Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 22, 2008
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December Desire
READ: Revelation 22:1-5

They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. -Revelation
22:5

December is a month when people celebrate miracles. The Jewish tradition of
Hanukkah-the
Holiday of Lights-commemorates the time when a small amount of oil lasted 8 days
and kept the light in the temple from going out. And Christmas celebrates the coming
of the "Light of the World," God in human form-Jesus.

A miracle is generally thought of as something that contradicts nature. But a true
miracle is the introduction of God's supernatural power into our world in a way
that suspends the laws of physics as we understand them.

In December, it seems that more of us are willing to suspend disbelief and entertain
the possibility that "nature" is not the final authority. Even the non-religious
yearn for miracles. Deep down, everyone wants to believe that darkness, disease,
and death can be overcome.

Perhaps the most wondrous thing about miracles is that it is God's nature to do
the supernatural. The closing chapters of Scripture assure us that this "December
desire" for all to be well will become a reality: "There shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain" (Rev. 21:4). God will one
day bring to an end the unnatural rule of Satan and begin His righteous reign as
the rightful Ruler of the universe.  - Julie Ackerman Link

Thank You, Lord, that although we live in a world
where Satan's shadow obscures Your glorious light,
we eagerly anticipate the day when Your full glory will once again illuminate all
creation. Amen.

A miracle needs no explanation to those who believe in God; to those who don't,
no explanation is enough.
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Living a Life of Conviction
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came
to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with
deep conviction.

Everyone lives a life of conviction. Whatever we give our greatest time, our greatest
energies, and our greatest resources to is a good indication of where our convictions
lie. Some live a life of conviction about sports. Some live a life of conviction
around pleasure. Still others live a life of conviction about very little that
matters at all.

Whenever God chooses to do a deep work in a life, a strong conviction is born of
the Holy Spirit. Conversions in the early Church resulted in changed lives that
held to a deep, life-transforming conviction regarding what they believed and how
they lived out that belief. Paul explains that the gospel they received came not
just in words, but also in power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

In order to impact the marketplace for Jesus Christ, each of us must be reflecting
a faith that is demonstrated through deeply held convictions. Are you living a life
of deep conviction that spurs you on to reflect the power of Christ in your life
and the lives of others? Paul was willing to suffer great persecution for his faith
in a living God. God calls each of us to a life that is supernatural, not simply
a good, moral life. The early Church understood the role the Holy Spirit played
in demonstrating this power of the gospel. It was this deep work that resulted
in living the gospel with great conviction. If you are not living the gospel with
great conviction, ask the Holy Spirit to so fill your life today that the power
of His Spirit is truly reflected in your life so that you may impact others in your
marketplace.

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb
to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's
life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation
and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and
complexities
of career and family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Living Free Every Day

Today's Scripture

"Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under God."
Lamentations 3:40 MSG

Thoughts for Today

Business owners take regular inventory of their stock. These inventories can be
a useful business planning tool. They can reveal growth or decline in business
productivity
and possible obstacles to growth. They can assist business owners in making changes
for a better future.

Taking a regular inventory of our life can be productive, as well. It can help us
answer questions about the directions our life is moving. Are we growing or declining
in character development? Are we moving toward our life goals, or are there hindering
obstacles? Are we growing in our relationship with God? What changes do we need
to make to move ahead more effectively?

Consider this

As we approach a new year, determine to take inventory of your life. Consider your
relationships with God, your family, your church and your friends. Be honest. Ask
God to help you see things as they really are and to face any inappropriate behavior
without making excuses for yourself.

God loves you and he wants to help you eliminate those things in your life that
may be hurting you-and others. But before he can help you, you must face up to the
fact that these problems exist. Remember Jesus is with you. He will not disappoint
you in your time of personal searching.

Prayer

Father, help me take a good, honest look at myself. Help me see what is pleasing
to you and what is disappointing you. Help me to reorder my life under you. In
Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program
-
by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support
groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with
a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling
or workaholism. 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.

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 Drawing of the Father
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him . . . -John 6:44

When God begins to draw me to Himself, the problem of my will comes in immediately.
Will I react positively to the truth that God has revealed? Will I come to Him?
To discuss or deliberate over spiritual matters when God calls is inappropriate
and disrespectful to Him. When God speaks, never discuss it with anyone as if to
decide what your response may be (see Galatians 1:15-16).

Belief is not the result of an intellectual act, but the result of an act of
my will whereby I deliberately commit myself. But will I commit, placing myself
completely and absolutely on God, and be willing to act solely on what He says?
If I will, I will find that I am grounded on reality as certain as God's throne.

In preaching the gospel, always focus on the matter of the will. Belief must come
from the will to believe. There must be a surrender of the will, not a surrender
to a persuasive or powerful argument. I must deliberately step out, placing my
faith in God and in His truth. And I must place no confidence in my own works, but
only in God. Trusting in my own mental understanding becomes a hindrance to complete
trust in God. I must be willing to ignore and leave my feelings behind. I must will
to believe. But this can never be accomplished without my forceful, determined effort
to separate myself from my old ways of looking at things. I must surrender myself
completely to God.

Everyone has been created with the ability to reach out beyond his own grasp. But
it is God who draws me, and my relationship to Him in the first place is an inner,
personal one, not an intellectual one. I come into the relationship through the
miracle of God and through my own will to believe. Then I begin to get an intelligent
appreciation and understanding of the wonder of the transformation in my life.

God Bless
===============================================================

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 23, 2008

Invisible Man
READ: John 14:5-20
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. -Hebrews 12:2

As a boy, I was fascinated by the book The Invisible Man. The main character played an elaborate game of hide-and-seek, staying just out of reach of mere mortals "cursed" with a visible nature. To have a physical presence, he wore clothes and wrapped his face in bandages. When it was time to escape, he simply removed everything and disappeared.

