The Pearl

Being the Church

2011-09-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

"When the Church is absolutley different from the world, she invariably attrracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first." ~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Scripture: "Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for." ~Acts 20:28

Observation: Being the Church is not easy in this world today. Judged, shunned, unique, and quite possibly hated, Christians being the Church is a tough and hard mandate - but one we took on when we made Christ lord and saviour of our lives. We are different. We are unique. Yet, there is an attraction that cannot be denied - by the very people who know no different way of life.

Application: And that is just where I come in - we come in. At the place where people are, without the knowledge of something better, something beyond themselves; yes, something supernatural. A God who loves them despite themselves - an unconditional love. Those that know no other way of life need to hear about new way of life - about a hope and a future that is assured.

I have the unique opportunity to travel to South America this winter as a missionary to a sapling of a church, to help roots grow deep and to bring water and nourishment to a small but thriving group of believers in Chile. I play a small part in this, but inevitably a larger part as a group of like-minded believers will gather and travel together to offer assistance and participate in a new church plant that began a year ago.

If you would like to be a part of this, to offer your prayers and support, I encourage you to contact http://www.wvcc.org/ and learn more about our mission trip from December 29th, 2011 to January , 2012.

Be the Church.

"The devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common." ~ Acts 2:42, NIV

Prayer: Lord, with the same assuredness that You boldly professed in Matthew 16:18, may you be with us as we build Your Church on a rock in Chile. That there are hears to hear and hearts open to Your Word. Use us as you see fit; help us to be the Church to this growing family of believers. Let us grow in our faith and stengthen the faith of others not by our words or deeds, but in our love - a love that You so generously offer us. Provide the safety and the boldness needed as we travel and as we invest ourselves wholeheartedly on this journey. Thank you, Lord, for your provision and your protection. Amen.

© Vicki L. Utley 2011 All Rights Reserved

The Existence of the Thorn

2010-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

2nd Corinthians 12:7-19, NIV - ". . . there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." . . . That is why, for Christs's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

What was it that dogged Paul during his ministry? Why the pleas to God - three times - for its removal? Was it a physical ailment - no doubt he had suffered from many maladies in his years of travels. Or a speech impediment? Perhaps a stomach or internal organ condition that caused persistent pain? Or was it a spiritual condition - perhaps, an incessant temptation? In a word, was it 'pride' - with no antidote except for God not removing it, keeping it around so that it constantly kept Paul on his knees and humbled by it?

What I've seen, and what I've experienced in ministry, I believe it is the latter: a spiritual condition that dogged Paul. What exactly that was, we may never know until we get to Heaven. What I can attest to, what I know, is that if you are a man or woman of God, there is one or more conditions that persist in us; something or things that we struggle with more than any thing else that can cut into our ministry, our spiritual life, truncate our family lives, even cut short our careers, if we let it.

It could be as benign as how busy we may become in 'doing God's work'.  Family neglect results. Or, it could be a constant struggle of self-worth.  Both men and women of God suffer from this malady - are we the stuff that men and women of God are to be made? It could be a temptation - conceit, narcissism, too comfortable in a role that you've stayed in too long.

Or, it could be that constant lure of the better and bigger syndrome. You may know this one: it happens in the megachurches all too often. Leaders are sure their church's growth is because of them; and, because of them, they lead their flock into the bigger, better syndrome: build more buildings, bring more people, increase our salaries, our perks because we're worth it. It happens way too often. Jesus is left out in the cold.

But I want to come clean. My 'thorn', my weakness that makes me strong, is my thought life - a prideful one. I have an uncanny - no unique, ability to create scenarios: to envision a perfect ministry, a perfect romantic relationship, a perfect marriage, a perfect parent, a perfect career; yes, a perfect life lived out perfectly.

Yes, this is the thorn that keeps me from seeing the possibilities in the realities of the day to day - that life is not perfect, and therefore, all of the aforementioned areas of my life cannot be perfect, either. And yet this compulsion, this visonary standard that I have yet to achieve - and will likely never achieve, persists. This, then, is the thorn that exists to infect my rather mundane, nondescript, and ordinary life.  This 'infection' takes the form of looking for the things that I think will satisfy, will quench the thirst, and complete me, in the created reality - my fantasies - rather than in what 'is'. No thing lives up to it. How can it?

My daily prayer is that I keep this thought life in check by humbling myself before God in a most transparent way with Him. That I will strive for perfect, knowing that I am imperfect and the areas of my life that I want perfect will always remain imperfect.

My creative side - this thought life of mine - billows out of my side as written expressions, borne out of this healthy flow of ideas and what-ifs. I reign it in daily through His Word; it grounds my flights of fancy and keeps me on a course, a path, that He surely has set out for me. It is an impossibly narrow path, yet I dance together with Him, moving forward on this journey with light steps and a joyful heart.

Father God, You've given us a creative mind like no other creature on this planet. Lord, let me use it to glorify You and to complete the journey that You've laid out for me before I was born.  Others who read this may resonate with this burden, this thorn; Lord, allow them to be assured that it is both pain and pleasure; it is temporary, and it has a usefulness beyond our knowing. Thank you, Lord, for bringing us back to You through our thorns in our lives. Amen.

© Vicki L. Utley 2010 All Rights Reserved

The Pearl: The Making of a Pearl#links

2009-11-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Pearl: The Making of a Pearl

The Making of a Pearl

2009-11-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

Matthew 13:44-46, NIV - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

Truth be told, I am not a 'great witness' for Christ. I am a work in progress. I am the parasite (sin) in the oyster that needs to be washed over constantly with the smoothing mercies of God, building layer by layer a whole pearl (person) whose totall in love with God. God, the Great Equalizer, loves us despite ourselves. :)

The Pearl: The 'J' Word

2009-11-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

The Pearl: The 'J' Word

The Pearl: What Suffering Produces: HOPE

2009-11-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Pearl: What Suffering Produces: HOPE

The Multitude

2009-11-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

Matthew 9:35-38, The Message - "Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"

The trees in there full regalia in the Fall in the Northeast reminds me of this passage in Matthew. Like the variegated and multi-colored trees that fill the Northeast, the multitudes that Jesus saw must have been overwhelming, in the natural. A sea of faces, or different ethnicities; the healthy and the hurting, the strong and the weak, the wealthy and the poor; a congregation of the lame and leaderless.

Jesus heals and hugs and calls out for for leaders to rise up to 'harvest' the fields of lost people.

The endless landscape of variegated trees remind me of churches that amass a sea of people, all floating about, ebbing and flowing with the winds of change, while nothing changes except their exteriors that transform according to the weather and seasonality.

Jesus calls us to be leaders - to lead the sheep - to plant 'trees' (committed Christians) by streams of the Living Water - for spiritual growth, not emotional uprisings that swell on Sunday with the strength of the sermon, and lose momentum by Monday.

Lord, You know my heart. Like the trees that are packed in on Sundays, swaying on the tide of emotion, deepen my roots, strengthen my trunk for a faith that is unshaken. I do not want to lose my leaves that are on for a little while, change, and then fall off like a fad that has lost momentum. Strengthen my faith, steady it, shore it up. Bring the harvest on. Amen.

Loss

2009-10-28T13:51:00.001-07:00

James 4:14, NIV - "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Loss. There has been way too much of it lately.

More doom and gloom on the economy, falling stock markets, evaporated 401K's, and no relief in sight.

I learned of more loss today.

The day was planned perfectly. Winding my way up to Santa Barbara, I throw in my old favorite CD's and wanting to relax as I drove the 90 minutes along the coast. The weather held up to its promise - the coast was clear, the sky over the Pacific Coast was blue and the water was calm and a deep blue with green hues.

The cell phone rings. It's a text message from my son. He says, 'Did you hear about the kid at my school'? I hadn't listened to the news for a whole day yesterday and most of this morning - on purpose. Always on top of the news, it was intentionally absent from my mind.

My thoughts were elsewhere - on ministry and Board retreat planning, on the four meetings I was headed to. And definitely on what it is that these people on the beach do for a living to be out there when I am locked into a day of four meetings - held back to back and on top of each other?

"No", I message back to him.

Concerned, I wondered why he was using his phone during class, at school - against school policy - he doesn't break rules like that. Was he upset?

I call his counselor. And am reminded of why I have only had two encounters with her. She is as cold as ice. Not a warm bone in her. She immediately picked up on why he was using his phone on campus rather than expressing any concern. Typical. She said casually and without feeling - 'I'll call him in and have him call you'. That's nice.

My son immediately sent a text message back that he didn't know the kid.

'Oh', I said. Somewhat relieved, but still not convinced that my son was not affected by the murder/suicide of a family of six - including my son's school mate - I call my friend on the cell in the car as I drive with the soft music playing in the background. Long gone are the relaxation plans - concern took over.

I asked her if she had heard anything about a killing of a student at my child's school. She said she had not. But then she turned the local television station on, and there it was: a student was part of an entire family, including the three children, a grandmother, a mother, and the murderer himself - the father. How could this be?

Financial despair. Lost retirement. Late payments. No end in sight. Pressure. More pressure. It was easier for him to take lives than live.

Scott Ogden was one of the most enthusiastic 40-something I've ever met. Always positive, always smiling always concerned for my son's musical progression. As a drum teacher, Scott was a perfectionist, and he set a high standard for his drum students, but my son thrived and grew into an accomplished drummer because of this man's style of teaching.

We met Scott by chance, when he advertised at a local recreation center. We tried him out and my son instantly connected. We knew we found the right instructor. His lesson fees were affordable, his schedule flexible, and he was always on time and with no cancellations. Scott was a rarity in the rock music world.

One little hitch: he was going blind. Yes, blind from a diabetic condition. Yet, he continued to give lessons and we continued to learn until it reached a point where learning to read music was necessary for further growth. And that is when we had a hard decision to make and moved on into actual band performances.

We saw Scott just last month, alone at a counter at the drum section of Guitar Center, buying something related to his drum kit. It was a school friend of my son's, who lives near Scott and also took lessons from him, who broke the news to us. It was the very night of the afternoon that we saw Scott that he had gone into cardiac arrest, and was never to be resuscitated again.

Loss is so hard. My son is languishing between pretending these losses do not affect him and wanting to be home and comforted. It is immense for someone so young to capture in their hearts. It is confusing. It is not fair. Life can be tough.

Then I start counting the blessings we have. Grateful that my son has a father. Grateful that he has a mother. Grateful for God's protection over us - in health, in having a job, in having shelter, in having food, in allowing me to take in the next breath of air.

Where does our help come from? It comes from the LORD of our lives.

Jesus.

Jesus.

© Vicki L. Utley 2010 All Rights Reserved

2009-07-12T08:49:00.002-07:00

Proverbs 9:6 - "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."

I walk by it nearly every time. Each time, my mind wonders. The soul left this house years ago. Why?

It is barely seen for the overgrown shrubs that encase the perimeter metal fencing, seemingly forever separating it from being visited or penetrated by human beings. In fact, there is little that would reflect any life. Looking directly from the front entry gate is a cobble stone path way. It begins straight, but after two stones, becomes erratic and patternless until they somehow lead to the front steps to the porch.

Either side of the path is barren; a glimpse of it would appear to anyone who cares that whoever walked this path, would stray so often that there no longer is any vegetation. Save for two or three sticks in the ground that perhaps are the beginnings of trees. These leafless, lifeless looking trees are centered into what looks like a ring of watered dirt; a seemingly empty attempt at resurrecting life into these trees without limbs or leaves.

The matured trees sprinkled about in the yard have heavy limbs hanging down, weighed down by the accumulation of year and years of dirt and dead leaves and spider webs that mute their beauty - a beauty that might have been present in their youth. Even the conifer trees with their stature have dead and lifeless treetops, presumably from inadequate care to its roots and is dying starting at its head and working its way down.

The overgrown yard and unkempt trees create a sunless, lifelessness around the house. Even the house itself is absent light. The darkness is evident even in the bright morning sunlight; its coolness is too evident to go unnoticed yet many have passed by, as its shaded existence is unremarkable.

As I look up to the porch, I see worn and old steps leading to the front porch. I look for signs of a living, breathing person who might occupy such a house. It is a soul-less place, absent of light or openness.

The house next door stands out by stark contrast. It is like night and day. It radiates with warmth, care, structure,and purpose. The trees are routinely trimmed, the grass is mowed, the shrubs are green and shine from the sunlight hitting their vibrant leaves. A single car, poised in the driveway for its driver, stands ready in front of the house. Freshly painted, or so it seems, this home's cleanness and brightness is a stark contrast from what separates the soul-less house by mere inches.

Lord, peer into my soul. Prune away the deadness of my limbs. Breathe life back into these weary dry bones. Open up the sky with Your Light, Your Life. Breathe into me the air I need to breathe, the openness I must have, the undisciplined mind that I've created. Bring back to life a passion for You, running hard after You. Straighten out the cobblestones to my heart so I can live with freedom in You and with a purpose.

Disclosures

2009-05-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

James 5:16, NIV -"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Day 4 of the new job. Out of nowhere, a new colleague opened up and shared that her 25 year marriage had all but disintegrated. Infidelity. Nervous breakdowns. Financial struggles. Lots of counseling. Wow.

I hurt for her in that moment.

Why me? Why share the very core of her hurt, her recent marriage troubles, with me?

She doesn't know me.

Or does she? Could she have read the heartache that I have felt as infidelity ravaged my marriage? As trust issues deteriorated any semblance of intimacy?

