Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 2, 2008

A Passion For People

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:9-21

He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. -2 Corinthians 5:15

Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

This quote appears on a Web site intended to help people discover what they are passionate about so they can live with greater significance.

The apostle Paul's passion in life was largely driven by concern for the eternal destiny of others. In 2 Corinthians 5, he names three things that fueled his passion. First, he recognized that he was accountable to Christ for his service and wanted to give a good accounting at the judgment seat of Christ (vv.9-10). Second, Paul was driven by Christ's love and a desire that others would know the love that he had experienced. In verse 14 he wrote, "For the love of Christ compels us." Finally, he understood that a lost and dying world needs the Savior (v.20).

What are you passionate about? Paul's passion for people was fueled by the love of Christ-and ours should be as well. Let's apply Twain's words of challenge to our efforts in outreach: "Sail away from the safe harbor." Share the love of Christ with someone today.  - Bill Crowder

Set us afire, Lord, stir us we pray!
While the world perishes, we go our way
Purposeless, passionless, day after day;
Set us afire, Lord, stir us we pray! -Cushman

Talking to Christ about others helps us to talk to others about Christ.

The Depth and Width of Your Calling
2 Corinthians 1:6
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.


"God must love you a lot! He doesn't allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life." Those were the words said to me by two different mentors at two different times within a three-year period. Later I would learn another related truth from a respected man of God-a man who lives in another country, a man whom God uses throughout the globe. "The depth and width of your faith experiences are directly proportional to your calling." What were these men of God saying?

They were describing a process of preparation that God takes each of His leaders through when He plans to use them in significant ways. A "faith experience" is an event or "spiritual marker" in your life about which you can say, "That is where I saw God personally move in my life." It is an unmistakable event in which God showed Himself personally to you. It was the burning bush for Moses; the crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan River for the nation of Israel; Jacob's encounter with the angel. It was the feeding of the 5,000 for the disciples. It was the time when you saw God face to face in your life.

If God has plans of using you in the lives of many others, you can expect that He is going to allow certain faith experiences to come into your life in order to build a foundation that will be solid. That foundation is what you will be able to look back on to keep you faithful to Him in the times of testing. Each of us must have personal faith experiences in which we experience God personally so that we can move in faith to whatever He may call us. Do you need a personal faith experience right now in your life? Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. He delights in doing that.

Real Christianity
How One Person Changed the World
Arguably the most outspoken Christian member of Parliament in the history of England, William Wilberforce changed the course of his nation -- and the world -- with his determination to end the British slave trade. His mentor was none other than John Newton, writer of the song Amazing Grace. In his classic book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce describes what true Christian faith looks like in practical actions. This modern version of Real Christianity will strongly challenge you to consider your own faith in contrast to the "Christian sub-culture" that exists today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!" Proverbs 3:5-7 MSG

Thoughts for Today

If you were ever a victim of violence or abuse of any kind, you no doubt felt totally out of control in the situation, whether it was child neglect or abuse, sexual violence, rape or any other form of mistreatment. You never want to feel out of control again, so now you try to control every situation-and relationship-in your life. You probably don't even trust God to be in control.

None of us can be free to become all we were meant to be until we recognize that God is in control, that he loves us and wants to care for us. We are fooling ourselves when we think we can make it on our own through this life. We need to lean on Jesus. On his wisdom, his strength and his love.

Consider this

Jesus loves you. He is inviting you to put your hands in his and let him guide you and help you through the circumstances of life. Stop trying to figure everything out on your own. Stop trying to forge through life depending on your own strength and understanding. Let Jesus love you. Let him help you reach your full potential and accomplish all the good things he has called you to do.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for thinking I could make it through life on my own. I need your help and your guidance in everything I do. Help me to stop trying to control everything  Help me to listen to your voice  to obey you  and to trust you. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner. This study ministers to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. It deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in small groups and Christian counseling. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or 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.

Christian Perfection
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . -Philippians 3:12
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do- God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life's determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, "It could never be God's will for me to be sick"? If it was God's will to bruise His own Son ( Isaiah 53:10  ), why shouldn't He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary- that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God's standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God's purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 3, 2008

Sorry no Daily Bread today, problems with their website. Again sorry!

Living for a Cause Greater Than Yourself
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.


In the thirteenth century a man named William Wallace became the instrument of freedom from England's tyranny over Scotland. A very wicked king ruled England. A tragedy in the life of William Wallace launched him into living for this cause. Initially his cause was revenge, but soon his cause turned to something bigger than himself-freedom for a nation. When he challenged the commoners to fight for this freedom, they responded that the enemy was too great and that they might die on the battlefield. They also refused to fight for the nobles, the knights and leaders who had a vested interest in gaining more land for themselves versus a pure cause of freedom. Wallace's response: "Yes, we might die. We will all die sooner or later. But we will die for a cause worth dying for. So that our children and their children might live in freedom." This story was popularized in the movie Brave Heart (Sherman Oaks, California: Paramount Pictures, 1995).