I wonder if we have similar thoughts about our unseen God. We feel He is beyond our reach and express it in song with one of my favorite hymns:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes.

Yet, while declaring the wonder of God, the hymn speaks of a God who is not just invisible:

All praise we would render-O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!

We perceive that God is distant, far off, inaccessible, and hidden. But we need a God who is accessible, and we wonder how to have a meaningful relationship with Him.

We will never fully comprehend what God is like. Yet He Himself is accessible to us. In part, that is why Jesus came-to "show us the Father" (John 14:8-11) and to bring us close to Him, because "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15).

Our God is an invisible God, beyond our limited comprehension. Thankfully, Jesus came to show us how near to us He really is.  - Bill Crowder

God's presence with us is His greatest present to us.

Treasures in Darkness

Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

"I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me, and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area." Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. That day when I confessed those words, God led me to this passage of Scripture.

What we perceive as dark periods in our lives are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often-accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God's viewpoint: "...so that you may know that I am the Lord...who summons you by name."

You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at God's mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God's faithfulness in those areas. We will never know how personal He is, or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are "summoned by name." Every hair of our head is numbered. He knows every activity we are involved in. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to us.

Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name.

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and complexities of career and family.
Click to Order or Learn More

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it." 2 Corinthians 13:5 MSG

Thoughts for Today

Yesterday we considered the importance of taking a regular inventory of our lives. A good place to start is by examining our relationship with God. As you begin to do this, ask yourself some hard questions like these: 

Do I know God better today than I did last month or last year?   
Am I asking God about his plan for my life-or just forging on ahead, doing my own thing?   
Am I too busy for God? (A trap we can all easily fall into, especially this time of year)   
Am I persisting in some behavior that I know is displeasing to him?
Consider this

You can trust Jesus to forgive your failures and give you the strength to get your life back on track. The changes might be small or large. The important thing is to always be moving in the right direction toward God and his plan for your life.

Prayer

Father, I desire to grow in my walk with you, to know you better, to accomplish your plan for my life. As I celebrate the birth of your Son and all that he means to me, help me see the areas in my life that need change-and then to do something about it. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from

Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. 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.

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.
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Sharing in the Atonement


God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . -Galatians 6:14
The gospel of Jesus Christ always forces a decision of our will. Have I accepted God's verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ? Do I have even the slightest interest in the death of Jesus? Do I want to be identified with His death- to be completely dead to all interest in sin, worldliness, and self? Do I long to be so closely identified with Jesus that I am of no value for anything except Him and His purposes? The great privilege of discipleship is that I can commit myself under the banner of His Cross, and that means death to sin. You must get alone with Jesus and either decide to tell Him that you do not want sin to die out in you, or that at any cost you want to be identified with His death. When you act in confident faith in what our Lord did on the cross, a supernatural identification with His death takes place immediately. And you will come to know through a higher knowledge that your old life was "crucified with Him" (Romans 6:6 ). The proof that your old life is dead, having been "crucified with Christ" ( Galatians 2:20  ), is the amazing ease with which the life of God in you now enables you to obey the voice of Jesus Christ.

Every once in a while our Lord gives us a glimpse of what we would be like if it were not for Him. This is a confirmation of what He said- ". . . without Me you can do nothing" ( John 15:5  ). That is why the underlying foundation of Christianity is personal, passionate devotion to the Lord Jesus. We mistake the joy of our first introduction into God's kingdom as His purpose for getting us there. Yet God's purpose in getting us into His kingdom is that we may realize all that identification with Jesus Christ means.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 24, 2008

Christmas In Tokyo
READ: Acts 17:22-34
The One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you. -Acts 17:23

On Christmas Eve 2003, noted painter Makoto Fujimura gathered with other artists for a party at Sato Museum in Tokyo. Many had donated their works for a benefit exhibit to raise money for children in Afghanistan. After the meal, Mr. Fujimura, an ardent Christian who lives in New York, shared some words about the true meaning of Christmas and their opportunity as artists to create works that help bring hope into the world.

Reflecting on that event, Fujimura wrote: "I was convinced, that evening in Tokyo, that Jesus invited Himself to be among artists who may not even know His name. Some of these artists, I suspect, have already sensed His presence in their studios as they labored to create peace via their paintings. All gifts of creativity, like the Magi's [star], point straight to a stable in Bethlehem."

Paul said that God is at work among people of all nations "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28).

We should be alert for the Lord's presence where we least expect to see Him. Jesus may invite Himself to any Christmas party. After all, it's His birthday.  - David C. McCasland

The star shines forth in its glory bright
To lighten the gloom of earth's darkest night;
And Calvary's Christ will still impart
His comfort and love to the needy heart. -Richey


This Christmas, be alert for the work and presence of Jesus.


Marketplace Meditations 12/24

Resolving the Ownership Issue
Psalms 24:1-2
The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

As Christian businesspeople, God calls us to view Him as the owner of everything. We are to be stewards of all that He entrusts to us. This is one of the hardest of all commandments to follow for the Christian businessperson because, if we work hard at business, we receive all the benefits of that work. It appears as though all that we have achieved was through our hand. Yet God says that it is by His hand that we are able to make wealth (see Deut. . He is the source of that ability. As soon as we become owners and not managers, we fall into trouble with God.

Joseph understood that he was a steward of all the resources of Egypt. God promoted him to affect an entire region of the world. Joseph had more power, prestige, and wealth than any 30-year-old who ever lived before him. The temptation for him in this newfound role in life must have been great. Many a man has not been able to handle material success. Many of God's choicest servants began well in their calling and service to God only to fail at the end. Consider Hezekiah, the great king who achieved many great things but failed to acknowledge God's blessing at the end of his reign. His reign was cut short due to pride. Gideon's fate was similar. Success can lead to pride if we are not careful.

"Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity" [Oswald Chambers].

