From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

Deceived!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.   Galatians 6:7-8

When I was in fifth grade, I went with my friend Mike to a game room in our small town in Los Altos, CA.  The game rooms back in the early 70's were not super advanced like today.  Pinball machines ruled the roost.

Mike and I were looking at the different machines to see which game to play when an older kid asked us if we wanted to take over his pinball game.  He said he had to go but had several games already paid up.  If we wanted to take his offer, he would give us the games at a reduced rate.  It sounded like a good deal, very much worth the two dollars price tag.  The only problem: he was lying.  I still remember innocently waiting for him to come back from the bathroom to give me the change that he owed me, but he never returned.  Instead he slipped out the back door with my money—$2.00 was a lot back then, especially to a kid.  I learned a lesson that day about liars, cheats, and deceivers.

Have you ever been deceived?  Have you ever had someone promise you something good, only to find that the promise was a lie?

THE MASTER DECEIVER

When it comes to deception, no one is more cunning and crafty than the devil.  He is such a clever deceiver.  Like a master fisherman dangling deliciously-looking bait before the fish, so Satan dangles the forbidden fruit of sin before our eyes, promising something good and satisfying if we will only take a little bite.  But, he never tells us about the barbed hook hidden beneath, does he?  Of course not.

You know what I have found to be true?  When the devil comes at us with some forbidden fruit that we KNOW is wrong and sinful, he always makes us feel like we can handle it ... we can get away with it.  The devil says, "God knows and understands that you are weak in this temptation.  He doesn't expect you to be perfect.  And after all, you know you want to.  And it will feel so good.  Furthermore, you can handle it.  The pleasure will always outweigh any consequences, if there are even any to be found."

Does that sound familiar?

As you and I fixate on the forbidden, as Eve did with the fruit, it is only a matter of time before we bite and experience the passing pleasure.  The thrills and chills of the forbidden fade quickly as the hook is set.  Dr. Robert G. Lee used to say, "You can eat the devil's corn if you want to, but he'll choke you on the cob."

How many people do you know who deceivingly thought: I won't get caught ... I won't get pregnant ... I won't get an STD ... I won't get discovered ... I won't get hooked.  Ah, but you will.  Play with fire and you'll eventually get burned.  The same is true of sin.

GOD SEES

God is not mocked.  No one sins and gets away with it.  Everyone reaps what he sows.  You may not reap it today ... or tomorrow, but the harvest is coming.

Are you sowing to the flesh?  Are you thinking your sin will go unnoticed?  Think again.  God says, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:32).

In the tragedy of the fall of Ted Haggard, it was reported by his homosexual lover that Ted told him as they were watching pornography in bed, "You see, you can still serve God and have a little fun on the side."  He was so deceived ... and his world soon came crashing down as harvest time came and the hook was set.

My friend, I don't know where you are today, but I want to encourage you to take a sober inventory of your life and actions.  If you are dabbling in immorality, financial impropriety, online gambling, or drugs and alcohol, you are playing with fire and need to turn around before it is too late ... before the hook is set.

Get your eyes off the sin and onto the Savior.  His ways are ALWAYS right.  He will bless you with joy and peace IF, IF, IF you will obey His voice and sow to the Spirit.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

Putting Down the Whip

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

Have you ever heard the story of Martin Luther?  As a young monk, Luther wanted nothing more than to please God.  But, like the rest of us, he struggled with sin and fleshly lusts.  His way of dealing with this problem was to severely discipline his body.  He felt that if he mistreated his flesh, it would somehow make him more godly.

One day he took a trip to Rome to walk the 28 steps of Pilate's Staircase, the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs).  He climbed those stairs ON HIS KNEES.  Surely this painful sacrifice would garner favor with God, right?  As the pain grew and the blood flowed, he heard the voice of God say to him, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."  That revelation changed his life.

ARE YOU HURTING YOURSELF?

