Christmastime

We always celebrate Christmas

For it is the birthday of Jesus Christ.

We always celebrate Christmas with the thought that Jesus Christ was born on this day. So, in accordance to this holiday we always thank our Father for sharing to us His Beloved Son Jesus Christ.

It is just appropriate that during Christmas we always have to share our excesses to other people who are in need. Just like our Father God who shared Jesus His only begotten and precious Son to us to redeem us from the sins of Adam and Eve. He deliver Jesus to us without hestitation and selfishness because he loves us so much and dearly.

So, during Christmastime we always follow this kind of example in our lives. Christmas is a very long tradition of Christian to commemorate Christ Jesus' birth. And we always share our gifts to others be it a family, friends, or strangers. We give our unconditional love to everybody during this time because the Lord God was been delivered to us unconditionally.

Christmas is the time of giving and sharing. A time to forget all ill feelings and spread the true meaning of love and peace and not hate and destruction to anybody. Let's always celebrate Christmas with Peace and Love just like our Father Almighty who in one way or another didn't rebuke us for our sins but instead send his only Son to be with us. Merry Christmas! - AAP

Candlelight Wisdom

What's important is not how much we do for God,

but how much God does through us.

While traveling in Finland, I appreciated the Finns' lavish use of candles. They never treat them as mere ornaments. Candles bring warmth and light into their their homes during short winter days. The Finns know that a candle's purpose is missed unless it is burned. But candles should burn at one end only - a lesson I needed to learn.

When my husband and I began our missionary work, I longed to burn out for God. Within several years I had burned out all right, but not for God. Mine was a classic case of useless burnout on by many self-caused stresses.

One night I hit rock bottom and discovered that the rock was Christ. As He began teaching me dependence on Him for all things, the candle of my life was relighted for His use.

I now see a difference between so-called "Christian burnout" and "burning out for God". Burnout stems from wastefully burning the candle of our lives at both ends - means our lives are spent wisely in His service - an echo of Paul's testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:15. Once used up for God, we'll be raised up for heavenly service. It is for this purpose we were made! -JEY

Good Question

Fruitfulness for Christ

depends on fellowship with Him.

Several years have passed since the publication of my book Finding the God-Dependent Life. It's the story of how I learned to depend on God through the gradual breakdown of my self-sufficiency. My inadequacies forced me to depend on Him. In time, it became clear that the same principles that helped me in a crisis could surely help me all the time. So God-dependence became my chosen way of life. The result was greater wholeness and fruitfulness.

A churchgoer who read my book commented to a friend, 'If you ask me, Joannie Yoder depends on God too much!" To help me explain the God-dependent life, I've turned that comment into a question: Is it possible to depend on God too much!

Let's answer that question by asking another: Is it possible for a branch to depend too much on a vine? Catherine Marshall wrote, "The point is not that the branches will do better when they are attached to the vine. Unless attached, the branches must wither and die." Jesus taught that unless the branches (you and I) abide in the vine (remain dependent on Him), it's impossible for us to bear his fruit.

Is it possible to depend on God too much? Not if we are to be fruitful branches. What kind of branch are you? -JEY

Help Them To Achieve

A little spark of accomplishment

can ignite great endeavors.

Newspaper columnist Jean Calmen once wrote about a teacher she called Miss K. In her youth, Calmen had been a student of Miss K's, so she sent the teacher a copy of a column she was especially proud of.

Miss K had always taught her students to have confidence in their abilities. That's why Calmen was disappointed when her aging teacher responded with a handwritten note that said; "I was aware of the fact that you were intelligent, but I never thought that someday I would be reading articles from your pen in the newspaper." Calmen had exepected her former teacher to say, "I knew you could do that."

If anyone should instill hope and bring out the best in others, it should be the Christian. In Ephesians 1, the apostle Paul let his "students' know that he prayed for them constantly. And he did so with great expectations. He wanted them to rise above self-serving behavior and develop the character and likeness of Christ. He told them they could do anything God wanted them to do through Christ who would strengthen them.

As we experience God's power in our own lives, we can encourage others. Together we can help each other achieve great things for Him. -MRD II

Gripped By Greed

Greedy people always lose more

than they gain.

Advertisers constantly appeal to consumer greed, trying to convnce us that we need certain products.

An executive of an electronics firm boasted, "When we introduced pocket radios years ago, nobody needed them, so they didn't sell. We had to convince the consumer that he needed our products. Sales have bommed ever since."

The desire for more and more money, things, or power isn't unique to this century. Thousands of years ago, Elisha's servant Gehazi saw a chance to get money from wealthy Naaman. He would be able to buy clothing, olive groves, vineyards, sheep and oxen, and servants. Greed took over.

Greed can quickly tarnish our integrity. I know some Christian business owners who work hard and make lots of money, but they are slow to give raises to thei remployees. I also know another Christian who earns hundreds of thousands of dollars a years, but some of his practices are unethical. Greed often motivates otherwise good people.

We are susceptible to the powerful grip of greed. That's why it's good to pray., "Lord help me to be concerned about how I can please You, not how I can gain more for myself." -DJD

Three Tenses Of Trust

Feeling tense about the future?

Remember that God is always present.

Rahab had a remarkable faith. Although it seemed incredible that Joshua's unequipped army would be able to break down or scale the walls of Jericho, she remembered what God had done for the Israelites in the past. So she put her trust in Israel's God by protecting the spies, and by staking her future on the hope that God would do what seemed impossible. Her trust in God involved the past, the present, and the future.