Ask the Lord today if you are living as a steward or an owner. Put whatever skills and resources you possess on His altar. Then you can expect God to do great things through you.

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and complexities of career and family.
Click to Order or Learn More

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand." 2 Psalm 37:23-24 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Continuing to think about taking inventory of our lives, another important area to examine is our family relationships. Many of us will gather with our family members this week to celebrate Christmas an especially good opportunity to reflect on our relationships with them. Make your own list of questions-you might want to use some like these:

Am I holding on to bitterness toward a family member who has hurt me?   
How is my lifestyle affecting other family members?   
Is there someone in my family in need of more of my time and attention?   
Are my priorities in order?
As you consider these questions and others, ask God to help you see clearly. The Bible tells us that he knows our undertakings and thoughts even before we act or think-so be honest with him about what you see and feel. Always remember that he loves you no matter what. He wants to help you in your family relationships and in every area of your life.

Consider this

Ask Jesus to forgive you for past failures and to help you make right choices. Focus on him-he will forgive you, he will guide you, and he will enable you to become the person he has called you to be.

Prayer

Father, as I examine my family relationships, I see some places where I need to change, to grow. I thank you that you care about every detail of my life. Forgive me for my failures. Help me to set things right. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. 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.

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.
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The Hidden Life
. . . your life is hidden with Christ in God -Colossians 3:3
The Spirit of God testifies to and confirms the simple, but almighty, security of the life that "is hidden with Christ in God." Paul continually brought this out in his New Testament letters. We talk as if living a sanctified life were the most uncertain and insecure thing we could do. Yet it is the most secure thing possible, because it has Almighty God in and behind it. The most dangerous and unsure thing is to try to live without God. For one who is born again, it is easier to live in a right-standing relationship with God than it is to go wrong, provided we heed God's warnings and "walk in the light" ( 1 John 1:7  ).

When we think of being delivered from sin, being "filled with the Spirit" ( Ephesians 5:18 ), and "walk[ing] in the light," we picture the peak of a great mountain. We see it as very high and wonderful, but we say, "Oh, I could never live up there!" However, when we do get there through God's grace, we find it is not a mountain peak at all, but a plateau with plenty of room to live and to grow. "You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip" ( Psalm 18:36  ).

When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. If you see Him when He says, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." (John 14:27 ), I defy you to worry. It is virtually impossible to doubt when He is there. Every time you are in personal contact with Jesus, His words are real to you. "My peace I give to you . . ." (John 14:27  )- a peace which brings an unconstrained confidence and covers you completely, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. ". . . your life is hidden with Christ in God," and the peace of Jesus Christ that cannot be disturbed has been imparted to you.

God Bless   Happy Birthday, Jesus.
Merry Christmas

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 25, 2008

A Gift Most Lavish

READ: Micah 5:2-6
Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. -2 Corinthians 8:9

I have a piece of old plaster on my desk that comes from the ancient site of the Herodium in the land of Israel. It reminds me of the humility of our Lord Jesus.

Herodium was a lavish residence that served as King Herod's summer palace, a sumptuous villa with opulent apartments furnished for the royal family and their guests. It boasted a Roman bath with hot and cold pools, surrounded by colonnaded gardens.

It's said that Herod built his palace to commemorate a victory in battle, but knowing Herod's selfish ambition it's possible he had another purpose in mind. Some have conjectured that Herod, despite inquiring of the scribes (Matt. 2:4-6), knew about Micah's prediction that Israel's Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. He may have wanted Israel's King to be born in his palace.

The Father's plan, however, was for our Lord to be born not in a castle but in a cave. It was in a lowly manger that the little Lord Jesus was born.

This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). This is the gift of lavish salvation-of all gifts, the greatest gift that you and I will ever receive.  - David H. Roper

He did not use a silvery box
Or paper green and red;
God laid His Christmas gift to me
Within a manger bed. -Prentice

The goodness and love of God became incarnate at Bethlehem.

Understanding Our Own Calling
John 21:22
..."If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me."

Jesus was talking to Peter after he had just had a very important encounter with Him-one of the last meetings the two would have. This was the third time Jesus had shown Himself to the disciples after His resurrection. It is the famous dialogue between Jesus and Peter in which Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Jesus followed by commanding, "Feed My sheep." Jesus went on to foretell of Peter's future death. As they were walking together, John was with Peter and Jesus. Peter asked Jesus about John and whether he would die also. Jesus reacted sharply to Peter's comment, telling him not to worry about what John's role or purpose was in life. All Peter had to do was worry about fulfilling his own purpose.

As businesspeople we tend to measure our success on whether we have achieved a certain position or stature in life. Even as Christians the temptation to believe that someone is blessed if they have achieved prominence is always confronting us. In His discussion with Peter, Jesus was getting at the very heart of the matter of a person's calling. Peter was worried about whether his friend John was going to get the same lot in life as he was. Jesus told him it should not be his concern. He was to concern himself only with one thing: his own calling before God.

Are you tempted to compare yourself with where others are in their life? Are you dissatisfied with where God has you right now? Be of good cheer-"[be] confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and complexities of career and family.
Click to Order 

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." 2 Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

Thoughts for Today

This week so far we have considered taking inventory of our relationships with God and with our family. Another important area to audit is our relationships with friends. The Bible has much to say about being a good friend, choosing our friends wisely, and the value of friendship. Here are some suggested questions again, add your own to the list.

Do I have any friends who help keep me accountable to making right choices?   
Can my friends see Jesus in me?   
Am I self-centered in my relationships, or do I really care about being a good friend?   
Do I take offense too easily?   
Am I forgiving when a friend hurts me?   
Do I have any friends who are drawing me away from my walk with God?
Ask God to help you evaluate this area of your life honestly and to accept responsibility for any problems you discover.