There are people today who still do hurtful things to their bodies thinking it will produce favor with God as they show Him they love Him.  Some whip their backs until the blood flows to prove their love and atone for their sins.  Others eat bland food, sleep on uncomfortable surfaces, and take a vow of silence. There are even some in The Philippines who endure an actual crucifixion every Good Friday to suffer for Jesus, show their commitment, and earn God's favor.  Can you image that? 

Now I don't suppose you are whipping your back over your sins, but are you beating yourself up nonetheless?  Do you whip yourself emotionally, mentally and spiritually over the failures from the past?  Lots of people say this to themselves, "I am such a bum and a scum and a loser.  I committed this terrible, horrible sin.  I am the worst!  God must hate me.  I hate me too."  Whip, whip, whip.

You know what?   I have pulled out the emotional whip on MANY occasions and beat myself silly over past sins and past failures.  Have you?

IT'S CALLED GRACE

Listen my friend, no matter what you have done, GOD DOES NOT HATE YOU.  HE LOVES YOU!  Jesus took all the scourging, all the spittle, all the humiliation, and all the nails.  He died for you and me, and "by His stripes we are healed."  He paid for all your sins and mine when He died on the cross.  No matter how terrible the sin, we do not need to live under the whip of guilt and shame and condemnation because "there is therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  All the wrath of God fell on Jesus.  The moment we receive Him, we receive a FULL PARDON.   It is truly amazing grace!!

If you are inclined to beat yourself up over past sins, STOP IT!  If you have committed terrible sexual sin, or had an abortion, or hurt your family with tremendous selfishness, or betrayed a friend, or whatever, confess it to God.  Get that sin out of your life and under Christ's blood.  Make necessary amends with those you have hurt, and put down the whip!  Receive His grace and know that He does not have any condemnation for you, just a heart of love.

PRAYER

Perhaps you need to pray a prayer like this one today:

Dear God, I have been beating myself over _____________________ (name the sin).  Lord, I have confessed it to you, but I still keep whipping myself over it.  Today, I choose to put down the whip and believe your Word.  Jesus, you died for that sin and shed YOUR blood, so I don't have to shed mine.  Thank you for forgiving me for ________________.  I choose to believe your Word over my feelings – "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness" (1 Jn. 1:9).  Praise You, Lord!  I am forgiven, clean and loved by You.  I believe it and receive it.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

What He's Done For Me... (And You)

... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author [archegos] and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Have you ever heard a song that just sticks with you through the years?

I can remember very vividly going to church on a Sunday night in the late 80's and hearing a song from Psalm 40.  The refrain was, "Whoa oh, oh, oh, what's He's done for me ... I never will forget what He's done for me." 

Do you know what He's done for you?

THE "ARCHEGOS"

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus because He is the author of faith.  The Greek word for author is archegos, a word that can also be translated founder, leader, or prince.  This word is beautifully pictured in maritime terms.

Ships in the first century had an archegos on board.  The archegos was the man who could swim the strongest.  When the ship would approach land, sometimes the wind and the waves would prevent the ship from actually reaching shore.  In those instances, the archegos was called upon to save the day and get the passengers safely off the ship.

This man would take a long rope and tie one end to the ship and the other to his waist.  He would dive into the billowing sea, fight through the wind and the waves, and reach the shore.  Once ashore, he would take that rope and tie it to a sturdy rock or a strong tree in order to make a way for the passengers to safely cross.

Jesus is our archegos.  He willingly dove into the waters of sin and death for you and me.  He was under the water for a time ... and His followers thought He was gone.  But on the third day, He rose physically, bodily, in power and glory.  He faced death and defeated death.  He made a way for us to safely cross over to heaven's shore.

Was it easy for Him?  No.  As a matter of fact, it was so hard that He sweated blood in the Garden of Gethsemane as He wrestled in prayer over the bitter cup of the sin of the world that was coming upon Him.  He said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).  And He willingly, obediently, lovingly dove into the stormy waters of sin and death.

And He did all of that for you and me.  Wow!  A major WOW!!