I have ministered to suffering and dying believers who have handled their pain with serenity and who faced death with hope. Some may consider such people naive or gullible, but they do so because they don't know the three tenses of trust.

Concerning the past, we know that God has proven His love and power, especially in giving His Son to die for our salvation and in bringing Him back to life. In the present, He speaks to us through His Word, hears our prayers, and provides grace in our trials. For the future, He promises that we will live with Him forever.

Remember, trust involves three tenses. Reflect on God's faithfulness in the past and present. You'll have good reason to trust Him for the future. What a wonderful God! -HVL

No Excuse

Others may prove untrue,

but Jesus never fails.

One person's failure should never become another's excuse.

Consider the life of Elkanah. He is described in Samuel 1 as a man who "went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts." That's the staggering fact in light of the rest of the story. We read, "Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there."

Hophni and Phinehas were selfish, corrupt, immoral men with no regard for God. They wouldn't listen to correction and their actions caused people to despise the offering of the Lord. But their spiritual failure never became an excuse for Elkanah to stop worshipping the Lord.

There may be times when our spiritual leaders are not what they should be. When leaders fail, whether it's unintentional sin or open defiance, it's easy to become discouraged or disillusioned. But it's a double tragedy if we become cynical and turn away from God becaus eof them.

Elkanah remained faithful because he focused on the Lord, not His representatives. In every situation of poor spiritual leadership. God calls His modern "Elkanah" to keep their eyes and their hearts centered on Him. -DCM

The Greatest Worry

Worry shifts the burden from God's strong shoulders

to our weak shoulders.

Nothing makes us feel more helpless than the thought of dying. The end of life confronts us with the issue of what lies beyond. The Bible says it's either heaven or hell. And hell is definitely something to worry about!

Ask most people if they're going to heaven and they'll say, "I hope so" or "Maybe, if I don't blow it." If they are honest, they will admit that the thought of going to hell terrifies them.

But God said in the Bible that we can know beyond any doubt that we are  on our way to heaven. And He told us why.

First, the requirements for heaven have been met for us by Christ. H elived a perfect life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then came the miracle we needed. Jesus rose from the dead as proof that God had accepted His sacrifice for us. There is nothing we can do; it's a miracle of grace God has already done.

Second, the way to heaven is not by works but by faith. Our response to the death of Christ and God's offer of love is to believe on Jesus. We can't lose it once we have it. Salvation is a free gift of grace that cares for our spiritual vulnerability.

Once we believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross, we don't have to worry that we'll lose our chance at heaven when we sin. God has accepted us in Christ. He could not write us off without writing off His own Son, and He would never do that! Trust in Christ, and eternity will be nothing to worry about! -MRH II

The Gift Of Love

The best gift anyone could receive

is Jesus.

Nathan, age 8, was working hard ( with a little help from his grandfather) to build a birdhouse for his mother for Christmas. He referred to it as his "secret project." He gave it careful thought and poured all his energy into it. Most important, he was motivated by love.

Before Nathan started, he calculated the number of hours he thought it would take to make it (7 1/2), and he decided  what colors it should be painted (yellow with a blue roof). On Christmas morning he insisted that it be the first gift opened, and he beamed when Mom said she really liked it.

Nathan's gift was given in the true spirit of the Gift whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. God the Father, moved by His great love, "gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Think of the love of the father that led to the priceless gift of His Son, which was part of His eternal plan. God's gift of love should fill us with deep gratitude and joy. Let's together proclaim, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - DCE

That's The Spirit

A person who has no fire in his heart

cannot warm others.

For 37 years, Bob Ufer was the enthusiastic radio voice of University of Michigan football. He delighted listeners with his emotional play-by-play coverage of the Saturday afternoon football games. Anyone who heard him knew at once whose side he was on. The loyal following that Ufer build up through the years indicates how contagious and appealing it is when a person gives himself wholeheartedly to cause he loves.

That sportcaster's fervor reminds us how natural it is to respond with intensity to something that is close to our hearts. The Scriptures give many examples of men who served the Lord with great enthusiasm.

To mark the return of the ark of the covenant, David laid aside his royal dignity and celebrated in the streets. Centuries later, Jesus burned with godly zeal as He chased the money-changers from the temple. And the early church chose men like Stephen because all could see that the Spirit f God was working through them.

What about us? Do people quickly recognize by our enthusiasm that we love and serve God and are filled with His Spirit? Do our lives give evidence of the wholehearted praise that is called for Psalm 148? -MRD II

Count Your Blessings

Life is so fulfilling,

When you always count your blessings.

I always woke up everyday looking back to what had happened for me for the previous days. I've been meaning to inspect each circumstances and intrepidly evaluate the outcomes that had effected on me. And if I saw some mistakes I am always making sure that I studied it intently and make sure it will not be repeated again.

Have I encountered the same situation I always have to scrutinize it and make sure I will not commit the same mistakes again. And I always thanked God for being always there guiding me and assisting me on how to approach such situation. And it feels so good and great after that. And I feel that God is always fair in treating us. He always has plans for us.

I know God is always there to help us. And uttering and offering a fervent prayer in every situation helps in easing the lows, challenges, and adversities that we meet in our lives. God has always the reason why all these situations happened to us. Jesus is always the Way.... and He is the Truth and the Light.

So, in this Thanksgiving Day it is apt to always count our blessings and thank God for all this grace that we had in life. God always has plans for us and we always have to be ready and accept the fact and the truth about it. Happy Thanksgiving to all! -AAP

The Main Pursuit

Happiness is not the goal of life -

Godliness is.