Consider this

Today we celebrate God's greatest expression of his love: coming to earth to live and die for us so that we might spend eternity with him. God loves you and wants only the best for you. He has a good plan for your life, but you can block that plan by making poor choices. Be encouraged to do things God's way. He loves you and he will guide you and help you through every step of your journey.

Prayer

Father, help me to be a good friend. I pray that my friends can see Jesus in me. Help me to listen for your voice and to trust your guidance in the area of friendship-and in every area of my life. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. 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.

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.

His Birth and Our New Birth

'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us' -Matthew 1:23
His Birth in History. ". . . that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God ( Luke 1:35 ). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of- He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate- God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord's birth was an advent- the appearance of God in human form.

His Birth in Me. "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you . . ." (Galatians 4:19 ). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a "Bethlehem" for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. "You must be born again" ( John 3:7  ). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that "Christ is formed" in me. And once "Christ is formed" in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.

God Evident in the Flesh. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday! Jesus 

Merry Christmas!

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 26, 2008

He Can Lead You Out Of It
READ: 1 Kings 19:1-12
After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. -1 Kings 19:12

Almost everyone will at some time in their life be affected by depression, either their own or someone else's. Some common signs and symptoms of depression include feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, worthlessness, and helplessness. Although we cannot say for certain that characters in the Bible experienced depression, we can say that some did exhibit a deep sense of despondency, discouragement, and sadness that is linked to personal powerlessness and loss of meaning and enthusiasm for life.

Elijah is one biblical character who fits this description. After defeating the prophets of Baal, he received a death threat from Jezebel. His hope was shattered, and despondency set in. He wanted to die! God helped Elijah deal with his despondency in several ways. The Lord did not rebuke him for his feelings but sent an angel to provide for his physical needs. Then, the Lord revealed Himself and reminded Elijah that He was quietly working among His people. Next, He renewed Elijah's mission by giving him new orders. Finally, God reminded Elijah that he wasn't alone.

In our times of discouragement, let us remember that God loves us and desires to lead us to a place of a renewed vision of Himself!  - Marvin Williams

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain. -von Schlegel


The weak, the helpless, and the discouraged are in the Shepherd's special care.

Embracing the Lean Times
Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.


Have you ever considered at what point a test becomes so difficult that you decide you can no longer trust in God and you must take over to solve the problem? The prophet Jeremiah describes a situation in which the temptation to solve a financial problem can become so great that we trust in man's way to solve it.

This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

Jeremiah drew a sharp comparison between the man who trusts in his own effort to solve his problem and the man who trusts in God when he cannot see the outcome. The man who trusts in God bears fruit despite the circumstances in his life. He does not shrivel when the heat comes; in fact, his roots go deeper into God's grace. He continues to bear fruit in spite of his circumstances.

Recently, a friend from South Africa explained to me that whenever a plant lives in an arid climate, the roots drive deeper and deeper into the soil to get the water they need. This forces the plant to develop a root system that is far beyond the normal plant because it is forced to go deeper to gain the water it needs. Sometimes God forces us to go deeper into the grace of His love in order to build a greater foundation in our own lives. These lean times are designed to accomplish this in us. If you find yourself in this condition, ask the Lord who provides the water for our soul for the grace you need today to continue to bear fruit in the desert.

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and complexities of career and family.
Click to 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." 2 Proverbs 16:2-3 NIV

Thoughts for Today

For our last look this week at inventorying our lives, let's think about choices in the workplace. Sometimes we tend to live by a different set of standards in our career or business, but God wants us to be guided by his principles in every area of our lives. It is especially important to consider our motives for doing what we do at work. Are we motivated mostly by our desire to move up the ladder and make more money-or is honoring Jesus still our most important motivator?

In taking inventory, make a list of questions to ask yourself. You might want to use some like these:

Have I been swept into a competitive mode that causes me to try to get ahead even at the expense of hurting other people?   
Do I base business decisions solely on my desire to succeed, or do I first consider the integrity of my choices?   
Has my work become so all-consuming that I am putting it above my focus on my family?   
Am I participating in workplace gossip or complaining?   
What kind of influence am I having on those around me?
Consider this

Honestly inventorying your attitudes and actions in the workplace is the first step toward correcting any problem areas. As you confess your failures to God, he will forgive you and help you chart a better path. Jesus loves you. Only as you choose to do things his way will you find real success-the kind that lasts for an eternity.

Prayer

Lord, help me clearly see my motives for all I do in the workplace. Forgive me for letting my desire to get ahead in my career overshadow my desire to honor you in all I do. I pray above all that my employer and co-workers will see Jesus in me and that you will use me to encourage them and influence them toward you. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Stepping into Freedom: A Christ-Centered Twelve-Step Program by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This twelve-step program is suggested for use in support groups, recovery groups and home groups. It offers help for anyone struggling with a life-controlling problem like drug addiction, alcoholism, sexual addiction, gambling or workaholism. 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.

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.
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'Walk in the Light'

If we walk in the light as He is in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin -1 John 1:7
To mistake freedom from sin only on the conscious level of our lives for complete deliverance from sin by the atonement through the Cross of Christ is a great error. No one fully knows what sin is until he is born again. Sin is what Jesus Christ faced at Calvary. The evidence that I have been delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me. For a person to really know what sin is requires the full work and deep touch of the atonement of Jesus Christ, that is, the imparting of His absolute perfection.

The Holy Spirit applies or administers the work of the atonement to us in the deep unconscious realm as well as in the conscious realm. And it is not until we truly perceive the unrivaled power of the Spirit in us that we understand the meaning of 1 John 1:7 , which says, ". . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." This verse does not refer only to conscious sin, but also to the tremendously profound understanding of sin which only the Holy Spirit in me can accomplish.