Take time today and thank Jesus for what He has done for you.  Live every day in awe of His love and sacrifice.  And remember, because Jesus is our archegos, all those who have received Him will one day mock at death and say, "O death where is your victory, O death where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).  Our heavenly archegos has defeated death and invites you and me to share in His victory.  What a Savior!

Love,

[Judy Harder]

The Waiting Room

... that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:12

When I was a sophomore in high school, I broke my leg in a basketball game against our big rival, the Cy-Fair Bobcats. Drag! That injury meant I had to go to the orthopedic surgeon for X-rays, a diagnosis, and a cast.

My doctor was Husam Bahrani. He was from Baghdad, Iraq. Dr. Bahrani was a very skilled surgeon. He was not, however, very punctual. I spent countless hours in his waiting room ... waiting ... waiting ... and waiting to see him for my needed medical care.

THE WAITING GAME

It is never fun to wait, is it? Most people simply detest it. That is why so many of the products we buy are instant: instant coffee, instant pudding, instant potatoes, instant oatmeal, instant whatever! We simply do not have more than an instant to wait! Many people I know tap their foot in impatience when their leftovers are being reheated in the microwave oven, wondering when on earth their food will finally be warmed and ready!

Now, when it comes to the things of God, you and I can throw out the microwave idea. God does not have a microwave; He has a Crockpot. God tells us that it is through faith and patience that we inherit His promises. If you and I are going to see God do great and mighty things in and through our lives, we must be patient and wait on Him and His timing.

Make no mistake about it: waiting on God is one of the hardest things to do. Often, we believe God and trust God for a miracle ... but we want that miracle NOW! In our waiting, we can easily get stressed out, frustrated, and disillusioned, thinking God does not care about us. If He did care, surely He would act, and He would act now! But the truth of the matter is this: God is never late and never in a hurry. He is always right on time. He has grace to help in time of need. He says to us, "Wait on Me, and I will answer in mighty power at the proper time and the perfect moment." The one who believes God—and waits on God—is the one who receives from God.

TAKE IT FROM ABRAHAM

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son. They were old and childless when that wonderful promise from God came to them. Obviously, they were excited and ready for God's promise to come to fruition. The promise did not come quickly, however. They had to wait about thirty years before God gave them Isaac. Thirty years!

The Bible says, "Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20-21). God taught Abraham so much as he waited on God to perform the miracle of the birth Isaac. (It was a miracle because Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born. Take about a late-life baby!) God strengthened Abe's faith in the waiting room ... and then blessed his socks off with a special son of promise. Did it take some time? Yes! Was it worth it? Certainly!

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have you gotten tired of waiting for your miracle? Have you gotten tired of waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right? Have you gotten tired of waiting for your healing, your deliverance, your promotion, or your dream? Have you given up on your promise from God? Pick up the towel you have thrown in, and get back in the waiting room! Add patience to your faith. God's promise to you will come to pass in His timing ... and you will be so blessed.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

A Transformation is Coming

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness,  it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Have you ever looked in the mirror and cringed?  I mean, the image you see is not what you want to see.  Perhaps there are wrinkles ... or flab ... or bald spots ... or blemished skin.  Perhaps your body is wearing out right before your eyes.

I know that is true for me.  My joints are not what they used to be.  My body is stiff and sore much of the time.  As I type this, things are getting blurrier by the day.  I will eventually need to break down and get reading glasses.  Trust me: getting older isn't for cowards!  (And I'm only 49!)

Many of you reading this can relate.  Some of you are saying, "Just wait until you get my age.  If you think 49 is rough, try 79.  Just about everything quits working by then."

Hey, is there any good news for an aging body?  YES!  A new body is in store for every Christian.  Because Jesus rose from the dead, you can be assured that God will raise you up one day too ... and will give you a resurrected body that will blow you away.

IT'S LIKE A SEED

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul said that the resurrection of the body is much like a seed planted in the ground.  A seed doesn't look like much when it is planted, but when it comes out of the ground it sure does.  An acorn is not something to shout about, but a mighty oak tree is.  So ... "when you're down and feeling blue, just look at an acorn and see what a nut can do."