We've all had our share of both laughter and sorrow. Although we naturally enjoy laughter more than tears, we would have to say that most of the wisdon we've gained along the way we owe to the sad times. Yet, many Christians are obsessed with the pursuit of personal happiness. The writer of Ecclesistes rated such a pursuit as foolish.

Several years ago in an interview during his battle with cancer, theologian Francis Schaeffer said, "The only way to be foolishly happy in this world is to be young enough, well enough, and have money enough - and not give a care about other people. But as soon as you don't have any of the first three, or if you have compassion for the weeping world around you, then it is impossible to have the foolish kind of happiness that I believe some Christians present as Christianity."

What is our greatest need in life? Is it to be happy? We may long for a change in our circumstance, and sometimes that's what we get. But a changed life is our deepest need. Changed circumstances may make us happier, but a changed life will make us better, for it will make us like Christ.

What is your main pursuit in life? -JEY

Perhaps Today!

Look for Christ's return

and you'll live for Christ's glory.

As we approach a new millennium, many Christians speak of the "soon return of Christ" as if it will happen in their lifetime. And it may!

Down through history, people have predicted specific days, months, and years for Christ's return. The founder of one sect predicted October 22, 1886. Another leader set 1933 as the end of this age. And another predicted that Christ will come in 2005, saying that we can know the "nearness" but not the "exactness."

The dismal record of date-setters has led many to abandon the subject alltogeher. Andrew Bonar told of a Scottish man who loved the truth of Jesus' personal return. After living in Edinburgh for a time and returning to his village, his neighbors asked him how he liked Edinburgh preachers. "They all fly on one wing." he said. "They all preach Christ's first coming but not His second coming."

We will miss the purifying effect that comes from thinking about the Lord's return if we avoid the subject entirely or if we set a date. But if we watch and pray and live a holy life, we will be ready at all times.

The message of the Bible is clear: Be ready! Jesus could return at any moment - perhaps today! -DJD

The Pure And Gentle Way

Nothing is so strong

as gentleness.

The parents were heartbroken when their young adopted daughter died in an unusual accident. She suffocated when the drawstring of the hood of her jacket became caught in a playground slide. They learned later that she was not the first child to die this way. Design flaws in both the clothing and the slide made this an accident waiting to happen.

Some people might have seen in this tragedy an opportunity fo a lucrative lawsuit against two big corporations. But the parents refused to sue. In a television interview, the mother said they would have seen any remuneration as "blood money." She and her husband knew that the leaders of the companies involved never intended their products to harm anyone. So the parents appealed to the clothing and the slide manufacturers to correct the problems that led to the death of their adopted daughter. Both firms took immediate action. The mother is now leading a crusade to promote child safety.

While I acknowledge that it is not always wrong to sue, I was moved by the choice of those parents to follow the pure, peaceable, and gentle way. What an impact we would make in our society if all of us who profess to believe on Jesus would follow their example! -HVL

The Acid Test

God is not an arsonist;

He's a refiner.

A severe trial is sometimes called an "acid test." This term originated during times when gold was widely circulated. Nitric acid was applied to an object of gold to see if it was genuine or not. If it was fake, the acid decomposed it; if it was genuine, the gold was unaffected.

In God's view, our faith is "much more precious than gold," and it too must be tested. But these "acid tests" are positive ones. The Lord is working to reveal genuine faith, not to expose false faith.

During hard times, though, we may feel overwhelmed with the fear that our faith is decomposing. Ronald Dunn, a Bible teacher who has experienced much personal tragedy, knows what we are going through. He writes, " I', often mystified ..... I don't understand why it is that as I endeavor to live for God and pray and believe, everything seems to be falling apart. Sometimes I struggle, and I say, 'Dear Lord why are You allowing this to happen?'" Dunn concludes, "It's good for us to remember that God is not an arsonist; He's a refiner."

If you're undergoing a test of your faith, you can rejoice because it may be the very thing that God wants to use to purify and strengthen you. -JEY

Halfway To Heaven

The gains of heaven will more than compensate

for the losses of earth.

My favorite gospel tact is titled "When I Think Of Heaven". It's written by Joni Eareckson Tada, who is paralyzed from her neck down because of a diving accident during her teenage years. Joni admits that thinking about heaven isn't always easy, especially since we have to die to get there, unless Jesus returns first! Yet God works through trials to help us focus our minds on heaven.

As one who lives, travels, and ministers in a wheelchair, Joni writes confidently about heaven: "There's not a doubt in my mind that I'll be fantastically more excited and ready for it than if I were on my feet. You see, suffering gets us ready for heaven. Heaven becomes our passion."

The apostle Paul knew that kind of passion. We groan for heaven, he said, not because we long to die, but because we long to really live, to be with out Lord forever. But until then, "we walk by faith, not by sight."

I recently heard about an elderly gentleman who was greeted in this way: "Nice to see you in the land of the living!" "Oh, I'm not in the land of the living." he replied. "I'm in the land of the dying. But I look forward to being in the land of the living soon when I'm in Heaven." That man's heart is already there! Can that be said of you? -JEY

Starting Today

Dedication to Christ is not just a one-time choice,

it's a daily challenge.

When Charles Swindoll was a young boy, he was greatly influenced by this remark from an old Texan: "The problem with the Christian life is that it's so daily."

It's true. Following Jesus is a lifestyle that builds on past lessons and decisions, but it also depends on our dedication day by day. We cannot live off yesterday's successes, last week's prayers, or the Bible stories we heard when we were children.