Today we find many Christian businesspeople living a status quo relationship with God that is more characterized as "business as usual" than a life demonstrating God's power. Our focus is often more concerned with improving our standard of living than improving the Kingdom of God through our circle of influence. While this takes place, millions upon millions die without the saving grace of Christ. Many other Christians die never experiencing the freedom in Christ that His blood paid for. God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves-a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives. This is His plan for your life. The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life. This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves. Ask God what He wants to achieve through your life today. And consider yourself dead already to the consequences of what that might mean for you.

Real Christianity
How One Person Changed the World
Arguably the most outspoken Christian member of Parliament in the history of England, William Wilberforce changed the course of his nation -- and the world -- with his determination to end the British slave trade. His mentor was none other than John Newton, writer of the song Amazing Grace. In his classic book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce describes what true Christian faith looks like in practical actions. This modern version of Real Christianity will strongly challenge you to consider your own faith in contrast to the "Christian sub-culture" that exists today.
Click to Order or Learn More 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." Romans 8:1-2 NLT

Thoughts for Today

This week we have been looking at the pain from suffering abuse that often lasts for years after the abuse has ended. Victims of verbal abuse suffer constant criticism and condemnation from their abuser. They often continue suffering the effects of this abuse long after it has ended. They tend to criticize and condemn themselves and others, a behavior learned from those who criticized and condemned them.

Repentance is the key to breaking this destructive pattern. You are never called to repent for the abusive acts that happened to you ... but you do need to repent of the self-destructive behaviors that may have developed in your life. Only through repentance can you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Consider this...

Self-condemnation leads to a miserable and ineffective lifestyle. Unjust criticism and condemnation of others hinder the development of relationships. Repentance involves bringing your failures to the cross. As you receive Christ's forgiveness, healing of the past can begin. You can start to understand how special you are to Jesus. And you can learn to see yourself and others through his eyes of understanding and love.

Prayer

Father, I had no control over the abuse I suffered in the past, but I realize now that I do have control over where I choose to go with my life from here. I have made many bad choices and developed some wrong attitudes and behaviors. Please forgive me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for seeing me as someone special. Help me to see myself  and others through your eyes of understanding and love. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner. This study ministers to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. It deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in small groups and Christian counseling. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or 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.

NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER
Oswald Chambers
 
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." 1 Corinthians 2:4

If in preaching the Gospel you substitute your clear knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the Gospel, you hinder people getting to Reality. You have to see that while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, you yourself are rooted and grounded in faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your exposition, but as you give your exposition see that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God's redemptive power, and He will create His own life in souls.

When once you are rooted in Reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, any thing that happens is likely to upset that faith; but nothing can ever upset God or the almighty Reality of Redemption; base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God. When once you get into personal contact with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God puts His disapproval on human experience when we begin to adhere to the conception that sanctification is merely an experience, and forget that sanctification itself has to be sanctified (see John 17:19). I have deliberately to give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 4, 2008

Gone With The Wind

READ: Ecclesiastes 1:2-9,14
All is vanity and grasping for the wind. -Ecclesiastes 1:14

The epic film based on Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone With the Wind opens with these lines:

"There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. . . . Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind."

Not only does a way of life disappear but also the dreams that drive the main characters. Throughout the Civil War, Scarlett O'Hara is preoccupied with her love for Ashley Wilkes. But by story's end, she is disillusioned.

Solomon saw the futility of seeking satisfaction in people and things. Despite amassing wealth and knowledge, completing great projects, and marrying many wives, he said, "All is vanity and grasping for the wind" (Eccl. 1:14).

Why does chasing transitory things leave us unfulfilled? The biblical answer is that we were created to find our ultimate fulfillment in God. Jesus promised, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

People and things come and go. But the spiritual satisfaction Christ offers sustains us in this world and will endure into eternity.  - Dennis Fisher

What comes from man will never last,
It's here today, tomorrow past;
What comes from God will always be
The same for all eternity! -Spencer


Invest your life in what pays eternal dividends.

Faith Versus Presumption

Genesis 16:2
So she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.


Presumption is based on our own reasoning. Abraham and Sarah fell into presumption when they got too old to have children. God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah-a son who would fulfill His promise to birth a nation. But Abraham and Sarah were past the normal age for childbearing. So, they concluded that God needed help to work out His plan.

Many businesspeople make the same mistake every day. We make assumptions about what we believe God is doing and wants us to do. However, before we really have full assurance that God has spoken to us on the matter and revealed His perfect action plan, we move forward with our steps to get it done. How do we protect ourselves from presumption? The Proverbs tell us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors (see Prov. 11:14 KJV). Submitting our decisions to others for confirmation protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart. This process will protect us from presumption and encourage us to move in faith. The next time you believe God is directing you toward a specific action, consult with your spouse first, then some close, spiritual friends who will take the time to prayerfully consider your request. If you don't have consensus, wait until you do before you move forward. God will move through this process to His desired will for the matter.

Real Christianity
How One Person Changed the World
Arguably the most outspoken Christian member of Parliament in the history of England, William Wilberforce changed the course of his nation -- and the world -- with his determination to end the British slave trade. His mentor was none other than John Newton, writer of the song Amazing Grace. In his classic book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce describes what true Christian faith looks like in practical actions. This modern version of Real Christianity will strongly challenge you to consider your own faith in contrast to the "Christian sub-culture" that exists today.
Click to Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Thoughts for Today

Forgiveness can be tough. Especially when someone has hurt us deeply or has maliciously abused us. How is it possible to forgive someone who has been so cruel?