I must "walk in the light as He is in the light . . ."- not in the light of my own conscience, but in God's light. If I will walk there, with nothing held back or hidden, then this amazing truth is revealed to me: ". . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses [me] from all sin" so that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke in me. On the conscious level it produces a keen, sorrowful knowledge of what sin really is. The love of God working in me causes me to hate, with the Holy Spirit's hatred for sin, anything that is not in keeping with God's holiness. To "walk in the light" means that everything that is of the darkness actually drives me closer to the center of the light.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 27, 2008

Feelings-Deficient

READ: Psalm 62
I sought the Lord, and He heard me. -Psalm 34:4

Mallory doesn't feel loved by God. She received Jesus as her Savior several years ago and is confident that she is forgiven and will spend eternity with Him. She believes what God says in His Word, but she would also like to feel loved.

Her friends give her what she thinks is a pat answer: "It's not about feelings! Just believe and the feelings will come later." She says, "Okay, but when is later?" She believes she's "feelings-deficient."

God created us in His image to have emotions, so the longing to feel loved is legitimate and good. One way that many of us sense we're loved is when someone talks with us and listens to us.

God provides those needs in our relationship with Him too. He speaks through His Word to our heart (Heb. 4:12), and He wants us to pour out our heart to Him about everything (Ps. 62:-even our longing to feel His love. Besides a relationship

Knowing that God loves us comes by faith; feeling His love for us comes by relationshipwith Him, He daily gives us our breath, clothing, food, and shelter. Like the psalmist, we can find Him to be our "rock" and "refuge" as we trust Him (vv.2,7).

God loves us. Now, we walk by faith. One day, when we're in His very presence, we'll never again be feelings-deficient.  - Anne Cetas

Thinking It Through
Read these passages about God's love for you:

1 John 4:9-10

Jeremiah 31:3 John 15:9-11

What can you thank God for today?
Knowing that God loves us comes by faith; feeling His love for us comes by relationship.

An Eternal View of Circumstances
Philippians 1:12
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

Are your life circumstances advancing the gospel? Can you see the Lord's hand in your life in such a way that all of your life experiences, joys, sorrows, hardships, and training have resulted in advancing the gospel?

Paul was a tentmaker by trade. But he had an overall ministry objective in his business life. That objective left him imprisoned and persecuted at times. But Paul saw these events not as roadblocks to his mission. Rather, they were catalysts to advancing the cause of Christ. Paul's revelation of this kept him from despairing about his circumstances.

One day a little-known pastor who lived in the small African nation of Benin began to pray for his Marxist president. For two years he prayed. Then the Lord told the pastor to go to meet this president and share the gospel with him. The president rejected the gospel, but after another such occasion, the president accepted the gospel and became a Christian. He was removed from power but was discipled by this pastor. Sometime later this same president was elected again. Today that president is now a Christian leader of a nation committed to spreading the gospel throughout his nation. One man-but millions have been affected by his obedience. This modern-day story is retold in countless lives of those willing to live for a cause greater than themselves.

Are your business and life experiences serving to advance the gospel? What experiences has God allowed in your life that are part of His plan to advance the gospel? Ask Him to help you see your life the way He sees it. Seeing our life the way God sees it will help us avoid discouragement in those times when life appears to be a mystery to us.

Beyond Leadership to Destiny

Jacob's Life: Beyond Leadership To Destiny
This book provides a comprehensive look into the life of Jacob whose life from womb to tomb covers half the book of Genesis. Through the compelling seasons of Jacob's life, leaders today can identify with the timeless realities of spiritual formation and life development, and experience healing power for their own wounds and complexities of career and family.
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The Door Is Not Closed

In Revelation 7-8 we read how the trumpets have been sounded and God's redemptive plan fulfilled. Not all men and women will be saved from an eternal death. Certainly, God's desire is that every person would come to know Him as Savior and Lord, but many have chosen to follow other gods.

The good news is that it is not too late to know the Savior. As of today, the trumpet has not sounded. The door of eternal opportunity has not closed, and you still have time to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ. Charles Spurgeon writes:

One person may say, "I cannot see how simply trusting Christ and believing God's witness of Him would save my soul." To which I would reply, "My dear man, are you never to believe anything but what you can see, and how are you to see this thing till you have tried it? You must believe the gospel on the evidence of God, and not otherwise, or have faith in the record God has given concerning His Son-a faith that takes God at His word. Believe, then, on the Lord Jesus Christ and you have believed God to be true; refuse to trust in Jesus Christ, unless you get some other evidence beyond the witness of God, and you have practically said that God's testimony is not enough-that is to say, you have made God a liar."

But God is not a liar. Within Him is all truth and justice. Up until the final moment, He is longing for the lost to accept His gracious gift of salvation. Satan, however, wants to lead us astray by filling our minds with the idea that we don't need God.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Have you fully surrendered your life and heart to the Savior? If not, today is the day to discover anew the graciousness of His love.

Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 7:12).

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.
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Where the Battle is Won or Lost
'If you will return, O Israel,' says the Lord . . . -Jeremiah 4:1
Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God's presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.

I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I'll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.

In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point- a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest- our best for His glory.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 28, 2008

Soul Food
READ: Psalm 19:7-14
Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. -Jeremiah 15:16

Grocery shopping with my wife, Martie, is like taking a seminar in nutrition. I'll often pick up a box of something that looks good, and she'll say: "Look at the label. Are there trans-fats? What's the calorie count? How about the cholesterol rating?" I have to confess that if she weren't the nutrition cop in my life, I'd look like Shamu the whale!

More important than making good choices in the grocery store is thinking carefully about the food we digest for our souls. I love the verse that says: "Your words were found, and I ate them" (Jer. 15:16).