Each new day is both a challenge and an opportunity. Our faith will be challenged, and we can use that challenge as an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God. Jesus Himself said that those who wanted to be His disciples were expected to be in a continual attitude of self-denial and obedience to Him. Here's how the Lord put it: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

As each day unfolds, we must pause and remind ourselves that this is a day dedicated to God, that it is to be used for His glory, and that it is best lived with a continual recollection of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Starting today, let's look at life that way. It's a daily commitment. -JDB

How To Treat A Friend

Christ's friendship

calls for our faithfulness.

Suppose an old acquaintance stops by unexpectedly at your home during breakfast. you offer to take the day off, but he insists that you keep your regular schedule. So you invite him to go with you to work, and he accepts. how would he feel if you then ignored him completely - didn't converse with him, failed to acknowledge his presence at coffeebreaks and lunch, and neglected to introduce him to anyone? We would all agree - that's no way to treat a friend!

Jesus told His disciples that they were His friends. and we who know Christ as our personal Savior have the assurance that we too are His friends. Do we, however, treat Him as our Friend?

Evaluate your friendship with the Lord by asking yourself these questions. Do I talk with Jesus in prayer throughout the day? Do I take time to read and meditate on His Word? Do I enjoy fellowship with Him? Am I concerned about what He thinks of my activities? Do I introduce Him to others? Do I ignore Him or respect Him? Can others tell that I have a close relationship with Christ?

Let's make certain that each day we give Jesus Christ the consideration He deserves as our Savior, our master, and our Friend! -RWD

Worship

There are many ways to worship God,

but only one God to worship.

Church people can get quite upset about music. Some Christians feel that God is particularly drawn to old hymns sung to the strains of a pipe organ. Others are sure that God enjoys choruses sung over and over again. Some clap their hands when they sing while other fold their arms.

Many modern Christians would be quite unsettled if they had to worship with the ancient Israelites. They might resent the loud, boisterous music. And talk about a praise band! The instruments in the orchestra - wind, string, and percussion together - sounded out their hymns to God. In the middle of the worship, people danced. Large chours sang their anthems heralding God's greatness. Unfortunately, many Christians would hear only the noise. What is worse, they would be angry because they couldn't fire the worship leader or quit and join another church.

One thing we dare not overlook in our disagreements about worship: God demands our praise! That is not negotiable. He would be dishonest if He said there was something or someone in the universe more worthy of praise than Himself.

Don't waste your breath arguing about how to worship. Worship! "Let everyone that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! -HWR

Daily Polishing

To be spiritually fit,

feed on the word and exercise your faith.

The engineer on the Norwegian-American liner Vistafjord had invited some passengers to visit the ship's bridge. After he explained the operation of the navigational equipment, one of his guests remarked that all the brass gleamed as if it were gold. "How often do you polish it?" the man inquired. "Every day," the engineer replied. "The minute you stop polishing, it starts to tarnish."

That comment was like the self-appraisal made by the great pianist Ignacy Paderewski. Talking about the need for daily practice, he said that if he missed a day, he would notice the difference in his playing. If he missed several days, the critics would notice the difference. And if a week went by without practice, the public would notice the difference.

Both the engineer and the pianist teach us the same lesson. We had better not be sporadic in our spiritual disciplines if we want to become more like Christ and if we want our lives to be attractive testimonies for Him. Like David, we should praise God every day. Like the Bereans, we are to search the Scriptures daily. And like Daniel, we need to set aside times to pray throughout the day. -VCG

Hearing And Doing

The way of obedience

is the way of blessing.

My son Steven's Little League baseball coach has to be the most patient man alive.

"Okay, team," he yells to the Tigers as they stand at their positions. "How many outs?" "One!" a couple of them reply. "Where's the runner?" "On first," one or two others offer. "Okay, if it's a ground ball, throw it to second," the coach reminds the 8- and 9-year-olds.

So, the batter grounds the ball to the third baseman, who seems paralyzed with the idea of knowing what to do. By the time he decides, it's too late. Everybody's safe.

Once again, the players were hearers but not doers. Time after time, the coach reminds his players what to do. Time after time, they do something else.

There's a bit of this tendency in all of us. God has told us what He expects of us, yet we so often fail to do it. For instance, in James 1: 13-16, we are told that temptation can lead to sin and its consequences. Yet how many times do we ignore that warning?

James tells us that if we are doers, we will "be blessed" in what we do. That's a pretty good reason to be a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer. -JDB

Boast Roast

People who sing their own praises

usually do so without accompaniment.

The owner of a small foreign car had begun to irritate his friends by bragging incessantly about his car's gas mileage. So they devised a plan to bring his boasts to an end. Every day one of them would secretly pour a few gallons of gas into the car's tank. Soon the braggart was boasting getting as much as 90 miles per gallon.

The pranksters enjoyed watching his exasperation as he tried to convince people of the truthfulness of his claims. It was even more fun to see his reaction when they stopped refilling the tank. The poor fellow couldn't figure out what had happened to his car.

This incident point sout that self-congratulation can backfire and leave a person looking foolish. There is something repulsive about talk that advertises one's own good judgment or abilities.

How much better it is to find our security and sense of worth in a quiet, personal relationship with the Lord! If we do that, we will become more interested in the needs and successes of others than we are in our own. We will speak of our concerns and accomplishments only as a means of encouraging others who need an uplifting word. Such an approach will win notice and approval - even though we're not looking for it. -MRD II

To Show His Strength

Our problems can be opportunities

to discover God's solutions.