If you have not forgiven someone who has hurt you, remember that real healing cannot take place until you let go of all bitterness and unforgiveness. Forgiveness is a process that may require considerable time and much prayer. But with Christ's help, you can do it. He forgave his attackers even as he died on the cross. And he forgives us freely when we turn to him. How can we do less?

Consider this

You have a choice. You can choose to continue as you are. Or you can choose to forgive. Forgiveness will allow you to experience God's peace and all the good he has planned for your life.

Choose forgiveness today. It won't be easy, but God will make it possible. Ask him to forgive you for the bitterness and anger you feel. And then trust him to help you forgive your abuser and move on to the joy and fulfillment God has provided for you.

Prayer

Father, teach me to forgive. You have covered me with your grace and mercy. Forgive me for holding in so much bitterness toward the one who has hurt me. Help me to extend grace to this person. Help me to forgive. And help me to love. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner. This study ministers to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. It deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in small groups and Christian counseling. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or 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 Law of Opposition

To him who overcomes . . . -Revelation 2:7
Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.

Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.

Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.

And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation . . ." ( John 16:33  ). This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, ". . . but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.

Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 5, 2008

Seeing Jesus

READ: Isaiah 53:1-6
He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. -Isaiah 53:2

When I was young, I thought I knew exactly what Jesus looked like. After all, I saw Him every day whenever I looked at some pictures in my bedroom. One showed Jesus knocking at a door and the other depicted Him as a Shepherd with His sheep.

What I didn't know was that a mere decade before I was born, those pictures of Jesus didn't exist. Warner Sallman painted the well-known "Head of Christ" and other portraits of Jesus in the 1940s. Those images were just one man's idea of what Jesus might have looked like.

The Bible never gives a physical description of Jesus. Even the men who saw Him every day didn't tell us what He looked like. In fact, the only clue we have is a passage in Isaiah that says: "There is no beauty that we should desire Him" (53:2). It seems that Jesus' human form was deliberately de-emphasized. He looked like an ordinary man. People weren't drawn to Him because of a regal appearance but because of what He said and did and because of the message of love He came to give (John 3:16).

But the next time Jesus comes to earth, it will be different. When our Savior returns, we will recognize Him as the sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords! (1 Tim. 6:14-15).  - Cindy Hess Kasper

The more I see His beauty,
The more I know His grace,
The more I long, unhindered,
To gaze upon His face. -Anon.


To see Jesus will be heaven's greatest joy.

Confidence in Numbers

2 Samuel 24:10
David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."


It just seems to be human nature. As we grow in wealth and ability, our confidence moves from complete trust in the Lord to trust in our resources. King David decided one day that he needed to know how many fighting men he had in his army. This was a grievous sin in the nation of Israel. God always made it clear to the nation that He, not their army, was their source. It was against the law of God to number the troops. David's general, Joab, knew the serious nature of such an action.

But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)

Joab knew that David was treading in dangerous waters when he brought up the idea to him. But David had it in his mind that this is what he was going to do. And he did. The result: God judged David for this sin by smiting the nation with a plague that resulted in the loss of 70,000 lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a former stockbroker who lost everything in the 1987 stock crash in the United States. He made an interesting comment. "You cannot know how to fully trust the Lord in the financial area until you really have to. When I lost everything, I was forced to trust Him when I knew I could not pay my next bill unless God provided. This was the time I learned to trust God. I never had to trust God before I lost my money because I had plenty. We don't willingly enter this level of trust with God."

Ask God today to keep you from trusting in your own resources. Ask Him how to balance trust and blessing from Him this day.

Real Christianity
How One Person Changed the World
Arguably the most outspoken Christian member of Parliament in the history of England, William Wilberforce changed the course of his nation -- and the world -- with his determination to end the British slave trade. His mentor was none other than John Newton, writer of the song Amazing Grace. In his classic book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce describes what true Christian faith looks like in practical actions. This modern version of Real Christianity will strongly challenge you to consider your own faith in contrast to the "Christian sub-culture" that exists today.
Click to Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]." Isaiah 26:3-4 AMP

Thoughts for Today

This week we have been discussing healing from the pain of abuse. Many people who have suffered abuse experience pain long after the abuse has ended. We have looked at the importance of overcoming fear by learning to trust God seeking forgiveness for the wrong attitudes and responses we have allowed to develop in our life forgiving those who have hurt us.

There is no quick fix for the pain of abuse. Healing is a process. Today's scripture gives us keys to this process: focusing our mind on Jesus, trusting him, committing ourselves to him, leaning on him and hoping in him. As we do these things, he promises to guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace.

