Brown is your mentor.
Am I striking a chord? If I am, if you have nodded or sighed in understanding, I have an important message for you.
The most gut-wrenching cry of loneliness in history came not from a prisoner or a widow or a patient. It came from a hill, from a cross, from a Messiah.
"My God, my God," he screamed, "why did you abandon me!" (Matthew 27:46)
Never have words carried so much hurt. Never has one being been so lonely.
Out of the silent sky come the words screamed by all who walk in the desert of loneliness. "Why? Why did you abandon me?"
I keep thinking of all the people who cast despairing eyes toward the dark heavens and cry "Why?"
And I imagine him. I imagine him listening. I picture his eyes misting and a pierced hand brushing away a tear. And although he may offer no answer, although he may solve no dilemma, although the question may freeze painfully in midair, he who also was once alone, understands.

From No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
© (W Publishing Group, 1986, 2004) Max Lucado




God bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 18, 2008

God's Strong Hands

Our Daily Bread

READ: Genesis 32:22-30

Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. -Genesis 32:24

In Genesis, it seems that almost every person and family mentioned is dysfunctional. The text is filled with accounts of jealousy, anger, violence, and deception that leave a trail of damaged relationships. Even Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-lauded as heroes of faith in Hebrews 11-display flawed character and spiritual lapses. But God never leaves them that way.
Jacob defrauded his older twin Esau, who swore to kill him (Gen. 27:41). Then, before the estranged brothers would face each other after 20 years, Jacob wrestled with God. When asked his name, the conniving younger brother finally admitted who he was: Jacob-the deceiver (Gen. 32:24-27). That marked a spiritual turning point.
Noted preacher Carlyle Marney said that because God doesn't give up on us, we should not give up on ourselves. "The last person on earth you will forgive a weakness is yourself," Dr. Marney wrote. "Only in the gospel can men go on loving themselves. Wait on God! See what His strong hands will fashion out of your defection."
When we have turned back, God can turn us around. When we have destroyed, God can rebuild. "Christ in the strong hands of God conquering my defection. This is the gospel."
  - David C. McCasland

Though weak and helpless in life's fray
God's mighty power shall be our stay;
Without, within, He'll set us free-
His strength will give us victory. -D. De Haan

There is victory in surrender when we are conquered by Christ

The Fear of God by Woodrow Kroll 

Daniel 5:5-6

In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.

The Fear of God

Man is plagued with many fears, some of them odd. Mysophobia is fear of dirt. Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyctophobia is fear of darkness. Acrophobia is fear of high places. Xenophobia is fear of strangers. Claustrophobia is fear of confined places. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13. Unfortunately, many people who have learned to fear things that they probably shouldn't have never learned to fear God. Belshazzar was one of those people. Whatever other fears he may have had, a fear of the God of Israel was not one of them. In the midst of a great feast, the king, a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, ordered the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be put on display. With utter disregard for the sacred nature of these utensils, and with no concern for God, Belshazzar profaned them by using them in his drunken revelry. It was not until a hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall of God's judgment that this arrogant king began to fear. But by then it was too late. His fate was sealed. Many people today treat God flippantly. They use His name in vain. They trample His standards of righteousness underfoot. They flout their sin in His face. They treat God's people with disdain and contempt. Yet they show no fear. Only when it's too late for many of them will they realize what fools they've been. Be assured that one day everyone will fear God. The best course of action is to bow before Him in fear as Savior now so you don't have to bow before Him in fear as Judge later. The choice is yours.

Choose wisely. Fear God now and you won't have to fear God later.

Michael Youssef

God's Grace Is Sufficient

How often do we feel like we have run out of steam? We feel like we cannot make it over the next hill, whose shadow looms large over us, the weary travelers. Even as we trudge in the direction of the hill-which we know we must climb-we begin to wonder if the weight of the burden we are bearing is too much.
Will we make it?

If there are two things God makes clear in His Word, they are the facts that we cannot make it on our own and that He will help us if we call out to Him. Countless times in Scripture, we read of men and women who felt as though they had reached the end. They could not go on unless God gave them hope and strength and courage. And when they called upon the Lord, He heard and answered their prayers.