Although it's God's desire to reveal His power to us, we seldom give Him the chance.

We're like the accountant who was told by his boss to falsify company records. Afraid of being fired, he chose to comply - even though as a believer in Christ he knew he was lying and breaking the law. Worse than being out of the job, he ended up in jail. He missed the opportunity to trust God and give Him a chance to show his power.

I'm afraid we're not much different. We're like King Asa, a good king who foolishly chose to make a treaty with Ben-Hadad rather than trust God. Asa had reason to worry - Judah was at war with Israel. But Hanani the prophet told Asa, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped". As a result, the rest of Asa's reign was plagued by war.

God continues to show Himself strong to those who remain loyal to Him. Whenever we rely on a crooked boss or a clever scheme or a pack of lies, we are headed for trouble. But if we stay true to God when we're under fire, we give Him the opportunity to show us His power.

A Promise Kept

When you give your word,

keep it.

A close, long-time friend died after a 6-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. A few days after her death, my wife and I attended a wedding. As the bride and groom exchanged their vows, I pondered the whole matter of promising. It was beautiful to witness two excited young people in their twenties pledging their lives to each other. But it was profound to remember the faithfulness of our recently departed friend. She and her husband had kept their wedding vows for more than half a century, even when the final years were darkened by her memory loss and decline.

Lewis Snedes wrote, "Some people still make promises and keep those they make. When they do, they help make life around them more stably human. Promise-keeping is a powerful means of grace in a time when people hardly depend on each other to remember and live by their word."

Psalm 15 proclaims the qualities of the steadfast, God-honoring person who enjoys fellowship with our promise-keeping Lord. This individual keeps his promises even when it hurts.

Our most important commitments are fulfilled one day at a time. "I do." "I will." "You can count on me." There is power in every promise that is made and kept.

Little Things

The Lord uses smal tools

to perform large tasks.

Moses had been commissioned by God to lead the Israelites out of bondage. But he was apprehensive about the Egyptians, and even his countrymen, would react. So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A rod," Moses answered. Then God said to him, "You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do signs." Great miracles were accomplished with that rod when Moses obeyed the Lord. It was insignificant in itself, but it became a powerful instrument when committed to the Lord.

J. W. Johnson, writing on this theme, imagined the following conversations: "What is that in your hand?" asked the Lord. 'A sling,' said david. 'It is enough; go up against the giant,' and the great Goliath fell before the shepherd boy...... 'What is that in your hand?' 'A pen,' said John Bunyan, as he spoke from the srches of Bedford Prison. 'It is enough,' and he wrote the story Pilgrim's Progress, which will live while the world endures.

Don't tell yourself short. If God has called you to a task, He'll equip you for it. He merely asks, "What is that in your hand?" Use what He has given you, and you'll see what He can do with little things. -RWD

Memorize It!

When the Bible becomes a part of you,

you'll be less likely to come apart.

Before the choir began to sing an anthem of praise, Cindy quoted the first Bible verse she had ever memorized. It was inspirational for our congregation to hear her repeat from memory that passage from the Psalms.

At the same time, in another part of the church, adult workers were listening to more than 50 children recite verses they had memorized. They were involved in a Scripture memory program designed to hide God's Word in their hearts for a lifetime.

I remember when I first became a believer as a teenager. A godly woman was conducting a similar memorization program in our little church. I learned 110 verses and won an award - a book that told the story of the Bible.

I no longer have that book, but I am still carrying the best prize - those precious verses. When I need them - while visiting a sick friend, while making an important decision, while going through difficult days, while I'm talking about or writing about the Lord - the Holy Spirit brings the appropriate verses to my mind.

The psalmist referred to hiding God's Word in his heart. We do that by memorizing it. Then it's always there, even when we don't have a Bible. -DCE

Let The Healing Begin

To see beyond earth's shadows,

look to Christ the Light.

What gose through the minds of people whose lives are torn apart by a tragedy like murder? What keeps them going when a cherished loved one has been gunned down?

For Mae Allen, the answer is prayer. Her husband Jimmy, a small-town Virginia jeweler, had a loyal clientele and reputation for fair treatment of his customers. He was shot to death in his store 15 years ago, and his murderer is still unknown.

On that cold winter afternoon, Jimmy Allen's grandchildren were deprived forever of their loving Grandpa. Jimmy and Mae Allen's 38-year marriage was cut short. And their daughter Vickie Fuquay, the mother of two of their grandchildren, had to depend on her mother's comforting words to help her face the future without bitterness.

Mae Allen told Vickie, "Before you go to bed tonight, pray for the man who shot your daddy. The fact that he did this shows he doesn't know Jesus." Pray for a killer? It's not the natural response to such a tragedy, but it was the best way to let healing begin.

Anytime someone wrongs us, let's search for the Godly response. Praying for that person is perhaps the best medicine for a wounded heart. -JDB

A Godly Confidence

You can be confident about the future

if you walk with God in the present.

As I spoke with a friend who had just learned that his cancer had returned, I commented on his remarkably upbeat attitude. He responded by saying that the Lord alsways gives His people the inner strength they need to face each trial. My friend likened what the Lord was doing in his life to a car owner who makes sure that the tires have enough air pressure to enable them to carry a heavy load and roll safely over the big bumps on the highway. He expects the Lord to give him exactly what he needs to face each test until He brings him safely Home.

