Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Blessed December


Let not your heart be troubled...

John 14:1

Recommended Reading

Luke 1:78-79

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could suspend all wars for the month of December in honor of Christ's birth? We've read about the amazing Christmas Eve truce of World War I when German and Allied soldiers sang carols, exchanged gifts, and played soccer on the battlefields of Flanders. Why can't the armies of the world declare December a month of peace? What if no diseases struck during December? No deaths occurred? No funerals were necessary?


We live in a deadly, disease-ridden, war-weary world; and there's no cessation of trouble. But the Lord Jesus Christ can give inner peace, and He can provide assurance of eternal peace. In one of His greatest promises, He said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).


How personal! Notice the phrases: ...with you...to you...to you...your heart.


We don't know how to suspend war or wickedness, but as Christians we walk with the Lord and experience His peace every day of December and beyond.



Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Timothy 4:1 -- Titus 3:15

[Judy Harder]

Why the Incarnation?


And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

John 1:14a

Recommended Reading

John 1:1-14

Our heavenly Father yearned through the centuries and the rise and fall of civilizations to redeem His needy people. He never ceased to reach out to His prodigal family. He did this in every possible way: through the glories of His creation, through the immeasurable gifts He gave them, through the words of prophets and teachers. He dispatched His servants with countless messages that said the same thing in ten thousand ways: "Come home, come home! You are loved now and forever."


In the end and at long last, in the fullness of time, God Himself made the journey. He poured His Godhead into flesh and blood and visited the earth as a man. He walked among us -- a King in disguise, the Creator among His creatures. He entered our world through a doorway called Bethlehem and the world was changed forever.


That's something to celebrate! That's the reason it's a merry Christmas. The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. He is your Emmanuel today -- God with us. Live in peace and strength knowing that God is with you!



Read-thru-the-Bible
Philemon 1:1 -- Hebrews 2:18

[Judy Harder]

Rest Not Stress


And He said to them,"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."

Mark 6:31a


     

Recommended Reading

Matthew 11:28-30





"Cure stress permanently!" The advertisement is alluring. But notice there's no guarantee? Promises of proven home remedies and natural cures for stress flood the market. So why are emergency rooms and doctors' offices overflowing with patients complaining of symptoms that are stress related? Provoking numerous physical and emotional conditions, stress is the malady of our day.


But stress is not a modern-day phenomenon. The Jews of Jesus' day also experienced burnout. Feverishly, they worked in vain to meet the demands of the hypocritical scribes. Jesus saw the Jews struggling under the weight of that oppressive system and entreated them: "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest." Those who responded felt the weight of their sin removed, and they experienced the promise of a new life and future.


Jesus' invitation calls out to us today. Are you burdened by unconfessed sin? Weary from responsibility, monotony, anxiety? Few things in life come with guarantees. Accept the life-time guarantee that Jesus offers you now: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."


Rest. Don't stress.



Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 7:1 -- 9:28

[Judy Harder]

One-for-One


. . . for I always do those things that please Him.

John 8:29

Recommended Reading

Mark 4:18-20

From medications to meditation, people are seeking ways to de-stress. Multiple agendas complicate our lives as we crave purpose and significance. If only we could live like Jesus did -- with one agenda.


You think you're busy? Jesus lived his life with unparalleled intensity. Crowds of people thronged Him with overwhelming needs and requests; yet Jesus lived in the peace that passes understanding. Jesus revolutionized His world with one agenda: doing His Father's will.


The magnificent call of Jesus is that He asks us to live the same way He did: ". . . I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29). He doesn't ask for 95% of our lives with personal agendas attached. As Jesus' disciples, we need to give every corner of our lives, every aspect of our thinking to Him -- our choices, crises, things that cause us stress. And as we follow His call, Jesus boldly promises: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).


If you've been experiencing inner feelings of stress and uneasiness, maybe your agendas are blocking God's purpose for your life. One simple prayer will grant you rest in this tumultuous world: "Lord, teach me to do Your will."



Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 10:1 -- 11:40

[Judy Harder]

Inside Story


. . . though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

An astonishing $14 trillion a year is spent by Americans attempting to look stylish, according to a report last year by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 1  People's obsession with how they look dates as far back as the Lord correcting Samuel: ". . . man looks at the outward appearance, but [I look] at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).


Mirrors don't reflect the inner part of us that lasts forever. And when trials knock on our doors, looking cool won't prepare us to victoriously meet their test. The apostle Paul describes the inner man as being renewed day by day as spiritual muscles grow stronger. He wasn't a perfect specimen of health (2 Corinthians 12:7), but Paul survived persecution and imprisonment because he lived his life from the inside out, focusing on eternity. When stress-producing events occurred, Paul survived and kept on singing (Acts 16:25).


What's at the core of your life? Are you so focused on looking fashionable that you haven't spent time strengthening your inner person through studying God's Word and praying without ceasing? What could you adjust in your schedule this week to allow more time for spiritual growth?



Read-thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 12:1 -- 13:25

1 http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-14-trillion-spent-annually-on-trying-to-loo,17125/ (accessed 8/9/11).

[Judy Harder]

Bible sWord Drill


Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

Recommended Reading

Luke 4:1-13

NFL legend Mike Ditka was giving a news conference after being fired as the coach of the Chicago Bears in 1992 when he decided to quote the Bible--erroneously: "Scripture tells you that all things shall pass," a choked-up Ditka said. "This, too, shall pass." 1


How often do you realize the Bible is being misquoted? Have you heard: "God helps those who help themselves"? Or, "Cleanliness is next to godliness"? Neither one of these bits of folk wisdom are found in Scripture. As biblical ignorance increases, phantom biblical phrases float around our culture. Will those words turn away the enemy of our souls? When Jesus faced Satan's temptations, he quoted Scripture (Luke 4:4, 8, 12).


Are you looking for strength to persevere through a tough situation in your life? It's tempting to grab on to short and tweet-worthy phrases instead of studying and memorizing the Bible. But taking time to establish a Bible-memory plan will ensure spiritual victory. Pray about memorizing Bible verses that will strengthen your weaknesses and help you overcome what is tempting you even now. Then put your Bible-memory plan into action!

Read-thru-the-Bible
James 1:1 -- 2:26

1 <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/05/thats-not-in-the-bible/> (accessed 8/9/11).

[Judy Harder]

Rusting or Trusting


Do not fret... Trust.

Psalm 37:1, 3

Recommended Reading

Psalm 37:1-4

The Harbour Bridge and nearby Opera House are iconic images of Sydney, Australia. But engineers have recently grown alarmed that the famous bridge is showing serious signs of corrosion. Last year city officials spent $12 million fighting an endless battle with rust.


Anxiety is like rust. It coats and corrodes the mind, weakening the entire structure. Worry dissolves our peace just as rust eats away the strength of a bridge -- weakening the metal that was formerly strong.


Sydney's Harbour Bridge will be fine. Workers have been stripping the structure back to bare metal and starting the rustproofing process all over again with special paints. But how do you rustproof the heart?


You simply add a "t" and turn rust to trust. The writer of Psalm 37 said: "Trust in the LORD ... Delight yourself also in the LORD... Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him... Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret... trust in Him" (v. 3, 4, 5, 7, 40).


Don't rust. Trust.



Read-thru-the-Bible
James 3:1 -- 5:20

[Judy Harder]

Why the Star?


We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

Matthew 2:2b

Recommended Reading

Numbers 24:15-17

What compelled the Magi to put aside all they were doing to undertake a long and dangerous journey, following one shimmering star across the landscape? The wise men were astrologers, seeking to understand human events by reading the constellations. It was their habit to compare the skies to prophetic literature, including the Jewish scriptures. Perhaps they had read Numbers 24:17, which says: "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel."