While God does not promise us a life free from pain and suffering, He does promise to be our strength in our moments of greatest weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The apostle Paul suffered many afflictions while spreading the Gospel around the world. He was tortured, jailed, shipwrecked, and diseased. Yet he persevered-not because Paul was determined to get the Gospel out, but because God gave Paul the grace to do so.

Paul writes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). As we face hardships in life, we must remember that God is not a casual observer. He is an active participant-walking with us every step of the way. He catches us when we stumble, and He cheers us on as we pursue Him. He is the One who gives us the grace to walk through life's darkest hours.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that Your grace is sufficient for my struggles in life.
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things  you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:.

Everybody wants to have good friends... but what kind of a friend are you? Michael Youssef explores this topic in our free resource-"Building on the Right Foundation." Download it today.

By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world. Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

CAREFUL UNREASONABLENESS
By Oswald Chambers
 
"Behold the fowls of the air." . . . "Consider the lilies of the field." Matthew 6:26, 28

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars and the moon - all these are, and what a ministration they exert. So often we mar God's designed influence through us by our self-conscious effort to be consistent and useful. Jesus says that there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentration on God. "Do not bother about being of use to others; believe on Me" - pay attention to the Source, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. We cannot get at the springs of our natural life by common sense, and Jesus is teaching that growth in spiritual life does not depend on our watching it, but on concentration on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows the circumstances we are in, and if we keep concentrated on Him we will grow spiritually as the lilies.

The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mould us.

If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 19, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

A Question Of Motive

READ: Hebrews 4:11-16

The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12
My wife and I were stopped at a railroad crossing to allow a train to pass. As we waited in the line of cars, the driver next to us suddenly darted through a nearby parking lot and headed in the direction of the next available railroad crossing.

I turned to Marlene and said, with some righteous indignation, "Look at that guy. He's trying to get around the train instead of waiting like the rest of us." As soon as I said those words, the man, camera in hand, hopped from his car to take pictures of the oncoming train. I had judged his motives, and I was dead wrong.

Although we can observe behavior and outward appearance, only God can see what's in the heart. That is one reason we all need the Word of God so desperately. Hebrews 4:12 says, "The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

When we find ourselves ready to judge another person's motives, let's pause and remember-only God can see the heart, and only His Word can expose its motives. Our responsibility is to let the Lord and His Word convict us about our own hearts.

- Bill Crowder

The Bible is a lamp from God,
A sword of truth and light;
It searches heart and soul and mind,
And helps us know what's right. -Bosch

People will be judged by the way God sees them not by the way we see them.

A Humble Heart by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 5:22-23
"But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified."

A Humble Heart

Popular culture has lost its grasp on humility. When asked about the sin of pride, rap singer Queen Latifah replied, "Pride is a sin? I wasn't aware of that." Actress Kirstie Alley added, "I don't think pride is a sin. . . . I think some idiot made that up." And rapper Ice-T responded, "Pride is mandatory. That's one of the problems of the inner city. Kids don't have enough pride." Somewhere along the line these people have neglected reading the Bible. God clearly says that pride is sin.

Belshazzar, the last of Nebuchadnezzar's line to rule Babylon, also fell victim to pride. He surely had heard of his grandfather's experiences, but apparently they made no impression on him. Even though the Medes and the Persians were advancing on his kingdom, he was so confident of his defenses that he spent the evening in revelry rather than preparation. In his arrogance, he gave praise to the gods of materialism and failed to glorify the one true God, who could have saved his life. In thinking that he had it all, he lost everything.

Much of modern society is headed in the same direction. People take great pride in the advancements they've made in medicine, communications and other forms of technology. Yet they've failed to acknowledge that their achievements have been only by the grace of God.

The Bible's advice is still the best. Humble yourself before God. Lift up your accomplishments and confess that they are all gifts from the Lord, who is the giver of all good things (James 1:17). Give thanks to Him who holds your very breath in His hands. Set aside pride and grab hold of God.