This wonderful assurance is enjoyed by believers who live in obedience to the Lord. In Psalm 41, David said that the person who "considers the poor" is blessed with the awareness of the Lord's presence in his time of illness. In verse 12, David referred to his integrity as he spoke of his confident anticipation of God's future blessing. Was he saying that his kindness and integrity earned God's favor? No, David saw himself as a sinner in need of God's gracious forgiveness. But his awareness of God's presence now and his assurance about the future were tied to his obedience to the Lord.

Godly conduct does not earn God's favor, but it does give us a foretaste of heaven in the here and now. -HVL

The Only Way

Only one road leads to heaven -
Jesus Christ is the way.

A man I used to work with described his religious beliefs this way: "God and I have our own thing going.  I get up on a Sunday morning and enjoy the day in my own way. A pot of good coffee, the Sunday paper, a walk around  my yard - it's my way of knowing that everything's right with me and my Maker."

It may sound appealing to believe that we can have our own way of making things right with God. We may like the concept of an individualized faith that is tailor-made to get us to heaven. It fits right in with this day of tolerance for everyone's personal choices.

But there is one problem: The Bible makes it clear that there is only one way of salvation - faith in Jesus Christ.

There is only one true faith. There are not multiple paths to heaven, but one way. Our trust in Christ makes us part of a body of believers with a common faith that centers squarely in Him.

Of course, that common faith is also an individual matter. We must personally trust in Christ as our Saviour from sin. Everyone must come to Him the same way - the only way - by faith in Jesus, God's Son. -DCE

Willing To Change

 Religious activity is no subdtitute

for an obedient heart.

A recent news feature chronicled the growing search for stress relief through spas, massage, pills, and exercise tapes. The craving to ease tension has spawned an entire industry, including walk-in backrub  stores in shopping malls across the country. The report ended by saying, "Although people will pay to fix their stress, they are not about to change the lifestyle that is causing it."

No matter what the problem, our initial response is to treat the symptoms rather than the cause.

During the days of Isaiah, God's people were not experiencing the Lord's blessing. They went through the motions of worship and couldn't understand why God wasn't noticing their religious efforts. But while they were fasting, they were also exploiting their workers and fighting among themselves. Isaiah condemned their hypocrisy and told them they needed to change. If they would free the oppressed, share with the hungry, house the homeless, and clothe the naked, God would bless them with healing, answered prayer, guidance, strength, and joy.

Religious activity is no substitute for an obedient heart. With God's help - and a willingness to change - we can eliminate the root problems, not just the symptoms. -DCM

Tiny Evils, Big Fall

A big fall begins with

a little stumble.

It started as a seedling on the slopes of the Colorado Rockies some 500 years ago. For centuries it had stood tall, enduring violent winds, lightning strikes, blizzards, even avalanches. Now, however, the once-towering tree is just a mound of decaying wood.

What caused its demise? A horde of beetles had attacked it, gnawing away until that skyscraper of nature surrendred to those tiny pests and toppled over.

That's also the tragic story of many Christians. For long years they stood tall for God. They resisted temptations, weathered crises, and were bold in the strength divinely provided. But little sins began to eat away at their lives - little lies, little compromises with greed or lust, sins that gradually eroded their character. And suddenly they fell.

Song of Solomon 2:15 states, "Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines." This colorful Old Testament verse should sound a loud alarm in our consciences. we must not tolerate the little evils that eat away at the roots of our lives. Otherwise, our once-strong witness for Christ will become a silenced casualty of sin. Let's confess those "tiny" evils to God now, before they lead us to a big fall. -VCG

The Tale Of The Kite

Only when we are grounded in God's word

can we rise to new heights.

Once there was a kite that loved to fly high. Nothing made it happier than to be caught in a stiff breeze that would send it soaring upward, far above the grassy meadows below. It loved the feel of the wind and the faraway view.

But gradually the kite became dissatisfied. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it could fly even higher that its string allowed? It could think only of sailing so high that the houses became dots far below. So it tugged and tugged on the string, hoping to break free.

Then one day the string snapped! For a moment the kite was ecstatic as it leaped skyward. But then it began to tumble and spin out of control, and soon it crashed to the ground below.

Unfortunately, we are sometimes like that kite. We wan to go places and do things that are morally out of bounds. We tug against the lordship of Christ and the truth that we are to live Him. We tell ourselves that if only we could get free, we would be happy. But like that kite, we would crash.

Jesus died and rose from the grave to give us true liberty - freedom to soar safely within the bounds of His law and the constraints of His love. -DCE

Don't Just Sit There

Christians should be on the frontlines,

not the sidelines.

A well-known coach was once asked, "How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?"

"Nothing," the coach replied abruptly.

"Why not?" the startled interviewer asked.

"Well," said the coach, "the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately needing a rest and 40,000 people in the stands desperately needing some exercise."

A similar situation exists in many churches today. When you compare the members who merely attend with those who actively participate, you often find a rather pathetic situation. It's not unusual to have a small group of diligent Christian workers struggling "down on the field" while others in the congregation are acting like spectators, "sitting on the sidelines, eating hot dogs and popcorn."

God's strategy for the accomplishments of His program is not like a sports event. It does not call for the job to be done only by the "professionals." In the game of life, all believers have their own positions and spiritual gifts that they must exercise "for the profit of it all."

My friend, if you've been sitting in the stands, you're badly needed down on the field! -MRD II

Daily Bread

Only Christ "The Living Bread"

can satisfy our spiritual hunger.

Bread has come to be regarded as something less than what it was in Bible times. We don't usually think of it as a symbol of life's necessities. In Jesus' day, however, bread represented nourishment in all its many forms.