Consider this

During the healing process, you will probably face some painful memories and some difficult experiences within yourself. Remember . God is your greatest source of comfort. Go to him and he will comfort you by his Spirit, who is living in you. With his help, you can be healed and truly put the past behind.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your promise of peace. Help me to trust you more, to keep my focus on you, and to follow the steps you lay before me in this process of healing. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from

Restoring Families: Overcoming Abusive Relationships through Christ by Janet M. Lerner. This study ministers to families caught in the cycle of abusive relationships. It deals with overcoming these abusive relationships through Christ and is recommended for use in small groups and Christian counseling. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or 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 Temple of the Holy Spirit"
. . . only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you -Genesis 41:40
I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not "set aside the grace of God"- make it ineffective ( Galatians 2:21 ). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved- I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God's throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To "work out [my] own salvation" ( Philippians 2:12 ) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all "the temple of the Holy Spirit," including our thoughts and desires ( 1 Corinthians 6:19  ). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.

Paul said, "I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . ." ( Romans 12:1  ). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is "the temple of the Holy Spirit."

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 6, 2008

A Commitment To Walk

READ: Genesis 5:18-24
Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. -Genesis 5:24

One thing that impresses me about my wife is her commitment to walk two to four times a week for at least an hour. Come rain, snow, sleet, or shine, my wife layers up or down (depending on the weather), puts on her headphones, and off she goes walking through our community.

My wife's commitment to walking reminds me of a man named Enoch. Genesis 5:18-24 is a short paragraph about his life, and it shines like a diamond amid the earthly record of deaths. In a storyline where the funeral bells tolled out their mournful drone ("and he died" is repeated eight times in the chapter), there is a ray of hope-Enoch walked with God.

What did it mean for Enoch to walk with God? It describes Enoch's close communion with God-as if literally walking by His side. Also, it refers to Enoch's unswerving obedience to God in a corrupt culture. God rewarded Enoch's faithfulness by taking him to heaven while he was still alive. Death would not have the final word in God's creation.

Enoch's walk with God reminds us that it is possible for all of us to enjoy intimate communion with the Lord. Let's commit ourselves to walking faithfully with Him every day.  - Marvin Williams

He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known. -Miles
© Renewal 1940 The Rodeheaver Co.

You're headed in the right direction when you walk with God.

When God Restores What the Locusts Eat

Joel 2:25
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm-My great army that I sent among you.

There are seasons in our lives that involve times of famine and times of restoration. Solomon tells us that He has made everything beautiful in its time and that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1,11.)

God brings about both the good and the bad. The seasons of famine have a divine purpose in our lives. They accomplish things that only these hard places can accomplish. But there is a time when those hard places have accomplished their purpose and He begins to restore. God did this with the nation of Israel after a season of famine and devastation.

Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm-My great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will My people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will My people be shamed" (Joel 2:23-27).

God wants each of us to know that there is a time when He will restore in order to demonstrate His gracious hand in our lives. He is a loving Father who tenderly guides His children through the difficult places. If God has taken you through a time of leanness, know that He is the restorer of that which the locusts have eaten. Wait patiently for Him to bring this about in your life. He will do it.

Real Christianity
How One Person Changed the World
Arguably the most outspoken Christian member of Parliament in the history of England, William Wilberforce changed the course of his nation -- and the world -- with his determination to end the British slave trade. His mentor was none other than John Newton, writer of the song Amazing Grace. In his classic book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce describes what true Christian faith looks like in practical actions. This modern version of Real Christianity will strongly challenge you to consider your own faith in contrast to the "Christian sub-culture" that exists today.
Click to Order or Learn More 

A Vision of Heaven

Do you ever feel frustrated that things are not going the way they should? Do you get uptight because things seem to be out of control?

Take heart, because you are not supposed to be in control. You are not on the throne-God is. His throne is the place of authority and the center of His rule for the activities of heaven. Jesus Christ, who is glorified and magnified, sits at the right hand of the throne.

One day we will be with Christ in heaven, praising Him. Peter writes:

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

Do you ever wonder what heaven is like? We can try to imagine it based on our earthly ideas. When we think of the grandest place on earth, we might imagine a palace or the sanctuary of the most architecturally elaborate cathedral ever built. We might even think of the private home of the wealthiest person on earth. No matter what we may try to compare heaven to, until we see it for ourselves we will not be able to grasp the scope of its magnificence.

When we see the splendor of heaven, we are going to fall on our faces. We are going to comprehend our complete unworthiness. We are going to regret our stubbornness, disobedience, and self-centeredness.

As you go about your daily routine and you feel tired, frustrated, and out of control, think about heaven. Remember that you are a member of God's royal priesthood, chosen by Him.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10).

The circumstances of life do not have to get you down.  Learn how you can turn negative situations into ones of hope and promise in our free resource this month-"When Life Gets You Down, Look Up!" 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.

"My Rainbow in the Cloud"

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth -Genesis 9:13
It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with Him, and His covenants are designed for this purpose. Why doesn't God save me? He has accomplished and provided for my salvation, but I have not yet entered into a relationship with Him. Why doesn't God do everything we ask? He has done it. The point is- will I step into that covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete, but they are not mine until I enter into a relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant.

Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won't do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God--a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don't believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, "Now I believe." There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, "Look to Me, and be saved . . ." ( Isaiah 45:22  ).

When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement- no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 7, 2008

Eat This Bread

READ: Matthew 26:20-30

Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel. -Micah 5:2

Christmas isn't the time of year when our thoughts naturally turn to the Last Supper-or what the Jews called Passover. But that particular Passover is critical to Christmas. After breaking bread and giving it to His disciples, Jesus said, "Take, eat; this is My body" (Matt. 26:26). Breaking bread was a traditional part of Passover, but adding "this is my body" was a striking departure from the familiar liturgy. The disciples must have been bewildered.