All we have we owe to God.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6 NLT

Thoughts for Today
In today's world, unity and tolerance have become goals within themselves. Peace at any cost. All ways lead to God. Live and let live. Such "tolerant" attitudes actually lead to intolerance of anyone who claims to have the answer.

Jesus made it clear that he is the only way to God, the only way to real peace. Indeed, in Isaiah 9:6 he is called the Prince of Peace. Although God calls us to love all people, for us to seek unity and peace by agreeing that other faiths can lead to God is to deny our own faith-and to deny Jesus.

Consider this
As Christians, we are not expressing Christ-like love when we are willing to accept the beliefs of those who deny Christ or live sinful lifestyles as ok-all for the sake of unity and peace. We need to express Jesus' love by loving people where they are, by building relationships with them and  as the Holy Spirit leads  by sharing the truths of the Gospel with them. Jesus is the only answer.

Prayer
Father, help me never to deny my faith by accepting-for the sake of unity and peace-unscriptural beliefs held by others. Help me to love others, no matter what their faith. Help me to love them enough to build relationships with them and, as the Holy Spirit leads, to share the truth of the Gospel with them. Jesus is the only way. In His name 

These thoughts were drawn from One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This 9-week study pursues the subject of race reconciliation. It shows that the foundational truth for the entire process is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

"OUT OF THE WRECK I RISE"
Oswald Chambers
 
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:35

God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says - "I will be with him in trouble." It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man's life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. We are "more than conquerors in all these things." Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that not one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Rightly or wrongly, we are where we are, exactly in the condition we are in. I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there.

"Shall tribulation . . . ?" Tribulation is never a noble thing; but let tribulation be what it may - exhausting, galling, fatiguing, it is not able to separate us from the love of God. Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you.

"Shall anguish . . . ?" - can God's love hold when everything says that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?

"Shall famine . . . ?" - can we not only believe in the love of God but be more than conquerors, even while we are being starved?

Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God's character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things. Only one thing can account for it - the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Out of the wreck I rise" every time.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 20, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

Productive Pain

READ: Romans 8:18-30
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. -Romans 8:28
I'll never forget when our youngest child Matthew fell and broke his wrist. It was grotesque! His arm took a sharp left turn at his wrist and then turned again to resume its normal journey to his hand.

We rushed him to the hospital where the doctor began to set his wrist. I watched as the physician pulled and twisted Matthew's arm. I wanted to jump up and pull him away from my son! But I simply sat and watched, knowing that the agony was necessary to make Matt whole again.

If we trust earthly doctors to do that for our children, how much more we should be willing to trust God, the Great Physician, to reset our broken lives "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). One of God's purposes in pain is to brand the image of Jesus in our hearts. Can we weep with those who weep? God may need to stain our cheeks with our own tears so that we can genuinely empathize with others as Jesus did. Are we self-sufficient? God may need to strip away our security to conform us to the God-sufficiency that Christ displayed. Are we faithless? It may require a tragedy to teach us to trust the Father as Jesus did.

Next time you feel broken, don't panic-praise Him! God is at work!

  - Joe Stowell

Life's fractures can be mended
By faith in Christ the Lord-
At first the pain but then the gain
And usefulness restored. -Hess

God's purpose in pain is to brand His image in our hearts.

In God's Scales by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 5:24-28
"Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

In God's Scales

Some government officials claim that something has gone seriously wrong with the American judicial system. A few years ago the Heritage Foundation conducted a study that revealed that the average sentence for murder is only 15 years and the murderer is usually out in 1.8 years. A rapist gets an average of 8 years, but he's out in 60 days. Burglars will likely serve only 4.8 days, and within three years 60 percent of them are arrested for another crime. Furthermore, an Arrand Corporation study confirmed that the average inmate has committed 187 crimes before he is ever sentenced.

God's justice, however, suffers no such flaws. His scales are both accurate and just. In the midst of the king's drunken revelry, Belshazzar discovered that God had been very much aware of his sins all along and that the time of restitution had arrived. The fingers of the hand that spelled out his doom left nothing in question. His kingdom had run its course, his soul was found wanting, and the instruments of God's judgment (the Medes and the Persians) were at the door.