Nine years later, and I found out on Day 2 of my new job that my ex-husband is working on Wife #3. How did I find out? Wife potential #3 e-mails me about her problems with my ex. Problems with his unemployment. Problems with his ability to lead a household as a man. Problems with getting involved and being a role model for the five - count them - FIVE - boys that he is responsible for. from the three relationships he's had.

Lord, your are sovereign. You know the dysfunction of families today. Lord, show us the right way to live. Help us protect marriages. Encourage us to seek pre-marital counseling. We love you, in Jesus name, Amen.

2008-12-28T17:13:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 32:38-41, NIV - "They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Believe It

2008-11-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

Stuck

2008-11-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

A Day to Remember

2008-11-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

I went to purchase a Los Angeles Times newspaper as a commemorative piece of history to have as a keepsake: "The first African American President-Elect as the 44th President of the United States of America."

Everyone else, it turns out, had the same idea.

What was cool was that I ventured outside of the local Starbuck's to the local Asian market. Outside are lines of Asian newpaper stands. Korean, Japanese, Chinese language newspapers - all with images of Barack Obama on the front page.

I eventually went to three different stores, including a newspaper stand, and all were out of the historic newspaper. I ended up going to the edges of the County where I live, and it was inside the grocery store, that I found several newspaper copies. The checker had been oblivious to the frenzy to get copies of today's newspaper with the historic headline. I wondered where she had been in the last 24 hours?

Images on CNN and other news channels showed what many people felt: that history was being made as Obama made his acceptance speech at Chicago Plaza, in front of a sea of faces totaling over 240,000 people. Images of Oprah Winfrey hugging whoever stood next to her; Jesse Jackson, weeping; and, the best scene of all - a mosaic of colors, of ages, of gender, of generations - there to witness firsthand, history being made.

Whether an Obama supporter or not, one could not help but try to fathom the historical moment captured as he stood on the stage, reminding us of the long road that it took to get to where he found himself on this night - the first African American President.

More than the politics, more than platforms, it was about breaking through this barrier.

As my son and I watched Obama's acceptance speech, I couldn't help but imagine the changes that, because of this night, will be put into action. All I saw was the people - the pioneers- whose shoulders he stood on to get to where he landed today.

The Conclusion of the Matter

2008-11-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14, NIV - "The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

It's A New Day

2008-11-04T09:52:00.001-08:00

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

His Purpose Will Stand

2008-11-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 46:3-13, NIV - "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.

4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

5 "To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.

8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. 13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed.

I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel. "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.

Obedience

2008-10-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

- OBEDIENCE -

By Margaret Feinberg

(Source: Deeper Walk, edited by Winn Collier)

The word is four simple letters and can be echoed in one syllable. It's a word we've been trained by since we were children. At times, it still makes us wince.

Obey.

It looks harmless at first glance. Almost lonely as it sits there. It causes the Pharisee to exclaim and the backslider to pout. It divides those who build on the sand and those who construct on the rock. The wise and the foolish part over it, and those who are faithful know its cost. Once the service ends and pews return to their empty state, this small word determines the character of the believer.

Obey. Pause. Quiet your mind. Reflect. Is there anything God has asked you to do that you're not doing?

Maybe it's something big. A calling. You're supposed to be in seminary. You were supposed to take that job even though it didn't pay as well. Or maybe it's something little. You were asked to fast. You should have called you aunt two days ago. God asked you to step away from a habit.

Whatever it is, God has not forgotten. And in His grace, He hasn't allowed you to forget either. He loves you, and more than your spiritual activity. He's looking for obedience. He wants to give you more, entrust you with greater things. He wants to funnel more of His blessing, strength, and light through you. But that one small point of disobedience has limited the flow. Maybe you hadn't noticed. But He has. And that's why He's taken this time to remind you. To give you another chance. To encourage you to move. Make that step.

Obey.

He never said it would be easy. He never said it would be fun. He never said it wouldn't require strength, courage, and your will. He simply said, "Obey".

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25).

Prayer: Father, forgive me for not responding to Your commands. Forgive me for looking the other way, finding other things to do with my time, and trying to convince myself that You really hadn't spoken to me. I choose to obey You. I love You. Amen.

Loss

2008-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

There's been way too much of it lately.

More doom and gloom on the economy, falling stock markets, evaporated 401K's, and no relief in sight.

I learned of more loss today.

The day was planned perfectly. Winding my way up to Santa Barbara, I throw in my old favorite CD's, wanting to relax as I drove the 90 minutes along the coast. The weather held up to its promise - the coast was clear, the sky over the Pacific Coast were blue and the water was an calm and a deep blue with green hues.

My phone rings that not so familiar sound of receiving a text message. It is my son. 'Did you hear about the Indian kid at my school'? was the message. I hadn't listened to the news for a whole day yesterday and most of the this morning - on purpose. Always on top of the news, it was intentionally absent from my mind.

My thoughts were elsewhere - on ministry and Board retreat planning, on the four meetings I was headed to. And definitely on what it is that these people on the beach do for a living to be out there when I am locked into a day of four meetings - held back to back and on top of each other?
I text messaged back to my son: 'No'.

And then I became concerned. Why was he using his phone during class, at school - he doesn't break rules like that. Was he upset?

I call his counselor. And am reminded of why I have only had two encounters with her. She is as cold as ice. Not a warm bone in her. She immediately picked up on why he was using his phone on campus rather than expressing any concern. Typical. She said casually and without feeling - 'I'll call him in and have him call you'. That's nice.

My son immediately text back that he didn't know the kid.

Oh. Somewhat relieved, but still not convinced that my son was not affected by the murder/suicide of a family of six - including my son's school mate - I call my friend on the cell in the car as I drive with the soft music playing in the background. Long gone are the relaxation plans - concern took over.

I asked her if she had heard anything about a killing of a student at my child's school. She said she had not. But then she turned the local television station on, and there it was: a student was part of an entire family, including the three children, a grandmother, a mother, and the murderer himself - the father. How could this be?

Financial despair. Lost retirement. Late payments. No end in sight. Pressure. More pressure. It was easier for him to take lives than live.

Scott Ogden was one of the most enthusiastic 40-something I've ever met. Always positive, always smiling, always concerned for my son's musical progression. Scott was a perfectionist, and he set a high standard for his drum students, but my son thrived and grew into an accomplished drummer from taking drum lessons from this professional drummer.

We met by chance, when he advertised at a local rec center. We tried him out and my son instantly connected. We knew we found the right instructor. His lesson fees were affordable, his schedule flexible, and he was always on time and with no cancellations. A rarity in the rock music world.

One little hitch: he was going blind. Yes, blind from a diabetic condition. Yet, he continued to give lessons and we continued to learn until it reached a point where learning to read music was necessary for further growth. And that is when we had a hard decision to make and moved on into actual band performances.

We saw Scott within the last month, alone at a counter at the drum section of Guitar Center, buying something related to his drum kit.

A school friend of my son's, who lives on the block, and also took lessons from Scott, gave my son the bad news. It was the very night of the afternoon that we saw Scott, that he had gone into cardiac arrest, and was never to be resuscitated again.

Loss is so hard. My son is languishing between pretending these losses do not affect him, and wanting to be home and comforted. It is hard. It is not easy. It is not fair. Life is tough.
Then I start counting the blessings we have. Grateful that my son has a father. Grateful that he has a mother. Grateful for God's protection over us - in health, in having a job, in having shelter, in having food, in allowing me to take in the next breath of air.

Where does our help come from? It comes from the LORD of our lives.

Jesus.

Jesus.

James 4:14, NIV - "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Only One

2008-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.: and what I should do and can do, by the Grace of God I will do.

Voices in A Single Harmony

2008-08-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

Romans 15:1-4, The Message: " 1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

2008-07-31T09:35:00.001-07:00

Gone Forever

2008-07-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:31-39, The Message - "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?

And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.

I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

Charles Spurgeon says this, "For the Christian there is no legally punishable death in this world, much less any second death. He is completely freed from all the punishment as well as the guilt of sin, and the power of sin is removed, too. It may stand in our way, and agitate us with perpetual warfare; but sine is a conquered foe to every soul in union with Jesus.

Do believe, Christian, that your sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has crucified it, "nailing it to His cross." Go now and mortify it, and the Lord will help you to live to His praise, for sine with all its guilt, shame, and fear, is gone."

Finishing Strong

2008-07-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

25 miles.

It was a long, winding, and hard adventure. I ran it strong. I ran past women who I thought were in the lead and would never lose the lead. I kept running strong. I finished strong.

At the end, I had a good tired feeling. Completely exhausted. Fulfilled in every way. Strong. And I finished.

25 miles.

It was only a dream. A variation of dreams that I've been having lately of running. And finishing strong every time. The first dream was a shorter race that I finished strong in. That morning, after rehashing my dream, in a weird way, I FELT strong and athletic again.

The muscles that long since retired running, were once again at runner's strength, full and firm again. My attitude was good.

I felt accomplished again.

It was a strength that I remember having as an accomplished runner. A feeling that is distant today.

1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Acts 20:24 - "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Jeremiah 12:5 -""If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

Galatians 5:7 -"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"

2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Amen.

Be the Encourager

2008-07-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

My son, David, is a big guy for 13 years old. He is not a typical looking, wirey basketball player. A Charles Barkley to a Kevin Garnett. You get the picture.

But his heart says it all.

In the last basketball game, I was amazed at all of the encouragement he received. From parents. From spectators. From phone calls from coaches. Cheering him on. Encouraging him.

He led the fast breaks, stole the ball, hit the nothing-but-net three pointers, grabbed the rebounds, stole the ball, threw the lead passes down the court to his fellow team members for the layups. He did it all. And he was cheered.

I was so proud of my son. Kids may tease him for his size, they may ridicule him for suiting up on an all-star basketball team, but they underestimate him. He's got heart. He's got the will. And, he's got the encouragement - from both parents, his team, his coaches, the player's parents, and those that have known him for many years.

Be the encourager. Be the cheerleader for your child. Be positive. Affirm their talent, their leadership, their courage.

Like Jesus, he was The Encourager. Be like Jesus.

2008-06-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

My Great Lady
By David Glicher

My great lady is my mom. My mom can be strict but she lets me do things and she gets me nice things. My mom helps me in school and in life. She is the only great lady in my life. I wonder if there will ever be such a great lady as my mom in my life. She encourages me when I’m having trouble in school and outside of school.
I love my mom with all my heart and all my strength and all my soul. She is the one that keeps me going. I am so glad I have such a great lady. I hope people all over the world could have a great lady such as my mom. My mom is number one! She is the best!

The Prodigal Son

2008-06-14T10:40:00.001-07:00

Luke 15:8-23, NIV - "11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[b]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

July 15, 1990

2008-06-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 15:6, NIV - "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Dear Dad,

It was July 14th when we spoke - not knowing it would be the last time we would ever again exchange words.

I will never forget that Saturday and the evening that transpired. That day I was troubled, concerned, anxious. And when I spoke to you, I was wishing that you would change your habits, your lifestyle; to get you off of the couch and out of the deep, dark place that you were in, had been in, all of your life that I knew you.

Urging you to stop drinking, stop smoking, to eat better, we argued. The phone call ended with me being so concerned for you. I don't remember if I said 'I Love You' before we hung up. In fact, I think I may have hung up on you - out of utter frustration of what to do as a daughter.

That evening, I went to bed and wept - unconsolably, into the wee hours of the night. Unsettled, uncontrollably emotional.

Later that evening - now morning - a phone call. It was mom. Saying dad had abruptly stood up at about 5:00 a.m. and then just as abruptly, fell back onto the bed, already dead.

Suddenly and without warning. Without saying good-bye.

Dad, 18 years later, I miss you. I wanted my dad back then. And now.

Whatever darkness you kept deeply in your heart, in your psyche, you made up with the good times. The fishing trips, the camping trips. The hikes in our local mountains. The dedication that you had in attending our basketball, volleyball, softball games in high school and on into college.

Later, Rick, your son, my brother, would say that you and he had a very serious conversation about his heart condition - no, not your physical heart condition, which I only learned about just recently, but your spiritual heart condition. Where you were with Christ. And, Rick later tells us that during one particularly memorable fishing trip, you had told Rick that you believed in Jesus and 'accepted Christ' as your Lord and Saviour.

My hope, my prayer, is that I will get to see you again one day.

You were not the ideal dad. You were just dad. You were my dad, and I miss you.

Happy Father's Day. Love you then, love you now, love you always.

Good-bye, Roy Alton Utley. Son. Father. Husband. Dad.

Facing Fear

2008-06-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

What Suffering Produces: HOPE

2008-05-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Romans 5:1-5, NIV - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Serving Others

2008-05-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 1, The Message: "Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.

The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said,

The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;

Grass dries up, flowers droop,

God's Word goes on and on forever.

This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

Noble Character

2008-05-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:”- Proverbs 31:10, 27-28

Suspended Heart

2008-05-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Mother's Day between four single moms and their kids, however, does not always go as planned. And THAT is what makes it so special.

It always starts out as a planned event, with phone calls of what everyone is doing for Mother's Day; and then planning the meal: who is bringing what and when. The treat that we all anticipate is the homemade vanilla ice cream.

This year, as we sat around the picnic table, enjoying easy conversation, a mom begins a tribute to her own mother, who died 19 years ago - one day shy of Mother's Day. The table fell silent, as she gave a beautiful tribute, and at the end, we raised our glasses of pink lemonade, and saluted her mom. We went around the table - and it was my turn, and I just spent the evening with my 90-year old mom, enjoying a meal and shopping afterward. "I've always loved her humor", I said. She has always reminded my of Lucille Ball on 'I Love Lucy', and we saluted Dorothy Adeline as we honored her today.

