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