Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

July 6

The Light of God's Countenance

"Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us." Psalm 4:6

How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God's Word.

Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, "This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?"

Then he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight.

Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog? Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God today. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.

·         Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart.   

·         Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears.

·         Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart.


Then get ready for a blessing. Draw up close, because when you repent, He'll reach in with healing forgiveness.

[Judy Harder]

July 7

The Blessed Hope of His Glorious Appearing

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Whenever I walk the shores of the Sea of Galilee, I long to see Jesus walking there.

I would have loved to have seen Him walk on the water — planting His footsteps on the sea with the wind in His hair and His garments flowing.

I think I'd be a better preacher had I seen Him dying in agony and blood, and had I experienced that Easter morning.

Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have seen Him ascend into the glory?

Although we didn't see Him at any of those times, we are going to see Him! There is a blessed hope awaiting us as God's children. When Jesus returns, He's not coming as the carpenter; He's coming as the conqueror!

Thank God for this Good News right now. Then ask Him to bring you someone today with whom you can share this particularly Good News of Christ's return!

[Judy Harder]

July 8

He Alone Is Worthy

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12

There's an interesting story about how a gifted violinist named Fritz Kreisler acquired a Stradivarius violin.

Kreisler heard about the violin owned by an old Englishman and offered to buy it, but the old man said it wasn't for sale. One day Kreisler ventured to the old man's house and said, "If I can't buy it, may I touch it?" The old Englishman invited him in and even allowed him to begin making music with it. Great tears welled up in the old Englishman's eyes, and he said, "It is not for sale, but it is yours. You are the Master and alone are worthy of it!"

That is what worship is all about. God is the Master, and He alone is worthy.

Starting with the letter "A," and going through the alphabet, find something to praise Him for with each letter. Praise Him for all that He is, has been, and will be!

[Judy Harder]

July 9

Burning Brightly for the Glory of God

"And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush." Exodus 3:2

Major Ian Thomas has imagined Moses saying something like this when he encountered God in the burning bush, "Would you look at that bush? It just keeps on burning for God. I wish my life could burn for God like that and keep on burning."

Then Major Thomas imagined God replying, "Moses, you think this bush is so wonderful? Do you see that bush over there? I could do the same thing with it. Moses, it's not the bush; it's God in the bush. Any old bush will do."

It's not you! It's not me! We are only the vessels of God's anointing. As you surrender yourself to God today, He will fill you and use you for His glory.

Surrender yourself to God today, and, as you do, He will use you. Allow His flame to burn brightly for all to see.

[Judy Harder]

July 10

Gathering in His Name

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

There's something wonderful about the unity we experience when we are together. I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her.

Do you know what happened? She married the mail carrier! There's nothing like being there.

There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that cannot be experienced any other way. You cannot get it the same way at home.

Do you have a church home? If not, I encourage you to find one today.

If church attendance isn't that important, then I wonder: why does Satan work so hard to keep folks away? If you do have a church home, make a special effort this week to meet a new friend and find a need they have which you can meet.

[Judy Harder]

July 11

God the Father and God the Creator

"...that we may be partakers of the divine nature..." 2 Peter 1:4

Have you heard the phrase, "The universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of men"? It sounds warm and fuzzy, but it is cold and barren of truth.

God is not the Father of all people; God is the Father of those who are born into His family. You say, "But, Pastor, didn't God create all human beings?"

Yes.

"And if God created all human beings, wouldn't that make God the Father of all human beings?"

No, it makes God the Creator of all human beings.

There's a difference between fatherhood and creation. God created rats, roaches, buzzards, and rattlesnakes. He's not their father. God becomes our Father not by creation but by conception when we're born into His family.

Read the story of creation in Genesis, making the distinction between the creations of God and the Creator called God. Go on a nature walk and thank God that He rules over creation, causing the sun to shine, the rain to water the earth, and for you to have your next breath.

[Judy Harder]

July 12

How to Know the Will of God

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7

Do you want to know the will of God in your life? Here's a test: How much time do you spend reading the Bible?

Do you think God really believes us when we say we want to know His will if we don't take even 15 minutes a day to read the one Book above all books that He has specifically written to show us His will — to reveal His will to us, to unfold His will to us.

Your first step in knowing His will is the surrender principle — surrendering your will to His. Your second step is the scripture principle. Read His word, meditate upon it, share it, and study it. When you bow to His will and read His will, you'll know His will.

Commit to reading God's Word at least 15 minutes a day for 30 days. When the month is over, re­evaluate what you have learned and ask God to help you be obedient to daily Bible reading from that day forward.

[Judy Harder]

July 13

Praying "Thy Will Be Done on Earth ...."

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name." Matthew 6:9-10 

When you pray "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," do you realize that this prayer has not yet been answered, but it will be answered?

Jesus Christ is literally, actually, visibly, bodily coming back to this earth. Do you believe that? Do you think that Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray this prayer if it were not going to be answered? His kingdom has not come yet on earth. His will is not being done on earth. But it shall be; it will be because our Lord taught us to pray that.

When you read or watch the news today, how do you see God's will not being done on earth? Ask the Lord that His will would be brought to earth — praying for the people involved in each story — for their welfare and their salvation.

[Judy Harder]

July 14

Stepping out in Faith

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

When you ask God for something, do you just sit back, do nothing and say, "Well, I'm going to show my faith by doing nothing"?

To the contrary, you will show your faith by doing something. For faith without works is what? Dead! (Also see James 2:20.)

Do you want a house? Pray for it. Then say, "Amen," with a hammer and saw.

Do you want a wife? Pray for one. Then go shave, put on some cologne, learn some manners, and learn how to be thoughtful and loving.


·         What have you been praying earnestly about this week?   

·         What is your heart's desire?   

·         Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can put feet to that prayer.   

·         Then, walk the talk!

[Judy Harder]

July 15

God's Provision in Your Life 

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11

A philosopher once said, "To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough."

What most people want is to have some money in the bank—to have something there so whatever tomorrow brings, they'll not have to worry about it. We call that security.

Question: Is that really security? Who is more secure—the man who has a warehouse full of stale bread that the rats or thieves can get, or the man who has a father who is a very, very rich baker?

Begin your prayer time today with the Lord's Prayer and ask Him to help you to be content. Bow before Him in humble adoration of His provision in your life. Then share the Bread of Life with someone who is hungry today.