To my left, was my son. His tribute to me was so touching. Early this morning, I opend my bedroom door to find a card tucked in the door frame. In it, was a beautiful card with words that brought tears to my eyes - tears of joy, and tears of affirmation.

As son shared around the table, he listed my qualities as being understanding, kind, and loving. Tears welled up in my eyes as this 13-year old teenage boy is still so loving and so respectful; so eloquent in his tribute. In that moment, my suspended heart cherished the moment.

There were other tributes equally touching, and surprisingly allowed us to share our mothers with others with respect and honor on this special day.

As the evening wound down, I realized how grateful I am to have a son, and what joy I've experienced with his presence in my life. Earlier today, we watched the Lakers basketball playoff game together, both eagerly wishing the Lakers would pull off a win in overtime. They didn't but we reminisced our experience going to a Laker game in Los Angeles recently, and how magical that evening was - in all ways. But mostly, I realized it was special because of his presence, and still being able to stay close to my son. There will come a time when he will want that 'space' that we all create between us and our parents. For the moment, though, I relish this time with him.

Lord, keep him safe - he is Yours, and he is mine. On loan to me for this vapor of a lifetime, may his life be illuminated with You in his heart - always.

Amen.

Church Without Walls

2008-05-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

Zechariah 2:1-5, NLT - "When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. “Where are you going?” I asked. He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”

Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him. The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone!

Many will live outside the city walls.

Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”

Jesus, Jesus

2008-05-03T07:47:00.001-07:00

Promises

2008-05-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

May 3-4, 2008 -The Alternatives to Patience -- Galatians 6:7-9

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-9, NLT - "Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."

Have you ever felt the Lord calling you to something really big, maybe a task that seems impossible or a goal that would take years to achieve? Most likely, some aspiration or God-given promise just came to mind. As you think about it, let's consider three common courses of action.

First, we can take a shortcut. After all, if God makes a promise or gives us a goal, wouldn't He want us to attain it as quickly as possible? The answer is, "Not necessarily." God often gives a pledge years before He brings it to pass. When we try to manipulate circumstances and "help" the Lord fulfill His promise, we'll surely get in the way of the good things He has in mind for us. We should remember that part of the blessing will be the trust and wisdom gained while waiting.

Second, we can simply quit. Who wants to wait ten years for something? So, we just walk away, forget it, and try not to think about it any more. Just imagine hearing God's promise and then saying, "No, that would take too long. I'd rather move on to something else." What a tragedy!

Third, we can wait patiently and trust God for the blessing. This is clearly the best option, but sadly the one we often avoid. If someone were to say to you, "Ten years from today, I'm going to give you 10 million dollars," what would you say? Most likely, you would not respond, "No, thanks. I want it now or not at all." Why then, do we say that to God? He has tremendous blessings in store for you, if you're willing to wait.

It's A Matter of the Heart

2008-04-29T08:30:00.001-07:00

1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV , -"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

Black swan and fish: Two stories

2008-04-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

He grew up in the poorness that is Tijuana, Baja, Mexico. The second youngest to 14 children. Yes, fourteen. In a two-bedroom home, with two beds and a sofa bed. Kids in three's and four's sleeping in one bed. Even sharing a bed with mom and dad.

At age nine, his mom was already in Santa Maria, California, working two jobs, sending money to the kids and an ailing husband and dad. Sleeping with his dad, Juan remembers the exact time of his dad's death: 12:37 p.m. - it was an image on the clock that was burned in his memory. Like it happened yesterday, his dad's death was traumatic. All of his sibliings, except for the oldest, one present to care for the body, which stayed in the house on the bed for the next fourteen hours until help came to remove the body.

Juan made it to Santa Maria, with his mom. He grew up and attends church, where as a janitor and maintenance man, he met and married his wife. They can't have kids, and the first baby they received from foster care, was a boy. Except the boy had a brother, too, and they took both of them. Then came the next son. And the fourth one was the long-awaited baby girl. The became foster parents as the baby was just two pounds, still in the hospital.

This Monday, tomorrow, marks the day that the adopted children and parents will gather to accept into their home, to adopt this precious baby little girl as their fourth child.

All four are drug exposed. The infant girl's mom died of a drug overdose recently.

Juan shared a recent experience with one of his young sons: gathered around the T.V. watching an NBA playoff game, the little boy said, "Dad, I just love you". And dad asked why. And he said, 'Because you and I are sitting together and you are spending time with me." I am paraphrasing, but I could see Juan's chest expand as a proud dad would, hearing such a statement from his son.

Recently, Juan had taken the three boys to a pasta place, and they ordered their meals. But is was dad's meal that they all wanted. Too tired to eat, Juan joyfully shared his plate of food with his boys. "That", he said, "is what I live for."

Today on our way to the beach, we stopped at the local AM/PM market for gas. We went inside, looking for a cool drink and perhaps a snack for the road. As we leave, I see a disheveled, older woman with a gas can on the opposite side of the gas pump, where a man was standing, pumping gas in his vehicle. It was evident that the man was going to fill her gasoline tank with gas for this old woman who wear a paper, shiny tiara on her head. And I hear them conversing, and he said that he was a pastor. And then the most wonderful picture: Without fanfare, without a self-righteous "let me pray for you", he took her hands, and prayed over her. And then their conversation resumed. As I am finishing up filling my tank, I see her walking back to a van with a Christmas wreath still fastened to the front grill, and I see inside the van and it is as if it was lived in.

Anything that I thought was overwhelming today to me, was, well, nothing to worry about. What I just witnessed, and what Juan shared with me about his life growing up in Tijuana, makes my life problems miniscule. Ridiculous. Silly and stupid.

James 1:26-27, The Message - "Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."

How to End a Weekend

2008-04-27T20:20:00.001-07:00

Exodus 17:1013, NIV - "So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword."

This weekend, beginning with Friday, was a challenge. Friday was stress-filled, getting paid, finding out my checking account had been wiped out, driving from Orange County to Ventura County to pick up my elderly mother for her doctor's appointment. Then her needing things like groceries and then getting her home and finding the refrigerator billowing with food. I asked why did we go shopping. Her reply was uncomfortably honest: "I just wanted to have an excuse to get out:. Whew. After spending time with her, I finally get home to my latch-key son after 6 p.m. and have a meal with him.

Friday night we had planned our weekend, or at least I thought we had it planned. I was desperately needing exercise and the beach - two things I cannot go long without. After shopping, doing errands, it was late afternoon, and still in the 90's. Temperatures were high, but my desire to get out and play tennis and shoot some hoops with my son outweighed any weather conditions.

It wasn't the weather that cut our (my) plans short. After forgetting the tennis balls we had just purchased at home, I knew that was a 'sign'. Undaunted and fixed on getting exercise no matter what, we went to the local Rite-Aid and found one can of tennis balls.

We get to the courts, and I'm a little rusty, but persevering through it. I demand to serve to my 14-year old son. With a serve like a rocket, he impishly ducks. I try two more serves. After several rallys, an Asian kid came over to our court, keys in hand. "I'm going to have to lock up the gates." End of our tennis - just when we were both getting warm - really warm.

We move on to the basketball courts, where David's form is still excellent. He scores his three-pointer without much effort; I rebound for him. He is following us. "No, I mean I have to lock up ALL of the gates." And that meant we were done with basketball, too. He escorts us to our car.

We get home and decide to BBQ. I could tell it was going to be a disaster. My attitude and mood no longer was the 'perfect mom'. All I could do was complain and regret that we didn't make it to the beach today.

Saturday ends. Or so I thought. God woke me up at 1:00 a.m. to convict me of my attitude, the treatment of my son during what was to be a fun BBQ. And God was soooo right. I was guilty as charged. Attitude sucks and my son was the one who kept loving me anyway.

Sunday is a new day. Saturday I put my foot down and dictated the day's agenda for Sunday. "We're going to the beach - no matter what. And, I'm going to church in the a.m. - you can stay home if you want."

And so the day began. I went to church, and it was on the topic of Romans 2:17 - the Jews and 'the law'. Do's and don't, rules and regulations; God's grace vs. man's conditions. Being religious vs. being in relationship with Him.

And I got it today. It was not about me. It was about Him. And how my 'rules' and my 'ways' are not His. I cannot rule my son; God rules him - and me, too. God's rules - unconditional love. Grace. Mucho grace.

My weekend, and quite frankly, the week - has been a lot like Moses fighting the Amalekites. Not by my strength - for I am weak - but by His - is how I survive another day, another hour, another minute. When I grow weary, instead of a rock to sit on, I head for the beach. Or the mountains. Definitely something that involves physical exertion. And He is there, time and time again, to hold up my arms. Once again. And again. And again, fighting off my demons, my stress, myself.

At the end of the day, my son and I learned about how to have a victorious, glorious weekend. His Arms. My heart. He wins. Always.

He Lives

2008-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Job 19:25, New Living Translation - ""“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last."

(Source: Charles Spurgeons' Daily Devotionals)

The marrow of Job's comfort lies in that little word "My"-"My Redeemer," and in the fact that the Redeemer lives.

Oh! to get hold of a living Christ. We must get a property in Him before we can enjoy Him.

What is gold in the mine to me? Men are beggars in Peru, and beg their bread in California. It is gold in my purse which will satisfy my necessities, by purchasing the bread I need.

So a Redeemer who does not redeem me, an avenger who will never stand up for my blood, of what avail were such? Rest not content until by faith you can say "Yes, I cast myself upon my living Lord; and He is mine."

It may be you hold Him with a feeble hand; you half think it presumption to say, "He lives as my Redeemer;" yet, remember if you have but faith as a grain of mustard seed, that little faith entitles you to say it. But there is also another word here, expressive of Job's strong confidence, "I know." To say, "I hope so, I trust so" is comfortable; and there are thousands in the fold of Jesus who hardly ever get much further. But to reach the essence of consolation you must say, "I know."

Ifs, buts, and perhapses, are sure murderers of peace and comfort. Doubts are dreary things in times of sorrow. Like wasps they sting the soul! If I have any suspicion that Christ is not mine, then there is vinegar mingled with the gall of death; but if I know that Jesus lives for me, then darkness is not dark: even the night is light about me.

Surely if Job, in those ages before the coming and advent of Christ, could say, "I know," we should not speak less positively. God forbid that our positiveness should be presumption. Let us see that our evidences are right, lest we build upon an ungrounded hope; and then let us not be satisfied with the mere foundation, for it is from the upper rooms that we get the widest prospect.

A living Redeemer, truly mine, is joy unspeakable.

Fortune, Family and Health - Gone!

2008-04-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Job 1:8-22; 2:3-8, The Message -"God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."

Satan retorted, "So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose!

"But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what."

God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.

Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped: 21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth.God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed.

Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.

Then God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him, is there—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn't work."

Satan answered, "A human would do anything to save his life. But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away his health? He'd curse you to your face, that's what."

God said, "All right. Go ahead—you can do what you like with him. But mind you, don't kill him."

Satan left God and struck Job with terrible sores. Job was ulcers and scabs from head to foot. They itched and oozed so badly that he took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, then went and sat on a trash heap, among the ashes.

In The Morning......

2008-04-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

Psalm 5:1-3, The Message - "Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend."

In the Morning.....

...the sun rises, and a new day begins.
...life begins again for me.
...I petition Him for His grace and mercy on my life.
...begins my time of reflection, of thank-you's, and of gratefulness.

In the Morning....

...I love, I laugh, I cheer on.
...My heart is renewed again.
...His radiance glows within me.
...His Presence is inside me, outwardly apparent.
...He loves.

Dog Days of Life Today

2008-04-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Can I tell you about my ‘deaf’ days on Sunday, and continuing through Monday?

Well, mom tried soaking both hearing aids in water and ammonia to ‘remove ear wax’– yes, you got it! Both went DEAD, dead, dead. Her call to me was AS IF I WAS DEAF! She shouted words out rather than speak them to tell me her plight. I ended up driving over to Simi on Sunday - and SHE COULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING. I knocked – no, I WAILED on the door and SCREAMED her name.

I could see her but couldn’t get her attention. She couldn’t hear me. Looked through the curtains, and there she was, busy making herself lunch – AS IF someone wasn’t screaming and banging on the door for about 10 minutes. I went to Cora, her manager, got the house key, and entered. Boy, was she surprised to see me!! But she looked blankly, and pointed to the pad of paper and pen.

“YOU’LL HAVE TO WRITE – I CAN’T HEAR!!!”, she shouted. So after ‘talking’ by writing for a short while, I told I would make an appointment with the audiologist on Monday.

Monday morning I am in Anaheim, visiting a property that houses HIV/AIDS persons. Some very sick, some okay. Anyway, the site manager is late. The maintenance man lets me into the manager's office. The manager finally shows up, and starts talking, ‘HI VICKI, I AM COMPLETELY WITHOUT HEARING TODAY!!! I GOT A TERRIBLE EAR INFECTION IN BOTH EARS”. And she went on to describe, in a VERY LOUD VOICE, the yucky, oozy, bloody mess that ran from her ears. Sickening and I couldn’t get her to change the subject. The residents were rejoicing that the manager couldn’t hear on this day – they felt completely free to complain. In one of the units, no one was home - except for A DEAF DOG! We would ask him to move, and ended up shoving him to one side, as we tried to complete our inspection. Do you sense a theme h(ear)?