God says that our bodies are sown in dishonor and weakness.  Our physical bodies are perishable and perishing.  It's just like the little boy who was peeling his sun-burned skin and lamented to his mother, "I'm only four years old, and I'm already coming apart."  How true.  The moment we start to live, we start to die.  We all have a perishable body.

IT'S A TRANSFORMATION

But the imperishable is coming.  Glory and power are coming to the child of God ... in his/her body!  A caterpillar may look pretty ugly as it inches along the ground, but one day, that same ugly caterpillar is going to emerge from its cocoon with wings and beauty and glory that befits a Monarch butterfly.

There is a transformation coming to you, if you know Jesus.  You see, when Jesus saves a person, he saves the whole person: spirit, soul, and body.  The initial, instantaneous transformation takes place in the spirit as we are justified and made right with God the moment we receive Christ as Savior and Lord.  The ongoing transformation takes place in the soul as we are sanctified and made more like Christ each day in our hearts as we seek Him and obey Him.  The last and final transformation takes place in our bodies as we are given a spiritual body that is just like our resurrected Lord's.  Our new, imperishable bodies – given to us when the Lord returns – will not be governed by limitations, sickness, fatigue, pain, or death.

So, when you look in the mirror and don't like what you see ... when you get up in the morning and feel a pain in your back ... when you squint to read the street signs ... when you struggle with constant fatigue ... just remember that a transformation is coming.  Take time today to praise God that He has a new body on layaway for you.  It is going to be awesome, and it is something to shout about!

Love,



Jeff Schreve

[Judy Harder]

Laughing in the Face of the Grim Reaper

"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   1 Corinthians 15:55-57

The Grim Reaper is perhaps the most recognizable figure of all time.  The hooded skeleton with a sharp sickle in his bony hands has been the personification of death to all generations.

And death is something man fears greatly.  Try as we might, it is something you and I can't escape.  When The Grim Reaper comes to call, there is nowhere to run or hide.  He takes down the strong as well as the weak.  One Friday in Jerusalem, he even took down the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

MET HIS MATCH

But unlike those who had gone before Him, Jesus didn't stay dead.  On the third day, He broke the sickle of death and sent The Grim Reaper packing.  As He left the tomb, He laughed in the face of The Grim Reaper as he lay utterly defeated at His feet.  And what's more, He offers His victory over death to you and me today.

Do you fear death?  Do you block that ghastly thought out of your mind?  Do you quickly change the subject if death comes up?  Does the thought of The Grim Reaper coming for you scare you to death?  (I couldn't resist.)

As a preacher, I have done lots of weddings and funerals.  While I am always happy to conduct a wedding and tie a good strong knot (no slip knots!), I really prefer funerals ... not because I am morbid, but because of two main reasons:

1.     There is no mother of the bride at funerals (just kidding).

2.     People are forced to consider the reality of death at funerals.

DEATH LOST ITS STING

Did you know that if you are in Christ, you never really die?  It is true!  Jesus said, "Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:26).  When a person receives Jesus, that person passes out of death to life (see John 5:24).  Certainly, Christians still experience the death of the body, but they never experience the death of the soul.  When a Christian dies, he/she goes immediately to be with Jesus – "absent from the body, present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:.

You see, "the sting of death is sin."  But Jesus died for all my sins.  He took the sting for my sins.  Because I have received Jesus as Savior and Lord, death has no power to sting me.  Like a stinging scorpion that lost its stinger, death cannot really hurt me.  It is just the shadow of death that I face.  Jesus already faced the real thing for me.  And He has for you too, but you must receive Him to make His sacrifice personally effective. 

THE BEST PART

The Bible makes it clear that when Jesus returns, He calls His own to Himself and transforms our earthly bodies into glorified ones.  The mortal puts on immortality, and the perishable puts on the imperishable.  Those who are dead in Christ are raised up from the grave, and those who are alive in Christ when He returns are caught up to the clouds.  Both groups will get to laugh in the face of The Grim Reaper saying, "Death you couldn't hold me, you couldn't touch me!  Where is your victory?  It is swallowed up in Jesus Christ!"