Christians can be thankful that even though human justice often fails, God's justice never does. It is complete; no detail is overlooked. Furthermore, it is totally equitable. Those who are wealthy cannot buy their way out of judgment, those who are eloquent cannot talk their way out, and those who are powerful cannot force their way out. In God's courtroom, no one has an unfair advantage.

If you are suffering under an injustice, just hang on. Appeal your case to God. The One who judges both heaven and earth will execute justice for you as well. Trust Him to do what is right in His own time.

God's justice has no loopholes.

Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture
"Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News." Philippians 1:27 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Where there is unity, there is much strength-even if people are unified for the wrong reason.

After the flood in Genesis 6-8, the world was one in language, in aspiration, in geographical location and in action. The people decided to build a great city with a tower that would go to the heavens (Genesis 11:1-8). Why? Not to honor God, but to make a name for themselves and to prevent being scattered over the face of the whole earth. Knowing that nothing would be impossible for them to do because of their oneness, God confused the language of the people and scattered them all over the earth.

Unity of itself is not necessarily good. Oneness in Christ honors our Savior. These people were united, but their purpose was prideful and offensive to the holiness of God. They were seeking equality with God and divine acceptance through human effort.

Consider this
If we unite to seek power or success, focusing on solely human effort and human rewards, we displease God-and are destined to ultimately fail. Especially in the church, we must be focused on Christ, not on the organization. We must be focused on honoring God, not ourselves. We must always recognize our total dependence on him.

Let us stand "together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News."

Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times that I've united with others to accomplish something and focused on selfish ambition and desires rather than on honoring you and accomplishing your will. Help me to always focus on you more than any organization or ambition. Help me to honor you in all I do. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This 9-week study pursues the subject of race reconciliation. It shows that the foundational truth for the entire process is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

THE REALM OF THE REAL
By
Oswald Chambers
 
"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19

When a man is born again, there is not the same robustness in his thinking or reasoning for a time as formerly. We have to make an expression of the new life, to form the mind of Christ. "Acquire your soul with patience." Many of us prefer to stay at the threshold of the Christian life instead of going on to construct a soul in accordance with the new life God has put within. We fail because we are ignorant of the way we are made, we put things down to the devil instead of our own undisciplined natures. Think what we can be when we are roused!

There are certain things we must not pray about - moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition, never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won't. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual pluck.

God bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 21, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

Spelling Bee

READ: Psalm 119:9-16
Your Word I have hidden in my heart. -Psalm 119:11
My wife and I stayed up late to watch a TV program we found exciting-the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It was fascinating to watch middle-school children as they recited the correct spelling for some of the most difficult words imaginable.

Anticipation grew as one contestant after another was disqualified. Finally, only 13-year-old Katharine Close remained. One word stood between her and the world championship. With little hesitation, Katharine correctly spelled the word ursprache.

Obviously, Katharine can spell! But it's possible to know how to spell a word, yet not understand its meaning.

As believers in Jesus Christ, it's vital for us to know God's Word, the Bible. Our goal is not to accumulate knowledge but to internalize His Word so that we can be equipped in our walk of faith.

When we know God's Word, it keeps our spiritual walk from slipping (Ps. 37:31). It satisfies the hunger of our souls (Jer. 15:16). And it is a key weapon in facing temptations and trials (Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:10-18).

Let's make it our aim to know the Word. Then, when facing life's challenges, we can be ready for any situation (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

My hunger for the truth He satisfies;
Upon the Word, the Living Bread, I feed:
No parching thirst I know, because His grace,
A pool of endless depth, supplies my need. -Sanders

To the wise, God's Word is sufficient.

An Honest Politician by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 6:3-5
Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

An Honest Politician

It's been suggested that to put honest and politician together creates an oxymoron (two words that contradict each other), and sometimes it does seem that way. A few years ago a cartoon from The Wall Street Journal showed a young, freshman congressman saying to an older member, "Hi! I'm a freshman, when do I get corrupted?"