Oh my. What a day. What a day!

After that, I race from Orange County to Ventura County – to mom’s, to pick up her hearing aids. I go home to work and then I must drive to Van Nuys to the audiologist. She gives me the diagnosis: Left hearing aid working, Right hearing aid, broken. So I race back over to Simi and mom tries on the left hearing aid, and it works well enough to hear me. PRAISE THE LORD.

So on Tuesday, which is my son's jam session with his band, I make sure I AM WEARING MY EAR PLUGS. I don’t want to be, nor do I want to go, DEAF. Not after Sunday and Monday’s experience!

I am going back to attempt another run at counseling today – losing my mind after this week!!! This time I pray I don’t have a transsexual assigned to me. Not prejudiced, mind you. Just realize how different a single parent’s concerns are as related to a single man/woman with sexual identity issues. Anywayy….I’ll let you know how it goes.

If you ever get the chance, there’s a ‘must read’ for you: The Book of Job in THE BOOK, the bible. It describes my life EXACTLY, although it is from a man’s perspective.

Lord have mercy on my soul.

Band Aid

2008-04-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

For the last six weeks, I schlep my son to the very non-descript building in a light industrial-like area in Van Nuys. It is a laboratory where wanna-be young musicians gather in groups of four to six to formulate bands; and, after six weeks, perform three well-rehearsed classic rock songs in Hollywood, California, at a famous venue on Hollywood Boulevard.

My son shows musical talent with percussion, and we were told about this program which is a great way for pre-teens and teens to gain confidence, learn how to play together, and how to perform on stage together as a band.

A week ago, we were very early for my son's practice session. My son, always excited about his gig, goes ahead of me and enters the tiny waiting area which is a space in between studio session rooms. The walls are lined with photos of wanna-be musicians, and very famous musicians. There are older rock stars who now enjoy involving their wanna-be sons and daughters in this rare kid rock band experience.

I come in and head to the restroom. As I exit, I see my son sitting in the waiting area, and he is silently pointing furiously to a man sitting adjacent to him. I look at the man who is buried in a book, and then sit next to my son, and am knee-to-knee with the man who my son had pointed to. I read the newspaper, and talk about the progress of my son's band. Idle chit-chat.

In an instant, the door to the session room where a band had been rehearsing, bursts open. Kids pour out, energized from their session. My son rushes by the kids toward the session room to get set up. As he does, I see the owner talking to the man I was sitting knee to knee with, but had not met as his body language said he wasn't interested in chatting. 'Hey Paul, how's it going?, the owner asks. And Paul Stanley answers back; and after a few exchanges, leaves with his son, who is a guitarist in one of the kid bands.

As the man vacates his seat, I see it. A photo of this same man right above what would have been his head, had he still been sitting there. My son comes out of the room briefly to get his notebook, and says, "Mom, that was Paul Stanley! He's the lead guy in the band, 'Kiss'"!

Okay, so I didn't recognize him without his famous make-up. But sure enough, it was him.

I guess you could say I'm out of touch. Perhaps even clueless. I'll have to work on that.

And then the idea comes to me. God has been calling me to get involved with missions trips - to come to the Aid of others who are in poverty-stricken areas; kids who are homeless, and without medical aid, food, and clean water.

JT Band Aid! Kid rock bands, banding together to play for either a charity of their choice, or to raise funds to go and serve the needy, either in the States or in a foreign country.

I have been bombarded with nudges to do something that would give back, and help those less fortunate than me, than us. Perhaps I've been watching too much Idol Gives Back; or maybe it was the overwhelming motional response that I had when I experienced a group of Ugandan children, many of them AIDs-orphaned, who performed gloriously for our church last weekend - all to raise awareness and resources for African Renewal Ministries (ARM).

Music knows no differences in language. It is a common language, spoken by and through us all. Whether accomplished, or a wanna-be, we sing, we make music, we live through others that make music (that would be me, through my son). Music gathers. Music unites. Music soothes, and comforts. Music can inspire, and it can instigate movement. You just want to move.

You just want to do something - and Just Go.

We All Should Just Go

2008-04-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2008 - Because He Came, We Must Go

(Source: Welcome to the In Touch Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley)

Scripture: John 20:19-23, New Living Translation - "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Can you imagine the intensity that must have filled the room when Jesus appeared to His disciples in John chapter 20:19-23? The disciples spent days in hiding. They were afraid for their lives. They were mourning the loss of their Master. So, the followers of Christ were stunned to see Him standing before them in a locked room.

If the shock of His appearance wasn't enough, think about the statement He made from John chapter 20:21. "As the Father has sent me, I also send you". The weight of that comment must have seemed overwhelming.

After years of hearing Jesus talk about His divine purpose, the disciples were given a similar commission. The Father had sent Jesus. Jesus was sending them into the world to spread the gospel. The disciples were to heal the sick, serve the needy, and bring glory to the Father.
Many Christians read that passage and think, I'm sure glad I wasn't there to receive those "marching orders." But you were. That room didn't house just the 11 remaining apostles.

Luke chapter 24:33 reveals many other followers were "with them." So in John chapter 20:21, when Jesus said, "I also send you," He was talking to the whole body of believers.

Two thousand years later, this same commission still applies to you and me. Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples "of all the nations" is too big a job for a handful of individuals.

It's a call for every believer, in every country, in every generation to accept the mission anew. Christ is sending you somewhere for a purpose, whether in your backyard or halfway around the globe. Are you ready to go?

Like Sheep Gone Astray

2008-04-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 53:2-6, The Message - "The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field.

There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.

One look at him and people turned away.

We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.

We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!

He took the punishment, and that made us whole.

Through his bruises we get healed.

We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.

We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.

And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him.

(Source: Charles Spurgeon's Evening Devotional for Thursday, April 3rd)

Here a confession of sin common to all the elect people of God.

They have all fallen, and therefore, in common chorus, they all say, from the first who entered heaven to the last who shall enter there, "All we like sheep have gone astray."

The confession, while thus unanimous, is also special and particular: "We have turned every one to his own way."

There is a peculiar sinfulness about every one of the individuals; all are sinful, but each one with some special aggravation not found in his fellow.

It is the mark of genuine repentance that while it naturally associates itself with other penitents, it also takes up a position of loneliness.

"We have turned every one to his own way," is a confession that each man had sinned against light peculiar to himself, or sinned with an aggravation which he could not perceive in others.

This confession is unreserved; there is not a word to detract from its force, nor a syllable by way of excuse.

The confession is a giving up of all pleas of self-righteousness.

It is the declaration of men who are consciously guilty-guilty with aggravations, guilty without excuse: they stand with their weapons of rebellion broken in pieces, and cry, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way."

Yet we hear no dolorous wailings attending this confession of sin; for the next sentence makes it almost a song. "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." It is the most grievous sentence of the three, but it overflows with comfort.

Strange is it that where misery was concentrated mercy reigned; where sorrow reached her climax weary souls find rest.

The Saviour bruised is the healing of bruised hearts.

See how the lowliest penitence gives place to assured confidence through simply gazing at Christ on the cross!

Spiritual Hypocrisy

2008-03-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2008
Heedfulness or Hypocrisy in Ourselves?

by Oswald Chambers

"If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that."
—1 John 5:16

If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, ". . . he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death." Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself.

One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5 ). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, "life for those who commit sin not leading to death." It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.

Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.

Drifting

2008-03-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Unity

2008-03-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

March 28, 2008 -- Unity of the Spirit -- Ephesians 4:1-3
(source: Charles Stanley, In Touch Daily Devotional)

The presence of sin disrupts relationships, divides nations, and separates us from God. In the life of the first human family, the consequences of rebellion against God are clearly seen. The sin of disobedience and disbelief hurt Adam and Eve's relationship with their Creator and caused them to live apart from Him. Later, their son Cain became so angry that he murdered his brother Abel. This pattern of alienation from God, jealousy, hatred, and violence continues today.
Despite humanity's rebellion, God provided a way to reconcile mankind to Himself and enable us to live at peace with each other. He sent His Son Jesus to carry our sins and die in our place, thereby making it possible for each of us to be reunited with Him. When we accept His offer of salvation, we move from a state of estrangement to permanent adoption as His children (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5).
At salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells us to guide, teach, and live the life of faith through our being. Thanks to the Spirit's enablement, we experience unity with other members of God's family--a unity expressed through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). This does not mean uniformity, as we all have different personalities and abilities. It does point to living in submission to the Father and displaying attitudes and behavior that will strengthen connections with our spiritual family.
Have you answered God's call to be reconciled to Him? If not, cry out to Jesus for forgiveness. If you are already a child of God, then make living in unity with your fellow Christians a priority (Romans 12:18).

Schooled

2008-03-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 8:1-5; 6-9pp, The Message - "Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of, whether you would keep his commandments or not. He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God's mouth. Your clothes didn't wear out and your feet didn't blister those forty years. You learned deep in your heart that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child.

So it's paramount that you keep the commandments of God, your God, walk down the roads he shows you and reverently respect him. God is about to bring you into a good land, a land with brooks and rivers, springs and lakes, streams out of the hills and through the valleys. It's a land of wheat and barley, of vines and figs and pomegranates, of olives, oil, and honey. It's land where you'll never go hungry—always food on the table and a roof over your head. It's a land where you'll get iron out of rocks and mine copper from the hills.

Bumping along the road, and that big bump hits and I'm sidelined, going side-ways, sliding out of control. What was in the road? Who cut in on me? Caused me to stumble?

Schooled.

God has taken me down this path, to 'school' me in the finer things in His life for me. I see it so clearly it makes me chuckle. And cry. All at the same time. Like I'd imagine some of the Israelites behaved in their 40-year desert.

humbled. tested. hungry. lonely. emptied.

I've learned a lot walking in this desert. That I can survive. Oh, I've gone without and thought I would die. But I survive. He reminds me of that whenever I hit a bump or come to a fork in the road. Without energy to go one more inch on my own strength, I reach for Him. again. and again. and again.

You are the Lord of Lords, Creator of the Universe. I am but a tiny, imperceptible speck on a speck in this sea of humanity. Yet you love me. You've schooled me. It's deep in the marrow of my bones, viscerally knowing tha I do not live just on the provisions of this world but on every word that comes from Your mouth, from the love that you unconditionally give.

And give.

How can I thank you? Oh yes, by doing life by The Book. And I'll continually thank you all the days of my life in the good land, on that straight path, without swollen or blistered feet; without worn clothes. My strength is in You.

Amen.

What a Yoke

2008-03-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

By His Wounds..

2008-03-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

...we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

By His Wounds
Lyrics by Glory Revealed

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him

And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him

And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice

And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Touched

2008-03-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

The power of touch.

Touch someone today.

His Grace Covers Me

2008-03-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Amazing Grace,

How sweet the sound

Amazing love,

Now flowing down

From hands and feet

That were nailed to the tree

As grace flows down and covers me

(repeat)

Chorus:

It covers me

Verse Chorus:

And covers me

His grace flows down and covers me

You Got My...........

2008-03-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

.....Full Attention

Lyrics by Jeremy Riddle

May Your voice be louder

May Your voice be clearer

Than all the others, than all the others

May Your face be dearer

May Your words be sweeter

Than all the others, than all the others in my life

Please keep my eyes fixed on You

Please root my heart so deep in You

Keep me abiding, keep me abiding

That I may bare fruit

May Your presence be truer

May Your presence be nearer

Than all the others, than all the others

May Your light burn brighter

May Your love move deeper

Than all the others, than all the others in my life

Religiously Handcuffed

2008-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Matthew 15:8-9, NIV - "" 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

The do's and don'ts of how to live out my Christian life can become like religious handcuffs. Being real to myself gives way to what I perceive others want me to be. I've lost myself for fear of not being Christ-like. Humanity fades to a hyped up, hands lifted high, praise God type of religious fanatic.

What happened?

Where am I?

Eight years of living a life wholly devoted to the risen Christ. Joined at the hip with needy people searching for significance in their lives. People who talk and I listen. And listen.

Today, I was having lunch and was seated next to a man. Jim is his name. My sole purpose of being there, besides having a little lunch, was to get drunk. Yes, I was wanting to get drunk - in the early afternoon. Mid-week, on a business day. Yes, that's what I wanted. Turns out, however, that Jim was having a worse day - if there could be. Turns out Jim was having to close his business - and was prepping to tell his employees that today they'd be collecting their last check. It tore Jim up. He pored over his business financials, in the last 24 hours, trying to find out how in the world could his business have failed. He has $238 left in the business bank account, and can't make payroll. He's using his own savings to meet payroll.

He finally turns and looks directly at me and says, "Sorry I dumped this on you". Inside, I wanted to say, go ahead, shit on me - shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. And more shit. Thanks! Can't wait to be dumped on with the next sorry fellow that sits next to me. I look like a shitter. That's it. I am a toilet. That is what God has purposed me for. Praise God it's finally made clear.

And I finally reply, "That's okay, I'm having a really bad day". And I waited for him to ask 'How so?" And the words never came. Apparently I am a receptacle only. Taking shit in, can't get shit out. Constipated - with no remedy apparently in sight.

No one wants to hear my shit.

I feel religiously handcuffed.

Locked up and God has thrown away the keys.

I have spent the last 8 years devoted to God, and yet my life has gone no where. I am more financially poor, more spiritually low, more without true friends (because they're all Christians), more without any passion, more without any hope for true intimate love, than EVER before.