Make it a daily practice to thank God for giving His Son for you on the cross.  Thank Jesus for taking your sting so that death has no power over you.  And when the subject of death is mentioned, fear not.  The scorpion has lost its stinger if you know Jesus. 

Love,

[Judy Harder]

The Devil's Three Greatest Lies

He is a liar, and the father of lies.  John 8:44

Deception.  It is the devil's specialty.  The Bible says, "He deceives the whole world"  (Revelation 12:19).  And he deceives the whole world through lies.  Has he deceived you?

I talk to people nearly every day who have been deceived by the devil into thinking that (1) God is not good, (2) God does not really love them, and (3) God cannot really be trusted.  Those are perhaps Satan's three greatest lies ... and so many people, Christians included, subconsciously believe them, to one degree or another.  Why is that?

BAD CIRCUMSTANCES

All of us have a strong tendency to evaluate God's goodness, love, and plan for our lives based on current circumstances.  If things are going well for us, we tend to see God in a positive, biblical light.  But, if things suddenly go south (we encounter job loss, health loss, marriage and family trouble), we start to question the goodness of God and the promises in His Word.

Circumstances are a faulty means for evaluating God and His character.  Job's wife fell into that trap.  As she viewed all of the tragedy that had befallen her and Job, she surmised that God wasn't good, He didn't love them, and He was not worthy of their trust.  Her circumstance-driven response to Job was "curse God and die" (Job 2:9).

Sadly, many follow her advice as they cannot seem to reconcile their trials and hardships on one hand with a good and loving God on the other.  The devil steps in at that moment to say, "The reason this equation doesn't compute in your mind is because God is not good, loving and kind.  The pain of your trials is real and undeniable, but the goodness of God is obviously a cruel, sadistic joke.  Better to just curse God and die."

The truth of the matter is this: God is good, regardless of bad circumstances.  God loves you and me, regardless of the storms that may pour into our lives.  God has a good plan for us, regardless of what it might look like right now.

MAKING A CAKE

While I am not a chef by any stretch of the imagination, I have, on occasion, helped my wife, Debbie, make a cake.  Cake is something most of us LOVE because it tastes great.  But a cake doesn't taste too good if you start eating it before it is ready.  Flour and raw eggs and vanilla extract and baking powder and canola oil aren't the least bit tasty as they sit in the mixing bowl.

Perhaps you have been guilty of tasting the bitter ingredients of your life as they sit unstirred in the mixing bowl.  Perhaps you have secretly determined that the Master Chef, Jesus Christ, must not be much of a Master because the dish He is preparing – your life – tastes terrible.  Hmmm.

WAIT ON THE LORD

God knows what He is doing.  Put down your spoon and quit judging the product before it is finished.  Trust God and His Word.  The cross of Jesus Christ is God's permanent reminder to you and me that he is good, He loves us, and He can be trusted (Romans 8:32).  And what's more ... even when rotten things get thrown in the mixing bowl, He works them together for good by His amazing grace (Romans 8:28).

The devil's lies or God's truth: which one will you choose to believe today?

Love,

[Judy Harder]

I Still Do

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.   Genesis 2:24

A man in his twenties was talking to an older co-worker at the office and said, "Tomorrow is my fifth wedding anniversary.  I wonder what I should get my wife?"

The older man reminisced, "For my 25th wedding anniversary, I took my wife to France." 

"Awesome! How will you celebrate your 50th?"

The older man replied, "I'm going back to get her."

MARRIAGE WOES

That little joke sums up many marriages.  What started as an ideal, soon becomes an ordeal ... and eventually both parties are longing for a new deal.  That is not what God intended when He created marriage.  On a scale of 1-10, God wants your marriage to be a 12!  He wants it off the charts great.