But not all politicians live so fast and loose. Daniel held a high political position. He had been personal advisor to at least three kings (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius). And certainly he must have had his share of opportunities for financial kickbacks, sexual improprieties and palace intrigues. But even those who hated him confessed that they could "find no charge or fault." He not only professed to walk according to the moral standards of his God, but he practiced them faithfully as well.

Today we stand in great need of men and women who are willing to serve in public office with Christian integrity. Likely someone in politics is subject to greater-than-average temptations. Yet as Daniel demonstrated, God is able to give the moral strength to fulfill such a position honestly and uprightly.

As you exercise your duty in the voting booth, consider the moral character of those you vote for in addition to other qualifications. And search your own heart. Are there skeletons from your past that need to be confessed and removed? Let God make an "honest politician" out of you.

We must never allow honesty and politics to be strange bedfellows.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
" Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." Philippians 2:2 NLT

Thoughts for Today
In today's scripture Paul exhorts believers to agree with one another, to love each other and to work together with one mind and purpose.

Jesus' last instructions moments before he ascended to heaven leave no doubt what the church is to be doing: "And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 NLT If we are to be effective witnesses, we need to work together with one mind and purpose. Our witness can be hurt-and even destroyed-if we are involved in pride, bickering, gossip and other habits that can only lead to strife and division. We need to set aside personality conflicts, social differences, cliquishness and anything else that divides us and keeps us from accomplishing God's purpose for us.

Consider this
The lesson of the Tower of Babel (yesterday's devotion) teaches how pride can lead to division and ultimate failure. Think of an area in your life in which you are experiencing division with a sister or brother in Christ. Acknowledge specifically an incident or situation where you have failed in the area of relationship. Prayerfully examine how pride might be playing a role in the division.

If you become aware of a situation like this, confess your sin to God. And then seek out the brother or sister and ask forgiveness. Ask God to help you both to move ahead in reconciliation and unity.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for sometimes allowing pride or other wrong attitudes to lead to division with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to do my part in walking in unity so that we all might be more effective witnesses for Jesus and accomplish what you have called us to do. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This 9-week study pursues the subject of race reconciliation. It shows that the foundational truth for the entire process is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

DIVINE REASONINGS OF FAITH
By
Oswald Chambers
 
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." We argue in exactly the opposite way, even the most spiritually-minded of us - "But I must live; I must make so much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed." The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the concern of your care on the other things.

"Take no thought for your life. . . ." Our Lord points out the utter unreasonableness from His standpoint of being so anxious over the means of living. Jesus is not saying that the man who takes thought for nothing is blessed - that man is a fool. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his relationship to God the dominating concentration of his life, and to be carefully careless about every thing else in comparison to that. Jesus is saying - "Don't make the ruling factor of your life what you shall eat and what you shall drink, but be concentrated absolutely on God." Some people are careless over what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it; they are careless about what they wear, and they look as they have no business to look; they are careless about their earthly affairs, and God holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second.

It is one of the severest disciplines of the Christian life to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into harmony with the teaching of Jesus in these verses.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals May 22, 2008

A time for revival! Won't you join The Gospel Hiway as we pray daily for a time of great revival in this world. All we ask is that you pray, ask your friends, pastors, and churches to pray. Our world is in need of great revival and is has to start somewhere, let it begin here.

The Next Generation

READ:
2 Timothy 2:1-13
The things that you have heard from me . . . , commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. -2 Timothy 2:2
A man who played double-bass in the Mexico City Philharmonic told me that the finest instruments are made of wood that has been allowed to age naturally to remove the moisture. "You must age the wood for 80 years, then play the instrument for 80 years before it reaches its best sound," said Luis Antonio Rojas. "A craftsman must use wood cut and aged by someone else, and he will never see any instrument reach its peak during his own lifetime."