How does that happen living a Christian life? Religiously handcuffed, I am in jail. Imprisoned with a life sentence. Taking instructions, going through the motions. Obedient to God but with no apparent promise of getting my heart's desires. I'd settle for getting just one of my heart's desires. Just one?

Joy is no where to be found in this life. Boy, can't wait for the next one. If I make it. No guarantees that I'm 'in' there, either. Praise God for that, too. Keeps me guessing and perpetually shackled to the unknown.

So where is God with my daily prayer requests? What about the promises in the Bible, like this one: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33, NIV

Eight years. Eight LONG and committed years to our Lord and Saviour. Helped hundreds of mostly women - and men - find their life's desires and helped them get them fulfilled. And here I am. HERE I AM.

Matthew 21:22, NIV - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Promises, promises.

Life is passing me by - and everyone around me is 'being given to them as well'.

How long?

Here's another thing that doesn't make sense: How is it that a pastor, whose fallen by committing adultery, be more happy, have more joy in his life, be more fulfilled in the last two years, than the last 30 years in ministry as a married man? He's met the perfect woman, and it just doesn't make sense. How does that happen? God? Why is it that this man receives what he has probably suppressed as a desire all of his life - perhaps even prayed daily for it - and he receives it. Signed, sealed, and delivered.

And, here I am, fully devoted - to a fault - publicly and corporately praying that same prayer to have the desires of my heart fulfilled - and God is silent.

And the silence is deafening.

Jealous? Hell yes. Bitter? Yes. Feelings of betrayal? Deceived? Promises not kept? Why the hell does the Bible say that God answers prayer, when my quite simple requests, are like pissing in the wind?

And no response.

Job, man, I know how you felt.

Shall I give up this Christian life and go it alone? What would be the difference? How could my life be any different? Can't get any worse. I suppose God could make it worse - but if he won't answer my prayers by providing the desires of my heart, would it matter?

Handcuffed, I clasp my hands and pray for God to bring the keys. And I wait. And wait.

And wait.

Never Going Back - Again and Again

2008-03-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 2:1 - "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

Christ has grace without measure in Himself, but He hath not retained it for Himself. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ emptied out His grace for His people. "Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." He seems only to have in order to dispense to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like a tree, He bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who need.

Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse, to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be had from Him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which He has not bestowed upon His people.

As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet communion between Christ and His Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an unction of the same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head.

This is true communion when the sap of grace flows from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch.

As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize it as coming from Him, we shall behold Him in communion with us, and enjoy the felicity of communion with Him. Let us make daily use of our riches, and ever repair to Him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from Him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from their own purse.

(Source: Charles Spurgeon's Morning Devotionals)

Another Walk to Remember

2008-03-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Repentence: The Believer's Tool

(Source: In Touch Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley)

Scripture: Romans 10:9-11, NIV - "hat if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[

As believers mature spiritually and gain wisdom from God's Word, they should recognize that faith, confession, and repentance are all necessary tools for maintaining an intimate relationship with the Lord. We need to believe that Jesus forgives our sin, which leads us to confess wrongs before Him and turn away from them so that we will not continue to grieve our Father. If one tool is ignored, the remaining two cannot complete the job of building a successful Christian life.
Faith means believing that God forgives our sins and meets our needs, but it doesn't imply that we should be passive. The life of faith takes work--we pray, obey, serve, and keep our heart clear of sin through confession and repentance. If our view of God is clouded by sin, we'll find it hard to trust Him.
When we trust God's power to forgive, we gain confidence to confess sin--this means agreeing with Him that our transgression is wrong and violates His will. We can't seek His forgiveness until we are willing to identify our sin and recognize how it negatively impacts our relationship with Him. Yet confession is incomplete unless we also repent. And sadly, true repentance--turning away from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit--is increasingly neglected as our society encourages tolerance and doing whatever feels right.
Realize that sin must be abandoned because it grieves God; otherwise, you will damage your fellowship with Him. To keep your heart pure before the Lord, use all the tools He has given: faith, confession, and repentance.

Transcending Spiritual Malaise

2008-03-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22, NIV - " To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Spiritual loneliness.

Guilt. Depression.

Meaninglessness. The Spiritual Void.

Insecurity. Despair. Anxiety.

Mal·aise 1.) A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness. 2.) A general sense of depression or unease. 3.) An indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness.

Synonyms: angst, anxiety, debility, decrepitude, depression, despair, discomfort, disquiet, distress, doldrums, enervation, feebleness, illness, infirmity, infirmness, lassitude, melancholy, pain, sickliness, unease, uneasiness, unhealthiness, weakness

Antonyms: health, well-being

What 'Restored' Should Look Like

2008-03-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

What shall must we do with the fallen pastor?

[I must insert a lengthy parenthesis here: I am assuming the pastor is openly repentant for his public sin, and is willing to submit to the authority of the local church throughout the restoration/reconciliation process. I am also assuming that the pastor and his wife are willing to engage in lengthy in-depth biblical counseling, enthusiastically embracing stricter accountability. Finally, I am assuming that the fallen pastor and family are willing to commit to the lifetime process of restoration, understanding that this gross and public sin may disqualify the pastor from ever holding the office again.]

1) We must love the fallen pastor. This may seem to be a given, but loving requires action on our part--some very difficult actions.

Loving the fallen (but repentant) pastor requires forgiveness on our part. And based upon Ephesians 4:32, forgiveness makes a three-fold promise to never use the offense against the offended for his hurt (Jay Adams, The Christian Counselor's Manual, pg. 66-67) :

1. Forgiveness promises to avoid holding the offense over the offender's head.
2. Forgiveness promises to refrain from discussing the offense with others.
3. Forgiveness promises to refrain from dwelling on the offense myself.
Because public shame and disgrace tends to overwhelm the fallen, we must make special efforts to express our love and care. Love, especially forgiving love, is intensely practical. Forgiving love takes the fallen pastor golfing, fishing, and hunting. Forgiving love means going the extra mile, taking the initiative, and proactively befriending the humiliated pastor and family.

Finally, because public humiliation leads to loneliness, we must make special effort to include the fallen pastor and his family in our everyday lives and activities. Think about it ... this fallen leader has gone from being involved in nearly every aspect of the church's ministry to being involved in none of it. We cannot forget that just weeks ago, the church (to a great extent) was his life. Now, it's gone. And as fellow Christians, it is our responsibility to extend the offer of forgiveness, and to back that offer with real and practical actions of love and concern.

2) We must support the fallen pastor. While the aforementioned actions deal primarily with non-financial expressions of love, we cannot neglect the fallen pastor's financial needs.

As God's earthly people, we have the responsibility to reflect His grace in how we care for our ministers -- even when they fall. We must not overlook the fact that we have a financial responsbility to this man's family. I am aware of a few churches that have collected food and household supplies for their fallen pastor. Others have presented him with gift certificates to grocery stores, gas stations, and clothing stores. Most churches graciously offer a fallen pastor financial support for a period of three to six months.

According to Paul in Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV), a church is mandated to do so because bearing one another's burdens (especially financial burdens) is a vital part of the restoration process.

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Therefore, not only does the church have a responsibility to meet the pastor's financial needs for an adequate amount of time, they also have a responsibility to aid him in securing employment for the future. This is grace in action ... something a fallen pastor desperately needs.

3) We must restore the fallen pastor. According to the above mentioned Galatians 6:1-2, restoration is to be our goal for any and all who have been "caught in any transgression." Therefore, what happens after the pastor's public repentance is just as (if not more) important as understanding what led to the transgression.

Let's be honest here: fundamental, evangelical Baptists are not known for their ability and willingness to restore the fallen. It's a difficult process ... a lengthy process ... a painful process. But if you have ever been part of such a process, you know it's an extraordinarily rewarding process ... because it's a God-ordained, God-honoring process.

Before I bring these ramblings to a conclusion, allow me a final thought. I am not convinced we should be shipping fallen pastors off to another church and/or ministry for the duration of the restoration process. We wouldn't do so with our own children, and we shouldn't do so with our fallen pastors.

There is no better environment for a fallen pastor to experience the restoring power of God's grace than among the people he sinned against. No other church will know him like his own church ... no other church will love him like his own church ... no other church will be able to continually express Christ-like forgiveness like his own church. Uprooting the pastor's family tends to add to the stress and confusion of the entire situation. Too many churches tend to view fallen pastors as problems to get rid of rather than seeing them through God's eyes -- as sinners in need of restoration.

So rather than slapping a DAMAGED GOODS label upon the fallen pastor, let us be instruments of God's restoring grace ... loving, caring, supporting, and restoring this wounded soldier to a place of usefulness in Christ's church. Although some sins (such as adultery and sexual abuse) will most certainly disqualify the fallen leader from pastoring in the future, we must never banish him to a life absent of all ecclesiastical service.

If God's grace is powerful enough to free undeserving and unworthy sinners from sin's eternally damning bondage, His grace is powerful enough to lift the fallen pastor from the depths of his sin and restore him to a place of honor in the King's service.

Just like Jesus has done with each of us!

(source: Ken Field's blog)

For A Laugh or Two

2008-03-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's a New Day

2008-03-07T22:11:00.001-08:00

Zephaniah 3:5, NIV - "The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame."

I spotted two seats empty - and asked if they were taken. 'My husband may be attending', so I asked if the seat next to her was open. She said 'Yes'. As I moved past her, I sat between empty seats. To my left was the Indian woman whose husband never showed. To my right, was a father, sitting with two empty seats on either side of him. I glance over the heads of the seated crowd, and I spot my son's dad, sitting with his girlfriend whose two kids also go to the school, and the momentary disgust that I feel goes away as fast as it came.

'Is your son a 7th grader'? I asked the father sitting next to me. 'Yes', he said. And he looked at me with piercing, searching eyes - and I found myself sucked into looking deeply into his eyes and lingering there. (No this isn't some emotional fantasy - just keeping it real, here).

And we started a conversation about our kids getting their honor roll awards today at middle school.

As we talked, I could feel myself alternately contemplating the possibility this father was single and available, and the reality that he was too good looking to be single. I know, so presumptious of me. His conversation stayed in the 'I" mode (not 'we'), so I was getting more and more comfortable talking with him, and talking over the principal's droning voice as he called each of the 200+ kids by name to get their award, each time to an eruption of cheers from their circle of friends. Here's a guy who liked conversation as much as I did - and I was liking it as much as he was enjoying it.

The father is moving to Northern California in a month to a place 2-1/2 hours east of San Francisco, in the Gold Country. 'Why?', I asked myself. Not wanting to pry, I assumed it was for someone and with someone, but did not ask the question. I got my camera out to catch the moment my son receives his award as he passes through the line of awardees. I get a parent's big head instead, but being 'true' to myself, I pretended to get the shot. Conversation continued with ease, while the loud background noise that was the principal and middle schoolers, distracted me.

What do I look like? I must be a magnet for people to dump their stuff. Or just a good listener, because in the span of about 10 minutes, I learn all about his son, his ex-wife, his girlfriend, him, his business, and his plans and goals in life. Whew.

He finally shares that he is making this relocation with a girlfriend of three years. His son had just met his father's girlfriend for the first time - last week. I try not to react or judge - two things I am infamous for as a 'pious Christian'. My mind went there, though. 'How could he leave his son with his mother and go live 600 miles away with his girlfriend? 'Is the relationship more important than the one with his son?', I desperately wanted to point out. I bit my tongue. Just at the same moment, a warmth like no other poured over me, and in an instant, I was at peace with his choice. I realized that he is making life choices that he will have to live with, and to have a nice life. No need to judge or to admonish - not my job or my business.

As the last kid received their award, and the assembly was over, I felt a warm hand on my back, a kind smile and a geniune send off: 'It was nice meeting you and I wish you happiness in your life'. Ah. If but for a brief second, he broke through this hardened heart of mine that has been of need too long, and I felt a tenderness that hasn't been there for a long time rise up inside of me to answer back, 'Yes', you too - have a nice life and good luck'.

As I made my way through hundreds of people and kids, I found my son and congratulated him. By that time, Aaron's father was standing, alone, with a slight smile on his face and a smile in his eyes, as he waited for his son. Another heart tug, another brief moment of kindness flooded over my heart.

It's a new day.

When to Be Quiet and What to Do If You're Not

2008-03-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

March 6, 2008 -- Maintaining a Quiet Spirit

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4, NIV - "4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself."

When conflict arises, we oftentimes want to rush in and defend our position. Perhaps we even feel justified in blaming others. However, James 1:19 gives different advice for dealing with tension and disputes: "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." In other words, more can be accomplished through a calm approach to the situation. Scripture also suggests that we:
• Pray. First, we should ask the Lord to guard our mouth and give us the right words to say (Luke 12:12). Also, we ought to request discernment concerning the root issue and insight as to whether we might be at fault.
• See with divine perspective. Our sovereign Lord works every situation for the believer's benefit (Romans 8:28). Not only does God use difficulties to teach us, but He also allows us to demonstrate the life of Christ by the way we respond.
• Forgive. Even if someone has hurt us by causing the conflict, we should forgive. Jesus died to pardon all of our sin, and we, in turn, should forgive others. In fact, if we don't, our lives will become burdened by resentment and broken relationships.
• Respond. If we have done something wrong, we should apologize and ask forgiveness. Otherwise, we can express appreciation that the other person took time to share his concern. Also, we should affirm that we will carefully consider his comments.
How do you respond to conflict? Pray for the strength to stay calm and do what is right, even during difficult, emotional situations.

(Source: In Touch Daily Devotion, Dr. Charles Stanley)

It's Not About Me; It's Not About You

2008-03-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11pp, NIV -"The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all."