As I write this, it is my 26th wedding anniversary.  I can honestly say that Debbie and I are more in love now than we ever have been.  We are best friends and committed to one another through thick and thin.  Divorce is NOT an option.  I told Debbie early on, "If you ever leave me ... I'm going with you."  I praise God for all that he has done and is doing in our relationship.

While our marriage is definitely not perfect, there are some things we have learned that have really helped us work through problems so that we can enjoy a healthy, growing relationship.

1.     COMMUNICATION.  Closeness in marriage is dependent upon the ability to openly and honestly share your feelings.  Oftentimes, a husband will hurt his wife's feelings and have little to no clue as to what he did.  She thinks he ought to know that his comment was rude, mean, and insensitive.  She says to herself, "He should know what he did.  I'm not going to tell him, I'm just going to wait for him to apologize."

NEWSFLASH: He doesn't know most of the time.  He doesn't think or feel like you do.  He needs you to kindly, respectfully, and honestly tell him—spell it out for him—when he hurts your feelings.  I heard about a woman who had on her T-shirt, "All men are idiots, and I married their king."  When it comes to men understanding women, that T-shirt is not too far off.  So wives, tells us.  Be specific and be timely.  We won't really know otherwise.

And husbands ... tell your wife when you feel shut out in the bedroom.  Let her know if       you feel rejected, unwanted, and undesirable to her.  She needs to know because she doesn't think and feel like you do and won't figure it out on her own.

2.     DISHONESTY.  Lies destroy trust.  If you are dishonest in your relationship (with finances, Facebook, or your hurts and struggles), you are setting fire to the foundation of trust.  Be honest and truthful with one another.  And always speak the truth in love.

3.     FAILING TO SEEK AND GRANT FORGIVENESS.  Forgiveness is a must in marriage.  If you hold on to hurts and refuse to forgive your spouse for things he/she did that hurt you, you set the stage for an ice-cold relationship where the poison of resentment and bitterness reigns.  Give all of those hurts to God so your heart does not sour toward your spouse.

And, when you mess up, fess up.  Take full responsibility for your actions and inactions.  When you hurt your spouse's feelings, humbly seek forgiveness.  Apologize from the heart and ask for forgiveness.  Remember, the greater the offense, the more time is needed for the rebuilding of trust.  Forgiveness can be granted immediately, but trust takes time to restore.

HOPE FOR YOU!

Maybe your marriage is in trouble today.  Don't despair!  If God can raise Lazarus from the dead, He can work a miracle in your marriage.  Enlist the help of a good Christian counselor and begin doing the things necessary to right the ship.

Think of your marriage this way: if you were 100 pounds overweight, you would not get slim and trim in a day, or a week, or even a month.  It takes time, effort, and consistency to drop 100 pounds.  And it takes time, effort, and consistency to go from a 2 to a 10 on the marriage scale.  It can and will happen, though, if both parties will commit themselves to the Lord and to the marriage.

God wants your marriage to be great.  When you are praying for a great marriage, you can be sure that you are praying according to His will (see 1 John 5:14-15).  So be encouraged.  He can do anything in the lives of people submitted to Him.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

That Still, Small Voice of Encouragement

And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  1 Kings 19:11-12

Encouragement.  It is what everyone needs, is it not?  I believe it was Mark Twain who said, "I can live for two months on a good compliment."  Wow.  One good compliment gave him that much strength and encouragement.

Did you know that God wants to encourage you and me on a consistent, daily basis?  He does not want you to wait months to hear a word of encouragement from Him.  He wants you to go to His Word and receive a fresh word of encouragement directly from Him for today's troubles and problems.  He is a daily provider.

A WORD FROM GOD TO PASTORS

As any pastor reading this can relate, being a pastor can be very trying at times.  As one pastor said, "My greatest challenge is keeping the 50% of the church that don't like me away from the 50% that aren't sure."  Another pastor said, "I think the whole world is against me ... but I know that's not really true.  Some of the smaller countries are neutral."

Many commentators have postulated that Paul's thorn in the flesh may refer to people who were working overtime to smear his character and bring him down.  I think there might be a lot of truth to that theory.