Many important things in life are "next generation" matters-teaching, training, and parenting are among them. The apostle Paul invested himself in people whose spiritual influence would continue long after he was gone. He wrote to Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). Paul, Timothy, "faithful men," and "others" represent four spiritual generations built on the enduring foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Are we living only for today and the short term, or are we giving ourselves to others who will continue the faith after our race is run? Living for Christ and making disciples are all about the next generation.

  - David C. McCasland

Day by day perform your mission,
With Christ's help keep at your tasks;
Be encouraged by His presence-
Faithfulness is all He asks. -Bosch

We influence future generations by living for Christ today.

Practiced Prayer by Woodrow Kroll

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Practiced Prayer

During the Revolutionary War, a soldier who had crawled into the brush was caught and accused of communicating with the enemy. His plea was that he had only gone in there to pray. The gruff commanding officer said, "Soldier, are you in the habit of spending hours in private prayer?" "Yes, sir," the private replied. "Then get down on your knees and pray now!" thundered the officer. Expecting soon to meet his Savior, the soldier prayed a simple yet inspired prayer. When he finished, however, the officer said, "You may go. I believe your story. If you had not been often at drill, you couldn't have done so well at review!"

Daniel was facing a similar crisis. His enemies had convinced King Darius to sign a decree making it a crime to pray to anyone but him for a period of 30 days. But Daniel also was no beginner at prayer. Long before he found himself in this major predicament, he had been in the habit of praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem. When this decree put his life in danger, it was only natural he would turn to prayer. Prayer got him into trouble, but prayer also would get him out.

For many people, prayer is something to do only during a critical situation. If you're in trouble, you pray; otherwise you leave God alone. But this is foolish. Only the person who has developed an aptitude for prayer during the mundane times of life is able to pray effectively in a crisis. It takes a lot of practice to perform well under pressure, even in prayer.

Don't wait until trouble comes before you pray. Make it a daily habit. Let your voice be so familiar to God that He won't have to ask, "Who's there?"

Prayer is for every day, not just for special occasions.

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." Romans 12:4-6 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Romans 12 teaches that various members of the body of Christ have special functions and gifts. This applies to us as individuals within the local church. Additionally, all Christian churches and ministries are a part of the Body of Christ. God has a function or purpose for each ministry and draws the people with the appropriate gifts to each one.

Picture the world as a gigantic mosaic with God as the Master Artist. Each piece of the mosaic has its own characteristics, designed especially for the spot God has called it to fill. As each ministry focuses on its calling and is guided by the Holy Spirit, God's plan will be accomplished.

In order for all of us together to accomplish God's plan most effectively, we need to work in unity-setting aside all jealousy and competition and remembering that we belong to each other. We need to respect each other's differences in doctrine, as long as all agree on the basic truths of the Gospel. We need to pray for each other and help each other.

Consider this
Always remember that your church or ministry is part of the entire Body of Christ, but God has a special plan just for you. You are one part of the Body. The part you play is not any less important-or more important-than any other part. As ministries in each community, in each country, and around the world work together and support each other, each one doing its own part, so much more can be done. Christ-centered unity will withstand the test of time and have the approval of God.

Prayer
Father, I pray that churches and ministries around the world will focus on you and will join more fully together in unity of purpose. Help us all to remember that we are one part of the Body of Christ and that we all belong together. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This 9-week study pursues the subject of race reconciliation. It shows that the foundational truth for the entire process is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
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NOW THIS EXPLAINS IT
By
Oswald Chambers   

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." John 17:21

If you are going through a solitary way, read John 17, it will explain exactly why you are where you are - Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life? Since you became a disciple you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God, and this is revealed in John 17. There is one prayer God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus - "that they may be one, even as We are One." Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?

God is not concerned about our plans; He does not say - Do you want to go through this bereavement; this upset? He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men and women; or they are making us more captious and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way. The things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in to God. If we say - "Thy will be done," we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom. When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical. Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has prayed that we may be.
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God bless

[frawin]

Judy, what a great positive and uplifting way  to start the day by reading your daily "Devotional for the Day". Myrna and I got to meet and have dinner with Bonnie and Bob Tuesday night, what a pleasure, they are really neat and pleasant people and both are very positive thinking people.
Frank Winn