For ancient Magi, the message was clear: A great king, announced with the silent fanfare of a brilliant star, was on the way. And if such a king was foretold more than one thousand years earlier, He was worth traveling to see.


And so they came, and so do we. Somehow this star, our star, broke through the galaxies to remind us that the intimate story of the Nativity is written on the widest of canvases. And when we see Him, every star dims by comparison.


Read-thru-the-Bible
1 Peter 1:1 -- 2:25
1 Peter 3:1 -- 5:14

[Judy Harder]

Walk in Peace


Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . .

Luke 3:8

Recommended Reading

Luke 7:1-10

What does it take to amaze Jesus? Twice in His earthly ministry, Jesus "marveled" ("was amazed," NIV) at something. Once was when a Roman centurion had the faith to believe Jesus could heal his servant just by speaking the word from a distance (Luke 7:1-10). The soldier understood authority and recognized that sickness was subject to Jesus. His faith told him that all Jesus needed to do was give the command and the servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at this demonstration of faith. (The other instance is in Mark 6:6 -- Jesus was amazed for the opposite reason.)


John the Baptist verbalized a kingdom principle to the crowds who came to receive his baptism: "Bear fruits worthy of repentance." That is, your life must demonstrate your faith. That applies in every area of the faith life -- even worry and anxiety. If we commit our worries to God in prayer, and believe we have been given the peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7), we need to walk in peace. We need to bring forth fruits worthy of God's promise and our prayer.


If you are worried today, amaze Jesus by how you acknowledge His lordship by walking in peace.


Read-thru-the-Bible
2 Peter 1:1--3:18

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, December 13

Repetition

Blessed is the man... his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
  Psalm 1:1-2

  Recommended Reading
Joshua 1:7-9

At the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park outside Atlanta, the biggest roller coaster is Goliath: height on the first drop is 200 feet (like stepping off a 20-story building); top speed is 70 miles per hour; length is 4,480 feet spread out over 8.5 acres. For those standing in line to ride Goliath for the first time, fear is the predominant emotion. But for the diehards awaiting their hundredth ride, fear has been replaced by fun.


  Listen to Today's Radio Message

The difference? Repetition. Doing fearful acts over and over--learning that you will, in fact, survive--is the secret to living in peace. And that's true even in the spiritual life. If the only time you pray or read your Bible is when a life-threatening crisis arises, you're not likely to have a lot of peace in spite of God's promises. But if you are learning to trust God daily by committing everything to Him in prayer--crises big or small--seeing God's faithfulness repeatedly over time leads to a worry-free life: "God has carried me through countless situations before this. I know He is with me."

Whatever happens today, commit it to God in prayer and walk in peace. Then repeat daily for the rest of your life.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 1:1-3:24






Wednesday, December 14

Our Sufficient Abba

  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.
  2 Corinthians 3:5

  Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

"Mommy, can you put this barrette in my hair?" "Daddy, the chain came off my bike. Can you fix it?" "Coach, what can I do on the weights to begin building more strength?" "Pastor, can you help us resolve an issue in our relationship that we keep getting stuck on?"

 
  Listen to Today's Radio Message

Those questions--and a thousand more just like them--suggest a couple of things about the person who is asking. The first is inadequacy. Whether a result of age, immaturity, inexperience, or lack of training, everyone is inadequate in some (many) ways. The second is a willingness to ask for help. Children don't hesitate to ask for help, while adults are sometimes hesitant due to pride. If we are to make progress in our spiritual life, we have to embrace both realities: inadequacy and a willingness to ask God for help. The Bible says God is our  Abba  (the Aramaic word for "daddy") who stands ready to hear His children's requests for help (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).

If we were sufficient in all things, we wouldn't need God's sufficiency. It is up to us to recognize our inadequacy and be willing to ask for help.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 John 4:1-2 John 1:13