This helps us understand why the Lord told Israel to put bread in the holy place of the Tabernacle - His "house of symbols." There in that first room, 12 loaves were to be displayed on a golden table "before the Lord". These loaves reminded Israel that God always provides for His own when they come to Him on His terms. The bread reflected God's promise to provide for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For the Christian today, bread may represent food, the Bible, Jesus Christ, fellowship, and the many provisions God has made for our spiritual and physical needs. He cares for us and He's ready to feed us. But His offer is not unconditional. He promised to provide daily "bread" for those who in obedience have separated themselves to live and eat from the hand of God. Yes, the Lord cares for those who willingly receive their physical and spiritual food for Him - on His terms. -MRD II

Strong Convictions

Take a stand for Christ

or you'll fall for anything.

During an interview, a former network news anchorman sait that a "doctrinaire" person cannot be a good news reporter. He then defined a doctrinaire person as someone who has deep convictions of absolute truths in the areas of politics or religion.

If he meant that a reporter should present the truth in an objective manner, unaffected by personal biases, I would agree. But if he meant in a more general sense that we must not bring convictions of right or wrong to discussions of politics and religion, I would strongly disagree. After all, none of us would have political or religious freedom were if not for men and women who had convictions they were willing to die.

In the Old Testament, young Queen Esther was convinced that God had placed her in the place to be His instrument for the preservation of her nation. Because of this, she risked her life by approaching the king without an invitation. Since then, millions of believers have taken similar risks, and many have died for their faith.

It is not a virtue to be stubborn over minor issues that are not addressed in the Scripture. But on the essential issues of the Christian faith we should, like Esther, be willing to die for our convictions. -HVL

How To Treat A Friend

Christ's friendship calls

for our faithfulness.

Suppose an old acquiantance stops by unexpectedly at your home during breakfast. You offer to take the day off, but he insists that you keep your regular schedule. So you invite him to go with you to work, and he accepts. How would he feel if you then ignored him completely - didn't converse with him, failed to acknowledge his presence at coffeebreaks and lunch, and neglected to introduce him to anyone? We would all agree - that's no way to treat a friend!

Jesus told His disciples that they were His friends. And we who know Christ as our personal Savior have the assurance that we too are His friends. Do we, however, treat Him as our Friend?

Evaluate your friendship with the Lord by asking yourself these questions: Do I talk with Jesus in prayer throughout the day? Do I take time to read and mediate on His Word? Do I enjoy fellowship with Him? Am I concerned about what He thinks of my activities? Do I introduce Him to others? Do I ignore Him or respect Him? Can others tell that I have a close relationship with Christ?

Let's make ceratin that each day we give Jesus Christ the consideration He deserves as our Savior, our Master, and our Friend! -RWD

Head Or Heart

Knowing about Jesus

is not the same as knowing Him.

In the span of seven days he won the hearts of a busload of people. We were viviting the Holy Land, and the personable man was out tour guide. Each day he greeted us with his winning smile, clever sense of humor, and incredible knowledge of Israel. From the story of Abraham and Isaac to the account of Jesus' resurrection, our guide had it all down.

Yet as the week went by, people began to ask, "Is he a believer?" "Does he know Jesus?" Sadly, the answer was no. He knew the Bible better than most of us. He daily walked where Jesus had. He had been giving tours to Christians for years. But he didn't know his Messiah.

Could that be your situation? Could you have knowledge of God and His Son Jesus in your head but not in your heart? It's not all that unusual.

The words in 1 John 2:22 seem harsh: "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?" But the truth is that knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him. We must acknowledge Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." We must accept His forgiveness for our sins and enter into a personal relationship with Him.

Have you trusted Jesus? Or is your knowledge of Him in your head but not in your heart? -JDB

Our Best Defense

When we trust the power of God,

We experience peace, not panic.

In late january 1956,during the tense days of the Montgomery Boycott, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. could not sleep. A threatening phone call had terrified him. So he prayed, "I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter, I am at the end of my powers..... I can't face it alone."

King later wrote, "At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying, 'Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.' Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything."

The rest is history. King was not without his faults, but no one can deny that he was a man who wanted to see people of all colors free of the damage done by prejudice.

If we face opposition when we're trying to do what's right, we too must cry out to the Lord. He alone is our "rock of refuge, a fortress of defense." He is our reliable source of strength and protection. -DCE

More Than A Job

All Christians work

for the same employer.

George Herbert was a gifted 17th century English poet. At one point in his life he wasn't sure he wanted to do what God wanted him to do. Being the pastor of the church didn't appeal to him, even though he sensed that God was directing him to that vocation. He hesitated because he felt that he would have to give up too much.

After a time of rebellious struggle, he came to realize that submitting to Christ's lordship is the way out of self-centered bondage and opens the door to authentic freedom and fulfillment. He also came to realize that serving the Savior does not usually entail heroic martyrdom. Rather, it is the willing and worshipful performance of the most menial tasks for His glory.

Many of God's people are troubled because they can't give themselves to what is called "fulltime ministry." All of us, though, whatever our vocation - accounting, farming, nursing, homemaking, or something else - need to recognize that we are always to work  for the Lord. In Colossians 3:23 we read, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."

Any job will take on greater  significance if we consciously do our work for the Lord. -VCG

Everyone Has A Purpose

Mother Nature is God's own hands,
And protecting the "Cycle of Life" is for us to bind.