Later the meaning became clear. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means "house of Bread." He was laid in a manger-a feeding trough. He once said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh" (John 6:51).

The prophet Micah indicated that One born in Bethlehem would rule over Israel (5:2). But not until Jesus came did anyone realize the uniqueness of this Kingdom. Christ's rule would not be imposed upon anyone; it would be imparted to those who accepted this new citizenship.

As we sing of Bethlehem's manger, let's remember that the heaven-sent infant King came so that we might "eat this bread" and partake of His divine nature.  - Julie Ackerman Link

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above,
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love. -Lathbury


Only Christ the Living Bread can satisfy our spiritual hunger.

Suffering for the Salvation of Another

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.


Recently, a friend told a true story about one of his closest friends who experienced great suffering for the soul of his persecutor. This man worked on a cargo ship. His boss was the captain. This friend was a committed Christian who shared his faith with others and was a good worker. One day the friend led the sea captain's girlfriend to Christ. The sea captain already hated and ridiculed the Christian worker because of his faith in Christ. When his girlfriend came to Christ, she stopped sleeping with the captain. The captain blamed the Christian man for the change in his girlfriend. One day he entered the restaurant where the Christian man was having lunch. He walked over to his table and began hurling obscenities and began beating him. The Christian man simply tried to defend himself but did not fight back. The captain kept beating him until eventually the man lay on the floor bleeding.

Two men entered the restaurant and saw what was taking place. They jumped the sea captain and took him outside and began beating him. The sea captain was beaten so badly that he needed immediate medical attention. The Christian worker saw the condition of the sea captain, came to his aid, and began helping him. The sea captain was so moved that this man could do this after he had literally beaten him bloody that he began to weep, not understanding what could move a man to have such love in the face of being beaten. The sea captain accepted Jesus at that moment.

The Bible tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ came and paid our penalty so that we might live eternally. Many in the marketplace have never known the love of Christ. You might be the only one they ever meet who can introduce them to this love. Ask God to show you how to love the unlovable in your workplace today.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 



Learning to Trust the Master
by Max Lucado

A man and his dog are in the same car. The dog howls bright-moon-in-the-middle-of-the-night caterwauling howls. The man pleads, promising a daily delivery of dog biscuit bouquets if only the hound will hush. After all, it's only a car wash.

Never occurred to him-ahem, to me-that the car wash would scare my dog. But it did. Placing myself in her paws, I can see why. A huge, noisy machine presses toward us, pounding our window with water, banging against the door with brushes. Duck! We're under attack.

"Don't panic. The car wash was my idea." "I've done this before." "It's for our own good." Ever tried to explain a car wash to a canine? Dog dictionaries are minus the words brush and detail job. My words fell on fallen flaps. Nothing helped. She just did what dogs do; she wailed.

Actually, she did what we do. Don't we howl? Not at car washes perhaps but at hospital stays and job transfers. Let the economy go south or the kids move north, and we have a wail of a time. And when our Master explains what's happening, we react as if he's speaking Yalunka. We don't understand a word he says.

Is your world wet and wild?

God's greatest blessings often come costumed as disasters. Any doubters need to do nothing more than ascend the hill of Calvary.

Jerusalem's collective opinion that Friday was this: Jesus is finished.

Such is the view of the disciples, the opinion of the friends, and the outlook of the enemies. Label it the dog-in-the-passenger-seat view.

The Master who sits behind the wheel thinks differently. God is not surprised. His plan is right on schedule. Even in-especially in-death, Christ is still the king, the king over his own crucifixion.

Can't he do the same for you? Can't he turn your Friday into a Sunday?

Some of you doubt it. How can God use cancer or death or divorce? Simple.

He's smarter than we are. He is to you what I was to four-year-old Amy. I met her at a bookstore. She asked me if I would sign her children's book. When I asked her name, she watched as I began to write, "To Amy "

She stopped me right there. With wide eyes and open mouth, she asked, "How did you know how to spell my name?"

She was awed. You aren't. You know the difference between the knowledge of a child and an adult. Can you imagine the difference between the wisdom of a human and the wisdom of God? What is impossible to us is like spelling "Amy" to him. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9).

I keep taking Molly to the car wash. She's howling less. I don't think she understands the machinery. She's just learning to trust her master. Maybe we'll learn the same.


From
Next Door Savior

© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado

Repentance
READ:
Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . . -2 Corinthians 7:10
Conviction of sin is best described in the words:

My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.

Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8 ). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person's conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person's relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God- "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight . . ." ( Psalm 51:4  ). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, "I have sinned." The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes- a reflex action caused by self-disgust.

The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man's respectable "goodness." Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person's life (see Galatians 4:19  ). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses- repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for "the gift of tears." If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 8, 2008

Here Comes The Boss!

READ: Joshua 7:16-22
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

A number of computer games come with a special feature called the "Boss Key." If you're playing a game when you're supposed to be working, and someone (like the boss) walks into your office, you quickly strike the Boss Key. Your computer screen changes immediately, hiding what you've been doing.