When we read God's Word, we have to be doing more than checking it off our to-do list. We have to read it to digest it. Slow, thoughtful absorption of the Word of God with quiet reflection on its implications is high in nutrition. His Word provides all the ingredients we need to thrive spiritually:

a direct connection to the sustainer of our soul
brain food that makes us wise and discerning
a daily check-up revealing the condition of our hearts
preventive medicine keeping us from sin
a spiritual shower of peace, hope, and comfort
Eat God's Word. It's a spiritual feast!  - Joe Stowell

God's Word provides the nourishment
That Christians need if we're to grow;
But if we do not feast on it,
A vibrant faith we'll never know. -Sper

The Bible contains all the nutrients for a healthy soul.

Opening Our Spiritual Eyes
2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.


Elisha was counseling the nation of Israel against the impending attack of the king of Aram. The Lord supernaturally gave Elisha the plans that the king was implementing, and in turn, Elisha warned Israel of each intended attack. The king could not understand why his plans were continually foiled. It seemed there was a secret informer in his midst. He was furious when he was told it was the God of Israel who was to blame for this inside information. The king decided the only way to resolve the situation was to get rid of the problem-kill Elisha.

The king's forces arrived and surrounded Elisha and his servant. Elisha's servant became upset and fearful when Elisha was not upset. Elisha immediately prayed that his servant's eyes might be opened to see that there was no need to be afraid, because the angels were protecting them.

And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike these people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked (2 Kings 6:17-18).

Who is the Elisha in your life? Do you have a mentor friend who can see the activity of God in your life when you cannot see it? We all need to have somebody we can trust to help us see the activity of God. It is often difficult for us to see what God is really doing because we are so consumed by the circumstances of the moment. Ask God today to help open your spiritual eyes that you might see Him in your circumstances.

TGIF
Volume 2
All New TGIF Devotionals by Os Hillman
Os Hillman has the unique ability to capture a deep spiritual truth in a succinct "daily devotional" format that is amazingly relevant to the 'real-world' of business and the workplace.Volume 2 contains all new 365 daily messages at your fingertips in an attractive hardcoverversion ready to encourage you daily at work. New messages on topics such as work as ministry, handling disappointments, time management, integrity, finances, decision-making, hearing God, and much more.
Click to Order or Learn More 

The Arrival
by Max Lucado

God had entered the world as a baby.

Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.

The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.

A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor; perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him-so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can't remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn't figured it all out. The mystery of the event puzzles him. But he hasn't the energy to wrestle with the questions. What's important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes he remembers the name the angel told him to use ... Jesus. "We will call him Jesus."

Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph's saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can't take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel. "His kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:33)

He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!

This baby had overlooked the universe. These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity. His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen. And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.

Those who missed His Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking.

Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?

From
God Came Near
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado
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Continuous Conversion

. . . unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 18:3
These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God's, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must "put on the new man . . ." (Ephesians 4:24 ). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule- God must rule in us.

To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, "I won't submit." We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 29, 2008

Hearts And Banjos
READ: Psalm 85:1-7
Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? -Psalm 85:6

While working my way through graduate school, I taught five-string banjo in a music store. The job provided me with the opportunity to buy a brand-new, professional-quality instrument for nearly half-price.

That was over 30 years ago, and that banjo has accompanied me on ministry efforts around the world. But despite its excellent craftsmanship, eventually it needed to be refurbished. A master repairman pointed out how imperfections had worn into the banjo. He was confident that his repairs would result in the instrument sounding better than new.

I wasn't disappointed. The action on the strings and the clarity of the sound are astonishingly superior to its original condition when I purchased the instrument.

In a way, our lives are like musical instruments intended for "the praise of the glory of [God's] grace" (Eph. 1:6). But over time, life wears us down. Our hearts cry out for renewal. The psalmist prayed: "Will You not revive us again?" (Ps. 85:6). The Hebrew word for revive means not only "to restore and refresh" but also "to repair."

It's vital that we submit our souls to the Master's restorative touch. Why not set aside some time for spiritual retreat, and ask the Lord to repair your heart?  - Dennis Fisher

Revive us again-
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above. -Mackay

Time in Christ's service requires time out for renewal.

Spiritual Contracts
Daniel 9:2
In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

When you enter a legal contract, it binds the two parties to fulfill the terms of that contract. In Heaven there are legal contracts that, when fulfilled, allow the spiritual to impact the physical.

Israel had been in captivity to Babylon for 70 years. Daniel, when he investigated the history of his nation, found the prophecy of Jeremiah that revealed there would be 70 years of captivity. He recognized that in order to release his nation from this captivity, there had to be a confession of sin on the part of the nation. Daniel took that responsibility. Although he could not personally repent for his nation, he could acknowledge their sin and repent himself. When Daniel acknowledged this sin before God, something took place in Heaven. God heard this prayer and responded by sending His angel Gabriel to Daniel's side.

We know from history that this was the time when Judah's return from exile began. Daniel's prayer of confession was the spiritual key to the physical manifestation of releasing the nation from captivity to Babylon.

Whenever you want to confront spiritual forces that have dominion over a situation, you must find the source of the problem. Once you find the source of the problem, you must take the necessary steps in the spiritual realm to release God's power into that situation. For Daniel, it meant taking responsibility for the sin of the nation by confessing its sins and asking forgiveness on behalf of the entire nation. This allowed God to begin the process of releasing the nation.

Ask God to show you the source of the problems that may exist in your city, your business, or people you want to see freed to fulfill God's purposes for their lives.

TGIF
Volume 2
All New TGIF Devotionals by Os Hillman
Os Hillman has the unique ability to capture a deep spiritual truth in a succinct "daily devotional" format that is amazingly relevant to the 'real-world' of business and the workplace.Volume 2 contains all new 365 daily messages at your fingertips in an attractive hardcoverversion ready to encourage you daily at work. New messages on topics such as work as ministry, handling disappointments, time management, integrity, finances, decision-making, hearing God, and much more.
Click to Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Remember that some men's sins are obvious, and are equally obvious bringing them into judgment. The sins of other men are not apparent, but are dogging them nevertheless under the surface. Similarly some virtues are plain to see, while others, though not at all conspicuous, will eventually become known." 1 Timothy 5:24-25 Phillips

Thoughts for Today

People with life-controlling problems often look great in public, but inside they struggle with issues they can't handle alone. Even in our churches, many people are struggling with hurts and problems hidden behind Sunday smiles.