(Source: Reprinted from Rick Warren's book Purpose-Driven Life)

It's not about you.

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That's because we typically begin at the wrong starting point--ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. The Bible says, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone’s life is in his power."

Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself. You've probably tried that already. You didn't create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for! If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner's manual could reveal its purpose.

I once got lost in the mountains. When I stopped to ask for directions to the campsite, I was told, "You can't get there from here. You must start from the other side of the mountain!" In the same way, you cannot arrive at your life's purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You must begin with God, your Creator. You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God--and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose. The Bible says, "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life."

I have read many books that suggest ways to discover the purpose of my life. All of them could be classified as "self-help" books because they approach the subject from a self-centered viewpoint.

Self-help books, even Christian ones, usually offer the same predictable steps to finding your life's purpose: Consider your dreams. Clarify your values. Set some goals. Figure out what you are good at. Aim high. Go for it! Be disciplined. Believe you can achieve your goals. Involve others. Never give up.

Of course, these recommendations often lead to great success. You can usually succeed in reaching a goal if you put your mind to it. But being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you. You need more than self-help advice. The Bible says, "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self."

How, then, do you discover the purpose you were created for? You have only two options. Your first option is speculation. This is what most people choose. They conjecture, they guess, they theorize. When people say, "I've always thought life is...," they mean, "This is the best guess I can come up with."

Sometimes It's Not So Obvious

2008-02-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

America's Most Sinful Cities?
Albert Mohler

What are America's most sinful cities? How could we know? Well, give Forbes magazine credit for giving this ranking challenge a try. The magazine recently offered rankings on the traditional seven deadly sins -- and ranked America's "top ten" on each sin.

The folks at Forbes determined a way of tracking statistics on each of the sins. As the staff explained, "For each sin we stretched our imagination to find a workable proxy--murder rates for wrath, per capita billionaires for avarice--then culled the available data sources to rank the cities. Some of the results were surprising: Salt Lake City as America's Vainest City. Some were not: Detroit as America's Most Murderous."

Here are the sins and the top cities in each sinful category:

Most Lustful: Denver ranked first, joined by San Antonio, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Boise, Washington, DC, Cincinnati, Columbus, Baltimore and Buffalo/Rochester. The research firm of AC Nielson used sales figures for contraceptives and sex items in ranking the list.
Most Jealous: Memphis tops the list, followed by Charlotte, San Antonio, Seattle, Providence, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Chicago. The rankings were linked to crime rates for personal property.

Most Obese [Gluttony]: Memphis, Birmingham, San Antonio, Riverside/San Bernardino, Detroit, Jacksonville, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, San Diego. Health statistics drove this listing.

Most Avaricious [Gluttony]: San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Boston, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, Miami. The rankings on this sin were determined by looking at the concentration of great wealth.

Most Murderous [Gluttony]: The crime statistics are clear -- the most murderous city is Detroit, followed by Baltimore, New Orleans, Newark, St. Louis, Oakland, Washington DC, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.

Most Slothful [Gluttony]: Memphis tops this list as well, followed by New Orleans, Las Vegas, Detroit, Birmingham, Louisville, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Nashville, and Miami.

Most Vain [Gluttony]: "Pride is supposed to be a deadly sin. When it comes to their looks, however, fewer Americans are seeing it that way," say the reporters, who used plastic surgery as the marker for this sin. Perhaps surprisingly, Salt Lake City ranked first, followed by San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Miami, Louisville, Nashville, Virginia Beach, New York, and Los Angeles.

Interestingly, the Bible and the Christian tradition often associate sin with cities. The concentration of human beings in cities often fuels the business of sin and presents opportunities not available elsewhere. From the "cities of the plains" to Nineveh, Babylon, and Rome, cities often became symbols of human pride, lust, and egoistic sin.

Similarly, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress -- perhaps the most influential book in English (other than the Bible) among Christians -- symbolized the sinfulness and allure of the city in its portrayal of Vanity Fair.

But what about the Forbes list? In the final analysis, it is probably not worth more than conversation points. Are the folks in Salt Lake City really more vain than those in Atlanta? Are citizens of Memphis really more jealous than those of Houston? Who can know? The statistics chosen for the report tell only part of the story.

Still, it is interesting to ponder the question of whether sins are particularly celebrated and concentrated in certain cities. It would be hard to ignore the self-advertisement of Las Vegas. Yet, it is not true that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Sins spill over quite readily, and sin is a powerful contagion.

In reality, the whole world is a

Genesis 3 world -- a fallen world inhabited by sinners. Sin is a universal problem and every single human being is a sinner. Put sinful humanity in close quarters, and sin inevitably multiplies.

If anything, the Forbes sin listings should remind Christians of the great challenge of evangelizing the cities -- a task that demonstrates Christian failure to date. In that sense the Forbes list is haunting, humbling, and heart-breaking. Yet, in another sense, it may also be motivating. We can hope.

Never Will I Leave You

2008-02-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 13:5, NIV - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

One Thing You Lack

2008-02-23T09:20:00.001-08:00

Scripture: Mark 10:21, NIV - "Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

(Source: Charles Spurgeon's Daily Devotion, February 23rd)

You have not the making of your own cross, although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making; neither are you permitted to choose your own cross, although self-will would fain be lord and master; but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are cheerfully to accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand cavilling at it.

This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to His easy yoke. Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vain-glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; He leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide! And if He carried a cross, what nobler burden would you desire? The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths.

Beloved, the cross is not made of feathers, or lined with velvet, it is heavy and galling to disobedient shoulders; but it is not an iron cross, though your fears have painted it with iron colours, it is a wooden cross, and a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows tried the load.

Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt. Remember that Jesus carried it, and it will smell sweetly; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. The Lord help you to bow your spirit in submission to the divine will ere you fall asleep this night, that waking with to-morrow's sun, you may go forth to the day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which becomes a follower of the Crucified.

Unconditional Surrender

2008-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

In Touch Daily Devotional

by Dr. Charles Stanley

February 19, 2008 -- Unconditional Surrender

Scripture: James 4:7-10, NIV - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

_____

On occasion, we're amazed by a believer's perseverance in adversity and confidence in God's promises. Such people demonstrate a spiritual fullness that many of us long to have. A closer look reveals that they have followed Jesus' example and surrendered all to God.

We may find it hard to submit to the Lord, because we like to be in charge. This has been man's problem since the beginning. Adam and Eve, the first human beings, decided to ignore God's warning and charted their own course, which ended in disaster. Like them, we often overlook the limitations of our understanding and ignore God's wisdom and knowledge.

Another reason that we hold back is fear: perhaps we won't like what the Lord chooses for us--He might ask us to give up a favorite activity or take on additional responsibility. How we are perceived by others also factors into our decision about submission, as we don't appreciate criticism for being "too religious." In addition, selfishness and pride can make us reluctant to let God take charge: we cling to our ideas and dreams and prefer to be independent.

The truth is the opposite of what we think. By yielding control to the Lord, we position ourselves to live the abundant spiritual life. We'll experience His deep love, which satisfies more fully than any other. Our usefulness in His service will be maximized as we operate in the Spirit's power. And obedience will also bring glory to Him as well as blessings to us.

Surrender is the way to abundance. Won't you humble yourself before God and relinquish all to Him?

Generation to Generation

2008-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

David and Austin at David's Bar Mitzvah After-Party

Scripture: Exodus 3:15, NIV - "God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation."

They Overcame by the Blood of the Lamb

2008-02-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Revelation 12:11, NIV - "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

Practice Real Love

2008-02-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 1 John 3:19,20, The Message - "My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. "

Be the Spark

2008-02-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

In Touch Daily Devotional

by Dr. Charles Stanley
February 9-10, 2008 -- The Gospel-Sharing Church

Scripture: Acts 2:1-41, NIV - "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

_________

Mission work isn't limited to foreign lands. Every church is surrounded by a community--a population of souls who need the Savior. As followers of Jesus, we are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). So we cannot justify sitting comfortably in a pew while our neighbors struggle without God. The local church is to be a lighthouse for the Lord, and four principles can help its efforts.

First, the church needs a shared vision for carrying out the Great Commission in the community. To be effective disciple-makers, the congregation must be willing to work together. If only the pastor or a small group of church members are interested in this mission, it cannot succeed.

Second, proper motivation is necessary. In God's eyes, right reasons for sharing the gospel include love for Him, love for people, and a desire to be obedient.

Third, the appropriate methods must be employed. Every community and situation is different, so no one method works everywhere. The approach used must be based on scriptural principles and directed by the Holy Spirit. Fourth, the church must draw upon the best energy--only through God's Spirit can members be equipped for effective long-term witnessing to neighbors.

Do you want to be part of a church that spreads the gospel in your community? Then start praying for the congregation and pastor to develop a shared vision and burden for the neighborhood. And commit yourself to getting involved in Scripture-based outreach.

Be the spark that lights a fire in fellow Christians' hearts.

What It Takes: Everything

2008-02-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

February 7, 2008 -- Abraham's Sacrifice -- Genesis 22

(Source: In Touch Daily Devotional, Dr. Charles Stanley)
Abraham faced one of the greatest tests of obedience recorded in the Bible: God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. It's hard to imagine the confusion and pain this request must have caused. However, Abraham obeyed willingly and promptly. His response teaches important lessons about yielding to God.
• Obedience often collides with reason. God had promised Abraham descendants too numerous to count, but He then asked for the father of those descendants to be sacrificed. In spite of the strangeness of the command, Abraham trusted God to keep His promise and so set out to obey (Hebrews 11:18-19).
• Obedience means leaving the consequences to God. Abraham had no idea how the promise could be fulfilled if Isaac was dead. But his words and actions indicate he believed in divine sovereignty. When Abraham took the boy to Mount Moriah, he told his servants, ". . . I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you" (Genesis 22:5). He didn't say, "I will return" but expressed that both would come back. Abraham went to the holy place, determined to obey. At the same time, he fully expected that the Lord would somehow preserve Isaac in order to keep His pledge. God did this by providing a ram in the boy's place (vv. 13-14).
The Lord already knows how His children will respond to tests of obedience. He challenges people because He wants them to know the truth about how well they submit. A believer's willingness to obey (or disobey) reveals the state of his or her commitment to God.

The Consequences of Manipulating Circumstances to Gain a Desired Result

2008-02-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2008 -- Abraham's Lesson On Obedience

(Source: In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley)

The Old Testament records the life and trials of Abraham. While the patriarch had a special relationship with God, his faith was not perfect. Over the course of his life, he came to understand how important it is to obey--and how costly it can be to rebel.
Abraham learned the hard way that manipulating circumstances to gain a desired result can bring heartache. The Lord had promised him and Sarah a child, but the couple was still waiting for that blessing when they were elderly. Already in her 80s, Sarah suggested that Abraham get an heir by having a child with her servant Hagar. The result was jealousy, family strife, and a bloody conflict that still rages today between the descendants of Hagar's son Ishmael and Sarah's son Isaac.
Obedience will bring the Lord's best, but it requires waiting on Him. Abraham was already an old man when God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Genesis 15:5). This would not be fulfilled until he was 100 and Sarah was well past her child-bearing years, which meant that all the glory for Isaac's miraculous conception and birth went to the Lord. Jumping ahead of God had harsh, long-term consequences. But the good news is that the couple's mistakes could not prevent Him from carrying out His plan (Genesis 21:1-8).
The Lord has given us His Word so we might learn from the saints of old. Abraham's life teaches us that obedience is essential. When we place our trust in a sovereign God and wait upon His timing, we have nothing to fear from the world.

Getting Right with Relationships

2008-01-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2008 -- God's Warning About Relationships

(Source: Dr. Charles Stanley - In Touch Daily Devotional)

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-10, NIV - "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."

Because unbelievers lack an understanding of God's ways, their opinions and priorities can lead us astray. Christians must be very careful about the people with whom they intertwine their lives.
To help us understand this principle, Paul asks us to consider what the following have in common with each other: righteousness and wickedness; light and darkness; Christ and Satan (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). The answer is obvious--nothing at all. Righteousness is the antithesis of wickedness; darkness flees the light, and Jesus Christ and the Devil are eternally opposed. Because of the difference in nature, believers likewise have nothing in common with unbelievers. Outwardly we're similar, but inwardly we are totally different. You may ask:
1. What if I am already married to an unbeliever? First Corinthians 7:13 advises that you remain married and be a sweet fragrance of Christ in your home.
2. Does the principle apply to business? It is unwise to enter into a partnership with an unbeliever, since you'll have different priorities and perspectives. If you already have an irrevocable arrangement with an unbelieving business partner, be Christlike in all you do.
3. Where else do I need to be careful? This wisdom also applies when you want to join organizations that oppose the mention of Christ's name or churches that fail to see the need for a personal relationship with Jesus.
God's warnings are to be taken seriously, because He knows the future consequences of our mistakes.

Amen, Brother!

2008-01-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

Psalm 36:10, NIV - "Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart."

Church Sign: GODISNOWHERE?

2008-01-27T14:08:00.001-08:00

2 Kings 17:18, NIV - "So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence."

Isaiah 63:9, NIV - "In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

Woe! Building Men of Character in God's Kingdom

2008-01-27T13:53:00.000-08:00

Matthew 23:1-39, NIV - Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' Blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Sign of the Times

2008-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 5:8, God's Word Translation - "How horrible it will be for you who acquire house after house and buy field after field until there's nothing left and you have to live by yourself in the land."