Trying to hide from others when we've done something wrong comes naturally. We may feel guilty, but our desire to avoid admitting our responsibility is often stronger than our guilt.

Achan tried to hide his sin. He had stolen silver and gold and hidden it in his tent (Josh. 7:20-21). But when the Israelites were defeated in battle, the Lord told their leader Joshua that the loss was due to sin in the camp (vv.11-12). The Lord identified Achan as the one who had sinned. And even though Achan confessed, he and his family were executed (v.25).

We may not understand why God dealt so harshly with Achan's sin, but we do know He was instructing His people in His holiness and their need for obedience to His commands (Ex. 20:17).

If you've been disobedient, it's time to come out of hiding. God is lovingly calling you and offering His cleansing, forgiveness, and restoration.  - Anne Cetas

O Lord, help me to come to You
When I would rather hide my sin;
Give me the courage to confess
So I can be made clean within. -Sper

Confession is the key that opens the door to forgiveness.

Understanding the Source of Anger
Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

The marketplace can be a pressure-packed world. The demands that are often put on us can bring out things that we never knew were there. Sometimes we begin to think that the source of that pressure is to blame for our response to the pressure. It could be an event, a spouse, a boss, a client, a child, or even a driver who cuts us off in traffic.

I recall responding to a close friend one time, "If you had not done that, I would never have responded that way." Later I learned that this response had little truth to it. We all choose to get angry. No one else is to blame for our anger.

"The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am" [Dr. Sam Peeples].

This simple quote has had a profound impact on how I view my anger now. Anger only reveals what is inside of me. I can't blame anyone but me for my response to a situation. I have learned that anger is only the symptom of something else that is going on inside of me. This quote now resides on my refrigerator door as a daily reminder of the truth about my response to life's situations.

It has been said that anger is like the warning panel on the dash of your car. It is the light that tells us something is going on under the hood and we need to find out what is the source of the problem. I discovered that the source of anger is often unmet expectations or personal rights. We believe we are entitled to a particular outcome to a situation. When this doesn't happen, it triggers something in us. At the core of this is fear, often a fear of failure or rejection, fear of what others think, fear of the unknown.

If you struggle with anger, ask God to reveal the source of that anger. Ask Him to heal you of any fears that may be the root of your anger. Ask God to help you take responsibility for your response to difficult situations.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18 NIV

Thoughts for Today

Do you ever say one thing and your spouse hears a totally different message than you intended?

Faulty communication is a common cause of marital conflict. In fact, most married couples experience miscommunication at times. One message is sent, but a different one is received. This week we will look at some keys to successful communication.

One thing we need to remember is that the words we say don't necessarily determine what is heard. Our tone of voice, facial expression and overall body language usually speak louder than words. Timing is also important. Consider what kind of a day your spouse has had and pressures that might be having an impact. Other communication keys include thinking before speaking, maintaining eye contact, listening before answering and building up rather than pulling down.

Consider this

One sure way to avoid miscommunication is to frequently say the three words "I love you" to your spouse. There are also many non-verbal ways you can express your love. Plan a special dinner or trip, buy something you know he or she has been wanting, help with a project your spouse is working on. Husbands, let your wife have a day all for herself occasionally. All these acts are really ways of communicating your love.

God communicates his love to us not only through his words, but through his actions. We need to do the same.

Prayer

Father, help me express love to my spouse through my body language and actions as well as my words. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

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

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More   

 
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 Impartial Power of God
READ:
By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified -Hebrews 10:14
We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. ". . . Christ Jesus . . . became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 1:30  ). Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect.

No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted. All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, "But I don't want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner." God's response, through Peter, is, ". . . there is no other name . . . by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 ). What at first appears to be heartlessness on God's part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. "In Him we have redemption through His blood . . ." ( Ephesians 1:7  ). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.


God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 9, 2008

Lessons Of The Coke Bottle

READ: Romans 5:15-21
Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. -Romans 5:20

Pastor Louie was preaching on the pervasiveness of sin. "It's everywhere!" he stated emphatically. He told about waiting for a traffic light when he saw the man in the car in front of him finish his Coke, open the door, set the glass bottle on the street, and drive away.

"That was wrong!" Louie said. "It was a selfish sin! He could have caused someone to have a flat tire or even an accident." We don't typically think of littering as sin, but it is clear evidence of our inherent selfishness.

Later, as Louie was greeting people by the door, a Bible professor at a local Christian university said quietly as he walked by, "Sin puts the bottle on the street, but grace picks it up."

Now, many years later, Louie has not forgotten the lesson of that scriptural principle. It comes right out of Romans 5, one of the most uplifting texts in the Bible describing the grace of God. Adam's transgression brought sin into the world (v.12), and its consequences spread to all people. But God responded with grace, offering forgiveness through His Son to all who choose to believe. The human race sinned, and God answered with abounding grace (v.20).

God does much more than just "pick up the bottle," He cleanses the heart of the transgressor!  - David C. Egner

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? -Johnston


Confession of sin is the soil in which forgiveness flourishes.

Obeying the Spirit of God

Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."


Philip was conducting what we might today call a revival meeting. God was blessing the meeting, and many were being healed and delivered from demonic influence. Here is the scene:

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:5-8).