These struggles can be described as addictions, dependencies, controlling behaviors, or even just the normal challenges of life that sometimes overwhelm us. We can become so preoccupied and weakened that we are unable to grow spiritually and serve God, perhaps even unable to cope with day-to-day living.

We resist admitting our struggles because we fear what others think, and so we hide our problem from others and sometimes even from ourselves.

Consider this

If you are dealing with a life-controlling problem, please understand that you are not unique in your situation. Because we all struggle, everyone has the potential for developing a life-controlling problem. When you have this kind of a problem, it's not a time to hide-it's a time to be honest with God, with yourself and with others. It's a time to ask for help.

God loves you unconditionally. No matter what you've done. No matter what your problem. He wants to help. Talk to him today and open your heart to his love, his forgiveness and his help.

Prayer

Father, I haven't wanted to admit that I have this problem-even to you. But I don't want to continue like this. Help me to be honest with you and with others-and with myself. Please forgive me. I need your help. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Living Free DVD Training. Prepare your congregation to minister to hurting people within your church and your community. Through Living Free, your church or ministry can unleash a fresh wave of small group leaders and develop a small group ministry that will result in transformed lives.

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.
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Deserter or Disciple?
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more -John 6:66
When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must "walk in the light" of that vision ( 1 John 1:7 ). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don't "walk in the light" of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the "heavenly vision" ( Acts 26:19 ) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don't look at someone else and say, "Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can't I?" You have to "walk in the light" of the vision that has been given to you. Don't compare yourself with others or judge them- that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the "heavenly vision," do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you- things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself- ". . . for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" ( Luke 12:15  ). If we don't see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord's teaching.

Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don't try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 30, 2008

No Fear In The New Year
READ: Mark 6:45-52
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. -Isaiah 43:1

Hours before 2007 began, some friends of ours in the UK were aboard their boat, anticipating the arrival of the new year, when a violent storm struck. But they were able to send us this reassuring note: "John and Linda are sitting on board the good ship Norna, and happy to say that we are secure. . . . The wind is storm force ten [48-55 knots]. Hope that all of you have a happy and prosperous new year."

Jesus' disciples also encountered a stormy experience. They were on the Sea of Galilee when a windstorm whipped up (Mark 6:48). The storm was so violent that despite being experienced fishermen who knew the lake well, they feared for their lives. But Jesus walked out to them and saved them.

No one can predict with certainty how stormy the new year will be. We do know, though, that everyone will face storms. But we who have Jesus have our future securely moored to Him. Jesus, who did not fail us in the past, will not fail us in the future.

Lewis Edgar Jones aptly described our situation in his old hymn:

I've anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I'll brave;
I've anchored in Jesus, I'll fear no wind or wave.
I've anchored in Jesus, for He hath power to save;
I've anchored to the Rock of Ages!

How will you fare in the storms of the new year? If you're anchored in Jesus, you have nothing to fear.  - C. P. Hia

Faith in Christ will keep us steady in the stormy sea of change.

Is Anything Too Hard for God?
Genesis 18:12
So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"


God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son who would be the seed of a whole nation. Sarah was now beyond childbearing years. So when some angels from God paid Abraham and Sarah a visit to inform them that Sarah was going to have a child, she happened to be listening outside the tent and erupted with laughter. The thought seemed preposterous to her. The angels reminded her that nothing is impossible with God. "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son" (Gen. 18:14). Sarah gave birth to Isaac as foretold.

Recently, I was considering putting on another marketplace-leader summit for ministry leaders who minister to those in the workplace. I had been involved in such an event a year earlier. My friend Gunnar Olson, who is the founder of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce of Sweden, had been involved with me in putting on the first event, so I inquired whether he would be willing to participate in the second event. He wrote me an e-mail letter informing me that an international gathering of Christian marketplace leaders would be taking place on the island of Cyprus in March and asked if I could postpone my event and instead participate in an event in Cyprus and invite other leaders. My initial response was laughter due to my current financial condition. In fact, I had to go to a map to see just where this place was.

The following day I received a call from a man I had met only 30 days earlier. We had not discussed this event in March. "What are you doing tomorrow? I would like you to go to the airport with me to pick up a missionary whom I want you to meet. We'd like to propose an idea to you. Can you come?"

"Sure," I said.

The next day he picked me up and informed me that we were picking up a missionary who was flying in from Cyprus. "We are planning to take 25 businesspeople to Cyprus for an event that Gunnar Olson is involved in and would like you to come and teach your Esau-to-Joseph workshop the day before. We will cover your expenses. Would you be interested in doing this?" Again, I had to laugh as I saw the hand of God orchestrate in such a miraculous way and in such a timely manner to assure me of His involvement in the new directions in my life.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).

Are there things that make you laugh when you think of the miracle that would be required for it to take place? Ask God for the miracle you need today.

TGIF
Volume 2
All New TGIF Devotionals by Os Hillman
Os Hillman has the unique ability to capture a deep spiritual truth in a succinct "daily devotional" format that is amazingly relevant to the 'real-world' of business and the workplace.Volume 2 contains all new 365 daily messages at your fingertips in an attractive hardcoverversion ready to encourage you daily at work. New messages on topics such as work as ministry, handling disappointments, time management, integrity, finances, decision-making, hearing God, and much more.
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Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Thoughts for Today

People who become entrapped by life-controlling issues tend to follow a predictable pattern. At the beginning we are usually lured into experimenting with a dangerous substance, behavior or relationship because it is accompanied by a "high." It makes us feel good. The experience may involve alcohol or other drugs, illicit sex, pornography, work, sports, gambling, excessive spending, or any other avenue to addiction, but the pattern and end result are similar.