Let me share a great word of encouragement from David in Psalm 31:

I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, and You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place.  Psalm 31:7-8

Amen!  Thank You, Jesus!

AMY LEARNS

My 22 year old daughter, Amy, wrote a blog entry that fits like a glove with this topic.  It is from www.amylearns.tumblr.com... and it is such a blessing.  Amy writes:

So as many of you know, I really do admire and respect Tim Tebow.  I just think the guy is incredible. Okay so anyways, as many of you know he has done SO much with sick children ... it's really pretty amazing. I recently watched a video of him with a teenage boy who was very ill. They were in Orlando, hanging out for the day.

Toward the end of the day, Tim coaxes the kid out of the wheelchair to throw the football with him. The kid is shy and hesitant.  He fears that he won't be able to throw it well with this pro quarterback.  He even says, "It will be hard to throw with one hand."  There are cameras around, and people are watching.  He is nervous to throw the ball with THE TIM TEBOW.

Then Tim says something pretty remarkable. You have to almost know it's there to pick up on it. He almost whispers to the kid, ever so softly, "Just throw it to me."  Man.  I had to play it back several times. The kid throws it just to Tim, and it's a great exchange.

I thought: What a beautiful picture of the Lord and our walk with Him! How often do we look at our circumstances, all the stuff around and think, "I can't do this.  It's too much.  I'm scared.  I'm not capable." And just like Tim, the Lord whispers, "Just throw it to me.  Just walk with me, Amy.  I will protect you.  I will not abandon you."

Although once hesitant, the boy ended up having a great time throwing the ball around with Tim. He was joyful! The same can be true in our walk with the Lord. "Just walk with Me."

Wow.  I just can't get over that picture of the Lord.  It really spoke to me.  Pretty incredible!

Pretty incredible, indeed.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

The Secret of Being Content

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  Philippians 4:11

I love the true story of Fanny Crosby, the beloved hymn writer of yesteryear. When Fanny was a baby, she developed inflammation in her eyes. A negligent doctor prescribed the wrong treatment, and as a result, young Fanny went blind.

Fanny easily could have become a bitter person. She easily could have viewed life through the jaded lens of resentment and anger over what had happened to her. She could have been a constant whiner over the injustice she suffered. But she refused to fall into that trap. Regardless of her circumstances, she chose to be thankful and content. In fact, she penned these words:

"Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

THE 33 PERCENT RULE

Sue Enquist, the legendary softball coach of the UCLA Bruins (1989 – 2006), was known for the 33 Percent Rule. In her way of thinking, you can divide people into three categories. The bottom 33 percent of people always whine and complain. These are the folks that suck the fun out of anything and everything. The middle 33 percent have an attitude that fluctuates from good to bad depending on circumstances. They are good to be around provided all is going well for them. The top 33 percent choose a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances. No matter what they are facing, they are joyful, hopeful, and thankful.

Fanny Crosby was in the top 33 percent. What about you?

AWARE AND FIGHTING FOR IT

It is easy for me to slip into the middle category of the 33 Percent Rule. If I am not sensitive to what is coming out of my mouth, I can let negative circumstances make me negative. But, if I stop and take the time to see that God is over every circumstance, I can choose to thank Him for the adversity and look to see what He is going to teach me through it all.

Every trial is a test. Every hardship is an opportunity to thank God, trust God, and grow stronger in your faith.

Will you take inventory of your life today? Are you living with contentment, regardless of the circumstances? Are you choosing to rejoice and praise God even in the face of adversity? If not, you can start today.

PRAYER

Dear God, please forgive me for whining and griping about my circumstances: my bad job, my terrible boss, my back-stabbing co-worker, my evaporating finances, my bad health, my troubled marriage, my _____________________. Lord, I know that You are over every circumstance and situation. You have allowed this trial to come to me to help me grow and shine for You. I choose to face my difficulties with a strong and renewed faith, knowing that You will see me through as I trust You. Thank You, Lord. Regardless of what happens today, I choose by faith to make it a great day! Amen.

Love,