One time, I was waiting to watch a movie "Surrogates" which starred Bruce Willis when I noticed a peep ad with a trivia saying that eighty percent of the trees in the mountains were unconsciously being planted by the squirrels who hide nuts under the soil and couldn't find them when they needed it.

Then I suddenly remembered that Mother Nature was being taken cared of by God. He always see to it that everything is in optimal balance. And that everything that we can see around us has it's own purpose.

Even the stones we see serves as a boulder against high winds and can be tiered and be made into an edifice that can protect us against our enemies or can give us shelter. God is always good to Mother Earth and that everything on it directly and indirectly lives symbiotically to celebrate the meaning of life so that everything and everybody will live in harmony.

The squirrel in the trivia was been tasked to protect nature by planting nuts so that our Mother Nature can continue it's process of reproducing and expanding plant life.

And God also gave us the purpose to protect them and not harm everything that participates and contributes in the continuity of life's cycle. For if we break the "Cycle of Life" our future will be in chaos and our children's children will not benefit from it. -AAP

Enough For Today

God supplies all our needs .....

one day at a time.

Life can be monotonous. The road that lies before us seems to stretch mile after mile across a flat, barren desert with no oasis in sight. How then are we to handle wearisome responsibilities when there's no forseeable relief from our burdens?

Oliver de Vinck, severely disabled from birth, lay helplessly on his bed for all of his 32 years, unable to care for himself. Day after day and year after year his parents put every spoonful of food into his mouth, changed his diapers, and still maintained a happy home.

One day Oliver's brother Christopher asked his father how they managed. He explained that they didn;'t worry about the long succession of tomorrows that might lie before them. They lived a day at a time, asking, "Can I feed Oliver today?" And the answer always was, "Yes, today I can do it."

Jesus taught us how we can handle life's routine: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." In faith - and with prayer - we can break life and its often wearisome tasks into bite-size pieces, entrusting the unpredictable future to the grace of Him who promises that "as your days, so shall your strengths be." -VCG

Good Fear

The right kind of fear

prompts us to do right.

The prophet Jeremiah wanted the Israelites that those who live wickedly and refuse to repent will one day experience God's wrath. This truth is restated throughout the Bible. God uses fear as a means of bringing people to salvation and encouraging obedience. Fear has certainly been a major factor in my life.

Two current misconceptions have weakened the moral influence of this fear. The first fallacy is that the Bible standards for conduct have no authority today. I know of a public school teacher who expressed no shame for behavior that the Bible calls immoral, and he saw no need to repeat.

The second fallacy is that if there is a God, He is so tolerant toward sin that He automatically forgives everyone (except maybe mass murderers and child molesters.) A woman expressed this view in her letter to the editor of a local newspaper when she wrote of the unrepentant teacher, "God has forgiven him, and so should we."

In sharp contrast to these misconceptions is the truth that comes from God. His standards are absolute, and He punishes those who do not repent of violating them. Therefore, let's take seriuosly the fear of sin's consequences and make it an incentive for repentance and godly living. -HVL

The Choice Is Ours

The only way to see life clearly

is to focus on Christ.

One summer afternoon I climbed a hill near my home. When I reached the top, I stretched out on the grass to relax.

Turning my head to one side, my eyes focused on some blades of grass within inches of my face. This short-range focus not only strained my eyes, but it blurred my view of anything beyond the end of my nose! So I began to adjust my focus, and then the distant city came into view instead.

I found I could shift my sights from near to far at will. The choice was mine.

In today's Bible reading, the apostle Paul emphasized that followers of Christ need to be heavenly-minded, not earthly-minded. We can choose which it will be.

We can succumb to selfish, earthbound thoughts, blurring our view of anything beyond the end of our noses. Or we can gaze through this sinful scene and fix our attention on things above, where Christ is seated at God's right hand - and we with Him! Then, and only then, are we in a position to see what's most important in life.

Only the mind that's set on things above can say no to sin and yes to Christlike holiness. The choices is ours. -JEY

Behind The Scenes

In the drama of Life,

God is the director behind the scenes.

While learning to use a new computer, I was troubled by a faint clicking sound that indicated it was working even though nothing was happening on the screen. The manufacturer's representative from the hotline said, "No problem. The computer is probably running an application you can't see and is working in the background."

As I thought about the phrase "working in the background," I began to realize how visually oriented  I am in my relationship with God. If I can't see something, I assume it's not happening. But that's not the way God operates.

I see a striking example of God's "behind the scenes" work in the conversion of Saul. While Christians were suffering under his ruthless persecution, God was preparing to transform him into a dynamic representative of Christ.

Is there a situation in your life today where you cannot see God working? It may be that your circumstances are resisting every attempt at change. Perhaps someone you love is obstinately refusing to respond to God. Even though it may appear that nothing is happening, God is at work - behind the scenes, in the background, accomplishing His purpose. -DCM

At The Outset

Hello guys! I made this blog site for me to be inspired as I inspect my life to find my own mantra. Life is full of surprises and as I spend my quiet time everyday trying to commune with God I will face some inspiring stories that will lead me to His way.

I will include some of these interesting stories I've seen, heard, and read as I spend my quiet time reading the Bible and some inspirational books. By archiving it here, it will help instill in me the lessons it conveys to my heart and to my soul. I hope this will bring me more closer to Him as I uncover some truths in answering the intricacies of my life's confusions and spirituality.

Our problems can be the opportunity to discover God's solutions and we can be confident about our future if we walk with Him in the present.

Hence, it is titled "Meandering Spirit" because it answers my questions and confusions about the complexities of life itself. -AAP