And yet, in the midst of this great event, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him to remove himself and go to a completely different area to speak to one individual. Philip was so sensitive to the directive of the Holy Spirit that he left what would be deemed a successful event to go speak to another-an Ethiopian eunuch. The result of his obedience was that Philip led the eunuch to faith in Christ and baptized him. The Lord then took Philip away supernaturally to another region many miles away.

God's ways of determining where we invest our time and energy often have little to do with results. The danger for each of us is to determine that we are in the center of God's will simply by the success or failure of the events we are involved in. Our plumbline for determining success can be only one thing: obedience. Philip responded in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Has God prompted you to speak, go, or come alongside another? Ask God today to help you hear the Holy Spirit's voice so that you might be used mightily in your marketplace.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out." Colossians 4:6 MSG

Thoughts for Today

Communicating with I-messages rather than you-messages is one key to successful communication in marriage and in any relationship.

You-messages sound like this: You just don't care  You are a problem  Can't you ? You are sooo 

I-messages deal with facts. They convey what you feel or how your spouse's behavior is making you feel. Here are some examples: I feel very angry because  I feel rejected because  I feel hurt because 

Consider this

I-messages communicate honesty and openness. The Bible teaches us to build up, not tear down. When we use I-messages, we are less likely to harm our marriage relationship since we aren't attacking our spouse's self-esteem. We are being gracious in our speech.

Prayer

Father, help me to be more gracious in communicating with my spouse. Help me to build up and not tear down. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

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

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 
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 Opposition of the Natural
READ:
Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires -Galatians 5:24
The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God's best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh . . . ." The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself. . ." ( Matthew 16:24  ). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.

The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.


God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 10, 2008

Marred

READ: Matthew 1:18-25
She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. -Matthew 1:21

During an all-night festival in Paris, five young people, apparently drunk, broke into the Orsay Museum and left a 4-inch gash in a priceless painting by Claude Monet. Culture Minister Christine Albanel said the painting could be restored, but she was deeply disturbed at the damage done by "a purely criminal act."

One news headline read: "Monet Masterpiece Marred." To mar is to injure or damage; to spoil, disfigure, or impair. It's an apt description of sin's effect on us. We know well the results of our own choices made in ignorance or defiance of God.

As we approach Christmas, it's good to remember why Jesus was born. The Son of God did not come to establish a nostalgic, family-oriented, commercially successful holiday. The angel told Joseph: "[Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).

Christmas began with a present from God to His sin-damaged world: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

The masterpiece of God's human creation, marred by turning away from Him, can be restored when we give our hearts to Christ.  - David C. McCasland

He came into this world a babe,
This world that He Himself had made;
He came to do the Father's will,
That ended on dark Calvary's hill. -Newstrom


Jesus came to earth to repair our sin-damaged lives.

The First Requirement of Ministry

Joel 1:9
The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord.


The first requirement for being used by God in the life of others is to mourn on their behalf. We must identify with their pain and suffering. Each of us must be broken for others first.

In order to be fully used by God in the marketplace, we need to understand what breaks God's heart. When we understand what breaks God's heart, we are able to mourn on behalf of a grieving person, or a nation we are called to serve. What breaks God's heart? When we begin to answer this question, we begin the first step to becoming instruments of change for those things that are important to God. Perhaps it is an overemphasis in our own talent and abilities, or lack of complete trust in Jesus. Perhaps it is the lack of respect for human life that leads to the killing of innocent babies. Perhaps it is the deceit and pride that often rule the marketplace of commerce. Or perhaps it is the strife and divisions among His own Body that grieve Him most. When we begin to mourn over our own sins in these areas, God begins to use us as instruments of righteousness to affect these things. It was only when God let me see my own sins in the marketplace and how they broke His heart that I began to be an instrument for His purposes.

Today, ask God to show you what things in your world are breaking His heart. Then see how He might want you to be the priest to affect for Him. The first step is identification with what breaks God's heart.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." James 1:19-20 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Active listening is perhaps the most important key to communicating with your spouse (or anyone else!). It shows that you care, that you accept and respect your mate. Three examples of active listening are restatement, clarifying and summarizing.

Restatement means repeating the content of what your spouse said. This conveys that you are paying attention and really hearing what he or she is saying.

Clarifying might sound like this: "Do you mean "-and relay in your own words what your spouse just said.

Summarizing pulls together your mate's message and draws it to a concluding point based on what you have seen and heard in the conversation.

Consider this

Active listening can help you and your spouse understand each other better and build the trust level between you. It is a way to encourage and build up your mate and can have a calming effect when he or she is angry or frustrated. (A word of caution-active listening is not effective when your spouse is out of control for example, intoxicated or severely depressed. It is also not good to use if he or she needs immediate action.)

Ask God to help you learn to listen really listen.

Prayer

Lord, help me be quick to listen and to listen actively. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from

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

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

 
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 Offering of the Natural
It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman -Galatians 4:22
Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice. Without this a person will lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed? God did not demand it. It is not God's perfect will, but His permissive will. God's perfect will was for the natural to be changed into the spiritual through obedience. Sin is what made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed.