Christ is the Signet Ring

2008-01-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

Haggai 2:20-23, NIV - "The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
" 'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty."

Words to Drive By

2008-01-27T13:21:00.001-08:00

Matthew 19:8, NIV - "And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."

Yoke Is Easy and Burden Is Light

2008-01-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Matthew 11:7-30, NIV - "As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. 'I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.

"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Give Careful Thought To Your Ways

2008-01-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Haggai 1:5-7; 2:15, NIV - "Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. ‘ ” This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways.'"

" 'Now give careful thought to this from this day on —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD. 'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit."

'From this day on I will bless you.' " (italics added)

Fill This House With Glory

2008-01-15T09:12:00.000-08:00

Haggai 2:6, NIV - "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

The Truth

2008-01-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

John 8:31,32 NIV - "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Uncompromising Belief, Unshakable Faith, Unearthly Protection

2008-01-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV - "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

A Necklace to Remember

2008-01-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7-9, NIV - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."

Observation: Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us. (Source: Mathew Henry's Concise Commentary)

Application: Yesterday, I planned to take my son to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, as it has an exceptionally good permanent exhibit of the Holocaust. Since my son recently interviewed a Holocaust survivor for a school project, I thought a visit to the museum would put it into a historical context that would be memorable to my son.

The docent guides us through the double doors that open automatically. She instructs us to go to a computer and retrieve our 'passports', each with a name of a Holocaust survivor. We receive our plastic cars with an image of the survivor and their backgrounds. As we move through the exhibit, guided by a light shone on each venue, I get emotional. As the persecution of the Jews increases with each venue, I realize how fortunate those are that escaped the concentration camps, and the constant persecution, not to mention the extreme weather conditions, starvation, and inhumane treatment of the Jews.

After the exhibit, we visit the gift shop, and spot George Brown's book that my son received during the interview that we conducted a couple of weeks ago. Seeing the book at the gift shop connected for us, in a very real way, the reality of the horrors of what George experienced, and how fortunate he was to have survived.

At the gift shop, we turn our attention to finding a gift for my son's friend whose bat mitzvah this month he'll attend. We spot a jewelry box, hand crafted and hand-painted by an Israeli artist. We also see an exquisite necklace, a Start of David with an opal in the middle of it, on a sterling silver chain. We purchase both of them, and chit chat with the young Jewish woman who wraps the gift.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, teach us Your ways. Guide us. Direct us. Speak to us. Work in our lives everyday, so that we do not forget your instructions to us. Thank you, Lord, for your compassion, for allowing me to teach my son about intolerance. You ask us to treat others as we would treat ourselves, and to love one another. May we learn, through You, how to treat one another.

Looking Back, Going Forward in 2008

2008-01-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Capturing the stunning sunrise one early morning as I drove into Downtown Los Angeles

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-77, NIV - "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young-
let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance-
for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Observation: Lessons learned. Growing. Disciplined. Prudent. Attaining wisdom by gaining knowledge.

Application: 2007 was another year for growing spiritually. The biggest 'aha' moment that God revealed to me was that imperfect people populate this world and if you put your faith in them - in me - there will ALWAYS be disappointment. Only God is consistent in His promises; sustains perfect integrity, perfect wisdom, perfection in all things.

In 2007, God revealed to me in a HUGE way this very lesson, and through wisdom and discernment, I was able to move on to a place that is on the move for His kingdom.

In 2007, I learned patience, fortitude.

In 2007, I learned the importance of staying in the Word - daily - if possible, to remember His promises, His goodness, His faithfulness, His 'plumb line' for my life.

In 2007, I learned to pray more fervently than ever before. Being consistent in my prayer life and seeking Him in all that I do. That seems easy to say, but not so easy to do. How many of us, after getting through hard times, pray to God that we'll never forget His goodness, and turn around days later and forget our promises to Him? May the disciplined habits of 2007spill into 2008 and beyond!

In 2007, I took the passage in the Bible about my body being a temple, SERIOUSLY. That it houses the Holy Spirit and it should be an undefiled, worshipful place. As a result, I entered into a daily regiment of exercise and a healthy eating lifestyle that I pray will carry over into 2008, Lord willing.

In 2007, God revealed to me the utmost importance in pouring my life, investing precious time, into my pre-teen son. How we influence our children! I praise God everyday that my son is a good person, compassionate, Godly, and has a tenderness toward others that goes beyond anything I could have ever taught or mirrored. God also reminded me that He is not mine - he is God's - and that God is looking after him. How comforting that is!

In 2007, I learned forgiveness, and I learned how unforgiveness in people is so destructive in marriages, in families, in relationships.

In 2007, God affirmed my sense of service to Him and His purpose on my life, setting a clear course and direction that I have been able to humbly embrace and to plan around.

In 2007, I learned that habits take 6 weeks to develop, and just as long to break. Both have applied to my life this year.

In 2007, He has given me more grace, has been more tender, and has been discipling more than any one year over the past 7 years that I have followed Him.

In 2007, He taught me how to draw near to Him, and showed me ways He has drawn near to me.

In 2007, He has taught me how to continue to wait on Him.

In 2007, He has showed me in so many ways, how His grace is sufficient.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I confess my continued disobedience to you - my failures I surrender to You in hopes that I will nail them once more to the Cross and be free of sins that continue to plague my relationship with You. Allow me to forgive more, to love more, to know You more, in 2008. I pray for my mother and sisters who do not know You. Continue to work on me, work on my heart, my pride, so that I can be a committed follower in Your kingdom. May I go forward in 2008 with the knowledge of the signs that were shown to me in 2007 of the plans You have for me, LORD, in the future. Protect me from the Enemy as I commit to the ministries that You have asked me to lead. Allow my heart to grow close to Yours. Tenderize it, LORD. Disciple me, develop me, show me how to depend utterly on You in my life, in my ministry, in my relationships, in my parenting. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Remembering

2007-12-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-8, NIV - "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."

Observation: Always keep God's Word near you - in your heart, mind, and soul - and teach your children and others about God's Word.

Application: My son's project over the Christmas break from school requires that he do an essay. My son chose the Holocaust to write about. The specific instructions are to ask the five questions: who, what where, when, and why. He could have surfed the Internet for resources, and then could have answered the five questions by using the information that he found on the numerous websites on the subject matter.

'Instead of doing this by the Internet, why not interview a Holocaust survivor?', I asked. And so we discovered that our neighbor, who attends services at a local chabad, just so happens to know of two Holocaust survivors that also attend the chabad. He invited us to come the minyan service on Sunday.

Sunday came, and at 7:45 a.m., my son was ready to attend the service with our neighbor. After knocking on the door a few times with no answer, I realized I would have to dress and attend the service. We drove there, and entered in the building. My son has not attended an orthodox Jewish service, and was baffled by the curtain that divided the room. As he entered, he was ushered to the left side of the bimah, or pulpit. I sat as the lone woman in the place, trying to blend into the woodwork and empty chairs as much as I could.

As we sat waiting for the rebbe to arrive, I see my son being given instruction by a caring older man who realized my son was there for the first time. He had him put on a tallit, or prayer shawl, and then I look over again, and my son is being 'wrapped' in tefillin, leather straps with what looks like a little box. The straps were around his head, with the box appearing prominently on his forehead, and the leather straps on the left arm were wound around from middle finger on up to the middle of his bicep, where the 2nd box was located.

The man who helped my son put on the tefillin, came over to me and said proudly, 'Look over at your son - he's put on tefillin for the first time'. I did look over, and with a lump in my throat, I tried to smile and affirm his new accomplishment.

We were there for the entire minyan service, and no sight of the Holocaust survivor. By now, our neighbor made his way into the building, somewhat dissheveled and surprised to see us there.

The rebbe is a nice man, barely into his 30's and knew the phone number of the Holocaust survivor. We thanked him stayed for a little breakfast and watched a little bit of a DVD on the Lubavitcher rebbe in New York speak in front of a whole crowd of people about the importance of 'keeping the embers burning' - in this specific DVD, it was the 'embers' in the state of Georgia, in Russia.

We left, and made an appointment to see George Brown, Holocaust survivor of one of the most well-known Nazi concentration camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau. George is a red-faced, slighlty built man, with a warm smile. He welcomed us in his house, and had us sit at the kitchen table while he had his breakfast.

It was an awkward moment. The sound of George's repeated scraping of his butterknife across the well-toasted Kaiser roll was the only thing heard. I realized he was nervous, too, and probably approached this moment when he had to anticipate remembering the horror that was his young life in the same way, everytime.

'It's all in here, all of the answers to your questions', as George presented the book he wrote and then dedicated the book to my son. And, as he said these words, I immediately thought that the subject may be too much for him to discuss during this interview, and that he never intended to answer the questions.

Once we explained the school project to George, he seemed to understand. Or perhaps he understood all along, and he didn't want to have to answer them. Not any less uncomfortable, as we realized the emotion that is attached with answering these five questions: Who. What. When. Where. And, the last one, the biggest one - Why?

David asked his first question, and that helped to break the ice. But at once it struck me of the reality of the horrors that George must have experienced, witnessed, and it got to me. Immediately I had tears and had to look away. I looked at my son, who was writing, and he too had misty eyes. George's answers to the first couple of questions were automated, but soon I saw the misty eyes, particularly when he spoke about his two brothers and his father, who were exterminated by Hitler. Especially his father, George spoke tenderly about - it was his father that 'saved his life' three times, while sacrificing his own life. George owes his life to his father.

My son thanked George for his time, and George let my son know that he would make himself available to come to his school and talk about his experience in Auschwitz. 'I can't do it in 20 minutes - there's no way. I'll need the full 50 minutes of classtime', George says. And my son again thanks him.

Last night, in bed, my son reads the beginning of George's book to me. It is a dedication to his family, who perished in Auschwitz, and to all the others who perished while George lives on, telling his(tory).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me be reminded that You died for me. I lift up to you during this time of celebration all those who are widowed and orphaned, who instead of celebrating, are remembering their loved ones from long ago. Comfort them, embrace them tenderly, Lord. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Breath of Heaven

2007-12-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, NIV - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

------------------------------

BREATH OF HEAVEN

Sung by Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights,

Cold and weary with a babe inside,

And I wonder what I've done.

Holy father you have come,

And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.

I am frightened by the load I bear.

In a world as cold as stone,

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now.Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place,

But I offer all I am

For the mercy of your plan.

Help me be strong.

Help me be.

Help me.

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven.

The Crucifixion of Your Ministry

2007-12-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

Acts 8:18-24, NIV - "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

(Source: Crucify Your Ministry, Whitney Hopler, adapted from Andrew Purves' book, The Crucifixion of Ministry: Surrendering Our Ambitions to the Service of Christ, (InterVarsity Press, 2007).

You work hard in ministry, devoting lots of time and energy to your efforts. But no matter how hard you work, you won't see any true changes for the better unless Jesus shows up. And He won't show up if you're doing what you want to do, instead of what He wants to do through you.

Your ministry will change lives only if you crucify your own agenda and invite Jesus to resurrect His plans for your work. Here's how you can crucify your ministry:

Recognize the power source. Understand that, despite how hard you work, you don't have the power to make your ministry successful. Realize that only Jesus can convince lost people of the truth, forgive sinners, grow congregations, heal the sick, restore broken relationships, give anxious people peace, give depressed people hope, and accomplish any of the other goals you may have set for your ministry. Remember that the people to whom you minister don't need you; they need Jesus. Know that it's ultimately Jesus, not you, who does the ministry. Decide to rely on Jesus' power rather than trying to meet goals on your own.

Trust Jesus for the outcome. Don't burn yourself out trying to make the results you want happen from your ministry work. Avoid unnecessary stress that can harm your health, your congregation, your family, and more by realizing that the success of your ministry is not all up to you. Understand that the results are ultimately in up to Jesus, so place your trust in Him. Embrace the grace He offers you, knowing that even when you fail, He will use your efforts to bring about something good as long as you trust Him.

Join Jesus where He is already at work. Instead of expecting Jesus to join you where you'd like to work, figure out where He is already at work, and build your ministry work around that. Know that the issue isn't how to get Jesus in on your ministry, but how to join Jesus in His ministry work in the world.

Let your ministry take shape naturally. Rather than trying to decide on the right ministry strategies, programs, and processes, simply let your ministry work take the shape it naturally would as Jesus' ministry in your place. Understand that your ministry isn't about you and your skills; it's about Jesus' real presence in the lives of those to whom you minister.

Kill selfish ambitions. Invite God to strip away the ways you've used your ministry work to bolster your ego, impress others, satisfy your desires for power and success, enjoy personal affirmation and professional success, and fuel your needs to feel competent and in control. Repent of using ministry to benefit yourself so you can be free to use it to serve Jesus. Ask God to purify your motivations for ministry.

Abide in Jesus. Realize that, apart from Jesus, you can do nothing. Determine to stay closely connected to Him, abiding in that close relationship. Practice spiritual disciplines (like prayer, Bible reading, Communion, and worship with others) often. Invite Jesus to transform your mind. Read, meditate on, and study the Bible daily so its truths will saturate your mind and help you start to think more and more from God's perspective. Ask Jesus to convert your will. Get rid of wrong motivations and be intentional about fulfilling God's purposes for your life and ministry. Live with integrity. Put your faith into action in every aspect of your life, and seek to have your private actions be just as faithful as your public ones. But live in the power of the freedom you have as someone whom Jesus has forgiven and deeply loves. Know that nothing you can do in ministry (or in anything else) can cause Him to love you any less or more than He already does, so don't try to earn His love. Make everything you do in ministry simply an expression of your love for Him.