We call the pattern "The Trap" because it often snags its victims before they realize what is happening. Every person has the potential to experience a life-controlling problem. Addiction is death on the installment plan. No one ever plans to fall into The Trap, yet it happens all the time.

The best time to deal with a life-controlling problem is before it begins.

Consider this

Are you falling into the trap of a behavior, substance or relationship that is gaining more and more control in your life? Now is the time to recognize it. Now is the time to admit it. Now is the time to get help.

Remember, God loves you unconditionally. Ask him to show you the way out. Seek and you will find his love, his forgiveness and his help.

Prayer

Lord, your Word tells me that you will provide a way out from every temptation. Until now, I haven't really wanted that way out, but now I am ready. Please forgive me and help me. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Living Free DVD Training. Prepare your congregation to minister to hurting people within your church and your community. Through Living Free, your church or ministry can unleash a fresh wave of small group leaders and develop a small group ministry that will result in transformed lives.

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"And Every Virtue We Possess"
. . . All my springs are in you -Psalm 87:7
Our Lord never "patches up" our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside- ". . . put on the new man . . ." ( Ephesians 4:24  ). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience!

The sign that God is at work in us is that He is destroying our confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but only a wasted reminder of what God created man to be. We want to cling to our natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us in contact with the life of Jesus Christ- a life that can never be described in terms of natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people who are trying to serve God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them. They are depending solely on what they have by virtue of heredity. God does not take our natural virtues and transform them, because our natural virtues could never even come close to what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus.

And every virtue we possess
Is His alone.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals December 31, 2008

Times And Seasons
READ: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Rev. Gardner Taylor has been called "the dean of American preaching." Born in Louisiana in 1918, the grandson of slaves, he overcame the segregation of his youth to become the pastor of a large New York congregation and a leader in the struggle for racial equality. For 6 decades he traveled the world as a much sought-after preacher.

But at age 89, Rev. Taylor's health gave way and he could no longer accept speaking engagements. He told Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press: "I at first felt rather crestfallen." But then he spoke of his belief that "there are seasons and eras, and we have to see what they are as best as we can, and to find what is positive in them."

In an effort to face the challenges of life, we often turn to Solomon's words: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). But we readily admit that we would rather laugh than weep, dance than mourn, and gain than lose (vv.4,6).

Yet we know that as we embrace the lessons and opportunities of every season that comes to us, we find that "God is our refuge and strength" (Ps. 46:1).

Whatever season we're in, it's always the season to trust in Him.  - David C. McCasland

Just as the winter turns to spring,
Our lives have changing seasons too;
So when a gloomy forecast comes,
Remember-God has plans for you. -Sper

Whatever the season of life, attitude makes all the difference.

The Dangers of Overcontrol

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.

A friend of mine who is a jet pilot once told me that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will right itself. This goes against our natural inclination to control and manipulate in order to bring things back under control. It is scary to be out of control. Or is it?

Saul was a man out of control. He was losing control of his kingdom to David. He was losing the favor of God and the people. It began as compromises. Eventually he was given a final test to obey the voice of God fully. He was instructed to kill the Amalekites completely; but he failed to follow through. The prophet Samuel delivered a hard word to King Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king" (see 1 Sam. 15:26). Saul obeyed partially, but not fully. It was partial obedience that led to his removal as king of Israel and his calling from God. But why did Saul do such a thing? "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Sam. 15:24b). Saul's fear and insecurity made him more afraid of the people and what they thought than of God. At the core of Saul's disobedience was fear of losing control. That fear of losing control led to partial obedience and the loss of his reign as king.

How many of us are in danger of losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need to control people and circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as businesspeople. The need to overcontrol things around us can prevent us from receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory of your control quotient.

Ask God if you are being fully obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the shelf for disobedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22b).

TGIF
Volume 2
All New TGIF Devotionals by Os Hillman
Os Hillman has the unique ability to capture a deep spiritual truth in a succinct "daily devotional" format that is amazingly relevant to the 'real-world' of business and the workplace.Volume 2 contains all new 365 daily messages at your fingertips in an attractive hardcover version ready to encourage you daily at work. New messages on topics such as work as ministry, handling disappointments, time management, integrity, finances, decision-making, hearing God, and much more.
Click to Order or Learn More 

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." James 4:8 NLT

Thoughts for Today

People who become entrapped by life-controlling issues generally progress through four stages: experimentation, social use, daily preoccupation and finally using the substance or practicing the behavior just to feel normal. Not everyone progresses through all these stages, but there is no way to predict which people who begin the pattern will continue to stage four.

During the experimentation stage, we enjoy the feel-good time when we use the substance or practice the behavior, but we still return to normal feelings following isolated indulgences.

Then we may take a step deeper into The Trap-we enter the stage of social use or practice. Now we begin practicing the behavior regularly but set limits for ourselves about when, where or how we do it. The self-imposed rules make us feel safe and appropriate. We refuse to admit that this practice is beginning to have a stronger and stronger influence in our lives.

Consider this

Do you see this pattern emerging somewhere in your life? Is there something that is gaining more and more control over your time, your thoughts and your actions? It is vital that you recognize and admit what is happening. As we enter the new year, ask God for his forgiveness and his help. Now is not the time to run from him. It is the time to run to him.

Prayer

Father, I do see this pattern in my life. Please forgive me. I want to come close to you and invite you to come close to me. Help me get my life back in order. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from

Living Free DVD Training. Prepare your congregation to minister to hurting people within your church and your community. Through Living Free, your church or ministry can unleash a fresh wave of small group leaders and develop a small group ministry that will result in transformed lives.

Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard -Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" ( Ecclesiastes 3:15  ). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. ". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation- that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God's hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. "You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

God Bless