Abraham had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac (see Genesis 21:8-14 ). Some of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is to "present [our] bodies a living sacrifice . . ." ( Romans 12:1  ). Sanctification means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing to pay whatever it may cost.

If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us and will produce continual turmoil. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, morally, or mentally. We excuse ourselves by saying, "Well, I wasn't taught to be disciplined when I was a child." Then discipline yourself now! If you don't, you will ruin your entire personal life for God.

God is not actively involved with our natural life as long as we continue to pamper and gratify it. But once we are willing to put it out in the desert and are determined to keep it under control, God will be with it. He will then provide wells and oases and fulfill all His promises for the natural (see Genesis 21:15-19  ).

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 11, 2008

Absolutely Nobody

READ: Exodus 4:10-17

Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. -Proverbs 30:2

He wanted to be a nobody. In 1992, a Seattle man running for the office of Washington State's lieutenant governor legally changed his name to "Absolutely Nobody." As he entered the race, he said he wanted to greet the voters, saying, "Hi, I'm Absolutely Nobody. Vote for me." He later admitted that the purpose of his campaign was to abolish the office of lieutenant governor.

This man used a name as a gimmick, but the Bible has a lot to say to those of us who present ourselves to others as a nobody. The right kind of humility is healthy. The songwriters of Israel knew how important it is to see our foolishness apart from God (Ps. 73:22; Prov. 30:2). Jesus Himself showed us that without God we won't accomplish anything of lasting value (John 5:30; 15:5).

But we read a warning in the story of Moses. There's a downside to insisting that we are "nobody" if it is to avoid doing what God commands (Ex. 4:1-17). Our motives make us into somebody who resists the loving purposes of God.

We may treat ourselves and others as having no worth. But remember, God doesn't make nobodies. Like Moses, if we surrender to God, we can do anything God wants us to do-in His strength.  - Mart De Haan

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord-in me abide. -Orr

Without Christ we can do nothing. With Him we can do everything He wants us to do.

Following Only the Father's Commands

John 5:19
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

Have you ever thought about a typical day in Jesus' life? Perhaps He might have had questions like these, "Who am I going to heal today? Who will I visit today? Which person will I deliver from demons this day?" etc. The demands on Jesus' time were great. Yet we see that Jesus allocated His time very deliberately. We don't get the idea that Jesus was flustered or stressed from the activity He was involved in. He often sought times of prayer and reflection away from the disciples. His life appeared to have a balance of quiet moments and active ministry into the lives He came in contact with.

How do we determine what we will be involved in each day of our lives? What keeps us in sync with the will of our heavenly Father for the daily tasks He calls us to? Jesus tells us that He was only involved in those things the Father was involved in. Nothing more, nothing less. So often we determine our participation in an activity based on whether we have the time to do it or whether we desire to participate. The real question we should ask is, "Does the Father want me to participate in this activity?"

"Lord, should I add this Bible study to my schedule? Should I spend an extra night out on this committee this week? Should I take on new business that will take me away from home more? Should my daughter be involved in music lessons?" These are the daily challenges for the world we now live in. We are an activity-based society that often encourages more and more activity, often in the name of Christian virtue.

Our lives will become less cluttered, less stressful, and more fulfilling when we follow the model Jesus provided. It may not always please everyone. Jesus never sought to please everyone. Ask the Lord each day this week how you and He are to spend your time. Yield your schedule to Him. Let Jesus direct your every activity. You may discover that He desires you to cut back some things in order to spend more time alone with Him. He will be faithful to show you. And you will become more fulfilled because you are centered in His will for you.

Achieving Authentic Success 6-CD Set
Achieving Authentic Success
Dr. Ron Jenson, America's Life Coach, shares over six hours of his immensely valuable insights and wisdom in this 6-CD series on Achieving Authentic Success. Each principle is unpacked to help you maximize your personal and professional opportunities so you can live a life of significance and impact. Order or Learn More 

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

Conflicts do occur in marriage and can cause disastrous results if not managed properly. Attitude can make all the difference. One option in dealing with conflict is an "I'll get him (her)" attitude. "I win and you lose because I am right and you are wrong." This is a power play and shows little or no love.

Another option says, "I'll get out. I'm uncomfortable, so I'll withdraw from the conflict." And you storm from the room with nothing solved.

"I'll give in. I'll be nice and submit to your demands so you'll love me." You become a doormat who is smiling but frustrated.

"I'll meet you halfway. I have only half of the truth and I need your half." This is the attitude of creative compromise, but these two half-truths may not equal the real truth.

Consider this

The most fruitful attitude is "I care enough to confront. I want to stay in a respectful and honest relationship with you. I want you to know where I stand and what I am feeling, needing, valuing and wanting." This attitude invites your spouse to change but does not demand it.

The Bible calls it speaking the truth in love.

Prayer

Father, help me when facing conflict. Help me to have the right attitude to always reflect the love of Christ. Help me to speak the truth in love. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

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

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More

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.

Individuality

READ:
Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . .' -Matthew 16:24
Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God's created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, "I can't believe," it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, "I will not surrender," or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24 ). It is your individuality that refuses to "be reconciled to your brother" ( Matthew 5:24  ). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. ". . . let him deny himself . . ."- deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

God Bless