Be grateful. Regularly remind yourself that it's Jesus who makes your ministry work possible. Thank Him often for His work in your life, and the work He's doing in other people's lives through you.

Be joyful. Remember that your ministry isn't an obligation to fulfill, and that you don't have to prove anything to yourself or others through it. Rejoice in the freedom of Jesus' love and the power of His Spirit at work through your ministry.

Bear witness to Jesus' presence. Before entering any ministry situation (a hospital room, a counseling session, a worship service, a committee meeting, etc.), pray and ask Jesus to reveal what He's doing there and how He wants you to cooperate with His work. Discern what Jesus is up to in the specific context of a certain person on a particular day in a given situation. Ask Jesus to help you figure out how His story relates to the story of the person to whom you'll be ministering -- and how He wants you to help join those stories together. As Jesus' ambassador, help each person experience His love through your words and actions. Make sure the person feels cared for by meeting him or her at the point of need with Jesus' grace. In relevant and appropriate ways, point out what Jesus is already doing in the situation, and present the hope for redemption in the situation.

Interpret situations in light of the Gospel. Help the people to whom you minister examine and reflect on their life circumstances in light of the Gospel, to gain deeper insight into how its truth relates to them. Help them discover a new perspective, based on the Gospel's message intersecting their lives.

Use symbolic actions. When you're ministering to people, sometimes do more than just talking with them, praying with them, or reading Scripture. Understand that, while those are valuable pursuits, you can enrich your time with people even more by engaging in some actions that symbolize the faith. Consider celebrating Communion with people, anointing people with oil, singing songs with them, or other creative actions that express faith. Let the Spirit guide you to know what actions would be most appropriate in what situations.

Praise

2007-12-15T11:58:00.001-08:00

In Touch Daily Devotional

by Dr. Charles Stanley

December 15-16, 2007 -- The Foundation of Praise --

Scripture: Psalm 40:8-10, NIV - "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly."

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Every time King David and others penned a song of worship, they spoke about the Lord's specific attributes or actions. When the songs were compiled into the book we now call Psalms, the collection became a biography of God--one that relies upon the language of praise to tell about Him.

The ability to worship grows out of love for the Lord. And since genuine love is always cultivated by learning about the other person's character, the true root of praise is knowledge. That's why God instilled in every believer a longing to know Him. We satisfy that desire by spending time with the Lord and by fellowshipping with other Christians. We also observe how the Father works in our life to meet needs and provide blessing. Discovering each new facet of His character deepens both our knowledge of Him and our understanding of why He deserves praise.

Experiencing God makes us fall in love with Him. And a person in love cannot help praising the one he cherishes. So we gratefully honor Jesus Christ with words, songs, dance, or whatever else appropriately expresses our delight in Him.

Our devotion does not have to stay private or even remain confined within the church community. Each believer has a "biography" of the Lord to share with neighbors. It is a story of accumulated praise not only for how He has intervened in chaos, comforted in tragedy, and blessed abundantly, but also for the lessons learned. We share our adoration with the world so that others might come to know, love, and praise Him.

Amen.

'GAP' : God-Approved Children

2007-12-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

Scripture: James 1:27, NIV - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Observation: God makes it clear: take care of the children whose parents cannot; take care of the widows and widowers who cannot.

Application: Only God knows why I was drawn to her story, her plight. A single mom whose tenacity and positivism is contagious, she inspires -perhaps that is the reason. Or perhaps it was God, asking me - through His Holy Spirit who pierces hearts - to do for the 'widows and orphans' as best I could. All that she has done for her children, all that she has given them, did not equate to what she now faces with the youngest and middle children, both girls, who are now adults. Both on drugs and either in jail or facing jail time, both with three or more children that are being raised by someone else, it is unfathomable how the consequence of their actions create a ripple effect in the lives of so many others.

Consequences that affect the teachers who must teach to the best of their abilities, these prenatally drug-exposed children, with an array of medical, emotional and physical disabilities that after awhile, become a blur of medical terms. Consequences that reach beyond the immediate family and spill out into the vast, but sometimes empty, world of mercy.

Consequences that affects the grandparents who now, at retirement age, are caring for children whose ages range from newborn to their very own adult children. The toll that it takes is gargantuan; yet, if you asked each one whether they would do it all again for the sake of the children, the answer is always a strong and emphatic, 'Yes'.

Attending a wonderful luncheon held yesterday to honor 7 grandparents as parents yesterday, I choked back tears of anger, disbelief, outrage, sometimes joy, but mostly a deep, gut-wrenching sadness because of the uphill battle the children, grandparents, parents, and all involved face as they deal with the multitude of consequences from using drugs while pregnant. To think that the urge to use drugs is greater than the creation in their bodies, is hard to accept, but as I began to hear, is far more common a problem today that most people ever know or want to know.

The honorees of Grandparents As Parents ("GAP") looked good, wearing their finest suits and dresses, with a single rose pinned proudly on their lapels and dresses. Yet the faces show a weariness in them that reflects the long, hard road that they have walked, and have yet to complete.

None of the grandparents have less than three children who they care for - one woman had eight children that she cares for. Another mother had ten biological children of her own to raise, with grandchildren and great granchildren becoming hers in the retirement years of her life. It has taken its toll, with the grandfather passing recently due to a heart attack, and the grandmother herself suffering from a heart attack and a recent medical procedure done to prop open her aortic arteries to prolong her life. The stress is overwhelming, if not a killer.

The honoree that we support has three children, with a fourth one on the way. Two years ago, she had already given notice in her apartment, she was in the process of building a home in the community in which she was to retire, and well on her way out of the country to enjoy the twilight years looking out over the ocean and living a peaceful, tranquil life after working since she was 12 years old. This all changed with a phone call. In a heartbeat, she was the caregiver to three young children under the age of 9 years old, with the youngest one still in diapers.

There has been no complaining, no regrets, no remorse, no bitterness, no looking for someone to blame in this. This honoree, and many others, have a Helper, and He is the LORD Jesus Christ.

'Without Him, I could not do this', she emphatically states.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for forgetting and for not protecting Your precious children. It starts in the home - to train my child with discipline, with respect, to love and to teach him about You and Your unsurpassing greatness. Thank you for loving me and loving my son. Thank you for giving me this precious life - he is Yours - yet he is on lease to me on this earth, for a short while. LORD, by my Helper. Be my Hope. Help me to be the best parent I can be. Strong, humble, caring, and and disciplined in parenting - especially through the teen years that is oh so close upon me. Jesus, You are my everything. I pray for these precious children who innocently are a victim of consequences, yet You brought them into this life to love and to be cared for. I pray for the parents and grandparents, who need Your love desperately. I pray if they do not know You, that they begin a relationship with You so that in the firestorms of their lives, they have a Comforter. I Praise You, Lord. Amen.

Hands Lifted High

2007-12-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Psalm 134:1-3, NIV - "Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion."

Lost in the Translation?

2007-12-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Source: In Touch Daily Devotional

by Dr. Charles Stanley

December 11, 2007 -- Instructing the New Believer

Scripture: Acts 8:26-31, NIV - "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?"

So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."

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Picture yourself as a new believer. You decide to take the first step in your walk of faith and purchase a Bible. After traveling to your nearest bookstore, you locate the manager and he points you to the Bible rack.

As you examine each one, you begin to feel overwhelmed by all the options. The countless translations are intimidating: NASB, NIV, NKJV, NEB, NLT . . . You think, I've hardly read the Bible, so how can I possibly know which translation is the best?

Reluctantly settling on a choice, you begin to browse through the new purchase. Then, coming upon Leviticus and Revelation, you wonder, What does all this mean?

The above scenario might seem a bit exaggerated, but is it? Some aspects of Christianity may be quite perplexing and daunting for someone new to the faith. A person without much previous exposure to church will know little, if anything, about the Bible, the Christian life, and interpretation of Scripture.

That's where the mature believer should step in to ease some of the confusion. Sure, we look to pastors and church leaders to provide instruction. But it's every Christian's responsibility to encourage and guide new brothers and sisters as they start out on their journey of faith.

Without help and support, new believers can easily become confused and give up. If that happens, they'll miss out on the blessings of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Think about the people you see each week.

Are any of them new Christians you can uplift and instruct?

Discerning His Will

2007-12-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

In Touch Daily Devotional

by Dr. Charles Stanley

December 6, 2007 -- Receiving Answers to Our Prayers

Scripture: John 16:23,24 NIV - "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

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In response to our prayers, the Lord uses His power to penetrate closed minds and hard hearts. In that way, He brings people to salvation and transforms unrighteous lives.

We all want our petitions fulfilled, so it is important to understand God's conditions for answered prayer. Besides having a relationship with Him (John 3:3) and confessing all known sin, we must have faith that His Word is true and His promises reliable. The Bible, which was divinely written by God through man, is without error. In this amazing book, the Lord reveals His nature--holy, sovereign, and perfect--and presents His plan of salvation (Romans 10:9). Because God's promises are based on His perfect character, we can be certain He will do what He says; otherwise He would not be God. And Jesus' promises can be trusted because He always spoke the Father's words (John 12:49).

Another condition is that we ask according to the Lord's purposes. We're to pray for things that are in keeping with His divine plan and character. God wants us to discern His will, to pray that it would be carried out, and to do our part in fulfilling it (Matthew 6:9-10). The Holy Spirit will help us know what to pray. And as we consider which petitions to make, we should ask ourselves, Is my request based on God's Word? How will an answer to this prayer bring me or someone else closer to Him?

It takes an investment of time to meet the Lord's requirements for prayer. But in response, He will provide answers beyond anything we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Gossip

2007-12-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Proverbs 16:28, NIV -"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."

'Gossip' defined: Divide + discourage + destroy + deceive = Satan’s language

Observation: Gossip divides, it can tear apart relationships, it can cause harm to one's integrity.

Application: It is Day 3 of the 4th week in boot camp. Exercise boot camp. Mid-week, at the end of class, campers are loosening up, relaxing in knowing that Day 3 is over - there is less than half of the week left. There is idle chatter about weekend plans, about upcoming boot camps for the holiday break, and then there is the usual complaints of the aches and pains. "Give me 20 push-ups", he barks to the woman who just blurted out a profanity. And someone shouts, "She didn't say very much!" To which the instructor cautions that for the remainder of the week, any profanity that he hears, that person will be doing push-ups. And several women point to a woman in the back row, proclaiming to no one in particular, "She is going to be doing lots of push-ups'! And everyone laughs knowingly.

I head to my car. As I do, a woman invites me to Starbuck's for a coffee with a few of the other women. I said I'll be there. I arrive at the coffeehouse, and see someone I knew in ministry. We chit chat for a few minutes to catch up on our lives and what we both are currently doing in ministry. And it was a nice chat. I join the women who by now have ordered and are sitting at the table. The conversation is about surrounding a certain instructor whose quiet demeanor is offensive to this bunch of women who fully expect to be barked at, cajoled, and pushed as if the instructor should bear resemblance to a drill sargeant in the army.

After several more minutes of blasting this poor soul, I excuse myself by indicating that I have to get to work, and the conversation turns right back to the instructor's lack of assertiveness in this boot camp training. As I hear this, and as I am leaving, I remember what Chuck Swindoll said recently in one of his broadcasts on what a Christian should do when there is gossip or slander or words being said that destroy a person's character or integrity: To flee, to remove yourself from the conversation. And, if anyone asks, that it be told that this type of conversation is negative and is of no value.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to get rid of my pride - because with pride, all things become lower than I. All things become fodder, become a topic of discussion that is of little value.

Allow me to speak only words of affirmation, of love, of encouragement rather than discouragement; of truth rather than deceit; noble words, not knock-down words. Thank you for loving me even though I participate in gossip from time to time - forgive me, I'm sorry for this. It is a woman's worst weakness, and it is mine. Please teach me how to be of noble character, a Christ follower, and a believer sold out for You. Amen.

Tree of Life

2007-12-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

Genesis 2:9, NIV -"And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

His Inner Circle of Friends

2007-12-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

December 4, 2007 -- Intimacy With God

Scripture: John 15:12-15, NIV - "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

(Source: In Touch Daily Devotionals, Dr. Charles Stanley)

Sometimes God seems far away from us. In those moments, we may wonder how personally involved in our lives He actually is. At such times, we should rely on what the Lord Himself has said in Scripture.

Psalm 139:13-17 says that the Lord knit us together in the womb and loves us unconditionally. We also know He plans to prosper us spiritually (Philippians 1:6). These truths confirm that He knows us intimately.

Jesus' life further testifies to the divine desire for intimacy. He consistently reached out to strangers, inviting them to draw near to Him. He spoke words of encouragement to His disciples and other followers, teaching them the profound truths He'd received from His Father (John 7:16) and holding them accountable for their actions. He invited certain ones to accompany Him for deeply personal experiences, such as the transfiguration and His last prayer retreat to Gethsemane (Mark 9:2; Matthew 26:36-37). These are all indications of real friendship.

Jesus' final act--dying on the cross--made it possible for us to join His "inner circle" as a part of God's family. The Holy Spirit, each believer's indwelling companion and guide, also witnesses to God's closeness and detailed knowledge of those who are His.

God has made intimacy with Him possible, but we often hold back. Distracted by earthly concerns, we put limits on His involvement in our lives and set family and friends as a higher priority. Let's commit to placing the Lord first and pursuing Him with our whole heart (Mark 12:30).