Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

APRIL 30

When Your World Caves In

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Mark 13:26

When we come to a place where we don't understand what is happening...when everything seems to be caving in, there is Jesus. We always have the forgiveness of the cross, the victory of the empty tomb, and the hope of Christ's imminent return.

When we go to the doctor and he tells us we have a malignancy. When we hear that we are infertile as a couple and cannot bear a child. When we have to declare bankruptcy. When we are laid off work. When we read a note that our spouse has left. When a loved one dies because of a terrorist act. We have a Savior...and we have a choice to believe or not to believe!

At that time we can begin to murmur, criticize, grumble, or despair. Or we can yield to the Savior and hear Him say, "My child, no matter what is happening, this is how much I love you. Look to the cross. Look to the empty tomb. Look for Me. I'm coming again."

Get in a position of humility. If you can, drop to your knees. If you cannot, bow your head and close your eyes. Imagine the cross of Christ. Meditate upon the shame Christ experienced, the pain He endured, and the victory He secured in His death.

[Judy Harder]

MAY 1

They're Cheering for YOU!

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

A soft-spoken woman went to a high school football game. She'd been quiet the entire game until there was a fumble on the field. The substitute quarterback, a little scrawny kid, picked up the ball and started running past the other players toward the goal.

And this little lady exploded! She jumped up and said, "Run, baby, run! Run, baby, run!" He was her son.

That's what the saints are saying, as they watch us on the playing field of life. They are cheering us on from the heavenly grandstand to "run with patience, the race that is set before us."

Do you need a lift today? Imagine a grandstand the size of heaven cheering you on to victory!

[Judy Harder]

MAY 2
All Things May Be Lawful, But...

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." 1 Corinthians 6:12

If you want to be a victor in the race God has for you, you must learn the discipline of laying aside some weights. Many times these weights are good things in our lives. But good things are bad things when they keep us from doing the best things.

Life would be simple if it were a choice between good and bad. But typically it's a choice between good and best.

Our verse says "all things are not expedient." When you think of the word "expedient," think of the word "expedition." You are going somewhere, and if something doesn't speed you on your way, it's excess baggage and you need to get rid of it.

Ask God, "Are there legitimate, lawful things in my life that are keeping me from running the race You've given me?" If revealed, ask for discipline to lay them aside!

[Judy Harder]

MAY 3

Removing Trip-Ups from the Track

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."  1 Corinthians 9:24
Runners not only need to untangle themselves from weights that may slow them down, but they need to also remove things from the track that may trip them up!

As a Christian, the good things in life may slow us down, but sin will stop us dead in our tracks—it will trip us up. You had better learn to treat sin as sin would treat you! Sin will be merciless to you, and you need to be merciless to sin.

2 Timothy 2:19 says "Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life that is tripping you up today? Pray Psalm 139:23-24.

[Judy Harder]

MAY 4

Rounding Third and Heading for Home

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7

When Jesus came to the end of His life, He said, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4).

He stayed on the track, and so did Paul. They accomplished what God had set out for them to do.

Every man has a race that he must run. Every woman has a race set before her. God knows the course. And everything God commands of you, He will empower you to do. Whether you're nine or ninety, young or old, rich or poor, God has a plan for your life! God has a race He wants you to run!

What is the race God has set before you? If you are not certain, inquire of Him. What He asks of you, He will empower you to do. Thank God for the power to finish the course.

[Judy Harder]

MAY 5

Running With Endurance   

"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit."  John 12:24

You can tell the size of a Christian by what it takes to stop him. Hebrews 12:1 says we are to "run with patience the race that is set before us." And this word "patience" is not used in the sense that we use the word. It literally means "endurance."

Everybody knows that a runner is going to win or lose primarily by his endurance. You cannot quit. When it hurts, you cannot quit. When your lungs are on fire, you cannot quit. When your feet feel like lead, you cannot quit. When your sides ache, you cannot quit! You'll never be a spiritual athlete if you're a quitter! No pain. No gain.

His power will enable you to run the race and gain the victor's crown

[Judy Harder]

MAY 6

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

I ask some Christians, "How are you doing?" They say, "Okay—under the circumstances." How did you ever get there?

Circumstances are like a mattress. You're supposed to be on it, not under it. Under the circumstances, you suffocate; on them you rest pretty well.

The only way you can run the race is to take your eyes off things or people around you and look to Jesus. He's the author of the race. He's the goal to which you run. If you look to Jesus to supply your every need for the race, you'll find faith growing in your heart and in your life. You see, it's not great faith in God; it is faith in a great God.

Do you have a hymnal in your home? Find the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Lemmel and make it your anthem!

[Judy Harder]

MAY 7

More Than Fair-Weather Christianity

"If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself."  2 Timothy 2:13

Are you a fair-weather Christian? There are some who, if their children get sick, will stop tithing. If they get a bad report from the doctor, they stop praising. If somebody hurts their feelings, they stop going to church.

You can tell the commitment level of a Christian by their "fair weather" gauge.

The test is, when everything goes wrong or doesn't add up, what will you do?

I'll give you some hints. Keep giving. Keep praying. Keep praising. Keep witnessing. Keep worshipping. Don't fail to be faithful.

Think of three things you can do today to bring the light of God's Son to someone who may be struggling with his or her faith. Then go do it!

[Judy Harder]

MAY 8

Thanking God for Godly Mothers

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12

One time I had the privilege of speaking with the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, about his salvation and personal relationship with Christ and prayed with him about that. He looked me in the eyes and said, "I want to tell you, my mother was the most godly person I have ever known."  He then went on to tell me about her influence in his life.

Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel mother." This time every year we celebrate our mothers. Oh, the power of a mother's love!

Do you know what children need? A – B – C:

Acceptance
Belonging
Confidence

Thank God for magnificent mothers!Thank God for the impact of godly mothers in the lives of children.

[Judy Harder]

MAY 9

Questions About The Lord's Day

Exodus 20:8 – "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Is it okay to watch television on Sunday? Is it okay to go to a ball game on Sunday? Is it okay to eat out on Sunday? Is it okay to read the newspaper on Sunday? Can I play softball on Sunday? Can I go out on a boat on Sunday? Can I go to the grocery store if we're out of milk on Sunday?

We hear questions like these all the time. But do you know what's wrong with them? You're asking the wrong man. It's not my day—it's the Lord's day. Ask Him.

Ask God, "How can I honor You on the Lord's Day so at the end of the day I can know that it was indeed Your day?"